The 2008 NFL Offensive Rookie Of the Year

Is Matt Ryan. Man, was I so totally wrong. Off to face the Cardinals in the playoffs. How's that for an unlikely playoff matchup, Falcons and Cardinals? Who wins in a matchup of two of the NFL's most hapless franchises? Maybe the Big One will hit California this Sunday and it will drag Phoenix down into the Pacific ocean with the rest of Cali and the sea will swallow up both teams. Any non-baseball Cardinals fans out there? Not Stanford. NFL fans. I'm curious.


One bad thing about getting in the playoffs is that I can't find Jake Plummer's United Way commercial anywhere online and it's driving me crazy. That thing killed me. Cardinals eat Eagles!

Who I'm rooting for in the 2008 Playoffs

I've gotten a couple of questions about this so I'm going to announce my preferences and biases to the world. Feel free to praise me for my excellent judgment or call me whatever dirty names you can think of as you wish. These are not who I think will actually win in the playoffs, These are the ones I am rooting for and why. I'm going to list them in order from the least favorite team to the one I'm rooting for all the way. That way if your team comes up first you can curse me as a fool and move on.

Least Favorite: Chicago Cubs

I make fun of the Mets a lot. That's kind of a rivalry thing. If I had grown up on Long Island instead of the suburbs of Atlanta I'd be a rabid Mets fan. Hell, two of my all time favorites, Casey and Yogi were their managers at one point. So I hate the Mets, but it's kind of a college football rivalry kind of hate. I loathe the Cubs. I will always loathe the Cubs. It's kind of sad really, because I was a big fan back in the day of Ernie Banks and Ron Santo and Andre Dawson and Leon Durham and Ron Cey and Harry Caray singing Take Me Out To the Ballgame after about a half dozen Budweisers. I absolutely can't stand 'em now though. I have a good reason for it, but I'm not going to talk about it so don't ask.

#7 Boston Red Sox

I don't hate the Red Sox, it's just that they've already won two this decade. Let someone else win for a change. Dynasties are boring unless it's your team doing the dynasticising. Hey, I just made up a new word!

#6 Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

I can't possibly enjoy an Angels World Series victory simply because it would be just one more page in Scott Boras' book on why Mark Teixeira should get Eleventy Billion Dollars a season and not a penny less. I guess a silver lining would be Casey Kotchman getting a ring, but I'm still not too excited about the Halos this year.

==================line of demarcation==================

If any team below this line wins the World Series I will ultimately be happy with the result. Unfortunately all the favorites are above the line. This will all end in tears, I know it.

#5 Tampa Bay Rays

This almost was my #4 team, but at heart I'm an NL guy and I couldn't do it. Great story, awesome young team, I hope they can stick it to the Sox and Yankees for years to come, but... they're the Rays. I'll probably watch more Rays games this postseason than I will have seen my entire life before now.

#4 Los Angeles Dodgers

There's a lot of reasons for me not to root for the Dodgers. High profile team. Spends a lot of money on washed up players. Left Brooklyn 50 years ago. They were a big rival of my Braves back before the divisions changed. Manny Ramirez. However, This could be Greg Maddux's last shot at a second ring. So I have that to root for.

#3 Philadelphia Phillies

I like the Phillies. I know, I know, it makes no sense that I pick on the Mets like they are a red headed stepchild but like the Phillies. The Phillies utterly stomped the Braves' guts out this year too. There is no logical reason why I should like the Phillies and hate the Mets as a Braves fan. Ah, but actually there is... The very first card in my collection is a 1980 Topps card of Michael Jack Schmidt. The Phillies were reigning champs when I really got into baseball and collecting cards. I have a lot of family in Pennsylvania and a cousin who was a big Philly fan took me to a bunch of Braves games when I was a kid. I rooted for the Braves and he got drunk off his ass and cheered on the Phils. The first cap I bought at a Braves game was a Phillies cap, and I wore it obsessively for months. Finally, their history has been bad. Really bad. That team stunk a lot. I like rooting for underdogs and the Phillies franchise is definitely an underdog.

Well, here is my dream 2008 World Series matchup. Fans of these teams can start yelling at me now, as I have certainly put the whammy on your entire franchise.

