Locks of the Week: Week 6

OK, there's obviously stuff to be discussed over Locks of the Week, but before I get to that, there are some baseball notes I want to "touch base" with. First off, the Rockies were able to advance to the World Series in beastly fashion. They have not lost since the regular season in an epic game vs the Diamondbacks. This is an historic happening. I was in Colorado right during the trade deadline. Everyone was expecting a blockbuster deal to propel the Rockies into the playoffs. Nothing happened. Woody Paige, in one of his articles in the Denver Post, basically called them a dead duck, or at least not doing enough to save their season. In retrospect, such a claim is laughable. However, this dream almost never happened. They had to participate in a play-in game just to get to the playoffs. Imagine if they had dropped that game. We'd be minus a World Series team. We'd probably talking about what a great story the Diamondbacks season was. But they didn't drop that game. They haven't dropped any playoff game. And considering where they were, this is truly a Cinderella story.


Good call Woody

There's a whole lotta drama on the AL side of things. First off, Josh Beckett completely shut down my Cleveland Indians. We finaly know what happens when an unstoppable force (Josh Beckett) meets the immovable object (C.C. Sabathia). Oh well, we got Fausto Carmona on the mound tonight, and I think we'll take the pennant even if it takes a game seven. As fascinating as this is, I have to talk about Joe Torre and the Yankees. I was schocked that they actually offered Joe Torre an offer, not to mention an offer with the kind of potential that one had. So, you can only imagine the kind of shock I had when he turned it down. Why I wonder. He loved that job, or at least he said he did. Was the pressure to much for him? I can see how someone would hate their job if George Steinbrenner was their boss. But still, it was his dream job, or so we thought. He mentioned that the money wasn't enough, but the offer was good enough to make him one of the top 3 if not the top paid manager in all of baseball. Who knows. What I do know is that some team is going to get one heck of a manager and a person in Joe Torre, and I hope he goes somewhere where he can win without Stein Mart and the media breathing down his neck.


You gotta love Si Si

Alright, now for the locks. I've got Penn State (-7) over Indiana for college and Dallas (-9.5) to cover against the Minnesota Vikings. I made this pick despite my love for Adrian Peterson, because I like the matchup so much. Hopefully these picks can help widen my lead.

Zorgon has Baylor (+25) against the spread with Texas and the Dolphins (+17) against the Patriots. Though I'm not sure what the Dolphins pick is all about, perhaps he needs to pull out all the stops in order to take the lead.

Last but not least, Frost had South Florida (-3) last night against Rutgers. Ouch, Jason, not a good start to the week. I never did beleive in South Florida. Let me take this time to laugh. Mwahahahahahaha! Ok, and his pro pick is going against Zorgon, New England to cover (-17) against the Fins.


It's "R" Time, baby!

The Standings:
okluschen 5-4-1
Zorgon 5-5
Frost 4-5-1

Of Losing And The Fall Classic

There were just a few things I wanted to get out there today. First of all, all three of my fav football teams losing this weekend. That would be (to those that don't know already) The Oklahoma Sooners, Notre Dame Fightin' Irish, and and Denver Broncos. Yes it was a tough week for me. The Irish I at least knew would suck it up on the gridiron, but it hurt worse to know that it could esaily have been a victory. The major problem for them is, well, everything. No identity on offense, a think defense, very depressing. But don't let the lack of on the field success fool you, Charlie Wies is the still the man. Sure, Ty Willingham was fired for less, but he also did less. 2 BCS bowls, Ty was putting us in the Sun Bowl or whatever, I don't even remember. And don't forget, it was recruiting that was a major factor in Ty getting fired. Sure, he brought in Brady Quinn, Jeff Samardizja, and Maurice Stovall. But, what did he do with those players. Brady Quinn was laughable before Weis. And currently, based on commitments and who you ask, Notre Dame and Charlie have the top ranked recruiting class.

Racism was not the issue in Willingham getting the pink slip.

