MLB 2018 Season Long Thread Thru the World Series / Picks,Trends,News Etc. !!

[StarDust Bum]

LOS ANGELES – J.D. Martinez has run with a little hitch in his gait since rolling his right ankle in Game 1 of the World Series. But the Red Sox are hopeful he will be ready to play the outfield in Game 3 without a designated hitter available in the National League park.

“We’ll see,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “Actually he felt better [Thursday] walking around, he got treatment on the way here. He’s going to get treatment [Friday]. He’ll get treatment [Friday] morning. In the afternoon we’ll make a decision.

“It looked bad early [on Wednesday] but then it seemed like it was moving better towards the end.”

[StarDust Bum]

Rookie Buehler looks to rescue L.A.
October 25, 2018
By The Associated Press

LOS ANGELES (AP) The Dodgers have seen the future and it's ace-in-the-making Walker Buehler.

Except they need him to deliver now.

Buehler will try to yank Los Angeles out of a 2-0 deficit against the Boston Red Sox when the World Series shifts to Dodger Stadium for Game 3 on Friday.

Clearly, the Dodgers trust their 24-year-old rookie.

He led them to a victory over Colorado in Game 163 that clinched Los Angeles' sixth straight NL West title.

The right-hander also pitched well in Game 7 of the NL Championship Series against Milwaukee.

Now, the pressure is on the calm and confident kid from Kentucky horse country to keep them out of a potential 3-0 hole.

''It's a little bit different than a Game 7 tomorrow,'' Buehler said Thursday, ''but at the same time there's a little bit of backs-against-the-wall-type of scenario.''

Since starting the season at Triple-A Oklahoma City, Buehler has impressed as the heir apparent to three-time NL Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw, who could opt out of the final two years of his contract after the World Series.

''Walker is a tremendous talent,'' Kershaw said after the NL tiebreaker game. ''His competitiveness is off-the-charts, his ability is off-the-charts.''

Buehler was 8-5 with a 2.62 ERA and 151 strikeouts in 24 regular-season appearances, including one in relief. He was especially good down the stretch with a 1.55 ERA over his last 12 starts.

He's been the Dodgers' strongest pitcher in the postseason, even if his numbers don't back that up. He's 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA and at least seven strikeouts in each of his three starts.

In Game 163 at home, Buehler tossed one-hit ball into the seventh inning and didn't allow anyone past second base against the Rockies in 90-degree heat. Similar conditions are expected Friday in stark contrast to the chill that permeated Fenway Park for the series' first two games.

Buehler's had one bad inning: Game 3 of the NL Division Series at Atlanta. With Braves fans getting rowdy, he served up a grand slam to Ronald Acuna Jr. in the second.

But he immediately settled down and didn't allow a baserunner over the next three innings to help preserve the bullpen. In all, he gave up five runs on two hits and three walks in five innings.

''Anytime you're in situations like that, the more that you can get there and live it yourself, I think does nothing but help you,'' he said.

Buehler struck out eight over seven innings of four-run ball in Game 3 of the NLCS at Dodger Stadium, but took a 4-0 loss. He was cool on the road in Game 7, allowing only a homer to Christian Yelich and no walks in 4 2/3 innings.

''To be in a hostile, really boisterous crowd in Milwaukee and for him to keep his composure and to execute pitches speaks a lot to him, not only to compete but to eliminate kind of the outside noise and still stay within a game plan,'' manager Dave Roberts said. ''It just shows a lot of moxie.''

The Red Sox counter with right-hander Rick Porcello, who is 1-0 in two starts this postseason. He's also appeared twice as a reliever, with Boston winning in each of his appearances.

The Dodgers could use some innings out of Buehler after neither Kershaw nor Hyun-Jin Ryu made it out of the fifth in the first two games of the best-of-seven series.

''We expect Walker to go out there and pitch well and keep us in the game,'' Roberts said, ''and offensively we've got to go out there and get a lead.''

Back in a National League ballpark, Buehler will be batting, too. He already has first professional RBI, having singled in the NL tiebreaker game.

Buehler and his fastball that touches the high 90s will be taking on a big-hitting Boston lineup for the first time in his career.

''He's got weapons to attack particular hitter's weakness and also go to his strengths,'' Roberts said. ''But the number one thing with Walker is that when he's good, he's got good fastball command.''

Buehler has been through a lot in his young career. Drafted by Pittsburgh in 2012, he instead chose to attend Vanderbilt and helped the Commodores to the 2014 College World Series title.

