SEAN ROMAN ON: Texas Hold 'Em

Quick Question to ponder:
Has Texas Hold ’em become a traditional American sport?

Before you take on an elitist position and get set to defend the superiority of millionaire athletes you have NOTHING in common with -- give my defense of poker as a sport a few seconds of consideration.

First, making it to the NBA, NHL, etc., is really a statistical anomaly. Consequently, the reason I most want to make the case for poker is that it can be the sport of the common man.
With Poker, if any of us regular-folk actually desire to be part of a Big Time Sporting event, Texas Hold ‘em is our best shot.

Not yet buying in?
Well, It is quite notable that ESPN 2 presently reruns the World Series of Poker (which finished in early November) more than the repeats of any other event. Professional broadcasters provide great enthusiasm, not when catches are made, nor when punches are landed, but rather when playing cards hit the green felt.

Further, at the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas, large crowds are on hand to cheer what can only be described as anti-gladiators. The crowds who watch live poker certainly believe they are at some type of sporting event; as the spectator’s gallery is filled with men wearing their some version of their local home team’s sports regalia.

I want to recount a highlight of the World Series of Poker that made me look at it in a new light.

In an episode when the competitors were approaching the final table of nine, the spotlight focused on a portly American player, Matt Affleck, 23, who is apparently quite well-known.
Affleck was involved in a BIG hand against Canadian, Josh Duhamel, who seemed to have the personality of a bar of soap.

Affleck was the leader in poker chips (or points) and he clearly held a desire to be at that Final Table akin to how Lebron wants to get back to the Finals. In this particular hand,
Matt Affleck was dealt the most powerful opening hand in Texas Hold ‘em – two Aces.
His opponent, Josh Duhamel, received two Jacks, which is quite a strong hand in its own right.

At this point, the chances of Josh winning were very slim. The statisticians calculated that the American had an 81% chance of winning at this point. Big bets were made by both players, indicating both had a large hand and the result would determine which would be in good shape to get to the Final Table.

The dealer flopped the next set of cards (three in total) and more betting took place. Since there were no aces or jacks, Affleck still held a terrific chance of winning. When the next card (called the “Turn”) hit the table, Affleck made his move and declared that he was “All in.”

At this point there is one more card to come, and now the American had virtually an 80% chance of winning the hand. Josh Duhamel made the call with his pocket Jacks and finally saw what he was up against.

However, on the flip of the final card (called the “River”), Josh received a one of the few cards that allowed him to win this hand, in this case completing a straight. Upon seeing the final card (an "8), Affleck’s eyes opened wide, as if he had been punched in the gut.

Affleck was out of the game, his dream crushed. His lips fluttered, he was red-faced and welled up. When he first left the card room, he hurled something on the floor. He then appeared to cry against the wall of the Rio Hotel. However, in taking 15th place, Affleck took home just north of $500,000.

Then Matt came back in the card room to give a proper good-bye. He made a showing of respect, composure, and maturity. As a footnote, Josh Duhamel went on to win the tournament.

There was drama in what happened. Even more, Affleck was actually able to create a moment of pathos. It was during this hand that I concluded that Poker is now a traditional American
sport.

SEAN ROMAN ON: BOXING

101 years ago, heavyweight champion, Jack Johnson (209lbs), knocked out great middleweight Stanley Ketchel (160 lbs) in the 12th round of their infamous bout. There is great video footage of this fight available should you ever want to take a peek; and free clips are on YouTube.

It may have been in this 100 year old fight that the popular boxing phrase was coined:

“A good small man just does not beat a good big man.” Nevertheless, there is one modern fighter, Fillipino Icon, Manny Pacquiao, that just may defy all boxing maxims that would attempt to limit him. Manny Pacquiao is simply a once in a generation athlete. At this point, if Manny lumped-up Vitali Klitschko, I would only be moderately surprised.

Two years ago, Manny beat Oscar De La Hoya into retirement after eight one sided rounds. The most marketable boxer of the modern era finished his career on his stool. Before that fight, many observers, including myself, thought Pacquiao was fighting too far above his natural weight limit.

Last year, Pacquiao took on another heavier superstar, Miguel Cotto, at 145 pounds (a catch-weight). The effort was completely one sided, with Pacquiao knocking his opponent down in rounds three and four before the referee stepped during the final round. It is paradoxical to recall that Cotto showed a lot of heart in this fight, when he was humbled by a man he should have bullied.

Most recently, Manny Pacquiao fought Antonio Margarito in the Super Welterweight Division, at a catchweight of 150 pounds. On the day of the fight, Pacquiao weighed 148 and Margarito weighed 165 pounds. The difference in size was glaring and I thought that this time, Pacquiao had surely bitten off more than he could chew.

However, once that bell rang, Manny Pacquiao became that image a few of us still hold of Mike Tyson, when he was demolishing taller and heavier opposition. Manny used superior hand speed, lateral movement, and raw punching power to punish Margarito.

In the eleventh round, in a showing of tremendous sportsmanship, Pacquiao held up his punches and looked to the referee to call a halt to the contest. The fight was not called and the result was that Margarito suffered an orbital bone fracture and needed to undergo an emergency surgical procedure. Boxing is really one hell of a way to make a living.

I remember a few years ago, Felix Trinidad, attempted a comeback and faced off against Roy Jones, Jr. Felix simply could not overcome the size difference. This was the way the Pacquiao-Margarito fight was supposed to go.

How Manny can step into the ring against opponents so naturally bigger and beat them pillar to post, is a feat that can not be overstated. It makes Manny Pacquiao a true legend of the game.

SEAN ROMAN ON: Ohio - State Michigan - Recent History

Over the 2010 college football season the Big Ten Conference has produced three teams that can beat any team in the country. Nevertheless, I think the story of last decade in the Big Ten is Ohio State’s dominance in “The Game.”

Since Jim Tressel took over in 2001, he has compiled an outstanding 8-1 record against the Wolverines. The most recent installment left Michigan crushed 37-7.

Let it not be forgotten, as we head into endless BCS banter, that Rich Rodriguez has lost three straight games to Ohio State. While Ohio State’s dominance is likely to continue for the foreseeable future, it will likely not be against Rodriquez.

Michigan fans are demanding a coach akin to Ohio State Coach Jim Tressel, who understands the nature and power of this rivalry. Michigan will be looking for such a person this offseason.

It is largely forgotten outside of the state of Ohio, but when Tressel was announced as the new coach, he gave the perfect speech for the moment. He addressed the student body on a cold January day, during halftime of a basketball game against…..imaginary drum roll please…..the Michigan Wolverines.

Tressel told the capacity crowd: “I can assure you that you will be proud of our young people, in the classroom, in the community, and most especially in 310 days in Ann Arbor, Michigan on the football field.”

And yes….Ohio State won the 2001 contest by holding off a furious Michigan comeback attempt. This was Ohio State’s first win in Ann Arbor since 1987 -- which was the year that a Simpsons cartoon first appeared on the Tracy Ullman Show.

At present, the officials who make the important decisions at Michigan are refusing to speculate on their coach’s future. Instead they say, with a collective poker face, that they are waiting until after the bowl season to make their decision, as they “evaluate” Rodriguez’s body of work.

Let me briefly do that for the high and mighty in the ivory towers at Michigan. The bottom line is, three straight losses to Ohio State can not be countenanced. Just as bad is that Rich’s 2008 team finished with the worst record in program history, 3-9

Conversely, a quick look back at Tressel’s resume highlights why his tenure appears safe at Ohio State at least until…perhaps…..the next ice age. In 2002, Ohio State beat Michigan again in a 14-9 game decided on the final play – an interception in the end zone by Will Allen. If memory serves correct, the Buckeyes then went on to beat Miami in a game much less significant.

