Saturday, October 09, 2010

Saturday (Very) Quickie

Rick Ankiel is a playoff hero (in some beat-you-over-the-head-with-the-10-years-later symmetry from his 2000 implosion).

Sweep Watch: After losing both LDS openers at home, the Rays (at Texas) and the Twins (at NY) could be swept out tonight.

Meanwhile, the Phillies have to be thinking sweep (although now that they have gotten a hit -- or more -- the Reds have to be thinking they can take at least the first game back in Cincy).

How much will Billy Wagner's abdominal injury hurt the Braves' attempt to win 2 of the next 3 games? (Certainly didn't stop them from closing things out last night, but these things have a way of regressing to the mean, even in a short series.)

Favre Watch: Who else is more than slightly surprised the NFL is going to investigate the Brett Favre sexting situation? News media may not have wanted to report on the cell-phone cam shots themselves, but they cannot ignore a league investigation.

CFB Viewing Guide (or at least what I'm watching):
Noon: Indiana at Ohio State (Slim pickings)
3:30: Bama/South Carolina and Michigan St/Michigan
6: Oregon State at Arizona (at least during commercials)
7:30: LSU at Florida (FSU-Miami and USC-Wash look-ins)

Not that he's going to, but if Steve Spurrier can beat Alabama today, it will be the greatest coaching job of his career. (I guess you could say that about any coach that beats Alabama this year -- I certainly would argue Urban Meyer's greatest win was over Alabama in the 2008 SEC title game.)

LeBron James vs. Kevin Durant: I know, I know -- why put too much stock in a preseason game, especially given the Heat were playing without Dwyane Wade? Because that's what we do. And the instant history says that the Heat are going to be just fine without Wade -- certainly good enough to make the playoffs, at which point a full-strength Big Three can stake their claim.

John Wall vs. Derrick Rose: I read a lot of analysis that says Rose is Wall's best NBA comp. That doesn't feel precisely right -- Rose is stronger, Wall is faster, but both share a sketchy/still-in-progress jump shot. Rose is also two years ahead of Wall on the NBA development curve -- a lifetime when you're talking about the leap from a 19-year-old to a 21-year-old.

UConn hoops scandal: Well of course the school is going to defend Jim Calhoun in any "self-report."

State of Replay: MLB, the players and the umps don't need some sort of "summit" in December -- the league needs to implement far-reaching replay rules, period.

Enjoy your Saturday.

-- D.S.

1 comment:

Wes M said...

O ... S ... U ! Oregon State, Fight, fight, fight!