Monday, August 8, 2011

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Brad’s 2011 Big East Predictions

Posted: 08 Aug 2011 02:40 PM PDT

****WARNING***   BEWARE OF SHOCKING PICKS BELOW! Now, it's time to move to the automatic qualifying schools, as I am not publishing my first preview of a BCS conference.  The Big East will have a very different vibe next year with the inclusion of TCU, but this year it will the same ol' eight team pit of mediocrity.  Believe it or not, the top of the Big East will be even weaker than in year' past.  I know you probably can't imagine the champion of this league being any worse than last year when 8-5 UConn took home the conference crown, but I really don't see anybody in this league who would finish in the top 1/3 of any other BCS conference in the country.  With that being said, the bottom of this league is actually a lot stronger than you might expect.  All four of the teams who had losing conference records last year should be much better in 2011, and believe it or not, every single team in the Big East could qualify for a bowl in 2011!  You can check the NCAA record book if you want, but I'm sure that's never happened before.  Therefore, since the top of the Big East is getting worse and the bottom is getting better I think this conference could be even wilder and crazier than usual with the season ending with four teams finishing at 4-3 and the other four at 3-4!  I'm not kidding you folks this league could get really wild, which is why I am making some inexplicably shocking picks in this araticle (see below).  My predicted conference champ is listed in all caps, and the teams that I believe will become bowl eligible are underlined.      1.  RUTGERS- Yes, you read that correctly!  I am picking the Scartlet Knights who were an abysmal 1-6 last season last season to win this league!  If you are wondering what the heck I am thinking, let me explain my reasoning.  First of all, let's remember Rutgers has done this before, as Greg Schiano's bunch shocked the college football world by coming within a few plays of winning the conference in 2006 after being picked to finish in the bottom half of the league.  Secondly, the Scarlet Knights are the only team in the entire conference who currently has a steady coaching situation.  In fact, every Big East team this year except Rutgers and Syracuse will be dealing with a new coach that is in either his first or second year on the job and is still trying to install his own schemes and put his personal stamp on the program.  Moreover, I really like both the talent on this Rutgers team and attitude permeating within this program.  I thought Schiano might be losing his way after last year's dismal season, but then they landed an incredible recruiting class in the spring that ranked # 1 in the conference.  Now, the mojo seems to flowing again within this program, as they bring back an emerging star quarterback (Chas Dodd), a cast of talented receivers, and all but two other offensive starters from last year.  The real X-Factor though will be stud freshman running back Savon Huggins.  His situation kind of reminds me of that of Marcus Lattimore's whose freshman presence at South Carolina last year changed the entire dynamic of Gamecock offense by boosting both SC's ground game and running game immensely. I think Huggins could have a similar impact with the Knights and if he does then the Big East better watch out.  Rutgers also plays four conference home games and three of which are against the conference's perceived top 3 (Pitt, USF, and West Virginia).  This is probably the craziest preseason pick I have made in any of my college football preview guides, but sometimes you just got to trust your instincts, roll the dice, and see what happens. 2.   Pittsburgh- Well, they got rid of the miserable Dave Wannstedt, because he choked away several opportunities at Big East championships, and then they replace him with a guy who choked away multiple conference championships in Conference USA???  That seems kind of ironic/stupid to say the least, and for that reason, I am not picking the Panthers to win this league.  Todd Graham seemed to have a good system in place at Tulsa, but they just lacked certain intangibles that prevented them from winning the Conference USA.  And until he proves can win some kind of championship, I am going to call for his squad to finish just short of a BCS berth once again, despite having a solid offense, a good schedule, and the most talented defense in the league.  3.  South Florida- The Bulls are one of those teams I referred to in the beginning of this article who had a losing conference record last season but should be much improved in 2011.  The Bulls were very young last year but really came on strong at the end of the season winning three out of their last five, including victories over Miami on the road and Clemson in a bowl game.  USF will be young again on offense, as they only return four starters.  However, one of those returnees is superstar quarterback B.J. Daniels, one of the most electrifying and athletic QBs in the entire country.  The defense will also be solid, but The Bulls also have to play four conference road games, which could be especially troublesome for a young team such as this.  Still, I think USF has a legitimate shot at upsetting Notre Dame in week 1 of the season and if they get that win, then this squad may just have the confidence to carry them to their first conference crown in school history. 4.  UConn- I always thought Paul Pasqualoni was a good coach at Syracuse but that was back before he was a member of the AARP.  Now, the sixty-two year old takes over a program that is coming off a BCS berth and where expectations are higher than they've ever been.  Given his age, the Pasqualoni hire has received its fair share of criticism and deservedly so.  I'm thinking maybe this was a move by a conflicted administration to find a temporary yet proven coach to keep the program afloat for a few years before leaving and letting a young guy take over.  Whatever the reason, he seemed like a very odd replacement for Randy Edsall who was also an aging coach whose only flaw was that he was extremely boring… just like Pasqualoni.  On the field, UConn will have an experienced defense but will have to break-in a new sophomore quarterback on offense.  Furthermore, Pasqualoni's schemes won't be drastically different than Edsall's, but there will be at least a temporary adjustment period before the players and staff really mesh.  The best thing the Huskies might have going for them is a great schedule which should enable them to start the season 5-0 and obtain a top 25 ranking by the beginning of October.  When all is said and done, UConn will challenge for a second-straight conference title but come up a little short.  5.  West Virginia- The Mountaineers always seem to find a way to finish near the top of the Big East, but they are facing some extraordinary circumstances in 2011.  First of all, one wonders what kind of emotional effect the Bill Stewart-Dana Holgorsen feud had on these players and if the ramifications of it will continue to linger throughout the fall.  Secondly, even though Holgorsen's offense is extremely potent, it can't be installed overnight, so I envision there will be some difficulties in executing the offense at the start of the year.  The defense also must be replaced in full, as only four starters return from last year's squad.  Furthermore, the Mountaineers' schedule is somewhat unkind as they only get three conference home games.  Because of the accumulation of all of these factors, I believe this program will slip a bit and finish with its lowest win total since 2001.  6.  Cincinnati- This is a squad I really have no idea what to do with.  I admit that the same thing can be said about most teams in this nation, but the Bearcats are a real puzzler.  Everyone knew they'd take a step pack after the graduation of Tony Pike and the departure of Brian Kelly but not many envisioned a 4-8 campaign last year by Cincy.  Still, the pieces are in place for this team to challenge for the conference crown with 10 guys coming back on defense as well as the dynamic offensive duo of QB Zach Collaros and WR D.J. Woods.  I am predicting them to finish near the bottom of the league though because I have to put someone down here and I'm not entirely convinced that second-year coach Butch Jones has really won over this team yet.  Cincy's schedule is also tough as they play four conference road games, three of which are against my predicted top 3 in the league.     7.  Syracuse- The Orage really surprised me last year as I predicted them to finish in the Big East basement, and they ended up winning a bowl game.  Now they're not going to sneak up on anybody like they did in 2010, but they should be just as talented.  They have eight returning starters on offense including quarterback Ryan Nassib and even though the defense is young, they were so good last year (7th in the nation in total defense) that I don't envision too much of a drop off.  This squad also has four very winnable non-conference games, so making a second straight bowl game shouldn't be too much of a chore. Nevertheless, my main issue with the Orange is their inability to play well at home.  This squad went 0-4 last year against FBS opposition inside the Carrier Dome and has actually only won a total of three Big East home games in the last five seasons!  In a league as jumbled and evenly-matched as this one, holding serve at home is absolutely essential, and I'm not sure anyone can count on the Orange to do so.  8.  Louisville- It feels wrong to predict a team who won a bowl game last year and could be even better this year to finish dead last in a conference, but that's exactly what I'm doing with the Cardinals.  When the entire bottom half of the conference has improved so much, then you have got to pick someone to finish last and you might as well pick the team with the toughest schedule of the group and the most inexperienced offense.   This pick really concerns me because I predicted the Cardinals and Orange to finish in the Big East basement last year and they really both proved me wrong.  However, I think both of those squads might take a step back this year before moving forward in 2012 and beyond. The Cardinals are also the only team the league that I feel will fall short of a bowl game in 2011, but they still have a decent shot at getting to one with five winnable non-conference games.  Could this entire league go bowling this season?

For Rookie Markus White, Transition To NFL, Linebacker Is More Mental Than Physical

Posted: 08 Aug 2011 06:30 AM PDT

Ever since last year's decision to switch from a 4-3 base defense to a 3-4, the Redskins have had to catch a number of players who primarily played in a 4-3 up to speed. Whether it's been rookies or veterans, the Redskins defensive coaching staff has had a lot of teaching to do. And as we've seen so far, some students have been more successful learning the scheme than others (see Haynesworth, Albert). This year, the team highest profile 3-4 pupil will be first round draft pick Ryan Kerrigan, as the dominant defensive end from Purdue will look to start opposite of the Redskin' best pass rusher, Brian Orakpo. But it's been another rookie who's shown well so far in his transition from end to outside linebacker. Seventh rounder Markus White out of Florida State has emerged as one of the first year players who has started camp off well. Through the first week of camp, White is working primarily with the second team, but is already showing the motor that helped him have his best season with the Seminoles last year. He finished his senior season with a career high in sacks and tackles for loss with 8.5 and 12.5, respectively. However one of the struggles for White, much like his first round counterpart in Kerrigan, is that he has to simultaneously learn the speed of the NFL game while also learning a position that's completely foreign to him. "It's a faster game,  [and] I'm playing a different position," White said. "I've got a lot of learning to do." White has especially stood out so far during one-on-one drills, showcasing his power, speed and relentless motor when going against opposing offensive lineman. He has mostly relied so far on his speed rush, being able to beat those trying to block him to the edge and getting good leverage to find his way past them and get in the backfield. He's the type of player the Redskins would love to have pan out: A will over skill guy that can come in during nickel downs and create an additional problem for opposing offensive lines, similar the Chris Wilson's role over the past few seasons. But according to White, the coaches could wind playing him at a few different spots. "We're doing a little of everything" White said. "I'm playing the Sam (strong-side) and the Will (weak-side), so we do both. It's the best of both worlds in my opinion." White is another example of the young, hungry and most importantly, open minded type of player that the team has sought after this entire offseason. Many have criticized Mike Shanahan's decision to essentially force a 3-4 defense down a 4-3 team's throat, as most believed the defense in Washington was not the problem. If Shanahan is to be vindicated in year two of this scheme, he'll need players like White to catch on quickly to help establish depth among the team's linebacker corps. Luckily for Shanahan, White just might have the right combination of athletic ability and eagerness to learn to give him a chance to not only make the roster, but contribute in 2011. That is, of course, when White doesn't have to think as much when he's on the field. "To be a player in the NFL you've got to use your mind.", White said. "[It's] 90 percent mental and 10 percent physical." And if learning is a bigger obstacle for White this preseason than the lineman that will be opposite of him, then the Redskins might have found themselves a diamond in the rough in what could be a very deep draft class.

Raptors Republic Article - The Post-Lockout Raptors

Posted: 08 Aug 2011 06:05 AM PDT

I took a look at what the Raptors roster and cap situation will look like if the entire 2011-12 NBA season is lost, but the 2012-13 one starts on time. This is depressing. Check it out!

