Author: JLCS

1-3-1 Sports Field of 68 – January 6th

Posted on by JLCS


PROJECTED SEEDING

The 1 Seeds

Duke, Arizona, Michigan, Louisville

The 2 Seeds

Indiana, Syracuse, Kansas, Gonzaga

The 3 Seeds

Florida, Minnesota, Creighton, NC State

The 4 Seeds

Illinois, Cincinnati, Missouri, New Mexico

The 5 Seeds

Ohio State, UNLV, Butler, Michigan State

The 6 Seeds

Oklahoma State, Wichita State, Colorado, Notre Dame

The 7 Seeds

North Carolina, Miami (FL), VCU, San Diego State

The 8 Seeds

Marquette, Kansas State, Wyoming, Kentucky

The 9 Seeds

Georgetown, Temple, Oklahoma, UCLA

The 10 Seeds

Baylor, Pittsburgh, Maryland, Oregon

The 11 Seeds

Memphis, California, Colorado State, BYU

The 12 Seeds

Mississippi, Tennessee, Belmont, Boise State, Middle Tennessee, Murray State

The 13 Seeds

Bucknell, North Dakota State, Illinois-Chicago, George Mason

The 14 Seeds

Utah State, Akron, Davidson, Canisius

The 15 Seeds

Harvard, Stephen F. Austin, Weber State, Stony Brook

The 16 Seeds

Southern, Florida Gulf Coast, Wagner, UNC-Asheville, Cal Poly, Norfolk State

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BUBBLE ACTION

Last Four In

Mississippi, Tennessee, Belmont, Boise State

First Four Out

Massachusetts, Wisconsin, Saint Louis, Iowa State

Next Four Out

Texas A&M, Florida State, La Salle, Alabama

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CONFERENCE BREAKDOWN

Big East (7), Big Ten (6), MWC (6), Big 12 (5), ACC (5), Pac-12 (5), SEC (5), A-10 (3), WCC (2), MVC (2), OVC (2)

America East – Stony Brook

ACC – Duke, NC State, North Carolina, Miami (FL), Maryland

Atlantic Sun – Florida Gulf Coast

Atlantic 10 – Butler, VCU, Temple

Big East – Louisville, Syracuse, Cincinnati, Notre Dame, Marquette, Georgetown, Pittsburgh

Big Sky – Weber State

Big South – UNC-Asheville

Big Ten – Michigan, Indiana, Minnesota, Illinois, Ohio State, Michigan State

Big 12 – Kansas, Oklahoma State, Kansas State, Oklahoma, Baylor

Big West – Cal Poly

Colonial – George Mason

Conference USA – Memphis

Horizon – Illinois-Chicago

Ivy – Harvard

MAAC – Canisius

MAC – Akron

MEAC – Norfolk State

MVC – Creighton, Wichita State

MWC – New Mexico, UNLV, San Diego State, Wyoming, Colorado State, Boise State

Northeast – Wagner

Ohio Valley – Murray State, Belmont

Pac-12 – Arizona, Colorado, UCLA, Oregon, California

Patriot – Bucknell

SEC – Florida, Missouri, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee

Southern – Davidson

Southland – Stephen F. Austin

Summit – North Dakota State

Sun Belt – Middle Tennessee

SWAC – Southern

WAC – Utah State

WCC – Gonzaga, BYU

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THE BRACKET:
(Click to Enlarge)

 Bracket 1-6-13

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My Tigers Off-Season and Projected 2013 Opening Day Roster

Posted on by JLCS

Free Agency Moves

1. The Tigers exercise Jhonny Peralta’s option. Considering that I’m not a big Jhonny fan, this does not leave me excited. Jhonny’s 2011 season was a career-year anomaly, and we saw a regression to the mean in 2012. I’m also ridiculously tired of people talking about his low error count; it’s a result of his brick-foot range, not some tremendous fielding capabilities. However, the free agent market at shortstop is super thin, and my dreams of trading for Elvis Andrus are unrealistic.

2. The Tigers re-sign Gerald Laird. I laugh every time I see the scoreboard flash “Be Scared of Laird” at Comerica Park, because he’s far from being an intimidating hitter. That being said, he’s a very serviceable backup to Avila and should demand a relatively cheap contract for what he provides.

3. The Tigers DO NOT re-sign Delmon Young. Ninja Turtle Yankee Killer is going to fetch a much higher contract now than he would have if the season ended in September. Regardless of price, I think the Tigers were planning on heading in another direction with the outfield anyway, and V-Mart is going to return to his role as the club’s designated hitter.

4. The Tigers DO NOT re-sign Anibal Sanchez. As much as it pains me to say it, I think the great late-season performance Sanchez put on display for Detroit pushed him out of their price range this offseason. Sanchez would be the fourth starter in the rotation for the Tigers, and I expect Sanchez to sign a big multi-year deal with a team that expects him to take over a role as their number 2 starter.

5. The Tigers exercise Octavio Dotel’s option. Dotel was reliable as the 7th-inning specialist for the Tigers for the majority of the 2012 season, and he brings experience and a wins-driven mentality to the table. Add the fact that his option is relatively affordable, and I think we see him return for another year as the organization’s 7th-inning hurler.

6. The Tigers DO NOT re-sign Jose Valverde. I’m pretty sure that Tigers fans would riot if Dombrowski offered Valverde a contract to stay in Detroit, considering the hell he put them through in the 2012 postseason. Adios, and good riddance, to the fat potato and his chicken bone arms and obscenely torpid delivery to home plate.

7. The Tigers sign Francisco Rodriguez. The man affectionately known as “K-Rod” struggled mightily this year in Milwaukee, logging the highest season ERA and WHIP of his career. This should allow the Tigers to get Rodriguez at a discounted price, and I’m of the belief that this poor showing was the exception in what has otherwise been a stellar career. He’s only 30 years old, he’d join fellow Venezuelans Miguel Cabrera, Brayan Villarreal, and Omar Infante in the clubhouse, and he could take on the role of closer (OR setup man, if Leyland and company believe Benoit would be more well-suited for the 9th inning).

8. The Tigers sign Josh Hamilton. I would much rather see the Tigers go after someone like San Francisco’s Angel Pagan, who could offer a .285 hit clip and 30 stolen bases. However, with fans clamoring for another major offseason signing to push the Tigers over the top, I expect Illitch to open up his pocketbook even further for a (maddeningly inconsistent) power hitter.

Hypothetical Lineup

1. Austin Jackson – CF
2. Victor Martinez – DH
3. Miguel Cabrera – 3B
4. Prince Fielder – 1B
5. Josh Hamilton – LF
6. Andy Dirks – RF
7. Jhonny Peralta – SS
8. Alex Avila – C
9. Omar Infante – 2B

Hypothetical Rotation

1. Justin Verlander
2. Doug Fister
3. Max Scherzer
4. Rick Porcello
5. Drew Smyly

Hypothetical Bullpen

1. Phil Coke, LHP
2. Brayan Villarreal, MRP – RHP
3. Al Alburquerque, MRP – RHP
4. Darin Downs, MRP – LHP
5. Octavio Dotel, Gap Pitcher/7th inning specialist
6. Joaquin Benoit, Setup Man
7. Francisco Rodriguez, Closer

Who in the Hell Decided on the Paul Bunyan Trophy?

