Jim Rice elected to the Hall of Fame

I always thought Jim Rice was a much better hitter and outfielder than Reggie Jackson. The main reason Reggie was a lock in his first year of eligibility for the Hall of Fame is due of course to his status as "Mr. October." Rice also didn't have the longevity to make him truly legendary as those two other monosyllabic Hall of Famers from Fenway's left field, Ted and Yaz. But over all, Rice compares favorably year-by-year to Reggie.

Rice never won a World Series. It wasn't entirely his fault. He did not play in the legendary 1975 World Series due to a broken wrist. (Who knows what could have been? But then Bernie Carbo would not have played, and we wouldn't have had Fisk's home run in the 12th inning, right?) Then Rice batted .333 in the 1986 World Series with a .455 on-base percentage.

In 1978 (the year the Red Sox would have won the World Series if only ...) Rice became the first American League player to compile 400 total bases since Joe DiMaggio. Rice had 382 career home runs, just shy of the magic shoe-in number of 400. He hit more than 25 home runs in seven of his 16 seasons. His career-high was 46 HRs in 1978, the most in the majors that season. He was the MVP that year and led a group of colorful personalities that was arguably the best Red Sox team ever.

Jim Ed Rice was finally recognized in his last year of eligibility. Everyone knows it is a travesty that it took this long. He finally squeaked in with 76 percent of the votes last week. However, Rice's numbers compare favorably to many other Hall of Famers year-by-year. Just take Reggie Jackson for example. Forget about all-time stats for one moment and tell me who you'd rather have on your team for one year. Remember too the defensive liability of Jackson in the outfield. I once sat in Fenway with my cousin and my father and saw Butch Hobson hit an inside-the-park home run (something almost unheard of in tiny Fenway) in part due to Jackson's lackadaisical attitude in right field. This was when Jackson was with the Orioles in 1976. I also witnessed first hand Jim Rice leg out a double on Jackson in 1977, which resulted in the famous Billy Martin brawl in the Yankees dugout when Reggie was recalled from the outfield in an egregious clash of egos.

It's true that Rice is not even close to the legend he replaced in left field, Carl Yastrzemski, as a total ballplayer, but his defense improved after a rocky start in his first two years and he had a powerful arm.

Statistical Averages Per Year:

Jackson (21 seasons)
Batting average = .262
On base percentage = .356
Slugging percentage = .490
HRs per year = 32
RBI per year = 98
Fielding percentage = .967

Rice (16 seasons)
Batting average = .298
On base percentage = .352
Slugging percentage = .502
HRs per year = 30
RBI per year = 113
Fielding percentage = .980

Now someone has to rectify the injustice done to Pete Rose and Shoeless Joe Jackson, then all will be right with the world.

Patriots Reports Week 16

The Patriots lost so to speak even though they finished with an 11-5 record -- something that's only happened to one other team since 1970. Most in New England predicted a collapse after Brady went down. They may have finished 16-0 once again with Tom Brady, but we will never know. All we know is that a second string quarterback did the unthinkable and they won 11 games with Matt Cassel and an injury depleted defense.

Unless the Dolphins go on to win some games in the post-season, there is no reason to rue the outcome. I leave you with Barack Abdul-Ali's brilliant analysis, which is mostly right except for the myth that I don't own a Patriots t-shirt. The Pats did better than anyone predicted -- except for a few sage experts -- as Barack points out here. In the meantime, he deserves to be excited about the Dolphins no matter what the outcome of the Raven's game in week 17.

Who knew Jay would be so right?

"11-5 that was my prediction at the beginning of the year when Brady went down." - Jay Rogers

It was uncanny. The Pats actually ended the season at 11-5. Good job, Jay!

Too bad you were wrong on your prediction for the Dolphins.

"They can't do better than 6-10 (and I'm being really generous)". - Jay Rogers

Sadly, you were wrong by 5 games. No doubt the number of sacks endured by Matt Cassel had you feeling a bit woozy this year, so I'll be nice about it.

Okay, no I won't.

The Dolphins single-handedly removed the stinkin' Jets and the Patriots from the playoffs yesterday in their masterful triumph over the stinkin NY Jets. A 2-for-1 Christmas gift for everyone in Miami. Even the Bills were thankful for the Fins this year as they didn't want to see the Pats take the AFC East title again.

Now, the Jets are in complete disarray as we own their prior quarterback who ended the season as the most accurate passer in the league and even surpassed Dan Marino's single-season accuracy rating to win a franchise record. They fired Mangini today (rightfully so). As did the Browns fire Crennel. Both were Belichick assistant coaches and got their jobs on Belichick's coat tails.

