Trot's Day Off: Silver Linings Playbook Review

The man is wearing a gray sweatsuit – the hoodie covered by a large black trash bag – while he runs. A young woman in a track suit appears, and tries to catch up to him. The man speeds up to avoid her. She catches up to him for an argument.

The man claims this is his jogging route, while the woman claims it's her neighborhood. The man runs off.

He runs, looks back, seeming to have lost her. “Damn,” he exasperates, slowing down. The woman then pulls back onto the road, running after him.

“Hey!” she says as she pulls up right behind him.

The man looks back, noticing her. “WHAT THE FUCK?!” he yells. “I'm married!”

Pat (Bradley Cooper) was released from a mental hospital not long before the jogging incident with Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence). 2012's Silver Linings Playbook follows Pat's re-immersion into society after he was placed in a Baltimore mental institution after brutally assaulting his now-estranged wife's paramour.

Silver Linings Playbook is a highly metaphorical film about a former mental patient that doesn't prove the protagonists mental problems. Cooper and Lawrence's portrayals of people with major issues are powerful – although not indicative of their insanity.

Pat spends the film trying to fulfill the concepts of “excelsior” and finding silver linings in everything. “If you stay positive, you have a shot at a silver lining,” he says. He really believes in the idea, the same way his father (Robert DeNiro) really believes in the luck of a handkerchief to win his weekly bets on the Philadelphia Eagles.

Pat spends a good portion of the film literally and figuratively running away from his problems. When Tiffany catches up to him, he begins dancing with her, metaphorically and otherwise. After it becomes clear (to the audience) that his life before the mental institution is not coming back, dancing becomes a metaphor for how he is trying to manage his new life. In finding Tiffany, Pat's journey to find silver linings is reached.

The reason given for Pat's admittance to the mental hospital was that he was bipolar, and had anger problems, evidenced by the beating he put on his wife's lover. The film shows two examples meant to further prove his disorder; when “Ma Cherie Amour,” – the song that was playing when he found his wife cheating – is played at his therapists office, causing him to mess up a magazine rack; and when some ignorant fans abuse his Indian therapist at an Eagles game, Pat comes to his rescue. While Pat does react angrily, these events don't prove any bipolar behavior; anyone is these situations would respond the same way.

After a dancing competition (which Tiffany got Pat to participate in through the promise of helping him) Tiffany runs away. When Pat catches up to her, that is when everything comes together, and their love is realized. These two people overcome major life problems, although neither of them is crazy, as the film attempts to portray.  

Syracuse Orange v. UConn Huskies

This is for Gwen.

Last Wednesday, February 13, the Syracuse Orange men's basketball team traveled to Hartford to take on the Connecticut Huskies, in a should-win Big East match up. The game was to be the last the Orange would have against rival UConn as Big East opponents. With the Huskies in a transitional year, and the Orange poised for another big run in the NCAA tournament, plus the enormous size advantage Syracuse had, this should have been an easy win for the Orange. Not so much.

After going back and forth for much of the first half, the Huskies pulled away in the last minute of the first half, leaving the court with a five point lead. In the second half, the teams remained close, but Syracuse only had a lead twice. With just over 10 minutes left, it was all Huskies, who dominated down the stretch, even extending their lead to double digits a few times.

Syracuse did not play well. Their size should have given them an obvious advantage rebounding-wise, which the team has done admirably in throughout the season, but it was UConn who ended up out-rebounding the 'Cuse, 38-26. Syracuse got only 3-for-15 shooting from de facto captain Brandon Triche, and just six points from freshman starter Jerami Grant. However, it was not entirely Syracuse's fault that they lost. The Huskies' three-guard system did what it does best: destroy Jim Boeheim's famous 2-3 zone.

Omar Calhoun, Ryan Boatright and Shabazz Napier - the three guards- paced the Huskies with double digit points, each. Boatright led all scorers with 17, and added four assists and three steals. Napier scored 10 and added 7 assists, out-assisting the nation's leading set-up man (Syracuse's Michael Carter-Williams) by SIX. Calhoun, a freshman, scored 15 points.

UConn's three guards were able to effectively penetrate the zone, and Syracuse's less-than-great performance led to the Orange's third loss in the Big East, and fourth loss on the season. Syracuse followed up the debilitating loss with a domination of Seton Hall on Saturday, winning 76-65.

The Orange take on Providence on Wednesday at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse.

Trot's Day Off: Argo Review

In the past five years, Ben Affleck has gone from an acting afterthought to a bona fide directorial stud. His talent has grown with each film he has directed, and each film he's made has brought him more acclaim and respect. That trend continues with 2012's Argo, his best film so far.

Argo is a perfect blend of good writing, good directing, and superb acting. Chris Terrio's adapted screenplay blends humor into the serious nature of the story of an undercover rescue of six Americans, while Affleck plays the two-talent card, starring in his own film.

Argo forced Affleck out of his comfort zone—the Boston-area—where his first two films, Gone Baby Gone and The Town were set. Affleck thrived in roles set in his hometown (starting with Good Will Hunting), making it his go-to setting for his directorial efforts. Now, having matured as a director, Affleck has proven himself with a setting about as far away from Boston as one can get: Iran.

The direction of the film was well done: there were no unnecessary scenes, characters, or motives involved. A simple, to-the-bone approach to the story made every scene feel like real life, as if this film was the behind-the-scenes look into CIA operative Tony Mendez's caper into Ayatollah-controlled Iran, edited into a feature film, released 33 years after the event.

Terrio's writing created fluid conversations, making characters who seemed more like real people—with emotions and morals—than the haughty bureaucrats people expect government officials to be. The refrained salutation of “Argo fuck yourself” is perhaps the (movie) quote of the year. The precise, never-say-more-than-needed approach led to clean dialogue, with no fluff.

Much like fellow Best Picture nominee Django Unchained, Argo's acting presents an interesting dynamic; while the lead actor was very good, the supporting characters were better, overshadowing the lead's performance. Affleck's portrayal of Mendez was nothing short of heroic, and a form of heroism Affleck has not had opportunity to show in his previous films. John Goodman, Bryan Cranston, and Alan Arkin (my god, Alan Arkin) gave beyond-superb performances, leaving audiences with sincere appreciation for a Hollywood make-up artist, a CIA boss and a movie producer, three occupations that don’t always garner praise and admiration. Arkin deserves his second Best Supporting Actor award for his phenomenal portrayal of producer Lester Siegel at this month's Academy Awards. The six diplomats Mendez is sent in to rescue were splendidly morose and anxious throughout the film, epitomized by Clea Duvall and Rory Cochrane.

There is nothing to complain about with Argo; it's paced well, isn't too long, and even ends on a touching note—the reunion of Mendez with his estranged wife and child. Simply put, Argo was a fantastic film in all aspects, and is well-deserving of its Best Picture nomination.  

MISL: Syracuse Silver Knights vs. Baltimore Blast

I haven't been to a soccer match in quite a few years, and I had never attended an indoor soccer match - never mind a professional indoor soccer match - until February 1, 2013, when I saw the Syracuse Silver Knights take on the Baltimore Blast in Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) action.

I had no idea what to expect, other than knowing the basics: This would be soccer with walls and nets instead of sidelines, turf instead of grass, the field would be smaller, and the game would be much faster paced than regular soccer.

I was pleasantly surprised to attend what turned out to be the most fun I have had at a sporting event in recent memory. It was an odd atmosphere that included pop music blasting while the ball was in play and a constant flow of players onto and off of the pitch. Much like the hockey rink they played on top, players jumped over the walls of the benches to make their substitutions. Also like hockey, the penalties were not yellow or red cards, but minor and major penalties, which put the team down a player. Also unlike most soccer games, this was played in quarters and not halves.

The weirdest part of all of this was how it was scored; you score a goal: 2 points. It was unclear as to why they would make a goal worth 2, but that's the way it was.

The weirdness of the game setup eventually got pushed to the back of my mind once I got into the game. It was fast paced and the scoring opportunities were incredibly exciting and almost as regularly occurring as the substitutions. Kicking a soccer ball as hard as you can, and it bouncing off a plexiglas turned out to make for pretty exciting sporting entertainment. Bicycle kicks and headers were the norm in this coked-up version of the soccer I played as a kid.

Now, for the game itself: After coming off to an early 2-0 (1-0) lead, the Syracuse Silver Knights let in four unanswered goals to go down 8-2 in the first half. In the second half, the Knights came out hard, pushing the exhilarating pace up even further. Down 8-4 after three quarters, 18-year-old Antonio Manfut scored a beautiful goal to put the Knights down by just a goal. Kenardo Forbes, of Jamaica, followed it up two minutes later with the game-tier.

Regulation would end with the scores tied up, sending the game to sudden-death overtime. The Knights controlled almost all of overtime, with dozens of scoring chances and shots on goal, but it was a well-aimed shot from the "corner" by the Blast's Adauto Neto that decided it.

I knew next to nothing about the sport, the league, or the teams going into tonight's game, but I enjoyed the experience. I recommend anyone given a chance to see a MISL game to go; it's a lot of fun to watch, and easy to get in to.

Special: Trot's Day Off: Lincoln Review

I am introducing a new section of Trot's Cap, entitled "Trot's Day Off." The idea here is that posts under the title "Trot's Day Off" will be unrelated to sports. Much like real athletes, not everything I do pertains to sports. So, here is my first installation of "Trot's Day Off," a review of the Oscar-nominated film, Lincoln. I promise you will disagree with me, and I will happily respond to any comments you have on my review.

