I’ve read about all I can about the possible trade of McNabb coming to the Raiders. It’s funny how ESPN reports that there’s a set deal in place, and the local bay area papers can’t find a source within the organization that will even say the two teams have even talked about a trade. Usually I don’t like to write about a trade unless it actually happens, especially when there are still some other teams that are in the McNabb sweepstakes, and Al Davis hasn’t openly said he was trying to acquire the QB, but our buddy AP’s take on the whole matter made me want to write why it’s a good move. I think it would be a great move if they do it for their 2nd round pick, and would be 10,000% behind it. If they trade away Asomugha too, I’d make it more of a 50/50 trade. A lot of people that don’t follow the Raiders seem to think it’s a waste of time and money for them. Raider Nation knows that Davis is running out of time on this earth, and has plenty of money he’s willing to spend to see them succeed, whether they are smart moves or not.
Losing Asomugha would effectively open up one side of the field, and weaken the not so steady CB play behind Namandi. Is there a better place for McNabb? Probably, but there’s worse destinations as he could land in. The Raiders are historically a team full of misfits, and the way McNabb has been persecuted the last few years in Philly would make him a good fit. Another big plus to this move would be Jamarcus can have all the Cambell’s Chunky Soup he could ever want sitting on the sidelines. Maybe he’d lose a few pounds not eating all those burgers. I like the move, so lets get into my reasons on why. Continue reading
Tag Archives: Playoffs
McNabb Exiled to the Raiders… Not Quite Yet…
Doin Divisional Lines
Ouch, the playoffs started rough, but I can’t say that I wasn’t aware that my picks seem to go downhill once the regular season ends. I wish I could say it was because the teams were so even, but with the exception of one game they were all blowouts. I actually missed most of the Arizona and Green Bay game because I assumed it WAS going to be another blowout when Arizona was up by 20 in the 3rd… Anyways, my 1-3 record last week will have to improve if I want any of you to take my picks seriously this playoffs. This week I’m trying out a new strategy, and picking the teams I don’t want to win. I guess if I don’t win my picks, I’ll find some solace in jinxing the teams I want to lose. As always the home teams are in bold.
Arizona (+7) Over New Orleans
Do I want Arizona to win? No. Were they playing better than the Saints down the stretch? Yup. I’m not sure why, but I like to root against Arizona, and for some reason the more I do root against them, the more they win! Last week they added another amazing chapter to their recent playoff history, but I guess that didn’t convince odds makers. It did convince me! The Saints defense struggled at the end of the year, and most likely will struggle again against a now very balanced Cardinals attack. With Beanie emerging as a solid back, the Saints will have to worry about more than just Warner and Fitz. I would say the same for the Saints, but their offense looked less dynamic than the Packers at the end of the year only producing 44 points over their last three games compared to averaging 36 through the first 13 weeks. I really like the Cards 10 straight wins against the spread, so I’m picking them with confidence! I kind of want to see a battle of the grey hairs in the NFC Championship game!
Baltimore (+7) Over Indianapolis
Since last week I was wrong about nearly everything, I figured I may as well go against who I want to win this week. I really don’t want to pick Flacco over Manning, which sounds retarded rolling off the tongue. You ever notice Flacco’s off hand when he throws? It looks like he’s got a disability or something. Anyways, in the end, I’m not really sure I agree with this line. Seven points is pretty high, especially when their first meeting in Week 11 was a 17-15 Colts win where the Baltimore D picked Peyton off twice. It was a sloppy Colts win, but it wasn’t anywhere near a blowout. The Ravens looked dominant against a mojoless Patriots team last week. It’s nice to see that you don’t really need a QB to win a game, you just need the other QB to NOT show up. I doubt the Colts will forget their mojo, and will hopefully win in a close one. I still think it’s lame that the Colts didn’t go for the perfect season, but I’m not Caldwell, so it wasn’t my decision.
