Who is overeasy in real life?
Overeasy is a husband, a father of three young boys, and an electrical engineer who lives in a western suburb of Portland, OR.
College football: keep the bowls or playoffs (and how many teams)?
I've
never been much of a fan of college football, but the current system
stinks and the 4 team playoff is not much better. Seems like they are
going to pick 2 or 3 SEC teams each season. I think what they need is an
8 team playoff. Let each of the Big 6 BCS conferences send their
conference champion and then have 2 more spots for the top 2 rated non
BCS teams. Each of the 4 BCS bowl locations would get a first round game
and then the semis and final would rotate location each season.
Do you have anything resembling a bucket list, and if so...what have you recently crossed off of it, and what's next?
I
don't have any bucket list composed at this point. One thing I know I
would like to do someday is play in the World Series of Poker's Main
Event.
Favorite real life sports fan memory?
In Person:
My final year in college 1997, the Pacific Tigers won the Big West
Tourney and made it to the Big Dance for the first time since 1979.
On
TV: As a Braves fan since my first year of little league in 1982 (fav
all-time player: Dale Murphy), the 1995 World Series was a great moment
to shed the Buffalo Bills comparisons.
Any hobbies or favorite pastimes besides HBD?
For
the last nine years, I've been a recreational poker player playing No
Limit Hold'Em tournaments. I think I have gotten pretty good for an
occasional player with net winnings of ~$1k.
Favorite musician/rock band of all time?
Don't
think I could choose just one. I listen to most any popular music. The
first album I ever purchased was Bryan Adams' "Reckless." On a side note
of the music topic, the band AFI came from my hometown and their
drummer was my doubles partner on my high school tennis team. It was
pretty cool to see them perform on SNL and win an MTV VMA. Additionally,
Nick 13 who has been the singer for a punk band, Tiger Army, and has
had recent success in country with a solo album was from my HS
graduating class.
If you ever write a novel, what will it be about?
Honestly,
I barely read novels, so I seriously doubt I will ever feel compelled
to write one. If I did, I suppose it would most likely be either a
science fiction or supernatural type of story.
Beer or liquor? "Both" is not an acceptable answer.
Before
a year ago, my answer would have been beer, which is great for where I
live considering the number of microbreweries in the Portland metro
area. Based on the allergic type reactions in my children, we figured
out last year that our whole family is gluten intolerant, eliminating
consumption of wheat, barley, oats, and more.
So now my answer is kombucha, which is a fermented black tea. We get some good stuff made at a local farm.
Monday, December 10, 2012
Sunday, December 9, 2012
Official Blog Predictions
AL North
Should be one of the top divisions in ML again. It's hard to pick against Toronto with their big off-season moves, but I'm going with a small upset here: CHICAGO WHITE SOX
AL East
I expect this division to tighten up, with all 4 teams finishing within 8 or 10 games. Baltimore, coming on, Cleveland's improving, but one of the old guard has enough to hang on: BOSTON RED SOX
AL SouthThe Sounds are turning heads with their hot start, but Enrique Vazquez will not finish the season with a 0.36 ERA. They might contend, but in the end it will be: TAMPA BAY RAYS
AL WestLandslide for SEATTLE MARINERS
AL Wild Cards
I think there are 7 contenders here - maybe we'll have an exciting finish. At #5 - TORONTO BLUE JAYS. At #6, Minnesota may well find a way, but I don't trust their lineup. I'm going with the upset special here. At #6 - NASHVILLE SOUNDS.
