Jake's Sports World

Just another Wednesday in May

2012-05-03T09:58:00.002-07:00

There are certain days throughout a baseball season that just need to be bottled up and treasured forever. To some May 2 seems like another meaningless Wednesday early in the baseball season. But what happened on this May 2 in this season will be looked at as one of the greatest of the season, if not the next decade.

This day brought everything you could ever ask for; from late inning come from behind victories, walk off winners and even a no-hitter. I’d like to give my account of the day as I was either watching or listening to all the heroics and grand endings. This is also a day I hope to look at five to 10 years from now and smile remembering how magnificent it was.

Blue Jays-Rangers

My day started off by listening and watching to what I thought would be a great pitching matchup between Ricky Romero and Matt Harrison. This game ended up being an 11-5 blowout for the Blue Jays, which should have signified something crazy was going to happen today.

Tigers-Royals

With that game well in hand I flipped over to listen to the end of the Tigers game where Justin Verlander was losing 2-0 to the Royals; another sign of the apocalypse. But a two-run homer in the bottom of the 8^th by Brennan Boesch saved the day for the moment and I figured the Tigers would find a way to beat the struggling Royals.

Instead of sending Verlander back for the ninth, Jim Leyland decided to go with Joaquin Benoit. Although Verlander had thrown 123 pitches, he had struck out four of the last five batters he faced and clearly had more in the tank, but in the era of pitch counts he wasn’t given a chance to continue.

Well, lo and behold a Mike Moustakas double and a Chris Getz single later and the Royals had taken a 3-2 lead. Jonathan Broxton came on in the bottom of the ninth to finish off the Tigers.

Two games, two unlikely outcomes.

Dodgers-Rockies

After I finish off my day of “work” I got home in time to watch the end of the Dodgers-Rockies afternoon contest. Another ace, Clayton Kershaw, was still on the mound for the Dodgers who had just taken a 3-2 lead in the top of the eighth. Kershaw was sent back out in the bottom of the eighth, but unlike Verlander, his day should have been done.

After a Marco Scutaro single to start the inning manager Don Mattingly should have signaled to the bullpen, but it’s easier to second guess now and I applaud the young manager for sticking with his ace. But after a sacrifice bunt, Dexter Fowler singled to tie the game up at three. Still Kershaw was left in the game and Carlos Gonzalez connected for his second home run of the game and now the Rockies were on top 5-3.

Then came another managerial blunder, which was also a decision everyone would have agreed with. The hottest hitter in the game, Matt Kemp, stepped up to the plate as the tying run in the top of the ninth and manager Jim Tracy decided to intentionally walk him to pitch to skinny little Dee Gordon. Gordon made them pay for this by driving one in the gap scoring both runners and tying the game … again!

Things couldn’t get any crazier, right?

Well in the bottom of the ninth with runners on second and third with only one out the Rockies turned to 41-year-old Jason Giambi. Still a big guy late in his career, probably attributed to steroid use, Giambi cranked one over the center field wall for the first walk off victory of the day and put an end to an incredible back-and-forth game.

Nationals-Diamondbacks

Now that the afternoon games were over I had a little break to relax from all the excitement. I sat down and started to watch the Nationals-Diamondbacks game as well as the Athletics-Red Sox game.

As I left for church I hadn’t even checked to see what the score was in the Braves-Phillies game. I guess you could say I was a little nervous and frustrated from the game the night before. The Phillies had owned us (the Braves) for nine straight games now and I couldn’t take any more punishment.

After church I checked my twitter feed, which was going crazy after a grand slam by Brian McCann off Roy Halladay to tie the game at six. My first thought was, “What in the world happened to Tommy Hanson?” But as I got home and put the game on the radio I realized the umpire had a tight strike zone forcing pitchers to throw the ball down the middle.

By the time I got settled into my recliner the Phillies had already regained the lead 9-8 and I began to get sick. On the TV I turned on the Nats-Dbacks game as things were getting interesting late.

It was 4-3 heading into the ninth with Bryce Harper due to lead off the bottom of the inning for the Nationals. As he swung I thought, “this ball is gone.” The 19-year-old didn’t even start his swing until the ball was at home plate showing off his tremendous bat speed, but the ball fell just short of reaching the seats and he settled for a double. After the next two batters struck out I felt like the magic was gone.

In steps Ian Desmond. The top prospect who was drafted way back when the team was still the Montreal Expos. He delivered on of the biggest hits of his career and in Nationals history. He got his hands on top of a high fastball and delivered it into the stands for a two-run walk off home run. The second of the day!

Braves-Phillies

With that game over I fully turned my attention back to the Braves-Phillies. After scoring three more in the top of the eighth and taking a four run lead my hopes were dwindling. But after an error by the Phillies great defensive short stop Jimmy Rollins put two on with no outs I thought we had a chance to at least cut their lead in half. A single, walk, walk and another single later and the Braves had tied it up! And they still had a runner on third with only one out.

Freddie Freeman lifted a ball to center, which easily scored the speedy Michael Bourn from third giving the Braves a 13-12 lead and signaling the call to the bullpen for Craig Kimbrel. The last time Kimbrel came out to save a game against the Phillies it had cost the Braves a shot at the playoffs.

With the nerves getting to him he walked the leadoff hitter, who eventually came around to score tying the game … again. The Braves loaded the bases in the bottom of the inning but failed to push across a run and we headed to extras.

The next nine batters in the game were retired in order. Then came the bottom of the 11^th.

Chipper Jones is no doubt a first ballot Hall of Famer and has nothing left to prove. He’s announced his retirement and anything that happens for him this year is just icing on the cake.

A Dan Uggla single started off the inning, which is rare because normally Braves hitters look to end the game with one swing in these situations causing them to lose a lot of games like this. But with Uggla on first and Chipper up at the plate I felt like he would do his job to get a base hit and try to move Uggla to third.

On the sixth pitch of the at bat Brian Sanches hung a slider to the 40-year-old veteran and Chipper crushed it deep down the line and as the announcers voice grew louder and louder I thought this can’t be real … and it wasn’t. The ball went just foul and the great Braves’ announcer Don Sutton mentioned something about his daughters’ softball team making a cheer to keep that ball fair.

That cheer must have worked because two pitches later the greatest hitter in the history of the Braves organization, a legend in this game, connected for a walk off two-run homer to relinquish all of the pain from last year’s loss in game 162 against the rival Phillies.

Before the old man had reached home plate I had dialed up a text of my own to his biggest fan, my dad. A night like this is exactly why we watch these games.

As our hero would go on to say to Atlanta Journal Constitution’s David O’Brian after the game, “It was epic,” Jones said. “It should be on instant classic. That game was phenomenal.”

In deed it was. A night I’ll never forget.

Weaver’s no-hitter

But this night was not over for a baseball fan. After reading and getting into bed I decided to check my Twitter feed again to read some of the aftermath from the Braves big win. I saw the several people were tweeting that Jered Weaver was working a no hitter through six innings. At this point in the day I knew that things were going to be crazy and a no-hitter would be the ultimate exclamation point to a day like this.

Being dead tired I dared not get out of bed to watch the ending, but instead I listened to the game on my phone as I acted like I was trying to fall asleep. Luckily the Angels hitters, who were up 9-0, took some quick swings to help get Weaver back out on the mound. He continued mowing Minnesota Twins hitters down. It just sounded so easy as the announcer detailed out after out.

Weaver is a stand-up guy for the sport of baseball. One of the few players who took a discount to stay at home and pitch for the fans he truly loves, something teammate Albert Pujols could learn from him. With his family and wife in attendance Weaver breezed through the ninth inning to record the no-hitter.

The radio announcer described the scene as magical. His family embracing him as tears streamed out saying, “Now this is the way a no-hitter should be celebrated.”

This was a classic day indeed and one that should be celebrated for days, months and years to come. This is why we watch every day. Baseball is an amazing sport and if you’re not watching you’re going to miss something spectacular.

This day will forever serve as a reminder for why we continue to support and be entertained by this historically elegant drama filled sport we call baseball.

You can follow Jake on Twitter at: @ShortStopBall

NHL playoffs bring great first round matchups, stars

2012-04-09T10:47:00.004-07:00

It’s time for some of the most dramatic postseason action you’ll see in all of sports. Like the NBA, there isn’t much reason to pay attention to hockey until it gets close to the end of the season, but there is nothing like watching a tense battle in the playoffs of hockey.

Like almost every hockey game, it is usually a tight contest coming down to the last couple seconds of the game. That creates great drama, especially in a setting as big as the playoffs.

Hockey is also a sport were any given team can win on a given night. This is where it differs from the NBA as you already know who is going to be in the finals before it even starts (Heat-Thunder). In 2010 the number 8 and 7 seeds met in the conference finals. You just don’t see that in other sports.

This year the Philadelphia Flyers will face off against the Pittsburgh Penguins in what will undoubtedly be one of the greatest first round playoff pairings in recent history. These two teams left the ice in an all-out brawl just a few weeks ago and tempers will flare during the postseason as these close distance rivals square off.

Another great rivalry will be going on in the first round between the Nashville Predators and Detroit Red Wings. The Wings bring all the history and past Stanley Cups with them, but The Predators are an up and coming team that is looking to make a statement in the NHL.

There could be all kinds of squid, catfish and other sea creatures being thrown onto the ice as this series goes on. The two division rivals will be in a heated contest for what I expect to be a seven game series.

The defending champion Boston Bruins and Tim Thomas will be taking on the Washington Capitals who have struggled this year but as long as Alexander Ovechkin is on the ice they’ll have a shot. The Vancouver Canucks will look to get back to the Stanley Cup finals but first they’ll have to get through the Los Angeles Kings who also have been a bit of a disappointment this year but could be dangerous.

It would have been great to see Steven Stamkos and the Tampa Lightning get into the playoffs, especially after he recorded his 60th goal of the season, but there will still be plenty of stars on the ice to entertain the crowd.

Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin will more than bring the star power to the playoffs, and Claude Giroux, Scottie Hartnell and Jaromir Jagr will only add interest on the other side of the ice.

The best goalie in the league, Henrik Lundqvist, will lead the attack for a New York Rangers team. Ilya Kovalchuk and Jerome Iginla give the New Jersey Devils some excitement against the unimpressive Florida Panthers. The Sedin brothers begin another quest for a championship. Anze Kopitar will help the Kings pull off a first round upset. Pekka Rinne and the best defensive player in the league, Shea Weber, lead a great group of Predators.

And then of course the playoff run of the Chicago Blackhawks is still fresh on our minds. That team retains one the most exciting players in the league in Patrick Kane. Marian Hossa has also had a good year for that team, as well as Patrick Sharp.

Needless to say there are many reasons to be excited about the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The stars will be on display and dramatic finishes are guaranteed when the path towards a championship begins Wednesday (April 11).

You can follow Jake on Twitter at: @j8a1k0e or on his MLB Braves blog at: http://bravesandmore.mlblogs.com

Jake also writes for Gloves Off Sports Business.

My Predictions for 2012 MLB season; playoffs and awards

2012-04-04T11:35:00.002-07:00

The day has finally come to make the most difficult predictions of the year. With a 162 game schedule, picking a winner in baseball has to be the most difficult task in the world, but it must be done.

I know the Athletics and Mariners already played in Japan, but I don’t consider that Opening Day and neither one of them will play into my predictions. Tonight will start the long journey of the 2012 baseball season, and here is how I see things playing out.

American League

I’ll start with the easiest league to predict as there are really only six teams involved fighting for five spots.

AL East:

1. New York Yankees 98-64

2. Tampa Bay Rays* 94-68

3. Boston Red Sox 88-74

4. Toronto Blue Jays 83-79

5. Baltimore Orioles 71-91

The Yankees lineup is just too dynamic. While I think the Rays may actually be a better team, the Yankees just seem to find a way to beat up on all the lower teams in the league and rack up high regular season win totals. I would love to pick the Blue Jays to finish ahead of the Red Sox, but I’m not confident yet in their rotation after Rickey Romero. The Red Sox need a lot to go right in order to fight for the division.

AL Central:

1. Detroit Tigers 102-60

2. Kansas City Royals 85-77

3. Cleveland Indians 78-84

4. Minnesota Twins 72-90

5. Chicago White Sox 68-94

This might be the easiest prediction in baseball history. I don’t think anyone is picking somebody to dethrone the Tigers, who have looked amazing in spring. I like the Royals and Indians to both continue developing and could make a push if things fall right for them.

