Super Bowl XLVIII Prediction

I'm most definitely ready for Spring Training, but Super Bowl XLVIII will be a great ending to an outstanding postseason of football. My Super Bowl prediction may have fallen apart, but who could ask for a better match up? The best offense against the best defense for the Lombardi trophy. This game comes down to only one thing: experience. Peyton Manning has tools that Russell Wilson can't even fathom, and the coaching staff of Denver in my eyes seems stronger. I'm not sold on Wilson or Lynch, but I'm sure they'll compete throughout the game. Seattle has more fire in their eyes, but I think Denver is the better football team. I hate to say it, but Peyton will definitely win his second Super Bowl on his little brother's turf. Win or lose, Denver won't be going away any time soon. 

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The Yankees goal this winter was to do what they had to do in order to win next season. I think they succeeded. 

During the most important week of the Yankees offseason, Japanese pitcher Masahiro Tanaka and the Bombers sealed the deal, as the twenty-five year old ace signed a 7-year deal worth nearly $155 million. Since the first week of the winter meetings, the Yankee front office assured the press and league that Tanaka was necessary in order to add depth to the lackluster pitching rotation. With a 24-0 record and 1.27 ERA with the Rakuten Eagles of the Nippon League, Tanaka brings optimism and promise to the Yankee
organization. The question everyone is pondering is whether or not Tanaka is worth the money he received. The Yankees spent about $180 million on the pitcher, including the posting fee. Scouts have claimed that Tanaka has greater potential than Yu Darvish, and hopefully these assumptions will put up above-average results. 

The Yankees have experienced success and failure with signings from the Japanese market in the past decade. Hideki Matsui played seven exceptionally well seasons in pinstripes from 2003-2009, which included a World Series MVP award. Matsui was a fan favorite, and his presence in the New York metro area brought positive popularity from Japan's loyal fans. On the flip side, Kei Igawa was supposed to be a well rounded pitcher who signed with the Yanks in 2007 after playing seven years with the Hanshin Tigers. Igawa's career in New York was brief and disappointing, as he suffered from continuous injuries and abysmal numbers. 

The biggest concern to the Yankees is this: Will Masahiro Tanaka end up as Matsui or Igawa? From every statistic I've read, I am quite optimistic in Tanaka's talents. Yu Darvish has so far delivered three successful seasons with the Texas Rangers, and with the expectations higher for Tanaka, the Yankees should be excited to have a young talented pitcher in the rotation. The combination of Hiroki Kuroda and Tanaka will bring a sense of friendship and connection to this rookie pitcher, who will now live in the greatest city in the world. 

After the Yanks missed the playoffs in 2008, the front office spent nearly $428 million on Sabathia, Burnett and Teixeira. This offeason, the Yanks have spent only $15 million more on Ellsbury, Beltran, McCann and Tanaka. Money's not an issue in the Bronx, and I can't wait for the season to start. The empire has just struck back. 

The Bronx Zoo: Redux

Although the NFL Divisional playoffs are in the spotlight, this weekend has been inundated by Alex Rodriguez on every single news channel. Now, It's obvious that everyone is tired of all the coverage Alex has received, but I think the Bronx faithful can finally exhale after the arbitrator's ruling.


Rodriguez has been suspended for the entire 162 game season, along with the postseason. Last summer, the 211-game ban Rodriguez received seemed ridiculous, and now he has to deal with sitting out all of 2014. Alex is allowed to participate in Spring Training, but how close will he get to the field?



Alex Rodriguez has resembled a black eye for the Yankees front office. We can only wonder how this scandal would have occurred if George Steinbrenner was still alive. But with George's son at the helm, the issues have skyrocketed over the last few seasons.

I still believe Alex Rodriguez has something left to offer as a ballplayer. The bad news for him is that Alex would need hip surgery once again during either this season or next off season. The Yankees have a few options: cut him, waive him or keep him. Here's what I think the front office should do.

Within the next four years, Rodriguez will be due nearly $86 million. He will turn 40 in July. The only sensible solution is to either waive or trade him away. The possible recipient: the Miami Marlins. Rodriguez lives in Miami, and the Marlins have also sparked interest in Alex over the last few seasons. This could happen in three steps: 1. The Yankees place Rodriguez on waivers and agree to pay the majority of his remaining contract 2. The Marlins claim him and finally give Miami fans a reason to come to that stupid looking expensive ballpark they just built 3. Rodriguez is gone, and all three parties are happy

Alex Rodriguez has been an embarrassment to the game of baseball and to the entire Yankees organization. Should he be banned from the game? Should he retire? All of the answers are still up in the air, but Alex Rodriguez wants to play baseball, and there is no one who can stop him from reaching that goal. The Yankees will receive $24.1 million this season from A-Rod's remaining contract, and hopefully that money will go to a wise investment. All I can tell you is that Alex Rodriguez has seen his final game in a Yankee uniform. His term in New York is over. What a circus this season will be.