2021 HOT STOVE

BLUE!!!!!!!!!!!

@KeyElement

 It was a free contest,I think I went 3-7,lol. I had one money bet on game,F-1/4 under 10= push, not bad,I did like TB as you see them on my list but we played the best game all year tonight, Tom is coming back so if that defense of ours keeps playing that way we will be tuff for awhile.

what is happening here?

@KeyElement

Disappointing game to watch, from and entertaining point of view...

The refs really ruined the game in that 1st half, 95 yards of penalties against KC = the most against any team, in any half of a SB. That call on neutral zone infraction was absolutely ridiculous, the first PI on Evans was soft, at most, he couldn't have made the catch anyway. They blew every little thing against KC, and you can't say that didn't made a difference, each and every call moved the chains and ultimately broke the equilibrium, those 2 calls ended up in 14 points for TB, that was huge. It seems rather outrageous that KC didn't even score a TD Tampa's defense really did a good job, while Kelce managed to eventually make some plays, he did drop a pass in the 1st half, that would've kept the drive alive, but Hill was shut down completely + he should've had a TD in the 1st Q, the ball went threw his hands and hit him in the head.

Meh, Brady is a lot of things, but the most important one is that he is the LUCKIEST madafaka to play this sport, and that you can't buy, just look at the last 3 games he was involved in...

@JEG53

 Your schtik is starting to ruffle some feathers

@yaongingy

 I think the bucs D did a fantastic job. KC's oline was definitely compromised. And I do agree about the refs in the 1H, it was painfully obvious that they were not letting KC to keep it close.

Books win on the dog and the under, and undoubtedly cleaned up on props.

Except on the gatorade splash 

@undermysac

 I saw a tweet that seems to explain why KC's offense was shut down: "Inability of KC's backup tackles to handle Tampa's defensive line is a mismatch that has overpowered every other aspect of this game."

Maybe Maholmes toe also played a role in it, although he seemed to move with ease on the field, the double coverage on Kelce and Hill was almost perfect.

Congrats on the gatorade

@yaongingy

 Reading today that Mahomes travelled 497 yards before any pass or sack he took. Most in nfl history in any game.

Toe or no toe injury, the man is great. Did EVERYTHING he could under the circumstances. Perhaps Andy Reid should of changed his plan to a dink n dunk approach for this game considering the mismatched trenches. 

@undermysac

 Wow, that's impressive for sure, and you can't fault Mahomes for the loss, but this stat perfectly describes the quote I posted above: without pocket protection he was forced to run around a lot, in order to avoid sacks. He is a great talent and will surely win at least one more SB.

Given Reid's experience it was rather baffling, that him and his offensive coordinator couldn't find any solution, to address that mismatch and unleash their offensive potential.

Anyway, I wasn't disappointed by the result, as I was by KC's overall display...

@undermysac

 It is even more fun at work when I switch teams in the middle of a game, Guests from out of town think I am crazy but those that know me know who my teams are, you know which teams I really root for yourself, if someone would get upset over that crap that would surprise, but the game was not a good one anyway.

Couple guys mention it already but the back-ups had a couple holding calls that really could have been let go, one the pass was gone and the players fell on each other and holding on KC, and that FH was just a shit show, the amount of time Brady had to throw there had to be some holding by TB, a team that lost one game all year, my Chiefs, we gave the last game away, and now all of a sudden they can not stop a rush??. They (NFL POWERS) wanted Brady to win another one and since KC has won some they set it up for the Bucs to win, any NFL QB that does not come close to being touch for a whole game will beat the other team no matter who is the better team.

Now I am not taking anything away from My Bucs, they won last 9 games to get there and beat a good Packer team but the Game was in Tampa, Tom with the NE and the whole East Coast playing at Home against the Best team last 3 or so years, you can not script this stuff, Maybe you can?

@barneybeans

 Yes now that LA has spent some of that 500 billion or so from Times Warner for TV games that you can not watch in any part of Calif. unless you pay for them or the Big Networks show them,.I got a lot of business from Dodgers Fans after that TV contract that could not even buy the games where they lived, esp.when it was Our Dodgers. .

I don't like large market teams such as BOS, NYY, NYM, LAD, CHC, HOU, WAS, PHI.

I know I bitch about this all the time in the host stove, every year it seems but the tipping point for me was The Marlins who were just about last place, bought all those players, won the series then sold them all and went back to just about last place.

I just took SD to WIN

NL WEST +210

NL PENNANT +400

WS +800

I expect Snell to rock. Paddack was inconsistent, fell apart late in the season, Lamet too but I'll back these guys, and Darvish too. What I don't understand is signing Clevenger for 2 years and then he's gonna miss all of 2021 season for Tommy John surgery? What am I missing? What was AJ Prellear smoking?

@barneybeans

 You may very well be right, Barney. At any rate it is a two team race in the NL West and who knows who goes down for an extended period. I would make one bet with anyone right now; the Padres will be a better money maker over the course of the season than the Dodgers. Folks will jump on the Dodgers no matter the cost and they may 62% of their games and not make their backers any money at all. They certainly will be a favorite of those guys that like to post a W/L record with no RoR or recap of money of any kind.

@KeyElement

 If the Dodgers can not win 100 games in a full season the players need to give some money back.

@barneybeans

 I hope you win those, You know I will be with you.

@KeyElement

 I'll take Snell or Darvish SU vs ANY Dodgers pitchers for even juice without blinking

@undermysac

 Not so high on Darvish vs. Buehler or Kershaw in those two parks, but I could back him versus the other Dodger starters. Who knows (yet)? Ari, Col, SaF should make both teams hundred game winners. 

 <-- Just sayin' 

The only guy who pitched better than Darvish in 2020 was Shane Beiber imo.

I was down on Darvish coming into 2020, and was completely wrong about him. He surprised the crap out of me.

@barneybeans

 Dinelson Lamet is nasty. I see him only getting better.

@undermysac

 I will buy into Darvish performance in 2020 sac, but I am skeptical on some results as it was such an aberrational and "IRONic" season. If S.T. and the season get off to a normal start (what is normal anymore?) we will probably notice quite a few aberrations from 2020. Again, who knows?

@KeyElement

 That aberration could of very well been no fans in the stands. He had a history of folding under pressure. New team might add pressure? Will they put fans in the stands this year?

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/cincinnatis-winter-has-been-a-disaster/

@undermysac

 Interesting analysis, sac. Two major systems have the Reds Pitching at 10th and 12th, non-contenders. At this point I have them 14th, pretty much out of the race with an offense that does not score like they should in a hitters park. Like I told that one guy a couple pages back, they will give you hope, then break your heart. At this point, I see the Cardinals on top, with Brewers and Cubs fighting for a berth, and the Reds holding fourth because the Pirates have already laid claims to fifth and apparently do not want to rise above. Every team in the division is glad Houston is gone. The former doormat would be wiping it's feet on them now.