Last Wednesday night I watched what I thought was the
best night of Major League Baseball I had ever witnessed.
The drama of playoff berths being on the line and teams
rising to the occasion or falling flat on their faces had
me hooked. It was the best reality TV since March Madness
some six months ago.
The most entertaining was the Boston Red Sox taking a lead
into the last inning against the Baltimore Orioles and
losing. First time it had happened to them all season.
Less than five minutes later Evan Longoria capped a
monstrous comeback for the Tampa Rays and clinched their
playoff spot, while officially eliminating the Red Sox.
Timing is everything.
Just a brutal span of minutes for a Boston sports fan. The
world did a 180 on them faster than it takes Deuce Lutui
to put down a mound of pasta.
I remember laughing that night and thinking, ‘Wow that's
two gut punches wrapped into one for Boston fans. Didn't
even have a chance to fully digest what had just
happened.'
Sunday it was Arizona's turn.
The Arizona Cardinals took a nice 20-10 lead into the
fourth quarter after a pair of third quarter Beanie Wells
touchdown runs. The Giants offense wasn't doing much and
the Cardinals offense was moving.
The Arizona Diamondbacks had just gotten exactly what they
needed. Momentum. Justin Upton blasted a pitch over the
left field wall to tie Game 2 of their NLDS matchup with
the Brewers.
Arizona sports fans were feeling pretty good about things.
The Cardinals were on the verge of getting to 2-2 with two
very winnable losses. I was already envisioning the
"things are coming together" quotes and headlines we would
sure to be seeing.
Daniel Hudson had calmed down after his typical shaky
start and the Diamondbacks had hit three home runs in five
innings. Their bats -- and confidence -- at the plate were
showing life.
Approximately just before 4:30 p.m. MST Arizona turned
upside down. It was like Canada was the country we border.
I was confused. I was shocked. I was disappointed in
players, coaches and managers.
I find it hard to believe Diamondbacks relief pitcher Brad
Ziegler has had a worse day as a professional. What a day
to have your WORST day. The balk and then error on the
squeeze play did him in. Mentally he was toast. He needed
to hit the showers and admit ‘it's not my day' right then
and there.
Unfortunately he was allowed to face four more hitters.
All four reached base. It was 9-4 and the Brewers were
staring at a 2-0 lead in the series.
While that was taking place in the closed roof Milwaukee
stadium, back here in our own closed roof stadium a
similar meltdown was happening.
The Giants were in the midst of rattling off 21 fourth
quarter points and stealing one away from the Cardinals.
The officials helped make it controversial (this happened
right at the time Ziegler was throwing pipe shots) and the
offense -- for the third week in a row -- was unable to
execute when it mattered most. Giants win 31-27.
Just terrible. An awful 10-minute span that neither team
was able to recover from.
A painful Sunday afternoon in the desert if you were on
your couch. Unluckily for me I was on my couch with both
games right in front of me. The two TV set backfired. I
didn't have time to grasp what was happening.
After feeling good about things it turned for the worse
and I suddenly had no hope. Zero optimism.
Lesson learned. Don't laugh at someone else's faults and
failures. It's likely only a matter of time before those
same failures are headed your way. This time it happened
to be four days later.
Boston, I feel ya. Ouch.
---
TY's Outtakes
What I learned this week…
I learned a team hasn't come back from being down five or
more runs in extra innings with their first two hitters
getting out and won the game since the 1870s. The Arizona
Diamondbacks did just that last Tuesday night against the
Los Angeles Dodgers. Ryan Roberts hit a walk-off Grand
Slam to give the D-backs the win.
I was at 9.5 innings of the 10. I left and missed the
amazing comeback. I'm still shaking my head and imagine I
will be for years to come.
If we've learned anything about the 2011 Arizona
Diamondbacks it's that, 1. they can definitely surprise you,
2. don't ever count them out
and 3. Kirk Gibson is constantly looking forward with his
eyes on the prize.
As we head into the playoffs there are certain things that
make this Diamondbacks team stand out. Certain things
(people) they need to step up if they are going to be
playing past next Tuesday.
In the first round they have drawn the Milwaukee Brewers,
the best home team in baseball this season. The Brewers won
57 times this season in Miller Park (39 on the road).
The Diamondbacks need to win once there in the next week.
They took two of three from Milwaukee in Milwaukee earlier
this season. They won't be scared.
College conference expansion has dominated the headlines as of late.
