SimonOnSports

The Name of the Year Tournament has reached the Elite 8 and I still have a chance to nail the entire Final Four with my predictions from March . Unfortunately both Starzanne Stripes and God's Power Offor are currently being upset. Starzanne Stripes is a lost cause, getting pummeled by Steele Sidebottom but God's Power Offor is locked in a heated battle which is currently being decided by the Bible Belt and the Mormons. The biggest swing states in the vote are Mississippi, Georgia and Utah. So go vote for God and make sure Georgia doesn't get their way.

This post is brought to you by SPORTSBETTING.com. Get best online sports betting bonuses at this sportsbook . It's March Madness which means every radio program, blog, mother, cousin, board 2nd grader, etc. is coming up with some bracket of 64 things with the objective of deciphering what is best. The best of all of these brackets on a consistent basis is Name of the Year or NOTY . Of course due to the the fact that this actually isn't a sporting activity and resides on a blogger website there aren't any Vegas lines for whom the favorites are. Well I'm saying there should be and well, I'm going to label the Top 10 Favorites for 2010 NOTY. 10. Pencilman Jeffries - Underrated quality name that just might take the Crotchtangle Region. 9. Spartacus Bernstein - This name screams POWER and JEW. Or WARRIOR and JEW. Or 300 and JEW. Something and JEW. It's got potential. 8. Gregor Schwinghammer Jr. - Gregor was birthed by Schwinghammer Sr., aka Austin ...

Well we are finally done with the Blogging the Offseason series having interviewed at least one person from each team. Here's the Glossary of all the interviews done. AL East New York Yankees 1 & 2 Boston Red Sox Toronto Blue Jays Baltimore Orioles Tampa Rays AL Central Chicago White Sox Detroit Tigers Minnesota Twins Kansas City Royals Cleveland Indians AL West Texas Rangers Oakland A's Los Angeles Angels Seattle Mariners NL East New York Mets Philadelphia Phillies Florida Marlins Washington Nationals Atlanta Braves NL Central Chicago Cubs St. Louis Cardinals 1 & 2 Milwaukee Brewers Pittsburgh Pirates Houston Astros Cincinnati Reds NL West San Diego Padres San Francisco Giants Los Angeles Dodgers Arizona Diamondbacks Colorado Rockies

Blogging the Offseason is a 30 team series in which I ask a blogging representative from each MLB team a series of ten questions about their desires and thoughts surrounding the offseason. Check out all of them here . And now time for our final edition of Blogging the Offseason. Up today isthe Florida Marlins and our guest is Michael Jong from the Marlins Blog, Marlins Maniac . 1. This answer is probably obvious but... any chance the Marlins go out and bring a big free agent? Or will all their signings be roster fillers? That's an emphatic "no" on the big free agents question. However, in terms of filler, the Marlins are always out to look for new blood for the bullpen and on the bench, and they usually do this by checking out the talent available at the league minimum. Usually, the Marlins scour non-tendered players in order to find bodies to fill these less important roles, but this season I have been recommending the team look at a $2M or so investment on a play...

Blogging the Offseason is a 30 team series in which I ask a blogging representative from each MLB team a series of ten questions about their desires and thoughts surrounding the offseason. Check out all of them here . Our Guest today is Jamey Newberg from the Rangers Blog, The Newburg Report . 1. Josh Hamilton went from beast to injury plagued and mostly absent. What are the expectations for him in 2010? Can he stay on the field? He’s clearly one of Clint Hurdle’s biggest priorities as the club’s new hitting coach. Hamilton was out of sync mechanically last year, and he took on the weight of expectations, trying to match what he’d done in 2008. Add in the injuries and he was never able to find any rhythm, and he lost confidence. He’ll be moved to a corner outfield spot in 2009 (in an effort to reduce the physical toll on him defensively), and the hope is that he can return to form as a legitimate run producer. He doesn’t need to repeat 2008 – just give this team a reliable m...

