WILDCAT SPAYED AND NEUTERED

Who else got sick of hearing the "W" word this past week? Hell, the entire season since week 3? I did. Not only did the Pats handle the Wildcat, they outlasted the Fish, rattled them at the end, and took home a 48-28 victory.

Matt Cassel has become a quality NFL quarterback. He's poised in the pocket, accurate, deceptive with his eyes, fast with his progressions, and smart when moving with the ball. He's the first Patriot QB to throw for 400+ yards in back-to-back games. Brady didn't do it, Bledsoe didn't do it, Grogan didn't do it. If not for a Randy Moss tip and a freakish interception, his day would have been statistically flawless.

Randy Moss and Wes Welker were genetically engineered. There's no other way to explain it. They're just too good at what they do to be naturally born.



The defense didn't impress me at all, however. The Pats have got to be the worst tackling team with a winning record in the NFL. Deltha O'Neal couldn't cover an anthill with a paper towel. Tedy Bruschi has become a non-presence on the field. And the secondary seems to lose receivers whenever they're in goal line situations.

But a win is a win. The Pats have a good QB again, and a top-flight offense. Will that be enough? At the very least, finding out will be exciting.

The only late game drama was when Channing Crowder and Matt Light came to blows on a PAT. Light was pissed about something Crowder did, ripped the linebacker's helmet off, grabbed a dreadlock and pounded on Crowder's head. Once other Dolphins came to Crowder's aid, he ran away like a little girl running from a spider. Both players were ejected, and both will likely face harsh disciplinary action from Der Kommissar von der Nationale Fußballliga Roger Goodell.



The Pats host the Steelers next week at 4:15.

Source:
ESPN.com

Photo Credits:
AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee
AP Photo/Alan Diaz

BRUINS UNREAL IN MONTREAL

On Patrick Roy night, as the Habs retired #33 for their legendary former goaltender, the Bruins played the role of spoiler, sending 20,000 Quebecois home unhappy, and very very quiet.

Fittingly, the game ended as Bruins' goalie Tim Thomas stopped Saku Koivu's shootout bid. The night 33 went up to the rafters, Thomas stopped 33 shots.



Not surprisingly, the Canadiens were helped by the men in striped shirts. They got away with interference away from the puck about a dozen times in the 1st period, particularly Georges Laraque on Milan Lucic. A hand pass in the offensive end was ignored. Andrei Kostitsyn clearly dove on a Marc Savard hooking penalty, but it wasn't called. And in overtime, they had 5 skaters on the ice instead of the allowed 4.

Surprisingly, the Canadiens played a very physical game in the 1st, while maintaining their up tempo and fast-paced style of hockey. The Bruins never looked comfortable until Montreal seemed to get tired playing both super-physical and super-fast. Which is funny because it was the Bruins who played Friday night, not the Habs.

Milan Lucic was the prime target of boos from the Montreal fans, which made his 2nd period equalizer that much sweeter. He received fewer boos after that.



Lucic's goal was the result of two things: Phil Kessel's blazing hot speed, and Milan's ice cold veins. Georges Laraque had been fucking with him all night trying to pick a fight. But a player like Lucic doesn't fight in 0-0 games. He's too smart to put himself in the box for 5 minutes, or get an extra 2 minute instigator penalty. Lucic kept his cool, scored a goal, and didn't fight Laraque. Which is good news for Georges, because Michael Komisarek is still out 5 more weeks due to Lucic's fists.



The B's are 2-1-1 against Montreal this season, and sit alone atop the Eastern Conference with 32 points.

The Bruins play the Sabres in Buffalo Wednesday night.

Source:
ESPN.com

Photo Credits:
AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Ryan Remiorz

BC WINS A VERY UGLY ACC GAME

Then again, most big games in the ACC this season have been monstrously hideous. Both teams struggled on offense. Three of the game's 5 touchdowns were scored by the defenses (and one was set up by a blocked punt and return to the 1). Wake Forest was 2 for 14 on 3rd downs, BC went 10 straight 3rd downs without a conversion. The teams combined for a mere 2.2 yards per carry on the ground, and only 236 total passing yards.

But BC survived. And considering they played most of the game with redshirt freshman and backup Dominique Davis under center, and the refs blew the review of a punted ball hitting a Wake Forest player on the 22 yard line, the win wasn't all that ugly.

BC controls its own destiny, and can win the ACC Atlantic for the 2nd time by beating Maryland next Saturday afternoon in Chestnut Hill.

Source:
ESPN.com

BEASTS OF THE EAST

The Boston Bruins are tied for the most points in the Eastern Conference after beating the Florida Panthers 4-2 last night. It was the 7th consecutive home win for the Bruins who have yet to lose a game in regulation in November.

Marc Savard and Patrice Bergeron provided most of the firepower, each finishing the night with a goal and assist. Savard is now tied for the 2nd most points in the NHL with 27.

For the second time this month, the Bruins have a game against the Canadiens immediately after another game. The last time this happened, Boston beat the Habs 6-1. But that was in the Garden. The B's face Montreal in Quebec Saturday night.

When was the last time both the Celtics and Bruins had the best record in their conferences?

Source:
ESPN.com

Photo Credit:
AP Photo/Charles Krupa

CELTICS OFFICIALLY OWN PISTONS

42 points off the bench, 18 points and 8 assists from Rondo, 10 boards from Perkins, and 50% 3 point shooting propelled the Celtics to a 98-80 win over Detroit. Iverson, Hamilton, and Wallace inflicted some damage, but the Celtics limited every other Piston to minimal offensive production.

It was a battle of attrition and the Celtics gradually wore the Pistons away until they led by 20 going into the 4th and the game was all but over.

