The Best of All Time: 1950s

One of the best catchers of all time, Roy Campanella played from 1948-1957 in Brooklyn before his career tragically ended after he became paralyzed from a car accident. However, no matter how short his career, he boasted career numbers of a .276 batting average, 242 homeruns and a .988 fielding percentage. He was an All Star eight out of his ten seasons and NL MVP in 1951, 1955 and 1958. In 1969, he was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame.


Mickey Mantle is one of the most well known and talked about greats of the 1950s, a lot in part to his life of the field. When up at the plate, he swung from both sides to end his 18-year Yankee career with a .298 average, 536 homeruns, 2,415 hits, 1,509 RBI, a .557 slugging percentage and 1,733 walks. The Mick was 20-time All Star, helped earn seven World Series Rings, was AL MVP three times, won a Golden Glove and the 1956 Triple Crown. As if that wasn't enough, he also owns the record for the most homeruns, RBI, runs, walks, extra-base his and total bases in the World Series, as well as the most walk-off homeruns of all time. He made his way into Cooperstown in 1974.


Giants great Willie Mays finished his 22-year career batting .302 with 660 homeruns, 1,903 RBI, 3,283 hits, 5,232 doubles and a .557 slugging percentage. He once hit four home runs in one game. The remarkable 24-time All Star, 1954 World Series champ, 12-time Gold Glove winner, two-time NL MVP, 1951 Rookie of the Year and two-time All-Star MVP was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1979.


"Mr. Cub" Ernie Banks spent his entire career in the windy city from 1953-1971. He ended his time there with a .274 average, 512 homeruns, 2,583 hits and a .986 fielding percentage. He was named an All Star 14 times, won a Gold Glove in 1960 and was named league MVP twice. In 1977 he was made a Hall of Famer.


Maybe not known as well as the others, Earl Wynn boasted numbers fierce enough to make my list. He broke into the majors when he was just 19-years-old and played from 1939-1963. Wynn finished with a 3.54 ERA, with a .551 winning percentage and 2,334 career strikeouts. His best years came in the 1950's, as he was an All Star every year from 1955-1960 and was a 1959 Cy Young winner. Cooperstown welcomed him into the Hall in 1972.



Native New Yorker Whitey Ford reigned as "Chairman of the Board" for his hometown Yankees for 16 years. In that time, he had a 2.75 ERA, .690 winning percentage, 1,956 strikeouts. Not to mention, Ford made the All-Star roster ten times, helped win six World Series rings, and had his best year in 1961 when he won the AL Cy Young award and World Series MVP. He was elected into the Hall of Fame in 1974.


Warren Spahn was a fearsome southpaw during his time, spending 21 years on the mound mainly for the then Boston Braves. His career line reads a 3.09 ERA with a 363-245 record and 2,583 strikeouts. He was a 17-time All Star and won a World Series championship and Cy Young in 1957. In 1973 he made the ballot and went on to be a member of the Hall.


Last but not least on the list is Duke Snider. The Brooklyn Dodger great played 18 season with a career average of .295. He also had 2,116 hits, 407 of them round-trippers, as well as 1,333 RBI and a .540 slugging percentage. Being a eight-time All Star and a big part of two World Series championship teams helped him earn his spot in the Hall of Fame in 1980.

It's Here! Playoff Preview: ALDS

Rays vs. Rangers:

Head-to-Head: Both teams won their respective divisions, the Rays nudging the Yankees in the East with a 96-66 record and the Rangers finishing nine games up in the West with 90 wins and 72 losses. In the regular season, Tampa Bay took four out of six games versus Texas.

On the Mound: Tampa Bay starts the series sending their ace, the Cy Young-hopeful David Price. He finished the regular season 19-6 with a 2.72 ERA, second and third, respectively, in the AL. Behind Price is Shields, Garza and Davis, all with 12 or more wins. Out of the bullpen, the Rays call on Rafael Soriano to close things out, as he has done a league leading 45 times in the regular season. The Rangers have Cliff Lee, CJ Wilson, Colby Lewis and Tommy Hunter in their playoff rotation, which boast the lowest combined ERA for a playoff team. When it comes to a closer, Texas has a tough one of their own in Neftali Feliz whose 40 saves was third best in the AL.

My pick: Rays: The pitching is going to be close in this series, with great arms on both sides. So, looking at offense, the Rays get the slight edge. Texas’s slugger Josh Hamilton finished with the best average with .359, but missed most of September with a rib injury that is still does not have him at 100%. On the other side, Tampa Bay’s Carl Crawford is looking to continue on the same note into the postseason. Crawford batted .360 in the month of September. Also taken into consideration is the fact that the Rays were the best team in baseball and won a division were only on team finished under .500. On the other hand, beside themselves, the Rangers were the only team to finish about .500 in the AL West.


Twins vs. Yankees:

Head-to-Head: Back in May, the Yankees took 5 out of seven against the Twins. New York heads into the post season as the Wild Card winner, finishing 95-97 in the East. Minnesota won the Central by six games with a 94-68 record, although they head into the playoffs losing eight of their last ten.

On-the-Mound: The Yankees are starting AL win leader C.C. Sabathia in game 1. Andy Pettitte and Phil Hughes will follow him in the starting roles and C.C. will again take the mound on three-days rest in Game 4 if necessary. Out of the bullpen, Kerry Wood has been dominating in pinstripes and Mariano Rivera is the epitome of big-time closers. The Rangers rotation begins with Francisco Liriano and continues on with Brian Duensing and Carl Pavano. The Twins are without their star closer Joe Nathan, who has sat out the whole season with an injury.

