Wilson Reis: A Submission Masterpiece

Forget Kimbo Slice. Forget Gina Carrano. OK, fine, don't forget about her, but just set her aside for now. The real highlight of the EliteXC event on Saturday was on the undercard, and it featured 23 year-old Wilson Reis.

But how can you determine the highlight of the event before the event is over, not to mention an hour before the main event even begins, you ask? First, how very observant of you. And second, because it's going to be extremely hard for any of those fights to top a "submission masterpiece," as the commentators called Wilson Reis's efforts. Reis reminded me a lot of his fellow countryman, Anderson Silva. Just a lot smaller (Reis is 5'2 and 140 lbs, while Silva is 6'2 and 185 lbs.)

Now first, before all of you Silva apologists come out of the woodworks - I'm not saying Reis is as good as Silva. I'm just saying, the way Reis fought and the way he handled himself made me think I was looking at the next Silva. Not an outlandish proposition considering that Reis is 10 years Silva's junior.

Reis came into Saturday's fight against Justin Robbins relatively experienced, as far as MMA goes. He came in 3-0 with 2 victories by submission (both by choke, if you're curious), and 1 victory by unanimous decision. But he came into his fight with Robbins like he had been sinking chokes all his life. There were 3 instances where Robbins should have seriously considered tapping - the first one where Reis was bending Robbins's arm so much that even Bill Belichick was wondering whether the move was legal. Then, Reis started sinking a triangle choke so deep that Robbins was probably half expecting to see Amelia Earhart in the cage. It was the rear naked choke that finally did Robbins in, stopping the fight a little more than 4 minutes into the first round.

Here's the video of Reis against Diego Jimenez at Combat in the Cage on October 6, 2007. Reis is the Brazilian dude kicking the other guy's ass. I'll post his latest EliteXC fight once it finds its way on YouTube.

Should the Warriors Trade for Ford?

The Toronto Raptors are supposedly shopping T.J. Ford given Jose Calderon's emergence as the starting point guard in 2008. Ford is still just 25 years-old, and his 12.1 ppg and 6.1 apg suggest that he's got plenty to offer.

Down in the States, the Golden State Warriors have a point guard conundrum of their own. Baron Davis is looking for a new contract, but Golden State seems a bit reluctant to give the 29 year-old a premium contract. Should the Warriors let Davis walk, they're going to have a hole to fill at the point guard position. I know some people suggest that Monta Ellis could run the point, but I think this would be a mistake. Ellis is a scorer - he's probably capable of running the point and doing an adequate job, but he's more valuable playing off the ball and scoring. The Warriors would be better off with someone who can distribute at the point to get guys like Al Harrington, Stephen Jackson, and especially Ellis their touches.

So what should the Warriors do? Trade for T.J. Ford. (Wow, I bet you didn't see that one coming). But can they pull it off? I don't pretend to be some kind of NBA trade guru, but it seems to me they could. If Baron Davis walks, the Warriors are left with a ton of cap relief. This should allow them to trade Brandan Wright and his $2+ million contract to the Raptors for T.J. Ford and his $8+ million. The Warriors still cut salary in 2009, and the Raptors basically convert a bench player into an extra $6 million of spending money.

But does it work talent-wise? I think it might. Brandan Wright is a young power forward, and his time with the Warriors has been short so it may seem harsh to ship him off - but it's not like he showed a whole lot his rookie year, and some mock drafts show the Warriors taking Kevin Love with their first round pick (a great selection for the Warriors, in my opinion - but that's for another blog). This would seem to give the Warriors a bit of a logjam at the 4 position with guys like Harrington, Love, and Wright. Why not redeem one of them for a needed, young point guard? Especially one who should be more than capable of driving their up-tempo offense.

As for the Raptors, it's not so much about bringing in talent as it is dumping Ford's contract. But in this case, the Raptors make off pretty well with Wright. They get a young, talented and athletic power forward to back-up Chris Bosh and Andrea Bargnani - giving them a nice young nucleus of Calderon, Bosh, Bargnani, Jamario Moon, and Wright.

Couldn't this work?

Marathon Day: Public Defacation Special

Ah, Marathon Day. Once a year the Muffin invites only the most elite Beer drinking athletes to one of the finest alcoholic events of the year. Second only to Good Friday, Bad Saturday, while any camping trip involving a Yucca jar has potential to fight for third. (More posts to come explaining the aforementioned events.)

As you may have deduced, Marathon Day involves drinking copious amounts of Beer. The goal for the day is to drink 26.2, 12oz. Beers to match the 26.2 miles you run in a marathon. There are a couple rules though: #1 Marathon Day starts at 12pm sharp and ends at 12am sharp. No Beer consumed before or after those times are counted. #2 Any regurgitation or sleeping results in instant disqualification.

Unfortunately, this year I was disqualified at 10:09pm for falling asleep. This is my story:

12:01pm: I crack my first Corona Light with the boys and celebrate. To Marathon Day!

2:05pm: Our first disqualification. Poor guy barely finished one Beer and tossed his cookies. It has been argued that drinking the day before Marathon Day can heighten your tolerance the day of and help you perform like a champ. A risky racket as it turns out. Drink too much and you stay up way too late and lose precious sleep. (Like I did) Thus, making staying awake through the latter hours near impossible. Drink way too much and you won't make it past your first beer like our friend.

4:30pm: I'm about 10 Beers deep and we decide to play poker. Bad idea for me. I left the table and gave my chips to somebody sober. They lost my chips in 15 minutes but, like I said, I was 10 Beers deep so I didn't care because I would've lost them faster.

5:30pm: Now 15 Beers have gone by the wayside and I'm way ahead of schedule. The key to Marathon day is pace. 2 an hour for 9-11 hours and then pick up the pace when you're good and liqueured up.

9:30pm: I'm not sure how much I've had to drink and I'm trying my hardest not to fall asleep. Things are getting foggy and I think I'm singing Karaoke.

10:09pm: I wake up in a recliner clueless as to how I got there to people yelling, "DQ, DQ, DQ!" and my heart sinks as someone writes a big "DQ: 10:09" on my Beer tracker. I try to plead my case but I finally concede and retire to my room, defeated.

11:30pm: I wake up again in my bed to people piling into my room and jumping on top of me. I think it's the morning so I'm thoroughly confused as to why all these people are up and drunk and bothering me but I find a clock and come to my senses. Or so I thought.

11:45pm: I wander back out and see that I was disqualified with only 4.2 Beers left and decide against my better judgment to go ahead and finish despite being disqualified. Things go dark after that. Security!

9:30am: I wake up still drunk and lost. I'm still in my bed but in a different set of clothes and my left shoulder, right forearm and right wrist are in pain. Waking up with random injuries and no clue what brought them about is quite common with Marathon Day competitors.

9:45am: I go in search of answers to find my room mate in bed with another man. Luckily for both of us he wasn't in any compromising position so I proceed to inquire as to what happened after I passed out.

