August 28th MLB Power Rankings

After slacking for almost a month with no power rankings I am back. A lot has changed and some things have become clear while others are still up for grabs. Should be a stressful but fun September.

1908! 1908! 1908...

No.	Team	Last Week
1.	Cubs 83-50- This team just keep on rolling with the best record in Baseball. Rich Harden is 4-1 with a 1.47 ERA since coming to the Cubs.	3
2.	Angles 80-52-Just 12-12 in August people have been jumping off this bandwagon. Id like to see some of you stay motivated with a 15 game lead in August. They will be fine come October.	1
3.	Rays 81-51- They have lost Longoria, Crawford and Percival and not missed a beat. I am not sure if they can go to the World Series but I would not want to see them in the first round.	4
4.	Red Sox 77-56- Since the trade deadline the Sox have gone 16-8 and Jason Bay has 24 RBIs to Manny’s 21. Id say job well done by Theo Epstein.	2
5.	Brewers 77-56- Since getting swept by the Cubs they have played to a 17-7 record. They should get the Wild Card and I really wouldn’t want to see Sabathia and Sheets in a short series.	6
6.	Mets 74-60- They lead the league in Runs scored from the 1-6 inning but are just 28th from the 7th on. I can only imagine how many wins they would have if the bullpen was even solid.	7
7.	White Sox 76-57- I guess I was wrong about this team. Carlos Quentin and Jermaine Dye are atop the AL Home Run list. The pitching has held up better than I expected.	8
8.	Twins 75-58- They brought back Everyday Eddie Guardado to help bolster a bullpen that has been struggling. Francisco Liriano has been dominant since returning to the majors.	9
9.	Phillies 73-60- Since getting swept by the Dodgers they have gone 9-3. With all that said, Chase Utley has not looked like himself and Pat Burrell has been bad in the month of August. They will miss out on the playoffs.	11
10.	Cardinals 74-60- They are not dead yet in the Wild Card but its going to be tough to catch the Brewers. Tony LaRussa proved once again how great of a manager he is by keeping a mediocre team at best in the race for a playoff spot.	10
11.	Yankees 71-62- What can Derek Jeter do that Tiger Woods cannot? Play golf in October!	5
12.	Marlins 68-66- They faded in August play 10-15 Baseball, but 2008 has been a very successful season for this young bunch.	13
13.	Diamondbacks 68-65 – Randy Johnson is pitching well and this is a scary top 3 to face in the first round. Adam Dunn was a much needed acquisition for this lineup.	16
14.	Blue Jays 68-65- Roy “Doc” Halladay and A.J Burnett are tied for 2nd in the AL for Wins. If they can resign Burnett this is a great base to build on for 09.	15
15.	Astros 68-66- Roy Oswalt is up to his usual tricks going 5-1 with a 3.00 ERA since the break. They have played much better Baseball, but I still don’t understand the Randy Wolf move!	23
16.	Rangers 66-68- The lineup continues to carry them to a run at a .500 record, but did you know the two highest paid players on this team are starting pitchers (Padilla & Millwood).	14
17.	Indians 65-67- They have run off 10 in a row and are 24-13 since the break. Look out for them in 2009.	26
18.	Dodgers 65-69 – By the time you read this Torre’s bunch may have been swept by the Nats. This is NOT a playoff team even in the NL JV.	17
19.	Tigers 64-69- Boy was I wrong about this team. I think Tiger ownership needs to look at Jimmy Leyland and decide if he deserves to be manager in 09.	12
20.	Rockies 63-72 – They are only 6 back after that dreadful first half. Maybe, just maybe, they have enough to make another run…but I doubt it.	22
21.	Orioles 63-70- Aubrey Huff is having a monster season in Baltimore but no one is noticing.	19
22.	A’s- After an injury to Justin Duchscherer thy have been running out a rotation of 5 lefties. Only Billy Beane could pull that off.	18
23.	Giants 59-74- Remember when they didn’t want Tim Lincecum to start in the All Star game because they were in a “pennant race….” HAHAHHAAH	27
24.	Reds 58-76- They have just 12 wins since the break. Building on Votto, Bruce, Phillips, Volquez and Cueto is a nice thought for their future.	24
25.	Braves 59-75- This is the worst team Bobby Cox has managed in Atlanta. There are a few guys in the everyday lineup that are barely major leaguers.	25
26.	Pirates 57-76- They had a shot at winning 75 games until they traded the team away at the deadline and have just 6 wins since than. Nate McLouth and Ryan Doumit are too good for this team and officially on the block for July 31, 2009.	21
27.	Royals 56-77 – Just when they had a shot at not finishing in last the Indians go 10-0 and they go 1-9.	20
28.	Padres 51-82- Adrian Gonzalez is still raking but the rest of this lineup stinks. They need to improve the lineup if they want to compete in 09.	28
29.	Mariners 50-83- The only team in Baseball that has been mathematically eliminated. Bad job not trading Ibanez.	29
30.	Nationals 49-85-…	30

The Giants: A Fan's Preview

Well, now that G and I have gone over all the teams in the NFL, I'm going to give one final preview. I'm going to cover my beloved New York Giants. For the most part, I actually agree with almost everything G said, and you're going to see a lot of reiteration. Still, i have to come out with my own outlook on how Big Blue will perform this season. Look for G's outlook on the Jets to come soon too.

