Get Some!!!!

We’ve all heard the jokes.  Corporal Carbohydrate.  Colonel Cheeseburger.  But come on CC, this has to be a joke.  The main staple of your diet was honestly Captain Crunch? For real?

Born Carsten Charles, and listed at 290 pounds, it has been widely speculated that Sababthia was pushing the 320 pound mark.  Sabathia showed up at Legends field in Florida for Yankees Spring trinaing last week, confirming that he has lost 25 lbs.  When asked how, he said he stopped eating Cap’n Crunch. “I used to eat that stuff byu the box”, Sabathia declared.

Click here to view the embedded video.

So let’s do a little math, kids.  An average sized box will contain about 15 servings per container.  At the recomended serving size of ¾ of a cup, the calories are 112 and 22 grams of carbohydrates.  If eats a box of this a day, that is 1680 calories and 330 grams of carbohydrates each day…in cereal alone. A 200 lb man needs roughly to have 2000 calories per day, unless he’s an athlete, in which case you could have more because you will burn more.  Sabathia could probably have at least 3,200 calories a day and be good to go.  Too bad at this rate he is over halfway done with his caloric intake at breakfast, and you know it doesn’t stop there.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Imagine the other food that he mashes down his pie hole.  I think I saw him at Coney Island last year, ready to battle Joey Chestnut in the Nathan’s Hot dog contest.  Yankee fans are hoping that this will not echo the story of Sampson, who lost his strength upon cutting his hair, and that CC’s pitching dominance doesn’t rest in his suddenly decreased mass.

Click here to view the embedded video.

"The future aint bright. Why am I wearing shades?"

The illusion continues in Orange County,  California.  Desperate to appease the barbarians at the gate, anxious to quell the revolt of Angel fans who have half a brain and won’t fall for the BS the front office keeps trying to shovel down their gullet, hoping to disguise the fact that this was not a 3^rd consecutive lost off season and what is to be a sure-fire disappointment and 3^rd place finish yet again, the Angels traded Mike Napoli and Juan Rivera for Vernon Wells.

With the constant contradiction and empty promises from Arte Moreno and Tony Reagins, the injury woes and underachieving of a usually very talented team, the one thing that is always safe to rely on is Mike Scioscia.  Even without considering his abilities as a supreme strategist, Scioscia’s fiery passion and honest approach are something to take comfort in, when so many other things seem uncertain for Angel fans lately.  But during the press conference, Scioscia said, “We’re definitely a better club today than we were at any time last year.”  Umm…what???

So enlighten me, Mike.  How exactly are the Angels better?

The Rotation is exactly the same, except for having Dan Haren for 6 months instead of 2 months.  So you get Haren for another 4 months instead of Joe Saunders, which is at best a slight improvement, because Haren will still have his share of bad starts.  Jered Weaver won’t lead the league with 233 strike outs again, either.  And besides, the pitching wasn’t the problem.

Here’s the main course in this doo-doo sandwich.  Consider the 2010 statistics:

• Runs- 19^th
• RBI-19^th
• OPS-23^rd
• Batting Average-23^rd
• Hits-22^nd
• On Base Percentage 27th

Angles lose:

• Hideki Matsui         21 home runs,  84 rbi’s,  55
• Juan Rivera             15 home runs, 52 rbi’s, 53 runs
• Mike Napoli            26 home runs, 68 rbi’s, 60 runs

Angels Get:

Vernon Wells          31 home runs, 88 rbi’s, 79 runs

"Just hit 30 homers, and you'll save my job"

Granted, these guys were mediocre at best, but when the best you have is mediocre, that’s saying a lot.  So now the Angels replace that production with Vernon Wells, who hit a modest .271 (albeit better than the aforementioned players).  But Wells is going to be entering a division with far better pitching, and who knows how his injury riddled body will hold up.

