Author: Anthony Stalter (Page 292 of 1503)

      Baseball’s law of averages catches up with the Braves

      October 11, 2010 /
      Atlanta Braves second baseman Brooks Conrad dives for a single hit by San Francisco Giants' Aubrey Huff during the eighth inning in Game 3 of the MLB National League Division Series baseball playoff series in Atlanta, Georgia October 10, 2010. REUTERS/Tami Chappell (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BASEBALL IMAGES OF THE DAY)

      Like any red-blooded sports fan, there are players I root against. I’m supposed to be somewhat objective with in my job so I won’t list those players’ names, but I’m like most fans: I don’t mind seeing certain players fail.

      Brooks Conrad isn’t one of those players.

      I love self-made guys because they never have the best talent, they’re not flashy and they usually appreciate what they have. Conrad, the 30-year-old journeyman who was forced into regularly playing time because of injuries to Chipper Jones and Martin Prado, is a self-made player. He was a nobody until May 20, when hit his first career major league grand slam by helping the Braves beat the Reds, 10-9.

      But because of his three errors in the Giants’ 3-2 come-from-behind win on Sunday in the NLDS, now Conrad is somebody. And unfortunately for him, he’s somebody for all the wrong reasons.

      Conrad’s three errors tied a record for most errors in a single divisional series playoff game. Two of his errors led to Giants’ runs, including the eventual winning run when a Buster Posey routine ground ball traveled through his legs to score Aubrey Huff in the top of the ninth.

      Of course, had Billy Wagner not gotten hurt in Game 2 of this series, Craig Kimbrel would have never pitched the top of the ninth on Sunday. And had Kimbrel gotten one more strike on Freddy Sanchez, the Giants’ second baseman wouldn’t have reached on a base-hit and Atlanta would be up 2-1 in the series.

      Continue reading »

      External Sports, MLB

      Phillies roll into NLCS like a well-oiled machine

      October 11, 2010 /
      Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cole Hamels celebrates after defeating the Cincinnati Reds in Game 3 of the MLB National League Division Series baseball playoffs in Cincinnati, Ohio, October 10, 2010. REUTERS/John Sommers II (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BASEBALL)

      Three wins, two shutouts and one well-deserving trip to the National League Championship Series.

      They are your 2010 Philadelphia Phillies.

      The Phillies completed their sweep of the Reds on Sunday night, as Cole Hamels threw the second shutout of the series (Roy Halladay’s lackluster peformance in Game 1 was the other shutout). Hamels scattered five hits and walked none as Philly was able to rest its bullpen for the NLCS, which will start on Saturday, October 16.

      Reds’ starter Johnny Cueto and the bullpen kept their club in the ballgame by limiting the Phillies to only two runs, but Cincinnati’s bats never came around. They scratched together four runs in Game 2, but that was their total for the entire series.

      The Phillies now await the winner between the Giants and Braves and if Game 4 will be anything like the first three games of that NLDS series, then that puppy is probably going five.

      External Sports, MLB

      It’s official: The wedding night and honeymoon are over for the Saints

      October 10, 2010 /
      NEW ORLEANS - AUGUST 27: Head coach Sean Payton of the New Orleans Saints watches a play during the game against the San Diego Chargers at the Louisiana Superdome on August 27, 2010 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Saints defeated the Chargers 36-21. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

      The Saints are currently in post-Super Bowl hell.

      Every week, their opponent acts is if its their Super Bowl, which means New Orleans will get everyone’s best effort from here on out.

      Every week, defensive coordinators want to be the one that comes up with the game plan that beat Sean Payton’s offense.

      And that means that every week, teams like the Cardinals have an opportunity to pull off an upset.

      In Arizona on Sunday, the Cardinals recovered two fumbles for touchdowns and returned an interception for a touchdown to shock New Orleans, 30-20. It was exactly the type of defensive effort the Cards needed since they were starting an undrafted rookie quarterback in Max Hall, who made his fair share of mistakes but went on to complete 17-of-27 passes for 168 yards and an interception. He took way too many hits, but he targeted Larry Fitzgerald (7 catches, 93 yards) nine times, spread the ball around effectively and most importantly, he pulled off a win in his first career start.

      Not bad for a rookie considering whom his opponent was.

      At 3-2, it isn’t time to start making definitive statements about the Saints. But it’s safe to say that this isn’t the same team that hoisted the Lombardi Trophy back in February.

