It's picture perfect for the Lion fans. For people outside of the Lions fan base, last year was the worse NFL football year for any team in history. Well, for us Lion fans last year wasn't the worst year for the Lions. As a Lion fan of recent history (Super Bowl era) it's real hard to determine which year was the worst year, since there are so many. This year was like an addict hitting rock bottom, but nobody can really figure out the intervention.
For every horrible year we had there was the uplifting possibility of the draft, be quiet, every Millen intervention brought hope. This weekend is like the Super Bowl for Lions fans, yes Thanksgiving is a wonderful football experience but right now everyone outside of the Mitten is calling for the NFL to pull the plug on that tradition. This weekend we are usually calling each other discussing which player is going to take us to the next level, which player will make it okay. How right we were, the next level, WIN LESS! Millen Anonymous was not working.
Now, the night before this year draft I should be calling everyone in anticipation of the next great pick. I should be excited like Dolphin fans of last year. Instead I am discussing with my wife about buying Falcon tickets and pondering her theory about the Lions taking on the Vick Experience.
So why I am not calling you or you are not calling me figuring out this years intervention? Well, because, nobody cares! Detroit is split, the only thing they know is they don't want Sanchez. Hmmm, they might want Stafford but they don't want the second best QB possible a better QB then Stafford. If Lions don't take Stafford, he could go after Sanchez. It's not a debate about whose better right now, it's the fact that nobody else wants Stafford at number 1. This is what kills me!
I really don't care if Stafford turns into the next John Elway ( I really don't want to wait another 20 years before we win 2 super bowls). I don't care if ESPN shows all his great clips of arm strength. Hey, Detroit, I watched a lot of Georgia games on the Lincoln Financial, Detroit's equivalence to Channel 20. He does have a gun, but his gun was throwing way over receivers, he wasn't throwing over their heads, he over throw their routes. Watch those ESPN clips closely, look at the coverage he is throwing into double coverage and the receivers going UP and pulling the pass down. Stafford has good stats, but he doesn't find his rhythm until the second half, want proof, watch the last year's capital bowl. Stafford was MSU's best player in the first half, so MSU focused on the run game and opps Stafford found his receivers.
Stop, don't go there. The Lions will be so far behind in the first half that Stafford's second half magic won't help. Stafford took over in the second half because Knowshun would own the first half that the adjustments other teams made were to focus on the run game. So teams pulled their safeties and corner backs up, which allowed Stafford to go deep. I wish and hope Kevin Smith could create that, but he's a pounder. Stafford is 15 years too late, he'd be a great pick if we had Barry.
Even though it makes some sense to draft Stafford, why isn't any team trying to make a move with us. Why, less then 24 hours to the first pick we haven't signed him? Go ahead tell me the fact no team wants to pay that money for a first pick. Okay, hold on, so let me get this right, no team wants to pay that kind of money for the number one pick. Am I the only one that thinks that this is poetic justice for the Lions? Teams are willing to move up to get Sanchez, which could be 5 or 10 picks less then the Lions. If the Lions don't pick Stafford then it makes teams with lower picks us ponder who to take, but supposedly it's a no brainier for us? Shh, I'm not a Sanchez lover either. But someone explain to me why we are the only team that HAS to take him, when nobody else wants him.
Okay let's put this into perspective. We are going to prom and we got the in on asking the best date possible. Wouldn't you think it'd be a no brainier and all of the boys in our group would be jealous? They'd be in our ear talking about how the wished they could have our date and would do anything to switch. All we'd hear is man, how lucky we'll get and how much she'll put out!
Instead, its like our parents made the match for us with the family friends girl. Yeah she's cute and it could work out. After we announce our date all the other boys are fine with it, nobody is truly jealous or willing to switch dates. Then to make matters worse, all the boys are taking their dates to places that are fancy but fit high school guys budgets, were we have to take our date to a place that fits the budget of Tiger Woods and hot as the latest Lindsey Lohan binge!
Then after all that wine and dinning, she tells us or its announced she will not put out until next year prom. We look around and we don't see our bro's cause their dates are all on the 50 yard line getting down and dirty with them.
Since the NFL league is a copy cat league the Lions need to look at a few things.
