Can Cardale Keep the Offense Humming Against the Gophers? Baver Has Your Answers.

Colin: Will Urban go back to running the "Cardale" offense which struggled or maybe incorporate some of JTB's package which seems much better suited for this collection?

Baver: I think you’ll see a mix of an offense tailored toward Cardale and maybe some of what we’ve seen with JTB, save the read option. I hate to dis Cardale….I am rooting for the guy, and the so-called fans that boo him in The ‘Shoe are pathetic. You asked earlier in the year… something along the lines of: is Cardale’s confidence going to hold up to criticism, with fans clamoring for JTB? I said at the time that I thought Cardale’s confidence would be fine, but I don’t think it is right now. I see a guy that has lost a lot of confidence. I hope I am wrong.

Colin: Is Cardale capable of running the read option?

Baver: Not really; it’s not his game, although they still may run it on occasion with Cardale.

Colin: Does Braxton finally throw a forward pass this week?

Baver: My guess is yes. Beck and Urban were probably saving Braxton’s first pass for the Sparty game, but I think they are going to have to utilize Braxton more this week with Barrett being held out.

Colin: Minnesota lit up the vaunted Michigan defense last week. Are the Gophers improving or was it a fluke?

Baver: A little of both. The Jerry Kill retirement added some extra emotion last week. QB Mitch Leidner is going to cause the Buckeye D some problems with his legs. But without David Cobb at TB, the Gopher offense just isn’t the same this year and will have problems moving the ball on Ohio St. On the other side of the ball, Minny’s CB’s (Murray & Lynn) are big time; Cardale needs to be sharp or those guys will make him pay.

Colin: The month of November is shaping up with some epic battles. What three or four games are going to determine who makes the CFP?

Baver: LSU at Bama on Saturday, Sparty at Oh St in 2 wks, Baylor at TCU on Nov 27th, and Notre Dame at Stanford Nov 28th. Those are the 4 biggest gms, but the top four Big 12 teams (Bay, TCU, Okl, Ok St) all play each other in Nov, so it’s gonna be quite the ride in that conference.  

Colin: Give us an update on your picks to date and what games and lines will you be keeping an eye on this weekend?

Baver: 14-6-1 overall against the spread, which includes 6-2 ATS on the Buckeye picks. I think Minniehaha +24 is the play this week; as mentioned above, I think the Buckeye O takes a step back without JT. Hope I am wrong and Cardale lights it up, but I am going to say 31 -13 Ohio State, which means a Minn cover. I like Bama laying the 6 1/2 is against LSU. Fournette, I think, will be (somewhat) held in check and LSU will have problems putting points on the board. Finally, I think you have to take the ‘Noles getting 11 at Clemson. The ‘Noles have had their number and I think they hang tight in this one, no matter who FSU starts at QB. I still think the Tigers win the game, though.

What Does the NCP Predict for Tonight's Browns Game: PAIN!

@Northcoastposse was just judged as one of the top five twitter follows by the Cleveland Browns.

Big$:  Ok, it’s pretty clear that I’m a dues-paying member of the Anti-Johnny Coalition. However, I’ve always maintained that our signal-calling Monday FunDay-er was going to find his way onto the field in 2015.

Several Browns fans (who may or may not partake in high-powered psychedelic mind- enhancers) have wondered why it has taken this long for #2 to be #1. Here is a rundown:

- The team is not losing because of Josh McCown.  To play at the level he has with no running game or play-making WR’s has been slightly amazing.  To date, he is the only NFL QB to throw 2 TD’s against the Broncos.  For further perspective, see Aaron Rodgers’ stats against Denver.

- I will reiterate, Mike Pettine’s livelihood depends on results.  Every decision he is going to make is going to be based on the need to win games.  If Johnny gave the Browns the best chance to win, he would play.  Last year, fans were quick to dismiss Johnny’s in-season partying, and late arrival to games.  Eventually, his lifestyle choices culminated in the week 17 debacle where a search team had to be sent to look for him.  The same issues and rumors are swirling and being dismissed in 2015.  Browns fans need to look up the definition of insanity.

- Lastly, the future is bleak for this ramshackle organization.  I’m not sure the front office has any real strategy to keep ticket holders invested into 2016.  The one glimmer they had was to let Josh finish this out and proclaim next year as “The season of Johnny!”  This last-ditch effort becomes D.O.A. if he is exposed (again) in his starts this season.  Don’t be too sure ownership is excited about Manziel seeing the field.

