2004 Sox Vs. 2007 Sox; The Infielders

I would surely welcome this 3-year trend.
(cache.boston.com)

What a weekend of football, huh? Funny, because you would think it would be hard for me to consider it was a good football week when the Patriots weren't in the picture and the Colts are advancing to their 2nd Super Bowl in 4 years , but there was still joy in my mind this past Sunday. So much for Favre's Tour de Vengeance (add French pronunciation here). Yippee! Now we have the gift of watching him cut grass for six months as he waffles on his future. God, it's seems like it's a long ways away from Truck Day, even with the nice thawing out we had the past few days. A bit of baseball would especially be helpful right now during the Bruins recent belly flop, the Celtics putting their Blue Cross Blue Shield coverage to full use, and my continuing recovery from the whiplash I got seeing Ray Rice and the Ravens run over the lackadaisical Patriots a few weeks back. Although I have concerns about the lack of pop on the 2010 edition of the Red Sox, I'm always excited to see my Mudville 9 doing their thing at my personal cathedral at Yawkey Way, all in an effort to hoist the World Series trophy to start a new decade right. My withdrawals have been so bad that I have watched every disc from those Red Sox A&E DVD sets to quell my urges, the methadone to my heroin. While watching the Game 4 disc of the 2007 World Series, the AT&T poll question repeated throughout the game was asking which of the two Sox championship teams was the better one. It's a question I have struggled with since the Sox were partying in Denver after their 2007 triumph. Both teams do have a few commonalities, like sweeps against the Angels in the ALDS and miraculous comebacks the ALDS that preceded World Series domination. However, the composition of both teams have to be not only appreciated, but analyzed to solve this little riddle of who was better. So in an effort to try to solve this once in for all, I'm gonna do a 3-part entry dedicated to who were the better set of "idiots". Forgive me, I'm going through withdrawals! I'll try not to go Favre on ya with my decision! Here are some significant team stats before I get rolling.

2004: When Hell required mittens.
(i.a.cnn.net)

2004 Boston Red Sox - (+180 Run Differential, 2nd in MLB)
Record - (98-64, AL Wild Card, 3 GB in AL East)
Team Fielding Percentage - (.981) (1oth in AL)
Homeruns - (222) (4th in AL)
Team Batting Average - (.282) (1st in AL)
Team BB - (652) (2nd in AL)
Team OPS - (.832) (1st in AL)
Team ERA - (4.19) (3rd in AL)
Other Tidbits - Had .295 with RISP (1st in AL), 949 runs (1st in AL), only team in baseball history to come back from 0-3 deficit to win series (2004 ALCS vs. Yankees), first team to have an 8-game win streak in postseason, didn't trail once in last 59 innings of postseason, were 4th team in MLB history to not trail in World Series, won first franchise title in 86 years (under a lunar eclipse, an on my 19th birthday!!!)

2007: Just when you thought '04 was a fluke...
(cache.boston.com)

2007 Boston Red Sox - (+210 Run Differential, 1st in MLB)
Record - (96-66, AL East Champs)
Team Fielding Percentage - (.986) (2nd in AL)
Homeruns - (166) (8th in AL)
Team BB - (689) (1st in AL)
Team Batting Average - (.279) (5th in AL)
Team OPS - (.806) (2nd in AL)
Team ERA - (3.87 ERA) (1st in AL)
Other Tidbits - were 5th team to hit 4 consecutive homeruns (4/22 vs. Yankees), earned 1st AL East title since 1995, became 10th team in MLB to win series after trailing 1-3 (Indians in ALCS), outscored opponents 59-15 in 7-game postseason win streak (from Game 5 of ALCS), only trailed in 3 of last 63 postseason innings since Game 5 of ALCS, broke record with 18 doubles in World Series, achieved largest run differential in 4 game World Series (+19)

1st Baseman

Idiocy has never been so productive.
(cdn.bleacherreport.com)

2004: Kevin Millar (18 HR, 74 RBI, .297 Avg, .383 OBP, .474 SLG)
One of the many spiritual leaders for "The Idiots", Millar was a solid presence in the middle of that dynamic Sox offense in '04. Along with Johnny Damon and the David Ortiz of old, he's was that team unifier that I wish we had on today's Sox teams. He was the symbol of the New Red Sox, the team that would never give up no matter how dire or tragically familiar the situations became. Although 2004 was a down tick from his career year in '03 (25 HR, 96 RBI), you still did not want to hang a fastball on Mr. Millar. He was a solid fielder at first (6 E in 530 chances), but he actually played more games in the outfield due to the injuries that plagued a huge bulk of Trot Nixon's season. He only hit .196 in the 2004 postseason, but got the key walk in Game 4 of the ALCS that turned the fortunes of the franchise forever. Plus, you can't forget all the shenanigans, the Jack Daniels, all the beards and the open stances. Besides, anybody who would introduce the phrase, "Cowboy Up" to a fan base north of the Mason-Dixon line and make it popular gets huge kudos.

A waterfall is not pouring off his head. Must be April.
(projo.com)

2007: Kevin Youkilis (16 HR, 83 RBI, .288 Avg, .390 OBP, .453 SLG)
Speaking about Kevins with funky beards, let's dive into Youk's year in '07. Youk began his elevation in the major league level as a rookie for the 2004 team (1 of 8 guys in the 2007 team from that '04 team), for he was called up to play 3rd when Bill Mueller was recuperating from knee surgery (208 ABs). In 2007, he lived up to his reputation as a walk machine, while maintaining his defensive form so well in his 2nd year at 1st base, he won a well-deserved Gold Glove with a perfect fielding percentage at the position. Youk's power numbers were decent, but we got a glimpse of what kind of hitter he was going to be in the 2007 postseason, especially in that insane ALCS where he batted .500 with 3 homers, 10 runs and 14 hits against the Indians. His unmatched intensity and grit make him a fan favorite where the fans take each game with the same intensity as a Packer game, while establishing himself hopefully as one of the core pieces of many future Sox championships.

