Archive for April, 2007
MLB & NBA Picks
Been a while since I made some picks. Here are my results to date:
- MLB: 16-18
- NBA: 16-6-1
- UFC: 4-2
Let’s see if I can get my MLB record up where it needs to be. Unfortunately, I only like three lines for tomorrow’s (Friday’s) action.
- Braves @ Rockies. Two of the games young guns square of in this one. James for the Braves. Francis for the Rockies. I like Francis a lot. I don’t think he is even close to hitting his potential. Even in that park. He is a slight underdog at home (Braves are -108, Rockies -102). He shouldn’t be. I’m taking the Rockies -102.
- Rays vs. A’s. Rays’ current streak is a little misleading. They are coming off an absolute beatdown of the Yanks, but that is somewhat deceptive. The Yanks are terrible and play with no heart on a consistent basis and they have the worse manager in baseball. A win against them isn’t that impressive, even for the Rays. However, things like that, especially for a young team, can build momentum fast. Real fast. They will be without Baldelli (possibly), but the A’s have been decimated by injuries. Harden. Swisher. They are all banged-up. They still play with fire though and never quit. Hats off to Bob Geren. That said, I think the Rays take this one. I think they ride the Yanks series and keep pressing. I like the line, too. Shields MOWED in his last start. I’m taking the Rays +140.
- Red Sox @ Yanks. Couldn’t let this one go. Espeically given the two starters: AP for the Yanks, Nomo II for the Sox. Between Sockgate, Schilling’s vagina, Nomo II’s overratedness, the Yanks being soft and having the worse manager in baseball, there is always so many sideshow debacles to this series that even if you don’t like either team, it is impossible not to check it out. The thing about last weekend’s beatdown is that the Yanks were in every game. They should have taken two out of three. I think they right the ship tomorrow night. I think they get to Nomo II early and often. I like AP as a stopper. I don’t think the Yanks will lose 7 in a row (despite Torre). I’m taking the Yanks -122.
NBA
- Bulls @ Heat. The Heat have looked terrible in this series. The Bulls have been playing like a team possessed. I think they hate the Heat and are looking to crush them. Despite that, the Heat are favorites at home. Vegas must be thinking that Riley can motivate them and right the ship. I think he will enough so to win, but not cover. I think this game will be close. I’m taking the Bulls +5.5.
- Raptors @ Nets. This has been a great series. Love watching Kidd run the floor and Bosh just be Bosh. Bosh is probably my favorite player the the league right now. HUGE fan. Wish he didn’t play in Toronto though. This will be another good game. I like the Nets to cover at home though. I’m taking the Nets -4.5.
- Warriors @ Mavs. Can someone pull Stephen Jackson aside and shake the sh*t out of him? Please! I think he was jealous that Baron got tossed, so he acted a fool just so he wouldn’t be left out. That team makes no sense. Nellie looks like he is going to explode in every interview. Everytime. Even when they win. Baron went off the reservation in a game his team still had a legit chance of winning. Nellie should bench him to start the game. No need for that prima donna crap. I think the Mavs figured out that they actually need to start playing. I think they CRUSH the Warriors. It will be ugly. This line is a joke and a mistake. I’m taking the Mavs -4.5.
Those are my picks. Good luck.
Runny
Do not support Jane Fonda!!!
I received the following email and wanted to post it for all to see. Do not support or honor Jane Fonda in any way. These stories from our courageous, admirable and honorable soldiers will make you sick.
The email:
IF YOU ‘VE NEVER FORWARDED ANYTHING IN YOUR LIFE , FORWARD THIS SO THAT EVERYONE WILL KNOW!!!
She really is a traitor
A TRAITOR IS ABOUT TO BE HONORED
KEEP THIS MOVING ACROSS AMERICA
This is for all the kids born in the 70’s who do
not remember, and didn’t have to bear the
burden that our fathers, mothers and older
brothers and sisters had to bear.
Jane Fonda is being honored as one of the
” 100 Women of the Century.”
BY BARBRA WALTERS
Unfortunately, many have forgotten and still
countless others have never known how Ms.
Fonda betrayed not only the idea of our country,
but specific men who served and sacrificed
during Vietnam.
The first part of this is from an F-4E pilot.
The pilot’s name is Jerry Driscoll, a River Rat.
In 1968, the former Commandant of the USAF
Survival School was a POW in Ho Lo Prison
the “Hanoi Hilton.”
