Miami Comes To Play the Jets

Can the Jets beat the Miami Dolphins at the MetLife Stadium? That is the million dollar question if you are a betting man. I for one think the Jets will will out right today no matter what the point spread says. The 1 point favorite Jets must be a danger sign for betting fans, but the Dolphins have already lost to the Jets in Miami back in September 23-20 and since then the Jets have gone to the run offense.

Today, the Jets must run the ball. That is the only way they will have a chance to win. Sanchez is Sanchez and he can do just so much. If the offense gets complicated look for Sanchez to cough up the ball either via an interception or a fumble. Shaun Green is the key to the Jets success and a 500 record. A win today will put the Jets right back into playoff contention going into week 9.





Lets Go Jets 

World Series, Game 3 Tigers Host Giants

The Detroit Tigers will try and snap out of the hitting drought that has hit the team in the first two games of the series. One reason for the Tigers being fangless has been the Giants pitching staff. Giant pitching has dominated the Tigers and in the last game all they could muster was 2 hits and no legitimate scoring threats.

Tonight Bruce Bochy, will send Ryan Vogelson to the mound, who has been wonderful in the post season and the Tigers Jim Leyland will counter with Anibal Sanchez, who has pitched like a different pitcher in the post season and has a 1.35 ERA and 1-1 record in his 2 post season starts striking out 10 in 13.1 innings. Vogelsong has been virtually unhittable, striking out 18 in his 19 innings, going 2-0 with a 1.42 ERA.

The Tigers must win tonight and Leyland will be quick to pull Sanchez if the Giants score early. The Tigers can not afford to go down 3-0 to this Giants team. I think, if the Giants win tonight, they will sweep the series.


Lets Go Giants 

Dooley's Waterloo

At noon today in Columbia, South Carolina, the Volunteers of Tennessee will face the #17 ranked Gamecocks. It seems every game the Vols play is against a ranked team. Life in the SEC East can be hazardous for head coaches who are trying to rebuild a football program and today's game just could be the moment when the fans and the boosters have had enough and a change must be made. If the Volunteers do not have a win today the executioner could be sharpening his ax.

This is Tennessee, UT pride runs deep and it bleeds orange. Boosters and fans ran Phillip Flumer out of Knoxville, and he was a life long Vol who won a National Championship. Dooley is an outsider, from Georgia and has no roots in Big Orange Country. If he gets fired boosters and fans will view his passing as a way to get back to Tennessee football with someone with a Tennessee past.

Many believe Coach Dooley should get at least one more year to turn the program over. Many want him gone now, especially with rumors swirling around Jon Gruden. Gruden, who was a graduate assistant under Johnny Majors and is married to a UT graduate and ex cheerleader has been mentioned before as a possible candidate to coach the Vols and it is believe was offered the job after the Lane Kiffen fiasco.

Gruden is currently on the MNF team and has told interviewers he is happy with what he is doing and coaching maybe in his future. Many believe Athletic Director Dave Hart wants a high profile coach to lead the Volunteers back to prominence. I can't imagine juniors, Bray, Hunter and Patterson will stay for their senior season if a change is made, no matter who the coach is. If Dooley is fired the turnaround could take another 3 years. I do not see a change happening unless it is a big name, like Jon Gruden.

Lets Go Vols, Lets Go Coach Dooley

Giants Go Up 2-0

The SF Giants took two big steps in their quest for a World Championship by beating the Detroit Tigers 2-0 last night on the arms of Madison Baumgartner and Sergio Romo.  Baumgartner gave up 2 hits over his 8 innings and Romo was flawless in his inning of work. 

Baumgartner becomes the first pitcher since Sandy Koufax to throw consecutive shutouts in the World Series. Baumgartner has now struck out 14 batters in 15 innings and has allowed 5 hits in the two shut out games. Romo was just as dominate setting down the Tigers 123 in the top of the ninth sealing the win for the Giants. 

