Baseball Time

I am too lazy to come up with my own format, so here is my take on how this season will shake out in baseball.

NL.

Cy Young: Tim Lincecum
MVP: Joey Votto


NL East: Braves
NL Central: Brewers
NL West: Giants
NL Wild Card: Reds

NL Pennant: Reds


Unlike my Noffke counterpart, I think the Phillies are extremely overrated and although they have the pitching, I heard on ESPN that the Phillies scored less than 3 runs in 73 of their games last year and losing Werth means having to win games 1-0. I really like the Brewers lineup top to bottom this year and with Prince's contract situation I expect great things this year. The Giants and Rockies could be interchangeable in the west and it will come down to who goes on a winning streak down the stretch. I will however take the Giants.



AL

AL Cy Young: CC Sabathia
MVP: Carl Crawford


AL East: Red Sox
AL Central: Twins
AL West: Rangers
AL Wild Card: Yankees


AL Pennant: Red Sox

As a Yankees fan it really hurts to have the Red Sox win the pennant, but they are STACKED! That being said the Yankees will win enough games this year to mae the wildcard. No real competition in the west making the Ranges pick easy and then there was the central... The tigers and sox have greatly improved, but much like the brewers I like their lineup way to much not to pick them. Their only drawback is that they will have to score 6 runs a game to win. I really like the sox rotation but I'm not sure if it will hold up down the stretch.


World Series Title: Boston

Too. Much. Talent.
Pending a team killing plane crash or a curse that hurts their entire rotation there is no way that the Red Sox will not roll through the playoffs. As previously stated I hate picking them but I cant foresee an alternate ending.

Brand New One Month Away Mock Draft

Alright, we've had the combine, the senior bowl, and most of the pro days. Now, all that is left, is the really the draft, which happens in one month. So, here I go, taking my second to last shot at the draft (I will post my last mock draft in the comments of Steve and Fodor's annual mock draft). So, I will begin:

1. Carolina Panthers - Blaine Gabbert QB

I see the Panthers making a costly, costly mistake and drafting a Bust of QB with their first overall pick. Shoulda gone with...

2. Denver Broncos - Patrick Peterson CB

Easily the best player in the draft IMO. The guy has the size of a safety and the speed of a corner. Not to mention he played man-to-man coverage through out most of his college career. This guy is the sure fire pick of the draft.

3. Buffalo Bills - AJ Green WR

The Bills cannot afford to take a risk on Cam Newton since they have been bad for waaaaay too long.

4. Cincinatti Bengals - Cam Newton QB

I see the Bengals making a dumb pick here, and selecting a raw, headcase, who doesn't have as much NFL caliber talent as everyone is saying.

5. Arizona Cardinals - Marcell Dareus DT

The first defensive lineman off the board in a draft that is stocked with them. The Cardinals improve the interior of their d-line since there is no one worth picking here.

6. Cleveland Browns - Julio Jones WR

The Browns need to improve their WR corp for the sake of both Colt McCoy and Peyton Hillis.

7. San Francisco 49ers - Prince Amukamara CB

The 49ers could use some help at CB. They would first look for a young QB to select, but there is honestly no one worth value here. They could wait til the second round and nab someone like Christian Ponder, Ryan Mallet, or Jake Locker.

8. Tennessee Titans - Vonn Miller DE

The Titans could go Nick Fairley here, but I think they see Miller as too much of a value pick at this position. Thus, I can't see them passing up Fairley.

9. Dallas Cowboys - Tyron Smith LT

I know the Cowboys have never selected an O-Lineman in the first round under Jerry Jones, but I cannot see them being that stubborn. I think they'll improve their old as balls OL with the best prospect on the board.

10. Washington Redskins - Nick Fairley DT

The Redskins can finally replace Albert Fatass Haynesworth with someone who is eager to play.

11. Houston Texans - DaQuan Bowers DE

The Texans are ecstatic that Bowers dropped this far. They add him to their d-line in hopes that him and Mario Williams will be a beastly combination for quite a few years.

12. Minnesota Vikings - JJ Watt DE

I could see the Vikings taking the Wisconsin boy. They would've had a great opportunity to scout him over the college season, and would likely have great access to him. Not to mention he is flying up the Boards anyways.

