The Noise Factor

Tonight has compelled me to finally write a post on this beautiful website, thanks in part to my older brother.  He and I have been going back and forth over the Green Bay Packers and New York Jets.

Instantly you know that I am talking about Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers.

After the Jets attempted to lose last night’s game to the New England Patriots, everyone has singled out Brett as the reason why the New York Jets are as good as they are, while saying he’s the reason why the Packers are only 4-5.

That could not be further from the truth.  Based on the backstep of Green Bay’s D and the fact Ryan Grant hasn’t broken a huge touchdown run the way he did last year has been a big factor.  Let’s also not forget the weaker schedule for the Pack last season due to the poor season they had the year before.

The Jets have a much easier schedule this year, improved their defense and offensive line and they have been relatively healthy all year.  They also get to shread the NFC and AFC West divisions - both very weak. 

But if we flipped both players, Favre back to Lambeau and Rodgers in New Jersey, what would we have?  Well, based on the performances individually we could be seeing different records.  I’ve been told Green Bay would be better with Favre and the Jets would be worse with Rodgers.  Really?  Says who?  Don’t you think clubhouse morale would be lower with Favre in it?  I’d bet on yes.

But Rodgers has committed 7 less interceptions than Favre.  So don’t you think he could have won the close game the Jets lost to Oakland?  What about the first New England game?  And what if Kurt Warner doesn’t have 6 turnovers in the Arizona game?  Did Brett cause those turnovers?

No, just like Rodgers didn’t let the Minnesota offense score the late touchdown last weekend.  And how would Favre hold up against Indy or Tennessee?  Green Bay faces the best division in the AFC and the most up-and-coming divisions in the NFC, the South.  Green Bay does not have the weaker schedule they had last year, as well as the gift of facing floundering teams in the best spots of the season (Faced the Giants and Chargers early, both teams were in a cloud at those times). 

We can admit that the quarterback position has been a big difference in New York.  I cannot say the same for Green Bay.  But Green Bay would not be a better team with their previous quarterback.  Rodgers has protected the ball and his team’s defence has not rewarded him for that.

Lets not give too much credit for the guy who only gave another team a heads-up on his former team’s playbook and strategy.

Around the horn

- Barry Melrose was fired by the Tampa Bay Lightning.  It was a stupid hire in the first place.  He had a nice little gig with ESPN and had the opportunity to get to the Stanley Cup finals with Wayne Gretzky and Luc Robitaille - with the aid of some poor refereeing in the Conference Finals.  And this is coming from a guy who can’t stand the Leafs.

The thing that got him fired was not playing 1st overall pick Steve Stamkos.  I am not sure why.  Tampa needs to play him with the best players to get him ready to become the best.  He has the luxury of playing with studs like Martin St. Louis and Vince Lecavalier.  Let him work with these guys.  The ice time Stamkos has received is embarrassing.  As a 1st overall player, he commands more respect than that.  The next coach needs to play him a lot and allow him to learn and work through the problems he may have.

- Brian Burke has resigned from Anaheim and looks to potentially be the next GM for the Toronto Maple Losers.  Burke is a nice GM, a good GM actually.  However, he is very overrated and to think he is the answer to Toronto’s problems is a pipe dream.  He is no better than Cliff Fletcher.  He lucked into winning a ring with a franchise he did not build.  Aside from the title, his record isn’t something to completely brag about.  So as Toronto prepares itself to overpay Burke, they will need more than a nice GM to get themselves over the top.

- The Yankees are ready to overpay for C.C. Sabathia.  But, they might as well overpay for a guy who’s been near the top for a few years rather than waste money on 1-hit wonders (Jared Wright and Carl Pavano), as well as avoiding age (Randy Johnson and Kevin Brown).  They are at least going after a top-flight pitcher rather than a poser (A.J. Burnett).  Now they need a first baseman and I doubt they will have the money to get Mark Teixiera. 

- If there is a team that needs a rebounder and reliable scorer from the 4 and 5 in the NBA, grab Antonio McDyess.  He’s not the beast he was 10 years ago, but who is?  Get him (TORONTO!  PLEASE!)

