Bleacher Report - Articles by Keith Henning

Angels In the Outfield: Why the Angels Will Win It In Seven

Keith Henning — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 20:59:51 -0400

It comes down to one word: passion.

Now just to clarify, I am not saying the Yankees do not have passion. They are one heck of a baseball team.

They are loaded with talent in every aspect of there game and are an easy pick in any series.

But that being said, you can not rule out the Angels.

Everyone in the sports world knows about the tragedy of Nick Adenhart. The day we all became Angels fans.

That day has stayed with this team, with the city, and their fans. So has the passion.

The Angels want this. Badly. As do their fans, and I can not see anyone stopping them at this point.

Let's break it down.

The Angels and Yankees finished practically first and second when it comes to offense. We know these guys can hit and produce runs.

So this series naturally comes down to defense and pitching.

The Angels held the ninth-best ERA in the American League when the season finished. The Yankees, were fourth, but were first in saves.

If the Angels want to win this one, there going to need to score runs and score them early. The Yankee bullpen is not an easy one to beat.

Every team has felt the heat of Mariano Rivera, just recently named MLB Delivery Man of the Year, with 44-of-46 saves and a 1.76 ERA.

The Angels will need pitchers; Lackey, Weaver, and Fuentes need to step up their game and contain this Yankee offense.

To put it simply, the Angels are gonna need some extra help, that extra push to get them over this tough series.

I believe they will find it, with their Angel in the Outfield, the late Nick Adenhart.

Torn ACL Sidelines Stewart Bradley, Likely to Miss Season

Keith Henning — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 13:46:04 -0400

According to ESPN 950 in Philadelphia, Eagles linebacker Stewart Bradley is likely to miss the entire season due to a torn ACL.

The injury occurred during the Eagles Sunday night practice, though Bradley was able to walk off the field.

Bradley was entering his third NFL season.

Last year for the Eagles, Bradley put up 100 tackles, two sacks, and one interception.

Bradley is not the only Eagle with injury troubles.

Star running back Brian Westbrook is listed as probable, though he will miss most of the preseason due to an injured ankle.

Kevin Curtis, also listed as probable, has returned to practice after a battle with a thigh contusion.

Shawn Andrews is currently questionable due to a tightness in his surgically repaired back after a morning conditioning run on July 31.

In all, the Eagles are battling injuries even before preseason kicks off.

Eagles fans must now hope that everything and everyone will be ready for action come Week 1.

Shaq Headed To Cleveland, Wallace To Phoenix In 3-Player Trade

Keith Henning — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 00:58:26 -0400

The Cleveland Cavaliers and the Phoenix Suns have come to an agreement on an epic trade that sends Shaquille O'Neal to Cleveland to help LeBron James, according to sources.

The deal has been agreed to in principle and is expected to be finalized Thursday.

Cleveland will send Ben Wallace and Sasha Pavlovic to Phoenix for O'Neal.

The Cavaliers need a strong center to help their team to a championship. During the 2009 Playoffs, they were unhappy with thier performance in containing the Magic's Dwight Howard.

The trade opens up some salary room for the Suns, whom, as it seems by this trade, are looking to rebuild.

Shaq averaged about 18 points and eight rebounds per game last season and is sure to be a threat now that he is teaming up with LeBron.

Oh the Lakers-Cavaliers games should be a sight to watch now. Kobe's old partner now playing with his rival?

Does anyone else think this could be amazing to watch?

Philidelphia Phillies: Strengths and Weaknesses Going Into The Break

Keith Henning — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 21:58:27 -0400

Looking toward the MLB All-Star Break is also a time to reflect on a team. A time to ovserve where they have done well, need improvement and what needs to be done to improve their play during the second half of the season.

For the defending champion Philadelphia Phillies, a few things come to mind.

Let's start with some strengths.

Road Record

First off, the Phillies have been dominant on the road. They have the best road record in the league at 24-9. What more can you say?

Offense

Raul Ibanez. Ryan Howard. Chase Utley. The top names of the Phils' offense thus far and have lead the way for the Phillies in most of their games. The offense has been explosive all season.

The Phils have put up 100 total home runs (third in NL), 616 total hits, and are fifth in the Majors and first in the National League with 366 runs scored.

Ibanez, even though currently injured, has been a great addition to the Phillies squad, putting up 22 home runs and 52 RBI. Howard and Utley have combined for 36 homers.

The Phils offense has been fantastic by creating opportunities to lead, while giving them a chance to come from behind and win games if needed.

Defense

The Phillies fielding has been great. Only 27 errors so far, everyone on the team contributes on defense.

Whether it be the catchers, who have caught players stealing 19 times so far this season or the fielders, who have put up a .990 fielding percentage. the Phillies defense has been strong thus far.

Weaknesses

Pitching

The Phillies pitching has been the talk of every sports analyst for the past few years. It has struggled. Plain and Simple.

The average ERA for the Phils is 4.73. With closer Brad Lidge and starter Brett Myers gone from injuries, other players have had to step up. Phillies star Pitcher Cole Hamels as put up tons of strikeouts, but the only stat that matters is in the win column, and Hamels only has four out of his thirteen starts.

J.A. Happ has stepped up and played well going 4-0 with a 3.47 ERA. Regardless, the bullpen will need to do better if they want to defend their championship

Home Record

If the Phillies road record is strength, surely their home record is a weakness. The Phils are one of the worst teams at home, with a record of 13-22.

The only team worse? The Nationals.

Injuries

The Phils have been plagued with injuries this season. Howard has missed a few due to sickness, Lidge is on the 15-Day DL, though hopefully, he should return within the week. Ibanez is also on the 15-Day DL, and is aiming for an early July return.

A few other players, including Scott Eyre and Clay Condrey and Hamels have also been battling injuries.

How To Improve

So what do the Phillies need to do to improve? Simply?

Play better at home and stay out of injury trouble.

That being said, the Phils are first in the NL East with a 1.5 game lead over the Mets, and are currently the fifth best team in the league.

Look for the Phils to defend their title honorably this season if they can keep up the strengths and improve on their weaknesses.

