Wednesday, December 31, 2014

The Sports Year in Review -2014

2014 Sports Year in Review

January - The first month of the year started off with Jameis Winston leading Florida State to the National Championship for Men's College Football. In the NFL Peyton Manning had a 55 touchdown season , the most ever. This led him to a fifth MVP award. He also led the Broncos past the Tom Brady led Patriots to the Super Bowl. The Seahawks won the NFC and were headed to the Super Bowl also. Perhaps the best NFL Playoff game was when Andrew Luck led the Colts over the Chiefs after being down by 28 points. Luck rallied the Colts to a 45-44 victory in the Wild Card Round. In 2013 no one was elected to the MLB Hall of Fame. In January 2014 , Joe Torre , Bobby Cox , Tony La Russa , Frank Thomas , Tom Glavine , and Greg Maddux made up one of baseballs biggest classes ever.

February - The Seattle Seahawks went into Met Life stadium and destroyed the Denver Broncos 43-8. The Winter Olympics were held in Sochi. Russia dominated winning 33 total medals. USA was not far behind winning 28.

March - As usual the month was led by The craziness of March Madness. Wichita State Men's Basketball enjoyed an undefeated season and the Gators were ranked number one in the tournament. The Dodgers opened up the season in Sydney Australia against the Diamondbacks.

April- Baseball was back and everyone was excited to see the Yankees new ace from Japan , Masahiro Tanaka. The Boston Marathon was won by Meb Keflezigji who had the names of four Boston Marathon bombing victims scrawled on his bib, he  became the first American man to win the race since Greg Meyer in 1983. Connecticut stunned the sports world winning the Men's NCAA tournament by beating Kentucky. Sadly Hall of Fame basketball coach Jack Ramsey passed away in the month. Kevin Costner stared in Draft Day a film all about the NFL Draft. Albert Pujols blasted his 500th homer.

May - The NFL draft was held in Radio City Music Hall in New York City and the Texans selected Jadeveon Clowney with the first pick. Teddy Bridgewater , Blake Bortles , and Derek Carr were some off the best Quarterbacks taken off the board. Of course Johnny Manziel was drafted despite falling to late first round. The Browns chose the famous QB. The Giants selected Odell Beckham Jr.  , who would eventually lead one of the best rookie wide receiver classes ever. The Bills chose Sammy Watkins and the Bucs chose Mike Evans. Kelvin Benjamin and Brandin Cooks were also high selections from the position. California Chrome won the Kentucky Derby. Jon Hamm starred in Million Dollar Arm , a true story.

June- Baseball legend Tony Gywnn passed away at age 54 after his battle with cancer. Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw threw a no hitter in one for the most dominant pitching performances ever. Tim Lincecum no hit the Padres for the second time in his career. The. New York Rangers had a remarkable run to the NHL championship but were ultimately beat by the Los Angeles Kings. The Spurs met the Miami Heat in NBA finals for a second year in a row. This time it was the Spurs who won the title and ultimately ended Lebron James Miami career. Rafael Nadal won his ninth French Open in ten years.

July - Tim Howard became a legend for the US soccer team as they made a great run. Ultimately it was Germany who won the World Cup. Golfer Rory McIlroy won the British Open by two strokes. Novak Djokovic beats Roger Federer in a five-set Wimbledon final. Derek Jeter played in his final MLB All Star game in Minnesota. While New Yankee Stars Masahiro Tanaka and Dellin Bettances were elected to their first. UFC Women's Champ Ronda Rousey graced the cover of the Espn body issue. Lebron James signed a contract and made one if the biggest returns in NBA history leaving Miami to return home to Cleveland.

August - Mone Davis dominated the Little League World Series , and did it as one of the few girls participating. David became a symbol for all girls who want to play sports with the boys. She even graced the cover of Sports Illustrated. Rory McIlroy wins the PGA Championship. Steve Ballmer purchased the Clippers for about $2 billion. This all after the horrible allegations of racism were proven true against Donald Sterling. He was forced to sell the team. Michael Strahan led the Hall of Fame class for the NFL. Ray Guy was the first punter ever elected. When the Game Stands Tall was a moving football movie that hit theaters in August.

September - The NFL season begins but rather than football the focus shifts to off the field troubles. Adrian Peterson was suspended for Child abuse charges and allegations and Ray Rice was suspended and caught on film beating his wife. Paul Konerko retired from baseball after a majority of his career with the WhiteSox. Derek Jeter retired from Major League Baseball. Jeter had a walk off single in his last game at Yankee Stadium and a single in his last at bat of his career at Fenway Park. Jeter walked off the field against the rival Red Sox in Boston to a standing ovation. Floyd Mayweather beat Marcos Maidana for the second time in the year to improve to 47-0. Felix Hernandez walked off the mound for the final time in the 2013 season as the era champ , to a standing ovation from the home crowd. Jordan Zimmerman threw a no hitter after Steve Souza made a diving catch to save it.

October - The Giants and the Nationals played an 18 inning playoff game. The Giants won 2-1. The Royals make a historic run all the way to the World Series form the Wild Card game. The Royals strength was there bullpen and their two best were Wade Davis and Closer Greg Holland. The San Francisco Giants went on a run of their own and won the World Series in seven games. Travis Ishikawa hit a walk off homer to beat the Cardinals for the pennant.The Giants won their third title since 2010. Madison Bumgarner had one of the best pitching performances in post season history. MLB star prospect Oscar Taveras passed away at the age of 22 after a car crash. After serving a suspension for the entire 2013 season , for alleged involvement in a Florida PED Clinic Alex Rodriguez was reinstated to baseball following the World Series. Another back injury forced future hall of Famer Steve Nash to retire.

November - Lewis Hamilton won the Formula One championship, and Kevin Harvick won the Nascar Sprint Cup. Manny Pacquiao dominated Chris Algieri in China. Giancarlo Stanton signed the biggest contract in baseball history as he and the Marlins agreed to a 13 year $325 million deal. Mike Trout won the AL MVP after feeing the runner up two years in a row. Cuban star Jose Abreu won the Al Rooke of the Year and Mets star Jacob deGrom dominated the big apple winning the award in the NL. Clayton Kershaw won both the Cy Young and the MVP in the NL. Corey Kluber won the Cy Young Award in the AL.

December- The Dallas Cowboys shocked many in the NFL world and won the NFC East. Demarco Murray broke the single season franchise rush yards record. Odell Beckham Jr became one of the NFL's biggest stars and best players as he caught 12 touchdowns in 12 games. He also had 10 straight games of at least 90 yards. JJ Watt had one of the best defensive season ever with 20.5 sacks. He also had five total touchdowns. The Panthers won the NFC South with a record of 6-8-1. It was another big year for Quarterbacks as the NFL saw nine Quarterbacks throw at least 30 touchdowns. Eli Manning , Peyton Manning , Tom Brady , Andrew Luck , Tony Romo , Drew Brees , Aaron Rodgers , Ben Roethlisberger , and Philip Rivers all had at least 30. Marcus Mariota won the Heismann Trophy. Kobe Bryant passed Michael Jordan on the NBA scoring list. Cm Punk signed a contract to join the UFC. Tom Brady led the Pats to the number one seed in the AFC and Russell Wilson led his Seahawks to the number one seed in the NFC. The Cubs made some big moves and landed Jon Lester and manager Joe Madden.


