Be that as it may, there's a TON of stuff currently going on in sports including one of the most confusing NFL playoff pictures I've ever tried to comprehend in recent memory. This is going to be a long post since I've been off the site for a bit, so look for the huge text to tell you what I'm writing about.
Let's start off with baseball's winter meeting outcomes/rumors
MLB SIGNINGS
Signed players:
C.C. Sabathia - New York Yankees
Jeremy Affeldt - San Francisco Giants
Casey Blake - L.A. Dodgers
Ryan Dempster - Chi-town Cubbies
Edgar Renteria - San Francisco Giants
Francisco Rodriguez - New York Mets
J.J. Putz - New York Mets
Out of that whole bunch four moves improved the clubs significantly, two have upside and one doesn't make ANY sense to me.
SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT -
C.C. "The Hamburglar" (see previous post) Sabathia obviously improves the Yankees, he's an Ace, most of the time.Side Note: WHAT THE F*&% kind of contract is that for a pitcher? This kind of stuff just doesn't happen unless you're the Yankees (The Hamburglar smuggled out a quarter-pounder by getting a three year opt out clause. This means if he doesn't like NY in three years, he can give Cashman the finger and go out west)
Regardless of his contract, the Yankees now have their #1 guy in pinstripes and the beginning of a SOLID rotation that could very well include A.J. Burnett (what's with the lame first, middle name letter thing? Do you think C.C. stands for Consuming Chocolate?) and be followed by Chien-Ming Wang and Joba Chamberlain. If things stand how they are right now, I think it would be tough to pick the Yankees as first, BUT they're certainly getting closer.
You all probably thought I was going to say Edgar Renteria was a lock to help the Giants. You all would be wrong. One of the bigger signings is onw no one is talking about, that of Jeremy Affeldt. I wrote a post on this a few months ago, the eighth inning is THE MOST IMPORTANT inning in baseball, hands down. If you look at every major contender, they all have shut down guys to get them from the starter to the closer. Now the Giants have theirs. NO, they are not going to be contenders, but at least every time Tim Lincecum pitches they will win, if they score a run. That's worth every penny in my opinion. Attention fantasy baseball players, Brian Wilson's (CL) stock just went WAY UP.
K-Rod and J.J. Putz (another freaking double-letter name) obviously need to make this list. The Mets have two former closers, who are now going to be the 8th & 9th inning shut down crew for the Mets next few years. I think the Mets just buried a HUGE problem with their team last year and will be a MUCH better team because of it. The good thing about signing both of these guys is that I don't think K-Rod is going to have a completely healthy season. If you look at what Bobby Thigpen's post-record setting season looked like...it wasn't pretty. K-Rod is a lot younger and seems like he is in a lot better position to perform well, but still, kind of ominous cloud hanging over his head. As a former Halo, I wish him the best.
UPSIDE -
Edgar Renteria is old. He had his worst hitting season (.270) in his career and his second worst OPS of his career (.840) in 2008 and just got rewarded with a 2 years 19 million dollar contract. Wait WHAT! Screw this, he's going down to the next category.
The Cubs made their only pre-Tribune bankruptcy move very early to re-sign Ryan Dempster to a 4 year/$52 MM contract. Interesting move considering it was his first full season in a starting rotation since 2002. Dempster pitched 206 innings last season, want to know what happened the last time he pitched over 200 innings? He only pitched a 115, his ERA rose by a point and his strikeout/walk ratio was 1:1, compared to last season 2.2:1. BUT IT'S OK! He's apparently figured it all out after doing that stupid glove flick thing before he throws every ball. You have to admit, he does have huge upside. If he pitches 3/4 as good as he did last year, he's a SOLID number 2.
He also does a terrific Harry Carray impression.
WHY? WHY DO YOU MAKE THESE STUPID MOVES?
Dear Edgar Renteria,
You're old, you had your worst statistical year of your career last year, yet you got rewarded with a $19 MM dollar contract. We could have been smart and gotten Rafael Furcal, who is four years younger and has some good baseball left in him, but we felt like you fit our team better. Good luck filling in for the Bay Area loved Omar Vizquel.
Sincerely Stupid,
Giants Management
The Dodgers have a REALLY good young core of players: James Loney, Russell Martin, Chad Kershaw, Andre Ethier, Matt Kemp, Blake Dewitt, Chad Billingsley.One of their key story lines last year was how this kid Blake Dewitt would do filling in. Reason being is they had this young stud coming up by the name of Andy LaRoche. He had a pretty serious injury in the beginning of the season so they had to call up this random 3B from AA ball to fill in. He ended up hitting .270, driving in 54 runs, having an OPS of .728 and scoring 54 runs over the course of a little less than 2/3 of a season. Oh and by the way, said kid is 23 years old. If you're the Dodgers upper management, you have to be thinking "wow, what a surprise...let's give this kid a shot. He could turn out to be a STEAL!"
