Caps Sweep Regular Season vs. Pens; Are NHL's Current Hottest Team

So much for "coasting" into the playoffs. That's four wins in a row, tops in the NHL at the moment:

1. basically without even trying,
2. against teams trying their faces off, and
   
3. without their/the NHL's best defenseman (Green) for the past two.

Wishin' you were still in red, Brent?

I should note the Blackhawks have four wins in a row too; but the Caps beat them most recently, so tie goes to the awesome.

Other sweet things about tonight: (and why didn't someone alert me to the simplicity radness of bullet points earlier?)

1. The Caps swept the season series from the Pens.
   
2. The Pens are now 0-9-1 against the Caps (0-3-1) and Devils (0-6) this season, the East's #1 and #2 teams, respectively. But the regular season means nothing. Sure.
3. Ovechkin potted two, and is now tied with Crosby for the lead in the Richard race (48).
4. The Caps continue to get absolutely screwed on the penalty disparity against the Pens, yet equal them in power play goals. 1-4 for the Pens, 1-1 for the Caps. That's 15 games in a row where the Pens have had as many or more power plays than the Caps. Hmm.
5. Jeff Schultz.

As for Schultz. If he remains healthy (quickly, find some wood and knock on it), this will be the first playoffs these Caps have ever had with him. If you recall, he was injured against the Flyers in '08, and broke his rib during game 1 against the Rags last spring and missed the rest of the playoffs.

His presence would be at least a good thing, possibly a great thing. He was a +5 with 2 assists tonight while logging 25 minutes of ice time. He absolutely shut down Crosby (power play goal) and whatever other chumps pass for "scorers" on the Pens these days. My subjective memory tells me that Malkin has a hard time solving Schultz's well-positioned, large body. What I'm saying is, Schultz could just be the secret playoff weapon nobody is talking about. If tonight is any indicator, I am right.

So hooray to the streaking Caps, losing Pens, the magical Mr. Nasty and Ovechkin back where he belongs atop the goal-scoring charts. I cannot wait to see these dinguses in the playoffs.

[Image via REUTERS/Jason Cohn]

Poll Results: Caps First Round Opponents

Fantastic voter turnout for this one, and a pretty obvious preference indicated by Caps Nation.

Out of 144 voters, 74% do NOT want to face the Flyers (38%) or Canadiens (36%) in the first round of the playoffs. I can't say I disagree.

After last night's OT win over Boston - a game in which we benched Mike Green and no Caps forward saw more than 18:20 of ice time - it's pretty clear we have the mental edge over the Bruins as we near the postseason. Ditto for the Thrashers, and ditto for the Rangers (although perhaps less so than the others).

What's unfortunate is that the Flyers are slotted in that 8-spot right now and, despite serious recent struggles, might be there to stay. I know we can beat 'em, you know we can beat 'em, my cousin's dead blind dog knows we can beat 'em. It just might require a little more focus than your everyday first round fodder.

Who knows - maybe that's a good thing? Let's just say it is.

Orioles Half Game Back in AL East Race

I hate hate hate the Yankees, but you know that already. So why the hell not?

2010 MLB Predictions

Similar to our NHL Preview - which in hindsight was horribly wrong in so many ways - we decided to compile our predictions for the upcoming MLB Season.

I can't decide what I'm more excited for: Matt Wieters & Brian Matusz, Round II, or Stephen Strasburg for the first time. I think when they face off in May during interleague play my head might explode. I'm looking forward to that (especially in light of this Donovan Mcnabb...situation).

On to the predictions, which are listed division by division, followed by playoff predictions and two major individual awards. Feel free to sift through the unimportant stuff (like when the Yankees, Red Sox, or Phillies are listed first at anything).

