here’s the link:

http://bestsportsthoughts.blogspot.com/

I wonder what team Joe the Plumber likes?

I have to think that he Roots for the Steelers

Since its election season here is a poll-

Hi Hank, thanks for letting me interview you

-This better be worth my time, I’ve only got another day or two to come out with a ridiculous statement and I haven’t thought of one yet.

- I promise this will be worth it….the first thing I want to know are your thoughts on this past season

- Well if Bud Selig and those other nimrods in the MLB offices were smart, they would get rid of the divisions and just give the World Championship to the team with the highest payroll. They also need to get to this century and make everybody use a DH. They should know that our pitchers aren’t taught how to run the bases. When Bud is done, I hope that I am elected commissioner so I can right the wrongs.

-Ok Hank, good luck with that….what was your favorite part of this year?

-It had to be the All-Star game. It was nice to see all of those future Yankees on one field.

- You honestly think you are going to get all of the American and National League All-stars on one team?

- No, stupid, that’s impossible….The AL guys would be in the majors and the NL guys would start in the minors….maybe if they played baseball like it was this century they could get a shot…but until then, the only field they will see is the one in Scranton.

- You really are just like people say aren’t you?

- If they say smart, handsome, executive of the year, then yes I am

- Well this has been a waste of my time Hank…thanks for nothing

- If by waste of time you mean the best interview you’ve ever had…than your welcome

Alright its time for the playoffs!!!…..Wait, something looks wrong here, where are the Yankees? Why does it say the Rays play this week? There must be a typo…. did baseball start giving teams bye weeks? Maybe the Yanks get to skip the ALDS and get to go right to the ALCS? What is this, the twilight zone?…Where are the Yankees? What?…They’re playing golf with the Mets?

What happened?

Well the answer to that question is simple: This year happened. The Rays took the division, Boston took the wild card, and the Yankees stunk. It’s as simple as that. As a die-hard, bleacher creature loving, but also disgruntled and disapointed Yankee fan, I feel your pain. The Yanks have not missed a postseason since 1995 and fell flat on their faces this year. “What do I do now?”, you ask? My answer to you is to watch the postseason; and while your doing that, follow my guide for rooting in the postseason.

First and foremost no rooting for Boston, at all. If you didn’t know that you are not a true Yankee fan.

In the American League root for the Rays and the Angels in the ALDS. Why the Rays? Root for them because they have played great and deserve their 15 minutes of fame. Why the Angels? Remember, no success for Boston equals a good thing. Root for the Rays over the Angels because the Angels beat up on the Yankees every year.

In the National League has one theme: Joe Torre’s sweet revenge. As a Yankee fan who realizes that Torre got thrown under the bus last year, I want to see him succeed. So in the NLDS I would suggest rooting for the Dodgers and the Brewers. The Cubs and Phillies are losers and they always should be. The Brewers broke the Mets hearts and it doesn’t get much better than that. Root for the Dodgers over the Brewers because of Joe Torre.

When it comes to a World Series between the Dodgers and Rays go with the Dodgers. Torre is one of the greatest managers in Yankees history and deserves one more championship.

But in reality, by the time you read this the Dodgers will have probably been eliminated.

Oh, well I guess we’ll have to wait for next year.

I must turn to the gridiron for comfort. Here are my picks for the division and wildcard winners

AFC EAST- Buffalo Bills- THATS RIGHT BILLS FANS, THIS YEAR IS THE YEAR!!!! Tom Brady is hurt,

I know I wasn't the only one saying "yesss!!" when Mr. Brady got hurt

the Jets are the most overrated team in football (more on that later). The Bills have a revamped defense, one of the best running backs in the league and a very smart quarterback who is not named J.P Losman.

James Hardy will prove to be a key red zone threat and Lee Evans will show that he truly is a top-notch receiver.

AFC North- Pittsburgh Steelers- Big Ben and Co. have been there before and are in a weak division…nuff’ said.

