Stanley Cup First Round Picks

Today's the day. We started this journey with 32 teams back in October. Now after a& grueling 82 game schedule for all of those teams, we have sixteen left standing. The ultimate prize is two months from now and its the Stanley Cup. The best of the bunch will be the one holding the trophy over its head at the end of this run.

So lets not waste any more time. Here's how we see the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs going down.

A1 Florida Panthers vs WC1 Tampa Bay Lightning
For just the 3rd time in history, we get a battle of Florida in the playoffs. Tampa has won the last two series and there's strong faith in Nikita Kucherov and his superior level of play this year. There's some questions behind him Point and Stamkos in the offensive depth. And there is some worry about the play of Andrei Vasilevskiy. He hasn't looked like himself at times this season. Florida has one of the best goaltending tandoms in the league this season and they have a balanced scoring attack. Vasy may steal a game or two and Kucherov could have a big series. At the end of the day the Panthers depth could win out.

Pick: Panthers in 6!

A2 Boston Bruins vs A# Toronto Maple Leafs
Auston Matthews is coming off having a monster year in his own right for the Leafs. He finished with 69 goals, the highest total in the league since 1996. The Leafs have been rolling and have scoring depth to match. But they still have questions in my mind between the pipes for a deep playoff run. Boston is coming in on a mission, trying to get rid of the bad taste in their mouth from last year. Boston has one of the best one two punches in net this year and they have scoring to match it.

Pick: Bruins in 7!

M1 New York Rangers vs WC2 Washington Capitals
Talk about two teams coming in as sort of polar opposites into the playoffs. The Rangers come is as the Presidents trophy winners with 54 wins (which is a franchise record) and 114 points. Washington came in as the last wild card spot with 91 points and a negative goal differntial this year. They backed into the playoffs and haven't looked very good this year. Rangers looked like a well oiled machine this should be a quick series

Pick: Rangers in 5!

M2 Carolina Hurricanes vs M3 New York Islanders
Carolina has been a solid team from wire to wire this season. The Islanders looked, at stretches this year, like a team that was going to bottom out this season. They got hot at the right time near the end of the year to get into the playoffs. New York has blown over 20 games where they have leads in the 3rd period. Sure they have [played much better under head coach Patrick Roy, but there really isn't much hope going in. They may steal a game or two this series, but it's going to be the same result as the first round matchup last year.

Pick: Hurricanes in 6!

C1 Dallas Stars vs WC2 Vegas Golden Knights
Vegas is back to defend their title, an d the first hurtle on that title defense is the best team in the West the Dallas Stars. Vegas has the experience of doing this last year, and they get help at the start of this playoff run. They get Thomas Hertl off LTIR and into the lineup. Vegas will be without Mark Stone for the playoffs, who's been dealing with injury since February. Dallas is one of the most balanced and deep teams left standing and they have the solid goaltending that could get them far into the post season.

Pick: Stars in 5!

C2 Winnipeg Jets vs C3 Colorado Avalanche
This is gonna be a fun matchups between one of the best scorers in the league and one of the best goalies in the game. Nathan MacKinnon finished second in the NHL in scoring this year, behind only Nikita Kucherov. He Rantanin and Makar lead the offensive charge. After that the scoring totals per player drop off. And not to take anything away from Alexandar Georgiev, but the guy at the other end of the ice in Connor Hellebuyck has been slightly better this year. This is going to be a tough series, but the depth in Winnipeg wins out.

Pick: Jets in 6!

P1 Vancouver Canucks vs WC1 Nashville Predators
What's really intriguing about this series is going to be the battle between the pipes. Jussi Saros against Thatcher Demko.  Give credit where it's due up front, Nashville does have some high powered weapons and a touch more scoring depth. Where the Canucks have the edge is the better defensive game and their high powered weapons top that of what's in the Music City.

Pick: Canucks in 5!

