In a day full of hockey drama, I will write about baseball.. The first real games of spring training have been played and its time to preview the Senior Circuit, The National League.
NL East-
1. Philadelphia Phillies- All they did was shock the world and sign Cliff Lee after trading him away for a season. They now have the best rotation in baseball. They will need to score some runs but we will see how a full season of Cliff and Roy Oswalt do in Philly(Good I am sure).
2. Atlanta Braves- The toughest thing they had this offseason was replacing Bobby Cox. They picked a good character guy to do that in Freddi Gonzalez. If Chipper Jones can have one more good year, the Braves will be the Wild Card team.
3. Florida Marlins- Sneeky good but still not great. Young team like always though Hanley is still the MVP of this team.
4. Washington Nationals- They paid a guy a 100 million dollars because he can grow a good beard. In all seriousness, Jayson was not Werth it. They have upside but without either of their last two Number 1 picks playing in the majors this season, they will once again not be in the playoffs.
5. New York Mets- Money issues, manager issues, every type of issues. They need to prove to everyone they can be good. I mean Wright might as well get traded as his talents are being abused being on that team.
NL Central- This division is tough to predict especially given key injuries to some teams.
1. Milwaukee Brewers- I called it first-Me and a lot of people! Adding Greinke and Marcum, they are built for the short term. If they fade by the trade deadline, they will trade Fielder but I forsee them doing well and winning this division, especially after the debacle in St. Louis.
2. St. Louis Cardinals- They should win this division but losing Adam Wainwright will hurt them. Pujols is pissed and is about to take his talents to the Bronx next year unless they can keep him happy. They will have to rely on Cris Carpenters twice rebuilt arm if they are to be any good.
3. Chicago Cubs- Added some key free agents but are still a few arms away from being awesome. This team is trending upward.
4. Cincinnati Reds- Trending downwards. They are young but the arms are iffy. Dusty worked some magic last season but won't have that this season even with Cuban Fireballer Aroldis Chapman.
5. Houston Astros- Finally in rebuilding mode, but still old in a lot of places. This is a team without an Identity with Berkman and Oswalt gone.
6. Pittsburgh Pirates- This team supports my theory for relegation! Can you even name another Pirate other than Doumitt or McCutcheon. I feel for Pirate fans but not for Pittsburgh fans in general since their other teams are kicking ass.
NL West-
1. San Francisco Giants- Hard to pick against the Defending World Series Champions. They have a great rotation and Kung Fu Panda has come into camp with lots of weight off so hopefully he can regain his form.
2. Colorado Rockies- Kept their core intact. A Full year of Tulo again. This team can be good but need to have a full rotation.
3. Los Angeles Dodgers- Ownership issues muddle the water for this team. They could be good but we will see how first time manager Don Mattignly can handle them.
4. San Diego Padres- Traded their best player but got some great prospects in return. This is a team in rebuilding but they are trying to do it right. Stick with them Padres fans and 3 years from now you will be rewarded. They should trade Health Bell this season and get a few good returns.
5. Arizona Diamondbacks- This is a team who could be good, but lack real cohesion as a unit. Upton will be gone at the trade deadline.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Broncos To Go With Orton...For Now
After day one of the NFL Scouting Combine, Denver Broncos head coach John Fox was asked about the quarterback situation that is currently brewing in the Mile High City. Fox said, "Right now Kyle is our starter." Echoing statements made by Chief Football Executive John Elway during Super Bowl week.
This has to be something that Kyle Orton likes to hear, as it is no real secret that he didn't want to come back as Tim Tebow's backup. So it has to be nice to know that he will come back into training camp on the top of the depth chart.
However, Fox also said this. "I don’t think we’ll really figure it out until we start competing. It’s a group of three that are very capable...We have a young guy, high draft pick, in Tim Tebow who got his feet wet last year toward the end of the season. And then shoot, Brady Quinn I’m looking forward to seeing.”
Wait a minute, didn't you just say that Orton was the starter? Well yeah, he did. But that is of course saying that if the season started right now, Orton would be the guy. Also, you have to think that with the unknown labor situation, having a seasoned veteran available should the players be out of practices for several weeks as a result of a lockout would be more beneficial than a second year player with only three games of experience.
Slow down, Tebow nation, I can hear you coming a mile away! Really, you should all like what Fox has said here too. Yes, Orton has been declared the starter, for now. But Fox is clearly far from dead set on this. As he said, we all won't know who the clear number one guy is until they start competing for it. One thing that Tim Tebow has never minded doing is competing, that is for certain.
This is something that should make all Bronco fans excited. Provided that there is no labor stoppage to delay off-season OTAs and mini-camps, this quarterback competition should make both quarterbacks better. Tebow is going to be better than he was, no doubts. So that means that Orton will have to work just as hard to stay ahead of Tebow. If he's able to do that, and show that he's still clearly the number one guy, then that has to be a good thing. If Tebow does overtake Orton as the team's number one, then the Broncos will be able to move forward with a guy who proved that he was ready for the position. For Bronco fans, this is a win-win.
This will also help the coaches figure out who has the better attitude and who is the better leader as a result. A true leader will see this as a challenge and rise to the occasion. If one of them sulks about it, it will undoubtedly affect his play. Tim Tebow has never been one to back down from any type of challenge to his ability, so it's pretty safe to say that the sulking won't come from him. Orton may not want to have to go through any type of a quarterback competition, but if he wants to remain the starter in Denver, then that's just too bad.
If Orton does go the sulky route and complain instead of letting his play do the talking, then I'll be the first one saying that we should start Tim Tebow. As of this moment, however, Elway and coach Fox have it right. Let's let these two guys battle it out, and see who gives the team the better chance to win come week one of the regular season.
This has to be something that Kyle Orton likes to hear, as it is no real secret that he didn't want to come back as Tim Tebow's backup. So it has to be nice to know that he will come back into training camp on the top of the depth chart.
However, Fox also said this. "I don’t think we’ll really figure it out until we start competing. It’s a group of three that are very capable...We have a young guy, high draft pick, in Tim Tebow who got his feet wet last year toward the end of the season. And then shoot, Brady Quinn I’m looking forward to seeing.”
