Monday Morning Mehta 4/18/05

Edition # 115
April 18, 2005

I was going to lead with Darren Clarke's collapse on the 18th hole at the MCI Heritage, but I figured I'd had enough hate mails last week from leading with the Masters. So I'll lead with the Phillies who went 3-3 for the week. Just some quick hitters this week;

The Chase Utley fiasco continues to get worse. There is no reason David Bell should be playing everyday at this point. Utley, who struggled last year vs. lefties, needs to get AB's vs. lefties if he's going to be the 2B of the future. He obviously is since he was an untouchable in trades in the offseason. How does an "untouchable" have less AB's than Polanco and Bell.

If someone finds the Jim Thome of 2003 please let me know. He had a sub-par year last year and he's off to a rough start again this year (please don't tell me Thome was great because he hit 42 HR's w/ 105 RBI's last year; he was awful when it counted as shown by his .150 average with runners in scoring position - if you think Thome was good last year you didn't watch the games).
Jon Lieber has been great in all three starts. He faded late in his first two starts but beating

Smoltz in a pitcher's duel was impressive.

Nice start by Jimmy Rollins (there, I said it).

Mike Lieberthal is terrible. There isn't an excuse for his play.

Brett Myers has been awesome.

I'd hate to think what this bullpen would be like if Ryan Madson continues to struggle.
Phils have the Mets, Rockies and @ Atlanta on tap this week. There's no momentum or positive energy about this team so they really need a 5-2 week. 4-3 or 3-4 is more likely.

Around the League

You can be excited about the Mets if you wish, but their offense is weak. Couple that with a bad bullpen and you have a recipe for mediocrity.

The Yanks are 4-8. Life is good. Only problem is now they'll probably go out and get Todd Helton.

The Washington Nationals are the talk of baseball at 8-4. This is when you know it's early.

NFL Draft

The draft is very interesting and fun to watch, for a little bit, but almost impossible to handicap. There's always too many trades and trade rumors that it's impossible to know exactly what's going to happen. As far as the Eagles are concerned, I expect them to draft another OL or DL in the first round this year. Safety is another possibility with Brian Dawkins aging and J.R. Reed's injury.

NBA - Derreck Sura

- The Sixers won and lost their games exactly the opposite of the way I predicted this week, but they still went 2-2, and even though Philly still has some work left to do, I think they will make the playoffs. The Sixers are 41-39 and currently hold down the seventh seed in the East. Philly finishes up their schedule with: Milwaukee (B2B), Atlanta. As long as the Sixers come ready to play, and don't underestimate the Bucks, 2-0 should be easily attainable. Much more on Philly next week, one way or the other...

- This week's match ups of playoff contenders (I went 14-9 on my game predictions last week).

Monday

San Antonio @ Memphis - The Spurs still have a chance at the top record in the NBA, and need to use this game to get Tim Duncan sharp. On the other hand, the Grizzlies have been in a free fall (lost 4 in a row), and just backed their way into the playoffs. My pick: SA.

Denver @ Phoenix - If the Suns win this game, they lock up the best record overall. This should be a very entertaining contest to watch, but the Nuggets will need Marcus Camby's unique abilities to compete with Phoenix. My pick: Suns.

Tuesday

Boston @ Cleveland - Even though the Celtics locked up the Atlantic Division, they still need to win another game to make sure they have home court in the first round. The Cavaliers have been sinking faster then a pair of cement boots since they made their coaching switch (6-10), and need this one badly. My pick: Boston.

Washington @ New Jersey - The Wizards still have a chance to be the fourth seed in the East, so they will have something to play for. The Nets just have a bit more on the line as they try to rally from a 12-24 record to start the season to a playoff berth. My pick: NJ.

Seattle @ Dallas - Neither team really has anything to play for here, but this should still be a game worth tuning in for. Unless key players are given the night off to rest. My pick: Mavericks.
Wednesday

New Jersey @ Boston - Both teams will be on the second night of a B2B here, but I suspect the Nets will need this game more. This is a tough one to forecast because the Celtics may rest a lot of their main guys if they have nothing to play for. My pick: NJ.

Chicago @ Indiana - The Bulls could be looking to lock up the fourth seed in the East here. While the Pacers will continue to try and work Jermaine O'Neal back into their flow. My pick: Indy.

Dallas @ Memphis - With both teams locked into their playoff positions, this one could be a real snoozer. I suspect Grizzlies coach Mike Fratello will play his starters as much as needed to build some momentum before post season play begins. My pick: Memphis.

