The Life of a Sportsaholic

UConn Sweeps Big East Awards After Huge Win

2010-11-01T20:22:00.002-04:00

For the past 6 years, when the UConn vs. West Virginia game pops up on the Huskies schedule, I have a gut feeling that the game will end poorly. For 6 years now, I have been right. In 2009, the Huskies gave up a huge 50+ run to Noel Devine in the final minutes to blow their lead and for the 6th straight time, my hopes were shattered. On Friday night on ESPN2, I had a gut feeling again that maybe this was exactly the game the Huskies needed to turn their below .500 record around and make a push for a bowl game. With 1st string, relegated to 3rd string, back to 1st string QB Zach Frazer and a plethora of injuries throughout the club, the team needed to play a solid game on both offense and defense. After falling behind 10-0, the Huskies defense gained momentum and stepped up when they needed them the most for a thrilling OT victory, 16-13. It is now official, in it's short span in Division 1/FBS, UConn has beaten every team in the Big East at least once. (more after the jump)

The game was more than just a win on the stat sheet and a return to a .500 record at 4-4, it was the come-from-behind, tough it out type of contest this team is capable of in Big East play. Although the league is as weak as it has been in years, the West Virginia Mountaineers are still a feared team as well as UConn's next opponent in 2 weeks on ESPN, the Pittsburgh Panthers. Confidence is running high in Storrs, CT and now the Huskies have 2 weeks to work hard and get prepped for their Pitt match-up, the toughest test this season. After all the controversy with spying in practice and the media calling for Edsall's head, the Huskies seemed to shut everyone up and can now set their sights on the potential this season and not just look to rebuild for 2011. Even better, the Big East recognized the Huskies for their great performance, by giving UConn the Offensive Player of the Week (Jordan Todman), Defensive Player of the Week in Sio Moore and the Special Teams Player of the Week (Dave Teggart). Not a bad week, eh?

The best part of Friday night's victory is the fact that QB Zach Frazer was able to get back on the field as the starter and with limited reps in practice sitting 3rd on the depth chart the past few weeks, successfully lead the team to victory against the tough Mountaineer defense. As a Senior, Frazer was given the opportunity to start, but was so ineffective, was benched after 3+ games at the helm of the offense. There were mixed reports of attitude issues with Frazer, but on Friday he came ready to play, settling in the second half and moving the offense down the field. No thanks to some of Edsall's poor play-calls on 3rd down, Frazer was able to do just enough for the victory. If Frazer continues to produce, he will likely reclaim his starter role, given QB Mike Box's concussion and inexperience. In that same vein, once Box is healthy, Frazer better continue to perform, because he is going to be on a short leash and pulled if things spiral in the wrong direction.

Let's go back to the play-calling during the 1st half of Friday's game and take a look at why the UConn fans at The Rent were booing. They were upset about the same thing I was in my living room, the ultra-conservative play-calling from the UConn coaching staff on 3rd down. Almost regardless of distance-to-go, Edsall chose to run the ball, rarely picking up enough yardage to move the chains. In a 3rd and 8 situation, the offense was completely stalled by a draw-run play or a simple power run up the gut. Earth to Randy, it doesn't work. The opponent loads the box and usually stops the run for a yard or 2 max, if not a loss on the play. I understand that RB Jordan Todman and the running game is the Huskies' bread and butter, but on 3rd a long? Really? Edsall has a tendency to be too conservative at times in the game, leading to a stalled offensive drive that is frustrating.

It isn't a coincidence that the best few offensive drives on Friday for UConn were in the end of the 1st half and into the 2nd half when Edsall let Frazer loose to throw short and mid-level passes. The only way to have an effective running-game against top notch opponents is to also have a mid and long-level passing game to open up the defense and allow for an extra few yards on each run. If the defense is forced to play the pass as well, they can't load the box as much and it allows speedy Jordan Todman to get a few extra yards and a chance to break a longer gain as he accelerates and penetrates the 2nd level of the defense. If UConn continues to run on every 3rd down, they will continue to be stopped on most of them and drives will stall because Edsall won't take a risk and let Frazer or Box to throw a 10-15 yard pass for a 1st down. UConn isn't always going to have as many offensive opportunities as they did on Friday and if they convert the same amount on 3rd down against Pitt, it won't a good game for the Huskies.

All in all, it was a huge win to turn around this season and in the history of the program. The Huskies have now gotten over the West Virginia hump and now set their sights to their 2nd straight national TV game against Pitt on Veteran's Day, November 11th. No better way to honor those who served this country than to beat the Pittsburgh Panthers at home on a Thursday night. Bring it on.

Box Out, Frazer to Start

2010-10-28T22:50:00.002-04:00

Photo: Autumn Driscoll / Connecticut Post

After suffering a head injury during the Louisville game last week, QB Mike Box was unsure about his playing status for this Friday night’s contest against the West Virginia Mountaineers. We found out today that in fact Mike Box is out for this week's game and Zach Frazer will return to the field and take snaps under center once again. After starting the first 3 games for the Huskies in 2010, Frazer was replaced by Cody Endres during the Buffalo game. Since that point, Frazer fell to 3rd on the depth chart and is now returning due to suspension and injury. There was a report that Frazer was dropped on the depth chart due to his poor attitude when he was benched on September 25th, but regardless, he now needs to step up and lead this team to victory.

One of the issues with Frazer before he was benched was his immobility and poor decision making in the pocket. Frazer has only completed just over 53% of his passes this season and has only thrown 2 TDs and 1 INT on the season. He struggled to make the big play when the team needed it the most and will need to be more aggressive and controlling with the ball on Friday to throw off the West Virginia defense. At this point, Frazer has everything to gain and nothing to lose because he only has a handful of games remaining in his college career. The ball is his to own, the offense is his to own, now he just needs to go out and grab it. Who doesn’t want to go out with a bang?

Box isn’t the only player out or probable for Friday. The UConn special teams’ crew is taking a hit with return man Nick Williams out with an upper extremity injury and Robbie Frey probable with a leg injury. Frey’s injury along with a head injury for D.J. Shoemate that has him out and Kelmetrius Wylie’s season ending knee injury, the Huskies are still crazy thin at RB. Edsall and his coaching staff would prefer not to use Jordan Todman as much as they have, especially given his arm injury this season, but they really haven’t had much of a choice. The injuries at RB make an even bigger case for a more aggressive passing game to open up the lanes for the run inside and relieve some of the pressure on Todman.

The West Virginia defense has allowed just 13.3 points per game so far in 2010. That is good for 5th in all of the FBS, posing a tough test for a struggling offense with a new, old QB under center. UConn is a run-first offense, but has yet to really settle in to a comfortable feel and rhythm, which is a source of concern. It will be almost impossible to beat West Virginia and then Pitt without a strong offensive identity and efficiency on that side of the ball. In the same vein, the Mountaineer offense scores over 26 points per game, which is troubling for the defensive squad of UConn that has lacked the hard-hitting style that we have seen over the past few years. If the Huskies are going to win Friday, they need to play strong bend-don’t-break defense and gain and offensive rhythm from the 1st play any carry it through with 40,000 fans cheering at their backs.

I can feel the excitement and nervous energy mounting…Let’s Go Huskies!

Spy Forces UConn to Practice Indoors

2010-10-28T22:02:00.002-04:00

In a ridiculous twist, the UConn football team had to practice indoors the last few days, but not because of inclement weather. Randy Edsall moved his practice indoors because some information from a practice earlier in the week was posted publicly without permission from the University. It appears someone has been spying on the UConn practices and has been coming away with some in-depth information about plays and formations. In a week leading up to the biggest game of the year for the Huskies on Friday night on ESPN2 against West Virginia, this is a scary and disturbing revelation. This is not the 1st or last time a team will spy on another team (if in fact it is another team spying on them), but it is a dirty and troubling act. Edsall has moved his practices indoors for the time being and is trying not to let this story distract his team. (more after the jump)

Later in the press conference Edsall was asked about the future of practicing outside and he said, "We'll just see but hey, you know, I'll tell you what: technology these days everybody wants to let everybody know everything." Edsall seemed to try and downplay the incident as much as possible, but clearly he was unhappy with what was going on. "We got an issue where we have somebody that wants to write everything we do from the dorm room so...we have to look at that now." With injuries galore and his team on a 2-game losing streak with 2 tough games coming up the last thing Edsall wanted to be doing was addressing spying issues.

Check back for injury updates for Friday nights game.

Nagy Gets Nod in Arizona

2010-10-28T10:37:00.000-04:00

The UConn baseball program has never been a force in NCAA athletics with the exception of a few strong seasons and some individual stars mixed in over the years. One of the most well-known UConn baseball products is 14-year major league veteran Charles Nagy, who retired from playing in 2003. Since 2009, Nagy has been the pitching coach for the Columbus Clippers (Cleveland's AAA affiliate), but has just gotten his break in the majors. Nagy was named the Arizona Diamondbacks pitching coach on Tuesday and will look to take the knowledge he gained from his 297 major league starts and apply it to a fairly young pitching staff. Born in Bridgeport, Nagy is not only a UConn alum, but a home grown CT product and in the baseball world, there aren't many that fit into that category.

In the history of the UConn baseball program, 135 players have been drafted or signed as free agents in professional baseball, just 11 players have appeared in the majors and only 3 of those have had a 10+ year career (Roberto Hernandez, Walt Dropo and Charles Nagy). For a program with limited exposure on a high level, Nagy has been a point of pride for years. While in college, Nagy played 2 seasons with the Huskies (1987 and 1988) and sits 2nd in single-season strikeouts all-time with 113 and was voted an All-American in the 1988 season. After that year, Nagy was drafted 17th overall in the 1st round of the amateur draft and spent the next 2 seasons working up to his debut in June of 1990. In a sport where players get traded and released on a whim, Nagy spent 13 seasons as a major leaguer for the Cleveland Indians, before ending his career with 1 season in San Diego playing for the Padres.

In his 14 major league seasons, Nagy went 129-105 with a 4.51 era and collected 1,242 strikeouts. He became a household name in the Cleveland area and was selected to 3 All-Star games (1992, 1996 and 1999) and was the AL starter in the 1996 game. He finished in the top 7 in Cy Young award voting 3 times (1992, 1995 and 1996) and appeared in 15 post-season games throughout his career. Nagy was a solid MLB player for an extended period of time and deserves the chance he is getting in Arizona. As a UConn alum and CT native, Nagy holds a special place in my heart and I wish him the best of luck with the D-Backs.