The Dodgers drafted him the following year and he received a $1.7 million signing bonus. Soon after, he had Tommy John surgery and was sidelined for 1 + years. He finally made his pro debut in August 2016 and was quickly promoted through the minors.

The Dodgers called him up in September 2017 and he earned his first major league victory two weeks later.

In May, Buehler had a no-hitter through six innings against San Diego but Roberts pulled him after 93 pitches. Still, he was part of the first combined no-hitter in franchise history.

In June, he briefly went on the disabled list after taking a comebacker in the ribs. Yet like his team, Buehler didn't stay down for long. He came back less than a week later to make his lone relief appearance.

The Dodgers have played from behind all season, and the World Series is proving to be no different.

''Now it's time to get back to where we need to be,'' Buehler said.

[StarDust Bum]

The Latest: No word on if Martinez starts; Betts not at 2B
October 25, 2018
By The Associated Press

LOS ANGELES (AP) The Latest on the World Series (all times local):

6:25 p.m.

Joc Pederson will return to the top of the Dodgers' batting order in Game 3 as manager Dave Roberts restores some left-handed pop to what had been a one-sided lineup.

Roberts said during a day off Thursday he hoped Pederson could reach base and provide RBI opportunities to LA's top hitters. Brian Dozier led off the first two games against left-handers Chris Sale and David Price, and he was followed by eight more right-handed hitters both nights. With right-hander Rick Porcello pitching for Boston on Friday, Roberts is expected to get slugging lefties Cody Bellinger and Max Muncy back in the lineup, as well.

Pederson is 3 for 17 during the postseason when at the top of the lineup. He hit 24 of his 25 regular-season home runs against righties while posting a .338 on-base percentage.

---

6:15 p.m.

Rich Hill will be the Dodgers' starter in Game 4 on Saturday.

Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts made the announcement during a news conference Thursday as the World Series shifts to Dodger Stadium.

Hill will be starting against one of his many former teams. He's had two stints with Boston, first from 2010-12 and then in 2015.

This will be Hill's third career Series start. He opened two games last year against the Astros, allowing two earned runs in 8 2/3 innings without getting a decision. He walked four and struck out 12.

This will be Hill's fourth appearance and third start in this year's postseason. He is 0-0 with a 2.61 ERA.

---

5:48 p.m.

Viewership for Game 2 of the World Series was the lowest in four years, the same as the opener.

An average of 13,442,000 people tuned to Fox for Boston's 4-2 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday night, down 13 percent from the 15,483,000 average for Houston's 7-6, 11-inning win over the Dodgers in the second game last year. This was the lowest Game 2 viewership since 12,917,000 for Kansas City's 7-2 victory over San Francisco in 2014.

Boston's 8-4 win in this year's opener averaged 13,755,000, down 8 percent from the 14,698,000 for the Dodgers' 3-1 win over Houston in Game 1 last year and the fewest since 12,191,000 for the Giants' 7-1 win over Kansas City that opened the 2014 Series.

This year's Game 2 drew an average of 437,000 for Spanish-language coverage on Fox Deportes, up from 365,000 for this year's opener.

---

5:35 p.m.

Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora says no decision has been made on whether slugger J.D. Martinez will start Game 3 of the World Series.

But Cora said Thursday that whatever lineup he uses, it will not feature star right fielder Mookie Betts at second base.

Martinez is Boston's main designated hitter. The DH role will not be used Friday when the Red Sox take their 2-0 lead into Dodger Stadium to face Los Angeles.

Martinez rolled his right ankle on a double in Game 1. He stayed in, then delivered a key hit Wednesday night in Game 2 at Fenway Park.

Cora said Martinez got treatment for his sore ankle during Thursday's travel day. The manager said Martinez would get more treatment Friday, and a decision would be made as gametime approached.

Martinez has said he planned on playing in Game 3. He started 57 times in the outfield this season, splitting time in left field and right field.

If Martinez plays the outfield, then either Betts, center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. or left fielder Andrew Benintendi would lose their spot. There had been speculation Betts could play second base - he made 14 starts there as a rookie in 2014, and played six innings at the spot in August after Ian Kinsler was hurt.

Cora flatly said Betts would not start at second base.

[StarDust Bum]

Martinez powers Red Sox postseason with more than home runs
October 26, 2018
By The Associated Press

LOS ANGELES (AP) It is fitting that one of the storylines before a World Series game at Dodger Stadium would revolve around the health of a top-hitting outfielder, and the intrigue about whether he'd be able to play.