P2 Edmonton Oilers vs P3 Los Angeles Kings
Credit has to be given where its due in Los Angeles, the have a pretty balanced scoring attack. But lets face facts here, you going against the best offensive one-two punch in the game right now. Sure, Conor McDavid got off to a slow start by his standards. But by the time all was said and done, he was playing like a man possessed. And Stuart Skinner has turned another fine season in while tending goal in Edmonton. What has me worried going past round one is can he carry that all the way to a title?

Pick: Oilers in 5!

Century Club Grows

Getting an assist in a National Hockey League game is a tough thing to do. Doing it 100 times in a career is a big thing. Doing that in one season is even rarer air. As a matter of fact, as of last night, its only been done by five guys in a season.

Bobby Orr did it once (1970-71). Mario Lemieux did it once (1988-89). Wayne Gretzky did it 11 times. Now we can add two more names to that list. Conor McDavid and Nikita Kucherov.

This is the second time in league history two guys have done it in the same season. Gretzky and Lemieux both did it during the 88-89 season. We haven't had a 100 assist season since Gretzky complied 122 in a season in 1992.

For the two guys that have done it this year it really is something special. McDavid hitting 100 helpers and counting as he has ore more game left. He won't be able to catch Kucherov for the point lead on the year, but what he's done for this Oilers team this year after the slow start that he got off to is pretty impressive. And he helped power Edmonton into a playoff spot when they got off to a very slow start out of the blocks at the beginning of the year.

As for Kucherov, this is monumental. He already broke his own club record for points in a single season in Lightning history. He set the record for most assists by a winger in a season and most points by a Russian born player in NHL history. The only winger that ever had more points in a season in league history was Jaromir Jagr with 149 in 1996.

Kucherov has been carrying the Lightning for stretches this season and is a massive reason why they're a playoff team. With what these two guys have done and what Nathan MacKinnon is doing in Colorado, it going to make for one hell of a race for MVP at the end of the season.

Legend Hangs Up Headphones

Since 1989, there has been one voice behind the microphone for the New York Yankees on the radio. John Sterling. He has been behind the mic for 5,420 regular season games, and another 211 in the playoffs. He provided the sounds of the summer for fans of multiple generations. He surprised a lot of people Monday announcing his retirement from the booth at the age of 85 siting health reasons.

When you think of Yankees baseball, you can just sit back and hear any number of John's calls. It is high, it is far, it is gone, Yankees win … theeeeee Yankees win, Back to back, and a belly to belly, Bern Baby Bern!. Just to name some of the countless ones that have come across our radios. He would come up for something unique for each Yankee player for when they go deep.

There have been much praise that has been showered upon Sterling during the course of his career. There have been very few that have done it as long as Sterling has or have been associated with one team the way he has. With all the praise John gets for his work, there's also going to be critics as well. He gets made fun of for some of his calls in the past.,

But at the end of the day he been a pilar for Yankees broadcasts and has been an inspiration to many to want to get into this business. The reason for his sudden retirement is citing health issues, and he wasn't going to be able to make it to the end of the season.

The Quickest American

Playing the position of goalie is a high risk and at times thankless job. Its also one of the hardest jobs in professional sports. If you're a good enough goalie to make it to the NHL, you must be doing something right. There have been a lot of great American netminders to play the game. Mike Richter, Tom Barraso, John Vanbiesbrouck, Ryan Miller, Tim Thomas are the names that usually first come to mind. You can add another name to that list. Jonathan Quick. As of this past weekend, Quick won career game #392, passing Ryan Miller for the most by an American born goalie.

Quick has had himself quite the career for himself. He was a third round pick, 72nd overall, by the Kings in 2005. Quick made the jump to the NHL for three games during the 2007-08 regular season, becoming the Kings full time starter the next season. He played a total of 16 seasons in a Kings uniform, winning 370 games, and collecting a pair of Stanley Cup Rings. He then won another ring las season getting traded to the Vegas Golden Knights, playing ten games in Vegas. He signed this offseason with the Rangers, winning another 17 games (as of this writing), including the record breaker over the weekend in Arizona. He's won a Conn Smyth in 2012, the Jennings in 2014 and his three cup rings.

