Is this the End?

“My only friend, the end”

Do you remember the 2004-05 NHL season? I certainly do because there wasn’t a season.

The NHL set itself back 10 years with that players strike. League owners caved into pressure and gave the players a huge chunk of the money pie. Now the owners are looking to take some, if not all of it back.

What to do, what to do? A hard question indeed for both sides. Well, I have the answer for both the owners and the players.

GET A DEAL DONE!

The NFL last year almost lost an entire season over money issues. I said then that they should split their $9 billion dollar pot in half and be done with it. They eventually came to an agreement, but it wasn’t solved that easily.

I am saying the same thing to the NHL owners and players. Split the pot down the middle, 50-50.

I know that it’s an easy way to solve a complex issue, but I’m a man of common sense. Do you honestly think that you guys will make it out unscathed if there’s a lockout this season?

Instead of setting yourselves back 10 years. You’re looking at 20-30 if you let this happen again. And I’m not just talking about missing an entire season. If you miss any regular season games, just one. You will have lost another generation of fans.

Be forewarned. Just because Donald Fehr (pictured above at the microphone) is the best man to lead the NHL players association doesn’t mean he’s going to do what’s right for the sport.

He was an integral part in nearly destroying baseball. His tactics lead to the strike of 1994 and his stance against testing players for steroids for many years after nearly killed America’s past time. Players and the owners contributed to the fall of baseball as well, but Fehr was front and center with commissioner Bud Selig.

Do you want the same to happen to the NHL? I’m sure commissioner Gary Bettman is as cold and calculating as Donald Fehr. That’s what worries me about this situation. I truly love this game. It’s a unique and fast paced game that doesn’t deserve this.

After all they have accomplished, they’re willing to throw it away yet again. Don’t make the same mistakes that others have already made. You will regret it in the end.

Happy Birthday

“Calling All Angels”

Another year has come and gone by for me. Just so you know I’m approaching the dreaded 3-0 in a couple years now. That was the first thing I realized when both of my older brothers had turned 30; I’m next. I’m sure my younger brother won’t have the same thought, but it’s fast approaching that’s for sure.

Enough about me. I’ve taken this time to thank each and everyone of you who continue to check in here at this site and where ever else I may be on the world wide web. That includes Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and whatever other methods of communication I’m missing. It is truly amazing that so many folks have visited.

It’s been three amazing years doing this. Rest assured that I will continue to add new content for the rest of this year and the foreseeable future. The NFL season is starting soon which means another round of team-by-team previews. And you can count on those ‘Week In Review’ posts as well if you missed any of the action.

Don’t fret though if I have any moments of prolonged silence. I’ve recently started a new full-time job that will occupy most of my weekdays. But I will not abandon the dream that I have set out to achieve since I started this website back in 2009.

I will return to the airwaves in some capacity. Either on the internet or terrestrial radio. ‘My Newest Venture’ at the Final Score Sports Network is still a go. So stay tuned for updates on that front, as well as my column there.

Once again thank you all for supporting this site and making this ‘Sports Guy’s’ wish come true. God Bless.

“Tebowing” – 2011

MLB Recap – July

Best Hitter – OF Andrew McCutchen (.371 AVG 22 HR 66 RBI) Pittsburgh Pirates

Best Pitcher – Jered Weaver (14-1, 2.29 ERA) Los Angeles Angels

Best Team – Cincinnati Reds 62-41 (32-19 home record)

Division Leaders

American League

New York Yankees 60-43

Best Player – 2B Robinson Cano (.309 AVG 23 HR 58 RBI)

Chicago White Sox 56-47

Best Player – OF Alex Rios (.313 AVG 16 HR 63 RBI)

Texas Rangers 59-43

Best Player – OF Josh Hamilton (.287 AVG 29 HR 84 RBI)

National League

Washington Nationals 61-41

Best Player – P Jordan Zimmermann (8-6, 2.28 ERA)

Cincinnati Reds 62-41

Best Player – P Johnny Cueto (13-5, 2.39 ERA)

San Francisco Giants 56-47

Best Player – C Buster Posey (.317 AVG 13 HR 61 RBI)

Wild Card Teams

American League

Los Angeles Angels 57-47

Best Player – OF Mike Trout (.353 AVG 18 HR 55 RBI)

Oakland Athletics 56-47

Best Player – OF Yoenis Cespedes (.305 AVG 14 HR 54 RBI)

Baltimore Orioles 55-49

Best Player – OF Adam Jones (.291 AVG 24 HR 57 RBI)

Detroit Tigers 54-50

Best Player – 3B Miguel Cabrera (.322 AVG 25 HR 85 RBI)