Wait a minute, didn't you just say that Orton was the starter? Well yeah, he did. But that is of course saying that if the season started right now, Orton would be the guy. Also, you have to think that with the unknown labor situation, having a seasoned veteran available should the players be out of practices for several weeks as a result of a lockout would be more beneficial than a second year player with only three games of experience.
Slow down, Tebow nation, I can hear you coming a mile away! Really, you should all like what Fox has said here too. Yes, Orton has been declared the starter, for now. But Fox is clearly far from dead set on this. As he said, we all won't know who the clear number one guy is until they start competing for it. One thing that Tim Tebow has never minded doing is competing, that is for certain.
This is something that should make all Bronco fans excited. Provided that there is no labor stoppage to delay off-season OTAs and mini-camps, this quarterback competition should make both quarterbacks better. Tebow is going to be better than he was, no doubts. So that means that Orton will have to work just as hard to stay ahead of Tebow. If he's able to do that, and show that he's still clearly the number one guy, then that has to be a good thing. If Tebow does overtake Orton as the team's number one, then the Broncos will be able to move forward with a guy who proved that he was ready for the position. For Bronco fans, this is a win-win.
This will also help the coaches figure out who has the better attitude and who is the better leader as a result. A true leader will see this as a challenge and rise to the occasion. If one of them sulks about it, it will undoubtedly affect his play. Tim Tebow has never been one to back down from any type of challenge to his ability, so it's pretty safe to say that the sulking won't come from him. Orton may not want to have to go through any type of a quarterback competition, but if he wants to remain the starter in Denver, then that's just too bad.
If Orton does go the sulky route and complain instead of letting his play do the talking, then I'll be the first one saying that we should start Tim Tebow. As of this moment, however, Elway and coach Fox have it right. Let's let these two guys battle it out, and see who gives the team the better chance to win come week one of the regular season.
Saturday, February 19, 2011
A-Mac Presents The American League Preview
It is no secret that I am a baseball fan. I had the luxury of living in a town that had a great minor league baseball team growing up. When I was a child, the Rookie League team was affiliated with the Los Angeles Dodgers. This allowed me to be able to see a future Hall of Famer pitcher in Pedro Martinez not to mention a few solid MLB players like Erik Karros and Jose Offerman. It stoked my interest in baseball. I grew up a Red Sox and Braves fan. The Red Sox because its family required and the Braves because I adored Dale Murphy. At the time I followed the Braves more because the Red Sox were mired in the last days of the Rocket as a Red Sock. My interest in baseball waned for a few years til I got involved in fantasy sports. Fantasy Baseball is crack to me. The stats in baseball are much more geeky than football and that appeals to me. Football you just need to outscore your opponent with yardage and tds. Baseball you need to have pitchers with great WHIPs, K's, and OAVs and hitters with great OPS, Zone Defensive Ratings, and WARs. Though most still play in the traditional 5x5 leagues, Sabremetrics measure better stats. Wins are pretty much useless as a stat to tell who is a good pitcher. I mean Gil Meche once won 15 games in a season. Quality Starts on the other hand help you figure out who really is a good pitcher. So what does this have to do with my column? Absolutely nothing other than to say, I think I know baseball well enough to make my predictions!
Al East- Some claim this is the hardest division to play in but I think the AL Central is because they eat each other for breakfast. I will say this. Two of the best franchises ever do play in this division and the AL Pennant winner has come from this division most on the last 10 years.
1. Boston Red Sox- added Adrian Gonzalez going from a pitcher's heaven to a hitter's heaven. AGone will be a monster in Fenway. Added Carl Crawford and upgraded their overall defense which was a stated goal last season. The Rotation is solid and Beckett and Lackey are poised for bouncebacks. If Dice-K is the 5th starter, something good is going on.
2. New York Yankees(Yankpires)- They added a great 8th inning guy in Rafael Soriano and kept their Captain. They are due to fall maybe but I still think Captain Crunch(Found out he used to eat full boxes of the cereal every morning) Sabbathia is the 2nd best pitcher in baseball.
3. Tampa Bay Don't Call us Devil Rays- Added two Idiots in the twilights of their career but Manny is cheap for them and all he has to do is hit. Johnny Damon is still a serviceable hitter and should do well in the Trop. They might have lost their bullpen but they have David Price and some solid pitchers up and coming. They win 75 games for sure.
4. Toronto Blue Jays- They might leap frog both the 3rd and 2nd teams on this list and sneak into 2nd if their players turn out well. Who would have thought they could have traded their best pitcher and be headed in the right direction? They win 70 games or better. Jose Bautista Must prove he is real though for that to happen. They are poised to compete in the next few years like the Rays in 2008.
5. Baltimore Orioles- Will actually be close to .500 this year! They signed some good hitters in Vlad Daddy and Derek Lee and have some good young players. The Greek and Adam Not PacMan Jones need to pick it up after last season.
Al Central- They eat each other every year which is why the AL Beast gets the Wild Card.
1. Minnesota Twins- All they did was resign a great lockeroom guy and almost 600 HRs in Jim Thome. They signed a Japanese Import with tremendous upside. They kept Carl Pavano and his weird mustache. If Justin Morneau returns to health, they win 90 games.
2. Chicago White Sox- Added Adam Dunn, kept Mr. White Sock Konerko but lost their closer to the other Sox. Ozzie Guillen knows how to compete though we will see if he keeps his job if him and Kenny Williams keep butting heads.
3. Detroit Tigers- They could switch places with the White Sox if Miguel Cabrera gets his head on straight. But they traded Mr. Almost Perfect for no real reason. They should have kept Gallaraga. They signed Victor Martinez to DH and play 1b when Cabrera needs to rest. We will see if that works out for them.
4. Kansas City Royals- They aren't as crappy as years past even after trading Zack Greinke. They will still suck but Billy Butler will at least make some fantasy owner happy and Joakim Soria will continue to put up ungodly stats when you know he gets in the game.
