Saturday Morning Thoughts – Oct. 24

Bad calls. Worse decisions. No luck.

Despite their regular season records, the Blue Jays were the better team this season. But the Royals were the better team in this series, and deservedly are hosting World Series games for the second year in a row.

This roller coaster of a season is over. I know you Jays fans you’ve been left with regret, and an upset stomach. And worse, the fear for how long the wait might be for the next ride. But take some time today to smile about the incredible season you were privileged to witness.

The Blue Jays failed, in dramatic fashion, to reach the World Series. But they made so many people in this country fall in love with baseball again. And that is the win where the rewards are immeasurable.

Having said all that, why the hell didn’t they bunt in the ninth inning? How is this ball club even capable of going 0-for-12 with runners in scoring position? Why is it that Josh Donaldson is always the last out to end a ball game they have a chance at winning? Ben Revere is right and made the catch of his life just to keep the Jays in it. How did Jeff Nelson call that a strike? Jose Bautista will still have haters, but this October he made himself one of the most important players in franchise history. And David Price did everything he could to finally get a W in the playoffs. Shame he couldn’t. He’ll still get $240 million this winter. From the Chicago Cubs.

So good luck with the New York Mets KC. You’re going to need it. I just really hope Ned Yost can get back to the U.S.S Nathan James in time for season 3 of ‘The Last Ship’. I effin love that show!

MLS
It still hasn’t sunk in for all Toronto FC fans that their club is playoff bound. A win in Montreal this afternoon and a lucky draw between DC United and Columbus would see TFC snag second place and avoid the gamble that is the wildcard play-in. These fans deserve a playoff game at BMO. Get it done Reds.

PREMIER LEAGUE
An Arsenal win at home to Everton this afternoon will put the Gunners atop the table. I don’t know if they’ll be far off it again. But I also wouldn’t be surprised if they blew their load on their midweek Champions League win over Bayern.

West Ham have won away to Arsenal, Liverpool and Man City this season. But at home, they’re a completely different story. Wouldn’t be surprised at all if this is the first match this year where Chelsea actually look like title holders. Might just jump start their season. God knows Jose Mourinho could use it right now.

I don’t like to give gambling picks anymore, because I might just be the worst gambler in the world. But I’d be shocked if Crystal Palace‘s trip to Leicester doesn’t go over the total.

Aston Villa haven’t won since the opening day of the season. If they don’t take three points off Swansea today, or at least look capable of doing so, I think that might be the end of Tim Sherwood. And that’s a shame.

NHL
I didn’t actually think the Buffalo Sabres would be the ones to hand the Habs their first loss of the year. But I really didn’t expect Montreal to win eight in a row at any point before Christmas. They’ve only trailed for a total of 2:57 all season.

Round 1 between Connor McDavid and Alex Ovechkin didn’t disappoint. Unless of course, you’re Todd McClellan. “We can’t afford to have 4 or 5 guys just not with us.” He’s having this problem before November? Oh boy. Gonna be a long season in Edmonton. Again.

Shoutout to my fellow Windsor, Ontario native Matt Martin for dropping the gloves immediately after his Islanders score a go-ahead goal. Never afraid to put a guy in his place. Exactly why that’s Don Cherry‘s favourite fourth line in the league.

NBA
The Raptors wrapped up the pre-season with a 5-2 record. Sitting courtside in Montreal last night were Genie Bouchard and Didier Drogba. Not surprising at all. Except for the fact they were sitting together! Where TMZ at?

I’m kidding. And I’m sorry. That’s the last time you will ever read any garbage like that on this blog.

I can’t believe the season starts on Tuesday. I’m not ready. Another lucky break for the Leafs. As long as the Raps start as hot as expected, nobody is talking about how bad the Buds are.

Your facebook timeline is probably flooded with “Happy bday Drizzy Drake!” posts. But did you know October’s Very Own shares his birthday with Wayne Rooney AND Roman Abramovich? Not to mention with Eric Hosmer, former Colombia, Aston Villa & New York Red Bulls forward Juan Pablo Angel, R&B songstress Monica, and Tila Tequila. Some company. For sure they’ve all hooked up, at some point.

Monday Morning Thoughts – Apr. 27

To quote my friend and producer Thomas Dobby, “It’s insane that Toronto FC are the pride of Toronto sports right now.”

NBA PLAYOFFS

I sure don’t envy Masai Ujiri.

What a difference a couple of weeks makes. The Raptors went from being a team growing into themselves, to one likely going to be torn apart. And rightfully so. Last night’s effort was pathetic. I’m not even a Raps fan and it was painful for me to get through the highlight pack. There was no fight whatsoever. I guess every guy booked their early offseason holiday Saturday at shoot around. I sure hope they’re off to Dubai instead of Miami or Vegas because if they run into parts of We The North, it could get ugly very quickly.

The only part of the team that brought anything to the table last night were the fans standing outside the Air Canada Centre. If they beat the Wizards, as they should’ve, and get swept in the second round by the Bulls, Dwayne Casey is still the coach next season. He must have felt like his players fired him in the second quarter. The coach is always the fall guy. I don’t think it’s the right move, but I don’t know what else Ujiri can do.

