Who stays and who goes?

NOLAN MUCCIARONE:

Rangers and LA. How terrible is that. A NY-LA finals. Horrible. Just horrible.

ROB YUNICH:

L.A. Kings and N.J. Devils. It’s pretty amazing that the Kings are undefeated on the road and have gone 2-0 up on the three top-seeded teams in the Western Conference. While they only finished two points behind the Phoenix Coyotes, they were 16 points behind the Vancouver Canucks and 14 points behind the St. Louis Blues — the two teams they’ve already eliminated. Meanwhile, the Devils made sure that their series with the rival New York Rangers was 1-1 heading into Saturday’s home game. Their path hasn’t been as glamorous as the Kings’, but then again, Newark, N.J., isn’t anywhere is nice as L.A.

JOHN MANUEL:

LA for sure, they are rolling too easily through everyone.  As for the East, before the playoffs I felt the Rangers were the team to beat after 2 seven game series and what looks to be a third I think the Devils take them.  It has to take a toll contrary to Tortarella’s beliefs.  If it does go 7, that seventh game is going to be intense in the Garden.

PARKS SMITH:

Ugh… I don’t even want to think about this, but I think the Rangers and Kings pull it out. The Kings are cruising and I think the Rangers goaltending and defense will be the difference in the Eastern Finals.

2.  What percent chance do you think there will be an LA vs. LA Western Conference Finals?

NOLAN MUCCIARONE:

Zero. Both LA teams will probably lose. The Lakers will probably get swept.

ROB YUNICH:

No… San Antonio is too good, and the Lakers are in a world of trouble. So not only do I think it won’t be L.A. vs. L.A., I venture to say that neither NBA team that plays its home games in the Staples Center will be participating in the Western Conference Finals.

JOHN MANUEL:

.000000001 and only because I can’t say 0 with Kobe.  I think the Lakers can at least rally to make it a series with OKC but I can’t see the Clippers doing much with the Spurs.  Even though the Spurs choked last season vs. the Grizz I think they handle the Clippers in 5.  Clippers get an education from a coach and player like Pop and Duncan.

PARKS SMITH:

20%, both teams are underdogs and I think its very a very slim chance that LA will become LALA-land for the Western Conference Finals. The Thunder and Spurs will both be tough to beat.

3.  What is there a better chance of happening — Josh Hamilton hitting 60 HRs OR any full-time starting pitcher having a sub 2.0 ERA for the season?

NOLAN MUCCIARONE:

Josh Hamilton hitting 60 home runs probably won’t happen, but a full-time starting pitcher having an ERA under 2.00 definitely will not. But I’ve been wrong before. Great question.

ROB YUNICH:

I’m going with the starting pitcher. As of this writing, there are six pitchers with a sub-2.00 ERA for the season and five pitchers finished with a sub-2.50 ERA last season.

JOHN MANUEL:

I say neither happens.  I think there is a 50% Hamilton cools off and hits 50-55 and a 50% chance he goes on the DL for a month like usual.  As for the pitchers its too tough to hold your ERA that low consistantly through a whole season.  Strasburg’s been great but one bad outing and he skyrocketed to 2.25.  None of the guys currently under I think can hold it up especially Dempster in Wrigley and Big Z.

PARKS SMITH:

I want to say a pitcher with really electrifying stuff could get it done, but the MLB season is such a grind full of ebbs and flows. Hamilton has a better shot right now, although the injury bug always seems to hit him.

4.  With Chris Bosh out indefinitely, will that mean the NBA’s “Dream Team” be without a championship 2 years in a row?

NOLAN MUCCIARONE:

I sure as heck hope so.

ROB YUNICH:

Firstly, the Heat aren’t a dream team. They’ve got a big collective mouth, but they haven’t yet backed it up. Furthermore, we’ve already seen the Chicago Bulls eliminated once Derrick Rose was hurt and now the Heat have their hands full with the Indiana Pacers. And, even if the Heat defeat Indiana, they’ll still have to play (presumably) the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference finals and then (most likely) the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals. The Heat would have trouble winning the title with Bosh, but without him, they’ve got no shot. And I couldn’t be happier!

JOHN MANUEL:

Confused by the question at first, I was thinking Olympic Dream Team, which Bosh may not make anyway.  Its gonna be tough but I still think they can win the title.  If you made me bet everything I have though I would say not this year.  With or without Bosh I think they will get by Indiana probably now in 7.  If Bosh is back for the conference finals, the will beat either the Celtics or Sixers.  Without Bosh, the Celtics can beat them.  Bosh back for the finals, I think San Antonio beats them either way or OKC is Bosh is out.

PARKS SMITH:

I hope so. I think the Heat get too much into their own heads during these series. A scrappy, motivated team like Indy, OKC, or San Antonio could really give them trouble.

5.  Who would you rather have in the middle o your order — Roy Hobbs from “The Natural” or Josh Hamilton?

NOLAN MUCCIARONE:

Well, to be honest: I have never seen the “The Natural.” Why you ask? No idea. Because it’s probably the only baseball movie I haven’t seen yet. And I’ve seen them all. From “Bang The Drum Slowly” and “Pride of the Yankees” to “Tiger Town” and “Eight Men Out.” So yeah, I’d go with Hamilton.

ROB YUNICH:

Hobbs. He’s a better story and a much better person.

JOHN MANUEL:

Can I take President Palmer from “Major League” aka Pedro Cerrano?  If not, I take Hobbs.  Not a big fan of Josh Hamilton.  He is a great talent and is having a great season but just not a fan.  Then again, if he ends up with the Orioles in December I will buy a jersey (home and away), batting helmet with number on it and write State Senator Clay Davis everyday to close all bars in Maryland so he can’t slip up again.  No shhhhhhhhhhiitt!

PARKS SMITH:

Roy Hobbs… Hamilton is a free agent

He’s frustrated and who can blame him. So why haven’t the Saints had urgency to get a deal done?

And when do you think that a long-term deal will get done?

And now we have the LA Kings just dominating. Can they be stopped or is their momentum too powerful?

And these days do the wild cards or low seeds have it made to win the big game….or is it just a crapshoot?