Thursday, May 12
NBA Playoffs
The Bulls have looked very sharp of late. This series is reverting back to Atlanta
Advantages – Game: Bulls, Series: Bulls
Advantages – Game: Bulls, Series: Bulls
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1 |
Friday, May 13
Oklahoma City Thunder at
With a 3-2 lead, the Oklahoma City Thunder appear very close
to bringing the stroke of midnight to the Cinderella Memphis Grizzlies. After a
triple overtime thriller, the Thunder appeared to ride the crest of Monday’s
victory without the burden of travel for Wednesday’s game. The Thunder
absolutely destroyed the Grizzlies in every aspect of play last night, 99-72.
Closing out Zach Randolph and the Grizzlies at home is going to be difficult,
but the momentum appeared to shift drastically in OKC’s favor after Games 4
& 5.
triple overtime thriller, the Thunder appeared to ride the crest of Monday’s
victory without the burden of travel for Wednesday’s game. The Thunder
absolutely destroyed the Grizzlies in every aspect of play last night, 99-72.
Closing out Zach Randolph and the Grizzlies at home is going to be difficult,
but the momentum appeared to shift drastically in OKC’s favor after Games 4
& 5.
Advantages – Game:
Thunder, Series: Thunder
Thunder, Series: Thunder
MLB
Two jousters in the National League Central take aim at one
another. This should be a fantastic pitching matchup with Kyle Lohse (4-2,
2.24) of the Cardinals taking the hill against Bronson Arroyo (3-3, 3.68) and
the Reds. The Reds are just one game back ofSt. Louis
will dictate control of the NL Central after this weekend.
another. This should be a fantastic pitching matchup with Kyle Lohse (4-2,
2.24) of the Cardinals taking the hill against Bronson Arroyo (3-3, 3.68) and
the Reds. The Reds are just one game back of
will dictate control of the NL Central after this weekend.
Both teams are playing extremely well, both offensively and
defensively right now. Lance Berkman (.357, 10 HR, 32 RBI) appears to have
found the fountain of youth and Joey Votto (.349, 5 HR, 21 RBI) appears to be
making a run for a repeat MVP award. This pitching matchup makes Friday night’s
game anyone’s guess, but I think the Cards have the edge over the course of the
three game series.
defensively right now. Lance Berkman (.357, 10 HR, 32 RBI) appears to have
found the fountain of youth and Joey Votto (.349, 5 HR, 21 RBI) appears to be
making a run for a repeat MVP award. This pitching matchup makes Friday night’s
game anyone’s guess, but I think the Cards have the edge over the course of the
three game series.
Advantages – Game: push, Series: Cardinals
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| Lance has got his groove back! 2 |
Saturday, May 14
Boston Red Sox at
When is this series never a war? The Red Sox, three games
under .500, continue to slowly dig themselves out of the 0-6 crater they put
themselves in to start the season. The Yankees continue to trade body blows
with the Tampa Bay Rays, who also got off to a very bad start, but have since
risen to tie the Yankees for first place in the American League East.
under .500, continue to slowly dig themselves out of the 0-6 crater they put
themselves in to start the season. The Yankees continue to trade body blows
with the Tampa Bay Rays, who also got off to a very bad start, but have since
risen to tie the Yankees for first place in the American League East.
Josh Beckett (2-1, 1.99) will throw the first pitch on
Saturday. He faces C.C. Sabathia (3-2, 2.89), who has pitched as well as he
ever has, in spite of a pair of hard-luck losses this season against the big
guy. Yankees centerfielder Curtis Granderson (.279, 12 HR, 25 RBI) has been on
a tear of late with a host of recent multi-hit and multi-RBI games as has Red
Sox first baseman Adrian Gonzalez (.329, 7 HR, 29 RBI), who has multiple hits
in four consecutive games, and has hit safely in 23 out of his last 25 games
played.
Saturday. He faces C.C. Sabathia (3-2, 2.89), who has pitched as well as he
ever has, in spite of a pair of hard-luck losses this season against the big
guy. Yankees centerfielder Curtis Granderson (.279, 12 HR, 25 RBI) has been on
a tear of late with a host of recent multi-hit and multi-RBI games as has Red
Sox first baseman Adrian Gonzalez (.329, 7 HR, 29 RBI), who has multiple hits
in four consecutive games, and has hit safely in 23 out of his last 25 games
played.
This is another very competitive matchup, but the Yankees
are at home and have been more consistent over the course of this season.
are at home and have been more consistent over the course of this season.
