A message from my son Aidan

How did we do with our picks? (And how did the fish do?)

Before the playoffs began, I made my post season picks… and compared them to the picks of my wife Lisa, my sister in law Debbie, my sons Matty and Aidan, a coin toss and which direction my fish Red swam.

With the Division Series over, let’s see how we all did.

SULLY’S PICKS

PHILLIES over REDS
GIANTS over BRAVES
YANKEES over TWINS
RAYS over RANGERS

3 out of 4



SULLY’S WIFE LISA’S PICKS

REDS over PHILLIES
GIANTS over BRAVES
YANKEES over TWINS
RANGERS over RAYS

3 out of 4


SULLY’S SISTER IN LAW DEBBIE’S PICKS

PHILLIES over REDS
GIANTS over BRAVES
TWINS over YANKEES
RAYS over RANGERS

2 out of 4

SULLY’S 5 YEAR OLD SON AIDAN’S PICKS

REDS over PHILLIES
GIANTS over BRAVES
YANKEES over TWINS
RAYS over RANGERS

2 out of 4



SULLY’S 5 YEAR OLD SON MATTEO’S PICKS

PHILLIES over REDS
GIANTS over BRAVES
TWINS over YANKEES
RANGERS over TWINS

3 out of 4



COIN TOSS RESULTS

PHILLIES over REDS
GIANTS over BRAVES
TWINS over YANKEES
RANGERS over RAYS

3 out of 4

So no perfect ones… except for one…

SULLY’S FISH RED’S PICKS

PHILLIES over REDS
GIANTS over BRAVES
YANKEES over TWINS
RANGERS over RAYS

4 out of 4

That’s right folks… my FISH beat us all!
My FISH made all the right picks.

Do you know how humiliating it is to have your picks beaten by a fish?

To remind you, I held a logo for each team on either side of the tank… and which ever direction he went is where I recorded his pick.

He usually swam this way or that… but when I put the Rays and the Rangers logos up, he paused… then looked up at me and asked “Wait, how many starts is Cliff Lee getting?”

Which Twins would put up a bigger fight against the Yankees?

The Minnesota Twins... or MY Twins?

Don't answer right away.
It's a tougher question than you think.

My picks... my sister in law's picks... my kid's picks... a coin toss and a fish

The playoffs are starting in less than an hour and it is time to make my official picks.
Now my picks tend to suck... despite my following EVERY team in baseball and thinking way too much about, my powers of prediction leave a lot to be desired.

So this year I am comparing my picks to Debbie Zambetti, my wonderful Sister in Law and a health and nutrition counselor who maintains a wonderful website about food and health that you should check out NOW!

I'll also be getting the picks of my twin 5 year old boys (who don't follow baseball except in an abstract "I like what daddy likes" way).

I'll be comparing my picks to a coin toss.

And also will be getting the picks from Red... our fish. I put a logo of each team next to his tank... which ever one he swam to will be his pick.

So let's compare.

SULLY'S
OFFICIAL PLAYOFF PICKS

American League Division Series

TAMPA BAY RAYS defeat TEXAS RANGERS 3 games to 1
NEW YORK YANKEES defeat MINNESOTA TWINS 3 games to 2

National League Division Series

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES defeat CINCINNATI REDS 3 games to 0
SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS defeat ATLANTA BRAVES 3 games to 2

American League Championship Series

TAMPA BAY RAYS defeat NEW YORK YANKEES 4 games to 3

National League Championship Series

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES defeat SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS 4 games to 1

World Series

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES defeat TAMPA BAY RAYS 4 games to 2


SULLY'S 5 YEAR OLD SON
AIDAN'S OFFICIAL PLAYOFF PICKS


American League Division Series

TAMPA BAY RAYS defeat TEXAS RANGERS 3 games to 1
NEW YORK YANKEES defeat MINNESOTA TWINS 3 games to o

National League Division Series

CINCINNATI REDS defeat PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES 3 games to 2
SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS defeat ATLANTA BRAVES 3 games to 1

American League Championship Series

TAMPA BAY RAYS defeat NEW YORK YANKEES 4 games t0 3

National League Championship Series

CINCINNATI REDS defeat SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS 4 games to 0

World Series
TAMPA BAY RAYS defeat CINCINNATI REDS 4 games to 3

SULLY'S 5 YEAR OLD SON MATTEO'S
OFFICIAL PLAYOFF PICKS


American League Division Series

TEXAS RANGERS defeat TAMPA BAY RAYS 3 games to 2
MINNESOTA TWINS defeat NEW YORK YANKEES 3 games to 2

