Hockey has always been my favorite sport, in fact, hockey was the second word I ever said. The NHL has made a lot of improvements since the canceled season, but still more could be done.

Here's what I think should be changed in the NHL:

1) Bring back the tradition
Enough of this East and West bullshit. I want the Campbell Conference and the (Prince of) Wales Conference back. Division winners should be hanging banners reading "Patrick", "Smythe", "Adams" or "Norris", not "Atlantic", "Northeast", "Southeast", "Central", "Northwest", or "Pacific". I may have been six when they changed over to the abominations they are now, but this another one of the NHL's brilliant moves under Bettman's watch. The changes were made to help bring in more fans and make it more understandable to people just starting to follow hockey. What they actually did though, was kill a longstanding historic part of the league.

Would you ask the AL and the NL to change names to make it easier for new baseball fans? I'm aware that these conferences were already aligned east/west, and the National and American leagues are not east/west configured, but it's the principally the same thing.

2) More Teams in Hockey Cities
I'll never advocate for a team to move, that's not fair to the fans of those teams. Sometimes, comments like that actually hurt. Yet, does it make any sense to anyone with a brain, (for those following along at home, that anyone other than Bettman) that Phoenix, or Miami have teams while cities like Winnipeg or Hamilton, ON don't? Canada is hockey's hotbed. Six teams are not enough. I think I would weep from sheer joy if Hartford got a team again.

3) Get a Better TV Deal
I know that Versus is paying tons of money to broadcast NHL games. Here's the problem, NO ONE CAN SEE THEM! I know here in the Indy area we have two cable providers and you have to have digital cable to get those channels. ESPN, sigh, may offer the NHL less money, but at least they get more viewers and that can always generate interest.

4) Fire Bettman
Seriously, I'm not even going into this. He makes Bud Selig look like he knows what he's doing. He doesn't care for our traditions, he pushed for expansion into hockey's no man's land and he signs idiotic TV deals that take hockey from one of the four major American sports to something that's a lead in to skiing competitions on NBC.

I know there's more that can be changed and should be changed, and I could go on, but it is at this point I want to stimulate conversation. Leave comments, let's discuss what needs to be fixed. Maybe you have some better ideas than I.

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Stephon Marbury will make his return to an NBA court tonight for the Boston Celtics against none other than my beloved Indiana Pacers. Marbury signed with the Celtics after being bought out by the New York Knicks ending his exile to the end of the Knicks bench. It is reported that Marbury will wear number 8 for the Celtics which could be a bit of an issue considering he has the number 3 tattooed on the side of his dome. Good call on that one big fella.


Now what exactly does Marbury bring to the defending NBA champs? Well, I suppose part of that will be based on his mental health (his head tattoo is exhibit A in the case against him). If Marbury is healthy, happy, and motivated, he could be a very strong backup PG for the Celtics. Their bench has been anything but impressive this season, and Marbury could offer the offensive spark the Celtics desperately need.

Many people forget that from 1999-2005 Starbury was statistically the most impressive PG in the NBA. No Mr. Iverson, you are not a point guard. Please sit down, shut up, and continue to make the Detroit Pistons horrible. On a totally unrelated note, I am beyond thrilled that the Pistons are taking a nose dive into oblivion right now. I hope they rot at the bottom of the Central Division for many years. However, I digress, that rant is for another time and place.

All things considered, this is a pretty solid move for the Celtics. If they win the NBA championship again, it probably won't be because of Stephon Marbury, but he is a relative low risk option for a team that really needs some help off the bench.

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The Boston Celtics will not repeat as NBA champions.

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I love video games. I play them often, and I have for years. I play a moderate variety of games -- The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is the best one I've ever played and is probably the best one ever made, and do not argue this with me -- but for the purposes of this post, I'm concentrated mostly on sports games.

As I mentioned last week, when I was younger I played Ken Griffey, Jr. Presents Major League Baseball on the Super Nintendo, and most of my childhood baseball opinions were based on those experiences (my first reason for hating domed stadiums was that I couldn't hit home runs all the way out of the stadium). I played RBI Baseball and Blades of Steel on the NES (though in the latter, I'd typically just do in-game fights with my dad). And now, I play FIFA 09 and MLB 2K8 on the XBox 360. So I know something about sports video games.

And because of that, you can take my word for it that the MLB 2K series sucks. Big time.

Honestly, probably the biggest problem with the series is that it's not EA Sports' MVP Baseball series, which is one of the shorter-lived sports franchises in video games (it was only produced in 2003, 2004 and 2005) but also one of the best. The gameplay was great, and it was one of the more innovative series in sports gaming. It was, in 2004, the first to include minor league affiliates. It was also the first to eliminate the button-mashing pitching interface in favor of a more realistic system that involved a power/accuracy meter. After EA got exclusive NFL game rights, though, Take-Two obtained similar third-party rights with Major League Baseball. Thus was born the mediocre 2K baseball series.

Like I mentioned, I bought MLB 2K8 last year, and at first was pretty happy with it. I thought the hitting and pitching interfaces -- using gestures with the XBox's right control stick -- were even more realistic than the EA version, because they allowed mistakes like in real life and factored in stamina more accurately.

The more I played it, though, the more its imperfections annoyed me. There are several in-game glitches -- for example, in the seventh inning of each game a "game changing moment" highlight is shown, and in my game, every time the announcer claimed the play took place in the bottom of the seventh (which hadn't happened yet) and when the play was a home run, he claimed that it was an inside-the-park home run, which was obviously almost never true. Diving is near impossible to do correctly, and when a diving player doesn't make the catch, he stays on the ground for several seconds. Once (with Moises Alou, shockingly enough) I missed a dive and the player never got up, turning a single into a home run. There was no injury. I don't remember the last time that happened to someone not named Manny Ramirez in real life. Also, the game claims from the first week of the season that basically every high-level player in the league is demanding a trade -- while most of them have incredibly high morale ratings.

The worst part of the game, though, is the voice-overs. The in-game commentators are Jon Miller and Joe Morgan. I am not a huge fan of them (though I hate them significantly less than most baseball fans). But even I get annoyed after a while, especially by Morgan's inanities and stupid or incorrect advice. If he tells me one more time not to throw a low fastball, I may scream. At least he doesn't talk about Dave Concepcion or anything like that in the game. Way, way, WAY worse than that, though, is the inclusion of the worst baseball telecaster in the history of baseball or sports journalism in a completely superfluous role. That's right -- Jeanne Zelasko is, for reasons that confound even the brightest minds, in MLB 2K8. This perfect storm of suckage has forced me to mute my TV every time I play this game. I miss Dave Niehaus.

This all came up because I noticed last night that the demo for MLB 2K9 had been released. I haven't played it yet, so I don't know if any of the tangible flaws in the game have been fixed. One, though, has gotten way, way worse. The announcers for the game? Gary Thorne and STEVE FREAKING PHILLIPS. It wasn't bad enough already, but they had to add one of the least knowledgeable analysts in ESPN's stable? The only way it could possibly be worse would be if Thorne was replaced by Hawk Harrelson and/or Chip Caray. Just seeing that told me that there was no way in hell I would ever pay money for that game.

The state of MLB video games is poor right now, and I have no idea how it could improve, unless someone can wrest third-party rights from Take-Two and sell them on the cheap back to EA Sports. Because those guys know how to make a sports game.

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Just to keep everyone in the loop, we've changed the draft time of the Sixty Feet, Six Inches fantasy baseball league from March 29th at noon EST to Sunday, March 8th at noon EST.

There's still plenty of room if any of you are still interested in joining. Just shoot an e-mail our way.

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For the record, I HATE LeBron James. I think he's a piece of shit and one of the most arrogant assholes ever. Yet, I respect his talent.

I saw this today on the Pacers Digest boards and being a life long basketball fan, I have to admit...this is insane. This video just seems unreal, but I assure you that it is.



Alright, I wrote this too soon. T-Mac did one better then The Bitch From Cleveland.



So in conclusion:

T-Mac is possibly underrated, and LeBron is still an asshat.

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In a year where the top two quarterbacks in the NFL Draft are more or less set in stone, the pool gets a little more shallow after round two.

One QB that stands out, however, is Ball State QB Nate Davis, who is leaving school a year early to head to the NFL.

As a resident of Muncie and a Ball State fan, I've heard plenty of rumors about the fate of Nate Davis on the football field. I was at the game against Northern Illinois last year, where he was scouted by Bill Polian. I've seen scouts from several organizations go crazy over this him.

So...what teams are interested? Who would be a good fit for Davis? Let's dive in, shall we?

Indianapolis Colts - One of the most persistent rumors I've heard is that Nate Davis could go to the Colts.

Personally, I think this is just wishful thinking from area fans.

The Colts have bigger worries on offense, especially if they can't get center Jeff Saturday squared away. Their first few picks will probably be a center and a wide receiver, to replace Saturday and Marvin Harrison.

