World Series: wrap

After a historic game six, the St. Louis Cardinals come all the way back to win their eleventh World Series title.  Game six, was one of the all-time great baseball games with the Cardinals overcoming three errors, only to come back from two run deficits twice and win in walk-off fashion behind the bat of World Series MVP, David Freese. I thought if Texas was going to win the title, they had to close the door in game six, if you're Texas you didn't want to be playing a game seven on the road.  In game seven Cardinal horse, Chris Carpenter who struggled early on pitched the Cardinals to their eleventh title in franchise history.  The Texas Rangers were plagued by injuries to Josh Hamilton, who was never himself at the plate, Nelson Cruz, and Mike Napoli.  Injuries and the Cardinals slowed down the Texas running game and  they couldn't get the crucial hit with runners in scoring position.  David Freese, Lance Beckman, first title, and Albert Pujols, impending free-agent, as well as the rest of the Cardinals won a historic World Series.            

week eight, NFL picks

We made it to week 8 in the NFL.  Some of the surprise teams (Detroit, Buffalo) in the beginning of the season are coming back to the pack, some teams are still surprising us (San Francisco), some are still riding momentum from last season (Green Bay), and some are what we thought they'ed be.  There are also some bad teams, who are in the running for Andrew Luck (Indianapolis, Miami, Minnesota, St. Louis).  Things are staring to define themselves for the stretch run, which I think comes after the bye.  
week 8 picks:
1)  I liked what Christian Ponder showed us last week and although he's going against another rookie quarterback in Cam Newton this week, I like Minnesota (+3) getting the W on the road in Carolina.  Minnesota +3 
2)  St. Louis's will get some wins when they're schedule gets easier, but its not this week, I like the New Orleans Saints (-13.5) at the St. Louis Rams.  New Orleans -13.5 
3)  The Cleveland Browns are a very up and down team, while San Francisco has found something under  coach Jim Harbaugh, I like the San Francisco 49ers (-8.5) at home against the Cleveland Browns.  San Francisco -8.5      
4)  The New York Football Giants are coming of their bye and getting healthy before the hard part of their schedule comes up but first they have the helpless Dolphins coming to town.  I like the Giants (-9.5) to win at home against a winless Miami Dolphin squad.   NY Giants -9.5 
5) NY Jets- bye

week seven, NFL picks

We're in week 7 of the NFL and things are starting to round into form.
Week 7 Picks:
1) Green Bay is good, Aaron Rodgers spreads the ball around in order to make every one happy.  Minnesota is changing quarterbacks and their coach might be on the hot seat. Green Bay might loose this season but it won't be Sunday, give me Green Bay (-8.5) in Minnesota against the Vikings.  Green Bay Packers -8.5 
2) Indianapolis is having a bad year without Peyton Manning and they've been trying a bunch of different things in order to get it right, New Orleans can be up and down but not this week.  I'll pick the New Orleans Saints (-13.5) at home against the Colts.  New Orleans Saints -13.5
3)  Jacksonville just can't get out of it's own way and are starting a rookie quarterback, although its not a Baltimore team of the past.  I'll take Baltimore (-8) in Jacksonville against the Jaguars.   Baltimore Ravens -8 
4) Can Rex Ryan keep his mouth closed, he doesn't have any rings (neither does his father or brother) and his teams not magical.  The Jets didn't look great against Miami last week and now they go up against a San Diego team which will exploit those weaknesses.  In almost a pick 'em game, I'll take the Chargers (-2) coming east and beating the Jets at home.   San Diego Chargers -2
5) Giants- Bye  
  

World Series preview

No its not the Yankees and Phillies.  Wednesday night the St. Louis Cardinals and Texas Rangers, will kick off the 2011 World Series at Busch Stadium in St' Louis.  Both these teams are in the Fall Classic after a rather unusual playoff run, complete with a lot of runs, strong bullpens, managing, and squirrels.  Texas has done it with pitching and just enough offense, extra inning and one run games in the ALCS (6 games).  St. Louis is a bit of a deeper team with no starter getting out of the fifth inning, in the NLCS they have gotten 24 1/3 innings out of their starters and 28 2/3 out of their bullpen.  Both teams will have star players to get out David Freese, Albert Pujols on St. Louis, and Adrian Beltre, Josh Hamiliton on TEX.  As far as this series goes Texas has played a lot of close games and St. Louis's starting pitching hasn't gone very far.  The Cardinal starters haven't been great but the Ranger guys haven't been much better.  This series just might come down to who can score more runs and have the better bullpens.  we might see a lot of one run games and a battle of the bullpens.          

