Funny story. We tried to contact Steve Paul of MTV's Fraternity Life fame to be this week's special guest judge, but apparently e-mailed the wrong guy. As it turns out, we e-mailed a different Steve Paul. This Steve is actually the guy who "won" last year's "Spectrum Blind Date" contest, and got to go on three dates with that Carmen girl (who already had a boyfriend ... a classless move in our book). So at least he is a pseudo-UB celebrity. Let's get down to business now.
Last week Jim Byrne took home both the judge's vote and the fan vote, so he now has three points. Remember, if you want to vote, just go to http://spectrum.buffalo.edu and do so.
This Week's Question(s): Which teams will participate in the World Series and who will win?
Jim Byrne (3): At first I was going to choose a Red Sox, Cubs World Series, but of course that game would NEVER be able to end because it is theoretically impossible that either of those teams could win the Series. Another factor against it is that that series would inevitably lead to the end of civilization as we know it. And I am as much a fan of that as I was of the cancellation of Nickelodeon's Hey Dude.
So this is it, San Francisco Giants versus the Boston Red Sox, with the Giants taking it in six games. I know I will be crucified by the Yankee nation for speaking such blasphemy, but face it, despite their gaudy record, the team has no heart outside of its original core of Bernie, Jeter, Mariano and Pettite. After the D'Backs loss, they have never been the same, and the Boss has meddled way too much.
Boston's pitching staff, led by Pedro Martinez and Derek Lowe, are just plain nasty, Manny Ramirez and Nomar Garciaparra are as good as anybody, and I don't know, I just have a feeling that they have what it takes this year.
In the NL, the Braves always choke (sans 1995), the Astros are the Astros, and the Marlins, although they are money, are just too inexperienced to hang with the big boys right now. That leaves the great Barry Bonds, the incredible manager Felipe Alou (who is so due after the strike-shortened season) and the rest of NL champion Giants who are destined to hoist the championship come late October.
John Norman (1) : I said it a few weeks ago so I have to stick to my guns, the World Series is going to be Yankees, Cubs. Sure the Cubs are having a little trouble just making the playoffs but they have been playing good baseball lately and they have got better pitching than Houston. So, once the Cubbies are in, Kerry Wood and Mark Prior will be un-hittable. Add to that the play of Moises Alou and Sammy Sosa and this team looks good enough to be the one to send the Braves on their annual early vacation.
The other half of the equation is the Yankees. As of press time Tuesday, they're the only American League team to have a playoff spot locked up. They are one of the American League's top two-or-three players at every position. The only thing that can hurt them is their bullpen, which has blown a ridiculous amount of games this year. But once the playoffs roll around Pettite, Mussina and the Rocket will take every game at least seven innings and take the middle relief out of it. So, here it is again: Yankees beat the Cubs in the 12th inning of game seven, with Jeter hitting the game winning home run.
Darren Riethmiller (0) : In the AL, the Yankees hold the best record in all of baseball at 97-60 and have won 11 of their last 14. The Bombers are catching fire at the perfect time - playoff time. Alfonso Soriano, a headliner for the AL MVP is leading off an offensive juggernaut with 36 HR's. Jeff Nelson and Chris Hammond are doing wonders in the set up position to Mariano Rivera, who is as good as money in the post season.
The Braves are my pick in the NL because, well, they're the Braves. Atlanta matches up well against the Yankees, probably the only team in all of MLB that meets the speed, power and pitching of NY.
The Braves pitching starts with an unfamiliar face as Russ Ortiz is this year's ace for the Braves as he has notched 20 wins. Gregg Maddux is not too far behind with 15 wins and let's not forget about John Smoltz (44 saves) who just got off the DL.
Did I forget to mention Gary Sheffield (38 HR, 127 RBI, .329 BA), Chipper Jones (.303) and Andruw Jones (36 HR)? Let's also not forget Rafael Furcal (127 runs scored) who leads off this offensive monster.
The Braves will not allow themselves to be swept in their third match up with the Yankees, and will take the series in six games.
Corey Griswold (0) : It totally has to be the Marlins and the Twins. Think about it. If the Marlins hadn't been playing in the Braves dominated NL East, and they had been playing in the, oh I don't know, NL Central, they would be the division champs. The Marlins are better than the Cubs, so the Cubs are out.
The Giants are Barry Bonds, and Barry Bonds is the Giants. The problem with that is, when Barry Bonds gets on base, the Giants can't bring him home. Walk Bonds, and then strike and fly out every one else. Giants are done.
The Braves consistently prove that they cannot produce in the post season. It might have to do with the fact that they run away with their division every year, and have to coast into the playoffs. Whatever the reason, they choke. The Braves are done.
The Twins will take the AL. Boston is so not going to make it that far. They have tremendous batting and a great starting line up, but the bullpen will destroy them. Without being able to hold on to leads against well-hitting teams late in the game, the Red Sox will stumble early.
The Yankees have a consistency problem. Although they have picked it up lately, going 6-3-1 in their last ten games at the time of this writing, pitching disasters have still come to light in the recent days.
The Athletics have the same problem. This team has turned the jets on in the second half for the last few seasons now. Like the Braves, however, they have come up short. This team will stumble as well.
That leaves the Twins and Marlins. Marlins in six.
The Verdict (by this week's special guest judge, Steve Paul of Spectrum Blind Date fame): I'm going to have to go with John Norman on this one, not only because he chose the Yankees to win, but the stats are there to prove how great a job the Yanks have been doing lately. As for the Cubbies, they put up more of a fight than Atlanta with a stronger pitching staff and bullpen. And as for Corey's response, "TWINS / MARLINS"?! COME ON!! I'd rather be forced to watch the WNBA finals ...
This week's Victor: John Norman