In May and June of 2010 it was all about the Pac-12 gaining Colorado and Utah and Nebraska moving to the Big 10. Then we were bombarded with scandals and broken rules only the people in Hollywood are used to.
The college football season finally started three weeks ago and all we've talked about is conference expansion.
Just before the season started Labor Day weekend we find out Texas A&M is going east. Southeastern Conference east.
Since then I've heard more rumors than I did as an adolescent at Rangely Middle School.
Tuesday night the Pac-12 issued the following statement:
In light of the widespread speculation about potential scenarios for Conference re-alignment, the Pac-12 Presidents and Chancellors have affirmed their decision to remain a 12-team conference. Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott said, "after careful review we have determined that it is in the best interests of our member institutions, student-athletes and fans to remain a 12-team conference. While we have great respect for all of the institutions that have contacted us, and certain expansion proposals were financially attractive, we have a strong conference structure and culture of equality that we are committed to preserve. With new landmark TV agreements and plans to launch our innovative television networks, we are going to focus solely on these great assets, our strong heritage and the bright future in front of us."
Good -- no great -- for Larry Scott and the rest of the Pac-12. He's in a position of control. Texas -- and the Big 12 -- are the ones in trouble.
That press release could very well change at any moment as soon as Texas gets off their high horse. My guess is they are going to be forced. It's going to be that or go Independent. The Big 12 is not going to last. Are they really that arrogant?
Scott has made brilliant moves for the Pac-10 (now 12) ever since he arrived. Tuesday was just another example. He is not scared of change but he won't do it unless it makes sense for his conference.
Scott gets the big picture. He sees the big picture.
The Pac-12 is in great hands. The above statement may only hold true for hours - maybe days, months and years.
The thing I do know is the decisions being made in the Pac-12 are very well calculated and will only be made if they make sense for all involved.
---
TY's Outtakes
What I learned this week…
Derrick Hall, Arizona Diamondbacks CEO & President, has Prostate Cancer. In Hall fashion he has a positive outlook and is thinking of others even though we should all be thinking of him.
As I spend two days at Phoenix Children's Hospital this week for KTAR's Radiothon for PCH I will be reminded that we should all be thankful for what we have every day. No one knows what tomorrow brings.
Tweet of the week…
Darren Rovell couldn't have made it more clear. All of this expansion is about money.
Believe the Pac-12 would have had to generate about $1.8 billion more over 12 years in order to enjoy same $ per school at 16.
Is that reasonable and possible? If not then it's not smart. This is business.
Suggestion of the week…
This cat isn't worried about obstacles. It wants the laser beam and it's going to get the laser beam. That's pretty incredible.
If there was ever a Sunday the Arizona Cardinals needed to
play a bad offense it would be this one.
Two weeks in a row they have struggled.
Cam Newton. Maybe that wasn't a fluke. Ask anyone in Green
Bay not named Charles Woodson.
Rex Grossman. I wouldn't say he torched them, but they
struggled. A lot of yards were given up -- 291 passing is
a lot.
This Sunday in Week 3 of the regular season -- and their
eighth week with defensive coordinator Ray Horton -- the
Cardinals are going against the worst offense in the
league, the Seattle Seahawks offense.
The Cardinals are ranked 29th in total yards, fifth worst
in yards per play and they have given up 13 plays of 20 or
more yards. Numbers that surely keep Horton up at night.
This week while Horton is staring at the ceiling he'll be
seeing numbers representing the worst offense in the NFL.
Offensively the Seahawks are last in yards per game, the
only team in the NFL averaging less than 200 after two
games. They are 31st in scoring, only behind the pathetic
Kansas City Chiefs. Third down conversion rate is 27%, bad
enough to be 27th in the league. As a team they are minus
three in turnovers.
Here's guessing Horton wakes up salivating at the
opportunity his defense has.
Sunday in Seattle will mean more mentally than it will
physically for the Cardinals defense.
All week on tape they will see the Seahawks offense
struggle. There is no reason they won't be going into the
game thinking they can stop them as well.
If Sunday comes and the Seahawks are moving the ball it's
going to be damaging.
Week 3 or not, this defense needs a pick me up, something
positive to happen.
They need to be a reason -- or at least a good part -- the
Cardinals win a game.
I don't see Horton changing his attitude or philosophy --
and he shouldn't.
Blitz Tarvaris Jackson (or whoever is taking snaps for
them), stay aggressive and be all over the field.
As long as they are true to their assignments and
communicate they should be forcing punts all afternoon.