Tuesday, December 30, 2014

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words - 2014 Sports





















NFL: The Top 15's

The Best of the Best

In this article, I will give the top 15 players in their respective positions. I will also include my yearly award winners. This is purely based off of individual stats, team success, and what I have personally seen from the players. Enjoy!

Quarterbacks

1: Aaron Rodgers -- GB
2: Tom Brady -- NE
3: Peyton Manning -- DEN
4: Andrew Luck -- IND
5: Tony Romo -- DAL
6: Ben Roethlisberger -- PIT
7: Drew Brees -- NO
8: Philip Rivers -- SD
9: Russell Wilson -- SEA
10: Matt Stafford -- DET
11: Joe Flacco -- BAL
12: Matt Ryan -- ATL
13: Eli Manning -- NYG
14: Ryan Tannehill -- MIA
15: Cam Newton -- CAR

Halfbacks

1: DeMarco Murray -- DAL
2: Le'Veon Bell -- PIT
3: Jamaal Charles -- KC
4: Arian Foster -- HOU
5: LeSean McCoy -- PHI
6: Marshawn Lynch -- SEA
7: C.J Anderson -- DEN
8: Justin Forsett -- BAL
9: Eddie Lacy -- GB
10: Matt Forte -- CHI
11: Mark Ingram -- NO
12: Jeremy Hill -- CIN
13: Joique Bell -- DET
14: Giovani Bernard -- CIN
15: Alfred Morris -- WAS

Wide Receivers

1: Jordy Nelson -- GB
2: Demaryius Thomas -- DEN
3: Antonio Brown -- PIT
4: Dez Bryant -- DAL
5: Julio Jones -- ATL
6: Calvin Johnson Jr. -- DET
7: Odell Beckham Jr. -- NYG
8: A.J Green -- CIN
9: Randall Cobb -- GB
10: Emmanuel Sanders -- DEN
11: Jeremy Maclin -- PHI
12: Brandon Marshall -- CHI
13: T.Y Hilton -- IND
14: Mike Evans -- TB
15: Kelvin Benjamin -- CAR

Tight Ends

1: Rob Gronkowski -- NE
2: Julius Thomas -- DEN
3: Antonio Gates -- SD
4: Jimmy Graham -- NO
5: Greg Olsen -- CAR
6: Travis Kelce -- KC
7: Jason Witten -- DAL
8: Coby Fleener -- IND
9: Dwayne Allen -- IND
10: Larry Donnell -- NYG
11: Martellus Bennett -- CHI
12: Zach Ertz -- PHI
13: Heath Miller -- PIT
14: Jared Cook -- STL
15: Delanie Walker -- TEN

Awards

MVP: Aaron Rodgers -- GB
Offensive Rookie of Year: Odell Beckham Jr. -- NYG
Defensive Rookie of Year: C.J Mosley -- BAL 
Defensive Player of Year: J.J Watt -- HOU
Offensive Player of Year: DeMarco Murray -- DAL
Comeback Player of Year: Rob Gronkowski -- NE
Fantasy Player of Year: Odell Beckham Jr. -- NYG
Coach of Year: Bill Belichick -- NE

Follow Me on Twitter
@_SwagggyT

Top 30 early 3b ranks for 2015

Top Early 30 third baseman
1. Adrian Beltre
2. J. Donaldson
3. A. Rendon
4. E. Longoria
5. T. Frazier
6. K. Seager
7. N.  Arenado
8. P. Sandavol
9. M. Carpenter
10. M. Machado
11. D. Wright
12. J. Harrison
13. X. Bogaerts
14. R. Zimmerman
15. K. Bryant
16. A. Ramirez
17. P. Alvarez
18. M. Prado
19. A. Rodriguez
20. C. Headly
21. J. Uribe
22. T. Plouffe
23. B. Lawrie
24. M. Moustaks
25. L. Chisnenhall
26. C. Johnson
27. B. Holt
28. D. Freese
29. C. McHehee
30. C. Ashe
By: Joseph Vitella

Monday, December 29, 2014

Week 17 Recap

The Week 17 Recap
It was simple in Atlanta. The winner of the Panthers vs Falcons would make the playoffs as the number four seed and the other would go home. The Panthers were all over the Falcons from the very beginning. The defense had no answer for Cam Newton. Matt Ryan was brutal as he threw two picks and they were both returned for touchdowns. Cam Newton had two total touchdowns as the Panthers continue their road to the playoffs. Their first game is against Arizona. It was simple for the Chargers. Win and they are in. They lost to the Chiefs without Alex Smith. The Ravens responded with a win and clinched the final seed. They were led by a bounce back game by Joe Flacco. The Packers beat the Lions to clinch the number two seed and the Lions will settle for a wild card. The Seahawks also defeated the Rams to win the number one seed. The Steelers won their division defeating the Bengals and now the Bengals are a wildcard. Aj Green had a costly fumble that led to an Antonio Brown touchdown catch and the Steelers division win.
The Cowboys had another big win and are rolling into next weeks playoff battle with the Lions. Demarco Murray became the Cowboys all time single season rush leader and Dez Bryant added two more touchdowns. The Colts also had a win and are getting ready for the playoffs. Andrew Luck tossed his 40th touchdown of the season. The Jets played their hearts out for Rex Ryan and had a big win over the Dolphins but it was not enough to save his job. The Giants lost to the Eagles in a close one but Odell Beckham Jr did his thing once again. Beckham had 185 yards , 12 catches , and another touchdown. Eli Manning tossed his 30th and finished off a fine season. The Bills beats the Patriots as there defense finished off a dominant season. Kyle Orton called it a career after with a nice season.
This is just a basic recap of what went on this week in the NFL. We will breakdown and predict each playoff matchup during the week. We will also have more on all if the head coach moves around the league.
By Peter Vitella
@realpete13

Saturday, December 27, 2014

Week 17 Picks



Cleveland Browns vs Baltimore Ravens
Prediction-Ravens 20-Browns10

Jacksonville Jaguars vs Houston Texans
Prediction-Texans 17-Jaguars-13

San Diego Chargers vs Kansas City Chiefs 
Prediction-Chargers 24-Chiefs 13

New York Jets vs Miami Dolphins
Prediction-Jets 17-Dolphins13

Chicago Bears vs Minnesota Vikings
Prediction Bears 31-Vikings 24

Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots 
Prediction Patriots 24-Bills13

Philadelphia Eagles vs New York Giants 
Prediction Giants 38- Eagles 34

New Orleans Saints vs Tanpa Bay Buccaneers 
Prediction Saints 24-Buccaneers 13

Indianapolis Colts vs Tennessee Titans 
Prediction Colts 24-Titans 10

Dallas Cowboys vs Washingtion Redskins 
Prediction Cowboys 20-Redskins 17

Atlanta Falcons vs Carolina Panthers 
Prediction Panthers 24-Atlanta Falcons 20

Detroit Lions vs Green Bay Packers
Prediction Packers 20- Lions 17

St Louis Rams vs Seattle Seahawks 
Prediction Seahawks 20-Rams 14

Arizona Cardinals vs SanFransico 49ers 
Prediction 49ers 20-Cardinals 10

Oakland Raiders vs Denver Broncos 
Prediction Broncos 38-Raiders 21

Cincinnati Bengals vs Pittsburgh Steelers 
Prediction Steelers 31-Bengals 23

Follow me on Twitter
@EvanGrubin







The Current Offensive State of the Indianapolis Colts

The Current Offensive State of the Indianapolis Colts

As an avid Colts fan, my knowledge of the team is pretty high. I will try to keep this article as un-bias as possible, trying to avoid the typical fan side of me taking over. I will analyze the offensive skill positions, focusing on the positives, negatives, and what we can improve on in the future. 

