Weekly Picks: First Edition

This being the first of many editions, I will pick weekly selected college basketball contests to offer predictions. I will tally my record each week, and for an ego trip, see how many I've gotten right over the course of February and March. Check in every Sunday night or Monday morning to scope out the new picks. Anyway, on to the purpose of this post: predictions.

Monday--January 30th

Louisville at VILLANOVA--Wildcats will win at home against a tragically overrated Louisville team. 'Nova by 9.

Texas Tech at KANSAS--The Jayhawks aren't very good, but Texas Tech is struggling immensely this year. Can't pick against Kansas at home unless they're actually playing someone good. Kansas by 7.

Hawaii at UTAH STATE--The Aggies have won five in a row and are 10-0 at home. Hawaii isn't anything special. Utah State by 5.


Tuesday--January 31st

ILLINOIS at Wisconsin--A true test for the Badgers at home against an underrated Illinois team. Dee Brown and company will be too quick and too much for Wisconsin, even in the Kohl Center. Illinois by 8.

Pitt at UCONN--My inner-instinct tells me that Pitt will somehow win this game, even if it's on the road against clearly the best team in the country. But, as I don't want to embarrass myself, I'd rather pick safely. UConn by 7.

South Florida at CINCINNATI--Who cares?

FLORIDA at Ole Miss--The Rebels are winning their way back into tournament discussions, but Florida is just too good. This is a trap game for the Gators, so watch for an upset. Florida by 4.

GEORGETOWN at DePaul--Another really tough matchup in the Big East. DePaul is a tough team with a lot of heart, and Georgetown has shown their ability to win regardless of the opponent. This is a test game for the Hoyas, win on the road, and maybe wrap up a tournament bid. Georgetown by 9.

Wake Forest at MIAMI--Miami is decent. Wake Forest was overrated to start the season and is now officially garbage. Miami by 10.


Wednesday--February 1st

Virginia at NC STATE--The Wolfpack are the second best team in the ACC. Virginia will be better soon, but this year is another tough one for the Cavaliers. NC State by 15.

IOWA at Purdue--Purdue is struggling to dress ten scholarship players. Iowa is on the brink of clinching a tourney bid. There couldn't be a bigger trap game. Hopefully for Iowa, their defense will show up with their jump shooting. Iowa by 12.

Notre Dame at WEST VIRGINIA--The Mountaineers rely on three-point shooting and a tough, trapping 1-3-1. Notre Dame struggled against Wofford but gave Pitt, Villanova, and Georgetown a run for their money. West Virginia by 7.

Rutgers at SYRACUSE--The Orangemen arguably have the hardest conference schedule in the nation. This game will not be easy, but I expect 'Cuse to rebound and win at home after a treacherous slew of losses. Syracuse in a close one by 2.

Vanderbilt at TENNESSEE--One of the hottest teams in the country, Tennessee, takes on one of the several very mediocre teams in a weak SEC. Blowout city. Tennessee by 18.

Seton Hall at PROVIDENCE--The Friars are better than people think, so watch for a major letdown by the Pirates after their big weekend. Providence by 6.

KENTUCKY at Mississippi State--Kentucky is garbage. If they even make the tournament, which they will solely based on the name across their chest, they will lose right away. In the meantime, Mississippi State is rebuilding. Kentucky by 6.

TEXAS A&M at Oklahoma--Letdown Game of the Week. Oklahoma, coming off a huge win against Texas, plays a very good Texas A&M team. The Aggies shock the Norman faithful. Texas A&M in a thriller by 3.

Auburn at LSU--One of the best unranked teams in the country, LSU will mop the floor with a young but improving Auburn team. LSU by 17.

St. John's at MARQUETTE--Two of the Big East's biggest surprise teams meet in Wisconsin for a conference showdown. Marquette will win only because they are home. Expect a good one. Marquette by 4.

Northwestern at INDIANA--Uh oh, the Hoosiers are mad and Northwestern is coming to town. Yeah, let's play "Can Northwestern score 50 points on a furious Indiana defense?" Of course not, Indiana by 25.

MICHIGAN at Penn State--Michigan is an NCAA tournament team in my opinion. Penn State just isn't a basketball school. Michigan by 16.

DUKE at Boston College--BC has the talent but Duke actually wins gamest. Expect BC to perform decently on their home floor, but Duke is in another league altogether. Duke by 13.