How much longer will the Pats hold onto video-gate Belichick who has done nothing since his cheatin' ways have been exposed? Hard to say. But when you look at the abysmal success his assistant coaches had as NFL head coaches, you wonder how much of the Pats prior success was Belichick's "inside information" and how much was just good coaching.

But we can all agree that there is a good chance that normalcy has returned to the AFC East this year. The Pats will slowly fade into a QB controversy and, eventually, oblivion. The Jets are falling back to their healthy 3rd place as they usually have.

And the Bills stand every chance of being a major contender next year - with the Fins too of course.

As Matt would say, "I await your pathetic sophomoric reply", but in actuality, I don't. I'm patiently awaiting next week's playoff game against the Ravens in Miami instead. I hold no illusions, but I'm hopeful.

As for Jay and his beloved Pats, for which he owns no clothing for, the good news is he can stock up this year as there could very well be bargain-bin prices on Patriots jerseys right now. Stock up, Jay. That's what I did last year when the Fins were 1-15 last year before they accomplished the greatest single-season turnaround in NFL history this year and possibly all of sports. Not counting, of course, the lame Red Sox who did a pretty good job of finally winning a championship after losing 87 years in a row.

The other good news for the Pats is that they "can rest," as Belichick said yesterday. Yes, resting ... that's what football is all about, right? Relaxing, kicking back, watching the tide roll in. Correct me if I'm wrong but wasn't that the very attitude that created the situation in which Brady didn't have to practice or play in pre-season this year and which quite likely contributed to his injury??? Oh well ... no use in crying over spilt quarterbacks. The Pats have a star quartersack, er, I mean back, in Matt Cassel now so they don't need that old washed up Brady anymore anyway. Or do they? Last I heard this morning there is a chance Brady might not be well into middle of next season!

So, go ahead Jay ... vote for the Ravens next week. I won't mind. But just remember how far you've fallen when you find yourself, a purebred Bostonian, supporting the filthy Baltimore thugs. Even I would be supporting the Pats (and my beloved AFC East) if the Fins weren't in - unless of course the Jets were the division leader. I haven't lost all my marbles!

And be happy the Pats won an NFL record at least.... First team in NFL history to win 11 games and NOT make the playoffs! You can thank your lovely inner-conference record for that choke.

Have a nice off-season!

- Barack

Patriots Report Week 15

I have to admit I was depressed by the Cowboys loss to the Ravens on Saturday night. I watched most of the game on NFL Network and had to suffer through the inept commentating. Despite the genius remarks of these pundits, Tony Romo played a great game. Had his defense not let us down, the Pats would be one win away from at least a wild card spot.

I thought this was the best chance the Pats had for the wild card. The Cowboys "would've, could've, should've" put the Ravens' post season hopes to rest about three or four times. But at this moment it is too painful to look back at that travesty. I wondered several times if this was really the NFL. That these two teams are playoff contenders is beyond me.

I predicted too that the Dolphins would commit the unlikely feat of falling to the 2-12 Kansas City Chiefs. You see, this pretender won its now 10-5 record by eking out these narrow wins over awful teams. I thought the emperor's new clothes would be exposed by the worst Chiefs team since the mythical Charlestown hockey team of the same moniker. The Fish were due for a fall to a bad team, but to no avail.

The hopes of the good guys now rested squarely on the shoulders of the 2-12 Seattle Seahawks defeating Brett Favre and "that other team from New Jersey." I wasn't too optimistic. These are the Seahawks. You know a bottom tier team when you look at its website and you can find its 2009 Cheerleader Calendar more easily than their stats or standings.

This was first time, and hopefully the last, that I "watched" a whole Jets game on NFL Game Center on the Internet. Amazingly the Jets were held to a field goal in Seattle. It almost seemed like a non-game that was over way too fast. I'll have to see the highlights to believe it. Brett Favre is supposedly good for at least 1 TD againstt a 2-12 team isn't he? Maybe it was something in the coffee?

So on to next week. I won't be presumptuous in assuming the Pats will defeat the Bills in Buffalo as a foregone conclusion. Let's just say I like the Pats' chances given the way Cassel played today -- passing for 345 yards and for three touchdowns.

But this is what it comes down to ...

There is little or no chance the Ravens are losing their last game. The Pats have to win and the Jets have to beat the Dolphins. The Pats can finish with the best record in the AFC East and take on Indy or Baltimore in the first round.