Seattle @ Houston - This could be a first round match up, and with the Rockets having beat the Sonics last week, Houston (leads season series 2-1) wants to maintain it's psychological edge over Seattle. While the Sonics need to get out of their funk before the playoffs start. My pick: Seattle.

Phoenix @ Sacramento - The Suns will most likely have nothing to play for here, and the Kings could still be jockeying for position. My pick: Sacto.

- This week's injury report.

Chicago (46-34) - Eddy Curry has been ruled out for the remainder of the regular season and the playoffs because he needs six more weeks of tests to determine what is causing his irregular heartbeat. This is a major blow to the Bulls' chances of advancing past round one because Curry was their best scorer in the paint. Antonio Davis has just about nothing left in his tank. Tyson Chandler is more of an opportunistic scorer down low. So that mean Othella Harrington now becomes Chicago's primary low post threat on offense. Check please!

Sacramento (49-31) - Peja Stojakovic strained his left groin Friday in Los Angeles against the Lakers and will miss the rest of the regular season. Even though the severity of the injury has yet to be determined, if Peja can't play in the playoffs, the Kings are dead in the water. IF Brad Miller (fractured left fibula) and Bobby Jackson (torn left wrist ligament) are able to return, and IF Peja can go, Sacto will be a very dangerous first round opponent. However, it's never a good thing to have so many "if's" entering the post season.

Denver (48-32) - Marcus Camby left Friday's game against Memphis with a strained right hamstring and did not play the next night in Houston. Marcus is day to day right now, and may sit out the Nuggets final 2 regular season games as a precautionary measure. Camby has really been Denver's unsung hero, and the team needs his defense, rebounding, and shot blocking to be at their most effective in the playoffs.

Detroit (53-27) - Rasheed Wallace left Sunday's game against Cleveland after 5 minutes with an injured left hamstring. His status is not yet known, but the Pistons do not have the depth to be without any of their top six players as the post season begins.
Miami (57-23) - Shaquille O'Neal left Sunday's game against Indiana shortly before halftime with a bruised right thigh. I expect Shaq to be fine for the playoffs.

- It's post season award time, and I'm sure one of my selections in particular is going to cause quite a furor. I'm not a big fan of the 'Most Improved Player' award, so I left that one out.

Without further ado...

Defensive Player of the Year
1. Shawn Marion
2. Marcus Camby
3. Bruce Bowen

Sixth Man of the Year
1. Ricky Davis
2. Ben Gordon
3. Vladimir Radmanovic

Executive of the Year
1. Carroll Dawson
2. Pat Riley
3. Bryan Colangelo

Coach of the Year
1. Scott Skiles
2. Rick Carlisle
3. Mike D'Antoni / Nate McMillan / Eddie Jordan (for proving it's possible to win playing up
tempo ball)

Rookie of the Year
1. Emeka Okafor
2. Ben Gordon
3. Dwight Howard

All-Rookie Team
Ben Gordon
Andre Iguodala
Dwight Howard
Emeka Okafor
Nenad Krstic

Most Valuable Player
1. Steve Nash
2. Shaquille O'Neal
3. Dirk Nowitzki

All-NBA First Team
Steve Nash
Allen Iverson
Dirk Nowitzki
Tim Duncan
Shaquille O'Neal

Second Team
Dwyane Wade
LeBron James
Tracy McGrady
Kevin Garnett
Amare Stoudemire

Third Team
Gilbert Arenas
Kobe Bryant
Rashard Lewis
Shawn Marion
Yao Ming

Top 10
1. Phoenix (2)
2. Dallas (4)
3. Detroit (5)
4. San Antonio (1)
5. Miami (3)
6. Houston (7)
7. Denver (6)
8. Sacramento (9)
9. Seattle (-)
10. Boston (-)

NHL Week in Review By: Ed Wasser

- This biggest news in the NHL right now is the fact that I was on a website for the upcoming movie 'The House of Wax' and they had a section for teenagers, stalkers, and immature jackasses like me to e-mail the cast questions. So I sent an e-mail to Elisha Cuthbert asking her if she was a hockey fan and if so what is her favorite team and who are some of her favorite players. As we all know Elisha was born in Calgary in a manger under the star of Bethlehem were she was wrapped in swaddling clothes when three wise men visited her bearing gifts saying "Behold!! For today among us was born a savior, a savior from mediocre looking babes". Anyway, Elisha left Calgary and was raised right outside of Montréal and lived there until she moved to Los Angeles. So I'm sure one of the movie's interns will answer my e-mail and sign Elisha's name. I'll keep you all posted as these exciting events unfold.

