Spooky Express Week Of The Cockroach Thread

[Spooky]

Daily Sports Roundup for Monday

Monday is usually a light day on the MLB schedule, but not this week as 28 of the league's 30 teams are in action. And the day's top matchup will take place in Milwaukee.

CC Sabathia (4-0, 1.36 ERA in the National League) will get the ball for the Brewers on Monday night, and he'll go up against the Cubs' Ted Lilly (10-6, 4.49 ERA). Sabathia continued to dominate Senior Circuit hitters in his last outing, tossing a complete-game shutout and giving up just three hits (while fanning seven) in a win versus the Cardinals.

That performance ran the lefthander's record to 4-0 as a member of the Brewers, and it marked his third consecutive complete game (he lasted a mere six innings in his Milwaukee debut back on July 8). Overall Sabathia has given up just five earned runs over 33 innings pitched since the big trade, and he's managed to strike out 31 batters.

Lilly hasn't been as dominant, but he is coming off a win over the Diamondbacks on July 23. The lefthander gave up three earned runs on six hits over six innings in that contest, fanning six. Chicago had lost in each of Lilly's previous three starts, but they're still 6-4 over his last 10 trips to the mound. Lilly is 5-2 with three no-decisions in that time frame.

The other NL Central contender, the Cardinals, will be on the road facing the Braves on Monday night. Braden Looper (9-8, 4.49 ERA) will get the start for St. Louis in that contest, and he'll take on Atlanta's Jo-Jo Reyes (3-9, 4.95 ERA). The big Cardinals news over the weekend, however, was the report that Chris Carpenter returns this week.

Other NL games on tap for Monday include Colorado at Pittsburgh, the Mets at Florida, Cincinnati at Houston, and San Francisco at the Dodgers. As well, Greg Maddux (3-8, 4.18 ERA) will be looking to pitch the lowly Padres past the division-rival Diamondbacks.

The marquee game in the American League on Monday night will take place at Fenway Park, as the Red Sox play host to the Angels. Daisuke Matsuzaka (11-1, 2.63 ERA) will be on the mound for Boston, and Los Angeles will counter with Jered Weaver (8-8, 4.08 ERA). Dice-K has surrendered just three earned runs over his last 30 2-3 innings, while Weaver had to leave after just three innings in his July 22 outing because of a sore back.

The Yankees will get a visit from the Orioles on Monday night, while the Rays will play a road game in Toronto. A.J. Burnett (11-9, 4.73 ERA) is the probable starter for the Blue Jays in that matchup, although his name is still coming up in the league's trade rumors.

Other AL games on Monday include Detroit at Cleveland, Seattle at Texas, and Kansas City at Oakland, while the Twins and White Sox clash in a key divisional battle in Minnesota. Chicago is expected to send Mark Buehrle (8-8, 3.56 ERA) to the mound in that contest, while Minny will be looking for a victory from Kevin Slowey (6-7, 4.41 ERA).

All of the other leagues are off on Monday. The Arena Football League wrapped up its season on Sunday, and the WNBA will return from its lengthy Olympic break on August 28. The next week of Canadian Football League action begins on Thursday, and both the Sprint Cup Series and the Formula One circuit will return for races on the weekend.

[Spooky]

A Cockroach Six-pack

Venting on the Pirates helping Bronx in the pennant race.....

-- Wonder why the Pirates haven't had winnng season since 1992? Try these words: cheap-stupid-gutless.

-- Xavier Nady is hitting .330; Damaso Marte is a quality lefty reliever; how could the Pirates not get Phil Hughes for them?

-- God forbid they actually keep their good players, but for a small market team, the ultimate small market team, to bail out the fatcat team that needed help, it just doesn't make sense.

-- As for Jose Tabata, the main cog in the package Pirates are getting from Bronx, scouts from outside Bronx organization had criticized him for not always giving his best effort. Thats just freakin' great-- he'll be terrific with the hideous Buccos.

-- At 48-54, Pirates actually had a chance to finish .500 this season, but now, no way. Must be fun to root for them.