But how to predict what will happen? Obviously the Jets have to be favored. Both teams are stinking pretty bad right now. The game is in New York. The Jets are still playing to keep their hopes alive. Little justice would prevail by having one of these wannabes present the AFC East in the playoffs. And since 1990, when the league started sending six teams per conference to the playoffs, no 11-5 team has missed the post season. Simple mathematical probabilities will prevail.

So come week 17, I see Matt Cassel's Patriots peaking in time for the post season as dangerous division leaders favored to advance to the AFC Championship.

This season has been the most exciting and unlikely since 2001. Odd too, in that New England fans will be rooting for the Jets to win a game next week.

Ugghhh!

Now I know what Longfellow Deeds felt like:

Mr. Deeds:
You guys football fans? The Pats could take the conference this year. The Dolphins are overrated and the Jets are choke artists.

Helicopter pilot:
I wouldn't say that, Mr. Deeds.

Mr. Deeds:
Just Deeds. Why is that, though?

Helicopter pilot:
You own the Jets, Deeds.

Mr. Deeds:
I do? That sucks. I hope they don't play the Pats in the playoffs or I'll have to kill myself.

Are the Bruins next?

Six parades in nine years

Boston Globe: 73 percent of Pats fans think team will make playoffs

In a dramatic turnaround of hope, 73 percent of New England Patriots fans responded to a Boston Globe survey predicting the team would make the playoffs either as a wildcard team (60.6%) or winning the division outright (27.2%).

This is a dramatic turnaround from recent weeks when most fans thought the Pats had no chance. Why the reason for the change of heart?

First, the Pats have to win their remaining their remaining games. After seeing the performance of the offense in past weeks, most fans think they can beat the Cardinals at home and the Bills on the road.

Second, the Pats still need some help. Assuming the Pats finish 11-5, either the Baltimore Ravens have to lose a game, which would yield the last wilcard spot, or the Jets and the Dolphins both have go no better than 1-1 in the next two weeks.

Here is a graphic if you want to see for yourself.

Are the Celtics too good?

There was an interesting quote by Ray Allen in the Boston Globe today:

Teams want to win. This team had an effect on the rest of the league. After
all the moves that Danny made over the offseason to get all the guys here and
win the championship, teams were like, "Hey, maybe we can get into the feeding
frenzy over the summer with some guys that we know can play and can bring us to
the Promised Land." It's a disappointment. It's the expectation. Most teams can
be in rebuilding mode and you got the same coach and a terrible record, but
you're building your young players. When you bring in high-dollar players and
you're in the bottom of your division, it's a big load on you.

- Ray Allen

Whatever the reason, the NBA is the now the most lopsided of the four major sports. In baseball, teams such as Tampa Bay have shown us anything is possible year to year. The race in the NFL is the most interesting it has been in years. Hockey, of course, is as unpredictable as ever with 16 teams going to the playoffs. Baseball is the only pure championship series with only six teams qualifying after 162 games. No mediocre teams make it to the postseason. The same isn't true in the other three sports.

Nothing is like the lopsided dominance of the Celtics in the NBA. Allen's quote may seem arrogant to some, but his thinking belies the fact that for the best and the worst teams, the season's outcome is determined before it starts.

You may have seen the interesting taped conversation between the great Bill Russell and Kevin Garnett in which the legend tells the new Celtics superstar that he is going to win a few championships in a Celtics' jersey. At the time, I thought it was an incredibly presumptuous prediction, but then after last year's dominant win against a favored team, the Celts look like they are going to be the perennial favorite for at least the next few years.

With a 23-2 record and a .920 winning percentage, it looks like they are on pace for the best record ever, currently held by the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls at 72-10. This is one of the most difficult team records in sports to break. But it comes a year after the Patriots broke the record for most regular season wins.

Who knows how much further it can go beyond that? The Celtics have all the right pieces and can afford to build from the bottom up while this run lasts.

Patriots playoff chances

I won't go in depth into the complicated tie-breaker scenario for the Pats. There are six teams vying for four playoff spots. Every other team in contention, the Jets, Dolphins, Colts and Ravens have better records either in the division or the conference. Assuming the Pats finish 11-5, they still need one of these teams to lose a game (or two in the Colts' case) to eke out a Wild-Card spot.

In short, the best chance the pats have is to finish 11-5, which they have a good chance of doing. the Pats' post-season hope rests on the outcome of the Cowboys-Ravens game next Saturday. If the Ravens lose in a well-matched contest, the Pats are assured a wild card spot if they finish 11-5.

Other scenarios have either the Colts losing two -- or the Jets and Dolphins losing one each -- or either the Jets or Dolphins losing two in a row, which is much more unlikely given the matchups. If your a Pats fan, the Cowboys-Ravens game could be the whole season.