And the award for Failing to Meet Expectations goes to...Steven Spielberg and Daniel Day-Lewis, for Lincoln!

Lincoln was one of 2012's most highly anticipated films. Even before it began filming, moviegoers across the globe were salivating at the thought of Spielberg's take on one of America's most beloved presidents, featuring the stellar performance Daniel Day-Lewis – perhaps the most talented actor of the last twenty-five years – was sure to give.

With Spielberg, audiences anticipated the professionalism they have come to expect from the storied director and producer. With Day-Lewis, they expected an incredible performance full of passionate calls-to-arms wrought with emotion. Unfortunately, since its release in November 2012, Lincoln has left much to be desired in those departments.

Spielberg's elder-statesman reputation in the movie industry is well-warranted, but his last two films (Lincoln and War Horse) suggest he doesn't feel the need to try anymore; anything he makes will be considered wonderful and heaps of praise will be thrown at the film, simply because his name is attached to it. Lincoln's direction in Lincoln was fine, but it did not impress, and many scenes didn't have the dramatic impact he would have you think, such as the burning of an unspecified city after Lincoln said that there was no peace treaty from the Confederacy.

Day-Lewis's career connotes nothing less than astounding, heart-felt representations of historical characters, but Abraham Lincoln is not given the same justice that Christy Brown and Bill the Butcher were. Day-Lewis was not impressive, but his name alone carried him back into conversations of best acting performances of the year.

The award shows seem to have neglected to actually watch the film, and automatically nominated and awarded Day-Lewis the award for Best Actor: so far, he has won Best Actor for Lincoln 16 times. Day-Lewis is without doubt an incredible actor, but he only proved that twice in Lincoln: in his “human dignity” speech, and when arguing with Mary Todd Lincoln (Sally Field) about Robert enlisting, in which Fields puts on the better performance.

Lincoln dragged on for far too long, and snuck in the presidents' assassination as an afterthought. The historical accuracy – something that should always be questioned in historical films – was a bit off. From the boisterously full House of Representatives during an era when half the country was not part of the country, to the touching introduction and celebration of African-Americans sitting in on the 13^th Amendment vote after the film spent two hours showing Mary Todd Lincoln's African-American servant present for the entirety of the House proceedings, this historical drama was dripping with inaccuracies and inconsistencies.

Lincoln was supposed to be Oscar-bait, and with the 12 nominations the film has garnered, it has fulfilled expectations. Whether or not these nominations are earned, or if they were just born out of the preconceived notions of the talent of Spielberg and Day-Lewis is another question altogether.

Cory Conacher

In early December 2012, I sat down with Syracuse Crunch (AHL) forward Cory Conacher for a feature I was writing on him. Now, a month and a half later, Conacher is playing in the newly returned NHL for the Tampa Bay Lightning. In his NHL debut, he scored a goal and an assist, and was +1 on the day. Below is the article I wrote about Conacher, which holds some more weight now that he has made the NHL.

Cory Conacher is a diabetic. Cory Conacher is 5-foot-8, and that's being generous. Cory Conacher is the reigning MVP of the most violent professional sports league in North America.

Cory Conacher also plays for the Syracuse Crunch a team composed of the reigning champions of the American Hockey League. The Crunch currently hold the No. 1 spot in the Eastern Conference. You may be asking yourself, How can this be? Because Cory Conacher is one of the fastest and most skilled hockey players in the United States today.

With the NHL lockout of the 2012 season, the best hockey league in the Western Hemisphere, and perhaps the world, is the AHL. Cory Conacher entered the league last year, and his rookie campaign was one of the best ever. In 75 games, Conacher tallied 39 goals and 41 assists, for 80 points overall. He led the league in goals, was second in points and had an impressive plus/minus of +19.

Conacher led his team, the Norfolk Admirals, on an impressive 28-game winning streak, the longest in North American history – on any professional level. Over the two months the streak spanned, Conacher scored 14 goals and dished out 12 assists for 26 points and held a plus/minus of +13.

But Conacher wasn't always the AHL star he is today. Conacher remembers when he was 14 and his coach sent him down to the AA team because of his diminutive size.

“Ever since that, I've learned to get motivated from stuff like that,” Conacher said. “If you are small, you can't play small. You see guys like [Martin] St. Louis, who has played so many years in the NHL, who's about the same size as me, and he goes into corners and battles hard and hits [people], and does the little things that big players do, and he's a small guy.”

“If you are small, you can't play small,” Conacher added. “Small players have to learn to play big, and that's how they become successful.”

Conacher's father was a hockey player, and he comes from a hockey family that includes former NHL-ers Roy, Charlie and Lionel Conacher. Cory began playing at age six.

“I started playing, and I have loved it ever since,” Conacher said. “I have it in my blood.”

Conacher was not a star throughout high school, and was not drafted. He attended Buffalo, NY's Canisius College, beginning in 2007.

“I wasn't looking to get drafted, I wasn't expecting to get drafted or anything. I just went to Canisius to work on my game,” Conacher said.

Conacher spent all four years at Canisius, where he broke 12 school records. While there, Conacher developed a strong relationship with head coach Dave Smith, who Conacher still keeps in touch with today.

“The coaching staff gave me an opportunity to play there, and since then it's worked out. I thank my coach at Canisius more than once or twice a month,” Conacher said. “I chat with him every once in a while, and I like to keep in touch with Canisius, see how they're doing.”

Smith could not say a negative thing about Canisius' most accomplished hockey alumni.

“I'm in awe of Cory,” Smith said. “He's such a humble kid; he recognizes the part small people have had in his development.”

Smith and the Canisius coaching staff were incredibly beneficial to Conacher's development as a player.

“We encourage [players] playing to their strengths,” Smith said. “We encouraged Cory to shoot and use his speed. He just needed the confidence to let it fly.”

Conacher graduated from Canisius in 2011, and tried out for the Rochester Americans, an AHL team. He played two games for Rochester, and bounced between the ECHL and AHL with two other teams for a total of 10 try-out contract games in 2011.

July 6, 2011, Conacher signed a free agent contract with the Norfolk Admirals. From there, he would bring the Admirals their first league championship, and bring in his own MVP award. The championship-winning team moved to Syracuse this summer, when the affiliation with the Tampa Bay Lightning switched from Norfolk to Syracuse.

“Last year he was just one of those kids that came out nowhere that nobody really knew anything about, and now he's got a target on his back,” Coach Jon Cooper, Conacher's coach in both Norfolk and Syracuse said. “He's really, really fast, but he's tenacious; he's fearless. And when you put a really fast, fearless player on the ice, paired with his skill, you've got a good player.”

J.T. Brown, a rookie who shares a line with Conacher has been quite impressed with his linemate.

“He's a very skilled player,” Brown said. “But at the same time, he's also one of those players to get to the hard areas, first to the puck; he's pretty much the total package.”

“He can make plays at high speeds, in unbelievably tough traffic areas,” Cooper said. “When you can do that you have a future in the league.”

With the NHL in a lockout, Conacher misses an opportunity to vie for a spot on the Lightning, at least for now. Conacher was his typical humble self when asked about NHL chances this year.

“If there was an NHL camp, I knew it would be a very competitive one, and there'd be spots open for us young guys to take,” Conacher said. “We have a lot of young, good players on this team this year. I didn't go into this year – if there was a camp this year – thinking I would be a guy making the [Lightning].”

“As long as I work hard, and do the right things, and show that I've improved and developed, I think that I'd have that chance to make the team,” he continued. “Last year is in the past, although they do have that in the back of their minds, want to see where you are now, show that you didn't take the summer off and that you kept developing and learning as a professional athlete.”

Cooper was not convinced that Conacher needed there to be an NHL season this year for Conacher to make it.

“There's no rush to the NHL, the NHL will come find him,” Cooper said. “It's just a matter of time.”

Conacher is currently second on the Syracuse Crunch in points with 19 points (in 20 games), behind Tyler Johnson's 23. Cooper attributed some of Johnson's success to Conacher's presence on a separate line.

“When we get the Cory Conacher line to wear them down, it kind of opens the door for the Tyler Johnson line, so it's kind of a 1-2 punch,” Cooper said.

Conacher continues to work to hard to reach the ultimate goal of making the NHL, staying late at practice, and working on the things he needs to improve.

“You need to show that you're getting better everyday, and that's what I do,” Conacher said. “I think about working on the things I need to work on, because there's no player in the world who's perfect; there's always something you could be better at.”

While we may sit on the brink of NHL teams opening up camps, ending the lockout, Cory Conacher continues to work hard, regardless of at what level.

“He gets better every single day. Everything he's getting, he's worked for,” Smith said. “I believe in Cory Conacher.”

“The only thing that's going to hold Cory Conacher back is Cory Conacher,” Cooper said.

The Last 48 Hours

Wow. That's what I've been saying a lot in the last 48 hours, in regards to sports news. There's the obvious (Lance Armstrong admitting to Oprah that he used PEDs) and the utterly disgusting and bizarre (Manti Te'o's fake girlfriend; Roger Springfield's illegal taping of Syracuse players). I will break down these three and the other two major stories from the last two days in brief, in an effort to relaunch this blog, just in time for hockey season to (finally) begin.

