Sports Thoughts

THE YANKEE FANS’ GUIDE FOR ROOTING IN THE PLAYOFFS

B Roe — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 01:31:16 +0000

Alright its time for the playoffs!!!…..Wait, something looks wrong here, where are the Yankees? Why does it say the Rays play this week? There must be a typo…. did baseball start giving teams bye weeks? Maybe the Yanks get to skip the ALDS and get to go right to the ALCS? What is this, the twilight zone?…Where are the Yankees? What?…They’re playing golf with the Mets?

What happened?

Well the answer to that question is simple: This year happened. The Rays took the division, Boston took the wild card, and the Yankees stunk. It’s as simple as that. As a die-hard, bleacher creature loving, but also disgruntled and disapointed Yankee fan, I feel your pain. The Yanks have not missed a postseason since 1995 and fell flat on their faces this year. “What do I do now?”, you ask? My answer to you is to watch the postseason; and while your doing that, follow my guide for rooting in the postseason.

First and foremost no rooting for Boston, at all. If you didn’t know that you are not a true Yankee fan.

In the American League root for the Rays and the Angels in the ALDS. Why the Rays? Root for them because they have played great and deserve their 15 minutes of fame. Why the Angels? Remember, no success for Boston equals a good thing. Root for the Rays over the Angels because the Angels beat up on the Yankees every year.

In the National League has one theme: Joe Torre’s sweet revenge. As a Yankee fan who realizes that Torre got thrown under the bus last year, I want to see him succeed. So in the NLDS I would suggest rooting for the Dodgers and the Brewers. The Cubs and Phillies are losers and they always should be. The Brewers broke the Mets hearts and it doesn’t get much better than that. Root for the Dodgers over the Brewers because of Joe Torre.

When it comes to a World Series between the Dodgers and Rays go with the Dodgers. Torre is one of the greatest managers in Yankees history and deserves one more championship.

But in reality, by the time you read this the Dodgers will have probably been eliminated.

Oh, well I guess we’ll have to wait for next year.

BULL DURHAM….TWO?

B Roe — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 02:53:39 +0000

I just had an awesome opportunity to visit the Baseball Hall of Fame and attend a special gathering to commemorate the Twentieth anniversary of the best baseball movie of all time. The movie that I am speaking of is Bull Durham. Director Robert Shelton, Tim Robbins, Susan Sarandon and Robert Wuhl participated in a question and answer session that was moderated by movie critic Jeffery Lyons. it was great to see the actors as people, not just something on a TV or movie screen.

The most interesting part of the night came when Director Robert Shelton was speaking about a possible sequel. He said that he has been asked quite frequently if he wants to make a sequel, but hasn’t given it any real thought until now. He seemed to have a good idea of what happened to Nuke Laloosh, Crash Davis and the other characters in the movie.

According to Shelton, Laloosh went 18-4 in his second season and 4-18 in his third. He then pitched in the Mexican League and was found by Crash (who is now managing AAA Durham) and Annie at a players signing session. Nuke will be sitting among Pete Rose and other baseball players who will be signing autographs for hundreds of dollars, while Nuke is selling his for 15 bucks. Crash then helps Nuke develop a knuckleball, which puts Nuke back in the big leagues 20 years after he left.

I personally hope they make a sequel, but only if they can get all of the main actors back. I know that it would be made right and the same way as the first one.

IT’S FOOTBALL SEASON BABY!

B Roe — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 05:48:56 +0000

Now that baseball season is officially over for me (the Yanks are done) and I am done getting crazy about it,

I must turn to the gridiron for comfort. Here are my picks for the division and wildcard winners

AFC EAST- Buffalo Bills- THATS RIGHT BILLS FANS, THIS YEAR IS THE YEAR!!!! Tom Brady is hurt,

I know I wasn't the only one saying "yesss!!" when Mr. Brady got hurt

the Jets are the most overrated team in football (more on that later). The Bills have a revamped defense, one of the best running backs in the league and a very smart quarterback who is not named J.P Losman.

James Hardy will prove to be a key red zone threat and Lee Evans will show that he truly is a top-notch receiver.

AFC North- Pittsburgh Steelers- Big Ben and Co. have been there before and are in a weak division…nuff’ said.

AFC South- Indianapolis Colts- Yes, they are struggling. Yes, Bob Sanders is hurt, but Center Jeff Saturday will return soon and as long as Peyton Manning is under center, the Colts will take a weaker than expected AFC South

AFC West- Denver Broncos- This will be not be a walk in the park. The Charges gave the Broncos a run for their money in week 2 and they will do the same for the rest of the year.

AFC Wild Card- Patriots and Chargers- The Patriots were never a one dimensional team and all they know is winning (other than the last Superbowl). Quarterback Matt Cassell does not have to put out a Brady-like effort in order for this team to succeed. The Chargers missed the Superbowl by one game last year. With an overall weak AFC, Phillip Rivers and L.T should be able to lead their team to the playoffs.

NFC East- Cowboys- They have an explosive offense and a pretty solid defense (other than last Monday against the Eagles) Don’t worry Giants fans I haven’t counted you guys out yet.

NFC North- Green Bay Packers- Aaron Rodgers is playing like he has something to prove. Oh, wait, he does. He has shown (so far) that he is a smart quarterback with a lot of confidence. It helps that they are in a terrible division.