Only this time, unlike many years ago, it doesn't involve a Dodgers player.

The Boston Red Sox might not know until close to the first pitch whether J.D. Martinez will be able to start Game 3 on Friday night.

The slugger rolled his right ankle while rounding second base on a double in the opener. He showed the effects of the injury the next day while trying to run, but still delivered a go-ahead, two-run single that sent the Red Sox to victory and a 2-0 lead over Los Angeles.

Martinez said after the win that he expected to play. But manager Alex Cora said on Thursday that it would likely be a gametime decision after Martinez receives more treatment.

''It looked bad early in the game but then it seemed like it was moving better towards the end,'' Cora said.

The similarities between Martinez and former Dodgers slugger Kirk Gibson, whose pinch-hit home run 30 years ago against Oakland in Game 1 at Dodger Stadium is a part of World Series lore, aren't confined to health.

Like Gibson, Martinez is in his first season on a team that finds itself in the Fall Classic. Like Gibby, he'd been a star in Detroit.

For Gibson, that famed home run off Dennis Eckersley in 1988 was the last swing he ever took in a postseason game. Gibson played in the majors through 1995, yet never made it back to the playoffs.

At 31, with Martinez coming off a huge season for the 108-win Red Sox, chances are he'll play in the postseason beyond this year.

While some players have struggled after signing big free-agent deals with the Red Sox, Martinez has thrived. In the first season of a five-year, $110 million deal, he led the American League with 130 RBIs and was second in home runs (43) and batting average (.330). That should put him among the favorites for the AL's MVP award, with many thinking the only player ahead of him is teammate Mookie Betts.

Martinez is 3 for 7 in this Series with four RBIs, establishing himself as an early candidate for Series MVP. He is batting .333 (13 for 39) in Boston's 11 postseason games with two home runs and 13 RBIs.

Martinez has certainly provided power to the Red Sox lineup, but his consistency has been more of a benefit. He had three straight games where he reached base three or more times and drove in at least a run. The only other Boston players with a similar streak were Kevin Youkilis (four games) and Manny Ramirez (three games) during the team's 2007 World Series title run.

''We're not up there trying to hit everything in the air and swinging for the fences. We go up there and the pitch dictates what we're going to do,'' Martinez said. ''We're not up there forcing balls in the air. I feel like it's the common mistake with hitters these days. And I think it's something that we all talk about and we have a really good understanding of it, where we kind of think we're hitters before sluggers in a sense.

''And that's how I think. I take pride in hitting and being - not just a one-dimensional hitter, a complete hitter. And it's something we all talk about.''

Martinez could show off his power at Dodger Stadium as five of his nine hits at the park have been home runs. Last season with Arizona, Martinez became the 18th player to have four home runs in a game when he did it at Chavez Ravine on Sept. 4.

Besides Martinez's health, the bigger question is where will he play? He is primarily Boston's designated hitter, but he has started 57 games in the outfield this season, splitting time in left and right field.

With no DH for games in the National League park, he'd have to spend a lot of time on his feet - and sore ankle - to stay in the lineup.

Walker Buehler, who will be the Dodgers' starting pitcher on Friday, hasn't faced Martinez.

''He's got the power of the left-handed pull hitter from the left side,'' Buehler said. ''In this day and age when people are trying to launch a ball, he does that in the old-school fashion of starting the ball the other way and pulling the ball.''

Martinez was part of a talented lineup in Detroit for three seasons (2014-16) along with Rick Porcello, David Price and Ian Kinsler. With that quartet only two wins from a title, the opportunity has not been lost on Porcello, who takes the hill for the Red Sox on Friday.

''Everybody kind of nodded their head and said we're blessed to have another opportunity to make a run here with the talent we have in this clubhouse and let's make the most of it. And so far up to this point we are. And two more wins, let's finish it off,'' Porcello said.

