Using Your Head May Not Be So Smart Afterall

According to National Football League sources, players will be automatically suspended for "flagrant" hits beginning this Sunday, Week 7 on the NFL schedule.

This past week was one of the worst weeks the NFL has ever had.  It seemed like every game had a major collision leaving players on the ground for long periods of time.  Loud, leading with the head, helmet to helmet collisions were the norm in many games on Sunday.  No hit was more serious than the hit Atlanta Falcons defensive back Dunta Robinson put on Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson.
     
Jackson was going for a ball over the middle of the field when he was laid out by a crushing, blindsiding blow to his head and shoulder area.  Both players suffered concussions and left the game.  Jackson, the more serious of the two, reportedly suffered memory loss later that night.  He will likely be out for a few weeks. 

This was a week in which two big name NFL quarterbacks made their returns from concussions.  Jake Cutler started for the Bears while Aaron Rodgers and the Packers were handed an overtime loss by the Dolphins.

The NFL can't keep up this pace.  Fans and ex-players are beginning to show their frustration.  Hopefully the new rule system cuts down on the amount of head injuries we see every Sunday.

Football is a violent game where injury is common.  Everyone understands that.  Whether or not the serious injuries can be avoided is the major obstacle.  The commissioner should also look into the new technology of helmets and mouthpieces to cut down on the amount of head injuries and concussions.  The players need further protection, even if it is from themselves.

As of right now, we have a small step in the right direction.  We will see how the game changes this week, if at all.  What do you think are more precautions the NFL can take to further limit the amount of serious injuries?

ALCS Predictions

The Yankees have had a long lay off.  Five days to be exact.  The Rangers are coming off a rollercoaster five game series with the Tampa Bay Rays that finished up on Monday night.  The Yankees are the heavy favorites in this series but the Rangers are not going to give up easily to the Almighty Pinstripes.  Cliff Lee, the Rangers' ace, is 6-0 with a 1.44 era in the postseason.  Unfortunately for Texas, having to use Lee in Game 5 against the Rays, costs them an extra start for Lee in this series.  Lee will have to wait until Game 3 where he will go up against Andy Pettitte, in what should be a great left handed pitching duel in the Bronx.  The key to any series is capturing momentum in Game 1.  From the Yanks standpoint, you have to like your chances in winning the series opener behind CC Sabathia.  His opponent, CJ Wilson, has had a great season for the Rangers, but he tends to walk too many batters.  The patient Yankees lineup will wait him out and make him throw strikes.  New York has two main advantages in this series.  Mariano Rivera at the end of the game.  And they have been they're before.  Derek Jeter alone, has started 141 career playoff games.  The Texas Rangers as a franchise have only played in fifteen.  It will be the first time the Yankees advance to the World Series as a wild card.  I like the Yankees in six.  I'll have my predictions on the National League Championship Series later on tonight.

Yankees Rotation Set

The Yankees announced on Wednesday their rotation plans for their upcoming American League Championship Series versus Texas.  CC Sabathia will get the ball in Game 1 in Texas against C.J. Wilson.  Joe Girardi made one change from the division series with the Twins flip flopping Phil Hughes and Andy Pettitte.  Hughes will move up a game and pitch Game 2 while Andy Pettitte will start Game 3.  AJ Burnett is scheduled to pitch Game 4.  Hughes has always pitched well in the Ballpark at Arlington, the site of the Games 1 and 2.  In fact, Hughes has never allowed an earned run in two career starts in Texas.  Andy Pettitte will face off against Cliff Lee in Yankee Stadium in Game 3.  Lee gave up just one run in two starts against Tampa in the ALDS, including a complete game masterpiece in Game 5.  The Yankees have had a history of starting Pettitte at home because Yankee Stadium sets up better for left handers.  The move also sets up Pettitte for a Game 7 start on full rest.  Pettitte is the winningest pitcher in postseason history and his experience may tilt the scale the Yankees way if the series goes the distance.