Going to the WS from the AL - SEATTLE MARINERS
NL North
3-way tie among Cubs, Expos, Reds? Could be a fun race. I don't trust the Cubs' pitching or the Reds' hitting. Worst-to-first MONTREAL EXPOS
NL East
4 teams with 85+ wins? Nats need to catch fire but they will. I'm going to risk jinxing myself and say the Pirates have enough to get by the Mets this year: PITTSBURGH PIRATES
NL South
shakazulu, on the other hand, has been doing his best to reverse-jinx by bad-mouthing his team. No dice. Cards are not as good as last year, Marlins and Astros will be better but not quite there. ATLANTA BRAVES
NL WestThe Dodgers have become very good, especially if they can keep Redondo healthy. But I think the Padres are a little better. SAN DIEGO PADRES
NL Wild CardsConventional wisdom says whoever loses the Mets/Pirarts NL East fracs will be the #5, but conventional wisdom is often wrong. I'm looking ofr a big year from the Dodgers. At #5 - LOS ANGELES DODGERS. At #6 - NEW YORK METS
Going to the WS from the NL - SAN DIEGO PADRES
Should be one of the top divisions in ML again. It's hard to pick against Toronto with their big off-season moves, but I'm going with a small upset here: CHICAGO WHITE SOX
AL East
I expect this division to tighten up, with all 4 teams finishing within 8 or 10 games. Baltimore, coming on, Cleveland's improving, but one of the old guard has enough to hang on: BOSTON RED SOX
AL SouthThe Sounds are turning heads with their hot start, but Enrique Vazquez will not finish the season with a 0.36 ERA. They might contend, but in the end it will be: TAMPA BAY RAYS
AL WestLandslide for SEATTLE MARINERS
AL Wild Cards
I think there are 7 contenders here - maybe we'll have an exciting finish. At #5 - TORONTO BLUE JAYS. At #6, Minnesota may well find a way, but I don't trust their lineup. I'm going with the upset special here. At #6 - NASHVILLE SOUNDS.
Going to the WS from the AL - SEATTLE MARINERS
NL North
3-way tie among Cubs, Expos, Reds? Could be a fun race. I don't trust the Cubs' pitching or the Reds' hitting. Worst-to-first MONTREAL EXPOS
NL East
4 teams with 85+ wins? Nats need to catch fire but they will. I'm going to risk jinxing myself and say the Pirates have enough to get by the Mets this year: PITTSBURGH PIRATES
NL South
shakazulu, on the other hand, has been doing his best to reverse-jinx by bad-mouthing his team. No dice. Cards are not as good as last year, Marlins and Astros will be better but not quite there. ATLANTA BRAVES
NL WestThe Dodgers have become very good, especially if they can keep Redondo healthy. But I think the Padres are a little better. SAN DIEGO PADRES
NL Wild CardsConventional wisdom says whoever loses the Mets/Pirarts NL East fracs will be the #5, but conventional wisdom is often wrong. I'm looking ofr a big year from the Dodgers. At #5 - LOS ANGELES DODGERS. At #6 - NEW YORK METS
Going to the WS from the NL - SAN DIEGO PADRES
Owners' WS Picks
The owners have spoken and established their picks to reach the World Series.
In the NL, they've become believers in the defending-champ Pirates, who got 7 of 23 votes. It's far from consensus, though - the Padres took 6 votes and 5 owners thought the perennially-contending Mets would make it through to the Series. The Nationals (3), Expos (1) and Dodgers (1) rounded out the NL voting.
The AL appears to be a more wide-open race, with 11 teams collecting votes. The Jays and Mariners got 4 each; the Tigers, Yankees, Rays and Angels 2 apiece. Last year's choice, Minnesota, took 1 vote along with the White Sox, Sounds, Rangers and Athletics.
Official log division-by-division picks coming later today.
In the NL, they've become believers in the defending-champ Pirates, who got 7 of 23 votes. It's far from consensus, though - the Padres took 6 votes and 5 owners thought the perennially-contending Mets would make it through to the Series. The Nationals (3), Expos (1) and Dodgers (1) rounded out the NL voting.
The AL appears to be a more wide-open race, with 11 teams collecting votes. The Jays and Mariners got 4 each; the Tigers, Yankees, Rays and Angels 2 apiece. Last year's choice, Minnesota, took 1 vote along with the White Sox, Sounds, Rangers and Athletics.
Official log division-by-division picks coming later today.
Sunday, December 2, 2012
Gutierrez, Torrealba Top Impact, Value Opionion Polls
Max Gutierrez was the clear choice of the owners for which big-name player move would have the most impact this season. Gutierrez got 6 of the 14 votes cast, with Sterling Adams getting 3 votes.