UConn Goes Hunting for Mountaineers

2010-10-27T09:59:00.001-04:00

With their season on the rocks after 2 tough losses in the Big East, the UConn Huskies have an opportunity to jump right back to .500 overall and 1-2 in the conference on Friday night. The catch? West Virginia is coming to town and in the 6 years these 2 teams have matched up, UConn is a whopping 0-6. Not a great omen for a team that is struggling at the moment and is currently starting their 3rd different QB this season, but a home game on a Friday night on national TV (ESPN2) may be just the right recipe for their 1st victory against the West Virginia Mountaineers and their 1st victory in the conference in 2010. Long shot? Perhaps, but if the team comes in with the relaxed, have fun attitude I keep hearing about this week, they have a chance.
Let's look at the Huskies' opponent for a minute. The Mountaineers began the 2010 season with hopes of a BCS bid and another Big East championship and with the absolute embarrassing play in the conference this season, they sit at 5-2 and 1-1 in the league. Their record is good enough for 3rd in the Big East behind Syracuse and Pitt. Pitt is no surprise to anyone, but Syracuse at 5-2 overall and 2-1 in the conference? (Check back soon for my full report on the Orangemen) Back to Friday night's opponent. The biggest concern if you are a West Virginia fan is their recent play, scoring just 14 points in a losing effort against the Orangemen this past weekend at home. Either it is a sign that Syracuse is that good, or proof that WVU has some glaring weaknesses that were exposed.

What gives me hope for Friday night's game are the holes in the play of the WVU QB Geno Smith. On Saturday he threw for 178 yards and 1 TD, while essentially handing the game to Syracuse with 3 interceptions. In their 2 losses this season, Smith threw 3 TDs and 4 INTs and had a completion percentage of 48.3 and 54.1 in each contest. The UConn secondary has 9 INTs this season in their 3 victories and 0 in their 4 losses. An even greater disparity comes with yards allowed, no surprise. DB Blidi Wreh-Wilson is licking his lips as we speak, as he looks to add to his 2 INTs and 1 fumble recovery on the season. Another big indicator of success is yards allowed per game. The UConn defensive unit has allowed 409+ yards per game in their 4 losses and just 287+ yards in their 3 victories. It's common sense, but if UConn can take care of the ball and force a few turnovers, they can compete with any team in the Big East, including WVU and their interception-prone QB.

The big issue for me surrounds offensive output. QB Mike Box got thrown into the fire last week in his 1st collegiate start after QB Zach Frazer was benched and QB Cody Endres was suspended indefinitely and Box only attempted 12 passes, 4 completed for just 35 yards before being knocked out of the game. If he plans to be the starter for this club in the future, he needs to settle his nerves and be more intelligent and patient with his decision making. He has the legs to pick up a few yards if nothing is available and if he can use that to his advantage, can be dangerous. UConn is historically a run-first offense, but they have had some of their greatest success this year when Endres was moving around in the pocket and taking some shots mid-field and down-field to WR Michael Smith and WR Kashif Moore. A team must have the balance of a strong running game and short and long passes to open up the defense if they want to be successful. If the opponent's defense is looking run, use play-action and put pressure on the opponent down-field.

Personnel has certainly also been an issue for the Huskies in 2010, with LB Scott Lutrus being limited by his stinger and clearly not being the force Randy Edsall had hoped as well as a plethora of RB injuries and the afore mentioned QB issues. It is extremely difficult for a team to gain rhythm and momentum when there is a new face under center seemingly each week and the offense is purely based on timing. Edsall has been taking a lot of heat lately because of the high expectations this season, but many of his players have not been playing up to their abilities and although the coaching staff is partially responsible, they can't go out on the field and play for their guys. There has been a lack of leadership, I think partially because there has been a lack of a consistent offensive leader at QB, and without a vocal leader in the locker-room and on the field, the team will never reach the next level. Frazer was supposed to be the leader, but was disappointing both in that respect with his attitude and on the field.

Friday night will be a fun atmosphere at The Rent almost guaranteed. Personally, I think most of the UConn home games should be at night, because their is a more electric feeling and the team seems to be more amped-up. If the Huskies are planning on making a bowl game this season, their turnaround has to start Friday, because their next game only gets bigger and more difficult with another prime-time match-up on ESPN against Pitt on November 11th. This is a tough test and after the butt-kicking shutout last week they endured, it is a gut-check time for this UConn squad.

I'm Back! Who's Excited?

2010-10-26T13:01:00.001-04:00

It's been a long time since I post unique content here on The Life of a Sportsaholic. I have been, and still am, writing over at BoSoxInjection.com focusing on the Boston Red Sox, but felt a void in my life. Being a fan of many different sports and teams, just writing about 1 team or 1 sport wasn't enough. Recently, I began to dabble over at Orble.com and have a Dallas Cowboys blog that I am testing out, but am also a passionate college sports fan and hockey fan. For now, my focus here at The Life of a Sportsaholic is simple. I am going to write about topics in sports that I find interesting. Most of my focus now will be on UConn athletics, with a hint of Boston Bruins hockey and maybe even some unexpected sports happenings. No matter the content, my pledge to you is that I will not post anything unless I find it interesting or somehow amusing. Fair? Let's start...

Just briefly let's recap a tough season for the UConn Huskies football team thus far in 2010. Being the season with their senior leader Zach Frazer at QB, my wife, college roommate and I hoped in a Trailblazer and set our sights for the 700+ mile journey to Ann Arbor, MI. The 2010 UConn season began against a Big Ten historic powerhouse in the University of Michigan in front of the largest crowd ever to witness an NCAA college football game, 113,000+. The atmosphere was incredible, but the game was disappointing for UConn, with mistakes and a weak defense leading to a tough loss. It was great exposure, but started the year in the hole, 0-1. Following a beat-down of Texas Southern, the Huskies lost a tough game on the road in PA against Temple.

Games 4 and 5 of the 2010 season were wins against Buffalo and Vanderbilt at home. The Buffalo game was a season changer, because Cody Endres Replaced Zach Frazer mid-game and gave the UConn fans something to cheer about: an effective offense. Endres became the starter, with Frazer being dropped to 3rd on the depth chart and young Mike Box moving into the back-up role. After a big win against an SEC opponent Vandy, the Huskies lost a tough game against Rutgers, blowing a lead late. Later in the week following their Big East opener, the announcement came that Cody Endres was suspended indefinitely and the little offensive spark the Huskies had was gone that quickly. Mike Box started this past week against Louisville and it resulted in an embarrassing 26-0 loss.

Hopes of a BCS berth are now gone, it is all about saving the season. During the Louisville game, Mike Box sustained a concussion, but is still listed as the starter for Friday night's game against the Mountaineers from West Virginia at the Rent in East Hartford, CT. Being a Red Sox and a Cowboys fan, injuries have seemed to be the norm lately with my teams and it is hard to watch a talented group of guys struggle due to injuries. Friday night will be a huge contest for the Huskies and if they have any hopes at making noise in the Big East, it is a must win. They currently sit at 0-2 in the conference and 3-4 overall. The clock is ticking as we have already passed the halfway point to the season.

That's it for now, but that's just the tip of the iceberg. Check back for more content as the season progresses and into the off-season, because I always have something to say.

MLB Draft is Key for Sox Success

2010-01-29T10:47:00.002-05:00

This week, Keith Law of Scouts, Inc. gave his analysis of the top farm systems in baseball. The #1 spot went to the Texas Rangers for the second year in a row, but sitting in the #2 spot was our own Boston Red Sox. This shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone, considering the depth of pitching prospects in the system, but how does that impressive farm system translate to success on the Major League level? Continue Reading »

Another Japanese Pitcher on Sox Radar

2010-01-28T11:11:00.000-05:00

KYODO PHOTO

According to Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com, the Red Sox are expressing interest in another Japanese pitcher. The pipeline the Sox have built from Japan is as strong as ever and Hisanori Takahashi may be the next to take the overseas flight to Boston. The 34 year-old pitcher has expressed interest in signing a major league deal this off-season and interest has gathered from a handful of clubs (Orioles, Dodgers, Mets, Red Sox and Giants). Continue Reading »

6-Man Rotation or Odd Man Out?

2010-01-27T20:12:00.001-05:00

Over the past few days, the Boston media has been buzzing about the Red Sox rotation in 2010. The conversation was spurred by a few interviews with Tim Wakefield, one of which was last night after he accepted the Bart Giamatti Award. Wake stated that he has “earned the right to be one of the five starters” in 2010 and feels the rotation will work itself out. If Wake is part of the 5-man rotation, then who is the odd man out? Continue Reading »

Wakefield’s Impact On and Off the Field

2010-01-26T21:46:00.000-05:00

On a day when most headlines will speak of the three big name signings in MLB, Xavier Nady, Ben Sheets, and Jon Garland, a Tim Wakefield acheivement, like most in his career, will get overlooked. At the B.A.T. (Baseball Assistance Team) Dinner in New York tonight, Wakefield will be honored with the Giamatti Award. Back in 2000, watching Wakefield pitch from the Infield Box at Fenway Park, I learned what it meant to be a real baseball fan. Continue Reading »

Hermida and the Sox Reach Agreement

2010-01-26T21:44:00.000-05:00

According to ESPNBoston.com, Theo’s streak of not going to an arbitration hearing is extended for one more year. The Sox reached an agreement with 4th outfielder Jermey Hermida, bridging the nearly million dollar gap between the two original offers. Hermida will make $3.35 million in 2010 to back-up J.D Drew, Mike Cameron, and Jacoby Ellsbury. Continue Reading »

Will Ellsbury Be Traded?

2010-01-26T16:10:00.002-05:00

Check out my thoughts on the Red Sox potentially including Jacoby Ellsbury in a trade to the San Diego Padres for Adrian Gonzalez before the trade deadline on HotStove.com. The HotStove.com guys are doing a great job keeping everyone updated on the latest trades and rumors.

