TheBostonInsider Daily

Brady Playing for Legacy

2012-02-04T11:19:00.001-05:00

Tomorrow night when Tom Brady takes the field at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis against the Giants, he won't just be playing to win the Super Bowl for the Patriots. He will also be playing to cement his legacy as the greatest quarterback in NFL history.

Brady is already in the discussion, there's no doubt about that. He already has three Super Bowl rings, two Super Bowl MVP trophies, and has been voetd NFL MVP two times. But a win tomorrow elevates him to the top of the list.

Winning Super Bowl XLVI would tie Brady with Joe Montana and Terry Bradshaw as the only quarterbacks with four Lombadi Trophies on their resume. It would also be his seventeenth career postseason victory which would be an NFL record.

Brady has always been a player motivated by the need to prove to people that he is great. Coming to the Patriots as the 199th overall pick in the 2000 draft, winning the job when Drew Bledsoe got trucked by Mo Lewis, hearing critics say the Patriots defense was responsible for victories in Super Bowls XXXVI, XXXVIII, and XXXIX, hearing critics say Peyton Manning was the better quarterback, hearing critics say he was rattled by the Giants defense in Super Bowl XLII, and then hearing that Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees were better quarterbacks have all fueled Brady's desire to be great.

A win tomorrow and there is no doubting that Tom Brady is the greatest quarterback in NFL history.

Super Bowl Pick

2012-02-03T15:00:00.001-05:00

PATRIOTS (-3) over NY Giants

The Patriots will win the fourth Super Bowl of the Belichick-Brady era because Tom Brady will play like an immortal, the defense led by Vince Wilfork will make plays that most of America doubts they are capable of making, Rob Gronkowski will make a major impact despite the high ankle sprain he suffered in the AFC Championship Game, and Bill Belichick will have a few wrinkles that make the Giants feel uncertain about themselves on both offense and defense.

31-23, Patriots.

Wld Card: 2 - 2
Divisional: 4 - 0
Conference Championship: 1 - 1
Playoffs: 7 - 3
Regular Season: 119 - 126 - 5

Brandon Spikes Ready For Super Bowl XLVI

2012-01-29T22:49:00.000-05:00

Vince Lombardi once said that when your middle linebacker is rocking the pink, you know your team is ready to win the title.

Conference Championship Football Picks

2012-01-21T12:17:00.000-05:00

Picks are against the spread and home team is in capitals.

AFC Championship Game

PATRIOTS (-7) over Baltimore
The Ravens have an excellent defense and can run the ball, two ingredients needed to slow down Tom Brady and the Patriots offense. They are also a one-dimensional football team that struggles on the road.

Brady and the offense need to get off to a quick start and I think that they will. That will shift Baltimore's game plan from pounding the ball with Ray Rice to having to throw a lot and that is not their game. Joe Flacco isn't terrible but I like the Pats chances to win if he has to pass more than 25 times.

31-13, Patriots.

NFC Championship Game

NY Giants (+2.5) over SAN FRANCISCO
The 49ers have been on an amazing ride all season under Jim Harbaugh but think it ends this week. Both teams have good defenses that get after the quarterback but I like the G-Men's offensive balance, especially the play of Eli Manning, to make the difference tomorrow.

20-16, Giants.

Wild Card: 2 - 2
Divisional: 4 - 0
Playoffs: 6 - 2
Regular Season: 119 - 126 - 5

Brady, Gronkowski Will Lead Patriots to AFC Title

2012-01-17T22:26:00.001-05:00

The Baltimore Ravens are a good football team with a championship caliber defense that boasts two future Hall of Famers in Ray Lewis and Ed Reed, one of the best running backs in the NFL in Ray Rice, and a passing game that is inconsistent but is also potentially dangerous. They have earned their spot in the AFC Championship Game.

That said, there is nothing the Ravens can do to slow down the Patriots offense. Wes Welker is an All-Pro wide receiver who can beat you multiple ways. Tight end Aaron Hernandez is versatile enough to be a deep threat on the outside on one play, take a handoff on the next, and out run a linebacker on a seam route the play after that. The offensive line has been banged up but it consistently gets the job done in keeping Tom Brady upright and in opening holes for the running back trio of BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Stevan Ridley, and Danny Woodhead. Even veteran receiver Deion Branch can still wiggle his way open down the sideline when the defense isn't paying attention.

Even with all those weapons, the Patriots best bet to win is the combination of Brady and tight end Rob Gronkowski. The 6-6, 260-pound "Gronk" is a matchup nightmare because he is too big for safeties and is too fast for linebackers. His rare combination of size, speed, power, and hands make him the most difficult matchup in the NFL right now. Brady and Gronk take full advantage of their plethora of offenisve options to keep defenses off balance but when Brady needs to make a big play, his eyes - and the ball - usually turn to #87.

On Sunday, with the AFC Championship and a trip to the Super Bowl on the line, it will be the Brady and Gronkowski show as the Pats clinch their fifth Lamar Hunt trophy of the Bill Belichick era.

If they hand the trophy to Gronk, he is likely to spike it into the turf at Gillette Stadium and smash it to a million pieces. It is a scene he will likely repeat in Indianapolis on February 4. The connection between the Hall of Fame quarterback and unstoppable tight end is going to be enough to get to and win the Super Bowl.

Divisional Round Football Picks

2012-01-14T12:31:00.000-05:00

All picks against the spread and home team in capitals.

SAN FRANCISCO (+4.5) over New Orleans
Picking my NFC champion to lose in the Divisional Round? Yes I am. Alex Smith doesn't fit the role of Tom Brady but the 2011 49ers do resemble the 2001 Patriots enough for me to believe they can pull off the upset. The Saints are great but they won't be in the dome and the San Francisco defense and the grass at Candlestick will be enough to stop Drew Brees.

27-23, 49ers

PATRIOTS (-13) over Denver
Tom Brady can join Joe Montana as the only NFL quarterback with 15 wins in the postseason or he can join Dave Krieg as the only NFL quarterback to lose four consecutive postseason games. I'm betting Brady goes down in history with Montana.

The Pats will also be ready to play - don't think last year's loss to the Jets in this same game hasn't been mentioned by the Hooded One this week.

40-13, Patriots.

Houston (+7.5) over BALTIMORE
The Texans hung tough in Baltimore in the regular season and their rushing attack will get them enough points to win while their defense will pound on Joe Flacco.

20-16, Texans.

NY Giants (+7.5) over GREEN BAY
The Giants believe they are destined to repeat their late season run of 2007. Their defense will get it done, Eli Manning will hit Victor Cruz for 3 touchdowns, and the Packers will end their run early this year.

28-24, Giants

Wild Card: 2 - 2
Playoffs: 2 - 2
Regular Season: 119 - 126 - 5

For the record, I finished 2-3 in the BCS Bowl Game predictions to end the college season at 42-32-1.

McDaniels Return Helps Patriots Immediately and in the Future

2012-01-07T12:47:00.000-05:00

With Bill O'Brien leaving the Patriots to become the next head coach at Penn State, Bill Belichick was put into the position of having to find a new offensive coordinator.

With Josh McDaniels struggling as both a head coach with the Broncos and as the offensive coordinator with the Rams, he needed to find a job where he could find the success he had back when he was an assistant coach and offensive coordinator for the Patriots.

Well, it looks like McDaniels will fill the void left behind in New England by O'Brien's departure.

The Patriots are expected to hire McDaniels immediately as an offensive assistant coach with the belief that he will become the offensive coordinator when the playoffs end and O'Brien moves on to Happy Valley.

This is an excellent move by Belichick because it will continue the run of success the Patriots offense has enjoyed since 2007. O'Brien, who worked under McDaniels as an offensive assistant, has basically run the same system that McDaniels did. Having McDaniels on board will give the Patriots another experienced coach as they prepare for the AFC playoffs and it will be one less thing Belichick has to worry about this offseason and next season which should allow him to focus more on the defense.

Bringing back McDaniels could also be the solution to the question that no one in Patriot Nation wants to answer: Who will one day succeed the "Hooded One" as the head coach? Belichick will turn 60 after the season and although there is no reason why he can't continue to be a successful coach for several more years, the reality is that he will not coach forever.

Having McDaniels back in the fold gives the Patriots a successful and experienced assistant who knows what it takes to win in New England who has also had experience as a head coach. It would not be surprising to see McDaniels assume the title of offensive coordinator and assistant head coach once the season ends. I'm sure that after his negative experiences in Denver and St. Louis that McDaniels will be patient enough to wait for Belichick to call it quits while he also gets himself back into the mix with a winning team. Imagine McDaniels luck in leaving the 2-14 Rams for the 13-3 Patriots, a team with a legitimate shot at winning the Super Bowl.

Pacers Could Be Dangerous in the East

2012-01-07T09:45:00.001-05:00

When I did my NBA Random Thoughts the other day, I seriously considered making the Indiana Pacers my Eastern Conference runner-up. The Pacers are a good, young, and deep ball club that played the Bulls tough in the first round of last year's playoffs and now stand on the edge of contention in the NBA.

The little that I was able to watch of the Pacers beat down of the Celtics last night only reinforced my belief in their team. Head coach Frank Vogel has the kind of depth that will make a major difference in the NBA's compacted 66-game regular season which was evident last night when his younger and deeper team took advantage of the older Celtics.

In the front court, the Pacers have David West (who passed on the Celtics contract offer in December to go to Indiana), Tyler Hansbrough, Roy Hibbert, and Jeff Foster. On the wing they feature Danny Granger, Paul George, and Dahntay Jones. They also have two quick point guards in Darren Collison and George Hill.

Being able to use nine quality players is a huge advantage in the lockout shortened season. The Heat and the Bulls are the favorites in the East and while the big names on the Celtics, Knicks, and Magic make those teams threats in the conference, the team to keep an eye on are the Indiana Pacers.

Wild Card Football Picks

2012-01-06T17:10:00.000-05:00

In case you missed my AFC Playoff predictions or my NFC Playoff predictions.

All picks against the spread and home team in capitals.

Cincinnati (+3) over HOUSTON
Injuries to the Texans spoiled their chance to be the AFC favorite and they will lose their inaugural playoff game because the Bengals - yes, the Bengals - are the tougher team after surviving the AFC North.

23-16, Bengals.

Detroit (+10.5) over NEW ORLEANS
The Saints are my pick to win the NFC but they will have a scare put into them by the Lions. Calvin Johnson is going to be a force in this one but the Drew Brees Machine will live to play another week.

38-30, Saints.

NY GIANTS (-3) over Atlanta
This game will lead many to believe the Giants are a Super Bowl contender because of their defense (they're not) and that Matt Ryan will never lead the Falcons to a championship (he will someday).

24-14, Giants.

DENVER (+8.5) over Pittsburgh
Like the Texans, the Steelers have suffered too many injuries to win the AFC. As bad as Tebow has been lately, he will find a way to score late against a banged up Pittsburgh defense to lead the Broncos to the shocking win.

16-13, Broncos.

Last Week: 5 - 9 - 2
Season: 119 - 126 - 5

NBA Random Thoughts

2012-01-05T15:20:00.000-05:00

Here are some random thoughts on the start of the NBA season while I patiently wait for a caller to The Sports Hub to wonder why the Celtics haven't traded Avery Bradley, Jajuan Johnson, Greg Stiemsma, and a first round draft pick to Sacramento for Demarcus Cousins.

***

The Miami Heat still have to prove their ability to win close games, especially in the playoffs, but they look like the team to beat early in the season. The pressure faced by Dwayne Wade, Lebron James, and Chris Bosh in their first season as teammates may have forged a toughness that will make them champions in 2012. Their bench has been reinforced by having Udonis Haslem healthy to start the year, the addition of Shane Battier, and rookie Norris Cole who provides them with a quick point guard who can create offense off the dribble.

The Heat also will benefit from the offseason work of head coach Erik Spoelstra. He visited with college coaches Mike Krzyzewski and John Calipari but he also took time to visit with football coaches Urban Meyer and Chip Kelly. As Ian Thomsen pointed out in his terrific piece about Spoelstra's trip to watch the Pac 12 and Rose Bowl champions, the Heat want to focus on pushing the pace and spacing the floor to create opportunities for Wade and James to attack the basket.

As you will see below, the Heat are my pick to win the title.

***

Ricky Rubio's defense may mirror that of the French Army in the Spring of 1940 but that doesn't mean he is not turning heads with his command of the offensive aspects of being a point guard.

Rubio is already a YouTube sensation and his ability to create angles and then deliver a perfect pass for a basket is a beautiful thing to watch. The 21-year-old Spanish sensation has been worth the wait - he was drafted fifth overall in 2009 - so far for the Timberwolves. In six games he is averaging just over 9 points and an even 7 assists per game. Rubio has a long way to go to become a premiere NBA point guard but he already has the makings of a star.

***

The aging Celtics might not be the favorite in the Eastern Conference but they should still be a factor come playoff time if they stay reasonably healthy.

The "Big 4" of Rajon Rondo, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and Kevin Garnett are they key to the team's slim championship hopes but they have been bolstered by the promise of a good bench.

After seven games it is quite obvious that Brandon Bass is going to be a Garden favorite. Bass is a good shooter, rebounder, and he plays with energy. He is a better athlete than Glen "Big Baby" Davis, the player he was traded for, and looks like he will be an important part of Doc Rivers' rotation.

Keyon Dooling provides Rondo a valuable backup at the point, has shown the ability to knock down open jump shots, and can defend. Marquis Daniels has returned from last year's neck injury to provide scoring and defense off the bench. Jermaine O'Neal seems healthy at center and if he can play consistent it will be a big help to the front court. Rookie center Greg Stiemsma is not Bill Russell (or is he?) but he plays hard, blocks shots, and can hit open jump shots. Avery Bradley is capable of playing defense on opposing poit guards while rookies Jajuan Johnson and E'Twaun Moore look to be at least a year away from contributing. The Celtics are also waiting on Mickael Pietrus' knee to get healthy to provide more depth on the wing off the bench.

The bench will be so important for the Celtics to try and preserve the legs of Pierce, Allen, and Garnett to keep them rested and fresh for the playoffs. The combination of Bass, Dooling, Pietrus (when he returns), Stiemsma, and Daniels should allow Rivers to rest his star veterans in the hope that they have one more title run in them.

***

Prediction time!

1st Team All-NBA

G - Chris Paul, Clippers
G - Dwayne Wade, Heat
F - LeBron James, Heat
F - Kevin Durant, Thunder
C - Dwight Howard, Magic

MVP

LeBron James, Heat

Coach of the Year

Frank Vogel, Pacers

Rookie of the Year

Ricky Rubio, Timberwolves

Western Conference Finals

Thunder over Clippers

Eastern Conference Finals

Heat over Celtics

NBA Finals

Heat over Thunder

NFC Playoff and Super Bowl Predictions

2012-01-02T10:37:00.000-05:00

In case you missed it last night, here are my predictions for the AFC playoffs.

As always, I reserve the right to change my mind but these count as my official playoff and Super Bowl picks. Also, I will not be a slave to these predictions when it comes time to make my weekly picks against the spread. If I think that the Pittsburgh will go into Denver and win (which I do) that doesn't mean I can't (or won't) pick the Broncos to cover the spread.

Anyways, here is the NFC playoff seedings:

1. Green Bay (15-1, NFC North champions)
2. San Francisco (13-3, NFC West champions)
3. New Orleans (13-3, NFC South champions)
4. New York (9-7, NFC East champions)
5. Atlanta (10-6, Wild Card)
6. Detroit (10-6, Wild Card)

As for the picks:

Wild Card

(3) Saints over (6) Lions
(5) Falcons over (4) Giants

Divisional Round

(1) Packers over (5) Falcons
(3) Saints over (2) 49ers

NFC Championship Game

(2) Saints over (1) Packers

Super Bowl XLVI

New England Patriots over New Orleans Saints, 45-41

Yeah, I know, what a shock that I picked the home town team. The Patriots defense gives up a lot of yards but they have a knack for keeping teams out of the end zone and for creating turnovers and I'll put my support behind a Tom Brady offense up until the day that he walks away from the game.

The Saints defense is not very good either and the thought of seeing these two high powered offenses take the stage at Lucas Oil Stadium is exciting. I'm giving the nod to Brady over Drew Brees and the Patriots quarterback will hoist his fourth Lombardi Trophy to go along with his third Super Bowl MVP.

Pats Clinch Top Seed; AFC Playoff Predictions

2012-01-01T20:28:00.000-05:00

For the second straight week the Patriots had a slow start in Gillette Stadium against an inferior opponent before storming back to win. Last week they found themselves down 17-0 at the half before coming back to win 27-24 and today they bounced back from a 21-0 first quarter deficit to crush the Bills 49-21.

Those two wins completed a 13-3 regular season for the Patriots, a record that is good enough to make them the top seed in the AFC playoffs which gives Bill Belichick's team home field advantage up until the Super Bowl.

The Patriots are followed by the Ravens (12-4, AFC North champions), Texans (10-6, AFC South champions), Broncos (8-8, AFC West "champions"), Steelers (12-4, Wild Card), and Bengals (9-7, Wild Card) in the AFC.

Both the Patriots and the Ravens get a bye in the Wild Card round which gives them the opportunity to sit back, rest, and prepare for their opponent in the Divisional Round. The Texans host the Bengals and the Broncos host the Steelers on Wild Card Weekend.

The Patriots will get the lowest remaining seed in the Divisional Round. That means they could play the Broncos, Steelers, or Bengals. Belichick and the Patriots would never come out and state who they want to face but you can be sure they would like to avoid the Steelers out of that group.

The win also caps another amazing season in the Tom Brady era. He is now 124-35 as the starting quarterback with the Patriots since taking over for Drew Bledsoe in Week 3 of the 2001 season and when you count his playoff record, the record is 138-40 which includes wins in Super Bowls XXXVI, XXXVIII, and XXXIX.

The bye week will allow Brady and several other key Patriots to rest and heal their injuries to prepare themselves for a run at the franchise's fourth Super Bowl under Belichick while also trying to avoid the stories about the team's recent lack of success in the postseason. The Patriots have not won a playoff game since winning the 2007 AFC Championship Game and have been embarassed in their last two trips to the playoffs. Their game in the Divisional Round will be more than an opportunity to advance to the AFC Championship Game, it will also give them the chance to put the 2009 loss to the Ravens and the 2010 loss to the Jets in the past and put their entire focus on winning another Super Bowl.

My NFC playoff predicitions will be up early in the week (I'm waiting on the outcome of the Giants-Cowboys game) but here are my AFC predictions:

Wild Card

(6) Bengals over (3) Texans
(5) Steelers over (4) Broncos

Divisional Round

(1) Patriots over (6) Bengals
(2) Ravens over (5) Steelers

AFC Championship Game

(1) Patriots over (2) Ravens

Football Picks

2011-12-30T21:47:00.001-05:00

All picks against the spread and home team in capitals.

NCAA

Oregon (-4.5) over Wisconsin (Rose Bowl)
The Ducks high powered offense will be too much for the Badgers to stop.

Oklahoma State (-3.5) over Stanford
Stanford did not look impressive at the end of the season and Andrew Luck's time in Palo Alto will end on a bad note because his team will not be able to stop the Cowboys high octane offense.

Michigan (-2.5) over Virginia Tech (Sugar Bowl)
Denard Robinson will lead the Wolerines to a rout of the Hokies.

Clemson (-3) over West Virginia (Orange Bowl)
Clemson has been my team all year and the Tigers will roll over the Mountaineers.

LSU (-1) over Alabama (BCS Championship Game)
The Tigers will jump out to a quick start and never look back in winning the school a third BCS title.

Last Week (Conference Championships): 4 - 1
Season: 40 - 29 - 1

NFL

PHILADELPHIA (-8.5) over Washington
Tampa Bay (+12) over ATLANTA
San Francisco (-10.5) over ST. LOUIS
Chicago (-1) over MINNESOTA
Detroit (-3.5) over GREEN BAY
Dallas (+3) over NY GIANTS
Carolina (+8) over NEW ORLEANS
Tennessee (-3) over HOUSTON
CINCINNATI (+2) over Baltimore
Pittsburgh (-4) over CLEVELAND
Indianapolis (+3.5) over JACKSONVILLE
MIAMI (-2.5) over NY Jets
PATRIOTS (-11) over Buffalo
OAKLAND (-3) over San Diego
Kansas City (+3.5) over DENVER
Seattle (+3) over ARIZONA

Last Week: 6 - 9 - 1
Season: 114 - 117 - 3

Red Sox Trade for Closer

2011-12-29T14:20:00.000-05:00

So, the Red Sox have finally replaced Jonathan Papelbon. The Sox traded outfielder Josh Reddick and minor league prospects Miles Head and Raul Alcantara to Oakland in exchange for closer Andrew Bailey and outfielder Ryan Sweeney, giving new manager Bobby Valentine his man at the back of the bullpen.

The 27-year-old Bailey was the 2009 A.L. Rookie of the Year and was an All-Star in both 2009 and 2010. He has 75 saves in his three major league seasons and boasts a career ERA of 2.07 and a career WHIP of 0.954.

The Red Sox like those statistics but they love his price tag. Eligible for arbitration for the first time, Bailey is expected to command no more than $4-million in 2012. That is significantly lower than the $12.5-million Papelbon will make this season as a part of the 4-year/$50-million deal he got from the Phillies.

While Bailey has the credentials to close, is a much cheaper alternative to Papelbon, and is saying all the right things about his opportunity in Boston, judgement will have to wait to see if the Red Sox have made the right decision on the field. Papelbon had a track record of success in the A.L. East and at Fenway Park and it is a risk for the Red Sox to assume Bailey can step in and immediately fill Papelbon's shoes.

Bailey's transition from Oakland to Boston will be an important story in spring training and early in the season. He needs to be successful to make the Red Sox a factor in the A.L. East and to validate the front office's decision to part with Papelbon.

Football Picks

2011-12-24T09:50:00.000-05:00

All picks against the spread and home team in capitals.

Merry Christmas!

NFL

Denver (-3) over BUFFALO
Tim Tebow playing this close to Jesus' birthday is too much to pick against.

NY Giants (+3) over NY JETS
The G-Men save Tom Coughlin's job.

