Facebook Problems Persist

Hello, I wanted to use this resource to discuss my displeasure with Facebook. Beginning on October 3rd, I lost access to my Facebook account. Note the article below:

http://www.zdnetasia.com/news/internet/0,39044908,62058573,00.htm

Days later, Facebook claimed to have fixed the problem for all of the 150,000 affected users:

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13577_3-10376475-36.html

I, however, still do not have access to my account. I have emailed Facebook daily and have yet to receive a response. I wanted to post this to see if I am an isolated case, or if there are still a large number of people who are having issues.

Big Papi is back!!!

The last poll that was posted asked, "Will David Ortiz come out of his slump?" A whopping 4 people responded, and only one person said yes. (I am happy to say that was me!)

Big Papi now has 3 HR in his last 5 games, and his batting average has soared over the Mendoza line to .203. Over the last 7 days, Big Papi is hitting .350 with a .458 OBP.

Ortiz has not lost his knack for clutch hitting, either. Ortiz decided to break out of his season long slump against the archrival Yankees with 2 HR in 3 games.

I think that his hot hitting probably earned him a start in interleague play against the Phillies.

John Smoltz on his way back to Boston

Here is an article about John Smoltz and his rehab, as well as some other Red Sox news:

John Smoltz Update/Red Sox News

I am not a huge fan of a 6 man rotation personally. As Browne noted, pitchers are "creatures of habit." I could not agree more. 6 days is too long a layoff for most starters.

The Red Sox should look to trade Brad Penny for a nice prospect or two, or perhaps a big league hitter. Even if someone in the rotation gets hurt, the Sox can still use Masterson, Buchholz, and Bowden as starters.

NFL Fantasy Files

This is a follow up to the post elrey made a couple weeks ago when Laurence Maroney jumped through the car windows:

SI Article about Tom Brady

In an interesting Sports Illustrated piece, Peter King talks with Tom Brady about the knee surgery and what lies ahead on and off the field.

SI Article

Ortiz and the number 3 spot

David Ortiz went 0 for 12 against the Mets this weekend with eight strikeouts and left sixteen runners on base. His average is now .195 and his slugging is .299. The Sox need to take him out of the number 3 spot now. They cannot afford to leave him there with these numbers.

Nick Johnson to Red Sox?

According to ESPN's Peter Gammons, the Washington Nationals have offered to trade Nick Johnson to the Red Sox for Manny Delcarmen.

Nick Johnson/Manny Delcarmen Swap

Even though the Red Sox seemingly have a ton of depth in their bullpen, I'd rather keep it that way. While Nick Johnson has had a fantastic 2009 and would allow the team more defensive flexibility, he has a history of injury concerns. If the Sox were to trade for Johnson, it would also signal the front office's belief that the end is near for Big Papi. I am still holding out hope for the resurgence of Papi. Regardless, though, Ortiz makes $12.5 million and will not be used in a utility role making that much money. Due to his declining production, I don't see a team trading for him, either.

This trade is unlikely to happen.

Patriots Schedule Analysis Part I

I am sure that a lot will change between now and September, but here are my thoughts on the first four games of the season as of late May.

September 14, vs. Buffalo-This is sure to be a high-intensity game given that it will be the season-opener on Monday Night Football and will feature the return of Tom Brady and the debut of Terrell Owens as a Bill. Although the Bills have made some changes this off-season that should improve their team, I do not see it being enough for them to come into Foxborough and beat the Patriots in Week 1. Plus, Dick Jauron is still the coach in Buffalo.

September 20, at New York Jets-The departure of Brett Favre and the arrival of Mark Sanchez should bode well for the Jets in the long-run, but I do not see the Jets being a contender this year. Their roster simply has too many holes and I think Sanchez will have a rough rookie year transitioning to the NFL. This should be a relatively easy win for New England.

September 27, vs. Atlanta-Even with the addition of Tony Gonzalez, it will be difficult for the Falcons to repeat the success they had in 2008. The Falcons are a good team, but I just do not see them coming up to New England and beating the Patriots.

October 4, vs. Baltimore-The Ravens will also find it difficult to achieve the same level of success that they had in 2008. In the off-season, Rex Ryan left to become head coach of the Jets and brought linebacker Bart Scott and safety Jim Leonhard with him to New York. It will be interesting to see if the vaunted Ravens defense can still continue to play at the same level. On the offensive side, Baltimore needs some more play-makers as Derrick Mason is not getting any younger. Still, this will not be an easy win for the Patriots, but it still should be a win.

Brady doing well

On "Patriots Today," Tom Brady said that he is "feeling great." This is, of course, expected and he should be ready to go when Week 1 rolls around. After the reports that surfaced following his surgery, it is good to hear Brady himself say he is doing well.

Red Sox to trade for Victor Martinez?

According to Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com, the Red Sox are contemplating a trade for Victor Marintez.

V-Mart to Red Sox?

I would definitely support a trade for Victor. Although I think David Ortiz will bounce back from his awful start, the Red Sox front office shouldn't expect another AL MVP caliber season from him ever again. Ortiz has turned into a 25 HR, 90 RBI player at best. In order to have a successfully functioning offense, we need more production than that from the #3 hitter in the lineup.

With the acquisition of Martinez, it would help give off days to three specific players: Varitek, Lowell and Ortiz. Martinez would be able to play both catcher and 1B, giving some much needed rest to Varitek. If V-Mart spent a game at 1B, it would allow Youkilis to shift over to 3B and give Lowell's hip a day off, too. Of course, Martinez could also give Ortiz a rest from DHing.

While I would like the Sox to acquire a player of Martinez's caliber, the Red Sox should not forfeit the farm system to do so. I am okay with trading Clay Buchholz, Daniel Bard, and a second-tier offensive player. Trading Buchholz, Michael Bowden and Lars Anderson, however, would simply be too much. Theo and the front office greatly value their developing players and will not be pushed around. Unless a deal is there at the right price, the Red Sox will pass. The farther the Indians fall out of contention, the more leverage the Red Sox gain.

With all of this said, the Indians have to be willing to trade him. As Rosenthal notes, the Indians are still trying to win this year and are wary of losing their fanbase for next season as well.

With Martinez under control through 2010, I think a trade is unlikely this year. By holding off, the Red Sox give their farm system another year to develop, enabling the front office a better understanding of the talent these prospects possess.

I think the Red Sox have enough depth in their lineup that the David Ortiz problem can be fixed internally. If Ortiz does not bounce back, the Sox will be forced to push him down in the order. This would likely result in Jason Bay hitting 3rd, and Ortiz hitting 5th. After seeing what Bay has done so far this season, this may be the best move for the team regardless of whether or not Ortiz begins to swing the bat.

Trade for Derrick Burgess?

