2010 Is So Last Year

Wow, truly can't believe how quickly the past 365 days went by. Seems like just yesterday we were making plans for a rocking finale to the end of 2009 and looking towards 2010. Well, now 2010 is in the rearview mirror. What a great amount has transpired over the past year in this great city of Boston. Consider:

-On December 31, 2009, Tom Brady's top 3 receivers were Randy Moss, Wes Welker, and Sam Aiken. His tight ends were Ben Watson and Chris Baker. Welker promptly tore his ACL in Week 17, and if not for his superhuman rehab effort, Brady would have an entirely different receiving corps on December 31, 2010. And despite all the change? He's practically a shoo-in for NFL MVP.

-Also on this date last year, Laurence Maroney and Fred Taylor were the Patriots' top two running backs. Combined rushing totals for Maroney and Taylor this year: 69 carries, 194 yards (2.8 yards per carry), 0 touchdowns. Fortunately, BenJarvus Green-Ellis needs just 72 yards on Sunday to surpass 1,000 yards for the season, and, well, do we need to say anything about Danny Woodhead?

-Tim Thomas has gone from being written off as a one-hit wonder for the Vezina, to quite possibly taking home his second award in three seasons. Who knew hip surgery made all the difference?



-Milan Lucic's statistics for the 2009-10 season: 50 Games played, 9 goals, 11 assists, -7 rating, 44 PIMs

-Milan Lucic's statistics for the 2010-11 season: 36 Games played, 16 goals, 11 assists, +13 rating, 58 PIMs

He still fights. Now he scores. Good news for the Bruins. Bad news for the rest of the NHL.

-The Red Sox were selling us on the merits of Mike Cameron, Marco Scutaro, and "Run Prevention" in December 2009. Glad to see it only took one summer of despair to right the ship.

-Josh Beckett was, by most accounts, the ace of the Red Sox pitching staff looking towards the 2010 season. One must ask: is he even our no. 3 starter at this point?


-Throughout the early portion of 2010, many questions arose about the longevity these Celtics had as a Championship-caliber team. Sure, they made a surprising run to Game 7 of the NBA Finals, but was that just one last hurrah with Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett truly looking as though they were running on fumes?  A 24-6 start to this season, thanks in large part to the Renaissance of KG, the Celtics remain on a short list of teams capable of winning the NBA Championship.

KG's resurgence has given Celtics fans hope that the Championship window is still wide open.

And those are just the main plot points that are different around here. You could look at every roster from this time last year to the updated version you'd find today, and notice wholesale change all around, be it completely new players or previously under-heralded ones taking on larger roles.  And that's just what's gone on around here. How about across the country?

-Michael Vick has gone from that "washed-up, dog-killing 3rd string QB" to a legitimate MVP candidate. You have an opinion on him one way or the other. We all do. But there is no justifiable way you can hate on the man for what he does on the gridiron. Forget resurgence; Vick was never this good to begin with. He's possessed the talent all along, but apparently it took a 23 month sentence in a Kansas prison, coupled with a year as Donovan McNabb/Kevin Kolb's backup, for him to realize that talent once and for all. Better late than never.

Michael Vick was the NFL's no. 1 overall pick in 2001. The Eagles 1st round selection that year? Freddie Mitchell. It took 9 years, but it definitely looks as though the Eagles wound up with a good 1st rounder from that year after all.

-LeBron James took his talents to South Beach. I'm not discussing this one anymore. I'm sick of it. You're sick of it. Period. Although it definitely warrants mentioning that he was among the most beloved players in not just the NBA, but all of professional sports this time last year. What a difference a decision can make.

-The San Francisco Giants (last World Series title: 1954) and the Texas Rangers (last World Series title: Never) faced off in the fall classic. Wasn't this kinda thing supposed to happen back in 2003 when the Red Sox and Cubs were both within 5 outs of winning their respective league titles? Eh, this was cool enough (although the executives at FOX or the Nielsen Ratings people would beg to differ).

-Brett Favre retired a few more times, just like the year before and the year before that, but it looks like no. 4 will be out of our lives for good come Sunday. Unless, as my man Bill Simmons ponders, he returns to Green Bay to be Aaron Rodgers' backup in 2011. Would you put it past him? And sorry to go here, but if you think back to LeBron's "What should I do?" commercial, wouldn't the line "Should I really pretend I've ruined my legacy?" apply more to Favre than LeBron?

-Jayson Werth signed a $126 million dollar contract. No, this is not a misprint.

-People pretended to care about soccer for a few weeks in June and July, and now, I defy anyone to name the "Final 4" at the World Cup event in South Africa. I'll even spot you Spain, the winner. I think they won anyways.

-Cameron Beckham, Derek Lamely, Arjun Atwal, and Matt Bettencourt were among the players with more PGA tour victories this year than Tiger Woods. Which would be, 1 apiece, compared to 0 for Eldrick. 

-The New Jersey Devils finished 2nd in the Eastern Conference with 103 points in the 2009-10 season. They are currently ranked dead last in the entire NHL with a mere 20 points, on pace for 46. Yikes. 

-Staying on hockey, the Chicago Blackhawks had the longest Stanley Cup drought entering 2010 at 49 years (1961 was their last title). After winning the Cup, the onus now falls on the Toronto Maple Leafs (1967). And the Bruins jump up a notch to second (1972). Damn.

