Spring Semester Check-In

It has been far too long since I've last posted, so I wanted to check in and drop a few thoughts (and hopefully, some knowledge). Due to the end of the fall semester (and the various stresses that come up at that time of the year), along with the holiday season and winter recess, the time has been flying by.
Despite the culmination of the football season with the Pittsburgh Steelers winning their NFL-record sixth world championship, there is much to look forward to as we move deeper into the new year. Football will be reappearing in the headlines before we can even fully digest this past season, with free agency beginning on Feb. 27 and some major names possibly being on the move. And we will surely see hundreds of mock drafts come and go as we approach the combine, and eventually, the draft in April.
Both the NBA and NHL are cruising past their seasons halfway points, and have trade deadlines coming up which should provide some intriguing storylines heading down the stretch. The teams at the top of the Eastern Conference have clearly caught up to the best of the West, and we should have some great matchups come Conference Finals time (and don't forget about March Madness for all of you college basketball fans, or of course, bracket-loving gamblers).
And believe it or not, we are less than a week away from pitchers and catchers reporting and the beginning of spring training. To wet our appetites, the World Baseball Classic will give Team USA a chance for redemption after a poor showing in the inaugural WBC two years ago.
I've got a few thoughts I'd like to share, so we'll give this a go in a footnote sort-of style (with some links attached). And to to start, we're going to keep running with the MLB/Spring Training theme.

• A-Roid?

The most scrutinized athlete in New York can expect the same treatment, and much worse, this upcoming season thanks to a Sports Illustrated report that was released on Saturday claiming that Alex Rodriguez tested positive for steriods in 2003. The test was supposed to be used as an anonymous survey in order to determine if it was necessary to implement mandatory random drug testing throughout the league. SI has reported that there were 104 players (over five percent of the league) who tested positive, but only A-Rod's name has been leaked. The results of the tests are supposed to be kept confidential, making it extremely difficult to track down whoever decided to tarnish A-Rod, and only A-Rod.
There is a very good chance that Rodriguez has grounds for legal action based on the fact that there are court orders that forbid releasing any information from those tests publicly, but ultimately, that won't matter. It may not be fair that A-Rod alone was singled out and targeted for defamation, but in the court of public opinion the bottomline will remain that the three-time MVP's name will now forever be linked to the likes of Barry Bonds and Mark McGwire.
As ESPN's Buster Olney astutely points out, "this is a scarlet letter that really will never go away." Despite the fact that there is surely more information that should surface before A-Rod is left for dead, this story will not be one that is easily forgotten. Now that fans have heard his named linked to steroids, there is really no way for him to get rid of the stink. A sure-fire Hall of Famer's career has now been put in jeopardy, and it doesn't seem like there is any way for Rodriguez to avoid the storm heading his way.
If the report isn't true, or somehow we have been fed misinformation, then I feel sorry for A-Rod. The man who hasn't been able to catch a break since he's come to New York (despite two MVP awards in five seasons) will be forced to carry an unwarranted burden for the rest of his life. And unless he can come up with some concrete, extremely convincing evidence, him denying the report simply won't be enough.
If it is true, then there is really only one logical path for A-Rod to follow. Admit it. As daunting a task as it may seem to be, the often criticized star could do no better for himself than if he fesses up. He'll still have to answer all the questions, and deal with all of the controversy, but at least he can hope that eventually he may be able to move past it. Look at the cases of Bonds, McGwire, Roger Clemens, etc. They lied and denied, resulting in being labeled not only as cheaters, but also as liars. A-Rod should take a lesson from his teammate Andy Pettitte, who admitted his wrongdoing, and has largely been forgiven in the eyes of the public. Everybody makes mistakes, but not everyone is humble enough to say, "I'm sorry, I screwed up."
Of course, with A-Rod on his way to surpassing Bonds as the all-time home run king, his star shines significantly brighter than Pettitte's. So he must expect much brighter spotlights than that which Pettitte had to deal with. But if he's smart (and presummably guilty), he should admit his wrong and do his best to make this distraction as minimal as possible, for the sake of his teammates.
Heading into a spring training where the Yankees expected their brand-spanking-new signees to steal most of the attention away from A-Rod, he has now catapulted to the forefront once again. This is a sad saga that unfortunately is more likely to get worse before it gets better. A-Rod's legacy will probably never be the same, and the least he can do now for his team is to man up, and bite the bullet. It could make a major difference in how the 2009 season turns out for the Yankees.

• Let's get something straight...
  

Any of you who think it's even a remote possibility that Derek Jeter retires anything but a Yankee are crazy.
The New York Post's Joel Sherman claims that the Yankees are dreading the day The Captain's current contract expires (after the 2010 season), and would be wise to let him go rather than resign him. Meanwhile, ESPN's Christina Kahrl writes that the Yankees should move Jeter to centerfield, and do it now. I have to say that I take issue with both claims, and feel the need to step in and set the record straight.
It is realistic to claim that after 2010 Jeter will no longer be playing shortstop, and will inevitably be replaced by a younger, more defensively capable player. But, also consider this: by then none of the Yankees current outfielders will be under contract (Johnny Damon, Hideki Matsui, Melky Cabrera, Xavier Nady, etc.). If Nady has a good year this upcoming season you can expect the Yanks to lock him up as their rightfielder for the immediate future, but Damon and Matsui will almost surely be gone. The organization clearly hopes by 2010 Austin Jackson will emerge as a starting-caliber centerfielder, and the talk of Jeter moving there even if A-Jax doesn't pan out would never work. But, reserving a spot in leftfield would require less speed and range on the part of Jeter, while keeping his bat in the lineup on his march to 3,000 hits.
It's ridiculous to talk as if his offense would be a burden within two years - last year, which many considered a down year, he still hit .300. His power might be diminishing, but that was never his game in the first place. He's still good for around 200 hits per season, and you can't replace his intangibles or leadership. It's not a matter of resigning him for any sentimental reasons, its matter of recognizing what he still means to the team and making the proper adjustments to ensure his influence remains intact in the clubhouse.
The man is a Hall of Famer (and he's not that old, yet). Show some respect.

• The Knicks: No Longer a Laughingstock (and much sooner than we expected)!

