April 15th-16th

A Salute to Jackie Robinson...

- On this day in history April 15th, 1947 Jackie Robinson became the first African American baseball player to play in the Big Leagues, subsequently breaking the color barrier. He made his debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers. He was a career .300 hitter and was selected into 6 Allstar games while winning one Championship with them in 1955. His #42 was worn by every single Major League player on this day to honor his skills as a player, and to also honor his character. His number is now retired by all of the 30 MLB teams.

In other news Houston... we have a problem...

The Houston Astros have posted an 0-8 record to start the 2010 season, which makes them dead last in there division the NL Central. However they were able to crack the champagne bottles today thank God. The Stros picked up there first win of the season today beating the St Louis Cardinals 5-1. They also avoided tying there worst start in franchise history in which the club started the season 0-9 back in 1983. However 1-8 is a horrific way to start off a season and unfortunately for the Astros, they have some hills to climb. Or as one of my most favorite musicians of all time Bono would say "Its not a hill its a mountain, as you start out the climb". So yes, in this sense Bono is correct because the Astros don't have hills to climb but MOUNTAINS to climb! So what must happen for the Houston Astros to at least have a legitimate chance at winning there division the NL Central? First off injuries don't help any team, unfortunately its just a part of the game. Fans don't like it and the players don't like it, and of course the general manager doesn't like it. It really hurts your team as a whole when you lose your players due to injury. (Just ask the 2009-2010 Portland Trail Blazers). Houston's regular first baseman Lance Berkman who has averaged 20+ homers 100+ RBI's throughout his long career, is on the DL recovering fromarthroscopic knee surgery . However, if Houston can hold on for another week or two Berkman will be back very soon. But injuries aren't always the reason to blame a team for bad play so thats no excuse. Here are some other reasons the Astros are struggling out of the gate.

-Carlos Lee or as there teammates like to call him "El Caballo" which in spanish means "the horse" is hitting .086 with 0 homers and 0 RBI's. Thats not good when you look at Lee's career as a whole, where he has averaged 24+ homers and 100+ RBI's over 13 years in the Big Leagues. He needs to get it going offensively.

-Not only is Lee to blame but also Houston's starting catcher J.R. Towles has 1 hit in his first 18 At Bats this year which is a train wreck (.056 average). Kaz Matsui starting 2nd baseman is 2 for 21 to start the season (.095). Also the team as a whole is hitting .220, which is dead last in the National League. Sure I can keep pointing fingers all day but I think you get the point this team is bad right now. However there is still a light shining at the end of the tunnel. Houston's lead off man Michael Bourne is hitting .394 to start the year and is getting on base like a possessed man. Thats incredible production for a leadoff man, and Bourne is doing one heck of a job for the lowly Stros. However the other guys in there lineup such as Lee, Pence, Matsui Towles, Feliz, need to get it going soon otherwise they will be in for along season. Fans of the game including me, start to wonder if the Astros will hop on the bandwagon with the Pittsburgh Pirates in a "rebuilding" stage. So we just might see Houston slugger Carlos Lee or Houston's ace Roy Oswalt in a different uniform by time the season is over if the team doesn't start winning. Don't panic Houston fans thats why we play 162 games in a season! And as Spock would say "Good Luck" the rest of the way!

Another interesting note:

-Marlins 3rd baseman Jorge Cantu is the first player in major league history (through a teams first 10 games of the season) to record a hit and an RBI.

I'm back!

-Well everyone its good to be back writing on my sports blog for once. Its been a very long time since I've posted something. But now its time to get back down to business!

-The MLB 2010 season is underway! (It is now actually Week 2! not Week 1!). Anyways I won't have time to recap every single MLB game that went on the first two days. So here are the 5 games I chose to recap.