The series now moves to Detroit and for Tiger fans hopefully better outcomes. The Tiger bats must come to life or it will be a quick series for the boys from Detroit. Tomorrow, the Giants send Ryan Vogelsong and his 1.42 ERA against the Tigers send Anibal Sanchez to the mound. Tiger's manager Jim Leyland is hoping Sanchez will repeat his ALCS shut out performance against the Yankees. This is a crucial game for the Tigers. If they go down 3-0 to the Giants it will be almost impossible for them to win four straight. 

Lets Go Giants 

Kung Fu Panda Strikes

Pablo Sandoval did what only 3 other men have done in MLB history, hitting 3 HRs in a World Series game.  His first HR off of Jason Verlander was amazing. He tomahawked a 95 MPH fastball up by his shoulders into the centerfield seats.

The Giants have come down to the Sandoval - Marco Scutaro - Angle Pagan show. All three were involved in most of the scoring for the Giants. Scutoro, the MVP of the NLCS has been playing the best baseball of his career and Pagan continues to hit and play marvelous defense. Buster Posy the all star catcher who is holding the Giants pitching staff together had another fine game with an RBI and his pitch calling.

This series will come down to pitching and with the Giants beating the Tiger ace I look for the Giants to complete the quest for the Championship.

Lets Go Giants 

Its The World Series

Tomorrow, will start the World Series 2012 version of the Fall Classic, the San Francisco Giants against the Detroit Tigers. The Giants came roaring back from a 3-1 deficit to beat the St. Louis Cardinals 4 games to 3, winning the last three decidedly. They will get to play the Detroit Tigers who swept the Yankees 4-0.

The Tigers, have the most dominate pitcher in MLB in Justin Verlander and they also have the AL Triple Crown winner Miguel Cabara. The Giants seem to be winning with mirrors and timely hitting by everyone.  Detroit, led by manger Jim Leyland and the never say die Giants will be led by manager Bruce Botchy, both outstanding leaders.

I was wrong about the Giants twice first thinking they would lose to the Reds and then again to the Cards. I can not pick against them three times in a row. They have made a believer out of me.

Go Giants

Jets Lose in New England

The Jets gave it a shot yesterday against Tom Brady and the Patriots but came up a little short losing 26-23 in OT. They had their moments and if not for a dropped pass late in regulation they might have won. Marc Sanchez is what he is and he will not get any better, what you see is what you get. Sanchez' play is the teams play in a microcosm, sometimes they look real good like in their drive for a touch down and a 7-0 lead and other times they looked flat out awful.

I do not see the Jets winning with Sanchez at QB, but he is not their only issue. Steven Hill is not a NFL wide receiver quality player. He looks like a sprinter who thinks he can play football. He does not know what to do. On the deep interception he did absolutely nothing to prevent the Patriots from making the play. He watched, he had time to throw his 6' 4 body into the D back, but he stood there. Have you noticed how he falls down almost every time he catches the ball? He is afraid to get hit or hit. He is a terrible down field blocker and yesterdays drop probable cost the Jets the game.  

Tebow is not the answer, but that will be Ryan's next move. He thinks he has no other options. Tebow may start next week, it all depends on how bad the NY press treat the team this week. I think, and have said from the start Greg McElroy is the best QB on the team. Tebow is Tebow not a running back, not a QB. Sanchez has an adequate QB arm but is as dumb as a brick, he can not think on his feet and can only do what the play calls for. Yesterday, he missed second and third receivers consistently, forcing balls and taking sacks. McElory is the only true QB on the team and the kid needs a shot, but will not get one unless someone gets hurt.

Its Alabama vs Tennessee Time

Tonight the unranked University of Tennessee will face the #1 ranked University of Alabama in Knoxville on national TV (ESPN). There will not be a seat to be had, as 102 thousand plus people will pack into Neyland Stadium to see the event. Alabama, the undefeated and top ranked team in the nation is favored by 21 points over the Volunteers of Tennessee.

Many believe the Volunteers will be out matched against the Crimson Tide and how out matched could become a water shed moment for Derick Dooley. How can UT win over such odds? How can the Volunteers stop the mighty Crimson Tied? These questions will be answered later today, and soon into the game I would imagine. The Vols will be tested from kickoff to the final whistle and Alabama will not let them come up for air, pounding the ball on offense and harassing Tyler Bray on defense. I do not think there is a Volunteer fan in Big Orange Country that thinks this game is going to be a walk in the park.