I find out that passing out was probably for the better. After interrogating the hangover victims strewn about my destroyed apartment, I found out that one special contender who will forevermore hold a special place in my heart, actually managed to escape the party and wandered the streets. I can only imagine what that looked like. I can also only imagine what it would look like to peer out my home into my back yard and seeing someone squatting against a wall, half naked, doing an unspeakable act. This person used their undergarments as TP and decided to leave them behind with their little surprise for those of you curious enough to ask. Those poor people. I hope they never visit the southwest corner of their back yard.

When you gotta go, you gotta go I guess. I love you, Marathon Day. See you next year.

Stay tuned for details about "Good Friday, Bad Saturday" and Yucca.

Cheers!

- C.C.R. Kiiiiiindyyyyy

Noah Packs 'Em In Two At a Time

According to ESPN.com, Joakim Noah had not one, but TWO run-in's with the law this past Sunday. We all know about the arrest for having an open container of alcohol in public and the 20 grams of marijuana. You know, the charge that according to Noah's father is "no big deal."
(Never mind the fact that both are illegal. Joakim - if you need to drink in public, go to the Las Vegas Strip. If you need to smoke marijuana, leave the grass in the house. Because otherwise, it is a "big deal" - would any of us want our employers to find out we were charged with the same counts? Wouldn't most of us get fired on the spot, or at least receive some hefty discipline? Just because Noah challenges Chris Kaman for "Ugliest Man in the NBA" doesn't mean he gets a free ride. He needs to remain ugly and stay out of trouble.) (I think I just set a new personal record for "longest parenthetical.")

Anyway, the second citation was issued for driving with a suspended license and for not driving with a seatbelt. "No big deal," right Daddy Noah? No word on if the arresting officer was Officer Shaquille O'Neal.

Derek Fisher and Lakers luck out big time!

The Los Angeles Lakers just won game 4 of the Western Conference Finals on a veeery controversial call. Down by two with a few seconds to go Brent Barry of the Spurs received the inbounds pass and Derek Fisher jumped in the air and CLEARLY bumped Barry before he went up for the shot. I know refs don't want to influence the end of the game with a bad call, but last time I checked you can't run and jump into somebody. It would have been one thing if Derek hadn't left his feet or even if he had jumped straight into the air. That was not the case. Now I am listening to Reggie Miller, Barkley, and the Jet talk about how it was Barry's fault for not "selling the foul". Apparently they want to see more manu-style flopping. Maybe they wanted Barry to fall to the ground and grab his ankle like an Italian soccer player. Disgusting! I can't believe I have to see Kobe's smug face roll into June.

Can the Angels Afford to Let K-Rod Walk?

At the end of the 2008 season, Angels closer Francisco Rodriguez will be looking for a new contract. Seeing as he'll probably want something in the $14-million+ range, he may not get it from the Angels - especially considering the Yankees are expected to make a strong push for him as the successor to Mariano Rivera (Joba's move to the rotation makes this an even more likely scenario). But can the Angels afford to let K-Rod walk? Unlike many other major league clubs, the Angels aren't familiar with having to find an arm to plug in the closer's role. Before Rodriguez, they had Troy Percival, the Angels all-time saves leader. In fact, it was Rodriguez who essentially pushed Percival out the door. Right now, no one's pushing K-Rod out the door, except of course a few Benjamins. A lot of Benjamins.

As bleak as the situation may appear at first blush, there actually are a few in-house options for the Angels as soon as 2009, should K-Rod land elsewhere. For one, there's Jose Arredondo. He saved 10 games this year (yes, this year) in Triple-A Salt Lake before getting the call to Anaheim. While it's been a small sample size, he does have 4 K's and a 2.25 ERA (1.00 WHIP) in 4 innings with the Angels. I've only been able to watch him pitch once, and from what I saw, it looks like he's got a devastating splitter. Based on his career minor league numbers (3.88 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 360 K's in 373.1 IP), Arredondo may not be as dominant as K-Rod, but he should be good enough to get the job done on a regular basis. [For comparison purposes, Rodriguez had a 3.72 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, and 421 K's in 317.2 IP in the minors - very comparable numbers to Arredondo, except for strikeouts].

Another option to close games for the Halos is Nick Adenhart. While Adenhart is currently a starter, and some even project him to be a major league ace, there are a couple reasons why he might be better suited for the closing role if he is to remain with the Angels. First, he's already had a date with Tommy John. Closing games should put less stress on his arm, and, therefore, less chance to reinjure it. And, second, there are no imminent openings in the Angels rotation. Assuming Jon Garland (who will be a free agent) does not return to the Angels in 2009, the 5-man rotation is still pretty crowded with John Lackey, Kelvim Escobar, Jered Weaver, Ervin Santana, and Joe Saunders. Perhaps the only way Adenhart cracks that rotation as early as 2009 is if the Angels opt to give Escobar the closing duties, given his past injuries and the fact he's done it - and succeeded - before, saving 38 games for the Blue Jays in 2002. Still, Escobar is far from a long-term solution, while Adenhart (or Arredondo, for that matter) could give the Angels the long-term security at closer that Halo fans have grown accustomed to.

Bulls Played It By the Numbers

The Chicago Bulls may have another number they should hang from the rafters - 17.

After all, the number 17 has been pretty significant for the most important player in franchise history (and among the most important in the NBA) - Michael Jordan. Jordan was born on the 17th of February. As a freshman at the University of North Carolina, Jordan hit the game winning shot over Georgetown in the 1982 NCAA Championship game - with 17 seconds left. He played 15 NBA seasons, as well as on 2 Olympic Gold Medal teams...15 +2 = 17. He was a 6'6" swingman who could play both the 2 and the 3 positions...6+6+2+3=17. He won 6 NBA Championships, was named Finals MVP 6 times, and NBA MVP 5 times...6+6+5= 17. All 6 of his NBA Championships came while wearing #23...take those 6 away from 23, and you're left with 17. He won the NBA scoring title 10 times, while winning it for 7 consecutive seasons...10+7=17. Throughout his career, he wore the numbers 23, 45, and 9...1 man, 77 numbers (23+45+9=77). He won his 1st NBA Championship in his 7th NBA season. After 17 years of marriage, Jordan and his wife divorced....oh wait, that's not a good thing.

And, now, 17 years after Jordan won his 1st NBA Championship, the Chicago Bulls have the first pick in the 2008 NBA Draft. They may have had only a 1.7% chance to win, but I'm sure they wouldn't have had it any other way.

Bull$^@&

Do the Chicago Bulls really deserve any more draft luck after Michael Jordan fell into their lap in 1984? I know that was 24 years ago, but that's not even close to long enough to heal the wounds of Portland Trailblazer fans. Everyone knows about how the Blazers gave the Bulls 6 championships by selecting Sam Bowie over Jordan. The Bulls have now lucked out again by winning the 2008 draft lottery after only having a 1.7% chance of gaining the top spot. Now they will have the option of selecting either Derrick Rose or Michael Beasley, who are the clear cut favorites to go 1-2. Here's hoping John Paxson returns the favor to the rest of the NBA and takes Brooke Lopez number 1 overall.