1. On Opening Night April 4th of the 2010 regular season the hated Rivals the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees squared off inside Fenway Park. What a great way to start the season and a heck of a game it was. Both starting pitchers Josh Beckett and C.C. Sabathia were knocked out early, and combined to go 10 innings while giving up 10 runs, ouch. Yankees catcher Jorge Posada hit the first home run of the 2010 regular season off of the "Pesky's" Pole in right field, which is estimated only 302 feet from home plate in the second inning. Following Posada's home run, former Detroit Tiger Center fielder Curtis Granderson (now the Yankee's starting centerfielder) stepped in to the box and followed Posada's homer with a homer into the right field bullpen. As for Boston there clutch performer of the game was second baseman Dustin Pedroia who hit a two run homer in the 7th inning. That officially put the stamp on the game as Boston closer Jonathan Papelbon closed it out in the 9th inning to give Boston the victory.

April 5th, 2010:

2. In the Cincinnati Reds home opener, the St. Louis Cardinals swamped the Reds 11-6. Cardinals first baseman and future Hall of Famer King Albert homered twice once in the 1st inning and once in the 7th inning. Seems as if the Reds were still on some Holliday vacation because clearly there heads weren't in the game. Cardinals ace Chris Carpenter pitched six solid innings, while only allowing two runs, and recording 3 strikeouts with no walks.

3. It was a brutal day for the Chicago Cubs and there fans as the Atlanta Braves demolished them in their home opener 16-2. This was the Cubs worst opening day loss since 1884 when they lost a game 15-3 to the New York Giants! And the New York Giants are now an NFL team!

All spotlights were on the Braves rookie right fielder Jason Heyward. The twenty year old rookie (yeah I said twenty years old), homered on his very first Major League at bat blasting a 93MPH fastball off of Cubs starter Carlos Zambrano in the first inning.

4. The Pittsburgh Pirates stunned the Dodgers on opening day 11-5. Pirates outfielder Garret Jones homered twice off of Dodgers starter Vicente Padlilla.

5. The reigning National League Champion Philadelphia Phillies sent the lowly Nationals a opening day welcome crushing them 11-1 in the Nats home opener. Phillies new third baseman Placido Polanco had 3 hits in 5 at bats and had a career high 6 RBI.

I'm back!

I'm back!

NFL Week 12 Gobble! Gobble!

The Turkey Day Box score:

1. Packers beat the Lions 34-12 (right)

2. Cowboys beat the Raiders 24-7 (right)

3. Broncos beat the Giants 26-6 (wrong)

I picked the Packers to beat the Lions, the Cowboys to beat the Raiders, and the Giants to beat the Broncos. I went 2-1 in these Turkey Day picks.

Now to continue on with the Sunday match ups...

1.Buccaneers @ Falcons- The Buccaneers only win this season came against the Packers in Week 9. The Bucs are 0-4 on the road this year. For all you fantasy owners out there make sure you stick Falcons receiver Roddy White out there. He is due for a huge game against a terrible team. If your having a tough decision on who to start as your Tight End as a fantasy perspective I would say start Kellen Winslow. He has 5 TD's this year for the lowly Bucs.

2.Dolphins @ Bills- The Bills have to stop the running game in order to be successful. They have the 2nd worst run defense in the league. Since RB Ronnie Brown went down with injury Ricky Williams has made an instant impact for the Dolphins. From a fantasy view start Williams with confidence. Lets see if TO can have another big game for the Bills. He had a huge game last week with 197 yards and a TD. Dolphins win.

3.Browns @ Bengals- Raiders fans had something to celebrate about last week. They actually beat a very good team! The Bengals need to rebound after that tough loss to the Raiders last week. And of course its always nice when you play the Browns, they simply fail. Bengals for the win.

4.Seahawks @ Rams- Both teams are terrible. Rams QB Marc Bulger will be on the sideline for this game. So they will need backup Kyle Boller to step it up. If the Rams offensive line plays well look for Stephen Jackson to have another memorable game. I like the Rams to win this one against the Seahawks.