Dragged from a stinking cesspit of a cell,
cleaned, fed, and dressed in clean PJ’s, he was
ordered to describe for a visiting American
“Peace Activist” the “lenient and humane
treatment” he’d received.
He spat at Ms. Fonda, was clubbed, and was
dragged away.
During the subsequent beating, he fell forward
on to the camp Commandant ’s feet, which
sent that officer berserk.
In 1978, the Air Force Colonel still suffered from
double vision (which permanently ended his
flying career) from the Commandant’s frenzied
application of a wooden baton.
From 1963-65, Col. Larry Carrigan was in the
47FW/DO (F-4E’s). He spent 6 years in the
“Hanoi Hilton”,,, the first three of which his
family only knew he was “missing in action”.
His wife lived on faith that he was still alive.
His group, too, got the cleaned-up, fed and
clothed routine in preparation for a
“peace delegation” visit.
They, however, had time and devised a plan to
get word to the world that they were alive
and still survived. Each man secreted a tiny
piece of paper, with his Social Security Number
on it, in the palm of his hand.
When paraded before Ms. Fonda and a
cameraman, she walked the line, shaking each
man’s hand and asking little encouraging
snippets like: “Aren’t you sorry you bombed
babies?” and “Are you grateful for the humane
treatment from your benevolent captors?”
Believing this HAD to be an act, they each
palmed her their sliver of paper.
She took them all without missing a beat. At the
end of the line and once the camera stopped
rolling, to the shocked disbelief of the POWs,
she turned to the officer in charge and handed
him all the little pieces of paper.
Three men died from the subsequent beatings.
Colonel Carrigan was almost number four
but he survived, which is the only reason we
know of her actions that day.
I was a civilian economic development advisor
in Vietnam , and was captured by the North
Vietnamese communists in South Vietnam in
1968, and held prisoner for over 5 years.
I spent 27 months in solitary confinement; one
year in a cage in Cambodia ; and one year
in a “black box” in Hanoi.
My North Vietnamese captors deliberately
poisoned and murdered a female missionary, a
nurse in a leprosarium in Ban me Thuot, South
Vietnam , whom I buried in the jungle near the
Cambodian border.
At one time, I weighed only about 90 lbs.
(My normal weight is 170 lbs.)
We were Jane Fonda’s “war criminals.”
When Jane Fonda was in Hanoi, I was asked by
the camp communist political officer if I would
be willing to meet with her.
I said yes, for I wanted to tell her about the real
treatment we POWs received… and how
different it was from the treatment purported by
the North Vietnamese, and parroted by her as
“humane and lenient.”
Because of this, I spent three days on a rocky
floor on my knees, with my arms outstretched
with a large steel weights placed on my hands,
and beaten with a bamboo cane.
I had the opportunity to meet with Jane Fonda
soon after I was released. I asked her
if she would be willing to debate me on TV.
She never did answer me.
These first-hand experiences do not exemplify
someone who should be honored as part
of “100 Years of Great Women.”
Lest we forget…”100 Years of Great Women”
should never include a traitor whose hands are
covered with the blood of so many patriots.
There are few things I have strong visceral
reactions to, but Hanoi Jane’s participation in
blatant treason, is one of them.
Please take the time to forward to as many
people as you possibly can.
It will eventually end up on her computer and
she needs to know that we will never forget.
RONALD D. SAMPSON, CMSgt, USAF
716 Maintenance Squadron,
Chief of Maintenance
DSN: 875-6431
COMM: 883-6343
PLEASE HELP BY SENDING THIS TO
EVERYONE IN YOUR ADDRESS BOOK. IF
ENOUGH PEOPLE SEE THIS MAYBE HER
STATUS WILL CHANGE
Schilling’s Bloody, I mean painted, sock!!!
I hate to bring up old news from 2.5 years ago but this was classic. Last night, during the Orioles/Red Sox broadcast on the Orioles home TV network, Gary Thorne, who does play by play for the O’s and is a nationally renowned baseball commentator, stated loud and clear during the broadcast (bottom of the 5th if you Tivoed it) that he spoke with Doug Mirabelli in the past and Doug told Gary that Schilling’s bloody sock was in fact paint and it was PR stunt. Then again two innings later, Thorne brought up the painted sock again. Mirabelli strongly denied he ever had this conversation with Thorne but it brings this issue to public light again. Here is a Boston Globe Article that breaks down in detail how the conversation went down and some reactions from Mirabelli, Francona, Millar, etc… - Bloody mess, Schilling’s sock called into question
I want to take this a step further. If you have the time, go visit Coopertstown and check out the “bloody” sock. Schilling loaned it to the Hall of Fame and it will be there for another year. If you look at the sock, the sock is still red. Why is this an issue you ask? It is an issue because dried blood does not stay red, it turns brown. That sock in the Hall of Fame is still clearly red. Something is up and this needs to be investigated.
