The New York Yankees completed the sweep of the Minnesota Twins with a 6-1 beatdown. Phil Hughes was fantastic, and Curtis Granderson continues to be a difference maker for the Bronx Bombers. Incredibly, the Yankees saw 78 pitches before they swung and missed for a strike. More incredible? A Twins team that has been real strong over the years is 18-57 under manager Ron Gardenhire, playoffs included, against the Yankees. The Yanks will now sit until Friday when the ALCS starts.
The Tampa Bay Rays did what we predicted here yesterday, getting off the carpet with a 6-3 win at Texas, although it was 1-1 in the 8th so they took their time doing it. The Rangers now lead 2-1, and am guessing the Yankees will be hoping they go to a 5th game to push Cliff Lee and David Price, who would pitch a game 5 Tuesday, out of the opening game of the ALCS Friday and minimize the number of starts both could make.
Dallas Cowboy Dez Bryant finds it funny that his dinner bill of $55,000 for the Cowboys a few weeks back has sparked such consternation. For all those saying it is in poor taste in this economic time, I suppose none of the food or beverage purchased or the services delivered helped anybody out. Relax people. Word is some players were going home with unopened $900 bottles of wine. A stat: with 53 guys on the team, they spent over $1000 a head.
Most appropriate thing I've heard about Randy Moss last days in New England: he reminded Bostonians of Manny Ramirez days with the Red Sox. Performing when he wanted, sulking and slacking when he didn't.
Yet another take at the worst 15 uniforms in sports history. How the Toronto Raptors original unis didn't make the grade is beyond me.
Niko Kranjcar scored a pair for Croatia in a big 2-1 Euro 2012 qualifying win at always-tough-at-home Israel. France also downed Romania 2-0 in the other qualifier of the day.
Sitting at 6-3 on the Prime Time Picks, a superb-if-you-know-anything-about-sports-gambling 66.7% rate, I have to say that maybe that success is going to my head for how much I love the Philadelphia Eagles (+3 +112) tonight at San Francisco. Honestly, I was convinced I read the line wrong. What have the 49ers done to be favored against anybody? I may be wrong in the end, but think the Eagles are very likely to win the game outright, so will gladly take the three points.
The Kansas City Chiefs are at Indianapolis today and the Miami Dolphins of 1972 had best get the champagne ready as the last undefeated team - yes, it is actually the Chiefs - is likely to see that improbable run come to an end, especially against a desperate Colts squad, who are far more a force at home than they are on the road.
Finally today, not sure what to make of Anaheim Duck Joffrey Lupul taking up for Brett Favre via Twitter with this: "Wait, Favre is in trouble w/ the league for sending 'racy' txt msgs... You can get in trouble for that? I certainly hope not..." Something tells me Lupul's sent some objectionable content in the past himself.
Have a great Sunday, back tomorrow for more.
Showing posts with label Euro 2012. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Euro 2012. Show all posts
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Ankiel slays Giants
The Cincinnati Reds went "slo-pitch squad" in the 7th inning last night, with mistakes you have to see to believe. That, as part of four errors and three hit batsmen by the Reds, helped the Phillies rally to a 7-4 win to take a 2-0 lead in the series.
Sometimes redemption takes a long time to come around, but after one-time pitcher Rick Ankiel, who famously couldn't find the plate in a playoff game a decade ago and switched to outfield permanently, brought the Atlanta Braves back to even footing with a dramatic 11th inning homer yesterday to give the Bravos a 5-4 win in San Francisco. Both NL game three's go tomorrow.
A pair of MLB playoff games today, American League only after last night's all-NL schedule. In two games, the Tampa Bay Rays have eight hits and one run. Makes their freaking out over a checked swing not called a strike three in game two ring pretty hollow, even if it led to a run. They've got Matt Garza on the hill today facing Colby Lewis, 5:07pm first pitch. The Rangers, of course, are up 2-0. The New York Yankees go home to try to close out the Minnesota Twins, with Phil Hughes and Brian Duensing the starters. I'm thinking the Rays win one with a strong Garza outing, and the Yanks close out Minny.
It is a dark weekend for soccer leagues around the Europe with another bout of Euro 2012 qualifying slated for yesterday and today. Only two games today with France hosting Romania and Israel hosting Croatia. Yesterday, Italy were held to a shocking draw at Northern Ireland, who aren't exactly powerhouses. Portugal got off the schneid with a 3-1 win over Denmark, and the shocker of the day saw Serbia lose - at home - to Estonia. Rest of the games wrapped up here. All the games and scores here.
The good news for Manchester United: they had a record operating profit last year of £100.8. The bad news: they still lost £83.64 million. With the Boston Red Sox set to own Man U's rival Liverpool, am hoping that the New York Yankees get in and save Man U from this mess.
Alex Rodriguez his last 19 playoff games: batting .368 with five doubles, 7HR, 20 RBI and 18 runs.
Have a great Saturday, back with more tomorrow.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Canada wins!
Tom Verducci at SI.com comes up with a solid idea for how to expand baseball's playoffs without lengthening it one bit. I've long advocated that an extra wild card is the best and easiest way to help the AL East problem - and that's mostly what it is - and the idea of a one game, winner is in, between two wild cards would sure generate interest, and make winning a division that much more important.
The Toronto Maple Leafs haven't had a day of training camp and have already named J.S. Giguere the starting goalie. If anybody has a clue what good that accomplishes, I'd love to hear it. Maybe the clock has gone back to 2006 and he's still a clear cut #1 and I missed it.