Brad’s 2011 Mountain West Predictions

Posted: 08 Aug 2011 12:07 AM PDT

The Mountain West is certainly in a state of flux right now, and it will continue be for the next couple of years.  This year the league loses two of its most prominent members but picks up one, and next year they will lose another but pick up three.  All in all, it is hard to say whether or not the MWC will improve as a result of these transitions or not.  On one hand, Boise State is a huge pickup for the conference, as the Broncos have proven to be an annual BCS-bowl contender.  On the other hand, Brigham Young and Utah were two of the conference's most consistently strong programs in both football and basketball, and their rivalry was by far the most intense in the league.  Overall, I think the league will be stronger this year that in year's past thanks to the addition of Boise and the continued improvement of San Diego State and Air Force.  Unfortunately, the long-term success of this conference is much more uncertain.  My predicted conference champ is listed in all caps, and the teams that I believe will become bowl eligible are underlined.      1.  BOISE STATE- Doesn't this feel like Groundhog Day?!?!  As a Boise State supporter, I'm starting to feel like Bill Murray's character must have felt in that classic movie.  Every college football season we wake up, Boise State becomes the best team in the country, and then they get excluded from the BCS Title Game.  I realize that they lost a last season heartbreaker in 2010, but the outcome of that game wouldn't have mattered one bit.  Either way the Broncos weren't getting a shot at the national title.  It has now been four years since the Broncos lost to any team from a Big 6 conference, yet there are still many fans and pundits out there who don't believe Boise can play with the nation's top teams.  Boise once again plays a huge season opener in 2011, as they travel to the Georgia Dome to play the Bulldogs of Georgia.  The Broncos certainly have the talent and experience to win that game, and all their others, but even great squads have to lose eventually right?  I predicted Boise to run the table last year and finish third in the country, and I was a chip shot field goal away from seeing that happen.  This year I am going to make the exact same prediction, but if there is ever a year that Boise can make the title game this is it.  Kellen Moore is back for his last year at quarterback and 13 other starters, including star running back Doug Martin, come back with him.  Furthermore, Boise's schedule is toughest its ever been, both inside and outside of conference play, so the computers might not hate the Broncos as much as they have in year's past.  They are going to need a ton of things to go their way (including every BCS conference school to lose at least once), but I really think that if the cards fall just right, they actually could make the national title game.  In the words of the immortal John Lennon, "you may say that I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one." 2.  Air Force- This is a pretty big surprise pick here as most every expert in the country has TCU challenging Boise for the conference title.  Nevertheless, there is a lot to like about this 2011 Air Force squad, which is why I'm picking them to finish in the MWC # 2 spot.  First of all, this team had a lot better season last year then people realize as they were just a few plays away from ending the season 12-1!  They also got a huge win against Georgia Tech in the Independence Bowl which definitely gave them a lot of confidence going into the offseason.  Furthermore, the Falcons return superstar QB Tim Jefferson, as well as seven of their defensive starters.  The real kicker though is the schedule which gives them the opportunity to play an inexperienced TCU squad at home and in just the second week of the season.  They should be able to pick up that victory and start the season 4-0 before making a tough trip to South Bend.  However, besides their road games against Notre Dame and Boise State, I think this squad should run the table and finish the season inside the top 25.  3.  TCU- I really thought TCU would take at least a minor step back in 2010 after the loss of Jerry Hughes but they certainly didn't!  Instead, the Frogs made college football history by becoming the only mid-major squad ever to win the Rose Bowl.  Nevertheless, the reloading process will be much more difficult in 2011 with only eight total starters returning from last year.  That will include breaking in a new quarterback as well as retooling both the offensive and defensive lines.  Unfortunately, the schedule does not allow for any type of adjustment period as TCU has two mammoth road games to start the season (at Baylor and at Air Force).   I underestimated the Frogs last year and it came back to haunt me, but I'm once again calling them to take a substantial step back in 2011 and finish in third place in the conference.  4.  San Diego State- Was last year's magical 9-4 season an aberration or is this team really here to stay?  That's the question that everyone in the conference is asking.  There is both good news and bad news for SDSU in 2011.  The good news is they return one of the most underrated QB-RB duos in the country this year in Ryan Lindley and Ronnie Hillman, as well as six other offensive starters.  The bad news is that they lost popular head coach Brady Hoke to Michigan and then responded with an underwhelming hire to say the least.  Rocky Long was Hoke's defensive coordinator, but he's 61 years old now and didn't exactly have great success as long-time head coach of New Mexico.  Nevertheless, this team is too talented to drop to the bottom-half of the league, as they should qualify for a second-straight bowl game. 5.  Colorado State- Last year there was a mammoth gap between the top half of this conference and the bottom, as fifth-place finisher BYU finished with a 5-3 conference record while sixth-place finisher Colorado State was a mere 2-6.  You can make a pretty good argument that such a gap still exists, which is why I was shocked to see Phil Steele predict Colorado State to leap frog SDSU in this year's standings.  CSU has been horrible the last two seasons, and even though this year's squad is more talented and more experienced, they just have too much ground to make up to be able to catch up with the top half of the league.  Believe it or not though, the Rams' cupcake non-conference schedule should allow them to become bowl eligible, despite the fact that I'm calling for them to have a losing record in league play. 6.  Wyoming- The Cowboys are definitely a team misjudged in each of the past two seasons.  In 2009, I ranked them outside of my preseason top 100, and then they went on to win a bowl game.  Last year, I picked them to go to another bowl game, but they ended up only picking up two victories against FBS opposition.  This year I'll pick them to be somewhere in between those two extremes but probably closer to last year's 3-9 squad.  The good news is that this year's team should be improved based on the fact they have 14 returning starters and a more manageable schedule.  The problem is that Head Coach Dave Christensen is still lacking the capable QB he needs to successfully execute his spread offense at Wyoming.  This season three freshmen are battling it out to take over the quarterback duties, so I think Christensen's offense will again struggle.  7.  UNLV- The Rebels are currently enjoying what is by far the conference's longest bowl drought (11 seasons), and that streak doesn't appear to be ending anytime soon.  There's no way to sugarcoat the fact that all of the factors I use for my preseason analysis cast this team in a negative light.  # 1- they were really bad last year (2-11).  # 2- they have a tough schedule (all but one winnable game is on the road).  # 3- they have a young coach that has not fully implemented his schemes (Bobby Hauck), # 4- they only have three returning starters on defense and have to replace their starting quarterback and running back.  You would think this cataclysmic combination of bad traits might have me calling for UNLV to finish in the conference basement, but fortunately for the Rebels, one of the country's worst teams (New Mexico) also plays in the MWC    8.  New Mexico- I hate to make a preseason prediction that calls for a head coach to get fired, but it's really a no-brainer here.  Mike Locksley has won two total games in two seasons at New Mexico, and this year he only has two returning starters on offense.  In fact, the Lobos offensive unit will start ten underclassmen and only one senior in 2011.  Losing a bunch of bad offensive players isn't necessarily a bad thing, but there's just no way this woefully young squad will produce the results necessary to keep Locksley employed in the program.  I will give it to the guy though, he's staying optimistic, as he claimed in the offseason that "a bowl berth is a realistic goal."  I think two wins is a more realistic goal, as they should be able to beat either Sam Houston State or arch rival New Mexico State at home early in the season.  Either win would be Mike Locksley's first non-conference victory at New Mexico, but after that, I'm calling for the Lobos to then lay an 0-8 goose egg in MWC play.

The Dog Days

Posted: 08 Aug 2011 12:01 AM PDT

Here it is the first week of August and already we see evidence that all heck is breaking loose in Major League Baseball. From incidents of "sweating" on umpires to multiple ejections to head hunting, baseball is once again living up to the old axiom that August brings out the worst in some players. The dog days, here we are. Major League Baseball is often a grueling long distance race leaving many players on the Disabled List and some unemployed or in the minors. The promise of the first gentle, warm April days often gives way to the cold hard reality of another long and unsuccessful season wrought with failure, injury and harsh criticism from the media. Even seasoned veterans can fall victim to this seemingly most trying of all baseball months. With each passing day, time to overcome any obstacles seems to be slipping faster and faster away. Time to turn an individual's season around now seems to be the enemy. For some, the whispers of wait until next year are becoming louder and more direct. It's not only the players and coaches who succumb to emotional outbursts. Umpires tend to have a shorter fuse and are less tolerant of questions concerning their competence or general rule interpretations. Such questions or comments which might have been ignored in the previous four months seem more personal and confrontational now. As umpires seek to maintain control, players seek more and creative ways to bargain their way out of situations or bend the rules. Both seem to be walking that proverbial tight rope when there is only room for one. One would imagine that the distractions of the July 31 trade deadline might have lessened or even been eliminated for some. The uncertainty of will he or won't he have to uproot his family, get used to another city or league and fit in with new teammates should have come and gone, having been decided one way or another. Either a new happiness and sense of excitement has set in (going to a contender), disappointment in staying with a hopelessly out of the race team, or a huge sense of relief at not changing teams is now setting in. Certainly the July 31st deadline doesn't mean the end of player movement as we have so often witnessed in the past. Some players will continue to look over their shoulders, wishfully or otherwise, until the conclusion of the regular season. The pressure keeps building and something has to give. Players who are normally quiet and businesslike can suddenly explode over previously shrugged off borderline calls. The "gee ump that looked a bit low from here" is now replaced by various colorful metaphors and the questioning of an umpires mothers standing in the community. Such actions which in April, May, June, or July would be dutifully ignored or greeted with a knowing smile, become personal and inflammatory in August. The pen may be mightier than the sword but an umpire's thumb is the mightiest of them all and if the manager doesn't like it, he is more than welcome to quickly join his offending player in the showers. The admiration of a long home run, however brief, is not tolerated in the dog days. The phrases unwritten rule and payback are used to justify mid 90's fastball aimed specifically at the batter responsible for such a now-dire oneuppance. Naturally this action will justify and cause a retaliatory reaction from the opposition and so forth and so on resulting in warnings/rejections or the meeting near the mound of all players from both teams for an exchange of opinions and suggested solutions. Normally docile fans can also fall victim to the dog days. The frustration of their team's failures, the success of the opposition or an umpire's failure to decipher the strike zone or a missed tag can ignite behavior which wouldn't be tolerated at the biker bar down the street. Even the gentler sex has been known to become an all seeing and all knowing expert umpire, correcting on field decisions with passionate and explicative filled reports and body language. Grandmothers and little children beware, lock your doors and turn off the lights. At least until September. At least until the dog days are done.

Brett Lawrie's Debut Weekend, Play-by-Play

Posted: 07 Aug 2011 04:27 PM PDT

On the odd chance you somehow haven't heard, Toronto Blue Jays' top prospect Brett Lawrie made his MLB debut this weekend, joining the big league club for the three-game series in Baltimore. Lawrie, of course, is the Canadian uber-prospect acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers in the offseason for Shaun Marcum. He is also the most important fantasy add of the season, the future face of the franchise, the man-crush of all baseball-bros, and undisputed king of Edward Forty-Hands. Hyperbole was out in full force all week in anticipation, but baseball scribes tend to be more low key on the weekend, so you may not have heard about his exploits, baseball or otherwise. Allow me, then, to take you through his debut weekend, play-by-play. Friday Pregame: Brett Lawrie arrives at Camden Yards. Upon putting on his #13 jersey, he immediately surpasses Roberto Alomar (coincidentally, #12) as the best Blue Jay of all time. 2nd inning: Lawrie works a 2-2 count and singles up the middle off of Tommy Hunter, scoring Edwin Encarnacion. 2,999 more hits to immortality. 2nd inning: Lawrie commits an error on a Nolan Reimold ground ball, proving he is human after it takes an awkward hop. 4th inning: Lawrie grounds a 3-1 pitch to third base for an out. Related note – Lawrie allegedly gets from home plate to first in under 4.0 seconds, which is obscenely fast for a right handed batter. 6th inning: Lawrie is called out on strikes after watching five pitches from Troy Patton. Good to see some patience in what was probably a nerve-filled debut. Take notes, Travis Snider. 6th inning: Lawrie deflects a ball hit by Matt Wieters (who, despite these facts, has nothing on Lawrie) to Yunel Escobar, but runners are safe all around. Lawrie then fields a Reimold grounder, throwing to Aaron Hill to retire Wieters at second. 8th inning: Lawrie pulls a 1-0 Chris Jakubauskas offering into left field for a single but Colby Rasmus is thrown out at home trying to score from second. Review: Lawrie goes 2/4 with an RBI, a K, and an error. After the game, JP Arencibia, Ricky Romero, and Brett Cecil give him the treatment pictured above, and he handles himself with an obvious but respectful confidence in post-game interviews. Despite claiming the contrary, we all know that he is, in fact, the saviour. Saturday Pregame: With some of the excitement having worn off, Lawrie is given some reprieve when the mob of reporters only reaches double digits instead of triple digits. Brett Lawrie jerseys are on back order. 3rd inning: Lawrie pulls a hard grounder to third on a 1-1 93 MPH fastball from Chris Tillman for an out. 3rd inning: Reimold, who has a thing for grounders to Brett, sends another one his way, and Lawrie makes a throw on the move to retire him with ease. 5th inning: Wieters pops out in foul territory to Lawrie, and it's pretty clear at this point who the better demigod is. 6th inning: Lawrie battles back from 0-2 to 2-2 against Tillman and pulls a groundball through the left side for a single. 6th inning: Nick Markakis pops out in foul ground to Brett…obviously, he played a lot of "500" growing up, as he handles these pop-ups like a pro. 8th inning: Jim Johnson strikes Lawrie out with four pitches, all fastballs taken by Lawrie. It's possible he may have been too patient on his two strikeouts thus far, but the club has preached plate discipline to him at Triple-A, so this is much better than the opposite issue. Review: Lawrie goes 1-for-3 with a strikeout. Obviously not a flashy second game, but at this point it's clear he can handle himself with the bat and has the plate discipline lacking in some of the other 2011 call-ups (Snider, Thames, Cooper). Sunday Pregame: After a miserable 1-for-3 performance, Lawrie was looking to bounce back and remind everyone that he is The Man (Wooo!). 1st inning: Robert Andino grounds out to Lawrie, who makes the throw with his eyes closed and with his left hand. 2nd inning: Groundballs from Vlad Guerrero and Reimold (again), ho hum. 3rd inning: Working a 2-1 count against Alfredo Simon, Lawrie lines a two-seamer the opposite way for a single, scoring on Jose Bautista's double later in the frame. 4th inning: With a runner on second, Lawrie sends a 2-2 slider to mid center field, moving Johnny Mac to 3rd (but it won't be a Sac Fly, for the record) 6th inning: Lawrie swings-and-misses on an apparent hit-and-run, and Johnny Mac is thrown out at second. What a shame, because two pitches later Lawrie dumps a 2-1 fastball into the right-center field seats, taking Simon opposite field for the first of what will surely be at least 500 career homers. This shot chases Simon from the game and gives the Jays a 6-1 lead. 7th inning: Old buddy Nolan Reimold grounds to Lawrie for the 5th time this weekend, and for the 4th time Brett handles it with no issues. 8th inning: Lawrie chops a 1-0 fastball back to pitcher Brad Bergesen for a fielder's choice. Really thought they'd give him a chance to take second here, but they spared Wieters the embarrassment. 8th inning: Two more ground balls, two more outs. Seems Lawrie is comfortable after the initial blip on Friday. Review: The first major league homerun will obviously stick out, on top of which Lawrie looked very comfortable in the field, and added a single. He was more aggressive at the plate today, and while he saw fewer pitches overall, he seemed ready to jump on good offerings early. Weekend Totals: 5/11, 2 R, 2 RBI, 1 HR, 2 K, 1 E (and if it matters in this small of a sample size, it's a slash line of .455/.455/.727/1.182 OPS) In all seriousness, it was a phenomenal debut weekend for Lawrie. It's usually impossible for any prospect to meet the hype associated with their debut, but Lawrie delivered across the board. He appears to be everything the franchise has been toting him as – hardworking, disciplined, exceptionally talented, and with a mature but obvious confidence that will hopefully infect the clubhouse as the young core matures together. It seems (via Twitter) like he's bonded with several of the young guys in the clubhouse, and while care-free would be going too far, a fun and supportive clubhouse is one best suiting a young up-and-coming team, in my opinion. After months of speculating and mining Triple-A box scores, it's exciting to finally have a chance to view the future of the Blue Jays in the present. I'd assume, also, that no lineup spot is out of the question once John Farrell feels he's comfortable with the big club…that bat will play at any lineup spot, and the #2 and #5 holes seem like potential long-term settling places (he hit 9th this weekend).