Winner: I love Millar. In fact, I want him to be back on the Sox as a bench player when he decides to go one more go-round, kind of like Ellis Burks in 2004 or Royce Clayton in 2007. However, Youk takes the cake here for his all-around play. Plus, 2007 was the year in which Youk showed that he was going to be a MVP-caliber player and a force to be reckoned with in the American League. ADVANTAGE: 2007

2nd Baseman

Bellhorn: A terror to right field poles everywhere.
(i.a.cnn.net)

2004: Mark Bellhorn (17 HR, 82 RBI, .264 Avg, .373 OBP, .444 SLG)

Oh, Mark Bellhorn! I admit, the first thing I reminisce about is the absurd amount of strikeouts he he tallied (177), chilling an already cool Boston climate. It seemed as if he just picked a spot to swing at and swung there for the whole season, which was as annoying as the Jersey Shore phenomenon is right now. To top it all off, he had that J.D. Drew-cool demeanor that makes Bill Mueller seem like Kevin Youkilis in comparison, even after recording a golden sombrero. He was an average fielding 2nd baseman (11 E in 550 chances) and proved his versatility, playing 13 games at 3rd. However, you can't forget he came through in the clutch. Even after hitting .129 in the postseason prior to Game 6 of the ALCS, he went bonkers by homering in 3 consecutive postseason games, including that 3-run homer in Game 6 of the ALCS that made a gigantic difference in a 4-2 game, and the go-ahead homer of Pesky's Pole in a see-saw Game 1 of the World Series against the Cardinals. All in all, I have no hard feelings for Bellhorn. A ring sort of helps that.

A destroyah hopefully for many years to come.
(media-2.web.britannica.com)

2007: Dustin Pedroia (8 HR, 50 RBI, .317 Avg, .380 OBP, .442 SLG)

In a team with rookies like Dice-K, Ellsbury and Okajima, Pedroia became the most stellar of all the young guns, earning himself the Rookie of the Year. The little guy also came out the gate as a solid Gold Glove candidate, committing only 6 errors in 625 chances. Not bad for a guy who was batting a buck-eighty two in April. What was more impressive than his over-sized swing was his anti-Bellhorn-type contact rate with that swing, striking out only 42 times in 520 ABs. However like Bellhorn, he started off very slow in the postseason with a .154 average in the ALDS. For the rest of the postseason, he batted .319 with 2 homers, 9 RBIs, 4 doubles and 10 runs scored, including a coming-of-age monster performance in Game 7 of the ALCS and a tag-team performance in the World Series with fellow young Sox star Jacoby Ellsbury that had more than Red Sox Nation talking. Expecting big things from the little guy for many years to come.

Winner: With his overall play and extremely high ceiling, Pedroia gets the win in this matchup. Simply a more powerful presence in the lineup and more range on the field, and you can't argue with a Rookie of the Year who can be counted on when the spotlight shines brightest. Also, his pluckiness and his dirty uniform gain him millions of fans that admire passion from their players. ADVANTAGE: 2007

Shortstop

It was a thrill riding the O-Cab to victory.
(i.cdn.turner.com)

2004: Orlando Cabrera (10 HR, 62 RBI, .264 Avg, .306 OBP, .383 SLG)
Ah yes, Orlando Cabrera, a.k.a, the man that we can consider the 1st man in the revolving door known as the Red Sox shortstop position. You can also consider him the most memorable out of everyone who have been employed between 2nd and 3rd in the past 5 years (in a good way). All this considering Pokey Reese (56 games started) and Nomar Garciaparra (37 games started) could easily qualify has the headliner for the position. But in the end, you can't deny that was Cabrera, who not only added an electric defensive presence (8 E in 233 chances), but also added more complimentary offense to a run-scoring juggernaut (.294 Avg, 6 HR, 31 RBI in 58 games started with Sox) while adding to the swagger and spunk of the team with his multiple collection of quirky hand shakes. He carried his energy into the postseason, where he hit .364 while hitting in 10 straight games. Most importantly, Cabrera went through the 2004 postseason without committing one error. Thanks to Cabrera, all it took was 3 months to make a whole fan base say, "Nomar, who?".

Well, at least Lugo has a ring to it.
(theghostofmoonlightgraham.files.wordpress.com)

2007: Julio Lugo (8 HR, 73 RBI, .237 Avg, .294 OBP, .349 SLG)
Big sighs all around. Coveted for years, the Sox finally roped up who they thought would be their all-franchise shortstop by signing Lugo to a 4 year, $36 million deal. Saying that this deal is a roller coaster is an understatement. The 19 errors in 593 chances wasn't indicative of his range, but more for his arm that had an accuracy of a first-generation machine gun. Then there was the drop he made in Game 7 of the ALCS that almost made me have a stroke right in my college pub, and how he couldn't be that leadoff hitter that we so desperately needed since the departure of Johnny Damon. However, there were ups on this roller coaster ride, evidenced by his hustle on 'The Mother's Day Miracle' game against the Orioles, his leading of the club with 33 swiped bags, and even made some smart defensive plays in the postseason. Plus, 73 runs driven in for a guy who primarily hit 9th has to be noticed. Ultimately, Lugo may go down as one of Theo's biggest busts in his tenure, but getting that ring in '07 added a bit of grace period for this much maligned shortstop.

