Are you ready for some Football

Now is the time, for football to take center stage in this country. It started with a super day in college football yesterday. The 3 Florida teams were all beaten on the same day for the first time since 1978, Bedlam produced another great game in Stillwater, and the Auburn Tigers just kept rolling along without anyone noticing. Today in the NFL the state of Pennsylvania plays host to the biggest games of the day, Eagles vs Ravens and Steelers vs Pats. At least for now I have to retire my baseball mind and tune it to testostirone steroid filled game of football, but soon basketball will be here to save me.

What is wrong in Florida? Well Miami would eventually suffer a loss, they have sent about 50 guys to the NFL over the last 3 seasons. We all know Florida has pinned their problems on Ron Zook, a man who was never given a fare shake. The day after he got hired, www.fireronzook.com premiered on the internet. But the program I want to focus on is the Seminoles of Florida State. This is not just about missed field goals by Xavier Betia (maybe the worst scholarship kicker in Div I-a history), but more about a coach who does not have a clue anymore. He does not get the best recruits in the country anymore, he has lost all control over his players, and he has finally lost enough assistants that it is beginning to effect his team. What is happening right now to FSU is what happened to Penn State about 5 years ago. Things started to go south in Happy Valley, but fans said give Paterno the benefit of the doubt and he has run that program all the way down. Bobby Bowden is doing the same thing, his unwillingness to give up himself and the administration and fans willingness to allow him to stay on will put this program back were is started 25 years ago when Bowden took over. Hopefully they can get a new coach in there soon.

How about Adrian Peterson, wow this guy is incredible. Over 1200 yards in 8 games this guy is the front runner for the John Heisman memorial trophy. But what upsets me is people keep comparing his frehsman year performance to that of Maurice Clarett and Herschel Walker as the most impressive freshamen performances in college football. Has everyone forgotten what Marshall Faulk did when he was in college? I remember watching his San Diego State Aztecs on Thursday and Saturday nights on ESPN. And I seem to recall Faulk running wild on other west coast teams as a true frosh, in fact thinking to myself that he probably should have won the Heisman that year. He averaged over 7 yards per carry and scored a ridiculous 21 rushing touchdowns, and for good measure caught 2 TD passes. I hope Peterson does not get hurt by the fact that he is a freshman like Faulk did. Faulk finished 9th overrall behind such notables like Vaugh Dunbar, Terrell Buckley, and the Great Jeff Blake.

Show some love for the Auburn Tigers. This team is led by a 9th year senior QB and have the 2 best running backs in the Southeastern Conference. All they have done is go undefeated, including whooping Tennesse on their own turf and clinching the SEC West with 2 games to go. That division includes the defending National Champion LSU Tigers and overrall the number one conference in the country. Yet all I hear about every day is USC and Oklahoma. I am not sure if either one of them could stop the Tigers rushing attack. Ronnie Brown and Carnell "Cadillac" Williams will be household names by the time the BCS Championship game rolls around.

Finally, my 2 quick picks for the big NFL games of the week. The Eagles will smakc the Ravens around and the Pats streak will come to an end and the legend of Big Ben Rothlisberger will be born. Of course I picked the Astros over the Yankees in six games, so go with the Ravens and Pats.

Red Sox Win, Yippeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!

It has finally happened. No, no, I did not lose weight or suddenly start dating Jennifer Garner(both of which are soon likely to happen), the Red Sox have finally won the World Series. After 86 years of frustration and countless dissappointments New Englanders get to celebrate through the wee hours of the morning.

