Masters Week!

There will not be many times when golf is the lead story here.  However, when its Masters week, one of the best golf weeks of the year, we’ll give golf some love.  In my opinion, this week is the official start of the PGA season.  Who cares that we are already 13 weeks into the season.  With all due respect to the other majors, this is the one that I think the players, especially the American born players, want to win the most.   Augusta National is special, the Green Jacket is special, the whole tradition that is The Masters is special.  All the best players in the world will tee it up this weekend at Augusta.  If you win this event, you earned it. 

Now that the tournament is here, who’s going to win?  Rory? Tiger? Phil? Luke Donald? Dustin Johnson had to back out of the tournament today due to an injury, so it will not be him.  Quick, name the highest ranked American player in the world right now.  How many of you know that it’s Hunter Mahan?  Mahan has played in seven PGA events this year, he’s won two, and have finished in the top 25 six times and the top 10 three times.  He’s been on fire.  Remember when Anthony Kim was the next great American hope?  Well Hunter Mahan is starting to fill that role.  He’s only 29 years old and he’s starting to learn how to win rather than just finishing near the top of the leader board.  He only has five career wins, but I think this guy has what it takes to win many more times.  However, I don’t think this will be his week to win his first major title.  Consider me someone who is hoping for a Rory versus Tiger showdown on Easter.  Everything is trending that way.  Rory has been competitive in pretty much every event he has played in.  He’s finished in the top 10 in all three events he has played in on the PGA tour this year, winning one.  Tiger won his last tournament he played in two weeks ago.  He’s played in five PGA tournaments this year, finishing in the top 25 four times and the top 10 twice.  It’s all going to depend on his putting this week.  When he puts up a big number, it’s because he couldn’t putt. 

So who is my pick to win this week?  Rory McIlroy will overcome his failure from last year’s final round meltdown in which he lost a 4 stroke lead after 54 holes and win his first green jacket. 

On the Diamond…

·         The official start to the regular season is tomorrow night with the St. Louis Cardinals playing the Miami Marlins in the Marlins brand new stadium.  The game is on ESPN at 8:00.  Thursday and Friday are when the rest of the teams finally get their seasons underway. 

·         The Ubaldo Jimenez/Troy Tulowitzki war of words took on an entire different meaning this weekend when Ubaldo beamed Tulo in the elbow on the first pitch he saw from Ubaldo.  The feud started when Ubaldo sounded off on the Rockies organization over Colorado signing Tulo and Carlos Gonzalez to long term deals and not signing him.  Tulo then responded to Ubaldo by defending the Rockies organization and pretty much telling Ubaldo to get over it.  Apparently Ubaldo decided beaming Tulo 5 days before the season starts in a meaningless game was the answer.  I’m glad he got suspended.  Should have been longer. 

·         49 year old Jamie Moyer has made the Colorado Rockies opening day roster and will start the 2^nd game of the season! Yes! I’m very excited this guy made the roster.  This is probably one of the top 5 stories of spring training for me.  One year removed from having Tommy John surgery, Moyer is now the oldest starting pitcher to ever be on an opening day roster.  He is so old, that he pitched for 4 seasons in the big leagues while the actual Tommy John was still active.  Unreal.  Hopefully he makes it through the entire season.  I’ll be rooting for him.

·         A couple big contracts were finalized yesterday. The most underrated pitcher in the game Matt Cain received a huge 6 year approx. $125 million contract.  Always in Tim Lincecum’s shadown, Matt Cain is solid is pretty much every pitching statistic other than wins.  He is constantly ranked near the bottom in runs support, and because of it, he has a career record that is 4 games below .500.  He is a solid #2 starter, maybe even a low end #1, but for him to get that kind of contract pretty much means Lincecum will be a free agent in 2 years and Cole Hamels is going to get a MONSTER contract next year.  With Barry Zito’s terrible contract gone after next year, the Giants are hoping Cain and Madison Bumgarner can lead this team into the future.  I think I would prefer Cain over Lincecum as well.  He’s more durable than Lincecum and there is less concern with his delivery than Lincecum’s.  The other big contract was Joey Votto’s 10 year, $225 million deal.  Crazy money for an organization that has a payroll around $75-80 million, draws only about 24,000 fans a night, and does not have a very profitable TV contract.  He is easily the best firstbasemen in the NL, and a MVP candidate every year, but that’s a lot of money for the Reds to spend. 