What The Victory Over Spain Means For United States Soccer

Keith Henning — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 18:58:21 -0400

Miracle? Yes. Respect? Earned. Finished? Absolutely not.

This afternoon, while sweating, eating, and screaming at my television, I witnessed one of the greatest victories for US soccer and perhaps the greatest of all time.

Spain tried everything the entire game. They did not stop coming and each time they drove down the field they had more shots and chances.

Spain put up 29 shots and had 17 corner kicks in the match.

But the US prevailed.

The US win snapped Spain's 15-game winning streak and their 35-game unbeaten streak. Until today, Spain had not lost a match since November 2006.

The United States 2-0 shutout over Spain could not have come at a better time for the United States. They have been struggling lately and have been looking to gain momentum to use towards the Gold Cup and the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

What better way to earn momentum than by beating the number one ranked team in the world?

The United States has certainly gotten the attention of the international soccer world now, and has most definitely earned some respect.

Landon Donavon called the match "the greatest victory of his career", during an interview on ESPN after the match.

This victory was all over the news in the United States, which helps promote soccer to younger kids and help excite and bring more fans to such an exciting game.

But, what else does this mean for the United States and their soccer program?

Yes, they have made it to the Confederation Cup Finals for the first time in team history, yes they earned respect, but is it over?

The United States will have to face the winner of the Brazil/South Africa match-up which begins tomorrow.

The Confederation Cup Final is Sunday.

USA does not want to stop here. They want to finish their remarkable comeback run by winning the Confederation Cup for the first time.

Many will be on hand to watch the US in the finals. Can the United States keep this momentum going?

It is the ultimate question on everyone's mind.

While watching the FIFA World Cup in 2006, one thing I learned is that momentum means everything. The hardest thing for any team to do is to keep up their momentum and energy game after game.

Can the United States keep winning?

We'll all find out Sunday.

But for now, lets celebrate!

Congratulations United States Men's Soccer on a well deserved semi-final victory!

We'll be cheering you on Sunday. Best of luck.

Why The US Needs a 1980s Style Miracle To Beat Spain

Keith Henning — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 21:15:00 -0400

Ok, it's not the Olympics. It is not ice hockey and were not even playing the Soviets, but anyone else feel like this match up is reminiscent of 1980?

Spain is ranked number one in the world, undefeated in the Confederation Cup thus far, and has broken the record for consecutive games won with 15.

Their undefeated since June 26th 2008, and have not been beaten in their 35 past games, going 32-0-3.

They have not conceded a goal in the 2009 Confederation Cup, not to mention are the champions of Europe by winning the UEFA EURO Cup.

USA on the other hand is ranked 14th, has lost to Italy, Brazil and Costa Rica in recent matches. And they only squeaked thier way into the semi finals with a 3-0 win against Egypt, going 1-2-0 in Confederation Cup play.

They also conceded six goals in the Confederation Cup, while only putting up four.

And cmon, did anyone think they had a chance to even make it into the Semis?

Donovan and Dempsey will have their hands full with Spain's Torres and Villa, top scorers during the Confederation Cup.

Spain's defense itself is undefeated, not giving up any goals while the US has been struggling to score against top teams.

So, the stats can not lie, nor can the attitudes. Does anyone think USA even has the slightest chance to win?

In the football world, everyone is talking about this monumental Spain v. Brazil possible match, which do not get me wrong would be epic!

But! how epic would it be if USA beat Spain. They would need a miracle. A huge miracle.

If USA wants to earn some respect, especially in Europe, they need a win. A win that no one expects.

The whole world will be watching on Wednesday, will 2009 be another USA miracle or will Spain be to much for the USA to handle?

History shows us that all you need...is a chance.

Ibanez Placed On 15-Day DL With Strained Left Groin

Keith Henning — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 11:03:55 -0400

Star Phillies' hitter Raul Ibanez has been placed on the 15-day DL with a strained left groin. Outfielder John Mayberry Jr. has been called up from the minors to take his place.

Ibanez is the second-best hitter in the National League with 22 HR and 59 RBI.

Yet, in his past seven games he has struggled, hitting only 6-for-31, but he does have 3 HR and 5 RBI in that span.

Ibanez stated Sunday that he was sore, but insisted it was nothing to seriously worry about.

On Wednesday Charlie Manuel had this to say: "It looked like tonight when he hit that ball to shortstop he couldn't turn it on, he kind of gimped. I saw that. It looked like it might have been bothering him."

Ibanez is first in outfielder voting for the All-Star game.

Ibanez will miss at least 10-13 games.

This is a huge loss to the Phillies, as Ibanez was their top hitter. Phillies fans can only hope Mayberry will be able to step up and hit well in Ibanez' absence.

Sammy Sosa Tested Positive For Steroids In 2003

Keith Henning — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 17:02:16 -0400

According to the New York Times and several reports, Sammy Sosa tested positive for a performance enhancing drug in a 2003 drug test.

Sosa has 609 home runs in his career and is ranked sixth all-time. He has denied allegations numerous times in the past. Reports from the 2003 drug test were supposed to remain anonymous. There are also no penalties for drug use in 2003.

Sosa announced in early June he was planning on announcing his retirement, but would not comment on steroid-use allegations.

He also stated "I will calmly wait for my induction to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Don't I have the numbers to be inducted?"

Alex Rodriguez was also on the 2003 list, released by Sports Illustrated.

Sammy Sosa's lawyer declined to comment.

What will this do to Sosa's career and the presence of steroids in baseball? Only time will tell.

Sammy Sosa should make a statement soon.