Quarterback:
Obviously, we are set at the QB position with Andrew Luck at the helm. Luck has already had tremendous success in his first 3 years. To add on, he's only 25 years old, which means he's got a long way to go in this league. In 47 career games, Luck has already threw for 12,797 yards with 84 touchdowns. With those stats, you are guarenteed success. These stats have resulted in 3 playoff appearances and 33 career wins for the Colts. But with young quarterbacks come mistakes, mistakes that were definitely expected. In those 47 games, Luck's turnover rate has been very high. He's thrown 43 interceptions and lost 21 fumbles. Luck can fix the problems by making better, more mature reads and by staying in the pocket and limit the scrambling. Turnovers are one of the main reasons why the Colts aren't going far in the postseason. The Colts as a team need to take the pressure off of Luck to improve his game. To Luck's defense, the offensive line is very inconsistent and take on a lot of pressure. We have a young, unexperienced group of guys that are protecting Luck. The O-Line can not handle the pass rush that some of these contending teams send. But as the years go by, the offensive line, and Andrew Luck, will definitely improve.   

Running Game:
To be honest, the Colts backfield is a mess. You never know what your going to get from them. Currently, "Boom" Herron and Trent Richardson are splitting carries. When Ahmad Bradshaw went down with an ankle injury, Trent Richardson was the next man up. I honestly don't think Richardson, or the Colts, were ready to take on every-down carries. That lack of trust has resulted in Andrew Luck's passing attempts increasing by the game. Trent has shown promise going back to his days at Cleveland, and even Alabama. His power-run style gives off a Marshawn Lynch type of feeling. He has the ability to break off some big runs if he fixes one of his problems. He needs to stop hesitating. Trent needs to hit the whole hard. His ground and pound style can be loved by Colts fans. The other halfback is Daniel Herron. Boom was previously used as special-teamer, but became a change-of-pace back with the 2 devastating Vick Ballard injuries. Herron has shown promise, but isn't ready to be a starting NFL halfback. Both have protection flaws that can be improved, however. Both can improve and become 2 young studs. 

Wide Receivers:
The Colts have a young and consistent group of guys catching balls from the slinging Andrew Luck. You have Reggie Wayne (The Veteran), TY Hilton (The Speedy Deep-Threat), and Donte Moncrief (The Red-Zone Threat) as your wide receivers. Reggie has been solid all season and can always be relied on. But ever since his arm injury, he has passed the torch to the young guns, guys such as Hilton and Moncrief. In the 2012 Draft, the Colts, with the 92nd pick, selected "TY Hilton, Wide Receiver, Florida International". I first thought that TY, only 5'9", was going to be a nice slot target for Luck in their first NFL season. They could develop a little chemistry and let it play out, for he was only a 3rd round pick. Hilton, of course, becomes Luck's favorite target and a popular deep threat. Two years later, also in the 3rd round, the Colts go out and get Donte Moncrief out of the University of Mississippi. This kid is very athletic and can use his size, 6'3", to his advantage. He is a great combination of size and speed. He reminds me a little of Mike Evans. Evans, who is 6'5", is the future of the Buccaneer franchise. Unlike Evans, the Colt offense doesn't revolve around Moncrief. If the Colts groom him correctly, he will be a great number 2 receiver. 

Tight Ends: 
When Ryan Grigson selected Coby Fleener (2nd Round) and Dwayne Allen (3rd Round) back-to-back in the 2012 NFL Draft, I completely understood why. Coby Fleener, 6'6", was a great pick. Entering the draft with Luck, the two already had great chemistry. He would be the pass-catching tight end to replace the great Dallas Clark. A round later, they select Dwayne Allen, 6'3". Weighing 255 pounds, Allen is a great run blocker and can clear holes for the Colts run game. He is best when blocking down, letting the halfbacks kick it to the outside. Both have become great redzone targets for Luck. If they stay healthy, they will be a very successful duo. 

Overall:
Overall, the Colts offensive is so powerful, it leads them back to the playoffs every year. The fact that the team is so young and so successful is truly a work of art. 

Follow me on Twitter 
@_SwagggyT

Early Fantasy Baseball Second Base Rankings

Top 30 second baseman Early Fantasy Baseball Rankings
1. R. Cano
2. J. Altuve
3. A. Rendon
4. I. Kinsler
5. B. Dozier
6. D. Pedroia
7. J. Kipnis
8. D. Gordon
9. N. Walker
10. D. Murphy
11. J. Harrison
12.J. Baez
13. B. Phillips
14.B. Zobrist
15. K. Wong
16. M. Betts
17. A. Cabrera
18.H. Kendrick
19. M. Prado
20. J. Panik
21. S. Gennet
22. J. Gyrko
23.  B. Lawrie
24. A. Alcentara
25. W. Flores
26. O. Infante
27. R. Weeks
28. J. Schoop
29  D. LeMahieu
30. J. Profar

By Joseph Vitella




Week 17 Fantasy QB Ranks

Week 17 Ranks for those Leagues still playing into the final week.
Go to the Fantasy Football page for complete ranks 
1. D. Brees
2. P. Manning
3. A. Rodgers
4. M. Ryan
5. R. Wilson
6. T. Romo
7. A. Luck
8. E. Manning
9. C. Newton
10. M. Stafford
11. B. Roethlisberger
12. P. Rivers
13. J. Cutler
14. R. Tannehill
15. T. Brady
16. M. Sanchez
17. T. Bridgewater
18. J. Flacco
19. C. Kaepernick
20. R. Griffin
21. A. Dalton
22. K. Orton
23. J. McCown
24. D. Carr
25. C. Keenum

Bounce Back Candidates for 2015 in MLB

In 2015 there will be some veteran players who need to bounce back in 2015 in the MLB.

1. Last year Justin Verlander was not good. He started off very good but it was all down hill from there. Verlander whose era was up in the 3's in 2013 sky rocketed in 2014. His velocity and strikeouts were down and so were his innings. In 2013 Verlander struck out 217 hitters , in 2014 just 159. In 2013 Verlander had an era of 3.46 , in 2014 it jumped to 4.54. The Tigers still have David Price but they no longer have Rick Porcello and it is un clear if Max Scherzer will be back. Verlander does not have to be back to the MVP pitcher but he can get back to his 2013 stats.

2. Ryan Zimmerman will benefit from being at first base rather than third or left field. Zimmerman does not have to constantly worry about making a ton of long throws. He played in just 60 games in 2014. He batted 280 with six homers. Zimmerman is still relatively young and when healthy is one of the most impact players around.

3. Josh Hamilton has not been Josh Hamilton since joining the Angels. It appeared he was back last year but a finger injury derailed his season. Hamilton has just 31 home runs in the past two seasons combined. In 2012 Hamilton had 43. Hamilton has always battled injuries but has always put up big stats. The past two years have been a struggle. Hamilton needs to stay on the field to have a bounce back season.