Winner: Cabrera, bar none. Probably the biggest no-brainer out of all the positions, with a guy who personified the skill of the team as well as its carefree spirit. I need not say more. ADVANTAGE: 2004

Third Baseman

Oh, how I miss Billy Ballgame.
(redsoxgirl46.mlblogs.com)

2004: Bill Mueller (12 HR, 57 RBI, .283 Avg, .365 OBP, .446 SLG)
Amongst the talented Mannys, Papis and Pedros, there was nobody I admired more on those Sox teams in the mid-2000's than Billy Mueller. He wasn't the most gifted guy on the team, but with Mueller on the field, you knew you were going to get a smart ballplayer who would give 100% at all times, even if his knees weren't at that percentage. Arthroscopic surgery on his damaged knees would only allow him to play 110 regular season games in 2004, but still maintained a quiet aggressiveness that not only made him the skilled player that he was, but a fan favorite amongst the Fenway Faithful. Mueller's 2004 was down a couple of ticks from the previous year where he earned a batting title and a Silver Slugger, but any year where you can say you got the best of Mariano Rivera twice should be an overall successful campaign. The first blow was in that famous July 24th fight game where Mueller's homer capped a Sox comeback that changed the course of the season, the other a single up the middle that not only tied Game 4 of the ALCS, but changed the course of Sox history. For that, drinks will be on me when Billy Ballgame walks in a bar.

The pose of an MVP.
(sox4life13.mlblogs.com)

2007: Mike Lowell (21 HR, 120 RBI, .324 Avg, .378 OBP, .501 SLG)
2 years removed from hitting .236 in Miami, Lowell racked up arguably his best year in the bigs, backing up the dynamic duo of Manny and Ortiz with an explosive season of his own, while ranking 5th in AL MVP voting. Despite his apparent struggles on defense in 2007 through basic statistical analysis (15 E in 384 chances), Lowell was still considered one of the most defensively sound 3rd baseman in the game, all before his hip went like my '90 Jeep in the next season. He only got better in the postseason, as his .333 average and 8 RBIs in the ALCS was only topped by his all-around play in the World Series against the Rockies, earning him a well-deserved MVP. Not only was he a talented on the field, but he had the respect of his peers, which made him a distinguished leader in the clubhouse. Makes you wonder why the Sox have done everything but buy his bus ticket out of town the last two offseasons by trying to escape the latter years of his 3 year, $36 million dollar deal he earned after 2007, even with his recent hip woes (or why they even bothered to sign him to that kind of deal in the first place).

Winner: Both are personal favorites are mine, which makes choosing this one tough. Both were loved by many in Boston and both were known to be clutch, but you have to go with Lowell, who had an MVP-caliber season along with better health during the season. Gonna dread the day when we finally pull the trigger when Lowell goes out the door, all for an out of shape prospect. ADVANTAGE: 2007

Catcher

Looking like a guy who knew $40 million was on his way.
(multimedia.heraldinteractive.com)

2004: Jason Varitek (18 HR, 73 RBI, .296 Avg, .390 OBP, .482 SLG)
Hard to believe now, but this was where 'Tek was in the midst of his golden years, good enough to be one of the only major Sox free agent out of the Big 4 (Lowe, Pedro, Nomar, Varitek) to receive a deal to stick around past the Rolling Rally parade, while earning that big red 'C' on his jersey. Not only was he a core element to a formidable offense that led the league in runs scored, but he showed immense leadership and a willingness to step it up, shown vividly in that famous confrontation with A-Rod in that late-July pivot game against the Yankees. 'Tek also displayed his continued mastery with a pitching staff mixed with veterans and young arms, committing only 2 errors in 931 chances as the backstop. The future captain had a solid postseason (3 HR, 11 RBI), but will be most noted for all those innings he caught, especially in those marathon games in the ALCS. Ah, those were the days.

'C' is for Champion
(mlb.mlb.com)

2007: Jason Varitek (17 HR, 68 RBI, .255 Avg, .367 OBP, .421 SLG)
This definitely wasn't the 'Tek of old, but his power numbers were surprisingly on line with those from the curse-breaking campaign, which was actually encouraging considering that it was a huge mystery as to how he would recover from an injury-plagued '06 season. The leadership was still admired, especially by staff ace Josh Beckett. Yes he was (and apparently still is) the captain, however, it seemed as if the, "he calls a good game" card was becoming his shield with his overall offensive prowess deteriorating (122 Ks in 435 ABs). Even though it wasn't the dynamic 'Tek of old, I can't help but be nostalgic when thinking about 2007, which could be considered the year before 'Tek completely fell off off the table like a Buchholz curve.

Winner: A decisive victory for '04 'Tek for being one of the best all-around catchers in the game at the time. It was from those glory days that he has carried a rep as one of the most knowledgeable players in baseball, even now as he takes on the role of being Victor Martinez's backup. ADVANTAGE: 2004

Stay tuned for Part 2, Outfielders/DH!!!
(allstondave.tripod.com)

Pigskin Playoff Prognostications: Championship Edition

The 12th man never looked more intimidating.
(sports.espn.go.com)

Good news, I didn't bomb on last weeks picks (2-2). Bad news, the 2-2 week makes a .500 overall playoff record as possible as Conan O'Brien hosting another show on NBC thanks to the invisible offensive line of the Dallas Cowboys, and San Diego kicker Nate Kaeding's three attempts to do his best Scott Norwood impersonation. Conference championship time is finally here! I'm super stoked for a weekend that has a reputation for producing some of the finest football of the season. However, I'm still slowly recovering from the fact that either the Colts, the Jets or Brett Favre could potentially be hoisting the Lombardi trophy in three weeks. More Favre psycho dances, more Sanchez fist pumps and more reminders that my team didn't have the passion or the talent to make it this far. Pretty damaging thought when I've already seen the Lakers and the Yankees conquer their respective leagues over the past 7 months (slowly making the annual Tomlinson "cranky-face"). On another note, why do the Vikings get the pass when they run up the score on Dallas by scoring with their starting quarterback and tight end with less than 2 minutes to play, while New England got trashed in '07 for running it up with guys named Eckel and Vrabel? I don't believe in the 'running up the score' concept in the pros. Defenses should stop crying because many of them get paid millions to stop whoever is on the field, but the uneven flak that Belichick/Brady got compared to Childress/Favre is a little sketchy to me. Anyhoo, for now, I'm just focusing on what I think will be some quality conference championship games with many wrinkles that are gonna keep me hooked to my 27'' TV all Sunday afternoon. Let's iron out the details as I try to have a pick record that resembling somebody that has a slight idea of what they are talking about (Thanks, Rex Ryan for killing my dreams!). Ahhhhh, that felt good to let out. To the conference championships!

