Small Preview:

With 42 days until the NFL Regular Season kicks off, I have decided to sound off on each of the 32 NFL teams with a focus on each one's Offense and Defense. Expect more on this project coming soon.

MLB Hall of Fame Day

With a congratulations to Rickey Henderson and Jim Rice, who entered the MLB Hall of Fame today - I have been a baseball fan for 10 years. However, I always love speculating both youth and talent. This is a list for just myself, but these are guys who are going to wind up in the HOF, or at least on a ballot at some point who are personal favorites of mine. Here's the twist - they are all going to be under 28. (For football, I will do a similar list, but those guys will all be under 26).

Note: all players must have played in the Majors.

Position - Name (age)

Four man starting rotation:
SP - CC Sabathia (28)
SP - Justin Verlander (26)
SP - Tim Lincecum (25)
SP - Jered Weaver (26)

I just can't put in Joba or Hughes as much as I want to. Also, I am afraid Linceum will have the same problems Dontrelle Willis had. While I think Linecum has far better stuff, a lot of it is a direct result of his quirky windup and throwing motion. Major league hitters could figure it out in the coming years.

The lineup.

C - Joe Mauer (26)
1B - Justin Morneau (28)
2B - Dustin Pedroia (25)
SS - Hanley Ramirez (25)
3B - Evan Longoria (23)

OF - BJ Upton (24)
OF - Jay Bruce (22)
OF - Grady Sizemore (26)

Guys I just couldn't leave off the list:

1B - Miguel Cabrera (26)
3B - David Wright (26)

I'll be completely honest. There were two guys who seemed like LOCKS in their position, and they were Joe Mauer and Dustin Pedroia. They just know baseball. It's unbelievable watching them play, some players just have that natural look or ability. However, I have one player who has gotten a LOT of hype and I believe - barring a Mark Prior like career - will be fantastic.

If you haven't heard of him, you will:

Bryce Harper (16)

And of course the kid who is so good he can't even get a rookie contract:

SP - Stephen Strasburg (21)

Another joy of being a sports fan? Watching the young talent grow from a high school phenom, become a star in college then get drafted and earn the money by fantastic play. My favorite list is doing this for football though. I have played with scouts inc. for years and think Mel Kiper Jr. has the greatest job in the country. I'm going to give everyone a hint. The starting QB for the under 26 team? Matt Ryan.

Halladay, Wise, and My Top 3

I've been putting off writing about "why the Phillies need/don't need Roy Halladay" because it just seemed like such a cliche kind of thing to do. I mean, more than half the stories posted under the Phillies on BleacherReport this week had that as their basic argument.

Also, I didn't want to make my contributions to this blog ONLY about the Phillies.

But I'm going to do it anyway.

Let's get one thing straight: the Phillies do not need Halladay to win the N.L. East this year. At this point, there is absolutely no excuse for not winning the division. They have the talent, they have the experience, and, oh yeah, they have a 6 game lead. I'm not saying that its impossible for someone else (Atlanta has been looking good lately) to catch them, but if you are Ruben Amaro you can't be making this deal with an eye towards winning the division - you have to rely on the guys you already have to do that.

So that means this deal is all about the Play-offs.

If the Phillies go into the post-season right now, here's what their rotation looks like:

Hamels, Blanton, Happ, Moyer (or Pedro).

And here's how far Philly will go with that rotation:

The 2009 NLDS.

Consider that last year, when they won it all, Blanton was the #4 guy on the play-off rotation, and Hamels was pitching better than any other time in his career. Now, you're going to expect Blanton to be a #2 pitcher and a below-average Hamels to beat other team's aces.

On top of that, you're going to have an unproven rookie (Happ) and an over-the-hill veteran. Moyer got beat up in the play-offs last year, and I don't think Pedro is much of an upgrade there. Happ has been great so far, but so was Kyle Kendrick in 2007. Then, in Game 2 versus Colorado, Kendrick got shelled.

