Buy or Sell: Cincinnati Bengals

Well it's time to move onto the AFC North and there's no better place to start with then the reigning champions of the north--Cincinnati.

2009 Finish -- 10-6, 1st in the AFC North, wildcard playoff loss
Key Acquisitions -- WR Antonio Bryant, WR Matt Jones, TE Jermaine Gresham, CB Adam "Pacman" Jones, S Gibril Wilson
Key Departures -- K Shayne Graham

Well one would say that the Cincinnati Bengals had a pretty good off-season in terms of what they added and what they lost. But will it translate into finally going deep into the playoffs?

1. The two problem Jones' will have a positive impact on the Bengals. BUY.
Carson Palmer has desperately needed a big red zone threat for a long time and as long as Matt Jones stays clean and healthy he projects as the perfect guy for that. He's always had the talent to be a great wide receiver, but never the work ethic or off-the-field normalcy. That's going to change this off-season and Jones has a good chance to emerge as the Benglas number two receiver. As for Pacman Jones, he should do just fine as a nickel or dime corner and possibly as a return man. He's not going to have much responsibility, and he may not even make the final roster, but if he does, his responsibilities will be limited which will make it tough for him to have a negative impact at all on the Bengals very talented defense.


2. The Bengals were justified in giving Antonio Bryant big money. SELL.
What a disaster this is going to be. One year after they gave big money to aging receiver Laveranues Coles the Bengals decide to invest again at receiver and put big money into Bryant. While he's definitely in his proper role as the flanker, Bryant has been enormously inconsistent throughout his career. A lot of that stems from being the primary receiver on some really statistically unfriendly teams, but I think at this point in his career even if he's not a primary receiver that Bryant isn't going to command much attention from opposing defenses.

3. Carson Palmer will finally break out of his shell. SELL.
Palmer needs to work on keeping his arm healthy for a full sixteen game schedule and the playoffs. He hasn't been himself the last three seasons and it's really noticeable. I'm wondering how much longer Cincinnati is going to call Palmer their "franchise" quarterback when his health, consistency, and lack of winning start to really get examined.

4. When healthy the Bengals have the best defense in the AFC. BUY.
And if they stay healthy they can probably carry the team to a division title again. The Bengals won a ton of close games last year and often that doesn't carry over from year-to-year. But if Cincinnati stays healthy defensively they've got a terrific pass rush that all starts with Antwan Odom. A great run defense anchored by Domata Peko and Pat Sims. A terrific linebacking corps. that includes Dhani Jones, Rey Mauluga (who looked good to start last season) and Keith Rivers. The secondary is phenomenal with Joseph, Hall, and Jones at corner. Roy Williams has had a resurgence at strong safety with the Bengals and Cincinnati signed Gibril Wilson very under the radar to add a lot of depth to the position. They may have a better defense then New York...when healthy. They are very good, and in some cases elite, in every aspect of the defense.


5. The Bengals are legitimate Super Bowl contenders. SELL.
Sorry, but they're not. Carson Palmer simply isn't good enough. His arm seems to tire out after sixteen games and the team still doesn't seem to have the right stuff at receiver to compliment Chad Ochocinco. The running game is going to be excellent, and so is the defense, but the coaching staff doesn't seem to be able to motivate this team late in the season as the Bengals put up back-to-back dud performances against the Jets to end their year. The Bengals show us constantly that they can't play with the big boys and won six of their ten games within the division last year. That's very disproportionate and chances are they're not going to win all six this year. They're going to need to start winning more games out of division, but they will be facing the AFC East and NFC South as well as two division winners in their schedule. It's going to be tough to repeat as AFC North champs despite their talent level.

C'mon Blue! History Just Repeated Itself.