The Vols will show Alabama an offense that they have not not seen before. Bray, Hunter and Patterson create one big problem for the Tide. The Vols offensive line as big and as experienced as Alabama's will be a big test for the Tide. They have not faced an offense as explosive as Tennessee this year and if the Volunteer offensive line controls the line of scrimmage and gives Bray time, the Vols just might be able to turn the tide.

Vols 28 Alabama 24


Lets Go Vols

Tigers Sweep Yankees

The Detroit Tigers eliminated the NY Yankees from the 2012 MLB playoffs by sweeping them in four games and now move into the World Series against the winner of the St. Louis Cardinals SF Giants NLCS. 

The Tigers won with outstanding starting pitching and timely hitting. The Yankees with all their high priced talent could only muster 6 runs in the four games. The MVP of the ALCS Delmon Young had as many RBI as the entire Yankee team during the 4 games.

This is the second consecutive year the Tigers have played in the ALCS and this year with Triple Crown winner Miguel Cabrera leading the way the Tigers will move into the Championship round for the first time since 2006.

Many baseball fans will be rooting for the Cardinals to eliminate the Giants tonight so the Tigers and Cardinals can reenact the 1968 classic in 2012.

Lets Go Tigers

The NY Jets are in First Place

If anyone would have told me the Jets would be 3-3 and tied for first place with everyone else in the AFC East after six games I would have said you are nuts. I had the Jets winning 4 games all season and here it is week 7 and they are all knotted up with all the other teams in the East.

This week they play the Patriots and I am convinced anything can happen. Last week they won because they reinvented the ground game and stayed with it. Who knows how the Jets will play against their arch enemies, will it be the team that dominated the Colts, or will it be the team that got shut out by the 49ers? We will soon see which team shows up Sunday in New England.

Lets Go Jets 

October Baseball

If you have not been watching the NL and AL playoffs you have missed some of the most exciting playoff baseball. There has been drama and tragedy. There has been exhilaration and there has been shock. The playoffs have been everything and more.

Tonight, the miracle Cardinals play the SF Giants in what will be a continuation of a very entertaining playoff season. Chris Carpenter, who was pretty good in his outing against Washington, scattering 7 hits in 7 shutout innings, goes against the Giants Ryan Vogelsong, who pitched well, in his one start against Cincinnati, giving up 1 run on 3 hits in 5 innings pitched.

I look for the Cards to continue their winning ways with a strong effort by Carpenter.



Lets Go Cards

NY Jets Week 6

The NY Jets will face the Colts of Indianapolis at home today at Met Life Park and hopefully Gang Green will come out on top. The Jets who looked better last week in their loss to Houston, will be facing the 2-2 Colts led by rookie Andrew Luck.

The Jets must run the ball. Last week's game was the first game the Jets offensive line looked in sync and it showed in their play. Today, running the ball and controlling the line of scrimmage will determine the outcome, it is that simple, if they do, they will win, if not, they will lose.

Marc Sanchez can only be effective if the line can run the ball, he does not have the skill set to move the ball through the air especially with the diminished receiving corp.

The Colts will feature #1 pick Andrew Luck and his 7 TD, 5 INT and 77% QB rating. The Jets Defense should dominate today with in your face football. The Jets will blitz and blitz often today trying to rattle the young QB.

Jets will win big today, taking some of the pressure of Rex Ryan and co. Jets 31 Colts 10


Lets Go Jets

A Magical Night In DC

When I got home from dinner, the score of the Nationals vs St. Louis Cardinals game was 6-1 in favor of Davie Johnson's Washington team. As I walked in the door the Cards were starting to get to Gio Gonzales and had runners on base. The Cards scored 2 runs in the top half of the 5th inning and the score was 6-3 going into the bottom half of the inning. Gonzalez had been shutting out the cards threw the first three inning, but he was wild walking 4 in his 5 innings of work and the Cards started nibbling away at the Nationals 6 run lead with a run in the forth. 