As for the Sooners and Broncos, both were disapointing as well. The Sooners offense couldn't give the defense a rest in that altitude. Plus, Bob Stoops had a moronic moment in which he didn't bother to use his timeout when the clock was ticking away for Colorado to have a game-winning oppurtunity. At least you'd think he'd try to ice the kicker. The Broncos have another problem. That would be the Run D. They're giving up more than 25 more rushing yards per game than they are earning to the likes of Marshawn Lynch, LaMont Jordan, Maurice Jones-Drew, and Joseph Addai. Sure, Jay Cutler is young and making a few mistakes, but he still has tremendous upside, and really his stastistics are not that bad.


Victory for OU and Nic Harris just out of reach

Now for the MLB playoffs. I still can't get over the Mets. How do you not make the playoffs after leading a division for over 5 months? However, I'm happy for the Philies as they are full of likeable players. Also, the Rockies were able to finish off the Padres in the play-in game last night. That was quite a game, let me tall ya. Helton, Holiday, and Tulowitzki are also likeable players.



That's a game-winner

Looking at the matchups now, the most intriguing first rounder in the AL is Cleveland and New York, for the NL, Cubs and Arizona. If the Yankees were playing anyonw other than the Indians, I'd pick them to win it all. But I gotta stick by my team, so I've got Cleveland winning a thrilling 5-game series. In the World Seires, I've got Boston and the Cubs! Of course, Boston will dominate Chi Town, but that would be a fun series. Alright, can't wait to see what happens, cya.

There's Only 1 October

Baseball is still America's past time. I know, I know, some of you probably just threw up a little, some of you may be laughing your heads off, but I am one of the few that are still on the bandwagon. I think you have to look at the definition of pastime in a different way. Do much more fans watch football than baseball? Yes. Is basketball more exciting than baseball? Yes. There is no player as colorful as Chad Johnson, as cool as Shaquille O'Neal, no owner like Mark Cuban.

Yes, there is no man like Chad Johnson

But who in those other sports has a coach with the fire of Ozzie Guillen? You can catch a homerun, that if historical enough, can change your life in baseball! You catch a missed field goal ball, the usher comes to get it back. If theres a fight in the NBA, it's a national emergency. A fight in baseball is part of the unwritten rules of the game.

Moreover, baseball gives back like no other sport. Chances are, wherever you are in America, you're in driving distance of at least a minor league baseball game. No such luck with football or basketball in a place like Idaho. Cleveland public schools were facing a financial crisis, in which all sports were being threatened to be suspended for a year. But then the Cleveland Indians stepped in, giving enough money and then some for baseball to continue. The Browns and Caviliers followed after, but only after the example was set by baseball. In that respect, baseball in still America's past-time. It may not be the favortie sport, those dies died long ago. But the game, for now at least, is still America's way to pass the time. That being said, let's look at the MLB by division:

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  AL WEST: The Seattle Marineers looked like they were going to be the story of the year, but just had too much space between them and the Angels and couldn't out-do the surging Yankees. Angels lock this one up, but regardless, my congrats to Seattle.


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  AL CENTRAL: Ah, yes, my Indinas finally back in prominence. This division is full of mysteries. What happened to Detroit, to Minnesota, to the White Sox! The White Sox, man! I've never seen a team so talented be so bad. The Indians have got this division by a stranglehold.


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  AL EAST: It looked like the Red Sox were going to walk away with this division but are now only 2.5 games up. I never gave up on the Yankees all year just so you know. The Sox will win this division but Yankees, will be in the Series. Thats right, I said it.
  
  
  Yeah, they've got problems


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  NL WEST: The NL West is where it's at. Arizona and San Diego only seperated by a game, with Colorado still lurking. My heart says the Diamondbacks, but somehow I know the Padres will pull away in the end. At least the Diamondbacks still have wildcard hopes. Also, Matt Holiday is the most under rated player out there right now. He's going to be really, really good. By the way, it's Barry Bonds last year with San Francisco. Who knew? Who cares?


• 
  
  NL CENTRAL: The toilet division. I'm torn between ChiTown and BrewCity. I like the Prince, but I think the Cubs will pull this one out.


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  NL EAST: What happened to the Mets? One of the biggest suprises of the season. Though I tend to cheer for Philly to do well, I still think the Mets can hold on to that lead, though the Phillies are my dark horse wildcard pick.
  
  I hate Barry Bonds