New York Giants' Ahmad Bradshaw Stumbles Upon Vince Lombardi Trophy in Super Bowl XLVI

New York Giants' Ahmad Bradshaw Stumbles Upon Vince Lombardi Trophy in Super Bowl XLVI

By: Jesse Rubinoff

If Ahmad Bradshaw ever chooses to have children, how will he possibly explain this to them? How do you tell your kids that you didn't mean to score the game-winning touchdown in the Super Bowl? I figure the conversation will go something like this...

Ahmad: Kids, your daddy scored the game-winning touchdown in the Super Bowl, aren't you proud?

Kid 1: Yeah, but you looked like a fool doing it.

Kid 2: Did you have a mental breakdown? A brief lapse in judgment? Did you black out, start falling into the endzone, and then wake up halfway down? Do you not understand that we are going to be teased about this our entire lives?

Ahmad: Kids, IT WAS ELI'S FAULT!!!!

In all seriousness, Eli Manning may very well have been to blame for Bradshaw's indecision at the goal-line. Or perhaps it was Tom Coughlin and the Giants sideline that missed the proverbial boat. Here is a synopsis of the events as we have come to understand them this morning:

The Giants trailed New England by two with 1:04 remaining in the game, but the Giants were on the Pats' six-yard line. New England was left with one timeout. The Giants very well could have used up most of the clock, kneed the ball in the middle of the field, and attempted no more than a 25-yard field goal to win the game as time expired. This would of course, relegated Tom Brady and the vaunted Patriots offense to the sidelines for the rest of the game. But confusion reigned on the Giants sideline, and head coach Tom Coughlin apparently never told Eli to tell the offense not to score. Eli snapped the ball, handed it to Bradshaw, and then realized the situation and yelled at the running back not to run in for the score. Bradshaw, obviously confused, stumbled his way past the Patriots defense that had parted like the Red Sea, and fell into the end zone. Bradshaw then proceeded to hold his breath for the remaining 51 seconds as Tom Brady and the Patriots offense failed to stage what would have been a legendary last-ditch comeback.

First and foremost, the blame lies with Coughlin for not making a decision and relaying that decision to his quarterback. Coughlin said post-game that he was torn when he saw Bradshaw go into the end zone. He realized that he may have made a mistake. Second, it's indefensible that Eli had time to go into the huddle, talk about the play, and not even bring up the option of stopping on the one-yard line. Third, when Bradshaw saw that the Patriots defense was letting him score, he should have taken a knee on the one yard line.

There are dissidents who believe Bradshaw ultimately made the right call by scampering into the end zone, even if he didn't actually mean to do it. And I agree that taking points late in the fourth quarter can never really be a bad thing. The Giants still assured themselves of being in the lead and forcing Brady to go the length of the field in less than a minute with only one timeout. But the thought of botching a chip-shot field goal just doesn't seem like reality. If your long snapper, holder and kicker can't execute a 25-yard field goal to win, you probably don't deserve to win the game.

There will always be “woulda, coulda, shouldas” in sports. If Deion Branch and Aaron Hernandez caught their passes in the last minute instead of having terrible drops, the Pats wouldn't have had to try 

a Hail Mary, and actually could have executed a real play with a chance to win. Luckily for Bradshaw and the Giants, the Patriots just couldn't get it done down the stretch. But giving one of the best quarterbacks of all time a chance with under a minute to go in the Super Bowl was a huge risk because of indecision that never should have occurred.

Let's hope generations of the Bradshaw family choose pictures of him hoisting the Vince Lombardi Trophy to hang around the house, and not of the “butt-down” touchdown that nearly led to the Giants' demise.

How Jim Harbaugh and Jim Schwartz can learn from my father...

By: Jesse Rubinoff


(some of the names in this story have been changed to protect the innocent)

Sunday's have become quite the ritual in the Rubinoff household.  At
the same time every Sunday, I go downstairs to the family room, take
my rightful place on the couch and watch football from 11:00am to midnight.
Throughout the day, my father Fred will take breaks from his hard-work
around the house to sit and watch the festivities with me.


Yesterday, October 17, 2011, Fred was doing his thing, putting away
the groceries, when I started laughing hysterically because the video
from the Jim Harbaugh and Jim Schwartz squabble came on the television.