CONCACAF Gold Cup 2009: Schedule and Preview

Keith Henning — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 16:10:54 -0400

The 2009 Gold Cup kicks off Friday July 3rd, less than three weeks away, so first off, here is the schedule:

First Round

Friday, July 3

Canada vs. Jamaica

Costa Rica vs. El Salvador

Saturday, July 4

Honduras vs. Haiti

Grenada vs. USA

Sunday, July 5

Panama vs. Guadeloupe

Nicaragua vs. Mexico

Tuesday, July 7

Jamaica vs. Costa Rica

El Salvador vs. Canada

Wednesday, July 8

Haiti vs. Grenada

USA vs. Honduras

Thursday, July 9

Guadeloupe vs. Nicaragua

Mexico vs. Panama

Friday, July 10

Costa Rica vs. Canada

El Salvador vs. Jamaica

Saturday, July 11

USA vs. Haiti

Honduras vs. Grenada

Sunday, July 12

Panama vs. Nicaragua

Mexico vs. Guadeloupe

Quarterfinals

Saturday, July 18 – Philadelphia

Group A winner vs. Group B runner-up

Group B winner vs. Group A/C third-place

Sunday, July 19 – Dallas

Group C runner-up vs. Group A runner-up

Group C winner vs. Group A/B third place

Semifinals

Thursday, July 23 – Chicago

Philadelphia quarterfinal winners

Dallas quarterfinal winners

Final

Sunday, July 26 - New York

With USA winning the past two Gold Cups, and being the highest ranked team going in, they are surely the favorite, but they will no doubt face opposition.

Mexico, Costa Rica and Honduras are surely teams to watch out for.

Here are the groups:

Group A will consist of Canada, Costa Rica, El Salvador, and Jamaica. Look for Costa Rica to be the favorite here, especially after beating USA in a World Cup Qualifying match a few weeks ago.

Group B will consist of Grenada, USA, Haiti and Honduras. USA and Honduras will be favorites. USA should win this group with ease, considering their play against Honduras earlier in the year.

Group C will consist of Guadeloupe, Mexico, Nicaragua and Panama. Mexico is surely the favorite going in and should easily win this group.

Quarterfinal Predictions: Costa Rica v. Honduras

USA V. El Salvador

Panama v. Canada

Mexico v. Haiti

Semi-final Predictions: Costa Rica v USA

Mexico v. Canada

Final Prediction: Mexico v. USA...Winner: USA

Look for USA to rebound with two rematches, first against Costa Rica and second a rematch of the 2007 Gold Cup versus Mexico, in which USA won 2-1.

Why ESPN Should Stay Away From Soccer

Keith Henning — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 20:59:22 -0400

Okay, let me start off by saying I love soccer, especially World Cup Soccer. I am a huge USA and Ireland fan and I love that ESPN has every United States World Cup Qualifying and Confederations Cup game live on T.V.

That being said...

ESPN, stick to Basketball!

The ESPN announcers for soccer are terrible.

Beyond Terrible. Horrific? Sad to listen to? Rather listen to Spanish announcers? Getting the picture?

Good.

While I do not want ESPN to stop showing World Cup games, they do need new announcers!

These announcers can not pronounce any ones names, they tell you no information such as extra time or penalties. They do not know soccer.

It is like they picked up two people off the street and said, hey, say everything you hear, its almost like watching a Phillies game (R.I.P Harry Kalas), the announcers there yesterday talked about the style of knitting on the uniforms for 10 minutes!

Announcers are supposed to have an intelligent understanding of the game, get the fans excited, and let them know what is going on.

Hey ESPN! You're 0 for 3. Your Ryan Howard on a bad night, stop striking out.

Get new announcers or my mute button will be getting used quite a bit.

I know people out there agree with me, I mean, Helen Keller could call a better game than these guys.

That being said, today's games: USA 1 Italy 3, Brazil 4 Egypt 3.

I most likely told you more information there than ESPN ever would, so do not bother going to their website.

Phillies-Red Sox: World Series Preview?

Keith Henning — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 13:02:02 -0400

Tonight kicks off a three-game series between the 2008 World Champion and National League East leading Philadelphia Phillies and the 2007 World Champion and American League East leading Boston Red Sox...I know, it is a lot to take in.

These two teams have been amidst the discussion of teams that may play each other in the World Series. As it looks right now, this is very possible.

The Phillies are 35-23 and are coming off back to back wins in extra innings against the rival NY Mets.

The Red Sox are 36-24 and are headed to Philadelphia having come from behind to beat the Yankees the night before. Can you say 8-0? The Red Sox can, as they are 8-0 this season against the rival Yankees, a Red Sox record.

So what a better time to see these two powerhouse teams face off? I can not think of a better time, except in October.

The favorites going in have got to be the Sox; they are 12-3 when facing off against the Phils since 2004, and we all know how Philadelphia has been struggling at home with a 12-12 record in their own ballpark.

The Phils will have to deal with Jon Lester tonight, while getting Matsusaka and Beckett on Saturday and Sunday.

Lester is 4-0 against the National League and has pitched against the Phils only once, giving up zero runs and only 6 hits.

The Phils will be starting Blanton tonight, then Bastardo for Saturday while Happ will be geared up for Sunday. Blanton is 2-0 and has an ERA of 1.80 after his last three starts.

The Red Sox will be looking, or trying that is, to contain the Phils explosive offense that is Ibanez and Utley, who have been leading the Phils hitting as of late.

The Phils will need to keep a keen eye on Jason Bay and Kevin Youkillis, who have been leading the Sox.

This series is shaping up to be a close one, and a fan favorite, as all three games have been sold out for months.

My prediction, the Phils finally end their Red Sox slump and take the series, 2-1.

Phillies-Mets: Phils Win Second Straight Off Extra-Inning Home Run

Keith Henning — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 22:30:55 -0400

Phillies and Mets. A series that has been anything but boring did not disappoint Thursday Night.

With the Mets down in the N.L. East and the Phillies getting hot, all the fans knew just how important a win would be.

The game kicked off early when Beltran grounded out to shortstop, sending Castillo home to give the Mets a 1-0 lead in the first.

The Phillies answered in the third when Rollins sacrifice fly sent Feliz home to tie the game.

The Mets answered right back when Beltran sent Castillo home yet again to give the Mets a 2-1 lead, they repeated this in the fifth.

With the Phils down headed into the sixth, Utley doubled off the pitch from Parnell, which sent Rollins home to bring the Phils within one.

The Phils tied the game in the seventh off ground out from Canadian born Matt Stairs.

After a quick ninth inning, we headed to the 10th all tied at three a piece.

With one out, Victorino singled, after an Utley walk and a strikeout from Howard, Ibanez stepped to the plate with two outs and two men on.

