Last Call NHL Playoff Predictions: Final Standings

Last Call NBA Playoff Predictions: Final Standings

In-Depth: Colorado Rockies Preview

by Alex Tam

Editorial. Photos by AP News

In 2007, destiny grabbed the Rockies by the reins and drove them to their first World Series appearance ever. Back then it was looked at as a miracle. The next year, they hit bottom and never even had a chance to make the post-season. 

Around came 09’ and Jim Tracy and it seemed history came to shatter the record books again and the Rockies stormed into the post-season, this time not so lucky. Will this season be a repeat of history? Will they Rockies sorely disappoint after a successful season?

No. Not by a long shot. Not this time.

The main difference I see in this time around, is that them making the post-season was never dubbed a miracle. Sports writers around the country started to take notice, and while the Rockies thundered through the season to the playoffs, it wasn’t luck that gave them their season long hot-streak. So why is the mile high sensation just that? Why should you buy into the hype?

They are simply put, the most balanced and depth-rich team in the division.

They have great defense, depth in the bats, and a solid rotation. For starters, there is no horrendous drop-off in this  rock solid lineup. Catcher Chris Iannetta is probably the team’s worst bat and could be the aforementioned drop off, but Yorvit Torreabla’s replacement, Miguel Olivio, who batted .250 with 23 dingers should see his numbers rise in Coors Field and a better line up. But the real prizes are in the shortstop, the outfield , and first base (no, not Jason Giambi!)

Troy Tulowitzki seems to finally have things figured out and matured. What is truly insane about this young gems talent, is that his talents extend to nearly every spectrum of the game.

NBA Playoff Preview

by Phil Shore

Editorial. Photos by AP News

With the NBA Playoffs finally upon us, it’s time to break down each first round series and give you the who’s who and what’s what of LBJ vs Chitown, the Green against the Heat, KB vs KD, the Jazz versus the Nugs and everything in between.

Here are Last Call’s 'Top Questions' for each NBA playoff series.

Cleveland vs. Chicago:

Will LeBron finally win it all?

Four trips to the playoffs, two to the Eastern Conference finals, and one to the NBA Championship. Yet “The King” has zero rings. Last year so many people thought that it was the Cavs’ best chance to win it all, and with the best record in the NBA, the midseason acquisition of power forward Antawn Jamison, and a thirteen-game winning streak, people feel the same way about them this postseason.

However, will Cleveland be able to handle the pressure? They have the pressure of being number one and meeting high expectations. There is the pressure of the entire city of Cleveland not winning a championship in any professional sport since 1964, the longest drought of any city with three pro teams. They also have the pressure of potentially losing James, a free agent, in the offseason if they can’t make him happy by winning a championship.

Being in the postseason isn’t enough for the Cavaliers anymore. Making the finals isn’t enough, either. Cleveland needs to win the championship. However, they won’t be able to do that if they don’t put aside those issues and just play basketball.

PREDICTION: LeBron and co. roll. Cleveland in 4

NL West Breakdown

by Alex Tam 

Editorial. Photos by AP News

As the old saying goes, “this town ain’t big enough for the both of us.”

Perhaps both should be replaced with three.

This division no longer belongs to the Dodgers – and as a result, expect to see the Giants and Rockies race hard and fast for that division crown. With the AL East boasting the AL’s (and baseballs) best arms, the NL West takes the cake for the NL on this one.

The danger with this division is that three of the top teams have no doubt in their mind that they can win the wild card. They aren’t even eyeing that in fact. All three believe they can win and have the talent to back it up.

The triple threat that is the NL West, should prove to be one of the most heated division races yet. Get your popcorn ready, with Tim Lincecum going for his 3^rd Cy Young in a row, and the Rockies pushing to win their first division title ever, you’re not going to want to miss this.

2009 Standings 2010 Projected Standings

1. Los Angeles Dodgers   1. Colorado Rockies
2. Colorado Rockies  2. Los Angeles Dodgers

3. San Fransisco Giants  3. San Fransisco Giants 
4. San Diego Padres 4. Arizona Diamondbacks

5. Arizona Diamondbacks 5. San Diego Padres

Last Call NBA Playoff Predictions: 1st Round

Last Call NHL Playoff Predictions: 1st Round

Last Call MLB Playoff Predictions: Preseason

Arms Race

by Alexander Tam

Editorial. Photos by AP News

It has finally come. The AL has taken the All-Star crown once again and we find ourselves at the second half of the baseball season. This year has shaped out to be one of the most interesting in baseball history. Nearly all divisions in both leagues are at a close race.