When Donnie Walsh took over the Knicks and promptly replaced the incompetent Isiah Thomas with Mike D'Antoni, you knew things were heading in the right direction. When Walsh was able to dump the oversized contracts of the likes of Zach Randolph and Jamal Crawford, setting the organization up to be a major player come the Summer of LeBron, even more hope was restored. But the fact that they are playing decent basketball, and (gulp) in the playoff hunt now has to be the most surprising thing that has happened since the Walsh/D'Antoni era has begun.
I know they just lost three straight to the Lakers, Cavs and Celtics (in that order), but that would be a brutal stretch for any team. Plus, consider this: they played both Boston and Cleveland in December and lost those games by 19 and 36, respectively. Since then, the Knicks have beaten Boston once, and this week they lost to them by 10, and lost to Cleveland by only five. The improvement may be slow and steady, but at least it exists.
One must also consider that the Knicks do not have any resemblance of what you would consider to be a star player, or even a Mo Williams-type (meaning, a complimentary star). They traded away their two best scorers (Randolph and Crawford), for a player who hadn't played all season (Al Harrington), an aging bench player (Tim Thomas) and a guy who was forced to retire for health reasons before ever even putting on a Knicks uniform (Cuttino Mobley). And with an eight (sometimes nine) man rotation of essential castaways, the Knicks have still been playing high-energy, fun-to-watch basketball. And despite their lack of talent, it has been extremely refreshing. After years of embarassment, I find myself tuning into the games much more often.
A playoff berth would inevitably lead to a first round loss to the likes of Boston or Cleveland. But, it would also serve as a huge step for a franchise that wasn't expected to even sniff the playoffs for at least another two years. It would also send a message to the LeBron-types that the culture is changing.
Currently, the Knicks have four players who will be under contract through 2010: Wilson Chandler, Danilo Gallinari, Jared Jefferies and Eddy Curry. Chandler and Gallinari are keepers. Chandler has been very impressive in his second year, and is probably the Knicks best perimeter defender. He's also shown a much better shooting touch than expected.
Gallinari, who is the first major piece that Walsh has brought in, had a discouraging start to his career due to back issues, but he has come back sooner than expected and played surprisingly well. He has shown good energy, solid court-vision and the type of scoring instincts we were told to expect. It's really a matter of gaining experience and staying healthy, but it appears the 20-year-old Italian has the tools.
If Walsh could find a way to unload Curry or Jefferies (or better yet, both), the Knicks will have the ability to offer big contracts to the free agents of their choice come 2010. Curry will be particularly tough to move, mainly because right now he holds no value whatsoever for other teams. He's overpaid, overweight and now viewed as damaged goods. But at this point I'm sure Walsh would be willing to give him up for a bag of balls.
Assuming Walsh somehow unloads one of the two, they stand to have only about three players on their current roster under contract (plus any draft picks, but Utah gets the Knicks 2010 first round pick if it's in the lottery). While this presents many options, it also is a risky position to be in. It would be tough to shell out max contracts to the likes of a LeBron James or a Chris Bosh, while still being able to build a decent supporting cast around them. This is why the Knicks will need to decide on who they have that they want to keep, and try to lock them up before their price tags get too high.
ESPN's Chad Ford wrote about the Phoenix Suns, who are shopping All-Star forward Amare Stoudemire. He drew up trade scenarios for the Suns, including an offer the Knicks could possibly make to reunite Stoudemire with his old coach, D'Antoni. He said a trade in which the Knicks send Nate Robinson, David Lee and Stephon Marbury's expiring contract could bring back both Stoudemire and Leandro Barbosa. This would be an extremely tempting deal for Walsh, and one he would have to consider because it would make the Knicks better immediately, while creating more excitement among the fan base. But as Ford points out, Stoudemire's contract would create much less cap flexibility for the Knicks down the road. Also, by adding Stoudemire and subtracting Lee and Robinson, you are losing the all-out hustle approach that has be evident thus far for the Knicks. Don't forget, the reason the Suns are considering trading Stoudemire is because of his lack of production on the defensive end of the floor. The Suns might also be reluctant to include Barbosa in the deal.
If the Knicks save the money, they have more flexibility to weigh out options over the course of the next year and a half. They also maintain the ability to extend the contracts of the likes of Lee, Robinson, Chris Duhon and possibly even Harrington, who has flourished under D'Antoni and become the Knicks leading scorer. If they can draft well, add a few complimentary pieces (perhaps Steve Nash with a D'Antoni discount after being quoted calling this season, "...the toughest year of my career. By far."), then they stand a good chance of landing LeBron, who clearly has a soft spot for NYC. And that man is a beast.
Regardless of what happens between now and 2010, the Knicks find themselves in a much more positive situation than they were at this time last year. Even if they don't land LeBron (which would be a major disappointment in the eyes of New Yorkers, fair or not), they will surely be able to bring in some significant talent.
There is still plenty of work to be done, but you can finally sense some optimism. Knicks fans, it may be OK to remove the brown paper bags from your heads.

Stay tuned. I'll be periodically updating the blog when motivation strikes...

BCS System Is Not The Only Culprit In This Mess

With the college football regular season coming to an end, and another year of BCS controversy upon us, it would be very easy for me to preach about the negatives of the current system and the need for a playoff.
But that argument has been exhausted countless times, and the last thing I need to do in this particular forum is to become repetitive.
So while I do take issue with the BCS system's lack of a playoff system (as well it's inconclusive nature), I think this is problem with more than one perpetrator. How else could you explain the fact that this is a discussion that is brought up on an annual basis?
There are two issues in which I wish to discuss in detail. The first of which directly pertains to the BCS.
With the way this season has played out, it has become clear that the two strongest conferences in the land are the SEC (Southeastern Conference) and the Big 12. Of the current top four teams according to the BCS standings, there are two representatives from each conference.
From the SEC, you have the unbeaten Alabama Crimson Tide and fourth-ranked Florida Gators. Luckily for the BCS braintrust, these two teams are matched up in the SEC title game this upcoming weekend. The winner will (at least we hope) emerge as the first half of the BCS National Title Game, and rightfully so.
But who that SEC representative will being playing against is where things get complicated. There are three one-loss teams in the Big 12, which has been extremely competitive all season. The Texas Longhorns beat the Oklahoma Sooners earlier in the year by a final score of 45-35, which set them up as the favorite from the conference to land in the national title game. But then came along the pesky Texas Tech Red Raiders, who have been one of the most pleasant surprises in all of college football.
Texas Tech edged Texas on Nov. 1 at home, thanks to a last second touchdown pass from QB Graham Harrell to All-American WR Michael Crabtree. Crabtree scored with one second remaining in the game, to give the Red Raiders a 39-33 victory.
With no losses at the time, Texas Tech leap-frogged all of the other Big 12 teams and found themselves ranked second in the BCS, and in the position to control their own destiny. But of course, in college football these things are never that easy.
With a spot in the Big 12 Title Game on the line, Texas Tech found a way to trip up and turn matters into a freezy. And for the sake of bringing things full circle, Oklahoma was the team who jumped right back into the national title picture.
The Sooners dismattled the Red Raiders on Nov. 22 by a final score of 65-21, and created what I like to call a perfect mess. You now have three teams from the same conference who all have one loss, and each of the teams has beaten one of the three, as well as lost to one.
A situation like this ultimately has no right answer, but for the sake of fairness there has to be one answer that makes more sense than another one. And it seems that the BCS has managed to screw that up.
College football's regular season came to a conclusion after this past weekend's contests, and both the AP and USA Today Polls have Texas and Oklahoma in the top four, with Texas Tech sitting at number eight in each. Clearly, in the mind's of the experts, Oklahoma and Texas are the two best teams in the conference. And while Texas Tech did beat Texas, I think the manner in which Oklahoma pounded the Red Raiders makes that a formidable argument.
So for the sake of reality (because Texas Tech clearly has no shot at the BCS Title Game), let's look at this from a strictly Oklahoma versus Texas standpoint.
In the AP Poll, Texas is ranked third and Oklahoma fourth. In the USA Today Poll, Oklahoma is ranked second and Texas third. So it is quite obvious that even the experts are unsure about what to make of what's going on.
It's supposed to be up the BCS to make sense of this all, but what came out in yesterday's release of their latest standings makes anything but sense. Behind Alabama at number one, Oklahoma is ranked second, with Texas third and Florida fourth. You can assume Florida would make a jump into the top two with a win against Alabama this weekend, but once again, how can you possibly justify Oklahoma being ranked ahead of Texas?
In my opinion, you can't.
Let's break this down logically. There are two teams from the same conference with the same record. If I asked you how can you determine which is the better team, what would be the best way to make that determination?
'Have them play,' you say? Well luckily for us, that already happened. And Texas won.
Now, it would be a compelling argument to make to say that Oklahoma is hotter right now, but not nearly as compelling as the fact that when the two teams met head-to-head, Texas beat Oklahoma.
It shouldn't count against the Longhorns that it happened earlier in the season, and Oklahoma's victory over Texas Tech is fresher in the public's mind. Oklahoma being the hotter team is strictly based on opinion, while Oklahoma losing to Texas is an undisputable fact.
It's obvious that the BCS does not take into consideration head-to-head meetings when determining how to rank teams with such similiar resumes, but it should.
But the blame for this mishap does not fall solely into the lap of the BCS makers.
Due to the fact that the three Big 12 powers have identical records, and play in the same division (the Big 12 is divided in half by two divisions for their championship game format), the conference was left clueless as to who should play in their own title game.
The Missouri Tigers won the much less competitive Big 12 North without controversy, but with a three-way tie atop the Big 12 South, the conference regulations state that the winner of such a division will be determined by the BCS standings. Which places Oklahoma in the conference title game, despite their loss to Texas. Of course. Why not add salt to the wound?
It would be safe to assume that if a situation such as this ever came up for a conference, the last voice of reason any team or fan is going to want to hear is that of the BCS. The Big 12 should (and I suspect will do so in the future) have given itself the opportunity to justify it's own championship game without the influence of a system as controversial as the BCS.
As Ivan Maisel of espn.com points out, the Big 12 could have avoided this mess had they borrowed a page from the SEC's tiebreaker system. While the Big 12 reverts to the BCS in the this situation, the SEC is far more specific.
It states that in the event of a three-way tie, the BCS would be used to determine the representative in the conference title game unless the team that is rated the highest is within five places of the second-highest rated team. In that case, (as is the case with Texas and Oklahoma) the rule states that the winner will be determined by, of all crazy concepts, head-to-head play.
And while that rule would surely leave Oklahoma fans disappointed, it would at least put the Big 12 in the position of making a sound, logical decision that is separate from any computer rankings.
Having a conference title game makes a whole lotta sense (memo: to the Pac 10 and Big 10, among others); but involving the BCS when it is unnecessary to do so does not.

