Highway to Helton

Todd Helton has reportedly OK'd a deal to Boston, but would it be a good move for the Red Sox?

When you hear the name Todd Helton, you think of a power-hitting first baseman that's been crushing balls out of Coors Field for years. You don't think of the 33-year-old who had only 15 home runs and 81 RBI in 2006.

So when the Colorado Rockies ask the Boston Red Sox for both Manny Delcarmen AND Craig Hansen in a package deal with Mike Lowell and Julian Tavarez, Theo Epstein will have to put aside his memories of the Todd Helton of 2000.

Helton drove in 147 runs that season, with 42 home runs and a batting average of .372. There's one problem.

That was seven years ago.

With recent talks between the Red Sox and Rockies about a Todd Helton swap, one has to look at Boston's potential 2-through-5 hitters and either be scared (if you're a pitcher in the AL East) or water at the mouth (Red Sox nation).

But be careful.

Helton's numbers have been in decline since the 2001 season, and since 2003, hasn't had a 100-RBI season. His most notable decline has come in the past two years - 20 home runs and 79 RBI in 2005, and 15 home runs and 81 RBI in 2006.

Helton has $90.1 million left on his contract that expires after the 2011 season. And whether or not Colorado is willing to eat most of it, the Red Sox cannot give up both of their young arms in the bullpen to get a player who is battling back problems and who's numbers have gotten worse as the years add on.

I'm not saying Helton is washed up by any means because he's not. His on-base percentage hasn't been under .400 since 1999, and the only year his batting average dipped below .300 was his rookie season in 1997, when he hit .280.

It's just that a trade of this caliber would go against everything the Red Sox actually need: a closer. Jonathan Pappelbon isn't walking back through that bullpen door. He's now a starter, and Delcarmen and Hansen are the young guns needed to close out games.

Sure, having David Ortiz hit in between Helton and Manny is a great idea, but you can't get something without giving up another. And the Red Sox can't afford to give up the thing that last year proved you can't have too much of: pitching.

Unless the Rockies are willing to settle for just Lowell and Tavarez, Helton will remain in Colorado, and Boston will be able to get back to a more important issue.

And that is, who's going to be the closer?

'In the Crease' Replay

Congressman Steve Lynch called in Monday to talk about Major League Baseball's Steroid Hearings

Listen by turning up your volume on this page, and locating the automatic loading audio player on the right of this page.

"In the Crease" - New England's hottest live sports talk internet show - airs LIVE every Monday and Thursday from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. on SportsJuice.com!

Shoe's on the other foot

Peyton Manning's final drive carries the Colts past the Patriots and into Super Bowl XLI

New England fans aren't used to this. Neither are those from Indy.

Peyton Manning drove his team 80 yards in the final minutes of the fourth quarter to give Indianapolis its first lead in Sunday's AFC Championship game. Joseph Addai's three-yard touchdown run finished the drive and put the Colts on top 38-34, sending them to Miami to face the Chicago Bears in two weeks.

The Patriots were 5-0 in the AFC Championship going into the game. They came out 5-1.

New England led by as much as 18 points in the second quarter at 21-3, and I'd like to see the number of people in Patriot nation that booked their round trips to Florida at the end of the first half.

Who would have thought Peyton Manning would spark a comeback of epic proportions against Bill Belichick in the playoffs? I'm willing to bet all the NFL analysts who picked the Colts to win didn't think it was possible. And no, I'm not going to apologize for calling them out in earlier posts for going against the Patriots in the playoffs. And I also will not be taking credit for my NFL prediction of Indianapolis winning it all, because in the fine print, I did say New England would win if it came down to a rematch with the Colts.

But Indianapolis won because Manning showed something different on Sunday. He showed confidence. He showed poise. And New England fans aren't used to that from him in the postseason. They're used to the first-half Peyton Manning, tossing it into the arms of a Patriot defender on the right side, only to be taken to the house.