AL West:

1. Anaheim Angels 96-66

2. Texas Rangers* 94-68

3. Seattle Mariners 73-89

4. Oakland Athletics 64-97

I think the Rangers have had too many chances and I feel like this could be a down year for them. The Angels had a better offseason and Mike Scioscia is a great coach that will do wonders with Albert Pujols in his lineup. The Mariners and Athletics might as well get comfortable down there.

National League

This is where things get fun and interesting. This league is wide open and 10 of the 16 teams have a chance of making the playoffs; however, very few teams have a chance of taking down one of the AL powerhouses.

NL East:

1. Philadelphia Phillies 97-65

2. Atlanta Braves* 91-71

3. Washington Nationals 87-75

4. Miami Marlins 82-80

5. New York Mets 71-91

Probably shouldn’t predict this division as I’m biased to the Braves, but I think the Phillies will hold strong and defend their crown. This will be the most competitive division in baseball. The Mets won’t be as bad as people think. I’m not as high on the Marlins as everyone else. Things have to go absolutely perfect for them to even make the playoffs. I’ve loved the Nationals for years and think they’ll see a huge improvement this year.

NL Central:

1. Milwaukee Brewers 92-70

2. Cincinnati Reds 87-75

3. St. Louis Cardinals 85-77

4. Chicago Cubs 74-88

5. Pittsburg Pirates -72-80

6. Houston Astros 54-108

I like the Brewers starting rotation and bullpen better than the Reds and Cardinals and that’s the only reason I’m picking them. This three-team race is going to be close and I believe they’ll have to win the division to make the playoffs. Injuries and letdowns from losing Pujols and LaRussa scare me with the Cardinals. The Reds pitching staff is weak to me, but they do produce the best lineup. The Cubs will improve and the Pirates and Astros will stand pat.

NL West:

1. San Francisco Giants 94-68

2. Los Angeles Dodgers* 89-73

3. Arizona Diamondbacks 83-79

4. Colorado Rockies 79-83

5. San Diego Padres 65-97

Another wild race in the National League, I think the Giants come out on top because of their dominate top three starting pitchers. I liked the Dodgers going into this year after the way they finished last season and I think they’ll continue to get better with the added fan support. I liked the Diamondbacks last year but I think that gravy train will come to an end. Too many people out produced their normal numbers last year and I’m not confident their starting pitching will hold up. The Rockies might have the best offense in the league, but there are too many questions with the rotation. If Juan Nicasio, Drew Pomeranz and Jhoulys Chacin step up they could surprise some people.

Playoff Predictions

Wild Card Round:

AL – Rays over the Rangers

NL – Dodgers over the Braves

ALDS:

Rays over the Tigers

Angels over the Yankees

NLDS:

Phillies over the Dodgers

Giants over the Brewers

ALCS:

Angels over the Rays

NLCS:

Phillies over the Giants

World Series:

Angels over the Phillies

I’ve always been a believer in the Angels coaching staff. I think Pujols will help make that team much better like he did in St. Louis and Scoscia is great at finding a way to produce runs, which will support the great pitching staff with Jared Weaver, Dan Haren, C.J. Wilson and Ervin Santana.

Awards

AL Rookie of the Year: Matt Moore

NL Rookie of the Year: Bryce Harper

AL Cy Young award: Dan Haren

NL Cy Young award: Yovani Gallardo

AL MVP: Miguel Cabrera

NL MVP: Joey Votto

You can follow Jake on Twitter at: @j8a1k0e or on his MLB Braves blog at: http://bravesandmore.mlblogs.com

Jake also writes for Gloves Off Sports Business.

Calipari changing the game of college basketball

2012-04-03T09:10:00.001-07:00

The first thought that came to my mind after Kentucky won the national championship Monday was: What is the NCAA going to do to keep Calipari and Kentucky from dominating for years to come?

The outspoken coach has let it be known that he’s willing to accept any kid that’s just looking for a ‘one-and-done’ situation for his college basketball experience. He has set up a breeding ground for the NBA and he’s drawing top recruits because of it.

Let’s be honest, most 18-year-olds are looking to make money as soon as they can. They want to get out from under their parent’s roof and live a better life. Calipari sales these kids on the fact that they can come to Kentucky for a year, win a National Championship, get great exposure and be a lottery pick.

If a coach came to my home when I was a senior in high school and promised me these things I’d ask where the dotted line is and when can I start. The sooner you can get to the NBA, the sooner you can start making big bucks, which is all a young kid sees after having none his entire life.

That’s not to say that Calipari is the only coach preaching this philosophy. I’m sure other coaches are telling kids that they can come in, play a year and then jet for NBA and money if that’s what they want. But Calipari has that arrogance and cockiness that comes along with a talented teenager whose dream is instant success. He has the same mindset as them and can easily connect with his players.

I’m also not implying that all players that go to Kentucky are looking for a quick exit to college instead of focusing on their education. But as I watched that team handle a veteran group of Kansas players I witnessed a lineup that is ready for the NBA and who will undoubtedly be selected early in the next draft.

Kentucky also has a history that goes along with the school that in itself will draw the attention of a young kid looking to be in the spotlight. Other coaches have to be furious with Calipari’s actions as a coach. Their main job should be to further the kid’s education. So what can be done by the NCAA?

I think eventually you’ll see either an age limit or another year of college added. People hate to see the success the SEC is having and they hate even more that a guy with the character and past of a Calipari is finding a way around the system to dominate the sport.

In college baseball and football a student is required to attend school for at least three years before entering the draft. Basketball players out of high school are more prepared to compete in the NBA than other sports, so making them stay somewhere they don’t belong for an extra two years seems a unfair.

Ultimately I don’t disagree with the system or the way Calipari is exploiting it. I just know outrage is going to be coming from other conferences and coaches asking for a rule to be put in place that will stop him and others from making a mockery of this sport by bringing in NBA talent for one year just to win national championships.

You can follow Jake on Twitter at: @j8a1k0e or on his MLB Braves blog at: http://bravesandmore.mlblogs.com

Jake also writes for Gloves Off Sports Business.

A brief description of my love for baseball

2012-03-27T09:12:00.001-07:00

It’s that time of the year again and a new season is upon us. This is by far the best time of the year for me. The extremely long offseason has finally come to an end. I’ve grown weary of watching meaningless Spring Training games. The fulfillment in watching a college game just isn’t the same. I need to see some major league action to help fill the void in my life and spring up a sense of happiness that’s been missing for the last five months.

On Wednesday (March 28) the Oakland Athletics and Seattle Mariners will begin the 2012 season with two games in Japan. While the real Opening Day in the states doesn’t begin until April 4, this signifies the beginning of a new journey through a Major League Baseball season. And though the times have changed and people’s ‘perception’ of this glorious game has declined, there is no doubting the significance of a new season.

But these are reason why I love this game. For most people these same reasons might not register because my entire life has been enthralled with the greatness of this game.

Some of my reasons for loving baseball

I love baseball because for seven months out of this year I have something to do almost every day of the week. Most people complain that the season is too long and they lose interest towards the end of summer when the season is 100 games in, but I’m content watching my team go out night-after-night. It gives you a sense of hope every day that this could be a good day. And for most of us your entire mood revolves around whether or not your team wins or loses.

For the next seven months the players on my team (and on my fantasy team) will be my best friends. I’ll read their quotes, get insight on their character and even though they don’t know it, they’ll be my new companion (or at least for as long as they’re on my team). But as baseball fans we go through the journey with these players. We get a glimpse of the grind they go through in a 162 game schedule. It’s more than just reading the box scores every morning, it’s about having perspective on what’s going on in the locker room and what the next move might be for the team. Being a fan instantly makes you a part of the franchise. It’s a roller-coaster ride of emotions. You get to feel the great times and the bad times as if you were actually involved in the outcome yourself.

I love baseball because there is no greater thrill in the world than being at a baseball game. It doesn’t matter if it’s a little league, high school, college or professional game, they all have the same appeal that draws us to the stadium. Whether it’s the food (nachos, hot dogs, peanuts, pretzels, another hot dog), the smell of the grass, the dust flying off the infield, the crowds that share the same passion as you or the time spent with friends and family. These are just reasons outside of the actual game that make me love the sport.

I love baseball because of its history. For years this game was built on its history and called the “National Pastime.” Many people have tried to take that label away from them and say football is the new national pastime, but how can a sport that’s only been around for half as long be the national pastime? That’s a story for another day. The fact is this country was built on the sport of baseball. There is no denying that baseball was the first actual sport to gain popularity in the U.S. and it still remains a vital part of this country.

Men once got together on old dusty fields for pickup games. War heroes played it amongst other soldiers to pass the time and get their mind off the terrible tragedy surrounding them. Hopes, dreams, ambitions were all inspired because of this wonderful sport. It is the backbone of this country and will continue to be so as long as it exists.

Racism was solved through baseball. Martin Luther King Jr. was a great man who did many great things for African Americans, but Jackie Robinson did the unthinkable when he signed up to play Major League Baseball. He brought the country together through his talent on the field during unthinkable circumstances. His play ultimately led to the end of racism (in my opinion) and changed the history of this country. All of this was done through the sport of baseball.

I love baseball because it is the greatest sport ever invented. You can try to argue the point if you wish, but there is no comparison out there in terms of skill and strategy. Plus if you add all the things above that come along with the game. Baseball is great because an average person like Pete Rose can come along with virtually no skills, but through hard work and determination prove that anything is possible. It’s a game that virtually anyone can play, but only 1 percent of those that do play can do so at a major league level.

The skill and God-given ability it takes to throw a 96 MPH fastball (with command) just doesn’t happen very often. Then to be able to throw a ball that breaks three quarters of the way to home plate and changes direction is almost unfair. But to be able to swing a wooden bat and connect with one of those pitches and hit it 400-plus feet is the most incredible accomplishment you’ll see in any sport.

Then there is the defensive side of the game, which is my favorite, that normally is the difference between a normal Joe off the street and a major league player. To be able to field these rocket shots coming off a bat and then in an instant throw the ball to first before the runner gets there is the most underrated talent in sports. These athletes today make it look so easy that it doesn’t get appreciated enough. Go back and watch highlight films of Ozzie Smith and Omar Vizquel (those are just from my generation) and see for yourself how easy it is to dive to your right, get up and heave a baseball across the diamond in time to get the out. A cleanly turned double-play is the most beautiful thing to watch in this sport. When a runner is on first and the ball is hit on the ground I drop whatever I’m doing so I don’t miss the art form a well turned double-play.

There are many reasons I love this game and just a few are mentioned above. I try to explain my passion for this game to others in today’s generation and it just seems useless. Baseball is something that’s been ingrained in me since the time I was born and that’s really where it starts. This isn’t a sport you can just pick up like football or basketball, it takes time to develop a feel and sense of pride for the sport. But once you’ve been engulfed by the spirit of the game developed through the years of history, you’ll experience a feeling unlike any other. When the temperature rises and the wind softly blows on a warm sunny day, you’ll feel the goose bumps run up your arm because you know it’s that time of the year and the time for the Boys of Summer is near.

You can follow Jake on Twitter at: @j8a1k0e or on his MLB Braves blog at: http://bravesandmore.mlblogs.com

Jake also writes for Gloves Off Sports Business.

Tebow can’t catch a break

2012-03-22T10:11:00.005-07:00

The horrible tragedy of the Tim Tebow experiment in the NFL took another sad turn this week when it was announced that Peyton Manning would be signing with the Denver Broncos. Not only was that a slap in the face to the man that just led them to a playoff appearance and then upset of the Pittsburg Steelers after all hope was lost, but then they shipped him off to New York where he’ll likely sit behind Mark Sanchez for the next three years or, at best, challenge him for playing time.

Now I’m not one of those people overly in love with the Tim Tebow mania, but this kid has done everything he can to prove that he knows how to win games in the NFL. He’s a natural born leader and a winner.

I’m also not one of those haters that want to dissect every aspect of his game that is lacking from what a normal quarterback should look and play like. Being a huge Pete Rose fan (the player, not the person) I understand that you don’t have to have tremendous skills to be a good player.