Getting back to the production, or lack thereof, for the mathematicians, that’s a net loss of 31 home runs, 116 rbi’s, and 89 runs from a team that finished nearly last in every major statistical offensive category.  That’s right; you took production away from a team that was already near the bottom. And for those that would say, “But now we will have a full season of Bourjos, Wood and Mathis”, slap the stupid off of yourself and consider what you just said, and heed the following:

The Angels have gaping holes at 3^rd base, catcher and Centerfield.  Peter Bourjos, Brandon Wood and Jeff Mathis combined to hit .180 in 612 at bats last year. Brandon Wood is a proven bust, posting a .169 career average in 469 career at bats from 2007-2010.  Once thought so highly touted, the Angels held on to Wood for his “potential” instead of trading him for a bona fide superstar, like Roy Halladay.  In doing so, they fell victim to the same cheapness when they let Troy Glaus go for the “potential” in Dallas McPhereson.  If you don’t know who he is, he is the guy that comes to your door selling magazines to keep kids like him off the street and away from drugs (see our article, Fallen Angels)

"I see you Tony and Arte. I'll be up in a minute to drink the Kool-Aid".

So the Angels will enter the season with their best player, Kendry Morales, still not 100%, banking on a return to form from disappointing years for some of the veterans, and hoping for good years from their young players who have never provided it before.  That’s a lot of hope. Presidents even get elected on it.  But hope doesn’t matter when you get in between the lines.

If you listened to the Angels-Vernon Wells press conference on the radio like I did, you may have set a record for shaking your head back and forth.  You may also have winced at the spin, rivaling that of a propaganda campaign during 1930’s Berlin.  In a cryptic quote that may foreshadow the Angels’ dark future, Angels’ owner Arte Moreno, when asked about not signing Carl Crawford, stated, “I guess for me…the 7 year…the 6, 7 year contracts are tough.”

That’s a scary thing if you’re an Angel fan, because the owner of the team basically just admitted that he won’t sign any premium player…ever. The elite players in the game want at least 6 years on a deal for security.  If Moreno is not going to offer that, then prepare for a bunch of 2^nd and 3^rd tier players to be passed off on the fan base as elite level.  When you add to Moreno’s quote his own ego-driven inability to work with the pain in the posterior that is Scott Boras, it certainly seems that the Angels will never land elite level talent.

For whatever a prick Boras has proven to be, he represents the best players in baseball, and if Arte’s chonies are still in a twist after the Mark Teixeira negotiations from 2008, the Angels will go back to the also-rans of the 1990’s in refusing to deal with the agent that represents the very best on the sport.  And guess who their poster boy, Kendry Morales’s agent is?  That’s right, Mr. Boras.  Morales is coming up on a contract year, so as long as he is represented by Boras, Angel fans can watch another prime time player walk out the door.  Unless Moreno actually opens his wallet for Pujols (who is not represented by Boras) in the 11-12 off season, the Angels will fail once again.  Since Moreno said in the Wells press conference that he doesn’t agree with the 6 and 7 year contracts and Pujols is rumored to be looking for a 10 year deal, or at least close to it, the Angels chances of landing him also seem to be about as good as Khloe Kardashian’s chances as a sex symbol.  (See our story, “Stanque Et Cannabis“)

With Angel fans excited about what might come to be, and he told the L.A. Times in December, “I’m not the Boston Red Sox.  I’m not the New York Yankees”.  Then maybe you shouldn’t suggest it in previous months.  Apparently Moreno was so disappointed in October, he told the L.A. Times that he was, “angry, disappointed, and would spend whatever it takes to return to the playoffs.”

"No, he's not Crawford. But his salary is."

So let’s get into the finances.  Wouldn’t it have been better to sign Crawford, and trade Napoli and Rivera for some middle relief?  They spent $23 million over the next 3 years on a 34 and 35 year old middle reliever.   Signing Crawford at $20 million and getting rid of Rivera and Napoli’s contracts for some cheaper, younger middle relievers that wouldn’t have cost anywhere near $23 million seems a lot more viable.  They actually would have saved money.

At 7 years and $142 million, Crawford comes with a price tag of 20.28 million a year.   And after Toronto absorbs a miniscule $5 million of the Wells contract, Wells comes in at $81 million over the next 4 years, roughly $20.25 million a year.   There have been conflicting reports saying Toronto absorbed $16 million of the salary, which would put Wells at a cost of roughly $17 million per season.  Regardless of which is true, when the contract expires, Wells will be the same age as if the Angels would have given the same deal to Crawford.  Crawford hit for a higher average, stole more bases and had more RBI’s than Wells did, and he’s 3 years younger, a gold glove last year, and has nowhere near the injury history Wells totes with him.

"Carl...how does it feel to be paid what you're worth?"