Team Celebrations

The clubhouse is covered with tarps and the bubbly is on ice.  The last out is made and one team celebrates.  They are one step closer to a championship.  But what happens when a member of that team is a recovering alcoholic?  As the Texas Rangers ran off the field last night in Tampa with a 5-1 Game 5 victory over the Rays,  they were ready to celebrate.  And why shouldn't they be?  This was the first Texas Rangers team to ever win a postseason series.  Ever.  Texas was the only major league franchise to never win a playoff series.  Until last night.  As they made their way to the clubhouse, one member of the team distanced himself from the rest.  Josh Hamilton, a recovering alcoholic, stayed away from the celebrations inside the visitor's clubhouse, just like he had when the Rangers celebrated their AL West championship.  He wanted to stay away from one of the things, alcohol, that ruined his life and derailed his baseball career.  Well, unlike their last celebration in late September, the Rangers could not have their MVP teammate on the sidelines for this one.  Instead, ginger ale was being sprayed all over the clubhouse, and more importantly, all over Hamilton.  It may seem like a small gesture, but it shows a great deal of team unity by the players.  Something they will need when they begin a best of seven series tomorrow night at home against the heavy favored New York Yankees with a chance to play in the World Series.

Burnett to Get Start

New York Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman said today that A.J. Burnett will get a start in the American League Championship Series.  Right now it looks like Burnett will be penciled in for a Game 4 start.  Burnett had a dreadful second season in pinstripes going just 10-15 with a 5.26 era.  Last postseason, the Yankees managed to win the World Series using just three pitchers, CC Sabathia, Andy Pettitte, and Burnett.  Burnett went 1-1 with a 5.27 era in five starts last October.  The Yankees are saying all of the right things hoping to build confidence in the shaky right-hander, but no one in the organization will know which Burnett will show up on the mound.  The question that should probably be asked is what happens if the Yankees are down 2-1 in the series heading into Game 4?  Will Burnett get the start?  Joe Girardi can't hand the ball to Burnett in that situation when he has two big game pitchers who can pitch on short rest in Sabathia and Pettitte, and Phil Hughes who was sparkling in the clinching game of the Minnesota Twins series.  The Yankees are still awaiting an opponent as the Tampa Bay Rays have forced a Game 5 against the Texas Rangers.  No matter who the Yankees play, they won't see either team's ace until Game 3 of the ALCS.

Jets Preview

The New York Jets will face off against the Minnesota Vikings on Monday Night Football tonight.  There are a lot of storylines in this one as the Jets get back a healthy Darelle Revis and Calvin Pace, and Santonio Holmes also makes his debut after serving a four game suspension for failing a drug test.  The Vikings will also have a new-old receiver lining up on their side.  Randy Moss returns to the Vikings after being traded from the Patriots on Wednesday.  Moss, a free agent, made five pro bowls in his seven years with the Vikings from 1998-2004.  Brett Favre also goes up against his former team for the first time.  Favre could make history tonight at the new Meadowlands Stadium.  He's just one touchdown pass away from 500 for his career.  It should be a good one.  The matchup to look out for is Randy Moss vs. Darelle Revis.  Over the past three games that Moss has lined up against Revis, the Jets corner has held Moss to just 11 catches and under 100 yards.  We'll have to wait and see how healthy Revis' hamstring is tonight as he faces off against one of the best receivers in NFL history.  I'll have an update on this game later on tonight along with other storylines from the world of sports.

Yanks Move On

For the second straight year, the New York Yankees have swept the Minnesota Twins in the opening round of the playoffs.  Phil Hughes dazzled in his first career playoff start holding the Twins to just 4 hits and no runs over 7 innings.  Another big performance from a designated hitter, this time Marcus Thames, helped shoulder the offensive load.  In Game 2, Lance Berkman homered in his Yankee playoff debut.  Tonight, Thames's two-run blast gave the Yankees a 4-0 Game 3 lead all but sealing the Twins' fate.  The Bombers added some insurance and the bullpen held up its end of the bargain as New York won it 6-1.  They advance to the ALCS and will face the winner of the Texas/Tampa Bay series on Friday night. 

Yankees Go For Sweep

Game 3 of the American League Division Series continues tonight as the New York Yankees look to sweep the Minnesota Twins and move onto the American League Championship Series.  On the hill for the Bombers is 18 game winner Phil Hughes.  The Twins will send Brian Duensing to the mound who hopes to keep his team alive for at least one more day.  It's do or die time for Minnesota as they go up against a tough New York Yankees ball club.  Hughes, 24, has some playoff experience but all of that came as a reliever.  We will see how he handles the pressure of making his first career playoff start.  First pitch is scheduled for 8:37 pm ET.  Check back later for more updates on this game and other news in the world of sports.