Lance Armstrong admits drug use
While this story was by no means a breaking news story, as most people already knew this information. This was just a instance where Armstrong just proved everybody correct. While it does take a bit courage to own up to your wrongs, Armstrong gets no sympathy from me, because he only did so after the public already knew the truth. Also, it takes the opposite of courage to have lied to the public for years, and be rewarded for said lies by being revered as one of the most impressive athletes of the century. I'm glad all the cards have been played in this story line, and I look forward to Armstrong starting an organization to fight against performance-enhancing drugs.

Chip Kelly named head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles
Unlike Armstrong, Kelly's decision came as quite a shock to most of the world, as a few weeks ago, after he'd interviewed with many NFL teams (including the Eagles), Kelly announced he would remain at Oregon. I guess he changed his mind. After four incredibly successful as the Ducks' head coach, Kelly was perhaps the most sought-after coach. The Eagles got their man, but the real story here will be the fallout. Will Phil Knight and Nike follow Kelly to Philly? Will the Ducks remain a powerhouse team? Who will take his place?

Michael Morse traded to Seattle
In a three-way trade that got mostly lost in the shuffle of all of the other sporting news, Morse was traded to the Mariners, with John Jaso going to Oakland, and Seattle giving up three prospects. Morse became expendable when the Nationals signed Adam LaRoche last week, and Seattle had the need. His versatility will only strengthen their team, and now Jesus Montero can catch on everyday basis, which could equal a blossoming offensively.

Roger Springfield video tapes Syracuse University athletes
Springfield was the Syracuse athletic department's media director prior to police finding that he had taped men from three different sports, including football showering and other similar activities in the locker room  Springfield, whose real last name is Cahak, had the red "on light" blocked off, so athletes would be unaware of his taping of them. These tapes were then used for his personal use, as they obviously could not be used to improve game performance. While this is not technically as bad as Jerry Sandusky, the reach is much further, as Springfield taped 108 or more student athletes. I am sure we will hear much, much more about this in the upcoming weeks and months.

Manti Te'o's dead girlfriend does not exist
In what was one of the saddest, most inspirational stories of the 2012 college football season, that of Manti Te'o, whose grandmother and leukemia-suffering girlfriend died within days of each other. But, it turned out to be a hoax. The girlfriend never existed, which means the cancer story was a lie, as was the car accident that put her in the hospital in the first place. Deadspin's investigative piece that uncovered this is a must read, which makes it incredibly difficult to find Te'o anything but involved in the creation of his fake girlfriend. However, Notre Dame has released a statement suggesting that it Te'o himself who has been the victim of a hoax. Deadspin's report did much more than expose the lies that Te'o had been spreading, but also the lack of fact-checking that Illinois and nationwide news outlets such as ESPN did on this story. The girl did not exist, her picture was stolen from a friend of a friend of Te'o's, and her back story did not check out in the least. Te'o is an incredible football player, but the rationale behind pulling a quick one on the American people for eight months should not be taken lightly. Like Lance Armstrong, Te'o will eventually need to fess up. At least, if there is anything good to come of this, Deadspin's work will be followed through with. We deserve the truth.

MNF: Philadelphia vs. New Orleans

I need to live blog a game this week anyway, so I'll be blogging tonight's MNF match up between the Eagles and Saints.

8:22- Eight minutes to kick-off for Monday Night Football, with the Eagles and Saints both in a must-win situation.

8:28- The presidential candidates are being interviewed at halftime? Football really is America's sport.

8:31- Clearly Brees has been a better quarterback than Vick all year, but, unfortunately for the Saints, the Eagles have the edge in every other position.

8:33- Yes, Eagles are in a much better position than the Saints in their division, but the Saints are in the same division as the 8-0 Falcons...

8:40- No chance for Boykin to show off so far. I'm still unsure whether they should be using him or Jackson.

8:42- That 18-yard catch for Jackson said more about the New Orleans defense than it did about the Eagles offense. That defense looks awful.

8:46- Just like with every game this season, Vick is going to have to throw more quickly. Way too much pressure always on him, even with a bad defense like New Orleans.

8:49- BIG 14-yd pick up to Avant to convert that third down. More blitz pressure made Vick throw quick.

8:50- This challenge looks like it will go in the Saints favor. Big break for them in what looked like a 3rd down conversion.

8:52- Lucky for Avant, he may have used the ground as a third hand here. New Orleans gets the short stick for now.

8:54- McCoy NEEDS a big run. Needs to break out of his funk.

8:56- The Eagles' offensive line caused that fumble, not Vick. 

8:57- The Eagles were in field goal position a play ago. Now, they're punting.

9:03- Trent Cole's failed blitz leads to a 38-yard catch after the Saints seemed headed for a 3-and-out.

9:06- Hartley misses the 52-yard attempt. He made a 53-yard field goal earlier this season, but couldn't pull this one out. Tough break for the Saints.

9:09- Brown is now the Eagles the most productive back (of the game) following that 40-yard run.

9:10- If this interception gets overturned, the Eagles are incredibly lucky.

9:11- Touchdown for the Saints from that. The Eagles Achilles' Heal HAS been these turnovers. Vick threw the interception, made the foul that resulted in the touchdown.

9:19- Bryce Brown may get more looks than McCoy if he keeps this up.
9:25- HUGE run by McCoy at 4th and 1. He avoids seemingly all of the Saints defense, and even almost scores. Maybe that was what he needed.
9:27- Henery's 22-yard field goal attempt is good. 7-3 Saints.
9:34- 23-yard run for Mark Ingram. Eagles defense isn't looking good.
9:35- After another first down, this is looking like the Super Bowl offense the Saints had in the past.
9:35- And just like that, Ivory gets the Saints a touchdown. 14-3 Saints.
9:42- Vick runs for his own first down. Given a lack of pressure, he SHOULD do that.
9:42- Another first with Clay Harbor. Gotta keep it moving quickly if they want to be successful.
9:49- The Eagles are going to need to get into the end zone if they want to win this game. Clearly, the Saints offense is still firing, even if their defense isn't. But, the Saints defense is looking much better than expected, keeping the Eagles to just a field goal so far.
9:51- The Saints have done fine without Darren Sproles, as Ivory and Ingram and more than aptly filling in.
9:53- That's at least the second time Asomugha has failed to tackle Ivory. He's just too big for him. Over-matched.
9:54- Two-straight first downs pushes the Saints back into the red zone just in time for the Two minute warning. The Eagles need to hold them to a field goal if they don't want to let this game slip away from them.
9:57- Pierre Thomas to the 1. Eagles run defense has been awful. They need luck here.
9:58- Brees to Colston for the touchdown. Brees has now thrown touchdowns in 51 straight games. Unbelievable. 21-3. Chances are that Reid speaks with the defense at halftime.
10:03- A three-and-out for the Eagles. This team is not looking good. They need a huge second half.
10:06- Eagles make the stop for what seems like the first time all game. 11 seconds left in the half.
10:07- Eagles run it to end the half. 21-3 Saints.
10:14- Mitt Romney just took credit for the Patriots Super Bowl victories and the Red Sox World Series.
10:23- Nate Allen is missed as his replacement allows the Saints to convert with a pass to Graham.
10:25- Holding call saves the Eagles from another red zone danger.
10:28- Brees to Colston on a 3rd-and-6 puts the Saints back in the red zone. Eagles have not adjusted at all.
10:29- Brandon Graham strips the ball from Brees, Eagles end up with it.
10:32- 77-yard catch for DeSean Jackson for the score. This may have been just what the Eagles needed. 21-10 Saints.
10:37- On the kick return, Saints fumble, Eagles recover.
10:37- Vick runs for the first down, into the red zone. This game has been going the Eagles way the last 13-14 seconds.
10:38- Vick gets sacked yet again, with a loss of 11. The offensive line still doesn't have it together.
10:39- 37-yard field goal is good. 21-13 Saints. If only the Eagles can force more fumbles that result in scoring plays, they may get right back into this game. Being only a touchdown down is much more comfortable, but their defensive and offensive lines still need a lot of work.
10:45- David Sims makes a good play, on the other side of the line, taking down Ivory for a loss.
10:45- Brees converts again, this time to Lance Moore, in a pass that should have been intercepted, but Asomugha didn't get in the way.
10:47- Ingram is catching balls now, too. He's been a dynamic weapon against the Eagles today, as the Saints are knocking on the door again.
10:52- Touchdown to Jimmy Graham. 28-13 Saints. Single coverage was not enough to stop him.
10:56- Illegal forward pass on the return for a touchdown prevents the Eagles from scoring.
11:00- Pass to Maclin just short of the 30 for a fresh set of downs. End of the third quarter.
11:05- Vick sacked for the fifth time. Something needs to be done about this. Five sacks from this bad Saints defense is unacceptable. Eagles are forced to punt.
11:11- Brees is sacked by Babin, but the fumbled ball is bounced forward and Thomas falls on it. Saints still have to kick, though. Eagles start at the 26.
11:16- Jason Avant continues to be a nice option for Vick, who gives the Eagles a first down.
11:20- Into the red zone, the Eagles need to avoid the pressure of the blitz, and score seven here, or this game is over, with only five minutes left.
11:22- Crucial 3rd-and-five turns into a first-and-goal with a pass to Celek.
11:25- Two five yard penalties in a row against the Eagles push them back to 2nd-and-fifteen, which is promptly followed by a sack. 3rd-and-twenty-two now. They need a big one.
11:26- 15 yard pass to Celek, which he fumbles. This is messy. Eagles are done.
11:32- A three-and-out leads to the two minute warning. Even if the Eagles score quickly on this drive, they'd be forced to try something risky like an on-sides kick if they want to push this game to overtime.
11:36- The Eagles have quickly made their way down field, but their ability to even score here comes into question.
11:38- Clay Harbor drops a wide open pass, a fitting metaphor for this game.
11:38- 4th-and-ten with 14 seconds left. Vick pass incomplete. Eagles lose, 28-13. Saints' and Eagles' records both stand at 3-5 now.

