How 'Bout Dem O's?

Spending many of my formative years in B'more, I got to experience their NY hatred first hand - especially when it comes to baseball and the Yankees. After Oriole Park at Camden Yards was built and Peter Angelos' ownership group came to town, there was a slight glimmer of promise that the franchise would continue on the path as a top contender in the AL East. With a full, new park, deep pockets, and an already good franchise it seemed to make sense that the O's would remain in contention for years to come.

I remember being at Oriole Park for game 5 of the ALCS, watching then rookie Andy Pettitte pitch brilliantly as the offense was powered by Jim Leyritz, Cecil Fielder, and Darryl Strawberry to vault the Yankees to the World Series, their first in 15 years.

That was the beginning of the end for the O's as the franchise has seen a series of poor (at best) managerial decisions that have been orchestrated by Peter Angelos. The knock, from O's fans, was that Steinbrenner was a meddling owner that just spent money and could not run a team. The winds of change came in the 90's during the Boss' suspension from MLB and the baseball minds were brought in to right the wrongs and turn things around.

The argument then shifted to, "The Yankees just buy everyone and they are dumb and stupid and we hate them for spending the money they have oh and it sucks when their fans fill our stadium because our own fans can't." The most ridiculous part of this argument is that Oriole Park was beyond full for every game during the stadium's infancy and the O's owner refused to put the money back into the product. Stars faded and young players left town and Angelos, et al, did not do anything to keep the roster stacked with talent.

Fast forward to today and the stadium is not even close to half full or half empty or more importantly half interested. Money is generally wasted on a lackluster crop of free agents and player development is neglected. The shame is, there is a lot of young talent in the system and there have been a handful of players developed in recent years (Reimold, Markakis, Wieters to name a few). The key is not just cultivating talent but also knowing when to dump young players to re-load - sell high (Erik Bedard) and reap the benefit of said deals.

You say, where is he going with this? Simple, I woke up this morning and found this story and it bothered me. Angelos has always been about himself. He knows nothing about running a franchise but can write an encyclopedia about how to ruin one. While I doubt he'll been suspended for any particular reason, it's even more doubtful that he'll step away and let his baseball people run the show. Having a local legend like Ripken wanting to be involved with the organization is only a good thing. Not allowing him to do so is just more proof that Angelos is out of touch with what will work to turn things around in MD.

The Numbers Do Lie or Why UZR is for lUZRs.

The old adage that the numbers don't lie may, in fact, be a lie. Baseball stat nerds would have you believe that a player's defensive ability or inability can be measured via some kooky formula that resembles the ridiculousness that is QB Passer Rating. I truly love the look on the face of a drunken idiot will sit there on a Sunday declaring a QB is good because of his passer rating and you ask them to explain the formula, but I digress.

Ultimate Zone Rating or UZR has become the dominant stat for the baseball nerdery, is some tricked out formula that would baffle Pythagoras, and really means nothing to me when it comes to the play of infielders. Outfielders, I can see the argument hold some weight, but infielders? It's evident that the statmasters did not play a game beyond little league. Infielders cheat, they have to. Coaches will position them but they will drift a step or two to the left or right based on the pitch that is being called and the situation, e.g. men on, number of outs, batter's speed, etc. If a shortstop sees that the catcher is calling for an outside fastball to a lefty hitter, he'll likely take the extra step to his right to be in a better position to field the ball. But what is the pitcher misses his mark and the hitter hits the ball up the middle? Had the SS not cheated, he'd have likely fielded the ball but that extra step resulted in not being able to field a likely routine grounder. But what if there was a runner on first and one out and the SS was at double play depth? He likely would have to hold his ground and if the pitcher hit the outside corner and the hitter goes the other way with it and hits the hole that the SS would normally be in. A hit that could have been an out had the runner not been on first.

The numbers are skewed, at best. We're told of which IF is better than another not based on what our eyes see but based on a formula that does not factor in what is happening between the lines.

The Tournament of Lord Stanley Part 2

Well, the first night’s games have me in a 1-3 hole (surprise, surprise!) so let’s finish off the first round and jinx a few more teams shall we? Note to all playoff GM’s: I am not liable for any legal recourse for picking your team to be victorious.