In 2003, Tressel suffered his only loss to the Wolverines (then led by Lloyd Carr), 35-21. After two more Ohio State victories in 2004 and 2005, the teams met in 2006 when they were universally ranked #1 (Ohio State) and #2 (Michigan). This game lived up to its billing as “The Game of the Century,” with Ohio State winning 42-39.

This would have been the BCS’s one real chance to make an Ohio State – Michigan game a reality in the nation’s premiere college football game. As you should know, Ohio State and Michigan usually play the Saturday before Thanksgiving in their final regular season game. The 2006 game was so fierce and tight, that college football fans lost out on the greatest chance they would ever have for the rematch of the ages.

The following year, 2007, came one of Michigan’s all time low points. The Wolverines, ranked at #5, lost to Appalachian State, 34-32. That loss probably led to Lloyd Carr leaving at the end of the season, and Michigan trying to go in a different direction offensively with Rich-Rod.

If Michigan does not get back to basics, I think that we just may be a mere 13 years from Ohio State tying Michigan in their head to head battle. As it stands now, Michigan is leading the series 57-44, with 6 ties.

SEAN ROMAN on College Football

This past weekend was my favorite of the entire college football season because of one rivalry game. On Black Friday, the Iron Bowl took place, which was the 75th meeting between the Auburn Tigers and the Alabama Crimson Tide.

I am from College Point, Queens County, where there was very little college football interest on my neighborhood block. Instead, there was usually talk of the Yankees, Mets, Knicks and NY Football Giants. How I developed an affinity for Auburn is a Christmas themed story that I will briefly share.

My mother was a once a Radio City Music Hall Rockette, who performed in the Christmas Show for more than a decade. During my regular trips to Radio City, I developed a relationship with a wonderful family from Jasper, Alabama – the Lathems.

A few of the younger members of the Lathem clan, Stacy and Bradley, were cast as children in the show. Stacy and Brad performed in such numbers as: the "Nutcracker", the "Christmas Carole" skit, and the "Nativity" scene. I just loved their Southern accents as well as everything else about them.

The Lathems were always kind enough to hang out with me when I visited. Linda Lathem was my unofficial baby sitter for many a Christmas season and kept me out of a lot of trouble.

The Lathems were almost all big Alabama Crimson Tide fans. However, Bradley Lathem (closest in age to me) liked the Auburn Tigers, likely because of the popularity of Auburn graduate Bo Jackson. By reason of Auburn being more of the “the underdog team,” as part of the Alabama in-state rivalry, I adopted them as my college team and followed them each year. Come to think of it I should have applied to school there!

Years later Bradley actually switched his allegience to the Tide. However, as illustrated below, I have remained quite loyal to the Tigers. My affinity for Auburn actually played out in a funny way quite recently.

One day last week (before the Iron Bowl) I was sitting in on a radio talk show that my good friend Steven Covino hosts on Sirius Satellite radio. As I was leaving, I noticed that Neil Cavuto of Fox News was doing his Thanksgiving themed show in the mid-40 degree weather right from the New York City sidewalk. I hung around where Mr. Cavuto was doing his stand-up broadcast and was in the background of the camera shot. I was actually shown quite a bit on TV and was also interviewed.

During one of the points where Mr. Cavuto was speaking to the bystanders who were next to me, kind of as a goof, I yelled: “Go Auburn,” in the direction of the camera. Other people in the crowd must have been Crimson Tide fans because they started yelling, “Roll Tide.”

Then other people in the throng started yelling “War Eagle,” which is the battle cry for Auburn. Suddenly an Alabama-Auburn shouting contest developed on 6^th Avenue and Neil Cavuto appeared quite confused as he went to a break.

The police even came over to see what was the matter. Instead of explaining what I started, I quickly scooted. As you can imagine, I was quite thrilled with how Auburn made their comeback at Alabama this past weekend. Alabama had won 20 straight home games and was the team that I expected to steam roll through this season.

However, Auburn with its Heisman front runner, QB Cam Newtown, staged an incredible comeback to win 28-27 and they are now poised for a long overdue National Championship.

SEAN ROMAN - ON BOXING

On an unseasonably warm November night this past Saturday in Atlantic City, Sergio Martinez scored a devastating knock out of Paul Williams in their middleweight rematch.

The end came in the second round with a crushing left hook to the jaw that stunned Williams as if he had been shocked with a taser.

As William's weight took him forward, he toppled to the canvas like a statue knocked off its block. I almost expected The Punisher to crumble into small pieces on impact.

As soon as Williams started going down, I realized the referee could have stopped the fight and called in the medical team.

This was not the result anyone expected after their competitive Fight of the Year Candidate in 2009, which WIlliams won by decision.

It was 7 seconds into the count that the referee waived his arms and Williams received the medical attention he needed.

As Williams lay motionless, Martinez was on someone's shoulders being paraded around like a silly crown, while compelling the crowd to shout "Argentina, Argentina." However, most of the fans were there to cheer on Williams.

While it was a great result for Martinez, his joy was not easy to share in the moments when you did not know how seriously Williams was hurt.

The punch that ended the fight was a true Knockout.

It was not a situation where a competitor could not continue and it was not a situation where a fighter couldn't beat the count. It was so fierce that Williams just may have had "the fight" knocked out of him in Atlantic City.

This was the first time William suffered any sort of stoppage.

It will surely have Williams' questioning his ability to be part of this brutal sport.

Martinez retained his WBC middleweight title and would like a shot and the financial reward of facing the smaller sensations of Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather.

However, Martinez would likely have to fight two weight divisions down to make a Pacquiao fight worth considering.

Nothing Mayweather saw from Martinez is likely to scare him, and Mayweather just may opt to face Martinez instead of Pacquiao, who will not submit to the drug testing Mayweather demands.

The fight was promoted by Lou DiBella, who said of the knockout blow, "that punch would have knocked out anyone on Earth."

Terence Winter, the creator of Boardwalk Empire, the HBO series that pays tribute to Atlantic City in the Prohibition Era, was present at the fight. Winky Wright, Burt Sugar, and Kermit Citron, were also on hand.

How do I thank thee? Let me count the ways?

I am The Rabbi, video editor of On The Sportslines.

Well, well, well. Thanksgiving is only 9 days away, and now it's time to make a list. This list will span all sports as I give a quick look of what I am thankful for as the holidays near.

I am thankful for The AFC East. The division is the only one (outside of the NFC South) that provides excitement in their top 2 teams. The New England Patriots are doing it with surprising power. They have provided offensive fireworks versus the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers (are you kidding me?) They have a team that doesn't like they've missed an offensive beat with the subtraction of Randy Moss. Rob Gronkowski with 3 TD's? Are you kidding me? Maybe Tom Brady should be an MVP candidate. But the New York Jets are surprisingly keeping it up. They won back to back games on the road, in the most unbelievable way possible. The Jets though know they can't be like this all along, so I hope they raise their game once they start their hell run Dec 6th at New England. Lucky for us, the Jets and Pats will both have ELEVEN days for that matchup. Get real thankful, as both teams could be 9-2 then, and one of them should be at least 8-3.

I am thankful for Mike Vick. OK, the NFL is, but as a Giant fan I am surely not. The Redskins got lit up like a Christmas tree. 6 TOTAL TD'S for Mike Vick! Are you serious? The Mike Vick that got to the playoffs in the 2002 and 2004 seasons was not as dangerous as this one in 2010. It seems like the time away made him stronger, and aware of how much he needed to develop a passing game. Add the weapons in Philadelphia, and this is the MVP. It's been that kind of a season where someone who's missed about a quarter of the season deserves a chance at the MVP award.

I am thankful for the comedy the NFLPA is bringing me with their counteroffer to the 18 game season the owners want. Larger salary? I can deal with that. But, to essentially want another bye week and then decide that they want to get rid of offseason workouts? Please. You're almost asking for the loudest no possible. The NFL is trying to find everyway to getting their 2011 season delayed or canceled via strike, and with their "negotiating tactics", they are on their way.