That will lead to a flight back to Arizona with a 2-1
record, 1-0 in the division and well on their way to the
goal of winning the NFC West.
Head coach Ken Whisenhunt couldn't have said it better
when he was asked about the defense during training camp.
"Well, if we can stop somebody that will be a good start."
Major League Baseball got it wrong Wednesday night.
In the sixth inning of a 2-0 game Los Angeles Dodgers
pitcher Clayton Kershaw was ejected for hitting Arizona
Diamondback Gerardo Parra.
No other player had been hit by a pitch in the game. No
warnings were ever given. Kershaw hits Parra and is gone
from the game. (I could go bad business decision with this
in an entire column -- but I'll save that for another
day.)
The Cy Young candidate was in the middle of a one-hit
shutout against the likely National League West Champions.
Diamondbacks television play-by-play announcer Daron
Sutton had this to say about Parra's admiration.
"Parra not moving at all. He watched that one for a long,
long time."
Analyst Mark Grace added, "And I don't blame him."
You know what, I didn't blame Parra either. Earlier in the
at bat when he showed to bunt he nearly took a Hong-Chih
Kuo pitch between the eyes.
Parra took that personal. He got back at Kuo with that
home run. He then took it a step further by not stepping
out of the batter's box fast enough.
That's when he put his team in a tough position. It's
baseball. Kershaw was seen yelling and hollering from his
dugout. Not going to act like I know his exact words but I
have a guess it was something about getting around the
bases quickly and that he was pitching the following
night. He was backing and protecting his team.
Parra, manager Kirk Gibson and hitting coach Don Baylor
were all shown on television to be saying stuff back
towards the Dodgers' dugout. The coaches were backing and
protecting their player. Perfect.
Gibson said as much on Arizona Sports 620's Burns & Gambo
earlier on Wednesday.
"The way [Parra] chooses to go around the bases is his
business, we're all held accountable for our actions,"
Gibson said. "I've been up there I've been thrown at my
head so I can relate to that side of it."
Once that happened all eyes turned to Parra's at-bats
against Kershaw, if Parra were in the lineup.
This is where I believe Gibson made, yet another,
brilliant move in putting Parra in the lineup Wednesday
night. I guarantee he was very well thinking Kershaw would
throw at Parra, get ejected and put his team in a tough
spot.
IF Major League Baseball and the umpires warned both teams
prior to the game about batters being hit then I could see
Kershaw's ejection being justified. This was not the case.
At least not directly, from what both teams said after the
game. Dodger manager Don Mattingly reacting the way he did
and eventually getting himself tossed makes it hard to
believe that was the case.
Regardless, at that point Mattingly had to back his own
team.
That is why I think baseball got it wrong. You simply,
absolutely cannot throw a pitcher out of a game unless you
are 100% convinced he has intentionally thrown at someone.
Even if that's the case it's iffy unless he specifically
went head hunting.
It's a 2-0 game. Kershaw had just thrown the first pitch
for a strike. He was in the middle of a one-hitter and
going for his 19th win.
Grace could not believe what he was watching. Both him and
Sutton were stunned Kershaw was being thrown out of the
game.
"Maybe the game has passed me by," Grace said in
amazement.
It's the unwritten rules of baseball. It's part of the
game.
I'm guessing (but certainly do NOT feel like I'm going out
on a limb here) the Diamondbacks, Gibson and fill-in-the-
blank pitcher would have handled the situation exactly the
same. Same goes for 28 other Major League teams.
Right or wrong of Parra from the night before (remember, I
said I didn't blame him), you have to think and anticipate
something happening the following game. It's just the way
baseball works.
The umpires needed to either make the situation very clear
prior to the game or let it play out and take action as
needed AFTER they felt it was getting beyond their
control.
Baseball players police and take care of things themselves
between the lines. Umpires should worry about ball or
strike, fair or foul, safe or out. That's it.
Both teams took it in their own hands to protect their
teammates. Exactly what teammates and coaches should do.
---
TY's Outtakes
What I learned this week…
I'll be in New York in less than 10 days and, among many
other things -- including TWO Yankees-Red Sox games --, I
will be visiting the National September 11
Memorial, which just opened for the first time
this past Sunday on the 10th anniversary of the 9/11
attacks (I remember watching the TV that morning with my
mom. We watched the second tower get hit live. Most
uncanny moment of my life). I was in Lower Manhattan in
August 2003. Interested to see it now.
The night for Arizona State to live up -- or down -- to the hype that has
been placed upon them.