By the time they're in a position to draft a backup QB (you can dream on if you think Davis would get the start over Peyton Manning), Davis will be off the board.

Minnesota Vikings - The Vikings would be a good fit for Davis, I think. However, I don't think they're particularly likely to pursue him.

While I'm sure they'd love to have a QB like Davis on their depth chart, the Vikings are a solid QB away from contending for a Super Bowl title. Davis is talented, but he's what one would call a "project" quarterback.

The Vikings are more likely to fill their gap with an experienced starter through free agency or a trade than roll the dice with Davis.

Kansas City Chiefs - This seems like the best fit for Davis.

Kansas City runs a spread offense, similar to the one Davis ran in college, but a little more "extreme" of a spread.

Kansas City is also a rebuilding franchise. If Davis comes in and it takes him a few years to adjust, it doesn't really matter, because they're rebuilding. But if he comes in and has a Ben Roethlisberger or Matt Ryan sort of year, the Chiefs brass look like geniuses.

KC scouts are reportedly high on Davis—according to Scout.com, they worked with him individually at the Combine.

There's just one snag in this plan. The Chiefs have the third pick in the draft this year, and I don't see St. Louis taking a QB with the second pick, so Kansas City has a great shot at drafting Mark Sanchez. If that happens, Davis is off their radar entirely.

New England Patriots - I've heard a lot of talk about what the Patriots are planning to do with now-franchised QB Matt Cassel.

Most are predicting that they'll draft a backup and trade Cassel to a team in need of a QB (I'm looking at you, Minnesota) on draft day. If that happens early enough, Nate Davis could easily be Tom Brady's new backup.

Being that I hate the Patriots with every fiber of my being, I'd prefer to not think about this nightmare scenario.

Carolina Panthers - This is where I think Davis will end up.

Let's look at things rationally: Jake Delhomme is a QB that is best characterized as good, but not good enough. He's always able to connect with Steve Smith, but that's basically his limit.

The Panthers sure missed him two years ago when they had to trot out such misfits as David Carr, Vinny Testaverde and Matt Moore. However, after the stinkbomb that was the Panthers postseason this year, I think Delhomme's days are numbered.

This would be an ideal situation for everyone involved. Delhomme is a competent enough QB to keep the Panthers competitive, and it would give Davis the opportunity to sit on the bench and adjust to the NFL for a few years before taking over as the starter. Delhomme would likely be able to land another starting job, and Davis would be a nearly finished product by the time he took his first snaps. If I had to make a bet, Carolina is where I would say Davis will land.

So, there you have it. Five teams that could draft Ball State QB Nate Davis. In due time, we'll know for sure.

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In September we put up a guide to help those without an NHL team to cheer for pick a team to have and to hold for all eternity, or at least until they relocate.

The post was nice, it had a calculated points system, and every thing you could ever want out of a guide showing you attributes that fans look for in teams.

Well, as I've discussed before, Bandwagoners have no souls and therefore can't be fans. Just like your dog can't be a Cardinals fan. So, picking a team based on who is popular or who is winning is just out of the question. Seriously, I feel for Boston and New York fans, it has to be annoying to see so many idiots supporting your team.

As usual for my posts, I digress. The post was great, but it took too much time to put together, and I would much rather just give a cynical, biased and honest look at the MLB as only Sixty Feet, Six Inches can.

As I wrote last time, and forever shall believe, you should always pick your hometown team as your favorite. If there is one thing that disgusts me more than anything else, it is when someone abandons their hometown team in favor of another team, or worse yet, a team overflowing with bandwagon fans. So if your city has an MLB team, go no further, you have your team. And if your city has two teams, well you're in luck! This means you get to pick the team that isn't a bag of dicks.

If you have no hometown team, like us in Indy, then you get to pick whomever you want! It's like Christmas, but with the possibility of unending heartbreak! Now, if you have a special connection to a city for some reason, then maybe that team is for you, and I'd say the rule established above applies. Hence, I am a Rays fan, and have been since I was 13.

Also, if you don't have a hometown team, we're adding an additional rule. You are allowed to have an NL and an AL team, but you have to make an indication of which one is your #1.

For those of you unfamiliar with Major League Baseball, it features two leagues.

The National League maintains the longstanding tradition of making pitchers bat and strategizing around that predicament, and the American League has the Designated Hitter rule, which means someone bats in place of the pitcher. It's kind of like paying the smart kids to do your homework because algebra makes your head hurt.

So if you like strategy, the NL might be a league worth picking a team from. If homeruns and hitting makes you do this, then the AL might be more your speed.

Let's start with the American League East.

Baltimore Orioles
The O's are a team that's fallen on a bit of hard luck, but they do have a great stadium in Camden Yards. It was the first to do the modern-retro look that everyone mimics. That's about all I got.

Boston Red Sox
Look, everyone who is beginning to follow the MLB chooses either this team or the Yankees. Unless you live in New England, don't be like them. It's annoying, and thank God that the rest of us baseball fans have a method to figure out who is legit and who is just a douche.

New York Yankees
Same as the Red Sox. Don't pick this team, you'll look like an asshat and no one will want to be your friend.

Tampa Bay Rays
Look, before last season there were like maybe 8,000-12,000 of us. Do everyone a favor, if you're not from the Tampa Bay region don't join the fan base now. It's too late.

Toronto Blue Jays
No fans. Seriously, people forget this team exists. They could use your support. Not to mention the Jays used to have one of the best logos in baseball.

Moving on to the AL Central...

Chicago White Sox
A solid choice, and also...you can never look bad in black. The fans are fantastic, I love Sox fans, they're true Midwestern fans. Also, the Cell has improved leaps and bounds in recent years. They will more than likely be rebuilding for a few seasons, so might as well join up now and get some suffering cred.

Cleveland Indians
Seriously, how the hell is that thing still allowed? It's a horrible characture of the indigenous peoples of North America! I have no problem with Native American logos as long as they're respectful, but Chief Wahoo is anything but respectful.

The Indians are a pretty legit organization and if you love suffering, you'll love Cleveland! Their suffering makes the Cubs look like a bunch of whiners and crybabies.

Detroit Tigers

Alright, so the first time through this I thought I had put what I wanted about the Tigers, but apparently I missed this. A Tigers fan pointed this out to me and I guess it's just a Freudian slip. So here you go:

Don't be a Tigers fan. Just don't. Detroit is a horrible place, in fact, it's the worst city in the country. Friends don't let friends support Detroit teams.

Kansas City Royals
Well, I wish I could say something about Kansas City. I went there once and got a headache...does that count? Their stadium has gigantic fountains...that's cool...right?

Minnesota Twins
How can you hate the Twins? Really. I love the Twins, this is their last year in the Metrodome, and it's something to get hyphy about. Can you say snowout? I can. I mean, that team is all about putting on for their city. Also for the record, the Twin Cities are pretty rocking.

Onward! To the AL West!

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Thanks to an unfortunate twist on an odd stipulation in the contract between the city of Anaheim and the Angels, you have the worst name in professional sports. Scratch that, found one that's worse.

Oakland Athletics
Hey, they have an elephant for a mascot, that's pretty sweet. How many teams do you know with an elephant for a mascot? No, Bama and the Republican Party do not count.

Also, I personally think the A's have one of the most interesting color schemes in the league (green and yellow) and their black uniforms are pretty nice looking. Too bad no one comes out to see them.

Seattle Mariners
Ahh...Seattle. Talk about one sports city that is hurting. The Sonics leave, the Seahawks are sucking hard, and the Mariners may have just made the only big bright spot in the city for a while as they have brought back Griffey, Jr.

Also, if you like video games, they're owned by Nintendo and half their ads are in Japanese due to massive Ichiro love from across the Pacific. Nintendo and Asian culture? Nerd special!

Texas Rangers
If you love 'merica, you'll love the Rangers. This is the team that W. almost crashed into the ground before he became Commander and Chief version 43.0. It's hot in Arlington, and the Rangers usually reek of suck. I mean, they couldn't even win with a juicing A-Rod.

Over the river and through the woods, to the National League we go!

Atlanta Braves
Thomas' favorite team to hate. Not from Atlanta, but want to be a Braves fan? Well you'll fit right in, seeing as most people that I've met from the ATL are not from Atlanta originally. This explains why their fan bases for all their teams suck and don't really support them. No loyalty.

Florida Marlins
Ever play franchise mode on a sports game, and after you win a championship or two you blow up the team just to make it interesting again? This is what the Marlins do. I've never met a Marlins fan, but from my time in Florida I've heard rumors they only really exist in the Miami area.

New York Mets
The Amazin' Mets. Do you love things that continually disappoint you, especially when everything, for once, is going to end up all right? This sums up Mets fans, when people tell them that Shea Stadium was a dump they respond with, "yeah, but it was our dump."

Philadelphia Phillies
Do you enjoy booing at anything with a pulse, pouring beer on nine year old fans of the opposing team and wrecking your city after finally winning something? Then Philly is for you!