Adam Wainwright was just flat out awful giving up 6 runs on 7 hits and 3 home runs by Ryan Zimmerman, Brian Harper and Michael Morris in 2 1/3 innings. The Cardinals bull pen of Kelly, Rosenthal, Mujica and Boggs were the complete opposite and shut down the Nationals giving up only one hit over the next 4 2/3 innings. They allowed the Cards bats to come to life little by little, nibbling away, at the Nationals 6 run lead. 

The Cards dug in and played terrific defense to back up the marvelous pitching. On the other hand the Nationals bull pen could not hold the 6-3 lead Gonzalez gave them giving up 6 runs, on 5 hits and 4 walks in one of the most amazing games I have ever watched. 

The never say die 2011 Champions were three outs away from elimination in this years championship run when ex Mets Carlos Beltran came to bat. Beltran had a marvelous series hitting .444 and last night was perfect getting on base 5 times in 5 at bats, with 3 hits and  two walks. His final hit a lazer to right center landed him on second base and the Cards had their lead off hitter on base in scoring position. 

What happened next was sheer magic. The Nations had their closer on the mound in Drew Storen and after two quick out and with Beltran now on third, St. Louis was down to their last out. 

St. Louis got down to their last strike it seemed on every batter from Yadier Molina to Pete Kosma. Mitch Storen walked Molina, then Alan Freese, who almost struck out on a very close check swing, first base umpire Ed Hickox was not going to end the game on a check swing, loading the bases. Molina was replaced by Chambers, taking over his spot on second as Daniel Delcalso came to bat and of course the count went to 3-2 and the Nationals were one strike away from celebration and a spot in the NLCS. 

Delcalso had other plans, or should I say, someone had other plans, when he lined a one hop bullet up the middle that ate up the sure handed Ian Desmond and both Beltran and Adron Chambers scored to tie the game at 7 all. The look of terror on the Nationals fans faces said everything. How could this be happening to their heroes? How could they be that close and not win the game? 

The next batter Pete Kosma, a rookie who has been sent down to AAA this year and was lucky to be on the 40 man roster, would ruin a marvelous 98 win season of the Washington Nationals. 

Kosma took Storen, who Davie Johnson stayed with, to three and  two, once again, one strike away from now ending a disastrous ending to a 6 run lead. Kosma, stroked the ball down the right field line, driving in the last two runners who were still on base and a improbable 9-7 lead. 

The last half of the 9th was all Jason Motte, the converted catcher with the 100 MPH fastball was dominate getting the National 1 2 3 and the Cardinals completed one of the greatest comebacks of all time. 

As Delcalso clutched the final out and Cards stormed the mound, the Nationals and their fans stood in silent shock with looks of what just happened on their faces. 

This unbelievable turn of events has the Cards in the NCLS against the Giants. What a wonderful time for Cardinals Fans as they must be deliriously happy after last nights magical ending.


Lets Go Cards 

The Voulenteers At a Crossroads

The 2012 version of the Volunteers will be heading to Starkville, Mississippi today to face the Bulldogs of Mississippi State Saturday, in what could be the turning point in their season. The Vols have history on their side winning the last 6 match ups and have not lost since 1994 to the Bull Dogs. The number 19 ranked Mississippi State comes in 5-0 and has posted two wins against SEC rivals Auburn and Kentucky, both struggling teams. Their other wins were patsy games, played against the likes of Jackson St, Troy and So. Alabama. It matches the three patsies the Vols beat up to get their wins. In SEC competition State is 2-0 and the Vols or 0-2 loosing to Florida and Georgia.

Coach Dooley needs a victory over an SEC rival this Saturday. The Vols have yet to beat a ranked team in the Dooley era and for him to stay in Knoxville he must turn the tied and a victory in Starkville maybe only thing that stops Dooley from getting the boosters and boo birds off his back.

Both the Bull Dogs and the Volunteers have potent offenses and porous defenses. The Vols are giving up  over 425 yards per game and State comes in giving up almost 100 yards less. This game may come down to who scores last. I look for a high scoring game with very little defense.


