Pigskin Pickin Machine-Joe Friday version

Super short Pigskin Pickin Machine this week in order to perhaps have time for a brief post tomorrow morning.

Ohio State over Indiana 28-18
Texas Tech over Baylor 34-33

Game of the week
Michigan State over michigan 35-28

Falcons over Browns 28-16


Game of the week
Jets over Vikings 21-13

Lincecum whiffs 14,Giants grab game one

A few thoughts on last nights game from the lefty side of our country that saw Tim Lincecum strike out 14 and allow just two hits to allow the San Francisco Giants to win Game one of the National League Division Series 1-0 over the Atlanta Braves.
Game two is tonight in Frisco with the Giants sending Matt Cain (13-11) to the hill against Atlanta's Tommy Hanson (10-11).

Giant Steps

1) Right off the bat-Buster Posey was out on his attempted steal in the fourth inning.
The umpire clearly missed the call and the calls for replay in the playoffs started right after.
Sorry,not from here.
I can live with the fair/foul replays and the did the ball leave the park on the home run reviews,but no further.

2) I understand Atlanta fans being upset about Posey scoring the only run shortly thereafter on a Cody Ross single,but some of the vitriol needs to go to the Braves Omar Infante,who clearly should have made what looked to me to be a routine play.

3) I didn't see Roy Halladay's no hitter against the Reds,but I find it difficult to believe that he was anymore dominating than Tim Lincecum last night.
Lincecum gave up a double to start the game to Omar Infante and would only give up one hit thereafter.
Put the 14 K's aside,the Braves weren't even coming close to hitting the baseball with any kind of pop and even at 1-0,you never had the feeling that they were going to tie the game as long as Lincecum stayed in the game....

4) Want another Lincecum stat? Atlanta hitters swung and missed 31 times during the game and ESPN claims that was a league high this season.

5) I know I wrote about West Coast baseball a week or so back,but there is no doubt that if any West Coast city has the type of East Coast fanaticism,it is the city by the Bay-Those fans were into the game all night and if Giants fans aren't the best west of St.Louis,you will have to prove it to me!

Time will be short tomorrow,but I hope to get a quick picking machine up and maybe a Devils and/or Giants recap of tonight's games.
If not,I'll add longer recaps covering a few games of both teams early next week.

Photo Credit-AP Photo

New Jersey Devils season preview

After an off season filled with arbitrators,NHL sanctions and miscellaneous issues,the New Jersey Devils drop the puck against Dallas in the first of a three game four day run to start the 2010-11 season.
The Devils made a few moves,but none more important than the long term signing of Ilya Kovalchuk as the franchise's first true superstar forward (Zach Parise could join him soon).

The Devils look to be setting themselves up for a super scoring line with Parise and Kovalchuk being centered by Travis Zajac.Kovalchuk would move to the right wing for the first time in his career on that line.
I am not sure on how long that line will stay together in order to keep the lines balanced,but it should be at least an option as the season goes on.
That line might be the highest scoring line in the league,assuming that Kovalchuk can make a smooth transition to the right wing.

The second line features the return of former Devils hero Jason Arnott,who was obtained from Nashville.Arnott plugs right in with former linemate Patrik Elias and captain Jamie Langenbrunner on a line that might be the top one for most teams.
All three are in their mid-thirties now though and none had a great season last year,so there are some questions,but the line has the potential to be a high scoring one as well...

The third line has the ability to be interesting as well.
Two of the players on this line have been rumored to possibly be the salary cap casualties from the Kovalchuk signing in Dainius Zubrus and Brian Rolston.
The pair will be working with David Clarkson,who looks to be ready to bust open as a twenty goal scorer.Zubrus and Rolston both are high salary players that might eventually have to be moved,but should be productive while in red and black.

Rod Pelley will be the checking line center and Pierre-Luc LeBlond joins him as the enforcer.
Adam Henrique will start the season with the team,although he shouldn't remain there long as it appears the Devils are biding time to find a way to sign Adam Mair to the roster.

