NFL Power Ranks: Week 17

First, I'd like to wish ourselves a happy 5 year anniversary of sports writing! Ryan and I started the old Is It Sports? site on Geocities on January 5, 2005. I never would have thought we would have almost 2,000 posts 5 years later (mostly by Ryan, or course). It's been a lot of fun and I hope the next 5 years are even better!

The regular season finally came to an exciting end this past week, and the playoff picture is finally set. As I said last week, the ranks are totally based on a formula and do not compensate for a team benching its starters at the end of the year, so we sometimes see some bizarre things happen at this point of the season. In a way, this explains why we have a new #1 heading into the playoffs, the San Diego Chargers. They benched a lot of starters this week too, but faced a Redskins team so bad that their backups came away with the win. The Colts, who also benched starters, lost their 2nd in a row to drop to #3. The Packers blew out the Cardinals just for fun in Arizona to move up to #2, and will have a rematch next week. The Eagles fell to #5 after being completely dominated by Dallas (yet stayed ahead of them), and also despite losing, the Patriots moved up to #4.

If we must discuss the bottom 5, the Chiefs win over the Broncos to seal Denver's 4th choke of a season in a row moved them out of the bottom 5, and they were replaced by the Raiders, always a good team to fill the bottom 5 void. Seattle fell to their season low #30, and everyone else stayed the same. The Rams are on the clock.

This week, 3 teams moved up 5 spots, the Vikings to #8 after blowing out the Giants, the Browns all the way to #19 after winning their 4th in a row, and the Bills to #20 after blowing out the Colts backups. The Cardinals and Bengals both dropped 6 spots after being blown out by the teams they will face this weekend in the playoffs. As in past years, the ranks will continue throughout the playoffs.

So now lets look ahead to the playoffs. Here are the ranks of each of the playoff teams:
AFC
1. Colts #3
2. Chargers #1
3. Patriots #4
4. Bengals #18
5. Jets #11
6. Ravens #6
NFC
1. Saints #10
2. Vikings #8
3. Cowboys #7
4. Cardinals #16
5. Packers #2
6. Eagles #5

Some of the lower ranks by the top teams are due to tanking and/or benching starters at then end of the year. In the Cardinals' case, its pretty much status quo for the season. The Texans finished the regular season #9 and are the highest ranked non-playoff team (ranked higher than the Saints, Jets, Cardinals, and Bengals). The Falcons, 49ers, Steelers, and Panthers are ahead of the Cardinals and Bengals, and the Titans are nestled in between Arizona and Cincinnati.

So what happens this week? The ranks have the Packers and Jets winning clearly over the Cardinals and Bengals, and they give a slight edge to the Patriots over the Ravens. The Cowboys are Eagles are kind of a crap shoot with the game being in Dallas, but the ranks are going with the Eagles.

Unrelated to the ranks, here are my playoff predictions (and it includes a Ryan nightmare scenario)
Wild Card
NFC
Packers over Cardinals
Eagles over Cowboys (the 'Boys will surely not prepare well enough for this game after last week)
AFC
Jets over Bengals (I think the Jets are just better, especially defensively)
Ravens over Patriots (yep, going with all the road teams, and I don't trust Brady's ribs)
Divisional
NFC
Eagles over Saints (I think the Saints are DOA)
Packers over Vikings (Favre's career (hopefully) ends with a loss to Green Bay)
AFC
Colts over Ravens
Chargers over Jets
Conference
Packers over Eagles (yeah, its a crazy sleeper, but I trust my ranks, especially in Lambeau)
Chargers over Colts (doesn't this always happen?)
Super Bowl
Chargers over Packers

Here are the final regular season ranks:
1. Chargers - 77.60 - +1
2. Packers - 72.46 - +2
3. Colts - 69.41 - -2
4. Patriots - 68.74 - +1
5. Eagles - 68.55 - -2
6. Ravens - 68.17 - +2
7. Cowboys - 67.62 - Even
8. Vikings - 66.43 - +5
9. Texans - 64.54 - +2
10. Saints - 62.11 - -4
11. Jets - 62.03 - -2
12. Falcons - 61.52 - +3
13. 49ers - 60.02 - +3
14. Panthers - 58.35 - Even
15. Steelers - 58.78 - +2
16. Cardinals - 52.01 - -6
17. Titans - 51.89 - +3
18. Bengals - 50.05 - -6
19. Browns - 45.23 - +5
20. Bills - 44.63 - +5
21. Bears - 43.73 - +2
22. Broncos - 43.48 - -4
23. Giants - 41.82 - -4
24. Dolphins - 38.39 - -3
25. Jaguars - 35.88 - -3
26. Buccaneers - 32.23 - +1
27. Chiefs - 31.19 - +3
28. Redskins - 30.66 - Even
29. Raiders - 28.02 - -3
30. Seahawks - 23.59 - -1
31. Lions - 15.60 - Even
32. Rams - 11.04 - Even

Go Check Out Ricky's Predictions

As I post the archives of the old Is It Sports? site (see yesterday's post), I stumbled upon a pretty entertaining one that our friend Kevin wrote from Ricky Williams' point of view, making predictions of champions in each sport from 2005-2010. These were supposed to be funny, drug induced picks, but some of them were actually a lot closer than we ever would have imagined at the time. You can find it in the February 2005 archives by following the link on the left. I know this is the lazy way out, but I've re-posted 17 posts from the old site since yesterday, with a lot more to come. We'll go back to modern sports content again tomorrow.

R.I.P. GeoCities, Old Is It Sports? Site

Back in January 2005, Ryan and I decided to get into sports writing by finding a way to save some of our more entertaining instant messenger conversations about sports (which we starting having way back in 2002 during our sophomore year in college) and post them somewhere online. We created a website on geocities, called Is It Sports? to host these conversations, and write comments about them afterwords. We only updated the site occasionally, about once every couple of weeks, and I got to try out some of my terrible html skills. We wound up having a lot of memorable posts, which we still link to occasionally today. Eventually, I got a little too busy to dedicate a lot of time to the site, and Ryan was writing posts that weren't getting uploaded until 2 or 3 months after the fact, which led to Ryan setting up the Victoria Times in January 2006. We kept the old site going until March 2006. I eventually started my own ill-fated blog, and eventually starting writing again here in November 2006.

So why am I giving this history lesson that probably no one cares about? Well I am sad to say that after 15 years of operation, Yahoo is shutting down GeoCities on October 26 and all websites will be removed from the internet. As the "webmaster" of the old Is It Sports? site, I'd hate to see some of our old material disappear, so starting this weekend I am going to start bringing all of our writing under one roof, at the Victoria Times. Sure, you won't be able to see my horrible html anymore after October, but I'll be sure to bring over the horrible Microsoft Paint doctored pictures...

I don't want to load up this site with a bunch of sports banter from 2005, so I'm going to timestamp the posts to the day they were originally written, so check out our soon to be expanded archives for lots of new(old) content! Since I will be posting them all, I'll make a note of who the original author was and maybe we'll both add a little commentary as an intro to these posts. Probably some of the most fun I have had doing this for the last 5 years is looking back at these old posts with a modern day perspective. Hope you enjoy them too.

The Danny Tartabull Game

Originally posted on "Is It Sports?" this may be the most dorky fun we had making a post for this site, and unfortunately, it was the last for the old site. I relocated for work a few weeks after this was written, and by the time I got settled in to the new job and location, Ryan had gotten used to writing on the times, and I realized using this blogger site makes a lot more practical sense than geocities. We really enjoyed creating the old site, and I'm really glad we were able to capture all of our old posts here in the archives so they won't be forgotten.

