Byron Leftwich will be a game-time decision on Sunday after an MRI on his injured ankle came back negative…Trent Green has been cleared to practice, but not yet cleared to play…Brian Westbrook and Donte Stallworth are reportedly expected to play despite their questionable status. Be sure to check back Sunday before finalizing your lineups…Ahman Green has been upgraded to probable and should play…LaMont Jordan is expected to play unless he experiences a setback with his sore back…Samkon Gado and Wali Lundy split the snaps with the first team this week. Neither guy is a good play against a tough Jacksonville defense…Jerramy Stevens is expected to play in Week 7, but it might take him a game or two to get back into the flow of things…Tiki Barber confirmed that he will retire after this season. Obviously, this makes Brandon Jacobs even more valuable in keeper leagues as he’s already penciled in as the Giants’ starter at RB next season…Laveranues Coles missed a part of practice on Thursday, but is expected to play…Matt Jones was downgraded to out and will not play Sunday. Jones has been a mild disappointment this season, while teammate Reggie Williams has been a nice surprise.
Page 2729 of 2957
This year will finally show the nation that Big Ten football is the best football in the country. The Ohio State Buckeyes and Michigan Wolverines will match up as #1 against #2 in Ohio Stadium. The sad part about this contest is that they’re the top two teams in the country, and this isn’t the National Championship.
The fact that USC calls their match up with California a “big game” is an insult to college football talent. Cal is an average team, as it proved by getting pounded by an overrated Tennessee Volunteer squad 35-18.
The SEC continues to claim they beat up each other, in a conference that boasts “speed is all you need”. This conference has talented skilled position players, but couldn’t handle “smash mouth” football with the Buckeyes or Wolverines. I may be old fashion, but a track meet isn’t football.
USC, on the other hand, is a very talented football team. The only issue I have with them is their weak schedule. If you consider Arkansas and Notre Dame a challenge, you may want to check out their scores against real opponents. The Irish were embarrassed at home by Michigan in a game titled “The Irish are back”.
If a playoff system were in place this year, you would see a rematch of the Buckeyes and Wolverines in the National Championship.
At last, the Big Show has arrived and, despite the predictions of many, it is 100% New York-free. Anthony Statler and David Medsker break down each team, position by position, and offer their brilliant, armchair expert analysis on who takes the prize. (Keep in mind that at the beginning of the season, Medsker predicted the White Sox would beat the Mets in the World Series. Whoops.)
Catcher: Yadier Molina vs. Ivan Rodriguez
Johnny Bench is in hog heaven. Pudge and the youngest Flying Molina Brother are the hardest catchers to run against in baseball. The similarities, however, end there. Despite Molina’s heroic two-run homer in Game 7 of the NLCS, he’s actually a lousy hitter (.216-29-6-49). Look at that batting average again: it’s 84 points below Pudge’s average during the regular season. Plus, Pudge has been here before, winning it all as a member of the 2003 Marlins. He’ll be the calm in the storm for the Tigers youngsters.
Edge: Tigers
First Base: Albert Pujols vs. Sean Casey
If Casey is healthy (he missed the final two games of the ALCS), he is extremely hard to strike out and provides the Tigers a nice line-drive hitter from the left side of the plate. With no disrespect to Casey, however, Pujols is the best pure-hitter in this series and possibly in all of baseball. Pujols can hit for power, average and is amazing in the clutch (he hit .397 with runners in scoring position in the regular season).
Edge: Cardinals.
Second Base: Ronnie Belliard vs. Placido Polanco
Polanco has the edge in terms of batting average and fielding percentage (six errors to Belliard’s 11), but Belliard has considerably more pop than Polanco, hitting 13 home runs this season to Polanco’s four. The Cards get another edge, but this Series will not be won or lost by who’s playing second base.