The defensive corps has changed a bit with Paul Martin moving to Pittsburgh as a free agent and the Devils signing two free agents as well.
Anton Volchenkov brings his hard hitting style from Ottawa and gives the Devils the type of punishing hitter that Devils fans haven't seen since Scott Stevens.
Volchenov will be paired with Mark Fraser for now.
Henrik Tallinder was signed from Buffalo as a mentor of sorts to younger defensemen after his reported excellent job in breaking in Tyler Myers of the Sabres.Tallinder was expected to be paired with 19 year old Swede Alexander Urbom,but will start the season with Andy Greene.
Greene had his breakout season last year in which he moved from the 7th d-man to arguably the team top blueliner.Greene will be expected to duplicate those numbers and hopefully increase them on the power play to help replace Martin.
Veteran Colin White is assigned to the final grouping with the rookie Urbom in what looks to be a balanced pair,but could be an erratic one depending on Urbom's adjustments to the NHL game.

Martin Brodeur returns in net as the starter,but may finally get a drop in games played.I know that we hear that every year,but the Devils did make a larger than usual investment in a backup for Brodeur in Johan Hedberg.
Hedberg finally gives the team a goalie that could play 20 or so games and not feel like they are throwing the two points away in playing him.

Bryce Salvador is on the long term injury list with concussion issues and when he is ready to return,the team will need to make those long awaited roster moves to reach the salary cap line.
I am excited about this team and barring a move that would cost the team a huge contributor,I see this team as a Cup contender this season.
I think they finish no worse than second in the Atlantic Division and no worse than fifth in the Eastern Conference.
Exceeding both of those are extremely possible as well.
Let's Go Devils!!!!

Boring win counts the same

Ohio State's 24-13 win over Illinois certainly wasn't exciting and was closer than expected.
However,they all count the same and the first win in the Big Ten is always important.
Not a ton of stats today on the win over than Terrelle Pryor's 100+ on the ground and Boom Herron's near 100 in addition.
Ohio State hosts Indiana on Saturday.

Buckeye Leaves

1) Terrelle Pryor's quad injury was supposedly so bad that he could do nothing but hand off in the fourth quarter,but he was still in the game to hand off?
This made little sense as if it was so bad that he was limited,why chance further injury for important future games?
And if he was good enough to play,why the limited playbook?

2) I have never been a huge fan of Boom Herron's,but you have to credit Herron for being the main part of the offense and keeping the clock running during the fourth quarter with the type of tough runs that weren't a part of Herron's game in the past.

3) Tyler Moeller was injured in the game with a pec muscle tear and will be out for the season.
Moeller will attempt to receive a bonus year of eligibility from the NCAA as a medical redshirt.

4) If the Big Ten network wants to be taken seriously,they can start with better announcers as Eric Collins and Chris Martin are just bad.
Not Gus Johnson screaming at the top of your lungs bad,just the type to give all the information that you already know and give it to you five times...

5) Another great game for Nate Williams with nine tackles and a sack and a half.
Williams is the Buckeyes most improved player on defense and maybe the entire squad.

6) One more word on dreadful play calling.
Indiana isn't very good,but they throw the ball a lot and points haven't been their problem.
Ohio State needs to throw the football and if that means Joe Bauserman this week to have Terrelle Pryor for Wisconsin,I am fine with that-That is what backups are for.

Reviewing the tape-Browns finally win one!

Time is running short for me with the various issues that I have going on,so no promises on further posts of substance,although it is likely for a short Pigskin Picking Machine before I leave for the weekend.
If all goes perfectly,I may be back with a Buckeye review of the tape.

The Cleveland Browns lived up to their first three game standards in building a lead and then staggering down the stretch,but this time against the Cincinnati Bengals there was a twist- a win 23-20 to win the Ohio rivalry.The Browns host Roddy White and the Atlanta Falcons this Sunday.

Brownie Bits



1) The topic among most is the vicious hit laid on Jordan Shipley in the end zone by T.J. Ward.
 I thought the hit was uncalled for,deserved a penalty on the play and certainly fit the parameters of the NFL fine system,but this could be a great thing overall for the Browns.
It hasn't been since the days of Eric Turner that the Browns had the type of hitter that made receivers worry about being blasted over the middle against Cleveland-those days are over.

