Sports Blog » 2009 » October

Fresh off of fantasy baseball and right in the middle of fantasy football, the start of the fantasy basketball season could not come at a more hectic time. Yet, here we are in week one of the NBA schedule with a few days of games already under our belts.

An NBA season is a grueling, 82 game marathon. And while most fantasy drafts have already been completed, fantasy basketball, perhaps more so than any other fantasy sport, is all about picking up free agents early in the season. During the early parts of a season head coaches are experimenting with different lineups and figuring out how to best utilize new players. As a result, you will see certain players surprise you with great production and others disappoint you with poor production.

The key to winning in fantasy basketball is determining early on which players off to a hot start are for real and which ones are imposters. Conversely, it is just as important to figure out which players off to slow starts are most likely to turn it around. This week we will take a look at players off to a hot start that should continue to make a positive impact on your fantasy team.

As always, the players recommended here are available in a majority of leagues because you do not need me to tell you that Lebron James is going to have a good fantasy season.

PG Randy Foye, Washington Wizards (Owned in 27.4 percent of ESPN leagues): Foye is technically a combo guard, but he is eligible to start in fantasy at both guard positions. A good sign for Foye is that in the Wizards’ first game of the season — a game in which Foye came off the bench — he logged more minutes (30) than starting shooting guard Mike Miller (22). Although he isn’t quite the three-point threat that Miller is, the fact that he can take over point guard duty for Gilbert Arenas makes me believe that he will continue to log more minutes than Miller this year. Plus, with Arenas’ laundry list of injuries, it is not absurd to assume that Foye will find himself as the starting point guard sometime this season.

SG Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors (Owned in 64.8 percent of ESPN leagues): Yes, I am well aware of head coach Don Nelson’s propensity for switching lineups more often than he does underwear, but Stephen Curry is too good to keep off of the floor. The rookie has a deadly outside shot and is somehow already more dependable than teammates Monta Ellis and Stephen Jackson, the latter of which is being actively shopped around the league.

SF Shane Battier, Houston Rockets (Owned in 54 percent of ESPN leagues): The fact that Battier is not owned in all but the shallowest of leagues is mind boggling. The Rockets are without their two biggest scoring threats (Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady), playing with a relatively inexperienced point guard (Aaron Brooks), and an offensively irrelevant center (Chuck Hayes). Someone has to put up fantasy points and they won’t all be coming from new teammate Trevor Ariza.

PF Yi Jianlian, New Jersey Nets (Owned in 5.3 percent of ESPN leagues): I’ll admit that he has been a mild disappointment thus far in his career, but let me remind you that he is only 22 years old and still learning the nuances of the NBA. He opened with a very strong game against the Minnesota Timberwolves (17 points, 12 rebounds, 2 blocks), and while it may be unrealistic to expect that level of production all season, I see him as a legit fantasy contributor in 12-team fantasy leagues.

C Marc Gasol, Memphis Grizzlies (Owned in 16.3 percent of ESPN leagues): The center position is arguably the toughest to fill in fantasy basketball, and this is especially true for leagues that require you start two of them. Gasol may not be as good of a scorer as Al Horford or the dominant shot blocker that Dwight Howard is, but he his above average in both and also grabs a lot of rebounds. The Grizzlies also have a lot of players that like to jack up a lot of bad shots early in the shot clock (Rudy Gay, O.J. Mayo, Allen Iverson, Zach Randolph), so if your fantasy league counts offensive rebounds as a category Gasol is even more valuable.

Halloween is often thought of as a holiday for children but it really is an occasion for both young and old to dress up and have some fun. With Halloween falling on a Saturday this year there will be even more reason to stay out late trick-or-treating or to attend a Halloween party with your family and friends.

A couple weeks ago we showed you some great sports related costumes for kids, but what about for those adults who look forward to celebrating the spookiest holiday of the year right alongside the kids? Well, if you plan to join in on the Halloween festivities but haven’t had the time to look for a costume there is no need to worry because we have tracked down some hilarious sports themed costumes for you to wear.

Baseball has a taught us a lot of things but perhaps nothing more important than this — chicks dig the long ball. And if sluggers of the last 20 years have taught us anything it is that to hit the ball longer than you ever thought possible all you need is to get “juiced” up. This “adult juiced body muscle costume” comes with muscle arms and baseball jersey and is currently on sale for $99.99.