Lets Go Big Orange

Lance Armstrong

Today the governing body of the American Cycling world concluded Lance Armstrong is guilty of doping even though there was never any physical evidence to prove their case, the United States Anti-Doping Agency used testimony from numerous riders, some already proven dopers as the main thrust of their prosecution. 

In doing so, The USADA stripped Armstrong of all his titles including the Tour De France, problem is the USADA does not have any jurisdiction in France. Their banning of Armstrong who is already retired from the sport is like saying Pete Rose cannot play baseball again, it serves no purpose and has no teeth.

I do not know if Armstrong used drugs to increase oxygenated blood, but I do know many professional cyclist have been involved in altering their performance by science and the entire sport is suspect to cheating

The Jets Almost Won

The NY Jets almost won last night in the Meadowlands against a very good Houston Texans team. Arian Foster (University of Tennessee) Matt Schaub and JJ Watt lived up to their billing. 

Watt almost single-handedly destroyed play after play of the Sanchez led Jets. He blocked as many shots as Melo does on a good night at the Garden. Watt tackled Sanchez and anyone else who was in the Jets backfield as if there were no offensive linemen in his way, he was dominate, harassing the Jets constantly and unrelentlessly. Sanchez picked himself up off the turf after every play and yet the Jets with the no name receiving corp were right there poised for a major upset.

The Jets stayed in the game up until the end and if not for a couple of coaching errors and a couple of burnt timeouts, the Jets had a chance to win and might have with a full cast of characters. 

Sanchez played well and plays well when he does not think. He dodged Watt as well as he could and on a couple of plays he looked outstanding, throwing strikes to his new best target Jeff Cumberland. The replacement for Keller could be the find of the year for the Jets and maybe with some luck Gang Green and recover this season. 

Lets Go Jets 

Can the Jets Win

The NY Jets will have their back to the wall tonight when they play the Houston Texans tonight in the Meadowlands. The Texans are 4-0 and rolling along with Arian Foster and Matt Schaub lead the way on offense and JJ Watt and his 7.5 sacks will to storming the Jets on defense.

How can the Jets possible win a game against such a talented foe? First, they must stop Foster and then stop Schaub, how they do that is the question of the day. Second, they must score. The Jets were shutout in their last game against the 49ers and that very well may happen again if they can not run the ball themselves. Third, they must stop Watt. The leagues leading quarter back equalizer will be facing a Jets offensive line that is in tatters and porous at best.

Marc Sanchez and Tim Tebow will have their work cutout for them tonight to try and score points anyway they can, whether they will, we will soon see. The best QB on the Jets may never get into tonight's game but at some point, the Jets will realize their best chance of winning is with Greg McElroy over center. Sanchez and Tebow will get all the ink and all the playing time until Ryan and Co hit bottom and after tonight the bottom maybe sooner than later.


Lets Go Jets

Lets Go Orioles

The Baltimore Orioles play the NY Yankees today in ALDC series and since I have no dog in this hunt and the Yankees are from the Dark Side, I have to root for the Birds. This will not be the first time I have rooted for the Orioles over the last 50 years, but it is the first time in many years and against the hated Yankees no less. The O's have been one of the AL teams I have liked since I have been a boy, mostly it was any team the Yankees were playing.

The Orioles have not been in the playoffs since the 1997 when Davie Johnson was the manager and winning the one game play in game against last year's AL Champion Rangers was not an easy feat. They come into today's game against the Yankees ready to pick up right where they left off.

I look for the O's to win in 5.


LGO

October Baseball

Last night the St. Louis Cardinals and the Baltimore won, a one game playoff in MLB's new Wile Card format. The O's and Athletics return to the playoffs in true rags to riches fashion and both are playing very good Money Ball. 

The A's play today against the Tigers and the last time I watched a post season game with a team from Oakland playing, the players wore mustaches and Catfish Hunter was annoying Charlie Finley. I look forward to seeing Yoenis Cepedes the Cuban ex patriot who hit 23 HR and had 82 RBI in just 129 games with the Athletics who some believe is the best player in the MLB.

