Let’s go out to the ballparks.
The Marlins managed to salvage a game against the Phillies last night, avoiding the sweep. Ed Lucas homered in the tenth inning to give the Marlins the 4-3 win. It got hairy for the Fish in the bottom of the tenth, when after leadoff hitter Carlos Ruiz reached on an error by Lucas, and the Phillies loaded the bases with just one out. Marlins closer Steve Chisek then struck out Roger Bernadina and retired Freddy Galvis on a ground out to end the ball game. Giancarlo Stanton hit a 460-foot blast with a man on to tie the game at 3-3 in the sixth inning. Even after the win, the Phillies lead the season series against the Fish, 11-5. They have another three-game series in Miami next Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. The Fish need to win seven of their remaining 11 games in order to avoid the second 100-loss season in team history.
To put this in another way, the Marlins would need to win their remaining eleven games in order to win more games than the Miami Heat (66-16) won last season, even though the NBA regular season is comprised of only 82 games, while the MLB regular season has 162 games. Not gonna happen.
The Marlins are in Washington, DC, to take on the Nats in a four-game series beginning tonight. Here are the probable pitchers for the series:
TONIGHT Henderson Alvarez vs Gio Gonzalez 7:05 pm
FRIDAY Jacob Turner vs Jordan Zimmerman 7:05 pm
SATURDAY Tom Koehler vs Stephen Strasburg 7:05 pm
SUNDAY Brian Flynn vs Dan Haren 1:35 pm
The Fish will close out the regular season at home next week, with three games against the Phillies and a three-game weekend series against Miguel Cabrera and the Detroit Tigers.
The Marlins are still the worst offensive team in the majors, and one of the worst in major league history. The Fish have been held to three runs or less 95 times this season, and their record in those 95 games is 18-77. Taking it one step further,
When scoring three runs in a game - 7-18
When scoring two runs in a game - 9-19
When scoring one run in a game - 2-23
Of course, they lead the majors in getting shutout, having been blanked 17 times so far this season.
The Marlins are still at the bottom of the list in runs scored this season in MLB, scoring only 485 runs in their 151 games, an obscene 3.21 runs per contest. Here are the bottom-dwellers:
TEAM W-L Runs
Marlins 56-95 489
White Sox 60-92 562
Padres 71-80 577
Cubs 63-89 578
Twins 65-86 581
In contrast, the Boston Red Sox (92-60) lead MLB with 796 runs.
This article, from ThePostGame.com, is a sad commentary on the whole sad state of affairs with the Marlins. Thanks to alert readers and good friends Armando Sierra and Ed Hennessy for sharing it:
One man’s thank you note to Jeffrey Loria
Here are the capsules and summaries from all the games.
National League Results and Summaries - Wednesday, Sept. 18
American League Results and Summaries - Wednesday, Sept. 18
Today’s games around the majors,
Schedule and probable starters for today's games - Thursday, Sept.19
Here is the complete, month-by-month 2014 schedule for the Marlins:
2014 Marlins Schedule
Six players that a lot of people, including Keith Law of ESPN, were wrong about:
Players that have exceeded expectations in 2013
The wild card races are tight, to say the least.
In the American League, Tampa Bay is percentage points ahead of the Rangers, with the Indians right on their tails. 1/2 game behind, the Orioles are 1 game back, and the Yankees and Royals still in it, 2 1/2 games behind. The division races are pretty much over, with the Red Sox, Tigers, and A’s having comfortable leads.
Over in the National League, Atlanta and the LA Dodgers are in control in the East and West, respectively. The Central is another story, where the Cardinals lead the division by 2 games over Pittsburgh and the Cincinnati Reds are 1/2 game behind the Pirates. The Washington Nationals are 5 1/2 games behind the Reds, even after a run that has seen them win 10 out of their last 12 games. A case of too little, too late for the Nats, who have under-performed all season. All three teams from the NL Central will advance to the postseason, it is just a matter of who wins the division and who end up facing each other, and where, in the one-game wild card playoff.
Like it or not, the extra wild card has made this September very interesting:
Wild card making September more exciting
Here are the up-to-the-minute standings in MLB:
MLB Standings
Here are the individual league leaders in MLB:
Individual MLB league leaders
TODAY’S TRIVIA QUESTION: Mariano Rivera is the all-time saves leader in MLB history with 652 regular season saves, and, for good measure, he is also the all-time leader in post-season saves with 42 more. Shifting over to NY Yankee history, who is in second place in team history in saves? The answer comes later, alligator.
Let’s go to the NFL, starting with the Dolphins.
Dolphins QB Ryan Tannehill (shoulder) limited at practice
Ex-Falcons Grimes, Clabo get their shot at former team
Miami Dolphins will face a challenge against premier tight ends
Dolphins in Depth
Here is the schedule of games for NFL week 3, and my selection for tonight’s game:
THURSDAY
Kansas City @ Philadelphia -3 8:30 pm NFL Network
Andy Reid returns to Philadelphia to face the team that fired him this past offseason after 14 years as coach. Nine playoff appearances, six NFC East titles, five conference championship games, and a Super Bowl appearance weren’t enough for the Eagles to keep him, but certainly made him attractive to the Chiefs. Kansas City was 2-14 last year, but has already matched that win total, getting off to a 2-0 start. The Chiefs will have their hands full with the fast-paced offense that new Eagles coach Chip Kelly, an offense that has scored 63 points in two games, totaled 954 yards and seven touchdowns, but is 1-1. LeSean McCoy has rushed 42 times for 237 yards and has six receptions for 119 yards in the two games. The Chiefs’ defense, which has only allowed nine points so far this season, is much improved, but it will definitely be tested. QB Alex Smith has been quietly effective and very efficient in his first two games with KC. I’m going to go with a hunch and take the Chiefs plus the three points.
