Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Unbalanced.
Evander Kane is Better Than You Thought
As the NHL celebrates its centennial, it could be argued that the league is more stacked with stars than ever before. With names like Crosby, Ovechkin, Price, Burns, Toews, Stamkos, Matthews, McDavid... has there ever been an era in the NHL where more big names all share the ice? You'd be hard-pressed to find it. Even in the 80s, when Gretzky and Lemieux ruled the ice, there simply weren't as many players in the league to see such an abundance of meteoric superstars across the game. As a result, some players get lost in the shuffle. Such is the story of Evander Kane.
By Kyle Vandenberg8 years ago in Unbalanced
Are The L.A. Chargers A New Team?
Over the past week, the Los Angeles Chargers have not looked like the same team that was taking the field the first few weeks of the season. Outside of just the fact that they have managed to string together a few wins in a row, the team looks as if they were somehow reinvigorated on both sides of the ball. Some would say that it is just the bumps of an NFL season, leading them to believe that the Chargers were eventually going to get here after weathering an early adjustment period. Some are still in shock of what they are seeing, and it has them and many others asking, “Are the Chargers a new team?"
By Kenneth Wilson8 years ago in Unbalanced
The New Home Field Advantage Rules Stink as Bad as the Old Ones
Thanks to years of complaints by fans and media alike, for the first time since 2002, home-field advantage for the World Series was determined not by the All-Star game results, but instead by regular season record. I'm sure everyone out there who lobbied for this change is patting themselves on the back for getting a change that, in their minds, fixed the All-Star game. I'm hesitant about the new CBA, however, because I fear that in fixing the All-Star game, the MLB broke the World Series.
By John Edwards8 years ago in Unbalanced
The Numbers Say Lance Mccullers' Future Is in the Rotation
After stymying the Yankees offense over the course of four shutout innings in the decisive Game 7 of the American League Championship Series, questions have arisen regarding Lance McCullers. Is he durable enough to be a starting pitcher? Is he effective enough over the course of a game to be a starting pitcher? If the answer to either or both of those is no, does that mean McCullers will end up being a reliever who can go multiple innings?
By Matt Mocarsky8 years ago in Unbalanced
Four College Football Teams That Are Better than Their Record
These four teams are playing at a higher level than their record indicates. Florida State (2-4) Florida State isn’t remotely close to the playoff contender it was expected to be. The loss of starting quarterback Deondre Francois in the very first game did nothing to help its cause, but it’s definitely not the only reason the Noles have already lost four times. That said though, this team is still better than its 2-4 record would indicate. Its four losses have come to teams that are a combined 25-4 (Louisville accounts for three of the losses), and three of them have been by six points of less. FSU has faced a daunting schedule, made more difficult by the hurricane that canceled its tune-up game against Louisiana-Monroe. Instead of that being backup quarterback James Blackman’s first start, it was NC State and one of the best front sevens in college football.
By Alec Lower8 years ago in Unbalanced
The 2017 Chicago Cubs Lacked That 'It' Factor
2017 wasn't necessarily a banner year for the Chicago Cubs. Well, for some teams, it would be considered a good year. But for the defending World Series champions, they fell short of their goal: to repeat. They just slid by the Washington Nationals in the Division series. Then come the NLCS, they weren't any competition for baseball's best team in the regular season: the LA Dodgers.
By Quinn Allen8 years ago in Unbalanced
Nike Gets a Big Fat 10 for This Troll Job
What is a troll? No, not the short, pimple-faced imaginary creature that lives under a bridge. Wrong again, not the highlighter hair-colored, plastic figurines that were all the rage in the 90s. When I say “troll," I am talking about the new age kind, the one that hides behind a keyboard. I am referring to a character that the phrase “when Twitter fingers turn to trigger fingers” encapsulates perfectly. You know that guy or girl, with no “real” profile picture or image, who has something to say about everything and usually nothing positive. Yeah, that person. This person would be your troll.
By Kenneth Wilson8 years ago in Unbalanced
Aaron Judge Has Been Great in October. Umpires Have Failed Him.
After a record-setting rookie season that may earn him the American League Most Valuable Player award, Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge has put himself in the record books in the postseason. The record he broke? Most strikeouts in a postseason series. Judge managed to do that in the five game ALDS against the Indians, striking out 16 times in only 20 at-bats. It’s incredible that he struck out 80% of the time in that series, and he’s continued that trend into the ALCS as well. Through five games, Astros pitchers have struck out Judge eight times in 16 at-bats, which is good for a 50% strikeout rate. Overall, he’s running a 60% strikeout rate in the playoffs, and yet he somehow has put up a .847 On Base+Slugging% (OPS).
By Matt Mocarsky8 years ago in Unbalanced
