Where were you when...

Tonight, Giants Stadium will be host to the most important football game in recent memory. It will be broadcast on four stations in the New York and New England areas, and three stations throughout the rest of the country. To put that into perspective, the Super Bowl is only broadcast on one channel throughout America. This will be the game of a lifetime, one where ten years from now, people will ask “Where were you when the Patriots went for 16-0?”

It seems only fitting that the Patriots go for perfection in the shadow of the most important city in the world, in front of the biggest media market there is, and in front of the best sports fans in all of America. The records that can be set were previously thought untouchable. Tom Brady can break Peyton Manning’s single-season touchdown passing record of 48 with two more. Randy Moss can pass Jerry Rice as the single-season touchdown receptions leader with two of them tonight, which would surpass the 22 Rice had in 1987, although Rice did that in only 12 games. The Patriots can be the first team to finish the regular season without a loss or tie since the 1972 Dolphins, and the first team ever to finish the regular season 16-0. They can set the single-season points record for a team with their first touchdown. They can set the record for largest point differential in one season as long as they don’t lose by 21. They can break their own record for longest regular-season winning streak, as this would be their 19^th consecutive victory.

But wouldn’t we love to see them lose? As much as we love to see history, isn’t there a desire to watch the Patriots, Bill Belichick’s Patriots, and their perfect season go down in flames? These are the hated Patriots. Team Perfect. With their perfect quarterback and their perfect coach. They seemed destined for perfection. But you can bet that Tom Coughlin will be doing everything he can to win this game.

You want to know how badly Coughlin wants to win this game? Plaxico Burress actually practiced this week. The starters are talking like it’s the biggest game of their lives. Coughlin hates losing in preseason, so there is no way he rolls over in this one and throws the backups in until the outcome of the game is decided.

And that’s just the way it should be.

A game of this magnitude shouldn’t be marred with no-name backups taking the snaps and making it an exhibition. No matter what the critics say of Tom Coughlin tomorrow morning, his decision to play his starters will always be fine with me. As football fans we want to see competition; we want to see our favorite players in the game, not sipping Gatorade and chatting about the next week with their fellow starters.

More than anything, we watch for the thrilling finishes; for the excitement a last-minute touchdown can bring; and of course, for history. One way or another, tonight we will witness history. Either the Patriots take another step towards immortality or the Giants do the unthinkable again. Can they call upon the ghosts of 1998? Will Jimmy Hoffa be up to his old tricks at the Meadowlands? As fans of Big Blue, we sure do.

Coming Down the Stretch in the NFL

In a season that has been unspectacular at best, we come to the last three weeks of the NFL regular season with some playoff spots up for grabs. While some teams have had playoff spots wrapped up since April, there are still some playoff spots up for grabs, and a division race that is still ripe for the taking. We have known that the Patriots and Colts were playoff bound months before the season started, and that has showed with their play throughout the season as they are the top two teams in the NFL. However, it has also been full of surprises, as teams like the Cleveland Browns, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Buffalo Bills, and Minnesota Vikings are all in the playoff hunt. However, not everyone can make the playoffs, so we take a look as to who is going to be playing come January and who will be left at home watching.

AFC

Currently:

1. New England Patriots (13-0)
2. Indianapolis Colts (11-2)
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-4)
4. San Diego Chargers (8-5)
5. Jacksonville Jaguars (9-4)
6. Cleveland Browns (8-5)
- Buffalo Bills (7-6)
- Tennessee Titans (7-6)
- Houston Texans (7-7)

It’s a foregone conclusion that the Patriots and Colts will finish 1-2 in the AFC, and it seems like a lock that the Chargers will win the AFC West and one of the next two spots in the conference. The AFC North, however, is surprisingly up for grabs. Pittsburgh has not played well as of late, and the Browns are now only a game behind them. However, Cleveland lost both of their games to the Steelers this season, so we can expect that Pittsburgh will beat at least St. Louis and Baltimore to wrap up their division, although they will have a tough time against the Jaguars this weekend. The Jags currently sit in the 5 slot in the AFC, and should wrap that up when they finish the season with the Raiders and Texans.

That brings us to the final spot, where four teams are battling it out. Cleveland has been the darlings of the NFL all season long, bouncing back from a 4-12 season last year with a no-name quarterback, an aging running back, and a core group of young receivers helping to overcome their porous defense. They score almost 28 points a game, good for 5^th in the NFL behind New England, Dallas, Indianapolis, and Green Bay. Buffalo, on the other hand, has guided itself through the season without a true identity on offense, managing only 17 points per game. However, they have found ways to win games, which is vital in the NFL. Next we see Tennessee, who was once 6-2 and going into a huge game against Jacksonville. Since, they have lost 4 of their last 5 and have plummeted out of the playoff picture. Their defense has been atrocious as of late, although the return of Albert Haynesworth should help them down the stretch. They should get a win against a fading Chiefs team who has lost 5 straight before going up against the Jets and the Colts. This takes us to the long-shot Texans, who just came off a Thursday night win against the Broncos, keeping their slim hops alive. However, they finish the year against the Colts and Jaguars, which should prove to be too much for a team that may be a year away from a playoff spot.

So how will the AFC finish? I believe the Jaguars will actually beat the Steelers this weekend, solidifying the 5^th slot for them while making the AFC North an interesting race, however I believe the Steelers will win their last two to barely wrap up a division title. Cleveland will beat the Bills this weekend, and should win their last two against Cincinnati and San Francisco to wrap up the 6^th spot.

Prediction:
1. New England (16-0)
2. Indianapolis (14-2)
3. Pittsburgh (11-5)
4. San Diego (11-5)
5. Jacksonville (12-4)
6. Cleveland (11-5)

NFC
Currently:
1. Dallas Cowboys (12-1)
2. Green Bay Packers (11-2)
3. Seattle Seahawks (9-4)
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-5)
5. New York Giants (9-4)
6. Minnesota Vikings (7-6)
- New Orleans Saints (6-7)
- Washington Redskins (6-7)
- Detroit Lions (6-7)
- Arizona Cardinals (6-7)

Like the AFC, the top two seeds in the NFC are just about locks to stay there. Also, Seattle has clinched their division, and are now battling Tampa Bay for position. Tampa, while not officially the champions of the NFC South, only need to win one of their final three games to do so, and the return of Jeff Garcia should allow them to do just that. The Giants will clinch a playoff spot with a win this weekend against the Redskins, although they still need to win two games in order to secure the 5^th seed.

The 6^th seed has been a revolving door all season long, with a number of teams battling it out for the final playoff spot. Currently, the white-hot Minnesota Vikings are holding it down with a one game lead and enough momentum to carry every team in the conference. However, they face a fairly tough end to the season with Chicago, Washington, and Denver coming up. Their rushing offense has been absolutely devastating, averaging 172 yards per game with rookie phenom Adrian Peterson and veteran Chester Taylor running behind that incredible offensive line. With Tarvaris Jackson playing much better as of late, and a stout rushing defense that ranks #1 in the NFL, you can bet they have a good chance at winning those three games against rush-heavy offenses. Trying to make up ground is everyone’s preseason NFC Champion New Orleans Saints. While they have the stars on offense, they have been inconsistent all season, and with the loss of Deuce McCallister early in the season and Reggie Bush last week, it seems they have to rely solely on the arm of Drew Brees. While that is not necessarily a bad thing, it is tough to get by on just passing in this league. However, it’s very possible they win their last three games against Arizona, Philadelphia, and Chicago and sneak in to the playoffs, based on their better in conference record compared to Minnesota. The Washington Redskins have had an up and down year, and it’s going to get a lot tougher with the loss of Jason Campbell. Another loss could be devastating to this team, and you figure that would come this weekend at Giants Stadium. However, if it is not against the Giants, it would surely come against either the Vikings or Cowboys, a very tough finish for this team. The Detroit Lions have gone on an incredible skid, losing 5 in a row in almost every way imaginable. Losing Roy Williams on offense is possibly the final blow to a team that has been on the ropes for weeks. Finishing against San Diego, Kansas City, and Green Bay could mean three losses to end the year, and a 6-10 finish to a once-promising season. That brings us to Arizona, the team of potential seemingly every season. They engage in the NFC version of ‘most important game of the week’ tomorrow when they visit New Orleans to see which team keeps their playoff hopes alive. However, Arizona is 2-5 on the road this season, which doesn’t bode well for them.

How will it all finish in the NFC? I see the Saints beating the Cardinals this weekend to move to 7-7 and ending the Cardinals chances at the playoffs. I also believe the Giants beat the Redskins this weekend, and a Lions loss will make it a two team race for the 6^th seed between Minnesota and New Orleans. However, Minnesota’s hot streak will continue and they should handle the offense-less Bears and Redskins before taking on Denver in the finale. New Orleans will have a tough time adjusting to a lackluster running game with no threat on the ground, and a team like Philadelphia could sneak up and beat them with their solid secondary. The Giants should handle the Redskins and also beat the Bills next weekend, which would clinch the 5^th seed for them.