Advantages – Game: push, Series: Yankees
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| Yankees and Red Sox: Nobody is above an ass whipping! 4 |
Sunday, May 15
Atlanta Hawks at
The key words here are “if necessary”. I don’t think the
Hawks will survive Game 6. If they do, however, no way do I think they take a
Game 7 at theUnited Center
Game 7 at the
Advantage: Bulls
Memphis has a lot of physicality, a lot of fight, and a lot of spunk before its home
crowd. I do not expect this series to go to a Game 7, but it is not
unfathomable. I do not think the Grizzlies have what it takes to take two
straight in this series, especially a Game 7 on the road, but much more
shocking upsets have happened in the NBA.
unfathomable. I do not think the Grizzlies have what it takes to take two
straight in this series, especially a Game 7 on the road, but much more
shocking upsets have happened in the NBA.
Advantage: Thunder
MLB
This promises to be a very entertaining Sunday night pitching duel between the Giants’ former two-time Cy Young award winner Tim Lincecum (3-3, 2.47) and the volatile
but powerful Carlos Zambrano (4-1, 4.23) of the Cubs. The Giants are keeping
pace with the National League West co-first place Colorado Rockies, who are off
to a surprisingly fast start. The Cubs play in a Central division in which they
are three games under .500, but only 4 games out of first place.
but powerful Carlos Zambrano (4-1, 4.23) of the Cubs. The Giants are keeping
pace with the National League West co-first place Colorado Rockies, who are off
to a surprisingly fast start. The Cubs play in a Central division in which they
are three games under .500, but only 4 games out of first place.
This is, essentially, a matchup between a team with lights
out pitching but rubber hoses for bats in the Giants, against a team that is
hitting the ball fairly well, but having trouble bringing runners home and has
no consistency in its pitching. If Big Z pitches to the best of his potential,
the Giants may be run out of Wrigley Field. That “if” has proven to be a big
one since last year.
hitting the ball fairly well, but having trouble bringing runners home and has
no consistency in its pitching. If Big Z pitches to the best of his potential,
the Giants may be run out of Wrigley Field. That “if” has proven to be a big
one since last year.
Advantages – Game: Giants, Series: Giants
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| Doesn’t Lincecum remind you of the kid from Dazed and Confused? 3 |
MLB
Philadelphia Phillies at
The Phillies have to run a little harder than many expected
with the upstartFlorida Marlins hot on their trail in the NL East. Marquis offseason free agent
acquisition Cliff Lee (2-3, 3.78) gets the ball for Philly to start the two
game series against the struggling Jake Westbrook (2-2, 6.14) of the Cardinals.
Philly is on fire; Westbrook still appears to be getting his footing. I do not
see this night going the Cards’ way.
with the upstart
acquisition Cliff Lee (2-3, 3.78) gets the ball for Philly to start the two
game series against the struggling Jake Westbrook (2-2, 6.14) of the Cardinals.
Philly is on fire; Westbrook still appears to be getting his footing. I do not
see this night going the Cards’ way.
Advantages – Game: Phillies, Series - split
Tuesday, May 17
MLB
This is simply the next in what will be a long line of
battles between these two American League East contenders, currently tied for first
place. The Yankees Ivan Nova (3-2, 4.08) appears to have settled in, with three
consecutive quality starts, after a rocky beginning to his 2011 campaign. His
ERA rose as high as 7.63 at one point. Nova will face Rays mainstay James
Shields (3-1, 2.01), who has been lights-out thus far and currently has a
shutout through five innings pitched against the AL Central first place
Cleveland Indians. Rays 2B Ben Zobrist (.289, 8 HR, 27 RBI) has been fire in
the month of May, hitting .364 this month and reaching base in 16 consecutive
games. The Rays simply appear to have more going for them at the moment and are
at home.
battles between these two American League East contenders, currently tied for first
place. The Yankees Ivan Nova (3-2, 4.08) appears to have settled in, with three
consecutive quality starts, after a rocky beginning to his 2011 campaign. His
ERA rose as high as 7.63 at one point. Nova will face Rays mainstay James
Shields (3-1, 2.01), who has been lights-out thus far and currently has a
shutout through five innings pitched against the AL Central first place
Cleveland Indians. Rays 2B Ben Zobrist (.289, 8 HR, 27 RBI) has been fire in
the month of May, hitting .364 this month and reaching base in 16 consecutive
games. The Rays simply appear to have more going for them at the moment and are
at home.