Washington Nationals
Now, I know I said if you love 'merica you should like the Rangers. Well, that's true. Yet, if you love America, you should love the Nationals.

What is more American than a team called the Nationals playing the national pastime in Washington, D.C.? Nothing, and you damn well know it. Also, that new away uniform and stadium...pure gold.

Now we move to the Midwest for a look at the NL Central.

Chicago Cubs
The choice of frat boys and masochists. Obama was right when he said it's a nice place to have a beer and hang out, but baseball is played on the Southside. Being from Chicagoland originally, and seeing my first major league games in both stadiums, I testify this is true.

Earlier I said I pity Boston and NYY fans for having to deal with idiots joining their fan base. I don't pity Cubs fans, because people jumping on this bandwagon are a whole new level of stupid.

Cincinnati Reds
What the hell is this? For crying out loud, it looks like Mr. Met on a bad acid trip. Cincinnati sucks, and in case you forgot, read the second full paragraph of this story.

Houston Astros
Not much to say about the Astros. They made a bad choice in who they sold the stadium naming rights to a few years back. Take that as you will.

Milwaukee Brewers
What's not to love? A team name that represents the city well, and two words...sausage race.

Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh is a fantastic sports city and the Pirates have a great history. It's just that though, a history. I think looking at this video will explain what you'll be getting into if you decide to side with the Bucs.

St. Louis Cardinals
I haven't met a Cardinals fan I didn't like, when they weren't talking about the Cardinals. Meanwhile, when they talk about the Redbirds, you generally have two thoughts:

1) When will they stop talking about the Cards?
2) Where can I locate a gun with one bullet?

They're passionate, but will not shut up about their team, regardless of W/L record. So if this sounds like your crew, roll with em'.

We've reached the end. The NL West. This is...the final countdown!

Arizona Diamondbacks
Remember when this team wore purple, called their stadium "The Bob" and won a World Series? Well those days are long past, but you can still wear their gear with pride!

Colorado Rockies
Well, at least they're still willing to wear purple! They went to the World Series once, it didn't turn out so well. Coors Field does have that neat row of seats that inform you that you're a mile above sea level.

Los Angeles Dodgers
This team has an interesting past. They were Brooklyn's team, then they moved to LA and forced a whole bunch of poor Hispanics off their land to build their stadium! Ahh! America!

San Diego Padres
This is THE team in San Diego. The Friars have one of the best stadiums in the MLB, there's even a warehouse built in as a foul pole and seating.

San Francisco Giants
This team also left New York in search of the West Coast. They had a guy that took a lot of steroids and hit home runs once.

So there you go. The entire MLB. Pick your poison, but regardless of who you pick, stay loyal. No one likes fair weather fans.

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Ok, I'm coming clean, I'm what most people would call a baseball noob. Yes, I now the rules, and yes I know every year which teams are good and which teams are bad. However, I have never followed baseball closely. This was always an issue in high school when I didn't have a job over the summer and all there was on TV during the day was baseball. I would have the games on in the background, but I never really paid as much attention as I should have. Now my summers are filled with work during the day, and I have lost even my small amount of time to watch baseball. This summer I am going to try to change that, and I'm hoping that my somewhat nubile view of the sport will be a good contrast to some of colleagues. I know this is a fairly short post, but I'm extremely busy today. In a week or two, I might give a more in depth post on my views on baseball.

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I wanted to add something to Nate's post from yesterday on why the NFL combine is useless. It's a similar point to the one that he made, but it's put in a slightly different way, I think.

In the combine, you run all kinds of drills and tests, and you get a physical done, and that's all well and good -- I can see why teams would want to know some of that stuff, and I can especially see why giving prospective players physicals would be key.

The NFL combine doesn't directly apply to football, though. If football was played by performing a series of drills better than the other team, then I could see why it would be useful.

But that's not how it works.

Football teams play football. These men who are taking these tests are doing so because they've been playing football at a high level for years, and want to show that they're good enough to do it professionally. But didn't they already prove that by playing football?

Michael Crabtree has a foot injury that's going to keep him out of the rest of the combine, and according to ESPN, that is supposedly going to make his draft "stock" fall.

Why? Have they never seen him play football? Missing an opportunity to draft an extremely good wide receiver because you don't know how fast he can run 40 yards yet seems colossally stupid to me.

I feel like players should be able to prove their skill and worth through playing football, and shouldn't have to have a certain vertical jump measurement in order to be considered draft material. I've seen Crabtree do amazing things, and though I can see the injury as being a legitimate worry (as in, will he be the same after surgery?), I just don't see why his vertical jump should be more important than this.

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Ok, so I know that using the term "meat market" to describe the NFL Combine is beyond cliche at this point.

However, I do feel that the Combine is over-valued by scouts and fans alike.

Let's take a look at NFL Combine record holders. The source for these stats is NFLDraftScout.com, and they only have stats going back to 1999, so this is far from a comprehensive list. As I understand, Deion Sanders and Bo Jackson both ran ridiculously fast 40 times. Duly noted.

The NFL unfortunately doesn't keep official records of Combine results, so this is the best I can get my hands on.

Still, this list should help illustrate my point.

Following are the top ten performers since 1999 for the major drills run at the NFL combine.

40-yard dash:

4.24 - Rondel Melendez, (WR), Eastern Kentucky - 1999
4.24 - Chris Johnson, (RB), East Carolina - 2008
4.28 - Jerome Mathis, (WR), Hampton - 2005
4.28 - Champ Bailey, (CB), Georgia - 1999
4.29 - Stanford Routt, (CB), Houston - 2005
4.29 - Jay Hinton, (RB), Morgan State - 1999
4.29 - Fabian Washington, (CB), Nebraska - 2005
4.30 - Yamon Figurs (WR), Kansas State - 2007
4.30 - Darrent Williams, (CB), Oklahoma State - 2005
4.31 - Johnathan Joseph, (CB), South Carolina - 2006

The 40 time is considered crucial for NFL athletes, yet out of these record holders, how many have you heard of? Chris Johnson is a good back, but are we ready to say he's the best in the NFL? The only bona-fide star on the list is Champ Bailey.

225 Pound Reps

51 - Justin Ernest, (DT), Eastern Kentucky - 1999
45 - Mike Kudla, (DE), Ohio State - 2006
45 - Leif Larsen, (DT), Texas-El Paso - 2000
44 - Brodrick Bunkley, (DT), Florida State - 2006
43 - Scott Young, (OG), BYU - 2005
42 - Tank Tyler (DT), North Carolina State - 2007
42 - Isaac Sopoaga, (DT), Hawaii - 2004
41 - Terna Nande, (OLB), Miami (OHIO) - 2006
41 - Igor Olshansky, (DT), Oregon - 2004
40 - Zach Piller, (OT), Florida - 1999

The only player I've heard of is Mike Kudla, and that's because he got cut by the Steelers. I thought that Justin Ernest's impressive record would have earned him an NFL career as a DT, but a Google search doesn't show anything past his Eastern Kentucky days. Apparently he went undrafted.

Vertical Jump

46 - Gerald Sensabaugh, (FS), North Carolina - 2005
45 1/2 - Derek Wake, (OLB), Penn State - 2005
45 - Chris McKenzie, (CB), Arizona State - 2005
45 - Chris Chambers, (WR), Wisconsin - 2001
43 1/2 - Dustin Fox, (FS), Ohio State - 2005
43 1/2 - Jay Hinton, (RB), Morgan State - 1999
43 1/2 - Kevin Kasper, (WR), Iowa - 2001
43 1/2 - Jerry Azumah, (RB), New Hampshire - 1999
43 - Scott Starks, (CB), Wisconsin - 2005
43 - Cedric James, (WR), TCU - 2001

Uh huh. So, out of this drill, considered so important for d-backs and wide receivers, the only big name in the top ten is Chris Chambers?

20-yard Shuttle:

3.73 - Kevin Kasper, (WR), Iowa - 2001
3.76 - Deion Branch, (WR), Louisville - 2002
3.78 - Dunta Robinson, (CB), South Carolina - 2004
3.79 - Champ Bailey, (CB), Georgia - 1999
3.82 - Dante' Hall, (RB), Texas A&M - 2000
3.83 - Jason Allen, (FS), Tennessee - 2006
3.83 - Kevin Bentley, (OLB), NorthWestern - 2002
3.83 - Terence Newman, (CB), Kansas State - 2003
3.84 - Justin Beriault, (FS), Ball State - 2005
3.84 - Carlos Rogers, (CB), Auburn - 2005

Champ Bailey makes another appearance on this list. Terence Newman is a standout name as well.

I just want to give some props to Justin Beriault. A knee injury ended his career in the preseason of his rookie year, but he's a fellow Ball State Cardinal, so I'm glad to see him on the list.