It appeared at least, that Schwartz didn't take too kindly to
Harbaugh's exuberant victory celebration, and the Lions head coach
fell into a fit of rage equivalent to a fourteen-year old girl that
has just been told the Justin Bieber concert got cancelled.  Fred and
I shared a good laugh.  He kept asking me, “What's Schwartz' problem?
Why is he freaking out like that?”  I didn't say it...but I wanted to.
 “Dad, you've never acted like that before?  You've never freaked out
at the opposing coach at my sporting events?”


The year was 1996.  I was 7-years old playing for the Shoppers Drug
Mart T-Ball squad.  I'm pretty sure it was a playoff game, but I can't
be sure.  Based on the intensity of what transpired, it probably was.
A couple of players on the opposing team were wearing shorts as part
of their uniform.  For those of you who have played t-ball before, you
know that is a serious faux pas.  The umpire recognized the other
team's impartiality towards the dress code and issued them a stern
warning.  One more infraction he said, and they would be forced to
forfeit the game.


The other team's coach, Johnny Millstrom, didn't mistake the eighteen-year
old umpire for Jerry West, and immediately accused Fred, the coach of
my team, of tattle-tailing on his team of seven-year olds.  Fred, to
his credit, has held strong to this day that he said nothing to the
umpire to bring about 'Uni-Gate'.  Coach Millstrom however, failed to
take Fred at his word.


Late in the game, Fred decided to make a roster move.  He was going to
pinch hit for one of our players who had to leave early, in favour of
my three-year old brother Spencer.  Let me be clear.  Spencer was no
child phenom.  He wasn't the Tiger Woods or Sidney Crosby of t-ball.
He didn't have Ed Sullivan, David Letterman or Jay Leno ranting and
raving about his special talents as a kid.  He was just a three-year
old who wanted a chance to play with the big boys.


Spencer grabbed his helmet, waddled up to the plate as any three-year
old would, and got ready to give a hard whack at the ball.  Not so
fast.  With 'Uni-Gate' still fresh in his mind, Coach Millstrom came
storming out of the dugout towards the umpire.  He protested Spencer's
involvement in the game, claiming, and rightly so, that he wasn't on
the roster.  Fred, thinking Spencer posed no real offensive threat,
couldn't understand why Coach Millstrom would complain.  The two met at
home plate, argued, and almost came to blows.  If my memory serves me
correctly, it looked EXACTLY like the Harbaugh and Schwartz fracas.
Two grown men at each other's throats, albeit, for slightly different
reasons.


The arguing continued until the mature-beyond-his-years umpire finally
stepped in to stop the situation from turning into a UFC-style
bloodbath. He dismissed both Fred and Coach Millstrom to the parking lot,
instructing them to sit on the hoods of their cars.  I don't remember
if Spencer got a chance to take his at-bat.  But that's not the point.
 After about ten minutes, Fred and Coach Millstrom apologized to each
other.  They shook hands.  Fred introduced me to Coach Millstrom's son,
and we have been best friends ever since.


Now, while the stakes may have been higher in yesterday's Lions-49ers
game, Schwartz and Harbaugh can both learn something from my father.
Apologize to each other like men.  After all, as my friendship with
Coach Millstrom's son proves, you never really know what can come out of
a simple apology.

To Russia With Love - Fred Rubinoff's hockey journey
By: Jesse Rubinoff

The year is 1976. Sixteen-year old Fred Rubinoff is sitting in his seat on Aeroflot Airlines, scrunched up like an accordion, when he finally realizes the significance of the moment. As captain of the midget Don Mills Flyers, Fred is about to lead his team into a battle for hockey supremacy against two nations of relative unknowns; the Russians and the Czechoslovakians. Four years earlier, the Russian national team had taken Team Canada to an eighth and final game in the Summit Series, and just months before Fred's journey, Canada had narrowly defeated the Russians again to win the Canada Cup. Fred and his fellow teenage teammates would now be adding another chapter to an already storied hockey rivalry.

