Alright so I'm not gonna be one of these Yankees' fans who are sky high confident that this is the year that the curse of Mattingly (think about it) ends, but I sure do like our chances against the Twins in Game 1 of the ALDS tomorrow.
Yeah, I know the Twins won 17 of their last 21 games to finish the season, and that's remarkable, but let's look at the numbers that matter. They're 0-7 against the Yankees in 2009! Sure, all of their meetings came before the All-Star break, so maybe this is a new Twins team. The Yankees were 51-34 (.600) after their final 3-game sweep of the Twinkies in early July, they went on to win 52 of their final 77 games, that’s a .675 winning percentage since the last time these two teams met! The Twins absolutely got hot at the right time, but the Yankees have pretty much been on fire since the end of June. And I'm not even convinced how great these twins really are.
First off, they're missing 2006 AL MVP Justin Morneau, easily the teams best power bat. Second, they did win their division with only 87 wins, which leaves one to question just how good the AL Central really is. Let me answer that question for you, the Tigers had a 10.5-game lead over the Twins on September 7th, they went on to lose 17 of their final 28. Let's take a look at the other teams in the division: the Indians and Royals both finished with 97 losses, and the White Sox were 3 games over .500 on August 23rd and very much in playoff contention, they lost 23 of their final 39 games, as their manager repeatedly threw the team under the bus. The Twins have played all but 4 games since August 31st within their division, so before you go calling them the hottest team since the 2007 Rockies, look at who they've beaten.
Not to say that the Yankees have the best starting pitching in baseball, but let's take a look at the Twins rotation. Scott Baker, Nick Blackburn, Carl Pavano, and Brian Duensing. The Yankees get Duensing in game 1, against Cy Young candidate CC Sabathia. CC probably shouldn't win the CY this year, but let's be real, he came to New York for this, he's been money in big games, and in his one start against the Twins this year he went 7 innings and only gave up 3 hits. His opponent in Game 1, Duensing, appeared in the game that CC started, walked 4 and gave up 4 earned runs in just two and two-thirds innings…but to be fair it was only his third major league appearance.
So if Duensing didn't fare off too well against the Yankees the first time he faced them in Minnesota back in July, what reason is there to believe he'll do better in Game 1 of the ALDS, at Yankee Stadium? This is a Yankees team that missed the playoffs in 2008 and actually understands the meaning of Yankee Pride. This is a team with 7 players who hit 20+ homers, with the 8th having 18. This isn't about the Yankees having aura anymore, it's about a team that played together, at a very high level pretty much all season, towards one goal, and the time is here to accomplish that goal.
Do I think they Yankees are the best team in baseball? Yes, it's a fact. Do I think they're going to win the World Series? I'm not sure yet, but my answer depends on what they can do in the ALDS against the Twins. Do I think the Yankees will beat the Twins? Yes absolutely, they shouldn't have a problem with the Twins, if they do, the season will without a doubt be considered a huge failure. They should beat the Twins, and in relation to what we've seen in 2009, they should beat everybody, but that's why they play the games.
But this is a team with character. Between AJ and CC, Swisher and Melky, and Posada and Jeter, this is a team that has focus, fun, and fundamentals. The bats are there, they have three good starting pitchers, and this is the most impressive Yankees bullpen since the early 2000's. If this isn't the year they do it, when is?
Oct 7, 2009
Jun 19, 2009
Kobe “insert your quip here” Bryant
Well, His Fakeness did it! The man known to some as Mamba, but to most as Michael Jordan’s secret admirer, Kobe Bryant won his fourth NBA Championship. Most importantly, his first since kicking Shaq out of the car and taking over the drivers’ seat in Los Angeles.
OK, so he didn’t just kick Shaq out of the car, he threw him under the bus. Somehow Kobe convinced Laker brass that the best direction for the team to go was to dump the combination that won three straight championships, and allow Kobe to run the show on his own. Yeah, getting rid of the most dominant post player the NBA’s seen since Wilt is usually a good idea, especially when he leaves, brings his new team to the conference finals, and then wins a championship the next year. But it was ok, because Kobe was going to make winners out of Kwame Brown, Luke Walton, and Smush Parker.