I will be very thankful when this Cam Newton situation is over. Reports of being offered money to go to many different colleges, cheating while at Florida, being payed money to play...yeah, I would say Cam Newton is in trouble. Auburn is letting Cam play this out until the NCAA says otherwise, but Tiger fans must be crying. Remember the two other undefeated seasons of 1993 and 2004? Neither ended in a national title game. This year it will, but who knows if it will even stick.

I am thankful for the BCS.....OK, you know I'm kidding, right? Here's my latest BCS rant: unless Oregon or Auburn lose again, I think the streak of non-BCS teams going into the National Title game will last into....well, forever. But let's add this new wrinkle that many people don't realize. The only reason both Boise and TCU made the BCS last year was that not enough teams qualified from the at large conferences. This year? Not so much. Stanford looks like a Top 10 team, so without a loss, they'll get an invite. Either LSU or Alabama has enough name recongition for an invite from the SEC. As for the Big 12, Oklahoma or Nebraska should still make it as a 1 or 2 loss team. That means only one spot goes to a BCS buster. So not only may there not be a BCS buster spot in the title game, the lower ranked of the two go to the....MAACO Bowl? Good god.

I am thankful for the possibility of the Miami Heat being only the 4th best team in the Eastern Conference. When healthy, we know Boston is better, they've beaten the Heat both home and away. Orlando could match Miami and all cylinders. Chicago might have the drive to go all year with the Heat too. Now this is a pipe dream (except for the Celtics), and we know the Heat will still be a big team (say 55 to 60 wins). However, the thing that has me optimistic? If Bosh keeps underperforming in the early season, what's he gonna do if Wade or James go down? Yeah, that's why I still think 45 to 51 could.

I am thankful for the 24 hours of college basketball tip off marathon on ESPN! But when my girlfriend Randi wakes up at 6 am and sees Stony Brook playing on the TV? I might as well just change the channel right now. Luckily, she's not home all day (except today, lucky me). My pick for the National Champion? Michigan State, making Tom Izzo proud to stay one more year in college basketball.

I am thankful for the UCONN women's basketball team. 80 in a row, 9 away for the College Basketball d1 record of 88 by UCLA. But it won't be easy. They have 2 Seniors (although having national 2 time player of the year Maya Moore helps) and 5 freshmen (including 2 time New York High Schooler of the year and North Babylon's own Bria Hartley) who will try to live up to the legacy of the past 3 seasons. A matchup against perennial solid team Florida State could be that 89th game in late December. Hope they do it, cause think, what competition happened back in 1970's college men's basketball? The same that happened in 2010's women's college basketball. Yeah, think about that over thanksgiving dinner.

See you next week....when you digest the leftovers.

Yeah, I thought New York was a baseball town.

I'm The Rabbi, video editor extraordinare of On The Sportslines, and the answer is yes, it still is. However, for the 3rd season in a row, there is a good discussion on both New York Football teams possibly going far in the playoffs.

One problem. It always seems around this time one of those two teams always ends up on a losing streak, dashing hopes of the postseason. In 2008, it was the Brett Favre led Jets who finished 1-4 after an 8-3 start to give the division to the Dolphins and left the playoffs far away.

In 2009, the Giants finished their season 3-8 to finish 8-8 and played an embarrassing bunch of defense. Embarrassing.

So, how do the Jets and Giants, both 6-2 at the halfway point in their seasons, get to the playoffs and possibly do stuff when they get there. 5 points for both teams:

GIANTS

1. Eli Manning needs to keep it simple.

Listen, Eli, you have three very capable WR's in Hakeem Nicks, Steve Smith, and Mario Manningham. They have combined for 15 TDs this year, and have a chance to be possession receivers that move the chains (Smith), and two deep threats that can get TD's from any point (Manningham and Nicks). A QB like Manning with a receiving core like that can't have 11 INT's to 17 TD's. There were too many times when Eli tried to take the game into his own hands (see Week 3 against the Titans). He needs to let the game come to him.

2. Keep Bradshaw at the lead.

Considering how Brandon Jacobs was whining and moaning at the beginning of the season, I am shocked at how Jacobs has accepted his change of pace role. Ahmed Bradshaw is 3rd in the league in running yards, and Jacobs has as many TD's as Bradshaw with 5. If both runners are on board, the G-Men have a version of thunder and lightning not seen since Tiki Barber and Ron Dayne.

3. Perry Fewell can't let up.

So yeah, that Bill Sheridan D looks like a mirage right now. 253 yards given up per game LEADS THE LEAGUE in Total Defense. Osi Umenyiora already has 8 sacks halfway through the year. However, even though the D is clicking on all cylinders, there are times (like the Dallas game in Week 7) where they've unnecessarily let the team back in the game. That can not happen, or D coordinator could be scrutenized quickly again.

4. Secondary concerns?

Shockingly not yet. They are right now 2nd in the NFL against the pass, and it's not all about Kenny Phillips, who lots thought would be the lynchpin of this defense. Tyrell Thomas has 3 INT's and has really taken over one of the CB spots which I didn't think he would do after last season. It's been a 180 for the secondary, but can they keep it up?

5. Division Closeness.

After the Cowboys visit on Sunday (yes, the 1-7 Cowboys, how great is that to say!), the Giants have to go through two teams who I feel match up very well against them. In a 7 week span, they will play the Eagles and Redskins twice. The Giants have had a horrible experience against the Eagles, not beating them since the Fall of 2008 (and they may be just as good with Vick this year then they've been with McNabb). The Redskins are not gonna push over either, as McNabb I feel will bounce back after that little sitting incident 9 days ago in Detroit. A win against each is essential to stay a playoff contender, if they go 3-1 in this 4 game stretch I feel they win the division and maybe conference.

Final Verdict: The NFC is getting better, not sure they can keep the pace. I've predicted 10-6 and Wild Card for the G-Men.

Jets

1. Get a WR rotation.

I feel the Jets always need to implore everyone in every spot to make all the dynamic personalities on the WR staff happy. Not necessary. But find a way to keep everyone in the game, but establish a pattern. I think Braylon right now should be the #1 target (he's been light years better since the DUI), and Keller should be involved more at the outset. I think Santonio has been pretty good, but he disappears very, very quickly. He can have a 100+ yard game with a long TD or do nothing at all. It makes Mark Sanchez look bad.

2. Get Shonn Greene to wake up.

Unless Shonn Greene is gonna be used the same exact way he was used a year ago, got to be better on the ground. Only 400 yards this year with as many rushing TD's as Mark Sanchez. Shonn Greene showed a lot of promise in the Jets postseason run, but considering just like last year, the #1 Back is probably gonna break down ahead of him, and Greene needs to wake up in the end.

3. Secondary needs a shake up.

Yeah, I know that Darelle Revis has been hurt most of the year, but come on Cromartie. They are 18th in the league against the pass, and it's not a problem of shutting down the #1 guy. Only 2 #1 guys have had a 100+ yard game this year against the JEts (Anquoin Boldin Week 1, Brandon Marshall Week 3). However, the names Nate Burleson, Percy Harvin, and Jabar Gaffney have burned the Jet secondary. Can't be that way, Revis and Cromartie need to be on point at the same time. There is no depth in the secondary past those 2.

4. When all goes wrong, don't get fancy.

You saw two examples on how to win a game when you're team can't move the ball and how to lose a game when you're team can't move the ball. The Jets tried to move the ball vs the Packers and once they didn't, they fake punted on 4th and 18! Almost worked, but the move looked dumb. Nothing seemingly went right in the Lion game, but the Jets waited patiently, and after a knockout of the Lions QB and Kicker, the Jets waited for the other team to make the mistakes. Backup kicker missed an extra point, and the backup QB could not even make his screen pass when the game was on the line. The Jets didn't give away points on Sunday and the result showed.