Why is this all an issue. 1) The sock is valued at $1 million 2) It is the Red Sox so everybody pays attention 3) Schilling is a media whore and will do anything to publicize himself.
It would be a shame for somebody to buy this sock, even if Schilling donates the proceeds to charity, and it turns out the buyer was duped and simply bought a hoax, a painted sock. I have always thought the sock was a fake and there was not blood on it. I thought they used ketchup but paint will do it. I am calling on Curt Schilling to immediately approve DNA testing on his sock so we can settle this once and for all. Curt…. if it really is bloody than you will have no problem having the sock tested and if you do not allow testing than we can only believe that you are hiding something and it is in fact paint on that sock. Based on the way Mirabelli and Francona angrily responded to questions about the sock, I am guessing this is one big hoax. Come clean Curt!!!
Schilling’s Bloody, I mean painted, sock!!!
I hate to bring up old news from 2.5 years ago but this was classic. Last night, during the Orioles/Red Sox broadcast on the Orioles home TV network, Gary Thorne, who does play by play for the O’s and is a nationally renowned baseball commentator, stated loud and clear during the broadcast (bottom of the 5th if you Tivoed it) that he spoke with Doug Mirabelli in the past and Doug told Gary that Schilling’s bloody sock was in fact paint and it was PR stunt. Then again two innings later, Thorne brought up the painted sock again. Mirabelli strongly denied he ever had this conversation with Thorne but it brings this issue to public light again. Here is a Boston Globe Article that breaks down in detail how the conversation went down and some reactions from Mirabelli, Francona, Millar, etc… - Bloody mess, Schilling’s sock called into question
I want to take this a step further. If you have the time, go visit Coopertstown and check out the “bloody” sock. Schilling loaned it to the Hall of Fame and it will be there for another year. If you look at the sock, the sock is still red. Why is this an issue you ask? It is an issue because dried blood does not stay red, it turns brown. That sock in the Hall of Fame is still clearly red. Something is up and this needs to be investigated.
Why is this all an issue. 1) The sock is valued at $1 million 2) It is the Red Sox so everybody pays attention 3) Schilling is a media whore and will do anything to publicize himself.
It would be a shame for somebody to buy this sock, even if Schilling donates the proceeds to charity, and it turns out the buyer was duped and simply bought a hoax, a painted sock. I have always thought the sock was a fake and there was not blood on it. I thought they used ketchup but paint will do it. I am calling on Curt Schilling to immediately approve DNA testing on his sock so we can settle this once and for all. Curt…. if it really is bloody than you will have no problem having the sock tested and if you do not allow testing than we can only believe that you are hiding something and it is in fact paint on that sock. Based on the way Mirabelli and Francona angrily responded to questions about the sock, I am guessing this is one big hoax. Come clean Curt!!!
MLB, NBA & UFC Picks
Took some bad beats yesterday. Bullpen let me down in the Pirates-Dodgers, and Grienke was terrible. Split in the NBA and went 2-1 in UFC. How about the BEATDOWN Cro Crop caught last night?!?!?!?! One of the best kncokouts I’ve ever seen. I think Gonzaga-Couture will be a GREAT fight. Couture will have his hands full. OSU Syndrome written all over it. With yesterday’s debacle, my record is as follows:
- MLB: 14-15
- NBA: 14-4-2
- UFC: 4-1
Ouch. Yesterday hurt. Need to make up for it today. Here it goes:
NBA
- Wiz @ Cavs. Not really much analysis in this one. Wiz are without Arenas and Butler. Easy win for the Cavs. I like the Cavs -11.
- Lakers @ Suns. Suns want to make a statement in this one. Kobe does play extrememly well against them though. He always rises to the competition. I just think the Suns have too much fire power. I’m taking the Suns -11.
