Can't tell if I'm more excited about the pending World Series or the start of the new season for our hometown Washington Wizards.
WORLD SERIES
As a baseball fan, I'm very excited and intrigued by the Yankees-Phillies match up. Traditionally, I root for the National League in the Series, and even though that means supporting a team I genuinely dislike in the Phillies having the Yankees represent the AL makes it a no-brainer.
A quick analysis of the Series - and especially the pitching - reveals two juicy pieces of info.
One, the Phillies have better starting pitching; I like having Pedro Martinez pitch game two and having Cliff Lee and Pedro start 4 or 5 games in a seven-game series. I also have no faith in the Yankees' A.J. Burnett.
Two, that advantage is negated by left-hander CC Sabathia, who could start three times if the World Series goes seven games.
The Phils are very vulnerable to lefties, so starting pitching could be a wash when comparing the two teams.
The bullpen match up is interesting too, but with the quality of starting pitching one wonders if anyone other than Mariano Rivera will come in for New York. The middle relievers for the Yankees have looked unsteady in the post season while the Phillies' relievers - even Brad Lidge - have looked good.
Even though I want the Phillies to defeat the Yankees if CC Sabathia outpitches Cliff Lee - and controls Ryan Howard and company - in games 1 and 4 New York will likely win their 27th championship. But I expect Pedro and Cole Hamels to outpitch Burnett and Andy Petite - so if Sabathia faulters the Phillies could become the first repeat National Champion since the Big Red Machine in the middle-70s.
Wizards Start 1-0
I got really excited watching the Wizards defeat Dallas last night. Gilbert Arenas looked fantastic, with no-ill effects from his two knee surgeries. He drove and dished, drove and finished, hit long range and mid range jumpers, and looked once again like one of the NBA's elite level talents.
But this entire squad is talented. Randy Foye had a great game, hitting jump shots and taking it to the rack, and finished in double figures. He and Mike Miller, who had 8 rebounds, are a significant infusion of talent for the Wizards; hard to believe Washington gave up stiffs like Etan Thomas and Darius Songaila in exchange for those two. Third newcomer Fabricio Oberto had a great fourth quarter and helped the Wizards put the game away with two big offensive boards, a nice put-back, and some nifty give-and-goes with Arenas.
And I haven't even mentioned Andray Blatche, who hit a variety of shots - everything from dunks to 17-18 footers - and looked confident and focused on his way to 16 points off the bench.
Finally, my man Brendan Haywood finished with 7 (on only 3 of 10 shooting) and 10 boards. Offensively, he carried the Zards for a stretch in the first half when Arenas was primarily dishing. Defensively, he was key on rotations and on the boards. New coach Flip Sanders rewarded that effort by giving B-Hay 38 minutes.
It was only one game, but this team looks like it should be one of the elite teams, along with Boston, Cleveland and Orlando, in the Eastern Conference. Go Wizards!
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