Prediction:
1. Dallas (14-2)
2. Green Bay (14-2)
3. Seattle (12-4)
4. Tampa Bay (11-5)
5. New York Giants (11-5)
6. Minnesota Vikings (10-6)

Mitchell Report Will Change Baseball Forever

Here we are, on the eve of the release of the much-anticipated, long-awaited Mitchell Report, which is the link America finally has to the dark past of the steroid era in Major League Baseball. After 20 months of interviewing, digging, compiling, and researching the hidden past of baseball players over the previous years, George Mitchell is prepared to release information on Thursday that will change lives. The report is believed to contain 60-80 names of both current and former baseball players alleged to have used performance-enhancing drugs, possibly including Barry Bonds, Jose Canseco, Ken Caminiti, Juan Gonzalez, and Mark McGwire. While we may not know who the players are just yet, we can guarantee that this report, much like the Dowd Report on Pete Rose’s gambling in 1989, will change the perception that fans have of baseball, and possibly their favorite players, forever.

Growing up near New York City, I have been surrounded by the best and most knowledgeable baseball fans in the world, those of the New York area. The Yankees and the Mets mean the world to everyone, and those who grew up Brooklyn Dodgers fans still won’t forgive them for deserting them. It seems only fitting that the biggest news in baseball since the 1994 strike will be coming from New York, where baseball history is entrenched. However, this news will rock fans in every corner of the country, from coast to coast, north to south, and everywhere in between.

While we have known for years that steroids was involved in baseball for a number of years, the people that abused them have been kept in secret. However, it is now finally coming out, and it could deal a major blow to baseball and its fans. A young fan who idolizes a figure in baseball could find out their hero is a cheater, and conclude that the game of baseball is full of them as he reads and hears about the Mitchell Report on Thursday and Friday. Some of the stand-up guys in baseball that are respected by their peers and by the media could have their legacies tarnished by having their names mentioned in this report. The big names will be bashed on sports shows all over America, and the very game of baseball will be put in a negative light once again.

The Mitchell Report has the unfortunate opportunity to set baseball back years if it names some of the most revered players in the game. It can fuel debates over whether or not numerous records should be stricken from the record books, including the all-time home run record, currently held by Barry Bonds and being chased by Alex Rodriguez. What will be interesting is seeing how the fans treat the results of this report.

Do they shrug it off as just another group of players who made a poor choice, but entertained us nonetheless?

Or do they rip down their posters, throw out their baseball cards, and swear to never watch baseball again?

Either way, Major League Baseball, its owners, players, managers, and commissioner are about to enter unchartered waters. How will they steer through the darkness that is sure to follow? How will the players be able to handle the added pressure put on them by the fury of questions asked by the media? Heck, how will their once loyal fans view them when their names come out?

We all remember how Barry Bonds was treated during his chase for the all-time home run record. Signs at every park. Loud boos that could be heard from coast to coast. Syringes thrown at him from the stands. The general population of America deciding that he was a cheater and that his ball should go to the Hall of Fame with an asterisk branded on it forever. It is up to the fans how much baseball changes after this report is released. However, it is up to baseball to decide if they will continue to let the past define the future, or if Bud Selig will finally come out and begin accepting some of the responsibility for what happened. Only when those at fault take their rightful blame for the black eye that history has brought the game will baseball be forgiven and truly become America’s game once again.

A-Rod to the Mets? I don't think so

Unless you have been living under a rock the past week or so, you would know that Alex Rodriguez opted out of his contract with the New York Yankees and is looking to continue his career in a different uniform. There is a very limited market of clubs that can afford the contract that Scott Boras, A-Rod’s agent, is looking to get for A-Rod, which is rumored to be in the neighborhood of 12 years and $360 million. Included on his list of teams is the New York Mets, the cross-town rivals of the Yankees.

During the winter GM meetings in Orlando, it has been reported that the Mets have expressed interest in A-Rod’s services and they are meeting with Boras to discuss the possibility that A-Rod becomes a Met next season. While they cannot discuss money until next week, it is known what ballpark the Mets will have to get to in order to receive consideration from Boras. The question comes down to whether the Mets, who have issues bigger than Rodriguez entering this off-season, are willing to overlook their other problems in an effort to get Rodriguez into Queens next season.

My thought? No way does Rodriguez play for the Mets next season. The first question that must be asked in this scenario is where exactly would A-Rod play? He has played 3^rd base the past few years for the Yankees, but the Mets already have All-Star David Wright playing there. Wright not only does it with his bat, but he just won his first Gold Glove this year in the NL at that position. Another consideration would be for A-Rod to play shortstop, but that is currently held down by All-Star Jose Reyes. Last time the Mets moved Reyes for a high-priced player was the Kaz Matsui disaster. Reyes can play shortstop, so just leave him there. The last option would be to put A-Rod at 2^nd base. While a fun scenario for Mets fans, there is no way A-Rod goes somewhere just to switch positions, so let’s put that out of our heads now.

Some people have argued that Wright is willing to move from 3^rd to 2^nd and then signing Rodriguez would be the most beneficial thing for the Mets. Guess what. You’re wrong. What the Mets need is pitching, pitching, and more pitching. As the saying goes, offense wins you games, but pitching wins championships. Currently, the Mets don’t have the pitching worthy of winning the World Series. The Red Sox this year won the World Series with great pitching from Josh Beckett, Curt Schilling, and Dice-K. The Cardinals won it in 2006 with spectacular pitching from Anthony Reyes, Chris Carpenter, Jeff Suppan, and Jeff Weaver. The 2005 White Sox got good pitching from Mark Buehrle, Jose Contreras, Orlando Hernandez, and Freddy Garcia. The list goes on and on.

What the Mets have sorely lacked in the past few years is a reliable pitcher who can go at least 7 innings every time he is on the mound. They have instead had pitchers who would throw 7 when they had their best stuff. This caused for an overtaxed bullpen by the end of the season, and it is one of the reasons that they collapsed down the stretch this year and couldn’t beat the Cardinals in last year’s postseason. This year’s free agent pitching market, however, is headlined by Carlos Silva. For those who don’t know who Carlos Silva is, or just assume he is a good pitcher because he will probably make somewhere near $40 million over 4 or 5 years, let me give you his stats from this past season.

13-14, 4.19 ERA, 20 home runs, 89 strikeouts in 2007

11-15, 5.94 ERA, 38 home runs, 70 strikeouts in 2006

He averages about 6 innings per start the past two seasons, has proven essentially nothing, has given up 475 hits in 382.1 innings, and is going to get a big contract for simply being the “best” of the market. I can whole-heartedly say that if the Mets sign Carlos Silva and try to spin it as their big signing to the fans, I will be incredibly disappointed in upper management. Not that I think they will, but anything is a possibility in New York.

The other option is to look for a trade for an ace. The names being thrown around are Johan Santana, Jon Garland, Dontrelle Willis, Erik Bedard, Dan Haren, Joe Blanton, and Scott Kazmir. The Mets best chances to get someone lie in Blaton. They have spoken with the A’s about the possibility of getting Blaton, and it has become apparent that the A’s want a lot of youth in exchange for him. The names being tossed around include Lastings Milledge, Carlos Gomez, Aaron Heilman, Mike Pelfrey, and Philip Humber. If I’m the Mets, I would take a run at Blanton and let him work with Rick Peterson to become an elite pitcher. He has thrown at least 190 innings in each of the past 3 seasons (his only full 3 in the league), is 26, and improved last year to become a solid pitcher. The question becomes who do you give up? You figure they have to give up either Milledge or Gomez, and at least one of the three pitchers. I am a big Carlos Gomez fan, so I would hate to see him go, and as much as I think Aaron Heilman is a giant disappointment and is a hit-or-miss pitcher and is maddingly inconsistent, you can’t remove a part of an already paper-thin bullpen. However, starting pitching is king in baseball, and if you can get a guy like Blanton, who could eat up innings and is still young enough to develop into the Mets ace down the road.

What else do the Mets need? How about a starting catcher. They might stick with Ramon Castro, but I feel that they would bring back Paul LoDuca before doing that. They are said to be aggressively pursuing Jorge Posada, another Yankee from 2006. Whoever it is, including LoDuca, they must give the Mets more production from that position offensively than they got last year from the Duke. His .272 average, 9 homers and 54 RBI won’t cut it in the 6^th hole again.

With Shawn Green leaving (thankfully) the Mets will be introducing a new outfielder this season. Whoever stays between Milledge and Gomez has a real chance at starting in right, although it wouldn’t shock me if they went out and got a right fielder, although the market is thin. Hopefully one of the young guys steps in and shows off his stuff, grows, and begins a new era in the outfield of New York. Speaking of new eras in the outfield, after Moises Alou leaves, it is possible that another young stud named Fernando Martinez, who is the ripe young age of 19. Pair them with current center fielder Carlos Beltran, and the Mets would have one of the most excitable outfields in the National League.

One more position the Mets need to address their 2^nd base issues. With Luis Castillo currently on the free agent market and Jose Valentin’s career possibly over, the boys from Queens need someone to take that position by the horns. Whether they re-sign Castillo or go young and start Anderson Hernandez, someone needs to become the starter for a few years.

