NHL SEASON BEGINS, BUT NOBODY IS WATCHING
During the opening evening of the 2007-08 NHL season three of the four games went to overtime, one of the overtime games was decided in a shootout and the fourth “most boring” game witnessed a hat trick.
If you were an NHL executive you couldn’t ask for a better start to the season. But in early-October, did anyone really notice?
Hockey used to be one of the big four professional sports until the 2004-05 lockout. Unfortunately, the NHL has given way to more popular spectator sports like NASCAR.
Let’s be honest here, no one is paying attention to hockey right now. Major League Baseball just reached the postseason, pro football is beginning the second quarter of its season, college football is going full-throttle and heaven forbid I mention it, NASCAR is in its playoff the “Chase for the Cup.”
The NHL would be better suited if started its season in November. Usually November temperatures are colder, more like winter, which is fundamentally hockey. This is the sport of ice and snow after all.
The potential down side for franchises in cutting out the first month of the season is lost revenue. But an NHL season that went from November to March would be more than adequate. If those ten-or-so games are too precious, the league could easily spread them out throughout the remainder of the season.
It’s great the hockey is back, but I won’t be watching for a while.
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
FPS: MLB Playoff Preview
AMERICAN LEAGUE DIVISIONAL SERIES
SEASON SERIES: Boston leads 6-4
RANDOM FACTS: The LA Angels late-season roster featured 19 players with less than two years of full major-league experience. Key players such as Gary Matthews, Howie Kendrick, Jeff Mathis, Jered Weaver and Reggie Willits have never been in the playoffs.
Boston's David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez will be batting 3-4 in the Sox lineup for the first time since Aug. 28. Ortiz's production was down, 35 home runs and 117 RBIs the second fewest in his five years in Boston, but he hit a career-high .332 and led the majors in on-base percentage.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON: Angels’ leadoff hitter Chone Figgins. Figgins is hitting a major-league best .381 since May 31, but he enters the ALDS against Red Sox in an 0-for-22 slump.
FPS PREDICTION: Boston enters the series a bit healthier than Los Angeles and Angels power-hitting Vlad Guerrero appears to still be affected by an inflamed triceps. The Angels continue to dominate at home, but fall short. Red Sox win in 5.
SEASON SERIES: New York leads 6-0
RANDOM FACTS: The Yankees won all six matchups with the Indians during the regular season, outscoring them 49-17. Chien-Ming Wang became the first Yankees pitcher to record consecutive 19-win seasons since 1979. The Yankees last won the wild card in 1997, but were eliminated by the Indians in the best-of-five series, 3-2.
Cleveland's potential Cy Yong winner C.C. Sabathia is 1-7 with a 7.13 ERA in his career against New York. But Sabathia outdueled other AL Central aces down the stretch, including a 3-0 record in three late-season starts against Twins' Johan Santana. The Indians have great setup men in pitchers Rafael Betancourt (1.47 ERA) and Rafael Perez (1.78 ERA) who allowed less than one baserunner per inning.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON: The likely AL MVP in pinstripes, Alex Rodriguez. A-Rod has six home runs in five games against the Indians. But in the postseason Rodriguez is hitless in his past 15 playoff at-bats with runners in scoring position and is 4-for-41 (.098) with no RBIs in his past 12 postseason games.
FPS PREDICTION: Alex Rodriguez will finally drive in a couple runs in the postseason, but not during key moments. Cleveland figures out how to beat New York as ace Fausto Carmona, not C.C. Sabathia, pitches brilliantly twice. Indians win in 5.
NATIONAL LEAGUE DIVISIONAL SERIES
SEASON SERIES: Arizona leads 4-2
RANDOM FACTS: Arizona officials expect big Cubs crowds in Arizona as Chicago's spring training site is nearby Mesa. In September, the Cubs averaged a home run every 22.2 at-bats, Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez hit seven and eight homers respectively. Chicago had the fourth best team ERA in the majors.
The Diamondbacks are making the fourth playoff appearance of their 10-season history, but the first since 2001. Arizona has four rookies and a second-year player in their starting lineup and lost former All-Stars Randy Johnson, Chad Tracy and Orlando Hudson to season-ending injuries. The D-Backs' .250 team batting average was the worst in the NL.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON: Chicago's Alfonso Soriano. Soriano belted 14 home runs and 25 extra-base hits in September, but was just 1-for-11 (.091) against Arizona this season.
