Home Grown vs. Human Growth: Yankees and Phillies for the World Series

It's a rare occurrence when the two best teams meet to decide the a championship. Often, it's the clubs that are hot at the right time that make the push to the season finale. But baseball's fans can't be disappointed in the matchup of last year's World Series Champs the Philadelphia Phillies against 2009's best team, the New York Yankees.

To examine each position player by player would be superfluous; these teams are incredibly close in both playing style and talent. Sure you could give the edge to A-Rod at 3rd over Feliz, Jeter over Rollins, Utley over Cano, Ruiz over Posada, and the Phillies' outfield over the Yanks. But the idea is that there are few advantages each team holds over the other. The Phillies are younger and faster, but the Yankees aren't exactly slow. Mariano Rivera is brilliant, but overall, both teams have bullpen issues to say the least.


Phillies outfielder Jayson Werth, who along with Shane Victorino, provide a lot of power at the plate for the 2008 World Series champs.



Here's the biggest advantage one team holds over the other: home field. Yankees have yet to lose a game at home this postseason, and that extra game in the Bronx will prove mighty. In fact, the Yankees have been dominant at home since the break. Yes, the Phillies have the momentum going into the Fall Classic. But the Yankees have looked hungrier as a franchise, ever since going out and snatching CC, AJ, and Teixera.




Yankees left fielder Johnny Damon, who experienced a playoff resurgence in the ALCS against the Angels.


This series will become more polarizing than the healthcare debate. The Phillies do it right--winning with pitching, speed, power, and defense. The Yankees, because of their business model--drawing 4+ million fans a year, owning the most popular regional network while becoming a machine that feeds itself, have the luxury of getting what they need when players like Giambi and Abreu come off the books. This will be the most important World Series of the decade. Some can argue the same could be said for Yankees/Marlins in '03 where opposing sides of the spending spectrum met in late October. But the climax was a let down for the Yankees, as the team was unable to overcome the emotions from the shot off Aaron Boones' bat. This year, both teams are undeniably the best in baseball and the Series should be close. The Yankees caught a lot of breaks the postseason, especially against how the Twins and Angels played sloppy. They won't get the same breaks against the Champs.

Both teams have an awesome "core." Jeter, Posada, Pettitte, Rivera. Rollins, Howard, Utley, Victorino, Hamels. As the series is being chiseled down to Cliff Lee vs. CC Sabathia, I believe it will come down to the battle between the core players--the constants--of each team. The sum of the cores will equal a trophy for either the Yanks or Phils. This is going to be one hell of a week for the Philly/New York rivalry with the Giants and Eagles looming Sunday.

Yankees in seven games.

And if they lose, Joe Mauer will certainly help in 2011.

Rules for Rooting

We all know the kid from New Jersey who loves the Niners, or that assbag the is diehard for the Dolphins even though he wears snowboots 70% of the year. Myself...we'll I stuck to the teams of my geographical area of where I grew up. Well, at least for the beginning of my life. The rules of rooting for teams get fuzzy but here's the list, from most important to barely legal:

1. You were raised in the state. Raised= born there and lived there while in school for some point. Certain exceptions include living in states like Wyoming where the nearest pro team is Mexico.

2. Your dad is a fan of this team. There's no more influential sports figure than your father. This works both ways--you can root for his team, or root for the rival team. This especially holds water if your dad bolted on you and your mom.

3. The first professional game you ever went to was at this team's stadium/arena. Normally, this is not your choice, and the choice of your family. This might be one of your earliest sports memories. Yeah you lucky fuck its okay that your first game was a Lakers game.

4. You went to school there. This applies obviously for college sports. College rules are more dicey--and pretty much everyone here is a frontrunner. Except you, die hard SMU fan.

5. You didn't have any friends in grade school and watched "Rudy" on TBS Saturday Nights during the Summer. Touchdown Jesus' light has shined upon you, pale fuckhead.


Unacceptable rules:

1. The worst of all. You like the team colors. Kill yourself.

2. You like one player on the team.

3. They were the most successful team during your childhood. The reason for why you have Cowboys fans in Staten Island, NY.

4. Your sister dates the free safety/small forward. Both your vaginas stink of cleat chasing.

5. Grandma gave you a jersey for Christmas. Just because it was on sale at Caldor hours after Midnight Mass ended doesn't mean it was divine intervention. Unless it was a Bengals' jersey, then, both you and the old bag have horrid taste.

I really like Romo this year (Kanye snags the mic)..IM SORRY, BUT BREES HAD ONE OF THE BEST GAMES OF ALL TIME! OF ALL TIME

Its not even Week 2, and my number of roster moves is higher than the amount of VMA's Lady Gaga won last night. You ever hear the expression you dance with the girl you brought to the dance? Yeah that's for anime-obsessed weirdos on MADE on MTV that can only dupe someone to going to that dance. I pull the trigger on any player in Week 1 that looks like hes gonna be an All-Pro which will backfire, especially on a roster move-capped league like the one I play in. For those much more wise than I am...