Advantages – Game: Rays, Series: Rays
The Los Angeles Angels, after six consecutive winning seasons,
including five playoff appearances with a division title, failed to
reach .500 in 2010. Injuries and untimely losses led many to question whether the
Angels run of dominance in the American League West had permanently come to an
end, as the Texas Rangers wrestled the division crown away, en route to winning
the American League Championship.
reach .500 in 2010. Injuries and untimely losses led many to question whether the
Angels run of dominance in the American League West had permanently come to an
end, as the Texas Rangers wrestled the division crown away, en route to winning
the American League Championship.
The Angels have recovered nicely, in first place in spite of
not having standout first baseman Kendrys Morales for the entire season, after
missing most of 2010 following a freak accident during a post game celebration.
At the moment, the Angels are in first place with a slim lead on the second
place (tied) Rangers and Oakland Athletics.
missing most of 2010 following a freak accident during a post game celebration.
At the moment, the Angels are in first place with a slim lead on the second
place (tied) Rangers and Oakland Athletics.
Tyler Chatwood (2-1, 3.67) will take the hill for the Angels
to wrap up this two game series. Chatwood will face an anemic A’s lineup, with
Coco Crisp leading the team in hitting (min. 100 PA) with a .256 average.
to wrap up this two game series. Chatwood will face an anemic A’s lineup, with
Coco Crisp leading the team in hitting (min. 100 PA) with a .256 average.
Gio Gonzalez (4-2, 2.68), who will start for the A’s, is
part of a pitching staff with the lowest ERA in the American League at 2.75.
The A’s live and die with pitching. Gonzalez is a big part of that, mowing down
opponents with 41 strikeouts this season. Angels 2B Howie Kendrick (.320, 6 HR,
15 RBI) has helped pick up a lot of the slack in the lineup left by Morales’
extended departure.
The A’s live and die with pitching. Gonzalez is a big part of that, mowing down
opponents with 41 strikeouts this season. Angels 2B Howie Kendrick (.320, 6 HR,
15 RBI) has helped pick up a lot of the slack in the lineup left by Morales’
extended departure.
The Angles appear to be in reloading, not rebuilding, mode
while the A’s are trying to put together a playoff campaign for the first time
in five years. I’ll become a believer after the big boys are knocked out by the
underdogs.
while the A’s are trying to put together a playoff campaign for the first time
in five years. I’ll become a believer after the big boys are knocked out by the
underdogs.
Advantages – Game: Angels Series: Angels
Wednesday, May 18
MLB
Young fireballer Alexi Ogando (3-0, 2.17) takes the hill in
hopes of remaining undefeated this season against the surprising second place
Kansas City Royals. Many of you are probably familiar with the Rangers’
household names like Michael Young (.349, 2 HR, 28 RBI), Ian Kinsler (.419 SLG,
.331 OBP, 23 R, 7 SB), and Adrian Beltre (.239, 8 HR, 28 RBI). How many Royals
from 2010, not named “Greinke”, can you name without looking?
Kansas City Royals. Many of you are probably familiar with the Rangers’
household names like Michael Young (.349, 2 HR, 28 RBI), Ian Kinsler (.419 SLG,
.331 OBP, 23 R, 7 SB), and Adrian Beltre (.239, 8 HR, 28 RBI). How many Royals
from 2010, not named “Greinke”, can you name without looking?
I am not ashamed to admit I could not name one player who
was on the team prior to this season without referring to an online source.
Luck Hochevar (3-3, 4.91) will start for the Royals in the first of this two
game series. While I could not name any Royals from last year, this year’s
Royals are making the difference. Offseason acquisitions RF Jeff Francour
(.307, 8 HR, 25 RBI) and CF Melky Cabrera (.276, 4 HR, 22 RBI), along with
Wilson Betemit (.309, 1 HR, 17 RBI), who was on the team last year, have
propelled Royals baseball back to relevance again.
was on the team prior to this season without referring to an online source.
Luck Hochevar (3-3, 4.91) will start for the Royals in the first of this two
game series. While I could not name any Royals from last year, this year’s
Royals are making the difference. Offseason acquisitions RF Jeff Francour
(.307, 8 HR, 25 RBI) and CF Melky Cabrera (.276, 4 HR, 22 RBI), along with
Wilson Betemit (.309, 1 HR, 17 RBI), who was on the team last year, have
propelled Royals baseball back to relevance again.
Still, the Rangers are the defending league champions and I
think they have a substantial pitching advantage. Kansas City
ground to cover on the mound.
ground to cover on the mound.
Advantages – Game: Rangers, Series: Rangers
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1) Image from blogs.hoopshype.com
2) Image from fuckyeahstlcarrds.tumblr.com
3) Image from the sportsbank.net
4) Image from faniq.com
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