This originally was going to be a post for the blog, but since it's 12 pages long on Word, I decided to make it its own post with pictures and stuff. If you have the patience and the same love for barely relevant mid 90's players as us, you'll enjoy this - Steve

Ryan: So, my buddy and eric have been playing this game where we go back and forth with some mediocre 90s baseball players
Steve: oh man that's like my specialty
Ryan: we call it the Danny Tartabull game
Ryan: I won with a Listasch/Jaha combo
Ryan: then I had to help him with Mickey Tettleton and Dean Palmer
Steve: yeah those guys were....decent
Ryan: not great, but you knew who they were
Steve: how about Shawon Dunston?
Ryan: nice
Ryan: I left him a note at the end of the day that said "Paul Sorrento says hi"
Steve: he was...decent...too
Ryan: I'm thinking him a message tonight saying that Delino Deshields is having a party in honor of Devon White
Ryan: brb
Steve: so many worthless baseball cards I have now.....
Steve: we should come up with a mediocre 90s players all-star team
Ryan: that would be an outstanding post
Steve: yeah
Steve: well right now I'm going to get a haircut, but maybe we can do that later
Ryan: haha... good luck with that
Steve: yeah I have to walk a whole 200 yards or so!
Steve: yeah haircuts are short
Ryan: Mike Greenwell
Steve: ooh that's a good one Steve: how about Darren Daulton
Ryan: haha... when I came back from lunch I had a note that said that Frank Viola had invited Darren Daulton and I to Jim Leyritz's house because they were having a surprise party for Allen Trammel
Steve: oh Frank Viola is good too
Steve: how about Tom Candiotti
Ryan: I said I would only go if Lenny Dykstra was there
Ryan: GREAT ONE
Ryan: Candy Maldonado
Steve: Geronimo Berrora
Ryan: nice... I was about to go tere... its just berroa, i think
Ryan: Tony Tarasco
Steve: Paul Assenmacher
Ryan: stupendous... David Segui
Steve: the blonde haired one
Steve: Steve Sabo
Ryan: oh wow
Ryan: nice
Ryan: You would be great at this game
Ryan: I'm stealing these names and bringing them in tomorrow
Steve: haha
Steve: yeah I'm trying to think back to old video games and Sox scorecards
Ryan: well, if you want to think of Sox, think of Sax
Steve: oh its Chris Sabo, not Steve
Ryan: I wasnt sure about that one... Chris sounds right
Ryan: how about Wally Joyner
Steve: ooh that's a good one
Steve: Bret Barbarie
Ryan: oh man
Ryan: Brady Anderson
Steve: original Marlin baby!
Ryan: lol
Steve: Dante Bichette
Ryan: nice!
Ryan: Jay Buhner
Steve: ooh nice Steve: Glenallen Hill
Ryan: wow... wow.. nice
Steve: I'm checking out my Sox games spreadsheet
Ryan: lol
Steve: I still remember his Grand Slam
Ryan: Ruben Sierra would fit if he wasnt still playing
Ryan: surprisingly, so do i
Steve: yeah the bastard Steve: you remember Hill hitting a grand slam against the Sox in 1990?
Ryan: oh.. I remember him hitting one as a cub, i think
Steve: ooh Carlos Baerga
Ryan: yep,yep
Steve: ok that was one messed up game
Steve: Sox beat Cleveland 6-5
Steve: Baerga hit 2 HR
Steve: Robin Ventura hit a grand slam, the first ever in the new Comiskey Park
Steve: losing pitcher?
Steve: Tom Candiotti
Ryan: nice
Steve: how about Bobby Thigpen
Ryan: lol
Steve: Melido Perez
Ryan: lol
Steve: Chris Hoiles
Steve: these are all people that will be forever on my spreadsheet for either hitting a HR or getting a pitching decision
Ryan: !
Ryan: Chris Hoiles!
Steve: haha
Steve: Ricky Bones
Ryan: I just called and left Eric a message
Ryan: nice
Steve: remember him? Big Brewers prospect
Steve: what did you tell him?
Ryan: that I was going to play cards with Delino Deshields and Devon White and if he wanted to be a fourth. If not, we could always ask Tom Candiotti
Steve: lol
Steve: I did indeed see Paul Sorrento hit a HR too
Steve: he and Glenallen Hill for the same team in the same game actually
Steve: ooh how about Mark Langston
Ryan: eric called me back
Steve: haha
Ryan: butch huskey
Steve: lol
Steve: I love that name
Ryan: charles nagy
Ryan: actually, it was charles nagy that started this game
Ryan: Oh man.. .i just htought of someone who DEFINES this era
Ryan: Dave
Ryan: Justice
Ryan: Ryan: we just name as many mediocre baseball players from the nineties as we can
Jlenoky: haha
Jlenoky: butch husky
Steve: ok I'm back
Steve: wow butch husky was the first one
Ryan: yeah
Steve: how about Kevin Seitzer
Steve: Luis Sojo
Steve: ooh Damon Easley
Ryan: that is a dynamic trio
Ryan: i especially like seitzer
Steve: how about Luis Polonia
Ryan: outstanding work
Ryan: my brother came up with one that blew me away
Ryan: Greg Vaughn
Steve: oooooo
Ryan: because he couldnt think of any that didnt play for the twins
Ryan: then bam... greg vaughn
Steve: good recovery
Steve: how about famed closer Storm Davis
Ryan: Only if the game was started by john smiley
Steve: ooh that's a good one too
Steve: how about Gary Disarcina
Ryan: excellent work
Steve: Terry Steinbach
Ryan: another former twin
Steve: the funny part is basically all the guys I've mentioned before I saw hit a homer
Ryan: haha
Ryan: you say disarcina hit a homer?
Steve: yep
Ryan: I saw WILL CLARK hit a homer
Steve: how about this for a game
Steve: Angels 8, White Sox 6
Steve: Chicago HR: Tim Raines
Steve: California HR: Jim Edmonds, Gary Disarcina, Damon Easley
Steve: WP: Mike Bielecki
Steve: LP: Jason Bere
Steve: S: Lee Smith
Ryan: ooh
Steve: haha Jeffery Hammonds
Ryan: We should make that allstar team... we each get one team... all 9 positions and a relief pitcher
Steve: what are the guidelines?
Steve: lol
Steve: I think I have a winner
Ryan: they had to have played in the 90's and you have to be reasonably sure that they won't ever be an all star
Steve: Heathcliff Slocumb
Ryan: i mean HOFer
Steve: but isn't it more fun if they were all-stars?
Steve: ahh ok
Ryan: well played
Ryan: And in the spirit of the game, we'll have a draft that starts.... now
Ryan: you go first
Steve: hold on, reviewing the conversation
Ryan: haha.. all right
Steve: ok I think I have to go with Glenallen Hill since I remember him so well and probably no one else does
Ryan: well, since pitching wins championships, I'm going with John Smiley
Steve: I'll take Chris Sabo to play 1st
Steve: oops he played 3rd
Ryan: I'm going to take this game's namesake.... Danny Tartabull for the outfield
Steve: let me see where Seitzer played
Steve: ahh he was mostly 3rd too
Ryan: i would pick seitzer for first
Steve: I'll take Mark Langston as my SP
Ryan: so seitzer is or is not still on the board?
Steve: he's on the board
Ryan: nevertheless, I'm going to take 1st baseman Will Clark
Steve: ok
Steve: I'm logging this in excel just so you know
Ryan: nice... I'll find their lifetime stats and put them into high heat 2003 and sim a game... best baseball sim ever, btw
Steve: haha
Steve: I'll go with Dante Bichette in LF
Ryan: I'm going to have to go with my favorite player ever... Tim Wallach at 3rd
Steve: haha ok Steve: here's a new one
Steve: Bobby Bonilla for CF
Ryan: oh no! thats AWESOME
Steve: I'll put Hill in CF, Bonilla in RF
Ryan: Well, since you don't have much more outfield to fill in, I'm going to work on my infield some more... Delino Deshields at 2b
Steve: hmm
Steve: I need 1B, 2B, SS, C, RP
Ryan: what do I need again?
Steve: SS, LF, CF, C, RP
Steve: I'll take Carlos Baerga at 2B
Ryan: Andy Van Slyke.. .where did he play again?
Ryan: what position?
Steve: I think he was CF
Steve: lol that's a great one too
Ryan: I'll take Van Slyke
Steve: haha ok
Steve: we didn't name too many 1B earlier
Ryan: we really didnt
Ryan: Wally Joyner
Ryan: David Segui
Ryan: well... in the sim, do we go with a DH or no?
Steve: lol Steve: haha I got a SS
Steve: Wil Cordero
Ryan: lol!
Steve: yeah we can pick a DH
Ryan: in that case I'm taking Maldonado
Steve: for DH?
Ryan: someone has to take Candy Maldonado
Steve: ooh Cordero still plays, does that count?
Steve: (I had no idea he did)
Ryan: ooh.. thats right... well, bichette still does too, so I'll let both slide
Steve: I'll go with Todd Hundley at catcher
Steve: no screw that I'm taking Tettleton
Ryan: lol
Ryan: nice
Steve: ok you need a SS, LF, C, RP
Ryan: I'll take Lou Whittaker at short
Steve: lol that's a good one too
Ryan: not gonna take him, thought of a good one
Ryan: former purdue boilermaker...
Ryan: Archi Cianfrocco
Steve: lol
Steve: ok I'll drop Baerga since he still plays
Steve: and I'll replace him with...
Steve: Mike "leggo my" Gallego
Ryan: lol
Steve: now I need to find a 1B
Ryan: yeah... still your turn to pick
Steve: oh many how can we forget so many good 2B?
Steve: Mickey Morandini
Ryan: yeah, thats a good one
Ryan: im surprised you let steve sax go
Steve: only because he was on the Sox
Steve: they've had lots of messed up guys like Mike LaVallliere
Steve: Lance Johnson
Steve: Ron Karkovice
Ryan: haha
Steve: remember Pete Incaviglia?
Ryan: uh, how can you forget pete incaviglia
Ryan: jim eisenreich?
Steve: haha
Steve: ok at 1B I'll go with Sid Bream
Steve: you need LF, C, RP
Ryan: I was looking at Tettletons stats... most similar by age? Ron Karkovice
Steve: lol
Steve: is that who you want?
Ryan: no
Steve: actually I only didn't take Jaha because you said it first
Steve: but I think he needs to be on one of these teams
Steve: and Bream played mostly in the 80s
Ryan: so you're taking jaha?
Steve: yeah I'll go with him
Ryan: My final outfielder is going to end up being Ray Lankford
Steve: lol Steve: he was very mediocre
Steve: I'll go with Storm Davis as my closer
