The World Series got under way last night, and, of course, the unexpected happened.  Pablo Sandoval, the Giants third baseman who resembles Kung Fu Panda, homered three times to lead San Francisco to the game one victory, 8-3 over Detroit.  You just never know.  Sandoval was benched in the 2010 world series because of lack of production, and Barry Zito, the starting pitcher last night, was kept off the world series roster two years ago.  Zito shut out the Tigers until Miguel Cabrera had an RBI single in the sixth inning.  The Giants have now won 14 consecutive Zito starts.  Tigers starter Justin Verlander didn’t have it last night, giving up 5 runs and 6 hits in four ineffective innings.

Game 2 is tonight, again starting at 8:00 pm and will be televised by FOX, Channel 7 in Miami.  Madison Bumgarner will toe the rubber for the Giants, Doug Fister will start for the Tigers.      

The Marlins interviewed former catcher Mike Redmond yesterday, and he is now considered the front-runner to take over as Marlins manager.  Other candidates that have supposedly moved to the top of the wish list include Padres special assistant Brad Ausmus, Reds pitching coach Bryan Price, and Diamondbacks special assistant Luis Gonzalez (Gonzo would be my choice, but I would welcome new blood like Ausmus or Redmond.)  Like I told you yesterday, this is the most important decision this ownership group is going to have to make until they decide to sell the team.  This franchise needs a stable, calming influence in the clubhouse.  A manager that reacts to a difficult loss the same way he reacts to a victory.  They cannot blow this one.  

The team also fired bench coach Joey Cora and pitching coach Randy St. Claire.   

At least, we still have a beautiful baseball park.    

TODAY’S TRIVIA QUESTION:  Pablo Sandoval joined a very exclusive list of players that have hit  three home runs in a World Series game.  Who are other three?  Tell you later, alligator. 

The Miami Dolphins go on the road this sunday against the New York Jets.  Rex Ryan is again creating controversy, talking his usual trash.  This one should be fun.  The Fins find themselves in second place in the AFC East with a 3-3 record, behind the New England Patriots, who lead the division with a 4-3 record.  The Jets and Bills are 3-4.  

Game time on Sunday is 1:00 pm, and you can watch the game on Channel 4, CBS in Miami.  In the NFL this week,

THURSDAY

Tampa Bay @ Minnesota Minn - 6.5 8:20 pm  NFL Network

SUNDAY

Miami @ New York Jets NY -1 1:00 pm CBS Ch. 4

Carolina @ Chicago Chi -9 1:00 pm

San Diego @ Cleveland Cle +1 1:00 pm

Seattle @ Detroit Det -1 1:00 pm

Jacsonville @ Green Bay GB -13 1:00 pm

Indianapolis @ Tennessee Ten -3.5 1:00 pm

New England @ St. Louis StL +7 1:00 pm

Atlanta @ Philadelphia Phi -1 1:00 pm

Washington @ Pittsburgh Pit -5 1:00 pm

Oakland @ Kansas City KC -1 4:05 pm

New York Giants @ Dallas Dal +1 4:25 pm

New Orleans @ Denver Den -6 8:20 pm NBC Ch. 6

MONDAY

San Francisco @ Arizona Ari + 6.5 8:30 pm ESPN

Bye Week for Buffalo, Cincinnati, Baltimore, and Houston.

In college football, FIU hosts Western Kentucky this saturday at 6:00 pm.  Good time for FIU to turn it around against a very good Hilltopper team.  I invite you to catch game broadcast (in English) on your smartphone or on the computer at www.fiusports.com.  I will be handling the play-by-play, and Pete Pelegrin will be handling the color analysis.

The University of Miami Hurricanes are off until Thursday, November 1st, when the Hokies of Virginia Tech visit the Seven-Names Stadium.  PLENTY of good seats are still available, and you can watch the game on ESPN.  In the BCS ratings, Alabama is #1, followed by Florida at #2, Kansas State #3, Oregon is fourth, and Notre Dame is fifth.  LSU, Oregon State, Oklahoma, USC, and Georgia round out the top ten.  Florida State is #12.  

In Kansas City, the Miami Heat lost to the Washington Wizards last night, 101-94.  Dwayne Wade scored 23 points, Chris Bosh added 18, and LeBron James had 13.  The Heat return home to the AAA to take on the New Orleans Hornets tomorrow night as the exhibition season mercifully comes to a close.  The team opens the regular season on Tuesday, October 30th, against the Boston Celtics.  

THE ANSWER TO TODAY’S TRIVIA QUESTION:  Pablo Sandoval joined a very exclusive list of players that have hit  three home runs in a World Series game.  Who are other three?  Babe Ruth did it twice, in 1926 and 1928.  Reggie Jackson connected long distance three times against the Dodgers in 1977, and Alberto Pujols did it last year for the Cardinals against the Texas Rangers.         

Don’t miss my two “Descarga Deportiva” segments (for the Spanish-challenged, “Sports Jam Session”) every day, Monday through Friday, at 9:25 am and 12:15 pm on Radio Esperanza, 1550 AM or on the internet on www.miradioesperanza.com.  

Behave yourselves, and always remember that tomorrow will bring us a brand new day.