Edge: Cardinals
Shortstop: David Eckstein vs. Carlos Guillen
Eckstein is a gritty player who will do whatever he has to do to make a play both in the field and at bat. Although he struggled in the ALCS (hitting just .180), Guillen led Detroit in batting average, runs scored, stolen bases and on base percentage in the regular season. He is also one of the most underrated middle infielders in the game.
Edge: Tigers.
Third Base: Scott Rolen vs. Brandon Inge
File this one under who’d a thunk it: Brandon Inge actually outslugged Scott Rolen this year, hitting 27 home runs – in the 9-hole, no less – to Rolen’s 22. However, in every other category, both offensive and defensive, Rolen wipes the floor with Inge. He strikes out almost half as often, hits for higher average, and is a multiple Gold Glove winner. Inge, um…hey, look! Another dinger! To Inge’s credit, at least he’s healthy enough to play every day. But the Cardinals aren’t nearly as worried about facing Inge as the Tigers are about facing Rolen.
Edge: Cardinals
Outfield: So Taguchi/Preston Wilson, Jim Edmonds, Juan Encarnacion vs. Craig Monroe, Curtis Granderson, Magglio Ordonez
When Edmonds is healthy, he has the ability to do it all at the plate. St. Louis has also found a nice balance with Taguchi and Wilson, but Encarnacion has lacked power and will chase pitches. Even though he hit the home run to send the Tigers into the WS, Ordonez struggled at the plate for much of the ALCS. However, he can get hot at any moment and if Monroe can continue is tear (.429, one HR, four RBI in the ALCS), Detroit is going to be lethal. Defensively, Edmonds and Granderson (who has tons of speed) are the best out of this group, while Ordonez and Encarnacion have had their fair share of issues in right field (although Ordonez has played well defensively in the postseason).
Edge: Tigers, slightly.
Starting Pitching: Kenny Rogers, Justin Verlander, Jeremy Bonderman, Nate Robertson, Zach Miner vs. Chris Carpenter, Jeff Weaver, Jeff Suppan, Jason Marquis, Anthony Reyes
The Tigers’ ERA was seven tenths of a point better than that of the Cardinals. Opponents batted 11 points lower against the Tigers than the Cardinals (.257 to .268). The Cardinals gave up 104 more earned runs than the Tigers. And those are the regular season numbers. The Tigers’ playoff pitching line? 7-1 record, 2.92 ERA, 52/22 K/BB ratio. The Cardinals have pitched great this postseason too (7-4, 2.97, 70/40), but the bloom finally comes off of Jeff Weaver’s rose.
Edge: Tigers
Bullpen:
Former Brave Adam Wainwright, Tyler Johnson and Randy Flores have overachieved thus far for the Cardinals, but they are about to play on quite another different level. The Tigers have an overpowering pen that has really come together through the playoffs. Rookie flamethrower Joel Zumaya has the ability to shut down top hitters while closer Todd Jones has been lights out after an up and down regular season. Detroit has also gotten quality outings from Fernando Rodney, Jamie Walker and Wilfredo Ledezma.
Edge: Tigers.
Bench Players:
Aside from So Taguchi and his gaudier-than-gaudy line (1.000, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 3.750 OPS), the Cardinals bench is hitting between .000 (John Rodriguez) and .227, and that hitter is…wait for it…Scott Spezio? That’s right, the alleged Mr. Clutch is actually hitting near the Mendoza line, though I suppose that lends credence to Reggie Jackson’s claims that batting average is overrated. Taguchi’s heroics aside, I’d still rather face him than Marcus Thames and his 26 home runs.
Edge: Tigers
Manager: Tony LaRusa vs. Jim Leyland
The two friends have enough postseason experience to make Tommy Lasorda blush. Despite having possibly the least talented Cardinals team in recent years, LaRusa keeps getting the most out of his players every time they take the field. The job that Leyland has done in Detroit has been nothing short of remarkable. Leyland has a nice mix of young and veteran players that he knows how to use in all situations. His players have learned how to win and have the utmost respect for Leyland.
