The Surprises, Disappointments, and Achievers of Baseball so far

After a month of baseball, we all have a look at how some teams will perform this year. Some teams have gotten off to slow starts, while some have far exceeded expectations. Players have gotten off to hot starts, while we are waiting for some to heat up. Also we are able to look at some of the biggest free hits and busts. Here is my overview of the season so far.

First I will start with the performances of teams thus far. My biggest surprise team has to be the Seattle Mariners. After a horrible season with high expectations last year, they have put together a great season to far. Felix Hernandez is one of the top pitchers in MLB, and Erik Bedard and Jarod Washburn have helped make a solid starting rotation. I think they have a good chance at winning this division since Oakland is still young and rebuilding, the Angels dealing with multiple injury problems and losing Nick, and Texas because of their lack of pitching. The biggest disappointment is the Cleveland Indians. After finishing last year on a strong note, they are stuck in the cellar of the AL central. Cliff Lee has not been the same, and the pitching is not all there.

The biggest surprise player this year to many, if your not a Royals fan, is Zack Greinke. He finally allowed a run in his 5th start! He is arguably the best pitcher in baseball right now. He leads the majors in wins, strikeouts, and ERA. The biggest disappoint is Chien-Ming Wang. He was the ace of the Yankees rotation last year, and is no where close to what he has been in the past. He has gotten rocked in every start he has made, and now is on the DL. Part of it could be the balls flying out of the new stadium, and he should improve after a little tuning.

This off season many dollars were spent, mainly by the Yankees, to improve there teams, which brings me to the Yankees. The biggest free agent disappoint has to be CC Sabathia. He is 1-3 and has only a few quality starts. If your getting paid 200 million, you should be im the top 5 at least of every major pitching statistic. With the 435 million spent by the Yankees, it has yet to produce up to expectation. The best pick up has been RAAAUULLLL IBANEZ! At 36, he is among the top 5 in RBI and HR in the National league. He also has hit a few walk off home runs.

Its still early and we got another 5 months of baseball left. Every division in baseball is open for any team to win still, which looks like it will be an exiting summer.

NFL Draft review

Here is my review of the 2009 drafts winners, losers, and shockers. Many teams were able to fill multiple needs while owners continue to corupt their franchises....cough..cough...Al Davis...cough..cough. Their were also players who fell much further then many expected along with many reaches.

First lets start off with the winner of this years draft. The biggest one I think was the Eagles. They had two 1st rounds picks. One of these picks were used in a trade to acquire Pro Bowl tackle Jason Petters who might be the best at his position in the NFL. The second was used to get the 2nd best reciever in the draft, Jeremy Macklin. He should have gone in the top ten but fell to 19th overall.

The loser was very easy to pick thanks to Al Davis for another questionable draft. With Michael Crabtree (might have been the best player in the draft), and Jeremy Macklin available the Raiders went with Darious Hayward-Bey. He was about the 4th best reciever in the draft, and was picked just because he has great speed and has decent size. This guy got honorable mention not in all of NCAA but his own conference! For their second round pick they got a saftey, Michael Mitchell from Ohio (Yes Ohio, didnt forget the State). He was a guy who would have been available at least by the 4th round if not later.

Yes there were many guys that were taken much higher then they should have been there was one player who slipped much later then projected. Michael Johnson was a DE from Georgia Tech who was projected to be drafted in the early 1st round but slipped all the was to the 3rd round. He was thought to be undersized by some, and had some attitude problems.

This was another exicting draft that was full uf surprises. Many teams took care fo their needs, while some failed to. Hopefully next years draft was as good as this years and not be so long.

Why Brewers Hatred is Ridiculous

I must say I have never seen anything like Brewers fans hating the Cubs. They hate them so much that more seem to care more about the Cubs losing then their own team winning. While I enjoy the rivalry and hatred with the Mizzery Tigers and Jayhawks, we could care less how the Tigers do and worry more about out own teams success. My point is SOME Brewers fans are just poor sports and not real baseball fans who care more about the Cubs curse of not winning the World Series for over 100 years.

First I must say the Brewers are not the Cubs biggest rival, or second, they might be third on this list and possibly lower. This makes this a one sided hatred and not a mutual one. Now if you want to talk hatred and a classic rivalry, it would be the Cardinals and Cubs. The main reason why these teams are rivals is because of another rivalry, the Bears and Packers.

While many teams fans enjoy poking fun at the Cubs for not winning a World Series in over 100 years, it maked no sense when your team hasnt ever won one. Many Brewers fans like to claim the they had with the Milwaukee Braves. To correct them, the Braves moved to Atlanta, meaning the Brewers are a seperate franchise. I guess its a big deal when the Brewers win one more game then the Cubs in the playoffs, but in the end who care since none of them one anything.