He came out in the second half and took advantage of a noticeably exhausted New England defense. Drive after drive, he made it look easy, which he usually does. Except this time, he did it against his only obstacle to the Super Bowl.

So let it begin. Peyton finally defeated his demon. He's on his way to the big game. And this time, you won't just be seeing him in the commercials. You'll witness history, as Manning "officially" becomes one of the greatest quarterbacks ever, because the Chicago Bears don't stand a chance.

Cut that meat.

Here we go again

The Patriots and Colts renew their postseason rivalry on Sunday, and the result shouldn't surprise you

Do me a favor. If you work for one of the major sports networks today, try not to use the phrase "poetic justice" when talking about Peyton Manning's attempt to get the playoff monkey off his back.

The names of those monkeys? Bill Belichick and Tom Brady.

While I had picked the Colts to beat the Saints in Superbowl XLI weeks ago in my NFL playoff predictions, I stood firm that Peyton would only get his due IF he could somehow escape a meeting with New England.

Sorry Peyton. The Patriots own you.

But when will the guys on ESPN and FOX realize that? Jay Glazer is the only person I saw pick New England over Indianapolis this weekend.

Everyone elses reasoning? Poetic justice.

You're kidding me, right? Those must have been the Saturday Night Live versions of Sportscenter and The Final Score last night. It was just one big joke.

Because you can't possibly pick Kansas City to beat Indianapolis, and then pick the Colts to beat the Patriots in the playoffs two weeks later. That just doesn't make sense. And neither does this "poetic justice" explanation they've been throwing around.

Poetic justice is defined as "a literary outcome in which bad characters are punished and good characters are rewarded. Think: 'What comes around goes around.' In its purest form, poetic justice is when one character plots to undermine another and then ends up caught in his own trap."

So does that mean Adam Vinatieri is going to miss the game-winning kick?

Confused? Let me break it down for you. If Bill Belichick gets caught in his own trap on Sunday, that means Tony Dungy would have to completely shut down Tom Brady, and Peyton Manning would have to be cool and calm in the pocket on his two-minute drill to the Super Bowl.

You can shut your Xbox 360 off now and come back to the real world. As good as the Colts have done against the Patriots the last two times they've played, that was the regular season. This is the playoffs.

How many times does it have to be drilled into the NFL analysts' heads. Belichick and Brady FIND WAYS TO WIN IN THE POSTSEASON. Just ask the Chargers.

If you want poetic justice, toss in a Disney movie with your kids. If you want the truth, tune into CBS at 6:30. The Patriots will show you the truth.

Where will Clemens end up in 2007?

After Andy Pettitte's return to New York, many wonder whether another former Yankee will follow

It may still be football season, but whenever Roger Clemens' name pops up in the same sentence as the Boston Red Sox or New York Yankees, even the biggest pigskin fans in the northeast turn their heads.

Red Sox fans were teased last year with a "Rocket re-launch," and this year they should expect the same.

There is no denying I have been on top of the Clemens-to-Boston scenario since last May. Clemens' agent, Randy Hendricks, gave me a bundle of information on the possibility of Clemens signing with the Red Sox last season.

So I asked him in December what the Rocket was leaning towards for the upcoming year.

"We don't intend to decide anything until 2007," Hendricks said.

Well 2007 is here, and a Houston Chronicle blog has posted a question-and-answer segment with Hendricks. And in fact, nothing has changed. Hendricks gives the exact same information that he gave me last year, which can be read in my column for The Massachusetts Daily Collegian last May: Is the Rocket returning?

So once again, his decision will come down to Houston, Boston, and New York. Not a surprise if you've been following this topic since 2006. And it's also no surprise that the Red Sox and Yankees will make a run at Clemens.

But unlike last year, things have changed in the Houston Astros organization. They let Andy Pettitte get away. Pettitte returned to the Yankees in December, signing a one-year, $16 million deal with a player option for 2008.