- Mike D’Antoni hasn’t learned a thing since moving to New York to coach the Knicks.  He still only uses 7-8 players every game.  The Knicks will fade.

- So far I have agreed on the MLB awards (Gold Glove does not count), but whoever did not vote Cliff Lee and Roy Halladay 1 and 2 in the Cy Young should never be allowed to vote ever again.  Just like the douche bag who voted Tim Lincicum 3rd should never vote again.  The twat that voted for Dale Sveum should never vote again.  In fact the guys who did not vote for Lou Pinella or Charlie Manuel should never vote again.  Not only is it baffling, its insulting that you would be allowed to vote for something so important if you are going to be an imbecile about it. 

That’s all for tonight.  Enjoy the weekend.

I woke up this morning to the Buffalo sports radio station with my AM-only clock with the flip numbers that was straight out of Marty McFly’s bedroom in Back To The Future 1.  As I layed there for a couple minutes the morning show talked about the idea of having a neutral site for the World Series to avoid bad weather.  Like myself, they thought it was a stupid idea.

Whoever came up with the idea obviously wasn’t thinking things through.  We’ve had several World Series games played in the cold, such as New York, Cleveland, Boston and Detroit to name a few.  They also have chances of precipitation, in case you did not know.  But the cold factor is nothing new, and to take games away from places like New York where they have a stadium full of memories and World Series heroics that simply would not be embraced the same way if a Yankees v. Dodgers World Series was played at Arlington Stadium.

But rain cannot be stopped unless you play in a domed stadium.  Rain happens, its a part of life!  You will find rain in warm climates and cold, regardless of where you are.  That does not mean we move the World Series to California. 

I also don’t want to take a road trip or a flight to see my hometown team play in the World Series where I have to pay for travel, hotel and expensive tickets to boot.  Again, there was no logic to the thought of moving the World Series to a neutral site.

That said, here are some suggestions to what you CAN do…

- Start the season April 1st ever single year.  It is easier to make up games that are missed early in the season due to inclimate weather.  But starting April 1st allows the division series to begin in late-September. 

And because we started the World Series a few days late to set the games during prime-time viewing hours, the series ended later than usual.  If they started the season April 1st they’d still have a shot, depending on how they scheduled everything, to have the entire season and playoffs end before October 25th if the World Series were to go 7 games. 

You COULD shorten the regular season, but nobody wants that since that is a loss of revenue.  But isn’t that odd since Major League Baseball was crying about losing money?  If shortening the season was a logical way for the league to lose LESS money a few years ago, wouldn’t they have done that already?  Just checking…

A neutral site World Series is not the kind of change that would be healthy for America’s pastime.

As the NBA season has already begun, the baseball season comes to a close.  As you know, I’ll rock both…

- Congratulations to the Philadelphia Phillies for winning the World Series.  When the series started, I had picked the Tampa Bay Rays to win in 7 games.  They simply stood up to Boston, who had more than enough talent to win the World Series once again.  I also believed they had the better starting pitching and that they played in a tougher division which would translate into better preperation for Philly.

Let’s face it, Milwaukee was not a good team.  That’s right, I’m saying the Brewers aren’t all that good.  The NL Central has been weak and their weak showing in the playoffs proved it.  As for Los Angeles, they had been a sub .500 team all year until the arrival of Manny Ramirez.  So Philly hadn’t been REALLY challenged until they reached the World Series - or so we thought.  And then they took it in 5.

I think the New York Mets are currently standing on a tall building.

Not bad considering they were trying to cut payroll by trading Jim Thome and Bobby Abreu, and they got some breathing room after Adam Eaton’s fat contract came off the books.  Credit has to go to GM Pat Gillick, who has now put himself into the Hall of Fame with his 3rd championship.  He gave credit to former GM Ed Wade, but it was Wade who was ready to deal Ryan Howard for Ted Lilly, which would have completely altered the course of their history as well as Gillick’s decision-making by having to hold onto Thome and force him to play the field everyday.  He really should be giving praise to Blue Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi, who’s job should be given to Gillick who is a “free agent” as of November 1st.  Having Gillick back in Toronto working side-by-side with Paul Beeston again would be a dream come true, and maybe he can get Toronto’s farm system and scouting department back on track.