My pick: Yankees Both teams have been struggling a bit of late, but I believe the Yankees will come out the victor. I do not worry about the starting rotation; C.C. pitched on little rest last year in the postseason and I like him any day over a struggling A.J. Burnett. Also, Pettitte’s postseason play is always phenomenal and Hughes is one of the brightest young starters out there. Let’s remember, the Yanks won it all a year ago using just three starters in the rotation. Plaguing Minnesota is the loss of Justin Morneau who is out of the playoffs because of injury. Hometown hero Joe Mauer has posted impressive numbers since the All-Star break, but he cannot do it alone against the Yankees lineup that includes A-Rod, Jeter and a MVP probable Cano.

The Best of All Time: 1940s, Part II

No list of baseball greats can be made without the inclusion of Jackie Robinson. Not only did he break the color barrier in the Major Leagues in 1947, but he also played like everyone else mentioned in this compilation. From 1947-1956 he batted .311 with 1,518 hits, 734 RBI and 197 stolen bases, many of home, which he was known for. Robinson was named Rookie of the Year in 1947 and went on to become a six-time All Star and Hall of Fame member in 1962. His number 42 is the only number retired universally across baseball.


I have to include a Negro League player on this list who was one of the best to play the game across the board. The “Black Babe Ruth,” Josh Gibson reportedly batted .359 with a .648 slugging percentage in his 17 seasons, although some say his career batting average was as high as .384. The Hall of Fame, into which he was inducted in 1972, says he hit nearly 800 homeruns. He also was chosen as an All Star ten times.


Back in the Majors, Johnny Mize hit .312 with a .562 slugging percentage, 359 homeruns, 2,011 hits and 1,337 RBI from 1936-1953. He holds the MLB record for the most games with three homeruns, which he did six times. Mize was a ten-time All Star, five-time World Series champ, even with a break from baseball to serve in WWII from 1943-1945, and he made it into Cooperstown in 1981.


Lou Boudreau played from 1938-1952 and ended with a batting average at .295 with 1,779 hits. He led the league in doubles in 1941, 1944 and 1947 and holds the record for consecutive doubles in a game when he hit four-in-a-row in 1946. He made the All Star team eight times, was named MVP in 1948 and became a Hall of Famer in 1970.


11-year pro Joe Gordon was one of the best offensive second baseman of his time. He had a career .268 batting average, 253 homeruns, 1,530 hits and a .925 fielding percentage. Gordon was a nine-time All Star, helped his team win five World Series rings and was league MVP in 1942. He holds the AL record for homeruns for a second baseman, too. Just recently, in 2009 he was elected into the Hall of Fame.


Enos Slaughter had a 19-year career from 1938-1959 with a three-year interruption beginning in 1943 because of WWII. In that time, he batted an even .300 including 2,383 hits (413 of them doubles), 1,304 RBI and a .980 fielding percentage. He was a ten-time All Star, four-time World Series champion and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1985.

The Best of All Time: 1940s, Part I

The 1940s is called the Golden Era of baseball because of the plethora of great players that graced the diamond. Many also spent time heroically serving their country as World War II broke up this decade.

One of the best of this time period was 19-year Boston Red Sox Ted Williams. In his career, Williams batted .344 with 521 homeruns, 1,839 RBI and a .634 slugging percentage. He was an All Star 19 times and the AL MVP twice, even more remarkable because of his multiple pauses from the game when he went into active duty as a pilot in WWII and the Korean War. He was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1966.



Williams’ teammate Bobby Doerr suited up from 1937-1951. He had a .288 career average with a .461 slugging percentage. He held the Major League record for double plays as a second basemen until 1963 and his record fielding percentage of .980 lasted until 1953. He was a nine-time All Star and entered the Hall of Fame in 1986.


Yogi Berra played almost his entire 19-year career behind the plate for the New York Yankees, batting .285 with 1,430 RBI. He was on the All Star roster 18 times, helped win 13 World Series rings and was the AL MVP in 1951, 1954 and 1955. In 1972 he was inducted into Cooperstown.


Lifetime St. Louis Cardinal Stan “the Man” Musial ended his 22-year career with a .331 batting average, .559 slugging percentage and 3,630 hits, including 475 homeruns. He also had a career .989 fielding percentage. Musial was named an All Star 24 times and MVP three times. He made his way into the Hall of Fame in 1969.


On the other side of things, hurler Bob Feller spent his career in Cleveland from 1936-1956. In that time, he posted a 3.25 ERA with 2,581 strikeouts and a .621 win percentage. He was an eight-time All Star, led the league in wins six times and led the league in strikeouts seven times. He threw three no hitters, including the only Opening Day no hitter in 1938 when he struck out a then-record 18 batters. Feller became a Hall of Famer in 1962.


to be continued...

The Best of All Time: 1930s

Mel Ott started young at just 17 years old in 1926, and went on to play 21 seasons all with the New York Giants. He finished his career with a .304 batting average and 511 homeruns. He was the first person in the National League too hit the 500 homerun mark and was also the youngest player to reach 100 homeruns. Ott was a six-time NL homerun leader, participated in twelve All Star Games and led his team in a Triple Crown category (homeruns) for 18 consecutive seasons, a feat that is yet to be broken. In 1951, he was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame.


From the other New York team, Joe DiMaggio batted a career .325 with a .579 slugging percentage and 2,214 hits from 1936-1951 with the Yankees. He was AL MVP three times, helped the Bronx Bombers win nine World Series and he made the All Star team 13 times, making him the only player to ever be an All Star every year of his career. Most notably, DiMaggio still holds the record for consecutive games with a hit at 56. He entered the Hall of Fame in 1955.


Another slugger of the time was Jimmie Foxx. Fox played from 1925-1945 and racked up a .325 batting average, .609 slugging percentage, 534 homeruns, 1,922 RBI and a .990 fielding percentage. He was the second player to reach 500 homeruns and the second youngest to reach that feat after Alex Rodriguez. He was a nine-time All Star, three-time MVP and entered Cooperstown in 1951.