NFC South- Carolina Panthers- They are playing solid defense but they will face stiff competition from the Buccaneers. Their entire season rests on the arm and leadership of Jake Delhomme. If he gets injured, give the division to the Bucs.

NFC West- This division is barely worth writing about. The Matt Leinart-less Arizona Cardinals will roll with the division. I honestly don’t think they will lose a divisional game.

NFC Wild Card- Giants and Eagles- The Giants now know how to win and it may be ugly at times, but they will find a way to get into the playoffs. The Eagles have a high powered offense and a defense good enough to help them win games. Donovan McNabb looks even stronger and healthier than he did four years ago.

SUPERBOWL WINNERS

Here is my Gutsy (dumb) (wishfull thinking) (Chris Berman 49ers Bills) (you gotta believe) pick-

Bills defeat Packers 24-17

Here’s what will probably happen

Cowboys beat the Patriots 41-27

One more thing…..the New York Bretts are overrated….even if he is God’s gift to football

RIP NEW YORK YANKEES 2008

B Roe — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 06:34:59 +0000

The Yankees officially died today after being 2-hit in Seattle. They were a team of promise and potential but they fell flat on their faces. The 2008 Yankees continually got the their fans’ hopes up only to let them feel the agony of losing more and more every month. The Yankees were let down by almost every player, young and old. Phil Hughes struggled and Ian Kennedy proved to the world that he is not a major league pitcher. Andy Pettitte found his career fading fast and the young gun of Chien-Ming Wang was brought down by running bases. Mike Mussina found his stride, but the combination of Mussina and a couple of bandages (Sidney Ponson and Darrell Rasner) could not cover the gaping wound that was this years pitching staff. Many of the Yankees bats seemed to have holes in them, especially with runners in scoring position. The defense was comical at times (Bobby Abreu vs. Any Wall in the Outfield)

(Kinda looks like he’s sucking his thumb, doesn’t it?)

and the team just seemed to lack the capability of mounting a comeback even if the lead was only 2 runs.

This was supposed to be a historic season, but tis’ no more. R.I.P Yankees 2008; goodbye and good riddance.

IT AIN’T OVER TILL THE FAT LADY SINGS, BUT SHE IS WARMING UP

B Roe — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 04:20:34 +0000

The Yankees have taken a play from Muhammed Ali’s playbook. They have been hanging against the ropes all season and have been playing rope-a-dope with their opponents. The only problem is that they don’t know when to stop. Regardless of what happens this year, I have the solutions that will put the Yankees back on top next year.

#1- Sign C.C Sabathia

-Ask him “how long would you like to play for us?” and “how much would you like to make?”. Then give him what he asks.

#2- Sign Mark Teixeira

-Use the same principles on Teixeria that you used on Sabathia….I know this is a lot of money to be throwing around but keep reading to see where they will get the money from. Teixeria is a switch hitter who can hit for average and power, which is something the Yankees have been missing since Bernie Williams left.

#3- Do Not under any circumstances resign Jason Giambi or Andy Pettitte.

-Giambi is due to make 22 million dollars next year if resigned…he is not worth that amount of money.

-Andy Pettitte is on the downside of his career and he is falling fast, he is not worth the 14-18 million that the Yanks would have to fork over to resign him

#4- Sign Brian Fuentes

-Fuentes is a much better lefty than Damaso Marte is. Believe it or not, back in July the Yanks could have had this guy straight up for Ian Kennedy…….yeah the same Ian Kennedy who can’t last for more than 3 innings without giving up 5 runs. Fuentes can get both lefties and righties out and has closing experience in Colorado. This would set the back end of the bullpen and make it a seven inning ballgame.

#5- Deal Melky Cabrera

- Do it now before his stock gets any lower, he is a great defensive outfielder but he has no bat. The Yankees will never win a championship with a CF batting .240. The Yanks could get a decent middle relief guy for him or even a better utility infielder than Wilson Betemit.

#6- Do not, I repeat, do not let Hideki Matsui step foot into the outfield

- He is strictly a DH now. He looks like a dog chasing its tail when he’s going for a fly ball

#7- Do not resign Bobby Abreu

-This one is hard for me to say because he is a good guy and a great second half hitter, but if the Yanks get Teixeira, they won’t miss Bobby’s bat. I think he is a very overrated outfielder. Can anyone tell me if he has ever dove for a ball?…and don’t even get me started on how bad he is playing a ball near the wall.

So, if the Yankees listen to me, this is what their lineup should look like:

LF-Johnny Damon

SS- Jeter

1B- Mark Teixeira

3B- A-Rod

RF-Xavier Nady

DH- Matsui

2B-Cano

C- Jose Molina (Posada won’t be ready yet)

CF- Brett Gardner (or Austin Jackson if he is major league ready)

Starting Rotation

-Sabathia

-Wang

-Chamberlain

-Mussina

-Hughes (he will be ready and he will beat out Rasner and Kennedy in Spring Training)

Bullpen

- Darryl Rasner, Jose Veras, Kevin Roberson, Edwar Ramirez, Juan Aceves, Humberto Sanchez (from the Sheffield deal), Brian Fuentes, and of course Mariano Rivera

See? How hard can it be to turn this thing around