Alright, enough about 2010. It was quite a year in the sporting world, no doubt about that. I mean the New Orleans Saints are now a model franchise in the NFL. Before I head off to Boston to celebrate the New Year, a few burning questions for 2011:

-When will Tom Brady throw his next interception? Sometime in January? February at the Super Bowl? September, the opening month of next season? 2012? Later? Never? 

-Kobe Bryant is one ring shy of tying Michael Jordan at 6. But with the Lakers struggling somewhat of late, is it too late for Kobe to match MJ? How much left does Kobe have in the tank?

-How far will the Miami Heat go in the NBA playoffs?

-Is the Sidney Crosby/Alex Ovechkin debate over?

-Should we really forgo the regular season, LDS, and LCS and just play the World Series between the Red Sox and Phillies?

-Are Peyton Manning's recent struggles just a slump, or a sign of things to come? The Colts have to sign him to an extension regardless, right?

-How many championships will be won in the city of Boston?

-Can Duke repeat as college hoops champs?

-Is the end of the BCS near, so I can finally start caring about college football?

That's about all I've got. Everyone, stay safe tonight, and don't drink too much. I know I won't. Be sure to check back next year for a new edition of The Jake Levin Experience.

2010: The Naughty and the Nice

What would Christmas be without a list of who's been naughty and who's been nice? As we get near the end of 2010 and closer to the start of 2011, there have been plenty of personalities in the world of sports who fall into either category based on their performances of the past year. This isn't necessarily a compilation of who has put up the best numbers, the most wins, etc. over the past year. This also weighs heavily into off the field/court/ice factors. Especially when it comes to "The Naughty". So without further ado, the best of both worlds in 2010:

The Nice
Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans Saints

Whether he was saving the city of New Orleans, or taking a trip through Disney World with his Super Bowl MVP award, or overcoming a "Super Bowl Hangover" and leading the Saints right back towards the post-season, who's been nicer this year than Drew Brees? The SI Sportsman of the Year has had a year for the ages, and any list of this kind wouldn't be complete without him.

Sidney Crosby, C, Pittsburgh Penguins

Coming into 2010, there wasn't a lot Crosby hadn't accomplished. Hart Memorial Trophy (MVP)? Check. Raising the Stanley Cup? Check. Being anointed the Greatest (active) Player Alive? You could make the case for Ovechkin, but since it's a huge debate, check. All that was missing was an Olympic gold medal in ice hockey.  Much to the chagrin of the United States, Crosby potted the game winner in the Gold Medal game against the Americans, and in the process crossed that off the list. What's next for Sid? He's already got 60 points (29-31-60) through 36 games this season. That puts him on a pace for 137 points, which would be the highest total in the NHL since Mario Lemieux put up 161 in 1995-96. Sid ain't a kid no more.

O, Canada!

Landon Donovan, M, United States

What did Donovan accomplish in 2010? Nothing really, other than getting everyone in the United States a serious case of soccer fever. The American's best player highlighted a memorable game when he scored in stoppage time against Algeria, on a thrilling play in which he streaked in and knocked the rebound past Algeria's goalie. The U.S. ultimately lost to Ghana in the round of 16, but Donovan's goal will have a lasting impact on the growth of soccer in the United States.

Phil Mickelson, Golf

Winning The Masters and the Green Jacket that comes with it are nice. Winning while your wife is overcoming a yearlong bout with breast cancer? Winning while dealing with the media-circus that came with Tiger Woods' return to the PGA? Couldn't think of a much greater degree of difficulty than that. Made it all the more satisfying for Lefty, who won his third career Masters title. It may have been his only PGA win of 2010, but it's certainly enough for Phil to earn the label of 'nice'.

Kevin Durant, F, Oklahoma City Thunder

Portrayed as the anti-LeBron, Durant quietly announced his 5 year, $86 million contract extension just days after LeBron's Decision. No need to go on ESPN or anything like that to make the announcement. Durant also led team USA to the FIBA World Championship title over the summer, and in the process has raised expectations for his Thunder through the roof. A nice year indeed.

I already addressed his team as the Thunder once. That's more than enough to justify a Sonics reference.

The Naughty

LeBron James, F, Miami Heat

First, he quit on Cleveland in the playoffs. Next, he stabbed the entire city of Cleveland in the heart on national TV. Then, he played the race card. Followed by comparing himself to Randy Moss. Let's not forget his having the audacity to tell Cleveland fans to "get over it". His latest endeavor has been endorsing contraction in the NBA. I don't know how many more times, in how many more different ways I can say it: Shut up, LeBron. Just shut up.

Don't mess around with the Green, LeBron. Dating back to the Eastern Conference semi's, you've lost 5 in  a row against them.

Brett Favre, QB, Minnesota Vikings

Pick after pick, sext after sext, press conference after press conference, it's been a rough year for no. 4. His streak of 297 consecutive starts just ended. And the pick I'm referring to the most indirectly allowed Drew Brees to appear on the 'nice' list, for had Favre not tried to force the ball through Saints coverage, it is very likely that his Vikings could have been Super this year, not New Orleans. Lowest QB rating of his career. Bet you wished you had stayed down on the farm, eh Brett?

Rex Ryan, Head Coach, New York Jets

I already did a great expose on the Jets after they lost to the Patriots 45-3 on MNF earlier this month. The Jets continue to talk like they're the 3-time defending champs, yet they are currently looking like a one-and-done playoff team. That vaunted ground game has faded, Mark Sanchez has been nothing short of dreadful, Braylon Edwards is dropping passes left and right if he's not getting a DUI, and best of all, it came to light that Rex Ryan has a foot fetish. Maybe when you're 350 pounds, feet action is all you can get.

