Sunday, August 30, 2020

Sports this 'n' that

Traditionally, the Boston Marathon is run in April, on Patriots Day, a state holiday that has been on the books since before a certain NFL team became Public Enemy #1 outside of Massachusetts. COVID-19 made sure the race wouldn't be run in the normal sense this year.

However, perhaps emboldened by the organizers of the Freihofer's Run For Women in Albany, which opted for a virtual version of the race, the Marathon lives after all.

A virtual race and exposition will begin on Labor Day, with WBZ providing nightly television coverage, which is more than the Freihofer's virtual race got. The virtual Marathon will run from September 7-13, segueing right into the start of NFL season. The timing, of course, is coincidental, but for rabid sports fans in Boston needing some positivity as the Red Sox are tanking this season, worse than we thought, they'll take it.
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Speaking of the BoSox, it appears first year manager Ron Roenicke and team management are waving the white flag.

After getting shellacked by Washington the other night, Boston traded first baseman/designated hitter Mitch Moreland to San Diego for prospects. Moreland will in all probability be the full time DH for the resurgent Padres, who also acquired reliever Trevor Rosenthal from Kansas City to fill a void created by the loss of closer Kirby Yates for the season due to elbow surgery.

We envisioned Boston finishing 4th, but didn't count on Baltimore exceeding expectations this season, leaving the Sawx in the cellah, as they say in Bah-ston.
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The Yankees snapped a 7 game losing streak at the expense of the Mets on Saturday afternoon, winning, 2-1, after ex-Yankee Dellin Betances let in the winning run on a wild pitch.

Betances and fellow hurler Steven Matz were placed on the injured list after the game, as the Mets continue to have issues with their pitching staff. The game might've been in the Bronx, but the Citi Field injury curse continues to bite the Amazin's when they least expect it. Matz made his first relief appearance of the season in the home 5th, but lasted just the one inning, and the placement on the IL confirms ye scribe's suspicions that Matz was pulled from the rotation because of concerns about a then-undisclosed injury.

The Yankees weren't the only ones to walk off with a wild pitch. Cincinnati did the same in the nightcap of their doubleheader vs. the Cubs, salvaging a 5-4 win by rallying in the 7th against the Cub bullpen.

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