Remember when Deion Branch was a Super Bowl MVP? He really hasn't done much without Tom Brady throwing the ball to him...maybe he should run the 20 again to bring him back to the glory days.

Three Cone Drill

6.45 - Sedrick Curry, (CB), Texas A&M - 2000
6.48 - Rogers Beckett, (FS), Marshall - 2000
6.49 - Carlos Rogers, (CB), Auburn - 2005
6.50 - Leon Hall (CB), Michigan - 2007
6.51 - Jon McGraw, (SS), Kansas State - 2002
6.54 - Anthony Gonzalez (WR), Ohio State - 2007
6.56 - Ben Taylor, (ILB), Virginia Tech - 2002
6.56 - Kevin Kasper, (WR), Iowa - 2001
6.60 - Trent Gamble, (FS), Wyoming - 2000
6.60 - Marcus Griffin (SS), Texas - 2007

Anthony Gonzalez is a pretty solid player. The rest of this list, not as much.

So, there we have it. Five drills, 50 records, little overlap of record holders. What do we have to show for it in solid NFL results? Champ Bailey, Anthony Gonzalez, Chris Chambers, Terence Newman, Chris Johnson, and—for the sake of argument—Deion Branch.

Does draft stock really rise and fall over this?

Can we get over the NFL Combine now?

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So yesterday sucked, if you were a fan of Indianapolis teams.

That's putting it kindly.

Let's start with the Pacers:

The trade deadline came and went with no deals made. Rasho, Jack, Daniels and Tinsley, all trade bait...nothing happened. Pacers fans gathered at our beloved Pacers Digest to discuss rumors. The deadline passed and we all just sat there. Some of us called it, figuring with the economy and the current financial situation of the Pacers that nothing would happen, while others were foaming at the mouth wanting to tear Basketball Jesus limb from limb.

Then, just when we thought all the bad Pacers-related news was done for the day, I get a text message from the Pacers informing me that Danny Granger is out 10 days-3 weeks with a partial tendon tear. Alright, this day went from bad to worse. Barring a small miracle, we can kiss our playoff hopes goodbye.

Yet, we weren't done with the cavalcade of horrible news.

Following all of this, I see a thread on the Pacers Digest boards in the Colts section. The title seemed almost unthinkable to me, "Marvin Harrison...CUT". Inside the thread was the story that confirmed it all. I mean, it's not the same as the Colts losing Manning, but this is still huge. We saw it coming. Last season we all had this sixth sense feeling that we were watching Marvin for the last time, but now...we knew. The best receiver the Colts have ever had in Indy was gone, never again to return.

Yesterday sucked, our playoff hopes were dashed, one all-star is out with an injury and one legend is out for good.

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It's finally starting. The first spring training games start next week, and the World Baseball Classic starts in two weeks. And I could not be more excited.

The picture is from Metsblog's Matthew Cerrone, who's in Florida for spring training. The original post can be seen here, and the full Flickr photostream can be seen here. They're great pictures, definitely take a look.

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Not a rumor was stirring to satiate our wait
The jerseys were hung in the lockers with care
In hopes that Amar'e soon would be there
The fans were nestled all snug in their beds
While visions of an athletic, post playing big man danced in their heads
When Stern in his 'kerchief, and Adam Silver in his cap
Had just settled down for a long winter's nap

Alright, I've abused this literary classic enough. I just wanted to get to the part where David Stern could be wearing a 'kerchief.

So what's going on the night before the deadline?



Apparently nothing. In fact, it appears our biggest NBA trade so far has been rescinded as the Thunder have gone back on their deal to trade for Hornets big man Tyson Chandler.

ESPN has a handy dandy trade update article. It is being updated by several of their writers, and from what I can gather it appears that what could have been one of the most exciting trade deadlines in recent memory is turning into a giant pumpkin at midnight.

Unless NBA GMs are playing it extremely close to the vest (this would be a shocker), then it appears the only big name they expect to see moved over the next 15 hours is Vince Carter. Portland is the leading candidate to land the former all-star's services.

It is clear that the Cavs are desperately trying to unload Wally Szczerbiak's expiring contract to bring in some more help for Lebron in the playoff push. They appear to have been in talks with several teams, but from what I can gather no one really knows if they have been serious or not.

It appears that the economy's struggles have stretched over into the NBA as many mid level teams are choosing to allow their expiring contracts sit, rather than make a trade to bring on more talent and at the same time more salary.

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It looks like my earlier plea may have paid off. Ken Griffey, Jr., according to ESPN and others, will sign with the Seattle Mariners. Here's hoping that I'm not jinxing it by posting this now, since this time yesterday, it was believed that he had signed with Atlanta.

I am obviously pleased by this development; hopefully the homecoming will be a happy one for Junior.

EDIT: It's 100% official now. Huzzah!

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Dear Mr. Griffey:

Ever since I first played Ken Griffey Jr. Presents Major League Baseball on my Super Nintendo, you have been one of my favorite players. I've always liked you because of your skill, your class, and the fact that, as far as I can tell, you've been clean your whole career.

I was disappointed when you left Seattle for Cincinnati, and even more so when you began to succumb to injury after that move. I had always hoped that you would be the one to set all of the prestigious offensive records, rather than your juiced-up and assholish contemporaries. You were the good guy, and I hoped for the best from you.

It didn't happen. But you can make one last-ditch effort at awesomeness, and close the loop. You can go back to Seattle.

Reports have stated that you're currently deciding between the Braves and the Mariners. I would like to beg you, on behalf of everyone who grew up on Super Nintendo baseball games in the 1990s, to go back to the Mariners, and to finish out your career there. There are plenty of reasons to go to the Braves -- namely, they're a lot better than the Mariners -- but for once, I think that going to the (relatively) winning team is the wrong choice.

You came up with Seattle. You had basically all of your best years there. And the city is in sports hell right now -- the Seahawks are terrible, the Mariners were horrifyingly disappointing last year, and the Sonics left. The people there need something good to happen. And you would be that thing.

And you would be doing a service to baseball. Like I already said, you were the clean one during the steroid age. In fact, your injuries might have been prevented had you caved in and used like everyone else. In the face of the recent resurfacing of that dirty era, it would do everyone some good to see you back in a Mariners uniform, as a reminder that not everyone in baseball was a cheater.

And besides, who knows? Maybe going back to Seattle will send some good karma your way. Maybe you have one more 56 home run season in you. So please, sign with the Mariners. It would make everyone who doesn't live in Atlanta happy. And it would probably be good for you too.

Love,
Thomas

P.S. Please never test positive for anything. It would kill me.

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There's a new poll on the right sidebar asking whether or not you'll be watching this year's World Baseball Classic.

Feel free to vote and discuss.

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The new wave of baseball is here, and already some young players are taking the major leagues by storm. These players are the future of the game, and they're likely to be the foundation of your favorite team for years to come.

With Spring Training about to start, I'd like to take a moment to profile some of the young players I'll be keeping my eye on this season.

This is not a "top prospects" list, and the players listed here are not in any particular order. Rather, I'll be breaking down the ten young players I'll personally be keeping an eye on in each league this season.

AL

1. David Price - P - Tampa Bay Rays

Wow, so many players to choose from in Tampa. I could have gone with Evan Longoria, BJ Upton, or just about any other member of the pitching staff, but I went with Price.

Why? Because he'll make a huge difference for the Rays this year. He probably won't start the year out in the majors, but he had a great run for the Rays in the postseason last year, and this guy will be an absolute machine when he's called up.

2. Jacoby Ellsbury - CF - Boston Red Sox

Ellsbury has had a great Major League career so far, giving opposing pitchers fits both at the plate and on the basepaths. He knows how to get on base, has the speed to stretch a single into a double and a double into a triple, and knows how to pick his spots to steal a bases successfully—which he did 50 times last year.

Ellsbury is a throwback player that makes the game fun to watch, and I expect him to develop a little bit of home run power this season as well, possibly hitting around 15 dingers for the Red Sox.

3 and 4. Philip Hughes and Joba Chamberlain - P - New York Yankees

All the buzz in New York is over the big free agent splashes they made, especially the additions to their pitching staff. It seems as if everyone has forgotten about Phillip Hughes and Joba Chamberlain, who were beating down the door of the rotation last year.

Well, allow me to remind you: I fully expect Hughes to come up to the Majors this year and pitch at the back end of the Yankees rotation.

He's been a strikeout machine with masterful control all through the minors while walking very few batters. He has a career minor-league mark of a 2.40 ERA with a 0.92 WHIP, and has struck out 348 batters in 310.2 innings while walking only 77.

This guy is a future ace.

Chamberlain may have had some setbacks in the rotation last year, but if the Yankees were to insert him in the back end from the beginning of the year, he'd do fine.

By the All-Star break, we should be seeing a Sabathia-Burnett-Wang-Chamberlain-Hughes rotation, and that's something to be feared.