Colorado State at AIR FORCE--Two very good Colorado teams in a big rivalry game. Air Force is too good at home. Air Force by 6.


Thursday--February 2nd

GEORGE WASHINGTON at Xavier--GW has flown under the radar all season, losing only once at NC State. Xavier has done the same however, winning key games and proving their toughness at home. GW upholds their ranking and wins on the road by 5.

North Carolina at MARYLAND--And so the "Over-raaated" chants begin. These two teams will not do anything come March, in fact, neither of them should be ranked. So I guess before I throw up in my mouth, I should say that Maryland wins by 8.

Stanford at OREGON--The Ducks aren't actually that bad. They could make their way onto the bubble by March. Stanford has lost it completely, although the win over Washington may right the ship. Eh, nah, probably not. Oregon by 5.


Friday--February 3rd

DePaul at SOUTH FLORIDA--In an old C-USA matchup, South Florida snags their first Big East conference win at home. They have been close in almost every game, but they just can't get some wins. This game will be different. South Florida by 3.

Canisius at IONA--Iona is actually good this year. They will take care of business at home in New Rochelle with a nice 'W.' Iona by 23.

Saturday--February 4th

UCONN at Indiana--Wait, what? Why are these teams playing in February? Oh well, UConn is the best team in the country and Indiana doesn't know when to show up. UConn by 9.

Florida State at DUKE--I mean, do I really even need to say it? Another snoozer out of the ACC. Duke by 17.

Marquette at VILLANOVA--This is a winnable game for Marquette and certainly a losable one for 'Nova. But 'Nova just has that fantastic guard play. GUARDS WIN CHAMPIONSHIPS. Villanova by 7.

Kentucky at FLORIDA--The real best team in the SEC against the pretenders from Lexington. Florida will prove their worth as the superior team. Florida by 11.

Texas A&M at TEXAS--The Aggies will put up a good fight, but Texas is too good. I like the new guard setup anyway, and so do the Longhorns. Back on the winning track, Texas by 9.

Arizona at UCLA--Well, Arizona was overrated. UCLA isn't that good. And this game will be boring. UCLA by 7.

MICHIGAN at Iowa--It's tough to pick against a good Iowa team at home. Michigan is on a roll, but this is a big-time contest. It will be close, Michigan by 4.

Notre Dame at LOUISVILLE--Hey, you, ask me if I care. (Do you care?) Hah! Of course not. These teams are not worth my time...and yet, somehow, I'm typing about them and thinking about them now. HYPOCRIT! Louisville by 2.

MIAMI at Georgia Tech--Again, to reiterate, the ACC is not good. So I don't care who wins. Well, I guess while we're here...Miami by 7.

ST. JOHN'S at Providence--I know some people will be mad that I picked against my boys, but St. John's is better than the Friars this year. Tim Welsh needs to exit stage left, immediately. St. John's by 9.


Sunday--February 5th

PITT at Georgetown--Biggest game of the day...hahaha. Just kidding, football fans. But really, this will be a great appetizer before the Super Bowl. Should be a good contest. Pitt by 5 in a gritty one.

Maryland at NC STATE--There are only two good teams in the ACC: NC State and Duke. 'Nuff said. Wolfpack by 9.

OKLAHOMA at Kansas--Remember when I said that Kansas doesn't lose at home unless it's a tough opponent? Enter Oklahoma. Oklahoma=tough opponent. Oklahoma by 11.

Colorado at IOWA STATE--After finally getting some respect, entering the polls at 25th, Colorado hits the road for a tough test at Iowa State. The Cyclones are good at home, so I'm taking them in a "kind of upset." Iowa State by 3 in a good game.

RUTGERS at Seton Hall--These are two up-and-coming clubs in the Big East. Marquette and St. John's are right there too. This will be a nice matchup between the two New Jersey schools. Remember, don't go there, just watch them from a distance. Don't associate with Jersey (just kidding). Rutgers in a thriller by 3.

XAVIER at Saint Louis--C'mon, I wanted to end it nicely. Xavier beats another up-and-coming team in St. Louis. Xavier by 7.


That concludes my picks for this coming week. Make sure you keep track! Hey, maybe you can post your picks in the comment part of this blog and we can compare. Anyway, keep reading and stay posted (haha, get it? Post?)

I am officially off the Budweiser Hot Seat.

ps- How 'bout Northern Iowa finally getting some respect?! Don't blow it now Panthers.