National League Division Series

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES defeat CINCINNATI REDS 3 games to 2
SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS defeat ATLANTA BRAVES 3 games to 1

American League Championship Series
MINNESOTA TWINS defeat TEXAS RANGERS 4 games to 3

National League Championship Series
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES defeat SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS 4 games to 2

World Series

MINNESOTA TWINS defeat PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES 4 games to 3

SULLY'S SISTER IN LAW DEBBIE ZAMBETTI'S
OFFICIAL PLAYOFF PICKS


American League Division Series

TAMPA BAY RAYS defeat TEXAS RANGERS 3 games to 1
MINNESOTA TWINS defeat NEW YORK YANKEES 3 games to 2

National League Division Series

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES defeat CINCINNATI REDS 3 games to 0
SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS defeat ATLANTA BRAVES 3 games to 2

American League Championship Series

MINNESOTA TWINS defeat TAMPA BAY RAYS 4 games to 3

National League Championship Series

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES defeat SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS 4 games to 1

World Series

MINNESOTA TWINS defeat PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES 4 games to 3

OFFICIAL PLAYOFF PICKS
BASED ON A COIN FLIP


American League Division Series

TEXAS RANGERS defeat TAMPA BAY RAYS 3 games to 2
MINNESOTA TWINS defeat NEW YORK YANKEES 3 games to 2

National League Division Series

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES defeat CINCINNATI REDS 3 games to 2
SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS defeat ATLANTA BRAVES 3 games to 1

American League Championship Series

MINNESOTA TWINS defeat TEXAS RANGERS 4 games to 3

National League Championship Series

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS defeat PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES 4 games to 3

World Series

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS defeat MINNESOTA TWINS 4 games to 1

SULLY'S FISH RED'S
OFFICIAL PLAYOFF PICKS


American League Division Series

TEXAS RANGERS defeat TAMPA BAY RAYS 3 games to 2
NEW YORK YANKEES defeat MINNESOTA TWINS 3 games to 1

National League Division Series

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES defeat CINCINNATI REDS 3 games to 2
SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS defeat ATLANTA BRAVES 3 games to 1

American League Championship Series

TEXAS RANGERS defeat NEW YORK YANKEES 4 games to 2

National League Championship Series

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS defeat PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES 4 games to 2

World Series
TEXAS RANGERS defeat SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS 4 games to 3

Now keep in mind we all used different methods for our picks.
I watched baseball all year and poured over the stats.

My sons picked by how they liked the sound of the names.

My sister in law believes the entire balance of the playoffs will be tilted based on how many vegans are on each team. She also predicts the World Series will end with both teams crying.

The coin is just chance.

And Red the fish swam to one side of the bowl towards one logo I held up or the other side where the other logo would be.

And when you think of it... they are all equally valid methods to picking a winner.

(Let's hope my picks are better than my fish's!)

Why doesn't MLB want my money?

This past Labor Day weekend my family took a weekend trip to the lovely city of San Diego... and while I was there I ran smack dab against a Major League Baseball rule that didn't make a lick of sense to me.

Bear with me.

We were staying in a hotel right across the street from PetCo Park, a stadium I hadn't seen yet. Now the Padres were playing the Rockies Friday night, Saturday afternoon and Sunday afternoon. Our Saturday and Sundays were packed and my wife and I were putting the boys to sleep around 8:30 that night.

When they were down, wifey saw how close we were to a big league game and I was starting to act like Gollum longing for the ring.

"Go watch the end of the game."

So off I went across the street. I knew it was late in the game, but I figure I'd get in. The Padres have had trouble drawing.

I went up to the Ticket window on Tony Gwynn Drive and asked the teenager working behind the counter "One please. Where do you have available?"

"Sorry. No tickets."

I was surprised. The Padres had sold out. Maybe the pennant race had finally caught on with San Diego fans.

"Wow," I said. "You guys sold out!"

"No sir. There are plenty of tickets."

Now you can see how there could be a disconnect here.

"OK, I would like to buy one of them" I said, not 100% sure why there was confusion.

"I can't sell you any tickets sir."

"Why not?"

"Major League Rules. No tickets sold after the 7th inning."