Posted on by JLCS

Tomorrow, two football teams will take the field in Ann Arbor, MI and wage a battle for one of the most abominable-looking trophies in all of sports. Those two teams are the University of Michigan Wolverines and the Michigan State Spartans, and that trophy is the Paul Bunyan Trophy (not to be confused with Paul Bunyan’s Axe, the ill-conceived replacement reward for the winner of the Minnesota/Wisconsin game, which replaced the apparently outmoded, but nonetheless fantastic, Slab of Bacon they used to play for).

Make no mistake about it – this is a rivalry game for both teams, regardless of what some Michigan fans may say otherwise. Yes, Ohio State is a more loathed (and respected) rival, but that doesn’t take away from the ferocity and barbarity on display between fans and players when these two in-state adversaries meet on the gridiron.

Through my experiences in the rivalry, I can say that the fan bases from each respective school love nothing more than to make sweeping generalizations about each other. Michigan fans seem to believe Michigan State fans and the school itself both have an inferiority complex, and wish so desperately that they could be as cool as the University of Michigan and their fans. In perfect contrast, Michigan State fans tend to believe that Michigan fans and the school itself could not be more pompous and full of egocentrism, like the over-confident popular kid in high school. I’m of the belief that both of these widely-held viewpoints hold some validity; however, to say that they are representative of even a majority of the fan base of either side would be a gross hyperbole. The whole “Little Brother” fiasco is a perfect example of this.

I’m not going to beat around the bush or try to hide my affiliation; I am a University of Michigan alumnus. Thus, I do get a kick out of referring to Michigan State University as little brother, but only because of how bent out of shape Spartans get when I do this. It’s just like what they teach you in elementary school as a kid – when someone teases you, if you react strongly, they’re going to keep doing it to get on your nerves. When you learn how to ignore it and show them that it no longer bothers you, then odds are they will stop doing it. Another potentially effective method is to win four consecutive games in the rivalry.

In any of the most recent football-related tete-a-tetes between fans from these schools, the Spartan representative is almost certainly going to bring up the last four years. A young, naive Wolverine will inevitably resort to one of two responses – (A) Highlighting the prestigious history of the University of Michigan football program, or (B) Belittling Michigan State academics and the students who attend the university. It’s identical to the “Little Brother” theory, but is achieved simply as a result of a different mechanism. Michigan fans are unnecessarily embarrassed about losing to Michigan State in football 4 years running now, so they get defensive and resort to desperation; it’s just silly. Michigan State had a better football team than Michigan in 2008, 2009, and 2010, and they outplayed an evenly matched Michigan team in 2011 – it’s really that simple. The best thing to do as a Michigan fan right now is to stop rubbing salt in your own wound and focus on forward-thinking, i.e. what’s going to happen this year?

Brady Hoke is undefeated at home as Michigan’s head football coach. Unlike the past 4 years, Michigan is back to having a better, more athletic football team this year than Michigan State. Michigan is coming off two blowout victories and Michigan State just suffered a heartbreaking overtime loss to Iowa on their homecoming weekend. The majority of sportsbooks in Vegas are giving the Spartans 10 points. All signs point to Michigan finally ending the streak.

Nevertheless, signs have been wrong before in sports. All you have to do is take one look at the Cleveland Indians from back in the day – who would have thought in mid-July of that fateful year that Ricky Vaughn, Willie Mayes Hayes, and Pedro Cerrano would lead the Tribe to the postseason? But, I digress. I’m going to be cheering on the Wolverines as vigorously as possible come 3:30 PM on Saturday, and I hope for my own personal sanity that they are able to finally put this thing to bed, so I can stop hearing the conveniently arbitrary number of days since Michigan last won a game in the series.

Joe’s Weekly NFL Picks (Week 3)

Posted on by JLCS

I had a rough go of it with last week’s picks, including my mortal lock that the Pats would win. In case you missed it, they were stunned by the Cardinals after a last-second field goal attempt by Stephen Gostkowski sailed wide. Here’s hoping I can turn it around this week!

WEEK 2 RECORD: 9-7
SEASON RECORD: 20-12

WEEK 3

THU, SEP 20

8:20 PM ET, NY Giants @ Carolina – Eli Manning threw for enough passing yards to cover two games last week, and it might take a near-repeat performance to go into Carolina and snag a win. It will be interesting to see how the Giants handle the backfield with Ahmad Bradshaw’s mysterious neck injury.
PICK: Giants, 28-21.
CONFIDENCE: 6

SUN, SEP 23

1:00 PM ET, St. Louis @ Chicago – Chicago as a team isn’t nearly as bad as they played in last week’s Thursday night debacle at Green Bay. I expect Jay Cutler and company to bounce back against a mediocre St. Louis team.
PICK: Bears, 27-23.
CONFIDENCE: 10

1:00 PM ET, Tampa Bay @ Dallas – I really have no idea what to make of either of these teams. Tampa Bay should be 2-0, but their secondary went from glory to goat in the 4th quarter last week. Dallas managed to do what Tampa Bay couldn’t by beating the Giants, and I like how Dallas plays at home.
PICK: Cowboys, 24-20.
CONFIDENCE: 4

1:00 PM ET, San Francisco @ Minnesota – Some people say to hide your mistakes and sweep them under the rug as a writer, but I REFUSE! Last week, my 16-point confidence pick was the Patriots to take care of business against the Cardinals. As I brought up in my open, I was WRONG. WRONG. WRONG. There is just no way it happens two weeks in a row with this lopsided matchup on the slate of games, right?
PICK: 49ers, 24-14.
CONFIDENCE: 16

1:00 PM ET, Detroit @ Tennessee – Jake Locker looks like a confused little boy out on the field, and I feel bad for him and CJ2K in their futile attempts to play behind that atrocity of an offensive line. Detroit should be able to handle their business on the road here if they think they’re a playoff team.
PICK: Lions, 31-20.
CONFIDENCE: 11

1:00 PM ET, Cincinnati @ Washington – Through two games, RGIII looks like the real deal; however, it’s only 2 games. That being said, Brandon Weeden looked like Dan Marino last week when he torched the Bengals’ defense for 300+ yards and two scores. Expect the man who refuses to display the Nike logo to have a field day this week.
PICK: Redskins, 27-24.
CONFIDENCE: 5

1:00 PM ET, NY Jets @ Miami – I don’t think Reggie Bush can maintain his current pace the entire season, and I haven’t seen anything from Ryan Tannehill that leads me to believe he can beat a solid team. This leads me to my next point: victories over the Raiders should only be worth ¾ of a win this year.
PICK: Jets, 20-17.
CONFIDENCE: 7

1:00 PM ET, Kansas City @ New Orleans – Both these teams are 0-2, but only one of them is really as bad as their record indicates. Hint: It’s NOT the Saints. I expect to see a lot of passing yards in what should be a very high-scoring affair.
PICK: Saints, 34-24.
CONFIDENCE: 14

1:00 PM ET, Buffalo @ Cleveland – C.J. Spiller…and that’s all I have to say about that.
PICK: Bills, 27-13.
CONFIDENCE: 9

1:00 PM ET, Jacksonville @ Indianapolis – Back in the mid-2000’s, you’d expect a classic battle for the AFC South division lead when these two rivals squared off. Nowadays, you have a mediocre team led by a rookie quarterback playing at home against an awful team led by a second-year signal-caller. Go ahead and give me the mediocre home team.
PICK: Colts, 24-21.
CONFIDENCE: 8