This story rings true across all divisions except for one; the wild, wild NL west. If you had told me that this season the Rockies would have one of the best pitching rotations in the majors, while pitching at Coors mind you, even I would have called you a little crazy. But guess what? It’s true ladies and gentlemen.

At first glance you may not be impressed or convinced, but take a closer look. The Rockies honestly and truly have one of the best rotations in baseball. To start it off Cook, Marquis, and Jimenez rank 2^nd, 3^rd, and 4^th ground-ball-to-fly-ball ratio in the NL, a perfect statistic to have when pitching in Coors. All three also have complete games and 2 have shut outs.

What about elite teams? What about the Yankees you may ask, a team with a better record and infinitely bigger payroll. Their ERA leader is at 3.81 and a paltry 102 K’s. Compare this to Marquis’s 3.65 ERA and Jimenez’s 111 K’s. The Phillies and the Mets rotation? We won’t even go there. Yes the Giants have better 1-2 pitchers, but past that, the rest of their starters have an ERA above 4.7. Only one Rockies starter has an era above 4.7, but Jorge De La Rosa has 99 K’s and his young strong arm gives promise for the future.

If you look closely, there are very few teams with better rotations than the Rockies. Here is what I rank the top 5 rotations in baseball, in no particular order: the Red Sox, the Braves, the Mariners, the Cardinals, and the Rockies. A case can be made for Tampa Bay and the Dodgers since they have somewhat similar numbers than the Rockies, but the Rockies do their pitching in Coors and it does make a difference when their team ERA away is more than one run fewer. The fact that the Rockies pitchers can perform so well in Coors puts them above the Rays.

Colorado is 3^rd in saves and 2^nd in quality starts (a quality start is defined has a pitcher who goes at least 6 innings and gives up no more than 3 runs). The Dodgers, while they are 1^st in nearly all NL pitching categories, are 15^th in quality starts. Since the Dodgers have a team ERA of 3.62 (2^nd in the NL, you can guess who is 1^st) that means that the Dodgers turn to their bullpen early and often. And no matter how good your bullpen is, it is always vulnerable to a bad day, and your bullpen is only as strong as your weakest pitcher.

The Rockies have been on a recent tear, and nobody seems to be able to figure out why. Here’s one reason: batters around the league better watch out for young man who has finally figured it out, Ubaldo Jimenez. He averages the fastest fastball in the majors at 95.7 mph, has one CG to his name and 111 strikeouts. On top of all that, he has only given up 5 home runs all year compared to King Felix’s 8, Dan Haren’s 12, and Lincicum’s 5 as well. It is difficult to say who is truly the Rockies ace, but compared to the Dodgers ace Billingsly, Ubaldo has fewer walks and only 9 less Ks, and is less than .10 points away from matching Billingsley’s ERA. Coming off a stellar performance in the WBC, its finally looking like this is Ubaldo’s year.

All-Star Jason Marquis has been the Rockies work horse and savior. He has a team leading ERA of 3.65. He’s no 2.27 ERA Tim Lincicum, sure. But manager Jim Tracy (the true Rockies savior) sees a change in his pitcher and has confidence in him. Marquis has 2 complete games and 1 shutout and has often gone 8 innings. His best start was against the Dodgers when he held them two hits with only 86 pitches in his complete game performance. He has made remarkable changes considering his past career stats and the fact that he is doing better in Coors field is even better. He has 11 wins to his name and simply put, he finds a way to get it done. He’s no strikeout king but he induces ground balls at will keeping an improving Rockies defense on their toes and in the game. He also helps out the bullpen tremendously by dealing 2 complete games, 1 shutout, and consistently going deep into games.

Aaron Cook had a great season and was magic during the 2008 All Star game (giving up only 4 hits and 0 runs in 3 innings against the AL’s finest bats) and the surrounding weeks. If we want to talk about a man who truly produces ground balls at will, it is Aaron the sinker-ball master Cook. His pitching style is ideal for a field like Coors. In the month of May, Cook let up 0 home runs. In July he walked only 7 and pitched 12 more innings resulting in an ERA of 2.36 compared to May’s 2.93.

My prayers have been answered. The Rockies finally having a pitching staff to match our offense. There’s a new sheriff in town, and Joe Torre better keep his eye on Jim Tracy.

Come September, mark my words, the Dodgers won’t have a comfortable lead over the Rockies, who are one of only eight major league teams with a winning record on the road.

And as for the wild card, its about to get a lot more wild. As Jason Marquis once said, "I'm not a guy who tries to prove the doubters wrong. I'm a guy who proves the believers right." And that's just what he and the rest of this Rockies rotation are doing.

Class of Distinction

By Alexander Tam

Editorial. Photos by AP News

There are some players that are more than just athletes.