Carl Hubbell is a little more less-known to today’s fans, but his numbers warrant him mention on my list. He was a little older entering the league at 25 years old and played from 1928-1943 for the New York Giants. He finished with a 2.98 ERA, 1,677 strikeouts and a .622 win percentage. He no-hit the Pirates in 1929 and threw 18 shutout innings against the Cardinals in 1933. During the All Star Game in 1934 he did the unthinkable when he set a record for striking out five consecutive opposing All Stars; those five players: Ruth, Gehrig, Foxx, Al Simmons and Joe Cronin, all future Hall of Famers. Hubbell also won 24 consecutive games from 1936-1937, which still stands as the most consecutive wins ever. In 1943, he was chosen for the Hall of Fame.


One of the most neurotic players of all time, Dizzy Dean was also one of the best. In his career spanning from 1930-1947, he had a .302 ERA with 1,163 strikeouts. He was the last pitcher in the National League to ever have a 30-win season. He made the All Star roster four times, was the MVP in 1934 and became a Hall of Famer in 1953.


Lefty Grove was another great pitcher of the time. From 1925-1941 he had a 300-141 career record with a 3.06 ERA and struck out 2,266 batters. He was also a six-time All Star, back-to-back World Series champ in 1929 and 1930 and the 1931 AL MVP. Grove was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1947.


Another Lefty finishes off the list of 1930s greats. Lefty Gomez spent 13 years as a Yankee from 1930-1942 and played his last season in 1943. He had a 189-102 record giving him a .649 win percentage. Gomez also had a 3.34 ERA and 1,468 career strikeouts. Seven consecutive seasons he was named an All Star from 1933-1939 and he helped earn his team five World Series rings. In the 1934 and 1937 seasons, he led the AL in wins, ERA and strikeouts. In 1972 he was elected into the Hall of Fame.

The Best of All Time: 1920s

*Note: Many of these players were successful throughout the 1930s and into the 1940s as well, but they began in the 1920s, so that is where and how I will group them.

I might as start right off the bat with the one that most people claim was the best of all time -- Babe Ruth. He started his 22-year career in 1914 but really took the spotlight after the accursed trade from the Red Sox to the Yankees in 1919. The Bambino finished with a .342 average, 2,213 RBI, 714 homeruns and an all time best .690 slugging percentage. He was a seven-time World Series champion and was named the AL MVP in 1923. In 1936, he was one of the first five members inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.


Right behind the Babe was another man who enters the conversation as the best player of all time. Lou Gehrig played from 1923-1939, all with the New York Yankees. The “Iron Horse” ended his career with a .340 average, .991 fielding percentage and 493 homeruns. He played in 2,130 consecutive games, even after such instances as getting a concussion after being hit in the head by a pitch. He was a seven-time All Star, owned six World Series rings, and was the league MVP in 1927 and 1936. Gehrig was an unanimous inductee into the Hal of Fame in 1939.


Another great of the 1920s was Roger Hornsby. He hit for a .358 average in 23 seasons. He is the only player to have won the NL Triple Crown twice and is also the only player to ever hit 40 homeruns and have an average above .400 in a season, which he did in 1924, batting .424. Hornsby was a two-time MVP and became a member of Cooperstown in 1942.


Red Ruffing was perhaps the best pitcher of the roaring twenties. He played from 1924-1947 with a 3.80 ERA, including 1,987 strikeouts. He also was an All Star six times, helped win six World Series titles and was elected into the Hall of Fame in 1967.


A lifetime Cincinnati Red, Edd Roush batted .323 in his career, spanning from 1913-1931. From 1917-1926, he never batted below .321 and was the NL batting champ in 1917 and 1919. Aside from his bat, his skills as an outfielder labeled him as having the best arm in the big leagues during his time. That strength was also showcased in his offense; Roush used a 48-ounce bat, the biggest in baseball. In 1962, he made his way into the Hall of Fame.

The Best of All Time: 1890-1920

In order to cure my blogging plague and in honor of summer coming to an end and fall ball getting underway, I am going to recap the greatest players to ever set foot on the diamond. Everyday (with the possibility of a few breaks because of my lovely work schedule) I will reminisce the best professional players of each decade, leading up to this decades’ inaugural season.

Major League Baseball began in 1869, but since the structure differed until the addition of the American League in 1901, I will start with the deadball era spanning from the 1890s to 1920.

I begin with the “Flying Dutchman” Honus Wagner. In his 21 year career, ending in 1917, he boasted a .327 batting average with a .947 fielding percentage. He won eight batting titles and led the league in slugging six times and in stolen bases five times. In 1936, he was one of five men selected in the Baseball Hall of Fame’s inaugural class.


Switching to the other side of the plate, we have Cy Young. When he retired after 22 seasons in 1911, he had a 2.63 ERA and a .618 win percentage. In 7,356 innings he struck out 2,803 batters. He is notorious for great pitching to this day since each league’s best pitcher is given an end-of-season award in his name.


One of the lesser-known greats early baseball is Nap Lajoie, who played 21 seasons from 1895-1916. He finished with a .338 batting average, although he was best known for his work in the infield, primarily as a second baseman. He had a career .967 fielding percentage and won the Triple Crown in 1901. In 1937, he was elected into Cooperstown.


Last but not least, I leave you with Ty Cobb. Cobb entered the Majors at the young age of 18 and played for 24 years before hanging up his cleats in 1928. His .367 career batting average is still the best of all-time. He also finished with a .513 slugging percentage, .961 fielding percentage and 4,191 hits. He set 90 Major League records, earned 12 batting titles (including nine in a row from 1907-1915), stole home a record 54 times, and only batted below .300 once in his astonishing career. In 1911 he was the league’s MVP and he entered the Hall of Fame with the most votes of any of the inaugural inductees with 98.2%.

No No No No No!... And Early Cy Young Picks

Last nights no-hitter by Matt Garza added to what is being called “The Year of the Pitcher” in the Major Leagues. Fans have been lucky enough to witness five no-hitters this season, including two perfect games – and it’s only a month after the All-Star Game, the halfway point of the season.

