Whadda I Know?

Whadda I Know Of The Week (week of 11/15) November 24, 2009

Welcome to the first of our debates on issues in sports today.  This week we’ll talk MVP and BCS, oh and Sixers too, just in case you still cared.  Sorry it’s late, we’re still working out the kinks of the site.

Who’s the AL MVP?

Ken says: It has to be Joe Mauer.  He led the league in batting average, on base percentage, slugging, and OPS and that’s after missing his first thirty games due to a bad back.  And he’s a catcher! Add in career highs of 28 home runs and 96 RBI and it’s even more astonishing the type of year Mauer had in 2009.  Down the stretch it was Joe Mauer who helped the Twins fight off the rest of the AL Central and make the playoffs, and that’s without Justin Morneau to help him in the lineup.  Oh yeah, and he led the league in runs created too.

Jim says: Clearly it’s going to be Minnesota Twins catcher Joe Mauer.  Mauer led the American League is four batting average (.365), slugging percentage (.587), on base percentage (.444) and OPS (1.031).  He also hit 28 home runs and had 96 RBI.  When he goes the Twins go. Mauer also won the MLBPA Players Choice AL Outstanding player award.

Who’s the NL MVP?

Ken says: No Brainer.  Albert Pujols.  Like Mauer, Pujols led the NL in batting average, on-base percentage, slugging, and OPS.  He was first in total bases, extra base hits and home runs.  He was second in the NL in doubles, third in walks and rbi.  Conclusion, he was a monster.  Granted the Cardinals had Matt Holliday in the second half of the season, but even he doesn’t do anything to sway my vote from the big man in St. Louis to the big man in Philadelphia or Milwaukee.  Pujols should win his second straight MVP.

Jim says: Call me a homebody but I think Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard will win his second league MVP award.  Howard once again had another big year hitting 45 home runs while driving in 141 RBI.  Now the one thing that people are going to say is that his batting average and strikeouts could hurt his chances but i think he still deserves it.  I know they look at just the regular season stats when deciding but I look at this year’s playoffs for the answer.  In the first two series against the Rockies and Dodgers, Howard absolutely went off and so did the Phillies.  Then came the World Series.  Howard only hit one home run and had 2 RBI and the Phillies lost in 6 games.

Who Should Be In The BCS National Championship Game?

Ken says: Right now I think it’s Florida and Texas.  Both teams have played their way through tough schedules in both the SEC and Big 12, and should both teams go undefeated (Texas more or less has it wrapped up, barring a surprise win from the north’s division winner, but Florida will have a tough test against Alabama) then they’ll be in the Championship game.  TCU, Cincinnati, and Boise State all have great resumes, but in fairness, they’re not at the same level as either Florida or Texas.  Even if Florida were to lose to Alabama in Atlanta, the Gators might still remain higher in the polls than the frogs, cats, or broncos.  It’s likely we’ll see Florida/Texas or Alabama/Texas facing off in January.  Right now it doesn’t look like the Big East, Mountain West, or WAC leaders have much of a shot of making it to Pasadena, that is unless Texas were to fall in some miraculous upset in the Big 12 Championship game.

Jim says:  Easy, Florida and Texas.  Not only do these two teams deserve it but how much fun would it be to watch the best two quarter backs go head to head in their senior seasons.  Both teams are undefeated and since Texas got snubbed last year out of going to the National Championship game, it’s their turn to prove they are the best in college football.

Is Brian Westbrook’s Career Over?

Ken says: While I think Westbrook will continue to play in the NFL I don’t think he’ll be of the same caliber.  Before the concussions Westbrook struggled with his ankle, knee, and a check list of other injuries.  He’s hit that age for running backs(30) when they start to decline (see LT in San Diego).  Right now it doesn’t look good for the once reliable weapon who was essentially the first of the catch and run backs in the NFL.

Jim says: Well it doesn’t look good for Westbrook.  Concussions are one of those things you don’t want to mess around with especially when you are a running back in the most physical game in sports.  As much as he might want to play and help his team, he has to think about his life and his family.  He is also getting to that age where running backs start to go downhill.  Just look at Troy Aikman and Eric Lindros.  Neither of them played great after their many concussions.  The Eagles already look like they brought in the future concussions.

Where Does Elton Brand Belong?  Starting Lineup Or The Bench?

Ken says: I really think he’d be better for the Sixers coming off the bench.  Look at last season.  Even though Mo Cheeks ran a different system than Eddie Jordan, the offense sputtered with Brand at the second forward position.  While Brand slowed the Sixers down, it was his arrival, which forced Thad Young to small forward and Iggy to the two guard, that hurt the Sixers.  Iggy showed he was more suited for the small forward position after switching back due to Brand’s injury.  Putting Brand on the bench this season would allow the Sixers to move Iggy back to small forward and Young to the second forward position and give the Sixers another option off the bench.  The only problem with that solution would be the shooting guard position.  the Sixers lack the roster that would allow them a solid player at the two.  It’s a bigger problem than Brand sitting or starting, it’s the problem of Brand being on the Sixer payroll and for some 80 million dollars.