AL East

Consensus:

1. (tie) Boston
1. (tie) New York
3. Tampa Bay
4. Baltimore
5. Toronto

Breakdown:

Rico Fantastic - 1. Boston, 2. New York, 3. Tampa Bay, 4. Baltimore, 5. Toronto
Red Rover - 1. Boston, 2. Tampa Bay, 3. New York, 4. Toronto, 5. Baltimore
Marion's Crackpipe - 1. New York, 2. Tampa Bay, 3. Boston, 4. Baltimore, 5. Toronto
Iafrate's Baldspot - 1. New York, 2. Boston, 3. Tampa Bay, 4. Baltimore, 5. Toronto

Comments:

Baby steps for the O's?! What a sexy pick for 4th place in the AL East, if I may say so myself. And to think, only a few years ago we took 4th place for granted. Ahh, the days when the Rays were the Devil Rays. I refuse to talk about the Red Sox or the Yankees. It's just no fun. You know what else is no fun? This Red Rover character. Have some faith in the O's, bro. They don't need your reverse-jinxing nonsense. Baseball Jesus the First is jinx-proof and you know it.

AL Central

Consensus:

1. Minnesota
2. Detroit
3. Chicago
4. Cleveland
5. Kansas City

Breakdown:

Rico Fantastic - 1. Detroit, 2. Minnesota, 3. Chicago, 4. Cleveland, 5. Kansas City
Red Rover - 1. Minnesota, 2. Chicago, 3. Detroit, 4. Cleveland, 5. Kansas City
Marion's Crackpipe - 1. Minnesota, 2. Detroit, 3. Chicago, 4. Cleveland, 5. Kansas City
Iafrate's Baldspot - 1. Minnesota, 2. Detroit, 3. Cleveland, 4. Chicago, 5. Kansas City

Comments:

I'm the lone ranger when it comes to doubting the Twins. Not because I don't like the Twins or anything (although I will admit a slight bitterness toward Joe Mauer for discovering his power before Wieters bursted on the scene). I just think the Tigers' lineup will generate a ton of runs. Scott Sizemore will be as good as people think and Miguel Cabrera will be sober even better than he has been. I trust their rotation a lot more than the Twins', too. Scott Baker as your ace will never cut it.

AL West

Consensus:

1. Los Angeles
2. (tie) Seattle
2. (tie) Texas
4. Oakland

Breakdown:

Rico Fantastic - 1. Los Angeles, 2. Seattle, 3. Texas, 4. Oakland
Red Rover - 1. Los Angeles, 2. Oakland, 3. Texas, 4. Seattle
Marion's Crackpipe - 1. Seattle, 2. Texas, 3. Los Angeles, 4. Oakland
Iafrate's Baldspot - 1. Los Angeles, 2. Texas, 3. Seattle, 4. Oakland

Comments:

The Angels just might have the best rotation, 1-5, in the Majors. Non-apologies to the Red Sox and Yankees. When Joe Saunders and Joel Pineiro are your #3 and #4, respectively, you have a huge advantage over other teams. Kendry Morales will continue to be awesome, with Torii Hunter and Bobby Abreu providing the veteran presence in the lineup. I don't think the Mariners are that far behind if Erik Bedard can stay healthy, which would give them a formidable top three of King Felix, Cliff Lee, and Bedard. But come on. Bedard cannot and will not stay healthy, so the point's moot.

NL East

Consensus:

1. Philadelphia
2. Atlanta
3. New York
4. Florida
5. Washington

Breakdown:

Rico Fantastic - 1. Philadelphia, 2. New York, 3. Atlanta, 4. Florida, 5. Washington
Red Rover - 1. Atlanta, 2. Philadelphia, 3. New York, 4. Florida, 5. Washington
Marion's Crackpipe - 1. Philadelphia, 2. Atlanta, 3. Florida, 4. New York, 5. Washington
Iafrate's Baldspot - 1. Philadelphia, 2. Florida, 3. New York, 4. Atlanta, 5. Washington

Comments:

Here are a few things for Nats fans to be excited about during the upcoming season: Baseball Jesus the Second's MLB debut, the continued incomprehensible sub-4.00 ERA a-la Jeremy Guthrie from John Lannan, a full season with Nyjer Morgan leading off, and the perennial awesomeness of Ryan Zimmerman. Unfortunately, there are many things Nats fans should be lamenting: Jason Marquis (career ERA 4.48, career WHIP 1.42) masquerading as a staff ace, 38-year old Ivan Rodriguez stealing precious playing time from Jesus Flores, the absence of Jordan Zimmerman, and a manager who has an unfortunate history with pitching phenoms. Other than that, things look great!

