200 Million Dollar Mistakes: How the Yankees Failed the Bank

DETROIT- In an upset that landed them on the front page of the New York Times, the Detroit Tigers swept the New York Yankees for the American League Championship. The Yankees were the heavy favorites, with odds of almost 19-6 over the Tigers, posting stats like 804 runs and 245 home runs, but just couldn't pull it out, going 0-20 and 3-39 against Detroit in the series.

However, in all honesty, it's not that surprising. For years now the sports world has known that the accumulation of money and all-stars does not equal championships. Defense, teamwork and determination lead to championships, and it was blatantly obvious in this series that New York lacked all of the above.

In a surprising move, the Yankees benched Alex Rodriguez (left)

 

 

 

It's one of the criticisms of the Cap Hit in baseball, or lack-thereof: Building a team of multimillionaires is not only a waste of money, it's a waste of time and of distributable talent. Now, this is not saying the Yankees are without talent, quite the contrary. Between Derek Jeter and A-Rod alone, they have enough for a good team with pieces around them that don't cost 200 million dollars, but these talents cannot work together as a
functioning whole worthy of winning the World Series.

The series showed that even against opponents they had an advantage on, their more than impressive personal stats meant nothing. If 245 home runs can only generate 3 runs in 39 innings, there is an issue. Despite this payroll that would make Mitt Romney blush, the Yankees are keeping with a very disappointing post season performance, failing to win 11 of the last 12 championships, making it to the World Series only three of those seasons. And, with Derek Jeter's broken ankle that could possibly take four to five months to heal, plus Granderson and Swisher's less than average performances, the Yankees troubles could definitely follow them into the next season.

If anything, the lesson to be learned is that money can't buy a baseball team, and the Yankees had to learn that the hard way.

Bringing the Heat, Battle of the Bay is Inevitable

Buster Posey hits a Grand Slam off Mat Latos in the Fifth Inning 

(Photo: Andrew Weber, US PRESSWIRE)

With the Giant's unlikely comeback against the Cincinnati Reds in the National League Division Series, it looks like the first Bay Bridge Series since 1989 is upon us. In the first few days, it appeared that the Giants would have a mediocre series, and be swept by the Cincinnati Reds, ending the supposed dynasty by the Bay Area. But the numbers are completely against that hypothesis now. What was a 5-2 and 9-0 loss to the Reds, is now a 2-1 and 8-3 tie, with a victory in the 5th game almost unavoidable.

While the Giants' scores aren't as powerful as Cincinnati's 9-0 shut out, the San Francisco's pitching finally overcame it's plateau that was shadowing the team for pretty much the entire 2012 season. Matt Cain regained his footing, and Kontos is proving himself along with Affelt. The team is also hopeful of  Lincecum in the following season. But no one has shined more in this series than catcher Buster Posey. With two home runs, one of which being a Grand Slam (the third by a catcher in MLB history), Posey has cemented himself as the National League's rookie of the year, carrying the Giants for scoring.

Jarrod Parker's pitching could challenge Verlander in Game 5

 Photo: AP/Ben Margot

On the other side of the bridge, the A's are slowly putting the Tigers in their place. Although Verlander is starting, who is 3-0 with a 0.90 ERA in three starts against the Athletics this year, Jarrod Parker is heating up on the mound. 0-1 with a 2.84 ERA, Parker doesn't seem like a force to be reckoned with, but went 0-5 with one walk on Detroit's sluggers Cabrera and Fielder.

The series is tied 2-2, with the final game deciding the winner at 9:37 pm ET, another Bay Bridge Series is all with in the realm of possibility.

Minnesota Vikings: Pondering Fourth for NFC North

Tennessee's Defense was no match for swift WR Harvin

It's hard to imagine the Minnesota Vikings having a worse season than they did last year, being fourth in their division and going 3-13, despite prospective runningback Adrian Peterson. However, it seems that the Vikings will prove themselves this season, already sporting a 4-1 record, 3-0 at home with impressive wins over the San Francisco 49ers and Jacksonville.

ESPN projects them still at fourth, but with a better record at 5-11. It's obvious though, with a schedule including again the Detroit Lions and the Chicago Bears, that the Vikings will probably post higher than a 5-11, easily allowing them to take higher than fourth for the first time since 2009. 

Christian Ponder is another huge variable in the Vikings' victory of the NFC North. Bucky Brooks stated, "...but Christian Ponder’s development will ultimately determine if Minnesota has closed the gap on its division rivals." This puts a huge strain on the young QB to improve from previous seasons. The lack of improved defense could hurt them in the long run as well, despite an upgrade with left tackle, Matt Kalil.

They may not be the best team in the North, but what the Vikings lack in passing, they sure make up for in rushing. Posting impressive stats like 133.2 rushing yards, and Peterson posting 102 yards in one game, the Vikings may be a force to be reckoned with this NFL season.

17th Time's the Charm: Why this is the Reds' Game

Brandon Phillips' Two Run Home Run in the Third

Yesterday, Baseball opened the National League's playoffs with the first game of five between the Cincinnati Reds and the San Francisco Giants. Although the Reds were projected very well this season, the Giants were still the favorites, reaping the home team advantage. However, the outcome of the game was seen early in the third inning, when Cincinnati scored two runs off of Brandon Phillips' homer. But you don't want to listen to me, here's the box score.

