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by Digger

NFL 2008 Predictions (2007 Standings)

AFC East: New England, New York, Buffalo, Miami
AFC North: Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Baltimore
AFC South: Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Houston, Tennessee
AFC West: San Diego, Denver, Kansas City, Oakland

Wild Cards: New York, Jacksonville

NFC East: Dallas, New York, Washington, Philadelphia
NFC North: Green Bay, Minnesota, Chicago, Detroit
NFC South: Carolina, Tampa Bay, New Orleans, Atlanta
NFC West: Arizona, St Louis, Seattle, San Francisco

Wild Cards: New York, Minnesota

AFC Champion: San Diego
NFC Champion: New York

Super Bowl Champion: New York Giants

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by Digger

New York's 2008 version of Yankees baseball has been anything but inspiring. Currently stuck 8.5 games behind division leading Tampa Bay while devoted fans sit wondering when their mighty Yanks will finally wake up. Even though 41 games remain, this punchless bunch of veterans had better stop their late night carousing or get used to not qualifying for post season play for the first time since 1994 (no playoffs due to labor dispute).

It's been a comprehensive and all inclusive team debacle. Big Boss George has handed the reigns to his sons and they lack pappa's devotion to winning. General Manager Brian Cashman gambled and lost huge in the off season. His decision to go with two unproven rookie starting pitchers instead of trading for Minnesota's Santana was one of the biggest misses (David Ortiz #1) in Yankees history. Cashman bet the farm, and his future, because of his unwillingness to trade a few prospects. Yanks lack of front office aggressiveness has not been witnessed in recent years...until now. CC Sabathia was an in-season steal for Milwaukee... again Cashman not willing to go after a premier pitcher. This has been mind boggling based on how poorly most pitchers have performed in '08. Mussina (who most counted out) and Rivera have been the only consistent hurlers. It's amazing NY is only 8.5 games out. To his credit, Cashman was successful bringing Xavier Nady to town... let's hope this isn't only a rental type of trade as Nady has been blasting the ball. However, New York's most pressing issue since last year has been pitching. NY brass has been less than aggressive while displaying tragically inept personnel decisions.

No one should put all the blame on front office. Fans who wanted Joe Torre replaced have been rewarded with Joe Girardi. Girardi was to shake up a lackluster team and bring new life to baseball's most potent attack on paper. Problem is... potency was only on paper. Girardi has had his hands full. Injuries to key players (Damon, Matsui, Posada) have been tough to overcome. Sloppy defense, one of the Yanks worst in recent memory, has handed away way too many games. Bad hop errors or bad throws here or there have always been part of baseball. It's the mental errors and lack of hustle killing this team. Giving away extra outs all season long has cost New York at least a dozen games. On the diamond's other side, Girardi hasn't played enough small ball or stressed better baserunning habits. Hitting line drives with runners in scoring position instead of superstars swinging for homers hasn't been stressed enough by the Yankee skipper. Sometimes Girardi just seems like a pinhead in pinstripes by his inability to motivate players. Relievers have been tremendous choke artists blowing leads and letting inherited runners score at will. It's well past time Girardi explodes at his team or pulls a Piniella type tantrum to wake everyone up. Even team Captain Derek Jeter hasn't displayed his usual vocal cheerleading type style.

Alex Rodriguez has made more headlines with extra-marital affairs than good play. His stats look pretty good until broken down proving (once again) this guy is NOT a clutch performer. One very disturbing fact which came to light recently during revelations of escapades... his affairs with "Boston" women on the eve of big games. Most notably, during historic 2004 AL Championship Series. ARod has been pathetic in playoff games and the Yanks $250M+ superdud was out sexing it up on the eve of big games instead of resting up to lead his team into the World Series. At least fans finally came to realize what means most to ARod. Champions are not made this way. ARod has had plenty of not so hot headlines in NY ranging from poor play in clutch situations to late night poker games in illegal gambling halls to living it up with strippers from Toronto to Boston.

Don't worry... this tirade isn't only pointed in ARod's direction. Robinson Cano received a tremendous contract before this season kicked off. Until recently, his lack of hitting killed rally after rally. His bat has come to life recently... but, his fielding effort is nowhere to be found. Back to back games with lackluster effort chasing after balls in play. Tuesday night he let a slow playable grounder go for a hit and this afternoon barely hustling for a routine pop-up.

Melky Cabrera keeps swinging for the fences. Molina and Cabrera represent two Yanks who should never only be looking to hit line drives. Abreu has finally come to life but it might be too little too late.

Yankees have no team chemistry. No team leadership. No team passion from players or management. Fundamentals lacking. Ineffective batting and pitching coaches. Girardi not able to handle big dollar players by curtailing off field distractions. This has become a team run amuck.

In not too distant times, Boss George would have been making headlines with inspiring vocal disapproval finger pointing at underperformers. Did I say inspiring? Well, let's all admit one thing, ticking off his players used to work wonders in the win column. 13 consecutive playoff appearances stand as proof. His kids have much to learn when it comes to building a winning team. It'll be interesting to see who becomes General Manager in 2009.

Sadly, historic Yankee Stadium is hosting its' final games in coming days. Losers in seven of ten... these punchless Yankees are fading fast. It's time for these superduds to begin displaying Yankee pride.