5. Dominate, then survive.

At Cleveland, Then home to Houston and Cincy. I never suggest going 3-0 in a span, but here are the 4 games after that: at New England, home for Miami, At Pittsburgh, and At Chicago. Oh boy. I'm saying 4-3 is a minimum for what will not just be division title contention, but PLAYOFF contention this season. I think the Jets really should win those first 3 to give themselves the luxury of not getting hurt in Conference standing if they lose 2 out of the next 4.

Prediction: 10-6. The way they're playing now they'll be lucky to get through that 4-3, so I say 3-4 and a win against Buffalo at the end, and the 6 spot in the playoffs.

That's it. Wanna go against me, respond to this blog or give me you're best Facebook hatred. I am out.

It's cold outside. Let's talk Hot Stove now please.

I am The Rabbi, video editor of On The Sportslines.

The Giants have won The World Series. They put on a pitching performance that hasn't been seen too many times in the postseason. Between Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, and Madison Bumgarter, each put on performances that helped the very timely and veteran hitting of baseball's G-Men win San Francisco's first pennant (can't believe I am saying that!). Now, it's time to look ahead. Here are 10 teams we will all be focused on in the offseason:

10. M-e-t-s Mets Mets Mets- Congrats on getting the GM part boys, in 62 year old Sandy Alderson. Unfortunately he is 62 and hasn't been in this position with a MLB team for 13 years. First comes the manager, which from all pressure by fans, will be former player-hero Wally Bachman. To be honest, it should be Bob Melvin, who has experience for what will be a win now, if not win very soon role. Then there's the team...what can they do? They've essentially decided to take the core controversial parts of the team: Jose Reyes (option picked up) and Frankie Rodriguez (settlement reached) for 2011. Can this team get more help by trading one of the setups to the teams return to prominance in Carlos Beltran? It may get rid of one of the two albatrosses on the team: Oliver Perez and Luis Castillo.

9. Chicago White Sox- Only cause they have what I believe is the best hitter on the FA market in Paul Konerko. They also have some guy named Manny on the team, but that's not looking too likely of an immediate fit. Next on the list though is JJ Putz, (remember him fans of team #10?), who is looking for a little more money and Bobby Jenks, the closer that's not getting the 9 million team option on his contract from the team.

8. LA Angels- After finally ending their mystifying run on top of the AL West, they're gonna need some upgrades. And Kendry Molases ain't gonna do it. I would expect them to add one of the 4 big FA hitters: Crawford, Dunn, Beltre and Werth. I'm thinking Adam Dunn. They also need to address closer just in case Brian Fuentes ain't worth the money. And Hideki Matsui? Going back on the market cause the Angels want to re-evaluate the DH role.

7. St Louis Cardinals- Only for the fact that Albert Pujols will be a lame duck if he doesn't get signed before pitchers and catchers report. Think this is a matter of when, not if.

6. Boston Red Sox- Obviously. David Ortiz has already said he wants to sign a multi-year extension, this is probably not gonna happen quickly. Victor Martinez has been a real good option at catcher, and catchers are gonna be hard to come by always in free agency, so he will be coveted (the Tigers already want him). Dice-K may be on the block as well, and of course, there will be the fact of competing with the Yankees...Cliff Lee will be bid on by the Sox.

5. Minnesota Twins- Believe it or not, if they lost all of their FA's, the payroll would STILL be $100 Million! This IS the Twins we're talkin about, right? Their #1 starter Francisco Liriano is up for arbitration too, and even though they can offer Carl Pavano arbitration, Pavano knows his time in Minnesota will get him more money elsewhere. Then there's the issue of offering Jim Thome a new contract....I hope to god they do...

4. Defending World Series Champions San Francisco Giants- OF the bottom 6 players in their World Series winning Game 5 lineup....the only one who still is guaranteed a chance to defend the Giants title is FA disappointment Aaron Rowand. Juan Uribe, Aubrey Huff, and Pat Burrell all can become free agents. LCS and WS MVP's respectively Cody Ross and Edgar Renteria could both have new teams next year, and Renteria could go out on top. The future is bright in the top of the order and in the ptiching, but there are questions about 24 year old Pablo Sandoval, who may be fallin out of favor with Giants management.

3. Philadelphia Phillies- I think the rotation will be fine. Jason Werth on the otherhand is probably a goner unless the Fightin Phils are willing to overpay for him, and with so many OTHER people in that lineup who will be criticized for not playing up to their salary, I'm not too sure if the Phillies wanna find another player to add to that pile. Chad Durbin and Jose Contreras (yes, that one) are pieces to the relief puzzle.

2. Texas Rangers- Two words. Cliff Lee. Does Lee decide to finish what he started in Texas? Or does he go for the money? We won't make any predictions here, but we would have to think that the Rangers will probably make the lowest offer possible. However, Cliff Lee probably feels the most connected to this spot (and #3). The Yankees will throw the well at Cliff Lee the most though, cause he is the key to the entire Yankees offseason. Speaking of....

1. New York Yankees- Lee doesn't come? You got a rotation of Sabathia, Hughes, and Burnett, and the final 2 didn't install confidence late in the season. Andy Pettitte has been living off a few one year contracts, and will get the same one if he wants it again, but will he actually want to continue in the majors? There's also the question of relief...will Mariano Rivera be back? (Sure he will be. Yankees know he's still tops at the position.) Who will set him up if and when Mo does come back? Kerry Wood's got money coming to him as a closer...

Then there's the captain.

I bet there is one team, maybe the Sox that will take him, but I think there's one question that will be the center of the Derek Jeter talks...

4 or 5 years?

Or maybe 3. There is a whole lot of interest on how long Derek's contract will be, and of course, will be how will it be compared to A-Rod.....A-Rod's contract takes him to 43. It's dumb someone would compare the two people together?....but they will.

I think Jeter gets 4 years, 80 million dollars, that's my bold prediction. Now on to football season. See you next time.

This is The Rabbi, video editor of On The Sportslines. No need to write words out when I can speak them out loud right? Check out the first ever video blog for On The Sportslines. All you gotta do is click the link below.

http://www.justin.tv/rabbirabbi/b/272521611

Go easy on me folks. I don't always look my best at 1 am in the morning. Hope to do this every Sunday night.

Who Cares If You Disagree?...

You are not me, who made you king of anything? Yes, I am The Rabbi, video editor of On The Sportslines, and yes, I am quoting a Sara Barelles song. Why? Cause it fits perfectly with the decisions that have been made around the sports world in the past 5 days.

Who cares if you Disagree...Yankee fans, if you thought that Joe Girardi should have given the hook a little sooner to AJ Burnett last night. Joe didn't do that, and took the chances pitching with 2 men on in the bottom of the 5th, walking David Murphy, owner of 12 home runs this year, to get to Bengie Molina. You wanna know when it's NOT your year? When you see a montage of Bengie Molina's three straight home runs in Games 1, 2, and 3 of the 2005 ALDS as an Angel from TBS then right after that...BAM! Game turns in the Rangers favor and most likely the Yankees are about to see their stronghold that they had over Texas for 14 years go the other way. As much as a like Joe, I wonder of all the managerial mistakes would have been made by someone else. Joe Girardi, not anyone else (well, maybe the Yankee offense) have some 'splainin to do. By the way, Girardi was a bench coach on that 2005 ALDS-losing team so maybe he totally forgot about Benji's three home runs.

Who cares if you disagree... Florida Marlins management, for thinking Cody Ross was a washed up player. Yes, Cody Ross! Picked up on waivers from the Marlins on Aug 23rd, he now has had a series for the ages: 4-12, but 3 HR's and 4 RBIs. When the best offense in the NL this year (the Reds) looked like little pussycats against Roy Halladay and Cole Hamels, Ross has routinely looked like a tiger. Now the Phillies, just like the Yankees, bring an unproven guy in the season and postseason in Joe Blanton out there after not pitching for 20 days. No one pitcher has won a postseason game with 16+ days of rest in 60 years. Now, we can start feeling a Giant-Ranger world series, a series that can be enjoyed FAR FAR west of the Mississippi.

