Sports Bytes: October 29, 2010

World Series - Giants lead 2-0

Game 2 - Giants win 9-0

The Rangers bullpen strikes again, surrendering seven runs and allowing a 2-0 divot to morph into a 9-0 chasm. The bullpen has now given up 11 runs in the first two games of the series. Perhaps even more disturbing than the amount of runs they've allowed is the manner in which they've allowed them. In last night's game all seven runs were scored with two outs in the eighth inning. Derek Holland surrendered three runs without even allowing a hit. He walked three consecutive batters, and at one point threw 11 straight balls before finding the strike zone. And after Holland was lifted Mark Lowe stepped onto the mound and walked his first batter before surrendering a two-run single to Edgar Renteria. It was the most pathetic pitching I've seen since Little League--or at least since Oliver Perez's last regular season start . . .

Is that the Rangers' lineup or the Yankees' lineup? Texas was held to just four hits last night . . .

Matt Cain was stellar, extending his consecutive scoreless innings streak to 21⅓. If you have any doubts about how good he was just ask Nelson Cruz, who went 0-4 with two strikeouts and looked completely overmatched in all four at-bats . . .

If I am the Rangers what concerns me even more than being down 2-0 in games is that I'm not catching the breaks that I caught in the ALCS. Against the Yankees everything the Rangers hit found an opening, whether the hit was a screaming line-drive or a flare over the infield. That is not happening in this series. In fact, the Giants are the team catching the breaks, as evidenced by RF Cody Ross' play in the sixth inning. With Michael Young on first, Josh Hamilton hit a sinking line-drive that Ross charged but was unable to reach. Caught in no-man's-land, Ross dove and smothered the ball, hoping to prevent it from getting past him. Luckily, the ball took a true hop and hit him in the chest. If the ball had bounced a foot to his left or to his right, not only would Young have scored, but Hamilton may have even circled the bases . . .

Although it became irrelevant, Rangers' C Matt Treanor deserves a lot of credit for his defensive play in last night's game. On numerous occasions it was only Treanor's nimble feet and solid glove that prevented the Rangers staff from repeatedly hitting the backstop with wild pitches . . .

I don't know who is to blame for it, but it was dumb for Elvis Andrus to steal second base with one out in the top of the eighth inning and the Rangers trailing 2-0. Your team is down by two runs and your standing on first base with Michael Young at the plate and Josh Hamilton in the on-deck circle--two men who are more than capable of homering and tying the game. Getting caught stealing, and Andrus was caught but Renteria dropped the throw, negates the batter as the tying run. The risk is far greater than the reward . . .

Week 8 NFL Predictions

• Miami over Cincinnati
• Dallas over Jacksonville
• Washington over Detroit
• Kansas City over Buffalo
• St. Louis over Carolina
• NY Jets over Green Bay
• Denver over San Francisco
• Tennessee over San Diego
• Oakland over Seattle
• New England over Minnesota
• Tampa Bay over Arizona
• Pittsburgh over New Orleans
• Indianapolis over Houston

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Sports Bytes: October 28, 2010

World Series - Game 1

Giants win 11-7

So much for the pitcher's duel. Cliff Lee lasted only 4.2 innings and Lincecum only 5.2 innings. Neither pitcher was able to hit his spots and as a result they combined to surrender 11 runs (Lee: 7, Lincecum: 4) . . .

The highlights of the game for me were Vladimir Guerrero's train-wreck performances in right field. I don't know which error in the eighth inning was funnier-- the first ball he allowed to bounce past him and roll to the wall, or the second ball that he swatted-at with his glove as if he were trying to kill a roach . . .

Six errors is pretty pathetic for two teams in a World Series game. Let's hope it was just nerves . . .

Although Lee clearly did not have his best stuff, let's not take anything away from the Giants' performance. Their approach to attacking Lee was a clinic for other clubs. Too often hitters over-swing when they face Lee. San Francisco's approach was to simply hit the ball where it was pitched, which is why there were so many base hits up-the-middle. Nobody was pulling off the ball in attempt to drive it. Buster Posey's game-tying single in the third inning was also a good example of "hitting it where it is pitched." Focusing solely on contact he reached for a low outside pitch and lifted a soft liner over SS Elvis Andrus head to tie the game. Overall it was an impressive performance by the Giants lineup . . .

Reliever Darren O' Day's performance yesterday was indicative of the problems the Rangers will face if their starters cannot get the job done. O' Day entered the game in the fifth inning with two runners on and the Rangers trailing 5-2. The first batter he faced, Juan Uribe, belted a three-run homer to give the Giants a six-run lead . . .

If the Rangers were able to recover from blowing a 5-0 lead to the defending-champion Yankees in Game 1 of the ALCS, don't expect them to lose any sleep over last night's loss. Expect them to come back strong tonight . . .