Rose often played above his talent level because he had a desire and a passion to be better than everyone else. Tebow brings that same kind of effort to the football field. He may not look like Tom Brady when he throws, but all that matters to him is that he outscores the other team.

After waiting patiently, he finally got a chance to prove he could play quarterback in the NFL while in Denver. This team was horrible and he was able to inspire them into winning some games and ultimately their division. Their defense was good before he became the starter, but because of him they became even better. And because he knew how to make plays happen, he was able to put enough points on the board to get them the win.

If I’m Tebow right now I’m disgusted at the way things have transpired this week. I understand the Broncos and Manning had to make a business decision, and they made a good one. But to trade him to a team where he won’t have the opportunity to step right in and be starter just makes me sick.

They could have easily sent some compensation to the Jaguars to make sure that deal got done. And according to a report, the Jaguars made a better offer, or at least one that wasn’t any worse. Tebow helped that Denver franchise make a lot of money even when they were a bad team because fans still poured in to buy his jersey and watch him play.

Being back in Florida he would have been adored by his fans and immediately had the chance to compete for a starting position. The Jets on the other hand have just signed Mark Sanchez to a nice three year deal solidifying the fact that he’s their quarterback of the future.

I’m not sure what the Jets plans are with Tebow, but I doubt the two are on the same side. This entire process was just a mess and a real failure to the sport and all parties involved. Sending him to his home state would have created a positive buzz and enthusiasim this league has never seen. Sending him to the circus that is in New York can only cause a negative stir and bad publicity for the sport and Jets’ franchise.

You can follow Jake on Twitter at: @j8a1k0e or on his MLB Braves blog at: http://bravesandmore.mlblogs.com

Jake also writes for Gloves Off Sports Business.

Bryce Harper shows how baseball is different from other sports

2012-03-20T10:15:00.000-07:00

There are several reasons that baseball is different from football, or football is different from basketball and basketball from hockey. But one of the biggest reasons baseball is so different from all of them, is the fact that it’s not a game that just anyone can come in and dominate.

Players have to go through a process in baseball before ever given a chance to play at the major league level. Not only do they have to grow in their abilities, but they need to develop the right kind of character that makes you a major league baseball player.

This example was never more true than the recent news that Bryce Harper has been optioned back to the minor leagues. This kid has been hyped as the best position player prospect of all time. He’s dominated ever level of baseball he’s played. He’s proven that he has what it takes to compete in the majors. The majority of players and even his own coach believe he should be on the major league roster. But for some reason the executives of the ball club don’t feel the same way. And I have to say that I tend to agree with them.

Now some people will say that they are just keeping him down to gain another year of arbitration from him, and that may be well and true. But the fact remains that this kid is till just 19 years old and he’s not ready to face major league pitching on a daily basis. Even though he’s one of the most gifted prospects of all time, he’s just not ready to dominate the league the way he has at other levels.

That is not the case in any other sport. When Kobe Bryant or LeBron James leaves high school to go to the NBA, they are ready to instantly become leaders of their team and the league. There is no doubt that they will instantly become the best player on their team. They don’t have to go through some process to become ready for the NBA, they’re ready now.

Cam Newton and Adrian Peterson don’t need to spend time in the Canadian Football League before they’re ready to compete in the NFL; they’re ready the moment they leave college. At least in football you do have to spend three years in college, but at age 20 most of these kids are prepared to become major factors in their sport.

You can say the same about hockey with Sidney Crosby or any other teenaged winger that can instantly put up 50 points in a season. And in any other sport there isn’t normally a process that players absolutely have to go through like in baseball.

But that process is what makes this sport so much more special than any other sport. Stephan Strasburg, Harper, Derek Jeter, they all HAD to go through the minor league ranks and perform before they were ready to join the big leagues. Playing baseball is so different from any other sport. You could be the best player on your high school, college or minor league team but you still might not have what it takes to succeed in Major League Baseball.

I’m sure a month or two from now Harper will get the call to “The Show” and he’ll do just fine. But the fact that this supposed phenom of the sport has gone through more than one season in the minor leagues and still hasn’t proven he’s ready, just shows how difficult this sport really is, and how demanding it can be on even the greatest of athletes.

You can follow Jake on Twitter at: @j8a1k0e or on his MLB Braves blog at: http://bravesandmore.mlblogs.com

Jake also writes for Gloves Off Sports Business.

What a day for sports: College basketball, Crosby returns and MLB on TV

2012-03-15T10:05:00.003-07:00

I woke up with a smile on my face as I normally do on Thursday because it’s usually my favorite day of the week. This time my grin was a tad bit larger and for a very good reason.

Today kicks off one of the best days of the sports season and this year there is added reason for it to be even more exciting. Not only will the NCAA Tournament kick off today (I don’t count those pointless play-in games), but Sidney Crosby is “supposed” to be returning to the ice against the Rangers and more spring training games are starting to be televised.

NCAA Tournament

I know there have already been several articles hyping up the best tournament in sports, but now that the day is here I’m truly thrilled to watch some college basketball. The first weekend is always the best as there are games on all day and you’re bound to see a great finish.

This is when the amazing upsets happen and where Cinderella teams get their starts. I even went as far as to download the March Madness app on my phone so I can watch games while at work.

If you’ve filled out a bracket you already have an interest in this tournament and that thrill of keeping your bracket clean for as long as possible is pretty awesome. I’ve never made it that far in the tournament without losing a game, but I hear it’s exciting when you’re 16 games in and you’ve still got every game correct.

The excitement level of these games are so high because you know the season is over with a loss and every win gets you last much closer to the Sweet Sixteen, Elite Eight and hopefully the Final Four. It all starts today.

Crosby makes his second return to the ice

Let’s all be honest, hockey just isn’t as exciting (to the casual fan) without it’s poster child actually being on the ice. We’ve all started to become frustrated with the injuries of Sidney Crosby but there is no denying that when he is on the ice we all want to stop and watch.

Not only will he be making his second return to hockey this season, but it will be against the New York Rangers who have been one of the best teams in hockey all season. This will be a great matchup of two of the best teams in the league (the Penguins just took the top spot from the Rangers in ESPN’s power rankings).

This will be great for hockey fans and the sport in general to have “Sid the Kid” back out on the ice dominating. I hope where ever I’m watching the tournament at tonight will also be carrying this game because I can’t wait to watch it.

Spring Training on TV

I know Spring Training has been going on for a couple of weeks now, but we are getting closer to having full rosters and more games are being broadcast on TV. Fans are getting their first look at this year’s squad and as the first round of cuts are made this weekend rosters are beginning to take form.

The next best thing to being at a Spring Training game is being able to watch one on TV. They are more relaxed and seeing the Florida or Arizona sunshine in the back drop just brings smiles to your face knowing that soon the boys of summer will be back on the field.

Oh what a happy day for sports indeed. You couldn’t beat the excitement out of me. I can’t wait to sit down and enjoy this glorious day for all sports fans. Enjoy it.

You can follow Jake on Twitter at: @j8a1k0e or on his MLB Braves blog at: http://bravesandmore.mlblogs.com

Filling out a bracket as American as hot wings

2012-03-13T10:08:00.002-07:00

OK, so I’m not exactly sure if hot wings are the most flamboyant poster child for American culture, but I plan to devour many of them during this year’s NCAA basketball tournament. March is the greatest month of the year for basketball and the only month of the year many folks actually pay attention to the sport.

If your team didn’t make the tournament there are still plenty of other teams available that you’ll have some sort of interest in to keep you entertained. And of course filling out a bracket is a must for any red-blooded American.

Stories within the tournament

These teams fight all season long, but none of that really matters until now. They allow over 60 teams to make the tournament, the regular season is just a chance to get a better seeding.

But college basketball sets up the greatest formula for postseason play by allowing all these teams to get involved and stretching it out over a four week span. By the time this tournament is over you’ll learn everything you missed the past four months and possibly be setup to succeed with your bracket the next season.

Cinderella stories will come out of nowhere and keep casual fans involved after their team gets knocked out in the first round. These are always the best stories during the tournament and basketball is a game where almost anyone can win on a given night.

It seems like top high school players are starting to realize they can stay close to home by going to these small colleges and still have a chance to play on a national stage. It opens up so many more possibilities for athletes.

Filling out a bracket

This is an absolute must for any sports fan. It’s a yearly tradition that will/should eventually become an annual holiday. Some people want to try and act like they’re “too cool for school” to fill out a bracket, but by the first weekend they’re searching the internet to find out if they can start a bracket in the second round.

Whether you’ve watched a game all season or if you’re an avid college basketball fan, you have a chance of filling out that perfect bracket and that’s what keeps us coming back.

It’s really just a guessing game. Personally, I’ve watched maybe a quarter of these teams play, and most of those teams I probably just saw bits and pieces of the game. There are only a handful of games I sat down to watch the entirety of this season but I still feel that I have that chance of making the right selections.

I’ll listen to commentators, read a couple of articles online and then I’ll be ready to fill out my bracket. It’s something I have to do as an American. I know I’m going to be watching the tournament for the next three to four weeks and without a bracket it almost seems pointless.

Don’t be the guy at Buffalo Wild Wings or wherever you’re watching these games that doesn’t have an interest because he decided he didn’t know enough to fill out a bracket this year. It doesn’t matter how much you know. I guarantee you half the people filling out a bracket this year haven’t watched that much basketball.

It’s your duty as an American and as a sports fan to fill out a bracket. Not doing so will cause your fanhood and personal integrity to falter. This is your only shot of the year to get involved in something this big. Don’t sit back and watch it pass it you by. Give it a shot. Take some risks. But ultimately, have fun with it because this is about as good as it gets for a sports fan.

You can follow Jake on Twitter at: @j8a1k0e or on his MLB Braves blog at: http://bravesandmore.mlblogs.com

An easy decision for Manning

2012-03-07T10:10:00.004-08:00

This has been an obvious end to a great run by Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts. Ownership had to do what was best for their franchise and really this was what was best for Peyton.

The Colts are going to be a bottom dweller team next year with or without Peyton and Andrew Luck. The team is lacking in almost every facet of the game and really needs another first round pick next year to get things going.

So while this may not have been an easy announcement for either party, it was most definitely an easy decision for each.

I mean how perfect is it that when Peyton is at the end of his career the Colts just happen to finish with the worst record in the league in time to draft the best quarterback prospect since Peyton himself.? That’s kind of crazy, right? Especially considering the fact that Luck went back to college for one more year to make this whole thing happen.

The door is open for the Colts to start another dynasty like the one that was built with Peyton. If Luck turns out to be half of the quarterback he’s been hyped to be than the Colts will be a playoff team for years to come.

But it won’t happen quickly, and at age 36 Peyton needs to go to a team that will help him win another Super Bowl to match his brother Eli and establish himself as one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time. He doesn’t have time to waste while he rebuilds a mediocre team. He needs to step in somewhere that can win now.

I heard someone say this morning that the Seattle Seahawks would be a great fit for him. They have a good defense and play in a winnable division where Peyton would almost certainly guarantee them a shot in the playoffs. If they could then bring in Pierre Garcon and Reggie Wayne to help give Peyton some familiar surroundings, this team could contend for a championship.

I also like the suggestion of the Arizona Cardinals. They aren’t far from a trip to the Super Bowl themselves with an aging former Super Bowl winning quarterback (Kurt Warner). There he would have one of the best receivers in the game to throw to in Larry Fitzgerald. And their defense is pretty good as well.

The Redskins and Dolphins have also been thrown out there but I don’t think they’re the right fit for Peyton or are ready to contend in their divisions.

The Houston Texans would also be another contender that Peyton could implement himself into quickly and win. It would also be within the same division as the Colts to make things really interesting. I don’t know if they would be able to run his style of offense there. The Texans are more of a run first and defensive minded team.

The point is there are a lot of teams out there that Peyton can play for, if he is ruled healthy to play, and compete for a championship. It won’t be easy for him to leave the city that drafted him and a stadium he helped build and grow, but soon enough he’ll realize this was a great day for him and he’ll thank ownership for making this difficultly easy decision.

You can follow Jake on Twitter at: @j8a1k0e or on his MLB Braves blog at: http://bravesandmore.mlblogs.com

Best week of college hoops

2012-03-06T10:04:00.000-08:00

It’s that time of the year. Most of the country (especially me) is unaware of what has been taking place for the most part in college basketball over the past four months. But this week gives us our opportunity to prepare for the tournament.

