Now we can get the baseball playoffs started.
The Tampa Bay Rays advanced to the wild card playoff last night, beating the Texas Rangers in the tiebreaker game by the score of 5-2. Evan Longoria continues to play out of his mind in these situations, going 3-4, including a two-run homer. David Price pitched the complete game, allowing seven hits, two runs, and striking out four.
Here is the complete post season schedule in MLB:
Let’s look at the playoff matchup for tonight:
Reds @ Pittsburgh Johnny Cueto vs Francisco Liriano
The city of Pittsburgh is hosting a postseason baseball game for the first time since 1992. PNC Park will definitely be rocking. The Pirates will send Francisco Liriano to the mound, and he has been dominant at home. Liriano was 8-1 this season at PNC, with an ERA of 1.47. Reds starter Johnny Cueto also pitched extremely well against the Pirates this season at PNC Park, going 1-0 against the Pirates with a 0.73 ERA and allowing only three hits in 12 1/3 innings of work. These two teams are obviously very familiar with each other, and definitely don’t like one another, as evidenced by the 28 hit batters in the season series this year. Pittsburgh won 11 of the 19 games between these two teams. It is really difficult to predict one-game playoff games, but I’ll go with the Pirates to advance and play the Cardinals in the first round.
TODAY’S TRIVIA QUESTION: Today’s matchup between Francisco Liriano of the Pirates and Johnny Cueto of the Reds is only the third time that two starting pitchers from the Dominican Republic have faced off in the postseason. The same two pitchers did it both previous times. Who are they? The answer comes later, alligator.
I’ll have the American League wild card game prediction tomorrow, when the Rays visit the Cleveland Indians in the one-game wild card playoff.
Both NL division series will start on Thursday. Pittsburgh or Cincinnati will be in St. Louis to take on the Cardinals, while the Atlanta Braves host the LA Dodgers. Game time in St. Louis is set for 5:00 pm, while the game in Atlanta is scheduled to start at 8:30. Game two of both these series will be the following day, on Friday at 1:00 pm in St. Louis and 6:00 pm in Atlanta. Both of the AL division series will start on Friday. The Tampa Bay Rays or the Cleveland Indians will be in Boston to take on the Red Sox, while the Detroit Tigers visit the Oakland A’s gets under way on Friday. The game in Boston will start at 3:00 pm, while the game in Oakland will get under way at 9:30 pm.
In other baseball news, a couple of managers got to keep their jobs, and one was sent packing:
In a story that I wish would just go away, Alex Rodriguez’ grievance hearing appealing his suspension got started yesterday:
The State of Florida opened a criminal investigation against the Biogenesis clinic and it’s former owner, Anthony Bosch:
Best and Worst awards, courtesy of Jayson Stark of ESPN:
Let’s go to the gridiron:
In the Monday Night Football extravaganza, the New Orleans Saints took advantage of a number of Dolphin mistakes and plastered the Fins 38-17. Drew Brees completed 30-39 passes for 413 yards and four touchdowns. Ryan Tannehill had a rough day, with three interceptions and a fumble.
Mama said there’d be days like this . . . .
Mama said there’d be days like this . . . .
I’m one of those people that like to look at a glass of water as half-full instead of half-empty. If you had told me before the season that the Dolphins would start off 3-1, I would have taken it gladly. Did anybody here REALLY think that the Fins were among the elite teams in the NFL? Bottom line is they aren’t there yet, but they are headed in the right direction. The important thing is how this team rebounds this week from the loss. The Fins host the Super Bowl Champion Baltimore Ravens on Sunday at Seven-Names Stadium. Kickoff is at 1:00 pm.
More on the Dolphins-Saints game:
Armando Salguero has more:
Here is the complete schedule for week 5 in the NFL:
Here are the game capsules and summaries from this week’s games in the NFL:
Week 4 NFL Capsules and Game Summaries
Week 4 NFL Capsules and Game Summaries
I ended this week 3-4, both against the spread and straight up. To many picks made with my heart, and not my head. Regardless, my season numbers so far are still very, very good: 16-10-2 against the spread, and 20-8 straight up.
vs the Spread Straight Up Season Total
WEEK 1 4-2-1 5-2 ----- -----
WEEK 2 5-2 7-0 9-4-1 12-2
WEEK 3 4-2-1 5-2 13-6-2 17-4
WEEK 4 3-4 3-4 16-10-2 20-8
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 University of Miami Hurricanes are back on the practice field as they prepare to take on Georgia Tech this Saturday in their first ACC game this season. Kickoff is at 3:30 pm at the Seven-Names Stadium, and you can watch the game on ESPN-U.
Manny Navarro and Susan Miller Degnan have all the latest from Coral Gables:
FIU enjoyed a bye week this week, and their next game will be in Hattiesburg, on Saturday, October 5th, starting at 4:00 pm, against the Golden Eagles of Southern Mississippi. Could be the week they win a game? Southern Mississippi is favored to win by 16 points over the Panthers.
Here’s the latest from FIU, courtesy of David J. Neal:
Here’s the latest from Tallahassee and FSU:
From Gainesville and the University of Florida:
Here are the NCAA Football rankings for this week and they include Florida State (#8), Miami (#14), and Florida (#18).
Here is the complete schedule in College Football for week 6, including TV info:
In Miami Heat news, training camp is now open for business:
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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:
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
THE ANSWER TO TODAY’S TRIVIA QUESTION: Today’s matchup between Francisco Liriano of the Pirates and Johnny Cueto of the Reds is only the third time that two starting pitchers from the Dominican Republic have faced off in the postseason. The same two pitchers did it both previous times. Who are they?
In both 1999 and in 2004, Pedro Martinez and Bartolo Colon squared off in the postseason.
Behave yourselves, and always remember that tomorrow will bring us a brand new day.
No comments:
Post a Comment