1) passing on a pick might not hurt you, ask the Vikings
2) Titans took Vince and he's still sitting behind contract extended Kerry Collins. Ask Texans how Mario's world is
3) Matt Ryan started his career against the Lions, the Lions play the Saints in NO, if the Lions played themselves then maybe Stafford would be the right pick.
4) Last year was a stronger QB draft, Hoyer, out of MSU could be the 4th QB picked. So, the QB Stafford played in the Capitol Bowl Game could go 3 QB picks after him. Then again, Hoyer did play against Matt Ryan before he went to Atl.
ps: Lions take Stafford as of 12:11am.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Monday, April 20, 2009
It's time...
It's that time again, the pollen count is higher then days left in the school year and the basketball season is over. Even if the Pistons were good you wouldn't be that concerned until late May early June and I am really not holding my breath on the Hawks either.
Then there is Spring football which is a like Indian Summers. Yeah its nice but, seriously does it really mean anything towards the real season. Yeah get out and enjoy it, but its a tease. Yet, southerns love it like sweet tea and fried chicken. I guess their love for spring games is like northerners explaining their love for hockey in early June ( Go wings!).
Now back to the real time of year, the baseball season. It's the only sport that is played everyday of the week and all day of its season. You can catch a game at 1:00E, then a 4:00W, followed by a 7:00E and finally a 10:00W. Basically, you can catch that first game at the pool, hear that second game at the grill, wind down the day and enter the night with that third game in the garage and fall asleep to that last game.
Although, at this time last year, I was actually more excited about the green/white game then the baseball season. The Tigers were as good as the Nationals and the Braves season was up in arms. This year the Tigers are tied for first, yes its a three way tie but that could very easily change soon and the likeliness of that is actually pretty good too. Not like last were I was saying let's see where they are at the All-Star game.
The Tigers are 7-5, tied for first in the Central with KC and Chicago. But the Tigers are +18 in run difference, which is highest in the central. Why is that good? Toronto is +29, first in the East at 10-4 and Seattle is +10 at 8-5, first in the West. The Tigers won the series against the Mariners and lowered that difference a big bit and the Tigers really didn't contribute to the difference to the Jays as much as other teams did. Last the at this time the run difference was -39 for the Tigers, compare that this year to the Nationals who are at -21 and Baltiomore is at -29. That makes sign that things are little better on both sides of the plate for the Tigers.
Last year the Tigers opened the season against the Royal and were swept. The Tigers are 4-1 at home, losing 1 of those game to the White Sox. The White Sox's owned us of late, so to split that series early is great for our confidence, especially after losing the first game in the series.
Something even more intriguing this time of year is that Inge isn't leading all our hitting stats. Actually, it's the man who is paid to do so, Miguel Cabrera. Miguel is leading the team with HR's (4), BA (.489), RBI's (12), and OBP (.538). Last year at this time he was cold as, well the weather in the north right now. Miguel is putting MVP numbers up, because the hits have been useful and helpful. The home run on opening day to me was a big bail out ( had to put some stupid bail out reference in a Detroit related "article").
Even though the hitting is doing well, the pitching isn't looking to bad either. I said prior to the season that Verlander was the scariest part of the rotation. When Team USA doesn't even want you to play for them, there has to be some sign of WTF? The up side is, he's striking out guys, 20 to be exact. But a ERA of 7.88 and 0-2 record isn't going to carry us. What could carry us and I use the word could strongly, is Galarraga's 2-0 record and 0.68 ERA (technically he's our ace since Jim set it up for him to be our home opener starter) and the Bobby and Rodney show. Combined Bobby and Rodney's ERA is 0.00 in a combined 11 appearances. Rodney has 3 saves already, I don't know if he had saved 1 by now.
Now, the Tigers take on a hurting Angles team. If they can take the series there, they'd head into an actual meaningful early season series with the Royals. Don't tell me early season series can't be meaningful. Look at how this division has played out in recent years. Hell, we lost the Division Championship in the last series of the year in 06. Before playing us the Royals face Cleveland who could of turned it around in NY and White Sox's face Baltimore and red hot Blue Jays.