While Shaq was winning in Miami, Kobe struggled for a few years by himself in LA. But on the bright side, he got a chance to score 81-points in a single game, and he even averaged 35 points per game one year! Leading the league in scoring really helped Kobe show the world how great he was, and it helped prove that he didn’t need Shaq. Especially in the 2006 playoffs, when the Lakers went up 3-1 against the favored Suns in the first round, only to lose games 5, 6, and 7 by an average of 18.7 points. Kobe really displayed his “killer instinct” in that series.
Kobe eventually got sick of his team not meeting the expectations he logically set in 2004, so he cried for help, and as usual, he got his way. The affluential Grizzlies gift wrapped Pau Gasol for Kobe, and the pieces finally fell into place. To his credit, Kobe became a better teammate when he realized he had a young 7-footer who could patrol the paint, another 7-footer with as good of an inside-outside game as any big man in the league right now, a 7-footer who could dribble, shoot, and run an offense, and a slew of guards who could all knock down an outside jump-shot. Kobe got his MVP in 2008 and his Finals MVP in 2009, and now he’s back on top of the world.
As you’ve probably picked up by now, I’m not the biggest fan of Kobe’s work. Reference my June 2008 post titled “Kobe Bryant Sucks” for more details, but I just never thought Kobe had “it.” His game, much like his personality, has always seemed very forced to me, and as ignorant as it may be on my behalf, it’s been hard for me to appreciate somebody like that…until now.
Although I was convinced that Kobe would never win without Shaq, and believe me I rooted as hard as I could against him, I see the good in this situation. Kobe finally got the monkey off of his back, he’s the big reason that the great Lakers won their 15th NBA Championship. His name now goes into the record books and is etched into Lakers history with the likes of Magic, Kareem, Wilt, Jerry West and Shaq as Finals MVP. If he didn’t before, Kobe has now secured his spot amongst the greats, not only in LaLa land, but in NBA history. So what’s next for employee number eig…errr 24?
I’m thinking it’s time Kobe revisits his Italian upbringing and get’s his Sinatra on, you know, “start spreading the news…” In case that reference didn’t make any sense, I’m insinuating that Kobe Bryant…WILL BE A KNICK IN 2009! You knew I had to be tying this into the Knicks in someway didn’t you? I honestly believe that if Phil Jackson decides to retire, which he very well could, there’s no reason for Kobe to stay in Los Angeles anymore.
Yes, the Lakers did just win a championship and right now are probably the favorites to repeat if they keep their team intact, but Phil could retire, Lamar Odom’s a free agent, Trevor Ariza’s a free agent, and Kobe has an opt-out. I really believe this is all hinging on Phil Jackson, if Phil stays Kobe all but definitely stays, but if Phil goes, why would Kobe stay? He won his ring, his fourth ring with the Lakers, he accomplished his goal, he’s quieted the naysayers (i.e. Jared Mintz), what’s left for him to do? Do you really think he’s going to have the drive and respect to play for Kurt Rambis the way he did Phil? Yeah Los Angeles has been good to Kobe, the fans love and accept him, but anywhere Kobe goes he’s going to be treated like a king.
Which is why he’s going to come to New York! What bigger stage is there to showcase your excellence? Who’s the most narcissistic athlete in professional sports (NFL wide-outs excluded)? Kobe Bryant’s going to be 31 at the start of 2009-2010 season, and although signs of him declining seemed semi-evident this past season, keep in mind that he’s been going at 110 percent for the last two years now. He won his MVP, he won his Olympic Gold Medal, and now he won his NBA Championship…give him a few months to rest and soak it in, and he’ll be back with that killer instinct in October. Kobe’s at a stage of his career where he’s probably past his peak, but he can and will still play at a very high level for the next four to five seasons. Jordan’s game got smoother with age, and if Kobe’s the copycat he’s been aspiring to be his entire career, there’s no reason to believe his game won’t evolve the way Jordan’s did.