13. Detroit Lions - Gabe Carimi OT

People seem to love Carimi's work ethic, and motor. Plus, this is another guy the Lion's likely have a strong scouting report on. I see the two Wisconsin products going back to back.

14. St. Louis Rams - Corey Luiget DT

The Rams are apparently extremely interested in Luiget. Since both the WR's are gone, I can see them nabbing Luiget here.

15. Miami Dolphins - Mark Ingram RB

With what is available at this position, I cannot see the Dolphins doing much else. If one of the two QB's fell, then yes. However, I cannot see them reaching for a QB at this point. But, my money is on the Dolphins trading out of this pick, as long as there is a CBA.

16. Jacksonville Jaguars - Robert Quinn DE

The Jacksonville Jaguars almost always select a DE with their first pick (which is extraordinarily sad). Quinn drops far enough for the Jaguars to jump at the chance to nab him.

17. New England Patriots - Aldon Smith DE

The Patriots need help in the pass rush, which is why they select Smith. Why do the Patriots continue to get tons of picks in the draft? Despite their multitude of picks in rounds 1-3, they were awarded 4 compensatory picks, I believe I read an article which said that (gotta love fact checking).

18. San Diego Chargers - Brooks Reed DE

I just have a feeling that they will by-pass the other lineman and select Reed. He is moving up the charts fast, and had an amazing combine.

19. New York Giants - Nate Solder OT

The Giants need an olineman, and decide that this is the best value at their pick. Solder, IMO, will be a bust, but hey, I've been wrong MANY times before.

20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Cameron Jordan DE

The Bucs cannot believe Jordan drops to them, so they select him. I feel like the first round is 100% d-linemen.

21. Kansas City Chiefs - Phil Taylor DT

The Chiefs need a nose tackle, and Taylor can be that, sort of... However, the Chiefs are hard up to give Hali more help with the pass rush.

22. Indianapolis Colts - Anthony Castonzo OT

The Colts want to help Peyton Manning stay upright. That way, he won't throw as many picks. Somehow the media understands that this is what caused Manning's issues, but has yet to address the same issues in a fair light with Cutler. Biased much?

23. Philadelphia Eagles - Mike Pouncey OG/C

The Eagles need help on their o-line, so that way Vick can "look down field," as the commentators would have you believe he does, as opposed to taking off running. My guess is that Vick continues to be the same guy that cannot beat great defenses because he relies too much on his legs.

24. New Orleans Saints - Muhammad Wilkerson DT

The Saints land a nice 3-tech DT for their defense. They continue to improve their defense so that they can return to the Superbowl.

25. Seattle Seahawks - Jake Locker QB

The Seahawks surprise everyone by going with their hometown hero. They need a QB, he is projected to be a second round pick, but one QB always gets nabbed, and he played for Washington. Could this pick make any more sense?

26. Baltimore Ravens - Torrey Smith WR

The Ravens need a downfield threat to keep the defenses honest. They think they land that here, but I think they landed Troy Williamson part duex.

27. Atlanta Falcons - Ryan Kerrigan DE

Boy did he ever drop in my mock draft. Going from top 15 pick to late first round. However, the Falcons improve their pass rush by adding Kerrigan.

28. New England Patriots - Derek Sherod OT

The Patriots draft Matt Lyghts eventual replacement. The guy is getting old, and they need someone to take over at LT.

29. Chicago Bears - Cameron Jordan DE/DT

Let me just say I HATE HATE HATE this pick for the Bears. I have a lot of quality DE's dropping in this draft, but all the DT's being nabbed early. Further, there are almost no O-lineman in this part of the draft. I almost went with Jimmy Smith CB, simply because he was the best value in my opinion. But really? I cannot see us drafting that. Don't get me wrong, I think Jordan is an amazing talent. However, at 285 I'm not sure if he's big enough to play DT. If he can play DT, which I guess Tommie was only 10 lbs heavier, then I wouldn't be surprised if the Bears selected him.

30. New York Jets - Adrian Clayborne DE

The Jets need a good pass rushing DE. Last Year, Clayborn would have gone top 10, but he played bad this year. The Jets don't seem to care too much about character issues as they have Cromartie, Braylon Edwards, and Santonio Holmes. Thus, this seems to make sense to me.