Tampa Bay Rays 54-50

Best Player – P David Price (14-4, 2.64 ERA)

Boston Red Sox 53-51

Best Player – 1B Adrian Gonzalez (.297 AVG 10 HR 62 RBI)

Toronto Blue Jays 51-52

Best Player – DH Edwin Encarnacion (.293 AVG 28 HR 72 RBI)

National League

Atlanta Braves 59-44

Best Player – 3B Chipper Jones (.316 AVG 10 HR 43 RBI)

Pittsburgh Pirates 59-44

Best Player – OF Andrew McCutchen (.371 AVG 22 HR 66 RBI)

St. Louis Cardinals 55-48

Best Player – OF Matt Holliday (.320 AVG 19 HR 70 RBI)

Los Angeles Dodgers 56-49

Best Player – P Clayton Kershaw (8-6, 2.95 ERA)

Arizona Diamondbacks 53-51

Best Player – OF Jason Kubel (.290 AVG 22 HR 72 RBI)

Outside Looking In

American League

Cleveland Indians 50-53

Best Player – OF Shin-Soo Choo (.288 AVG 12 HR 39 RBI)

Seattle Mariners 49-57

Best Player – P Felix Hernandez (9-5, 2.79 ERA)

Minnesota Twins 44-59

Best Player – C Joe Mauer (.323 AVG 6 HR 49 RBI)

Kansas City Royals 42-60

Best Player – DH Billy Butler (.305 AVG 20 HR 64 RBI)

National League

New York Mets 50-54

Best Player – 3B David Wright (.329 AVG 16 HR 71 RBI)

Miami Marlins 47-56

Best Player – SS Jose Reyes (.277 AVG 7 HR 30 RBI)

Milwaukee Brewers 47-56

Best Player – OF Ryan Braun (.310 AVG 28 HR 70 RBI)

Philadelphia Phillies 46-57

Best Player – C Carlos Ruiz (.340 AVG 14 HR 58 RBI)

Chicago Cubs 43-59

Best Player – SS Starlin Castro (.283 AVG 10 HR 51 RBI)

San Diego Padres 44-61

Best Player – P Huston Street (2-0, 0.88 ERA)

Colorado Rockies 37-64

Best Player – OF Carlos Gonzalez (.327 AVG 20 HR 71 RBI)

Houston Astros 35-70

Best Player – 2B Jose Altuve (.302 AVG 5 HR 28 RBI)

2012 MLB All-Star Teams

The 83rd MLB All-Star game has returned to Kansas City, Missouri. The loyal Kansas City Royals fans haven’t seen a contending team in a long time. So it will be a welcome sight for them to see the games best players on stage at their crown jewel of a stadium. There are many deserving players this year. What makes this year even better is that a lot of young superstars will be on display for everyone to see. With that said here are my choices for the mid-summer classic.

AVG – Batting Average

ERA – Earned Run Average

HR – Home Runs

RBI – Runs Batted In

SV – Saves

BAA – Batting Average Against

WHIP – Walks/Hits Per Innings Pitched

K – Strikeouts

Stats are accurate as of July 3rd.

