Rockies & Rolling

The Colorado Rockies just keep chugging along,
and as a bonus they have done something that
hasn't been accomplished in about 30 years.
Not since the "Big Red Machine" Cincinnati Reds
has anyone won the first five games to start the
playoffs. Add to that the fact that their streak of
wins is now at an impressive 19 of 20 going back to
the final two weeks of the regular season.

Another point worth making is that the Baltimore
Orioles last night added to their keystone cops
routine by firing pitching guru extraordinaire
Leo Mazzone, and that's important because another
person who shares a similar title is NY Mets
pitching coach Ric Peterson, who's staff was miserable
down the stretch. Well Bob Apodaca's Staff with the
Rockies has an ERA of 1.91, in these playoffs.
Apodaca is a former pitching coach with NY Mets.
________________________________________
On a different note, Dusty Baker interviewed for the
Reds managerial position this week. I can't see him
in that spot, but if he takes it, he should definitely look
up Mazzone, I just think Baltimore is a little unlucky
right now, and I'm sure Eric Bedard will have plenty
of good things to say about him.

Of Note

NFL

Cowboys vs. Patriots Advantage Patriots

The Cowboys are real light 5-0


Romo vs. Brady Advantage Brady

Experience, Rings, Rings, Rings


Owens vs. Moss Advantage Even

Bigger Mouth vs. Bigger Malcontent



MLB Playoffs


The Rockies just keep on rolling, now at 17 of 18.

Their lack of starting pitching should catch up to

them should they get to the World Series, but

we shall see.

The last time the Red Sox & Indians met in the

playoffs Pedro Martinez was making a legendary

appearance out of the bullpen to cap a classic

and storied comeback.



NBA


Kobe Bryant was keeping his mouth shut, but his

genius of an owner had to bring up trade talk again.


The NBA has slated a bunch of pre-season games

vs. foreign teams, just another indication that

sooner or later Toronto isn't the only NBA stop

where you'll need a passport.



NHL


Matts Sundin became the Toronto Maple Leafs

leading scorer last night, but still no sign of his

name on a Stanley Cup yet. Maybe he can be

traded to a true contender at the deadline

someday follow in the footsteps of Ray Borque.

Torre's Replacement

If the Yankees fire their manager now that
they've been eliminated from post season
contention who are the front runners to take
his place. The NY Daily News reports that
reports that Tony LaRussa is a candidate,
but that's just a paper pegging a big name
where a ego maniac owner is in the mix,
so that was an easy guess with nothing to lose.

LaRussa would be a bad mix, with New York,
Steinbrenner, and with a very uncertain job
security situation, something he has never
had at any stop in his career.

Other names include Don Mattingly, and Joe
Girardi. Mattingly is not high profile enough
for George, and might be over matched in his
first assignment. Girardi has at least one go
at it before as Marlins skipper, but that was a
nothing to lose job, nothing was expected.
People also wonder if his loyalties to Torre
would allow him to take the job, but he
turned down the Orioles and Nationals
jobs in back to back years, so I don't think
loyalty is a factor here.

The Wildcard here is Bobby Valentine, and
though we know he can handle it, this isn't
his type of team, he likes to platoon and rest
way too many teams for a star laden line up
like George Steinbrenner teams.

Let the speculation continue, but I say odds
are real good he winds up staying. Just a
gut feeling I have. We'll see.

Timeout!

Three weeks ago Denver Broncos Coach
Mike Shanahan called a timeout a split
second before Oakland Raiders kicker
Sebastian Janikowski kicked an apparent
game winning field goal. Upon retry, after
the timeout the kick hit the upper left upright
and went wide left. The strategy worked, and
the Broncos won.

A week later the Raiders were faced with
the same dilemma after the Cleveland Browns
had driven to within field goal range at the end
of the game to attempt a game ending and
winning field goal. Raiders Coach Lane Kiffin
taught a lesson a week earlier, tried the same
thing, he called a timeout a half second before
the snap and though the attempt would have
been good, it didn't count. Upon retry it was
blocked and the Raiders were the victors this
time.

Last night Dick Jauron, the Buffalo Bills
head coach showed he too was paying attention,
and did the same thing to the Dallas Cowboys
kicker Nick Folk, and after hitting what
appeared to be a 53 yard game winning field
goal, that too didn't count. Upon retry though
he did connect once again and the strategy
failed for the first time in it's most recent birth.

There you have three recent instances were
an edge is trying to be gained by rattling the
kicker. This isn't new however, icing the kicker
is an age old tradition in our beloved NFL, but
only in the past three years has the coach been
able to call the actual timeout, as opposed to a
player on the field. It seems that this is leading
to a trend that may stick around, though many
rumblings are already being heard around the
sports community, especially the burnt fans.
Sports talk radio has already made many a call
for the league to take away the coaches ability to
call these types of time outs or time outs all
together and leave it to the captains on the field.

Whatever the end result, it is obvious that
has found another way to keep it interesting.

Quick Hits

Yankee Doodle Dumb

I agree that it's his money, his team and his choice,
but firing Joe Torre if the Yankees lose to the
Indians in the playoffs, as George Steinbrenner
stated on Sunday, would be pretty D U M B.
Not one Manager presently holding a job has
more than two rings, Torre Has four and 13
straight playoff appearances.

Run Forrest Run

Seeing Marion Jones apologize publicly the other
day kind of makes you wanna forgive her.
That's your choice, but it also makes you wonder
if selling your soul eventually eats you up so bad
inside that it makes you wanna bust. Or maybe
it was the check cashing scandal. I wonder if
the IRS will eventually do that to Barry Bonds.
I'd pay to see that day, for more than one reason.