Ryan: I'm so torn on this one... I don
Ryan: 't know enough good relievers
Ryan: I think I'll just go with Dan Plesac
Steve: haha that's good
Steve: I'll go with Seitzer as my DH Steve: you need a catcher
Ryan: hmm...
Ryan: I'm inclined to go with Chris Hoiles
Ryan: oh my god... look at the mid nineties orioles... we named pretty much the whole team
Ryan: http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/BAL/1997.shtml
Steve: I actually found a better one
Steve: I think it was like the 1994 Brewers
Steve: ooh....Jeff Reboulet
Ryan: Rico Brogna
Steve: lol
Ryan: oh shit... Nilssons my catcher
Steve: 96 Brewers
Steve: Matheny, Jaha, Vina, Cirillo, Valentin, Greg Vaughn, Listach, Mieske, Seitzer
Ryan: lol
Steve: Jeromy Burnitz, Kelly Stinnett, Dave Nilsson, Mark Loretta on the bench
Steve: I love the rotation too
Steve: Ben McDonald, Scott Karl, Ricky Bones, Jeff D'Amico, Cal Eldred, Steve Sparks
Ryan: that's just awful
Ryan: Have you got all your stats?
Ryan: its more fun not to look at the stats until you have your team
Ryan: like, your best power hitter is Mickey Tettleton
Steve: I kind of looked at them
Steve: see the ESPN Monday Night Football crew?
Ryan: Chris Sabo is your fastest player
Steve: Joe Theisman, Mike Tirico, Tony Kornheiser
Ryan: yeah no shit... what are michaels and madden doing?
Steve: going to NBC for Sunday Night
Ryan: oh...
Ryan: you have to get me a batting order sometime
Steve: oh man I don't even know
Steve: I should probably pick a different closer Steve: Davis only has 11 saves
Ryan: ill just leave him in.. I wouldnt worry about it
Steve: lol I have a good one
Steve: Ricky Bottalico
Ryan: lol
Ryan: I already have Davis
Ryan: 's stats... why don't I add Candiotti to my team and we'll each have three pitchers
Steve: haha ok
Steve: set up guy
Ryan: there you go
Ryan: Tartabull's full name is Danilo Tartabull Mora
Ryan: lol... the similar hitters is like a who's who of players for the next round of the Danny Tartabull game
Ryan: Ryan Klesko, Jeromy Burnitz
Ryan: he was traded to the A's for Ruben Sierra
Ryan: god... Tartabull is connected!
Steve: lol
Ryan: all right, ill be right back
Steve: ok got my lineup
Steve: 1. Seitzer
Steve: 2. Sabo
Steve: 3. Bichette
Steve: 4. Jaha
Steve: 5. Bonilla
Steve: 6. Hill
Steve: 7. Tettleton
Steve: 8. Cordero
Steve: 9. Gallego
Steve: I'm going to take that shower I wanted to take since coming home from my haircut
Ryan: Deshields was traded once in his career.... that trade was for Pedro Martinez
Steve: wow Steve: pretty bad trade
Ryan: indeed
Ryan: although Deshields was a lot better than i thought
Ryan: Really the ultimate leadoff hitter
Ryan: he averaged 46 stolen bases a year
Ryan: averaged
Steve: wow
Ryan: I randomly picked a pretty good team
Ryan: 162 game averages...
Ryan: Deshields BA .267 HR 8 SB 46
Ryan: Van Slyke
Ryan: .274 16 25
Steve: I just took a phone survey on beer
Ryan: Clark .303 23
Steve: ooh over .300
Ryan: Tartabull .272 30
Ryan: Lankford .272 23 25
Ryan: god... how do I bat those last 4... thats how I have them now, but I'm just not sure
Ryan: the one that blew me away...
Ryan: Nilsson .284 20
Ryan: Whitaker .277 17
Steve: wonder why he didn't play longer
Ryan: Wallach .258 19
Ryan: Maldonado .254 17
Ryan: yeah I dont know
Ryan: All right... I'm going to see about creating these teams
Ryan: I'm way to excited by this
Steve: haha go for it
Steve: too bad you can't do it on whatif sports
Ryan: (and if this doesn't turn into a full length 86 page post, I' going to be sorely dissappointed.... the whole conversation.. the game recap... its going to be the coup d'gras of our site)
Steve: haha ok
Steve: I have writers block on my White Sox story....haha
Ryan: not a problem
Steve: so are you going to try to simulate this?
Ryan: yeah
Steve: coolness
Ryan: I say we get this lengthy conversation up, then I'll try to simulate it and see how it goes
Ryan: This is terribly amusing
Steve: haha
Steve: yeah sadly it is
Ryan: I can't wait until the game
Steve: lol
Ryan: im even putting in height, weight, and of course, handedness
Ryan: I'm trying to get the correct baserunning speed
Steve: haha ok
Ryan: you're supposed to be able to adjust the fielding skill, but that usually doesn't go so well
Steve: hmm
Ryan: like, Wallach won the gold glove several years in a row at third
Steve: not too bad
Ryan: Gallego was white, right?
Steve: I think so
Ryan: ugh... I should have picked Greenwell
Steve: well I'm going to eat and call home...I'll be back in a little bit
Ryan: all right
Ryan: I'll let you know how its going
Ryan: lol... the only left handed batter on your team is Ricky Bottalico
Ryan: Tettleton is a switch hitter, but still
Steve: Bottalico has a big bat
Ryan: I have DeShields and someone else as a southpaw
Ryan: Langston is a lefty
Ryan: Van Slyke
Ryan: Clark
Ryan: thats right, theres a couple
Steve: wow
Ryan: another name not mentioned.... Kevin Elster
Ryan: This has totally consumed my evening
Ryan: Candy Maldonado was traded to the Indians for one Glenallen Hill in 93
Ryan: Hill was also traded for Candiotti
Ryan: after long last... its game time
Ryan: Langston is having some control problems
Ryan: All right.. bottom of the first 1 out, your team is up 1-0 after Bichette drives in Kevin Seitzer on a single to left... first hit of the game
Ryan: 3 walks so far... ugly
Ryan: make that 4
Steve: Smiley isn't cutting it?
Ryan: well, there were 2 for each pitcher... but Van Slyke grounded into a DP and Tartabull struck out
Ryan: 1-0 after 1 after Hill grounds out to Deshields with 2 on
Ryan: and I'm on the board! Solo homer for Dave Nilsson
Ryan: I should note that this game is being played at 3 rivers
Steve: haha
Steve: that or Milwaukee County would be the best for this
Ryan: well, that's my home stadium
Ryan: and now after 1 and a half, its 1-1, but the bigger story is that Langston has already thrown 41 pitchers
Ryan: and your team goes down quietly in the bottom half
Steve: ooh
Steve: maybe I should have added Jim Abbott too
Ryan: haha
Ryan: ok, Maldonado singles, Deshields grounds into a FC (great play at 3rd by Sabo) and Langston throws away a pickoff throw that sneaks into the outfield and DeShields comes all the way around to score... 2-1 my team after 2 and a half... but LAngston has 5 K's
Ryan: and after 2 its 2-1
Ryan: Lankford walks, Nilsson doubles him home.. 3-1
Steve: ouch
Steve: damn Nilsson
Steve: did you give Sabo crazy goggles?
Steve: http://www.grandstandsports.com/images/1612.jpg
Steve: another guy we're missing: Pete Harnisch
Ryan: oh yeah
Ryan: Jaha on 2nd, Hill on 1st, Tettleton singles up the middle and jaha scores... 3-2
Steve: woo hoo
Steve: what inning is this?
Ryan: bottom 4
Ryan: ok, Hill on third, Tettleton on first, 2 out with Gallego up... routine grounder to DeShields who promptly throws it into the dugout.. Hill scores, its 3-3
Steve: haha I guess that's why he's not "ideal"
Ryan: yeah... well, Langston's first pitch of the 5th inning is his 76th of the game
Ryan: Ugh... Van Slyke grounds into his 2nd DP of the game
Ryan: Ooh, your boys blew a chance... first and second, nobody out, Jaha GIDPs, Bonilla grounds out
Ryan: two outs in the 6th... Langston throws his 100th pitch
Steve: washed up bastards
Ryan: a quiet 6th, still 3-3.. Storm Davis is up in the pen, but Langston is still toeing the rubber
Ryan: and after walking Lou Whitaker, Langston is pulled
Steve: old Stormy
Steve: I'm in trouble
Ryan: well, there's been a Tom Candiotti sighting... It's in the hands of the relievers now
Ryan: Gallego gets another gift as he pops it up to Candiotti who drops it
Ryan: the announcer says "if he breaks his glove, do they call a welder?"
Steve: haha
Steve: leggo my gallego
Ryan: well, nothing comes of it.. Seitzer GIDPS (Wallach to Deshields to Clark) and the Whitaker makes a great play to rob Sabo of a hit
Steve: damn
Ryan: Van Slyke walks, Clark flies out, Tartabull singles, Lankford walks, loading the bases for DAve Nilsson...
Ryan: who strikes out! now with two outs, they bring in Bottalico
Steve: what inning is this?
Ryan: 8th
Ryan: and Whitaker grounds out to 2nd! no!
Ryan: it looks like they just woke Smokey Robinson up
Ryan: no.. thats otis redding
Ryan: lol... so, they wouldnt let me just go with the 9 players for the batting order, they wanted 10... anyways, Steve is pinch running for Bichette
Steve: well I had a brief little league stint with the Angels in the 90s
Ryan: nice
Ryan: 9th inning...
Steve: uh oh
Ryan: and Ryan pinch hits for Candy Maldonado and triples... bullshnikies
Steve: is this top or bottom?
Ryan: top
Ryan: you're the home team
Steve: I hope this gets over with quick, I need to get to bed
Ryan: haha... well, I got caught steeling home and DeShields struck out
Steve: nice job
Ryan: and Gallego comes through again with a 2 out double!
Ryan: in comes Plesac
Steve: haha its all up to Seitzer
Steve: well regardless of what happens, at least we made some even teams
Ryan: Seitzer walks
Ryan: its up to Sabo
Ryan: long fly deep to left and..... FOUL
Ryan: then he grounded out... extra innings
Steve: crap I want to get to bed
Ryan: first batter of the tenth, van slyke
Ryan: HOMERUN!
Ryan: Clark sends a foul over the fence, then grounds out
Ryan: and Tartabull hits a HOMERUN!
Ryan: 5-3
Steve: damn you Bottalico
Ryan: and now its Plesac versus Steve
Steve: great
Ryan: it all comes down to this.. Plesac
Ryan: Bonilla
Ryan: and Bonilla strikes out.. Team Ryan WINS!
Steve: haha alrighty