Every year I pledge to start watching college basketball sooner so I’ll be prepared for my bracket, but this year was no different than the last. Outside of watching SEC basketball, which was pretty much garbage besides Kentucky, I have no idea what other teams look like.

But during conference tournament week every team will be on display and this is the chance to see them all and get a feel for them before the tournament starts. Almost every bracket in America will be filled out based on how this week plays itself out.

Some people will choose Duke to win it all because they’ll lose in the semi-finals and be able to prepare for the tournament. People love a team that loses right before the tournament. It’s hard to win that many games in a row and the odds say it’s best to not be on a 30 game winning streak coming into the tournament.

But this week will be filled with constant hoops action, which is almost certain to give us buzzer beaters and all kinds of basketball drama.

I’ll never forget watching UCONN and Pitt last year in the Big East Tournament. I was a big Pitt fan and thought they had a chance to go all the way. Then Kemba Walker hit one of the most beautiful clutch last second shots I’ve ever seen. After that game it was all UCONN as they rode that win to the championship.

This week I’ll be tuning in to watch as much basketball as possible trying to see who that team will be this year. It’s also fun to watch the small conference tournaments and try to figure out which team will have a run like Butler or pull a first round upset.

While it is good for teams that have gone on long winning streaks all year like Kentucky and Syracuse to lose, it’s also good to watch out for that team that is finally getting hot at the end of the season.

Maybe a team hasn’t been healthy all year but now is back to full strength for the conference tournament. Seeing a team like Tennessee make an impressive run in the regular season lately gives me hope for them; especially if they can make it to the SEC Tournament finals.

Teams like that make it exciting to watch because it’s nice to see teams come out of nowhere to win their conference. And while the top teams are setting up for an NCAA Championship, lesser schools are able to sneak up on them and win a conference crown.

This week is guaranteed to be one of the best weeks for college basketball and it will set us up for what is undoubtedly the greatest month of basketball.

You can follow Jake on Twitter at: @j8a1k0e or on his MLB Braves blog at: http://bravesandmore.mlblogs.com

The good and bad about expanded playoffs

2012-03-02T10:57:00.003-08:00

Even though I’m still young, I’m a traditionalist when it comes to baseball and its rules. I don’t like seeing change in a game I’m already in love with and, if anything, I would like to see it start working its way back to the way it was in the early 1900’s.

I’ve always been in favor of the best teams from each league playing each other for the World Series. These teams battle for 162 games just to see some team get hot in October and take the crown. The course of the season should be long enough to tell who the best team in each league is.

But we live in a world where money rules all and a society who is constantly wanting more. The game has to change to succeed in this country, I know that, but that doesn’t mean I have to agree with it. Here is a recent quote from Chipper Jones on MLB.com in an article by Mark Bowman that pretty much sums up my thoughts on the whole expanded playoff situation:

"I'm not for it," Jones said. "I think the elite teams deserve to make it to the playoffs. Pretty soon, Major League Baseball is going to be like the NBA. There will be more teams that make it than don't. The season is too long as it is. Now you're going to give teams more travel. I don't agree with it, but we're just a piece of meat. We do what they tell us to."

That’s exactly the way I feel. I hate the fact that over half the league makes the playoffs in the NBA and NHL. Even in football you can have teams with .500 records making it into the postseason. For baseball it’s a great accomplishment to just make it into the postseason. In other sports it almost seems meaningless and I hope that doesn’t happen to baseball.

Now those are the negatives. There is a great positive to all this that really makes the game a lot better, and that’s the fact that the Wild Card team will be at a great disadvantage in the playoffs. Having to play a one game playoff and possibly use your ace to win that game and maybe even have to travel across the country would definitely hurt the Wild Card.

I’ve watched too many teams over the course of the Wild Card era start playing good baseball in September and then come roaring into the playoffs while the division winner hasn’t been playing meaningful baseball for several weeks.

There are many reasons Braves’ teams in the ‘90s didn’t win more championships, but I honestly believe their lack of success in the postseason was due to the fact that they spent the last two weeks of the season resting and getting prepared for the postseason. Meanwhile Wild Card teams like the Cardinals and Marlins were playing playoff games night after night just to try and make the postseason.

Look at the Phillies last season. They used their last couple of weeks of the season resting getting prepared for the playoffs. While they did sweep the Braves to end the year and kept them out of the playoffs, they weren’t playing meaningful games or worrying about the outcome. The Cardinals, however, were playing for their lives every night so they were more prepared for playoff baseball.

This new system will put more emphasis on winning the division so teams like the Yankees don’t just give up at the end of the year and settle for the Wild Card. It will put those teams that do win the Wild Card at a disadvantage, which is great because I believe you shouldn’t be allowed in the playoffs anyway if you don’t win your division.

So there are pros and cons to the new system. Nobody was particularly happy when baseball expanded to eight teams but that worked out well. For the casual fan and the lower market teams this will be a great move. But for those who don’t want to lose the historic tradition of the game, this is just a small step towards change.

I hope this stays a one game series and doesn’t expand anymore. Change is inevitable and I’m sure we’ll come up with something different in the future. Nothing will ever be perfect and at the end of the day this is still a great game and I’m going to watch it no matter what. I hope the positives of this plan outweigh the negatives and we can look forward to a play-in game every year like they have for the NCAA Tournament.

You can follow Jake on Twitter at: @j8a1k0e or on his MLB Braves blog at: http://bravesandmore.mlblogs.com

Rankings: MLB teams 1-30 and team profile

2012-03-01T10:08:00.001-08:00

Here we have it. With Spring Training game getting under way, here are my rankings for the 2012 season. A lot could happen over the next month before Opening Day, but as of right now this is how I see them stacking up. I think the World Series champion will come from teams 1-14. There is a strong top six in the American League, and then after the Phillies in the National League it’s a wide open race.

1. New York Yankees

- They already had a dynamic offense and people kept saying the only thing they need to fix is their pitching staff. They robbed the Mariners blind by giving them a decent designated hitter in return for a top of the rotation starter in Michael Pineda. C.C. Sabathia and Ivan Nova, along with Pineda, will give the Yankees a solid top three. Hiroki Kuroda is a solid four and then they have depth with Phil Hughes and Freddy Garcia. There are absolutely no questions in the field. Curtis Granderson, Derek Jeter, Robinson Cano, Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez are an absolutely ridiculous 1-5. This team is complete and will win at least 95 games and more than likely the toughest division in baseball.

2. Detroit Tigers

- This is a great team but it helps that they are in one of the weaker divisions in baseball. They’re going to rack up wins against the Twins, White Sox and maybe even Royals and Indians. They will probably have the second or third best offense in the league behind the Yankees and Rangers. You can’t argue that Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder are the best three-four tandem in baseball. They have nice pieces around them with a still developing Austin Jackson, Jhonny Peralta, Delmon Young and up-and-coming Brennan Boesch. They also have a deep rotation starting with ace Justin Verlander. The addition of Doug Fister helped them down the stretch last season and in the playoffs. Max Scherzer, Rick Porcello and rookie Jacob Turner will complete a great staff. This team will easily win the Central division and 95-plus games.

3. Philadelphia Phillies

- Even though I believe this team has lost a lot of its luster and is in a decline mode, you can’t argue that a team with three aces doesn’t belong at the top. Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels alone will be enough to help them win 60 games. I’m worried about the rest of the rotation. I don’t have confidence in Joe Blanton and we’ll see how well Vance Worley does his second time through the league. I think they end up finding a way to make a move to deepen this rotation in case of an injury to the top three. Their offense doesn’t scare me near the way it used to. Chase Utley still has the prettiest swing in baseball but his knees are failing him. Jimmy Rollins is holding on to his glory days and getting paid for them, but is not the MVP he once was. That image of Ryan Howard going down in the final out of Game 5 is still vivid in my memory. I don’t see how he could come back from that any time soon and be productive. Hunter Pence will be a solid addition to the team for an entire season and this is still an above average offense that really only needs to be average for their pitching staff to win. As usual I think they let the Braves hang around for a while and IF their top three pitchers stay healthy they’ll win 95 games and the NL East.

4. Tampa Bay Rays

- I’m not sure how the Rays keep on doing it, but they are finding ways to get it done and building a strong team for the future every season. They have one of the best and deepest pitching staffs in the game led by James Shields and David Price. Behind them you have 2011 AL Rookie of the Year Jeremy Hellickson and 2012 Rookie of the Year candidate Matt Moore. I watched Moore pitch Game 1 of the ALDS so I believe all the hype. This kid is going to be good. As usual this offense isn’t going to jump out at you. With Even Longoria healthy for a full season and Desmond Jennings up with the team all season, they’ll be able to score some runs for their pitchers. Carlos Pena back in Tampa will give them some pop in the middle of the order. B.J. Upton might wake up and put up a big year in his walk year. They have other nice pieces like Ben Zobrist that fit the mold of this team. They play in a difficult division so wins will be hard to come by. I think they easily take the wild card and win at least 93 games.

5. Los Angeles Angels

- This team by far had the best off season and many may not remember but they were knocking on the door of the Texas Rangers late last year before falling off. Mike Sciosia is one of the best managers in the game and he’ll find ways to put up runs around Albert Pujols. Players like Peter Bourjos, Howie Kendrick and Erick Aybar will be responsible for getting on base and setting up Pujols, Tori Hunter and Vernon Wells for RBI opportunities. This team won’t be built on offense though, it will rely on their pitching staff to win the division. Dan Haren and Jered Weaver will lead the rotation, while C.J. Wilson and Ervin Santana are nice two-three type pitchers. After that their depth isn’t great, but it’s better than Texas, to me. They’ll finish with 93 wins and just edge out the Rangers for the division. It will be a good battle all summer long and for years to come.

6. Atlanta Braves

- Go ahead and call me a homer. This team was the fourth best team in baseball for three quarters of 2011. Everybody healthy, there is no doubt this is the second best team in the National League. But there is a long list of questions surrounding the Braves. Jason Heyward has to be an MVP candidate and solidify his spot in the three hole for this team to win. Tommy Hanson and Jair Jurrjens have to stay healthy and be the aces of this staff. Really, even if just those things happen this team will be great. But if Brian McCann and Martin Prado rebound offensively and Dan Uggla doesn’t start off slow, this team could easily compete for the NL East. They’re pitching depth is unbelievable and now most of the youngsters have had experience in the majors. A full year of Bourn will only help improve an offense that is atrocious on the base paths. Mix all that with the best bullpen in baseball and there is no reason why this team can’t win 94 games this season and compete for the division title.

7. St. Louis Cardinals

- This team made one of the boldest moves in all of baseball by letting the greatest player in the game walk away. And I believe they made the right choice for the future of the franchise. There are a lot of question marks with this club, but I think they play in a very winnable division and I don’t get the sense any team made major improvements to pass them. I think Adam Wainwright coming back is more important than Albert Pujols coming back. I’d rather have a Cy Young candidate than an MVP candidate. Chris Carpenter will pair along with Wainwright for a solid 1-2 punch. Jamie Garcia, Kyle Lohse and Jake Westbrook are solid number three starters. This rotation is deep and has Kyle McClellan and Lance Lynn to call on if anything goes wrong. IF this offense is healthy it’s a very good offense that will score enough runs for these pitchers. I think they win the NL Central with 93 wins.

8. Boston Red Sox

- I’m not a big fan of the Red Sox this season. Maybe it’s because I’ve never been a huge fan of Bobby Valentine from when he was a Met, but I just don’t like what happened last year and I have no reason to feel like that situation will be improved this season. Carl Crawford may not start the season with the team and when he does come back he’ll just be pressing even harder to get rid of last season’s below average totals. Their lineup is still solid with Adrian Gonzalez, Kevin Youkilis, Dustin Pedroia and Jacoby Ellsbury. They have a HUGE hole at shortstop. You’re not going to win a championship or the AL East with Nick Punto as your shortstop. Expect that to change soon. Their rotation is the reason I don’t see them being a contender this season. They only have one true ace in Jon Leseter. It’s an even numbered year so I don’t expect much out of Becket. The rest of the rotation is just an embarrassment. This team is good, but they play in a tough division against teams that have far superior pitching staffs. An 88-92 win season looks likely. And I think they miss the playoffs.