31. Pittsburgh Steelers - Jimmy Smith CB

The Steelers could definitely use another corner. Especially if they want to stop the Patriots and Packers passing attacks. Smith falls to them here, and they don't hesitate.

32. Greenbay Packers - Benjamin Ijalana OG

Everyone talks as if the Packers have a great offensive line. They don't. They could take Houston here, but instead they go with Ijalana because they need to protect their investment. Rodgers had 2 concussions last year. And at the current rate, he will be on the cover of Madden, and we all know what happens then...

Bears picks:

1 - Cameron Jordan DE/DT

2 - Orlando Franklin G/T

3 - Ras-I Dowling CB

4 - Austin Pettis WR

5 - Lee Ziemba G/T

6 - Alex Linnenkohl C

I will probably do a 3 round mock when Steve and Fodor do their mock drafts. Mine will be in the comments though and no explanations.

Armchair Superstar Baseball Predictions

So last year I predicted every division, Series and Major award winner. I failed pretty miserably picking the Phillies to beat the White Sox and only had 3 teams in the playoffs correctly. I did however correctly predict King Felix would win the AL Cy Young. So please enjoy this read, and expect absolutely nothing of this to come true.

NL.

Cy Young: Cliff Lee - Philadelphia
MVP: Pujols - Cardinals
ROY: Freddie Freeman – Atlanta

Pujols, in a contract year. Good luck to all other MVP candidates. I went Cliff Lee of Roy Halladay because of the whole AL to NL move. I do expect them both to have an amazing years along with Grienke in Milwaukee. Lastly Freddie Freeman is a left handed outfielder who is a ROY candidate in Atlanta. Sound familiar? Yup, Gordon Heyward last year. Heyward has crazy hype around him, and I expect to hear a lot about both him and Freeman and how they are the future of the Braves. I think Bryce Harper is a great player, but holding out for most of last season does not lead to ROY awards.

NL East: Phillies
NL Central: Cardinals
NL West: Rockies
NL Wild Card: Braves

NL Pennant: Phillies


Phillies are the best team in the NL and will go to their 3rd World Series in 4 years. I see the Reds staying with the Cardinals most the year, but in the end, Pujols will put them over the top. Anyone could come out of the west and it wouldn’t surprise me, but I like the Rockies. They are always good for a late run.



AL

AL Cy Young: King Felix - Mariners
MVP: Adrian Gonzalez - Boston
ROY: J.P. Arencibia – Toronto

I went with Arencbia because I expect Toronto to make a push for the post season this year and he will be a big part of it. I am concerned that Jesus Montero will win it because he plays for the Yankees. Adrian Gonzalez is going to have a big year in a new city for a team with World Series aspirations. Lastly, I went with King Felix last year and was right, so why not again.

AL East: Red Sox
AL Central: White Sox
AL West: A’s
AL Wild Card: Yankees


AL Pennant: Red Sox

I know, very risky picks here, going with Yankees and Red Sox to be doing well. I can’t pick against them though, their teams are too loaded. I like what the White Sox have done getting left handed power in Dunn, and if the pitching comes around as expected, could be tough for anyone to beat. The A’s are my surprise team out of the West. They have acquired a lot of talent over the past few years and that pitching staff could end up being best in the bigs.


World Series Title: Phillies


As loaded as the Red Sox are, they can’t compete with the pitching the Phillies have. I see Philadelphia being a wire to wire winner with very few obstacles on their way to the 2011 Title.

The New Format and My Sweet Sixteen Pick

First off, let me say I am loving this new format of having the games on CBS, TBS, TNT, and TruTV. As one game ends you get the next one in the second half. It's AWESOME.

Now, it seems every year you have one team make it the sweet sixteen that is a double digit seed. My pick: Moorehead State. I know the game is already underway, and 3/4ths through the second half, where Moorehead State is down 48-47, but I had them in my brackets going to the Sweet Sixteen.

Finally, my final four:

Kentucky - Of course!

Duke (Didn't really want to pick them but can't see Uconn running the table here, nor can I see SDST and their struggles from behind the arc getting here, and that leaves me with AZ, who I was tempted to pick, but I think they are cocky SOB's. So, my pick is the Uncle Toms.)