Minnesota (-3) Over Dallas
I know, Dallas is the hottest team in the league, and not to many people are picking Minnesota since they kind of limped across the finish line. Tony Romo is playing better than I ever thought he could, the Boys rushing attack looks great, and their defense is shutting down everybody. All of this still isn’t going to stop me from picking the Vikes! The Vikings are 8-0 at home this year, and I doubt that Favre sort of came out of retirement to lose to pretty boy Romo at home nonetheless. There’s something about the Metrodome that helps them win. They play like nobody’s business when they are there, so I see this one playing out exactly the opposite of the way people are predicting. I’d say that this is the most fair line of the bunch. I hope I don’t find out the hard way this weekend when the game is on that the Cowboys are that good…
San Diego (-7) Over New York Jets
I was hoping that when I saw the LT glide music video, it would give me just one extra reason to root for the Jets, but finding out it was filmed two years ago ended that hope. As much as I don’t want SD to win this game, I have a feeling this one will be a blowout. There’s only one Revis, and three really good receivers and a decent fourth that Rivers can throw to (Jackson, Floyd, Gates, and sometimes Nanee). The Bengals only had one receiver, Ochocinco, so passing game was containable. In this pass happy era, it’s not the running game that wins games for you, especially in the non-treacherous weather of San Diego. Just look at the top two seeds in the AFC this year! Phillip Rivers, much to my dismay, is a great quarterback. No matter how much I sports hate this guy, he keeps playing well and winning. The Chargers are as healthy as they’ve been all year and are getting back Eric Weddle in the secondary. I can’t picture Sanchez putting in two good playoff performances in a row. Especially since this time around he will have to make more plays if their offense is going to be successful. They won’t be able to grind it out on the ground like they did against Cincy. I see Sanchez making some mistakes against a much better defense.
World Series Game 4 Preview
I’m still having trouble getting excited about the World Series this year. This game is intriguing to me though. I guess it took sending a former A’s player to the mound in Joe Blanton for me to get excited about it. I think Blanton will do better than people expect him to, especially since fans in Philly and New York are doubting him. He could go six and hold the Yankees to two or three. I was kind of excited to see Swisher actually do something last night, but in the midst of Halloween celebrations, there were other things that were more worthy of my attention. The old CC on short rest storyline is always over hyped. The guy has done it like fifty times already, we don’t need to keep hearing about it. I’m sure he’ll be extra fired up after losing the first one to Lee. One thing I’ll never understand about A-Rod is how all of New York forgives him when he gets one hit. If we start hearing the Mr. October bs again, I might have to boycott the rest of the series. Hasn’t he been sucking just as bad as Ryan Howard this whole series? Hopefully Blanton’s tendency to give up the long ball doesn’t include him serving one up to A-Rod… Jayson Werth has been hands down the scariest hitter on either team. I hope Philly can pull out a win, but they might have to wait another night like when they have Lee on the mound. I’m hoping for a slugfest tonight, which would improve Philly’s winning odds. Hopefully they can get to CC early or else they probably won’t get to him at all.
Instant Replay in the MLB? Doin Work’s E-mail Thread Explores
The ol umpire huddle seems to take longer than just looking at the instant replay!
Chappy81: How bad have the calls been during the ALCS?!? It’s looking like the MLB should be figuring out a way to put in instant replay…
Dyslecix: Possibly the worst calls in a prolonged series of games we’ve ever seen? It’s going to force MLB to accept instant reply of some sense even if they don’t want it to be an option.
Cali4dre: It’s about time really. Every other sport has it in some sense, and human error can be avoided in this situation to right the wrongs. MLB has always been slow to adapt…
Chappy81: Yeah, the saddest part is ALL those calls were so easy to make. I don’t understand why they wouldn’t want to have replay for easy stuff like safe and out. Maybe the umpires are scared that it’s the beginning of the MLB not needing them!
Dyslecix: It’s odd that the one sport that doesn’t have a clock is concerned with time…Deep, I know!
One of two blown calls at third base by Tim Mcclellan in ALCS game 4.
Chappy81: Very deep, never thought of it that way, but very true!
MCeezy: First off, I completely sympathize with any sentiment against slowing the game down, but all these blown calls are making it more necessary. I vaguely remember the amazing Joe Buck saying that most umpires are actually FOR it. They don’t want to be the ones deciding the game. If they could just figure out a way to keep it speedy, it would work. Problem is, the NFL and NBA have yet to figure it out, so maybe it’s easier said than done.
Dyslecix: In all seriousness though. Why are they worried about the flow of the game? The time it would take to review to many calls? REALLY? It takes two minutes, you have an additional ump up in the stands who reviews questionable calls and notifies the guys down below the play should be reviewed…If football can do it, there is no reason why baseball can’t be even more effective with it.
Chappy81: Yup, it seems like they could easily put some simple system in that wouldn’t slow the game down too much. Fans would much rather have the calls right and know that we had the right team win fairly. I’d be all for having an ump in the booth telling them when they blew a call. I can’t remember which umpire it was, but he said that if they did have instant replay he’d be man enough to acknowledge that he made the wrong call.
Cali4dre: That’s the problem to begin with. Pitcher’s are already on an internal clock with umpires. Umpires are allowed to call a balk/ball for taking to long to pitch. But like you said, if it’s all theory on game-time interruption anyways, who gives a shit.
