MLB Season Predictions

The beginning of the marathon that is the Major League Baseball season began today similar to the same way it did last year in that Jason Heyward hit a home run on his first at bat of the season. I was luckily back to my apartment a little early from fieldwork and caught the last eight innings of the Braves first game. No worries, I caught the first six outs on the radio on the way back to the apartment. In honor of the new season here are my picks to win each division.

AL East- The Boston Red Sox have too much speed, power, and pitching for any other team in this division to catch them. Adding OF Carl Crawford and 1B Adrian Gonzalez were enormous pickups. Gonzalez will thrive in a smaller park than what he has been playing in, Petco Park in San Diego. There is not a weak spot in the lineup, big bat after big bat. The New York Yankees can challenge if they can get the game to the 7th inning because of their strong bullpen. Their biggest problem is with their starting pitching. Boston Red Sox

AL Central- The race is wide open for the Central. An argument can be made for three teams, Twins, White Sox, or the Tigers, to win from what is the deepest division in the American League. I am going with the Detroit Tigers have the most win at the end of the season. They have a great starting pitching rotation and a solid defensive lineup. The Twins will threaten if 1B Justin Morneau is symptom free from his season ending concussion last season. The White Sox have plenty of power, but they have consistently underperformed and have to prove themselves first.  Detroit Tigers

AL West- The sexy "surprise" pick is the Oakland A's from the West, but I am having a hard time going against reining AL MVP Josh Hamilton and his Texas Rangers. They lost their ace with Cliff Lee signing with the Phillies and unless C.J. Wilson can step up their weakness in their starting rotation will be apparent. On the other side of the ball it is completely possible for the Rangers to score 10 runs a game with their strong offense. They know how to win and will continue to, but expect strong performances from Oakland and the Los Angeles Angels. Texas Rangers

NL East- My winner from the East may come as a surprise for some but those who really know me know there is no question where I am going with this pick. The Atlanta Braves will win the NL East. I know the Phillies have one of the best starting pitching rotations of all time but after that, what else is there? The oldest lineup in the majors. A weak bullpen. A potential MVP out until at least the All-Star Break. I said the Braves would win before the Phillies lost 2B Chase Utley to patellar tendonitis. The Braves have deep pitching and no weak link in their lineup, as they have in the past, and have added 2B Dan Uggla. I could keep going, but this is a preview for all if the majors. Atlanta Braves (duh)

NL Central- The St. Louis Cardinals have lost their number one starter. The Milwaukee Brewers have added Zach Grienke to become a better team. The Cincinati  Reds have the same team that won the division last year. All that said, I am taking experience and a city that will support their Cards. St. Louis may not run away with the title as they have in the past but they still have the best player in baseball, a winning manager, and a front office that will acquire necessary players to be winners. St. Louis Cardinals

NL West- A weak division that may be the most evenly matched from top to bottom. The San Francisco Giants won the World Series, but I am not sure they will even win their own division this season. The Dodgers have too much trouble in the front office, with the divorce of the owners, and the problems that will come with a rookie manager to win consistently. I am picking the Colorado Rockies. Look out for OF Carlos Gonzalez. He will become a star this season and they have a proven ace in Ubaldo Iminez who dominated last year in a batter’s park. the Rockies have finished strong the past few seasons and will continue that trend. Colorado Rockies

Disciple Now

Last weekend I had the opportunity to help lead the 7th and 8th grade boys for the Disciples Now at my home-away-from-home church, First Baptist Gainesville. For those of you that may not know exactly what a "Disciple Now" is, which was me before last weekend, here is a quick rundown.

Friday- The kids gathered at church for worship and games. Travel to a home of someone in the church (where you will spend the next two nights). Bible study and a game of Try and Tackle Graham.

Saturday- Wake up. Bible study. Head to the church for games and worship. Go into the community for mission projects in the afternoon. Back to the host homes for another three hours of video games and Try and Tackle Graham. Head back to the church for dinner, games and worship. Back to the host home for bible study and a game of Try and Stay Up All Night.

Sunday- Go to church for breakfast and a final devotion. Leave a little early and warm up the pipes for choir. Back to my apartment, try and stay awake to watch the Duke game. Fail miserably and sleep away the afternoon.

Tiring? Yes, but it would be hard for me to find a better weekend I have had since moving to Gainesville. It was like a glimpse of being a bible study leader back at PASSPORT for a weekend (one of my best summers ever). Speaking of... the pastor for the weekend was the pastor the summer I did camp. It was great to get together and catch up on life with him. It was like the two year hiatus never happened. 

I had a great weekend, and I was able to share with some boys about how good our God is. All the while they were teaching me patience (obviously) and how God takes care of us through our most difficult trials, such a comforting feeling and one I hope I am able to pass to others who do not know the love of God.

Final Four Predictions

I just logged on to check my bracket and see how the picks I made were doing. Turns out ESPN.com never recieved a submission from me. I spend a little bit of time doing all the things it takes to create the perfect bracket (research teams, hot players, depth, and location of the game), and what do I get but a message saying picks were not made in time. Either way, I will enjoy watching one of my favorite parts of sports over the next few weeks.