This victory should come as no real surprise. Most experts figured the Red Sox were built for the post season and most picked them to be World Series Champs. Also, enough with all this Evil Empire crap against the Yankees. The Sox won, they beat the Yankees, they are the best team. Let's not forget that the Sawx have the second highest payroll in baseball at 127 million dollars, a cool 27 million more than the next closest competitor, including the highest paid player in the game this year, Manny Ramirez. This off season they outbid all teams for the best available pitcher, Curt Schilling. So let us remember the Sawx like to go out and bid for the best available players, rather than grow players in their farm system(much like everyone's favorite team to hate). Lastly, their post season hero has to be Derek Lowe. If anyone had paid attention to me before the playoffs (and nobody did) I stated repeatedly that with the Red Sox No. 3 & 4 pitchers being Arroyo & Wakefield I said that the Sox would need to get at least 2 quality starts out of Derek Lowe. Boy somebody was right on the mark with that one, but I will nto say who.

I want to warn Red Sox fans to be very cautious in their optimism for the future. I remember back about ten years ago, standing in my living room with champagne in hand and the car horn of Scott Hurwitz's jeep blaring down my street as Mark Messier raised Lord Stanley's cup above his head. 50 years of curses had been erased in one glorious season, and since then it has been a steady decline into an abyss so low that the Rangers are now talked about in the same breathe with the Clippers, Arizona Cardinals, and Bengals as one of the worst sports franchises. So be sure to enjoy the moment, we Ranger fans thought we had a solid foundation for years to come and it has been more of the same bitter dissappointment. Be weary what you have longed for, because it may be short lived.

This next topic is more for another time and requires a lot more thought than I am willing to put in right now. But Tony LaRussa has to be one of the most overrated managers of all time. Repeatedly this guy has had great teams, and when it is all said and done with he has 1 World Championship. He claims to be the genius of baseball, but last time I checked no genius has ever got his clock cleaned more times than LaRussa. In 1983 the Orioles beat his White Sox team (which had a better regular season record) 3-1 in the ALCS and the White Sox scored 3 runs in 4 games. In other LCS's his A's got handed 4-2 by the '92 Blue Jays and the '00 Mets & '02 Giants were a combined 8-2 against his Cards in LCS play. In World Series play he has a record of 5-12 in 4 appearences, that is dreadful. And in every one of those Series he had the better team and was favored. Enough with this guy, please stop telling me how great he is, I am sick of him his pitching genius Dave Duncan and their choking ways.

Lastly, in one of the classiest moves of all time, the Red Sox team voted last week to give Nomar Garciaparra a full playoff share. Some may say that is weak and all this garbage, but his teammates know he gave his blood and guts to that franchise for 10 years and they are showing their appreciation. Regardless of the circumstances that he was traded under his former mates show they still have a great deal of respect for a man who comes to the ballpark everyday and plays his heart out.

Things & People I cannot stand

Today is a day of pent up rage and anger, not at anyone or anything in particular just random thoughts.

-The Flu Vaccine Shortage. what is the deal with this, every 3 or so years the CDC announces it will not have enough vaccine for everyone. First of all screw everyone, this is survival of the fittest. I haven't had a flu shot in ten years, and haven't gotten the flu in ten years. You know why, when they give you the shot they give you the flu. Just a way for the government to keep the virus around longer and make more money of off it. Secondly, we are waiting for some company in Britain to send us the rest of the vaccine. Ummmm, aren't we America? Can't we make our own, we do not have the capacity to make the flu vaccine?

-People who insist on speaking to me on line in random places. I was going to spend $300 paying my stupid SC Vehicle Property tax and all these people at this miserable place felt liek telling me waht they where doing there. Some stupid lady that looked like Morticia Adams and some dirtbag guy, obviosuly both trying to scam the county government out of something insisted on talking to me the whole 15 minutes I was there. Hey people shut the fuck up, I am spending money here, do I look like I am in a good mood??

-Computers!!!!! The other day I had done this brilliant research on the World Series. I was going to complain about the Game 1 starters in this years Fall Classic. This is the world series and when you think of Game 1 you think of the teams best pitcher. I had done hours of research and note taking and had all these points brilliantly laid out. That was all well and good until my computer decided to keep closing the internet while I was typing. And no my microsoft office products do not work right now cause I do not have some stupid liscensing code. Computers always fail me. I could imagine it is like having children, filled with so much hope and promise, but always a dissappointment in the end.