4:05 PM ET, Philadelphia @ Arizona – The Cardinals are SERIOUSLY 2-0? You serious Clark? The Eagles are also 2-0, and have managed to win not one, but BOTH of their games by exactly 1 point. I think the Eagles are for real, and I think the Cardinals are frauds.
PICK: Eagles, 24-17.
CONFIDENCE: 12

4:05 PM ET, Atlanta @ San Diego – Another matchup of undefeated teams, although in this case, I believe both these teams are playoff-caliber. The Chargers have looked great, but they’ve played Tennessee and Oakland, so it’s hard to put a ton of stock into those victories. Atlanta has looked great as well, and they actually have a victory over a legitimate opponent in Denver. I think the Falcons make the long trip out West and snag a close victory.
PICK: Falcons, 24-23.
CONFIDENCE: 2

4:25 PM ET, Houston @ Denver – Until either team proves me wrong, I’m sticking to my preseason Super Bowl picks of Houston and San Francisco. That doesn’t mean I think either team is infallible, and I think this week the Texans show it, as Peyton Manning orchestrates a come-from-behind, game-winning drive in the final minutes at home.
PICK: Broncos, 27-24.
CONFIDENCE: 1

4:25 PM ET, Pittsburgh @ Oakland – The Raiders are the worst team in the NFL, and they don’t really have a reasonable chance to win a game until they play Jacksonville in week 7.
PICK: Steelers, 27-17.
CONFIDENCE: 15

8:3 0 PM ET, New England @ Baltimore – Both these teams have to be severely disappointed in their 1-1 records, but they have no one to blame but themselves. Baltimore is a better team this year, and in my opinion, the only serious threat to the Texans in the AFC.
PICK: Ravens, 27-24.
CONFIDENCE: 3

MON, SEP 24

8:35 PM ET Green Bay @ Seattle – I know Russell Wilson is a great playmaker, but I also believe that Seattle expects him to be more of a “game manager” than a “game changer”. I think his attempts to keep up with A-Rod and the Packers offense will cause him to force some throws, resulting in a couple costly interceptions and a Seattle defeat.
PICK: Packers, 31-17.
CONFIDENCE: 13

Joe’s Weekly NFL Picks (Week 2)

Posted on by JLCS

This week, I’ve added a confidence level I have in making each pick. The confidence levels range from 1 to 16, where 16 is the pick I have the most confidence in, and 1 is the pick I have the least confidence in.

WEEK 1 RECORD: 11-5
SEASON RECORD: 11-5

WEEK 2

THU, SEP 13

8:20 PM ET, Chicago @ Green Bay – A lot of weapons on offense for both teams should make this an exciting game to watch. In the end, I think there is no way Aaron Rodgers starts the season out 0-2 at home.
PICK: Packers, 28-24.
CONFIDENCE: 11

SUN, SEP 16

1:00 PM ET, Tampa Bay @ NY Giants – The Giants are looking to bounce back from that embarrassing loss to the Cowboys in Week 1, and I have very little doubt that Eli and Co. will be successful.
PICK: Giants, 24-17.
CONFIDENCE: 14

1:00 PM ET, Oakland @ Miami – Reggie Bush versus Darren McFadden. Go ahead and give me McFadden.
PICK: Raiders, 20-16.
CONFIDENCE: 7

1:00 PM ET, Houston @ Jacksonville – Houston rolled over the Dolphins in week 1 as expected, while Jacksonville suffered a deflating loss in overtime. I think the hangover from that game trickles over into this week.
PICK: Texans, 28-17.
CONFIDENCE: 15

1:00 PM ET, Cleveland @ Cincinnati – Tim Couch. Ty Detmer. Doug Pederson. Kelly Holcomb. Jeff Garcia. Trent Dilfer. Charlie Frye. Derek Anderson. Brady Quinn. Colt McCoy…ANDDDDD Brandon Weeden. WOW. Just wow.
PICK: Bengals, 21-17.
CONFIDENCE: 13

1:00 PM ET, Kansas City @ Buffalo – Both these teams allowed 40+ points in blowout losses last week, so I’m going to pick the Chiefs, because they actually played against a legitimately good team.
PICK: Chiefs, 24-21.
CONFIDENCE: 5

1:00 PM ET, Baltimore @ Philadelphia – This is probably an extremely dumb pick, considering how GOOD the Ravens new high-flying offense looked week 1, and how BAD Mike Vick looked on his way to four week 1 interceptions. Something tells me Vick rights the ship this week in another close victory.
PICK: Eagles, 28-27.
CONFIDENCE: 2

1:00 PM ET, New Orleans @ Carolina – This should be a game filled with a lot of fireworks of the offensive variety. If I’m not mistaken, I believe the laws regarding fireworks are a little more lax in Louisiana.
PICK: Saints, 35-24.
CONFIDENCE: 8

1:00 PM ET, Arizona @ New England – One word: Bloodbath.
PICK: Patriots, 34-17.
CONFIDENCE: 16

1:00 PM ET, Minnesota @ Indianapolis – Andrew Luck struggled throwing the deep ball in week 1, while Christian Ponder looked surprisingly efficient and effective. I think Luck will have a better game this week, but I think the Vikings do just enough to squeak out a victory.
PICK: Vikings, 20-17.
CONFIDENCE: 1

4:05 PM ET, Washington @ St. Louis – The Rams secondary had Matt Stafford’s number last week, picking off the Lions quarterback 3 times, and they still managed to lose. RGIII looked NFL-ready versus the Saints, and I think he leads the Skins to another W this week.
PICK: Redskins, 24-21.
CONFIDENCE: 4

4:05 PM ET, Dallas @ Seattle – Seattle had no business losing to Arizona in week 1 and they should come out pretty fired up this week. However, I think Dallas is the better team, and I believe they show it by going on the road and snagging a win in a nail-biter.
PICK: Cowboys, 21-20.
CONFIDENCE: 6

4:25 PM ET, NY Jets @ Pittsburgh – Peyton Manning picked apart the vaunted Steelers defense in week 1, but Mark Sanchez most certainly IS NOT Peyton Manning. I expect Mike Wallace to be a bigger part of the offense for Pittsburgh this week, now that he got paid and is back in game shape.
PICK: Steelers, 24-20.
CONFIDENCE: 9

4:25 PM ET, Tennessee @ San Diego – Chris Johnson had 11 carries for a whopping 4 yards in week 1. It’s hard for me to pick a team that can’t move the ball to save their lives on the ground, so give me the Bolts.
PICK: Chargers, 27-21.
CONFIDENCE: 10

8:20 PM ET, Detroit @ San Francisco – The oh-so-hyped handshake-gate rematch is finally upon us. If it was being played in Detroit, I’d probably flip a coin. However, it’s on the West coast, and Candlestick is a tough place to go in to and get a victory these days.
PICK: 49ers, 27-21.
CONFIDENCE: 12

MON, SEP 17

8:30 PM ET Denver @ Atlanta – This Monday-night matchup is just as even as last week’s, but features two much better teams. Peyton Manning is a better quarterback than Matt Ryan, but Ryan’s supporting cast is so good that it’s almost unfair.
PICK: Falcons, 28-24.
CONFIDENCE: 3

Joe’s Weekly NFL Picks (Week 1)

Posted on by JLCS

WED, SEP 5

Dallas @ NY Giants – Too many injuries for the Cowboys to knock off the defending Super Bowl champs on the road.
PICK: Giants, 24-21.

SUN, SEP 9

Indianapolis @ Chicago – Will Peyton Manning’s protege, rookie quarterback Andrew Luck, go into Soldier Field and win his first NFL game against this defensive unit? Short answer: Nope.
PICK: Bears, 27-14.