I know this is a little late and I am not going to go through every game but I will share the final four teams that will meet in Houston to decide the national champion. Kansas, Pittsburgh, Duke, and the big suprise, as much as it would pain me, Kentucky (Duke beats Kansas for back to back championship wins). The 'Cats looked good in the SEC Championship and they will be able to run with and more than the Ohio State Buckeyes. I am sorry for ruining the whole tournament by telling you on the first day how it will end, but you did keep reading and for that I thank you.

March Madness In Fayettville

It is not the kind of madness Arkansas Razorback fans have come to appreciate, but more along the lines of what they have learned to expect. "Does (fill in head coach name here) get another shot at winning next year?" I can assure you after the Hogs loss to Tennessee in the first round of the SEC Basketball Tournament questions will be raised. The criticism has been coming on Head Coach John Pelphrey all year long and is sure to keep coming after another 18-12 (7-9 SEC) season. Advertisements have been taken out in the state news paper. Blogs have ripped his coaching decisions, and online polls are not in his favor either. 

Each year Pelphrey has coached at U of A, the basketball attendance numbers have fallen, from more than 17,000 in his first year to just above 12,000 this season. And know that Arkansas has long time been a fan of their basketball Razorbacks, routinely packing Bud Walton... when the product is worth going to see.

The one saving grace for Pelphrey is the top ten recruiting class he has coming in next year, though how he convinced one recruit to commit could be the final nail in his coffin. The basketball program is under investigation for a recruiting violation for this years class. Though most likely a secondary violation it may be just enough fot Athletic Director Jeff Long to pull the trigger.

I am not saying he will be gone next year for sure, though he does have a lot against him at this point in the fight. Arkansas has a history of giving extra chances to struggling coaches. Danny Ford, Houston Nutt, Stan Heath sound familiar? What I am saying is either way there is a gaurantee of some madness this month in Arkansas, just not the good kind.

Ash Wednesday

Today at our table during the break between Neuroscience and Pedatrics Process we did not talk about wedding plans. Instead we discussed the troubles going on at The Ohio State University and Head Football Coach's current two game suspension, $250,000 fine, and whether or not knowing his star players were receiving benefits and lying about it to the NCAA is or is not a fireable offense. Maybe the sarcasm was laid on a little too thickly.

On a little different note, today was an important day in the life of the Christian church, Ash Wednesday. There was some discussion during some of our breaks about Ash Wednesday and Lent means. I was talking with a Catholic girl about the upcoming season, and a couple of other people overheard and did not understand why I, a Baptist, would have anything to do with Lent. For me, Lent is to Easter what Advent is to Christmas. You can not really appreciate one without the other. I explained to the small crowd beginning to gather around Ash Wednesday and Lent are not "Catholic holidays," but instead means by which we all can prepare our hearts for what comes after the forty days, the greatest of all Christian holidays, Easter.

For Lent I have decided to give up Facebook. It is not that I have become compulsive, as some of my friends have, about checking it, but that I know there are better ways to spend my time. Instead of concentrating my efforts to my communication with God. First Baptist Church of Gainesville is putting an emphasis on prayer,. I think by giving up Facebook it will give me a few extra minutes a day to work on my communication skills with God. I want to be more adamant in doing so. I want to be more of someone who is comfortable with praying with and for someone.

The above picture was taken from my home church First Baptist Church Rome. My Dad explained it to me like this, "One candle will be extinguished each week leading up to Holy Week. The Christ Candle will be  extinguished at the close of the Maundy Thursday service. It is sort of like a reverse Advent but is supposed to portray the darkness that is gathering around us as Lent progresses."

NFL Lockout... Maybe

When looking at the current meetings involving the NFL Players Association and the NFL I have to admit I side more with the players. In the end, it is not important to me which side wins. It is important that there is football to watch in the fall (especially for my Dad who just added another 15 sports channels to their cable package, one of which is the NFL Network).

Player Retirement Benefits- Did you know the average NFL player on average lives almost 20 years less than the average American male? Based on the previous collective bargaining agreement a player who plays in the NFL six years is given 300 dollars a month in retirement. I know most say "pro players make too much money anyways", but those suffering from injuries they sustained during their playing days deserve proper medical attention. (That's the OT coming out in me.)

Rookie Wage Scale- In no other business are salaries skewed to new employees like it is in the NFL. High draft picks along with many of the rookies make more than veterans. They have not proven their worth to the league. Can you imagine if this was the case in the business world? College graduates, or at least those that could find jobs, would be paid millions of dollars more than those that have spent their entire careers working? Veterans deserve their "raises" from the stingy owners.

18 Game Schedule- This is the one issues in which every player agrees, keeping a 16 game schedule instead of moving to an 18 game one. It is also a bargaining point in which the owners will give up. Currently the players would not make any more money but would be subjecting themselves more chances to an injury in an increasingly violent game.

It all boils down to the NFL team owners giving up a little bit of money, which they would make back easily due to the popularity of the league. The money is there and will keep on coming. Is it worth the health of the players for the money?

