Round Two NHL Stanley Cup Playoff Predictions: Favorites Fall So Soon

So, much like those NBA picks I just published, thoughts and commentary here will be forthcoming. Same goes for how everyone has fared on their picks thus far, but for now, we'll just get to an overall recap of my predictions for this next round.

Round One NBA Playoffs Predictions: Let the real Heat-hating begin

After managing to throw together a 66-game regular season, the playoffs have finally arrived. Seeing as I'm trying to post these picks from the middle of Futt Buck, Texas, (on my phone, no less) thoughts will be non-exsistent this round. I still have to post the NHL picks too, after all.

Round One NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Predictions: Can't talk, hockey (for the next two or so months)

Yeah, so I would normally include the couple paragraphs build-up before the jump and then go to the graphics to accompany the picks, but I'm strapped for time right now and ... well, there was a little additional work that prevented me from offering the usual take on each series I was predicting the outcome for, but I would say that the picks this year were definitely on the safer side. Indeed, I couldn't bring myself to go against any of the teams that had more points in the regular season, so there's two predicted outcomes with lower seeds that, more or less, everybody else is picking.

So far, that logic is not looking especially sound, albeit only a game or two into any series. Still, probably because this is the first time in many years that I am living in a house with cable (or maybe because of the additional coverage provided by NBC's new channel, formerly known as Versus), the playoffs have effectively captured my undivided attention. This past Thursday night, with two opening games going into overtime—at the same time the Bulls and Heat were about to go into overtime—was an unbelievably thrilling night to be playing with the remote. And I have been—and likely, will be—staying up until damn near midnight watching the late games on the west coast. I never caught "March Madness," but I can't seem to shake whatever the hell I've got now.

The Blackhawks' Fourth Quarter: A six seed never felt so good

You know, if I'm looking back on these quarterly graphics many years down the road, I might wonder why I had an image of a celebratory Patrick Kane when the team had finished fourth in the division. Was that good enough to make the playoffs that year? I might wonder. There's probably going to be a wee bit of outcry for the league to change how they determine postseason seedings after how things turned out this year. Or maybe Gary Bettman will be able to use this as leverage to get the players union to reconsider that realignment deal. Or maybe nothing will change.

I'm almost certainly still going to be talking about this throughout the playoffs—of which, the Blackhawks, thankfully, will be a part. Despite that hideous purple tint to the record, that's still a 101-point team. Better yet, they completed this last quarter of the year completely without their captain, who's likely returning just in time for the first round of the playoffs.

And the weirdest thing of all is that I actually rooted for this near the end of the year. With the "Where-the-fuck-did-THEY-come-from" Blues clearly in line to win the division and the Predators comfortably locked into that apparent four-spot, why in the world wish for a first-round matchup with the team the Hawks lost four of six to this year—especially when you can have Detroit do that instead? Nashville would have been a disastrous opening round opponent, but instead Chicago draws the much more favorable matchup with Phoenix. Sure, fourth is a helluva lot lower than I had this team finishing when I made picks at the beginning of the year, but all things considered, it does not seem out of the question for this team to still make a legitimate run at the Cup.

2012 MLB Predictions: A week late?

Tonight was Opening Night. Well, here in the States, I mean. See, that photo on the right is from a pair of games Oakland and Seattle split to kick off the regular season ... in Japan.

If it was on TV, I didn't come across it, and if there was any attention given to it, I already forgot what was said. I know I typically try to post my picks before the first pitch is thrown, but as has been the story of late with BMC posts, I've just been busy. So there's a couple teams with one game under their belt already, which should really help me out in laying out my annual predictions for the 162-game season. Judging by recent years, I need all the help I can get.

Last year, I played it safe and was rewarded by having absolutely none of my playoff predictions—winners or losers in any specific round—be correct. Considering how memorable of a postseason it turned out to be, I wasn't left with much to complain about. Entering this year, it's hard to say there's a real consensus favorite, but I will say not too many people are picking the Cards to repeat. Oh, and we also have a new, ridiculous single-game Wild Card Playoff. 

One game. After 162. They're really doing this.

I'm quite positive I will be bitching about this throughout the playoffs, and maybe during the regular season—when I'm not expressing concern about how often Fredi González is using his three-headed closing monster. Or cheering it, maybe. I haven't decided yet.