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Need a PR Specialist? Perhaps my 13 years of PR experience can satisfy those needs. I have publicized world champions such as Lennox Lewis and Evander Holyfield, and mega-events like Lewis-Tyson and De la Hoya-Vargas. Contact Donald Tremblay (The Rain Maker) at 718-664-3405 or at dtremblay@earthlink.net. For more info about me visit my LinkedIn Profile.

Sports Bytes: October 27, 2010

World Series

Prediction: Texas in six

San Francisco has an excellent pitching staff and I anticipate that all six games will be close. However, they are facing a Texas team whose pitching staff is probably as good as their own and a lineup that can bomb you with the long ball or run you into the ground with the small ball. The best chance the Giants have of winning is if the series becomes a battle of the bullpens because the Giants hold the advantage in that department . . .

Tim Lincecum vs. Cliff Lee in Game 1. Baseball at its best . . .

"Just For Men" should recruit SF Giants' closer Brian Wilson as a spokesperson. Wilson's beard is so dark that it looks as if he dyed it with shoe polish . . .

Harold Reynolds is still the best in-studio baseball analyst in the business . . .

If Major League Baseball has its way television viewers may spend Thanksgiving Day flipping channels between NFL football and MLB playoffs. MLB Players' Union leader Michael Weiner "says his members are open to adding more wild-card teams for 2012 and possibly extending the division series to a best-of-seven." He also reports that although the players may agree to shortening the regular season, ownership is not as supportive because "it would cost teams revenue." Adding more playoff teams will cheapen the regular season and move baseball a step closer to hockey and basketball--sports in which nearly every team seemingly makes the playoffs. If the league wants to generate more television revenue, let them find a better way than by scheduling baseball while people are doing their Christmas shopping . . .

Yankees fans have earned a reputation over the years as being obnoxious, particularly when attending games at Yankees Stadium. That bad rep received support yesterday as Cliff Lee's wife, Kristen, reported that she was harassed by Yankees fans during the ALCS between NY and Texas. As a Yankees fan I find that behavior deplorable and I resent those morons making all Yankees fans look like "yahoos." I hope security threw those jerks out of the ballpark . . .

Everybody in NY seems awfully quiet as to why the Yankees fired pitching coach Dave Eiland . . .

The Associated Press posted a very interesting article yesterday addressing a recent study claiming that "the so-called 'free ride' for college scholarship athletes isn't quite so free." I guess it's sort of like when you win a car on a game show, but then learn you're responsible for paying the taxes on the car . . .

Anyone else find it odd that the Pro Football Hall of Fame has requested DeAngelo Hall's jersey from Sunday's game? Four INTs is impressive, but worthy of the Hall? Sorry, I don't see it . . .

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Sports Bytes: October 26, 2010

Giants - Cowboys: Monday Night Football

Don't be fooled by the close 41-35 final score. The Giants handily won the contest, even going so far as to score 31 unanswered points. NY foolishly took its foot off the gas pedal and allowed Dallas to score two late TDs to close the gap, but realistically the game was over when NY jumped ahead 38-20. Here are a few of the unbelievable stats from last night's game:

• Total Yards - Giants: 497 Cowboys: 254
• First Downs - Giants: 25 Cowboys: 14
• Time of Poss- Giants: 37:31 Cowboys: 22:29
• Rushing Yds- Giants: 200 Cowboys: 41

Tony Romo is done for the 2010 season. A fractured collarbone is not a sore shoulder . . .

It was an impressive win for NY last night, but any talk of them being the best team in the NFC is premature. Sure they humiliated the Cowboys in Dallas, but they also turned the ball over five times and allowed an 88-yard punt return for a TD. If they don't limit their mistakes they are not going anywhere . . .

Eli Manning has the unusual ability to look like one of the top-three QBs in football for 57 minutes of a game, but in those other three minutes to look like he doesn't belong on the field . . .

The Giants have now KO'd five QBs . . .

I was going to remark that Wade Phillips looked clueless last night as his team was imploding, but then I remembered that Phillips has one of those faces that always displays confusion . . .

Did DeMarcus Ware play last night? . . .

Maybe this is unfair but it looked as if the Cowboys mailed it in on Brandon Jacobs' 30 yard TD run in the third quarter . . .

With the Cowboys loss I finished the week at 8-6, raising my 2010 predictions record to 54-50 . . .

I don't know who I want to see go away faster: Brett Favre or Jenn Sterger . . .

Think he predicted it? Paul the Octopus, the cephalopod mollusc that gained notoriety for correctly predicting 2010 World Cup results, has died at the ripe-old age of 2 ½ . . .

NY Yankees GM Brian Cashman admitted that he made mistakes by bringing in Javier Vazquez and Nick Johnson. Talk about stating the obvious . . .

Who's better than Benjie Molina? Since Molina spent a part of this season on the Giants roster but is now playing for the Rangers, he is guaranteed a championship ring no matter which team wins the World Series . . .