It's easy for Fred, now 51 years old, to recount his proudest moments as a hockey player. There is a strong sense of nostalgia, yet a greater sense of accomplishment when he discusses what it was like for his team to play hockey in Russia. But first, Fred makes it clear that the road to Russia cannot be mitigated. It was as big of a thrill, if not a bigger one to be crowned Canada's top team and earn the chance to venture into the great unknown. That year, the Don Mills Flyers had finished the Metro Toronto Hockey League now the Greater Toronto Hockey League season atop the standings. That got them into the Ontario Play-downs, where they steam-rolled teams from Kirkland Lake, Hamilton and Peterborough and earned the chance to play in the Canada-wide Wrigley tournament for a shot to go to Russia and Czechoslovakia.

The Wrigley tournament held significant water in 1976. The best teams from around the country came to do battle in Moncton, New Brunswick, all with the same goal in mind: win the tournament and then get the chance to do what their childhood heroes in the NHL had just done, play in Russia. The Flyers won four games en route to the final where they played against a speedy and skillful squad from Quebec. Nerves had never really been a concern for Fred. He loved the game of hockey and considered it a blessing to be able to play it at such a high level. But as Fred explains, the boys knew how much was on the line going into the finals, "We knew that if we won, we'd be going to Russia as the Canadian representatives. We wanted to be the team that exchanged the logo on the front of our jersey for the Canadian Maple Leaf. So yeah...I was nervous, I think we all were because we wanted to win." The Flyers put together a total team effort and disposed of Quebec's best 7-6, winning the Wrigley Tournament and becoming the latest edition of "Canada's team".

With the tournament victory came a lot of enhanced press coverage. Three major Toronto newspapers started covering the Flyers' every move. As captain of the team, Fred was lured to several speaking arrangements set up by the people at Wrigley. The Flyers started playing exhibition games against Canadian junior teams laden with 18, 19 and 20 year olds to get ready for the Russians and the Czechs. They kept winning. They knew they were good enough, and they wanted the real test. "The anticipation was brutal," says Fred. "We just wanted to go already. We had no idea what we were in for but that was the beauty of it, that was the excitement. Enough with the junior teams we thought, give us the Russians!" And finally, in early March, off they went on that Aeroflot plane, heading for the motherland with one goal in mind...win.

Fred didn't know much about Russia then, but then again nobody really did. As a 16-year old, Fred only knew that it was a communist country, and that the national team had put up quite a fight against the Canadians in the Summit Series. But looking back 35 years later, Fred vividly remembers his time walking around Moscow because there was a lot that was different than what he was used to back home. "The place was very grey, nobody really smiled. The people that were with us were nice, but I assumed those were the higher-ups in the society, because everyone else seemed cold and unmotivated." But the Flyers were treated well. They stayed in a first-class hotel, the food, while it was foreign and not necessarily agreeable with the North-American digestive system, was actually quite tasty. They had everything they wanted. The relationship between the Canadians and the Russians seemed to be blossoming. That is until the Flyers stepped onto the ice.

The Russians had been known to use some questionable tactics on the ice and it didn't take long for Fred to become acquainted with what was in store for the rest of the tournament. Early in the first game, Fred went into the corner to battle for a loose puck, and in came a big, burly Russian chasing after him. Fred got there first, and the Russian player jabbed his stick straight into the back of Fred's right leg. Fred finished the rest of the shift and skated back to the bench. He was in excruciating agony, hesitant to look down at his leg. When he finally brought himself to do it, Fred saw a shard of wood from the Russian's stick lodged in the back of his leg. While he was eventually okay, the spear served notice to the rest of his team that the Russians were going to use any means necessary to come away with victory. Unfortunately for the Russians, their tactics of dirty play weren't good enough in the first game as the Flyers walked away 4-2 victors. The Flyers tied the second game 4-4, and then were slated to square off against the Junior Red Army team, a team of supposed future Russian stars. It was before the game against the Junior Red Army squad where the questionable on-ice tactics of the Russians suddenly turned into questionable off-ice tactics as well.

Before the game against the Red Army, the Russians painted the dressing room that the Flyers had used in previous games, forcing the Flyers to another change room that was about a five minute walk from the ice surface. The entire team's sticks disappeared before magically showing up about five minutes before puck drop. "You never knew if the games that were being played were on purpose or not. So it was really important to not worry about that part of it, and to just go with the flow and concentrate on winning the hockey games," Fred explains. And that's exactly what the Flyers did, disposing of the Junior Red Army team by a score of 5-3.