St. Louis (+15) over PITTSBURGH
Chaz Batch will keep the Steelers in the hunt for the AFC North title and a first round playoff bye but he won't cover the spread.

WASHINGTON (-6.5) over Minnesota
The thought of the Vikings with Adrian Peterson and Andrew Luck is scary.

CINCINNATI (-4) over Arizona
The Red Rifle and A.J. Green keep the Bengals in the playoff hunt.

Oakland (+2.5) over KANSAS CITY
The Chiefs fall on their faces after upsetting the Packers a week ago.

Miami (+10) over PATRIOTS
I see a late Brandon Marshall touchdown giving the Dolphins the back door cover.

BALTIMORE (-12.5) over Cleveland
Ravens inch closer to first round playoff bye.

CAROLINA (-6.5) over Tampa Bay
Cam Newton will run all over the Bucs defense.

TENNESSEE (-7) over Jacksonville
Chris Johnson will run all over the Jaguars defense.

DETROIT (-2.5) over San Diego
The Lions clinch a playoff spot!

DALLAS (-1.5) over Philadelphia
Tough to pick who will play worse in a big game, Tony Romo or Michael Vick. I'll go with Vick.

SEATTLE (+2) over San Francisco
Pete Carroll has the 'Hawks on the verge of a playoff spot. Wait, what?

Chicago (+12) over GREEN BAY
21-13, Packers.

Atlanta (+7) over NEW ORLEANS
Falcons loom as potential NFC dark horse with Matt Ryan.

Last Week: 8 - 7 - 1
This Week: 0 - 1
Season: 108 - 109 - 2

Thursday Football Pick

2011-12-22T21:14:00.002-05:00

Houston (-7) over INDIANAPOLIS

Random Thoughts (December 17, 2011)

2011-12-17T15:07:00.000-05:00

Thoughts and prayers go out to Celtics forward Jeff Green, who will miss the 2011-2012 season after it was discovered that Green has an aortic aneurysm and will need surgery.

Green came to Boston in the controversial Kendrick Perkins trade last season and did not play well. It was hoped he would bounce back this year and help the Celtics contend for the championship but now his focus will be on his health.

This is a big blow to the Celtics who were counting on Green to be an important piece of their bench...

After two periods in Philadelphia the Bruins are putting an absolute beating on the Flyers. Behind goals from Benoit Pouliot, Daniel Paille, Zdeno Chara, Milan Lucic, and Nathan Horton and 21 saves from Tim Thomas, the B's have built a 5-0 lead.

The B's and Flyers have been mixing it up as well - the Bruins have already logged 48 penalty minutes including fighting majors for Chara, Johnny Boychuk, and Horton.

A win today puts the Bruins into first place in the Eastern Conference...

Nice move by the Patriots to sign linebacker Jerod Mayo to a five-year contract extension. The Pro Bowler is under the control of the Patriots through 2017...

I like the Red Sox decision to make Daniel Bard a starter in spring training but I'm not so excited about the team's decision to keep their options open in terms of possibly moving him back into the bullpen.

The Red Sox should learn from the Yankees mistakes with Joba Chamberlain. The Yankees never gave Joba a defined role and he could never get comfortable which has led to him struggling.

Either make Bard a starter or the closer...

Enjoy CP3-to-Blake this winter...

Football Picks

2011-12-17T11:36:00.000-05:00

A quick note before we get to the picks, which hopefully will be a bounce back from last week's dreadful 5-11 showing.

On Thursday night I was coaching my basketball team and after practice we had a team function. To the best of my knowledge I thought that I properly used my cell phone to post my pick for the Thursday night game between the Falcons and the Jaguars. When I opened up the blog this morning to do the weekend's picks I realized that my attempt failed. I have always been honest to my dozen(s) of loyal readers so I know you will trust me when I include that pick in this post. Thanks.

All picks against the spread and home team in capitals.

ATLANTA (-12) over Jacksonville
Thanks for trusting me - I promise to deliver a successful week of picks so you can bolster your Christmas shopping funds.

Dallas (-7) over TAMPA BAY
The Buccaneers have quit on Raheem Morris.

BUFFALO (+1.5) over Miami
The Dolphins were playing hard for Tony Sparano but his firing will take the air out of their sails while the Bills get a much needed win.

Green Bay (-14) over KANSAS CITY
This line is 10 points too low.

Cincinnati (-3.5) over ST. LOUIS
The Bengals keep their playoff hopes alive going into the final two weeks.

Tennessee (-6.5) over INDIANPOLIS
Picking against the Colts all year has been a pleasure.

CHICAGO (-3.5) over Seattle
I'm not sure how much I would pay to see this but it would be classic to see a Seattle player celebrate a touchdown by "sniffing" the goal line in memory of Sam Hurd's career.

ARIZONA (-6.5) over Cleveland
You might have Colt McCoy like symptoms if you take the Browns on the road.

New Orleans (-7) over MINNESOTA
Tough season in Minnesota but at least Adrian Peterson is still playing hard for the thousands who have them on their fantasy teams.

NY GIANTS (-7) over Washington
I guess someone has to win the NFC East. Right?

Carolina (+7) over HOUSTON
Congratulations on the AFC South title Houston but the injuries finally catch up to you this weekend and your hopes of clinching a first round playoff bye get crushed by the Cam Newton Express.

PHILADELPHIA (-3) over NY Jets
The Eagles strike a blow to the Jets playoff chances and maybe save Andy Reid's job in the process.

Detroit (-1) over OAKLAND
The "Wrath of Suh" will be too much for Carson Palmer and the Raiders.

Patriots (-7.5) over DENVER
The nation is on the Tebow Bandwagon and everyone loves them to cover this spread but I really think the Pats will have a breakout game on both sides of the ball and win by at least 10 points.

Baltimore (-2.5) over SAN DIEGO
Pats-Ravens for the AFC Championship in a few weeks.

SAN FRANCISCO (-1) over Pittsburgh
I think the Harbaugh brothers had a chat this week on how to beat the Steelers.

This Week: 1 - 0
Last Week: 5 - 11
Season: 101 - 101 - 5

Patriots Move to 10-3, Face Denver Tebow's Next Week

2011-12-11T20:30:00.001-05:00

Tim Tebow is 7-1 as a starter this season and has helped lead the Broncos into first place in the AFC West. The Broncos defense is tough, they run the ball, and they find miraculous ways to win every week with Tebow at quarterback.

That said, the Patriots are going into Denver next Sunday with their weak defense and beating the Broncos.

Why? Tom Brady and Bill Belichick.

Together they have posted a regular season record of 121-35, a playoff record of 14-5, and have accumulated three Lombardi Trophies. Brady is the greatest quarterback of his generation and as exciting as Tebow has been over the last two months, he is not on that level and probably never will be.

I'm not hating on Tebow. What he has done with the Broncos this season - taking a mediocre team and breathing enough life into them to make them psuedo contenders in the AFC - has been a lot of fun to watch. There is no denying that Tebow is fun to watch and this has been one of the best stories in the NFL this year.

The fact is that despite having a terrible defense on his side, an inconsistent running game, and a banged up offensive line, Brady is going to go into Denver a week from today and win as the Patriots quarterback for the 136th time in his career.

There is nothing Tim Tebow can do to stop that from happening.

Football Picks

2011-12-10T21:46:00.000-05:00

NFL

BALTIMORE (-16) over Indianapolis
I give the Colts credit for their "comeback" in Foxboro last week but the Ravens are going to blow them out tomorrow.

Houston (+1) over CINCINNATI
And the feel good story that was the Bengals playoff run comes to an end.

GREEN BAY (-11.5) over Oakland
The Packers defense is not very good but you don't have to be very good to beat up Carson Palmer.

Kansas City (+10.5) over NY JETS
Just feels like a game that the Jets will win despite three or four Mark Sanchez interceptions.

DETROIT (-10) over Minnesota
The Lions get back on track against the Vikings.

TENNESSEE (+3.5) over New Orleans
The Saints throw away at least one game a month.

MIAMI (-3) over Philadelphia
The Dolphins defense does it again.

Patriots (-8) over WASHINGTON
Make it ten out of the last eleven years that the Fighting Belichicks have registered double digit wins.

CAROLINA (+3) over Atlanta
I desperately need big days from Cam Newton and Jonathan Stewart so I'm all in with the Panthers.

Tampa Bay (-2) over JACKSONVILLE
Does anyone care that Ryan Braun tested positive for PED's?

San Francisco (-3.5) over ARIZONA
The 49ers take another step towards clinching a first round bye in the playoffs.

DENVER (-4) over Chicago
I don't see the Caleb Hanie beating the Broncos defense or Tim Tebow.

SAN DIEGO (-7) over Buffalo
After a great start the Bills have fallen apart quickly.

DALLAS (-3.5) over NY Giants
Tony Romo will make less mistakes than Eli Manning.

SEATTLE (-9.5) over St. Louis
Tough to believe the Rams were one win away from a division title and a playoff berth a year ago.

This Week: 0 - 1
Last Week: 9 - 7
Season: 95 - 91 - 5

Celtics Random Thoughts

2011-12-10T16:43:00.000-05:00

Just a few observations while Doc Rivers and Danny Ainge try to mold a roster that will deliver Banner 18.

***

The rumors of the Celtics landing Chris Paul for Rajon Rondo were very intriguing. I am a huge fan of Rondo - he's a proven winner and is one of the best point guards in the league. However, if the Celtics could have landed CP3, they would have been making a good basketball trade. Paul is one of the best point guards that has ever played in the NBA and he would have been an upgrade over Rondo.

Now that it looks like Paul is going to be a Laker whether or not David Stern approves, I worry about Rondo's emotional state. He had a shaky finish last season after his best friend Kendrick Perkins was traded to the Thunder and after President Obama made a joke about his jump shot to Ray Allen. What will be the effect of his name being dragged through the rumor mill? Only time will tell.

***

While the Rondo-for-Paul trade fizzled, the Celtics appear to be on the verge of making an impact deal with the Hornets anyways.

Reports are circulating that the Celtics will land David West from New Orleans in exchange for Jermaine O'Neal. The 6-9 West is coming off an ACL injury from last season that has cost him some money but the 31-year-old forward is reportedly completely healthy.

West, who has career averages of 16.4 points and 7.3 rebounds, would be a welcome addition to the Celtics front line. O'Neal was their only legitimate center on the roster but his constant knee troubles make it doubtful he would survive the entire season and at this point, West is clearly the better player and having him makes the Celtics a stronger contender in the East than they would be with O'Neal.

***

Ainge has been working quickly to assemble a full team for Rivers.

He re-signed Jeff Green, traded Glen Davis to the Magic for Brandon Bass, and has also added Marquis Daniels, Keyon Dooling, Chris Wilcox, and Greg Stiemsma to the roster. The team also has rookies JaJuan Johnson, E'Twaun Moore, and Gilbert Brown under contract.

If the West trade is consumated as expected, the Celtics would have a solid rotation of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Rondo, Ray Allen, West, Green, Daniels, Bass, Wilcox, and Dooling with Avery Bradley, Stiemsma, and the rookies fighting for spots and minutes.

5: Garnett/Wilcox
4: West/Bass/Green/Johnson
3: Pierce/Green/Daniels
2: Allen/Daniels
1: Rondo/Dooling/Bradley

***

The team's schedule will be difficult. The Celtics veterans will struggle to survive the 66-game compacted schedule and then get through the rugged playoff schedule.

They will need the Big 3 to find the fountain of youth to make one more run, Rondo to forget the trade rumors, West (if the deal gets finished) to bounce back 100% from the ACL tear, Green to bounce back from a tough first impression in Boston, and at least two others from the Daniels/Dooling/Wilcox/Johnson/Bradley/Moore mix to provide quality minutes off the bench.

That's a lot to hope for but this team has championship experience and it will be the last chance for the Garnett-Pierce-Allen group to win a title in Boston so while a title may not be expected - especially with the Heat, Bulls, and Knicks (with Tyson Chandler) in the East - it would not shock me to see Banner 18 come to the Garden this season.

Thursday Football Pick

2011-12-08T15:27:00.000-05:00

PITTSBURGH (-14) over Cleveland
The Steelers are still in the hunt for the top seed in the AFC playoffs and they can't afford to stumble against the Browns.

NFL Picks

2011-12-04T07:51:00.000-05:00

All picks against the spread and home team in capitals.

NFL

Tennessee (+2.5) over BUFFALO
The Bills have staggered since their hot start and it won't be easy for them to run into a team that has a fighting chance to win the AFC South now that the Texans are playing Drew Bledsoe at quarterback.

CHICAGO (-7) over Kansas City
When the QB matchup is Caleb Hanie and Tyler Palko the smart gambler looks at the defenses and running games which is why I am taking the Bears.

MIAMI (-3) over Oakland
The Raiders travel across the country to play one of the best defenses in the league with Carson Palmer under center. Take the points.

PATRIOTS (-20.5) over Indianapolis
I wonder if Peyton Manning will show his face on the sidelines today while the Colts are getting tortured for being the driving force behind the rule changes over the last few years thathave turned the NFL into a professional version of flag football.

Cincinnati (+6.5) over PITTSBURGH
The Red Rifle and A.J. Green help pull off the upset while keeping the Bengals alive in the AFC playoff picture.

Carolina (+3) over TAMPA BAY
My Cam Newton experiment in fantasy football takes off today.

Denver (+1.5) over MINNESOTA
Tim Tebow is getting the headlines but the Denver defense is doing most of the work. With Adrian Peterson on the sidelines the Broncos defense will shut down the Vikings offense and Tebow will put up just enough points to keep his team in contention in the AFC West.

NY Jets (-3) over WASHINGTON
Come on, a Patriots-Jets rematch in the Divisional Round has to happen.

HOUSTON (+3) over Atlanta
Arian Foster and Ben Tate will be enough for the Texans to survive the T.J. Yates Experiment.

Baltimore (-6.5) over CLEVELAND
I am feeling a Ravens-Patriots AFC Championship Game.

Green Bay (-7) over NY GIANTS
Sign me up for the Packers when there is a single-digit point spread.

SAN FRANCISCO (-13.5) over St. Louis
Steve Spagnuolo would be a nice addition for the 2012 Patriots as a defensive coordinator.

Dallas (-4.5) over ARIZONA
I like my chances with a Rob Ryan defense going against Kevin Kolb.

NEW ORLEANS (-9) over Detroit
The sky is falling on the Lions after their hot start.

JACKSONVILLE (+3) over San Diego
Okay, I'll be the one to start the rumor of Chip Kelly going to San Diego to replace Norv Turner.

This Week: 0 - 1
Last Week: 8 - 8
Season: 86 - 83 - 5

College Football Picks

2011-12-02T19:44:00.000-05:00

The NFL picks will be posted tomorrow but I needed to get the college picks in before Oregon destroys UCLA in the Pac 12 Championship Game tonight.

NCAA

Pac 12 Championship Game
Oregon (-32) over UCLA
The Ducks will clinch their third consecutive league title in impressive fashion against a terrible UCLA team. I smell a 57-10 score in favor of the guys from Eugene.

SEC Championship Game
LSU (-14) over Georgia
I'm done believing that a team other than Alabama can keep it close with LSU.

OKLAHOMA STATE (-3.5) over Oklahoma
The de facto Big 12 championship game will be won by the Cowboys who would have been going to the BCS Championship Game if not for their loss at Iowa State.

ACC Championship Game
Clemson (+7) over Virginia Tech
The Hokies have been hot lately but I've had a lot of success going with Clemson so I'm taking the Tigers to win the ACC.

Big 10 Championship Game
Michigan State (+10) over Wisconsin
The Badgers will win the inaugural Big 10 title game but the Spartans will keep it close.

Last Week: 0 - 4 - 1
Season: 36 - 28 - 1

Thursday Football Pick

2011-12-01T18:33:00.000-05:00

Philadelphia (-3) over SEATTLE
The Eagles are in the midst of a terribly disappointing season but they will take care of business tonight against the lowly Seahawks.

Bobby Valentine to be Hired as Red Sox Manager

2011-11-29T22:56:00.001-05:00

After reports came out earlier tonight that Gene Lamont was no longer in the running to be Terry Francona's successor as manager of the Red Sox, it looks like Bobby Valentine will be hired to be the 45th manager in team history. For an introduction to who Valentine is as both a manager and as a person, read Tim Kurkjian's piece from ESPN.com.

Valentine has previously managed the Texas Rangers, New York Mets, and Chiba Lotte Marines of the Japan League. He guided the Mets to the National League pennant in 2000 and the Marines to a Japan League championship. For the last few years he has been a baseball analyst for ESPN.

He is known for his high baseball IQ as well as for his fiery temperment. Valentine will not have the patience with the media in Boston's intense market that Francona did and that is something to keep a close eye on. Where Francona would go out of his way to protect a player from media criticism, Valentine will be likely to call the player out in the press. I'm not sure either method is perfect, I'm just saying that things will be a lot different than they were the last eight years. It will be interesting to see how that effects the play of Dustin Pedroia, who was close with Francona.

Now that the Red Sox have their next manager, they can focus on putting together their team for 2012. Their corps of Pedroia, Adrian Gonzalez, Jacoby Ellsbury, Jon Lester, Clay Buchholz, Josh Beckett and Carl Crawford is very good but they have many holes to fill. They need depth in the starting rotation, a right fielder, and help in the bullpen.

With Valentine aboard, they better find players who can deal with an intense manager.

College Football Bowl Game Projections

2011-11-27T11:30:00.000-05:00

There is still a week of conference championship games to be played that could dramatically alter these projections but outside of any major upsets, I am confident in the following predictions for the BCS bowl games.

BCS National Championship Game

LSU (SEC Champions, BCS #1) vs. Alabama (BCS #2)

Sugar Bowl

Houston (BCS At-Large) vs. Michigan (BCS At-Large)

Rose Bowl

Oregon (Pac 12 Champions) vs. Wisconsin (Big 10 Champions)

Fiesta Bowl

Oklahoma (Big 12 Champions) vs. Stanford (BCS At-Large)

Orange Bowl

Virginia Tech (ACC Champions) vs. Louisville (Big East Champions)

BC Needs to Hire Sean McDonnell Before UMass Can

2011-11-25T23:18:00.001-05:00

The Boston College Eagles pulled off a mild upset earlier today, beating the Miami Hurricanes on the road to finish the 2011 season 4-8. The disappointing season will be the first one without a bowl game appearance since 1998, breaking a streak of 12 consecutive seasons the Eagles had played in a postseason game.

BC's athletic director, Gene DeFilippo, now has to decide whether or not to stick by head coach Frank Spaziani. Spaziani was the team's very successful defensive coordinator from 1999-2009 but has struggled to an uninspiring 18-18 record in three years as head coach. If BC is serious about competing in the always wide open Atlantic Coast Conference, DeFilippo needs to cut ties with Spaziani and then look no further than an hour north of Boston to pluck Sean McDonnell away from the University of New Hampshire.

I made a similar plea to UConn less than a year ago to tab McDonnell as their head coach. UConn ignored my advice and instead hired former Syracuse coach Paul Pasqualoni, who has so far led the Huskies to a 4-6 record.

If DeFilippo were wise, he would quickly let Spaziani go and make Sean McDonnell the next head coach of the Eagles. McDonnell has quietly made UNH a powerhouse at the FCS (formerly 1-AA) level. He has a 96-61 record in 13 seasons at his alma mater and has led the Wildcats to the NCAA playoffs eight straight years. McDonnell was the 2005 Eddie Robinson National Coach of the Year and is a three-time New England Football Writers FCS Coach of the Year.

Hiring McDonnell would send a signal that Boston College is not only serious about playing in the postseason but that they know that the candidates to take over the head job at a FBS school do not need to be a coordinator from another FBS school. If you doubt that, look up the coaching history of Chip Kelly. Before making a name for himself as Oregon's offensive coordinator in 2007 and 2008 and then winning nearly every National Coach of the Year award in 2010 in leading the Ducks to the BCS National Championship Game, Kelly worked under Sean McDonnell at UNH.

If UNH was enough on the resume to have Oregon take a chance on Chip Kelly, it should be more than enough for Boston College to make the call on Sean McDonnell.

Boston College can be a contender for the ACC title, it's just not going to happen under Frank Spaziani. For BC to compete for championships they need to make a head coaching change and with a proven winner like Sean McDonnell in their backyard, they could be back in the mix for the ACC crown within two years if they make him their next head coach. Hopefully BC will not make the same mistake of going with a retread candidate that UConn made and will make a bold decision to hire one of the most qualified candidates in the country in an attempt to make their football team relevant locally and nationally.

While the Boston College job is not yet available - and Spaziani is no lock to be fired - there is an open FBS head coaching job in New England that is open. UMass, which is leaving FCS for FBS next season, fired coach Kevin Morris earlier in the week. UMass is very familiar with McDonnell's work at UNH as the two schools were fierce rivals in both the Atlantic 10 Conference and the Colonial Athletic Association. The Minutemen would be making an excellent hire in McDonnell as they say goodbye to FCS football and prepare for life in the Mid-American Conference.

The bottom line? Boston College is on the verge of becoming irrelevant in football if they stay with Frank Spaziani and Sean McDonnell is the right man to fix what ails the Eagles program. If BC doesn't do the right thing and hire McDonnell, UMass could pounce and set themselves up for success in their new life as a FBS football school.

Football Picks

2011-11-25T22:14:00.000-05:00

TheBostonInsider had a wonderful Thanksgiving at the dinner table and even a 1-2 record on the NFL picks on that sacred day couldn't spoil the turkey, potatoes, vegetables, and time with the family.

Now that I have a full stomach and a little rest, I'm ready to make some cash.

All picks against the spread and home team in capitals.

NFL

Arizona (+3) over ST. LOUIS
I still can't believe the Cardinals traded a second round pick and Domiqiue Rodger-Cromartie for a quarterback that was 3-4 as a starter. Larry Fitzgerald is shaking his head in agreement. Despite that, I'm taking the Cardinals becase Sam Bradford, he of the 8-16 career record, hasn't been much better since leaving Oklahoma.

NY JETS (-9) over Buffalo
The Jets are fighting to stay alive in the AFC playoff race and catch a break because the Bills have completely fallen apart since their 4-1 start.