What was so special about Quick?

He lived up to his last name. He had lightning fast reflexes and made some saves that were tough to make for any normal person. He played his best hockey during the playoffs, and was a MAJOR factor as to why the Kings have their two Cups. He has been on the decline in recent years, that's why he's serving as the backup on Broadway.

But when the game was on the line and you needed a big stop, Quick would be the man to make it. There was some nights, during his time in Los Angeles, where he would keep the Kings in a lot of hockey games. He was one of the better goalies in the league for a stretch and helped get the Kigns back to relevance.

Congratulations to Jonathan Quick for becoming the all time winningest American board goalie in NHL history!

2024 MLB Season Preview

The time has finally arrived. The long journey now begins for thirty Major League Baseball teams. The end goal is simple. Be the last team standing and holding the Commissioners Trophy as the World Series champions. The 2024 season has arrived and lets get right into.

Texas comes in as the defending champions of the baseball world. Can they repeat again? Can the Braves actually get it done again in the Playoffs? What about the two biggest fish that were on the move. Can Ohtani make the same level of impact with the Dodger and get them to the net level? What about Juan Soto with the Yankees?

Here's how we see the thirty teams doing this season.

American League:
AL East:
1. Baltimore Orioles 90-72*
2. New York Yankees 88-74 (WC)*
3. Tampa Bay Rays 84-74
4. Toronto Blue Jays 82-80
5. Boston Red Sox 80-82

When you look at last year, the Orioles seem to really be able to hit their stride in their development. They are a very y0oung and hungry baseball team. Corbin Bernson and Craig Kimbrel were added to a decent pitching staff. They still got a loaded lineup with good young bats they will be just fine at the top of the East this year. Right behind them will be the new and improved Yankees. The only thing that's going to keep the Bronx Bombers behind the O's in the East is the pitching. Yankees have injuries to the top of the rotation to start the season. but they more than make up for it with the bats. Adding Juan Soto, who could be poised for a big year, adds yet another weapon for this loaded team. For as good as they were a season ago, the Rays will be taking a step back this season. Tyler Glasnow isn't there anymore and we are in all likelyhood never going to see Wander Franco again. But with Yandy Diaz, Issac Parades and Randy Arozerona leading the offensive charge they can score runs. What worries me with this Tampa team is can the pitching staff hold up. Then there's the Blue Jays. They still got good bats in the lineup. Vlad, Bo Bichette, George Springer ect. Again the problem with Toronto is the pitching. Outside of adding Justin Turner to the team, ownership north of the boarder is banking on the loaded team trying to rebound from last year. Finally there's the Red Sox. Yes they have Devers and Story. But the bottom of the lineup is trash and the pitching staff is even worse in Boston,. Good luck trying to get a winning team out of this bunch.

AL Central
1. Minnesota Twins 85-77*
2. Cleveland Guardians 80-82
3. Detroit Tigers 80-82
4. Kansas City Royals 77-85
5. Chicago White Sox 62-100

