 Saturday, April 05, 2008
Final Four Frenzy
The Final Four is finally here. All #1 seeds made it, the first time ever. I picked all four, except Memphis. My cousin Mirko was right that they would make their free throws. Wow!
What no one could anticipate is a key player, Andre Allen, getting suspended. Double wow!
Which Memphis will show up? The one that couldn't make free throws or the one that can? How will they play without the suspended Andre Allen? Memphis has better athletes and they embarrassed Michigan State and Tom Izzo. Ouch! John Calipari is a great coach but I think UCLA is a better team. I still like UCLA. Expect them to slow the game down.
Kansas versus North Carolina is the marque matchup. Yes, North Carolina is the favorite but I think Coach Bill Self is due to win the big one. North Carolina is also due for a bad game. Louisville gave them a run but nothing like Davidson gave Kansas. I think Tyler Hansborough is a great college player and will be a good pro. He won't be great like Michael Jordan or even James Worthy but a solid pro nevertheless. His slowness and short arms will decrease the likelihood of being a super star in the NBA.
Watch for Kansas to upset the Tar Heels in a close game.
Yesterday marked 25 years since North Carolina State upset Houston in the college basketball version of David beating Goliath. I remember Coach Jimmy Valvano looking for someone to hug as if it were yesterday. How time flies?
On a tragic note, yesterday marked 40 years since Martin Luther King Jr. was killed in Memphis. May his memory of peace, non-violence, and social justice be eternal.
Posted by The Tank in NY.
Friday, April 04, 2008
Joba's Jubilation
Joba Chamberlain has unfortunately been criticized over the past few days on ESPN 1050 and 660 The Fan for his celebration after striking out Frank "Big Hurt" Thomas on Tuesday night at the Stadium. As you know, I was there and did not have any issues with it. Joba did NOT taunt Thomas and you don't want to anger a guy like that. He was only celebrating striking out a possibly Hall of Famer in a key spot to help nail down an important victory.
To his credit, Thomas didn't have a problem with Joba's celebration. With 24/7/365-6 sports talk radio, I think people over analyze. Joba's enthusiasm should be welcomed on a veteran team. He is a young guy who wants to win. Nothing wrong with it. If he gets out of line, Joe Girardi and the rest of the team will let him know.
Posted by the Tank in NY.
Thursday, April 03, 2008
Pedro's Pain
I felt Pedro's pain after he strained his hamstring in his first start on Tuesday. Pedro went on the disabled list on Wednesday. He'll probably be there until early May at the earliest.
I originally tweaked my hamstring in college and reinjured it in August 2004 in the Fifth Avenue Mile and slightly tore it in the Berlin Marathon on September 25, 2004. It is the hardest muscle to heal and it still flares up occassionally -- like last week. Ouch!
For the time being, Willie and Omar will have to make due without Pedro. Combined with the off days, the Mets maybe able to get by until El Duque makes a couple more rehab starts.
To quote President Clinton, "Pedro, I feel your pain." Get better soon.
Posted by sympathetic Tank in Painville.
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
Final Opening Game at the Stadium
The final Opening Day was supposed to be on Monday at the Stadium. It would have been the only Opening Day in the month of March. It was not to be as it was postponed until Tuesday, April 1. There were some showers and wind during the day but first pitch temperature was in the 60s.
As I got off the train (hey, I had a couple of interviews today and there were signal issues at 125th Street), my buddy A-Rod doubled home Abreu. Yankees 1 - Blue Jays 0. Yeah!
The Jays tied with a run in the top of the second.
JH asks how many hits Jeter has. Off the top of my head, I estimated 2,200; it was thankfully higher at 2,356 going into Monday's game. Jeter caught stealing to end the third. Darn it!
Melky makes a great catch off of Overbay in right-center field. Melky makes another great catch in front of JH and myself to end the top of the fourth. Yeah!