Additionally, Wells’ hitting in the middle of the order doesn’t benefit the rest of the lineup.  Crawford at the top will enhance everyone else’s RBI chances and increase the run scoring ability of the team.

The date is set for April 21^st in Anaheim.  That will be the first day Carl Crawford and the Red Sox come to town, and get to show the Angels fans’ what they are missing, and why their owner made a colossal mistake.  In the end, there has been much speculation that Moreno would have to raise ticket prices.  Mike DiGiovanna of the L.A. Times did a piece recentlyThe average ticket price is said to be around $20, and to justify signing Crawford, it would take prices to around $30. Guess what Arte?  I wonder how many people will pay $20 a ticket to watch a loser.  I think most people are with me, and they would pay $30 to watch a winner.

More sexy time?  This time with another baseball all star?  Forget the half naked paintings Alex Rodriguez had made of himself as a centaur…this is far more erotic.  Especially when you consider the girlfriend, and what could come of it.

According to AP, Cleveland Indians center fielder Grady Sizemore sent partially nude photos of himself, taken with his own cell phone in front of a mirror, to his girlfriend, former playboy Playmate Brittany Binger.  Apparently, someone stole the photos off the email and posted them on the internet, where they have spread faster than a scorching case of herpes.

The next contestant in our poll

The Cleveland plain dealer is reporting that MLB has contacted these sites, issuing cease and desist letters to remove the photos.

http://www.cleveland.com/tribe/index.ssf/2009/12/grady_sizemore_making_progress.html

We haven’t had this brand of controversy in a few weeks, since it went public that former Ms. California Carrie Prejean went “hand-solo” on her own sex tape, which she sent to her boyfriend.

For the thoroughly depraved, which surely includes us, one can only imagine where we can go from here.  Maybe adult film producer Miles Long will contact both Sizemore and Prejean about starring in a video with each other, which surely would be the highest grossing recorded coitus since Lardashian’s sister got plowed by that version of a poor man’s R. Kelly, minus the urination. The mind wanders with ideas of what the title of the next film could be.

I have come up with these two so far.  “More Size in her Pre-Jeans”, and “The Size of Prejean”.

"The Gays? Please. Ask me about the DP!"

Please.  That’s okay.  Really…hold your applause.  You’re too kind.

But we invite you to leave your ideas for the movie title below.

Come to the Cabaret!!!!!

Ladies and Gentlemen…Presenting: Liza Minnelli!!! Yes, she has gotten her enormous arse out of the wheel chair and made an appearance at the Washed Up Broadway Star Awards.

Just Kidding.  That’s former-sure-fire-hall-of-famer-before-he-did-steroids, Sammy Sosa, making an appearance at the Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year Celebration in Las Vegas on November 4th.  When questioned about his shockingly white skin, he casually explained it away, stating that it is just a moisturizing cream he uses to make his skin soft, and sometimes lightens it.

Lightens it?  I didn’t know moisturizing cream was supposed to remove pigment.

And if indeed, it only affected where he applied, which would be his face, I do have to confess, I’ve never so badly wanted to see a man with his shirt off.  He better just hope he never forgets this side effect, and accidentally uses it as a lubricant when he’s aroused, his lady isn’t around, and he feels the sudden urge to play “Commander One-Hander”.

Senora Juggs and the corpse of Rudolph Valentino

If he is going for a look, maybe it’s the cracked-out tranny.  Better yet, perhaps it’s something more in vogue…so maybe he’s going for the Vampire-chique.  After all, you can’t turn on the TV anymore without some malnourished waif-male with fake fangs biting into some hot girl’s neck, only to have every other hot girl you know in real life think that the bleached skinned waif male is the studliest guy since Rodney Villanueva, or dare I say, Lorenzo Lamas (Recall, if you will, the great television series Renegade…He, and his mullet, were the SH$T!!!). And while there’s no denying the plowability of his wife on his arm with the enormous cans, I just wonder if she has a thing for Robert Pattinson.

So, who-or what-else does he look like?  We’d love to hear your comments below.

The stage was set….like many northeast bar fights of the past between two unreasonable and obnoxious fans….Philadelphia vs. New York…..Phillies vs. Yankees.  The wet dream for FOX had materialized. Would the matchup live up to its billing?  I give you a big, giant, veiny “affirmative”.