Not hands, Rex. Feet. You like feet.

Jim Joyce, Umpire, Major League Baseball

Joyce has routinely been regarded as one of the best in the biz, year in, year out. Unfortunately, his legacy will never be as a top-flight umpire, but rather as the one involved in the "imperfect game". On June 2, Detroit Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga had been perfect through 8 2/3 innings of a game against the Cleveland Indians. The Indians' 27th batter, Jason Donald, hit a weak dribbler down the 1st base line. 1B Miguel Cabrera darted towards the ball and flipped back to Galarraga, who was covering 1st. While replays clearly showed that Donald was out by at least a step, Joyce flung his arms out in a "safe" motion. While Galarraga shrugged the call off, his Tiger teammates erupted towards Joyce in the immediate aftermath. Galarraga would get the next batter out, completing a 1-hitter, and Joyce later admitted his blunder had cost Galarraga a perfect game, but Joyce's gaffe is undoubtedly one of the naughtiest performances of the year.

As an umpire, I feel for Jim Joyce.

Ilya Kovalchuk, LW, New Jersey Devils

Kovalchuk signed a much-lampooned 15 year, $100 million contract with the Devils in the off-season after trying negotiations resulted in the initial contract of 17 years, $102 million being nullified by the NHL. Through three months, the Kovalchuk signing has been a flat-out DISASTER, as the winger has put up totals of 8-10-18 through 33 games while sporting a -25. His 8.2 shooting percentage is by far the lowest of his career, and oh-by-the-way, the Devils have the worst record in the NHL. Coincidentally, the league's second worst team, the New York Islanders, also made an erroneous 15-year contract blunder once upon a time with goalie Rick DiPietro. But that's another story for another time. 

Randy Moss, WR, Tennessee Titans

http://jakelevinexperience.blogspot.com/2010/11/mossapalooza-tour.html

http://jakelevinexperience.blogspot.com/2010/10/moss-back-to-minny.html

I googled 'Randy Moss Titans' and this was the most intense action picture I could come up with.

Cecil Newton, Father, Cam Newton

His now-infamous "pay for play" plan for his son, Heisman winner Cam Newton, has cast a shadow of doubt over the legitimacy of Newton's eligibility, as well as his Heisman Award. It was just in September when 2005 winner Reggie Bush lost his trophy due to NCAA violations, and this was the last thing college football needed: another scandal. Newton's team, Auburn, is set to play Oregon for the BCS National Title in January. That, too, may come into question depending on what is further revealed about Mr. Newton in the coming months and years. I've gotta say, shame on the University of Alabama for firing the music director who played Steve Miller's "Take the Money and Run" during the Crimson Tide-Tigers game in November. The song was a reference at the pay-for-play, as the director hoped to rile Newton before the game.

Ramblin Man: 12/21/10

Finals....in the rear view mirror. Let's get back to the important things.

-I'm aware the Bruins are on a bit of a cold streak here. 4 losses in 5 games. Not exactly the kind of stretch that'll make Cup dreams seem plausible. But the catcalls for Claude Julien's firing are, at least for now, ridiculous. Are the B's capable of playing better? Absolutely. That being said, cold streaks happen to all teams at some point over the course of the season, and the facts remain: they're only 2 points behind Montreal for 3rd in the conference, and Tim Thomas is still playing out of his mind. Plus Marc Savard is still getting integrated back into the lineup. Hold off on the panic button here.

-I talk about Randy Moss a lot in this space. But at this point, it's really just getting sad. 5 catches, 62 yards, 0 touchdowns through six games. Three games with no stats accumulated at all. Remember, just last year, Moss was tied for the NFL lead in touchdown receptions (13) and fifth in receiving yards (1,264).  I defy anyone to come up with a player who's ever fallen from grace so quickly.

-Brett Favre got a start last night, meaning he needs only 296 more to match his previous streak. At this rate, Favre will reach 297 by Week 6 in 2029, when he will be the tender age of 59.

-The Red Sox bullpen continues to get stronger by the day. Bobby Jenks, he of two 40-save seasons to be a set-up man? Why not. Dan Wheeler, pride of Warwick, RI, and a 0.98 WHIP since 2008? Sign me up. You can never have enough bullpen arms, period. What was looking like a weakness for the Sox a few weeks ago is turning into a strength.

-I'd still say Tom Brady has the NFL MVP award wrapped up, but what a performance by Mike Vick on Sunday. 242 yards through the air, 130 on the ground. Certainly making a case for himself. Maybe he'll have to settle for Offensive Player of the Year.

-Speaking of Vick, how do you think Atlanta fans feel about his resurgence? Sure, they've got Matty Ice under center now, but Vick never had a season in Atlanta even close to what he's doing in Philly right now. Definitely looks like the Falcons and Eagles could be on collision course to meet in the NFC title game, which would in all likelihood be played in the ATL. Wouldn't have the drama of Favre back in Green Bay or LeBron back in Cleveland, but certainly the intrigue.

-Good to see the small-market Brewers make a big-market trade, acquiring Zack Greinke from the Royals. Greinke has only had one outstanding season, his 2009 Cy Young campaign, but he just turned 27 in October and is in theory reaching his prime. In the NL Central, why not give the Brew Crew a shot at the title?