According to ESPN’s John Clayton, the Pats are talking with the Oakland Raiders about a possible trade for Derrick Burgess. Burgess, a two-time Pro-Bowl defensive end for Oakland, would be an OLB in a 3-4. The Raiders are looking to unload Burgess because they are tight against the salary cap and trading Burgess would free up $3.5 million in cap room. Burgess is also in the final year of his contract and it is unlikely that he will re-sign with the Raiders. If he comes to New England, Burgess would fill arguably the biggest hole on the roster at OLB and would provide a much-needed pass rush. The downside is that Burgess has had some injury concerns in the past (he missed almost half of last season) and there are questions about him transitioning to a 3-4. Still, I would love to see the Pats pick up Burgess in exchange for an early second-day pick, most likely a third-rounder.

Laurence Maroney Video

This can't be real, but it is still a good video with Patriots running back Laurence Maroney.

Free website to watch NHL Playoff games

If you do not get Versus or another network on your TV, this is a great FREE website to watch all of the NHL Playoff games.

Hockey Webcasts

Just because

My favorite part of this video is the reaction of Doc Rivers at 1:07.

Daniel Bard is called up from Pawtucket

The Boston Red Sox called up pitcher Daniel Bard from Pawtucket yesterday, May 10th. Javier Lopez was designated for assignment.

Daniel Bard is known for a fastball that comfortably sits in the 96-98 MPH range, and tops out around 100 MPH. His secondary pitches are average but improving. It will be interesting to see how often, and in what situations, the Red Sox pitch him. He could potentially become Jonathan Papelbon's setup man by season's end.

Sox Prospects has profiled him here as well:

Daniel Bard Profile

Bill Parcells Coors Light Commercial

Here is a classic Coors Light commercial featuring former Patriots coach Bill Parcells:

David Ortiz can't hit a HR to save his life!

David Ortiz has now gone 113 ABs without a HR. His BA sits at a disappointing .221. Elrey and I were recently discussing whether we think Big Papi was a steroid and PED user or not. It is worrisome when you hit 54 HRs in 2006, 35 in 2007, 23 in 2008, and can't hit a lick in 2009.

Maybe David Ortiz should consider another sport?

Patrick Chung Blocking

Chung (#15) lays out two Michigan offensive linemen during an interception return.

Manny Ramirez tests positive for PEDs

According to ESPN.com: Major League Baseball announced Thursday that Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Manny Ramirez has been suspended for 50 games for violating its drug policy.

The entire article can be read here:

Manny tests positive for PEDs

Tyrone McKenzie out for season

Patriots linebacker Tyrone McKenzie, a 3rd-round draft pick out of South Florida, is out for the season with a torn ACL in right knee. He was injured while participating in drills during the team’s rookie minicamp last weekend in Foxborough. McKenzie figured to vie for time with Tedy Bruschi and Gary Guyton at inside linebacker next to Jerod Mayo, meaning that the Pats may look to bring in another player to the mix at the position.

Sox 5 for 5, but what is Chamberlain's deal...?

With tonight's win at Yankee Stadium, the Red Sox have now won all five contests against the Yankees this year.

More importantly, though, what is the deal with Joba Chamberlain? If he thinks he's developing a reputation as somebody who guys are scared to hit against, he's wrong. Throwing at Jason Bay, after he had previously homered, was blatant and bush league. If he thinks it will help to fire up his team, he's wrong again. Simply stated: if you are not motivated to play in the Red Sox/Yankees rivalry as soon as you walk onto the field, you shouldn't be wearing the Red and Blue or the Pinstripes. The Yankees don't need Joba throwing at players and further motivating the Red Sox.

If Joba was throwing at Bay in order to instigate a brawl, he need only watch this video:



Joba better hope the Red Sox don't retaliate later in the season. We all know what happens when the Red Sox participate in a rumble: they go on to win Championships.

Patrick Chung Coin Toss Video

This is a classic video featuring Pats safety Patrick Chung. I love the reaction of the Purdue guys. Chung is #15, on the far left, talking with the referee.

There goes slimy...

The Boston Celtics defeated the Chicago Bulls 4-3 to move onto the Eastern Conference semifinals. This series will go down as "the greatest series not to have a trophy awarded at the end of it."

Brad Miller, a.k.a. "slimy" or "cry-baby" was a whining pest the whole series. Tommy-Gun (and everyone else in Boston) was happy when he fouled out towards the end of Game 7.

I would like to tip my cap to Vinny Del Negro and the coaching job he has done. The Bulls put up quite a fight.

The Celtics move on to face the Orlando Magic in the next round. Expect a large dose of Dwight Howard and Rashard Lewis.

Great E-Mail

This has to be one of the greatest e-mails of all-time. A reader sent this to Bill Simmons after the Patriots defeated the Chargers 38-14 in Week 2 of the 2007 season:

"Just thought you'd be curious as to the Super Duper Triple Secret 15 Scripted Plays that Norv Turner kept locked in a hermetically sealed vault guarded by the Secret Service, as reported by Andrea Kremer, a script so secret that he'd only tell his players right before the game: Here are the 15 plays of sheer offensive genius:

"1) Throw interception to Colvin left
"2) Run Tomlinson off left tackle for 2 yards
"3) Throw incomplete pass down the right side to Davis
"4) Throw left to Gates short of the first down
"5) Punt
"6) Run Tomlinson off left guard for 2 yards
"7) Run Tomlinson off left guard for 8 yards
"8) Run Tomlinson off right guard for 2 yards
"9) Run Tomlinson up the middle for 4 yards
"10) Sweep Tomlinson right for minus-1 yards
"11) Throw left to Jackson for 14 yards
"12) Get sacked by Colvin, and fumble
"13) Run Tomlinson off left guard for 3 yards
"14) Throw right to Tomlinson for 6 yards
"15) Run Tomlinson off left guard for 0 yards

"Play 16 was a punt. Norv's offensive genius is just stunning, I'm amazed the Patriots survived that game."

Original Article

Patriots acquire Alex Smith

The New England Patriots acquired TE Alex Smith from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for an undisclosed 2010 draft pick.

A New Milestone!

On to the Pike has officially reached 1,000 page views! Thanks to everyone who has made the blog a success.

Here is a classic video:

Atleast the Celtics won, I think I jinxed the Rangers and Sox...

The Celtics took a crucial 3-2 series lead against the Bulls. The luck for the Rangers and the Red Sox, however, was not the same. My Rangers blew a 3-1 series lead, and the Red Sox saw their 11 game losing streak come to a halt against the Indians after a costly error by Javier Lopez in the bottom of the 9th inning (The Red Sox had already blown a 7-3 lead). While I'm happy that the Celtics took care of business at home, the night has left me with a bitter taste in my mouth.