NOPE, the Dodgers go out and sign a third baseman who is 35, never hit over .290, never knocked in over 90 RBI's, and never scored 100 runs. WHAT THE F! Pro-rate Dewitt's stats over the course of a whole season and you have yourself Casey Blake....minus 12 years and 17 million dollars. How does this make sense when you have the option to get C.C. or resign Manny? F'ing idiots.
MLB RUMORS
Mark Teixeira:
I'm hearing that Mark is more interested in playing out east A) because his wife likes it more out there B) to be closer to his family (grew up in Baltimore by the way).
The Nats heard that and put a 8 year/$160 MM offer on the table. The Orioles followed with a 7 year/$145 MM-ish offer. The Red Sox are said to be VERY interested and are somewhere in the ballpark of 7 years/$150+ MM. My Angels are being stupid as hell and not making a move. They are rumored, however, to have a 7 year/$160 million-ish offer on the table.
Boras clients take the money. They always have, and you would have to believe they always will. It's why he's hired, he just gets the most money for you and you're expected to take it. The Angels currently have the largest (per year) total on the table, but if he wants to go out east, you have to believe the Red Sox will put the same offer on the table and he will sign.
The Angels are in trouble if they don't get Tex. They need to give him give him 10 years $200 million, ownership rights to the entire California coastline, a back rub from Arnold Schwarzenegger, a free life pass to Disneyland and then buy eighteen full-time actresses to be his wife's friend.
Prediction: Red Sox
A.J. Burnett:
This sweepstakes has come down to the Braves and the Yankees. It was reported that A.J. was waiting on a five year contract and he's gotten it from both teams, supposedly earlier today.Personally I don't think this guy is worth it. He's a huge injury concern and his numbers aren't really THAT great to warrant this kind of contract. However, if you're as desperate to sign some starting pitchers like the Yankees are, and you have suite's being rented out for 4X my monthly rent PER GAME, you can do whatever you want.
Prediction: Yankees
Manny Ramirez:
There is really no market for Manny right now, no rumors, no offers, no nothing. That of course will all change when Tex signs. Then the teams that lost (i.e. the Nats, Orioles, Angels) out on the sweepstakes will come-a-callin'.
Prediction: Nats
Pat Burrell:
There have been all sorts of rumors flying around that the Rays are very interested in acquiring Pat to hit some Ding-Dong's down in Tampa, but nothing official
Prediction: Rays
Milton Bradley:
The gas has officially been turned up on Milton Bradley. The Cubs have publicly announced he is their number one target besides Jake Peavy. The Rays met with him two days ago and Joe Maddon said he was "very impressed with his professionalism and drive." I'm confused by this. Is he talking about the same person I am? You can stop watching at 1:30...
I actually think Milton gets a bad rap for all of the crap he's been involved with. He plays extremely hard and can hit the leather off a ball, and his OPS is INSANE. I think he's a little crazy and is probably a little hard on the club house, but only half as bad as T.O.
Prediction: Cubs
I don't really care about anyone else soooo, on to Football.
NFL PLAYOFF PICTURE
What a confusing situation right now. I was on the phone last night trying to talk it out and I was going back and forth between teams schedules and conference records and came out having a small grasp on what the situation is looking like. So let me give you what little insight I currently have
NFC:
East: New York Giants clinched
Whew' that was easy.
West: Arizona Cardinals clinched
This is going to get confusing, just wait.
North: ?
Division Standings...
8-5 (4-2)Remaining Schedule: @ Arizona, ATL, NYG
Minnesota could easily find themselves sitting on the sidelines of the playoff race. They have a TOUGH upcoming schedule and there's a large possibility that the Packers, if they beat Chicago in two weeks could leap frog them for the NFC North with a win against Detroit
Vikings are in if: The Packers lose either of their two remaining games against CHI or DET
The only other way they make it in is to have a better record than the Eagles/Bucs/Falcons/Cowboys for the Wild Card spot.
7-5 (3-2)Remaining Schedule: NO, GB, @ HOU
All of those games are winnable. New Orleans has a tough offense to stop, but if anyone can, the Bear's defense can.
Bears are in if: They win the rest of their games and win the wild card.
Explanation: IF the Bears beat GB, they would be tied with MN for the division lead. The next tie-breaker would be head-to-head match ups, which is tied. The next tie-breaker is winning % against like opponents, which includes the AFC South and North. MN is 4-3 against said opponents with ATL to play. Chicago is 1-5 with NO and @ HOU to play. Therefore it's impossible for Chicago to get a better winning %, Vikings are in.