Selig can't ignore replay now! This is thanks to the horrible call by umpire Jim Joyce robbing Tigers pitcher Almando Galarraga of a perfect game, what would have been only the 21st perfect in baseball history and the 3rd this season (never before were there even 2 in the same year). However, the moment it happened one image immediately came to mind. That image is the other infamous umpire blunder at first base in baseball. Don Denkinger may be the only person who was secretly happy with Joyce's ultimate screw up just to finally have some company. Denkinger blew an obvious call at first base in game 6 of the 1985 World Series between the Kansas City Royals and St. Louis Cardinals. It would have been the last out of the game, just as Joyce's call would have been, and if the out was correctly delivered the Cards would have 11 championships right now in their rich history not just 10, the Red Birds had a 3-2 series lead at the time. Unfortunately for that great Cardinal team the runner was called safe, the Royals would go on to win that game, tie the series at 3, and then win game 7. That miss call helped to deliver Kansas City, now one of baseballs worst franchises, their first and so far only title. It also completed George Brett's Hall of Fame resume with finally earning him a ring that he failed to obtain 5 years earlier when his Royals suffered a Fall Classic loss as Mike Schmidt and Pete Rose broke the Phillies curse in 1980. While this ring was not necessary to cement Brett's legacy it certainly didn't hurt and more importantly without that championship the Royals may have moved from KC long ago. Luckily the Cardinal legend involved in that 85 series, Ozzie Smith, already had bling from 82, St. Louis defeated Roin Yount, Paul Molitor, and the Brew Crew that year.

Denkinger has quietly released a statement, following the horrendous mistake by a guy that he had previously worked side by side with for years, Jim Joyce. In this statement Denks came out in support of the use of replay for rare close plays on the bases like this, especially in these desperate circumstances. What a shocker right? The guy who will forever be known as "that fuckin ump" by Cardinal, National League, and baseball fans all over and through many generations, now supports taking a second look so another ump doesn't get that tag placed on him. I'm sure Joyce seconds that opinion. At least it seems due to the absolute class showed by Galarraga and Joyce equally that this may not cluster into the same disaster the missed call from the 85 series did. Galarraga said "no body's perfect, we all make mistakes" while Joyce admitted his gaff and provided a teary eyed apology to the pitcher, his teammates, the Tigers franchise (would have been first perfect game in the Tigers rich history), and to future Hall of Fame manager Jim Leyland, who he stated rightfully chewed him out following the game.

I will give it up to Joyce, you don't see honesty like that from an umpire or official of any sport everyday. Galarraga even made the ultimate baseball gesture, he handed Joyce the lineup before the start of the next days game, Joyce was ironically the home plate umpire for that contest not even 24 hours after his name became famous for all the wrong reasons. The pitcher who threw Major League Baseballs first 28* out perfect game was awarded a brand new car, gifts such as these are commonly presented to players following individual achievements by the teams owner. The Tigers felt he earned it regardless of if the record books show him to have thrown the 21st perfect game or 10th 1 hitter broken up on the last out in the oldest professional sport.

Try looking at these pics without rolling your eyes. I know I can't. Let's just hope insanely poor calls in big moments such as a World Series clinching game or the last out of a rare perfect outing by a pitcher do not become a once every 25 year routine or for that matter, based on the recent work by the men in blue, a once every 25 day routine. Do the right thing Selig, correct this mistake, give Galarraga the perfecto he earned, and take Joyce off the hook from his mental prison.

        OUT! 

OUT!

Buy or Sell: Los Angeles Lakers

1. Phil Jackson is leaving L.A. SELL. I'm sure most of you have heard of Phil Jackson's contract running out, Buss wants him to take a massive cut, and Chicago contacted Jackson through backchannels. This is an obvious ploy to lure LeBron James to the Windy City. The opportunity to have coached Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, LeBron James and Shaq is once in a lifetime, but Jackson is in a great situation right now. He is 64, he wont be coaching for much longer. He is in Hollywood, with the best player and the best team in the league, and has an opportunity for four 3-peats.

2. Trevor Ariza is a better fit than Ron Artest. SELL. Ariza was great last year, really came out of his shell in 2009. Ariza is only 24 and better long term, but Artest is certainly an immediate upgrade. Ariza gets the slight edge offensively, mostly because of Ron-Ron's poor shot selection, but L.A. already has the best scorer and offensive post player in the league so it's not that big of a loss. Artest is the second best perimeter defender of this era. The first is Kobe Bryant. The Lakers went from 6th to 4th in defensive rating from 2009 to 2010. Other than the Rodman style haircuts, he hasn't been the head-case he was in the past. Also like Rodman, Artest's hustle is unparalleled. I know it was his fault they were in the situation in the first place, but did you see him take out Richardson for that put-back? There's no doubt, Artest has made L.A. better.