-- Pirates better have gotten few million bucks under table in this deal, or why would they do it? Why wouldn't they hold out until July 31st deadline and try to get Hughes? Asinine.

[Spooky]

Six-pack for Monday

Wrapping up a sports Sunday........

-- One of the greens at the Canadian Open looked like it was under a highway overpass; never saw anything like that.

-- Rockies swept Reds in Cincinnati, outscoring them 23-3.

-- Randy Johnson won his fourth start in row as Arizona got healthier sweeping the Giants in San Francisco.

-- Tampa Bay backup catcher Shawn Riggans never got a hit in high school; he was 0-10 in two years as a backup catcher, but persevered and made it to the big leagues.

-- Seattle's Washburn raised his trade value, beating Toronto at Rogers Centre. Suddenly, he's a fairly hot commodity.

-- Four months down, two to go; Rays are still in first place.

[Spooky]

Random Thoughts from a Sports Weekend........

Some thoughts from Saturday's Games

13) Cubs and Milwaukee are now tied for first place after pair of HRs by Hermida lifted Marlins to 3-2 win in 12 innings. The Phillies and Marlins both gained a game on the Mets Saturday.

12) Braves scored nine runs in fourth inning, and lost. Phillies scored seven in fifth inning of a 10-9 win. At least the injury-prone Mike Hampton got back in a big league game, first time in just under three years.

11) Pirates got whacked at home again by the hideous Padres, falling to 0-2 after trading Nady/Marte.

10) Ray Durham hit two doubles, scored three runs as Brewers beat Houston late 6-4, despite being outhit 14-7.

9) Reds are now 0-6 when prospect Homer Bailey starts. Is it at all possible to get HOMER Bailey and Grant BALFOUR on the same team? Two worst names ever for a pitcher.

8) Skip Schumacher had six hits, Albert Pujols five, including his first HR in 22 days (game-winner in 14th inning), giving the Redbirds their first win of the week, a much-needed victory.

7) Tim Lincecum struck out 13, walked none, and left with a 3-2 lead, but bullpen blew it as Webb won his 14th game, 5-3, a big win for first-place Snakes, since Dodgers, Rockies also won.

6) If you held a four-team tournament right now with Nationals, Pirates, Mariners and A's, no one would win. They're all either terrible or demoralized from their front offices quitting on them.

5) Tampa Rays are two games up in AL East; Carl Crawford hit pair of triples to snap out of an extended slump, including a big two-run triple to break game open in 8th inning. Rays won, 5-3.

4) Texas is an offensive machine, especially against a disprited opponent; they haven't quit on the season, are only 5.5 games out of the Wild Card slot. Shouldn't they try to add pitcher for the stretch run? They sure as hell hit well enough to win.

3) Angels are jogging to playoffs, but are they good enough to win in October? Casey Kotchman is having a huge week, while the Teixeira-to-Anaheim rumors make the rounds. Will they do anything to improve their roster? Fuentes maybe?

2) Arizona is 52-51, Dodgers are 51-52, but Colorado is 8-2 last ten games, and are definitely still contenders, six games out of first place in a horrible division. Keep an eye on the Rockies.

1) Looks like the Mets won't make move before Thursday, but they're playing so well, they really don't need to. Tampa Rays have to do something, and it would be nice if the Marlins made an effort to improve the roster; Lord knows they didn't spend much on the original roster- they must have some money left to add a player or two. Will Red Sox counter Bronx' move?

[Spooky]

Monday's List of 13: Questions as NFL training camps open

13) Will the Super Bowl hangover hit Foxboro? Their starting RT got arrested on a drug charge; if he is suspended, can they find a competent replacement?

12) Can the Browns withstand expectations? They have five of their games in primetime this season-- networks expect them to be a good club, but a QB controversy is distinct possibility.

11) Can Tennessee's new offensive coordinator Heimerdinger improve Vince Young's play in red zone? New TE Crumpler is expected to help there. They'll have two new guards on OL.

10) Now that Jay Cutler knows he is a diabetic, will his play get any better? Broncos haven't been to the Super Bowl since QB named Elway retired. Mike Holmgren got back to Super Bowl without Brett Favre; can Shanahan do it without Elway?