The fourth team the Flyers were to play against was supposed to be the weakest of the bunch. However, when Fred stepped onto the ice for warmups, and looked across the rink, he had a feeling that wasn't going to be the case. "I recognized some of the players from previous games. We all kind of looked at each other and thought, holy crap, they put together a team of all-stars so that we wouldn't go home undefeated. Whether or not we were correct in assuming their motives, that's what it seemed like for sure." To the Flyers credit, they rose to the occasion and were minutes away from leaving Russia 3-0-1 when a huge brawl erupted in front of the Russians net. The Flyers played the remainder of the game two men down, eventually losing 6-5. "It was a ridiculous ending but we knew in our heart of hearts that we were better than their group of all-stars, and that made us feel pretty good about our accomplishments in Russia."

The Flyers parlayed their impressive performance in Russia into three more wins in Czechoslovakia, finishing with a 3-1-1 record there. The whole trip was deemed a resounding success by the Flyers, their families, the Canadian media, and somewhat surprisingly, by the Europeans themselves. The Flyers had not gone undefeated in Russia nor Czechoslovakia, so the Europeans avoided embarrassment in their own countries. In addition, the off the ice relationship between the Canadians and specifically the Russians continued to grow. Aside from the occasional mind games, no Canadian had a single complaint about their time in Russia. The Canadians as a group felt a lot better about the country after the trip, than they did before it.

The Don Mills Flyers left Europe that year as arguably the best 17-under hockey team in the world. Fred's greatest thrill as a hockey player came when the team arrived back in Canada. He was told his jersey would be placed in the Hockey Hall of Fame for one year, along with other gifts and collectibles the team had brought back from Europe. It was an honour Fred would never, ever forget. "To have my jersey residing inside the same walls as some of the best players in the history of hockey was a spine-tingling experience for me, especially to have my teammates names there right beside mine." It was a team that was as good as the sum of its parts. A couple of players, including Larry Murphy and Paul Marshall would go on to have successful NHL careers, especially Murphy who now finds himself as a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame. As for Fred, he chose not to pursue a career in the NHL, partly because he didn't think he was good enough, but also because he wanted to go out on top. "You always hear of these athletes who don't retire at the right times. I had just won the Canadian midget championship, gone to Russia and Czechoslovakia and defeated the best teams there. If I would have made the NHL, I would have had to do a hell of a lot to top what I did as a 16-year old, so I decided to hang 'em up."

A lot has changed since Fred Rubinoff and the Don Mills Flyers went to take on the best the hockey world had to offer. Europe's Iron Curtain fell over twenty years ago, hockey is no longer dominated by Russians and Canadians alone, and the World Junior Championship is what dominates the headlines come Christmas time. But none of that matters to Fred because every time somebody asks him about what it was like to go to Russia, he starts off the story with..."well, I was scrunched up like an accordion on this Aeroflot flight..." and on he goes, and that's something nobody will ever be able to take away from him.

The Intricacies of Making Your NCAA Picks

People ask me why I take the time to organize an NCAA tournament pool every year; one that, at this point, over 145 people have joined for two years in a row.  Here's what I tell them: "Firstly, it is without question March Madness is the most exciting time of the year.  If you don't believe that, you are lying to yourself.  Secondly, it gives me the opportunity to keep in touch with old friends, who have to find a way to forward me the money before the tournament starts.  Every single conversation I have had with an old friend goes something like this:

Old Friend: "Long time man."

Me: "Yeah, how are things?"

Old Friend: "Good…So, who you liking in the tourney this year?"

Me: "Notre Dame or Duke" This is a complete farce.  I don't think either of these teams is going to win the tournament.  However, people seem to think I know what I'm talking about because I've been running a pool for four years.  So, I knowingly steer them in what I believe to be the wrong direction.  This is not bush league.  It's more like gamesmanship.

In a tourney pool such as this, you must use every means available to you to gain a leg up on your competition.  Not even the Oracle from the Matrix could foresee the results of an NCAA Tournament.  But with that said, it is not a complete crapshoot.  There are some crucial guidelines that you must utilize in order to keep yourself in the running up until the final weekend.  Here is my list of things to keep in mind before etching your bracket in stone:

1. Avoid the aura surrounding top seeds.

In four straight years, a number one seed has cut down the nets in early April.  If you choose a number one seed to win, you have a decent shot at winning your pool.  But upon further examination, save for 2008, number one seeds haven't had such an easy road to the Final Four.  Last year, Duke was the only number one seed to make it.  In 2006, not a single number one seed got there.  In 2004, Duke was the only number one seed to make it again. 