Even if Joba isn't ready for the rotation, odds are that Ian Kennedy will be and Joba will be able to resume his dominance from the bullpen.

5. Matt Wieters - C - Baltimore Orioles

He has been on every top prospect list since the day he was drafted (as a Pirates fan, I remember that day well...), and he's absolutely torn up the minor league system.

He was tagged as a fast-track candidate, and it's looking like he'll only spend a month or two in AAA, if even that, before the Orioles call him up to the show.

Personally, I can't wait to see what he can do.

6. Adam Lind - LF/DH - Toronto Blue Jays

I may be a bit biased here because I went to the same high school as Adam Lind, but he is a legit power prospect that finally got a chance to play for an extended period of time in the big leagues last year.

He did not disappoint, going .282/.316/.439 with nine home runs. Although he doesn't hit as many homers as the Blue Jays would like to see from him yet, he is good enough to replace Big Hurt - who the team famously dumped last year - in the lineup, and the balls he's hitting are falling just short of going all the way. Give him some time, and he'll come along.

I expect around 25 homers from him this year if the Jays allow him to play. Manager Cito Gaston has made a commitment to giving Lind playing time, so we'll see what comes of it.

7. Carlos Quentin - LF - Chicago White Sox

In his first year of significant playing time, Quentin bombed 36 homers out of the park and showed a knack for getting on base, posting a .394 on-base percentage.

This is consistent with what he's done in the minors and in his two seasons as a role-player in Arizona. He's always been extremely adept at reaching base, the question is whether or not he'll retain the power he showed last year.

Throughout his minor league career, he's been a doubles machine, so what we saw last year is likely what happens to a lot of young talent: his swing gets an extra pop, and those doubles are turning into home runs.

8. Kevin Slowey - P - Minnesota Twins

Slowey is a pitcher with masterful control and the ability to make a batter miss. He should be No. 2 on the Twins rotation instead of No. 3, but he's still young enough that mid-rotation is an accomplishment all on its own.

Last year, Slowey started 27 games for the Twins, pitching 160.3 innings. He managed 123 strikeouts and only walked 24, and was rewarded with a 1.15 WHIP and a 3.99 ERA.

The biggest problem Slowey has is that he has a propensity to give up the long ball. If he can keep opposing hitters' balls inside the park, he's got the talent to be a great pitcher for years to come.

9. Matt LaPorta - LF - Cleveland Indians

There's no guarantee that Matt LaPorta will be on the major league squad this year, but if he does, he could be a force to reckon with.

LaPorta is the picture of a complete hitter, with awesome on-base skills and a good power bat to go with them. He would make a fine addition to the Indians outfield if he can prove that he's major league ready. The Indians are a team with too much talent to miss the playoffs again this year, and if LaPorta is ready, they'll certainly take him.

10. Chris Davis - 1B - Texas Rangers

Last year, a 22-year-old named Chris Davis set the world on fire with his bat and took many fantasy baseball leagues by storm.

After being called up to the majors at the end of the season, the slugger managed 17 home runs and 23 doubles in only 295 at-bats, putting up a .285/.331/.549 line along the way.

It will be interesting to see if this output continues. The Rangers may have found the next Mark Teixeira.

NL

1. Troy Tulowitzki - SS - Colorado Rockies

After getting off to a stellar start and being part of a World Series team in 2007, Tulowitzki spent most of 2008 injured. He didn't fare well during the time he did play, but a good chunk of that time he was still rehabbing.

Will the speedy 24-year-old shortstop will return to his 2007 form and smack 20+ homers again while hitting for plenty of extra bases, or was that year a fluke?

2. Joey Votto - 1B - Cincinnati Reds

The majority of the Reds roster could make this list. They've got an exciting core of young players such as Jay Bruce, Edinson Volquez, Chris Dickerson, and Homer Bailey.

However, the reason I want to focus on Votto is because he gets no respect. Last year, he was only slightly worse than David Wright, and he was easily among the elite tier of 1B players in the major leagues, and yet nobody talks about him when they talk about top young talent.

Votto not only has home run power, but he's also a smart hitter, cranking out a .297/.368/.506 line last year. Add in his 32 doubles, and you've got yourself a real threat in the middle of the lineup. He's only 24-years-old, meaning he's only likely to get better!

If Votto was on a team like the Yankees, we'd never hear the end about him, but since he's on the Reds, he's just another first baseman.

3. Hanley Ramirez - SS - Florida Marlins

You only think you know how good Hanley Ramirez is.

I know that Hanley has been established as a good SS for a few years now, but I just want to hammer the point home that this 25-year-old player is out-playing Derek Jeter, Jose Reyes, and Jimmy Rollins, yet he only gets mentioned as an afterthought when it comes to discussing elite MLB shortstops.

Along with a decent glove, Ramirez provides unmatched power to the Marlins lineup from the shortstop position, with a career slugging line of .527. Having that kind of bat at shortstop is a valuable asset from a normally defense-first position.

Combine all this with his incredible speed (51 stolen bases for two years in a row, 35 last year, and the ability to stretch plays for extra bases) and you've got yourself an all-world athlete.

4. Lastings Milledge - CF - Washington Nationals

The speedy center fielder has been atop many a top prospects lists for a few years now, but hasn't really done anything impressive with his major league playing time. Could 2009 be the year that changes?

5. Jonathan Sanchez - P - San Francisco Giants

Last year I would have put Tim Lincecum in this spot, but what with him winning the Cy Young, I imagine people are now fully aware of how dominant he is.

Last year was Sanchez's first full year in the rotation, and he handled it well. He made a lot of batters miss, but he also walked a bit too many.

His detractors like to point out that his peripherals, i.e. WHIP and ERA aren't good, but he was playing with a pretty poor defense behind him. His defense-independent statistics aren't bad at all. Although I doubt he'll turn into a mirror of Tim Lincecum, there's some real upside here.

6. Hunter Pence - RF - Houston Astros

Talk of Astros prospects is usually headed up by discussing JR Towles, but his brief stint in the majors last year proved to me that he isn't ready for the show. Looking at his minor league numbers, too, leaves a lot to be desired. Towles is a fine catcher, but he's not the "set the world on fire" prospect he's made out to be.

Hunter Pence, however, is a legitimate prospect.

Although last year was a step back from his rookie performance, it was still a solid season by a good right fielder. Pence has the ability to hit for both power and average, and if he can work on his pitch selection, he could turn into a dynamic hitter.

7. Yovani Gallardo

I still have my edition of Baseball Prospectus 2008, and on the cover it has a picture of Yovani Gallardo with the caption "meet the Brew-crew's new ace." It didn't quite work out that way last year, as an injury sidelined him until they needed him and Sabathia to make a playoff run.

However, Gallardo will still make for a very interesting pitcher to watch in 2009. During his brief playing time in 2008, he strung together 20 strikeouts in 24 innings pitched, and looked every bit as dominant as he was supposed to.

If we give this guy a full season, Brewers fans will be saying "Ben who?"

8. Chase Headley - LF - San Diego Padres

Like Lastings Milledge, Chase Headley is a highly touted prospect that hasn't been able to do much with his time in the show thus far.

I think Headley is a bit more "legit" than Milledge is, though, and if I had to pick one or the other to give a full season to in 2009, it would be Headley. His minor league numbers show a lot of promise, and he did start to show some flashes of brilliance near the end of last year.

9. Matt Kemp - CF - Los Angeles Dodgers

Kemp is a dynamic hitter with a wide skill set, and he's a pretty good fielder too.

This guy is truly able to do it all. He can patrol center field well, he can get the base hit, he can draw the walk, he can steal a base, he can hit the homer, and he can stretch a single into a double.

With Andruw Jones out of the way and Joe Torre finally starting to come around on the Juan Pierre front, I'm looking for a big year from Kemp in 2009 when he gets some significant playing time.

10. Andy LaRoche - 3B - Pittsburgh Pirates

LaRoche has been universally considered one of the best prospects in baseball for years now.

The Dodgers were criticized for blocking him with aging athletes such as Nomar Garciaparra and Casey Blake, and finally they traded him to Pittsburgh in the Jason Bay three-way deal last year.

Although LaRoche struggled last year, I believe that it was simply his adjustment period. He'll probably struggle even more at the beginning of this year, but I see him pulling it together midseason and showing the world that he really is a player capable of performing at the top level.

At least, he had better. There are no immediate threats to his job, with Neil Walker not showing the power in AAA that the Pirates would like to see and Pedro Alvarez only entering into his first year of minor league play.

However, a power surge from Walker while LaRoche is flailing away could end with LaRoche losing his job, and with Pedro Alvarez projected to be a fast-track athlete, he'll probably only have one year to gain it back.

Once Alvarez comes up, if LaRoche hasn't proven his worth to the Pittsburgh top brass at least enough to consider keeping him on the bench or switching his (or Alvarez's) position, he'll probably get dumped by the team. If that happens, he's more likely to be a never was than a has-been.