Game One brought us shear dominance by Philadelphia’s Cliff Lee in front of a rabid, ruthless and offensive New York mob, coupled with the throbbing wood of Chase Utley, as he bitch-slapped the giant C.C. Sabathia for two long ones.  Utley would get more than used to trotting around the bases on national television…by series’ end, he would have a total a five, tying a mark set by Reggie Jackson in 1977…by the end of the night you could hear the shuffling of baseball analysts from coast to coast backtracking on their predictions.  The Yankees had been strolling through the park throughout the duration of the playoffs….only to have the Phillies run by and steal their purse, feel them up and leave them feeling dirty and ashamed.

If this diamond fist fight were to manifest to its expectations, the Yankee bats would need to awaken….and their bullpen would have to add the phrase “scoreless” to their vocabulary.  In baseball, it’s awfully difficult to play catch up if you’re bullpen can’t subdue the opponent.  By series end, the Phillies would be facing the same dilemma.  Would the Yankees conjure up the strength to climb out of the sweaty, unshaven hole they’d found themselves in?  Luckily for the “Evil Empire”,  the tatted up Burnett was stellar, the bats livened up and the overwhelming chant of “Who’s your daddy” directed at a fluffy-haired Pedro all resulted in a Game Two Bronx victory.  The Yanks had managed to salvage a split in front of their home fans….allowing FOX to take a sigh of relief.  Speaking of FOX, how many advertisements for “The Box” did we have to sit through….we get it.  Cameron Diaz hits the button and then gets killed…..the only pleasure we derived from the eighteen thousand times we had to watch it was the fantasy of it actually happening to her.  Chick made a career out of a giggle….stop giggling!

Click here to view the embedded video.

Even though the Phillies would win Game 5 and send everyone back to New York, I don’t believe the Philadelphia players ever fully recovered from the heart wrenching loss.
With a travel day between games, it gave baseball fans time to realize the historic pitching matchup that would soon take place.  Andy Pettitte vs. Pedro Martinez….two pitchers with outstanding, lengthy careers…..pushing forty years-old….trying to muster up the ability to shut down a lethal opposition…or in reality, just hold them down enough to give their teams a chance to win.  Who would prevail?

Pedro’s velocity was down, allowing Hideki Matsui to drive in four runs, including a towering shot into the second deck of the right field stands.  Hideki would later drive a ball off the right-center field wall for two more RBI’s, giving him a total of six for the game, tying a world series record.  Andy Pettitte, despite an inability to consistently throw strikes, battled his way through five and two-thirds, allowing three runs.  A stellar Yankee bullpen performance followed…holding the Phillies to just two hits and zero runs for the remainder of the game.  A ground ball to second baseman Robinson Cano with Mariano Rivera on the mound ended the game, and the series.   The Yankee players were all smiles as they pretty much made out with each other on the infield grass…..knowing the ultimate goal had come to fruition.  Meanwhile, the all too familiar somber interview of the losing manager was taking place in the visiting clubhouse.  Charlie Manuel, who was obviously up way past his bedtime, spoke softly regarding the loss, while his nose leaked all over Ken Rosenthal.  Hey, can someone get this guy a tissue ????? Manuel was obviously disorientated throughout the entire series…especially this game.  I think at one point, I heard Old Man Manuel barking from the dugout for the neighborhood kids to get off his lawn.  Hey Charlie!  Were you even aware that you were at a baseball game???  This is the first time I’ve ever actually felt bad for a manager…I just want to hug him and feed him Jell-O.

All in all, this was a world series that won’t be forgotten any time soon…..unless you’re Jimmy Rollins (who batted just .217), Ryan Howard (.174) or Cole Hammels, who didn’t even want to be there, according to his quote earlier in the series.  Hideki Matsui was given the MVP after batting .615….Derek Jeter batted .407…..Johnny Damon .364. The Yankees didn’t dominate the Phillies…they just had a bit more timely hitting throughout the entire series.  Almost every time the Phillies hit a home run, no one was on base….that’s Jimmy Rollins’ job…didn’t happen.  So, hey, what did we learn?  I would say absolutely nothing….this series brought us great, dramatic baseball….and some soft core porn, thanks to the Yankee players’ post-clinch celebration.  Now pull your pants up and go watch some football.

The two mightiest teams left square off in the World Series Wednesday night.  Here are 2 predictions from our writers Vance Long and Dr. Kevin Creagh.  Feel free to come see them at the Giggle Castle in Sioux City, Iowa on November 19th.