CINCINNATI (-7.5) over Cleveland
I was ready to pick the Browns to cover before reading that they are 2-7-1 versus the spread this season. In a related note, the Bengals are 7-2-1 versus the spread in 2011. 24-9, Bengals.

Houston (-3.5) over JACKSONVILLE
The last time Matt Leinart had a running game like this, the Texas Longhorns won the BCS National Championship. Gary Kubiak won't make the mistake Pete Carroll did on January 4, 2006 and have Leinart throw 40 passes, instead he will have his quarterback turn and hand the ball off at least 35 times to either Arian Foster or Ben Tate.

Carolina (-3) over INDIANAPOLIS
I made a blockbuster trade in one of my fantasy football leagues in which I gave up Aaron Rodgers (hoping the Packers would slowly put on the brakes in December), Wes Welker (consistently on the injury report since Halloween), and Greg Olsen (I had Vernon Davis on the bench) in exchange for Cam Newton, Matt Forte (how good did that Cutler injury work out for me?), and Antonio Brown. Like Auburn a year ago, I will win the title directly because of Cam Newton's legs and right arm.

Tampa Bay (+3.5) over TENNESSEE
With both teams hovering around .500 against the spread, I will take the team getting the extra half-point instead of the team playing with an injured 36-year-old quarterback.

ATLANTA (-9.5) over Minnesota
The Falcons probably would have been my pick if Adrian Peterson were healthy and playing in the game. Without him, the Vikings have virtually no chance to be competitive in the Georgia Dome.

Chicago (+4) over OAKLAND
The Jay Cutler injury may have killed the Bears chances of stealing the NFC title from Green Bay in January but Matt Forte's versatility (did I mention he's my fantasy football running back) will be too much for the Raiders to handle and on top of that, Carson Palmer will have a long day against the Bears defense.

SEATTLE (-3.5) over Washington
Would Bill Belichick even listen if Dan Snyder offered him total control of the Redskins with some kind of ridiculous $100-million/10-year contract? Hey, no one ever though Rick Pitino would leave Kentucky.

Patriots (-3.5) over PHILADELPHIA
Michael Vick was already uncertain to play and now that it looks like Nnamdi Asomugha won't dress on Sunday, it looks like the Patriots will move one step closer to locking up a bye in the AFC while still not proving that they are an elite Super Bowl contending team.

Denver (+6) over SAN DIEGO
There is no reason to believe the Chargers won't stop their five-game losing streak against a weak Broncos team that is running a college offense. Well, except Tim Tebow. Give me the guy who makes shaky throws, opens hospitals, and has his team inspired and playing winning football. Upset special: 26-24, Broncos.

Pittsburgh (-10.5) over KANSAS CITY
The Chiefs are coming off an embarrassing Monday Night Football loss to the Patriots and now return home to face the favorites in the AFC. It is going to be a long night at Arrowhead Stadium for whoever is playing quarterback for the Chiefs and the Steelers will let the national television audience get to sleep before 11pm.

NEW ORLEANS (-7) over NY Giants
This is a must win for the Giants to stay in the hunt for the NFC East but I'm not buying Eli Manning coming through (despite his Super Bowl ring and 4th Quarter comeback in Foxboro earlier in the month) when the G-Men need it most.

This Week: 1 - 2
Last Week: 5 - 6 - 1
Season: 79 - 76 - 5

College Football Picks

2011-11-25T10:56:00.000-05:00

All picks against the spread and home team in capitals. The NFL picks for the weekend will be up either later today or early tomorrow.

NCAA

Arkansas (+11.5) over LSU
We will be getting a rematch of LSU and Alabama in the BCS National Championship Game but the Razorbacks will keep it close. It's sad that a 10-2 Arkansas team will not be in a BCS bowl game but the Big East champion will be.

WEST VIRGINIA (-7) over Pittsburgh
The Mountaineers have a shot at the Big East title and a berth to a BCS bowl game on the line tonight.

MICHIGAN (-7.5) over Ohio State
Urban Meyer isn't the Ohio State coach quite yet. Brady Hoke gets the biggest win of his initial season in Ann Arbor and the Wolverines are likely off to the Sugar Bowl.

AUBURN (+21) over Alabama
The defending champs won't roll over in the Iron Bowl.

OREGON (-28) over Oregon State
The Ducks roll in the Civil War and clinch the Pac 12 North in the process.

Last Week: 2 - 3
Season: 36 - 24

Thanksgiving Football Picks

2011-11-24T08:40:00.000-05:00

Thanksgiving is America's greatest holiday for two reasons.

Mom's turkey dinner and football.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving.

Picks are against the spread and home team in capitals.

NFL

DETROIT (+6.5) over Green Bay
The Packers are not going 16-0 and today is the perfect atmosphere for the perfect season to end. The Lions fans hate the Packers and for the first time this century they have a team worth supporting.

33-25, Lions.

DALLAS (-7) over Miami
The Cowboys defense will make life miserable for Matt Moore today.

34-10, Cowboys.

BALTIMORE (-3) over San Francisco
The "Harbaugh Bowl" should be an excellent football game but playing at home should give the Ravens the edge over the 49ers, a team that is due to play poorly on one of these West Coast to East Coast trips.

24-20, Ravens.

Remembering JFK

2011-11-22T13:03:00.001-05:00

48 years ago today, Lee Harvey Oswald robbed the United States of its 35th President.

All political debate aside, the legacy of President Kennedy lives on today and his message of action that he delivered in his Inaugural Address rings as true today as it did in 1961. With the tough times our country faces today, Americans need to take responsibility for their situation and work to make things better for themselves and for their country.

While you sit around the family table this weekend, remember Kennedy's advice and think of ways that you can improve America so that future generations can enjoy living in the greatest nation on Earth.

Patriots Random Thoughts (November 22, 2011)

2011-11-22T13:01:00.000-05:00

So, what we learned through ten games, including last night's 34-3 thrashing of the Kansas City Chiefs, is that the Patriots have as good of a shot as any team in the wide open AFC to represent the conference at Super Bowl XLVI. Their defense still is vulnerable, especially in the secondary, and their offense still lacks a consistent deep threat in the passing game, which a good defense could exploit, but with no juggernaut in the AFC there is an opportunity for this team to make a run at the Lombardi Trophy.

The defense is getting better. The competition has not been the best over the last few weeks - I shudder to think what Aaron Rodgers or Drew Brees would do with the likes of Sergio Brown and Ross Ventrone getting serious playing time in the New England secondary - but since losing 34-31 to the Buffalo Bills back on September 25, they have not allowed more than 25 points in a game. That may not jump out as a sign that the Patriots defense is rolling like it did back in 2003 and 2004 but they are improving and this recent stretch includes holding Tony Romo and the Cowboys, a team that has averaged 26 points per game other than their October 16 loss in Foxboro, to 16 points.

On offense, the Patriots have continued to score a lot of points. They are averaging 29.3 points per game and with Tom Brady running the show, the Patriots are a threat to score nearly every time they touch the ball. The lack of a deep threat is something that a good defense like Pittsburgh or Baltimore could take advantage of but with a variety of weapons, including Rob Gronkowski and Wes Welker, Brady can pick apart any defense.

Are the Patriots perfect? No. They are far from being the dominant team that they were in '03, '04, and '07. What is in their favor is that none of the other AFC contenders are dominant either. This is the kind of year that a team with flaws can still win the conference because all the contenders are flawed. It really will come down to what team can hide their flaws the best in January.

Can the Patriots be that team? Only time will tell...

Considering the Patriots recent run of mediocrity in the draft, last year's selection of Rob Gronkowski with the 42 overall pick was hardly cause for celebration. After watching the Patriots take busts like Laurence Maroney, Terrence Wheatley, and Brandon Meriweather at the top of the draft the last few years, Gronkowski did not register with me outside of seeing Bill Belichick attempting to fill a need at tight end.

Less than two years into his NFL career, Gronkowski has proven to be one of the wisest choices in Belichick's time with the Patriots. He is a 6-7, 250-pound freak of nature who has provided Tom Brady with a dangerous weapon in the passing game. The Gronk is also an accomplished run blocker and as an added bonus, he provides a unique outlook on football and life (follow him on Twitter @RobGronkowski) that is rarely seen in the lockerroom at Gillette Stadium.

For example, when asked last night about his 19-yard touchdown in the third quarter that ended with him nailing a 360-degree spinning landing that forced the team's medical crew to check if he had a concussion, Gronkowski said "Yeah, they kept asking me, and I started throwing out my own math problems ... I was like, 'Dude, I can count to 10,' and I started counting to 10 ... That's pretty easy though, so they kept letting me play." For those of us who are accustomed to Patriots never talking about injuries, it is refreshing to listen to Gronkowski.

To have a weapon like Gronkowski, and his fellow second-year tight end Aaron Hernandez, is a luxury for Brady and it is a major reason why he is still playing quarterback at an elite level. He already has 20 career touchdown receptions and his large presence in the redzone provides Brady with a reliable target while also creating opportunities for his teammates. It is possible that the decision to draft Gronkowski could make the difference for the Patriots if they are to win the Super Bowl because he makes the offense so dynamic...
Julian Edelman, a 7th Round draft pick in 2009, was a quarterback at Kent State University and has found a niche with the Patriots as a punt returner and as a reserve slot receiver.

Due to all the injuries to the Patriots secondary, Edelman has also started to play defensive back. Last night afforded Edelman the opportunity to star in both of his roles as he had a 72-yard punt return for a touchdown and he also made one tackle and drew a holding penalty while playing defense.

Coaching players to serve in multiple roles has been a hallmark of Bill Belichick's time with the Patriots. Many fans will remember linebacker Mike Vrabel serving as a goal line tight end and in a preview of Edelman's current role, Troy Brown played some defensive back to go along with his other jobs as a receiver and punt returner.

With the secondary being in dire need of help, Belichick's decision to make Edelman a two-way player could be very important...

Up until this point, the story about rookie offenisve lineman Marcus Cannon has focused on his recovery from cancer treatments while he tries to make it in the NFL. That story could be changing in a hurry.

Quality depth on the Patriots offensive line could be an issue as the schedule heads toward December with Dan Koppen having been out for the season since Week 1 and Sebastian Vollmer fighting a back injury. The Pats' 1st Round pick, Nate Solder, has been terrific filling in at tackle, guard, and even occassionally at tight end but it is the team's other rookie lineman who could make an impact over the final few weeks...

Enjoy 12-4 and the second seed in the AFC...

MNF Presents the Patriots With a Chance to Lock Up AFC East

2011-11-20T20:49:00.001-05:00

300 is one of my favorite movies because of this scene. The Greek Army that is massing to defend their country from the Persians looks at the 300 soldiers brought from Sparta and doubts whether they can be of help because their numbers are low. King Leonidas of Sparta points out that although he may have less men, he has more soldiers.

This scene can be applied to the Patriots. They might not have enough of Bill Belichick's "soldiers" to win the AFC or the Super Bowl - remember, King Leonidas and his men ultimately lost to the Persians - but they have enough to win the AFC East championship for the ninth time since 2001.

The Jets and Bills have both fallen to 5-5 with losses to the Broncos and Dolphins this week. That means with a win tomorrow night against the Chiefs, the Patriots can take a commanding two-game lead in the division with six weeks left to play. A win tomorrow almost guarantees the Patriots of the division title and the playoff spot that comes with that crown. In a wide open AFC, that secured spot could be enough of a window for Belichick and Tom Brady to win a fifth AFC Championship together and, possibly, a fourth Super Bowl.

Questions remain about the Patriots defense, especially in the secondary and the lack of a consistent deep threat in the passing game (come on, bring back Randy Moss for the two-and-a-half months it will take to win the Super Bowl) makes their offense fairly predictable. However, with Belichick and Brady on the front lines and with no other dominant team in the conference, the Pats could be in the mix come January.

Getting to that point starts tomorrow night.

Lee Corso Summarizes the State of the BCS

2011-11-20T14:36:00.001-05:00

I know it wasn't Lee Corso's intention to summarize the current chaotic state of the BCS but damn did he ever set us up for a day of games that have made the SEC West the epicenter of college football.

At the start of the weekend, a rematch of LSU and Alabama in the BCS Championship Game was possible but Oklahoma State was still second in the BCS rankings. The Cowboys then went out and were upset at Iowa State, kicking off a wild Saturday of games that set up the SEC West to put a lock on the BCS Championship Game.

Oregon and Oklahoma, two teams with a fighting chance of crashing the SEC's championship party in January, found themselves on the wrong side of the scoreboard on Saturday and now there is a strong chance that we will get LSU-Alabama II to decide the national title.

Arkansas, which will be most likely be ranked third in the BCS standings that will come out tonight, can play spoiler to LSU if they beat the Tigers the Friday after Thanksgiving but even then, Alabama would win the SEC West and if the Crimson Tide went on to bear Georgia in the SEC Championship Game, a one-loss LSU team would likely get another shot at 'Bama for the BCS title.

There are still two weeks of college football to be played, including the conference championship game weekend. For now here are my predictions for the BCS Bowl Games based on how I believe the last two weekends will play out.

BCS Championship Game
LSU (SEC Champions, BCS #1) vs. Alabama (BCS #2)

Sugar Bowl
Houston (BCS At-Large) vs. Michigan (BCS At-Large)

Rose Bowl
Oregon (Pac 12 Champions) vs. Wisconsin (Big 10 Champions)

Fiesta Bowl
Stanford (BCS At-Large) vs. Oklahoma State (Big 12 Champions)

Orange Bowl
Rutgers (Big East Champions) vs. Virginia Tech (ACC Champions)

Random Thoughts (November 19, 2011)

2011-11-19T15:31:00.000-05:00

I know that Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen are nearing the end and that this season was probably their last realistic chance at winning another NBA championship together with the Celtics. I do miss watching them play. I miss Rajon Rondo too.

However, I really don't miss the NBA as the lockout continues to push me to the NFL, college football, college basketball, and the NHL.

The sad thing for the NBA is that I am not a casual fan. I love professional basketball. I stay up late to watch Clippers and Trailblazers play on a Wednesday night. I am the fan that they cannot afford to lose.

It looks highly unlikely that the NBA will play this season and if they forfeit an entire year then they will lose more fans like myself. The question at that point will be whether or not the league will be able to recover.

That will be hard and it will take years for the NBA to elbow its way into the consciousness of sports fans in America...

Urban Meyer to Ohio State?

He says no but I bet you a turkey sandwich that the Buckeyes name the former Florida head coach and current ESPN broadcaster as their next coach within 36 hours of losing to Michigan...

Who will be the next coach at Penn State?

There are not many men who will be up to the challenge of fixing the mess in Happy Valley and most of those who would qualify may not want to be associated with the Nittany Lions. Penn State will need to find an experienced coach with a perfect record off the field to begin the long process of rebuilding the school's image on and off the field.

Tom O'Brien, currently the head coach at NC State and the former Boston College head coach, would fit that mold if he was interested in taking over for Joe Paterno and inheriting the worst scandal in college sports history. He has been a successful head coach, he is a graduate of the Naval Academy and is a former Marine, and his teams have never been associated with cheating or scandal.

O'Brien should be the first person that is called once the season ends...

My early Final Four favorites are North Carolina, Kansas, Kentucky, and Pittsburgh. UNC and Kentucky are loaded with talent. Kansas doesn't have the depth that the Tarheels and Wildcats have but they will be in the mix come March. Coach Jamie Dixon and Pittsburgh are ready to finally get over the hump.

Teams like Duke, Syracuse, and UConn will be in the hunt but I'm confident in UNC, Kansas, Kentucky, and Pitt.

And don't say I didn't tell you so when Ed Cooley and Providence make some noise in the Big East this year before blowing up nationally in the 2012-13 season...

Enjoy Oregon tonight...

Football Picks

2011-11-19T10:18:00.000-05:00

I know that I missed picking the Thursday NFL game this week but I have a good excuse. My teaching duties required me to be at school for the always fun and entertaining Parent-Teacher Conferences. I tried to squeeze it in but there wasn't enough time. I was going to take Tim Tebow and the Broncos but because I didn't get it in, it just won't count againt the record.

This week's picks are using the spreads from BoDog and home team is in capitals.

NCAA

Nebraska (+3.5) over MICHIGAN
Nebraska keeps its hopes alive of winning the Big 10 Legends Division.

Clemson (-8) over NC STATE
Tigers are on their way to the ACC Championship Game.

HOUSTON (-21) over Southern Methodist
The Cougars are looking at a bid to the Sugar Bowl.

Kansas State (+7.5) over TEXAS
K-State has been undervalued all year, they will roll over the Longhorns.

OREGON (-15) over Southern Cal
The Ducks will host the inaugural Pac 12 Championship Game and still have a shot at the BCS Championship Game.

Last Week: 4 - 1
Season: 34 - 21

NFL

Buffalo (+2) over MIAMI
The Bills keep slim playoff dreams alive.

BALTIMORE (-7) over Cincinnati
A.J. Green's absence gives the Ravens the edge.

Jacksonville (Pick) over CLEVELAND
Not a game that many people around the country will be watching.

MINNESOTA (+1) over Oakland
Adrian Peterson will have a big day for the Purple People Eaters.

Carolina (+7) over DETROIT
Lions will win to set up an interesting matchup with the Packers on Thanksgiving but Cam Newton will keep it close.

Tampa Bay (+14.5) over GREEN BAY
The Packers can't win by three touchdowns every week, can they?

Dallas (-8) over WASHINGTON
Sad ending for Mike Shanahan in the Capitol.

SAN FRANCISCO (-10) over Arizona
49ers are staring 14-2 in the face. I guess Jim Harbaugh can coach.

Seattle (+3) over ST. LOUIS
Seahawks sucked me in with impressive win over Baltimore last week.

Tennessee (+7) over ATLANTA
The door to the AFC South title was opened to the Titans with Matt Schaub's injury. Falcons season could basically end with loss this week.

San Diego (+4) over CHICAGO
Bears have won four in a row. Chargers have lost four in a row. Of course I'm taking the points.

PATRIOTS (-15) over Kansas City
My biggest fear for the Patriots is that they will go on a 7-0 or 6-1 run against a slew of weak teams at the end of the season and go into the playoffs at 13-3 or 12-4 but without really fixing their defense. The AFC is wide open, if the Pats defense can improve they can get back to another Super Bowl with Brady but that is a big IF. Playing against the likes of Tyler Palko will not be a true litmus test of the Patriots defensive improvements.

Last Week: 8 - 7
Season: 73 - 68 - 4

The Eagles-Giants game is not on the board due to Michael Vick's rib injury.

A Lot on the Line as Patriots Face the Jets

2011-11-13T12:19:00.001-05:00

Countless pages have been written and numerous discussions have been had about how bad the Patriots defense is and there is no denying that their biggest weakness is stopping their opponents from moving the ball almost at will.

A weak defense has been the Patriots problem for several years. They never really replaced the likes of Tedy Bruschi, Richard Seymour, Willie McGinest, Ty Law, Rodney Harrison, and Mike Vrabel and the results have shown that the talent drain has been a real issue. Once the backbone of the Super Bowl years in Foxboro, even Judge Smails is waiting for Bill Belichick - one of the greatest defensive minds in football history - to produce an elite defense.

The Patriots have to start making improvements or they run the risk of being on the outside looking in when the playoffs start in January. They cannot turn into an elite defense over night but they can make changes that will give them a better chance at slowing down the opposition which will take the pressure of Tom Brady and the offense to score every time they touch the ball.

One change that can be made is to use more blitzes. Opposing quarterbacks have had way too much time to sit in the pocket and pick apart the weak Patriots secondary. By pressuring the quarterback, the secondary will be able to cover for less time and hopefully be opportunistic enough to jump some routes and intercept some passes. This plan does increase the chance of giving up big plays but that is already happening in their current defense.

Players like Gary Guyton, Rob Ninkovich, and Mark Anderson are limited in what they can contribute to the Patriots base defenses but they can be used as blitzers to pressure the opposing quarterback. That pressure will slow down the other team's passing attack and theoretically create more turnovers. I'm not football genius but I think that it is a good idea to limit the opponents possessions and put the ball in Brady's hands more often.

Another solution to the Patriots problems on defense is to rotate their defensive linemen in an effort to keep them fresh and increase their production. The group of Vince Wilfork, Kyle Love, Andre Carter, Shaun Ellis, Gerard Warren, Brandon Deaderick, and Ron Brace is talented enough to cause havoc versus any offensive line but they need to be shuffled in and out more to allow their time on the field to be as productive as possible. This is a tactic utilized by the Oregon Ducks, they keep their big boys in the trenches as fresh as possible and it usually leads to four quarters of solid play up front. The trickle-down effect on the linebackers and secondary would improve the defense as a whole.

Today is a big test for the Patriots defense. The Jets are their biggest divisional rival and this game will go a long way towards determining who wins the AFC East and (possibly) who is playing in January and who is watching from home. This is not an explosive offense but Mark Sanchez has Santonio Holmes, Dustin Keller, and Plaxico Burress to target in the passing game and the Jets can pound the ball with Shonn Greene and LaDainian Tomlinson.

If the Patriots are going to return to the status of Super Bowl contender than they need to beat the Jets on the road today. To do so, the defense is going to have to play 60 minutes of good football.

We're waiting.

Unguarded is a Great Look Into Herren and Addiction

2011-11-12T15:23:00.000-05:00

When I was growing up in the early 1990's, I was addicted to basketball. I believed with all my heart that I would one day play Division 1 basketball and go on to a lengthy career in the NBA. Growing just one inch (from 6' to 6'1") after the sixth grade destroyed that dream. However, I was able to watch a local basketball star, Chris Herren from Fall River's Durfee High School, live that dream.
Chris Herren is the best high school basketball player that I have ever seen play for a Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) team (the prep schools in New England boast some amazing talent on a yearly basis but for all intents and purposes, they are no different from a Division 1 college team that is able to recruit).

Herren was an electric talent, torching opponents for over 2,000 points in his four-year career at Durfee. He was a member of the BABC, one of the most prestigious AAU programs in the country, and at the end of his high school career he was selected to play in the McDonald's All-American Game, a rare feat for a kid from a public high school in Massachusetts. To top it all off Bill Reynolds, a sports writer from the Providence Journal, followed Chris through his junior and senior years at Durfee and chronicled his accounts in the book Fall River Dreams, which is kind of like Friday Night Lights for high school hoops.

