Stop procrastinating. There are only 20 shopping days until Christmas.
The Dolphins are still in the playoff hunt, as they are tied with the Baltimore Ravens for the final playoff spot. The Ravens do hold the tiebreak advantage, however. This week, the Fins travel to Pittsburgh to take on the Steelers, who have won three out of their last four, losing a close one to the Ravens on Thanksgiving Day. Baltimore, meanwhile, will host the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday.
Here is the remaining schedule for the Fins:
12/08 @ Pittsburgh 1:00 pm CBS
12/15 New England 1:00 pm CBS
12/22 @ Buffalo 1:00 pm CBS
12/29 NY Jets 1:00 pm CBS
Here’s more on the Dolphins:
More on the Dolphins from Armando Salguero:
Here are this week’s NFL games, with the current point spreads. After a perfect 7-0 record last week, I am 47-40-4 against the spread, and 54-37 straight up. Looking for similar results this week.
THURSDAY
Houston @ Jacksonville +3 8:30 pm NFL NETWORK
SUNDAY
Dolphins @ Pittsburgh -3 1:00 pm CBS
Indianapolis @ Cincinnati -6 1:00 pm CBS
Cleveland @ New England -11 1:00 pm CBS
Oakland @ NY Jets -2 1:00 pm CBS
Buffalo @ Tampa Bay -2 1:00 pm CBS
Kansas City @ Washington +3 1:00 pm CBS
Minnesota @ Baltimore -7 1:00 pm FOX
Atlanta @ Green Bay -7 1:00 pm FOX
Detroit @ Philadelphia -3 1:00 pm FOX
Tennessee @ Denver -11 4:05 pm CBS
St. Louis @ Arizona -6 4:25 pm FOX
NY Giants @ San Diego -3 4:25 pm FOX
Seattle @ San Francisco -2 4:25 pm FOX
Carolina @ New Orleans -3 8:30 pm NBC
MONDAY NIGHT
Dallas @ Chicago even 8:30 pm ESPN
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 baseball:
The Marlins added a catcher yesterday, signing Palm Beach product Jarod Saltalamacchia to a three-year, $21 million deal. Saltalamacchia hit .273 last season, with 14 homers in 121 games with the Boston Red Sox. Bottom line, he is known only for his offense, as his skills behind the plate are mediocre at best. Jeff Mathis should fill that void, as a no-hit, defensive-minded backstop.
MY TAKE: I like Salty, but I would have rather seen the Fish take a chance on Miami-product, and soon-to-be former Blue Jay, JP Arencibia. Only time will tell, but you have to like the fact that new GM Dan Jennings was able to pull the trigger and fill a position of need. Keep it going!
In other hot-stove news,
The Yankees made another splash yesterday, as they agreed to terms with center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury on a seven-year, $153 million deal. The 30-year-old has played for the Red Sox his entire career, and has shown flashes of power, hitting 32 homers in 2011, but only 33 homers in the rest of his career. He should benefit from the friendly right field porch in the Bronx, but he needs to stay healthy.
MY TAKE: Never been a fan of Ellsbury, but I guess I’ll have to learn to live with it. This probably means the end for Curtis Granderson in pinstripes. He may not have to go too far . . . I’m hearing that the negotiations with the cross-town Mets are progressing quite nicely for Grandy.
MY TAKE: Like I have been saying, the Yankees have apparently drawn a line in the sand as it comes to what they're willing to pay Cano. According to various sources, that line is 7 years, and in the neighborhood of $175-180 million. That is still quite a neighborhood to be in. If the Seattle Mariners are really willing to go above that figure, then it is up to Cano to make a decision. Play in the Pacific Northwest in relative obscurity or play in The Big Apple and continue to build on a HOF career with the New York Yankees?
Wheeling and Dealing:
Expect some more wheeling and dealing from the baseball winter meetings, which will be from December 9th through December 12th.
More rumors:
Marlins’ pitchers and catchers report February 16th, position players arrive February 20th, and the spring training games begin February 26th, when the Fish play the University of Miami Hurricanes. They will then play the FIU Panthers on the 27th. Both of those games will be in Jupiter.
Here is the complete preseason schedule for the Fish:
In college football,
Manny Navarro and Susan Miller Degnan have the latest and greatest from Coral Gables:
Up to the minute FIU news from David J. Neal:
Here’s the latest from Tallahassee and #1-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 15, including Conference Championship match ups and TV listings:
TODAY’S TRIVIA QUESTION: Who is the only switch-hitter in major league history to hit 300 homers and steal 300 bases in his career? The answer comes later, alligator.
Moving to the hardwood:
The Miami Heat lost to the Detroit Pistons last night, 107-97. Playing without Dwyane Wade, they could not overcome an 18-point deficit. LeBron James and Michael Beasley both scored 23 points, and Chris Bosh only had 14.
MY TAKE: One good thing to take from yesterday’s game: the continued good effort from Michael Beasley. He still has some room for improvement on the defensive side of the court, but he is getting there. One question, though. I normally do not second guess Coach Spolstra, but shouldn’t he consider starting Ray Allen when Wade rests? James Jones has a history of being lightning in a bottle when he comes off the bench. Last night, Jones started but ended the game scoreless. That hurts, especially when Shane Battier, who started at power forward, was held to just two points in the contest. Just saying . . .
The Heat’s schedule this week:
Heat @ Chicago Thu 12/4 9:30 pm TNT
Heat @ Minnesota Sat 12/7 8:00 pm Sun Sports
Heat @ Detroit Sun 12/8 6:00 pm Sun Sports
More Heat coverage:
Here is the Heat’s complete regular season schedule:
On the NHL ice, the Panthers lost last night to the Ottawa Senators here at the BB&T Center. The Winnipeg Jets will be here on Thursday night, and you can watch the game on Fox Sports Florida on your cable or satellite system.
In boxing news,
Here is Santos Perez’ weekly boxing spotlight column from the Miami Herald:
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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: Who is the only switch-hitter in major league history to hit 300 homers and steal 300 bases in his career?
Carlos Beltran.
Here are Beltran’s numbers, ranking him (IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER) along my all-time list of Sweet Sixteen switch-hitters:
Roberto Alomar 210 HR 474 SB .300 BA
Carlos Beltran 358 HR 308 SB .283 BA
Lance Berkman 366 HR 86 SB .293 BA
Bobby Bonilla 287 HR 45 SB .279 BA
Chili Davis 350 HR 142 SB .274 BA
Chipper Jones 468 HR 150 SB .303 BA
Mickey Mantle 536 HR 153 SB .298 BA
Eddie Murray 504 HR 110 SB .287 BA
Jorge Posada 275 HR 20 SB .273 BA
Tim Raines 170 HR 808 SB .294 BA
Pete Rose 160 HR 198 SB .303 BA
Ruben Sierra 306 HR 142 SB .268 BA
Ted Simmons 248 HR 21 SB .285 BA
Ken Singleton 246 HR 21 SB .282 BA
Reggie Smith 314 HR 137 SB .287 BA
Bernie Williams 287 HR 147 SB .297 BA
Behave yourselves, and always remember that tomorrow will bring us a brand new day.
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