9. Texas Rangers

- I’m not happy with what happened in the Rangers’ offseason. This team has made it to the World Series two years in a row and it will be nearly impossible for that to happen again. They let their ace go, who wasn’t much of an ace in the first place, to a division rival. They put all their eggs into one basket by going after an unproven Japanese pitcher and they couldn’t find the money to go out and get Prince Fielder. That being said, they still have the best offense in the American League with Ian Kinsler, Elvis Andrus, Josh Hamilton, Nelson Cruz, Adrian Beltre, Mike Napoli and Michael Young. Wow, almost named their entire lineup. I think Yu Darvish will do fine in his first year as most Japanese pitchers do, but I don’t believe he’ll been an ace and I’m fairly positive he can’t carry a team through the playoffs. The rest of their pitching staff is made up of threes and fours. That is not going to get it done in the playoffs or against the Angels who are much improved on offense and in their pitching staff, if that was even possible. Their offense will get them to 90 wins this year, but they just won’t have enough pitching to compete with the Angels.

10. Arizona Diamondback

- This team came out of nowhere last season to take the NL West crown, but came up just short against the Brewers in the NLDS. They play in a tough division and it will be very difficult to repeat this season. They’ve made some nice moves to improve the pitching staff. I’m not sold on their offense outside of Justin Upton. Everyone else in that lineup is an average or little better offensive player. But you win in the West with your pitching and Ian Kennedy, Daniel Hudson and Trevor Cahill give you a nice 1-3 punch. Joe Saunders and Josh Collmenter are nice threes and fours. This team will be scrappy and find ways to win as they did last year. As long as their pitching holds up I think they’ll have a chance to win the division. They won it last year with 94 win, I say they get it done this year with 92.

11. Milwaukee Brewers

- The uncertainty of this team scares me. With Ryan Braun out for 50 games I’m not sure there is a player on this offense that can carry them and keep them in it until he returns. Aramis Ramirez was a nice pickup but he got off to a horribly slow start last year and that can’t happen again if the Brewers hope to compete. They probably have the best pitching staff in the division as Yovani Gallardo is a true ace and should get Cy Young consideration. Zack Greinke and Shaun Marcum are great number two starters. Randy Wolf and Chris Narveson are solid four and five starters. They took their shot at it all last year and failed. I’m not sure how many opportunities this group is going to have, but they need to make it happen. This division has a solid three, but it’s still winnable. Even with Braun being down, look for this team to win close to 90 games.

12. Los Angeles Dodgers

- Many people forget this team was an above .500 ball club last year. They featured the Cy Young and (Should have been) MVP. They still remain young and have filled in some positions with stop gap type players. They are waiting for an owner to take over the beloved franchise and whoever it is will have some deep pockets to make this team become relevant sooner rather than later. Matt Kemp will lead the charge again along with Andre Either and an offense that won’t put up huge numbers but will score enough to win. Clayton Kershaw looks like he could be a stud for the next 10 years or until that little arm falls off. Chad Billingsley is a solid number two starter. Ted Lilly, Aaron Harang and Chris Capuano all add depth and are very good three and four starters. Dee Gordon will add some explosiveness to the top of the lineup and set up Kemp and Either with easy RBI opportunities. They might not have enough to take over the Arizona Diamondbacks this year, but look for them to be a major player this coming offseason and be back at the top in 2013. I think they manage to win close to 90 games this season and fall just short of the playoffs.

13. Cincinnati Reds

- After the St. Louis Cardinals lost Albert Pujols and the Milwaukee Brewers couldn’t resign Prince Fielder I thought this automatically opened up the door for the Reds. But that doesn’t exactly seem to be the case. They picked up Matt Latos, which was a great move, but do you really think he can transfer his great numbers from pitcher friendly Petco Park to hitter friendly Great American Ballpark? I don’t think so. Their pitching staff still isn’t better than the Cardinals or the Brewers and their offense might not be much better either. Joey Votto is an MVP candidate, Jay Bruce is on the verge of a breakout season and Brandon Phillips is one of the best second baseman in the league. They don’t have a true leadoff hitter and they are going to have to develop young kids at shortstop and catcher during the season. I don’t think they’ve made enough progress to pass the other two teams ahead of them in the division. Anywhere from 83-88 wins seems logical.

14. San Francisco Giants

- Call me crazy, but this team isn’t getting any younger, or better. They made the move to get Pagan, which is a SLIGHT upgrade in center field. They traded away their strength in pitching, giving up Jonathan Sanchez for Melky Cabrera. They’re saving their money hoping to bring back Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain, but who’s going to score runs for these guys? When you’re best offensive player is a catcher coming off a season-ending injury your expectations can’t be that high. If one of their big pitchers goes down this is a mediocre ball club. That being said, if healthy and the addition of a big bat come midseason, Carlos Quentin, this team could become a serious contender. Once in the playoffs you know how effective great pitching can be. I say they finish about the same as last year with around 86 wins.

15. Washington Nationals

- Had they gotten Prince Fielder they would have definitely been a team with a chance to win it all, but now they’ll have to settle at looking to the future. It doesn’t sound like Bryce Harper will begin the season with the club, which means they’re OK with not winning this season. Their pitching staff has gotten tremendously better with Stephan Strasburg, Gio Gonzalez and Jordan Zimmerman atop the rotation. They failed to make any moves to generate more offense and are left with a big hole in center field. If they make the move for Denard Span they become even more of a contender. They finished 80-81 last season and I expect them to make a jump further this year winning 85 games or more.

16. Toronto Blue Jays

- I love this team and they are always my favorite to uproot the Red Sox and Yankees in the AL East. For some reason they haven’t been able to put it all together but they are definitely moving in the right direction. They are solid on offense with only left field being a question. Brett Lawrie is about to have a monster rookie season and will be the future number three hitter in this lineup. Scoring runs will not be a problem for this team. They have a solid ace in Rickey Romero, but they don’t have that number two to make them a serious contender. Brandon Morrow and Brett Cecil are threes and fours. If Kyle Drabek can live up to his potential he could become that number two starter. The fact is they are still the fourth best team in this very tough division. In almost any other division they would have a chance to win it, but because of unfortunate circumstances they’ll be lucky to finish with more than 82 wins.

17. Kansas City Royals

- Everybody has been waiting for this team to breakout and they will continue to wait another year. They are being very cautious with their top prospects and they are not going to detriment their future by going for it now. They started out hot last year before falling off. I think they continue that growth this year will full seasons from Mike Moustakas and Eric Hosmer. There are still questions at shortstop and second base, but their offense will be much improved. The pitching staff is still in question. Mike Montgomery hasn’t progressed as they would have liked so they are still struggling to find an ace from their top prospects. Johnathan Sanchez was a great pickup but I think he’s at best a number two and possibly a number three on some teams. As soon as their young pitchers develop they’ll be ready to contend. Hopefully they’ll get a chance to do that in the big leagues at some point this year to set them up for success in 2013. 80-plus wins would be a great improvement.

18. Colorado Rockies

- I really like what the Rockies have done this offseason. Offense is not a problem for them and they know that, so they went out and built depth in the pitching staff. While they haven’t acquired a true ace, Jeremy Guthrie is not that ace, they have a solid group of twos and threes and some potential prospects in Drew Pomeranz and Alex White that could be ones and twos for years to come. Carlos Gonzalez, Troy Tulowitzki, Michael Cuddyer and Todd Helton are a nice 2-5 in the order. If Dexter Fowler figures it out this year they’ll have one of the best lineups in the National League. While I like their pitching staff, they don’t have an elite pitcher that can carry them and they play in a division filled with teams that have a true ace, or aces. We all know what they can do if they’re close in October, but their division is just too difficult. A .500 season would be great for this team.

19. Miami Marlins

- Who really knows what is going to happen with this team in 2011? They could potentially be a 90 win team or a 75 win team. I don’t like what happened with Hanley Ramirez and I do not believe his ego will be able to put up with Jose Reyes outperforming him at his former position. Heath Bell doesn’t scare me at the back end any more than Leo Nunez or whatever his real name is. And Mark Buehrle is a nice number three, but he can’t be the ace of this staff until Josh Johnson is ready or if he goes down again. Their offense is going to be amazing and put up huge numbers. But I don’t believe this pitching staff will hold up and they will ultimately fall apart. Look for the Marlins to be in the spotlight this season, but for all the wrong reasons. They’re the fourth best team in this division.

20. Cleveland Indians

- This team surprised a lot of people last year getting out to a hot start. They were winning games late and players were overachieving. Over 162 games, these types of teams usually show their true colors. While 80 wins is nothing to go home crying about, they’ll need to find a way to win 15 more to be atop the division this year and I don’t think they’ve done enough to make that happen. They’re hoping Shin-Soo Choo has a bounce-back year, Grady Siezmore stays on the field and is the great player he used to be and that Ubaldo Jimenez is the Cy Young candidate he was at the beginning of 2010. I don’t believe any of those will happen. This team is good and will compete in a weak division, but another 80 win season is likely.

21. White Sox

- While one team in Chicago is moving in a positive direction, the other one is going in the opposite direction. Who knows what the White Sox were up to in the offseason? At first you think they’re rebuilding, then they lock up John Danks instead of trading him and now you have no idea what’s going on. There are too many question marks on this team to make them a contender. Adam Dunn, Alex Rios and Gordon Beckham need to improve. I think we know what Alexi Rameriez and Paul Konerko are going to do and that’s nice production. Some of the young kids will have to grow up quick if this team is going to fight for the division or wild card. They have a nice group of pitchers, but Danks is not an ace to me and Peavy is another huge question mark. Gavin Floyd and Phillip Humber are nice threes and fours and I guess we’ll see how Chris Sale transitions to the starting pitching role. I’m not high on pitchers making that move, but it has been known to work recently, most notably with Texas Rangers’ pitchers. This team has the potential to be a .500 or better ball club but I also see them having a chance to collapse and end up with less than 80 wins.

22. Chicago Cubs

- I’m also not as down on the Cubs as everybody else is. The offense is lacking a power hitter, but have some decent hitters with Castro, Byrd and Barney. But their pitching rotation is deep. Garza and Dempster are true number twos, with Garza having the ability to be a number one. Volstad, Maholm, Wood and Wells are all potential number threes. This team is definitely rebuilding under Theo Epstein, but they’ll improve upon their 71 wins last season and bump it up closer to 78.

23. Pittsburgh Pirates

- The magical run they had at the beginning of last year will all be forgotten after this season. There has been nothing done to improve this team. They are just hoping their talent will develop into what it should be and that Clint Hurdle will sneak a few wins. There are three teams easily better than them in this division so I don’t see them competing. McCutchen and Walker are stars, Pedro Alvarez is looking more-and-more like a bust and their rotation doesn’t scare anybody. I don’t believe in Morton, and Lincoln and McDonald aren’t as good as hyped. McDonald could easily be there number one but is a decent number two on most teams. Hurdle will have the troops fired up come day one, but they’ll fall of at the end and experience another losing season with about the same season as last year.

24. Minnesota Twins

Let’s just go ahead and take Morneau and Maur out of the picture because we have no idea what they’re capable of at this point. Obviously if healthy they are some of the best at their position, but you can’t count on that anymore. Their outfield is nice with Revere, Span and the addition of Willingham to add some pop. The infield is suspect and nothing that will impress you. Their rotation is a mess. Liranio is off and on, Pavano is mostly off and the rest are 12 to 13 game winners. Their youngest starting pitcher is 28. This team is heading in the wrong direction in a division that’s winnable, or at least was until the Tigers signed Prince. Ron Gardenhire will find a way to win 70 games, but he’ll struggle in doing so.

25. Seattle Mariners

- Another AL West team that will just get pounded by the two-headed monster in Texas and LA Angels. The Mariners do have a true number one and a formidable middle of the lineup with Ichiro, Dustin Ackley, Justin Smoak and Jesus Montero. And that’s if you believe in Montero, I don’t. After that there is a big drop off in offensive production. Almost as big as the drop off between King Felix and Justin Varges in their rotation. Why they traded Michael Pineda I have no idea. It was a very dumb trade in my opinion. The middle of their lineup is set for years to come, they just need their young pitching talent, like Pineda was, to start becoming one’s and two’s and this team will compete. But they are still far away from that. A 70 to 75 win season seems doable.