Philadelphia @ Cleveland – All of Philadelphia’s offensive weapons are finally healthy, Vick included. The Cleveland QB carousel continues, with Weeden being thrown to the dogs against Philly’s tough pass rush.
PICK: Eagles, 31-7.

New England @ Tennessee – It will be interesting to see how Tom Brady and off-season acquisition Brandon Lloyd gel. I am also interested to see how much Josh McDaniels uses Stevan Ridley.
PICK: Patriots, 31-20.

Atlanta @ Kansas City – Arrowhead is always a tough place to play, but something tells me that offense wins out against defense in this match-up; Ryan is efficient, and the Falcons have weapons all over the place.
PICK: Falcons, 24-14.

Jacksonville @ Minnesota – I don’t expect either of these teams to do much this season with second-year quarterbacks at the helm. I guess that means I should probably take the home team.
PICK: Vikings, 20-17.

Washington @ New Orleans – Something tells me that even with the suspensions across the board, the Saints won’t lose their home opener against a rookie signal caller.
PICK: Saints, 35-17.

Buffalo @ NY Jets – I can’t wait to watch this offensive thrill-ride! And by offensive thrill-ride, I mean offensive debacle of course. You know what that means? I believe the Jets will actually finally score an offensive touchdown…OR EVEN TWO!
PICK: Jets, 16-13.

St. Louis @ Detroit – St. Louis loves to pound the rock on the ground with S-Jax, and the Lions have one hell of an aerial attack. In the modern-day NFL, with the rules they have in place, the edge in these two contrasting styles ALMOST always goes to the team that can pass.
PICK: Lions, 31-21.

Miami @ Houston – With Schaub back at the helm, I expect the Texans to be a Super Bowl contender this year. With Tannehill at the helm, I expect the Dolphins to be a first-pick-in-the-NFL-Draft contender this year.
PICK: Texans, 35-13.

San Francisco @ Green Bay – NFC Championship preview in week 1…let me snag some popcorn and soda for this one. It is my humble opinion (and the correct opinion) that Aaron Rodgers is the best offensive player in the NFL, and Patrick Willis is the best defensive player in the NFL. I give the cheeseheads the edge because this one is at Lambeau.
PICK: Packers, 24-23.

Seattle @ Arizona – I’m glad the 49ers/Packers game is one of the late afternoon games, because I wouldn’t want to be stuck watching this mess. I’m sorry if I can’t get excited about the Skelton vs. Wilson match-up behind center. I think the Seahawks defense ends up being the difference.
PICK: Seahawks, 20-17.

Carolina @ Tampa Bay – Can Josh Freeman bounce back to the 2010 version of himself? Can Cam Newton recreate the year he had in 2011? Is Vincent Jackson still a soft diva afraid to go over the middle? The answers to all these questions should start to unfold in week 1. I’m saying the answers are no, sorta, and indubitably, respectively.
PICK: Panthers, 27-20.

Pittsburgh @ Denver – Let the Peyton Manning era begin in Denver, and may the odds ever be in his favor. Seriously though, I wonder if he has nightmares of idiot-kicker Mike Vanderjagt’s kick sailing wide every time he plays against the Steelers. It may only be the regular season, but he gets semi-vicarious revenge through the leg of Matt Prater.
PICK: Broncos, 23-21.

MON, SEP 10

Cincinnati @ Baltimore – I think this year is the last go-round for Ed Reed and Ray-Ray, and I think the Baltimore defense is still good enough to compete for a Super Bowl. If Flacco can avoid mistakes and Ray Rice can stay healthy, I expect a great year; I expect it to start week 1.
PICK: Ravens, 24-14.

San Diego @ Oakland – This one is a coin flip, and it should be a great cap to week 1 action in the NFL. I expect Philip Rivers to throw for 300+ yards, and McFadden to run for 125+ yards. Remember what I said earlier about teams that can pass versus teams that can run? Well, I don’t want to be a hypocrite…so I won’t be a hypocrite.
PICK: Chargers, 27-24.

1-3-1 College Football Preseason Top 15

Posted on by JLCS

I’m going to preface this article by completely contradicting the entire basis of writing it, and I feel it’s necessary to warn our readers. I think preseason rankings in college football (and college basketball for that matter) are pointless. That’s right, I said pointless. I suggest you digest that concept for a second, and then I will tell you why I said it.

We haven’t seen any of the teams play in months, and in most cases, we will be seeing a vastly different product on the field from one year to the next, due to the constantly revolving coaching carousel and player departures.  Furthermore, these rankings often also serve as a convenient means for pollsters and media to fulfill their incessant need to overhype early season non-conference matchups. I fear that these rankings too frequently revolve around name recognition and propaganda, rather than the projected product that each team will put on the football field.

Now that I’ve got that off my chest, I’m going to go into my hemi-contradiction and offer my personal preseason college football top 15. Why did I say hemi-contradiction? Well, I said that because I plan on establishing my top 15 rankings by actually breaking down each team’s offensive and defensive units and ranking these teams with a blind eye to the names that will be featured on their jerseys.

1. USC

Offense Grade: A+. Matt Barkley is the odds on favorite to win the Heisman this year, and why wouldn’t he be? He gets to throw to the ball to Robert Woods and Marqise Lee the entire season. Throw in the addition of Penn State defect Silas Redd to a backfield that already featured a solid presence in the form of thousand-yard rusher Curtis McNeal, and you have an offense that can put up points very quickly and very efficiently.

Defense Grade: B+. This unit is talented, but somewhat thin and relatively inexperienced. Devon Kennard’s preseason torn pectoral muscle has made an already shallow defensive line unit even thinner. However, USC‘s defense can count their blessings for having such a talented offensive unit; this should force opposing offenses to become predictable as they try to keep up with the juggernaut that is Barkley and Co.

Odds of being BCS National Champion: 7/2

2. Alabama

Offense Grade: A-. The Crimson Tide get last year’s national championship-winning signal caller back in the form of A.J. McCarron, and he will be protected by the best offensive line in college football. It hurts that Cris Carter’s son, promising young wide receiver Duron Carter, is no longer with the team. However, running back Eddie Lacy should help take a good portion of the load off McCarron’s shoulders.

Defense Grade: A. Replacing a handful of key starters from one of the top defenses in college football won’t be an easy task. The new members of this defense will require fans to have a program handy to learn the new names. However, with another elite recruiting class stepping onto campus, don’t expect a huge drop in production this year; Kirby Smart and Nick Saban will have this unit reloaded and ready to roll.

Odds of being BCS National Champion: 9/2

3. LSU

Offense Grade: A-. With the exit of Jordan Jefferson and Jarrett Lee, Zach Mettenberger’s long-awaited debut as LSU’s starting quarterback will finally come to fruition. However, the strength on this side of the ball lies in the legs of Michael Ford, Spencer Ware, and Alfred Blue, an insanely deep and talented running back trio. They should have a very good offensive line to run behind with the return of Hurst and Faulk at the tackle positions.

Defense Grade: A. This unit lost All-American starting corners Morris Claiborne to the NFL draft and Tyrann Mathieu to an apparent synthetic marijuana addiction. Why the A, then? Well, how do you mask a lack of experience at corner? You can start by having the best defensive line in college football. No opposing quarterback will remain calm when they see Sam Montgomery and Barkevious Mingo on the other side of the line of scrimmage.