Who cares if you disagree...If the NFL thinks there is far too much defense in the game, which has been downgraded by the influx of illegal contact calls and protection of the QB...now comes the fact that people may be suspended just by leading with the helmet on a hit. Yes, there have been already 10+ more injuries then this point in the last 4 years due to defenseless hits, but d-backs are doing their jobs! You mean they now have to face suspension for going all out, when the "defenseless" wide reciever now gets full protection, knowing when they catch the ball, they won't be hit as hard? Stop it NFL. Don't you realize the d-back leading with his head is taking MORE of a risk than that wideout. The NFL has become so reactionary lately to so many things that could "possibly" happen, it's become ridiculous. Maybe if the NFL didn't want to switch to an 18 game season, you wouldn't put all these rules in to make wideouts and offensive players look better. I don't think the NFL gives a damn 'bout defense anymore.

Who cares if you disagree... BCS. (Cue the groans now!) After we were teased that Boise State were going to possibly be #1 in the first new poll, we get the Oklahoma Sooners as #1, with the Oregon Ducks as a solid #2. I've never been the biggest fan of the "mid-majors", as when the whole On The Sportslines panel picked Boise State to get to the national title game, I rooted for Virginia Tech! They lost that game, but sadly for Boise Tech, Va Tech lost the next one too. That whole stupid strength of schedule is killing the Broncos (and for that matter, the #4 TCU Horned Frogs too), to the point where they'll need everyone to lose in major conferences (some twice!), to get that national title berth. So why should BOTH mid-majors be playing in January in Tucson in my opinion? Look at the major contenders:

Oklahoma: Stuggled to beat Cincinnati, Utah State, and Air Force. All of them have 2+ losses, and (here's a shock!) the latter 2 are Boise State and TCU "patsy opponents" each year. Whoops.

Oregon: The Pac 10 has THREE ranked teams (compared to the Big 12 and SEC's 6), yet I keep hearing Oregon's far and away the best team in the country. The voters told me so! Yet in their last 3 games, they have let up 31, 31, and 23 points. You may have an amazing offense boys, but when you play a team with a real D, get back to me. They may not for the whole season. By the way, that 23 came against powerhouse Washington State, wonder how many points Boise would let up?

Auburn: Most deserving of the competitors, BUT...needed overtime to beat Clemson and were down late against South Carolina, both at home. As much as I love Auburn, and as much as I love (former Florida Gator) Cam Newton, I feel like Auburn is still missing some things. They need to be convincing against my next pretender....

LSU: Needed a 13 men on the field penalty against the Vols, needed a botched fake field goal against a mediocre Florida team. No comment as the #6 team in the nation.

Alabama and Ohio St: Hey didn't you used to be #1? Didn't you used to be good? Didn't you used to win on the road? Sadly, I feel like these two teams will come back very, very quickly.

So yeah, why can't Boise State and TCU, who both have only neutral site close wins to complain about, play for the national championship? Who made college football computers king of anything?

Yeah exactly. See you next time for another cornucopia of opinions.

And now, a follow up.

Well, that sucked.

Rabbi here, pulling a Manny Mota again for Jay on the "Yankee Post-season" Blog. Okay, I'll man up, I thought Cliff Lee would be a little bit vulnerable tonight. Ready for the game but making one big mistake. He was not vulnerable. In fact, Lee is just getting better and better. As much as Andy pitched a game that may have been as good as any of the matchups that he had won since coming back to the Yankees in 2007, he was outdueled. The breaking ball mistake that he made against Josh Hamilton was a killer.

The pessimist in you may think "game over" after that pitch, but guess what? The pessimist is a realist, and the pessimist is right. The Yankees weren't even close after that, not even by a inch. They got single digit balls out of the infield. It was a bloodbath that proved both how good the Ranger pitching has been this ALCS and how bad the Yankee hitting has come. Now, Lee can reach epic proportions, being one of the only pitchers to make the World Series for two teams in two years.

Now, Joe Girardi pays for an bad mistake (starting Hughes for Pettitte in Game 2 now looks like a terrible move, cause Pettitte wouldn't have had a Hughes start), by being forced to make another one, do they stay with AJ Burnett in Game 4? If they fail tomorrow night, a 3-1 defecit with 2 games in Texas, and a Game 7 start by Cliff Lee loom.

I will, for the sake of jinxing it, will not make a prediction on the game. What I will say is this, I think AJ pitches to keep the rotation in tow. If CC would god forbid lose a Game 4, everyone starts on 3 days rest again and they are toast. The only way for the Yanks to win this series, in my honest opinion, is to win games 4 and 5, and force the Rangers to start Lee in Game 6. The Yankees, are gonna have to slug their way to a World Series.

In this year of the pitcher, and the way the Yankees are going this postseason, that's becoming less likely of actually happening. The Quest for 28 has hit a roadblock.

Musings From The Jets-Broncos Game

Hey Sean Roman from "On The Sportlines" here.

Great to see Tim Tebow scoring his first NFL touchdown in the best game of the weekend.

In the 24-20 loss to the Jets, the crowd in Denver was super-pumped to see Tebow take the snap from the shotgun and run the ball 5 yards in the end zone.

Tebow's TD tied the game 7-7 in the second quarter. Tebow averaged just about 4 yards a carry (23 yards in 6 carries), but definately added a new dynamic to the lackluster Denver running game. In the loss, the Broncos ran for a season high 145 yards.

Tebow proved a useful decoy earlier in the game, when he handed off to Correll Buckhalter for a 13-yard gain as part of a fake option.

It seems quite worthy that Tebow became the first rookie QB to score a touchdown.

The Big Bad Wolf (Disguised as Cliff Lee)

My name is The Rabbi, the video editor of On The Sportslines. I am pitch hitting (Manny Mota style) for uber Yankee fan Jay Kaplan for a Yankee update.

This isn't your father's Texas Rangers Team, frankly cause the Texas Rangers/Washington Senators didn't make the playoffs till 1996. A series that was considered to be a sorta tough one for the Yankees has turned into a truly tough one.

The Rangers have essentially have been hitting almost .300 and the Yankees have been hitting below .200 in this series..that is, if you don't count the 8th inning on Friday. Yeah, the inning that defined the Yankees playoff strategy over the last two years: get the starter out of the game and start praying on the mismatches that is the bullpen. All in all, I find the Rangers probably are a better opponent to beat the Yankees than the Rays would have been.

Let's look at tonight's game though. Look at it 2 ways. The Rangers will start Cliff Lee, who looked pretty damn good this postseason for Nolan Ryan's boys. Lee has Koufaxian stuff in the postseason, essentially becoming the hired gun of the postseason, the assassin that will be on the mound to mow down hitters in Games 1 and 5 of a 5 game series, and games 1, 4, and 7 of a 7 game series. Except two major issues: Lee doesn't like 3 days rest and the Rangers 5 game series forced Lee to pitch tonight.

On the other side is Andy Pettitte. The Yankees flip flopped Hughes and Pettitte in the normal rotation for 3 reasons: 1. Phil HAD a 15+ scoreless inning streak in Texas (failed on that one) 2. Andy is more comfortable at home, and if CC won Game 1 (which he did, well the Yanks did) Game 2 was a little of a freebie. 3. Andy can match up with Cliff Lee.

Let me repeat that again, Andy Pettitte can match up with Cliff Lee.

In my humble opinion, I never have been a huge CC fan in the postseason. I think the stage has succumbed at time to CC in the worst situations. It always seems that CC cannot match up with a team's #1 pitcher in the postseason. #2 or 3 is usually golden, save for last Friday Night.