Jim says: I understand that the Sixers want their team to be one that relies on their speed and the fastbreak and that with Brand on the floor that might slow them down but this guy is a career double double player.  When you play in league with players like Lebron James, Dwight Howard, and Kevin Garnett who are big people, you need the presence of Brand on the floor for matchup reasons.  I also don’t think that it would be a smart thing to put a player on the bench for most of the game when you spent around 80 million dollars to get him here.

There ya have it folks, our first of hopefully many debates.

Are the Flyers Cup bound? August 25, 2009

The Flyers season ended last year in heart breaking fashion, as they let up a 3 goal lead at home, and were eliminated by the Penguins who went on to win the Stanley Cup. The Flyers are always one of those teams who are contenders to win the Cup because of their consistent winning ways. So once again….do the Flyers have what it takes to win the Stanley Cup?

Bruntlett’s Big Day August 24, 2009

Yesterday afternoon in the game between the Phillies and the Mets, something took place for only the second time in the history of baseball. Second baseman Eric Bruntlett recorded an unassisted triple play to end the ball game and give the Phillies a 9 to 7 win. With runners on first and second and running on the pitch, Jeff Francoeur hit a line drive up the middle that was caught by Bruntlett for the first out, then landed on second base for the second out, and tagged out David Murphy for the last out. What made this play even more special for Bruntlett was the fact that he made errors on the previous two plays. This was just the 14th unassisted triple play in baseball history and the second in Phillies history. The last was made by second baseman Mickey Morandini back on 9/20/92. Bruntlett also did something else yesterday that was very rare. He got a hit!…three hits! Coming into the game Bruntlett was only hitting .128 with 6 RBIs. He got hits in his first three at bats. It appeared that he was going to get his fourth hit of the day, something he has never done in his career, but the umpires ruled that Francoeur made the catch. So whats more impressive, Bruntlett’s triple play or his three hits? Obviously it would have to be the triple play. So maybe Charlie Manuel will consider putting Bruntlett into the games late for defensive reasons now that he has made baseball history. Yeah…i dont think so either.

Brad Lidge Tossing His Way Out of the Closer Role? August 18, 2009

 With Brett Myers’ rehab assignment in a holding pattern due to a severely swolen eye (did you hear he recently fell out of a car) Brad Lidge, or rather his closer role, seems to be in jeopardy.

Lidge has blown eight saves this season, eight more than his total of 2008 (ok, so he was perfect in 08) and is the owner of a 7.21 ERA. Lidge has looked a mirror image of his 2006 self in Houston which, if you remember, eventually earned him a trip to Philadelphia for two mid-level players.

Phillies Sign Pedro. Is it 1999? July 15, 2009

The Philadelphia Phillies officially introduced Pedro Martinez today at Citizen’s Bank Park.

While Martinez gives the Phillies a personality in the clubhouse that they haven’t seen since the days of Tug McGraw he still leaves the Phillies’ rotation needing more.

Time for Donovan to go Interantional…for Good June 24, 2009

One thing became evident following the U.S. Soccer team’s monumental upset over number one ranked Spain earlier today.
Landon Donovan needs to play for a European club.
Donovan showed today that he, aside from Tim Howard, is currently the best American soccer player. Unlike Howard, who’s shined as a top goalkeeper in the English Premier League, Donovan’s wasted away in Major League Soccer, the minor league of world soccer.
It’s not that Donovan can’t get out of MLS, he’s had a short stint with Bayer Leverkusen in 2004 and Bayern Munich (via loan) in 2009, it’s that he can’t stay there.
During his time with Bayer Leverkusen he started only two of the seven games he appeared in and, during his recent loan, was an effective substitute.
Although Germany has been kind to Donovan it has prohibited the five-time Honda Player of the Year from maintaining a starting position on the pitch.
At Bayern he sat behind Luca Toni and Bastian Schweinsteiger and was under-utilized at Bayer Leverkusen.
While MLS has given Donovan the opportunity to shine as its top player it hasn’t given him what European soccer clubs offer.
Better competition.
MLS teams certainly have their stars who are by no means “bad players”, they don’t have the personnel of European Clubs (Brian McBride still has some left in the tank, but he’s no Ronaldo).
Donovan, more than any other American player has outgrown his MLS roots and deserves to move on.
But, a move to Europe is more deserving for Donovan not only because of his talent level, but for all he’s done for MLS.
He’s kept the U.S. professional soccer league relevant and has been a main contributor to its growth.
Donovan stayed when others (Altidore, Adu, Dempsey) left for greener pastures in Europe.
Should Donovan depart Galaxy for the pitches of Germany, France, England, or Spain, it’s well deserved.
And while MLS supporters might frown upon the idea of the top player departing across the Atlantic they need to let him go.
He deserves it.