#2 Chicago White Sox

I've been a Fisk fan ever since I pulled his card out of an '81 Topps pack. I really liked Ron Kittle because he hit lots of home runs and had big clunky glasses like me. I was always saddened by the 1919 scandal and Joe Jackson getting kicked out of baseball. I also had one of the old three color caps from the '80s for a while. I always kind of liked them, then when they changed the logo to the current black caps with the SOX on them I really started to like them, I followed the team with Black Jack McDowell, Frank Thomas, Fisk, Lance Johnson, Tim Raines and Bo Jackson almost as closely as the Braves. I played a Sox - Braves World Series on Tecmo Baseball many times on my Super Nintendo. Like I said before, I'm an NL kind of guy, but if I was an AL guy, the Sox would likely be my team. Plus Ozzie Guillen just rocks. I hope he manages the Sox for 30 years.

That means the team I'm rooting for to win it all is...

#1 Milwaukee Brewers

Thorzul just had a heartattack. I know, I'm sorry! This is the team I genuinely want to win! I can't help it. Sorry. There's a few reasons why I feel this way. First of all, Atlanta stole your team. You guys stole it from Boston so I don't feel all that bad, but we stole it all the same. Milwaukee fans are passionate and it's not nice to take teams away from passionate fans. So there's kind of a Braves connection going on there historically. They are the underdoggiest of underdogs in these playoffs. Their history makes the Phillies look like powerhouses. Except for 1982, they've been really really bad. I have fond memories of that '82 series, and I was rooting for them back then too. I am upset at the firing of Ned Yost, but Dale Sveum is one of those guys you can't really get mad at so that didn't really alter my feelings that much. The thing that puts them over the top though is that Prince Fielder and CC Sabathia are large, large men, and I see them dominate and can dream that my fat ass could actually play in the league. And you gotta have your dreams.

There it is, Steve and Thorzul are weeping over my inevitable jinx, but that's how I feel. This is going to be a good October for baseball.

2008 AL Central Champs

Twins 0.

Jim Thome home run.

White Sox 1.

2008 AL Central Champs:

Chicago White Sox

Holy.

Crap.

And You Thought The Season Was Over

In about five minutes or so, these guys:

will play these guys:

for a chance to play these guys:

to see who gets to play these guys:

Get it?

Got it?

Good.

Now let's watch some baseball!

2008 NL Wild Card

I scanned this card this morning before the games started certain that I had just jinxed the Brewers and would be scanning a different sticker tonight.

2008 National League Wild Card:

Milwaukee Brewers

Apparently, I was wrong. I'm glad, because this is probably the best MLB logo ever.

2008 AL East Champs

I hate expansion teams. There aren't a lot of sticker logo cards out there for them. To make things worse, the Rays ditched the fish this offseason and I can't even find ANYTHING card-related with the new logo on it. In these cases, I have to improvise.

2008 AL East Division Champions:

Tampa Bay Rays

I still can't believe my fingers are typing AL East Division Champion Tampa Bay... surreal.

2008 NL East Champs

Awwwwwww yeah. That's all I'm gonna say.

2008 NL East Division Champions:

Philadelphia Phillies

I'm gonna say one more thing: Go. Brewers.

Ok that's two things.

2008 AL Wildcard

The Red Sox are in the playoffs and the Yankees are not. That should ease the pain of losing Tom Brady for the year up in New England.

2008 American League Wild Card:

Boston Red Sox

Of course if the Yankees were in the Central division where the Twins and White Sox are currently playing a heated match of "I don't want it, you take it" they would probably win the division in a rout, so it might not be prudent to gloat.

Naaaaah. Go ahead and shout it loud Red Sox nation:

YANKEES SUUUUUUUUUCK

Four Meaningful Games

Marlins at Mets

Cubs at Brewers

Indians at White Sox

Royals at Twins

Nice to have critical games at the end of a season. We might have some more tomorrow too!

Three Spots Left With Two Days To Go

Last night the AL East was decided by a Red Sox loss against the Yankees. The Rays clinched a tie for the division with the Sox and won it due to the head to head record tiebreaker. So the Rays al AL East champs (did I really just type that??) And the Red Sox are the AL Wild Card. The only fight left in the American League is for the AL Central crown, and right now neither the Twins or the White Sox look like they want anything to do with it.