Teammates Lead the Pack for AL MVP

Posted: 06 Aug 2011 10:52 AM PDT

Everyone knows that the most important moments, pivotal plate appearances and clutch performances occur in the final two months of the baseball season. With each of the divisions in the American league still up for grabs, any player on a contender could put their team on his shoulders and will them to a strong finish, sending his name to the forefront in the discussion for A.L. MVP. With that said, there has been a great deal of discussion in recent weeks surrounding two Red Sox players who are believed to be leading the pack to be the league's top performer: Adrian Gonzalez and Jacoby Ellsbury. If each player continues to perform as they have to this point in the season, and there's no reason to believe either one will slow down, there are compelling arguments to be made for each player. I do believe, however, that despite stand out performances from both players, it is Adrian Gonzalez that is the clear MVP. You need only look at the offensive stat sheet to see just how impressive these two players have been this season. Jacoby Ellsbury ranks in the top 15 in nearly all major offensive categories in the league. He is currently 4th in batting (.319), 3rd in hits (145), 5th in doubles (31) and 2nd in runs scored (83). He also currently ranks 4th in steals just 2 swipes shy of the top spot. He is by far the best lead-off hitter in baseball this season, doing all of the things a lead-off hitter needs to do to be the catalyst for the offense. What makes Ellsbury truly impressive this season (other than his ability to actually stay on the field) is his new found power, his emergence as a run producer and not just a run scorer and his clutch hitting ability. Looking at the other American League contenders (Yankees, Tigers, Indians, White Sox, Rangers and Angels) there is not a player on any of those teams who has batted lead-off for an extended period who even comes close to Ellsbury's offensive production. Ian Kinsler is in the neighborhood with home runs and isn't drastically behind in RBI but his .238 average takes him right out of the conversation. If you were to remove the name from Ellsbury's stat sheet and line it up with the 3 or 4 hitters in most batting orders, he would more than hold his own. Barring a slump of epic proportions Jacoby will blow the roof off each of his previous career highs in every offensive category. Those numbers, combined with his ability to change a game with his speed on the bases and the fact that he has arguably been the best defensive center fielder in the AL (he has played error free baseball to this point in the season) have made Jacoby Ellsbury one of the most dynamic players in all of baseball in 2011. Now you must be asking yourself, "well why the heck don't you think Ellsbury should be MVP then?" The fact of the matter is, as impressive and valuable as Ellsbury has been this year, Adrian Gonzalez has been that much better. When the acquisition of Adrian Gonzalez became official this past off-season, people were drooling over the potential impact a player of A-Gon's caliber would have in the middle of a line-up like the Red Sox, and playing half of his games in a hitter's paradise such as Fenway Park. Since his first game in a Sox uniform, Gonzalez has made baseball fan's dreams come true. Even when the Red Sox got off to their poor start this season, Gonzalez was often the lone bright spot on the team. Since then he has continued to be the engine that has driven this team to become the #1 offense in the game, with one of the best records in the game. Outside of home runs, which have not come with quite the frequency most thought they would given the dimensions of his home ballpark, A-Gon does not rank lower than 4th in any other major offensive stat and is #1 in average (.353.), RBI (91), hits (158), extra base hits (55), multi-hit games (49) and total bases (252). Both players have been tremendous hitters in clutch situations. Ellsbury seems to get better and better with each pressure situation. Ellsbury's batting average increases to .345 with runners in scoring position, it grows to .395 with runners in scoring position and 2-out and balloons all the way to .455 with the bases loaded. He even decided to wipe away the zero from his line in the category of walk-off hits by smacking a line drive to center field to score the game winning run and belting a game clinching homer to straight away center on back to back nights just this past week. Once again, however, Adrian Gonzalez' robust .444 AVG with runners on, .445 with runners in scoring position and .462 with runners on and two out manage to rise to the top. What has caused many to sway the argument in Ellsbury's favor lately is what I like to call the "sexy factor". Let's face it, people walk away from a game remembering a home run much more than a 3-4, 3 RBI game. That's been the difference between these two players over the last several weeks. Since the All-Star break Ellsbury is tied for the league lead in home runs and, as I've already stated, has had his share of game changing hits. Meanwhile, Adrian Gonzalez snapped a 14-game hit streak Friday night against New York where, oh ho hum, he hit right around .500. Gonzalez' production has been so consistent throughout the season that it's almost become workmanlike and has managed to start to fly under the radar, while Ellsbury's flare for the dramatic continues to catch everyone's eye. There is little doubt the Red Sox and Yankees will continue to duke it out as the two best teams in the American League through the final 2 months of the season. There is also little doubt that Jacoby Ellsbury and Adrian Gonzalez will continue to produce gaudy offensive numbers. With all due respect to guys like Curtis Granderson, CC Sabathia, Justin Verlander and Asdrubal Cabrera who have had great years for their respective teams, I have every reason to believe Jacoby and A-Gon will be the names at the top of the baseball writer's ballots come October. In the end, the numbers don't lie, therefore I don't see anyway Adrian Gonzalez does not walk away at the end of this season with MVP hardware in tow.

Brad’s 2011 Independent Predictions

Posted: 06 Aug 2011 10:51 AM PDT

Ranking the Independents is always a tough task because it's like comparing apples to oranges since their schedules are so different.  The addition of BYU this year makes things even harder because they don't even play against any of other independent schools.  Still, there seems to be a clear hierarchy between these four teams this season, albeit not as big of one at the top as people are expecting.  Because there is obviously no conference champ here no one is listed in all caps, but the teams that I believe will become bowl eligible are underlined.      1. Notre Dame- Do we have to go through this again?  Really?  For what seems like the 50th consecutive year, the Fighting Irish are again vastly overrated, as both Athlon and Phil Steele have ranked them in the top 10.  I'm really beginning to think that either the powers that be are involved in some kind of conspiracy to overrate this team every year to generate hype for NBC or the Pope casts some kind of spell over the preseason prognosticators when they evaluate Notre Dame.  If you want more evidence of my theory, please consider that Notre Dame is the only team in the entire country that I have evaluated more accurately than the experts in each of the four seasons I have published my  college football preview guide.  Yes, I know the Irish were young last year and they ended the season with a bowl win over a mediocre Miami team, but who cares?  They didn't even finish in the top 30 in either final poll!  I also realize that the Irish have a manageable schedule but it's not any easier than in past seasons when they have routinely struggled to win 7 or 8 games.  People just need to realize that the Irish are no longer a football powerhouse, as top recruits want to go play in big-time conferences nowadays where the weather is a lot warmer.  The Irish will be another fringe top 25 team in 2011 with after another 7 or 8 win season.  I am looking forward to seeing them play in person though on November 5th against Wake Forest.     2.  Brigham Young- I was very tempted to leap frog the Cougars over the Irish but I am not going to based on the fact that BYU has to replace a majority of their defensive starters.  I still don't really understand why this team left the Mountain West, especially when their schedule is basically just full of MWC and WAC teams.  Did they really need to go independent so that they could matchup with squads like Utah State, Idaho State, Idaho, and San Jose State?  BYU's offense will be as potent as ever, but if the defense doesn't mesh early in the year, the Cougars could start the season 0-4.  3.  Navy- The Midshipmen only have two returning starters on defense, but Navy has become such a model of consistency it's hard not to pick them to get at least eight wins, as they have done in each of the past eight seasons.  Nevertheless, after looking at their schedule, which is much tougher than last year's, I'm thinking that they probably will need to win their bowl game to get that eighth victory in 2011. 4.  Army- Will they ever catch up to arch rival Navy?  That's the question many have been asking for a long time in West Point as the Black Knights have now dropped nine straight to the Middies and they may need to break that streak in 2011 to get to their second straight bowl game.  This team is arguably better than last year's squad, but the schedule is much tougher.

Brad’s 2011 Conference USA Predictions

Posted: 05 Aug 2011 10:59 PM PDT

Conference USA has traditionally been an offensive-driven league, but this year they will be taking it to a whole new level.  Tulsa, East Carolina, Houston, and SMU should all light up the scoreboard in record numbers thanks to their prolific quarterbacks who could start on almost any team in the entire country.  Overall, the conference will be about as solid as top-to-bottom as it has been in year's past, with the C-USA West being the stronger of the two divisions.  The C-USA East has actually won the last four conference title games, but I will be surprised if that streak continues, as the C-USA's top three teams all reside in its western division.  My predicted conference champ is listed in all caps and the teams that I believe will become bowl eligible are underlined.      C-USA East 1.  Southern Miss- Despite their consistent success, the Golden Eagles have never played in a conference title game before.  Well, I'm calling for that streak to end this season, as Larry Fedora's squad has the tools in place to win and win big in 2011.  Austin Davis returns as QB to engineer an experienced unit that returns seven starters.  However, the Golden Eagles' best weapon this season is without a doubt their schedule which enables them to play fellow eastern division favorite UCF at home and to avoid two of three powerhouses from the C-USA West.  In fact, there is a not a single game on their schedule this year that Southern Miss can't win.  Now, I don't think the Eagles are going to run the table or anything, but I do believe they will do enough to get a shot at the conference crown on December 3rd.   2.  UCF- Experience typically wins championships in college football, which is why it's commonplace for a team to have to replace a slew of starters after winning a conference crown.  UCF finds itself in that boat this year as they must replace 7 defensive starters from a unit that ranked 15th in the country and 1st in the C-USA.  Also, as mentioned previously, the Golden Knights have to play fellow C-USA East favorite Southern Miss on the road.  To make matters worse, UCF has to play two of the three C-USA West powerhouses (SMU and Tulsa) while USM only draws one.  For these reasons, I am picking UCF to get nosed out in the division title race, but don't expect any kind of drastic drop-off.  The Golden Knights return talented QB Jeff Godfrey and his entire offensive line, as UCF should easily qualify for its third-straight bowl game. 3.  UAB- Kent State and UAB are two teams that I have been extremely high on since I identified them as surprise teams in my 2009 college football preview guide.  Kent State's rise has been the more impressive of the two, but I think this is the year that both squads obtain bowl eligibility.  The Blazers have sixteen returning starters including an experienced senior quarterback, and they get to play two of their four non-conference games against Sun Belt opposition.  Their conference schedule is much more taxing, but I give this team a 50/50 chance finally getting to a bowl game in 2011.  4.  East Carolina- The Pirates were one of the weirdest and wackiest teams to watch last year as they basically played a football version of Paul Westhead's "fast-break offense/don't worry about playing defense" basketball system that he revolutionized at Loyola Marymount in the early 1990s.  While you can obtain a certain degree of success with that philosophy in basketball, that novelty wears off pretty fast in football.  As a result, I think everybody figured out how to play against the Pirates' by the end of the season, which is why they finished the season losing five of their last six.  They should once again be potent on offense in 2011, but I have major doubts about any team getting to back-to-back bowl games without even fielding a defensive unit.  I must admit that ECU made me eat crow last year by reaching a bowl game after I picked them to finish in the division cellar.  They may prove me wrong again but a tough schedule has me calling for a four-win season in Greenville. 5.  Marshall- There are some teams that I annually can't get a very good preseason gauge on and Marshall has become one of them.  I greatly underestimated the Thundering Herd in 2009 but then over-ranked them in 2010.  This cycle may continue in 2011 because I am predicting Marshall to be a little worse than some people expect.  They have to replace 11 offensive starters including their starting quarterback and running back.  They also face a tough schedule both inside and outside of C-USA play.  As a result, I think a second-straight losing seems is assured, and I wouldn't be surprised if this team failed to win more than a couple of games. 6.  Memphis- The Larry Porter hire was praised by many fans and pundits across the cross country, but his first-year results couldn't have been much worse.  The Tigers only victory came against a short-handed MTSU squad in week 3, and they only played one conference foe to within two touchdowns all season.  The fact that they are losing fifteen starters from that team is probably a good thing, but you still have to consider that most of their replacements were back-ups last year that weren't even good enough to start on a 1-11 team.  Athlon put it best when they quoted an anonymous C-USA assistant who identified Memphis' best player as their punter Tom Hornsey.  That sounds about right because the Tigers are my preseason pick to be the worst team in Division 1-A football.  I wrote in last year's preseason guide that Memphis may be hard-pressed to get a victory in 2010, and even though they did get one win last season, I would be making the exact same prediction this year if it wasn't for their week 3 matchup against an FCS foe (Austin Peay). C-USA West 1.  TULSA- This is my first somewhat bold pick in this season's preseason football guide.  Most experts are calling for either SMU to repeat as the C-USA West Champ or Houston to take the crown thanks to the returns of Case Keenum.  I'm however picking the Golden Hurricane to not only win the western division but to go on and win the entire league.  This squad returns eighteen starters from a 10-win team that ended the season on a seven-game winning streak!  The schedule is also great for Tulsa as they get to play both the Cougars and Mustangs at home and don't have to play C-USA East favorite Southern Miss at all.  The one concern people have is that they have a new head coach taking over but that doesn't really bother me with this squad.  Bill Blankenship has been an offensive assistant in this program for several years so there won't be any major scheme changes.  Also, I always felt that Todd Graham underachieved to a certain extent as Tulsa's head coach, so replacing him might actually be a good thing.  The Hurricane do have a brutal early non-conference schedule with road games at Oklahoma and Boise and a home contest against Oklahoma State.  However, don't be surprised if Tulsa wins one of those games and contends in the others.   2.  Houston- I called for the Cougars to be a darkhorse contender to get a BCS Bowl last season, but  unfortunately, the Case Keenum injury ended that dream… at least temporarily.  I say temporarily because Keenum is back and the Cougars have great schedule that gives them another chance at running the table.  Their first week matchup against UCLA at home will give us an idea of where exactly this program stands.  I personally think the Cougars will win that game but eventually get derailed at Tulsa in the season finale.  Still, Houston should rack up double-digit wins this year like they did in 2009, and Case Keenum will likely finish the season as the NCAA's all-time career passing leader.      3.  SMU- The Mustangs just keep getting better and better under June Jones, and this year he may have his most talented team at SMU   This squad returns 18 total starters, which you would think make them a runaway favorite in the C-USA West since they won the division last year.  Unfortunately, the schedule will be SMU's downfall in 2011, as this team must play both of the other C-USA West co-favorites on the road.  In addition, two of their three interdivisional games are against the top two eastern division squads, Southern Miss and UCF.  Jones will have another great season in Dallas, but if fans are looking for the type of success that this program had in the pre-death penalty era, they may need to start paying off schedule-makers instead of players.  4.  Rice- Everybody is high on the Owls this year because they have everybody coming back from their 2010 squad.  The only problem is that last year's 4-8 team wasn't very good.  The Owls also face a brutal schedule that won't give them much of an opportunity to improve.  Rice's quest for a third bowl bid in six years will come up short in 2011   5.  Tulane- It appears that the Bob Toledo experiment at Tulane has officially failed.  The administration has been extremely patient in keeping him around in hopes that he would eventually turn the Green Wave around but it just hasn't happened.  It's a shame because I really thought this was a great hire for the Wave as I have always been impressed with what Davie was able to accomplish at UCLA in the late 90s.  However, that west coast success just has not translated into wins in the Big Easy.  Tulane did improve last year as they picked up four wins, the most since 2007, and showed signs of promise in some close losses.  However, their offense in 2011 only has four returning starters, including an entirely new receiving corps.  Tulane may be able to escape the conference basement this season for the first time in a while, but I'm not sure if another three or four win season will be enough to save Toledo's job.  6.  UTEP- It seems like Mike Price just can't build the Miners into a consistent winner like he had hoped when taking over this job eight years ago.  UTEP finally got back to a bowl game last year, but they still finished with a losing record after getting torched by BYU in the New Mexico Bowl.  Now, the Miners are once again in rebuilding mode after superstar Trevor Vittaoe has finally graduated, after at least a half century of eligibility.  The offense is the least inexperienced in the country with only one returning starter, and the defense, while experienced, isn't very good.  UTEP also has the misfortune of not getting to play fellow C-USA bottom-dweller Memphis.  The Miners better pickup early non-conference victories against New Mexico State and Stony Brook because they'll likely be a heavy underdog in their remaining nine games.      