It only took two pitches...and that baby was gone. Three run shot for Ibanez and his 21st homer of the year gave the Phils a 6-3 lead and eventually the win.

The Phils improve to 35-23, with a 23-9 road record. They are now four games ahead of the Mets in the East.

The Phillies take on the Red Sox on Friday, while the Mets get the Yankees.

MLB Playoff Predictions: Can Philadelphia Repeat?

Keith Henning — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 13:47:24 -0400

Were coming up on hitting the halfway mark of the MLB 2009 Season. So, in light of that, I thought I would predict what may happen, and put it out there. Lets see what you guys and gals think. Can Philly repeat, will the Dodgers and Red Sox stay on top? Feel free to comment and disagree or agree!

Begin Slideshow

NHL: The Top Hockey Teams No Longer With Us

Keith Henning — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 16:31:19 -0400

Throughout hockey's long history, there have many teams woh only lasted a few seasons. Whether it be the Hartford Whalers, or a lesser known team, they have all impacted the NHL. This slide show gives you a quick look back at history at some of these teams, thier championships, great players, and where they went. Hope you enjoy it and feel free to comment with any teams I left out!

Begin Slideshow

June 6th FIFA World Cup Qualifying Recap: Scores and Standings

Keith Henning — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 11:38:00 -0400

NEW STANDINGS:

South America CONCACAF

Brazil/Paraguay-24 Points Costa Rica-12 Points

Chile-23 Points USA- 10 Points

Argentina- 22 Points El Salvador-5 Points

Oceania

New Zealand- 15 Points Asia

New Caledonia- 8 Points Group 1- Australia/Japan

Europe-1rst Place Teams Group 2-Korea Republic

Group 1-Denmark Africa

Group 2-Greece/Switzerland Group A-Gabon

Group 3-Slovakia Group B-Tunisia

Group 4-Germany Group C-Zambia

Group 5-Spain Group D-Ghana

Group 6-England Group E-Burkina Faso

Group 7-Serbia

Group 8-Italy

Group 9-Netherlands

Uruguay (17) 0-4 Brazil (5)

Bolivia (58) 0-1 Venezuela (56)

Slovakia (42) 7-0 San Marino (202)

Argentina (7) 1-0 Colombia (45)

Paraguay (13) 0-2 Chile (37)

Finland (49) 2-1 Liechtenstein (156)

Belarus (81) 5-1 Andorra (196)

Qatar (94) 0-0 Australia (29)

Sweden (31) 0-1 Denmark (24)

Azerbaijan (140) 0-1 Wales (74)

Croatia (8) 2-2 Ukraine (19)

Serbia (20) 1-0 Austria (70)

Albania (92) 1-2 Portugal (11)

Kazakhstan (132) 0-4 (6) England

Lithuania (60) 0-1 Romania (28)

Zambia (90) 1-0 Rwanda (96)

Malawi (111) 0-1 Burkina Faso (50)

Gabon (48) 3-0 Togo (68).

Korea DPR (106) 0-0 Iran (52)

FYR Macedonia (64) 0-0 Norway (47)

Tunisia (51) 2-0 Mozambique (87)

Trinidad and Tobago (72) 2-3 Costa Rica (41).

Iceland (92) 1-2 Netherlands (2)

El Salvador (100) 2-1 Mexico (26)

Uzbekistan (78) 0-1 Japan (31)

USA (14) 2-1 Honduras (35)

United Arab Emirates (122) 0-2 Korea Republic (46)

Cyprus (79) 2-2 Montenegro (110)

Bulgaria (23) 1-1 Republic of Ireland (34)

Why I Am Getting Annoyed with the NBA Finals and ESPN

Keith Henning — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 17:39:15 -0400

Hey Everyone! The NBA Finals start tonight! HEY HEY HEY NBA FINALS! Tonight at nine! NBA FINALS! Coverage began yesterday and will run 24 hours on ESPN until the next NBA Finals begins, where we will make a huge deal out of everything and everyone apart of it.

Kobe is playing, did anyone know that? Bryant vs. Jordan vs. James vs. Kobe and it goes on forever! James' dunk vs Kobe's three-pointers vs Jordan's assists vs Lebron's shoes and Kobe's socks. Jordan's shampoo vs James' car vs Kobe's hair stylist!

Tune in to ESPN for 24 hour coverage, where we have a camera that follows Bryant around for the next two weeks.

How many times do we need to see the comparisons, analysis, and interviews ESPN?

Is anyone else getting somewhat annoyed about the NBA Finals and ESPN?

First things first, I love sports, every sport. These NBA Playoffs have been very exciting to watch but ESPN has made it into a huge deal, in which it seems there is no other sport on TV.

I watched Sportscenter today, but was it Sportscenter? No. It was NBA Finals preview for about six hours with baseball highlights thrown in between.

Now I understand people love basketball, besides swimming it is the only sport the US is good at, but calm down ESPN!

While channel surfing, I noticed ESPN has NFL Live, Baseball Tonight, Nascar Now, College Gameday, and has the NBA Finals on ABC. What happened to hockey?

Hey people, Game Four of the Stanley Cup Finals is on tonight, yeah you know the championship series between the two best teams in hockey? Oh, well it used to be a big deal before the lockout.

Well, maybe when your older kids you will know what hockey is, unless of course ESPN takes over Versus, than we're all screwed.

Where will amazing happen this year? How about if ESPN did not use the word Kobe or Finals for longer than a minute, that would be amazing.

Did I mention the NBA Finals start tonight?

Kobe is playing.

NL East Wrap-Up: Phils On Top

Keith Henning — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 16:49:46 -0400

About 50 games into this 2009 season, the N.L. East looks to be headed in the same direction it took last year, with the Phils on top.

Here are the standings right now:

Team Record GB

Phillies 32-20 --

NY Mets 28-24 4.0

Atlanta 26-26 6.0

Florida 26-29 7.5

Washington 14-38 18.5

Washington Nationals

The Nationals find themselves struggling yet again. While they do have strong talent in Adam Dunn, who has 16 homers and 42 RBI, and Nick Johnson, who is batting .328, they cannot seem to get everything together.

