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      Warner sets record as Cardinals rebound

      September 20, 2009 /

      Kurt Warner set the single-game mark for completion percentage in the Cardinals’ defeated the Jaguars 31-17 on Sunday. Warner completed 24 of his 26 passes for 243 yards and two touchdowns, breaking Vinny Testaverde’s completion rating of 91.30, which he set with the Browns in 1993.

      Warner was excellent on Sunday, throwing passes to nine different passes and finding Jason Wright and Larry Fitzgerald on touchdown passes of 5-and 22-yards, respectively. Warner also set a team record by completing his first 15 passes in a row, which was set by Jake Plummer on November 8 of 1998.

      I hate to crap on Warner’s day but I’m going to do it anyway because I’m a jerk. While his completion percentage of 92% was impressive, he was facing one of the worst defensive backfields in the AFC. The Jaguars couldn’t generate any kind of a pass rush and Warner had a day and a half to throw the ball every time he dropped back.

      Remember when the Jaguars used to give teams fits by living in the opponents’ backfields? What happened to Jacksonville’s defense? Oh yeah, it’s in Atlanta with Mike Smith and Mike Peterson…and Buffalo with Marcus Stroud…

      Even though Jacksonville’s defense isn’t what it used to be, the record set by Warner couldn’t have happened to a better person. Warner remains one of the classiest players in the league and he needed this performance after last week’s disappointing loss to San Francisco. In fact, the entire Arizona team did.

      NFL

      Peavy comments on successful White Sox debut

      September 20, 2009 /

      Peavy

      Things didn’t quite pan out for the White Sox, did they? Besides treating fans to this season’s most thrilling moment (Mark Buehrle’s perfect game), the organization has watched their playoff hopes weaken after the risky acquisitions of Alex Rios and Jake Peavy proved either unfruitful or untimely. While Rios morphed from a former All-Star into a role player, Peavy worked diligently in the minors to overcome nagging injuries. He finally made his White Sox debut yesterday and even got the win. His last start was with the Padres on June 6th, so he obviously isn’t 100 percent just yet.

      “I think it’s more like Spring Training soreness, no doubt,” said Peavy. “I’m more sore than I think I will be April or May of next year. I have an extra day in between starts with Thursday’s off-day, so that will help.”

      The right-hander will take the mound next on Friday against the Tigers, to begin a weekend home series that the White Sox hope will have some sort of playoff ramifications. Peavy threw 73 pitches in Saturday night’s return to a Major League mound, following a three-month absence due to a partially-torn tendon in his right ankle and the after-effects of taking a line drive off of his pitching elbow during a Minor League rehab start. Both of those rehabbed areas presented no further issue after his performance.

      In the 13-3 victory, Peavy gave up three runs on three hits over five innings, while striking out five. His fastball velocity stayed in the 92-93 mph range, topping out at 94, while his slider had good bite from the start, as Peavy fanned three of the first four hitters faced. He would have returned for a sixth inning, if not for the extended down time during the White Sox rally in the bottom of the fifth.

      While the club would have preferred that Peavy rebounded a bit sooner, at least he’s showing his compassion and drive to his new fans. I really admire Peavy’s attitude. Like David Wright, this is a guy that’s ashamed to go on the DL and gives it his all even when his team isn’t in the playoff hunt. I hope he regains his status next year as one of the dominant pitchers in the game.

      MLB

      Dear Saints, we’re not worthy…

      September 20, 2009 /

      I didn’t think the Eagles would win on Sunday without Donovan McNabb, I just didn’t think they would get embarrassed on their home turf by the greatest offensive team known to man.

      Okay, so I’m exaggerating a little with that last statement, although the Saints are playing like a video game version of itself set on the “rookie” level.

      New Orleans improved to 2-0 on the young season thanks to another outstanding day by quarterback Drew Brees, who threw for 311 yards and three touchdowns on 25 of 34 passing. He found Marques Colston (8 receptions, 98 yards, 2 TDs) early and often as the Saints routed the Eagles 48-22 at Lincoln Financial Field.