Choosing a number one seed to win the tournament is safe.  It's easy.  It's like saying Halle Berry looked the best on Oscars night.  But looking back days later, after you really think about it, Mila Kunis looked much better.  Hence, be weary of the up and comers.

2. Don't fall in love with the overhyped underdogs.

"Who will be this year's Gonzaga?"  Who cares.  These are all good teams.  That is why they made it to the tournament.  Stop falling in love with underdogs.  

Example 1: Think Ivan Drago v. Rocky Balboa in Rocky IV.  Let's face it.  The big Russian never really had a chance.  His strength was impressive, but he was too overhyped.  All he did pre-Rocky fight was kill Apollo Creed, who has washed up anyway.  Drago was the real underdog.  And underdogs will make you look like a genius during the game (he pummelled Rocky in the first few rounds), but when they inevitably lose, you just look silly for choosing them to win in the first place. (my theory is that the Russian crowd started cheering for Rocky because they didn't want to look stupid cheering for the overhyped Drago).

Example 2: Jamaican Bobsled Team.  The true underdog.  An incredibly valiant effort at the 1988 Calgary Olympics, but there was never any chance they were going to win a medal.  But it was "cool" to like them.  It was exciting.  Think about the commentators in Cool Runnings flipping out at how good the Jamaicans were and how they were right in contention.  What happened on the third day?  They flipped their sled.  Point, exactly.

3. Don't put too much stock in Yahoo's 'user picks'.

Everyone looks at user picks.  It makes you feel more comfortable choosing a winner, knowing that if you're wrong, 67% of the people were wrong also.  It's like getting onto an airplane when they first call for you to board.  Everyone is doing it, so why not?  But in reality, the smart move is to wait until the final boarding call.  That way you won't have to wait in the freakin' tunnel for 20 minutes waiting for grandma and grandpa to load their bags in the overhead compartments.  Be innovative.  Go against the grain.  Don't be a follower.

4. Choosing seeds 1-5 to make it to the Final Four is defensible.  Anything after the fifth seed, you look like you got your girlfriend to choose which colour jerseys she likes better.  Don't do it.  It's not cool.

5.  Don't pick the number 15 seed to upset the number 2 seed.

I was actually discussing this possibility with my good, good pal Josh Howard.  I wanted to go out on a limb and pick number 2 San Diego State to be ousted in the first round.  Josh responded with: "If you're banking on a 15 seed upsetting a 2, you're probably the same guy who thinks Donald Trump is going to win the next American Presidential Election.  Yeah, they'd both be hilarious and a lot of people would end up screwed over, but both outcomes are about as unlikely as Justin Bieber growing facial hair in the next six months."  Well played, Jho.

6. Don't boast to your friends that you love your bracket and this year is "your year".  

Picking a bracket anticipating that you're going to win is like cheering for the Leafs/Raptors/Jays to win a championship.  Every year you start with optimism.  By the second weekend, you realize…"what the hell was I thinking?"

7. Be proud when it's all said and done.  Especially...

If you pick two of the final four teams successfully, you've done well.  Go buy yourself a nice steak dinner at the Keg.

If you chose three right, walk around with your head held high.  For an entire year.  And when your boys insult you for being weirdly cocky, remind them that you picked three of the four final four teams correctly.  They'll know what's up.

And lastly, if you pick all four final four teams correctly, do the following:

a. Go buy a lottery ticket

b. More importantly, go out to the local bar/club on the Thursday/Friday/Saturday before the Final Four games.  Your guy friends will all be congratulating you at the bar, fawning over you actually.  This will make you 108% more likely to take home the girl of your dreams.  She will see all of the attention you are getting and fall weak at the knees.  Girls love the centre of attention.  Fact.

BUT, if you picked all four number one seeds, and that's how it turns out (as it did in 2008), as Bill Simmons would say about Kareem-Abdul Jabbar, you're just a "ninny".