Western Conference

(2) Chicago Blackhawks vs. (7) Nashville Predators

Players to Watch:
Antti Niemi, G, Blackhawks- Ask any hockey fan, casual or otherwise about this dude and the general response will be “doesn’t that guy kind of suck?” The short answer is “not really?” (notice the question mark). He’s not terrible, but he is inexperienced. It’s a widely held belief that the only thing holding the Hawks back from cruising to the finals is their goaltending. The first round is a good spot for this Finn to gain some confidence and start proving the doubters wrong.

Patric Hornqvist, RW, Predators- After being hit with a shot by teammate Shea Weber in the season’s final week, Hornqvist’s availability and effectiveness will be a question mark heading into the series. Without his 30 goals, the Preds’ anemic offense takes yet another hit. Let’s hope for their sake he is healthy, because this unit scores less than me in high school as it is.

How I see It:
After a roaring first half of the season and a huge divisional lead, the Blackhawks cooled off towards the end of the season almost as if they were bored. Injuries to Brian Campbell and Kim Johnsson had a hand in the drop off but a first round matchup with Nashville is the perfect elixir to cure their ills. Amazing how Nashville has the advantage in goal and on the blue line but still is a serious underdog in this series. The defensemen advantage should speak volumes considering the Hawks boast a top unit of Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook. But Nashville being considered an underdog with advantages in both goal and on the back end is a testament to how explosive Kane, Toews and the Hawks forwards are. The Preds just don’t have the offensive horses to get into a seven game shoot out with the Hawks and win. Unless Chicago takes a massive dump like they just ate at an LA taco cart, or Nashville starts using gypsy curses or a herd of sluts to stymie and distract the Hawks, I don’t see this series going past five. Blackhawks in five.


(3) Vancouver Canucks vs. (6) Los Angeles Kings

Players to Watch:
Roberto Luongo, G, Canucks- Besides winning the Olympic Gold Medal as Canada’s backstop in February (in which he looked shaky), Luongo has suffered through his worst year as a pro. His playoff rep is marginal as it is and many are waiting to see if this hype machine lives up to what everyone thinks he is or continues to be overrated and unable to win the big one. And no, the Olympics don’t count. Dummy.

Drew Doughty, D, Kings- Doughty has already become one of the best defensemen in hockey which has resulted in a full-on man crush by yours truly (check out this erection!). He is extremely intelligent, highly mobile and has the chops to be a true shutdown d-man when applied to Vancouver’s Sedin line. If he is 75% successful, I love the Kings chances here.

How I See It:
The Canucks, surprisingly, gave up a ton of goals this season. Many people find this hard to believe with Roberto Luongo in the crease, but as was previously mentioned, Luongo is having an incredibly down season. In addition, his playoff history is less than spectacular (that would be an understatement to anyone who watched the Hawks series last year). Luckily, Vancouver also scores a ton of goals and MVP candidate and Art Ross winner Henrik Sedin is piloting this ship. I see a great long series here filled with overtimes and scoring. Both teams are dead even on the powerplay and penalty kill, so it should be a game of chicken as to who buckles first. The Kings can put the puck in the net as well and are one of the most exciting young teams in hockey. If they can nab Kovalchuk in the offseason and Jonathan Quick continues his steady development between the pipes, we will see a new Western power emerging that can challenge the Sharks and Blackhawks as far as top seed supremacy. In the here an now however, they are a bit of an energetic Cinderella and I STILL like their chances against the Canucks. They have the best defenseman in hockey (my opinion) in Drew Doughty and some offensive pop. This one is coming down to the wire and I might as well flip a coin. Heart says Kings, head says Luongo straightens himself out at least for a round. Canucks in seven great games.


Eastern Conference

(1) Washington Capitals vs. (8) Montreal Canadiens

Players to Watch:
Jaroslav Halak, G, Canadiens- I have never heard of PTSD coming as the result of a hockey series, but there’s a first time for everything. Halak is going to see more rubber flying his way than the PA’s for Digital Playground. He is going to have to have a legendary series for Montreal not to get embarrassed, let alone win. He is one of the lone bright spots on a roster full of stiffs (yes, we mean you Scott Gomez).