- Nuggets @ Spurs. I’ve picked the Spurs a few times recently, eventhough they seldom cover. I’m not doing it this time. I think the Spurs win, but they will pull their starters to save them for the post season. Nuggets have enough to cover. I’m taking the Nuggets +8.5.
- Warriors @ Mavs. This game will be a beatdown. Warriors are thanful to be in the playoffs. Mavs are rested and ready. Mavs win this easy. The spread should be higher. I’m taking the Mavs -9.5.
MLB
- Braves @ Mets. Smoltz vs. Glavine. Need I say more? GREAT match-up of two future Hall of Famers. Can’t wait to see this one. Both guys will be amped to face each other. I just like Smoltz better in this one. I also think it will be low scoring. I’m taking the Braves +115. I’m also taking the under @ 8.5.
- Pirates @ Dodgers. See if I can get this one right-haha. I like Gorzelanny a lot. He’ll out pitch Tomko (and hoepfully get some Pen help). I’m taking the Pirates +125.
- White Sox @ Tigers. Sox are playing REALLY well right now. I think they sweep. I’m taking the White Sox +140.
- Yanks @ Red Sox. Nomo II finally gets his first taste of the rivalry. Teams have shown that if you are patient, you can get to him. He is a much different pitcher with runners on base. Eventhough th Yanks are starting a rookie, have the worse manager in baseball and have played like a AAA team in this series, I don’t think thye get swept. Yanks are huge underdogs in this. I’m taking the Yanks +165.
Those are my picks. Good luck.
Runny.
MLB, NBA & UFC Picks
The Yankees are soooo very bad. They should have beat the Red Sox tonight 8-2 easy. Cudos to the Red Sox for hanging in there. They got to Rivera and they deserved to win. That game showed me how much better of a manager Francona is than Torre. Night and day. Francona is ten times the manager Torre is. Not even close in comparison. My first plea to Cashman was to cut/trade Carla Pavano. My seconnd plea is to fire Torre immediately. Put Donnie Baseall in charge and hire Paulie O as bench coach. I think Torre was asleep until the 7th inning when he decided to start making moves. Why pull Pettitte with a 3 run lead? Why not leave Proctor in longer? Why bring in the guy (Vizcaino) who blew his laod and tank the day before, and then bring in Rivera for a two inning save?!? Especially given that you know they are going to have to use the pen a lot the next two games. With the go ahead run on 3rd in the 8th with one out, why not intentionally walk the batter to set-up the double play? And why, for goodness sake, do you bring the infield in?!?! he still hasn’t learned from 01. Sox will sweep.
Sorry for the rant. I hate losing picks. I went 2-2 (White Sox and Braves covered, Yanks and Jays did not). Brings my overall record to:
- MLB: 16-14
- NBA: 12-2-2
- UFC: 2-1
Now, on to the NBA playoffs!!! One of my favorite things to do is pick NBA games. Especially this time of year. Genrally, I don’t like to make picks out of every game. I usually try to spot faulty lines and pick accordingly. But, with the limited docket of games, and because it is so much fun, I figure I’ll give it a shot. Here it goes:
- Nets @ Raptors. This is probably my choice for the best 1st round series. I’m really psyched to watch this one. Both teams have been really great against the spread this year. Vinsanity has been taking SOOOOOOO much smack about this series. He even hoped that they got Toronto in the first round. Be careful what you get for though. Chris Bosh is a manchild. One of my favorite players and is HUGELY underrated. He came out of the same draft with mello, Bron and Wade, but never mentioned in their category. The time has come for the NBA to take notice. My heart is telling me to take the Raptors in this one. They are good favorites (-4.5) at home. However, they have been inconsistent as of late. The Nets have been ROLLIN’. I think the Raptors will win, but I think it will be a very close game. I just liek J Kidd and the veterans on the Nets. They will keep it close. I’m taking the Nets +4.5
- Heat @ Bulls. This is another great match-up. These two teams hate each other. Both have stumbled as of late, with the Bulls losing their last game against the Nets. A game that if they won, they would not even be playing the heat in the 1st round. The Heat have been banged-up and have been sporadic, at best. But, they are the defending champs. Until they are kncoked out, they are still the champs. The Bulls are hungry though and are looking to avenge the beatdown they got last year. They are young, athletic and play hard. But again, the Heat are the champs. And they have Shaq in the middle and Flash in their back court. Very, very tough game to call. I think the game will be close, so I’m taking the underdog. I’m taking the Heat +4.