MLB Offseason Preview - NY Style

Although the Philadelphia Phillies World Series victory was less than a month ago, and still feels like yesterday, as of Friday MLB free agents are free to sign with which ever team they please. This year's class is a deep one, and has some big names who should be signing for major dollars. Former AL Cy Young Award winner C.C. Sabathia, All-Star first baseman Mark Teixiera and future Hall of Famer Manny Ramirez are at the top of many team's wish lists.
Some teams have already started to make moves via the trade market, with the most notable name on the move being All-Star leftfielder Matt Holliday going from the Colorado Rockies to the Oakland Athletics. Other All-Star caliber players could also be on the move, such as San Diego Padres All-Star starter Jake Peavy.
With so many players expected to be on the move, you can expect to see a lot of the larger market teams heavily involved. Especially those who missed out on the October action last season; two of the most notable teams being the crosstown rivals from New York who will both being opening up new stadiums come April.
The Yankees, in their first season under new manager Joe Girardi, missed the playoffs for the first time in 13 seasons. That alone would be enough to motivate the Yanks to go out and spend big in the offseason, but when you add the $80+ million due to come off the books things could get out of hand.
The Mets meanwhile missed the playoffs for the second consecutive year after holding the division lead for a good portion of the season. And to top things off, they had to sit back and watch as their biggest rivals caught fire and won themselves a championship.
Needless to say, neither team figures to stand pat going into next season and both should be extremely interesting to watch over the course of the next few months. Here's an idea of what each New York teams outlook is as we get ready for the offseason to kick off:

• New York Yankees

The Yankees have made no secret of their intentions for this offseason. Everyone knows about how much money they have to work with now that they no longer owe fat salaries to the likes of Jason Giambi, Carl Pavano and Bobby Abreu, among others. And everyone knows they don't intend to let that extra money sit around and collect dust. Hal Steinbrenner, the quieter and more realistic of King George's two sons, had this to say about the plans in the Bronx.
"We're going to do what we do every year, and that's try to field a championship team," he said. "If that means spending money, it obviously means spending money."
And spend they shall.
The Yankees top priority is clearly Milwaukee Brewers left-hander, C.C. Sabathia. GM Brian Cashman would surely salivate at the potential three-headed monster of Sabathia, Chien-Ming Wang and Joba Chamberlain at the top of his rotation. If all three remain healthy, they could be a lethal combination built for October.
What we know is that the Yanks will likely offer Sabathia more money than other team. What we don't know is how much interest the big, strong lefty has in playing in New York.
Rumors are that he would prefer to return home to California, possibly to one of the two L.A. teams (Angels or Dodgers). But numerous media outlets have reported that the Yankees have already made Sabathia an offer that would make him the highest paid pitcher in baseball, and would be willing to up the ante even more if need be.
If I were a betting man, I would think Sabathia will make like Steve Miller and, "take the money and run." But of course, nothing is certain, and until Sabathia make his decision the Yankees offseason plans will hang in the balance.
If he signs, their pitching staff is basically set. Girardi can slot in Sabathia, Wang, Chamberlain and Andy Pettitte (who is technically a free agent, but has decided to play another year and inevitably should return to the Bronx) nicely into his top four spots in the rotation. Ideally, the Yankees would love to have 20-game winner Mike Mussina occupy the fifth spot, which would make for a very deep rotation, but rumors are he is leaning toward retirement. He has said he will announce his decision next week. If Mussina retires, the Yanks could look to bring in second-tier starter to fill the final spot or go with the young Phil Hughes in the final spot.
My hunch is that they would prefer to have a veteran lined up for the fifth spot, that way Hughes can get consistent work in Triple A and be ready for a call-up baring an injury to a member of their staff. That would give him a chance to find his rhythm in a less-pressured environment and come up to the big club with less expectations.
If Sabathia doesn't sign, the next likeliest option for the Yankees would be A.J. Burnett from the Toronto Blue Jays. Burnett has dominate stuff and is coming off a Cy Young caliber year, but prior to this past season he has had a long history of stints on the DL. Cashman surely wants to avoid another Pavano situation. Peavy and Derek Lowe would also be those among consideration, but make no mistake, Sabathia is the clear first choice.
As for the bullpen, the Yanks have already resigned lefty specialist Damaso Marte to a three-year deal and will likely stand pat otherwise. They found some bright spots in the pen last season, and have an abundance of young arms that will compete for spots. Closer Mariano Rivera was as good as ever last year, and is still the surest thing in the Major Leagues in the ninth inning. After him, the Yanks will look to Marte, Jose Veras, Brian Bruney, Edwar Ramirez, David Robertson and lefty Phil Coke, who each show flashes during the '08 campaign. Coke is an especially interesting young arm who was very impressive after his September call up. He and Marte will give Girardi the ability to mix and match lefties and righties; a luxury he did not always have last season. Add in Dan Giese and Darrell Rasner as potential long men, plus top relieving prospect Mark Melancon, who is expected to eventually take over the set-up role, and you have the makings of a solid pen.
If Melancon proves he is ready for the big leagues, the Yankees have some flexibility in terms of trade options. With about seven roster spots expected to go to relievers, Cashman has some trade bait that he might decide to use for a young position player.
Speaking of trade bait, what are the Yanks expected to do in order to fill holes at first base and in centerfield? Some experts think the Yankees will make a major play for Teixiera, who seems to be a perfect fit. He plays Gold Glove defense, he's patient at the plate and he's a switch hitter with major run producing ability. But I think the Yankees pursuit of Teixiera will largely hinge on what happens with Sabathia. As aggressive as we expect Cashman to be, it would be two major commitments to take on if they were to sign both, who coincidentally are expected to receive the two largest contracts of any other free agents. And while I wouldn't be overly surprised if they did it, I think there will be other teams, such as the Angels, who are going to drive up Teixiera's price tag.
As a precaution, and possible message, the Yankees acquired Nick Swisher from the Chicago White Sox in a low risk trade earlier this week. Swisher can play both first base and centerfield, and as of right now would be their best option at either position. The problem is, Swisher is probably better served as your first player off of the bench than an everyday guy. His on-base percentage and power potential make him a good fit, but his .219 batting average last season does not. And while it was a down year for him, he has never hit over .262 in his career.
After Teixiera, the market becomes very thin at first base so it seems like the Yankees might have to look at possible trade options. They do have some pieces they might be willing to deal, especially some of their young arms. It is even believed that Cashman might be willing to consider dealing second baseman Robinson Cano after his production dropped last season. But no trade partner has emerged that seems realistic at this early stage.
The real key offensively for the Yankees will be getting guys like third baseman Alex Rodriguez back on track. A-Rod can and should be their main run producer, and if he's on his game guys like designated hitter Hideki Matsui, outfielder Xavier Nady and shortstop Derek Jeter should be able to fit nicely into their roles. Getting catcher Jorge Posada back on track after his surgery would be a huge lift as well. I would look for the Yankees to pursue a first baseman in a trade, and primarily use Swisher, Melky Cabrera or Brett Gardner in center. Top prospect Austin Jackson is expected to take over in center in 2010 anyway, and could be brought up sooner if he gets off to a hot start in the minors.
This team is clearly focusing on pitching, and with Sabathia could finally have the right combination for success in the playoffs. But in a division that is only getting tougher, Girardi is going to need stronger contributions offensively from some of the guys he has in-house if they want to get to the playoffs in the first place.

