MMBSD: Kharmic Re-alignment

Well in theory its a sports overload time of year. Baseball playoffs, NFL season, conference play for college football and there's a certain stirring for the NBA. However there's still no joy in Mudville, Ohio....the Dirty Sox are in the playoffs and the Tribe are not. There's only one possible reason for this....something awful is going to happen to the South side of Chicago and hence the Kharmic forces out there are pre-emptively allowing something good to happen to that part of the country. Its the only possible explaination. Anyway here's a few thoughts from a deranged mind...


MLB
Boy did the Indians choke. 1-5 on a 6 game homestand. 7 for 56 with men in scoring position during the homestand. Only FEMA has left more men stranded. They wasted great pitching (does anyone really think Kevin Millwood will lead the league in ERA again?) but fair is fair they did pull off 93 wins which typically isn't too shabby. Despite the end result, Cleveland fans gave the team a standing ovation at the end of the game. This city just needs a team worthy of its fan (i.e. never give up)

My end of the year awards
AL MVP - David Ortiz aka Big Papi. Yes he's a DH but when you look clutch up in the 2005 baseball dictionary, there's a picture of Papi. 21 homers to give Boston a tie or lead. If your not giving him the award, please rename it from MVP to Most Valuable Position Player.

AL Cy Young - Bartolo "Fats" Colon. I don't even know who else would deserve it. Playoff push time he was the ace.

NL Cy Young/Al Davis Award Chris "Just win, baby" Carpenter. Again I give it to the ace. When the Cardinals ran away with the regular season it was Carpenter that held the rotation together. Lets not forget D-Train's swoon in the middle of the season.

NL MVP/Susan Lucci AvoidanceAward - Albert Pujols. This is probably why I should never be an actual award voter but Albert Pujols doesn't deserve the Susan Lucci treatment. Susan Lucci was nominated like 21 time for an emmy before winning. Pujols has come in 2nd in the MVP voting too many times (especially to some bloated steriod infested individual that will remain unnamed). Give the man his due.

Viagra Player of the Year - Bob Wickman . Wickman was out for a year and a half with reconstructive surgery. Played part of the year last year. This year 45 saves (in 50 opportunities) and anchoring the best bullpen in the bigs. Go Bob.


NFL
1. Mike Martz should be fired, rehired and fired again. Then he should subject to something excruciating like Brain Billick's weekly discussion on the wonders of Brian Billick.
2. I haven't seen an NFL collapse like the Chiefs did against the Eagles in a long time.
3. I (and Don Rumsfeld) put our necks out on the New England defense has issues policy position and San Diego added a data point. 41 points. Belichek has his work cut out for him.
4. The only difference between Washington and Baltimore (besides their schedules) is that Washington has a slightly better offense. That said they're right now not as good as their record.
5. Fear Bob Sanders (the Colts could easily be 7-0 before facing any real competition. If this team gets homefield advantage in the playoffs watch out)

College Football
College football is doing the time warp with both Penn State and Alabama back in the top 25. Alabama hadn't beaten a top 5 team before this weekend since Bear Bryant (1982). JoePa hasn't been undefeated this late season since Ki-Jana Carter had ligments in his knees. Why doesn't USC spot its opponents 3 touchdowns and then only play the 2nd half of a game? Damn skippy I'm curious how Charlie Weiss' offense does against USC's defense.

NBA
A little early for analysis and predictions so I'll just throw out a few questions
1. Will anyone stop San Antonio?
2. What's the Larry Brown effect (both in Detroit and Knicksville)
3. Is this the year Lebron makes the playoffs?
4. If Garnett doesn't make the playoffs will he destroy Minneapolis? And if so will he team up with Mothra and/or Robo-Godzilla to lay waste to Saint Paul?
5. Can Phil Jackson turn an average team into a good team (we all know he can turn good teams into great teams)?