Since we don't live in Knob Hill anymore, I think it's time to change our fantasy league name. In light of our performance in recent years, Stacey and I would like to invite you to participate in the Glatz Family Invitational Fantasy Footall League in 2010! To answer your question, no, I am not going to stop enjoying this.
Anyway, I am excited to announce that I have been working on a post about the BCS and the bowl system for about a month. This will be a completely new argument about the BCS that I have never heard before. It will be very long, full of statistics, and make you question how I spend my free time. It will be legen...
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
2009 - The Year of the Zoo
Although I was disappointed I didn't make the finals of our fantasy league, I was happy for Stacey and Kevin to have some success. It was exciting to see the finals come down to OT and Kevin standing a 40 yard Adrian Peterson TD away from victory. Since we live far apart, I wanted to share a little bit of Stacey's victory. But first, I want to take a look back at Mike's analysis of her team after the draft.
Zoo Tycoons
1) Are McNabb and Roethlisberger reliable enough? Both play in reasonably difficult divisions, and both have strong defenses with capable running games. The chances for 300+ yard games with 3 TDs are less with both of these guys, but they do have some decent receivers to throw to. Can they do it consistently?
Yes, they ended up being the #11 and #9 QBs this year respectively. Roethlisberger's 30 in Week 15 and McNabb's 23 in Week 16 were huge difference makers during the playoffs.
2) Will DeAngelo and MJD produce as top-5 backs? There are differing opinions on both. There are questions (time shares, workload concerns) about both, but at the very least they should be decent. If they are top-5, however, watch out…
Yes and no. MJD was the #2 fantasy back this year, but Williams was 12th and surprisingly ended up slightly worse than teammate Jonathan Stewart due to periodic injuries. MJD produced 9 double digit games, including 3 performances of 20+ points.
3) After Andre Johnson…who will step up? Antonio Bryant has been hurt and Tampa seems to be going towards a ground attack. Avery is in St. Louis with a dismal offense. Colston is in a great offense, but the ball gets spread around to everyone. Will there be enough touches for him? Can she get legit production from these guys?
Johnson finished as the #3 WR, but Marques Colston stepped up as a solid #2 with 1000+ yards and 9 TDs. Stacey's #3 WR position was definitely one of her weakest positions on the team. Also, Visanthe Shiancoe didn't get a ton of yards, but he finished with the 3rd most TDs among TEs.
Stacey didn't make a lot of moves this season, but she had a strong draft (As did Kevin with Adrian Peterson, Aaron Rodgers and Frank Gore). Her QBs held up through most of the season and MJD and Andre Johnson produced consistently. Even though she squeaked into the playoffs in week 14, I think she had a pretty solid team.
In the end, Adrian Peterson's fumble cost Minnesota the game and Kevin the championship.
I think she was equally excited to see Brett Favre lose the game and look very solemn.
And here's the 2009 Knob Hill Fantasy Champion, Zoo Tycoons! And the belt is staying in my house!! It was a fun season and I'm looking forward to next year.
I love the look on Boo's face, by the way. She's like "ooo - what's that?!"
Zoo Tycoons
1) Are McNabb and Roethlisberger reliable enough? Both play in reasonably difficult divisions, and both have strong defenses with capable running games. The chances for 300+ yard games with 3 TDs are less with both of these guys, but they do have some decent receivers to throw to. Can they do it consistently?
Yes, they ended up being the #11 and #9 QBs this year respectively. Roethlisberger's 30 in Week 15 and McNabb's 23 in Week 16 were huge difference makers during the playoffs.
2) Will DeAngelo and MJD produce as top-5 backs? There are differing opinions on both. There are questions (time shares, workload concerns) about both, but at the very least they should be decent. If they are top-5, however, watch out…
Yes and no. MJD was the #2 fantasy back this year, but Williams was 12th and surprisingly ended up slightly worse than teammate Jonathan Stewart due to periodic injuries. MJD produced 9 double digit games, including 3 performances of 20+ points.
3) After Andre Johnson…who will step up? Antonio Bryant has been hurt and Tampa seems to be going towards a ground attack. Avery is in St. Louis with a dismal offense. Colston is in a great offense, but the ball gets spread around to everyone. Will there be enough touches for him? Can she get legit production from these guys?
Johnson finished as the #3 WR, but Marques Colston stepped up as a solid #2 with 1000+ yards and 9 TDs. Stacey's #3 WR position was definitely one of her weakest positions on the team. Also, Visanthe Shiancoe didn't get a ton of yards, but he finished with the 3rd most TDs among TEs.
Stacey didn't make a lot of moves this season, but she had a strong draft (As did Kevin with Adrian Peterson, Aaron Rodgers and Frank Gore). Her QBs held up through most of the season and MJD and Andre Johnson produced consistently. Even though she squeaked into the playoffs in week 14, I think she had a pretty solid team.
In the end, Adrian Peterson's fumble cost Minnesota the game and Kevin the championship.
I think she was equally excited to see Brett Favre lose the game and look very solemn.
And here's the 2009 Knob Hill Fantasy Champion, Zoo Tycoons! And the belt is staying in my house!! It was a fun season and I'm looking forward to next year.
I love the look on Boo's face, by the way. She's like "ooo - what's that?!"
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Bowl Predictions Sure To Go Wrong
Ranked in order from games I'm most confident to least confident.
USC over BC
Ohio over Marshall
Texas Tech over Michigan State
Nevada over SMU
Pitt over UNC
Houston over Air Force
Nebraska over Arizona
Arkansas over E Carolina
Miami over Wisconsin
Clemson over Kentucky
Auburn over Northwestern
Oregon State over BYU
Fresno State over Wyoming
UCF over Rutgers
Florida over Cincinnati
Central Michigan over Troy
Middle Tennessee State over Southern Miss
Oregon over Ohio State
LSU over Penn State
Utah over Cal
Oklahoma over Stanford
Georgia over Texas A&M
Navy over Missouri
Minnesota over Iowa State
South Carolina over UConn
BGSU over Idaho
Temple over UCLA
Virginia Tech over Tennessee
Southern Florida over Northern Illinois
Oklahoma State over Ole Miss
Florida State over WVU
Iowa over Georgia Tech
TCU over Boise State
Texas over Alabama
USC over BC
Ohio over Marshall
Texas Tech over Michigan State
Nevada over SMU
Pitt over UNC
Houston over Air Force
Nebraska over Arizona
Arkansas over E Carolina
Miami over Wisconsin
Clemson over Kentucky
Auburn over Northwestern
Oregon State over BYU
Fresno State over Wyoming
UCF over Rutgers
Florida over Cincinnati
Central Michigan over Troy
Middle Tennessee State over Southern Miss
Oregon over Ohio State
LSU over Penn State
Utah over Cal
Oklahoma over Stanford
Georgia over Texas A&M
Navy over Missouri
Minnesota over Iowa State
South Carolina over UConn
BGSU over Idaho
Temple over UCLA
Virginia Tech over Tennessee
Southern Florida over Northern Illinois
Oklahoma State over Ole Miss
Florida State over WVU
Iowa over Georgia Tech
TCU over Boise State
Texas over Alabama
Where Fantasy is Won and Lost
I've been working on this one for a while. Mike made a pretty good argument for the best draft moves and the worst draft moves, but I think the season is really won and lost in free agency moves. Here's a look at what I think are the best 5 moves for this season.
5. 9/14 - Add Percy Harvin, Drop Chris Henry (ipresstoocoolbuttons) and 10/20 - Add Percy Harvin, Drop Terrell Owens (Kevinvidious)
At the beginning of the season, many expected Henry to be the heir to Housh's production in Cincinnati. Grace caught on with Harvin for a few good weeks in the beginning of the season and Kevin took him over after a few week drought.
4. 10/30 - Add Vince Young, Drop Shaun Hill (Kevinvidious)
Ok, we were all wrong about VY this year. Kevin needed a solid number two QB and selected him before week 8. What has he done since? Scored double-digit fantasy points each week.
3. 10/18 - Add Miles Austin, Drop Roy Williams (Boston Massacre)
When I returned from my honeymoon, I figured that the guy who had a break out, 24 point game would be off the board. When I saw him still there, I found a reason to finally get rid of the very disappointing Roy Williams (who was one of my draft mistakes). Despite very limited playing time through the first quarter of the season, Austin has become the #4 WR overall.
2. 9/30 - Add Vernon Davis, Drop John Carlson (Boston Massacre)
After achieving 3.6 points in weeks 1 & 2 combined, Davis exploded for 16 points in Week 3. Since then, he has become the #1 TE this year.
1. 8/28 - Add Brett Favre, Drop Cedric Benson (Cumming From Behind)
It's not every year that the #3 player at the end of the year isn't drafted. Mike found a diamond in the FA rough and exploited it to 220+ points. I think this was the most important decisions anyone made all season.
On one final note, Mike applauded himself for drafting Brent Celek and called it the 10th best draft move. I agree Celek was a surpise at TE and kudos to him for picking up on that. However, Mike dropped him before the season began (9/1). After Celek put up 7.85, 5.20, and 11.20 in weeks 1-3, Mike picked him back up on 9/30. He had Celek for week's 5 (2.90) and 6 (3.75) before dropping him on 10/19. Celek only had .4 in week 7, but put up 9.05 and 7.95 in weeks 8 & 9. Mike began Celek's 3rd reign on his team on 11/12 and Celek scored 8.35 in week 10 (while on the bench). Weeks 11 (1.75) and 12 (1.65) forced Mike to drop him on 12/1. The next week, Week 13, Celek scored 6.8 points. Therefore, Celek's average while in 7 games of FA is 6.9 while his average for the 5 games Mike had him was 3.68 (in which he scored above 4 points only once). What I am getting at is this: smart move in drafting him, but you didn't stick with him through the bad times (which I assume is because you have the top TE for the past few years on your roster as well).
5. 9/14 - Add Percy Harvin, Drop Chris Henry (ipresstoocoolbuttons) and 10/20 - Add Percy Harvin, Drop Terrell Owens (Kevinvidious)
At the beginning of the season, many expected Henry to be the heir to Housh's production in Cincinnati. Grace caught on with Harvin for a few good weeks in the beginning of the season and Kevin took him over after a few week drought.
4. 10/30 - Add Vince Young, Drop Shaun Hill (Kevinvidious)
Ok, we were all wrong about VY this year. Kevin needed a solid number two QB and selected him before week 8. What has he done since? Scored double-digit fantasy points each week.