But, most importantly, the Mets need pitching. Starting pitching and bullpen help. Their biggest priority should be getting an inning-eating starting pitcher who can take some of the strain off the bullpen. Obviously, it would be fantastic if they could deal for Santana and/or Blanton, but they may mortgage too much of their future to get both of them. Expect them to either get Blanton from the A’s or Silva from the free agent market, and hopefully one of those two will be able to pitch deep into games for years to come in Queens.

As for A-Rod, he won't be in a Mets uniform next season, but there is a market for his services, no matter how limited it is. I believe his best chance to be signed is in Detroit, where he would replace Brandon Inge, who hit .236 with 14 home runs and 71 RBI last season, a far cry from A-Rod's .314/54/156. The Tigers also have a good relationship with Scott Boras, Rodriguez's agent, so that combination seems like a match made in heaven.

Boston: Please Don't Pull an '86 Mets

I have this message for the owners, president, managing members, and GM of the Boston Red Sox organization: please, whatever you do, don't screw up your future like the 1986 Mets did. They are in a similar position as the 1986 Mets were after they won their championship, and even got there in similar ways.

The 86 Mets got talented veterans in the years before their championship, picking up Keith Hernandez from the Cardinals in the summer of 1983, and getting Gary Carter after the 1984 season, similar to how the Red Sox got Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz in 2001 and 2003, respectively. Each set of these veterans were key parts to their team in terms of leadership and production. While Hernandez and Carter weren't the offensive stalwarts that Ortiz and Ramirez are, they provided defense, leadership, and clutch hitting that were vital to the 1986 Mets squad. However, both of those players were gone after the 1989 season. It would be difficult seeing the same thing happen to Ortiz and Ramirez, but of course it was also difficult for New Yorkers to envision the Mets without Carter and Hernandez.

This year's Red Sox featured a soft-spoken, yet valuable third baseman in Mike Lowell who won the World Series MVP in the last year of his contract. Similarly, the Mets had Ray Knight, another World Series MVP who was also in his contract year. Unfortunately, the start of the demise for the Mets franchise in the following years began with the Mets deciding not to bring back Knight. Like Lowell, he had a lengthy career before that season, and he was an invaluable part of that team. Mets fans loved Knight, and Red Sox fans love Lowell. Knight loved the Mets like Lowell loves the Red Sox. Please re-sign him Boston, if only for my own sanity.

The 1986 Mets, like many NL teams, were rich in pitching. They had Dwight Gooden, Ron Darling, Sid Fernandez, Bobby Ojeda, and Rick Aguilera, each winning at least 10 games, and each with ERAs under 4.00. They had two youthful closers in Roger McDowell and Jesse Orosco, who registered 22 and 21 saves, respectfully. The Red Sox have incredible pitching as well, with Josh Beckett, Curt Schilling, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Tim Wakefield, Jon Lester, and Clay Buchholz. They have a dynamic young closer in Jonathan Papelbon who is one of the best in baseball, along with two other studs in the bullpen with Manny Delcarmen and Hideki Okajima. The Red Sox have the opportunity to lose two of their starters in Schilling and Wakefield, and yet improve by putting in Lester and Buchholz, who are each 23 years old and have proven they can pitch at the Major League level. They have the opportunity to dominate AL lineups for years if they manage their rotation properly and avoid injuries and off-field issues like the 1986 Mets ran into with their young guns.

Finally, the Mets had a great blend of youth and experience. They had battle-tested veterans who refused to lose, and had young up-and-coming talent that was supposed to dominate the NL for years. With players like Darryl Strawberry, Wally Backman, Lenny Dykstra, Kevin Mitchell, Howard Johnson, and Kevin Elster all in their early to mid 20s, and none of their starters over the age of 28, the Mets were set up to be the best team for years. They had even more talent in their farm system, and were ready to win and win often. Unfortunately, the Mets top management got rid of Dykstra and Mitchell and failed with their coaching of Elster and Strawberry, ruining their future. They had a chance in 1988 to win it all and most likely should have, but they were upset by the Los Angeles Dodgers and were never able to recover.

The Red Sox have that mix this year. The difference between them and the Yankees right now is that the Red Sox have managed their farm system to near perfection. The Yankees, now without A-Rod, have serious questions now that their veterans are leaving. The Red Sox have young talent at seemingly every position. Provided they don't screw this up, they could be what the 1986 Mets should have been. They can win the AL East for years, dominate the AL, and give Beantown the kind of championship run they haven't seen since the Celtics of the 1950s and 1960s. Look at the 86 Mets, Bosox, and don't screw up possibly the best team for the next decade.

Penn State-Ohio State Preview

Obviously, the top story of the week here in Happy Valley is the upcoming game this weekend. The #1 ranked Ohio State Buckeyes bring their act to Beaver Stadium, where the Nittany Lions have won 19 of their last 20 games, a certain home field advantage. In 2005, the Buckeyes came in as the #6 team in the country, only to lose a close 17-10 contest to the 2005 Big Ten Championship team. With this year's trend of upsets all over the country, people can't help but think of an upset brewing in State College this weekend. Will it happen? We take a look at the match-up and see who has an advantage where.

Quarterback
Ohio State
Sophomore signal caller Todd Boeckman has taken over the reigns this year from Heisman-winning QB Troy Smith last year. So far this season, Boeckman has posted solid numbers (1,546 yards, 18 TDs, 161.3 QB rating), even though they haven't played the toughest of opponents. His numbers don't look so good in his last two Big Ten games at Purdue and against Michigan State, where he went a combined 32-52, 393 yards, 4 TD and 4 INT. He will go up against his first true test this week, as the Penn State secondary is one of the best in the conference.

Penn State
Senior Anthony Morelli is in his second season under center for Penn State, and it has come with much controversy. He has had a solid season (1,739 yards, 13 TDs, 130.4 QB rating), but he has been slammed in Happy Valley for not living up to his ridiculously high expectations. He is coming off a solid performance at Indiana, where he threw for 195 yards, 2 TDs and an INT, but, like Boeckman, he hasn't faced a defense of Ohio State's caliber. He is susceptible to mistakes, and will have to minimize them for Penn State to have a chance.

Advantage: Push. Morelli is prone to turn it over, but Boeckman's inexperience must be a concern to Buckeye fans.

Running Backs
Ohio State
Sophomore Chris Wells has impressed this year, ranking 5th in the conference in rushing yards, and is averaging 5.8 yards per carry. He is coming into his own after playing second fiddle to Antonio Pittman last year. He will have a stiff test this weekend against the stifling Nittany Lion rush defense, led by All-American candidates Dan Connor and Sean Lee at linebacker. It will be important for Wells to have a good game to alleviate the pressure on Boeckman to have a good game.

Penn State
It's safe to say that after Austin Scott was suspended, Happy Valley breathed a sigh of relief. Costly fumbles were killing the senior, and his departure has led to the arrival of redshirt freshman Evan Royster, who splits carries with senior Rodney Kinlaw. In the three games that these two have been splitting carries, they have amassed 254 yards vs. Iowa, 183 vs. Wisconsin, and 134 vs. Indiana, with each being effective. It is important that they establish themselves as viable threats to keep the Ohio State defense honest.

Advantage: Ohio State. Wells is one of the top rushers in the conference, whereas Kinlaw and Royster have had a little trouble holding onto the ball. They can't afford to turn the ball over against the Buckeyes, so the slight nod goes to Ohio State.

Wide Receivers
Ohio State
This is a young, inexperienced group led by Brian Robiskie, a junior. He is the lone upper classman in this group, which features numerous sophomores and freshmen. Expect Robiskie to be covered by Justin King, a favorite to get All-Big Ten honors this season. It will be important for others such as Brian Hartline to step up their production in order to free up Robiskie.

Penn State
One of the better groups on paper in the Big Ten has started to turn it around in the last couple games. Ever since Deon Butler spoke out about the need to open up the playbook, this group has found itself downfield more often, which is why they were able to pick up so many underneath routes for first downs in their last game against Indiana. The emergence of Terrel Golden as a fourth option to Butler, Derrick Williams, and Jordan Norwood, has given Morelli a huge boost in confidence, and if he can provide a security blanket for Morelli, that would be an indescribable boost for the offense.

Advantage: Penn State. This group has the ability to extend the field and play a time-consuming role as well. If the game is called correctly for them (please Jay Paterno, don't screw this up again), they can make plays and put points on the board.

Tight End
Ohio State
The combination of Jake Ballard and Rory Nicol hasn't provided a significant boost in the passing game, as they have a total of 15 catches for 137 yards and 1 TD between them. Don't expect much to come out of them this weekend as they will be covered by those linebackers from Penn State.

Penn State
Sophomore Andrew Quarless has found his way into Joe Paterno's dog house, but don't underestimate the importance he can have on a game. There is a reason he was named to the John Mackey Award watch list before the season started as one of the nation's best tight ends. At 6'5" 252 pounds, he gives Morelli a big target to hit. Mickey Shuler has come in during his absences and provided a nice option for Morelli. He has played well, and while he may not produce like Quarless can, Nittany Lions fans shouldn't complain if he comes into action.

Advantage: Penn State. The combination of Quarless and Shuler can prove to be game-changing. If Morelli goes to them, he can settle into a groove and open up the deep game to the wideouts.

