Bleacher Report - Articles by Brandon Katz

Top 5 Biggest Busts of the Sports Year

Brandon Katz — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 21:27:36 -0500

You’ve got the grill on high power while succulent hamburger meat and thick steaks slowly sizzle.

You’ve got the beer on ice and a bottle opener in arm’s length. Your jersey is pressed with not a single wrinkle to be found. You, my friend, are ready for some sports.

But as millions of fans across the country, including myself, participate in these game rituals, many of us are left unsatisfied and even disgusted at what we see.

I’ve observed levels of “suck” I previously believed to be unreachable. So without further ado, I present this year's biggest sports busts.

5. St. Louis Cardinals Post-Season

Now I’m not sure if winning your division can really constitute as a bust, but I’m looking at the big picture here.

The Cardinals finished the regular season with a very respectable record of 91-71. They had the best baseball player on the planet in Albert Pujols and arguably the best starting pitching.

Their rotation was headlined by two Cy Young caliber pitchers, Adam Wainwright (19 W, 2.63 ERA) and Chris Carpenter (17 W, 2.24 ERA).

And their third option, Joel Pineiro (15 W, 3.49 ERA), had a better regular season than the championship Yankee’s third pitcher, Andy Pettitte.

St. Louis’ midseason acquisition of Matt Holliday proved to be well worth it. Holliday gave Pujols some much-needed protection and really lengthened the Cardinals lineup by rediscovering his power stroke.

Going into October, a lot of baseball people predicted that St. Louis would represent the National League in the World Series.

The Dodgers had something to say about that, dismantling the Cardinals in four games. To quote the great Billy Madison, “YOU BLEW IT!!”

Maybe next year, St. Louis.

4. New Jersey Nets

I love this team’s young nucleus. Point guard Devin Harris had a breakout year last season averaging 21 PTS, 6.9 AST and 1.7 STL. Harris’ speed and decision-making are great for transition offense, something that was rarely used during his time in Dallas.

Center Brook Lopez is following up a strong rookie season with very impressive performances so far. The guy has the ability to be a double-double player each night.

Courtney Lee is another young gun that proved he’s got a little game during his time with Orlando last year.

However, New Jersey is like your classic 35-year-old momma’s boy, living in the basement of their division by starting off the season 0-10.

Devin Harris has missed time due to injury and veteran PG Rafer Alston has been relatively ineffective as a backup. The load is too much for Lopez to handle on his own.

As a team, New Jersey is only averaging a paltry 84.5 points per game on a dismal 40 percent shooting from the field. The team could definitely use a healthy Devin Harris and another scorer.

Owner Jay-Z needs to spend a little less time in the recording booth and a little more time around basketball. A star may be born everyday HOV, but it seems as if they aren't born anywhere near New Jersey.

3. New York Giants

You know that cheesy tune that always plays after someone makes a terrible joke in old time television shows. C’mon you know it, that low pitched, “Wah Wah Wahhhhhhhhh.”

Well that tune is playing full force in all of New York City. After starting out 5-0, the Giants have found themselves in a downward spiral and show no signs of righting themselves.

The G-Men have lost four straight starting with their embarrassing defeat at the hands of the New Orleans Saints.

To the delight of fantasy owners everywhere, New Orleans' QB Drew Brees laid the blueprint for how to beat New York; attack their depleted secondary.

Aaron Ross, arguably New York’s top corner last season, hasn’t played in a single game this year due to injury. Kenny Phillips, New York’s top pick in the ’08 draft, was placed on Injured Reserve after just two games.

The defensive line isn’t getting as much pressure on opposing QBs as in years past either, Eli Manning continually shows us that he is only a good quarterback, not a great one.

Coach Tom Coughlin needs to make some serious adjustments on the defensive side soon or this team’s future is going to be very grim. One more loss and New York's playoff hopes could very well be over.

2. Cleveland Indians

The Indians most definitely could have used a few Rick Vaughns for their bullpen and a couple of Willie Mays Hayes in their lineup.

A middle-aged Charlie Sheen and an incompetent Wesley Snipes could of definitely played better than the athletes that suited up in Cleveland uniforms this season.

Entering the season, I would have bet money on a lineup that included Grady Sizemore, Mark DeRosa, Victor Martinez, Travis Hafner, and Asdrubal Cabrera batting ninth with a starting rotation that was headed by the reigning A.L. Cy Young winner.

The team even went out got Kerry Wood to close games for them, their major weakness a season before. But if sports have taught me anything in life it’s that the impossible is possible and the probable is uncertain.

Injuries, under achievement and bad managing drove this team into the ground. In April, Cleveland would have been on the majority of people’s list for A.L. playoff spots.

Come September, they finish the season with an awful 65-97 record. In their desperation the organization traded their best pitcher, Cliff Lee, the heart of their lineup and life-long Indian Victor Martinez and axed Eric Wedge as manager.

Sorry Cleveland, but LeBron’s MVP year wasn’t enough to make us forget about your miserable excuse for a season.

1. JaMarcus Russell

Oh wow has this guy been bad! I’m talking US economy bad, Dumb & Dumberer bad. He’s actually reached the “Elliot Spitzer-I-can’t-even-believe-how-bad-this-guy-is” level of bad.

Granted he is on a miserable team with scrubs for offensive linemen, but there are just so many flaws in Russell’s game that are undeniable.

He doesn’t understand how to read defenses and make adjustments on the line, his mechanics are inconsistent resulting in missed opportunities and his decision-making is atrocious when put under pressure from opposing defenses.

For a more tangible sense of his poor play, here is his 2009 stat sheet: 1000 yards, 48.4 completion percentage, 2 TD, 9 INT culminating in an absolute laughable QB rating of 48.3.

Can you believe those are stats by a professional Quarterback? At one point in the season his QB rating was only 2 points higher than a wide receiver that went 0-1 in pass attempts. Now that's just inexcusable!

Oakland’s QB constantly overthrows open receivers and makes terrible reads in regard to his receivers routes. He has single-handedly lost games for this franchise for three years straight.

His athleticism and strength will get him nowhere in the NFL if he doesn’t master the mental portion of the game.

Taken first overall in the 2007 draft, Russell is rapidly making a strong case for “Worst Pick Ever.”

Hello, Ryan Leaf…are you laughing yet?

Who's Got the Best 1-2 Punch in Baseball?

Brandon Katz — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 23:39:33 -0400

Muhammad Ali The Yankees, Twins, Cardinals and Blue Jays Hot identical twins What do they all have in common? They all posses the famous 1-2 punch, the unique ability to summon successive game-changing actions…or in the twin’s case, a memorable night. But in baseball, a good 1-2 punch is a key component of any dangerous lineup. These four tandems give each of their team’s offense a very effective edge.

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New York Yankees: Who Says Money Can't Buy Happiness?

Brandon Katz — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 10:27:00 -0400

“The Yankees win. Thhheeeeeeeee Yankees win!”

We’ve all heard John Sterling’s famous coined phrase. And depending on where you live, we all love hearing it.

But after going 0-8 against the Boston Red Sox in the first half of the season, who thought we would get to hear it four times in a row against the same team?

The Yanks now sit atop the AL East with a very comfortable 6 1/2 game lead over the BoSox. That’s the biggest lead New York has had since 2006. That lead is largely due to New York’s very expensive offseason pickups.

Remember the beginning of the season when the Bronx Bombers had a losing record and were looking more and more like the ’08 flop team every day? The New York Yankees front office and fan base were more frustrated then George W. Bush with a crossword puzzle.

But now, the Evil Empire and its devoted storm-troopers can sit back and enjoy the winning times with a smug smile on their face (kind of like at the end of the "third" movie when Darth Vader is still alive and the Death Star is being built...yeah I'm a nerd, don't judge me) and it’s well deserved.

After dropping some serious loot that would overshadow P. Diddy's spending sprees on free agents Mark Teixeira, CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett, the Yanks are finally reaping the benefits.

It seems as if these guys getting paid--has finally paid off...clever word play, right?

Tex is leading the AL with 29 home runs and is second in RBI with 83. His Gold Glove season along with Robinson Cano’s MUCH improved defense has solidified the right side of the infield. The two combined only have five errors all season!

Hmmm let’s see now, Teixeira is having an unbelievable season on a winning team while Jason Giambi…isn’t even on a Major League roster anymore. I’d say money well spent.

Sabathia is tied for second in the AL with 12 wins and a very solid 3.76 ERA to go with it. He has become the Yanks work horse and routinely goes out and eats up innings to preserve the bullpen.

Burnett has become a dominant stopper and is the go-to-guy after a Yankee loss. Having a 3.67 ERA doesn’t hurt either, I’m sure.

So the haters will continue to mount and spew their never changing argument that you can’t buy a championship. And although I agree with that statement, spending a few extra bucks on some upgrades won’t keep teams from October.

Whoever said money can’t buy happiness definitely wasn’t a Yankee fan.

Joba Chamberlain: Time To Come Of Age

Brandon Katz — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 14:23:39 -0400

Can you feel it?

The electric atmosphere, the high intensity, the desperation.

All of these emotions are currently being felt at Yankee Stadium as the Boston Red Sox have come to town to begin a critical four game series.

As we all know, the Yankees are 0-8 against the Sox this season including a crushing walk off home run in the 11th at Fenway. Despite leading Boston by 2 1/2 games in the division, the men in red seem to have the psychological advantage by going undefeated against their archrivals.