* – asterisk indicates starter

American League

Pitchers

David Price – Tampa Bay Rays

11-4, 2.92 ERA, 97 K

Felix Hernandez – Seattle Mariners

6-5, 3.26 ERA, 122 K

Jim Johnson – Baltimore Orioles

24 SV, 1.26 ERA, 0.76 WHIP

Chris Sale – Chicago White Sox*

10-2, 2.19 ERA, 0.95 WHIP

Chris Perez – Cleveland Indians

23 SV, 2.67 ERA, 1.02 WHIP

Justin Verlander – Detroit Tigers

8-5, 2.69 ERA, 121 K

Jered Weaver – Los Angeles Angels

9-1, 2.13 ERA, 0.94 WHIP

C.J. Wilson – Los Angeles Angels

9-4, 2.33 ERA, .204 BAA

Ernesto Frieri – Los Angeles Angels

10 SV, 0.00 ERA, 42 K

Fernando Rodney – Tampa Bay Rays

24 SV, 0.96 ERA, 0.72 WHIP

Joe Nathan – Texas Rangers

18 SV, 1.87 ERA, 0.89 WHIP

Matt Harrison – Texas Rangers

11-3, 3.16 ERA, 1.24 WHIP

Jake Peavy – Chicago White Sox

6-5, 2.96 ERA, 101 K

Catchers

Joe Mauer – Minnesota Twins*

.332 AVG 5 HR 38 RBI

Matt Wieters – Baltimore Orioles

.247 AVG 11 HR 40 RBI

A.J. Pierzynski – Chicago White Sox

.291 AVG 15 HR 48 RBI

Infielders

2B Robinson Cano – New York Yankees*

.315 AVG 20 HR 48 RBI

1B Paul Konerko – Chicago White Sox*

.337 AVG 14 HR 42 RBI

1B/DH David Ortiz – Boston Red Sox*

.301 AVG 21 HR 54 RBI

SS Asdrubal Cabrera – Cleveland Indians

.290 AVG 11 HR 40 RBI

3B Miguel Cabrera – Detroit Tigers*

.317 AVG 16 HR 65 RBI

1B/DH Billy Butler – Kansas City Royals

.290 AVG 16 HR 48 RBI

SS Derek Jeter – New York Yankees*

.301 AVG 7 HR 25 RBI

1B Prince Fielder – Detroit Tigers

.299 AVG 12 HR 53 RBI

3B Adrian Beltre – Texas Rangers

.323 AVG 14 HR 52 RBI

1B/DH Edwin Encarnacion – Toronto Blue Jays

.296 AVG 22 HR 56 RBI

2B Ian Kinsler – Texas Rangers

.276 AVG 9 HR 40 RBI

Outfielders

Josh Hamilton – Texas Rangers*

.316 AVG 25 HR 73 RBI

Adam Jones – Baltimore Orioles*

.298 AVG 19 HR 43 RBI

Mike Trout – Los Angeles Angels*

.340 AVG 10 HR 36 RBI

Jose Bautista – Toronto Blue Jays

.243 AVG 27 HR 64 RBI

Josh Reddick – Oakland Athletics

.258 AVG 19 HR 41 RBI

Mark Trumbo – Los Angeles Angels

.304 AVG 20 HR 55 RBI

Austin Jackson – Detroit Tigers

.320 AVG 9 HR 37 RBI

National League

Pitchers

R.A. Dickey – New York Mets

12-1, 2.15 ERA, 0.88 WHIP

Stephen Strasburg – Washington Nationals*

9-3, 2.81 ERA, 122 K

Matt Cain – San Francisco Giants

9-3, 2.53 ERA, 114 K

Craig Kimbrel – Atlanta Braves

23 SV, 1.50 ERA, 0.77 WHIP

Chris Capuano – Los Angeles Dodgers

9-3, 2.62 ERA, 95 K

Aroldis Chapman – Cincinnati Reds

9 SV, 1.93 ERA, 66 K

Clayton Kershaw – Los Angeles Dodgers

6-4, 2.65 ERA, 112 K

Joel Hanrahan – Pittsburgh Pirates

21 SV, 2.53 ERA, 1.09 WHIP

Gio Gonzalez – Washington Nationals

11-3, 3.01 ERA, .195 BAA

Huston Street – San Diego Padres

12 SV, 1.29 ERA, 0.67 WHIP

Johnny Cueto – Cincinnati Reds

9-5, 2.35 ERA, 1.13 WHIP

Zack Greinke – Milwaukee Brewers

9-2, 3.08 ERA, 106 K

Cole Hamels – Philadelphia Phillies

10-4, 3.08 ERA, 111 K

Catchers

Carlos Ruiz – Philadelphia Phillies

.357 AVG 13 HR 46 RBI

Buster Posey – San Francisco Giants*

.295 AVG 10 HR 43 RBI

Yadier Molina – St. Louis Cardinals

.309 AVG 13 HR 45 RBI

Infielders

1B Joey Votto – Cincinnati Reds*

.352 AVG 14 HR 47 RBI

2B Jose Altuve – Houston Astros*

.303 AVG 5 HR 25 RBI

SS Starlin Castro – Chicago Cubs*

.291 AVG 6 HR 40 RBI

3B David Wright – New York Mets*

.350 AVG 10 HR 55 RBI

2B Aaron Hill – Arizona Diamondbacks

.301 AVG 11 HR 38 RBI

3B Chipper Jones – Atlanta Braves

.313 AVG 6 HR 33 RBI

2B Brandon Phillips – Cincinnati Reds

.283 AVG 10 HR 47 RBI

SS Ian Desmond – Washington Nationals

.279 AVG 14 HR 47 RBI

3B Pablo Sandoval – San Francisco Giants

.313 AVG 7 HR 28 RBI

3B David Freese – St. Louis Cardinals

.286 AVG 13 HR 48 RBI

Outfielders

Andrew McCutchen – Pittsburgh Pirates*
.360 AVG 16 HR 54 RBI
Carlos Beltran – St. Louis Cardinals
.304 AVG 20 HR 63 RBI
Giancarlo Stanton – Miami Marlins
.283 AVG 19 HR 50 RBI
Ryan Braun – Milwaukee Brewers
.309 AVG 23 HR 58 RBI
Carlos Gonzalez – Colorado Rockies*
.338 AVG 17 HR 58 RBI
Melky Cabrera – San Francisco Giants*
.354 AVG 7 HR 39 RBI
Martin Prado – Atlanta Braves
.320 AVG 5 HR 34 RBI
Jay Bruce – Cincinnati Reds
.259 AVG 17 HR 54 RBI

