Category — Matt Holliday

Like the Spurs, we believe the Angels might be good to go this season. At least we hope so as far as our boys Mahi and Bob Young are concerned.
Early favorites to win the World Series: Angels and Dodgers (6-1); Nationals and Tigers (7-1); Giants and Blue Jays (9-1); Reds, Yankees and Braves (12-1); Phillies (16-1); Cardinals (18-1); A’s and Rays (20-1); Red Sox (30-1); and just for the record, the punk-ass Cubs (70-1).

Is that Arte Moreno crying in his beer?
The A’s extraordinary run to the American League West title reflects small ball at its best. That’s small ball as in MLB’s lowest payroll paying huge dividends.
Forbes.com

Did we mention Carlos Beltran leads the NL in homers with 13? Didn’t think so.
Despite the Braves sweeping them this weekend, Beltran and the Cards have been among the best teams in the National League so far. But like they say in Anaheim, it’s still early.

With yesterday’s committment by Shabazz Muhammad and the recent one by Kyle Anderson, UCLA and its fans have high hopes of returning to the high life in college basketball. As much as we’d like to share in their enthusiasm, and we do to a certain extent, we’re still bummed Ben Howland is the Bruins coach. But blame Dan Guerrero for that 1 since both should have been shown the door after this past season’s fiasco and the circus-like atmosphere surrounding the program.
The good news, though, is the pressure is on Howland to produce next season despite the pass he has received from the L.A. media. Obviously, if he doesn’t, you can bet the farm he’s history and maybe someone at UCLA will have the balls to boot Guerrero, too. Howland, who apparently went to the same school for offensive strategy as Mike Brown, has even promised to open up the offense. We’ll believe it when we see it. But for the players sake, let’s hope the Bruins are as fun to watch as the talent they have stockpiled. Maybe even Howland can’t screw that up.
College Basketball Talk
Jackie Robinson Day: Major League Baseball will celebrate the icon on Sunday.
MLB.com
The day after: Fans (writers and broadcasters, too) are still stunned by the way the Lakers hammered the Spurs Wednesday night without Kobe.
ESPN LA
Money in the bank: With a big assist from David Stern, the Clippers deal for Chris Paul is paying off as well as any investment. Ask the Thunder.
NBA.com
Will the NFL ever return to L.A.?: As fans, we could care less.
O.C. Register

Bouncing around the sports world as we play a little hard ball.
Police State: Opening Day at Dodger Stadium is usually a thing of beauty. It will be again today, but the festivities will be a bit tamer this year. Unfortunately, a heavy presence by the popo, much of it in response to the tragic beating of Giants’ fan Bryan Stow last year, will take some of the fun out of going to the old ballpark. Still, fans will be able to enjoy the beauty of Clayton Kershaw, who will receive his Cy Young award on Wednesday, opens on the mound for the Dodgers against the Pirates.
L.A. Times
Vin Scully to miss Opening Day: Even worst, the Dodger legend and Hall of Fame broadcaster won’t be in the lineup today because he’s home nursing a severe cold. Get well soon, Vinny.
ESPN LA
“Pop” goes the Spurs’ run: Are you reading this Mike Brown? Maybe 1 day you could take another page out your daddy Gregg Popovich’s playbook. The San Antonio coach gave Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker the night off as the Jazz ended the club’s 11-game winning streak in Utah last night. The Spurs dropped a game back of the Thunder, who hammered the Bucks. The Lakers visit the well-rested Spurs in the season’s 1st meeting between the 2 club on Wednesday.
San Antonio Express-News
Sorry doesn’t cut it: The Marlins show a little backbone by suspending Manager Ozzie Guillen for 5 games.
Miami Herald