FPS PREDICTION: The rookies don't play like rookies and step it up big time. Arizona's superior pitching staff outduels and shutdowns Chicago. D-Backs win in 4.
SEASON SERIES: Colorado leads 4-3
RANDOM FACTS: The Rockies have stout defense and made the fewest errors in the majors this season (68). Colorado's offense exploded in the final month of the season as the team batted .298, Todd Helton and Garrett Atkins led the charge as they batted .390 for the month. The Rockies led the NL in ERA after the All-Star break.
Philadelphia's 4.73 ERA is the worst for an NL playoff team since divisional play was instituted in 1969. Ryan Howard hit 47 home runs and drove in 136 runs this season and was on a blistering pace to end the year blasting nine home runs in the past 13 games. The Phillies bench stepped up as Jayson Werth posted an OBP above .400 and Tadahito Iguchi hit over .300 when both subbed in.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON: Phillies ace Cole Hamels. Hamels returned for injury and threw an eight-inning, no-run, 13-strikeout gem against the Nationals on Friday.
FPS PREDICTION: Talk about momentum, Colorado enters the series having won 14 of 15, but Philadelphia is 13-4 in their last 17 games. Expect a slugfest as both teams finished first and second in the NL in runs and RBIs. Phillies win in 5.
FINAL PREDICTION
WINNER: CLEVELAND over Philadelphia. The Indians have enough power and pitching to navigate through October. Sabathia, Carmona, Martinez and Sizemore will lead Cleveland to the pennant. Plus the Indians are 59 years overdue.
SEASON SERIES: Boston leads 6-4
RANDOM FACTS: The LA Angels late-season roster featured 19 players with less than two years of full major-league experience. Key players such as Gary Matthews, Howie Kendrick, Jeff Mathis, Jered Weaver and Reggie Willits have never been in the playoffs.
Boston's David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez will be batting 3-4 in the Sox lineup for the first time since Aug. 28. Ortiz's production was down, 35 home runs and 117 RBIs the second fewest in his five years in Boston, but he hit a career-high .332 and led the majors in on-base percentage.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON: Angels’ leadoff hitter Chone Figgins. Figgins is hitting a major-league best .381 since May 31, but he enters the ALDS against Red Sox in an 0-for-22 slump.
FPS PREDICTION: Boston enters the series a bit healthier than Los Angeles and Angels power-hitting Vlad Guerrero appears to still be affected by an inflamed triceps. The Angels continue to dominate at home, but fall short. Red Sox win in 5.
SEASON SERIES: New York leads 6-0
RANDOM FACTS: The Yankees won all six matchups with the Indians during the regular season, outscoring them 49-17. Chien-Ming Wang became the first Yankees pitcher to record consecutive 19-win seasons since 1979. The Yankees last won the wild card in 1997, but were eliminated by the Indians in the best-of-five series, 3-2.
Cleveland's potential Cy Yong winner C.C. Sabathia is 1-7 with a 7.13 ERA in his career against New York. But Sabathia outdueled other AL Central aces down the stretch, including a 3-0 record in three late-season starts against Twins' Johan Santana. The Indians have great setup men in pitchers Rafael Betancourt (1.47 ERA) and Rafael Perez (1.78 ERA) who allowed less than one baserunner per inning.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON: The likely AL MVP in pinstripes, Alex Rodriguez. A-Rod has six home runs in five games against the Indians. But in the postseason Rodriguez is hitless in his past 15 playoff at-bats with runners in scoring position and is 4-for-41 (.098) with no RBIs in his past 12 postseason games.
FPS PREDICTION: Alex Rodriguez will finally drive in a couple runs in the postseason, but not during key moments. Cleveland figures out how to beat New York as ace Fausto Carmona, not C.C. Sabathia, pitches brilliantly twice. Indians win in 5.
NATIONAL LEAGUE DIVISIONAL SERIES
SEASON SERIES: Arizona leads 4-2
RANDOM FACTS: Arizona officials expect big Cubs crowds in Arizona as Chicago's spring training site is nearby Mesa. In September, the Cubs averaged a home run every 22.2 at-bats, Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez hit seven and eight homers respectively. Chicago had the fourth best team ERA in the majors.