I think the umpires are more worried about their own jobs and relevance to the game. I’m pretty sure at this point they could effectively automate balls and strikes with a computer/K-Zone, which would be fair to both teams and take out an umpire’s personal strike zone bias. It’s too easy to get blocked out of view on a close play anywhere except maybe first, and even then it might be tough on tag plays coming down the line. Change the rules, allow instant replay to take a larger role!
MCeezy: I DEFINITELY disagree with using it to call balls and strikes. Differing strike zones for different umpires are a part of the game. THAT would get annoying for sure.
Dyslecix: I’m not sure it would be baseball anymore to be honest.
Both ALCS managers have had to argue waaay too many calls!
Cali4dre: Negatory, I’m tired of seeing one umpire call hi strikes while the next day an umpire calls low strikes. Or one adds six inches to either side of the plate and another thinks the black is a ball. What happens?? Managers get their panties in a bunch and start yelling from the dugout, and this gets worse and worse in a game until someone is ejected. I don’t like that shit. I like the old, and current, definition of a strike which is anything over the black on the plate from the knees to the letters. NOT ONE umpire uses that, they all use their own interpretation. If that happened in the NBA or NFL, loosely interpreting rules in the book, which I know happens and we all hate it, there would be refs getting suspended or fired.
Dyslecix: I would equate baseball’s strike zone to how basketball refs call a tight or loose game with fouls. Each crew is different and you have to adjust as the game unfolds. Having a mandiated K zone that is monitored by a TV camera and called automatically is way to robotic in my mind.
MCeezy: I echo Tony’s sentiments exactly. We all know NBA refs have different fuse lengths when it comes to assessing Technical fouls. It’s all a part of the game.
Chappy81: Well put! I’m against taking the human element completely out. How would you suggest that they relay the strike and ball calls Dre?
Hmmm, maybe it could work for balls and strikes...
Cali4dre: Easy, it would appear on an umps count holder (you know, the thing he keeps that batter’s count on, don’t know what this is called. I lights up green for strike, red for ball or something. The umpire would still stand there, but he wouldn’t call balls and strikes, just plays at the plate and everything else. Currently balls and strikes are an interpretation that can lead to arguments. Take Tennis for example, they use a machine on challenges, and that works fine because it’s definitive. Why not do that with every pitch since it can be done immediately and correctly??
Chappy81: In the end wouldn’t that slow down play to a crawl though? I mean, if you the umpire has to wait 10-20 seconds for his thingy to tell him if it’s a ball or strike wouldn’t that add another half hour to already pretty long games!?! MAYBE they could set up some kind of challenge like Tennis has, where you get one or two an inning, but I can’t see them doing it for every pitch…
Dyslecix: You’ll never add the word “challenge” to the vocab of baseball and instant replay…..Just based on the fact alone baseball won’t copy the NFL. If anything it will be an isolated umpire decision of some kind, the head coach will have no discretion on using it.
Cali4dre: I was using the Tennis machine as an example of a machine making the decision, it just happens it’s used there as a “challenge”. Oh, and “Challenge” is already in Baseball, how do you think they get to the point where they need to review a play??? One manager goes out on the field and says “hey, that wasn’t a home run”. That’s a challenge. Actually, you’re right, “Challenge” may never make it into the Rule Book because Appeal is already there. Same thing only it sounds better!
Rule 9.02(a) Comment: Players leaving their position in the field or on base, or managers or coaches leaving the bench or coaches box, to argue on BALLS AND STRIKES will not be permitted. They should be warned if they start for the plate to protest the call. If they continue, they will be ejected from the game.
(b) If there is reasonable doubt that any umpire’s decision may be in conflict with the rules, the manager may appeal the decision and ask that a correct ruling be made. Such appeal shall be made only to the umpire who made the protested decision.
(c) If a decision is appealed, the umpire making the decision may ask another umpire for information before making a final decision. No umpire shall criticize, seek to reverse or interfere with another umpire’s decision unless asked to do so by the umpire making it.
Dyslecix: Were all watching this on TV …there is mandated strike zone….the pitch comes in and its a strike….we now know that IT’S A STRIKE cause its mandated…however the Ump is still staring at his little thingy to be told whether it was a strike or not…….and it takes two, three, four, five seconds for the ump to then signal the strike call….we the audience on tv already knew it was a strike to begin with, which is redundant.
Okay….appeal is much better…if mangers start throwing red flags out from the dugout I’m going to be sick!
Cali4dre: NO, it would be immediate. The pitch hits the glove, the light goes on and the umpire calls it. No waiting, not sure what century you guys live in…
Phightin’ Phils!
