Ten Predictions for 2013

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           2012 is now just another year lost in the sands of time. As each day goes by, weeks come and go, holidays are enjoyed and forgotten, months are lost, as each day adds up to 365. This year was a strange one for Texas sports as we have seen young teams rise and older dynasties start to whither. Some of the great players of our generation have retired or have moved to different towns to be loved in order to let the young ones get their chance. A new generation is staring to get their chance to influence not only the games we love, but society as a whole. As our generation keeps embracing technology more and more, the good ole days before the internet will be forgotten. This is the trend that will keep going on into the unknown future until the next human shaping invention is created. Look for this trend to continue as the children of the 1990s start to enter the workplace and start to have an influence in society.
          Anyways, lately I have been reading my tarot cards, analyzing palms, checking the horoscopes, reading Nostradamus and have spent hours gazing into the dark depths of the crystal ball. This time and effort has brought me some insight on the future of Texas professional sports in 2013.

1. The Rangers will play in the Wild Card play in game again
          This game is something no baseball fan wants their team to be put in even though it makes for great television. After playing 162 games it will come down to game 163 for the Texas Rangers again. The Angels will win the AL West by winning the most 9-7 games in the history of baseball. As a result, Texas will be forced to play in the play in game. This time it won't be against the O's, but against the Rays in a match up that throws Yu Darvish into the pit to to duel David Price.

2. Spurs will lose to the Clippers in the Western Conference Semis
          As of today we are currently 40% through the NBA season and the standings look like this.
                     1. Oklahoma City 24-7
                     2. San Antonio 26-8
                     3. L.A Clippers 25-8
                     4. Memphis 20-9
                     5. Golden State 22-10
These five teams are then followed by a rag tag bunch that are only separated by two games between the sixth seed and not making the playoffs. All five of the teams in that group are more athletic and tougher in the post (except for Golden State) than the Spurs are. These are the types of teams that have bounced them before the finals the past two years. The Clippers are the perfect combination of these two and the Spurs are 0-2 against them this year. Chris Paul is playing at an MVP level and Tony Parker can not stay in front of him on defense. Their bench is the only one in the league that is close to San Antonio's. I believe the Thunder will win the #1 seed and the first front four teams stay the same. This will give us an exciting Clippers SA match up in the semis that the Clippers will win in 6.

3. Texas will win the AFC South in 2013
          The Titans will still be a dirty diaper. Jake Locker should be a better quarterback next year, but the team has too many holes to fix in one year. Next year will be the pivotal year in Locker's maturation and if he does not produce look for the Titans to cut ties. The Jaguars will still be shower scum. Gabbert or Henne will be the quarterback this year (barring a Tebow occurence), unless they draft one in an extremely weak class. Like the Titans there is a multitude of problems that will take more than one year to fix. The Colts will have to play a tougher schedule in 2013 because they finished 2nd in the AFC South and will have to play all the second place AFC teams and a much tougher NFC West. This easy schedule will wreck their season and their is no way they will have the one win record that they managed to pull off this year. That leaves Houston to hoist the AFC South crown on top of its head in December for the third straight year and become an AFC South dynasty just like the Colts of Christmas' past.

4. Jurickson Profar will win AL Rookie of the year
          The ZiPS projections at fan graphs for the Texas Rangers have been released last week and they are a must for any baseball fan. 
          For Profar they have him projected at a .263 average, an OBP of .331, 13 home runs, 60 RBIs, 65 runs and 17 steals. I think is defense will be incredible as well which will boost his voting numbers. I also believe Profar will have a better year than this by having a higher average, steals and runs. There should not be another season for a rookie like what Mike Trout did this past season and usually rookie of the year numbers are something more in line of Profar's projections. Profar will exceed expectations for a 20 year old rookie and the Rangers will have the best infield in baseball in 2013.

5. The Stars will not play another hockey game until October
          I am tired of reading about the lockout nonsense and how each day they maybe closer to getting a deal. Bettman and the NHLPA are worse than the Republicans and the Democrats when it comes to compromising and negotiating. I don't see a deal getting done in time for a 48 game season to occur. The only approach they could take would be some preseason games and a March Madness style tourney for the Stanley Cup (which would be one of the greatest things in the history of the world). If you are waiting for a labor agreement to be reached, and real NHL hockey to be played, while eating your fingernails and wearing your Mike Modano jersey, you are wasting your time. The two sides will not come to an agreement until February or March and by then it will be a lost season. 