Starting to look like something on Broadway.

(sports.espn.go.com)

(5) New York Jets vs. (1) Indianapolis Colts
I have ate so much crow with these Jets. I'm gasping for air. In fact, crow is probably what the Chargers were choking on last Sunday. With all that said, this match was the match that was supposed to happen, not just because they were the better teams, but the historical significance of this game is hard to ignore. These franchises are part of the reason that we have the NFL of today, for these were the two teams who took part in the "Namath Guarantee Game" in Super Bowl III under the Miami sun. This coming Sunday, it's another confident underdog Jets team who will slug it out against another seasoned Colt powerhouse to earn the right to go to the city where that legendary game was played 41 years ago. I feel as I have not given enough credit to the Jets offense, who not only dominated on the ground, but have been managed quite well by Sanchez, who like Namath in Super Bowl III, doesn't have to throw a touchdown for the Jets to win if the Jets play sound football. Now that I have said all nice things about the Jets (I'm in a tremor over here), here's why the Cots are gonna win. It's hard to believe, but I think it will be the Colts who will have the chip on their shoulder coming into this game. Deep down, I think the Colts are tired of defending their Coach Caldwell over his decision to sit his starters in Week 16 against these Jets that ultimately stunted their undefeated season right in front of their home fans. It's the Colts who have the task to prove the naysayers in the media that the Week 15 siesta will pay dividends and will revitalize them for this one final step to the Super Bowl, and you know what they say about a sleeping giant. Plus, the Jets will have their work cut out for them against an Indy offensive line, who have allowed Manning to get sacked only 12 times in 18 games, including the postseason. In the end, I believe that Peyton Manning will be protected just enough to find one of his many playmakers, and will have the opportunity to add the Lombardi trophy next to his MVP. Don't overreact Jets fans, it's not like I'm happy about it.

Final Score: Colts 20, Jets 16

Didn't know that the Superdome could be a lumberyard.

(sports.espn.go.com)

(2) Minnesota Vikings vs. (1) New Orleans Saints
Looks like Bush brought the wood last week (I'll refrain from an easy joke involving Kim Kardashian.). I mean, that was probably the best I've seen him since his collegiate days in Southern California. Apparently, within that bat was the focus that fans thought he had left at the Los Angeles Coliseum a few years back. If Bush shows up in the Superdome next week with a similar performance (217 total yards), Drew Brees's job will be a bit easier this coming Sunday evening. In order for Minnesota to come out on top, they must rush Brees like they rushed Romo, which will be a little more difficult. I am also concerned about Adrian Peterson, who didn't run that well against a porous Arizona defense (26 carries, 63 yards), and will not only need to have a quality game, but it becomes more crucial that his fumbling problem doesn't rear its ugly head in the big stage. Even though there is no significant advantage in terms of playing surface (both are dome teams), the Vikes are going to have to overcome probably the most powerful home field advantage in this year's playoffs. The Vikings meanwhile play some shaky football on the road, having lost 4 (all 4 of their losses in '09) of their last 5 road games, including a Sunday night stinker against the Bears in late-November. The Super Bowl is near, and you can sense that those golden jesters, jokers and the rest of the New Orleans crazies are going to be rooting hard for their team's first trip to the big game. I'll admit it, I will be channeling my spirit from my living room. Besides, a Vikings-Jets Super Bowl with 1,493 Favre montages will just send me leaping off the Zakim. Look for the Saints to squeak by the Vikings, with some possible late-game magic.

Final Score: Saints 30, Vikings 27

Hooked On Politics

Apathy setting in. Must be Election Day!
(bulletin.aarp.org)

Apparently, it's D-Day for the decision on who will fill in Kennedy's senate seat. I rarely get all political in life. In fact, this is the first time I've gotten political on this blog. I try to avoid it as much as possible. Politics is just one of those things that kills a genuine social interaction like cyanide-laden punch would kill a company Christmas party. Just ask Elaine after her experience in 'The Couch' episode with the moving man. So I guess you ask, what are my affiliations? I wouldn't consider myself apolitical, because that would just promote the fallacy that I don't believe in anything at all. I do have beliefs, but I don't drive a constant campaign on other people with them. Leave that to the assumed pros. I once considered myself a Republican as a youth, but the whole Evangelical/Bush thing spooked me out of the GOP (now affectionately named, "the NO-P"), plus I was never all that conservative to begin with. Every political test I seem to take indicates my positioning somewhat dead center of the spectrum, with a slight lean towards the Libertarian Party. I'd like to think that I don't get caught up in the hoopla and vote for what's best for not only my country's well being, but for my family (Guess 'The Godfather' taught me well!). So out of all this, who am I voting for? To be frank, I've lost touch with this election with the trash being launched in multiple directions. The recent statewide smear campaign put on by Coakley and the Dems make her lose credibility in my eyes, pulling everything short of, "Scott Brown runs a dog-fighting ring for fun" as a dagger. And this is supposed to be the party that helped run a smooth campaign for Obama, fretting away from the old methods of cheap jabs. However, I can't avoid how the recent campaigning (a.k.a., mud-slinging) of Coakley and Brown has dominated large portions of my Facebook news feed in the past week, for it has highlighted why I am disinterested in this election, in political campaigns and why I rarely get political in the first place.

