NYaT Roundtable: Wild Card Round Picks

I was watching ESPN the other day and the "Fact or Fiction" question came on the screen that read: "No home team will win a Wild Card game." I was shocked seeing that until I realized that this prediction could really come to fruition. Now the real debate starts is this because of the lack of homefield advantage or the fact that some divisions are not equal to others. I side with the latter but I think we'll see some interesting things this weekend as we do every playoffs. If you're still trying to figure out who is going to win this weekend, here's some thoughts for you from Ben P, Ari, Jay and myself:

Can Marc Sanchez make magic happen on the road again? (NY Mag)

New York Jets at Indianapolis Colts (Colts favored by 2.5)

Ben P says: "The Colts are vulnerable with their injuries, but I don't think the Jets have the defense to pull this out. You can't beat Manning without pressure, but the Jets can't apply pressure unless they blitz and Manning eats up the blitz like Rex Ryan eats up feet. On the other side of the ball the Jets lack consistency on offense on home field is a key here for the Colts." Colts

Ari says: "Because I want to hear Rex Ryan yap for another week" Jets

Jay says: "The Colts overcame a four-point halftime deficit to beat the Jets in last season's AFC Championship game.  In seeking revenge in this year's playoff rematch, Rex Ryan says "it's personal."  I believe him.  Mark Sanchez has improved and shown even more poise than he did last year.  Darrelle Revis should do a good job of locking down Reggie Wayne, which leaves Peyton Manning with fewer options than ever before in the playoffs, thanks to injuries to Austin Collie and Dallas Clark.  Since the Colts' only rushing options are a still-recovering Joseph Addai (89 yards in his last 2 games) and a still-developing Donald Brown (UConn in the house!), I think the Colts will be overmatched offensively.  As long as the Jets protect Sanchez from Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis, I think the Jets will escape from Indy with a close win." Jets

My opinion: Last year I had my same issues with the Jets: a mediocre QB, an overrated defense (and the Jets passing D is not as good as last year), and a team lucky to even be in the dance. But after watching the Jets prove me wrong last year, I'm not going to discount them--even with some holes in the secondary. It's not just that the Colts are banged up (and they certainly are) but the fact that they're not as good a team this year as they've been in the past. Like The Office, the Colts are just expected to be good despite the fact that the leading man and all the people around him have declined. The Colts pass rush is weak and if you're not going to get to Mark Sanchez, you're not going to beat the Jets. The Colts beat exactly one playoff team (the Chiefs) and really just breezed through an easy schedule. I wouldn't be shocked if they won, but I'm going with my man Russell and picking the J-E-T-S. Jets

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Adding Another MLB Playoff Team Would Be Bad For Baseball

Bud Selig has an amazing product (read: money printer) in Major League Baseball but like a spoiled, rich kid, Selig sees the National Football League and thinks: "hey, we're still not them". So with that in mind--and totally ignoring the fact baseball has a 162-game regular season or the fact that World Series are already played in November--this amazingly idiotic idea of adding yet another playoff team is gaining steam. As a Yankee fan, I should be happy since this basically guarantees the Yankees will make the playoffs every season, but I can't help but feel sad for the sport. Baseball actually made a great move with the first Wild Card back in 1995 but a second Wild Card would be totally counterproductive. To prove why, I would like to show you the "immortal" teams that would have finished as the second Wild Card team in each of the past few years:

The Yankees 2008 Games 3 starter, Sidney Ponson (NYDN)

The 2010 San Diego Padres: Totally collapse and lose the division? Don't worry, you're still in the playoffs! You may have not really been up to snuff, but this is America in 2010 and you get extra credit points for trying. Congrats, kids...you're going to the playoffs!

The 2010 Boston Red Sox: All those injuries weren't really your fault so we're just going to give you a ticket to the big dance. Besides, you had to battle hard to make sure you won the second Wild Card spot over those tough Chicago White Sox and Manny Ramirez!

The 2009 Florida Marlins: Your owner doesn't care enough to spend on the team? It's OK! That's what Uncle Bud is here for! You'll love all that extra revenue from making the playoffs and can spend it on your guys next year--well, if you want to, of course.

The 2009 Detroit Tigers: Sober up Miguel Cabrera, because you're going to the playoffs! Forget that epic collapse down the stretch! Forget that embarassing arrest! You can booze it up when the World Series is over right after Thanksgiving!

The 2008 New York Mets: Don't you worry your little heads about blowing that big lead--again. For a second year in a row, we've got you covered with Wild Card #2! Jerry Manuel is a hero leading you guys to the playoffs. The Wilpons will have to wait before bulldozing Shea.

The 2008 New York Yankees: You really shouldn't close the Old Yankee Stadium without some playoff games so here they are! Imagine a playoff rotation of Andy Pettitte, Mike Mussina, Darrell Rasner and Sidney Ponson! The competition will be shaking in their boots!

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The Most Dangerous Rotation In October May Be The Giants

It's hard to top the Giants right now. From MLBTradeRumors:

The Giants will sign Brad Penny, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com. They'll pay him only the pro-rated portion of the MLB minimum salary, which is only about $75k at this point.

The Giants now have a formindable [sic] rotation. Penny, Barry Zito and Jonathan Sanchez join Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain to form arguably the best rotation in baseball. The Giants, who are tied for the NL Wild Card lead, expect Randy Johnson to return as a reliever sometime in September.

Um...yeah. That's a ridiculous rotation. And you have to assume Brad Penny will be nasty, healthy, back in the National League, pitching against the Los Angeles Dodgers team he felt disrespected him. Joe Martinez had a 7.52 ERA and a WHIP of 1.937. I think Penny can top that.

And the last time that we saw Randy Johnson out of the bullpen was against the Yankees in the World Series...scary! (I thought at first, it was in Little Big League, but I rechecked my facts...and actually rechecking my facts again, I think he came in for the Yankees in the ALDS a few years back, but that doesn't count because I'm trying to supress his tenure here).

They may only get in as a Wild Card and they have zero hitting besides Pablo Sandoval...but if the Giants get in, you do not want to face that pitching.