The Show.

It's funny how sports work sometimes. During the 2008-2009 NHL season Brad Thiessen, a goalie who played at Northeastern University, got called by the Penguins after his junior season ended. He went to play for the Penguins' AHL team in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and got called up to practice with the Penguins during their playoff run. The Penguins ended up winning the Stanley Cup that year, and Thiessen got himself a ring. Roy Halladay, on the other hand, is in his 13th season of big league ball. He's a Cy Young winner. He has pitched over 300 games in the show and has won just under 170. He has had three 20+ win seasons, has pitched 58 complete games and has 19 career shutouts. Stats like this seem deserving of a championship, but he's not just ringless - he's without a single inning of playoff baseball. Sometimes the most deserving players are also the most deprived players. Halladay has been deprived of post-season baseball his entire career, but with the Phillies clinching the NL East crown for the fourth consecutive year, he'll get his long overdue shot at October baseball.

The Phillies acquired Halladay from the Blue Jays during last years offseason and it was a win-win for both parties - the Phils get a top 3 pitcher in the league who the thought would most likely win them 18+ games, and Halladay finally got a shot at the post-season and the World Series with a legitimate contender. That was the plan, and so far it is coming together just as expected.

The Phillies have been baseball's hottest team in September going 19-6 as of Sept. 29th, which isn't too surprising considering this teams experience when it comes to winning when it matters. They've been able to run away with the division and will now enter the playoffs as a group that is well-tailored for a third consecutive World Series appearance. They have a lot of players who have had great success in the playoffs, and adding a post-season-starved Halladay to the mix certainly won't hurt. Halladay isn't the only Phillie who has been yearning for a chance at the post-season, however. Mike Sweeney, a first baseman the Phillies acquired during the season from the Kansas City Royals, is in the midst of his 20th MLB season, and the playoffs have managed to evade him until now. Sweeney, although a great player, is not expected to be the kind of guy who is going to carry a team through the playoffs. However, one of the things you constantly hear about Mike Sweeney is what a great clubhouse guy he is. He's well respected by his teammates and he's a seasoned vet who knows a lot about the game, and having him in the clubhouse during the playoffs is not something to overlook.

There's a lot of pressure during playoff baseball, especially if you're a pitcher. The importance of each game makes mistakes fatal, which is a factor that Halladay hasn't dealt with until this point in his career. The city of Philadelphia is relying on him to pitch the way he's capable of, because if he does they'll have a great shot to win the whole thing. It will be interesting to see how he responds, but knowing the type of player he is I'd say it's safe to say he'll be fine, and hopefully he'll get a shot at his AL rivals that always kept him out of the post-season. After all, he's been building up to that first playoff pitch for his entire career.

Recently I wrote about the resurrection of the San Diego Padres, so while we're on the subject, there's another notable turn-around currently in the making that could prove to be even more significant. It's one thing to look at Michael Vick and see a man worthy of little or no respect; whose past actions, no matter how long ago, are inexcusable. Of course, this side of Michael Vick is very hard to like, and nothing he can do will ever erase some of the actions he has taken as a person. Just a couple of years ago it was hard to look at Michael Vick with any sort of admiration or respect. However, a new side of Michael Vick is slowly surfacing, and this Vick is not just bearable, but likable.

Did someone tell the Padres that they were going to make the playoffs? Because it looks like a Macbeth sequel could be brewing in San Diego. The team that rose from the ashes and played steady baseball on their way to what looked like a guaranteed playoff spot is now in a position in which they could experience a tragic collapse; a 162 game schedule can certainly be a curse. They've lead the NL West for nearly the entire season, but as the home stretch is upon them they're realizing that September losses can ruin a very good season. The Padres had a 10 game losing streak that leaked its way into September, and since that losing streak began on August 26th the team has gone just 4-14, and they now hold the division lead by a mere half game, down from 6 1/2 games. So if I'm a Padre's fan and my team misses the playoffs, am I disappointed because of how close they came? Or happy about a great season, particularly after such a bad season last year? A collapse now would be a bittersweet tragedy for fans who might find it hard to complain after last season's heartache but also hard not to complain about how the team should have sealed up it's playoff ticket after leading their division all summer. But regardless of whether San Diego makes the playoffs or not, it's evident that they've turned a complete 180 since last season, and it's important to realize why this turn-around has happened, and why it could serve them well if they do make the post-season.

The turn-around the Padres have had after last season has been nothing short of miraculous. Last year they finished 20 games out of the division lead and 12 games under .500. Their run differential was a -131 by seasons end and their pitching staff's ERA was at 4.37. This year, however, the Padres have managed to take hold of a decent division. A lot of people are wondering how they did this, and I'll admit that it is hard to see. They only have two players batting over .300 and only one player with over 20 home runs. They're not winning with flash or because they have a number of all-stars on the team. They're experiencing success because they've played consistent baseball, and because they have great defense. The pitching staff's pre All-Star game ERA was 3.25 and their post All-Star ERA is 3.42. Their collective 3.31 ERA happens to be the best in baseball. They have 4 pitchers with over 10 wins and they have a closer who has 41 saves in 44 attempts. When you combine this with an offense that averages 4.2 runs a game, you're going to win a good amount of ball games. This is what has made the Padres during the year, but it could also be what breaks them down the stretch. This team has not been streaky at all this year - they'd win three, lose two, win four, lose one, win two, lose two. Its been that way all season for the team until now. This is when it's easy to realize why a 162 game season is a curse. You can be comfortable for 130 games, but if you slip up and lose 20 of your last 30 you could be in serious trouble. The ability to win at the end of a baseball season can be, and many times is, a team's golden ticket to October. However, a teams inability to do so could send them on an early vacation. It's one thing to be good all summer but its another to be good enough to close out the season come fall. Not all teams can do that, and that's what separates good teams from playoff teams.