I get that these elections hold a key in the future policies of our country and that disagreement is vital in the process of political discourse, but enough with the overkill. It just seems as if each person, one way or another, is coaxed into believing that one side is always right, and the other one is cooking up a sabotaging agenda. That's it. No ifs, ands, or buts. So what if my party's plan for the future has glaring holes in it, it's the right way and you're just completely wrong and idiotic, so accept it! Explains why we haven't split (and possible never will) from our bipartisan ways as a nation despite pleas and promises of past presidents, stunting the country's overall growth. Discussions become less political and become more of a personal grudge match. It seems like we defend politicians and their beliefs more fervently than we would our grandmothers honor. Come to think of it, this feels like the only country in the world where a 'your mom' insult is taken as lighthearted joke, where an Obama joke would turn a baby shower into a bar brawl. Disagreeing with somebody on health care reform will elicit about the same contentious reaction as yelling 'sieg heil' in a synagogue. The problem I have with parties is that the partisan passion removes from the individual, a vital cog of what a strong democracy allows us, that of reason. Let's not forget that these are some well-off/loaded people trying to get a promotion. That's right, because being a politician is just like being an accountant, an event planner or an ad man, only we're the ones that are on the board getting the suck-up treatment. Kinda frightening, considering that political office positions should be approached with a mentality of a public service job in order for it to be truly productive. On top of all of that, with all the pensions and benefits provided, politicians are under a security blanket if any their policies should fail, lessening the sting of liability (Sorry if I have busted your bubble of naivety). When voting season comes around, I always hope that people vote based on what is best for the people and they are not simply rooting for Team Elephant or Team Donkey. All I ask is that the next senator doesn't run things so badly that I will be waiting in line for three hours to receive an old, moldy loaf of Wonder bread. So go out and do whatever......and I would be flattered to get a few write-in votes!

Away With The Away Goals Rule

Yup. Feel your pain, bro.
(static.soccerway.com)

It was pleasant to see Barça break out of their 2010 funk with that 4-0 triumph over the Andalusian Sevilla side, but it does seem a little futile after their exit from the Copa del Rey tourney on Wednesday against the same Sevilla side (a team that they have played 3 times in 11 days) on away goals (2-2, aggregate, but 2-1, advantage Sevilla), ending another shot at sweeping all six titles. Let's face it, the six-peat was a meteoric accomplishment in its rarity, as it's probably something that no other team in the world will be able to acheive for at least another generation, never mind to pull it off in consecutive years. A soccer team has such an exhausting traveling schedule to endure (especially the elite clubs), packing on the air miles to participate in many meaningful games, while adding ink to their passports from about a dozen countries per year (Barça has tallied 8 countries since preseason and will make it 9 next month in Stuttgart in the Champions League). Winning in professional soccer is as much of a battle against your body clock as it is against your opponent, and if your one of those teams who are lucky to get the opportunity to win multiple titles, the fight is even more vicious. At the end of the day, I'm fairly confident that Barça's depth will allow them to win the league again, and will be strong favorites to re-take their Champions League title. What's bittersweet is the system that made Barça the losers of the most recent round at the Copa (Please get out of my head, Barry Manilow!), the absurdity of advancing through away goals.

Wow, maybe the British do have it right.

(pictures.zimbio.com)

Trust me, I can feel the criticisms of me being just a bitter Barça reacting to a tough defeat, and the whispers of "the American doesn't get it" variety are starting to become more audible, but this away goal rule just doesn't make sense. Don't get me wrong, I believe winning on foreign turf is a feat that any professional sports team needs to somewhat excel at to be successful, but should it be valued to the extent of being an important tie-breaker for a tournament? Especially with the hectic schedules of soccer clubs, it is difficult to put up a solid lineup for a game that has more immediate importance than a simple league game. Imagine if they created a baseball series that the team with home-field advantage could actually lose simply because the visiting team happens to whip their pitching a little more than expected on a given night, which brings me to another fundamental aspect. Shouldn't the home team ultimately have the advantage in their stadium, and not the away team? In a sport with the most passionate fans, it seems unfair to completely phase out that advantage by forcing that team's overall play to become more conservative, especially if they are the home team in the 1st fixture, just so they potentially don't lose the whole tourney on a sudden breakaway or two. It destroys the whole competitive nature of a game that could me more enjoyable with both teams going full-bore, evidenced by the 4-goal showing by Barça at Saturday's league game showcase at Camp Nou. My first thought would be to make it a best of 3, with the winner crowned either on whoever obtains the 2nd victory or by aggregate goals. The problem with this solution could be the potential extension of an already draining season, possibly making an already stretched out tournament go even longer. The only way this would work would be to make entry to the Copa del Rey more limited, especially cutting a few entrants in the lower domestic leagues, considering that the winner always ends up being from the Primera anyway. However, the English Premier League may offer a simpler, more feasible solution of a continuation of play in the second fixture when both teams are deadlocked on aggregate. Either method is better than allowing a team to proceed to the next round in such an important competition just because they happen to have a slightly better game away from the confines of their home city. Ultimately, the goal of any sport should be about making the winner visibly stand out from the loser. So hopefully in the future, the away goal rule will eventually go the proper way and hit the road.

Help For Haiti

"A kind and compassionate act is often its own reward."
- William John Bennett

As you probably know already, the country of Haiti was hit with a massive earthquake Tuesday evening outside Port-au-Prince, affecting approximately 3 million inhabitants. This has impacted millions, causing severe structural damage and has left many of the citizenry without power. However, there are many places to go to if you want to donate to help the Haitian people in this time of crisis. Your donations (however little) will go a long way in providing substantial relief and recovery to those in distress. If you don't know where to go, here are a few links that can help you help those currently in need of assistance. To those who happen to have loved ones over in Haiti, I wish safety for each and every one of them.