3. 10/18 - Add Miles Austin, Drop Roy Williams (Boston Massacre)
When I returned from my honeymoon, I figured that the guy who had a break out, 24 point game would be off the board. When I saw him still there, I found a reason to finally get rid of the very disappointing Roy Williams (who was one of my draft mistakes). Despite very limited playing time through the first quarter of the season, Austin has become the #4 WR overall.
2. 9/30 - Add Vernon Davis, Drop John Carlson (Boston Massacre)
After achieving 3.6 points in weeks 1 & 2 combined, Davis exploded for 16 points in Week 3. Since then, he has become the #1 TE this year.
1. 8/28 - Add Brett Favre, Drop Cedric Benson (Cumming From Behind)
It's not every year that the #3 player at the end of the year isn't drafted. Mike found a diamond in the FA rough and exploited it to 220+ points. I think this was the most important decisions anyone made all season.
On one final note, Mike applauded himself for drafting Brent Celek and called it the 10th best draft move. I agree Celek was a surpise at TE and kudos to him for picking up on that. However, Mike dropped him before the season began (9/1). After Celek put up 7.85, 5.20, and 11.20 in weeks 1-3, Mike picked him back up on 9/30. He had Celek for week's 5 (2.90) and 6 (3.75) before dropping him on 10/19. Celek only had .4 in week 7, but put up 9.05 and 7.95 in weeks 8 & 9. Mike began Celek's 3rd reign on his team on 11/12 and Celek scored 8.35 in week 10 (while on the bench). Weeks 11 (1.75) and 12 (1.65) forced Mike to drop him on 12/1. The next week, Week 13, Celek scored 6.8 points. Therefore, Celek's average while in 7 games of FA is 6.9 while his average for the 5 games Mike had him was 3.68 (in which he scored above 4 points only once). What I am getting at is this: smart move in drafting him, but you didn't stick with him through the bad times (which I assume is because you have the top TE for the past few years on your roster as well).
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Glimpse into the Past
Just for perspective, a sampling of news bits from when Charlie Weis was hired as Notre Dame's head coach.
"A widely-respected disciple of professional coaching standouts Bill Parcells and Bill Belichick, Weis currently is the highly-regarded offensive coordinator of the New England Patriots (under Patriot head coach Belichick). He has played an integral role in New England's victories in two of the last three Super Bowls - and the Patriots currently own the best record in the NFL in 2004 at 12-1."
"Weis has been a winner everywhere he has coached - and he has received widespread notice as one of the most creative and innovative offensive coordinators in football."
"All along the way, Weis has displayed the ability to develop successful offensive players."
"Current New England Patriot wide receiver David Givens (he played for Notre Dame in 1998-2001) on Charlie Weis: "He's been a teacher and coach of high school kids and he's got so much experience coaching NFL players like myself. There's no doubt in my mind he would be an outstanding recruiter because he relates so well to young people. I can say this because I've played for Charlie and I played at Notre Dame. I understand the pressures of playing and the pressures the coaches had coaching us at Notre Dame. They're all things Charlie would do very well with."
"Former Notre Dame All-America quarterback and current ESPN analyst Joe Theismann on Charlie Weis: "I think Charlie Weis in the right man for the right job at the University of Notre Dame. He understands throwing the football. That's what this era of college football is today - the ability to put it in the air. He's been a student at Notre Dame so he knows the culture of the University. He's worked on a big stage, having been part of World Championships two of the last three years with the Patriots. He's very inventive - his offenses have included defensive ends at fullback and linebackers at tight end. He's inventive as well as creative. He's a man who will bring a quiet discipline to the program. I think it's a great hire."
http://www.und.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/121204aae.html
I have nothing against Charlie Weis. I am not pretending I thought he was going to fail. He was the hottest head coach prospect for college OR the NFL in 2004 and it was a clear choice for Notre Dame to make. I bring this up because I think it is ridiculous that anyone is blaming him completely for their recent disappointments. Their program is broken because they've lost the prestige of playing for the Irish. High school players aren't impressed by Knute Rockne, Touchdown Jesus, or the Golden Dome. Brian Kelly has done well in three seasons at Cincinnati. But don't forget his success came with players that Mark Dantonio recruited.
"A widely-respected disciple of professional coaching standouts Bill Parcells and Bill Belichick, Weis currently is the highly-regarded offensive coordinator of the New England Patriots (under Patriot head coach Belichick). He has played an integral role in New England's victories in two of the last three Super Bowls - and the Patriots currently own the best record in the NFL in 2004 at 12-1."
"Weis has been a winner everywhere he has coached - and he has received widespread notice as one of the most creative and innovative offensive coordinators in football."
"All along the way, Weis has displayed the ability to develop successful offensive players."
"Current New England Patriot wide receiver David Givens (he played for Notre Dame in 1998-2001) on Charlie Weis: "He's been a teacher and coach of high school kids and he's got so much experience coaching NFL players like myself. There's no doubt in my mind he would be an outstanding recruiter because he relates so well to young people. I can say this because I've played for Charlie and I played at Notre Dame. I understand the pressures of playing and the pressures the coaches had coaching us at Notre Dame. They're all things Charlie would do very well with."
"Former Notre Dame All-America quarterback and current ESPN analyst Joe Theismann on Charlie Weis: "I think Charlie Weis in the right man for the right job at the University of Notre Dame. He understands throwing the football. That's what this era of college football is today - the ability to put it in the air. He's been a student at Notre Dame so he knows the culture of the University. He's worked on a big stage, having been part of World Championships two of the last three years with the Patriots. He's very inventive - his offenses have included defensive ends at fullback and linebackers at tight end. He's inventive as well as creative. He's a man who will bring a quiet discipline to the program. I think it's a great hire."
http://www.und.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/121204aae.html
I have nothing against Charlie Weis. I am not pretending I thought he was going to fail. He was the hottest head coach prospect for college OR the NFL in 2004 and it was a clear choice for Notre Dame to make. I bring this up because I think it is ridiculous that anyone is blaming him completely for their recent disappointments. Their program is broken because they've lost the prestige of playing for the Irish. High school players aren't impressed by Knute Rockne, Touchdown Jesus, or the Golden Dome. Brian Kelly has done well in three seasons at Cincinnati. But don't forget his success came with players that Mark Dantonio recruited.
Glimpse into the Future
Irish No Longer Kelly Green December 11, 2013
After four tumultuous seasons, Notre Dame is once again looking for a new head football coach. Weeks of speculation of his ouster was confirmed when Brian Kelly was fired early Wednesday morning with one year remaining on his contract. The decision was made after Notre Dame's disappointing 7-5 season.
Kelly came to Notre Dame after leading Cincinnati to an undefeated 12-0 season in 2009. He was characterized by his skilled offenses and his ability to develop quarterback talent. He failed to bring turn the Fighting Irish into an offensive machine, however. Notre Dame ranked 64th this season in total offense.
In his four seasons as head coach of the Irish, Brian Kelly amassed an overall record of 26-23. His best season came in 2011 when he lead Notre Dame to a 9-4 record. He failed to carry this momentum into the 2012 season when Notre Dame finished with a disappointing 6-6 record. Notre Dame officials expect to begin interviewing candidates immediately.
After four tumultuous seasons, Notre Dame is once again looking for a new head football coach. Weeks of speculation of his ouster was confirmed when Brian Kelly was fired early Wednesday morning with one year remaining on his contract. The decision was made after Notre Dame's disappointing 7-5 season.
Kelly came to Notre Dame after leading Cincinnati to an undefeated 12-0 season in 2009. He was characterized by his skilled offenses and his ability to develop quarterback talent. He failed to bring turn the Fighting Irish into an offensive machine, however. Notre Dame ranked 64th this season in total offense.
In his four seasons as head coach of the Irish, Brian Kelly amassed an overall record of 26-23. His best season came in 2011 when he lead Notre Dame to a 9-4 record. He failed to carry this momentum into the 2012 season when Notre Dame finished with a disappointing 6-6 record. Notre Dame officials expect to begin interviewing candidates immediately.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Huh?
Can someone who watched the game explain this?
Bench:
Raymar Morgan, F 9min 0-4FG 0-4FT 1OREB 1REB 1AST 1STL 0BLK 1TO 2PF 0PTS
Delvon Roe, F 13min 0-2FG 5PF 0PTS
In Draymond Green and Derrick Nix I trust.
Nix: 15MIN 14REB 11PTS
(You're right, though, Mike - he needs to improve FT (1-5)
In other news...
"Curtis Granderson remains the talk of the town -- actually, the talk of the majors.
Newsday's Ken Davidoff reported Friday that the Angels are the latest team said to be in communications with Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski about a potential deal for the centerfielder. The Yankees, who have outfield openings with Hideki Matsui and Johnny Damon as free agents, quickly leapt to the top of the list coming out of the GM meetings this week. But Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune reported Friday "there's no question the Cubs have interest in the homegrown Granderson" who is from Chicago. Rogers said, however, it was unclear what kind of talks the Cubs have had with Dombrowski, who would not confirm reports about any specific players." - freep.com
What the heck is this??? Why are they going to get rid of Granderson? Apparently, young, homegrown talent isn't important anymore. Did Illitch decide he wants to stop investing in the Tigers? Ooo - maybe we can get an aging, slow, overpriced LF Johnny Damon in FA instead!! I don't care who the Tigers get rid of except for Granderson. Just like Tayshaun with the Pistons - feel free to clean house, but don't touch his room.
Bench:
Raymar Morgan, F 9min 0-4FG 0-4FT 1OREB 1REB 1AST 1STL 0BLK 1TO 2PF 0PTS
Delvon Roe, F 13min 0-2FG 5PF 0PTS
In Draymond Green and Derrick Nix I trust.
Nix: 15MIN 14REB 11PTS
(You're right, though, Mike - he needs to improve FT (1-5)
In other news...
"Curtis Granderson remains the talk of the town -- actually, the talk of the majors.
Newsday's Ken Davidoff reported Friday that the Angels are the latest team said to be in communications with Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski about a potential deal for the centerfielder. The Yankees, who have outfield openings with Hideki Matsui and Johnny Damon as free agents, quickly leapt to the top of the list coming out of the GM meetings this week. But Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune reported Friday "there's no question the Cubs have interest in the homegrown Granderson" who is from Chicago. Rogers said, however, it was unclear what kind of talks the Cubs have had with Dombrowski, who would not confirm reports about any specific players." - freep.com
What the heck is this??? Why are they going to get rid of Granderson? Apparently, young, homegrown talent isn't important anymore. Did Illitch decide he wants to stop investing in the Tigers? Ooo - maybe we can get an aging, slow, overpriced LF Johnny Damon in FA instead!! I don't care who the Tigers get rid of except for Granderson. Just like Tayshaun with the Pistons - feel free to clean house, but don't touch his room.