If the playoffs started in November, the Cavs would’ve lost in the first round. But they’ve been marinating all season, and this was a perfect first round test. They faced just enough adversity to make them really work for it, even though winning the series was always an eventuality. Wonder how long Kevin Love‘s shoulder will keep him out. Big loss, and I agree with Love, a bush league move by Kelly Olynyk.

But gotta tip your hat to the Boston Celtics. They’ve been bad. They were over-matched countless times this season. But they never stopped fighting. I saw them lose to the New York Knicks at The Garden in December. The Knicks didn’t win again for a month. That was the kick in the ass Boston needed. Finishing the year by being swept by LeBron & Co. is nothing to feel bad about.

Where was this fight and determination by the Mavericks two games ago?

STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS

Slow clap for the Ottawa Senators. What an unbelievable season for a team that no one expected anything from. They were unlucky not to have tied the game last night. But for as frail as the Habs looked at times, they were always going to win the series in the end because Carey Price is the best goaltender in the game right now. Just give him the Vezina and the Hart already.

I’m glad the Minnesota Wild finished the Blues off yesterday. They’re the new San Jose Sharks. Stop wasting everyone’s time with stellar regular seasons only to implode in the playoffs. Figure it out! Give the Wild credit for doing so mid-season and sticking with Mike Yeo after his Phil Brown moment. And someone name a street in Minneapolis after GM Chuck Fletcher already for signing Devin Dubnyk. After this season, he’s going to get quite the raise on his $800,000 salary. I think the Oilers have good reason to invest in a good goalie…

I’d really like to see the New York Islanders beat the Capitals tonight. A Rangers/Isles second round series will be great for the rivalry. And it will be nice to see the Rangers pull the curtain down on the Nassau Coliseum.

The Wings wrap things up tonight in Detroit. And I like em to beat the Habs. In five.

MLB

It’s crazy to think that Alex Rodriguez is just one more homerun away from tying Willie Mays for fourth all-time. Crazy because I thought there was no way he’d play in the Major Leagues again. But good on him. Regardless of his indiscretions and incredibly hate-able personality, it is a truly remarkable feat.

After sweeping the Orioles, the Jays got their asses handed to them in Tampa. But the silver lining is that Baltimore beat the Red Sox 18-7 last night. There’s plenty of parity in the A.L. East. Aaron Sanchez starts against Joe Kelly tonight. Early 6pm starts all week at Fenway.

SOCCER THOUGHTS

For my Premier League take, click here.

Maybe Jozy Altidore really is worth $7 million. Credit to TFC for making me eat my words. I thought they’d come home in two weeks with only the three points from the season opening win to show for it. But they go into the Citrus Bowl and play their best game since Greg Vanney took over. The couldn’t have defended any better. Here’s to hoping they can play the same way in Philly on Saturday.

Bayern Munich clinched thier 25th Bundesliga title, and third straight, with four matches to spare. It was an eventuality they would win the league. Europe is still the measuring stick. Had they not overcome Porto in the quarterfinals, we’d be talking about “Pep‘s wasted season” despite yesterday’s domestic triumph. But now many have Bayern picked as the favourites to beat Barcelona in the semifinals. It’s funny how quickly things change in a short period of time, isn’t it?

Historic win for rarely talked about Torino. Nice to see Fabio Quagliarella score against Juve in the Torino derby. Why is Quags not in MLS? Montreal really that content with their frontline? C’mon Joey.

Premier League Matchweek 22 – Three Things to Watch

1) How well Jermain Defoe’s spy job worked
The former TFC frontman spent the holiday season training with his old mates at Enfield and will likely start against them Saturday in his Sunderland debut. We already know he’s going to score. Safe to assume the universe is broken if he doesn’t since he has in every club debut.

Seeing as Defoe and Gus Poyet share the same agent, I think this was the only move on the horizon. Despite the allure of Sexy Leicester or returning to London to reunite with goal deprived ‘Arry.

Black Cats supporters just hope Defoe is in fact “the best January signing ever” as some are already calling it. I guess those people don’t see his stat line of two goals in his past 1,262 minutes of Premier League football as a problem?

Sunderland are paying a pretty penny. But one can’t put a value on staying up. It’s funny to think that Defoe has only bettered himself financially since being dropped from the England squad and leaving Tottneham. At Sunderland he’ll reportedly earn £80,000 a week – £20k more than they were paying Altidore.

Poyet can also say goodbye to his preferred 4-1-4-1 formation. No way that works with Jermain “create for me” Defoe in the squad.

2) Can Arsenal play like a top team, against one?
There will be a chapter written in Arsene Wenger’s career obituary on the topic. But for as long as Arsenal continue to finish in the Top 4 without doing so, that’s a question that will always be asked. Until they do.

Yaya Toure is away at the African Nations Cup taking away a valuable weapon from Manny’s midfield. But if Sergio Aguero is fit in time for Sunday, then the odds heavily swing in the champions’ favour.

City are unbeaten in 14, but not many of those results have been very convincing. Arsenal can get a result this weekend if they’re stubborn defensively, and creative with their counter attack.

3) Will injuries send Southampton on a slump?
After last weekend’s historic win, Saints fans will be ecstatic if they can grab just a point against Newcastle.

No Wanyama. No Schneiderlin. No Alderweireld. Big problems? Potentially.

Florin Gardos has shown in his brief opportunities that he’s a bit special. With Toby “tats” Alderweireld out now, we will see just how skilled he really is.