My prediction for Thursday:  To quote the legendary Clubber Lang, “PAIN!”  The NFL is a copycat league, and as coaches and coordinators get axed across the country, pink slips may start getting handed out in Berea early Friday morning. Unfortunately, our good ole boy owner has immunity to such consequences.

As for our weekly LeBron question, I’d play The King at QB against the Bengals. Needless to say, I’m not very excited about Johnny taking the field.

Can Andy Dalton Top Last Year's 2.0 QBR vs the Browns? Kevin A. is Back Talking Bengals

Kevin A. is back talking Bengals football, and the Browns are coming to town to play the undefeated cats. This week's questions come from Marco Scola in Chicago.  You can check out all of Marco's sports insights and podcasts at MarcoScolaMedia.com

A recent article on the players tribune website says the Bengals are the most cohesive team in the league.  Do you agree?

It's a hard thing to quantify.  The Bengals have been together a long time and Marvin Lewis has been the coach for 13 years, but its more than that.   Andy Dalton has really embraced his leadership role, and it showed during Sunday's win over the Steelers.   Players are constantly referring to Dalton when they talk of what's changed with the team, and its not just rah-rah talk.  Andy truly has the players believing they can win every game.  As far as most cohesive, I believe New England still owns that one. 

On Tuesdays podcast, I said the Bengals were the #2 team in the league behind the Patriots, but I questioned if they can get past New England.  Are you on board with a Pats/Bengals AFC title game, and if so, do you take the Bengals?

Well lets slow down a bit. The Bengals are very good but the fan in me still thinks they can blow this entire thing.   However I do agree they are the two best teams in the AFC, and also believe the Bengals overall posess more talent than the Patriots.   What the Bengals do not have is Tom Brady directing the ship.   While I think the Bengals are a threat to the Patriots should both teams get there, I'm not sure they can win that game quite yet.  It's not impossible, but we need to see how Dalton plays down the stretch. 

Of the remaining undefeated teams, would you say the Bengals have had the toughest schedule?

The Patriots seemingly have had it pretty easy so far. They got the Steelers without Le'Veon Bell and the rest is rather vanilla to date.  The Bengals have an impressive win at Oakland and came back to beat Seattle and Pittsburgh with fourth quarter comebacks, but I think the Broncos have had it as tough as Cincinnati with wins over Oakland, Minnesota and Green Bay.   I'll call it a push with Denver and Cincinnati, mainly because Denver is doing it with a rubber arm and defense.  Going forward however, the Bengals still need to play at Denver and Arizona, with another tilt against  Pittsburgh coming up as well, which should be very interesting considering the bad blood brewing between those two teams. 

The Bengals get the Browns and Johnny Manziel Thursday.  How does this one play out with Andy Dalton's prime time reputation?

It's no secret Dalton has lit it up during the day and struggled at night, and with flex scheduling he now faces three prime timers in a row.  Andy is just 3-7 in night games, including last years debacle against these same Browns where he posted a 2.0 QBR.   Sadly it wasn't anything the Browns did defensively, it was Dalton missing wide open receivers badly.     But this isn't the same Andy, and the Browns come in with a mash unit, missing stars Joe Haden and Donte Whitner, as well as their starting QB to name just a few.  Thursday night games tend to even the playing field with both teams on a short week, but the talent is undeniably in Cincinnati's favor in this one.

The Bengals should be able to stay on track and win this one fairly easily, moving to 8-0. Let's call this one 27-13. 

See you next week.  Have any questions for the next write up?  Send them to kmalbanese@yahoo.com or hit me up on twitter @kmalbanese

Is it Time to Believe in Andy Dalton? Kevin A. Answers Bengals Questions.

1) Andy Dalton is off to an amazing start. But, deep in your bones do you fear he will once again ruin the season with a historically bad playoff performance?

Andy's playoff struggles have been overblown.  In 2014 he was playing without Marvin Jones, AJ Green, Tyler Eifert, and a host of others.  In 2011 he was a rookie on a team many thought wouldn't win three games.  In 2012 we saw Jermaine Gresham drop seemingly every big throw he needed to catch, and the defense hasn't shown up for the most part every year.   That being said, he needs to play at a higher level when the bright lights are on, and having Eifert back healthy should bring the Bengals their first playoff win since 1991.

2) Who is more to blame for the Bengals playoff struggles: Andy Dalton, Marvin Lewis or neither?