Monday, November 02, 2009
The Blind Side
This is the movie based on the book I was telling you guys about - "The Blind Side".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYC1ulLHD6Y
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khtBvQdxta4
I like the concept and Sandra Bullock's character, but I'm worried that it is a large dramatization of his life. I know Michael Oher said there were some things that were exaggerated in the book, so a second-hand rendition is going to be even further from the truth. (For example, I don't remember a part where she goes "down to the hood" and threatens some guy). Still, I know I'm going to see it soon after it comes out. My favorite part of the movie is going to be seeing Nick Saban in LSU gear - he'll do anything for money.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYC1ulLHD6Y
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khtBvQdxta4
I like the concept and Sandra Bullock's character, but I'm worried that it is a large dramatization of his life. I know Michael Oher said there were some things that were exaggerated in the book, so a second-hand rendition is going to be even further from the truth. (For example, I don't remember a part where she goes "down to the hood" and threatens some guy). Still, I know I'm going to see it soon after it comes out. My favorite part of the movie is going to be seeing Nick Saban in LSU gear - he'll do anything for money.
Sunday, November 01, 2009
Quick thoughts
-I was probably a little too quick to label "typical Spartans". Afterall, with a new quarterback and running back, expectations to maintain the performance of last year's team may have been too high. For the most part, we are a young team. I feel that I was dead on in declaring that the 3 game set against Wisconsin, Michigan, and Illinois would set the tone for the rest of the season. Cousins emerged as the starting (and finishing) QB and they won two of the three. I think the Michigan game really gave them the confidence that they needed for the rest of the season.
Here are my very unorganized thoughts on the Minnesota game:
-They were completely screwed by a horrible officiating crew. They issued the most penalities against Minnesota in a Big 10 game since 1957. Then, they awarded them the game by overturning a called completed catch and fumble by Minnesota with 6 minutes left to an incomplete pass. The game was 35-31 at that point and we would have had the ball in Minnesota's territory. Do the poor calls on both sides of the ball negate each other and create a "fair game"? Hell no. I think Chris L Rucker is getting a reputation as a dirty player because for the second week in a row he laid a receiver out by leading with his head. The biggest disappointment that I am seeing from the team in general is taking costly penalties that keep drives alive. The defense stopped them with less than 3 minutes to go to give us one last chance to win the game. Then the highly avoidable roughing the kicker penalty on the punt ended the game. We need more Keshawn Martin.
-After reading Mike's fantastic MSU basketball preview post, I am pretty worried about our schedule this season. It could act to challenge us so we're "battle ready" for the tournament. Or it could expose all of our weaknesses and pound them down. Florida, UNC, Gonzaga, Texas?? Who does that?
Here are my very unorganized thoughts on the Minnesota game:
-They were completely screwed by a horrible officiating crew. They issued the most penalities against Minnesota in a Big 10 game since 1957. Then, they awarded them the game by overturning a called completed catch and fumble by Minnesota with 6 minutes left to an incomplete pass. The game was 35-31 at that point and we would have had the ball in Minnesota's territory. Do the poor calls on both sides of the ball negate each other and create a "fair game"? Hell no. I think Chris L Rucker is getting a reputation as a dirty player because for the second week in a row he laid a receiver out by leading with his head. The biggest disappointment that I am seeing from the team in general is taking costly penalties that keep drives alive. The defense stopped them with less than 3 minutes to go to give us one last chance to win the game. Then the highly avoidable roughing the kicker penalty on the punt ended the game. We need more Keshawn Martin.
-After reading Mike's fantastic MSU basketball preview post, I am pretty worried about our schedule this season. It could act to challenge us so we're "battle ready" for the tournament. Or it could expose all of our weaknesses and pound them down. Florida, UNC, Gonzaga, Texas?? Who does that?
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Crossroads
"Typical Spartans" - adjective
1. relates to the performance of the Michigan State football team.
2. a pattern of losing easy games in the final minutes due to lack of effort, focus, and/or execution.
"That loss to Central Michigan was 'typical Spartans'".
3. the act of winning early in the season and having a letdown in October.
I am not trying to exaggerate the importance of the next 3 games, but this really is a pivotal point in their season. From one perspective, their 1-2 record isn't as bad as it sounds. They have lost their games on a last second field goal and 2 minute offense that was very close to producing a go-ahead TD or a game-tying field goal. They have lost by a combined 5 points. Their starting QB is the best in the Big 10 in QB Rating (14th overall), which happen to also stand as our rankings in passing YPG in the conference and nation. Between Nichol and Cousins, they've thrown 1 INT all season. Greg Jones is #3 in the country in tackles.
From another perspective, they are in worse shape than they have been in years. They lost to a MAC team at home, which brought up memories of similar early-season losses in years past to Cal in 2002, Louisiana Tech in 2003, and Rutgers in 2004. The next game was headed to be much more of a blowout until Michael Floyd broke his collarbone and Jimmy Clausen injured his foot. (Side note: I propose we call the broken collarbone the "Charles Rogers" much like an injured ulnar collateral ligament is the "Tommy John"). MSU ranks 81st in Rushing YPG. They have only recorded 5 sacks and 2 INTs. Our secondary can't stop anyone. We STILL have not settled on a QB and the WRs don't look in synch with the QBs as a result.
This season has defied the third part of my definition because their schedule is uncharacteristically difficult early in the season. We have not met my expectations, but they really do start their new season this Saturday. Over the next 3 weekends, Michigan State plays at Wisconsin (a game we won on a last second FG last year), has a tougher-than-expected game against U-M, and plays at Illinois. If they were to somehow win all three of these games, they make a very strong argument for winning the Big 10. I assume they would at worst finish 3rd barring a huge letdown later in the season. If the opposite were to occur, which I think is entirely possible, they will stand at an abismal 1-5 on October 10th. To put this into perspective, here are the dates over the past 7 seasons when they lost their 5th game.
2002 Oct. 26
2003 Dec. 29th (Bowl Game)
2004 Nov. 6th
2005 Nov. 12th
2006 Oct. 28th
2007 Nov. 3rd
2008 We lost our 4th game against Georgia in the Citrus Bowl on 1/1/09
Playing difficult Big-10 teams this early in the season is rare, but disasterous when it occurs. Looking over this history, our schedule is most akin to that in 2005. After defeating Kent St and Hawaii at home they played at Notre Dame and won. They blew out an easy Illinois team on the road to make it 4-0. However, they lost a close game at home against Michigan and again against OSU after the bye week. Things took the "typical Spartan" downward spiral and they lost 4 of the last 5 to bring the season record to 5-6. 2006 was very similar as well with their Big 10 schedule opening home against Illinois, at Michigan, and home against OSU. That season, John L Smith's last, they finished 4-8 overall, 1-7 in the Big 10.
To prevent things from spiraling downhill, I think that Kirk Cousins must immediately be named the starting (and ending and everything in between) QB so he can get all of the reps with the first team. They must also begin game planning to defend against the spread offense immediately after the Wisconsin game. U-M, Illinois, and Northwestern, our next 3 opponents after this weekend, will rely on mobile QBs (to varying degrees) and spreading out the field. It could be a blessing to face them back-to-back-to-back since the defensive strategy can be improved each week. Finally, they have to find someone who can defend passes. I think the player we have missed most from last year, other than Javon Ringer, is Otis Wiley.
Compared to my preseason predictions, I think U-M is looking more like a Loss, but Minnesota and Wisconsin appear to have strong potential for MSU to be victorious. I don't believe they will start 1-5, but I think we should be looking forward to a low level bowl game and their potential for next season.
1. relates to the performance of the Michigan State football team.
2. a pattern of losing easy games in the final minutes due to lack of effort, focus, and/or execution.
"That loss to Central Michigan was 'typical Spartans'".
3. the act of winning early in the season and having a letdown in October.
I am not trying to exaggerate the importance of the next 3 games, but this really is a pivotal point in their season. From one perspective, their 1-2 record isn't as bad as it sounds. They have lost their games on a last second field goal and 2 minute offense that was very close to producing a go-ahead TD or a game-tying field goal. They have lost by a combined 5 points. Their starting QB is the best in the Big 10 in QB Rating (14th overall), which happen to also stand as our rankings in passing YPG in the conference and nation. Between Nichol and Cousins, they've thrown 1 INT all season. Greg Jones is #3 in the country in tackles.
From another perspective, they are in worse shape than they have been in years. They lost to a MAC team at home, which brought up memories of similar early-season losses in years past to Cal in 2002, Louisiana Tech in 2003, and Rutgers in 2004. The next game was headed to be much more of a blowout until Michael Floyd broke his collarbone and Jimmy Clausen injured his foot. (Side note: I propose we call the broken collarbone the "Charles Rogers" much like an injured ulnar collateral ligament is the "Tommy John"). MSU ranks 81st in Rushing YPG. They have only recorded 5 sacks and 2 INTs. Our secondary can't stop anyone. We STILL have not settled on a QB and the WRs don't look in synch with the QBs as a result.
This season has defied the third part of my definition because their schedule is uncharacteristically difficult early in the season. We have not met my expectations, but they really do start their new season this Saturday. Over the next 3 weekends, Michigan State plays at Wisconsin (a game we won on a last second FG last year), has a tougher-than-expected game against U-M, and plays at Illinois. If they were to somehow win all three of these games, they make a very strong argument for winning the Big 10. I assume they would at worst finish 3rd barring a huge letdown later in the season. If the opposite were to occur, which I think is entirely possible, they will stand at an abismal 1-5 on October 10th. To put this into perspective, here are the dates over the past 7 seasons when they lost their 5th game.
2002 Oct. 26
2003 Dec. 29th (Bowl Game)
2004 Nov. 6th
2005 Nov. 12th
2006 Oct. 28th
2007 Nov. 3rd
2008 We lost our 4th game against Georgia in the Citrus Bowl on 1/1/09
Playing difficult Big-10 teams this early in the season is rare, but disasterous when it occurs. Looking over this history, our schedule is most akin to that in 2005. After defeating Kent St and Hawaii at home they played at Notre Dame and won. They blew out an easy Illinois team on the road to make it 4-0. However, they lost a close game at home against Michigan and again against OSU after the bye week. Things took the "typical Spartan" downward spiral and they lost 4 of the last 5 to bring the season record to 5-6. 2006 was very similar as well with their Big 10 schedule opening home against Illinois, at Michigan, and home against OSU. That season, John L Smith's last, they finished 4-8 overall, 1-7 in the Big 10.