-Ballsy moves by the Orlando Magic, shipping out Rashard Lewis, Vince Carter, and Marcin Gortat while bringing in Jason Richardson, Hedo Turkoglu, and Gilbert Arenas in separate deals. I would say the upside of the players they brought in is greater than that of the players they shipped out, particularly Arenas, who once upon a time was certainly up there as an elite scorer in the NBA. He needed desperately to get out of Washington. Also, Turkoglu has been lost since he departed Orlando following the 2008-09 season, so maybe his return to the Magic Kingdom will do him some good.

-I'm not one to toot my own horn, but I'm going to do it right here: people said I was crazy when I picked the Mavericks to win the Western Conference. Not so crazy now, am I? The Mavs, at 22-5, sit just 2 games behind the pace-setting Spurs out West, and snapped the Heat's 12-game winning streak last night. With exactly two-thirds of the season remaining, it's still real early. But so far, so good. Keep it up Dirk.

I also picked Dirk to win another MVP....

Cliff Lee joins the Phantastic Phour

Talk about coming straight outta left field. For weeks now, the Cliff Lee Sweepstakes has centered around two teams: his incumbent team, the Texas Rangers; and the team that always finds its way into the free agency foray, the New York Yankees. At times, reports surfaced that a third "mystery team" was still in the mix. The Red Sox were perhaps among the potential mystery suitors, but after the Carl Crawford signing they were sure to have bowed out. Who did that leave? The Los Angeles Angels, who year in, year out, earn marks as the biggest losers in free agency? They never really had a shot at Lee's services. But this mystery team refused to leave the discussion, and as the days wore on, it became increasingly clear that perhaps Lee wouldn't return to Texas or do the thing every marquee free agent does and join the Yankees.

And last night, truly at the 11th hour, it became official: Cliff Lee had spurned his primary suitors and would be joining the Philadelphia Phillies.

The Phillie Phanatic will have plenty to be fanatic about next summer.

What makes Lee's decision so interesting is not so much that he turned down the Yankees or Rangers, but that the Phillies were ultimately his destination of choice. Just last winter, Lee was a member of the Phillies, after coming over at the trade deadline and helping them reach the World Series against the Yankees. Lee was flat out brilliant against the Bombers, pitching the Phillies to their only two wins in the Series. He went 2-0 with a 2.81 ERA, striking out 13 Yankee batters in 16 innings, and not allowing a single walk. However, after the Phillies were able to acquire Roy Halladay from Toronto, they decided to replenish their farm system by spinning Lee to Seattle in exchange for prospects. Essentially, the prospects canceled out, and they had substituted Lee for Halladay.

Lee didn't last long in Seattle, as the Mariners stumbled out of the gate despite increased expectations, and was dealt to the Rangers in July. It is there that Lee embraced the role of hired gun yet again, pitching the Rangers all the way to the World Series. Lee struggled in his second consecutive Fall Classic, going 0-2 for Texas while posting a 6.94 ERA as they ultimately lost to the San Francisco Giants.

Despite being the top free agent available, Cliff Lee did not announce his plans on a one-hour special on ESPN, with the proceeds going to charity.

Despite these shortcomings, Lee was still deemed to be at the top of the free agent pitching class, and by a rather significant margin. Consider this: before Lee's signing yesterday for $120 million, the pitcher who reeled in the biggest contract was Jorge de la Rosa, who hit the Rockies up for $21.5 million. A $98.5 million gap between the top two free agent pitchers? Lee wasn't just the best free agent pitcher. He was the only free agent pitcher.

In returning to Philadelphia, Lee took both less money and years than he could have received from the Yankees or Rangers, but in the process has made the Phillies clear-cut favorites to win the National League. Consider the pedigree of the top 4 starters in the rotation:

Roy Halladay: 2003 AL Cy Young; threw 19th perfect game in Major League history on 5/29/10; threw 2nd no-hitter in MLB post-season history on 10/6/10; fourth most wins by pitcher in the 2000's (139); three 20-win seasons.

Cliff Lee: 2008 AL Cy Young; led Majors with 10.28 K/BB ratio in '10; prior to 2010 World Series, had never lost a post-season game; one 20-win season.

Roy Oswalt: Two 20-win seasons; tied-5th most wins by pitcher in the 2000's (137)

Cole Hamels: 2008 World Series MVP; led MLB in WHIP, 2008 (1.08)

Who will own the streets of Philadelphia in 2011? The Gang or the Phillies rotation?

Add it all up, and the Phillies have far and away the most impressive rotation in baseball, regardless of who the no. 5 starter is. Like they even need a fifth guy. This rotation, on paper, is undoubtedly the best baseball has seen since the Atlanta Braves of the 1990's trotted out Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, John Smoltz, and Steve Avery. Those first three names are all bound for Cooperstown. But I don't think it's a stretch at all to say the upside of this rotation just might be better than that of the Braves in their heyday. Could they become the first team since the 1971 Orioles (and just the second team ever) to boast four 20-game winners? The sky is the limit for the Phills, and let's not forget that despite losing Jayson Werth, they still boast Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, and Jimmy Rollins in that lineup.

As I preached last week with the Red Sox, it's still just December, and there's a reason they play 162 games. But anyone who doesn't think the Red Sox and Phillies are on a collision course to meet in late October is either extremely delusional or sniffing some killer glue. Spring Training can't come soon enough.