Their pitching is keeping them down. John Lannan is leading the Nats with a ho-hum 4.21 ERA. Martis is 5-1 with 26 strikeouts, but it is simply not enough to push the Nationals to a winning season.

Florida Marlins

The Marlins started off the season playing great. They were 11-1 after 12 games and were first in the N.L. East, but then they lost seven straight and were swept by the entire state of Pennsylvania.

While you cannot count out the Marlins just yet, there is no doubt that thier inconsistent play is hurting them. They have the talent, now it is just a matter of making it all happen.

Atlanta Braves

The Braves are a team you can never count out, because when they got hot, they can sneak up and take the N.L. East without anyone noticing.

That being said, the Braves are in trouble.

Chipper Jones only has five homers, Yunel Escobar has just 27 RBI, and the Braves have been hanging around 500 for quite some time.

If they want to win this division, they need to start playing consistent baseball. Like the Marlins, they have the talent, now it is just a matter of using it.

New York Mets

The Mets are struggling, their is no denying that. But if they can just get their offense going, they will be a contender in the N.L. East, as they have been the past few years.

Beltran has only seven home runs this year, and while he does have 32 RBI, it will not be enough to win games. Other Mets hitters are going to have to step up their game if New York is going to compete with Ibanez and the Phils.

Pitching has not been a major problem for the Mets, with Santana putting up 89 strikeouts and an ERA of 2.00.

Philadelphia Phillies

The Phillies are hot. They have won six in a row, including completing a sweep of the Padres last night, and have one of the best hitters in baseball with Raul Ibanez, who has posted 19 homers and 52 RBI.

They also have the best road record in baseball and are currently the second best team in the National League.

With pitcher Brett Myers gone, the Phils have been worried about their bullpen, but closer Brad Lidge has stepped it up, saving his past four games.

With his win last night, J.A. Happ is now 4-0, and the Phils are playing better than ever.

If they can continue this, there is no team in the N.L. East that can stop them, unless of course they are playing in Philadelphia. The Phils are 12-14 at home this season and have struggled against the Mets and Braves.

We will see how good the Phillies are this week with a three-game series against the Dodgers in L.A.

June 6th World Cup Qualifying Preview: Rankings and Predictions

Keith Henning — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 13:30:59 -0400

With another round of World Cup Qualifying ahead, here is a preview of the matches on June 6th, including where they stand in their region and my picks. The ranking is in parentheses.

Uruguay (17) v. Brazil (5)

South American Region: Brazil 2nd Place, Uruguay 5th Place.

My Pick: Brazil

Bolivia (58) v. Venezuela (56)

South American Region: Bolivia 9th Place, Venezuela 8th Place.

My Pick: Venezuela

Slovakia (42) v. San Marino (202)

Europe Group Three: Slovakia 2nd Place, San Marino 6th Place.

My Pick: Slovakia

Argentina (7) v. Colombia (45)

South America Region: Argentina 4th Place, Colombia 6th Place.

My Pick: Argentina

Paraguay (13) v. Chile (37)

South America Region: Paraguay 1rst Place, Chile 3rd Place.

My Pick: Paraguay

Finland (49) v. Liechtenstein (156)

Europe Group Four: Finland 3rd Place, Liechtenstein 6th Place.

My Pick: Finland

Belarus (81) v. Andorra (196)

Europe Group Six: Belarus 4th Place, Andorra 6th Place.

My Pick: Belarus

Qatar (94) v. Australia (29)

Asia Group One: Qatar 5th Place, Australia 1rst Place.

My Pick: Australia

Sweden (31) v. Denmark (24)

Europe Group One: Sweden 4th Place, Denmark 1rst Place.

My Pick: Sweden

Azerbaijan (140) v. Wales (74)

Europe Group Four: Azerbaijan 5th Place, Wales 4th Place.

My Pick: Wales

Croatia (8) v. Ukraine (19)

Europe Group Six: Croatia 2nd Place, Ukraine 3rd Place.

My Pick: Ukraine

Serbia (20) v. Austria (70)

Europe Group Seven: Serbia 1rst Place, Austria 4th Place.

My Pick: Austria

Albania (92)v. Portugal (11)

Europe Group One: Albania 5th Place, Portugal 3rd Place.

My Pick: Portugal

Kazakhstan (132) v. England (6)

Europe Group Six: Kazakhstan 5th Place, England 1rst Place.

My Pick: England

Lithuania (60) v. Romania (28)

Europe Group Seven: Lithuania 3rd Place, Romania 5th Place.

My Pick: Romania

Zambia (90) v. Rwanda (96)

Africa Group C: Four-Way Tie.

My Pick: Rwanda

Malawi (111) v. Burkina Faso (50)

Africa Group E: Malawi 4th Place, Burkina Faso 2nd Place.

My Pick: Burkina Faso

Gaban (48) v. Togo (68)

Africa Group A: Gabon 1st Place, Togo 2nd Place.

My Pick: Gabon

Korea DPR (106) v. Iran (52)

Asia Group Two: Korea DPR 2nd Place, Iran 4th Place.

My Pick: Iran

FYR Macedonia (64) v. Norway (47)

Europe Goup Nine: FYR Macedonia 4th Place, Norway 5th Place.

My Pick: Norway

Tunisia (51) v. Mozambique (87)

Africa Group B: Tunisia 1rst Place, Mozambique 2nd Place.

My Pick: Tunisia

Trinidad and Tobago (72) v. Costa Rica (41)

CONCACAF: Trinidad and Tobago 6th Place, Costa Rica 1st Place.

My Pick: Costa Rica

Iceland (92) v. Netherlands (2)

Europe Group Nine: Iceland 3rd Place, Netherlands 1st Place.

My Pick: Netherlands

El Salvador (100) v. Mexico (26)

CONCACAF: El Salvador 5th Place, Mexico 4th Place.

My Pick: Mexico

Uzbekistan (78) v. Japan (31)

Asia Group One: Uzbekistan 4th Place, Japan 2nd Place.

My Pick: Japan

USA (14) v. Honduras (35)

CONCACAF: USA 2nd Place, Honduras 3rd Place.