The Least Wonderful Time of the Year

2010-01-25T13:47:00.001-05:00

As I was walking to work this morning, on a rainy and windy 50 degree day in Boston, I couldn’t help but think of the weather as a metaphor for this time of year. The Sox are preparing for Truck Day in a few weeks and then Spring Training workouts will begin a few weeks after that, but what to do until then? Continue Reading »

Jason Bay's Worn Out Story

2010-01-25T13:46:00.001-05:00

The first thing I do in the morning on a daily basis is scour the net for any interesting information about the Red Sox. I check out several blogs and all of the newspapers in the area to see what I missed overnight. Over the past few weeks, Jason Bay and his health has been the primary topic of conversation. Am I the only one who doesn’t give a crap about Bay’s health anymore? It’s the Met’s problem now. Continue Reading »

Decade’s Top 10 Greatest Red Sox Facial Hair Decisions

2010-01-23T16:40:00.002-05:00

Over the past 10 years, there have been some interesting facial hair looks from Sox players. In anticipation of the 2010 season, let’s look back at the top ten greatest beards, goatees, and ’staches. Continue Reading »

Man Behind the Staff: John Farrell

2010-01-22T20:57:00.000-05:00

The Sox have promoted a plethora of young pitchers to the big leagues over the past few years. Many factors go into the success of a young pitcher including the catcher he works with and his manager’s willingness to give him opportunities to pitch. One major factor that is often overlooked, however, is the pitching coach. Continue Reading »

Help Wanted: Middle Relief

2010-01-21T15:52:00.002-05:00

With upgrades to the starting rotation and defense, the Sox have a solid foundation for the 2010 season. Right now, the only glaring weakness is the bullpen. The Sox have the closer and setup men in place (Pap, Bard, and Okajima), but are missing the pieces to bridge the gap if a starter only goes 5 or less innings. When perusing the list of free agents still available, a few names jumped out at me. Continue Reading »

Damon Struggling to Find a Home

2010-01-20T14:30:00.000-05:00

Damon, Damon, Damon. Johnny Damon used to be a name Red Sox fans loved and were excited about. His long hair and unwieldy beard made him a legend in Boston from ‘02-’05. Damon brought speed to a historically slow and lethargic Red Sox club and acted as a spark plug in the lead-off spot, setting the table for the big guns (Ortiz and Ramirez). Damon helped bring a championship to the city of Boston, but, in one swift moment, became the enemy. Continue Reading »

Sox Avoid Arbitration, Sign Papelbon

2010-01-19T15:53:00.001-05:00

This afternoon, Rob Bradford of WEEI.com broke the story that the Sox had avoided arbitration with Jonathan Papelbon by agreeing to a one-year $9.35 million deal. Keeping the streak alive, Theo Epstein has never gone to an arbitration hearing since taking over as GM of the Sox in 2002. For a while, it was looking like this was going to be the first, but the Sox were able to offer Papelbon a significant pay increase from his 2009 salary of $6.25 million, a deal that was struck just minutes before the negotiation period was ending. Continue Reading »

Arbitration for Dummies

2010-01-19T13:37:00.001-05:00

With all the chatter surrounding Jonathan Papelbon and the potential for an arbitration hearing, I figured I would explain the process for those who are unfamiliar. The process is not extremely complicated, but has several deadlines and steps that sometimes get overlooked. Continue Reading »

Offerman Attacks, AGAIN

2010-01-17T22:25:00.000-05:00

Just when you thought Jose Offerman’s big league career was over, he keeps on swinging. The only problem is that he’s swinging at umpires. What is so hard for Jose to understand? You can’t just attack anyone at will. After his vicious bat attack a few years ago, one would have thought either Offerman would be in anger management classes by now and far away from the game of baseball. Continue Reading »

2PM LIVE on Monday

2010-01-17T22:24:00.002-05:00

Head over to www.hotstove.com at 2pm on Monday to hear me chat and answer questions about the Sox. Have you ever wondered what I thought about the defensive approach for the Sox this off-season or if Adrian Gonzalez will come over at the trade deadline this season? I will answer those and other questions about the off-season, Papelbon’s future in Boston, the impact Lackey’s signing will have on the Sox, and much more. Check it out!

LIVE Webcast on Monday

2010-01-16T09:54:00.002-05:00

I have been speaking to the guys over at www.hotstove.com and they have asked me to come on their live webcast on Monday to spend 5-10 minutes chatting about the Sox. I’ll give some insight on the Red Sox off-season moves, improved defense, Papelbon wearing out his welcome and some more fun topics. Stay tuned for more details on the time, but I hope you can all check it out!

Papelbon: Past, Present and Future

2010-01-15T21:15:00.000-05:00

As I was sitting at dinner talking baseball with my finacee, Sarah, Mr. Jonathan Papelbon became the topic choice. Sarah brought up the conversation of Papelbon’s rise to cockiness and how disappointing it is to watch young players fall into the enlarging-head, ego trip trap and become jerks in front of our eyes. Does anyone remember the good old days when Pap was a young starter trying to make a name for himself? Continue Reading »

Reliever Depth is Key in 2010

2010-01-14T10:38:00.000-05:00

The Red Sox made a move on Wednesday that know one even heard about. When perusing the Sox transaction log, the blog OverTheMonster came across an interesting name, Brian Shouse. The 41-year old lefty was signed by the Sox to a minor league deal this week, in hopes he could be a lefty specialist in the bullpen. The Sox philosophy that you can never have enough pitching comes into play here, with several possible arms and only Papelbon with a defined role for 2010. Continue Reading »

McGwire is Still a Liar

2010-01-13T09:45:00.001-05:00

After watching the interview with Mark McGwire on MLB network and taking a few days to soak it in, I am even more outraged than before. McGwire’s timing is certainly suspicious, coming just days after finishing 9th in the Hall of Fame balloting with only 23.7% of the votes. Add to that McGwire’s complete refusal that steroids helped him hit home runs, make this entire ‘confession’ contrived and not believable. Continue Reading »

David Ortiz is Hilarious and in Shape?

2010-01-13T00:06:00.000-05:00

A few weeks ago, I got a text message from my buddy. Like 6000 billion other people, he was at the theater to see Avatar in 3D. The movie had just begun, when who walks in and sits in front of him? David Ortiz. Big Papi himself. The two things he told me were that Ortiz was actually skinny and his diamond stud earring was so freakin’ big that he kept getting distracted. Continue Reading »

McGwire Finally Admits to Steroid Use

2010-01-11T15:54:00.002-05:00

According to the Associated Press, Mark McGwire finally admitted to the world that he used steroids for on and off for over a decade during his playing career. File this one into the ‘you should have admitted it 5+ years ago’ column. Everyone and their mothers knew that McGwire was using steroids and yet he still refused to admit he was using when testifying in front of congress. Now all of a sudden he becomes the hitting coach of the Cardinals and feels compelled to admit his use. Continue Reading »

Chapman to the Reds

2010-01-11T14:49:00.002-05:00

After all the dust settled, Aroldis Chapman signed with the Cincinnati Reds. The Reds? Really? Cincy was the apparent high bidder for the left-handed Cuban defect at $25 million for 5 years, with an option for a sixth year. According to Alex Speier of WEEI.com, the Red Sox were not involved in the Chapman race after their initial $15.5 million dollar offer back in November. Shortly after that offer was submitted, Chapman switched agents and in turn ended negotiations with the Red Sox. Continue Reading »

Westmoreland is the Future

2010-01-10T11:35:00.000-05:00

When reviewing the Sox top prospects, one name always filters to the top: Ryan Westmoreland. The 19-year old outfielder had an excellent 2009 campaign in Lowell hitting .296 with 7 HR’s, 35 RBI, and 19 stolen bases in only 60 games. The trouble for Westmoreland came when he fractured his collarbone after running into the wall tracking down a fly ball in late August. After having surgery to insert a plate in his chest, Westmoreland has been rehabbing to try and get ready for the 2010 season. Continue Reading »

Dice-K Hiding Leg Injury

2010-01-09T20:12:00.000-05:00

As if Dice-K hasn’t already had a tumultuous few years with the Red Sox, new information came today regarding a leg injury sustained prior to the World Baseball Classic in January 2009. Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe reported this troubling news story this evening, which creates an even bigger question surrounding the pitcher’s relationship with the Sox ownership. The fact that Dice-K kept the injury hidden until now is extremely troubling. As a fan, I am pissed-off at his complete lack of consideration for the Sox organization and have lost what was left of the little respect I had for him. Continue Reading »

Familiar Voices in the Booth

2010-01-09T18:49:00.000-05:00

As we hit the home stretch of the the off-season, with just over a month left until pitchers and catchers report, I begin to get excited for the upcoming campaign. I realize all of the little things I miss during the off-season. Sitting watching the Boston University vs. Boston College hockey game outside at Fenway last night, I was reminded of a member of the NESN broadcast team who often gets overlooked: Tom Caron. Continue Reading »

Lowell's Future in Flux

2010-01-08T16:35:00.000-05:00

At 10:30 (EST) this morning, Theo Epstein introduced Adrian Beltre as the Red Sox new third baseman. Now that the deal is official, it re-raises the question about what to do with Mike Lowell. When Theo addressed the situation this morning he made it clear that there was no immediate move lined up to unload the veteran third baseman. Continue Reading »

Bill Hall for Casey Kotchman

2010-01-07T20:28:00.001-05:00

Earlier today the deal sending first baseman Casey Kotchman to Seattle for utility man Bill Hall became official. With the addition of Adrian Beltre, there was no longer a role for Kotchman and it was a logical move for Theo and the gang. Overall, I think the Sox benefit greatly by receiving a utility man who can come off the bench to play any position, a minor league prospect to be named later, and cash. Continue Reading »

Decision Imminent for Aroldis Chapman

2010-01-07T11:20:00.002-05:00

The Cuban defect Aroldis Chapman has gotten a boatload of attention this off-season. Getting interest from 15 clubs when he worked out in Houston mid-December, the race has slowly been dwindling down ever since, with the Red Sox right in the middle of the pack. According to Juan C. Rodriguez of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Chapman is likely to make a decision within the next few days on where he is going to begin his career in the US. Continue Reading »

Randy Johnson Finally Retires

2010-01-06T10:43:00.001-05:00

Randy Johnson Retires. A headline most would have expected several years ago, but he wasn’t ready to close the door on his life’s work. Now, we are saying goodbye to one of the most intimidating left-handed pitchers of all time. His long hair and 6′10″, 225 pound frame instilled fear in every hitter stepping into the batter’s box. Once the hitter began to relax at the plate, Johnson would throw his fastball inside and scare the hitter again to keep him off balance. Johnson can retire happy, having won almost every award possible in his 22-year career. Continue Reading »

Jacoby to Left a Good Move?