      Drew Brees threw for 294 yards and two touchdowns on Sunday, but he was also intercepted three times and has only thrown for over 300 yards once this year (365 vs. the Falcons in Week 3). It doesn’t help that both Reggie Bush and Pierre Thomas were out again this week and that the Saints couldn’t run the ball, although it may not have mattered today. Arizona’s defense swarmed to the ball and put New Orleans back on its heels for most of the game.

      After the Saints lost to the Falcons, everyone figured they would get back on track quickly with the Panthers, Cardinals, Bucs and Browns on their upcoming schedule. But they barely beat the Panthers last Sunday, were soundly beaten today and will face a 3-1 Tampa team brimming with confidence next week. If they’re not careful, the Saints are going to dig themselves a hole heading towards the midway point in the season.

      But that’s life for a defending champ. Every week they have a target on their backs.

      External Sports, NFL

      Like a bunch of schoolgirls, Moss and Brady apparently fought about each other’s hair

      October 10, 2010 /
      MIAMI - OCTOBER 04: Quarterback Tom Brady and Randy Moss of the New England Patriots sit on the sidelines against the Miami Dolphins at Sun Life Stadium on October 4, 2010 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Marc Serota/Getty Images)

      This is so ridiculous that it can’t possibly be made up:

      Shortly after Moss was traded to the Vikings on Wednesday, reports surfaced that Moss had a heated exchange with quarterbacks coach Bill O’Brien at halftime of last Monday night’s game in Miami. Another story said Moss refused to talk to Belichick on the plane ride home.

      Then on Sunday, Charley Casserly, an ex-NFL general manager who now works on CBS’ NFL pregame show, reported that Moss and Patriots quarterback Tom Brady [stats] went toe-to-toe and had to be separated the week before the trade was made.

      According to Casserly, Brady did not like Moss’ behavior. During the argument, Brady was overheard telling Moss he needed to cut his beard. Moss countered by telling Brady he needed a haircut and that he looked like a girl.

      Have you ever been in a relationship that started off great but by the end you were just mad because the other person was still breathing?

      This isn’t about hair or beards, or anything else. This is about Moss being ticked off about his situation and looking for a way out. He was upset that the team didn’t offer him a contract extension, so he started picking fights with everyone and probably felt justified for doing so. Now he’s back with his old girlfriend and he’s a happy camper again.

      We’ll find out Monday night if the Moss-Minnesota re-marriage is going to work.

      External Sports, NFL

      Are the Redskins and Bucs for real?

      October 10, 2010 /
      Green Bay Packers defensive end Mike Neal (L), without his helmet, watches as teammates pursue Washington Redskins quarterback Donovan McNabb in the first half of their NFL football game in Landover, Maryland, October 10, 2010. REUTERS/Larry Downing (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT FOOTBALL)

      Despite their wins on Sunday and their overall records, I’m struggling with the notion that the Redskins and Bucs are “for real” (whatever that means). Personally, I think they’re both a product of their circumstances.

      Let me explain before Washington and Tampa Bay Fan rip my nuggets off.

      The Bucs have beaten three teams with weak passing games (Cleveland, Carolina and Cincinnati). Their only loss was at the hands of the Steelers, who absolutely destroyed them on their home field in Week 3.

      Wins are tied to yards per pass and turnovers. Teams that can throw for more yards per pass and turn the ball over less usually win. (Look at the box scores from this week in the NFL if you think I’m making this up.) With that in mind, is it that big of a shock that the Bucs are 3-1 after facing teams that can’t throw the ball? Some would say yes just based on how bad Tampa was last year, but you have to consider how brutal the Browns, Panthers and Bengals’ passing games are when it comes to Tampa’s surprising start.

      Now, the Redskins are kind of a different story. They’ve beaten the Cowboys, Eagles and Packers – three teams that have better passing games than the teams Tampa has faced. However, Dallas’ offense carried its funk from preseason into the regular season, Philadelphia lost Michael Vick in the first quarter last week and Green Bay has racked up more injuries than the front lines of the Revolutionary War.

      Again I ask, are these two teams for real or have they cashed in on some nice opportunities early in the year?

      That said, regardless of what I or anyone else thinks, the Skins (3-2) and Bucs (3-1) are what their records say they are. You can’t take that away from them and after both of them produced some big-time wins today, so I hate to damper the mood.

      But we’ll see.

      External Sports, NFL

      « Older posts Newer posts »

      © 2026 The Scores Report – The National Sports Blog

      Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