With this rotation, you have to pray Hamels can beat the other ace in Game 1, then you have to pray somebody can win another game in the series to force a Game 5, where you will be praying Hamels can beat the other ace again. Not a very favorable scenario if you want to repeat as World Champions.

Now, add Halladay, even if it means subtracting Happ, and you have this:

Halladay, Hamels, Blanton, Pedro/Moyer (or Happ, if you don't have to use him to get the Doctor).

That looks more like it. Halladay will favorably match up with any ace. Hamels, even if he doesn't get it together, is better than most #2 pitchers. And I like Blanton as a #3 much more than I do as a #2.

Giving up Happ (and Drabek) might sting a little, and it might hurt down the road, but this is a team that will have its entire core intact for the next two seasons. Adding Halladay for this year and 2010 means Philadelphia has a very good chance to be the first team to win three consecutive National League pennants since the NLCS began in 1969.

*****

DeWayne Wise's catch in the top of the ninth of Mark Buehrle's perfect game on Thursday has been broken down in probably every sports blog in the country, including this one.

My two cents: It's not the "greatest catch ever" as some have been saying. It might be the catch of the year, maybe.

What makes it so remarkable, for me, is not the catch itself (we've seen a lot of guys go over the wall and rob home runs), but what happened as Wise was coming down: the ball popped out of his glove. Even if he had dropped it at that point, he still would have saved a home run, and in normal circumstances that would be impressive enough. But he manages, as he is falling to the ground, to juggle the ball with his bare hand and hold on to it. That's why this was a great catch - most guys wouldn't be able to pull off both the over-the-wall move and the bare-handed dismount.

*****

Dave's last post got me thinking about my own sports history. So here's my Top 3 sporting events that I've seen live.

3. July 15, 2007 - The Phillies losing their 10,000th game. They are the only team in North American sports history to do that, so maybe it's not all positive, but it speaks to the longevity of the team. Well I was there for number 10,000. And yes, I applauded at the end of the game, just like most of the people in the crowd.


2. June 10, 2005 - Game 4 of the 2005 Calder Cup Finals, when the Philadelphia Phantoms closed out the Chicago Wolves to sweep the series and win the title. At the time, I was thinking: wow, if this is how people celebrate a minor league championship in this city, whats it going to be like when the Eagles or Phillies win one?


1. October 25, 2008 - Game 3 of the 2008 World Series. Carlos Ruiz walk-off 30-foot dribbler to score Eric Bruntlett against 5 infielders. After a two hour rain delay before the game. After Utley and Howard hit back-to-back homers. After Jamie Moyer pitched in front of his home town fans and looked like a young man. With my girlfriend and one of my best friends. Amazing night.


Honorable Mentions - I've seen two walk-off home runs in my lifetime. The first was Aaron Royster of the Reading Phillies (AA) against the Akron Aeros in 1997 (in the 12th inning). The second was David Wright against the Padres last year.

I'm no Mark Buehrle...

I believe I have watched the various replays of Mark Buehrle's perfect game about a dozen times. The game itself was fantastic to watch, but not just for the game. Watching moments like these are for the fans as well. That is the joy of being a pure fan. So many people are getting caught up in steroids, but I'm just going to enjoy this is for what it is. If you haven't watch the final half inning. It is a moment in time. It can never be taken away.

This got me thinking about some of the best sports moments I have ever seen.

- The first football game I ever remember watching was Super Bowl XXVIII. This single game launched me into a level of sports fanaticism to which I have not come back from.

- The 1996 Jeffrey Maier catch against the Orioles which changed the dynamics of the entire playoffs. It was the moment that really defined the series. It didn't win it, but neither did LeBron's shot. Bill Buckner didn't LOSE the series, just botched a play. It's just a big piece of the puzzle.

- This one is more of a personal note, but when the Devils won the Stanley Cup on Jason Arnott's overtime winner. An honorable mention is when the Rangers won their cup in 1994 and Messier shaking the cup.