5-8 (3-1)Remaining Schedule: @ JAX, @ CHI, DET
What a let down. This team started the season strong and looked to be the favorite to win this division. In their last five games they have lost 4, including their past three and look horrible. Anyone who has watched this team knows that they can catch fire at any minute and who knows, maybe they can get into the playoffs.
Packers are in if: They win @ Chicago AND beat Detroit.
Explanation: They win the division with a 5-1 record and top the Vikes. Crazy that a 8-8 team can win the division and a possible 11-5 team can't huh?
0-13 (0-5)Remaining Schedule: @ IND, NO, @ GB
HAHA
Lions are in if: A) They fired Millen three seasons ago B) Every team in the NFC North gets in a plane crash C) Chuck Norris tells Roger Goodell they are in.
SO...that's the NFC North.
Not too bad of an explanation I hope. This is where it gets interesting.
South: ?
OK, This division is literally too close to call. I mean, just so you understand, If Atlanta beats TB this weekend and NO beats Carolina in two weeks...ALL of their division records will be 3-3, with all of them beating each other and losing to each other once. I wonder if this has EVER happened...
10-3 (3-2)Remaining Schedule: Denver, @ Giants, @ NO
This team just BEAT THE CRAP out of the second place team in the division this Monday. I mean, they ran for 301 yards and then promptly slept with their girlfriend kind of performance. They're 4-1 in their last 5 and look poised to beat the living piss out of Denver and possibly beat the Giants. This team doesn't have a passing game, but they don't seem to care. They just run the ball through you with Stewart and then do the same with DeAngelo Williams. Watch out NFC, this team could easily make it to the Superbowl.
Panthers are in if: They beat New Orleans AND Tampa Bay loses to Atlanta.
They can also make it in if: They beat Denver this week AND Atlanta beats TB, then the following week Atlanta ALSO loses to Minnesota AND TB loses either to SD OR Oakland.
Or they can win the Wild Card
I know it's confusing, just trust me...
9-4 (3-2)Remaining Schedule: @ ATL, SD, OAK
This team won four in a row until Monday night. Their defense looked unstoppable and then Carolina slept with their girlfriend on live TV and they got embarrassed. Who knows how this team responds after a game like that, but if they're anything like they were before, this could make for a great playoff race.
Bucs are in if: They beat Atlanta this week AND Carolina loses to NO next week
They can also make it if: They beat Atlanta this week, Carolina loses to Denver this week AND Carolina loses to NO next week AND they beat SD AND Oakland.
Or they could just win the wild card
8-5 (2-3)Ah, the Falcons...the surprise team of the year if you ask me. Michael "The Burner" Turner is ripping up the NFL and Matt Ryan is being surprisingly consistent for an NFL QB. What else could you possibly want one year after the Vick scandal? Maybe a playoff birth?
The Falcons are in if: They win the rest of their games and Carolina loses the rest of theirs. One win or loss in the wrong way and they are out.
Well they could fight for the Wild Card.
7-6 (2-3)My head hurts, I'm not explaining it, but they are out
That was confusing as hell but there you have it.
NFC Wild Card:
With all of this mumbo-jumbo going on with the two divisions up for grab, let us not forget about wild card possibilities.
The teams not mentioned up there are the Cowboys and the Eagles...
(8-5)Remaining Schedule: NYG, BAL, @ PHL
Could the NFL have put a harder schedule in between them and the playoffs? Probably not. The Cowboys seem to be unraveling a bit and they're about to play back to back teams that are 4-1 in their last 5 games. T.O. explosion in T-Minus 3...2..1...
To guarantee a playoff birth the Cowboys need to win all of their remaining games and they need the Bucs to lose the division AND lose one of their games.
(7-5-1)Remaining Schedule: CLE, @ WAS, DAL
Where the hell did these guys come from? Four weeks ago they tied, the second worst team in the NFL. Three weeks ago the got embarrassed by the Ravens and pulled their starting QB in favor of Kevin Kolb. Then they come home to a fan base which hates them, is calling for the heads of both the head coach and the QB and slap around a division clinching Cardinals team by 28 points. THEN! They go TO NY and beat, argueably, the best team in football.
I don't know what kind of Campbell's Chunky Soup they've been eating since Baltimore, but they need to keep grubbin...except for Andy, he can take a Chunky Soup light.
Eagles are in if: They win ALL of their remaining games AND they need Atlanta to not win the NFC South (beating Carolina in the Wild Card is basically impossible) AND they need the Bucs to lose two games
OK I'll add on the AFC later because there's some interesting stuff going on over there too...BUT I have a flight to catch back to Philly and I have to take off.
Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed it.