The Diamondbacks are making the fourth playoff appearance of their 10-season history, but the first since 2001. Arizona has four rookies and a second-year player in their starting lineup and lost former All-Stars Randy Johnson, Chad Tracy and Orlando Hudson to season-ending injuries. The D-Backs' .250 team batting average was the worst in the NL.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON: Chicago's Alfonso Soriano. Soriano belted 14 home runs and 25 extra-base hits in September, but was just 1-for-11 (.091) against Arizona this season.
FPS PREDICTION: The rookies don't play like rookies and step it up big time. Arizona's superior pitching staff outduels and shutdowns Chicago. D-Backs win in 4.
SEASON SERIES: Colorado leads 4-3
RANDOM FACTS: The Rockies have stout defense and made the fewest errors in the majors this season (68). Colorado's offense exploded in the final month of the season as the team batted .298, Todd Helton and Garrett Atkins led the charge as they batted .390 for the month. The Rockies led the NL in ERA after the All-Star break.
Philadelphia's 4.73 ERA is the worst for an NL playoff team since divisional play was instituted in 1969. Ryan Howard hit 47 home runs and drove in 136 runs this season and was on a blistering pace to end the year blasting nine home runs in the past 13 games. The Phillies bench stepped up as Jayson Werth posted an OBP above .400 and Tadahito Iguchi hit over .300 when both subbed in.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON: Phillies ace Cole Hamels. Hamels returned for injury and threw an eight-inning, no-run, 13-strikeout gem against the Nationals on Friday.
FPS PREDICTION: Talk about momentum, Colorado enters the series having won 14 of 15, but Philadelphia is 13-4 in their last 17 games. Expect a slugfest as both teams finished first and second in the NL in runs and RBIs. Phillies win in 5.
FINAL PREDICTION
WINNER: CLEVELAND over Philadelphia. The Indians have enough power and pitching to navigate through October. Sabathia, Carmona, Martinez and Sizemore will lead Cleveland to the pennant. Plus the Indians are 59 years overdue.
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
FPS: Final MLB Rankings
1. Red Sox – Clinched home field advantage in the American League not an easy task. David Oritz and Manny Ramirez look healthy, as the Sox are the team to beat in October.
2. NY Yankees – The Yankees closed a five-and-half game deficit to one-and-half games in a week. Unfortunately for the Yanks, Boston got it together. The pitching is still questionable, but New York is always scary in October.
3. Indians – A pair of 19-game winners have lead the Tribe all year, the most wins by any two teammates (Sabathia and Carmona). A solid offense and potent bullpen help the Indians win the AL Central for the first time since 2001.
4. LA Angels – The Angels dominated the AL West with 32-25 record against division opponents. Vlad had another great season hitting .324 with 27 home runs and 125 RBIs (good for third in the AL).
5. Phillies – The Phillies have won 13 of 17 and the NL East pennant. Ryan Howard has blasted nine home runs in the past 13 games as Philly rolls on.
6. Rockies – An improbable finish for Colorado winning 14 of 15 including a one-game playoff to make the playoffs. Can anybody say momentum?
7. Diamondbacks – Clinched home field in the National League, who would have thought? D-Backs have gotten the job done in close games all year, 32-20 in one-run games.
8. Padres – Can San Diego keep playing please? Padres’ 89 wins and epic performance in the one-game playoff is good enough to finished ranked on this list.
In the Chase: Tigers – Hard to fathom that the Tigers wouldn’t make the postseason in April. Detroit had too many injuries to keep pace with Cleveland and New York, although 88 wins is not too shabby.
Mariners – Seattle missed the playoffs for a sixth consecutive season, but won its final five games to end the season. The Mariners 10-game improvement over last season and first winning season in four years is good enough, for now.
Cubs – Cubs win! Cubs win! Yeah, Chicago won the worst division in baseball. Now can they get past the Billy Goat, the Black Cat and Steve Bartman?
Out of the Chase: NY Mets – No major-league team had failed to finish first after having at least a seven-game advantage with 17 games remaining. The Mets just made history.
2. NY Yankees – The Yankees closed a five-and-half game deficit to one-and-half games in a week. Unfortunately for the Yanks, Boston got it together. The pitching is still questionable, but New York is always scary in October.