week six, NFL picks

Well we're in week six of the NFL season already and Detroit is back, the Tigers are playing a game six of the ALCS and the Lions are undefeated.  We are almost at the half way mark of this NFL season and things are starting to define themselves.
NFL picks:
1) St. Louis is still rebuilding and although Green Bay had a couple of injuries last week, they have dealt with that before, I'll take the Packers at home (-14.5) in Lambeau against the Rams.  Green Bay Packers -14.5 
2)  Oakland will be playing with heavy hearts this week in their first game since the passing of owner Al Davis.  The Raiders have found an identity under coach Hue Jackson while the Cleveland Browns are swimming in controversy.  I'll take the Oakland Raiders (-6.5) at home against Cleveland.  Oakland Raiders -6.5
3)  Detroit is home, where they have a slight advantage with crowd noise, San Francisco has only recently woken up.  I'll take the Lions (-4) to win another home game against the San Francisco 49ers.  Detroit Lions -4  
4)  The Jets who are a mess right now run into a Miami team which is going to fire its coach and doesn't have a quarterback they can trust, the Jets better get the plane righted this week or sparks are going to fly.  I think the New York Jets will tun it around, I'll take the Jets (-7) at home against the Miami Dolphins at home on Monday Night.  NY Jets -7 
5)  The Injury depleted New York Giants lost a tough game, that could have been considered a trap game at home against Seattle last week.  I think the Giants will make enough plays to pull out the victory against the Buffalo Bills this week, to go into the bye week on a good note before the schedule gets a lot harder.  I'll take the Giants (-3) at home in Metlife Stadium against the bills.  NY Giants -3                 

League Championship, Yankee wrap

Both of the World Series favorites, N.Y Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies are out of baseballs post season.     Almost every series, except for Tampa Bay and Texas went five games and they were all one run games, I don't know if we could ask for anything more.  We are now left with Detroit vs. Texas in the American League and St. Louis vs. Milwaukee in the National League, with the winners to face off in the World Series.  Their is some bad blood in the National League between two division rivals.  In the American League if last nights game (one run game) was any indication that series may come down to the end.
The New York Yankees fell to the Detroit Tigers in a game five of the American League Division Series.  although this was a one run affair and their patch work pitching staff held together, behind C.C Sabathia they had a rookie and a bunch question marks.  The middle of the Yankee batting order did not come though when it counted.  A-Rod, Teixiera, and Swisher failed to come through in the postseason once again.  I don't know if A-Rod had ever fully recovered from his knee and thumb injuries, and as much as I like Swisher he's not a good postseason player.  In the Bronx the goal is to win Championships not just be in the playoffs.  These teams don't have the same feel as those 1996-2001 teams, which had guys like Scott Brosius, Paul O'Neal, Tino Martinez, and Bernie Williams who would have good regular seasons and raise their games in October.      

week five, NFL picks

After doing very well with my picks last week, we are up to week five in the NFL already.  We have some surprise teams in the league, the Buffalo bills (3-1-0) and the undefeated Detroit Lions and this week the Detroit Lions will be featured on Monday Night Football.
Picks:
1) The New Orleans Saints are back to being a Super Bowl contender, and well except for their quarterback  the Carolina Panthers are still finding their way.  I'll take the Saints (-6.5) in Carolina.  New Orleans Saints -6.5 
2) Pittsburgh has had it's troubles but they can get by and maybe find themselves against a struggling Tennessee Titan team, I'll take the Pittsburgh Steelers (-3) at home against Tennessee.  Pittsburgh Steelers -3   
3) Detroit will be hyped up for it's return to Monday Night Football, I'll take the surprising Detroit Lions (-5) at home on monday night.  Detroit Lions -5 
4) The New York Jets played an almost unwatchable game last week as they had 3 turnovers and their offense wasn't very good.  After the game Rex Ryan talks up his defense again, well they weren't on the field much.  This week they have the New England Patriots who don't have a great defense but can score with the best, I'll take the New England Patriots (-7.5) in New England against the New York Jets in New England.  New England Patriots -7.5
5)  The New York Giants have won a few in a row and this week they return home to face a Seattle Seahawks team that doesn't travel well and will probably not win a home game east of the Mississippi this year, I'll take the Giants (-9.5) at Home against Seattle. New York Giants -9.5