297: End of the Line

If you want to read about the Pats this week, pretty much all you need to do is re-read last week's piece about the Jets game. Ho hum, Patriots destroy another playoff-caliber team in convincing fashion. Warrants mentioning that the game was played in a blizzard that put last year's conditions in the 59-0 game to shame. Yet despite this Snowmagedon, Brady still managed a season-high 369 yards through the air, completing 27 of 40 passes to go along with a pair of touchdown strikes. Deion Branch turned in a career high 151 yards, yet again forcing us to ask the question "what if Deion never left New England?" The offense is far more diverse now than it was in 2007, and more importantly, the team as a whole is peaking in December rather than September and October. The Patriots also became the first team to clinch a post-season berth. Check back next week for the Pats, when the Green Bay Packers roll into town likely without Aaron Rodgers (concussion).

Tonight, however, one of the most historic and hallowed records in professional sports has come to an end.  Some will be thrilled, as this is perhaps a pre-cursor to Brett Favre going away once and for all. Others will be having feelings of nostalgia, as this record of Brett Favre's that is coming to a conclusion is not your ordinary record. Regardless of where you fall on the spectrum, you'll have an opinion on the end of "The Streak". It's official, Brett Favre will be inactive for tonight's game against the New York Giants, marking the end of his NFL-record 297 consecutive starts (321 including the post-season) at Quarterback.

Now, for some fun facts insight on what Brett Favre's consecutive games played streak means in the grand scheme of things:

-Tonight's game vs. the Giants will mark the first time that Favre has not started a game since September 20, 1992. The following week, on September 27, Brett replaced Don Majkowski as the Packers starter and had not missed a game until tonight. What was different about the world back then?

-I was an only child. JHL came along in '93.

-"End of the Road" by Boyz II Men topped the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart, while "Some Gave All" by Billy Ray Cyrus topped the Billboard 200 albums chart. Needless to say, Boyz II Men and Billy Ray Cyrus no longer remain relevant musicians (although you may have heard of Bill Ray's daughter, Miley).

-Bill Clinton and George W. Bush have each served two full terms as U.S. president. In related news, Monica Lewinsky gained notoriety during The Streak, and Dubya told us that "A Leadership is someone who brings people together".

-The following countries did not exist:  Eritrea, Palau, Bosnia, Serbia, Montenegro, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Kosovo, and Timor-Leste.

-Hugh Millen was the starting quarterback for the Patriots that week. For Hugh Millen's career statistics, click here.

-Millen, Scott Zolak, Tom Hodson, Jeff Carlson, Scott Secules, Drew Bledsoe, Tom Brady, and Matt Cassel have started games under center for the Patriots. Not bad, considering some teams such as the Bears have had about 345 starters since then.

-Jenn Sterger was 10 years old.

-Joe Hesketh was the winning pitcher for the Red Sox that day, with Tom Brunansky batting clean-up. In a shocking twist, the Red Sox went 73-89 that season, the closest they have come to 90 losses in a season since 1966.

-Crow Point Pizzeria didn't exist yet; it didn't open it's doors until 1993. Buffalo Chicken Calzone was just a pipe dream.

-Kramer's first name on Seinfeld remained a mystery.

-My old car, the Volvo "Red Wagon", was two years away from being released as a new car. A luxury car for the time, some might say.

-The Carolina Panthers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Houston Texans, and Baltimore Ravens did not yet exist as NFL franchises.

-Dan Dierdorf was the color commentator on Monday Night Football.

-Cal Ripken, Jr. was still 551 starts away from breaking Lou Gehrig's all-time baseball record of consecutive games started.

-Tyler Seguin, the Bruins 1st round draft pick this season, was 7 months old. In related news, the Bruins were only on a 20 year Cup drought at the time.

Call me crazy, I just don't think Favre texts Sterger back in '92. Although texting didn't yet exist. There's another thing for the list.

And there you have it. It's been a wild ride for no. 4, one that seems almost certain to come to a complete end after this season. Of course, we've heard this story from Favre before. While I ultimately think that 2010 is the year in which Favre finally goes away for good, there were many people who thought 2009 was that year. Or 2008. Or 2007....

Where does Favre's streak rank in the grand scheme of things? In my honest opinion, it's the single most impressive streak and/or record in professional sports history. The era in which is occurred, in which professional football players became bigger and faster and nastier than ever before, just adds to its authenticity. To go out there week in, week out, and take that kind of punishment on your body for nearly 20 years without ever missing a start is, quite frankly, superhuman. With all due respect to Cal Ripken and his streak in baseball, I just don't think it comes close to matching Favre's. Like I said, it comes down the punishment and the toll it takes on the body. Running out ground balls and sliding into second for 2,632 consecutive games truly is remarkable and I don't mean to trivialize it, but when you've got the likes of Ray Lewis, Michael Strahan, Brian Urlacher, Rodney Harrison, etc. chasing after you and trying to knock you flat on your ass on every single play, advantage Favre.

Though the sun will continue to rise as Favre's streak comes to a close, it's going to be a different world out there, for sure. So long, Brett. And please don't make me regret praising you in August when the 49ers or Redskins come calling....