3. Indians – A pair of 19-game winners have lead the Tribe all year, the most wins by any two teammates (Sabathia and Carmona). A solid offense and potent bullpen help the Indians win the AL Central for the first time since 2001.
4. LA Angels – The Angels dominated the AL West with 32-25 record against division opponents. Vlad had another great season hitting .324 with 27 home runs and 125 RBIs (good for third in the AL).
5. Phillies – The Phillies have won 13 of 17 and the NL East pennant. Ryan Howard has blasted nine home runs in the past 13 games as Philly rolls on.
6. Rockies – An improbable finish for Colorado winning 14 of 15 including a one-game playoff to make the playoffs. Can anybody say momentum?
7. Diamondbacks – Clinched home field in the National League, who would have thought? D-Backs have gotten the job done in close games all year, 32-20 in one-run games.
8. Padres – Can San Diego keep playing please? Padres’ 89 wins and epic performance in the one-game playoff is good enough to finished ranked on this list.
In the Chase: Tigers – Hard to fathom that the Tigers wouldn’t make the postseason in April. Detroit had too many injuries to keep pace with Cleveland and New York, although 88 wins is not too shabby.
Mariners – Seattle missed the playoffs for a sixth consecutive season, but won its final five games to end the season. The Mariners 10-game improvement over last season and first winning season in four years is good enough, for now.
Cubs – Cubs win! Cubs win! Yeah, Chicago won the worst division in baseball. Now can they get past the Billy Goat, the Black Cat and Steve Bartman?
Out of the Chase: NY Mets – No major-league team had failed to finish first after having at least a seven-game advantage with 17 games remaining. The Mets just made history.
EL-ev-ATION!
NEWS: ROCKIES WIN WILD CARD PLAYOFF
Colorado's Matt Holliday slides into home as San Diego catcher Michael Barrett mishandles the ball during the 13th inning of the wild card tiebreaker on Monday. AP Photo - Jack Dempsey.
Baseball's career saves leader, Trevor Hoffman, had a quick outing in Monday's one-game wild card playoff. Unfortunately, it was an outing the Padres would like to forget.
After grabbing the lead in the top of the 13th inning on Scott Hairston's two-run homer, the Rockies battled back against Hoffman.
Kaz Matsui and Troy Tulowitzki hit back-to-back doubles to lead off the bottom of the inning, cutting the deficit to one. Holliday then tripled off the right field wall to tie the game 8-8. After San Diego intentionally walked Todd Helton, Jamey Carroll's shallow fly ball out allowed Holliday to tag from third.
Replays were inconclusive at best whether or not Holliday actually touched home plate, but umpire Tim McClelland called the play safe.
The Rockies 9-8 win is their 14th in 15 games. Colorado advances to play Philadelphia in the NLDS starting Wednesday.
After grabbing the lead in the top of the 13th inning on Scott Hairston's two-run homer, the Rockies battled back against Hoffman.
Kaz Matsui and Troy Tulowitzki hit back-to-back doubles to lead off the bottom of the inning, cutting the deficit to one. Holliday then tripled off the right field wall to tie the game 8-8. After San Diego intentionally walked Todd Helton, Jamey Carroll's shallow fly ball out allowed Holliday to tag from third.
Replays were inconclusive at best whether or not Holliday actually touched home plate, but umpire Tim McClelland called the play safe.
The Rockies 9-8 win is their 14th in 15 games. Colorado advances to play Philadelphia in the NLDS starting Wednesday.
Monday, October 1, 2007
A Lost "Hope"
U.S. SOCCER COACH DESERVES THE BOOT
Greg Ryan, fresh off leading the U.S to a third-place finish at the 2007 World Cup, admitted his desire to remain the coach of the United States women’s national soccer team. A day after the 4-1 defeat of Norway, Ryan said he hopes to lead the team to further success in the future.
“I want to continue on as coach. I don't feel my job is done yet with this team. We had a lot of youngsters here and this was a first World Cup for so many of our players,” Ryan said.
But the U.S. Soccer Federation should not give Ryan the chance, especially after the boneheaded coaching move he made during the closing week of the World Cup.