Examining Travis Snider's Career Path to Date

Posted: 05 Aug 2011 12:57 PM PDT

For the second time this season and the fourth time in the past three years, the Blue Jays have optioned Travis Snider to the minors. Ugh. Now, the club certainly has its reasons for this, some of which I can't put forth a compelling argument against. Still though, it rings wildly counterproductive for a team in the later stages of a rebuild to not give ample opportunity to a 23-year old former top prospect. The Timeline June 2006: Snider is selected 14th overall by the Jays. August 29, 2008: Snider debuts with the Jays after posting an .838 OPS across three minor league levels, including 23 home runs, as a 20-year old. He is the youngest player in the majors at the time. Spring 2009: Snider is ranked as the #6 prospect in baseball by Baseball America, up from #11 the year before. April 2009: Snider makes the team out of training camp at just 21 years of age, quite possibly too early, with too little high-minors seasoning (hindsight is 20/20, of course). May 2009: Snider is optioned to the minors for the first time after struggling with a .686 OPS through 32 games. Looks like a simple case of too much, too soon. August 2009: Snider is recalled after raking at Triple-A Las Vegas with a 1.094 OPS and 14 home runs in 48 games. Snider plays adequately down the stretch for the Jays with a .788 OPS, including an inspiring 22 walks in 45 games. Spring 2010: Snider makes the team out of training camp, still just 22 years old. After a sub-par April (.155 AVG, .615 OPS), Snider goes into the hottest stretch of his career with a 1.115 OPS in 12 May games before suffering an untimely wrist injury. July/August 2010: Snider returns but has clearly lost something. He spends 20 days at Double-A, including 13 of which were not part of his rehab assignment (DJF explains why this may or may not be important. Kind of.). His numbers weren't spectacular, but he earned a call back to the majors regardless. September 2010: Snider tricks us all into being optimistic by having a successful, if not spectacular, September, posting an .863 OPS. Now, at the end of 2010, Snider had been through a rollercoaster across minor league levels. He had MLB seasonal WARs of 0.3 (2008), -0.1 (2009), and 1.3 (2010). His September was cause for optimism, and with Alex Anthopoulos and John Farrell committing to a true rebuild, there was every indication Snider would be given the chance (and the patience) to cement his place as the everyday left fielder of the future. However… April 28, 2011: Snider is optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas after opening the season hitting .184 and seemingly opening his body up and being out on his front foot, swinging one-handed, at every single pitch. His mechanics were out of line, yes, but this was hardly the fair chance management had publically committed to giving him. July 3, 2011: Snider is recalled and goes on a hot streak upon rejoining the team. The team experiments with him in center field, and he shows some promise there, while also showing improved wheels and instincts on the base paths. August 4, 2011: Snider is optioned to Triple-A once again, this time to make room for Brett Lawrie. More obvious than Snider's .760 July OPS (not bad at all) was his single solitary walk in over 100 plate appearances, to go with 33 strikeouts. Obviously, Snider had lost any semblance of discipline (pressing!), surprising given his modest 7.5% career walk rate (which was even higher in the minors). So once again Snider is in the minors, destined to remain there until rosters expand in September. He really doesn't have anything left to prove there, but the Jays have a few logical reasons for the move, I suppose… Chad Motolla: Apparently Triple-A hitting coach Motolla knows Snider's swing and tendencies well, and may be in the best position to work with him. I'd ask why MLB hitting coach Dwayne Murphy couldn't do it, but I'm not sure I'd want to know the answer. Eric Thames: Yes, Thames has outplayed Snider this year, both in the Majors (.778 OPS to .616, 0.8 WAR to 0.2 in nearly equal playing time) and the Minors (1.033 OPS to .890). While some of his performance is fueled by luck or the friendly confines in Vegas, Snider has been afforded those same opportunities. Thames can't defend like Snider (that's not a compliment to Snider), but his left-handed bat may end up being just as good. Keith Law thinks Thames is a fourth outfielder at best, which would mean Snider has more upside, but you can't blame the team for wanting an extended look. Edwin Encarnacion: Edwin is nearing the threshold of becoming a Type-B free agent, which would mean if he signs elsewhere, the Jays would receive a compensation pick after the first round in next year's draft. To improve his standing, he needs playing time, and with the Colby Rasmus acquisition and Lawrie's recall there is a logjam with Thames, Edwin, Rajai Davis, and Snider for just the LF/DH spots. I question whether it is worth messing around with a potential high-upside player just to possibly get a compensation pick, who may or may not ever turn into anything, but at least there is a tangible reason here. On top of which, E5 has been stroking, and maybe the team is thinking he could be post-deadline waiver-trade fodder, bringing back an asset more secure than "maybe a compensation pick, if Edwin continues to play well and declines arbitration." Travis Snider: Ahh yes, Snider himself is to blame. He took the demotion like a professional and put the onus on himself to simply perform better when given the opportunity. I can't say I disagree with him, but it still seems short-sighted to me (as it did in 2009 and 2010) to Yo-Yo Snider instead of giving him a sample size large enough to establish a set level of production in the Majors (319 is his career-high in MLB plate appearances. At this point, it's possible the team is trying to do many things at once – look at Thames, fix Snider, get an asset for Edwin – but I don't have to like it. I'm all for meritocracies, but when a team like this is in the later stages of rebuilding, exceptions can be made for developing prospects, obviously. I am still holding out hope and optimism that Snider can rebuild his swing and develop into the player he was projected to be. His glove and arm can play in left or right, he adds some deceptive value with his legs, and he's still just 23 years old. In 2010 he posted a 105 WRC+ (meaning he created 5% more runs than the league average), so at times his bat has played, too. He was only worth 0.2 WAR this year, and that was dragged down significantly by his bat (-6.5 runs), so yes, he has flaws, and work needs to be done. Hopefully Motolla and Snider can right the ship and Snider is afforded another opportunity down the road, because I'm not willing to give up on a 23-year old leftie who has succeeded at every level of the minors. Note: I just want to be clear – this is not to say I don't like Thames, because I really really do. I think Snider's upside is higher, but Thames deserves a chance. I would probably have had Thames DH, Snider play left, and Edwin lose out on at bats, even if he has performed well. Also, I'm really f-ing stoked for the Brett Lawrie Era.

'Wiser, Older' Kevin Barnes Ready To Shine

Posted: 05 Aug 2011 11:47 AM PDT

Since entering the NFL in 2009, Kevin Barnes has faced an uphill battle when it comes to carving out a role on the Redskins defense. Through two seasons in Washington, he's played under two defensive coordinators, learned both the 4-3 and 3-4 schemes while also lining up at corner and safety. Needless to say, Barnes has experienced his fair share of adverse circumstances. He knows his moment to break out could be close, but for the bulk of his first two years, he's had to watch from the sidelines. "Even when I saw Carlos [Rogers] and DeAngelo [Hall] out there making plays, it makes me want to be out there more because I'm out here battling in practice and I know what I'm capable of," Barnes said. "But I mean it's all about paying your dues and I think I'm on my way to doing that." Barnes isn't a cocky player, but he certainly emanates a quiet, self-assurance. He admitted there have been times when he's wondered why he isn't on the field. And that's not a bad mindset to possess. "You have to have that mentality being a corner, especially a young corner," he said. Despite the slow start to his career, Barnes hasn't stopped maintaining a positive outlook on his future in football. With his solid 6'1", 185-pound frame and willingness to help in run support, it's easy to see why he's confident. He started the final two games of the 2010 season and intercepted a David Garrard pass in overtime to setup a Graham Gano field goal, giving the Redskins a victory over the Jaguars. The interception was the first of Barnes' career and with Mike Shanahan keeping an eye out for young talent during the final weeks of a lost season it couldn't have come at a better time. "Coaches saw what I could do when I had my opportunity last year," he said. "The thing is, I've been buried on the depth chart since I've been here so now I'm a little bit older, a little bit wiser, coaches are putting a little bit more responsibility on me to go out there and do what I'm capable of doing." Barnes has been grateful for the quiet start to the season. His rookie campaign was during the end of the disastrous Jim Zorn era, which hampered his development. Last year was more structured under Shanahan, but with higher expectations and the drama surrounding Albert Haynesworth and Donovan McNabb, younger players like Barnes were afterthoughts. However, the focus has shifted to building a foundation that makes football priority number one and Barnes has already embraced the newfound stability at Redskins Park. "I think coach Shanahan and Mr. [Bruce] Allen---they're doing a great [job] of sculpting the team the way they want it," he said. "I was talking to guys yesterday about the locker room, the atmosphere and it's completely different from the last few years. There's just no negativity, it's all positive and everybody's really coming together faster." Barnes, Byron Westbrook and Brandyn Thompson will be fighting for two roster spots unless the Redskins decide to have six corners on their roster, which is unlikely. Barnes' ability to play both corner and safety is attractive, but Westbrook was re-signed this offseason and can play special teams. Thompson was one of this year's seventh-round draft picks, meaning Shanahan might prefer him instead of Barnes who was selected by Vinny Cerrato. Even though the odds might be stacked against him, Barnes firmly believes he is in control of his fate with the team. "Regardless of whoever comes back or who's here, I mean it's still in my hands," he said. "Coach Shanahan promotes competition at every position so it's going to be a battle throughout the season."

