Baseball moves
We have to start here. Wait, let's back up a step.
For a lot of us who grew up loving baseball and wondering about ways that baseball could reconnect with fans, especially younger fans, offering offseason intrigue at the winter meetings is an excellent start. Truly.
In a sports culture in which we are more and more infatuated with the transaction as much as the action, these winter meetings have delivered some juicy story lines on a daily basis.
Wednesday was not an exception.
MLB announced that starting in 2020 one- and even two-hitter specialist pitchers will have to face at least three batters, unless a pitcher ends an inning. There is some consternation because there is always consternation when there are changes made to games we love.
This one is no exception.
There is a bunch of hand-wringing about the "fabric of the game," which is a little much for me. Baseball should be looking for ways to make the game more appealing.
Is this one a good decision? Don't know, but I know if they don't change they will continue to fade away (and the fan base will die off).
Yes, pitch counts would have seemed like a more direct address on pace of play. (Side note from a non-conspiracy theorist: In the follow-the-money theme, do not underestimate owners creating less value for the real specialists in the game. Just a thought.)
MLB also announced that all stadiums will have netting at least to the dugout. But there was no announcement or agreement about the minor league contraction thoughts reported in October.
(Side note from a non-conspiracy theorist: This decision, too, is about money more than facilities. MLB wants to figure out a way to:
a) cut down the number of minor league players since the wages are about to go up, and
b) I'd bet big coin that the MLB teams want to figure out ways to gain control of all the minor league teams and franchises. MLB already pays the biggest part of the freight - the players and coaches - and wants to make the biggest parts of the profits. This is not going away, in my view, friends, because it's about dollars if you are using sense.)
Of course, there was also another monster signing as Anthony Rendon signed on with Anaheim for the same price tag that Stephen Strasburg got - seven years, $245 million.
Now the questions remain about the other third basemen - free agent Josh Donaldson and trade targets Kris Bryant and Nolan Arenado - as well as the next tier of starting pitchers like Madison Bumgarner.
As for the Braves, according to this story (paywall) from Ken Rosenthal of the The Athletic, Donaldson would prefer to return to the Braves - uh, AA, make that happen, please - but the money talks. (And signing Donaldson rather than dealing a lot of prospects for Bryant and owing him close to $20 million for the next couple of years - or Arenado mid-$20-million and dealing more prospects - would make more sense, no?)
Also know this: The Dodgers are left standing with a handful of $100s and no one wants to sign on the line, apparently.
Fab 4 picks
We have had the biggest rollercoaster season of our career. A strong November that featured a seven-game win streak moved us to 60-50-3. That's 54.54 percent, and that is the baseline of break-evenness when factoring in the entertainment brokerage fees.
We'll take that after a very erratic start in September. We'll also take it because, well, we did it.
We're going to pick all the games below through the bowl season, so we'll see how that plays out.
Now we have a Thursday with exactly one game left, so we have to find four bets in Army-Navy or roll the dice on some of the FCS playoff games.
Decisions, decisions because, hey, pickers gotta pick, right?
(Going to be a theme throughout today, because pickers dang well have to pick. Here's my favorite Christmas song of all time, "The Little Drummer Boy," and I am a poor boy, too.)
Navy minus-10 over Army. We're going to buy the half to be safe, but this one feels like it could get out of hand. Yes, this game has routinely been a one-score match-up in recent memory - the last five were decided by 7, 4, 4, 1 and 7. But know the following things:
a) Army has struggled mightily offensively all year;
b) Army has a three-game winning streak in the series;
c) Navy has found another gear in the second half of the season;
d) Did we mention the Navy seniors are bagel-and-3 against Army? Yeah, that last one means there's going to be some motivated Midshipmen on deck. Also note the divide between these teams against somewhat comparable competition. Navy is 9-2 on the season, its two losses are against Cotton Bowl-bound Memphis (35-23), and a 52-20 thumping against a Notre Dame team that spent time in the top 10 national.
In every other game this season, Navy scored at least 34 points. Hmmmmmmm.