• New York Mets

A second straight collapse by the boys from Queens has left Mets fans fuming and wondering what needs to happen to shake the choker label. Although this most recent meltdown was not as severe as the historical collapse of '07, it has still made it clear that significant changes are coming.
Surprisingly, the Mets have retained interm manager Jerry Manuel despite his failure to lead the team to the postseason. Manuel is well-liked by his players because of his laid back, honest approach, but he may need to find ways to restore a winning attitude in the clubhouse. A new face would likely have made that attitude adjustment more abrupt, but GM Omar Minaya obviously trusts Manuel.
Now that their managerial situation is settled, focus shifts to the players on the field. One of the biggest positives for the Mets in '08 was the performance of prized addition, Johan Santana. Santana did not always receive enough run support, but as the year went on, he clearly found his New York comfort zone. Down the stretch, he was the only sure thing the Mets had and showed the desire to be the workhorse Minaya had traded for.
Unfortunately for the Mets, Santana can only pitch once every five games and the rest of their rotation has major question marks.
Young starter Mike Pelfrey had a breakout year of sorts, even though not much was expected from him after he disappointed in previous seasons. Besides Santana, Pelfrey was the Mets most consistent pitcher, and he showed he can handle a heavy workload by throwing over 200 innings. Now, he is slotted in number two spot in the rotation behind Santana, as of this moment. The only other incumbent starter the Mets have coming back is John Maine, who digressed after a promising '07 campaign. Maine will likely keep his spot in the rotation, but the Mets will be actively pursuing starters to slot ahead of him.
The wild card for the Mets' rotation will be their left-handed free agent, Oliver Perez. While Perez did not equal his success from '07 when he won 15 games, he did show flashes of his impressive ability. He struck out 180 batters in 194 innings pitched, and Minaya would welcome him back. The issue will be how high his price tag becomes in an open market.
Minaya might prefer the likes of a Derek Lowe, who is older than Perez but more consistent and battle-tested. He might even opt to offer contracts to both, and really strengthen the Mets rotation significantly. But both will probably command well over ten million per year, and the Mets do have other holes to fill (especially in the bullpen).
The final spot in the rotation belonged to Pedro Martinez last season, but he is a free agent who is past his prime and considered all but gone. Unless they end up retaining Perez and signing someone like Lowe, they're going to have a fifth spot in the rotation to fill. The top in-house candidate would probably be lefty prospect Jonathon Niese, but the Mets will likely pursue a cheaper veteran alternative. A couple names to keep in mind are lefty Randy Wolf from the Houston Astros and the injury-prone Ben Sheets from the Milwaukee Brewers. Sheets could be an interesting option, because when he's healthy he is one of the best in the majors, but many teams seem hesitant to offer him big time money because of his fragile reputation.
While Minaya tries to sort of his starting rotation, he also knows that the biggest issue with his team last season was in the bullpen. The Mets need to find some competent arms, because last year was downright ugly at times. They have no closer with Billy Wagner likely to miss the entire season, and no secure bridge to get to the ninth inning.
The most logicial free agent for the Mets might seem to be Los Angeles Angels' free agent closer Francisco Rodriguez, who broke the all-time record for saves in a season in '08. But he will cost big time dollars, and the Mets know they need more than just a closer for their pen. If he is willing to take a three year deal, as opposed to the five years he is reportedly seeking, then maybe the Mets will make a play. But they'd probably be wiser to take that money and sign a couple pitchers instead of one.
As bad as their bullpen was, there is no way they can get rid of everyone from last season. They're going to have to figure out who they have that can improve, and who they need to replace. Lefties Pedro Feliciano and Scott Schoeneweis are both good bets to return, and the Mets have a group of righties (Duaner Sanchez, Aaron Heilman and Joe Smith) who will get long looks as well. Heilman has been mentioned as potential trade bait, but after last season I would question how much value he has to other teams.
Midseason pick up Luis Ayala is a free agent who will likely be let go in favor of a new face. If the Mets don't sign K-Rod, they do have a few other options in the market at closer. Kerry Wood from the Chicago Cubs and Brian Fuentes from the Colorado Rockies are two names that will surely get mentioned, but look for the Mets to also make a play for potential late innings guys like Brandon Lyon and Juan Cruz from the Arizona Diamondbacks. If they could sign Wood or Fuentes, along with someone like Cruz who has closer-type stuff, it would go a long way towards improving their bullpen. I would still not feel the confidence you desire from your bullpen if I were Manuel, but you have to figure things can't get any worse if you bring in some new guys.
With so much money expected to go into the rotation and bullpen, the Mets will probably look very similiar to the way they looked offensively last season. They have already picked up the option on first baseman Carlos Delgado, who came on very strong after struggling in the beginning of the year. Although there is the risk of Delgado once again hitting a wall, he was their best option given the market and their pitching needs. He can hold down the fort for one more year until the Mets' top draft pick from '08, first baseman Ike Davis, is ready for primetime.
Along with Delgado, the Mets' core of third baseman David Wright, shortstop Jose Reyes and centerfielder Carlos Beltran will remain the same. Each of those three will be counted on regain their form and lead this team offensively, as opposed to '08 when none of them could get on the same page. Wright, in particular, should be counted on to hit over .300 with 30+ homers and 100+ RBIs from his spot in the three-hole.
The two biggest question marks for the Mets on the diamond are at second base and in leftfield. They gave second baseman Luis Castillo a multi-year deal heading into last season, and are probably stuck with him, at least for the time being. They do have some options for how they want to handle their leftfield situation, though.
Ryan Church came on strong before his concussion issues, and should retain his spot in rightfield. The Mets also resigned Fernando Tatis after his impressive return to baseball last season, and if the season were to start today, he would probably be their starting leftfielder. They also have young prospect Daniel Murphy who figures into the mix as well. But there are some options in the free agent market that might come at a reasonable price.
Former Yankee Bobby Abreu is seeking a short term deal, and would probably fit the Mets price range. He could play right, and move Church over to left. Raul Ibanez from the Seattle Mariners is another strong option who would come much cheaper than the likes of Manny. While playing for a bad team, Ibanez has still managed over 100 RBIs in each of the past three seasons. And he, like Abreu, would not be looking for a major commitment in terms of years due to his age.
The Mets free agent wish list figures to be a long one. They will likely try to sign at least one key piece on offense, in the rotation and in the bullpen. Obviously, they are going to have to compete for these free agents and will probably not be able to get who they want at every position. But if Minaya can be smart and strategic with the free agents he does choose to pursue, especially in the bullpen, the Mets should compete for a playoff spot again.
They do not have much to work with in terms of trades, because their farm system took a big hit last year when they dealt for Santana. So they will be opening up the checkbook, and in certain situations might have to overpay. But this team does have talent; the key to their season will be overcoming the demons from their past more so than anything else.