Dr. Kevin Creagh Says:

Two juggernauts are slamming into each other this week like Rosanne Barr and Tom Arnold consummating a marriage.  Yes, folks, the New York Yankees have returned to “the show” after a long six year wait and are matched up against the reigning world champion Philadelphia Phillies.  Neither team has faced an opponent so mighty as the other this October, and the fireworks should be no less than spectacular.  Obviously, starting pitching will be at the forefront for both teams in deciding where their fate lies.  There is no doubt that the network who once employed Steve Phillips will be force-feeding you with sentences consisting of C.C. Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, Cliff Lee and Cole Hammels.

However, my take is of the most obvious….the deciding factor of this northeast showdown is none other than Kate Hudson.  Yeah, that’s right, I said it.  Before you decide to shut me out and go look at porn, allow me to explain.  It is of my opinion that this girl is what I call “a go-er”.  Whatever she has done to Alex Rodriguez, IT WORKS!! Have you seen the sudden October Swagger in this guy???  My lord!  You can see him literally choosing which pitch to drive into the alley.  This girl is so unbelievable, Owen Wilson tried to end his life when she cut him off….let’s not forget that Mr. Wilson is a movie star and can “pink sock” any girl he wants.  Whatever you’re doing, Kate….it seems you might be making occasional trips down to Philly, because Ryan Howard has the exact same look in his eyes….I’m kidding, of course…..or am I????

Here’s the bottom line:  The Yankees have the bullpen arms to shut down Howard in the later innings.  If the Phillies are to win this series, another hero must emerge.  Please welcome to the stage, Carlos Ruiz.  Despite a great performance by Alex Rodriguez…

Phillies in 6

Vance Long Says:

Another network dream come true.  If it wasn’t clear by the announcing in the division and championship series telcasts, the networks got their wish with the Phillies and the Yankees in the World Series.  Why they wouldn’t want at least one team from the #2 media market is anybody’s guess.  And while its true that the Dodgers and Angels both beat themselves just as much as the Phils and Yanks beat them, it doesn’t change the fact that this is the most antctipated World Series in years.

Both have murderer’s row lineups, including the Yankees with 8 guys with at least 18 home runs.  Both have an Ace starting pitcher, both of which were on Cleveland last year ( By the way Cleveland, if you want to keep being the farm team for the rest of baseball, I can think of a certain team out west that would love to have Grady Sizemore).  But the Yankees pitching depth is much better, both in the rotation and the bullpen.

The Phillies can even that up with their fans though. While many a Yankee fan will no doubt be heard screaming, “Hey-oah!  Oah-ay!  Utleeee, yer a real peeee-zuuhhhh shiihhhhhh!!!  How-uhd, come ovuh heehhhh so I can slap my connoli upside your big head, you f%$#-ball!” (please insert any other stereotypes in the comment section below), that’s nothing compared to Phillie fan.  When the series shifts back to Philadelphia, the true nastiness may emerge, as the Yanks will take the field in front of perhaps the most ill tempered and heartless fans in sports history.  Fans that cheered when Michael Irvin lay in near paralysis on the field at Veterans’ Stadium.  These fans will no doubt be holding up signs that read something like “Kate, I got A Rod For Ya” or “A-Rod. I took a ride on the Hudson.  And it Stank!” or any other barb to mess with A-Rod’s mind.

The problem is the Yankees haven’t played this well and looked this dominant since the late 90′s.  Go back to our original article “Red October” and see my prediction for a big post season from A-Rod.  Predicting a sweep may sound crazy, but it wouldn’t surprise me.  But I’m erring on the side of caution.

Yankees in 6

Its not over yet, and they still have Alyssa Milano

We all love October.  College Football and the NFL are in full swing, the NHL and NBA both open their seasons, and baseball has their playoffs and World Series. The steady constant of winning and losing during the regular season is exponentially amplified, now ranging from total euphoria to devestating heartbreak. This, as sports fans, is what we live for.  October, for sure, is the best time of year.

But it can also be the worst.  Below is an excerpt from one of our contributors, who all too well captures the anguish and disdain as her team, the Los Angeles Dodgers, have now been brought to the brink.   Regardless of if you are a Dodger fan or not, you can’t deny the passion.