8.  Bracket is NOT all about winning.  Charlie Sheen was wrong.  It's about having fun.

Good ol' Charlie was just fired from Two and a Half Men.  He's about as broken as the ankles of Kemba Walker's latest victim.  Hence, he's probably not the guy I'd want to be taking advice from. 

Enjoy the tournament, old friends.

The Mess that is the BCS

On the heels of last night's thrilling BCS National Championship Game between the Auburn Tigers and the Oregon Ducks, it would seem the BCS computers made the right choices, and pitted the two best teams in the country against one another.  A 22-19 final with a 19-yard field goal to win the game as time expired would certainly suggest that.  But lost amidst the excitement is the fact that another undefeated team, the Texas Christian University Horned Frogs, will go into the off-season without a chance to prove their worth as the best college team in the country.  This is strikingly unfair and screams for a resolution to be made.

The TCU Horned Frogs finished the season 13-0 for the first time in school history, winning the Rose Bowl over the Wisconsin Badgers in the process.  A nice feat for sure, but not the equivalent of winning a National Championship.  The Horned Frogs can take solace in the fact that they are not the only team in the history of the BCS to get the National Championship Game snub.  In 2004, Auburn, Boise State and Utah were left out of the title game after going undefeated during the regular season.  In 2008, Utah was snubbed again after going undefeated, and even finishing with a better record than the eventual National Champions, the Florida Gators!  In 2009, Alabama, Texas, Cincinnati, Boise State, and...you guessed it...TCU finished the regular season undefeated but were ignored in favour of more prominent schools, Alabama and Texas.  After two consecutive years of being snubbed, TCU is facing the reality that it may never get a chance to participate in the National Championship Game.

Which begs the question...What is the purpose of having a team participate in Division 1-A football if they are not going to be rewarded with a chance to be crowned the best team in the country?  There is not one facet of life where an individual, a group, or a team feels comfortable playing for second place.  Competitive drive is a by-product of human nature, and TCU is being robbed of their competitive spirit year-in and year-out. 

Not only does human nature suggest that TCU should be discouraged by their recent plight, but the BCS system may also affect the quality of their football program in the future.  The talent that makes up a college football program comes from the recruitment of high school players.  These high school players have criteria that they look for in a given school before making their decision.  Some look for academics, some look for student life, but many football players look for prestige.  The number of National Championships a school has won could go a long way in determining the quality and talent level of that school's recruiting class.  For example, if a Texas kid is being heavily pursued by both the Texas Longhorns and the TCU Horned Frogs, but that kid knows that TCU is unlikely to ever get to the BCS National Championship Game, if that kid holds prestige in high-esteem, it's likely he would accept the invitation to play at the traditional, more prestigious school in Texas.  Thus, the BCS system is curtailing both the present and future football potential of smaller, less traditional schools like TCU.

So what's the alternative?  A traditional playoff system in which eight or 16 teams will do battle to determine the best team in the country.  Of course, like with any fundamental change, there would be some negative consequences of switching to a playoff format.  School administrators argue that long-standing traditional rivalries would suffer, more "playoff" games would create academic issues for the athletes, travel would likely be more difficult, and attendance might suffer.  But it's ridiculous to assume that the bright minds at the NCAA wouldn't be able to work out the logistics so that a playoff system could work.  After all, the credibility of college football programs are at stake.  The reputations of schools are at stake.  When football programs suffer, schools lose money.  The BCS should not be about making tons of greenback for the big-time schools, by rewarding them with appearances in the BCS championship game every year.  Sometimes it's okay to reward the little guy too.  So lock the heads of the NCAA in a room and tell them not to come out until they've figured out a legitimate playoff system.  Only problem is, after last night's title game, you might have trouble getting them into the room in the first place.

Dissecting the Lawrie deal

Ever since Alex Anthopoulos took over as General Manager of the Blue Jays in October of 2009, excitement surrounding the organization hasn't been hard to come by.  From his first day at the helm, Anthopoulos has been focused on making his vision of this Blue Jays team a reality.  His vision has resulted in plenty of moves and plenty of fun for Blue Jays fans.  

