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Mirror, mirror on the wall who can beat the Yanks in post-season baseball?

Posted by on 10 September 2009, 4:09 am

Mirror, mirror on the wall who can beat the Yanks in post-season baseball?

Within the AL East Division, I think the Yankees have a significant lead that will be hard to catch. In the American League the first team that pose a threat in the race to the World Series is the Boston Red Sox.

If this team wins the Wild Card it could be trouble. The rivalry alone brings an added hype for the players and the fans alike. Boston can beat New York and they know it. Most other teams don’t have that added bonus.

Also, Josh Beckett and Tim Wakefield are Yankees killers in the past but the consistency of Papelbaum is in major question. Billy Wagner has been added from the Mets to the Red Sox roaster. He is older and off an injury but the frustrations of having to be a Met in the same city that is Yankee-town might give him a mental game that could be scary.

The other team plays hard and plays dirty. The dreaded LA Angels have caused more problems for the Yankees over the years in the post season.

The Angels tend to get overlooked because of the ruckus that the Red Sox rivalry brings. This team has no problem reminding both the Red Sox and the Yankees that the AL consists of more teams then just the media hogging, favorites.

Watch out for the Angels because they hate being left out and even with all their glory, the shadow seems to still be there.

The National League is known as the lesser side of baseball. It is mind boggling as last years champs are still proving to be the team to beat, as the Phillies look like their headed back to the same road as last year.

Even with the recent slump and loses of late, the Phillies will not go down without a fight.
The addition of Cliff Lee, last year’s CY Young winner is a clear sign that this team wants to repeat. Lee joins the rotation of the World Series MVP Cole Hamels, the young arm of JA Happ and the veteran late pick-up of Pedro Martinez.

Hamels has had a mediocre season till recently. He looks back to the MVP form of last season and if Pedro stays of the DL his experience in the post season will help.

The biggest question of the complete decline of closer Brad Lidge has been answered by Brett Meyers who will come off the DL on Friday. Lidge has been so off this season he cannot be trusted in the post season again. Meyers can fill that hole but three months since his last time on the mound will be a true test of the situation. This is a situation that will play a major factor for the champs.

Overall, the most successful NL team regarding wins is the St. Louis Cardinals, with 84.

The Cards have an 11.5 lead in the NL Central. In front of the pathetic once again team of the Chicago Cubs, which makes them look, like a lock for the post-season.

Albert Pujols, the clear MVP of the NL just hit his 47th homer of the season is a force by himself but not for a team to win. The Cards acquired Matt Holiday in July from the A’s and the tandem have been dominant consistently. Holliday’s recent bruised knee looks to be just that so nothing for concern for the Cards.

Since the all-star break St. Louis has had an easy schedule playing fallen teams such as the Mets and the Nationals. Starting now the teams schedule gets a lot harder so that will be the message of how tough this team actually is.

Not trying to take away from the Cardinals recent success because a win is a win no matter what team you beat.

The biggest concern for any team in the majors is pitching. This plays the most critical role in the post-season.

Why?

Any team that is playing baseball in October has to be a winning and talented team. Inevitably, each will consist of the most gifted hitters, which mean the starting, middle, and closing pitchers have to have their best performances.

With the first round in the playoffs being best of five games that gives absolutely no room for error at all. Each team will have an ace on the mound, if not two arms that will make the hitters jobs almost impossible. This makes the pitchers jobs the most crucial as if a hitter catches on to a mistake it could mean the game.

This post season, as with any other is a fresh start for the eight teams. The Yankees seem to be the favorites as of now but that is not a guarantee for the outcome at all.

Each game has to be treated with the ultimate goal in mind and that is to win.

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Fate, Football, Fantasy and Two NFL Teams…..

Posted by on 24 August 2009, 6:42 am

Two NFL teams that fate in choices made will determine their success.

One has added an aging star, while the other team has lost one. Both the impacts of the situations will play a great role for fantasy owners.

Here are the plans laid out with what could happen and most likely will.

The Minnesota Vikings had a QB battle going in which the results would have been detrimental either way.

Hey but then superman flew in and broke it up. As Brett Favre knew he could be the first QB turned hero.

  • Tarvaris Jackson is not efficient enough to be a starter and would have been the weakest link that would be a domino affect on the receivers fantasy values; considering he was losing the #1 spot to Sage Rosenfels regardless and that is depressing to think about.
  • The QB is not in question as #4 (Favre) is playing again.
  • Watch for Bernard Berrian fantasy points to go up this season because of Favre’s throwing ability and experience incorporated with the respect he commands from opponents which Jackson and Rosenfels would fall flat.
  • This is in addition to opposing defenses being all wrapped up with RB Adrian Peterson; leaving wide receivers open with a reliable QB like Favre just cemented the Fantasy impact it will have.
  • Favre should add Fantasy value all around the Vikings from backs to receivers.