If someone is to blame it's definitely Marvin Lewis.  His signature strength is defense, and that's been a huge failure in the post season.  Being brutally honest, AJ Green hasn't taken the criticism he deserves either.  He has vanished in many big games, not just the playoffs.

3) That said, this is an excellent football team. If they can stay healthy, how many wins are possible? 

When this season started, I felt having Eifert and Jones back was really under reported in the media, and we are seeing what kind of an offense this is when they are together.  This team can literally hit you from anywhere on the field, and defensively get back Vontaze Burfict possibly as soon as this Sunday against the Steelers.   13 wins is not out of the question, but I'm sticking to my pre season prediction of 12.

4) The game this Sunday almost has a playoff feel. Which team needs it more?

The Bengals currently sit as a 1.5 favorite on the road, and that can't sit well with a Steeler team that is already three games back in the loss column.  Definitely a bigger game for Pittsburgh, as another loss all but eliminates them from winning the division.  On the flip side, its a chance for the Bengals to step on the throat and end this race early.

5) Who do you see winning and how does it happen?

It will be a physical game for the running backs on both sides, and Le'Veon Bell should be playing with a chip on his shoulder after last year when Reggie Nelson ended his season early.  That being said, this game will also see plenty of passing with Dalton and the probable return of Ben Roethlisberger.

I will take the Bengals +1.5, with a score somewhere in the 27-23 range.  I don't think the Steelers will be able to cover Eifert, and I think he's the difference this week.

Kevin Albanese is an expert on the Bengals, Red Sox and KISS. He writes things sometimes.

2015 NBA Season Preview. Worst to First - by Ben Galli

Follow @bengalli33 to get your NBA fix in real time.

We are mere hours from Opening Night of the fastest growing major pro sport in America....  

Most have to admit, the NBA seems to be getting more intriguing every year.  With an incredibly eclectic mix of fans spanning groups as seemingly different as inner-city residents, white collar professionals, hipsters, and Europeans*, plus an equally ludicrous cast of characters playing in the games; the NBA has a unique blend of prime entertainment.  The players become more human to us because we see their rawness/craziness/Tony Allen on television, Twitter, and the YouTubes.  That's not always the case with a football player shrouded in his helmet or a baseball player with his head covered.   It's the NBA's strongest marketing tool and it works.  Eleven of the Top 50 highest paid athletes according to Forbes were NBA players, including 3 of the top 10.  There were no NFL or MLB players in the top 10.

*Okay, hipsters and Europeans may not be that different

This season will be no different than years past with the stars grabbing the headlines and the teams battling for the rings.  What follows is a brief overview of each team and some story lines to pay attention to for the coming year.  The NBA season, like any other league's, is extremely hard to predict but that's never stopped a fool like me.  I'll leave some perilous prognostications at the end.  

But first I do want to take a moment - like many NBA fans and members have already done - and mention the passing of Minnesota Timberwolves President and Coach, Flip Saunders, who passed away at the age of 60 after a battle with Hodgkin's lymphoma.  Saunders was born and raised in Cleveland and attended the University of Minnesota, where he was teammates with Mychal Thompson and Kevin McHale.  His roommate his freshman year was Tony Dungy.  This was a guy that Stephon Marbury looked up to.  Perhaps nothing more needs to be said.  

The Eastern Conference of Dunces

Philadelphia 76ers

Yeah, I'm sorry, there's just not much to say.  Everyone knows Philly's plan is to literally suck for a couple years until something happens apparently.  They are stocking up on young talent but how long before they develop actual stars so they can rise in the East?  It won't be this year. They do have some interesting pieces in Tony Wroten, Nerlens Noel, and Kendall Marshall.  Also of note, how will Noels and #3 pick Jahlil Okafor play together?

Detroit Pistons

The Detroit Pistons are in the middle of Stan Van Gundy's rebuild.  They have Andre Drummond, an exciting young player, but Brandon Jennings is coming off a torn Achille's tendon.  1st round pick Stanley Johnson is said to have NBA ready athleticism and it will be interesting to see what moves Detroit makes. 