Lastly, watching the behavior of Brewers fans at games is ridiculous. Getting their drink on and harrasing Cubs fans who sported their teams jersey when the Cubs were not even playing. In the final inning of the game I went to, this fan recieved chants of "F*** the Cubs", cursing, and the finger as he was escorted of the the ballpark by security for his own safety. Brewers games would not be a place to take your kid if your a parent from what I saw.

National Championship Game Blowout

I must say in all the brackets I filled out (About 15) I am proud to say I had North Carolina in all of them except one. Before this season even started, UNC the sexy pick to win it all with many thinking they could go undefeated. What not to like about this team, they had all their starters returners from a final four team, all will play in the NBA one day, and ohh yeah they got a Psycho T. I just knew this game was going to be a blowout and wouldnt be even close when you have a team with far more superior talent, which lead to many watching one of the most boring games played in March/April.

I must say that MSU did surprise me and had a great year. Tom Izzo is without question one of the top 10 coaches in the NCAA. Like I said before UNC just had far more superior talent and is built by scoring a whole lot of points (Averaged around 90 a game). Anyone of their starters had teh ability to lead the team in scoring including a bench player. MSU is was not a team that wanted to get into a shootout, and wanted to play tough defense and cause turnovers. They lacked a consistant scorer besides Lucas, which cost them in the title game.

This game by far was one of the most boring and hard to watch games. UNC had all their shots falling when MSU couldnt make a basket to save their lives. MSU was turing the ball over like crazy and were not relaxed. The halftime score pretty much determined the outcome when UNC was up my more then 20 and set an NCAA record for the most points scored at halftime in National Championship history.

The March/April madness ended on a bad note with a dispointing finale. Next year will be much more wide open with Kansas being the preseason pick by many to win it all. Not many teams are going to have their starting five returning which should make for a more competitive season.

Preseason MLB Breakdown

Baseball season has finally come! Almost all the divisions in baseball can be won by multiple teams which means this will be a very exciting year. Some teams appear to be the clear cut favorites, while many have their own flaws to address throughout the season. I will tell you all who will win each league, world series, and the team that has a chance to be the Tampa Bay Rays of '09.

First I will start with the AL Central which has a chance to be won by any of these teams. While they appear to be one of the youngest teams in baseball, the Minnesota Twins are the team with the fewest flaws in the division. The pitching will be good with Fransico Liriano, and Joe Nathan, however, the batting order will be without Joe Mauer for the first month. Many think the Indians are the favorites, but besides Cliff Lee they dont have any other realiable starters. In the East I like the Red Sox who might be the deepest team in baseball. The Yankees made a lot of big moves, but the bullpen out side of Mariano is shacky, along with lots of vets who are injury prone. The Rays are a grat young team, but are unfortunately in a division that may have the best 3 teams in baseball. Also the Sox and Yanks improved more this offseason. In the west the Angels are the easy pick with solid pitching and good hitting. I am picking the Red Sox to win the AL with their great pitching and hitting, they also might be the best team in baseball.

In the National League, their wont be many close battles for divisions or many great teams. In the central, the Cubs should win without much competition. They lost Kerry Wood in free agency, and are without a reliable closer. The starting pitching should be great depending everyone can stay healthy. In east could be won by either the Mets, Phillies, Braves, or even the Marlins. Out of all of these teams, I like the Mets after they took care of their bullpen problems by signing K-Rod, and trading for JJ Putz. The favorites in the West are going to be the Dodgers. The starting pitching has a few questions but the hitting should be great with Manny in the middle.

The team that may surprise many this year could be the Kansas City Royals. The hitting is very well balanced top to bottom. The bullpen will be great, led by Joakim Soria along with the signing of Juan Cruz who was one of the best set up men this past year. The rotation has some questions at the 4th and 5th spots. Gil Meche, Zack Greinke, and Kyle Davies can anchor the rotation if they find some other decent pitchers in the last spots.

Finally ing the World Series I have to go with the Red Sox and the Mets. The Red Sox will win their third title this decade behind starters Josh Beckett, John Lester, Dice K, and closer Jonathan Papelbon. This should be another great season of baseball and I am eagerly looking forward to that first pitch.

Changes at CUW

Concordia University it different from many schools around the country. Like many, it has its plus's and minus's. Being a Christian school, Concordia has some striter policies that the majority of students dont care for. These are some of the most common complants and some solutions to make CUW a more enjoyable expereince for students.