Now the question is, will Clemens be far behind?

Both pitchers left the Bronx after the 2003 season to sign with the Astros, but with absolutely brutal run support over the past three years, Pettitte made the smart decision to get out of Houston last month.

Clemens has to seriously consider a move back to the AL East if he wants to win another World Series. And Pettitte jumping ship may be the deciding factor.

The Red Sox certainly don't need him as much as they did last year, thanks to the Matsuzaka signing. But Hendricks told me last summer that Roger was closer to signing with the Red Sox than people think, which can be read in my column: Rocket almost landed in Boston.

But expect Pettitte's presence in pinstripes to lure Clemens back to New York. Boston and Houston still have a chance to sign him, I honestly believe that. But with Randy Johnson's recent departure and Theo Epstein's new $100 million man in place, the Yankees clearly need him more than anyone else.

If Brian Cashman can match the "special treatment" that Houston gives him, all signs point to a Rocket return to the Bronx. But don't be surprised to see Theo counter the Yankees' "full-court press" with a sweetened deal of his own.

Nobody knows what Clemens is going to do at this point. It could come down to money. It could come down to special treatment. But in the end, the Yankees are hoping that it comes down to Andy Pettitte.

When will we learn

The San Diego Chargers may have put the 'lights out' on themselves, but New England's knack for winning in the postseason gives the remaining three teams little hope

Act like you've been there before.

That was the phrase coming out of everyone's mouth in San Diego after New England ended the Chargers' season on Sunday.

The Patriots have been there before - Sunday will mark the fourth AFC Championship appearance in six years - and that's because they never act like it. Their constant hunger for a championship makes them a contender every year. And 2006-07 is no different.

In fact, the last thing the Indianapolis Colts wanted to see happen on Sunday was New England advancing, even if it meant going on the road for a shot at the AFC title. So while it's a good-news, bad-news scenario for the Colts, the bad news certainly out-weighs the good.

For weeks now, I have been saying that Indianapolis will win the Super Bowl. I honestly thought this was Peyton's year in my NFL playoff predictions . . . . . . . UNLESS his team ran into the Patriots.

Peyton Manning has had New England's number in their last two regular season games, but this is the postseason, and we all know how Manning has fared against the Pats when it's win-or-go-home.

The last two times these teams have met in the playoffs, New England has shut down Manning's air attack. Sure, Ty Law isn't part of Bill Belichick's defense this time around, but I'm sure the Pats will find a way to win. They always do.

The Patriots are 5-0 in AFC Championship games. They aren't going to let Indy be the team to end that streak. And after all, it's the postseason, and the Pats are the underdogs once again. They were "disrespected" in the last two losses to the Colts. Or at least, that's what motivates them. That's what keeps them hungry. That makes the difference between the rest of the NFL and the New England Patriots.

So act like you've been there before, Peyton, because you know Tom Brady certainly won't. And that will make the difference once again between you and a champion.

Sir Stephane

Lasme becomes 23rd player in NCAA history to record two triple-doubles in the same season in win over Atlantic 10 rival George Washington

AMHERST - UMass senior forward Stephane Lasme tallied 23 points, 15 rebounds, and 11 blocks to put himself in some pretty good company in college basketball history in Wednesday night's 91-84 win over George Washington at the Mullins Center.

Lasme joins the likes of David Robinson, Shaquille O'Neal, Jason Kidd, and Penny Hardaway with his latest triple-double performance.

The Minutemen (12-4, 2-0 A-10) are off to their best start since the Final Four season of 1995-96. Lasme is just one-half of the two-headed monster for UMass. Him and senior forward Rashaun Freeman are the main reasons why everything is going so well in Amherst these days.

"It's amazing because everybody knows that we're going to them," UMass coach Travis Ford said after Wednesday night's win. "But these guys continue to figure out how to score."