4. Alex Rodriguez is back in 2015. After being suspended for all of 2014 many are not sure what to expect from A-Rod. A-Rod displayed power in 2013 belting 8 homers in 44 games. However another injury derailed his average as it affected his numbers late. Rodriguez did hit well in 2013 and was a huge boost for the Yankees. The Yankees said he will be the primary DH but we have to see how many at bats he gets and how he starts the season.

5. Justin Masterson was absolutely brutal in 2014. His era in 2013 was 3.45 which went to 5.88 in 2014. Masterson is only 29 years old so there is plenty of hope right now that he bounces back. Masterson signed with the Red Sox and he is back in the AL after a brief stint with the Cardinals.

By : Peter Vitella
@realpete13


Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Q & A with TUF winner Eddie "Truck" Gordon

Eddie "Truck" Graham was the middleweight winner of The Ultimate Fighter : Team Edgar vs Team Penn. It is because of the head of this site, Warren Shane Tobin, who reached out to him to see if he would answer questions. So, before I give you the Q's and A's of this fun exciting article, I'd like to sincerely thank the TUF winner for taking the time to answer my questions. Thanks obviously goes out to Shane as well for giving me the chance to do this. Follow both guys on twitter @TruckMMA_UFC and @wstobin2. Here we go!

Question 1 : How has your life changed since winning The Ultimate Fighter?

Eddie Gordon : Life has changed drastically for the better since winning The Ultimate Fighter.

Question 2 : What has it been like juggling a full time job, raising a family, and at the same time, living the life of a contracted UFC fighter?

Eddie Gordon : It was very tough juggling a full time job and fighting at once. I'm giving fighting and  the UFC my all now. Trying to change my family's life for the better.

Question 3 : What was life like growing up for you in Uniondale, New York?

Eddie Gordon : I actually grew up in Freeport. I am a Freeport guy. To me it's the best place on earth. Freeport made me who I am today.

Question 4 : With your MMA experience so far, what has been the hardest fight discipline for you to pick up on and learn?

Eddie Gordon : Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is the hardest style to learn because there's so much that goes into it. Guys who have been training for thirty years are still learning new things. I've got to keep growing with it.

Question 5 : For those who don't know, where did the nickname "Truck" come from ?

Eddie Gordon : The nickname of "Truck" came from my days as a kid playing football with my brother and the older kids from the neighborhood. Running the older kids over earned me the nickname.

Question 6 : How does it feel to be able to train alongside the current UFC Middlweight Champion Chris Weidman and former UFC Welterweight Champion Matt Serra?

Eddie Gordon : I'm lucky to train with the best trainers and teammates in the world. I owe my success to Weidman, Matt, Ray, Eric, and the whole Serralongo team.

Question 7 : In terms of physical toughness, what has been harder on you through experience? Football or MMA?

Eddie Gordon : Football is definitely the harder sport on the body. But, MMA is very mentally tough.

Question 8 : What would be the best piece of advice you'd have to offer someone?

Eddie Gordon : Best advice I can give is to just believe in yourself and work hard. With that you can do everything.

Question 9 : Who has been your toughest opponent to date?

Eddie Gordon : My toughest opponent I'll say is myself. I compete against myself. I want to be the best me possible. Everyone I fight is tough. I don't look for or want easy fights. That's not me.

Question 10 : I've gotta ask you this. How do you feel about CM Punk signing with the UFC? And if you can get the chance to, would you face him?

Eddie Gordon : More power to CM Punk. He has a dream and he is chasing it. If they out me up against him I'm going to go at him like everyone else. No different.

Question 11 : Having fought in different weight classes throughout your career, do you feel the most comfortable and healthy at middleweight? Would you ever consider moving weight classes again while in the UFC?

Eddie Gordon : I like 185 lbs. It's a tough cut for sure. But, I gotta get it done to fight. I'll fight at 205 lbs if the UFC wants me to. I'll fight anywhere.

Question 12 : Finally, just because this has been so much fun for me. How did you find out about the site? Just really curious.

Eddie Gordon : I saw your site pop up on my timeline. Checked it out and fell in love. Thanks for having me.


And with that, I say thank you for giving me the chance to ask you questions. It definitely was a lot of fun to be able to talk to a man who's at the top of the sport. Once again I'd like to thank Shane Tobin for coming to me giving me this chance. It's a dream come true to be able to interview a high level professional athlete. Give him a follow once again @wstobin2. Keep checking out the stuff on the page. It's only going to get bigger. Follow Eddie Gordon on Twitter @TruckMMA_UFC & follow him on his journey to success in the UFC. We will be watching here at The League Sports Blog for sure!

Championship Week 16 Standouts

For a majority of leagues week 16 in the NFL is championship week in fantasy football. So if you had some of these players you were extremely happy.

QB - Many people were not big fans of playing Eli Manning or Philip Rivers this week. Well Philip Rivers threw three interceptions however he led the Chargers down from 21 and threw four touchdowns. He also threw for 356 yards. Despite the three picks he had a big day. Nobody in week 16 was as sharp as Eli Manning. Manning was 25-32. He passed for 391 yards and three touchdowns. Manning was razor sharp and did not make any mistakes. Ryan Tannehill and Russell Wilson also had big weeks at the QB position. Tannehill threw for 396 yards and passed for four touchdowns. Russell Wilson passed for 339 yards and two touchdowns. He also added in a rush td and 88 yards on the ground. Tony Romo also threw four touchdown passes in the route of the Colts.

RB- Marshawn Lynch = best mode. Lynch did not really play the first quarter because of an upset stomach , but he probably made Arizona's fans sick in the end. He rushed up and down the field. Lynch may have had the most impressive run of the season for his second touchdown. Lynch carried just 10 times for a 113 yards and found the end zone twice. Jeremy Hill had another big week as he rushed for 147 yards and a score. Frank Gore also had a huge week as he rushed for 158 yards and a score. Lamar Miller , Matt Asiata , and Reggie Bush also had big weeks.

WR- Odell Beckham once again had a monster week. Beckmann continues to dominate in both standard and PPR leagues. Beckham eight catches for 148 yards and two touchdowns. Beckham is making quite a name for himself and will be off the board quick next year. He has been the best wide receiver of late. Another guy who continues to be great is Jordy Nelson. Nelson had nine catches , 148 yards and a touchdown. Emmanuel Sanders and Riley Copper each caught two touchdowns and Ruben Randle had six catches , 132 yards , and a touchdown.

TE- Antonio Gates and Philip Rivers started off poor but dominated in the second half. Gates had seven grabs , for 92 yards and two scores. Luke Wilson emerged for Seattle catching three passes , two touchdowns , and 139 yards. Zach Ertz was a PPR monster catching fifteen passes for 115 yards.

D/ST - The Packers , Falcons , Bengals , Seahawks , and Bengals all had monster weeks.

K-  Randy Bullock kicked six field goals on a Thursday night football and Sebastian Janikowski kicked four field goals Sunday afternoon.