NBA: Where the Lottery Happens

Tonight, the NBA will be having its annual draft lottery. Every team who did not make the playoffs will be represented in the lottery - the worse a team's record, the more lottery balls they have assigned to them. It's really a unique draft system in sports - most other sports (in fact, all other sports as far as I'm aware of) give the number 1 draft choice to the team with the worst record. But in the NBA, tanking doesn't guarantee you anything.

So this got me thinking - where else could we use the NBA Lottery?

1. MLB - the baseball draft is probably the biggest crap-shoot of them all. You have some first overall selections that pan out, like Adrian Gonzalez (2000) and Joe Mauer (2001) . You also have some that sound like they could be porn actors for all we know: Bryan Bullington (2002) and Matthew Bush (2004). And what about those later round selections that make you scratch your head? Guys like Albert Pujols (13th round, 402nd overall pick) and future Hall of Famer Mike Piazza (62nd round). So why not give the lottery a shot here? Probably wouldn't make much difference for the teams talent-wise, but it is more exciting for the fans.

2. NFL - a lottery draft in the NFL would blow my mind. Imagine - the Dolphins go 1-15...but end up with the 3rd pick, while the 17-1 New England Patriots swoop in for the first overall pick because they hold the 49ers pick. As crazy - and as scary - as that sounds, it might actually work for the NFL. Isn't the NBA lottery at least in some part intended to prevent tanking towards the end of the season to achieve a higher draft pick? Are you telling me the Dolphins weren't secretly hoping they'd end up with the NFL's worst record so they could grab the first draft choice?

3. NHL - sure, why not?

4. Presidential Election - OK, I think I really hit something here. Who wouldn't be on the edge of their seat if the presidential election was determined by a bunch of ping pong balls? Imagine, John McCain receives a majority of the popular vote. Instead of winning the election there on the spot, all he is entitled to is more ping pong balls. The fate of our country for the next four years lies on ping pong balls - President Bush receives the envelope and reveals the winner is...RALPH NADER!! Holy Crap!!

Please Kevin Garnett, SAVE US!!!

We are now down to the final 4 teams in the NBA playoffs and David Stern has got to be NERVOUS!!! There is the potential for a dream matchup between the Lakers and the Celtics, which would probably result in one of the highest rated NBA Finals in history. Then there is the potential Pistons-Spurs matchup. UGHHH!!! I think I just tasted some vomit in the back of my throat. I'd rather watch my parents create my younger brother than watch Manu flop to a title over Rasheed and company. At least under this scenario there would be no 4th championship for Kobe Bryant. A Laker victory would only assure an increase in athletes complaining and holding out until they get what they want. Only Kevin Garnett and the Celtics can bring a happy ending to this NBA season.

Giambi's Thong in High Demand

By now, you've probably heard about Jason Giambi's tiger-striped thong - the one he wears to get himself out of a slump. You may have also heard that Giambi has loaned out the thong to Derek Jeter, Bernie Williams, Johnny Damon, Robin Ventura, and Robinson Cano. "All of them wore it and got hits," Giambi told the LA Times. "The thong works every time."

Since the story broke, a number of athletes have come forward asking to borrow Giambi's buttfloss. Here are just a few of them:

1. Richie Sexson - unless Sexson snaps out of his slump, he could be seeing more time on the bench, or traded to a team in need of a 6'8" Oregonian. Sexson is hitting .200 with 7 homeruns.

2. Jim Thome - he still has an "okay" .345 OBP and 23 RBI. But the .203 average suggests that Father Time might be catching up on the 37 year old...that is, until he gets his hands - or cheeks, rather - on Giambi's T-Bar.

3. Nick Swisher - Swish has never been a batting championship contender, but he was expected to do better than hit .213 with 4 homeruns and 13 RBI. Besides, when you think of players willing to wear another man's thong, wouldn't Nick Swisher have to be on that list? I think he might wear it even if he wasn't in a slump.

4. Paul Konerko - um, is this the third White Sox on this list? That's not a good sign, Chi-Town. Maybe Ozzie Guillen should take a turn with Giambi's banana hammock.

5. Ryan Howard - sure, the 10 homeruns are nice. The 25 RBI are okay. But the .191 batting average is a far cry from the .313 he posted in 2006, and even the .268 he had in 2007.

6. Travis Hafner - hitting just .228 with 4 homeruns and 20 RBI, Pronk may benefit from a go-around with Giambi's salami sling.

7. Andruw Jones - Jones is slumping so bad, he might need some extended time with Giambi's wedgie. Hitting just .167 with 2 homeruns and 7 RBI, I think Andruw Jones is in something more than a slump. This is like an entirely new thing I've never heard of before. I think Barry Bonds is putting up better numbers in 2008 than Andruw Jones.

8. Vladimir Guerrero - though not hitting quite as poorly as some others on this list, Vlad's .259 average with 4 homeruns and 22 RBI is a far cry from his career averages. However, having seen how Vlad gunks up his helmet, one can only imagine what he'd do with Giambi's dance belt...and that's just gross.

VERLANDER WATCH

The Muffin is now on Verlander watch. The Justin Verlander of old - the one who went 17-9 in 2006, and 18-6 in 2007 - has been missing from the 2008 season. The imposter "Verlander" is posting numbers eerily similar to Barry Zito's. This "Verlander" has gone 1-7 with a 6.05 ERA with a 1.47 WHIP and just 33 strikeouts in 55 innings.

If you've seen the Justin Verlander of old, please return him to the Detroit Tigers. My fantasy baseball team depends on it. Thank you.

Ultimate Fighter 7 Finale Card finalized and to air for 3 hours in HD on Spike

We here at the muffin love MMA. So much so that we have written hate mail to Comcast to get off their lazy butts and add Spike HD to their HD channel list. Anyway see below for the cool poster for the Ultimate Figher 7 Finale.




The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 7 Finale at The Pearl at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada, is set to air from 9 p.m. to 12 a.m. ET on June 21, according to a press release today.

The special three-hour broadcast will be broadcast in High Definition (HD) for this first time ever on Spike TV.

Under card bouts that have already been announced such as Spencer Fisher vs Jeremy Stephens, Jeremy Horn vs Dean Lister, Marvin Eastman vs. Drew McFedries and Josh Burkman vs Dustin Hazelett were all made official.

The middleweight showdown between Evan "I'm a drunk, sunk my boat and lost my fight purse in vegas" Tanner and Kendall Grove, as well as the welterweight tilt that pits Diego Sanchez against Luigi Fioravanti, will co-headline the show.