NFL Midseason Power Rankings

At the halfway point of the 2008 NFL regular season, there seem to still be plenty more questions than there are answers around the league. The big dogs who we've become accustomed to finding at the top of the standings have taken hard falls back to mediocrity.
The New England Patriots lost reigning NFL MVP Tom Brady in Week 1 for the year, and now finding themselves no longer a lock to win the AFC East.
The Indianapolis Colts started off on the wrong foot with QB Peyton Manning having surgery just before training camp, and already sit four games behind the division leading Tennessee Titans (yes, the Titans).
The San Diego Chargers once again have fallen victim to a poor start, and at the midway point of the season are two games under .500.
And the Dallas Cowboys, a heavy favorite to win the NFC prior to the season, seem to be coming apart at the seams.
The door has swung wide open for less-heralded teams to seize the opportunity, and so far we're still waiting for things to sort themselves out. One unlikely team remains undefeated, and has been winning with an old school formula. The Titans are 8-0 thanks to perhaps the best running game in league, led by the dynamic duo of rookie Chris Johnson and bruiser LenDale White, along with an absolutely smoothering defense. To this point, they have been the class of the AFC.
In the NFC, the New York Giants have been very impressive. Despite their status as Super Bowl Champs, they still seem to be playing with a chip on their shoulders. Many experts expected them to take a step back, especially with the retirement of Michael Strahan and the injury to Osi Umeniyora, but the Giants are playing like the most complete team in football. They pound teams similarily to the way the Titans do: with a dynamic running game led by the freight-train of a back named Brandon Jacobs, and an outstanding, all-hands-on-deck defense. If you don't give the Giants the respect they deserve, they'll take it.
Beyond those two teams, we have yet to see a consistent effort from virtually any squad. The NFL, more so than any of the major professional sports, is truly a week-to-week league. Dominance one week does not necessarily translate into momentum the next. Even the Giants are susceptible to the occasional letdown, as we saw Week 6 against the Cleveland Browns.
Nonetheless, we have reached the midway point of the season and it's time to begin to sort things out as we look towards the playoffs. A few teams are already concentrating on 2009, but with so much parity in the league there is still time for teams that struggled out of the gate to pick up some ground. Here's a look at my midseason power rankings:

1. New York Giants (7-1): Although the Titans have a better overall record, the Giants are the most complete team in football. If the two teams played each other, are you betting against the champs?
2. Tennessee Titans (8-0): Who would have thought they'd be where they are without the services of Vince Young? Credit HC Jeff Fisher for building a smashmouth team that is built to overpower opponents up front - on both sides of the ball.
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2): If not for a few hiccups against tough NFC East opponents, we would probably be talking about the Steelers in the same way we are the Titans. The Steel Curtain remains for Pittsburgh who ranks first in the league in total defense.
4. Carolina Panthers (6-2): Notice a trend so far in the top 5? All of these teams run the ball down your throat and aggressively shutdown opponents on defense. The major difference in this Panthers team from year's past is that they now have the backs to take the pressure of off QB Jake Delhomme.
5. Washington Redskins (6-3): This feels a bit high for the 'Skins but who would you put ahead of them? They play in the best division in football so they are consistently being tested, plus they beat Philly therefore you can't justify the Eagles in this spot.
6. Philadelphia Eagles (5-3): But you can justify the Eagles here. They got off to a subpar start, but have played better as of late. Big test coming up this weekend against the G-men with a golden opportunity to shoot up the list.
7. New England Patriots (5-3): Even without Brady, the Pats have found ways to win. They are still the best coached team in the league and have much of the same roster from last years 16-0 squad. Plus, not many teams have stepped up in their place.
8. New York Jets (5-3): The Bretts wouldn't have come close to the top ten if not for their big win last weekend on the road against the division-leading Bills. The offense is still not clicking on all cylinders, but their D gets better every week thanks to massive NT Kris Jenkins (perhaps the best offseason pickup of any team).
9. Arizona Cardinals (5-3): You know it's an odd year when the Cards crack the top ten. Surprisingly, this team has beaten some quality opponents (Bills, Cowboys with Romo) and QB Kurt Warner could get some MVP consideration (yeah, I said it).
10. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-3): For some reason, the Bucs to me are like the Toronto Blue Jays in MLB. They're always a good bet to field a decent team, but are never really taken seriously as a contender. Still, they rank in the top ten in both total offense and defense, and keep winning games. Advice for HC Jon Gruden: stick with Jeff Garcia at QB.
11. Indianapolis Colts (4-4): They pulled out a must-win game last week against the Pats, which has allowed them to continue treading water. While the division may be out of reach, as QB Peyton Manning continues to gain back strength in that surgically repaired knee, the Colts chances at a wild card should strengthen as well.
    
12. Buffalo Bills (5-3): The Bills looked very good in their first six games, but back-to-back divisional losses have brought them back down to earth. The AFC East race is becoming as tight as David Spade's coat on Chris Farley's body.
13. Dallas Cowboys (5-4): The 'Boys have had quite a fall from grace over the past few weeks and are at major risk of missing out on a playoff spot. Getting back injured QB Tony Romo this week helps; playing in the NFC East doesn't.
14. Green Bay Packers (4-4): QB Aaron Rodgers has fared nicely despite the constant Favre comparisons. This team is better than their record shows, and I get the feeling that will be reflected over the course of the second half of the season.
15. Chicago Bears (5-3): They better pray that injured QB Kyle Orton gets better sooner rather than later because Rex Grossman is bound to screw things up. Orton's been on a roll, and their defense remains one of the better units in the league.
16. New Orleans Saints (4-4): The Saints need to become more consistent, but QB Drew Brees is having an MVP-type season for the #1 offense in the league. That alone makes them a threat.
17. Baltimore Ravens (5-3): Even when you think their defense might take a step backwards due to age, LB Ray Lewis shows us that is not a concern with this unit. They rank second in the league, and have found a new star in DT Haloti Ngata. Not enough offense still might hold them back, though. Sound familiar?
18. Atlanta Falcons (5-3): Rookie HC Mike Smith deserves some consideration for Coach of the Year for the attitude turnout he has successfully completed with this team. He also seems to have found a future star in rookie QB Matt Ryan.
19. San Diego Chargers (3-5): Have shown glipses of what could be, but overall this team has been a major disappointment. The ironic part is that they will probably find a way to sneak into the playoffs anyway, largely due to the fact that they play in a division that is just plain bad.
    
20. Miami Dolphins (4-4): Rookie HC Tony Sparano is another guy who deserves credit for quickly changing the culture of a bad team. Or would that be Bill Parcells? Either way, the Dolphins are heading in the right direction.
21. Minnesota Vikings (4-4): Could somebody please find this team a QB? They do many things well, but I don't think Gus Frerotte is destined to take them to the promised land.
22. Denver Broncos (4-4): You can't beat everyone in a shootout. They can put up points in bunches, but they can't stop anyone. Also, can somebody explain to me why HC Mike Shanahan has completely abandoned the running game?
    
23. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-5): This is another team that has taken a rapid fall. Pricey offseason moves at WR have not paid dividends, and their running game has been non-existent after an excellent 2007 campaign.
    
24. Houston Texans (3-5): The Texans aren't a terrible team, they've just had to deal with the Colts and Jags over the past few years. Now this year throw in the Titans, and the Texans are going to have a tough time finding wiggle room in that division.
25. Cleveland Browns (3-5): Offseason hype = regular season disappointment. Their defense has been better of late, but their prolific offense from last year has vanished. QB Brady Quinn could provide a spark, but Derek Andersen had been playing better recently.
26. Seattle Seahawks (2-6): This is far from the send off HC Mike Holmgren had hoped for. The Seahawks have been past their prime for a couple years now, and we're seeing the results now.
27. St. Louis Rams (2-6): They looked awful at the beginning of the year, but interm HC Jim Haslett has restored their respectibility. I'd think about locking him up, and maybe finding at least one playmaker on defense.
28. Oakland Raiders (2-6): Somebody should find a way to keep Al Davis away from any major decision making. This team has some promising young players, but they're damned with a lame-duck coach and overpaid, selfish veterans leading them.
29. San Francisco 49ers (2-6): HC Mike Singletary will shove his boot up some behinds if need be (and it does be), which is good. But Mike, a little food for thought: you've got a #1 overall pick on your bench and no other decent options at QB. This team isn't going to the playoffs, so why not see if he could be a spark?
30. Cincinnati Bengals (1-8): A few years back it looked like HC Marvin Lewis would keep the Bengals from being ranked this low for awhile, but now it looks like he'll be looking for new work at the end of the season.
31. Kansas City Chiefs (1-7): There's not too many bright spots on this team, which is in full rebuilding mode and has a long way to go before things get any better.
32. Detroit Lions (0-8): Firing Mike Millen was a good first step, but the Lions are the worst team in football and will be on 0-16 watch until further notice.