Odds of being BCS National Champion: 6/1

4. Florida State

Offense Grade: A-. 5th-year senior E.J. Manuel is back for his final year leading the Seminoles offense. Manuel is a proven playmaker, and the Seminoles’ rotation at receiver should be talented and deep this season. If Chris Thompson can play like his pre-injury old self, then Jimbo Fisher will have game-changers at all the skill positions. Fans of the Garnet and Gold just have to hope the offensive line isn’t as porous as it was in 2011.

Defense Grade: A. I already said LSU has the best defensive line in the country; Florida State’s D-line is a very close second. Florida State has one of the best defensive units it has had in the past decade, and it all begins up front. Defensive End Brandon Jenkins has the most career sacks of any active player heading into 2012, and Bjoern Werner is a stud as well. However, it is the dismissal of senior CB Greg Reid that prevents this unit from receiving an A.

Odds of being BCS National Champion: 7/1

5. Oregon

Offense Grade: A-. I can’t say I am honestly surprised that Mariota won the starting job in Eugene; he possesses the skill set required to be successful in Chip Kelly’s offense and has a more accurate arm than Bennett. The loss of Lavasier Tuinei’s leadership and hands will hurt, but how can you not love an offense that gets to put Kenjon Barner and De’Anthony Thomas on the field at the same time?

Defense Grade: A-. John Boyett is the undisputed spearhead of this solid defense as a four-year starter, and Kiko Alonso is an NFL-ready middle linebacker with great size and speed. Add a very stout defensive line and some young, but experienced corners, and Oregon probably has the best defense in the PAC-12. We’ll see how they match up with USC’s explosive offense in the regular-season duel in Los Angeles, and most likely again in the PAC-12 championship game.

Odds of being BCS National Champion: 8/1

6. Georgia

Offense Grade: A-. This could’ve been a straight A unit if not for the dismissal of 2011 SEC Freshman of the Year, running back Isaiah Crowell. Nonetheless, Aaron Murray is a dark horse Heisman candidate and Tavarres King should band together with his fellow receivers to offer plenty of options for their talented quarterback. The stability of the veterans on the offensive line should help make Mark Richt’s offense one of the most efficient in the SEC.

Defense Grade: B+. The Bulldog’s defense is anchored by the best defensive player in all of college football this year – Jarvis Jones. Jones is an absolute menace, physically imposing his will on blockers and relentlessly flying to the ball. It seems that the back seven of this unit should be fine, but it must be said that the defensive line isn’t exactly intimidating.

Odds of being BCS National Champion: 15/1

7. Oklahoma

Offense Grade: A. The remote possibility of lingering struggles with inaccuracy that plagued Landry Jones in 2011…that’s the only thing stopping me from giving this unit an A+. The fairy tale of walk-on Dominique Whaley should continue, as he has the capability to be All-Big 12 this year if he fully recovers from a horrific broken ankle. Add an experienced offensive line and Kenny Stills and Trey Metoyer on the outside, and you have a recipe for some offensive fireworks all season in Norman.

Defense Grade: B. The Sooners’ defense is filled with upperclassmen that have matured together to form a cohesive, experienced unit. The problem is, the individual pieces that make up the defense are lacking something – talent. If Mike Stoops can work just a little magic under his brother, the boys in Crimson and Cream might be able to play for a national title on the wings of the offense.

Odds of being BCS National Champion: 12/1

8. Arkansas

Offense Grade: A. Knile Davis led the SEC in rushing in 2010 before going down just prior to the 2011 season with injury. Now that he is on the mend, his running ability should open up the field for Tyler Wilson, making both these guys longshot Heisman contenders. Cobi Hamilton and Chris Gragg are large, speedy, and tough. They will give Wilson two solid, potentially outstanding go-to receivers.

Defense Grade: B. In a league where the best athletes typically end up on the defensive side of the ball, Arkansas has flipped the script. Alonzo Highsmith was the one bright spot for this defense in 2011, and he needs to rally the troops to perform at a higher level if Arkansas expects to compete with LSU and Alabama in the SEC West.

Odds of being BCS National Champion: 20/1

9. Wisconsin

Offense Grade: A-. Wisconsin employed their ACC QB-transfer acceptance strategy again this season, bringing in Danny O’Brien from Maryland. I just want to clarify something – Danny O’Brien is not the same caliber player Russell Wilson was, and it’s not even close. That being said, Wisconsin still has arguably the best offensive line in college football, and unarguably the best running back in college football in Montee Ball.

Defense Grade: B+. Chris Borland and Mike Taylor both registered 140+ tackles for the Badgers last season from the linebacker position, and the tremendously talented duo will anchor an improving defensive unit yet again this season. The Badgers’ secondary has multiple key players returning from previous injuries and should mesh to form a solid back four.

Odds of being BCS National Champion: 25/1

10. Michigan State

Offense Grade: B. The Spartans lost key players at every skill position to the 2012 NFL Draft, so this unit will lack experience beyond workhorse running back Le’Veon Bell and his viable back-up, Larry Caper. However, Bell is capable of going for 1,200+ yards if he stays healthy. The departure of team leader Kirk Cousins will thrust the very capable, but inexperienced backup Andrew Maxwell into the spotlight under center. Unfortunately, the losses of the sure-handed B.J. Cunningham and super-elusive Keshawn Martin removes two huge weapons Michigan State possessed the last several years which helped them move the chains.

Defense Grade: A. If the Spartans plan on fending off Nebraska and in-state rival Michigan in the Big Ten Legends Division, it’ll start on the defensive side of the ball. The green and white faithful will quickly forget about the departure of man-eating defensive tackle Jerel Worthy, as Vanderbilt transfer James Kittredge should team up with William Gholston to wreak havoc up front. Denicos Allen and Max Bullough head up a linebacker core that figures to be one of the best in the country. Finally, for the first time in a long time, the corner position will be a definitive strength for the Spartans, as All-Big Ten talent Johnny Adams teams up with the continually improving Darqueze Dennard.

Odds of being BCS National Champion: 30/1

11. South Carolina

Offense Grade: B+. The Gamecocks have the best running back in college football not named Montee Ball, in the form of half-man, half-machine Marcus Lattimore. If Lattimore can stay healthy, he’ll be a definite contender for the Heisman in 2012.Connor Shaw is the undisputed starter this season under center.  He played like a winner in 2011 while replacing nogoodnik Stephen Garcia, and he should continue to do so in 2012. He has refined running and passing skills, and an offseason of starter work will make him that much better.

Defense Grade: B+. This unit is solid across the board, with no noticeable weaknesses, but no overwhelming strengths…well, okay, one overwhelming strength – Jadeveon Clowney. Clowney lived up to the hype last season, bringing an unbelievably athletic game to an already menacing defensive line. I pity the lineman that is forced to line up across from this mutant and attempt to block him; he’s an absolute freak of nature.

Odds of being BCS National Champion: 30/1

12. Michigan

Offense Grade: A-. Denard Robinson is a lightning rod; he’s the most exciting player to watch in college football, but he is often one of the most erratic as well. Nevertheless, Michigan’s signal caller will be in his second year in Al Borges’ West-Coast system, so expect to see more consistency out of Shoelace in the passing game. Pending his currently indefinite suspension, Michigan also returns thousand-yard rusher Fitzgerald Touissant, and has lots of experience on an offensive line anchored by the best tackle in the Big Ten, Taylor Lewan.