Before you decide not to read this article about my man crush Todd Helton, and before you decide that the Rockies are just a streaky lucky team, this article is more than just about Todd Helton.

On a beautiful sunny day, a thought came to me. Earlier in the day I was logging footage for the Red Sox of their 1956 and 1957 teams. Later that night I saw that Shaq had been traded to the Cavs. I realized that sports were different back then. To quote the Red Sox great Fred Lynn, “The rookies had to earn the respect of the veterans, not the other way around.” Why are we so eager to brush off the “old” veterans? Countless times I’ve had people tell me that Todd Helton is over the hill, old, and was never even that great to begin with.

Here are the facts about Todd:

He’s 36 years old. He’s a career .328 hitter and has batted below .300 in a season only twice. And for one of those years, he was injured. He’s a three time gold glove winner, four time All-Star, four time silver slugger, and recipient of the Hank Aaron award. Alex Rodriguez and Barry Bonds have won multiple Hank Aaron awards *. And to top it all off, Helton is batting .317 with 9 homers and 49 RBIs. And if you even start to say he’s overrated because of Coors field, tell it to his Hank Aaron award, and his 2,000 hits. Also mention it to his 17 HR and 92 RBI since 2006 away from Coors, compared to his 22 HR and 109 RBI at home. They look fairly similar if you ask me.

But the real heart behind the article is not about stats. The real thing I want to point out is that he has spent all of his years, has hit all 2,000 of his hits, with the Colorado Rockies. That’s something you almost never see. The only other player that has stuck with his first team for that long that comes to mind is veteran John Smoltz, who’s tenure with Atlanta abruptly ended after the 2009 season. To explain to you what kind of connection happens when a player sticks through thick and thin with an organization for that long, I will refer to a story I heard.

As Last Call co-host Ian Tasso was working the Braves Red Sox game, he ran into a Braves fan and started making conversation. They got to talking about Derek Lowe and eventually arrived on the subject of John Smoltz He was suppose to make his pitching debut at Fenway against the Braves, but was pushed back a couple of days, most likely because Smoltz refused to play against his former Braves. Ian asked the Braves fan what he would do if Smoltz started against the Braves, and the guy said, “I think I would cry.” He then said that we could poke fun at him all we like, but he knows that most of his friends would do the same.

I myself tried to imagine Todd Helton on another team and nausea immediately set it accompanied with severe depression.

Baseball is a game of controlling one’s frustration, putting bad days behind you, doing whatever it takes to win, and day in day out dedication. When an individual goes through that roller coaster ride, shows that kind of commitment to a single team in his entire career, it’s something special. These days it’s all about money for players. One year they play for this team, the next they play for that team. It’s difficult to get attached to players because before you know it, they are off in different colors. Helton reminds me of the good old days of John Elway. He stuck with Denver from start to finish. Here is a man that went to the Super Bowl three times and lost. Not till the last 2 years of his career did he finally get the rings. John had to wait nearly 7 years to achieve his dream, and not once did he demand a trade just so he could win. The same goes for Todd.

I’ve done my best, but words can’t describe how much a man like Todd Helton and John Elway mean to Denver fans. They are two extraordinarily talented athletes that we can truly call our own.

NHL Draft: Go Time for GMs

By Jesse Liebman

Editorial. Photos by AP News

There's something to be said for the immense pressure that teenaged hockey players face while they work at achieving their dreams of becoming the next great NHL superstar. But there is an equal amount of pressure on an NHL team's scouting department on draft day. This year's edition of the NHL Entry Draft begins Friday at the Bell Centre in Montreal, and is regarded by many as the deepest draft in years.

Here's how the first five picks in the first round will likely pan out:

1) New York Islanders - John Tavares - C - 6'0", 195 lbs. - London Knights (OHL)

Every few years, some fresh-faced teen from Canada is anointed "The Next One." First it was Mario Lemeiux, then Eric Lindros, then Sidney Crosby. John Tavares is certainly no exception and his junior career resume fully warrants the title. Tavares benefited from an "exceptional player" clause that allowed him to step into the lineup of the "O's" Oshawa Generals three day's after his fifteenth birthday. Tavares is the OHL's all-time leading goal scorer with 215 goals in 247 games. He has all the tools that would enable him to immediately step onto an NHL team's opening night roster in the fall.

There are some who say the extended time spent in the OHL has made Tavares lazy. But that's not the case, according to his former coach, Chris DePiero. "His willingness to be the player he wants to be is there," DePiero says. "And to me that supersedes anything that could be perceived as a negative."