Over the weekend Ken Rosenthal had a hunch. He had a feeling something big was going to happen but he had no proof. Normally he would probably hold onto this feeling and not publish it but this weekend he probably had one two many cups of egg nog so he let it fly. You want a blockbuster? How about one that includes not one, but two former Cy Young Award winners? I have no proof that the Phillies are trying to move left-hander Cliff Lee as part of a three- or four-team trade for Blue Jays right-hander Roy Halladay. But I’ve got a hunch. [ Fox ] This hunch was met with several people spinning intense ridicule at the baseball writer, most notably Phillies Bloggers. Meech, our Phillies interviewee from Blogging the Offseason, said this: Come on, Ken. If baseball reporting was about hunches, every knucklehead with a press pass would just run possible trades through their dumb head and send them to their editor. It’d be fucking reporting anarchy, man. You might as well have ju...

Blogging the Offseason is a 30 team series in which I ask a blogging representative from each MLB team a series of ten questions about their desires and thoughts surrounding the offseason. Check out all of them here . Today is World Series day and because the Yanks are the Yanks you're getting a double dose. Our second guest is Jay from the best named sports blog in the business, Fack Youk . 1. The Yanks declined to offer arbitration to everyone this offseason. The one and only player I thought it would have made sense to offer it to would have been Damon. He's looking for a multi year deal and would a 1 year deal a little better than he deserved have been all that bad? Plus you get the upside of a potential 1st round pick. What were your thoughts on not offering arbitration to anyone? With Pettitte, it wasn't going to matter either way. In the end, the $11.75M he signed for was right about what he would have netted in arbitration, minus all the headaches of going th...

Blogging the Offseason is a 30 team series in which I ask a blogging representative from each MLB team a series of ten questions about their desires and thoughts surrounding the offseason. Check out all of them here . Today is World Series day and because the Yanks are the Yanks you're getting a double dose. Our first guest is Mike Axisa from arguably the #1 Yankee Blog out there, River Avenue Blues . 1. First and foremost, what are your thoughts on the Granderson deal? It seems like a natural upgrade without giving up too much but part of me wonders with the trading of Granderson if they are ever going to bring up a superstar fielder again. What, no love for Robbie Cano? He may not be a "superstar," but .320-.350-.520 middle infielders don't grow on trees. Plus, it's not like Austin Jackson had that kind of projection. His stock had come down in recent years because of his lack of power and regressing plate discipline, however he is still a very good prospe...

Blogging the Offseason is a 30 team series in which I ask a blogging representative from each MLB team a series of ten questions about their desires and thoughts surrounding the offseason. Check out all of them here . Today is World Series day and first up is the Philadelphia Phillies. Our guest is Meech from the Phillies Blog, The Fightins . 1. From a Yankee fans perspective, the biggest difference in the series was Cole Hamels 09 vs. Cole Hamels 08. What went wrong this year? What were Phillie fans reaction to his statements after Game 3? And finally what do you expect from him in 2010? Well, you Yankee fans are very observant. Cole Hamels' performance during the 2008 playoffs was one of the greatest stretches a pitcher has ever been on during the most crucial time of the year in the history of baseball. Ever. So naturally, most people just figured he would start this year like he finished the last, go on to win 20-some odd games, and bring home his first Cy Young. But in...

Blogging the Offseason is a 30 team series in which I ask a blogging representative from each MLB team a series of ten questions about their desires and thoughts surrounding the offseason. Check out all of them here . Today's AL team is the Minnesota Twins and our guest is Nick from Nick's Twins Blog . 1. What are your thoughts on the big JJ Hardy for Carlos Gomez trade? I'd imagine pleased, as the Twins already have depth in the OF and could really use to Middle Infield help. I was one of Gomez's most adamant supporters, because he's a premier defensive player and his presence in center field provided huge benefits for the Twins' extremely fly-ball heavy pitching staff. Yet, it's tough to criticize this move. The Twins have been without a legitimate shortstop for several years, and Hardy's combination of youth, power and defensive ability gives him the potential to anchor that position for years to come. While his ugly 2009 campaign certainly raise...