Edge: Even.
Anthony’s prediction:
I guess the old adage of the hottest teams at the end of the season usually win the World Series. Both of these teams were left for dead at the end of the regular season – and rightfully so – as both squads stumbled into the postseason. However, credit must be given to both of these teams, because all that matters in the end is winning ballgames. Sorry St. Louis, your time is up though. I’ve never seen a team of destiny quite like the Detroit Tigers, and their pitching will be too much for the Cards.
Tigers in 4.
David’s Prediction:
What Anthony said. Detroit’s had a chance to rest at the time when they needed it the most, while St. Louis had to beg, borrow and steal to make it this far. Say goodnight, Tony.
Tigers in 5
The World Series starts this weekend on Fox, then continues next week with games on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. There are two Top 25 matchups this week with the Texas/Nebraska tilt and the Georgia Tech/Clemson battle, which is BE’s College Game of the Week. In the NFL, there are a few good matchups, highlighted by the Giants/Cowboys (BE’s NFL Game of the Week) on Monday Night.
(All times ET.)
World Series
Sat, 7:30 PM: St. Louis @ Detroit – FOX
Sun, 7:30 PM: St. Louis @ Detroit – FOX
College Football
Sat, 12 PM: (5) Texas @ (17) Nebraska – ABC
Sat, 3:30 PM: Iowa @ (2) Michigan – ABC
Sat, 3:30 PM: Alabama @ (7) Tennessee – CBS
Sat, 7:45 PM: (13) Georgia Tech @ (12) Clemson – ESPN
NFL
Sun, 1 PM: Carolina @ Cincinnati – FOX
Sun, 1 PM: Pittsburgh @ Atlanta – CBS
Sun, 4:15 PM: Minnesota @ Seattle – FOX
Mon, 8:30 PM: NY Giants @ Dallas – ESPN
Josh Howard and the Mavs have agreed on a four-year contract worth more than $40 M.
Howard was eligible for a five-year extension but happily settled for a four-year deal after a strained month of negotiations he recently termed “disappointing.”
Howard has been Dallas’ best player in training camp, showing little outward sign of being distracted by his contractual situation, but the absence of an extension before the regular season could easily have been perceived as another slight for a player who slipped to No. 29 in the 2003 draft.
It’s believed that the Mavericks, sensing that the issue might linger with Howard all season, increased their offer in recent days to avoid alienating the swingman and make sure he felt like a valued member of the Mavs’ core.
The Suns locked up one of their stars, Boris Diaw, agreeing to a five-year contract believed to be worth around $45 M.
The 24-year-old Frenchman came to the Suns as part of the trade that sent Joe Johnson to Atlanta a year ago and responded with a standout season that earned him the NBA’s Most Improved Player award. He moved into the starting lineup in place of injured Amare Stoudemire in the preseason and averaged 13.3 points, 6.9 rebounds and 6.2 assists in the regular season.
Diaw’s season included four triple-doubles. In 20 playoff games, Diaw’s scoring average climbed to 18.7 with 6.7 rebounds and 5.2 assists.
The Diaw deal looks like a better bargain for the Suns than the Howard deal is for the Mavs. Diaw plays a lot of power forward and center for Phoenix and getting a guy that talented to play those positions for $9 M a year is a pretty good deal. Of course, it helps that the Suns play at a frenetic place that allows Diaw to play those positions. Traditionally, he would probably play small forward for most teams, but a lot of franchises are turning to a small-ball approach.
Howard will have to continue to improve to grow into his contract, but his stellar defense is unquantifiable. Mark Cuban been known to overpay at times, and this appears one of those cases. But if Howard had hit the free agent market after another year of improvement, he could have easily coaxed this kind of contract (or a better one) out of another team.
FOLLOW US!
CATEGORIES
© 2026 The Scores Report – The National Sports Blog
Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