3. Kobe Bryant is not as good as he used to be. BUY. Your shocked right? How could I of all people say that after I said he is having his best play-off run of his career. Well after a shaky series against a great defensive team in the Thunder, Kobe had the best possible match-ups for him and Los Angeles the next two rounds. Utah, who is an average defensive team, and Phoenix who are a sub-par defensive team. He is still the best player in the NBA, but do you see him dropping 81, or outscoring an entire team again? 2010 was the first time in five seasons Bryant hasn't had a 50 point game. He has aged very gracefully though, just as Jordan did.


4. Kobe Bryant doesn't care about the Celtics-Lakers rivalry. SELL. Bryant was quoted saying he didn't care about the rivalry, it's for other people to get exited for. LIAR. He can't honestly expect people to believe that he doesn't care about beating the team that humiliated him in 2008. A team that features Ray Allen, who he has a mutual disdain for.You think he doesn't care about potentially being just the the third Laker to win Finals MVP at the expense of Boston? Get real Kobe.

Buy or Sell: Boston Celtics

                        Are these playoffs a resurgence for KG? Is Rondo now the best Celtic?

Yes, I am stealing this from Alex. I enjoyed the his pieces on the AFC East, so I decided to do a Finals version.

1. Rajon Rondo is now the best player on the Celtics. BUY. The 2010 play-offs has been the coming out party for Rondo. Some would argue that he is not only the best Celtic, but the best point guard in basketball. This team still belongs to Pierce because of tenure, but who was it picking up the slack during Pierce's disappearance in the Semi-Finals against the heavily favored Cavaliers? Rondo is the nucleus of the 2010 Celtics championship campaign. His superior athleticism and court vision creates scoring opportunities for his teammates. On the defensive side of the ball, Rondo was the regular season leader in steals per game and total steals, and is the play-off leader in total steals. He is the Celtics best player on both sides of the ball, and if the Celtics win, Rondo will hoist the Bill Russell Finals MVP Trophy

2. Kevin Garnett has been revived this post-season. SELL. As I pointed out in my NBA Finals Preview there are major discrepancies between his play-off numbers now and his numbers in the past (especially if you go as far back as his Minnesota years) Do I expect him to have another 25+ 15+ and 5 play-off run like he used to? Of course not he's doing just as well as I expected him to do, but he is not playing as well as most think. Other than the second round where he put up a solid 18-8 this is the same Garnett we saw in the regular season. During the first round he averaged 15 and 8, just one point and one rebound above his regular season average. He was less effective in the Conference Finals averaging a pedestrian 10-8. His overall play-off averages are 14 and 8. I'm still waiting for his resurrection.

3. Paul Pierce and/or Ray Allen leave the Celtics this season. SELL. The true resurgence these play-offs has been Ray Allen. Other than Rondo, Allen has been the most consistent player for Boston. If Rondo has replaced anyone in the Big 3, it has been Garnett, not Allen. The Celtics are 9-1 when Allen scores over 18. Perhaps he is trying to prove himself after the Celtics put him on the market back in February. Allen is an unrestricted free agent on July 1st. I think he will agree to a short-term deal and stay. Pierce has and early termination option, I doubt he takes it. Pierce has played for the Celtics his entire career and been the face of the franchise for over a decade. He has already won a championship, and is adored by the people of Boston for sticking with them through thick and thin. Why would he leave now?

4. Rasheed Wallace has stepped up and always has in the play-offs. SELLLLLL. I'll acknowledge the 5 double digit point games he has had this post season, one of them over 20. Out of 17 games, I am hardly impressed. Can we get rid of this notion of 'Sheed stepping up when it counts. The Pistons made it to 6 straight conference, but they lost four of those series. They won an improbable championship in 2004, but he was the third at best maybe even fourth best player on that team. When he was the best player on his team in Portland, he lead his team all the way to the 2000 Western Conference Finals, then blew a 15 point lead in the fourth quarter of game 7 against L.A, capped off by getting an alley oop to the face by Shaq. These  play-offs have mirrored Sheed's career, inconsistent.

