2011 predictions

I don’t think I’ve ever done this before and thought it might be fun to try. Probably won’t be anything startling here, and you won’t find anything as detailed as James Wigderson’s, but, hey, I’m new to the game.

Now where did I put that crystal ball…

World:

• Tensions between North and South Korea will remain high, but no hot war will break out.
• Iran will continue to extend the middle finger to the world over its nuclear program.
• Withdrawal from Iraq will happen as planned. The country will continue “in peace,” much to the chagrin of Republicans.
• Afghanistan, on the other hand, will continue to struggle, as far as seeing a truce and shared government with the Taliban.

National:

I don’t see any big legislation coming out of the next session of Congress since the House is controlled by Republicans and the Senate and presidency is still in Democratic hands. But then again who would’ve thought that the lame duck session would have passed so much?

• First, despite all the hoopla by conservatives about repealing ObamaCare, nothing will happen.
• On the economic front, numbers will continue to stagnate with some slight improvement; sometimes the numbers will be good, sometimes bad.
• As the economic numbers stagnate so will Obama’s approval numbers.
• The campaign for 2012 will begin to heat up by the end of the year. Republican candidates will start their campaigns, probably Huckabee, Palin and Romney. No one on the Democratic side, except the very dark horse will challenge Obama.

Wisconsin:

This really depends on how the Legislature and Scott Walker get along and agree on priorities. We’ve already seen some of this. Walker’s team would like to get going on job creation. The Legislature has indicated they want to do some work on Voter ID and Concealed Carry among other things.

• The budget and how Scott Walker balances it while holding firm on tax breaks will continue to be criticized by the WHM (Walker Hate Machine).
• Jobs will be a disappointment falling short of Walker’s goal of 250,000.
• Scandal will continue to plague Walker’s team, not a lot of proof will come out, but there will be plenty of noise.

Waukesha:

How hard is this? Mayor Scrima, the Common Council and the city administrator will continue to give entertainment to all who keep watch on the city’s business. Water will continue to be an issue as well as the mayor plunging through the city’s business like a bull in a china closet. Almost makes me wish I would have run for Chris Hernadez’s seat on the council…

Sports:

• Brewers. Sorry, no playoffs again. They do find the .500 mark finishing 83-79. Greinke has a great first half, may even make the All-Star squad, but fades in the second half.
• Packers. After narrowly missing the playoffs this year, develop a running game next year and easily make the playoffs, but not the Super Bowl.
• Bucks. Well, they will continue to be the Bucks. Up and down. And missing the playoffs.

San Diego writers on Hoffman

Both said it was the money. First,

Even after 554 saves, it’s hard to justify paying a pitcher who worked 45 1/3 innings last season nearly 10 percent of a last-place team’s payroll. It would be like using Krugerrands to balance the legs of a wobbly kitchen table, or renting a Porsche to deliver pizza.

Second,

The Padres, under a mandate by owner John Moores to reduce payroll by about 40 percent, did not make another offer to Hoffman. If the 41-year-old pitcher passes a physical next week, the end of his Padres tenure will be official.

And they had a closer in the wings,

Padres manager Bud Black has said that Heath Bell, the team’s eighth-inning specialist, likely would move into the closer’s job in 2009.

He also brings intangibles,

“We are losing a guy that is a professional at a level that is over and above anybody else,” [Padres trainer Todd] Hutcheson said. “I have seen it in this clubhouse, the way he goes about his business and relates to people. We are going to miss him a lot. There is going to be a big void here.”

And

Padres pitcher Chris Young said, …”He set a great example for a lot of people, had a very positive impact on a lot of guys’ careers, whether he knows it or not. He is really going to be genuinely missed.”

Yankees’ offer baffles Melvin

It does? Why?

This is the Yankees’ organization we’re talking about, right? Aren’t they known for signing players to rich contracts?

Twenty three and 1/3 million is not that big a jump from the $20 million reportedly offered by the Brewers.

And wasn’t Melvin the GM for the Rangers when they signed A-Rod to what was viewed as a ridiculously high contract?

Which CC will the Brewers (or Yankees) get? First half of last year? Or second half of last year?

Baseball Playoffs

The Rays still don’t know who they’re playing. Since Chicago beat Detroit today, Minnesota and Chicago meet tomorrow in Chicago to determine who goes home and who goes on. John Danks will go for the White Sox while Nick Blackburn goes for the Twins. James Shields will be starting on Thursday afternoon in St. Petersburg no matter who they play. They will also play Friday and Sunday with other games scheduled for Monday and Wednesday, if required.

John Lackey of the Los Angeles Angels will face Jon Lester of the Red Sox Wednesday evening in Los Angeles. Games will follow on Friday and Sunday with if necessary games on Monday and Wednesday of next week. The Red Sox may be hampered if Josh Beckett can’t come back from his injury by his expected start date of Sunday.

In the National League, Milwaukee goes to Philadelphia to start the playoffs. The Phillies will start Cole Hamels while the Brewers send Yovani Gallaro. Game 2 will be on Thursday and Game 3 Saturday. If necessary, Games 4 and 5 will follow on Sunday and Tuesday.

The Los Angeles Dodgers-Chicago Cubs series starts Wednesday as well. The Cubs will send Ryan Dempster against the Dodgers’ Derek Lowe. Game 2 will also be in Chicago on Thursday before moving to LA on Saturday for game 3. If necessary, game 4 will be in LA on Sunday and game 5 on Tuesday in Chicago.

To update my beginning of the year predictions, I got the Angels and Red Sox in the playoffs along with the Cubs and Phillies in the NL. But Cleveland is not going to win the World Series.

Rays beat Twins, clinch playoff berth

From Yahoo Sports

Tampa Bay, 66-96 a year ago, joined the 1991 Atlanta Braves as the only teams to advance to the postseason a year after having the worst record in the majors. It’s the second AL team—and 11th overall—to go from last place to the playoffs in successive years.

There are now three teams with playoff spots, the Cubs who clinched the NL Central today, the Angels and the Devil Rays. Boston will probably get another, as they and the Devil Rays fight for the AL East. The White Sox have the upper hand in the AL Central and the Dodgers in the NL West. The Phillies and Mets look to tangle for the NL East and wildcard.

The Brewers, D-Backs and Twins are still in contention but time is running out.

The rest of the teams not yet technically eliminated need a miracle.

Notes from Tennessee

Perhaps of some comfort to Brewer fans would be this story, Turnbow finds mark during Sounds victory. The good news? Turnbow’s ERA is dropping. The bad news? It’s still 8.10.

This restroom may be the best public restroom in America.