28. October 2008 by Glendo.

After Week 8, here are the Power Rankings 

 1.  Tennessee Titans (7-0)   -   Great win against the Colts on Monday night. They now have a 4 game lead in the division and appear to be well on their way.

 2. New York Giants   (6-1)    -  Nice win in Pittsburgh. The Giants out Pittsburgh-ed the Steelers.

3. Pittsburgh Steelers  (5-2)    -   Both losses coming to NFC East teams. Pittsburgh is still right there in the AFC

4. Washington Redskins  (6-2)   -  Little bit of trouble with the Lions, but a win is a win. Redskins keep pace with New York.

5. Carolina Panthers (6-2) -  Playing really good football right now. Look to be on their way to a NFC South title.

6.    New England Patriots (5-2) -  The Rams gave them quite a game, but the Pats are once again atop the AFC East. Not bad for a team without Tom Brady.

7. Buffalo Bills     (5-2)  -  Waiting to week 8 to play your first division game is strange. The loss to the Dolphins doesn’t seem as bad this year as say last year.

8. Dallas Cowboys  (5-3)    -   Defense won this game. The defense showed what they can do when they play well. Big game in New York this week, will Brad Johnson or Brooks Bollinger be the starter.

9.   Tampa Bay Buccaneers  (5-3)   -   Tough loss in Dallas, offense was held to zero TDs. The Bucs are still right there in the NFC playoff picture.

10. Arizona Cardinals(4-3)    -    Played a great game in Carolina, but came up a little short. This team is still a little bit away, but watch out.

Posted in NFL | 1 Comment »

27. October 2008 by critter.

8-2-1:  17 points

Atlantic Division: 1st ~ Eastern Conference: 1st ~ NHL: 1st

10/20 vs.  - LOSE 1-2:  STATS: GOAL(S) - Markus Naslund (2); ASSIST(S) - Rozsival, Gomez; GOALIE - Lundqvist 25 saves

 *  Sean Avery’s return was rather dull.  The Rangers tried to hit him hard, he had a good couple of shots and had some shoving instances with Colton Orr.  Overall he was booed every time he touched the puck, and got little cheering from the people who loved him last year.  The one fight he did get into was behind the scenes as he and MSG broadcaster, John Giannone, were reportedly in a scuffle between periods.

10/24 @   - WIN 1-3:  STATS: GOAL(S) - Daniel Girardi (1), Brandon Dubinsky (4), Nikolai Zherdev (3); ASSIST(S) - Zherdev (2), Naslund (2), Girardi, Drury; GOAILIE - Lundqvist 25 saves

 * Nikolai Zherdev returned to his former team for the first time and made them regret letting him go.  Very solid game overall.

10/25  vs. - WIN 3-2 (SO): STATS: GOAL(S) - Markus Naslund (3), Nikolai Zherdev (4); ASSIST(S) - Gomez, Drury, Naslund, Dubinsky; GOALIE - Lundqvist 27 saves & 3/3 in SO.

 *  The Rangers were dead most of the game but turned it on in the 3rd period with a powerplay goal several minutes in, and with the man advantage when they pulled the goalie in the final minute, Zherdev came out of nowhere and tied it up with just 8 seconds left in regulation.  Lundqvist made a few amazing saves in OT and stopped all 3 Penguins in the shootout, while Sjostrom converted yet another SO winner.

 Looking ahead:

10/27 @             10/30 vs.          11/01 @

Posted in NHL | 1 Comment »

27. October 2008 by critter.

The final playoff spot was claimed by the New York Red Bulls this weekend, when they backed into the spot thanks to DC United’s 1-0 loss on Sunday.  Being the 2nd wildcard in the Eastern Conference, the Red Bulls are now shifted over to the Western Conference for the playoffs and will face the West’s 1st seed, Houston Dynamo.

 The first match is this Saturday @ Giants Stadium and the second match in Houston on 11/09.  Aggregate goals decides who will move on to the 2nd round.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

 (1)  vs.  (4)                         (2)  vs.   (3)

WESTERN CONFERENCE

  (1)  vs. (4)                        (2)  vs. (3)

Posted in Soccer, MLS | No Comments »

24. October 2008 by Glendo.

The Tampa Bay Rays evened up the World Series last night at a game a piece by beating the Phillies 4-2. The Rays did so with small ball, scoring 3 of their runs on outs, and a little help from the umpires.