- When Jumbo Elliott caught the pass for the touchdown in the Monday Night Miracle.

- As much as I hate to say it, I remember when Louis Gonzalez hit that little blooper to left field. I refuse to put a link up to it.

- In an homage to my dad, I remember the Aaron Boone home run. For what it's worth, I have never seen the end of the 2004 or 2007 World Series' and I plan on keeping it that way. Regardless, they are big moments.

But the most important moment that I have experienced as a fan? This has nothing to do with sports itself.

Jack Buck's poem right after 9/11.

All this said, it is very important to remember the moments in sports that matter to you. When it really comes down to it - sports is a diversion and a method of entertainment. I am glad to be a fanatic for the teams I love and it will continuously provide us with moments that are going to remain in our memories for years to come.

Perfect Games and Other Items of Note

First off I would like to give well deserved congratulations to Mark Buehrle for his Perfect Game yesterday afternoon. As far as Perfect Games go, Buehrle's was only the 17th in regular season history and 18th overall - as you might already know Don Larsen's is still the only postseason Perfect Game in MLB history. What makes Buehrle's feat even more special, is that he is one of only 28 pitchers with multiple no-nos, and the sixth with at least 2 no-hitters and a Perfect Game. Pretty amazing huh? As well as Buehrle pitched, it was perhaps the miracle catch by his teammate Dewayne Wise that made it memorable. If you haven't seen the catch (shame on you) click on the link here. I probably watched that catch at least 20 times last night; I'm still in awe that Wise managed to not drop it. Barring some other miracle catch, this will be the catch of the year, and perhaps in the running for one of the greatest catches of all time. As a matter of fact this is currently the ESPN poll question of the day.

Miscellaneous items of interest:

Baseball:
After a nearly 3 hour rain delay the Yankees managed to extend their winning streak to 7 games. It hasn't been pretty this past week, but teams been getting the job done both starters and bullpen alike. The series against Baltimore featured a couple 2-1 nailbiters as well as a Hideki Matsui walk-off winner. Last nights win also allowed my Yanks to take a 2.5 game lead in the division as Boston had an off day.

Look out - The Philadelphia Phillies have won 15 of their last 17 games, and with the addition of Pedro Martinez and possibly Roy Halladay, the defending champs are beginning to run away with the NL East and are becoming the team to beat in the National League.

Basketball:

- I know I've said basketball isn't necessarily my area of expertise, but what's with this LeBron getting dunked on hype?? Watch the video here and tell me where that is because I couldn't even discern LeBron from the other guys. So Crawford dunked on him...big deal why all the cover up? LAME.

Football:

- Aside from the beginning of camps (and Brett Favre's ongoing indecisiveness) football news is rather slow unless you're Michael Vick. The next few days will decide his football fate, and while the possibility of him becoming reinstated by Roger Goodell seems imminent, there is still a potential 4 game suspension looming. The other question that needs to be looked at is which team would sign him? Vick just got out of prison, is likely out of football shape, and if reinstated, would miss the first 4 games of the season anyway. It's a major risk for any team to take. According to ESPN.com at least a few teams have outright declared they want nothing to do with Vick, including the Giants, Jets, Rams, and 49ers. Amazing considering 3 out of those 4 teams will have their QBs battling it out in the preseason and in camps. The UFL seems to be the only real option for Michael Vick at the present moment, at least until he proves himself mature and responsible enough to rejoin the NFL.

Hope you enjoyed my post, again feel free to comment on anything I've written!

- Ash

This just in! Sportscenter has just announced that Matt Holliday will go to the Cardinals in a 4 player deal with the A's....looks like Pujols has some protection. Yikes, look out National League. I'll say this, with Holliday in the 3-hole he gives Albert an even more legit shot at the Triple Crown. I would not be surprised if he gets it now.

Buehrle Perfect Game

Some quick hitters about Mark Buehrle's perfect game, the 16th in MLB history, and the first since Randy Johnson was perfect against the Braves on May 18, 2004.