Fair or not, since last season ended with their win in Tucson over rival
Arizona, it has always been about "wait until next year."
Brock Osweiler had shown promise. The skill positions were returning fast -
- extremely fast. The defense is full of talent.
The team has finished a practice with a "BCS" chant. They talked a bit about
the Sugar Bowl at their media day.
Fan expectations are high. Media members have marked them as the team
that could make a serious run after not going to a bowl last year and
starting this season outside the AP Top 25.
If you go by wins and losses -- and you should -- they lived up to the
hype for this one night. The Sun Devils defeated the Missouri Tigers 37-30
in overtime.
This was the night they had to. A home loss on national television in front
of a near capacity crowd in the highly promoted "Blackout" atmosphere
would have been more than just one loss.
This was nowhere near a "pretty" win, but in the end it was a win.
Arizona State had to beat Missouri to gain credibility and show everyone
they can be looked at as a team that moved on from a bowl-less season
full of heartbreak and close losses -- sans the Arizona game.
They needed to prove to themselves they could beat a formidable
opponent. It was their first win over a ranked team since 2007 --
Erickson's first year in Tempe and the year they won 10 games and went to
the Holiday Bowl.
This game was talked about as Arizona State's "measuring stick" for the
season. It was amplified when they announced it would be a "Blackout" and
were hoping for a sellout.
For the game itself the Sun Devils started off fast with four of their five
drives in the first half resulting in scores or scoring chances (a missed field
goal was how their first drive ended).
Less than a minute into the fourth quarter they took a 30-16 lead and
looked every bit the hype. It takes 60 minutes to win a football game and
not 46.
A slew of penalties, a muffed punt and two bad possessions tied in with
two Missouri touchdowns and you could see it on the fans' faces, "here we
go again." Games like this were lost way too often by this team in 2010.
Friday night ended differently. The Sun Devils went to overtime and did
what they had to do.
Is this a sign of things to come?
Only time will tell. They lived up to the hype in the most important game of
their season. Now, next Saturday at Illinois is the most important. This big
win against a ranked Missouri team won't feel as sweet if the momentum
isn't carried on to another week.
Arizona has a big opportunity over a 30-hour period
before the weekend is upon us.
Rise up Wildcats. Rise up Sun Devils.
Both Arizona and Arizona State are playing Top 20
competition from the Big 12 conference on ESPN in
nationally televised games. Arizona travels to Stillwater
to battle Oklahoma State and Arizona State plays host to
Missouri.
The state of college football in Arizona has a huge chance
to show their programs can compete and should be
considered when talking Pac-12 Championship. It doesn't
matter if they are league games or not; these games are a
great indication of what lies ahead over the next three
months.
These games are the best. We've been waiting eight-plus
months for meaningful football. They raced by the cupcakes
with passing grades and now they get into the heart of the
season.
For Arizona it's the beginning of a gauntlet. Taking on an
Oklahoma State team that beat them by 26 in the Alamo Bowl
precedes a conference schedule that begins with v.
Stanford, v. Oregon and @ USC. Brutal. One. At. A. Time.
The program takes center stage Thursday night. Nick Foles
gets to show off his arm, deep wide receiving corps
(although it looks like it will be minus Juron Criner --
ouch!) and an offense that put up 41 points last Saturday
and averaged 28 points last year.
For as good as the offense is -- and can be --, it looks
like the success or failure of the Wildcats will be in the
hands of the defense. The Cowboys put up 36 on them in
that bowl game. They scored 61 in their tune-up against
Louisiana-Lafayette.
I'm not going to count out Mike Stoops and Tim Kish. I
think these Wildcats keep it closer than Vegas thinks (14
point underdogs).
Back here in Arizona on Friday night, the lower ranked --
yet favored -- Sun Devils go at it with Missouri, looking
a lot like Missouri. It will be ASU in the all black, not
Mizzou. The heat will be something new to the visitors but
not the scenery.
Missouri played in Sun Devil Stadium last December and
fell to Iowa in the Insight Bowl. This Missouri team
travels to Tempe Blaine Gabbert-less.
In their 17-6 season opening win over Miami (Ohio) the
Tigers only passed for 129 yards while rushing for 162.
Not something they are accustomed to.
The Sun Devils' linebacking crew (specifically their run
defense) will be tested in spying quarterback James
Franklin. He was the team's leading rusher with 72 yards
at more than five yards a carry last week.
A mistake-free offense and a defense doing what it's
capable of should lead to a good evening for the Sun
Devils.