Are you a fan of Will Ferrell? Did you enjoy the movie Semi Pro? If you answered yes to either of those questions (or even if you didn’t), this is the perfect costume for you. Party in style as fictional 70s basketball player Jackie Moon as this costume comes with an authentic Flint Tropics basketball jersey, white basketball shorts, and headband. Embrace your inner Ferrell and pick up this Jackie Moon costume for $29.99.

Whether you like it or not referees are an integral part of sports. Their calls on the field, like we saw this Major League Baseball post-season, can drastically change the course of a game. Harness that larger than life power with this larger than life costume. It comes with a one piece referee costume that has a flexible hoop inside so you can change just how fat you want to be. It is on sale for $39.99 and also comes with a penalty flag that you can throw at party-goers who spill their drinks.

Shop for more funny sports costumes at Smarter.com

People under the age of 25 might not realize it but men’s tennis in the United States was immensely popular in the 1980s and 1990s. And arguably no player during that time span was more popular than Andre Agassi, whose flashy clothing, abundance of charisma and undeniable talent made him one of the sport’s worlds biggest stars during his tennis career.

That is why it is so surprising that his soon to be released book, “Open: An Autobiography,” reveals that he used crystal meth during his playing career. The details of his use — like how much he used, how frequently he used and if he ever played while under the influence — are still unknown to the public but the fact that he has admitted to using the illegal drug is nothing short of shocking.

Maybe we shouldn’t be surprised to learn that another athlete has used drugs, but this case is a bit different than usual. Known performance enhancing drugs are often illegal and usually banned from professional sports, but at least they are used by athletes with the intent to enhance their game. While that doesn’t make it right to use them, it certainly has a different feel from a fan’s standpoint than an athlete using a recreational drug like crystal meth.

Unfortunately, we will have to wait until the book’s November 9 release date to find out more information. Until then, we are left with only questions about the latest athlete to fall from grace.

What do you think about the news? Is it better or worse than being caught for using performance enhancing drugs? Should an athletes personal life matter to fans?

After a nearly five month break in the action, the 2009-10 NBA season is finally upon us as the Boston Celtics head on the road to take on the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first of four games tonight. A lot has happened across the NBA since the Los Angeles Lakers took home the title last season, but one thing remains the same at the start of every season — all 30 teams start with the same record and have aspirations to be world champions.

And what better way to kick off the new season than with some fresh NBA gear and goodies. Whether you are looking to pick up a new jersey from a star that has changed teams (like Shaquille O’Neal, Allen Iverson, or Ben Gordon) or want to relive the season through an officially licensed NBA DVD, there are plenty of awesome NBA related items to check out.

Here are a few discounts from the NBA Store to help you get ready for the season:

While today may mark the start of a new season, there are still plenty of reasons to sport a Lakers’ championship t-shirt from last season. This “NBA Exclusive Collection Los Angeles Lakers “Got Rings?” T-Shirt proudly shows off the Lakers 15 championship titles and is currently on sale for $19.99.

Of all players that changed addresses this off-season, Shaq is literally the biggest. Some day he will end up in the hall of fame and be recognized as one of the best big men the game has ever seen, but this season all anybody will care about is whether or not he can help King James bring a title to Cleveland. Whether you are a fan of the Big Aristotle or the Cavs, make sure to grab his jersey while it is still on sale for $44.99.

One of the more memorable NBA stories of the summer was the induction of Michael Jordan into the basketball hall of fame. He is arguably the greatest player in NBA history and provided numerous breathtaking moments for fans throughout the years. Celebrate his greatness with the “NBA Ultimate Jordan: 20th Anniversary Collector’s Edition DVD” ( and see how one of the greatest of the past generation stacks up against players from the current one.

Shop for discount NBA gear at Smarter.com.

After grinding out 162 regular season games and nine playoff games, the New York Yankees finally punched their ticket to the World Series Sunday night with a 5-2 victory over the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. It will be the Yankees first trip to the big dance since 2003 when they lost to the Florida Marlins in six games. Although they have struggled sealing the deal this decade, the Yankees history is quite illustrious. This marks the 40th time they have won the American League pennant and a win over the Philadelphia Phillies in the World Series would be their 27th time winning it all.

Of course, the Phillies will more than put up a fight to defend their World Series crown. The match up features some of the best pitchers in the game (Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels, CC Sabathia, Mariano Rivera, etc.) as well as some of the leagues’ premier hitters in Ryan Howard and Alex Rodriguez. Game one is scheduled Wednesday in New York at a time to be determined.