[StarDust Bum]

wild card/division/championship series/world series /record and best bets:

Date w-l-t % units record

10/24/2018 0-1-0 0.00% -5.50
10/23/2018 0-2-0 0.00% -10.50
10/20/2018 2-0-0 100.00% +10.00
10/19/2018 0-2-0 0.00% -11.15
10/18/2018 0-2-0 0.00% -14.45
10/17/2018 2-1-1 66.67% +6.80
10/16/2018 2-2-0 50.00% +0.65
10/15/2018 2-0-0 100.00% +12.70
10/14/2018 1-1-0 50.00% -1.40
10/13/2018 3-1-0 75.00% +8.95
10/12/2018 2-0-0 100.00% +11.65
10/09/2018 0-2-0 0.00% -12.45
10/08/2018 3-2-1 60.00% +1.70
10/07/2018 1-3-0 25.00% -16.80
10/06/2018 3-1-0 75.00% +9.55
10/05/2018 4-4-0 50.00% -0.50
10/04/2018 2-1-0 66.67% +5.00
10/03/2018 1-1-0 50.00% +0
10/01/2018 2-1-1 66.67% +5.85

total..............30-27-2.......52.63%......+0.10


best bets:................ats.....................units ..................o/u..................units............days total

10/24/2018...............0 - 0....................+0.00.................0 - 1...................-5.50............-5.50
10/23/2018...............0 - 1.....................-5.00.................0 - 1...................-5.50............+10.50
10/20/2018...............1 - 0....................+5.00.................1 - 0..................+5.00............+10.00
10/19/2018...............0 - 0....................+0.00.................0 - 1..................-5.50.............-5.50
10/18/2018...............0 - 0....................+0 00.................0 - 1..................-5.50.............-5.50
10/17/2018...............1 - 1....................+1.80..................1 - 1..................0.50............+1.30
10/16/2018...............1 - 1....................+0.65.................1 - 1..................-0.50.............+0.15
10/15/2018...............1 - 0....................+7.70.................1 - 0.................+5.00.............+12.70
10/14/2018...............0 - 0....................+0.00.................1 - 0.................+5.00.............+5.00
10/13/2018...............0 - 0....................+0.00.................2 - 0.................+10.00...........+10.00
10/12/2018...............1 - 0....................+5.00..................1 - 0................+5.00.............+10.00
10/09/2018...............0 - 0................... +0.00..................0 - 1.................-5.50..............-5.50
10/08/2018...............1 - 0....................+5.95..................1 - 1.................-0.50..............+5.45
10/07/2018...............0 - 0....................+0.00..................1 - 1.................-0.50..............-0.50
10/06/2018...............1 - 0....................+5.05..................1 - 1..................-0.50.............+4.55
10/05/2018...............0 - 3....................-15.00.................3 - 1..................+9.50.............-5.50
10/04/2018...............0 - 1.....................-5.00..................2 - 0.................+10.00...........+5.00
10/03/2018...............0 - 1.....................-5.00..................1 - 0.................+5.00.............+0.00
10/01/2018...............1 - 1....................+5.85..................1 - 0.................+5.00.............+10.85

total.........................8 - 9....................+7.00...............18 - 11.................+30.00...........+36.50

[StarDust Bum]

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26
GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

BOS at LAD 08:09 PM

BOS +162

O 7.5

[StarDust Bum]

Out of seats, into spotlight, Buehler delivers for Dodgers
October 27, 2018
By The Associated Press

LOS ANGELES (AP) From upper-deck spectator to October ace.

Walker Buehler looked nothing like the rookie he is, giving the Los Angeles Dodgers the pitching performance they desperately needed in Game 3 of the World Series.

With the Dodgers facing a 2-0 deficit, Buehler shut out the Boston Red Sox for seven innings, holding the highest-scoring team in the majors to two measly singles. Los Angeles finally won 3-2 on Max Muncy's home run off Nathan Eovaldi in the 18th, ending the longest game in postseason history after 7 hours, 20 minutes.

Buehler threw a career-high 108 pitches. After he was pulled, closer Kenley Jansen gave up a tying home run to Jackie Bradley Jr. in the eighth, and the game went deep into extra innings.

A year ago, Buehler and his younger sister watched Game 2 of the World Series against Houston from an upper level at Dodger Stadium. He'd made his big league debut earlier in the year, pitched a little in relief and was left off the postseason roster.

This time, he was the center of attention.

The 24-year-old Buehler inserted his name among the Dodgers pitching greats who cemented their reputations in October: Koufax, Drysdale, Valenzuela and Hershiser.

Fittingly, Sandy Koufax stood and applauded Buehler as he placidly strode off the mound to end the sixth.

With two outs in the seventh, fans were on their feet chanting ''Walker Buehler!'' and whipping blue towels.

Once J.D. Martinez went down swinging for the third out, the crowd of 53,114 erupted and Buehler, usually unemotional, let out a roar and exhorted the fans to get even louder. He walked a gauntlet of high-fives back in the dugout, sharing a hug with veteran ace Clayton Kershaw.