The Box Score
FINAL IN 10 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 R H E

Ryans 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 5 8 2
Steves 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 9 1


Ryans AB R H BI BB SO LO AVG

Delino DeShields 2b 4 1 1 0 1 1 3 .250
Andy Van Slyke lf 4 1 1 1 1 1 2 .250
Will Clark 1b 4 0 0 0 1 1 1 .000
Danny Tartabull cf 5 1 2 1 0 2 0 .400
Ray Lankford rf 2 1 0 0 3 1 0 .000
Dave Nilsson c 5 1 2 2 0 1 1 .400
Lou Whitaker ss 3 0 0 0 1 1 4 .000
Tim Wallach 3b 4 0 0 0 0 1 2 .000
Candy Maldonado dh 3 0 1 0 0 1 1 .333
Ryan ph-dh 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1.000

TOTALS: 35 5 8 4 7 10 14


BATTING
2B: Nilsson (1, Langston). 3B: (1, Bottalico). HR: Nilsson (1, 2nd
inning off Langston, 0 on, 1 out); Van Slyke (1, 10th inning off Bottalico, 0
on, 0 out); Tartabull (1, 10th inning off Bottalico, 0 on, 1 out). RBI:
Nilsson 2 (2); Van Slyke (1); Tartabull (1). Runners left in scoring position,
2 outs: Wallach; DeShields; Whitaker. GIDP: Van Slyke 2. Team LOB: 7.

BASERUNNING
SB: DeShields (1, home plate off Langston/Tettleton). CS: (1, home
plate by Bottalico/Tettleton).

FIELDING
E: DeShields (1, throw); Candiotti (1, fly ball). DP: 3
(Whitaker-DeShields-Clark; Wallach-DeShields-Clark-DeShields;
Whitaker-DeShields-Clark).


Steves AB R H BI BB SO LO AVG

Kevin Seitzer dh 3 1 0 0 2 1 3 .000
Chris Sabo 3b 5 0 1 0 0 0 3 .200
Dante Bichette lf 4 0 3 1 0 0 0 .750
Steve pr-lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
John Jaha 1b 5 1 1 0 0 1 3 .200
Bobby Bonilla rf 4 0 1 0 1 2 1 .250
Glenallen Hill cf 4 1 1 0 0 1 4 .250
Micky Tettleton c 4 0 1 1 0 1 0 .250
Wil Cordero ss 4 0 0 0 0 1 0 .000
Mike Gallego 2b 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 .250

TOTALS: 38 3 9 2 3 7 14


BATTING
2B: Gallego (1, Candiotti). RBI: Bichette (1); Tettleton (1). Runners left in
scoring position, 2 outs: Hill 2; Seitzer; Bonilla; Sabo. GIDP: Jaha; Seitzer;
Hill. Team LOB: 8.

FIELDING
E: Langston (1, throw). DP: 2 (Sabo-Gallego-Jaha-Gallego-Cordero;
Langston-Gallego-Jaha).


Ryans IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA

John Smiley 6 6 3 2 2 5 0 3.00
Tom Candiotti 2 2/3 3 0 0 0 1 0 0.00
Dan Plesac (W, 1-0) 1 1/3 0 0 0 1 1 0 0.00


Steves IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA

Mark Langston 6 4 3 2 5 7 1 3.00
Storm Davis 1 2/3 1 0 0 2 1 0 0.00
Ricky Bottalico (L, 0-1) 2 1/3 3 2 2 0 2 2 7.72

Langston pitched to 1 batter in the 7th.