Also, the much awaited continuation of my baseball preview will occur sometime this week. Having an extra three weeks to scout the teams will only improve my analysis!

Rangers in a Game 7!

So far, so good. The Rangers are in a 1-1 game at the end of the 2nd period. I wouldn't compare it to the Revolutionary War, but it's quite a battle. This is much more competitive than Game 6, and the Rangers have put themselves in a position to win. Hopefully they can pull it out!

Sox up 7-3, can you say 12 in a row?!

"The Sorriest Corner in the League"

In light of Ellis Hobbs being traded to the Eagles, I feel obliged to post this classic video by NECN after the Patriots defeated the Chargers in the AFC Divisional Playoffs in January 2007. In an all-time classic move, Philip Rivers calls Hobbs the "sorriest corner in the league."

Note: This video cannot be embedded, so I will post the link.

Sorriest Corner in the League

Darryl Richard

The Pats draft Darryl Richard (DL) of Georgia Tech with the 234th pick. This was their final pick in the 2009 NFL Draft. Analysis to come later.

Julian Edelman

The Pats draft Julian Edelman (WR) of Kent State with the 232nd pick.

Myron Pryor

The Pats select Myron Pryor (DL) of Kentucky with the 207th pick.

Jake Ingram

The Pats draft Jake Ingram (LS) of Hawaii with the 198th pick.

George Bussey

The Pats draft George Bussey (OL) of Louisville with the 170th pick.

Pats trade Hobbs; draft Rich Ohrnberger

In a suprising move, the Pats traded Ellis Hobbs to the Eagles for picks 137 and 141. They then traded those picks to the Ravens for 123 and 198. At 123, they selected Rich Ohrnberger (OL) of Penn State. He can play center and guard and thus adds interior line depth. In trading Hobbs (who enters the final year of his contract), the Pats give up a solid corner and their best kick-off returner while opening up a little cap room.

Tryone McKenzie

The Pats select Tyrone McKenzie (OLB) of USF with the 97th pick. He projects to be an ILB in a 3-4.

Brandon Tate

The Pats select Brandon Tate (WR) of North Carolina with the 83rd pick.

Sebastian Vollmer

The Pats select Sebastian Vollmer (OL) of Houston with the 58th pick.

Darius Butler

The Pats select Darius Butler (CB) of UCONN with the 41st pick.

Ron Brace

The Pats select Burncoat and BC's Ron Brace (DL) with the 40th pick.

Patrick Chung

The Pats select Patrick Chung (S) of Oregon with the 34th pick.

NFL Draft Countdown

Count me among the people very excited about tomorrow's draft! Rumors abound that the Pats are trying to get into the top ten of the draft. Peter King believes the Pats are not going after LSU's Tyson Jackson, the obvious pick as he projects to be a 3-4 defensive end. Given that this is the Patriots we are talking about, I'm going to expect the unexpected. Michael Holley, one of the very few people who predicted that the Pats would take Jerod Mayo last year, thinks it could be Andre Smith if the Pats go into the top ten. Yet, I would still take that with a grain of salt. I just hope they get some much needed youth and athleticism on defense, especially at linebacker.

Another great Bruins video

Another Jack Edwards classic.

Funny Bruins Video

Here is a classic video of Bruins announcer Jack Edwards. Thanks to a reader for alerting us to the video.

The New Yankee Stadium? A Home Run Derby!

$1.5 billion can't buy you everything! Apparently the architects of Yankee Stadium did not take into account a nasty wind-current when designing the stadium seating.



Coincidence my eye! Finally the Yankees have some bad luck after all those years of bloop singles, Michael Kay hyperbole, and $200 million payrolls.

How about they just knock it over and try again? Steinbrenner is probably considering it.

Bruins

The Bruins are up 3-0 in the series against the Canadiens! How did the Rangers do tonight?

Offensive Lineman in the NFL Draft

Pro Football Weekly notes that the Pats are intent on bolstering the offensive line in the upcoming draft (http://www.profootballweekly.com/PFW/The+Way+We+Hear+It/Whispers/2009/wrapup041909.htm). Although they definitely have more immediate defensive needs that should be addressed in the first few rounds, the Pats could try and grab a few good offensive lineman in the mid to late-rounds of the draft. While the offensive line is pretty good right now, the age and contracts of the lineman raise some long-term concerns. Thus, expect to see the Pats draft a few OG/C's in the mid to late rounds and possibly a tackle in the early rounds if the value is there.

LET'S GO RANGERS!

The Rangers take a commanding 2-0 lead on the Capitals going back to MSG! The Blue Shirts are certainly coming on at the right time. I think Lord Stanley's Cup is in their future!

Are you ready for the playoffs? (Minus KG)

This commercial kind of makes me sad. Not going to lie. It is going to be really tough to repeat without KG.

He saw his opportunity and BOOM!, he took it!

If you did not hear the news, John Madden retired today, which means no more excessive compliments for Brett Favre/Peyton Manning/any offensive lineman. As for the poll question, I chose video games.

Gone.

David Buckner faints on Glenn Beck's show.

Pats 2009 Schedule

The NFL just announced the 2009 schedule. Here is the Pats schedule:

• Sept. 14 (Monday) -- vs. Buffalo (7 p.m., ESPN)
• Sept. 20 – at N.Y. Jets (1 p.m., CBS)
• Sept. 27 – vs. Atlanta (1 p.m., Fox)
• Oct. 4 – vs. Baltimore (1 p.m., CBS)
• Oct. 11 – at Denver (4:15 p.m., CBS)
• Oct. 18 – vs. Tennessee (4:15 p.m., CBS)
• Oct. 25 -- at Buccaneers (in London, 1 p.m.)
• Nov. 1 -- Bye
• Nov. 8 – vs. Miami (1 p.m., CBS)
• Nov. 15 – at Indianapolis (8:20 p.m., NBC)
• Nov. 22 – vs. N.Y. Jets (4:15 p.m., CBS)
• Nov. 30 (Monday) – at New Orleans (8:30 p.m., ESPN)
• Dec. 6 – at Miami (8:20 p.m., NBC)
• Dec. 13 – vs. Carolina (1 p.m., Fox)
• Dec. 20 – at Buffalo (1 p.m., CBS)
• Dec. 27 – vs. Jacksonville (1 p.m., CBS)
• Jan. 3 – at Houston (1 p.m., CBS)

More analysis to come later.