It is absolutely imperative for the Yankees to win this series; they need to prove that they can beat the teams they will be facing in October (that also includes the Angels). That is why it is so important for New York to get off on a good start and take the first game tonight. Enter Joba Chamberlain.

Attention, controversy, scrutiny, and speculation.

These have hovered over Chamberlain since he first laced up the cleats for the Yanks. The supposed “ace” of the future has had somewhat of a roller coaster ride of a professional career so far.

This season has been no different. Prior to the All-Star game, Chamberlain had been criticized for inconsistency, lack of control, and not being able to go deep into ball games.

Question marks had arisen around New York’s golden boy.

He seemed somewhat lost on the mound, indecisive and unsure.

However, since the All-Star break it seems as if something has clicked within the righty hurler. Joba came back from his time off and has gone 3-0 with a 0.89 ERA in his last three starts.

In each of those games, Joba the Hut pitched at least into the seventh inning. For the season, Chamberlain is 7-2 with a 3.58 ERA.

Now, he must kickoff arguably the most important four games for the Yankees this season on extra rest (Girardi skipped his last start to curb his innings). It’s time for Chamberlain to grow up and seize his potential and hype and channel it into actual results.

This will be the most important game Chamberlain will pitch during the entire regular season. A team and an entire city need him too succeed, to pitch well in the big game, to secure a “W” in what has been an embarrassment of a regular season rivalry.

It’s time for Joba Chamberlain to show that the pressure of New York will not break him, that he is the real deal.

It’s time for Joba Chamberlain to come of age.

Fedor Emelianenko: The Last Emperor Clowns Himself

Brandon Katz — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 09:29:01 -0400

When the MMA organization "Affliction" recently collapsed, fight fans were oozing out the mouth at the possibility of the UFC signing arguably the greatest fighter in the history of the sport, Fedor Emelianenko.

Whether you love or hate the UFC (and Dana White), there is no denying that the company has the best collection of fighters and would have offered "The Last Emperor" the best fights possible going in to the latter part of his career.

Instead, Strikeforce was able to net the Russian super star by caving into M-1’s demands of co-promotion.

Now the UFC had reportedly offered Emelianenko a very lucrative contract in the vicinity of $5 million a fight, while also agreeing to give M-1 a share of the profits, but no co-promotion.

There are only three possible explanations I can think of for Fedor’s displeasing move:

1) Emelianenko has an irrational fear of money.

2) He’s ducking Lesnar and wants to end his career by beating relatively lesser opponents (Strikeforce’s top attractions are Alistair Overeem, Fabricio Werdum, and Brett Rogers).

3) Fedor’s manager, Vadim Finkelchtein, is secretly a mob boss who has threatened to break Fedor’s legs if he ever leaves M-1.

I am definitely a fan of MMA, but in no way, shape or form would I call myself an expert on the sport. Despite that, even I can see how bad of a move this was for MMA as a whole. It's the equivalent of Adrian Peterson refusing a contract from the Vikings to go play in the UFL.

Fedor Emelianenko had a chance to make an insane amount of money, become permanently cemented as an International super star and end his career with exciting, crowd-pleasing fights against the likes of Brock Lesnar, Randy Couture, Gabriel Gonzaga, Mirko Cro Crop (probably would have finished him this time around), and others.

C’mon Fedor, why are you clowning yourself, man?

Control vs. Command: What's the Difference?

Brandon Katz — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 09:42:06 -0400

From non-sports fans to the most avid and attentive B/R writers, the difference between a pitcher’s control and command has long been debated. Although extremely similar, there is a difference between the two attributes that could make a break a scouting report…or at the very least help you win a sports argument with a friend.

Control

To have control over one’s pitches means that a pitcher is able to throw strikes. Not just out of the zone swings and misses either, but actual called strikes. A pitcher needs to exhibit the ability to throw a fastball for a strike at any time during an at-bat. They need to make sure that their breaking balls will cross the plate in the strike zone.

If a pitcher is routinely recording quick outs and getting ahead of hitters (0-2 and 1-2 counts) than he has good control because he is routinely throwing strikes.

Without control, basically all hell breaks loose for the guy on the mound. If you don’t have a good feel for your pitches, then it’s going to be a night of free base runners and a lot of runs due to unintentional walks and undoubtedly a multitude of pitches up in the zone.

Some pitchers that have mastered the art of control are Roy Halladay, Mariano Rivera, Tim Lincemcum, and the recently retired Mike Mussina.

Command

Now command can really be a sub-set category under control. Once a pitcher gains control over their pitches they must then move on to learning command. Pitchers with good command have the talent to place their pitches any where they want within the strike zone; they are able to throw not just strikes, but good strikes.

A normal strike can just be a fastball up in the zone that the hitter just misses. A good strike can be a pitch that just gets the outside corner and sends a batter back to the dugout or a ball tailing inside that jams a hitter.

Older pitchers who can’t throw as hard as they used but are still finding at least moderate success (Trevor Hoffman, Jamie Moyer, and Randy Johnson) have all mastered command. Sure they can’t burn you with a 95 plus fastball, but they could ring you up with an 88 MPH cutter that paints the corners or a 76 MPH curve that crosses the plate just at the knees.

Command and control…similar, but not quite the same. These two skills are necessary for any pitcher who wants to elevate their game to the next level. Without the ability to control and command, you will be riding that minor league bus for a long long time.

Fantasy Football: Take A Look At My Squad!

Brandon Katz — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 16:10:56 -0400

I want to first start off by stating that this is my team after a number of waiver claims and dropped players. This is my first year doing fantasy football, so let me know what you think of my team so far.

-Drew Brees

-Donovan McNabb

-David Garrard

I feel very good about my QB situation. Brees became only the second NFL quarterback to eclipse the 5,000 yard mark for passing last season and he did it with No. 1 receiver Marques Colston missing five games, David Patten missing 11 games, and Reggie Bush missing six games.

McNabb is a more than capable fantasy backup and the Eagles' offense looks ready to burst onto the scene next year. I expect big numbers from Donovan to match that big raise he got in the off-season.

Note: I am currently waiting for Darren Sproles to pass waivers at which time I will pick him up and drop Garrard.

-Adrian Peterson

-Ryan Grant

-Darren Mcfadden

-Leon Washington

-Tim Hightower

I had the No. 1 pick in my draft and it took me all of three seconds to decide on drafting “All-Day.” The guy is an unreal running back, a new age Barry Sanders who will make up for potential draft busts such as Ryan Grant and Darren Mcfadden.

I claimed Washington off waivers because of his explosiveness and versatility. With Thomas Jones another year older, I see Washington getting a few more carries per game this season which means more chances for breakaway runs.

Hightower is strictly a goal line back as his stat sheet last year clearly reveals (2.8 YPC, 10TD). I decided to claim him just for touchdown insurance.

-Andre Johnson

-Anquan Boldin

-Santonio Holmes

-Kevin Walter

-Laveranues Coles

- Chris Cooley

The big issue I have here is the significant drop-off between my top two receivers and my bench guys. Obviously, not every player on your roster can be a Pro Bowler, but I won’t feel confident until I trade for a No. 3 receiver with stats that mirror Boldins. However, I do think Holmes will be getting a few more looks after a strong finish last season.

I’m wondering how well Coles and Chad Ocho Cinco are going to work together. Carson Palmer is no doubt an upgrade from an injured and old Brett Favre, but Coles is a receiver who works best from the outside. This goes against what T.J. Houshmandzadeh (you know I copied and pasted that one) did with the Bengals as he was routinely seen going across the middle.

Defensive Player

-John Abraham

-D'Qwell Jackson

Abraham was a complete panic pick. I came back to my computer only to see that I had 15 seconds to pick a player and so I landed on Abraham, skipping over the likes of Osi Umenyiora, Justin Tuck, Julius Peppers, and others.

Defense

-Ravens

I might have drafted the Raven’s D too high considering that Baltimore lost its defensive coordinator and a few players on that side of the ball as well.

-Neil Rackers

Anyone care about the kicker...? No? I didn’t think so.

So there is my team, definitely subject to change. Give me some thoughts on how I can improve my squad or just anything about my team in general. Good luck to all the fantasy players this season.

What Does the Future Hold for Derek Jeter?

Brandon Katz — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 19:42:54 -0400

At the end of last season baseball critics were doing nothing short of calling for Derek Jeter’s head. They said his defense hurt the team and his range had completely deteriorated. They mocked him at the plate accusing him of becoming strictly a ground ball hitter. Age had caught up with the once invincible Yankee captain.

However, people forget that his defense struggled last season at the same time he was dealing with a quad injury. His bat had slowed after getting nailed in the wrist by a fastball…and he still ended up finishing the season at .300.

This year, Jeter has answered all the detractors with his play on the field. He is having a bounce-back defensive year as his range has improved considerably, especially when going to his left.

The consistency at the plate has returned as Jeter is hitting .316 with 10 home runs, 18 stolen bases and is doing exactly what a leadoff hitter needs to do by accumulating a .393 OBP.

But we can’t forget that the man is 35-years old. Age catches up with everyone sooner or later, even Yankee captains. Other shortstops, such as Cal Ripken Jr., have had to move positions in the latter years of their careers due to their decreasing ability. So will be the case with Derek Jeter.

The question is, where can the Yanks put him?

First base is out of the question with Mark Teixeira signing that eight-year deal before the season started. A-rod is signed on until 2017 so third base is full. Maybe the outfield?

With Melky Cabrera and Bret Gardner both having solid seasons and top prospect Austin Jackson bound to end up with the club sometime next season, it seems a little crowded outside the infield as well. You can just about forget about DH too, Jeter doesn’t have the pop to be a typical designated hitter.