I'm going to start with the offense and coaching before I delve into the situation with Osi and Strahan. The offense coming back this year is largely the same as last season's. The offensive line hasn't changed, the quarterback is the same, as are the running backs. The biggest change to note is the loss of Jeremy Shockey. While I agree with management that Shockey had to go, I think it is going to be a big loss to the Giants. Shockey was reliable, consistent, and a terrific blocker. Not just run blocking either, Shockey was found blocking on every downfield pass play as well. His abilities will be sorely missed, and while I know a lot of Giants' fans like Boss, but make no mistake he lacks the talents that Shockey brought to this club. He is nowhere near the blocker that 80 was, and his pass-catching ability leave a bit to be desired. He drops the ball. Shockey's ego no longer fit in with the new mentality of the club, but make no mistake there will be a hole on this team.

You're telling me this isn't the greatest picture ever?


The wide receiver corps does get better though. Plaxico Burress is still one of the best receivers in football, even if his contract doesn't back that up. Amani Toomer is another year older, but well-dressed never lets Giants fans down with his footwork and catching ability. Steve Smith is the man to watch out of Giants camp. The USC alum is talented, and proved that during the Giants' Super Bowl run. I'm looking for big things out of Steve Smith this season, and training camp reports showed a lot of the same. Other notables out of the massive Giants' receiving corps include Domenik Hixon, Sinorice Moss, Mario Manningham, and the hero, David Tyree. Tyree will be starting the season on the PUP list, and unfortunately I don't see a long term relationship forming here. Hixon does the same things that Tyree does, just better. Hixon has been dazzling coaches in camp, and he was extremely impressive in the Giants preseason game against the Browns' first team. Look for Hixon to get some good looks in, and watch for him in kick returns, the guy is pure speed. Sinorice Moss has been a bit of a disappointment, and a lot of people are hoping for him to come through with all of his promised ability. He and Mario Manningham spent a good portion of training camp on the injured list, so I don't expect to see a lot of them early in the season. The last few days have seen a promising outlook on Manningham's career though. Coaches are saying he has the playbook down inside and out, and has a great head for the game. He knows where he is on the field, and what to do in different situations. I love guys like that, and I have hope that Manningham will be here for the long haul.

As for Eli Manning, there are a few question marks. People around me know my feelings on Python-10 (The Python-5 is a ground to air rocket..hence the nickname for Eli), I love the guy. I've been supporting him since he was drafted, even when things weren't looking so great. Eli's playoff run was one of the keys to this team going to the Super Bowl. The biggest critique of Eli's game so far, has been his inability to avoid drive-killing interceptions. The playoff run saw Eli throw one pick, and not until the Super Bowl itself. If he is able to bring that form back that we saw in January last year, I think it will be a very good year for Giants' fans. Personally, I think this is the year everything comes together for Eli. He showed what he was about last year, and there's no reason to believe he can't maintain the level he was at. Especially considering that this offensive line is one of the best in football, the receivers are top notch, and the running game is one of the better groups in the league.

A lot of people are hitting the panic button regarding the defense. I'm not. Look, any time you lose Osi Umenyiora and Michael Strahan in one shot, yeah its worrysome. Still, I think that Justin Tuck is the bigger feature between he and Osi. He's a little more versatile, and a bit stronger I believe, and I think he will explode as one of the better ends in football. Kiwanuka, who is moving in to replace Osi, is young but good. Giant fans will remember him from his rookier year, when we were platooning him and Tuck with Osi and Strahan. I think he's a better end than he ever was as a linebacker, and I'm not freaking out just yet over the line. Barry Cofield and Fred Robbins are getting better at the defensive tackle position. We will be a little weak against the run, but our pass rush will be just fine. The secondary looks better than it has ever before. Corey Webster stepped up last season after losing his starting job, and played so well that the Giants had to give it back to him. He's a good guy to have on the team, and opposite the beast known as Aaron Ross, things are looking good at the cornerback position. At safety the Giants have a lot of options. Rookie Kenny Phillips is hitting the snot out of people, and I can't wait to see him lay people out. The starting job isn't his yet as a competition continues with Butler (Coughlin calls him steady eddie because he's so consistent). The other safety spot is filled by longtime vet, Sammy Knight. He's old but we know what we're getting out of him.

I don't think the Giants are going to win the division. On paper, the Cowboys are just too good. The G-Men should still be able to pull off 10-12 wins, depending on their consistency and the performance of a questionable group of linebackers. If the Cowboys stumble out of the gate though, things can start to crumble in Big D. There are a lot of questionable characters down there, and a coach who isn't exactly dominating in the locker room. It's looking like the Giants are going to have to do things the hard way again, but that's what Road Warriors do.

P.S. 14-6 > 18-1

Premier League Power Rankings

Round two is now behind us, and we had another week of good upsets. Only two teams remain at 100%, and one of them was nearly knocked out of the Champions League by a Belgian side. Here we go:

1. Chelsea - 4 Points
Last Week- 1
Not as convincing a win as they had over Portsmouth in the opener. Those 1-0 games away to Wigan, are the games that win Championships, though. Also, Deco is looking tremendous.



2. Liverpool- 6 Points
Last Week- 5
It was a squeaker at home against Middlesbrough, but points are points. At the end of the season if you get them in the first minute or last minute, doesn't matter. Not completely sold on the team yet, and Gerrard's injury will be huge. Interesting game this weekend against Villa.