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Need a PR Specialist? Perhaps my 13 years of PR experience can satisfy those needs. I have publicized world champions such as Lennox Lewis and Evander Holyfield, and mega-events like Lewis-Tyson and De la Hoya-Vargas. Contact Donald Tremblay (The Rain Maker) at 718-664-3405 or at dtremblay@earthlink.net. For more info about me visit my LinkedIn Profile.

Sports Bytes: October 25, 2010

MLB Championship Series Afterthoughts:

• For the Giants to win the World Series they will need to get into the Rangers' bullpen . . .
• There are several good hitters on both World Series' clubs, but the player I'd least like to face with runners-on-base is Rangers 3B Michael Young. Even when he doesn't get a hit he seems to always make a quality out . . .
• Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington's dugout gyrations make for great television. My favorite is when he runs along with his players as they steal a base or tag-up . . .
• San Francisco closer Brian Wilson reminds me of former NY Mets closer Neil Allen. He also put his team's fans through agony before getting the job done . . .
• Two observations about Ryan Howard being called out on strikes to end the Phillies season:

1. The ball appeared to be a strike, but even if it wasn't there is no excuse for not protecting the plate.
2. Kevin Mitchell once said, "Only the mailman walks." That is the approach I want my cleanup hitter taking in that situation. I don't want him swinging at bad pitches, but I do want him entering the batter's box looking to win the game, not looking to earn a walk as if he is my leadoff hitter.

• The Phillies are crazy if they don't do everything possible to re-sign Jayson Werth . . .
• I am one Yankees fan who doesn't want the organization to sign Cliff Lee. I'd rather see them build a championship club around young talent like they did in 1996--even if it means waiting a couple of years to do it. It's more enjoyable that way . . .
• If Jorge Posada is the Yanks starting catcher Opening Day in April 2011, both Brian Cashman and Joe Girardi should be fired . . .

Week 7 NFL Predictions - Results and Comments

• Atlanta over Cincinnati (39-32) Win: Falcons QB Matt Ryan throws three TDs and Falcons WR Roddy White tallies 201 receiving yards; yet, the Falcons blow a 24-3 halftime lead and barely escape with a seven point victory.
• Washington over Chicago (17-14) Win: I'm surprised Jay Cutler still knows his name considering the number of times he's been hit the past few weeks. McNabb is shaky (2 INTs), but DeAngelo Hall intercepts four passes, returning one for a 92-yard TD.
• Tennessee over Philadelphia (37-19) Loss: In a surprise to nobody Andy Reid announces that Michael Vick will start after the bye week. That's fine. But unless Vick has been moonlighting as a defensive back he wasn't going to help Philly much today as the Eagles defense surrenders 27 points in the 4th quarter and makes Kenny Britt look like Jerry Rice.
• Kansas City over Jacksonville (42-20) Win: Balanced effort by the Chiefs as Matt Cassell throws two TDs and Thomas Jones rushes for 125 yards.
• Pittsburgh over Miami (23-22) Win: Lack of evidence seems to benefit Big Ben wherever he is. Steelers headed for loss as Roethlisberger fumbles football at one-yard line while trying to score. Officials review play and agree that Ben fumbled but grant the Steelers the ball because they don't have clear replay evidence as to who recovered the fumble. Steelers kick game-winning field goal on next play.
• Cleveland over New Orleans (30-17) Loss: The return of the Aints. Drew Brees throws four INTs and the defending Super Bowl champs lose by 13 points to a team that had only one win. Pitiful.
• Tampa Bay over St. Louis (18-17) Loss: Defensive wizard Steve Spagnuolo watches as his defense blows a 17-3 lead and loses by a point.
• Carolina over San Francisco (23-20) Loss: Okay, San Franciscans, everybody in unison: "Mike must go! Mike must go!"
• Baltimore over Buffalo (37-34) Win: A disappointing effort by the Ravens, but unlike the Saints they pull out a win. Good teams find ways to win even on bad days. This is probably a good omen for John Harbough and his club.
• Seattle over Arizona (22-10) Win: How bad is Arizona? Seattle commits 10 penalties and is forced to settle for five field goals, but still wins by 12 points because of five Cardinals turnovers.
• Oakland over Denver (59-14) Loss: 59 points. 508 total yards. 328 rushing yards. I don't recall the Denver Broncos franchise ever giving a more humiliating performance at home.
• New England over San Diego (23-20) Win: Why are the Chargers 2-5 this season? They hold New England to only 38 yards in the first half, but enter the locker room at halftime down 13-3 because of four turnovers.
• Green Bay over Minnesota (28-24) Win: Brett Favre throws three INTs in the 2nd half. Who would've thunk it?

Entering tonight's Giants-Cowboys game my Week 7 picks are 8-5.

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Need a PR Specialist? Perhaps my 13 years of PR experience can satisfy those needs. I have publicized world champions such as Lennox Lewis and Evander Holyfield, and mega-events like Lewis-Tyson and De la Hoya-Vargas. Contact Donald Tremblay (The Rain Maker) at 718-664-3405 or at dtremblay@earthlink.net. For more info about me visit my LinkedIn Profile.