The NL has two races left, for the NL East and the wild card. Philly clinched at least a tie for the division with a win and a Mets loss yesterday. The Brewers were clutch last night against the hated Cubs and took a one game lead for the last playoff spot. With the win by Milwaukee, the Astros' hopes were ended, despite a 5-4 win over Atlanta with a walk off homer. Here are today's games that actually mean something.

Washington at Philadelphia

Win and Philly gets to pop the champagne. The Mets won already today so there's no scoreboard watching for the Phils.

Florida at New York Mets

This game was in the books before I even got out of bed. Johan pitched a three hitter to cut the Brewers' lead to half a game in the wild card race. Luckily for the Mets, Johan will pitch tomorrow on no days rest and hurl a no-hitter. That really puts some pressure on the Brew Crew.

Kansas City at Minnesota

The Twins got pwned yesterday on their own turf by lowly K.C. I win today puts some huge pressure on the White Sox, a loss gives them hope.

Cleveland at Chicago White Sox

The Sox have to stop the bleeding fast. Four game losing streaks at the end of the season in the nidst of a playoff chase is a good way to get people fired. They face the Tribe again tonight.

Chicago Cubs at Milwaukee

Milwaukee was clutch last night, but they need to do it again to stay ahead of the Mets. The Brewers control their own destiny, time will tell if that's a good or a bad thing.

DOWN THE STRETCH THEY COME

It's the last weekend of the year and half the games tonight mean something for the playoffs. There are three division titles and both wild card spots on the line. Four teams in each league are fighting it out and of course, none of them are meeting head to head. Here's tonight's games in order of least desperate to most.

Tampa Bay at Detroit

Tampa has already clinched their first playoff spot and their best record in their brief and miserable existence. A division title over the high salaried Red Sox would be extra sweet. The Rays are in the drivers seat, any combination of two wins over the hapless Tigers and Sox losses give them the crown.

UPDATE: 7:35pm - The Tigers go up 2-0 on an Ordonez double when I wasn't looking. Oops, make that 3-0 as Sheff drives Maggs home. This is not how you win a division, Rays!
UPDATE: 7:50pm - Benito Ramon Santiago two run jack. Tigers up by 5. These are the Rays I know!
UPDATE: 8:03pm - Woooo! Tampa! Run in on a fielder's choice!
UPDATE: After the debate - Detroit takes it, the scoring in the first two innings was enough.

New York Yankees at Boston

Boston is already in the playoffs as they have clinched a wild card berth if they cannot catch the Rays and you know the underachieving Yankees would love to play spoiler in Fenway. On the other hand, I doubt if the Sox are too concerned about going into the playoffs as the wildcard team.

UPDATE: 7:24pm - Rain delay in Boston. The game should get going shortly though.
UPDATE: 8:05pm - Still rainin'.
UPDATE: 8:43pm - Underway, finally.
UPDATE: 8:53pm - 1-1, don't care how it happened.
UPDATE: After the debate - Wow, Yanks up by 8. Boston squandering an opportunity with a Rays loss.

Washington at Philadelphia

The Phillies control their own destiny, a sweep over the Nationals gives then a second straight NL East title. They might need to sweep too, as the Mets are hosting their last regular season games at Shea and needs every win they can get just to stay in wild card contention.

UPDATE: 7:22 pm - Ryan Howard three run jack in the bottom of the first. Mets fans picked the wrong week to quit smoking.
UPDATE: 7:33pm - The Nats get a run back as Elijah Dukes scores on a single in the second.
UPDATE: 7:48pm - Washington is rolling over just like Congress. Bases clearling double by Utley, followed by another double by Howard. 7-1 Philthies.
UPDATE: 8:29pm - Washington scores boringly to cut the lead to 4.
UPDATE: After the debate - Philly gets their 90th win with ease.

Florida at New York Mets

The Mets have two paths to the playoffs hope Philadelphia falters and take back the division, or beat out Houston and Milwaukee for the wild card slot. Both require winning as many games as they can and the Marlins aren't in any mood to lie down against their division rivals.