5.Panthers @ Jets- Both teams stand at 4-6. The Jets started the season 3-0 but have one win to show for it since. Meanwhile the Panthers lost a close game last week to the Dolphins 24-17. The Panthers will need a big game from Steve Smith who has 3 TD's in the past 2 games. The Jets need Mark Sanchez to turn it around after throwing 4 picks last week against New England. Expect Jets RB Thomas Jones to have another remarkable game. Im gona pick the Jets to come out with a win.


6.Redskins @ Eagles- With RB's Clinton Portis and Ladell Betts injured, the skins will look to Rock Cartwright to get the majority of the carries. If the skins have any chance to win this game there going to have to shut down Eagles receiver Desean Jackson. He had a big game against them in Week 7. Since 2001 the Skins are 6-11 against the Eagles. Make that 6-12 after this one. Fly Eagles Fly!

7.Arizona @ Tennesse- Here come those Titans! After starting the year 0-6 they have won 4 in a row to move there record to 4-6. Tennessee RB Chris Johnson is having a remarkable season, if the season ended today he would get my vote as the MVP of the league. His 1,242 yds and 8 TD's lead the NFL. Not only is Johnson smoking right now, but QB Vince Young has gotten his team back into the playoff picture. However, Anquan Boldin may have something to say to the Titans this week. Look for him to have another 100 yard game with another TD or two. I like the red hot Titans in this match up against the Cardinals.

8.The Unbeaten Colts @ Texans- Can the Texans be the first team to beat the undefeated Colts this season? The answer is no. Despite Peyton Manning being so inconsistent these last couple of weeks he's due for a big game. Colts RB Joseph Addai is a freak when he is in the red zone. He has scored all of his TD's there this season. However, he has a minor knee injury going into this game. All of you fantasy owners, make sure you have depth at the RB position just in case Addai can't go. Look for him to score once maybe even twice this game if he is healthy. Colts receiver Reggie Wayne didn't do much in the Colts and Texans last meeting which was Week 9. However fantasy owners don't be a moron. Forget about what Wayne did the last time he played the Texans, and punch him in your lineup. He is going to score... This game is going to be close. I'm gona say within single digits. Colts win!

9.Chiefs @ Chargers- LT is back in action! Chargers fans can only hope he can stay healthy for the rest of the season. There going to need this guy for the playoffs. The Chiefs pulled off an upset against the defending champion Steelers last week. However the Chargers will bring out the Flood Gates against the Chiefs. Chargers win!

10.Jaguars @ 49ers- Fantasy alert! 49ers receiver Michael Crabtree and Jags receiver Mike Sims- Walker should have big games on Sunday for there respective teams. San Fran RB Frank Gore and Jags RB Maruice Jones Drew will both rush for over 100 yards. I like Jags QB David Garrard in this one over the youngster Alex Smith. Jags win.

11.Bears @ Vikings- Jay Cutler's first year with the Bears has been big disappointment. He has thrown more picks (18) to TD's (15). The Bears offensive line has also struggled that's why RB Matt Forte has been a big bust for fantasy owners, and for the Bears. Don't expect Forte to do anything at all against the Vikings. If your a Forte owner in fantasy make sure you bench him. The Bears are going to have to rely on there passing game since there running game hasn't done crap. Bears Wide Receiver Devin Hester is a good option to stick in your fantasy lineup. Vikings win this one. There defense is just too freaking good.

12.Steelers @ Ravens- Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger will be on the sideline this game because he suffered a concussion last week. Instead Dennis Dixon will make his first career NFL start for the Steelers. Dixon has only thrown 1 pass in 2 NFL season. From a fantasy perspective if you own Hines Ward or Super bowl MVP Santonio Holmes you might consider benching them. I think the Steelers are going to run the ball a lot more then pass. I like Joe Flacco and the Ravens in this match up to beat the Steelers.

My Monday Night Football post will be up soon stay tuned!

Sall's Bye- Week 11

I'm sorry that I wasn't able to post the Week 11 NFL predictions in time this week. I'll make sure I have the Week 12 predictions ready to go next week.

As of now my NBA Friday predictions score stands at 11-8. Not bad although a lot of teams pulled off some crazy upsets this last Friday.