College Football season is halfway gone, but that doesn't mean the vague picture we had preseason is completely clear. We do know that only Boise State and TCU are still here, waiting for the BCS schools to lose in their tough conferences where every week is a challenge, no disrespect intended. I have been bashing Boise's and TCU's conferences for weeks now, but I shouldn't be bashing Boise and TCU. It may not be popular, but if they take care of business, it is the fault of the AP and USA Today polls for keeping them so high in the polls. Boise and TCU cannot control that their conferences are not at a BCS level, week 8:
-Boise and TCU: as I eluded to (or talked about) earlier, the BCS "Busters" continue to take care of business against the powerhouses of Air Force and Boise's heart wrenching bye week. While I joke and poke, remember that Air Force was ranked only last week, so TCU was challenged winning 38-7.
-Auburn won, now #1 since Oklahoma lost
-That's all, sorry about the dilatory arrival of this post plus of upset alerts, I was busy.
Friday, October 29, 2010
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Not Another Josh Hamilton Story: A Reds' fan's point of view.
I sit around and watch the Rangers-Yankees play in order to grasp a shot at the World Series. The futility of the Rangers franchise which almost fell into bankrupt this season and one playoff series win (the Rays, this year) versus the hated Yankees with their hundreds of millions in salaries and billion dollar stadium...not to mention their 27 World Series Titles, but there is something that I wish the Reds had more than anything the Yankees have or have had.....Josh Hamilton. Every time Hamilton comes to the plate, I instinctively wipe away the tear that always begins to trickle down. Cincy began the Hamilton comeback when he took him in the Rule 5 Draft. We were destined to have the story everyone talked about, the best hitter in the league, they say. Unfortunately, it never happened. When I saw the headline on the front page of the Cincinnati Enquirer about Hamilton being traded, I could not believe it. Along came Edison Volquez, our prize in the trade. Volquez was an all-star his first season, starting 8-2, and finishing 17-6 with an era of 3.21, nothing to shake a stick at...Hamilton? He hit 32 home runs and batted in 130. Most talked about how the trade would work out for both teams equally, oh how we Cincinnatians laugh at that notion now. Hamilton continues to slug away, hitting another 32 bombs and knocking in 100 RBI's this year. What about 2010? In only 89 games he hit 10 homers and knocked in 54 homers, equivalent to 18 home runs and 98 RBI's in a 162 games, a sub-par season by Hamilton's standards. Oh, woe, how the Reds' have once again doomed us to misery. Rumors are ripe that Hamilton was picked for the trade over Jay Bruce. At the time, it was not the worst choice, but looking back, even then Hamilton was the keeper. You can look at Hamilton's stats in his rookie season with the Reds and see he was better. I mean you look at it as "He is a druggie, why risk it?"....ummmmmmm wasn't that the point of picking him in the first place? Hamilton had already proven he had kicked the stuff by making it back in the first place. The idea of risk-reward is what drives the American investor. I guess Hamilton's talent wasn't worth the risk...I mean the fact that he was completely clean and proven he was the five-tool player everyone thought he was....wait, shit. I mean Hamilton's stats for a rookie are astounding. In 90 games he hit 19 homers and 47 RBI's batting a lowly .292. It probably didn't help that this season occurred when the Reds were still bad. Hamilton was a guy who people wanted, he brought fans to the ballpark, called for national attention, and was a great guy. Everything he has accomplished proves he is better than most, not just as a baseball player but he rests in the 99th percentile in courage and determination. Now, a Reds fan who can only watch as Hamilton proves himself the best talent in baseball, Hamilton makes me sniffle.
In Conclusion: Can you imagine the Reds with a viable #4 hitter that Hamilton would provide....Continue to be great, Josh, because that's what Cincinnati needs, more pain and agony knowing we let go of the most talented player in the MLB today...sorry Albert.
In Conclusion: Can you imagine the Reds with a viable #4 hitter that Hamilton would provide....Continue to be great, Josh, because that's what Cincinnati needs, more pain and agony knowing we let go of the most talented player in the MLB today...sorry Albert.
College Football Week 7:
It's like deja vu all over again. Week 7 hath continued to make the worst outcome in the history of college football even more likey:
-There's that dang Deja Vu: #1 Ohio State lost to Wisconsin, and it wasn't really even close. Camp Randall rocked from the word go as the Badgers ran back the opening kickoff and the Buckeyes late charge (similar to a game last week where Alabama made a late charge against South Carolina but was thwarted) but was...darn used my word...uh, shut down by Wisconsin. Everyone knew the Badgers were talented and honestly may be the best team in the Big-10 if not for a hiccup against still undefeated Michigan State:
-THIS IS EAST LANSING!: The modern day Spartans are still firing on all cylinders. In the second best conference in the country, Sparty refuses to be phased. They took down a softer Big-10 opponent (who obliterated Joe Pa and Penn State) in Illinois. We'll have to keep a close eye on the Spartans as they should pass up the Busters in the BCS poll if they remain undefeated.