New York Knickerbockers

It is just too difficult to place the Knicks much higher.  They had the worst record in the East last year and frankly I think they could surprise many.  If they get more of a semblance of an offense, I think the Knicks made the offseason pickups to really improve from last year's disaster.  Arron Afflalo and Jose Calderon are proven commodities on offense.  Sideshow Robin is underrated.  If Jerian Grant and former 2nd round pick out of Wichita State, Cleanthony Early develop, the Knicks are well on their way to having some solid pieces.  Can Kristaps Cornrows contribute this early? Perhaps the bigger question:  Can Derek Fisher really coach?

Orlando Magic

They welcome in new coach and Big Ten legend (on and off the court) Scott Skiles and European legend in the making, Mario Hezonja.  Many pundit that Skiles hard-nosed (no pun intended) demanding ways will conflict with Hezonja's hard-nosed arrogance.  All we can do is sit back and enjoy.  Orlando is still a couple years away but they are getting some nice pieces in place especially if Hezonja is the real deal.

Charlotte Hornets

The Charlotte Hornets are supposedly in Playoffs or Bust mode.  But with Michael Kidd-Gilchrist out with injury, it's going to take a lot of things going right for Charlotte to advance.  The East is getting better.  It will be interesting to see if Frank the Tank can produce in today's NBA with his Old School game.  Yes, I did that. 

Brooklyn Nets

I would be very surprised if Brooklyn replicates last year's trip to the playoffs.  They have the much better Lopez brother, the most boring max player ever in Joe Johnson, and a couple intriguing European prospects in Bojan Bogdanovic and Sergey Karasev.   Lionel Hollins is a damn good coach but this is asking a lot, even in the East.

Boston Celtics

Those pesky Celtics are being pulled in different directions.  For the last few years, Danny Ainge has been stockpiling potential lottery picks in shrewd trades to build up for a run at one of the big free agency prizes becoming available the next couple summers.  But Brad Stevens has been coaching his ass off and taking a fairly overachieving talent base to the playoffs.  Perhaps they'll continue to improve but my feeling is the Celtics miss out on the playoffs this year.  Also, there are rumors they might trade former Ohio State star, Sully Sullinger, this year.

Indiana Pacers

This is all about the return of Paul George after a devastating injury suffered during Team USA play.  What's more, team president Larry Bird is moving George to Power Forward or the #4 spot.  George has voiced his displeasure so this will be interesting to see how it transpires.  Before his injury, George seemed capable of putting a team on his back, becoming one of the budding superstars in the league.  The Pacers almost defeated LeBron's Heat.  The Pacers are going smaller and have an excellent coach in Frank Vogel. They could surprise.

Milwaukee Bucks

The Bucks were a surprising 6th seed in the playoffs last year.  All that after losing the Number 2 overall pick in the draft early in the season in Jabari Parker.  With Parker back, a new psychotic deer logo, and the development of potential superstar, the only 20! Greek Freak, Milwaukee is well on its way to contending...in the future.  The Bucks are very young. It will be interesting to see how Greg Monroe fits and how much of a force John Henson can become on both ends of the court.

Atlanta Hawks

The Hawks are gonna be good, sure.  But I don't see the top seed in the East for them.  The East is improving and they're getting better, faster than the Hawks are.  It's great that they play basketball the right way but there's a few other teams that do as well.

Toronto Raptors

This almost seems a little too high for Toronto.  Winter is coming, tis true, but will the Raptors have what it takes in the Spring to get to the conference finals?  Kyle Lowry has been straight owning preseason. He has lost a lot of weight and is vowing to take the next step.  The Raptors go as far as he does.  If Jonas Valanciunas takes a big step, watch out.

Washington Basketball Team

The Wizards are just not good enough to truly contend.  John Wall is great and getting better.  Bradley Beal can become a big time star in the next couple years and Otto Porter Jr started finding a positive role.  Washington didn't really seem to do too much to get over the next step to really battle with the teams ahead of them.  Once Kevin Durant comes to town though, everything changes.

Miami Heat

This is nothing really more than I believe in Pat Riley.  I'm convinced he wants the dramatic ending to his brilliant career that will finally cause Hollywood to cast Al Pacino in a biopic as it was always meant to be.  If Pat Riley wasn't playing the role of Coach Tony D'Amato from Any Given Sunday in LA, he was running New York and Miami like Michael Corleone. To Cleveland fans, I'm sure he'd be John Milton from The Devil's Advocate (Spoiler Alert:  He was the Devil).  The Heat will have a healthy superstar in Chris Bosh, a top 8 point guard in Goran Dragic, and Dwyane Wade with something to prove.  With Hassan Whiteside and Justise Winslow, the Heat can gain some defensive swagger.