Offensive Line
Ohio State
Ok I admit I don't know much about this group, but what I do know is that they have given up 9 sacks and have paved the way for 1,588 total rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns. Whether or not they can handle the Penn State pass rush remains to be seen, but they have played well so far this season, so it's not out of the question to see a good performance out of this group. Penalties could come into play with the noise coming from the student section, as it was a problem in 2005. Three of them are returning starters, and that consistency will help them this time around.

Penn State
This group has come together in the past few weeks, opening holes for the rushing game, which has gotten better as the season has progressed. Morelli has been sacked 16 times, however, which could cause concern. If their play can continue to improve like it has in recent weeks and open up holes for Kinlaw and Royster, it will be a tremendous victory.

Advantage: Penn State. This unit has come together in recent weeks, anchored by one of the best centers in college football in A.Q. Shipley. Expect the crowd noise to disrupt the Buckeyes O-Line early and often on Saturday, as they have never played in anything like Beaver Stadium before.

Defensive Line
Ohio State
This is a solid group which has helped the Buckeyes give up an average of 62.4 rushing yards per game, best in the conference. However, none of them appear in the top 50 in tackles, top 10 in sacks, or top 10 in tackles for loss. Going up against an improving PSU offensive line will mean they must bring their top game to alleviate the pressure on the linebackers, and if they get pushed back from the line of scrimmage, the Lions could have a solid day running the ball.

Penn State
This is a group that has been ravaged by injuries this season, losing Jared Odrick for the season last week, while Abe Koroma has been battling injuries for the past few weeks. However, they do feature Maurice Evans, who has become one of the best pass rushers in the Big Ten. He leads the conference in sacks with 10.5 on the season, and is second in tackles for loss with 18.5. You can expect him to get into the backfield and disrupt running plays before they start, and make Boeckman feel uncomfortable in the pocket with a simple four man rush. Don't forget about the big guys in the middle, Chris Baker (6'2" 305 lbs.) and Phil Taylor (6'4" 337 lbs.) who will command double teams at times, freeing up Evans and Josh Gaines off the edge.

Advantage: Penn State. Having a pass rush without the need to blitz is key, and they have a better chance at doing that than the Buckeyes. Not that the Nittany Lions won't blitz, but having a guy like Evans certainly helps.

Linebackers
Ohio State
This is where both teams excel. For the Buckeyes, James Laurinaitis patrols the middle, and does it as well as anybody in the nation. He ranks 8th in the conference in tackles with 64, and his presence can change game plans. Fellow returning starter Marcus Freeman comes from the weakside position, and that combination has allowed Ohio State to rank at the top of almost every defensive category in the conference. They may not have played anyone, but this group is certainly one of the best.

Penn State
Dan Connor and Sean Lee are two of the best linebackers in the country. Connor, a senior, has been named a semi-finalist for both the Lombardi Award and the Butkus Award for 2007. Also an All-American in 2006 as a junior, Connor is currently 5th in the conference with 76 tackles, 9th in sacks with 5.0, and 7th in tackles for loss with 10.0. As if Connor wasn't enough, Sean Lee has emerged as one of the top linebackers in the conference this year, and he is only a junior. Lee is one spot ahead of Connor in tackles with 79, and his ability to track down running backs from the strongside makes him a possible All-Big Ten selection. While he currently resides in Connor's shadow, Lee should stand out next year and continue the Linebacker U tradition in the spotlight.

Advantage: Penn State. Come on. You really thought I could pick against Linebacker U? Fact is, you can talk about Laurinaitis all you want, but I will take the combination of Connor and Lee over Laurinaitis anyday. Two game changers are better than one.

Secondary
Ohio State
Malcolm Jenkins is the Buckeyes equivalent to Justin King. A shutdown corner who quarterbacks fear, so they just throw the other way. Donald Washington will be looked at often on Saturday, which means he will have to play well. However, like Washington, the two safeties are sophomores, with Anderson Russel and Kurt Coleman manning the back. This group has performed well this season, giving up a conference-best 146.1 passing yards per game. It will be tough for Morelli to be productive through the air, and mistakes are at a premium against this group.

Penn State
Justin King was slightly exposed last week against Indiana, but let's be fair, James Hardy is an absolute freak. He will be tested again this week against Robiskie, who is in the top 16 in the country in receiving yards, yards per reception, and touchdowns. If Penn State is going to stack the box to stop Wells and force Boeckman to beat them, they need King to stop Robiskie from having a big game. Across the way, Lydell Sargeant has been improving every week, and he will likely be matched up against a young wideout from the Buckeyes. Outside of Robiskie, there isn't much to fear here, but Sargeant may be picked on early so the Buckeyes can get a feel for how successful they will be against him. Anthony Scirotto is one of the best safeties in the conference, although he has to step up his game to return to form from last year.

Advantage: Push. Jenkins and King essentially cancel each other out, and like those two, these units seem to be a wash. These two squads are the top two in the conference in pass defense and pass efficiency defense, so you can expect the passing games to be almost non-existent.

Special Teams
Ohio State
The Buckeyes have gotten solid performances from their special teams so far this year, and you can expect the same this weekend. Punter A.J. Trapasso is 3rd in the conference in punting average, while kicker Ryan Pretorious is 3rd in the conference in points for a kicker with 70, 3rd in field goals with 13, and 2nd in field goal percent at 81.2%. A solid kicking game may come into play, and the Buckeyes have someone they can rely on. The Buckeyes don't have a dynamic kick return game, but their punt return man, Brian Hartline, averages a conference-best 15.3 yards per return, and he has already taken one back to the house this season. The sophomore may not be DeSean Jackson, but he has the ability to change a game with a return.

Penn State
Kevin Kelly has overcome the back problems that plagued him in 2006, kicking his way to 2nd in the conference in points for a kicker with 71, 2nd in field goals with 14, and 3rd in field goal percentage at 73.7%. Punter Jeremy Boone has made Penn State fans forget about last year's great punter Jeremy Kapinos, leading the conference in punting average at 44.2 yards per punt. He has been a pleasant surprise this year for the Lions, and the students have taken a liking to him. Penn State has gotten great contributions from their return games, as kick returner A.J. Wallace is 5th in the conference at 27 yards per return. He can give Penn State great field position with every return and has the potential to break away every time and bring one back. On punts, Derrick Williams still has the ability to bring it back like he did against Notre Dame, and he is 3rd in the conference with 13.7 yards per return.


Advantage: Ohio State. Penn State has had a lot of difficulty covering kicks this season, which has led to big returns (see: Illinois game). While they may have an equal return game, their coverage team is shaky at best and that might prove costly.

Prediction
The young Buckeyes are traveling to a stadium that will be more hyped than any other crowd they will face this season. It will be louder than Michigan. It will be crazier than Washington. This is their first true test of the season against a team that is just like they are. You can expect a defensive battle between the two best defenses the conference has to offer. This game will come down to penalties and mistakes, and I think that the young Buckeyes offense will be rattled by the Penn State student section, which is one of the loudest places in the entire country. Beaver Stadium is up there with the Swamp in Florida, Tiger Stadium in LSU, and Autzen Stadium in Oregon as the toughest places in the country to play. As we saw in 2005, a young, first year quarterback has trouble here, as does an offensive line. The PSU defense will get an extra boost with the crowd behind them, and it will lead to a Penn State victory.
Penn State 20
Ohio State 10

The Torre Story

On Thursday, the Yankees officially ended the Joe Torre era in New York. On Friday, Torre explained his side of the story. My friends from Pennsylvania can't stand the coverage of the Torre Story. My friends from New Jersey and New York can't get enough of it. What those not from New York don't understand is that Joe Torre was more than a manager of a baseball team. He was the manager of the biggest baseball team in the world. He was the face of the most recognizable franchise in all of sports. He was the most important baseball figure in the biggest baseball city on the planet. And whether you like the Yankees or hate them more than your worst personal enemy, you couldn't help but admire Joe Torre. Even the ever-demanding fan base of the New York Yankees wanted the manager who hadn't won them a World Series in 7 years back.

What those non-New Yorkers don't understand is that even the New York Giants play-by-play announcers are talking at length about Joe Torre's firing on WFAN, New York's sports radio station. What they don't hear is that the former mayor of New York City, Rudy Giuliani, said that he would love to have Joe Torre as his Vice Presidential candidate. They don't understand that the second the news broke, everyone in the tri-state area stopped what they were doing to talk about it. My friend who casually follows baseball stopped what he did to call me for confirmation of the news. I received dozens of text messages, phone calls, IMs and e-mails that day asking what I thought about it. If you don't understand why it's such a big deal, you don't understand New York sports.

Say what you will about the fans of the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFL, the fans of the Montreal Canadiens in hockey, the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA; none of them would garner this kind of coverage over the "firing" of their manager or coach. When something happens to the biggest sports team in the biggest market in America, everything else becomes secondary.