In the second inning Phillies starter Brett Myers, working with a 3-2 count, threw a slider low and off the plate to  Rocco Baldelli, who attempted to check his swing. Home plate umpire Kerwin Danley raised his hand as if he was going to call strike three, but he pointed to first, either to check with firstbase umpire Fieldin Culbreth or to indicate Baldelli checked his swing on ball four and should take his base.

“I didn’t think I went [around], and I just went to first,” said Baldelli, who had already started to jog down the line as Danley raised his arm. “I was facing [toward the field], so I didn’t see what was going on behind me. Kerwin asked for help down the first-base line, and as I was jogging to first, they said, ‘No swing.’ It was OK. I looked at it on film later and it didn’t look like I went. I thought the call was right.”

Baldelli’s walk lead to a run for the Rays.

Another call in the 9th inning really helped the Rays. With the Rays leading 4-1 in the top of the ninth Jimmy Rollins came to the plate with a runner on second and no out. David Price’s pitch appeared to graze Rollins uniform. Danley did not agree and did not award Rollins first base. Replays confirmed that the pitch did in fact hit Rollins uniform which is considered a hit by pitch and he should have been awarded first base. Rollins would eventually pop out to short. The Phillies would get one run in the inning before Price closed them out for a Rays win.

 Can’t say I feel bad for the Phillies, sometimes you just don’t get all the breaks.

Posted in MLB | No Comments »

24. October 2008 by critter.

The Red Bulls got whooped last night, 5-2 and watched control of their playoff destiny slip out of their hands.  At the same time, Chicago Fire secured home field advantage for their playoff matchup against the New England Revolution.

 Fire forward Chris Rolfe, sparked it all with 3 goals in the first half and assisted on both of the Fire’s other goals in the second.  Juan Pablo Angel added his 14th goal of the season in an effort to throw another ballot into the league MVP box.  Macoumba Kandji capped it all off with his first MLS goal in the 88th minute, but the Fire’s attack was too much for hurting Bulls (still missing their star goalie and defenseman from failed drug tests).

 The Red Bulls loss allowed the Kansas City Wizards to secure the first wildcard spot.  Now the Red Bulls focus ahead to the DC United vs. Columbus Crew game this Sunday, to learn their playoff fate.  A United win will send the Bulls home for the winter.  A loss or tie will give the Red Bulls the final wildcard spot and a first round matchup against the Western Conference’s top seed, Houston Dynamo.

Posted in Soccer, MLS | No Comments »

23. October 2008 by critter.

Last Saturday the Red Bulls faced a huge uphill battle against the #1 team in the league, Columbus Crew, with their own playoff hopes riding on the line.  The Red Bulls were minus three of their usual starters.  Juan Pietravallo was forced to sit this match due to the red card he received in the Red Bulls’ previous match.  Also, goalkeeper John Conway and Jeff Parke were suspended because of the league’s zero-tolerance policy regarding positive drug tests for “performance enhancing substances.”

Also, Jorge Rojas, Dane Richards weren’t able to start the match as they had just been used in International play earlier that weekend (both eventually came in as subs in the 2nd half).

 Juan Pablo Angel did what the star of a team and someone making a case to be league MVP is supposed to do.  He scored two go ahead goals in the 2nd half.  Backup goalkeeper, Danny Cepero made his first start and came up with some pretty huge saves throughout the match.  Although the defense helped him out a great deal in didn’t surrender too many opportunities for the Crew.  And to cap it off, Cepero, sent a free kick 80 yards which bounced outside the box and had just enough bounce to make it over the Crew’s goalie and rolled right into the net to become the first ever goal scored by a goalkeeper in MLS history!!!  Go youtube it, it’s pretty amazing.

With the win, the Bulls gained 3 points and kept their own control over their playoff hopes.  They face Chicago Fire tonight and with a win they will lock up a wildcard spot.  However, if the Red Bulls lose they will need some help as Kansas City is with them at 39 points for the two final wild card spots.  Directly behind them, DC United and Colorado both have 37 points.  A draw for the Red Bulls would force DC and Colorado to have to win their matches to tie with points, but then the wildcards will come down to tie-breakers. 

Posted in Soccer, MLS | No Comments »

21. October 2008 by Glendo.

After Week 7, here are the Power Rankings 

 1.  Tennessee Titans (6-0)   -  Remains undefeated and atop the rankings. Destroyed a horrible K.C. team. rushed for almost 350 yards.