Chicago Bulls

Just like last year, the Bulls are the Cavs' biggest competition.  In fact, they open against each other on Opening Night.  Chicago has a new coach in Fred "The Mayor" Hoiberg, a former NBA player.  He's already made a controversial decision by deciding to start Nikola Mirotic and Pau Gasol together, meaning Joakim Noah will be coming off the bench.  Noah seems like a team player and will accept his role but who's gonna play defense?  Can Derrick Rose come back yet again from injury?  His is a tragedy so far but perhaps he can still re-write the ending.  

Cleveland Cavaliers

LeBron has all the power and he is all in.  The Cavs will have an estimated luxury tax of 65-70 million dollars this year, the 2nd highest total ever.  Everyone is hoping it is all worth it*.  Barring injury (a very real concern), it should be.  At least to get back to the Finals.  Kevin Love is returning from injury, Iman Shumpert should be out until January, and Kyrie maybe longer than that.  The Cavs switched out LeBron's older friends for a couple slightly younger ones in the offseason, but the main thing is the Cavs kept all the important pieces from last year, overpaying Tristan Thompson in the process (LeBron - 1, Gilbert - 0).    With the energy and goofy moxie that Andy Varejao will bring back this year, this Cavs team will be a lot better than last year (when they ended the season 32-3 when their Big 3 played together).  

* I'm also sure there are some schadenfreudenthusiasts who are hoping LeBron is just petty enough that this is some drawn out revenge play on Dan Gilbert.  That would be rich.

Nothing is Quiet on The Western Front

Denver Nuggets

The Nuggets are going to have to build through the draft.  I don't see this rag tag group doing too much in this year's Western Conference.  They are in good hands with new coach Mike Malone but it will take some time to build around rookie point guard Emmanuel Mudiay. 

Portland Trail Blazers

LaMarcus Aldridge left via free agency and that pretty much ends any hopes Rose City had.  Dame Lillard is still out of this world but he'll find more solace in the rap songs he's putting out to good reviews than the passes he'll be trying to make to Mason Plumlee and Chris Kaman.

Phoenix Suns

The Suns made a run at the playoffs last year but fell well short.  They seemed like a team that gave up on the original plan when they got rid of point guards Goran Dragic and Isaiah Thomas.  The Suns are going to need some young players like T.J. Warren to step up if they want to improve this year.  I don't think they have the talent to really make waves.

Dallas Mavericks

Dallas has a good head coach and a quandary.  They have a top 7 protected 1st round pick they owe to Boston as part of the Rajon Rondo trade that was pretty much a disaster for them They have the talent, especially if Wesley Matthews can return from his Achilles rupture in great shape, to contend for the 8th spot.  I'm not holding my breath for a strong season from Dallas.  Not the greatest way for Dirk to go out especially after losing out so dramatically on DeAndre Jordan.

Los Angeles Lakers

This should be the final swan song for probably one of the 5 best basketball players of all time and I'm pretty sure this isn't how he envisioned it.  It was an absolute joy to watch Kobe to play over the years but all signs point to him being a shadow of his former self.  The struggle will be watching him try to prove night in and night out that he's still better than LeBron.  The Lakers have some enticing pieces for future free agents in All-Rookie 1st Team Jordan Clarkson, #2 pick in the draft D'Angelo Russell, and the #7 pick from last year's draft Julius Randle who's had a strong preseason.  It will only be a matter of time before L.A. is relevant again.

Sacramento Kings

This could be the biggest dumpster fire in NBA history or George Karl might somehow have this team contending for the 8th spot.  Couple infamous head cases Rajon Rondo and DeMarcus "Boogie" Cousins, the latter of which already has beef with the coach (and the former of which has joked about having problems with the coach) and no one really knows how dysfunctional Sacramento may be.  They have some good players coming up and a coach that can work wonders.

Minnesota Timberwolves

Minnesota was just struck with the death of their head coach and team president, Flip Saunders.  It remains to be seen how the team will respond to this horrible news.  Some teams unite and play better, others wallow in the mire.  I'm betting on the former although it may take some time.  Kevin Garnett could be the veteran influence Saunders envisioned when he traded for him but a healthy Ricky Rubio, in one of his last years to display if he is a bust or not, coupled with the excellent Andrew Wiggins and some strong pieces can have Minny surprising some teams this year.