My Pick: USA

United Arab Emirates (122) v. Korea Republic (46)

Asia Group Two: U.A.E 5th Place, Korea Republic 1rst Place.

My Pick: Korea Republic

Cyprus (79) v. Montenegro (110)

Europe Group Eight: Cyprus 4th Place, Montenegro 5th Place.

My Pick: Cyprus

Bulgaria (23) v. Republic of Ireland (34)

Europe Group Eight: Bulgaria 3rd Place, Republic of Ireland 2nd Place.

My Pick: Republic of Ireland

Phillies Sweep Padres, Look Ahead to Dodgers

Keith Henning — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 01:56:59 -0400

The world champion Phillies completed their sweep of the Padres Tuesday night with a 5-1 win.

Happ improved to 4-0, pitching seven innings, striking out four, while not giving up any runs and only four hits.

The Phils got off to an early start in this match, off a two-run shot by Ryan Howard.

They tacked on one more in the fourth and two more in the seventh, thanks to the Phillies star hitter Ibanez, and Jayson Werth.

The Phillies bullpen, which originally had us fans worried, has proved us wrong, and has not disappointed us yet. With Happ grabbing his fourth win, and putting up a 2.47 ERA and Lidge looking hot, the Phils are on a roll.

The Phillies will be looking for their sixth straight win when they take on the MLB Leading Dodgers (37-18) on Thursday.

Hamles will start for the Phils, Kershaw for the Dodgers.

The Phils are now three games ahead of the Mets in the N.L. East.

USA-Costa Rica: World Cup Qualifying

Keith Henning — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 00:20:47 -0400

After months off, FIFA World Cup Qualifying is back.

What better way to kick it off than with a match between the top teams in the CONCACAF Region, USA and Costa Rica.

If you think Qualifying is over, their are over 25 more matches including a match between USA and Honduras on June 6, but that's a different article.

This match has become of extreme importance to USA and their fans, for the Confederation Cup is just eleven days away. USA will want to build momentum going into the tourney, especially with looming matches against Italy and Brazil.

USA fans were not just wanting a win, they wanted confidence. USA has been known to ease their way past early on, yet tumble when facing tougher teams, such as Spain or France.

Any confidence now USA?

Two minutes into the match, Saborio went in between the U.S. defense to give Costa Rica the early 1-0 lead.

Just 11 minutes later, in the 13th minute, Costa Rica added to their lead with a goal from Borges.

The first shot for the U.S. did not come until the 16th minute from Landon Donovan, the shot went high.

Herrera added insult to injury by giving Costa Rica a 3-0 lead in the 70th minute.

The U.S. did tack on a goal in extra time, thanks to a penalty kick by Landon Donovan. That goal was the first by the U.S. in Costa Rica since 2000.

Five yellow cards were given out, two to the United States and three to Costa Rica, including one in the 54th minute to Micheal Bradley, who has four goals for the United States.

No red cards were given out.

This is the United States sixth straight loss to Costa Rica.

By winning, Costa Rica becomes the new leader in CONCACAF region, pushing the U.S. to second.

So, what does this mean for the USA?

Simply, they need to shape up. USA's defense played very weak, while their offense could not seem to generate an great chances.

The United States plays Honduras on June 6 at home, a Honduras win would make the U.S. tied for second in the CONCACAF.

For the sake of the USA, and us fans, lets hope we do not disappoint at home.

If the U.S. is having a tough time now, how are they gonna compete against Italy and Brazil 11 days from now?

Only time will tell.

Phillies-Padres: Lidge Gets Fourth Straight, Philadelphia Wins, 5-3

Keith Henning — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 01:00:55 -0400

Brad Lidge is back.

The Phils started off their West Coast series with the Padres on Monday night with a 5-3 win, improving the Phils to 29-20.

After getting down 1-0 in the second, Victorino and the Phils generated some offense and took back the lead, 2-1.

The Phils added to their lead in the fifth with solo home runs from Utley and Howard.

The Padres answered in the sixth with a pair of solo home runs from Gonzales and Hairston, to make it a 4-3 ballgame.

The Phils grabbed an insurance run in the eighth when Victorino hit an RBI double, sending Dobbs home.

The Padres got their lead-off man on base in the ninth, but Lidge took care of the next two batters with extra defensive help from Rollins, who stopped Gonzalez from stealing second.

This is Lidge's 13th save, making him the third best closer in the league.

The Phillies are now a game and a half ahead of the Mets in the N.L. East.

The next game of the series is Tuesday at 10:05 pm EST.

FIFA Confederations Cup Preview: The Tough Road Ahead for USA

Keith Henning — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 19:44:08 -0400

The FIFA Confederations Cup will begin June 14th in Johannesburg with the matchup of South Africa v. Iraq.

The 2005 Federation Cup saw Brazil defeat Argentina, while Germany took third and Mexico fourth. The USA has not made the semifinals since 1999, where they finished third. The USA has never made it to a Confederation Cup Final.

This year, Team USA has a tough road ahead of them, with seven other top teams in thier way.

Group A will consist of South Africa, ranked 72nd; Iraq, ranked 77th; New Zealand, ranked 82nd; and Spain, ranked first.

Group B will consist of USA, ranked 14th; Italy, ranked fourth; Brazil, ranked fifth; and Egypt, ranked 40th.

Surely USA is in the tougher of the two groups.

While Spain is a favorite to win, many will be watching USA to make a statement and to build more momentum, while looking ahead to World Cup 2010 in South Africa.

USA's first match is June 15th against defending World Cup Champion Italy, with the whole world watching, Landon Donovan and the US need to come out shooting...and winning.

Italy's extremely tough defensive style of play is going to be a challenge, one USA hopes to overcome.

USA's second match is June 16th, against the equally tough , and defending Confederation Cup Champion Brazil. If USA wants to prove to the world they can hold their own during the World Cup, this is the chance to do it...by beating both defending champions, with back to back games.

USA's final game is June 21st against Egypt.

If USA does make it to Stage Two of the tourney, they would play June 24th or 25th.

My sem-final prediction: Spain, Italy, USA, and South Africa.