Andy Pettitte is gonna match Cliff Lee, pitch for pitch tonight I believe. Lee is a great pitcher, but I feel that the Yankees can do what they didn't do in Game 2, and that's take advantage with men on base. 5 innings the Yankees did that in Game 2, that will not happen again. Andy Pettitte, with a win tonight, can be a 20 game winner in the POSTSEASON, and in Game 2 looked like the dominant pitcher who found the fountain of youth in the 1st half of 2010. So, call it a hunch, call it intuition, but I think either Pettitte matches Lee blow for blow for 8 innings or the Yanks get that big hit once Cliff Lee pitches 9 innings and leaves 1-1. Either way I say Game 3 will be 2-1 Yankees. I've felt this series was gonna be 1-1 coming in here since the Rangers were finalized as the Yankees opponent (wrong order though, thought they'd lose Game 1 win Game 2), and I always thought they would win this game.

They better, or you have a spent CC or a rusty and unproven AJ Burnett in Game 4.

Excitement in the misery of others.

Hi, kids. This is The Rabbi here from On The Sportslines. Normally I am a person who enjoys the match ups of each and every NFL weekend, because usually, it'll have an impact on the postseason picture. It doesn't have to be my favorite team, the Giants, it can be any team and I will keep two eyes on the game.

Except for this Sunday, there is this one very special game between two very bad teams over the first four games of their seasons that I am riveted in. I will watch the battle between the 1-3 Vikings and Cowboys, and so should you.

The Minnesota Vikings and Dallas Cowboys were seeds #2 and 3 in the NFC Playoffs last year, both won a game, and both had Super Bowl asperations for 2010. Now, all of a sudden the loser of this game is 1-4. 1-4 is a hole that has only gotten one team into the Conference Championship, and that was the 2002-03 Tennessee Titans. Believe me, Wade Phillips and Brad Childress are NO Jeff Fisher (it's almost amazing both have been with their teams as long as they have).

The Dallas Cowboys are almost a victim of their own expectations. A team who expected themselves and had people expect them to be the first home team to get to a Super Bowl has fallen flat. Either the offense has failed them miserably (Washington game), the Defense has been lit up by an average offense (Chicago and Tennessee), or it's a combo of major mistakes and lapses in judgment that put Dallas in last place in the NFC East. Now Dallas is looking up at 3 teams, THREE teams, back by 1 1/2 game. The offense is Top 3 in the league in many major categories, but that doesn't win you ballgames.

Then there's the Vikings, who have had offensive sputters in the first two losses of the year (Dolphins and Saints), and have seen Brett Favre's bravado get them in many different types of trouble, whether it be on the field (7 INT's)...or off it (I think Brett shudders when the name Jenn Sterger is mentioned). Add to that the inactivity of Percy Harvin this year, and the panic button-esque (although clearly the right move in my mind) move to bring back Randy Moss. Last night, the Vikings almost proved that Brett Favre can bring this team back after almost 30+ min of funk. However, when you're playing opportunistic and good teams like the Jets, it's not gonna happen most of the time.

I'm not a fan of the Cowboys, and I bet when the Cowboys are featured Nationally, you can't wait to see them lose too. It's almost the Notre Dame theory, you either hate them or love them, there's no in between. There is a lot of people who hate Brett Favre, or just wish he would go already. Unless you're in Minnesota (and even some who ARE), you also agree.

So sit back, relax, and enjoy on Sunday. One of the "favorites" in the NFL is fighting to survive. Even then, we all may win and neither team may be relevent come Week 10.

DEJA VU ALL OVER AGAIN

Greetings and Salutations folks, Jay from “On The Sportslines” here with another Yankee Playoff Blog Post. The headline says it all. Another year, another post-season, another Yankee series win against the Twins. I know that Yankee fans are whooping it up over at 161st and River after tonight’s 6-1 win completed a 3-game sweep, but remember kids, this is just step one. Getting past the Twinkies shouldn’t surprise anyone. Even those Talking Heads who in response to the Yankees late-season swoon (8-11 heading into the playoffs) kept tossing out this little negative chestnut: “The Yankees have never advanced as the Wild Card.” Shouldn’t have been surprised. Guys, you know that stat goes out the window when the Yankees play the Twins in the first round. It doesn’t matter if the Yankees are the #1 seed or the Wild Card, the Yankees ALWAYS beat the Twins. They are now 12-2 since 2003 with 9 straight wins over the boys from the Twin Cities. Props to Twins Manager Ron Gardenhire for being a classy guy during his post-game interview with TBS reporter Craig Sager and showing his sense of humor telling Sartorial Sages that he’s still trying to find out where the TBS man buys his unique suits.

A playoff sweep gets you two things: a champagne shower in your lockerroom and a chance to get some extra rest while your potential opponents have to keep playing (Rangers couldn’t close out the Rays in their game 3, losing 6-3). Okay, there is a third thing – you can rearrange your rotation if needs be. Chances are the Yankees won’t, but it will be interesting to see if they follow last year’s blueprint and only go with 3 starters in every series. Game 1 of the ALCS won’t be till Friday.

If they do, Phil Hughes removed any doubts as to his spot as the third man. All the kid did in his first post-season start was throw 7 shutout innings, striking out 6, allowing only 4 hits on 99 pitches – 67 for strikes – earning the W in a series clincher. Welcome back First Half Phil.

The Yankee offense decided to play from out front for the first time in this series, putting up 6 runs highlighted by a 3 run fourth inning that knocked Twins starter Brian Duensing out of the game. Not to pat myself on the back here, but I kinda called this with my reference to the fact that he couldn’t get past the 5th inning against the Yankees in the 2009 ALDS. But I digress. Marcus Thames provided the big blow, crushing a homer to right field with Robison Cano aboard. Thames has provided big bops all year, especially against lefties – 9 of his 12 HRs came against southpaws. But Thames had plenty of help from his mates as for the second straight game they banged out 12 hits. Brett Gardner was the only one to take and O-fer, but his sac fly drove in one of the 6 runs.

By the time Hughes turned the game over to the Yankee bullpen he had a 6-0 lead. Now I guess Kerry Woods must have thought that the folks at The Stadium and at home were starting to snooze because he felt compelled to insert a little drama into tonight’s proceedings and making me looking a little foolish for saying that he seemed to have the 8th inning locked down. Wood allowed a run on 3 hits plus a walk, only managing to get 1 out in the process. His implosion forced Joe Girardi to turn to Boone Logan to get out Jason Kubel followed by David Robertson coming in to take care of Delmon Young and get the Yankees out of the inning without any further damage. That Mariano Rivera would come in the nail down the series clincher was a foregone conclusion. 12 pitches was all it took. Game, set, match Bronx Bombers who get to continue defending their title.

So what did we learn in this sweep? We learned that the Yankees 8-11 stumble into the playoffs didn’t mean squat. That getting guys rested and healthy for the playoffs meant more than winning the division. Yes, I know, every Yankee to a man said of course they wanted to win the AL East and have home field throughout the playoffs. I’m sure they meant it. But like I said in my first post, the Yankees have that intangible that no other team in the playoffs has: they KNOW beyond a shadow of a doubt that they can beat ANYONE, anywhere, anytime. Thus they don’t care about whose field they play on. But again, I digress. Back to lessons learned. We learned that the Yankees offense can do the job with runners in scoring position, going 9-25 (.360) in this series. We learned that the Yankees starting pitching very much resembles last year’s. We also learned that it’s a good thing that bullpen has some solid depth in front of the greates post-season closer in baseball history.

It’s almost as if the entire team flipped a collective switch the minute the post-season started. It’s as if they suddenly remembered “Oh that’s right, we’re the Yankees and it’s October. Time to start playing REAL baseball.” That attitude and the lessons learned from the sweep of the Twins will come in handy against either the Rangers or the Rays. The first step was easy, but like the Navy SEALS say “The only easy day was yesterday”. Come Friday the level of difficulty goes up. See you then.

CAN WE PLAY THE TWINS IN THE PLAYOFFS EVERY YEAR? CAN WE? PRETTY PLEASE?

