Life, Baseball, and Football

A lot has been going on in my life lately. With the new job set to start next Monday, I've had to get a car, get insurance for it, get a new I-Pass, buy some "business casual" clothes, and I had to take a drug test this morning too. All those years of not abusing illegal substances is finally paying off!! Muahaha...

With all this stuff happening, I almost missed the fact that baseball's regular season just ended and the playoffs are starting. This time of year is always rather bittersweet for me. Yes, I love watching playoff baseball, but it also marks the official end of the White Sox and my fantasy team's seasons.

I've gotten used to the fact that my Sox aren't gonna be in the playoffs, and my fantasy team chokes every year. This year was especially hurtful for some reason. Despite having far and away the best hitting in the league, a great bullpen, and a supposedly solid core of veteran starting pitching, my team still finished in 2nd place, as it has in 3 out of the 4 years I've played.

Football season is well underway, but as much that is a good thing, I have a bad feeling about this year. Were it not for some luck involoved, the Bears could be 0-4 instead of 2-2 heading into Monday Night against the Packers. The defense doesn't look nearly as bulletproof after losing key players in the offseason and to injuries. Meanwhile, David Terrell catches like 2 passes a game and acts like he's Terrell Owens or Randy Moss. We don't need that attitude, David.

As for fantasy, this is shaping up to what might be my worst season ever. Take a gander at the following players: Kurt Warner, Corey Dillon, David Boston, Keyshawn Johnson, Joe Horn. What do each of these guys have in common? 1. They are all supposed big-name players that have been productive in the past few seasons. 2. They are all on my team. 3. They are all doing basically jack this year for me.

By far, the most painful is Kurt Warner. I absolutely despise this guy for what he has done to me. For the past 3 seasons, I swear he has averaged about 4 TDs and 500 yards per game in weeks he plays against my team. Finally, this year I get the 2nd overall pick in the draft, so I take him in the hopes that I can avoid being raped 2-3 times by him this year. He rewards me by throwing 8 interceptions to only 1 touchdown in 3-plus games, then bowing out with a pinky-injury that will keep him out 8-10 weeks. Sweet, eh? It's gonna be a long winter...

MLB Playoffs: First Round Predictions

Since the Sox aren't in the postseason, I really have nobody to root for. But I thought I might as well put up some predictions and analysis anyways.

National League

Braves over Giants in 4: While I do want to see Barry Bonds, Robb Nen, and Kenny Lofton win, they are really no match for the Braves. There is simply no hole in Atlanta's pitching, top to bottom. Solid starters, solid middle relief, solid closer. In the playoffs especially, good pitching beats good hitting. Not that the Braves are severely lacking in hitting, either. Chipper, Andruw, Sheffield should be able to provide more than enough firepower to carry the Bravos to the next round, at the very least.

D-backs over Cards in 5: I can't say I particularly like either team, but because of fantasy baseball, I hate the Diamondbacks much more. Still, I doubt that the Cardinals have nearly enough strength to overcome Arizona's gay duo. Doing it for Darryl Kile can only take them so far. I wish the matchups had been set differently, it would've been nice to see the Braves play the Giants in the League Championship Series because I like both of those teams a lot better.

American League

Yankees over Angels in 5: While the Angels were red-hot in the second half of the season, the Yanks were consistently good throughout the entire year. The bad news for Anaheim is that the Yankees seem to get even better once October rolls around. Look for a close series, but the experience and superior talent of the Yankees will shine through in the end.

Twins over A's in 4: I know what you're saying, how can you pick against Zito, Mulder, and Hudson in a 5 game series? Well, I can almost guarantee you that Billy Koch will blow at least one win for the team. And while the Twins aren't overpowering in either pitching and hitting, don't overlook their solid fundamentals and exceptional defense.

As I write, I see that the A's are beating the Twins. But no matter, I will not revise my predictions accordingly. As for the rest of the playoffs, I will save any extended analysis until the actual matchups are set. But I feel that this year we will see the Braves beat the Yankees in 7.

A Dudo509 Blogspot Special: My First Limericks

People have been writing lots of haikus lately. It has inspired me to express myself poetically. However, since I am not in the business of being a biter, I have decided to release my creative energy in the form of limericks. It might be the Irish blood in me, who knows? Anyways, enjoy...

My 17-inch monitor died,
so an old 14-inch one I tried.
But the screen is so tiny
a flat-panel, I should buy me,
Or else my eyes may go blind.

Soriano almost hit forty-forty,
A-Rod and Bonds are MVP worthy.
But Big Unit and Schilling,
my team, they love killing,
I guess it's just not meant to be.

What's the matter with David Terrell?
He hasn't even played all that well.
But he dances and shakes,
when just one catch he makes,
I'm thinking "man, what the hell?!"

The Vikings have quite a bad seed,
to no man does Randy Moss heed.
He's always been shady,
he ran over some lady,
and he probably smokes too much weed.

My team has a QB named Kurt,
this season he's been worth less than dirt.
I thought he could pass,
but now he sucks ass,
I'm almost glad he got hurt.

My pants are a little too baggy,
and my shirts are too beat up and crappy.
I must look respectable,
so-called "business casual,"
No more clothes from Abercrombie.

My Maxima brought me great bliss,
its color was green, or "Sage Mist."
My sis took it to drive,
but I got G-thirty-five,
So I guess my old car I won't miss.

I handed out resumes for a year,
Not having a job was my fear.
But I worked with my father,
until Northrop's offer,
and now I have a career.

Olivia's too busy with academics,
Studying her biochem and genetics.
She's got no time free,
to hang out with me,
so here I am writing my limericks.