Free Updates

Let us tell you when new posts are added!

Email:
Click to subscribe via RSS

Navigation

Categories
March, 2010 (8)
February, 2010 (16)
January, 2010 (17)
December, 2009 (20)
November, 2009 (15)
October, 2009 (18)
September, 2009 (18)
August, 2009 (19)
July, 2009 (23)
June, 2009 (17)
May, 2009 (15)
April, 2009 (22)
March, 2009 (19)
February, 2009 (22)
January, 2009 (19)
December, 2008 (25)
November, 2008 (18)
October, 2008 (22)
September, 2008 (11)
August, 2008 (2)

Search

Archives

<March 2010>
SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
28123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
28293031123
45678910

More Links










# Monday, July 13, 2009
Not So Deep Thoughts: Crystal Ball Time
Posted by Tuff Stuff

Because it's the All-Star break in baseball, the NFL is still out to lunch and the NBA's 10-month season is finally over, things get a little slow in the sports world this time of year. And when it gets slow, sportswriters and any sports media people tend to try and get a little creative to find (make) some news to pass the gameless nights. Unfortunately for the fans, that's sometimes not a real strong suit for the scribes.

Tonight we'll be treated (and I use that term loosely because it could end up being a 3-hour batting practice session or something monumental could happen see Josh Hamilton's 28 HRs in 2008) to the 2009 Home Run Derby sponsored by one of the few companies that still has some disposable income left (State Farm Insurance in case you wondered). I believe it gets decent ratings every year but that's only because MLB junkies need their fix and the Derby is the only dealer in town on this night (unless you enjoy Summer League NBA action, and god help you if you do).

I see where every expert this side of Chris Berman's second chin is predicting a winner so I decided to do likewise (here using the term "expert" looser than Lindsey Lohan's mouth after a six Appletinis) and give you my prediction for the Derby and a few others thrown in for good measure.

Crystal Ball Says:
Home Run Derby-Despite being the last guy invited to the party, Tampa's Carlos Pena puts on a clinic in from of hometown favorites Albert Pujols and Ryan Howard to pull out the win. Logic would take all seven of the other competitors before putting your money down on Pena (could be the first-ever Derby strikeout victim as well) but my gut, eeer, Crystal Ball is showing a picture of Steve Irwin so I got to go with the guy from the Rays.

Pedro Martinez-Looks like the former Cy Young winner is on his way to Phiadelphia to try and help the champs repeat but unless he's back on the juice, I can't imagine how he can help. Last we saw Pedro, he was chucking 87-mph fastballs that won't even measure up with the overhand lobs being tossed tonight in the Derby. Unless he's regained about 6-7 mph on his fastball, the Dominican's version of Jamie Moyer will only be making a quick cameo appearance in Philly. I'm predicting one flash in the pan where Pedro gets some early run support and then coasts to an easy 8-5 win that looks way better than it was but still grabs the opening spot on Sportscenter that night on the nostaglia factor alone. You know the drill: ESPN cues up the Pedro circa-1995-99 highlights and then sprinkles in some of that night's highlights until so your confused he still matters when most of us know that can't be possible. You heard it here first, Pedro makes 5 starts, 1-4 with a 6.94 ERA before his body breaks down yet again. He then makes a half-hearted "I'm retiring for good this time speech" before getting angered by a press conference question about possible steroid use and runs off in search of Don Zimmer to take his aggressions out on.

Tiger Woods at The British Open-Had a tough time getting a clear picture in the Crystal Ball on this one but then saw a picture of Paris Hilton pop up. Still confused, but I think that was a sign to bank on another sure thing and Tiger is the only sure thing I know in the golf world. Actual prediction is Tiger wins in a three-hole playoff against an up-and-coming player (Anthony Kim perhaps) who's got enough talent to tame Tiger but not the mental toughness is takes to beat the best ever.

Crystal Ball is getting a little fuzzy. I shook it up but now it's just snowing inside and displaying a nativity scene. Kindy freaky, better shutter down.

Hyping Up Some Hoops: While I often attempt to be funny in my predictions, I can't be more serious about the following prediction. Sacramento Kings rookie Tyreke Evans is going to be good. Not LeBron James good, but special good. Like top-20 in the entire league good. If you're a basketball collector, jump on this bandwagon immediately or you'll kick yourself for the rest of your life. I'm predicting right now that he'll give Blake Griffin a run for his money in the ROY balloting and while the two are very different players, both will be special and Evans will be looked at as the steal of the 2009 Draft in two or three years. He scored 33 in Las Vegas League action last night and you can expect more of the same from the powerful 6-6 slasher who appears to be a man among boys and likely will all of next season as well.





Monday, July 13, 2009 10:31:52 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)  #  Comments [0]
Comments are closed.