Also we'll have the final matchup from the final two TUF contestants. Hopefully Rampage gets one in the finals.

Bear Playing Hockey

I don't much about hockey, but I imagine there's gotta be a spot for him on the Los Angeles Kings.

Arlen Specter is bored

Apparently Arlen Specter has nothing to do as a senator of the United States. Today he called for an independent investigation of the "Spygate" scandal, which involved the New England Patriots stealing signs from opposing teams through videotapes. Now I hate the Patriots as much as the next guy, but COME ON ARLEN!!! Do you really have nothing better to do? I somewhat understand the government going after steroids in baseball as drug use in major league sports has had a negative influence on our youth. I'd hardly put "spygate" in the same category as performance enhancing drugs. Arlen, if I see your face on ESPN.com one more time I'm gonna headbutt the wall Gus Frerotte style and start shouting obscenities. Get back to doing the job you were elected to do.

Who's More Impressive? Tiger Woods...or this kid?

Who has the more impressive juggling skills - Tiger Woods, or this kid with a soccer ball?

VS.

Who IS This Man??

If you play fantasy baseball or you're a Pittsburgh Pirates fan, you know about Nate McLouth. The 5'11", 185 pound, center fielder from Muskegon, Michigan. But, seriously, where did this guy come from???

I mean, he has been in the majors since 2005. He hasn't hit better than .258. He hasn't topped 13 homeruns in a season in his professional career. He had to earn a spot on the Pirates 2008 roster in Spring Training, just beating out Nyler Morgan. Sounds like another utility guy.

That's why his 2008 stat line makes no sense: he's hitting .305 with 10 homeruns and 31 RBI in just 154 plate appearances. That means he's projected for 42 homeruns and 132 RBI...It still hasn't sunk in yet...Projected for FORTY-TWO homeruns, and ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-TWO RBI. Do you remember the last time a Pittsburgh Pirate topped 40 bombs? Yeah, neither do I. That's because Hall of Famer Willie Stargell was the last Buc to accomplish the feat, launching 44 of them in 1973. Not even Barry Bonds hit 40 dingers while in the Steel City (unless he wants to claim he did and accept a 15th count of perjury - why stop now?)

Even Nate McLouth's manager is starting to make Bonds comparisons. Skipper John Russell told MLB.com, "If you look at [McLouth's] size, you may say, 'How can this guy hit home runs. I think they said the same thing about Barry Bonds when he first broke in. It has to do with your hitting position and bat speed and he has both of them. When you're that quick and hit the ball solid, you have the ability to hit the ball out."

I really don't care how he does it. Just keep doing it. But - please - stay away from Balco, the cream, the clear, Canseco, Clemens, and McCready.

Japan's Hottest New Import

Everyone made a big fuss over Daisuke Matsuzaka. ESPN's Jim Caple gushed over Yu Darvish. But just wait until Hank Steinbrenner starts throwing dough at this guy.

Wanna Create a Logo?

The Sports Muffin is in need of a logo that can be placed at the top of the homepage. However, none of us are really the creative type, and we're also too cheap to buy Photoshop.

So this is where YOU come in - and by "you" we mean, any person who happens to be reading this (probably a rarity, in itself) and also happens to be creative, good with computers, and has a little extra time on their hands. That's right, we won't be paying you. (Although, we can list as you as a Contributor on the site. However, that may be more punishment than payment. We also don't mind throwing up an ad or link to your site or blog).

So, if you feel up to the challenge, feel free to email us your creations at thesportsmuffin@gmail.com. We don't have any real "requirements" - we just want something aesthetically pleasing that will match the look of the rest of the site.

Home Court ADVANTAGE

During the second round of the NBA playoffs the home team is now 15-1. The Celtics, who had the best record in the NBA, are now 0-5 on the road this postseason. What gives the home team such a huge advantage? The courts are all the same size, the hoops are the same height, and the weather is a non-issue. Can the crowd really make that much of a difference? Does Kevin Garnett really need the Boston fans to get him going? Do the Utah Jazz really need a bunch of raucous mormons rooting them on to perform at a high level? I really can't understand this "advantage", but as long as it results in some Game 7s I'M IN!

Josh Howard, Carmelo Anthony Take Note about the dangers of drinking and drugs

I've heard doing drugs are bad. I've heard drinking is bad. I've listened to Josh Howard tell me he smokes pot in the offseason and it's awesome. We've seen Carmelo Anthony drink and drive only to apologize for his behavior. Hell I've drank so much at one point I pooped on myself. After seeing the picture below I am not sure I could ever look at any drug or a shot of jaeger again.

Amy Winehouse has fallen on hard times. Her hair is falling out and her belly is expanding due to the abuse she has put on her body. At this point I am not sure who to be more ashamed of - her or Cedric Benson.

San Diego Padres Front Office Enters the Blogosphere

Today, I came across a pleasant surprise - San Diego Padres front office assistant Paul DePodesta has a blog. You can find it over at http://itmightbedangerous.blogspot.com/. Apparently, he couldn't spring the extra $10 a year to register his own domain name and shed the "blogspot" tag. Hey, I'm not complaining or anything - I didn't spring for it, either. I'm just sayin'...

For those of you unfamiliar with Mr. DePodesta, he started out in the Cleveland Indians' front office as an advance scout and, for a short time, as the special assistant to the GM. He then went to Oakland as an assistant to Billy Beane, before landing the GM job with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He had a falling out with owner Frank McCourt and was ultimately shown the door. He is now with the San Diego Padres as a front office assistant. You can learn more about him at wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Depodesta.

I think it's pretty cool that a baseball front office is attempting to become more transparent with its fans, and that a high profile guy like DePodesta would take the initiative to do so. He doesn't have a lot of material up on his blog yet, but it's less than a week old. Let's hope he keeps it updated regularly, and that more front offices follow his lead.

Welcome to USC!

Welcome to USC, the University of Sports Controversy. Here our student-athletes strive for excellence on the field of play, as well as in the business world, in the press, and in the courtroom. Here are just a few of our notable alumni:

School of Business
1. Reggie Bush (Class of...actually, do you get a "Class of" distinction if you don't graduate?): While at USC, Bush allegedly accepted gifts from boosters, valued at over $300,000.

2. O.J. Mayo (Class of...see above): Here's our latest alumni from the University of Sports Controversy. ESPN's "Outside the Lines" reports that Mayo received over $30,000 in gifts over the past four years, including his first and only year at USC.

School of Journalism
1. Matt Leinart (Class of 2005): Upon entering the NFL, Matty has been doing a great job of keeping his face in the tabloids. From dating starlets like Paris Hilton to Kristin Cavallari, to hot-tubbing and beer-bonging in the offseason, Leinart was voted "Most Likely to Get Drunk and Kiss a Sideline Reporter a la Joe Namath."

