The Jays and Young Pitchers

This week the Toronto Blue Jays pitching situation tipped past tragedy into comedy – a team that could have eleven solid pitchers has been reduced by six. For most teams this would be a freak occurrence – almost unimaginable – for the Jays it is just a few steps further down a familiar road. Jays pitchers, particularly young ones, suffer injuries with striking regularity.

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The MLS Schedule and FIFA Match Dates

No single element of the MLS world is as widely derided as the schedule – not the Beckham affair; not the consistently poor performance of MLS clubs in continental competition; not the absurd salary structure. The refrain – heard on many a podcast, read on countless blogs – goes like this, no serious league, anywhere on earth, schedules league matches on FIFA match dates: MLS is bush league.

This season, despite wide criticism and pressure from FIFA, MLS clubs will play (have already played) matches on FIFA dates. Unfortunately, with an odd number of clubs taking part in the 2009 season – greatly complicating scheduling – this could not be avoided. Could MLS right this wrong in 2010? The short answer is yes, but it wouldn’t be pretty.
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Chris Bosh: Can he be a Centerpiece Player?

There has been much talk of late about the future of Chris Bosh in Toronto. With one year remaining on his current contract, this time next year (at the latest) he is sure to draw a new contract of maximum length and maximum salary. Which raises the question, can he still become a dominant player and the central figure of a competitive team?

What does a dominant Power Forward have that Chris Bosh does not? In the recent past, the league came through an era dominated by Power Forwards – according to 82games.com, the top three players in 2002-03 were Power Forwards – so there are no shortage of recent comparisons. Those three players – Kevin Garnett, Dirk Nowitzki and Tim Duncan* – have consistently been centerpiece players on successful teams.
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2009 Fantasy Projections

Follow the link for fantasy projections for the 2009 Major League Baseball season. Obviously, these are posted later than would be ideal - the spreadsheets and formulae were much more complicated than initially expected, and adapting them for posting here was also a complex process - but, they are free.
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