Trusting Your Quarterback

What is trust? Is it knowing that you can leave your favorite CD on the dining room table at your friend's house without it being stolen? Is it knowing someone will catch you whenever you fall? Or is it knowing that your quarterback won't cost your favorite NFL team a big game with a critical turnover at a bad time?

Well, it's all of the above, but this wouldn't be a sports blog if I didn't address the last one. I use the word 'trust' a lot to describe my perspective on a particular quarterback. Will he make good decisions in big games? Will he throw it away once he realizes no one is open and he is out of the pocket? Will he force a floating lob into seven defenders in the hopes that his receiver will somehow grab the ball?

There are many trustworthy quarterbacks in the NFL today. Sure, everyone makes mistakes, but there are guys who do it far less than others, and these are the ones upon whom I place trust. Start with someone like Tom Brady, a big game quarterback who throws the occasional interception. But when you need 65 yards in two minutes to win a game, there is no one else that handles that situation, finding open receivers and using the clock well, better than Tom Brady. You know your team, in this instance, the Patriots, is fully capable of getting down the field and winning or tying the game.

The newest member of this so-called Trust Club is Ben Roethlisberger. Having improved upon his dismal postseason last year, Big Ben guided his team to Super Bowl XL, the Steelers first in ten years, and while only in his NFL second season. He makes good decisions these days, avoiding big turnovers, taking sacks or throwing the ball away when no other options are logical. He has managed to pick apart secondaries with a precision that opens up a punishing running game.

Now, some would argue that the running game sets up Big Ben and the Steelers' passing game. That is true, but sometimes, Ben's arm and a certain, smily receiver named Hines Ward do their thing pretty well, too. These two, combined with Heath Miller, Cedric Wilson, and Antwaan Randle-El, make for a pretty good passing corps. When Ben is on, he is good. He knows when to run and when to throw it away. Since the humbling experience of the 2005 AFC Championship, he has avoided big mistakes and keeps his team in every game.

There are other trustworthy quarterbacks in the NFL. Of the ones not mentioned previously, names like Donovan McNabb or Trent Green come to mind. These passers make mistakes like every other quarterback, but most of the time, they avoid trouble. Their teams trust them when the ball is in their hands and know what they are getting in return.

Trust is a big thing for me and quarterbacks. Will I ever trust Jake Plummer or Michael Vick in a big game? No. Because they will throw into Cover 2's or try to salvage a play by throwing up a prayer.

Is there really any question that trusting your quarterback makes a game easier for you to watch? In my experience as a Patriots fan, I've dabbled in trust and comfort as well as mistrust and misery. At first, I found Drew Bledsoe to be the type of player that would guide his team to at least one Super Bowl victory. He eventually lost that trust when he threw numerous, costly interceptions in big games. Then the Patriots had Scott Zolak. That was the epitome of uncertainty for me. I never knew if he would toss a nice, feathery fade ten yards shy of Shawn Jefferson, or flip a bullet pass 15 feet behind a slanting Lovett Purnell.

Now, with Tom Brady, I know he will find Ben Watson or Deion Branch, place the ball neatly in their area, and let them do the rest. But if he is in trouble, he will throw the ball out of harm's way, be it into the ground or way out of bounds, or simply take a sack to avoid a huge turnover. Isn't it comforting to know such things about your quarterback?

Steelers fans know. Mike Tomczak always seemed to find a way to lose games. With a delicate lob 8 yards shy of Andre Hastings or a nice little gimme completion in an attempt to find Mark Bruener in the flat, only to pass it directly to the linebacker 5 yards behind him.

The trust of a quarterback is integral on so many levels. Can you see him guiding your team on that game-winning drive? Or do you have nightmares of him overthrowing his favorite, and seemingly only, receiver with his pass landing in the hands of some safety? It separates those of us that can watch a two minute drill without suffering a heart attack and/or conniption from those who close their eyes, wishing that their precious quarterback named Vinny Testaverde or Chris Chandler wouldn't fire a lazy toss into the middle of the secondary.

It's January, and that means it's playoff time. Do you trust your quarterback?

My Relationship with Pittsburgh and their beloved Steelers

My name is Jeff Greer and I go to school in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Recently, the AFC's champion was crowned and given a collective ticket to Super Bowl XL in Detroit. The city of Pittsburgh hasn't seen such excitement in years, so it's nice to see so many people celebrating and smiling. I can't say that I am jumping on the Steelers bandwagon, no, for I am, and always will be, a diehard New England Patriots fan.