Brad’s 2011 MAC Predictions

Posted: 05 Aug 2011 11:06 AM PDT

The Mid American Conference has emerged as one of the most interesting conferences in the country thanks to cataclysmic shifts in the standings each season.  It seems like every program in the league has been everywhere from worst to first over the past four or five years, and the constant coaching turnover is primarily the cause.  The MAC has always been a great conference for young coaches to quickly build their resumes and get hired by BCS schools (recent examples: Turner Gill, Brady Hoke, Jerry Kill, Michael Haywood).   On the end of things, many MAC programs are just as trigger happy to get rid of coaches who fail to produce immediate results (see Stan Parrish at Ball State and Jeff Genyk at Eastern Michigan).  Both of these phenomena have created a conference characterized by coaching instability.  In fact, eleven of the thirteen head coaches in the league have held their current position for only two years or less.   One main characteristic of this year's MAC is the mammoth gap between the top teams in the conference and the bottom.  This league has six or seven teams who can compete with anyone in the top 40 but then it has five or six others who are among the worst in the nation.  Here are my predictions.  My predicted conference champ is listed in all caps and the teams that I believe will become bowl eligible are underlined.      MAC East 1.  Ohio- Despite all of his success at Ohio, Frank Solich has still never won the MAC Championship.  Well, I'm picking them to win the MAC East this year but to once again fall short in the title game, as they have done in two of the past five seasons.  There are definitely some questions marks for this squad, as they have to replace eight starters on defense and break-in a new quarterback.  Solich also announced after last year's New Orleans Bowl loss that he will be installing a new up-tempo, no huddle attack, which may cause some confusion early in the season.  I am thus somewhat apprehensive about picking them to win the East but I am doing so based largely on their schedule.  The MAC East is a three-team race between Ohio, Temple, and Miami, and the Bobcats get to host both of the Owls and the Redhawks this seasons.  Believe it or not, Ohio actually beat both of those teams on the road in 2010, so I believe they will take care of their business at home and win the MAC East.     2.  Temple- I really, really wanted to pick the Owls to win their first-ever division title this season but I can't do it for a couple of reasons.  First of all, I have serious concerns about the durability of their superstar running back Bernard Pierce.  I picked the Owls to win the MAC last year under the premise that superstar running back Bernard Pierce would stay healthy the entire season.  Pierce, however, got hurt last year for the second straight season, so even though he is back in 2011, I am not sure he can stay healthy for 12 game.  Temple also loses Al Golden who was the only guy ever to win in Philly.  Curiously, they hired the offensive coordinator of one of the most disappointing units in the country to replace him, Steve Addazio from Florida.  Don't get me wrong, Addazio isn't a horrible hire, but I just don't think he has what it takes to win a championship in Philadelphia.  Temple will have another winning season though and hopefully garner a bowl berth after getting screwed out of one in 2010.  I am still in shock that the Owls, who finished 8-4 including a victory against a BCS bowl participant, didn't get an invite into one of the nearly 500 college football bowl games.  3.  Miami-OH- It feels weird picking the defending conference champ to finish third in their division despite the fact they are returning 17 starters!  Their immaculate turnaround last season shocked me, as I predicted them to finish fifth in the conference.  Now, I may be under rating them again, but there are legitimate reasons to doubt this team's ability to repeat.  First of all, 2010 was one of those prototypical magical seasons where the ball just bounced the right way for Miami.  They won a ton of close games and finished +11 in turnover margin.  I just don't see this team getting all of those breaks two years in a row.  The Redhawks also have to adjust to a new coach with new schemes.  Furthermore, the Hawks play a brutal schedule both inside and outside of conference play. 4.  Kent State- This is the year!  For the past two seasons, I've been t high on the Golden Flashes, as they were my most successful surprise pick of 2009.  Last season, I called for them reach their first bowl game since 1974, but they came up a game short.  Now, the schedule is more manageable, the entire offense returns intact, and an energetic young coach takes over.  All the pieces look to be in place for Kent State to finally become bowl eligible.  Unfortunately, bowl eligibility does not necessarily equate into a bowl bid in the MAC (see 8-4 Temple last season), but you would think the powers that be might be interested in extending an invite to a program and fan base that has been desperately waiting to play in a bowl game for 37 years. 5.  Bowling Green- Call it the curse of the Smurf Turf, but both the Falcons and the Idaho Vandals have floundered ever since their epic Humanitarian Bowl matchup in 2009.  The question now is whether or not the Falcons fall from grace in 2010 was a fluke or whether this program will become a permanent MAC bottom-dweller.  I don't really know the answer to that question but I will say that Dave Clawson has had success everywhere he has gone.  This season the Falcons should improve from their 2-10 campaign of 2010, but they are still nowhere near the caliber of team they were throughout the last decade.  6.  Buffalo-This past spring the Bulls put together up one of the best recruiting classes in the conference under new coach Jeff Quinn.  That is no small feat for a team coming off a 2-10 season.  The immediate future however is not so bright.  While the offense does return eight starters, this squad finds themselves in the midst of a heated and uncertain quarterback controversy entering the season.  On the defensive side of the ball, the entire secondary, which was the only strongpoint on the team last year, must be replaced.  Nevertheless, the Bulls should avoid the conference cellar by beating Akron at home on November 19th.  7.  Akron- The Zips narrowly avoided becoming the only winless team in the country last year by beating Buffalo at home in the season finale.  Unfortunately, the Zips have to play the Bulls on the road this season.  Akron does have a winnable early season game against VMI in late September, but I don't see any way for this team to get more than one or two victories in 2011.  The fact that they are returning over half of their starters from the 119th ranked offense in country is probably not a good thing, and they don't play any of their fellow MAC bottom-dwellers (BG, Eastern Michigan, Ball State, Buffalo) at home this season. MAC West 1.  TOLEDO- At this point, I need to apologize for the predictability of my preview guide so far.  I have been basically regurgitating the consensus projections of other experts, and my MAC champion is no exceptions.  The Golden Rockets just have too much coming back for me not to pick them to win this conference They posted an impressive 7-1 record in the MAC last season and return over 2/3 of both their offense and defense.  They also have the privilege of playing the other division co-favorites, Northern Illinois and Western Michigan, at home.  Furthermore, Toledo is one of the few successful MAC programs from 2010 not to lose their head coach to a bigger job.  Having Coach Beckman back for a third season should provide the continuity and stability necessary for this veteran team to win its first-ever MAC Title Game.  Also, don't worry. .. I'll have plenty surprise picks for you in my other conference predictions  2.  Western Michigan- Bill Cubit is one of only two veteran coaches in the league, but unlike long-time Ohio coach Frank Solich, Cubit finds himself squarely on the hot seat.  The Broncos haven't had the ebbs and flows of most MAC programs over the past 5 or 10 years, but their problem has been that they can't seem to get over the hump and challenge for a conference crown.  One thing they have to do this year is beat arch rival Central Michigan who they have inexplicably lost to five straight times.  They should handle the Chippewas this season though and they also should qualify for their first bowl game since 2008.  They are a veteran squad who gets to play all but one of the five conference cupcakes (Bowling Green, Ball State, Eastern Michigan, and Akron). 3.  Northern Illinois- I am pretty much putting the Huskies in the exact same boat at Miami.  Both of these conference title participants from 2010 are bound to have a slight drop off after losing their head coaches and leading rushers.  The Huskies, however, also have to replace nine defensive starters, which is why they definitely won't contend for the conference championship again.  Nevertheless, a favorable schedule should allow NIU to get at least 7 wins and another bowl berth. 4.  Central Michigan- I will admit that I couldn't be more wrong about the Chippewas last season.  Everybody thought they was going to be a huge drop-off following the loss of their star QB and head coach, yet I still predicted them to win the division.  Well, they went on to post an abysmal 3-9 mark and make me look really silly, so I'm not going to go down that route again.  I think Central Michigan will probably get better, as they return 14 starters, but I still think they'll fall well short of a bowl game.  The Chippewas simply don't have the talent that they possessed during their run of four straight bowl bids from 2006-2009.     5.  Ball State- In both the MAC East and the MAC West, there is a huge drop-off after the first four teams.  That's not to say the rest of the squads aren't headed in the right direction but when you lose to FCS opponents in consecutive seasons like the Cardinals have, you got a lot of catching up to do.  Fortunately for Ball State, they made a great coaching hire this season by picking up Pete Lembo from Elon.  I have been at law school here at Elon for the past three seasons, so I have had the opportunity to see his squads in action on a few occasions.  His high-flying air raid offense should translate well into the MAC, but it will take a couple of seasons before it gets going.  This season the Cardinals will be lucky to replicate their 4-win total from last year as their schedule is much more difficult than it was in 2010.         6.  Eastern Michigan- Here's a stat for you: Eastern Michigan has not won a home game since 2008.  That stat becomes especially sad when you consider that head coach Ron English took over the program in 2009 and has thus never won a game in front of his home fans!  The Eagles were 0-12 in his first season and then picked up both of their 2010 wins on the road.  Their home losing streak should end soon, however, as the Eagles open up at home against Howard and Alabama State in weeks 1 and 2 of the season.  EMU is also fortunate in that they have home games against three other MAC bottom-dwellers (Akron, Ball State and Buffalo).  Believe it or not, I think they'll probably pick up three or four wins this season, which is astonishing given how bad this team is.  Now whether or not that is enough to save English's job, who currently ranks # 13 on the official coaching hot seat website (http://www.coacheshotseat.com/CoachesHotSeatRanking.htm), is a whole another issue.

Triple Your Fun: Pirates Play Three, Lose Two

Posted: 04 Aug 2011 06:20 PM PDT

Every week in this space, I write about a doubleheader that either played an important part in a pennant race or had some other historical significance. Today, I'm ratcheting it up a notch. My subject is the last tripleheader ever played. The amazing event took place at Forbes Field on October 2, 1920 when the Pirates hosted the Cincinnati Reds. What forced the triple dip was a rain out of the Friday night game. Apparently, little was at stake. The Brooklyn Robins had sewed up first place, the Giants were comfortably in second ahead of the soon-to-be-displaced World Champion Reds with the Pirates in fourth trailing Cincinnati by 3-1/2 games. The rain out canceled one of the four remaining games on the schedule and meant that the Pirates were dead in their quest for third place: 3-1/2 games back with only three left to play. But Pirates Hall of Fame owner Barney Dreyfuss recognized that third place was "in the money".  If his team could sneak into third, his players would qualify for a small World Series share. Dreyfuss appealed to National League president John Heydler who agreed, over the vigorous protestations of Reds' manager Pat Moran, to replay the rain out. Suddenly, the Pirates were alive again. The standings still showed the Corsairs 3-1/2 behind Cincinnati but now with four to play. With three games on the bill, the opener started at the unusually early hour of 12 noon. Corsair manager George Gibson picked his ace and 24 game winner Wilbur Cooper for the crucial first game. The drama didn't last long. The Reds bombed Cooper with 10 hits and 8 runs in 2-2/3 innings and won handily, 13-4 thus finally and officially locking up third. Games two and three were frill. In the second, the Reds shellacked the Corsairs again, 7-3. As evidence of his indifference, Moran started four pitchers as position players. In the third and final contest, cut short by darkness after six innings, the Pirates finally prevailed, 6-0. The game times are worth noting: the first, 2:03; second, 1:56; third, 1:01. Fans saw three games in exactly five hours or 1:39 less than the Pirates 19-inning marathon on July 26 in the team's 4-3 loss to the Braves in Atlanta.

Any player/Any era: Vada Pinson

Posted: 04 Aug 2011 06:13 PM PDT

What he did: If baseball awarded the equivalent of Oscars, Pinson would have been a perennial Best Supporting Actor nominee. One of the quintessential role players of the 1960s, Pinson did many things well, hitting for average and power, stealing 305 bases lifetime, and finishing just shy of 3,000 hits. He was never really a star, overshadowed by Cincinnati Reds teammates like Frank Robinson and Pete Rose, though Pinson placed as high as third in MVP voting in 1961 when he led Cincinnati to the World Series. In another era, a fellow blogger told me, Pinson might have been more. Era he might have thrived in: Arne Christensen of Misc. Baseball suggested Pinson could make a good pick here, noting in a recent email:
His game of speed and some power would have really shined in the astroturf '70s and '80s.
Arne may be on to something. Astroturf is something of a bygone novelty in baseball, seen less and less these days, but in the era Arne suggests, speedy sluggers like Andre Dawson, Barry Bonds, and Eric Davis were regular threats in carpeted stadiums and beyond to hit 30 home runs and steal north of 30 bases. Pinson might have figured aptly into their ranks. Why: First of all, count Pinson as another great hitter who may have missed out on the Hall of Fame because his prime years happened to fall in the 1960s. Like Jimmy Wynn, Frank Howard, Bob Watson, and maybe a few others from this decade, Pinson might have had a better shot at Cooperstown had he not peaked at a time that so clearly favored pitchers. As it stands, he went the full 15 years on the writers ballot for the Hall of Fame, and if he's not a viable Veterans Committee candidate today, he at least rates an honorable mention. Maybe the '70s and '80s weren't the 1920s or '30s or late 1990s, able to add 40 batting average points and 50 to 100 home runs to Pinson's lifetime totals. But it's likely his .286 batting average and 256 home runs would rise enough in any other time in baseball history since the Deadball Era to get him enshrined. He might not approach Dawson's 438 home runs, but he'd surely increase his .327 to .323 advantage in on-percentage and have a chance at 3,000 hits (and near-automatic enshrinement.) And one can only wonder how many more bases Pinson would have stolen than Dawson's 314. Pinson played from 1958 through 1975, and I suspect if he'd debuted even 10 years later, he might have had 100 more steals lifetime, minimum. Almost simultaneous to Pinson's best seasons in the early and mid '60s, speedsters like Luis Aparicio and Maury Wills were helping make the stolen base popular again in baseball. Perhaps Pinson had the talent to steal 20 to 30 bases a year whatever his era, though I'd like to think that in the '70s or '80s, he'd have been around coaches who could have refined his craft. And the Astroturf would have surely sped his step. Pinson died of a stroke at 57 in 1995 and is buried in Richmond, California, not far from where I currently sit writing this post in Berkeley. I suspect that as more time passes, Pinson will be increasingly forgotten. That's a shame. Any player/Any era is a Thursday feature here that looks at how a player might have done in an era besides his own. Others in this series: Albert Pujols, Babe Ruth, Bad News Rockies, Barry Bonds, Billy Martin, Bob Caruthers, Bob Feller, Bob Watson, Bobby Veach, Carl Mays, Charles Victory Faust, Chris von der Ahe, Denny McLain, Dom DiMaggio, Eddie Lopat, Frank Howard, Fritz Maisel, Gavvy Cravath, George Case, George Weiss, Harmon Killebrew, Harry Walker, Home Run Baker, Honus Wagner, Ichiro Suzuki, Jack Clark, Jackie Robinson, Jimmy Wynn, Joe DiMaggio, Joe Posnanski, Johnny Antonelli, Johnny Frederick, Josh Hamilton, Ken Griffey Jr., Lefty Grove, Lefty O'Doul, Major League (1989 film), Matty Alou, Michael Jordan, Monte Irvin, Nate Colbert, Paul Derringer, Pete Rose, Prince Fielder, Ralph Kiner, Rick Ankiel, Rickey Henderson, Roberto Clemente, Rogers Hornsby, Sam Crawford, Sam Thompson, Sandy Koufax, Satchel Paige, Shoeless Joe Jackson, Stan Musial, Ted Williams, The Meusel Brothers, Ty Cobb, Wally Bunker, Willie Mays