3. Newcastle United - 4 Points
Last Week- 7
1-0 at home against Bolton doesn't exactly light the world on fire, but it does the job. They must keep James Milner if they want to continue to play well, he is the glue that holds this club together. We see if they are for real this weekend when they go down to the Emirates to take on Arsenal.

4. Manchester United- 4 Points
Last Week- 8
Good win at Portsmouth for a team that is still playing shorthanded. They'll be back to full strength soon, and watch out when they are. They're off this weekend because they play the UEFA SuperCup on Friday.

5. Blackburn Rovers- 4 Points
Last Week- 3
A draw at home aganist Hull City? That's not going to exactly cut it for me. Does that draw mean that Hull are good, or Blackburn are bad? And what does it say about Everton who lost to Blackburn last week?

6. Hull City- 4 Points
Last Week- 9
I wrote last week that 9 was the highest this team would be, and I guess I was wrong. Maybe I'm completely wrong about this team. Great story to follow though, in the league, and I hope they keep it up.

7. Aston Villa- 3 Points
Last Week- 2
Well, Villa can apparently score plenty of goals. They've scored 6 in their first two matches. Unfortunately, they can also let plenty of goals in, they've let 5 past. That's not going to do it. Tough game against a Gerrard-less Liverpool this weekend, plenty of Gareth Barry related drama for all.

8. Manchester City- 3 Points
Last Week- 14
So, they're out of money, but they still were able to sign Kompany and then today bring in Shaun Wright-Phillips. I guess that makes sense? Either way, it looks like Thailand is going to let Thaksin Shinawatra go, so City should be just fine. I think they rescued the season just in time, it will be a good year on the blue side of Manchester.



9. Middlesbrough- 3 Points
Last Week- 11
I guess I have to give this team its proper due. They beat Spurs in the opener, and they had Liverpool beat for most of the match last weekend until, Liverpool was able to steal it in the last 15 minutes. I feel terrible for them, but they seem to be doing alright with each other. Should be able to pick up an easy 3 against Stoke.

10. Sunderland- 3 Points
Last Week- 13
They gave Liverpool a run for their money in the opener, and beat Spurs at White Hart Lane last weekend. Couldn't ask for more from your boys if you are Roy Keane. This team will be one of those clubs nobody wants to face this year. They play hard for 90 minutes, and they all buy into their manager's philosophy.

11. Fulham - 3 Points
Last Week- 20
Craven Cottage was electric for the win over Arsenal. Danny Murphy is a tremendous talent, saved the League Cup for them yesterday, and looks like the only ray of light on an otherwise dreary team. They don't really belong here, but I just wanted to put them over the next team.

12. Arsenal- 3 Points
Last Week- 4
AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! A loss to Fulham? Are you serious? 1 goal in the first two games? That cannot be for real. What happened to Arsene Wenger's beautiful football? No Cesc Fabregas in the lineup, this team isn't the same. It's going to be a difficult season for the Gunners.




13. Everton- 3 Points
Last Week- 15
A win is a win. I still have a few concerns about Everton, their performance so far have left a bit to be desired. Still, can't knock a team for winning a game on the road, even if it was against West Brom.

14. Bolton- 3 Points
Last Week- 10
I'm sure they would have liked to have left Newcastle with a point in hand, but they kept it to 0-1. I'm not sure where the goals are going to come from for Bolton Wanderers, but this year they have an easy one at home against West Brom.

15. West Ham United- 3 Points Last Week- 6
Last week's placing might have been a bit overstated, seeing as they only beat Wigan. They took a real drubbing at Eastlands from the hands of a rejuvenated Manchester City. They look like the type of team that will be up and down all season, it will be tough to go to Upton Park, but that's about it.

16. Wigan Atheltic- O Points
Last Week- 17
I know, they lost another game and I moved them up a spot. They are the unluckiest team in football though. They deserved a point against Chelsea, and they should have pulled a draw against West Ham the week previous. They go up to undefeated Hull City this weekend, in what really is a must win game for Steve Bruce.

17. Stoke City- 3 Points
Last Week- 19
Nice win over Aston Villa. I chalk it up to Villa's poor play though, not Stoke's good play. They are the worst of the teams with points, and they are probably worse than a few of the teams without points. If they pull something at Middlesbrough this weekend, they get a little bit of credit.

18. Tottenham Hotspur- 0 Points
Last Week- 12
What the hell is going on in North London? Spurs picked up Pavlychenko this week, aka the guy not named Arshavin from Zenit. They still haven't unloaded Dimitar Berbatov and are threatening to play him in the reserves. What are they thinking over there? They need to find goals, and fast.



19. West Bromwich Albion- 0 Points
Last Week- 18
Tough to peg where this team should be exactly. You'd like to see them with points, because they are better than Hull or Stoke, but their schedule hasn't really allowed for it yet. They get a shot this weekend against Bolton, and need to come out of there with a draw to keep alive in the relegation battle.

20. Portsmouth- 0 Points
Last Week- 16
I can't kill them because they've played Chelsea and United so far. Still, 0 goals in 2 outings isn't exactly positive. They miss Sully Muntari, and I'm not so sure about some of the preseason hype surrounding the south coast of England.