9) Can Steelers protect Roethlisberger, who has been sacked 93 times the last two seasons? They lost Alan Faneca, so that is a problem. Rumors of the team's sale could be a distraction.

8) How bad is Peyton Manning's knee? Any other question in Colts' camp pales by comparison to that one.

7) Is 28-year old Kyle Shanahan up to being a play-caller in the NFL? Will Alex Gibbs' OL give whichever QB plays enough of a pocket to make the Texans' offense balanced?

6) Just how bad are the Chiefs? Three new starters on the line, Brodie Croyle at QB (he didn't win a game last year). No one is saying Herm Edwards is Vince Lombardi, but does he have to do a Les Steckel imitation?

5) Jets' offensive line should be better, but who will the QB be? Clemens? Pennington? Favre? Since Pennington reminds me of Pat Haden, I'd go for just about anybody other than him.

4) How much better will Miami be this year? After a 1-15 mess last season, it has to get better, but how much better? Trading Jason Taylor may pay off down the road, but not in 2008.

3) Can Jacksonville overtake the Colts in AFC South? Rumors of a move to LA persist. Winning would help sell tickets.

2) Raiders have ton of questions: Can JaMarcus Russell play? Will McFadden be as explosive in the pros? Can their defense stop anyone? Can Kiffen last the whole season as the coach?

1) Can Norv Turner get Chargers to the Super Bowl? Season is going to be a disappointment for San Diego unless he does.

[Spooky]

Daily Sports Roundup for Tuesday

The midwest remains in the sporting spotlight on Tuesday, as Carlos Zambrano and the Chicago Cubs play in Wisconsin against Ben Sheets and the rival Milwaukee Brewers.

Zambrano and Sheets have been in the shadows of their teams' marquee acquisitions over the past few weeks; the Cubs brought in Rich Harden, and the Brewers added CC Sabathia. However, as their records can attest (Zambrano is 11-4 with a 2.96 ERA, Sheets is 10-3 with a 2.87 ERA) each of the two hurlers have retained their ace status.

Zambrano is 3-1 over his past four starts, losing only to the Astros back on July 19 (allowing four earned runs on six hits over 6 1-3 innings). The righthander handily topped the Marlins in his most recent outing, holding them to two earned runs on six hits over his seven innings of work. Zambrano has faced the Brewers twice this season, pitching well both times (one earned run in 13 innings) but settling for two no-decisions.

The Brewers are 7-3 in Sheets' past 10 starts, although the righthander has been stuck with a no-decision each of his last two outings. Sheets surrendered more than three earned runs just once over that period, getting knocked around by the Twins in an interleague start on June 29. The Brewers' ace has faced the Cubs twice so far this year, earning a win on April 29 and getting a no-decision in a strong start on March 31.

While the Cubs and Brewers are battling for NL Central supremacy on Tuesday night the Mets and the Marlins will be jockeying for position in the tight NL East. Scott Olsen (6-5, 4.07 ERA) will get the ball for Florida at home in that contest, and New York will counter with Oliver Perez (6-6, 4.15 ERA). Olsen gave up six earned runs in a start against the Cubs last time out, while Perez is coming off a quality start against Philly.

Those Phillies will be in Washington on Tuesday night, giving Brett Myers (3-9, 5.82 ERA) another chance to prove be belongs with the big club. The Cardinals, meanwhile, will be looking to keep pace with the Cubs and Brewers in the Central when they play in Atlanta. Todd Wellemeyer (8-4, 4.19 ERA) will be looking to get the victory for St. Louis.

Other games around the NL on Tuesday: Colorado at Pittsburgh, Cincinnati at Houston, Arizona at San Diego, and Matt Cain (6-8, 3.82 ERA) and San Francisco at the Dodgers.

Los Angeles' other team, the Angels, will be in Boston again on Tuesday night to play the Red Sox. John Lackey (8-2, 3.02 ERA) will take to the mound for Los Angeles, while Clay Buchholz (2-5, 5.81 ERA) goes for Boston. The Angels are 9-1 over Lackey's last 10 starts, while Buchholz is 0-3 with two no-decisions in his last five outings for Boston.