It seems like that this is starting to become a recuring theme that the Twins are back at the top of a weak AL Central. This will be a weird season in Minnesota with Sonny Gray and Jorge Polanco no longer in their lineup. Manny Margot was brought in to help with some depth on this team. They got a lineup still lead by Carlos Santana, Byron Buxton and Max Kepler. Joe Ryan and Pablo Lopez at the top of that rotation should be good for the Twins to build on and run with. Next you have the Guardians, who are just going to miss being a .500 team this year. There's no doubt that Cleveland will put the pressure on Minnesota most of the year. Shane Bieber still the ace on that staff and the only one who really gives me faith at that rotation that he can be good. The problem here is that Cleveland never did a thing to improve this team and its the same group on the field, with Jose Ramirez leading the offensive charge.. Right behind them are going to be the Tigers, who yes have Javy Baez and added guys like Mark Canha and Gio Urshella. But here's the thing with Detroit. Pitching still leaves a few question marks as to how close to ready they really are. They might be able to turn the corner by next summer, but it doesn't look like much right now, at least on paper. If your a fan of the Royals, then this summer isn't going to be for you. Yes you still have Salvador Perez, Bobby Witt Jr, Mil Melendez ect. But the bottom of the lineup leaves something to be desired. Plus pitching hasn't been a strong suit in Kansas City in quite some time, this year won't change either. Finally we have the White Sox, who are looking to get back to a winning record for the first time in a couple of years. Chicago flipped Dylan Chase, giving them prospects sure, but no viable ace on this team to start the year. They got a couple bats worth talking about like DeJong and Benintendi, but facts are the full rebuild is well underway.

AL West:
1. Houston Astros 90-72*
2. Texas Rangers 89-73 (WC)*
3. Seattle Mariners 86-76 (WC)*
4. Los Angeles Angels 77-85
5. Oakland Athletics 66-98

Another season and another AL West title for the Astros. Yes Brantley and Maldonado are gone. Altuve got extended and Josh Hader was brought in to that fine pitching staff. Altuve has a solid core with him in the form of Bregman, Alverez and Tucker. The pitching staff in Houston looks good, if they can manage to stay off the IR trips. Sure the luck hasn't been on their side the last couple season in the playoffs, but there's more than enough talent here to get them to where they need to be come the fall. The toughest competition for them in this division is going to be the defending World Champion Rangers. Texas is going to be without Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer for half the season due to injuries. But the lineup is still stacked with Semien, Garcie and Seager leading that offensive charge. But with everybody that's on this Texas lineup, once they're healthy, there's nothing stopping them from going on another deep playoff run again this year. Right behind them is going to be the Mariners, who missed the playoffs last season after making it the year before. The budget in Seattle has hampered the M's from really adding to this lineup. With Julio Rodriguez still right in the middle of it, there's faith in the heart of that lineup. Same thing with Castillo and Kirby at the start of the rotation. The pen and back half of the batting lineup leaves quite a bit to be desired, which is why if the M's do get in it will be near the bottom of the Wild Card standings. Then we have the Angels, who are now facing their first season without Otani in their lineup. You still got Mike Trout, you might get something out of Anthony Rendon if he can produce. Runs might be a bit above average in Anaheim, but the pitching isn't great and its going to be a long year for the Angels. Finally there's the Athletics, who are starting the process of getting out the door in Oakland. There's nothing to get excited about with the A';s this season. They going to be the easy picking for wins for a lot of MLB teams this season.

National League
NL East:
1. Atlanta Braves 97-75*
2. Philadelphia Phillies 88-74 (WC)*
3. New York Mets 81-81
4. Miami Marlins 80-82
5. Washington Nationals 63-99

Another year, another division title win for the Braves. It's starting to sound like a broken record. You already made a splash bringing Chris Sale into that rotation with Strider and Fried. Not quite the big three of the 90s in Atlanta but man they going to be good. With Acuna, Albies and Olson in the middle of that lineup, this Atlanta team is totally stacked and going to be a very tough team to beat this season. For the Phillies, snagging a wild card spot should be pretty much a lock again this season. The top end of the rotation with Wheeler and Nola is fine, but its the back end with guys like Walker you have to have some questions about. They still got plenty of heavy hitting with Harper and JT and Schwarber. Its a loaded lineup that might be able to compete with Atlanta for the division, but the pitching staff could be what's going to hold the Phillies back a little this season. Pitching is going to be interesting with the Mets as well. Kodai Senga is hurt and will miss the start of the season so Jose Quentana is the top starter on this rebuilt rotation to begin the year  You brought in Manaea and Severino to help in the rotation. JD Martinez was brought in late as a big bat to help out in the middle of the lineup with Lindor and Alonso. They also have high expectations for Batty and Alvarez. Pitching might be what holds the Mets back from a playoff spot. Now the interesting team here is the Marlins. They have an ace in Sandy Alcantra, but the problem is he won't be able to pitch for Miami this season due to Tommy John surgery. There's no depth on this staff at all so having Sandy miss the entire year is a huge blow. Then there's the Nationals, who appear to be heading for yet another 100 loss season this year. The two guys that Washington is expecting to build their future around, CJ Abrams and Keibert Ruiz, are not quite ready just yet to take on those roles just yet. Going to be a long season in Washington again this year.

