Last Week Review: I was 5-1 last week and season.  I suspected a Rutgers upset over Connecticut but didn't pick it.  I would have been perfect.  Darn it!

This Week's Fearless Picks:
#8 Texas Tech wins at #23 Kansas.

#6 Oklahoma State wins at #1 Texas.

#7 Georgia loses at #13 LSU.  This is the second toughest game of the week to pick.  This is a game of the year nominee in the making.  Georgia is tough but home field advantage makes the difference.

#3 Penn State loses at #9 Ohio State.  This is the toughest game of the week to pick.  This is a game of the year nominee in the making.  Ditto home field advantage.

Posted by The Tank in NY.

Yes you read that correctly. After long deliberation, Steve has decided to let bygones be bygones and root for the Philadelphia Phillies in the World Series. The reason is very simple, the Phillies represent the National League, and the National League East for that matter. They clearly were the better team this year down the stretch zooming past the Mets and taking care of business in the NLDS and NLCS.

This is a holdover from childhood. You root for your league. This year is very hard, but I am doing it. (While still hoping that Jimmy Rollins goes 0-entire series.) Last year I rooted for the Red Sox since I wanted it to enhance the rivalry with the Yankees and in 2006 I was still too shell-shocked to root for anyone. I am back supporting the National League.

The Tank picked the Rays to win the World Series and he may be right. The Rays have better pitching, but the Phillies have a rock star line up. Good pitching shuts down good hitting so the Rays may have an edge. The Rays don’t have any super duper stars in the lineup, but rather a ton of young guys who all seem to hit .300 and have speed.

Last night Philly ace, 24-year-old lefty Cole Hamels, won the game 3-2. Yesterday was a must-win game for the Phillies since Hamels is their ace and the Rays have more depth compared to the Phillies in the back end of the rotation. Hamels can’t pitch each game, so the Rays have to win tonight if they want to stay in the game. However, the Home Run park up in Philly may give the young Rays hitters a chance to explore. Anything can happen.

Posted by Steve in New York

Unlike the other major two party Presidential candidates, The Tank is taking a stand that the Tampa Bay Rays will win the World Series in six games over the Philadelphia Phillies. 

Senator McCain claims that Senator Obama is flip-flopping on the issue as both states represent important swing states:

"At a small rally at a factory in Bensalem, Pa., McCain said, "'I'm not dumb enough to get mixed up in a World Series between swing states, but I think I may have detected a little pattern with Senator Obama. When he's campaigning in Philadelphia, he roots for the Phillies, and when he's campaigning in Tampa Bay, he shows love to the Rays.'"

If there is a Game 6, Senator Obama has purchased 30 minutes of TV on Fox which will broadcast the World Series.  The start time of the game will be delayed.

The Rays have the momentum and home field advantage gained when Steve, Kathleen, Jack, and I attended the greatest All Star Game ever at the Stadium in July.  We'll see how cold the Phillies bats are after a long time off as the Rockies were last year and the Tigers in 2006.  

Senator McCain should take a stand and Senator Obama should stop his alleged flip-flopping.  That's why I launched this Baseball Integrity Presidential bid.  If there is no baseball integrity, what can we expect on other issues of the day? 

Posted by The Tank on the road to the White House.

Though SATT focus on baseball and football, the NHL is in full swing.  The 2008-2009 season started with two victories over the Tampa Bay Lightning in Prague.  The Rangers had momentum coming back home and lead the Eastern Conference with 13 points though the Canadiens have three games in hand and are only two points back.  I have listened to some games on the radio and intend to get to the Garden to watch some of the action in person this season.

The Rangers lost young prospect to Alexei Cherepanov at 19 years of age to heart issues during a recent game for Avangard Omsk in the Russian Continental Hockey League (KHL).  Alexei broke Pavel Bure's record goals record.  Alexei was learning the professional hockey ropes from teammate and former Ranger Jagomir Jagr.  Alexei had a bright future and it's tragic that he passed so soon.  May his memory be eternal.

Posted by a saddened Tank in NY.

Averted Apocalypse #1: After blowing a seven run lead on Wednesday night with only seven outs left, the Rays lost to the Red Sox in a possible ALCS clincher in Game 5 and in Game 6 on Saturday night. 

As Steve blogged the other day, I feared the Rays would lose Game 7.  Given my loyalties to the Yankees and Mets, I would face the worst baseball apocalypse, a Red Sox - Phillies World Series. 

I would be faced an emotional challenge as formidable as the one I did last month in Nepal.  But, I would have nowhere to run or hike to.  How would I cope?  Who would I root for?  I have always rooted for a team in some game, except Georgetown versus Notre Dame in the 2007 Big East Tournament.