Utah Jazz

The Jazz have had a buzz about them this year.  The worst team name in professional sports have a lot of interesting young pieces.  Rudy Gobert blocks or alters almost as many shots per game as he has nicknames (The Stifle Tower, The French Rejection, The Gobert Report).  Former lottery pick Dante Exum, he of the young Kobe comparisons, tore his ACL in August leaving added pressure on the shoulders of Columbus' own Trey Burke. Quin Sndyer might have these guys humming by mid season.

New Orleans Pelicans

This may be a bit high for them but we are entering the Reign of the Brow.  Anthony Davis will be a favorite to win the MVP award and the Pels should be in the middle of the playoff race as long as their talented guards can play together.  Alvin Gentry should be able to get them ready.

Houston Rockets

The Rockets lost the wildly inconsistent Josh Smith but added the speedy but suspect Ty Lawson. I say suspect because of Lawson's many recent run-ins with off the field issues.  This should put Patrick Beverly in a better position for his skill set but the Rockets just seem like they'll not make a trip back to the Conference Finals.

Memphis Grizzlies

Memphis is a better version of Washington in the West.  They seem like they are just out of contention but the heart and hustle is the grit and the grind of these Grizzlies.  An easy team to root for if not watch.  Michael Conley Jr just gets better and the addition of Matt Barnes will just make them a stronger defensive team.  This seems like an important year for Memphis' future in that they have to prove how far they can really go.  This could be Vinsanity's last year in the NBA.

Oklahoma City Thunder

The only thing anyone wants to know is will this be Kevin Durant's last year in Oklahoma City? Second to that is, will Russell Westbrook leave in 2 years?  The answer to both questions is yes, of course (unless they don't).  Billy Donovan, formerly of Providence, Florida, and The Brothers McMullen is taking over for Scott Brooks and this should be an upgrade.  Russell Westbrook almost willed this team to the playoffs last year without the 2nd best player in the game.  Russ and KD can carry Oklahoma City anywhere they really want.  They haven't gotten very far without James Harden though so the jury is still out on this team.  

Los Angeles Clippers

The Clippers bench improved greatly.  They have the talent to surpass both San Antonio and Golden State in wins but the Clippers always seem to struggle at inopportune times.  Adding Paul Pierce, Lance Stephenson, and Josh Smith could blow up in their face but it probably won't.  Pierce can anchor the bench and hold Lance Stephenson and Josh Smith and their ten personalities in check.  Keeping DeAndre Jordan was huge but the pressure will be massive to win this year.  

San Antonio Spurs

The Spurs went and did it.  They may have solidified their franchise for the next decade by signing Kawhi Leonard to an extension and bringing LaMarcus Aldridge on board from free agency.  If there's a real Iron Throne in the NBA, Gregg Popovich has been Tywin Lannistering on it for quite some time.  We say this each year and believe it each year but this should be the final hurrah for Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili.  Shouldn't it?  The Spurs are going to be really good this year and will have learned from last year's missteps.  I don't know if there's a better team than them this year.  

Golden State Warriors

The Warriors put together one of the best statistical seasons of all time last year.  I don't think it's likely they'll surpass that this year but I think the culture of the organization that Steve Kerr is trying to instill will call for them to do their damnedest to try.That's why I think Golden State will have the best record in the West coupled with San Antonio's real need to rest some of their players and maybe give up some games in the process.  Everyone's seen what Golden State is and sure, they'll need luck to do it, but they should have a good chance of repeating.

Playoffs

Months and months away so these are hasty predictions but here goes.  

Eastern Conference:  I think Cleveland beats Chicago with an outside chance that Miami falls to Cleveland instead in the Conference Finals.

Western Conference:  The Spurs are very much like the Patriots in that over time, you've learned to just bow to their dark side.  I see San Antonio beating Golden State or possibly the Clippers to advance to the Finals.

Finals:  Cleveland-San Antonio - This is just very difficult to call.  The Cavs have more stars in their prime but the Spurs have the system that reigns supreme.  The Cavs are younger with the Spurs more prone to injuries and old age but Cleveland is Cleveland and has pretty rotten luck.  I think Duncan, Ginobili, and Pops go out in a blaze of glory to end their careers.  Next year's always Cleveland's time.  As I see it today, I can't pick anyone against the Spurs but Cleveland would be very close.  Spurs in 7.  Sorry, Bron.

The World Series is Mostly Dead. I Think I Know How to Save It - by Colin G.