Here are a few players to keep an eye on...

-Joshua Cribbs KR/PR/WR, Cle. In leagues that value return yardage, Cribbs was that dude today. With a combined 201 yds in returns (along with 1 touchdown on special teams) added with the fact that the Browns plan to use him in the Wildcat formation, Cribbs could be a good WR/RB option, especially against low scoring opponents that will offer him many chances for returns on punts.

-Robert Meachem, WR, NO. The former Tennessee Volunteer was supposed to have his breakout year last year. Well, it may have been delayed until 2009. Meachem only had 2 catches for 51 yds, but he did haul in one of Brees' six TD passes. In an offense this dangerous, you can still find benefits from third options in the passing game.

-John Carlson, TE, Sea. Carlson caught six passes for 95 yards and two touchdowns. He was thrown at nine times, and often was split out as a WR for the Seahawks. Could be a scoring threat each week. But face it, they were playing against St. Louis, and you shouldn't expect two TDs from a TE each week.

-Patrick Crayton, WR, Dal. Crayton will have to fight for receptions along with TE Jason Whitten and WRs Miles Austin and Roy Williams. But Crayton cause 4 passes for 135 yds, showing he, along with Williams, provide Romo with legitimate deep threats.

Don't be fooled by...

-Kyle Orton, QB, Den. The late miraculous TD pass to Brandon Stokely padded his stats (17 of 28, 243, 1 TD). If it weren't for right place-right timing with less than :30 to play, subtract 87 yards--and most importantly--the lone TD.

-Tim Hightower, RB, Ari. The Arizona RB was the leading receiver on Sunday, hauling in 12 passes for 121 yards. As far as his gains on the ground, well, he was outperformed by Beanie Wells, only rushing for 15 yds on 8 carries. Hightower never caught more than six balls in a game during his first year in Arizona, and he surely benefited from an inactive Steve Breston and a less than 100% Anquan Boldin.

Spread 'Em: Week 1 NFL

Each week, we'll look at three games you can bet the farm on [assuming you are betting crops grown in the Farmville app on Facebook]

Carolina +3 over Philadelphia. The Eagles are going to be a force in the NFC East, but their defense won't shape up right away, especially with the losses of MLB Stewart Bradley and their Defensive Coordinator Jim Johnson who passed away this offseason. Carolina's two-headed monster of Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams in the backfield will take pressure off of Jake Dell'homme, who still has one of the game's best receivers in Steve Smith.

New England -11 over Buffalo. A week before the season opener, Buffalo Head Coach Dick Jauron fired Offensive Coordinator Turk Schonert. Along with this turmoil, the Bills are expected to start three players (tackle Demetrius Bell along with guards Andy Levitre and Eric Wood) on their O-line who have never appeared in a meaningful NFL game. P.S. Eric Wood looks a lot like the kid from Bad Santa). Buffalo will also be without starting RB Marshawn Lynch who is serving a three-game suspension. Oh, and New England has Tom Brady back.

Green Bay -3.5 over Chicago. Expectations are high for the two quarterbacks in this game. Despite six wins last year for the Packers, Aaron Rodgers seems to be poised for a breakout year, especially with Greg Jennings as a weapon in the receiving corps. Jay Cutler, the heralded acquisition for the Bears this offseason, brings the spotlight to a position in Chicago that for almost two decades has been holding the team back from supremacy. While Cutler, like Rogers, had an excellent preseason, he will be facing a tough pass rush from the Packers whom this year convert to a 3-4 scheme. Whoever wins this game has a leg up in the NFC North, so expect this one to be a hard-fought battle and a close game, but Green Bay will win by at least six points.

College Football Information GangBang

Since tonight marks the return of Erin Andrews (and about six straight months of football), it's time to, albeit for one night, bring back the blog. College football kicks off with North Carolina State hosting South Carolina in the "Governor Sanford Appalachian Trail Hike Bowl"...but how will the season end?

Will Charlie Weis' coaching internship land a real job?

Who will be the next coach to cry? (Bill Stewart of WVU is -32 as of tonight's line)

Will the wildfires postpone Rick Neuheusel's first game as head coach of UCLA, or will he be fired beforehand for taking Florida -73 hosting Charleston Southern (shoulda teased it down to 67)

Storyline of the Season: The Three Man Heisman Race

Fortunately for us fans, we will be force-fed the same holy triumvirate of candidates for college football's most storied trophy (if you don't count this one). Yes, all three top vote-getters are back for another season-- Florida's Tim Tebow, Texas' Colt Brennan, and Oklahoma's Sam Bradford-- primarily because the possibility of starting for the Lions this year while leaving busty coeds at their respective schools was almost too much to pass up.

