johnvano.com

Put Your Money on the Birds

As a prognosticator, I've had a good playoffs. I'm 8-3 with my picks this year (including the Super Bowl), with all picks made before the playoffs started. So this isn't one of those records where you watch four games, then pick four new winners after the results are in. No, I picked from the beginning without any clue that the Cardinals won any games. I picked him to beat Atlanta, but as they marched on--I picked up my only losses.

I've been debating whether or not to submit a pick for the Super Bowl, mostly because once I pick a winner, it's hard for me to relax and enjoy the game without pulling for the team I picked--even if I could care less about them. As it is, I really like the Cardinals this year (emotionally)... because I like Kurt Warner's shot at redemption, and I have a lot of their players on my fantasy team (Warner, Fitzgerald, Hightower). Still, how can you not like the Steelers? They're a worthy team with some likeable stars. I'm okay with whomever wins, but something tells me to pick red--it's who I'm cheering for anyway.

Cardinals 30, Steelers 23

Purple Pain

Though my heart is broken and stepped upon, I am steadfast--and I am right. My purple pride has been wounded by the pathetic second half effort of the Vikings, but I lick my wounds with the knowledge that I had all four of my NFL playoff predictions correct. Am I a mad genius or just cursed beyond repair?

NFL Playoff Predictions

I'm tickled purple that the Vikings made it into the postseason, won their division, and didn't require a tiebreaker to clinch. Whoo-hee... but as you'll see below, I'm not expecting much from them in the playoffs.

 

Wildcard Round

Arizona 30  Atlanta 27  Actual result: Arizona 30, Atlanta 24

Philadelphia 28  Minnesota 20  Actual result: Philadelphia 26, Minnesota 14

San Diego 35  Indianapolis 34  Actual result: San Diego 23, Indianapolis 17, OT

Baltimore 24  Miami 17  Actual result: Baltimore 27, Miami 9

 

Divisional Round

Carolina 31  Arizona 24

Philadelphia 27  New York Giants 25

Baltimore 19  Tennessee 16

Pittsburgh 24  San Diego 20

 

Conference Championship

Carolina 35  Philadelphia 31

Pittsburgh 26  Baltimore 24

 

Super Bowl

Carolina 30  Pittsburgh 28

The 'Cuse!!!!!!!!!

The Orange defeated the Green today! The Syracuse University football team (2-8 before today) toppled Notre Dame, scoring the go-ahead extra point with 42 seconds left. Notre Dame had been a 20-point favorite. The win was a wonderful gift to Syracuse head football coach Greg Robinson, who was fired last week. Let's hope they can win next week, too and begin to turn around this once proud program. I need me some 'Cuse apparel for Christmas.

 

I never get to see the 'Cuse play... but thanks to NBC's ridiculous deal to cover Notre Dame football, I got to relish in a great victory.

Phanatic Ponderings

Congratulations to the Philadelphia Phillies--I started rooting for you the minute the Red Sox were eliminated. Ever since the Mike Schmidt era I've had a soft spot in my heart for the Phillies... I loved the 1993 team with Dykstra, Daulton, Schilling, and Kruk... and remember watching them play the World Series in my father's hospital room while he was passing stones.

I enjoyed FOX's celebration montage after the game tonight--showing every available camera angle as Eric Hinske struck out to end the game. It was great fun to watch the reaction of the player, coach, or management type... and to see them run kamikaze style for another body to touch. Amazing how we humans crave human contact in moments like that. It looks funny to see a pile of grown men in long johns, laying on top of each other on the field. But I guess a high-five would be sooo understated.

It's also funny how the first interview after a major sports championship is usually with "The Jesus Christ Guy"--this time it was Phillies' closer, Brad Lidge, a perfect 48-for-48 in save situations this year (including playoffs). I love to see people give testimony to their faith like that... and to watch the broadcasters skip past the comment.  

Though I grew to "hate" the Rays late in this season, I think that Rays manager Joe Maddon is a mad genius--and I enjoyed watching him work. I also get a kick out of Chad Bradford's amazing sidearm delivery. I loved Dan Quisenberry for the same reason.

Best of all, the game ended at 10:00 in the east--someone please start a petition to have all playoff games start at 6:30 so we can get to bed at a decent hour.

And aren't we all relieved that the Rays tied Monday's game before the rain got so heavy things had to be suspended? What a travesty for the Phillies to walk off the field, wait out the rain, and get a championship handed to them without the drama. This offseason we need a rule change regarding rain games in the postseason. Let's make them go nine every time.