"We have to play this well for our team to stay afloat," Freeman said. "And then when Gary [Forbes] and Tiki [Mayben] start to bring their games up, we're going to be the team that everybody thinks that we can be. Me and Stephane had a good game, but we have to play like this every game."

George Washington (10-4, 1-1 A-10) went on a 20-4 run to cut a 17-point UMass lead down to just one at 60-59 with nine minutes left in the second half. Guards Maureece Rice and Carl Elliott led the charge for the Colonials, finishing the game with 30 and 19 points respectively.

The comeback came up short, as UMass held on in a game that was dragged along with intentional fouls from George Washington.

The Minutemen had a 45-36 lead at the half, stemming from back-to-back three pointers by junior Etienne Brower and senior James Life to start the game. Brower carried UMass early, scoring eight of UMass' first 13 points.

Freeman finished the game with 21 points and seven rebounds. Four UMass players finished in double figures in scoring. Forbes finished with 16 points while Life had 11.

Justice for the BCS

Michigan's loss and Florida's win proved that the 'computers' had it right all along

There will be no national championship tournament in college football anytime soon. Keep your dreams of "January madness" to yourself because this time around, the BCS got it right.

When the college football regular season ended, the BCS poll had Ohio State as No. 1 and Florida as No. 2. in the Dec. 3 poll. Michigan was No. 3, and there was an outcry of injustice with Michigan not getting a rematch against the Buckeyes for the National Championship. Instead, Urban Meyer's Gators were given the opportunity to knock off Goliath, and they did just that.

Only, during the layoff that lasted more than 50 days, nobody gave Florida any credit. Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith was the Heisman Trophy winner, and if the major media outlets had their way, the Buckeyes would have been crowned National Champions during the Heisman Trophy presentation.

Then something funny happened. USC made Michigan eat its words, beating the Wolverines 32-18 in the Rose Bowl. Yes, the same Michigan team that blamed the BCS for not having a chance to compete for a National Title.

BCS 1, Michigan 0.

Then there was the unforgettable Boise State flag football game against Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl. An incredible display by the Broncos, in what turned out to be a trick-play clinic in the final minutes, left Boise State crying for a national title shot of its own.

Sure, the "hook and ladder" and the "statue of liberty" plays were unforgettable ways to end a ballgame, but watching Boise State quarterback Jared Zabransky say his team deserves a shot at Ohio State reminded me of an old WWF broadcast.

And then another funny thing happened. Florida shocked Ohio State 41-14 to become National Champions.

You hear that sound?

It's Troy Smith falling in the NFL draft, AND it's the BCS working.

Say what you will about how good it would be to see Boise State take on Florida this weekend in the finals. But where would that leave USC, who beat a Michigan team that many argued should have been in Arizona instead of the Gators? And what about LSU, which routed Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl?

There shouldn't be any controversy here people. The team that you all thought should have been playing Ohio State got a beating from USC, and the team that the BCS computers put up against the No. 1 Buckeyes won the National Championship. The critics were wrong. The "computers" were right.

Don't bring that "Boise State is undefeated and deserves a shot at Florida" bull. It's all hypothetical. If there was a tournament of eight teams, there would be controversy over who would be the eighth seed. And the No. 9 team who wins its bowl game afterwards will say they deserve a shot at the teams ahead of them. The crying will never end.

If my aunt had balls, she'd be my uncle . . . . . . . . . . . . well she doesn't, and the Florida Gators are National Champions. Deal with it.

So predictable

Wild Card Weekend had plenty of drama, but in the end, the better teams prevailed

Not much has changed after the first four games of this year's NFL playoffs. Eight teams played. The four favorites won.

The only thing different on this Sunday night in the football world is that Drew Bledsoe may have himself a few more fans after Tony Romo's apparent collapse in the final seconds of Saturday night's 21-20 loss to Seattle.

That was painful to watch, but not as painful as having to sit through another New York Giants game. Thank God that team has been eliminated. Is anyone else just sick and tired of seeing Tom Coughlin's sour puss on the FOX camera week-in and week-out?