MLB Recap – June

Best Hitter – OF Josh Hamilton (.319 AVG 25 HR 73 RBI) Texas Rangers

Best Pitcher – R.A. Dickey (12-1, 2.15 ERA) New York Mets

Best Team – Texas Rangers 50-29 (27-14 home record)

Division Leaders

American League

New York Yankees 47-30

Best Player – 2B Robinson Cano (.308 AVG 19 HR 44 RBI)

Chicago White Sox 42-36

Best Player – 1B Paul Konerko (.336 AVG 14 HR 40 RBI)

Texas Rangers 50-29

Best Player – OF Josh Hamilton (.319 AVG 25 HR 73 RBI)

National League

Washington Nationals 44-32

Best Player – P Stephen Strasburg (9-3, 2.81 ERA)

Cincinnati Reds 43-34

Best Player – 1B Joey Votto (.350 AVG 14 HR 47 RBI)

San Francisco Giants 44-35

Best Player – P Matt Cain (9-3, 2.53 ERA)

Wild Card Teams

American League

Baltimore Orioles 42-35

Best Player – OF Adam Jones (.300 AVG 19 HR 41 RBI)

Los Angeles Angels 43-35

Best Player – OF Mike Trout (.336 AVG 8 HR 32 RBI)

Boston Red Sox 41-37

Best Player – DH David Ortiz (.305 AVG 21 HR 53 RBI)

Tampa Bay Rays 41-37

Best Player – P David Price (11-4, 2.92 ERA)

Toronto Blue Jays 40-38

Best Player – OF Jose Bautista (.239 AVG 26 HR 62 RBI)

Cleveland Indians 39-38

Best Player – SS Asdrubal Cabrera (.298 AVG 11 HR 40 RBI)

Detroit Tigers 38-40

Best Player – 3B Miguel Cabrera (.315 AVG 16 HR 62 RBI)

National League

Pittsburgh Pirates 42-35

Best Player – OF Andrew McCutchen (.346 AVG 15 HR 51 RBI)

Los Angeles Dodgers 43-36

Best Player – P Chris Capuano (9-3, 2.69 ERA)

New York Mets 43-36

Best Player – P R.A. Dickey (12-1, 2.15 ERA)

Atlanta Braves 41-36

Best Player – OF Martin Prado (.323 AVG 5 HR 31 RBI)

St. Louis Cardinals 40-38

Best Player – OF Carlos Beltran (.310 AVG 20 HR 61 RBI)

Arizona Diamondbacks 39-38

Best Player – 2B Aaron Hill (.301 AVG 11 HR 38 RBI)

Miami Marlins

Best Player – OF Giancarlo Stanton (.283 AVG 18 HR 49 RBI)

Outside Looking In

American League

Oakland Athletics 37-42

Best Player – OF Josh Reddick (.260 AVG 18 HR 39 RBI)

Kansas City Royals 35-41

Best Player – DH Billy Butler (.297 AVG 16 HR 48 RBI)

Seattle Mariners 34-46

Best Player – P Felix Hernandez (6-5, 3.09 ERA)

Minnesota Twins 32-45

Best Player – C Joe Mauer (.325 AVG 4 HR 36 RBI)

National League

Milwaukee Brewers 35-42

Best Player – OF Ryan Braun (.313 AVG 22 HR 55 RBI)

Philadelphia Phillies 36-44

Best Player – C Carlos Ruiz (.358 AVG 11 HR 43 RBI)

Houston Astros 32-46

Best Player – 2B Jose Altuve (.309 AVG 5 HR 23 RBI)

Colorado Rockies 30-47

Best Player – OF Carlos Gonzalez (.337 AVG 17 HR 58 RBI)

Chicago Cubs 28-49

Best Player – SS Starlin Castro (.298 AVG 6 HR 40 RBI)

San Diego Padres 29-50

Best Player – 3B Chase Headley (.271 AVG 8 HR 38 RBI)