26. San Diego Padres

- I’m not sure what the Padres’ front office is trying to do. They’re trying to rebuild but yet they bring in a guy like Carlos Quentin to play left field. I’m guessing they’ll use him as trade bait at the deadline when they’re out of it. I think Cameron Maybin is set to have a breakout year in center. Jason Bartlett, Nick Hundley, The O-Dawg and Chase Headly are exactly the types of players that fit this low scoring offense. Their starting pitching and bullpen will keep them in games, but they don’t have the fire power to win the close ones. They’ll putter along and finish with close to 75 wins.

27. New York Mets

- The Mets aren’t as bad as people are making them out to be, but they’re not very good either. They have a formidable rotation with Mike Pelfrey, Jonathan Niese, R.A. Dickey and Dillon Gee. But those are all number three starters on a normal team. David Wight, Ike Davis and Jason Bay are their best hitters … not exactly a potent offense. But they have decent pieces that will help them win some games. If they break 70 wins again this year Terry Collins should get the Manager of the Year award.

28. Baltimore Orioles

- I’m actually like the O’s, but with the division they play in it’s going to be hard to win more than 80 games. I like Markakis, Jones, Hardy, Wieters and Reynolds. I think they’ll put up some runs. The rotation can’t compete with the other NL East teams though. If Matusz, Britton and/or Arrieta become a top of the rotation starter they’ll be good in a couple of years. 73 wins would be an accomplishment for the O’s this year.

29. Oakland Athletics

- I look at the A’s lineup and it exemplifies exactly what “Moneyball” means. They’ve maneuvered their way into putting decent talent at every position in a cost effective way. But in today’s world, you get what you pay for. If you by mediocre talent you’ll get mediocre results. I like their outfield with Coco Crisp, Seth Smith and Josh Reddick. Jemile Weeks is an up-and-coming second baseman and Kurt Suzuki is a nice catcher. They have young arms as always, but they aren’t ready yet. They will struggle to get 70 wins this year.

30. Houston Astros

- You look at the Astros lineup and you say, “Who are these people?” Normally any casual baseball fan can look at a lineup and recognize several players, but I even find myself struggling to even say some of these names. Jed Lowrie, Jordan Schafer and Carlos Lee are the only names you’ll recognize offensively. Their young players will need to improve quickly and luckily they did get a lot of opportunities last year while the Astros were putting up the worst record in the league. Their pitching staff is deep, but unless Jordan Lyles becomes a top of the rotation pitcher, they are mostly a bunch of three’s and four’s. They’ll win more than 56 games, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they stayed around that number.

Hope you guys enjoyed the rankings. I plan on posting my predictions for the season closer to Opening Day.

You can follow Jake on Twitter at: @j8a1k0e or on his MLB Braves blog at: http://bravesandmore.mlblogs.com

The Braun case; Did they get it right?

2012-02-28T09:09:00.003-08:00

As for me and most baseball fans we wanted to see the case of Ryan Braun come and go without much scrutiny. I thought that might happen when I found out he was being let off, and maybe in time it will, but the aftermath has been brutal.

What was the first thought when we all found out Ryan Braun tested positive? We couldn’t believe a guy like this would have ever taken steroids. He was labeled as such a good clean guy that would never be involved with a performance enhancing drug. So the fact that Braun won his case wasn’t overly shocking to me. I never thought the guy did it and I still don’t believe he did.

How he won the case though doesn’t overwhelming prove to the public why his result was so high. Yes it wasn’t immediately taken to the lab for testing and was left in the refrigerator for who knows how long. But there were two other players tested the same day that took the same route to the lab as Braun’s test but only his produced the highest level of testosterone in the history of testing.

That right off the bat told me that something was fishy about the test, but it still doesn’t ultimately prove why HIS test was the one that had the high result. Could the person who took the test have tampered with it? Possibly, but for what reason? Would a die-hard Cardinals or Reds fan really go that far to ruin the credibility of Ryan Braun? And the names of the players aren’t on the urine samples to keep testers from being prejudice.

The public may never know, and for that reason there will always be a dark cloud hanging over Braun and his stats. This could untimely affect whether or not he ends up in the Hall of Fame. We just don’t have enough answers.

Major League Baseball was furious about this outcome and they have every reason to be. This opens up the discussion for the validity of their testing program and will open up future cases against them for players that test positive.

Not only did someone test positive and win the first case ever for someone who did, but it was the defending National League Most Valuable Player. This has to raise some eyebrows for most baseball fans and casual observers. You mean no other athlete can win a case except for a high profile one.?

Braun was able to bring in a great team of lawyers that were able to find a loophole that kept the judges from having any clear proof as to why his test was so high. This ultimately won Braun the case in court but he has lost the case of the public opinion.

Fans in Milwaukee are leaping for joy and will welcome him back with open arms, but he will face severe scrutiny as he travels to other major league ballparks because no matter what the courts say we the people will have our own opinion. And while he wasn’t proven guilty, to most he wasn’t proven innocent either.

The worst part about this whole situation is that we never should have even known about. The secrecy of this process was breached by some reporter trying to make a name for himself. MLB should track down this source and have him reprimanded. This wasn’t public information and with Braun being let off the hook it should have never gotten to the presses or Twitter.

This is such a sad case for baseball and one that I hope will just go away. Braun could have been the face of baseball and a new era. Hopefully fans will learn to forgive and forget because after all, he wasn’t found guilty. I agree with the outcome but I don’t agree with the way that outcome was determined. We need more evidence as to what caused that test to be so high and until we have that evidence doubts will continue to swirl over Braun’s head, and bat.

You can follow Jake on Twitter at: @j8a1k0e or on his MLB Braves blog at: http://bravesandmore.mlblogs.com

Thoughts on Moneyball

2012-02-21T10:31:00.001-08:00

I had been waiting for Moneyball to come out because I knew I would buy it and didn’t want to waste $10 going to see it in theaters. Finally the movie came out and it was well worth the $15 to be able to watch this classic film for years to come.

This wasn’t a great movie just based on the fact of how moneyball is used in today’s game, it was a classic because it’s about baseball and how this idea shaped the game. The plot line was great for it and the way they told the story of Billy Beane’s life was an unexpected pleasure.

Of course I knew the ending would be weird and awkward because the Athletics have yet to do anything under Beane’s direction. Yes, they’ve over achieved in a small market several times, but have yet to do anything meaningful in the playoffs.

Now that everyone has caught on to the methods first used by Beane and sabermetrics has become an essential part of the game, the A’s have lost their small advantage they had over every team.

I think that’s why the movie came out now because this idea of moneyball sparked under Beane’s control and now that other teams have implanted it in their system they know Beane and the A’s will never succeed. Basically they had their chance and now it’s over.

I’ve always thought the idea or logic behind moneyball was interesting, and it’s always great to see a small market team like the A’s and Tampa Bay Rays have success. But the fact is you still need money to win in baseball.

At the end of the movie it says something about the Boston Red Sox going on to win two World Championships using the moneyball method. That was a load of garbage to make Beane feel good about himself. The Red Sox won because they have money to get the best players that produce the numbers portrayed in moneyball.

Today’s game has changed and it’s all thanks to Beane and his staff. Small market teams are able to put a decent team on the field at a reasonable cost and if things happen to click the right way they may actually end up in the playoffs. Or hopefully you build enough fan support that you can afford to buy players to help you succeed.

The moneyball method will soon be a thing of the past, as with the Athletics in Oakland. I’m glad this movie came out when it did and I think it was directed in a way that it will be a great baseball movie for generations to come. To me it not only marks the beginning of a new era in baseball, but it also puts an end to the steroid area, which ironically was created by two former A’s players.

This was a great movie and excellent publicity for the sport of baseball.

You can follow Jake on Twitter at: @j8a1k0e or on his MLB Braves blog at: http://bravesandmore.mlblogs.com

Another Jeremy Lin story; Are we too sensitive?

2012-02-20T10:17:00.002-08:00

I can’t lie; I’ve yet to watch the NBA’s new sensation play. It’s not because I don’t want to, but every time he’s been on TV I’ve had other obligations. I was hoping to see him play before Carmelo came back but now I don’t think that’s going to happen so I really can’t comment on his abilities.

What I can comment on is the amount of attention he is getting and the latest controversial headlines from ESPN.

Over the weekend a very distasteful headline was posted on EPSN’s mobile website. I won’t repeat the headline but I’m sure you’ve all seen it or heard about it. The employee has since been dismissed from the network even after saying he unknowingly used the racial slur in a headline.

Linsanity is not only causing a stir on the basketball court, it’s even affecting the lives of hard working Americans. I’m not going to try and take up for the guy, but he was a 28 year old editor who may or may not have known what he was doing.

ESPN should punish themselves for allowing such a young kid to have that much so say. As an editor myself, headlines and stories alike are to be read by at least two people before being published. And if something goes wrong the blame should be put on all parties involved.

But that’s beside the point I wanted to make, which is; are athletes and teams too sensitive? I believe we as fans have the right to yell, scream and hold up signs at games. I don’t encourage inappropriate behavior, and in fact I hate sitting beside it, but we pay a good bit of money to watch these athletes play a sport so I think we should be able to let our emotions be heard during and after the game. Whether it’s on Twitter or a blog, we have the right to let our comments be heard.

Just because Lin is a certain race should we have to watch how we criticize him anymore than Tim Tebow or LeBron James? He’s an athlete, getting paid to play a pretty easy sport. When and if the criticism does start to flow his way I hope it’s because of his play on the court and not because of the color of his skin.

Now back to the ESPN situation. People make mistakes. I hear them made all time, but when Jon Gruden or another famous athlete that takes the jobs of hard work communication majors makes a mistake on TV there is nothing more than a quiet apology. But because this was some no-name editor working the night shift you just up and make him unemployed.!?

I’ve made mistakes as an editor, it’s going to happen. But I almost never make the same mistake twice. This kid’s life was ruined because of the insensitivity from ESPN and a FEW people that might have been reading this website at 2 a.m. Yes, it’s the editor’s job to make sure things like this don’t happen and some sort of punishment needed to be put in place. I just think in this instance it was a little too harsh.

I hope the media continues to cover this Lin story with an open mind, but it’s the duty of an editor and company to draw people’s attention to an article. There is a more creative and effective way to do that than by using offensive language.

You can follow Jake on Twitter at: @j8a1k0e or on his MLB Braves blog at: http://bravesandmore.mlblogs.com

My first game of the year

2012-02-19T18:56:00.000-08:00

This weekend was not only exciting because of pitchers and catchers reporting, but it was also the first weekend for college baseball. The past four or five years I’ve always made it a rule to start out the baseball season by attending my Alma mater’s first game of the season.

Because I now work in the real world I wasn’t unable to attend the very first game on Friday, and due to inclement weather the game on Saturday was cancelled. So; I had wait till Sunday morning before I was able to get my first taste of baseball for the season.

It was everything I thought it would be and was well worth the wait. While the college game is not near as entertaining as the big boys in the majors, it offers a different thrill that you won’t get at an MLB stadium.

Plainsman Park has been ranked as one of the best stadiums in all of college baseball. I love going to games at this field because it is such a beautiful park. It displays a tall green wall in left field similar to the Green Monster and the K Corner in right field gives off a nice appeal for a college game. There really isn’t a bad seat in the park, I’ve tried them all.

Attendance for the game was only around 3,000, but all the usual suspects that are at most college games were still there. You have your group of hecklers in the left field bleachers that yell throughout the entire game. They’ve had their chants together for years and not much has changed. The jokes are the same and they remain funny.

The diamond dolls try their best to entertain the crowd, but on this day with a light rain and a cool breeze the only thing fans got emotional about during the 6-4 loss was the 7^th inning stretch.

The great thing about college games is that you can connect with the field so easily. When you yell at an umpire in a major league stadium you just look like an idiot because he’ll never hear you. At a college game he hears you all too well, and when you get that look or sudden reaction from the blue it makes that shouting all worth it.

The college game could be changed for the better in several ways, but it’s still baseball and a great way to get the season started. I hope to attend a few more games before finally getting to walk into Turner Field April 13. The season has begun.