USA's talent and athletic ability should take them to the semi's, while Spain's excellent mid-field players and goal-scorers should give them an easy ride to the second stage.

Watch out for home team, South Africa. A home crowd can always push any team to greatness.

Should be an exciting tournament. Let's go USA.

Boston College-Texas: A 25-Inning Epic

Keith Henning — Sun, 31 May 2009 17:17:27 -0400

At the start of the game, if you would have told Boston College or Texas that seven hours later the game still would not be over, they probably would have laughed at you.

On Saturday night, in a NCAA Austin Regional, history was made.

During the second inning, the Longhorns jumped out to a early 2-0 lead with a couple of home runs.

In the bottom of the fourth, Boston College cut the lead to just one when Matt Hamlet was walked and eventually made his way round the bases due to an RBI single by Mike Belfiore.

The Eagles tied the game in the sixth when Robbie Anson doubled and eventually made his way home thanks to a sac fly by Tony Sanchez.

Little did these two teams know the next 18 innings would be scoreless.

There was plenty of opportunities to score, Texas and Boston College combined to leave 36 runners on base, and were 3-of-29 with runners in scoring position.

In the 25th inning, Texas ended the scoreless streak. After Conner Rowe got a leadoff walk, he quickly moved his way around the bases, thanks to a sacrifice bunt and a wild pitch. Travis Trucker finally brought him home with an RBI single.

The game lasted seven hours and three minutes, making it the longest game in NCAA history.

The game also broke several more records when Texas and Boston College combined had 42 strikeouts, 222 total chances, 69 assists, 192 plate appearances, and 171 at-bats.

The 25-inning game topped the previous longest game of 23 innings played between Louisiana-Lafayette and McNeese State on March 27, 1971. Louisiana won the game, 6-5.

Texas' 91 at-bats, 103 plate appearances, 115 total chances, and 75 putouts also set new NCAA records.

Clark's 33 putouts against the Eagles set a new NCAA record for most single-game putouts. Michael Torres set the NCAA single-game record for at-bats with 12.

In the end, the Texas Longhorns would win 3-2, giving them the top seed. They will play the winner of the elimination game between Boston College and Army.

Pete Rose: The Gambler Who Should Be In The Hall Of Fame

Keith Henning — Sat, 30 May 2009 20:13:14 -0400

From 1963 to 1986, Pete Rose was a dominant player in baseball. He was a 17-time all star. A three-time World Series Winner and a two-time Gold Glove Winner. Not to mention all of these awards:

1975 Sports Illustrated Sportsman Of The Year

1963 N.L. Rookie Of The Year

1973 N.L. MVP

1981 Silver Slugger Award Winner

1975 World Series MVP

4,256 Career Hits

160 Home runs

1978: 44-Game Hitting Streak

So why is this baseball legend not in the Hall of Fame?

After Rose stopped playing, he became manager for the Cincinnati Reds. Spending five years with the club, he became the fifth-best manager in Reds history, sporting 426 wins.

In 1989, reports started to funnel in that Rose was betting on baseball, and more importantly, on the Reds. According to several reports, in 1987 Rose bet on 52 Reds games, wagering anywhere between $2,000 and $10,000 dollars.

In 1989, Rose accepted a permanent place on baseball's ineligible list and left baseball all together.

In 1991, the MLB Hall of Fame voted to exclude all players on the ineligible list.

In 1997, Rose applied for reinstatement, but his application never even made it into discussion until 2003. He has yet to be reinstated.

In 2004, Rose publicly admitted to betting on baseball.

"I bet on my team every night. I didn't bet on my team four nights a week. I bet on my team to win every night because I loved my team, I believed in my team," Rose said. "I did everything in my power every night to win that game"

Now in 2009, what I ask is why are why players who have cheated the fans and the league by using steroids being considered for baseball's Hall of Fame?

How did betting on baseball as a manager take away from all his accomplishments as a player?

Reinstate Rose. He deserves to be in the Hall of Fame just as much as the anyone.

So he bet on baseball. Yes it was wrong, yes he should not have done it, but this should not take away from his career as a player.

Rose's Major League records:

Most career hits - 4,256

Most career outs - 10,328

Most career games played - 3,562

Most career at bats - 14,053

Most career singles - 3,215

Most career runs by a switch hitter- 2,165

Most career doubles by a switch hitter - 746

Most career walks by a switch hitter - 1,566

Most career total bases by a switch hitter - 5,752

Most seasons of 200 or more hits - 10

Most consecutive seasons of 100 or more hits - 23

Most consecutive seasons with 600 or more at bats - 13 (1968-1980)

Most seasons with 600 at bats - 17

Most seasons with 150 or more games played - 17

Most seasons with 100 or more games played - 23

Record for playing in the most winning games - 1,972

Only player in major league history to play more than 500 games at five different positions 1B (939), LF (671), 3B (634), 2B (628), RF (595)

You can not argue against the awards and the records. Reinstate Rose. He deserves it.

Why I Would Hate Crosby, Even If He Played For My Team

Keith Henning — Sat, 30 May 2009 01:11:18 -0400

Cry-Baby. Diver. Goal-Scorer. The most hated player in the League.

Some say "if Crosby was on your team, you would love him."

No way in heck would I ever root for Crosby, no matter how many goals he would score for my team.

While he has been dominant in the 2009 Playoffs, and there is no denying that he is a great player, he does not get my respect on the count of his attitude and style of play.

You cannot deny that Cry Baby Crosby has earned that name for a reason. He dives. He cries.

I have been playing hockey for about eight years. Every fellow hockey player I know dislikes Crosby, mostly due to the fact his style of play is disgusting, and not in the good way.

Hockey is a sport about respect and sportsmanship. Just look at the end of any playoff series, the two teams shake hands and congratulate one another. A feat I see no where else in sports.

Crosby is hated, not because he is talented, but because he lacks respect for the game.

On the other hand, Alex the Great does not. Ovi is one of the most all around players I have ever seen play the game and is the most fun to watch.

He hits, scores goals, and is a huge play-maker. He makes everyone around him better.

Yes, Sid the Kid scores, but he is not an enforcer. He scares no one. I am only 140 pounds and I would go into the corner any day against him.