Other baseball news: The Yankees victory over the Angels and subsequent berth in to the World Series was not the only piece of interesting baseball news over the weekend. After much debate in St. Louis over whether or not manager Tony La Russa would return to the club next year, it was announced that he and management agreed to a one year deal for 2010 that includes a mutual option for 2011. However, the real buzz surrounding the agreement was word that the Cardinals will be replacing hitting coach Hal McRae with a former slugger most recently known for his refusal to speak about the past during a Congressional hearing on steroids. That slugger is none other than Mark McGwire, who was coached by La Russa during his time with the Cardinals and Oakland Athletics.

College football: For those of you (like me) who do not like the BCS and desperately want to see a playoff system implemented, the storm clouds have started to brew with the most recent set of BCS rankings. The top four teams in the current standings — Florida, Alabama, Texas and Iowa — are all undefeated and barring an upset, three of those teams will likely end the season that way. A one-loss USC team comes in at number five and is followed by another set of undefeated teams in TCU, Boise State and Cincinnati. Even if only half of these top-eight teams win out we are looking at plenty of BCS drama and will hopefully move one step closer to a playoff system.

NFL: After seven weeks of play there are still three undefeated teams (Indianapolis Colts, Denver Broncos, and New Orleans Saints) attempting to join the 1972 Miami Dolphins in the NFL history books. The Dolphins ran the table that year and remain the only team to have ever completed a perfect season. The field was nearly trimmed down to two teams this week as the Saints struggled against, ironically, the Dolphins. The Saints found themselves down 34-24 at the end of the third quarter but scored 22 unanswered points in the fourth to secure the victory.

What do you think was the biggest story of the weekend? What are you looking forward to the most this week? Let us know in the comments section below.

As we approach the halfway point of the fantasy football season, the importance of winning each week seems to be magnified tenfold. This is especially true for teams that would not be in the playoffs if they were to start today. For those on the outside looking in it is easy to fall into a panic, but regardless of your current record and roster predicaments there is still time to turn it around.

Even if the future looks bleak because Matt Forte, Tony Romo, and the once mighty Steve Smith (Carolina version) have all disappointed your team thus far, there is still value on the waiver wire that can help you get a win this week. None of these guys are going to carry your team to victory like Tom Brady and his six touchdowns did last week, but they are good bye week replacements that could potentially become serviceable starters.

QB Matt Cassel (Owned in 78.5 percent of ESPN leagues): He laid a big goose egg in week one against the Baltimore Ravens but has been surprisingly dependable since. Cassel has scored double digit fantasy points in four of his last five games and finally seems to be clicking with wide receiver Dwayne Bowe. He also has the fortune of playing at home against the San Diego Chargers, which allowed 18 fantasy points to the less than prolific Kyle Orton and 21 points to Ben Roethlisberger and the suddenly pass-happy Pittsburgh Steelers.

RB Mike Bell (Owned in 49.7 percent of ESPN leagues): Conventional wisdom says to sit Bell because he is going against one of the best run defenses in the NFL in the Miami Dolphins. To that I respond — there are six teams on their bye week and sometimes you have to take risks. Look, while Bell has split time with Pierre Thomas he also has become the go-to guy on the goal line. Goal line carries lead to rushing touchdowns and the Dolphins allowed two of those last week against the New York Jets.

WR Hakeem Nicks (Owned in 25.1 percent of ESPN leagues): Of the big three wide receivers on the New York Giants, do you know which is the only one to post double digit fantasy points the last three weeks? You may be surprised to learn that it is Nicks, who has quietly been flying under the radar due to the emergence of the new Steve Smith and the endless hype of Mario Manningham. Look for Nicks to extend his streak to four games as the G-Men face the Arizona Cardinals, who have given up the 7th most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers this season.

Any defense that is not the Tennessee Titans: If you would have told me before the season that the Titans would be the worst ranked fantasy defense in the NFL, I simply wouldn’t have believed you. Yet, six weeks and three negative scoring games later that is exactly where we stand. Somehow the Titans are still owned in a mind boggling 50.4 percent of leagues, but with this being their bye week it is the perfect time for all you hanger-oners to let go of the past. A few interesting defenses to consider that are widely available — the New England Patriots (11th ranked defense), Cincinnati Bengals (13th ranked defense), and Indianapolis Colts (16th ranked defense).

For more fantasy advice right up to kickoff, follow me on Twitter @davidcarrillo.