One of the rules that more then half the school may have a problem with is CUW being a dry campus. Several students on campus are 21 years old, are adults, and have the right to comsume alcohol. While this helps keeps a lot of drinking off campus, it posses a problem. This makes students have to drive off campus to drink, which means possible drunk drivers and students putting their lives in danger. A solution to this could be to put a bar on campus to for the 21+, or to just allow alcohol at school.

Unlike many, CUW has a curfew which does not allow atudents of the opposite sex in each others rooms after certain times. Again we are adults and are smart enough to make the right choices. We can do anything we want in someone elses room at any time of day so why does it really matter.

I think if these two rules are changed CUW will be a more enjoyable and exciting more many. These rules can effect our schools growth, and if applied, would bring in more money into the University. Many students would be pleased with the rules and they can help attract more students in the future.

Why the College Basketball is Better then the NBA

Now that it is March Madness time everyone is busy filling out brackets and watching eagerly as their teams square off on national television. It might be that I am from Kansas but come playoff time there is absolutely no buzz going on with the NBA. In college basketball there is always some sort of parody as to who will be number one, watching the next stars emerge, and of course cheering for the underdog to beat Goliath. To top it all off at the end of the year their is a tournament that captures the attention of everyone picking the next champion, while the NBA which may feature far better talent lacks the excitement of college basketball.

Again being from Kansas, watching and cheering for my Jayhawks, I have been privileged see one of the most historic programs. At Allen Fieldhouse its not just another game, its a celebration of tradition, history, and success throughout the years no matter who the opponent is. Every game is sold out and has been for years, which contributes to an atmosphere that no school in America or NBA team can match. Hearing all the songs the bands plays, the Rock Chalk chant before the game (It literally sends chills through my spine), and after since its a given that they win at home. Its not just at Allen Fieldhouse but across the country. Fans are always engaged by clapping along with school songs. The NBA lacks that fans interaction and tradition which makes college ball so great.

Especially come tournament time, every player is giving it their all. Its also a more team oriented game rather then and individual one where its all about the numbers. That is what bothers myself along with many others. The college kids play with so much passion and care a lot about how their teams preform. That's why you see college players in tears when they get knocked out in the tourney because they CARE about how their TEAM does. The NBA has a lot of guys that have worked and play for a big paycheck rather then a championship.

No matter who is playing, their is always someone to cheer for. Come tournament time your either cheering for your team, picks made on bracket, or everyone's favorite underdog. To many the NBA features just another meaningless game. Teams like George Mason and Davidson in years past capture the attention of everyone and have America hoping they can pull off another upset. In these tournament games everyone is watching while no one cares about the NBA. The NBA lacks the drama, the buzzer beaters, David beating Goliath, spirit, and tradition that goes into every college game.

Top Decruits Does Not Equal Championship

After landing two of the top five recruits on sites such as Rivals.com, Xavier Henry and DeMarcus Cusions, Memphis has been able to reload with big name recruits over the past few years. Last year they landed Derrick Rose who nearly led the Tigers to their first National Title until they collapsed and Mario Chalmers hit a three with just seconds remaining (See picture above). This year they got Tyreke Evans who is their clear star player who very well may lead Memphis to another final four. Memphis should not expect a championship or even a final four appearance with this class since they will lack experience and will have one starter most likely returning.
They may have the best recruiting class, however, just because you get the top freshman doesn't mean you will be going to the final four or compete for a championship. Cousins and Henry are one and done players and it takes time develop players at the college basketball level so your school can compete for championships. Teams that end up going to final fours and championships are not loaded with freshman as starters (Kansas, Florida, North Carolina, UCLA, UConn, Memphis(Rose only starting freshman)).These teams were led by sophomores, juniors, and seniors. Memphis will also lose Robert Dozier, Tyreke Evans, and Antonio Anderson. Evans is one of those one and done freshman, but if he stays Memphis could have a chance with Cousins, Henry, and Taggart, the only returning starter. The bottom line is you don’t win with four freshmen and one senior.
A few teams over the past decade were able to make it to the championship game. Ohio State was able to make it to the championship with freshman Mike Conley, Dequan Cook, and Greg Oden a few years ago only to fall to an experienced Florida team that ended up repeating that year. Syracuse was able to win the championship with Carmelo Anthony, Hakim Warrick, and Gary McNamara sadly over my Kansas Jayhawks. I would not be surprised if Memphis goes undefeated in CUSA or if they get a 1 or 2 seed. Whether they make it far in the tourney next year will depend on how well the freshman grow, and play together throughout next year.
John Calipari is one of the best recruiters in all of college basketball and is a very good coach as well. If Memphis is able to hang onto Tyreke Evans for some reason I think they could win it all. The problem that many coaches face is whether to hand out a scholarship to a player who will only be around for a year or to give one to recruit who will stick around for a few years and develop as a player. No matter how many freshmen Memphis may start this will be one team that no one will want to face next year or this year in the tournament.