Defense Grade: B. The Michigan defense made great strides in their first year under Greg Mattison, and I expect (modest) improvement to continue for the defenders in maize and blue. That being said, Mattison can only do so much with the talent he has; the stout Michigan defense of old won’t return for another season or two. The back seven features a solid all-around cast, including tackling guru Kenny Demens at the middle linebacker spot. Outside the presence of Craig Roh, the loss of both Ryan Van Bergen and Mike Martin to the NFL leaves the Wolverines thin and inexperienced up front.

Odds of being BCS National Champion: 30/1

13. West Virginia

Offense Grade: A-. Geno Smith is a gamer and should be able to pick apart Big 12 defenses without much of a problem this season, but the real game-changer on this side of the ball is wide receiver Tavon Austin. Austin led the nation in all-purpose yards last season, and his explosive speed and playmaking ability will be displayed regularly for Mountaineer fans—much to the detriment of the opposition’s defensive strategies. Both Smith and Austin should be considered dark horse Heisman candidates.

Defense Grade: B. Though the defense is breaking in a new 3-4 and 4-3 hybrid defensive scheme, the unit does return seven starters from 2011. The experience on the defense is in the secondary, with players like Darwin Cook and Pat Miller; the move to the pass-happy Big 12 makes the back four that much more important. Having said that, I still believe Terence Garvin is the unquestioned leader of the Mountaineer defense, and is arguably the best athlete on that side of the ball as well.

Odds of being BCS National Champion: 35/1

14. Texas

Offense Grade: B-. David Ash has won the starting job for the boys in burnt orange, but God only knows how long that will last. The Longhorns have a stable of somewhat talented young running backs, but the three of them splitting carries is going to limit their opportunities to have an impact. That said, the offensive line is going to be key to success, whether in the passing game or rushing attack. If the offensive line lacks consistency, it’s going to be a very long season.

Defense Grade: A+. Defensive ends Jackson Jeffcoat and Alex Okafor head one of the scariest, most-talented defenses in the country. The two combined for 14.5 sacks in 2011 and have the potential to hit the 20-sack level between them this season. The breakout star of the defense this year might be junior Jordan Hicks, who finally started to play to his potential in the Holiday Bowl. The Horns haven’t had a truly great linebacker since Derrick Johnson went to the NFL, so we’ll see if Hicks can finally live up to his billing for a full season.

Odds of being BCS National Champion: 25/1

15. Virginia Tech

Offense Grade: B-. Going into the 2012 season, the biggest question facing the Hokies is how they will replace the loss of eight offensive starters. Luckily for the Va Tech faithful, junior quarterback Logan Thomas returns this season. With Thomas behind center, the Hokies have the pieces on offense to be at least decent in 2012. Outside of Logan Thomas, at 6’4″ and 230-pounds, wide receiver Marcus Davis is a rare athlete who has the talent to be one of the top receivers in the country.

Defense Grade: A. This defense is loaded with talent and experience, and I would expect nothing different from a team coached by Frank Beamer. The star of the unit might be corner Kyle Fuller; his 14.5 tackles for loss led the team last year, and he demonstrated versatility, playing the nickel linebacker spot, as well as corner last year.

Odds of being BCS National Champion: 40/1

Other Teams that received consideration: Clemson, Nebraska, Florida, Notre Dame

My Foray into the NHL Playoffs

Posted on by JLCS

I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t know as much about hockey as I’d like to, nor do I know as much about the sport now as I did 10 years ago, when I was a pretty hardcore Wings fan and (roller) hockey player. That’s not going to stop me from trying to outsmart and out-pick the hockey heavyweights (Walker and Hunter) here at Put Away the Whistle. I’ve been paying attention, so here goes my best effort:

Eastern Conference

1. New York Rangers vs 8. Ottawa Senators

Offense: Advantage Ottawa.
Defense: Advantage New York.
Goaltending: Advantage New York.
Power Play: Advantage Ottawa.
Penalty Kill: Advantage New York.

I guess we’re about to find out if the Rangers are as real as the 1-seed might indicate. Ottawa possesses decent scoring ability between Jason Spezza, Daniel Alfredsson, and Milan Michalek. However, they can’t play defense to save their collective lives, so go ahead and give me…

Rangers in 6

2. Boston Bruins vs 7. Washington Capitals

Offense: Advantage Boston.
Defense: Advantage Boston.
Goaltending: Advantage Boston.
Power Play: Push.
Penalty Kill: Advantage Boston.

Ovie has really fallen off this year, only managing to scrap together 65 points this season. Don’t get me wrong, that’s not awful; however, it is disappointing for a player of his caliber. Tim Thomas is, in fact, a boss, and I believe the Bruins are capable of admirably defending their title from last season. I’ve got…

Bruins in 5

3. Florida Panthers vs. 6. New Jersey Devils

Offense: Advantage New Jersey.
Defense: Push.
Goaltending: Push.
Power Play: Advantage Florida.
Penalty Kill: Advantage New Jersey.

I can’t believe in Florida when they have Jose Theodore in net; I also can’t believe in Florida when they don’t really have any particularly dynamic goal scorers. Thus, by default, give me…

Devils in 6

4. Pittsburgh Penguins vs 5. Philadelphia Flyers

Offense: Slight Advantage Pittsburgh.
Defense: Push.
Goaltending: Advantage Pittsburgh.
Power Play: Push.
Penalty Kill: Advantage Pittsburgh.

I’ll channel my inner Mugatu – Bryzgalov is SO HOT right now. The guy was 11-3-1 in the final month of the season, with four shutouts and a .939 save percentage. The bad news for him and his Flyer brethren is that they’re going up against the highest-scoring team in the NHL in the Pittsburgh Penguins. I’ll take…

Penguins in 5
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Western Conference

1. Vancouver Canucks vs. 8. Los Angeles Kings

Offense: Advantage Vancouver.
Defense: Advantage Los Angeles.
Goaltending: Push.
Power Play: Advantage Vancouver.
Penalty Kill: Push.

It’s hard to pick against the Sedin twins; however, Daniel’s recovery from the concussion he suffered in March has made me second-guess the confidence I had in this pick. Jonathan Quick’s tremendous ability to keep the puck out of the net made me third-guess my second-guess. In the end, by the smallest of margins, I’m gonna pick…

Canucks in 7

2. St. Louis Blues vs. 7. San Jose Sharks

Offense: Advantage San Jose.
Defense: Advantage St. Louis.
Goaltending: Advantage St. Louis.
Power Play: Advantage San Jose.
Penalty Kill:  Advantage St. Louis.

When you have a goaltending pair like Halak and Elliott, you have to feel pretty good about your chances in the playoffs. However, St. Louis has had some trouble scoring against good teams this season. Nonetheless, the Blues need to be careful, because you never know when douche-of-a-captain Joe Thornton is gonna take a few more pathetic dives like this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=defOE1Ewxsk. What a Nancy; I can’t pick any team he captains, so I guess that means…

Blues in 7

3. Pheonix Coyotes vs. 6. Chicago Blackhawks

Offense: Advantage Chicago.
Defense: Advantage Phoenix.
Goaltending: Advantage Phoenix.
Power Play: Advantage Chicago.
Penalty Kill: Advantage Phoenix.

The Blackhawks have the second worst goals against mark of all playoff teams, which is scary. However, they combat that problem with some great offensive firepower in the form of Marian Hossa, Patrick Sharp, Patrick Kane, and Jonathan Toews. That being said, I think that Mike Smith is the difference-maker in a very competitive series. I’m gonna pick…

Coyotes in 7

4. Nashville Predators vs. 5. Detroit Red Wings

Offense: Push.
Defense: Push.
Goaltending: Push.
Power Play: Advantage Nashville.
Penalty Kill: Advantage Nashville.