By Peter Vitella
@realpete13



Early First Base Rankings for Fantasy Baseball

Top 30 1st basement ranks
1. P. Goldschmidt
2. M. Cabrera
3. J. Abreu
4. E. Encarnacion
5. A. Rizzo
6. V. Martinez
7. F. Freeman
8. B. Posey
9. A. Pujols
10. A. Gonzalez
11. J. Votto
12. C. Santana
13 D. Ortiz
14. T. Frazier
15. P. Fielder
16. C. Davis
17. L. Duda
18. A. LaRoche
19. M. Cuddyer
20. M. Trumbo
21. J. Morneau
22. C. Carter
23. M. Adams
24. J. Mauer
25. E. Hosmer
26. R. Howard
27. B. Moss
28. B. Butler
29. K. Morales
30. M. Teixeira


Saturday, December 20, 2014

2015 NFL Mock Draft

             2015 NFL Mock Draft

1.Tampa Bay Buccaneers-Marcus Mariota Quarterback-Oregon:I believe that the Bucs it's time to get a franchise quarterback.They tried to have Josh Freeman a couple years ago and that didn't work and this year they brought in a veteran like Josh Mccown because he played well with Chicago last season in relief to Jay Cutler.Also I don't belief that Mike Glennon is the answer either because he hadn't proven to me that he is the answer to be a franchise Quarterback either.

2.Tennessee Titans- Jameis Winston Quarterback-Florida State University-I believe that Winston could be a good QB in the league if he has a head in the NFL because the NFL is place were you need your head. To be a Good QB you need tools l like Peyton Manning. He has a good head so he is a consistent. Also  the Titans are in desperate need in a franchise QB.

3.Jacksonville Jaguars-Leonard Williams-DE/DT-USC-This guy is a beast on any offensive line even if the Jags need a offensive lineman that would not pass up on a man like this he is the top defensive prospect on my big board.

4.Oakland Raiders-Randy Gregory-DE/OLB-Nebraska-This guy is a raw prospect but can still be a contributor In the weak defensive line or linebacker core of the Raiders. He can play along side of the Raiders first-round draft pick of last year Khalil Mack who had a good last year. They can make a good tandem with Mack and Gregory.This will be a great fit to the Raiders 4-3 base defense right now.

5.New York Jets-Amari Cooper-WR-Alabama-If the Jets don't trade up for the 2 QBs they will probably just settle for a good receiver in the making of Cooper.I believe he will be a good player along side Eric Decker of the Jets and if they keep Percy Harvin in the off-season they will make a great receiving core for whatever Qb they bring in. Cooper is receiver like a A.J. Green or Julio Jones type of explosiveness. He will bring this type of game to the New York offense.

6.Washington Redskins-Ronnie Stanley-OL-Notre Dame-The redskins who have been struggling to protect there Quarterbacks this season will add a great OT in Stanley.He will be a great addition to there pass offense.

7.Atlanta Falcons-Shane Ray-DE/OLB-Missouri-The Falcons have one of the worst defenses in the NFL and are one of the worst teams in sacks per game. Ray is one of the best pass rushers in this draft and this will help this Falcon defense a lot.

8.New York Giants-Brandon Scherff-OT/OG-Iowa- The Giants have a good offense but they were desperate for a good guard for years.They need Scherff so they can improve there run offense and pass offense. He will make a great addition to this line.

9.Chigaco Bears-Landon Collins-DB-Alabama-The Bears need a lot of defensive help but it will be a good choice with there first round draft pick. The packers in last years first round got another Alabama DB with HaHa-Clinton-Dix and that was a good pick and the Bears can get a good playmaker in Collins to.

10.Carolina Panthers- Andrus Peat-OT-Stanford- I believe this will be a good pick because Cam Newton needs time to be a good QB in this league this should be there first priority this offseason which is offensive line.

11.Minnesota Vikings-Shaq Thompson-LB-Washington- He will be a good fit in the 4-3 scheme he will be the weak linebacker along side Anthony Barr at the other linebacker spot.Also he will take Chad Greenway's who they will likely cut because he is due $7 million this offseason.

12.St Louis Rams- Cedric Ogbuehi-OT-Texas A&M-They are young and talented. This by  pick helps because of the Greg Robinson pick. As Ogbuehi likely to play RT for the Rams.

13.Houston Texans- Trae Waynes-CB-Michigan State- I know the Texans are desperate for a QB but there is now real Qb to get at this pick so they will go to plan be in a upgrade with there secondary with a physical Corner like Waynes.

14.Cleveland Browns- Davante Parker-Wr-Louisville- He will be a great guy to go along side Josh  Gordon. He will be a solid Weapon for the Browns Qb next year such as Manziel.

15.SanFrancisco 49ers-Shawn Oakman-DE-Baylor- With all the guys older in that defensive line for the 49ers they probably look for a guy like Oakman who can develop behind there veteran lineman and could be a good guy for there future. Oakman is 6'8 and is very athletic.

16.Miami Dolphins-Bernardrick McKinney- LB- Mississippi State-This guy is good enough to fit there scheme as the dolphins play a base 4-3 defense and could be their SAM line backer.

17.Kansas City Chiefs-La'el Collins-OT-LSU-They will wait to get another reciever in the 2nd round so they will improve there secondary by getting this big mauler from the SEC.They will help there biggest question mark entering the 2015 season.

18.San Diego Chargers-Danny Shelton-DT-Washington-I know they need some more offensive line depth but they also have a need for more defensive line help. If their going  to consistently stop the pass and sack the Qb there gonna need Danny Shelton to improve this part of there defense.

19.Cleveland Browns-Denzel Perryman-LB-Miami(Florida)-After getting a weapon with there first pick they will go to help there line backing corp.Perryman will develop while Karlos Dansby is 33 and is a value player at this age along with Kirksey will help there inside. This will improve the inside of there defense for awhile as Perryman will be there for along time.

20.Philadelphia Eagles-P.J. Williams-CB-Florida State-As you can tell the Eagles need a cornerback after Dez Bryant killing them and scoring 3 touchdowns last week they will obviously need a corner to go deep in the playoffs.
By Evan Grubin
@evangrubin

Manchester City vs Crystal Palace Review

Soccer 

Manchester City vs Crystal Palace Review 

After a long, strenuous battle between Manchester City and Crystal Palace, the Citizens broke through. The first half was quite boring as there weren't many chances and the score ended at a 0-0 tie. When the second half came so did the chances and boy did the chances come!!! The scoring started on a goal that was deflected by a Palace defender off the initial shot by David Silva. The Etihad Stadium went CRAZY with joy. Just minutes later, Silva scored another great goal. This time the goal was not deflected rather it was a beauty. Silva was able to get one on one with the keeper and he scored into the right corner. Silva face City a 2-0 lead and was later subbed off for the super sub Frank Lampard. Yaya Toure was the captain for the day as usual skipper Vincent Company nursed a hamstring injury. Sergio Aguero was also out as he has a knee ligament injury that will keep him out for a couple of months. The final score was 3-0 and the Citizens are tied with Chelsea but the Citizens have a game in hand. Manuel Pellegrini's boys have done their job by staying with Jose Mourinho's Chelsea side. The Citizens play West Bromwich Albion on December 26th. COME ON CITY!!!!!!!

CM Punk in the UFC

There's been a lot of talk about the former WWE champion heading over to the UFC. Most people seem to hope he falls flat on his face and gets knocked out in the first round. Being a die hard fan of his during his run on top in the WWE, I hope this guy goes on to have a good career and live out another dream of his. The guy is a draw and his name brings in the dollars for Lorenzo and Dana White. There's no question about that. It'll draw a whole new group of younger viewers who'll now pay attention to the world of UFC just to watch their favorite wrestler try to succeed. Punk himself has stated he's a little crazy to be doing this, and knows there's a great chance he can fail in front of the whole world. He doesn't have to do this. But, he's showing everybody that if you want to do something then go do it.