-People who run duing there lunch hour. This is just an excuse to get out of work. All these people still eat lunch, but instead of 1 hour lunch breaks they take 2 hour lunch breaks. Fuck you people, get back to work, someone is paying you to be there and for your services. What the fuck gives you the right to fiddle fart aroudn on your lunch hour. Do that on your own time pal, like in the mornings before work. And don't give me that nonsense that in the morning I have to get the kids ready for school or some shit like that. I didn't tell you to have 4 little bastards who need to have their shoes tied for them. That is your own problem buddy, now get the fuck back to work.

-Lastly, I am gonna get prejiduce on that ass. Knowing that I hate all people equally, most especially the white man. Black people can just never be on time, can they? Why is this? I was making some observations about the black youth I come in contact with on a daily basis. They are all wrapped up in materialism and throw back jersey's and car rims. Along with this come big fat watches that hang of their wrist like a Falvor Flav clock. Yet they are still late. I do not wear a watch, never have never will. You know what I am known for, being early all the damned time. These guys wear watches and they are always late. Do the watches not have hands on them? Are they just for show, and not actually set for the correct time? I don't know, I just do not know. But I am on a quest to find out!!! That is my racist commentary for the day. I hope you all enjoyed it, and have a very average day

"Are you Nervous?"

I cannot go anywhere today without hearing that question. Today is national Nervousness day, and there are so many things to be nervous of. Off the top of my head I can think of a few, but which is the one everyone is talking about?

I heard this morning through the grapevine that my University has announced that it is cutting back on fat people, so I might lose my job. Frito Lay announced today in the Wall Street Journal that it is stopping production on the Dorito Tortilla Chip because it causes Cancer. Porn will no longer be available on the internet due to a new Government regulation handed down by Jerry Falwell. In the latest CNN Poll Ralph Nader is winning California, Texas, Florida, and New York by 30 percentage points. I will now be required to walk to work to conserve gas. Jesus has announced that Heaven is full and all of us lustful adultering infidels will no longer be forgiven and will be banished to eternity in Hell, Pergitory, or Kansas. Everytime I think unnatural thoughts about any female I see, birds will fly down and begin to peck out my eyeballs. These are all things to be nervous about. Finally, I turned to one of these idiots asking me this question and asked, "What is it? What should I be nervous about?" He simply responded, "Game 7."

Oh, a baseball game. Why would anyone be nervous about a baseball game. Noah Webster defines a game as an activity engaged in for a diversion or amusement. People, when I have to become nervous about my amusement it is time to go. Yes I am a Yankee fan and I root hard for them to win, and even hard against the hated Red Sox. But as Chuck Noland (Tom Hanks) said in Cast Away "Tommorrow the Sun will rise." I will still have to go to work. I have experienced joy in my sports fan life; 1986 & 1990 NY Giants, 1994 NY Rangers, 1996,1998,1999, & 2000 NY Yankees, and the 1997 Green Bay Packers. But also I have shared dissappointment; Every other Ranger team, the NY Knicks of the Ewing Era, the 2000 NY Giants, the 2001 & 2003 NY Yankees, and the 1998 Green Bay Packers. After each on of those series or games, the next day came without compassion, reconciliation, or adualtion. I still had school or work the next day. The test I had failed was still and F, the assignment I copmpleted at my job was still done, no matter what happens in that game.

Tonight, like most fall evenings spent in the last 10 years, I will watch my beloved NY Yankees. Rooting hard at every turn for them to bring home a victory and a moment of joy that will be rendered useless only seconds later when I fill out my rent check. Win or Lose I will go to bed watching MASH and creating another diversion in my life. I have the utmost confidence in my team and its manager, but I am also confident that the Red Sox are a quality team and there fans feel the same toward their team. So ya see, it doesn't really matter who's fans think what team is better or who cares more passionately. It matters whether or not Jorge Posada will get that 2 out base hit in the 7th inning off of Mike Timlin, to give the Yankees the lead. If I was Posada or Timlin, then I might be Nervous.