- Magic @ Pistons. Magic just are not ready for the Pistons. Pistons are good and are built for the playoffs. Magic are 0-4 against them this year. Pistons are at home and will win this game big. I’m taking the Pistons -9.
- Jazz @ Rockets. Nearly everyone is talking about this finally being TMac’s year to get out of the 1st round. Possible, but the Jazz are damn good. Plus they are healthy now. They just beat the Rockets by 10, but the Rockets did not play TMac or Yao. That would have made a HUGE diference. I think the Rockets will win this game, but the depth of the Jazz will help them out. They will keep them in this game. It will be a close one. I like this line. I’m taking the Jazz +6.
Those are the NBA games for tomorrow. I’ll give Sunday’s picks tomorrow.
MLB
- Pirates @ Dodgers. Snell against Penny. Both have been great this year. I just love Ian Snell this year. Especially when he is the underdog. Will be a low scoring game. I like two picks in this game. I’m taking the Pirates +130. Also taking the under at 7.5.
- Twins @ Royals. Boof Bonser is not good. Grienke is really good, and the underdog. I like him at home. I’m taking the Royals +105.
UFC
- Gonzaga vs. Cro Cop. I have not changed my view on this all week. Cro Cop. Cro Cop. Cro Cop. Gonzaga will make this a good fight, but Cro Cop has too many weapons. I’m taking Cro Cop -500.
- Bisbing vs. Sinosic. Bisbing is fighting in front of his home crowd. This will not be a close fight. Bisbing will win easy and fast. I’m taking Bisbing -500.
- Arlovski vs. Werdum. Arlovski is a nut and so much fun to watch. I think he wins this one. Will be a good fight, but Arlovski will pull it off. I’m taking Arlovski -115.
Those are my picks.
Good luck.
Runny
Men of the World Unite!!! Do not be a Carl
So Mrs. Flash Flash and I went out for some beers to enjoy this beautiful East Coast weather. It finally cleared 50 degrees and smoked that temp coming in above 70 degrees today. Mrs. Flash Flash was talking to one of her girlfriends on the cell phone and I eavesdropped on the most idiotic pity party conversation I have ever heard. The two players were Carl, a 5′3″ tall man in his mid 20s and a woman in her mid 20s that I will call Clarice. I have never seen this people in my life and I only know his name was Carl because she said it. So take a look at the picture in this entry, Carl is on the left and Clarice is on the right. Here is how this goes and it is simply from observation and eavesdropping:
Carl and Clarice have been friends forever, since elementary school. Carl is 5′3″, has a high ass, slouches, his neck is like that Doolittle chick from American Idol and he is about to throw the biggest raging pity party I have ever witnessed in my life. Clarice looks decent, a long time smoker though, is wearing tight pants and a hippy shirt and has bad skin. So Carl laces into this tirade about how he is going to be single forever, oooooohhhh whoa is Carl, he can not meet any girls, all the girls he meets are 5′8″ and they won’t date him, he is ugly, he is too smart for the women he meets in bars, oooooohhhh whoa is Carl. Clarice repeatedly tells him he is an extraordinary guy and he has not met the right girl yet and he is soooooo great that he can not just meet any girl, the kind you meet in a bar, he has to meet that extraordinary girl cause he is so great and Clarice knows that girl is out there and that it will just take Carl that much longer cause he is sooooo wonderful and extraordinary himself.
Well this bullshit literally went on for an hour. Poor ugly short Carl just can not find a girlfriend and nice Clarice simply reiterated how wonderful Carl is and how that girl is out there somehwere. I just wanted to fucking shake him cause it was 100% obvious that ugly Carl wanted Clarice’s sympathy so he could date/bang her and instead of being a man and telling Clarice how he felt he made it one big pity party. Well guess what ugly Carl….that crap does not work on girls. You are not going to get a mercy screw from a long time friend just because you threw a raging pity party for yourself.
Well to add insult to injury, this chick Clarice pulls a whacked out mind game on him that literally went like this. She told Carl that most of the time when she gets hit on in bars she plays hard to get and guys and her friends end up thinking she is asexual cause she never acts on it. So then she literally starts telling this poor bastard Carl that she loves penis and thinks about penis all the time and she just wants to maintain her self-respect and dignity so she does not go for one night stands but she loves penis, penis, penis and more penis. She really wants penis all the time. I think she said the word penis 50 times in 5 minutes. Well poor ugly bastard Carl takes all this and you can see his neck shrink and he starts slouching more and more with every mention of the word penis. I do not know how he remained in his chair cause he looked like he was going to fall out of it.