NL Central

Consensus:

1. St. Louis
2. Chicago
3. Milwaukee
4. Cincinnati
5. Houston
6. Pittsburgh

Breakdown:

Rico Fantastic - 1. St. Louis, 2. Milwaukee, 3. Cincinnati, 4. Chicago, 5. Houston, 6. Pittsburgh
Red Rover - 1. St. Louis, 2. Cincinnati, 3. Chicago, 4. Milwaukee, 5. Houston, 6. Pittsburgh
Marion's Crackpipe - 1. St. Louis, 2. Chicago, 3. Milwaukee, 4. Cincinnati, 5. Houston, 6. Pittsburgh
Iafrate's Baldspot - 1. St. Louis, 2. Chicago, 3. Milwaukee, 4. Cincinnati, 5. Houston, 6. Pittsburgh

Comments:

Three things you can be certain of in this world: death, taxes, and the Pittsburgh Pirates missing out on the playoffs. And you can take that to the bank.

NL West

Consensus:

1. Los Angeles
2. Colorado
3. San Francisco
4. Arizona
5. San Francisco

Breakdown:

Rico Fantastic - 1. Los Angeles, 2. San Francisco, 3. Colorado, 4. Arizona, 5. San Diego
Red Rover - 1. Colorado, 2. Los Angeles, 3. San Francisco, 4. Arizona, 5. San Diego
Marion's Crackpipe - 1. Colorado, 2. Los Angeles, 3. San Francisco, 4. Arizona, 5. San Diego
Iafrate's Baldspot - 1. Los Angeles, 2. San Francisco, 3. Colorado, 4. Arizona, 5. San Diego

Comments:

The NL West is by far my favorite division in baseball. The presumed top three teams each can make  a legitimate claim as a World Series contender. Three of my favorite players in baseball play in this division: Pablo Sandoval, Matt Kemp, and Troy Tulowitzki. The best pitcher in the history of the world not named Brian Matusz is Clayton Kershaw. Okay, so maybe I'm exaggerating. But the race for the NL West will be exciting. It will never outhype that lame Yankees-Red Sox-Rays thing, but I wouldn't be surprised if it came down to the final game of the year for the divisional crown.

Wild Card Picks

Rico Fantastic - New York (AL), San Francisco (NL)
Red Rover - Tampa Bay (AL), Philadelphia (NL)
Marion's Crackpipe - Tampa Bay (AL), Atlanta (NL)
Iafrate's Baldspot - Boston (AL), Chicago (NL)

World Series Picks

Rico Fantastic - Los Angeles Angels over Los Angeles Dodgers
Red Rover - Colorado Rockies over Tampa Bay Rays
Marion's Crackpipe - New York Yankees over Colorado Rockies
Iafrate's Baldspot - New York Yankees over Los Angeles Dodgers

MVP Picks

Rico Fantastic - Alex Rodriguez, NYY (AL); Prince Fielder, MIL (NL)
Red Rover - Carl Crawford, TB (AL); Albert Pujols, STL (NL)
Marion's Crackpipe - Joe Mauer, MIN (AL); Albert Pujols, STL (NL)
Iafrate's Baldspot - Alex Rodriguez, NYY (AL); Ryan Howard, PHI (NL)

Cy Young Picks

Rico Fantastic - Felix Hernandez, SEA (AL); Clayton Kershaw, LAD (NL)
Red Rover - Brett Anderson, OAK (AL); Tim Lincecum, SF (NL)
Marion's Crackpipe - Felix Hernandez, SEA (AL); Roy Halladay, PHI (NL)
Iafrate's Baldspot - Jon Lester, BOS (AL); Roy Halladay, PHI (NL)

Caps Win the Presidents' Trophy!