Canadia, EH!!!

It has come and gone, that's right my trip to the homeland of Daniel Steven Filowitz, CANADA. Our neighbor to the north has once again shown this Yankee Doddle Dandy how a Canuck & a Nordique have fun. I traveled up there with the basketball team for an exhibition tour in Ottawa and Montreal. I got my fill of french people and they do indeed suck.

Growing up a hockey fan I loved to hear Canadian players interviewed because of the cool way they talk. They say things like, Eh, No doubt about it (about of course being pronounced a-BOOOOT), and they never pluralise anything. Something will take 20 minute not 20 minutes and there T's are pronounced as hard D's. They might say, if you look at Dat statue over Dhere. I decided to count the Eh's and No Doubts on my trip. I ended the trip with 42 Eh's and 3 No Boubt about it's which for a quick 4 day trip I think was pretty good. We had a tour of the Parliment house in the capital city of Ottawa and our tour guide must have used 75 plural word without using and S. She said things like: This is the House of Common(S), our Dour will be about 20 minute(S), Dis is where Da Representative(S) have Dhere Office(S).

Next, to the basketball. Canadian basketball is average at best. Canadian officiating is atrocious. I guess I cannot expect too much out of Basketball there, they have sent there best products to the NBA and they are Steve Nash, Todd McCullough, Rick Fox and Jamaal Magliore. And we played against nobody that good. Basically it was liek playing against D-II or D-III Competition. The teams were very small and did not have the athletes we have. We pretty much ran every team to death until they threw up the white flag. Now the fans, boy those people loved us, they thought we were the greatest thing since electricity to come through there. They booed their own teams when they fouled us on fast breaks preventing dunks. They cheered for us whenever we did any type of dunk or street ball type move. They fully expected us to kick their butts and we did and they loved it.

Lastly, we need to talk about the night life. First off, Ottawa is kind of glorified cow town, mainly because it is the capital. But at the University of Ottawa the have some league talent if you knwo what I mean. They rolled deep in the female category, as good as some Southeatern Conference schools. Now int he big city of Montreal there is about 1 million night clubs and they rollde strong as well with the females. I do not know what they eat up there, but I did find white women with asses, something I have long been looking for. Then there is the Canadian strip clubs. There truly is nothing like it. First off most of the chicks talk with that sexy french accent which is enough to turn you on. Then everything is cheap in there and you can do almost anything you want. These places make you not want to go back to an American strip club. I love Canadian night life and am glad that I only experience it once in a great while, otherwise I would be dead broke!!!!

So I hope you enjoy all of Da post(S) on my website. Remeber to check back all Da Dime here for all Da latest news and thing(s) Dat are happening in my life, eh!!!!!

Young, Dumb and full of Stupid

The big cry over the last 4 years, mostly by democrats, is that not enough young people turn out to vote. They need the young people to turn out, because all the old crusty Floridians couldn't figure out how to use the ballot last time. So this year there has been a huge campaign to register people, especially 18-25 year olds to vote. Again registering to vote and voting are two seperate acts, so as of right now they have only completed half the process. But it did get me thinking about these youngsters and if I really wanted them to vote. I guess it comes down to this, would you rather have a big turn out with 65% of them being totally uneducated about the candidates and the issues OR a small turn out were 85% are knowledgable about the candidates and the issues.