WP: Smiley; Davis. Pitches-Strikes: Langston 108-66; Davis 38-21; Bottalico
27-18; Smiley 79-50; Candiotti 36-24; Plesac 23-13. Ground balls-Fly balls:
Langston 9-4; Davis 0-5; Bottalico 3-4; Smiley 12-7; Candiotti 7-2; Plesac
2-1. Batters faced: Langston 25; Davis 8; Bottalico 9; Smiley 26; Candiotti
10; Plesac 5.

Umpires: HP: Tony Ragano. 1B: Sam Sheth. 2B: James Coliz, Jr. 3B: Alice
Qiao. T: 3:39. Att: 47,971. Weather: 76 degrees, clear. Wind: 1 mph, in
from left.

High Heat Baseball Player of the Game: Andy Van Slyke

GAME SUMMARY

Top of the 1st inning: Ryans batting

Delino DeShields walked.
Andy Van Slyke grounded into double play to third.
Will Clark walked.
Danny Tartabull struck out swinging.

0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors
Ryans 0, Steves 0

Bottom of the 1st inning: Steves batting

Kevin Seitzer walked.
Chris Sabo grounded out to first, Seitzer to second.
Dante Bichette singled, Seitzer SCORED.
John Jaha flied out to right.
Wild pitch by John Smiley, Bichette to second.
Bobby Bonilla walked.
Glenallen Hill grounded out to second.

1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors
Ryans 0, Steves 1

Top of the 2nd inning: Ryans batting

Ray Lankford grounded out to second.
Dave Nilsson HOMERED.
Lou Whitaker struck out swinging.
Tim Wallach struck out swinging.

1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors
Ryans 1, Steves 1

Bottom of the 2nd inning: Steves batting

Micky Tettleton flied out to center.
Wil Cordero grounded out to second.
Mike Gallego flied out to left.

0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors
Ryans 1, Steves 1

Top of the 3rd inning: Ryans batting

Candy Maldonado singled.
Delino DeShields grounded into fielder's choice to third.
Mark Langston committed a throwing error on a pickoff attempt, DeShields stole
home plate, DeShields SCORED.
Andy Van Slyke struck out swinging.
Will Clark struck out looking.

1 Run, 1 Hit, 1 Error
Ryans 2, Steves 1

Bottom of the 3rd inning: Steves batting

Kevin Seitzer struck out swinging.
Chris Sabo grounded out to second.
Dante Bichette flied out to center.

0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors
Ryans 2, Steves 1

Top of the 4th inning: Ryans batting

Danny Tartabull grounded out to second.
Ray Lankford walked.
Dave Nilsson doubled, Lankford SCORED, Nilsson to second.
Lou Whitaker grounded out to third.
Tim Wallach flied out to center.

1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors
Ryans 3, Steves 1

Bottom of the 4th inning: Steves batting

John Jaha singled.
Bobby Bonilla struck out looking.
Glenallen Hill singled, Jaha to second.
Micky Tettleton singled, Jaha SCORED, Hill to third.
Wil Cordero struck out looking.
Mike Gallego was safe after Delino DeShields committed a throwing error, Hill
SCORED, Tettleton to third.
Kevin Seitzer flied out to right.

2 Runs, 3 Hits, 1 Error
Ryans 3, Steves 3

Top of the 5th inning: Ryans batting

Candy Maldonado struck out looking.
Delino DeShields singled.
Andy Van Slyke grounded into double play to pitcher.

0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors
Ryans 3, Steves 3

Bottom of the 5th inning: Steves batting

Chris Sabo singled.
Dante Bichette singled, Sabo to second.
John Jaha grounded into double play to shortstop, Sabo to third.
Bobby Bonilla grounded out to shortstop.

0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors
Ryans 3, Steves 3

Top of the 6th inning: Ryans batting

Will Clark grounded out to shortstop.
Danny Tartabull struck out looking.
Ray Lankford walked.
Dave Nilsson flied out to center.

0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors
Ryans 3, Steves 3

Bottom of the 6th inning: Steves batting

Glenallen Hill struck out looking.
Micky Tettleton struck out looking.
Wil Cordero fouled out to catcher.

0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors
Ryans 3, Steves 3

Top of the 7th inning: Ryans batting

Lou Whitaker walked.
Storm Davis relieved Mark Langston.
Tim Wallach popped out to catcher.
Wild pitch by Storm Davis, Whitaker to second.
Candy Maldonado flied out to left.
Delino DeShields fouled out to catcher.

0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors
Ryans 3, Steves 3

Bottom of the 7th inning: Steves batting

Tom Candiotti relieved John Smiley.
Mike Gallego was safe after Tom Candiotti committed a fielding error.
Kevin Seitzer grounded into double play to third.
Chris Sabo grounded out to shortstop.

0 Runs, 0 Hits, 1 Error
Ryans 3, Steves 3

Top of the 8th inning: Ryans batting

Andy Van Slyke walked.
Will Clark flied out to center.
Danny Tartabull singled, Van Slyke to second.
Ray Lankford walked, Tartabull to second, Van Slyke to third.
Dave Nilsson struck out looking.
Ricky Bottalico relieved Storm Davis.
Lou Whitaker grounded out to second.

0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors
Ryans 3, Steves 3

Bottom of the 8th inning: Steves batting

Dante Bichette singled.
Steve ran for Dante Bichette.
John Jaha struck out swinging.
Bobby Bonilla singled, Singleton to second.
Glenallen Hill grounded into double play to shortstop.

0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors
Ryans 3, Steves 3

Top of the 9th inning: Ryans batting

Tim Wallach grounded out to shortstop.
Ryan hit for Candy Maldonado.
Ryan tripled, to third.
Robertson caught stealing home plate, Ryan out at home plate.
Delino DeShields struck out looking.

0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors
Ryans 3, Steves 3

Bottom of the 9th inning: Steves batting

Micky Tettleton grounded out to second.
Wil Cordero grounded out to shortstop.
Mike Gallego doubled, Gallego to second.
Dan Plesac relieved Tom Candiotti.
Kevin Seitzer walked.
Chris Sabo grounded out to first.

0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors
Ryans 3, Steves 3

Top of the 10th inning: Ryans batting

Andy Van Slyke HOMERED.
Will Clark grounded out to second.
Danny Tartabull HOMERED.
Ray Lankford struck out looking.
Dave Nilsson flied out to right.

2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors
Ryans 5, Steves 3

Bottom of the 10th inning: Steves batting

Steve grounded out to first.
John Jaha flied out to right.
Bobby Bonilla struck out swinging.

0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors
Ryans 5, Steves 3

Is It a Blog?: Quick Hits #6

Originally posted on "Is It Sports?" This is the last of the Quick Hits posts, and the 2nd to last post ever on the old site. I found out I would probably have to move away for work (it wound up being Indianapolis) and that was pretty much the end of updating the old site, especially with Ryan building up momentum here on the times. At least the last post (Check March 5 in the archives