Buehler walked none, struck out seven and threw a career-high 108 pitches.

''I like our guy today. I think Walker is battle-tested. I think he's been in some tough spots and really come out on the other side,'' Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said before the game.

''So in this moment, Game 3, first game back home, I think he's ready for this moment,'' he said.

Was he ever.

The performance came after Buehler pitched Game No. 163 against Colorado, giving Los Angeles a record sixth straight NL West title, and then started Game 7 of the NL Championship Series at Milwaukee as the Dodgers won their second straight pennant.

[StarDust Bum]

wild card/division/championship series/world series /record and best bets:

Date w-l-t % units record
.
10/26/2018 0-2-0 0.00% -10.50
10/24/2018 0-1-0 0.00% -5.50
10/23/2018 0-2-0 0.00% -10.50
10/20/2018 2-0-0 100.00% +10.00
10/19/2018 0-2-0 0.00% -11.15
10/18/2018 0-2-0 0.00% -14.45
10/17/2018 2-1-1 66.67% +6.80
10/16/2018 2-2-0 50.00% +0.65
10/15/2018 2-0-0 100.00% +12.70
10/14/2018 1-1-0 50.00% -1.40
10/13/2018 3-1-0 75.00% +8.95
10/12/2018 2-0-0 100.00% +11.65
10/09/2018 0-2-0 0.00% -12.45
10/08/2018 3-2-1 60.00% +1.70
10/07/2018 1-3-0 25.00% -16.80
10/06/2018 3-1-0 75.00% +9.55
10/05/2018 4-4-0 50.00% -0.50
10/04/2018 2-1-0 66.67% +5.00
10/03/2018 1-1-0 50.00% +0
10/01/2018 2-1-1 66.67% +5.85

total..............30-29-2.......50.84%.....-10.40


best bets:................ats.....................units ..................o/u..................units............days total

10/26/2018...............0 - 1.....................-5.00.................0 - 1...................-5.50............-10.50
10/24/2018...............0 - 0....................+0.00.................0 - 1...................-5.50............-5.50
10/23/2018...............0 - 1.....................-5.00.................0 - 1...................-5.50............+10.50
10/20/2018...............1 - 0....................+5.00.................1 - 0..................+5.00............+10.00
10/19/2018...............0 - 0....................+0.00.................0 - 1..................-5.50.............-5.50
10/18/2018...............0 - 0....................+0 00.................0 - 1..................-5.50.............-5.50
10/17/2018...............1 - 1....................+1.80..................1 - 1..................0.50............+1.30
10/16/2018...............1 - 1....................+0.65.................1 - 1..................-0.50.............+0.15
10/15/2018...............1 - 0....................+7.70.................1 - 0.................+5.00.............+12.70
10/14/2018...............0 - 0....................+0.00.................1 - 0.................+5.00.............+5.00
10/13/2018...............0 - 0....................+0.00.................2 - 0.................+10.00...........+10.00
10/12/2018...............1 - 0....................+5.00..................1 - 0................+5.00.............+10.00
10/09/2018...............0 - 0................... +0.00..................0 - 1.................-5.50..............-5.50
10/08/2018...............1 - 0....................+5.95..................1 - 1.................-0.50..............+5.45
10/07/2018...............0 - 0....................+0.00..................1 - 1.................-0.50..............-0.50
10/06/2018...............1 - 0....................+5.05..................1 - 1..................-0.50.............+4.55
10/05/2018...............0 - 3....................-15.00.................3 - 1..................+9.50.............-5.50
10/04/2018...............0 - 1.....................-5.00..................2 - 0.................+10.00...........+5.00
10/03/2018...............0 - 1.....................-5.00..................1 - 0.................+5.00.............+0.00
10/01/2018...............1 - 1....................+5.85..................1 - 0.................+5.00.............+10.85

total.........................8 - 10....................+2.00...............18 - 12................+24.50...........+26.00

[StarDust Bum]

Armadillo: Saturday's six-pack

— Dodgers 3, Red Sox 2— Max Muncy hit an opposite field homer in the 18th inning at 3:30am; Red Sox lead series, 2-1

— Boston College 27, Miami 14— BC Eagles improve their record to 6-2.

— Warriors 128, Knicks 100— Golden State outscored Knicks 47-16 in 4th quarter.