2010-01-06T09:27:00.002-05:00

A day after the Beltre signing, the Sox made another roster move, but without adding any new players. Reported by Amalie Benjamin of the Boston Globe, Francona announced that Ellsbury will be playing left field next year and Mike Cameron will move into the center field slot. I understand why the move makes sense, but worry it is putting Ellsbury in a difficult spot under the shadow of the Green Monster. Continue Reading »

Holliday Celebration for the Cardinals

2010-01-05T23:07:00.002-05:00

After seemingly endless negotiations with the biggest bat in free agency, the Cardinals got their man. Matt Holliday is off the market, ladies. Even with hardly any competition, Boras still got his client a 7-year, $120 million dollar contract with an option for an 8th year in 2017. As expected in November, Holliday pulled in the biggest contract of an free agent this winter. With his signing, all of the top tier free agents have signed deals this off-season, and it is time to start gearing up and getting excited for Spring training. Continue Reading »

Kotchman to Mariners

2010-01-05T16:36:00.001-05:00

According to ESPN, the Mariners are close to acquiring Casey Kotchman from the Sox. It appears that it will probably be in exchange for at least one minor league prospect, and probably not much more than that. There is very little information known, but Seattle is in need of a corner infielder since Adrian Beltre signed with the Sox yesterday. Kotchman would get a ton more playing time in the Northwest than with Boston, making it a win-win-win situation for both ball clubs and Kotchman. More information to come.

Wang on Sox Radar?

2010-01-05T16:28:00.000-05:00

According to Chien-Ming Wang’s agent, the 29-year old right-handed free agent has heard from 15 teams thus far this off-season who have showed at least a little interest. If true, it is an impressive number, but there are still a plethora of questions and concerns for Wang’s future employer. Continue Reading »

Sox Agree on Deal for Beltre

2010-01-04T20:36:00.000-05:00

Not minutes after I posted about the Sox offer to Beltre. the Sox agree to a tentative 1 year, $10 million dollar deal with the third baseman. Beltre is a career .270 hitter with 250 HR’s and is an extremely talented defensive player. It was clearly in line with the Sox philosophy this off-season, which was to improve pitching and defense. For my thoughts on comparing Beltre to Lowell, check out my post from a few weeks ago. Continue Reading »

Dice-K Concerns: 2010 Edition

2010-01-04T18:44:00.005-05:00

When the Sox invested $100 million dollars in a young hot-shot pitcher over from Japan, fans were excited about the possibilities. Matsuzaka first year in America in 2007 was a decent one, posting a 15-12 record with a 4.90 era, but walked batters constantly and had high pitch counts, leading to only one complete game. The media was quick to defend the Japanese hurler, saying that the more comfortable he gets with the league and in the country, his numbers would improve. Continue Reading »

Sox Make Beltre an Offer

2010-01-04T18:44:00.002-05:00

The Sox interest in Adrian Beltre has been well documented this off-season, but it appeared to be put to rest once the Mike Lowell trade fell through. According to Gordon Edes of ESPNBoston.com, the Sox have been engaged in conversations with Beltre behind closed doors for awhile and made him an offer of a 2 year contract. This offer raises the obvious question of what to do with Mike Lowell if Beltre comes to Boston. Continue Reading »

Sox All-Decade Team: Outfield

2010-01-03T23:33:00.000-05:00

Over the past decade, the Sox have had some great outfielders, but only three can make the All-Decade Team. The three selections cover a wide-range of types of players including a lead-off man, a power hitter, and a lower in the line-up model of consistency. Although two of the selections would be booed if they returned to Fenway, all three made great contributions to the history of a storied franchise. Continue Reading »

Sox All-Decade Team: Middle Infield

2010-01-02T22:00:00.002-05:00

The Sox All-Decade Team continues with the middle infield. The second baseman and shortstop are the motor that keeps the defense going and combine to create a mean double-play combo. Although the two following players never played together, they both had outstanding performances over the past 10 years. Continue Reading »

Sox All-Decade Team: Corner Infield

2010-01-01T22:38:00.003-05:00

As the decade came to a close last night, I couldn’t help but think back to what was one of the best 10 years in Red Sox history. The Sox finished the 10 year span with a record of 920-699 and made an appearance in the playoffs 6 of those seasons. The most memorable moments of the 2000s are, of course, the 2 World Championships in 2004 and 2007. Over the next few days, I am going to look back at some of the greatest players to play each position during these past 10 seasons beginning with the corner infielders. Continue Reading »

Lowell's Surgery Successful

2009-12-31T10:06:00.001-05:00

Two days before we all ring in the New Year with our friends and family, Mike Lowell had surgery on his torn liagment in his thumb. According to ESPN, the surgery was successful and Lowell is expected to be healed and ready to go when hitters report to Fort Myers in just over 2 months. When doing the surgery, the Boston Globe reported that Dr. Donald Sheridan discovered the ligament 95% torn. Continue Reading »

Third Base Uncertainty

2009-12-31T00:53:00.002-05:00

Throughout the off-season, there has been a buzz surrounding who would fill the third base slot for the Sox in 2010. First, there was an attempt to trade Mike Lowell to Texas to free up some salary, but it fell through following the discovery of his thumb injury. Then, rumors about Adrian Beltre’s interest in coming to the East coast and playing for Tito and the gang gained some steam and after dying down for a bit, they have reemerged this week. Ignoring other options and money for the sake of this debate, would Lowell or Beltre be the best fit at third base this season for the Sox? Continue Reading »

And Then There was 1...

2009-12-29T16:15:00.001-05:00

This afternoon, the Met’s reached an agreement with Jason Bay, affirming what has been speculated for the past few weeks. With the larger market teams unwilling to offer Bay the 5th year and extra money he was asking for, the potential landing spots for the left fielder shrunk considerably and resulted in only one serious offer on the table. Now that Bay is taken, all the attention is on Matt Holliday. Continue Reading »

65 Days and Counting

2009-12-29T15:15:00.002-05:00

For any die-hard Red Sox fan, the next 65 days will be the most difficult to fight through. The roster is mostly set, barring any unforeseen surprises, and besides Lowell’s thumb surgery, there are no other news stories to follow. What is an anxious Sox fan to do until February 18th when pitchers and catchers report to sunny Fort Myers, FL? Here are a few suggestions… Continue Reading »

Jed Lowrie's Future

2009-12-28T23:15:00.000-05:00

A once highly-tauted shortstop and second baseman, Lowrie has struggled to make a name for himself in the big leagues. Between not getting enough playing time and injuries, Lowrie has posted a terrible .235 average in 328 at-bats in the majors and has had more strikeouts (88) than hits (77). Given recent history with the revolving door at shortstop, Lowrie still may have a chance to prove his worth and be the Sox shortstop of the future. Continue Reading »

Sox Prospects: Catchers

2009-12-27T22:07:00.001-05:00

Thanks to the trade for Victor Martinez at the trade deadline last season and the resigning of Jason Varitek, the Sox have a fairly strong catching core in the major leagues, but developing young catchers is crucial to an organization’s continued success. Continued here...

Bay State of Mind

2009-12-25T22:22:00.001-05:00

Throughout Red Sox nation there has been constant chatter about Jason Bay since the end of the 2009 season. Whether you believe the Sox should have thrown in an extra year and a bit more money to bring Bay back to Fenway or you feel he is overated and are glad he is gone, everyone has an opinion. Despite earlier reports, it appears as though Bay and his agent Joe Urbon are having a difficult time finding a home for the slugger as we approach the new year. Continued here...

Festivus for the Rest-of-Us

2009-12-24T00:07:00.000-05:00

As a continuation of my post on www.bosoxinjection.com, there are a few other people I have issues with this Festivus evening.

My first issue is with Eli Manning. You are a pompous jerk through and through. From the day of the 2004 NFL draft, I knew you were the scum of the earth. Any respectable human being would have been ecstatic to be drafted #1 overall in by the Chargers, but instead, your arrogant, entitled attitude forced the San Diego Chargers to trade you because you refused to play for them. As much as I hate the Colts, your brother Peyton is at least an honorable person who has earned others admiration by consistently performing at a high level. You, however, have done nothing but tarnish the great Manning name by being a cocky punk.

My next issue is with David Beckham. No one likes you here. You have no respect for your team, league, or fans and don't deserve to wear the LA Galaxy uniform. You are a disgrace to sportsmanship and only give effort when you feel like it or there is extra money involved. Your own fans in LA are even booing you, can't you take a hint? Take Posh Spice and go to a country that wants you...oh wait, there aren't any. You have the money and the celebrity, do us all a favor and stay off the soccer pitch.

My final issue is with Brett Favre. What happened to the respectable Green Bay Packer lifer? You have plummeted from being an honorable person to being a slime-ball. I don't care what success you have on the field, the way you have handled yourself over the past two seasons has permanently damaged your reputation beyond repair. You can have your records and streaks, but can no longer have any fan loyalty. It is sleezy to use retirement as a vehicle to be able to sign with another team, and you know that. Disgraceful.

Lowell Remains in Boston

2009-12-20T09:26:00.000-05:00

Check out my article on Lowell's failed trade.

Holliday Break for the Sox

2009-12-18T14:37:00.000-05:00

Check out my article on the Sox status this off-season.

Is Kansas State for Real?

2009-12-17T10:47:00.000-05:00

Kansas State basketball is making a comeback.

ADRIANNNNNN, Please Come to Boston

2009-12-16T23:05:00.000-05:00

My letter to Adrian Gonzalez.

OF Issues Galore

2009-12-15T10:18:00.000-05:00

Check out my post on the Red Sox outfielder issues.

Lackey to the Sox?

2009-12-14T13:43:00.000-05:00

Check out my article on the breaking news surrounding John Lackey.

Heisman Impact on Bowls

2009-12-13T21:49:00.000-05:00

Check out my article on the Heisman finalists.

What is Theo doing?

2009-12-13T21:48:00.000-05:00

Check out my post questioning Theo Epstein thus far this off-season.

Sox Stocking Stuffed with Prospects

2009-12-12T09:49:00.000-05:00

Check out my article on the Red Sox top prospects.

Recipe for Success? Dominate the Paint

2009-12-11T00:12:00.002-05:00

Check out my story on big men in college basketball.

Boof to the Rescure...Or Not

2009-12-10T11:10:00.000-05:00

Red Sox sign Boof Bonser. Click here for more!

Bye Bye Mikey

2009-12-10T10:02:00.000-05:00

Check out my article on the Mike Lowell trade.

Gammons Out at ESPN

2009-12-09T08:04:00.000-05:00

At this week's MLB Winter Meetings, there has already been a big announcement, but it does not revolve around a potential trade. Peter Gammons released a statement yesterday afternoon stating that he will be leaving ESPN in a week or so after his 20 years with the company. Gammons claimed he wants to move on to other career endeavors, which we have now learned is NESN and the MLB Network.