It all started early on in April when the Colorado Rockies were given their first no-hitter by way of 26-year-old Ubaldo Jimenez. The Dominican Republic native’s line on the night wasn’t overly impressive with 6 walks, but his 7 strikeouts helped him on his way to history. To add to the accomplishment, he also had a RBI and scored a run in the game. Jimenez has only continued to cruise since his no-no. He was rightfully named the NL All-Star Game starter and now holds the most wins in the Majors with a 15-2 record and 2.75 ERA.

A few weeks later, it was a 26-year-old AL pitcher’s turn. Oakland’s Dallas Braden achieved perfection against the Rays with 109 pitches, including six strikeouts, in the 19th perfect game in MLB history. Out of the five so far this season, Braden’s perhaps was the most emotional and inspiring. Braden grew up an hour away from Oakland and had a rough childhood being the son of a single mom. When he was a senior in high school his mother passed away from cancer. His grandmother was there to watch Braden’s every perfect pitch and was the first to give him a congratulatory hug. The biggest significance of the day? It was on Mother’s Day.

Twenty days later, Phillies’ veteran Roy Halladay obtained a perfect game of his own in a 1-0 win against the Marlins. The 159-84 career ace needed 115 pitches to complete the feat, which included a personal and Phillies season high 11 strikeouts. Halladay’s numbers have continued to impress this season as he is tied for 3rd in the NL with 11 wins, is 4th in the Majors with a 2.28 ERA and is tied for a 4th in the NL with 140 Ks.

Diamondbacks starter Edwin Jackson was probably the most improbable to get a no-no this season. On June 26, his pitch count topped 60 pitches by the 3rd inning, but he told his manager, “I’m not coming out until I give up a homerun or a hit.” Good thing his manager listened. In the end, Jackson finished with 149 pitches and 8 walks in the game, but the zero in the second column on the scoreboard was all that mattered as he led the Dbacks in the 1-0 win against the Rays.

After being no-hit twice already this season, Tampa Bay got redemption of its own through Matt Garza’s gem last night. His no-hitter was the first in the young franchise’s history. He gave up just one walk in the 7th inning, but still managed to face the minimum as his walk was followed by an inning-ending double play. It took him 120 pitches to get his 27 outs.

With all the great pitching performances this season, even beyond the five no-hitters, it’s hard not to start thinking about who will get the Cy Young this season. If the season continues on the way it has thus far, I think it is pretty clear that the NL will award it to Jimenez. With his no-hitter, All-Star start, MLB-leading 15 wins and miniscule 2.75 ERA, there are very few others that can compete.

The AL, however leaves a lot more options. Ironically, at this point I have to go with the other All-Star starter, David Price of the Tampa Bay Rays. The top pick from 2007 leads the AL with 13 wins and is 5th with a 2.90 ERA. Another possibility in the Cy Young race who has been doing things more quietly is veteran ace Andy Pettitte. He holds a 11-2 record with a 2.88 ERA for the AL East-leading Yankees.

But, as everyone knows, with 60-some games left in the regular season, anything is bound to happen. Let’s hope it continues to be as exciting as it’s been thus far.

Why Baseball is Better Than Christmas

My apologies first and foremost for such a long blogging drought. Working in baseball does not give you much time in the summer for recreational writing. But since it is mid-season for most of the minor leagues and almost to the MLB mid-summer classic, this is the perfect time to share with you how and why the glorious game of baseball is better than Christmas. Why compare it to Christmas? Well today is June 25th, exactly half way to the winter holiday. So, on we go.

5. You don’t have to be “politically correct” in baseball.
Being Catholic, Christmas is just what it is meant to be, the celebration of Jesus’ birth. For me, candy canes and Christmas stars have biblical ties and my favorite carols also have religious sentiments. But because this nation is based on the separation of church and state, we have to watch our step when celebrating Christmas publically. In schools and the workplace, there is no longer Christmas break, but winter break; Christmas trees and stockings are inappropriate. Santa Claus can barely even sneak through without criticism (ironic since he is based on the Saint Nicholas). However, in baseball, there is none of that. Baseball is baseball. Its roots and rules were established long ago and are basically universal wherever it is being played. It is not changed to appease to others beliefs. It is what it is.

4. So many share the spotlight.
With Christmas, you get Santa Claus. He is the star of the show. Of course, he has his supporting cast in Rudolph, Frosty, etc, but jolly ‘ole St. Nick is the star of the season. In baseball, there are countless guys claiming the spotlight. How do you answer to who is the biggest star in baseball? Jeter? A-Rod? Manny? Mauer? Longoria? Ethier? Jiminez? There is no one answer. And even better, there is an abundance of young guns coming up into the majors that are ready to get their piece of the fame; Strasburg, Heyward, Jackson, Stanton are just a few drawing everyone’s attention in their Major League debuts.

3. You can’t match the history.
Christmas is Christmas year after year after year. Every year there are the same events, the same decorations, the same everything. Little has changed in the long, long history of the holiday. America’s pastime is called so because of the history and nostalgia it evokes. I could start naming off all the history and artifacts from the game, but that would take a room full of books to get through. Baseball is not baseball without its vast history and memories.

2. You always get what you want.
Well, except if you’re a Cubs fan…
Everyone has had at least one Christmas morning where they ripped through their presents but were deflated after not finding that one gift they wanted the most. Although always grateful, some Christmases come with a little of a letdown after not getting the one present you most wanted. With baseball, you always get what you want, maybe not within your particular team, but without a doubt in the game itself. Night after night there are pitching duels, walk-off wins, extra innings, grand slams, web gems and on occasion no-hitters and perfect games. There is always something exciting going on, no matter what. For true fans, baseball never disappoints.

1. Baseball is the gift that keeps on giving.
Christmas comes but once a year. Nowadays it is stretched into a month-long excursion, but in reality there is only really about a week of Christmas celebrations. Baseball extends from April to October, or for the Yankees and Phillies last year, even on into November. Before April, you have Spring Training that fuels your fire for some “play ball.” Even in the off-season there are transactions, retirements and all sorts of scandalous going-ons. For those who truly appreciate it, baseball continues on 365 days a year to be enjoyed, to be appreciated and to be cherished.