OSU's Archie Griffin was the last two-time Heisman Trophy winner, and the press will most likely it will keep it that way. With Tebow taking the award last year, that leaves Bradford and McCoy to battle it out. October 17th's matchup of Longhorns vs. Sooners will most likely determine the winner...and I'm guessing that McCoy will end up the victor to cap off a great career in Austin.

Big Games to Start the Season:

On the first weekend, we have some great matchups like (16) Oregon vs. (14) Boise St, (5) Alabama vs. (7) Va Tech, (13) Georgia vs. (9) Oklahoma St., Cincinnati vs. Rutgers, and Miami vs. (18) FSU. While the last few years have seen National Champions with one or more losses, an early season loss for teams like Boise State with weak schedules can K.O. their BCS hopes for the rest of the year.

Can Florida Be Beaten?

Last year's BCS National Champion Florida Gators seem poised to do something that's never happened in their school's history---go undefeated. Tim Tebow has done it all except laying a goose egg in the loss column. Their lone stumble last year was a close loss to Ole Miss in the swamp. And I kinda pray they go undefeated, just so we don't have to listen to this again. With the Gators going to LSU at night combined with playing in the best conference in college football, the undefeated season won't happen. While the Gators lost some playmakers on offense such as Percy Harvin, they brought back almost the entire dominating defense including LB Brandon Spikes. They are no doubt the odds-on favorite to win back-to-back SEC and BCS Titles.

Who Will Be This Year's Surprise Teams?

This one is kinda easy. First, in the ACC, the Georgia Tech team that triple-optioned their way to the Chic-Fil-A Bowl last year sports an excellent backfield including RB Jonathan Dwyer. Also, look out for Syracuse to have a 100% win improvement with former Duke point guard Greg Paulus as their quarterback (this will be the CBS Sporsline most annoying cutback in the first three weeks. Close to being on the "Italian girls that wRiTe LiKE tHis" scale). Florida Atlantic, with NFL-ready QB Rusty Smith, has two tough first games (at Nebraska followed by a trip to South Carolina), but they could be this year's Appalachian State.

New Syracuse QB Greg Paulus

Can USC Win with a Frosh QB?

The reason why the Trojans have been so successful this decade is not just because of talent at the quarterback position with Palmer, Leinart, and Sanchez leading the field... but because they are loaded at all skill positions on both sides of the field. And even if true freshman Matt Barkley struggles, they still can look to Aaron Corp or former Arkansas transfer Mitch Mustain.


SI's Stewart Mandel tweeted that "The difference in velocity and zip in [Barkley's] throws vs. Corp/Mustain is remarkable. Looks cool and composed. Gets rid of it fast." And Barkley will have weapons in the backfield with Joe McKnight and Stafon Johnson along with four starters returning to their offensive line.

Exactly How Many Points will Florida Hang on Tennessee?

56.





So, enjoy the beginning of what should be a great Fall/Winter season in NCAA/NFL/UFL/Lingerie Football.

Here are some vids to get pumped for the season. Pause.

Unintentional Comedy

Contagious by The Isley Brothers f/ R. Kelly. Yes, this is a pertinent song for the times, as the N1H1 Virus formerly known as Swine Flu spreads from pig to Mexican to the rest of the world.



But this video, a staple in 2001 on BET, is a follow up to The Isley Brothers' previous video with Kells..."Down Low". Once again, one of the Brothers' girls is doin them wrong, cheatin with R.'s ass.

- 3:40. Shit is about to GO THE F**K DOWN. You are about to witness the birth of the idea for Trapped in the Closet pts. 1-39.

-3:53. No one can curse-sing quite like the man who pees on betches.

-4:33. Bass drum sound accompanying pseudo battery. Genius.

-4:44. Wait! That wasn't just a walking stick or even a pimp cane!! It was a sword casing.

A Face Only Another Meth Addict Could Love

Midges are to Joba Chamberlain as meth is to his mother. Unfortunately for the momma of Joba, a few cans of Raid will not cast away her demons.

Jailed on suspicion of selling methamphetamine this February, Jacqueline Standley is facing a felony charge after allegedly selling one gram of that crank to an undercover cop. And yes, I know what you're thinking...how could such a beautiful woman produce such a grotesque child?

Standley, 44, is being held on $5,000 bail, or the equivalent street value for three tickets on the first base line in New Yankee Stadium, two hot dogs, and one beer.

NFL Draft Sleeperz

The subject of 210 FB status updates today...

Harry Kalas, the longtime Philadelphia Phillies announcer died today. Those who don't follow baseball might recognize his voice from NFL Films narration, where he could make the story recap of the 1995 New York Jets seem like a triumphant 17-week long conquest.