Alex Ovechkin, LW, Capitals- AO…nuff said.

How I See It:
The Capitals are a rock band/frat house masquerading as a world-class hockey team. They are young, cocky and seem to inspire equal party envy and hatred throughout the NHL landscape. They have the best player in the world (need I explain who this is?), a world class center in Nicklas Backstrom and the best offensive defenseman in the league in Mike Green. I am not even going to continue on talking about the secondary scoring and grit that this team has in spades. They are young, hungry and ready to avenge a painful seven game loss to archrival Pittsburgh last spring. The Canadiens? Well, they are lambs to the slaughter. No use pointing out how this one may play out. It’s an inevitability that even I can’t jinx. Caps in four.


(3) Buffalo Sabres vs. (6) Boston Bruins

Players to Watch :
Ryan Miller, G, Sabres- Because of the Olympics, Ryan Miller has reached household name status in the United States. Even my Mom knows who he is and she has never used the internet. He is the clear favorite for the Vezina trophy and should be in the running for the Hart. His performance alone between the pipes is one reason to give this horrendous series a shot.

Marc Savard, C, Bruins- Oh wait! He’s dead! Oooh…too soon?

How I See It:
This series is going to be boring and low scoring. Two great goaltenders in Miller and Tuukka Rask and two teams who have no idea how to score. The early favorite to win the “I got bored with this game so I decided to masturbate” award, this is the series to miss if there ever was one. Both teams have great penalty killing and horrendous power plays. If Tim Connolly comes back, we might see an advantage on offense for Buffalo, especially considering they have a few 20 goal scorers on the roster. In a weird note, the two largest players in the league will be facing off against each other in Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara (who should be considered for the role of Jaws if he ever makes a comeback in any upcoming James Bond movies) and Tyler Myers, rookie d-man for the Sabres who is abnormally skinny and pimply-faced. They are both nearly seven feet tall and seem too tall for hockey. Their performance proves otherwise, but I digress. This series is going to six or seven excruciating games and I hope I don’t watch one second of it. Sabres in six.

Photo courtesy of Bruce Bennett/AP

(Coach) Hunting Season

NHL and NBA coaches beware, you are in the crosshairs as the seasons have ended for non-playoff teams.

Today, we got news that Eddie Jordan was fired by the 76ers after one season and a lousy 27-55 record. Rather than question Jordan's track record, which I guess was so overwhelming since the Wizards made the playoffs four straight seasons with Jordan running the show. Note that Jordan's Wizards only won 25 games during his first season in DC so it's obvious that the Wiz were not expecting much and got just the same. It's hard to imagine what the Sixers were expecting? The Allen Iverson experiment was cute but it surely did not pan out and the roster is loaded with players that belong in the current version of the ABA since the NBDL is above their caliber of play.

In Philly, management felt it was time for a coaching change but perhaps a change in management is what's needed. It's often the case in pro sports that the GM has a longer life span than the coach(es) they bring on board for reasons unbeknownst to most rational thinking people. Was the team really in a position to win? The Sixers surely were not but Jordan was the scapegoat.

In the NHL, Atlanta has relieved John Anderson of his duties after two seasons and an 83 point season (5 points shy of the 8th playoff spot) and the Lightning have cleaned house by dumping GM Brian Lawton and coach Rick Tocchet (in his first full season and 8 points out of the playoffs.) All the praise Tocchet's received for helping Steven Stamkos elevate his game just wasn't enough to retain his job but at least the GM went too. Anderson has never really been given much to work with in the ATL though I'm sure the vast majority of sports fans in the city would not even recognize the name if given a multiple choice question as to whom the Thrashers' coach is/was.

Putting the coach in the spotlight keeps an inept GM employed, keeps an inept scouting department off the hot seat, and takes the focus away from a poor player development staff as well. Some might argue that the coach has something to do with player development and I agree 100%. A good coach can squeeze a little extra out of his players but he's got to have some players that can truly compete to begin with. 