Blogging the Offseason is a 30 team series in which I ask a blogging representative from each MLB team a series of ten questions about their desires and thoughts surrounding the offseason. Check out all of them here . Today's NL team is the St. Louis Cardinals and our guest is Aaron Schafer aka The Red Baron from the Cardinals Blog, Viva El Birdos . 1.Matt Holliday is likely the biggest objective for the Cardinals this offseason. Do they bring him back? If not what is the fall back option? I believe the fallback option is likely to go heavy on pitching and try to make small, incremental moves to improve the offense. Unfortunately, the offseason is looking as if it may shape up to be a timing game, especially with regards to Matt Holliday and Jason Bay. They are the top two offensive free agents on the market this year, and will likely have quite a bit to say between the two of them regarding what the other makes. As it stands, I can’t possibly see Holliday signing before Bay...

Blogging the Offseason is a 30 team series in which I ask a blogging representative from each MLB team a series of ten questions about their desires and thoughts surrounding the offseason. Check out all of them here . Today's AL team is the Boston Red Sox and our guest is Dan from the Sox Blog, Red Sox Monster . 1. What was the Sox biggest issue in 2009 and how do they go about fixing it this offseason? For the second season in a row, the Red Sox were among the Top 5 teams in the American League in most hitting statistics, including runs, doubles, walks, stolen bases, total bases, batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage. And for the second consecutive year, the team's offense fizzled in the postseason. The answer to me is clear: The Red Sox need to get younger. Aging players like David Ortiz and Mike Lowell are still good enough that they accumulate statistics in a meaningful way, but they struggle in the postseason. Mike Lowell, for example, hit .290...

Blogging the Offseason is a 30 team series in which I ask a blogging representative from each MLB team a series of ten questions about their desires and thoughts surrounding the offseason. Check out all of them here . Today's NL team is the St. Louis Cardinals and our guest is Nick from the Cardinals Blog, Pitchers Hit Eigth . 1. What are the three things that need to happen this offseason to give the Cards the best chance to go from Division Title to World Series Title? 1) No surprise surgeries, no non-baseball injuries, no setbacks from those who have past injury history. 2) It doesn't have to be Matt Holliday, but they must acquire another bat. Could be Jason Bay, could be Adrian Beltre...there could be a trade for someone not currently on the radar. I don't necessarily buy into the "protect Pujols" bit as much as just believing that they must have additional run producers in order to win enough to take the division. 3) Acquire at least one starting...

Blogging the Offseason is a 30 team series in which I ask a blogging representative from each MLB team a series of ten questions about their desires and thoughts surrounding the offseason. Check out all of them here . Today's AL team is the Oakland A's and our guest is Nico from the A's Blog, Athletic's Nation . 1. The A's essentially completed a three team trade last year in which they rented Matt Holliday for 3 months in between the deals. What pieces from the Cardinals will make you forget about trading away Huston Street and mostly Carlos Gonzalez? That piece would be Brett Wallace, as he could potentially fill the biggest void in the A's system: 3B. But while no one questions Wallace's ability to hit, many question his ability to stick at 3B. If he can't make it as a 3Bman the trades are unlikely to work in the A's favor long-term, especially given that Carlos Gonzalez is a 5-tool talent who has already begun to show it. Yet if Wallace can...

Blogging the Offseason is a 30 team series in which I ask a blogging representative from each MLB team a series of ten questions about their desires and thoughts surrounding the offseason. Check out all of them here . Today's NL team is the Chicago Cubs and our guest is Sarah Spain from the Chicago Blog, No Spain No Gain . 1. The 2009 season was a massive disappointment for Cubs fans. What went wrong? Where must they improve to once again take home the division? The main issue with the Cubs is that they've put money into the wrong people. The contracts given to guys like Alfonso Soriano and Carlos Zambrano are way too long and way too lucrative. They have to find a better balance if they hope to become successful again and moves like giving John Grabow a two-year, $7.5 million extension this offseason aren't a good start. 2. The Ricketts family just purchased the Cubs from the Tribune Company. What impact do you see this having on the team? Will they be throwing a...