School of Law
1. O.J. Simpson (Class of ...see above): And, last but not least, our most notable alumni. Have you ever heard the phrase, getting away with murder? Well, O.J. actually does it! Charged with two counts of murder in 1994, O.J. was found not guilty based on the old and well-respected legal defense, "If the glove doesn't fit, you must acquit!" New reports are coming from a memorabilia dealer who claims that O.J. Simpson, while high on marijuana (he's a horticulturalist, too!), confessed to killing his wife. But thanks to rules of "Double Jeopardy," based on the popular TV game show, O.J. can't go back to trial for the murders. A jack of all trades, O.J. also comes from the School of Theatre. He has taken on dramatic, Oscar-worthy roles such as the part of Detective Nordberg in the "Naked Gun" movie trilogy.

Here's to our notable alumni from the University of Sports Controversy!

Snake Eyes

I was watching the Arizona Diamondbacks-Chicago Cubs game this afternoon, and the commentators brought up a certain fun fact about Arizona rookie pitcher, Max Scherzer. Dude has a condition called heterochromia - he has a blue eye and a brown eye. I don't know what's scarier for a hitter - seeing a guy with different color eyes staring you down, or his 98 mph heater.

D'Antoni a Knick (For Now...)

ESPN's Stephen A. Smith reports that Mike D'Antoni and the New York Knicks have come to terms on a 4 year $24 million contract. No word on who they plan to hire next year when D'Antoni leaves.

Who needs a closer

Why do major league baseball teams insist on having one pitcher be labeled the "closer"? The Braves showed in their sweep of the Padres how effective a "closer by committee" system can be. Not once did the Braves use just one pitcher in the ninth inning to close out games. This wasn't because the pitchers were giving up hits and walks, but because Bobby Cox was using certain match-ups to his advantage. When you don't have a dominate closer why not look at match-ups and use pitchers who have been on a hot streak instead of throwing the same guy out there over and over. If the pitcher stays on a permanent hot streak go ahead and label him your "closer". One of the more sickening things to witness in all of sports is your favorite team blowing a save. It's almost up there with walking in on your girlfriend making babies with one of your poker buddies. At least if the latter happens you wont have to endure the new "Sex and the City" movie coming out. I LOVE YOU BOBBY COX!!!

Roger Clemens - 2057

Unfortunately, there's no mention of steroids or Mindy McCready

UFC 85: Bedlam Poster

Found this over at MMAFrenzy.com...

Clayton Kershaw to Get the Call? Could Soria Hold Up in the Rotation?

The Los Angeles Times reports that the Dodgers placed starting pitcher Esteban Loaiza on the disabled list because of tightness in his right shoulder. Injuries to has-been starters like Loaiza typically don't make headlines - even in Los Angeles - but in this case, it means the possibility of super-prospect Clayton Kershaw getting the call from Double-A Jacksonville.

Kershaw, 20, has been tearing up the minor leagues. He started 2007 in Single-A, where he threw up 134 K's in just 97.1 innings to go along with a 2.78 ERA. He finished the year in Double-A, where he had 29 K's in 24.2 innings and a 3.72 ERA. In 2008, Kershaw has been even more dominating with 37 K's in 33.1 innings and a 1.08 ERA.

The Dodgers have been babying Kershaw up to his point, even enacting the "Kershaw Decree" - he will not exceed 25 innings pitched in any month while in the minors. So while the smart money is on the Dodgers giving Chan Ho Park the ball in Loaiza's absence, Kershaw's talent may be too good for the Dodgers to pass up (besides - Chan Ho Park???!!!???). When asked about the potential of giving Kershaw the call, Joe Torre was quoted as saying, "You'll have to wait and see." To add even further speculation, Kershaw pitched an inning in relief on Wednesday night so that he can make his next start on Monday - five days before the Dodgers will need someone to fill in for Loaiza.

If Kershaw does get the call, then he'll obviously be facing talent much better than he's used to facing in Jacksonville. But as a lefty with exceptional control over a mid-90's fastball and a 12-6 curveball that "scares small children and the elderly," I think Kershaw should be able to hold his own right now in the bigs. Plus, he kind of looks like another famous Dodger, Orel Hershiser...not that it really means anything...

Another interesting tidbit I saw over at MLBRumors.com for all you Royals fans (there should be a couple of you). KansasCity.com raises the possibility of putting Joakim Soria, currently the closer, in the Royals rotation. The kid has some nasty stuff - if he can build the endurance to go 6 or 7 on a regular basis, the Royals have a pretty good foundation for their rotation - Zack Greinke, Brian Bannister, Luke Hochevar, and Soria. Not to mention young sluggers like Alex Gordon, Mark Teahen, and Billy Butler.

It's Official, I Have a Mancrush for Howie Kendrick

It all started innocently enough. A few years ago, I started hearing about this kid in the Angels minor league system. I was told he was pretty handy with the woo, er...bat. A future major league batting champ, the experts told me. Teams started putting in calls to the Angels asking about Kendrick. They were waving Johan Santana, Miguel Cabrera, even pictures of GM Bill Stoneman in his underwear to pry Kendrick away from the Halos. Stoneman wouldn't budge. There's still no indication of whether those pictures are the real reason Stoneman handed the reigns over Tony Reagins before the 2008 season.

Howie graduated from the minor leagues with a career batting average over .400. Then he entered into the Major Leagues, and into my heart. In 2006, he hit .285 with 21 doubles, 4 homers, and 3o RBI in 72 games. In 2007, he hit .322 with 24 doubles, 5 homers, and 39 RBI in 88 games. I was sold on Howie. I bought his autographed baseball from Ebay. I was devastated when someone else took him off the boards in fantasy baseball. But don't worry. He will be mine. Oh yes, he will be mine.

This year, Howie hurt his hamstring after only 10 games (Howie, if you need an amateur masseuse, call me...). He was hitting .500 with 5 doubles and a triple. Howie's on his way back, however, playing some rehab ball for Single-A Rancho Cucamonga. Yesterday, he went 3 for 3 with 2 homeruns. I love it when he does that.

My predictions for Howie's career? He will be baseball's first career .600 hitter. He will annihilate Barry Bond's home run record with 983 dingers. He will drive in 4,700 runs, in honor of his jersey number (HK-47 - you're so witty, Howie!). While he's at it, he will cure AIDS, cancer, and diabetes in the offseason. He will also be found vacationing - with me - in the Bahamas...which he will have bought.

Allen Iverson - Football Star?

Looks like Allen Iverson could have dropped the round ball and been the "Answer" for an NFL team.....what, no laughs? Fine, just watch the video.

Lebron blows big opportunity

I argued a few days ago that Lebron James should have been MVP instead of Kobe Bryant (See Kobe Wins MVP and RE: Kobe Wins MVP). During game 1 of the second round against the Celtics Lebron did everything in his power to make me look like an idiot. He was only one rebound and one assist away from the triple double, but had he completed that feat it would have been the worst triple double in NBA history. James shot only 2-18 from the field and blew a lay-up at the end of the game that would have tied the score and possibly sent the game to OT. The Celtics don't look anything like a #1 seed and should've lost the game. If only my MVP pick had played a mediocre game instead of a disgusting one the Cavs would have stole home court. Against the Celtics that would have been HUGE!! Come on Lebron, don't give the MVP voters any reason to think they made the right choice.