He's not a young guy in the world of sports. He's already 36 years old and is pretty beat up from his time in professional wrestling. Will he be a bigger draw to the UFC than Brock Lesnar? We'll have to wait to see the numbers for themselves. Due to the situation, it may very well be the biggest money draw in the UFC of all time. Walking out on the WWE after going through hell for years just to work for a competitor is big news. There is no other wrestling company that is of worthy competition. So, the WWE competes with the likes of the NFL, NBA, UFC, and a whole lot of other television programs. The UFC needed a star name to replace the missing Anderson Silva and George St. Pierre. They've got it now once again.

Unlike Brock, Punk is not exactly a great athlete. They threw Brock in there because of the freak athletic nature he possessed. Being the NCAA champion and All American was an amazing background to possess. He almost made the Minnesota Vikings after only going as far as high school football in that sport. He was one of those once in a generation athletes. Brock has all the intangibles of a phenomenal athlete. There's also an outcry over Punk not having any prior experience. The guy can't afford to go through many fights before stepping up in huge UFC. It's to late to be doing it at 36 years old. So, Dana White said he would be fighting somebody who'll also debut or have one to two fights under their belt. I would call it a fight by record system. Put him in there with a new guy with not a lot of experience. Depending on how Punk handles it, he can keep fighting guys with better records as he goes along. Many guys have challenged Punk to fight him, which was to be expected because of who he is. It's the smart thing to do. Challenge the new guy with a big brand cause that's where the big money is.

Punk went through the media rounds this past Wednesday and Thursday. After listening to him on the Boomer and Carton show, he stated that although he's been training he still has to find a set camp. Many places have offered to train him, including the legendary trainer Greg Jackson. Although he wasn't a professional himself, the guy has trained GSP, Jon Jones, and Rashad Evans to name a few. You can't deny that the guy's got some tricks up his sleeve when it comes to creating champions. If I was Punk, I would relocate to his gym to get the best in top quality training possible. He's had on and off training with the Gracie family in California due to his hectic wrestling schedule. He needs to develop his strike game, having already said it's his weakest link in his game.

Punk's first fight won't be for another minimum six months. I would lean more over towards the fall. He's going to need at least six months to develop the skills of each fighting style to be more well rounded. Plus, he's going to need another two to three months to go through another camp for conditioning purposes. Being a die hard Punk fan ever since his first moment in WWE's version of ECW, I'm pulling for the guy. This can be an inspirational story for a lot of us because this guy could've just taken his ball and went home to his couch. But, he's got other things he wants to pursue. You can never hate on an individual for wanting to do what they love. However, one thing's for certain. Win, lose, or draw the guy is going to make them millions of dollars and be the new star of the promotion that they need. At the end of the day it's entertainment, and it's also a business. The more PPV buys, the more money the UFC will make. That's all that matters in the end. CM Punk is main eventing his debut fight and people will be watching. There's no doubt about that.

The Fight of our Lives?

We may finally witness the dream match. Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr may finally battle. Mayweather said he wanted to finally have the fight and  Pacquiao said lets do it. There are talks that the fight can happen on May 2nd , but of course there are many skeptical of this actually happening. If it were to happen this would be the biggest fight in years. It would produce crazy amounts of money and publicity. No other fighting industry can produce a fight like this. This is the most anticipated fight we have seen in a long time. Manny is 57-5-2 in his career. Mayweather is 47-0-0. He has 26 knockouts and Pacq has 38 knockouts. Manny always seemed to be the more violent puncher who looks for the knockout. Mayweather is the more tactical and the smarter fighter who can beat you in various ways. Both fighters won their last fight. It is unclear if boxings two biggest stars will clash on May 2nd , but it looks like it can eventually happen. Which is good news for any sports fan.
By Peter Vitella
@realpete13


Friday, December 19, 2014

Why Kris Medlen can replace James Shields if healthy

The Royals will not be able to retain James Shields. You have to expect Shields to sign a deal for at least four years. Shields will make probably $15 million or more in some of those seasons. The Royals never are able to retain these players. The Royals made the most underrated signing of the offseason , they signed Kris Medlen to a two year deal with $8.5 million guaranteed. He can make even more through incentives. Medlen is a similar pitcher to Shields , he is gritty and crafty on the mound. The main difference between Medlen and Shields has been Shields always logs 200 innings and Medlen seems to always have an injury. Medlen has had Tommy John Surgery twice in his career and the Royals do not expect him to make an impact until the second half. When Medlen returns he can be just as effective as Shields or if he is anything like 2012 and 2013 more effective. In 2012 Medlen made 12 starts. He pitched 138 innings and had a 1.57 era in those appearances in his first season off of Tommy John Surgery. His whip was an excellent 0.91. In 2013 Medlen pitched to 3.11 era and went 15-12. Medlen had 157 strikeouts and walked just 47 hitters. Medlen is an extremely efficient arm as he does not walk many batters. The main issue for Medlen is his injury concerns. James Shields of course has been the more proven player but for the money this signing can get the Royals back to the postseason. Shields numbers have been very good as well. He will get a big deal because he is extremely effective and durable. Shields had a 14-8 record , 3.21 era , 180 strikeouts , 44 walks , and he pitched 227 innings. When Medlen returns he will not be able to log innings like Shields but may be able to pitch to the same era and whip but perhaps even lower. If all goes right in the deal the Royals will benefit most from the deal in the second half of 2015 and into 2016. When healthy during 2012 and 2013 Kris Medlen has been just as good if not better than Shields. There are no guarantees what he will do when he returns but if he can return , he can be just as good as Shields. The Royals do not even need him to be as good as Shields , they just need him to pitch effectively and be healthy.
By Peter Vitella
@realpete13

Thursday, December 18, 2014

Rajon Rondo Trade

Update- It appears that the Celtics and Rajon Rondo are ready to move on from each other. The Celtics will finally trade Rondo. The Mavericks look like they will land Rondo sooner rather than later. Sooner could be tonight as the deal is done in principle. For a while now the Celtics seemed like they were willing to trade Rondo but now the deal should come together tonight. Of course physicals have to be taken and everything has to be made official.
Here is what Espn had to say.
BREAKING: Celtics agree in principle to deal sending Rajon Rondo to Dallas for Wright, Nelson, Crowder & 2 picks. (via@ESPNSteinLine)

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Fantasy Baseball Early Catcher Ranks

These are some early fantasy baseball catcher rankings that I will be constantly updating. Some of our other writers will be doing the same.