·         Johan Santana has been named the opening day starter for the New York Mets.  His story from coming back from a significant injury is pretty much the only thing that Mets fans have going for them this year.  I still don’t think he will make 20 starts this year.

·         Tough break for the Boston Red Sox losing closer Andrew Bailey for 3-4 months due to thumb surgery.  Being an A’s fan, I am not shocked at all that Bailey is hurt.  He has been hurt every year in the big leagues.  Of all the moves Billy Beane made this offseason, this is the one I liked the most.  Outside of Mariano Rivera, closers are pretty much a dime a dozen.  Bailey having that injury risk made Oakland getting rid of him easier to handle.  I’m glad the Sox are not moving Bard to the bullpen.  Don’t do what the Yankees did with Joba.  They will ruin Bard’s career if they continue to move this guy back and forth.   

On the Ice…

·         I definitely wouldn’t call tonight’s game against the Toronto Maple Leafs the best game the Sabres have played this year, but it HAS to be the most exciting.  After one period, I was already making Ryan Miller’s and Lindy Ruff’s tee time for this Sunday.  Now, I’m looking forward to Thursday night for a battle with Philadelphia.  A crazy 6-5 overtime win over Toronto has Buffalo tied with Washington with 2 games left.  Each team has 88 points.  Sabres play Philly and the Rangers on the road while Washington plays Florida and Rangers.  Florida also has two games left and if the Sabres win out and Florida doesn’t score another point, the Sabres will make the playoffs.  Let’s all hope Florida beats Washington on Thursday, but if they lose to Washington, let’s hope the game doesn’t go into overtime. 

·         I’m going to the store tomorrow to buy a Marcus Foligno jersey.  He's awesome!

On the NCAA Hardwood…

·         A rather boring NCAA Championship game yesterday.  Kentucky was the better team, but they gave Kansas many chances to come back and win in the second half but Kansas just couldn’t do it.  Kansas missed at least 11 layups and 2 dunks.  That’s not good.  Anthony Davis had his worst offensive game all season, but his defense was amazing.  I still don’t know how good he will be in the NBA being so skinny.  He needs to bulk up.  I can see him getting dominated by lots of big guys in the NBA.   

·         This has to be the first time that I can remember that the NCAA Tournament did not have one buzzer beater.  Very disappointed.  Maybe if Gus Johnson was still announcing the games, we would have had one or two.

On the NBA Hardwood…

·         I watched the Celtics/Heat game Sunday.  A couple things I noticed.  Rajon Rondo is awesome.  He controls the game when he’s out there.  The Celtics are crazy if they ever trade him.  He is pretty much unstoppable.  I didn’t notice Paul Pierce the entire game, and then in the end I look and he has 25 points.  I wouldn’t want to play this team come playoff time.  Kevin Garnett looks pretty good as well.  I also liked what I saw from Avery Bradley.  He plays great defense and can shoot the ball.  Very impressed.

·         Is anybody going to be able to beat the Oklahoma City Thunder?   Their on a roll right now.  Their recent 6 game winning streak included wins over the Bulls, Heat, Lakers, and Clippers.  Very impressive.  I’m a big fan of Kevin Durant and I hope this team makes it to the finals.  If they play the Heat, I will obviously hope that the Thunder win. 

·         Speaking of the Heat/Thunder, tomorrow night is a great night to be in Miami.  First, its opening day for the Miami Marlins and the breaking in of the new ball park.  Then you also have the Heat and Thunder playing each other at the same time in Miami.  Great time to be in Miami. 

On the Homefront…

·         Very proud of my wife for winning Nick Martino’s NCAA tournament challenge.  A lesson to women everywhere.  Anybody can win the bracket challenges. 

·         I’m hearing some bad news that the “New Rez” will not be ready when the summer softball league is scheduled to begin.  Let’s all hope Donnie Joyce starts cracking the whip and makes sure that the construction delays are minimal and that we can start the season as close to the original start time as possible. 

That’s all I have for now.  Until next time…