- How funny was is it to hear Donald Trump on last week's 'The Apprentice' give the winning Magna team the reward of "meeting one of the greatest leaders in pro sports.....Knick GM Isiah Thomas". Huh? Thank God for Thomas the team had two women and a gay dude on it because if Magna had a guy on the team who knew even the slightest bit about sports he would have said "hey Isiah, aren't you the guy that traded Moochie Norris, Vin Baker, and a 2006 2nd round draft pick for Maurice Taylor (who?). You also put the Knicks in the worst cap position in NBA history. They'll still be cleaning up your mess 5 years from now. Nice going jackass!!"

- Quick message to long time MMM subscriber Frank Tang. I have good news and bad news buddy....the good news is the apple of your eye, Jessica Alba, is starring in the upcoming movie 'The Fantastic Four'. The bad news is that she's playing the Invisible Woman.

- Is there a more clutch player in MLB then Philadelphia Phillie David Bell? Phillies catcher Mike Lieberthal looked like an absolute stone cold lock to win the Darren Daulton Award given out annually to my least favorite Phillie. Lieberthal has been an embarrassment behind the plate calling games; he single handedly lost Gavin Floyd's start against the Braves last week by calling curve ball, after curve ball, after curve ball, after curve ball, even after Floyd walked 4 batters in the first inning and even after my 4 year old niece said 'doesn't this jackass see it ain't working?' But as soon as I was getting ready to send the award out to get Lieberthal's name engraved on it David Bell came out of nowhere to really put on a show. Bell is hitting .174 with one extra base hit so far this season but his performance over the weekend sewed up the award for him. On Friday Bell weakly flied to right with runners on second and third early in the game to end an inning and then, with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth, he struck out to end the game. On Saturday Bell again weakly flied out with runners on second and third and grounded out with two outs and Thome on second. But it's the style Bell displays when he fails so miserably that earned him this award. Bell plays the game with this brink of tears puss on his face and when he comes to bat with the game on the line or even with a chance to get an RBI he might as well go up there with a piece of cooked linguini instead of a bat because he ain't getting a hit. He doesn't even LOOK like he has a chance. Even the announcers know it. Listen to the way Harry Kalas says 'that brings David Bell to the plate'. Kalas sounds like he did when he gave the eulogy at Ritchie Asburn's funeral ("Father, friend, and forever a Phillie"....he said sobbing). When Bell came to bat with the bases loaded in the ninth inning last Friday I could hear Harry Kalas and Larry Andersen starting to pack up there notes and line up cards. That's not even a joke. As soon as Bell got 2 strikes on him I heard Kalas whisper to Andersen 'wanna get a beer at Chickie's?' Well...that last one was a joke. The wild card is that Bell is keeping the FAR, FAR, FAR better Chase Utley off the field by way of Placido Palanco. Phillies fans have taken to booing Palanco every time he comes up to bat because they want to see Utley play but their real beef is with Bell and manager Charlie Manuel because Palanco should be playing third with Utley at second and with Bell being the highest paid peanut vendor in baseball history. So congratulations to David Bell for winning the Darren Daulton Award, he joins such luminaries as José Mesa, Travis Lee, Tomas Perez, Paul Byrd, and of course Darren Daulton. The award banquet will be held on July 2nd at Celebrations catering hall in Bensalem, Pa starting at 6 PM. All MMM subscribers are invited. A strict dress code will be enforced, all t-shirts must be cleaned and pressed.

- Tom Brady's performance on last week's 'Saturday Night Live' is the reason why there's a 7 day waiting period to buy a gun. It was so incredibly bad that I think if I had been able to buy a gun immediately I would have ended my horror once and for all. I actually felt bad for Brady because the writing was so atrocious yet I was slightly relieved, if the Eagles had won the Super Bowl that would have been Donovan McNabb up in New York City making a fool of himself. I can't even put into words how blood curdlingly awful it was, I was switching to 'Queer Eye For The Straight Guy' because I was afraid someone might catch me watching 'Saturday Night Live' and make fun of me. I've heard stories about children that had the flesh eating virus crawl up their ass that were funnier then that show. Oh brother did that show ever jump the shark!!

- Remember the scene from 'Dumb and Dumber' when Lloyd is trying on tuxedos for the snow owl benefit and when he finally finds the orange tux that he loves he does this psycho dance with his cane? Well I know it's early and I don't want to jinx it especially with a series against the pathetic Devil Rays coming up but you gotta admit....seeing the Yankees getting swept by the Orioles last weekend was great.