Top 30 catchers
1. B. Posey
2. C. Santana
3. J. Lucroy
4. D. Mesoraco
5. B. McCann
6. S. Perez
7. R. Martin
8. Y. Molina
9. Y. Gomes
10. W. Ramos
11. M. Wieters
12. E. Gattis
13. W. Rosario
14. Y. Grandal
15. T. d'Arnaud
16. J. Castro
17. M. Zunino
18. D. Norris
19. W. Castillo
20. C. Ianneta
21. J. Jaso
22. M. McKenry
23. D. Navarro
24. A. Avila
25. C. Ruiz
26. J. Saltamacchia
27. J. Pinto
28. C. Bethancourt
29. C. Vasquez
30. R. Rivera

The Giants and What Can Be in 2015

The Giants can be Back in 2015

The New York Football Giants have not been a good football team at all this season. We have witnessed flashes of what they can be but they have never been able to put everything together in one game. However the Giants have something they can look forward to and that is Odell Beckham Jr. Beckham is a first year receiver and is only bound to improve. Beckham is essentially the only weapon in the Giants  offense as of now. The line is not good , the running game has battled injuries and been up and down and the other receivers have been extremely quiet. The one constant in the offense is Eli Manning. Manning said that Beckham must stay humble and he will only get better. He also said there is room to improve in the new offensive system. It is not surprising that Eli Manning loves throwing the ball to Odell. Manning and Beckham have connected for 9 touchdowns for 972 yards through 10 games. The Giants should not change the offensive coordinator and I believe they should give Tom Coughlin one more shot at getting this team right. The Giants have a high draft pick and must spend it on an offensive linemen. We have seen in the past what Eli Manning does when he is protected and we have seen it this year. Look how the Cowboys drafting Zach Martin has done for them and Tony Romo. When Manning has been protected he has been excellent. Manning and Beckham can be a great duo for the next few years. If the Giants are smart they will get the most out of Eli and extend him so he has at least 3 more seasons. Next year Manning will have both Victor Cruz and Odell Beckham together and hopefully a full season of Rashad Jennings. I think we learned that Victor Cruz is not a receiver who can do it all on his own but he can have the numbers like he had the Super Bowl season with Beckham at his side. The Giants hope that Andre Williams and Larry Donnell can fully mature and they still have Ruben Randle who is still working on it. Just the thought of Manning having both Cruz and Beckham to throw to is a nice one. Things can be looking up for the Giants if they don't make a drastic move. They need to build on the offensive line and the defense. Also they can bring in a veteran receiver for cheap as a 3 or a 4 along the lines of Wes Welker cheap or a reunion with Hakeem Nicks just for depth. The main thing the Giants should do is not make drastic changes. It seems the owners want Eli Manning to finish his career in New York. Ben Mcadoo has done a pretty good job and this offensive will only improve in its second year. Take a look at Eli Manning. Last year in the Giants tired system Manning threw just 18 touchdowns and 27 interceptions. He completed just 57% of his passes. Of course Manning's season can't just be blamed on the system as he had no help and played poor. This year Manning has already thrown 26 touchdown passes and even rushed for another. He has completed 63%. The Giants may win fewer or the same games as last year but they are actually improving whether people see it or not. The Giants can win the East next year , if they make the right moves the improvement will happen soon.
By Peter Vitella
@realpete13


Tuesday, December 16, 2014

NFL Week 15 Recap

NFL Week 15 Recap

The Patriots , Broncos , and Colts all locked up their divisions. The AFC North still is undecided and it will come down to the Bengals , Ravens , and Steelers. All three teams won their games this week. The Bengals have the lead because rather than being 9-5 like the Steelers and Ravens they are 9-4-1. This can be an advantage for them with two games to go despite the tuffest schedule. The Ravens play the Texans ,the Steelers play the Chiefs , and the Bengals have the Broncos. All the teams have tuff match ups. In week 17 the Bengals and Steelers play. The Ravens play the Browns. Then we have the wild cards. The Steelers and Ravens hold those spots but the Chargers , Chiefs , and Bills are all just one game back.
              

In the NFC the Cowboys had a huge win over the Eagles to take the lead in the NFC East. The Saint had a needed win on Monday to take control over the NFC South and the Lions leap frogged the Packers. Right now the Packers and Seahawks hold the wild card spots. The Falcons and Panthers are still alive in the South. As are the Eagles in the east and the wild card race. The Cardinals won and hold a slim division lead over the Seahawks. The Cardinals are in a tuff spot as their first and second String QB's are both out. Right now the Eagles are on the outside looking in with 9 wins. 
By Peter Vitella , @realpete13

Fantasy Standouts In Week 15

NFL Week 15 Fantasy Football Standouts

QB - Eli Manning carved up the Washington Redskins on Sunday at home. Manning threw for 250 yards and tossed 3 touchdowns , all to Odell Beckham. Manning was also a precise 23-34.

RB - Jeremy Hill ran for 148 yards. He also found the end zone twice. Hill appears to have taken over the job as the main rusher with the Bengals.

Wr- Odell Beckham caught 3 touchdowns , totaled 143 yards and had 12 catches on 15 targets. He was the best fantasy player this week , especially in PPR. However his division mate needs a shout out also. Dez Bryant also caught 3 touchdown passes. Bryant had 6 grabs for 114 yards in a huge game for the Cowboys. Bryant's efforts led the Cowboys over the Eagles , and currently has them in first place.

TE - Rob Gronkowski didn't have a ton of catches but he still had 96 yards and a touchdown. He did this all on 3 catches. He is a stud , the best in the game at his position. Greg Olsen was a PPR monster but had a productive day in all formats. Olsen was the higher scorer in PPR as he had 10 catches on 110 yards.

D/St - The Patriots had a blocked punt for a touchdown. They also had 2 interceptions. They also had 4 sacks. They also only gave up 13 points. They have a great matchup in week 16 against the Jets.

K- Conor Barth was 5-5 on field goals and added an extra point.


By Peter Vitella
@realpete13

Saturday, December 13, 2014

The Winter Meetings

A Recap of Some Recent MLB Moves

Matt Kemp trade to the Padres from the Dodgers , for Yasmani Grandal.

The Dodgers trade Dee Gordon and Dan Haren to the Marlins for prospect Andrew Heaney. The Dodgers then traded Andrew Heaney to the Angels for Howie Kendrick.

The White Sox signed David Robertson to a 4 year, $46 million deal.

Jon Lester signed a six year $155 million deal with the Cubs

The Reds trade Matt Latos to the Marlins for prospects.

The Red Sox trade Yoenis Cespedes to the Tigers for Rick Porcello.

The A's trade Jeff Samardzija to the White Sox for some prospects.

Nelson Cruz signed a four year $57 million deal with the Mariners.


Thursday, December 11, 2014

Thursdays NFL Week 15 Preview

Week 15 Games to Watch

Cardinals vs Rams - The Rams defense has been the best in football the past two weeks. They have had back to back shutouts. In their last two the Rams  have scored 77 points and gave up none. The Rams have been football's spoiler this year as they have beat the Seahawks , 49ers , and Broncos. If the Rams can score 17 points I think they win this game. If the Cardinals score more than 17 I think the Cardinals win. I just love the way this team is looking. I think the Rams defense buckles down and Jared Cook will find the end zone. I also think Tre Mason  will do enough on the ground. The Cardinals will make the playoffs but I think they lose this week.
Rams 17-14

Steelers vs Falcons  - Somebody has to win the NFC South right? I watched Matt Ryan have a field day against the Packers defense in the snow on the road. I think Ryan will have another big day against the Steelers at home. The key is if Julio Jones plays. Jones had over 250 receiving yards against the Packers. The Steelers defense has give up an average of 26 points per game over the three. This will be a shoot out. Both QB's will have a big day. I think the Falcons get the win here.        
Falcons 34-27
                              
            
                                    


Broncos vs Chargers -  The Broncos have not looked like themselves of late. They won thanks to a great game by CJ Anderson. Anderson has brought the run game to the Broncos team. I think this will open up the passing game for Peyton Manning to find Demaryius Thomas. Manning has looked terrible over his past two but I think he will be fine. The Chargers need this win and I think they will get it. I think Antonio Gates needs to have a big game for the Chargers to win. This game has a similar feel to the Chargers win over Denver from last year.
Chargers 31-28
   

Cowboys vs Eagles - Different building same result. I think the Eagles will win this game. I picked the Cowboys the last time but the Eagles impressed me. The Eagles will bounce back from a loss. 