When it comes to Christmas and baseball, it isn’t even a fair comparison. Nothing can emulate the joy, the emotion, the unpredictability and the euphoria that baseball brings to its biggest fans.

The Madness is Magnificent

Oh, March Madness, how do I love thee, let me count the ways…

Early in the regular NCAA basketball season, my dad and I kept saying how we couldn’t wait for the tourney to start because it was sure to be nuts – and we haven’t been let down! This is easily the most entertaining tournament I can remember.

But people are getting on my nerves complaining constantly about all the underdogs taking down the high seeds this year. Seriously? You cannot be a true college basketball fan if you are complaining! Do you want all #1 seeds to make the Final Four and the top overall to win it? How fun is that? Are my brackets trashed? yes. Am I out a few bucks? yes. Did I cringe when my hometown Orange failed to overcome a 5 seed? yes. But let me repeat… I love this tournament! This is how college basketball is supposed to be. 64 teams chosen with the possibility of anyone from a 1 to a 14 seed walking off the court victorious.

Upsets are what make college basketball what it is. A large percentage of the top players in the game right now can thank an upset for getting them where they are. When the 1966 Texas Western team took down legendary Adolph Rupp’s top-ranked Kentucky, history was made. The game was historic before the upset, as five black players were introduced as starters for the first time in NCAA championship history. The highly favored Wildcat opponents were an all-white team. (The movie Glory Road revisits this season. I highly recommend it if you haven’t yet seen it).

More memorable for most, though, was just a few short years ago in 2006 when George Mason took down top-seeded Connecticut to make it to the Final Four. The Patriots were the second 11 seed to make it that far in the tournament. Of course, in proper Cinderella-story fashion, it took more than regulation to pull off the upset. George Mason went 5-for-6 in overtime to get the 86-84 win to advance.

As I said before, 2010 is living up to all the March Madness hype. The Final Four will consist of just one top seed (Duke), a 2 seed (West Virginia) and two 5 seeds (Butler and Michigan State). The Elite Eight saw a 12, 11 and 10 seed battle it out. And let’s not forget #14 Ohio taking down #3 Georgetown in the first round and a #9 Northern Iowa dismantling overall #1 Kansas in Round 2 – and that was just in the Midwest region!

Fans don’t remember the tournament for top teams pummeling lower seeds. March Madness is not a national phenomenon because of uneventful, predictable games. It is cherished for its instability, its uniqueness and for the madness it creates.


**As a side note, I can’t conclude a blog about college basketball on this fine day of March 28 without reminding you of what many believe is the greatest shot ever in college hoops. So, enjoy watching history be made exactly 18 years ago today:

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

The majority of people think of today’s holiday as a drinking fest. I am guilty as all for enjoying a few too many green beers on March 17th, but it is also important to recognize the real reason for this day, just like we should for Easter and Christmas and so on.

So in honor of the real reason for the celebration, here’s a little background on the real St. Patrick:

When he was a boy, he was taken as a slave from Scotland to Ireland. During his captivity he continually turned to God for help, and he answered him. When he was 20 years old, God told him in a dream to go to the coast in order to leave Ireland. He did so and was taken aboard a ship and back to his family. He started studying to be a priest and then became a bishop and was sent to take his faith to Ireland. Patrick began teaching and converting the land of Ireland and building many churches along the way. On this day in 461, he died after a life of true devotion. The shamrock is related to him because he used the three-leafed plant to explain the Holy Trinity.

Today, I hope you enjoyed a beer or two… or too many, but I hope you also take a moment to reflect on why this is considered a holiday to begin with. St. Patrick traveled around Ireland for 40 years, living in poverty and teaching so many that emerald Isle is now known for its abundant Catholic faith.

In conclusion, I’ll leave you with some old Irish blessings:

May love and laughter light your ways
and warm your heart and home.
May good and faithful friends be yours,
wherever you may roam.
May peace and plenty bless your world
with joy that long endures.
May all life’s passing seasons
bring the best to your and yours.

May God give you…
for every storm, a rainbow
for every tear, a smile
for every care, a promise
And a blessing in each trial.
For every problem life sends,
A faithful friend to share.
For every sigh, a sweet song,
and an answer for each prayer.

Wishing you a rainbow
For sunlight after showers.
Miles and miles of irish smiles
for happy golden hours.
Shamrocks at your doorway
for luck and laughter, too.
And a host of friends that never ends
each day your whole life through.

May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of his hand.

Spring Training is... Spring Training

Don't get me wrong, I always have the countdown going of when pitchers and catchers report and then one for when the first pitch of spring is thrown, but some people put way too much emphasis and consideration into spring training games. Now, I do think that for individual players who are under close scrutiny spring training is important, but as for correlation between a team's spring training performance and their performance in the upcoming regular season? Spring training isn't much of a telltale sign.

The World Champion Yankees started off their spring with a 6-3 walk-off win over the Pirates. The dramatics came off the bat of a game-winning homerun by Colin Curtis. Who, you ask? Exactly. Good news for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre; the Bronx boys will care maybe in a year or two. Should Yankee fans be worried that they narrowly won over the Pirates? Well, last year, they opened the spring the same way and as we know, the Yanks went on to win it all while having the best record in baseball and the only team with more than 100 regular season wins (103-59). The Pirates didn't see any playoff action, finishing dead last in the NL Central with only three more wins than the Yankees had losses (62-99).

New York's second game was all hyped up because of the World Series rematch against the Phillies and aces CC Sabathia and Roy Halladay going head-to-head on the mound. In the Yankees 3-2 loss, CC let up two hits and two walks while Halladay had no hits and three strikeouts -- each only pitching two innings. Two innings! You really can't coincide the performances in their short-lived spring debut with how they may pitch season long in the regular season, you just can't.

