Eating Some, Um, "Eagle"

So I couldn't have been much more off in my prediction for last week's game. Instead of losing by 15, we won by 27. The defense looked great, definitely improving on not missing so many tackles - if we make it to a bowl game, it'll be because of our defense. And I owe Chris Crane an apology - he is not terrible enough to warrant the ripping I gave him last week. Yes, he still threw 3 picks and made some questionable decisions. And yes, I wouldn't be nearly as forgiving if we hadn't blown UCF out. But what I really think the kid needed was a confidence booster. It couldn't have been good for his mental morale to struggle so much in the Tech game, both during that game, and at the beginning of this one. Being benched for a few serieses in favor of Dominique Davis -who had the crowd calling for him all first half - couldn't have helped much either. But something woke him up during halftime, because he came out firing. You could almost sense a weight lifting off his shoulders when he scored the first TD off a play-action scramble, and it was all good from there. The two picks he threw in the 2nd half were more good plays by the DBs than mistakes by him, and he threw a brilliant TD pass to B-Rob to ice it. Davis was impressive for his first time out, he's going be a playmaker when his time comes. Also impressive was Montel Harris, rushing for 112 yards on 14 carries. He and Haden are going to be a great backfield in the next few years. Don't even get me started on Steve though - all I'll say is, I want to see Billy Bennett given a crack at being the FG kicker if another 24-yard chip shot conks off the uprights. For the game this week against URI, it's going to be a laugher. Davis will see his share of snaps, but Crane will continue his solid play from the second half of the UCF game. Haden (finally back), Jeff Smith, and Harris have a good day running, Crane is solid again with his arm and feet - we win easy 38-7, because Billy Bennett kicks a FG.

Oh and the Patriots - oh boy was that awful. Let me sum up it up like this - anytime you get burned on just about the same play 5 times for a TD, it's a sure sign you're going to lose.

Nothing Is Over Until We Decide It Is!...Sometimes...

To quote John Belushi - well, I already did, actually. His famous line from Animal House pretty well sums up my feelings towards Tom Brady's devastating knee injury.


I will admit, as soon as I saw Brady stay down clutching his knee, one thought and one thought only raced through my head - "Our season's over". Even though he got up and walked off with help - a fact, prior to the grim diagnosis, that several of my friends were quick to point out must mean he wasn't injured that badly - I knew better. My dad had torn his ACL playing soccer a long time ago, and not only drove himself home that night - he played the entire rest of the game. And since Brady's leg during the hit showed some hallmarks of "how to tear your ACL", I was steeling myself for the worst. After he walked off the field, I walked down the hall to my friends' room, fully intent on proclaiming our season over. But a funny thing happened in the 45 feet or so I had to walk - I realized that it wasn't. Sure, our preconceived notions of another possible perfect season and near-certain Super Bowl win were down the drain, but the fact remained that the Patriots are still a very good football team - even if Matt Cassell hadn't started a game since high school (although it's not his fault he's backed up two Heisman winners and one of the greatest QBs ever). We've still got Moss, we've still got Welker, we've still got Maroney, and we've still got one of the best front 7's in the NFL - we may not go 18-1, but I'd be willing to bet we easily win the division and make at least the AFC Championship. The Colts have not looked great so far, and neither have the Jaguars or Chargers, all of whom were supposed to contend with the Pats for. By comparison, the Steelers and the *surprising* Broncos have looked very good. Still, I think the Pats match up well against all 5 of those teams. Don't write them off yet.

End of an Era

Well, I lied. Manny is gone. Traded to the Dodgers. Along with $7 million, and Craig Hansen and Brandon Moss to the Pirates for Jason Bay. Ironically, the move comes 4 years to the day after the Nomar trade. And as with that move, it involves trading away a disgruntled superstar - a Boston icon - in order to remove the problem they pose to the clubhouse.

Something New

Alright, I don't have just one thing to talk about, so I'll go with a list. I like the number 9, so that'll work as the number of things on the list. This'll be a recurring thing, so I'll try to think up a snappy name at some point. Anyways...