PineCast Vol. 3

The latest and greatest edition of the PineCast is available now. Check over on the left hand column and you will see the PineCast Vol. 3 and 3a up. In the new editions, G and I go over our NFL Preview, and give our predictions as to how the NFL will finish up this season. There's also a surprise guest at the end of one of the episodes. So listen, enjoy, and let us know what you think by leaving your comments at the bottom of this thread. Also, we're still trying to fill up that PineRiders Fantasy League. Get some work buddies, family members, we don't care. Let's get a good league out there. Again, the draft is on Tuesday, September, 2 at 9pm. Thanks for listening and reading everybody.

Top 10 Pitchers of My Lifetime-8. David Cone

Year IP W ERA SO 1988 231.3 20 2.22 213 1994* 171.1 16 2.94 132 1998 207.7 20 3.55 209

8. David Cone 1986-2003 Royals Mets Blue Jays Yankees & Red Sox

5 World Series

5 All Star Appearances

1 CY Young Award

2 NL Strikeout Leader

Deciding between Cone and Hershiser for the 8 spot was one of the most difficult decisions to make for the list. The tricky thing about David Cone is the fact that he doesn’t have a really dominant stretch and nothing really jumps out at you when looking at his numbers. It took me thinking long and hard to realize exactly what makes David Cone a very good pitcher, and there are a few reasons that I found.

The first thing that made Coney an appealing choice for this list is the consistency throughout the course of his career. When using that adjective to describe a pitcher, one is usually using it to for a mediocre player who has a few bright moments (it’s similar to describe an ugly person by saying they have a nice personality). However Coney was consistently very good and consistently one of the best in the league. From his first full season starting until almost his 37^th birthday Cone had an ERA 3.5 or lower and was double digits in wins in 11 of those 13 seasons (two season were because he was under 15 starts). Coney also became 1 of 17 pitchers in Major League history to toss a Perfect Game.

Not only was David able to remain consistently very good for all those years, he was able to peak at two different times in his career. Early on with the Mets Cone had some of his best statistical season registering 80 wins and 1159 strikeouts in 165 starts (that’s 8.75 K/9). Cone was then able to remain consistently good, and then peak again later on in his career with the Yankees. Discounting the 2000 season, which was when Coney clearly started to lose it, he put together a four year run with the Bronx Bombers that included 60 wins and 768 strikeouts in 766 starts (that’s 9 K/9).

Coney run with the Yankees is what really put him over the top as one of the best 10 in the last 25 years, and this reason goes beyond numbers. Anyone who reads my stuff knows that postseason ability is something that is very important for me in determining greatness. Now you can look at David’s stats in the postseason and be impressed: 8-3 with a 3.8 ERA, and 2-0 with a 2.12 in the World Series.

Stats, however, is not where I will decide to look for Coney big game grit. Instead I will go a different route and ask all you just one question: What team was the best dynasty in the last 30 years? If you answered anyone other than the 96-00 Yankees, I would love to hear an intelligent reason why. The next question I want to ask is: Who was the best starting pitcher on those Yankee teams year after year? Sure many will answer Andy Pettitte was the “true Yankee” or Clemens was the best pitcher to wear the pinstripes. In reality though Cone was truly the best pitcher the Yankees had from the moment they got him in 1995-1999 (once again I leave out the 2000 season because he was at the end of his rope). In those years Coney was either the leader or close to the leader (.4) in ERA and only Pettitte had more wins (81-60) in 43 more starts.

Coney’s ability to be very good over the course of his career along with his postseason ability and his Perfect Game is something not to be overlooked. However the one thing that put him over the top for me was the fact that he was the best pitcher on the best team in baseball for a 5 year stretch. For these reasons David Cone should be known as one of the best pitchers of his time.

* Strike Shortened Season

NFL Preview: NFC East

Finally the NFC East preview is here and I have been waiting all week for it. This division is the class of the Conference sending three teams to the playoffs the last two years. Of course the defending Super Bowl champs and the team with the best record in the Conference play in the East and should make for some interesting competition. There are some really good football teams in the East, but one will stand above the rest in 2008.
Here is how it will play out....


4. Washington Redskins (Bodog Over/Under 7.5)
Under. I don't know why but I can just never take this team seriously and this year is no different. The Skins were very successful in 07 with a strong defense and a game controlling run game. In 2008 the key component to their success will be Quarterback Jason Campbell. Campbell is beginning his 3rd year in the league and coming off his first as full time starter. Even though the rookie missed the final 3 games of the season because of injury he took a step in the right direction. Jason tossed for 2700 yards and 12 TDs with 11 INTs and was a good manager of the game for the Skins. However in 2008 Campbell is learning Jim Zorn's west coast offense and will be relied upon to make more plays. The question for the 2008 season is simple: Can Jason Campbell take the next step and lead the Redskins deep into the playoffs?

The bulk of the offense last season came from running back Clinton Portis. Portis was the work horse for the Skins, leading the league in rushing attempts with 325, and helped control the pace of the game. Portis is entering his 7th NFL season and has accumulated 1200 + yards in 5 of his first 6. He will play a big role in the new west coast offense in 08 and is one of the most consistent RBs in the NFL. The weakness of this offense is the lack of a consistent WR. Santana Moss is a great deep threat, but he is suited more toward a # 2 or a slot, instead of the #1 he has with Washington. Moss has not gone over 1,000 yards or 65 receptions in the past two seasons and that is the problem. Moss has not shown the ability to be a 90 reception go to guy since 05 and will need to be that to help add consistency to the Skins offense in 08. Chris Cooley is a nice option in the red zone and will look to play another big role for Washington.