After high school, Herren turned down offers from Kentucky and Syracuse to attend Boston College. Chris lasted one game at BC due to an injury suffered in the team's opening game against Cal Poly (I was in attendance) and a developing drug problem that began his fall from grace that ended his basketball career and nearly stole his life and family.

The end of his BC career led to new beginnings at Fresno State University under legendary coach Jerry Tarkanian. Chris again fought substance abuse issues but he did enough good things in his time at Fresno State to be drafted with the 33rd pick of the 1999 NBA Draft by the Denver Nuggets (yes, I have two of his rookie cards). After one year in Denver, Herren was traded to the Celtics but injuries, and his growing drug problem, led to the end of a once promising NBA career.
Following the end of his time with the Celtics, Herren went on to play professionally in Italy, China, Turkey, Iran, and Poland.

At each stop the drug problems grew worse and he was arrested several times on drug charges after his playing career ended. It was the beginning of a journey that nearly took everything from him but also gave him an opportunity to share his problems with drug addiction in order to help people learn from his mistakes.

Chris did find sobriety and collaborated with Reynolds on a second book, Basketball Junkie: A Memoir that detailed his rise to professional basketball, his crashing fall into addiction, and his fight to stay sober. ESPN, as a part of its excellent short film series, produced Unguarded which gave viewers a unique look into Herren's life on and off the court and provided an opportunity to see him in his new life as a motivational speaker and coaching young players at his Rhode Island basketball academy.

Unguarded is currently available through Comcast On Demand. It is well worth the hour, even if you're not a sports fan. Like so many Americans who struggle with addiction, Chris is in a fight to live a sober lifestyle. His story is different in that he was on top of the world, playing in the NBA, and then it all came crashing down on him but he has persevered to recover, reclaim his family, and now spends his days helping others.

I looked up to Chris Herren as an adolescent because he was a basketball star. I look up to him now because of what he has done with his life. I am proud of Herren and I am proud to still consider him one of my role models.

Papelbon Leaves for Philadelphia

2011-11-12T10:25:00.000-05:00

The Red Sox have another major hole to fill on their roster because Jonathan Papelbon has reportedly agreed to a 4-year/$50-million contract to join the Philadelphia Phillies. The deal is pending a physical and will not be announced officially until early next week.

Papelbon had a remarkable seven-year career with Boston, starting with an August call-up in 2005 and continuing as the Red Sox closer from 2006-2011. The four-time A.L. All-Star was an integral part of the 2007 that came back from a 3-1 ALCS deficit to defeat the Indians before sweeping the Rockies to win the World Series. Two of the lasting memories from the 2007 team are Papelbon dancing a makeshift Irish jig on the mound at Fenway Park after beating the Indians in Game 7 of the ALCS and also of him jumping into the arms of Jason Varitek after securing the last out of the World Series.

This loss hurts the Red Sox and their fans who had become attached to Papelbon but it is not totally unexpected. Papelbon was always very clear that he intended to enter free agency instead of signing a deal that would have provided him with a lot of money up front but taken away his ability to negotiate on the open market.

Dustin Pedroia and Clay Buchholz signed those kind of contracts.

Papelbon did not and he has now cashed in on seven great years in Boston. I wish him nothing but the best (unless the Red Sox meet the Phillies in the World Series).

The issue now for general manager Ben Cherington is to find Papelbon's replacement. Daniel Bard is the clear in-house candidate to assume the closer's job and (if healthy) Bobby Jenks could also help replace "Cinco Ocho." If the Sox want to add an outside replacement they can choose from Ryan Madson, Heath Bell, Francisco Rodriguez, or Joe Nathan.

Penn State Tragedy and Football Picks

2011-11-11T11:43:00.002-05:00

The only bad news that is ever associated with college football revolves around boosters paying players and offering them other benefits that the NCAA considers "illegal." I know that I'm not in the minority when I say that the NCAA is hypocritical in making billions of dollars while preventing the athletes from making money on their own but that's not the point today.

What has happened at Penn State is the worst scandal in the history of college athletics. The actions that have been charged against former coach Jerry Sandusky and the subsequent silence and cover-up by Joe Paterno and other university officials makes the "Pay for Play" situations at schools like Miami and USC seem trivial.

If the allegations are true, Sandusky should never see the light of day again and Paterno and the other Penn State officials who turned a blind eye to Sandusky's alleged child molestation should spend a considerable amount of time in prison. The children that Sandusky has supposedly violated deserve to have justice served and the 409 wins and two national championships that Paterno accumulated at Penn State mean nothing in the face of the current situation.

Penn State's football team should also receive the death penalty. Any program that allows what has been alleged to occur to continue does not deserve to continue to play football.

That said, here are this weeks picks. All picks against the spread (the Bible) and home team in capitals.

NCAA

BOISE STATE (-15) over Texas Christian
Boise still has a shot at the BCS Championship Game and an impressive win over TCU will help their case.

Oregon (+3.5) over STANFORD
Andrew Luck's Cardinals will still play in a BCS Bowl Game but the Ducks will be the Pac 12 champions.

Miami (+9) over FLORIDA STATE
This rivalry is too fierce for the spread to be this high.

Michigan (Pick) over ILLINOIS
Denard Robinson will have a big day for the Wolverines.

ARKANSAS (-14) over Tennessee
Bobby Petrino has Arkansas in position to play spoiler to LSU and win the SEC West, Tennessee won't ruin that for the Razorbacks.

Last Week: 3 - 2
Season: 30 - 20

NFL

Pittsburgh (-3) over CINCINNATI
Andy Dalton has been great in his rookie year but the Steelers defense has a reputation of destroying young quarterbacks.

Denver (+3) over KANSAS CITY
Tim Tebow has a funny way of finding ways to beat mediocre teams.

DALLAS (-5.5) over Buffalo
The AFC East will once again be a fight between the Patriots and Jets.

Jacksonville (-3) over INDIANAPOLIS
Picking against the Colts is just as much fun in Week 10 as it was in Week 1.

Houston (-3) over TAMPA BAY
The Texans running game won't be stopped by Tampa and their new defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth.

CAROLINA (-3.5) over Tennessee
Panthers are 4-1 versus the spread at home.

Washington (+4) over MIAMI
Dolphins keep hopes of drafting Andrew Luck alive.

ATLANTA (Pick) over New Orleans
The Falcons have rebounded from a slow start and are lurking as a contender in the NFC. Matt Ryan should have success against a banged up Saints secondary.

Detroit (+3) over CHICAGO
Lions defensive line should make some extra money for Jay Cutler's massage therapist next week.

CLEVELAND (-2.5) over St. Louis
A showdown between Colt McCoy and Sam Bradford was so much cooler when they were in college.

Baltimore (-6.5) over SEATTLE
The Ravens are coming off an emotional and physical win in Pittsburgh and I had some doubt about their ability to bounce back this week because they also have to travel across the country. Then I saw they were playing the Seahawks.

SAN FRANCISCO (-3.5) over NY Giants
The Giants - who beat the Patriots on the road last week - aren't as lucky as the Ravens because they face the 49ers, not the Seahawks, on the road this week.

Patriots (+1.5) over NY JETS
The Jets have momentum but with a decade of experience watching Bill Belichick and Tom Brady, I don't believe the Patriots will lose three straight games.

GREEN BAY (-13.5) over Minnesota
The Packers move to 9-0 in impressive fashion.

This Week: 0 - 1
Season: 65 - 62 - 4

The Eagles-Cardinals game is not currently on the board due to Kevin Kolb being questionable.

Thursday Football Pick

2011-11-10T18:19:00.000-05:00

SAN DIEGO (-7) over Oakland
No McFadden means that not even Philip Rivers could blow this one.

Last Week: 8 - 6
Season: 65 - 61 - 4

P.S. The full picks column will be prefaced with my thoughts on the tragedy that has taken place at Penn State.

Haynesworth Released by Patriots

2011-11-08T17:00:00.000-05:00

The Albert Haynesworth experiment seems to be over.

Both ESPN and Sports Illustrated are reporting that the Patriots have released the massive defensive lineman. Since coming to the Patriots from Washington in August, Haynesworth has been a major disappointment. In six games he has collected just three tackles and registered no sacks.

The Patriots are going to be in a dogfight for a playoff spot in the AFC and these are the kind of times that Bill Belichick needs his entire lockerroom to buy into his game plan. Haynesworth, although quiet in his time with Foxboro, has never been known as a great teammate and this looks like Belichick's message to the rest of the team that they need to be 100% in or else jobs - and the season - will be lost.

I wonder if the next locker to be vacated will be Ochocinco's.

1992 Celtics Lose to Giants, 24-20

2011-11-06T19:56:00.000-05:00

Yes, that is what things have become in Foxboro.

Tom Brady is still great. Maybe not as great as he was in the Super Bowl years or 2007 (50 TD) or even a year ago (36 TD against 4 INT) but he is still one of the best at his position. Brady gives the Patriots a chance to win every time he takes the field but the problem is that he doesn't have enough help to elevate his team into the stratosphere of legitimate Super Bowl contender.

Larry Bird ran into a similar problem in the 1991-92 NBA season. Injuries had removed Bird from the discussion of the games best players but like Brady now, Larry Legend gave the Celtics a chance to win every time he took the court (when he was relatively healthy) but he also lacked the supporting cast he needed to win another title.

That Celtics team did have Kevin McHale, Reggie Lewis, and Robert Parish - like Brady having Wes Welker, Vince Wilfork, and Rob Gronkowski - but they were also stuck with Joe Kleine, Stojko Vrankovic, Rickey Green, Ed Pinckney, and Tony Massenburg.

I'm sure Bird can empathize with Brady having to rely on the likes of Gary Guyton, Sergio Brown - who made the critical pass interference penalty that basically handed the game to the Giants - and Chad Ochocinco to win. On days when you are not your best (Brady threw for 342 yards and 2 TD's but also tossed 2 INT's), it's hard for even the greatest of players to pull out a win.

Larry Bird found that out in 1992.

Tom Brady is learning that in 2011.

Patriots fans need to realize this season will not end with Brady hoisting a fourth Lombardi Trophy and a Duck Boat parade through Downtown Boston. It's just not going to happen.

The reality is that the Patriots will be in a fight with the Bills and Jets to simply earn a playoff berth and then they will lose to the Steelers, Ravens, Texans, or Chargers and waste another year of Brady's career.

Embrace that situation and simply enjoy watching Tom Brady.

Football Picks

2011-11-05T10:50:00.000-05:00

Wow! Last week was a horror show for TheBostonInsider's picks and I wish I could blame Halloween but that would not be fair to the stream of youngsters that wore poor imitations of Captain America and Dorothy Gale to my doorstep looking for free candy.

Like Herman Cain, I take responsibility for a week that saw me go 0-5 with the college picks and 4-9 with the pro's and I pledge to improve this week and help you make some money.

All picks against the spread (sticking with the Bible) and home team in capitals.

NCAA

ALABAMA (-4.5) over Louisiana State
"Game of the Century" will be a defensive battle won by the home team on a late defensive touchdown.

OKLAHOMA (-13.5) over Texas A&M
The Sooners still have a shot at the BCS Championship Game if they win out in impressive fashion.

Oregon (-16.5) over WASHINGTON
Oregon still controls its destiny in the Pac 12.

Stanford (-21) over OREGON STATE
Andrew Luck makes a point to Phil Simms that he can indeed make "all the throws."

South Carolina (+8.5) over ARKANSAS
Gamecocks defense will keep them in this one.

Last Week: 0 - 5
Season: 27 - 18

NFL

Atlanta (-7) over INDIANAPOLIS
Another step toward 0-16 for the Colts.

NEW ORLEANS (-8) over Tampa Bay
Saints dropped one in Tampa earlier in the season and will bounce back from an embarrassing loss last week to the Rams.

HOUSTON (-10.5) over Cleveland
The Texans take control of the AFC South. By the way, not a team the Patriots want to see in the playoffs.

BUFFALO (-2) over NY Jets
We're still waiting for the Jets to perform on the road.

KANSAS CITY (-4) over Miami
What a turnaround in KC - they went from "Suck for Luck" to co-leaders of the AFC West in a month.

San Francisco (-3.5) over WASHINGTON
Jim Harbaugh's squad keeps it going.

DALLAS (-11.5) over Seattle
The Cowboys still can take the NFC East.

OAKLAND (-7) over Denver
Carson Palmer should be better with two full weeks of learning the Raiders offense.

Cincinnati (+3) over TENNESSEE
Gingers everywhere are pulling for Andy Dalton and the Bengals.

St. Louis (+2.5) over ARIZONA
Rams make it two in a row.

NY Giants (+9) over PATRIOTS
Pats will continue their success at Gillette but it will be closer than nine points.

Green Bay (-5.5) over SAN DIEGO
The Packers will not go 16-0 but they will roll over the Chargers.

Baltimore (+3) over PITTSBURGH
Ravens take control of the AFC North.

PHILADELPHIA (-7.5) over Chicago
The Eagles are making September a distant memory.

Last Week: 4 - 9
Season: 57 - 55 - 4

Football Picks

2011-10-29T07:41:00.000-05:00

All picks against the spread (the Bible) and home team in capitals.

NCAA

KANSAS STATE (+13.5) over Oklahoma
Bob Stoops has never lost consecutive Big 12 games but K-State will put a scare into OU.

Michigan State (+4) over NEBRASKA
Spartans defense will contain Taylor Martinez.

Clemson (-3.5) over GEORGIA TECH
Another week, another Clemson pick.

OREGON (-35.5) over Washington State
Two more weeks until the Ducks meet Stanford for control of the Pac 12 North.

Florida (+2.5) over Georgia (World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party)
Gators bounce back from a tough stretch with a win over Georgia.

Last Week: 3 - 2
Season: 27 - 13

NFL

TENNESSEE (-8.5) over Indianapolis
Only question for the Colts at this point is if Peyton Manning will be okay with Andrew Luck being his backup next season.

Jacksonville (+9.5) over HOUSTON
Texans will win this one but Jags will play them tough, especially with Andre Johnson out again.

CAROLINA (-3.5) over Minnesota
Cam Newton makes it look so easy.

New Orleans (-13.5) over ST. LOUIS
Rams fans leave early to catch Cardinals parade.

BALTIMORE (-12.5) over Arizona
Ravens bounce back from Monday Night stinker in Jacksonville.

NY GIANTS (-9.5) over Miami
Dolphins stay even with Colts in Andrew Luck Sweepstakes.

Buffalo (-6) over Washington (game in Toronto)
Ryan Fitzpatrick's new contract still not enough to put him into top earners from his class of 2005 from Harvard.

Detroit (-3) over DENVER
Lions stop their losing streak and God shuts off his television early as Tebow disappoints.

Patriots (-3) over PITTSBURGH
41-33, Patriots.

SAN FRANCISCO (-8.5) over Cleveland
Can the 49ers crash the Packers-Saints NFC Party this year?

SEATTLE (+3) over Cincinnati
Seahawks tough to play at home.

Dallas (+3.5) over PHILADELPHIA
Final nail in the coffin for the "Dream Team?"

San Diego (-4) over KANSAS CITY
Philip Rivers can't be horrible two weeks ina row, can he?

Last Week: 5 - 7 - 1
Season: 53 - 46 - 4

Patriots Random Thoughts (October 24, 2011)

2011-10-24T20:17:00.001-05:00

Okay, after six games and a bye week, I am finally ready to share a whole bunch of my thoughts on the Patriots...

It amazes me almost every time I look at the numbers after a Patriots win but it never gets old looking at Tom Brady's career win-loss record.

Since taking over for Drew Bledsoe way back in September of 2001, Brady is 115-38 in the regular season (not counting the game he started against the Chiefs in 2008 when his knee exploded, ending his season). Add in the 14-5 record in the playoffs and the three Super Bowl titles and you understand why I added the music video at the top of the post.

Brady is not having the freakish statistical season he had a year ago (3900 yards, 36 TD, 4 INT) but he is still playing at a high level and when he is under center, the Patriots are always in the hunt for a championship...

As much as I love watching him play, I don't think I'm alone in worrying that Aaron Hernandez will fumble at a critical time this season and cost the Patriots a win...

Another second year player I am worrying about is Devin McCourty. After earning a spot on the 2nd Team All-Pro team as a rookie, his play has slipped considerably as a sophomore.

The Patriots have the worst pass defense in the NFL and if they have any shot at winning the fourth Super Bowl of the Belichick Era that needs to improve immediately. A quick turnaround by McCourty would go a long way towards fixing that problem...

I think this is the week that Albert Haynesworth emerges a force on the Patriots defensive line. He has played good in small doses but coming off the bye week, Haynesworth should be at 100% and should team with Vince Wilfork, Shaun Ellis, and Andre Carter to form a devistating front four...

Brandon Spikes looked great against the Cowboys. His attacking style resulted in 8 tackles and consistent disrupting of the Dallas running attack, which produced just 60 yards outside of a Tony Romo quarterback scramble that went for 17 yards.

I hope Belichick continues to unleash Spikes because that type of disruption can only help the secondary improve...

With Jimmy Graham emerging in New Orleans and Jermichael Finley piling up big numbers in Green Bay, its easy for national pundits to forget that Rob Gronkowski just might be the best young tight end in football.

Coming off a 546 yard and 10 touchdown rookie season, Gronk already has 401 yards and 5 scores in 2011. He is becoming a trusted Brady target, especially in the red zone, and is the main beneficiary of the increased attention on Wes Welker.

Having a 6-6, 260-pound animal running up the seams helps make the Pats offense so dynamic...

Speaking of Welker, let's hope the Kraft Family and Belichick get him re-signed sooner rather than later. I do not want to see Brady's security blanket playing elsewhere in 2012...

Things don't look good for the Steelers this week.

Bill Belichick is 8-2 coming off a bye week as the Patriots head coach and have won seven straight games after the built-in mid-season vacation.

Giving Belichick the extra week almost seems unfair at this point...

Football Picks

2011-10-20T20:58:00.000-05:00

TheBostonInsider is off to Central Massachusetts for a wedding this weekend so the picks - which are as hot as they ever have been - are coming a few days early.

All picks against the spread (the Bible) and home team in capitals.

NCAA

Washington (+20.5) over STANFORD
The Huskies will put the first scare into the Andrew Luck Express but the Cardinal will pull it out in the end, 42-31.

Auburn (+22.5) over LSU
Top ranked LSU will survive the suspensions but will be in for a battle with the defending champs.

Oklahoma State (-6.5) over MISSOURI
The Cowboys aren't getting the recognition that they deserve.

CLEMSON (-10.5) over North Carolina
I'm riding this Clemson streak for all its worth.

Penn State (-4) over NORTHWESTERN
So what if Joe Paterno is living like it's "Weekend at Bernie's," the Nittany Lions defense is for real.

Last Week: 4 - 1
Season: 24 - 11

NFL

Tampa Bay (+1) over Chicago (London)
Buccaneers have experience with the trip across the pond and it pays off.

CAROLINA (-2.5) over Washington
Cam Newton runs (and passes) all over the 'Skins.

San Diego (-2) over NY JETS
I'm waiting for the Jets to beat a real team before believing the hype.

CLEVELAND (-3) over Seattle
Not a bad week to start Colt McCoy in fantasy football.

Houston (+3) over TENNESSEE
Texans take the lead in the AFC South.

Denver (+2) over MIAMI
Tony Sparano's career in South Florida comes to a close as the Tebow Era starts with a bang.

DETROIT (-3.5) over Atlanta
Lions bounce back from their first loss and hammer the Falcons.

OAKLAND (-4) over Kansas City
I'm a bit nervous about betting on a team that acquired its starting quarterback on Tuesday but what the hell, gimme the Raiders.

ARIZONA (+3.5) over Pittsburgh
Steelers fans better brace themselves for a losing streak after this one, Bill Belichick is a perfect 11-0 with the Patriots after a bye week.

DALLAS (-12) over St. Louis
A banged up Sam Bradford will make this a blowout.

Green Bay (-9) over MINNESOTA
Christian Ponder's first start will not be a good one.

NEW ORLEANS (-14) over Indianapolis
Colts get embarrassed on national television in Super Bowl XLIV rematch.

Baltimore (-7.5) over JACKSONVILLE
What will it take to get a good game on MNF this season?

Last Week: 8 - 5
Season: 48 - 39 - 3

Football Picks

2011-10-15T12:03:00.000-05:00

A couple of quick points before getting to this week's picks:

1. I know that there has not been any posts about the Patriots. To be honest, I have not yet watched an entire game so I don't want to write about half of a game. The responsibilities of fatherhood and home ownership have cut into my Sunday afternoons. I am going to this week's game against the Cowboys so maybe I'll give an account of my experience from Section 140 of Gillette Stadium.

2. Speaking of the Patriots, the tempo of their offense is resembling that of the Oregon Ducks. I don't think that is a coincidence because Ducks head coach Chip Kelly is good friends with Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien and the two met this spring at a coaching clinic that was held at Gillette Stadium.

I wonder if Kelly, who has the Ducks in serious contention for their third consecutive BCS Bowl Game since taking over for Mike Bellotti, will one day be coaching on Sunday afternoons.

3. I like Urban Meyer as a commentator for ESPN but the former Florida head coach needs to be back on the sidelines. I would understand if he wants to avoid Steve Spurrier's mistake of leaving Gainesville and then returning to a different SEC school but he would be a perfect fit as the next head coach at Ohio State.

4. Remember when I practically begged UConn to replace Randy Edsall with Sean McDonnell of New Hampshire?

Well, the Huskies made a major mistake passing on McDonnell but Boston College could reap the benefits when they decide to finally replace Frank Spaziani.

McDonnell would be the perfect fit at BC and would get the Eagles back to being an annual participant in bowl games and into contention in the always wide open ACC.

Thanks for reading - back to the picks. All picks against the spread (the Bible) and home team in capitals.

NCAA

Clemson (-8.5) over MARYLAND
Might as well ride the Tigers while they're hot.