1) Manny is not getting traded. From my point of view, the Sox just can't afford to trade away one of the greatest right-handed hitters of all time in the middle of the pennant race for a replacement and prospects. Sure, there's no way he's coming back after this year, because I really believe that he truly wants out this time. And we won't pay him the $20 million next year anyways. Does he act like a space cadet? Yes. Does he laze around sometimes? Yes. But he's Manny. He's still a great hitter, and I've always said he's an underrated left fielder. Trading him would be effectively conceding on paper to the Angels, especially now that they have Teixeira.

2) I count 3 Yankees trades so far. Two born out of injuries, and one completely random one. Wonder if Hank threatened to fire everyone if nothing was done.

My Team Hates Me Part 3

Mercifully, this is the last installment. Like I was worrying about, Jon Rauch was indeed traded by the Nationals yesterday, to the Diamondbacks. He'll step into the set-up role for Brandon Lyon, who has a tenuous grip on the closer's role there, and could get some sporadic save opportunities. But that's bad news for me, since K-Rod is my only other closer. So do I deal for a closer or grab Rauch's replacement? Hmm...anyways, on to the last third of my draft.

Round 15, Pick 14 (210) - Ryan Garko, 1B, Indians
Three taken before him: Dontrelle Willis, SP; Rich Harden, SP; Mark Buerhle, SP
Three taken after him: Andy Pettitte, SP; Brian Fuentes, RP; J.D. Drew, OF
This was supposed to be one of my two sleeper picks. It was supposed to be Garko's breakout year. I figured I'd platoon him every once in a while and be assured of a steady producer. In fact, this pick looked so good that one of my friends, a die-hard Indians fan, told me soon after the pick that "you'll be happy with Garko, he's gonna have a really good year. I like the pick." And then Garko pretty much literally went to sleep in the batter's box. Needless to say, he didn't last very long before I dropped him. To add insult to injury, unlike J.J. and Glaus, he's still having a terrible year.
Grade: D-

My Team Hates Me Part 2

More than a week late, but here it is. Except now I'm tied for 1st and Justin Upton's on the DL, bringing the total to 6 guys in Rehab Land. So much fun.

Round 8, Pick 1 (99) – Troy Glaus, 3B, Cardinals
Three taken before him: Bobby Jenks, RP; Fausto Carmona, SP; J.J. Hardy, SS
Three taken after him: Kelvim Escobar, SP; Andruw Jones, OF; Takashi Saito RP
This "no-stats" thing is quickly going to become a recurrent theme of my draft. I figured I needed a proven power bat in my lineup, since I had speed set (in my mind) with Soriano and Granderson, and Glaus fit the bill. It can't get much better than hitting behind Albert Pujols. Anyways, he started off horribly - he and J.J. must've been sharing tips on how to suck - and when I noticed that Joe Crede was off to a good start and hadn't been picked up, I dropped Glaus and picked up Crede. Glaus eventually warmed up and is now hitting decently, but Crede's been consistent all year.
Grade: D-

All-Star Game Thoughts

Yes, yes, I know, I know - I said I'd be doing politics and life in general (excluding the daily weather, despite the name of the blog), yet all I've done is write about sports. Well, I'm SORRY for deciding to start right around the All-Star break of my favorite sport, and the continuing saga of one of the most beloved football players ever. Whatever. It'll work out in the end. Quick word on Jesse Jackson (yet again) though - does anybody hear echoes of the phrase "double standard" being thrown around? I do, but only in my own mind. Honestly, why doesn't the media call him out more on it? Not that what he said was right, but Imus has hell to pay and gets fired over calling the Rutgers women's basketball players "nappy-headed ho's", and Jackson doesn't ignite a similar controversy over what HE has now said twice??? I wonder sometimes...

Anyways, to my main topic - the Neverending All-Star Game. More specifically, the Yankees, Fox, and the New York fans. First the New York fans. Okay, we get it. You hate the Sox. You hate the Phillies. But the All-Star Game is neither the time nor the place to remind us and their players of it. Totally classless move to boo Chase Utley. Totally classless move to boo every Sox player. It's the one time a year where the Sox and Yanks are on the same team - buck up and swallow your hate for just 9 (in this case 15) innings. It doesn't do anybody good to hear all the boos. The All-Star Game is supposed to be a showcase of the best the game has to offer. Don't remind us of the worst.