The C's have defeated Detroit twice this season and 6 of the last 9 times they've played. Can we even consider this a rivalry this season? Cleveland might end up being the Central Division winners, Detroit hasn't played well on the road, and they might just be the 4th best team in the East, not the 2nd anymore.

Celtics take on the Timberwolves in Minnesota tonight. The Bruins also host the Florida Panthers. When was the last late November night that we here in Boston had to choose between two first place teams to watch?

Source:
ESPN.com

Photo Credit:
AP Photo/Charles Krupa

CRISP TRADED FOR RELIEVER

The Red Sox and Royals announced earlier today that outfielder Coco Crisp will be traded for righty Ramon Ramirez. This finally brings an end to the question "When will Coco be traded?" which had been asked for the last 13 months.

Ramirez pitched 71.2 innings last season as a set-up man for closer Joakim Soria. He had 21 holds, 1 save, and 4 blown saves. He struck out 70 batters and walked 31. He had a tidy 2.64 ERA and an unremarkable 1.23 WHIP. My favorite stat is that he only allowed 2 homeruns. Opponents hit .222 off him, and he only allowed 12 of 52 inherited runners to score. Righties hit .153 against him.

But all his good numbers are from one year. His previous two seasons were spent in Colorado, where things didn't go so well. However, he should add some depth to the bullpen, and do what we all expected/hoped Manny Delcarmen would have in done in 2008.

At the same time, this move exposes Jacoby Ellsbury. There's been NO criticism of Ellsbury for the Sox post-season exit, or for their occasional offensive struggles. Ellsbury's .336 OBP is not good enough for a leadoff hitter. His stolen bases are nice, but he strikes out twice as often as he walks. He's got no power, which would be fine only if he got on base more often.

This move also exposes the Sox when JD Drew's annual injuries come along. Coco Crisp played in 118 games last year, with 361 at-bats. If Ellsbury struggles, or someone gets hurt, the Sox won't have as good of an answer to the problem now that Coco's gone.

That being said, Crisp never flourished as the kind of player the Sox had hoped. Last year, as 4th outfielder, was his best year. Like Ellsbury, he had stolen bases and fielded well, but had struggled as a leadoff hitter to get on base.

Overrall I think it's a good move that had to be done considering the shallowness of the Sox bullpen, but now a solid 4th outfielder needs to be found.

Sources:
ESPN.com
The Kansas City Star

MVPEDROIA

As you've all no doubt heard by now, Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia won AL MVP. He's the first Red Sox player to win the award since 1995. It's the 10th time a Red Sox has won the MVP. However, Pedro Martinez should have won it in 1999 and/or 2000.

Believe it or not, one of the voters left Pedroia completely off their ballot. Each writer picks 10 players (1st thru 10th), and apparently Dustin wasn't good enough to be even the 10th most valuable player in the League.

Pedroia didn't put up typical "MVP" numbers. He's not a power hitter with 17 HRs and a .493 slugging percentage. But he had a very good OBP of .376, contended for the batting title before finishing 2nd, won the Silver Slugger, the Gold Glove, and his red hot performance down the stretch pushed the Red Sox into the playoffs.

In his short career, Pedroia's amassed a generous amount of hardware. He won Rookie of the Year last year, as well as the World Series. He started the All-Star Game this year, won Silver Slugger, Gold Glove, and the MVP.

Pedroia's become the answer to what was once a very questionable position for the Red Sox. The Sox haven't had the same starting second baseman for more than 3 seasons since Marty Barrett in the 80's.

For anyone who thinks Pedroia didn't deserve this Award, my only question to them is: so who did?

Justin Morneau finished 2nd. He had 20 HRs, pretty much the same OPS, 0 stolen bases, and the Twins didn't make the playoffs but contended.

Kevin Youkilis put up impressive numbers for the Sox, and was consistent all year round. He would have been a good MVP with his numbers (.959 OPS), .312 average, 29 HRs. I actually think Youkilis should have won the AL MVP.

Joe Mauer edged Pedroia for the batting title, but he's even less of a power hitter with 9 homeruns.

Carlos Quentin had the homeruns, and that's about it.

Francisco Rodriguez set a save record, but saves are one of the most misinterpreted stats in baseball. He was given lots of opportunities, and blew his fair share of them.

Josh Hamilton and Alex Rodriguez were on losing teams. Carlos Pena hit .247. Everybody else that received MVP votes had good seasons, but nowhere near great.

So a nice bit of good off-season news.

Sources:
Extra bases
Baseball-Reference.com

BRUINS STAY HOT UP NORTH

It wasn't pretty, but the Bruins escaped Toronto with a 3-2 win against the teetering Maple Leafs. The Bruins haven't lost in regulation this month, and have won 9 of their last 11 contests.

I've said it before, but it deserves reemphasizing. A major reason behind the B's recent success has been the penalty kill. Toronto was 0 for 5 last night with a man advantage. The Bruins have killed 14 straight penalties, 37 of their last 38 (97.3%), and 44 of their last 47 (93.6%). There's only one word for that: godlike (lower case "g"). Before this stretch of hockey, the Bruins penalty kill percentage was 28th in the NHL, now it's 19th and steadily rising.

The best penalty killer on the team is Tim Thomas. Once again, he was brilliant, stopping 28 of 30 shots. He had some help from the posts, but he made both the athletic saves and the smart positioning saves. For my money, he's the best goalie in the NHL right now, if not the best player. He has the best GAA and Save Percentage in the League.

The Bruins host the Sabres Wednesday night. The Bruins haven't lost at home since October 23rd (5 straight wins). And I'm going, but not before I stop at Bru Fest.



Source:
ESPN.com
BostonBruins.com

Photo Credit:
AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Ron Poling