The Yankees host Baltimore on Tuesday, while Tampa Bay is still in Toronto to take on the Blue Jays and ace Roy Halladay (12-7, 2.82 ERA). In other AL action on Tuesday it's Detroit at Cleveland, Seattle at Texas, the ChiSox at Minnesota, and KC at Oakland.

[Spooky]

Six-pack for Tuesday

-- High drama in Milwaukee Monday, where Derrek Lee hit a game-winning double in 9th inning as Cubs beat Milwaukee 6-4 in a see-saw game before 45,311 fans at Miller Park, 6.9% over the listed capacity.

-- More drama in Florida, where Marlins scored five in their half of 8th inning, beating Mets 7-3. Mets also lost Maine in fifth inning with stiffness in his right shoulder.

-- All three contenders in AL East lost, as we await leaders of the Tampa franchise to pull off a trade to invigorate the team, which is in a major offensive tailspin.

-- Greg Maddux won his first game in his last fifteen starts on Monday; would a contender take a chance, trade for him?

-- Oakland's Brad Ziegler broke a 101-year old record Sunday when he recorded his 27th consecutive scoreless inning to start off his major league career.

-- Buddy of mine was at wedding this weekend; bride falls at the reception and ruptures a tendon in her wrist, requiring an emergency operation on her wedding night. Not good.

[Spooky]

Tuesday's List of 13: Ranking the National League teams

16) Nationals-- Lost last six games, scored total of two runs in their last four games. Their starting pitching isn't terrible. Most everything else about this team is, other than the manager, 3B.

15) Pirates-- Yet another tank job for team that last had season over .500 in 1992. Helping the fatcat Bronx Bombers was nuts.

14) Giants-- Just a terrible team, other than their young starting pitchers. Like Fred Lewis out in leftfield, too. Lincecum has an average of 103 PT/start over last ten starts (116-121-111 last 3)

13) Braves-- Lot of injured guys; will they trade Mark Teixeira at trade deadline, just like they acquired him last year? Really in rebuilding mode, or at least they should be.

12) Astros-- When is last time they came up with good young player out of their farm system? OK, Hunter Pence. This team hasn;t been the same since they canned GM Hunsicker.

11) Padres-- Get Chris Young back from facial fractures in time for Tuesday's game; they're starting to play little better, but no way are they contenders this season.

10) Reds-- Will they trade Adam Dunn this week? Griffey? The young starters are an improvement. and Bruce/Votto provide a couple of solid young hitters. There is hope in Cincinnati.

9) Rockies-- Holliday isn't a free agent until after 2009; they are stupid if they dump him now. Financial reality may force trade next summer, but for now, they're still contenders in weak west.

8) Dodgers-- Finally did something and got Casey Blake, then Garciaparra got hurt (again). Its possible NL West winner will finish season under .500, which would be just terrific.

7) Cardinals-- When Friday night's starting pitcher pitches in relief on Sunday, you know things are bad. They've gotten lot out of this team, but you wonder how much is left.

6) Diamondbacks-- Young team has good record against rest of putrid division, but is awful against others. Randy Johnson has won his last four starts, as he gets closer to 300 wins.

5) Marlins-- Monday night, Met TV announcers stressed over and over how deficient Marlins are, but at end of night, they had beaten Mets 7-3 and are right behind them in NL East race.

4) Phillies-- Good news: They rallied from 9-2/5-0 deficits and won last two games. Bad news: Last time one of their starting pitchers won a game was ten days ago. Look to be sliding.

3) Brewers-- Their defense is awful, but their Big 3 starters on the mound (Sabathia-Sheets-Parra) are very good. CC threw 124 pitches Monday; Brewers are getting their money's worth.

2) Mets-- American League-style team; they're 11-4 in the last 15 games that went over the total; they're 20-26 this season if the game stays under.

1) Cubs-- Most weapons of any NL team; if they ever get all 25 guys healthy at same time, they should pull away in Central, leaving Brewers behind to scrap for Wild Card spot.

[Dirty]

Thanks Spooky