The recurring knock on Tavares is that he isn't the fastest skater. But then again, neither was Wayne Gretzky. With time, Tavares should mature into a bona-fide superstar for the Islanders.

And that's exactly what the Islanders need. Although GM Garth Snow has been glib on who his scouting staff plans on taking, it's clear Tavares is what the Islanders need. They currently play in the third-oldest building in the league, and years of poor management decisions have decimated the team's fan base. That can all change with Tavares.

With an already existing prospect core of Kyle Okposo, Blake Comeau and Jeff Tambellini, Tavares is the perfect prospect in this year's pool for the Islanders to build around if they hope to return to the glory days of Bossy, Potvin and Smith.

2) Tampa Bay Lightning - Victor Hedman - D - 6'6", 220 lbs. - Modo (Sweden)

There was a time when the hulking Hedman had warranted a look as a potential No. 1 selection. His world junior performance was solid, but Tavares simply elevated his game and outshone every prospect in the winter tournament. While he certainly has all the desireables that GM's look for in a first overall pick, the addition of Tavares to the draft pool means that Hedman will likely have to settle for second.

After selecting Steve Stamkos with the No. 1 pick last June and then going after every free agent forward on the open market, Hedman is a solid selection to anchor the Tampa Bay blueline.

With the news that Tampa's co-owners Oren Koules and Len Barrie are at odds with what to do with captain and franchise center Vincent Lecavalier, there also remains the scenario that the Lightning might be willing to trade down in the draft. Should the Lightning hold on to the pick, look for them to grab Hedman.

3) Colorado Avalanche - Matt Duchene - C - 5'11", 200 lbs. - Brampton Battalion (OHL)

A lot of talk has been made lately of Brampton's Matt Duchene, who has risen through the ranks in the past months. Duchene is described by many as most complete player in the draft.

Duchene tries to pattern his game after the game's biggest star, Sidney Crosby, but a more appropriate comparison may be Detroit's Pavel Datsyuk. Already boasting spectacular offensive skills, Duchene has also emerged as a fantastic penalty-killer. NHL Central Scouting's Chris Edwards notes that while Duchene's shot is impressive, his true asset is "his speed and ability to beat defensemen to the middle or outside."

With Joe Sakic's career winding down, it may be wise for Colorado management to grab Duchene to play with Paul Stastny. Of course, with the recent firing of Avalanche GM Francois Giguere, Colorado could also be in a position to make some moves at the draft.

4) Atlanta Thrashers - Evander Kane - C - 6'1", 176 lbs. - Vancouver Giants (WHL)

As Kane fills out his frame, he is projected to max out at approximately 200 lbs., and could even add another inch or two. That may be just the perfect combination for Kane, who has all the makings of a future power forward.

With Thrashers captain Ilya Kovalchuk scheduled to be headed for free agency after next year, the onus is on Atlanta GM Don Waddell to fill his roster with young talented players to entice his prized Russian sniper to stay. Kane may be a key piece to that puzzle .

5) L.A. Kings - Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson - LW - 6'1", 201 lbs. - Timra (Sweden)

If trying to stop the speedy Swede won't kill you, trying to pronounce his name might. Director of NHL Central Scouting E.J. McGuire had this to say about Paajarvi-Svensson: "Magnus perhaps is the stereotype of the skilled Swede coming over here in recent years – outside speed extraordinaire, ability to freeze defenders and make all his good moves work even more effectively."

Already boasting a cupboard of young roster players and prospects that includes Anze Kopitar, Dustin Brown, Drew Doughty, Jack Johnson and Jonathan Bernier, Kings GM Dean Lombardi and his scouting staff will want to add Paajarvi-Svensson to play alongside Kopitar or center Brian Boyle in two to three years.

Can't Get No Respect

By Alexander Tam

Editorial. Photos by AP News

The late and great comedian Rodney Dangerfield once said, “I can’t get no respect.” The battle cry of the Denver Nuggets and their fans rings an eerily similar tune.

Even after a heartbreaking game one loss to the Lakers, the Nuggets continue to prove that they are a force to be reckoned with. Their 102-100 loss to the Lakers marks only their third postseason loss – all by two or less points.

A lot can be said about the Nuggets. They are a team that has never made it to the NBA finals, a team that nobody gave a second look at, and a team who made playoff history against New Orleans – a game that wasn’t even televised on national TV.

They are a team of underdogs and have gone through their fair share of strife. Chris Anderson was suspended for two years for violating the NBA drug abuse policy. Nene has come back from testicular cancer, chemo, and surgery. Carmelo Anthony’s leadership has been constantly questioned, and has been overshadowed by fellow 2003 draftees Kobe, Lebron, and D-Wade.