In Friday's game, everyone was anxious to see how battling starters Joba Chamberlin and Phil Hughes would do. Hughes started and gave up a homerun and a walk in two innings. Joba followed with two innings of his own, letting in five runs on three extra-base hits and a walk while striking out just one batter. But again, can two innings really be a precursor to an entire regular season? No. Posada's back-up Cervelli was good offensively, which we hope will continue, and MLB's Bryan Hoch noted that Jeter and Cano looked sharp up the middle -- duh, they've been doing that for how long now?

With the 7-12 loss in the third game to the Rays, the Yankees are now 1-2 in the Grapefruit League. But even the Grapefruit's final standings need to be lightly considered. In 2009, the Bronx Bombers won the Grapefruit League and went on to be the best team in baseball that year. But, four of the top eight Grapefruit finishers didn't even make the playoffs last season.

So, let me reiterate. Yes, I do love spring training. Not much other than Opening Day gets me as giddy. However, I do think people try to take way too much out of spring training as a basis for the regular season. Watch it. Check out the lines. But always remember, when it comes to baseball, anything and everything is possible to happen in the long stretch from May to September.

Love According to Ovid

Valentine’s Day is coming up and one of my favorite love poems came to mind. So, I thought I’d share it with you now. Enjoy my 11th grade AP Latin translation of Ovid’s Amores 1.9, a metaphor on war and love.

Every lover serves as a solder, and Cupid has his own camp;
Atticus, believe me, every lover serves as a soldier.
The age that is useful for war is also suited for Venus:
An old man is a disgusting soldier, an old man is a disgusting lover.
The spirit that leaders look for in a brave soldier,
a beautiful girl looks for in a male companion:
Both stay up all night, and both sleep on the earth;
The lover guards the doorstep of his mistress, the soldier of his leader.
The duty of a soldier is a long march: send the girl forth,
a hearty lover will follow without end;
he will climb daunting mountains and ford streams divided by
rain, he will wear down the accumulated snows,
and about to sail, he will not plead as an excuse the violent east winds
nor will he seek stars suited for sweeping the sea.
Who except a soldier or a lover will endure both the chills of the night
and the snows mixed with the heavy rain?
The one is sent as a spy against the hostile enemy,
the other holds his eyes on his rival, as his enemy.
That one besieges mighty cities, this one besieges the doorstep of his stern girlfriend;
This one breaks down city gates, that one doors.
Often it is beneficial to attack the enemy while asleep
and to strike an unarmed crowd with an armed band.
Thus the fierce army of the Thracian Rhesis fell,
and you, captured horses, deserted your masters.
Of course lovers use the sleep of husbands
and the brandish their own weapons while the enemy sleeps.
To go across the bands of guards and the crowds of sentries
is always the task of a miserable lover and a poor soldier.
Mars is doubtful, Venus is not certain; both have risen again,
and those who you would say could never lie in defeat, they fall.
Therefore, whoever calls love leisure,
stop talking: Love has an enterprising nature.
Great Achilles burns over his abducted Brises
(while you can, break Greek defenses, Troy);
Hector left the embrace of Andromache to arm himself,
and the wife placed his helmet on his head;
The greatest of leaders, the son of Atrides having seen the daughter of Prium
is said to been amazed by her flowing Maenad hair.
Mars, also having been caught, felt the blacksmith’s chains:
no story was more famous in heaven.
I myself was lazy and born into easygoing leisure;
My shaded couch had weakened my spirit;
Love of a beautiful girl motivated my lazy self,
and ordered me to earn my pay in its camp.
Then you see me active and waging nighttime wars:
let he who does not wish to become lazy, love.

Fiesta Bowl

Don't have time to write a full blog, but I do want to get it out there that my pick in tonight's Fiesta Bowl is TCU. The Horned Frogs have beat 6 bowl-winning teams this year... Alabama, Texas, Florida all cannot claim the same. Plus, if Boise State wins, they are the first team to go 14-0 since the '02 Buckeyes - I just don't see that happening. I think this one's going to be a great game and I think TCU will come out on top.

Heisman Hunt

In just a few hours, the best college football player from the 2009 season will be named as the Heisman Trophy winner. This year’s five candidates make it perhaps the most contested Heisman race in years. Here’s how I think tonight’s ceremony will break down (although I may not totally agree with it):

#5-Toby Gerhart, Stanford RB: Gerhart ranks first in carries, yards and touchdowns in the nation with 311, 1,736 and 26, respectively. However, his name hasn’t been on the main stage as much this season as the other contestants. What hurts Gerhart the most is playing for Stanford, who got a spot in the sub-par Sun Bowl against a 7-5 Oklahoma team that disappointed many this year.

#4-Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska DT: Suh’s a beast, with 82 tackles and a 3rd-best 12 sacks in his senior season. However, defensive players don’t standout when it comes to Heisman winners. In fact, there has been just one defensive Heisman winner ever, Michigan’s Charles Woodsen in 1997, who was listed as a D-back and a wide receiver.

#3-Tim Tebow, Florida QB: He’s one of the most beloved (and therefore most hated) players in college football. But, there has only been one two-time Heisman winner ever, and it will remain that way after tonight. Although Tebow posted good numbers, like finishing 8th in the nation with a 155.6 passer rating, his completions, yards and touchdowns have dropped since his Heisman-winning sophomore year. Plus, Tebow landed the Gators just short of another National Championship run. However, he will go down in history as one of the best college football players ever to grace the national stage.

#2-Mark Ingram, Alabama RB: Ingram finished the season with 249 carries for 1,542 yards and 15 touchdowns. He lands higher on the list than fellow running back Gerhart for a few reasons. One being that Ingram is only a sophomore, and tearing apart defenses like he does at such a young age gives him major points. Also, Ingram has been a main reason why the Crimson Tide will be playing in Pasadena for the BCS title.