I was on the fence with this for a long while, mostly leaning toward a small turnout of educated voters. Now in my daily life I come across a multitude of youngsters in this age demographic and let me tell ya, a lot of them are dumb. And these are kids in college, the "future leaders of our country." Most of these kids fall into the democratic side of the ballot. Mainly because there God is MTV which is decidely democratic. I mean seriously people MTV is about as fair and balanced as Fox News. All these kids do is say, we need to vote for Kerry because Bush took us to war. Oh really, why did he take us to war, go ahead ask any of them if they know anything about the war or homeland security or education or the economy. Unless MTV just interrupted the 48th Road Rules/Real World Challenege to tell them what they should know. To prove my point, last night on Hardball with Chris Mathews was on the campus at Arizona State, home to the third and final debate of John Kerry and George W. Bush. There was a great crowd of students there whom he was interviewing, just sweeping through the crowd and asking questions. He came to a halt, and said "Ok, now without telling me who you are voting for I want you to give me a one word answer on what is the most important issue for you in this upcoming election." Here is a sampling of those answers:
"No Child left behind"
"The war in Iraq"
"Abortion and the war in Iraq"
"A womens right to choose"
"Honesty of a president"
"Who can lead the country"
"Education and also Abortion, go Bush"
"I voted for John Kerry"
"What was the question?"
"I'd have to say terrorism and the war"
"The economy and the war"
In 11 answers there were 56 words. That is a 5 words per answer. Plus some of them did not even answer the question. And we are rushing out and throwing Rock concerts to register these people to vote. I do not want someone to register to vote just cause Ben Affleck told them too, and then have them vote for whomever P. Diddy says to vote for. I just don't feel that everyone should be allowed to vote. There must be some kind fo exam we can come up with, like a drivers test, that people have to pass in order to be able to vote. And don't give me any of that constitution bullshit, because we are allowed to ammend things to the constitution. If the Declaration of Independence were written today it would say all Americans have the right to Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Stupidity.

ALDS Final thoughts

Well guess freaking what? The Yankees beat the vaunted Twins and the greatest pitcher eve in Johan Santana. I am so sick of hearing about the Twins and their great fans with their fucking homer hanky's and the same goes for Billie Bean, Money Ball, and the great young A's pitching staff for that matter. Neither of these franchises have done shit over the last 5 years, and all we do is get beaten over the head with how we disrespect them, you know how you get respect, you earn it by winning. So anyway back to the Yankees, yes it was another victory of the comeback variety.

Would any Yanks fan expect something else besides a comeback win. They have done it all year beacuse of their ability to advance runners by all means, patience to drive pitching counts up(which they did to Santana today and forced his manager to make a move), and their ability to hit with two strikes and/or two outs. They have so many guys who can step up. Today it happened to be Ruben Sierra and the $250 man A-Rod. Although I am beginning to wonder if Jorge Posada or Bernie Williams has a clutch bone left in their body? Sierra did what he does, he took breaking pitches and fouled some off until the pitcher was all but forced to throw him a fastball which he put into orbit. Once this happened even though the Twins were the home team, the Yankees had the advantage. Again that advantage is a guy by the name of Mariano Rivera. They new they had three innings to try and score, and that they did unconventionally. Alex Rodriguez, who played a marvelous series all around, doubled for the second time in three innings and then his baseball mind and instincts took over. Not being a speed demon he choose a perfect spot to steal third base, something nobody in the entire country expected, but again this man had 28 steals and was only thrown out 4 times. Now he put the pressure on the pitcher and catcher and looked what happened, a pass ball-A-Rod scores, and then Rivera closes it out. No shock to this Yankee fan.

Now we find ourselves back again against the dreaded Red Sox. I am not going to use this forum to bash the SAWX (although I should). Rather to just let you know that I have the utmost confidence in my team to emerge victorious. Both teams will have their rotations set up any way they would like. I have a feeling you might see the Yanks go Mussina, Brown, Leiber, and pray for rain (those who understand that obscure saying are truly baseball officianados). But be that as it may we still have three things going in our favor: Derek Sanderson Jeter, Mariano Rivera, and we are not the Boston Red Sox. So tell the Boston Herald we are on our way and we will see you all in Da Bronx Tuesday night.

Yankees vs Twins Game 2 thoughts

Ahh another day chock full o playoff baseball. Get we get this one subject out of the way, Roger Clemens best ever, or at the very leasdt top 2-3 ever. I mean really the guy was re-TIRED!!!!!! He was done, fin, over, through, whatver else you want to say. He is simply brilliant and he has done in the playoffs regular seasons on the road at home, whatever he has always done it and better than you could ever do it.