You can follow Jake on Twitter at: @j8a1k0e or on his MLB Braves blog at: http://bravesandmore.mlblogs.com

The influence athletes have on our lives; Gary Carter's passing

2012-02-17T13:16:00.000-08:00

Growing up almost every kid has a role model or someone they look up to. Hopefully that someone will be their dad or brother, but for most of us there is that athlete, coach or team that effects the decisions we make in our lives.

You can try and downplay this as much as you want, but the fact is our lives are directly influenced by the actions of athletes, whether they’re good or bad.

After the recent passing of Montreal Expos and New York Mets catcher Gary Carter, the example of how we’re influenced by athletes was never proven better. I listened to MLB Network on my way home from work and heard caller after caller talk about how much Carter influenced their lives. One guy even saying he had to pull over on the side of the road to console himself once he heard the news of Carter’s passing.

Luckily Carter is one of the great examples for how athletes can have a positive influence on our lives, because we all know good and well about the bad ones. I had a similar experience when I went to a Braves game where they “celebrated” Bobby Cox’s retirement. It wasn’t much of a celebration for me. The man who led my favorite team for over two decades and taught me what the game was all about and how to play it the right way was retiring and it was devastating. No one will ever replace him and the childhood memories he provided for me.

I think it’s great that we have these players and coaches that are set on a national stage and are able to mold future generations through their actions. It’s important that these athletes recognize this and know how much their actions mean to the children watching them on TV or in the stands.

In today’s society where bad news and criminals are praised in the mainstream media, we hardly hear the good stories about the positive influences athletes have on people’s lives. And unfortunately as fans we enjoy hearing about the latest arrest or fine that players’ receive instead of focusing on the ones that do good work through charities and other great organizations.

Just think about when you were little. You probably put your hat on backwards for batting practice because you saw Kin Griffey Jr. do it. You probably wiggled your bat a little faster once you saw Gary Sheffield do it. You probably wore a wristband because you saw Derek Jeter wearing. And I know you bought Nikes because Michael Jordan did.

We praise these athletes and look up to them like they were sent straight from Heaven. And I’m not saying that this is necessarily a bad thing, I just think it’s important that we make sure kids choose players that will have a positive influence on their lives.

These athletes are given an unbelievable stage where they are able to touch so many lives. People like me and you, no matter how great of people we might be, will never have that opportunity. That’s why I think it’s great to have people like Gary Carter and Tim Tebow to send a good message to kids of what it takes to be a good person in this world. No matter how popular they may become, keeping their positive influence is of the upmost importance to them.

It’s not always the best player or the most gifted athlete that have the most positive influence, but it would be nice to see the ones that do be recognized more on a national level. When I have a kid, if he doesn’t model himself after me, I hope he picks a great athlete, and I hope that athlete is great because of what he does off the field and not just because of how he performs on the field.

You can follow Jake on Twitter at: @j8a1k0e or on his MLB Braves blog at: http://bravesandmore.mlblogs.com

It’s time for baseball

2012-02-16T11:27:00.002-08:00

This upcoming weekend is one of the biggest weekends of the year for a baseball fan. The words “Pitchers and Catchers” are the most exciting words to a fan that’s been trapped inside for the most grueling parts of the winter waiting to see teams get out in that beautiful Florida or Arizona sunshine.

Sure most players just stretch and play golf the first two weeks and the real action doesn’t pick up for a little while longer. But it’s the excitement of the new season and the feeling of fresh air that makes this time of the year so special.

Also, for MLB fans looking to get their baseball fix a little early, this is also the first weekend of the college baseball season. I know I’ll be attending a game at Auburn University as I’ve done to start off the past five baseball seasons. While it’s still pretty cold out there, just a glimpse of the field and sounds of the game are a thrill to ones’ ear.

These games aren’t as entertaining as when you’re sitting at Fenway Park or Turner Field, but it’s a nice glimpse of what’s to come and a great way of getting the season started.

Many players and coaches are already at their respective camps, and why wouldn’t they be. Spring Training is unlike a training camp for any other sport. It’s not a one month test to weed out the weak individuals. For most of the players it’s fun and somewhat of a vacation.

It’s also a great vacation for fans looking to get away from the cold weather and enjoy some baseball action. While I’ve never had the opportunity, I can’t wait for the chance to sit on the outfield grass and watch a baseball game feeling the wind coming off the beaches and the anticipation of a new season beginning.

Being at Spring Training is a great opportunity to see players up close and obtain autographs. The teams are also close together so in a four or five day trip you could probably visit several different stadiums and teams.

These games are meaningless to some degree, but each at bat is taken very seriously. There are still some roster spots up for grabs and it’s fun to see players fight hard during Spring Training to earn that spot.

It also gives sports fan something to do during this down period. NBA and college basketball are drowning through their seasons and won’t pick up until late March or April. We need something to get excited about and seeing that warm weather and knowing spring is near is enough to get anyone excited at this point.

For baseball fans this marks the beginning of the season of optimism. Every team is 0-0 and has a chance to win it all. We all have our hopes and aspirations for the season and at this point none of them have been erased. Spring is no doubt my favorite part of the year and this weekend is the best way to get it started.

You can follow Jake on Twitter at: @j8a1k0e or on his MLB Braves blog at: http://bravesandmore.mlblogs.com/

Why NBA’s regular season is irrelevant

2012-02-14T09:36:00.002-08:00

The NBA season is about 30 games in but you wouldn’t even know that if it wasn’t for a little Chinese kid Jeremy Shu-How Lin that came out of nowhere to burst on the scene in New York. So why is the NBA’s regular season so irrelevant?

That’s because the games are meaningless. Over half the league makes the playoffs anyway and going into the season you know who the final four or six teams are going to be.

With superstars jumping ship and going to play with their friends, it has created a league of teams that are based on who has the most stars. That made last years’ final that much better because the Mavericks were a team with only one superstar that took down the proverbial giant team of superstars.

The division races have no meaning because you can be the fifth best team in your division and still make the playoffs. It would be better if they just had two leagues and took the best eight teams from each league. That’s essentially what they’re doing now.

Sure there are a few matchups during the regular season that are nice games to watch, like Heat-Lakers because it gets all of the sports’ biggest superstars on one stage at the same time. But who cares what the outcome of the game is. They’re both going to make the playoffs and there is a good chance both teams will at least make it to the conference finals.

The NBA is so predictable. We know it’s going to be Miami, Chicago, Oklahoma City and some wild card team from the Western Conference in the final four. The other teams will just be warm up games as the best teams prepare for the championship.

In baseball and football there is more of an emphasis on winning your division. Only 12 of 32 teams make the playoffs in the NFL and only eight (as of right now) of 30 MLB teams make the playoffs. Both sports get tremendous support throughout the regular season and in the playoffs because the division rivals are important.

A Braves-Phillies matchup in May becomes very important because it could decide who wins the division in September. The Ravens-Steelers rivalry is great for so many reasons, but also because it almost always decides who is going to win that division. Do you think the Heat are going to sweat over a loss to the Hawks in December?

No doubt the NBA playoffs are great to watch and these super teams make it fun to root against them and I think actually make the sport more enjoyable. But the NBA’s regular season is watered down and meaningless to the casual fan.

The same can be said for NCAA basketball. While March Madness is one of the greatest events in sports, 62 teams make the tournament. Is it really necessary for me to watch Duke-Kansas in January? Both of them will make the tournament and this game two months before is not going to change that.

Fans are drawn to games that hold meaning. There are a handful of those types of games during an NBA regular season. If you want to draw interest the whole year through, make winning the division more important and don’t make the entry into the playoffs open to every team that post a .500 record (or below in some cases). That’s just ridiculous.

We want games that matter, and there won’t truly be a game that matters in the NBA until April. Hopefully I’ll see you then, but the Braves will be playing the Phillies so I doubt you get my undivided attention like you could if regular season games meant something.

You can follow Jake on Twitter at: @j8a1k0e or on his MLB Braves blog at: http://bravesandmore.mlblogs.com/

Eli Manning hurt by his lack of character

2012-02-07T10:06:00.000-08:00

Since the end of the Super Bowl people have been trying to figure out if Eli Manning should be considered an elite quarterback. I believe if sports weren’t such a popularity contest this wouldn’t even be a question.

If Eli had great hair, perfect bone structure in his face and a super model for a wife he would be mentioned as one of the greatest quarterbacks in the league. Right up there with Tom Brady and Drew Brees, and probably ahead of his brother Peyton.

Let’s start by comparing Eli and Brady since that seems to be the current debate. No doubt Brady is an elite quarterback, one of the best of all time and a future Hall of Famer. In Brady’s first seven years as a full-time quarterback for the New England Patriots he passed for 26,364 yards and 197 touchdowns (50 of those coming in his amazing 2007 campaign).

Comparing that with Eli’s first seven years in the league, he has more passing yards, 26,536, and 18 less touchdown passes, 179. Now you could make the argument that today’s quarterbacks are putting up bigger numbers than they were during Brady’s first seven years. But you could also say that the New York Giant’s offense isn’t one that relies on Eli throwing for 300 yards and four touchdowns a game.

Brady plays in an offense that is built to put up astronomical numbers, like 50 touchdowns in a season, which is ridiculous. Eli plays on a team that is more defensive oriented. While they’re running game wasn’t great this year (last in the league), they are still a team that requires getting the ground game going to set up the pass game.

Comparing the stats you can definitely make the case for why Eli should be considered a top quarterback. So why does the public still view him as mediocre?

His brother is the biggest thing holding him back from being considered elite. Peyton has been labeled for years as the greatest signal caller of this era. No one manages a game from under center, or five feet behind him, better than Peyton.

Living in the shadow of your bigger brother is difficult. Getting out from under that shadow can be even more difficult. The expectations for Eli coming into the league were certainly unattainable. With this latest Super Bowl victory he could now be considered even greater than his brother.

While it will take a few more outstanding seasons and possibly another Super Bowl to establish that feat, he certainly isn’t far behind. It really just depends on how you perceive greatness. If you believe regular season stats are a true testament to a players’ elite status, then Eli may not deserve to be in that discussion. If you believe it’s based on their postseason success, then Eli is at the top of the list. He’s 7-1 in the postseason and has two Super Bowl MVP trophies.

The only thing keeping Eli from being considered an elite quarterback is Eli himself. He doesn’t have the personality of a Tom Brady, Drew Brees or even his brother. He is perceived as a quiet guy that just does his job and does it exceptionally well. He’s not going to put up huge numbers like any of the aforementioned quarterbacks, but as we saw this year he can win a game when it matters.

Eli is an awkward kind of guy. He doesn’t seem to enjoy the spotlight. Watching him say, “I’m going to Disney World,” after this year’s Super Bowl was almost sickening to see because it’s so awkward. He doesn’t seem to know how to let loose and entertain the public, which isn’t his job by the way.

His job is to win Super Bowls, and he’s won two in the past five years. It’s time we take the blinders off and realize he’s for real. As quarterback numbers are increasing because of the new rules that hurt defenses, Eli’s numbers are going up with the rest of them. He was 67 yards away from 5,000 passing yards on the year. And now that he has some great receivers to surround him in Hicks, Cruz and Manningham (Side note: The Giant’s receivers are the reason they won the Super Bowl and the Patriots receivers are the reason they lost) he’ll be even more productive in years to come.

The era of Peyton and Brady are coming to an end. The time for Eli is now. He needs to start dating some hot swim suit model, take on a couple of commercials that show his funny side (if there is one) and maybe get arrested or something. That seems to be what the media view with greatness. Not the fact that he’s a winner and deserves to be at the top of the list of elite quarterbacks in this quarterback league.

You can follow Jake on Twitter at: @j8a1k0e or on his MLB Braves blog at: http://bravesandmore.mlblogs.com/

Keys to preparing for the Super Bowl

2012-02-02T10:24:00.000-08:00

It’s that time of the year. I know it may not even feel like there is going to be a game played this weekend as both teams have been silent the past two weeks, but despite all that surrounds the big week there is actually going to be a meaningful game played in Indianapolis Sunday.

This is by far the biggest sporting event in America right now. The entire NFL season comes down to one game and whether you care about football or not, hundreds of millions of families and friends will plop down in front of the TV to watch the Patriots and Giants.

Getting prepared for the Super Bowl is more than just knowing who the players are, how each team got here and what the keys to the game are. You need to know what it’s going to take to make this night one of the most enjoyable nights of the season. Unlike other sports, you only get one shot a year at this. So be prepared to make it count.