Sophomore Jinx?

Second year coaches in the NFL this year have
a combined record of 13-29, two of those teams
are winless. The Saints are one of those winless
teams. I wonder how long before the shine wears
off on last years magical season.

Scraping The Bottom Of The Barrel

Jacques Villeneuve made his NASCAR debut
today. He is a former Champion in Formula
One racing, and the F1 track in Montreal is
named after his father. That being said,
the rest of the racing world today either
laughed or just didn't care. Oh how far
he's fallen.

NFL Picks Time

Last week my locks where anything but,
however I'm still a respectable 6-3 on
the season, but not what I would call
a lock. So I have make it good, here goes.

Tennessee

Dallas

Indianapolis

Good Luck,
I won't need any.

Lord of the Flies

An instant Yankee legend and fan favorite the
impenetrable Joba Chamberlain's Achilles heel
may have been found. Swarm him with flies,
lots of them. This prompted Yankee fans to take
to the sports radio airwaves Friday night and
scream their lungs out, and it wasn't long
before fingers were being pointed.

Suddenly not everyone was a fan, and the city of
Cleveland was a trash bin, how amusing.

As you can imagine the accusations didn't stop
there. This was A-rod's fault. No matter that
the team had a total of three hits over 13
innings. A-rod was 0 for six for the two games
with two measly walks and nothing to show
for it. I'm sure the last one to be blamed
here will be Derek Jeter though even with
his one for eight in the two games.

Like fans everywhere when things start to
crumble there is plenty of blame to be passed
around, and even though the Yankees are
plenty capable of turning this series around
and winning it, one thing is sure to Yankee
fans, Derek Jeter is "Lord of the Flies"

Yes You!

Travis Henry of the Denver Broncos has tested
positive for Marijuana use by the NFL, and may
now be suspended for a year according to the
Collective Bargaining Agreement and league
rules on substance abuse.

But wait!

Mr. Henry is sueuing the league to stop the
use of these results against him because he
claims his representatives were not present
during the samples testing. Because You and
I both know that the league is conspiring against
him and the results would have been negative
were his reps present, and of course they
wanted to make sure the they would violate
the CBA so that they could have their results
thrown out.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
That was sarcasm for those of you that need a clue.


The truth here is, he is guilty and a repeat
offender, the kind that deserves less of our
benefit of doubt. He is also trying to save his
own behind and year's worth of game checks.
He should have thought of this before lighting
up. I mean if you wanna light up, that's your
business, but don't give me this conspiracy

crap when you get caught red handed.
Perhaps he can get help from Floyd Landis.


This case is now headed to Federal court
because the CBA is covered by labor laws.
Feel free to laugh at any time.

What Happens Now?

Three teams had notable second halves this year in
Major League Baseball. The New York Yankees,
who had a tremendous second half to dig out of
a first half deficit that was hideous.
The Philadelphia Phillies who coupled with a
huge choke job by the NY Mets made the surge
they needed to overtake the Mets for first place
in the eastern division of the National League.
And last but not least, the Colorado Rockies who
won 13 out of their last 14 games to finish the
season and then a play in game to decide the NL
Wildcard spot against the Padres with a dramatic
three run rally in the bottom of the 13th inning to
make it 14 of 15.

So "What Happens Now?" is the question.
Well the Yankees got crushed 12-3 in their
playoff opener, now that's only one game, but
clearly the second half momentum didn't carry
over in game one. The Phillies opened their
playoff season at home against those very same
aforementioned Colorado Rockies, and of course
the buck had to stop somewhere, and though a
split of the first two games could have easily
occurred, it didn't The Rockies crushed the
Phillies in game two to take a two games to
none lead.

It's still early and much can and will happen,
but it sure is curious how some teams just
keep on rolling and others fine themselves
asking "What Happens Now?"

KA(ra)Z(matic) Rockies

It the play in game for the National League
Wild Card spot on Monday the Colorado Rockies
went into their half of the 13th inning down two
runs and facing a Hall of Fame closer in Trevor
Hoffman. It seemed all but over, and if they had
displayed the heart that the NY Mets showed in
September, let alone Sunday, it would have been.
But up stepped the man Mets fans wanted to get
out of New York so desperately, Kaz Matsui.

In his time in NY the fans expected so much, and
booed so loud when they didn't get it. Well maybe
it's that kind of attitude that drove the Mets to be
so tight in the end, because they seemed afraid of
their own shadows, and their lead off man Jose
Reyes, who know one will argue is truly one of the
bright stars of the game, was any thing but that.

Back to the Rockies though. Matsui led off with a
double, and set the table for a tremendous comeback
worthy of high praise. They made a single out and
scored three runs to erase their two run deficit,
The only out being the sacrifice fly that led to the
winning run. Now you can make a case that they were
destined to win that game, but you can't argue that
the spark that Kaz Matsui gave them just that, a spark.

A wise man once said be careful what you wish for,
you may get it. I have all too often learned that lesson.

Let us not forget that the the Rockies and Clint Hurdle
deserve praise for more than just last night. Down the
stretch the Rockies won 13 of 14 games and put themselves
in a position to be there Monday. Also worthy of note
is that going into the final three games of the season
they still had a shot at first place, but lost the only one
of those 14 games, and in the end made it 14 of 15 with
4 straight over a Padres team that although hurt couldn't
win one at home in a three game series. The Rockies
showed tremendous heart, and had fun along the way
GOOD FOR THEM !!!!! A truly well deserved spot in
the NL Playoffs. now let's see which of these two
juggernauts wins the Phillies Rockies match up.
Either w2ay, it should be fun.