AFC South- Indianapolis Colts- Yes, they are struggling. Yes, Bob Sanders is hurt, but Center Jeff Saturday will return soon and as long as Peyton Manning is under center, the Colts will take a weaker than expected AFC South.

AFC West- Denver Broncos- This will be not be a walk in the park. The Charges gave the Broncos a run for their money in week 2 and they will do the same for the rest of the year.

AFC Wild Card- Patriots and Chargers- The Patriots were never a one dimensional team and all they know is winning (other than the last Superbowl). Quarterback Matt Cassell does not have to put out a Brady-like effort in order for this team to succeed. The Chargers missed the Superbowl by one game last year. With an overall weak AFC, Phillip Rivers and L.T should be able to lead their team to the playoffs.

NFC East- Cowboys- They have an explosive offense and a pretty solid defense (other thanthat Monday against the Eagles) Don’t worry Giants fans I haven’t counted you guys out yet.

NFC North- Green Bay Packers- Aaron Rodgers is playing like he has something to prove. Oh, wait, he does. He has shown (so far) that he is a smart quarterback with a lot of confidence. It helps that they are in a terrible division.

NFC South- Carolina Panthers- They are playing solid defense but they will face stiff competition from the Buccaneers. Their entire season rests on the arm and leadership of Jake Delhomme. If he gets injured, give the division to the Bucs.

NFC West- This division is barely worth writing about. The Matt Leinart-less Arizona Cardinals will roll with the division. I honestly don’t think they will lose a divisional game.

NFC Wild Card- Giants and Eagles- The Giants now know how to win and it may be ugly at times, but they will find a way to get into the playoffs. The Eagles have a high powered offense and a defense good enough to help them win games. Donovan McNabb looks even stronger and healthier than he did four years ago.

SUPERBOWL WINNERS

Here is my Gutsy (dumb) (wishfull thinking) (Chris Berman 49ers Bills) (you gotta believe) pick-

Bills defeat Packers 24-17

Here’s what will probably happen

Cowboys beat the Patriots 41-27

One more thing…..the New York Bretts are overrated….even if he is God’s gift to football

Yankee fans rejoiced yesterday when the news broke that Manny Ramirez had been traded (aka given away) to the LA Dodgers.  The Yankee killer is not only out of Boston, but out of the American League all together.  Everyone knows the story by now so I am not going to write about that part of the story.  The bottom line is that this deal will hurt the Red Sox.  They gave up too much talent and recieved little in return.  They not only gave up Manny, but their best major-league ready prospects in pitcher Craig Hansen and OF Brandon Moss. 

Don’t get me wrong, Jason Bay is a great player, but he is no Manny Ramirez.  Maybe Bay will have a fire lit under him, because all anyone has said (including myself) is that he isn’t going to be good enough.  Only time will tell.

As I said, this deal will hurt the Red Sox, but it will not kill them.  Everyone else on the team knows how to win.  Youkilis should hit cleanup because he would provide great protection for Ortiz.  Ortiz is still a good hitter and he won’t be hurt by the loss of Manny as much as everyone thinks.

Man of the day:

Theo EpsteinThanks to Theo, the Red Sox have lost their best hitter.  Theo not only gave in to Manny, but he got almost nothing for the amount of talent that he gave up.  This move may eventually cost him his job, but as I said earlier, only time will tell.  On behalf of gratefull Yankee Fans everywhere, Thanks Theo.

So here are the Yankees and Mets broken down by position as of right now

Catcher-Molina/Moeller vs. Schneider

Posada dwarfs Schneider in Homeruns and RBI’s. Schneider is a better defensive catcher than Posada but this is about the overall quality of the player. Oh, wait, Posada is hurt…

WINNER:METS

1st Base- Giambi vs. Delgado

The Most Pathetic Position for either team….Each player is a shell of who they once were. Both guys can pick the ball better than anybody else (probably because they don’t want to have to run after it). Giambi is hitting .191 with 8 hr’s and 21 RBI’s while Delgado is hitting .230 with 5 hr’s and 19 RBI’s….both equally bad

WINNER- YANKEES Hey, Giambi wears a gold thong

2nd Base- Cano vs. Castillo

Cano is beginning to turn it around at the dish and Castillo isn’t hitting the way he used to. Cano has great range at second and will only hit better when A-rod carries the load.