I grew up watching Marion Butts, celebrating the arrival of greats like Bill Parcells, Drew Bledsoe, and Ben Coates, and quietly enjoyed three Super Bowls in four years. I remember the first time the Patriots made the big game, at least in my lifetime. In January of 1997, the Patriots beat the Jaguars 20-6, winning the AFC Title for only the second time since the beginning of the modern-day NFL. I remember jumping around and celebrating, causing a raucous all too similar to one seen on Forbes Ave. here in the Oakland section of Pittsburgh.

I have nothing but the utmost respect for the Pittsburgh Steelers, the city of Pittsburgh, and its residents. I see the joy in their eyes and immediately remember 1997 or 2001. I understand their excitement and enjoy seeing my friends happily smiling. This year's team, the 2005-2006 Steelers, squeaked into the playoffs in the sixth spot, riding high off a four game winning streak. With a major head of steam, they rolled through Cincinnati, demolishing their River City rivals easily. They followed the Cincinnati win with a stunning upset of the Indianapolis Colts, perhaps one of the biggest letdowns in recent sports history (think about it, the Colts were undefeated at 13-0 in Week 14, highly considered one of the greatest teams ever, and they lost at home in their first playoff game).

So credit the Steelers for winning two huge playoff games on the road. They played extremely well in Cincinnati and well enough to beat the Colts in Indianapolis. Then came the Denver Broncos and their 9-0 home record.

The Broncos stormed into the AFC Championship, having also won four in a row, and eight of their last nine. But, again, to the Steelers' credit, they steamrolled Denver, 34-17. Ben Roethlisberger handled the pressure of a big game well and passed his team to the Super Bowl.

Now, people say that I hate the Steelers, that I am a buzz-killer and a jerk. To be honest, I really do not hate the Steelers. In fact, I like most of their fans. The only time I dislike them is when they play the New England Patriots.

Now, I watched the AFC Championship with some rabid Steelers fans. These fans are all great people and fun to watch a game with, but for some reason, I forgot my manners. I simply acted foolish and treated them with some major disrespect. I had forgotten what it was like to go to the Super Bowl and actually be excited about it.

As you know by now, the Pats made the last two Super Bowls, and won them both. I expected them to win both of those games and took the titles for granted. With the memories of going to the Super Bowl in 1997 and 2001 long forgotten, I scoffed at these fans.

I was criticized justly for my lack of sensibility and among other things, my rudeness. Well, I have to admit that I am still hurt that the Patriots were terrible in Denver two weeks ago. Steelers fans know what it's like to be disappointed, lots of NFL fans do. So I don't think this concept is that hard to grasp. I am not bitter by any means that the Steelers won fair and square. Heck, I'm glad to see the celebratory parades and happiness consume the city in which I reside. But because I do not cheer or celebrate when the Steelers do well does not mean that I hate them. They deserve the chance to play for the Super Bowl.

So please, in my humblest of manners, accept my apology if I made any fans feel disrespected or mistreated by my sadness. It is hard to see another team do what I expect the Pats to do, yes, but I am glad it was the Steelers and not the Colts or the Broncos. Understand that I am still recovering from the Pats being awful in Denver two weeks ago.

At this time in two weeks, one city will be very excited and one will be disappointed. Both Seattle and Pittsburgh have great fan bases and very good teams. I honestly think this game will be close.

Good luck to all those involved with the Super Bowl. And remember, to reiterate:

Me= Disappointed, sad Pats fan
Me= Not a Steelers-hater, just not a Steelers lover

Good fight, good night.

Rebirth of the AL West

More than two months removed from the World Series, it is safe to say that the power may be shifting quietly in the American League West. With big names like Alfonzo Soriano, Kenny Rogers, and Octavio Dotel (is he still a big name? Nahhh) all heading to other teams outside the division, the changing of the guard indeed has begun.

The Seattle Mariners took charge of their own destiny in 2006 by signing key pieces to improve their beleaguered club. After losing 93 games in 2005, the Mariners can only improve in their upcoming campaign. The 2005 M’s lacked production from numerous spots in their lineup, particularly from the catcher, second base, and shortstop positions.