All college football eyes on the state of Arizona for a
30-hour period. Opportunity awaits.
---
TY's Outtakes
What I learned this week…
If you give an SEC defense five or more weeks it is likely
they can shut down Oregon's offense. Regardless of the
final score, watching LSU's defense against Oregon
Saturday night felt like them against Auburn in ways. Big
and fast up front gives them all kinds of problems.
The rest of the country? I'm in wait and see mode.
I was not going to believe Peyton Manning was sitting out
Week 1 until I heard it from the man himself. This tweet
did just that.
I hope he soon returns to the field and can play at the
high level we've all watched over the years. Watching him
run and execute an offense is great entertainment.
Suggestion of the week…
"Most of you don't want success as much as you want to
sleep. Some of you want sleep more than you want success.
I'm hear to tell you that if you're going to be successful
you got to be willing to give up sleep."
The Pac-12 South is as open as the Grand Canyon is wide.
USC still has probation attached to their name.
Rick Neuheisel's seat is warmer than the state of Arizona in August. He's 15-22 since taking over at his alma mater. Not exactly what the Bruin family had in mind when they handed the reigns over to one of their sons.
The newcomers are exactly that, newcomers. Colorado is bringing in a new coaching staff and a 17 game road losing streak. Not the recipe for success.
Utah is the most intriguing team. In recent years they've had the most success when you look at the W and L column but they were playing in the Mountain West. For every great matchup against BYU & TCU over the past few years they were racking up multiple wins against Air Force, Colorado State, New Mexico, UNLV and Wyoming.
While I have full confidence they can compete with a team in the South on any weekend I have my doubts on them being able to do it on a weekly basis. Time will tell.
On to the state of Arizona. Last year in mid-October Arizona looked like a team rolling through the season with very good quarterback. A 0-5 finish to the season left a bad taste in the mouths of Wildcat fans.
An early trip to Stillwater, Okla. will tell us a lot. Following are home bouts with Stanford and Oregon before trips to USC and Oregon State. Their schedule screams opportunity. Or 1-5.
Arizona State. A sexy sleeper pick. The team is full of talent (and seniors - 31) on paper. The 'what could have been' squad of 2010.
They are the easy sleeper pick of the year. Looking at the schedule, returning players and how competitive they were last year, you sit there and think, 'this team could do some damage.'
On Friday, September 9 we're going to find out a ton about this team. Fair or not, when they host Missouri on national television people's minds are going to be set for the season.
Injuries to Omar Bolden and Brandon Magee have calmed the excitement around ASU's defense. I feel crazy writing this but I think they'll overcome them. The offense will have a huge say in helping the defense. If the offense starts getting compared to a track team on turf this team will be in a good place. That's their goal. The ball is in Brock Osweiler's hands. Literally.
And with that I think the Sun Devils will be headed to Eugene, Oregon to play in the first Pac-12 Championship Game.
I'm not the most confident in the pick, but when I look around it's who I see emerging from the South.
---
TY's Outtakes
What I learned this week…
I learned super agent Drew Rosenhaus isn't afraid of using the University of Phoenix Stadium parking lot as a dressing room. Headed to the Cardinals Luncheon on Tuesday we drove up on a changing Rosenhaus while he was on his phone yakking away and probably getting a new deal done for one of his clients.
The third preseason game. The so-called "regular season dress rehearsal."
Training camp up in the beautiful pines of Arizona is officially over. The beginning of the season is nearing.
The fourth preseason game -- where the final roster spots are won and lost -- is less than one week away.
This is the game you want your starting squad to look its sharpest. Of course there is still no game planning or scheming for the other team, but what you should be doing is running your own stuff correctly and crisply.
The excuse and process of training camp is over. Real games that count are on the way.
For the Arizona Cardinals there are many areas for vast improvement if they are going to be realistically thinking NFC West crown come January.
The quarterback play -- and there is no doubt in my mind that it will -- has to continue to steadily improve. Kevin Kolb is learning on the fly and will be for awhile. In the first two games he was good -- not great, not awful. Let's mix in some great.
I'd like to see him lead a touchdown drive -- or two -- on Saturday night. A smooth, march the ball down the field scoring drive. Not for the sake of a meaningless TD or even the fans' sake, but rather for the mentality of the entire team. Last year still lingers with anyone who lived through it. It has to.
Keeping with the backfield theme, Beanie Wells is "the guy" this year whether he earns it or not. When the lockout was lifted it seemed like a great training camp battle could be brewing. A trade and an injury later and it's all Wells, all the time now.