Football players smoking weed and engaging in bad behavior at Florida under Urban Meyer?: This is news? Last time we checked, Florida, Miami and Florida State (see a pattern here?) have all been among the country’s top renegade programs. When Randy Shannon tried to clean up Miami, he got fired. So…
Sporting News
Can Derrick Rose stay healthy?: Word out of Chicago is the Bulls point guard tweaked an ankle in Sunday’s loss to the Knicks and will be a game-time decision when the 2 clubs meet again tonight.
Chicago Tribune
What do the Cards need with Albert Pujols when they have Mr. Freese?: The St. Louis third baseman and World Series hero continues to rake it as the club is off to a strong start.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Speaking of the real deal…: Oakland’s Yoenis Cespedes appears to be all of that.
San Jose Mercury News
It’s still Tiger’s world: Bubba Watson won the Masters, but the neighbors are still talking about the temper tantrums of Tiger Woods.
N.Y. Daily News

This dropped more than a week ago, but it still rocks.
Bugs & Cranks

Nelson Cruz has developed into Mr. Clutch in the postseason. Three years ago, the Rangers put Cruz on waivers, but every other Major League club passed on him. Now he’s inflicting major damage on any club standing in the Rangers way of a World Series title.
N.Y. Times

The wild card race provided a memorable finish to the regular season that has baseball fans begging for more. Now the postseason begins, where there should be more drama.
Pitching, pitching and more pitching again will dictate the outcome. With that in mind, here are our picks for the postseason.

American League
Tigers vs. Yankees
Two words: Justin Verlander.
Can the Tigers win a game without him is the question. If so, upsetting the Yankees will be easy.
But this is where the Yankees are at their very best. The same thing was said about Cliff Lee 2 years ago, and the Yanks were able to beat him when it counted.
Now comes the true test, the best hitting team in baseball against the best pitcher. While good hitting usually beats good pitching, the Yanks are the best at working counts.
Pick: Yankees in 4.

Rays vs. Rangers
The hottest team in the A.L. and with pitching to boot, Tampa Bay seems to have it all. But is it too much to ask of them to stay emotionally high? The best momentum is good pitching and the Rays have that. Those arms should carry the day.
Pick: Rays in 4.

National League
Cardinals vs. Phillies
Stay with the pitching theme and the Phillies have the arms to run a way with this series. They will throw 3 big-name hurlers at the Cardinals, who are just happy to be in the postseason. The Phillies also have more offense.
Pick: Phillies in 3.

Diamondbacks vs. Brewers
Two surprise teams find themselves in a surprising place. Milwaukee has the hitters to make a mess of any rotation, but Arizona has a special thing going right now that makes them a fun team to watch. The Brewers, though, have been here before and they should hold up.
Pick: Brewers in 5.

ALCS
Rays vs. Yankees
Another battle of the East with the Yankees doing just enough to win behind the hitting of the middle of their lineup and Mariano Rivera. They just have to get the game to the man. Tampa’s great season comes to a close in the Bronx.
Pick: Yankees in 6.

NLCS
Brewers vs. Phillies
Milwaukee might be able to put a scare into Philadelphia, but that is about it. When you can go 4 stars deep on the mound then things are pretty good. Cole Hammels, the star of the Phillies title run three years ago is the 4th starter now. That’s depth.
Pick: Phillies in 5.

World Series
Yankees vs. Phillies
Two years ago, the New York offense beat up the Phillies, who went cold in the biggest of games and could not defend their title. This time things look different. Philadelphia has it all going, power from the left side suited for Yankee Stadium, the home field and the rotation. The Phils are ready to avenge last year’s playoff debacle and the loss to the Yanks the year before. They should get it done.
Pick: Phillies in 6.

Wonder did the Genius consider pitching around the hottest hitter in baseball? Didn’t think so.
Dodgers 2, Cardinals 1: Matt Kemp is Mr. Walk-off, allowing the Dodgers to end a 5-game losing streak. They get the Braves next.

We were singing this sad tune weeks ago. Nothing to see here people, move on. Painful when the punk-ass Cubs put you on life support. And that’s being kind. We officially read the Cardinals their rites tonight thought. Thanks for coming Tony. Good luck in Chicago. Can you co-exist with Kenny Williams?
St. Louis Post-Dispatch