As I watched the final outs of the NLCS, I had to say goodbye to the eastcoast westcoast matchup I hoped for when the series began. I can’t say I didn’t see it coming, but nonetheless it’s always a little disappointing when it happens. There was one thing that struck me as odd though. When they made the last out, didn’t it seem like a lackluster response from the Phillies? Sure they were smiling and stuff, but I didn’t see the normal passion that most teams have after winning the National League Championship. They seemed to trot/walk it into the pitchers mound for the always predictable dog pile, but they way it slowly came together was disappointing to me. Maybe it’s the been there done that feeling, but you’d think we’d see at least one or two guys get tackled or more guys sprinting to start celebrating. All in all, I was a little disappointed in this celebration moment in sports. I bet the Phillie Phanatic showed more emotion when they won! We’ll see if they have a chance at a redemption celebration against the Yankees, er, I mean the winner of the ALCS.
WNBA is Doin Work
Sweet layup!
The WNBA released their ratings for the playoffs, and shockingly did better than they ever have. I’ve never been a fan of watching them shoot jumpers and layups, but apparently it’s caught on enough to average nearly half a million viewers during the playoffs on ESPN2. Good work WNBA, maybe one day you’ll have a full city’s worth of people watching the finals! I don’t know one person who follows the WNBA, and don’t think I’ll meet one anytime soon. It’s crazy there’s all this positivity about the league, but most of their stadiums are emptier than Oakland A’s games. I bet TMZ gets 500K viewers a night. One thing I can’t deny is that they’d probably school me on the court, but Americans only want to watch the best, and THAT is another reason we aren’t all that excited about soccer.
The MLB Playoffs on TBS!
The MLB Divisional Series was kicked off today, and the most exciting game TBS has covered so far was the last game of the regular season. Not to say if your a Philly (won 5-1) or Yankee (won 7-2) fan it wasn’t a good day, but it just wasn’t all that exciting for the rest of us. The Dodgers game is the only one that’s been interesting so far. The Dodgers are currently up 3-2 going into the bottom of the 5th and are surprisingly ripping Carpenter. So this game could be promising! Watching the playoffs and the amazing last game of the regular season it has made me realize I just don’t enjoy any announcer combos baseball has to offer. Maybe they’re dumbing it down too much for the people who don’t know what’s going on, but I rarely hear anything remotely insightful. Maybe they use the sideline reporters too much, I think Craig Sager always scares me a little the first time I see him everynight. He gives me that hide your kids because I don’t know about this guy vibe, but at least we don’t have to hear them more than five or six times a game. One thing I’m a HUGE fan of TBS for having, is the pitch-by-pitch K zone up they throw in the corner for every batter. It almost makes up for the weak announcing crews that are scared to make anyone sound like a bad person. I’d love to hear them call guys out, and stop playing the soft story line. We need some more Charles Barkley’s on the air!
You can vote for more than one combo of announcers if you really think they are equally good… Is that even possible?
Stricker Trying to Make a Case for PGA Player of the Year
With Steve Stricker’s victory last weekend at Deutsche Bank Classic, he has made the Player of the year award at least somewhat of a two man race. I had him at a very close 3rd on my original list, and while Yang’s PGA Championship win was impressive, Stricker’s win last weekend gave him a boost into second behind Tiger as he took the lead on the FedEx leaderboard, and pulled out a come from behind win against a top notch field. If he somehow pulls out of the playoffs holding the FedEx Cup, it may be tough to not give him the POY award.
I find the FedEx Cup has made a drastic improvement in the way I and fans pay attention to the golf after the last major is over. It’s made the POY award worth debating in the final weeks. It’s made the best in the world keep playing in tournaments that aren’t from their sponsors. In years past the top players would pack their bags, and head into the offseason not caring about the last couple months and playing in maybe one or two of the tournaments. The Playoffs have been great for the game and the fans!
Stricker’s bid in the BMW didn’t exactly start the way he hoped as he was one over through the first round Thursday, but there is no cut so he’s not out of it by any means at six back with three to go. Stricker has won back to back comeback player of the year awards, and was probed about winning it for a third straight year after his win on Labor Day “I think I’m over that now.” He was also asked about winning the POY award and laughed, noting that he’d have to do something impressive to overtake the obvious leader (Tiger). To trump Tiger’s five wins, Stricker will have to pull out a FedEx Cup Championship, and possibly win one of the two remaining tournaments. I think either of the two scenarios would give the voters much to weigh on. Golf is one of the rare sports that lets the players have a say in the POY award, and I have a feeling they will weigh heavily what happens these last couple weeks!
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