With Jeter’s contract expiring in 2011, New York’s front office and management is going to have a few uncertainties. Short of an apocalyptic event straight out of a Stephen King novel, Derek Jeter will be re-signed to a long and rich contract. But it is possible that that contract could hurt the team.

Their is a good chance Jeter will still be able to hit effectively after the 2011 season, but play shortstop at age 38…no chance. And what will the team do then? Where can they stick Jeter on the field to get him at-bats without benching possibly a more capable player at that time?

Both the captain and the team will have some serious decisions ahead of them. Until then let’s just be thankful the old Derek Jeter is back.

Interesting side note: Jeter in French means to throw

Should The New York Yankees Be Shopping This Halladay Season?

Brandon Katz — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 16:44:25 -0400

With the recent amount of attention and media coverage Toronto Blue Jays’ GM J.P. Ricciardi is getting, you would have thought he recruited minor leaguers from Mars, killed off one of the Oceanic Six, and convinced Congress to approve Obama’s new health care plan all in one day.

In reality, Blue Jays ace pitcher Roy Halladay is generating all of this interest. As we all know, Ricciardi has put arguably the best pitcher in the majors (along with Tim Lincemcum) on the trading block and is currently fielding offers.

Although it is unlikely that the Jays would trade Halladay to a division rival, if they trade him at all, it’s never too much of a stretch to ask if the New York Yankees should try and deal for Halladay.

The 32-year-old right-hander is 11-3 (tied for the most wins in the AL) with a 2.73 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP this season. It is these stats that have countless front offices drooling at the mouth with the possibility of landing the “Doc”.

Although New York is not one of the teams being mentioned as top players in the deal, you can never count them out of a juicy high-stakes move. Remember when Mark Teixeira was days away from signing with the Red Sox? Well we all know how that one ended up.

The question is do the Yanks want to bite the bullet and sacrifice a part of their future for success now? To swing a deal for Halladay Toronto would probably ask for Joba Chamberlain, either Melky Cabrera or Brett Gardner to complete their underachieving outfield and an assortment of top prospects.

The young players the Blue Jays would most likely be looking at would be catcher Jesus Montero, outfielder Austin Jackson, RHP Andrew Brackman, LHP Mark Melancon and possibly RHP Dellin Betances.

Now New York’s GM Brian Cashman has repeatedly stated in recent years that the organization is going to be committed to developing young homegrown talent, a strategy that produced four championships from 1996-2000. So there may be some unwillingness in New York to relinquish top prospects. But it’s also hard to ignore the upside that Halladay would bring with him.

If the Yankees managed to complete a deal their rotation would be spearheaded by Roy Halladay, CC Sabathia and AJ Burnett. If Burnett can keep his walks down for the rest of the season, you would be looking at the best rotation the league regardless of Joba’s recent regression and Pettites inconsistency.

The Yankees currently are ranked 10th in the AL in ERA (4.39) and 9th in opposing OPS (.755). So right now their starting pitching is “middle of the pack”, not terrible but not championship status either.

The trade would transform the Yankees from a pretty good team to a serious contender. With three top-flight starters to rely on in the early playoff series and an offense that leads the American League in runs, you could expect late October ball from this team.

But how many guys do the Yankees need to bring in? Why is it that they are always one piece away? Not too long ago it was deemed that Sabathia would be the final piece to the puzzle, the necessary catalyst to push New York to the next level.

And now the same things are being said in Halladay’s case. Sooner or later the Yankees are going to have to start winning big games with the players they have or else Girardi’s tenure in New York will be short lived.

One thing is for sure; the Yankees would definitely be a better team with Halladay this season than without him. But is New York willing to give up on seasons down the road and important replacement players? Brian Cashman is going to have a very interesting Halladay season.

Washington Redskins: 2009 Recap and Season Preview

Brandon Katz — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 16:14:15 -0400

So the bulk of the offseason is over as we close in on September, and the coming of the first games of the NFL 2009 season.

Yes a lot has happened this offseason; we’ve seen franchise tags and intriguing trades, possible gems in the draft, and picks that left fans saying “Who the hell IS this guy?”

We got to witness the changing of Presidents, the Terminator movie franchise getting destroyed, heck, we even got to see Jack and the crew set off a hydrogen bomb on the island. Pretty interesting stuff right?

But now as training camps continue, it’s time to get down to the important stuff: Football.

Specifically, Redskins football.

Although Washington’s offseason wasn't as remarkably bad as I had expected, it wasn’t terribly good either. Yes, we did get arguably the best free agent out there in Albert Haynesworth. But we can’t forget that Haynesworth only played 59 percent of his team’s defensive snaps last year and missed games down the stretch due to injury.

So what do we do? Give him $100 million dollars, a move that in both my pessimistic and sports fan’s opinion will always amount to something along the lines of “not living up to the contract” when all is said and done. Hello Deion Sanders, Adam Archuleta, Jason Taylor—we might have a new friend for you to play with in a few seasons.

Instead of landing one huge free agent, I would have liked to see the Skins spread the wealth and address their multitude of needs which include linebacker, O-line, D-end, and receiver.

Now Washington did address D-end and linebacker through the draft. Look for Brian Orakpo, their first round pick from Texas, to make an impact rushing the passer in the coming seasons, but not this year.

D-ends usually struggle their rookie season before having a breakout year. Mario Williams: 4.5 sacks in his rookie year, John Abraham: 4.5 sacks, Osi Umenyiora: one sack—get my point? No immediate impact, but down the road I expect some big things from Orakpo.

The Redskin’s biggest mistake was not addressing their offensive line. They did sign Derrick Dockery for $28.5 million. As Skins fans remember, however, Dockery was a pancake blocker when it came to rushing plays. On passing downs—well let’s just say Lindsay Lohan, even with her new diet that consists of eating…nothing, could protect JC’s blind side better.

The O-line is again a concern for Washington. Their right tackle hopes lay in the hands of incapable Stephon Heyer, cut from the Panthers Jermey Bridges, and laughably obese Mike Williams.

Last year this unit gave Campbell next to no time to get rid of the ball. Despite this lack of protection, JC got unfairly blamed for the team’s second half falters. However, if this unit, whose average age is around 31, can stay healthy for the entire year then they can perform at a solid level.

What Washington definitely needs is some major improvement from second year wide receivers Malcolm Kelly and Devin Thomas, the Redskin’s top two draft picks last year. So far these two are complete and utter busts—thanks Vinny.

But if either of them can perform at a consistent No. 2 level this season than Washington’s offense will get a major boost. If one of them does step up and takes the No. 2 spot then that will allow Antwan Randel El to go back to the No. 3 position, a position he excelled at in Pittsburgh.

This will also give the Skins another look on offense, instead of their usual repertoire which includes Moss, Portis, Cooley…and that’s it. Both are big receivers and could be useful in the red zone.

The problem with the Redskins is that this upcoming season has too many “what if’s.” What if Thomas or Kelley don’t step up? What if Orakpo doesn’t pan out? What if our O-line collapses like last year?

I got a question. What if the Skins weren’t the most relevant mediocre team in the league?

I have an answer as well. As long as Snyder has the reigns don’t count on that happening anytime soon unless they bring in a Shanahan or a Cowher. I am more than willing to give Zorn another year. His unconventional teachings, such as using slip n’ slides to help QB’s practice sliding, are refreshing for a team that had gotten used to Joe Gibbs’ traditional style. But if the Redskins' struggles continue, I say Zorn can slip n’ slide his way right out of D.C.

I see Washington having another so-so season. Somewhere in the range of 7-9 and 9-7. Since they usually get killed by the Giants and split division series with Philly and Dallas, I won’t get into those games just now.

Instead I think they’ve got three games that will be the deciding factor in weather or not they have a winning record. The three games could go either way. Week four they got Tampa Bay at home. week 10 they host Denver. Then week 13 the New Orleans Saints visit Fed Ex. All home games that the Skins could win but might let slip away in the waning moments of regulation.

But again, we are dealing with the Washington Redskins; nothing can be properly predicted with this franchise. It should be an interesting season for the Skins, especially for Jason Campbell and Jim Zorn.

Albert Pujols Sits Atop the MLB's Best

Brandon Katz — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 15:12:54 -0400

If you asked a baseball fan last year who the best player in the game was, you would most likely get a wide array of answers.

Manny Rameriez, Alex Rodriguez, Miguel Cabrera, Dustin Pedroia, Ryan Howard, Albert Pujols, and countless more names that rank atop any stat sheet. All of them are worthy players with extreme talents.

However, a lot can happen in the course of one year.

Man-ram was caught trying to jump-start his non-existent ovaries, and his bat, by failing a test for a banned substance. He is currently serving a 50-game suspension.

So he’s off the list this season.

A-rod’s admission of using performance enhancing drugs while with the Texas Rangers from 2001-’03, a span in which he lead the Majors in RBIs, definitely puts a damper on his argument for the game's greatest.

So he’s off the list.

An assortment of bad luck and bad performance has plagued many of the aforementioned players this season. Aside from Cabrera, who is only 26 and has plenty of time to make a stronger push to be the game’s best, many of 2008's best players are struggling to repeat their past performances.

Pedroia’s off to a slow start, considering he is the reigning MVP, and Howard’s continued problems with striking out (he gets ringed up once every three at-bats) hasn’t helped his cause.

However, amongst the cheating and shame, the one-dimensional players, the slow starts, and the “not quite there yets”, there still remains one player who has been the model of consistency and excellence.

