04/24/24
April 04, 2016
SportsFilter: The Monday Huddle:
A place to discuss the sports stories that aren't making news, share links that aren't quite front-page material, and diagram plays on your hand. Remember to count to five Mississippi before commenting in anger.
I forgot to post my predictions for the MLB season:
AL East: Toronto
AL Central: Cleveland
AL West: Houston
AL Wild Card #1: Boston
AL Wild Card #2: KC
NL East: Washington
NL Central: Chicago
NL West: SF
NL Wild Card #1: New York
NL Wild Card #2: St. Louis
ALCS: Toronto over Houston
ALCS MVP: Marcus Stroman
NLCS: Chicago over St. Louis
NLCS MVP: Kyle Schwarber
World Series: Toronto over Chicago
World Series MVP: Michael Saunders
AL MVP: Jose Altuve
AL CY: Marcus Stroman
AL ROY: Sean Manaea
NL MVP: Bryce Harper
NL CY: Clayton Kershaw
NL ROY: Corey Seager
AL Batting Champ: Jose Altuve (.359)
NL Batting Champ: Andrew McCutchen (.333)
AL ERA Champ: M.Stroman (2.30)
NL ERA Champ: C.Kershaw (2.10)
AL HR Champ: Nelson Cruz (49)
NL HR Champ: Bryce Harper (46)
AL Wins Leader: D.Price (22)
NL Wins Leader: J.Lester (19)
posted by grum@work at 11:05 AM on April 04, 2016
Cleveland to win the AL Central? In your estimation, is Cleveland that good or is the Central that down? Is KC going to suffer that much of a downturn this season?
For the WS winner, my first thought was Houston. Not based on anything scientific, naturally (this is me talking after all), but based on a gut feeling. I'm hoping for the Cubs, but they'll somehow pull a Cubs and Cubs up their season.
posted by NoMich at 11:14 AM on April 04, 2016
Maybe tonight's NCAA title game will be a close game for a change. Men's or women's -- a nailbiter with either one would be fine after the Final Fours we've had.
I'm pulling for Villanova, as teams who claim to have a "way" make me uncomfortable. Such as the Cardinal Way and the Carolina Way -- and yes, the Patriot Way (which I wish had never been born. Source of embarrassment and shame. Errgh.)
Although, with the academic misdeeds and likely upcoming penalties, one doesn't hear as much about the Carolina Way in Chapel Hill these days.
I count myself very fortunate to have gotten through the entire NCAA season without once hearing Dick Vitale get lost in orgasmic rapture intoning the name Arcidiacono as only he can do. When it comes to names, Dick likes 'em long and old country.
Listening to him go rhapsodic over Wojciechowski was tough enough.
Which makes me wonder: the deal where if the erection lasts for more than four hours, you need to call the doctor - how could they not name that pill after Dick Vitale?
posted by beaverboard at 11:37 AM on April 04, 2016
John Oliver rips elitist' New York Yankees over ticket policy NSFW
posted by tommybiden at 12:27 PM on April 04, 2016
John Oliver rips elitist' New York Yankees over ticket policy NSFW
Here's a link for that John Oliver Yankees piece. I have no idea if John Oliver knows anything about baseball, but he certainly has a way with taking down asshattery.
posted by bender at 12:43 PM on April 04, 2016
Thanks bender, didn't realize the link I used didn't work. Cheers!
posted by tommybiden at 01:55 PM on April 04, 2016
Cleveland to win the AL Central? In your estimation, is Cleveland that good or is the Central that down? Is KC going to suffer that much of a downturn this season?
As much as the Blue Jays are going to be powered by hitting, the Indians are going to do the same with their pitching.
Kluber, Carrasco, and Salazar are fantastic. Tomlin is ready to break out (look at that K/BB ratio). Anderson, I'm not as high on, but Bauer could also make a return to the rotation.
posted by grum@work at 02:07 PM on April 04, 2016
Nice job, NCAA, in setting up the blowouts in the semis so that we could have a classic of a title game!
posted by bender at 11:45 PM on April 04, 2016
Nice and exciting last 12 seconds of play...
First this..
posted by grum@work at 06:37 AM on April 05, 2016
Maybe tonight's NCAA title game will be a close game for a change.
I think you got your wish.
I really liked how the final shot was handled afterwards, with all that slo-mo video of the shot and the aftermath as the streamers were cascading down. It felt like a Sports Illustrated photo essay from my 1970s youth in video form.
posted by rcade at 08:57 AM on April 05, 2016
I really liked how the final shot was handled afterwards, with all that slo-mo video of the shot and the aftermath as the streamers were cascading down.
Now imagine if they went to video review and saw that the shot was late. They'd have to clean up all those streamers before play could continue in OT.
posted by grum@work at 10:08 AM on April 05, 2016
Great game. Carolina stuck with it's game plan from start to finish where a tweak or 2 might have been in order. Villanova did a masterful job of limiting Brice Johnson and adjusted to close out on the guards much better after halftime. Williams let Villanova dictate the game and simply stuck with his horses all the way. I thought he would utilize Pinson and Britt a lot more to wear down Nova's guards and create a scrappier game especially considering UNC wasn't getting much of anything from their huge front line advantage.
posted by cixelsyd at 10:32 AM on April 05, 2016
Great winning shot scenario considering that it wasn't do or die for Nova, just win or OT. They didn't play it safe or ill-advised -- they played it strong their way.
Nantz is off to Augusta to cover the Masters, and he'd have to witness a co-leader eagle at 16 in a swirling breeze on Sunday to come close to equaling what he saw last night.
posted by beaverboard at 11:58 AM on April 05, 2016
Perhaps that will give him a chance to divest more of his wardrobe.
posted by yerfatma at 02:41 PM on April 05, 2016
I want him to give his Butler Cabin tassel loafers to Lady Gaga so she can turn them into epaulettes.
Covered in prosciutto.
posted by beaverboard at 06:11 PM on April 05, 2016
The Simpson came out for Villanova last night. And Smithers came out too ;)