-Tigers, Sooners, and Ducks!: Our best hopes to remain undefeated are SEC West dwellers Auburn/LSU/Missouri, Oklahoma, and Oregon. LSU and Aubrun face off in the marquee game of this week. Not far behind is the Missouri-Oklahoma match-up. Oregon has the softest conference and has an unbelievable chance to remain undefeated with their toughest match-up left being the Civil War at the end of the year against Oregon State...we can only hope two of these teams (or Michigan State) can make it through and quell the Buster fire.
-Speaking of Busters: I continue to sagway as I start on the BCS Busters, namely Boise and TCU and their conferences. Boise State, TCU, and Utah all remained undefeated, but Nevada fell at Hawaii. Also, a ranked Air Force team lost to the mighty Aztecs of San Diego State. One of either two positive things can be taken from these losses: 1) the conferences are stronger than the experts suspected and Boise, TCU, and Utah really need to watch out or 2) the conferences are as weak as I suspected and Boise, TCU, and Utah are really going to roll.
-Hey.....Oklahoma State!: We don't want to downplay the Cowboys. The only undefeated OSU in college football is Oklahoma and they are ready to be the best in the Big-12 south, but the combined record of every team they play whose mascot is not a Jayhawk? try 25-6 including playing at Texas and #1 Oklahoma in BEDLAM!
-Speaking of BEDLAM!: I know the Sooners already showed up in this article, but I have to talk them up. Oklahoma has played a more than tough schedule this year. They played against a tough Air Force team, at a tough Cincinnati team, against a top-15lorida State, and versus a top-20 Texas team. Oklahoma avoids Nebraska for now, but may see them (or Missouri again) in the Big-12 Championship Game, so their schedule does get easier, especially after this week if they can slide past #11 and undefeated Missouri.
In Conclusion: It may be 3 in a row for #1 when Oklahoma plays at Missouri this weekend. There is no need to think the Sooners cannot win, but it is certainly going to be a fun Week 8 featuring Okla-Mizzou, LSU-Auburn, Air Force-TCU, Michigan State-Northwestern, Wisconsin-Iowa, Oklahoma-Oklahoma State, Washington-Arizona, and Kansas State Baylor...all fantastic games, Ladies, (gentlemen) I am the first to claim this Contender-Pretender Saturday (heh, cept you Boise)
-There's that dang Deja Vu: #1 Ohio State lost to Wisconsin, and it wasn't really even close. Camp Randall rocked from the word go as the Badgers ran back the opening kickoff and the Buckeyes late charge (similar to a game last week where Alabama made a late charge against South Carolina but was thwarted) but was...darn used my word...uh, shut down by Wisconsin. Everyone knew the Badgers were talented and honestly may be the best team in the Big-10 if not for a hiccup against still undefeated Michigan State:
-THIS IS EAST LANSING!: The modern day Spartans are still firing on all cylinders. In the second best conference in the country, Sparty refuses to be phased. They took down a softer Big-10 opponent (who obliterated Joe Pa and Penn State) in Illinois. We'll have to keep a close eye on the Spartans as they should pass up the Busters in the BCS poll if they remain undefeated.
-Tigers, Sooners, and Ducks!: Our best hopes to remain undefeated are SEC West dwellers Auburn/LSU/Missouri, Oklahoma, and Oregon. LSU and Aubrun face off in the marquee game of this week. Not far behind is the Missouri-Oklahoma match-up. Oregon has the softest conference and has an unbelievable chance to remain undefeated with their toughest match-up left being the Civil War at the end of the year against Oregon State...we can only hope two of these teams (or Michigan State) can make it through and quell the Buster fire.
-Speaking of Busters: I continue to sagway as I start on the BCS Busters, namely Boise and TCU and their conferences. Boise State, TCU, and Utah all remained undefeated, but Nevada fell at Hawaii. Also, a ranked Air Force team lost to the mighty Aztecs of San Diego State. One of either two positive things can be taken from these losses: 1) the conferences are stronger than the experts suspected and Boise, TCU, and Utah really need to watch out or 2) the conferences are as weak as I suspected and Boise, TCU, and Utah are really going to roll.
-Hey.....Oklahoma State!: We don't want to downplay the Cowboys. The only undefeated OSU in college football is Oklahoma and they are ready to be the best in the Big-12 south, but the combined record of every team they play whose mascot is not a Jayhawk? try 25-6 including playing at Texas and #1 Oklahoma in BEDLAM!