Carl Crawford....Enough Said

In 2010, the Red Sox won 89 games. In markets such as Kansas City or Pittsburgh, that win total would merit a parade through the downtown areas. Here in Boston, however, we are accustomed to totals a fair amount higher than that, generally approaching the century mark. So 89 wins looks pretty bland, until you consider the following:

-Kevin Youkilis missed 60 games due to injury
-Dustin Pedroia missed 87 games due to injury
-Jacoby Ellsbury missed 144 games due to injury (as well as being unable to get the sand out)
-Josh Beckett made only 21 starts due to injury, and was ineffective when he actually was healthy

And oh by the way, Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford didn't call the Fens their home last year. After spending the past several off-seasons as spectators in free agency, taking waivers on players such as John Smoltz, Brad Penny, Marco Scutaro, etc., the Red Sox have re-emerged as a force to be reckoned with in the American League.

I touched on it early this week, a lot of the current problems with the Red Sox date back to the failure to land Mark Teixeira in the winter of 2008-09. The following winter, "run prevention" was preached, with GM Theo Epstein admitting that 2010 could be a "bridge year".

Thought the Sox were done after Adrian Gonzalez? Nope. Cue up the Sweet Caroline, because good times have never seemed so good.

Wait a second. This is Boston, home of the second largest payroll in the Majors over the past decade or so. We're a big market team, Theo. Act like it! The memo finally got to Epstein, as the fire under his seat reached the highest levels of his tenure as GM.  With the Rays slashing payroll to depths unimaginable, and the Yankees looking more vulnerable than ever (more on that in a minute), the time was right for the Red Sox to make a seismic splash and get back into the conversation as the best team in baseball.

In Crawford, the Red Sox get a genuine 5-tool player who's worst season wouldn't exactly jump out at you on a stat sheet as even mediocre. A four-time all-star, Crawford is coming off arguably his best all-around season, when he established a career high in home runs (19), took home his first Silver Slugger and Gold Glove award, and finished 7th in AL MVP voting.  His 90 RBIs and .851 OPS also established career highs, while his .307 batting average marked the 5th time in the past 6 seasons he has hit over .300, the only exception being an injury-plagued campaign in 2008. Aside from that '08 campaign, Crawford has displayed remarkable durability, playing in at least 143 games in all of his professional seasons since his rookie year of 2002. He has also led the league in triples and stolen bases four times apiece.

Where does he fit into the lineup? Obviously he will slide in somewhere 1 through 3, depending on how the front office still views Ellsbury as a lead-off hitter. Dustin Pedroia is firmly entrenched in the 2 spot, so it is likely Crawford either leads off or hits third. Personally, I would put Crawford in the lead-off spot, where his speed can be better utilized than it would be in the meat of the order. By having Ellsbury move from the top to the bottom of the order, he will be even more free to run, which is a scary thought for opposing defenses. Something like this is probably what we're looking at right now:

LF Crawford
2B Pedroia
1B Gonzalez
3B Youkilis
DH Ortiz
C Russell Martin (assuming we sign him)
RF Drew
SS Lowrie/Scutaro
CF Ellsbury

Martin would bat 6th ahead of Drew based on splitting up the righty/lefty dynamic, creating match-up issues throughout the lineup for pitching staffs. What exactly is the ceiling for this lineup? Let's not forget, the Red Sox were 2nd in the Majors in runs scored last year, despite what I mentioned earlier about all of those injuries. Adding players like Gonzalez and Crawford? No question they should improve on the 818 from a year ago. This offense could potentially be more potent than the 2003-2005 Boston lineups, which scored 962, 949, and 907 runs respectively, leading the Majors all three years. The base running should be off the charts as well. Ellsbury and Crawford should easily approach 100 steals combined, quite possibly more depending on how much of a free leash Crawford gets.

Beyond the lineup, what is the exact ceiling for the team as a whole? 100 wins is not out of the question at all, and if everyone produces to their potential, why not even 110? Should the 1906 Cubs or 2001 Mariners get nervous about their 116?

Obviously, it's only December, and we're still a solid 2 months away from pitchers and catchers reporting to Fort Myers. But I think it goes without saying that the Red Sox are the team to beat in the American League, particularly if the Yankees miss out on Cliff Lee. Does it seem likely they do? No. But there's a small enough possibility for Lee to remain in Texas that the Red Sox can dream of not only winning the AL East, but straight up running away with it. It's much too soon for a prediction of any kind, but you can put me on the record for 105 as of this writing. Welcome to Fenway, Carl.

Week 13: Patriots vs. Jets

You would think that after being completely and utterly annihilated and embarrassed on national TV, that even someone with as big a yap as Rex Ryan would know to just keep his mouth shut. Yet despite the 45-3 shellacking his Jets took last night, Ryan continued to put even more of a target on the fraudulent Jets. "I'll go out and play them now if they'll go out and do it again", said Rex. Well listen here, coach. I'm not saying the Patriots would go out and whoop your sorry excuse of a team by 42 points again, but if you think that your team honestly has any chance of beating the Patriots down the line here, you are sadly mistaken. Especially now that the Patriots have grabbed control of the AFC East, and perhaps the entire conference. It looks as though yet again, the road to the Super Bowl will run through Foxboro.  Tom Brady hasn't lost a regular season home game since November 2006. That's four whole years ago, for the mathematically challenged. And until the Patriots do indeed lose at Gillette, there is absolutely zero reason to pick against them there. As unlikely as it seems right now, how great would it be to have the Jets make the return trip to New England in late January and embarrass the hell out of them again?

Wipe that grin off, Rex. You're team has a heckuva lot of work to do for them to be taken seriously again.