6. Rockets will lose in the first round and then will sign Al Jefferson or Josh Smith in the off season
          So far the Rockets have been an exciting team this season. Harden is worth every draft pick, player and dollar they have given up to sign him. Him, Lin and Parsons have kept Rocket's fans excited to be a six seed for the first time since #1 was putting up 30 a night. Despite how dynamic they have been, they are still a top player away from seriously competing for an NBA title. With Harden playing lead salesman look for Daryl Morey to quench his big man thirst and finally get the post presence he has been searching for all these years.

7. After interviewing top name college coaches, the Cowboys will keep Jason Garret. Jerry Jones will draft a QB in the second round to put the pressure on Romo
          Another year another 8-8 season for the Dallas Cowboys. Jerry Jones has quoted that this will be an "uncomfortable" off season for the Dallas Cowboys. Nothing would be more uncomfortable than the scenario above. Garret did just enough to keep his job and Romo had one of his best statistical season's in years. Even though they lost their third week 17 playoff clinching game in five years they still did play well. Jones will interview other coaches and put the knife at Garret's throat to let him know this his is last rodeo if their is no January football in Dallas. Despite Romo's great season he still has yet to win a career defining playoff game. So Jones will draft a project quarterback like Ryan Nassib to groom, mature and learn from Romo (which might not be the best education ever). 2013 will be playoffs or bust and if they do not make it watch the whole thing blow up.

8. Darvish will finish in the top 3 in the AL Cy Young Voting
          The projections for Darvish are nasty for his 2013 campaign. This season Darvish will make the jump as one of the top pitchers in baseball and will reward the Rangers for their investment. He finally seems to have gotten over his control issues and has assimilated into the American culture. Yu will have a Cy Young caliber season, but will finish behind Price and Verlander. However, he will join this elite group of pitchers and will lead the league in strikeouts. For the first time in Rangers' history the pitching staff will be better than the lineup.

9. The Texans will sign Dwayne Bowe in the offseason, but not Conner Barwin
         Conner Barwin is one of the ten best outside line backer in the league. His numbers may not show it, but he is exceptional in coverage, rushing the passer, and stopping the run. Just like Brisel, Winston and Ryans last year he is expendable with the emergence of Mericlus as a pass rush super star. Barwin will get stacks on stacks of money from someone and Houston probably won't match it.
          All year the Texan's pass offense has been narrow sighted. Andre Johnson catches ten more passes a game than every other receiver and ever pass in a 8-15 yard gain. Part of it is due to Dre getting open every play, but the Texans have not had a true number two receiver since Jabar Gaffney in 2002. Kevin Walter is good, but he is more of a slot receiver and has trouble getting open against top corners. Houston needs a consistent down field threat in their passing game. They need something more than a 10% chance of a deep completion to LeStar, Posey or Martin. Dwayne Bowe would provide this immediately. It would open up the field for Daniels, Walter, and Johnson. He would help out the run game as well because of his blocking and how teams would have to respect the pass. If Bowe was a Texan in 2013, Foster would increase his YPC from 4.1 to at least 5. The only thing keeping this from occurring, is if Houston lets their trio of young wide receiver's to make plays and extend the short leash they are on. One thing is for certain, the Houston offense will need a jolt in 2013.

10. The Astros will finish last in the AL
          The Astros are a young team that just finished their worst season in frachise history. They have young players that will continue to improve, but unlike all other sports, a baseball team need at least three to five years to make this type of turn around. While their prospects continue to season the Astros will continue to lose in a tough AL West. Astros fans will see another year of depressing baseball. 
         

Top Ten Moments in Texas Sports

          2012 is being swept under the floor mat as 2013 is ready to bust out of the womb. There were more hits, touchdowns, dunks, blocks, tackles, home runs, wins and heartbreaking moments in 2012, but it lacked apocalypses and Texas championships. This year was fulled with heartbreaks, another lockout and a new youth movement for Texas teams. Regardless, 2012 was a fun year and 2013 should be even better.

They are listed from importance in descending order. 