The Crosby-Ovechkin rivalry has been one of the single greatest things to watch during the NHL this year, and will hopefully attract more people to the game.

As for Crosby. His lack of respect for the game and continuous crying to the refs will never sit well with me, even if he did lead my team to a Stanley Cup.

Ron Hextall: How A True Broad Street Bully Changed the NHL Forever

Keith Henning — Fri, 29 May 2009 12:43:22 -0400

Goal-Scorer. Playmaker. Fighter. Puck Handler. Goalie. Ron Hextall's fired up style of play became his signature style during his NHL career.

Besides holding the record for the most penalty minutes in a season by a goaltender with 113, Hextall's puck-handling skills made the dump and chase almost impossible for any team.

Hextall was one of the most aggressive goalies ever to play the game. Skaters who stood in front of him were hacked and slashed.

In 1987, Hextall won the Vezina Trophy (NHL's Best Goaltender), the Conn Smythe Trophy (NHL Playoff MVP), and was also apart of the NHL All-Rookie Team.

He is most remembered that year for his slash against Edmonton Oilier Kent Nilsson during the Stanley Cup Finals, during which any Oilier who got in his way was hacked.

In 1989, he left his crease and attacked Montreal Canadien Chris Chelios in retaliation of a hit on Brian Propp which left Propp with a concussion. Hextall received a five minute major and was suspended for 12 games.

Hextall is also known for being one of the first goalies to ever score a goal. During a game in 1987 against the Boston Bruins, Hextall fired the puck into an empty net across the ice in which the goalie was pulled for an extra attacker.

He repeated this feat in 1989 against the Capitals.

Hextall was named to the Philadelphia Flyer Hall of Fame in 2008 and is the assistant GM of the Los Angles Kings. Hextall's son was drafted by the Phoenix Coyotes in 2008 and would be the fourth generation Hextall to play in the NHL.

Ron Hextall revolutionized the role of NHL goaltending. He was by far one of the most exciting goaltenders to watch and changed the sport forever. His fiery play and fantastic puck-handling will forever go down as one of the best in hockey history.

Is The Fifa World Cup Coming Back To USA? Let's Hope So

Keith Henning — Fri, 29 May 2009 01:48:14 -0400

The Fifa World Cup. A competition so fierce and intense, with so much national pride, even the most anti-soccer American can not ignore it. And soon they may not be able to.

It was announced today that Landon Donovan and Mia Hamm, two of the greatest U.S. soccer players to ever play the game, have joined the USA bid committee to bring the Fifa World Cup to USA in 2018 or 2022.

The United States hosted the World Cup in 1994 (They would end up losing 1-0 in the round of 16 to the champs of that year, Brazil).

The USA has not been the greatest competitor in World Cup competition. The best the US has done is finishing third in the first ever World Cup in 1930. Needless to say, they're on a bit of a drought, not making it to the semi-finals in 79 years.

The United States, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, Australia, Englan,d and Russia have officially declared their want to host the Fifa World Cup in 2018 or 2022.

Netherlands-Belgium and Portugal-Spain have each submitted joint bids for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments, while South Korea and Qatar have desired to play host to the tournament in 2022.

If the World Cup does come back to the United States, it will surely be a spectacular sight. One I would travel miles to see, and I am sure I'm not alone.

The 2010 World Cup in South Africa is already underway in its qualifying stage. Currently Spain is ranked 1st, while the US is ranked 15th.

On June 3rd, you can catch the US vs. Costa Rica on ESPN at 10 pm. Costa Rica is ranked 41rst and is the 2nd best team in the North, Central American and Caribbean League.

NASCAR: Why It's More Than Just "Turning Left"

Keith Henning — Thu, 28 May 2009 23:31:13 -0400

NASCAR—A sport which many love and many simply do not understand. The biggest argument I hear against NASCAR is: "oh they're just turning left, they're not athletes, it's so easy."

These people must be crazy.

To win a race you must have a strategy on when to pit, to take two tires or four, what line to run on the track, how to draft, drivers must know their cars inside and out.

Races can last three to four hours long. With drivers being tested mentally and physically, how can they not be athletes. Sure they don't score touchdowns or shoot three-pointers, but don't they deserve some respect.

While I will say, in my opinion, like golf, it is hard to watch an entire race or tournament on television. It does get rather boring at times.

Yet I do not get people's arguments on how you can watch the last few laps and know what happens. People! That's any sport. If you watch the last few minutes of a baseball or hockey game, yes you will know the winner!

Peoples arguments are flawed. If you simply do not enjoy auto racing, than do not watch it. But, you must respect the sport.

I mean, I drive on I-95 for 30 minutes and I'm tired. These guys go 200 MPH for a few hours straight and they must concentrate the entire time. They're not texting or changing the song on their iPod. They can not break their concentration.

So please, people, enjoy it or not. Please respect the sport.

Why The Red Wings Will Win The Stanley Cup

Keith Henning — Thu, 28 May 2009 20:17:34 -0400

Rematch.

Red Wings. Penguins.

Will it play out the same? Sadly for the Penguins, it will.

The Red Wings from hockey town have been dominant in these playoffs, facing much tougher opponents than Pittsburgh.

This is not the Penguins' fault, however. The Western Conference is a much tougher and stronger conference than its counterpart in the East.

Since 1995, eight of the 12 Stanley Cup winners have been from the West, with four of those wins coming from Detroit. Their experience, drive, and overall ability to shoot, stop, and defend will be too much for Pittsburgh.

I am in no way saying this will be an easy series, especially given what Pittsburgh can do to teams like Philadelphia and Carolina.

The question remains: will this be enough to stop Osgood and the Red Wings?

Key Match-Up: Osgood vs. the Pittsburgh dynamic scoring duo that is Malkin and Crosby. Shut down just one of those players and Detroit will walk away with their second Cup in as many years.

Another key player to look at is Canadian play maker Dan Cleary of the Red Wings. He leads the playoffs as a +16 and has boasted 14 points. Look out for Cleary to sneak under the Penguins radar and make some key plays.

My Prediction: Red Wings in Seven.