Not only did those positions fail to produce adequate numbers in an offense-oriented American League, but the stars in the lineup, i.e. Adrian Beltre, Richie Sexson, also struggled immensely. The only hitter with any positive numbers was (surprise, surprise) Ichiro, compiling a solid .303 average, a career-high 15 homers, and 111 runs scored.

The Mariners’ team offense, however, hit an American League-worst .256 while producing a Major League-worst .317 OBP. Seattle averaged just 4.3 runs per game along with only 8.7 hits per game in 2005. As their pitching staff struggled with mediocrity and injuries, their offense struck out in 17% of their plate appearances. With over $85-million invested in their players, the Mariners can definitely consider their 2005 campaign a miserable failure.

On this cold, January night at the outset of 2006, however, there is a ray of hope for the Seattle Mariners. The first place to look is starting pitching: The Mariners added a very solid Jarrod Washburn to complement the hugely promising Felix Rodriguez and wily veteran Jamie Moyer. Pair those three with Joel Piniero, who had an off year in 2005, and the Mariners have a good front four.

As for the middle infielders, the Mariners expect big things out of youngsters Jose Lopez, 22, and Yuniesky Betancourt, 23. Lopez finished the season at second, after Seattle sadly parted ways with ailing veteran Bret Boone. Boone struggled incredibly in 2005, hitting just .231 through 71 games. The Mariners saw a dependable fielder and promising young hitter in Betancourt, whose position is unharmed as of now because Seattle has not pursued any other shortstops.

The Mariners added Japanese sensation Kenji Johjima to catch. Johjima is highly touted as a solid hitter and a quality game-caller. They also acquired free agent Carl Everett to help bolster the DH core. Everett always hits for above average power and is usually productive in the RBI category. Finally, Seattle brought in veteran outfielder Matt Lawton. Lawton has a reputation as a superb fielder and professional hitter. These three players will immediately affect the M’s anemic offense.

Look out for the newly revamped Texas Rangers as well. The Rangers brought in three good starters to replace the disgruntled Kenny Rogers and fill in some holes in their poor rotation. Manager Buck Showalter can immediately use newcomers Kevin Millwood, Adam Eaton, and Vicente Padilla to improve his pitching.

Millwood comes into Arlington as the new ace in the deck. He threw 196 innings in 2005, finishing with an American League-best 2.86 ERA while sporting a 1.22 WHIP (Walks + Hits/Innings Pitched). He brings a low-90s fastball mixed with an effective sinker and a nice backdoor slider. He will embrace his new role in Texas with a chance to pitch with great run support.

Adam Eaton and Vicente Padilla add some youth and talent to the second and third starter slots. Chris Young delivered a special year in 2005, so the Rangers really need Eaton or Padilla to fill in the space left by Young. Standing at 6’8,” Kameron Loe will get his chance to start this year behind Millwood, Eaton, and Padilla. Loe pitched well in 2005 and Buck Showalter must be excited to see how 2006 treats his young stud.

The loss of Alfonso Soriano will not hurt the Rangers at all. They will continue to hit plenty of home runs and score plenty of runs. Brad Wilkerson fits in well in Arlington and he will produce right away in the hitters’ ballpark. Look for the Rangers to emerge again in the AL West after a tough year.

While these two teams have improved immensely this off-season, they will have a lot of work to do if they want to catch the Angels and Athletics. The Angels still have Vlad Guerrero, who alone keeps them in divisional contention, and the Athletics have a dynamite set of young pitchers that have a season under their belt and are primed for a big year in 2006.

The Angels lost Paul Byrd and Jarrod Washburn, which definitely hurts their pitching staff. Byrd is a smart pitcher who has some confusing stuff while Washburn developed into one of the better left-handed pitchers in the AL West during his days in Anaheim. The Halos added 36-year-old Hector Carrasco to fill one of the open slots in their rotation, but he will hardly get the job done having started only six games in his ten-year career. They finally have space, however, to get Ervin Santana into their rotation full-time. Santana will hide behind Cy Young winner Bartolo Colon, flame-throwing John Lackey, and a healthy Kelvim Escobar.

The Angels will still be competitive. They finally acquired a left-handed reliever to complement all those great righties in their bullpen. They will still put out a strong lineup, and paired with a good rotation and relief staff, the Angels will still be the team to beat in the AL West.

