Three for the money

For a third time the Akron Aeros are releasing another food concoction.  My friend, Sarah, gave me the heads up that the Aeros just announced the 21-scoop / 5 pound ice cream sunday dubbed "The Screamer."  It is comprised of a half pound each of Moose Tracks, Buckeye Blitz, Cookies n Cream, Mint Chocolate Chip, Vanilla, and Chocolate.  Along with, 4 bananas, a one pound brownie, and all the toppings.  And to top it off. it is served in a replica full-sized batting helmet.  Let me say that again, A FULL SIZE BATTING HELMET.  That's crazy.  I always remember going to Dairy Queen and getting to pick a miniature batting helmet for a sunday.  Looks like I will be adding another game to my Akron Aeros attendance list.  Probably need to bring a group with me to split this epic sunday though.  It is going to be a tasty summer!

2011 MLB Picks

A few years ago, while sipping on raspberry mochas around a table at Starbucks, a group of guys were eagerly awaiting the beginning of baseball season and what that brings; signs of spring, warm weather, green grass, and the voice of Tom Hamilton in the air.  In anticipation of the season and to provide an avenue for bragging rights, these industrious young men decided to make their picks for the upcoming MLB season.  This was not done for money, as nothing financially is on the line, but simply for bragging rights and to be acknowledge as the one with the most baseball sense for that year.  Now as the clocks have sprung ahead and one can hear the crack of the bat and the sound of rawhide meeting leather, it is that time once again.  A time to prognosticate and hopefully let our baseball acumen shine.  Without further ado, the 2011 Major League Baseball picks.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

EAST

Aaron:     Boston Red Sox
Dave:      New York Yankees
Josh:       New York Yankees
Nick:       Boston Red Sox
Bill:         Boston Red Sox
Justin:      Boston Red Sox

CENTRAL

Aaron:     Chicago White Sox
Dave:      Chicago White Sox 
Josh:        Minnesota Twins
Nick:       Chicago White Sox
Bill:          Minnesota Twins
Justin:      Minnesota Twins

WEST

Aaron:     Texas Rangers
Dave:      Texas Rangers
Josh:        Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Nick:       Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Bill:          Oakland Athletics
Justin:      Texas Rangers

WILD CARD

Aaron:     New York Yankees
Dave:      Boston Red Sox
Josh:        Boston Red Sox
Nick:       New York Yankees
Bill:         New York Yankees
Justin:      New York Yankees

MVP

Aaron:       Robinson Cano, 2B, New York Yankees
Dave:        Nelson Cruz, OF, Texas Rangers
Josh:          Joe Mauer, C, Minnesota Twins
Nick:         Adrian Gonzalez, 1B, Boston Red Sox
Bill:           Miguel Cabrera, 1B, Detroit Tigers
Justin:        Miguel Cabrera, 1B, Detroit Tigers

CY YOUNG

Aaron:      Jon Lester, Boston Red Sox
Dave:       CC Sabathia, New York Yankees
Josh:         CC Sabathia, New York Yankees
Nick:        CC Sabathia, New York Yankees
Bill:          Justin Verlander, Detroit Tigers
Justin:       Jon Lester, Boston Red Sox

NATIONAL LEAGUE

EAST

Aaron:      Philadelphia Phillies
Dave:       Philadelphia Phillies
Josh:         New York Mets
Nick:         Atlanta Braves
Bill:           Philadelphia Phillies
Justin:       Philadelphia Phillies

CENTRAL

Aaron:      Milwaukee Brewers
Dave:       Milwaukee Brewers
Josh:        Chicago Cubs
Nick:        Milwaukee Brewers
Bill:          St. Louis Cardinals
Justin:       Cincinnati Reds

WEST

Aaron:      San Francisco Giants
Dave:       Colorado Rockies
Josh:         San Francisco Giants
Nick:         Los Angeles Dodgers
Bill:           San Francisco Giants
Justin:        Colorado Rockies

WILD CARD

Aaron:       Colorado Rockies
Dave:        San Francisco Giants
Josh:         Philadelphia Phillies
Nick:         Philadelphia Phillies
Bill:           Atlanta Braves
Justin:        Atlanta Braves

MVP

Aaron:        Ryan Braun, OF, Milwaukee Brewers
Dave:         Troy Tulowitzki, SS, Colorado Rockies
Josh:          Albert Pujols, 1B, St. Louis Cardinals
Nick:          Buster Posey, C, San Francisco Giants
Bill:            Carlos Gonzalez, OF, Colorado Rockies
Justin:         Albert Pujols, 1B, St. Louis Cardinals

CY YOUNG

Aaron:       Roy Halladay, Philadelphia Phillies
Dave:        Roy Halladay, Philadelphia Phillies
Josh:          Roy Halladay, Philadelphia Phillies
Nick:          Josh Johnson, Florida Marlins
Bill:            Tim Lincecum, San Francisco Giants
Justin:        Roy Halladay, Philadelphia Phillies


WORLD SERIES PICKS
Aaron:      Boston Red Sox over Philadelphia Phillies (7 games)
Dave:       Milwaukee Brewers over New York Yankees (6 games)
Josh:        Chicago Cubs over Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (7 games)
Nick:        Boston Red Sox over Philadelphia Phillies (7 games)
Bill:          San Francisco over Boston Red Sox (6 games)
Justin:       Boston Red Sox over Philadelphia Phillies (6 games)

Kung Fu Panda

I just read Molly Knight's article about the Kung Fu Panda aka Pablo Sandovol in ESPN the Magazine's MLB Preview.  It was a good read about Sandoval and his off-season workouts/diet changes/refocusing to get back into shape (he showed up to camp 40 lbs lighter than his heaviest weight last summer).  Sandoval came into the majors and had a very good 2009 campaign, endearing himself to fans who nicknamed him the Kung Fu Panda, since he was such a lovable and powerful, and probably chubby player.  After a dissappointing 2010 season, that saw his weight balloon, Sandoval needed refocusing and at the urging of his friend and teammate, Andre Torres, who called the Kung Fu Panda out about his weight, started to get back on track.  It's nice to read about a friend sharing the hard truth with his buddy and then seeing the good effects that it has had. 

Speaking of Pablo Sandoval, I remember watching him play back in the summer of 2009 when I was out in the Bay Area visiting my buddy Jason.  We attended a Giants game at AT&T Park and saw Pablo Sandoval hit a home run into McCovey Cove.  It was the "50" splash homer of the year.  Pretty cool to see.



Shamrock Shakes consumed this year: 2 (almost gone, better get one or two more soon)