5. Cleveland Indians- Poor Cleveland, I can't even say much more than that. This is like Major League but you know with no real chance of actually winning something.
Al West
1. Oakland A's- They had one of the best offeasons albeit quiet. Their division rivals all got worse by losing key players or losing out on key free agents. They have a young team and their catcher is sneaky good.
2. California Angels- I refuse to call them by anything other than that because that's what they are to me. I attended an Angels game when Wally Joyner was playing for them. They have a better pitching staff than the Rangers. Still they will suck after not upgrading at any offensive position.
3. Texas Rangers- They Fucked Up. Not only could they not sign their best Free Agent, they upset their Franchise face and signed a guy who is only good in contract years. They have some good young guys but Feliz, Wilson, and Andrus need to prove it to me that they can continue their uptick from last season. They still upgraded their catcher position which was a glaring problem last season, but is Napoli(who might not catch at all), and Torreable really that great of an upgrade. I will say if Brandon Webb is healthy, they might be better. I just forsee a freefall for Colby Lewis especially.
4. Seattle Mariners- They. Still. Cannot. Hit. King Felix will be gone by July and they will be the worst team not named the Cleveland Indians. Another sad summer in Seattle. Ichiro might also demand a trade if they cannot compete.
Al East- Some claim this is the hardest division to play in but I think the AL Central is because they eat each other for breakfast. I will say this. Two of the best franchises ever do play in this division and the AL Pennant winner has come from this division most on the last 10 years.
1. Boston Red Sox- added Adrian Gonzalez going from a pitcher's heaven to a hitter's heaven. AGone will be a monster in Fenway. Added Carl Crawford and upgraded their overall defense which was a stated goal last season. The Rotation is solid and Beckett and Lackey are poised for bouncebacks. If Dice-K is the 5th starter, something good is going on.
2. New York Yankees(Yankpires)- They added a great 8th inning guy in Rafael Soriano and kept their Captain. They are due to fall maybe but I still think Captain Crunch(Found out he used to eat full boxes of the cereal every morning) Sabbathia is the 2nd best pitcher in baseball.
3. Tampa Bay Don't Call us Devil Rays- Added two Idiots in the twilights of their career but Manny is cheap for them and all he has to do is hit. Johnny Damon is still a serviceable hitter and should do well in the Trop. They might have lost their bullpen but they have David Price and some solid pitchers up and coming. They win 75 games for sure.
4. Toronto Blue Jays- They might leap frog both the 3rd and 2nd teams on this list and sneak into 2nd if their players turn out well. Who would have thought they could have traded their best pitcher and be headed in the right direction? They win 70 games or better. Jose Bautista Must prove he is real though for that to happen. They are poised to compete in the next few years like the Rays in 2008.
5. Baltimore Orioles- Will actually be close to .500 this year! They signed some good hitters in Vlad Daddy and Derek Lee and have some good young players. The Greek and Adam Not PacMan Jones need to pick it up after last season.
Al Central- They eat each other every year which is why the AL Beast gets the Wild Card.
1. Minnesota Twins- All they did was resign a great lockeroom guy and almost 600 HRs in Jim Thome. They signed a Japanese Import with tremendous upside. They kept Carl Pavano and his weird mustache. If Justin Morneau returns to health, they win 90 games.
2. Chicago White Sox- Added Adam Dunn, kept Mr. White Sock Konerko but lost their closer to the other Sox. Ozzie Guillen knows how to compete though we will see if he keeps his job if him and Kenny Williams keep butting heads.
3. Detroit Tigers- They could switch places with the White Sox if Miguel Cabrera gets his head on straight. But they traded Mr. Almost Perfect for no real reason. They should have kept Gallaraga. They signed Victor Martinez to DH and play 1b when Cabrera needs to rest. We will see if that works out for them.
4. Kansas City Royals- They aren't as crappy as years past even after trading Zack Greinke. They will still suck but Billy Butler will at least make some fantasy owner happy and Joakim Soria will continue to put up ungodly stats when you know he gets in the game.
5. Cleveland Indians- Poor Cleveland, I can't even say much more than that. This is like Major League but you know with no real chance of actually winning something.
Al West
1. Oakland A's- They had one of the best offeasons albeit quiet. Their division rivals all got worse by losing key players or losing out on key free agents. They have a young team and their catcher is sneaky good.
2. California Angels- I refuse to call them by anything other than that because that's what they are to me. I attended an Angels game when Wally Joyner was playing for them. They have a better pitching staff than the Rangers. Still they will suck after not upgrading at any offensive position.
3. Texas Rangers- They Fucked Up. Not only could they not sign their best Free Agent, they upset their Franchise face and signed a guy who is only good in contract years. They have some good young guys but Feliz, Wilson, and Andrus need to prove it to me that they can continue their uptick from last season. They still upgraded their catcher position which was a glaring problem last season, but is Napoli(who might not catch at all), and Torreable really that great of an upgrade. I will say if Brandon Webb is healthy, they might be better. I just forsee a freefall for Colby Lewis especially.
4. Seattle Mariners- They. Still. Cannot. Hit. King Felix will be gone by July and they will be the worst team not named the Cleveland Indians. Another sad summer in Seattle. Ichiro might also demand a trade if they cannot compete.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
NFL and NFLPA Headed to Counsoling
According to an article from yahoo sports, the NFL and the NFLPA have apparently agreed to resume talks about a new collective bargaining agreement. To make matters even more hopeful, both sides have agreed to mediation. What is this we're seeing? Signs of maturity from both sides? Realizing that making sure they get a deal done and don't alienate the fans is more important than that extra billion dollars that they're fighting over.
Nah, they probably just realize that there won't be that extra billion to bicker about if there isn't a season next year. Nonetheless, this is really the first glimmer of hope that we have seen regarding the progress of the new collective bargaining agreement since the owners opted out of the current one.