      The Saints are playing like they’re angry at the scoreboard. And it’s not like they hung 40-plus points on a hapless Detroit team today either – they made a pretty good Philadelphia defense look like a flag football squad. Perhaps what’s most surprising about the Saints’ start is that their running game is featuring Mike Bell. Mike Bell! On 45 carries so far this season, Bell’s rushed for 229 yards and one touchdown. That’s 5.0 YPC for you math majors. Mike Bell!

      It’s only been two games, but I’m having a tough time believing that any defense will be able to slow down the Saints this season, or at least not in a dome or in good weather. If opposing teams don’t start generating a pass rush, Brees is going to continue his MVP-like season and the Saints are going to roll throughout the year.

      NFL

      Hasselbeck suffers injury as 49ers beat Seahawks

      September 20, 2009 /

      It’s always nice when the football gods can add a little insult to injury.

      Such was the case on Sunday when the Seahawks fell to the now 2-0 49ers 23-10 in San Francisco. Seattle signal caller Matt Hasselbeck was knocked out of the game after taking a blow to the back from linebacker Patrick Willis while trying to scramble into the end zone at the end of the first half. The team is calling it a rib injury, although there has to be major concern that Hasselbeck took the hit in the back after he virtually missed the entire 2008 season due to back problems.

      The insult to Hasselbeck’s injury came when Seneca Wallace entered the game and couldn’t generate any second half points. He did throw a 1-yard touchdown pass to Julius Jones after Hasselbeck left the field, but that’s about where Wallace’s contributions to Seattle stopped as he often settled for check down and underneath passes.

      Continue reading »

      NFL

      Will the Dodgers rotation hold up in the playoffs?

      September 20, 2009 /

      Chad

      The MLB regular season will conclude in the next two weeks and we have a pretty good idea which teams are going to make the playoffs. Barring any hot streaks or horrific droughts, the Yankees, Red Sox, Angels, Tigers, Phillies, Cardinals, Dodgers, and Rockies should all advance. (Perhaps the Twins will make a run if Michael Cuddyer keeps hitting like Babe Ruth.) While all these teams have the bats, ask any manager and they’ll tell you that it’s their rotation that wins a series.

      Neither of these clubs currently have a perfect starting four, but it’s the Dodgers that should be freaking out. After posting the best record in the National League for almost the entire season, Chad Billingsley has been demoted to the bullpen, Clayton Kershaw has a shoulder injury (non-pitching), and Hiroki Kuroda is trying to right himself after taking a line drive to the skull last month.

      The most consistent teams in the regular season — the ones with good records and rested bullpens — tend to have three or four pitchers with at least 30 starts.

      When the season ends in 14 days, the Dodgers may have only two.

      This month, the mix-and-match Dodgers have relied heavily on two starters, Jon Garland and Vicente Padilla, who arrived after the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline. And the key starters Colletti mentioned have missed at least one start apiece in recent weeks: Wolf, Kuroda and Kershaw because of injuries; Billingsley because of inconsistent performance and waning confidence.

      Twelve pitchers have started three or more games for the Dodgers this season. Twelve. That’s a statistic one would expect from an also-ran, not a near-certain playoff team. But Padilla and Garland have performed beyond expectations, with a 6-0 record and 2.65 ERA over nine combined starts through Saturday.

      The Dodgers are very fortunate to have landed Vicente Padilla and Jon Garland. Though both were having mediocre seasons on their prior teams, they are shining with the Boys in Blue and may very will be the key to the Dodgers’ postseason success. Fans were initially skeptical about former Giants Assistant GM Ned Colletti coming aboard, but he’s proven to be the savviest general manager the Dodgers have had in years. As far as pitching is concerned, Colletti picked up George Sherrill, Padilla, and Garland late into the season — all have been solid. And who would have expected Randy Wolf to evolve into the team’s ace? Wolf, who previously played for the Dodgers in 2007, had his best season with the Phillies in ’03, then struggled to regain his prowess. Still, Colletti must have seen something in Wolf this past offseason because, with a 10-6 record and 3.24 ERA, he’s surprising everyone. Expect Wolf to start the first game of the NLDS. After that, it’s anybody’s guess who the Dodgers will look to.

      MLB

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