To prevent things from spiraling downhill, I think that Kirk Cousins must immediately be named the starting (and ending and everything in between) QB so he can get all of the reps with the first team. They must also begin game planning to defend against the spread offense immediately after the Wisconsin game. U-M, Illinois, and Northwestern, our next 3 opponents after this weekend, will rely on mobile QBs (to varying degrees) and spreading out the field. It could be a blessing to face them back-to-back-to-back since the defensive strategy can be improved each week. Finally, they have to find someone who can defend passes. I think the player we have missed most from last year, other than Javon Ringer, is Otis Wiley.
Compared to my preseason predictions, I think U-M is looking more like a Loss, but Minnesota and Wisconsin appear to have strong potential for MSU to be victorious. I don't believe they will start 1-5, but I think we should be looking forward to a low level bowl game and their potential for next season.
Wednesday, September 09, 2009
**UPDATE**
An update - not to one of my posts, but to Mike's rant on the Tigers before the Trade Deadline.
Let me recap...
"I write you this letter now because on Friday is July 31st- the MLB trading deadline. I know our payroll is still high, and I know we don't have much in the farm system, but from what I hear, you are one hell of a GM. I trust you and I trust your skills, and I'm hoping you can work some magic for our ballclub. Find that spark for us, Dave. Get us that hitter (and hopefully not Troy Glaus or Milton Bradley, like I've heard rumored...) that will get our offense going and carry us into October." - Mike
"I am actually going to contend that they are in an ok position to win the division without making any moves. We have a lot of guys hitting below their career averages, but I think they have a chance to put it together and peak at the right time. I am ok with them being in an offensive slump in July because it means they could hit their stride in Sept/Oct." - Adam
Since this post on July 28th:
-Record: 23-14
-Average runs per game: 4.9 (up from 3.65 in July)
-Percentage of games scoring 2 runs or less: 30% (down from 40% in July)
but...
-Average margin of victory: 2.35 (down from 3.38)
-Miguel Cabrera is the only starter with a BA above .300
-Their one acquirement, Aubrey Huff, is batting .167
Let me recap...
"I write you this letter now because on Friday is July 31st- the MLB trading deadline. I know our payroll is still high, and I know we don't have much in the farm system, but from what I hear, you are one hell of a GM. I trust you and I trust your skills, and I'm hoping you can work some magic for our ballclub. Find that spark for us, Dave. Get us that hitter (and hopefully not Troy Glaus or Milton Bradley, like I've heard rumored...) that will get our offense going and carry us into October." - Mike
"I am actually going to contend that they are in an ok position to win the division without making any moves. We have a lot of guys hitting below their career averages, but I think they have a chance to put it together and peak at the right time. I am ok with them being in an offensive slump in July because it means they could hit their stride in Sept/Oct." - Adam
Since this post on July 28th:
-Record: 23-14
-Average runs per game: 4.9 (up from 3.65 in July)
-Percentage of games scoring 2 runs or less: 30% (down from 40% in July)
but...
-Average margin of victory: 2.35 (down from 3.38)
-Miguel Cabrera is the only starter with a BA above .300
-Their one acquirement, Aubrey Huff, is batting .167
Wednesday, September 02, 2009
MSU Season Preview
5 Questions about MSU
1. Will Kirk Cousins remain the starting QB or can Keith Nichol play into the starter role?
Mark Dantonio was very quiet on who was leading the QB battle until the Montana St. press conference. I was very surprised to hear he will continue to evaluate the two of them on a game-by-game basis. That really leaves the door open to making a switch, so one has to wonder how short of a leash he will keep on Cousins.
2. How will our trio of freshman RBs work out? Will one person end up taking over?
The other piece of info I was surprised to discover was that Caulton Ray, Edwin Baker, and Larry Caper are 1-2-3 on the depth chart. Actually, I was surprised to learn we have a player on our team named Caulton Ray. I can't believe that not a single one of Javon Ringer's understudies are ready to start at RB. Technically, the #2 guy was demoted this year. I am concerned that the decision indicates that the others weren't any good and not that these new guys are amazing.
3. Can Greg Jones remain an impact player?
He was voted the Preseason Big 10 Defensive Player of the Year. It is extremely rare that a Spartan Defensive player is recognized for anything. Players like James Laurinaitis, AJ Hawk, Lamar Woodley, and Erasmus James (all of whom have won Defensive POY Honors) were critical in their team's success and were taken early in the NFL Draft. If Jones takes his game to the next level, he will be critical in stopping guys like Juice Williams and Daryll Clark.
4. Can our young defensive line hold people?
Last year, we finished T-48 in Sacks with teams like Indiana and Notre Dame. The Big 10 is filled with great rushing teams (3 of our opponents ranked in the Top 25 in rushing last year). We will face strong offensive lines against Notre Dame, Iowa, and Wisconsin; each stand to have strong running games as a result.
5. Last year we won the games we should have won and were blown out by superior opponents. Are let down games really a thing of the past?
I think so, to a certain extent. Below is how I see each game playing out along with my confidence rating (1- high, 12- low) in my prediction.
Game-By-Game Predictions
Montana State - Win (1)
I really don't think FBS teams should be able to play FCS teams and count it as a win.
Central Michigan - Win (6)
The Free Press actually predicted CMU to beat us. I definitely see this as a trap game because Dan LeFevour is one of the best non-BCS conference QBs. I think they are going to win the MAC, which means they are capable of pulling an upset.
at Notre Dame - Win (8)
Another iffy game since Lou Holtz predicted ND to go to the BCS Championship game. Golden Tate is scary and I am concerned our secondary won't be able to keep up. I reluctantly gave us a win because the away team typically wins this game. Also, they were terrible last year and they haven't proved they are significantly better yet.
at Wisconsin - Loss (10)
Even though I don't see any playmakers in their offense, I don't think we will be able to pull out a win on the road against Wisco. We won last year on a last second field goal - our closest win of the season. The ND game on the road will be a challenge and Michigan may be in the back of their minds.
Michigan - Win (12)
I feel the least confident about this prediction only because it is Michigan. They almost beat us last year despite having an awful team. If one of their freshman QBs steps up like Terelle Pryor did last year for Ohio State, they will end up willing 8-9 games. I am hoping we're one of the other 3-4 games.
at Illinois - Loss (5)
I think Illinois will be similar to the team from two years ago rather than last year. If Juice Williams cuts down on throwing interceptions and the defense can hold people, watch out.
Northwestern - Win (11)
I hate this game. I think the key to beating Northwestern is to get a lead early and not allowing them to feel like they're in the game.
Iowa - Win (7)
People are very high on Iowa but I think they will finish 5th in the Big 10 or worse. Shonn Greene provided the success for their team last year and he's gone. They always have great offensive and defensive lines, though, so this will be a close, low scoring game.
at Minnesota - Loss (9)
It will be interesting to see the weather in late October for this game since Minnesota is opening a new stadium this year. I
Western Michigan - Win (2)
I really like that we have a nice, easier game against WMU toward the end of the season. Hopefully they can open a lead early so they can pull the starters at the half.
at Purdue - Win (3)
Purdue offers nothing to be excited about. Past Spartan teams would probably lose this one because they're looking forward to the next week.
Penn State - Loss (4)
...but past MSU teams also pull at least 1 upset each season and that didn't happen last year. I think Daryll Clark is the best QB in the Big 10 and that the game will go much like last year's.
So that puts us at 8-4, a slight step back from last year. With our youth at QB and RB, I would label that a success and a great sign of things to come in 2010 and 2011.
Predicted Big 10 Standings
1. Ohio State
2. Penn State
3. Illinois
4. Michigan State
5. Iowa
6. Michigan
7. Minnesota
8. Wisconsin
9. Northwestern
10. Purdue
11. Indiana
1. Will Kirk Cousins remain the starting QB or can Keith Nichol play into the starter role?
Mark Dantonio was very quiet on who was leading the QB battle until the Montana St. press conference. I was very surprised to hear he will continue to evaluate the two of them on a game-by-game basis. That really leaves the door open to making a switch, so one has to wonder how short of a leash he will keep on Cousins.
2. How will our trio of freshman RBs work out? Will one person end up taking over?
The other piece of info I was surprised to discover was that Caulton Ray, Edwin Baker, and Larry Caper are 1-2-3 on the depth chart. Actually, I was surprised to learn we have a player on our team named Caulton Ray. I can't believe that not a single one of Javon Ringer's understudies are ready to start at RB. Technically, the #2 guy was demoted this year. I am concerned that the decision indicates that the others weren't any good and not that these new guys are amazing.
3. Can Greg Jones remain an impact player?
He was voted the Preseason Big 10 Defensive Player of the Year. It is extremely rare that a Spartan Defensive player is recognized for anything. Players like James Laurinaitis, AJ Hawk, Lamar Woodley, and Erasmus James (all of whom have won Defensive POY Honors) were critical in their team's success and were taken early in the NFL Draft. If Jones takes his game to the next level, he will be critical in stopping guys like Juice Williams and Daryll Clark.
4. Can our young defensive line hold people?
Last year, we finished T-48 in Sacks with teams like Indiana and Notre Dame. The Big 10 is filled with great rushing teams (3 of our opponents ranked in the Top 25 in rushing last year). We will face strong offensive lines against Notre Dame, Iowa, and Wisconsin; each stand to have strong running games as a result.
5. Last year we won the games we should have won and were blown out by superior opponents. Are let down games really a thing of the past?
I think so, to a certain extent. Below is how I see each game playing out along with my confidence rating (1- high, 12- low) in my prediction.
Game-By-Game Predictions
Montana State - Win (1)
I really don't think FBS teams should be able to play FCS teams and count it as a win.
Central Michigan - Win (6)
The Free Press actually predicted CMU to beat us. I definitely see this as a trap game because Dan LeFevour is one of the best non-BCS conference QBs. I think they are going to win the MAC, which means they are capable of pulling an upset.
at Notre Dame - Win (8)
Another iffy game since Lou Holtz predicted ND to go to the BCS Championship game. Golden Tate is scary and I am concerned our secondary won't be able to keep up. I reluctantly gave us a win because the away team typically wins this game. Also, they were terrible last year and they haven't proved they are significantly better yet.
at Wisconsin - Loss (10)
Even though I don't see any playmakers in their offense, I don't think we will be able to pull out a win on the road against Wisco. We won last year on a last second field goal - our closest win of the season. The ND game on the road will be a challenge and Michigan may be in the back of their minds.