Favre is getting to much criticism for his lack in ability. Instead for the way he has made a media circus around himself the last two seasons which is disruptive. Favre should be called narcissistic but it just doesn’t seem to fit the persona he brings to a football team, both on and off the field.

No one can see what the future holds but I would be surprised to hear that the Vikings were better off without #4 anytime in the near future.

The New York Giants are shooting themselves right now, sorry Plex but the battle is to fill your talented shoes at wide receiver.

Eli Manning has proved he’s got skills. Playing behind, hands down the best offensive line in the NFL and has a tandem at running back that will be the earth on fire.

That all sounds like a dream, right? Except who is Manning going to throw it too with the lose of Plexico Buress at WR? This is a battle where hard work and Eli’s leadership will come into play.

Let the battle begin:

  • Ramses Barden vs Domenik Hixon vs Mario Manningham vs Sinorice Moss vs Hakeem Nicks vs Steve Smith vs David Tyree where the outcome has to fill a huge hole.
  • Ramses Barden is 6’6 foot rookie that might have the break out season; he didn’t miss one practice in camp (Coughlin lover already), he caught passes when covered significantly, running down field and over his shoulder; this player seems to be smart and hard working which will only help the rookie thrive under the coaching of Coughlin; if Barden can utilize his size he could see a lot of catches in the cramped end-zone.
  • Barden and Nicks just need to get used to the plays and to Eli and they could be the go-to over Smith.
  • If one or both rookie Wr’s, Hakeem Nicks and Ramses Barden, have a break out first season their fantasy numbers could sore but these are deep sleepers.
  • The “O-line” of the Giants is the template in the NFL. Gives Eli time in the pocket and holes for the Rb’s to use is a key element for this team.
  • Up, up, up will go the fantasy value of Bradshaw and Jacobs because the WR position will take some time for Eli to trust so expect running game to be big, literally; Bradshaw shined in all aspects in first pre-season game.
  • Osi is back after a season ending injury last year. He was the only player from the Superbowl winning team to have been named to the pro-bowl. And let’s not forget that was before the Giants got the respect of being the champs in 2007; this guy is that good.
  • Steve Spagnuolo is a football genius who single handedly reformed the Giants defense into a force. The hero of NYC was bound to be a head coach, as any team would be lucky to have this guy as a leader. He will be missed but his line backer coach, Bill Sheridan will fill his shoes nicely; Sheridan knows Spag’s aggressive style of defense and familiar with players; Giants Defense still an A+ report card.

Pre-season games, just as Spring Training in baseball really does add to the predictions made before. The only thing it can add too it the injury list of a team, which can impact someone’s fantasy draft decisions immensely.

Other then me worrying about the toe of a player named TO, it has to be clear that almost all the players are playing hurt in the NFL.

Would you expect anything else? It’s football, wouldn’t expect anything less.

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Proud To Be In Pinstripes….And It Only Took A Week!

Posted by on 29 June 2009, 3:47 am

My Yankees have had quite a week. A week that was needed for so many reasons for any team on brink of the tipping point. Honestly, this past week could have been the most critical of the season for the team from the Bronx.

The Yanks are not by any means in a isolated or even close to secure spot. The route is the beginning to journey on a road that had to be walked down. Pluto is far gone in the universe and the Yanks do not want to go unseen like that.
As of Father’s day the Yanks were a four games out of first place, now just it just three. Does not sound like much to the non obsessed baseball fan but oh how wrong they are.
Breathing down the Yankees necks are Tampa and Toronto. These two divisional teams are one game behind each other and just one and two games behind the Yankees respectfully.
It had potential disaster. All three teams were playing well since the 21st of this month. Then you have to incorporate Boston into the mix. The Red Sox started to seem like our could have really made a gap into a bridge. Our hated rivals, how bad it could have been.
I was starting to forget that baseball games included hitting. The Yanks made it painful to watch top of each inning, during all this away inter-league play. The number of teammates jogging in from the first, second or third bases was becoming a fad like boyfriend jeans, really expensive with rips all over.
FYI….that has ended and boy did the team want to prove it. Everyone took part in this slaughtering with bats from Jeter to Cervelli to Pena.
And let’s give a warm welcome to Brett Garner! This guy has been on fire wherever and whenever he steps on the field. Becoming the biggest threat in a line-up of all-stars. It is nothing less than energizing. Continue reading ‘Proud To Be In Pinstripes….And It Only Took A Week!’ »

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Many Nations Live In The Universe……

Posted by on 28 June 2009, 4:49 am

Here is a nice fact about the current American League East, the Yankees cannot lose a game until the Red Sox do.