After Gammons gave the sports world a scare in June of 2006 when he had a brain aneurysm burst and he was rushed into surgery, his air time at ESPN has been limited. It has been obvious to the Gammons faithful that he was at full health and wanted to be back on the air, but ESPN would not return him to his usual work load one he returned.

The Hall of Fame reporter Peter Gammons has been in the sports media world for over 40 years. He started writing for the Boston Globe in 1969 and had a brief 3-year stint with Sports Illustrated as their lead baseball columnist from 1976-78. The Globe called Gammons back and he stayed there until 1986 when Sports Illustrated called him back. While Gammons was still writing for Sports Illustrated, ESPN called him and asked him to be a studio broadcaster for Baseball Tonight. Since 1988, Gammons has been a knowledgeable, calm voice, who never tried to hide being a hardcore Red Sox fan who grew up outside of Boston.

Being a Red Sox fan, I feel Gammons is finally back home, literally and figuratively. Living on Cape Cod, Gammons now works closer to home and for a team that he has so passionately covered, through print and TV, for decades. Gammons leaving ESPN is a loss to the national baseball community, but a win for Red Sox fans around the country. Thank you Peter Gammons for all you have contributed and will contribute to the sports media world.

Brian 'Fighting Irish' Kelly

2009-12-08T19:35:00.000-05:00

Check out my article on Brian Kelly.

BCS Disrespects Mid-Majors

2009-12-07T11:11:00.000-05:00

Check out my reactions to the BCS Bowl selections last night.

A Pat's Must Win

2009-12-06T11:42:00.000-05:00

The buzz in New England for the past few weeks has been the inability of the Patriots to win on the road. All I keep hearing is that the season is over and the Patriots are terrible. Does anyone realize they are still first in their division and can move 2 games up on the second place Jets with a win today? Does anyone realize that as long as the Pats make the playoffs, they have the experience and knowledge to win the super bowl?

I'm not saying that right now the Pats are playing like super bowl champions, but there are still 5 games left in the season. If their defense can get tough and gain some momentum, there isn't a team in the NFL that wants to play this squad in a win-or-go-home match-up. They have proven over the years that regardless of their regular season struggles or successes, the post-season is the second season in which you can redefine your identity.

That being said, the Pats need to learn how to win close ballgames on the road. Thus far this season, the Pats are 1-4 on the road, only beating the Broncos in Denver with a FG in OT. With 3 of the last 5 games on the road, they can not afford to continue this trend. This afternoon is a statement game, where all fans will see if this team has really improved defensively against the pesky wildcat formation that has tripped up the Pats defense in the past. If the Pats can beat the Dolphins this afternoon, they will have regained some confidence and momentum going into the last quarter of the season.

A win today would also go further than just helping the team. They need to prove to their fan base in New England and across the country that they are capable of winning when they have to and are improving with each practice. The Boston media is the first to jump on you when you are under-performing, but they are also the first to jump on the bandwagon when things are going well. Everyone loves a good bandwagon ride, why not climb aboard?

Luck of the Longhorns

2009-12-06T11:11:00.000-05:00

Check out my post on the Longhorn's near miss yesterday.

Drink-in Saturday College Football

2009-12-05T00:31:00.000-05:00

Check out my post on Saturday's College Football match-ups.

Marco the Sox Savior?

2009-12-04T18:37:00.002-05:00

I am as happy as the next person that Marco Scutaro is on board as the next starting SS of the Red Sox, but is all of the excitement around his signing too much? Let's step back for a minute and look at Scutaro's 2009 stats as compared to the rest of his career.

Without a doubt, Scutaro had his best year as a professional during the 2009 season. He hit .282 with 12 HR's and 60 RBI's in 144 games with the Blue Jays. Even more interesting was Scutaro's 90 BB's last season, which ranked him 7th in AL in that category. By most standards, those are great numbers for a bottom of the lineup hitter with the only poor stat being his 75 K's. However, was last year a fluke?

For his career, Scutaro is a respectable .265 hitter, but has only had 2 seasons in which he hit above .270 (.273 in 2004 with Oakland) and only one season in which he hit over .280 (.282 in 2009 with Toronto). This past season was the first time Marco had eclipsed the 10 HR in his 8 year MLB career and his OBP was .052 higher than his career average. Given career trends, the chances the player the Red Sox acquired plays like he did in 2009 is highly unlikely, but there are some things swaying in his favor.

Throughout his career, Scutaro has been on only decent offense clubs (Toronto and Oakland primarily). By being placed in the bottom of the Sox lineup, there will be much less stress and focus on his hitting ability as well as the opportunity for him to see better pitches. On he defensive side of the ball, Scutaro is one of the best fielders in the AL who consistently makes the routine plays and has a tendency to wow you with his range.

Overall the 34 year old SS will fill a gap that the Sox desperately needed on the left side of the infield, but let's not hail him the next Nomar just yet. Let him get out on that Fenway field and convince all of us that he is the stability at that position that the Sox have not seen in years. For Theo and the Sox sake, I hope Marco Scutaro is the answer, because this whole revolving door stuff each year is getting old.

College Basketball: Big East

2009-12-02T15:42:00.000-05:00

Check out my latest analysis of Big East basketball.

A Legend Retires

2009-12-01T14:27:00.000-05:00

Check out my post on Bobby Bowden's retirement.

College Basketball: Big 12

2009-11-30T23:07:00.000-05:00

Check out my post on College Backetball: Big 12.

Showdown in the Superdome

2009-11-30T17:41:00.000-05:00

The Monday night showdown in New Orleans is shaping up to be one for the ages. Both the 10-0 Saints and the 7-3 Pats want to use tonight's match-up as a springboard for the remaining six weeks of the season as well as use this game as a benchmark for their progress thus far.

As far as the Saints are concerned, they have put the lid on most of their critics, but a win against the Pats would seal their place as a serious super bowl contender. They have had an incredible offense this year with QB Drew Brees and his receiving core of Marcus Colston and Devery Henderson as well as a strong running attack with Pierre Thomas and Mike Bell. The most improved piece of the Saints this season has been their defense. With DE Will Smith and his 8.5 sacks this season anchoring the defensive line and S Darren Sharper and his 7 interceptions looming in the secondary, it will be tough for Tom Brady to have the time to find the any open seams.

On the Patriots sideline, they are fired up at the chance to prove that they are a legitimate playoff team. Thus far in 09 they have picked up momentum after a slow start. Brady has settled in and has been throwing strong accurate passes as of late. With WR Wes Welker for the short quick routes and WR Randy Moss for the deep shots down field, the Patriot passing attack matches what the Saints can do through the air, but RB Laurence Maroney and their other backs have been suspect at best. The big question mark is the Patriot defense. They have given up 20+ points in 4 of their 11 games this season and playing in a loud dome can be difficult to pick up on audibles at the line, making the Saints more difficult to defend. If the Pats defense can get by the big Saints offensive line (315+ pounds each) and get pressure on Brees, then they have a good shot at derailing the red hot Saints.

No matter how you look at it, this should be an excellent match-up between two of football's best QBs and offenses and it will probably come down to who has the ball last when the 4th quarter ends.
Prediction: Patriots by 3

Weis Fired

2009-11-30T16:16:00.000-05:00

Wait, Charlie Weis was on the hot seat at Notre Dame? Did he deserve to get fired? Is Notre Dame better without him? Did he see this coming? Yes to all. The Weis era is officially over, even though it was really over a few weeks ago with the loss to UConn. Hey Notre Dame, give Brian Kelly of Cincy a call and I bet he will come down for an interview as soon as his Bearcats beat Pitt and win the Big East championship this weekend. Just get him a nice hotel room and some room service and he will be your next head coach. Hopefully he will win more than 6 games because the Notre Dame fan base is getting a bit restless.

Get ready NFL, he comes Charlie...

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

2009-11-30T11:35:00.000-05:00

Check out my post on this being the most wonder time of the year. More to come...

Gerhart for Heisman

2009-11-29T00:11:00.001-05:00

AP Photo

Check out my post on Toby Gerhart's bid for the Heisman Trophy here.

Sox Aggressively Pursuing Halladay

2009-11-25T14:37:00.000-05:00

As reported in the New York Daily News on Tuesday, the Red Sox are actively pursuing one of the game's best pitchers, Roy Halladay. Halladay has been an object of the Sox affection since the trade deadline last season, but Theo and the gang were unwilling to give up too many top prospects for the 32 year old starting pitcher. As great as this news appears for Red Sox fans, I am concerned about what it will take to bring Halladay to Boston. The Red Sox would most likely have to give up SP Clay Buchholtz and either SS prospect Casey Kelly or P Michael Bowden, which may effect their ability to trade prospects for a power hitter like Adrian Gonzalez or Matt Holliday. That being said, if the Red Sox could pull off a trade for Halladay, they would have one of the premier pitching staff in baseball. With Josh Beckett, Jon Lester, and Roy Halladay, the Red Sox would have 3 #1 starters at the front-end of their rotation, and a strong bullpen to boot.

The scenario sounds great, but regardless of the Sox push, they are still facing tough competition to land the Cy Young award winner. The Yankees will surely be actively pursuing Halladay and there were reports that the Angels were also in the market for the righty and both teams have the players and salary room to make the deal work. I'm sure more teams will step their foot in the water before a a trade is finalized. Only time will tell, but I wouldn't be surprised to see a deal done within the next 2 weeks.

Turkey Day Snoozefest

2009-11-25T09:09:00.002-05:00

Every year, most Americans sit down at Thansgiving to a lovely meal of turkey (and all the fixin's) and then move in front of the TV for some NFL football. Every year we get to see the Detroit Lions and the Dallas Cowboys play home games (with the addition of a 3rd game at night over the past few years). Most years, the match-ups aren't fantastic and the Cowboys are favored in their game and the Lions are underdogs in theirs, creating for some less than thrilling games. Tomorrow, we will fall asleep on the couch with football in the background, but it will not be because of the turkey, but because of the crappy NFL match-ups. All odds courtesy of bodog.com.

Green Bay Packers (-10.5) at Detroit Lions, 12:30pm EST on Fox

This is a matchup of the 6-4 Packers and the 2-8 Lions. The record tells the story for both of these clubs. The Packers have had a nice season, but have been fairly consistent through the air, but RB Ryan Grant has struggled at times this year to break-off any big runs or even break 75 yards in a game, despite averaging almost 19 carries per game. Oh the Lions. Let's start with the positive. The Lions have won 2 more games this year than they did last year. The positive mostly ends there. They are showing signs of turning the franchise around, but are still several key players away from being a contender.