Pats' Opponents in 2009

While the NFL will release the 2009 schedule tomorrow at 7 p.m., the Pats' opponents are already known. The Pats are pretty much assured of a good bye-week because they are playing in London on October 25. Thus, the bye-week should be in Week 9, the week following the London game. Here are the opponents:

Home
Bills (home on MNF, Sept. 14, 7 p.m.)
Dolphins
Jets
Falcons
Jaguars
Panthers
Titans
Ravens

Away
Buccaneers (London, Oct. 25, 1 p.m.)
Bills
Dolphins
Jets
Broncos
Colts
Saints
Texans

Salary Cap Resource

Here is a terrific website that follows the Pats salary cap. It is a great resource.
Patscap.com

NFL Draft Profile: Jarron Gilbert

With many players on the defensive line (Seymour, Green, Wilfork, Smith) in the last year of their contract, the Pats probably will look to draft a defensive lineman for the future. One such player is San Jose State’s Jarron Gilbert, who would play DE in a 3-4. He visits the Pats on Monday (April 13th) at Gillette among his pre-draft trips. Gilbert is projected to go anywhere from the late first-round until the late second-round. It should be noted though that his stock has been increasing lately, making it unlikely he will be available in the late second-round. If the Pats want to take Gilbert, they probably will have to take him with one of their first three picks. Still, #23 seems like a bit of stretch, especially considering their need for linebackers. However, they run the risk of another team selecting Gilbert if they wait until #34 or especially #47. They could make a trade with another team, moving down from #34 to around #40, or, in the other direction, moving up from #47 to around #40.

Gilbert came on strong in his senior year, picking up 51 tackles (36 solo and 22 tackles for a loss) and 9 sacks. He was the WAC co-defensive player of the year in 2008. At 6’5’’, Gilbert possesses long arms and great explosiveness. He has terrific speed for a defensive lineman (4.76 40) and is agile, allowing him to quickly change directions. He has a great first step and gets up field quickly. He has good football instincts, often allowing him to get an early jump on the snap, and sheds blocks well. Gilbert played offensive tackle in high school, switching to defense line in college. He really improved in college, but still has enormous potential. Concerns abound about his strength and size to play a 3-4 DE though and I question whether he could two-gap. His effort can be inconsistent at times and he does not possess great mental toughness. Gilbert nonetheless remains a great prospect and, with a year to be brought along, could be a good player in the future.

Here is a video that shows Gilbert’s athleticism:

Strengths and Weaknesses: AL East

Here is the post regarding each team's strengths and weaknesses in the AL East.

AL East:


Boston Red Sox:

Strengths: Pitching, pitching, and more pitching. The Red Sox organization has built up their starting pitching depth masterfully over the last few years. The Sox will go into 2009 with a rotation of Beckett, Matsuzaka, Lester, Wakefield and Penny. John Smoltz is waiting in the wings, too. He will rehab until he is ready to contribute sometime in May or June. The Red Sox also have Clay Buchholz and Michael Bowden in AAA, who are both good enough to pitch for ¾ of the major league teams right now. Secondly, but still very importantly, the Red Sox have one of the best bullpens in baseball. Even though the Red Sox pen was terrific last year, Theo and the front office went and acquired another arm: trading Coco Crisp for Ramon Ramirez. They also signed an immensely talented and successful Takashi Saito, who wasn’t receiving the offers he deserved after there were questions regarding his elbow. These two join a pen comprised of Manny Delcarmen, Javier Lopez, Hideki Okajima, Justin Masterson, and Jonathan “Cinco Ocho” Papelbon. Finally, do not forget the flame-thrower Daniel Bard who was consistently hitting triple digits during spring training. Although there is probably not a spot for him at the beginning of the year, if an injury strikes, he will be first in line to be called up.

Weaknesses: Most would argue that the Red Sox do not have a glaring weakness. The only problem that could strike them is the injury bug. With David Ortiz, Mike Lowell and J.D. Drew coming back from injuries, the Red Sox lineup has some question marks. If those three contribute, though, the Red Sox have one of the deepest lineups in the game.

New York Yankees:

Strengths: As soon as Alex Rodriguez returns to the lineup, the Yankees have undoubtedly the best lineup in baseball with Damon, Jeter, A-Rod, Teixeira, Matsui, Posada, Cano, and whoever else they throw out there in the 8 and 9 spots. The Yankees also have one of the finest rotations in baseball after an offseason spending spree in which they signed C.C. Sabathia and A.J. Burnett. Those two will join a rotation that includes Chien Ming Wang, Andy Pettitte and Joba Chamberlain. The Yankees have good starting pitching depth as well, with Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy available should an injury strike.

Weaknesses: The Yankees do not have the bullpen depth that they had during the “Yankee Dynasty” years of the 1990’s. While Mariano Rivera remains as strong as ever, the rest of the bullpen does not have an established reliever other than Damaso Marte. While Yankee fans love to say that Edwar Ramirez, Jose Veras, and Phil Coke are going to shine, I’m not sold until I see them perform for another full season.

Tampa Bay Rays:

Strengths: The Rays are coming off a season in which they won the AL Pennant. The frightening thing for the rest of the AL East is that the heart of their lineup has room for improvement. Carl Crawford, B.J. Upton, Evan Longoria, and even Carlos Pena should all have improved numbers in 2009. The Rays starting pitching is also very good with James Shields, Scott Kazmir, and Matt Garza carrying the load. After the first two months of the season it is expected that the Rays will call up David Price, which should further improve their rotation. Andy Sonnastine is not a bad #5, either.

Weaknesses: The Rays biggest flaw is their bullpen. While Howell, Wheeler, and Balfour had strong seasons in 2008, they are going have to be just as strong in ’09 if they want to make the playoffs. Troy Percival also cannot be counted on for the long haul. If he goes down with an injury, I’m not sure the Rays have someone they can rely on to fill the closer’s role.

Toronto Blue Jays:

Strengths: The Blue Jays have quite a strong outfield core with Vernon Wells in center and Travis Snyder and Alexis Rios in left and right. Adam Lind is also a capable outfielder. The Jays have one of the league’s best starters in Roy Halladay, so they are not likely to go on any prolonged losing streaks.

Weaknesses: Unfortunately for the Jays, they have more weaknesses than strengths. Losing Dustin McGowan and Shawn Marcum to injury really leaves their rotation in shambles. Their bullpen is also pretty thin with only Scott Downs, Brandon League, and an aging B.J. Ryan to rely upon (Ryan’s velocity has been down considerably during spring training). Scott Rolen has shown over the last two seasons that he has very little left, and Vernon Wells has a lot to prove coming off an injury riddled 2008. With the Red Sox and Yankees paying the big bucks year in and year out, the fact that the Jays didn’t spend a dollar in free agency speaks volumes about where this team is headed.

Baltimore Orioles:

Strengths: The Orioles have a few really good, young, position players. The list includes Nick Markakis, Adam Jones and Matt Wieters (who will begin the season in AAA). Brian Roberts is the consummate professional, and Aubrey Huff and Melvin Mora are coming off 100 RBI seasons. The Orioles also have the luxury of having two relievers, George Sherrill and Chris Ray, with experience as closer.

