2013 MLB Team Preview: Boston Red Sox

Boston Red Sox fans wish they could erase the 2012 from the record books. The season had every problem imaginable. Manager Bobby Valentine ripped players in the media and lost the team early, veteran mainstays like Josh Beckett and Kevin Youkilis was sent packing and prized offseason signings from a year ago were send to the Dodgers in an epic salary dump.

The Red Sox are a much different team than took the field on Opening Day last season. That’s good and bad news for Red Sox Nation.

Will Jacob Ellsbury regain his MVP-caliber 2011 form?

Can new manager John Farrell get the pitching staff straightened out or will they have to make more trades?

Here is the 2013 MLB season preview for the Boston Red Sox. Continue reading →

NHL Talk: Prospal’s Winner, Anisimov Injury & the McChicken

Two hockey guys talking hockey.

Joe Pasquali and Eddie Theisen are two die-hard NHL fans. They both watch every hockey game, every night (almost).

The guys talk about if Boston is the best team in the East, Anisimov’s freak injury, if the Buffalo Sabres fanbase smokes a lof of weed and McChicken currency

As a fan of the Columbus Blue Jackets, I’m glad they finally beat the Red Wings. It took a superhuman goal by Vinny Prospal, but I’ll take it…this might be the last one for awhile.

By the way, neither of these guys have a girlfriend.

This is their email conversation the following morning. Continue reading →

2013 MLB Team Preview: Baltimore Orioles

The Baltimore Orioles had a Cinderella season last year. They came into the year with unproven talent mixed with a handful of veterans who were expected to just fill out the roster. They took advantage of a down year for the Red Sox and had many lucky bounces along the way.

Their #1 prospect infielder Manny Machado was added last season and contributed right away. I expect him to take another jump in 2013. He will be a nice complement to Adam Jones in the lineup for the foreseeable future.

Will any of their young arms mature enough to make an impact in the Majors?

Can the Orioles shock everybody again and make the playoffs for a second year in a row?

Here is the 2013 MLB season preview for the Baltimore Orioles. Continue reading →

2013 MLB Team Preview: Atlanta Braves

The Atlanta Braves are trying to repeat the success they had in the 1990s. They have been hovering in & out the playoffs for a couple years and they hope their offseason moves will push them to the next level.

The Braves are replacing two-thirds of their outfield with a pair of talented brothers. Justin & B.J Upton have a lot of pressure to produce this season. They are replacing Martin Prado and Michael Bourn, two players who had career years in 2012.

Can the Braves fight off the Washington Nationals and win the NL East?

Will Kris Medlen start this season hot, as he ended 2012?

Here is the 2013 MLB season preview for the Atlanta Braves. Continue reading →

2013 MLB Team Preview: Arizona Diamondbacks

The Arizona Diamondbacks completed one of the biggest trades this offseason. They shipped their presumed franchise outfielder Justin Upton and third baseman Chris Johnson to Atlanta for 3B/OF Martin Prado and mix of young talent.

It would be easy to write Arizona off this year, but this team won their division in 2011 and finished last season with a .500 record. They are going young, but they’re not rebuilding.

Can manager Kirk Gibson push his team and make the playoffs?

Which starting pitcher will step up and help Ian Kennedy lead the staff?

Will Arizona miss Justin Upton’s presence in the middle of their lineup?

Here is the 2013 MLB season preview for the Arizona Diamondbacks. Continue reading →

Sweetbob’s Hipster Music Playlist: February 2013

I keep an ear out for new music. I’m used to discovering new bands from my days as a music journalist. Even though this is mostly a sports blog, I still add quite a bit of music and pop culture content.

I received a lot of great feedback from my past hipster music playlists. A lot of emails came in from readers who recommended new tracks to me, which I love. I will keep posting these as long as I keep receiving all the feedback.

I have been called a hipster on more than one occasion. I like indie music more than any other genre of music. Don’t get me wrong, I can rock out to Eddie Money or Madonna (depending on the amount of alcohol in my system).

I’ve decided to write a monthly post dedicated to introducing twelve great, new indie songs I’m currently listening to. Most of the songs are fresh and have been released in the second half of 2012 or in 2013, with an exception of one or two that were released towards the middle of 2012.

Your ears will thank you for reading! Continue reading →

NHL Talk: Datsyuk’s Goal, Canadian Riots & Drinking Games

Two hockey guys talking hockey.

