Some Sports Thoughts

The Yankee season is off and running:

• CC Sabathia is going to be a workhorse. As long as he stays healthy, he is incapable of not having a great year
• AJ Burnett has insane command of his fastball right now. I was really skeptical of his signing, but if he keeps pitching this way and remains healthy, he is going to have a monster year.
• The bullpen, besides Mo obviously, is pathetic. Borderline worst in the American League. And for those that say Joba should be in the pen still, get over it. Nolan Ryan would have been a pretty good setup man too. If we’re going to use the logic that we need him in the pen now and stunt his starter development, then why not send Pettitte to the pen and bring up Hughes for the #4 spot? Because it doesn’t make sense. Cashman needs to add another arm or two, it is that simple.
• Nick Swisher is playing great ball and seems like a cool dude. Hard to believe we acquired him for Wilson Betemit.
• Captain GIDP (Jeter) is off to a slow start. I think he has another year or two in him to leadoff and play SS, but depending on his offensive production this year, it is time to have the discussion of when he will move to the OF or swap positions with A-Rod.
• Brett Gardner is proving why he won the center field position battle this spring. Kid is a freakin spark plug out there.

The Buffalo Bills schedule was released:

• It looks more difficult than it is
• Opening in New England on Monday Night has to be an expected loss, but a win could really set the tone for a great season
• Assume two losses to New England, a loss to Indianapolis, splitting with Miami and the Jets, and a throw in loss to Tennessee and Carolina – The team could be looking at a 9-7 record
• That said, it wouldn’t surprise me if they went 5-11 or 13-3. This team is just so fickle.
• A lot of people are complaining that the Toronto game this year is a primetime game (Thursday night on the NFL Network). Chalk me up to one of those who is glad they chose this game. I am not going to go to a Thursday night game. Canada and the US get to see the Buffalo Bills in a primetime spot. And it gives me an excuse to go out that night (I don’t have NFL Network). Win win all around there. Much better than taking a Sunday game I could actually go to.
• Donte Whitner’s arrest? He was drunk and trying to be a tough guy. I get it. Is it excusable? Yes. I guess it would just have been refreshing to see an athlete, who is also a team captain, not get himself into that kind of situation. Why do people go to clubs again? Seriously? Bunch of coin, glitter dresses, and drunk jerks. I don’t get that whole scene.

Other musings:

• Greg Paulus worked out for the Green Bay Packers last week and met with Michigan Head Coach Rich Rodriguez about playing football for the Wolverines this season. Since he does have one year of football eligibility available, I would advise him to go to Michigan and see how it goes. If he’s great, he’s an NFL player in next year’s draft. If it blows up, he is only a kid and would probably have a lot of fun playing college football. There is going to be plenty of time to coach basketball or go to graduate school or whatever he wants to do. If he doesn’t go to Michigan, he’ll regret it.
• That Masters tournament was an awful lot of fun to watch. Having the world’s two best players duel it out hole after hole was really something memorable. While neither Tiger or Phil won, how they scraped their way back into contention after being seven back to start the day is what I’ll remember from the ’09 Masters.
• Can anyone tell me how Maurice Jones-Drew got a four-year, $32.8 million contract? I am not even convinced he’s a starting running back, let alone one of the top 3 paid RB’s.
• Percy Harvin is going to fall out of the first round of the draft. Mark my words. BTW, I’m working on a mock draft for the upcoming NFL draft.
• I can’t wait for the NBA playoffs. While the West has some really dangerous teams, with Bynum healthy in in Los Angeles, I don’t see anyone beating the Lakers. In the East, Cleveland is just too good at home. They’ll win at home and get theirs on the road. Boston just looks a year too old and Cleveland has too much momentum.
• LeBron is going to win the MVP Award. This is LeBron’s world and we are all just living in it. We are all witnesses. Yeah, scary.