Chicago Bears: Out with Benson, In with Alexander?

Chicago Bears runningback Cedric Benson's recent run in with the law has been making the rounds on sports news outlets. Given Benson's underachieving performance thus far (3.4 ypc in 2007, career 3.8 ypc), isn't this the perfect time to cut him loose?

As much sense as it makes, it always comes down to the on-field product, and it's not like the Bears are brimming with talent in the backfield. "The other" Adrian Peterson is second on their depth chart, and behind him, 2008 2nd round draft pick Matt Forte. Michael "The Burner" Turner would have been a great fit in Chi-Town, but he landed in the ATL.

But what about Shaun Alexander? He's only three seasons removed from winning the NFL MVP award. Obviously, you can't expect MVP results from Alexander in 2008, but he should be able to at least match any production that Benson can provide, right? He would definitely be less of a distraction.

ZITO WATCH

We here at the Muffin love Barry Zito. We think he's Zito-rific. But we're sad to see that Barry's been missing from the San Francisco Giants in recent days. The last time we saw him was over a week ago now (April 27) - we were told he was making a trip to the bullpen. But we haven't seen him since.

Barry, did you get lost on your way to the bullpen? Maybe O.J. is helping you find your lost fastball... Did manager Bruce Bochy lose your bullpen phone number? We think you should go see him and remind him.

In any event, we miss you Barry. Please do return.

Mario Manningham Doing the Worm

As if winning the Super Bowl wasn't enough, the New York Giants have this to look forward to.

Colorado Rockies Looking for Starting Pitching

According to the Denver Post, the Colorado Rockies are looking for a starting pitcher to keep the seats warm until Franklin Morales, Greg Reynolds, and Jason Hirsh return. It is reported that the Rockies have expressed interest in the Oakland Athletics' Rich Harden and Joe Blanton. However, with the A's still in the thick of the AL West race and currently leading the Wild Card, it's likely Billy Beane would charge an even higher price than usual for either one of his hurlers. I say, give 'em Harden, Beane. Maybe the thin air is exactly what his fragile arm needs.

The Rangers also seem to be shopping Kevin Millwood. For the most part, I've been hearing Millwood's name linked with the Braves (on a sidenote, shouldn't the Braves go after Millwood? And then once they have him, go get the Mad Dog? The Braves would be partying like it's 1999 with Maddux, Glavine, Smoltz, Millwood, and a little bit of Tim Hudson. Bring back Julio Franco! Bring back Javier Lopez! Bring back Andruw Jones...no, seriously, bring him back. The Dodgers fans are begging you.)

Other likely candidates include Josh Fogg and Julian Tavarez, both of whom have spent time with the Mile High club. And, as always - Hideo Nomo is available. No reports of interest from the Rockies, however. It's only a matter of time.

Top 10 Most Awkward Interviews

From ESPN, these interviews were horri-awful.

Angels Rotation Anchored by...Saunders and Santana?!?!?

By defeating the Baltimore Orioles 6-5 on Sunday afternoon, the Angels secured Joe Saunders' AL Leading 6th win of the season (tied with New York's Chien-Ming Wang). His teammate, Ervin Santana, goes for his 6th win of the season tonight when he toes the rubber against Brett Tomko and the Kansas City Royals. A win for Santana tonight would make Saunders and Santana the winningest duo in the Major Leagues. Not bad, considering at least one of them wouldn't even be in the rotation if the Angels hadn't been hit by injuries.

Because of injuries to staff ace #1 John Lackey (19-9, 3.01 ERA, 1.21 WHIP) and staff ace #2 Kelvim Escobar (18-7, 3.40 ERA, 1.27 WHIP), Saunders and Santana were both given spots in the rotation. Chances are, without the injuries, only Santana would have cracked the rotation based on his raw talent alone; however, he would have been kept on a short-leash following his disappointing 5.76 ERA, 7-14 season in 2007 with Saunders standing by to pick up the pieces. But in the end, they both found themselves making regular starts, and each is making a case to keep his spot when Lackey and Escobar return.

If Saunders (6-0, 2.61 ERA, 1.10 WHIP) and Santana (5-0, 2.48 ERA, 0.98 WHIP) can keep it up, looks like the Halos may be sporting four aces...and a side of Jered Weaver (2-4, 4.36 ERA, 1.34 WHIP).

James Irvin to Fight Rashad Evans at UFC 85

Due to Chuck Liddell's recent hamstring injury, he will be replaced by James Irvin in UFC 85. Irvin will be squaring off against Rashad Evans. Here are a couple of Irvin's more notable UFC fights. Don't blink.

Watch Hockey!

I can't believe I'm saying this, but playoff hockey is SICK!!! After watching the frenetic pace of the Penguin-Ranger game today I have to admit that I may start watching more games as it gets closer to the Finals. I'm not sure why Americans have such a dislike for sports that have Goals. It must have something to do with the fact that we live in a culture where "scoring" is a must. Maybe that's why I like soccer, cause scoring for both me and the sport is so rare that when it does happen it's both shocking and AMAZING!!! I realized today that hockey OT is like sex. It's back and forth fast-paced action and then it culminates in a rush of excitement that leaves you tired and just wanting to take a nap. GOAAAAAAAL!!!!!

Rampage Jackson Words To Iceman Chuck Liddell

I think Chuck should have had those drinks. Maybe then Rampage wouldn't have dropped him in the first round.

Big Brown Wins the Derby

Favorite Big Brown won the 134th Kentucky Derby on Saturday in very convincing fashion. Big Brown has now won all four races in its career. Eight Belle, who finished second, suffered two broken ankles at the end of the Derby, and had to be instantly euthanized.

BREAKING NEWS: Julio Franco Retires

It's a sad day over here at the Muffin. After 2 centuries of competitive baseball, 49 year-old Julio Franco has decided to call it quits.

Franco called the decision "the hardest decision in my life." Franco last appeared in the Major Leagues in 2007 with the New York Mets and Atlanta Braves. He had been playing for the Mexican league Quintana Roo Tigers in 2008. He retires with a .298 career average, 2,586 hits and 173 home runs in 23 big league seasons.

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jDXnbod8eEWAAalQANdqO5tP8mcQD90EB5VO0

RE: Kobe Bryant wins the MVP

Kobe Bryant deserved the MVP about as much as his wife deserved getting cheated on. I know most people considered this a three man race with Paul, Garnett, and Kobe. What about Lebron? His numbers were better with 30 ppg, 7.9 rpg and 7.2 apg. One could argue he is way more valuable to his team. Honestly, who is the second scoring option on that team? THATS RIGHT, ZYDRUNAS ILGAUSKAS!!!! We've seen what Kobe has done with a cast of nobody's. Mainly lose in the first round to the otherwise playoff challenged Suns. So basically Lebron has better numbers and is more valuable. That argument was almost too easy. I'll pick a harder one next time.