Now I understand no selling beer after the 7th inning because, well, people are probably smashed and they don't want them MORE smashed. But I had never been to a place of business where they were actually saying "Sorry... we won't let you be a paying customer."

I showed him my cash, maybe thinking he thought I was homeless or something.

"I have money and I want to spend it on your product."

"Sorry sir. I can not sell you a ticket."

Now I am no economics major, but I can tell you a surefire way to NOT make money is to turn away people who are saying "I want to spend my money on the product that you are having a hard time selling."

Buster's, the local ice cream shop and cafe in my town, is always selling day old bagels and Rice Krispy treats trying to squeeze and extra buck or two out of their product.

Not the Padres. They were saying "Sorry. We do not want your dough."

"What if I promise to buy a sundae in a plastic helmet?"

"Sorry sir. We have games on Saturday and Sunday."

"I'm seeing Shamu tomorrow. And besides, my kids are asleep, my wife is reading her book and there is a game on RIGHT NOW! THERE! BEHIND YOU!"

"Sorry sir."

It was surreal. It was reverse capitalism.

I walked up to one of the ushers who guard the gate to that great park just beyond center field.

I told him the story. He confirmed. "I am sorry. There is no selling of tickets after the 7th inning."

Hearing it again made it somehow make LESS sense.

Let's think of a not exactly outlandish scenario... Petco Park is located in the Gas Lamp Quarter where there are lots of bars and foot traffic. Let's say you didn't buy a ticket to the ballgame, but Mat Latos is throwing a no hitter and it is the 7th inning.

You find yourself at Rockin' Baha Lobster watching the game and you think "Oh man! He's throwing a no no! I should walk 2 blocks to the big ole half empty baseball stadium and be in the stands and cheer!"

Or you are at the Tipsy Crow and you see the Padres were down 8-1 but are coming back and rallying in the 7th inning.

And you think "Hey. Let me walk 5 blocks, buy a ticket and catch the end of the ballgame!"

Or you are AT the game, sitting in the empty upper deck, you get a text from a friend saying "Where R U?" You write back "At the Padres game."

Turns out they are a trolley stop away and they buy a ticket and join you in the 1/4 filled third deck.

None of those scenarios are crazy or out there.

And each of them throw some extra bucks into the Padres coffers.

And MLB has set up rules to prevent that.

I pleaded my case to the usher... whose gender, race and general description I will not divulge... and the usher nodded, reached into their pocket, gave me a ticket and said "Just go in."

So I got in for free.
The ticket was a $50 ticket. It cost me exactly gotch.

I was willing to spend $20. Instead I spent $0.

Lo and behold I went in and...


... the joint was damn near empty.

I already took the Padres fans to task for not supporting their team...

But man I found this rule to be peculiar.

I've never run a business before but I am sure that turning away customers isn't the way to do it.

I am sure if they an eager customer says "I want to pay $20" the correct bartering technique is NOT "I say $0."

The beautiful ballpark with character and charm is sitting 1/2 empty on a Friday night during a holiday weekend with the team in first place.

Shouldn't the goal be putting asses IN the seats?

Oh I am sure someone will write to me and explain why it is smart to turn customers away and why it hurts the business model.

But let me tell you... it won't be long before the Padres have to figure out what the hell to do about Adrian Gonzalez's contract.

And they'll be fretting that they can't afford to sign him.

They'd have at least an extra $20 to throw at him if it weren't for a silly MLB rule!

Sneaky Twins

Twins can be very sneaky.
Trust me... I am the father of two of them and they work in tandem sometimes to get what they want.

Well guess what? There are some sneaky Twins in Minnesota.

Now while we have all be looking at the Yankees and Rays and seeing who will get home field advantage and I've been hoping the White Sox make the AL Central another "decided via 1 game playoff" year for the third straight season, I noticed something.

The Twins are only 4 games back of the Yankees.

That's it.

As they take on the Royals, the Indians, the A's and the White Sox over the next few weeks, they have a pretty solid rotation and nobody is noticing them.

Meanwhile the Yankees are struggling with the Orioles and have 7 games against the Rays coming up.

Could the Twins catch the Yankees? Could the Minnesota Freaking Twins take the claim of "Best Regular Season Record" and home field advantage in the Division Series and possibly the ALCS?

Now I would pick the Rays or Yankees over the Twins in a short series... but then again, they ARE Twins.

They are sneaky.

Right now I wouldn't bet against them... whether it is to win the Division or steal another cookie.