I hate to say it, but the Wings are old and haven’t been able to win consistently on the road this season. Pekka Rinne is a monster in the net, but I think it’s actually special teams that makes the difference in this series. Thus, I have…

Predators in 7

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Author: Joe Cook

1-3-1 Fantasy Baseball Draft Results

Posted on by JLCS

Miguel’s Tequila Bar (Zach Tanton)
1. (1) Miguel Cabrera(Det – 1B)
2. (20) Tim Lincecum(SF – SP)
3. (21) Ian Kinsler(Tex – 2B)
4. (40) Pablo Sandoval(SF – 1B,3B)
5. (41) Hunter Pence(Phi – OF)
6. (60) Asdrubal Cabrera(Cle – SS)
7. (61) Michael Cuddyer(Col – 1B,2B,OF)
8. (80) Jason Heyward(Atl – OF)
9. (81) C.J. Wilson(LAA – SP)
10. (100) Joe Mauer(Min – C,1B)
11. (101) Brian Wilson(SF – RP)
12. (120) Shaun Marcum(Mil – SP)
13. (121) Nick Swisher(NYY – 1B,OF)
14. (140) Ervin Santana(LAA – SP)
15. (141) Chris Young(Ari – OF)
16. (160) Doug Fister(Det – SP)
17. (161) Joe Nathan(Tex – RP)
18. (180) Carlos Peña(TB – 1B)
19. (181) Alfredo Aceves(Bos – SP,RP)
20. (200) Yadier Molina(StL – C)
21. (201) Matt Joyce(TB – OF)
The Parkman Shimmy (Joe Cook)
1. (2) Matt Kemp(LAD – OF)
2. (19) Cliff Lee(Phi – SP)
3. (22) Curtis Granderson(NYY – OF)
4. (39) Starlin Castro(ChC – SS)
5. (42) David Price(TB – SP)
6. (59) Michael Young(Tex – 1B,2B,3B)
7. (62) Brandon Phillips(Cin – 2B)
8. (79) Ian Kennedy(Ari – SP)
9. (82) Jonathan Papelbon(Phi – RP)
10. (99) Carlos Beltrán(StL – OF)
11. (102) Miguel Montero(Ari – C)
12. (119) Emilio Bonifacio(Mia – 3B,SS,OF)
13. (122) J.J. Putz(Ari – RP)
14. (139) Anibal Sánchez(Mia – SP)
15. (142) Carlos Mármol(ChC – RP)
16. (159) J.J. Hardy(Bal – SS)
17. (162) Hiroki Kuroda(NYY – SP)
18. (179) Jhonny Peralta(Det – SS)
19. (182) Torii Hunter(LAA – OF)
20. (199) Colby Lewis(Tex – SP)
21. (202) Neftali Feliz(Tex – RP)
Agamemnon (Codie Shovan)
1. (3) Albert Pujols(LAA – 1B)
2. (18) Dustin Pedroia(Bos – 2B)
3. (23) José Reyes(Mia – SS)
4. (38) Matt Holliday(StL – OF)
5. (43) Desmond Jennings(TB – OF)
6. (58) Jon Lester(Bos – SP)
7. (63) Kevin Youkilis(Bos – 1B,3B)
8. (78) Buster Posey(SF – C)
9. (83) Lance Berkman(StL – 1B,OF)
10. (98) Daniel Hudson(Ari – SP)
11. (103) Mat Latos(Cin – SP)
12. (118) Logan Morrison(Mia – OF)
13. (123) Michael Pineda(NYY – SP)
14. (138) Cory Luebke(SD – SP,RP)
15. (143) Rafael Betancourt(Col – RP)
16. (158) Ted Lilly(LAD – SP)
17. (163) Javy Guerra(LAD – RP)
18. (178) Peter Bourjos(LAA – OF)
19. (183) Jemile Weeks(Oak – 2B)
20. (198) Colby Rasmus(Tor – OF)
21. (203) Mike Moustakas(KC – 3B)
Harvey’s Wallbangers (Alex Freeman)
1. (4) Troy Tulowitzki(Col – SS)
2. (17) Roy Halladay(Phi – SP)
3. (24) Andrew McCutchen(Pit – OF)
4. (37) Zack Greinke(Mil – SP)
5. (44) Mike Napoli(Tex – C,1B)
6. (57) Yovani Gallardo(Mil – SP)
7. (64) Eric Hosmer(KC – 1B)
8. (77) Rickie Weeks(Mil – 2B)
9. (84) Adam Jones(Bal – OF)
10. (97) Carl Crawford(Bos – OF)
11. (104) Freddie Freeman(Atl – 1B)
12. (117) Brett Gardner(NYY – OF)
13. (124) David Freese(StL – 3B)
14. (137) Billy Butler(KC – 1B)
15. (144) Max Scherzer(Det – SP)
16. (157) Brandon League(Sea – RP)
17. (164) Jhoulys Chacin(Col – SP)
18. (177) Grant Balfour(Oak – RP)
19. (184) Delmon Young(Det – OF)
20. (197) Jim Johnson(Bal – RP)
21. (204) Ryan Roberts(Ari – 2B,3B)
myPujolsburns (Matt Kehoe)
1. (5) José Bautista(Tor – 3B,OF)
2. (16) Clayton Kershaw(LAD – SP)
3. (25) Hanley Ramírez(Mia – SS)
4. (36) Jered Weaver(LAA – SP)
5. (45) Álex Rodríguez(NYY – 3B)
6. (56) Matt Cain(SF – SP)
7. (65) Shin-Soo Choo(Cle – OF)
8. (76) Shane Victorino(Phi – OF)
9. (85) Yu Darvish(Tex – SP)
10. (96) Drew Stubbs(Cin – OF)
11. (105) Matt Wieters(Bal – C)
12. (116) Paul Goldschmidt(Ari – 1B)
13. (125) Joel Hanrahan(Pit – RP)
14. (136) Jason Kipnis(Cle – 2B)
15. (145) Chris Carpenter(StL – SP)
16. (156) Huston Street(SD – RP)
17. (165) Kyle Farnsworth(TB – RP)
18. (176) Adam Lind(Tor – 1B)
19. (185) Coco Crisp(Oak – OF)
20. (196) Kendrys Morales(LAA – 1B,OF)
21. (205) Ian Desmond(Was – SS)
Milwaukee Beers (Anthony Walker)
1. (6) Ryan Braun(Mil – OF)
2. (15) Jacoby Ellsbury(Bos – OF)
3. (26) Mark Teixeira(NYY – 1B)
4. (35) Nelson Cruz(Tex – OF)
5. (46) Carlos Santana(Cle – C,1B)
6. (55) Ben Zobrist(TB – 2B,OF)
7. (66) Alex Gordon(KC – OF)
8. (75) Mariano Rivera(NYY – RP)
9. (86) John Axford(Mil – RP)
10. (95) Matt Garza(ChC – SP)
11. (106) Derek Jeter(NYY – SS)
12. (115) Jordan Zimmermann(Was – SP)
13. (126) Ricky Romero(Tor – SP)
14. (135) Jordan Walden(LAA – RP)
15. (146) Martín Prado(Atl – 3B,OF)
16. (155) Johnny Cueto(Cin – SP)
17. (166) Wandy Rodríguez(Hou – SP)
18. (175) Jesus Montero(Sea – Util)
19. (186) Austin Jackson(Det – OF)
20. (195) Brennan Boesch(Det – OF)
21. (206) Derek Holland(Tex – SP)
Henry Rowengartner (Dan Stone)
1. (7) Joey Votto(Cin – 1B)
2. (14) Evan Longoria(TB – 3B)
3. (27) Giancarlo Stanton(Mia – OF)
4. (34) Cole Hamels(Phi – SP)
5. (47) Brett Lawrie(Tor – 3B)
6. (54) Jay Bruce(Cin – OF)
7. (67) Michael Morse(Was – 1B,OF)
8. (74) Madison Bumgarner(SF – SP)
9. (87) Matt Moore(TB – RP)
10. (94) Adam Wainwright(StL – SP)
11. (107) Tommy Hanson(Atl – SP)
12. (114) Brandon Beachy(Atl – SP)
13. (127) José Valverde(Det – RP)
14. (134) Alexei Ramírez(CWS – SS)
15. (147) Dustin Ackley(Sea – 2B)
16. (154) Jason Motte(StL – RP)
17. (167) J.P. Arencibia(Tor – C)
18. (174) Nick Markakis(Bal – OF)
19. (187) Neil Walker(Pit – 2B)
20. (194) Lucas Duda(NYM – 1B,OF)
21. (207) Álex Ríos(CWS – OF)
Oscar Meyer Weiters (Dan Etz)
1. (8) Robinson Canó(NYY – 2B)
2. (13) Carlos González(Col – OF)
3. (28) Adrián Béltre(Tex – 3B)
4. (33) Ryan Zimmerman(Was – 3B)
5. (48) Dan Haren(LAA – SP)
6. (53) Paul Konerko(CWS – 1B)
7. (68) B.J. Upton(TB – OF)
8. (73) Jimmy Rollins(Phi – SS)
9. (88) James Shields(TB – SP)
10. (93) Drew Storen(Was – RP)
11. (108) Jayson Werth(Was – OF)
12. (113) Heath Bell(Mia – RP)
13. (128) Andrew Bailey(Bos – RP)
14. (133) Brandon Morrow(Tor – SP)
15. (148) Jaime García(StL – SP)
16. (153) Ryan Dempster(ChC – SP)
17. (168) Geovany Soto(ChC – C)
18. (173) Ike Davis(NYM – 1B)
19. (188) Erick Aybar(LAA – SS)
20. (193) Dexter Fowler(Col – OF)
21. (208) Jose Tabata(Pit – OF)
Team Joan Baez (Pat McCallum)
1. (9) Prince Fielder(Det – 1B)
2. (12) Justin Verlander(Det – SP)
3. (29) CC Sabathia(NYY – SP)
4. (32) David Wright(NYM – 3B)
5. (49) Elvis Andrus(Tex – SS)
6. (52) Craig Kimbrel(Atl – RP)
7. (69) Michael Bourn(Atl – OF)
8. (72) Howie Kendrick(LAA – 1B,2B,OF)
9. (89) Ichiro Suzuki(Sea – OF)
10. (92) Alex Avila(Det – C)
11. (109) Josh Johnson(Mia – SP)
12. (112) Corey Hart(Mil – OF)
13. (129) Josh Beckett(Bos – SP)
14. (132) David Ortiz(Bos – Util)
15. (149) Ryan Madson(Cin – RP)
16. (152) Joakim Soria(KC – RP)
17. (169) Tim Hudson(Atl – SP)
18. (172) Mark Reynolds(Bal – 1B,3B)
19. (189) Jeff Francoeur(KC – OF)
20. (192) Yunel Escobar(Tor – SS)
21. (209) Chris Pérez(Cle – RP)
Shave Your Furbush (Wil Hunter)
1. (10) Adrián González(Bos – 1B)
2. (11) Justin Upton(Ari – OF)
3. (30) Félix Hernández(Sea – SP)
4. (31) Josh Hamilton(Tex – OF)
5. (50) Dan Uggla(Atl – 2B)
6. (51) Stephen Strasburg(Was – SP)
7. (70) Brian McCann(Atl – C)
8. (71) Aramis Ramírez(Mil – 3B)
9. (90) Yoenis Céspedes(Oak – OF)
10. (91) Dee Gordon(LAD – SS)
11. (110) Andre Ethier(LAD – OF)
12. (111) Gio González(Was – SP)
13. (130) Cameron Maybin(SD – OF)
14. (131) Ubaldo Jiménez(Cle – SP)
15. (150) Sergio Santos(Tor – RP)
16. (151) Jeremy Hellickson(TB – SP)
17. (170) Ryan Howard(Phi – 1B)
18. (171) Melky Cabrera(SF – OF)
19. (190) Frank Francisco(NYM – RP)
20. (191) Aroldis Chapman(Cin – RP)
21. (210) Chase Utley(Phi – 2B)

