Opening Day 2013 With MLB Season Preview and Predictions

To quote ESPN’s baseball commercial, “Opening Day isn’t a day, it’s a feeling.” and the feeling I get brings me right back to my playing days. Opening Day where I played my Little League ball was somewhat of a big deal. I didn’t mind waking up early on this day. I remember getting in my uniform and meeting up with my team in a huge parking lot with every team in the town, from Little League all the way down to t-ball. From there we would commence in the town’s Opening Day parade, where all would march from the center of town all the way down to the Little League complex where we played our games. Once there, everyone would gather on the outfield grass, listening to whoever the guest speaker was that year. I don’t recall anything from those speakers except when they finished with “PLAY BALL!” to begin the season and the day’s slate of games.

The crisp and fresh air of Spring, lacing up the cleats, picking up the ball for the first time to warm up with some catch, the sound of a metal (or wood in high school) bat makes after contact, stacking up on some Big League Chew and sunflower seeds, stepping on the field for the first time, the thrill of the first pitch and the excitement of your first at bat to kick things off. As you can tell, I miss it. Those are just some of the feelings and memories I have and will never forget. There is nothing like Opening Day in any sport, but America’s Pastime will always have a special aura behind it.

Ok, now on to the real stuff. So, what’s going on in the MLB this year?

Carlos Boozer Gives Ref Something To Smile About

 

Referee Danny Crawford gets a little pleasant present from Chicago Bulls forward Carlos Boozer.

CWILL’S ELITE 8 PREVIEW

EAST REGION

(4) Syracuse vs. (3) Marquette: Although I didn’t have Marquette getting past Miami last round, I do think it’s fitting that they will play Syracuse in what will be their last meeting against one another as members of the Big East. The familiarity between these two will make this a much tougher match for Syracuse, who stifled Indiana with their zone in the Sweet Sixteen. In their only meeting during the regular season, Marquette came out on top 74-71 fueled by a 26 point effort from Devante Gardner. I expect this game to play out in a similar fashion,  but with the Orange edging out Marquette after a competitive 40 minutes of ball. I’m not sure if the Eagle’s can expect another performance out of Gardner like he gave them in their match up in February, but I do think that he, along with Jamil Wilson, can provide a spark of Marquette’s bench to keep it close. Still, I’m rolling with ‘Cuse , if only for the same reason that I knew they would beat Indiana. The 2-3 zone is going to make it tougher the bigs of the Eagles to really be effective when it matters most.  Pick: Syracuse 

MPT’S ELITE 8 PREVIEW

WEST REGION

(2) Ohio State vs. (9) Wichita State

Ohio State squeaked by Arizona to advance to their 2^nd straight Elite 8 on a last second shot for the second game in a row. The ending of that game left me thinking how were the Buckeyes able to run the same play for the second straight game and how were they left with that much room to shoot in a crucial spot? Did Arizona not watch and learn from Iowa State’s mistake? Deshaun Thomas again led the way with 20 points for the Buckeyes. It also seems that Ohio State has finally found some consistent scoring outside of Thomas in the form of LaQuinton Ross. Ross scored 17 points in each of the last two games, including the game-winner against Arizona. If this continues, it makes this Ohio State team a real threat for the national title.

Wichita State just loves to prove me wrong. They advance to the Elite 8 for the first time since 1981. In my Sweet 16 preview, I stated that Carl Hall and Malcolm Armstead needed to step up their games if they wanted to advance and that they did. Hall finished with 16 points, 8 rebounds and 4 blocks in his best game of the tournament. Armstead was on fire in the second half. He went on to rack up 18 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals. This was with leading scorer Cleanthony Early having an off game. Early will need to bounce back if the Shockers want to advance to their first Final 4 since 1965.

Personnel wise, these two teams are similar and match up well against each other. Based on that, it should produce a good game. So far, I’ve picked against both Wichita State (except vs. Pitt) and Ohio State in every round, they end up winning every single time. Something’s got to give. Pick: Ohio State (this should mean Wichita State will win)

CWILL’S SWEET 16 PREVIEW

MIDWEST REGION

(1)    Louisville vs. (12) Oregon: If the first two games of the tournament proved anything, it was that the selection committee made a mistake regarding their seeding of Oregon. The Ducks not only proved that they belong in the tournament, they also showed that they could play with the best of them in beating Oklahoma State 68-55, then Saint Louis  74-57. Yet for all the praise I have bestowed upon Oregon so far, tonight is the night their season comes to a close. Louisville has been dialed in so far this tournament, beating their first two opponents (N.C. A&T, Colorado State) by an average of 28.5 points per game.  I don’t think this one will be a blow out of the same magnitude, but I am expecting the Cards to win by a comfortable margin of 12+ points. If Russ Smith continues scoring at the rate he has already (25 ppg through the first 2 games), then it’s going to be hard for anyone to stop Louisville going forward.

