Monday, October 8, 2018

Sports this 'n' that

In the wake of Saturday's loss to Texas, Oklahoma dismissed defensive coordinator Mike Stoops, brother of former coach Bob Stoops, earlier today. The annual Red River Showdown, which was won by the Longhorns Saturday in Dallas, is the Sooners' answer to traditional baseball rivalries such as Yankees-Red Sox or Cubs-Cardinals. The in-state rivalry game vs. Oklahoma State, played next month, is otherwise known as Bedlam. Well, they do know how to market games, don't they?
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Speaking of the Yankees and Red Sox, game three of their ALDS will commence in about an hour as I write this in the Bronx with the series even at 1-1. Two storylines emerged coming out of Saturday's game, neither of them really of any significance.

A New York Daily News reporter misinterpreted TBS (and Mets) announcer Ron Darling's remarks about Yankee starter Masahiro Tanaka as a racial slur, and Darling ended up apologizing for something that he really didn't have to apologize for. Bear in mind that these are hypersensitive times we are in, and the tabloid, which dismissed several of their staff earlier this year, has lost a bit of credibility as a result.

Meanwhile, Boston's David Price failed to get out of the 2nd inning on Saturday, and online reporters are suggesting the BoSox would be nuts to send him back out in a crucial game 5. Price's Boston run may be coming to an end.

News flash: I don't think Boston would use Price anyway, even out of the bullpen. They still have Nathan Eovaldi, the former Yankee, as well as Rick Porcello and game 1 starter Chris Sale. All it is, really, is just a bunch of hot air to fill space.
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As of press time, Saturday's soccer matinee at Picken Field between Troy & Colonie's boys teams had not been reported. Troy has just 2 games left, both at home, tomorrow & Thursday vs. Bethlehem & Averill Park, respectively, under the lights at Picken Field. We just have to assume Colonie won, and move on.
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Back to the playoffs. Defending champion Houston swept Cleveland, winning today, 11-3, behind two homers from ex-Valleycat George Springer. The Astros now await the Yankees-Red Sox winner on Saturday. If the Yankees win the series, the ALCS will start in Houston. If it's Boston, then the series will start at Fenway Park.

Over in the National League, Milwaukee completed a sweep of Colorado on Sunday, and now will wait for the conclusion of the Atlanta-Los Angeles series. Atlanta avoided a sweep on Sunday night, but that may be just prolonging the inevitable.

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