1. Make sure you have food

The most important part about football season is food. If you can’t kick back and shove some fatty man-food down your throat, are you really even enjoying the game? Make sure you have the hot dogs, hamburgers, chips, dips and whatever your favorite side dish might be. If you’re looking for the easy way out, order a pizza way in advance of kickoff. If you’re looking to really have a good time, throw some wings in there as well. The game could be 30-0 in the second quarter, but if you’ve got enough food it will carry you the rest of the game.

2. Make sure your throne is prepared

I know it’s very important for most sports fans to make sure they have the best seat in the house to watch the game. Mine would be the recliner right in front of the TV or in a spot where people won’t be walking in front of me during the most important play of the game. Not only is the positioning of your seat essential, but the surroundings are crucial. A sturdy table close enough to hold your food plate and beverage is key, but not too close that you’ll knock it over when you jump up for a big play. If you can sit through the entire game without having to get up, then you deserve to wear the crown that comes with your throne.

3. Scout the pregame show

I don’t usually enjoy the pregame show coverage because I think it’s too extensive and I’m tired of hearing the same thing over and over. But there are some great parts of the pregame show you’re going to want to watch. Make sure you’re there at the beginning when they tell you what will be coming on. Whether it’s the Tom Brady or Eli Manning interview, the emotional story of Robert Kraft’s wife or something else, make sure you know when those are coming on and worry about preparing yourself for the actual game while they’re breaking down Gronkowski’s ankle for the one billionth time.

4. Be prepared for the commercials

Sometimes it’s more important to scout the commercials for the Super Bowl than the actual team’s themselves. Don’t be caught off-guard when a 3D commercial comes on. Have your glasses ready. Do your best to find out who is going to be having a commercial and if there is anything spectacular about it. You know who the usual suspects are. The past few years commercials haven’t been as great, but you don’t want to be that one person that’s reading all your friends’ tweets about that great commercial that you just missed because you were taking a potty break. I’d rather miss a Brandon Jacobs’ two-yard run than the best commercial of the Super Bowl.

5. Don’t waste your time with the halftime performance

These things are never really that great when you watch them on TV. Sure if you’re there on the field watching one of your favorite artists it’s probably the thrill of a lifetime, but more often than not the singer sounds horrible and the performance is too over the top. Madonna is this year’s performer so you shouldn’t be missing much. Unless you’re jam is on, use this time to go to the bathroom, grab some more food or drink and check your social networking websites.

As is the case with most football games, it’s not about the game itself; it’s about what surrounds the game. While this will be an entertaining game between two storied franchises, this is your last chance for a while to sit back and enjoy everything that makes football such a great sport. Make sure you enjoy it no matter what the outcome of the game is; if you’re still awake for the final snap.

You can follow Jake on Twitter at: @j8a1k0e or on his MLB Braves blog at: http://bravesandmore.mlblogs.com/

A sport in search of its Superstar

2012-01-31T11:22:00.000-08:00

A couple of years ago the National Hockey League had no question about who to put on the front of every ad and what games to feature for prime time. But with the injury, or injuries, suffered to Sidney Crosby and the somewhat decline of Alexander Ovechkin the sport is searching for a new superstar to continue carrying them.

I think most people were looking forward to Crosby and Ovechkin battling it out for the next 10 years, with most people viewing Crosby as the “Golden Boy” of the sport. Now some people wonder if he’s played his last game.

This sport is in dire need of a player that will continue to help the sport grow. Some people may not realize that more fans actually attend hockey games than basketball games, but because ESPN holds the rights to NBA games they continue to put them out front on Sportscenter and try to persuade the people that it’s the more popular sport.

IF Crosby was healthy and the Pittsburgh Penguins were dominating the game, which they’re not bad without him, this sport would be even more popular with a player that could lead them to the front of the rundown every morning.

But that’s not the case and it’s time to start looking for the next player to stand out and lead the sport in the right direction. Here are a couple of candidates.

- Patrick Kane: He is the first player that comes to my mind when I think of someone who can take this sport over. He’s an American skater, he’s already won a Stanley Cup and been feature on the front of EA Sports NHL 10. Watching this year’s skills competition he was clearly the favorite in the crowd and pulling out that cape showed that he’s OK with having the spotlight on him and he doesn’t mind being a focal point. The Blackhawks are a good team (currently sixth in their division) and play in a huge market. He’s signed with the Blackhawks through 2014. The NHL needs to forget about Crosby and Ovechkin and make Kane their poster child. The only problem is he may not even be the best player on his team. Jonathan Toews, Marian Hossa and Patrick Sharp could all easily be considered better players. When or if Kane becomes the leader of this team he’ll easily replace Crosby and Ovechkin as the leader of the sport.

- Steven Stamkos: It would make sense to pick the best player in the league to lead your league, wouldn’t it? Stamkos is undoubtedly one of the best players of this sport. He is a Canadian who was picked number one overall in the 2008 draft and is only 21 years old. He is the best goal scorer in the league, leading so far (Jan. 31) this year with 32 goals, and he’s fifth in points with 52. He’s played in All-Star games and he made his debut in the playoffs last season. The only problem Stamkos faces is the team that he plays for. Not that the team is bad, although as of right now they sit nine points back of a playoff spot and are in a very weak division, but the market in which he plays in is horrible for a hockey player. He’s locked up with Tampa Bay for five more years, but if he can ever get into a big hockey market this kid could easily lead the charge for the NHL.

- Claude Giroux: He is quickly becoming the face of one of the more storied hockey franchises in the Philadelphia Flyers. His recent role in the 24/7 show on HBO leading up to the Winter Classic has also helped gain him some national attention. Playing well earlier in the season, he was a favorite to win the Hart Trophy. He is still currently second in the league in points, but his goals production has gone down each month since the season started. He’s made the All-Star Game the past two seasons and even scored a goal in the most previous one. The Flyers are good enough to keep him in the spotlight, I just think he needs more time to develop as a player and prove to the hockey world that he’s a star. The problem with Giroux is that’s he’s already had two separate incidents with concussions and we don’t want another Crosby situation on our hands. His production after the concussions shows that maybe he’s not over it yet. For the sport of hockey let’s hope he can become the player he was the first half of the season again.

- Evgeni Malkin: The most obvious choice would be to take a player who has already established popularity with NHL fans and who has become one of the more dominant players in quite possibly the most popular hockey market. The second overall pick in the 2004 draft, Malkin has won the Calder Memorial Trophy (top rookie), Art Ross Trophy (league’s top scorer) and the Conn Smythe Trophy as he, not Crosby, led the Pens to a Stanley Cup trophy in 2009. There are many problems leading to the fact that Malkin isn’t the leader of this sport already. The first one is Crosby. Once Crosby is out of his way, either by retiring or if one moves to another team, then Malkin will have is chance to reign supreme. Malkin is also Russian and some believe he would prefer to play in his home country. Malkin is the most established of the group and my favorite to take over the sport.

The fact of the matter is that one of these men, or some other up and coming star, needs to grab this sport and its fans and run with it. I believe had the NBA been locked out the NHL would have easily taken its place on ESPN. And even though it still feels like the NBA season hasn’t started because no one outside of ESPN really cares about it, the NHL has got to step up and pick someone that can be marketed to the casual hockey fans out there. I don’t know who it’s going to be, but I hope he emerges quickly and helps this sport get the attention it deserves.

You can follow Jake on Twitter at: @j8a1k0e or on his MLB Braves blog at: http://bravesandmore.mlblogs.com/

That awkward moment with Peyton Manning

2012-01-27T10:42:00.001-08:00

Now normally his brother Eli is known for producing awkward moments with awkward looking faces, but the situation Peyton sits in now has got to be one of the most uncomfortable situations in sports.

You can either have your superstar quarterback who has made your franchise everything that is today, or you can draft one of the most highly touted quarterbacks to ever come out of college that could possibly keep your team relevant for the next 10 years or longer?

Yeah, it’s not exactly an easy decision. After a disastrous season the Colts front office has pretty much changed the entire staff. That would leave you to believe they’re also getting ready to change the face of their franchise.

Now, how is anyone going to walk up to Peyton Manning and tell him that he’s not going to be their quarterback anymore? And how are you going to explain to a loyal fan base that the player that’s led them to a Super Bowl in the last five years is being traded?

The fact is I believe Manning’s production is going downhill. He hasn’t looked the same to me since Marvin Harrison left, which was a strange evacuation in itself, and who really knows how healthy he is? Based on that you can’t blame the Colts for doing what’s best for the franchise’s future.

On the other hand you have a quarterback who has yet to prove himself in the NFL. Many experts think he’s ready to make the transition now, but what if he falters early. There have been plenty of quarterbacks taken with the first pick in the draft that haven’t exactly panned out (See JaMarcus Russell).

There is definitely risk in taking a quarterback early and I’m not as sold on Andrew Luck as most of the experts are. Tony Dungy even suggested that the Colts should take Robert Griffin first. While I think Dungy was just being nice, Luck is obviously the first choice in the draft and I think the Colts will make it.

So now what?

The Colts can either trade Peyton and probably get a pretty good return, or they hang on to him and let him mentor Luck for the next three years. Meanwhile Luck gets no game experience and just gets older.

The latter situation worked out great for the Green Bay Packers and Aaron Rodgers, no thanks to Brett Favre who admittedly said he didn’t help Rodgers. So Rodgers could have been dominating the league even sooner?

This decision just seems too easy for the Colts. Somebody is going to have to man up and tell Peyton that his time here is done and that they are moving in a different direction. They can get Luck, trade Peyton for future picks and build a franchise that will be able to compete for Super Bowls in the near and distant future.

Some of the best decision you make in life or in sports are not easy ones. It wasn’t easy for the Braves to tell Smoltz, Glavine and Maddux that they couldn’t take them back. But they did it and they’re better off now because of it. The Braves continued to bring young pitchers through the system and are now setup to compete for years.

Peyton and Colt’s fans are not going to like this decision, but trust me, it’s what’s best for the franchise. I think everyone knows it, but everyone likes and respects Peyton too much to say it to his face. He’s not dumb, even though he acts like it in his commercials. He can see the writing on the wall. He just wants somebody to step up and say it to him.

You can follow Jake on Twitter at: @j8a1k0e or on his MLB Braves blog at: http://bravesandmore.mlblogs.com/

Should you have to visit the White House?

2012-01-24T13:34:00.000-08:00

The recent news of the star of the Stanley Cup Finals, goalie Tim Thomas of the Boston Bruins, electing not to visit the White House after their recent championship has brought the hockey world to the forefront for the wrong reasons.

Since making this move, many media outlets and fans have bashed the American goalie for not making the historic trip through the White House. In a statement from Thomas he said, “I believe the Federal government has grown out of control, threatening the Rights, Liberties, and Property of the People.”

He goes on to blame both parties for what has happened with our government and says his choosing not to attend the White House had nothing to do with, “politics or party.” He says he was exercising his right as a “FREE CITIZEN” to not go to the White House.

While I don’t disagree with Thomas’ point-of-view on our government, his decision not to go with his team to the White House is a decision he will regret for the rest of his life and quite possibly is a decision that is un-American in itself.

Whether you agree with the current presidents’ political beliefs or not, the chance to visit the White House is a once in a lifetime experience that many people don’t get to experience. Every year athletes from championship winning teams get to visit this historic building and meet the president of OUR country. Choosing not to do so is wrong for so many reasons.

Yes, he has his right as an American citizen not to go and he’s not the first athlete to turn down a chance to visit the White House and meet the president, but he could have kept his reasoning to himself instead of making a statement about it. Do you think every American that’s entered the White House and shaken the president’s hand has agreed with that presidents’ politics? Not likely.

You may hate the Cubs or Red Sox, but if you’re given the opportunity to visit Fenway Park or Wrigley Field, you don’t say, “No, I don’t agree with the way those teams play baseball.” You go visit these historic buildings because it’s part of our country and an experience you’ll never forget.

I don’t know what Thomas’ intentions where with this little protest, but it has totally backfired in his face. If the Bruins win it again this year, expect to see their goaltender leading his team to the podium. Of course, there could be another president in place next year, which could make his reasoning for going then even more awkward.

You can follow Jake on Twitter at: @j8a1k0e or on his MLB Braves blog at: http://bravesandmore.mlblogs.com/