So if the Tigers can play at .500 or better in the next couple road series before coming home for a few series they'd be on the right track. The Division is up in the air and the Eastern and Western leaders right now aren't the teams predicted to win it. My hopes aren't high right now, but at least they are crushed now like they were last year at this time!
Then there is Spring football which is a like Indian Summers. Yeah its nice but, seriously does it really mean anything towards the real season. Yeah get out and enjoy it, but its a tease. Yet, southerns love it like sweet tea and fried chicken. I guess their love for spring games is like northerners explaining their love for hockey in early June ( Go wings!).
Now back to the real time of year, the baseball season. It's the only sport that is played everyday of the week and all day of its season. You can catch a game at 1:00E, then a 4:00W, followed by a 7:00E and finally a 10:00W. Basically, you can catch that first game at the pool, hear that second game at the grill, wind down the day and enter the night with that third game in the garage and fall asleep to that last game.
Although, at this time last year, I was actually more excited about the green/white game then the baseball season. The Tigers were as good as the Nationals and the Braves season was up in arms. This year the Tigers are tied for first, yes its a three way tie but that could very easily change soon and the likeliness of that is actually pretty good too. Not like last were I was saying let's see where they are at the All-Star game.
The Tigers are 7-5, tied for first in the Central with KC and Chicago. But the Tigers are +18 in run difference, which is highest in the central. Why is that good? Toronto is +29, first in the East at 10-4 and Seattle is +10 at 8-5, first in the West. The Tigers won the series against the Mariners and lowered that difference a big bit and the Tigers really didn't contribute to the difference to the Jays as much as other teams did. Last the at this time the run difference was -39 for the Tigers, compare that this year to the Nationals who are at -21 and Baltiomore is at -29. That makes sign that things are little better on both sides of the plate for the Tigers.
Last year the Tigers opened the season against the Royal and were swept. The Tigers are 4-1 at home, losing 1 of those game to the White Sox. The White Sox's owned us of late, so to split that series early is great for our confidence, especially after losing the first game in the series.
Something even more intriguing this time of year is that Inge isn't leading all our hitting stats. Actually, it's the man who is paid to do so, Miguel Cabrera. Miguel is leading the team with HR's (4), BA (.489), RBI's (12), and OBP (.538). Last year at this time he was cold as, well the weather in the north right now. Miguel is putting MVP numbers up, because the hits have been useful and helpful. The home run on opening day to me was a big bail out ( had to put some stupid bail out reference in a Detroit related "article").
Even though the hitting is doing well, the pitching isn't looking to bad either. I said prior to the season that Verlander was the scariest part of the rotation. When Team USA doesn't even want you to play for them, there has to be some sign of WTF? The up side is, he's striking out guys, 20 to be exact. But a ERA of 7.88 and 0-2 record isn't going to carry us. What could carry us and I use the word could strongly, is Galarraga's 2-0 record and 0.68 ERA (technically he's our ace since Jim set it up for him to be our home opener starter) and the Bobby and Rodney show. Combined Bobby and Rodney's ERA is 0.00 in a combined 11 appearances. Rodney has 3 saves already, I don't know if he had saved 1 by now.
Now, the Tigers take on a hurting Angles team. If they can take the series there, they'd head into an actual meaningful early season series with the Royals. Don't tell me early season series can't be meaningful. Look at how this division has played out in recent years. Hell, we lost the Division Championship in the last series of the year in 06. Before playing us the Royals face Cleveland who could of turned it around in NY and White Sox's face Baltimore and red hot Blue Jays.
So if the Tigers can play at .500 or better in the next couple road series before coming home for a few series they'd be on the right track. The Division is up in the air and the Eastern and Western leaders right now aren't the teams predicted to win it. My hopes aren't high right now, but at least they are crushed now like they were last year at this time!
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Baseball Preview
I just erased my whole blog, again(3x's). Listen, I know a whole lot of you laugh (Jordie) at my blog. I know you think its funny Dillon even writes a Blog. But, tonight, I am serious. More serious then Lupe Izzo's mean stare( I did it for you).
I'm tired of the whole Spartan nation is for the Detroit Nation idea. Why, because the media is wrapping its arms around something that was already there. CNN, CBS, HLN and whoever else, don't give me this BS, that State is caring a state.