What Joe Torre did for the Yankees was rebuild a franchise that had been in disarray for years. Before he came, there were 13 straight years of not making the playoffs, before making it as a Wild Card in the last year of the Buck Showalter era in 1995. And once he came, they made the playoffs 12 years in a row, with 4 World Series rings and 6 AL pennants, including one of the best teams ever, the 1998 team that won 114 regular season games before cruising to the title. Torre handled the pressure of the New York media better than anyone I have ever seen in my 20 years alive. He handled George Steinbrenner better than anyone before him. In fact, let's recap the managers from the 1977 World Series up to Torre in 1996: Billy Martin, Dick Howser, Bob Lemon, Billy Martin again, Dick Howser again, Gene Michael, Bob Lemon again, Gene Michael again, Clyde King, Billy Martin a third time, Yogi Berra, Billy Martin a fourth time, Lou Piniella, Billy Martin a fifth time, Dallas Green, Bucky Dent, Stump Merril, and finally Buck Showalter. That's 20 managerial moves in 15 years; not exactly a model of consistency.

They say the best way to silence criticism is by winning, and Torre did it better than anyone his first few years. The 1996 team he guided to the World Series was not your typical Yankees team of today. Looking at their lineup didn't exactly make teams squirm. Their typical starting lineup (by position): C Joe Girardi, 1b Tino Martinez, 2b Mariano Duncan, SS Derek Jeter, 3b Wade Boggs, LF Gerald Williams, CF Bernie Williams, RF Paul O'Neill, DH Ruben Sierra. They were 2nd in the AL in batting average, but an astonishing 12th out of 14 in home runs. Imagine if the 2007 Yankees were 12th in the AL in home runs. The world might come to an end. Bench players? Jim Leyritz, Darryl Strawberry, Tim Raines, and Cecil Fielder. The average age of those bench players: 33.5. To say that team was made of All-Stars at every position is a fallacy, and they only had 3 of them: Boggs, Andy Pettite, and closer John Wetteland. The 1998 team had Chad Curtis in left field and Scott Brosius at third base, not exactly household names. The 1999 team had a guy named Hideki Irabu in their starting rotation. And that 2000 championship team used Ricky Ledee in left and Shane Spencer as their DH, and also put Ramiro Mendoza in the starting rotation. Yet, these championship teams only had more than 4 All-Stars once, in 1998 when they had five. These teams weren't made of All-Stars at every position, yet Torre made them into great teams that could beat anyone and everyone.

Team salary for the 1998 squad, the greatest team of the modern era? How about $66.5 million. No individual cracked the $9 million mark for the year. It wasn't even the highest in baseball, but it was close. Based on average salary per player, the 1998 Yankees were at $2.23 million, whereas the highest was the Orioles at $2.76 million, with a total of 4 teams averaging over $2 million per player (the Braves and Rangers were the other two). However, performance declined as the salaries got higher, with the 2005 team averaging over $7 million per, and the next closest was the Red Sox with just over $4 million per. Yet, no matter what the team was made up of, Torre got them to the playoffs. Whether or not they had egos the size of New York City or not didn't matter, because you knew they were going to be playing in October.

Don't hate Joe Torre because he was the manager of the Yankees. He is everything the Yankees organization isn't. He is classy, dignified, respectful, and revered by everyone he encounters. What the Steinbrenners did to Joe Torre is an absolute travesty. It says that they don't care what you did for this organization, because only winning now matters. Bringing stability to a drama-filled team? Irrelevant. Consistently giving your team a chance to win? Doesn't matter if you don't win it all. Managing garbage teams given to you by the ownership? Your fault. Winning 95 games a year with pitching staffs that resemble the Little League teams I played on as a kid? You should have made them Cy Young winners. All 5. In the same year.

And yet, when I heard the news that Torre had declined the offer from the Yankees, I was initially shocked he decided to not return on his own terms. How could he not return to the franchise he helped build? Then I realized what went through his head. Why would you come back to a place where you are disrespected by a select few, and those happen to be your bosses? I thought about it, and simply said to myself, "Way to go, Joe." He got slapped by the organization and instead of slapping back, he took it with respect for the organization. After all, he took everything with respect for all 12 of those years. How else would a man like Joe Torre do it?

College Football 2007: Who is for real?

A few weeks ago, I, like many others, tried to predict what was going to happen in the college football season. Looking back at that post, which can be seen here, you can say that I, like many, have been befuddled by what has transpired. While my pick of Boston College in the ACC looks good, you don't really know what to make of them. They have played 6 games against I-A opponents with a combined 16-23 record and a I-AA team in UMass. Their first real test comes next Thursday against the resurgent Virginia Tech Hokies, who have beaten up on everyone since their debacle against LSU to get to 6-1. If BC can get through this game, they have a very real shot of running the table, at least until they face either Virginia or Virginia Tech in the ACC title game. We'll see what they are made of soon enough.

One of the more underrated upsets so far this season was Colorado beating Oklahoma the week that I wrote that above post. If the Sooners did not blow that 4th quarter lead, they would be the easy #1 right now, but that is why this season is unthinkable. As I promised, Missouri is really one of the better teams in the country, dropping only to the Sooners by 10 in Norman. They can't afford to dwell on it too much, however, because they have to take on the explosive Texas Tech Red Raiders. Kansas is undefeated right now, and they won't get seriously tested until the end of the year when Missouri comes to town, so expect the Jayhawks to stay near the top of the rankings for awhile.

Everyone's favorite story of the year is the South Florida Bulls. Now up to #2 in the BCS standings, they have the potential to go undefeated and make a claim for an appearance in the national title game. What I don't understand is how the computers have them ranked #1. People keep talking about how they have played and beaten good teams, but I don't see it that way. They beat an overrated Auburn team in overtime, and beat a West Virginia team that did not have Pat White for the majority of that game, as he got injured late in the first half. Yes, they beat the Mountaineers, but it was a team missing their star QB. Lots of people could beat a team with an unproven sophomore quarterback. What do I say about them? I think they lose this Thursday night at Rutgers, if not losing one of their next two at UConn and at home against Cincinnati. They won't get through all 12 games undefeated, so let's stop thinking they will get to the title game.

My Penn State boys disappointed me greatly the two weeks after that post, dropping close games to Michigan and Illinois, but they have started to come back with the loss of Austin Scott due to his pending rape case. Ohio State has taken over the #1 ranking in the BCS standings, but they have a similar problem to Boston College: they haven't really played anyone of note. Sure, wins at Washington and Purdue were nice, but they are hardly championship-caliber teams. We will see how good this year's Buckeyes really are starting October 27th with a trip to rowdy Beaver Stadium, which could be even louder and more hyped than it was in 2005, when Penn State beat the Buckeyes on their way to an Orange Bowl victory. After that, they play Wisconsin and Illinois at home before finishing up with the big game at Michigan, who has been resurgent. I don't see the Buckeyes making it through those 4 games unscathed, which means a new #1 will be there before the season is over. By the way, I do think the game at Penn State will be good, and not just because I go there. The Nittany Lions have won 19 of their last 20 home games, the lone loss coming to Michigan last year. I'm not explicitly saying OSU will lose but......

I don't think there is a better conference right now than the Pac-10. USC is down at #14 after losing to up-and-coming Stanford (led by Jim Harbaugh) and getting a nail biter from Arizona. Cal had a chance to become #1, but dropped a close game to Oregon State. Oregon is still rolling, their only loss coming on a late touchdown to Cal. UCLA has two embarrassing losses to Utah and Notre Dame, but they are undefeated in conference play, albeit against Stanford, Washington, and Oregon State. They get Cal this week and finish the year with three straight games against Arizona State, Oregon, and USC. Speaking of Arizona State, how about those Sun Devils? They are 7-0, #8 in the BCS rankings, and Rudy Carpenter is conjuring up thoughts of a Pac-10 title. They begin an extremely tough 4 game stretch to finish their regular season with the following schedule: vs. #12 Cal, at #10 Oregon, at UCLA, vs #14 USC, before finishing with a home game vs. Arizona. If they are going to make a claim for the Pac-10, this is the time for them to step up. I don't think they are quite there yet, but Carpenter returns next year to give them a legitimate shot at next year's conference championship.

As usual, the SEC has produced upsets and close games, recently seeing former #1 LSU drop a tough road game to a talented Kentucky squad. You can still argue that Andre Woodson is deserving of the Heisman, and you wouldn't get much of an argument from me. With 1786 yards and 24 touchdowns, he has led the Wildcats to big wins over then #9 Louisville and then #1 LSU. They continue their tough stretch with another home game, this time against Florida, as their quest for the SEC East division championship continues. However, that spot is currently held by South Carolina, #6 in the AP poll, whose only loss came at LSU. That could be a rematch at the end of the year for the SEC championship game, and the Steve Spurrier rebuilding project is coming to fruition for the Gamecocks.

Who is going to reign at the end of the year? Your guess is probably as good as mine, but if I was to predict the conference champions and BCS teams now, it would look like this:

ACC: Boston College. They won't go undefeated, but I am sticking with my pick.
Big 12: Oklahoma. They should run the table from here on out and win the conference championship game.
Big East: West Virginia. I don't think South Florida has the experience or the talent to win out, and West Virginia will take advantage to win it.
Big Ten: Ohio State. I think they drop one of their remaining games in that tough stretch, but they won't lose twice. Michigan will try to sneak back in, but will lose to Ohio State at the end.
Pac-10: Oregon. Difference between them and Cal? They have Arizona State at home. Both get USC at home, both are good. Should be the best race to watch the rest of the season.
SEC: LSU. They will run the table and win the SEC championship game, staying near the top of the rankings.