#1-Colt McCoy, Texas QB: And the winner is… This Longhorn leader ranks 3rd in completion percentage (70.5), 6th in yards (3,512) and 8th in touchdowns (27). McCoy finished 2nd in the 2008 Heisman standings as a junior, so with numbers similar to last year’s, he seems to be a shoe-in. Not to mention he will be vying for BCS National Championship title in January. Another thing in his favor: in the last 10 years, the Heisman has been given to a quarterback eight times. Congratulations, Colt.

Bruce on Life

Hello world. I apologize for my lack of blogging… it’s been about a month! But things were crazy busy with Thanksgiving break and now I have one week of classes and one week of finals left until graduation, so things are quite hectic right now if you can imagine!

Speaking of Thanksgiving break, I was at what could be Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band’s final concert in Buffalo. (I won’t go into detail about how AMAZING it was!) I’ve been really into his song “Land of Hope and Dreams” lately. Not only is the music great, but the lyrics are really uplifting.

While listening to non-stop Bruce lately, I’ve noticed that he uses a train as a metaphor for life in a lot of his songs; this really speaks to me. Here are some examples:

Downbound Train
I had a job, I had a girl
I had something going, mister, in this world
I got laid off down at the lumber yard
Our love went bad, times got hard
Now I work down at the carwash
Where all it ever does it rain
Don’t you feel like you’re a rider on a downbound train…

Better Days
Well my soul checked out missing as I sat listening
To the hours and minutes ticking away
Yeah, just sittin’ around waitin’ for my life to begin
While it was all just slippin’ away
I’m tired of waiting for tomorrow to come
Or that train to come rolling ‘round the bend…

Human Touch
Oh girl that feeling of safety you prize
Well it comes at a hard, hard price
You can’t shut off the risk and the pain
Without losing the love that remains
We’re all riders on this train…

What Love Can Do
Darling we can’t stop this train
When it comes crashing through
But let me show you what love can do
Let me show you what love can do…


His lyrics are one of the many reasons why I can never, and never will, have enough of Bruce Springsteen. Some of his songs are so uplifting, especially Land Of Hope and Dreams, which I will leave you with. I think it’s my stage in life right now, graduating college and getting ready to go by myself in the “real world” that makes this song stick to me so much. And as weird as it may sound to some, to me it’s like God is singing this to me, telling me that if I let Him, He will take care of me:

Grab your ticket and your suitcase
Thunder’s rolling down the tracks
You don’t know where you’re going
But you know you won’t be back
Darlin’ if you’re weary
Lay your head upon my chest
We’ll take what we can carry
And we’ll leave the rest

Big wheels rolling through fields
Where sunlight streams
Meet me in a land of hope and dreams

I will provide for you
And I’ll stand by your side
You’ll need a good companion for
This part of the ride
Leave behind your sorrows
Let this day be the last
Tomorrow will be sunshine
And all this darkness past

Big wheels rolling through fields
Where sunlight streams
Meet me in a land of hope and dreams

This train
Carries saints and sinners
This train
Carries losers and winners
This train
Carries whores and gamblers
This train
Carries lost souls
This train
Dreams will not be thwarted
This train
Faith will be rewarded
This train
Hear the steel wheels singing
This train
Bells of freedom ringing
This train
Carries broken-hearted
This train
Thieves and sweet souls departed
This train
Carries fools and kings
This train
All aboard

This train
Dreams will not be thwarted
This train
Faith will be rewarded
This train
Hear the steel wheels singing
This train
Bells of freedom ringing.

The 2009 Fall Classic

”I never knew how someone who was dying could say he was the luckiest man in the world. But now I understand.” –Mickey Mantle

That quote pretty much sums up the state of euphoria I was in when Robinson Cano lightly tossed that ground ball to Mark Teixeira for the last out of the New York Yankees’ 27th World Champion season. However, Yankees fan or not, it has to be said that this series, especially game 6, was nothing short of classic baseball at its best.

Certainly A Classic
This game transported me to a time and place of the past, some I remember, some I wasn’t even alive for. First, you have Pedro and Pettitte facing each other on the mound, amidst chants of “Who’s Your Daddy” from the crowd. It was just like being back in the 2004 ALCS (thank goodness this series turned out a lot better!).

Not only do you have Andy on the mound getting his record 18th postseason win, but catching his every pitch is Jorge Posada, and behind them, none other than Derek Jeter. And keep going further back and Mariano Rivera is coming out of the Yanks pen, with “Enter Sandman” blaring over the PA system, to close out the game. These four epitomize the men in pinstripes, as they are true Yankees down to their core. Congrats on “one for the thumb”, guys.

I cannot forget to mention another true Yankee controlling things from the dugout, Joe Girardi. Although this was his 4th ring and not 5th, he was there behind the plate to celebrate the legendary wins in ’96, ’98 and ’99. I could not be happier for Joe. Not only was he a fantastic player I remember well, but also his managerial skills have proven quite impressive. In his first year holding the clipboard, he was named Manager of the Year as the Florida Marlins skipper. Yet, the Marlins fired him after that season. Think they’re regretting that now? I like Tony Pena and how can you not love Donny baseball? But I agree (even before this World Series win) that Girardi was the right man to take over in Torre’s shoes. #27 is well deserving of #27.

Reminiscing back even further, although none of us were alive for it, consider the 1923 season. The Yanks opened the season in the newly built “House that Ruth Built” and finished that season with a ring. Well, this season they christened the “House that Jeter Built” and the captain is walking away at the end again on top of the world.

Godzilla Invades the Bronx
I’ve heard a lot of dislike for Hideki Matsui winning the World Series MVP, but I agree with the choice and I’ll tell you why. Some argue that Matsui didn’t play every game so how can he have impacted the team that much? Well, many of the same people argue that Mariano should have gotten MVP. Mo pitched 5 1/3 innings with two saves and three strikeouts in the six games. What Mariano contributed in this series was huge, but I don’t think it was quite MVP-worthy, comparatively.