Image Source: Arrowhead Pride

With a 10-4 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers Tuesday night, the Philadelphia Phillies have earned a trip to their second consecutive World Series. They scored runs at will against the Dodgers and showed why they are the reigning champions of Major League Baseball.

Their play hasn’t just been good — it has been historically good. They are attempting to become only the fourth National League team to win back to back World Series and the first since the Cincinnati Reds did it in 1975-76.

And what better way to celebrate this tremendous achievement than with your very own Philadelphia Phillies World Series gear! Fastball Fanatics has some great deals on Phillies swag that can be delivered in time for you to show it off while watching game one of this year’s World Series.

This “majestic Philadelphia Phillies red 2009 World Series bound fan favorite hoody sweatshirt” is the perfect piece of Phillie clothing. It will keep you warm if you are lucky enough to tail gate a game and can be worn through the rest of fall and winter. It is on sale for $49.95 and comes in sizes small through double-extra large.

The “Antigua Philadelphia Phillies red 2009 NLCS Champions back to back champs performance polo” allows you to sport your Phillies pride while enjoying a round of golf or a day at the office. It is also on sale for $49.95 and comes in sizes medium through triple-extra large.

One of the most popular ways to share your love of the Phillies is with one of the “Philadelphia Phillies 2009 NLCS Champions red car flags.” They are simple to attach to your car or truck and will show everyone on the road your passion for the Phillies. These 12″ x 15″ car flag comes complete with 21″ pole and are currently on sale for $12.95.

Shop for more affordable Phillies gear at Smarter.com.

One day after the Los Angeles Dodgers lost to the Philadelphia Phillies — giving the Phillies a 3-1 lead in the series — the Los Angeles Angels decided to do the same. They were absolutely shellacked by the New York Yankees, losing at home 10-1 Tuesday night. The blowout put the Yankees up 3-1 in the series and gives them the chance on Thursday to bounce the Angels from the playoffs and return to the World Series for the first time since 2003.

CC Sabathia was dominant once again and picked up his second win of the series. He pitched eight innings of mostly error free ball, allowing only five hits while tossing five strikeouts. His only blemish was allowing a solo home run to Kendry Morales in the fifth inning, but was otherwise untouchable. Alex Rodriguez also had an impressive outing, reaching base on three of his four at-bats and homering in his third consecutive game. Rodriguez has taken a lot of flack the past few years for his post season struggles, but with his recent performances he is making his case to be the next Mr. October.

With the game not close after the third inning, the most interesting part of the contest was the work of the umpires. They incorrectly called Nick Swisher safe at second base in the fourth inning during a pickoff attempt, then later in that same inning incorrectly called him out for leaving third base too early while attempting to tag up on a pop out. In the fifth inning the Angels once again received the shaft, this time when catcher Mike Napoli tagged out Robinson Cano and Jorge Posada but crew chief Tim McClelland declared that only Posada was out.

These three blown calls may get swept under the rug because the game was a runaway, but bad officiating has plagued the MLB playoffs and become a justifiable topic of debate. Don’t believe me? Just ask any Minnesota Twins fans who watched umpires foul up their chances with bad calls during their divisional series against the Yankees.

What do you think? Has officiating been that bad or has the media been over reacting? Is it time for MLB to extend the use replay?

Image Source: News Observer

GOLD

Jermichael Finley, GB, TE, vs. Detroit
Forecast: 5 catches, 63 yards, 1 TD (14 points)
Finley should be in line for a big game this week. Detroit has given up 6 TD’s to Tight Ends this year and should have trouble covering all of Green Bay’s weapons. If the Lions focus on the WRs then Finley should have a huge day over the middle.

Nate Burleson, SEA, WR, vs. Arizona
Forecast: 7 catches, 77 yards, 1 TD (16 points)
One of the most underrated WRs in the league is set to have another big game at home. He has 22 catches, 281 yards and 3 TDs in 3 games. Look for this to continue against a Cardinals team giving up plenty yards in the air.

Matt Hasselbeck, SEA, QB, vs. Arizona
Forecast: 301 passing yards, 3 TD, 1 Int, 10 rushing yards (23 points)
Like I said Arizona can be beat in the air and Seattle has plenty of weapons to do it with. Look for Matt to spread the wealth again for another big week.