Michigan - Win (12)
I feel the least confident about this prediction only because it is Michigan. They almost beat us last year despite having an awful team. If one of their freshman QBs steps up like Terelle Pryor did last year for Ohio State, they will end up willing 8-9 games. I am hoping we're one of the other 3-4 games.
at Illinois - Loss (5)
I think Illinois will be similar to the team from two years ago rather than last year. If Juice Williams cuts down on throwing interceptions and the defense can hold people, watch out.
Northwestern - Win (11)
I hate this game. I think the key to beating Northwestern is to get a lead early and not allowing them to feel like they're in the game.
Iowa - Win (7)
People are very high on Iowa but I think they will finish 5th in the Big 10 or worse. Shonn Greene provided the success for their team last year and he's gone. They always have great offensive and defensive lines, though, so this will be a close, low scoring game.
at Minnesota - Loss (9)
It will be interesting to see the weather in late October for this game since Minnesota is opening a new stadium this year. I
Western Michigan - Win (2)
I really like that we have a nice, easier game against WMU toward the end of the season. Hopefully they can open a lead early so they can pull the starters at the half.
at Purdue - Win (3)
Purdue offers nothing to be excited about. Past Spartan teams would probably lose this one because they're looking forward to the next week.
Penn State - Loss (4)
...but past MSU teams also pull at least 1 upset each season and that didn't happen last year. I think Daryll Clark is the best QB in the Big 10 and that the game will go much like last year's.
So that puts us at 8-4, a slight step back from last year. With our youth at QB and RB, I would label that a success and a great sign of things to come in 2010 and 2011.
Predicted Big 10 Standings
1. Ohio State
2. Penn State
3. Illinois
4. Michigan State
5. Iowa
6. Michigan
7. Minnesota
8. Wisconsin
9. Northwestern
10. Purdue
11. Indiana
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
My Draft Analysis
I said before the draft that I was thinking about going RB/WR, QB/RB, and WR/QB. And that's exactly what I ended up doing (without much planning). Here's my thoughts on who is the strongest at each position.
QBs: Wicked Weasels - On paper, the Manning brothers and Kurt Warner have a lot to offer. Sure, there are questions on how Eli will fare without Plaxico Burress and whether Kurt Warner is too old, but they have had great performances in the past and have a strong TD/INT ratio. Keep in mind, each has won a Super Bowl. Close runner up - ipresstoocoolbuttons
RBs: Whisky Wednesday - It is hard to say anyone else has a better RB lineup since he took one in each of the first 5 rounds. Turner and Chris Johnson look like the solid starters for most weeks with Ryan Grant and Brandon Jacobs offering good starts based on their matchups. Close runner up - Zoo Tycoons. MJD probably is really a good selection and DeAngelo Williams was an absolute STEAL in the 3rd round. Plus, Marshawn Lynch and Larry Johnson are more than capable of pulling a huge week or two out of nowhere.
WRs: Cumming From Behind - wow - Randy Moss, Roddy White, Greg Jennings - numbers 4, 6, and 8 in Fantasy WRs last year. Plus, he has one of the WRs with the most potential to break out in 09 in Anthony Gonzalez. If Mike wins the championship this year, this is the reason why. Close runner up - Boston Massacre and ipresstoocoolbuttons (TIE). I think my WRs are my strong point. I think Welker, Roy Williams, and Devin Hester all have potential to greatly improve last year's numbers with their new QB situations. I like that Grace has consistent talent in Boldin, and Chad & Calvin Johnson.
Bench: Cumming From Behind - I feel like this is what a FF magazine would say your bench should look like. I think there is a lot of potential in Gonzalez, McFadden, and Brown to have big weeks early in the season. Close runner up - Boston Massacre. I probably drafted Leshaun McCoy 2-3 rounds before I could have, but at least I got my guy. If Chicago's offense pans out, Cutler and Hester will be nice starting options, but that is a big if.
Other notes:
-I own 3 of the top 9 Yahoo ranked players Tomlinson, Steven Jackson, and Fitz)
-Mike's highest ranked player in Yahoo rankings is 17th overall (Randy Moss)
-In regards to total projected points, Whiskey Wednesday's highest ranked player is 21st overall (Joe Flacco)
QBs: Wicked Weasels - On paper, the Manning brothers and Kurt Warner have a lot to offer. Sure, there are questions on how Eli will fare without Plaxico Burress and whether Kurt Warner is too old, but they have had great performances in the past and have a strong TD/INT ratio. Keep in mind, each has won a Super Bowl. Close runner up - ipresstoocoolbuttons
RBs: Whisky Wednesday - It is hard to say anyone else has a better RB lineup since he took one in each of the first 5 rounds. Turner and Chris Johnson look like the solid starters for most weeks with Ryan Grant and Brandon Jacobs offering good starts based on their matchups. Close runner up - Zoo Tycoons. MJD probably is really a good selection and DeAngelo Williams was an absolute STEAL in the 3rd round. Plus, Marshawn Lynch and Larry Johnson are more than capable of pulling a huge week or two out of nowhere.
WRs: Cumming From Behind - wow - Randy Moss, Roddy White, Greg Jennings - numbers 4, 6, and 8 in Fantasy WRs last year. Plus, he has one of the WRs with the most potential to break out in 09 in Anthony Gonzalez. If Mike wins the championship this year, this is the reason why. Close runner up - Boston Massacre and ipresstoocoolbuttons (TIE). I think my WRs are my strong point. I think Welker, Roy Williams, and Devin Hester all have potential to greatly improve last year's numbers with their new QB situations. I like that Grace has consistent talent in Boldin, and Chad & Calvin Johnson.
Bench: Cumming From Behind - I feel like this is what a FF magazine would say your bench should look like. I think there is a lot of potential in Gonzalez, McFadden, and Brown to have big weeks early in the season. Close runner up - Boston Massacre. I probably drafted Leshaun McCoy 2-3 rounds before I could have, but at least I got my guy. If Chicago's offense pans out, Cutler and Hester will be nice starting options, but that is a big if.
Other notes:
-I own 3 of the top 9 Yahoo ranked players Tomlinson, Steven Jackson, and Fitz)
-Mike's highest ranked player in Yahoo rankings is 17th overall (Randy Moss)
-In regards to total projected points, Whiskey Wednesday's highest ranked player is 21st overall (Joe Flacco)
Thursday, August 20, 2009
The Winner's Manual
How arrogant is it for Jim Tressel to name his book "The Winner's Manual"? Almost as arrogant as me titling it as my fantasy football preview post. I am so excited for our season to begin that I wanted to give my thoughts on the draft. Is it stupid or just arrogant of me to discuss my strategy? My goal is neither - I just really want to start a debate.
-You know you're marrying the right person when you're looking through Fantasy Football magazines and thing "hmm, would she want me to pick her up a copy?" She said she would've looked it over, if you were wondering.
-Most underrated player: Matt Hasselbeck (109). Quarterbacks rated higher: Cassel, Cutler, Eli Manning. Players ranked higher: Steve Breaston, John Carlson (his own TE), Sammy Morris. I understand he was bad last year (5 TD, 10 INT). However, he was injured much of the season, as were his WRs (who were sketchy at best). Don't forget in 2007 he threw for almost 4000 yards, 28 TDs, and 12 INTs. Plus, they added T.J. Who'syourmama to the team. Finally, they had to face the AFC and NFC East and struggled with the cross-country road trips every week. This year, they will get to face the Lions, Jaguars, Tampa Bay, Houston, and as always, two games a piece against the 49ers and Rams. Look for him to throw 3500+ yards, 24+ TDs, and 14- INTs.
-Most overrated player: Maurice Jones Drew (3). RBs rated lower: Deangelo Williams, Ladanian Tomlinson. The way I remember it, MJD had a bad season last year. I checked his stats and he only had 824 yards rushing. His 565 yards receiving, and 14 TDs improve his resume, however. I get that the fact that he is young and typically receives most of the carries (especially in the red zone) makes him a rare option in a 2-back heavy league. However, I just don't think there is a lot to be excited about with his team. The Jaguars play in an increasingly difficult division and, in my opinion, lack a strong passing game that can take some of the attention off of MJD. He put up a lot of points last year through his TDs and I don't trust a player to be able to repeat that year after year. That being said, I could very well end up drafting him at 8 or 9, which seems like a more appropriate spot for him.
-Teams to stay away from: Cleveland Browns and Kansas City Chiefs. I would say the only Brown you could consider drafting would be Braylon Edwards. I would stay away from him, however, because he is very inconsistent and drops way too many balls. He used to be a #1 WR option, but I think now he is more like a #3. The Chiefs used to have 2 solid draft picks in Larry Johnson and Tony Gonzalez. This year, Larry's stock has dropped tremendously and Tony's gone to Atlanta. Of their current players, I think Dwayne Bowe is a #2 WR, Johnson is a #3 RB, and Cassel is a late round QB (I'm not buying him at all).
This all leads me to how I see the draft shaking out. I am very happy to have picks #8 and 9 - this is supposed to be the year to be in the bottom half of the draft order. I think the following players will be taken before I'm up (in no particular order): Adrian Peterson, Ladanian Tomlinson, Michael Turner, Drew Brees, Tom Brady, Deangelo Williams, Maurice Jones Drew. I am thinking heavily about going with RB/WR. This would logically give me the choice of Matt Forte/Brian Westbrook and Larry Fitzgerald/Calvin Johnson/Andre Johnson. I could imagine more WRs/QBs taken in the first round, however, which would force me to take two of the elite RBs. The second go around, I am thinking about going QB/RB and then QB/WR in the third. I have my eye on 2 particular defenses (I have to keep something secret) so I may take one of them in the 4th go-around, which would be the 7th and 8th rounds.
Regardless of how it goes, I cannot wait until Tuesday.
-You know you're marrying the right person when you're looking through Fantasy Football magazines and thing "hmm, would she want me to pick her up a copy?" She said she would've looked it over, if you were wondering.