Kansas (Toss it between Kansas and Purdue, but had to go with Kansas, although I was tempted to have Illini go, but really they'll be lucky to make it past the first round)

Kansas State (I don't like Pitt, Kansas State has been hot towards the end of the year, and BYU is down a critical player).

Championship:

Kansas v. Duke

Champion:

Kansas (although they almost ALWAYS fail me).

Some Predictions

This is the first year of staggered start times for the NCAA Tourney, which means we don't get four games kicking off at once but instead a constant stream of games - in theory. I'm curious to see how it works.

Here's what I suspect will be some of today's better games. And yes, I AM tempted to just say "All of them." We don't get Gus Johnson today, but we DO get THIS GUY - and who better for announcing on St. Patty's Day? Get 'em, Raftery!
12:15 PM: Clemson vs. West Virginia @ Tampa, FL. Closer to home for Clemson, but they're well travelled, having just beaten UAB in Dayton a few days ago. I just think the Tigers are peaking at the right time. And it's a 12 v. 5. Still, Huggy Bear and Co. won't go down without a fight.

Also early: ODU/Butler, Morehead State/Louisville

2:10 PM: Penn State vs. Temple @ Tuscon, AZ. It's a battle for Pennsylvanian supremacy! Seriously though, I think Talor Battle wants this, bad.

Also in this time area: Princeton/Kentucky, Richmond/Vandy

6:50 PM: UC-Santa Barbara vs. Florida @ Tampa. Don't say I didn't warn you when this turns into an upset bid, even at home. For some stupid reason I can't believe in this Gators team.

Also: Belmont/Wisconsin

9:57 PM: Utah State vs. Kansas State @ Tuscon. GO AGGIES. I have them in the Sweet Sixteen. Frankly, I doubt I'll even remember most of this game, because it's, umm, past my bedtime. And it's frickin' St. Patrick's Day!

Other blackout games: Michigan State/UCLA, Gonzaga/St. John's, Mizzou/Cincinnati.

HAVE FUN, EVERYBODY.

The Most Wonderful Time...

March Madness is here, ladies and gentlemen, as you are well aware if you haven't been living under a rock for the last week.

I just wanted to make a little list of some of my favorite things about this time of year, especially in 2011:

1. Yogi's Marathon Day - This Thursday is not only the first day of the tournament (not counting the play-in games) but it's also St. Patrick's Day?! Ohhh man. Who smells trouble?

This will be the fourth year in a row for the all-day Yogi's marathon in the little bar, and when you're already planning for something back in December, I mean, how can I even overstate how excited I am? I will eat chili (with cheddar, onions, and green peppers on top), Caesar salad, wings (hot garlic? Hawaiian fire?), and certainly one of my new favorites, the pot roast melt, which has somehow eluded me all these years.

Oh, and there's also basketball. Some unbelievably epic games always seem to happen Thursday (see: Last year and the year before), and of course quarters will be flying back and forth all day long on every possible bet.

2. The Bulls are in first place in the East! At 48-18 after dumping the Wizards today (even without Boozer and Noah), this team is a force to be reckoned with, and a joy to watch. Too bad we can't say the same about IU basketball. They also busted out the green jerseys today. Which is sweet.

3. Northwestern's annual NIT trip. For once, can we please get out of the first round, guys? For the record, Noffke and I are doing an NIT bracket challenge, and we both have the 'Cats making the Elite Eight. He has Va Tech winning. I've got Colorado. Regardless, should be a pretty solid tourney this year. God willin' and the creek don't rise, I'll have more NIT coverage SOON.

NU plays UW-Milwaukee (Bruce Pearl's former team) at Evanston tomorrow.


4. Uh, the actual Big Dance. Let me remind you of just a few people. Kevin Pitsnogle. Ali Farokhmanesh. The Western Kentucky Hilltopper. Excited yet?


5. Bloomington in springtime. It's supposed to be 58 tomorrow. And 70 and sunny on Thursday. Ohhhhhh yes.

6-10: Gus Johnson. No further comment. Enjoy this website.

