SB Nation User Blog: R_Adragna

Looking Ahead at the Remainder of '09

R_Adragna — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 01:29:45 -0000

There is no doubting that today's loss left a very sour taste in the mouths of Patriot fans. This was a game that should've been won, but in the end, it wasn't the case. It's time for the team to go back to the drawing board, and think of other ways to win instead of going for it on every single 4th down. And while they do that, let's look at the remainder of 2009 for the Pats, as well as both the Jets and Dolphins, to see how the division can be winnable.

The remaining schedules for all 3 teams by week, as well as my take on each game, after the jump...

WEEK 14

Patriots vs. Carolina: There is no excuse for the Pats to lose this game. More importantly, regardless of who's the starting QB, the inexperienced Matt Moore or the extremely horrid Jake Delhomme and his 18 interceptions, the Patriot defense should take advantage of Carolina's offense. Not to mention Steve Smith has been far from an effective receiver all season. This game HAS to be won, especially since they're back on home turf.

Dolphins at Jacksonville: This game is a sure-fire coin-flip, as both teams are vying for playoff spots. Miami has gained some new-foundconfidence after today and aren't a team that dies down easily. The Jags, meanwhile, sport a 5-1 record at home and have the tendency to win almost all of their games in a really close fashion. I would feel confident pulling for the Jags. (Aside: My brother is a big-time Jaguars fan, and we went to the same high school with rookie WR Tiquan Underwood, even though we'll probably see him replacing Torry Holt in a couple of years.)

Jets at Tampa Bay: Even though this looks like the perfect set-up for another Gang Green foul up, I don't see it happening. Tampa Bay does next to nothing and are in a rebuilding mode. Plus, the Jets now have to be confident that they can sniff first place. I don't see them missing this opportunity.

WEEK 15

Patriots at Buffalo: This just seems easy. But it's not. I feel that the Patriots should win this one in spite of their road troubles. However, this is a different Buffalo team now that Dick Jauron has been outed. I don't think they'll lay down just like that, not to mention they're thirsty for redemption after that Monday Night embarrassment in Week One. Regardless, this game should be won.

Dolphins at Tennessee: Once again, Miami gets another coin-flip of a game, also on the road, and also could have playoff implications. Both Vince Young and Chad Henne have given their teams new life after each of their respective starts to the season. I'm hesitant about predicting the outcome, as the Titans' home record isn't as bright as the Jags', but I will say that this game should become a dog-fight overall.

Jets vs. Atlanta: I don't see the Jets losing this game, as the Falcons have suffered even more with the absence of Matt Ryan. The fact that their road record is outrageously horrendus doesn't help their cause, or ours.

WEEK 16

Patriots vs. Jacksonville: I think I'm seeing a theme with New England's remaining games. Each one of those games look like they could benefit the Pats, though in the back of my mind, each of their opponents could cause problems. The Pats got the home crowd on their side, but the Jags got the hunger of wanting in on the playoffs. In the end, though, I'm hopeful that the advantage of having the 12th man behind the team proves to be a benefit for the Patriots.

Dolphins vs. Houston: With their road trips over and done with, the Dolphins can cozy up at home, and it starts against a once-promising Texans squad. It may look easy for the Fins, but should the Texans be bumped from playoff contention, they'll be looking to play spoiler. But again, Miami has the home-field and plays well there, so there's no possible way they could foul up in front of their fans.

Jets at Indianapolis: This is a game that should look hard for the Jets. That is, if the Colts can keep themselves unbeaten heading up to this game. Otherwise, they'll just be resting their star-power in preparation for the playoffs. So the level of difficulty for this game depends on how the Colts do in the games leading up to this.

WEEK 17

Patriots at Houston: The Pats return to the site of one of their Super Bowl victories, and one where they've had a hard time making clear victories. Plus, Houston has proven to be a fiesty team that doesn't back down so easily. This one could be a challenge for our boys.