So with less than 20 games left on their schedule the Padres are going to have to prove that they're a playoff team, which I happen to think they are. They have pitching, and pitching is everything in playoff baseball. But if they miss the postseason, is it a successful year? If I'm a Padres fan and the team misses the post-season I'd be sorely disappointed, not only because they sat atop the division for nearly the entire season, but because it's a team that is well suited for a playoff run. Their offense is mediocre, but their pitching is good enough to carry them somewhat deep into the playoffs. They're a team with dependable pitching, and although their offense is rather average, being able to keep teams off the scoreboard, like they've done effectively all year, will win them playoffs games.

Today marks the official start of football season and a prediction is in order. I won't bother with any tedious, meaningless predictions because there's only one prediction that matters, and that's who is going to make it to the big dance. So here are my Super Bowl predictions, with some key points about why these teams have a shot.


The Baltimore Ravens

- 12th hardest schedule which will help them. They have some easy games but there are tough tests, including one with the Jets, two with the Bengals, one with the Saints, one with the Patriots, and two with the Steelers. This schedule won't prevent them from making playoffs, and their tougher games will help them prepare for the post-season.
- Their defense, which is anchored by one of the most feared linebackers in football, speaks for itself. Only 2 teams gave up less yards than they did last year.
- They have an extremely well balanced offense. Joe Flacco is a proven quarterback and now he has some serious weapons at receiver. Derrick Mason, Donte Stallworth, Anquan Boldin and TJ Houshmandzadeh form a scary set of wide receivers. Plus, their running game is effective too. Ray Rice had over 1,300 rushing yards last year, and with the receivers the Ravens have, they'll be very dynamic offensively.
- They have a strong leadership core and players with Super Bowl experience. This goes a long way in the post-season.


The Green Bay Packers

- Aaron Rogers has figured it out. Last year he had a 30/7 TD to Int ratio. In the beginning of last season it was hard to watch him because he got sacked so much, but as time went on he has been able to use his feet more, making him more of a threat.
- Rogers has great receivers around him and Ryan Grant is a pretty effective running back.
- They don't have an overly-tough schedule, but there are certainly some important tests for them including two with the Vikings, one with the Jets, one with the Cowboys, and one with the Patriots.
- Green Bay had one of the best defenses in the league last year - the only team that gave up less yards than them were the Jets.


Super Bowl Champion: Ravens

Now, let it be understood that I don't think these two teams are the best in the league, and yes I do understand that it's sacreligious to bet against the Colts right now. In my opinion however, these two teams are well-tailored for a title run, and if they manage to stay healthy they should both have very good shots at making it to the big dance.



Agree? Disagree? Let your voice be heard by leaving a comment with your opinions.

International basketball tournaments are not fun.

If you ask the casual sports fan if he/she has been paying attention to the FIBA World Championships going on right now in Turkey, chances are the answer will be no. However, if you asked that same apathetic person how they think the tournament is going, I'd be willing to bet that they'd have the same answer as most other people, which would be some form of, "The US is probably winning, right?" Anyone with any basketball knowledge would assume this, and this assumption is going to be right about 95% of the time. It's that 95% of the time that makes any world basketball competition uninteresting. At the FIBA tournament currently going on, the US has won every game by an average of about 30 points. They did have a scare from Brazil, but overall it has proven, thus far, to be an uninteresting, trite basketball tournament. Now, I don't want to sound unpatriotic, but does anyone else kind of want the US to lose?

In my opinion, the US should never lose a basketball game. That's not to say that there aren't any good teams out there besides the US, but it is to say that when you match teams up on paper no one can come remotely close to the US. Now of course games aren't won and lost on paper, which is why the game is played, and as fans there are many instances where we watch in hopes of the paper being wrong. We watch because we don't always want to see the best team win. If the best team always won, regardless of the sport, boredom and disinterest would inevitably ensue. Predictability is the death of excitement, and that's what we get in world championship basketball. We know what's going to happen so we either don't pay attention at all, or we do pay attention but don't really care when what we expect to happen happens. Have you watched a UConn women's basketball game in the last two years? It's uncomfortably boring, not because what they're doing is boring, but because you know what's going to happen. It's too predictable. This is what makes the upset so appealing.

Now, I'm not sure if I want the US to lose as much as I just want to see something different and exciting. In fact, if it were any other country I'd want the same thing - it just happens to be the US in this particular instance, which probably makes me look like an ungrateful, unpatriotic traitor. However, I want to assure everyone that the reason for my craving an upset is not to see the US fall, but rather to see someone else triumph. During the 2004 Olympics people were shocked. Not only did the US lose, but they lost 3 times. They ended up receiving a bronze medal which was a tremendous disappointment, but in a way it was somewhat refreshing. Having this happen restored some passion, although mostly negative, into a sport that had been painfully predictable for far too long. Also, losing every once in a while makes you appreciate winning that much more. Simply put, the US winning will not turn my attention to the FIBA World Championships. The US losing, however, would certainly peak my interest.

To me, pure dominance in a sport is not as interesting as a well-balanced field. Watching a team that always wins takes the excitement out of the game, and we watch the game for the excitement. We watch to see, regardless of what the stats might be on paper, who the better team is on any given day. However, one good thing about such dominance is that the longer it stretches, the more excitement there is when defeat finally occurs. As previously stated, when people pick the US to win a world title, 95% of the time they're going to be right. I may stand alone in wanting the US to lose, but I want them to lose because that 5% is the epitome of why sports are great. That 5% that says, "regardless of everyone's opinion of who the best team is, they can still lose," makes fans passionate about the sport. So although my chances aren't great, I'm going to sit and hope that team USA losses. As well as the UConn women's basketball team.