Hours before the U.S semifinal match with Brazil, Ryan announced he would play veteran goalkeeper Briana Scurry in place of Hope Solo, who had not conceded a goal in almost 300 minutes of Cup play.
Scurry has been a star for the national women’s team, collecting two Olympic gold medals and a World Cup title. Ryan said he picked Scurry due to her quick reflexes. Another probable factor in the decision was that Solo had never faced Brazil.
Scurry hadn’t played a full match in three months and it showed. In the seventh minute, she came out to catch a free kick and it slipped through her fingers.
Brazil did not capitalize on that mistake, but in the 20th minute lack of communication between Scurry and midfielder Leslie Osborne led to an own goal, the first score of the game. In the end, the U.S. had its 51-match unbeaten streak snapped as Brazil handed the U.S. its most lopsided defeat in World Cup history, 4-0.
After the game, a livid Solo was more than candid with the media.
“It was the wrong decision and I think anybody that knows anything about the game knows that,” Solo said. “There's no doubt in my mind I would have made those saves…You have to live in the present. And you can’t live by big names. You can’t live in the past.”
That outburst got Solo kicked off the team.
Let’s be really honest here. Ryan’s controversial move figured into the outcome of the Brazil match. The U.S. players looked dazed and flat, the same characteristics that came from their keeper. Scurry’s rust was a huge factor. As Brazil continued to pile on easy goals, the U.S. team looked confused and demoralized.
Ryan’s decision seems like something out of a Disney movie. Pull the hot goalkeeper that got you into the finals and then play the wily-veteran cold and win the game. Hum, sounds familiar, like D2: The Mighty Ducks. Expect the result wasn’t as good.
In events like the World Cup, which are played once every four years, there is no room for mistakes and no second chances. Ryan messed up and should pay the price. In some situations there are not obvious opportunities for reconciliation.
U.S. Soccer officials should give Ryan the boot.
Greg Ryan, fresh off leading the U.S to a third-place finish at the 2007 World Cup, admitted his desire to remain the coach of the United States women’s national soccer team. A day after the 4-1 defeat of Norway, Ryan said he hopes to lead the team to further success in the future.
“I want to continue on as coach. I don't feel my job is done yet with this team. We had a lot of youngsters here and this was a first World Cup for so many of our players,” Ryan said.
But the U.S. Soccer Federation should not give Ryan the chance, especially after the boneheaded coaching move he made during the closing week of the World Cup.
Hours before the U.S semifinal match with Brazil, Ryan announced he would play veteran goalkeeper Briana Scurry in place of Hope Solo, who had not conceded a goal in almost 300 minutes of Cup play.
Scurry has been a star for the national women’s team, collecting two Olympic gold medals and a World Cup title. Ryan said he picked Scurry due to her quick reflexes. Another probable factor in the decision was that Solo had never faced Brazil.
Scurry hadn’t played a full match in three months and it showed. In the seventh minute, she came out to catch a free kick and it slipped through her fingers.
Brazil did not capitalize on that mistake, but in the 20th minute lack of communication between Scurry and midfielder Leslie Osborne led to an own goal, the first score of the game. In the end, the U.S. had its 51-match unbeaten streak snapped as Brazil handed the U.S. its most lopsided defeat in World Cup history, 4-0.
After the game, a livid Solo was more than candid with the media.
“It was the wrong decision and I think anybody that knows anything about the game knows that,” Solo said. “There's no doubt in my mind I would have made those saves…You have to live in the present. And you can’t live by big names. You can’t live in the past.”
That outburst got Solo kicked off the team.
Let’s be really honest here. Ryan’s controversial move figured into the outcome of the Brazil match. The U.S. players looked dazed and flat, the same characteristics that came from their keeper. Scurry’s rust was a huge factor. As Brazil continued to pile on easy goals, the U.S. team looked confused and demoralized.
Ryan’s decision seems like something out of a Disney movie. Pull the hot goalkeeper that got you into the finals and then play the wily-veteran cold and win the game. Hum, sounds familiar, like D2: The Mighty Ducks. Expect the result wasn’t as good.
In events like the World Cup, which are played once every four years, there is no room for mistakes and no second chances. Ryan messed up and should pay the price. In some situations there are not obvious opportunities for reconciliation.
U.S. Soccer officials should give Ryan the boot.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)