Better Late Than Never

This story has been bothering me for a while and I just need to throw this out there. Last week, MLB umpire Joe West complained that Yankees-Red Sox games are too long. Boo hoo Joe. So sorry that you have to work a little more to earn your salary (range for '09 was 84k to 300k for MLB umps).

But, let's take these suggestions into consideration to appease Mr. West and the rest of the people that claim baseball is too long (note that a football game lasts just as long and has far less going on than even the most "boring" of baseball games.)

1. It's one, two well, that's it. Two strikes you're out. This will cut back on having to wait for that elusive third strike.
2. While we're at it, a foul ball on strike 2 is a k - slightly modifying the slow pitch softball rule will work here since dudes love softball.
3. No more walks. Matter of fact, no more balls. Each pitch is a strike, no matter what, and you have two chances to hit it fair, or else.

Sorry Joe that these two teams score a lot of runs, take a lot of pitches, draw a ton of walks, and play the game the way it is supposed to be played. My advice is lobby the commissioner's office so that you can only work games between the Marlins, Nationals, Royals, D'backs, Giants, and Cubs. They're all pretty terrible at scoring and getting on base at the level of the Sox and Yanks. Better yet, you want a cushy job where you get paid way too much money to do virtually nothing for 3 hrs a day, go become an NFL referee.

Yankee Conspiracy

The Yankees had their home opener yesterday with their arch-rivals, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in Orange County near Disney Land California Baseball Club. It was a typical thriller, made more interesting by the fact that David Robertson was as effective as David Robinson would have been on the mound. The Angels have always been a very formidable foe and with their import of Hideki Matsui from the Bronx, they are that much tougher.

Earlier that day, the Yankees, with the help of a deranged Mets' fan (granted it's a guess that he's a fan of the Mets but that's where my money is) pulled this stunt at the Angels' hotel. Granted, I'm only speculating about the Mets part but my only other guess is that the line at the Burger Joint was intolerably long.

It's 20 minutes or so to game time today and there are no reports of trickery yet on the part of the Bronx Bombers but we're looking out for any signs.

The Tournament of Lord Stanley

In what has become sort of a tradition even before this blog was born, every spring I try to show how little I know about the National Hockey League playoffs by butchering a set of predictions starting with the first round. I make bold predictions, insulting comments and show great admiration for some players and utter disdan and disgust for others. It's actually quite fun and questioning the guts and manhood of professional athletes never gets old. So without further ado, let’s get on with the picks that will result in me feeling as bashful as a toddler who just peed the carpet when all’s said and done. Here’s part one, detailing Wedneday’s slate of games.

Western Conference
(1) San Jose Sharks vs. (8) Colorado Avalanche

Players to Watch:
Joe Thornton, C, Sharks- You can’t even call this guy the A-Rod of hockey anymore because A-Rod exorcised the demons and got the job done this past season. If Super Joe can’t have a sensational playoff this year and the Sharks get bounced early again, it might be sayonara San Jose as far his tenure in Silicon Valley.

Chris Stewart, RW, Avalanche- After a slow start to the season, this guy turned it on and we started hearing Cam Neely comparisons. Stewart was built for the gritty wars of playoff hockey and I am excited to see his first chance to apply his considerable skills in the spotlight. Colorado has a snowball’s chance in hell to pull this one out, but this will be a learning experience for the young power forward.

How I See It:
The Avalanche were one of the league’s pleasant surprises over the first five months of the season, but towards the end this group ran out of gas faster than the best picture push for Avatar. The one thing that kept them going down the stretch (and what could make this a series) is goalie Craig Anderson. This guy stood on his head for much of the season and should be mentioned in the Vezina conversation. The Sharks flew under the radar about as much as a number one seed could during the course of the regular season. We’ve all seen this before. The Sharks dominate the regular season before Thornton and co get on their knees and get reamed like the 135 lb white guy during his first night in the clink. That being said, the bottom line is that the Sharks have a deadly power play, a more than competent penalty kill and wave after wave of scoring forwards. The Sharks are going to disappoint again, but not in this round. Look for them to beat the ‘Lanche like they were a child at an early 1900’s orphanage. Sharks in four.