Kansas State (+3) over TEXAS TECH
WIldcats are still flying under the radar.

Oklahoma State (-7.5) over TEXAS
The Cowboys offense will pick up where Oklahoma left off last week.

OREGON (-15.5) over Arizona State
Even with LaMichael James out, Oregon's will roll.

Louisiana State (-16) over TENNESSEE
It's sad how fall the Volunteers have fallen. LSU will not feel so bad for them.

Last Week: 3 - 2
Season: 20 - 10

NFL

GREEN BAY (-14.5) over St. Louis
This is not going to be a fun day for the Rams.

Jacksonville (+12) over PITTSBURGH
The Steelers will win but Maurice Jones-Drew will do enough damage to let the Jags cover.

WASHINGTON (+1.5) over Philadelphia
Even though the Vikings suck, you Donovan McNabb is enjoying the Eagles embarrassing start.

San Francisco (+4) over DETROIT
27-24, Lions, in overtime.

Carolina (+4) over ATLANTA
35-24, Panthers.

CINCINNATI (-7) over Indianapolis
I have to admit, it's been fun watching the Colts implode without Peyton Manning.

Buffalo (+3.5) over NY GIANTS
Tom Coughlin will always have that Super Bowl XLII ring to remind him when times were good.

BALTIMORE (-7.5) over Houston
Without Andre Johnson, the Ravens will load up on Arian Foster and the Texans run game.

OAKLAND (-6.5) over Cleveland
I'm eagerly anticipating betting the Patriots in a Divisional Round playoff game against the Raiders in Foxboro Watching highlights of the 2002 "Snow Bowl" will be the icing on the cake.

PATRIOTS (-7) over Dallas
Tony Romo will throw two Pick-6's in the fourth quarter to allow the Pats to blow the doors off the Cowboys.

New Orleans (-4.5) over TAMPA BAY
Third road game in a row for the Saints is a red flag but the Bucs will not be able to stop the Drew Brees Express.

CHICAGO (-3) over Minnesota
I'm probably not going to invest too much of my time in a Bears-Vikings game on Sunday night.

Miami (+7) over NY JETS
Only because I want to see the wheels fall of for Gang Green

Last Week: 6 - 7
Season: 40 - 34 - 3

Football Picks

2011-10-07T21:16:00.000-05:00

Just a quick heads up before you invest this week's check with the local bookie. I've been drinking tonight so if I my recent streak of success is broken, blame it on Samuel Adams.

All picks against the spread (the Bible) and home team in capitals.

NCAA

Oklahoma (-10.5) over Texas
The Red River Shootout is a duel of undefeated teams but the Sooners are the main attraction at this year's Texas State Fair.

CLEMSON (-21) over Boston College
BC lost at home to Duke and Northwestern. There is no way they keep it close at Death Valley, especially without Montel Harris.

NEBRASKA (-11) over Ohio State
Things go from bad to worse for the Buckeyes as the 'Huskers take out frustrations from their loss to Wisconsin.

KANSAS STATE (+3) over Missouri
The Big 12 farewell tour for the Tigers doesn't start the way they would like it to.

Auburn (+10) over ARKANSAS
The defending champs are playing with a lot of pride.

Last Week: 3 - 2
Season: 17 - 8

NFL

Kansas City (+2.5) at INDIANAPOLIS
Tease the Chiefs with the over/under (38) on the amount of times that CBS shows Peyton Manning's ugly mug while he holds a white t-shirt around his neck. Take the over.

Arizona (+2.5) over MINNESOTA
I love how Vegas is trying to sucker the bettors into believing the Colts and Vikings will both avoid going 0-5.

BUFFALO (+2.5) over Philadelphia
The Eagles cannot stop Fred Jackson. So much for the "Dream Team."

HOUSTON (-6) over Oakland
Foster vs. McFadden is a nice matchup for those of us who love good running backs.

New Orleans (-6.5) over CAROLINA
Cam Newton will put on another show but Drew Brees & Friends will run wild over Panthers defense.

Cincinnati (+2.5) over JACKSONVILLE
I wonder if they will still be known as the Jaguars when they move to Los Angeles for the 2013 season.

Tennessee (+3) over PITTSBURGH
One has to believe that Roger Goodell enjoyed the news that James Harrison broke his orbital bone.

NY GIANTS (-10) over Seattle
I'm going to be pissed if FOX even thinks about putting this game on television in the Boston market.

Tampa Bay (+3) over SAN FRANCISCO
I like the 49ers but the Bucs are too tough to let this one slip away from them.

PATRIOTS (-9) over NY Jets
Lots of points for a rivalry game.

San Diego (-4) over DENVER
Remember when the Broncos were good?

ATLANTA (+6) over Green Bay
Aaron Rodgers is human after all.

DETROIT (-5.5) over Chicago
Lions (and Tigers), oh my for the Bears. Yes, I just used a Wizard of Oz reference.

Last Week: 9 - 7
Season: 34 - 27 - 3

Nasty Colts Injury

2011-10-03T21:37:00.001-05:00

Only thing worse tonight will be if the Colts cover (+10) and TheBostonInsider doesn't go 10-6 this week. The Colts are actually winning at the half, 10-7.

I'm already guaranteed of a winning week in the NFL and I also scored my fifth consecutive winning week with the college picks. Ride me while I'm hot.

Randy Moss Making a Boring Saturday a Little More Fun

2011-10-01T18:00:00.000-05:00

Goodbye Tito

2011-09-30T19:32:00.000-05:00

Terry Francona, the most successful manager that the Red Sox have had since before World War II, is officially no longer with the team.

It was a move that was expected following the Red Sox 7-20 record in September that dropped them from the best record in the American League to being out of the playoffs but it still tastes bitter because I cannot imagine a replacement that will do the job as good as the man known as Tito in Red Sox Nation. Francona became the de facto fall man for a team that collapsed down the stretch and failed to live up to their immense preseason expectations.

Was it Francona's fault that John Lackey, signed before 2010, has been a tremendous waste of money? Was it Francona's fault that Carl Crawford had a terrible season after signing a $142-million contract this winter? Was it Francona's fault that Clay Buchholz, Kevin Youkilis, and J.D. Drew spent considerable time on the disabled list and that Daisuke Matsuzaka, Rich Hill, and Bobby Jenks were lost for the season? It seems so.

Francona did say in his press conference that it was his decision to leave the Red Sox but seriously, if management did not want him to leave they would have found a way to keep him in Boston.

Despite the sad ending, Francona will always be remembered as the man who managed the 2004 Red Sox to their first World Series title since 1918, ending 86 years of Babe Ruth jokes, and also led the 2007 team to a Series title. In his eight years with the Red Sox, the team was in the playoffs five times and never had a losing record.

The Red Sox now face the dilemma of replacing a man who was perfect for the job of managing in the pressure cooker of Fenway Park. Expect to hear names like Joe Torre and Bobby Valentine. Phillies bench coach Pete Mackanin and Dave Martinez of the Rays will also be mentioned. Whoever it is, they will have enormous shoes to fill.

We mss you already Tito.

Football Picks

2011-09-30T17:15:00.001-05:00

All picks against the spread (the Bible) and home team in capitals.

NCAA

Alabama (-4) over FLORIDA
The Crimson Tide defense too fast and too powerful for the Gators.

Clemson (+7) over VIRGINIA TECH
Tigers complete amazing three week stretch with win in Blacksburg.

Nebraska (+9.5) over WISCONSIN
Huskers keep it close but Russell Wilson and the Badgers stay unbeaten.

SOUTH CAROLINA (-10) over Auburn
Gamecocks offense finally breaks out against the defending champions young defense.

Michigan State (+3) over OHIO STATE
Buckeyes are just not that good and, other than a bad loss to Notre Dame, the Spartans are better than advertised.

Last Week: 3 - 2
Season: 14 - 6

NFL

Detroit (+1.5) over DALLAS
Imagine, knowing you are getting a bargain when the Lions are being handed a point-and-a-half.

New Orleans (-7) over JACKSONVILLE
Good week to own Drew Brees in fantasy football.

San Francisco (+8.5) over PHILADELPHIA
Jim Harbaugh takes the 49ers across the country and shocks the "Dream Team."

ST. LOUIS (+1.5) over Washington
Rams finally break out against a pretty good Redskins team.

CLEVELAND (-1.5) over Tennessee
Am I really ready to make a commitment to the Cleveland Browns?

CINCINNATI (+3) over Buffalo
There is no way in hell the Bills are going 4-0.

Minnesota (-1.5) over KANSAS CITY
It's time for the Vikings to string together two good halves of football.

Carolina (+6.5) over CHICAGO
I'm still riding the Cam Newton Bandwagon.

HOUSTON (-4) over Pittsburgh
The Texans are for real.

Atlanta (-4.5) over SEATTLE
Seahawks defense is just what Matt Ryan and the Falcons need to recover from their slow start.

ARIZONA (+1.5) over NY Giants
I doubt the Giants' ability to put together two consecutive good weeks.

SAN DIEGO (-7) over Miami
Andrew Luck will be the long awaited successor to Dan Marino in South Florida.

Denver (+12.5) over GREEN BAY
Broncos pass rush will bother Packers just enough to keep it close.

Patriots (-4.5) over OAKLAND
Tom Brady will bounce back in a big way from his 4 interception game in Buffalo a week ago but Pats defense still has questions to answer.

BALTIMORE (-3.5) over NY Jets
I'm still on board for a Patriots-Raven matchup in the AFC Championship Game.

TAMPA BAY (-10) over Indianapolis
I can't wait to hear Jon Gruden tell us how much the Colts organization loves Curtis Painter.

Last Week: 8 - 8
Season: 25 - 20 - 3

MLB Playoff Preview

2011-09-30T15:33:00.000-05:00

The Red Sox will win the World Series.

Oh, how I longed to write that sentence and just a few weeks ago it looked like that would be the case. They had the best record in the American League at the start of September and looked like a lock to be playing well into October.

Now they find themselves on the outside looking in and will probably be looking for a new manager. Things changed, for the worse, rather quickly in Boston during September.

With the Red Sox out I cannot be a homer and pick the hometown team so for the second straight baseball postseason there is a little suspense for my picks.

ALDS

Yankees over Tiger
Rays over Rangers

The Tigers will be a tough out with Justin Verlander but they do not have enough pitching to stop the Yankees, who will win in four games. The Rays will get revenge on the Rangers for their defeat in the ALDS a year ago now that the Red Sox have given them the opportunity to extend their season.

NLDS

Phillies over Cardinals
Brewers over Diamondbacks

The Phillies pitching will be too much for Albert Pujols and the Cards while the Brew Crew will outslug Arizona.

ALCS

Rays over Yankees

Tampa's pitching depth will shut down the vaunted Yankees lineup.

NLCS

Phillies over Brewers

I really wanted to pick the Brewers to win the World Series but Philly just has too much pitching.

World Series

Phillies over Rays

Both teams have great pitching but Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins, and Hunter Pence will score enough runs to earn Philadelphia its second World Series title in four years.

2012 Red Sox

2011-09-29T11:56:00.000-05:00

The historic collapse of the Red Sox does not need to be reviewed in this space. Plenty of professionals will let you know what happened.

My focus is on the future. Here is my first take on what the 2012 Red Sox should look like on Opening Day. I'm sure that Theo Epstein (if he doesn't bolt to the Cubs) and his trusted friend Carmine have other ideas. All new acquisitions in bold.

Starting Lineup (9):

1. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
2. Carl Crawford, LF
3. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
4. Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
5. David Wright, 3B
6. David Ortiz, DH
7. Josh Willingham, RF
8. Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
9. Marco Scutaro, SS

Bench (5):

Jed Lowrie, Utility; Mike Aviles, Utility; Josh Reddick, OF; Ryan Lavarnway, C; Brad Hawpe, OF/1B

Thoughts: Kevin Youkilis, who is falling apart as he gets older, goes to New York along with Ryan Kalish for Wright. Wright has been on the decline in New York but getting out of cavernous Citi Field and hitting between Gonzalez and Ortiz should solve that problem. If Wright doesn't work out in 2012, Willie Middlebrooks is on the way up ... The market for free agent outfielders is thin but Willingham adds needed pop from the right side and Hawpe could be a nice addition for the bench ... Sadly, I see Varitek's time in Boston coming to an end ... Aviles and Lowrie would give the Red Sox great depth in the infield

Starting Rotation (5):

Josh Beckett, RHP; Jon Lester, LHP; Clay Buchholz, RHP; C.J. Wilson, LHP; Alfredo Aceves, RHP

Bullpen (6):

Jonathan Papelbon, RHP; Daniel Bard, RHP; Bobby Jenks, RHP; Mike Gonzalez, LHP; Rich Hill, LHP; Michael Bowden, RHP

Thoughts: Papelbon will be back, there's no way the Red Sox can trust Bard as the closer after his abysmal September ... Wilson would be a great addition to a pitching staff that needs high quality starting pitching ... Lackey becomes property of the Padres, with the Red Sox on the hook for $40-million ... Will Daisuke pitch in Boston ever again? ... Wakefield goes out the door with 'Tek while Cy Young and Roger Clemens breath a sigh of relief ... Thinking outside the box - could Bard transition to being a starter?

Did Ryan Lavarnway Just Save the Red Sox?

2011-09-27T19:41:00.002-05:00

Leave it to the catcher from Yale to potentially save the Red Sox season.

(I don't care about possibly "jinxing" the Red Sox with this post either, at this point if they fail to take the Wild Card then they have no one to blame but themselves.)

No More Sweet Caroline - Red Sox Announce Official Theme of 2011 Season

2011-09-26T21:28:00.000-05:00

Red Sox vs. Orioles (September 26, 2011)

2011-09-26T14:57:00.000-05:00

Red Sox (89-70) at Baltimore Orioles (67-92)

SP - Josh Beckett (13-6, 2.70) vs. Tommy Hunter (4-4, 4.86)

*** Red Sox Magic Number to Clinch a Playoff Spot - 3 ***

1. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
2. Carl Crawford, LF
3. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
4. David Ortiz, DH
5. Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
6. Jed Lowrie, 3B
7. J.D. Drew, RF
8. Jason Varitek, C
9. Marco Scutaro, SS

Three Strikes:

1. Josh Beckett had better put his money where his mouth is tonight. The Red Sox "ace" has not earned his check in a meaningful game since Game 6 of the 2008 ALCS. Beckett needs to put the Orioles bats to sleep and let the bullpen get some much needed rest after a long Sunday in New York for me to even think about removing the quotation marks around ace.

2. Jacoby Ellsbury's three-run home run in the 14th inning of last night's potentially season saving win in New York could boost him to the top of the MVP discussion and could be the defining moment of the 2011 season if the Red Sox somehow win the World Series. This team was dead in the water before he took Scott Proctor deep and maintained the Red Sox Wild Card lead over the Rays at 1 game.

Ellsbury has definitely had an MVP season - 208 hits, .322 BA, 31 HR, 103 RBI, .377 OBP, .928 OPS, and 38 SB - and clutch hits like his game-winning blast last night help make his case.

3. PLAYOFF RACE: The Rays (1 game behind the Red Sox) start a three-game series with the Yankees in Tampa Bay. It goes without saying that Red Sox Nation is pulling for the Pinstripes for the next three days.

The Angels (3 games behind the Red Sox) will be eliminated with either a Red Sox win or if they lose to the Rangers, who they are hosting for the final three games.

Red Sox vs. Yankees (September 25, 2011)

2011-09-25T16:27:00.000-05:00

Red Sox (88-70) at New York Yankees (97-61)

SP - John Lackey (12-12, 6.49) vs. Ivan Nova (16-4, 3.62)

*** Red Sox Magic Number to Clinch a Playoff Spot - 4 ***

1. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
2. Carl Crawford, LF
3. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
4. David Ortiz, DH
5. Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
6. Jed Lowrie, 3B
7. J.D. Drew, RF
8. Marco Scutaro, SS
9. Jason Varitek, C

Three Strikes:

1. At this point, there's not much hope for the Red Sox. Maybe Rube Baker will stop by their locker room before Game 2 of today's doubleheader in the Bronx to inspire the Red Sox to finish the season strong, make the playoffs, and wreak some havoc in October.

2. If that was the end, we'll all miss you Tim Wakefield.

3. PLAYOFF RACE: The Red Sox now lead the Rays by just a .5 game. A win tonight would give the Red Sox a 1 game lead for the Wild Card with three games left in the season. Tampa Bay hosts the Yankees while the Red Sox will be in Baltimore for the final series. Of course, they could be tied with the Rays entering the final three games.

The Angels (2 games behind the Red Sox) are still in the mix as well. They are currently beating the A's (they could climb to within 1 game if they win and the Red Sox lose tonight) and close their season by hosting the Rangers for three games.

Red Sox vs. Yankees (September 24, 2011)

2011-09-24T11:59:00.000-05:00

Red Sox (88-68) at New York Yankees (91-65)

SP - Jon Lester (15-8, 3.15) vs. Freddy Garcia(11-8, 3.77)

*** Red Sox Magic Number to Clinch a Playoff Spot - 4 ***

1. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
2. Carl Crawford, LF
3. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
4. David Ortiz, DH
5. Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
6. Mike Aviles, 3B
7. Marco Scutaro, SS
8. Josh Reddick, RF
9. Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C

Three Strikes:

1. From the "Good News Department," Jon Lester has a career record of 6-1 with a 2.67 ERA in nine career starts in New York.

2. I like Terry Francona's creativity with today's lineup - moving Crawford up to second, sliding Pedroia into the three-hole, and dropping Gonzalez to fifth - because with all the injuries the Red Sox are dealing with his only option is to shuffle bodies.

Despite the drop from third to fifth, Adrian Gonzalez still has the opportunity to lead his team to the Wild Card and win th MVP.

3. PLAYOFF RACE: The Rays (2.5 games behind the Red Sox) host the Blue Jays and the Angels (3.5 games behind the Red Sox) host the A's. Both teams lost last night so the Red Sox gained some distance despite not playing due to the rain in New York.

A win today would put the Red Sox in a position to possibly clinch the Wild Card in New York on Sunday during their doubleheader.

Could Adrian Gonzalez Still Win the MVP?

2011-09-24T08:21:00.000-05:00

At the All-Star Break, Adrian Gonzalez was a near lock to be the American League's Most Valuable Player. He sported a .354 BA, had 17 HR and 77 RBI, and was the driving force behind the Red Sox recovery from a 2-10 start to the top of the A.L. East.

Since then, his status as the MVP favorite has evaporated as Justin Verlander of the Tigers and Curtis Granderson of the Yankees have become the favorites. The main reason for that has been a slight second half slump (.323, 10, 39) and a horrible September for his team which has placed their once secure playoff spot in jeopardy.

However, I don't think Gonzalez has been completely eliminated from the MVP discussion.

With six games to play, the Red Sox Magic Number is 4 but they are still fighting off the Rays and Angels for the A.L. Wild Card. I believe that if Gonzalez goes on a tear over these last six games and drives the Red Sox into the playoffs, he can win the MVP.

Gonzalez went on one of these tears in late August when the Red Sox were in Texas to play the Rangers. The Red Sox took 3-of-4 from the Rangers due to the 5 home runs that Gonzalez hit in the wins. At the time, the Red Sox had the best record in the A.L.

Let's say that Gonzalez hits 7 or 8 home runs and drives in between 12-15 runs in this final stretch of the regular season and the Red Sox take control of the Wild Card and enter the playoffs with momentum.

He would win the batting title (he currently leads the A.L. at .341), the RBI title (he is 3 behind Granderson today with 116), and finish with between 34 and 35 home runs. Those are MVP numbers.

Most importantly, he would have led his team to the postseason at a time when they were slumping and nearing the brink of a historic collapse.

That is what an MVP does.

So, Adrian, do you have it in you?

Football Picks

2011-09-23T22:46:00.000-05:00

After a very good week with my NFL picks and another winning week in the college ranks, TheBostonInsider is ready to make the picks.

As always, all picks against the spread and home team in capitals.

NCAA

Notre Dame (-7) over PITTSBURGH
Thank you Urban Meyer, thank you.

Oklahoma State (+4) over TEXAS A&M
A parting gift from the ten team Big-12. Have fun in the SEC.

Louisiana State (-6.5) over WEST VIRGINIA
LSU will gladly vote for the Mountaineers to join the SEC after this one.

Oregon (-16) over ARIZONA
Just noticing I'm taking all road teams.

OKLAHOMA (-20) over Missouri
I guess I'll take the #1 team in the country at home.

BONUS PICK: UMass over Boston College (NL)
Minutemen join the Big East by 2014.

Last Week: 3 - 2
Season: 11 - 4

NFL

CINCINNATI (-3) over San Francisco
Andy Dalton. Alex Smith. It's the NFL on FOX!

Patriots (-7.5) over BUFFALO
Bills offense going against a banged up New England defense makes me worry about laying the 7.5 but how can you go against Brady?

NEW ORLEANS (-4) over Houston
Texans are good but their defense can't stop Drew Brees & Co.

PHILADELPHIA (-9) over NY Giants
I don't love the Eagles but I do hate the Giants.

Miami (+3) over CLEVELAND
24-23, Browns.

TENNESSEE (-7) over Denver
Chris Johnson will crack 200 yards.

Detroit (-4) over MINNESOTA
Vikings fans can only hope Big Daddy Suh cracks Donovan McNabb's leg.

CAROLINA (-3.5) over Jacksonville
Cam Newton probably due for a stinker but Jags defense will let him run wild.

SAN DIEGO (-15) over Kansas City
Who will be the head coach in KC at the end of the year?

OAKLAND (+3.5) over NY Jets
No Nick Mangold this week means Mark Sanchez will be facing pressure and he cannot handle pressure.

Baltimore (-4) over ST. LOUIS
Ravens will bounce back from Titans loss against a Rams team that plays hard but is fighting through too many injuries.

Atlanta (+1) over TAMPA BAY
I had season tickets at BC during the Matt Ryan years so I'll go with the ex-Eagle.

Arizona (-3.5) over SEATTLE
Pete Carroll will start making references to Andrew Luck as his starting quarterback by Week 6.

Green Bay (-4) over CHICAGO
Bears defense can't stop the pass and their offensive line can't block for Jay Cutler. Horrible combination against the Packers.