Navy-Army over 40. The forecast for rain is a bit scary, but both of these teams like to pass as often as your Gram-Gram driving her Buick in the far left lane on Highway 27. Once is plenty, and that's only if needed. Navy's offense is clicking and just put 56 on Houston and 35 on SMU, and each of those teams has more talent and athletes than Army. Army just ran for 411 yards and scored 35 against bowl-bound Hawaii - and lost by three TDs.
Navy over 25. This bet is a team total, which means I need Navy to go over 25 by themselves. Yes, we're pushing chips in on the Midshipmen coming ready to roll offensively.
Navy minus-6 in the first half. Go Navy. Beat Army.
Last week: 3-2-1 (60 percent) against the spread.
This season: 60-50-3 (54.54 percent) against the spread.
Bowl Contest
Did you guys know that this is the 10th annual Bowling for Bowls of Bowl Game Success (Bowler Optional) college picking contest?
That's right - we offered one that first college postseason after we started this daily routine in late October 2010.
So yes, the big-point game for the first Bowling for Bowls of Bowl Game Success (Bowler Optional) was Auburn vs. Oregon in the BCS title game. Seems like a lifetime ago, right?
The entry sheet is below. Email your picks at jgreeson@timesfreepress.com. Doesn't cost anything to enter. Winner gets some stuff. Also, pass it along to your buddies and the Mrs. and anyone else you think would be interested.
The more the merrier.
The spreads listed below are final. Friends, there will assuredly be line movements between now and kickoff on a lot of these games, but these are the lines we're using.
Good luck, and let's go bowling. Pickers gotta pick.
(Here's an all-timer - and maybe it should be crooners gonna croon, because Vern Gosdin's "Chiseled in Stone" will bring a tear to a glass eye.)
One-point games (maximum 9 points)
Bahamas Bowl: Buffalo vs. Charlotte (+5.5)
Frisco Bowl: Kent State vs. Utah State (-9.5)
New Mexico Bowl: Central Michigan vs. San Diego State (-4.5)
FBC Mortgage Cure Bowl: Liberty vs. Georgia Southern (-5.5)
Boca Raton Bowl: SMU vs. FAU (+3.5)
Camellia Bowl: FIU vs. Arkansas State (-3.5)
Las Vegas Bowl: No. 19 Boise State vs. Washington (-3.5)
New Orleans Bowl: No. 20 Appalachian State vs. UAB (+16.5)
Gasparilla Bowl: UCF vs. Marshall (+17.5)
Two-point games (max 18 points)
Hawaii Bowl: BYU vs. Hawaii (+2.5)
Independence Bowl: Louisiana Tech vs. Miami (FL) (-7.5)
Quick Lane Bowl: Eastern Michigan vs. Pitt (-10.5)
Military Bowl: North Carolina vs. Temple (+5.5)
Pinstripe Bowl: Michigan State vs. Wake Forest (+3.5)
First Responder Bowl: Western Kentucky vs. Western Michigan (+2.5)
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl: Ohio vs. Nevada (+6.5)
Armed Forces Bowl: Southern Miss vs. Tulane (-7.5)
LendingTree Bowl: Louisiana vs. Miami (OH) (+14.5)
Three-point games (max 18 points)
Texas Bowl: No. 25 Oklahoma State vs. Texas A&M (-6.5)
Holiday Bowl: No. 22 USC vs. No. 16 Iowa (-1.5)
Cheez-It Bowl: Air Force vs. Washington State (+2.5)
Music City Bowl: Mississippi State vs. Louisville (-3.5)
RedBox Bowl: Cal vs. Illinois (+6.5)
Birmingham Bowl: No. 21 Cincinnati vs. Boston College (+6.5)
Four-point games (max 24 points)
Belk Bowl: Kentucky vs. Virginia Tech (-3.5)
Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl: Florida State vs. Arizona State (-5.5)
Liberty Bowl: No. 23 Navy vs. Kansas State (-1.5)
NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl: Wyoming vs. Georgia State (+7.5)
Alamo Bowl: No. 11 Utah vs. Texas (+6.5)
Camping World Bowl: No. 15 Notre Dame vs. Iowa State (+3.5)
Five-point games (max 30 points)
Orange Bowl: No. 9 Florida vs. No. 24 Virginia (+13.5)
Outback Bowl: No. 18 Minnesota vs. No. 12 Auburn (-7.5)
Citrus Bowl: No. 13 Alabama vs. No. 14 Michigan (+7.5)
Rose Bowl: No. 6 Oregon vs. No. 8 Wisconsin (-2.5)
Sugar Bowl: No. 5 Georgia vs. No. 7 Baylor (+7.5)
Gator Bowl: Indiana vs. Tennessee (PK)
Seven-point games
Peach Bowl (CFP Semifinal): No. 4 Oklahoma vs. No. 1 LSU (-13.5)
Fiesta Bowl (CFP Semifinal): No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 3 Clemson (-2.5)
National champ (just the winner no spread) is worth 10 points.