Dolphins vs. Pittsburgh: The Steelers have all but put themselves out of the playoff race, and clearly they are NOT the same team as last year's Super Bowl winners, especially with Troy Polamalu being out with injuries. Surprisingly, this looks to be a gimme game for the Fins.

Jets vs. Cincinnati: Again, the Jets draw a dominant team in the Bengals. And again, it's likely Cincy will rest it's starters depending on how soon they clinch the AFC Central. But being that it's their final home game of the regular season, the Jets don't want to disappoint it's fans regardless of what the Bengals do.

Of course, I am interested in how everyone thinks the Pats would do in the remainder of the season. In my opinion, I think the Pats are capable of winning the division with that kind of a schedule. But to do so, they need to do one simple thing: SHOW UP! That's all I, and every other Patriot fan, ask for.

Chris Coste Signs With Mets

R_Adragna — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 23:43:53 -0000

Chris Coste Signs With Mets

Uh...thanks?

Hit-and-run victim outside Phillies game dies from injuries

R_Adragna — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 03:16:25 -0000

Hit-and-run victim outside Phillies game dies from injuries

Sad, really. However, that's got to be some sort of team record for most fans killed outside of home ballpark during a single season.

New SBN Blog: Front Office Fans

R_Adragna — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 03:37:24 -0000

New SBN Blog: Front Office Fans

I know a lot of us have had that dream of taking over the Mets from the Wilpons. Well, consider this as some sort of a start.

The Deion Branch Trade Three Years Later

R_Adragna — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 15:57:16 -0000

The Deion Branch Trade Three Years Later

Field Gulls takes a look at the trade that sent Deion Branch from Foxboro to Seattle. The article's writer, John Morgan, believes that Branch is a disappointment, and rightfully so. Proof that no matter a player's worth or level, it's the system that matters the most, especially in Foxboro.

Livan Nicknames: Because We're In Serious Need of a Good Laugh

R_Adragna — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 13:59:18 -0000

The horror that was this past weekend has left a seriously bitter taste in the collective mouth of the Mets faithful. Matter of fact, this entire season has done that to us so far. So in the interest of a dire need for a good laugh, I came up with some nicknames for our Hefty bag of a starting pitcher, Livan Hernandez. The nicknames are in the style of the famous MST3K episode "Space Mutiny," where Mike and the Bots "bless" the movie's hero, David Ryder, with hilariously asinine names based on his muscular appearance (a montage of the nicknames can be seen here). So in that light, it's fitting that we do the same for Livan. And away we go...

Fat McYumYum
Food ChompMunch
Bite EatMuch
Gut ChewFat
Heavy DigestLots
Pork ChowDown
Big McLargeHuge (oh wait, that one was taken)
Chomp GobbleBelly
Gorge FeedMore

That's pretty much what I got for now. Anything else you wanna add, feel free to leave them in the comments below.

Former Titan Steve McNair Shot to Death

R_Adragna — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 21:19:24 -0000

Former Titan Steve McNair Shot to Death

Only 36, this has completely thrown myself and everyone else off. Condolences to the McNair family, as well as the Titans organization. (h/t Stampede Blue)

Sully Baseball: The Devil and Brad Lidge

R_Adragna — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 00:11:40 -0000

Sully Baseball: The Devil and Brad Lidge

So, the secret to Lidge's perfect season has finally been revealed. At least the joy in that is to see him go back to screwing up good things.

Taking Doc For Granted

R_Adragna — Sat, 30 May 2009 02:11:01 -0000

(Author's Note: The following FanPost was originally written on a Devils blog I have recently returned to work on after a long break. All of the content in this post is still intact, so it is just like the original. Enjoy!)

After taking a long breather from this blog, I have decided to come back and pick up where I left off. Yes, it's been a while since my last post, and there's no doubt a lot has occurred during the time I was away. Unfortunately, they weren't for the better in the case of the Devils, as it took 80 seconds in Game 7 for the season to end. Miserably. It's one giant reason why I haven't the heart to turn on a hockey game throughout the postseason, or talk about it either. And now, to make matters worse, a Stanley Cup Finals re-match between Pittsburgh and Detroit is looming, which will further turn me off from hockey until season's end. Believe me, it's a case of "been there, done that," and I wish not to waste my time watching it.