Anthopoulos made a huge leap towards fulfilling his vision on Monday when he traded the Blue Jays 2010 opening day starter Shaun Marcum for Canadian prospect Brett Lawrie.  The 20-year old Lawrie, a former first round pick (16th overall) was considered the Brewers top prospect.  In 2010, Lawrie hit .285 with eight homers, 65 RBIs and 30 stolen bases in 135 games for AA-Huntsville.  Marcum on the other hand, returned from missing all of 2009 with Tommy John surgery to go 13-8, with a 3.64 earned run average in 31 starts.  At first glance, one might be puzzled as to why the Blue Jays would trade a top-2 level starter, who's only 29-years old, for a hitting prospect.  But when you look beneath the surface, this trade fits perfectly into Anthopoulos' plans.

Anthopoulos is an outspoken personality.  If you've listened to him in an interview, chances are you know how vital it is for him to load up the Blue Jays farm system with high-ceiling prospects to fill the Blue Jays lineup for years to come.  That desire for young talent was crucial in deciding to make this deal.  Before the Brewers took Lawrie one spot ahead of the Blue Jays in 2008, Anthopoulos had his eye on the kid from Langley, B.C.  That's because Lawrie perfectly fits the bill of a young position player with a high ceiling.  Lawrie is a five-tool player.  Although some will complain that he isn't quick enough to play second base, that is the position he has played in the minor leagues.  He has also played catcher in the past and can play the outfield if needed.  His bat is so potent, and his defense capable enough, that when he's "ready", he will have no trouble becoming a mainstay in the Blue Jays lineup.  Five-tool position players are very rare.  Anthopoulos saw the opportunity to acquire one and grabbed hold of it.

One of the main ways Anthopoulos has gone about developing young talent has been through the Blue Jays pitching staff.  Romero, Cecil, Morrow, Drabek, Rzepcynski, Litsch, Zach Stewart (minors), Brad Mills (minors) and Chad Jenkins (minors) have given the Jays plenty of starting rotation options for now and further down the road.  Marcum was only under contract for the next two seasons, and even if he resigned, that would have meant fewer innings for the Jays top pitching prospects who, in two years, should be able to contribute well to the starting rotation.  

For the 2011 season, it seems feasible that one of Rzepcynski, Litsch, Mills or Stewart (Jenkins probably isn't ready yet) should be able to adequately perform as the fifth man in the rotation.  Given until 2012, one of those pitchers should be able to assume their spot in the rotation, not as a stop-gap measure, but rather as a regular starter.  After all, Anthopoulos has said on numerous occasions that his intention is to compete in 2012 and beyond.  The Blue Jays starting rotation will be a seasoned group by then.  Oh, and a talented young position player by the name of Brett Lawrie should also be contributing to the cause by 2012.  The Jays pitching depth and need for additional high-ceiling positional players made this trade a necessary and welcome deal.

Some believe that this trade will lead to more moves by Anthopoulos.  Perhaps AA was freeing up a spot in the rotation by trading away Marcum.  One of the names thrown around to fill his spot has been Royals ace and 2008 Cy Young winner Zack Greinke.  Greinke had previously had the Blue Jays on his no-trade list, but according to reports, has tossed that list because he is now "willing to go anywhere".  AA apparently inquired into Greinke's availability, and the Royals are said to want Kyle Drabek and Travis Snider, as well as one or two other prospects in return for the ace.  This asking price is way too high.

Drabek was the main blue-chip prospect coming back in return in the Roy Halladay deal.  The Blue Jays have Drabek under contract for the next five seasons.  There is no guarantee as to how his career will turn out, but all signs point to him being at the very least a solid starting pitcher, if not an ace.  Greinke's contract is up in only two seasons.  It seems unrealistic to believe Greinke would resign with the Blue Jays, especially after having the team on his no-trade list.  So, by making this deal, the Blue Jays would be losing three seasons worth of high-quality pitching.  And in wanting his team to compete in 2012 and beyond, losing those three seasons goes completely against Anthopolous' vision.

So while it's debatable as to whether a straight-up deal of Drabek for Greinke would be beneficial for the Jays, the addition of Travis Snider would render this deal a complete failure for the Jays.  Snider remains as the Jays best hitting prospect.  Though he has struggled so far in his major league career, he has yet to receive a full season of at-bats.  Fans must not forget that prior to seeing him struggle, Snider was projected to hit 25+ home runs a year.  His potential remains there.  And in baseball, patience is often rewarded.  