On the defensive side of the ball this team was very good last season. Washington ranked 8th over all and 4th against the run and the biggest reason for this was MLB London Fletcher. Fletcher was an animal in the middle of the field racking up 128 tackles. He was helped by rookie safety LaRon Landry who showed he has the ability to be a star who can play both the run and pass. The rest of the pass defense is anchored around pass rushing DE Andre Carter and veteran CB Shawn Springs. Of course the loss of long time defensive coordinator Gregg Williams will be something that could hurt this unit.

Overall the Skins have a solid running game and a good defense, but I feel like something is missing from this team. If Campbell has a big year this team could be back in the playoffs, but I would not expect that if I were a fan of the Redskins.

Prediction: 7-9

3. Philadelphia Eagles (Bodog Over/Under 8.5)
Over. There is one goal in the city of Philadelphia in 2008 and that is a goal that as alluded them for many years now...a championship. The Eagles believe they are good enough to make a run back to the Super Bowl, and like many other teams in the NFC, their success greatly depends on the Quarterback position. That Quarterback is none other than now veteran Donovan McNabb who could be gearing up for his last run at a title. McNabb, who was once one of the best QBs in the game, has been slowed by injuries each of the last 3 season. Donovan will look to get back to the form that led him to 4 straight NFC Championship games and one Super Bowl.

The biggest weapon for Donovan in the offense is undoubtedly RB Brian Westbrook. Westbrook is a running back that is perfect for Andy Reid's video game approach to offense. Brian is a unique talent because he has the ability to burn defenses on the ground as well as in the passing game. Brian totaled 1300 yards rushing on just 278 attempts (4.8 YPC) and 770 yards on 90 receptions in 2007 and will be one of the most important pieces of the Eagles offense in 2008. The problem with the offense will be the same it has been for practically a decade in Philly...lack of any play makers at the WR position. There are a collection of guys looking to take the number one job such as Kevin Curtis, Reggie Brown, Jason Avant and Greg Lewis. The problem is all of these players are barely starters in the NFL and are not the kind of weapons that McNabb needs.

Defensively it really does not matter who plays for the Eagles as D Coordinator Jimmy Johnson is the star of the show. Johnson is one of the best defensive minds in Football and always has the Eagles at the top of the league's defensive rankings. Johnson is very aggressive and loves to send disguised blitzes from every direction on almost every down. If Johnson wants to be successful with his aggressive style, he needs to have good cover corners, and that is just what the Eagles have. The best of the bunch, Asante Samuel, came via the free agent route in the off season and is a big time DB. On the other side Sheldon Brown and Lito Sheppard will battle it out for the starting job. Whoever wins the job will be deserving and the other player will be add great depth and strong nickel package. Last but not least is the dirtiest player in the game Brian Dawkins. Dawkins is a hard hitting veteran who can be one of Johnson's blitzers as well as drop back in coverage and run with any player in the game. This defense will do very well at stopping the run and be the strength of the Eagles in 2008.

Look for a bounce back year from Donovan McNabb and the Eagles on a whole. Donovan is healthy and motivated and knows his productive years are numbered. With help from his pro bowl RB, Brian Westbrook, McNabb should lead his team back to the playoffs, but will fall short of his goal of getting back to the Super Bowl.


Prediction: 9-7

2. New York Giants (Bodog Over/Under 8.5)
Over. Entering the 2008 NFL season, the defending Super Bowl Champion New York Giants are the most misunderstood team in the NFL. I have heard everything from "The Giants will win the Super Bowl again" to "The Giants were a fluke and are a .500 team at best." Both of these statements are very wrong as the Giants will be somewhere in the middle of that. The biggest loss for this team was the retirement of their Hall of Fame DE Michael Strahan. Strahan was not only the leader of the defense, but was a very important part of the play on the field as well. The biggest reason for the Giants success in 2007 was the play of the defensive line, and that was anchored by #92. Without Strahan and Osi Umenyiora, who just suffered under went season ending surgery, the Giants pass rush will not be the same in 08. Justin Tuck is a talent that will be counted on greatly to replace these guys , but many believe his play came because of the double team that Strahan would always command.

On offense the Giants are full of weapons, but their biggest may be the offensive line. We all know that the key to any championship caliber team is the play in the trenches, and while the defensive line may be a question mark, the offensive line is as good as it gets. The line will be protecting Eli Manning who will look to build upon his Super Bowl MVP and become one of the elite QBs in the game. The problem with Eli is his consistency over the course of a game. I cannot remember another QB who could look so bad in one half of play and then look so good in the next. All that aside though, Manning was able to lead the Giants to the promised land last season and will be one of the better QBs in 2008. His primary target is Plaxico Burress who has had double digits in TD grabs over the last two season. Burress is a great weapon both down the field and over the middle on big 3rd down plays. Helping Plax in the receiving corp will be the very well dressed veteran Amani Toomer. Toomer is a veteran who is very consistent and a reliable target for Manning. A key loss to the passing game will be Jeremy Shockey, and I think Giants fans will realize how much they miss him as the season goes on.

The running game is full of options and seems to have the perfect mix and power. Brandon Jacobs will carry the load and is an absolute animal. He will look to use his power running style to help setup the big play ability of Ahmad Bradshaw. Ahmad will looked to be used as the home run hitting back once Jacobs has tired out the defense. Derrick Ward will be the second option to Jacobs and proved to be very consistent running to a 4.8 YPC average in just 8 games in 07.

