Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Unbalanced.
The Yankees Struck Gold on Aaron Hicks
While the top prospects from the Yankees farm system quickly matriculate to the majors, one player acquired in General Manager Brian Cashman’s retool has proven himself worthy of a prominent long-term role on the club. With the arrivals of Aaron Judge and Gary Sanchez to the Bronx, and hot prospects like Gleyber Torres on the way, it’s easy to forget about just how good of a player Aaron Hicks has developed into. Let’s take a brief stroll down memory lane, to Baseball America’s scouting report on Hicks in 2009:
By Matt Mocarsky8 years ago in Unbalanced
2018 NBA MVP Prediction
Last year we witnessed one of the closest MVP races in the league's 71-year history. Russell Westbrook and James Harden took turns posting historically great numbers night in and night out. In the end, Westbrook took home the hardware after averaging a triple-double over the course of the entire season. With the way the offseason has shaken things around the league, the award is once again up for grabs with many newcomers expected to be in the hunt. Here is how I see the race playing out this season with my top five candidates to win the award.
By Jason Dandy8 years ago in Unbalanced
The Packers and Cowboys Headline NFL Week 4 Picks
Welcome back to the weekly pick’em where, unlike Bill Simmons, we actually pick more than two games each week. Week 3 was a weird one, between the ten road favorites and the litany of team protests, and it feels like we are back to square one after three weeks of games. Half of the Week 4 lines are three points or less, a bunch of coin-games between teams none of us know are good or bad yet.
By Brandon Anderson8 years ago in Unbalanced
Neo Yokio: Neo Riche & Neo Racist?
SPOILERS FOLLOW! Neo Yokio, Netflix's new anime by Ezra Koenig starring Jaden Smith, is an attempt at a satirical representation of the upper-class denizens of New York City, even if Koenig himself does not think so. The show primarily focuses on the melancholic, privileged lives that the characters, including the main character Kaz Kaan, live. In brief interludes, Neo Yokio frenetically glances upon the the lives of the suffering working class and the ostentatious wage gape/standard of living. While class discussions are prominent, Neo Yokio requires a pronounced examination of the representation of the magistocrats, demons, and terrorists.
By Brandon Daniel8 years ago in Unbalanced
Painting a Picture
Damian Lillard isn't one to shy away from the moment, from hitting the biggest shot in Portland Trail Blazers' history to proclaiming victory over the Golden State Warriors in six games as a underdog. Well that's what you get from a twenty-seven-year-old Oakland native who had a craving to make it out of the "O" as he would call it. Now as he prepares for the release of his second studio album Confirmed, and the upcoming NBA season, Lillard life spills out though his mediums.
By Justin Richards8 years ago in Unbalanced
Let the Twins Be a Warning to Other Front Offices
The 2017 Minnesota Twins are going to the playoffs. The same Twins team that started to give up at the deadline, moving Jaime Garcia to the Yankees just five days after he was acquired. But they pulled through and came out on top of the mediocrity that was the AL Wild Card.
By Owen McGrattan8 years ago in Unbalanced
The Improbable NFL Blackout Game (Not the One You're Thinking Of)
Every head coach remembers their first career win. Whether it's a blow out or a nail bitter; there's something special about getting that first W. However, no one's first win was as remarkable as Jason Garrett's. In order to understand the magnitude of that first game, we must first examine the circumstances that lead up to that game. On November 8, 2010, Wade Phillips was fired after the Cowboys started 1–7 and Jason Garrett was named interim head coach. 2010 was a rough year for Dallas, they had high hopes entering that season. The year before, Romo got his first playoff win, and after drafting rookie Dez Bryant, some people had the Cowboys on their Super Bowl radar. Sadly the expectations came crashing down when Tony Romo broke his collarbone against the New York Giants in Week 7.
By Jason Schwartz8 years ago in Unbalanced
NBA Rookies that Will Struggle in 2017-18
A week ago I outlined three rookies that are poised to have successful rookie seasons. Jayson Tatum (BOS), De'Aaron Fox (SAC), and Dennis Smith (DAL) were all players with translatable NBA skills and are in situations with their teams that will help their development throughout the 2017-18 season.
By Michael DePrisco8 years ago in Unbalanced
Pittsburgh Penguins, and NHL, Reveal Unsurprising Tone-Deafness, but Players of Color Are Thankfully Speaking Out
On August 14, 2016, Colin Kaepernick didn't get up for the national anthem before the San Francisco 49ers' first preseason game. Less than a week later, he again did not rise. He piqued the public's interest when it occurred a third time, before the 49ers' third preseason game, on August 26. He announced he was doing so to bring attention to and combat the oppression of people of color, as well as police brutality.
By Steve Smith8 years ago in Unbalanced
Predicting the NHL Western Conference Playoffs
Last week, I discussed who might be in line to make the playoffs in the Eastern Conference. Admittedly, preseason playoff predictions don't usually go so well. But it's fun to think about who might have great years, comeback years, or fall out of their conferences top eight, even if your own moderators express concern over your potential existential crisis. I assure you, I'm fine. And here's who I think is going to the playoffs in the West.
By Kyle Vandenberg8 years ago in Unbalanced