5. Paul Pierce is one of the greatest Celtics ever. BUY.  Pierce recently said that  he wanted to win another championship in order to be mentioned amongst the great Celtics. I think he is top 10 anyway, I'd put him at around 7. Pierce is probably one of the most underrated players ever. He might be the best one on one scorer in Celtic history. He may not have multiple championships, but he never had the support. One could argue he was one of the top 5 players in the league during the 2002, 2003 seasons. When he finally got the support in 2007 it brought immediate success. Pierce was the heart and sole of one of the top 3 single-season teams in Celtics history, and one of the 50 greatest players ever.

A Tribute to "The Kid"

I know this may come off as a bit bias since I have made it very clear Ken Griffey Jr. is my favorite baseball player, I don't really care, it's all true!

As one of the best to ever do it calls it quits I want to take time out to pay him the proper respect. Most people are going to ponder what his career numbers would look like if he did not endure numerous injuries and miss what amounts to about 5 full seasons due to time on the DL. However, as always I'm different, instead of dwelling on what could have been I want to take a moment to cover what was, absolute greatness.

Ken Griffey Jr. spent his entire life in a baseball clubhouse and with ties to the summer sport. He was born in the same hometown, Denora, Pennsylvania, and on the same exact day as MLB hall of famer Stan Musial. This birthday and being the son of Big Red Machine legend Ken Griffey Sr. started "The Kid" on his path to Cooperstown. While Jr. never had the pleasure to play in a World Series during his playing days he did wipe champagne from his eyes a couple times growing up. A young Griffey followed his father, as most boys do, everywhere he went and to every team and clubhouse. Sr. played for the Reds, Braves, Yankees, and a brief stint with the Mariners to join his son before retiring. Senior is mostly known from his time as a Cincinnati Red. Griffey idolized his father, as I did mine up until my dads passing, growing up. Griffey Jr. learned from the best from the jump. During the glory days of the Reds Jr. got to watch fellow hall of famers Johnny Bench, Pete Rose, and life long mentor Joe Morgan join his dad leading the Reds to 4 NL Pennants and 2 World Championships in the 1970's. Griff even has stated many times that this childhood experience was a true gift and made him the great player he later became.

Griffey was great, indeed. In his illustrious career as a member of the Seattle Mariners, Cincinnati Reds, and Chicago WhiteSox he compiled 630 home runs (5th all time, 2nd most for primary CF), 1,836 RBI (14th all time), 2,781 total hits, 1,662 runs scored (31st all time), 524 doubles, 1,312 walks, 5, 271 total bases (12th all time), a .538 on base percentage, a .370 slugging percentage, 184 stolen bases, 13 All Star selections, 10 Gold Gloves (AL record for outfielder and tied for second most all time for outfield, Clemente, 12), 7 Silver Slugger awards, 3 Home Run Derby titles, a .985 fielding %, the 1992 All Star Game MVP award, the 1997 AL MVP award, the only U.S. player to be selected to the inaugural World Baseball Classic All World team in 2006, and a smile that will never be duplicated. No matter how down in the dumps I was anytime I would see Griffey's smile one would appear on my face without even thinking. On top of all of the statistics, that will earn him the right to be enshrined one day, Griffey was also a marketing wizard for baseball and kept the sport in the main stream during a 90's decade that saw a strike shortened season in 1994. Several of Griffey's counterparts have had their stat line tainted by allegations and in some cases proof of steroid use. All of Jr.'s accolades were accomplished without any hint of performance enhancing drugs. It may be true that Griffey is the only player to hit 50 or more long balls in the last 30 years without the use of some kind of PED, he hit 56 in back to back seasons in 97 and 98. Griffey did this while playing stellar defense in the toughest position out of the three outfield spots. I already brought up the 10 Gold Gloves he won and their representation of his spot in history, however, to add the offense he put up on top of that great defense is outstanding and what makes him legendary. During his two 50+ homer seasons Jr. became only the second player in baseball history to hit 50 or more jacks in the same year earning a Gold Glove at Center Field, a position that before Mays was known as a place for a slap hitting lead off guy.