I want to have the news first, and the Sharks just lost in OT to the Avalanche, meaning the Caps have clinched/won the President's Trophy with 114 points and 4 games to play (note the sweet little star). The Sharks sit at 107 points, with 3 games left, meaning the highest point total they can reach is 113. The Blackhawks have 105 points and 4 games left, so also can only reach 113 points.

Not quite the Stanley Cup

With the Caps 'sputtering' through these last few games, my excitement is mooted, but we should still be proud of being the best team in this regular season and happy that we will enjoy home ice advantage throughout the playoffs, particularly on a night when the Wizards just played in the toilet bowl and the Skins were back to their old 'tricks' (or something like that). Let's just hope we also get the trophy for being the best team in the playoffs.

(Image courtesy of hhof.com)

Say It With Me: Donovan McNabb is the Washington Redskins' Newest Starting Quarterback

I can only assume he is starting, because why else would you give up a 2nd round pick AND a third or fourth round pick next year during a "rebuild" unless you thought you were getting a starter? Right?

Regardless, we're all gonna have to get used to loving supporting a guy we've been programmed to hate for the last 11 years. Although, I've hated him less and less over the last few as my fear of him has decreased. Early in his career, he tore the 'Skins to shreds on the ground. In his prime a few years ago, he just tore everyone to shreds. The last few years, he's only been able to tear the grass to shreds, specifically those patches 10 yards behind Kevin Curtis.

Exact scientific rendering of what McNabb will look like in a 'Skins uni. Get used to it.

My brain is just about ready to explode with confusion. My gut reaction is that this is horrible, so I'll just go with that. I mean, haven't we seen this movie before? Overpaying (in the form of undervalued draft picks, which the Eagles are now assuredly going to turn into perennial All-Pros) for the washed-up vet? The former Pro Bowler who will never again be an All-Pro after donning the curse that is the B&G jersey? And what the hell, Shannahan and Allen!?!?!?!? I thought you were supposed to be DIFFERENT! It's like there's something in the water in Ashburn that turns every formerly successful NFL coach into some variation of a Snyder-esque doofus. This Campbell undermining and acquiring of declining stars is just Cerrato 2.0.

Judging by either conventional stats or the metrics, McNabb was barely better than Campbell last season - and McNabb actually had an offensive line and some explosive receivers to work with. Numbers aside, he's never been known to have the intangibles of a leader. For some reason, every Eagles fan seemed to hate him. Then again, Eagles fans are dumb.

He does have a winning record in his career, and he is automatically the best QB the 'Skins have had since '99 Brad Johnson, and he knows the WCO and....HEY STOP IT FALSE OPTIMISM! YOUR SORCERY WILL NOT WORK ON ME!

Anyways the best part of the trade is this signals the end of the flirtations with Notre Dame QB Jimmy Claussen and the increased likelihood we'll draft much needed OT stud Russel Okung with the #4 pick. I'd rather root for McNabb for a minute than Claussen ever. The worst part is that poor Rex Grossman just lost his best chance at a starting position for the rest of his life. That makes me sad.

Anyways, bye bye Campbell. I will be rooting for you wherever you land, so that you can stick it to the idiot haters.

UPDATE: Just posted on my facebook wall from the one Eagles fan I am "friends" with: "Enjoy Donovan." So, yeah.

UPDATE 2: Just got this e-mail from another Eagles fan friend: "Hope you enjoy our washed-up waste of money choke artist QB." Safe to say Philly consensus is they come out ahead on this one, no?