OTHER STUFF…

- I have said it once and I’ll say it again; DO NOT BELIEVE IN THE HYPE OF THE CLEVELAND CAVALIERS.  They are nothing special and their off-season did not put them in the title contenders category.  What, Mo Williams instantly made them a title contender?  Are you kidding me?  Tonight’s game is a reflection of what everyone should already know; they aren’t good enough to finish games against elite teams who know how to win titles.  Until Cleveland gets a real player then we’ll talk.  Otherwise, they are simply a pretty good team in a watered-down Conference.

- The New York Knicks are 1-0.  They are only 41 wins away from a playoff spot.  Don’t fail me now…

- Marion Jones believes she could have won gold without steroids.  Really?  Well why didn’t you play it clean?  Oh, because she didn’t know “the clear” was a drug.  Whatever…

- John Daly drunk at a Hooters?  No WAY!

- Can Greg Oden please play consecutive games?

Get ready for yet another wild free agency in the MLB despite the lack of depth in star power.  There are stars though, so watch out.

Haven’t gone around the world lately so tonight I’ll do just that.

- No shock over the World Series results thus far as the series is locked at 1-game apiece.  Cole Hamels is better than Scott Kazmir and Philadelphia won.  James Shields is better than Brett Myers and Tampa Bay won.  If the trend continues we expect Tampa to win Game 3.  But, if it were that easy to predict we’d be betting on every game and winning big money.

What has been somewhat disappointing has been the umpiring.  In Game 1 there was an obvious balk call missed along with a pick-off attempt where Shane Victorino was called safe when he was gunned by a mile.

Then in Game 2 Rocco Baldelli was clearly called out on strikes and then the home plate umpire changed his call - only because the first base umpire said Rocco checked his swing.  First base ump was right, but the mechanics behind the plate clearly showed a strike 3 call.  Also, Jimmy Rollins was hit by a pitch, and he eventually popped out to short.  Those 2 calls changed the outcome of the game.  How significant?  We’ll never know for sure. 

- No shock that Alex Rodriguez is planning on shacking up with Madonna when she is in Florida on her little tour.  I heard this from the Ryan Seacrest show (my company runs that show).  That said, a few things come to mind…

1) Why?

2) Does A-Rod have beer goggles?

3) Does he like Jose Canseco’s sloppy sevenths?

Unbelieveable.  A-Rod could get any hot chick he wants, and settles for a half-dude with Michael Strahan’s teeth who’s a total head case.  Speaking of which, I guess they do have something in common afterall.

- No Shock hearing about certain NFL players testing positive for steroids.  What IS shocking is that we don’t hear more positive tests being announced.  Then again, if the old ESPN show “Playmakers” gives us an indication of what to expect from NFL testing, we understand why people slide under the radar. 

- No shock over the poor choice to perform at the Super Bowl Halftime show.  Yes I know this is old news but I re-read an article on Bruce Springsteen and still couldn’t believe it.  Look, The Boss had a few very good hits back in the 1980’s where you or I could have sang the song and it would have been a hit.  That is a true testiment of how horrible of a singer he is, but a very good writer.  That said, his writing skills aren’t going to be showcased when he sings with rocks in his mouth in a few months.  I’m already planning my game of pool when halftime rolls around.

- No shock over Isiah Thomas being in the middle of some more drama, but what is with the O.D. story?  First we hear it was a 47 year old man who was taken to hospital after OD’ing in Isiah’s house, then we hear it might have been Isiah himself, or his daughter, or his son…Just baffling.  Whoever did down those pills really needs to get themself together and talk to someone.