-Speaking of BEDLAM!: I know the Sooners already showed up in this article, but I have to talk them up. Oklahoma has played a more than tough schedule this year. They played against a tough Air Force team, at a tough Cincinnati team, against a top-15lorida State, and versus a top-20 Texas team. Oklahoma avoids Nebraska for now, but may see them (or Missouri again) in the Big-12 Championship Game, so their schedule does get easier, especially after this week if they can slide past #11 and undefeated Missouri.
In Conclusion: It may be 3 in a row for #1 when Oklahoma plays at Missouri this weekend. There is no need to think the Sooners cannot win, but it is certainly going to be a fun Week 8 featuring Okla-Mizzou, LSU-Auburn, Air Force-TCU, Michigan State-Northwestern, Wisconsin-Iowa, Oklahoma-Oklahoma State, Washington-Arizona, and Kansas State Baylor...all fantastic games, Ladies, (gentlemen) I am the first to claim this Contender-Pretender Saturday (heh, cept you Boise)
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
College Football Week 6:
Phew, a busy week hath produced a late post on week 6, but nonetheless here we go:
-The BCS has got trouble (right here in River City!): Ooops. the BCS is getting itself into the mess it didn't want. Alabama lost to South Carolina and Ohio State and Oregon have ridiculous schedules looming. Oklahoma might get through the regular season unscathed, but it is doubtful that LSU and Auburn will. There is also the issue of the Big-12 Championship game, which may eliminate a title hopeful of either the Sooners or Nebraska. The BCS's nightmare of TCU and Boise State both going undefeated, and no one else accomplishing it, is on the horizon. What is a BCS-er to do? Here are the questions a BCS-er must ask himself/herself:
1) Is a one loss Alabama or SEC team better than TCU and/or Boise State?
2) Is a one loss Ohio State or Oregon better than TCU and/or Boise State?
3) What about if Auburn, LSU, or even Michigan State go undefeated? Will they leap the Broncos and Horned Frogs who have taken a firm seat on the BCS totem pole's pinnacle?
4) Then there is Utah, if they beat TCU and go undefeated, shouldn't they replace TCU and jump all one loss teams?
5) Nevada is the same as Utah, but in the WAC.
6) Does a 1-loss Boise State or TCU get a BCS berth?
The Road to this years championship is being paved with disaster for the BCS-ers....People talk about a playoff, but the regular season is the playoff. The College Football regular season means everything, which is what makes it so exciting, but what happens when the formula goes wrong? Can anyone outside of Idaho and Fort Worth really think a MWC or WAC team deserves the BCS Championship game more than a 1-loss SEC team or 1-loss Big Ten team? It is another discussion for a later post.
-In other news, Michigan lost, Arizona lost (picked!), and nothing else exciting happened
-The BCS has got trouble (right here in River City!): Ooops. the BCS is getting itself into the mess it didn't want. Alabama lost to South Carolina and Ohio State and Oregon have ridiculous schedules looming. Oklahoma might get through the regular season unscathed, but it is doubtful that LSU and Auburn will. There is also the issue of the Big-12 Championship game, which may eliminate a title hopeful of either the Sooners or Nebraska. The BCS's nightmare of TCU and Boise State both going undefeated, and no one else accomplishing it, is on the horizon. What is a BCS-er to do? Here are the questions a BCS-er must ask himself/herself:
1) Is a one loss Alabama or SEC team better than TCU and/or Boise State?
2) Is a one loss Ohio State or Oregon better than TCU and/or Boise State?
3) What about if Auburn, LSU, or even Michigan State go undefeated? Will they leap the Broncos and Horned Frogs who have taken a firm seat on the BCS totem pole's pinnacle?
4) Then there is Utah, if they beat TCU and go undefeated, shouldn't they replace TCU and jump all one loss teams?
5) Nevada is the same as Utah, but in the WAC.
6) Does a 1-loss Boise State or TCU get a BCS berth?
The Road to this years championship is being paved with disaster for the BCS-ers....People talk about a playoff, but the regular season is the playoff. The College Football regular season means everything, which is what makes it so exciting, but what happens when the formula goes wrong? Can anyone outside of Idaho and Fort Worth really think a MWC or WAC team deserves the BCS Championship game more than a 1-loss SEC team or 1-loss Big Ten team? It is another discussion for a later post.