No one can argue Matsui’s numbers. He batted .615 with 3 homeruns, not to mention a World Series record-tying six RBI in game 6. He joins Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth as the only player in World Series history to have a batting average of at least .500 and a minimum three homeruns. That is some good company to be in. “Godzilla” was also the first Japanese born MVP and the first full-time DH to get the award.

Sadly, Matsui’s contract with the Yankees is up at the conclusion of this season. Rumors have it that it is either going to be him or Johnny Damon, who’s contract is also up, remaining in pinstripes. If Matsui goes, some sources say he will be going to the Seattle Mariners to play with fellow Japanese player Ichiro Suzuki. Can’t we just keep them both??

Falling Phillies
Yes, the Yankees won, but this blog wouldn’t be complete without the mention of their opponent. Don’t forget that the Phils were two games away from accomplishing the near impossible – repeating as World Series champions. Chase Utley and Cliff Lee anchored the team. Utley matched Mr. October himself, Reggie Jackson’s, record five homeruns in a World Series.

However, they obviously had their downsides. Starter Cole Hamels was basically the heart of the 2008 postseason team. This season, he was quoted as wishing it all were just over. No matter in what context this was uttered, it stirred a little controversy with the team. And then there’s Ryan Howard. His name is linked with tons of hitting accolades through his five years in the MLB, yet none of that was seen in this World Series. Conversely, he had a World Series record 13 strikeouts.

I have no better way to conclude than to quote a writer for The New York Times who once wrote:

”The essence of the Yankees is that they win. From in front or behind they win. And that’s why the history of the New York Yankees is virtually the history of baseball.”

Take a look at SI’s photo gallery of all 27 World Championships. It exemplifies the quote. It shows the Yankees repertoire of winning and shows exactly how this team screams of the ghosts of baseball at its best.

WS post to come...

If you haven't noticed, I stopped my blogging about the MLB when the World Series started, because I am a born and bred, true-to-the-heart Yankees fan and didn't want to get even in the least biased in my writing. But now that they've won, I definitely can write about it! Whoo hoo!

I'm way too burnt out from that game, though, so stay tuned for my thoughts tomorrow. :)

NFL Battle of the Unbeatens

Eight weeks into the NFL season, it’s just about half way over. At the beginning, there were a lot of teams stepping up as tough contenders, but now only two remain undefeated: the Indianapolis Colts and the New Orleans Saints. Who will go deepest into the season with their perfect record intact? Let’s crunch some numbers.

Wins:
Indianapolis’ road to 8-0 has been seemingly easy. They have only faced one team with a current record at .500 or greater. Overall, they have beaten their teams by an average of 15.6 points and have a point differential of +106.

New Orleans, on the other hand, has played four teams with records at or above .500. And their average win margin and point differential are both greater than the Colts at 17 points and +119, respectively.

Remaining
However, no matter what has happened in the first eight weeks, it all depends on how these two teams can finish out the last nine. The Colts begin this next leg facing four teams each with at least four wins. The Saints’ next four opponents have a combined record of 9-20. Overall, Indianapolis’ remaining foes sit at 36-31 while New Orleans’ are 23-41, including two games against the 0-7 Bucs.

Conclusion
I do not think either team will make it through the whole season unscathed. But, it will be close. I predict Manning’s men will fall week 14 against a tough Denver squad. The Saints will “Brees” through until a week later and be handed their first lost in week 15 against Dallas. New Orleans has just two teams with five wins left on their schedule, the Patriots and the Cowboys, and I think the Cowboys are the tougher of the two and therefore the team to end the Saint’s perfect run.

Agree? Disagree? Feedback, as always, is welcome.

Freshman Phenoms

As the 10-week mark has come to college football season, teams are really showing whom they are. And it seems that the focus is always on the players we know and are used to – the upperclassmen. But this season there are a lot of true freshman out there that are coming up big for their teams and proving they can make the high school-to-college jump.

For top 10 teams, Alabama’s Trent Richardson sits in second place on the team in rushing with 377 yards on 74 carries, including a 52-yard touchdown run against Arkansas in week 4. Matthew Tucker is a big part of #6 TCU’s running game, as well. Tucker has racked up 65 carries, 324 yards and 3 touchdowns so far in his first season. Iowa loves to run the ball, and Brandon Wegher has been a big part of their offense. The Hawkeye freshman has 112 carries for 439 yards and has crossed the goal line 6 times.

Outside top 10 teams, this list cannot be complete without USC quarterback Matt Barkley. He has led the #12 Trojans with 1,727 yards and 9 touchdowns and a QB rating of 141.09. He threw for 283 and 380 yards in back-to-back weeks against a 24th-ranked California and a 25th-ranked Notre Dame team, respectively.

Two other true-freshmen running backs need mention, too. Temple’s Bernard Pierce is 3rd in the NCAA in rushing yards with 1,033 and Southern Miss’s Tracey Lampley is 3rd in punt return yards with 280 on 21 attempts.

And I can’t go without mentioning my own alma mater, Kent State, whose freshmen are keeping the Flashes within reach of a MAC East championship. Receiver Tyshon Goode has 40 catches for 553 yards with 5 touchdowns this season, with 11 of the receptions, 198 yards and 2 of the touchdowns coming in last week’s win. This performance earned him Honorable Mention Performance of the Week for his position by College Football Performance Awards.

Of course, Goode needs a quarterback to get him the ball, and fellow freshman Spencer Keith has proved himself worthy of the starting role at that position. Keith has thrown for 1,538 yards with 11 touchdowns and has become a leader on a team with a dismal outlook.

Even though I love to watch the great upperclassman like Tim Tebow and Golden Tate finish out their careers still excelling, it’s nice to see some new faces, too. How great it is to see young players make the transition into Division I college football so well. It’s going to be exciting to watch these newcomers try to break all the records I’ve seen set and to see how much they can accomplish in their years to come.