World Series Preview

If I would have told you at the beginning of the season that the Philadelphia Phillies would have been facing off against the Tampa Bay Rays in the World Series, I surely would have receive a chuckle in return. At least. While we have had teams in recent years come out of nowhere and earn a spot in the Fall Classic (the Colorado Rockies last year, and the Detroit Tigers the year before that), prior to this season Tampa Bay was the epitome of losing in Major League Baseball. An expansion team who entered the league a decade ago in 1998, the Rays had never won more than 69 games in a season. And when they jumped out to an early lead in the AL East this season, it was assumed that it was inevitable before they came back down to earth. Even as they continued to play great throughout the summer, there was no way they could optain a playoff spot with both the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees in the same division as Tampa. But in fact, the Rays played the type of baseball all season long that allowed for them to beat out both of those teams and now has them sitting pretty in the World Series.
They win with pitching, speed and defense; not power hitters and overpaid pitchers like their divisional competitors. Mix in some of the most promising young players in baseball, such as Evan Longoria, B.J. Upton, Scott Kazmir, and Matt Garza (this list could become very long, but I think those guys are enough to get my point across) and you've got the makings of a team that is capable of beating anyone. And that's exactly what they've done.
The Phillies, on the other hand, come from a place where they are expected to win, but usually don't. Even though they won the division last year, they were bounced quickly from the playoffs and most people (myself included) thought that the New York Mets would regain control of the NL East thanks to their offseason acquisition of All-World starting pitcher, Johan Santana. But the Phillies battled all season, and defended their NL East title with a repeat performance. In the playoffs, they have shown that they have the most formidable lineup in the NL, as well as the hottest pitcher in Cole Hamels.
While Red Sox-Dodgers would have been a sexier matchup, I think we may finally have two teams that can give us something to get excited about in the World Series. The past four have been duds. Three of the past four World Series' have been sweeps, with the other one lasting a lengthy five games. These two teams seem more evenly matched, and should (we hope) provide some compelling stuff on the field. Here's my attempt to breakdown the series, and hopefully I fare better than I did with my Championship Series predictions:

• Philadelphia Phillies vs. Tampa Bay Rays

The main reason I see this series going relatively deep is because neither team has any glaring weaknesses that the other can exploit. Both have strong lineups and starting pitching; both play good defense and can put pressure on another team on the basepaths; and both have at least a few relievers (both lefties and righties) that each manager can feel comfortable inserting into a tight situation. There are going to be subtle adjustments that each team is going to have to make though, due to their unfamilarity with each other. The young Rays have one player (Cliff Floyd) who will have experience against some of the Phillies pitchers, and he won't even play in every game. Most of the Rays talent is homegrown and lacking experience with any NL pitchers. But in many ways the same can be said for Philadelphia, who have no position player in their starting lineup with at-bats against the likes of Kazmir, Garza and James Shields. How quickly the big bats in each lineup can adapt will be crucial.
Another critical thing to watch, which seems to come up every year, is how the lay-off effects the Phillies. They've had a week of no baseball, while the Rays have had the opportunity to stay sharp. The Tigers were in a similar situation as the Phils in 2006, and lost to the St. Louis Cardinals in five games as a result. In an article written by ESPN's Jayson Stark, Tigers coach Andy Van Slyke had this to say about the effects of the time off:
"There's a certain physical rhythm to the season and that's intensified in the postseason. And once you have that cut off, it's hard to get it back, physically and mentally. There's an extra adrenaline you get in the postseason that gives you such a high that, when you have those off days, you almost become too low."
Recent history suggests that in that regard, the Rays hold the advantage.
Tampa Bay also has the advantage of opening the series at home in Tropicana Field. The Trop is one of the toughest parks in baseball to adjust to when your team has not played there before. It's artificial turf highlights the Rays overall team speed, and causes defenses to have to react more quickly. The Phillies counter for begininng the series on the road will be the NLCS MVP, Hamels. Hamels hands down should be considered the best pitcher either team has up their respective sleeves, and has been lights out in his three postseason starts this year. More importantly, the Phillies have won each of the three games he has pitched. I would not expect him to lose his mojo now, and he should effectively negate the Rays speed by not allowing many men on-base. Hamels should allow the Phils to keep the score low in Game 1, and return home to Philadelphia with the series tied at 1-1, which would be a positive for the Charlie Manuel's club.
Where the Rays subtle advantage will come into play will be when the depth of their rotation is showcased. In Game 3 they will send ALCS MVP Garza out to the mound, and he was overpowering against a very good Boston lineup. He went 2-0 against the defending champs with a 1.38 ERA in 13 innings pitched. But even those numbers do not do justice to Garza's performance in Game 7, when he allowed only two hits over seven plus innings. The Red Sox had all of the momentum after coming back from being down 3-1 in the series to force a Game 7, but were completely overwhelmed by Garza. He will be up against 45-year-old starter Jamie Moyer, who has been knocked around in each game he has pitched this postseason. In two games started, Moyer has a 13.50 ERA and has only been able to get through five and a third innings. Manuel has to feel a bit uneasy about that matchup.
Game 4 will be a bit more even for the Phillies when they send Joe Blanton to the mound to face Andy Sonnanstine. This will be a crucial game for Philly because of all of the Rays' starters, Sonnanstine is the most vulnerable. Still, that is not saying much because Sonnanstine has given Tampa Bay all they could ask from a fourth starter so far this postseason. He has posted a 3.46 ERA and earned a win in each of his two starts. By my calculations, that could potentially set up the Phillies to go down 3-1 and be forced to dig themselves out of a hole. But of course, the Phillies' lineup will have a say in this, and if they get the right players hot, could seize the series.
The Phils do have the advantage of possessing the more intimidating hitters. No one in the Rays' lineup can match the power production of Ryan Howard and Chase Utley (although Longoria is fast-approaching that territory). If one, or better yet, both of those guys gets hot, Tampa Bay will be in trouble. Both are streaky hitters, but both are among the most dangerous in baseball when locked in. Neither has been overwhelming so far in this year's playoffs, but the depth of Philly's offense has kept them scoring enough to give their starters leads. In particular, Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino will play prominent roles.
An interesting story to watch will be what Manuel does with his designated hitter spot for the games in Tampa. He has refused to announce his plans, but one would speculate he will use a righty in Game 1 against the Ray's lefty, Kazmir. His two best bats off the bench are Greg Dobbs and veteran Matt Stairs, but both of them hit from the left side of the plate. I see two other options for Manuel; those being Chris Coste or Eric Bruntlett. If Manuel wants to improve his defense, he'll probably use Bruntlett in leftfield and start Pat Burrell at DH. But I suspect with the way Kazmir pitched in his last outing against Boston that Manuel will want to favor offense, with Coste being his best righty off the bench. In Game 2 against Shields, he would be wise to use Matt Stairs because he has 11 career at-bats against him, including a home run.
Meanwhile, Joe Maddon will likely alternate between Floyd and ALCS hero Willy Aybar at DH for the Rays. Either one fits in nicely in the six hole, behind five hitters who have been great this postseason. I think Maddon has a tougher decision to make in rightfield, where he has used Gabe Gross for most of the playoffs. Gross is solid defensively, but hasn't given Tampa Bay much with his bat. Rocco Baldelli, on the other hand, has provided the Rays with clutch hits in his limited action and should play most of the games in right. The most impressive hitter for Tampa Bay has been Upton, who leads all players in the playoffs with seven home runs. Along with Upton, players like Longoria, Carl Crawford and Carlos Pena have been huge for the Rays. One could easily argue that although the Phillies have their Big 3 (Howard, Utley and Rollins), the Rays lineup has been hotter.
Both lineups will have to overcome good pitching, and the best way to do that will be by applying pressure with steal attempts, hit-and-run plays and sacrifice bunts. Of the two teams, the Rays are better suited to play that style. Upton and Crawford are nearly automatic with they get on first to steal second, and Tampa has plenty of others who are capable as well. What gets the Phillies into trouble sometimes is their reliance on the home run. If they hit them frequently, they're chances are very good. If not, they may struggle to score.
Ultimately, which team wins will have to get solid pitching from their bullpen. As is typical at this time of year, each manager will probably only use about four or five arms out of their bullpen, unless a game goes into extra innings. The Phillies have the clear advantage at closer with Brad Lidge, who has yet to blow a save this season. The Rays meanwhile will usually use Dan Wheeler, who is effective, but not your typical power ninth inning guy. Maddon surprisingly used rookie phenom David Price for the save in Game 7 against the Red Sox, and he proved that he deserves serious consideration for that type of role against Philadelphia. No one on the Phillies has ever seen Price, and with his 98 mile-per-hour fastball and nasty slider, he could be a weapon used to pitch multiple innings late in games. With Price and fellow lefty J.P. Howell, the Rays have reliable arms to matchup against Philly's lefty power hitters, Utley and Howard. The fact that the two of them bat back-to-back could make Maddon's job easier. For Manuel and the Phillies, they will rely mostly on Ryan Madson and lefty J.C. Romero for tough outs leading to Lidge, and the two of them have been very good over the past few months. Both teams have formiable weapons in their 'pens.
All in all, I could see this series going either way. With Hamels doing his thing, if the Phillies big bats can get hot the Rays storybook season will come to an end. But I can't help but think the Rays have too much going for them right now. If they can fend off a rally to force a Game 7 from the defending champs, I think they are mentally tough enough to handle anything. I also think the lay-off for the Phillies could hurt them, as it has for other teams in recent history. I think this series is bound to go back to Tampa for potential Games 6 and 7, and I don't see the Phillies beating Shields and Garza in back-to-back games on the road. I picked against the Rays in the ALCS, and I won't make the same mistake twice. Rays in 7.

