The Talkin’ Reckless 2012 MLB Season Preview Part One: AL West

To celebrate the start of the baseball season, I'm rolling out a massive, multi-part preview that will contain so many predictions and proclamations I will either be hailed as a genius or a moron by the end of the season (the smart money is on moron). How many parts, i don't quite know yet, but I will cover every division in the league and predict all of the major awards. Enjoy!

Growing up I very much enjoyed Baseball, but it was a clear 3^rd on my sports priority list behind Basketball and Football.  The non-stop action of basketball and pure violence of football held a greater connection in my ADD-addled mind. As I’ve gotten older and (hopefully) less of a space case, my love for baseball has grown every year.  I’ve learned to appreciate the smaller, more detail oriented parts of the game, like a well executed hit-and-run, or beautifully turned double-play.  It’s gotten to the point that no regular season sporting event in any sport will hold my attention better than a good old-fashioned pitcher’s duel.  Against all odds, MLB’s opening day has become one of my favorite days on the sports calendar, besting both the NFL’s and NBA’s opening days.  And with opening day coming up on April 5^th, I figured now was the time to take a stab at predicting just how this season will shake out, from the standings to the awards to who is eventually going to win the whole thing.  The boys of summer are finally back.

Peyton Manning, Alex Smith, and the Suddenly Intriguing 49ers QB Situation

 

Earlier this morning, it was reported by Chris Mortensen of ESPN that Peyton Manning has chosen to sign with the Denver Broncos, finally bringing a conclusion to his seemingly never ending “The Bachelor” style competition to find out which team will have the honor of paying him $18 million a year, or $1.125 million per game. That opening sentence smacks of bitterness because, well, I am a bit bitter. 

The Madness Is Here!!!!

The best day of the year is finally upon us, as the First Round of the NCAA Tournament gets underway.  I’ve already written my ode to March Madness, so this post will be my predictions for todays slate of games.  Just for fun, I’ve included what my wagers would be if I wasn’t staring up longingly at the poverty line.  I will post my complete bracket at the end so my success or failure (almost certainly failure) will be officially documented.  To the picks! (Teams seed will precede the team name)

Looking At The Bigger Picture: Why trading Monta Ellis for Andrew Bogut was the Right Move

I was going to get into my NCAA Tournament predictions, but I guess i'll get to those later since I might as well address the monster trade made yesterday.  From what I’ve seen online, whether you think this was a good or bad move mainly comes down on what you think of Monta Ellis.  I’ve addressed my thoughts on Monta Ellis here before, and the cliff notes version reads like this: I’m not a fan. 

A Moment in Time: Why The NCAA Tournament Rises Above All Else

 If you know what "Valpo" is short for, you know what this photo is.

The beauty of the NCAA tournament is that finding out who will win the National Championship is not the reason anybody watches it.  It’s bigger than simply crowning a champion. Every other postseason system captivates the public’s attention through the focus of “Who will be the next champion?”  Every Bowl Championship Series (BCS) controversy is about who will play in the college football championship game, with any issues involving the other bowls becoming inconsequential to the general public.  Every professional sport has its focus on their respective championships, as it should be since they are professionals. That mindset reflects everyday adult life, where everything is about results, first and foremost, and everything else a distant second.

Building for the Future: Klay Thompson & Ekpe Udoh

 

After getting smacked at home by the Memphis Grizzlies onWednesday, the Warriors record has fallen to 15-21 on the season. They are currently 13^th in the Western Conference out of 15 teams.  They have the 10^th worst record in the NBA right now, so they probably will be just good enough to lose their 1^st round draft pick in this summer’s draft.  I predicted something along these lines when the lockout ended, and then dwelled on it again and again in the interim.  Trust me when I say that while I absolutely love being right, this is one of the rare exceptions where I would be more than happy to be dead wrong.

However, in the interest of trying to put myself in a better place mentally, I’m going to focus on the two positives that have come out of this season that should help the Warriors a bit in the future: Klay Thompson and Ekpe Udoh.