Weaknesses: Should I just say Peter Angelos and move on? The Orioles front office has been fighting the owner for years. From a team standpoint, the Orioles enter 2009 with a questionable starting rotation. Jeremy Guthrie looks like a sure thing, but after him, the O’s have some serious question marks. The fact that their #2 starter is Koji Uehara, a guy who hasn’t thrown a pitch in the big leagues, can’t bode well for them.

Recent News

Two interesting Patriots-related items:
• Buffalo Bills running back Marshawn Lynch was suspended for three games by the NFL, meaning he should miss the Bills opener on September 14 at New England. Without Lynch, the Bills offensive is much easier to defend, even with the addition of Terrell Owens.
• The NFL will release the 2009 schedule on Tuesday at 7 p.m.

Funny Manny Ramirez SportsCenter Commercial

This is probably my favorite SportsCenter commercial of all time. "Manny Being Manny." Oh, the memories.



This commercial was never mainstream broadcast as Manny was subsequently traded to the Dodgers.

Pats NFL Draft Outlook

The Pats have eleven picks in the upcoming NFL Draft. They are as follows:
1st round-#23
2nd round-#34, #47, #58
3rd round-#89, #97 (compensatory)
4th round-#124
5th round-#170 (compensatory)
6th round-#199 (A one Tom Brady was drafted in this spot in 2000), #207 (compensatory)
7th round-#234

It is unlikely that the Pats will select eleven players with these picks for a few reasons. First, the roster is simply too talented and deep to accommodate that many rookies. I would guess that there will be enough spots for about eight rookies. Second, by moving up or down, they can create more value. Considering the number of picks they have (including three 2nd rounders), the Pats will be in a good position to maneuver around the board. By trading up, they may be able to snag a player that has fallen far below where he should have been taken. By trading down, they increase the value of the pick for next year. This may be particularly prudent this year considering the number of quality free agents they will have at the end of the 2009 season. My hope is that they can trade #47 for a first-round pick next year.
*Compensatory picks cannot be traded.

NFL Draft Profile: Darius Butler

Over the next few weeks, On to the Pike will offer profiles of players that the Patriots may draft. We begin with Darius Butler, a cornerback from Connecticut that is projected as a late first-round, early second-round pick.

Although the Pats signed Bodden and Springs, neither one is a viable long-term option because Bodden has a one-year deal (if he plays well this season, he will get a better deal elsewhere and if he doesn’t, the Pats won’t want him back) and Springs is 34 years old. Also, Hobbs is in the last year of his contract, so I think the Pats will try and get a cornerback in this year’s draft. I don’t see the Pats taking a corner at #23 because they have more pressing needs (LB in particular) and it probably would not be the best value pick. However, at #34, I think it would be a good choice because of the mix of value and need.

Butler has decent size (5’11’’), great speed (4.38 40), and athleticism (evident in his combine best 43 inch vertical jump). He has four years of experience at Connecticut and great instincts. He played well in both man and zone coverage and should be able to play both in the NFL. Although Butler did not have any interceptions last season, he did not see many balls thrown in his direction either. By comparison, he had eight interceptions in his first two seasons when teams were more likely to throw at him. He is also a solid tackler that can help in run support. He played some receiver as a senior and also returned kicks, meaning that he has the versatility the Pats like.

World Series Prediction

WS-

New York Mets vs. Boston Red Sox (BOS wins 4-2)


This series will not be a repeat performance of 1986.


(I can’t believe I just posted that)

While the Mets have Johan Santana, the Red Sox counter with the playoff pitcher extraordinaire, Josh Beckett (On a 1-10 scale, if Johan Santana is a 10, a healthy Josh Beckett is a 9.5 and a 11 in the playoffs). After that matchup, however, the Red Sox starters significantly outmatch anyone the Mets can throw out there: Lester vs. Pelfrey, Matsuzaka vs. Perez, and Smoltz vs. Maine. Although the Mets offense is slightly more potent than a healthy Red Sox lineup, pitching wins in the playoffs. Expect another World Series MVP from Josh Beckett.

*The Red Sox have home field advantage because I expect the American League to win this year’s Midsummer Classic.

Pats Roster Breakdown Part III

Here is the concluding chapter of an epic:

• Tedy Bruschi-He is slow and has trouble in coverage, but his knowledge of the system and experience will give him another year as a serviceable 2-down MLB.
• Gary Guyton-Could Guyton have a big leap in his second season? He has the physical ability to be a starter in the NFL, but looked lost a few times last season.
• Adalius Thomas-Thomas is a great player, but he has disappointed since the Pats lured him out of Baltimore with that huge contract.
• Shawn Crable-Finished last season on IR with a shin injury and looks to be a project. Hopefully he can rush the passer well, but I’m not expecting too much this season.
• Angelo Craig-Finished last season on the practice squad. Provides more youth and athleticism at OLB.
• Jonathan Wilhite-Came on strong in the second half of the season, including an interception at Oakland. Look for a good season from Wilhite.
• Shawn Springs-He is 34, 6 feet tall and will earn $4.55 million this season. The Pats must hope for Springs to be a sturdy #1 corner.
• Terrence Wheatley-Second-round pick missed the second half of the season with a wrist injury. Wheatley tallied his most minutes in the last two games he played (St. Louis and at Indianapolis), which could mean the coaching staff saw good things out of him in practice. If he plays well this season, the corner position looks a lot better.
• Ellis Hobbs-Most Pats fans dislike Hobbs, but he is a good #2 or #3 corner with great kickoff return abilities.
• Leigh Bodden-Played well under a Pats style defense in Cleveland in 2007 with six interceptions, before a tough season in a zone-defense last year in Detroit. I think Bodden will play well here, including at least five interceptions.
• Mike Richardson-Will have a tough time making the roster if the Pats draft a few corners.
• Brandon Meriweather-I think Meriweather will have a Pro-Bowl type season. He made a big improvement from his rookie year and he should only get better from here.
• Antwain Spann-Backup Safety and STer will compete for a spot in camp.
• Tank Williams-He was going to play a hybrid S/LB role last season before suffering a season-ending knee injury in the first preseason game. Look for a similar S/LB role this year.
• James Sanders-He is an adequate starter (an 83 in Madden describes Sanders well), but getting an upgrade through the draft for the future would be nice.
• Ray Ventrone-Like Spann, he will compete in camp for a roster spot.
• Stephen Gostkowski-A Pro-Bowler last year, he should have another great season. He made 90% (36 of 40) of his field goals last season.
• Chris Hanson-He had an incredible punt into the wind in the last game at Buffalo. Should have another decent year.
• Tom Malone-Played college ball at USC, meaning he rarely punted even though he was one of the best punters in college. I don’t see him beating out Hanson for the spot though.
• Nathan Hodel-A cheaper version of Lonnie Paxton.