Kobe’s ready for a new challenge, and going to the Knicks is a challenge that maybe only one other player in the league seems more capable of taking on than Kobe. But if Kobe were to come to New York, he’d be playing for Mike D’Antoni, whom he’s familiar with as an assistant coach for the Olympic team, and he’d be running D’Antoni’s famed “7 seconds or less offense.” This would be a chance for Kobe to have the ball in his hands all the time, as well as be able to help resurrect a defense that hasn’t been seen since Charles Oakley left the Garden. And while the pieces aren’t really in place for the Knicks to win immediately, they’re a team starving for a star, and if Kobe comes next year, guess who may be more inclined to come the year after?
I know, the thought of Kobe alone in a Knicks uniform was mind-blowing, but to think of Kobe rocking the 24 and LeBron James in the 23 is just astronomical, but it’s feasible! The goal in New York isn’t just to sign one max-player, it’s to get at least two…so why can’t it be Kobe and LeBron? Will they clash? Maybe. But if you have a chance to put the two best players on the planet on the same team you do it, and I think the Knicks have a chance at doing that.
I know that this quite a stretch, but I don’t think it’s impossible. It’s all a domino-effect, but I truthfully believe it could happen. These are two guys who both want to win, who both put in their best efforts on the biggest of stages, and who would both probably love the opportunity to save a dead franchise. It’s no secret that the NBA (and myself) wants the Knicks to be a contender again, and with Kobe and LeBron the Knicks would have the best one-two punch that basketball’s ever seen. You don’t think these two guys want to be a part of greatness? As large of an ego as Kobe has, he has to know that his window is closing…why not close it with a bang?
I’m going to put it out there, if you don’t want it, just sent it right back…Kobe…I’m sorry. I can’t take back all of the nasty things that I’ve said, but I promise that if you put on the orange and blue I’ll cheer for you, and so will the most starving fans in professional sports. I know that it’s probably more realistic that we don’t see either one of these guys in a Knicks uniform, and I’m sorry for dreaming, but something big needs to happen in New York and this could be it. We’ll see…
OK, so he didn’t just kick Shaq out of the car, he threw him under the bus. Somehow Kobe convinced Laker brass that the best direction for the team to go was to dump the combination that won three straight championships, and allow Kobe to run the show on his own. Yeah, getting rid of the most dominant post player the NBA’s seen since Wilt is usually a good idea, especially when he leaves, brings his new team to the conference finals, and then wins a championship the next year. But it was ok, because Kobe was going to make winners out of Kwame Brown, Luke Walton, and Smush Parker.
While Shaq was winning in Miami, Kobe struggled for a few years by himself in LA. But on the bright side, he got a chance to score 81-points in a single game, and he even averaged 35 points per game one year! Leading the league in scoring really helped Kobe show the world how great he was, and it helped prove that he didn’t need Shaq. Especially in the 2006 playoffs, when the Lakers went up 3-1 against the favored Suns in the first round, only to lose games 5, 6, and 7 by an average of 18.7 points. Kobe really displayed his “killer instinct” in that series.
Kobe eventually got sick of his team not meeting the expectations he logically set in 2004, so he cried for help, and as usual, he got his way. The affluential Grizzlies gift wrapped Pau Gasol for Kobe, and the pieces finally fell into place. To his credit, Kobe became a better teammate when he realized he had a young 7-footer who could patrol the paint, another 7-footer with as good of an inside-outside game as any big man in the league right now, a 7-footer who could dribble, shoot, and run an offense, and a slew of guards who could all knock down an outside jump-shot. Kobe got his MVP in 2008 and his Finals MVP in 2009, and now he’s back on top of the world.
As you’ve probably picked up by now, I’m not the biggest fan of Kobe’s work. Reference my June 2008 post titled “Kobe Bryant Sucks” for more details, but I just never thought Kobe had “it.” His game, much like his personality, has always seemed very forced to me, and as ignorant as it may be on my behalf, it’s been hard for me to appreciate somebody like that…until now.
Although I was convinced that Kobe would never win without Shaq, and believe me I rooted as hard as I could against him, I see the good in this situation. Kobe finally got the monkey off of his back, he’s the big reason that the great Lakers won their 15th NBA Championship. His name now goes into the record books and is etched into Lakers history with the likes of Magic, Kareem, Wilt, Jerry West and Shaq as Finals MVP. If he didn’t before, Kobe has now secured his spot amongst the greats, not only in LaLa land, but in NBA history. So what’s next for employee number eig…errr 24?