10. David Stern fines the Spurs

           On November 30th David Stern fined the Spurs organization $250,000 for sending four of their starters back home to SA, instead of playing them against the Miami Heat. In a setting that would have forced the Spurs' starters to play four games in five nights, Popovich decided to rest Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobli, Tony Parker and Danny Green. On that Thursday night there were only two games being played and each were being put on national television. One of which was the prime time, marquee almost 2012 NBA Finals match up, that pitted Boris Diaw, Matt Bonner, Tiago Splitter, Nando de Colo, and Patty Mills against LeBron James and company in a game that the Spurs almost won. I understand Stern's reasoning that the game muddled the product and did not give the fans paying and watching, the game they deserved. However, this is coming from a commissioner that cares about the fans as much as Congress cares about its constituents. From him we have seen lockouts, terrible officiating to help big market teams win, and teams moving that did not need to be moved. Maybe if Stern wanted this game played out how he wanted he would not have scheduled SA to play 4 games in five days. Even if SA had played its starters it would have yielded a sloppy, untidy game. Whichever side you take this is a slippery slope for the NBA because it increases the already immense power David Stern has.

9. The Return of the Dirk

         Last year was disappointing for Mavs fans since Cuban did not sign Chandler or try to defend their title. This year has not gone much better without the giant German. However, he recently made  his debut coming off the bench in a Decmeber 23rd game that the Mavs lost 129-91 against the Spurs. Without Dirk, Dallas has manged to go 12-15 led by Mayo and the horde of C average free agents that the Mavs were able to sign. Tonight Dirk returns to start against the OKC Thunder and will need him to lead the charge in order for them to have a shot at the playoffs. Look for Dirk's return to open up the floor for Mayo and Kaman. I'm sure the entire city and the Mavs roster is ready to start Dirkin' off again.

8. Young Heads to Philly

          After years of speculation and almost trades, what used to be unthinkable became a reality this off season. Michael Young was traded. He was sent to the Phillies, after his worst year of his career, for Josh Lindblom and minor-league reliever Lisalverto Bonilla. The main reason for his departure was to give Olt and Profar more playing time that Ron Washington was unable to give them with Michael Young in uniform. Now Michael Young knows just how Peyton Manning and Brett Farve felt during their departures. The captain is gone, but the Rangers should be better in 2013 as a result.

7. The NHL Lockout

          In June of 2012 the Kings won the Stanley Cup, and hockey ratings were at an all time high since the last lockout. However the management, ownership and players quickly wiped their butts with it and rubbed it onto each others faces. As of right now it is day 104 of the lockout and the sides still are not close to reach a deal. Washington may reach a deal over the fiscal cliff before the NHL reaches an agreement. Washington! The games have been canceled until January 14th and Bettman has said that they would not consider anything less than 48 games. For this to occur a deal must be reached by mid January probably. Times are bleak and we may see a season canceled because both sides are arguing over how to split the pie and not over how to make it. Man I miss Kari Lehtonen (whenever you are feeling down about the lockout just watch the link).

6. Harden Joins the Rockets

          For years, Daryl Morey, the Rockets GM tried to land a big name superstar. He lost out on Gasol after Stern vetoed the trade, could not get a deal together for Howard and missed out on other big names. This year his fortune quickly changed when he was able to land the Beard and instantly  brought recognition to Houston basketball for the first time since T-Mac and Ming roamed the hardwood together. The Thunder signed Ibaka for a large contract and offered Harden one of about the same amount, but he wanted a max deal. This max deal would have handicapped the Thunder for years to come since all of their cap would have gone to Harden, Westbrook, Ibaka and Durant (which would not have been a bad thing). Instead of waiting out the year and make a run with the team that won the Western Conference finals they panicked and got what they could. The trade  sent Harden, Cole Aldrich and forwards Daequan Cook and Lazar Hayward for guards Kevin Martin and Jeremy Lamb, two first-round picks and a second-round pick. Now the Rockets have gone from a fringe playoff/ lottery team to a team that has a legit star and the ability to compete in the playoffs.

5. Cowboys and Week 17

          Another year another chance for the Cowboys to make the playoffs with a week 17 win. Last year on New Years Day the Cowboys had a chance to beat the Giants, go 9-7 and make the playoffs. The Giants jumped out to a 21-0 lead and ended up winning 31-14. Eli Manning played a near perfect game going 70.5%/ 346/ 3TDs/ 0INTs/ and carried this momentum into a Super Bowl championship. This year the Cowboys face the exact same situation at 8-7 and a win will let them clasp an NFC North title and the first playoff berth since 2009. If they lose it will probably be the demise of Jason Garret as coach of the Cowboys and the retooling of the offensive line. If they win all would be well in Cowboy land until an early playoff exit that might occur against the Seattle Seahawks.