Final Four Picks

Here are my picks for the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament games on Saturday:

Connecticut over Michigan State
North Carolina over Villanova

*Picks are not against the spread.

Jim Calhoun: "Not a dime back"

Jim Calhoun responds to an idiotic question by Ken Krayeske.

ALCS and NLCS Predictions

ALCS-

New York Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox (BOS wins 4-2)

We return to the ALCS of 2003 and 2004. The Red Sox can only hope for as sweet an outcome as 2004 (remember, the Red Sox came back from 3-0!) The pitching matchups should be Beckett vs. Sabathia, Lester vs. Burnett, Matsuzaka vs. Wang and Smoltz vs. Pettitte. Although it remains to be seen, the Red Sox postseason four-man rotation has to be considered one of the best of all time on paper. While the Yankees offense will power them to a couple of good nights, the Red Sox should win in six.

NLCS-

Philadelphia Phillies vs. New York Mets (NYM wins 4-3)

This series is going to go down as one of the best of all time. Ever since Jimmy Rollins and Carlos Beltran exchanged division championship predictions, these two teams have hated each other with a passion. The two finest offenses in the National League will square off in a series that is sure to see its fair share of long balls. Johan Santana and Cole Hamels should pitch well, but all of the other starters will hit the showers early. I see this series going seven games, with the Citi Field crowd giving the Mets a true home field advantage.

I will post my World Series winner tomorrow.

NLDS Playoff Predictions

NL-

NLDS-

Los Angeles Dodgers vs. New York Mets (NYM wins 3-1)

The Mets will feed off the frenzy produced by the postseason in a new ballpark (Citi Field). With the best pitcher in baseball, Johan Santana, the Mets are sure to be guaranteed at least one game in every series they play. The Dodgers’ starters will struggle against a finely tuned Mets offense fueled by Jose Reyes, David Wright and Carlos Beltran. Expect strong postseasons from these three.

Philadelphia Phillies vs. Chicago Cubs (PHI wins 3-2)

This will be the closest of any of the division series. The Cubs will be motivated to break a 101 year curse, whereas the Phillies will be looking to repeat as World Series champions. Alfonso Soriano, Derek Lee and Aramis Ramirez will slug it out against Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley and Ryan Howard. Expect the Phillies to need a strong game 5 performance from Cole Hamels to advance.

Look for my ALCS and NLCS picks tomorrow!

Top 5 Football Coaching Rants

#1

ALDS Playoff Predictions

AL-

ALDS-

Minnesota Twins vs. Boston Red Sox (BOS wins 3-0)

The Red Sox will take care of the Twins in convincing fashion. Beckett, Lester and Matsuzaka will take on Baker, Liriano and Slowey in 3 favorable matchups for the Red Sox. As long as the Red Sox lineup is healthy, it should be firing on all cylinders by the time the postseason rolls around!

New York Yankees vs. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (NYY wins 3-1)

The Yankees offense will carry them by the Angels. If A-Rod does not have any setbacks from hip surgery during the season, a lineup of Damon, Jeter, A-Rod, Teixeira, Matsui, Posada, Cano, and more will be too much for the Angels pitchers to handle. With Ervin Santana and John Lackey having injury concerns during spring training, who knows if they will even hold up for the playoffs.

I will post my NLDS predictions later today or tomorrow.

Top 5 Football Coaching Rants

#2

Top 5 Football Coaching Rants

#3-A classic

2009 MLB Preview: National League

NL-

East:

y- New York Mets: 93-69
w- Philadelphia Phillies: 91-71
Florida Marlins: 85-77
Atlanta Braves: 81-81
Washington Nationals: 66-96

The Mets took care of their glaring weakness, the bullpen, and should be in position to win the East. The Phillies still have the core of their team together but have some injury concerns (i.e. Chase Utley coming off of hip surgery and Cole Hamels having some elbow issues during spring training). As long as those two are healthy, though, the Phillies will have a strong enough record to take the Wild Card. The Braves made some quality offseason additions to their starting rotation and should be back around .500 (Bobby Cox always gets the most out of his players.)

Central:

y- Chicago Cubs: 92-70
St. Louis Cardinals: 81-81
Milwaukee Brewers: 80-82
Houston Astros: 78-84
Cincinnati Reds: 76-86
Pittsburgh Pirates: 68-94

Although I don’t think they will win 97 games again, the Cubs are clearly still the best team in the Central. The Brewers will struggle to play .500 baseball after losing their two horses C.C. Sabathia and Ben Sheets, and the rest of the teams in the division are mediocre at best. The Reds, with Dominicans Edinson Volquez and Johnny Cueto, have two young studs but will always have their difficulties pitching at Great American Ball Park. The NL Central is the biggest lock in the majors.

West:

y- Los Angeles Dodgers: 89-73
Arizona Diamondbacks: 82-80
San Francisco Giants: 79-83
Colorado Rockies: 71-91
San Diego Padres: 68-94

The Dodgers will win the West for the second year in a row. Although Manny Ramirez killed the Red Sox team chemistry, he was on his best behavior in L.A. and nearly led them to a World Series. Re-signing Man-Ram was a necessity for the Dodgers, and two years for $45 million is a pretty fair deal. Keeping Rafael Furcal and signing Orlando Hudson were also good moves. The Diamondbacks are going to have a good team, mostly because of their starting pitching, but may not have enough offensive consistency. The same goes for the San Francisco Giants.

There you have it: my projections for the American League and National League.

AL East: Boston Red Sox (96-66)
AL Central: Minnesota Twins (85-77)
AL West: Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (89-73)
AL Wild Card: New York Yankees (92-70)

NL East: New York Mets (93-69)
NL Central: Chicago Cubs (92-70)
NL West: Los Angeles Dodgers (89-73)
NL Wild Card: Philadelphia Phillies (91-71)

As a generality, while many of the game’s best teams are still holding their ground, the league’s worst teams have made improvements (there are two 95 loss club in my projections, compared to four last year).

I will begin posting my playoff predictions tomorrow.

Top 5 Football Coaching Rants

#4

Top 5 Football Coaching Rants

Over the next five days, On to the Pike will feature the top five football coaching rants of all-time.

Here is #5

Pats Roster Breakdown Part II

The much-awaited part two of the roster breakdown is here!