Will mediation do any good though? I think so. Mediators are great at laying out the wants of both sides and finding places to give and take. The biggest challenge of this is going to be the people on the two sides. Just like the clip I posted, yeah I know, not very journalistic of me, but funny nonetheless, these are two sides that are willing to fight it out tooth and nail to get what they want. I mean, during the last rounds of talks, things did, allegedly, get a little bit touchy.
It will be good for both of these sides to have somebody saying out loud, "if you want to get something done, then you're going to have to compromise." Something the fans, and some of the players, have been saying for a long time. I'm sure there will be many more updates regarding this over the coming weeks. Let's hope that there is something productive to talk about. As for now, looks like both sides have finally found those "big boy pants" and pulled them out of the dresser. We'll see if they are now willing to walk around in them
Nah, they probably just realize that there won't be that extra billion to bicker about if there isn't a season next year. Nonetheless, this is really the first glimmer of hope that we have seen regarding the progress of the new collective bargaining agreement since the owners opted out of the current one.
Will mediation do any good though? I think so. Mediators are great at laying out the wants of both sides and finding places to give and take. The biggest challenge of this is going to be the people on the two sides. Just like the clip I posted, yeah I know, not very journalistic of me, but funny nonetheless, these are two sides that are willing to fight it out tooth and nail to get what they want. I mean, during the last rounds of talks, things did, allegedly, get a little bit touchy.
It will be good for both of these sides to have somebody saying out loud, "if you want to get something done, then you're going to have to compromise." Something the fans, and some of the players, have been saying for a long time. I'm sure there will be many more updates regarding this over the coming weeks. Let's hope that there is something productive to talk about. As for now, looks like both sides have finally found those "big boy pants" and pulled them out of the dresser. We'll see if they are now willing to walk around in them
Monday, February 14, 2011
Peter Forsberg Officially Retires
In another blow to the Colorado Avalanche, Peter Forsberg announced his retirement from the NHL today. He played only two games with the Colorado Avalanche in his latest attempt at a comeback.
Forsberg played well in the two games he played with the Avalanche. In Nashville, he had 17:32 of ice time and had two shots on goal. He also took two penalties and was minus-two.
In Columbus he had 17:38 of ice time with one shot on goal. He was minus-two in this game as well.
Before signing on with the Avalanche last week, Forsberg was very clear that he didn't know how things would turn out. He said that he didn't know how good he was going to be, but that he wanted to give it a shot. After two games, Forsberg seems to have decided that he is not up to a level of play that would help his team.
Regardless of the fact that Forsberg failed to return to the level of play he wanted, it is important to note the impact that he had on the game.
For a long time, Forsberg was considered the best player in the NHL, and arguably the world. His unbelievable combination of size, finesse and physical play was something that had only really been seen from the likes of Mario Lemieux. Forsberg was often more dangerous as a hitter when he had the puck.
His vision of the game was, and is, unparalleled. Watching Peter Forsberg play, there were always moments in games where you would watch him make a play and just shake your head really fast in that "did that really just happen" manner.
One could easily argue that Forsberg might be the best passer that has ever played in the NHL. I doubt that people like Joe Sakic, Milan Hejduk, Claude Lemieux or anybody else who was lucky enough to play on a line with Forsberg would say otherwise.
His career stats show how consistent he always was, even when he was fighting off nagging injuries. In 708 games, he has 885 points—249 goals and 636 assists. That boils down to 1.25 points per game.
Another thing that can't be overlooked is that he is plus-238 for his career. Forsberg never really got credit for his defensive abilities, but that plus-minus ratio helps show his versatility. I find it very interesting that he never won a Selke Trophy.
His postseason numbers were just as impressive. In 151 postseason games, Forsberg had 171 points—64 goals and 107 assists. He just couldn't be stopped.
His awards were many. Two gold medals, two Stanley Cups, the Art Ross Trophy (league's top scorer), the Hart Memorial Trophy (league MVP), the Calder Memorial Trophy (rookie of the year) and the Bud Light Plus-Minus award in 2003. In addition to these honors, Forsberg was a seven-time All-Star and a three-time First Team All-Star.
My hope is that the NHL will not hold his injuries against him when looking to induct him into the Hall of Fame. His value and ability as a player are unquestioned. The only question that should be asked about his numbers is, "Can you imagine how scary these numbers would be if he had never been injured?" Yet the injuries that cut short his brilliant career may keep him out. To me, that would be tragic.
Nonetheless, Peter Forsberg is a remarkable man and a fantastic player. His career was tragically short but immensely wonderful in what he managed to accomplish. His love for the game is unquestioned, and he is adored and respected by hockey fans around the world. He knows where he stands now and is saying a final farewell.
So from me and hockey fans everywhere, thanks for the amazing memories, Foppa. You will never be forgotten.
Forsberg played well in the two games he played with the Avalanche. In Nashville, he had 17:32 of ice time and had two shots on goal. He also took two penalties and was minus-two.
In Columbus he had 17:38 of ice time with one shot on goal. He was minus-two in this game as well.
Before signing on with the Avalanche last week, Forsberg was very clear that he didn't know how things would turn out. He said that he didn't know how good he was going to be, but that he wanted to give it a shot. After two games, Forsberg seems to have decided that he is not up to a level of play that would help his team.
Regardless of the fact that Forsberg failed to return to the level of play he wanted, it is important to note the impact that he had on the game.
For a long time, Forsberg was considered the best player in the NHL, and arguably the world. His unbelievable combination of size, finesse and physical play was something that had only really been seen from the likes of Mario Lemieux. Forsberg was often more dangerous as a hitter when he had the puck.
His vision of the game was, and is, unparalleled. Watching Peter Forsberg play, there were always moments in games where you would watch him make a play and just shake your head really fast in that "did that really just happen" manner.
One could easily argue that Forsberg might be the best passer that has ever played in the NHL. I doubt that people like Joe Sakic, Milan Hejduk, Claude Lemieux or anybody else who was lucky enough to play on a line with Forsberg would say otherwise.
His career stats show how consistent he always was, even when he was fighting off nagging injuries. In 708 games, he has 885 points—249 goals and 636 assists. That boils down to 1.25 points per game.