Prediction: Green Bay by 16

Oakland Raiders at Dallas Cowboys (-14), 4:15pm EST on CBS

This is a battle of the 1st place 7-4 Cowboys and the last place 3-7 Oakland Raiders. Despite their record, however, the Cowboys have really struggled this season having any type of consistent offense. They lost to the Packers 17-7, and the only TD they had came with under 1 minute left in the 4th quarter and they beat the Washington Redskins this past week 7-6 on a late TD. With Tony Romo's injured back, this could be a closer game than it should be. The Oakland Raiders, on the other hand, are coming off a huge win against the Cincinnati Bengals. The Bengals went into Oakland 7-2 and really clicking on offense, but were stopped by the mighty Raiders defense. I doubt they can repeat that performance, but they gained a ton of confidence.

Prediction: Cowboys by 6

New York Giants (-5) at Denver Broncos, 8:20pm EST on the NFL Network

For those lucky souls who get the NFL Network will have a special treat on Thanksgiving night, a battle of 6-4 teams. the Giants will soar into the mile-high city to face the Broncos. This is a tough matchup to predict, because at times this season, both teams have looked dominant and both teams have looked terrible. The Giants started the season 5-0 in impressive fashion with wins over divisional foes the Redskins and Cowboys in the first 2 weeks of the season. After the hot start, the Giantslost 4 straight, and just barely squeaked out a win this past weekend against the Falcons in OT. The Broncos have a similar story. They started off 6-0 and now have lost the last 4 games in a row. The Broncos problem has been scoring points, having given up 183 points to opponents this season, while only scoring 170 points on offense. If nothing else, this should be a fairly close game.

Prediction: Giants by 7

If you want more, B-Dogg can also be found writing daily about college sports at www.joshqpublic.com.

Weekend Shockers

2009-11-23T12:39:00.003-05:00

As some of you may have noticed, I did not blog this weekend at all. I was preoccupied with watching some of the most fantastic finishes across the sporting world and didn't have time to pick my jaw off the floor and write a post. Also, for anyone who is interested, I am now contributing to www.joshqpublic.com daily about college sports, primarily basketball and football. Come check me out over there, I am, and always will be, B-Dogg.

Enough pathetic self-promotion, let's dive right into the crazy weekend.

Friday - College Basketball
#24 Syracuse vs. #4 UNC

There were very few believers that this 'Cuse team could be as good as they are this year after taking a huge hit with a loss to Le Moyne in an exhibition game. Le Moyne? Has anyone even heard of the school? Luckily for 'Cuse, that loss doesn't show up on their record because it was an exhibition, but clearly sent a message and created a swirl of doubt. The bright spot in that game was Wesley Johnson. An athletic 6-7 forward who dropped 34 points in that preseason match-up, including a late 3-pointer to give 'Cuse the lead. Apparently, Johnson has something to prove in his Junior season, because against #4 UNC on Friday night, he had another stellar game. Johnson dropped 25 points in a stunning 16 point victory over the defending champions, the day after beating #12 Cal by 22 points. For those who weren't believers before, you should be now. This 'Cuse team has the pieces to make a serious run through the Big East and into March.

Saturday - College Football
UConn at Notre Dame
Wow. There is so much to say in so little space. I am not going to break down the game (if you would like my analysis, I posted a longer entry here http://joshqpublic.com/2009/11/22/saturday-thriller/), but would like to say a few words to a few members of the UConn Huskies program. First, the one negative comment. K Mr. David Teggart. You hit every FG when we don't need you to, and miss every clutch kick. Go home. Now, on to the positive. RB Jordan Todman. When did you become such a great kick returner? I am certainly not complaining, but 'where have you been all my life?' RB Andre Dixon. You are a monster. 20 carries for 114 yards, most of which came in the later stages of the 4th quarter and OT. Thank you for running over ND defenders. QB Zach Frazer. You only threw 1 interception. Congratulations on not blowing the game against your former team. WR Marcus Easley. You also fall into the category of 'where have you been all my life?' You have been ridiculous over the last half of the season receiving for over 625 yards on 30 receptions and 5 TD's since the 4th game of the season on 9/26. Coach Randy Edsall. You have been the most underrated coach in college football this season. To overcome tragedy and still play the way your team has, is because of your leadership. You deserve this win as much as the players do, if not more. Congratulations. And one final note to a non-UConn person. Mr. Charlie Weis. Good luck trying to find a new job. I'm sure someone is looking for .500 coach.

Sunday - NFL, NBA, and MLS Cup Final

What a sports-filled Sunday. We had NFL fumbles with a few seconds left, a pass-interference with no time on the clock leading to a game-winning TD, several 1, 2, or 3 point games, and a few colossal upsets. Then there were the Celtics. The team that has been struggling mightily since their hot start. They were playing the Knicks. A blowout right? Wrong. A OT thriller that ended with a Kevin Garnett jumper at the buzzer to win. Despite all of that excitement, the best game of Sunday was the MLS Cup Final 2009. Real Salt Lake vs. the LA Galaxy turned out to be one of the most intense and exciting games I have seen in quite a while. LA jumped on the board late in the first half with a Magee goal and it wasn't until Findley, a former LA Galaxy striker, evened up the match on a goal in the 64th minute that the game got really exciting. Both teams were banged up with injury and illness one after another and both teams with no remaining subs. There was a lot of rough play and passion on both sides of the field and after 30 minutes of OT, the game would be decided on PK's for only the second time in MLS Cup Final history. Goalkeeper Rimando for RSL was spectacular and back-up goal keeper Saunders for LA matched him one for one. After 5 PK's, they were tied up at 3 and the game continued. All of the players on the field were running on empty, but after a Rimando stop and a Russell goal for RSL in the 7th round of PK's, the game was over. RSL had a regular season record below .500, but got hot when they needed to and pulled out an unthinkable victory. Watching David Beckham lose was a wonderful way to end a great weekend of sports.

ND Showdown: Swarbrick vs. Weis

2009-11-20T13:58:00.000-05:00

Has there been any coach on the proverbial 'hot seat' more often than Charlie Weis? Every day there is a new story about his future with ND and how up in the air it is at any given moment. I'll give you a definitive answer right now. If Notre Dame loses to UConn in South Bend this weekend, Charlie Weis's tenure at ND is over. End of discussion. I am in no way slighting UConn by saying they are an inferior team, because it is my alma mater, but given the year Weis's team has had, with arguably the best QB in college football, a loss to UConn would be the final straw for Swarbrick (ND Athletic Director) to make the decision everyone is anticipating, if he has not already, like he claims.

This gives me a great chance to discuss the game this weekend. UConn has had an exceptionally frustrating year. In many ways, they have performed extremely well, hanging in tough with highly ranked opponents (Cincinnati, Rutgers, Pitt, West Virginia, UNC). UConn is 4-5, and have lost by a combined 15 points over those 5 games. Some of their heart-breakers include: losing to UNC by 2 on a holding call in the end zone that resulted in a safety, losing to WVU by 4 on a late 60 yard run by Noel Devine, Losing to Rutgers by 4 after taking the lead with about 38 seconds left, losing to Pitt by 3 on a last second FG, and losing to #5 Cincinnati by 2 after missing a 2-point conversion and after being down 20 at halftime. The biggest loss for the Huskies this season was of their CB Jasper Howard who was stabbed to death on the Storrs, CT campus. Not only are they missing a close friend and teammate, but also an excellent CB, which has left a void in their secondary.Howard's death was extremely emotionally draining for his teammates, making the UConn season more impressive considering the circumstances.

That being said, this is the weekend that UConn gets over the hump and finishes a game (and Weis's career at ND). For the UConn program and Storrs, CT community, a win at ND would go a long way to push the difficult memories, off and on the field this year, behind them.
Prediction: UConn by 5

Seattle Here we Come

2009-11-20T10:35:00.001-05:00

As my fiance reminded me today, I have been neglecting the Major League Soccer (MLS) in my blog recently. Partly it is a subconscious protest after the devastating way the New England Revolution lost on aggregate goals to Chicago a few weeks ago (although not nearly as devastating as Ireland's loss), but it is also partly because I hate David Beckham. He is a washed up jerk, who thinks because he is a celebrity and his wife is gorgeous, that he can do anything at anytime, and it is true. The MLS brought him into the sport to draw attention to the high level of play right here in America, but instead, he has damaged the MLS reputation by yelling and starting fights with fans (see video below). Ok, I concede, he has brought in a ton of revenue for the league with the sale of his jerseys, but is it worth it? I digress.

On Sunday at 8:30pm EST on ESPN we can all witness history with the MLS Cup Final. The league MVP Landon Donovan will lead the LA Galaxy against Real Salt Lake (RSL) and their sharp shooting forward, Robbie Findley. The added intrigue of this game, is that it is being held in Seattle, this year's expansion team. QWEST Field has been packed with Seattle Storm fans all year, in one of the most impressive first years for an expansion team ever, in any sport.

As far as the game is concerned, these two teams are extremely evenly matched in terms of their play so far in the playoffs. Both goalies, Nick Rimando for RSL and Donovan Ricketts for LA, have played 3 games, 2 of which were clean sheets, and allowed 2 goals in the 3rd game. The scoring attacks for these two clubs are similar as well, with LA having 5 goals his postseason and RSL having 4. The one goal differential between the clubs was an extra penalty kick given to LA. During the regular season, the two teams matched up twice. The first meeting was held in May in Utah and resulted in a 2-2 tie and the second match was held in LA in June and resulted in a RSL 2-0 win.

What does all of this really mean? It means this will be one heck of a close game and you don't want to miss the excitement. I would not be surprised to see this game head into OT.
Prediction: RSL wins 2-1

NFL Week 11 Preview

2009-11-19T21:11:00.094-05:00

After a heartbreaking week 10 for Patriots and Cowboys fans (like myself), the sooner this weekend comes the better. Here are some interesting match-ups going into this weekend. As a reminder, there are three categories: Blowout of the Week, Thriller of the Week, and Must Win Game of the Week. All odds courtesy of bodog.com.