NL Central
1. Chicago Cubs 83-79*
2. St Louis Cardinals 82-80
3. Cincinnati Reds 81-81
4. Milwaukee Brewers 80-82
5. Pittsburgh Pirates 75-87

In what's probably going to be a very tight divisional race, the Cubs seem to have an edge, but boy is it going to be close. Chicago had been close to challenging for the division title, but what's going to put them over the top was signing Cody Bellinger. He's thrown right into the middle of a Cubs lineup with Swanson, Happ and Gomes that's going to be tough to contend with. Justin Steele is going to get a chance to develop more behind a proven innings eater in Kyle Hendricks. The only thing that cost the Cardinals last season with injuries to the pitching staff. If everybody can stay healthy in St Louis this season, it wouldn't surprise me to see the Cards as the division champions again this season. Gray, Mikolas and Lynn make a pretty damn good top three at the start of the rotation. But behind Nolan Arenado and Paul Goldschmidt, how much offensive depth is there to really be able to overtake Chicago this season? A team in this division that could be sneaky good this season could be the Reds. Elly De La Cruz has all the makings to be a huge star in this game. He's got plenty of young talent around him that's on the rise like Matt McClain, Spencer Steer, Jonathan India and Noelvi Marte. There not quite where they need to be yet but they will take big strides this year in the Central in Cincinnati. Then there's a team who's going to take a big step backwards this year in the form of the Brewers, who are coming off yet another division title win a season ago. Brandon Woodruff is done for the season with injury and Corbin Burns isn't even an option anymore. Sure Freddy Peralta could pick up some of the slack in the rotation, but it might not be enough to get them into the playoffs. The bats are OK with Yelich leading the chard, along with Adames and Contrareas, but they don't have the firepower like the other teams ahead of them. Finally, we got the Pirates, who are once again looking up at the rest of the Central. Pittsburgh is in the middle of a slow rebuild. They got some good young pieces on that ball club, guys like Oneil Cruz, Bryan Reynolds, Ke’Bryan Hayes and Mitch Keller. The development around them hasn't come along just yet.

NL West:
1. Los Angeles Dodgers 102-60*
2. Arizona Diamondbacks 96-66 (WC)*
3. San Diego Padres 86-76 (WC)*
4. San Francisco Giants 81-81
5. Colorado Rockies 63-99

Another year, another division title in the West for the Dodgers. Othani is in Dodger Blue (but won't be pitching this year). Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Tyler Glasnow were added to that rotation. Freddy Freeman, Mookie Betts Max Muncy. That's a loaded ballclub that seems to be putting all their eggs in one basket. Here hoping for their sake it ends up paying off. Next up will be the defending NL Champions the Diamondbacks, who are coming off surprising a lot of people last season. They added to the rotation by bringing in Eduardo Rogdriguez to that solid staff. With the bats in their hands, Joc Petterson and Eugenio Suarez to the likes of Walker and Marte. Its going to be a fun season of baseball in Arizona. Going back to California is going to be another wild card spot, this one taken by the Padres. It will be close for them to take a playoff spot as they started slashing payroll a little in San Diego this winter. They still have decent pitching with Darvish, Musgrov and Chase, but that's only if they could stay healthy. They have solid hitting with Tatis, Machado and Bogarts in the middle of things. It will be enough to at least keep somewhat competitive in the wildcard race. Now things are looking quite different for the Giants. You took a big step in pitching by adding Blake Snell, who just won the Cy Young a season agon. Him and Webb at the top of the rotation this year are going to make a good one two punch. They brought in Jung Hoo Lee from Korea who has big expectations. Matt Chapman was also added with a big bat into thee heart of the lineup. San Francisco isn't quite there yet, but the steps are being made in the right direction. Bringing up the rear in the West will be the Rockies. Pitching in Colorado wasn't very good to begin with, and injuries have only made it worse. You still have some pop out of Bryant and Blackman in their lineup but yeah there won't be enough to be able to compete.