Podcast April 7, 2009

DGWH discusses the NCAA Tournament and takes calls from the RTTC/DGWH Bracket Challenge winner Chrissy, discusses the perils of poking former crushes on Facebook with J-Dubz, finally gets Bischoff to agree to fight this summer, allows Cooper to illustrate how I beat up Bischoff back in HS, and Big Mike talks The Hills fight and NFL Draft.



You can download the podcast to your iTunes by clicking the iTunes icon on the player.

ZOMG MAJAH DRAMZZ

Oh My Gaga! Did you see The Hills premiere?

Sure, the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship was on, but seriously, who thought MSU was going to stay close to UNC? (cough...me)

While MSU was doing their best General Motors impression by crapping out in Detroit, it was LAURENS SURPRISE BIRTHDAY PARTY!!!! Evidently, Lauren, Lo, Audrina, lame-ass Franky and Brody held none of their earnings in the market and sagaciously invested in low-yield CDs because they seem to be recession proof.

Lauren had her 23rd 24th 25th birthday on a yacht where there was gambling, drankin', and of course a boatload of drama (pun intended).

Heidi came along with Stephanie to the surprise party, and once Lauren saw Spencer's better half, she sorta made the face of when you get the watery taste in your mouth right before you barf.

While Heidi and L.C. (or "Queen Bee-yotch" as refereed to by Spencer) were making an awkward pie on the boat, Spencer and the guy that the MTV producers casted to be his wingman went for a boy's night out. Spencer was hitting on the bartender while Stephanie's ex-bf Cameron was watching. Cameron, unaware of the G-code, snitched on Spencer via txt to BB pin#347434532a and Heidi found out through Stephanie. Heidi then expressed her feelings to Spencer through a carefully-plotted series of emoticons such as ;/ and :( .

Spencer confronted Cameron, possibly creating a fight between the most WASPy suburbanite upper-class first names ever. Surprisingly, Spence got a few good rips in and kinda kicked some ass (We learned in the second episode after that Spencer is a purple belt in Jiu-Jitsu, only 3 belts behind Michael Westbrook [ed. note: it has been made clear to me that Westbrook is a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, which basically means he wears a thong while fighting). Oh and notice at 0:48, Spencer turns into Randy Jackson, dawg.



So this of course set off a long strain of Spencer's sarcastic, non-chalant responses to Heidi's character examinations, and the old "I'M GOING TO COLORADO" response from Heidi. Lauren is pissed that Steph brought Heidi along, saying "You can't force someone onto someone else. It's not fair." Evidently, Lauren has been too consumed with recent examinations of law in Afghanistan lately.

The Door.

Update: Watch as DGWH gets some "face time" on this local Memphis TV report (around 1:24 into the video). http://www.myfoxmemphis.com/dpp/news/040109_FOX13s_The_Door_Achieves_Cult_Status_as_Internet_Sensation



(Some this stuff was taken from the almighty at Deadspin.com)

Local Fox station in Memphis, TN set up a live webcam for the past two days on the door of the Memphis Athletic Department office. These past two days have been most riveting...presenting us with captivating characters such as the unidentified cameraman who once in a while would acknowledge the audience (sometimes upward of 3,000 watching at one time on the web), Les--the grizzled vet on-site reporter, Lauren--the adorable fresh-faced doll investigator, and of course the star of the show, the door.

At one point, the door recieved competition from "the gate", where a second livestream was set up on the gate to Calipari's house. The gate did feature about 12 men with signs, as well as lavish floura and fauna envelping the gate. It did not nearly have the presence as the door.

Just how did the door rise to its popularity, or infamy so quickly? Well, it was a portal to what was hope to be a sighting of now former Memphis head coach John Calipari, trotting out the door to announce his departure to UK, which never happened. Yet, the door outshined the protagonist in this story, becoming an entity, or an inamiate personification of how one can come out of nowhere and steal the show... sorta like Russell Brand in Forgetting Sarah Marshall. No word on if the door has been asked to host the VMA's.



The door has become so popular, its spawned its own facebook group and now you can share with your friends that you have $15 to spend on an I <3 Door t-shirt.

With all the back-and forth reports about where Coach Cal was going to end up, there was one constant throughout the past two days. The entrance between us and the unknown. The door will one day crumble once Memphis desicrates its athletic department as its basketball program falls to the basement. But memories of the door, Les, Lauren, the cameramen, squirrels, two birds, various people walking in and out of the building, and people commenting on the videochat asking to see Lauren's boobs....well, these memories will always remain.

Exclusive Interview with The Star


Retrospective on the door, featuring Les, the gate, and a life-size Grizzlies cutout that made it through the door.