In terms of the game itself, where do you even begin? Tom Brady's nearly perfect night, for starters. Brady once again excelled with the spotlight shining bright, going 21 for 29, accumulating 326 yards through the air, tossing 4 TD's, and, most notably, no picks. There was a great graphic showed late in the game last night that Brady became just the third quarterback ever to post at least 5 consecutive games of 2 or more TD passes without throwing a pick. Coincidentally, the only person with more than Brady is former Cowboys QB Don Meredith (6), who passed away yesterday at age 72. There is little question that Brady is the front runner for NFL MVP right now. His 27 touchdown passes lead the league, and his 4 interceptions are tied for the fewest among quarterbacks with more than 300 pass attempts. (Who's Tom tied with? Matt Cassel of all people). His 109.5 QB rating tops the league among qualified passers, and he is on pace for 4,039 yards, which would be the fourth time since 2005 he has topped the 4,000 yard mark. Lastly, he trails only Drew Brees and David Garrard in completion percentage (66.3), although he has thrown for over 1,000 more yards than Garrard. I rest my case.

Coming into the season, there were many doubts about the ability of the Patriots running game to help aid their potent passing attack. The inconsistent Laurence Maroney and the ancient Fred Taylor were the top two backs on the depth chart. Maroney has since been jettisoned to Denver (he hasn't played since Week 6), while Taylor has missed significant time with a toe injury. BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Danny Woodhead simply cannot be praised enough for what they've brought to this team in place of the other two. Green-Ellis is tied for 2nd in the league in rushing touchdowns with 11 (ahead of names such as Chris Johnson, Michael Turner, and Maurice Jones-Drew), while averaging a very respectable 4.3 yards per carry. Woodhead has been amazing as a duel threat, making contributions in both the running game and the passing attack. He is on pace for more than 1,000 yards from scrimmage. The man is nearly impossible to cover, whether he's lining up behind Brady, or in the slot, or even split out wide.

Last night had to be especially meaningful for Woodhead. At this point, we all know the Danny Woodhead story. Deemed too small to play Division I college football, let alone in the NFL, he settled for a D-II gig at Chadron State in Nebraska. He went on to become the NCAA all-time leading rusher at any level. He won the Division II version of the Heisman trophy twice. Cast off by the Jets after Week 1 this season, Woodhead delivered his finest performance as a receiver to date last night. He led the Pats in receiving yards at 104, on just 4 catches for an average of 26 yards per catch. Perhaps his finest play was on a 3rd and 4, late in the 3rd quarter, where a simple screen pass turned into a 50-yard scamper down the sideline for the little guy. Wish you could have a mulligan on that one, dontcha Rex?

This unlikely duo has added a whole new dimension to the Patriots' attack.

And for as good as the offense was last night, the Patriots D just might have been even better. If you watched the game, you could hear all the numbers being spewed by the usually enjoyable tandem of Jaws and Gruden. The Patriots D ranked last in the NFL in yards allowed per game, pass yards allowed per game, etc., etc. I'm not gonna go all Raheem Morris here and say "stats are for losers", but that was no 32nd ranked defense we saw last night. Have they been an elite defensive unit this season? Certainly not, but in what is most definitely a transition year for that side of the ball, the strides being made are something nobody, perhaps not even Bill Belichick himself, saw coming. 

Devin McCourty had his 4th interception in the past 3 games, on a play where he was practically attached to Jets WR Braylon Edwards. James Sanders, who's also become INT-happy lately, picked off yet another errant Sanchez throw, while Brandon Spikes had the first of his career. The Jets' 2nd year signal-caller out of USC was downright AWFUL last night, and I really can't emphasize that enough. He was missing open receivers all night long, overthrowing them, under-throwing them, you name it. The Patriots pass-rush, despite generating just one sack, was fairly effective in rattling Sanchez, forcing him from the pocket on numerous occasions. Jerod Mayo once again led the Patriots in tackles, with 12, and continues his ascension into the upper-echelon of interior linebackers in the NFL. 

Back to the Jets for just a minute here, it warrants mentioning how badly they've played in their three losses. Which, oh by the way, have all been to playoff-caliber teams. The offense has put up 9, 0, and 3 points in said losses against the Ravens, Packers, and Patriots, respectively. Combined winning percentage of the Jets opponents in those losses? .722 (26-10). Combined winning percentage of the Jets opponents in their wins? .370 (40-68). You do the math. If the Jets do reach the post-season, I wouldn't make plans for that Super Bowl parade again this year, Rex Ryan. 

I know I've used this picture before. Screw it. Kiss those rings, Rex. Kiss 'em.

The bottom line? The Patriots just made it loud and clear that they are the team to beat in the AFC. They have now beaten playoff contenders Pittsburgh, Baltimore, San Diego, Indianapolis, as well as the Jets last night. Are they the best team in the entire NFL? I'll listen to arguments for the Atlanta Falcons, and I'm a big Matt "Matty-Ice" Ryan fan, but I have no plans of jumping off the Patriots bandwagon anytime soon. To hell with the haters, the Pats are back baby.

Yo Adrian! Red Sox Welcome Gonzalez to Boston

Back in December 2008, the Red Sox thought they had done it. They thought that their 8 year, $170 million dollar contract proposal would be enough to woo the biggest 1B slgugger on the market to Fenway Park. They didn't think that any other team would come in at the eleventh hour and top that offer, not even the New York Yankees (or as Larry Lucchino refers to them, the "Evil Empire"). The player they sought, Mark Teixeira, would be a cornerstone of the franchise for the better part of the next decade, filling the void in the middle of the lineup after Manny Ramirez's unceremonious departure in July of that year. Red Sox fans began to get big dreams with Teixeira in the middle of the order....

