The State of Sports Oct. 28th

-College Football

-BC loss to V-Tech
I agree with Eagle today. I think that the coaches should look to who will win them games. The QB runs the offense, especially when the running game isnt that solid. They should take a hard look and see who they should start with Porters piss poor performance. Even though they played a legit defense that is very good, the situtation still should be looked at.

BC plays North Carolina, NC State, and Maryland for the rest of its schedule. BC just might stick it out with Porter, is the gut feeling right now. All teams that can be rolled over, but you cant take lightly either.

-Predictions for the weekend:
Very important game this week vs Worcester.

-Game of the week-
Game of the week is going to be Northwestern (21) and Michigan (25). I didnt think much of Northwestern until I read the ESPN.com article earlier in the week. Fact is, there is a four way tie right now with Penn State, Northwestern, Wisconson, and Ohio State all. Looking at the remaining schedules, Penn State faces preseason ranked Purdue this week and then Wisconson and Michigan State, who beat Notre Dame, which could be an upset. In the next three games, the only ranked opponent Wisconson faces is Penn State, and they face Iowa who could upset them. Ohio State has Northwestern, and Michigan at Michigan which is always tough, whether Michigan sucks, or not, and Minnesota this week. If Northwestern could beat Michigan and Ohio State, which is within reason. They might win the Big 10. Its plausible, but Ohio State still looks like the favorite to win the conference.

My prediction is Offensive game strait out. Northwestern beats Michigan in a high scoring shoot out. If I was betting, id bet the over on this game

-Other picks-
USC over Washington; Ohio St over Minnesota; Florida State over Maryland; Florida over Georgia (Shockley makes the difference with another good defensive unit in the nation); Penn St. over Purdue; Fresno over Hawaii; Texas over Oklahoma St.

In non top 25 action I like Oklahoma over Nebraska; Toledo over Central Michigan (Big MAC west game, I like Toledo to win it this year, they say Gradkowski is the next Rothlesberger out of the conference); Boise St over Nevada (to see whos going to beat Fresno State; Fresno still has both on schedule and could potentially loose to both)

-College Basketball-

-Recent Top 25 Preaseason Poll
BC gets little respect at #11. Duke should have the top spot and Gonzaga (?!) at #7. UConn and Villinova are good spots. Mich State shouldnt be #5, but #3. Oklahoma and Arizona in the top 10. Ok, where's NC, they won the championship right?

After the top 10, I cant comment on the rest of the poll, because I really dont know players on teams that well. And I havent seen teams play other teams yet, so I really cant comment.

I used to read Page 2 on ESPN and I should do it for a reason. This article is very funny, and I thought it was pretty cute too. Its on the new olympic coach for the mens baskeball team; Coach K, the coach at Duke University.

The State of Sports: October 27th

-Baseball

Yes its the end of the World Series and the White Sox have won their first title in 88 years. I think this team is for real. I didnt on the eve of Game 4, but god darnit im wrong sometimes.

According to one of my favorite sites (Baseball Reference.com), the '05 White Sox are only the sixth team in the history of the sport to finsh the postseason in ALCS and ALDS play with one loss. They join the company of such teams as the '89 Athletics, the '85 Tigers, the '70 Orioles, and the '69 Mets. In ALSC play only the Yankees have lost one game in 12; the others have lost one game in 8 games. The only team in the two division format to sweep throughout was the '76 Reds, out of one of the classic dynasties on baseball; "The Big Red Machine."

A classmate said that this team couldnt score runs. He didnt see how people could get on base and then scoring runs against very good pitchers. I agreed with him, but didnt read through the lines. The White Sox won with small ball. What the Angles rode on two years ago during their run. Small ball of getting on base, sac bunting, stealing, being aggresive on the base paths, and making sure every infielder on their toes. You don't see that out of teams anymore. Even from an American League team that uses a DH.

Pictured-Juan Uribe Catch in the 9th of Game 4

I thought that baseball moved away from "small ball" and went with the Moneyball strategy. This idea of Bill James that players cant make outs like sac bunts. Outs are what puts teams in the hole right away. Yes, you want to be aggresive on the basepaths, but outs are what you are trying not to make. Ozzie Guillen proved that in winning this series. He did more than that, he repealled the notion of what I people think have revolutionized the sport. Moneyball, opened peoples eyes. Maybe this will too.

Still, the White Sox outpitched to a mediocre lineup. There was no one in that lineup that could power the ball down field. Berkman has had his day and is battling a shoulder problem. Its god damn remarkable how he can still play with his arthritic shoulder. The Astros had a lineup that was young and experienced, but no real power threat. The White Sox scouts did what the Red Sox did last year; thier homework. With a rotation like Buehrle, Freddy Garcia, Jose Contrearas, Garland, and the young pitcher McCarthy that rotation was pretty solid.

Pictured- Brad Lidge

Of course, being the hypercritical Red Sox fan I am, I thought they were mediocre. I thought they lacked postseason experience. When you see a closer throw a 97-100 MPH fastball, not many people are going to hit it.


The problem was the Astros pitchers just fell apart. Oswalt's bullpen blew it. Clemens went out at the right time. Andy Pettitte's bullpen blew it. And Brad Lidge lost confidence in the fastball with the Puljois home run. Doubt is what killed that kid. His 96-98 MPH fasball location was really bad. I must admit he was the biggest surprise this postseason. He was 0-2, with a 4.91 ERA in 3.2 IP in 3 apperances.

This offseason is going to be defined at who wants the vetrens. There isnt much of a free agent crop to choose from, but all I know is, it will be interresting. I look forward to reporting what goes down.
Pictured- Geoff Blum's solo shot to end Game 3