Albert Pujols.

Pujols, a two-time NL MVP, is well on his way to his third award in only nine seasons. This guy is only 29 years old and it is safe to say that, barring injury, he should be a first-ballot Hall of Famer.

The Machine puts up numbers! So if you are reading this article and cannot wait to post a comment starting an argument, I dare you to try and argue.

Pujols has had 30-plus jacks and 100-plus RBI in every season of his career, to go along with a .334 batting average.

This season, he is on pace to compete for the coveted Triple Crown—when a player leads his respective league in home runs, batting average, and RBI.

Pujols is currently hitting .328 with 26 bombs and 68 RBI. Not to mention his ridiculous .445 on-base percentage. And we’re not even at the All-Star break.

What’s even more impressive is he’s doing all of this without any real protection. Pujols is hitting second in the St. Louis Cardinals lineup in front of Skip Schumaker, who is hitting a very solid, but not imposing, .298 with only three home runs.

Let's not forget, Pujols is also a Gold Glover-caliber first baseman.

There is nothing this guy can’t do. Try to jam him by pitching inside, and he gets under the ball and pulls it out of the stadium. Avoid throwing him any heat, and he’ll jump all over a hanging breaking ball and put it out of the park.

Don’t even attempt to challenge him and simply stay on the outer half of the plate, and he’ll slap the ball the other way and take the extra points for his average.

This guy is a beast of a ball player who has mastered all facets of hitting and consistently keeps his team in the playoff race.

Alber Pujols is currently sitting on Baseball’s top spot.

Roy Halladay: Keep Your Pitch Hand Strong

Brandon Katz — Wed, 13 May 2009 15:13:03 -0400

Johan Santana, CC Sabathia, Tim Lincemcum.

All three generally considered the best pitchers in the game. But with the Toronto Blue Jay’s major league best 23-12 record, we can finally put Roy Halladay into the true upper-echelon of starting pitchers.

Why couldn’t we put him in this category during his Cy Young winning season in 2003? Simple, his team wasn’t good enough. While the Blue Jays finished 10 games above .500, they placed only 3^rd in their division and missed the playoffs.

So now, with the league’s best record supporting him, we can finally welcome Roy Halladay into the top of the elite when it comes to starting pitchers. Halladay has gotten off to yet another amazing start, leading the AL with seven wins and only one loss while posting a scary good 2.95 ERA, and a 1.03 WHIP.

The aspect that stands out most is Halladay’s impeccable control; he has only walked 7 batters in 61 innings pitched. That’s walking less than a batter per game. Now tell me, how can you win if you can’t even get on base. According to Halladay, the answer is…you don’t.

Halladay’s arsenal consists of a mid-90’s fastball with late sinking movement, a swooping curveball that stays around 75 MPH, a cutter that runs in on right-handers at 92 MPH, and a deceptive change up that remains in the low 80’s.

With Toronto’s weak performances the past few seasons, trade rumors involving Halladay have surfaced every year. But with the team surging this season, look for Halladay to become a main stay fixture in Toronto. This comes as unfortunate news for the teams in the AL East, especially the New York Yankees. Halladay is a very close second to Babe Ruth for the all time best winning percentage (.729) against the Yanks.

So now it goes Santana, Sabathia, Lincemcum, and officially Halladay when you talk about the absolute best pitchers in baseball.

Roy Halladay is keeping his pitch hand strong.

The Yankee Stadium Farewell Address

Brandon Katz — Sun, 10 May 2009 18:59:10 -0400

October 19th, 2003.

It’s the bottom of the 11th. The New York Yankees vs. the Boston Red Sox, game seven in the American League Championship Series. Aaron Boone steps to the plate and hits a walk off home run to left field, sending the Yankees to yet another World Series appearance.

And that’s just one recent memory. The list goes on and on. For every Yankee fan, there is a group of defining moments that occurred at the old Yankee stadium that blur the lines between sports and miracles, routine and impossibility.

The short distance to the right field wall, the giant Yankee symbol painted ever so perfectly behind home plate, and the bleacher creatures in right field, who chant the names of the starting lineup. All these little characteristics added up to the one huge culture that is Yankee Stadium.

But now the Yanks have moved across the street into the new Yankee Stadium.

Extravagant? Oh Yeah!

High tech? You bet!

Worth the move? The answer to that question is going to be debated for quite some time. A month and a half into the 2009 regular season and most fans would tell you it wasn’t.

I don’t think about the home runs flying out of the park left and right, multiple injuries, the losing record, and the fact that the Steinbrenners wanted to move into this $1.5 billion dollar park.

But it’s the Bronx Zoo, so it goes.

I can tell you from first-hand experience, the new stadium is unbelievable in many areas. Complete with twelve restaurants, 1200 HD screens, and a locker room that is so equipped, it puts the US war room to shame.

The new stadium is not lacking in finesse.

Current junior at Byram Hills High School, Josh Mendel, said of the stadium, “They made it so nice and modern, which is what the old Yankee stadium was lacking. Everything from the stalls to the cup holders are nicer, cleaner, classier.”

So yeah, basing one’s judgment strictly on the physical merits of the new stadium, it’s definitely an upgrade. I’m sure the players aren’t complaining when they are sitting in massage chairs, surfing the Internet on their complimentary Mac laptops, which come with each new locker.

But, the new stadium lacks the history of the original. The dominating aura, which is Yankee baseball encased the old stadium, constantly reminds each fan that the Yankees always had a good chance of winning.

Don Mattingly, Greg Nettles, Tino Martinez, Paul O’Neil, Derek Jeter, and Mariano Rivera—and hey, that’s only our generation.

With each preceding decade, the names of the heroes and stars become even more legendary and prestigious. Each made their mark on the old stadium, and each reinforced the reasons why the New York Yankees is one of the most beloved and successful franchises on the planet.

So, yeah, I might be a little late with my farewell address. But, it’s similar to when a good friend moves away. You know it’s coming, but you keep putting it off because you don’t want to accept it.

But I can’t put it off any longer.

To the old stadium, I bid you farewell, and I thank you for all of the history and amazing moments you provided to adoring fans for 86 years.

To the new stadium, I welcome you with tentative but open arms. I know new legends and moments will be made, as another part of baseball history begins to write itself.

MLB: A Few Things Worth Noting so Far

Brandon Katz — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 16:19:08 -0400

We aren’t even a full month into the 2009 MLB season and we’ve already seen scandals, big innings, great games, and unexpected division leaders. Baseball’s recent purge of steroids has considerably lowered the league’s offensive output, as well as attendance.

However, the sport is still surviving and looks to bring fans yet another great year. Here are a few things worth noting so far this season:

1. Check the Standings

Can somebody tell me what is going on? It seems as if all the teams just decided to switch places during the off-season. Currently Boston, Detroit, Seattle, Florida, St. Louis, and the L.A. Dodgers are all leading their respective divisions.

Both Detroit and Seattle (which had the worst record in the Majors in '08) finished last in their divisions last year. St. Louis and Florida missed the playoffs entirely.

The meteoric rise of Tampa Bay last season offered fans a great feel-good story, while also showing the league that there was a new major playoff threat to worry about.

But now, the Rays currently sit at the cellar of the AL East with an 8-14 record. Their bullpen has proved to be one of the worst in the league, and key hitters such as B.J. Upton and free agent Pat Burrell have done absolutely nothing with their bats.

A few other playoff teams from last season have also hit some hard times. The Angels, with a rotation crippled with injuries, sit at a measly 9-11. The Cubs are at an unimpressive 10-10. The reigning World Series Champions are barely above .500, thanks to Cole Hamel’s slow start and Jimmy Rollins' ineffectiveness so far.

Next thing you know, the Mets will actually start winning in September.

2. Kevin Youkilis

This guy can just flat-out play ball. It was apparent last season when he was in discussion for the MVP award, and he has reinforced all of the buzz about him by getting off to a blazing-hot start.

Youkilis currently leads the league in batting average at a very impressive .405. He’s also got five home runs, 15 RBI, and a .516 OBP to go with it.

As a die-hard Yankee fan, I have done everything to not like this guy, from turning the channel when he bats to benching him on my fantasy team (the Red Sox were playing the Yanks and I just couldn’t in good conscience let myself go through with it).

But it seems every time I find a reason to hate him, he comes up with another clutch hit to change my mind. Youkilis is a combination of hard-fought at-bats, consistent and well-timed hitting, and stellar defense at first and third.

I hate to admit it, but the awkward hitting stance, the intense stare, even the clownish beard are starting to grow on me. Look for this guy to have a monster year, especially if Ortiz starts hitting.

3. The Florida Marlins

Are they this year’s Tampa Bay Rays? Or just another bust in waiting?

Right now they sit atop the NL East at 13-8. They started off the season tremendously hot, going 11-1, only to drop six in a row by getting swept by the Pirates and Phillies.

Florida's starting rotation is nasty, no doubt about it. But it is very possible that young and relatively inexperienced starters Ricky Nolasco and Chris Volstad are bound for some growing pains as they continue to develop this season.

Now, if this team actually had some halfway decent relief pitchers, I would say to look for them to be playing ball in October. But since they don’t, it’s up to their young and unproven rotation—and the recently struggling Hanley Ramirez—to carry this team.

4. Zach Greinke

Going into this season, we knew the Kansas City Royals would have a solid rotation. With Greinke, Gil Meche, and Brian Bannister acting as a three-headed pitching monster, the Royals looked to be an improved ball club from years past.