That guy is miserable. But if my players were calling me out and questioning the game plan, and my starting running back announced his retirement plans during the middle of a playoff run, I guess I would be quite upset too.

But seriously, who wanted to see the Giants actually win this game? On the other hand, who but Donovan McNabb and his mom didn't want to see Jeff Garcia lead his Eagles to victory? How can you not cheer for this guy? He gets fired up for a QB kneel to end the half for crying out loud.

Speaking of crying out loud, that's what Dick Vermeil would have been doing if he was still the coach of the Kansas City Chiefs after the second-best running back in the NFL ran for only 32 yards on 13 attempts against the worst run defense in the universe. So much for all that "Indy can't stop the run" talk. The return of safety Bob Sanders and the street-beasting of Dwight Freeney seemed to spark the Colts defense on Saturday, silencing all the critics that said Indianapolis' poor defense would cost them in the playoffs.

If the Colts defense can play like that for the remainder of the postseason, and Ty Law doesn't somehow show up in a Baltimore Ravens uniform next weekend, my bold Super Bowl prediction may be correct.

Unless the Patriots shut down LaDainian Tomlinson on Sunday. Then everyone else in the playoffs is in trouble.

Tom Brady looks like he's ready to carry his team to a fourth Super Bowl championship in six years. And for that reason, the last team San Diego wants to see next weekend is the New England Patriots. Shawne Merriman gave that away in the interview he had on CBS at the half, in which he did not answer one question correctly, including when he said the Jets would win the game down 17-10 at the end of the first half.

I don't know if he just didn't understand the layup questions he was getting, or if he was just happy to walk out of that segment without having to take heat for his now-obvious steroid use. And of course he didn't take heat from it. Why would we want to ask him that? He's a nice guy, we'll just let him slide and take it out on Barry Bonds during spring training. Pathetic.

Looks like Merriman is getting off easy. But that's for another time.

Right now, it's about the playoffs. Eight teams remain, and next weekend will be a tough one to predict. But I'm sticking to my guns. The Colts and Chargers will be in the AFC Championship game, while the Saints and the Seahawks will top off the final four.

But here's to a great Wild Card weekend. And here's to Tony Romo. Cheer up kid, there are better days ahead.

But I must say . . . . . . . . Drew would have held it.

NFL Predictions

2006-07 NFL Playoff Predictions:

AFC WILD Card Weekend:

Kansas City Chiefs at Indianapolis Colts

Winner: Indianapolis Colts, 34-24

- (See post below) Indianapolis wins a high-scoring game, but not the highest scoring game of the postseason. Larry Johnson will have a good game (80 yards rushing, 2 TD), but Peyton Manning proves to be too much for even Ty Law and Kansas City's pass defense. Two late field goals from Adam Vinatieri seals the deal for the Colts.



New York Jets at New England Patriots

Winner: New England Patriots, 28-6

- Surely you wouldn't think Chad Pennington would score a touchdown against a New England defense that let up only 10 touchdowns through the air this season. The Jets get on board first with two field goals, but Brady's three touchdowns and another late score by Corey Dillon makes up for the last time the Jets stole one at the Razor.


AFC Divisional Weekend:

New England Patriots at San Diego Chargers:

Winner: San Diego Chargers, 20-17

- The Patriots get a taste of their own medicine when San Diego kicks a field goal on the final drive of the game to knock New England out of the postseason picture. LaDainian Tomlinson doesn't have a huge rushing game, but does get in for two scores, proving that the Chargers are a one-man show.


Indianapolis Colts at Baltimore Ravens

Winner: Indianapolis Colts, 24-17

- The Colts use the "respect card" to come into Baltimore and defeat the Ravens. Peyton Manning looks like a man on a mission as the Colts dominate what the score shows to be a close game.