Blogging the Offseason is a 30 team series in which I ask a blogging representative from each MLB team a series of ten questions about their desires and thoughts surrounding the offseason. Check out all of them here . Today's AL team is the Seattle Mariners and our guest is Griffin from the Mariners Blog, Sodo Mojo . 1. What do the Mariners need to do this offseason to truly make them a contender for the AL West crown in 2010? They have to sign or acquire a legitimate #2 starter, figure out the third base situation, and sign a real DH. The Mariners had the worst DH production in baseball in 2009, and there's no way they contend without significantly improving on that. As for their pitching, right now it's pretty much Felix, then a bunch of back of the rotation guys. To make that rotation respectable they'll have to get some middle of the rotation help. 2. I've locked you, your owner and your GM in a room and am forcing you to trade King Felix. What would you...

Blogging the Offseason is a 30 team series in which I ask a blogging representative from each MLB team a series of ten questions about their desires and thoughts surrounding the offseason. Check out all of them here . Today's NL team is the Washington Nationals and our guest is Ed from the Nats Blog, Federal Baseball . 1. You mentioned you were in Arizona for the Arizona Fall League, were you there simply to suffice the man crush you have on Stephen Strasburg? Was the day they signed him the single greatest day in Nats history thus far? Strasburg, Drew Storen, a closer out of Stanford that Washington drafted with the second 1st round pick the Nationals made in '09; Danny Espinosa the first or second (depending on the source) ranked shorstop in the Nationals' organization; Chris Marrero, the Nationals' second 1st round pick in 2007, and the Nats' top-ranked 1st base prospect; as well as pitchers like Jeff Mandel and Josh Wilkie, who had good minor league season...

Blogging the Offseason is a 30 team series in which I ask a blogging representative from each MLB team a series of ten questions about their desires and thoughts surrounding the offseason. Check out all of them here . Today's AL team is the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and our guest is Jim from the Angels Blog, Halos Heaven . 1. Both Lackey and Escobar are free agents this year. Will the Angels bring either back? If not whom will they target as a replacement? My fear is that they replaced Lackey with Kazmir in August. Not a "fear" like being afraid of death, but more than a worry. Escobar is done I think. 2. I feel as if Chone Figgins is going to get overpaid this offseason. Will the Angels be the ones to overpay? If not how will they replace them? I hope they are not the ones who overpay Figgy. Wood will be fine at 3B. 3. What did you think about the Kazmir trade when it happenned? What do you expect from him in 2010? I think the Angels expect him to be t...

Blogging the Offseason is a 30 team series in which I ask a blogging representative from each MLB team a series of ten questions about their desires and thoughts surrounding the offseason. Check out all of them here . Today's NL team is the Arizona Diamondbacks and our guest is Jim from the Dbacks Blog, AZ SNakepit . 1. What do the Dbacks do with Webb this offseason? Do they deal him? Do they pick up his option? Do they try to extend him? This question has already half answered itself, as the team made the (relatively-easy) decision to pick up his option. They were already on the hook for $2m if they declined it, and what would the balance left after that ($6.5m) get you in the free-agent market? I'm sure they'd love to extend Webb, and Webb is making all the right noises, but we're talking about someone who won or was runner-up in the Cy Young the past three healthy years. He may well be outside the team's budget: they'll try, but I wouldn't be surpri...

Blogging the Offseason is a 30 team series in which I ask a blogging representative from each MLB team a series of ten questions about their desires and thoughts surrounding the offseason. Check out all of them here . Today's AL team is the Detroit Tigers and our guest is Ian from the Tigers Blog, Bless You Boys . 1. Rumors are swirling around that the Tigers are looking to cut payroll and that Curtis Granderson might be the first man on the block? What are your thoughts on Granderson getting dealt? Trying to look at it objectively, it's smart of Dave Dombrowski to see what he might be able to get for one of the few tradeable contracts on his roster. What if a team offers exactly what he's looking for in return? As a fan, however, trading Granderson would be a huge disappointment. I've written that I think he's the face of the team. The Tigers haven't had many young players worth getting excited about, never mind one that's used his celebrity to help...