- No shock to hear over Larry Johnson getting into trouble again.  Apparently he Eric Lindros’ed a female, also known as spitting beer at her (Lindros is a former NHL hotshot who was a pussy, overrated and never fulfilled overhyped expectations.  He also apparently got beat up by figure skater Elvis Stojko).  LJ’s body of work may not measure up to the likes of Adam “Pacman” Jones but he has made a name for himself in the NFL dumbass category.  Any other sport and he’d be considered a bad boy with all the crap he’s pulled.  Luckily he just blends with the crowd and playing in Kansas City isn’t exactly a glamour city.

- No shock to see that this CFL game that’s on my television has sucked large.

- No shock that its times like these where I wished the NBA was playing regular season games.  No Football, no Baseball, but dang it there’s hockey.  Moving on…

Have a great weekend.

DISCLAIMER: If my standing alignment is off, just know that they are perfect on my screen up until I click “update post”.

Greetings everyone.  Basketball is right around the corner, just in the nick of time as baseball comes to a close.

As we see every year, key players move to other teams and certain teams come out and surprise everyone by making the playoffs.  Who will they be?  We don’t know.  In the NBA we tend to have 2 seperate, yet compelling, portions of the playoff teams; those that are fighting to win a championship and those who are fighting to reach the playoffs.

For example, San Antonio is chasing a title.  Portland wants to make the playoffs.  Like last year, Boston wanted to win the title and Atlanta fought to make it in.  Though Atlanta pushed the Celtics to 7 games, the idea was these 2 teams were on different levels with different goals and different ideas of how to judge the year’s successes or failures.  This is why we typically see top teams winning round 1.  That’s also why seeing Golden State beating Dallas up in 2007 was not only a shock but an astounding feat.

That said, all I’m doing is predicting each division.  Stars beside the team means I predict that they make the post-season.

EAST

Atlantic

*Boston                                                                                                                        *Philadelphia                                                                                                                                      *New York                                                                                                    Toronto                                                                                                                                                 New Jersey

- My own hometown and favorite team, Toronto, will miss the playoffs.  I am not sure what the hype around the Raptors is about because I’ve heard, “watch for the Raptors”.  Watch what?  They have an injury-prone Center in Jermaine O’Neal who’s best days are behind him and their backup point guard will be a downgrade from T.J. Ford.  They also don’t have depth.  They have 8 players they can trust, maybe 9, and that’s a stretch.

As for the Knicks they will come in 8th.  They are adjusting the people who run the ship and they are changing the attitude in that organization, which will be good enough to help them win a few more games and get them in the playoffs.

Central

*Detroit                                                                                                                                              *Cleveland                                                                                                                                   *Chicago                                                                                                                                   Milwaukee                                                                                                                                      Indiana

- Again I keep hearing about Cleveland gunning for the title, but I was curious if they will actually dethrone Detroit for the division title.  Yes, you got a slight upgrade at point guard but you have the same ole crap around Lebron James.  Aside from Lebron, Detroit is better than Cleveland at the other 4 starting spots.  As for Chicago, they should redeem themselves and catch a 6 or 7 spot in the playoffs.  Milwaukee can be in the hunt if they can stay healthy - something they haven’t done the last 2 years.

Southeast

*Orlando                                                                                                                                         *Atlanta                                                                                                                                              Miami                                                                                                                                            Charlotte
Washington

- Orlando wins this division by default.  Atlanta simply has no bench.  Miami will see an improvement but they are going to be dinged heading into the season.  Charlotte is still missing that something (a real center perhaps?), and Washington is poised for a dropoff.  The bad Gilbert Arenas signing is the beginning of their slide.

WEST

Northwest

*Utah                                                                                                                                            *Portland                                                                                                                                         Denver                                                                                                                                       Minnesota
Oklahoma

- Utah is still the head of that division and depending on how much growth Portland’s youth has had since last year, they should continue the trend.  I am not sure what Denver is smoking, because they still think they are going to make the playoffs.  They are in the right division to do so, but they are also a franchise floundering.  Minnesota is on the up-swing but they aren’t ready yet.  Oklahoma, well….