Another thing that can't be overlooked is that he is plus-238 for his career. Forsberg never really got credit for his defensive abilities, but that plus-minus ratio helps show his versatility. I find it very interesting that he never won a Selke Trophy.
His postseason numbers were just as impressive. In 151 postseason games, Forsberg had 171 points—64 goals and 107 assists. He just couldn't be stopped.
His awards were many. Two gold medals, two Stanley Cups, the Art Ross Trophy (league's top scorer), the Hart Memorial Trophy (league MVP), the Calder Memorial Trophy (rookie of the year) and the Bud Light Plus-Minus award in 2003. In addition to these honors, Forsberg was a seven-time All-Star and a three-time First Team All-Star.
My hope is that the NHL will not hold his injuries against him when looking to induct him into the Hall of Fame. His value and ability as a player are unquestioned. The only question that should be asked about his numbers is, "Can you imagine how scary these numbers would be if he had never been injured?" Yet the injuries that cut short his brilliant career may keep him out. To me, that would be tragic.
Nonetheless, Peter Forsberg is a remarkable man and a fantastic player. His career was tragically short but immensely wonderful in what he managed to accomplish. His love for the game is unquestioned, and he is adored and respected by hockey fans around the world. He knows where he stands now and is saying a final farewell.
So from me and hockey fans everywhere, thanks for the amazing memories, Foppa. You will never be forgotten.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Avs Can't Decide on a Goalie
The Colorado Avalanche lost their fifth straight game, last night, to the Minnesota Wild. The Avs are now 3-7-0 in their last ten games, and have fallen all the way to 14th spot in the western conference. Still 16 points above lowly Edmonton.
Over this past month, pretty much anything that can go wrong for this Avalanche squad has gone wrong. In fact, about the only thing that seems to be moving in the right direction is Peter Forsberg, who may make his return to the ice tomorrow in Columbus.
What seems to be frustrating the Avalanche, especially coach Joe Sacco, the most is the terribly sub-par play coming from Avalanche goaltenders Craig Anderson and Peter Budaj.
Over the past month, going back to January 6th, the two Avalanche goalies have had only two games where they have allowed fewer than three goals. To go even farther back, over the last 30 games, all the way back to December 1st, the Avs have allowed fewer than three goals only seven times. This will not get the job done.
Now, I am far from blaming these two guys entirely for the current down-slide. Watching these games has been horribly painful. The Avalanche are too young, too small, too inconsistent, and too prone to turn overs on defense, and that does not help the goalies at all. In fact, they probably take far too much blame for all that is happening. Still, there is great cause for concern.
The larger issue that seems to have sprouted from the inconsistent play in net is that Joe Sacco now seems to have no faith in either of his two goalies. In the 3-2 loss to Minnesota, Craig Anderson was pulled from the game in the second period. There have been a couple of occasions this season, where Sacco has played Peter Budaj in consecutive games, but pulled him in the second game because he was just too inconsistent. This constant flip flopping of goalies makes it seem, to me at any rate, that Sacco has almost completely lost faith in both his goalies.
A stark contrast from last year, when Joe Sacco was too attached to Craig Anderson, starting him in 71 games and pretty much all of the back to back situations that happened. Has Anderson really been that bad that now he doesn't deserve to start 3 games in a row?
Again, I'm not here saying the goalies have been great. Obviously they're far from it. Andy's full numbers are 13-15-3 with a .899 save %, 3.19 GAA, and zero shutouts.
Budaj's are definitely no better at 12-8-3, .897 Save %, 3.07 goals against, and one shut out. Really, neither goalie has shown that much to be confident in, yet the coach needs to show confidence in somebody. This constant flip flopping of goalies gives the whole team no confidence in these guys. That has to have some type of an effect on them mentally.
Some sort of consistency needs to be established in net. Whether it is by one of these goalies stepping up their game, a lot, and solidifying that position, or coach Sacco just sticking with one of those guys for the sake of consistency. If neither of these happens, then it would almost be better to try to get involved on the trade market and bring somebody in that Sacco feels like he can have some type of consistency with, because the only consistent thing that is going on right now is the losing.
Over this past month, pretty much anything that can go wrong for this Avalanche squad has gone wrong. In fact, about the only thing that seems to be moving in the right direction is Peter Forsberg, who may make his return to the ice tomorrow in Columbus.
What seems to be frustrating the Avalanche, especially coach Joe Sacco, the most is the terribly sub-par play coming from Avalanche goaltenders Craig Anderson and Peter Budaj.
Over the past month, going back to January 6th, the two Avalanche goalies have had only two games where they have allowed fewer than three goals. To go even farther back, over the last 30 games, all the way back to December 1st, the Avs have allowed fewer than three goals only seven times. This will not get the job done.
Now, I am far from blaming these two guys entirely for the current down-slide. Watching these games has been horribly painful. The Avalanche are too young, too small, too inconsistent, and too prone to turn overs on defense, and that does not help the goalies at all. In fact, they probably take far too much blame for all that is happening. Still, there is great cause for concern.
The larger issue that seems to have sprouted from the inconsistent play in net is that Joe Sacco now seems to have no faith in either of his two goalies. In the 3-2 loss to Minnesota, Craig Anderson was pulled from the game in the second period. There have been a couple of occasions this season, where Sacco has played Peter Budaj in consecutive games, but pulled him in the second game because he was just too inconsistent. This constant flip flopping of goalies makes it seem, to me at any rate, that Sacco has almost completely lost faith in both his goalies.
A stark contrast from last year, when Joe Sacco was too attached to Craig Anderson, starting him in 71 games and pretty much all of the back to back situations that happened. Has Anderson really been that bad that now he doesn't deserve to start 3 games in a row?
Again, I'm not here saying the goalies have been great. Obviously they're far from it. Andy's full numbers are 13-15-3 with a .899 save %, 3.19 GAA, and zero shutouts.
Budaj's are definitely no better at 12-8-3, .897 Save %, 3.07 goals against, and one shut out. Really, neither goalie has shown that much to be confident in, yet the coach needs to show confidence in somebody. This constant flip flopping of goalies gives the whole team no confidence in these guys. That has to have some type of an effect on them mentally.