-In other news, Michigan lost, Arizona lost (picked!), and nothing else exciting happened
Friday, October 8, 2010
Even with a sweep, the Reds gave Cincy what it needed:
The Cincinnati Reds appear to be on their way out of the playoffs quickly due to the dominance of Roy Halladay and the ineptitude of Reds' fielding. The Phillies' were the best team in the National League in the regular season so it is not all that surprising that they should take the Redlegs out so easily. This season, however, was never about the World Series for Cincinnati. Many people look at their early exit, stage right, I believe, to be disappointing. The fans wanted more, they wanted a winner, but the Reds gave Cincy what it needed: Baseball relevance. Cincinnati has been a baseball town since 1869 and used to be the place for baseball. Back in the early days, Cincinnati was revered as baseball's center, everyone wanted to play for Cincinnati and Cincinnati always had the best team. Recently, the MLB has been doomed by the lack of a salary cap which has led to big-market dominance. Small market teams can sneak up on people, but the playoffs this year are a fine example of the fact that money still wins in the MLB. Not to mention (but obviously I am going to anyway) the last "small-market" champion was the Florida Marlins in 2003. Since then, it has been: Boston Red Sox, Chicago White Sox, St. Louis Cardinals, Boston Red Sox, Philadelphia Phillies, and the New York Yankees. It is a sad day when the smallest market on there is St. Louis...sigh. Back to the Redlegs, it goes without saying that the Reds have been on a mission to return to baseball relevance. It has shown this season that if the Reds are relevant, the fans will show. The Reds completed more than they had hoped to at this point. They most likely won't win the World Series or even make it out of the division round of the playoffs, but the Redlegs made Cincinnati appreciate and even love baseball again. The Reds have their town back, for a short while. If they keep the core intact, it is not Utopian to think the Reds can be back to the playoffs next year with a little bit better results.
In Conclusion: Read the article above.
In Conclusion: Read the article above.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
College Football Week 5:
Week 5 loomed large as the week following the week which came after the week after Monster Saturday. I continued my unsuccessful upset alert picks(I would like to personally thank Washington for the win this week), yet:
-Oregon is still good: People thought the Ducks were finished this season without Jeremiah Masoli. They were a perennial top 5 team with Masoli, but I had dropped them to #10 in my Preseason rankings. The Ducks are now #3 and looking like the best offensive unit in the country. Oregon may now be the favorite to face Alabama in the BCS Championship Game with Ohio State having a little trouble @ Illinois....Hey if they keep Boise out, why not?
-Bama better be cautious: Auburn has climbed to #8 and LSU has crept to #12. Already dispatching of #11 Arkansas, the Tide are 1/3 of the way through what looks like the toughest SEC West ever.
-I am guaranteeing 2 wins in upset alert this week, so be ready for that.
-It doesn't get any easier for OSU: Illinois was supposedly the 2nd worst team in the Big-10...My pick looks to be in trouble.
-Denard Robinson is the Heisman favorite: I have preached a vague Heisman race this year, but Michigan's Dreadlocked Dasher has broken away from the pack. If he continues his ridiculous pace with 1,913 combined rushing (905) and passing (1,008) yards he might save the Wolverines from another embarrassing season and Rich Rod's job.
-The best game this week will be Michigan against Michigan State: It is the biggest rivalry of the week and both teams enter rolling. MSU is hotter, but the game is at Michigan. I will put the line at Michigan +3 and 65 points.
In Conclusion: College Football is so much better than the NFL, especially with the flaw that is Fantasy Football....Second in my league in points, but 1-3 due to my 666 points against, which leads by 74...Gah!
-Oregon is still good: People thought the Ducks were finished this season without Jeremiah Masoli. They were a perennial top 5 team with Masoli, but I had dropped them to #10 in my Preseason rankings. The Ducks are now #3 and looking like the best offensive unit in the country. Oregon may now be the favorite to face Alabama in the BCS Championship Game with Ohio State having a little trouble @ Illinois....Hey if they keep Boise out, why not?
-Bama better be cautious: Auburn has climbed to #8 and LSU has crept to #12. Already dispatching of #11 Arkansas, the Tide are 1/3 of the way through what looks like the toughest SEC West ever.
-I am guaranteeing 2 wins in upset alert this week, so be ready for that.
-It doesn't get any easier for OSU: Illinois was supposedly the 2nd worst team in the Big-10...My pick looks to be in trouble.
-Denard Robinson is the Heisman favorite: I have preached a vague Heisman race this year, but Michigan's Dreadlocked Dasher has broken away from the pack. If he continues his ridiculous pace with 1,913 combined rushing (905) and passing (1,008) yards he might save the Wolverines from another embarrassing season and Rich Rod's job.
-The best game this week will be Michigan against Michigan State: It is the biggest rivalry of the week and both teams enter rolling. MSU is hotter, but the game is at Michigan. I will put the line at Michigan +3 and 65 points.
In Conclusion: College Football is so much better than the NFL, especially with the flaw that is Fantasy Football....Second in my league in points, but 1-3 due to my 666 points against, which leads by 74...Gah!
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