WINNER-YANKEES

3rd base- A-Rod vs. Wright

This may be the toughest position to pick…but A-Rod is A-Rod. He has played excellent defense this year (i think he should win the gold glove) and is a bright spot in a dismal Yankees lineup. Wright is the best defensive third basemen around today. He is outstanding player who is a perennial all-star, but, he is no Alex Rodriguez. Within two years Wright will be on the same level as A-Rod, but he is not quite there yet.

WINNER-YANKEES

Shortstop- Jeter vs. Reyes

This is another tough one…Jeter is a first-ballot hall of famer and Reyes is the 5 tool player who plays on the island that is long (thats Long Island for those who have lost track). Jeter has the rings and Reyes has the bright future and a long career ahead of him. So for this one I am going based on the stats

Jeter = .314 2hr’s 21RBI’s 1sb 21runs scored and a on base percentage of .351

Reyes= .267 4hr’s 18 RBI’s 12 SB and 21 runs scored and an on base percentage of .332

This is tough..right now Jeter has the edge in hitting but I would have to give the fielding to Reyes…Jeter is a team leader who is always the one to step in when there is pressure from the media (he always says the right thing) and Reyes has hidden from the media at times (a la Billy Wagner). If I were building a team for the future I would go with Reyes but this is all about now.

WINNER- YANKEES

Lf- Damon/Matsui vs. Alou/ Chavez

Matsui will hit over .300 with 25 hr’s and Damon is a run-scoring machine at the top of the line-up. Alou is a great hitter but struggles to stay healthy.

WINNER- YANKEES

CF- Cabrera vs. Beltran

Beltran is a Five-tool player who is stuggling s far this season. Melky Cabrera is the best defensive center fielder in the American League but he has been struggling at the plate.

WINNER- METS

RF- At the beginning of the year most New Yorkers had never heard of Ryan Church. Now he is the best right fielder in town. Bobby Abreu is not himself at the plate and struggles playing fly balls hit near the outfield wall. I like how Church plays the game hard everyday. I’m not saying that Abreu doesn’t play hard but Church makes up for the holes in his game with hard-nosed play.

WINNER- METS

SP- The Yankees have one solid starting pitcher- Wang, other than that, they have no other trustworthy pitcher. Pettitte hasn’t won in a month, Mussina throw slower than a middle-schooler and don’t even get me started on the rest of the rotation. The Mets rotation isn’t great but they have Santana, Maine, and Perez, who are better than what the bombers have

WINNER- METS

Bullpen- The Yankees bullpen had been excellent of late…until they played the Mets. Other than that the bullpen has been pretty solid. Farnsworth hasn’t been Farnsworthless and Joba and Mo make it a seven inning ballgame. The Mets have a great closer in Billy “Why You Talkin to Me” Wagner but the bridge to get to him has struggled

WINNER- YANKEES

Mets-4

Yankees-6

Now I feel better about what happened this weekend

Props go to Jon Lester for throwing a no-no….the Mets for kicking the crap out of the Yanks….Lebron James for playing against the Celtics by himself…the Spurs, Celtics, Pistons and Lakers for advancing

Mike D’ Antoni has officially signed with the Knicks for a 4 year 24 million dollar deal. I personally think he is nuts for taking the job and this proves that he is all about the money. If he wanted to contend for a championship he would have went to the Bulls who have a perfect team for the run and gun offense that he runs. I would have loved to see Tyrus Thomas and Ben Gordon in his system, but instead the world will now get to see Eddie Curry huff and puff his way down the floor and Nate Robinson try to pretend that he is Steve Nash. It ain’t gonna work and if the Knickerbockers win a championship in the next 5 years I will eat my own sock.