Off Season Outlook: David Ortiz

The Boston Red Sox off season promises to be the most active one in years. The organization has a lot of work to do (and I mean A LOT), starting with their expiring contracts of David Ortiz and Cody Ross. Most significantly is Ortiz, who the Red Sox hope to lock up before their sole negotiating rights with him expire on Saturday, November 3.

David Ortiz is the face of the franchise. Without David Ortiz, there is no 2004 World Series Championship. 2007, too. Ortiz went into the last off season without a contract, too. He wanted a two-year deal, but the Red Sox were hesitant due to age (he was 36 at the time.) They signed him to just a one-year deal. Ortiz was not happy with the length, so he had a chip on his shoulder. A year later, Ortiz has proven to still be Big Papi, and although he missed a good portion of the season due to injury, Ortiz was one of, if not THE, most productive Red Sox in 2012. For that reason, the Red Sox MUST sign him.

There's also the issue of the Texas Rangers, who outed themselves as suitors for Ortiz on November 2. The Red Sox CANNOT allow Ortiz to end up in Texas. Texas is arguably the best team in the American League over the last three years, and David Ortiz would make them monstrous. That adds to why the Red Sox NEED to re-sign Ortiz.

Who hits for power if the Red Sox fail to sign Ortiz? The argument can be made for Cody Ross, Will Middlebrooks, and Jarrod Saltalamacchia, but no one is expecting any of them to hit 30 home runs. Heck, they could all struggle to hit 20. For years after Manny Ramirez's departure, Ortiz pleaded for another big bopper for the middle of the order. They had that in Adrian Gonzalez, but he's gone now. To lose Ortiz would make them pretty much without a power bat. And face it, the Red Sox are NOT going to get Josh Hamilton.

Guess what? Thanks to that enormous trade in August, the Red Sox have A LOT of salary space. What do they do with it, you ask? Well, they need pitching. Maybe acquiring Dan Haren is a good idea. Zach Greinke is always an option, too. But beyond that, they absolutely MUST re-sign David Ortiz. So, Ben Cherington, give Ortiz what he wants. Give him two years. Heck, give him a third year option. Give him the $14 million a year he wants. Give him $16. Do what it takes. Get him back. Do it. Do it now.

State of Red Sox Nation

Yes, here I am, commiserating the woe that is being a Red Sox fan. I hope you enjoy this, because you definitely can't enjoy the state of the Red Sox.

The Boston Red Sox are in trouble. No, this isn't news. They've been trouble since August 2011. The trouble with the Boston Red Sox is that they aren't going to win.

The Red Sox may have freed up upwards of $250 million in contract space by unloading the bad contracts of Josh Beckett, Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford on the Los Angeles Dodgers, but they aren't going to do anything big with that space. The loss of those enormous contracts wasn't just losing contracts or players, it was also losing a philosophy, a way of doing business. The Red Sox will not be offering huge contracts to keep stars in Boston for a decade any time soon. So you can forget about them signing Josh Hamilton to an eight year deal this off season. Not that he'd come to Boston, anyway.

This change in business model is not sustainable. Baseball is a business. The best players want to security of long-term contracts. If the Red Sox don't offer those types of deals, they won't get the best players. It's elementary, really. Sure, the Red Sox will be able to good players in their model of smaller deals, but not great players. Cody Ross seems poised to return, and he has done well in Boston. But is he a bona fide star? No.

Will the Red Sox make the playoffs in the next decade? Maybe. Every team has the ability to make the playoffs. Look at the Oakland Athletics. Or the Baltimore Orioles. Will the A's and O's make the playoffs regularly? Probably not. The Red Sox remain in one of the toughest divisions in baseball, one that features the New York Yankees, a team never afraid to dump buckets of money on stars.

Do the Red Sox have a core of up-and-coming prospects who could turn out to be great, and become bona fide stars? Perhaps. But it would be silly to have lofty expectations like that. In fact, if the Orioles can keep even being just a .500 team, the Red Sox could become perennial fourth place finishers, at least for a few more years.

Saying the Red Sox are in the rebuilding stage is putting it lightly. In the last 13 months, the team has been about as gutted as a baseball organization can be that is not the Florida Marlins following a World Series victory. A new General Manager, three different managers (one not chosen yet), and the dumping of two major contracts that were signed just before the 2011 season. There is no reason for optimism.

The Red Sox need to make a lot of changes this off season. They need a manager who commands respect, is effective and will be around for a while. They need a clearly defined left fielder. They need a first baseman who can hit. They need starting pitching. They need to decide whether they're okay with a soft-hitting shortstop who is a defensive wizard, because, face it, Jose Iglesias is never going to hit well. Plug him in or move on. They also need to decide whether to lock up Jacoby Ellsbury, or trade him for some quality pitching.

The Red Sox have made two good moves since the season ended: Firing Bobby Valentine, and bringing Jason Varitek back into the organization. These are good steps, but those were obvious ones. Brad Pitt would have made those decisions, even when not playing Billy Beane. Ben Cherington, it's time for you to make your impact.

The return to being a successful baseball team will take weeks, months, years. Fans may not see a World Series before 2020. Fans may never see another Boston Red Sox victory parade. The days of pain and suffering spouting from failures and shortcomings that defined Red Sox fans for 86 years are back.

MLB Regular Season Wrap-Up

It's over, it's done. We don't need to go through any (unscheduled) 1-game playoffs. The playoffs can begin. Now, all that's left is my season wrap-up. I will go through each major league team and briefly asses what their season was like, and what they need to do. Then, I will make my picks for the post-season awards (MVP, Cy Young, etc.). I will ignore making playoff picks, because that's a waste of time.

AL EAST

New York Yankees- 1st place. They're the Yankees. They're where they always are. No surprises here.

Baltimore Orioles- Wild Card. The Fightin' Showalters showed what they are made of this season, and a big props to them. It's a bunch of misfits that somehow came together and had a great season. Could they be like the 2004 Red Sox and somehow win it all? Probably not, which is sad because they will never do this well again. Not any time soon, at least.

Tampa Bay Rays- The Rays almost made the playoffs. And then they didn't. I have a feeling this will be a regular thing for them for the next few years. But, having a healthy Evan Longoria may be the one thing they need to get them back to the playoffs. That and David Price having Cy Young-worthy stats.

Toronto Blue Jays- If someone told you in April that the Blue Jays would finish in fourth, you would not expect it to be ahead of the Red Sox. But they were. Unfortunately for them, they're heading towards another Shea Hillenbrand "sinking ship," (see: malcontent Yunel Escobar). However, they DO have Jose Bautista, who is coming off his worst season since becoming a starter. Yes, he still hit almost 30 homers while spending 1/3 of the year on the DL, but that's not the point...And having Edwin Encarnacion fill in for him seemed to have worked out okay...

Boston Red Sox- I've been writing about them all year, so it's kind of unnecessary. As the Cubs/Mets always say, "Next year's gottta be better, right?" Right...?

AL CENTRAL

Detroit Tigers- 1st place. It's the Miguel Cabrera show in the Detroit, where the first-baseman-playing-third overcame adversity to become the first Triple Crown winner since Yaz in 1967. Good luck to them in the playoffs.

Chicago White Sox- Very impressive showing from a team that was expected to be blown away by the Tigers. Expect good things from them, as long as Dunn and Konerko don't retire and Chris Sale remains an absolute stud starter.

Kansas City Royals- Ask Keegan or my brother, as they both should be able to attest to the fact that I predicted they would finish in third. And finish in third they did. Props, youngins', keep up the good work. See you in the playoffs soon.

Cleveland Indians- It should be interesting to see who they pick at manager. Could very much determine the future of their organization.

Minnesota Twins- I miss the days when I could read a Sports Illustrated article about Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau living together. Those were the days...

AL WEST

Oakland Athletics- First place. Holy crap, these guys finished in first? And here we all were thinking the Angels and Rangers would be fighting for first. I think Jonah Hill summed it up best, "If the A's win it all this year, me and Pitt better get rings."

Texas Rangers- Wild Card. The Rangers, arguably the best team in baseball the last three years, and arguably the biggest chokers since the 2004 Yankees, may have just lost their post-season. By losing out on the division, they are forced into a 1-game playoff. Sure, it's against the O's, but the O's are good. Plus, beating them only pits them against the Yankees. It's an uphill battle. Plus, they will have to consider re-signing Josh Hamilton when the season is all over.

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim- Albert Pujols should have been enough. CJ Wilson should have been frosting. Mike Trout was the best story in baseball this year. Yet, they still didn't make the playoffs. Watch out, though...

Seattle Mariners- Hey M's fans, cheer up! You get to fight with the Astros next year, so you may not finish last!

NL EAST

Washington Nationals- First place. Finally, the Nats made the playoffs. They were the best team in baseball. It only took being the worst team in baseball for 22 years, changing cities, and five extra years of being almost the worst team, but you finally made. Now, if only you'd managed Strasburg better (started his season later, more time between starts, 6 man rotation, etc.) you would automatically be looking at a World Series trophy. Now, you'll have to fight for it.