NCAA TV Listings

In Case you need to flip around. I still have no idea what channel truTV is for me.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/basketball/ncaa/03/13/tourney.tiptimes/index.html?eref=sihp

My Biggest Draft Sleeper

There are a couple guys I like in the draft, but one guy I thought was great when I saw him play, even though it was one of his few plays: Mario Fannin. The guy is huge, fast, and in my opinion has first round talent. He weighs 231 pounds, ran a 4.37 40 yard dash, and has a good vertical at 37". Maybe I'm just getting lost in his work outs, but I am really impressed by this young man, and I believe you ALWAYS draft the best player available, especially in the later rounds. His potential is out of this world. So, if he is there in the 5th round (or even the 4th) I'd be ecstatic if the Bears took him.

Daytona 500 Seats

As you may or may not know. I attended this year's Daytona 500. If you want to see exactly where my seats were click this link. Then zoom out on the picture to see.

http://www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com/gigapixelfancam/110220.aspx?slug=201107-stephen-noffke

Dan Persa Heisman 2011 Kickoff

Here's an article from ESPN.com detailing our favorite Northwestern quarterback's road to recovery this offseason:

http://espn.go.com/blog/bigten/post/_/id/24165/northwesterns-dan-persa-on-his-way-back

Also, I know I asked at least Snuffles about this a while ago, and maybe Pituch too, but how do you rank the Northwestern QBs of the past ten to fifteen years?

Consider the possibilities.

Persa
Mike Kafka
Zak Kustok
Brett Basanez
Steve Schnur
... and several more I'm sure I'm forgetting.

For me, I think Kustok has to be #1, Baz #2, Persa #3, but they were all memorable players.

IU New Coach, Living in A Van in Memorial Stadium

This article from Indiana Daily Student is Awesome. Fodor find some pictures!

IDSnews.com | Ekeler’s arrival from Nebraska has him ‘living in a van down by the river’

For the last two months, through snow and ice and arctic winds, IU’s new co-defensive coordinator lived and slept inside an RV parked just beyond the south end zone of Memorial Stadium.

Every morning before dawn, Mike Ekeler emerged from his Holiday Rambler Navigator and clicked the remote to lock his temporary motorhome.

Determined to arrive in the weight room before his players, Ekeler would wake early and walk 100 yards along the FieldTurf to work.

He arrived in Bloomington on Jan. 4. Since then, he has been hustling from 5 a.m. to midnight, launching into a mission many would call impossible: Turning a team that has spent the last three years in the basement of the Big Ten into a powerhouse.
***

The grind of Big Ten football comes with sacrifices. New IU coach Kevin Wilson and his staff left successful programs to come to Bloomington, a program known mainly for its losses. Most coaches are separated from their families while they scramble to recruit and coach a team, while living out of temporary residences. They are all trying to settle into their new lives.

Ekeler, 39, traded his Cornhuskers red for the traditional IU crimson when he left his job at Nebraska, the latest in a line of stops at powerhouse programs — Oklahoma (’03-’04), LSU (’05-’07) and Nebraska (’08-’10) — to join IU.

IU hasn’t been ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 in 22 years. Nor have they won, or even shared, a Big Ten crown in 43 years. In fact, the Hoosiers won one Big Ten game in each of the last three seasons.

Ekeler’s rise to coaching success took just seven years, but after the 2010 Big 12 Championship game, the 39-year-old said he knew he needed a change.

In fall 2010, he told the Lincoln Journal Star that Nebraska linebacker Lavonte David, a kid who came from junior college ball, was the best linebacker in America.
He felt comfortable.

“If I had stayed, I would have become as big as my linebackers,” Ekeler said. “Instead of coaching, I would have gained 300 pounds. I’d’ve ate eight hot dogs and smoked two packs of Marlboro’s on game day because I would have nothing to coach. There was no challenge.”

A guy who once had a pet piranha, he likes life outside the comfort zone. So he left Nebraska for a program full of challenges.

Wilson said the team should perform at a successful level in the 2011 season.
“Then again talk is cheap,” Wilson said. “So the way we practice and prepare over time will show how we can be in the Big Ten.”

IU Athletics Director Fred Glass said Ekeler hasn’t even watched game tapes on his guys. He’s waiting to judge their on-field talents when spring ball starts at the end of March. Ekeler said he will work from 5 a.m. until midnight. He wants to change the program that has seen only eight bowl games in its 126-year history.