But right now, I don't want to dwell too much on Game 7. Or the playoffs. Right now, I want to write something that I should've written a month ago, but didn't due to many other factors in my life. Something that every Devils supporter can understand, can relate to, and holds near and dear to our hearts. Let's say for starters it is about voice.

On April 13, 2009, Harry Kalas, the longtime broadcasting voice of the Philadelphia Phillies, collapsed and died in the press box of Nationals Stadium while preparing for a game between the Phillies and Nationals in D.C. Even though I possess a steadfast loyalty to the New York Mets, I came to appreciate Kalas through his work with NFL Films and sometimes a Phils game or two, whether or not the Mets were in town. His death was taken the hardest, though, by the Phillies fans, people that grew up hearing his voice. If you saw Harry's memorial service either in person or on TV, you could tell. From now on, for those people at least, it's going to have to be life without Harry. As I watched that service, there was one eerily similar thought that came into my mind.

That was the thought of life without one Michael "Doc" Emrick.

You see, Doc is to the Devils what Harry was to the Phils. Doc is not just the voice of the Devils. He is the voice. He was an original, one who joined this franchise in its intrepid days. Although he took a hiatus from the team and had a stint with the Flyers in the late '80s and early '90s, he came back and never left.

He was with us in the highs, lows, and in-betweens of the past.

He gives us crash courses on things we could've cared less about, and we always nod our heads in positive intrigue and interest.

If a game were to get boring, we can always count on Doc to come through with something to keep us entertained without sounding like a jackass.

The flow, smooth and easy.

The experience, enjoyable; even more so with Chico as his color guy.

Sportscasting is a tough job, yet he masters it without breaking a sweat. Yes, Doc can do it all. Why? Not because he's proficient yet comprehensible, that's only part of it. He can do it all because he understands and cares about the sensibilities of the fans, especially us Devils faithful. Not once will Doc talk down on one or act high and mighty. He is a legend and a human being, which is why we, as Devils fans, can relate to him. Doc is our college professor, our uncle, our father, and our best friend rolled into one. And for as long as he lives, it will stay that way in the eyes and minds of the Devils fanbase.

However, the key words are for as long as he lives. Yeah sure, we can spew all this "he will live on forever" stuff, and I will be one to do so from time to time because I am a sucker for these things. Quite frankly, that's not how it works in the real world. When that time comes, someone will have a very tall order of filling his shoes, be it Steve Cangialosi, Matt Loughlin, or someone from the outside. While I mean no disrespect to the aforementioned, Doc Emrick is on a whole other level, one that is, in my opinion, far beyond attainable.

I respect how the real world works and that our lives come and go. But to imagine the day Michael "Doc" Emrick passes and the life I and countless Devils/hockey fans have to live afterwards? Seriously, that's beyond frightening!

The Mets Without Jose Reyes

R_Adragna — Sun, 17 May 2009 16:49:13 -0000

Whenever I watch a Mets game on TV and when Jose Reyes is in the line-up, the one phrase that stands out the most from the people calling the games is "As Reyes goes, so do the Mets." For the most part, they are right about that. However, the last three games told something completely different. In those games, Reyes has had to sit out due to a stiff calf while his teammates picked up the slack and won each of those games without him. Most of all, it's not the fact that they won; rather, it's how they won. Successfully aggressive baserunning, contributions from unlikely sources (Alex Cora, for example), Wright hitting for base hits and not the long ball, and those ninth-inning runs, regardless of the situation, are prime factors. Having seen and heard those games, I begun to think that maybe the aforementioned phrase isn't all that it's cracked up to be. Maybe the Mets can go even without Reyes in their line-up.

I'm curious as to how each and every one of you feels about this. If you ask me, even with how the Mets won those previous three contests, I still believe that Reyes can make this team even more dangerous than they already are.