Those of you who regularly follow "On The Sportslines" know that I am a stats/numbers guy. Rarely does a show go by without me crunching them one way or another. Now I freely admit that in sports stats can lie and Lord knows that agents like say, Scott Boras are known to use them to make their clients look A LOT better than they actually are come contract time. But once in a while you come across a set of numbers that no matter how you try to spin them, you just can't.

Take the Yankees and the Twins and the post-season. The Twins are a really good team, no doubt about it. They have put their stamp on the AL Central for a long time and are one of the blueprints for how a team without the resources/finances of the Yankees can be an annual playoff contender. The one thing they just CANNOT seem to do is beat the Yankees in the post-season.

With last night's 5-2 loss, the Twins playoff record of futility against the Yankees continued. The Yankees just seem to have their number; and the numbers don't lie. Since 2003 the Twins are 2-11 against the Yankees, 0-7 at home. Last night's loss was their 11th straight playoff loss, 8 of which have been at the hands of the Bronx Bombers. And to add some serious insult to injury, the Twins led in each of those games, only to be outscored by a combined 42-8 as the Yankees snatched victory from the jaws of defeat each time.

Last night's win by the Defending Champs was more like a 2009 win. They got great starting pitching from Andy Pettitte, who was as masterful as he usually is in the post-season. You'd never know that he was not far removed from an extended stint on the DL. 7 innings, 2 runs, 5 hits on only 88 pitches (58 for strikes - practically a 2:1 strike to ball ratio). Pettitte, who has won his last 9 post-season starts, set down 17 of the final 19 batters he faced before turning the game over to Kerry Wood (who looks like Girardi's top choice as 8th inning guy) and the incomparable Mariano Rivera to close out the win.

The Yankee offense once again provided big hits late in the game, breaking a 2-2 tie, scoring 3 of their 5 runs after the 7th inning. The Yankees banged out 12 hits last night, with Jorge Posada the only regular not to make it to the party. That Curtis Granderson is 4-8 in this series with 3 RBI doesn't really surprise me. He seems to turning things around at the right time of year. He finished the season on quite a tear: 9HR and 25RBI in his last 99AB from September 1 onward, with half of his hits going for extra bases. Another Kevin Long Reclamation Project. Is there a better hitting coach in baseball right now? But the REAL story of last night's game was Lance Berkman. After a decade plus in Houston where he averaged 31HR and 103RBI in the 10 FULL seasons he played, Berkman came to the Yankees in a July 31 trade for a couple spare parts and became a role player, a part-timer, a platoon guy at DH just to have a chance at a ring. Berkman didn't see much time down the stretch, but Joe Girardi took a look at Berkman's career numbers against Twins starter Carl Pavano (3-9 with all 3 going for extra-bases including a yard-leaver) and took a chance. The chance paid off with Lance going 2-4 with both hits going for extra-bases (2B and a HR). One gave the Yankees the lead, the other put the game away. Overall a VERY 2009-type win.

A PAIR OF QUICK NON-SHAKESPEAREAN ASIDES:

Apologies for the lack of any "Texas Two-Step" references to Pettitte and Berkman as the #1 and #2 stars of the game, but they've been beaten to death, so I abstained. This sentence here notwithstanding. As for the Yankees appearing to be the beneficiaries of yet ANOTHER bad call by an Umpire? Yes, Hunter Wendelstedt missed what was looked like an obvious strike 3 to Berkman on the pitch prior to the one that wound up as a run-scoring double. Yes, Wendelstedt has a lousy strike zone. Yes, it is POSSIBLE that things would've turned out differently without that run. But NO, it wasn't PROBABLE. You'll see why when you get to my last paragraph, but try not to skip to the end.

The Yankees now come back to the Bronx up 2-0. On Saturday night they will send Phil Hughes to the hill and ask the youngster to close out a 3-0 sweep. Which Phil Hughes will we see in the biggest start of his young career? The Yankees are hoping for First Half Phil (11-2, 3.65ERA) while the Twins know that the only chance they have to stave off an early off-season is an appearance by Second Half Phil (7-6, 4.90ERA). Especially since the Twins are sending up Brian Duensing. Yes, his 7-2 record and 3.05 as a starter look pretty good. But I guarantee you that Twins and Yankees fans alike remember that in last year's ALDS opener he was tagged for 5 runs on 7 hits and didn't make it out of the 5th inning of the Yankees 7-2 win.

We all know that teams that are up 2-0 in a best of 5 or 3-0 in a best of 7 win the series an inordinate amount of time. But as the hated RedSox proved in 2004, Yogi Berra was right - it ain't over till it's over. The fact that Murphy's Law, the Law of Averages or the Laws of the Universe can raise their ugly heads at any time is the reason we play the games on the field, not in a Cray Super Computer. Then again this IS the TWINS the Yankees are playing. Hell with all those Laws. I'll go with Deja Vu and numbers that just don't lie. Yankees+Twins+playoffs=Yankee Wins.

IF IT'S OCTOBER, I MUST BE TALKING YANKEE POST-SEASON BASEBALL

Greetings sports fans, Jay from “On The Sportslines” here. Been awhile, but it IS October, so that means it’s once again time for my Yankee Playoff Blog.

As those of you who followed my posts after each playoff game last year remember, I was quietly confident that the Bronx Bombers would bring home World Series Title number 27 in the inaugural year of the New Cathedral of Baseball (or the if you prefer, “The House That Derek and George Built”).

This post-season, my position on the defending champs is “Cautiously Optimistic”. Now granted, back in April on the On The Sportslines 4/8/10 - Final Four/Baseball Preview edition I did pick a Yankees-Phillies rematch for my Fall Classic prediction, but that was before several things that seemed to be strengths on paper for the Yankees turned into either question marks or outright weakness. Let’s review shall we?

STARTING PITCHING

Last year the Yankees had MLB’s best starting rotation and rode their top 3 of CC Sabathia, Andy Pettitte and AJ Burnett to their World Series win. This year, Carsten Charles is the only one of the three to have numbers even close to last year’s, going 21-7 with a 3.18 era after a 19-8 and 3.37 season last year. Old Man Pettitte’s 2010 numbers of 11-3 and 3.28 are pretty good, but his season was plagued by stints on the DL which is always a cause for concern with a 38-year-old pitcher. As for AJ, well, 2010 was hands down his worst season EVER. 10-15 with a 5.26 ERA and an average start of only 5.6 innings. Unacceptable numbers for even a number 5 starter, let alone a number 2. Thus Allan James finds himself out of this post-season’s rotation, replaced by Phil Hughes whose 18-8 record and 4.19 ERA are a little deceptive. The baby of the rotation went 11-2 with a 3.65 ERA in the 1st half, but only 7-6 with a 4.90 ERA after the All-Star break. Did he hit the wall? Is he out of gas? We’ll see come game 3.

The bottom line people is that this post-season, if the Yankees are going to add another trophy to the case, they will have to outhit/outscore their opponents because they really can’t count on getting shut-down starts from their rotation.

RELIEF PITCHING

Last year the Yankees Bullpen was the type of bullpen that we saw in the early Joe Torre years. With Mike Stanton and Jeff Nelson setting up Mariano Rivera, if the Yankees had a lead after 6 innings, you could channel Don Meredith: “Say good-night, the party’s over.” With Phil Hughes, Joba Chamberlain, David Robertson averaging better than a strikeout per inning, setting up the Ageless Rivera, the Yankee pen threw gas past every opponent on the way to that World Series title.