Wizard-Nets Toilet Bowl Running Diary: 4th Quarter

4th Quarter

• We have an Earl Boykins sighting. Really? The Wiz lineup is now Cartier Martin, Earl Boykins, James Singleton, Mike Miller, and Andray Blatche; another solid maneuver in the John Wall sweepstakes.
• We're up to 26 turnovers and the Wiz lead is now 6. In related news, the Caps clinch the President's Trophy if San Jose does not win tonight against Colorado.
• Blatche tries 2 absurd posterization attempts that are both blocked, but is now up to 16-12-8. The Wiz lead is now 4. This is also a good time to point out that even though the Nets are 2-60 when behind after 3 quarters, the Wiz are only 14-12 when holding a lead after 3.
• Hey Flip, maybe this is a good time to put Sushi back in considering he was the team's best player in the 3rd quarter.
• Flip finally puts Sushi back in, and Cartier is still out there getting crunch-time minutes.
• Wow! I had the Yankees-Red Sox on TV #2 and I see ESPN just started scrolling that the Eagles have agreed to trade McNabb to the Skins! I don't even know where to begin with this. Texts and emails are flying fast!
• Oh right, basketball.......Wiz-Nets is now 102-94. There have been a couple huge dunks from Terrence Williams and McGee thanks to gaping holes in terrible defenses. We're at 29 turnovers combined, Blatche is 1 rebound away from the triple-double. Meanwhile, the Warriors are leading the Raptors, meaning the Wiz will keep pace for the 2nd-worst record in the league, despite a win.
• The Yankees just went yard twice on Beckett. The Red Sox newfound defense can't field those.
• Wiz are 'cruising' to victory with Blatche still 1 rebound away from the triple-double, which he just grabbed with about 20 seconds left, only to have it called off for a foul. Then, Cartier Martin snatches a missed Net shot away from Blatche, only to realize half a second too late what he's done. Andray is not happy, and Cartier just made himself a reservation back to the D-League. Wiz win 109-99. The Warriors game on Tuesday may decide the 2nd-worst record in the league. I will now turn my attention to hockey, where the Sharks are up 2-1 after 1 period.

(Image courtesy of abcnews.go.com and stats courtesy of espn.com and nba.com)

Wizard-Nets Toilet Bowl Running Diary: 3rd Quarter

3rd Quarter

• Miss, miss, 3-pointer, turnover, turnover, miss.
• My computer just froze and made me lose about 9 minutes of action, don't worry, you didn't miss anything except for a Shaun Livingstone aggressive spin-move to the rim for a layup and one. He showed the kind of burst and athleticism he has lacked since ruining his knee.
• Sushi is up to 16 points, Blatche is at 14-10-7, and Mike Miller has 16 points and 12 boards.
• Javale brought the ball upcourt at one point, then handed-off to Blatche to initiate from straightaway above the 3-point line. Having your 7' center and 6'11" power forward bring the ball upcourt and initiate from outside the 3-point line is exactly how you win the John Wall lottery.
• Cartier Martin finally checks back in with 1:35 left in the 3rd. He immediately shows some confidence from his 1st-half performance by initiating the offense, only to shoot an air ball. Someone should remind him that his 'solid' performance is coming against the Nets. I couldn't find a picture of him with the Wiz, so went with the D-League one.
  
• Nets go on a little run to cut the lead to 9 by the end of the quarter, 80-71. Bad news for John Wall hopefuls, as the Nets are 2-60 when behind after 3 quarters. Sushi was the best Wiz player that quarter, scoring 9 points, even though he sat for the last couple minutes.