Here’s the rest of the schedule for week 3. I’ll have the rest of my picks tomorrow. The games I will be selecting are indicated by the * next to the game.
SUNDAY
Green Bay @ Cincinnati +3 1:00 pm FOX *
NY Giants @ Carolina -1 1:00 pm FOX *
St. Louis @ Dallas -4 1:00 pm FOX
Tampa Bay @ New England -9 1:00 pm FOX
Arizona @ New Orleans -9 1:00 pm FOX
Detroit @ Washington -1 1:00 pm FOX
Houston @ Baltimore +3 1:00 pm CBS
Cleveland @ Minnesota -7 1:00 pm CBS *
San Diego @ Tennessee -3 1:00 pm CBS
Atlanta @ MIAMI -1 4:05 pm FOX *
Buffalo @ NY Jets +1 4:25 pm CBS
Indianapolis @ San Francisco -12 4:25 pm CBS
Jacksonville @ Seattle -19 4:25 pm CBS
Chicago @ Pittsburgh +3 8:30 pm NBC *
MONDAY
Oakland @ Denver -16 8:30 pm ESPN *
I finished 5-2 against the spread last week, and a perfect 7-0 straight up.
vs the Spread Straight Up Season Total
WEEK 1 3-2-1 4-2 ------ -----
WEEK 2 5-2 7-0 8-4-1 11-2
WEEK 3
Around the NFL, the big news yesterday was Cleveland sending RB Trent Richardson to the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for the Colts' first round pick next year. We look at reaction from both Cleveland and Indianapolis:
Reaction from the Cleveland Plains Dealer:
Reaction from the Indianapolis Star:
My take: It almost looks like the Browns asked for trade advice from Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria on this one. Hell, Richardson found out about the trade on the radio. I don't like the trade for Cleveland, although we really don't know what else is going on in Cleveland. Indianapolis gets the #3 pick from last year's draft in a trade for next year's first round pick, a pick that should be in the high teens or early 20's. They also fill an urgent need and it really looks to me like they're trying to repeat what was successful in the past. (Payton Manning and Edgerrin James). Early winner - Colts.
Here’s ESPN’s NFL Nation Blog, with more news from all around the league:
NFL Nation Blog »
Of course, we can all continue to sleep at night, knowing full well that Aaron Hernandez remains in jail, where he belongs.
The Herald’s Manny Navarro and Susan Miller Degnan have the latest scoop from the University of Miami, as the Canes prepare for this week’s encounter with doormat Savannah State at the Seven Names Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7:00 pm, and there is no live TV, since the Canes are favored by close to 100 points over Savannah State, who would probably get beat by a couple of the top-notch South Florida high school teams. You can, however, watch the game on your computer on ESPN3:
Eye on the U
For UM, Golden question arises: Who will play against Savannah State, who will be held back?
Gus ‘The Bus’ Edwards ready to carry the load for UM
FIU travels to Louisville on Saturday to take on the University of Louisville. Kickoff is at 12 noon. No free TV for the game, which is probably done so nobody down here has to bear witness to what should be a massacre. If you choose to, you can watch the game on your computer, on ESPN3. Louisville is favored by 42 points over the Panthers. Remember, FIU beat this Louisville team two seasons ago, and last year, they played them very tough and had a 14-7 lead before FIU QB Jake Medlock suffered a foot injury. The Panthers fell behind 28-14, and made it interesting, losing 28-21.
Please tell me again why Mario Cristobal was fired.
Here’s the latest from FIU:
Panthers’ young kicker Austin Taylor achieves goal on the field
FIU’s Jake Medlock doubtful for game against Louisville
Panthers Prowl
Here’s the latest from Tallahassee and FSU:
FSU blog | Seminoles Chant
From Gainesville and the University of Florida:
UF blog | Gator Clause
Here is the complete schedule in College Football for week 4:
NCAA Week 4 Schedule
In Miami Heat news, the Birdman, Chris Andersen, was the victim of an internet hoax. He has now been cleared of any wrongdoing:
Heat’s Chris Andersen cleared; investigation was prompted by hoax
In a sad note from boxing, former heavyweight champion Ken Norton died yesterday at the age of 70. Norton broke my heart and Muhammad Ali’s jaw in their first of three classic fights way back in October of 1973. I also still remember the classic fight against Larry Holmes in 1978, a split decision that two judges scored for Holmes by one point, the other judge scored it for Norton by one point. That fight remains one of the best heavyweight fights I ever saw.
Former heavyweight champ Ken Norton dies
I leave you, however, with a much happier note from boxing. The most incompetent boxing judge ever, CJ Ross, has decided to leave the sport. There are unsubstantiated rumors that a couple of fast-food chains have already rejected her applications for employment.
Embattled Floyd-Canelo judge steps down
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I’m selling three lots totaling a little over five acres in the beautiful North Carolina mountains, overlooking the New River, a quick 35-minute drive from Boone and Blowing Rock. Click here to see some photos and feel free to contact me if you have any questions:
Beautiful North Carolina Property For Sale
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
THE ANSWER TO TODAY’S TRIVIA QUESTION: Mariano Rivera is the all-time saves leader in MLB history with 652 regular season saves, and, for good measure, he is also the all-time leader in post-season saves with 42 more. Shifting over to NY Yankee history, who is in second place in team history in saves?
Dave Righetti is second in Yankees‘ team history with a total of 224. Goose Gossage is third with 151, Sparky Lyle is fourth with 141.
Behave yourselves, and always remember that tomorrow will bring us a brand new day.
No comments:
Post a Comment