2008 Kentucy Derby

Today's the 134th running of the Kentucky Derby over at muddy Churchill Downs. So, what does that mean? That means grab your Mint Julip and get ready to place some bets (only if that's legal where you are, of course).

I know nothing about horses and horse racing, but others do. And I know how to paraphrase, so here are the horses to watch and the miniature men riding them.

Based on the odds posted, this looks like this could be a three horse race:

Big Brown +300
This horse comes in as the undefeated favorite. I know another team that came into the biggest game of the year as the undefeated favorite.

Colonel John +450
You know that undefeated team I was just talking about? They lost to a guy named Eli. Eli's a biblical name. So is John. And there were a lot of military campaigns in the Bible. (Sorry, I know it's a stretch, but that's the best I've got.) So this pony's my favorite.

Pyro +550
This horse finished 1st, 3rd, 2nd, 2nd, 1st, and 1st before stumbling to 10th place in its last race. I think we have a name for that sort of collapse: the 2007 New York Mets.

The next four horses each come in at +1600: Z Fortune, Court Vision, Visionaire, Gayego. Anak Nakal brings up the rear at +6000. I actually like Anak Nakal in the race - you figure it's gotta be the slowest horse, right? Well, the track is muddier than Pelechati's pants right now, so that could mean trouble for the horses in the front of the pack. Say they all fall over like dominos - could we see Anak Nakal trot around them for a first place finish? Eh, you're right, that's about as likely as a sub-.500 team taking a Boston powerhouse to a 7th game in the NBA Playoffs.

Kobe Bryant Wins the MVP

By now, I'm sure you've heard the reports out of LA - Kobe Bryant will be announced as the 2008 NBA MVP. I'm sure that's something the Hairy Guate will rant about.

As deserving as Chris Paul and Kevin Garnett - and even Lebron James - would be any other year, this was definitely Kobe's year. He posted 28.3 ppg, 5.4 apg, and 6.3 rpg. And, oh yeah, his Lakers won 57 games this year and completely dismantled the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the playoffs. Some people say that Gasol is the reason for their success, not Kobe. Really??? Can't you say the same about David West (who had better stats than Gasol) for Chris Paul, and the Paul Pierce-Ray Allen combo for Kevin Garnett? I'm not knocking any of those guys, but only to say that Kobe drives the Lakers just as much if not more than any of the other MVP candidates.

I understand it's the Most Valuable Player award, and not the Most Outstanding Player award - as is often the argument for Garnett. This doesn't mean Garnett should have won the award. Sure, he's been extremely valuable to that franchise since he came onboard - but anymore valuable than Kobe has been to the Lakers in recent years? Isn't Kobe the face of the Lakers, for better or worse, just as Jordan was the face of the Bulls? I remember even Jordan had some pretty good players - Hall of Fame players - around him during his heyday. That doesn't mean Jordan was any less great. Maybe just more fortunate. The point being, Kobe's influence over the Lakers has been just as great, if not greater, than Garnett's influence has been over the Celtics - some people just want to focus on Garnett's influence because its fresher in their minds, and because the results were more dramatic. But the fact is - Kobe had a better overall 2008 than Garnett, therefore, he's more deserving of the award.

Chris Leben vs. Michael Bisping at UFC 85 Bedlam Video Montage

We here at the muffin do get excited for sports..especially when Barry Zito is pitching, but I myself am just about ready to cream myself over the idea of Chris Leben fighting Michael Bisping at UFC 85 Bedlam.

In order to get pumped I thought it would be fun to relive when Chris Leben was assassinated by Anderson The Spider Silva. This is one of Sean's favorite moments.

Chris Leben though lately has been incredible knocking out Allesio Sakara with ease. Good luck Bisping and lay off the cheeseburgers and frys.

Tribute to Julio Franco - The Greatest Baseball Player EVER

There really aren't enough tribute videos out there for one of the Muffin's favorite players, Julio Franco. The dude is 49!! I'm pretty sure that's still older than Miguel Tejada. And he still plays - sure, in Mexico, but it's still competitive baseball.

Julio Franco - he's glorious.

Roger Clemens Comes Clean to Congress

This is an older video, but I still get a kick out of it.

Yovani Gallardo Torn ACL

OUCH! Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Yovani Gallardo tore his ACL on Thursday in a game against the Chicago Cubs. It appears he will need season ending surgery, which would be a HUGE blow for the Brewers. At the age of 22 Gallardo appears to be the real deal as he posted a 3.38 ERA while starting 20 games last season as a rookie and was already off to a terrific start in 2008 with a 1.80 ERA in 3 starts. Gallardo will be replaced in the rotation by Dave Bush and his Zito-esque 6.75 ERA. This is devastating news for a Brewers club that is looking to make the playoffs for this first time since 1982. I was still a fetus the last time the Brew Crew saw the postseason. Fantasy owners must also be crushed by this news. Keeper league managers may have a tough decision to make depending on whether they have DL roster spots or not. I think Gallardo has shown enough that you HAVE to keep him whether you have a DL spot or not. It's not like the injury was to his arm. He should come back next season and at the age of 23 be a dominant starter for the next 10 years. Hopefully his owner in my fantasy league doesn't take this advice.

Colorado Rockies?

Sports Illustrated picked the Colorado Rockies to go 89-73 this year and reach the NLCS. Many other experts agreed that they would either win the NL west or claim the Wild Card. I know they made the World Series last year, BUT COME ON!!! With that starting pitching I'm not sure how on earth that even happened. Nobody in their rotation has ever posted a sub 4.00 ERA over an entire season as a starter except for Mark Redman for one season in Florida. MARK REDMAN?!?!?! When I look up grotesque in the dictionary I see a fat picture of Mark Redman. His 7.43 ERA can be no surprise to anyone. When Aaron Cook is leading your rotation you might as well kiss the season goodbye. I know Cook has had a great start, but even with his solid pitching the team is still struggling. There will be no bandwagon hopping for Rockie fans this year.

Madden 2009

Trailer for Madden 2009. Nothing gets the man juices flowing more than Madden. Well, maybe a Shakira music video.

Playoffs?!?!?!

Is everyone else as disappointed in the first round of the NBA playoffs as I am? How can 8 50-win teams, only separated by a total of 7 games in the standings, produce so little drama in the first round? How do the 76ers and Hawks put up better fights in the first round than the Mavs and Nuggets? Don't get me wrong, Game 1 of the Spurs-Suns series was sensational! But after that heartbreaking loss the Suns could only muster one measly win. I can't believe at this point I have to hope for a Hornets-Jazz western finals. Who could enjoy a series with the flopping of Ginobili and the smug face of Kobe? I'd rather stick my face in the toilet after my roomate just unloaded. And boy can he UNLOAD!!!