(4) Phoenix Coyotes vs. (5) Detroit Red Wings

Players to Watch:
Jimmy Howard, G, Red Wings- Detroit’s rookie goalie put together an impressive first campaign that should have him holding the Calder Trophy in a few months. Until then, he has the job of backstopping a veteran crew through a path they know so well. The Wings skaters will be more than ready for the challenge. Will the rookie goalie?

Ilya Bryzgalov, G, Coyotes- If it weren’t for Ryan Miller in Buffalo, Bryzgalov would have the Vezina and Hart trophies locked up this season. He was the greatest singular reason for the incredible season the Coyotes had. If the Coyotes are to have a chance against Detroit, “Cool Bryz” will have to be better than he was in the regular season. We’re talking Grant Fuhr on coke better.

How I See It:
Those poor Coyotes. The season’s Cinderella darlings made every hockey fan in North America smile and revel in their heart and determination. In the wake of the team’s sale, possible relocation and financial peril, Dave Tippet’s (Coach of the year-not even questionable) squad had the best season in history while relying on Vezina candidate Ilya Bryzgalov’s goaltending and contributions from all skaters. What is their reward? You guessed it, the Darth Vader of hockey opponents: The Detroit Red Wings. Don’t let the Wings’ fifth place finish fool you. They were injured most of the season and finally got healthy after the Olympic break while putting a startling win-loss record together. Once the roster was back in full-health, the team surged from on the bubble of the playoff picture to the fifth spot. This is a number two seed disguised as a five. The only question mark is how rookie goalie Jimmy Howard will fare in his first playoffs. Miles of experience, scoring and saavy, the Wings are poised to lay waste to the Western Conference playoff landscape once again. This was the worst possible first round matchup for Cinderella and the Coyotes. Bryzgalov alone will make it a series but unfortunately for “Cool Bryz” and the Yotes, the clock is about to strike midnight as Detroit reenacts the destruction of Alderaan on the feel-good story of the NHL season. Detroit in five.


Eastern Conference

(2) New Jersey Devils vs. (7) Philadelphia Flyers

Players to Watch:
Ilya Kovalchuk, LW, Devils- One of the greatest pure scorers in the world, his only playoff experience was a few years back when he was a complete non-factor in his Atlanta Thrashers’ four game sweep at the hands of the Rangers. This postseason is all about redemption and about justifying the enormous contract he will be receiving from some team as a UFA this summer. No individual player (even Joe Thornton) has more to lose and prove this postseason than Kovalchuk. If he comes up small again, the contract offers will reflect it. If he comes up big for the Devils, his many suitors will make it rain.

Jeff Carter, C, Flyers- The most offensively skilled forward on the Flyers is coming off of a foot injury but will have the weight of an entire team on his shoulders in this first round matchup. The Flyers are deadly all over and have a number of players who can light it up, but it’s this little bitch that starts the engine. If he starts scoring early, this team of dirtbags is going to have a great shot to beat that other group of dirtbags.

The Way I see It:
Out of all of the first round matchups in either conference, this forecasts to be the best. The Flyers underachieved all year while the Devils racked up another Atlantic Division title with relative ease. Make no mistake though, these teams are very evenly matched and the Flyers forwards provide a matchup nightmare for the underwhelming Devils defense. The Flyers have a great blueline and a deadly powerplay and really handled the Devils throughout the regular season. On top of that, they have been playing playoff games for two weeks now. With fatso Martin Brodeur, New Jersey has the definite advantage in goal but will it be enough? I say no. Great D, solid scoring and felony-level nastiness throughout the lineup (start with Pronger, Chris) will be too tough to match. A long, exciting series that will go to the Flyers in seven.


(4) Pittsburgh Penguins vs. (5) Ottawa Senators

Players to Watch:
Evgeni Malkin, C, Penguins- It was a disappointing season for the Penguin sniper. After winning the Conn Smyth Trophy last season, Malkin battled inconsistency this season while putting up 77 points in 67 games. If he stays hot like he ended the season, the Penguins will be in a great position to defend their shitty title.