-Most underrated player: Matt Hasselbeck (109). Quarterbacks rated higher: Cassel, Cutler, Eli Manning. Players ranked higher: Steve Breaston, John Carlson (his own TE), Sammy Morris. I understand he was bad last year (5 TD, 10 INT). However, he was injured much of the season, as were his WRs (who were sketchy at best). Don't forget in 2007 he threw for almost 4000 yards, 28 TDs, and 12 INTs. Plus, they added T.J. Who'syourmama to the team. Finally, they had to face the AFC and NFC East and struggled with the cross-country road trips every week. This year, they will get to face the Lions, Jaguars, Tampa Bay, Houston, and as always, two games a piece against the 49ers and Rams. Look for him to throw 3500+ yards, 24+ TDs, and 14- INTs.
-Most overrated player: Maurice Jones Drew (3). RBs rated lower: Deangelo Williams, Ladanian Tomlinson. The way I remember it, MJD had a bad season last year. I checked his stats and he only had 824 yards rushing. His 565 yards receiving, and 14 TDs improve his resume, however. I get that the fact that he is young and typically receives most of the carries (especially in the red zone) makes him a rare option in a 2-back heavy league. However, I just don't think there is a lot to be excited about with his team. The Jaguars play in an increasingly difficult division and, in my opinion, lack a strong passing game that can take some of the attention off of MJD. He put up a lot of points last year through his TDs and I don't trust a player to be able to repeat that year after year. That being said, I could very well end up drafting him at 8 or 9, which seems like a more appropriate spot for him.
-Teams to stay away from: Cleveland Browns and Kansas City Chiefs. I would say the only Brown you could consider drafting would be Braylon Edwards. I would stay away from him, however, because he is very inconsistent and drops way too many balls. He used to be a #1 WR option, but I think now he is more like a #3. The Chiefs used to have 2 solid draft picks in Larry Johnson and Tony Gonzalez. This year, Larry's stock has dropped tremendously and Tony's gone to Atlanta. Of their current players, I think Dwayne Bowe is a #2 WR, Johnson is a #3 RB, and Cassel is a late round QB (I'm not buying him at all).
This all leads me to how I see the draft shaking out. I am very happy to have picks #8 and 9 - this is supposed to be the year to be in the bottom half of the draft order. I think the following players will be taken before I'm up (in no particular order): Adrian Peterson, Ladanian Tomlinson, Michael Turner, Drew Brees, Tom Brady, Deangelo Williams, Maurice Jones Drew. I am thinking heavily about going with RB/WR. This would logically give me the choice of Matt Forte/Brian Westbrook and Larry Fitzgerald/Calvin Johnson/Andre Johnson. I could imagine more WRs/QBs taken in the first round, however, which would force me to take two of the elite RBs. The second go around, I am thinking about going QB/RB and then QB/WR in the third. I have my eye on 2 particular defenses (I have to keep something secret) so I may take one of them in the 4th go-around, which would be the 7th and 8th rounds.
Regardless of how it goes, I cannot wait until Tuesday.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Monday, August 10, 2009
The Sac Bunt
I want you to think for a second and decide what you do in this situation. You're a baseball manager, the only kind of coach that wears the same uniform as his players, as if he may step in relief in the 8th. Let's say the game is close late in the game - you are tied or down by one run. Your first at bat in the inning is a leadoff double. Ignoring the batting ability of the guy at the plate or the running ability of the baserunners, do you use him to sac bunt to get the runner over to third or rely on your next few bats to bring him home?
I ask this because I have seen Jim Leyland in this situation 3 times this year where he sac bunted. Two times there was a guy on second and one time was with a guy on first and second (it happened twice against the Red Sox tonight). And only one of the three times lead to a run. Because I feel outs are precious, I don't give them up to advance someone to third. A well hit ball can bring someone home from 3rd or 2nd, so what does it matter where they are standing? Keeping that first out will allow you more opportunities to get that hit. That being said, what are your thoughts?
I ask this because I have seen Jim Leyland in this situation 3 times this year where he sac bunted. Two times there was a guy on second and one time was with a guy on first and second (it happened twice against the Red Sox tonight). And only one of the three times lead to a run. Because I feel outs are precious, I don't give them up to advance someone to third. A well hit ball can bring someone home from 3rd or 2nd, so what does it matter where they are standing? Keeping that first out will allow you more opportunities to get that hit. That being said, what are your thoughts?
Monday, August 03, 2009
Boycott Everything
Things I am currently boycotting:
1. The Subway near work - a few months ago, the staff completely turned over. The new staff takes their sweet ass time while making subs and don't know how to handle transactions properly. When I go in at 2pm, I should not be 4th in line and it should never take 5 minutes to make just my sub and take my money.
2. Twitter - I still have never used it because nobody cares about the mundane details of their friends' lives and nobody should care about celebrities' mundane lives. Especially when you see this http://twitter.com/THE_REAL_SHAQ and it makes you realize athletes are even less intelligent than you thought.
3. Facebook - because it lead to the growth of Twitter. Since I closed my account a few months ago, I have not missed it one bit. People always say "it's great because it connected me with people I haven't spoken to since high school". There's probably a reason why you haven't spoken to them since then...
4. Hiring this girl - because a good job is not a right, it's earned (and I am currently interviewing people to replace my old position). I disagree that a college education is something that should be available to everyone because it devalues its worth. The end result is that you have people who achieve mediocre grades from a mediocre school who expect to have a good job before they graduate. When I entered the job market, I was out on my own. The business school hosted interviews on campus, but that was pretty much it. You have to find your own opportunities and learn to market yourself because the college isn't going to do it for you.
5. Going to North Korea or Iran - seriously? You were vacationing in Iraq and accidentally walked into Iran? You went to North Korea, probably the most controlling nation in the world, for a journalism assignment?
6. The following reality TV shows: A Real Chance at Love, Dating in the Dark, Megan Wants a Millionare, Tori & Dean, Paris Hilton is My New BFF, Kendra, NYC Prep - because I have some standards (Quick test Kevin - how many of those have you heard of before?)
7. Allowing the Tigers to give up 5+ runs per game - I should have stopped allowing them to give up so many runs before, but no longer!
1. The Subway near work - a few months ago, the staff completely turned over. The new staff takes their sweet ass time while making subs and don't know how to handle transactions properly. When I go in at 2pm, I should not be 4th in line and it should never take 5 minutes to make just my sub and take my money.
2. Twitter - I still have never used it because nobody cares about the mundane details of their friends' lives and nobody should care about celebrities' mundane lives. Especially when you see this http://twitter.com/THE_REAL_SHAQ and it makes you realize athletes are even less intelligent than you thought.
3. Facebook - because it lead to the growth of Twitter. Since I closed my account a few months ago, I have not missed it one bit. People always say "it's great because it connected me with people I haven't spoken to since high school". There's probably a reason why you haven't spoken to them since then...
4. Hiring this girl - because a good job is not a right, it's earned (and I am currently interviewing people to replace my old position). I disagree that a college education is something that should be available to everyone because it devalues its worth. The end result is that you have people who achieve mediocre grades from a mediocre school who expect to have a good job before they graduate. When I entered the job market, I was out on my own. The business school hosted interviews on campus, but that was pretty much it. You have to find your own opportunities and learn to market yourself because the college isn't going to do it for you.
5. Going to North Korea or Iran - seriously? You were vacationing in Iraq and accidentally walked into Iran? You went to North Korea, probably the most controlling nation in the world, for a journalism assignment?
6. The following reality TV shows: A Real Chance at Love, Dating in the Dark, Megan Wants a Millionare, Tori & Dean, Paris Hilton is My New BFF, Kendra, NYC Prep - because I have some standards (Quick test Kevin - how many of those have you heard of before?)
7. Allowing the Tigers to give up 5+ runs per game - I should have stopped allowing them to give up so many runs before, but no longer!
Sunday, July 12, 2009
My current thought process
It has been about a month, so I thought it would be fun to get out every random thing that is on my mind.
Since we all make a field day about complaining about ESPN's faults, I compiled a list to vote on what truly ruins watching ESPN - and presented it in an overused playoff bracket! Vote Now!
1. Brett Farve's 4 year retirement tour
One can become sick of updates from Dr. James Andrews and Minnesota's pathetic desparation for him to become a Viking. Did they see the second half of his 2008 season??
vs.
8. Twitter updates
The media's reliance on twitter only helps it become more established. Using celebrities' posts as reaction to Steve McNair's death demonstrates their laziness in journalism... or is this just the "new" form of journalism??
2. Steroids in baseball
With the 100+ names on the 2003 list of failed drug tests, we have fuel for this story for the next 10 years. Steroids in football? Who cares. Manny takes estrogen? Let's follow it for 2 months!
vs.
7. ESPN becomes THE story
With the Sports Reporters, E:60, Around the Horn, and PTI, ESPN has often shoved their personalities into the sports spotlight. As a result, we have to watch Skip Bayless (who has never actually seen a sporting event in his life) for 3 hours a day. Plus, they shove Stuart Scott and Chris Berman down our throats.
3. BCS Backlash
We know that every year there will be dissention over who is #1 and #2; some more than others. With MSU rising in success, I fear that one year we will be able to put together a miracle season and will be brushed aside for Oklahoma to get clobbered in the National Championship game (OU is the new OSU). With contractual obligations tying up the system for the next few years, do we have to lament on teams that got screwed each year?
vs.
6. Who's Now
When the summer sports season gets boring, they invent a new ranking system or poll. Using "who cares" categories like "most commercial endorsements" and "salary", they try to fill a month of SportsCenter airwaves. Playoff voting systems are so uninventive.
4. (Insert WR Here)'s latest antics
Chad Johnson learned to count in Spanish, Plaxico shot himself, Hank Baskett married a famous stripper (and guaranteed upped his fantasy football draft stock as a result). These days, TO seems like a boy scout.
vs.
5. The Ticker
Sports updates... on a channel that provides you with sports updates. Excited to learn about the result of the game from the :30 highlight reel? Just look down and find out the Tigers lost! The ESPNNews tickers are the ADD playground - news video, reports on the side AND bottom of the screen!
In defense of ESPN, I present the best things about the network (in no particular order):
Erin Andrews
Bill Simmons' podcasts, mailbags, and chats
College (football) Gameday
Outside the Lines
Instant Classics
The Ombudsman - they hire someone to call themselves out!
If you run a humidifier and a dehumidifier in a room together and shut the door, what is the end result? I get that a humidifier helps your congestion when you're sick and a dehumidifier protects your basement from mildew, but which is more powerful?