1-3-1 MLB Prediction Special

Posted on by JLCS

Here at Put Away the Whistle, we’re excited for the MLB season to get underway. So we asked our panel of 7 authors how they think the 2012 baseball season will pan out. Here are their predictions:

Joe Cook

AL MVP: Albert Pujols

NL MVP: Matt Kemp

AL Cy Young: Justin Verlander

NL Cy Young: Roy Halladay

ALCS: Tigers over Yankees in 7 games

NLCS: Phillies over Diamondbacks in 6 games

World Series: Phillies over Tigers in 7 games

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Wil Hunter

AL MVP: Miguel Cabrera

NL MVP: Justin Upton

AL Cy Young: David Price

NL Cy Young: Tim Lincecum

ALCS: Tigers over Rangers in 6 games

NLCS: Diamondbacks over Marlins in 7 games

World Series: Tigers over Diamondbacks in 7 games

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Dan Stone

AL MVP: Miguel Cabrera

NL MVP: Troy Tulowitzki

AL Cy Young: Justin Verlander

NL Cy Young: Roy Halladay

ALCS: Tigers over Rangers in 6 games

NLCS: Phillies over Giants in 7 games

World Series: Tigers over Phillies in 7 games

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Zach Tanton

AL MVP: Miguel Cabrera

NL MVP: Matt Kemp

AL Cy Young: Justin Verlander

NL Cy Young: Clayton Kershaw

ALCS: Tigers over Angels in 6 games

NLCS: Phillies over Diamondbacks in 5 games

World Series: Tigers over Phillies in 7 games

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Dan Etz

AL MVP: Robinson Cano

NL MVP: Matt Kemp

AL Cy Young: CC Sabathia

NL Cy Young: Clayton Kershaw

ALCS: Yankees over Mariners in 4 games

NLCS: Reds over Mets in 7 games

World Series: Yankees over Reds in 4 games

(AL Most Improved Player: Brandon Inge)

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Pat McCallum

AL MVP: Albert Pujols

NL MVP: Justin Upton

AL Cy Young: Justin Verlander

NL Cy Young: Roy Halladay

ALCS: Yankees over Tigers in 7

NLCS: Diamondbacks over Cards in 6

World Series: Yankees over Diamondbacks in 5

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Anthony Walker

AL MVP: Miguel Cabrera

NL MVP: Jose Reyes

AL Cy Young: Justin Verlander

NL Cy Young: Matt Cain

ALCS: Tigers over Angels in 6

NLCS: Giants over Phillies in 7

World Series: Tigers over Giants in 5

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Authors: All Writers