INDIANAPOLIS (+11) over Pittsburgh
Colts keep it close but fall to 0-3.

WASHINGTON (+4) over Dallas
Redskins will run the ball down the Cowboys throats.

Last Week: 10 - 4 - 2
Season: 17 - 12 - 3

Red Sox vs. Yankees (September 23, 2011)

2011-09-23T18:29:00.000-05:00

Red Sox (88-68) at New York Yankees (95-61)

SP - Jon Lester (15-8, 3.15) vs. Freddy Garcia (11-8, 3.77)

*** Red Sox Magic Number to Clinch a Playoff Spot - 5 ***

1. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
3. Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
4. David Ortiz, DH
5. Mike Aviles, 3B
6. Carl Crawford, LF
7. Marco Scutaro, SS
8. Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
9. Josh Reddick, RF

*** Rain is falling in the Bronx but because this is the penultimate series of the year, expect them to get this game in tonight. ***

Three Strikes:

1. The Red Sox open their biggest series of the year (haven't they all seemed like that lately?) and Mike Aviles, he of the .263 BA and .718 OPS in 2011 (.348/.849 in 34 games with the Red Sox), is hitting fifth.

It's not Aviles fault that Kevin Youkilis is hurting and that Carl Crawford is wrapping up a disappointing season and you can't fault Terry Francona for the same reasons. Things have got so bad for the Red Sox that Aviles is probably their best option at this point.

While there's no use discussing the fate of the 2011 Red Sox at this point - let them play it out and see what happens is all that can be said - this lineup problem tonight is an issue that Theo Epstein will have to conquer this winter.

As big of a part of the success of the Red Sox as Youkilis has been the last seven years, it may be time for him to move on to a new town. The versatile Youkilis is just too injury prone at this point and this looks like it will be the second straight year his season will end on the disabled list. He played in just 102 games last year and, if he does not return from his hip injury, will have played in only 120 games this year (along with countless games played while hurting). He will be 33-years-old at the start of 2012.

Youkilis will not fetch the Red Sox a big star but his contract (1 year left for roughly $10-million with an option for 2013) is moveable and maybe the Sox could flip him to the Mets for their own oft-injured third baseman David Wright (who will be 29 next year). Wright is due roughly $9-million in 2012 and has an option for 2013. If it works out he would be the Red Sox third baseman going forward, if not he would be a stopgap between Youkilis and prized prospect Willie Middlebrooks at the hot corner.

Even if it's not a Youkilis-for-Wright swap, the Sox need to create a market for him in order to find a righthanded answer for the middle of their lineup.

2. Jon Lester is on the way to another solid season and it may sound silly but it's getting to the point where Red Sox Nation may be taking his 15-18 wins and 3-ish ERA for granted.

The Red Sox need Lester to be great tonight in New York, with the playoffs riding on the last six games and with him coming off two subpar starts (0-2, 6.55 ERA).

Lester has the reputation of being a big game pitcher and he needs to live up to that tonight.

3. PLAYOFF RACE: The Rays (2 games behind the Red Sox for the Wild Card) are hosting the Blue Jays while the Angels (3 games behind the Red Sox) host the A's. It doesn't take a genius to see that, on paper, the Red Sox have the toughest weekend matchup.

The Red Sox had better find a way to take at least 2-of-3 from the Yankees or they will likely be heading to their final series in Baltimore looking up in the Wild Card chase.

Red Sox Thoughts (September 22, 2011)

2011-09-22T19:24:00.000-05:00

The Rays and Angels are both breathing down the Red Sox neck. The sky is falling on Yawkey Way and if I didn't know any better I would think that it is 1978. The pitching sucks, the bats can't produce runs when they need to, and the defense has been atrocious.

All that and I still think the Red Sox will be in the ALCS.

Huh?

I think the Sox will survive the last six games and stumble into the playoffs as the A.L. Wild Card team. In the ALDS the bats will come to life and they will defeat either the Tigers or Rangers before falling to the Yankees in the ALCS.

How's that for optimism...

The Red Sox will venture into the Bronx this weekend, hoping to take 2-of-3 from the Yankees. The Sox will (thankfully) miss CC Sabathia as the Yankees will turn to Freddy Garcia, A.J. Burnett, and Ivan Nova. Jon Lester and Tim Wakefield will start the first two games for the Red Sox with the starter for Sunday still a mystery.

The state of the starting rotation has become so bad that Theo Epstein reportedly tried to pull off a deal for Mets pitcher Chris Capuano (11-12, 4.47) to take the mound on Sunday.

Not exactly a vote of confidence for Erik Bedard and John Lackey...

Just in case their is a two-way tie for the Wild Card after 162 games, the Red Sox would host the Angels, Tampa would host the Red Sox, and Tampa would likely host the Angels...

The Magic Number is 5...

Red Sox vs. Orioles (September 21, 2011)

2011-09-21T14:23:00.000-05:00

Baltimore Orioles (64-90) at Red Sox (88-67)

SP - Josh Beckett (13-5, 2.50) vs. Tommy Hunter (4-4, 4.81)

*** Red Sox Magic Number to Clinch a Playoff Spot - 7 ***

*** Lineups not posted yet. ***

Three Strikes:

1. Josh Beckett takes the mound tonight with a chance to calm the nerves of teammates and fans alike. The Red Sox are holding on for dear life as the Rays make a late charge to claim the Wild Card and all that stands between a playoff berth and a line on the Zakim Bridge are Beckett and his co-ace Jon Lester.

Pitching has been a major issue during Boston's nosedive from first place this September. As a pitching staff they have 5.98 ERA which is the biggest reason they are 5-15 this month. With a starting rotation consisting of Tim Wakefield, Erik Bedard, and John Lackey cannot afford to lose on the nights that Beckett and Lester pitch. It's that simple.

No pressure Josh.

2. On a positive note, the Red Sox investment in Adrian Gonzalez (.340 BA, 27 HR, 114 RBI, .967 OPS) has been worth every penny. Hopefully they will convince Jacoby Ellsbury (.319, 28, 98, .915) to ignore Scott Boras and sign a lucrative long-term deal to stay in Boston.

3. PLAYOFF RACE: The Rays (2 games behind the Red Sox for the Wild Card) and Yankees (6 games ahead of the Red Sox in the East) are playing a doubleheader in New York today.

If all goes perfectly for the Red Sox (and when has it lately?) they would be 3.5 games up in the Wild Card race with 7 games to play. Of course, they could be staring at a 0.5 game lead as well.

Red Sox vs. Orioles (September 20, 2011)

2011-09-20T17:34:00.000-05:00

Baltimore Orioles (63-90) at Red Sox (88-66)

SP - Erik Bedard (5-9, 3.50) vs. Rick VandenHurk (0-0, 6.00)

*** Red Sox Magic Number to Clinch a Playoff Spot - 8 ***

1. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
3. Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
4. David Ortiz, DH
5. Josh Reddick, RF
6. Carl Crawford, LF
7. Marco Scutaro, SS
8. Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
9. Mike Aviles, 3B

Three Strikes:

1. Clay Buchholz made more progress today, throwing a pain-free 32-pitch simulated inning. If the Red Sox survive this late season collapse then Buchholz could join their bullpen in the playoffs.

Although they could obviously use him as a starter behind Josh Beckett and Jon Lester, a healthy Buchholz would be a help to a bullpen that is searching for consistency beyond Jonathan Papelbon and Alfredo Aceves (who I think should get the nod in Game 3 of the ALDS if the Red Sox make it that far - he might not be able to go longer than 80-85 pitches but that's a better situation than giving the ball to John Lackey).

You never know, a bullpen of Buchholz, Aceves (if he doesn't start), Daniel Bard (if he regains his form), and Papelbon could help the Sox make a surprising run in October.

2. I really hope that all of my faith in Carl Crawford starts to pay off, starting this week. It's been written about countless times this year but Crawford has too much talent not to make an impact for the Red Sox. If he could get it going now, his stuggles through the first 154 games would be forgotten.

3. PLAYOFF RACE: The Rays (2 games behind the Red Sox for the Wild Card) and Yankees (five games ahead of the Red Sox in the East) start a four-game series in the Bronx tonight with Wade Davis (10-9, 4.41) squaring off with Ivan Nova (15-4, 3.81).

As long as the Red Sox win, it doesn't matter who takes this game (yes, there is a remote chance that the Sox could take the division title) but I'll take a Yankees sweep in order to eliminate the Rays.

How to Change College Sports and Save Them at the Same Time

2011-09-18T20:06:00.001-05:00

With billions of dollars of television money at stake, universities and colleges across the land are changing their allegiances faster than Benedict Arnold in an attempt to stay as close to the cash as possible.

In the last few years we have seen Miami, Virginia Tech, and Boston College go from the Big East to the ACC; Nebraska move from the Big 12 to the Big 10; Utah and Colorado join the Pac-12 after leaving the Mountain West and Big 12; Texas A&M jump from the Big 12 to the SEC; and Pittsburgh and Syracuse depart the Big East for the ACC.

All of this movement is happening because of the billions of dollars that are generated in college football. The losers are the other sports - especially college basketball - which are seeing traditional rivals jump through hoops just to stay in the mix to benefit from the football dollars. Those dollars drive business which is why a school like Syracuse, which is a founding member of the Big East, will play it's most meaningful basketball games (the sport in which it finds the most success) on Tobacco Road instead of Madison Square Garden.

The solution? Realignment strictly for football while keeping the old conferences in place for all the other sports.

The key here - and this is the biggest of the many reasons why this plan would fail - is that there are many schools that must realize they are not an elite football school and have no place in this plan. Take Vanderbilt. They are a premiere academic institution with a good athletic program that has no business playing with the big boys on the gridiron on Saturday afternoons in the fall. Those schools are out. They still can play football but they have no home in what I'm calling Super Division I Football.

This will be home to the schools that actually generate the revenue for college football. I'm talking Alabama, Oklahoma, Texas, Florida, Oregon, Michigan, Ohio State, Georgia, Boise State, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Miami, USC, LSU, Auburn, and Penn State. I want to create four divisions - based as good as possible on geography - and play a 16-game schedule with a playoff and championship game at the end of the season.

The four divisions of Super Division I Football will be the John McKay (West), Tom Osborne (Midwest), Woody Hayes (North), and Bear Bryant (South). Each division will have six teams and a school can be bounced out of Super Division I and be plaved back in FBS if a committee made up of representatives from all 24 teams votes to remove and if there is a school that is deemed able to replace the school being dropped.

(For example, if Auburn went on a bad run for the next two years, they could be voted out of Super Division I by a majority vote and if there was a school voted in by majority to replace them. That school would not necessarily have to fit geographically and the divisions could be realigned to fit georgraphic needs.)

Here is how I would break down the four divisions if we were starting this year:

John McKay Division

Oregon
USC
Boise State
Arizona State
Texas
Stanford

Tom Osborne Division

Nebraska
Baylor
Oklahoma
Notre Dame
Oklahoma State
Texas A&M

Woody Hayes Division

Wisconsin
Ohio State
Michigan
Virginia Tech
West Virginia
Arkansas

Bear Bryant Division

Alabama
Auburn
LSU
Florida State
Florida
South Carolina

(Now, we don't expect South Carolina to stick around as a contender forever but they could be voted out and replaced by Georgia in a few years if a majority of the schools vote to make that change. If the current trouble with the NCAA hurts Ohio State, they could be voted out and replaced with UCLA, which would cause for division realignment. Still with me? Excellent!)

As for the schedule, teams will play their division teams twice (home-and-home series) and then two schools from each of the other divsions. The top two teams from each division will make the playoffs and the seedings will be based on a fan vote from Twitter and Facebook. The first two rounds will be played at the site of the higher seeded school with the title game being played

It is an end to tradition but look where tradition has got us. Tradition is dead, it's time we embraced the fact that money drives college football and make the best of it. It is the best way to maximize college football, both on the field and at the bank. We would also get a national champion, which is a nice bonus.

The old bowl system would stay in place for the teams not in Super Division I, allowing teams like Georgia and Miami to fight to earn themselves consideration to be included if one of the Super Division I teams were to falter.

It would also save the current conferences for other sports so that basketball powers like the Big East do not get eliminated.

It's not perfect but it's worth a shot.

Random Thoughts (September 18, 2011)

2011-09-18T19:17:00.000-05:00

Wow, what was once a sure bet that the Red Sox would make the playoffs has turned into a disaster as the Rays have fought to within two games of Boston in the A.L. Wild Card race.

Tampa Bay has done this by sweeping the Red Sox last week in Florida and then taking 3-of-4 this weekend at Fenway Park. The Red Sox are reeling and if they do make the playoffs it looks like it will be due only to the Rays running out of time.

Watching this series showed the Red Sox biggest problem - their weak pitching staff. Even in their lone win, Josh Beckett only went six innings. The Rays have better pitching and that takes the pressure off the rest of their team.

The Red Sox close the season with seven games with the Orioles and three games in New York against the Yankees. The Rays finish up with seven games versus the Yankees and three with the Blue Jays.

That schedule does favor the Red Sox but with the likes of Kyle Weiland starting games in a playoff race does not give me great hope. I do think they will hold on but things are not looking good for the Sox...

The landscape of college sports is once again changing. Following the decision by Texas A&M to bolt the Big 12 for the SEC, Syracuse and Pittsburgh have announced they will depart the Big East for the ACC with fellow Big East member UConn looking to also jump to the ACC.

While Texas A&M's jump to the SEC and the rumored move of Texas and Oklahoma to the Pac-12 are focused around football, the ACC's newest additions will make them the best basketball conference in the country.

Syracuse and Pittsburgh will join North Carolina and Duke at the top of the ACC hoop hierarchy and if UConn were to also join (along with a school like Louisville?) then the ACC would surpass the Big East as the dominant power in college hoops...

It's sad that the Big East is on the verge of falling apart on the same weekend that Dave Gavitt, the great Providence hoop coach and founder of the Big East, passed away at the age of 73.

Gavitt was the President of the Celtics in the early 1990's and was the de facto general manager of USA Basketball when the one and only Dream Team grabbed the Gold Medal at the 1992 Olympics but he will forever be remembered for making a handful of colleges in the Northeast into a force in college basketball...

Enjoy Matt Ryan tonight...

Sunday/Monday Bettors

2011-09-18T18:45:00.000-05:00

TheBostonInsider bounced back from a mediocre 7-8-1 start in Week 1 of the NFL season to go 8-4-2 so far this week.

Just in case you forgot...

ATLANTA (+3) over Philadelphia (Sunday Night)

NY GIANTS (-6) oer St. Louis (Monday Night)

Red Sox vs. Rays (September 17, 2011)

2011-09-17T14:04:00.000-05:00

Tampa Bay Rays (83-67) at Red Sox (87-63)

SP - Jon Lester (15-7, 3.07) vs. Jeff Niemann (10-7, 3.97)

1. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
3. Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
4. David Ortiz, DH
5. Josh Reddick, RF
6. Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
7. Carl Crawford, LF
8. Mike Aviles, 3B
9. Marco Scutaro, SS

Three Strikes:

1. Terry Francona is one of the best managers in the game of baseball but because he is the skipper of a $180-million team, he rarely gets mentioned as a serious candidate as Manager of the Year.

When the Red Sox finally close the door on the Rays and Angels to clinch the Wild Card (which will be the franchise's sixth trip to the playoffs in Francona's eight years as manager) I hope that the Baseball Writer's of America take note of the job Francona has done this year when they submit their ballots.

He has led the team from a dismal 2-10 start to the third best record in the A.L. and the fifth best record in baseball. He has managed a pitching staff that has suffered serious injuries (Clay Buchholz, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Bobby Jenks, Rich Hill) and has been victimized by poor performances (John Lackey). Like with the pitching staff, he has juggled his lineup all year to work around injuries (Kevin Youkilis, Jed Lowrie, Marco Scutaro, J.D. Drew) and a terrible year by Carl Crawford. Never mind the pressure of Boston's fans and media.

All that and his team is heading toward the playoffs. It might not be enough to beat out Jim Leyland or Joe Maddon but Francona has once again done an excellent job.

2. The Red Sox once again got encouraging news about Buchholz, who threw off the mound at Fenway Park earlier today. The Sox hope to get Buchholz some game action in the final series of the year at Baltimore to try and determine what he could offer in the playoffs.

If he is healthy and able to contribute, Buchholz could build arm strength working out of the bullpen while hopefully - if the Red Sox advance - joining Josh Beckett and Jon Lester at the top of the rotation for the ALCS and World Series.

3. Try and picture John Lackey pitching in a Padres uniform next year with the Red Sox paying no less than 80% of his contract.

It's just not going to work out in Boston.

Football Picks

2011-09-17T09:54:00.001-05:00

I am off to a great start in college football but my first week of NFL picks were less than stellar. To try and shake it up I'm switching my lines this week from BoDog to the trusted ol' Bible.

I hear your counter argument that I'm risking my success with the college picks. You shout at me through the computer, "Just stay with the hot hand and don't get greedy," and I hear you but nothing is derailing this train.

As always, all picks against the spread and home team is in capitals.

NCAA

CLEMSON (-3) over Auburn
The streak has to end, right?

FLORIDA (-9.5) over Tennessee
A lot of points for rivalry game but the Gators can handle it.

Michigan State (+5) over NOTRE DAME
This is like stealing. The Irish starting the season 0-3.

FLORIDA STATE (+3) over Oklahoma
The Seminoles show America they're one of the big boys again.

Texas (-3.5) over UCLA
Beating up on UCLA is reason for the Longhorns to jump to the Pac-12.

Last Week: 4 - 1
Season: 8 - 2

NFL

Chicago (-7) over NEW ORLEANS
Bears run game should keep them close in a Saints win.

DETROIT (-8) over Kansas City
What a time to live in Detroit, other than the economy.

NY JETS (-9.5) over Jacksonville
I don't see the Jaguars putting up too many points against Revis Island and the Jets defense.

BUFFALO (-3) over Oakland
Tough one to call after both teams started impressively in Week 1 so I'll use the "West Coast team playing on the East Coast at 1pm" to make the decision.

Arizona (+3.5) over WASHINGTON
Yes, Arizona falls into the same category as Oakland this week but the Cards offense led by Larry Fitzgerald and Kevin Kolb will put up enough points to cover.

Baltimore (-6) over TENNESSEE
Patriots-Ravens AFC Championship Game.

PITTSBURGH (-14.5) over Seattle
I love the idea of a Jets/Steelers tease.

Green Bay (-10) over CAROLINA
I love a Packers/Jets/Steelers 3-way tease even more.

Tampa Bay (+3) over MINNESOTA
Would someone please tell Donovan McNabb it's over?

Cleveland (-2.5) over INDIANAPOLIS
Welcome to the weekly "Rub salt in the wounds of the Colts" segment of the picks.

Dallas (-3) over SAN FRANCISCO
Not even Tony Romo can find a way to lose this one, right?

Houston (-3) over MIAMI
Can't you see Andrew Luck in a Dolphins uniform?

San Diego (+7) over PATRIOTS
This looks like a 28-24 Patriots victory with Devin McCourty picking off Philip Rivers with under two minutes to seal the deal.

Cincinnati (+4) over DENVER
If the Bengals and Broncos play a football game on Sunday and no one watches it do the fantasy points still count?

ATLANTA (+3) over Philadelphia
Michael Vick has never been great when the pressure is on and although it's just Week 2, his return to Atlanta counts as having the pressure on to me.

NY GIANTS (-6) over St. Louis
Just too many injuries in St. Louis.

Last Week: 7 - 8 - 1
Season: 7 - 8 - 1

Red Sox vs. Rays (September 15, 2011)

2011-09-15T15:35:00.000-05:00

Tampa Bay Rays (82-66) at Red Sox (86-62)

SP - Kyle Weiland (0-1, 6.75) vs. Jeremy Hellickson (12-10, 2.96)

1. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
3. Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
4. David Ortiz, DH
5. Kevin Youkilis, 3B
6. Josh Reddick, RF
7. Carl Crawford, LF
8. Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
9. Marco Scutaro, SS

Three Strikes:

1. It's good to see both Adrian Gonzalez (left calf) and David Ortiz (back spasms) back in the Red Sox lineup as they open a critical four game series with the Rays at Fenway Park tonight.

With Kyle Weiland (tonight) and Tim Wakefield (Sunday) on the bump for two of the games - Josh Beckett and Jon Lester will pitch in the other two games -the Red Sox offense needs to get rocking this series. The Red Sox have a 4 game lead over the Rays (and 4.5 games over the Angels) for the Wild Card so this series will probably determine a playoff spot. Boston needs to take at least two games and if they take three out of four they would have a commanding five game lead over Tampa Bay with ten games left.

2. Jacoby Ellsbury, Red Sox MVP.

3. Alfredo Aceves or Jarrod Saltalamacchia for 10th Player? Can't go wrong with either.

Red Sox vs. Rays (September 10, 2011)

2011-09-10T14:38:00.000-05:00

Red Sox (85-59) @ Tampa Bay Rays (78-64)

SP - Kyle Weiland (0-1, 6.75) vs. Jeremy Hellickson (12-10, 2.90)

1. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
3. Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
4. David Ortiz, DH
5. Josh Reddick, RF
6. Carl Crawford, LF
7. Jed Lowrie, 3B
8. Marco Scutaro, SS
9. Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C

Three Strikes:

1. After losing 8 of their last 11 games, the Red Sox start the day 2.5 games behind the Yankees in the A.L. East and hold just a 5.5 game lead over the Rays for the Wild Card. Needless to say, Red Sox Nation is in a (justified) panic.

Let's hope Peter Abraham's note that Josh Beckett is throwing long toss in the Tropicana Dome outfield prior to today's key game is a sign that things are turning around for the BoSox.

2. Whether or not the Rays catch the Red Sox and make the playoffs, it is time that baseball changes its divisional format. It's time for Bud Selig to eliminate divisions and allow the four best teams in each league advance to the playoffs.

Not only would that save baseball from excluding a very good team from October - such as the Rays or (gulp!) Red Sox - because they're in an excellent division but it would also create better pennant races for the third and fourth spots.