One of the best shows you've probably never seen before is "30 Days". It's hosted by Morgan Spurlock, the guy from Supersize Me, and is based on a similar premesis. People spend 30 days living a life that is completely opposite of their own in some facet. I netflixed it and was impressed with the first 3 episodes. They followed an IT programmer whose job was outsourced on a trip to India, a border Minuteman Guard living with a family of illegal immigrants, and an atheist woman living with a devout christian family. For the most part, the subjects were open-minded and the participants left the experience a little more enlightened about the other side. In each hour long episode, the show did a good job of digging into the issues revolving around each conflict. I thought the India episode was really insightful because it presented the culture clash that is occurring with more women wanting to enter the workplace. It also portrayed the widening economic gap that is being created by an influx of corporations and the sometimes violent outlashes that come from their large poor population.
New Homeowner Lesson #12938 - Being able to tell the difference between grass seed and grass fertilizer is key. Spreading the latter in lieu of the former will scorch your lawn.
One of the most difficult things to cope with the loss of a loved one is running over old e-mails from them. It is such a false feeling because it is communication that lives on. You feel like they are still communicating with you, but in reality they are just words. It is tempting to dig through them because it makes them seem more alive, but that can be damaging as well. Deleting them is too hard because you feel like you should hold on to something from them. It is really hard to explain. ...seeing the Mii you created for them show up in Mario Kart is just uncomfortable.
Prediction for Home Run Derby:
2nd Round: Gonzalez, Howard, Mauer, Pujols
3rd Round: Gonzalez, Howard
Champion: Gonzalez
I got my Ohio drivers license this weekend and it still looks weird to me. I feel like I have lost the last piece of Michigan in me.
Since we all make a field day about complaining about ESPN's faults, I compiled a list to vote on what truly ruins watching ESPN - and presented it in an overused playoff bracket! Vote Now!
1. Brett Farve's 4 year retirement tour
One can become sick of updates from Dr. James Andrews and Minnesota's pathetic desparation for him to become a Viking. Did they see the second half of his 2008 season??
vs.
8. Twitter updates
The media's reliance on twitter only helps it become more established. Using celebrities' posts as reaction to Steve McNair's death demonstrates their laziness in journalism... or is this just the "new" form of journalism??
2. Steroids in baseball
With the 100+ names on the 2003 list of failed drug tests, we have fuel for this story for the next 10 years. Steroids in football? Who cares. Manny takes estrogen? Let's follow it for 2 months!
vs.
7. ESPN becomes THE story
With the Sports Reporters, E:60, Around the Horn, and PTI, ESPN has often shoved their personalities into the sports spotlight. As a result, we have to watch Skip Bayless (who has never actually seen a sporting event in his life) for 3 hours a day. Plus, they shove Stuart Scott and Chris Berman down our throats.
3. BCS Backlash
We know that every year there will be dissention over who is #1 and #2; some more than others. With MSU rising in success, I fear that one year we will be able to put together a miracle season and will be brushed aside for Oklahoma to get clobbered in the National Championship game (OU is the new OSU). With contractual obligations tying up the system for the next few years, do we have to lament on teams that got screwed each year?
vs.
6. Who's Now
When the summer sports season gets boring, they invent a new ranking system or poll. Using "who cares" categories like "most commercial endorsements" and "salary", they try to fill a month of SportsCenter airwaves. Playoff voting systems are so uninventive.
4. (Insert WR Here)'s latest antics
Chad Johnson learned to count in Spanish, Plaxico shot himself, Hank Baskett married a famous stripper (and guaranteed upped his fantasy football draft stock as a result). These days, TO seems like a boy scout.
vs.
5. The Ticker
Sports updates... on a channel that provides you with sports updates. Excited to learn about the result of the game from the :30 highlight reel? Just look down and find out the Tigers lost! The ESPNNews tickers are the ADD playground - news video, reports on the side AND bottom of the screen!
In defense of ESPN, I present the best things about the network (in no particular order):
Erin Andrews
Bill Simmons' podcasts, mailbags, and chats
College (football) Gameday
Outside the Lines
Instant Classics
The Ombudsman - they hire someone to call themselves out!
If you run a humidifier and a dehumidifier in a room together and shut the door, what is the end result? I get that a humidifier helps your congestion when you're sick and a dehumidifier protects your basement from mildew, but which is more powerful?
One of the best shows you've probably never seen before is "30 Days". It's hosted by Morgan Spurlock, the guy from Supersize Me, and is based on a similar premesis. People spend 30 days living a life that is completely opposite of their own in some facet. I netflixed it and was impressed with the first 3 episodes. They followed an IT programmer whose job was outsourced on a trip to India, a border Minuteman Guard living with a family of illegal immigrants, and an atheist woman living with a devout christian family. For the most part, the subjects were open-minded and the participants left the experience a little more enlightened about the other side. In each hour long episode, the show did a good job of digging into the issues revolving around each conflict. I thought the India episode was really insightful because it presented the culture clash that is occurring with more women wanting to enter the workplace. It also portrayed the widening economic gap that is being created by an influx of corporations and the sometimes violent outlashes that come from their large poor population.
New Homeowner Lesson #12938 - Being able to tell the difference between grass seed and grass fertilizer is key. Spreading the latter in lieu of the former will scorch your lawn.
One of the most difficult things to cope with the loss of a loved one is running over old e-mails from them. It is such a false feeling because it is communication that lives on. You feel like they are still communicating with you, but in reality they are just words. It is tempting to dig through them because it makes them seem more alive, but that can be damaging as well. Deleting them is too hard because you feel like you should hold on to something from them. It is really hard to explain. ...seeing the Mii you created for them show up in Mario Kart is just uncomfortable.
Prediction for Home Run Derby:
2nd Round: Gonzalez, Howard, Mauer, Pujols
3rd Round: Gonzalez, Howard
Champion: Gonzalez
I got my Ohio drivers license this weekend and it still looks weird to me. I feel like I have lost the last piece of Michigan in me.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
We're not the Champions
With the pain of last night's loss still fresh, I thought it would be a good idea to rank the championship losses in terms of heartbreak. A trip down bad memory lane. If you can't stomach rehashing the losses, I have tried to characterize why the other team won each game up in a word.
But first, for anyone who could stomach watching the cup presentation, I was disappointed to hear Wings fans booing during the Conn Smythe and Cup presentations. I was upset when the Pens fans soiled our victory ceremony last year and I hated that our fans were returning the favor. Until I paid closer attention to the fact that we weren't booing when the players were raising the trophies. In fact, if anything, there was predominant cheering. I am convinced the fans were just booing Gary Bettman, which I fully support.
1. North Carolina defeats Michigan State, 2009 NCAA National Championship
The hype for this game began years before, but was initiated by the losing coach rather than the media or the league. Izzo had been promoting the possibility of this game to his recruits since Ford Field was named the host site. When we entered the Final Four pool, the media took over and wrote every "downtrodden area in need of some osmotic hope from winning a sports championship" story imaginable. It was tough to watch 3 minutes of a game and KNOW it was all over. In the end, while we had the benefits of the storybook-ending-abilities, the Tarheels had the swagger of a Champion. The hope for next year takes some of the sting out of loss.
It was over when: UNC defeated Villanova? We lost to them in December? No, I think it was when they all agreed to return the previous spring. You need to have at least 2-3 NBA starters or 6th men to win the NCAA Championship - they did and we didn't.
2. Penguins defeat Redwings, 2009 Stanley Cup Final
I may rank it so high because I am still upset over the loss. The funny thing is, thanks to the wonder of TiVo, I was still in "we have 6 minutes to score another one and we're turning the momentum around" dreamland while the concept of "Sidney Crosby Stanley Cup Winner" was well known to everyone else. We truly were the better team in this series, but they played with more desperation. Yes, they are a young team, but I feel they have the pressure from the NHL to be the face of an enigmatic league. They have two #1 Draft Picks and a #2 who have been hyped as much as NHL players not named Ovechkin can be right now.
When you knew it was going south: With the exception of our Game 5 blowout, each game mimicked the previous. Games 1-2 were decently close, but the lucky bounces all went Detroit's way in 3-1 victories. In games 3-4, the Pens offense seemed unstoppable during their 4-2 wins. Games 6-7 were close in the beginning, but the Pens took sizable 2-0 leads. The Wings scored a goal to put the game within reach, but very late surges and very close chances weren't enough. Although, I have a feeling that the shot with less than 3 seconds left would've gone in during games 1 or 2.
3. St. Louis Cardinals defeat Detroit Tigers, 2006 World Series
The excitement over the Tigers' success stemmed from the legendary ineptitude just three years earlier. I think this team was more surprised by their success than any of the others. My favorite memory of their run was watching them take a victory lap and celebrating on the dugouts by dousing the fans in champagne. I don't remember any other baseball team celebrating so publicly with their fans before. I think the great, unexpected run somewhat makes up for the World Series disappointment. I couldn't decide on just one word to sum up the Cardinals' win, but I think one part was their experience from the previous two years. The Tigers were being lead by very young players (Zumaya, Verlander, Granderson) and by veterans with little playoff experience (Ordonez and Polanco). And the Cardinals proved that defense wins championships by holding the Tigers to an average of just over 2 runs a game. (And do I need to remind you of how many pitching errors we had? Didn't think so.)
The series ended: in Game 4 when the Tigers gave up a 3-0 lead and were outscored 3-1 in the crunch time of the 7th and 8th innings. Losing the first game of a 2-3-2 series creates a significant hole to climb out of. But losing the pivotal game 4 helped lock things up for the Cardinals in St. Louis.
4. San Antonio Spurs defeat Detroit Pistons, 2005 NBA Championship
Detroit won the previous year on the "team that plays the right way" versus the "free-agent-compiled smorgasborg of all star talent that acts like a corporation" concept. The problem they faced the next year was that they played an even better "team that plays the right way" that had the added benefit of Robert Horry. The series was so close, so it is difficult to blame the P's for losing Game 7 on the road. I think the composure that Popovich and the Spurs portrayed was the difference. They had their game plan and executed it with surgical precision - which is why everyone out side of San Antonio and Detroit hated watching this series. We all knew that these Pistons were playing under the dark shadow of a ticking clock. Some players would eventually go for the money and the ones that stayed wouldn't be able to keep up with their younger opponents through 7 games as a unit. Plus, Joe Dumars' true GM skill level would surface eventually. (Side note: The 2003 NBA Draft class has become legendary and he picked the ONLY person in the top 5 hasn't become an NBA All Star.) Of all of my favorite teams, my passion for the Pistons is the weakest. However, the disappointment in this team came from the fact that we knew at the time (and were correct) that the Pistons were probably at the top of the curve and were likely to be nearing demolition.