I am a chick who loves sports.  My husband and I argue about which sport to watch on which TV.  More than anything, I love my baseball and the Dodgers.  I went to 20 games this year including one in Texas (Ranger fans were disappointingly unfriendly).  I’ve been to every home postseason game.  The other 162 regular home games I watched on TV, listened to on the radio or on XM.  I listen to the MLB Baseball channel on XM when I’m stuck at a desk.  I knew the starting lineup on opening day, which I have been present for the last 14 years.

Every opening day, you think this could be the year.  The first year since 1988 that we win the World Series, be the World Champions.  This year I believed our offense could carry us far but I had doubts about our pitching.  Our offense was great; the kids I’ve been watching grow up grew up this year.  The pitching, despite the fact we never had a number 5 starter or number 4 starter for that matter, was better than expected.

Now, it’s déjà vu all over again.  We sweep the first playoff series only to go down 4-1 in the next.  I hope I’m wrong.  I hope they prove me wrong.  I hope the Dodgers win Wednesday so I can go see them win Friday and Saturday and go on to the World Series.  But if we don’t Sherrill and Broxton both broke my heart.

In game 1 against Philadelphia, Sherrill gave up a 3-run home run.  We may have won that game 6-5.  In game 4, Broxton gives up a 2-run walk off hit.  I can’t even describe how angry I was at that moment.  Broxton has been such a disappointment.  Some of you may say he’s a great closer but I have higher expectations.  I have watched Gagne and Saito in the last 5 years be almost perfect.  Broxton was always set up because he was young, developing.  Didn’t he have time to perfect a second pitch?!  If you are going to be a closer, you’ve got to be fierce and I don’t think he has it in him.

As much as I love Joe Torre, I think he managed the end of game 1 and game 4 incorrectly.  After we got Sherrill, Torre used Broxton a few times in the 8th inning if the heart of the lineup came up and Sherrill to close out the 9th inning.  It worked perfectly.  I don’t know why he didn’t do it again.  I guess it’s another one of those questions that gets answered in Heaven.

And yes, I am aware in both games the Dodgers offense left men on base but this is the playoffs.  Runs are not supposed to come easy.   Let’s hope that the same intensity, the play until the bitter end is still in them and we have a chance to come back.  I saw Red Sox do it down 3-0 against the Yankees so I know it’s not an impossibility just an improbability.  I have seen a lot of improbable this year.  Let’s hope that year is not done.

Phillies vs. Dodgers

Attempting to avenge last year’s loss in 5 games, the Dodgers once again meet up with the Phillies in the NLCS.  This time, however, things may be different.

After dominating and dumping the St. Louis Cardinals, widely considered by many experts to breeze through the National League playoffs, the Dodgers seem to have found their early season form, minus Manny on Steroids of course.  While we cannot imagine a pennant winning pitching staff comprised of Clayton Kershaw, Randy Wolf, and Vicente Padilla, the Dodgers already blasted through the best staff remaining in the National league in Carpenter, Wainwright, and Pinero. On paper, the staff of Cliff Lee (maybe the best trade deadline acquisition this year) J.A. Happ (although he may be moved o the bullpen for soft throwing Pedro Martinez), and last season’s post season stud Cole Hamels should be far superior.  Then again, that’s paper.  And while the Manny isn’t hitting .600 like he did last year, other players have stepped up.  Matt Kemp might be one of the 5 best young players in the league.  He can do it all: defense, speed, power, and hit for average.  The Phillies have a lot of punch in that lineup, and may have the best 1-6 in the league.  They should score minimum of 4 runs a game, but even that may not be enough to get past the Dodgers, especially with their home field advantage.

KEY:  The Bullpen

The Dodgers bullpen is far superior to the Phillies, which is the Phillies’ Achilles heel.  Any time you have two opponents where the same attribute is one’s strength and the other’s weakness, the one who has that strength should win.

Angels vs. Yankees

The improbable story of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim-I’m just going to call them Anaheim Angels from here on out-continues against the best team in the league.  However, what’s different this time for the Angels is the fact that they exorcised the demon that was the Boston Red Sox.  And it wasn’t just who they did, it was the way they did it:  On the road in a ballpark that has been their biggest kryptonite.  Against a team that has eliminated them every time the play in the post season for the last 23 years, including 12 of their last 13 games, and against the best bullpen and closer in baseball, all with nobody on, down to and down to their final strike.