Pacific

*LAL
*Phoenix
Golden State                                                                                                                         Sacramento
LAC

- Pretty standard here; The Lakers should dominate while Phoenix limps into the playoffs.  Golden State would be a playoff team if Monta Ellis was playing the entire season.  Sacramento could be a surprise, but I can’t tell you how.  The Clippers have added Baron Davis and Marcus Camby, but can they seriously do damage?

Southwest

*New Orleans                                                                                                                                     *San Antonio                                                                                                                              *Houston                                                                                                                                        *Dallas
Memphis

- This division is one of the best in sports.  These teams will kill eachother and Memphis.  Poor Memphis.  New Orleans should take the division and with Manu out for a while San Antonio will be fighting all year.  But they need Duncan and Parker healthy or else this could be a nightmare season for the Spurs.  Houston should be good enough to win the division but lets be honest; T-Mac will have back problems, Yao will have leg problems and Artest will have personality problems.  Dallas is running on fumes and running out of time.

As for individual awards, Chris Paul is your MVP.  O.J. Mayo looks to play every night and play 30+ minutes so I’ll give him the rookie of the year (I am not saying he’s the best rookie in the NBA, just the one that gets to play a lot).  Let’s give Rodney Stuckey the 6th Man Award and if San Antonio is serious about contending Tim Duncan will have to be Defensive Player of the Year.

Like all predictions, they never quite pan out.  That said, enjoy the upcoming season.

The Indianapolis Colts use to be great.

Who could have predicted a 50 TD year from Tom Brady followed by a season-ending injury in week 1 of the following year.

The Buffalo Bills are 5-1?

Brett Favre is a New York Jet?

Whatever happened to the 4000 yard-passing Carson Palmer?

Whatever happened to the 4000 yard-passing Marc Bulger?

Who taught Kyle Orton to play quarterback?

The Tennessee Titans are undefeated with Kerry Collins as their quarterback.

The St. Louis Rams can’t beat their meat but they can whack the Dallas Cowboys by what felt like 100.

The Cincinnati Bengals are winless?

San Diego was suppose to have an up-and-coming defense.

Carolina makes Minnesota look like a title contender, and then Minnesota forgets to take their pants off before taking a dump.

Cleveland, looking like a #1 draft pick contender, beats the defending Super Bowl Champs on Monday Night Football.

Washington was left for dead before the season, yet they are in a division title battle.

Miami can beat New England and San Diego back to back weeks but can’t get it done against Houston.

Arizona has backed into first place in the division and Kurt Warner is back to being the Kurt of old.

In the top 10 in receptions there is no Terrell Owens, Randy Moss, Chad Johnson, Steve Smith, Marvin Harrison or Plaxico Burress.

LT is running at 3.7 yards per carry and is getting beat in rushing yardage by guys like Matt Forte, Julius Jones and his backup Michael Turner.

7 games in and Jason Campbell has yet to throw an interception.

David Garrard threw 3 INT’s all of last year, has 4 through 6 games.

Roy Williams is a Dallas Cowboy.  No, the other Roy Williams.

Did Jered Allen really lead the league in sacks last year?

Detroit actually fired Matt Millen.  Who would have thought?

The Oakland Raiders supposedly has an up-and-coming defense.

Trent Edwards, Kyle Orton and Aaron Rodgers have a better QB rating than Peyton Manning.  So does his brother Eli.

Tom Brady is still with Gisele.

Enjoy the next 11 weeks of the National Football League regular season.

We’ll get our answer tonight, that’s for certain.  Tonight, tonight, tonight the Tampa Bay Rays gotta make it right, tonight, tonight, tonight.  Otherwise this series will go down as one of the most monumental meltdowns in playoff baseball history. 

Anyone who has watched the Boston Red Sox long enough know to never count them out even when down 7-0 heading into the bottom of the 7th inning.  This is a team who’s had a history of playing out of their mind when their backs are against the wall.  We remember 2004 when they were down 3-0 to the New York Yankees, but what about last year?  Cleveland was in the exact same position as Tampa, up 3 games to 1, and then they unraveled.  Boston’s bats came alive and they proceeded to score 30 runs in the final 3 games in the series, all ofcourse translating into victories.