- He is the 2nd player in Chicago White Sox history to throw a perfect game. The first? Charlie Robertson on April 30, 1922 against the Detroit Tigers.

- Buehrle also threw a no-hitter on April 18, 2007, so he is the sixth pitcher in history to have both a no-hitter and a perfect game. He joins Cy Young, Addie Joss, Jim Bunning, Sandy Koufax, and Randy Johnson as the only members of that club.

- 11 of the 16 perfect games in history (including Buehrle's) have been pitched at home.

- Dodger Stadium has been the site of two perfect games (Koufax in 1965 and Dennis Martinez in 1991), while old Yankee Stadium saw three perfectos (Don Larson in 1956, David Wells in 1998, and Devid Cone in 1999).

- 10 of the 16 perfect games in history have been in day games. Even if you consider the fact that before the 1960s, a lot more games were played during the day, 6 of the 12 perfect games since 1960 have been during the day. Three of the last four (Wells, Cone, and Buehrle) have been during the day. Does this mean something?

- More people have orbited the Moon (24) than have thrown perfect games.

First Pitches

Since writing intros seems to be the thing to do on here, I'll add one of my own.

For much of the past year, I had the undeserved luxury of living with the founders of this blog (306 shall live on), and it is because of them that I have been given the opportunity to contribute here. I will be trying to add my thoughts at least once a week, though my incredibly horrible internet connection in my apartment in Rochester might impede my efforts until I move back to my parent's house in mid-August.

However, if you're reading this, you probably care less about my struggles with public wireless access than you do about sports, so here's what you can probably expect from me:

I generally stay in-season when it comes to sports, so for the time being I'm all about baseball (helped by the fact that it's also my favorite), and contrary to what many will tell you - football season DOES NOT begin until the week after Labor Day. Preseason games are basically a waste of time and money, and don't even get me started on the excessive coverage that training camps get.

After baseball, my other major interests fall in the following order: NCAA Basketball, Pro Football, and Soccer. The NBA does occasionally gets me interested (like during last year's play-offs, which were the best in a long time), and honestly the NHL would be a lot higher on my radar if I could ever actually find a game on the television. However, I'm not one of the lucky 0.005% of people in this country who get Versus, so I've just kind of tuned out the NHL.

Besides, with baseball, football, and college basketball, you have a full year of all the good sports and none of the occasionally crappy ones. Baseball and football overlap nicely, as do football and college basketball. The NCAA title game is usually within a week of opening day, so that's just about perfect too.

Soccer, in one form or another, runs pretty much year-round, so you'll be getting some of that too. MLS is only mildly enjoyable, but with the U.S. gearing up for the World Cup next summer, I'll try to bring some perspective on the final 5 qualifying games that are scheduled from September through November.

Of course, being a Philly fan will color my opinions on certain things, but I promise to do my best to keep things objective (and occasionally objectivist - just because Ayn Rand is awesome).

So without going into too much detail, I'll gather my crystal ball and glass of water to give you some of the headlines you'll see between now and the end of the baseball season:

- Phils cruise to 3rd consecutive NL East title.

- Pujols goes 4-for-4 on season's final day to win batting title, triple crown, and division.

- Cubs Fall Short: finish one game back of Cards.

- Role Reversal; Yanks enter ALCS as underdogs to Red Sox. (god save us from ESPN's over-hype that will result, but it's gonna happen)

- Phillies, Dodgers re-match in NLCS.

- World Series Game 6 to be played for the first time since 2003. (but I'm not telling who wins)

And finally, just because everyone on here seems to be ragging on curling, I feel like I have to defend it. It's actually a lot more fun than it seems, and even if it isn't the most exciting spectator sport, watching the last few ends of a world-class match is pretty enjoyable. This past year, the world championship match between Scotland and Canada came down to the last end, where Scotland scored three points over the last two ends to come from behind and win.