I’m thinking it’s time Kobe revisits his Italian upbringing and get’s his Sinatra on, you know, “start spreading the news…” In case that reference didn’t make any sense, I’m insinuating that Kobe Bryant…WILL BE A KNICK IN 2009! You knew I had to be tying this into the Knicks in someway didn’t you? I honestly believe that if Phil Jackson decides to retire, which he very well could, there’s no reason for Kobe to stay in Los Angeles anymore.
Yes, the Lakers did just win a championship and right now are probably the favorites to repeat if they keep their team intact, but Phil could retire, Lamar Odom’s a free agent, Trevor Ariza’s a free agent, and Kobe has an opt-out. I really believe this is all hinging on Phil Jackson, if Phil stays Kobe all but definitely stays, but if Phil goes, why would Kobe stay? He won his ring, his fourth ring with the Lakers, he accomplished his goal, he’s quieted the naysayers (i.e. Jared Mintz), what’s left for him to do? Do you really think he’s going to have the drive and respect to play for Kurt Rambis the way he did Phil? Yeah Los Angeles has been good to Kobe, the fans love and accept him, but anywhere Kobe goes he’s going to be treated like a king.
Which is why he’s going to come to New York! What bigger stage is there to showcase your excellence? Who’s the most narcissistic athlete in professional sports (NFL wide-outs excluded)? Kobe Bryant’s going to be 31 at the start of 2009-2010 season, and although signs of him declining seemed semi-evident this past season, keep in mind that he’s been going at 110 percent for the last two years now. He won his MVP, he won his Olympic Gold Medal, and now he won his NBA Championship…give him a few months to rest and soak it in, and he’ll be back with that killer instinct in October. Kobe’s at a stage of his career where he’s probably past his peak, but he can and will still play at a very high level for the next four to five seasons. Jordan’s game got smoother with age, and if Kobe’s the copycat he’s been aspiring to be his entire career, there’s no reason to believe his game won’t evolve the way Jordan’s did.
Kobe’s ready for a new challenge, and going to the Knicks is a challenge that maybe only one other player in the league seems more capable of taking on than Kobe. But if Kobe were to come to New York, he’d be playing for Mike D’Antoni, whom he’s familiar with as an assistant coach for the Olympic team, and he’d be running D’Antoni’s famed “7 seconds or less offense.” This would be a chance for Kobe to have the ball in his hands all the time, as well as be able to help resurrect a defense that hasn’t been seen since Charles Oakley left the Garden. And while the pieces aren’t really in place for the Knicks to win immediately, they’re a team starving for a star, and if Kobe comes next year, guess who may be more inclined to come the year after?
I know, the thought of Kobe alone in a Knicks uniform was mind-blowing, but to think of Kobe rocking the 24 and LeBron James in the 23 is just astronomical, but it’s feasible! The goal in New York isn’t just to sign one max-player, it’s to get at least two…so why can’t it be Kobe and LeBron? Will they clash? Maybe. But if you have a chance to put the two best players on the planet on the same team you do it, and I think the Knicks have a chance at doing that.
I know that this quite a stretch, but I don’t think it’s impossible. It’s all a domino-effect, but I truthfully believe it could happen. These are two guys who both want to win, who both put in their best efforts on the biggest of stages, and who would both probably love the opportunity to save a dead franchise. It’s no secret that the NBA (and myself) wants the Knicks to be a contender again, and with Kobe and LeBron the Knicks would have the best one-two punch that basketball’s ever seen. You don’t think these two guys want to be a part of greatness? As large of an ego as Kobe has, he has to know that his window is closing…why not close it with a bang?
I’m going to put it out there, if you don’t want it, just sent it right back…Kobe…I’m sorry. I can’t take back all of the nasty things that I’ve said, but I promise that if you put on the orange and blue I’ll cheer for you, and so will the most starving fans in professional sports. I know that it’s probably more realistic that we don’t see either one of these guys in a Knicks uniform, and I’m sorry for dreaming, but something big needs to happen in New York and this could be it. We’ll see…
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)