Ekeler said there’s no doubt in his mind that IU will turn it around.

“No, it’s going to happen,” Ekeler said. “The change starts this coming fall.”
***

A yellow electric cord wound from the left side of Ekeler’s Navigator to Memorial Stadium, giving the motorhome its power. He said he was a little disappointed he couldn’t hook up the sewage too.

“Oh, that uh, that there’s an RV ... it’s a good-looking vehicle, ain’t it?” Ekeler quoted from National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation when discussing the Navigator.

But unlike a Chevy Chase character, he’s not embarrassed by his RV — a Mother’s Day gift for his wife. On the University of Nebraska’s website, Ekeler said the Navigator is his third RV and it drives like his F150. The Navigator, white with champagne trim, is 45 feet long. Its MSRP lists at $592,649.

Dirk Ochs, Ekeler’s former K-State teammate, laughed when he heard Ekeler is living in his RV at Memorial Stadium. But he said he takes seriously Ekeler’s guarantee that the new coaching staff will change IU football into an elite program.

“When you go to a program that hasn’t had success and then you have success, there’s something to be said for that,” Ochs said. “We’ve done that before. That’s why all of us went to K-State — to build up a program that was never very good.”

Tom Osborne, Nebraska’s athletic director, said Ekeler would always boast with confidence before games against good teams.

“He’d think we were gonna win 50-0,” Osborne said. “It always made me feel good to talk to him, but it didn’t always turn out that well. However, I’d rather be around someone who is optimistic then always negative. Mike sees the glass half full.”
The comedy and charisma Ekeler used at K-State has never left him.

His new IU linebackers are already playing jokes on him, so he said the fun will continue. It’s who he is, it makes him happy and so does living in that RV.

“And I live in a van down by the river ... I’m going to live down by the river eating governmental cheese.”

“I’m a comedic coach,” Ekeler said after quoting a classic Chris Farley skit from “Saturday Night Live.”

According to Ekeler, a linebacker won’t amount to anything unless he laughs at his jokes.

“I kept a linebacker from playing for three games because he wouldn’t laugh at my jokes during a meeting,” Ekeler said about a former Nebraska player. “He just needed to figure it out. Now, the guy’s a linebacker for the New York Giants.”
***

The cherry wood of his new desk gleams with the morning sun. The back glass wall of his office gives Ekeler a view of the North End Zone. He hasn’t called the off-white rectangle his work space for more than a month, but already his four children, J.J., 10, Cameryn, 9, Abigail, 7, and Bella, 3, added a family touch.

On their first trip to their dad’s new office, they started to turn the place into home.
“I <3 you. You rock,” written in red marker, accompanied by a red smiley face with green eyes remained untouched in 3-week-old dry erase ink.

Eventually, the drawing will be replaced with names of players, opponents or the other work of a 5 a.m.-to-midnight job. Eventually, IU will become home. And Ekeler said he hopes eventually IU will turn into a championship team.

A video of a recruit played on an LG flat screen as Ekeler slightly reclined in his chair. Although the weather outside said 28 degrees, he said it feels tropical and those winds are nothing like the ones in Nebraska, or to Ekeler, “N-Alaska.”

As nice as the RV might be, the south end zone wasn’t a permanent location. Ekeler and his wife, Barbie, have already found a home near College Mall. Ekeler’s last night sleeping beside the football field in his Navigator was Sunday. He, Barbie and the kids moved into the new house Monday.

Even though his walk will increase from 100 yards and his home will no longer be powered by IU Athletics, Ekeler is determined to give his all to IU.

“We’re going to do it,” Ekeler said. “We have the right players and leaders. The staff really doesn’t care what happened in the past.”

Then with another laugh he added, “I’m an optimist. A three-quarters full kind of guy.”





Luckily he's not like this guy

Naked Man Arrested for Questioning Jay Cutler's Dedication

I think this article is hysterical. A naked man was arrested for running around questioning Jay Cutler's dedication in a parking lot. Really? How did this guy think this would end? That people wouldn't think he's a lunatic. I guess that is what makes him crazy. I think the only fitting end would be for Jay Cutler to show up and answer this guys questions. I mean doesn't he know who this guy is?