But no one could have predicted what Greinke has done so far this season. He is 5-0 (tied with the entire Washington Nationals team for wins) with an AL-leading 44 K in only 36 innings. He’s allowed only two earned runs in five starts and has already pitched two complete games.

That is impressive no matter who you are.

On a Kansas City team on which the RBI leader has only 13 in 21 games, it proves challenging for some pitchers to accumulate wins because of a lack of run support.

So far for Greinke, that’s not a problem: If he doesn't get the runs, he'll just limit opponents to less than a base runner per inning, as shown by his .89 WHIP. Greinke is a serious buzz-kill for any AL team that has the misfortune of facing him.

Can any one say, "AL Cy Young?"

5. Betray-Rod

Not even a single Major League plate appearance this season, and I am already sick of this guy. Yes, he’s a Yankee, so I am obligated to root for him and yes, when he returns, New York's lackluster and un-clutch offense should receive a major boost.

But after hearing today that Selena Robert’s upcoming book, “A-Rod,” reveals that he took steroids while in high school and while with the Yankees (2007 MVP year?), I can’t take much more of this guy.

Rodriguez' tenure with the Yankees has proven a few things:

He is a major distraction that is more often than not detrimental to the team.
He is the most inconsistent clutch player in the modern area.
Getting the best player in the league doesn’t bring you a championship.

So what can us disgruntled Yankee fans do? I guess sit back and pray he doesn’t do anything else to embarrass us (who the hell kisses his reflection in the mirror, let alone lets some one photograph them doing it?).

So while the Marlins may fall, the Royals may rise, and A-rod may be, well, himself, this season will surely have more attention-grabbing story lines as the year progresses. These are just a few things worth noting so far.

Bobby Abreu: The No. 1 Fantasy Sleeper Pick

Brandon Katz — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 16:30:36 -0400

Now it’s only my first year doing fantasy baseball, but three weeks in, and I’m already hooked. In fact, I see a lot of parallels between fantasy baseball, and ABC’s Lost.

Both are excruciatingly frustrating (I can’t seem to be able to trade Jermaine Dye no matter how hard I try!!), while still incredibly addicting and exciting.

I am still learning how to piece together a dominant team, and so far I’m doing a pretty solid job. But the one concrete thing I’ve realized is that you can’t win without at least one sleeper pick on your team. That’s why I’m here, to tell you my No. 1 overall sleeper pick.

Bobby Abreu

Yeah that’s right, Bobby Abreu. An under the radar type of player that some people seem to look over in the draft. At the bottom half of the ninth round, I saw him and knew he was my secret weapon. This guy gives you all around solid stats in every major hitting category.

Last year, he batted .296, with 20 HR, 100 RBI, 100 R, and 22 SB (a stat that is bound to go up now that he is on the more run oriented Angels). Yet still, Abreu remains only 82 percent started in the Yahoo fantasy league. What more can you ask of a fantasy player?

He’s a five-category guy, which is more than can be said for top picks Albert Pujols (only seven SB in 2008) and Jose Reyes (only 16 HR in 2008).

So if you’re in a last minute draft any time soon, and the rounds are getting late, and you’re looking for a perfect compliment to your team…look Abreu’s way.

You know exactly what you’re going to get from Abreu night in and night out. Along with the well-rounded stats, Abreu has played in at least 150 games every year since 1998.

I’ll let you guys know how my fantasy endeavor ends up. But win or lose, I know I’m going to get some great games and pure consistency from my man Bobby.

Abreu is my No. 1 sleeper pick.

New York Yankees: A Season to Look Forward to

Brandon Katz — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 22:58:57 -0400

Who ever said money can’t buy happiness obviously never talked to a Yankee fan.

The kind of dough New York is capable of shelling out without a moment’s hesitation is always a reassurance for all Yankee fans. And this off season’s spending proved to be quite effective as the Yanks added some key components to a struggling team.

Their spending effectively changed the Yankee team from an underachieving and aging ball club to a perennial playoff threat. Let’s take a look at the Yankees' major moves and how they will play out during the season.

CC Sabathia

Arguably the Yankees' best offseason acquisition was ace pitcher CC Sabathia. This hefty-lefty’s arsenal is scary for any major league hitter.

With a shifty 94-99 MPH fastball, a hard slider at 84-86 MPH, a swooping curve that drops to 79-82 MPH, and a devastating circle change, Sabathia is armed with an array of challenging pitches that he can throw for strikes in any count.

This ace has the ability to put a team on his back as he showed while surging the Brewers forward to their first post-season in over 20 years.

Sabathia will also alleviate some much need pressure off of Chien Ming Wang. Wang has been struggling to be the Yankees true number one pitcher for the last couple seasons.

While still putting together some very impressive numbers, Wang failed to ever become the dominating ace teams would like to have head their rotations.

Now with the addition of Sabathia, Wang no longer needs to feel pressure to be the Yank’s number one. This trickle down effect will do wonders for Wang, who I see having a very successful year (15+ wins, mid to low 3’s ERA).

Sabathia went 17-10 with a 2.70 ERA and 251 K’s while splitting time between Cleveland and Milwaukee last season. The only question mark I have with him is how durable his arm will be. Since entering the league in 2001, Sabathia has averaged 207 IP per year.

The major concern is if this heavy workload has taxed his arm, and if so will it show late in the season? Hopefully for the Yankees, the answer is no. Overall, the addition of Sabathia is a major plus for the Yankee organization.

Mark Teixeira

This was a great move for the Yanks and definitely an upgrade from the aging and inconsistent Jason Giambi. At 28 years old, New York has found its long-term solution at first base. Teixeira gives the Yanks excellent numbers in almost every offensive category.

Last season Marky Mark put up a .308 AVG, with 33 HR, 121 RBI, 102 R, and a .410 OBP. If those stats don’t impress you than you shouldn’t be a fan of Baseball.

Oh and did I mention he’s a two-time Gold Glove winner at 1B? Teixeira is simply a producing machine that gives a team everything they could ask for. However, he is notorious for getting off to slow starts at the beginning of each season.

But with a healthy Hideki Matsui batting fourth for the injured Betray-Rod, Teixeira is getting some real solid protection in the lineup and should be productive early on. And when he-who-should-not-be-named returns to the lineup, the Yankees should posses the best 1-2 punch in all of Baseball.

As a Yankee fan, I am really excited to see what he can do for our team if he stays healthy.

AJ Burnett

The other half of the pitching initial twins is AJ Burnett. Burnett is essentially a two-pitch pitcher throwing a forceful fastball at 95-98 MPH and a batter-freezing curveball that possesses a sharp break.

However, Burnett also has a developing change-up that would be a nice compliment to his repertoire. Burnett is coming off a very solid season posing a 18-10 record with a 4.07 ERA and 231 K’s with the Toronto Blue Jays.

Girardi has already announced that the rotation will start with CC, and then be followed by Wang, and then Burnett. This strategic move will give opposing teams a difficult change of pace which will only help Burnett this season.

The major concern with Burnett is that he is very injury prone. He has only started over 30 games twice in his career…and both of those years were contract years.

Weather this stat is related to bad luck or a bad work ethic, it still remains as a looming problem for the Yankees. Hopefully the Yankee organization and the fans will get their moneys worth, approximately $82.5 million, out of Burnett this season.

With the end of spring training and the start of the regular season drawing closer every day, Yankee fans should be very excited. The team is much improved and has the potential to make a deep playoff run. Certainly this is a season to look forward to.

Top Four 2008 NFL Quarterbacks

Brandon Katz — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 19:55:07 -0500

The NFL regular season is over and the playoffs have commenced. The best teams in the league are still standing and still competing. Hot teams have cooled off and cold teams have heated up. The road to the Super bowl is anybody’s guess at this point. It is usually at this point when players are at their very best, when they reach the pinnacle of their talent. Let us take this time to look at the NFL’s top four 2008 Quarterbacks.

4. Chad Pennington

It is my personal belief that every set of rankings in every sport should have at least one curveball thrown in, albeit a deserving curveball. Many people may argue against Pennington being placed as the fourth best QB in the league but what he did with that Miami team cannot be overlooked. Not enough has been said about this teams spectacular turn around and the fact that Chad Pennington was one of the major forces behind that turn around.

Miami’s leading receiver, Ted Ginn Jr., finished the regular season with an adequate 56 receptions for 790 yards. Although those are pretty solid numbers, they are no where near what the numbers of a number one receiver should be.

Despite Pennington’s lack of a dominant first option, he still compiled 3,653 passing yards at a 67.4% completion rate with 19 TDs and only seven picks, finishing second in the league in passer rating at a very impressive 97.4. Pennington, along with help from the coaching staff and front office, breathed life into this depleted franchise.

Twice the comeback player of the year, Pennington has shown that his finishes the season strong and is at his best come time for the playoff push. Chad Pennington is currently the fourth best QB in the NFL.

3. Drew Brees

Everyone has repeatedly heard about and viewed Drew Brees’ unbelievable season so I apologize for mentioning it once again…but it has to be done. Although the New Orleans Saints finished at a disappointing 8-8, their offense was once again as deadly as ever. The Saints finished first in the NFL in points scored and total offense largely due to the play of Brees.

The numbers he put up on this underachieving team are jaw dropping especially considering that many of his weapons were injured during the course of the season. No. 1 receiver Marques Colston missed five games, David Patten missed 11 games, and Reggie Bush missed six games.

Even with all of these impact players missing game time Brees still put up arguably the best season of his career. The New Orleans QB finished with an outstanding 5069 passing yards (second most in a single season in NFL history behind Dan Marino) at a 65% completion rate with 34 TDs (tied for most TDs this season) and 17 picks culminating in a forcible 96.2 passer rating.