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The Indiana Pacers are prime candidates to be active players in trade dealings as 3pm Thursday nears. While rumors are fun to speculate about they've always seemed to be wasted time to me, so let's look at the assets the Pacers possess, who is likely to get moved and what needs to be addressed.

Let's start with the players that we shall not be seeing leave any time soon.

Danny Granger- Named to the East All-Stars this season. He signed a 5-year, $60 million extension and is the star of this team. It would take something major to move him away from Indy.

Brandon Rush- He's had some ups and downs in his first NBA season, but it is unlikely he'll be wearing anything other than a Pacers jersey for the next few years.

Jeff Foster- Although he's been included in recent trade rumors, one must remind themselves that they are only that...rumors. Foster was just recently signed to an extension and is a valuable part of this Pacers team. Although he's wanted by a lot of teams and would be a great role player on a major contender, it's highly unlikely this Indiana fan favorite will go anywhere.

Roy Hibbert- This rookie is the center of the future. He faces a lot of criticism that he doesn't fit into Indiana's current system really well, but if he takes time in the off season to run sprints and build up stamina, he'll be a great fit.

Likely to Not Return to Conseco in a Pacers Jersey Next Season

Rasho Nesterovic- His contract expires this season and the cost of bringing him will be too much for a team which apparently is already bleeding money. Look for Rasho to get traded, as his services are still wanted by other teams.

Marquis Daniels- Quis is currently playing one of the best seasons of his career, but with a team option at the end of season that would just cost the Pacers too much, he will not be returning next season. Daniels could very well end this season on another team.

Jamaal Tinsley- He will not be back next year. This will be accomplished through a trade or a buyout. Bird says he has received some offers for Jamaal, but I don't believe it. Either these offers have been absolutely horrible or Bird is trying to attract interest. More than likely, he'll be bought out in the off season, but there's always hope that someone will take a trade out of desperation around 3 on Thursday.

Possible Trade Pieces

T.J. Ford- Although Indiana just acquired him over the summer and he's been a great fit for the Pacers, if the right trade came along, Ford could easily find himself heading to a new city to bring in a star to complement Granger.

Jarrett Jack- Jack has an expiring contract and he seems like a player who could easily return. Yet he could fall into the same category as Ford, but could be more attractive to teams due to his expiring deal.

What The Pacers Need

The one glaring problem for this team is defense. Thirty-one of the Pacers 54 games have been decided by five points or less. They are 11-20 in those games. Being someone who has watched all of these games, most of these can be attributed to late defensive collapses. The Pacers really need a big defense post player who can make smart offensive plays without throwing the ball away.

Parting Thoughts

At this point, anyone on the Pacers (minus the four mentioned above) could find themselves somewhere else come Thursday. Although, it must be said that this is just one Pacers fan's opinion and anything could happen. The front office recently said they wouldn't trade Foster or Rush. Yet, if memory serves correctly, they also said that they wouldn't deal Jalen Rose the day before sending him to Chicago. Just remember that when you hear about trade deadline deals and rumors, there are no certainties until it's made official, so take everything with a grain of salt.

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At first glance it is tough to say who really comes out on top in this deal. On the one hand, we know that Dwyane Wade is the most talented player that O'Neal will have ever played next too, and will grant the big man ample space in the paint. However, O'Neal hasn't been the same player since a string of knee injuries that began against the Detroit Pistons in the 2004 Eastern Conference Finals. Also, the future first round pick is lottery protected through 2015, so it is tough to say whether or not we can even factor that into the deal.


The Raptors seem to have gotten a great small forward for their system. Marion is long, athletic, and a superior defender. His drawback is that he seems to have been a bit of a system guy in Phoenix. If Calderon can get him the ball in the open court, then he can become a much more valuable asset to this team. Marion's contract is expiring at the end of this season and is valued at $17 million. I believe that it is doubtful that Marion will resign with Toronto. So this could be a blatant salary dump.


Right now this deal is too close to call. I give the early edge to Toronto, if Marion can regain his seven seconds or less form. If not, I think this will likely end up looking like the deal that sent Marion to Miami for Shaquille O'Neal a year ago. That deal was more or less utterly pointless and ill conceived by both teams.


A quick note on Amare Watch. It appears that Suns GM Steve Kerr may have shown his hand a bit too early. A pair of rumored deals involving the Trailblazers and Grizzlies have both popped up and both seem to suggest Kerr was asking for far too much for the All-Star forward. Kerr apparently wanted Lamarcus Aldridge and Jerryd Bayless from the Blazers. Portland quickly bowed out of the running. According to ESPN, he apparently asked for an even more absurd package of Rudy Gay, Mike Conley, and Hakim Warrick from the Grizzlies. If these reports are reliable, then it is possible that Kerr could have unrealistic expectations of Amare's value, and it becomes more likely that he will remain a Sun.


Even if Amare remains a Sun, it appears the franchise still wants to make more drastic changes. It is being reported that Suns coach Terry Porter could be fired as soon as Monday's practice.

There doesn't appear to be any more news regarding the Indiana Pacers, but it is clear that they are actively shopping point guard Jamaal Tinsley. However, getting rid of Tinsley and his contract is easier said than done. I truly hope that Bird will not allow our expiring contracts to go to waste.

If you're watching the All-Star festivities this year, then you are probably already as pumped as I am for the 2010 Slam Dunk Competition. Lebron James said he will compete in the event next season during TNT's telecast of this year's competition. Nate Robinson went with a kryptonite theme to defeat Dwight Howard in the finals. I hope to see both of them back next year to go head to head with Lebron.

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We've been discussing different things we can do with this blog, and interesting ideas we can play around with. Recently we came up with something that we're going to try this summer. I'm not sure about the others, but Thomas and I grew up with Indianapolis. For a long time I didn't really have a true MLB team until my father moved to Tampa, so minor league baseball meant more to me than the big leagues for a large portion of my life. Still to this day, minor league baseball is a big deal to me, it may be just as important as the big leagues. I know the rest of us feel similar to that sentiment. So with no further to do I present to you our plan for this upcoming season.

We're going to spend a lot of this season focusing on minor league baseball. More specifically, Midwestern baseball. We're going to cover other minor league teams (as in our MLB teams' affiliates) and of course MLB baseball as well, but we live in Indianapolis and there are seven MiLB affiliates within 200 miles, along with three MLB teams. So we're going to try and go to a lot of games, see a lot of different stadiums and take in a lot of environments. Plus, we're bringing you along for the ride. We'll bring our cameras and try to capture everything we can. After each game, a recap, and a rating of the environment. Our beloved Victory Field is often called the best minor league ballpark, so we'll use that as our benchmark.

So this summer is the summer of Midwestern Baseball. Mainly the minor league teams, but we'll try to get a couple major league games in there as well. Also if anyone in those cities would like to give us free tickets to see a game at their stadium...we're alright with bribes.

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In honor of the official start of baseball's pre-pre-pre-season -- pitchers and catchers for MLB teams began reporting to camp Friday -- I thought that I would share some baseball predictions with you. Later in the spring, the staff of SFSI will be giving team-by-team (or, at the very least, division-by-division) predictions, but I am going to look more at the storylines (good lord, do I ever hate that term). At the very least, at the end of the year we can all look back at this and laugh, and if I'm right, maybe I can have John Kruk's job. Or Steve Phillips'. Or, for that matter, Tim McCarver's.

1. The Yankees will NOT win the World Series.

I'm sorry to the Yankee fans in the house, but if there's one thing the past eight years have taught me (other than the fact that former Rangers owners shouldn't be president), it's that spending obscene amounts of money on free agents and ignoring team chemistry doesn't win championships. CC Sabathia was great with the Brewers last season, that's undeniable. But he's never really dealt with pressure well -- even leaving out his terrible showing against the Phillies in the NLDS last year (he was clearly exhausted by that point), he was just pretty good as a youngster in 2001, and he was merely servicable against the Yankees and got shelled twice by the Red Sox in 2007. Cleveland and Milwaukee aren't exactly New York, where it can seem like every game is a playoff game when you're under scrutiny. And he will be. And as highly touted as Mark Teixeira is, he's not much better than David Wright. Look at their numbers -- they're very comperable. Nothing against David Wright, I love him to death, but Tex is not Barroid Bonds. This is not an invincible team. A very good one potentially, but not a lock. And I see them falling short, probably with A-Rod hitting into a double play in a late crucial spot and being showered with syringes.