Owners gave the nod to Alfredo Torrealba as the best value among the big-contract signees, with 7 votes to 2 each for Calvin Nielsen, Adams, and Rafael Rijo.
Owners gave the nod to Alfredo Torrealba as the best value among the big-contract signees, with 7 votes to 2 each for Calvin Nielsen, Adams, and Rafael Rijo.
New York Yankees Season 21 Outlook
Season 20
Won/Loss (place in division) & Playoffs: 81-81 (1st), lost WS to Pirates
Offense: 729 runs (11th)
Pitching: 3.95 ERA (6th)
Major Changes
FA Departures: CF Dan Bailey, RP Bill Hoffman, RP Carlos Blanco, OF Jae Nakano, RP Rudy Scott
FA Signees: SP Bailey Borders, RP Efrain Yang
Rule V: SS Alex Andujar (#18)
Season 21 OutlookLast but not least, the AL Champs. Last year's edition of the Yanks was a case study in resilience. First they lose their prize FA signee, Benito Andujar, for the entire season. Then they're seemingly buried by Boston's hot start. But they kept battling, won the division, and beat the White Sox, Rays, and Mariners in the playoffs.
Andujar is back, a bit worse for wear but still capable of igniting the offense. Complimenting Andujar are DH Ismael Rios (.266/38/123), 3B Harry Mercado (.302/32/98), leadoff man Alejandro Cruz (.281/19/82), and 1B Alberto Gonzalez (.283/24/83).
New York's pitching is old but good. Todd Leon is still an ace, although his stamina has dropped to the point that he's probably a 170-inning pitcher. Bobby Ray Dixon is still going strong at 36, and Walt Walker is about as good a #3 starter as there is. Felix Hendricksen and Todd Havens complete the deep rotation.
In the bullpen, J.B. Remlinger and Pepper Webster are Grade A setups to closer Philip Herndon. Herndon had a rough year in Season 20 (6.20 ERA, 9 blown saves), but should retain his closer job if he starts well.
Well, it's definitely an older team...the window won't be open a lot longer. But it's definitely open now. If the Yankees' Season 20 proved anything, it's that the playoffs are a crapshoot. New York will be pressed by Boston, and maybe Cleveland, this year, but should have enough to get back to the tournament.
Won/Loss (place in division) & Playoffs: 81-81 (1st), lost WS to Pirates
Offense: 729 runs (11th)
Pitching: 3.95 ERA (6th)
Major Changes
FA Departures: CF Dan Bailey, RP Bill Hoffman, RP Carlos Blanco, OF Jae Nakano, RP Rudy Scott
FA Signees: SP Bailey Borders, RP Efrain Yang
Rule V: SS Alex Andujar (#18)
Season 21 OutlookLast but not least, the AL Champs. Last year's edition of the Yanks was a case study in resilience. First they lose their prize FA signee, Benito Andujar, for the entire season. Then they're seemingly buried by Boston's hot start. But they kept battling, won the division, and beat the White Sox, Rays, and Mariners in the playoffs.
Andujar is back, a bit worse for wear but still capable of igniting the offense. Complimenting Andujar are DH Ismael Rios (.266/38/123), 3B Harry Mercado (.302/32/98), leadoff man Alejandro Cruz (.281/19/82), and 1B Alberto Gonzalez (.283/24/83).
New York's pitching is old but good. Todd Leon is still an ace, although his stamina has dropped to the point that he's probably a 170-inning pitcher. Bobby Ray Dixon is still going strong at 36, and Walt Walker is about as good a #3 starter as there is. Felix Hendricksen and Todd Havens complete the deep rotation.
In the bullpen, J.B. Remlinger and Pepper Webster are Grade A setups to closer Philip Herndon. Herndon had a rough year in Season 20 (6.20 ERA, 9 blown saves), but should retain his closer job if he starts well.
Well, it's definitely an older team...the window won't be open a lot longer. But it's definitely open now. If the Yankees' Season 20 proved anything, it's that the playoffs are a crapshoot. New York will be pressed by Boston, and maybe Cleveland, this year, but should have enough to get back to the tournament.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