Baseball has hit a new low. The commissioner can trot out all the numbers he wants explaining how healthy the game is, but let me tell you, here at the coffee shop on Main Street USA, NOBODY cares about the World Series. In fact, if it were to be cancelled today without notice, I suspect only 4 or 5 customers would even mention it. Remember the public outrage when a labor dispute cancelled the Series in 1994? Those days are long gone.

And to make matters worse, the kids really don't give a dang about the World Series. My son Owen is eleven years old and he is a huge baseball fan. He plays in the summer & fall and his room is decorated with a giant Joey Votto fathead along with hundreds of baseball cards taped to his wall. This is exactly the kind of young fan that can lead the sport into the future. Problem is, he has never seen the end of a World Series game. Ever. Think about that. This eleven year old baseball fan has NEVER seen the end of a World Series game. It's hard to make a connection with a sport when the biggest moments happen long after your bedtime. 

And I don't watch either. It's just too late to justify staying up. I know a handful of nerds who do bother to stay awake to watch and they show up at the coffee shop the next morning looking tired saying, "I sucked it up to stay awake and watch the game and now I am paying for it." Uh, yeah, that sounds like good entertainment value.

Let's glance quickly at the numbers. First the good news: The NLCS on Fox at 8 p.m. tied for second among all viewers 18-49 years old with a 1.3 rating. The bad news: It tied with an episode of the Family Guy airing at 11:30 p.m. I doubt the NFL or NBA would find these numbers acceptable. 

Anyway, you get the point. Baseball is sucking wind and something has to change. Lucky for them I have the answer: it's easy to execute and can be done as soon as next season.

All World Series games should start at 6 p.m.

Yup. That is my solution. Starting next year all World Series games should start at 6 pm. It's a new tradition that never changes. Baseball loves tradition.  Forget shortening the season or speeding up the games. Maybe in some future fantasy hippie utopia that would be possible, but not on this planet during my lifetime.   

I got the idea while watching the World Cup this summer. Most of those games started around 5 pm on weeknights. Yet, I found myself watching games with Owen and a big group of his friends and they were all into it. They weren't even soccer fans. It was just cool because it was on. As a baseball fan it pains me to admit, but soccer is the future and baseball is the past. It's time to borrow a page from their book and put these games on during daylight hours. 

"But why not just start at 7 pm?"

Nope, baseball has to go all-in on this. Didn't a wise man named Mr. Miagi once say, "Walk in middle of road and you get squashed by football" or something like that? A 7 pm start, while an improvement, wouldn't be a big enough change. By starting at 6 pm baseball is creating a unique time slot to showcase its biggest event of the year. It's not all about the game ending late, though that is a part of it, it's about making the World Series feel special. A 6 pm start would do that.

The only reason World Series games start at 8 pm now is because that is the way they used to do it. There used to only be 3 TV channels to choose from, too. (At least that's what my aged friend Ricki C. tells me.) And with local affiliates filling the time between the nightly news and prime time, that was only spot to put it.  Of course the World Series did well. There was no competition.  That isn't the case anymore, so baseball has to change with the times. And its not like MLB is locked into any one network any more.. Hell, even I couldn't find some of the playoff games this year. I think I missed the one was on Animal Planet. ESPN would be nice but surely another network would go crazy for the chance to own the World Series. But they have to have the games on at 6 pm. You could even use the series as a lead into a new show at the 10 pm slot. Not too shabby.

As for the West Coast, they will get over it. What are we talking about anyway? Worst case, some people leave work a little early three times a year to catch the final three hours of a baseball game. These games average four hours in length. Fans will be hitting the bars by the third inning.  And the kids can come home from school and watch. If people care so little about your sport they won't even do that then you don't deserve to survive. In exchange for this minor inconvenience, baseball picks up an extra hundred million eyeballs to possibly watch the end of your event when the drama really matters, when fans - die-hard fans - are rewarded for their loyalty and new fans are forged.

There is no drama in sports like a tight baseball game played with a championship on the line. Baseball needs to stop chasing the fans and playing by the other sports' rules. They have tried that and it isn't working. Baseball needs to make a bold move to insert itself back into the public eye. Have a little faith in your product. You have seen the movie: "If you build it they will come." It's time to start every World Series game at 6 p.m.

Colin Gawel started Pencilstorm at Colin's Coffee, where he wrote this bit. You can learn more about him and other Pencilstorm contributors by clicking here.