Let’s begin with the American League Championship Series. The Boston Red Sox took a 3-2 lead in their series with the Tigers with a 4-3 victory last night. The Red Sox got out to a 4-0 lead against Detroit starter Anibal Sanchez, who gave up the four runs in his six innings of work. Detroit came back to make it close, but wasted a number of opportunities with runners on base and couldn’t complete the comeback. The teams are traveling today, and will return to the field for game six in Boston tomorrow. Game time will be determined after tonight’s Dodgers-Cardinals game in the NLCS. We do know who the starters will be for game six, regardless of the time. Clay Buchholz will be on the mound for Boston, while Max Scherzer will toe the rubber for Jim Leyland’s club.
The Dodgers look to stave off elimination once more today, as they face the Cardinals on game six of the NLCS, the Cardinals lead the series 3 games to 2. Another great pitching matchup today - Michael Wacha will start for the Cardinals, Clayton Kershaw will get the ball for the Dodgers. Game time tonight is 8:30 pm, and it will be carried by TBS on your cable or satellite system. We all know what Clayton Kershaw brings to the table, but if you haven’t seen Michael Wacha pitch yet, you’re missing out. This 22-year-old is very special.
TODAY’S TRIVIA QUESTION: The Red Sox started Xander Bogaerts at third base yesterday, and at 21 years and 16 days old, he became the youngest Red Sox player ever to start a postseason game. Who held the record for the Red Sox before Bogaerts? The answer comes later, alligator.
To again quote the legendary Babe Ruth:
“Baseball was, is, and always will be, the best game in the world.”
FRIDAY
Dodgers @ Cardinals (Cards lead series 3-2) GAME 6 NLCS
Clayton Kershaw vs Michael Wacha 8:30 pm TBS
Here is the complete MLB post season schedule and results so far:
More on the story that just refuses to go away:
New tell-all book coming on A-Roid:
In case you missed this, on another story that, unfortunately, won’t go away, the Marlins are still owned by Jeffrey Loria. While I’m still wishing and hoping that this inept and incompetent owner will eventually do the right thing and sell the team to someone who truly cares, it got me thinking . . . with Larry Beinfest now gone, does this open the door for a potential Giancarlo Stanton trade? There are a number of teams that would jump over a tall building in a single bound to get Stanton. The Phillies and Mets in the NL East, the Yankees, Orioles, and the Red Sox in the AL East, just to name a few. Stanton remains under team control for another three seasons, and that makes him very attractive in a trade.
Let’s go to the gridiron:
The Dolphins are preparing to get back at it after the bye week, as they take on the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, here at the Seven Names Stadium. Kickoff is at 1:00 pm, and you can watch the game on CBS, Channel 4 i South Florida.
Some Dolphins news:
Jimmy Johnson talks about Ryan Tannehill:
Here’s Armando Salguero:
Good start for my picks in the NFL this week. The Seattle Seahawks took care of the Arizona Cardinals 34-22, thanks to three touchdowns by QB Russell Wilson. In case you hadn’t noticed, the Seahawks are very, very good.
My record so far this season: 24-17-2 against the spread, and 29-14 straight up.
Here are this week’s game, along with my picks:
THURSDAY
Seattle 34 Arizona 22
SUNDAY
Buffalo @ Miami -8 1:00 pm CBS
The Dolphins come off their bye week and consecutive losses looking to get their offensive line in order for the remainder of the season. QB Ryan Tannehill has been sacked an NFL-high 24 times so far this season, and they face a Bills defense this week that is third in the NFL with 21 sacks. Buffalo will again be without their starting QB EJ Manuel this week, but his replacement, Thad Lewis, who played high school football here in Miami at Booker T. Washington, filled in quite nicely last week in a close loss to Cincinnati. Miami has won four of the last five games in Miami and I look for that trend to continue this week. It may be closer than we think, but I’ll still take Miami and give the eight points.
Tampa Bay @ Atlanta -9 1:00 pm FOX
Cincinnati @ Detroit -3 1:00 pm CBS
New England @ NY Jets +4 1:00 pm CBS
Rex Ryan may be coaching for his job, but his Jets have to take on Tom Brady, who is 18-4 in his career in the regular season against the Jets, including the last six in a row. The Patriots defense is struggling, however, having allowed an average of 386 yards (270 yards passing) in their last three games. Can Geno Smith take advantage of the Patriot defense in their second matchup this season? Methinks no. New England coach Bill Belichick always seems to find a way to winTaking the Patriots minus the four points.
Dallas @ Philadelphia -3 1:00 pm FOX
Chicago @ Washington +1 1:00 pm FOX
The Redskins have managed to move the ball offensively this year, averaging just under 400 yards per game, fourth-best in the NFL. However, they are 20th in the league in points scored, averaging just over 21 points per game. Their defense is near the bottom of the league in both yards allowed (395 per game), and in scoring defense, allowing almost 29 points per contest. I look for the Bears to put a lot of pressure on Robert Griffin III and get back to being the opportunistic defense that they have been in the past. The Bears have won 17 of their last 18 games in which they have caused at least three turnovers. Keep your eyes on return man Devon Hester this week. He is due. I’ll take the Bears and give the one point.