- Chuck

American Red Cross

AmeriCares


Habitat for Humanity

Unicef

Other Links of Relevance:

Article on MSNBC by Suzanne Choney: Mobile Giving to Help Haiti Exceeds $5 million

Technorati Article by Dawn Olsen: Help Haiti - A Guide to Haiti Relief Funds
MTV Article by Gil Kaufman: Wyclef Jean's Yele Organization Raises $1 Million In Aid For Haiti
Wall Street Journal Article by Sarmad Ali: Twitter Helps in Haiti Quake Coverage, Aid

Pigskin Playoff Prognostications: Part 2

Gisele? Where?
(sports.espn.go.com)

That was just crushing, humiliating, devastating, and I'm not even talking about the Pats yet. I'm talking about the goose egg I laid on my playoff picks last week, which has me having second thoughts on any future Vegas trips. I mean who else predicted that a rookie QB would perform better than a QB who is considered 'elite' (Carson Palmer, who I think is completely overrated.)? Who would have thought a Philly team would be outplayed in the first round by a coach who hadn't won a playoff game in his career? Most significantly, who would have thought that a Raven team would beat a Patriot team so badly with a QB who had a passer rating of 10, prompting to me to tweet, "Never seen a game end so early" within 20 minutes of start time? It was a wacky Wild Card weekend, which like the Angel sweep on the Sox 3 months ago, was a shock, but not totally surprising in the grand scheme of things. The loss makes it the 7th consecutive playoff loss by the 4 major New England professional sports teams (Sox, Celts, Bruins, Pats) dating back to mid-May of 2009. Most importantly, the loss really exposed that this Patriots team needs to be rebuilt, 'This Old House' style. Regardless, I think the mystique that the Pats garnered throughout the past decade is running on its last drop. I don't know about you, but I'm a bit concerned about the future. Bill Belichick still may know more about football in his big toe than we will all ever know, but he will be 58 next year, an age where many are thinking about sailboat relaxation and Florida skies (Just ask my step dad.). I kind of of wonder what truly motivates him to keep doing the early morning film sessions after all that he has accomplished. Also, Brady and Moss aren't spring chickens, Welker will be gone for most of next year and the team may be on the verge of letting go of Wilfork, who is the last member with a mixture of leadership and talent we have on defense. I'm not saying that we are not fired from the playoff-contention company, but it's fair to say that we are going to be demoted to middle management, a juggernaut no longer. Well, that's off my chest. Now let's go and try to improve my stinker of a performance from last week!

The Cardinal = The Official Bird of the Bowl?
(espn.go.com)

(4) Arizona Cardinals vs. (1) New Orleans Saints

I'm sensing another one of those arena football-type games. It's as good a guess as any, for it's probably the most schizophrenic matchup in the Divisional Round. Even without Anquan Boldin and the rumors of a farewell tour in the air, Kurt Warner was able to toss another playoff gem, going 29/33 with 5 TDs in a 51-45 OT gun show. It was another performance that has me considering Warner's place in NFL history as one of the greats. Can't argue with 2 NFL MVPs and 3 Super Bowl appearances, while being the motor with these playoff teams that were once considered laughing stocks. With all that said however, I don't see the D helping him out in the Superdome this weekend. Beanie Wells has to be that one for the Cardinals to go that extra mile if they are to triumph, considering that the Saints run defense has been non-existent over the past month. That however, maybe asking a lot, as Arizona is placing expectations on a guy who ran 100 yards in a game only once this year, and against Detroit. Saying that New Orleans was rusty at the end of the season was an understatement. In fact, the way they torched the Pats on that Monday nighter might have been the worst thing to happen to them, for it masked many of their inconsistencies on both ends of the ball that made them a much weaker team than advertised. However, the Swiss cheese defense of Arizona (allowed 403 yards in the air against GB last week) plus the extra week of rest could be the WD-40 for the Saints and their late season corrosion, a team that scored 30 or more points in 9 games this year but have only mustered 44 in the last 3 contests. In the end of it all, I'm expecting a Cajun flavor to be added to the NFC Championship game.

Final Score: Saints 38, Cardinals 27

The pressure is truly on for 'The Mississippi Waffle'.
(examiner.com)

(3) Dallas Cowboys vs. (2) Minnesota Vikings

Nothing like a dominant performance against a divisional rival to get that 13-year old playoff monkey off your back. The Cowboys have emerged from the downtrodden chokers' list to the trendy pick to be the team cruisin' to Miami next month. This version of the 'Boys seem much more at ease with the expectations that seemed to have crush them in previous campaigns. Tony Romo has been no exception, completing almost 67% of his passes in the 4 game streak while leading a well-balanced offensive attack. Like the Saints, the Vikings could benefit from a bye-week as they have short circuited down the stretch a bit. The intermission will especially help their 40-year old QB (errrr) re-juice for the final stretch after some recent late-season meltdowns. Going on a 'trendy' limb by going with the Cowboys, simply because everyone on that offense is contributing from Austin to third down back Tashard Choice, which will make them a tough team to size up consistently throughout the game. Plus, if Wade Phillips will have any coaching advantage laid out for him, it's definitely on the defensive side of the ball where he will hopefully create a game plan to have the 'Waffle' scrambling (31 points allowed in last 4 games). I'm predicting Stars and Saints to duke it out for the senior conference.

Final Score: Cowboys 28, Vikings 20

Lights out for the Sanchize?