Atlanta Braves- Wild Card. Congrats on having a great pitching staff. Your offense needs to come up big in the playoffs if you want to go anywhere, though. This is a team to watch in the future.

Philadelphia Phillies- The rebuilding process has begun. It'll be interesting to see how Amaro does it.

New York Mets- You didn't finish last. And Jose Reyes did. Happy?

Miami Marlins- Jeffrey Loria needs to sell this team. He is ruining everything. At the very least, get rid of Ozzie. That was a terrible idea.

NL CENTRAL

Cincinnati Reds- First place. Well done, Dusty. I like your team a lot, but I really don't see you getting any better than this. At least not without Billy Hamilton. About that...

St. Louis Cardinals- Wild Card. Thank you, Mike Matheny, for proving that a few-year-removed catcher with no managerial experience can be a good manager. Signed, Jason Varitek. Also, good luck trying to repeat without The Machine.

Milwaukee Brewers- The Brewers come out of every season being okay. It made sense while Prince was there. But now? Ryan Braun's steroids can't be that good...

Pittsburgh Pirates- Remember when the Pirates were in first place and had the likely NL MVP? That was a month ago. Now they only have one of those. Send help.

Chicago Cubs- This rebuilding might take a while...

Houston Astros- Remind me again why moving the worst team in the lesser league to the stronger league, and one of the strongest divisions, is a good idea, please.

NL WEST

San Francisco Giants- First place. The Giants very quietly put together a very nice season. They have some pretty good potential, especially with hitting-his-prime Buster Posey, who really is the next Joe Mauer.

Los Angeles Dodgers- Congrats on taking on $270 million worth of bad contracts in order to make the playoffs! Oh wait...Maybe next year. And Colletti says you're spending more money? Let's see if you can make the Yankees model work.

Arizona Diamondbacks- I really like this team. But I'm not sure why. Maybe it's because they may give the Red Sox Justin Upton...and I like their colors. And stadium.

San Diego Padres- They need to bring those walls in more! And wait a few years for Casey Kelly to develop. And Alonso. Then, they'll challenge.

Colorado Rockies- Unless they do something drastic, this team will be in the same spot next year.

AND NOW, FOR THE AWARDS!

American League

MVP: Mike Trout. Yes, yes, I know, Miguel Cabrera won the Triple Crown. Yes, I know, it has not been won since Yaz in 1967. Yes, I know, that was a very long time ago. But guess what? This award isn't called the Triple Crown. Miguel Cabrera won that. This is the MVP. Completely different. I am a firm believer that the three categories that are part of the Triple Crown are not at all indicative of value. Yes, they are impressive, and I am in complete awe that in my lifetime someone has led the league in these three distinct categories. BUT, in the land of baseball, there are always new stats. An important in determining a players value, ie. in a most valuable player award, would be WAR, Wins Above Replacement. This metric measures how many more wins this player have given their team, while compared to someone of average skill at their position. In this stat, Mike Trout leads all of baseball. His WAR is an absurd 10.7. The next closest is a full three wins less, held by the Yankees Robinson Cano (who will probably finish third in MVP voting) at 7.6. A lot of people argue for Cabrera, whose WAR is 6.9, which is only .3 games better than Adrian Beltre, who also plays third and will garner some MVP votes. Sure, Miggy got the Triple Crown. But did he run away with it? No. But Trout ran away with the statistic most relevant to the MVP award.

Cy Young: Jered Weaver. 20 wins (1st), .214 opponents' BA (1st), 1.02 WHIP (1st), 2.81 ERA (3rd). My vote is for him, but I would not be surprised to see it go to Justin Verlander. David Price will finish third.

Rookie of the Year: Did I not also mention that Trout is a rookie. Yeah, that happened. He won this award in July.

National League

MVP: Since the three top candidates (Braun, McCutchen and Posey) are so close in WAR (between 7.0-7.2), you need to dig deeper here. Posey's BA is 9 points higher than McCutchen's, and 17 higher than Brauns. But Braun annihilates the two above him in home runs, RBI, slugging and OPS. He also stole 10 more bases than McCutchen. I give the MVP to Braun (again), although the other two do make strong cases. And if you buy into the "can't be MVP if his team doesn't make the playoffs" nonsense, it obviously goes to Posey. We'll see.

Cy Young: RA Dickey. This is not up for discussion. He was an absolute animal. And he's a knuckleballer, which makes it all the more impressive. 

Rookie of the Year: Wilin Rosario. Out there in Denver, this rookie catcher quietly put up some great numbers. .270 BA, 28 home runs, and 71 RBI. Sure, take your Bryce Harpers and your Todd Frazier's, but this guys got my vote.

Sports: My next six months

This will be an odd post. I will just be talking in the simplest terms about where my sport allegiances will be in the next six months. If you don't care about my fandom, this is probably not a post for you. Next week I will have a post responding to an issue in one of these sports.

ALSO: check out my latest blog post on the Orange field hockey team, who are now NUMBER ONE in the nation.

So, the baseball season is basically over. At least the regular season. And sure, as a Red Sox fan, the season has been over for over a month. But, I am more of a baseball fan than I am a Red Sox fan, so I have kept watching, kept paying attention.

Yes, I will absolutely be watching the MLB Playoffs. Yes, I will get highly invested in the World Series hopes of one team (Tigers). But what I do about a team that I actually care about?

My second favorite Major 4 sport is the NHL. Unfortunately, they are currently in a lockout, and hopes are not high for there to be any season this year. That leaves the NBA for regular games.

I am a Boston Celtics fan. I am very excited about this years Celtics team, which is the best team since they won the NBA Finals in 2008. Jeff Green is back, Avery Bradley is going to be a monster (whenever he gets back), and their draft picks were phenomenal:

-Jared Sullinger's not-elite last season allowed him to fall all the way to the Celtics, which is phenomenal. Sullinger has the talent and ability to successful in the NBA. He may not be a star this season, but he will be in years to come, and will at least be a solid role player this year.

-The Boston Orange...I mean Celtics, also drafted two Syracuse Orange. No, they didn't get Dion Waiters, who was the highest draft pick to come from 'Cuse since some guy named Carmelo, but they DID get Kris Joseph and a 7-footer in Fab Melo. Joseph does not project to be much more than a role player at any point in his career, but I think he will surprise people, and possibly win a starting spot a few years down the line, a la Hakim Warrick.

Fab Melo, who cost the Orange a legitimate chance at a second NCAA Championship due to ambiguous off-court problems (I'm under the impression he stopped going to class), has no school obligations in the NBA. He will follow the Andrew Bynum route and not be particularly productive for a few years, but could be one of the best defensive centers in the game in just a few years. Also, if he and Rajon Rondo develop some good chemistry, the Celtics will have a scary inside presence.

All that said, I hate the NBA. It is the most obviously rigged major sport, and it is disgustingly frustrating to watch sometimes. It also usually is not necessary to watch the first half of a game. Unless it's a blow out, it's usually pretty close until the second half.

I like the NFL. The real refs are back, which is good, but football is, at most, only three days a week. I need more than that to get my sports fix! That being said, GO EAGLES!

My love for college basketball will never be higher. Going to Syracuse, I now get the chance to root, in person, for my all-time favorite basketball team, and be surrounded by like-minded fans. I plan on going to the Dome at least a few times, and I can't wait to even just watch the game in bars with other fans. GO ORANGE!

Quick hits: The State of the Red Sox, NewsHouse links

First off, I'd like to alert your attention to thenewshouse.com, a student publication I am now a member of at The Newhouse School. I have written an article and two blogs for them in the past week. The first is on Rolling Stone political journalist Matt Taibbi's lecture at the Maxwell School on September 12. Additionally, I have secured the field hockey beat, which is exciting because the Orange are currently ranked #2 nationally, and have actually beaten the #1 team (UNC). Links are below.

http://www.thenewshouse.com/story/rolling-stone-reporter-weighs-politics
http://www.thenewshouse.com/blog/orange-field-hockey-remains-unbeaten
http://www.thenewshouse.com/blog/orange-roll-over-kent-state

Now, for the State of the Red Sox. When I last spoke on the Red Sox, I spoke about how Bobby Valentine is almost definitely done in Boston. Or, at least, he should be. A controvery this past weekend proved this.

In Jon Lester's start on Sunday, in a 0-0 tie with Pedro Ciriaco having just stolen second, and shortstop-of-the-future Jose Iglesias at-bat with a 2-2 count, Bobby V used his genius to pinch hit for the soft-hitting Iglesias. Why would he pinch hit, in the middle of an at-bat, no less? His reasoning: He was trying to get a run for Lester, who had been "busting his butt out there."

Sure, Iglesias is hitting just .069. Sure, Daniel Nava is a much more proven MLB hitter than Iglesias. Sure, it'd be nice if Nava could drive a run across for Lester. But guess what else? The Red Sox are done. (They were officially eliminated following Sunday's loss). Bobby, are you aware what September is for for teams with no playoff chances? IT'S TO GET THE YOUNG PROSPECTS AS MUCH MLB EXPERIENCE AS POSSIBLE!

Jose Iglesias is a bad hitter, that much is true. But how do you expect him to gain any confidence if you embarrass him by REMOVING HIM FOR A PINCH HITTER IN THE MIDDLE OF HIS AT-BAT?!? How noble of you, Bobby, for trying to get a run for Jonny Lester! But, in the long run, don't you realize that the run is inconsequential compared to a young players future. Lester is a vet, he'll get over it. Iglesias? We'll have to wait to see. Daniel Nava grounded out, and ended the inning, so it was failed move, anyway, but that's neither here nor there.