Others Should Follow A-Roid

Alex Rodriguez has set an example to previous steroid users. After reports came out that A-Rod tested positive for a steroid back in 2003 he finally confessed to what he had done in the past. Roger Clemens, and Barry Bonds are currently making their case in court to try to prove that they have never done steroids or lied under oath, when everyone knows they did. It is not easy, but its something that many former and current players will have to eventually admit to.

Already players have admitted to steroid use in the past. Last year, Andy Petitte said he had used a human growth hormone(HGH). Jason Giambi a few years ago was under oath in court for a traffic violation and was asked if he had ever done steroids. Not wanting to lie under oath, he said that he had used steroids. This are some of the more notable players who took the high road to avoid facing more serious problems.

Some players have faced consequences, or are in court to to prove they are innocent. Miguel Tejada was found guilty of lying to federal officials about previous steroid use and now may face 6 months in jail. Mark McGwire went before congress to say that he had never done performance enhancing drugs. Although he has never been found guilty, a statue of him outside Busch Stadium has been removed along with I-70 highway being named after him.

Despite having holes in his story, A-Rod might have set an example to others to come forward about their mistakes. Not only is this good for baseball but it is a way to spread the message to others, especially kids, that using performance enhancing drugs are not right. If players follow A-Rod, they can help baseball recover from its dark age, the steroid era.

Big Ben is a good quarterback, not a great one

After leading the Steelers to their sixth title , many think that Ben Roethlisberger should be considered a great quarterback, one of the best in the NFL, and some even think he is one of the best ever. Yes he has won two Super Bowl titles, but it took more then him to win them both. Right now he is a good quarterback but hey he could take that next step to greatness next year.

When I think of great quaterbacks guys like Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Kurt Warner, Donovan McNabb, and Brett Favre(Before the last five games of this year). A great quartback is someone who is a leader, make big plays when they count, put up big numbers, compete for MVP, and put a game on their shoulders and win it on their own. Yes Big Ben may have done this in the Super Bowl, however, he has not throughout a whole season or on a consistant basis. Ben's Super Bowl was very similar to another quarterback named Eli Manning. Eli led the the Giants to victory last year in one of the biggest upsets in sports history and in one of the best games ever played! Is Eli Manning a great quarteback? NO, in fact I think he no more then an average quaarterback who is way over hyped. The point is players can have their one shinning moment and ocasionally make incredable plays.

Big Ben I feel is a product of the Steelers offensive system which takes pressure off him by being a running, or run first team. The goal for their team on offense is to control the clock and posses the ball more then the other team while mixes in a few pass plays to keep the opposing defenses honest. In Ben's first two years he only threw the ball about 21 times a games which is not a whole lot for the average NFL quarterback proving that they are a running team. In those years he did have a high QB Rating around 98.5. In his third year, with injuries around him to players like Willy Parker and after loosing Jerome "The Bus" Bettis to retirement, he had to play a bigger role in the offense and carry more of a load on offense. Intead of averaging 21 throws a game it became nearly 32. His rating dropped significantly to 75.4, and turned the ball over 24 times. This proving that he can't literally carry a team on his own compared to what Peyton Manning did with the Colts this year. Peyton had injuries to lineman, wide recievers, and running backs and still managed to go 12-4 with even more hurt players on defense. He did have one great year last year in the regular season but took a step back to only have a decent season.

Finally Big Ben did not carry this team, it was the "Steel Curtain" defense. Pittsburgh had the number one defense and James Harrison's interception return for a touchdown might have been a bigger play then Holmes catch at the end. This Steelers team reminds me a lot of the Ravens Super Bowl team from seven years ago. The Ravens had a lights out defense led by Ray Lewis. The quartback was Trent Dilfer, one whom you may have never heard of. The offense was a run first team led by star rookie running back Jamal Lewis and a great line that included future Hall of Famer Jonathan Ogdan. Trent was just supposed to throw the ball, like Ben to keep defenses honest.

Ben will be 27 at the start of next year and will most likely conitue to improve. If he is able to be more consistant and have more big games like he did in the Super Bowl, even if it was against a mediocre Arizona defense, then he can join the group of great NFL players. I think head coach Mike Tomlin said it best by describing him and a "Franchise Quarterback". Who knows with Ben and his future, he might even end up in Canton one day.