Joe Pasquali and Eddie Theisen are two die-hard NHL fans. They both watch every hockey game, every night (almost).

The guys talk about Pavel Datsyuk’s nominee for “Goal of the Year” against Nashville, the Pierre McGuire drinking game, teaching pets to react to hockey and if Toronto should trade for a veteran goaltender.

As a fan of the Columbus Blue Jackets, I’m just glad the guys didn’t pick on them in this afternoon’s conversation.

By the way, neither of these guys have a girlfriend.

This is their email conversation the following morning. Continue reading →

13 Concerts You MUST See This Spring

This time of year, bands start announcing concert dates for the Spring/Summer tours. It’s early and the concert season is already looking stacked.

No matter what type of music you like, live music is where the soul lives.

Back when I traveled around covering music, I went to plenty shows with a preconceived idea of what I was going to write…especially if I wasn’t a fan of a band’s album. My mind has been changed so many times. You honestly cannot have an opinion on a band without seeing them in person.

I comprised a list of bands who have tour dates this Spring and Early Summer. I purposely left out the major music festivals (Coachella, Lollapalozza, Bonnaroo) because everybody knows they are amazing.

Here is a list of tours you can’t miss this Spring. Continue reading →

NHL Talk: Luongo’s Bad Shootout, Hot Habs Fans & Lindy Ruff

Two hockey guys talking hockey.

Joe Pasquali and Eddie Theisen are two die-hard NHL fans. They both watch every hockey game, every night (almost).

The guys talk about Robert Luongo’s horrible shootout play, hot Habs fans, the future NHL team in Seattle and what is wrong with the Los Angeles Kings.

The guys appear to have a pretty active President’s Day Weekend. I think one of them actually put pants on and the other was able to find the lost remote.

By the way, neither of these guys have a girlfriend.

This is their email conversation the following morning. Continue reading →

Despite Poor Record, Lakers Betting Odds Still High

The All-Star break is over and the second half of the NBA season has officially started.

After looking for some possible bets to make, I found a few smart bets and many betting odds that have zero value. Many of those odds involve the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Lakers are currently 25-29 and 3 1/2 games out of the final playoff spot in the Western Conference, but still have the ninth best odds to win the NBA Championship this season.

I don’t want to pick on the Lakers too much, because those odds are no fault of their own, it’s the public’s fault. The bookmakers set the odds at the point where they get the most action and the public still thinks they have a shot at cashing. Since the Lakers are one of the most popular teams in the NBA, their odds are usually inflated.

What are the betting odds for the Los Angeles Lakers winning a 2012-13 NBA Championship? Also, should the people who bet on the Lakers look for another way to bet online? Continue reading →

2013 Fantasy Baseball: Top 30 Catchers, Busts & Sleepers

Will Buster Posey, Carlos Santana and Matt Wieters prove again they are the best young catchers in the league or will a new guy emerge to join the group?

How many more years do Victor Martinez, A.J. Pierzynski and Russell Martin have in them? Will one of them drop off?

The catcher position looks fairly top-heavy this year in fantasy baseball. You have a young group on their way up and a few prominent catchers that look to be transitioning into a designated-hitter role. I ranked the top 30 catchers and added some sleepers and busts to help you in your draft.

My rankings are based on a standard 5×5 league. If you have any specific questions about a different league, email me BobbyMcrib@gmail.com. Continue reading →

Sports Crush: Ronda Rousey

Ronda Rousey is more than just a pretty face. She is a mixed-martial artist with a focus on judo. She won the bronze medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. She then moved into MMA fighting at the beginning of 2011. She currently holds an undefeated record of 6-0.

She is the first female fighter in the UFC. UFC President Dana White recently awarded her the Bantamweight Championship. She is due to face Liz Carmouche at UFC 157. The fight shares top billing with Dan Henderson vs. Lyoto Machida. Rousey has defeated every opponent in the first round, so please time out your bathroom breaks accordingly.

After Ronda “Rowdy Rousey” defeated a past “sports crush” Miesha Tate, she had my attention. And if she didn’t already have my respect, she went on Jim Rome’s new show and said, “I try to have as much sex as possible before a fight.”

Yep. She’s a keeper. Follow her on Twitter at @RondaRousey.

Here is a picture gallery for our latest sports crush, Ronda Rousey. Continue reading →