New Acquisitions Take Center Stage At Day Six Of Redskins Camp

Posted: 04 Aug 2011 05:11 PM PDT

The free agent signees were finally allowed to practice on Thursday at Redskins Park, but it didn't go without a hitch. As the final stages of the CBA agreement were being put into place, Rex Grossman, Barry Cofield and the rest of the Redskins offseason acquisitions waited on the sidelines in uniform to get the go ahead to begin practicing with their teammates. The CBA was not approved until the afternoon session was about 45 minutes underway, but once the 11-on-11s started, Tim Hightower led the charge with a dash off the left side, netting big yards. With the new players fully on board, it was one of the more spirited sessions of camp. Here are some observations: -Grossman was his usual erratic self, forcing some throws and displaying the high-risk, high-reward tendencies he showed us last year. On one hand he connected several times with Terrence Austin over the middle and threw a dart to Fred Davis in the seam. However, he also threw an out route right to Chris Horton who had cut right underneath the receiver. Horton dropped the ball, but it wasn't a smart decision by Grossman. -Malcolm Kelly didn't practice today because of what Shanahan said was an issue with his groin or hamstring. Kelly cannot afford to miss much after injuries have derailed the first chapter of his short playing career. The Redskins want Kelly to succeed. He has the size, hands and frame to be a much-needed red zone threat and possession receiver, but so far durability has been his downfall. He must participate in every preseason game if he wants an opportunity to make the final roster. -Ryan Torain broke his hand in Wednesday's practice Shanahan said he'll miss a week to ten days. Like Kelly, durability is the primary reason Torain's future with the team could be in doubt. The difference is that Torain, when healthy, was a very productive back last season. However, that hasn't stopped Washington from adding three running backs to the roster after a lack of depth at the position hurt them the past two seasons. -Hightower and Roy Helu both ran the ball well in spots today. The offensive line appears to be more organized thus far and they have given the backs more holes than in last year's training camp. -Kevin Barnes was beaten in coverage several times and struggled to stop the run. There were several points where he was pulled off the field and talked to by a member of the coaching staff. It's not a good time for Barnes to be looking lost. This is his third season and with Phillip Buchanon missing the first four weeks of the season due to suspension, Barnes has the opportunity for more playing time. He won't if he's beaten out for a roster spot by Byron Westbrook and Brandyn Thompson. -Chris Cooley left the field without talking to reporters. There have been murmurs that he isn't 100 percent at the moment and Shanahan mentioned there has been fluid in his knee and he will "monitor him day-by-day." -Watched most of the one-on-one drills between the offensive and defensive lines. Will Montgomery seemed to have trouble holding up at the line of scrimmage. He'll be closely evaluated in the first preseason game I'm sure. Erik Cook and Kory Lichtensteiger are the other options at center although the Redskins did sign center/guard Donovan Raiola on Thursday. He has one game of NFL experience.

Moneyball

Posted: 04 Aug 2011 05:01 PM PDT

With the upcoming release of the "Moneyball" movie, I have noticed quite a bit of noise on the radio talking about how moneyball doesn't work.  They say "look at the A's now", or "they A's didn't win the World Series with moneyball so it doesn't work".  That is usually followed by a demand for the A's to spend more money.   What these morons don't know is the true meaning of money ball.  Most of them didn't read the book so they have no idea what it truly is.  They just have the regurgitated quotes and don't know the full system.  I routinely take part in my fantasy smack talk section in all of my leagues and this topic was recently brought up.  This was the last straw for me.  I can't stand by and let a bunch of people talk about the moneyball system when they don't have a clue as to how it really works. So, here is an excerpt from my smack talk section in one of my leagues in response to a manager basically saying that money ball doesn't work: Nobody disputes Billy Beane's ability to find talent. The moneyball argument is a different story though. I've been hearing a lot on the radio about how moneyball doesn't work and the current A's are proof of it. The movie is coming out too late, blah blah blah. To be honest, money ball does work when you do it properly. The A's haven't been playing moneyball since they traded away Hudson and Mulder. That is when the A's began a reverse model of moneyball and became the team that other teams target in trades. For years Beane had been drafting young talent and trading them away before their flaws could be brought to light. Getting players like Ted Lilly, Jermaine Dye, Mark Ellis and Johny Damon to name a few. They traded away a bunch of garbage to get them, coupled with some serious homegrown pitching talent and two great at the time players in Giambi and Tejada and that is how the A's stayed competitive year in and year out. When their players got too expensive they let them walk and took the draft compensation picks and started the whole process over again. Now, the A's seem to trade away their talented players for unproven prospects (the exact opposite of what they were doing when moneyball worked for them), Haren, Hudson, Mulder (that one was a wash), Swisher, Ziegler and so on. As a believer in true moneyball, it is extremely frustrating seeing this happen. For years the A's found players that were overlooked by most and were able to use certain stats to find diamonds in the rough. Now, the big money clubs use money ball strategies to locate the great all around players that also have the moneyball stats which is always better than a diamond in the rough because these particular diamonds are already polished and have a much higher carat and quality. I am sooo happy that the A's didn't go nuts at the deadline and trade away all of our guys. Willingham is believed to be a type A free agent (not my opinion but I have read it multiple times) which will garner 2 picks next year, Coco, Matsui and DeJesus (maybe) are type B guys that will get us 1 pick each. This is the money ball system that started it all. With Michael Taylor having a bounce back year in AAA, Michael Choice and Grant Green on the horizon, Chris Carter still up in the air (I believe he just needs consistent ABs to start contributing) and our pitching staff and ability to find pitchers anywhere, the A's will be competitive in the near future with the original formula of Quality SPin + good positional talent + prospects to trade for better proven talent = moneyball. As for the ownership group not spending any $, I agree. They look at this as a business they can put minimal $ into and still make a cool $20-30 mil a year but that is only after the revenue sharing comes into play. The A's have the third lowest projected ROI this year. Some owners feel you need to put money in before you see a return, Like Walter Haas and his family when they owned the A's and were signing players to record contracts every year. Wolfe and Fisher are the 4th richest ownership group in baseball but would rather see a guaranteed ROI instead of trying to grow the A's into a financially stable unit. Who knows, maybe with a new ball park and the revenue it would bring to the club the owners might be able to put more $ into the organization. I'm not completely sold on that being the answer but I would love to see it happen. Especially if they went to San Jose with a much larger market. Then all we need is for Mark Cuban to buy the A's so we would have a fan who knows business as an owner instead of a businessman who knows nothing about being a fan.

Brad’s 2011 WAC Predictions

Posted: 03 Aug 2011 04:50 PM PDT

In all of my past college football preview guides I have ranked the Sun Belt and MAC as the two worst Division 1-A football conference.  However, the WAC has now fallen below the MAC in my opinion thanks to the departure of Boise.  Next year of course will be much worse, as Fresno State, Nevada, and Hawaii all move to the Mountain West as well.  For now, those three teams will battle it out for the top spot in this conference, despite the fact that all three programs find themselves in the midst of a rebuilding year.  The ultimate question thus becomes who can reload the fastest and claim the first WAC Championship in the post-Boise era.  My predicted conference champ is listed in all caps and the teams that I believe will become bowl eligible are underlined.   1.  NEVADA- This is really a tough call, as the Wolfpack face huge question marks at Quarterback and Running Back after the departures of superstars Colin Kaepernick and Vaia Taua.  I really don't think Ault's Pistol Offense will be nearly as potent as in years past, but they do have a veteran defense that should be improved from last season.  The main reason I'm giving Nevada the nod over Fresno and Hawaii is because of their schedule.  The Wolfpack host both the Bulldogs and the Rainbow Warriors, as well as two other conference foes.  In fact, their toughest conference road game will come against Utah State on November 26th.  2.  Hawaii- Hawaii only has three returning starters on offense, but one of them is the best quarterback in the conference, Bryant Moniz.  He should throw for a ton of yards this season even with an inexperienced receive corps.  The Rainbow Warriors also have the benefit of playing fellow powerhouse Fresno State at home. 3.  Fresno State- A lot of people are picking the Bulldogs to challenge Nevada for the conference crown but I just don't see it given their brutal schedule and vast inexperience.  Believe it or not, Pat Hill has still never won a conference title since taking over the Fresno State program 15 years ago.  They have always been one of those strange teams that plays a lot better in their non-conference games then in conference play.  They may their annual BCS-busting upset on October 1st vs. Ole Miss, but I don't see Hill's squad contending for a conference crown with road games against both Nevada and Hawaii. 4. Idaho- The Vandals exceeded my expectations last year, as they finished sixth in the WAC and came within a game of a second straight bowl bid. This year they return 8 starters on defense, and even though they have to replace talented QB Nathan Enderle, the locals are very high on Brian Reader who saw quite a bit of action last season as Enderle's backup.  Keep in mind that the top three teams in this conference are all inexperienced and full of question marks, so a veteran squad like Idaho could make a surprise run at the title.  5.  Louisiana Tech- I predicted the Bulldogs to finish with a mediocre 5th place finish last season and that's exactly where they ended up.  This season I think they'll find themselves in the exact same position.  Sonny Dykes seems to be a solid hire, but this squad must break-in a new starting QB and face a brutal schedule both in and out of conference play.  Getting to a bowl this year would  be quite the achievement.  6.  Utah State- The Aggies just can't quite seem to turn the corner as they have still yet to win more than four games in a season this century.  I'd like to think that this squad could be different, as they have nine starters coming back on offense; however, I have my doubts given their recent struggles.  A third straight four-win season seems about right.  7.  San Jose State- The Spartans were beyond abysmal last year, as they didn't win a single game against FBS opposition.  Nevertheless, Phil Steele is picking them to finish sixth in the conference!  I know they are returning all 11 guys on defense but that's probably not a good thing when we're talking about a unit that ranked 117th nationally last season.  I think they'll avenge their heartbreaking loss to New Mexico State this season, since they get the Aggie at home, but beyond that I don't see another winnable game on the schedule.  8.  New Mexico State- It can't be emphasized enough just how bad football in the state of New Mexico is right now.  Between the Aggies and Lobos, the Land of Enchantment racked up a total of two wins last season against out of state competition.  The good news this year for New Mexico State is that they have a veteran squad with sixteen returning starters, including their quarterback who was not as horrible as you might expect.  The bad news is that they have to play the only two teams they beat in 2010 on the road this season.  I expect them to pick up one of those victories (at San Jose State or at New Mexico), but I don't see this team exceeding their two win total from last year.  On a totally irrelevant note, the areas behind the Aggie endzones are probably the coolest in the country.  It looks like a desert resort inside a football stadium: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8e/Aggie_Memorial_Stadium_2.jpg

Redskins Training Camp: Observations From Day Five

Posted: 03 Aug 2011 12:13 PM PDT

The sun took a day off at Redskins Park on Wednesday, but the players did not as they slogged through a full morning practice in the rain. Ryan Kerrigan only went through the walkthrough portion of the morning session due to an injured knee. Mike Shanahan told reporters he would likely be able to practice fully in two or three days. Brandon Banks was on the sidelines nursing what Shanahan said was a swollen knee and Ryan Torain injured his hand. Shanahan was unsure as to the extent of Torain's injury, but indicated it could be a sprained hand. Though it doesn't seem to be a serious concern, it does bear watching given Torain's inability to remain healthy. Shanahan said he would probably have the hand X-rayed Wednesday afternoon. Some observations: -Malcolm Kelly had a strong day. He looks completely healthy and was running smoothly through every route. He made a nice catch downfield after getting behind the defense and several nice grabs along the sideline and over the middle in traffic. There hasn't been any one receiver putting on a clinic, but Kelly was very solid today. -The receiver drawing a lot of buzz is the newly acquired Jabar Gaffney. He caught a John Beck longball today and has shown reliable hands. However, it's tough seeing him starting this year. He is coming off a 65-catch season, but that was the only time in his nine-year career he's had over 60 receptions. -Watched Trent Williams match up against Brian Orakpo and Williams' footwork has really improved. He kept Orakpo in front of him as the linebacker tried a speed rush and a cutback to the inside. Shanahan has raved about Williams' athleticism and we've seen it so far in camp. -Beck's arm strength is going to be a weakness. He doesn't throw with much zip and anything he threw towards the sideline wasn't crisp. He did connect on some deep throws, but he doesn't have a quick release and has been indecisive at times. Shanahan said that Beck and Grossman would split reps with the first team offense, but the coach would elaborate on how was going to divide the preseason games. -Adam Carriker blew up the offensive line on several run plays. He emerged down the stretch last year and will be fighting for a starting job with Jarvis Jenkins and Stephen Bowen. After practice he told me he expects to be a starter on the defensive line this year. Bowen can't practice until Thursday and Jenkins is a rookie so the odds are in Carriker's favor. "A lot of these guys, like you said, they haven't practiced yet or they're going to practice for their first time tomorrow in this defense," he said. "In the cool of a room, you know what you're supposed to do, but as you get out here---you're tired, it's hot--- it's all about what you've done a million times before and so for me it's like bam, bam, bam. I'm not even thinking anymore." -Kevin Barnes has a make or break year ahead of him. Phillip Buchanon won't be playing in the first four games of the year, meaning Barnes have an opportunity to seize a more prominent role in the secondary. "I've been buried on the depth chart since I've been here so now, I'm a little bit older, a little bit wiser," he said. "Coaches are putting a little bit more responsibility on me to go out there do what I'm capable of doing." -Beck spoke glowingly of Fred Davis who almost looks like a receiver with all the weight he's lost. "Fred has been playing awesome," Beck said. "He has made some great diving catches. I think he's primed for a great year." Beck said Davis had come out to San Diego to practice with him over the offseason. Davis himself has mentioned he needs to become a student of the game and finally he seems to be ready for the commitments that come with being an NFL player. His blocking hasn't gotten any better, but on the whole Davis has been very good as a pass-catcher in camp. If he can establish himself as a red zone threat, he'll be a valuable piece.