National Championship: LSU vs. Oklahoma. The three teams in front of them in the BCS rankings will all lose at least once before the season is over, and these two won't. It will be strength vs. strength as LSU's defense will get to go up against one of the best offenses in the country in Oklahoma. You know your offense is good when your 3rd best running back scores 3 touchdowns against a top 15 team.
Rose Bowl: Ohio State vs. Oregon. The winners from the Big Ten and Pac-10 traditionally play in this game, and it will stay that way this year. Neither team is quite good enough to make it to the title game, but both are immensely talented and can certainly play exciting football.
Fiesta Bowl: Cal vs. Missouri. An offensive fan's dream in the Fiesta Bowl. Cal has the excitable DeSean Jackson, where Missouri has a relative unknown in Chase Daniel (2073 passing yards, 19 total TDs). Neither team wins their conference, but they should get BCS bids. Missouri should run the table the rest of the way, only losing to Oklahoma again, which is nothing to sneeze at. Cal may trip up once more along the way, but I would rather bet on them than someone else.
Orange Bowl: Boston College vs. West Virginia. The conference winners from the ACC and Big East square off in this Orange Bowl match-up as Heisman hopeful Matt Ryan goes toe to toe with the combination of Pat White and Steve Slaton. Both teams will be deserving of BCS bids and make for a quality game in Miami.
Sugar Bowl: South Carolina vs. South Florida. The Cinderella story won't make it to the title game, but I still think they will make it to a BCS game after having the pressure of the media come off after a loss, which I think comes Thursday at Rutgers. Steve Spurrier will guide his team through a tough schedule to the SEC title game, and because LSU will go to the title game, the second SEC team lands here in the Sugar Bowl.

2007 MLB Playoffs Predictions

NL
Divisional Series

Rockies over Phillies in 5
You can say what you want about my bias against Philadelphia, but the fact is, Colorado is absolutely on fire. They won 14 of their last 15 to make the playoffs, and they also won the first game of this series over Cole Hamels, the Phillies ace. Yes, I know I'm taking them AFTER they won Game 1, but there was no way I was picking the Phillies anyway. Hamels is their only pitcher, and have given up more runs than any other playoff team in either league. Hitting may win games, but it's pitching that matters in October. Colorado has more (just barely) and it will get them through the Phils.

Diamondbacks over Cubs in 4
While people are jumping on the Cubs bandwagon, people have forgotten that the Diamondbacks finished the season with the NL's best record at 90-72. The D'Backs have home field advantage, and they have simply dominated at home this season, going 50-31 at Chase Field. Also, they have the most wins in 1-run games with 32 this season. The Cubbies are only 23-22 in such situations, and that won't help against Arizona. The D'Backs have a better bullpen, which brings that 1-run record into play. I don't know about you, but I would take Jose Valverde in the 9th over the ready-to-implode Ryan Dempster any day.

NLCS
Diamondbacks over Rockies in 6
This is where the Rockies fun ride will end. While I love Matt Holliday and Todd Helton, they don't have enough pitching to beat the Diamondbacks. Once again, pitching wins championships, and Arizona has more than Colorado. Eric Byrnes, Orlando Hudson, and Chris Young will produce enough offense to move them past Colorado and back into the World Series for the second time in their history.

AL
Red Sox over Angels in 5
The Angels are too banged up to make it through this series with the Red Sox. Losing Gary Matthews, Jr. is bigger than it seems. He not only provided 18 home runs and 72 RBI, but he also gave them one of the best defensive center fielders in all of baseball. The Red Sox are way too deep in the lineup and in pitching. Josh Beckett had a great year, and that is why he was the only pitcher this year to have 20 wins. Mike Lowell has been an unsung hero in Boston's lineup, leading the team in RBI with 120, a Red Sox record for a 3rd baseman. Don't forget they have Curt Schilling and Dice-K in that rotation as well, and Jonathan Papelbon is as good as it gets in the 9th.

Yankees over Indians in 4
I hate the Yankees more than you do, I can almost guarantee that. But, they are much better than the Cleveland Indians. While the Indians have a great 1-2 punch in C.C. Sabathia and Fausto Carmona, the Yankees have too good of a lineup. Did I mention the Yankees went 6-0 vs. the Indians this year? That will continue, even if the Yankees rotation is a little weak.

ALCS
Red Sox over Yankees in 6
Remember when I said the Yankees rotation was a little weak? This is when that Achilles Heel comes up and bites them. That is the difference between these two teams. They each have a stacked lineup (Yankees #1 in the AL in runs scored, Boston #3), but Boston's pitching is far superior. Not only do they have a better rotation (Beckett, Schilling, Matsuzaka vs. Wang, Pettite, Clemens), but they ranked #1 in the AL in ERA and batting average against, while the Yankees rank 8th and 6th in those respective categories. Plus, Boston's home field advantage should come into play here.

World Series
Red Sox over Diamondbacks in 5
MVP: Josh Beckett

Let's be serious. There is no way the NL can win the World Series. There is really no team there that can compete with the teams from the AL. The Red Sox went 12-6 in interleague play while the Diamondbacks went only 8-7. Not only do the Red Sox have a better lineup, but they have better pitching, and better defense. They have scored more runs, given up less, and committed 25 less errors than the Diamondbacks. Josh Beckett will win his second World Series MVP award (he won it in 2003 when they beat the Yankees, after he pitched a complete game in Game 6 in Yankee Stadium) with 2 wins in the Series (should be games 1 and 5) and will add another award to his impressive 2007 season. Red Sox Nation will once again rejoice with their second World Series title in 4 seasons.

The Mets Epic Collapse: What Happened and Where to Go from Here

Unless you have been living under some kind of monumental rock for the past 3 weeks, you know that my beloved New York Mets pulled off one of the biggest choke jobs in baseball history. I don't think it's as bad as, say, the 1964 Phillies (6.5 games up with 12 to go) or the 2004 Yankees (do I really need to explain what happened here?), but nonetheless, it was a ridiculous collapse. Mets fans had their hearts broken and were left in utter shock that the pre-season NL favorites let it all slip away in a matter of 17 games. Well, ladies and gentlemen, you really shouldn't be as surprised as you may be. The fact is, this organization was supposed to win in 2006. That was their year. The golden opportunity vanished as Carlos Beltran took a wicked backdoor curveball to end Game 7 of last year's NLCS. This team was flawed like last year's squad, except it was a year older when it didn't want to be, and it had new, young players in positions you don't want them in. This team was not as good as the 2006 version, although we wanted to think they were. Why? Let's take a look as to why they lost.

Age
The 2006 Mets were anchored by savvy veterans who were still playing well, mixed with incredibly talented younger players who produced at a high level. The 2007 Mets had many of the same veterans tail off, and added older players to an already aging lineup. 2006 featured Paul LoDuca (age: 34) playing magnificently behind the plate, leading the team with a .318 average, Carlos Delgado (34) who clubbed 38 home runs and 114 RBI, surprising Jose Valentin (36) who played a smooth 2nd base and hit .271 in the 8 hole with 18 home runs, and the oft-injured but much-loved Cliff Floyd in left (33). Combine that with the other starters at mid-season: Jose Reyes and David Wright (both 23), Carlos Beltran (29), and Xavier Nady (surprisingly 27), and you had a nice balance of youth and veteran players. However, Nady was gone at the trading deadline in an effort to replace Duaner Sanchez out of the bullpen (the same deal that got us Oliver Perez), and he was replaced with the aging and unproductive Shawn Green later in the year (33).

Coming into this season, age was a question, and the front office answered by keeping Green and signing Moises Alou (41) to patrol the corner outfield positions. Having a slow 34 year old and an aging 41 year old in your corner outfielders wasn't a good idea from the start defensively, and Alou's history of injuries came up once again this season to bite the Mets for a few months. Not to say that Alou was a bad player (I'll take his .341 average anyday), but as a trend, the older players didn't do the same job they did last year. While they counseled the younger guys on the finer points of hitting last year, they simply did not produce this year. LoDuca was a huge disappointment in his contract year, hitting just .272. Delgado was probably even worse, although it's debatable, finishing with a career-worst .258 average, saw his home runs decline to 24, and his RBI plummet to 87. He continuously grounded into the shift and popped out to second base in an effort to hit more home runs, but it wasn't working. You can't help but think he is finished, but he is signed through next season. Valentin was the feel-good story of 2006 for the Mets, but his age caught up with him as he had two big injuries, the second of which could end his career. He played in only 51 games this year and only hit .241 when he did play. Meanwhile, Shawn Green bookended his season well, hitting .355 in April and .407 in August, but didn't do much else in the larger chunk of the season.