One can hope Gonzalez makes us forget Teixeira's status as "the one that got away".

Of course, we know how that one turned out. Tex would indeed sign in the Bronx for an offer not all that larger than Boston's, at 8 years, $180 million. There has been a great deal of controversy over how exactly the Sox let Tex get away. Some say his agent, Scott Boras, didn't bother telling the Red Sox of the Yankees rebuttal. It's also been said that owner John Henry put the kibosh on the signing, refusing to go upwards of $10 million more to deliver Teixeira to Boston.  We may never know exactly how it all went down.

But today, nearly two years after the Teixeira debacle, the Red Sox have found themselves a franchise cornerstone at 1st base. And he just might be, dare we say it, better than Mark Teixeira to begin with. Adrian Gonzalez now plays for the Boston Red Sox.

Believe it or not, this will be Gonzalez's 4th different organization in his career. After being drafted with the no. 1 overall pick in the 2000 draft by the Marlins, he was traded to Texas in 2003 for--wait for it--closer Uggie Urbina, who helped the Marlins win the World Series that year but currently is serving time in a luxurious Venezuelan prison for attempted murder. Draw your own conclusions on that one.

A "luxurious" prison is a purely subjective statement. Urbina will be 47 when he's released from prison.

While Gonzalez put up solid numbers in the minors while playing in the Texas farm system, the Ragners had no place for Gonzalez down the line. He was being blocked at 1B, ironically, by Mark Teixeira. So the Rangers dealt him to the Padres after the 2005 season in a multi-player deal.

It is in San Diego where Gonzalez blossomed into a star. During 5 seasons with the Padres, Gonzalez belted 161 home runs, with 525 runs batted in, all while compiling a .284/.368/.507 line (batting average, on-base, slugging). Including his limited time in Texas, Gonzalez has averaged 32 home runs and 99 RBI per season over the course of his career. To bot, Gonzalez has also won 2 gold glove awards in his career ('08, '09), and recently finished 4th in the NL MVP vote.

With limited financial resources, the Padres had no choice but to explore trading Gonzalez before his contract expired so as to get something substantial for him. His performance had priced him out of San Diego's payroll plans for the future,--they ranked 29th out of 30 teams last year--, so once they realized signing him to a long-term extension was not an option, Gonzalez went on the market. Rumors of the Red Sox interest in Gonzo date back to last winter, but the Padres were hesitant to deal him at that point with fears of alienating the fan base. After surprisingly contending in the NL West last season, where they weren't eliminated from post-season contention until the season's final day, the Red Sox feared that the Padres would be less willing to deal Gonzalez, and rather try to give it one more shot to win with him next season and taking draft picks as compensation after the season.

Gonzalez considers playing in Boston "a second dream".

Ultimately, the Red Sox were the perfect trade partner for the Padres. San Diego GM Jed Hoyer was previously employed by the Red Sox, thus possessing a great knowledge of their farm system. As mentioned earlier, the Sox have been searching for that thumper in the middle of the order since Manny's departure, and as a big market team, the Red Sox can afford to pay Gonzalez the bills he'll want. And after the trouble with Teixeira, team Theo knew that he had the perfect opportunity to atone for the sins of letting Tex slip away. It just made the most sense.

With Gonzalez in the fold, it looks as though Adrian Beltre is officially a goner, as Kevin Youkilis will slide back across the diamond to play 3B to accommodate Gonzalez. If the Red Sox decide to stand pat, their lineup should look something like this in April:

CF Ellsbury

2B Pedroia

1B Gonzalez

3B Youkilis

DH Ortiz

RF Drew

LF Cameron

C Saltalamacchia/Varitek

SS Scutaro/Lowrie

Nothing against Mike Cameron, who's had a fine career, but Boston would be wise to find someone else to man the Green Monster next season. With Jayson Werth off the market in a hilariously bad deal with Washington (7 years, $126 million to a 31 year old who's only been an everyday player for 3 years), do the Red Sox turn their efforts to Carl Crawford? Or do they take a flier on a lesser free agent still available, such as Magglio Ordonez? Do they do the unthinkable and bring back Johnny Damon or Manny Ramirez? Maybe take a flier on someone via trade, such as Carlos Beltran? It's all pure speculation, but I wouldn't bet on Cameron being the opening day left fielder in 2011.

It warrants mentioning that the Red Sox did give away a great amount of talent in this deal. In Casey Kelly and Anthony Rizzo, Boston dealt away two of its top three prospects, not to mention 19 year old Raymond Fuentes, ranked 16th in the Boston organization. That being said, when you have the chance to add a franchise bat and glove for (hopefully) the next 7-10 years, you have to do it, regardless of the price tag. Expect a contract extension to be worked out with Gonzalez at some point over the remainder of the winter.

Add it all up, this is perhaps Theo's finest trade since acquiring Curt Schilling from Arizona over Thanksgiving, 2003. Will it result in a subsequent World Series title? Stay tuned. There's plenty left for Boston to accomplish this off-season.

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And about that football game tonight. Patriots don't lose to Jets twice in a season. Period. Especially at home, where Tom Brady hasn't lost a game since I only had my learner's permit to drive. Patriots 24, Jets 14.