See you on ESPN, Bobby.

2012 NFL Preview

With the first game of the season in the books, and the first weekend of games upon us, it is time for my predictions for the year. I will break down each division, first based on standings, and then on each team's season outlook. I will ignore records, because- honestly- what's the point?

AFC

East
New England Patriots
New York Jets
Buffalo Bills
Miami Dolphins

Not much changes here from last year. The Bills and Dolphins are pretty interchangeable in their ability to get completely over-matched most of the time. In all likelihood, the Patriots will run away with the division, once again, and will have one of the best records in the league. They are legitimate Super Bowl contenders. The Jets? Not so much. The Jets will vie for a playoff spot, but I'm not so sure they get it. Their future will very much be determined by how they play in the last weeks of the season.

North
Baltimore Ravens
Cincinnati Bengals
Pittsburgh Steelers
Cleveland Browns

The Ravens are quickly becoming THE AFC North team. The Pittsburgh Steelers are falling apart with age, and they really are a shallow offense team. Hines Ward's retirement makes Mike Wallace the Steelers' main receiving threat, and teams with good corners will easily limit his action. The Ravens can only get better, and the rapport between Andy Dalton and AJ Green and Jermaine Gresham will be stronger. The addition of The Lawfirm (BenJarvis Green-Ellis) won't hurt, either. The Browns will be better than last year, thanks to Trent Richardson, but, they're still the Browns, and they're still in the North, which produced both Wild Card teams last season.

South
Houston Texans
Tennessee Titans
Indianapolis Colts
Jacksonville Jaguars

After the Texans, this is one of the weakest divisions in the league. The Colts were terrible last year without a legitimate QB, and with Andrew Luck they will definitely improve. But, that doesn't make them better than anyone except the Jaguars, whose only real addition is Justin Blackmon, another TO-type, but without as much talent. The Titans will remain middle of the road, occasionally challenging legitimate playoff teams.

West
Denver Broncos
San Diego Chargers
Kansas City Chiefs
Oakland Raiders

The West will once again be the tightest division in the AFC. Once again, the Broncos will come out on top. The Chargers are better than they seem, especially with the addition of Robert Meacham. If Ryan Matthews stays healthy, they could legitimately contend for the playoffs. I expect them to get a Wild Card spot. The return Dwayne Bowe and the addition of Patrick Hillis improves their offense, but they're still not a playoff team. Maybe next year. Oakland? Carson Palmer may be the best QB they've had in a decade, but they're still a few pieces away from being a playoff team.

NFC

East
Philadelphia Eagles
New York Giants
Dallas Cowboys
Washington Redskins

The Dream Team comes together as a team this year, and the Eagles walk away with the division. They improved their defense and offensive line, and seem to have all the right pieces in place. If Michael Vick stays healthy, Philly is a legitimate Super Bowl contender. The defending champs, the Giants, won't struggle, but they didn't dominate until the last few weeks last year. They will still make the playoffs, but don't expect a repeat. The Cowboys DID improve their secondary, a crucial move for this division, but they still lack the most important piece; a QB who works well under pressure. The Redskins drafted RGIII, and got Pierre Garcon, but they still need help on offense. Good thing RGIII can run, because they're going to need him to.

North
Green Bay Packers
Detroit Lions
Chicago Bears
Minnesota Vikings

Not much needs to be said here. The lack of Jahvid Best may hurt the Lions in the long-run, but they're in the   playoffs based on everybody else. This young team is only getting better; expect them to challenge for the division as soon as 2013. The Bears and Vikings will remain mostly irrelevant.

South
Atlanta Falcons
New Orleans Saints
Carolina Panthers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The sanctions against the Saints will hurt. Jonathan Vilma was a big part of their illegal bounty program that made up their defense, so his loss will be major. The departure's of Pierre Garcon and Robert Meacham lower Brees number of previously used receivers, but, being Drew Brees, he will find new ones. The Falcons will take this opporunity to win the division, although the Saints will still make the playoffs. The Panthers didn't get better enough to make the playoffs, but they may challenge for a Wild Card by 2013. The Bucs are still a few years ago.

West
San Francisco 49ers
Seattle Seahawks
Arizona Cardinals
St. Louis Rams

There is no real description necessary for this division. The 49ers aren't Super Bowl contenders, but they're much better than every other team in the division. The Seahawks are on their way to being a playoff
challenge, but this year they won't make it.

AFC Playoffs

Wild Card Round
Broncos over Bengals
Ravens over Chargers

Divisional Round
Patriots over Broncos
Texans over Ravens

AFC Championship
Patriots over Ravens


NFC Playoffs

Wild Card Round
Giants over 49ers
Falcons over Saints

Divisional Round
Eagles over Falcons
Packers over Giants

NFC Championship
Eagles over Packers


Super Bowl
Eagles over Patriots 27-24
 

The 2013 Manager of the Boston Red Sox

2012 has been an absolute disaster for the Red Sox. Following the dramatic collapse in September 2011, nothing has really gone well for the Red Sox, minus the Cody Ross signing. As is usual with good teams that fail, a lot of talk has been made about the coaching, specifically manager Bobby Valentine.

Bobby Valentine is a great manager, and I was pumped when the Red Sox decided to name him their manager last winter. He has gotten a lot of flack throughout the season, which hasn't necessarily been unwarranted. In April, he completely mismanaged the starting rotation, time and time again bringing pitchers back out for another inning, only to implode because they should have been done for the day. His excuse? He wanted the pitchers to know they could trust him, by showing he had trust in them. Not a bad argument, considering his situation as a new manager for the organization. But, facts are facts, and it was- more times than not- the wrong decision.

I work under the assertion that there is very little the manager can be held accountable for. There's the aforementioned removal of starting pitchers, the management of the bullpen (which the manager has the help of the pitching coaches for), and bringing in people off the bench. They also have the responsibility to fight for their team, and get ejected, which Bobby V did his fair share of. I in no way believe that it is Bobby Valentine's fault that the Red Sox suck. That being said, he should be let go.

Bobby V is a great baseball man. He's got great commentary, is a good manager, and is a scholar of the game, all of which make him a great man for baseball. But, he is not the right man for the Boston Red Sox organization, right now. The Sox are in the process of an organizational overhaul, evidenced by the mega-deal that gave them more than a quarter billion of cap space. There is a new direction that Red Sox are headed. This is a gradual process, and it will take a couple years before it all comes to fruition. Bobby Valentine never was the long-term solution at the helm, and he knew that coming in; everyone did.

Everyone in Red Sox Nation knows that plan all along was to make John Farrell manager. He was the best pitching coach the team ever had, and he was expected to take over once Tito retired. Of course, Farrell left the Sox to become the manager of the Toronto Blue Jays, much to the Red Sox chagrin. This offseason, the Red Sox tried to lure Farrell back to Boston, but Toronto did not allow it, due to his contract. So, Bobby V was signed to a Farrell-friendly contract that would expire at the same time as Farrell's in Toronto.

Yes, Farrell is still one year away from joining the Red Sox staff, should that happen. So, what do they do in the meantime? They bring in a stopgap, of course! And who is that stopgap, in my opinion? Why, he's a man that knows the organization well, would perform well, and could ably manage for a while, should Farrell not come back. This man is named Brad Mills, and he is currently unemployed.

Mills was Terry Francona's bench coach until 2009, when he became the manager of the Houston Astros. I was happy for Mills to get the chance to manage, but sad that it would be for the terrible Astros. I knew it would only be a matter of time until he was fired, because that's what you do in baseball when you're a mid-level team that continues to not win. Mills was fired August 18. It wasn't his fault that the Astros were terrible, and it is not indicative of his managing ability.

If not Mills, who else would the Red Sox choose, should they let Bobby V go? Sure, they could go the rout that the White Sox and Cardinals went, and signed a former star player who is a few years removed from their playing days and bring back a Bill Mueller or a Trot Nixon. Some people are clamoring to make Jason Varitek the manager, as he clearly has major league coaching in his future. My take? Yeah, bring back Tek; but not as manager.

Jason Varitek wasn't a good catcher his last 2-3 years with the Red Sox. But they kept him around because of ability to put the pitchers at ease, make them comfortable. He was a great pitchers' catcher. That's why he should be the new pitching coach. Yes, I know, Jason Varitek is not a pitcher, but I don't think that matters. Tek understands pitchers, and knows when things aren't going right, and why. He could be bad, sure, but what's the harm in trying? Plus, there's no way the pitchers will perform as badly as they have this season. It's worth a shot.

So, Brad Mills at the helm, Jason Varitek at pitching coach. Heck, even make Tek bench coach. Bringing back Mills and Varitek would be great for organizational morale, if nothing else.

The biggest trade in the history of the world...or whatever

It's the talk of the sports world, and the culmination of 14 months of rough-going for the Boston Red Sox organization. The Red Sox have traded Josh Beckett, Carl Crawford, Adrian Gonzalez and Nick Punto to the Los Angeles Dodgers for James Loney and prospects Allen Webster, Rubby De La Rosa, Ivan De Jesus, and Jerry Sands.

When I first heard about this, my heart sank. This was the worst trade the Red Sox had made since trading Nomar Garciaparra in 2004. And this would not result in a World Series victory. The way I saw it originally, getting rid of Beckett was a great idea, and losing Crawford's gigantic contract (which has hardly worked out) was a good move. But Adrian Gonzalez? I couldn't understand that. I found myself asking whether giving up your best player was necessary to dump salary.