Abreu singles to lead off the bottom of the fourth. A-Rod hits into a double play. Giambi grounds out to end the fourth. Yankees 1 - Blue Jays 1.
The Blue Jays score a run while I went to get something to eat.
Melky tries to bunt to start the bottom of the sixth. I like Girardi's small ball. The Yankees are going to run more because they are in better shape and better health, touch wood.
Melky's home run in the bottom of the sixth ties the game at two. Damon, Jeter, and Abreu all ground out to end the sixth.
Giambi makes a great catch in the top of the seventh. A-Rod stabs Eckstein's ground to end the top of the seventh.
It's good to see Chico the Drug Dealer back in the bleachers and off the streets. As I tell my nephew and Goddaughters, "hugs, not drugs!". Thanks to my encouragment, Chico is no longer dealing drugs. Good job, Chico! I promised Chico my A-Rod link. BTW, I don't have a car, but if I did, I would like one like this.
A-Rod single to start the seventh. Giambi walks. Cano hits to second but Giambi stops then stops. Cano is out at first but Giambino makes it to second safely. Matsui grounds to Eckstein to force Jorge and A-Rod scores. Cabrera strikes out to end the inning. Yankees 3 - Blue Jays 2.
Mariano and Joba start to loosenup below.
It's Joba time -- his stats from last season as he warms up.
Joba got Stewart to ground out to Cano. Rios walked on a full count. Vernon Wells is a tough out. Joba struck out well but Posada couldn't get Rios stealing second. Frank "The Big Hurt" Thomas strikes out to end the top of the eighth. The crowd goes crazy.
Johnny Damon triples to lead off the bottom of the ninth. Johnny looks faster and healthier than last year, touch wood. Jeter and Abreu ground out. A-Rod is intentionally walked. Giambi grounds out.
Mariano is warming up below.
Mariano strikes out Overbay. Please be seated. Melky catches Hill's fly ball to Death Valley. Whew! Scutaro grounds out. Ball game over, the Yankeeeesss win! The Yankeeeesss win! Yankees 3 - Blue Jays 2.
Posted by The Tank reporting Live from Yankee Stadium in the Boogie Down Bronx.
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
Sensational Santana Start
Johan Santana lived up to all the hype of his contract and billing by pitching a seven inning, eight strikeout performance in the Mets 7-2 victory at the Florida Marlins.
Johan was helped by superb hitting from Steve's favorite player, David Wright, who had a three run double.
Before Johan's first pitch, Brooklyn Pete took time out of his busy but fun schedule attending the Winter Music Conference in Miami to see if I was at the Stadium. I was trying to wait out the rain at the Stadium. PermaGuest Outlaw Jack was already inside as we tried to figure out if the game was going to start. I've said it once and I'll say it again, the Yankees (and other inclement weather teams) need a retractable roof in the new stadium like the Mariners and Blue Jays, where the game should have been played.
Posted by a drenched Tank in NY.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Nationals New Stadium Symbolizes DC's Comeback
The Washington Nationals opened the US part of the season by beating the Atlanta Braves 3-2 on a walk off home run by Ryan Zimmerman. President Bush threw out the first pitch at the brand new Nationals Park in our nation's capitol.
When I lived in DC in the mid 1990s, the neighborhood that the new stadium was pretty bad. I kept my head down hoping not to get shot while I looked for an apartment there.
I'm really happy that baseball is back in the nation's capitol. I hope politicians, public policy wonks, and others who lead our country take a chance to chill out, catch a ball game, and find a way to solve our problems. They should leave the name calling to the other team's players. 
Play Ball!