2. One of the best teams in baseball will not make the playoffs.

As you surely know, the Tampa Bay Rays went to the World Series last year. They beat the Red Sox in the ALCS. Both are in the AL East division. No more than two teams from a division can make the playoffs. Do you see where I'm going with this? Between the Yankees, Red Sox and Rays, only two can survive (and maybe not even that many, depending on the other two divisions). This prediction presupposes prediction number

3. The Rays will be good again.

They were young last year, and they fell apart a bit at the tail end. But that experience will help. They're not a perfect team -- their bullpen has all the flaws it did during the World Series, since unless ESPN has buried news, they haven't done a lot to fix that bullpen. But if Evan Longoria doesn't hit like 50 home runs, I will be surprised. But anyway, all three AL East front runners will be good. At most, two can make the post season. Who will be the 2008 Patriots of baseball? I have no idea...I haven't written my division predictions yet. Sorry. If I had to bet now, though, I would say the Yankees and Red Sox advance, simply because their weaknesses are less glaring. But the Rays will end up with at least 85-87 wins, I'd say. Most divisions, that would be enough for second, but probably not here unless A-Rod gets suspended. (Which even as a Red Sox fan, I believe would be a colossal mistake. You will hear more about this later.)

4. The National League will win the All-Star Game.

It's got to happen eventually, doesn't it? And as Rage Against the Machine once said, "What better place than here? What better time than now?"

5. The Mets will not choke in September.

See above.

6. A random team will be really good for no reason.

The Rays did it last year. The Tigers did it in 2006. The Marlins win the World Series in 2003, for goodness' sake. So my prediction? The Royals. They probably won't blow the doors off of anybody. They will not win their division. But they have a good manager and good young players. Also, Coco Crisp. I predict third place, and a consolation prize. Oh, and in case you're wondering: in the last two weeks of the year, the Royals play both the Red Sox and Yankees. So they could play a big part in determining the winner of that division, especially if I'm right about them. They could be a big spoiler.

7. Who am I kidding? The Mets will totally choke again.

In 2007 it was their rotation. Last year it was the bullpen. By the process of elimination, I believe that leaves either the offense or the special teams to collapse this year. I would bet that in September 2009, the Mets will probably go 0-for-the-month and lose to the Phillies by one game. And I will jump off of something high. And by that, I mean that I will jump from a great altitude, not that I will consume drugs and try to crowd surf in someone's living room. (Don't try that at home kids. I haven't either, but it sounds like it could only end badly.)

So that's what will happen in baseball this year. Unless it doesn't, in which case this post can join my "Seattle Mariners 2008 AL West Champions" shirt design and this bullshit in Hell.

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So, it's come to this.

Bud Selig is publicly criticizing Alex Rodriguez for taking steroids. Fine, that's his job. The baseball commissioner is supposed to say that A-Rod "shamed the game."

It's ridiculous that he's considering disciplining Rodriguez when the tests were non-disciplinary. If he does that, he had better reveal and discipline the other 103 players on that list, too.

However, is he really going to strip Barry Bonds of the all-time home run title? Really? Because that's ludicrous.

Why didn't Selig make this clear when Barry was about to claim the record? He wouldn't even have to imply guilt. A simple "if we ever find out that Mr. Bonds has in fact taken performance enhancing drugs, his title will be removed" would suffice.

It seems quite convenient that, two years removed from Bonds' breaking of the record, and right on the heels of a steroid scandal, suddenly Selig has found religion in terms of maintaining the integrity of baseball's home run record. This seems like a blatant public relations stunt to me.

Look, this has simply got to stop. Everyone was juicing in the steroids era...that's why it's called the steroids era! Pitchers were on the juice, hitters were on the juice, even bench players were on the juice.

Out of every one of those players juicing, how many hit more than 755 home runs? Exactly one. You don't make a hitter as good as Barry Bonds with performance enhancing drugs.

Steroids aren't a magical home run potion. Did Bonds take them? Probably. Is it really a competitive edge when everyone is taking steroids? Not really. You can't call it an edge when everyone else is doing the same thing.

Barry Bonds has hit 762 home runs in his career, and no amount of revisionist history is going to change that.

What really gets me isn't the revisionist history that's being pulled on Bonds, however. What gets me is that we're revising the history of Hank Aaron.

Did we all really forget?

Hank Aaron was a cheater too!

Classy Hank Aaron, the guy every baseball fan loves these days, took amphetamines to boost his performance when he played. He took performance enhancing drugs. He should be removed from the record book by Selig's standards. If you're going to revise history, do it right, darn it!

So, I guess that makes our true home run king Babe Ruth, right?

But wait! Babe Ruth played in a segregated era! You can't call him the best, because he wasn't playing against the best competition, only the best white competition! No, Babe Ruth as home run king won't do.

Which leaves us with Willie Mays. I suppose Willie is our new home run king...he was a clean player who played in a clean era, and he racked up 660 home runs. Oh, wait, it can't be Willie Mays. He's Barry Bonds' godfather. Guilty by association, you know.

So there you have it, ladies and gentlemen, your home run king is Ken Griffey, Jr. 611 is the new number to beat, and with Griffey still playing, we can expect that number to grow. Only clean, integration-era players need apply! We wouldn't want our records to be tainted!

It's really a wonder that Bud Selig wasn't in attendance to see Griffey break Frank Robinson's previous record of 586 home runs. I always knew he was the wrong man for the Commissioner job. Griffey has really been piling on to that record, too. I don't think he'll ever be topped.

MOAR!

LESS!

I'm going to purchase this belt buckle and I need to know, great life decision, or greatest life decision.

MOAR!

LESS!

This country was founded on revolution and if our forefathers knew what football was, and enjoyed it, I'm sure they would be proud of the people over at WhoDeyRevolution.


The Cincinnati Bengals are horrible.

I personally could never get tired of typing that phrase, because if any of you reading this have ever been to Cincinnati, you know it's a horrible place when dreams go to die and everything is covered in filth. Nothing good shall ever come from that vile place, nor is there be anything to be proud of in that steaming shit pile of a city. Here Cincy, I'll save you some money for your next tourism campaign: "Cincinnati, at least we're not Dayton or Detroit!"

I digress. The Bengals are terrible, actually...they're the worst. I found out from the WhoDey site that the Bengals 101-186-1 since Mike Brown took the reigns of the team from his father after his death in 1991. Well that record comes out to the lowest winning percentage in all of the four major U.S. sports. That means the Bengals have sucked worse than the Clippers, the Pirates, the Nationals, and (insert team synonymous with losing here). That's so bad it makes Matt Millen look like a fucking genius. Ponder that one for a few minutes, but not too long, because you'll have an aneurysm and die.

So what is WhoDeyRevolution doing? Well besides being honest and referring to themselves as douchebags, they're doing everything in their power to boycott the Bengals, and encourage others to do the same. The goal of this is to eventually send a message to Mike Brown and have him step down from General Manager.

Here's the problem: the NFL is a moneymaking juggernaut, the odds are stacked against them. So, they're reverting to any tactic they can to subvert the current regime in Cincinnati. Including starting their own "Project Mayhem." I would have to say my favorite Project Mayhem task they've done to date would have to be when they actually snuck 1,000 urinal cakes into Paul Brown Stadium that read "98-186-1, Get Pissed!". Note: If you do not know what "Project Mayhem" is, I suggest you catch up on some required watching.

I doubt that this will ever lead to a change in Cincinnati, but it's good to see them try. Nice try Cincinnati!

MOAR!

LESS!

The NBA's trading deadline is now only eight days away, and this means it is time for all those teams that have been debating whether they want to go for the playoffs or begin their rebuilding process to make a decision. Already there have been plenty of rumors and rumblings surrounding some big name players and there has even been one trade (granted the players involved were decidedly mediocre). I'll give a brief rundown of how the NBA's trade landscape sits right now, and I will also be writing about where I think it could go. Read more after the jump...



As I already stated, there has been one deal already involving the Los Angeles Lakers and the Charlotte Bobcats. The Lakers sent forward Vladimir Radmanovic to Charlotte for forward Adam Morrison, his stache, and guard Shannon Brown. Again, this deal doesn't really shake the world and was mostly a salary dump by the Lakers. You know a deal is uneventful when the best known guy in the deal hasn't been relevant on a basketball court since he was crying at the end of a college game. The best part about this deal is that now that Morrison is in Los Angeles he can now pursue the career he was destined for, porn star.

I wouldn't expect the rest of this trade deadline to be this bland. There are plenty of big names on the block (Amare, Shaq, Iverson (good call on that one Joe D.), Bosh, Kaman), and there are also plenty of teams with the assets to make these trades happen.

Amare has had the most press regarding his availability and at this point I think it is safe to say he is all but done in Phoenix. There has been a lot of discussion about where Amare might land, but if there is one thing I have learned about superstar deadline deals it is this, they usually end up on a team that comes out of left field at the last second. Amare's case is particularly difficult to handle as his true value is hard to gauge. On the one hand, you have an incredibly gifted 26 year old power forward who is capable of putting up 40 and 10 on any given night. However, Amare is a bit of an enigma with his teammates and has a sense of entitlement that could scare teams off. There is also the issue of Amare's contract. As far as NBA max deals go, Amare's is relatively appealing, he is due 16 million dollars next year and has a player option for the 2010-11 season for 17 million. The option is the scary part for many teams going after Amare. He could easily walk after next year, and he has the personality to do it. Detroit, Chicago, Portland, Miami, Indiana, and Memphis have all been rumored as possible destinations. With Detroit and Chicago, getting by far the most run by ESPN and other major sporting networks. I think it is much more likely that he will land somewhere that hasn't been mentioned yet.

