ORS

Ball 4. His ball moves so much, everything that looks like a strike is out of the zone. Perhaps that will sink in.

If Lugo walks, I'd double steal with Pedroia up. A DP would be killer.

Well done. Martinez blows behind the plate, too.

He needs to be moving here. With the combination of Carmona's and Lugo's GB tendancies, they need to send Crisp or move him over.

No, certainly not. A sense of urgency doesn't apply to him. I'd bet dollars to donuts he drives 5 mph under the speed limit in the hammer lane and can't figure out why the person behind him is flashing his lights. It's just a visual thing. When I look at Manny at the plate, without knowing a thing about him, he just looks like a guy you don't want to throw one down the middle to. For a counter example just to show it isn't just my perception tied to performance I've seen, my visual impression of Hinske is one of a guy that looks dangerous. If I were on the mound and I didn't know a thing about him, once I saw Drew I'd think I had the guy in my back pocket from the get go.

Anyone remember the kid on your team that couldn't hit and went up to the plate praying the pitcher wouldn't throw him a strike? Sometimes, I get that vibe from JD Drew. I know he's got loads of talent, and this isn't a rant about how much he cares, but sometimes, the way he looks at the plate, he just reminds me of that kid praying for a walk so he doesn't hit another weak chopper or strikeout. Weird.

Nice. Now wait Carmona out, and make him bring it up and in the zone.

Curt is going to have to battle and assume a little more risk coming inside. They are sitting on the outside pitch and taking it the other way.

Unwelcome start.

Maybe, tough call though. LSU lost on the road to tough team in 3 OT and has already beat Florida and South Carolina, two pretty good teams. Personally, I think top-20 undefeateds should get the nod over the teams with losses, but I also think LSU would beat BC.

Two straight weeks the #1 falls. Crazy.

Woodson has impressed me. His stock keeps increasing week after week. Anyone think he could rate as the No. 1 pick by season's end? Both found pay-dirt, so they're off to 2 OT.

Kentucky ties it with 4:00 left in the 4th. Wow. BC / USF in the title game?

Close and Late (OPS/PA) [table]Player|2004|2005|2006|2007|Career|Career OPS Ortiz|1.014/79|1.293/94|1.199/106|.766/89|.974/694|.943 ARod|.797/92|.938/91|.694/89|1.125/82|.914/1124|.967[/table] What's the point? In a sample size of 80-120 plate appearances you are going to see some drastic variation. As the sample gets bigger, it really starts approaching career averages. ARod's got a decent sized career postseason sample, but far from a representative sample. He's only come to the plate 167 times in 10 series. His postseason OPS is .844 compared to a career OPS of .967. Does that mean he'll automatically play at a 1.090 level over his next 167 PAs to hit his career mark? No, streaks happen, and there's no telling how he'll be swinging it in the next September that is a prelude to a postseason appearance for him. And good pitching happens in the postseason more often than bad pitching, unlike the regular season. So maybe he won't play at a HOF level, but if I were a betting man I'd take the over if the line were .900 OPS for that many PAs looking forward, and that is damn useful in October. Now may be the time to acquire him. Every season is full of good streaks and slumps. He's clearly had plenty of slump lately and a correction is likely to occur.

Looks like Mark "Dirty" Sanchez is not the next coming. Two picks, no TDs with USC down 13-10 in the 3rd.

And on the clock.

Kentucky can mother effing play. When they ran roughshod over Louisville, I thought, so what, L'ville has no D. I still don't think they win this game, but 17-14 nearing the half against LSU is impressive.

I agree, they ought to work him out this winter and see what he's got. He's obviously not going to close, but if he's healthy and got it, he'd be a nice compliment to Okajima as part of the bridge.

That's actually not outrageously bad. Cotchery gets lots of looks, so you have to figure his 0 TDs is going to improve, especially since the Jets will have to throw to stay in games. Drew has been disappointing up until last week, and he's still the #2 back in a RBBP system. Lynch and Portis are clear cut starters and good RBs. Now, if it turns out the kid getting Portis and Lynch has better options that will start over them, then, yeah, that's pretty dumb.

Torre has managed like the owner said, "Win it all or you're out." Coincindentally, the owner has done that. If he's given a new set of rules and relieved expectations, I have little doubt he'll do as expected.

I don't think there's any thought of starting him after this year. Good for Paps. It's undeserved, but good for him. Putz had a better year.

Holy smokes. That's insane. How deep is the league? Gotta figure some team on waivers would get you through the week.

Byrnes will be fortunate if they only get the one on the Helton SF. He should have held Matsui at 1st instead of trying to get Tavares tagging at 3B.

Fantastic play by Atkins.