I have news for all the doubters - the Nuggets are back in full swing. Nene is playing with raw power on both offense and defense, Anderson is second in the NBA with blocks, and the always underestimated Carmelo Anthony scored 39 points tonight and did an excellent job in being physical with Kobe. And if that wasn’t enough to grab your attention, the Nuggets now have “a gift from the basketball Gods” as coach Carl puts it; Chauncy Billups. Mr. number 7 (same as Elway’s…coincidence?) is just that. This 4-time NBA All-Star, Finals MVP and 2004 Champion has been and continues to be the shinning homegrown savior of the Nuggets.

But this isn’t enough for the monster that is the sports world. Flashy basketball moves, big names, and drama is what they like. Never mind that the Nuggets are a more well rounded team than either Cleveland of L.A., its all about Kobe or Lebron. Wade was given his time but then the focused quickly changed to King James and the Black Mamba.

Remember watching that historic game where Denver beat New Orleans by an NBA record 58 points? Neither do I, because it wasn’t nationally televised. It was on NBA TV. An NBA playoff game wasn’t nationally televised. How many Lakers, Celtics, or even Rockets games weren’t televised nationally? I will help you out, ZERO.

The media infatuation with the Lakers and King James must be put to an end, and I believe the Nuggets can help with at least half of that – or hopefully all of it. You can have your disagreements with me, but this is what being a fan is all about: never giving up on your team. And when the sun sets it all comes down to this:

L.A. - Where jaded movie stars and fans take championships for granted

Denver - Where fans don’t take the few championships they have for granted, and are faithfully awaiting the next.

NBA Playoffs: Where Amazing Is Happening

By Alexander Tam

Editorial, Photos by AP

Before every NBA playoff game I bring the following (and you would be wise to do the same): a bucket, a towel, plenty of water, loose fitting clothing, and a power bar. Why do I need all of this you may ask?

Because, my eager padawans, during playoff basketball you will loose 20 pounds of sweat, which is why you need the towel. You will become dehydrated from all the sweating, hence the water. When Ray Allen makes that buzzer-beating-three with two hands in his face you will jump out of your seat, making good use of the loose fitting clothing - oh and stretching will help, you don't want to pull anything. And finally, you will need to find more energy during half time as it has all been used up from screaming and jumping, which is why you have the power bar - healthy, and a great source of energy. NBA playoffs are indeed that exciting, and then some.

With a record setting NBA playoff season halfway through, you can expect it to only get better from here. So far we have had a playoff history winning margin of 58 points by my Nuggets, a record setting seven overtimes in the series by the Celtics and Bulls,

and in that series Derrick Rose went for a record matching rookie playoff debut 36 points in game one. All of this just from the first round.

So what exactly makes NBA playoffs so exciting? You may say, what about football Tam? That’s exciting too! My friends, don’t hate me for this, but I’m here to tell you that NBA playoffs are MORE exciting than football playoffs. And here is why.

In the NFL, you have two teams going at it – winner moves on; loser goes home. In the NBA, we have best out of seven series and it goes for quite a while. You may cry foul and say, “the single-game elimination makes it that more intense!” However, with more games, you get the added drama of dragging the series out. Teams go back to game film, they come prepared the next day to counter the opposing teams’ superstar, they go over what they did wrong and you can see a completely different team on the court. The pressure only builds after game 1 and so does the excitement. Plus – Red Sox fans read this one closely – is there anything more awesome than a team coming back from down three games to none in a series?

You can also sense and see it from the players themselves. Basketball becomes physical like you’ve never seen before. Every foul becomes a hard foul. We have seen ejections, flagrant fouls and suspensions left and right. Each player gives it their all come playoff time. We saw it from a Bulls team that refused to loose. We see it when Lebron and fellow teammates go bananas when their point guard wins a simple jump ball.

And then there is the crowd. The home crowd expects nearly every single basket to go in. And if it does, they go berserk – every point sunk, every block made, every rebound grabbed. And if the game is close, expect to find 50,000 people who have lost their voice the next day.

The last time the Denver Nuggets made it past the first round, it was 1994, and they were an eight seed. The team they beat? A one seed. Now, in 2009, they look like a lock to make the Western Finals. Because in the game of basketball, a player suspended for two years for violating drug rules can return to be the team’s savior and help push them through the first round of playoffs for the first time in 15 years. In the fast-paced game of basketball, a 15-point deficit can turn into a five-point lead in a matter of three minutes. In the game of basketball, a King and an MVP has single-handedly brought a lost Cavaliers team to its first championship round ever, and may give them their first ring this year.

In the game of basketball, this is where amazing happens? You better believe it.