The Angels, going back to the late 90’s, are the only team in baseball with a winning record against the Yankees.  This includes the Joe Torre years of glory, where they won 3 in a row.  Based on this, and the fact that they beat Boston, the Angels feel that there’s no one they can’t beat, including the Yankees.

For the Yankees, there’s no more question about whom the best in the East, or in baseball.  The Yankees racked up 103 wins, and after spending close to half a billion dollars on free agents-that’s right, BILLION-the dividends have immediately been paid. The Yankees downfall this decade has been their lack of starting pitching, and they addressed that by going out and getting C.C. Sabathia and A.J. Burnett.  Their ability to strike guys out, not just get ground ball or fly ball outs, is critical.  Keep the Angels off the bases, and they will be rewarded.  Mark Teixeira has earned every bit of his $188 million dollar contract in the first year, and after using the Angels last year as a bargaining chip, it should be competitive.  Most importantly, Alex Rodriguez is finally coming through in the post season, something other hated and steroid filled hall of famers never did.  But now he’s not o the juice, and after missing over a month still finished in the league leaders in home runs and RBI’s upon his return.  See our article “Red October”-we predicted him to have his first great post season, and so far he’s not disappointing. The Angels bullpen has been shaky at best, and against Mariano Rivera, the Yanks definitely have the advantage.  Then again, the “experts” said that about the Angels vs. the Red Sox too.

KEY: Angels on the base paths.  If the Angels are able to get on base, distract the pitcher and go first to third, as they do better than any team, they can pull it off.  If the Yankees are able to strike guys out and keep the Angels off the bases that will go along way in securing their first pennant in 6 years.

Predictions

Phillies/Dodgers

Our proud Irish Friend and baseball nut, Mr. Reeve O’Leedus, has offered his predictions against mine.  He should be out golfing, drinking, peeling potatoes or getting in a fight.  He may do it all in one night, but he knows baseball, and its fun to see who he picked.  If he’s right though, I have to stroke his shillelagh (sha-la-lee).

“Ahh, to be sure, Phillies pitching is not as dominant as it were last year.  Cole Hamels and Brad Lidge have fallen back to earth to the peat.
Mr. Ryan Howard went 3-for-28 with 11 strikeouts against the Dodgers this year, and Utley and Jimmy Rollins both were a wee bit under 200.  Cliff Lee will be pitching on short rest, and the lads, Ethier, Kemp have grown up.  The Dodgers bench, their left handed pitchers against their left handed line up, and Manny’s a hittin again.  And the Dodgers have home field advantage”. –Irish Reeve O’Leedus

My Prediction:  Dodgers in 7                   Irish Reeve O’Leedus: Dodgers in 6

Starting Pitching        Phillies                   Phillies
Bullpen                      Dodgers                  Dodgers
Defense                      Phillies                   Phillies
Power                         Phillies                   Phillies
Run Production          Phillies                   Dodgers
Speed                         Phillies                    Phillies
Bench                         Dodgers                  Dodgers
Manager                     Dodgers                  Dodgers
Intangibles                 Dodgers                   Dodgers

Angels vs. Yankees

Irish Reeve O’Leedus offers his picks for the ALCS. The bet on this series is I have to bath him in a bowl of Lucky Charms if I lose.  I think I’d actually do the NLCS wager twice: stroking his shillelagh (sha-la-lee).

“ Mr. Sabathia is the only dominant pitcher the Yanks be havin’, Andy Pet it (please)  is below mediocre, so the pitching advantage goes to the Angels.  The Angels also have the “Do it for Adenhart story”.  The history of the Angels beating the Yanks does a wee bit further in helping them, to be sure that’s right.  Mr. Scoscia should outcoach Mr. Girardi
But can Vlad hit?  He has to in order for them to win.  However, Mr. Teixeira and his Portuguese blood is unstoppable.  If he were Irish he’d be puttin’ Shamrock Shake all over ya.”-Irish Reeve O’Leedus

My Prediction: Yankees in 7          Irish Reeve O’Leedus: Angels in 7

Starting Pitching       Push                        Angels
Bullpen                     Yankees                  Yankees
Defense                     Angels                     Angels
Power                       Yankees                   Yankees
Run Production        Angels                      Angels
Speed                        Angels                     Angels
Bench                        Push                        Angels
Manager                    Angels                     Angels
Intangibles                Angels                     Angels