2) Player of the game has to be Peyton Hillis with his 102 yards on 27 carries.
The Browns haven't had the type of punishing runner like Hillis since Kevin Mack,but I would offer this caveat-runners like Hillis do not have a huge shelf life.
The Browns would be wise to begin to mix Jerome Harrison or James Davis in with some carries in order to keep Hillis somewhat healthy.

3) The Browns used the type of offensive game plan to suit their personnel.
Run the football using the strength of the offensive line and do not allow Seneca Wallace (or possibly Jake Delhomme this week) to be in a situation to lose the game for you.
Looking at the receivers on this team,there is no doubt that this needs to be a run oriented team.

4) I know that after Eric Wright;s awful game in Baltimore that he is the easy target for blame on Terrell Owens huge game,but it isn't the case.
Of Owens big plays on Sunday,only one came against Wright,the others were against Sheldon Brown.

5) Evan Moore has terrific hands and needs to see more playing time.
Looking at both the receivers and their meager numbers,one would like to think that the Browns could use some two tight end sets to have Ben Watson and Moore on the field at the same time.
Thus far,they are the teams most reliable pass catchers.

6) The difference maker in this one was the blocked field goal by Scott Fujita in the second quarter.
Mike Nugent had not missed a kick all season to that point and that not only gave the Browns a momentum boost that saw the Browns take possession,but saw a field goal by Phil Dawson as well.
Not only did that means the score was 13-10 Browns at the half instead 13-10 Bengals,but it was the difference in a Browns win and going to overtime with another stagger to the finish in the works.

7) Two sacks for Matt Roth as he and surprisingly Kenyon Coleman were able to provide some pressure to Carson Palmer.
The biggest sack of course was the fourth quarter third down dump of Palmer that forced the Bengals to punt and would never see the ball again.Coleman has never done much for me,but he was definitely solid on Sunday.

8) I almost forgot in my criticisms of the Browns receivers to give Chansi Stuckey some credit.Stuckey caught five passes for 56 yards and looked good out of the slot.

9) The Browns traded for defensive end Jayme Mitchell from the Vikings yesterday to help off the end.The Vikings have a terrific defensive line,so Mitchell being a backup there is not necessarily a bad thing,but I cannot say that I know a ton about him as a player.

10) The downside to this trade is the "late" 2012 draft pick that the Browns gave up.
I am not really sure that the team needs to be dealing picks in any draft just yet.

If I have time I will be trying to get a Buckeye tape review and/or the New Jersey Devils preview up over the next days.
The Devils open the season Friday against Dallas.
No promises on either,but I will try...

Photo Credits-Cleveland Plain Dealer Staff

Unreasonable Requests?

The Hagerstown Suns asked the Hagerstown City Council for more flexibility in scheduling events at the Muni and add the right to sell advertising outside the stadium among others.

Tony Dahbura asked the council for the right to hold up to thirty non-Hagerstown Suns events a year that could include high school and college baseball games in addition to concerts,festivals etc and asked for a streamlining to the system that would make the Suns able to process events far quicker than the current manner.
This would be as simple as a vote to empower a staff member (or more,the article doesn't say) to approve requests for non-Suns events instead of having to ask for council approval for each and every request.

This makes things easier for the team and takes less time for the city council,so they can devote more time to other issues on the docket.

Dahbura also submitted a list of improvements to the stadium to prepare for the upcoming season that look to be around the 40,000 dollar range from the Hagerstown Capital Improvement fund.
These range from replacing the depleted backstop netting to various improvements to the clubhouse area that judging by my talks with various players that come through town cannot be worked on soon enough.
From what I can see,these all are needs not wants and even with these changes,the Muni will not become an opulent baseball palace anytime soon.

However,apparently the Suns were asking too much in the eyes of Ashley Haywood,who made sure to note that "team approached the city for greater autonomy while at the same time asking the city for funds to improve the stadium".
Somewhere in Ms.Haywood's snarky response is some truth,as the team did ask for more autonomy and did ask for stadium funds,but sift through the sand and see this for what it is.
IF the team has more control on adding events and IF the team is able to make additional money from them,THEN perhaps down the road in a year or two,the Suns can finance some of the stadium improvements themselves.