We lost when: Gregg Popovich outcoached Larry Brown in 4th quarter of Game 7. I think these two teams were more even than any oher matchup we have seen lately. Remember, we were within 4 with 1:20 left. (Funny quote from game recap: "Pistons coach Larry Brown, who may have coached his last game and came up just short of going out on top." )
But first, for anyone who could stomach watching the cup presentation, I was disappointed to hear Wings fans booing during the Conn Smythe and Cup presentations. I was upset when the Pens fans soiled our victory ceremony last year and I hated that our fans were returning the favor. Until I paid closer attention to the fact that we weren't booing when the players were raising the trophies. In fact, if anything, there was predominant cheering. I am convinced the fans were just booing Gary Bettman, which I fully support.
1. North Carolina defeats Michigan State, 2009 NCAA National Championship
The hype for this game began years before, but was initiated by the losing coach rather than the media or the league. Izzo had been promoting the possibility of this game to his recruits since Ford Field was named the host site. When we entered the Final Four pool, the media took over and wrote every "downtrodden area in need of some osmotic hope from winning a sports championship" story imaginable. It was tough to watch 3 minutes of a game and KNOW it was all over. In the end, while we had the benefits of the storybook-ending-abilities, the Tarheels had the swagger of a Champion. The hope for next year takes some of the sting out of loss.
It was over when: UNC defeated Villanova? We lost to them in December? No, I think it was when they all agreed to return the previous spring. You need to have at least 2-3 NBA starters or 6th men to win the NCAA Championship - they did and we didn't.
2. Penguins defeat Redwings, 2009 Stanley Cup Final
I may rank it so high because I am still upset over the loss. The funny thing is, thanks to the wonder of TiVo, I was still in "we have 6 minutes to score another one and we're turning the momentum around" dreamland while the concept of "Sidney Crosby Stanley Cup Winner" was well known to everyone else. We truly were the better team in this series, but they played with more desperation. Yes, they are a young team, but I feel they have the pressure from the NHL to be the face of an enigmatic league. They have two #1 Draft Picks and a #2 who have been hyped as much as NHL players not named Ovechkin can be right now.
When you knew it was going south: With the exception of our Game 5 blowout, each game mimicked the previous. Games 1-2 were decently close, but the lucky bounces all went Detroit's way in 3-1 victories. In games 3-4, the Pens offense seemed unstoppable during their 4-2 wins. Games 6-7 were close in the beginning, but the Pens took sizable 2-0 leads. The Wings scored a goal to put the game within reach, but very late surges and very close chances weren't enough. Although, I have a feeling that the shot with less than 3 seconds left would've gone in during games 1 or 2.
3. St. Louis Cardinals defeat Detroit Tigers, 2006 World Series
The excitement over the Tigers' success stemmed from the legendary ineptitude just three years earlier. I think this team was more surprised by their success than any of the others. My favorite memory of their run was watching them take a victory lap and celebrating on the dugouts by dousing the fans in champagne. I don't remember any other baseball team celebrating so publicly with their fans before. I think the great, unexpected run somewhat makes up for the World Series disappointment. I couldn't decide on just one word to sum up the Cardinals' win, but I think one part was their experience from the previous two years. The Tigers were being lead by very young players (Zumaya, Verlander, Granderson) and by veterans with little playoff experience (Ordonez and Polanco). And the Cardinals proved that defense wins championships by holding the Tigers to an average of just over 2 runs a game. (And do I need to remind you of how many pitching errors we had? Didn't think so.)
The series ended: in Game 4 when the Tigers gave up a 3-0 lead and were outscored 3-1 in the crunch time of the 7th and 8th innings. Losing the first game of a 2-3-2 series creates a significant hole to climb out of. But losing the pivotal game 4 helped lock things up for the Cardinals in St. Louis.
4. San Antonio Spurs defeat Detroit Pistons, 2005 NBA Championship
Detroit won the previous year on the "team that plays the right way" versus the "free-agent-compiled smorgasborg of all star talent that acts like a corporation" concept. The problem they faced the next year was that they played an even better "team that plays the right way" that had the added benefit of Robert Horry. The series was so close, so it is difficult to blame the P's for losing Game 7 on the road. I think the composure that Popovich and the Spurs portrayed was the difference. They had their game plan and executed it with surgical precision - which is why everyone out side of San Antonio and Detroit hated watching this series. We all knew that these Pistons were playing under the dark shadow of a ticking clock. Some players would eventually go for the money and the ones that stayed wouldn't be able to keep up with their younger opponents through 7 games as a unit. Plus, Joe Dumars' true GM skill level would surface eventually. (Side note: The 2003 NBA Draft class has become legendary and he picked the ONLY person in the top 5 hasn't become an NBA All Star.) Of all of my favorite teams, my passion for the Pistons is the weakest. However, the disappointment in this team came from the fact that we knew at the time (and were correct) that the Pistons were probably at the top of the curve and were likely to be nearing demolition.
We lost when: Gregg Popovich outcoached Larry Brown in 4th quarter of Game 7. I think these two teams were more even than any oher matchup we have seen lately. Remember, we were within 4 with 1:20 left. (Funny quote from game recap: "Pistons coach Larry Brown, who may have coached his last game and came up just short of going out on top." )
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Catching up
Wow - almost 3 weeks since my last post.
I discovered I am addicted to television at 6:00pm on Tuesday night. When I realized the last season finale for my shows was on Monday, I felt a little sad. I think it is because I am comfortable with my routines. On Sundays, I watch the Amazing Race. Mondays are How I Met Your Mother and 24, Tuesdays are the Biggest Loser, Wednesdays are Lost, Thursday mornings are for talking with my co-worker Mark about Lost, Thursday nights are for Survivor, the Office, and 30 Rock. I wake up between 8 and 8:40 (I can even squeeze in 8:50 some days) and I go to bed around 11. That last sentence probably made Mike's stomach turn.
Now that those shows are over, I feel like I have to try and get excited for some crappy summer reality show like "America's Got Talent". It's not like I only watch TV - I love getting books from the library and I aspire to play hockey once again when I am not spending money on a wedding and a new house. It's just that I love a cheap, reliable way to be entertained each night.
Saving Hockey
Bill Simmons has had some great ideas of how to save hockey. I think the game play itself is solid and the Stanley Cup Playoffs are enjoyable. I have a feeling, if they play things correctly, that hockey can return to a real network within the next few years.
Here are my proposed divisions - we'd have to rename them, of course, since Toronto isn't exactly on the Atlantic. I selected teams based on the "smell test" - does this city seem like they should have an NHL team? Carolina is a sketchy one, but I know they really draw fans, so we have to keep them. Also, I feel like Texas is too large of a part of our country to ignore and the Stars are saved by having a good history. I also considered Salt Lake City as another potential venue.
Eastern Conference
Atlantic
NY Rangers
Boston Bruins
Connecticut team - Hartford?
Toronto Maple Leafs
Northeast
Montreal Canadiens
Ottawa Senators
Winnipeg or Quebec team
Pittsburgh Penguins
Southeast
Carolina Hurricanes
Columbus Blue Jackets
Philadelphia Flyers
Buffalo Sabres
Western Conference
Central
Detroit Redwings
Chicago Blackhawks
Wisconsin team - Milawaukee?
Toronto 2 team
Northwest
Calgary Flames
Minnesota Wild
Edmonton Oilers
Colorado Avalanche
Pacific
San Jose Sharks or Anaheim Ducks
Dallas Stars
Seattle team
Vancouver Canucks
The season is 63 games. You play the other 3 teams in your division 5 times, the other 8 teams in your conference 3 times, and the 12 teams in the other conference twice.
The playoffs would consist of each of the 6 divisional winners plus 3 wild cards from each conference. The top 2 teams in each conference get a first round bye. The first round is a best of 5 series, but the other 3 rounds are best of seven.
I discovered I am addicted to television at 6:00pm on Tuesday night. When I realized the last season finale for my shows was on Monday, I felt a little sad. I think it is because I am comfortable with my routines. On Sundays, I watch the Amazing Race. Mondays are How I Met Your Mother and 24, Tuesdays are the Biggest Loser, Wednesdays are Lost, Thursday mornings are for talking with my co-worker Mark about Lost, Thursday nights are for Survivor, the Office, and 30 Rock. I wake up between 8 and 8:40 (I can even squeeze in 8:50 some days) and I go to bed around 11. That last sentence probably made Mike's stomach turn.
Now that those shows are over, I feel like I have to try and get excited for some crappy summer reality show like "America's Got Talent". It's not like I only watch TV - I love getting books from the library and I aspire to play hockey once again when I am not spending money on a wedding and a new house. It's just that I love a cheap, reliable way to be entertained each night.
Saving Hockey
Bill Simmons has had some great ideas of how to save hockey. I think the game play itself is solid and the Stanley Cup Playoffs are enjoyable. I have a feeling, if they play things correctly, that hockey can return to a real network within the next few years.
Here are my proposed divisions - we'd have to rename them, of course, since Toronto isn't exactly on the Atlantic. I selected teams based on the "smell test" - does this city seem like they should have an NHL team? Carolina is a sketchy one, but I know they really draw fans, so we have to keep them. Also, I feel like Texas is too large of a part of our country to ignore and the Stars are saved by having a good history. I also considered Salt Lake City as another potential venue.
Eastern Conference
Atlantic
NY Rangers
Boston Bruins
Connecticut team - Hartford?
Toronto Maple Leafs
Northeast
Montreal Canadiens
Ottawa Senators
Winnipeg or Quebec team
Pittsburgh Penguins
Southeast
Carolina Hurricanes
Columbus Blue Jackets
Philadelphia Flyers
Buffalo Sabres
Western Conference
Central
Detroit Redwings
Chicago Blackhawks
Wisconsin team - Milawaukee?
Toronto 2 team
Northwest
Calgary Flames
Minnesota Wild
Edmonton Oilers
Colorado Avalanche
Pacific
San Jose Sharks or Anaheim Ducks
Dallas Stars
Seattle team
Vancouver Canucks
The season is 63 games. You play the other 3 teams in your division 5 times, the other 8 teams in your conference 3 times, and the 12 teams in the other conference twice.
The playoffs would consist of each of the 6 divisional winners plus 3 wild cards from each conference. The top 2 teams in each conference get a first round bye. The first round is a best of 5 series, but the other 3 rounds are best of seven.
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