After thinking about it some, and looking into the deal, I am much more okay with it. I definitely do not love the trade, but it has the potential to be a great deal in the future. Here's why:

In addition to the enormous amount of salary coming off the books- freeing up space to lock up Jacoby Ellsbury long-term- the Red Sox receive a package of some highly touted prospects.

Let's take a look at each of them.

Allen Webster: Webster is a 22-year-old righty currently in Double-A. Prior to the 2012 season he was rated the #95 prospect in baseball, according to Baseball America and named the Dodgers' #3 prospect by MLB.com. Primarily used as starting pitcher, Webster has a 6-8 record in 22 starts, with an ERA of 3.55 and 117 strikeouts in 121 2/3 innings. He is still a few years away from contributing at a major league level, but when he does, he should be great. Webster was a piece of a proposed trade that would have brought Ryan Dempster to LA at the trade deadline, but Ned Colletti and co. balked at that idea.

Ivan De Jesus: De Jesus is a 25-year-old utility player, who has seen time at second base, third base, shortstop and has even seen time in the corner outfield positions this season. He has been called up to the majors in each of the last two seasons. De Jesus has no power whatsoever and average speed, at best. He does have a average, though, with a career .297 batting average in eight minor league seasons. He will most likely serve as organizational depth, for now.

Jerry Sands: Sands is a big (6'4", 225) 24-year-old 1B/3B/outfielder. He has big power and average speed. He has 24 homers and 101 RBI through 109 games at Triple-A Albuquerque this year and has 35 and 29 home runs over the past two seasons. Sands has been called a "Jason Bay Lite" type of player, and has the potential to fight for the starting first base spot in 2013. He as a .290 minor league career average and figures to play for Boston as soon as this season. Look for Sands to make an impact very soon.

Rubby De La Rosa: De La Rosa is 23-year-old righty. He is currently rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, but was seen hitting 95 on the radar gun as recently as last week. He has been known to throw over 100, but is still young. He was rated the #90 prospect pre-2011 by Baseball America. He is technically in Triple-A, but has never played a game above Double-A. If all goes according to plan, De La Rosa will compete for a spot in the rotation in 2013, but that is being optimistic. He has the stuff to be a legitimate fireballer. The question is when he will "arrive."

 The prospects Boston receives are definitely a good group to acquire, but are they worth the price? For the Dodgers, this trade was all about getting Gonzalez. For Boston, they were only able to dump Crawford and Beckett's bad contracts/attitudes by including Gonzalez. Gonzalez, arguably, also had a bad contract, and Boston may have realized the error of their (Theo's) ways. Those big contracts were bad for business and this trade cleans the books. Will Jerry Sands be as good as Adrian Gonzalez? Probably not, but the payroll reduction ($260 million) is a huge relief for the Red Sox, who now have the space to make moves. The Red Sox weren't winning after two seasons with Crawford and Gonzalez's contracts, so I understand the logic behind the deal. Beckett was a huge problem in the clubhouse and everyone can agree that he had to go. Would I have made this deal, were I Ben Cherington? No. But, it is most likely a step in the right direction given the turmoil in Boston over the past year. Bobby Valentine himself admitted that something needed to be done, and I agree with him (for a change). If this trade could have been made without Adrian Gonzalez, this would be a phenomenal trade. With him? The jury is out, at least until these prospects come up. Think of it this way: the Red Sox never had Adrian Gonzalez, and just traded Casey Kelly and Anthony Rizzo for four prospects who are probably better than either of them, as a whole.

I'm no longer on the verge of tears for losing Gonzalez, but he will be missed.

I give this trade, at this current juncture, a C. That may change for the positive or negative, neither which will be apparent until next season. Time will tell, as they say.

The Red Sox also got rid of Nick "Shredder" Punto, which saves the Red Sox money in the uniform department.

Quick post: Why last night's victory is great news

For those of you who didn't catch light nights exciting Sunday Night Baseball game between the Red Sox and the Yankees, you only missed the turn around in the Red Sox season. No big deal.

To begin with, taking two out of three games from the New York Yankees IN New York is a big deal on it's own. As is getting back to .500. As is doing it in extra innings. All of those compounded are a pretty big deal. Paired with the events of the exciting 10th inning, this victory will change the face of the Red Sox for the remainder of the season. Here's the run down:

Will Middlebrooks up to bat, one on. He shows bunt, but pulls back when realizes its coming inside. It hits him on the wrist and hits the ump. Both fall to the ground in pain. Does Middlebrooks get first base? Nope! Umps assert it hit the bat for strike two. Bobby V comes out to argue, and it's quite easy to see the ejection coming. But, being Bobby V and the Red Sox manager, he's got to get his money's worth. He starts back to the dugout still infuriated, sees Adrian Gonzalez and Josh Beckett - among others - also enraged, shouting at the umps. Bobby V goes back for one more spat and then retires into the dugout, but not before throwing his gum at the dugout wall. He stays to give one last sign while Beckett continues his tirade and gets himself ejected, too.

Middlebrooks eventually got to first on a single, and Pedro Ciriaco hit the game-winning bloop single moments later. Very exciting!

Why does this matter? Managers getting ejected always fires up their team, and this is the perfect time to light a fire under the Red Sox, especially after some questionable comments from Orel Hershiser that were quickly repudiated. (Hershiser claimed Andrew Miller was non-chalant, jovial, and uninterested after leaving after putting the would-be go-ahead run on base. Miller told reporters that teammates were keeping things cool for him so he didn't get too upset with himself)

With Beckett, this is great for many reasons: 1. Any time a player gets ejected for arguing for a teammate they gain a lot of points. 2. Beckett has been under attack for not caring and having no intensity since Chicken & Beergate. This showed his fire that made him such a good pitcher. 3. With recent trade rumors - which Ben Cherington has said are false - it shows that Beckett wants to be there, or at least does care about being in Boston and his teammates.

The Red Sox needed something dramatic to keep their momentum moving forward. Reaching .500 again, winning against the Yankees, in extra innings, at Yankee Stadium, where your manager and embattled pitcher get ejected has got to be the perfect storm. It's up and up for the Red Sox now.

Zack Greinke trade reaction

This week, the inevitable happened. Zack Greinke was traded to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim for three prospects. This trade has been probably the biggest trade of the Trade Deadline 2012, beating out the Hanleywood deal. Greinke was the best pitcher on the market after Cole Hamels signed his humongous-big extension with the Phillies. (Ilya Bryzgalov reference there, for those not in the know) This is a seemingly huge move for the Angels, who are widely seen as a World Series contender, especially following this trade. However, this post will show how this may be a disaster in the waiting.

Zach Greinke has been a top pitcher for years. A former #1 draft pick in 2002, Donald Zachary Greinke (That's right, his name is Donald) was the lone bright spot on Kansas City's pitching staff for years. He's been the Brewers ace since they acquired him in late 2010. He's now headed to LA for some prospects. He will fail.

Greinke has had anxiety issues in the past. He has social anxiety disorder (SAD), and it has hurt him in the past. He took the 2006 season mostly off when the depression got bad and he alienated himself from the rest of the Royals clubhouse. This was following his sophomore campaign, where he lost 17 games. In 2007, Greinke eased back into a starting role, but spent the majority of the season in relief. Historically, Greinke has not performed well while being scrutinized or under pressure, a product of his anxiety. Kansas City is a small market, with about as little scrutiny as a player can get outside of Florida. Milwaukee is a larger market, but not by much. LA is a much, much larger market (one of the largest, actually) and the fans expect nothing less than success. They also spent their off-season throwing money at Albert Pujols and CJ Wilson, with the intention of being a perennial World Series contender. While it is not completely clear, it seems like Art Moreno and the Angels organization will try to sign Greinke to a long term extension, and make him part of their future.

Realistically, the Angels will make the playoffs. Sure, they may not win their division, but they will definitely take one of the wild card spots, barring unforeseen circumstances. That will mean Greinke will have to pitch in the playoffs. The playoffs are high pressure and therefore not Greinke's cup of tea. In Greinke's first foray into October baseball last season the pressure, yet again, beat him.

His first outing was not terrible, but it was not good. In five innings, Greinke was scorched by three home runs and eight hits for four earned runs. He also struck out seven. No thanks to Greinke, the Brewers went on to win the game 9-4.

The Brewers made it to the NLCS after a five game NLDS, leaving Greinke slated to start Game 1 against the Cardinals, the eventual World Series champions. Greinke did not fare much better than in his first playoff appearance. In six innings he gave up another eight hits, walked two and gave up SIX runs. He struck out six. That was enough to earn him the win, somehow.

In Game 5, Greinke had an odd game. He pitched 5.2 innings, giving up five runs, two of which were earned. Seemingly, he had not pitched as badly as before. Yet, he kept up his average of giving up five runs per playoff start, even if only two were earned from his pitching, and not errors. He did not give up any home runs, but also didn't strike out anyone.

What does that suggest? It suggests that Greinke still does not deal well with pressure. Playoff pressure was the most pressure he's ever had, and that will only be compounded by pitching in LA. The intent in acquiring Greinke was for him to improve their team, but I'm unsure if that will happen.