Pierre Thomas, NO, RB, vs. NY Giants
Forecast: 16 carries, 96 yards, 2 catches, 24 yards, 1 TD (18 points)
Thomas has been great since his return from his knee injury. With teams keying on Brees and the passing game, Thomas has dominated on the ground averaging 106 yards and a TD. Even better is he can also catch the ball. Keep riding the wave.

Todd Heap, BAL, TE, @ Minnesota
Forecast: 5 catches, 45 yards, 1 TD (13 points)
Minnesota has allowed the most fantasy points to TEs this so Heap should be the next TE to go off against them. Don’t be surprised if he scores this week.

LaDainian Tomlinson, SD, RB, vs. Denver
Forecast: 20 carries, 72 yards, 3 catches, 15 yards, 1 TD (16 points)
Tomlinson has scored in 6 straight MNF games. And even though the Denver D is improved I see him keeping that streak alive especially after coming off a bye week.

Jake Delhomme, CAR, QB, @ Tampa Bay
Forecast: 265 passing yards, 3 TD, 1 Int (20 points)
Jake should have his best game of the year this week going against the bad Tampa Bay defense. This is one week that he is actually ok to start so take advantage if you need a QB this week

Vincent Jackson, SD, WR, vs. Denver
Forecast: 6 catches, 105 yards, 1 TD (17 points)
Jackson has been good all season and I see that continuing especially with the Chargers coming off a bye. Start him with confidence.

COLD

Julius Jones, SEA, RB, vs. Arizona
Forecast: 13 carries, 38 yards, 2 catches, 10 yards, 0 TD (6 points)
The way to beat Arizona is in the air, they actually have a pretty good run defense. So this week I don’t see Jones having a good game especially when he is splitting with Edge.

Eddie Royal, DEN, WR, @ San Diego
Forecast: 3 catches, 34 yards, 0 TD (4 points)
Royal finally broke out this year, the thing is how long will it continue. I don’t see it happening again this week against a mad SD defense

Michael Bush, OAK, RB, vs. Philadelphia
Forecast: 16 carries, 35 yards, 1 catch, 6 yards, 0 TD (4 points)
There is no reason to start any Raiders this game against a great Eagles defense.

Jamal Lewis, CLE, RB, @ Pittsburgh
Forecast: 15 carries, 44 yards, 0 TD (4 points)
Last weeks surprise big game won’t happen again this week when the Steelers are ready for it.

Steve Smith, NYG, WR, @ New Orleans
Forecast: 4 catches, 45 yards, 0 TD (6 points)
Saints surprisingly pretty good in pass coverage and Eli could be hurt. Downgrade expectations.

Last weeks results:
GOLD
Jerome Harrison, CLE, RB, @ Buffalo                                                        LOSS
Forecast: 22 carries, 84 yards, 5 catches, 24 yards, 1 TD (20 points)
Actual: 8 carries, 21 yards, 0 catches, 0 TD (2 points)

Glen Coffee, SF, RB, VS. Atlanta                                                                    WIN
Forecast: 25 carries, 77 yards, 4 catches, 26 yards, 1 TD (18 points)
Actual: 12 carries, 45 yards, 4 catches, 21 yards, 1 TD (15.5 points)

David Garrard, JAX, QB, @ Seattle                                                            LOSS
Forecast: 265 passing yards, 2 TD, 1 Int, 20 rushing yards (18 points
Actual: 188 passing yards,0 TD, 1 rushing yard (7.5 points)

Tashard Choice, DAL, RB, @Kansas City                                                 WIN
Forecast: 17 carries, 77 yards, 5 catches, 44 yards, 1 TD (22 points)
Actual: 8 carries, 95 yards, 1 TD (15.5 points)

Nate Washington, TEN, WR, VS. Indianapolis                                 LOSS
Forecast: 6 catches, 89 yards, 1 TD (16 points)
Actual: 3 catches, 37 yards, 0 TD (4.5 points)\

John Carlson, SEA, TE, VS. Jacksonville                                           LOSS
Forecast: 6 catches, 50 yards, 1 TD (14 points)
Actual: 2 catches, 31 yards, 0 TD (2.5 points)

Knowshon Moreno, DEN, RB, VS. New England                               WIN
Forecast: 18 carries, 83 yards, 4 catches, 20 yards (13 points)
Actual: 21 carries, 88 yards, 4 catches, 36 yards,1 lost Fum (12.5 points)

Braylon Edwards, NYJ, WR, @ Miami                                                WIN
Forecast: 4 catches, 60 yards, 1 TD (13 points)
Actual: 5 catches, 64 yards, 1 TD (14 points)
                                                                                                      ___________

