Silver Fox to The Freak...and Baseball.

Obviously its been a few weeks since I've been on a blogging mission, but I figure that today is a good day to go about that.

So much to talk about in so little time...or maybe its so little to talk about in so much time, who knows? Let's do this.

The big news about 30 minutes before we started The Ace @ 8 last night was rumblings about Randy Moss being traded back to the Vikings from the Patriots. As we winded down the 2nd hour of the show, there was still no news on any confirmation of a trade. It seemed as if the trade was put to bed for the night, but it was still not dead in the water. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported this morning that it was a done deal, but give credit to Jay Glazer for being a machine and finding out all the cold hard facts. Even Bill Simmons deserves some credit for accidentially tweeting information regarding this potential trade. So, Randy Moss, the man who only pays 'Straight Cash, Homey' is (or well, should be) Number 84 again.

So what does this mean for the Vikings as well as the NFC North? Well, other than meter maids taking out new life insurance policies, it means a great deal to a very mediocre division in the NFL. Grant it, this isn't the NFC West (a combined 6-10) or the AFC West (1st place, 3-0 Kansas City Chiefs), but this is a division that in all reality is now down to the Packers and the Vikings. I think on Sunday Night vs. the Giants, the Bears showed us 'who we thought they were'. No one 'crowned' them anything. I think the Bears reached the peak of their season at 3-0...and are destined for 8 wins (+/- 1 or 2 games).

This will all come full circle for two straight weeks for the Vikings, October 24th at Lambeau Field where Favre, Moss and the Vikings will meet up with Aaron Rodgers and the Packers. Ironically enough, the one aspect to the Packers game that has been struggling (380+ yards to Shaun Hill, I think thats more than a struggle) has been their defense, more importantly, their defensive back position. Atari Bigby and Al Harris are both on the PUP List right now and should be active to face 'The Freak' on Sunday Night Football. Then on Halloween...Moss and the Vikings go back into Foxboro to play the Patriots. Where clearly Moss will be looking for his revenge.

This improves the Vikings considerably, no question. Its a matter of putting all the pieces together and meshing as well as they did last season. Will it happen? I'm not sure. Could it happen? Most definetly, yes.

Onto something a little more relavant, the 2010 MLB Playoffs...I'll make my series predictions for the Division Series' and see how they pan out.

National League

Phillies vs. Reds
Prediciton: Phillies in 4

I love the fact that the Reds are back in the playoffs. This will be a team that will contend with the Cardinals and Brewers for the years to come. A sure fire MVP in Joey Gotto and a heck of a starting rotation, but they drew the Phillies. If the Reds would of drawn the other two teams in the playoffs, I'd say they would have a pretty good shot to advance to the NLCS. Reality is though, you're facing a team that is the favorite to get back to their 3rd straight World Series and when you're tossing Halladay, Oswalt and Hamels, they're going to be tough to stop.

Giants vs. Braves
Prediction: Giants in 5

The Giants are a team I had in the playoffs from the very beginning. They had a strong April and May...slumped June and July...then turned it back on for the remainder of the season. Matt Cain and Tim Lincecum are two pitchers I love to watch, the latter is one of my favorites in baseball. Jason Heyward and the Braves had a fantastic season, but I think the Bobby Cox Swan Song won't move on to bigger and better things, but they'll stretch the series to its limits, but McCovey Cove and the Giants will march onto the NLCS to face the Phillies.

American League

Rays vs. Rangers
Prediction: Rays in 4

The Rangers have never won a playoff series and are one of three teams to never reach the World Series (Nationals, Mariners). I think the trend will continue when they face the AL East Champions. Top to bottom Tampa Bay is one of the best teams in baseball and I really think their pitching will get them over the hump. David Price is a beast and should win the AL Cy Young. The homer in me wants the Rangers to win to benefit the Twins, but realistically, I can't pick that.

Twins vs. Yankees
Prediction: Twins in 5

Ron Gardenhire is 2-9 vs. New York in the playoffs in his career. The Twins didn't win a game vs. New York in 10 tries last season including the playoffs. This season they managed one in Yankee Stadium and one at Target Field. The Twins had 53 wins at home this season, the best in baseball. The Twins are throwing their 3 best starters on the hill in Liriano, Pavano and Duensing. The Yankees might have a stellar lineup, but their pitching has been suspect. We can get to Sabathia, Hughes hasn't been the same pitcher since the break, and Pettite has 1 start since the all star break due to injury. Jim Thome needs to motivate these guys and tell them all to hop on his big, broad Hall of Fame shoulders a-la Puckett and move on. I'm sure the NY Post article saying this should be an EZ Win for the Yanks will help too. The pinstrips have a giant Bullseye (no pun intended) on themselves, and this year, they haven't pissed off the little ole Twinkies, they've pissed off the fucking Twins!

-Ace