Some sort of consistency needs to be established in net. Whether it is by one of these goalies stepping up their game, a lot, and solidifying that position, or coach Sacco just sticking with one of those guys for the sake of consistency. If neither of these happens, then it would almost be better to try to get involved on the trade market and bring somebody in that Sacco feels like he can have some type of consistency with, because the only consistent thing that is going on right now is the losing.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Super Bowl Possibly Last Football For a Year
The fantastic game played by the Green Bay Packers and the Pittsburgh Steelers overshadowed an issue that most fans have been preparing themselves for ever since the half way point of last season. That issue, of course, is the looming potential of a lock out of next season's play.
At the start of the season we say all of the players displaying some union solidarity to show that they stand as one in their conflict with NFL owners. The players union says that it plans to decertify in order to prevent a lockout.
What does that mean, decertify? Well, I found a great article that explained this very well. Back in 1987, there was a strike in the NFL. In order to make sure that there was still a season, the owners decided to play out the season with replacement players, you may have seen a movie about this at some point. After the players came back, they attempted to sue the NFL under anti-trust laws, which it won, but later had overturned. They were told they needed to choose to be a union or not. If they decertified the union, the NFLPA would no longer be a union, but a "trade organization." As a trade organization, they could conceivably sue the NFL for locking them out under antitrust laws that it was being subjected to a group boycott, which is illegal.
It's an interesting ace in the sleeve that they have, but at the same time, it seems to be unfair. If the players want to have a say in their CBA, as a union should, then they need to be a union. You can't just take the things that you like about being a union and then drop it the second you don't like it.
The potential work stoppage has also created issues amongst the players. Several are taking the hard line union stance, while some, like Jets corner back Antonio Cromartie, are calling for the union and the owners to make certain that they get a deal done; saying that the union was not doing its job, claiming leadership was "acting like an a-hole." That prompted a response from Seahawk quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, asking if "Cromartie knows what CBA stands for." Hasselbeck later deleted this tweet, but not without notice from Cromartie, who threatened that he would smash Hasselbeck's face in. Hardly projecting a picture of union unity.
In the end, this comes down to something that us fans cannot stand; millionaires arguing with billionaires about money. They owners say they aren't making enough money, and the players say that they can't verify that and don't believe them. Both groups lobby fans for support, but neither actually listens to what the fans want. The fans are the reason that these millionaires are as rich as they are and, once again, we are being thrown under the bus. The message from the fans is very clear, but since neither side seems to be able to understand it, let me simplify it for you.
**clears throat**
Attention owners. Attention players. Quit whining. Both of you make far more money than you rightfully should. Regardless of who "wins", you have both forgotten that neither of you can do without the fans. Without us, there is no attendance and no revenue to argue about. So, once again, SHUT UP! We don't care how you do it, but you all need to wear your big boy pants to work now, make some concessions, and get a deal done. The only alliance that the fans have is to the game itself. So knock it off.
At the start of the season we say all of the players displaying some union solidarity to show that they stand as one in their conflict with NFL owners. The players union says that it plans to decertify in order to prevent a lockout.
What does that mean, decertify? Well, I found a great article that explained this very well. Back in 1987, there was a strike in the NFL. In order to make sure that there was still a season, the owners decided to play out the season with replacement players, you may have seen a movie about this at some point. After the players came back, they attempted to sue the NFL under anti-trust laws, which it won, but later had overturned. They were told they needed to choose to be a union or not. If they decertified the union, the NFLPA would no longer be a union, but a "trade organization." As a trade organization, they could conceivably sue the NFL for locking them out under antitrust laws that it was being subjected to a group boycott, which is illegal.
It's an interesting ace in the sleeve that they have, but at the same time, it seems to be unfair. If the players want to have a say in their CBA, as a union should, then they need to be a union. You can't just take the things that you like about being a union and then drop it the second you don't like it.
The potential work stoppage has also created issues amongst the players. Several are taking the hard line union stance, while some, like Jets corner back Antonio Cromartie, are calling for the union and the owners to make certain that they get a deal done; saying that the union was not doing its job, claiming leadership was "acting like an a-hole." That prompted a response from Seahawk quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, asking if "Cromartie knows what CBA stands for." Hasselbeck later deleted this tweet, but not without notice from Cromartie, who threatened that he would smash Hasselbeck's face in. Hardly projecting a picture of union unity.
In the end, this comes down to something that us fans cannot stand; millionaires arguing with billionaires about money. They owners say they aren't making enough money, and the players say that they can't verify that and don't believe them. Both groups lobby fans for support, but neither actually listens to what the fans want. The fans are the reason that these millionaires are as rich as they are and, once again, we are being thrown under the bus. The message from the fans is very clear, but since neither side seems to be able to understand it, let me simplify it for you.
**clears throat**
Attention owners. Attention players. Quit whining. Both of you make far more money than you rightfully should. Regardless of who "wins", you have both forgotten that neither of you can do without the fans. Without us, there is no attendance and no revenue to argue about. So, once again, SHUT UP! We don't care how you do it, but you all need to wear your big boy pants to work now, make some concessions, and get a deal done. The only alliance that the fans have is to the game itself. So knock it off.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Peter Forsberg Signs on with the Colorado Avalanche!
Here we go again!! Yes, Peter Forsberg has announced that he will come back for another attempt at the NHL with the Colorado Avalanche.
This is the most recent attempt for Peter Forsberg to return to the Avalanche since his run in 2007-2008, when he rejoined the team towards the end of the season after an injury plagued year. He played nine games for the Avs that season and had a goal and 13 assists.
Throughout Forsberg's career, he has been a player that has had more than a point per game average. His career numbers are incredibly impressive. Forsberg has 249 goals and 636 assists in 706 regular-season games. A grand total of 885 points. His playoff numbers are equally impressive, with 64 goals and 107 assists in 151 career playoff games.