• Matt Light-His age and a quick pass-rusher worry me.
• Mark LeVoir-Good backup who did well in two starts last year at RT.
• Damane Duckett-Recently signed tackle played as a defensive lineman in his first few seasons in the NFL.
• Logan Mankins-I hope the Pats can resign him.
• Dan Connolly-The former Redhawk is a decent reserve.
• Dan Koppen-Great center.
• Russ Hochstein-Warren Sapp’s favorite player.
• Al Johnson-Should add some depth at center and guard.
• Ryan Wendell-Who?
• Stephen Neal-His age and mileage are troubling.
• Billy Yates-Did well starting at guard early on last season.
• Nick Kaczur-Okay RT.
• Ryan O’Callaghan-Sufficient backup.
• Wesley Britt- Provides depth and competition along the line.
• Ty Warren-Great DE who is locked up through 2013.
• Le Kevin Smith-Solid backup who keeps getting better and had a great game at Seattle last year.
• Vince Wilfork-A good NT is imperative in a 3-4 and Wilfork is one of the best in the game.
• Mike Wright-I’m glad the Pats resigned him as he can play both NT/DE and does well on special teams.
• Richard Seymour-A healthy Seymour in a contract year? Expect a great season.
• Jarvis Green-He will perform well this season and the Pats will resign him.
• Titus Adams-The former Cornhusker stayed on the practice squad for most of last season.
• Pierre Woods-If the season started today, he would start at OLB. Thankfully it doesn’t.
• Tully Banta-Cain-A decent backup who can rush the passer better than most anyone else the Pats currently have.
• Vince Redd-Faces a tough road to get on the 53-man roster, but the practice squad remains an option as he was only active for six games last year.
• Jerod Mayo-Should have another terrific season after an unbelievable rookie campaign. Since Vrabel is gone, will he now handle the on-field communication?
• Eric Alexander-Unless he plays great in camp, I think his time is up in Foxborough.
• Bo Rudd-Spent last season on IR and is a long shot to make the 53-man roster.

2009 MLB Preview: American League

Here are my predictions for the 2009 MLB Season, starting with the American League.

I used Baseball Mogul 2010 as my simulation tool and adjusted the standings as I saw fit. It was a very painstaking process: when I added a win for one team, I had to find another team to add a loss to. I also took into consideration last year’s results, as well as the teams’ improvements over the offseason.

AL-

East:

y- Boston Red Sox: 96-66
w-New York Yankees: 92-70
Tampa Bay Rays: 91-71
Toronto Blue Jays: 76-86
Baltimore Orioles: 73-89

The AL East is still the best overall division in baseball. Unlike last year, the Rays will be the odd team out. Demoting an impact player like David Price, whether it is for salary purposes or for player development, could be a crucial mistake in such a highly contested division. The guy proved in the 2008 ALCS that he is ready for the show. Although the Yankees will miss A-Rod for the first six weeks of the season, Price’s demotion should help them make up a couple of crucial games.

Central:

y- Minnesota Twins: 85-77
Cleveland Indians: 83-79
Detroit Tigers: 79-83
Chicago White Sox: 78-84
Kansas City Royals: 77-85

Cleveland could easily win the division, too. I simply admire the teams that Bill Smith and the Minnesota Twins put together year in and year out and don’t see Cliff Lee repeating his 2008 performance. The Twins have a nice core rotation with Liriano, Baker and Slowey. As long as Mauer’s back isn’t a long term issue, the Twins should have enough to win the Central.

West:

y- Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim: 89-73
Oakland Athletics: 79-83
Texas Rangers: 78-84
Seattle Mariners: 74-88

They should take a team out of the NL Central and stick it here (kidding!) The Angels are still the best team in the AL West. They were smart to replace Teixeira with a greatly discounted Bobby Abreu and, if healthy, have one of the best rotations in the game. While Oakland made some nice offseason moves, their rotation has too many question marks. Texas isn’t going to win anything until they move out of that bandbox of a ballpark!

NCAA Tournament Picks

Here are my picks for the NCAA Tournament games on Thursday and Friday:

Midwest
Louisville over Arizona
Kansas over Michigan St.

West
Connecticut over Purdue
Memphis over Missouri

East
Pittsburgh over Xavier
Villanova over Duke

South
North Carolina over Gonzaga
Syracuse over Oklahoma

*Picks are not against the spread.

Providence Bruins Goalie Tuukka Rask Goes Cuckoo

If the Bruins need a certifiably INSANE goalie in net, they know who to call up.

Pats Roster Breakdown Part I

As promised, here is part one of my Pats roster breakdown. Look for part two over the next few days.

• Tom Brady-He’s Tom Brady.
• Kevin O’Connell-I hope we don’t find out how good he is.
• Matt Gutierrez-Looked decent in preseason last year.
• Sammy Morris-Good, physical runner.
• Fred Taylor-Great signing. He excites me.
• Laurence Maroney-Anything from him will be a bonus.
• Kevin Faulk-Clutch performer who catches and blocks well-what more can you ask for?
• BenJarvus Green Ellis-Filled in well in the middle of the season, but still doesn’t have an easy path to making the roster.
• Randy Moss-Is 20 TDs too much to ask for?
• Wes Welker-Is 110+ catches too much to ask for?
• Joey Galloway-Could have a great season as the #3 receiver. Had three 1,000+ yard seasons in 2005-2007.
• Greg Lewis-Former Eagle will battle with Galloway for the #3 receiver spot.
• Sam Aiken-Good special teams player could see some offensive action if someone gets hurt.
• Matthew Slater-Will need to do well on ST to get a roster spot.
• Ben Watson-Contract year/most likely his last in New England.
• Chris Baker-Former Jet will be a good 2nd TE. Good blocker and decent in the passing game.
• David Thomas-Wasn’t he good at Texas?
• Tyson DeVree-Backup TE and STer will have to compete in camp for a spot.
• Brad Lisorti-He played at UMass.

Asian Baseball is Officially the World's Finest

After an all-Asian World Baseball Classic final it is official: Asia has surpassed America (that includes Latin America, too) as the center of the baseball universe. Anyone who watched Korea vs. Japan last night noticed the scouting goldmine that exists in the Far East. While some players have begun to come over from Asia, many of them do not enter MLB until they are well into their prime years (can you imagine how many hits Ichiro Suzuki would have compiled had he started his career in America?) Evidently some of the best players in the world are in Asia, and it is only a matter of time before they become a vital part of player development in America.

Watching the World Baseball Classic has also shown me how many elite level prospects there are who have yet to be signed by Major League clubs. Can you imagine the amount of money that Yu Darvish and Aroldis Chapman are going to command when they are released by their current obligations in Japan and Cuba respectively?





Daisuke Matsuzaka commanded a $51.1 million posting fee just to talk to him (he then received a $52 million contract on top of that). Would it be crazy to think that the 22 year old Darvish, with his 97 MPH fastball and outstanding breaking pitches, could command an $100 million posting fee (well, maybe not in this economy...) with a lucrative contract in excess of another $100 million? How about the 21 year old left-handed Aroldis Chapman, with his effortless 100 MPH fastball and developing offspeed pitches? Could he command the same amount, if not more? These are just two of the biggest names. A number of other foreign players would be adequate regulars in the big leagues, too.