Aside from the defensive line, this team has great strength in the secondary. The young pair of Aaron Ross and Corey Webster is one of the best in the game and both will look to take their careers to the next step in 08. Of course the loss of Osi and Strahan could prove to hurt the young Corners if the Giants cannot find a way to generate a pass rush.

The loss of Osi was huge for the Giant team and could hurt their chances of making another deep run in the playoffs. They do however have enough talent on both sides of the ball to win games and will be one of the better teams in the NFC in 2008.


Prediction: 10-6

1. Dallas Cowboys (Bodog Over/Under 10.5)
Over. The Cowboys are one of the top three teams in the NFL and are loaded with talent on both sides of the ball. The big question in 2008 will of course revolve around coach Wade Phillips and his ability to take an NFL team deep into the playoffs. Phillips has been a very successful coach in the regular season posting a career record of 61-42 with 4 playoff appearances. The problem is Phillips is 0-4 in those playoffs games and many believe he is too soft and does not have what it takes to lead a team to a Super Bowl.

The Cowboys however are built to win a Super Bowl, and this may be something that even Wade may not be able to avoid. On offense they will be led by their star QB Tony Romo. Romo is coming off a season in which he threw for 4200 yards and 36 TDs, which believe it or not was his first full year as a starter. Romo has a reputation of not being able to win a playoff game, but people tend to forget that he has started 1 1/2 seasons in the NFL. Romo is full of talent and will drop that reputation this year as he leads the Boys deep into the post season. The two players who will help Romo in the passing game are Terrell Owens and Jason Witten, and they may be the best in the league at their respective positions. Owens is a freak who has the power to go over the middle and the speed to beat any corner deep. Witten is a great pass catching Tight End who is coming off an 1,100 yard season, undoubtedly the best of his career.

The running game will be led by Marion Barber and this kid is an absolute stud. After taking the job as primary RB from Julius Jones in 2007, Barber ran for 975 yards on just 204 attempts (a 4.8 YPC average) and 10 touchdowns. Now that Jones is gone, Barber is ready to take over the starting role and will be a pro bowl runner in 08. To go along with Barber, the Cowboys drafted Felix Jones in the first round of the 2008 draft. Jones expects to be the perfect compliment to Barber as he is lighting fast and has the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield. By the middle of the season, this will be the most feared backfield in the NFC.

On defense Jerry Jones took some risks in the off season by acquiring two guys with a load of talent but issues off the field. Tank Johnson and Adam Jones both have had their share of run ins with the law, but if they can stay on the field they will be two very important parts of this unit. Jones is a great cover corner who has the ability to lock down most WRs in man coverage and Tank provides an intensity that is unmatched. The Cowboys also brought on board MLB Zach Thomas in what will prove to be a very smart move. Many feel Thomas was done after missing most of 2007 with injuries, but from watching this guy in the AFC East for so many years, I can tell you that he is not.

To go along with Jones , Thomas and Williams, the Cowboys will be returning Terence Newman, DeMarcus Ware, Roy Willams and Greg Ellis. All of those players are former pro bowlers and will make up the core of a very strong defense in 2008.

I do not see a weakness in this team and I really don't know if any team will be able to keep pace with them. The Cowboys are loaded with talent and will make a run at their another Super Bowl appearance in 2008.

Prediction: 14-2

NFL Preview: AFC East

4. Miami Dolphins (Bodog Over/Under: 5.5)
Under.. They won't be as bad as they were last season, but they're not any good either. Chad Pennington gives them a much needed presence at quarterback. Pennington is the best quarterback to wear a Dolphins jersey since Dan Marino. (Wow, it's odd writing and reading that sentence) The team does boast a few weapons on the offensive side of the ball. Ronnie Brown comes into the season with a lot of people wondering whether or not his knee will be able to hold. Fortunately for Dolphins fans, it doesn't really matter because Ricky Williams is back in town . From every account out of camp, Ricky has looked tremendous and is looking like the week 1 starter. There isn't anybody I'd categorize as a legitimate receiver threat, but Ted Ginn Jr. and Ernest Wilford are both better than people think, and it will be interesting seeing how they work out. Tony Sporano brought Anthony Fasano with him, and I wouldn't be shocked to see Chad utilize him to the best of his potential.

The defense will have a new look this season with Zach Taylor and Jason Taylor shipped out to Dallas and Washington, respectively. New head coach Tony Sporano has added a good amount of the Dallas roster to his new club. Akin Ayodele and Reggie Torbor should help bolster a defense that finished 23rd overall. Honestly, there isn't a tremendous amount for me to write about this club. They're rebuilding with the best man you can possibly rebuild with, Bill Parcells. They won't go from 1 win to 10 wins right away, but they are definitely heading in the right direction. An excellent two-headed running attack, a smart quarterback, and good coaching and management will lead this team down the right road.