St. Louis @ Carolina -7 1:00 pm FOX
San Diego @ Jacksonville +9 1:00 pm CBS
San Francisco @ Tennessee +4 4:00 pm FOX
Cleveland @ Green Bay -11 4:25 pm CBS
Houston @ Kansas City -7 4:25 pm CBS
The Chiefs have the most opportunistic defense in the NFL, and their defense and special teams have accounted for almost one-half of their points this season. Houston, on the other hand, is -12 on their turnover differential so far this season, and although they average 396 yards per game on offense, they are seventh lowest in the league in scoring at 17.7 points per game. The Texans will turn to their third-string QB, undrafted rookie Case Keenum. I’ll take my chances with the Chiefs minus the seven points at home.
Baltimore @ Pittsburgh -1 4:25 pm CBS
Denver @ Indianapolis +7 8:30 pm NBC
Payton Manning is 82-32 playing in Indianapolis, but 0-0 as a visitor. He will be honored on Sunday by the Colts, and will probably go out a winner in his first game there as the enemy. He will be facing a very good Colts defense, ranked fifth in the league against the pass and in scoring defense, allowing only 15.3 points per contest. The Denver defense, ranked last in the NFL in pass defense, gets Von Miller back from his suspension, and he will definitely help against Colts QB Andrew Luck. I’ll take the Broncos on the road and reluctantly give the seven points.
MONDAY
Minnesota @ NY Giants -4 8:30 pm ESPN
If this was a college bowl game, it would probably be called the Toilet Bowl. The 1-4 Vikings against the 0-5 Giants. The Vikings will have former Tampa Bay QB Josh Freeman making his debut against the Giants. On the other side of the field, Eli Manning has been horrible so far this season, but he gets to face one of the worst defenses against the pass. Manning has 15 interceptions this season, matching his total for the entire 2012 season. The Giants have to win at some point, right? This just isn’t the week. I’ll probably regret this, but I'll take the Vikings plus the points.
Here’s ESPN’s NFL Nation Blog, with more news from all around the league:
Of course, we can all continue to sleep at night, knowing full well that Aaron Hernandez remains in jail, where he belongs.
In college football, the #10-ranked University of Miami Hurricanes needed a touchdown with 16 seconds left in the game to overtake the University of North Carolina Tarheels by the score of 27-23. Reserve running back Dallas Crawford rushed for a career-high 137 yards and two touchdowns in 33 carries. Stephen Morris threw four interceptions, but guided the Canes to two fourth quarter TD’s that erased a 23-13 Tarheel lead. Miami lost Duke Johnson and Phillip Dorsett to head injuries during the game.
I told you yesterday that Miami would be able to run the ball against UNC, and they did. I also told you that this contest would serve as both a reality check and a character-builder, and it did just that. Miami showed their ability to come back and win a game they trailed in the fourth quarter. That is the mark of good teams - winning when they don’t play their best game in a hostile environment and being able to come from behind late to win.
Miami is 6-0 for the first time since 2004 and will return to the field next Saturday, October 26, here at home at the Seven Names Stadium, against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons. Kickoff will be at 12 noon.
Manny Navarro and Susan Miller Degnan have all the latest from Coral Gables:
The FIU Panthers are off this week and they will return to the field on Saturday, October 26, here at home, against the Bulldogs from Louisiana Tech. Game time at FIU Stadium is 6:00 pm.
Here’s the latest from FIU, courtesy of David J. Neal:
Here’s the latest from Tallahassee and FSU:
The #5 Seminoles take on #3 Clemson this Saturday in the game of the year, so far. You can watch the contest at 8:00 pm on ABC.
From Gainesville and the University of Florida:
The #22 Gators look to start climbing back up in the rankings as they hit the road to face #14 Missouri.
Here are the NCAA Football rankings for this week.
Here is the complete schedule in College Football for the rest of week 8, including TV listings:
Let’s talk hoops.
The Heat lost to Brooklyn last night, 86-62. Don’t be alarmed. It is preseason basketball.
Here is the Heat’s complete preseason schedule:
Today’s NBA scoreboard:
On the ice, the Panthers lost to the Boston Bruins last night, 3-2. George Richards has all the latest on the Panthers:
If you love boxing, you have to check out this from ESPN. I’ll leave it in here a few days. Take time to look at all the great heavyweights:
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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:
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THE ANSWER TO TODAY’S TRIVIA QUESTION: The Red Sox started Xander Bogaerts at third base yesterday, and at 21 years and 16 days old, he became the youngest Red Sox player ever to start a postseason game. Who held the record for the Red Sox before Bogaerts?
Some guy named Babe Ruth, who was the starting pitcher for the Red Sox in game 2 of the 1916 World Series at the age of 21 years and 246 days.
Behave yourselves, and always remember that tomorrow will bring us a brand new day. HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!!
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