Do you know what this was tonight….this was Mangina at its finest!!! I do not care if you are 4′4″, have a one inch dick, one arm, one leg, you name it. Grow a pair of balls and go after what you want. You like a chick, tell her. You want to bang her, tell her. Do not sit back and play the pity party sympathy card. You will never get laid that way and if you pull that crap you might as well chop off your nuts cause that is how you are acting. You are acting like a nutless pansy.
So men of the world unite against the Carls that are out there. Grow a big pair of nuts and use them.
Just had to rant about this bullshit I had to listen to tonight. Unbelieveable and if Flash Flash ever sees this crap again in public he will kick that Carl in the nuts!!!!
Flash Flash
MLB, NBA & UFC Picks
Been a slow week. The last remaining NBA regular season games were a debacle because it was never clear when the favorites would bench their players. The lines on the MLB games were not good. NBA playoffs start tomorrow and I’m extremely psyched. Don’t know the lines yet, but you can be certain I will be making picks.
I did hit some games last Tuesday. Specifically, the Jays, Rangers and Padres all covered, but the Cards and Giants sucked it. Giants bullpen is horrendous. Matt Cain dealed in that game and it should have been an easy winner. Went 3-2. My records to date are as follows:
- MLB:14-12
- NBA: 12-2-2
- UFC: 2-1
For today’s games, I like the following:
- Braves @ Mets. Pretty much an even spread. Braves are slight favorites at Shea. Pelfrey vs. Hudson. I love Hudson in this one. I think the Braves are legit and play harder than the Mets. I’m taking the Braves -108.
- Jays @ O’s. This line is a joke and total mistake. Burnett vs. Cabrera. Jays are underdogs. I don’t care that it is in Baltimore. Their fans are soft and there is no home field advantage. Burnett will mow. I’m taking the Jays +114.
- White Sox @ Tigers. Firt of their match-ups. Both teams will be fired-up. The rookie Denks is on the hill for the Sox. Chad Durbin for the Tigers. Despite the Tigers being at home, I like the White Sox in this one. I think Bueherle’ no-no gave them a big boost. They’ll be looking for revenge of the Tigers for last year. I think they will come out hungrier than the Tigers and Denks will out pitch Durbin. I like Denks a lot and the McCarthy trade in Spring is highly underrated. I’m taking the White Sox +102.
- Yanks @ Red Sox. Been waiting for this game all season. Another line that I think is flawed. Right now, the Yanks are slight underdogs. They should be decent size favorites. Pettitte is a big game pitcher and lives for these moments. He knows this series all too well. I think he outpicthes Schilling. Even at home. Plus, the Yanks offense is just much, much better than the Sox offense at this stage of the season. No one has been able to subdue #13 for any stretch. it will be interesting to see if the Fenway crowd gets into his head and brings him back down to reality. Could easily happen because he is a headcase. But, I think he performs well tonight (and all weekend). I think this line is seriously flawed. I’m taking the Yanks +102.
UFC
- I posted about this earlier in the week, taking Crop Cop and Arlovski. I also like Bisbing. He is going to be fighting in front of his home crowd. I like all three of these guys a lot. Check your lines-they have changed some and I’ve seen different spreads at different publications and sites. I’m taking Cro Cop, Arlovski and Bisbing at whatever line will be available before the fights.
There’s seven winners. NBA picks to come Saturday before the games.
Good luck.
Runny
Yankees versus Red Sox - Let’s Get Ready to Rumble….kind of,
Well baseball fans, it is that time of year again. Yankees versus Red Sox, the cream of the crop of the AL East, two of the best teams in baseball, all the big names….Arod, Jeter, Pettite, Rivera, Giambi vs. Beckett, Schilling, Dice-K, Papi, Manny…basically it is a baseball fan’s dream. So how do we look at this weekend? The pressure is entirely on the Red Sox, 100%. Why do you ask? It is simple:
Pettite vs. Schilling - Red Sox are favored
Karstens vs. Beckett - it is really no contest, Red Sox are favored
Wright vs. Dice - K - Yeah you guessed it, Red Sox are favored
All of the pressure is on the Red Sox. This is not Pettite, Mussina and Wang rolling in, even Pavano would be a step up over Karstens and Wright. No, it is Andy P and Schilling and then Yank’s minor leaguers versus arguably the Red Sox two best pitchers. If I am a Red Sox fan, which I am not, I would be disappointed at anything but a 3-0 sweep. The Sox get to roll out their 1,2,3..their top of the rotaion guys and those guys expect to win and the fans expect them to win. So why is the pressure off of the Yanks, because if they do get swept they can simply say they are banged up and had to throw minor league pitchers at the Red Sox. They have an out.