The Athletics have brought in Milton Bradley, Esteban Loaiza, and Antonio Perez so far this off-season. Loaiza will hold the third starter slot behind Barry Zito and Rich Harden. Add Joe Blanton and Danny Haren to those three and the A’s look like one of the best pitching staffs in the Majors. The addition of Bradley makes their lineup look presentable and, if they re-sign Scott Hatteberg and/or Erubiel Durazo, they will be one of the better hitting teams around.

If Jason Kendall and Eric Chavez produce at a much more effective rate in 2006, the Athletics will see marked improvements in their offense. Billy Beane shifted his lineup around, moving Nick Swisher to first, putting Bradley in right, all while preparing for the breakout season of Dan Johnson at DH. These five, plus the 2005 offensive stars Mark Kotsay and Bobby Crosby, put Oakland on track towards success.

So, you’re looking for the best division in baseball, huh? Yeah, yeah, go look at the AL East first, who doesn’t do that? But after sifting through a bunch of overrated veterans in the Red Sox’ and Yankees’ lineups, shift your eyes to the AL West, where young, talented pitching has found strong hitting to create the toughest division in the American League.

Why Not Play for Us, Mike?

On September 4, 1968, Michael Joseph Piazza came into this world via Norristown, Pa. Ronnie Belliard was born on April 7, 1975 in the Bronx, N.Y. And, in the great year of 1975, in the even more fantastic month of July, Alexander Emmanuel Rodriguez was born in New York City. All three ballplayers were born in the United States of America.

As of January 1, 2006, however, Belliard was registered as a player for the Dominican Republic in the upcoming World Baseball Classic. Piazza? Italy. Alex Rodriguez, one of the world’s finest baseball players? No team. Is anyone else upset by this trend?

If Ronnie Belliard and Mike Piazza were born in the United States, why wouldn’t they want to play for the American team in March? Rodriguez told the media that he could not play in the Classic because he did not want to upset his mother, a Dominican, or his father, an American, by choosing the other’s country of origin. Wait, what? Alex, you were born in the United States.

Go to the World Baseball Classic’s website, and peruse through the roster section. Notice something interesting about, say, Italy’s team? Well I do too. Frank Menechino? Born in New York. Frank Catalanotto? Another New Yorker. Doug Mirabelli? One of Arizona’s finest. These players are all on the Italian roster, yet they hail from the continental United States. Hey, if Italy can’t field a competitive team without American-born players, then don’t let them play in the World Baseball Classic.

This trend needs to stop before it begins. These players are all American. I do not have a problem with showing your parents’ heritage love or even wanting to play for a team in need of more talent. What I have a problem with is that the players that the American team needs to succeed, i.e. Alex Rodriguez, are shafting their own home nation. The U.S. will probably start either Eric Chavez or David Wright at third and Derek Jeter at short. How much better would the American team be if they had A-Rod at third, next to his Major League battery-mate Derek Jeter? A lot better. Does the Dominican really need Alex with their lineup of Manny Ramirez, Miguel Tejada, David Ortiz, Vlad Guerrero, and Albert Pujols?

This March will be an exciting time for baseball fans everywhere. There will be a brand new, competitive addition to the game. The World Cup brings summers (and winters in the Southern hemisphere) to a halt in countries around the world every four years. And with baseball’s new equivalent to the World Cup entering center stage in March, the sport will test new frontiers on the global stage.

One thing you will notice more often than not in the World Cup, however, is that most players play for their country of birth. There are a few exceptions, but 90% of the players in the World Cup this summer were born in the nations for which they will play. In the World Baseball Classic, the Italian team’s stars will be American. Mike Piazza brought controversy, excitement, and even some quality baseball to fans across America. He did it with that little American flag on his helmet. So why not play for us, Mike?

Look, you might think I’m analyzing this too much. Heck, you might even say I’m just an idiot American. But really folks, all I want is American players on the American team, Dominican players on the Dominican team, and Italian players on the Italian team. Would it be a fair World Baseball Classic for Italy without Piazza or even David Dellucci (Louisiana) and Frank Catalanotto? Probably not. But hey, at least Australia’s trying.

So please, Ben Sheets, don’t play for England in the next World Baseball Classic and Jason Isringhausen, stay with Team USA, don’t defect to Germany. Let’s make American players play for America, the way it should be. After all, it’s not really “Team Italy” or “Team Dominican Republic” if some of their players are actually American, now is it?