These numbers are so impressive that it really make one wonder what his totals would have been had he maintained his health.
There's no arguing with his numbers in his past career, the big question is going to revolve around whether or not he will be able to make a big enough difference for this Avalanche team in the rest of the season. The Avs are currently fourth place in the Northwest Division, and sit in 12th spot in the Western Conference. The catch being that they are only four points out of the eighth playoff spot, and seven points out of the fourth seed in the west.
Knowing Forsberg, he wasn't going to come back if he didn't feel as if he could play at the high level he is accustomed to playing. Still, will this be enough to push the Avs over the hump and into the playoffs? Quite possible.
If I am Joe Sacco, I immediately put Forsberg on a line opposite Milan Hejduk. These two played together for several seasons, most notably during Forsberg's Hart and Art Ross trophy winning seasons, as league's MVP and leading scorer. These guys have chemistry, and they will not take a long time to find it again. Throw Matt Duchene in the middle of that line, and you have something that could be very potentially scary.
From seeing Forsberg, if he is on his game, he can make everybody around him a better player and a potential scoring threat.
All in all, the addition of Peter Forsberg definitely can't hurt the Avs. We'll have to see how he feels while he's in the game time situations before we can fully decide whether Forsberg will be able to help push the Avs into the playoffs.
This is the most recent attempt for Peter Forsberg to return to the Avalanche since his run in 2007-2008, when he rejoined the team towards the end of the season after an injury plagued year. He played nine games for the Avs that season and had a goal and 13 assists.
Throughout Forsberg's career, he has been a player that has had more than a point per game average. His career numbers are incredibly impressive. Forsberg has 249 goals and 636 assists in 706 regular-season games. A grand total of 885 points. His playoff numbers are equally impressive, with 64 goals and 107 assists in 151 career playoff games.
These numbers are so impressive that it really make one wonder what his totals would have been had he maintained his health.
There's no arguing with his numbers in his past career, the big question is going to revolve around whether or not he will be able to make a big enough difference for this Avalanche team in the rest of the season. The Avs are currently fourth place in the Northwest Division, and sit in 12th spot in the Western Conference. The catch being that they are only four points out of the eighth playoff spot, and seven points out of the fourth seed in the west.
Knowing Forsberg, he wasn't going to come back if he didn't feel as if he could play at the high level he is accustomed to playing. Still, will this be enough to push the Avs over the hump and into the playoffs? Quite possible.
If I am Joe Sacco, I immediately put Forsberg on a line opposite Milan Hejduk. These two played together for several seasons, most notably during Forsberg's Hart and Art Ross trophy winning seasons, as league's MVP and leading scorer. These guys have chemistry, and they will not take a long time to find it again. Throw Matt Duchene in the middle of that line, and you have something that could be very potentially scary.
From seeing Forsberg, if he is on his game, he can make everybody around him a better player and a potential scoring threat.
All in all, the addition of Peter Forsberg definitely can't hurt the Avs. We'll have to see how he feels while he's in the game time situations before we can fully decide whether Forsberg will be able to help push the Avs into the playoffs.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Avs Remind Fans How Far Rebuilding Effort Has to Go
Last year, the Avalanche were one of the feel good stories of the NHL year. Having finished dead last in the Western Conference, people were excited to see the once proud franchise making a playoff run. So, when this season started, it seemed natural that expectations should be a bit higher for this team. After all, from one season to another, especially with a team this young, generally you expect improvement from year to year.
Start of this season comes around and things were a bit slower than last year. But you can't expect the kind of fast start that the Avs had last season every year. 20 games go by, 30 games go by, the Avs are right there in the conversation and are hanging with the Canucks. We start thinking, ha! Vancouver who!? We're going to hit our stride and then go flying by those guys.
Only something different happens. More and more games go by, and instead of that energetic, never-say-die team that we had become so used to seeing, we start seeing a team that can't start a game to save their lives, play horrible defense, and can't climb back into games the way they used to. We start to think, well, everybody is thinking "hey, they're bound to hit a slump at some point. They'll rebound."
Well, we're still waiting for that rebound. The Avs dropped another today, this time to the Anaheim Ducks. Another game marked by taking bad penalties, poor defensive zone play, and a lack of offensive intensity. It's something that has marked their play for the last month, or more, of hockey. Then I remembered something.
This Avs team is still rebuilding. This is a team that is still nowhere near their full potential, and will probably take a couple of more years to get there. Last year we experienced something that probably shouldn't have happened. If it wasn't for the insanely amazing play of Craig Anderson, last year's Avs would have been nowhere near the playoffs. The defense was just as inconsistent, the offense experienced similar ups and downs, the big difference was that Anderson was able to make all those insane saves that he had no business making. It's like that guy you play poker with that everybody hates because he goes all in with stupid hands, but wins each time. Eventually, you know that guy is going to run out of luck, it's just a matter of time. It seems that time has happened this year.
So, to all Avs fans, and this is just as much for me as anybody else, yes, the Avs are not a very good team right now. Yes, we're most likely going to miss the playoffs with this type of poor play. Let's all remember, we haven't seen the best that these guys can offer yet. Stewie hasn't shown us a full season of what he will be, neither has Duchene. Neither have a lot of these guys, but their talent is there and they are still learning. Eventually, our front office will help us get bigger and more skilled on defense. Eventually, our goalies won't have to know from the beginning that they have to win the game for us.
Rebuilding is not a fun process for a team, but if you do it right, that time will pay off. Just ask the Pittsburgh Penguins and Chicago Blackhawks. They both spent a decent amount of time at the bottom of the NHL, and have both recently won Stanley Cups. The Avs will get there, I'm convinced, but we, as a fan base, need to make the trip with them and not give up on our boys.
Start of this season comes around and things were a bit slower than last year. But you can't expect the kind of fast start that the Avs had last season every year. 20 games go by, 30 games go by, the Avs are right there in the conversation and are hanging with the Canucks. We start thinking, ha! Vancouver who!? We're going to hit our stride and then go flying by those guys.