Schilling and Beckett know what this series is all about but Dice-K has no idea. Dice-K has one Fenway start and he was completely outpitched by King Felix. The Yankees batting order will be like nothing Dice-K has ever seen. The one stat I blogged about earlier in the week is key to the Dice-K start. Dice-K’s OBP when pitching from the stretch is 90 pints higher than from the windup. This stat is not based on this year but spans his entire career. I think the Yanks hitters will take a lot of pitches and will frustrate Dice-K. The Yanks also have speed at the top of the lineup, which is something Dice-K has not seen yet as well. This could be a long start for him and I am predicting that this will be the worst start of his short MLB career.
The Arod debate. Arod is on fire and does not need any more attention. Yankee fans still do not trust Arod and this series will either keep Arod hitting on the war path or will humble him a bit. The entire world knows Arod crumbles in big spots and the Yanks inexperienced starters are going to need all the offensive help they can get. This series will be big for Arod because everybody will want to know if he can remain hot or if he crumbles under the pressure like he has in Fenway in the past and especially the playoffs. A hot April does not predict a hot October and Arod still has a lot to prove.
I am willing to live blog the Dice-K Sunday start if peple request it. Check out my live blog of his first Fenway start to see what I can do. I hope this is a good series and a competitive one.
Flash Flash
Yankees versus Red Sox - Let’s Get Ready to Rumble….kind of,
Well baseball fans, it is that time of year again. Yankees versus Red Sox, the cream of the crop of the AL East, two of the best teams in baseball, all the big names….Arod, Jeter, Pettite, Rivera, Giambi vs. Beckett, Schilling, Dice-K, Papi, Manny…basically it is a baseball fan’s dream. So how do we look at this weekend? The pressure is entirely on the Red Sox, 100%. Why do you ask? It is simple:
Pettite vs. Schilling - Red Sox are favored
Karstens vs. Beckett - it is really no contest, Red Sox are favored
Wright vs. Dice - K - Yeah you guessed it, Red Sox are favored
All of the pressure is on the Red Sox. This is not Pettite, Mussina and Wang rolling in, even Pavano would be a step up over Karstens and Wright. No, it is Andy P and Schilling and then Yank’s minor leaguers versus arguably the Red Sox two best pitchers. If I am a Red Sox fan, which I am not, I would be disappointed at anything but a 3-0 sweep. The Sox get to roll out their 1,2,3..their top of the rotaion guys and those guys expect to win and the fans expect them to win. So why is the pressure off of the Yanks, because if they do get swept they can simply say they are banged up and had to throw minor league pitchers at the Red Sox. They have an out.
Schilling and Beckett know what this series is all about but Dice-K has no idea. Dice-K has one Fenway start and he was completely outpitched by King Felix. The Yankees batting order will be like nothing Dice-K has ever seen. The one stat I blogged about earlier in the week is key to the Dice-K start. Dice-K’s OBP when pitching from the stretch is 90 pints higher than from the windup. This stat is not based on this year but spans his entire career. I think the Yanks hitters will take a lot of pitches and will frustrate Dice-K. The Yanks also have speed at the top of the lineup, which is something Dice-K has not seen yet as well. This could be a long start for him and I am predicting that this will be the worst start of his short MLB career.
The Arod debate. Arod is on fire and does not need any more attention. Yankee fans still do not trust Arod and this series will either keep Arod hitting on the war path or will humble him a bit. The entire world knows Arod crumbles in big spots and the Yanks inexperienced starters are going to need all the offensive help they can get. This series will be big for Arod because everybody will want to know if he can remain hot or if he crumbles under the pressure like he has in Fenway in the past and especially the playoffs. A hot April does not predict a hot October and Arod still has a lot to prove.
I am willing to live blog the Dice-K Sunday start if peple request it. Check out my live blog of his first Fenway start to see what I can do. I hope this is a good series and a competitive one.
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