I need to see that he can actually be "the guy." Talk is cheap, on paper it is even cheaper.
It's year three Beanie. Hold onto the ball, pick up blitzes, hit the hole and use your pancake stiff arm. Easy enough right?
Next, the offensive line. Scariest group on the field in my eyes (even scarier than the secondary). This group has had a rough go of it in recent years. A lot is going to be asked of them, and one can hope they find five guys who step up to the challenge. Through two games I'm quite nervous.
Enough with the offense. I'm asking a lot, I know.
Time on the field will only help this group. I hope the starters get plenty of reps this week and the following week -- specifically the corners. Whoever Ray Horton is running out there against the Carolina Panthers needs game action practice. By Week 1 it'll be too late (Cam Newton or not).
Be decent and average. Not unrealistic expectations.
The third game of the preseason. What many call the most important of them all.
How many questions will get answered? My guess is none completely, but we ought to have a pretty good idea of what we can expect come 9/11.
---
TY's Outtakes
What I learned this week…
I learned just how great Seattle is in August. A high of 80 while Phoenix can't get below 85. Hello chilly weather. I enjoyed you. We'll have to see if I can make this an annual trip. Breath not being held.
Yes, Burroughs homering in a Major League game for the first time since April 30, 2005 was surprising, even beating out an earthquake and a trade. Not bad.
As we sit here in mid-August with the Arizona Diamondbacks leading the NL West over the World Series champion San Francisco Giants I have to ask myself one question.
Why is this team so fun to watch and follow?
No, it's not just because they are in first place (losing streak or not, still currently atop the division).
It's beyond that.
The expectations for this team were … well, there were none. Positive expectations anyways (showing promise for the future doesn't count).
Exceeding expectations is always fun.
Last Tuesday we went to bed trying to believe Lyle I-was-just-waived-by-the-Pittsburgh-Pirates Overbay had three RBI off Roy Halladay and led the D-backs to a win in his first start with the team. Wednesday morning we woke up and could still believe it because it actually happened. It wasn't a dream.
This team is led by two pitchers who won't see the age of 30 for at least 30 more months.
All-Star Justin Upton is the only regular to have been above .300 for a period of time. He's currently at .299 as he's had a tough road trip (currently 3-for-21). The only other everyday player within a sniff of .300 has hit in the seventh or eighth spot in the order 78 times this season. Gerardo Parra is hitting .286.
The batting order (1 through 8) has been different 91 times this season. The most common order was used nine times (I use the word "was" because Drew and Miranda were part of that). Kirk Gibson has not trotted any one lineup to the chalk boxes 10 times this year.
Six different players have ran out to first base to start the game and four guys have seen the number "6" next to their name for fielding position on the lineup card.
First base and shortstop are not positions you have turnover or change on a daily basis. Not when you're doing things conventionally anyways. And certainly not when you're leading a division.
Ten different pitchers have toed the rubber to start the game.
David Hernandez, your set-up reliever, has 11 saves.
This team has and is fighting through injuries (Stephen Drew, Jason Marquis). Players have come and gone all season (Brandon Allen, Russell Branyan, Melvin Mora, Overbay). Veteran presences have been extremely helpful (Wily Mo Pena, Xavier Nady) and flat out stunk (Geoff Blum -- not healthy, Armando Galarraga). Young players have stepped up (Josh Collmenter, Hernandez) and surprised and also played like rookies and found themselves taking the plane straight back to Reno (Barry Enright, Kam Mickolio, Juan Miranda).
Earlier this month they beat Matt Cain and Tim Lincecum on back to back nights in San Francisco while losing to Nathan Eovaldi four days later at Chase Field. Don't worry, I don't know who he is either.
That's why this team is fun. It's craziness with this team. On paper it just doesn't make sense.
After asking myself the aforementioned question and deciding not much is logical with this team I've decided to keep it simple.
Don't ask questions. Just enjoy the ride.
---
TY's Outtakes
What I learned this week…
I'm in two Fantasy Football leagues. Both drafts were this weekend -- one Saturday, one Sunday. Here's what I learned.
* Eli Manning is the only person who thinks he's a Top 5 QB in the league.
* I will have way too much rooting interest in Dallas' passing game this season (Tony, Austin and Dez).
* My sleeper was going to be Daniel Thomas (rookie RB for Miami). Friend AJ took him too early in both leagues. I hope he gains 10 yards ... for the season.
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