Tomorrow the O's play their rivals, the NY Yankees. I will be rooting for Baltimore to take the team from the Dark Side as anyone but the Yankees must win. 

What Do the Jets Do Now?

The Jets face the 4-0 Houston Texans on Monday night in prime time and after last weeks debacle against the 49ers who know what the Jets will do. They have lost their best player and team leader in Darrell Revis and this week lost their only capable wide receiver and scoring threat in Santonio Homes. How they will score and play defense against a very balanced Houston team will be the $64 thousand dollar question?

The Texans on the other hand come into the Monday contest averaging 32 points a game on offense and only giving up 14 points on defense over the last four games. Sanchez and company will have to stop JJ Watt and his league leading 7 1/2 sacks. In the Texans last win over the Titans, Houston picked off two Nashville passes for touchdowns because of the pressure placed on Jake Locker.

On defense the Jets will have to stop Adrian Foster the ex Volunteer and leagues leading ball carrier who is first in the league in carries, second in yards gained and who last week had 143 total yards and two TDs. If the Jets cant stop Foster and Schaub it will be another long night for the team from Gotham.


# LGJ

NY Mets Come To A Close

The MLB regular season has come to a close and the 50th season of the NY Mets has seen its last game. 4th place and 74 wins under Terry Collins and his staff. As Mets seasons go this was very much like so many before, frustrating, depressing and unfulfilled.

I had the Mets winning 86 games this year in my preseason prognostication and as of the All Star Game they were well on their way to making my prediction come to pass, until the second half. The boys from Gotham just fell flat the second half and what started out so enjoyable became a living disaster.

The Bright spots of the season: David Wright returning to All Star form, RA Dickey, Johan Santana No NO and the young players the Mets have coming next year. The negatives only winning 73 games.

The Mets brain trust will have to produce next year or the Mets could be looking at new management by mid season and it all come down to Ya Gotta Believe.  Pitchers and Catchers report February 13, 2013 and Mets fans everywhere will sit and dream about a winning team for next year.

LGM  

RA Dickey 43

RA Dickey pitched his last game for Mets this year last night getting a no decision in a 4-3 Marlin victory. It has been reported RA has had an injury since April and pitched through the pain, he will have surgery in next couple of weeks.

This just adds to the mystic of the ex Volunteer pitcher. The man is a lion facing struggle after struggle to prove to the baseball world what a man of character he is. RA the 2012 Mets MVP won 20 games against 6 defeats. The Mets have won 73 games this year and without Dickey's 20 wins the Mets would be in the Houston / Chicago bad  category.

RA Dickey and Mets fans will have to wait for the sports writers to vote for the Cy Young award results, but Mets fans who have watched RA pitch the last 3 years know he should be the #1 candidate for the award.

Thank you for a great year RA, best wishes, peace.



LGM

Jets and Ryan are Dead

Once the Jets  brain trust decided to sign Tim Tebow the Jets season came to a sudden end even before it started. What the Tebow signing said to me was the Jets management was lost on substance and padded with bull shit. The Jets an 8-8 team who's shinning star was dimming fast went the way of "lets see how this plays out" when Rex Ryan turned to the unquarter back quarterback and said to Marc Sanchez you are not as good as we thought, thanks but no thanks.

Sanchez, the young not so smart #1 draft choice and starting QB the last 3 years now has a circus side show act breathing down his neck, just what the insecure leader needed. The Jets have shown little on draft day under Ryan's leadership drafting players that seem lost compared to other teams draft choices. Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum needs to take as much heat as Ryan, but it is Ryan in his braggadocios style that made the back page of the NY newspapers. It was Ryan who guaranteed a Superbowl championship. Its was Ryan who blustered and screamed and intimidated the press into believing his line of crap.

The Jets are not a good football team and the only way they will become a good team is with new management and ownership. Woody Johnson the sliver spoon in the mouth owner has shown he knows as much about football as he does about baby powder, little to none. This year will be depressing for life long Jets fans and the only way out of the cellar will be with a new Owner, Head Coach and GM.

Lets Go Jets