Now to the Yankees. George M. Steinbrenner has been saved from my holy wrath because of the Yankee victory. Someone at work said to me today, "Your boys were lucky to get away with that one last night." Hey pal, it ain't luck when you did it 61 times this season alone and countless times in the playoffs over the past 10 years. The Yankees at the plate and on offense always have a plan of attack and they stick with it, sometimes to my dismay.

Last night for instance, Joe Nathan was throwing fastballs almost exclusively. The stupid fucking Yankees were taking first pitch fastball strikes every at bat. Then what was worse was they were sitting off speed when they were behind in the count, Jorge Posada was late on every fastball when he was behind in the count, same with Bernie Williams, I almost threw a sneaker into the TV set. But alas the Yankees did what they do, they took pitches, worked counts, and finished the game off with good baserunning.

Can we talk about Derek Jeter for a mintue. Everytime you maybe think this guy is not as good as people say he is he does things like taking home last night on a line drive to a shallow outfielder. He knew the entire situation and he knew he could make it, he din't think he could make it or hope he could make it, he knew he could. The entire point of playing the outfield in is so they cannot tag up and score the game winning run, but he did it anyway. I know this may seem like a small thing but Derek Sanderson Jeter is the best baserunner I have ever seen. When he was coming up through the Yankees organization he always spent time in soring training with Don Mattingly who, despite being painfully slow, was a great baserunner. He always knew the situation and when he could take an extra base and I beleive that Jeter learned a lot from him about this overlooked skill in baseball.

Lastly, I guess you can second gues Ron Gardenhire for leaving Nathan in there. But I don't really, I blame him for leaving him in there after he lost Cairo and Jeter. I probably would have sent him out there in the 12th and said he is in till baserunner gets on, nevermind 2 runners on eight consecutive balls, that is what I second guess. Some may say he had no 0ther option, but the option you went with was; a guy throwing nothing but fastballs, tiring, and having trouble locating.......okay let him serve up a fastball with no velocity to Alex Rodriguez, that was a great option.

Yankees v Twins Game 1 Ruminations

Of course today I have some jack off Red Sox fan friend of mine come up to me and say, hey you guys gotta hoold up your end of the bargain, the Sox did their part. Last time I checked it was still a 5 game series correct? I hate when people start saying ridiculous things after the first game.

As for the game itself, first off I would like to say all praise be to Johan. He pitched another terrific game, in a string of many. He was effective at getting and staying ahead of the hitters. Show me a pitcher who does not walk people and I will show you a pitcher with a good record. But what most concerns me about the Yankees is how similar this game was to all of their playoff loses last year. They seemed to get a lot of baserunners on..........firt base that is. Nine hits and only two of them for extra bases. And then they grounded into 3 traditional double plays and got caught in a 9-2 double play and a 1-2-5 Strike em out Throw em out. This was a disturbing trend that happened last year, failure to move runners along, either by extra base hits or sacrifices. Miguel Cairo failed miserably in trying to move John Olerud and Bernie Williams took a called strike three on a hit and run with a 3-2 count. Just some little things that championship teams do, the Yankees seem to be fallin short on. However, if anyone knows that this thing is a grind and needs to be taken game by game it is Joe Torre and Derek Jeter and they will have the team ready for tonite.

If the Yankees do lose tonite because of a poor pitching performance by Jon Leiber I am going to blame George M. Steinbrenner. He was the asshole who decided he did not want to resign Andy Pettitte. Pettitte's record in these must win game situations was incredible as a Yankee. He knew how to bear down and pitch the best game that his team needed. It takes a special kind of pitcher to win these games and the Yankees had that pitcher until Steinbrenner perceived him to be too soft and let him go without even offering him a contract.

Playoff Preview in full EFFECT!!!