Even Drew Sharp jumped onto the State is Detroit's team notion. I 'm sorry Mr. Hater, get off it. Don't pick us ESPN because it moves the state. Even that man-women Jachobson ( ESPN First - Take) had a radio bit about being Green (she's a scUM).
No, it's not a State fan getting up on his high horse and riding that wagon into the National Championship. If you are a UofM fan and now cheering for State that's fine. My dad, who wouldn't even wear his State Dad sweatshirt that I bought him for Christmas my first year bought a State shirt and wore that, which shows you how its all about MICHIGAN now. Trust me I had more UofM fans along with State fans high fiving me at the Braves games the last two nights to prove my point.
It's the media's idea that we were defeated, yes down, but we Michigan hasn't thrown in the towel. Seriously, do you know us. You don't! Stop using State as a Band Aid. State isn't the Band- Aid. Just cause you use some Anti-Bacterial hand sanitizer doesn't mean you cleaned yourself. That's what the media is playing State as. I'm not having it.
I'm a huge Spartan Fan. My 3 yr. old's favorite color is green and white and after anyone says Go he says Green. My 3 month smiles at the first clap of the fight song. In what should be the greatest of my glory, I am pissed. My Spartans are a Band Aid, to Detroit. We're not even close. You don't know us. We are Michigan! Go Green! Go White! Go Maize! Go Blue! Go Honolulu Blue! Go Orange! Go Red! Detroit Basketballllllllllllll!
I'd already planned to show my wife how the D can host a party on Monday. Then on Friday show here how the whole STATE of Michigan opens a season and celebrates Good Friday. It didn't take any MAGIC or a Spartan effort to show her that. Now that it happens that Monday will be a official day of Spartanhood in Michigan. Get off it!
Go MICHIGAN!
GO DETROIT!
All it took was a STATE 0f proudness in Michigan. Go US!
ps: just like last year we'll pitch good but get no hits. Then we'll hit good and pray for the bullpen! we finish 3rd!
I'm tired of the whole Spartan nation is for the Detroit Nation idea. Why, because the media is wrapping its arms around something that was already there. CNN, CBS, HLN and whoever else, don't give me this BS, that State is caring a state.
Even Drew Sharp jumped onto the State is Detroit's team notion. I 'm sorry Mr. Hater, get off it. Don't pick us ESPN because it moves the state. Even that man-women Jachobson ( ESPN First - Take) had a radio bit about being Green (she's a scUM).
No, it's not a State fan getting up on his high horse and riding that wagon into the National Championship. If you are a UofM fan and now cheering for State that's fine. My dad, who wouldn't even wear his State Dad sweatshirt that I bought him for Christmas my first year bought a State shirt and wore that, which shows you how its all about MICHIGAN now. Trust me I had more UofM fans along with State fans high fiving me at the Braves games the last two nights to prove my point.
It's the media's idea that we were defeated, yes down, but we Michigan hasn't thrown in the towel. Seriously, do you know us. You don't! Stop using State as a Band Aid. State isn't the Band- Aid. Just cause you use some Anti-Bacterial hand sanitizer doesn't mean you cleaned yourself. That's what the media is playing State as. I'm not having it.
I'm a huge Spartan Fan. My 3 yr. old's favorite color is green and white and after anyone says Go he says Green. My 3 month smiles at the first clap of the fight song. In what should be the greatest of my glory, I am pissed. My Spartans are a Band Aid, to Detroit. We're not even close. You don't know us. We are Michigan! Go Green! Go White! Go Maize! Go Blue! Go Honolulu Blue! Go Orange! Go Red! Detroit Basketballllllllllllll!
I'd already planned to show my wife how the D can host a party on Monday. Then on Friday show here how the whole STATE of Michigan opens a season and celebrates Good Friday. It didn't take any MAGIC or a Spartan effort to show her that. Now that it happens that Monday will be a official day of Spartanhood in Michigan. Get off it!
Go MICHIGAN!
GO DETROIT!
All it took was a STATE 0f proudness in Michigan. Go US!
ps: just like last year we'll pitch good but get no hits. Then we'll hit good and pray for the bullpen! we finish 3rd!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)