Age on the pitching staff was also a big question coming into the season, and it had a resounding effect on the end. Coming into the season, Pedro Martinez (35) was on the shelf with his shoulder injury, Orlando 'El Duque" Hernandez (41?/45?/who knows?) was the second starter, and Tom Glavine (41) was the "ace." With those two tired arms and not knowing what you would get from Pedro if/when he came back, there was reason to be nervous. The back end of the rotation had John Maine (26), Oliver Perez (26), and Mike Pelfrey (23) penciled in as starters, all young arms who had a lot to prove. Coming into 2007, Maine had never started more than 16 games and thrown 133 2/3 innings for his career. He was expected to throw near 200 innings this year, and it's not easy to make a jump from 90 innings in 2006 to 200 in one season. As we saw, his arm got tired after the All-Star break and that can be attributed to the new work load. Perez was coming off of an atrocious 2006 in which he went 3-13 with an ERA over 6.00, however, he pitched well under pressure in Game 7, so there was reason for optimism. Both he and Maine pitched well, each notching 15 wins and having an ERA under 4.00, which is good for your #3 and #4 starters coming into the season. Pelfrey, on the other hand, never seemed to get his feet underneath him and had a rough season. The expectations of having him win 15 games and become a Rookie of the Year candidate were probably outlandish, but he certainly should have done better than 3-8. The mix of the pitching staff and their ages was not one that was built for long-term success, and that showed. The older arms broke down and the younger arms were not used to the long season, but you can expect that those young arms get even better next season with more innings and another season under their belts.

Consistency
Probably the biggest reason that the 2007 Mets did not win the division was their incredible lack of consistency throughout the season. David Wright was arguably the most consistent player on the team, except maybe Guillermo Mota, although he was consistently horrific. Wright, after a slow start (hitting only .244 with 0 HR and 6 RBI in April) he started playing like the David Wright we came to know. He hit 30 homers and drove in 101 RBI from May through September, and had 34 stolen bases on the year, including 31 from May through September. Shy of that, this team was incredibly inconsistent, and never took the division by the horns. Jose Reyes had a great first half, looking like a possible MVP candidate, but fell off the face of the earth during the second half. He hit .317 through June, yet after that, he only hit .248, almost a full 40 points below his first half production. Reyes' OBP was only .279 in September, and you can bet that helped the Mets blow their lead.

We can go on and on about individual players being inconsistent during the season, but we have to look at the whole team. This is the biggest reason I'm not surprised they blew a 7 game lead with 17 to go. This is why I look back and say to myself "I actually CAN believe they blew it, because they were doing it the entire year." Let's take a look at how this team did throughout the year.

The first four games of the year resembled the Mets of 2006, going 4-0 and winning by a combined score of 31-3. However, the rest of the month of April, they went a combined 11-9, including dropping 4 of 6 to the arch rival Braves. That was the first red flag to Mets fans that maybe this team wasn't the same as last year's. After dropping the first game of May, however, they went on an absolute tear, going 19-8 to finish the month, ending at 34-18 with the signs pointing to them running away with the division. At that time, they extended their lead to 4-1/2 over the Braves and an astonishing 8-1/2 over the Phillies. Yet, after that game, starting in June, the Mets went 4-14 to fall to 38-32. That included 6 consecutive series losses, including a sweep at the hands of the Phillies. Fittingly, they went 8-1 in their next 9, just to follow that up with a 3-6 finish to the first half. At that point, they were 48-39 and had a 2-1/2 game lead over the Braves and a 4-1/2 game lead over Philadelphia. At this point, Mets fans KNEW that this team was not as strong, and that it wasn't a stronger division keeping the Mets from having a larger lead, but instead it was the fact that the Mets couldn't take the division and run with it.

Coming out of the break, the Mets played pretty well, starting 15-9 before dropping 4 of 6 to the Braves and Marlins. However, with a 6 game lead in the division even with the inconsistent play, the Mets entered a 4-game series with the Phillies in late August with a chance to bury the division right there. They dropped those 4 games and entered a crucial series in Atlanta with only a 2 game lead. They won 10 of their next 12 to get a firm grasp on the division once again, and this is when the Mets began their collapse. This is the time they had that 7 game lead. This was the last 17 games. Another series against Philadelphia. The Phillies were 5-7 in their previous 12. The Mets added 5 games to their lead. This was their chance to once again bury the Phillies. And once again, they came off of a hot streak with an equally terrible cold streak. 5-12 to finish the year. Yet, looking back, we shouldn't be surprised. They were up and down all season. Hot streaks followed by cold streaks. Maybe when they lost those 4 against the Phillies we should have seen the whole collapse coming. It was only fitting when you consider the entire season.

Sure, there are probably a whole host of other reasons as to why the Mets blew it (poor management of the bullpen, not getting another starting pitcher and relying on Brian Lawrence down the stretch as a spot starter for Pedro/El Duque, Reyes not producing, Delgado not producing, injuries to Paul LoDuca and Ramon Castro at the same time, Mike DiFelice and Sandy Alomar, Jr. actually playing games, David Newhan being used to pinch hit at any point this season, bullpen pitching at any point in the last month, just to name a few), but you can look at age and most importantly, INCONSISTENCY as to why they lost this division. Even if they made the playoffs, I believe any Mets fan would agree with the thought that the Mets were not a true World Series contender. Where do they go from here? That's a different post to come soon. For now, let's just forget this season happened and hope they pull the right strings and fix this squad for next year.

College Football Conference Look Out

All over the country, there are surprising teams looking to compete for their conference championships. The question is who will win and who will compete with them as the season comes down the stretch. We separate the men from the boys, the pretenders from the contenders, in every major conference and project who will end up in the BCS bowls.

ACC
Atlantic Division: Last year's winner, Wake Forest, has gotten off to a terrible start, going 2-2, including 1-1 in conference play, so it's safe to say they won't be making an appearance in the ACC championship game this year. It's clear that this is a two team race between Boston College and Clemson. Each team is 3-0, and BC has won all 3 conference games, and Clemson has won the only one they played. BC has the easier schedule left, and they probably have the better team. Matt Ryan has the senior leadership, and it has shown as he has thrown for 985 yards and 7 touchdowns over the first three games. They recently posted a solid win this week at Georgia Tech, which is no cupcake, and look to have the inside position. As for Clemson, they need junior QB Cullen Harper to continue improving like he has over the first 3 games, and this offense must keep scoring at its current rate. This division could be decided on November 17th when BC visits Clemson, which should be an exciting game with possible Heisman votes on the line for Ryan.

The Coastal division has arguably the worst two teams in the conference in Duke and North Carolina. The Tar Heels should be able to turn it around, however, with Butch Davis as head coach. Duke just ended a 22-game losing streak with a win at Northwestern. In any case, neither of those teams will finish at the top of the ACC this year, and that's what we are most concerned about. This division is weak, and teams such as Virginia and Miami have a chance to come through and beat Virginia Tech for the division title. Watch out for Miami, who looked impressive in crushing Texas A&M in the Orange Bowl last Thursday night. If Kyle Wright can play like he did (21-26, 275 yards, 2 TDs), look out for the Canes and new coach Randy Shannon. A successful season would be a huge boost in recruiting for Miami, who is moving into Joe Robbie Stadium next season, the current home of the Miami Dolphins.

Prediction: Look for Boston College to ride the arm of Matt Ryan into the ACC Championship game with hopes of a BCS bowl bid. In a late-season push, Miami will stun college football by winning the Coastal division after surviving the last 3 weeks of the season against Virginia, Virginia Tech, and BC. The rematch will be fun to watch, but expect Boston College to win the ACC Championship and represent arguably the country's worst conference in the BCS.

Big 12
North Division: As usual, the conference powers are in the South division, which means the North division is really just playing for second best in the conference. Of course, we did see this happen in 2003, when Kansas State shocked the college football world by absolutely destroying then #1 Oklahoma 35-7 (someone please tell me how Oklahoma went to the BCS title game after that and not USC, who was #1 in both the AP and coaches polls?) so who knows what will happen this season. When I look at the North, I see three teams that can compete for the conference title: Missouri, Kansas, and Nebraska. Missouri is for real people, and they get tough tests in the next two weeks, hosting Nebraska next weekend and then traveling to Norman for a match-up against the Sooners of Oklahoma. The Missouri offense should have fun against Nebraska's "black shirt" defense, which has looked like a shell of its old self in giving up 49 points to USC and 40 at home to Ball State. Make no mistake, Nebraska can score as well, and look for them to do just that behind the arm of Sam Keller. Marlon Lucky is second in the conference in rushing, and that should continue. Kansas has to be the least-talked about 4-0 team in college football history. Consider this: they are 4-0, play in a major conference, and are 3rd in the nation in points per game at 53.5, only behind Oklahoma and Hawaii. Sure, they have only played Central Michigan, Southeast Louisiana, Toledo, and Florida International, but they have manhandled the teams they were supposed to beat. This could be a three team race to the finish. Key games: 10/06 Nebraska @ Missouri; 11/03 Nebraska @ Kansas; 11/24 Missouri @ Kansas.