UPDATE: 7:13pm - Marlins draw first blood and drive in Hanley on a John Baker single in the top of the first.
UPDATE: 7:19pm - Uggla knocks in another one on a ground out. Mets fans begin drinking heavily.
UPDATE: 8:51pm - Willingham solo homer. Looks like Mets fans picked the wrong week to quit amphetamines.
UPDATE: After the debate - Bad loss to the Fish at Shea. With the Phillies win, The best the Mets could hope for is a tie for the division. Looks like Mets fans picked the wrong week to stop sniffing glue.

Kansas City at Minnesota

The Twins have taken back the division going into the last weekend and lead by a half game over the White Sox. They've got the home field advantage against the Royals but even if they sweep they need a Sox loss at some point.

UPDATE: 8:55pm - Too many games going on. I can't keep up. KC picks up three runs on a bunch of singles.
UPDATE: After the debate - The twins sweep Chicago and are now getting spanked by KC at home. Terrible.

Cleveland at Chicago White Sox

Chicago was poised to take the division before getting swept in Minnesota. Now they are a half game behind and playing a dangerous team. If the Sox are either a half game up or behind the Twins on Monday, they will have to make up a postponed game against the Tigers and then might have to play a one game playoff. Gotta beat the Indians first though.

UPDATE: 8:18pm - Ben Francisco one run jack. David cheers, Steve weeps.
UPDATE: 8:41pm - Konerko with a jack. The Indians scored while I wasn't looking though. 2-1 Tribe.
UPDATE: 8:53pm - A.J. Peirzxlkniqwenwkni 2 run homer. David weeps, Steve cheers.
UPDATE: After the debate - Chicago's down by 5 in the 7th. Nobody seems to want the Central title.

Chicago Cubs at Milwaukee

Milwaukee is tied with the Mets for the wild card lead, but they have to go through division rival and Central Champion Chicago to get there. The Cubs and Brewers hate each other every bit as much as New York and Boston so this will be a fierce fight.

UPDATE: 8:39pm - Jim Edmonds plays for the Cubs?? When did that happen? He just hit a solo shot in the 2nd. Sorry Thorzul.
UPDATE: 8:56pm - Last update before I go do my Civic Duty. Pass the Maalox. Kendall doubles in Hart to tie the game.
UPDATE: After the debate - Three run blast by Rickie Weeks in the 7th gives the Brew Crew a 4 run lead. A win here and they are a game up on the MEts for the wild card.

Atlanta at Houston

Houston is hanging by their fingernails right now after getting screwed over by hurricane relocation. They have to sweep the Braves, hope for the Mets and Brewers to both get swept and then beat the Cubs in a makeup game just to force a three team playoff! Which would be awesome, actually. I might have to root against the Braves this weekend. Naaaaah. They're toast.

UPDATE: 7:15pm - Chipper's out tonight at Houston. Chipper has the batting title locked up, but can pass the Mick for the highest average in a season for a switch hitter if he can raise it up to .366 this weekend.
UPDATE: 8:20pm - Houston scored somehow when I was taking out the trash. I don't wanna know how they scored.
UPDATE: 8:33pm - Ty Wigginton solo shot over a leaping Francoeur. 2-0 'Stros.
UPDATE: 8:50pm - Michael Bourn has lasers for feet. Scored from second on a sac fly. Dammit Astros, let me hit post before you score again! Another run in. they're leading by 4.
UPDATE: After the debate - Up 4-3 in the ninth, and an bad throw ties it up. A win by Milwaukee makes this game meaningless.
UPDATE: Even later after the debate - Erstad hits a walk-off for the 'Stros. Milwaukee is one out away from ending their hopes.

I'll update the games throughout the night. I need something to distract me from that trainwreck in Mississippi tonight...

2008 NL West Champs

It just occurred to me that Andruw Jones is still in the running to win his first championship. Wow.

2008 NL West Division Champions:

Los Angeles Dodgers

Good thing the Yankees got rid of Joe Torre, that guy is totally washed up.

This sticker thing is getting popular, innit? :)

2008 NL Central Champs

Well, they won the division fair and square, so I guess they deserve a sticker post....

2008 NL Central Division Champions:

Chicago Cubs

Congratulations to the Cubs, I'll certainly be rooting for Chicago's team this October.

2008 AL West Champs

The first division winner has clinched. All hail to the champs.

2008 AL West Division Champions:

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

But when one team clinches, that means others are eliminated...