5069 yards, are you f%@#ing kidding me?!

If the Saints can improve their defense considerably during the next few seasons look for Drew Brees and his lethal offense to be a serious playoff threat. Right now Drew Brees is the third best QB in the NFL.

2. Philip Rivers

The San Diego Chargers are dangerously hot right now and a lot of that can be attributed to the play of Philip Rivers. It is an NFL crime that Rivers did not make the Probowl with the type of season he has had. When push came to shove, Rivers shoved back hard, leading the Chargers to win four straight games to close out the season and narrowly secure a play off spot.

Despite an underachieving 8-8 record, the Charger’s QB composed his best season since entering the league. Rivers finished with 4009 passing yards (most in a single season in his career) at a 65.3% completion rate with 34 TDs (tied for most TDs this season) and 11 picks resulting in the leagues best passer rating standing tall at an excellent 105.5.

Rivers is taking full advantage of all the weapons at his disposal and is recently proving that the Chargers are a dangerous team. The team’s disappointing regular season record can mainly be blamed on their spotty defense, ranking 25th overall. Currently, Philip Rivers is the second best QB in the NFL.

1. Peyton Manning

Come on now, did you really think it was going to be someone else? Now I know the Colts were eliminated from the playoffs but that wasn’t Manning’s fault and his level of play this season simply can’t be ignored. Manning is not only a QB, he is also a coach on the field able to identify defenses and adjust the play to take advantage of mismatches.

Having Peyton Manning as your QB is like putting elite NFL talent into the body of Marty Shottenheimer or Bill Belichick (I know they’re old guys but you get the point!) Manning is also facilitator, meaning that he has the unique ability to make every one around him better and improve the quality of his team single handedly.

Manning proved this by leading the Colts to win their last nine games of the season while completing 72% of his passes over that stretch! With QB play that good it is no wonder why he was awarded with his third MVP. Overall, Manning finished with 4002 passing yards at a 66.8% completion rate with 27 TDs and 12 picks emerging with a very good 95 passer rating.

Even with Marvin Harrison a few seasons deep into his decline, Peyton is still getting it done on the offensive side. The windows he puts balls through and the passes he completes are almost unreal. Peyton Manning is the best QB in the NFL.

Boston Celtics: Can You Say Repeat?

Brandon Katz — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 09:45:08 -0500

Forget about all the creative intros and openings sports articles usually have. Simply putting it out there, the Boston Celtics will repeat and win the 2009 NBA Championship.

Through 25 games this season, the Celtics stand at a towering 23-2, tying the ’96 Bulls, ’67 76ers, and the ’70 Knicks for the best start through 25 games in the history of the NBA. Oh and by the way, each of those three teams went on to win the championship.

The "Big Three" are dominating as always. Paul Pierce and Ray Allen are each averaging just under 19 points per game and Kevin Garnett is nabbing 9.5 rebounds per game. No surprises there. These three are always the keys to success when you’re talking about the Celtics.

However, Boston’s best start in franchise history can also be attributed to the emerging youngsters that have raised their level of play this season. One of these improving players is PG Rajon Rondo. Rondo is knocking down 11 PPG, with a very solid 7.3 assists per game. He is also shooting an extremely impressive 51 percent from the field.

The scrawny point guard plays much bigger than he is, attacking the rim with remarkable speed. Rondo is extremely quick and is a definite threat to beat defenders off the dribble.

Another developing player is center Kendrick Perkins. Perkins showed his worth with a very strong postseason last year and has taken the championship momentum into the beginning of this season. With 8.4 points and rebounds per game, Perkins is becoming an important part of this thriving Celtics team.

Boston’s incredible success is based on fundamental basketball: play defense and hustle. They continually play strong defense and take opponent’s best players out of the game. Earlier this month, they held the dominating Dwight Howard to a measly 14 points.

Against the New Orleans Hornets, their strong defense plagued Chris Paul, limiting him to 5-for-16 from the field. Again, when clinching their 23rd win out of 25 games, their defense came up big by only surrendering 15 points to top PG Deron Williams.

As a team, Boston’s stats are very impressive. They average 100 points a game, proving to be a complete team on both sides of the ball. They average 48 percent from the field and 36 percent from beyond the arc, which will always get it done. Boston’s second units, while not flashy and overly impressive, get the job done and manage the game well with intelligent basketball. The only weakness of this dominating team is their offensive rebounding and even this is not a constant problem.

Championship hang over? Garnett wouldn’t dare allow it. This team seems even hungrier than last seasons. It seems that all that piece of NBA title bling on their fingers has done is make each player want another ring to go with it…and that is just scary.

This team is on pace to win upwards of 70 games. Now, in all likely hood that won’t happen, but it is still impossible to deny how good this Boston Celtics team really is. Their determination, discipline, talent, and emerging players all make up a recipe for a repeat.

The Boston Celtics will be the 2009 NBA Champions.

Washington Redskins: 2009 Draft Needs

Brandon Katz — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 09:25:18 -0500

At this moment in the season, it is clear that the Washington Redskins are in a downward spiral. Although it is still possible for the Redskins to make the playoffs, if they continue at their current level of play they won’t get anywhere near the postseason.

Regardless of what happens the rest of the season, it is becoming clear what positions the Redskins will need to address in the upcoming 2009 NFL draft...

Offensive Line

Simply put, Washington’s O-line play has been atrocious. The pass blocking is some of the worst in the entire league and is the main reason for Jason Campbell’s recent struggles.

Washington’s youngest starting lineman is Chris Samuels (LT) at the veteran age of 31. Although Samuels and Pete Kendall (LG) have been solid this year, the fact is they aren’t getting any younger.

From center to right tackle the Skins could use some immediate upgrades. Center Casey Rabach seems unable to block against the bull rush or pick up any type of A-gap blitzes. Right guard Randy Thomas and the once solid Jon Jansen (RT) are shells of what they used to be. Both have been repeatedly beat this year by D-linemen and D-ends.

This causes Campbell to get rid of the ball earlier, not allowing plays to develop or receivers to get open.

The Redskins need to draft some young talent to put in front of Jason Campbell. In only his second year starting and seventh offensive system in eight years, Campbell is still developing. He will need some protection in the near future so he can grow as a quarterback and achieve his potential.

Defensive Line

Although the Skins are only yielding 88 YPG on the ground, the lack of pressure from the four-man rush has been a consistent problem throughout the season. The unhealthy Jason Taylor and ineffective Andre Carter have not been getting it done in the pass rush.

Constantly opposing quarterbacks have dropped back and had all the time in the world to let the play develop as Washington’s front four can’t get near the QB.

The Redskins only have 19.0 sacks all season, ranking them 28th in the league in that category. The D-ends have combined for a measly four sacks. The lack of pressure has resulted in some big plays and tough losses for the Redskins throughout the year.

What they need is a legitimate pass rusher, someone who is going after the quarterback every play and can disrupt the passing game.

Linebacker

There is no denying the talent that middle linebacker London Fletcher possesses. He has put together a pro-bowl season with 100 tackles so far and has quietly had a Hall of Fame career with 116 tackles over the last eight seasons.

The problem is that Fletcher is 33 years old and won’t be around forever. Fletcher may only have a year or two left in him before hanging it up.

Linebacker Marcus Washington is also very talented on the defensive side, however he has not been able to stay consistently healthy since 2006 and has lost a step when blitzing. Washington has only played in eight games this season, recording a very forceless 37 tackles.

The Skins are going to need two linebackers in the upcoming years. Quick linebackers have been a staple for this defense for many seasons and the eventual loss of Fletcher and Washington is going to leave a huge hole that will need to be filled soon.

Running Back

That’s right I said running back. We all know how great a season Clinton Portis is having. Portis is second in the league in rushing sitting at an impressive 1228 yards thus far. However, since entering the league in 2002, no running back in the league has had more carries than Portis.

Although he has only missed more than two games in a season twice in his career, Portis has been unhealthy and injured from week to week for the past several years. Portis’ body has taken a severe beating through his career, especially during his time with the Redskins.

When he has played in 15 or more games in a season, Portis has gotten at least 325 carries in each of those years. His body has taken a toll and unfortunately he may only have one or two years left before he can’t physically cut it any more.

Currently, the two lines are Washington’s most glaring weaknesses, but without a pick in the first and the third round of next year's draft the Skins may not be able to fix everything immediately. However, these are the positions that will need to be tended to.

It will be important for rookie coach Jim Zorn to have a very successful draft as the majority of his previous picks have turned out to be busts. These are the needs the Redskins should look to fill at the 2009 NFL draft.

New York Yankees: Bye Bye Bobby

Brandon Katz — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 09:30:25 -0500

The New York Yankees officially said good-bye to right-fielder Bobby Abreu today by declining to offer him arbitration.

An arbitration contract is a way for a team to say that they would like to keep a player around for another year, possibly at a higher price. The salary of a player contracted through arbitration is decided by a third party, which means the salary could increase or decrease from the previous year.

The loss of Bobby Abreu is devastating for die-hard Yankee fans such as myself.

Abreu was simply a ballplayer, the equivalent to a gamer. Night in and night out Bobby got what was asked of him done without second-guessing and with little fan-fare. Bobby was for the team and for winning; he didn’t care about putting up huge numbers or where he ranked on the All-Star votes.

Although this Yankee offense needed a change, the loss of Abreu was not the right one to make. Bobby produced yet another strong season for the Yanks batting .296 with 20 HR, and 100 RBI (his sixth straight season with at least 100).