Blowout of the Week
New Orleans Saints (-12.5) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1pm EST on FOX

The New Orleans Saints are still rolling at 9-0 and are only gaining confidence as their wins keep coming. As they travel to Tampa for an inter-division game, there should be little doubt in every player's mind that they are the far superior team and only need to play a C game at best to beat the Bucs. Believe it or not, the Bucs are the least talked about 1-8 team in the NFL. There are articles about the Lions and the Browns constantly, but the Bucs are always left out. Just to be clear, they are bad and this game shouldn't even be close.
Prediction: New Orleans by 16

Thriller of the Week
Atlanta Falcons at New York Giants (-5.5), 1pm EST on FOX

As soon as I saw this game on the schedule, it peaked my interest. Both of these teams are 5-4 and are sitting in 2nd place in their respective divisions. Offensively, both teams have solid running games, both ranked in the top ten in yards per game, and they both average around 24 to 25 points per game. Because of how evenly these two teams match-up offensively, the decision on RB Michael Turner's ability to play on Sunday could create a problem for the Falcons. In terms of defense, the Giants are one of the best defenses in the league, while the Falcons have one of the worst. QB Matt Ryan has had only a decent year, so it will be interesting to see if he can adjust to the pressure that the Giants defense will surely throw at him.
Prediction: New York by 3

Must Win Game of the Week
New York Jets at New England Patriots (-11), 4:15pm EST on CBS

Two straight weeks the Patriots have played what is considered by most to be a rival team. After their heartbreaking loss on Sunday night, the Pats are ready for revenge against the struggle QB Mark Sanchez and the Jets. If you are a Jets fan, you already know this is a must win. After starting 3-0, the Jets have dropped 5 of the last 6 games, and need a quick turnaround if they have any inkling of hope at saving this season. This is an absolute must win for the Jets, but on the road in Foxborough against a hungry Pats team will be a tough situation to turn their season around.
Prediction: New England by 16

Bay Rejects Sox Offer

2009-11-19T16:24:00.001-05:00

Is it just me or do other Red Sox fans have a funny feeling about this off-season? I have these lofty expectations for what Theo needs to do in order to create a new look lineup for 2010. As expected, Bay wants to test the free agent waters, which should strike fear into the hearts of Red Sox fans. Bay is a top tier free agent that will draw attention from all of the higher budget teams. If Bay is to return to the Red Sox, Theo will have to shell out high market prices, crimpling the ownership's ability to pursue other top free agents. Given recent history, I am beginning to doubt Bay will not be under the shadow of the Green Monster next year. The other elite OF is Matt Holliday who is drawing much attention from possible employers. Holliday is a bit younger and better defensive player than Bay, and has already drawn interest from the Mets and Cardinals, creating it stiff competition for Boston.

In terms of other power bats, Adrian Gonzalez has been an object of the Red Sox's affection for a year or two now. He is a young, strong first baseman with a ton of pop and a decent glove. If the Sox were able to land Gonzalez, which is probably more likely that any other power bat, they would have to either include Mike Lowell in a trade or have another trade lined up. The problem with that scenario, is that Lowell's trade value has plummeted over the last year or year and a half with is chronic hip problem and his increasing age.

Over the next few days, the first few days of unrestricted free agency, we will have a better feel for the market for all of these players, but the early indications are not great for the Red Sox. If last year's Teixeira sweepstakes is any factor, however, Theo may be looking to prove his worth and may spend more than normal. More analysis of free agent pitchers and other batters to come throughout the next few days and weeks.

Hawks Soar Early

2009-11-19T09:17:00.001-05:00

Since the '98-'99 season (which was shortened by a lockout), the Atlanta Hawks have had a winning record in only one season, last year's 47-35 mark. In the 9 seasons between winning records, the Hawks were an abysmal 255-483, but luckily for them, things have turned around. The past two seasons, the Hawks have made the playoffs (Losing to Boston in '07-'08, beating Miami, then losing to Cleveland in '08-'09), advancing one round further each year. The difference for the Hawks has been their athletic play from their young starting 5. Three of their starters are 23 years old and they are led my an experienced point guard, Mike Bibby. So far this season the Hawks have been dominant with a record of 10-2 and they already have wins against Boston (9-3) on the road, Portland (9-4) home and away, and division foe Miami (7-4). The Hawks can score in bunches, dropping 100+ in 8 or their first 12 games this season. With every game, the team is gaining confidence that will guide them through the rest of the regular season and into the playoffs again. I would not be surprised if the Hawks make the Conference Finals again this year, but will they break into the NBA Finals for the first time since the '60-'61 season when the franchise was in St. Louis?

Fenway Gets Dissed

2009-11-18T23:16:00.001-05:00

In 2012, Fenway will celebrate it's 100th anniversary. With the current era of new ballparks being erected every few years, Fenway (1912) is one of the two remaining parks built before 1962 (the other is Wrigley built in 1914). The 100th anniversary is a perfect opportunity to honor the history of the park and it's special place in the MLB, but instead, Bud Selig decided to have the All Star Game in Kansas City. KC? Do they really think anything besides a miracle will increase the Kansas City fan base? A 100th anniversary happens so rarely for a ballpark and realistically, we will probably only see one more in our lifetime (Wrigley) and I would be willing to bet the Cubs will be hosting the 2014 All Star Game on their historic park's 100th anniversary. The fact that the Red Sox have a large fan base and can sell out games should be an asset when selecting a site, and not a detriment. There is no reason why Kansas City can't host the the 2013 or 2015 All Star Game. If the reason they chose the park is because of it's recent renovations like they claim, do they realize that in 3 years those renovations will no longer be new? Congratulations MLB for making a bad decision.

There's No Crying in Football, Unless you are a Jets Fan

2009-11-18T22:14:00.000-05:00

During Rex Ryan's first press conference after the story leaked that he cried in the locker room after the Jets 24-22 loss to the Jags this past weekend, he decided to make light of the situation. Ryan had a staff member bring out a box of tissues to which he joked he had a new sponsor, Kleenex. I have nothing against a large man crying, because sports can be emotional. What I don't understand is why Ryan didn't tell us the real reason he was crying: the Jets free-fall into oblivion. After starting 3-0, QB Mark Sanchez and the Jets have gone 1-6 in their past 7 games. Sanchez's numbers in those games (5 touchdowns and 10 interceptions) is enough to make even the most unemotional Jet fan cry. Unless the Jet's can figure out how to improve their 27th ranked pass offense, we should get used to seeing the mighty Rex Ryan cry.

Lambert Surprised Herself

2009-11-18T13:34:00.003-05:00

The story of Elizabeth Lambert has been all over the news the past few weeks. During a New Mexico vs. BYU soccer game, Lambert committed a series of violent attacks on BYU players including pulling one BYU player to the ground by her ponytail (see the video below). I understand competitive aggressiveness and that on occasion, players can lose their cool and act inappropriately. Elizabeth Lambert is just plain crazy. Her quote in the New York Times was, "I look at it and I'm like, 'That is not me. I have so much regret. I can't believe I did that." You can't believe you repeatedly punched, pushed, and tripped other players? What a moron. Just say what we all know the truth to be: you did it on purpose and are only remorseful now because of the national attention the story has gotten.

Close Calls

2009-11-18T09:37:00.000-05:00

The top two teams in college basketball yesterday won by a combined 6 points against unranked opponents. #1 Kansas squeaked by Memphis and #2 Michigan State fought off Gonzaga. Besides the top 2 teams in the country, #13 UConn had trouble putting away Hofstra and #20 Georgetown scored only 46 points against Temple, winning by 1 point. If these early season match-ups are any indication of the season ahead, all college basketball fans are in for a treat. On any given night, an unranked, mid-major team can give a top tier team a run for their money. I'm not saying that Hofstra will go deep in the tournament or Temple will win the National title, but with the rising level of talent across the country, it has become less clear who will make the sweet 16 and who won't make the tournament at all. Since 2004, 8 teams seeded #10 or lower (10-16) have made the sweet 16, 2 teams have made the elite 8, and 1 team has made the final four. It is still a long and difficult road for these lower ranked teams, but if George Mason in 2006 could upend 6-seeded Michigan State, 3-seeded North Carolina, 7-seeded Wichita State, and 1-seeded UConn before losing to the eventual National Champion Florida Gators in the final four, anything is possible. Come March, it would not surprise me to see another 10-seeded or higher team in the elite 8 and possibly even in the final four.

Pitching for a Job

2009-11-17T22:57:00.002-05:00

Once Pedro Martinez's agent, Fern Cuza, announced today that Martinez wants to play the full season next year and feels healthy and strong, every Red Sox fan had a smile on his or her face. Pedro is tiny and lovable, and did nothing but win and entertain fans during his stint in Boston. During this season's World Series, every Bostonian was rooting for the Phillies for two reasons: they hate the Yankees and love Pedro. Martinez loved his time in Boston as much as any other player, and if given the opportunity by Sox management, would be on a plane to Fenway within 24 hours. Pedro still has a few bullets left as a #4/#5 starter and would certainly entertain Sox fans once again.

Dick Jauron Fired, FINALLY

2009-11-17T15:51:00.001-05:00

It took 9 games for Bill's ownership to realize Dick Jauron was done in Buffalo. Really? In today's sports world where coaches are fired before they even sign their contracts, Jauron held his job for three and a half NFL seasons despite his 24-33 record. He had one of the worst offenses in football this year (besides the Browns) and the team rankings tell the entire story (28th in Pts with 15.6/game, 29th in yards with 268.2/game, 29th in Pass yards with 160.6/game, and the bright spot, ranked 15th in Rush yards with 107.7/game). Led by a crappy QB, Trent Edwards, a sad WR core, including the locker room favorite Terrell Owens, and a RB in Jackson who has had one solid week all season. Granted, not all of these issues are Jauron's fault, there have been many injuries, but Jauron's leadership has been put to test this season and he has failed miserably.

On a Bills related note, any one who has been a fan of a team that Terrell Owens has played for, regardless if he was playing or injured, could have seen this Bill's team plummeting when they announced his signing. He is a virus, regardless of what coach, owner, or system he is a part of and will never be worth the money he earns. He is a conceded, egotistical moron, who thinks the earth revolves around him and that he is the greatest WR ever to play the game. Owens, do us all a favor, leave the NFL and go play in the CFL and annoy the Canadian media for a change.