South Division: The usual suspects are around in this division, as Oklahoma and Texas received a lot of pre-season hype, and Oklahoma has surpassed what many thought they were capable of. Everyone in this division is currently at least .500, which should make for some fun southern football the rest of the year. You can't help but think that Baylor and Oklahoma State will fall off, which leaves us with Oklahoma, Texas, Texas A&M, and Texas Tech. Tech was upset last week against Ok. St. which gives me the impression that the pass-happy offense, featuring Graham Harrel this year, who is first in the country in attempts, yards, and passing touchdowns, isn't ready to seriously compete for a Big-12 title. A&M was destroyed two Thursdays ago by Miami in the Orange Bowl, and I can't see them making it through the rest of the season unscathed. They have to play Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Missouri all on the road, along with Kansas and Texas at home. And that is how they finish the season. So after discarding the Aggies and Red Raiders, we come back to the premier teams: Oklahoma and Texas. Oklahoma, while young (QB Sam Bradford and RB DeMarco Murray are both freshman), has scored the most points in the nation, averaging an astonishing 61.5 points per game. They get to cruise through this weekend's game against Colorado before playing the Red River Shootout against Texas on Oct. 6. Speaking of those Longhorns, what has gone on down there? Sure they are 4-0, but you can't help but wonder about those first three games that were much closer than they should have been. Colt McCoy better be ready to step up, because we know that the only conference game that matters to Texas is the one against the Sooners.
Key game: 10/06 Oklahoma vs. Texas (neutral field) is the only game that matters... ever

Prediction: Look for Missouri to beat Nebraska next weekend, setting up an important end-of-year game against Kansas, which they will win to move on to the Big 12 championship. Unfortunately, they are just playing for second place, because Oklahoma is going to blow everyone away this season, provided they stay healthy and Bradford doesn't have any hiccups along the way. Look for the Sooners to compete for the BCS championship this season, because they are one of the top 3-5 teams in the country.

Big East
When I was first writing this a few weeks ago, Louisville was actually a good team with a slight defensive problem. Good thing I waited to talk about them, because they have much more than a slight problem on that defense. I was OK with their loss at Kentucky, because they are a good team lead by a good QB. But Syracuse? A team that was 0-3 to start the year, was in the bottom 10 of almost every offensive category, and they hang 38 on you at home? Absolutely unforgivable, so they don't get considered for the conference champion here. Instead, this comes down to four teams; two are obvious and two ares just making names for themselves. Rutgers, the feel-good story of college football last season, is trying to prove it was no fluke last year under Greg Schiano, who is turning into one of the better coaches in college football. Ray Rice is having a spectacular start with 431 yards in 3 games and 8 touchdowns, while incredibly Mike Teel is leading the country in QB rating. The middle of their schedule will show us if this team is for real or if they are just pretending to be a good team as they play Cincinnati, South Florida, and West Virginia all at home in a 19 day period. They finish at Louisville, who could play spoiler. Previously mentioned West Virginia is one of the premier teams in the country. Pat White and Steve Slaton make them one of the best offenses in the nation, and possibly the best QB-RB tandem in college football. Unfortunately, they have to play at South Florida, Rutgers, and Cincinnati, which makes their quest for a BCS crown much tougher. Speaking of those Bulls, how about South Florida? Matt Grothe is causing quite a stir down there, and he has lifted this team to a whole different level. They get a tough test tonight as the Mountaineers of West Virginia come to town, but it should be an exciting game. They have already won at Auburn, so they are battle-tested, but West Virginia is a whole different animal. If they can pull off the upset for the 2nd straight year, they will have a chance at winning this conference. The last team that nobody is talking about is Cincinnati, who has started 4-0, winning by an average of 37.5 points per game. They should crush San Diego State before traveling to new Brunswick for a game against Rutgers. They can play, and have a chance to get to a large bowl game, but probably not the BCS.

Prediction: I can't pick Rutgers. I really can't. I think all Big East teams are overrated, and Rutgers is no different. West Virginia will beat them again, like they did last year, although I think they will drop one somewhere along the line (tonight at South Florida?) to keep them out of the BCS championship game.

Big Ten
What a strange year for the Big Ten. Michigan comes in with high expectations, only to drop to Appalachian State at home and then get destroyed by Oregon the next week. Then Mike Hart made the easiest prediction of the year when he said they would beat Notre Dame, then they just had to ruin my year by beating Penn State to get back into the Big Ten picture. Unfortunately for those of us in Happy Valley, they don't get really tested again until the end of the year, when they play Wisconsin and Ohio State back-to-back. Oh yeah, what's the deal with Wisconsin? Quite possibly the 4-0 team people have the least amount of confidence in, the Badgers have kept all of their games closer than they should have been. I'm just waiting for them to lose at this point, because it is bound to happen. It looks like they have sorely missed former QB John Stocco severely, because this team just isn't the same as last year's squad. Ohio State is back to their usual tricks, ranked #8 in the country and making people in Columbus forget about Troy Smith, Ted Ginn, Jr., Anthony Gonzalez, and Antonio Pittman. OK maybe not that much, but you get the point. Todd Boeckman has been solid, if not unspectacular, in leading the Buckeyes to 4-0, including a good win at Washington. Expect them to cruise into Happy Valley with a perfect record for a night game at Penn State. My, oh my, what have my Nittany Lions done? After beating down their first three opponents, they failed to show up for Michigan. Costly turnovers, an offense that might as well have not gotten off the bus, and play-calling that looked fit for the 1930s doomed them in the Big House, and now it's time to go back to the drawing board. There have been lots of calls for the playbook to be opened up, which could only help these guys. Anthony Morelli is coming under a lot of unfair scrutiny for his play, as he has completed about 60% of his passes for 8 touchdowns and only 1 interception, but a paltry 6.75 yards per attempt is incredibly low. Derrick Williams, who was brought in to provide a downfield threat is only averaging 6.2 yards per catch, as they are simply not stretching the field like they should. Austin Scott and Rodney Kinlaw are having an interesting battle at RB, although Scott has made his case to be taken out altogether, which is unfortunate. Dan Connor and Justin King have been their usual selves, shutting teams down, but they have to get help from the offense at some point.

Prediction: Expect Michigan, Ohio State, Wisconsin, and Penn State to all be in it until the end. I'm going to stick with my boys and say that the wide receivers will have an effect on the play calling and get the deep balls they want. They get Ohio State and Wisconsin at home, and I expect them to win both, along with Michigan dropping a game or two somewhere along the line with that porous defense. Penn State will fulfill my hopes and win another Big Ten title to go to the Rose Bowl.

Pac-10
What once was a conference that was known as USC and "everybody else" has become more of a competition this year. As we have seen so far this season, California and Oregon are teams to be reckoned with, while UCLA is no pushover either. This Saturday, Cal and Oregon go out it in Eugene in a battle of two ranked teams. The winner of this contest has the best chance of competing with USC for the conference title, which has a whole different story. These teams have two of the top QBs in the country in Nate Longshore for the Bears and Dennis Dixon for the Ducks. Expect them to lock horns in a great offensive battle. What this game may come down to is the running game. Oregon not only has Dixon scrambling for 442 yards and 2 TDs, but also the leading rusher in the conference in Jonathan Stewart (503 rushing yards, 4 TDs). However, Cal has the second leading rusher in the conference, Justin Forsett. The senior has 484 yards and 7 touchdowns so far this season, adding another dimension to the Bears offense. Don't forget about the exciting punt returner/wide receiver DeSean Jackson, who has lit up the field this year with his 77 yard return against Tennessee. Don't forget he can still catch the ball, snaggin 59 balls for 1060 yards last year. The Trojans are at it once again, however, with John David Booty leading a talented offense with 639 passing yards and 9 touchdowns so far this year. However, the running backs are no slouches either. They have nine 5-star recruits at running back, and that group racked up 313 rushing yards at Nebraska. This group has combined for 724 yards and 9 touchdowns rushing, and you can bet that will continue throughout the season. The defense may be the best part about USC though. They could arguably have an All-American at every position, and they want to prove they are as good as LSU's vaunted defense is. They are, and will prove it to the rest of the country soon enough.

Prediction: This one was fairly simple. USC is the best team in the country, nevermind the conference. Cal, Oregon, and UCLA are all just playing for second place, but I think Cal will take 2nd when they win at Oregon this weekend. Look for USC to play in the national title game, and I think they will win it all.

SEC
America's favorite conference is deep once again, with talented teams such as Tennessee and Arkansas, ranked before the season started, looking up in their divisions. Each one has a top-5 team, and each one has excellent teams top to bottom.
East Division: Florida tops this division, and the defending national champions don't plan on giving that up anytime soon. Tim Tebow has played well so far this year, and has lead the Gators to a 4-0 record, including a huge win over Tennessee. However, there is an upstart team in Kentucky that is looking to spoil the Gators party. Heisman hopeful Andre Woodson is looking to give the Wildcats a stunning SEC title, and he has Lexington believing. Georgia, Tennessee, and South Carolina all have a different idea, and they would like to show their talents can get to the top.
West Division: LSU is not only competing for an SEC title, but they are trying to win a national title this year. The defense is playing as stout as ever, and should be one of the top ranked units at season's end. Les Miles has them excited again and you can bet they will be in every game they play, and will come out on top in almost all of them. I still don't buy in to Alabama, who got some favorable calls at the end of the game against Arkansas and still nearly blew it. Next year, however, they should be one of the better teams in the nation. Look for Darren McFaddon to stay in the running for the Heisman all year, because he is probably the best back in the country.

Prediction: LSU is way too good to lose to anybody in the West, and Florida will show that they can re-load with the best of them. However, expect Matt Flynn to lead the Tigers to the SEC Championship game and beyond, where they will play USC in the national title game.