3. Okay, who the hell starts Game 3 of the ALDS (if there even is an ALDS) now?

Football Picks

2011-09-10T10:39:00.000-05:00

Here this week's picks (lines courtesy of BoDog) with home team in capitals.

NCAA

WISCONSIN (-21.5) over Oregon State
Mississippi State (-6) over AUBURN
Alabama (-10.5) over PENN STATE
BYU (+7) over TEXAS
MICHIGAN (+3.5) over Notre Dame

Last Week: 4 - 1
Season: 4 - 1

NFL

Pittsburgh Steelers (+1) over BALTIMORE RAVENS
Detroit Lions (+1) over TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
CHICAGO BEARS (+3) over Atlanta Falcons
Buffalo Bills (+5.5) over KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
Indianapolis Colts (+9) over HOUSTON TEXANS
ST. LOUIS RAMS (+4.5) over Philadelphia Eagles
CLEVELAND BROWNS (-7) over Cincinnati Bengals
Tennessee Titans (+1) over JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
New York Giants (-3) over WASHINGTON REDSKINS
Carolina Panthers (+7) over ARIZONA CARDINALS
Seattle Seahawks (+5.5) over SAN FRANCISCO 49ers
Minnesota Vikings (+9) over SAN DIEGO CHARGERS
Dallas Cowboys (+5.5) over NEW YORK JETS
New England Patriots (-7) over MIAMI DOLPHINS
DENVER BRONCOS (-3) over Oakland Raiders

This Week: 1 - 0
Season: 1 - 0
Last Season: 108 - 96 - 3 (missed Week 15 and 16)

Football Pick

2011-09-08T15:26:00.000-05:00

The NFL is back tonight as the New Orleans Saints, Super Bowl XLIV champions, head to Green Bay to play the Packers, champions of Super Bowl XLV. What a way to kick off the regular season!

As I wrote on Saturday, I take the line from either the Boston Herald (the "Bible") or BoDog (which I'm using today) and pick the winner against the spread.

I will have a full post for Saturday's college football games and the rest of the NFL but here's my take on tonight.

GREEN BAY PACKERS (-5) over New Orleans Saints

Red Sox vs. Blue Jays (September 7, 2011)

2011-09-07T17:55:00.000-05:00

Red Sox (85-56) @ Toronto Blue Jays (70-72)

SP - TIm Wakefield (6-6, 4.95) vs. Brandon Morrow (9-10, 4.78)

1. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
3. Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
4. David Ortiz, DH
5. Kevin Youkilis, 3B
6. Carl Crawford, LF
7. Marco Scutaro, SS
8. Josh Reddick, RF
9. Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C

Three Strikes:

1. The news about Josh Beckett's ankle sounds good and until the Red Sox or Beckett say otherwise, I will believe he will be ready to go for October.

Beckett will probably miss at least one start but his sprained ankle does not sound like a serious injury and at this point of the season, a healthy Beckett in October should translate into a Red Sox team capable of winning the World Series.

2. The Red Sox also got good news on Clay Buchholz. The righty has been out since June with a stress fracture in his back but has been increasing his throwing lately in an attempt to return for the playoffs.

If the Red Sox get Buchholz back for October - even in a relief role while he rebuilds arm strength - it would be a major bonus considering it looked like they were going to lose him for the season.

3. Yes, Tim Wakefield will get #200 tonight.

Return of the Football Picks

2011-09-02T14:26:00.001-05:00

Finally, it's football season.

TheBostonInsider is back with his weekly picks column and, as a present to all of you loyal readers, I have posted Kenny Chesney's "The Boys of Fall" music video to get you into the proper mood.

Just in case you forgot, I pick every NFL game (starting next week) and hand pick five college games and pick which team that I think will cover the spread. I either use the Boston Herald (the "Bible") or BoDog for the spreads. Today I'm using BoDog because I had my daughter this morning and could not get to the store.

I keep a running tally of my record and post it every week. To start, I have posted last year's record against the spread for the college games which was, for me, a fairly impressive five games over .500.

As for this week's picks...

NCAA

Oregon (-3.5) over Louisiana State (game in Dallas)
Boise State (-3) over GEORGIA
BALL STATE (+6) over Indiana
NORTHERN ILLINOIS (-11) over Army
MICHIGAN (-14) over Western Michigan

Season: 0 - 0
Last Season: 38 - 33 - 4

Red Sox vs. Rangers (August 25, 2011)

2011-08-25T17:43:00.000-05:00

Red Sox (79-50) @ Texas Rangers (74-57)

SP - Andrew Miller (5-1, 4.99) vs. Alexi Ogando (12-5, 3.30)

1. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
2. Jed Lowrie, 3B
3. Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
4. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
5. David Ortiz, DH
6. Carl Crawford, LF
7. Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
8. Josh Reddick, RF
9. Marco Scutaro, SS

Three Strikes:

1. So, maybe Carl Crawford's first season in Boston will not be a complete bust.

The $142-million Man is 9 for his last 26 with 2 home runs and 8 RBI on the current road trip, upping his season totals to .255 BA, 9 HR, 46 RBI, and a .687 OPS.

Hopefully this is a glimpse into what the Red Sox will be getting for the rest of 2011.

2. Josh Reddick's inability to produce at the plate - .200 BA, 2 HR, 4 RBI, and a .553 OPS over his last 25 games - has opened the door for J.D. Drew to end his Red Sox career the way he started it back in 2007.

Yes, Drew could make up for a lost season by helping the Red Sox win the World Series this year just like he did five years ago.

3. Due to Hurricane Irene, which will hit the Boston area on Sunday, the Red Sox and A's will play a doubleheader at Fenway Park tomorrow. The start times will be 12pm and 5pm.

Make sure to hit the Basement at The Baseball Tavern for pregame and postgame on Saturday.

Red Sox vs. Royals (August 19, 2011)

2011-08-19T15:27:00.000-05:00

Red Sox (75-48) @ Kansas City Royals (51-74)

SP - Andrew Miller (4-1, 5.40) vs. Jeff Francis (4-13, 4.76)

1. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
2. Mike Aviles, SS
3. Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
4. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
5. Jed Lowrie, 3B
6. Ryan Lavarnway, DH
7. Carl Crawford, LF
8. Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
9. Darnell McDonald, RF

Three Strikes:

1. It's time that Terry Francona just put Carl Crawford in the seventh spot in his lineup and just hope for the best.

In 17 games in that spot, Crawford has a triple slash of .274/.338/.435/.774. His numbers hitting in the sixth spot are actually a little better (.299/.325/.469/.794 in 37 games) but I'm sure that Francona wants to keep David Ortiz (when he returns) and Crawford separated in the lineup to avoid opponents using one lefty reliever without having to make a change.

Obviously this is not what the Red Sox wanted when they gave Crawford his 7-year/$142-million deal back in November but they need to focus on what he can give them during the remaining part of the regular season and in the playoffs rather than on his struggles up until now.

2. Jeff Francis was last seen by the Red Sox in Game 1 of the 2007 World Series, a game in which he gave up six runs in just four innings including a home run by Dustin Pedroia in the first inning.

Pedroia, who was just a rookie back then, was stopped from entering Coors Field on the day of Game 3 by a security guard who did not recognize the Red Sox second baseman. Pedroia flippantly told the security guard that if he needed confirmation about his identity that he could go ask Francis.

Just another reason why it's so great to have Pedroia on the Red Sox.

3. If you have a chance to bet on tonight's game, take the over.

Andrew Miller hasn't started since July 31 so his control issues could be a real problem tonight and Francis is 1-7 with a 5.26 ERA in his last 11 starts.

Expect a lot of runs.

Red Sox vs. Royals (August 18, 2011)

2011-08-18T15:05:00.000-05:00

Red Sox (74-48) @ Kansas City Royals (51-73)

SP - Josh Beckett (9-5, 2.40) vs. Luke Hochevar (8-9, 4.89)

1. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
2. Jed Lowrie, 3B
3. Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
4. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
5. Josh Reddick, RF
6. Carl Crawford, LF
7. Ryan Lavarnway, DH
8. Jason Varitek, C
9. Mike Aviles, SS

Three Strikes:

1. David Ortiz is still out with a heel injury and Kevin Youkilis is off to the disabled list with a bad back so Ryan Lavarnway has been called up from Pawtucket and will be the DH tonight.

Lavarnway has been killing the minor league pitching this summer between his time at Double-A Portland and Triple-A Pawtucket. In 110 games he is hitting .293 with 30 HR, 85 RBI, and a .993 OPS.

Considering how many left handed bats the Red Sox have in their lineup, Lavarnway would be a great bench option for Terry Francona if he can translate his success in the minor leagues to the big league level.

2. He might not be with the Red Sox anymore but this is a very nice post about Justin Masterson (hat tip to Peter Abraham).

3. The Red Sox bats, which were so hot in July, have cooled considerably in August.

In July the Red Sox had a triple slash (batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and OPS) of .298/.373/.501/.874. Not surprisingly they went 20-6 in the month to take the lead in the A.L. East.

So far in August that has dipped to .253/.308/.418/.725. The record in August is a disappointing 8-8 and they have dropped to second place in the division.

The solution to this problem is for Carl Crawford, Josh Reddick, Jed Lowrie, and the other members of the supporting cast (I never imagined considering Crawford as a supporting cast player when he signed with the Red Sox this past winter) to start hitting to help out Jacoby Ellsbury, Dustin Pedroia, and Adrian Gonzalez.

Random Thoughts (August 18, 2011)

2011-08-18T11:28:00.000-05:00

USC. Ohio State. Miami.

All are traditional college football powerhouses who either are in the middle of or are awaiting NCAA sanctions.

The reason for the punishment is that their players were taking money and other benefits which is illegal under NCAA rules.

This is a problem that major college sports have faced for years and there is no solution. The fact of the matter is that football players and basketball players bring in billions of dollars from television rights, merchandise, and advertising and they get nothing more than their scholarship. I'm not trying to downplay the benefits of a free education but it's not a fair trade for the running back at USC or Ohio State or Miami to see their school rake in the dollars from jersey sales and ESPN while they get free classes and books.

Nevermind that these players fly all over the country during the season at the expense of their class schedule.

It's time for the NCAA to admit that they can not and should not prevent these athletes from making an honest (or not so honest) buck off of their talents...

The Red Sox recent slump could help them improve as a team.

Up until August 31 teams can make trades as long as a player clears waivers. A player is placed on waivers and is available to every team starting with the team with the worst record. Teams can claim a player to either make a deal or block a potential move to another team.

Now that the Red Sox are looking up to the Yankees in the A.L. East, they get their shot at players on the waiver wire before the Yankees. This could help the Red Sox find a right handed hitting outfielder or left handed relief pitcher without the Yankees getting involved.

There's always a silver lining...

The Patriots second preseason game will be like the first one, a glorified scrimmage which will give Bill Belichick a chance to evaluate the younger players and some of the new free agent additions.

That means no Tom Brady.

It's a scam that the NFL teams can charge full price for these games even though the best players never get on the field but I'd rather pay $100 for a preseason ticket to see Brian Hoyer play quarterback than to see Brady get hurt...

Enjoy Josh Beckett tonight...

Red Sox vs. Rays (August 17, 2011)

2011-08-17T09:42:00.000-05:00

Tampa Bay Rays (64-56) @ Red Sox (74-47)

SP - John Lackey (11-8, 6.13) vs. David Price (10-10, 3.76)

1. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
3. Adrian Gonzalez, DH
4. Kevin Youkilis, 1B
5. Jed Lowrie, 3B
6. Darnell McDonald, RF
7. Carl Crawford, LF
8. Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
9. Mike Aviles, SS

Three Strikes:

1. Jacoby Ellsbury's successful summer continued yesterday. He hit a three-run home run in Game 1 of the doubleheader (which accounted for all the runs the Red Sox scored in their 3-1 win) and added another home run in the Game 2 loss to the Rays.

He is now hitting .313 with 22 HR, 78 RBI, an OPS of .884 and 31 stolen bases.

At the end of the season Ellsbury will be one of the favorites to win the American League MVP but that is not breaking news, especially if you are a regular reader of this space.

Because he is a Scott Boras client it is very unlikely that Ellsbury will sign an extension before he is able to become a free agent after the 2013 season but Theo Epstein should be trying every day to lock him up.

2. While he doesn't have much to show for the effort, Erik Bedard's first three starts with the Red Sox have been encouraging. His record is just 0-1 (Bedard got the loss last night despite allowing just one earned run in six innings) but he has an impressive 3.38 ERA and 1.313 WHIP.

If Clay Buchholz does not return from his back injury, Terry Francona could very likely be turning to Bedard after Josh Beckett and Jon Lester in his playoff rotation.

3. Yes, it's Game 122 and the Red Sox are in second place.

For the 437,912 time, that's not all bad considering the 2-10 start. With forty games to play, the Red Sox are in prime position to make the playoffs and they can still take the A.L. East over the Yankees.

Red Sox vs. Mariners (August 12, 2011)

2011-08-12T17:43:00.000-05:00

Red Sox (72-44) @ Seattle Mariners (50-66)

SP - John Lackey (10-8, 6.14) vs. Blake Beavan (3-2, 2.83)

1. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
3. Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
4. Kevin Youkilis, 3B
5. David Ortiz, DH
6. Carl Crawford, LF
7. Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
8. Josh Reddick, RF
9. Marco Scutaro, SS

Three Strikes:

1. The Lackey Revival Tour will continue tonight. Over his last six starts the big righty is 5-0 with a 3.58 ERA. He has historically had success in Seattle - including a near no-hitter last year - and the Red Sox would love nothing more than to see him continue his success with the playoffs on the horizon.

2. David Ortiz is waking up from his slump that was caused in part to sitting during Interleague play, the All-Star Break, and serving a three-game suspension after the All-Star Game.

Big Papi has 12 hits in his last 29 at-bats with 3 home runs and 9 RBI.

The Red Sox lineup is scary when Ortiz kills the ball and the American League playoff teams have to fear Boston when Papi is being Papi.

3. I've been patient all season and have kept the faith so I fully expect Carl Crawford to build on his recent success (26 hits in his last 87 at-bats) and break out for the rest of the season. We've all been waiting for the Crawford that killed the Red Sox for all those years in Tampa Bay emerge in Boston and this is the weekend that he will start being that player again.

Red Sox vs. Twins (August 10, 2011)

2011-08-10T15:06:00.001-05:00

Red Sox (72-43) @ Minnesota Twins (51-65)

SP - Jon Lester (11-5, 3.23) vs. Nick Blackburn (7-9, 4.58)

1. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
2. Marco Scutaro, SS
3. Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
4. Kevin Youkilis, 3B
5. David Ortiz, DH
6. Carl Crawford, LF
7. Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
8. Josh Reddick, RF
9. Mike Aviles, 2B

Three Strikes:

1. With both Dustin Pedroia and Jed Lowrie getting the night off, the Red Sox depth will be on display tonight with Marco Scutaro getting the start at shortstop and Mike Aviles playing second base.

The depth that Terry Francona has on the bench - Jason Varitek, Scutaro (now that Lowrie is back), Aviles, and Darnell McDonald with J.D. Drew on the road to recovery - is starting to resemble the deep 2004 bench which featured Doug Mientkiewicz, Dave Roberts, Gabe Kapler, Pokey Reese, and Doug Mirabelli.

When October rolls around and each game becomes life-or-death that kind of depth could mean the difference between winning or losing a championship.

2. After starting the season 0-7 on the road, the Red Sox have gone on a 35-14 tear away from Fenway Park.

3. Adrian Gonzalez has experienced a minor slip at the plate in August. In 9 games he has a .286 BA, 0 HR, 2 RBI, and a .721 OPS.

It is just a small speed bump but it does bear watching as the Red Sox enter the home stretch.

If I Had A Vote For A.L. MVP

2011-08-09T21:54:00.000-05:00

Bob Ryan, the great columnist from the Boston Globe, wrote an interesting piece today on the possibility of Red Sox centerfielder Jacoby Ellsbury winning the American League's Most Valuable Player award.

This got me to thinking about who should be the A.L.'s MVP in 2011.

The candidates? Ellsbury, Adrian Gonzalez, and Dustin Pedroia of the Red Sox. Curtis Granderson and CC Sabathia of the Yankees. Miguel Cabrera and Justin Verlander of the Tigers. Jose Bautista of the Blue Jays. Jered Weaver of the Angels.

(Apologies to Mark Teixeira but a .251 batting average just doesn't warrant consideration for the MVP even though he has 32 HR and 86 RBI. The same goes to Josh Beckett because a lack of run support has denied him several wins but a 9-4 record keeps him out of the discussion despite a 2.17 ERA.)

Before the ballot is cast, let's break down the stats (thanks to Baseball-Reference.com) of my contenders.

Ellsbury - .319 BA, 19 HR, 72 RBI, 31 SB, .374 OBP, .890 OPS
Gonzalez - .350 BA, 18 HR, 92 RBI, 161 Hits, .411 OBP, .965 OPS
Pedroia - .311 BA, 15 HR, 60 RBI, .401 OBP, .880 OPS
Granderson - .273 BA, 28 HR, 86 RBI, .366 OBP, .927 OPS
Sabathia - 16-6, 2.81 ERA, 168 K's, 1.139 WHIP
Cabrera - .318 BA, 22 HR, 71 RBI, .425 OBP, .981 OPS
Verlander - 16-5, 2.30 ERA, 186 K's, .872 WHIP
Bautista - .315 BA, 33 HR, 76 RBI, 88 BB, .450 OBP, 1.096 OPS
Weaver - 14-5, 1.78 ERA, 150 K's, .940 WHIP

Pedroia, Sabathia, Cabrera, Verlander, and Weaver are all having excellent seasons for teams in the hunt for the playoffs but for now the argument comes down to Ellsbury, Gonzalez, Granderson, and Bautista.

Ellsbury has been the best leadoff hitter baseball has seen since Rickey Henderson was in his prime and Ichiro Suzuki was killing it for the Mariners. He gets on-base, steals bases, hits for power, and plays a very good centerfield. Recently, he has had a few "MVP moments," hitting walk-off hits on consecutive nights against the Indians. Ellsbury boasts and impressive .383 BA and 25 RBI with two outs and runners in scoring position (RISP) and has a .319 BA and .405 OBP in Late and Close situations (plate appearances in the 7th Inning or later with the batting team tied, ahead by one run, or the tying run at least on deck).

Gonzalez has been worth every penny that the Red Sox gave him this winter. He started hitting in April and has not stopped since then, carrying Boston out of its dismal 2-10 start to the top of the American League. He currently leads the league in hits, batting average, and RBI. His Late and Close numbers are not as good as Ellsbury's (.299 BA) but in tie games he has a .364 BA.

Granderson does not have the batting average to rival the other contenders but has been killing the ball when the Yankees win. In the Yankees wins, Granderson has a .344 BA, 21 HR, 69 RBI, and a 1.112 OPS. To discredit his critics that believe his success is largely a product of the short rightfield porch at Yankee Stadium, Granderson has 14 homers at home and 14 homers on the road. His resume is aided by the fact that the Yankees offense is producing despite poor seasons by Derek Jeter and Jorge Posada and the injuries to Alex Rodriguez.

Bautista is the statistical monster playing on a bad team. He leads the A.L. in home runs, walks, intentional walks (18), OBP, slugging (.646), and OPS. He also has bounced back and forth between third base and rightfield in an unselfish attempt to do his best to help the Blue Jays stay competitive in the A.L. East. It's tough to hold it against him that his team just isn't very good but it's different to succeed in a pressure situation like that in Boston or New York than it is in a losing situation like Toronto.

For me it comes down to Jacoby Ellsbury and Adrian Gonzalez, all homerism aside.

The deciding factor in casting my mythical vote will be how each player has done in the 12 games against the Yankees, the Red Sox biggest rival and (along with the Rangers) their biggest threat in the A.L. The Red Sox games with the Yankees are pressure packed and have a life-or-death feel to them. Performing at one's best in those games is the mark of an MVP and in such a close race, it is a good indicator of who is the MVP.

Player A has a .191 BA, .328 OBP, .711 OPS, 2 HR, and 11 RBI against the Yankees.

Player B has a .348 BA, .392 OBP, .979 OPS, 2 HR, 13 RBI against the Yankees.

Player B it is. Bob Ryan was on to something.

Congratulations are in order to Jacoby Ellsbury.

Red Sox vs. Twins (August 9, 2011)

2011-08-09T15:50:00.000-05:00

Red Sox (71-43) @ Minnesota Twins (51-64)

SP - Erik Bedard (4-7, 3.55) vs. Francisco Liriano (7-9, 5.03)

1. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
3. Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
4. Kevin Youkilis, 3B
5. David Ortiz, DH
6. Jed Lowrie, SS
7. Carl Crawford, LF
8. Jason Varitek, C
9. Darnell McDonald, RF

Three Strikes:

1. Jarrod Saltalamacchia was once a major prospect with the Braves who was the key piece in the deal that sent Mark Teixeira from the Texas Rangers to Atlanta. He quickly morphed into a guy who couldn't hit or even throw the ball back to the pitcher who became so undervalued that the Red Sox were able to pick him up at the trade deadline in 2010 for a handful of prospects that have little chance of playing in the big leagues.

Today he is the Red Sox starting catcher.

The 26-year-old Saltalamacchia has not yet lived up to the hype that surrounded him when he was with the Braves but his consistent improvement throughout the 2011 season has provided the Red Sox with a solid catcher.

For the season he has posted a .257 BA with 11 HR, 38 RBI, and an OPS of .800 in 72 games while sharing catching duties with Jason Varitek.

The key has been in his month-to-month improvement. After a horrible April (.216/0/6/.547) he has turned into a very good hitting catcher, peaking in June (.327/1/5/.945) and July (.283/4/14/.893).

The reason for the improvement seems to be a healthy work ethic. Nick Cafardo posted on his Twitter account that, despite having the night off tonight, Salty was in the batting cage working on his right handed swings.

That is much needed work. As a right handed batter this season, Saltalamacchia is hitting .219/3/10/.645 as opposed to .274/8/28/.868 from the left side.

2. The second Erik Bedard start should be an improvement on his successful first start in Fenway Park last week against the Indians in which he earned a no-decision after allowing three runs in five innings.