Now that I'm finished explaining Griffey's resume here is where I think it places him amongst the legends of the game. As far as defensive Center Fielders, I have him second behind his idol, Willie Mays. When it comes to defensive outfielders in history I place Jr. third, Mays despite having the second most golds is the top guy again due to playing the toughest outfield position, center. Clemente is my number 2, he has the record for outfield Gold Gloves, he won all 12 of his at Right Field, Griffey comes in at third. In terms of the top Center Fielders of all time Griffey lands in the same spot he batted at in the lineup throughout most of his career, third. Mays, in my opinion the best all around player ever, ranks at the head of the class, Ty Cobb is my runner up. While Griffey brought more of an all around blend of defense and offense Cobb was one of the best hitters to ever pick up a bat. Cobb's 4,189 hits and .366 career average give him this honor, he did finish with a .961 fielding percentage which isn't exactly horrible. To round things out after placing Griffey at third, I have Joe Dimaggio (9 rings, 56 game hit streak, 3 MVP's, a .978 field %, and 1,537 RBI in only 13 seasons) in fourth and Mickey Mantle (7 rings, 536 homers, 1,509 RBI, 3 MVP's, and a .982 field %) at 5. Kind of weird isn't it? My 3 through 5 guys are placed in the same slots they were by their managers when constructing a battling lineup with them in it during their primes and beyond.

All time rankings such as these in sports can always be argued, however, I feel despite my bias, I was very fair to both Griffey and the other comparable players in the 100+ years of Major League Baseball. Regardless of where you feel Jr. stands amongst the legends of baseball it is clear that he will someday stand along side them in the Hall of Fame. If it were not for all the injuries his stat line as well as his standing historically would be harder to argue and his rankings may even be higher. Unfortunately that does not matter now.  What matters is that Ken Griffey Jr. was one of the best players ever in a sport with rich history and I consider it an absolute honor, as all of my generation should, to have seen him play and have grown up watching his many jay dropping highlights. Griffey played the game they way it was meant to be played.

Final Prediction: In 5 years as a testament to his "natural" career the writers association will make a statement and award Griffey with one more record, the highest vote percentage on a first ballot. Tom Seaver currently holds that mark with 98.4% but I believe Griffey will even exceed that number.

As I said in my first BDL post it will be a cold day in hell when the Buzz-saw loses a KGJ debate. Thanks for the memories.

What If Carcillo Could Play Hockey?

The "History will be made" commercials have taken us on a tour of Bobby Orr's spinning goals, Gretzky's wrap around, and Stevey Y's double OT blast from the blue. In addition to the ads focusing on historic playoff moments in the sport, there are also spoofs, mostly covering this years post-season. This is the most recent one, poking fun at Flyer grinder Dan Carcilo unintentionally delivering a devastating hit to teammate and star player, Jeff Carter. In my opinion this spoof is head and shoulders above the rest, because it's true. It brings up the age old question, well since he joined the league back in 2006 with Phoenix, can Dan Carcillo actually play hockey? Some say no, others say he knows his role and does it relatively well, either way he certainly is fun to watch. 

Buy or Sell: Buffalo Bills

2009 Finish -- 6-10, 4th in the AFC East
Key Acquisitions -- RB C.J. Spiller
Key Departures -- WR Terrell Owens

Bills fans don't have much of a reason to get excited for 2010. The outlook isn't any better then it has been for the past decade. The Bills don't lack talent on the defensive side of the ball, but they're in the middle of a transition to the 3-4 and they are nowhere close to having all of the pieces. Nose tackles don't develop overnight, so don't expect second round pick Torrell Troup or misfit Kyle Williams to do the job.

Strike one.

They Bills did nothing to address what may be the most depressing quarterback situation in the league. Somehow, someway, despite all odds...Trent Edwards got another opportunity to be a starter. Right now he's the clear favorite to beat out Ryan Fitzpatrick and Brian Brohm. But that's simply because Fitzpatrick is nothing more than a career back-up and Brohm is completely unproven. You know what you're getting with Edwards--David Carr. In other words--someone who is incapable of moving the ball down field.