Not Happy

My favorite team was eliminated from playoff contention by the hated White Sox. For what it's worth, I've shown my rooting interests for the postseason (see below). I love this time of year.

   

 

     

But I have to say, if it's not the Brewers in the NL, I'll be rooting for the Phillies.

"Albert Pujols, I'd like a Frosty, please!"

I started reading Yogi Berra's book, Ten Rings: My Championship Seasons, and found this far-out factoid: Berra had just won the league MVP award as the Yankees' catcher (in 1951) and got a job with Phil Rizzuto (the team's shortstop) as salesmen at a men's store in Newark. Rizzuto had won the league MVP the season before (1950). This was back in the day when pro ballplayers had to make extra money in the off-season. Can you imagine shopping for a suit and having Jimmy Rollins (2007, NL) and Ryan Howard (2006, NL) measuring you? Or Alex Rodriguez (2007, AL) wearing a sandwich board out front while Justin Morneau (2006, AL) works the cash register inside?

In fact, Yogi measured the sleeve of a 10-year-old kid that off-season and the punk ribbed him with, "Be careful, Yogi. Don't misjudge this like you did that foul ball on Ted Williams."

You may be wondering why I'm reading a book by a Yankee, but the answer is simple: I'm a baseball history fan, and I don't know much about Yogi's on-field acumen, so I was interested. The guy has written a lot of books... but judging from this one, they're not terribly insightful or developed. The book supposedly chronicles his great string of successes (10 World Series titles, 14 WS personal records, 3 MVP awards), but he writes perhaps two pages on each World Series. Very odd.

Author's note: I promise this is not becoming a baseball-only blog. If you miss my antics, read "If I Were a Silverback" from the archives.

The Braves Turn It Around This Weekend

The Atlanta Braves are struggling--but there's no need to throw in the towel or trade Mark Teixeira. The Braves are within reach (see my scenario below) and don't need prospects--just look at the great young talent playing every day for the injured stars. If anything, the Braves need to trade a future star for a solid pitcher or outfielder... to be buyers, not sellers.

If the Braves can sweep the Phillies this weekend, I'll allow the Marlins and Mets one win a piece. This will move the Braves from 6.5 games out to 4.5 games out. They'd improve to 51-53 and be within 1.5 games of Philadelphia, 2.5 games of Florida, and remain in play for the postseason.

Rookie sensation Jair Jurrjens (9-5, 3.22 ERA) and Jorge Campillo (5-4, 2.83) need to win--very doable. The X factor is whether the Braves can top Philly when Jo-Jo Reyes (3-9, 4.95) faces Cole Hamels (9-6, 3.11) on Saturday. We'll see.

johnvano's MLB All-Star Notebook

What a game! Yes, I watched it from the first pitch to the last: 15 full innings and nearly 5 hours. My favorite first baseman, Justin Morneau scored the winning run (also had two hits and a walk).

The pride of Valdosta, GA, J.D. Drew, hit a key homer to tie the game in the 7th, then had a hit in the 11th. He also stole a base and took home the MVP award in Yankee Stadium.

Monday's Festivities

• First, Josh Hamilton's performance in the HR derby was electrifying. His passion for Christ is, too.
• Speaking of the derby, who were those girls they pulled out to represent Minnesota and Texas for the Boys and Girls Club? Show a little enthusiasm, girls.
• You really feel for that fan in the "Call Your Shot" promotion--he got both Morneau and Hamilton when they were spent.
• It was interesting to see the guy with the anger management problem (Milton Bradley) playing the fool during the exhibition: rubbing Hamilton's shoulders, etc.
• Kevin Youkilis is the new Wade Boggs--I love to watch that guy hit.
• Speaking of Boggs, did you see him in the Celebrity/Legends softball game? It was good to see him hit a homer, but he looked a little scary, if you ask me.