Bottom line, Cincinnati's win was surprising. ESPN may have had a few more points invested in Cincinnati winning this game, but the popular opinion easily sided with the Giants. This is the first post season game the Reds have won in 17 years, but through the work of Brandon Phillips, Jay Bruce, and Dusty Baker behind the bench, it looks as if the Reds can take this series in three. Their early loss of Johnny Cueto didn't seem to hinder their 5-2 victory at all, and with a great pitcher like Mat Latos, it doesn't seem that he will be depended on for the series.

However, the series is fresh, and the Giants could come back for a victory. It's obvious it will not be a sweep, but Buster Posey is definitely asserting himself as a Rookie of the Year, with his home run in the sixth. Other than Posey, however, the Giants were rather sub par. Cain and Mota sported a few too many wild pitches, and missed the target completely, causing catcher Posey to miss the ball, and allowing some gained bases by the Reds.

Overall, it was a great first game, with no definite series winner. The Reds had this game in the bag, but if there is anything history says about the Giants, it's that they won't give up this series that easily. A few tweaks with pitching, and they should be able to at least defend against the Reds impressive line up.

Turning Point: For Better or For Worse?

Yesterday, the 12th day of the lockout, the NHL cancelled its entire preseason in a move that has left a great many Canadian-Americans very sad. (See left)

The players are still signing European contracts, the most recently being Tavares signing with a Swiss team and previous Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson signing to the Finnish League.

Basically, everything is falling apart. But, today the League subsequently announced that their labor talks will resume in New York giving everyone false hope.

Now, I don't like to be cynical. I'd love to see this article and believe that these will be the talks to end the lockout, but it's just not true. First of all, these talks aren't even about the main issue. Instead, they are debating on how to split the $3 billion annual revenue, according to ESPN. Secondly, many big names have given up hope and joined the sister European leagues, thus causing many fans to give up hope. I mean, I don't know about the rest of you, but I've already got my KHL streams and my SM Liiga subscription.

While it is true that the regular season has not been touched, and is still scheduled for October 11, the league's subsequent actions are sending a very clear message: there will be no NHL hockey this year.

But, at least official harmony was restored to the NFL.

NFL Referees: Hitler Puns Anyone?

So by now, word has spread violently about the call that lost Green Bay their game Monday against the Seattle Seahawks. (Although whether that call alone lost them the game remains to be debated).

And if by some chance you haven't, well, here:

Basically in laymen's terms, Russell Wilson heaved a 24-yard pass into a scrum in the end zone with Seattle trailing 12-7. Tate shoved away a defender illegally using both hands, and the NFL acknowledged Tuesday he should have been penalized, which would have clinched a Packers victory. But as we all know, that cannot be reviewed by instant replay.
Tate and Green Bay safety M.D. Jennings then both got their hands on the ball, though the Packers insisted Jennings had clear possession for a game-ending interception.
Instead, the officials ruled on the field that the players had simultaneous possession, which counts as a reception. Once that happened, the NFL said, the referee was correct that no indisputable visual evidence existed on review to overturn the touchdown call.

So, in other words, the referees lost Green Bay the game. Then, today the league issued a statement backing the referees in their decision.

Now, it hasn't been the greatest NFL season off the field. Goodell lost the lawsuit against the Saints, the referees are still on strike, and Peyton Manning is a Bronco. But I don't think anyone believed the referee drama would go this far. Regardless of how Green Bay should've wrapped up the game in the first quarter, the call was still bunk, and the league backing it just showed their weaknesses after losing the lawsuit earlier in the month.

I don't think anyone has to argue that the call was sound. I don't even think the league really believes it was sound, but if they denied the replacement refs that were put in to replace the referees the league is feuding with, they would look even weaker. The players already have one foot over the power of the league and the last thing they wanted (or needed) was for the referees to have it as well. The unfortunate side to this is that the call was made, and is backed by the league, so there's not much Aaron Rogers can do to defend himself. The only thing left for NFL fans to do is hope and pray that the reign of these referees is soon over.

Then we can all go back to hating them. 

I Want You Back: NSYNC Narrates the NHL Lockout

As I'm sure anyone with a pulse has realized, the NHL is going to be locked out. Nothing you, or I, or that crazy Vancouver Canucks fan does can stop the savage take over of the season. I feel your pain, I really do. Every few days they throw us a bone on ESPN: Players file for Injunction, Everyone loses hope. We're talking, but haha, screw your hopes and dreams. This is going to be a decennial thing now! As if this is something we as hockey fans are supposed to be excited about.

Regardless, the nitty gritty of the Lockout goes something like this:

Bettman: It's my money and I need it now!
Owners: It's OUR money and WE want it now!
Players: I like money. I like hockey too... decisions.
Owners: They are deceiving and disobeying us! Lockout for reasons!
Then lockout occurs. It is super effective at crushing hearts and souls across Canada and America.

One solution was Greg Wyshynski's suggestion that hockey fans across both countries have a movement in the way of "Occupy the NHL Store" which not only pokes fun at the capitalism of the thing, but also would be a pretty prevalent place in New York in which to draw some serious media attention. I think it's a good idea.

(You read nothing, I am not supporting this in any way that would later result in me not being hired by any sports network.) 

If you want more information, any ESPN story lays it out pretty well. These deadlines are not being met and for some reason, no one can play nice and compromise. All of those lessons in Kindergarten about sharing were complete crap. If you complain about money, you get it, no matter who suffers. Real world lessons here guys.

So whether you are a casual fan, or you bleed your teams' colors, this is going to hurt you one way or another. So please excuse me while I sob quietly in the corner into my Zach Parise jersey. By the way, the Wild aren't winning the Stanley Cup this year. I bet they don't even make it to the playoffs. But that's another story entirely.