The Rays spared me and the world such a fate by winning Game 7 last night by 3-1.  I am really grateful to the Rays for that.  I agree with Editor in Chief and Perma Guest Outlaw Jack and grateful to him for pointing out the magic factor, the Zim, AKA Don Zimmer.  Zim was an under appreciated factor in the Yankees success in the past decade.  He was the "check and balance" in many of Joe Torre's decisions.  Torre knew how to manage the players' egos and keep the media in check.  Torre was a true manager and Zim was the chief strategist whose baseball instincts were impeccable.  After Zim was unceremoniously let go from the Yankees, the Yankees have yet to win another World Series.  Coincidence?  I think not.  Zim resides in Tampa and is currently a senior consultant to the Rays.

Given the Rays small market and fans nationwide focused on Mannywood versus the Red Sox, Fox TV executives are officially on suicide watch.

Go Rays!


Averted Apocalypse #2: Joba Chamberlain was arrested on Driving Under the Influence (DUI) charges over the weekend in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Joba was wrong and apologized for his reckless actions.  Most importantly, no one was hurt, thank God!  The innocent citizens of Lincoln, Joba, and the Yankees dodged a big bullet, touch wood.

Posted by a grateful Tank in NY.

Last year's were solid, touch wood.  I almost went wire-to-wire with the Patriots as I did with the Colts in 2006.  But, I am grateful the Patriots lost to the Giants in the Super Bowl.  I haven't wanted to be so wrong in my life.

After being embarrassed by SATT friend Braylon Edwards and the Browns, the Giants bounce back in a big way and beat the 49ers.

The Jets take care of business in Oakland.  It may not be pretty but a "win is a win is a win".

Bills win a close game versus San Diego.  This is a really tough game to pick as the spread is "pick 'em".

Posted by The Tank in NY.

Welcome back college football fans!
 
Rules: I pick Top 25 teams playing each other.  It's not fair to pick a ranked team over a "cupcake".  I challenge myself in picking games between ranked powers.  I also pick some local favorites, i.e. Syracuse (mine), Rutgers (Kathleen's team), etc.  (Steve doesn't follow college football.)

I don't know what to make of Rutgers other than the fact that they are a disappointing 1-5 going into today's game at home.  Rutgers played in a bowl game last season so I'm not sure what is going on.

Top 25 Match ups:

#1 Texas holds off a tough Missouri team.

#4 Oklahoma bounces back from their disappointing loss to Texas last week and beats #16 Kansas at home.

#10 Georgia beats #22 Vanderbilt at home. 

#12 Ohio State goes into Lansing and beats #20 Michigan State.

Local Teams:
Syracuse loses at #19 South Florida.

Connecticut wins at Rutgers.  By recent reputation, you would think that Rutgers would be 5-1 and Connecticut would be 1-5.  Coach Schiano is a very good coach who recruits well.  Beware of a Rutgers upset.


Posted by The Tank back in the college football groove.

This is Steve checking in from Novi Sad, Serbia in complete disbelief. First off, Steve is in denial about the Phillies going to the World Series. Having been in Europe since October 3rd, I missed most of the playoffs and it seems for good reason. A Phillies-Rays World Series, come on? How boring. In addition how much more would hurt a Mets fan, Jimmy Rollins holding the MVP trophy or Scott Kazmir? No, I was rooting for LA vs Boston to rub it into the Yankees face that 1. Boston is still the better team and 2. the Yanks should never have fired Joe Torre. Plus the added bonus of watching Boston freak over Manny playing against them. With the Red Sox were down 3 games to 1, a Rays-Phillies World Series looked rock solid.

But something happened on the way to the Rays-Phillies World Series. Boston woke up and forced a game 6.Sounds familiar? Seven outs away from the World Series the Rays have one of the worst post season chokes of all time and give up a 7 run lead.

Can the young Rays team recover from such a crushing loss? Probably not. Watch for a Red Sox-Phillies World Series. Nightmare for the Tank who claims to be both a Mets and Yankees fan. :)

Posted by Steve in Novi Sad, Serbia.

The Phillies finished off the Dodgers last night in Mannywood, I mean Hollywood.  Manny Ramirez wasted no time and filed for free agency today.  Wow!  Manny joked that he deserves more money because gas costs more.  Manny hasn't stopped being Manny.

Fox's worst nightmare will come true if the Rays win tonight or over the weekend.  Fox wanted Manny going against the Boston.  Boston is down 3-1 but if anyone can come back, the Red Sox unfortunately have and can. 

However, props to Editor in Chief and Perma Guest Outlaw Jack for the bringing up the possible omen of the fire at the famous Citgo sign that towers over the Green Monster. 

Go Rays!

Posted by a concerned Tank in NY.

I'm not a Dodgers fan.  But, Kurt Gibson's home run against the As won Game 1 of the 1988 World Series exactly 20 years ago today.  The magic of baseball is that it can change with the swing of a bat. 

The late great Jack Buck's call of the home run "I don't believe what I just saw!" was equal to the feat itself.  Gibson limped around the bases and pumped his arm.  The As were favorites to win the World Series but Gibson's home run propelled the Dodgers to victory.

I was a freshman in college when it happened.  Wow!  Time flies!

Posted by The Tank in Nostagliaville.