This year, Mariano has been his usual self. Though his saves dropped from 44 to 33, he still shut teams down in the 9th. The case can be made that the drop was due in large part to the number games the Yankees had to come from behind to win – a stat in which they led MLB. As for his set-up crew, well they were an erratic bunch for most of the season. Chamberlain forgot how to get hitters out, gave up gopher balls seemingly every time he stepped on the mound and generally pitched himself out of the 8th inning role. Chan Ho Park was a disaster (one of Brian Cashman’s WORST moves), Damaso Marte and Swiss Army Knife Alfredo Aceves (10-1 out of the pen in 2009) battled injuries and only recently have Robertson, Boone Logan (who has replaced Marte as the Lefty Specialist) and Kerry Wood (jury is still out on this pick-up Brian) started to show the form that the Yankees will need from them in the post-season. So while this year’s pen is not as lights out as last year’s, they are still a force to be reckoned with if they are handed a lead.

OFFENSE

Here’s the where things get tricky. Yes, once again, the Yankees led the Majors in runs per game (5.3) and On Base % (.350); 2nd in walks (662) and OPS (.786) and were 3rd in HRs (201) and Slugging % (.436).

However, this year’s usual starting lineup (450 PA’s or better) only had 2 players hit .285 or better (Robinson Cano, .319 and Nick Swisher, .288), last year they had 5. Last year they had 7 players hit better than 20 HRs, this year only 5. Last year, 7 players topped 80 RBI, this year, only 4. And then there is Derek Jeter who set career lows for batting average (.270), on base % (.340) and slugging % (.370) and led MLB in outs made. Out of the leadoff spot. Not good. Only a late season tear (8-18 over his last 4 games - .444) got his average up to .270. Then again, we shouldn’t be surprised by Jeter’s closing the season on a tear, October (and November) is where the Yankee Captain shines. We’ll see if he rises to the moment this year.

Ultimately, despite the fact that this year’s version of the Bronx Bombers more resembles a Cruise Missle compared to last year’s version which was closer to a Tactical Nuke, this is still one hell of a potent offense. Remember, as I said earlier, this team led the majors in come from behind wins with 48. They NEVER think they are out of a game. They still do the things they did well last year. Take pitches (Brett Gardner is among the league leaders in pitches seen per plate appearance), work counts, get on base and get your starter out of the game early. They make you pay for mistakes. They also have something that only a World Series title gives you: they KNOW they can beat anyone they face. Call it confidence, call it arrogance, call it the Ghost of George Steinbrenner, call it whatever you want, they believe it. They may be in the unfamiliar position of underdog in this post-season, but they are the most dangerous underdog you’ll ever face.

Game 1

Yeah, I know I took the long road to get here, but last night’s game one was a microcosm of the points I made above. The starting pitching wasn’t lights out (Sabathia gave up 4 runs on 5 hits in 6 innings of work), but the bullpen did its job (no runs over the last 3 innings) and the Yankee bats came alive late to take their post-season opener 6-4 thanks to big hits by Curtis Granderson and Mark Teixeira. Yes, there was yet ANOTHER blown call by the umps on that fly ball to Greg Golson. All I’ll say about that is something I’ve said 876,432 times before: “Hey Bud! How many blown calls will it take for you to embrace the tech to eliminate such mistakes?”

That the Yankees won shouldn’t really surprise anyone (not even Twins fans). This is the Twins the Yankees are facing and after last year we all know the numbers. The Yankees are now 10-2 against them in the postseason, including a run of 7 straight counting last night’s win.

Game 2 is tonight and the Yankees will send the winningest pitcher in MLB postseason history to the mound in Andy Pettitte. He will be opposed by former teammate Carl Pavano, who had a career year going 17-11 with a 3.75 ERA in the Twin Cities. But none of those wins (or losses) came against the Yankees. Will the Twins finally snap that postseason 0-6 home record against the Yankees tonight? We’ll know in about 4 hours.

DIVISION SERIES TIME!

Hi, I'm The Rabbi, video editor of On The Sportslines.

The baseball playoffs are here! It's weird how there seems to be a split of the old (The Phillies, The Yankees, The Twins, and the Rays, all who have had runs in the postseason over the last 3 years), and the new (The Reds, Rangers, Braves, and Giants, all who have had 5-10 year layoffs from real October baseball). With that being said, here are predictions and 3 quick storylines from each of the Division Series.

Rays-Rangers

1. Familiarity. This is only the Rangers 4th trip to the postseason and the first time they aren't playing the Yankees. This is only the Rays 2nd trip to the postseason, and considering that most of the players have 16 games of playoff experience from 2 years ago, it's fair to say the Rays are the more experienced ballclub.

2. Rangers stars need to deliver. Josh Hamilton is only hitting .147 at Tropicana Field and Cliff Lee has lost to the Rays thrice this year (although two came with Seattle).

3. Carlos Pena. He can bop the homers (28 of them), but batted .196 this year. Almost unheard of numbers, even in this day and age. I wonder how that works in the free agent market when playing for a contract.

Prediction: Rays are a good match up for the Rangers and they won't succumb to pressure. Rangers in 4.

Twins-Yankees

1. Yankee dominance. Until a May 16th victory, the Twins had lost 12 straight games- regular and post-season to the Yankees. Add to that three playoff victories in series over the last 7 years. However, this will be the first time the Yankees have to beat the Twins without home field advantage. Speaking of....

2. Target Field! The Twins had one of the best Home Records in the regular season. The change of venue (it's gonna be below 50 for starting pitch Wednesday) may help. The Twins lost all 5 of their games in the Metrodome versus the Yankees in those 3 playoff series.

3. Andy Pettitte. Beat the Twins Twice this year, and will need to be that pre-July self to help the Yankees to the ALCS. Pettitte will start game 2, and if needed Game 5 on normal rest.

Prediction: The Yankees would look awful against anyone else, but I feel like they turn it on here. But it's not easy. Yankees in 5, and if that happens it would be the first DS Game 5 in 5 years.

Reds-Phillies

1. This could get crazy. Even though the Phillies won the season series 5-2, they lost 2 of 3 in Cincy, and they had 4 game sweep the closest way you can, winning 3 of the 4 in extra innings, and 2 straight 1-0. That was the first time the Phils won 1-0 games back to back in 97 years.

2. Joey Votto. If The Reds have any chance of winning, they'll need Joey Votto's regular season numbers again. He had a .324-37-113 year, making him 2nd in average, 3rd in homers, and 3rd in RBIs. This is why Votto is probably gonna get an NL MVP at the end of the season.

3. H20- the pitching version. After the Phillies got Roy Oswalt via trade on July 29th, the trio of Roy Oswalt (The o in h20, Roy Halladay, and Cole Hamels (the 2 H's) went 20-7. The fact that a #1 starter like Hamels in 2008 is now a #3? Scary.

Prediction: Well, there's been so many sweeps in the playoffs over the last few years, I gotta see another one here. Phillies in tres.

Giants-Braves

1. Bullpen. These two have darn good bullpens. For The Braves, Peter Moylan has had 85 appearances and an under 2 ERA. Braves closer Billy Wagner's final season was a stellar 40+ save one. As for the Giants, all it did in the crunch time of the final week of the season is not let up ONE earned run.

2. But can the Giants hit? The Achilles heel to end all Achilles heel's. Aubrey Huff was 2 for 23 against the Braves. Buster Posey was 1-11. Freddy Sanchez and Juan Uribe were both under .200 at the plate against Atlanta as well. Probably the worst hitting of all 8 playoff teams resides in San Fran.

3. But can the Braves continue to pitch? Bobby Cox will put out 2 veterans: Derek Lowe, one of the hotter pitchers in the game and reliable Tim Hudson in Games 1 and 3. Tommy Hanson, someone who has a lack of postseason experience gets the middle game. Can he hit the mark in his 1st postseason start?

Prediction: Braves in 4. I feel like this is the only series that can go either way, and Atlanta's second life and slightly better hitting will prevail.

I will be posting more frequently throughout the month as the baseball playoffs hit full swing, and college football hits it's stride. In fact, stay tuned about the SEC in the upcoming days, and a true look at why Les Miles is getting the criticism he is. Till then, I am out.