Robin Roberts Before and After the Philadelphia Phillies

Posted: 03 Aug 2011 12:01 AM PDT

Last week, I wrote about how Robin Roberts carried the Philadelphia Phillies to the 1950 National League championship. For most baseball fans, with the exception of old timers who live in the Philadelphia area, Roberts is linked to the Phillies forever and all time. But, in truth, Roberts had a rich and rewarding life long before and long after he wore a Phillies jersey. Born in Springfield, IL., Roberts arrived in East Lansing, Michigan as part of Army Air Corp training program. After World War II, Roberts returned to Michigan State College to play basketball where he led the Spartans' in field-goal percentage in 1946–1947, captained the team during the 1946–1947 and 1949–1950 seasons and earned three varsity letters. After his second basketball season Roberts tried out for the Spartans' baseball team as a pitcher because it was the position that coach John Kobs needed most. After playing for Michigan State and spending his second summer in Vermont with the Barre–Montpelier Twin City Trojans, Roberts signed with the Phillies in 1947 for $25,000. With the money, Roberts bought his mother a house. Roberts repaid the Phillies handsomely. Between 1950 and 1955 Roberts won 20 games each season, leading the National League in victories from 1952 to 1955. Six times he led the league in games started, five times in complete games and innings pitched and once pitched 28 complete games in a row. During his career, Roberts never walked more than 77 batters in any regular season. In addition, he helped himself as a fielder as well as with his bat, hitting 55 doubles, 10 triples, and five home runs with 103 RBI. His 28 wins in 1952, the year he won The Sporting News Player of the Year Award, were the most in the National League since 1935 when Dizzy Dean also won 28 games. Roberts followed up his 28 wins with another outstanding season. In 1953, he posted a 23–16 record and led NL pitchers in strikeouts with 198. In a career-high 346⅔ innings pitched, Roberts walked just 66 batters and his 2.75 ERA was second behind Warren Spahn's 2.10. A memorable Roberts' career highlight came on May 13, 1954 when he gave up a lead-off home run to the Cincinnati Redlegs' Bobby Adams but then retired 27 consecutive batters to win 8–1 on a one-hit game. Roberts stayed with the Phillies until 1961. The following year Roberts signed with the New York Yankees but was released during spring training. Noting that April is bad time to get cut because other squads are set, Roberts said: "I didn't know what to do. I was thirty-four years old." At the urging of his old friend and scout, Cy Perkins, Roberts signed on with the Baltimore Orioles. Perkins had once told Roberts that he would pitch a shutout when he was 40. Roberts pitched effectively for the Orioles; for parts of four seasons, Roberts went 42-36, 3.09 ERA. From Baltimore, Roberts went to Houston were he continued to pitch well; 8-7, 2.77 during two seasons. Now 40, the end was approaching for Roberts. At the end of his last season with Houston, Roberts recalled: "I found my arm swelling up and had an arm operation to correct the problem." In 1966, Roberts joined the Chicago Cubs as the team's pitching coach and spot starter. At the end of the year, Roberts elected not to return to the Cubs but instead chose to pitch in Reading of the Eastern League. In a bargain he made with himself, Roberts agreed to pitch until June 1st. If no team picked him up, he would retire. Although Roberts pitched well by notching a 5-3 mark that included the shutout Perkins predicted, he had no major league suitors. After Roberts retired, many asked if he was sorry that he never reached 300 wins (286).  Roberts answered that "What I really was striving for was to pitch until I was forty-four or forty-five. I knew if I could do that, the wins would take care of themselves." The Phillies never gave Roberts much help. After 1950, the team was consistently at the bottom of the standings. After his professional baseball career ended, Roberts worked in an investment firm, did sports radio broadcasting and coached at the University of South Florida. In 1976, six years after he became eligible, Roberts was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Brad’s 2011 Sun Belt Conference Predictions

Posted: 02 Aug 2011 10:03 PM PDT

We'll start with the worst conference and work our way up from there.  The Sun Belt will once again be the worst of all FBS conferences, but it won't be for much longer.  After Fresno, Nevada, and Hawaii depart from the WAC next fall, then the Western Athletic Conference will undoubtedly assume the role of FBS doormat.  Meanwhile, the Sun Belt keeps getting better and better.  I think the top two teams in the conference could compete for the conference crown in several other non-BCS conferences and the bottom of the conference is nowhere near as bad as it used to be.  There are no longer any Sun Belt bottom-dwellers that have no business playing Division 1-A football, as I expect everyone in the league to win at least a couple of games this season.  Here is my predicted order of finish for the conference.  My predicted conference champ is listed in all caps and the teams that I believe will become bowl eligible are underlined.    1.  FIU- Talk about a program with momentum.  The Golden Panthers surprised everyone last year by winning a share of the conference crown and then pulling off a crazy Boise State-like upset over Toledo in the Little Caesars Bowl.  As a result, Mario Cristobal has become one of the hottest names in coaching, and fortunately for him, this Golden Panthers squad should be better than last year's.  They do lose 7 guys on defense, but QB Wesley Carroll returns along with his best wideout T.Y. Hilton and five other offensive starters. Can someone please how and/or why Athlon decided to snub Carroll from their first and second team preseason all-conference squads?  He's by far the most talented QB in the league, and his leadership and accuracy should propel FIU to the conference crown, another bowl berth, and a potential upset over Duke on October 1st.  Circle that game folks, the Blue Devils may come to regret their decision to play a road game against the Golden Panthers. 2.  Troy- Last year I picked the Trojans to fall just short of winning a share of their fifth straight Sun Belt title, and that prediction came back to haunt me.  Troy once again reloaded with little difficulty winning a share of the conference crown and then getting a blowout bowl victory over Ohio.  Apparently, I didn't learn from my mistake because I am once again calling for Troy to fall just short of the conference title.  They only return 3 starters on offense, including no running backs or receivers.  The Trojans also have to play co-favorite FIU on the road, a team that put up 52 against them in Troy last year.  Don't get me wrong, Troy will be a solid team again this year, but I think FIU is just a bit better.    3.  UL-Monroe- There's a pretty big drop-off after the top two to the rest of the Sun Belt, but I think the Warhawks are the only other team in the league who will approach bowl eligibility.  ULM surprised me last year as they came within a couple of heart-breaking losses from the conference crown after I picked them to finish sixth in the league.  Now, Todd Berry will continue to push this program forward, as this experienced squad with 14 returning starters has an decent chance of getting to school's first-ever bowl game.   4.  Arkansas State- The Red Wolves' exciting uptempo offense will continue to improve with Ryan Aplin at QB and Hugh Freeze calling the plans.  Freeze takes over as head coach this year, but because he was already the offensive coordinator, there shouldn't be too many changes in schemes and philosophies.  However, the problem with this squad will once again be the defense.  It ranked last in the conference and 105th in the nation in 2010, even the best players from that beleaguered unit are now gone.      5.  Middle Tennessee State- The Blue Raiders were dealt a tough blow last year with the Dwight Dasher suspension.  Yet, they somehow manage to recover and make it to a second-straight bowl game.  Unfortunately, I don't see a third consecutive bowl berth for this team as they have to break-in a new QB and replace eight starters on defense.   6.  UL-Lafayette- The Sun Belt appears to be divided into third this year with the top two a step above teams 3-5 and then 6-9 a clear step behind those.  With that being said, these bottom four teams aren't nearly as horrendous as the Sun Belt doormats of years past.  The Ragin' Cajuns are my predicted sixth place team, which is a lot higher than most experts have them.  This team was a game away from their first-ever bowl berth in both 2008 and 2009 only to fall just short.  Last year, they were a major disappointment, but I don't think this squad is as far down on the totem pole as people say they are.  They got a great young coach, Mark Hudspeth (former WR coach at Mississippi State), who I think will have an immediate impact on the program.  They are also experienced with over half of the starters coming back on both sides of the ball.  Believe it or not, UL-Lafayette has won at least three Sun Belt games each of the last six seasons, and I don't have any reason to believe they won't pull out at least three this year.  7.  Western Kentucky- Much like FIU, the Hilltoppers are in the process of going from Sun Belt bottom feeder to conference contender in a fairly short period of time.  Willie Taggart has done a superb job with this program, as he enters just his second season as head coach.  Their 2-10 record from 2010 is nothing to brag about, but they lost a ton of close games and were really just a few plays from posting a winning record in conference.  More importantly, Taggart has now landed the top recruiting class in the Sun Belt Conference in back-to-back seasons, so the future looks very bright in Bowling Green.  As WKU's young talent continues to blossom this season, they bring back many veteran starters from a squad that, as mentioned previously, was much  better than their record indicated.  In all, the Hilltoppers have 15 returning starters including their very capable QB-RB combo of  Kawaun Jakes and Bobby Rainey.  WKU isn't ready to contend for the Sun Belt just yet but expect at least 3 wins this season.   8.  Florida Atlantic- It was a tough decision for me in picking between FAU and North Texas for the Sun Belt # 8 spot.  Both teams finished with identical conference records last season (3-5) and are equally inexperienced entering 2011.  I am going with the Owls though because I feel like you just can't count out the legendary Coach Schnellengerger who always manages to pull off some magic when you least expect it.  The Owls are also opening an impressive new stadium this season which should definitely boost morale in the locker room.  Replacing 8 starters on defense will be quite the task, but it can't hurt that one of the new starters, linebacker Yourhighness Morgan, has the best name in college football.  9.  North Texas- "I'll believe it when I see it."  That has been my motto for North Texas in my last two college football preview guides and now I'm applying it one more time.  Each of the past two seasons, multiple experts have predicted the Mean Green football program to make major strides forward, and both years they faltered just the same.  In fact, Phil Steele inexplicably picked them to finish third in the Sun Belt last year!  Believe it or not, North Texas has finished either last or second-to-last in the Sun Belt every year since their 2004 Sun Belt title, yet many experts are once again picking them to finish in the top 2/3 of the conference!  Realistically, there is no reason to believe the Mean Green will improve this season, as they have to adjust to a new coach with vastly different schemes and replace over half of their offensive starters including QB Riley Dodge.  I think Coach Dan McCarney is the guy who can eventually get this program turned around but it's certainly not going to be done overnight.   

Brad’s 2011 College Football Preview Guide- Introduction

Posted: 02 Aug 2011 03:02 PM PDT

Over the next several weeks, I will post my 5th annual college football preview guide on this blog for your enjoyment.  If you have read my blog before, you know that I am an avid college football fan who posts weekly blog entries about my insights and analysis throughout the season.  I also write a weekly picks of the week entry as well as one for upsets to watch out for.  Furthermore, I am the coordinator for the new College Football Researchers Association poll, which was re-started two years ago after a lengthy hiatus. Let me start out by explaining the different entries that will be published for this guide.  First of all, there will be an entry for each conference which gives the predictive ranks for all the teams as well as a brief written analysis for each.  I will also post entries for my predicted surprise teams, predicted disappointment teams, a full ranking of all 120 teams, and predicted bowl matchups.        As with all preview guides, the measure of success is both the analysis it provides and the accuracy in which it predicts.  As far as my analysis goes, I will try to keep things succinct by only offering a few sentence description of each team.  You can consider it sort of a Cliff's Notes of larger, more in-depth previews.  In regard to my accuracy, I can say truthfully that I have been more accurate with my predictions than any of the other eleven major preview publications (Phil Steele, Athlon, Lindy's, Sporting News, GamePlan, Jim Feist, Street & Smith, Sports Illustrated, ATS Consultants, and Blue Ribbon).  The basis for this bold conclusion is the comparison of my preseason picks with postseason results using a numerical scoring system that was created by Chris Stassen in 1993.  This Stassen Survey as it is called looks at the predicted conference finishing position for each team and then compares that with their actual postseason conference rank.  The difference between those ranks (doesn't matter if you overrated or underrated a particular team) is then recorded for each team and added together.  For example, I predicted Michigan to finish 9th last year in the Big 10 and Phil Steele had them at 6.  They ended up finishing 10th so my score would now be 1 (10 minus 9) and Phil's would be 4 (10 minus 6).  You then continue this process for all teams.  Phil Steele always brags about the accuracy of his predictions so you will see that I am directly challenging him below by applying the Stassen Survey to both me and Phil's picks over the last three years.  I broke down the results by conference so you can see who was the winner in each league and by how many points they won.     2007
ACC: Brad (+10)
Big 10: Brad (+5)
Big East: Brad (+1)
Big 12: Phil (-2)
Pac 10: Brad (+1)
SEC: Brad (+4)
C-USA: Phil (-1)
MWC: Phil (-1)
WAC: Brad (+1)
MAC: Brad (+3)
Sun Belt: Phil (-5)
 
Overall Score
Phil: 148
Brad: 132 (1 of 11 nationally)
  2008
ACC: Tie
Big 10: Phil (-8)
Big East: Phil (-3)
Big 12: Phil (-4)
Pac 10: Phil (-3)
SEC: Brad (+2)
C-USA: Brad (+9)
MWC: Phil (-2)
WAC: Tie
MAC: Phil (-1)
Sun Belt: Phil (-3)
 