If council members like Ms.Haywood truly want to save the city money then giving the Suns the flexibility to add to their coffers (and then be able to pay for more things on their own eventually) makes all the sense in the world.
Note to Ms.Haywood and the remaining council members-A town only gets one baseball team and they don't have very chances to bring them back unless you build a new facility.
You are being offered the chance to help the town and the team without a huge outlay of dollars and appearing reticent is helping no one in the area.

From what I have been told (Hearsay,of course) one member of the council has next to no idea how minor league baseball operates and there may be a few more than that particular one.
Hopefully someone can educate these people before they make foolish decisions as time progresses and they help the Suns stay as the civic institution that they deserve to be instead of turning the Muni into the latest urban coffee and sandwich shop walking area.
Yes,I am being facetious (for now),but forgive me for caring and being concerned.
Hagerstown finally has a chance to remove some or most of these worries,let's hope that we have a city council that realizes just what they have in the Hagerstown Suns.

PIrates managerial situation

Back to business a bit with a few thoughts on the Pirates managerial search and a little more on the sacrificial lamb being sent to slaughter in John Russell.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette mentions four of the candidates that may have a leg up in Neal Huntington's search here.
Of those four,I don't think John Farrell has any interest as other teams (including the Pirates) have been down this road with him before,Joel Skinner might be a good fit overall except that the Pirates reportedly want a skipper with experience and Skinner has very little major league experience with the exception of his interim stint in Cleveland.
I always liked Mike Hargrove,who reportedly wants back in the game and with Grover living in suburban Cleveland,there is no team closer to his home than Pittsburgh other than the Indians (of course),so he might have interest despite the state of the current Buccos.
Hargrove also has experience with a team building around youth with his years building the Indians to a title contender and would be a good choice.
Former Indian manager Eric Wedge is mentioned as the possible top choice,but I believe he would be a horrible selection.
I was utterly unimpressed with his term in Cleveland and Wedge seems to have an higher opinion of himself than I do.
Reportedly Wedge is a top candidate with the Cubs and just about any manager that wants to succeed right away will favor just about anyone over the Pirates.

I would like to add three candidates to the list in AAA managers Torey Lovullo and Mike Sarbaugh and veteran boss Bobby Valentine.
Lovullo has experience working with Neal Huntington and now has varied his experiences having spent time in the Red Sox organization as well.
Sarbaugh is a manager that I have seen at various stops in the Indians system and few managers have impressed me more.
Sarbaugh would be at the top of my list,if the Pirates wanted to go with another manager new to the big leagues
Valentine might not be a Pirate type guy,but his personality will go over huge after years of Jim Tracy and Russell and he teaches as well as wins.
Valentine,Sarbaugh and Hargrove are my top choices,but knowing the Pirates I'll go with none of the group being the selection.

Late word has the Pirates interviewing Eric Wedge earlier today.
Figures- worst possible choice.

As far as John Russell goes,I cannot say that the firing disappoints me at all.
From the dull persona to the odd decision making both in selecting the regulars to his less than stellar game management with the ridiculous defensive shifts,pitcher hitting 8th etc,Russell was a pretty bad manager.
However,even considering those issues,John Russell was not the reason that the Pirates lost over 100 games or even a main reason.
Sure,a game or two here and there over the last three years might have been won with another skipper at the helm,but on the overall,Russell being around didn't make much of a difference in the won/loss column.

Where I did have issues with Russell was decision making.
Take just this season,having no interest in playing Neil Walker at all until Walker forced the issue,the bizarre infatuation with Ryan Church at the expense of younger outfielders,most notably Lastings Milledge,sticking with Andy LaRoche far too long after he had proved that he wasn't going to do the job etc....

John Russell didn't get the greatest hand dealt to him,but he didn't do very much to improve it either.
The next manager might not fare any better and if that man goes,I think that it is very likely that GM Neal Huntington goes with him.

I hope to have time for at least one football recap,but bear with me if it doesn't go up.....

Photo Credit-Unknown