Anthopoulos synapses are always firing.  His offseason is probably not finished.  But it is clear with the Lawrie deal, that Anthopoulos wants to build a contender for many years to come.  Surely, sacrificing his long-term prized prospects for a pitcher only under contract for the next two years would be a big mistake.

Skinner leads NHL rookie class

With the 2010-2011 NHL campaign more than a quarter of the way through, here's a look at six highly-touted rookies and their progress after nearly two months in the pros.

Taylor Hall: 2010 stats (6 G, 12 P, -5)

While Hall has yet to put up the type of eye-popping numbers one might expect from the top overall pick, he still seems to do something every night to justify why he was the first player taken off the board on draft night. Hall's combination of speed, strength and hands is second to none among rookies and it has to be assumed that with his talent level, the production will come at some point. Especially since the Edmonton Oilers, who are clearly in rebuilding mode, are giving Hall more than enough ice-time to help with his development (17:11 minutes per game), including significant time on the power play. Like other first overall picks in recent years, (Steven Stamkos being the most recent example), once Hall fully understands the NHL game, his talent should lead to more production.

Jeff Skinner: 2010 stats: (7 G, 19 P, -4)

The main concern with Skinner heading into the 2010 NHL Entry Draft was his height. Listed at 5'10", several NHL scouts questioned how Skinner's lack of size would impact his play at the pro level. So far, the 10th overall pick has done everything to prove that skill, not size, should be considered a player's most valuable asset. Skinner leads all rookies in assists (12) and points (19), and also sits tied for second in points on the Carolina Hurricanes, behind only Eric Staal. He has shown impressive offensive flair, especially around the net where his soft hands and knack for finding loose pucks have resulted in his consistent production. To be sure, Skinner will experience the ups and downs of a typical rookie campaign, but his offensive talent should keep him near the top of the Calder Trophy race for the rest of the season.

Tyler Ennis: 2010 stats (5 G, 11 P, +2)

A great deal was expected of the 21-year-old heading into this season, especially after he put up nine points in 10 games with the Buffalo Sabres last year, including a team-leading four points in the playoffs. Ennis got off to a solid start this season, picking up four points in his first three games, but has since cooled off, going pointless over his last six. Ennis is a crafty setup man who has a tendency to play on the perimeter. For Ennis to reach his full potential, he will have to establish a stronger desire to go to the net. If that happens this year, Ennis could become the second Sabre in as many years to bring the Calder Trophy to Buffalo.

Logan Couture: 2010 stats (8 G, 13 P, 0)

Couture is the seasoned veteran of this rookie class. He was drafted ninth overall in 2007 by the San Jose Sharks and played in 25 games in 09-10. Had he played one more game, Couture would not have been considered a rookie for this season. But he is, and through a quarter of the season, it is Couture who leads all rookies with eight goals. Couture has found a home on the Sharks second line alongside Joe Pavelski and Ryane Clowe. While he has slowed over his last five games, picking up just one assist, Couture is surrounded with enough talent that he should be able to maintain his solid offensive production.

P.K. Subban: 2010 stats (1 G, 9 P, +5)

Subban quickly became a fan favorite in Montreal after his outstanding postseason performance last year in which he tallied eight points in 14 games. This season, the Rexdale, Ontario native continues to showcase the exciting style of play that endeared him to Canadiens fans, but he has also proven to be a reliable defenseman. He is third amongst rookies in ice-time (20:48 MPG) and sees action on both the power play and the penalty kill. Subban is blossoming into a solid all-around defender, and with Canadiens blueliner Andrei Markov out for the next six months, Subban's continued maturity will help ease the pain felt by Markov's void.

Tyler Seguin: 2010 stats (5 G, 9 P, 0)

The Bruins have opted to take it slow with Seguin, the second overall pick in the 2010 entry draft. He's averaging 12:40 of ice-time per game, putting him among the bottom six in minutes for the Bruins. With center Marc Savard on the mend, Seguin doesn't figure to see his ice-time increase anytime soon. Nonetheless, Seguin has made the most of his opportunities so far. His five goals puts him in a fourth-place tie among all rookies. If Seguin's ice-time increases, so will his production. Unfortunately, with the wealth of talent on the Bruins roster, fans might have to wait until the 2011-12 season to see what the youngster is really made of.