Ryan: you know who i think should have been MVP?
Steve: who?
Ryan: Randle El
Ryan: he was involved in the two plays that secured the win for the Steelers
Steve: yeah I could agree with that
Ryan: nobody else has even mentioned him
Steve: Thornton High School #11 3 sport star
Steve: Sports Guy Super Bowl diary is pretty damn funny
Ryan: I should read it...
Ryan: so did i tell you about my experience?
Steve: uh I don't think so
Steve: first, why are you going to be on that hometime show?
Ryan: well, they film in chaska and they are sponsored by the Depot, so they come in and film every once in a while
Ryan: the other day they were in the store filming a piece on faux finishes, and they needed me to pretend like i was helping them
Ryan: they made me ad lib and stuff... it was awful
Steve: haha cool
Steve: I'll have to try to watch it
Steve: ...if its on here
Ryan: PBS
Steve: ahh I see
Steve: good to see you like turtles
Ryan: turtles are sweet
Steve: damn straight
Ryan: so, the game
Ryan: I went to my coworkers house, and he had just bought an antenna so he could get the game
Ryan: well, when i got there it wasnt working.
Ryan: so they messed with it a little bit and it came in, but it was fuzzy
Ryan: Daves GF bitched, but it was fine by my standards, and Dave kept fumbling with it
Ryan: because he was messing with it, I missed all the cool pregame stuff AND the first drive of the game
Ryan: I was exceptionally pissed
Steve: wow
Ryan: not only that, I was the only one there who actually appreciated the game
Steve: I was interested in the game, but I think the actual game pretty much sucked
Ryan: like, nobody understood it... Dave was drunk and when he wasnt talking about stupid shit he was eating his Tostitos waaaaay to loud
Ryan: well, from now on, I'm watching the game alone, inless its with someone like you
Steve: ahh I see
Steve: yeah that's always annoying
Steve: I watched it by myself, but I had Elizabeth on my speaker phone during the entire game....she was actually interested
Ryan: ouch for the phone bill
Steve: ahh it was my cell phone
Steve: free nights and weekends
Ryan: i see
Steve: did you see the Hummer commercial with the 2 monsters?
Ryan: yeah
Steve: very effective
Steve: Elizabeth HATES the Hummer H3 and is horrified by the thought that I thought about getting one, but since it was like a pregnancy/baby type commercial that appeals to women, she thinks its ok now
Ryan: haha.... are you really thinking about getting one?
Steve: its on my list
Ryan: cars arent high on my list
Ryan: I would rather overpay for a house or apartment
Steve: I already do that
Steve: so overpaying for a car is next
Steve: well underpaying actually with the employee discount
Ryan: well, I don't really have any aspirations for a fancy car... I can't see myself spending over 10K for a car at any point in my life, really

Is It Sports? would like to Congratulate Ben Roetheslseibegeraeraegeerber and the World Champion Pittsburgh Steelers!

Is It a Blog?: Quick Hits #5

Originally posted on "Is It Sports?," its our 2nd real mailbag, posted in the Is It a Blog conversation format

E-mail from Maria F, Cincinnati, OH:
This is my rant about the general category of interceptions. I think it is unfair to the quarterback for all interceptions to be so labeled as "their fault". For example, most of Drew Brees' interceptions were not direct "passes" to the defense. They were catchable balls that the receiver did not catch. Rather than the stats reflecting this on the receiver, it goes against the QB. Now I don't know anything about baseball, but Jesse says there is some way to differentiate errors. Likewise, I think that football (the NFL especially) should institute some sort of differentiation. There should be two categories of interceptions - QB error and non-QB error. I am all for Brandon Kirsch getting the tick marks when he passes right to Northwestern, but not when some butterfingered receiver lets the ball slip through his fingers into a defender's hands. What do you guys think?

Steve: I think Maria makes a pretty good point and I think it would definitely be an interesting stat to track
Steve: the one problem I have with it not counting against the QB is that he is still the one that throws the pass, and maybe if he had thrown it at a different speed or to a different location the reciever would have caught it
Ryan: The point about baseball, she means E-6 for an error for the shortstop, etc. makes me think that baseball isnt the only sport that assigns blame statistically, like soccer keeping track of own goals, or basketball keeping track of fouls
Ryan: The NFL does keep track of dropped passes though, so if a throw is counted as a drop, and it's intercepted, I guess that would be a convenient way to adjust interception statistics
Steve: yeah that's a good point
Steve: I think it definitely could be something that could be talked about on TV to defend a QB/bash a receiving crew
Steve: maybe they could even rate interceptions in some way based on the situation they happened in
Ryan: I think Matt Hasselbeck would have been helped a lot by that last year... I think on the same note, you could introduce an "accuracy" rating along with the completion percentage, combining drops and completions versus total passes
Steve: like a ball thrown right to a guy or one in the clutch could be more hurtful to the stats, but maybe a receiver tip or a hail mary at the end of a half wouldn't be too bad
Ryan: yeah
Ryan: statisticians would love that
Steve: yeah the one thing that really surprises me about football is there aren't more stats like that
Steve: baseball can have stats about the craziest stuff you'd ever imagine and they get talked about like they mean something, but in football you could have stats like this to better describe a team's situation but they aren't kept
Ryan: well, in baseball, there is a lot more cut and dry fact, where as, what is and is not a drop? what is and is not clutch? Football has a lot more gray area
Steve: yeah it does
Steve: and maybe the fact its much more of a team sport hurts the validity of any individual stat
Ryan: I think that's what it all comes down to
Steve: like in baseball home runs are the hitter's doing, but in football, rushing yards aren't a RB's doing completely because they need the line to accomplish anything
Ryan: exactly. I think, we can both agree that interceptions will probably remain categorized as they are because football, in general, is a very difficult sport to quantify with any validity
Steve: yeah
Steve: you can even factor in that teams pass more than others, so the offensive strategy can effect the totals too
Ryan: So, basically, we just pointed out that Dan Dierdorf may actually play an important role in today's game
Steve: how is that?
Ryan: as a color commentator... you cant just rely on stats, you have to UNDERSTAND the game, the flow, the way things go, etc.
Steve: definitely
Steve: its not a stat geek sport, and that's why football fans always win the bar fights over baseball fans

We’ll Get ‘em Next Year (Maybe Not)

Originally posted on "Is It Sports?" by Ryan. By reading the opening comment that I wrote, you can pretty much see why this site exists now and the old Is It Sports site does not. Fear not, the World Series post was written, just never posted on the old site. I'll post it on the Times, as a special "lost" post!

Quick Note from Steve: Ryan wrote this way back in November (which explains the Konerko on the Angels comment), but for some reason, I never posted it....part of it was because I've been pretty busy, another because I wanted to have this post with my World Series post back to back (which still hasn't been written). But now since the shear shock of it has sunk in and I'm about to watch both my Sox DVDs and have my Bang for the Buck stats ready to go, why not have 3 consecutive baseball posts during the 2 weeks between the conference championships and the Super Bowl? This site really isn't that hard to update....I'm just lazy but my goal for this site for 2006 is to keep this up to date more often, and the Quote of the Week and blog will help.

Baseball season is over, the White Sox are the world Champions. I feel that it is my duty to provide a non-Sox fan recap of the season. In this post, I’ll look at how Steve, Kevin and I predicted the outcome of the year. Then I’ll go ahead and give the Sox some credit, and I’ll end by digging a little deeper into the Twins season. Sound like a deal? All right, let’s roll.

So, something amazing happened with the season. All three of us, using the scoring system laid out in the Junk #4, tied. Kevin made up a lot of ground by doing well in the American League East, merely a flip flop of the Orioles and Blue Jays keeping him from a perfect prediction. Steve did the best in the playoffs, having been the only person to correctly pick someone in either of the League Championship Series (St. Louis). I was the most consistent across the board. Kevin and Steve correctly picked 5 of the 6 division winners correctly, while I picked four division winners, and the wild card in the American League.

	AL East	AL Central	AL West	NL East	NL Central	NL West	Playoffs	Total
Steve	4	4	4	4	8	8	-7	25
Ryan	4	6	4	4	4	8	-5	25
Kevin	2	6	4	8	6	4	-5	25

Something those statistics don’t show is exactly what happened. For example, my pick of Cleveland making the leap this year saved me in the AL Central, where I had foolishly picked the Twins in first and the White Sox in fourth. Kevin, naturally, and as he should have, picked the NL West together, but if we look at his picks qualitatively, we see that his picks are just as laughable now as they were then. Neither Arizona or Seattle sniffed the playoffs. As for me, the eventual champion, the Sox, were fourth, as I said, in my picks. All that being said, I would have to allege that Steve had the best overall picks this season.

And speaking of those Sox, I do have to give them credit. Aside from Steve’s love for the White Sox and Kevin’s not seeing anything else in the Central, at the beginning of the season, what could anyone have seen that would have led them to believe the Sox would be this good? Really, I don’t think Steve could have foreseen a season like this in his wildest dreams. My biggest issue was the same that many had. Their rotation featured El Duque, Jose Contreras and Jon Garland, three guys who, before this season, wouldn’t have instilled fear in a T-Ball team. And Ozzie Guillen who had never managed before, was a wild card. Who knew a goofball like him could be such a brilliant leader? Surely not I.