Other game picks
Packers
Browns
Colts
Chiefs
Patriots
Panthers
Giants
Ravens
Lions
Titans
Seahawks
Saints


Wednesday, December 10, 2014

The Rebirth of Rick Nash

The Rebirth of Rick Nash 

What a difference a year makes! Absent in most of the playoffs, Rick Nash struggled to do anything productive whether it be at even strength or on the power play. During the Stanley cup final, Nash was benched on the power play but he did not let this get him down. Instead this motivated him. 

Coming into the preseason it had been reported that Nash had been working very hard to improve his game. Nash had added muscle in order to be stronger after getting bullied in the playoffs, and he lost weight in order to move faster. It seems as if Nash has reacquired the scoring touch the Rangers were looking for, as he left Columbus in a blockbuster trade in 2012. 

In his last season in Columbus, Nash tallied 30 goals and 29 assists. This was a mediocre season for Nash, but those stats are amazing for the average NHL player. In his first season on 7th Avenue, Nash scored 21 goals and 21 points in a lockout shortened season. Though these numbers were impressive, the Rangers wanted the player who once scored 41 goals and was one of the top players in the NHL. Nash's playoff stats were troubling, as he only tallied 3 goals. This made Nash a part of trade speculation and possible demotion. 

Obviously, Nash used this negativity as fuel because he has come out on fire in the early portion of the 2014 season. Nash has scored 18 goals and dished out 10 assists, which puts him near the top of the team. Nash has started to look like his usual dominant self, but the Rangers have subsequently struggled as a team. Nash is doing his part but the team is not carrying its weight. 

Rick Nash is having a coming out party and Ranger fans are ecstatic about it. They do wish that the team would perform better, but that will come as the season progresses. Nash is a key cornerstone who will help the development of young players such as Chris Kreider and JT Miller. Nash will be considered for the Hart Trophy, but Nash really wants the elusive Stanley Cup Championship.

Early Fantasy Baseball Starting Pitcher Ranks

Pitcher ranks top 65
1. C.Kershaw
2. F.Hernandez
3. M.Scherzer
4. C. Kluber
5. M. Bumgardner
6. C. Sale
7. A. Wainwright
8. D. Price
9. S. Strasburg
10. M. Harvey
11. Z. Grenkie
12. J. Cueto
13. C. Hamels
14. J. Lester
15. Y. Darvish
16. J. Zimmerman
17. A. Cobb
18. G. Richards
19. J. Shields
20. H.Ryu
21. J. Weaver
22. M. Tanaka
23. J. Tehran
24. S. Grey
25. J. deGrom
26. G. Cole
27. J. Samardzija
28. T. Ross
29. J. Fernandez
30. D. Fister
31. M. Latos
32. S. Kazmir
33. L. Lynn
34. M. Wacha
35. P. Hughes
36. M. Shoemaker
37. Z. Wheeler
38. Y. Ventura
39. W. Peralta
40. M. Stroman
41. M. Pineda
42. H. Bailey
43. J. Arrieta
44. A. Cashner
45.  A. Sanchez
46. C. Lee
47. D. Keuchel
48. C. McHugh
49. J. Paxton
50. G. Gonzalez
51. C. Lee
52. J. Quintana
53. Y. Gallardo
54. J. Verlander
55. K. Loshe
56. J. Hammel
57. I. Nova
58. I. Kennedy
59. N.  Syndergaard
60. C. Carrasco
61. M. Leake
62. C. Tillman
63. D. Smyly
64. J. Odorizzi
65. M. Minor

These are early Fantasy baseball starting pitcher ranks for the 2015 season. These are my rankings so far. They will be updated later in time.
By: Joseph Vitella

Yankees Winter Plan

What do the Yankees do this winter?

So far the Yankees have been relatively quiet this winter. The Yankees traded for Didi Gregorius , to be Derek Jeter's replacement at shortstop. We are not sure if Didi will be the everyday shortstop or if he will platoon with Brendan Ryan. The Yankees were reportedly rumored to be in on Jon Lester but the rumors appeared to be just rumors and he signed with the Cubs. Now today we have heard some rumors that the Yankees might be looking into signing Max Scherzer. There is no reason to buy into this besides the fact that this is the Yankees. Scherzer should make at least $180 million dollars based on what we have seen pitchers get recently. The Yankees did sign left handed reliever Andrew Miller to a four year deal. However they lost last years closer David Robertson to the WhiteSox. The Yankees have been quiet but I doubt that they will not do anything. A few moves have to come right ? Well here is some stuff to consider ....

Replacing Derek Jeter is no easy job. For anybody. I am not surprised that they plan on going with Didi and Ryan as the first set of replacements. Unless Didi proves otherwise this is not the long term answer. The Yankees are not going to make up for the loss of Derek Jeter's leadership and presence. However they just need someone to play shortstop for 2015. No one is going to replace Jeter so for the time being if you do not like the market or the players on it stay with this route. Either way the Yankee fans will be hard on Jeter's replacement if he does not produce.

He is back! You know who I am talking about. The Lightening- Rod. Alex Rodriguez is back in baseball. So far the Yankees said they would emphasize re-signing Chase Headley , they haven't. It appears they still may get him if he stays in the $40 million range. I think the Yanks should resign him or at least sign a corner infielder. I think A-Rod will produce for them. Especially If he is healthy. In 2013 he played 44 games and many of them he was banged up. A-Rod will best serve the Yanks at the DH position predominately. If he plays some third it will not kill him but he will be more productive as the DH. Say what you want about Alex Rodriguez but he knows how to hit and knows
the game of baseball. If you ever played this game you know that. You understand the way he affects the lineup and what he brings to the clubhouse. In 2013 when he returned not only did he hit 8 homers but he improved the lineup around him. Yankee announcer Michael Kay said it himself , no matter what it appears or is reported the truth is Alex has an excellent relationship with his. teammates. The Yankees can't solely rely on a 39 year old third basemen who missed all of 2014. Bottom line is the veterans will be needed in 2015.

The big question once again for the Yankees will be age and health. The Yankees will need their veteran players to produce. Carlos Beltran , Mark Teixeira , and Brian McCann all need to have better seasons. The Yankees also need Michael Pineda to pitch a full year. We saw what he can do in a full season. The Yankees need to hope Mashahiro Tanaka is healed and ready to go. If he is they have one of baseball'a best. The Yankees also have Ivan Nova coming back to the rotation. I really think Nova can be huge for them if he pitches anything like he did in 2013. Of course whatever you get from CC
Sabathia is just a bonus. He might bounce back or his career might just be over. The Yankees in my
opinion need to make some moves. It would be nice for them to land a Scherzer or a Shields but if they don't they still can make some smart moves to better the club. I think if they lose Headley they would be smart to resign Stephen Drew. Drew was horrid last year but regardless of his bat he can play third , short , and second. He brings needed depth , and there is no way he can hit that bad. Then there is Brandon McCarthy. He probably will not pitch as good as he did last year but I like what he
brings. This Yankee team is going to be hard to predict. They can finish first or dead last. Let's see where they go now.


By : Peter. Vitella
@realpete13