Baker Back In The Kitchen

When you take over for a legend in the NFL, you got some pretty big shoes to fill. That was Baker Mayfield's task in Tampa Bay, taking over for Tom Brady. Not only did he take over, but he lead them to a playoff spot. And that got him a big contract.

Baker signed a three year deal worth $115 million, $50 million of which is guaranteed.

Baker's coming off a career year last season. 4,044 passing yards on the season, with 28 touchdowns and 10 picks. The passing yards and touchdowns are both career highs for Baker. The biggest thing for Baker was leading the Bucs to wins in five of the final six games of the season and power them to a division title and a playoff birth. They made it even more impressive by leading them to a win over the Eagles when it mattered most in the playoffs.

The biggest change between last year and this upcoming season for Baker is that he's got a new offensive coordinator to work with. Dave Canales is gone, having taken the job as head coach in Carolina. Liam Coen takes over as the offensive coordinator. So there is a little bit of familiarity there with the new OC coming in this season.

For Mayfield, this is his statement of I'm here and staying around a while. There was a lot expected of him when the Browns took him with the first overall pick in 2018. He helped get the browns to an 11 win season and a playoff birth in 2020. Then had a falling out in Cleveland. That lead to him going to Carolina then getting traded to the Rams. So when Tampa signed him, there was a lot of questions around him and if he could actually deliver. He did his first year in the Bay, with not only a winning record but a division title as well.

Now he's got another three years here in Tampa to show that he was worth what he's getting paid.

Stinger Hangs Them Up

Yes we know it doesn't get talked about much on the blog or the show, but for this one, its important to take a second to recognize one of the best to ever do it. Steve Borden. He started his career back in 1985 under different gimmicks, but since the summer of 1987 he's been known by one name and one name only. Sting. This past Sunday saw the final match in the legendary career of the man called Sting.

From 1987 until the company closed its doors in 2001, Sting was the face of the company that was known as World Championship Wrestling. For years, WWE had the Undertaker as their go to look and measuring stick for the company and rightfully so. That's what Sting was for WCW. And even after WCW closed its doors, he went on to have fantastic runs in TNA, Then he had a brief spell with WWE, which nobody ever thought would happen, before wrapping up his career with AEW.

What made Sting so great?

First there was the look. He was built quite well and had the ability to be able to go with anybody. he also had an intimidating look with the facepaint. A look which he adapted and changed numerous times over the year. It gave his character a breath of fresh air every time he changed the look up. But one thing never changed. His professionalism. Nobody in the business ever had a bad word to say about Sting. And for the longest time, Sting had been the face of the company that was the main competition for WWE. He did that out of not only loyality to the company but also to kind of keep WWE's hands off so they didn't take away his legacy in a sense.

Sting is considered by many fans and wrestlers alike as one of the top ten greatest wrestlers to ever step foot inside of a ring. Ric Flair has often cited Sting as one of his greatest opponents. Same thing has been said by the late Big Van Vader. If you watched his run in AEW, you know this to be true. It's amazing that, even in his 60s, Sting still had it by pulling off high spots like jumping through other wrestlers through tables and off ladders. Never thought I'd actually write that. But that shows the adaptability and greatness of the Stinger.

So thanks for the memories Sting. Its been one hell of a run.