Strike two.

Oh and then there's the small fact that somehow the Bills failed yet again to address their offensive line. It's just so ugly from left to right. Demtrius Bell is going to start at left tackle if he's healthy because Buffalo thinks that Karl Malone's son can be the next Jason Peters. 12 penalties, 18 QB pressures, 7 QB hits, and 5 sacks...in eight games. That's so, so, so bad. The undersized Andy Levitre is still the Bills starting left guard. I didn't like him from the get-go, and I can't see the left side of the line succeeding at all this year. Center Geoff Hangartner allowed 16 QB pressures, two QB hits, and 3 sacks. No center gave up more pressures and only two more allowed more sacks. At right guard Eric Wood, who should be playing center, is coming off a horrible leg injury where he broke his tibia and fibula. He isn't sure if he'll be ready for Training Camp, and if he is, what kind of workload he'll be able to handle. And then there is Cornell Green at right tackle. He had 14 penalties last year in 12 games (wow) and allowed 18 QB pressures, six QB hits, and five QB sacks. I'd say those numbers were moderately respectable, but at right tackle and only playing 12 games no way those numbers should be that high.


Strike three.

So do I even need to say buy or sell?

Well here we go anyway.

1. C.J. Spiller will be a major impact in the Bills offense. SELL.
It really seems like the Bills are set on keeping Marshawn Lynch. Congratulations, you now have selected a utility player ninth overall. So Fred Jackson and Marshawn Lynch are likely going to split the early downs with Spiller lining up wide and moving to the backfield on obvious passing downs. But Spiller is still a rookie and while he's a great home run hitter his role in Buffalo is not going to be defined, he's going to be running behind a terrible offensive line and playing with terrible quarterbacks. If Spiller was predominantly coming out of the backfield he actually might catch upwards of 40 passes because Edwards loves to check down, but Spiller lining up wide and using his speed is going to immediately disqualify him getting thrown to. The Bills are a disaster.

2. Moving to a 3-4 defense. SELL.
In the long run this may very well work out. Torrell Troup, Dwan Edwards, and Alex Carrington might actually be a decent 3-4 front in a few years. Marcus Stroud is going to be playing five-tech for the first time in his career and he's no spring chicken. Major red flag. Kyle Williams is going to have to pick up the slack for rookie Torrell Troup at nose tackle and he is totally undersized for the position. Is Aaron Schobel going to ever make up his mind on retirement? Can Aaron Maybin successfully convert to a 3-4 OLB? Will Paul Posluszny ever stay healthy? This front seven is full of nothing but question marks.

3. Chan Gailey's offensive genius. SELL.
I don't care what he did in Kansas City with Tyler Thigpen...he had mobility as well as Dwayne Bowe and Tony Gonzalez. Gailey has a quarterback who can't move in Trent Edwards, an offensive line that can't block, and three legitimate offensive weapons (two of which are running backs). He's going to have to find a way to get the Bills weapons on the field at the same time, but they'll be sacrificing a lot of speed in that case. There's no way to get Lynch, Spiller, and Jackson all on the field and not have it impact you negatively. Gailey may actually be better off with Fitzpatrick. He's smart and mobile and not afraid to take shots downfield even though he doesn't have the talent to play the position. It's a disaster.

4. James Hardy as the number two receiver. SELL.
Wow talk about being thin at receiver. Hardy has 10 career catches in 16 games. People fawned over his measureables and forgot you actually have to, you know, know how to run routes, fool defensive backs, and catch the ball as a receiver. How could so many people have missed that? (end sarcasm). This is embarrassing.

5. The Bills being on the clock by late October. BUY.
The only reason this team MIGHT not be making travel arrangements for Jake Locker by Halloween is if the Bills ball-hawking secondary keeps them in games by forcing turnovers. If they can repeat what they did last year with Byrd, Wilson, and Whitner at safety mixed with a fully healthy Leodis McKelvin the Bills should be able to force a few turnovers through the air. If they can't...oh it's going to be really ugly. Chan Gailey may not last more than a year.



On the whole you can just go ahead and sell the Bills.