Prediction: 4-12


3. Buffalo Bills (Bodog Over/Under: 7.5)

Under. I'll get more to the fortunes of the team in a minute, but first I want to discuss the real situation in Buffalo. The biggest story in Buffalo this year, will probably be the fact that two of their games will be played in Toronto. I can't help but point out that this move doesn't bode well for Bills' fans. If the team is saying now that Buffalo isn't a lucrative enough market, it's probably just going to go downhill from that point. With the NFL cap becoming less and less restrictive, as more money flows, the teams that play in smaller markets are going to find it very difficult to compete. First, it's hard to bring in the same amount of money that some of the other NFL markets are bringing in. The Bills are already admitting to the fact that Buffalo is not a legitimate professional sports market, and that makes it difficult enough to put the money out there to sign players. On top of that, Buffalo has to go above and beyond what a team like say San Diego, New York, or Dallas would have to pay, because of the undesirable living situation that Buffalo presents. I've had this theory regarding Green Bay for some time now, that once Brett Favre left the club, the team would struggle much the way Buffalo has since their early 90's Super Bowl runs. The Bills are putting the first steps towards leaving the city of Buffalo right now, make no mistake about it. Other teams in similar situations are going to find the same problems, unless the cap situation is re-adjusted. That will at least bring the playing field closer, but will still require Buffalo to make some very astute managerial decisions.

I was really surprised to see the Vegas line as high as 7.5. I really can't understand why. Marshawn Lynch is good, and I don't doubt that, but can a team compete in this league with one real back? His backups are unproven and relatively unknown. Couple that with the questionable talent of Trent Edwards, and I have no clue why Vegas thinks this team can win 7-8 games this year. Sure, they won 7 games last season, but Miami and the New York Jets are better and they have tough games against San Diego and at Jacksonville. They also have a rookie Big-Ten receiver starting opposite Lee Evans. Maybe a Buffalo fan can write in and tell my why this team is supposed to be good, because I just don't see it with this offense.

On the other side of the ball, things just get worse with last year's 31st ranked defense. The team allowed nearly 125 yards per game against the rush, and there is no way that a team can do that and expect to finish with a good record. The presence of Marcus Stroud, from Jacksonville, should help negate opponents' running game, as will the addition of Super Bowl Champion Kawika Mitchell (I had to do it). They will be good additions to one of the worst defenses in the NFL, but will not be enough to lift the Bills into the upper half. Dick Jauron is a solid coach, and he has limited resources to work with. The personnel just isn't there for Jauron & Co.

Prediction: 6-10


2. New York Jets (Bodog Over/Under:8)

J-E-T-S BRETT! BRETT! BRETT! BRETT! Over. This team wasn't as bad as their record last season. The 5-11 finish was a product of a bad quarterback situation, and a bad offensive line. Both of those problems have been addressed, and then some. Alan Faneca and Damien Woody bolster the shaky line, and the Jets also signed some guy from Green Bay to play quarterback. Lavernaeus Coles is a big-time receiver, and Jericho Cotchery has already developed a repoire with Favre. Brett got a lot of mediocre wide outs some big money, Cotchery and Coles actually have talent, so I look forward to seeing what Favre does with them. Thomas Jones's season last year, was completely unrepresentative of what the back is capable of doing. For a better look at what Jones can do with a decent line, take a look at his 3 years with Chicago. Jones made a living averaging over 4 yards per carry every season, and scored a touchdown for every 40 attempts (Jones had 22 touchdowns over his stay in Chicago). He has talent to spare, and I expect big things to come out of the Jets offense, but that's not even the best part of their game.

G's been talking up my ear about this Jets defense for some time now, and I didn't really buy it until this past Saturday's preseason game against the Giants. Now I know better than to put too much stock into a preseason game, but that Jets defense looked real sharp. The linebackers seemed to be on the same page as a secondary that was already top notch. Guys knew when to blitz, when to drop back in cover, and they were fast and athletic. Kris Jenkins looks like an absolute monster on the defensive line, and I would not want to be a running back going against him. Where the Jets lack talent on the ends, they have in spades in the linebacking group. David Harris, Eric Barton, and Calvin Pace are three really good linebackers. They're a versatile group straight out of the New England prototype. The secondary boasts Darelle Revis, a solid corner, and a talented safety in Kerry Rhodes. Expect good things to come from this group. They have the personnel, and Eric Mangini was no fluke in his first year. The guy knows football, he knows how to coach, and this team will be one of the tougher outs in the AFC Playoffs. One last note, if they come out of the gate 0-3, it doesn't mean I'm wrong. They have a tough start to the schedule away to Miami, hosting New England, and away to San Diego. The Jets have the right coaches and leadership, Mr. Favre, to keep the players' heads up and have them fighting to the last week of the season.


Prediction: 10-6

1. New England Patriots (Bodog Over/Under: 12.5)
Over. It's tough to get a read on Bill Bellichick and the Patriots. They were less than 3 minutes away from perfection last year, and I don't care who you are there is going to be a little bit of a hangover after that. As brilliant as Bellichick is, there has to be a few guys on this team who feel that there is an heir of entitlement to the team. Almost like teams have to lay down in front of them and give the game away. I don't think we see a repeat performance of Brady and Moss, I don't think the Patriots win 16 games. In fact, I think this team has seen its climax. That doesn't mean they won't still compete for a Super Bowl, but it's not going to come easy.