(faniq.com)

(5) New York Jets vs. (2) San Diego Chargers
It's lookin' like the Jets are emerging as this year's belle of the ball, looking to see if the slipper fits in Miami. Rex Ryan is on an all-time high with his 24-14 road victory against the Bengals with a performance that eerily validated his bold statements he previously made, while pulling a semi-Kanye and calling out the Defensive Player of the Year voters for not picking his cornerback stud Darrelle Revis. But unlike the Bengals, this Charger team is no paper tiger. Winners of 11 straight, the Bolts are riding the hot hand of Phillip Rivers, who is overlooked when it comes to the best quarterbacks in the league (28 TDs, 9 INTs). The Chargers have carried out a solid game in the air even while possessing one of the worst running games in the league. The running defense is the weak link for the Chargers however, which may fall right into Shonn Greene's arms. However, the Chargers have been known to be that team to win the battle in the trenches against the Jets in recent history, and I'm still not liking the Jets chances if the game comes down to the Sanchize. As good as Revis is, he can only cover ONE guy, and I think the Chargers will be able to balance their offensive attack just enough to swing by the top defense in the NFL. It won't be easy, but I'm predicting the lights to be going out on New York's playoff hopes in SoCal on Sunday.

Final Score: Chargers 24, Jets 16

Apparently, blinking doesn't top his priorities.
(scoresreport.com)

(6) Baltimore Ravens vs. (1) Indianapolis Colts

It'd be interesting to get into the minds of those old-timers in Baltimore who remember their beloved team getting hijacked and brought to the city that they are playing in this playoff matchup. However, I can tell honestly you that was the furthest thing on their minds last weekend when they flattened Brady and the Patriots, making them arguably the trendy Super Bowl pick in the AFC, and rightfully so. If Ray Rice keeps running like he has, the receivers hold onto footballs and if the defense keeps their cool late in games, this team could be unbeatable. They go up against a Colts team that has had their priorities questioned with their self-halting of their quest for an undefeated season in front of their fans, while permitting Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark to achieve personal milestones the following week. The fact that they are 0-3 after playoff byes since the '99 season also doesn't bode well for them historically. But the Colts only possess a 4-time MVP in Peyton Manning, who is known for dissecting even the best defenses, and should pick up on the weak secondary of the Ravens more effectively than Brady did. Plus, I'm sensing that the Colts defense knows the Rice/McGahee combo will get some significant carries, especially with Joe Flacco carrying a nagging hip injury with him. And if hexes from cities that steal your team even matter in this context, Baltimore is 0-4 in Indy. Look for the Colts to squash recent criticism with a stellar performance on Saturday night. I'm feeling it's gonna be Colts-Bolts for the AFC title!

Final Score: Colts 30, Ravens 20

Before I Peace: Let's Talk About The Past!

(nbcsportsmedia2.msnbc.com)

Finally, oh finally! Embattled slugger Mark McGwire has come out to the media and admitted his steroid use, an admission which in my opinion was as surprising as the current late night shake-up on NBC. My feelings are still a little hazy on his admission. For example, how am I supposed to believe that you took steroids only for health issues and that you think it didn't help your numbers in any way? I'm very well aware that the highly difficult skill of hitting a baseball is largely hand-eye. You have to understand Big Mac, that your artificial bandaging in itself did contribute to you getting a huge bulk of those 583 homers. Plus, a toothpick like me knows that the 'roids not only help you heal, but can make strained effort easier to manage. Why do you think you saw all the needles in the gym in the first place? It's hard for me to believe that a fairly articulate guy like McGwire was that naive. With all that said, I do praise him for coming clean and he did seem contrite in his admission, especially in that Bob Costas interview on Monday. His admission was more of an apology (closer to Pettitte) compared to the the statements of A-Rod, Clemens, Ortiz, Sosa and Palmeiro, which felt like a competition of who could insult the public's intelligence the most. You could tell he was carrying the disappointment of thousands for his wrongdoing and I even understood his reasoning for his non-descript testimony in front of Congress in 2005. If you say that you wouldn't have said the words that would give you protection from prosecution by the federal government, you are simply just lying to yourself. Maybe the aftermath of this admission will facilitate an ingenuous response from players like Bonds and Sosa as to the whats and whys of their PED use. Hopefully, McGwire's confession can become another step in achieving an honest dialogue that can only help the game move on from this performance enhancing plague. Granted, his admission may not have been pristine, but better late than never. Baby steps, people!

May Our Thoughts Be With Haiti

(news.yahoo.com)

Please send out a big prayer to those in Haiti, who are suffering the after-effects of a 7.0 magnitude earthquake. If you can, provide support to those you know who may have been affected by this disaster and/or donate anything you can to any relief effort or charitable organization. Haiti will sure have a huge spot in my heart and in my mind for many days to come.

Pigskin Playoff Prognostications: Part 1

Grey Goose must also be one of his favorites.
(ravensgab.com)

Playoffs? Playoffs?! Well, they are finally here, with apologies to Steelers fans across the country, who feel as twisted up right now as one of Wes Welker's ligaments. Probably one of the oddest Wild Card rounds in recent memory in the fact that 3 out of the 4 matchups are basically re-runs of Week 17 games. However, there is nothing wrong with a playoff lineup that could potentially bring a Colts-Pats rematch, or providing a Favre-Packers Part III, which could theoretically decide the ultimate fate of the 30th state of the union depending on the result. I don't know if it's coincidental, but it is around this display of postseason testosterone is when I usually get motivated into implementing a workout/marathon-type training regimen, all so that I can show everyone to the gun show, or in this case, the Wizards' locker room (Too harsh?). Anyhoo, I think it's about that time to start picking some gems!

