The Dodgers blasted four home runs yesterday and stayed alive in the NLCS, defeating the Cardinals by the score of 6-4. Adrian Gonzalez connected long distance twice, and Carl Crawford and AJ Ellis also left the building. Zack Greinke got the win and the series now heads back to St. Louis for game 6 and game 7, if necessary. Game time for game six tomorrow is 8:30 pm, and it will again be televised by TBS on your cable or satellite system. Michael Wacha will be on the hill for the Cardinals, while the Dodgers will counter with their ace, Clayton Kershaw.
Over in the American League Championship Series, the Tigers jumped all over Jake Peavy for seven runs in three innings and held on to defeat the Red Sox 7-3. Detroit manager Jim Leyland shuffled his lineup, taking Austin Jackson out of the leadoff spot and moving him to the eight hole, ahead of SS Jose Iglesias. Everybody else in the lineup moved up a slot, and for whatever reason, it worked. Jackson, who had been 3-33 with 18 strikeouts in this postseason, and two singles and a bases-loaded walk. Torii Hunter and Miguel Cabrera drove in two runs apiece in the win. The series is now tied at 2-2, and game five is tonight in Detroit. The Tigers will send Anibal Sanchez to the mound, and the Red Sox will have Jon Lester on the hill. First pitch tonight will be at 8:07 pm, and the game will be televised by FOX.
TODAY’S TRIVIA QUESTION: The Red Sox banged out 12 hits in yesterday’s loss to the Tigers, and that is as many hits as they had during the first three games of this ALCS. As a team, they are 24-129 for a .186 batting average. That is almost Marlins-like. Since the playoffs began in 1969, what team that eventually made it to the world series had the lowest batting average in the league championship series? 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.”
TODAY
Tigers @ Red Sox (Series tied, 2-2) GAME 5 ALCS
Anibal Sanchez vs Jon Lester 8:00 pm FOX
FRIDAY
Dodgers @ Cardinals (Cards lead series 3-2) GAME 5 NLCS
Clayton Kershaw vs Michael Wacha 8:30 pm TBS
Here is the complete MLB post season schedule and results so far:
In other baseball news, the Marlins hired Brett Butler to coach third base and teach the team how to play “small ball”:
Let’s set the Delorean back to 1988, when Kirk Gibson did the unthinkable:
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:
I told you yesterday that the Dolphins would be up against a “mystery quarterback” this week. Let’s solve the mystery right here and now:
Jimmy Johnson talks about Ryan Tannehill:
Here’s Armando Salguero:
Here are this week’s games in the NFL. Season record so far: 23-17-2 against the spread, and 28-14 straight up. I have today’s pick in the Seattle-Arizona game, and tomorrow I will have the rest of the picks.
THURSDAY
Seattle @ Arizona -5 1/2 8:25 pm NFL Network
Seattle’s defense has been lights out for the most part this season, and are second best in the NFL, allowing an average of only 290 yards per game and third best in points allowed in the league, 15.7. They will find the way to control Larry Fitzgerald, who has been slowed by a hamstring injury. The Cardinals are 3-3 this season, but are 2-0 at home, and have beaten the Seahawks two times in a row in Phoenix. That streak should end tonight. Although my heart will be with the Cardinals, I’ll take the Seahawks and give the 5 1/2 points.
Remember, I will have the picks for Sunday’s games in tomorrow’s blog. The games I am looking at are highlighted in yellow:
SUNDAY
Buffalo @ Miami -9 1:00 pm CBS
Tampa Bay @ Atlanta -9 1:00 pm FOX
Cincinnati @ Detroit -3 1:00 pm CBS
New England @ NY Jets +4 1:00 pm CBS
Dallas @ Philadelphia -3 1:00 pm FOX
Chicago @ Washington -1 1:00 pm FOX
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 -12 4:25 pm CBS
Houston @ Kansas City -8 4:25 pm CBS
Baltimore @ Pittsburgh -1 4:25 pm CBS
Denver @ Indianapolis +7 8:30 pm NBC
MONDAY
Minnesota @ NY Giants -4 8:30 pm ESPN
NOTE: A couple of my readers and friends have asked me how I decide what games to pick every week. Pretty simple: I settled on seven games per week, again in honor of my childhood hero, Mickey Mantle. I take the nationally televised games, (Thursday, Sunday night, Monday night, and the Dolphins). I try and choose the rest of the games according to the interest for the Dolphins, one from the other network that is not carrying the Dolphins, and one at the late/early kickoff time (after or before the Fins game).
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 are back at it this week, as they take on the University of North Carolina Tarheels here at the Seven Names Stadium on Thursday (tomorrow) night. Game time is 7:30 pm, and you can watch the contest on ESPN.
Here is ESPN’s preview of tonight’s matchup:
My take on tonight’s game: You can write and say all you want about Miami’s recent struggles against North Carolina (1-4 in their last five games). Please. Stop it. Over the last three games, the Tarheels have been outscored by 42 points total by Georgia Tech, East Tennessee, and Virginia Tech. They have the ACC’s worst defense against the run. Look for Duke Johnson and the rest of Miami’s running backs to have a field day. This is a character-building game and a reality check for coach Al Golden and the Hurricanes. They will be up to the challenge, and go out and beat up on a team they should beat.
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 week 8, including TV listings:
Let’s talk hoops.
The Heat take on the new and improved Brooklyn Nets tonight in a preseason game up in Brooklyn. The game starts at 8:00 pm, and you can watch it on TNT on your cable or satellite system.
Here is the Heat’s complete preseason schedule:
Today’s NBA scoreboard:
On the ice, the Panthers return to the ice tonight, here at home, at 7:30 pm against the powerful Boston Bruins. Fox Sports Net Florida will handle the TV broadcast.
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 banged out 12 hits in yesterday’s loss to the Tigers, and that is as many hits as they had during the first three games of this ALCS. As a team, they are 24-129 for a .186 batting average. That is almost Marlins-like. Since the playoffs began in 1969, what team that eventually made it to the world series had the lowest batting average in the league championship series?
The 1974 Oakland A’s hit .183 as a team while advancing to the World Series.
Behave yourselves, and always remember that tomorrow will bring us a brand new day.
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