(Image of Cartier Martin courtesy of nba.com and stats courtesy of espn.com and nba.com)

Wizard-Nets Toilet Bowl Running Diary: 2nd Quarter

2nd Quarter

• Miss, miss, miss, awful pass/turnover, miss, miss
• The Nets offense looks like it is trying to run out the clock. 35-22 Wiz, Blatche has 6 pts, 8 assists, 4 rebounds, and is already a +13 in this game as he hasn't come off the floor.
• Cedric Jackson turns it over by throwing a pass behind a cutting Cartier. That is exactly the connection I'm looking to lead us to victory in the John Wall sweepstakes.
• A defensive mix up leads to CDR embarrassing Javale McGee 1-on-1. Wiz up 10.
• Cartier somehow gets Yi guarding him and takes him right to the rack for a layup. Then gets subbed with 8 points so far.
• Courtney Lee nails a 3 to cut the Wiz lead back down to 10. It must suck that he played for the Magic last year.
• Yi, just grazes the front rim from about 19 feet. But hey, he looks great working against a folding chair.
• Miller goes down rubbing and grabbing his shoulder. Looks like it might have sublexed (popped out and back in), but he's staying in the game. He should remember he's a free agent after the season and we are 22-53.
• Blatche decides not to pass to a wide open Sushi in the corner by going 1-on-2 to the rim, scores and draws a foul from Yi. The triple-double watch is now at 9 points, 8 assists, and 5 boards. Yi also looks like he might be throwing this game.
• Camera pans through the Wizards cheerleaders - I'd say about half hot, and almost looks like they make the hot and no-so-hot alternate when they stand together.
• We just got our first decent view of the stands. Surprisingly, the first level is about half-full.
• Halftime, Wiz up 45-38, after having led by 14 points earlier in the quarter.

(Image courtesy of realgm.com and stats courtesy of espn.com and nba.com)

Wizard-Nets Toilet Bowl Running Diary: 1st Quarter

I am so excited about the Wizards-Nets Toilet Bowl that I have decided to do a running diary. I decided to skip timestamps, so here are my thoughts for the game by quarter:

First Quarter

• Whaddya know, Jarvis Hayes starts for the Nets. I think if he started since game 1 this season, the Nets should be investigated for purposefully tanking. Zing! Thank you, I will literally be here all night.
• Young Sushi is starting, and has a heinous haircut. He told me his family is in town this weekend, so maybe he took notice from Ovie and had his Mom gave him that 'do.
• Play-by-play to start the game: miss, miss, layup, miss, miss - sounds about right
• Buck and Phil Chenier keep telling us how Andray Blatche has destroyed the Nets this year, wow, he and everyone else in the league.....Good thing no one is watching....
  
• Nice crisp passing allows for a nice shot over some good defense. Oh wait, that's the Spurs-Lakers game on my other TV.
• Blatche has 5 assists in under 9 minutes of play to help the Wiz lead 19-14. It also helps that we are playing the Nets, who have shot 5-18 to open the game.
• Cartier Martin hits a 3 right after coming in and now drives baseline for a reverse layup, and one! He literally does not appear to be sweating. Didn't he get the memo we need John Wall? Wiz up 27-18.
• Thanks to a buzzer beating tip-in by Mike Miller, Wiz lead 29-22 at the end of the first quarter. Nets are shooting 9-22, Wiz 13-25.

(Image courtesy of pointedmagazine.com and stats courtesy of espn.com and nba.com)

Wizards-Nets Tale of the Tape: The Worst Game of the NBA Season

I've been pretty quiet on the Wizards front, and with good reason, but I can't resist tonight's matchup between the likely 2 worst teams in the NBA, the 11-65 Nets against our 22-53 Wizards. Sure the Wiz are only tied for the 2nd-worst record in the league, but that includes our time with Gil, Caron, and Jamison, not this current squad. So here is a quick rundown of what we are looking at tonight (Nets figure first):

• Record: 30th and T-29th
• Point differential: 29th and 26th
• Points per game: 30th and 26th
• Field Goal %: 30th and 25th
• Turnovers-caused per game: T-19th, T-21st
• Assist/Turnover ratio: 26th and T-27th
• Combined record when ahead at the half: 17-32
• Combined record when committing fewer turnovers than opponent: 17-45

You get the idea...bring on the toilet bowl!

(Image courtesy of www.espn980.com, stats courtesy of nba.com and espon.com)

Phenomenal Video

The playoffs. Where Gordon Bombay happens.



(Hat tip to Olmsteazy)