In his only career start at Minnesota's Target Field (which came earlier this season while pitching for the Mariners) Bedard got the win after pitching six scoreless innings.

The Red Sox would definitely take that kind of performance tonight.

3. David Ortiz had a big night in the 8-6 comeback win over the Twins on Monday, going 4-for-5 with a home run, double, and 3 RBI.

The key was that Big Papi did not try to pull everything. Other than his majestic home run, all of his hits were to left or center field and the only out he made was a fly ball to left.

When Ortiz is using the entire field he is nearly impossible to pitch to and it makes the Red Sox offense even more deadly.

Patriots Loading Up for Super Season

2011-08-08T14:00:00.000-05:00

The 2010 New England Patriots went 14-2 in the regular season before losing to the New York Jets in a Divisional Playoff Game. Considering how young the Patriots were, their failure to win the Super Bowl was not too surprising and the future of the team looked very bright.

Bill Belichick has done his best to capitalize on the promise of his team, adding veterans at key positions in an effort to help his team compete for a fourth Super Bowl title under his leadership.

Since the lockout ended and the 2011 season started, Belichick has added receiver Chad Ochocinco and defensive linemen Albert Haynesworth, Shaun Ellis, Andre Carter, Gerard Warren, and Mark Anderson.

The Ochocinco move was made to give Tom Brady another weapon. Ochocinco joins Wes Welker, Rob Gronkowski, Deion Branch, Aaron Hernandez, Julian Edelman, and Brandon Tate in what should be one of the best passing games in the NFL.

As for the defensive moves, this is a signal that Belichick believes he has a championship team that needed to improve in one area: the pass rush.

The achilles heel for the 2010 Patriots defense was their inability to stop the opponents passing attack. Although they ranked 8th in total defense, the Patriots were 30th in passing defense. While part of that can be attributed to a young secondary, the biggest problem was that they had trouble in pressuring the quarterback.

In 2010, the Patriots recorded just 36 sacks while allowing 4136 passing yards. They were particularly bad on 3rd Down, allowing a league worst 47.1% conversion rate.

The solution to this problem was to get players like Haynesworth, Ellis, Anderson, Carter, and Warren. They have the ability to collapse the pocket quickly and force the quarterback to make mistakes.

It should be the difference between losing in a Divisional Playoff game and winning a Super Bowl.

Red Sox vs. Indians (August 4, 2011)

2011-08-04T15:11:00.000-05:00

Cleveland Indians (54-54) @ Red Sox (68-41)

SP - Erik Bedard (4-7, 3.45) vs. Justin Masterson (8-7, 2.56)

1. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
3. Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
4. Kevin Youkilis, 3B
5. David Ortiz, DH
6. Carl Crawford, LF
7. Josh Reddick, RF
8. Jason Varitek, C
9. Marco Scutaro, SS

Three Strikes:

1. Erik Bedard makes his first start for the Red Sox and with the playoffs just over two months away, it will bear watching if it is Bedard or John Lackey who will earn the third starter spot in the ALDS (assuming, you know, that Clay Buchholz' stress fracture keps him out of action in October).

2. Bedard's opponent tonight will be former Sox pitcher Justin Masterson. Masterson was an excellent young relief pitcher before being dealt to Cleveland as part of a package for Victor Martinez in 2009.

Considering that the Red Sox did not win a playoff game in Martinez' year and a half in Boston, it is fair to question the deal that cost them a valuable pitcher in Masterson - who would be a great fit as the third starter behind Josh Beckett and Jon Lester right now - as well as promising left handed pitching prospect Nick Hagadone.

3. David Ortiz has had a very good season following two subpar (by his standards) years. However, he has been slumping lately, posting a ..240 BA, .731 OPS, 2 HR, and 19 RBI over his last 19 games (87 plate appearances).

The Red Sox will need the Ortiz they saw from April through June if they hope to win the World Series.

Red Sox vs. Indians (August 1, 2011)

2011-08-01T15:17:00.000-05:00

Cleveland Indians (53-52) @ Red Sox (66-40)

SP - John Lackey (9-8, 6.20) vs. Josh Tomlin (11-5, 4.01)

1. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
3. Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
4. Kevin Youkilis, 3B
5. David Ortiz, DH
6. Carl Crawford, LF
7. Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
8. Josh Reddick, RF
9. Marco Scutaro, SS

Three Strikes:

1. Despite the trade for Erik Bedard, John Lackey is still the likely candidate to join Josh Beckett and Jon Lester as the third starter in the Red Sox playoff rotation. Lackey's overall numbers are ugly but over his last four starts he is 4-0 with a 2.52 ERA.

That is the Lackey that the Red Sox paid top dollar for before the 2010 season and that is the Lackey that the Red Sox need in order to win the World Series now that it looks like Clay Buchholz' season is over due to a stress fracture in his back.

2. Watching Josh Reddick slip in the Red Sox batting order is due to his recent slump. Although he still posts . 331 BA, .376 OBP, .935 OPS, 4 HR, and 21 RBI for the season (39 games and 133 plate appearances), his stats over his last six games (19 plate appearances) are not encouraging.

A .118 BA, .158 OBP, and .276 OPS are the type of numbers that may force Theo Epstein to seek an alternative in right field going down the stretch.

Yes, the non-waiver trade deadline expired yesterday but teams can still make deals up until August 31.

3. According to Tom Caron's Twitter account, Bedard will make his first start for the Red Sox on Thursday in the finale of the four-game series with the Indians.

That will move Lester back to Friday night against the Yankees. Lester is scheduled to be followed by Lackey and Beckett in the Yankees series.

Randy Moss Retires

2011-08-01T12:46:00.001-05:00

Randy Moss, one of the greatest receivers in NFL history, has decided to retire following a Hall of Fame worthy career.

Moss was a force. He led the NFL in touchdown receptions five times and in 2007 set the NFL record with 23. He was First Team All-Pro four times. He also kept countless defensive coordinators up all night trying to figure out how to stop him. We're talking about a 6-4, 215-pounder who could run the 40-yard dash in 4.4 seconds in his sleep and had great hands.

He was also indifferent towards playing hard all the time. The Patriots traded him four games into last season because he was too much of a negative presence in the lockerroom. Moss never left a team on good terms and had a history of being difficult to deal with on and off the field.

Moss also never won a Super Bowl. He was a part of some great Vikings teams early in his career but they never advanced past the NFC Championship Game. The closest he came to holding the Lombardi Trophy was with the Patriots in 2007 but they lost in Super Bowl XLII to the Giants.

Hopefully the Hall of Fame voters will choose to remember the great talent that Randy Moss was and he will earn his rightful place in Canton.

Red Sox Trade for Erik Bedard, Lose Buchholz

2011-08-01T12:43:00.000-05:00

After their trade for A's pitcher Rich Harden fell through, it looked like the Red Sox would not make a move for a starter before today's 4pm non-waiver trade deadline expired.

Right before the deadline expired the Red Sox did acquire Erik Bedard from the Seattle Mariners. This move came hours before the news broke that Clay Buchholz' season may be over to due to a stress fracture in his lower back, an injury that has kept him out of action since late June.

Bedard is talented but comes with questions about his health and his ability to pitch effectively when in the spotlight. One of his former bosses with the Orioles, Jim Duquette stated that the Red Sox should avoid acquiring Bedard and there are doubts about his chances to be successful in Boston.

For now, Bedard looks to be the Red Sox third or fourth starter as he will join John Lackey in the slots behind Josh Beckett and Jon Lester.

Bedard may come with some doubts but, at least on paper, he is a better option that Andrew Miller or Tim Wakefield. Theo Epstein has earned a tip of the cap for making a move that provides the Red Sox with depth at starting pitcher, one of their few areas of weakness, as they prepare for the stretch run.

Red Sox Acquire Rich Harden (Or Not)

2011-07-30T22:03:00.002-05:00

The pipe dream that Ubaldo Jimenez would come to the Red Sox is done with word that the Rockies ace is on the way to Cleveland and Dodgers starter Hiroki Kuroda will not waive his no-trade clause so Theo Epstein made the next best move to provide help to the Boston rotation.

That move was to pick up Rich Harden from the A's in exchange for Lars Anderson and a player to be named later.

Harden is a cheap alternative for the Red Sox, costing them a talented prospect in Anderson who had no future in Boston because he shares a position with Adrian Gonzalez. The reason he is so cheap is because of a long history of injuries, including a lat muscle pull that shelved him for Oakland's first 82 games this year.

In five starts this year Harden is 2-1 with a 4.30 ERA and in his career he is 57-35 with a 3.65 ERA.

Harden has a great combination with his fastball and curveball and if he is healthy, he gives the Red Sox a very good end of the rotation starter. If Clay Buchholz does not return in 2011, Harden will be in the mix to be the team's third starter in the playoffs.

This move - along with a trade for utilityman Mike Aviles earlier in the day - shows that once again Epstein will make moves to help his team compete for the World Series. In 2004 he traded for Orlando Cabrera, Doug Mientkiewicz, and Dave Roberts to help the team capture a championship and did the same in 2007 by adding Eric Gagne. Harden may or may not make a major impact on the team but at least the players know that management is willing to improve the team with an eye on winning the World Series.

The Red Sox are now counting on Harden to stay healthy while hoping John Lackey can continue his recent run of quality starts. They will also be praying that Buchholz returns at 100% sometime in August. If they get two of those wishes to come true then they should be in a great position to win a title because of the 1-2 punch of Josh Beckett and Jon Lester at the top of their rotation.

*** UPDATE - JULY 31 ***

The Red Sox trade for Harden has been called off because the team was worried about his medical records. Considering his past, this is not a major shock.

Epstein now has just a few hours to possibly make a deal to find a starting pitcher.

Maybe this broken deal will force the Red Sox to strike a last second deal for Seattle's Felix Hernandez. Obviously there is a better chance of Barack Obama being the Republicans nominee for President in 2012 but crazier things have happened at the deadline.

Lars Anderson, Kyle Weiland, Anthony Ranaudo, and Ryan Kalish would at least make the Mariners consider moving King Felix, right?

Another name to think about is Matt Garza of the Cubs. He has a proven track record of success in the A.L. East and would be a quality third starter in case Buchholz does not make a healthy return in 2011.

Updates will come when the news breaks.

Red Sox vs. White Sox (July 30, 2011)

2011-07-30T15:02:00.000-05:00

Red Sox (64-40) @ White Sox (52-52)

SP - Jon Lester (10-4, 3.23) vs. Philip Humber (8-6, 3.27)

1. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
3. Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
4. Kevin Youkilis, 3B
5. David Ortiz, DH
6. Carl Crawford, LF
7. Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
8. Josh Reddick, RF
9. Marco Scutaro, SS

Three Strikes:

1. With the non-waiver trade deadline just about 24 hours away, the Red Sox have made a move to shore up their bench. The Boston Globe's Peter Abraham reports that the Sox have acquired infielder Mike Aviles from the Royals in exchange for Yamaico Navarro and Kendal Volz.

Aviles, a career .286 hitter in parts of four seasons with Kansas City, provides depth at second base, shortstop, and third base for the Red Sox. His "triple slash" (batting average, OBP, and OPS) against lefties is an impressive .309/.344/.944 in 55 games in 2011. Having a righty who can play multiple positions and hit left handed pitching is a positive for Terry Francona's bench, regardless of his aversion to being a utility player. Hopefully playing for a World Series contender will change Aviles' attitude.

2. The Red Sox could still use a reliable starting pitcher with Clay Buchholz' immediate future still up in the air.

Ubaldo Jimenez, Hiroki Kuroda, Rich Harden, and Erik Bedard have all been mentioned as possible targets of the Red Sox.

3. Josh Reddick is starting to slip at the plate (7 of his last 31 with 3 RBI). Hopefully the Red Sox did not miss the boat on Carlos Beltran and Hunter Pence.

The Patriot Way? Winning Super Bowls

2011-07-29T09:58:00.001-05:00

Under the leadership of the Kraft Family and Bill Belichick, the New England Patriots have become known not just for winning championships but for doing so with players who stay out of the headlines for illegal activities or immature behavior. It has become known as the "Patriot Way."

Of course that reputation is not totally accurate.

The Patriots have employed their fair share of players with resumes that were not clear of any wrong doing. Corey Dillon and Randy Moss both came to the Patriots with a histories of not being perfect teammates but both contributed to successful teams (Dillon helped lead the Pats to a win in Super Bowl XXXIX and Moss was an All-Pro on the ill-fated 2007 team that lost in Super Bowl XLII) and although Moss left on bad terms, he was a very productive player for three years. Even Tedy Bruschi, one of the most respected players in the team's history, admitted that he fought through alcohol problems early in his career.

The point is that no NFL team is completely void of a few players with character issues. It is a violent game that is played by violent people and not every player has the ability to be the perfect teammate/citizen once the pads come off.

This point has to be made because of the two players the Patriots acquired yesterday, defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth and wide receiver Chad Ochocinco. Both are talented players who should help the Patriots contend for a fourth Super Bowl championship under Belichick.

Both players also have histories that, according to the theory of the "Patriot Way," are not compatable with being teammates with the likes of Tom Brady and Vince Wilfork.

Yesterday I got into the history of Haynesworth, a disruptive force on the defensive line who does not always choose to play hard or be a model teammate. The bottom line is that if he is motivated to play, the Patriots defensive line - which also includes Wilfork and Ty Warren - will be championship caliber and if he's not, the team will cut him and lose nothing more than a 2013 5th round draft pick.

Ochocinco is a different challenge for Belichick. He is a character in every sense of the word. He loves to design and execute celebrations after his touchdowns. He has his own reality show. His Twitter is one of the most popular and read accounts on the web site.

He is a man who changed his last name from Johnson to Ochocinco because he wore #85 with the Bengals.

He is also a man capable of helping Brady repeat as the NFL MVP and of helping the Patriots win another Lombardi Trophy.

Albert Haynesworth is the same kind of man.

At the end of the day, that is what the "Patriot Way" really is all about. Neither Haynesworth or Ochocinco - or any member of the Patriots - will be allowed to get away with being a negative force in the lockerroom (see: Moss, Randy) or being a regular in the local police stations but the Patriots are in the business of winning and yesterday they added two players who should help them achieve that goal.

Patriots Trade for Albert Haynesworth

2011-07-28T13:56:00.001-05:00

There are plenty of reasons why the Patriots should have passed on trading for defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth. His reputation is known all over the NFL and truth be told, it's not one worth bragging about.

If you watch the video at the top of this post, you will see the one reason why Haynesworth is on his way to New England in exchange for a 2013 5th round draft pick. The Patriots needed a major upgrade for their pass rush and Haynesworth, when motivated, is one of the premiere interior sack masters in the NFL.

Haynesworth has an opportunity with the Patriots to rehab his image while making contributions to a team with realistic Super Bowl hopes.

If the Patriots get the Haynesworth from 2008, when he was a Tennessee Titan, they will have made a tremendous upgrade on their defensive line. Opposing coaches will be getting very little sleep trying to find a way to block a line that also includes Vince Wilfork and Ty Warren. That combination would force opposing quarterbacks to rush themselves in the pocket to avoid the pressure which will make life easier on the secondary.

Now, if the Patriots get the Haynesworth that played poorly in Washington for two years than they will be able to cut him and only have lost the 5th round pick. This is a classic low risk/high reward kind of move.

Please ignore my usual Patriots bias and trust me when I say that Haynesworth will make a positive impact this season and help get the team back into the Super Bowl.

Red Sox vs. Royals (July 28, 2011)

2011-07-28T09:43:00.000-05:00

Kansas City Royals (43-61) @ Red Sox (64-38)

SP - Josh Beckett (9-3, 2.07) vs. Luke Hochevar (6-8, 5.29)

1. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
3. Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
4. Kevin Youkilis, 3B
5. David Ortiz, DH
6. Josh Reddick, RF
7. Drew Sutton, LF
8. Jason Varitek, C
9. Yamaico Navarro, SS

Three Strikes:

1. Okay, I'll say it, Adrian Gonzalez will end his homerless streak - which dates back to July 7 - today. I'm predicting Gonzo will hit two out of Fenway today, one into the Monster Seats and another behind the Royals bullpen.

2. Dustin Pedroia's hitting streak continues. The second baseman has now hit in 24 straight games with a .406 BA.

3. Clay Buchholz' back does not seem to be healing and that makes it likely that Theo Epstein will try and acquire a starting pitcher prior to Sunday's non-waiver trade deadline.

John Lackey is 3-0 with a 3.44 ERA over his last three starts but is he the guy that Terry Francona wants to be forced to use as the third starter in the playoffs?

Keep an eye on Hiroki Kuroda of the Dodgers as a potential target of the Red Sox.

Taking a Look at Dustin Pedroia

2011-07-27T10:29:00.000-05:00

Baseball-Reference.com is useful for much more than looking up a player's statistics or making historical comparisons.

For example, there are specific statistics - called splits - that can be pulled up in an instant. You want to know how a player has done on a monthly basis (you would be happy with Carl Crawford's improvement since his terrible April)? Check the splits.

Splits are an important statistic at this time of year when a team is looking for a specific skill in trying to acquire a player to fill out their bench. For example, Conor Jackson may not be the answer to Red Sox fans dreams in right field but if you look at his splits, his numbers against left-handed pitching could make him a nice option to platoon with Josh Reddick.

Now that I have your attention, taking a quick peek at Dustin Pedroia's career splits shows just how important his performance is to the success of the Red Sox and also could hint at a possible lineup change for Terry Francona.

Over the course of his career, Pedroia has been instrumental to the Red Sox chances of winning but you don't need statistics to tell you that. But just in case you want some numbers to prove your point, here is the breakdown of Pedroia's stats in Red Sox wins and losses:

Wins (380) - .336 BA, 50 HR, 238 RBI, 52 SB, 129 2B, .402 OBP, .924 OPS
Losses (273) - .256 BA, 17 HR, 65 RBI, 24 SB, 64 2B, .332 OBP, .703 OPS

As for where Pedroia should hit in the lineup, it looks like he could be more effective in the cleanup spot rather than his customary spot hitting second.

In the cleanup spot, he has a .517 BA, 4 HR, 9 RBI, .531 OBP, and 1.069 OPS. Of course that's just in 8 games and 32 plate appearances.

Statistics can be bent to fit almost any argument and for the time being, I like Pedroia batting behind Jacoby Ellsbury and in front of Adrian Gonzalez.

Looking Back: 1994-1995 NBA MVP

2011-07-27T09:32:00.000-05:00

The Players

David Robinson, Shaquille O'Neal, Karl Malone, Patrick Ewing, and Hakeem Olajuwon made up the Top 5

Circumstances

This was the second season that Michael Jordan sat out but he did return to play in 17 games and did enough in that short time to finish 11th in the MVP race and lead the Bulls to the Eastern Finals ... The Spurs had the league's best regular season record (62-20) while the Rockets, the defending champions, finished 47-35 ... The Magic were the best team in the East (57-25) behind Shaq and Penny Hardaway ... With Charles Barkley finishing 6th in the voting, it was truly a year dominated by big men ... The Rockets swept the Magic in the Finals for their second straight title after thrashing the Spurs in the Western Finals

The Stats

Here is how the Top 5 did statistically in 1994-1995 (bold indcates league leader):

1. David Robinson - 27.6 Points, 10.8 Rebounds, 3.2 Blocks
2. Shaquille O'Neal - 29.3 Points, 11.4 Rebounds, 2.4 Blocks
3. Karl Malone - 26.7 Points, 10.6 Rebounds, 3.5 Assists
4. Patrick Ewing - 23.9 Points, 11.0 Rebounds, 2.0 Blocks
5. Hakeem Olajuwon - 27.8 Points, 10.8 Rebounds, 3.4 Blocks

The Verdict

It's hard to argue with Robinson's selection and the protesters usually point to Olajuwon's domination of The Admiral in the Western Finals and his slightly better regular season stats but the Spurs were the NBA's best regular season team and Robinson was their best player.

I would make an argument for Shaq but his stats were not overwhelmingly better than Robinson's.

Unless the challenge flag gets tossed forcing further review, it looks like the voters got it right.

Looking Back: 2000 N.L. MVP

2011-07-26T10:54:00.000-05:00

The birth of my daughter has changed the daily routine around my house to say the least.

One way that I pass the time while watching the little one during the brief time my wife has the chance to get some sleep is checking out Baseball-Reference.com. Yes, that does sound rather boring but I am a 30-year-old who maintains a blog. I am a boring guy.

This new found hobby (which is really just an old hobby that I have started again thanks to the time I have with my 3-week-old daughter) has given me the motive to introduce a new topic at TheBostonInsider Daily Blog - a look back at a specific season for whatever reason. The first "Looking Back" will be for the 2000 National League MVP race that was won by Jeff Kent.

The Players

Jeff Kent, Barry Bonds, Mike Piazza, Jim Edmonds, Todd Helton, Vladimir Guerrero, Jeff Bagwell, Andruw Jones, Gery Sheffield, and Sammy Sosa made up the Top 10

Circumstances

The Steroid Era was alive and well ... Kent and Bonds were teammates who absolutely hated each other ... No pitchers made the Top 10 ... Brian Giles of the Pirates finished 19th after posting a .315 BA, 35 HR, 123 RBI, and an OPS of 1.026 (seriously, the Steroid Era was thriving) ... The Mets defeated the Cardinals in the NLCS before losing to the Yankees in the World Series

The Stats

Here is how the Top 5 did statistically in 2000 (bold indcates league leader):

1. Jeff Kent - .334 BA, 33 HR, 125 RBI, .424 OBP, 1.021 OPS
2. Barry Bonds - .306 BA, 49 HR, 106 RBI, 117 BB, .440 OBP, 1.127 OPS
3. Mike Piazza - .324 BA, 38 HR, 113 RBI, .398 OBP, 1.012 OPS
4. Jim Edmonds - .295 BA, 42 HR, 108 RBI, .411 OBP, .994 OPS, Gold Glove
5. Todd Helton - .372 BA, 42 HR, 147 RBI, .463 OBP, 1.162 OPS, 216 Hits, 59 2B

The Verdict

Helton should have won the MVP despite the Rockies 82-80 finish. It was an amazing season by one of the most underrated stars in recent baseball history.