Friday, November 15, 2013

TGIF - Friday, November 15, 2013

In baseball, in the MLB awards front, the winners of the AL and NL MVP awards are in.  I hate to say I told you so, but:


TODAY’S TRIVIA QUESTION:  Two part question today - 

1.  Before Miguel Cabrera won his second straight MVP award yesterday, who was the last back-to-back MVP winner in the American League?  

2.  Who was the last player in the AL to win three MVP’s in a row?

The answer comes later, alligator.  

Lots of good stuff going on at the GM/Owners meetings in Orlando, as teams were laying the groundwork for possible trades and free agent signings. 




In other baseball news,


MY TAKE:  That translates to:  I don’t want to be put in a situation where if I’m not truthful, I could be punished even more by MLB.

Let’s go to the NFL and the Dolphins:

PLEASE NOTE:  I will refrain from any more Incognito / Martin babble until something newsworthy happens. 

The Dolphins host the San Diego Chargers on Sunday at the Seven Names Stadium.  Game time is 4:05 pm.  

From Dolphins headquarters:

Why does it take all of preseason and the first nine games to figure out what book you’re reading?



More from Armando Salguero:


Record so far this season on my picks is 33-34-4 against the spread, and 41-29 straight up.  

Here is this week’s NFL schedule, along with the rest of my picks for this week:

THURSDAY

Indianapolis 30 Tennessee 27

The Colts rallied from a 14-point first quarter deficit to defeat the Titans.  Donald Brown ran for two touchdowns, and Andrew Luck ran for another.  Adam Vinatieri kicked three field goals, including a 50-yarder.    

SUNDAY

Washington @ Philadelphia -4 1:00 pm FOX

Detroit @ Pittsburgh +3 1:00 PM FOX

Atlanta @ Tampa Bay +2 1:00 pm FOX

Arizona @ Jacksonville +7 1:00 pm FOX
NY Jets @ Buffalo -1 1:00 pm CBS

I’m going to go against the season-long trend here, and take the Jets.  Rex Ryan’s team has tied an NFL record by alternating wins and losses over their first nine games.  The Jets beat the powerful Saints in their last game, outrushing New Orleans 198-41.  The Bills are struggling, having lost three in a row and five out of six. I’ll take the Jets in this one.

Oakland @ Houston -7 1:00 pm CBS

Baltimore @ Chicago -3 1:00 pm CBS

Cleveland @ Cincinnati -4 1:00 pm CBS

After two consecutive overtime losses, the Bengals are in danger of seeing their lead in the AFC north disappear.  They are 4-0 at home this season, and play four of their last six games at Paul Brown Stadium.  Look for the Bengal defense to step it up this week and bring new Browns starting QB Jason Campbell down to earth.  Taking the Bengals minus the points.  On a side note, Browns head coach Rob Chudzinski and offensive coordinator Norv Turner have done a fantastic job this season in Cleveland. 

San Diego @ Miami +1 4:05 pm CBS

Earlier this season, I would have picked Miami in this matchup.  This week, it just isn’t happening for me.  The Fins have to prove it to me on the field, where they have been as much of a mess as off the field.  The Chargers are not a good road team, especially playing in this time zone, but until the Dolphins show signs of life, I don’t see them beating anyone.   Looking forward to being wrong here.  Taking the Chargers.

San Francisco @ New Orleans -3 4:25 pm FOX

What a difference a year makes.  Coach Sean Payton has the Saints marching again, and at home they are 5-0, outscoring their opponents 176-75 in those five games.  Drew Brees has completed just under 75% of his passes and averaging over 367 yards per game at the Superdome, with 18 TD’s and just two interceptions.  Taking New Orleans in this encounter.

Green Bay @ NY Giants -5 4:25 pm FOX

Minnesota @ Seattle -12 4:25 pm FOX

Kansas City @ Denver -7 8:30 pm NBC

The members of the 1972 Dolphins team will be able to break out the champagne bottles.  The Chiefs have been great so far this season, leading the NFL in QB sacks with 36, while Peyton Manning has been a little banged up. Through nine games, Manning has completed 71% of his passes and has a staggering 33 touchdown passes.  Can’t bet against the Broncos, especially at home.  A caveat to watch for:  the Chiefs are coming off their bye week, and their coach, Andy Reid is 13-1 in his career after a bye.  Still taking the Broncos.
  
MONDAY NIGHT

New England @ Carolina -3 8:30 pm ESPN

Are we living in Bizarro-World?  Carolina favored over New England?  Who would have thunk it?  The Panthers have won five straight, and have outscored their opponents 140-57 during that streak, including the 49ers last week, in San Francisco, holding them to nine points in a 10-9 win.  The Panthers have also been very good on the offensive side of the ball, as Cam Newton has led the offense that leads the NFL in time of possession.  Regardless, although my heart says go with Carolina, my head tells me to not go against the Patriots, after a bye week, and on Monday night, when Tom Brady is 13-4.  Another example of hoping I’m wrong, but I’m taking the Pats 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 University of Miami will try and recover from two straight blowout losses that have dropped them almost out of the top-25 rankings as they visit Duke this Saturday.  Game time against the Blue Devils is 3:30 pm, and it will be televised by ESPN-U.     


Manny Navarro and Susan Miller Degnan have more from Coral Gables:


The FIU Panthers will be on the road again, to take on the UTEP at 8:00 pm on Saturday.  No TV or radio.

Here’s all the latest from FIU, courtesy of David J. Neal:


Here’s the latest from Tallahassee and #2-ranked FSU:


From Gainesville and the University of Florida:


Here are the NCAA Football rankings for this week:  


Here is the complete schedule in College Football for week 12, including TV listings:


Moving to the hardwood,

The Heat return to the hardwood tonight, here at the AAA, against the Dallas Mavericks at 7:30 pm.  Both teams come into tonight’s encounter with 5-3 records, and the Heat have won four out of their last five.  Miami is the only team in the NBA shooting over 50% from the floor and have scored more than 100 points in all eight of their games.  After losing 14 straight games to Dallas, the Heat have won their last four games against them.  After tonight’s game, the team will travel to Charlotte to take on the Bobcats on Saturday at 7:00 pm.  






Here is the Heat’s complete regular season schedule:


On the NHL ice, George Richards has all the latest on the Panthers, as they are on the road to take on the Minnesota Wild tonight and the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday night.:



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THE ANSWER TO TODAY’S TRIVIA QUESTION:  Two part question today - 

1.  Before Miguel Cabrera won his second straight MVP award, who was the last back-to-back MVP winner in the American League?  

2.  Who was the last player in the AL to win three MVP’s in a row?  

1.  Frank Thomas won the MVP in the American League in 1993 and 1994.
2.  Nobody has ever won the American League MVP three years in a row. 
In the National League, Alberto Pujols won it in 2008 and 2009, and Barry Bonds is the only player to have ever won it four consecutive seasons, 2001-2004.


Behave yourselves, and always remember that tomorrow will bring us a brand new day.  HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!!

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