The Game

• The game was a clinic on great defense and excellent pitching. I loved the putouts and steals--the pickoffs and the nose picks. Lots were caught on camera.
• Did you see Edison Volquez's glove? It was all natty and torn. A ball could slip through that gap. And is that ballcap of his regulation? It's got a flat brim like he's wearing a cockeyed Frisbee. Later, the Orioles' George Sherrill wore the same style cap.
• The pride of the Cubs, Kosuke Fukudome looked horrible swinging and missing early on... it reminded me of Chris Rock's pathetic strikeout in the softball game.
• Pretty funny to see Yankee's manager Joe Girardi as the bullpen catcher. Later, he sat sociably between two Red Sox players. I can't say the same for the psychopathic Yankees' fans who were merciless to Papelbon in the game. C'mon, he's on your team when he's on that mound. Jerks. I can't wait to see them miss the post-season this year.
• Evan Longoria has arrived--nice game-tying double in the 8th, my friend. Too bad you missed several chances to be a hero later in the game (like countless others).
• Ugh. Dan Uggla grounds into a double play to end the top half of the 10th, then commits two straight errors in the bottom of the inning. Remarkably, the NL escapes a bases-loaded no-out jam. Evan Longoria and Justin Morneau can't get it done with one and two outs respectively. Then, to make matters worse, Uggla strikes out with the bases loaded in the 12th and commits his 3rd error in the 13th--this from a terrific player.
• Great to see my guys in the game. Chipper Jones had the National League's first hit. Justin Morneau won the home run derby and doubled and scored in the 7th, Joe Mauer started for the AL, Joe Nathan was flawless from the mound, and Dustin Pedroia was solid in the field.
• Nice glove work from Adrian Gonzalez at first base for the Nationals. I've been following Nate McClouth all season--great putout from CF to home in the 11th, then he was safe on an attempted sacrifice in the 12th, and hit a warning track drive in the 14th. Russell Martin was clearly impressive as the catcher, but I didn't get to see my favorite catcher, Brian McCann, do anything but pace around the dugout (until the bottom of the 15th).

Interesting Notes

• The worst hats in Major League Baseball? The Colorado Rockies' interlaced "CR."
• One of the great pictures of the night was Mariano Rivera showing Scott Kazmir and Roy Halladay the grip for his cutter. Rivera is a great guy and all, but should he be showing that to guys from his own division? And why wasn't Papelbon hanging out for that lesson?
• That fan behind home plate on his cell phone in the 13th looked like an idiot waving every time the camera was on him. C'mon, you're 50 years old, act your age.

The Commercials

• Here's what I think of that Michael Jordan-Charlie Sheen ad: The first ads in this series focused on famous stars who got giddy and played the fool around Michael Jordan. Some of these were funny (Matthew Perry) and some were amusingly odd (Kevin Bacon), but this one goes over the top and makes Jordan look like a jerk--maybe he is.
• Very cool to see the YouTube ball girl get an endorsement deal--her Gatorade commercial was the first big ad out of the box tonight.
• Those Burger King commercials never disappoint--I loved the won about the seal and the arrogant guy who "just wanted one" (a hamburger).
• I also enjoyed the Dale Jr.-gorilla commercial.

And just think, not a single mention of Brett Favre all night. That would have been akin to A-Rod's free agency announcement during the World Series. Time for bed... my eyes are red as I stare at a 4 1/2 hour night of sleep.

Hold Me

I love the unofficial stats that the MLB (Major League Baseball) comes up with from time to time. These rules are akin to sandwiches offered for "only a limited time" at fast food franchises or "new, improved Tide"--experiments no one is committed to that just might stimulate a bit of business and discussion.

Remember the game-winning RBI? Every box score trumpeted the player who knocked in the run that put the winning team ahead to stay, but in a 9-2 win, who cares that this came during a pivotal 2-2 tie in the 3rd inning?

One stat I've enjoyed in recent years is the hold. Here is a description of it from MLB.com: 

"The hold is not an official statistic, but it was created as a way to credit middle relief pitchers for a job well done. Starting pitchers get wins, and closers--the relief pitchers who come in at the end of the game--get saves, but the guys who pitch in between the two rarely get either statistic. So what's the most important thing one of these middle relievers can do? "Hold" a lead. If a reliever comes into a game to protect a lead, gets at least one out and leaves without giving up that lead, he gets a hold. But you can't get a save and a hold at the same time."

My question is, why should only pitchers on the winning team get credit for a hold? Think of the poor sap putting in mop-up duty after the starter's given up five runs in the first two innings. If he keeps the game close, he gives his teammates an opportunity to come back and win the game. Shouldn't the hold be expanded to include "holding" the opponent scoreless so your team has a chance? It's not an official stat anyway, so throw these middle-inning relievers a bone, huh? It's not like anyone could tell you who holds the single-season or career "holds" record... (Dan Wheeler of Tampa Bay is this season's leader with 20).