AFC Championship:

Indianapolis Colts at San Diego Chargers

Winner: Indianapolis Colts, 45-31

- This game is everything it was supposed to be: the highest scoring game in the postseason. LaDainian Tomlinson's four touchdowns (three rushing) wasn't enough against an Indianapolis Colts offense that simply wasn't going to throw up the white flag just because of the media's hype of LT running all over them. He did run all over the Colts terrible run defense, but nobody with a lightning bolt on their helmet has ever seen a more determined quarterback in Peyton Manning. Manning's four touchdown passes, and Joseph Addai's breakout game (two rushing touchdowns) makes everyone in the NFL re-think their comments that defense wins championships.


NFC Predictions:

OK, so I couldn't be bothered with delaying the inevitable and talking about every NFC game, so I'm just coming right out with it.

NFC Champion: New Orleans Saints

- Miami Dolphins fans get sick to their stomach as they watch the man Nick Saban passed on, Drew Brees, advance to the Super Bowl with ease. And oh yea, the Super Bowl is in Miami. Coincidence?

SUPER BOWL XLI:

New Orleans Saints vs. Indianapolis Colts

Winner: Indianapolis Colts, 31-14

- The Colts are finally a favorite in a playoff game this season. This game shows that the AFC is the dominant conference in the NFL, as Peyton Manning gets his due, becoming one of the greatest quarterbacks in the history of the sport.

Under the radar

Why Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts will win the Super Bowl......

That is, if they don't play the Patriots

You've heard all the reasoning and rants about why the Indianapolis Colts don't have a chance in hell to win in the postseason: No run defense, past postseason troubles, Peyton the choke artist. They've all been used by your favorite ESPN analyst in more ways than one. And they're all true, however, be careful to count out the NFL's best quarterback before the lowly Kansas City Chiefs even arrive at the RCA Dome on Saturday.

The last time the Chiefs won a playoff game was in January of 1994 when Joe Montana led KC past the Houston Oilers. Indianapolis beat Kansas City in the 2003 postseason, 38-31, and expect the same type of high scoring game this weekend. The result will be similar as well.

Indianapolis hasn't been given a chance in the world to win in this year's playoffs, and with good reason. This is the Colts fifth postseason appearance in a row, and unless you want to call a trip to the AFC Championship game in 2003 a success, Peyton Manning and the boys have been nothing but dissappointing after Week 17.

The Tony Dungy era has proven that a team can be great in the regular season, and look like a pop warner team in the playoffs. Since Dungy took over for Jim Mora in 2002, the Colts have gone 60-20 in the regular season, but are just 3-4 in the postseason with no rings.

But this isn't about the 41-0 loss to the Jets in 2002, or the first round upset to the Steelers last season after going 14-2 in the regular season, or even how the New England Patriots have consistently slapped around Manning in the playoffs.

It's about respect.

For the past four years everybody and their mother had Indianapolis as the team to beat. It was all about numbers. The Colts offense has looked unstoppable year in and year out with Manning's air attack to Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne. But because of the team's inability to win the big game in the playoffs, nobody, and I mean nobody, has them going far this year.

Say what you want about Larry Johnson facing Indianapolis' horrendous run defense in the first round on Saturday. But shouldn't Kansas City be worried about going on the road to face the top quarterback and two of the top three receivers in all the land?

Everyone's key to the game is "Can Indianapolis stop the run?" Well here's my key to the game: Can Herm Edwards' 18th ranked passing defense stop the most prolific air assault in the NFL?

Anything can happen in the playoffs, we know that. But to all the NFL fans out there, do me a favor. Put aside all the theories about how the Colts are choke artists, and how they can't stop the run. Please, stop it.

The Indianapolis Colts are one of the best teams in this league, and if a lack of respect is in fact what's needed to get a team over the hump (just ask New England), then don't cringe when Peyton Manning and Adam Vinatieri outdo the AFC's best running backs and are leaving Miami with the Lombardi Trophy.

If they don't run into New England, that is.