Here’s a little preview of how I think things will end up in October.  Feel free to pick it apart in the comments.

American League East

1. Boston Red Sox
2. New York Yankees
3. Toronto Blue Jays
4. Tampa Bay Rays
5. Baltimore Orioles

American League Central

1. Detroit Tigers
2. Cleveland Indians
3. Kansas City Royals
4. Chicago White Sox
5. Minnesota Twins

American League West

1.  Seattle Mariners
2. Anaheim Angels
3. Texas Rangers
4. Oakland Athletics

National League East

1. New York Mets
2. Philadelphia Phillies
3. Atlanta Braves
4. Florida Marlins
5. Washington Nationals

National League Central

1. Chicago Cubs
2. Milwaukee Brewers
3. Cincinnati Reds
4. Houston Astros
5. St. Louis Cardinals
6. Pittsburgh Pirates

National League West 

1. Arizona Diamondbacks
2. Colorado Rockies
3. San Diego Padres
4. Los Angeles Dodgers
5. San Francisco Giants

In 2008, there are high hopes. The thing that people seem to be talking about is the 100 year drought for the Cubs winning the World Series. Of course that is a big deal. Any team that has such an infamous drought is bound to draw attention, but that is really a non-issue. The World Series drought has nothing to do with this year’s team.

The Cubs spent a ton of money last off season to bring in Alfonso Soriano and locking up Aramis Ramirez and Carlos Zambrano. This off season the biggest addition was Kosuke Fukudome from Japan. Fukudome gives the Cubs a solid left-handed bat and a dependable right fielder.

The starting rotation for Cubs will be a strength again. Led by Carlos Zambrano, Ted Lilly and Rich Hill, the Cubs will have plenty of starting pitching. Rounding out the rotation are former closer Ryan Dempster and Jason Marquis. The bullpen should also be a strength. Jon Leiber, Sean Marshall, and Bob Howry will take the Cubs from the starters to the shut down tandem of Carlos Marmol and newly named closer Kerry Wood. If Woody can remain healthy, he will provide the Cubs a dominant closer. If he does run into some health issues, look for Marmol to slide seamlessly into the closer role, with Howry moving into the setup role.

If there is one thing that I’m a little worried about with the Cubs is depth at infield positions. If something should happen to Aramis Ramirez or Derrek Lee, I wonder about the long term back up for either position. I know Mark DeRosa can back up either 1B or 3B, but I think he’s more valuable at other spots in the infield.

I think the pitching staff looks great and the lineup top to bottom is solid. They could use a bona fide lead off man, but I think they’ll be able to get enough guys on base, and score enough runs with their lineup as is.

What do you think is in store for the 2008 Chicago Cubs? I’d like to hear your predictions.

We all remember Maurice Clarett don’t we? Today Terrelle Pryor announced that he’ll be playing football for Ohio State this fall. Pryor claimed that he thought that OSU gave him a better chance to make the NFL.

By that did he mean, “They don’t really care how long I stay here, they just want to use me for a year or two”? Or was is more like, “I see too many Michigan quarterbacks in the NFL already, I want to be the next Troy Smith, or Joe Germaine”?

It’s all really hard to tell. Pryor, by most accounts, is a prima donna, with an entitled attitude. Exactly the kind of guy I don’t want as the capstone to a new program. I much prefer that Coach Rodriguez builds the program from the ground up. Contrary to what Terrelle Pryor thinks, he’s not bigger that the Ohio State football program, and he’s certainly not bigger than the Michigan football program.

I hope the reason that Pryor chose OSU over Michigan is that Rodriguez didn’t coddle the young man and that’s what Pryor wanted or needed. It sure seems like this kid has talent, I hope, for his sake, he doesn’t blow all of that talent, but washing out at Ohio State. Granted, the prospects of Michigan beating Ohio State this fall are pretty slim no matter what. Coach Rodriguez has a lot of work to do to mold the Wolverines into his team. But when he does, I want Ohio State to be in top form. It’s just more fun to beat them when they’re ranked number 1.

 Loading …

It’s Mid-March and the brackets were released today. It’s time for the Third Annual Vigilante Sports NCAA Bracket Challenge. We’ve have 2 great years, let’s make it 3. Last year we doubled the amount of entries in our Challenge. Let’s do that again. If you’re interested please post a comment. It will submit your email address to me, but not show it to the public. I’ll take care of your email address (ie. not share it with anyone else). So, submit a comment and I’ll get you an invite to the greatest (or at least the most fun) bracket challenge around.

There hasn’t been any money on the line and there still won’t be… but fame and glory will be yours as you might add your name next to mine on the non-existent Vigilante Sports NCAA Bracket Challenge Championship Trophy. And that’s not too bad.

If you participated last year, you should have already received an email inviting you back.

The Bears have picked up re-tred Marty Booker and notorious malcontent Brandon Lloyd to round out their receiving corps.

These signings leave the Bears without a go to receiver for any of their inadequete quarterbacks to throw.

I think Jerry Angelo should have his General Manager card taken away when it comes to signing offensive players.

According to many web sites and wire reports, NFL legend Brett Favre will call it quits after 17 seasons in the NFL. His 2007 season was one of his best seasons ever. Favre was widely expected to return for the 2008 season. Favre will leave the game as statistically the best quarterback ever.

Many argue that he is the best quarterback ever, not just because of his statistics but his Super Bowl ring as well. Throughout his career Favre has been a “gunslinger”. He’s made throws that were ill-advised, but at the same time, brilliant. He was able to throw a football into the smallest window in the defense.

I want to steer clear of too much Favre love, I’ll leave that to Peter King, but as a fan, I truly enjoyed watching him play. There are not that many players that I would tune in to watch, Favre is one of them.

Quick story about my history with Favre. I remember sitting in my bedroom, a long time ago, when Favre was at Southern Miss, and they were playing in a bowl game (I believe it was the All-American Bowl), and I remember thinking to myself that this guy was going to be an amazing quarterback. So if there are any NFL personnel directors out there that need a scout, hook me up. I didn’t dream that he’s be so good though.

Being from Chicago, I am a Bears fan, so I should hate Favre right? No way. He’s been so good for the NFL and for the Bears/Packers rivalry. I do feel bad for my friends who are from Wisconsin and various other Packer fans, they’ll now learn what it’s like to suffer through quarterback hell. Is Aaron Rodgers really the answer? Yeah, that’s what we thought about Rex, too.

 Loading …

So, its 4 am on a Friday night/Saturday morning and I’m sitting at the Mariners Team Store downtown Seattle with Jared waiting in line for single game tickets.

Why? Hmm. Great question. I’m freezing my ass off. My hands are numb typing this out. For what? The honor of getting opening day tickets to see Erik Bedard. Guaranteeing ourselves the tickets we want. To see the Red Sox, the Yankees on my birthday, and some interleague action against the Padres (I’d love to see Maddux one more time). No Cubbies in Seattle this year, but that’s ok. Maybe I’ll be able to catch a game with the Cubs and the Mariners in October????

Lance Briggs signed a 6 year, $36 million contract to stay with the Bears. Bernard Berrian was signed by the Minnesota Vikings.

The signing of Briggs helps ease fears about the Bears defense. He has been consistently one of the best outside linebackers in the NFL. Especially with Brian Urlacher’s back and neck issues, the Bears had to hold onto Briggs.

Berrian on the other hand would have been a luxury. The money needs to be spent elsewhere. With no proven quarterback to throw him the deep ball and no other receiver to take away the double team, Berrian was bound to be under utilized at best.

The Bears front office did the right thing in both situations. Something that must feel so out of character. Let’s see if that continues as they prepare for the draft.