The games, being four, that is the divide between first and second place is at critical point. The two possibilities are for the Yanks to gain and make this a one or two game difference to be in a position to pounce; which entails Boston to start coming undone. Could it happen? Anything could happen but the odds are in the Red Sox favor because the team is consistent with winning series. It means the Yankees have to put all else out of mind and keep winning.

The worst scenario is for the Yankees to stop being able to hit all together, runners being stranded on base which leads to frustration. The Yankees are on a winning streak. Even though it is against the Mets who are injury ridden and a mess the Marlins beat up on my Yanks so better or worse team is irrelevant. This would leave the Yankees in a six or seven game whole going into the break. Not where this team needs to be or should be.

Instead the Yankees need to only be about the Yankees. Worry about no one but themselves by playing steady, fundamental baseball. Basically not worrying who the opposing pitcher is that night but on how they are going to hit that night. Don’t worry who the specific batter at the plate is instead how that ball is not getting by you and obtaining that out. Continue reading ‘Many Nations Live In The Universe……’ »

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Hey Yankees…You Can Blame It On The Rain!

Posted by on 22 June 2009, 3:50 am

 

I thought the motto of ‘win series’ was going pretty well but have the tides turned on the second place NY Yankees. My Yanks lost a second series in a row to the Florida Marlins, who took two of the three games over the weekend.
I live in Manhattan, where it has been raining so much I think the sun might blind me when it does come out again, I am in a down state. Everyone else here is sick of this weather as well.

So when the Yankees were in first (no I swear for about two weeks the team was ahead of Boston…LOL!) it made the rain sort of tolerable. Since the return of the last Boston massacre in B-town the rain has been non-stop.

I am not counting the fact that the Yankees have been away from the Bronx and still lost. How can I declare this rule? Only because all of us, your fans, were still soaking wet still and so doesn’t count (got that motto from friend). In my head I will take the song line from one of my favorites and “Blame It On The Rain”!!

Now I give you my personal observations of this downward coil created by my Yankees. I want the sun to shine on our marvelous city again.

What did I learn watching the Bombers against the Florida Marlins in another inter-league series?

Arod was given a TO (aka. a time-out) to rest as something is just not clicking for him right now. He has played in every game since returning from his hit surgery. I will not excuse any player (except of your last name is Jeter) for poor performance but in this situation with Arod’s case is legitimate. Alex came back from a serious hip surgery and he came back from it rather quickly. Continue reading ‘Hey Yankees…You Can Blame It On The Rain!’ »

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Who Sent The Memo "The Nationals Turn To Nasty???"

Posted by on 19 June 2009, 3:59 am

The Nationals took the series from my Yankees tonight by winning their second out of three games. Am I that surprised? No.

Why? I look at the weeks prior to this series and in years past this is the time right before the all-star break where the length of the season starts to take its toll. Everyone is tired, players, managers are a little burnt out but its just part of baseball.

I know this sounds like an excuse but I am neither the fan, nor the type of person who comes up with excuses for my favorite team to make myself feel better. There is no reason for it because the performance will speak for itself in the big picture. The word discouraged comes to mind when losing two of three to the worst team, by far in the entire majors. I can promise you that my discouragement will turn to anger if the Yankees miss the playoffs by a game. Not only did the Yanks lose an easy series but also Jeter had to be taken out in the first game. It was evident to all watching by his ankle being in pain as Derek limped to first base. Any fan knows that our Captain does not like sitting out games and always wants to play. When Girardi called on Jeter to pinch-hit tonight I was uneasy which I will sustain over the next few games as losing Jeter cannot occur. Our Captain is so vital words cannot express; that’s why he has that title and honor.

In second game of this series against Washington, Chien-Ming Wang was starting and Jeter not on the roaster. All who love the Yanks knew the prerequisite for the game was that Wang had to prove himself again and that was mandatory. Yes, I agree that he was improved compared to his previous starts. And I hate to be blunt and completely unoptimistic but Wang stunk in all his prior starts this season. I am actually being kind when I come to think of it.

Regardless of a pitchers contributions in past seasons this is about the current season and the current season only. I am in full agreement that a player who is not near the age of retirement, along with a track record that Wang obviously possesses does deserve the benefit of the doubt for whatever the reason that it is not the norm. Then Yankees have been more then generous in terms of showing their confidence in allowing Wang to be in the rotation. I cannot think of a better boost of confidence than a team that continues to lose games when you start and still not getting discouraged in your abilities as a player. Enough is enough here. I don’t think the miracle is going to happen to Chien-Ming Wang. Continue reading ‘Who Sent The Memo "The Nationals Turn To Nasty???"’ »

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