Posted by an optimistic Tank in a DC frame of mind.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
2008 MLB Predictions
It's that time of year again. Without further ado, here we go:
AL East:
Yankees
Red Sox
Blue Jays
D-Rays
Orioles
AL Central:
Tigers
Indians
White Sox
Minnesota
Royals
AL West:
Angels
Mariners
As
Rangers
Wild Card: Red Sox
Dark Horse: Blue Jays, White Sox, As
Summary: This is a very difficult year to pick. There are essentially six teams (Yankees, Red Sox, Tigers, Indians, Angels, Mariners) competing for four spots. Each team has its strengthens and weakness. The Yankees have the bats but not sure about Kennedy and Pettitte's back. I would have picked the Red Sox as Manny and Big Papi are healthy. But, Schilling is out for half the season and I'm not sure how healthy Beckett will be. The Tigers have the bats and arms. The Angels were a lock until their recent pitching woes. The Mariners have rebuilt and still have Ichiro.
If Halliday is healthy, the Blue Jays can challenge for the AL East. I don't know which Ozzie Guillen will show up. The White Sox are talented but he has to go back to the looseness of a relaxed clubhouse that won it all in 2005. If Ozzie goes back to the loose cannon of the past couple of seasons, the White Sox will struggle. The As still have great pitching and will be in the mix if they have consistent offense.
AL Champion: Yankees.
NL East:
Mets
Phillies
Braves
Nationals
Marlins
NL Central:
Cubs
Brewers
Cardinals
Reds
Astros
Pirates
NL West: Hardest division to pick
Diamondbacks
Dodgers
Padres
Rockies
Giants
Wild Card: Phillies.
Summary: The NL East is going to be a battle royale between the Mets, Phillies, and Braves. The Cubs are better but probably not the year they win it all. They last won it all in 1908, yes, 100 years ago. Joe Torre will help the Dodgers contend but they are a year or two away.
Dark Horse: Braves, Brewers, Dodgers.
NL Champion: Mets.
World Series Champion: Yankees in seven games.
Bottom Line: My brain tells me to pick the Tigers but my heart says the Yankees have a little more magic in the last Stadium, God Willing/touch wood/lucky rabbit's foot/etc.
Local Team Outlook: The Yankees have gotten younger through an emotionally trying 2007. In the Yankees' darkest hour on July 12, I predicted 94 wins and that's what happened. I like Joba as Mariano's setup man and eventual successor. I like Hughes and Kennedy.
In 2008, the Yankees will win 98+ games. The Mets will win 95+ games. Both teams will be made or broken by how long their starters can last and how their middle relief is. Joe Smith got the Mets out of a tough seventh inning against the White Sox in the Civil Rights Game.
Posted by a hopeful Tank in NY.
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Overseas Opening Day
Another season of baseball is almost upon us. It technically started with the As-Red Sox games in Japan. BTW, I don't have a problem with MLB games in Japan. I understand the money and marketing aspect though would like games to be played in Latin America, Europe, or elsewhere in the spirit of equal time. The only downpart is that US based beer and other hard working stadium vendors don't get a cut of Ricoh's or the other sponsor's money for the games played overseas. It's one less game as the As and Red Sox technically played one home game each in Japan.
Posted by The Traveling Tank in Florida.
Friday, March 28, 2008
Justice for Piazza Assault
Angels fan Roland Flores threw a water bottle that hit "Metal Mike" Piazza last season. Piazza thankfully wasn't hurt. He kept his cool and didn't run into the stands like Ron Artest. Granted, it was harder to climb into the stands like in basketball but didn't answer violence with violence.
Piazza used the non-violent justice system and Flores was sentenced to 30 days. Flores can't go to the Angels Stadium for three years. Fans can boo their or opposing players but not resort to violence. Let's hope Flores' sentence discourages others from doing so in the future.
Posted by The Traveling Tank in Florida.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Bruised But Not Broken Brackets
I took some hits last weekend with the losses of Duke, Georgetown, and other favorites.
According to ESPN, only 2 out of 3,000,000+ brackets in their competition had all Sweet 16 teams in tact. I only had eight correct Sweet 16 teams but my Final Four is still intact, touch wood. More points per game are awarded in later rounds as the Final Four approaches.
Posted by a cautiously optimistic and Traveling Tank in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
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