Anthony Reyes Heading for the ATL?

Coming via MLBTradeRumors.com, Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Dispatch reports that both the Atlanta Braves and the Los Angeles Angels have been scouting the Cardinals. The rumor is the Cardinals are looking to unload Anthony Reyes.

Seems to me like Anthony Reyes would be a great fit for the Braves, especially with Smoltz's return to the bullpen. Sure, Reyes has had his struggles in St. Louis: 2-14 record last year with a 6.05 ERA. But he's still only 26, and he did put up great numbers in the minors, which leads me to think that he should be at least serviceable at some point in his career. I think the only sticking point here is that the Cardinals want an upper echelon prospect included in any deal. Some of the Braves top prospects include OF Jordan Schafer, OF Jason Heyward (some consider him Frank Thomas with speed...yikes), SS Brent Lillibridge, OF Brandon Jones, OF Gorkys Hernandez, and SP Jair Jurjjens (who is already in the big league rotation). Based on that list, it looks like the Braves might have an abundance of outfielders - especially with young players like Jeff Francoeur and Gregor Blanco already in the bigs. However, I'd be extremely reluctant to part with any player described as "Frank Thomas with speed" - unless that tag just mean he's an a-hole with a drug habit.

As for the Angels, I don't know what they want from the Cardinals. Maybe they realized they're really short on their Molina quota and want Yadier. Probably not the case with Napoli and Mathis playing really well behind the dish for the Halos, though. Maybe they want Troy Glaus back? Not sure if they Angels need to do a ton of scouting on him - plus, where would Figgins play? Perhaps the only player from the Cardinals that makes any sense for the Angels is Chris Duncan - but the Angels already have a crowded outfield with Guerrero, Hunter, Anderson, Matthews, and Rivera (plus a very major league-ready Reggie Willits in Salt Lake).

Chicks Dig the Complete Game

Roy Halladay tossed his 4th (!) complete game of the year this past Tuesday, albeit in a tough-luck 1-0 loss to the Red Sox in Boston.

Halladay's four complete games this year are more than 14 TEAMS had in all of 2007, and tied with five other teams. In 2007, Halladay himself threw seven complete games, more than any other team in baseball except the Chicago White Sox (9), Cleveland Indians (9), Arizona Diamondbacks (7), and, of course, Halladay's Toronto Blue Jays (11).

Roy Halladay might be considered the anti-Harden.

Oakland A's "How Many Hits?"

I may be an Angels fan, but even I have to give the Oakland A's props for their latest promotion. Known as a club hard-pressed to fill seats, the A's are always looking for ways to gather fan interest (especially with the pending move to Fremont). This time around, the A's are running a "How Many Hits?" promotion.

Here's how it works. For every hit the A's record tonight against the Angels, the team will take $1 off the regular price of Plaza Level Seating for the game on Sunday, May 4 when the A's host the Texas Rangers. If the A's get 23 or more hits, tickets cost just $1. You can find out more here: http://oakland.athletics.mlb.com/oak/ticketing/howmanyhits.jsp.

This seems like a great promotion. Even though I'm an Angels fan, I'm secretly hoping the A's pound the Halos (but if Nick Adenhart tosses a no-no, that's still cool with me). I can only imagine it has the potential to attract a lot of interest from otherwise casual fans. Hopefully Oakland decides to do this promotion, or ones like it ($1 off for every Oakland strikeout), in the future.

Surprises at the Quarter-Point

It's hard to believe, but we're already at the quarter point of the 2008 baseball season. So let's see where things stand:

1st Place in the NL West: Arizona Diamondbacks
1st Place in the NL Central: St. Louis Cardinals
1st Place in the NL East: New York Mets/Florida Marlins/Philadelphia Phillies
Wild Card: Chicago Cubs

1st Place in the AL West: Los Angeles Angels
1st Place in the AL Central: Chicago White Sox
1st Place in the AL East: Boston Red Sox
Wild Card: Oakland Athletics

The teams we expected: Diamondbacks, Mets/Phillies, Cubs, Angels, and Red Sox. Teams we didn't expect? Cardinals, Marlins, White Sox, and A's.

I figure there's no use in writing about what people expected, so let's look at the teams that are performing unexpectedly well:

With most of their starting rotation spending time on the shelf (including Chris Carpenter), and reports of Albert Pujols' arm falling off, who expected the redbirds to have this kind of start? Rick Ankiel, who was Micah Owings before Micah Owings was Micah Owings (except he didn't pitch all that well), has panned our pretty well. He's hitting .290 with 5 HR's and 16 RBI. Oh yeah, and Pujols is hitting like Pujols - .365, 5 HR's and 20 RBI. I for one overthought that shoulder injury on fantasy draft day.

The Marlins have always had the budding young talent - they just happen to all be hitting on all cylinders right now. Hanley Ramirez is looking downright sexy with that .322, .395 OBP, 8 HR's, 19 RBI, and 9 SB line (yes, that's a mancrush you smell). Mike Jacobs has contributed 7 jacks, and Josh Willingham has thrown in a sexy line of his own: .341, .406 OBP, 6 HR's, and 16 RBI. Mark Hendrickson and Scott Olsen have been holding down the rotation - however, everyone else has been stinking it up Zito-style

The White Sox were looking a little like the Giants. "Hey, I hear Orlando Cabrera is available. Is he over 30? Great, let's bring him in!" Only, things seem to be working for Ozzie's club so far. The guy driving them offensively right now is Carlos Quentin, and their pitching staff has been excellent, except for ace Mark Buerhle. John Danks has posted an eye-catching 0.93 WHIP. (I feel obligated to mention here that the White Sox acquired Danks from the Rangers. Yeah, the same Rangers that traded Chris Young to the Padres and Edinson Volquez to the Reds. Great job, Rangers. You never needed quality pitching, anyway).

No one expected the Oakland A's to compete this year, except Billy Beane. I had no idea what he was doing when he shipped off two of his best, YOUNG players in Nick Swisher and Dan Haren, but, hey, things seem to be working out so far. It's also interesting to note that a team that many thought would be rebuilding has old balls like Mark Ellis, Emil Brown, Mike Sweeney, and Frank Thomas in the heart of their lineup. Another interesting note: the Reds offered the A's Homer Bailey for Joe Blanton, but Beane didn't bite. Instead, Beane wanted Johnny Cueto - the Reds refused. To me (and maybe me alone), this has some fantasy implications. Namely, Homer Bailey isn't as good as advertised. Isn't Homer Bailey precisely the kind of big name prospect that Beane is known to drool over? So why not pull the trigger? Given Beane's history, it's not because he's stupid. Instead, perhaps Bailey's struggles in the bigs last year are more indicative of his potential than people seem to think.

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