As I wrote about back in March, the Sox were following the Twins plan for manufacturing runs. They sacrificed two big bats, in Ordonez and Carlos Lee, and added to speedsters at the beginning of the lineup in Scott Podsednik and Tadahiro Iguchi, as well as a veteran, reliable bat in Jermaine Dye. In the end, they did, in fact follow the Twins successful speed and defense model, except they were faster and better at defense. Not only that, the White Sox had something the Twins haven’t had since the mid-80’s: big bats. Without Lee and Ordonez, they still had Paul Konerko and Carl Everett, not to mention Joe Crede who finally started to break out this year. No word yet on Aaron Rowand. Pulling all this together was my newfound nemesis, A.J. Pierzynski. And while I used to have a someone tense rivalry feeling with the Sox, I can now say, without a doubt, I hate the Chicago White Sox with every fiber of my being.

What I don’t understand though, is why the Indians are already the trendy pick to win the Central next year. Sure, Konerko will be batting third ahead of Vlad Guerrero next year, but Kenny Williams won’t be afraid to replace him with another good hitting first baseman. They will still have the rotation. They will still have every other piece. And they will have experience. Maybe Cleveland will get the Wild Card, but I still think the White Sox are a solid pick for the division pennant next year. No matter, though. I hate the Indians too.

Speaking of hating something, let me talk a little bit about the Twins, particularly their owner. Carl Pohlad, one of the 250 wealthiest people on the entire planet, can’t afford to pay someone who can hit more than 25 homeruns? Bull! Now, the Twins have had a rough season and can stand to improve at pretty much every position. Jacque Jones and Matt LeCroy are free agents, and I fully expect neither to resign with the Twins. They will be “replaced” by people from the farm system, when the truth is, they need to be truly replaced by a reliable veteran bat, something we didn’t have last year. If there was a Jermaine Dye clone, the Twins would be the team that would need to sign him.

Instead, however the Twins are looking to deal Torii Hunter, the team’s only marketable star, for spare parts, probably from the Yankees. The team has plenty of spare cash, and Carl Pohlad, on the cusp of death anyways, could make sure his reputation doesn’t stay stuck on “miser” by signing someone who can hit this offseason, but that won’t happen, because Pohlad doesn’t care. What WILL happen is the Twins will begin a downward spiral. The biggest signing they will make is for someone like B.J. Surhoff or Craig Paquette, if either are still in the League. Hunter will be traded to the Yankees for two swizzle sticks, a Parcheesi piece and Joe Girardi. Brad Radke will be traded to a contender at the break, and the Twins will be in fourth next year.

I need a new favorite baseball team, because this one makes me cry. - Ryan

Is It a Blog?: Quick Hits #4

Originally posted on "Is It Sports?" Ryan and I discuss minor league hockey...

Ryan: stupid stars
Steve: but they provide light and heat
Ryan: Yeah... not the celestial bodies or hollywood big shots... th Dallas Stars
Ryan: particularly Johan Hedberg
Steve: I spent new years in the home city of their AHL affiliate
Ryan: how exciting
Steve: http://www.iowastarshockey.com/
Steve: their rival is the Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights
Ryan: the... ak-sar-ben?
Steve: yeah
Steve: I went to their site just now to figure it out
Steve: they were founded by a community group in Omaha in in the 1930s called the Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben
Steve: Ak-Sar-Ben is Nebraska backwards
Ryan: how did we NOT notice that
Steve: I don't know
Steve: I went to a sorta AHL game once when it was the IHL
Ryan: awesome
Steve: Chicago Wolves vs. Peoria Rivermen
Steve: looks like they're both in the AHL now
Ryan: Kid I went to HS with plays for the Rivermen
Ryan: Blues farm team
Steve: this was like in 1994 or something probably
Steve: I remember the Wolves won and it was their first ever shutout win
Steve: I think it was their first season
Steve: and I remember when the Manitoba Moose was the Minnesota Moose
Ryan: yep
Ryan: they also had the fightin' pike
Steve: yeah the AFL team
Steve: awesome name
Steve: still not as good as the Miami Hooters but close
Ryan: oh yeah.. afl
Steve: the Wolves don't have an affiliation listed on their site
Steve: I think its the Thrashers
Ryan: it is
Steve: makes perfect sense of course
Steve: so the Wild have the Houston Aeros
Steve: the Lowell Lock Monsters are the Avalanche and the Hurricanes
Ryan: hockey is just so fun

The NHL Hot Stove is Always on

Originally posted on "Is It Sports?" by Ryan, shortly after he started up the Victoria Times.

Joe Thornton was recently traded from the Boston Bruins to the San Jose Sharks for Marco Sturm, Brad Stuart and Wayne Primeau. That’s one of the top 5 players in the league being traded from one underachieving team to another for three pretty good players in their own right. Why? The teams were slumping. They needed to shake things up. Does this make sense in any other sport? The White Sox are slumping! Trade Konerko! Send him to the Pirates! Bring in Jason Bay, Oliver Perez and Rob Mackowiak!

Add this to the smattering of minor trades, like Brad Ference being shipped from Phoenix to New Jersey and a bigger trade like Russian heartthrob, the former Mr. Kournikova Sergei Fedorov being shipped off to the hockey Mecca that is Columbus, well, we reach the obvious conclusion that hockey GMs obviously don’t care what people think. Either that or their experience with hockey has rendered them stupid. Nevertheless, I did some poking around and thought up ten trades that would make sense. This is a little more fun, because any of these trades could have already happened since you started reading this. My only rule? Only two team deals, because adding a third party would indicate more thought than the GMs generally put into these things.

Steve Rucchin, Dominic Moore and Marcel Hossa (NYR) for Jere Lehtinin and Johan Hedberg (DAL): Eventually, the Rangers are going to have to figure out the relying solely on Jaromir Jagr can lead only to bad things. They have depth at defense and center, and they are short a big time player on the wing, and with Kevin Weekes shaky at times and injured at others, insurance in the net wouldn’t be a bad idea. So Rucchin whom the Stars have long coveted and Dominic Moore and Marcel Hossa added as young talent for the Stars to pair with Niko Kapanen and the Rangers get a flashy winger to play a line that doesn’t have the names Straka or Jagr involved, and Hedberg can play net. Not a bad deal.

Keith Tkachuk (STL) for Branko Radivojevic and Mike Richards (PHI): The Flyers’ roster is short a wing or two, otherwise it has what it needs to be a championship team. The drop off from first line (Simon Gagne) to second line (Donald Brashear) at left wing is so dramatic as to give one a head rush. The Blues, which have roughly 720 wingers on their roster, and a desperate need to offload the troublesome Tkachuk and continue to rebuild are a perfect fit, as long as the young defenseman and center are part of the package.

Dainius Zubrus (WAS) for Matt Ellison (CHI): The ‘Hawks are playing mediocre hockey in a fairly weak division. They lack a dynamic goal scorer, and in a market such as Chicago, that could be their undoing. As long as they are patient with Rene Borque and Pavel Vorobiev, they will be ok in the long run, but as it is they need a little kick in the pants, and the fans need assurances that the ownership is trying. Although they have a delicate balance of players that they don’t want to tinker with too much, they can afford to add a decent role player like Zubrus to shake things up.

Mark Parrish (NYI) for Jason Williams (DET): The Red Wings are missing out on another good RW, and that’s what Mark Parrish would provide. He’s lower in skill than Miroslav Satan, but lower in price as well, which is good news for the Wings who need to keep an eye on the salary cap. Jason Williams, a talented young center is going unused in Detroit, and talent happens to be in short demand on the Island. Williams needs a chance to find himself as a hockey player, and New York may be the place to do so.

Olli Jokinen (FLA) for Nick Schultz, Willie Mitchell, and Kyle Wanvig (MIN): The Panthers are awful. They need to get what they can for this team. It appears Kristian Huselius is already on his way to Minnesota through waivers, since he has never been a Mike Keenan favorite. Now the Panthers need to go to Minnesota and get something in return. Schultz and Wanvig, a D and a wing, both sought after prospects who are struggling to break through would get a lot of ice time with the Panthers. Willie Mitchell is a veteran going through a rough patch and might do well in South Florida. For the Wild, they seek to remain competitive in the Northwest division, and are stuck at .500. The next step is another pure goal scorer to pair with Marian Gaborik. Brian Rolston has proven he can play one of the other forward positions if Joikinen struggles with a transition to a wing. The Wild are a team in desperate need of some energy to spark a hot streak, and they have plenty of cap room, so this trade would make total sense.