4. Hamilton signs with the Angels

          Enter your Harvey Dent, Dark Knight Rises quote here. When Texas first traded Edison Volsquez for Josh Hamilton I was pissed. Why would they trade pitching for hitting? Texas was currently in the midst of the Texas Rangers tradition of no pitching and racks on racks of hitting. However, this trade yielded the most talented player in Texas history. He won the first MVP award since Pudge, broke the record for most home runs in a Home Run Derby, led us to two World Series appearances and hit what should have the game winning home run to bring the Rangers their first championship in game six vs the Cardinals. This past season saw him hit 43 home runs, 103 RBIs, and a .304 average. However, we saw some huge slumps, a freak injury from too much caffeine and a flat out lack of effort. I was in the minority about wanting to sign Hamilton if he was looking at the 3-5 year range. He did, but he signed with the evil, devilish,  Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim for five years 125 million dollars. He will be missed and it was a blessing to watch a player of that ability play for your team for five years. Even though he signed with the Angels the division is not set yet. They still can not pitch and Texas has the ability to mash with that monster lineup from LAA. The off season is not over as well and look for Texas to make a big trade sometime before the season.

3. SA loses in 6 to OKC

          This is the series that may define the switch from the use of the DVD to the Blu Ray. The young Thunder finally broke through to the finals. After being down 2-0, the Thunder came back, swept the Spurs and won the series four games to two. The Spurs entered the series winners of twenty straight games and looked to have one more championship run in them. And then James Harden out-Ginobled Ginobli and Kevin Durant kept doing what he did all year, score points. Yes there were some games that officiating was poor and Ibaka did have the game of his life, but the Thunder (and Grizzlies the year before) were too athletic for the Spurs this series. Both teams have played great basketball this year and the Spurs will be hungry this post season to try and get that last one for the thumb.

2. Houston clinches its second AFC South Championship in two years

          Last year we saw the Texans clinch in a game winning drive with their third string quarterback as they crawled into the postseason. This year different season same result. Houston clinched the AFC South in week 15 against the Indianapolis Colts. In 2012 Houston has been on top of the entire AFC since the first week and they will be going for more than a playoff appearance come January. They will have the #1 seed if they beat the Colts on Sunday and then would only have to beat NE/DEN once to make the Superbowl.       

1. The Texas Rangers lose games 162  

          The drop. All Texas had to do to clinch their third straight AL West Championship was beat the A's one game in the last series of the year. They traveled to Oakland and the party at the Coliseum started when they won the first two games of the series and kept going until game 162. After taking a 5-1 lead in the third inning the Rangers let it evaporate like vodka on the counter in the bottom of the fourth. They would never score again. Dempster was yanked in favor of Holland after giving up five earned runs on six hits and throwing only 39 strikes compared to 24 balls. Holland came in with a 5-2 lead only to throw ball after ball and the only time he threw a strike were fastballs down the middle. A double down the line by Coco Crisp made the game 5-5. Holland then walked the next batter and with two outs Holland was able to get Cespedes to hit a fat lazy pop fly to Josh Hamilton. As Hamilton carelessly jogged to the ball only to have it hit in and out of his glove and land on the green grass of the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. He stared at the ball in disbelief and snailed towards it only to see Murphy hustle after it and throw home. It was a play Josh has made since he was six years old playing catch with his dad in the backyard. Instead he did not, and the error gave the A's a 7-5 lead and would end up winning 12-5.
         Despite losing the AL West Texas had the chance to still get into the postseason via the new wild card play in game. Regardless of the new play in game, Texas would have had to play Baltimore anyways because they ended up tying with the same record. The game was tied 1-1 after the first and Darvish was in a pitching duel with Joe Saunders. The entire time Rangers' fans were waiting for the runs to come, they had to come since Saunders was pitching. Only they never arrived. Darvish was immaculate and had an outing of  6.2 IP,  2 runs on 5 hits and struck out 7. Holland came in for relief and again he threw fastballs down the middle that changed the lead from 2-1 to 5-1. The game was just like game 7 the year before. They came out flat, weak and you knew there was no way they were going to win. The team waited for that one win to clinch and knew it had to come sometime, instead of going out earning it.