Now, you didn't think I'd get through a whole post without mentioning the Pacers did you? The Pacers have some of the most versatile pieces of any team in the NBA this trading deadline, and really need to make a deal. The main reason for this is simple, their two biggest trading chips are expiring contracts belonging to Marquis Daniels and Rasho Nesterovic. The two of them make a combined 14 million dollars that will be coming off the books at year end. (Note: Daniels has a team option for the 09-10 season that could be picked up, but if the option is not picked up he functions essentially as an expiring deal) If the Pacers do not make a move, they would allow both of these deals to expire and see no return for these players.

Yesterday ESPN floated a rumor that the Pacers were in discussions with the Bobcats regarding troubled point guard Jamaal Tinsley. The rumored deal is Tinsley, Jeff Foster, and a third player yet to be determined (Stephen Graham or Brandon Rush most likely) for Raymond Felton, Nazr Mohammed, and Sean May. Now this deal makes a lot of sense to me if two things are true about the Pacers deadline strategy...
1.) They have a follow up deal to this one
2.) They include Graham and not Rush

If the Pacers do this deal without a secondary deal to follow then they are left with a logjam at the point guard position. However, there is the possibility that if they include Rush, Pacers coach Jim O'Brien could view Jarret Jack as a long term player at shooting guard, which is horrifying to say the least. I have to believe that this would never fly as a long term strategy with Larry Bird, and therefore a follow up deal would happen.

That follow up deal could, in theory, be a move for Amare. A deal centering around an expiring contract, the Pacers 2009 draft pick, and an existing talent could be appealing to Phoenix.

That is about all I have for you today, if anything really ground breaking occurs look for a post from me giving my thoughts on it. If not, tune in soon for another update to what I will be calling Amare Watch 2009.

MOAR!

LESS!

Pitchers and catchers are just around the corner, followed by spring training, the WBC and baseball season.

More importantly, however, fantasy baseball season is coming up, and we made a league.

If you want to join, send an e-mail to sixtyftsixin@gmail.com or post your e-mail address in the comments section here, and we'll mail you the league ID and password. The league is hosted on Yahoo, so if you don't have a Yahoo account, you'll need to get one.

The settings are as follows:

Stat categories:

For hitters:
Home runs
Batting average
RBI
Steals
On-base percentage

For pitchers:
WHIP
ERA
Strikeouts
Quality starts (Instead of wins. A quality start is 6 innings or more pitched with 3 runs or less surrendered.)
Inherited runners scored (For relievers, because we all feel like saves are a crappy stat)

The rosters will be a full 25-man roster, featuring the following:

1 player at each starting position, 1 utility player, 1 extra outfielder, 5 starting pitchers, 3 relief pitchers, 2 pitchers of any kind, 5 bench players. The disabled list will have room for three players.

The scoring is the traditional rotisserie method, rather than the head-to-head format popular in fantasy football.

For those unfamiliar with roto scoring, it's better in my opinion for a long season like baseball.

The way it works is best demonstrated through an example. Say we have five teams in a league. Now say that my team totalled more home runs between my players than any other team. I would get five points; one for each team in the league.

The player with the second most home runs would get four points, the player with the third most would get three, and so on down the line. We do this for every stat, add the results together, and at the end of the season the team with the most points wins the league.

The reason I like this better is simple: in roto scoring, you have to worry about having a good team and making good personnel decisions all year. In a head-to-head league, you just have to be adequate for the majority of the season and then snatch up the best September call-ups and you have yourself a league championship.

Each stat becomes far more important to the success of your team when you don't just have to beat the guy that didn't draft any base-stealing threats, but now your players have to out-steal EVERYONE to get the most points.

Anyway, like I said, if you're interested in joining the league, let us know and we'll send you an invite.

As it stands right now, the draft date is March 29th March 8th at 12:00 noon EST, and that is VERY preliminary not preliminary at all and will likely not change.

UPDATE: The new draft date is March 8th at noon EST.

MOAR!

LESS!

The Pittsburgh Pirates are a team that probably doesn't expect to compete in 2009. After all, when you're mired in a 16-year losing streak, why would you? However, that doesn't mean there aren't some interesting things going on with them.

If you didn't know, and I forgive you if you didn't, the Pirates front office had a shake-up last year. CEO Bob Nutting was replaced with Frank Coonelly, and GM Dave Littlefield was replaced with Neal Huntington.

Other changes were made, but these were the biggest, especially when the former GM's Wikipedia article reads more like a long joke or list of failures than anything else.

One of the shifts that have happened as a result is that the Pirates are no longer out to win 75 games. They're rebuilding from the ground up now, and they've got some interesting prospects to prove it.

A criticism of the Littlefield era is that he stockpiled bullpen arms. That's not a bad idea on a winning team, but when your team rarely has the lead, a bullpen featuring Matt Capps, Salomon Torres, Damaso Marte and Mike Gonzalez doesn't really do much for you.

Littlefield flipped Gonzalez to Atlanta in exchange for Adam LaRoche, but the strategy of stockpiling unneeded bullpen arms didn't change. This became all too obvious when Danny Moskos, a reliever for most of his college career, was drafted ahead of Matt Wieters, widely touted as a can't-miss prospect and the best hitter in the draft.

The Pirates have a different approach now: Minor leagues before anything else, but position players and starting pitchers come in ahead of the bullpen. As such, Huntington tore apart Littlefield's pen by trading Salomon Torres to the Brewers and Damaso Marte to the Yankees.

That's not to say that Neal Huntington is disinterested in relievers. In fact, most of his free agent acquisitions have been flame-throwing relievers with control issues. Presumably, he's hoping they can straighten out in the minors and be ready when the Pirates are a competitive team.

This puts the 2009 version of the Pirates bullpen in limbo. It won't be a good pen, but it will be younger and of more long-term value than the previous one. Let's take a look at what I mean by that.

Matt Capps is the ace of the bullpen. He's not just good in a “compared to the rest of these shmucks, this guy is an ace” way; he's actually a dominant reliever. He's good for 20 saves a year with Pittsburgh, but put him on a team where he gets more opportunities and he can rack up 40.

Saves are a bad way to evaluate relief pitchers, but Capps is also a strikeout machine, racking up 39 in 53.7 IP last year while walking only 5. At 24 years old, the Pirates were wise to lock up his contract, because it's feasible that he'll be around when they can contend.

John Grabow, Tyler Yates and Denny Bautista are all similar, mediocre players, and are only on the team to fill spots on the roster until someone better is ready.

There is a part where this gets interesting, though.

Romulo Sanchez is a middle reliever that's posted some impressive numbers in the minor leagues. So far he's floundered in the majors, but he's still a young pitcher (24 years old) who has plenty of time to develop. He's probably ready to start taking some lumps at the major league level.

By the way, there's a movement going on in the Pirates blogosphere. The Pirates are hosting a fan vote for a bobblehead that they'll give away this year, and there's a write-in slot on the ballot. Pirate blogs are rallying for people to write in Romulo Sanchez to shake things up. So, if you have the time, vote for Romulo!

Evan Meek is another interesting bullpen candidate. During his stint with the major league team last year, he did nothing but stink up the place. However, since that time, he's been setting AAA on fire with his light-speed fastball.

At 25 years old, if he makes the major league roster out of spring training, Meek could be a bullpen player to watch. Fantasy players, take note of him as a mid-season sleeper.

Craig Hansen may be someone to keep an eye on, but possibly only in the train-wreck sort of way. Early in his career, he was touted as a future star, but the Red Sox rushed him to the majors at age 21 and he had control trouble. Since then, he hasn't been able to make the adjustment to being the dominant pitcher he was in the minor leagues, even when he's playing against other minor leaguers.

New Pirates pitching coach Joe Kerrigan has worked with a slew of similar players and turned them into success stories, so there may be hope yet for Hansen, but it's looking like he may be lost.

Sean Burnett is a sad story, but he could turn into a story of perseverance. Burnett was slated to be a starter in the Majors, and he showed a bit of promise during a 13-game stint in 2004. However, he went down with an arm injury and had to have Tommy John surgery, and he's never been able to re-establish his stamina. In 2008 he showed promise as a reliever coming out of spring training, but failed to make the team.

When he was called up later, he again showed promise of developing into a decent reliever. If he makes the pen out of spring training, he could be effective, but he doesn't appear to be dominant even as a reliever. Still, he'll make a better middle reliever than someone like Denny Bautista, and that accounts for something.

So, there you have it. Your 2009 Pittsburgh Pirates bullpen. It won't be pretty, but at least it's not ornamental.

MOAR!

LESS!