Fat Tuesday

I am back to school this week and living today up large before the Lenten season is underway, enjoying all of the benefits that come with being the only male at an all girls university. To keep my sanity I oftentimes come to the library during my breaks to catch up on the sports world. read ESPN.com, SI.com, and a number of blogs about what is going on in the SEC, instead of reading over Anatomy or Neuroscience notes.  A couple of "notes" I've read today...

- In NFL news, other than that of the collective bargaining agreement (thought on this to come soon), former cornerback and current TV analyst Tiki Barber is coming back to the NFL next year. At least he pulled the trigger on his retirement once by actually retiring, Brett Farve. But really... How effective is a 35 year old, running back, a position reliant on speed and power, who has been out of the game for 4 years going to be? Will he even be picked up as a free agent? Maybe he can tag team with former New York Giants teammate WR Plaxico Buress who plans to return to football from his two year hiatus, which he spent in jail for shooting himself in the foot at a night club.

-The late Arkansas OL Brandon Bullsworth's name came out yesterday on the College Football Hall of Fame Ballot. Bullsworth, known for his distinct black glasses, was a walk-on for the Razorbacks that eventually earned himself a scholarship and a spot on the AP All-America second team by his senior season. He was killed in a car accident days after being selected in the first round by the Indianapolis Colts.

-There are a number of Newton ''Cam"eras following the Heisman winner at Auburn's pro day this afternoon. Is ESPN going too far in their coverage of college football? SEC fans would argue they aren't even coming close. Televised workouts, a signing day focusing on the hottest conference in all the land, four spring games televised, and a weekly show in ESPNU? Yeah.. it's a start. Keep the coverage coming.

-Turns out Ohio State Head Coach Jim Tressel knew and Buckeye officials knew about five of their players receiving benefits in exchange for autographed memorabilia eight months before the NCAA announced the suspension of the players from the first five games of next season.

-Ryan Mallet's response to not running the 40 yard dash at Arkansas's pro day earlier today, "I'm not Michael Vick. Everyone knows that." Sounds like the interview skills are improving.

Sorry for no basketball talk in the middle of March. I'll work on that.

I Got "Stoned" on Spring Break

I know it has been over a week since I have written and those close to me, particularly my father, have been wanting me to post. I started my spring break with a much needed trip to Birmingham last weekend. It is always so good to go back and see familiar faces and places. Because I have not been back in 2011 I had a lot of catching up to do and thanks to some friends getting plans rolling I was able to see everyone but one person I wanted to while I was there. The one guy had to flu and I did not want to be sick all Spring Break. So I cut my losses and headed home Sunday after church.

I mean who wants to be sick on their Spring Break, the one week nothing is due, until the end of April? Who wants to spend an entire morning in excruciating pain and an afternoon in the hospital? Who wants to still have pain coming and going for the rest of his break, even if he is on a strict regimen of pain pills? I never wanted to, but that is what my Spring Break looks like now... I got kidney "stoned" on Spring Break 2011 (This was a tweet I used when I was leaving the hospital, and I am not sure people who read it realized the pun).

The pain started just after 10:00 AM yesterday morning. It would come and go about every thirty minutes, providing me some tough bouts with my inards. The pain would bring me to my knees and to the point of vomiting. Around 12:45 PM. I finally gave up trying to convince myself the pain would pass and called Pops who came and picked me up and we went to the hospital. Luckily for me, the staff at Floyd Medical Center got me in quickly and I was hooked up to some drugs. X-Rays and CT scans were taken and the doctor said I had a kidney stone.

I am always trying to make light of any situation and these are snip-its of me trying to do that while I had a saline IV, and on a little bit of pain medicine (which if you have ever heard stories of when I got my wisdom teeth out you know could be dangerous):

-The nurses asked did I cry? I of course told them, "No, I am a man!" Luckily they laughed a little bit. All jokes aside, it really did hurt.

-Just before drawing blood a nurse wrapped a band around my biceps. I asked her if the band was going to be big enough. She didn't get the joke.... which made it even more embarrassing to tell her it was a joke about the size of my bicep.

-I tried to tell the nurse my college roommate's cell phone number as my social security, luckily the parents were there.

There are more I am sure but I was doped up so I have an excuse not to remember them all. I am home now waiting for the stone to pass, but want to say thank you to my parents. My Dad for picking me up, racing through town, only to sit in the ER with me for four hours. To my Mom, who also felt under the weather, getting my medicines in order and taking care of me as I came off of the drugs from the hospital. I am grateful for a caring church family who sent text messages, called, and emailed all of my family concerned for my health.

To quote my father, "I am ready for the stone to be rolled away and it's not even Lent yet!"

Happy Birthday Mama

First and foremost let me wish the happiest of days to my sweet mother as we celebrate another year of her life. Thanks to all of her guidance, listening, and "Mama" meals she has given to me throughout my 23 years. You are the best mother there is around. Others may say that, but that is because they never had the opportunity to have you as their own. But really, there is not a better one and I thank you for being who you are and have been to me since 10/09/1987.

P.s. Sorry we may hold off on the Provino's dinner tonight.