MPT’S SWEET 16 PREVIEW

MIDWEST REGION

(1) Louisville vs. (12) Oregon

Louisville enter their 4^th Sweet 16 appearance in the past 6 years and look to advance to the Elite 8 for 4^th time in the past 6 years as well. They say experience and strong guard play lead to a deep run in the tourney and Louisville has both. The Cardinals are led by the tournament’s best backcourt duo in senior Peyton Siva (8.0 ppg 6.5 apg) and junior Russ Smith (25.0 ppg 5.0 spg). The two combine to average 33 points, 9 assists and 8 steals a game through the tournament so far.

Oregon has shown everyone that they were vastly underrated as a #12 seed. The Ducks resume should have warranted at least a #7 seed and can be argued that they should have been a #6 seed. Oregon arrives to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2007 behind the strong play of Arsalan Kazemi and Damyean Dotson. Through two tournament games, Kazemi is averaging 9.5 points and an eye-popping 16.5 rebounds. Dotson has lead the Ducks in scoring with 20.0 points a game. Carlos Emory has helped supply secondary scoring off the bench, averaging 13.0 points.

Sticking with my pick to win it all in my bracket, Louisville’s guards and all-around defense take down the Ducks. Pick: Louisville

NHL TRADE TALK: Iginla to Penguins

Everyone in the hockey world went to bed with thoughts and dreams thinking that Jarome Iginla had been traded to the Boston Bruins. They woke up to the horror that the Pittsburgh Penguins had stolen Iginla right under the Bruins’ noses in the early hours this morning.

UNDERDOG CITY Part 2

While Florida Gulf Coast is a great story, lost in the mix is #13 seed La Salle. La Salle joins Florida Gulf Coast as the first two teams in NCAA tournament history seeded 13 or lower to advance to the Sweet 16. Before this year, the last time the Explorers were in the tournament was in 1992. Their last tournament win was in 1990. The last time La Salle at least went this far was 1955, when they lost in the championship game to Bill Russell and San Francisco. Their run to the Sweet 16 is great, as the exposure they get will help them down the road and solidifies the A-10 as a power conference. Their run is also just as impressive as Florida Gulf Coast.

UNDERDOG CITY Part 1

What a birthday present for the 16-year old Florida Gulf Coast University: a trip to the Sweet 16. How fitting. Better than what I got for my 16^th birthday (Tony Hawk’s Underground for PS2 for those who were wondering). Wait a second…the school is only 16 years old? You’re telling me I’m older than this school? When it opened back in 1997, I was in 4^th grade! What’s even more impressive than that, the basketball program is in its 10^th year and only its 2^nd year in Division 1. FGCU is the first #15 seed in history to advance to the Sweet 16 and is currently the only undefeated program in NCAA history as well. Talk about progress.

Despite all of the media coverage they get now, I have heard of Florida Gulf Coast before this. It was way back in the first month of the season in November, where they beat ACC Champs and #2 seed Miami. This was before Miami was even ranked and rose to the prominence they are at now, but were surely expected to beat this “no name” school. Later in that month, Florida Gulf Coast took on my alma mater of St. John’s University and the Eagles came away with a double-digit loss at the hands of the Red Storm (watch out for them in the next couple of years). With that, that was the last I heard of this FGCU team…

SOUTH REGION Second Round

(1) Kansas vs. (8) UNC: This is going to be a really good game. I can only imagine Roy Williams is feeling conflicted with the fact of going up against his former program, even if he left years ago and has won titles since. I like the match up in the post between McAdoo and Whithey, as it’s a classic “I’m athletic offensively” vs “I’m just too tall defensively” match up. In the end though, I think KU advances, winning by a small margin. I think Ben McLemore will rise to the occasion when the Jayhawks need him most to seal the deal for his team. Again, this team will be close, as both squads are lead by two terrific coaches.