What Boston does not have going for them is tonight’s pitching matchup with James Shields on the mound for Tampa against Josh Beckett, who may be hurt.  He has not been the effective Beckett we have been accustom to.  However, Beckett has proven in the past that he can clutch up and pitch a gem when the chips are down.  If he does come through tonight, the series is over and Boston is going to win the World Series.  Book that.

Even still, we currently sit in a situation where we find Tampa in the drivers seat.  Their best thrower is going tonight, they are back home and they’ve had a day off to cool down after the flaming heat they felt when falling down the depths of baseball hell.  Tampa has to look forward and not backward, otherwise this Game 5 loss will be in their kitchen and that will be it for them.  Let’s also go back to 1986 for a second, when Boston blew Game 6 in the World Series they had a night off due to a rainout.  They did not get the job done after having that day off.  That could be the case for Tampa.

But, we’ll find out what the Tampa Bay Rays are made of tonight.

OTHER STUFF…

- I’ll drop a post soon on Basketball.  It should happen before the season begins and after I am done prepping for my draft.

- Philadelphia beating Los Angeles in the NLCS comes as no shock.  Los Angeles was not a very good team playing in a poor division.  But they had Manny Ramirez change the offense and the atmosphere of that clubhouse as well as the city.  That helped push the team over Arizona to take the division.  But in all honesty they were a mediocre to ordinary team.  Just goes to show how whack the Chicago Cubs were in the NLDS this year. 

- The consensus within the bloggers on this site was that the New York Giants should have parted ways with Plaxico Burress.  Does it seem coincidental that the Giants layed an egg against Cleveland when Plax got back from suspension?  It almost doesn’t.  But they may actually be better off without him and his act.  He’s not as good as he thinks he is, therefore he needs to scale back his attitude a little bit.

- 3 things I am starting to believe; that Dallas gave up too much to get Roy Williams, that Roy Williams has been brought in because Terrell Owens is gone after this season and that Larry Fitzgerald is a top 3 wide receiver in the NFL.  I’ve watched about 5 Arizona football games this year and I come away thinking that Fitz has incredible handles, is willing to get crushed and helps make those around him better.  More importantly, you never seem to hear about any crap regarding Fitz.  That’s what you want from a receiver.

Guys it’s been great but I am tired as hell.  Enjoy the weekend.  I’ll be watching CFL this afternoon if you need me.  Later y’all….

Not bad for a team that was suppose to be left for dead, nowhere to go and a 44-million dollar payroll.  When you are stuck in the AL East facing big spenders like New York, Boston and Toronto you have only 1 option; draft well.

Tampa Bay has certain had enough top picks over the years to assemble a very good team - pending they drafted properly.  Now that we see them staring the big bad Boston Red Sox square in the eye in the ALCS this year, they have evidentally erased the old adage that you can’t beat the monster teams without monster payrolls.

Tampa Bay proved that for one season you can do it.  Thus making the Toronto Blue Jays and Baltimore Orioles look stupid in the process.

Because of this, Tampa Bay is the team you can’t help but root for if you aren’t a Boston, Los Angeles or Philly fan.  They epitomize the great underdog story, much like the movie “Major League” with the lowly Cleveland Indians which starred Ricky Vaughan, Jake Taylor and company.

But this is real life, and the truth is this team won’t stay together for very long.  They will run into what the Montreal Expos ran into over a decade ago and won’t have the ability to hold onto their players.  If you can recall, they were the best team in baseball until the strike wiped out the rest of the 1994 season.  Prior to that, they were in contention for their division a proving that they would be a factor for years to come.  But they lost the likes of Larry Walker, Marquis Grissom and Pedro Martinez over the next few seasons.  At this point, that will be the fate of the Tampa Bay Rays.