His on-base percentage stood at a very impressive .371 and he nabbed 22 bases this past season. Abreu is one of the most consistent players in all of Major League Baseball but once again the decision making of the New York Yankees comes into question.

The bombers made a bad choice in declining the option of arbitration on this full effort player. A smarter move would have been to keep Abreu with a one year arbitration deal while the Yankees helped develop minor league outfielders Justin Christian, Bret Gardner, and possibly see the return of Melky Cabrera.

Even if Bobby didn’t want to stay with New York, which he did, if he refused arbitration then the team that signed him would be forced to give up a sandwich draft pick (between first and second round) and a compensatory pick to the Yankees.

Not to mention that the Yankees are now left without a true 3rd hitter. Jeter lacks the pop to fill the gap and A-rod’s power is better suited for clean-up duty with men on base.

Now tell me if anything in this strategy seems negative to you. Keep Abreu on for another year and watch him collect 100 RBI and bat around .300 or get two solid draft picks in the upcoming draft where the Bombers only have five (soon to be less based on free agent signings). I truly don’t understand this move by the Yankees.

All I can say is that I will miss one of my favorite Yankees, a guy who came in to each game just looking to help his team win and nothing more.

You will be missed Bobby.

New York Yankees: Savior in Waiting

Brandon Katz — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 13:19:50 -0500

For the New York Yankees, missing the playoffs in simply inexcusable.

With the name Steinbrenner still printed on the main office door, an October-less season will not be tolerated and certainly will not be repeated. For these reasons, the Yankees are once again opening up their wallets and preparing to spend big money on enticing free agents.

However, one name is placed on a pedestal above the rest. The Yankees associate this one name with restoration as a serious playoff threat and top-tier team in the ever-improving AL East. That name is CC Sabathia.

CC Sabathia is arguably the best pitcher in all of baseball, especially after his max effort in his 17 game stint with the Milwaukee Brewers. This hefty-lefty is the main goal for the New York Yankees this off-season.

The Bombers have already showed their interest, and then some, by offering Sabathia a contract towering at a reported $140 million for six years. Although reports say Sabathia wishes to stay in his home state of California, the Yanks are hoping that all that “green on the other side” will change his mind. In other words, they are counting on the old adage: money talks.

Simply put, the Yankees need Sabathia. By passing on Johan Sanatana last season, the Yanks were left without a true ace and a boatload of ineffective young pitchers. While Chien-Ming Wang has shown great promise and has proven to be a consistent regular season pitcher (winning 19 games in both the ’06 and ’07 seasons) his terrible showing in the 2007 ALDS against the Cleveland Indians is a real concern. New York needs a big game, full effort ace pitcher to get back to the playoffs, and Sabathia is exactly that guy.

Sabathia, coming off a very impressive year, posted a 2.70 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP (anything below 1.12 is extraordinary) while striking out 251 batters this past season. CC was so dominant in his 17 games with the Brewers that he actually finished in the top five for the NL Cy Young voting in less than half the games than the rest of the candidates.

If you average in CC’s ERA with all of New York’s, it drops from a mediocre 4.28 to an exceptional 3.49. This would alleviate a lot of pressure for the Yankee’s underachieving offense, allowing the team to get by on a 3 or 4 run night. But, when it comes down to it, good pitching always beats good hitting. With the addition of Sabathia, the Yankees would have exactly that.

The 28 year old Cy Young winner throws a mid to high 90’s fastball, topping out at 99 MPH. He also has a hard cutter that ranges between 84 to 86 MPH and a swooping 11-to-5 curveball, which lies between 79 to 82 MPH.

Assuming Sabathia is throwing at top speeds for all of his pitches, that’s a 17 MPH difference between his fastest and slowest pitch! That overlooked difference is a major batter freezer and a critical quality in relation to his strikeouts. Throw in CC’s excellent command over all of his pitches and you end up with a dominating pitcher.

Going beyond the tangibles, Sabathia is also a facilitator—he makes others around him play better. That unique ability was seen when he was traded to the Brewers last season and made an instant impact. He improved the quality of the players around him and surged the Brewers forward to their first post-season since 1982. Sabathia could only have a positive impact on young New York pitchers such as Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes with his Cy Young caliber pitching knowledge.

In the end, I’m sure the Yankees would be more than willing to offer even more money if Sabathia asked…he’s that important. A pitcher of his ace stature is very rare, and the Yankees haven’t had a true ace since David Cone on the ’98 team. CC Sabathia could very well be the New York Yankee’s baseball savior.

Cleveland Cavaliers: An Offense on the Rise

Brandon Katz — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 09:08:31 -0500

If I were to tell you that the Cleveland Cavaliers would be 9-3 only 12 games into the season, you wouldn’t be completely shell-shocked, but if I were to tell you that their offense would be responsible for the majority of those wins then you would have to do a double take.

But that is the case thus far for LeBron James and his offensively effective supporting cast.

No surprise that the King is averaging a league-leading 29.5 PPG with just under 7 APG. LeBron is simply scorching opponents and making buckets look easy to come by. Elite play is now expected of the 23-year-old superstar.

What is important to note is that James is playing just above 37 minutes per game, a noticeable difference from his past seasons of 40 plus. This can only help LeBron be even more effective come the playoffs for this surging Cleveland team.

The addition of Mo-offense Williams has proved to be an uplifting move for this once “get the ball to LeBron” offense.

Mo is putting up 16.7 PPG with a solid 4.7 APG and is a great option for the defense-attracting James. Williams is shooting 44% from the field and an incredible 39% from beyond the arc.

At only 25 years of age, it seems that the Cavaliers have found a long-term solution at point guard and a guy who can create offense when the King takes a rest.

Another surprise on the offensive side of the ball for the Cavs is their 7'3" center Zydrunas Ilgauskas.

At 33 years old, Ilgauskas is defying his age and has become a very sound offensive center. Ilgauskas has proven he can post up effectively in the paint. By doing so, he is now able to get near the basket and attract defenders allowing himself to dish it out to Cleveland’s perimeter shooters such as Wally Szcerbiak (46%) and Delonte West (52%).

With 14.7 PPG and 6.8 RPG, Ilgauskas is emerging as forceful second or third option on offense and relieving pressure from James.

The Cavs are scoring nine more points per game this season, putting up a very impressive 100.5 per game so far through the season. Their field goal percentage sits at a threatening 47.7 percent and they are getting it done on the foul line. With wins over Denver and Utah, Cleveland has shown they have the ability to win against quality teams early in the season.

This season is even more impressive than Cleveland's NBA Finals run in 2007. The Cavs team of 2007 was strictly the “LeBron show” with some team defense thrown in. Now the team has found the perfect balance and is getting it done on both sides of the ball with their surprisingly deadly offense.

Watch out for this team to be ready and effective come playoff time.

One side note...

It seems that LeBron James has decided that defense is important through out an entire game and not just in the fourth quarter. LeBron is giving a 100 percent effort on both sides of the ball and it is visible on the court. James is shutting down opponents by playing aggressive D and is on his way to his first MVP award. With a committed LeBron, this team could very well be unstoppable.

New York Yankees: Money Talks

Brandon Katz — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 07:22:25 -0500

It's officially the offseason. Now begins the hectic calling and coordinating of sports agents, the "give-a-little, get-a-little" trade talks between clubs, and most importantly for teams such as the New York Yankees, the beginning of the cash flow.

Yes, it seems like the New York Yankees are back to their old habits—relying on free agency and their insurmountable capital to once again "fix" their team. The Yankees, coming off a disappointing season where they missed the playoffs for the first time in over a decade, are positioning themselves to again be the team looking to spend the most come free agency.

And with close to $80 million coming off their pay roll, why shouldn't they, right? Realistically the Yankees may very well walk in to spring training without the likes of Jason Giambi ($23 million), Bobby Abreu ($16 million), Andy Pettitte ($16 million), Ivan Rodriguez ($12 million), and the “All American-Idle” Carl Pavano ($11 million) with cash to spend and the intent to do it.

It is necessary this offseason for the Yankees to spend the type of money they are infamous for to get back into postseason baseball. This season was a pass for manager Joe Girardi; however, next season will not be the same case as long as the name Steinbrenner still remains at the front desk. However, the Yankees' constant reliance on offseason spending can very well become a serious problem in the near future.

New York’s repetitive offseason money surges reveal their lack of major-league-ready young players. Clearly their farm systems are not producing quality major leaguers like they used to. The last truly successful and proven Yankee pitcher produced by New York’s farm system that is currently on the roster is Andy Pettitte, who is clearly a few years deep into his decline.

The Bombers need to once again revert back to their 90's mentality, a mentality that won four championships in five years and cemented the team as a historic sports dynasty. This mentality centered around player development; draft smart, develop well, and keep your young talent. Instead the Yanks have regularly made plays for top name free agents, which has cost them valuable draft picks.

If a team decides to give a player that has opted to free agency from their team arbitration, then that team will receive a compensatory draft pick from the club that picks up the free agent. New York’s spend-a-lot to gain-a-lot strategy has resulted in an aging New York team playing without passion and energy, two qualities heavily associated with young teams such as the Tampa Bay Rays and the up-and-coming Florida Marlins.

However dire future trouble the team’s prodigious spending may or may not cause, this offseason should be no different for the Yanks. Plain and simple, they need to open up the checkbooks during these upcoming months.