Only something different happens. More and more games go by, and instead of that energetic, never-say-die team that we had become so used to seeing, we start seeing a team that can't start a game to save their lives, play horrible defense, and can't climb back into games the way they used to. We start to think, well, everybody is thinking "hey, they're bound to hit a slump at some point. They'll rebound."
Well, we're still waiting for that rebound. The Avs dropped another today, this time to the Anaheim Ducks. Another game marked by taking bad penalties, poor defensive zone play, and a lack of offensive intensity. It's something that has marked their play for the last month, or more, of hockey. Then I remembered something.
This Avs team is still rebuilding. This is a team that is still nowhere near their full potential, and will probably take a couple of more years to get there. Last year we experienced something that probably shouldn't have happened. If it wasn't for the insanely amazing play of Craig Anderson, last year's Avs would have been nowhere near the playoffs. The defense was just as inconsistent, the offense experienced similar ups and downs, the big difference was that Anderson was able to make all those insane saves that he had no business making. It's like that guy you play poker with that everybody hates because he goes all in with stupid hands, but wins each time. Eventually, you know that guy is going to run out of luck, it's just a matter of time. It seems that time has happened this year.
So, to all Avs fans, and this is just as much for me as anybody else, yes, the Avs are not a very good team right now. Yes, we're most likely going to miss the playoffs with this type of poor play. Let's all remember, we haven't seen the best that these guys can offer yet. Stewie hasn't shown us a full season of what he will be, neither has Duchene. Neither have a lot of these guys, but their talent is there and they are still learning. Eventually, our front office will help us get bigger and more skilled on defense. Eventually, our goalies won't have to know from the beginning that they have to win the game for us.
Rebuilding is not a fun process for a team, but if you do it right, that time will pay off. Just ask the Pittsburgh Penguins and Chicago Blackhawks. They both spent a decent amount of time at the bottom of the NHL, and have both recently won Stanley Cups. The Avs will get there, I'm convinced, but we, as a fan base, need to make the trip with them and not give up on our boys.
Super Bowl Sunday!!
Here we are again! The time of the year where everybody looks to the same place for the same 4 hours. Even people who don't care about football are finding the Super Bowl party that they are planning to attend.
What a game we have in store this year. The Green Bay Packers and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Lots of potential story lines, but the one that I think is going to decide the game is the Packer Defense. Here are what I think are the keys for the Packer defense to win the game.
Tackle Big Ben!
The Steelers offensive line will give up some pressure, that is nothing new. What makes Ben so good is his ability to elude that pressure for just long enough to get something out of the play. If they can prevent him from getting out of the pocket, and force him to take the sack or just throw it away, that will go a long way towards keeping the Steelers offense off of the field.
Get Turnovers
Big Ben is the type of quarterback who will go for that high risk, high reward style pass. An aggressive defense like the Packer defense will get their chances to make a huge difference in the outcome of a game. The Steelers were quite prone to turnovers in their playoff games. If not for their superb second half against Baltimore, there is a great chance this team isn't even in the Super Bowl because of all the turnovers.
Solid Tackling
I was watching Sports Center earlier today when they were showing how many yards after contact the Steelers got against the Jets. It was quite a huge difference that you don't really notice just watching the game. The Packers really have to make certain that they wrap up any Steeler that has the ball and not allow any extra yards after contact. That's the difference between 4th and 3 and a brand new set of downs.
Make the Steelers One Dimensional
The bread and butter of the Packer defense is in the secondary. Everybody knows that the Steelers like to run the ball, and they will do it whether or not it has been working throughout the game. That being said, if you keep that run game in control, then you force long third downs where you know they have to pass. If the Packers are able to get more third and six to third and tens, I'd have to think that they would take that any day of the week. If that does happen, the advantage definitely goes to the Packers.
I think the Packers are good enough on defense to do all of those things. Plus, my gut goes immediately to Green Bay. Last year, I just couldn't see the Saints losing, and this year, I just can't see the Packers letting it get away. Aaron Rodgers is the hot hand right now, and you just can't go against the team that is on the hot streak. And right now, that team is undoubtedly the Packers.
This will be a great game, but I'll take the Packers, 27-21.
What a game we have in store this year. The Green Bay Packers and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Lots of potential story lines, but the one that I think is going to decide the game is the Packer Defense. Here are what I think are the keys for the Packer defense to win the game.
Tackle Big Ben!
The Steelers offensive line will give up some pressure, that is nothing new. What makes Ben so good is his ability to elude that pressure for just long enough to get something out of the play. If they can prevent him from getting out of the pocket, and force him to take the sack or just throw it away, that will go a long way towards keeping the Steelers offense off of the field.
Get Turnovers
Big Ben is the type of quarterback who will go for that high risk, high reward style pass. An aggressive defense like the Packer defense will get their chances to make a huge difference in the outcome of a game. The Steelers were quite prone to turnovers in their playoff games. If not for their superb second half against Baltimore, there is a great chance this team isn't even in the Super Bowl because of all the turnovers.
Solid Tackling
I was watching Sports Center earlier today when they were showing how many yards after contact the Steelers got against the Jets. It was quite a huge difference that you don't really notice just watching the game. The Packers really have to make certain that they wrap up any Steeler that has the ball and not allow any extra yards after contact. That's the difference between 4th and 3 and a brand new set of downs.
Make the Steelers One Dimensional
The bread and butter of the Packer defense is in the secondary. Everybody knows that the Steelers like to run the ball, and they will do it whether or not it has been working throughout the game. That being said, if you keep that run game in control, then you force long third downs where you know they have to pass. If the Packers are able to get more third and six to third and tens, I'd have to think that they would take that any day of the week. If that does happen, the advantage definitely goes to the Packers.
I think the Packers are good enough on defense to do all of those things. Plus, my gut goes immediately to Green Bay. Last year, I just couldn't see the Saints losing, and this year, I just can't see the Packers letting it get away. Aaron Rodgers is the hot hand right now, and you just can't go against the team that is on the hot streak. And right now, that team is undoubtedly the Packers.
This will be a great game, but I'll take the Packers, 27-21.
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