Key players who will be arbitration eligible are Catcher Dioner Navarro, Relief Pitcher Grant Balfour and Shortstop Jason Bartlett.  Everyone else under contract goes up in salary (naturally).  Pending that they make no more moves other than lock up those players, they will be looking at a 60 million dollar payroll.  Unless they have the greatest sales staff and make incredible money in advertising revenue or merchendise sales, they will need bodies filling the seats in that stadium next year or else they will be forced to deal the likes of Carl Crawford, Carlos Pena, B.J. Upton and James Shields - to name a few.  And if they stumble out of the gate next year it’s bye-bye fans, bye-bye hope and bye-bye certain core players until they can make another run in 2012.

That said, I doubt the Rays will take a run at Manny Ramirez and/or C.C. Sabathia.

This is why it is crucial for the Rays to win now.  And it’s also a time to appreciate the fact they did it the right way under the toughest circumstances; ask a 44-million dollar payroll team to be division champions in what could be argued as the toughest division in sports (The NBA’s Southwest division would also push for that distinction).  Their division title could be a once-in-a-blue-moon miracle, but let’s just appreciate how this team has played since April and how hard this team has played even without their best player (Longoria), best franchise player (Crawford), closer (Troy Percival), their chosen one (Rocco Baldelli) and ace (Scott Kazmir) for lengthy periods of time throughout the season.

The Rays haven’t been lucky.  They have been great for one season and it could be now or never for that franchise.

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Just touch the ball.  That is ALL you have to do.  Because Erick Aybar didn’t do that, and because he took years worth of bunting practice and tossed it from his mind with that garbage attempt, people are all over Mike Scoscia for the decision.  Before we isolate and break down the play-call, let’s go over a few things first…

1) Through the first 3 games, Los Angeles gave up 15 runs.  For a team with a respectable pitching staff as well as a solid bullpen, that is unacceptable.  However, let’s also blame the defense that kicked the ball around in Game 2 to help lose that game.

2) Erick Aybar is a slap hitter.  He should be an expert at bunting.

3) Had the play worked, Scoscia would have been considered a genius.

But it didn’t work.  Aybar missed the squeeze and helped send his team packing.  With everything I laid out, it’s not his fault their team lost.  They managed to only score 2 runs that game which means the blame could be pinned on a lineup that failed to produce runs.  There is a reason why they signed Torii Hunter and traded for Mark Teixeira.  Because they could not shut down the Boston bats, because they kicked the ball around in Game 2, because their closer got lit in Game 2 and because they didn’t score enough runs in Game 4, the series came down to a squeeze play.

It was the right call.

They had the right guy at third base, Reggie Willits.  They assumed they had the right guy at the plate.  This was a perfect squeeze play situation.  All Aybar had to do was touch the damn ball.  He didn’t.  What’s worse is the pitch was low and inside - a place where he could reach the pitch.  This wasn’t up and away where he’d have to throw his bat.  This was a pitch where he needed to bend his knees and just keep the bat barrel above the hands to lay that thing down. 

(****ALERT: If you are teaching your kid to bunt, make sure you tell him or her to keep the bat barrel above the hands.  Otherwise you will not be a good bunter.****)

And this isn’t as if Aybar doesn’t practice bunting; EVERY player walks into batting practice where he bunts to start his round.  Every player.  Even Manny Ramirez, because I’ve watched him do it.  But one common link that some players have is that during their bunting reps in the cage they all seem to be talking, cracking jokes and not focusing on their bunting practice.  Granted, seeing players bunt is few and far between but it was a key play in a critical situation and it was the right call. 

Bunts are practiced more than squeeze play defense.  Book that.

So for everyone to crack Scoscia for the call, I maintain that Aybar screwed up by doing the opposite of what he was taught (or what he should have been taught) when bunting a low and inside pitch.  Bunting is a hell of a lot easier than going for a sacrifice fly.

Scoscia made the right call. 

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I said I planned on having the draft at 7:30 tonight (Friday), but if there is an issue please let me know in the comment section below.

The season begins tomorrow afternoon in Europe.  They are pulling an MLB in Japan.

If you want to skip this weekend’s games we can do the draft Monday.  Get back to me.