250K Fine for Flippin' the Bird

2009-11-17T12:02:00.006-05:00

What the hell has happened to the NFL? Everything is an absurd fine. Right from the get go, I want to be clear that I am not condoning all fine-able actions, but why can't the 'no fun league' just laugh at itself every once and awhile. Chad Ochocinco, who has given the league more money in fines than an average person will make in their lifetime, likes to have fun and joke around. Last week, he was joking around with an official and tried to "bribe" him with a $1 bill. Everyone knew it was a joke, because you need a lot more than $1 to bribe a professional referee. Maybe a dollar would work on a Little League ref, but certainly not the highly trained officials the NFL spends hours training. The league fined him 20K and their reasoning was that he used the word "bribe" and they don't want people to think it is okay to bribe an official.

The latest installment from the 'we can't take a joke department' is Tennessee Titans owner Bud Adams being fined 250K for flipping the bird while celebrating a win at Buffalo. Bud Adams is 86 years old and the team he owns just dominated the Buffalo Bills. Why can't he celebrate by waving obscene gestures? It is a social norm in society to allow older people to say whatever the hell they want simpley because they are old and "don't know any better". Why shouldn't older NFL owners have that right?

Okay, so maybe flipping the bird multiple times while alternating hands is inappropriate and there should be disciplinary action taken, but when will the league understand that every time someone speaks or shows disgust is not just another opportunity to collect money from rich players. Football is a sport that seeks to entertain it's viewers and by fining everyone left and right, games are becoming much less entertaining to watch. Honestly, the only reason anyone still watches the Bengals anymore is to see what antic Ochocinco will pull out of his hat (or sock) each week.
AP Photo/Wade Payne

With a name like John Wall, you have to be good

2009-11-17T09:53:00.002-05:00

Welcome to Division 1 Men's College Basketball John Wall. In his first collegiate start, G John Wall of Kentucky's stat line was as follows: 38 min, 19 pts, 2 rbds, 5 asts, 3 stls. Oh yeah, and in a tie game with 6 seconds left, brought the ball up the court and hit a game-winning 15 foot jump shot. All the attention he got as the #1 PG coming out of high school was apparently warranted. He is an immediate impact player who will get tons of minutes and have the opportunity to learn and grow at the highest level in a prestigious program. I don't want to get ahead of myself, because Kentucky barely beat Miami of Ohio, clearly not an elite team, but if he continues to be a clutch scorer and secure ball handler, this Kentucky team could make a deep run come March. John Calipari has to be pretty happy he decided to take the job in Lexington.

Lack of Offense

2009-11-17T09:22:00.000-05:00

At 5:35PM yesterday, I got a call from my buddy Jonathan to tell me that he was heading to Framingham, MA to pick up tickets for the Bruins game starting at 7PM and asked me if I wanted to go. Naturally, I was all in, because live hockey is one of the most enjoyable experiences know to man. We got to the game a little late, and had unbelievable seats at center ice, but the Islanders were already up a goal. Just when the Bruins came back to tie the game in the 2nd period, they blew the lead again. I'm not going to recap the entire game, because anyone who has watched this team throughout the beginning part of the season knows that they can't score goals, especially when they need them. I'll use the excuse of injuries for now because Marc Savard and Milan Lucic both went on IR several weeks ago.We'll see what happens once they return, but I'm not sure it will be enough.

I got home from the game and turned on MNF to see how badly the Browns were getting hammered. Turns out that it was worse than I expected and I expected very little out of a terrible Cleveland team. I have always held the belief that it takes effort to score 0 points in an NFL game. Last year, in approx. 250 regular season games, there were a total of 5 shutouts, 3 of which occurred in week 17 when teams were already eliminated from contention and were giving younger players a chance to play. The parody in football this year has already led to 8 shutouts in 143 games. The best teams in the league are so strong and the weak teams in the league are so poor, that there have been more unwatchable blowouts than past years. Let's see if the trend continues in the remaining 7 weeks of the regular season.

The Week Ahead

2009-11-16T12:35:00.005-05:00

In an effort to push past my disappointment with this weekend's sporting events, I decided to take a look ahead at some big games coming up this work week to distract us all. This could be a long one...

Monday
Regardless of who is playing, Monday Night Football is fun to watch. Tonight is a match-up of two teams who are a combined 5-11. The Ravens, behind their 2nd year QB out of Delaware, Joe Flacco, have been decent on offense and bad on defense, which is the opposite of normal. The once powerful and intimidating defense around Ray Lewis, has become soft and penetrable. On the other side of the field, the Browns come into tonight's game having scored 131 points fewer than their opponents this year. In eight games, they have scored a total of 78 points. Do I need to say more? None-the-less, it is Monday Night Football and all the hype that surrounds playing under the lights.

Of course, if you are like me and watched two of my favorite NFL teams lose yesterday, there is always early season college basketball to be watched tonight. #5 Kentuky, #6 Villanova, #8 Duke, #14 UConn, and #18 Minnesota are all in action, with #14 UConn and #8 Duke playing a double-header on ESPNU. There are no particularly compelling match-ups, but these games provide a pleasant alternative to the NFL.

Finally, if you are not interested in the NFL or College basketball (why not?), then there is the first of three Bruins games this week at the TD Garden. The Islanders are coming to town sitting last in the Atlantic Division, but having won 6 of their last 10 games. The only other time these two teams have met this season, the Bruins pulled off a 4-3 OT win at home.

Tuesday
College basketball begins to heat up with some compelling early season tests for #1 Kansas and #2 Michigan State (both game son ESPN). #1 Kansas will show off against a pesky Memphis club that is a perennial favorite to go deep into the post-season. #1 Kansas is a superior team, but Memphis knows how to play in big games, especially since this game is being held at a neutral location. #2 Michigan State is facing a strong Gonzaga team who are led by underrated coach Mark Few. Gonzaga is a young team and will be over-matched by #2 Michigan State's athleticism, strength, and experience.

Wednesday
The NBA is on tap for Wednesday. The Miami Heat and Atlanta Hawks will square off for the early season lead in the Southeast Division. Both teams play one game this week before Wednesday's match-up, but as of now, the Heat sit 1/2 game behind the Hawks who are on top of the division with an 8-2 record. PF Josh Smith for Atlanta has had a great year thus far averaging nearly 16 points and 8+ rebounds per game. He will be matched-up against PF Michael Beasley, the highly-talked about pick from Kansas State who has been improving, but has made a lot of mistakes typical of a young player.

If college is not your cup of tea, Golden State is coming to town to face off against the Celtics. Golden state has struggled mightily this year and sits at 3-6. Golden State also just traded F Stephen Jackson and G Acie Law for G Raja Bell and F Vladimir Radmanovic. Jackson has wanted out for awhile and finally got his wish granted. If the Celtics play their game, this may not even be fun to watch, unless you love lop-sided games.

Thursday
The headliner in college basketball on Thursday is #4 North Carolina at #17 Ohio State. For both teams, this will be an early test to see how good they really are as a unit. As usual, UNC has had strong play from their forwards inside and has a deep bench. Ohio State, on the other hand, has a small team with the tallest forward listed at 6'-7". Thus far, OSU has had balanced scoring with 5 players averaging double-figures, but since they have not faced any tough competition, only time will tell what type of team they become. It should be interesting to see OSU's guards/forwards trying to score inside against 7'-0" Zeller of UNC.

If you really want more football, the NFL Network is providing it for you. Thursday night the Miami Dolphins will head to Carolina to take on the Panthers. Should be an interesting battle between two 4-5 teams. The wildcat could be extremely successful against the 25th ranked rush defense of the Panthers, who give up more than 128 yards per game to opposing teams.

In the NFL, the Bruins with take on a solid Atlanta Thrashers team. Atlanta has had strong goal tending as of late from Ondrej Pavelec and Johan Hedberg and Ilya Kovalchuk, after a slow start, has been on fire, now with 12 goals and 6 assists on the season

Friday
To take us into the weekend, both the Bruins and Celtics are playing. The Bruins will be playing on the second consecutive night, creating some potential fatigue problems, which could be a problem heading into Buffalo. The Sabres this year are and impressive 12-4-1 thus far and their success stems from their young goal tender, Ryan Miller, who has a 1.77 GAA average playing in 15 of the teams 17 games this season.

The Celtics play a tough one on Friday night on ESPN against C Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic at home. The Magic are 7-3 entering this week and Howard has been dominating inside averaging nearly 20 points per game. Perkins is going to have to stay out of foul trouble early and try and limit the amount of touches Howard has in the paint.

If you can't find anything to watch from this list, you aren't a sports fan.

Aftermath from a Bad Weekend for NE

2009-11-16T09:07:00.001-05:00

While not sleeping last night for some unknown reason (Bill Belichick and Wade Phillips), I began to think about the weekend that wasn't for New England sports fans. Let's recap.

Friday

It all started with a big Celtics/Hawks match-up that has turned into a bit of rivalry since they fought for 7 games in round one of the playoffs in 2007. The C's got out rebounded by 18 and lost 97-86, an inauspicious start to the weekend.

Saturday

There were 3 promising match-ups for Bostonians. The BC Eagles were up against a terrible Virginia team, the Bruins were facing the high-scoring Pittsburgh squad, and the Celtics were looking to get back on track against the 3-3 Pacers. BC took care of business, barely, but a win is a win and on this weekend, this win is the only win (not so subtle foreshadowing). The Bruins then came out scoring, finally, but the defense let them down giving up 6 goals, 5 in regulation, resulting in a 6-5 OT loss. The Celtics, following suit, struggled defensively, giving up 113 points to the Pacers, capping the night with a big L.

Sunday

There was one marquee match-up left in which a win would make all of the other losses from the weekend bearable: a Pats victory over their arch rival Colts. If you want to read my more in-depth feelings on the game, see my posts from last night. All I will say is that we learned Bill Belichick is human and is capable of making a colossal error in judgment to hand the Colts a victory.

Overall, the major Boston sports ended the weekend 1-4. It has to get better from here, right?

Post Game Wrap-up

2009-11-15T23:47:00.000-05:00

Bill Belichick took an idiotic risk and it cost the Patriots the game. If you are up 6 with 2 minutes to play, on your own 30 yard line and facing a 4th down, WHY THE HELL WOULDN'T YOU PUNT? At least make it somewhat difficult for Manning and not hand him the ball in 30 yards away from the end zone. This will certainly be a topic in the post game press conference and for weeks to come, because Belichick essentially handed the Colts the game on a silver platter. What a shocker. Not because the Colts won by 1, but because Belichick actually made a mistake in the biggest moment of the biggest game of the year to this point. There is no point in even reviewing the stats from this game because they mean nothing but a large L on the schedule for the Pats. The AFC is now a two horse race: Cincinnati Bengals and the Indianapolis Colts. No one in their right mind saw that coming before the season started.