Yet again, Asia takes a step forward in its pursuit of global domination (China has owned our asses economically for years). Who knows, perhaps major league players will start going over to the Japanese league, rather than vice-versa? Doubtable, but not as farfetched as it once seemed. U.S.A. must tip its cap to Japan, who has now won back-to-back championships, and prepare for the next W.B.C. in 2013.

Zdeno Chara Shows His True Colors

Check out this classic fight between Zdeno Chara and David Koci!

More Picks!

The NFL announced compensatory draft picks today and the Pats were awarded three picks:
-3rd rounder (97)
-5th rounder (170)
-7th rounder (207)
It should be noted that the Pats have the highest compensatory pick available (97) and that compensatory picks cannot be traded. Also, the Pats now have six picks in the top 100, so let’s hope they add some young talent on defense. More draft stuff on the way over the next few weeks as draft day approaches.

NFL Opening Weekend

On to the Pike has confirmed reports that the Pats will open the 2009 season at home on Monday, Sept. 14 at 7 p.m. against the Buffalo Bills.

J-Roll Video- Yeahhh

Although I hate the Phillies, this is a funny video of Jimmy Rollins by Dick's Sporting Goods. A clear knockoff on one of my favorite movies, Happy Gilmore.

Upcoming Posts...

Hey guys,

We're having some issues indenting on HTML, but we hope to get that sorted out soon enough!

Within the next couple of days I am going to write a couple of posts concerning the following topics:

1. 2009 MLB Baseball Preview

Will include projections for all 6 divisions- Division Champions, Wild Card winners, overall records. Included will be playoff predictions and a World Series pick. I will also look at the AL East more closely and talk about each team's strengths and weaknesses.

2. Red Sox 2009

A specific look at my favorite team: the Boston Red Sox. Including lineup breakdown, pitching staff analysis and statistical projections. 2009 outlook and beyond as well. Will comment on the minor leagues, too.

I hope to begin work on these articles within the next week. Thank you!

What's next for the Pats?

As Andrew eloquently wrote, I will focus mostly on the NFL, particularly the Pats. To this end, I've created a list of what I think the Pats should do from now to the draft.

1. Contract Extensions
a. Extend Wilfork. The Pats need him.
b. Extend Mankins for reasonable money. Mankins is a terrific guard, but he still is a guard. Don’t give him tackle money.
c. Don’t resign Seymour. Seymour will have a great season and then the Pats should let another team overpay for him since he won’t sign a discount to stay in New England. At 31, he won’t be worth the money. Plus, I can’t see him working as hard after getting a big contract as he will this year to get that big contract.


2. Signings/Trades
a. Pass rusher/OLB
i. I personally don’t see Peppers coming to the Pats. He wants a big contract and the Pats don’t want nor have the cap room for that type of deal. Concerns also abound Peppers transitioning to OLB in a 3-4. Plus, Wilfork won’t be happy about an outside player who hasn’t proven himself in the Pats system getting a big contract before him.
ii. The more obvious route in my mind is signing Jason Taylor. He won’t cost as much and would give the Pats the pass rusher they desperately need.
iii. Rosevelt Colvin remains a (rather lackluster) possibility. He would be cheap and, when he’s not injured, he can still play. I just worry about his age and his injury-filled past.

b. Most everything else has been filled and/or can be addressed in the draft. The Pats will sign some mediocre free agents to compete in camp.


3. NFL Draft-Armed with #23, #34, #47 and #58, the Pats are in a good spot to strengthen the defense.
a. Draft an ILB, S and Pass rusher/OLB on day one
i. ILB-Bruschi doesn’t have the speed anymore. I like Gary Guyton, but he isn’t a Pro-Bowler by any means. Adding a talented, fast ILB with one of the first two picks seems like a great move.
ii. Safety-I don’t see Rodney Harrison coming back. They did resign James Sanders, who is an adequate starter but nothing more. Picking up a safety would be nice.
iii. Pass rusher/OLB-Pierre Woods isn’t a starter in the NFL, Shawn Crable remains a project and Tully-Banta Cain can’t be the answer. The Pats really need a pass rusher and if they don’t add one before the draft, this becomes arguably the biggest need.

b. Trade a 2nd rounder for a 2010 1st rounder
i. Adding future picks is good business.

c. Add some depth in later rounds
i. DL, G, T-The Pats could use some youth along the lines.

I’ve been impressed by the free agent acquisitions by the Pats so far. I think Bodden was a great signing in particular. I will post a more detailed position breakdown in a few days.

Welcome to On to the Pike!

Hello everyone,

Welcome to “On to the Pike” a sports blog written by two college students. We are both Boston area sports fans, save hockey, where my allegiance lies with the New York Rangers (elrey is a Bruins fan, Boston all the way for him). I will cover baseball, where my greatest passion lies, and my friend will cover football, mostly focusing on the Patriots. The Celtics, Rangers and other general sports news will also be discussed. While the blog will mostly consist of sports chat, we will also comment on miscellaneous topics such as poker, fantasy sports, music, and world news. We will also post amusing YouTube videos.

After much deliberation, we arrived upon “On to the Pike” as the title for our blog. Other options included “How did you get so many K’s?” (A play on the ESPN commercial where Shaq jacks all of the Q’s) as well as “The price is wrong” (Referencing our love for the movie Happy Gilmore). We decided the first was too lengthy, and the second one was taken, so “On to the Pike” was the winner.

Now, anyone who follows the Red Sox or has been to Fenway Park (the most storied ballpark of all time- Yankee Stadium can go bite me) has noticed how close it is in proximity to the Massachusetts turnpike, or as locals refer to it “the pike.” Very few hitters come along who are able to launch one that far, partly because you have to be a right-handed power hitter, but mostly because you have to be exceedingly strong and gifted to do so. It takes a homerun in excess of 425 ft, as well as a pretty lucky bounce from the parking lot behind the left field wall. Mark McGwire’s Home Run Derby performance in 1999 saw one land on the pike. So did a classic Manny Ramirez walk off bomb in Game 2 of the 2007 ALDS (A memorable Manny Ramirez press conference followed the game as well):



47 seconds in: “When you don’t feel good and you still get hits, that’s when you know you are a bad man.” That one gets me every time.

If a homerun is hit “On to the Pike” it is sure to be a no doubter that has left some opposing pitcher kicking the dirt in disgust and the Fenway faithful singing along to the intolerable “Dirty Water” by The Standells (Sorry, but only in Boston could “Dirty Water,” “Sweet Caroline,” and “Shipping Up To Boston” become such cult classics!)

We hope for this blog to be entertaining and informative. A lot of people comment on sports news, but we feel confident that this blog will contain a unique perspective. Posts will vary in length and should appear once or twice a day.

Thank you for your support!