At some point the defensive issues on this team need to be addressed. They performed well for the first three quarters of last season, but towards the end of the regular season, and into the playoffs there were problems. The defense wore down, and that's natural because they are old. Teddy Bruschi, Junior Seau, Mike Vrabel, and Rodney Harrison are all on the wrong side of 30 at this point. The loss of Asante Samuel might be crippling to this defense. For the last few years I've been a big fan of Samuel, and I see him doing good things in Philadelphia. Ellis Hobbs steps up to take his place, and that is certainly a drop off. However, I also think that this year Adalius Thomas completely takes control of this defense. The best defensive player in football two years ago with 11 sacks from the linebacker spot, had a dropoff in output last season. This year we find out if he was really that good, or if he was benefitting from Ray Lewis and friends.

The offense doesn't have any new weapons to boast of this year, and have lost a target in Donte Stallworth. Welker was terrific last season coming out in the slot position. He was tough to cover because of his speed and size, and he always created a mismatch. This year he will be lining up as the second receiver option for Brady, and I don't think his output is anywhere near his numbers last season. If you ask me, I think Bellichick's gameplan last season was completely to set up this season, a heavy dose of Lawrence Maroney, LaMont Jordan, and Kevin Faulk. This team has nothing to worry about as far as winning the division, and they are still one of the three best teams in football, but I think they take a small step back this year.

Prediction: 13-3

BPL Pick 'Em

I didn't think to do my picks for the games last week, but here are this week's picks.

Liverpool v. Middlesbrough
No chance for Gareth Southgate's boys to go into Anfield and come out with a point. I like Liverpool to win, and win big. Time to prove that money on Robbie Keane was well spent. Liverpool 3- Middlesbrough 0

Newcastle v. Bolton
Newcastle shocked the world last week pulling a point out of Old Trafford. They played well in the game, too, it was a deserving point. I think the guys are buying into King Kev's philosophies, and the buys he made were solid. Bolton still stinks.
Newcastle 2- Bolton 1

The Esteemed Kevin Keegan



Stoke v. Aston Villa
Stoke's loss last week to Bolton was just the beginning of a long miserable season. Villa are trying to prove that they are the cream of the non-big-four crop. Bet on a full-strength Villa side. Stoke 1-Aston Villa 3

Tottenham v. Sunderland
Hmmm, really interesting matchup. Sunderland proved to be pretty tough to score against at home against Liverpool last week. Spurs struggled to do anything at the Riverside, and came home emptyhanded. Tottenham doesn't want to be left with one point out of their first two matches, so look for Juande to pull out all the stops.
Tottenham 2-Sunderland 0

West Brom v. Everton
If you're a bettor, I'd steer clear of this game. We don't know which team is going to show up for either side. David Moyes is having a desperately difficult time finding people to fill the ranks at Everton, and West Brom aren't quite Barcelona 06. For sanity's sake, let's say a draw. West Brom 1-Everton 1

Blackburn v. Hull
Paul Ince's triumphant return home, with three points in hand from Goodison Park. Well done for Ince's boys, and well done on Hull's part to take down Fulham at home last week. The celebration ends this week for the Tigers, but they may have more fight in them than I first pegged. Blackburn 2- Hull 0

Fulham v. Arsenal
I'm know scientist, but when you lose to Hull, I wouldn't count on beating Arsenal. Fulham need to shape up, and this isn't the type of match that helps you do that. If anything they'll be in worse shape come Monday. Fulham 1- Arsenal 2

Wigan v. Chelsea
Brazil FC, I'm sorry, Chelsea FC storm the JJB boasting the best opening weekend in the Premiership. Wigan lost away to West Ham last weekend. While I don't think Chelsea will be as dominant as they were last week, I'm still expecting 3 points to the Blues. Wigan 0- Chelsea 2


Chelsea's Blue Army Rolls On



Manchester City v. West Ham
As long as City are having problems paying the bills, I have a problem picking them to win matches. The situation has grown worse by the day, yet somehow they were able to add Vincent Kompany to the squad this week. West Ham impressed me at home against Wigan, but that in itself isn't that impressive. City 2- West Ham 2

Portsmouth v. Manchester United
Historically, the big clubs have trouble when they go down to Pompey. It's a tough place to play, and the team is a scrappy group. Portsmouth shocked me last week with the drubbing they took at the hands of Chelsea. United, devastated by injury, still looked ok. I like United to take full points back home with them.
Manchester United 2-Portsmouth 1

1,000 Hits and Pine Fantasy League

Quick announcement for all of you riders out there. We want to give out a big thank you for helping us reach the minimal plateau of 1000 hits. It's not much but it's pretty cool to us. For those of you who help out and hit up the site on a regular, we notice (and we do know who you are) and we hope you've been enjoying everything so far. So we're reaching out to you, fellow riders, with a PineRiders Fantasy Football League. The season is fast approaching, so we're going to try and get the league up and running as quickly as possible. The idea is that we get a fantasy league going, and G and I will write about the fantasy world with our league as a point of reference.
IF YOU WANT TO BE INVOLVED IN THE FANTASY LEAGUE, POST YOUR COMMENT ON THE THREAD BELOW. THE FIRST 6-8 (DEPENDING ON HOW MANY CHOOSE TO SIGN UP) WILL BE ADDED TO THE LEAGUE. LEAVE YOUR NAME AND JUST WRITE "SIGN ME UP" IF YOU WANT TO BE A PART. FIRST COME FIRST SERVE, THE DRAFT WILL BE HELD ON TUESDAY,SEPTEMBER 2, 2008 at 9PM. IT WILL BE AN ONLINE DRAFT.


News of the PineRiders Fantasy League creates Mass Hysteria