Brian Elliott, G, Senators- In what is becoming the trend of the NHL postseason, we see another question mark in goaltending. After a decent enough rookie year, this relative unknown has the unenviable task of having to deal with Sidney Crosby, Malkin and Jordan Staal. Oh goodie.

How I See It:
The big question with this series is how the Penguins will fare in their first postseason follow-up after winning the Stanley Cup last year. Will Pittsburgh have the same drive? Well, any team with Sidney Crosby should have the drive and these Pens are ready to turn it on. On top of that, Marc-Andre Fleury had an up and down year between the pipes for Pittsburgh and is eager to prove that his star shines brightest when the games count the most. One thing is for certain and that is there won’t be any lack of familiarity for the Pens as they take on their, seemingly, annual first round opponent Ottawa. The Sens had a great bounce back season after embarrassingly missing the playoffs last year, but missing Alex Kovalev (who sucks anyway) limits their secondary scoring right off the bat. Couple that with an experienced squad of all-world players wiring pucks at rookie goalie Brian Elliott and we have the makings of a Rambo-esque blood bath. Penguins in five.

Stay tuned tomorrow as we finish off the first round predictions!

Photo courtesy of the National Hockey League

Eating Out: Brooklyn

I am a BBQ aficionado. This is not just a passing fancy for me as I've traveled the four corners of this country seeking out good Q wherever it can be had. To declare Brooklyn as the home of one of the BEST BBQ joints I've been to is a bold statement but it can surely be backed up by the facts. North, South, East, West, the USA has a unique BBQ flare depending on region (state) but the Northeast has long suffered from a lack of real Q cooking, often serving up some mediocre chain-BBQ for locals who know no better.

The most important thing for me is consistency. Can the restaurant consistently deliver a quality food product that hits home time and time again? If not, it's not worth repeat business. But, when a restaurant can deliver over and over without a hitch, you know you've found a great spot. But if you want to know my secret for measuring a good BBQ spot it's simply how they prepare their collard greens. If they can't make greens, they can't be trusted. Jake's got good greens.

Quite a long intro to get down to the brass tax. Jake's BBQ located near the Marine Terminal in Brooklyn was discovered by me too many years ago to admit, entirely by accident. I was driving on the BQE and was in the usual horrific traffic and I decided to ride the streets and BAM! there's Jake's. It was not time for one of my feedings so I took a mental note and returned at a later date. From the first time I walked in the door to the present day, Jake's has delivered authentic KC style BBQ with deliciously smoked meats (Ribs, Chicken, Pork, Beef, etc.) that are undeniably the very best in all of NYC.

The beef short ribs are a must! Pricey but massive and worth every penny. There's not a bad thing on the menu but for starters I'd recommend bringing your appetite and some friends and enjoying the Sampler Platter. It's a steal at nearly $30 and can easily feed 3 people. The only thing I've had that was not something I'd recommend was the fried chicken which is good but not great and it's easily overshadowed by many of the items on the menu. 

It's small and unassuming compared to some of the more bombastic entries into this arena in Manhattan but looks are deceiving and Jake's is numero uno in the hunt for the best BBQ spot in the 5 boros.

Master(s) of the Universe

Lefty finished an exciting weekend at the Masters, with an excellent final round to capture the Green Jacket. Phil Mickelson, perhaps the best golfer in the world not named Tiger Woods, entered the tournament virtually pressure free. With Woods' much anticipated return, the focus and scrutiny was on him while the rest of the field got to just golf.

Woods' scandal propelled the tournament into the highest ratings ever, turned tickets to the event to gold (one day tix were being scalped for nearly 3k just to watch Tiger play on Friday - not even final round), and gave many of the other golfers a breather. Woods finished 4th, shooting a very respectable 11 under and when you factor in all the other hoopla surrounding his life that's quite impressive.

But why should anyone be shocked? He is the BEST golfer in the world, bar none. Some have mistaken his personal shenanigans to mean that he is not the elite golfer of this era but that is just ridiculous. One does not beget the other. It may in fact be easier now to just focus on the game and not any of the side activity as the world's most famous athlete gears up to rebuild his career and family life.