NFL Week 11

The New York Giants are coming off of their buy week needing a win. They are playing the Atlanta Falcons at home and at 5-4 with a 4 game losing streak this is as close to a must win as you are going to get. The Giants just found out yesterday also that they would be without their defensive leader Antonio Pierce for possibly the rest of the season, he has a bulging disk in his neck. Chase Blackburn will take over for him. I see the Giants really getting back to their strength which is running the ball and controlling the clock. Danny Ware is back now and I think they will get the 3 headed monster going again a lot like they did last year. Eli Manning has had a foot problem so I am not sure if that has hurt him or he hasn't played well. The Giants defense needs to step it up also. I am going to say the Giants come out flying and they will win this game. Giants 28 Falcons 20 is my prediction. The Jets will be heading up to New England to face the Patriots after coming off a tough loss to Jacksonville at home and Rex Ryan making a impassioned speech in which he cried to his team. I just don't see the Jets beating the Patriots again especially in Foxborough. I think the Jets season basically ended last week when they lost and a loss here will really basically end it for them. I don't think Mark Sanchez will fair too well in this environment and I really see the Patriots putting a beating on the Jets. I am going to go with Patriots 31 Jets 17. I am not going to pick another game this week as I haven't really looked at the games other then the local teams. We will have a special thanksgiving special with 3 picks on Thursday. Enjoy the games everyone and hopefully the local teams will get back on the winning track.

Yanks 40 man roster moves

The New York Yankees added 7 men to their 40 man roster today. This is all in preperation for the Rule 5 draft which is coming up in December. The rule 5 draft for those who don't know is a draft for minor league players that aren't on the 40 man roster and have played 6 or more years in the minors to be taken by any other team, the catch is they have to stay on the roster for the whole year otherwise be offered back to their old team. Here are the players that were added according to Chad Jennings of the Journal News: Hector Noesi Ivan Nova Romulo Sanchez Austin Jackson Reegie Corona Eduardo Nunez Kevin Russo Austin Jackson is the Yankees #2 prospect and Kevin Russo really established himself this year as a super utility type guy. Corona was taken last year but then brought back to the Yankees. Noesi, Nova and Sanchez are all pitchers. If you want to learn more about these guys check out the lohud yankees blog where Chad Jennings has more on these guys. He worked with Scranton for the last 7 years or so and brings great knowledge about the minor leagues to that blog, great job by him.

Playoff schedule to change next year

Bud Selig announced today that the playoff schedule will be tightening up next season. I do think it was crazy this season how many off days there were. Bud Selig said " We are going to change it, I don't disagree with Mike Scioscia. I think he was right, so we're going to try and tighten that up." The Yankees played 15 games in 36 days from the end of the regular season to the end of the World Series. Baseball players are used to playing everyday, they play 162 games in 180 days. I understand that TV plays a factor and you have travel so it won't exactly be the same as the regular season but they should play as often as possible. If a series ends there is no reason that the team has to wait around for a week. I think when a series ends on a Saturday or Sunday they should be playing by that Wednesday. Bud Selig also said " When you plan the playoff schedule, you don't know how many games the first round will go so that is difficult. There were clubs that sat around, some were necessary, but some were not." Bud Selig also spoke about looking at instant replay and reworking the draft. His big thing is a slotting system to regulate signing bonuses but we will see what happens. I don't think they will do anything with instant replay yet but after all the missed calls in the postseason it has become a very hot topic and something has to be done. I don't see anything happening with the draft system but I am guessing he is trying to keep the teams like the Yankees, Red Sox and Dodgers from overslotting and getting the best players that way but the thing is those teams always draft near the bottom so it is fair in that way.

NL Cy Young

The National League Cy Young is next up today for the awards. I have been on a roll with these predictions lately and will try to keep that up. I am going to pick Chris Carpenter from the Cardinals. Adam Wainwright of the Cardinals is also one who could get a lot of votes and has a great chance of winning it. I think Lincecum will get some consideration but won't win it. I will be back later with the announcement and some reaction. I am going with Chris Carpenter to win it though.

Yankee Notes

Here are some Yankee notes courtesy of the New York Post. CC Sabathia only used two words to describe how he felt about being a World Series winner rather then a Cy Young winner. He wrote "much happier", in a text message. He recieved 13 points but no first place votes wasn't suprised at all with the outcome. " I wasn't suprised at all." "He definitely deserved it. He had a 2.16 era in the American league. I don't care how many wins you have, thats pretty good." Sabathia was saying these things about Zach Greinke and I agree with him he deserved to get it although I think Felix Hernandez had a strong case also. Greinke is a feel good story though also after coming back from some kind of anxiety disorder and being able to finally fulfill his potential. Joba Chamberlain was speaking at a benefit on Tuesday night said that he is fine with not knowing his role for next year. "It's a great problem to have for Phil Hughes and myself." "We have been in situations and there is a lot of things we can be. I think it is an advantage for our team that there are so many different options to make us better for 2010." Joba thinks the past year has helped him even if most don't think that it has done anything but confused him. He said his arm felt awesome and he is going to start throwing on Monday and preparing to defend the Yankees title. He did say he is going to work on being more consistant. He also said he wants Andy Pettitte to come back, he said he talked to him last week and let him know how much he wants him to come back. The Yankees do not have any of their coaches signed for next year other then Kevin Long. It is believed though that all of them will come back. Joe Girardi is in the last year of his contract and it looks like the Yankees are going to stick to their practice of letting guys finish their contracts before renegotiating. I think they should only use that philosophy with players and extend Joe immediately especially coming off a World Championship. I am guessing they think even if the Yankees do flounder early the heat will be off of Joe because he did win the championship, but this is New York and I am sure they will start talking about his job.