Tragic Death of Rangers Prospect Deserves Further Examination

The New York Rangers have gotten off to a blazing-hot start in this year's young NHL season. Despite major roster alterations, these new Rangers seem to be meshing quickly and outworking their opponents. But due to tragic events in Russia earlier this week, the positive attention the Blueshirts have been receiving has suddenly taken a backseat.
In a surreal moment for the organization, top prospect and former first round draft pick, Alexei Cherepanov, collasped and died on the bench during a game for the Avangard Omsk. Cherepanov was only 19 years old.
Avangard is a team in Russia's Continental Hockey League; the league which gained recognition this offseason by luring NHL players, most notably former Ranger Jaromir Jagr, to come overseas and play. With it's deep pocketed owners, the KHL (I know it seems like it should be CHL, but this is how it's supposed to be abbreviated) has been considered a league on the rise, but this terribly tragic event has put that reputation in jeopardy. And for good reason.
"There are elements of negligence here," said Pavel Krasheninnikov, who sits on the Russian Hockey Federation's supervisory council.
Indeed there are, Mr. Krasheninnikov. An investigation is currently under way, so more information will surely surface, but there are some serious issues to be taken up with the league based on what we already know.
It has been determined that Cherepanov had chronic ischemia, which is a condition that occurs when not enough blood gets to the heart and other major organs. Prior to his death, the KHL was unaware of this condition despite regular heart and blood tests issued by the league. It seems odd that this could slip by going unnoticed, but even if we assume this is the case, it seems clear that the league was not prepared to deal with this type of incident.
After completing a shift with Jagr (they played on the same team and same line), Cherepanov was seated next to the former Ranger captain when he suddenly fell back and turned white. He was carried into the locker room, where there was no defibrillator present. A defibrillator is a medical machine used to shock the heart, and should be in place at all sporting events. To make matters worse, according to Krasheninnikov, there was no ambulance on duty at the arena and as a result there was a delay getting Cherepanov to a hospital.
Osmk coach Wayne Fleming was asked about how adequate the medical attention for his promising young player, but he said he was asked by the team not to comment. According to Cherepanov's agent, Jay Grossman, "[Jagr] went with him into the dressing room area and they revived him for some time and then he didn't make it."
What could the KHL expect to happen if a serious injury occurred on the ice, yet there was no ambulance to ensure the quickest and most effective medical treatment? Or if a player had a heart condition, yet there was no defibrillator on-site? Perhaps, Cherepanov's young life was one that was capable of being saved. At the very least, on the surface there seems to be many questions that should be directed at the KHL and their emergency response methods.
In the NHL, each team is responsible to comply with emergency medical procedures. Among the requirements are that medical staff on hand must be certified in advanced trauma life support, as well as have an ambulance service on-site.
If the KHL expects to continue to lure big name players from the NHL, they should seriously consider a similiar policy and not avoid the issue. This tragic news will surely not sit well with players across the world.
"This is a blow for the KHL," said Igor Larionov, who is a former Russian hockey star and is on the KHL's board of directors. "We must learn from this. This cannot happen ever again."
The fact is, it already happened one time too many.

Championship Series Predictions

An exciting round of division series has dwindled the field of remaining teams vying for a world championship down to four. The storylines for these final four teams run deep, but the most inspiring has to be that of the worst-to-first Tampa Bay Rays. The Rays handled the Chicago White Sox relatively easily and appeared to clearly be the better team. The question for the Rays is no longer how long can they keep up this pace, but how good can they really be? Their defense is second to none, and with a very good pitching staff to go along with a promising and athletic lineup, this team has to be considered a legitimate threat to the Boston Red Sox in the ALCS. The Red Sox squeaked out a series against the Los Angeles Angels which was much closer than it might appear on the surface. The Angels had ample opportunities to take control of the series, but kept tripping over their own feet. Their famed failed suicide squeeze attempt in the ninth inning of Game 4 will live in infamy for years to come. On the other hand, the Red Sox biggest asset is that they are a playoff-tested team that does not create any self-inflicted wounds. That, and the emergence of Jon Lester, who has been doing his best Josh Beckett impersonation.
In the National League the Los Angeles Dodgers have emerged as the hottest team in baseball. They dismantled the Chicago Cubs, who were expected to be the darlings of this year's playoff season. While the Cubs' pitching fell short of the standards they had set over the course of the regular season, the Dodgers' pitching staff appears to be hitting their stride. Their bullpen is vastly underrated and their manager Joe Torre has been pushing all the right buttons. Oh, and Manny Ramirez hit .500 in the division series. Their NLCS opponents are the Philadelphia Phillies, who are playing with the weight of a city who has not seen a championship in any professional sport in a quarter of a century on their shoulders. The Fightin' Phils got excellent starting pitching in their division series against the Milwaukee Brewers, who seemed happy to simply be in the postseason. Cole Hamels is basking in the national spotlight and will be a key against the Dodgers, who do not have a starting pitcher to match him when he's on his game.
Now that we are done with the short five game series of the opening round, these teams will surely find that winning four is much tougher than winning three. We are now guaranteed to see a team in the World Series that has not been in well over a decade, at least. Tampa had never even seen a playoff series before last week. The Red Sox have to be viewed as the favorites, because they are the only team that has proven anything in the past, as defending champs. But the Rays have been defying the odds all year, and might be too naive to let the experience of Boston effect them. Don't expect to see a sweep in either series, and be prepared for some surprises. Here's my brusque attempt to breakdown how I think each might play out:

• Boston Red Sox vs. Tampa Bay Rays-

These two teams played each other tough all year, and for those that remember, were involved in a bench clearing brawl back on June 5th. The Rays won the season series, 10-8, but the home teams dominated. I expect that trend to remain the same in this series. The Rays had the best home record in baseball this year, largely due to the fact that the turf at Tropicana Field allows the Rays to showcase their team speed. For the Red Sox, Fenway Park has always been one of the toughest places in baseball to play, especially in the playoffs. But this series will ultimately come down to pitching. While the Rays bullpen was great against the White Sox, none of their starters really stepped up as the team's clear ace. For the Red Sox, that distinction belonged to Lester. He was dominate against a very good Angels lineup and did not allow an earned run in 14 innings pitched. His velocity seemed to increase as the game went on, and he was deadly on lefties. If Lester continues to rise to the occasion, the Rays will have a difficult time winning when he starts. With him lined up for Games 3 and 7, Tampa would be in trouble if the series goes the distance. The key though for Boston will be Beckett. He is one of the most dominating postseason pitchers in the league (if not the most dominating), but did not appear to be himself when he allowed four earned runs in only five innings pitched in Game 3 against the Angels. He is clearly not 100 percent, but still possesses the ability to alter a series in favor of Boston. If he regains his form, consider the Red Sox the American League Champions. For Tampa, it will be crucial for a starter to step up and match Boston's big guns. Their first three starters, James Shields, Scott Kazmir and Matt Garza, all have the potential to do so, but must find a way to elevate their games. Kazmir will be a particularly interesting player to watch, because he is matched up with Beckett in Games 2 and 6. Kazmir has nasty stuff, and talent-wise is probably the Rays best pitcher. But he got lit up in his last outing against Boston, when he surrendered nine earned runs in three innings pitched on September 15th.
The really surprising aspect of the Rays all year has been their bullpen. Last year it was horrendous, but they have made a drastic turnaround. They are deep, and led by lefty J.P. Howell, who has proven he can get guys out on both sides of the plate, and flame-thrower Grant Balfour. The Rays will likely be without closer Troy Percival, and will instead use Dan Wheeler for that role. Wheeler has had a solid year, but he gives the Rays a clear disadvantage against the Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon. We saw Red Sox manager Terry Francona use Papelbon late in tie games against the Angels to shut them down for two innings. This gave Boston two innings to try to score while feeling comfortable that Papelbon would limit the damage. In front of Papelbon the Red Sox might use any combination of Justin Masterson, Manny Delcarmen and lefty Hideki Okajima, all of whom were effective against the Angels. Both team's have good bullpens, but Papelbon gives the Red Sox a slight advantage in the ninth inning and beyond.
While Boston seems to have the better, deeper lineup, the Rays lineup is hotter. With a healthy LF Carl Crawford, as they had in the ALDS, their lineup is at full strength for the first time in a long time. CF B.J. Upton is really swinging the bat well, and rookie 3B Evan Longoria is probably the best hitter on the team already. But the Rays true secret has been the success of the bottom of their batting order, where players such as C Dioner Navarro have been providing clutch hits. Some experts question the Rays inexperience, but in the division series they seemed to come up with more timely hitting than any other team. They should be nervous, but they appear to be relaxed and having fun. The Red Sox have a much more powerful lineup, but their best hitters (David Ortiz, Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis) were relatively quiet against the Angels. Ortiz in particular needs to become more of a threat, but he seems to be feeling the effects of playing without Manny.
This series is really a difficult one to pick. All of my logic tells me the Red Sox are just too good, and they are the more battle-tested team. But I also find myself believing in the Rays. I think Tampa will win Game 1 at the Trop, because of all of Boston's starters, Daisuke Matsuzaka is the most vulnerable. Game 2 will be huge, because if the Rays can beat Beckett and head to Boston up two games they have a real shot. But I can't see the Rays sweeping, or even winning in five, and I just can't bet against both Beckett and Lester in potential Games 6 and 7. Boston, as they did against the Angels, will find ways to win. Red Sox in 7.

• Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Philadelphia Phillies

I was astonished with how easily the Dodgers handled the Cubs in the NLDS. Everything seemed to work; they hit, they got very good starting pitching and their bullpen is proving how good it can be. Now they head to Philly to test themselves against another team whose pitching staff is red hot. While the Manny and Ryan Howard types will receive most of the attention, my interest will be directed at the likes of Hamels and Chad Billingsley.
In surprising a move, the Dodgers have just announced that closer Takashi Saito will be left off of their NLCS roster. Although this may seem like a major blow for L.A., it really might not mean that much to their chances. Even though Saito missed most of the second half of the season while on the disabled list, this does not seem to be a health related decision. Saito had one appearance in the NLDS against the Cubs in which he got roughed up, allowing two earned runs without recording an out. During Saito's stint on the DL, Jonathan Broxton filled in and faired very well. After Saito's rough outing, Torre decided to go with Broxton in the ninth inning for the remainder of the series. He responded well, pitching in all three games without allowing a single run. As previously mentioned, the Dodgers have a very deep bullpen which is full of power arms. With excellent lefty Hong-Chih Kuo healthy and ready to rejoin the team, Saito has found himself the odd man out. In fact, Kuo could be a huge difference maker for the Dodgers against Philly's big lefties, Howard and 2B Chase Utley. Kuo had an excellent year, striking out 96 in 80 innings pitched. The Dodgers led the NL in ERA and Torre will have plenty of arms to deploy out of the bullpen. The Phillies bullpen is not as deep as that of the Dodgers, but equally as strong at the back end. Closer Brad Lidge has not blown a save all season, playoffs included. Ryan Madson and lefty J.C. Romero form a solid bridge to Lidge. It would be fair to say that if either team has a lead going into the late innings, each would feel pretty comfortable with their options.
The Phillies have the edge in starting pitching largely thanks to the presence of Hamels. He was outstanding in Game 1 against the Brewers, and showed the rest of the baseball world that he is one of those pitchers that has the ability to elevate his game in a pressure-packed situation. He is clearly the best starter in the series, but I think a big key will be the pitching matchups. The Dodgers will throw out playoff veteran Derek Lowe in Game 1 against Hamels, who should keep things close. But in front of the home crowd, it would be hard to imagine the Phillies losing with Hamels on the mound. Game 2 is where the Dodgers can swing momentum in their favor. Dodger's Game 2 starter Billingsley looked excellent in his start against the Cubs, and is an emerging star. He, much like the rest of the Dodgers, has a power arm and possesses the ability pull out a strikeout in a tight situation. Even though Brett Myers pitched well for the Phillies against the Brewers, I think the Dodger offense is too hot and will score enough runs to go back to L.A. even at one game apiece. That spells trouble for the Phillies because L.A.'s Game 3 starter Hiroki Kuroda has a 1.38 ERA against them, while Philly's starter Jamie Moyer has a 4.80 against the Dodgers. Game 4 will be interesting to see how Torre decides to play his hand. His other two starters are rookie left-hander Clayton Kershaw and 80-year-old Greg Maddux (an exaggeration). Maddux has been ineffective since coming to the Dodgers from San Diego, while Kershaw has explosive potential. Against a lefty-powered lineup like the Phillies, Torre would be wise to start Kershaw, while keeping him on a short leash. Maddux would be better equipped to come in from the bullpen if Kershaw struggles, but at least with Kershaw you know there is the potential for a dominating outing.
Each team comes into the series red-hot, but no team in baseball is playing as well as the Dodgers. Manny has added a complete new element to their lineup, but more importantly has allowed the rest of the batting order to fall into place. He anchors the middle of the lineup while good hitters such as RF Andre Ethier and C Russell Martin can fit nicely into their spots as role players. The addition of 3B Casey Blake was vastly underrated, and he gives L.A. the best eighth hitter in the NL along with a solid veteran presence to guide the young players. The Phillies have more pop in the middle of their lineup with Howard and Utley, but I would argue the Dodgers are deeper. Throw in the return of SS Rafael Furcal, who is one of the best leadoff hitters in the game, and the Dodgers seemed to have come together at the perfect time.
The Phillies would be wise to pitch around Manny, which I think they will do to an extent, but the problem is L.A. has so many other underrated hitters. I like Philly when Hamels starts, but other than that I think the Dodgers have the pitching advantage, especially in the bullpen. If the Phillies starters match what they did against Milwaukee they will be tough to beat, but just like the Colorado Rockies last year, the Dodgers seem to be the hottest team in the NL. And in the NL's recent history, that's the team that represents the league in the World Series. With Torre's presence I have to believe the Dodgers will stay the course. Dodgers in 6.