Atop the first tier free agent list sits the Brewer’s savior CC Sabathia. Coming off a dominating and full force effort in his 17 game stint in the N.L, Sabathia seems the prime target for the Yankees and anyone else who can afford him. CC is looking for Johan Santana money, which is in the realm of $120 million for six years.

Unfortunately for the Yanks rumors have surfaced that Sabathia would like to stay in the N.L. and possibly in his home state of California. But then again, money talks. Nothing is impossible or out of reach for this billion dollar force of a ball club.

Next of the possible pick-ups is Dodger’s righty Derek Lowe. Lowe, 35, is a hard sinkerball-throwing pitcher who is coming off an impressive season posting a 3.24 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP in 34 starts.

An interesting and unexpected move for the Yankees could be deciding to follow the Mets 27-year-old Oliver Perez. Perez produced a back-end rotation ERA at 4.22 (another need for the Yankees if Andy Pettitte decides to retire) but he has also shown great ability and potential in his relatively brief professional career. With good speed variation and solid breaking balls, the young lefty could turn out to be a formidable pitcher in the future.

One of the main problems keeping Perez back is his inconsistency. Constantly Perez will follow up a solid start with a less than promising showing the next game. Another of his problems is the inability to command his fast ball (Perez surrendered 105 walks in 194 innings this season). The two ailments are known to affect younger and less experienced pitchers.

If the Yankees choose to make a play for Perez, it could result in Yankee’s pitching coach Dave Eiland truly showing why he was awarded the job this previous season. Eiland spent most of his MLB service as New York’s Triple-A team pitching coach. It was there that Eiland was assigned to help develop young pitchers. If Eiland can settle Perez down and teach him command of the fastball, both the Yankees and Dave Eiland could heavily benefit from this cost-friendly acquisition.

In then end, the Yankees' most prominent strategy may be their un-doing. But for the mean time it is the only option they can look at to remain relevant in the ever-improving A.L. East. One thing is for sure; this is going to be a very interesting and very expensive offseason for the New York Yankees.

Clinton Portis: Return to the Elite

Brandon Katz — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 08:13:43 -0400

Clinton Portis truly exploded into the NFL world in his first two seasons with the Denver Broncos. Portis looked like the future face of the running back position after composing two 1,500-plus yard seasons with 15 touchdowns his first season and 14 his next. Averaging 5.5 yards per carry during his first two seasons, Portis was the original “Adrian Peterson” of the early 2000s, a young back bursting into the elite category like the sudden bursts of speed he exerted on the field. Portis was cemented in the upper-echelon category of running backs with his game-changing rushes and his relentless hard running. The yards and touchdowns came easily and the young back was able to control the game at will.

But then something that Portis had never experienced in his short pro career took place…he was traded. The Washington Redskins acquired the young and highly talented back from Denver in exchange for shutdown corner Champ Bailey and a second round draft pick.

Now one would think that a change of teams wouldn’t dramatically affect a player of that caliber. One would think that a player of elite status such as Portis would simply continue his talented play. Well, one would be wrong.

Portis’s 2004 season wasn’t anything like his days in Denver. Clinton rushed for a credible 1,315 yards, but his average dropped to a less than par 3.8 and he only scored five touchdowns.

Portis’ next three years in Washington would be much of the same; underachievement and disappointment. It looked as if Portis had lost that special quality that had trucked linebackers and juked would-be tacklers back in Denver.

Although he still produced solid numbers, rushing for over 1,000 yards in three of the next four seasons (he only played in eight games due to injury in 2006), it was apparent that Clinton Portis had lost his spot in the league’s elite category, just as it seemed he had lost that special quality he possessed in Denver.

Some of this possibly can be blamed on the blocking scheme. Denver used zone while the Redskins under Joe Gibbs used man-to-man. Some of Portis's rushing woes could possibly be blamed on the offensive line themselves. It could also be blamed on Gibbs's attempts to morph Portis into a physical smash mouth runner rather than the elusive cut-back runner he was at the time. Either way, Clinton Portis was not the same back he was in Denver and was no longer an elite running back.

But then the 2008 season rolled around and this back had had enough of his mediocrity. Portis has come into this season with his guns blazing, all cylinders on go, and an attitude that can be seen in his fierce running. Thus far through the season, Clinton Portis is, without a doubt, the best running back in the league.

Portis leads the league with 818 rushing yards in only seven games! We’re not even halfway through the season and Portis is already closing in on that 1,000-yard mark. He’s running hard and throwing his very will into every shoulder-lowered hit and every move he puts on a defender. He currently has the best YPC average of his career at a jaw-dropping 5.7 and already has scored seven touchdowns.

Portis has reeled off four consecutive 100-plus yard games with a 175-yard effort this past week against the Browns, and is playing the most consistent football of his career. He is a tenacious force wearing down defenses throughout a game and emerging at his best in the second half.

Portis, averaging 5.6 yards per carry and already scoring five touchdowns in the second half this season, has defenses scrambling to figure out ways to shut him down. Portis has consistently provided a big yard rush in clutch situations. The Redskins have called on him constantly throughout the season and he has regularly surpassed what they have asked of him.

Along with his powerful and effective rushing so far this season, Portis has also once again proven himself to be an outstanding and complete back. Greatness can only be associated with those who can achieve success in different situations. Portis has done so time and time again.

He has already snagged 10 balls for 73 yards, proving he can also be effective past the line of scrimmage. But, what stands out even more, is that Portis is by far the best blocking back in the league. He attacks blitzers with the ferocity of a linebacker and the skill of an offensive lineman.

When Portis picks up a blitz, I can guarantee you the defensive players feel it. Portis is a complete back who is excelling at both rushing the football and the other challenges presented to a running back.

Clinton Portis is not the same back he was in Denver, nor will he ever be again. No, Portis is now something better; something more complete, and something that defenses must fear much more than ever. Clinton Portis has returned to the elite.

New York Yankees: Scratching the Surface of their Failure

Brandon Katz — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 10:17:01 -0400

The New York Yankees are, without question, one of the most historic and prestigious sports clubs in the entire professional world. Their accomplishments speak for themselves, and their legends have provided a pedestal for which the Yankees will forever be placed.

Unfortunately, this club has now come to a major crossroads in their history. Yes, they missed the playoffs for the first time since 1993, but that is not what is so alarming about the current situation.

The beginning of the season held with it expectations and hope—two very dangerous things for any professional sports club. "The Big Three," which included Phil Hughes, Ian Kennedy, and the only one of the Big Three to see any success, Joba Chamberlain, devastatingly missed reaching the club and fan’s expectations, like the many walks they administered.

Chamberlain was the exception, providing 118 strikeouts in 42 appearances and posting a 2.60 ERA. Joba proved he could be effective in both the starting and relieving roles, putting up low two ERAs in each job.

Kennedy and Hughes, however, proved to crumble under the expectations. The two combined to go 0-8, with Kennedy showing an abysmal 8.17 ERA and Hughes trudging along just ahead of him with a 6.62. Come on now, 0-8!!!

The two highly-touted prospects could not win a single game; now that’s something to seriously worry about. Obviously, Hughes proved he had skill towards the end of the last two seasons. He’s got good stuff, with a low-to-mid-90s fastball and a batter-freezing curveball.

But his main problem has been inconsistency spotting the fastball. The fastball is the jab of pitching; it sets everything else up and is a key component to any pitcher’s game plan. His shaky command leaves hitters sitting on a hanging curveball, which they have found more often than not.

Kennedy has truly shown nothing to the fans and to the club. In the 2007 season, he started three games and ended up with a 1.90 ERA. Now, this may seem impressive to the less-than-casual fan, but most true fans see right through this. The majority of the time, when many major league opponents have not seen a pitcher, he possesses something I like to call the "surprise factor."

This "surprise factor" was evident in this past 2008 season in Darrell Rasner. In his first five starts, he had three games where he gave up less than three runs. After this early success, he casually became known to the Yankee’s media as "Five-Run Rasner."

It can also be seen with failed reliever David Robertson, who, like Rasner, started off strong and then completely fell off. The Yankees' reliance on their young and unproven pitchers was a major mistake and one of the reasons for their lack of presence this October.

Another major negative on the Yankees' season was their anemic offense. Before the season, the Yankees were projected to score 950-1,000 runs, a truly prodigious amount. Instead, like many other aspects of the team, they failed to meet expectations and ended up with 789, ranking only seventh in the American league.

The Yankees' biggest offensive woe was clutch/situational hitting. The late-inning miracles that became familiar to Yankee fans were completely nonexistent this year. The team batted just .260 with runners in scoring position, 17th among the 30 teams. In 2007, the team surged with a league leading 5.98 runs per game. Want to take a guess as to what it dropped to this season?...4.80.

The last time the Yanks had such a severe drop off in runs within one year was in 1922, when they were still playing at the Polo Grounds!

A-Rod’s RBI total dropped 55 from last season. Not only that, but he only had eight RBI after the seventh inning and hit a dreadful .236 with runners in scoring position.

If we had to pick just one factor that lead to the disappointing season, it would have to be their stagnant offense. The inconsistency simply killed the Yankees. The old saying, "good pitching always beats good hitting" is true in all sense of the words.

But in the Yankees' case, an inability to hit when it counts definitely helped in the destruction of a major-league superpower.

In the end, the Yankees have a lot of question marks going into the 2009 season. Once again they are relying heavily on free agency to fix most of their problems. If the Yankees handle things well in the coming months, a successful rebuilding process can begin to take place.

But if the wrong choices are made, such as many of the decisions made this season, than the Yankees could be looking at a long downward spiral for their once invincible team.