Not only has Greinke been traded, which is stressful, but it is mid-season. He doesn't have time to adjust, like he did when he was traded during the winter two years ago. Greinke may need some time to adjust to a new, well, everything. It may take him the rest of the season. He could not pitch well again this year (he's only had one quality start since June 28) and may become a liability. I'm not saying this will definitely happen, but it is a legitimate possibility. Is he an improvement over Ervin Santana and Garrett Richards? On any normal day, yes. But, the argument I'm making is that there may not be another normal day this season for the temperamental Greinke.

While we're at it, let's take a look at Greinke's stats. He is having a pretty good season, posting a 3.44 ERA, the second lowest it has been in his career, the first being the ridiculous 2.16 Cy Young Award-winning 2009 season. Greinke averages a 3.79 ERA, which is nothing special. He is on pace for another 200 strikeout season. Bottom line is, if Greinke keeps up pitching the way he has this season (minus July) this will have been a great deal for the Angels, who will probably win the World Series, as long as Greinke doesn't bring them down with his inability to pitch in the playoffs. But, my assertion is that it is not as simple as that, and Greinke may struggle. Only time will tell.

Syracuse Chiefs vs. Norfolk Tides, July 20, 2012

Last night, July 20, the Newhouse School offered free tickets to the Syracuse Chiefs' game. The Chiefs are the Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals. Of course, as an avid baseball fan I jumped at the opportunity, and decided to use the game as this week's blog post. If you follow me on Twitter (@markcvolain) you would also have noticed me live tweeting the game.

The original plan was to come home after the game and write the blog post that night, like a real game story, but this little move called The Dark Knight Rises got in the way of that. So, for your enjoyment, here is the game story for last night's Chiefs-Norfolk Tides game. I promise you, this is one of the most exciting games I have even blogged about.

The game was pitched by two guys people may actually know: Lefty Zach Duke took the mound for the Chiefs, a team that for some reason is represented by a train, while lefty Brian Matusz, of Baltimore Orioles fame, was on the Tide's bump.

Duke did not begin the game well, giving up a lead off single to LJ Hoes, who would advance to second on a fielder's choice. Hoes was then driven in by former Minnesota Twin Lew Ford, who hit a deep fly ball to center field for a ground rule double. Two batters later, Ford was driven in by former Pittsburgh Pirate Ronny Paulino. After half an inning, I'd learned that the Tides were made up of a lot of guys who had been in the majors. They led 2-0.

The next inning went six up, six down, and the inning following that was uneventful, at best. After two and half, the Tides still led 2-0.

Former Cubs backup catcher Koyie Hill led off the bottom of the third with a line drive sharply down the right field line. He advanced to second on a wild pitch. Josh Johnson (not the Marlins pitcher) then drove him in with an RBI double down the left field line. 2-1 Tides.

Corey Brown the undoubted 1st half MVP for the Chiefs (.301/21/58/13SB) singles Johnson in, and steals second before getting stranded. After 3, it's 2-2.

The Chiefs turned a nice double play to end the Tides' half of the fourth before coming up for some more runs.

Hill hit his first double of the season (at this level) to drive in former Marlin Brett Carroll, followed by Eury Perez's first Triple-A hit and RBI, as he was called up from Harrisburg prior to the game. 4-2 Cheifs after 4.

In the Tides' half of the fifth, the only excitement came from Zelous Wheeler (who is up for the Best Name in Sports Award) reached first when Zach Duke did not catch the flip from first baseman Carlos Rivero. Lucky for Duke, nothing came of it, and he escaped the inning.

Brown singles to lead off the Chiefs' fifth, and scored on a Jesus Valdez double. Valdez would later score after a fielder's choice sent him to third and Rivero hit a sac fly. After 5, 6-2 Chiefs.

The most exciting inning of the game had arrived. With one out in the top of the sixth, Ronny Paulino singled, setting up former Red Sox farmhand Luis Exposito to hit 2-run homer to deep center. 6-4 Chiefs. Jamie Hoffman hit a triple that Duke left right over the plate, but Duke was able to escape without giving up any more runs.

Let me preface the bottom of the sixth with a few notes: Carol M. Baldwin, the mother of the Baldwin Brother's, lives in the Syracuse area. Semi-regularly her sons are in the area for charity events and the like. Carol has a cancer foundation, and July 20th's game was a night where she hosted a fundraiser at the New Alliance Bank Stadium. There was word that Billy was in the building.

The bottom of the sixth began, and it became clear to me and my fellow Newhouser's that Billy Baldwin was in the aisle behind home plate, taking pictures with people. Sure enough, there he was, wearing a pink and black Chiefs uniform (the team wore them for the charity event), taking pictures with a few people. So, my friend Kristina and I got up, and went over to where Billy was, in an attempt to get a picture with him.

With one out, we had reached the level Billy was on when the fans got noisy. Luis Exposito and catcher Koyie Hill had begun fighting, with no obvious reason apparent to me or Kristina, who were focused on getting to Billy. In the end, Hill ended up wrestling Exposito to the ground, and then began pulling at his legs. Not sure why. Here is a picture of the cleared benches, reminiscent of Halloween.

Hill and Exposito were both ejected, and replaced with new catchers.

With the excitement of the skirmish over, it was Billy Baldwin time. Just before the fight, Billy rushed off down the first base line, but was expected back, as his handler was still over where we were. When Billy got back, I immediately approached him and asked for a picture. "Real quick, I gotta go," he responded. So, I met Billy Baldwin! 

So, after an exciting 6th inning, the Chiefs led 6-4.

After all the excitement, nothing really happened until the 8th, when Hassan Pena loaded the bases. Relieved by Christian Garcia, the Chiefs walked in a run, making it a one run game. Fortunately for the Chiefs, that would be the last run the Tides scored, and the Chiefs won, holding off a late Tides' rally to win 6-5!

Zach Duke earned his team leading 11th win, and Garcia earned his 4th save of the year. 

The Chiefs take on the Tides again tonight, with Mitch Atkins squaring off against Jake Arrieta, who was on my fantasy team fro 2 days earlier this season. 

The 2nd Half- The Boston Red Sox

Anxiety and giving up are hugely popular with fans of the Boston Red Sox lately, and for good reason. The pitching has been terrible, and the offense has been sub-par, at best. However, things are not as bad as they seem. Much like I did after last season's horrific end, I will explain why it is that Red Sox fans should be more like Obama in 2008 and have hope. Scratch that; they should be like Stephen King and Stewart O'Nan and Keep the Faith.

The Pitching
Well, well, the Red Sox, once again, have pitching problems. No doubt about it.
The "Ace," Jon Lester, has an ERA of about 4.50, a number expected for a #4 or 5 pitcher for a team like the Kansas City Royals, not a team that has one of the highest payrolls in baseball. 
Josh Beckett has been fighting and angry with the media since last September, and has not pitched particularly consistently.
Clay Buchholz started off the year like a train-wreck, got hurt, and came back as the lone bright spot in the rotation. Then he got hurt again.
Felix Doubront has been pretty good, but not great. Definitely not someone that could shoulder leading a pitching staff.
Daisuke Matsuzaka. He's been Dice-K. What more needs to be said?
Daniel Bard was a bona fide disaster and sits in Pawtucket trying to learn to be a reliever again. Don't expect to see him back up this year, and if he is, don't expect great things.

This all sounds pretty bleak, right? Right. BUT (this is a big 'but,' if you couldn't tell from the capitals and boldness) the rotation cannot continue to be this bad. They just can't. It would be a statistical anomaly for three very good pitchers (Buchholz, Beckett and Lester) to all, on the same, be bad for a whole year after being good for years. Buchholz was a fringe Cy Young candidate on the other side of last year, which he lost to injury. Beckett is tempermental and getting older, but he can still get the job done. Or at least should be getting the job done. For Lester, it is pretty inexplicable. He is the most likely to return to form. Watch out for a great second half from the Ford Truck Man.

It is not clear where he will be on Friday, but Franklin Morales has proven to be huge asset for the staff. His spot starts have been nothing short of impressive. Keeping him the starting rotation is a definite option, and not one that people would complain about.

Bottom line: The rotation can only get better.

The bullpen, aside from the first week or two of the season, has been one of the best in baseball. Alfredo Aceves has proven- as he always does- that he can pitch in any situation. It is quite possible that he will remain the closer for the res of the year, even when Andrew Bailey returns at the end of the month. Which is another good thing! The bullpen is in good shape!

The Offense
Fact: The Red Sox have the 5th best team batting average in the majors. They also have the 2nd most runs scored. Scary.
Fact: The Red Sox have once again faced the injury bug, including legitimate MVP candidate Jacoby Ellsbury, spark-plug Dustin Pedroia and Carl Crawford, who has yet to show what he did in Tampa in Boston.
Fact: Adrian Gonzalez has performed well under his ability.
Fact: Jacoby and Crawford will be back before the end of the month.
Fact: The Red Sox offense, when healthy, is one of the best, if not the best offense in the league (debatable point: The Texas Rangers).
If you think the Red Sox offense has underperformed, you would be correct. But, to suggest they have sucked is just downright incorrect. BUT, they're going to get much, much better over the rest of the season. So, sit down, chill out, and enjoy the show they will put on.

The second half of the Red Sox season will be absolutely the most exciting thing to witness. They have a lot of ground to cover, but I promise that they will make it fun, and come mid-September watch for the Red Sox to be fighting for a playoff spot. Sure, they're only a .500 team right now, but they are much, much better than that, and you all know it. AL East and the rest of the AL, be afraid, be very afraid.