Long-time San Diego Padre and current Milwaukee Brewers closer Trevor Hoffman picked up save number 600 last night. Not bad for a guy who barely hits 84 on the gun these days.
Don Banks at SI.com's latest article has his picks to win each division, as well as who he's got to finish last. Bad news, Buffalo Bills fans: he's got you not only penciled to finish last, but to do so with 2 wins, lowest among all the teams he picks to finish last by a couple games.
Washington Nationals starting pitcher Jason Marquis has lowered his ERA in 6 straight starts. Impressive, right? Not as impressive as seeing it is still a ghastly 7.14, but that's what happens when you once had it as brutal as 20.52.
So much for the notion that Wayne Rooney would lose it in Switzerland after the talk of him tapping a pro surfaced over the weekend. Rooney scored 10 minutes into England's Euro 2012 qualifier with Switzerland and his squad emerged 3-1 winners. On the upset front, Slovakia stunned favored Russia in Russia with a 1-0 scoreline and Portugal dropped all the points in a 1-0 shocker at Norway. Full Euro 2012 qualifying wrap here. On the "friendly" side of things, Canada beat Honduras - who were a World Cup qualifier - with an impressive performance in a 2-1 win in Montreal. Strangely, they looked better minus Dwayne DeRosario and Julian De Guzman. World Cup winners Spain travelled to Argentina for a game, and were thumped 4-1. Shocking. That's only Spain's third loss since 2006.
Good news, Toronto Raptors fans, your squad made an "all-time" list. Yep, checking in on the 50 Worst Uniforms list. Hey, it is something at least.
Two of the worst NFL teams last year were the Tampa Bay Bucs and Cleveland Browns, and they won't be a whole bunch better this year. So why would the NFL put the two head to head to open the season on Sunday? Only reason I can think is to narrow the field for nationally covered games. Can't be many reasons beyond that.
So Reggie Bush can't keep his Heisman Trophy because he had his parents put up in a condo paid for by boosters, but O.J. Simpson still has his. Sounds perfectly logical to somebody.
If I were to say "it is a must-win road game for Toronto FC if they're to make the playoffs this year", hopefully that wouldn't confuse everyone too badly into thinking this was 2009 and not 2010, but that's the situation that TFC are in as they are in Chicago to face the Fire. I really have little expectation that they'll grab three points in this one, and barely more hope. SportsNet Ontario and Pacific have coverage with an 8:30 kickoff.
For those that enjoyed Friday's "bubbling" pictures, there are more. You're welcome.
An interesting infographic to teach you most of what you need to know about MMA/UFC.
Check out this video from a Chinese media outlet of some sort, covering the Wayne Rooney-and-a-hooker story. Freaking incredible, even for non-soccer fans.
The Toronto Maple Leafs haven't had a day of training camp and have already named J.S. Giguere the starting goalie. If anybody has a clue what good that accomplishes, I'd love to hear it. Maybe the clock has gone back to 2006 and he's still a clear cut #1 and I missed it.
Long-time San Diego Padre and current Milwaukee Brewers closer Trevor Hoffman picked up save number 600 last night. Not bad for a guy who barely hits 84 on the gun these days.
Don Banks at SI.com's latest article has his picks to win each division, as well as who he's got to finish last. Bad news, Buffalo Bills fans: he's got you not only penciled to finish last, but to do so with 2 wins, lowest among all the teams he picks to finish last by a couple games.
Washington Nationals starting pitcher Jason Marquis has lowered his ERA in 6 straight starts. Impressive, right? Not as impressive as seeing it is still a ghastly 7.14, but that's what happens when you once had it as brutal as 20.52.
So much for the notion that Wayne Rooney would lose it in Switzerland after the talk of him tapping a pro surfaced over the weekend. Rooney scored 10 minutes into England's Euro 2012 qualifier with Switzerland and his squad emerged 3-1 winners. On the upset front, Slovakia stunned favored Russia in Russia with a 1-0 scoreline and Portugal dropped all the points in a 1-0 shocker at Norway. Full Euro 2012 qualifying wrap here. On the "friendly" side of things, Canada beat Honduras - who were a World Cup qualifier - with an impressive performance in a 2-1 win in Montreal. Strangely, they looked better minus Dwayne DeRosario and Julian De Guzman. World Cup winners Spain travelled to Argentina for a game, and were thumped 4-1. Shocking. That's only Spain's third loss since 2006.
Good news, Toronto Raptors fans, your squad made an "all-time" list. Yep, checking in on the 50 Worst Uniforms list. Hey, it is something at least.
Two of the worst NFL teams last year were the Tampa Bay Bucs and Cleveland Browns, and they won't be a whole bunch better this year. So why would the NFL put the two head to head to open the season on Sunday? Only reason I can think is to narrow the field for nationally covered games. Can't be many reasons beyond that.
So Reggie Bush can't keep his Heisman Trophy because he had his parents put up in a condo paid for by boosters, but O.J. Simpson still has his. Sounds perfectly logical to somebody.
If I were to say "it is a must-win road game for Toronto FC if they're to make the playoffs this year", hopefully that wouldn't confuse everyone too badly into thinking this was 2009 and not 2010, but that's the situation that TFC are in as they are in Chicago to face the Fire. I really have little expectation that they'll grab three points in this one, and barely more hope. SportsNet Ontario and Pacific have coverage with an 8:30 kickoff.
For those that enjoyed Friday's "bubbling" pictures, there are more. You're welcome.
An interesting infographic to teach you most of what you need to know about MMA/UFC.
Check out this video from a Chinese media outlet of some sort, covering the Wayne Rooney-and-a-hooker story. Freaking incredible, even for non-soccer fans.
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