Something tells me this won't happen again. Ever.
(espn.go.com)

(6) Philadelphia Eagles vs. (3) Dallas Cowboys
Hmmm, maybe the end of the world is coming after all. The Cowboys closed off the year winning the last 3 games, including the finale against this week's playoff opponent, 24 to zippo. It's hard to even fathom, but Romo might be making that transition into one of the elite, coming off a season in which he threw a career low 9 picks. After beating the Eagles twice and snagging the NFC East crown with an offense that had the 2nd most yards per game while allowing the 2nd least points per game, Dallas maybe the better team in this matchup. With all that said, I don't expect the Eagles to play as atrociously as they did in Week 17. It is my firm belief that this game will go down to the the coaches, Wade Phillips and Andy Reid. Both are prone for one of those random blackout decisions during games, but Reid is 7-0 in playoff openers, and has notched an appearance in 5 NFC Championship games. Wade Phillips not only has the black hole of zero playoff wins hanging over him, but he has lost painfully in crunch-time in his postseason career, topped off with the 'Romo Botched Hold Game' along with the 'The Music City Miracle'. Apparently, it's also a big deal that the proud Cowboy franchise have not won a playoff game since the Clinton administration, pre-Lewinsky (Whoah! Now that's a long time!). I'm expecting more of a grind-it-out to the end game like the 1st matchup this season between the two NFC East rivals, but I'm expecting Wade will ultimately spoil the festivities in the new house at Dallas. Coaches, get your resumes sharpened!

Final Score: Eagles 37, Cowboys 31

Somebody's gonna step out of a big shadow soon.

(espn.go.com)

(5) Green Bay Packers vs. (4) Arizona Cardinals
I dont know about you but this feels like one of those games that is ripe for Aaron Rodgers to have that national breakout game, especially with CB Rodgers Cromartie hurt on a defense that is mediocre overall. Interesting to note that Green Bay is 3rd in PPG in the regular season. Granted, it was on a considerably weak schedule, but they have won 7 of their last 8, winning against teams with credentials like Dallas, Baltimore and Arizona and were seconds from victory against the Steelers on the road. In fact, the Packers have a better road record (5-3) than the Cardinals do at home (4-4). The Rodgers-Cromartie injury isn't exactly the end-all, but WR Anquan Boldin is a potential prominent casualty on the other side of the ball, putting all the pressure on Larry Fitzgerald and his nicked-up knee to carry the show. I know that Arizona has the experienced QB and the capacity to pull off a victory. Last year's magical Super Bowl run just can't be ignored, for it shows that Arizona can go gangbusters and just steamroll opposing teams. However, I think the Cardinals are ultimately just too beat up to fight off what the Packers are going to bring to them on Sunday. Look for a well-balanced offensive attack to wear down the Cardinals as the Packers mark up a date with their highly-publicized ex.

Final Score: Packers 33, Cardinals, 21

The Sanchize giving his playoff over-under.
(media.nj.com)

(5) New York Jets vs. (4) Cincinnati Bengals
Going with the under. But c'mon! You have to join me in giving a pat on my own back by picking the Jets to not only be 9-7 this year, but to be the surprise playoff team to come out of the AFC when I made my AFC East predictions in training camp. With all that said, I think is going to end badly for the J-E-T-S. I also think that Rex Ryan is on whatever Mariah Carey was on at the People's Choice Awards for picking the Jets as favorites for the ENTIRE playoffs. I give major cred to the defense, who are #1 in yards allowed and points allowed during the regular season. But do you trust a team being led by a rookie QB on the road who has almost double the INTs (20) as he does TDs (12)? Do you think that the Bengals truly played their A-game on Week 17? Would you trust a team that recently beat the scrubs of meaningful teams like Indy and Cincy while only scoring 7 at home in a loss against Atlanta? Didn't think so. I'll be the 1st guy that tells you that defense wins championships in the NFL, but the league has evolved into a passing-dominant league over the last couple years, making a solid QB more important than ever. The Jets just don't have the QB to carry the team over the top, not with this year's version of Sanchez anyway. Just like the Angels with Adenhart, the Bengals possess angelic motivation not only with late WR Chris Henry, but also with the passing of the wife of defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer this past season. With a Palmer/Ochocinco combo along with a not to shabby defense to go along with the emotion, I just don't see the Bengals rolling over at home to a rookie QB.

Final Score: Bengals 24, Jets 13

Might need that ball on Sunday, Mark.
(thepigskindoctors.com)

(6) Baltimore Ravens vs. (3) New England Patriots

Ahh yes, the game that has my friendships in the Baltimore area on hold until Monday morning,....or maybe beyond! Captivating matchup in Foxboro, pitting a matchup of two teams that are high on potential, but also have glaring deficiencies that could send either one of these teams to their plasma screens for next Sunday's games. Hard to imagine that the Patriots are gonna be a little light by bringing the talented twosome of Moss and Brady (and his 2, 3 maybe 4 broken ribs) to the gridiron, but it's true. The debilitating knee injury acquired by Welker against the Texans seriously stunted an offense that not only loses their presence in the slot, but may expose our bumpy rash know as our inconsistent running game. With the questionable health of Wilfork and our lack of pressure on the D-line, I'm having nightmares of Ray Rice burning the turf. But let's not forget that the Ravens have had the case of the brickhands, which have cost them some big games, including a regular season classic in Foxboro on Week 4. And forget a pistol, the Ravens shoot bazooka rounds on their feet in many instances with their knack for being flagged for big penalties in the big moments of every big game. In the end, the Pats will eek this one out by exposing the Ravens' suspect secondary personnel who are not named Ed Reed. Important for victory though, is somebody other than Edelman to step up (Fred Taylor, Ben Watson) on the offensive side of the ball, considering the Ravens are most likely going to double team Moss all day (Why does this sound so wrong?). In the end, The Patriots are going to show why they were the only AFC team to be undefeated at home in this past campaign, and then it's gonna get ugly.

Final Score: Patriots 27, Ravens 24

GO PATRIOTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Before I Peace: The Hawk Has Landed In The Hall

(sonsofsamhorn.net)

Big congrats to Mr. Andre Dawson, the 33rd Hall of Famer to have ever played for the Boston Red Sox. Was hopin' that you would have company this year, but nobody can predict the joke known as the BBWAA Hall vote. But I give them credit that they knew that you (like Jim Ed last year) were one of the best all-around players in your era who also did it the right way (allegedly). May you soar into baseball immortality!