Overall Score
Phil: 135
Brad: 148 (# 6 of 11)
  2009
ACC: Phil (-3)
Big 10: Brad (+2)
Big East: Brad (+4)
Big 12: Phil (-3)
Pac 10: Brad (+5)
SEC: Phil (-3)
C-USA: Brad (+6)
MWC: Tie
WAC: Tie
MAC: Brad (+5)
Sun Belt: Phil (-4)
 
Overall Score
Phil: 140
Brad: 131 (# 1 of 11)
  2010
ACC: Phil (+2)
Big 10: Phil (+3)
Big East: Brad (+3)
Big 12: Brad (+6)
Pac 10: Even
SEC: Even
C-USA: Phil (+5)
MWC: Phil (+1)
WAC: Even
MAC: Phil (+1)
Sun Belt: Brad (+3)
Total: Tie
 
Phil: 126
Brad: 126
  Not only did I beat Phil in 2007 and 2009, but I also beat the # 1 overall guide both of those seasons.  The most accurate publication according to the Stassen Survey in 2007 was Athlon with a score of 135.  I scored a 132.  Likewise, I scored a 131 in 2009 while the top magazine, Sports Illustrated scored a 133.  Now that you understand how the scoring system works, you will realize Phil's claim to have "the most accurate magazine preseason magazine the last 11 years" is somewhat misleading.  What he needs to say is that it is the most accurate "over the past 11 years".  He isn't the most accurate every year, but over the course of 11 years he does have the lowest combined score. However, since I began playing this game three years ago, my overall Stassen score is better than Phil's (by a score of 411 to 423).  There is also another system that you can use to compare different sets of preseason predictions.  The way to do that is just to look at each team and see which prognosticator was most accurate.  You then get one point for having the more accurate projection for a particular team.  I also used this system to compare myself with Phil over the past 3 years, and here are the results I came up with:
2007 2008 2009 2010
       
My Scoring System (head to head):    
       
ACC: Brad by 5 ACC: Tie ACC: Phil by 1 ACC: Phil by 1
Big 10: Brad by 4 Big 10: Phil by 6 Big 10: Tie Big 10: Phil by 2
Big East: Brad by 1 Big East: Phil by 1 Big East: Brad by 2 Big East: Brad by 2
Big 12: Phil by 3 Big 12: Phil by 3 Big 12: Phil by 1 Big 12: Brad by 4
Pac 10: Brad by 3 Pac 10: Tie Pac 10: Brad by 2 Pac 10: Tie
SEC: Brad by 1 SEC: Brad by 1 SEC: Phil by 2 SEC: Brad by 1
C-USA: Brad by 2 C-USA: Brad by 5 C-USA: Brad by 4 C-USA: Phil by 5
MWC: Tie MWC: Phil by 4 MWC: Tie MWC: Phil by 1
WAC: Brad by 1 WAC: Tie WAC: Tie WAC: Brad by 1
MAC: Brad by 2 MAC: Phil by 1 MAC: Brad by 3 MAC: Brad by 2
Sun Belt: Phil by 3 Sun Belt: Phil by 2 Sun Belt: Phil by 2 Sun Belt: Phil by 1
Total: Brad by 12 Total: Phil by 11 Total: Brad by 5 Total: Tie
Grand Total: Brad by 5      
  As you can see, I have once again beaten Phil two out of the last 4 years and beat him by a grand total of 5 picks during that time period.  Based on this analysis, I have no reservations claiming that I am one the most accurate college football prognosticators in the country.  I hope that gives you reason to read this guide as it is published throughout the next few weeks.

68 & 16 College Sportscast: Welcome Back Edition

Posted: 02 Aug 2011 09:54 AM PDT

We're back!  After studying all summer long for bar exams, Brad and I are back and ready for the college football season.  In this podcast, we discuss the MLB trade deadline, NFL free agency, and provide a quick preview of the upcoming college football season. http://68and16sportscast.tumblr.com/  

Where Have All the Reds Gone?

Posted: 02 Aug 2011 12:01 AM PDT

No, not the Cueto-Phillips-Votto Reds, and not the Rose-Morgan-Perez Reds, but the players named for their hair color – the guys called Red. This nickname, once very common in baseball and in American society in general, has apparently fallen out of favor. Scanning Baseball-Reference.com, it becomes clear that there have been dozens of major leaguers nicknamed Red, but very few of them have played in the past 50 years. It's not that redheads have disappeared from the game, it's just that their nicknames have changed. Daniel Staub was better known as Rusty, and in Montreal was also dubbed Le Grand Orange, but he was never called Red. More recently, Bobby Kielty carries the nickname Ronnie Mac in honor of his vague resemblance to the red-haired corporate mascot Ronald McDonald. Many others in the major leagues in recent decades have sported red locks, but none answers to the name Red. Here is a starting lineup of players nicknamed Red: P: Urban Faber (1914-1933) Red Faber is one of two Hall of Fame pitchers nicknamed Red, Charles Ruffing being the other. In a 20-year career with the White Sox, Faber had a 3.15 ERA and won more than 250 games. His best years were in the early 1920s, when he twice led the league in ERA and once led the league with 352 innings pitched. He remained an effective hurler into his mid-40s, if not quite the inning-eater he was as a younger man. In contrast, Red Ruffing is considered a marginal member of the Hall. Most of his 273 career wins came on very strong Yankees teams, and his career ERA+ of 110 is good but not elite. Honorable mention goes to Leon Ames, the deadball era pitcher for the Giants, Reds, and Cardinals, whose 1.23 career WHIP is lower than Faber's and Ruffing's. C: Robert Wilson (1951-1960) Red Wilson gets the nod over John Kleinow (1904-1911) and Charles Dooin (1902-1916), as much for his being one the few Reds to have played as recently as 1960, as for his on-field performance. Mostly a backup to Frank House and Lou Berberet in Detroit, Wilson only once played as many as 100 games in a season. For his career, he batted .258 with an OPS+ of 87. Kleinow and Dooin were no better as hitters; each had a 71 OPS+. 1B: Ralph Kress (1927-1946) Okay, Red Kress was mostly a shortstop and a very good one, but while there have been some very good red-haired first basemen (Mark McGwire, for one), there have been no standouts named Red. In his long career, Kress played all positions except catcher; he even made four pitching appearances, throwing 9.1 innings. His 162 games at 1B (most of them in 1933 with the White Sox) qualify him to take this position in the all-Red lineup. In '33, he batted .248, somewhat below his career .286 average. His best years came earlier with the St. Louis Browns, when he batted .300 or better in '29, '30, and '31. 2B: Albert Schoendienst (1945-1963) Is there anything not to like about Red Schoendienst, the career Cardinal? A Hall of Famer, Schoendienst's playing days started in 1945, and except for a couple brief stints as a player and coach for other teams, his entire professional life has been spent with the St. Louis organization. A nine-time All-Star, he was a good hitter (.289 BA) and a graceful middle infielder. Now a vibrant 88 year-old, he moves more nimbly than many ex-ballplayers half his age. As manager in the 1960s, he led St. Louis to a championship in 1967 and an NL pennant in 1968. He even arranged for his wife to sing the national anthem at World Series games. Not least among his charming features, when Schoendienst dons the St. Louis uniform, his 12-letter last name horseshoes 'round his frame, the leading S and trailing T reaching down somewhere near his floating ribs. 3B: Robert Rolfe (1931-1945) Red Rolfe was the starting third baseman for the Yankees from 1935 through 1941, earning his way onto the All-Star team in four of those seasons. In his best year, 1939, he led the AL in hits, doubles and runs while posting a 130 OPS+. He walked 526 times in 5405 career PA, contributing to a respectable .360 OBP. Being a selective hitter, he would fit very nicely into the modern game, except for his nickname of course. SS: Maurice Shannon (1915-1926) With Red Kress holding down first base, Red Shannon is the natural choice to take the field at shortstop, although to be honest he had a less than spectacular career. A .259 hitter, Shannon's best season came in 1920, when he hit .288 in 62 games with Washington. Perhaps telling is that the Senators took the opportunity to trade Shannon mid-season at the height of his hot streak. Following the trade, he batted .170 with the Philadelphia Athletics and would play only another 20 games in the majors in subsequent seasons. OF: Emile Barnes (1927-1930), Wade Killefer (1907-1916), John Murray (1906-1917) Red Barnes' brief stay in the majors started well enough. He batted .305 for Washington in 1928, his first full season, but success would be fleeting. In his two remaining seasons he provided less than replacement value (-1.5 WAR). Red Killefer was a speedy player who twice led the league in being hit by pitches. In 1915, his best season as a player, he collected 151 hits while playing strong defense in the outfield for Cincinnati. Killefer's major league days were just the start of his baseball career. After playing, he spent many years as a coach, manager, and team executive in the minor leagues. Red Murray was a deadball era star who unfortunately has very little name recognition today. By far the most productive all-Red outfielder, Murray was a starter in the outfield for seven of his ten years in the big leagues, leading the NL in homers in 1909 as a member of the Giants. In 1908 with the Cardinals, he finished in the top five in the major leagues in both home runs and stolen bases. In 1909, he did so again, becoming one of only three players to have accomplished this feat twice in the modern era. The other two have much more familiar names: Ty Cobb and Honus Wagner. Oh, and if the team needs a broadcaster, who else but Walter Barber?

Second Coming of Jesus

Posted: 01 Aug 2011 02:18 PM PDT

Ok, so I'm pretty sure there have been multiple Major League players named Jesus before, but none that come with the anticipation that Jesus Montero does.  And no way do I think he will have anywhere near the impact that the original Jesus had.  He might not be able to turn water into wine, heal the sick or open up the gates of heaven to all of us but, he should turn fastballs into hits, heal the Yankee DH ailments and open up the flood gates to the waiver wire. If you own Brian McCann or you are in a keeper league you want to go pick up Montero immediately.  I was stuck with adding J.P. Arencibia when McCann went down in my keeper league and quickly scooped up Montero in anticipation so it was a double win for me.  Montero is said to be bored with Triple-A since he wasn't called up already.  This sounds like a cop out to me.  He is struggling as a lot of minor league players do but he isn't having a terrible year.  The Yankees need major help at DH and now is the time for the call up. Russell Martin has fallen back down to earth and the Yanks realize that Jorge Posada is pretty much done.  By inserting Montero into the DH slot while allowing him to catch a few games a week, the Yanks will make their team this year and next a much better all around team.  Martin most likely won't be back next season and the Yanks want to see what Montero can do behind the plate before committing to him full time next year.  Theya have the lineup to allow a young player to develop in the majors as opposed to figuring out how to catch in the minors and they will take advantage of it real soon. Posada is garbage and will lose significant playing time to Montero now.  Martin is still good defensively but just can't hit.  Montero solves both offensive problems and will learn from Martin and Girardi how to be a Major League catcher, or at least a passable one.

Redskins Training Camp: Observations From Day Three

Posted: 01 Aug 2011 12:17 PM PDT

Swinging Gate is covering Training Camp 2011 with observations, analysis and player features. Tune in all month for news and updates. The heat at Redskins Park this week is expected to be in the nineties all week, but that didn't stop the team from wearing shells during this morning's practice. John Beck again received the bulk of the snaps at quarterback and Jammal Brown was watching from the sidelines after re-signing with the Redskins on Sunday night. Like the team's other free agent signings, he will start practicing with the team on Thursday. Kicker Shayne Graham will also be joining the team today according to Mike Shanahan. He'll provide some competition for Graham Gano who had the worst conversion percentage among fulltime kickers in the league last year at 69 percent. Some observations: -Brown told reporters he was "feeling good health wise." The Redskins were without a quality right tackle heading into the weekend, but now Brown can fill that void provided he continues to recover from the hip surgery he underwent in 2009.  Last season, his play got better as the year progressed and after another offseason of rehab, the expectation is he'll bookend nicely with Trent Williams for at least a few seasons. -Speaking of Williams he appears to be better shape and admitted he's more prepared this year. What's even more impressive is the way he assessed his rookie campaign. Williams has made it clear he wasn't satisfied with his performance in 2010. However, he hasn't let it affect his mentality. Overall, it's a positive sign to see a player in second year take such pride in his development while not allowing it to negatively affect his play. -Beck didn't blow anyone away today. He made several very good throws downfield, but he held the ball too long on several occasions in seven-on-sevens. It's strange to see a guy considered by most to be a career backup playing in camp with absolutely zero competition. But here we are in August and Beck is the frontrunner. -Leonard Hankerson has a prime opportunity to seize control of not only a roster spot but also a key role in the offense. None of the other receivers has his combination of size, hands and ball skills and he made a nifty one-handed grab over the middle today. He did juggle a deep ball and gained possession out of bounds, but he could eventually develop into the big receiver the Redskins need. The biggest concerns are his mental lapses and how quickly he can learn to beat press coverage. In the few times I've watched him live, he's dropped several catchable balls and today he struggled to get off the line against Dante Barnes. -Fred Davis continues his annual dominance of training camp by making a nice catch over DeJon Gomes. Davis has the talent, but he failed to make the most of his chances last season especially in the red zone where Washington needed him most. -DeAngelo Hall broke on a Beck pass and picked it off. He showed his usual playmaking skills. -Anthony Armstrong got behind the defense and Beck hit him in stride. Armstrong dropped it. Not what he needs with a pack of hungry receivers behind him. -Didn't watch rookie guard Maurice Hurt today, but Williams spoke highly of him: "He has a chance to be one the best guards to come through here. I like his work ethic. He is a huge learner of the game. He is always looking for advice and correcting his mistakes right then as opposed to two or three weeks down the line. You do not have to tell him anything twice. He has good, quick feet and good hands. I love him."
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