The Fall Classic has arrived, although in South Carolina it is still hot like the summer. Baseball once again delivered a terrific regular season filled with great storylines and great battles for the Wild Card and the division races. I have always supported the Wild Card because I thought it would keep more teams & fans interested all the way to the wire, and it has. Before the season the favorites to be in the playoffs were: NY Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Chicago White Sox (or maybe the Twins), Anaheim Angels, Philadelphia Phillies, Houston Astros, Chicago Cubs and the LA Dodgers. So most of the teams we expected to be there, but now it remains to be seen, who will win!!

YANKEES vs TWINS

WHY NY WILL WIN: Well they are the Yankees, okay that is not a good enough reason. Yes their starting pitching has been shaky, but they do hit the crap out of the ball and their pen can still lock you down. I think the Yankees have something to prove, they are not the favorite, nobody thinks they are just going to automatically win and I think that will drive and motivate a team that clearly had been complacent in the last few post seasons. Most of these guys do not have Championships with the Yankees and this may be the year they sort of come from behind to win it. They still have 3 great clutch performers; Bernie Williams, Derek Jeter and Mo Rivera.

WHY TWINS WILL WIN: Johan “freaking” Santana. This guy can win a series all by himself. Not to mention they have another good starter in Brad Radke and a solid pen led by Ricardo Rincon and Joe Nathan who blew only 3 saves this season. The Twins can pitch, and they will need that to beat the Yankees. Somebody in their lineup will need to step up and be a major contributor like Torii Hunter.

ANGELS vs RED SOX

WHY BOSTON WILL WIN: This is the team that on paper is the most equipped to handle the post season. They have great starting pitching, they hit from every spot in their line-up and have solid defense with great late inning defensive replacements. Ramirez and company have been through this before, so they have plenty of playoff experience. Oh yeah but you need 2 things to win in the playoffs, a reliable bull pen and to NOT be the Red Sox.

WHY ANAHEIM WILL WIN: The have it all. They know how to win, they have a proven manager, solid line-up with a superstar, solid pitching, and a pretty good bullpen. This team was built to win this year. Vladimir Guerrero now has the spotlight to himself he needs to prove all the hype that his been on him his whole career. Plus they have the Rally Monkey, how could they not win.

CARDINALS vs DODGERS:

WHY ST. LOUIS WILL WIN: This team has everything you need. They have a great great line-up, with a three headed monster that you cannot pitch around. They play good defense and they have a rotation willed with veterans. Tony Larussa has no excuses this time, he has the horses now he needs to prove he is as great as he thinks.

WHY LA WILL WIN: The Dodgers, must like the Yankees just have some sort of mystique around them, every since they were Dem Bums from Brooklyn. They scraped all season to get into the playoffs, so unlike the Cardinals they are battle tested in a playoff type environment. Honestly, I could not name 10 players on their team, but could you in 1988? Maybe Odalis Perez or Jeff Weaver can get hot and help carry this team, or at least Milton Bradley might strangle someone during the series.

BRAVES vs ASTROS

WHY ATL WILL WIN: I don’t know. I can’t give you one good reason, this team on paper is so mediocre it is scary. Maybe that is the way they will get it done. It is team made up of has beens and guys who know how to grind it out. I would love to have a guy like Marcus Giles or Mike Hampton or Russ Ortiz or Jaret Wright or Julio Franco or Rafael Furcal, but not all of them on the same team. Chipper will carry this team on a miracle run, maybe?

WHY HOUSTON WILL WIN: This is my pick to win it all, so obviously run out and put your money on everyone else. Roger Clemens and Roy Oswalt are as good as any 1-2 combo, and their bull pen has come along all year, with Brad Lidge now closing games out. The line-up is filled with more professional hitters than any in the playoffs. This team was built to win it this year and with a superb run to end the season they have given themselves a chance, and I think they will get it done.

Yanks over Twins in 4
Angels over Red Sox in 3
Dodgers over Cards in 5
Astros over Braves in 4

Yanks over Angels in 5
Astros over Dodgers in a 7 game classic

Astros over Yanks in 6 (Actually the Yankees will kick everyone’s ass