Sergei Brylin, Scott Gomez and Jay Pandolfo (NJD) for Jonathan Cheechoo, Alyn McAuley, Nils Ekman and Christian Ehrhoff (SJ): About once a year, Lou Lamoriello totally refigures his team, adds young talent and exports some guys you never thought would leave New Jersey. San Jose about twice a year does the same. Needless to say, both are due. I have no doubt in my mind that Lamoriello could sucker the Sharks into taking on some older guys like Brylin and Pandolfo as well as current doghouse resident Gomez in exchange for young, ready to breakout talent like you have in Cheechoo Ehrhoff and Ekman. As for McAuley, he just seems to find his way into the “transactions” wire about twice a month, but nobody can turn down a smooth skating centerman.

Chris Drury (BUF) for Marek Zidlicky and Mark Eaton (NAS): The Sabres remind me of the 2001 Twins, in that they are almost ready to make the jump, but they have a fairly glaring hole. For the Twins, it was pitching. For the Sabres, its defense. The Twins solution was to give up a star player to help remedy their problem, which they did when they sent Matt Lawton to the Mets for Rick Reed. Now the Sabres are at the point where they need to do the same. Giving up one of their top centers for a pair defensemen, both who eat up ice time, and one, Zidlicky, provides some potential for scoring. The Predators are also looking for that extra edge in their fight against the Red Wings for control of the Central Division, and another scoring forward would definitely help them in that regard.
Brian Smolinski, Draft pick (OTT) for Ruslan Fedotenko (TB): The Senators recently got bad news that their skilled wingman Martin Havlat will have surgery and be lost for the season, so they should be in the market for another skilled scorer. The Lightning could use an older, wiser forward to work with top flight scorers Martin St. Louis and Fredrik Modin. This would give the Lightning more scoring lines, as Vinny Lecavalier tends to dominate whatever line he is on. Brad Richards also has the ability to move to a wing, should that be necessary. Smolinski is too low an asking price for the younger, skillful Fedotenko, so a pick would need to be thrown in.

Teemu Selanne, Petr Sykora, Scott Niedermeyer (ANH) for Raffi Torres, Ales Hemsky and picks (EDM): This is a trade that would never happen, but makes total sense. The Oilers need to realize that they are now in a dogfight in the battle of Alberta. Both Calgary and Edmonton are now afforded the means to remain competitive, and right now, Calgary is winning the battle. A few new veterans could certainly spice things up for Edmonton. The Ducks, who would never make this trade either, have a severe age problem. Torres and Hemsky are very talented youngsters that could help the Ducks immediately. The picks would be a bonus. But the reason this trade wouldn’t work is the names. In Hollywood, you need to stick to you’re A-list names, and rebuilding is a 4 letter word.

As I started writing this, a couple players mentioned have already been traded, namely Kristian Huselius (to the Flames) and Matt Ellison (to the Flyers) So there you see it, hockey GMs just never quit. - Ryan

Is It a Blog?: Quick Hits #3

Originally posted on "Is It Sports?" Ryan and I go back to our roots and post discussion on the upcoming 49ers-Texans game to determine the #1 pick in the 2006 draft, which everyone thought would be Reggie Bush. Things worked out well for just about everyone involved. The Texans got the pick and picked up Mario Williams to anchor their defense. The 49ers ended up drafting Frank Gore, who has had a much better career so far, and Reggie Bush found a role on a winning team, but has pretty much been a bust.

Ryan: I think the NFL should instate a lottery as well, so we don't have to worry about games like San Fran vs Houston, and having both teams trying to lose
Steve: yeah this year could be a good argument for it
Ryan: I could really see that game ending in a tie
Ryan: 0-0
Steve: and maybe just because they suck that bad
Ryan: Well, if you are a wide receiver, you catch the ball and you are running downfield seeing nothing but green, don't you just fall down?
Ryan: or go out of bounds
Ryan: the only player I see trying hard is Domanick Davis or Kevan Barlow, or whoever they have as a running back
Steve: yeah
Ryan: Actually, if I'm Houston, I would only want that first pick to trade it for some semblance of an offensive line... Davis can be a serviceable back if you give him an offensive line... just trade down and pick Greg Eslinger from Minnesota as a center and be happy with that
Steve: that's what I've been saying too
Steve: no one agrees with me on that though
Ryan: Well, for the first time in perhaps 6 months, we have agreed on something sports related
Ryan: of course, if they trade out of that spot and Bush becomes a legend, they will be ridiculed until the end of time
Steve: yeah but they're the Texans
Steve: not like they won't be anyways

A Night Out

Originally posted on "Is It Sports?" by Ryan, the die-hard Vikings fan. This post is very well written and a lot of fun...

I went to the bar in Excelsior, near the pier on Lake Minnetonka. I got there 5 minutes before 8, expecting to wait for about fifteen minutes. He was always late. Everyone I go meet anywhere is always late. This time, however, I showed up and he was already there with crutches and a cast on his right knee. There were a few empty glasses in front of him.

“Hey, man,” I said, “How long have you been here?”

He looked off into space. “Got here about three. I have a lot of free time these days.”

I sat down and ordered a Captain and Coke, hold the Coke. We had a lot of catching up to do. Apparently he had recently been at a pretty sweet party that I wanted to find out about. But he seemed pretty dejected about some problems he was having at work, and about his injury. The whole, two guys in a bar awkward pause followed. I felt the need to say something.

“So…”

He interrupted my monologue, “It’s not my fault, Ryan. None of this is my fault!”

I slowly nodded, without saying a word. I allowed him to continue.

“I could handle Randy being gone, you know, if there was an offensive line on our team! And don’t get me started on the boss! Mike is a %#$@ idiot! Seriously, I met his father once. Mountain gorilla.”

I started to laugh, but then I saw that he wasn’t kidding. Mike was half ape.

“You know, maybe my injury is the best thing. It shows just how bad the offensive line is. I weigh 220 pounds, and the defense was able to get a good enough run at me to destroy my knee,” he said before taking another drink. I didn’t want to point out that he probably weighed a little more than 220, and that he hurt his knee on a scramble.

“As for that party,” He said. My ears perked up. I had heard there were strippers. “I went on that boat, on that lake,” he gestured to Minnetonka, “because my receivers were there. I wanted to get to know Marcus and Travis and Troy and Koren. And anyways, I knew there would be alcohol and Koren would need a ride home. But some of that stuff was appalling! I mean, my momma raised me better than that!”

We sat drinking in silence for a little bit longer. Just then, a guy we both knew passed by and stopped to join us for a bit. He was dripping sweat. “Whoo! Just got back from practice! That Duane, he sure works us good! I like the guy! He’s always talking about his experience, and what he used to do when he was in Seattle. It’s nice having a coach that knows what he’s talking about! Well, I have to go give money to charity. Like, over a million dollars. I’ll talk to you later!”

So it was just me and him again, and he was fuming. Again, I felt the need to say something.

“So…”

“I’m getting surgery, you know. In Alabama. They are fixing my knee in Alabama. I didn’t even know they had doctors in Alabama. I went to the University of Central Florida, and I still feel comfortable calling the people of Alabama stupid. And I’m getting three tendons reattached in Alabama,” He stopped and took another long drink before continuing on a semi related tangent. “Now we have this Inspector Clousseau looking tool running the team. He just looks sneaky doesn’t he? At least when we had Red we KNEW he was up to no good.”

There was another pause when someone else we knew showed up. “What’s up guys? Just got done meeting with Carl. What a crazy old coot that guy is! He said he wanted to pay everyone minimum wage, but I had to tell him that the union wouldn’t allow it! Ha! Tough guy to work with, but there is a silver lining! At least I don’t need surgery on my ankle!” He got up, made sure his hat was just askew, and left.

We sat there again, alone. He was fuming. - Ryan