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!

Everything On Ice

Now that's a familiar Fenway sight!
(news.wbru.com)

Happy 2010, folks! Great to kick off the year on ice, so to speak, with a true Winter Classic in Boston. It was a classic all the way down to those mobster hats that Claude Julien and the rest of the Bruins' coaching staff were wearing. After trailing for most of the contest, it was former Flyer Mark Recchi who deflected the puck into the net with just over two minutes left in the game to knot up the score. The completion of the rally was simply inevitable as Marco Sturm ignited the Fenway-on-ice Faithful with his goal 2 minutes into overtime, making the Bruins the 1st home team to win the annual event. It was all too fitting that the Bruins rallied after a Fenway of rendition of 'Sweet Caroline' sung by 38,000 Fenway fans. Nothing like a Fenway miracle to keep my mind off the lack of zeroes in my bank account, which has me pondering a possible venture into the military. As much as I don't want to move out of of these friendly, familiar surroundings, the avenues are dwindling along with my bank statistics, leaving me with very few options. Don't worry, my aim isn't to be on the front line in Yemen, as there are many other career options that the military branches provide such as public relations and media. But it seems as if the connection well is drying out, making me wonder whether my credentials, as is, fall short of what the corporate world desires. A stint serving the country could be a resume booster and so much more. Plus, it is real tempting to pay of my entire college loan with the signing bonus alone, while giving a travel-freak like me more vacation time than any company would give me on entry level! These are perplexing times, ladies and gents, and they only get more confusing with this recent Sox signing.

Ummmm, kinda not the Adrian I had in mind.
(totalprosports.com)

I recently ran into a few reports that suggests that Adrian Beltre and the Sox have reached an agreement that is a steal ($9 million for 1 year, player option for $5 million in 2011), especially knowing that Boras was representing the player on the other side of the mahogany desk. Well, I guess Mike Lowell is going to be gone after all, and the Casey Kotchman era is over before it had the ability to gain any steam. It's been common knowledge that the Sox have leaned more on the defense/pitching angle this offseason, and that Adrian Beltre fit the whole schematic very well. However, I'm scared for a couple of good reasons, and yes, some of the issue involves the lack of sticks. With the departure of Bay to that canyon of a ballpark in Queens, we have lost considerable power in our lineup, and Beltre is a question mark at best. It's hard to convince me that possibly going over value for a player who can be considered decent all-around was a better option than giving up a few prospects that might be good in a couple of years for another Adrian who can bring your team security with both his glove and his bat. Sure, Beltre came from the ever-spacious Safeco Field up in the Northwest, but he only hit 8 homers in 111 games last year, making me not only question whether he can be productive, but also if he is gonna be healthy (he is going to be 31 on Apr. 7th). Especially for an organization that values OBP (check J.D. Drew's gigantic contract) and not paying the luxury tax, this particular signing is even more befuddling the more I think about it (.325 career OBP? Yikes!). Apparently, UZR is the new money-making stat that agents will base their client's life stories on when they battle at the negotiating table. Sadly, the members of the Adrian Gonzalez camp, like myself, may have to close up shop considering we now have enough 1st/3rd baseman on our team than we can get rid of, as well as San Diego GM Hoyer's recent comments of how his star slugger is not on the block (for now). So unless a big injury happens to one of the corner infielders around the trade deadline, it looks like the more-desired Adrian will not be wearing Red Sox in 2010 (feeling a slight salty discharge coming out of my eyes), and thus the Beltre signing virtually takes us out of the pursuit to get that bat that will ultimately put us on a level playing field with the big, bad Yanks. After all, we didn't sign Beltre for $9 million just so he can help warm the bench with Big Papi. I see where the Sox organization is going with this run prevention thing, but I remember that it didn't end all too beautifully when we pursued that very strategy the last time out. The only thing that gives me comfort is that we have a deeper pitching staff this year than we had in that dreadful 2006 season, which was anchored by a declining Schilling, a Wakefield that was starting to break, and a Beckett who wasn't quite ready for the American League at that point. I'm sure Casey Kotchman is a nice guy and a solid player, but you have to admit the Beltre/Youk combo surely provides less question marks than Youk/Kotchman. I'm not asking for his monster 2004 season, but if he produces close to a clip like he did in 2008 (26 HR, 99 RBIs, .801 OPS), I will feel less compelled to lump this signing in the Edgar Renteria section of the wall of shame. With all indicators on Beltre's defensive performance, this signing should be far from that. It's important to keep within my offseason optimism, where I believe the master plan will work, well....., until J.D. Drew hits .180 in April. Besides, I should give any guy a chance that had an injury like this in his life (Moment of silence pause for all the men.) As much as I think a Welker-less Pats team can pull off at least one playoff game, nothing gets me more pumped than green grass and the cracking of ash wood. Only 44 days till pitchers and catchers report!

Mochaman's Fantasy Football Report
- Boston Beersquad - 10-3 (1st, Plax's Got a Gun, 1st in Division 2, 1574.30 Pts.) (Final Position: 2nd)
If you are a Patriots fan and refer to anything comparing to Super Bowl XX, it's usually never a good thing. Rough end for a team that survived a lot to be the #1 seed, but I would be naive to think that the Maroney/Bell running back tandem was going to win me a championship (2.2 points in the final, COMBINED!). However, I went so far thanks to the Warner/Fitz combo along with arguably the pick of the year in Vernon Davis (14th rounder). Ran into the most dominant #6 seed ever, who deservedly won the title with a dominant playoff run. And to think this was my favorite team to win my 1st fantasy football championship, but.....

- Killa' Beavaz - 9-5 (2nd, Yahoo Public 179914, 1409.78 Pts.) (Final Position: 1st)
WOOHOO! The wait is finally over! Have to thank Chris Johnson's dominance and Larry Fitz for not falling into the Madden Curse and becoming a huge contributor. McNabb, can't forget that you finally came through with that big game! It's also special when you defeat the #1 team in getting the big prize. It might be the change in success from previous years, but I'm starting to like this fantasy football thing! Can't rest on my laurels now, as baseball drafts are creeping around the corner. May 2010 grant me more trophies and bragging rights! Now who wants some bubbly?