 2. Pittsburgh Steelers  (5-1)    -  Cinnicantti was no challenge. Huge game next week with the Giants.

3. New York Giants   (5-1)    -    Another team winning sloppy. The Giants can’t play like this next week in Pittsburgh.

4. Buffalo Bills     (5-1)     -    Power outage is Buffalo didn’t stop the Bills. The win over San Diego keeps them in first in the AFC east.

5. Washington Redskins  (5-2)   - Sloppy win over the Browns. Win is a win, they are right there in the NFC.

6.    Tampa Bay Buccaneers  (5-2)   -   Seattle was no contest. The Bucs have one of the best defenses in the NFL. Jeff Garcia is a real spark for this team.

7. Carolina Panthers (5-2) - Good bounce back win for the Panthers, keeping pace with the Bucs in the NFC South.

8.  Arizona Cardinals(4-2)    -    Bye week.

9.  New England Patriots (4-2) - A blow out win over the Broncos on Monday night. The Patriots showed they still are the Patriots.

10. Dallas Cowboys  (4-3)    - Cowboys are in trouble. The Rams destroyed their defense, Brad Johnson and the offense struggled big time.

Posted in NFL | 2 Comments »

20. October 2008 by critter.

10/15 vs. Buffalo Sabres - LOSE 1-3:  STATS: GOAL(S) - Scott Gomez (2); ASSIST(S) - Michal Rozsival, Ryan Callahan

 *  Buffalo raped the Rangers power play and penalty kill as the Rangers gave up their first and second goals on penalty kills.  The rangers also gave up a shorthanded goal while on powerplay in the 3rd period.

 *  The NYR attempt to set a franchise milestone, starting the season 6-0 was abruptly ended.

10/17 vs. Toronto Maple Leafs - WIN 1-0:  STATS: Stephen Valiquette - 20 saves for the shutout.

 * Nikolai Zherdev and Fredrick Sjostrom convert in the shootout to give the Rangers the win!

10/18 @ Detroit Red Wings - LOSE (OT) 5-4: STATS: GOAL(S) - Ryan Callahan (2), Nigel Dawes (1), Aaron Voros (4, 5); ASSIST(S) - Gomez (2), Dubinsky (2), Staal, Kalinin, Rozsival

 Looking ahead:

10/20 vs. Dallas Stars  *Fan favorite, Sean Avery, returns to MSG for the 1st time since signing as a free agent in the offseason.

10/24 @ Columbus Blue Jackets

 10/25 vs. Pittsburgh Penguins

Posted in NHL | No Comments »

16. October 2008 by Glendo.

According to Mat Cerrone over at MetsBlog,

During last night’s telecast, FoxSports.com’s Ken Rosenthal relayed the following story…

In Game 2 of the NLDS against the Brewers, Shane Victorino hit a walk-off grand slam, after which he raised his finger in the air as he ran around the bases.

Prior to the next game, a picture of Victorino, running the bases, with his finger in the air, was taped to his locker by his teammates with ‘J. Reyes’ written above it.

I hate the the Phillies.

Posted in MLB | 15 Comments »

15. October 2008 by critter.

No sillies, this isn’t just a rant about yours truly officially leaving his early twenties….It’s a little tidbit about the New York Rangers being off to heir best start since the 1983-84 season when they went 5-0.

 After taking 2 from the Lightning over in Europe, the Rangers flew past the Blackhawks, Flyers and Devils to reach the 5-0 mark yet again and keep the #1 overall ranking in the NHL.  They’re now a little less than 1/8th of the way to securing a playoff spot already!!!

 The powerplay is clicking, defense has been great, they haven’t given up a powerplay goal yet (which for them is pretty amazing) and all this has been done without their stars even having to contribute much.  The 2nd line of Dubinsky, Zheredev, and Voros has carried the team thus far with points (7, 5, 7 respectively). 

 The Rangers host the Buffalo Sabres tonight in an attempt to be the first NYR squad to start 6-0 in franchise history.  Then they’ll host the Toronto Maple Leafs on Friday and visit the defending Stanley Cup Champions, Detroit Red Wings on Saturday.

 Hopefully the power line of Drury, Gomez & Naslund will build some better chemistry and take some of the pressure to produce off the #2 line.  But until then, things are lookin pretty good!!

Posted in NHL | 1 Comment »