                                                                                   Week:        4-4(50%)

COLD
Tony Gonzalez, ATL, TE, @ San Francisco                                 WIN
Forecast: 4 catches, 34 yards, 0 TD ( 6 points)
Actual: 6 catches, 55 yards, TD (8 points)
Steve Smith, NYG, WR, VS. Oakland                                               WIN
Forecast: 3 catches, 34 yards, 0 TD (4 points)
Actual: 3 catches, 70 yards, 0 TD (6.5 points)
Joseph Addai, IND, RB, @ Tennessee                                               LOSS
Forecast: 12 carries, 37 yards, 4 catches, 21 yards, 0 TD (8 points)
Actual: 14 carries, 27 yards, 10 catches, 53 yards, 1 TD (20 points)
Thomas Jones, NYJ, RB, @ Miami                                                  LOSS
Forecast: 16 carries, 45 yards, 1 catch, 4 yards, 0 TD (5 points)
Actual: 13 carries, 42 yards, 2 TD (16 points)
Michael Turner, ATL, RB, @ San Francisco                                 LOSS
Forecast: 25 carries, 59 yards, 1 catch, 6 yards, 0 TD (6 points)
Actual: 22 carries, 97 yards, 3 TD (27 points)
_____________

                                                                                           WEEK: 2-3(40%)

look to previous weeks for scoring benchmarks

Image source: AP

Baseball’s Championship Series are finally upon us. This year there are 4 legit teams that can win the World Series, so it should make for some exciting games. Here’s how they match up head to head.

Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Philadelphia Phillies
Starting Pitching: The Phillies have two aces in Cole Hamels and Cliff Lee that can dominate any series. There is a bit of a mystery of who else will start for the Phillies, but they have some solid capable guys. The Dodgers though they don’t have a clear cut ace pitcher have some great depth. Their Game 1 starter, Clayton Kershaw, is only 21 years but has excellent stuff. The Dodgers’ pitchers are going to have to step up if they want to win the series.

Advantage: Phillies
Lineup: Both lineups are very good but in a head-to-head match up there aren’t very many line ups better than the Phillies. They have power and speed through out and not to mention some MVP’s. The Dodgers are also strong 1-8 but they are a little young and haven’t proved it on this stage yet

Advantage: Phillies
Defense: Like the line ups both are very solid defensively. They are solid around the infield and behind the plate. The key will be the weak links in left, Manny Ramirez and Raul Ibanez. This is a tossup but I will give it to Manny at least hasn’t made any errors.

Advantage: Dodgers
Bullpen: This is the easiest one to call. The Phillies struggles in the Bullpen have been well documented. The Dodgers on the other hand have arm after arm that they can throw at you. This is a huge advantage for the Dodgers.

Advantage: Dodgers
Bench: When you have Orlando Hudson, Juan Pierre, Mark Loretta and Jim Thome I’d say you have a pretty strong bench. Phillies have some solid players too but can’t compare to Dodgers bench.

Advantage: Dodgers
Manager: Who would you rather have Joe Torre or Charlie Manual? Exactly.

Advantage: Dodgers
Verdict: Dodgers in 6 games

ALCS
Los Angeles Angels vs. New York Yankees
Starting Pitching: Yankees paid top dollar for their starting pitching this off-season but only trust 3 for this series. The Angels have quality from top to bottom. This is very close but I give the advantage to the Angels with their depth.

Advantage: Angels
Lineup: Everyone knows the power of the Yankees lineup and from top to bottom it is one of the best ever. The Angels are no slouch either. They are also solid from top to bottom but with a lot less power. Their advantage though is in speed but it isn’t enough to overtake the Yanks line up.

Advantage: Yankees
Defense: Both are great defensively but all around the Angels are slightly better. They have strong arms in the outfield and great range in the infield. I give them the slight advantage.

Advantage: Angels
Bullpen: When you have Mariano Rivera closing out games you are in good hands. The Yankees also have good people in front of him to get the game to Rivera. Angels are pretty good too, but not as solid as the Yanks.

Advantage: Yankees
Bench: The Yankees will have an advantage here when Posada is there for two games during this series other than that it is a tossup. I’m giving to the Yanks based off that

Advantage: Yankees
Manager: Soccia has more experience managing in the playoffs.
Advantage: Angels
Verdict: Angels in 6

Shop for MLB memorabillia at Smarter.com.