Here's what I want to have happen this Labor Day weeekend

As we enter the last part of the season, there is a full slate of games for this weekend.

Here's what I hope happens in each series.

RED SOX vs. WHITE SOX

I want to see the White Sox win the division... but not at the expense of MY Sox. Look, I realize the Red Sox are probably going to fall short, but I want the Yankees and Rays to EARN their playoff spot. Obviously I want a sweep... but I wouldn't mind seeing Manny hit a garbage time home run either. Buchholz is going for win #16, Lackey for win #13 and Beckett win #...5? Let's pad some stats!

YANKEES vs. BLUE JAYS:
Duh... I want the Blue Jays to sweep them. And I don't want any game to be close. And I want someone in the Yankee dugout to be sobbing and questioning their role in the universe.

CUBS vs. METS:

I have no ill will towards either franchise, but I WOULD like to see the Mets finish above .500 this year. Plus I like R. A. Dickey and would like to see him get to double digits in wins. I hope the Mets take 2 out of 3.

ORIOLES vs. RAYS:

Another duh. I want the Orioles to dig deep into their bag of pride and sweep Tampa. If the Red Sox are going to have a miraculous come back, they will need some help.

BREWERS vs. PHILLIES

I actually like this Phillies team and wouldn't mind seeing Cole Hamels get a win seeing that he was denied a few wins due to poor hitting. And I want to see Roy Halladay get to 20 wins and a win this weekend will be #18. But the Phillies losing would mean the Giants would gain ground in the Wild Card race. And I would like to see the Brewers above .500 (they are 9 under now.) I will be pulling for the Brewers to win 2 of 3, but Halladay getting the win on Saturday.

NATIONALS vs. PIRATES

First of all, there had better be a give away this weekend in Pittsburgh. Like Steelers tickets. Two teams thinking draft pick going head to head... what can I say? I am a sucker for the Pirates. I hope they win the series 2-1.

And oh yeah, I want Nyjer Morgan to take on the whole city of Pittsburgh.

BRAVES vs. MARLINS

I never liked the Bobby Cox Braves and I am not going to start liking them now! I'd much rather see the Phillies win the Division. The match up tonight has Kawakami vs. Miller... two pitchers with a combined 1 victory. I want a Marlins sweep and have the Phillies inch closer.

RANGERS vs TWINS

A.K.A. the ALCS from Ratings Hell. Normally I would be pulling for 3 well played games and let the winner fall where it might. But because I am rooting for the Red Sox to sweep the White Sox, I need the Rangers to sweep the Twins to let Chicago keep pace.

REDS vs. CARDINALS

The Reds can essentially sweep the Cardinals playoff hopes away. A Reds sweep would give them an 11 game lead with 28 to play. And I WANT the Reds to win the Division. But they are going to anyway. So I want Cincy to win tonight and have Arroyo get his 15th win. And then I want the Cardinals to win the next two and get Carpenter HIS 15th win and Wainwright to get his 18th.

TIGERS vs. ROYALS

I hope the Royals win tonight... I'd like to see Zack Greinke get a few more W's. I'd like to see Armando Gallaraga get a perfect game on Sunday. As for Saturday? I want 28 innings.

ASTROS vs. DIAMONDBACKS

I literally couldn't care less about the outcome of this series that will not affect the pennant race in the slightest. So I want each game to go 30 innings, each team to hit a game tying home run down to their last strike and I want an outfielder to leap over the fence, catch a ball and land in the pool.

ANGELS vs. A's

Even when they aren't contenders, I don't like the Angels. Plus I'd like to see the A's get to .500 and Trevor Cahill get to 15 wins. I want an Oakland sweep.

ROCKIES vs. PADRES

No offense, San Diego. You have a lovely city and your team is a great story. But I want the Giants to win the Division and a nice big ole sweep by the Rockies will go a long long way for that.

MARINERS vs. INDIANS

I hope they get a Time Machine and go back to 1995 when this would have been a great match up. I hope Felix Hernandez gets a "W" and each other game is decided by a leaping catch into the stands.

GIANTS vs. DODGERS
Some day a Dodgers/Giants series will bring around a lot of tension in my house as I have one son who claims to be a Dodgers fan and another who calls the Giants his own. For now, they seem more interested in watching Toy Story. So to my son Matty, who likes the Dodgers, I'm sorry pal... I want the Giants to sweep them!

So let's see what I can get in terms of my wish list.
And let the great Red Sox comeback begin NOW!