This and that
- Here's today's A2 column on the word of the year. Word.
- OK, a two-game mid-week losing streak cannot deter us. It must not deter us. It also shows us that home-court in the Big Ten is a deal. We're 10-9. Tonight: Give me Northern Iowa minus-4.5 over Grand Canyon, even though you have to respect the Antelopes nickname for GCU. Hey, pickers gotta pick. Just ask Waylon, one of our all-time favorites. Here's the man with "I've Always Been Crazy" and at the beginning of the video, how boss a move was Waylon walking to the stage with a heater in his hand and sliding his cigarette into the strings at the top of his GEE-tar? All-time boss, that Waylon Jennings.
- Our NBA picks started quickly. Thanks LeBron, who dropped a triple double on the Magic last night to cover the 6.5 in a 96-87 win. Hey, you can't get to 2-0 without being 1-0. Tonight: We'll take Dallas minus-5 at Detroit tonight. Pickers gotta pick. Here's The Possum and his all-timer.
- Also here are some interesting Heisman props from Bovada. Pickers gotta pick - we'll ride on the order prop of Burrow-Young-Hurts-Fields at plus-500. Pickers gotta pick. Here's Earl Thomas Conley ripping out hearts around the country with "Holding Her and Loving You."
- There is an NFL game tonight - Ravens vs. Jets. Kind of Yawn-tastic, right? Well, our NFL picks have been pretty scorching (48-30-2 this year, which is 61.5 percent), and we have stayed to five picks each week. We'll share those Friday, and I'm not sure I like anything on this one. I would lean to Jets plus-16.5 since it would make a lot of sense for the Ravens to pull Lamar Jackson and his injured quad earlier than normal, right?
- Speaking of the Lakers, did you see the stat that the Lakers have won 12 straight road games, which is tied for the second-longest streak in franchise history? In the previous three seasons (16 in 1971-72, and 12 in 1972-73 and again in 1999-2000) in which the Lakers did that they reached the NBA Finals.
- The NFL commish said the NFL will continue to investigate the Patriots. Rinse. Lather. Rinse. Repeat.
- Speaking of MLB signings, all three of the huge signings shared something beyond their families expecting a HUGE Christmas. If you count the $64 million Mike Moustakas signed for as well as the trio of Rendon and Strasburg at $245 million and Gerrit Cole for $324 million, those four guys signed for $878 million total. And all share Scott Boras as an agent, which means (let's spit-ball that he gets 5 percent of that) Boras made $43.9 million this offseason. As Mel Brooks said in the underrated comedy classic "History of the World, Part I" - "It's good to be the king."
Today's questions
OK, first two are easy: Are you in the picks contest? If not why not? (Also, don't forget the mailbag. We're filling up quickly, friends, this week.)
As for today, Dec. 12, let's review.
Washington, D.C., was established as the U.S. capitol on this day in 1800. On Dec. 13, 1800, there were arguments about everything else.
Sinatra would have been 104 today. All-time stud. Ol' Blue Eyes. The Chairman of the Board. Dude ran with presidents and Dons and never missed a party or a beat.
Bob Barker is 96 today. "The Price is Right," Bob.
But how can we not - on 12/12 - go with a Rushmore of 12s? Go.