— Utah 41, UCLA 10— Bruins are now 2-6; this wasn’t a spunky effort by them.

— Louisiana Tech 21, FAU 13— Lane Kiffin’s Owls slip to 3-5 on the season.

— When the dome in Las Vegas is built, the Raiders will play on a grass field; UNLV will play its games on an artificial turf field.


**********

Armadillo: Saturday's List of 13: Clearing out a cluttered mind……..

13) If you haven’t seen it, go on the Interweb and find DeAndre Hopkins’ great catch that was nullified by a penalty Thursday night. Pretty sure it was the best catch I’ve ever seen; if Hopkins played for a New York team, he’d be a lot better known that he is now— great hands.

12) Texans lost WR Will Fuller (torn ACL) for the season in Thursday’s game.

11) People complain (and rightfully so) about athletes’ salaries, but how about Megyn Kelly making $23M a year from NBC? Really? 23 freakin’ million a year? Now she gets paid $69M to go away; it must be nice.

Athletes have very short careers; a TV person can work until they’re a senior citizen.

10) Georgia Tech scored 49 points in a win at Virginia Tech Thursday and they didn’t complete a pass- Yellow Jackets were 0-1 thru the air.

9) I normally try to ignore individual baseball awards, but how the bleep is Trevor Story not a finalist for Gold Glove at shortstop in the NL?

Story is on my fantasy team, so I watch just about every Colorado game; he had a super year at the plate, but he is a damn good fielder, too. Huge oversight by whoever decides these things.

8) They’re charging $19.95 for the Woods-Mickelson golf event the day after Thanksgiving; I wouldn’t watch it if it was on free TV. Will be interesting to see how many people pay to watch.

7) Would be curious how Billy Donovan/Brad Stevens feel about coaching in the NBA. as opposed to college ball— I’m guessing they don’t miss recruiting, but the NBA is also more of a player’s game. Can do lot more teaching in college; many more practices.

6) There is ugliness in Denver; Broncos’ owner Pat Bowlen has Alzheimer’s and hasn’t run the team for a while. Now there will be a legal squabble over which one of Bowlen’s children will wind up in charge of the Broncos- there are three trustees running the team now.

Forbes values the Broncos’ worth as $2.65B; as usual, there will be lawyers.

5) Quote of the Day, part 2, from Atlanta Hawks owner Tony Ressler:

“For two years, I was a deer in the headlights. It’s like the story of a poker game when you’re looking around, and you wonder who the fish is. If you don’t know the answer, it’s probably you. I don’t want to blame somebody else because I was the schmuck, and I didn’t have to do it. I realized the mistake the minute after I did it.”

Ressler bought the Hawks in 2015;

4) Ressler is married to actress Jami Gertz, who was in the movie Less than Zero and the TV series Square Pegs. She represented the Hawks at the draft lottery last spring.

3) Mets’ search for a new general manager has apparently boiled down to two candidates: agent Brodie Van Wagenen and Rays executive Chaim Bloom. Working for the Wilpons took a lot of candidates out of the running- they’re not the best owners.

Former Brewers’ GM Doug Melvin was also in the running, but apparently isn’t now.

2) NFL fired an official this week, after that official missed an obvious false start in the Chargers-Browns game— Chargers scored a TD on that play.

Chargers’ left tackle started early; it wasn’t hard to see; the official on that sideline was fired, the first in-season firing of an NFL official in at least fifty years. Chances are he had other mistakes if he got fired; they wouldn’t axe the guy over one mistake.

1) Purdue football coach Jeff Brohm is a rising star in coaching with a 41-19 record at Western Kentucky, Purdue; his playing career didn’t go as smoothly.

Brohm led Louisville to 5-6/9-3 records his junior/senior seasons, after breaking his ankle as a sophomore; he later bounced around the NFL, throwing 37 passes for the 49ers in 1996-7.

Brohm also played in the XFL’s only season, playing seven games for Orlando before an injury ended that season. Brohm had earlier played two years of minor league baseball, hitting .214 in A ball for Cleveland Indians’ farm clubs- he was a head coach in the Arena League for a year, before beginning his college coaching career.

He could write a hell of a book someday.

[StarDust Bum]

MLB
Armadillo's Write-Up

Saturday, October 27

Red Sox @ Dodgers (Boston leads, 2-1)
Am guessing Boston will bullpen this game; they used all their pitchers except Pomeranz last night. Team in his starts: road
5-inning record: Allowed run in 1st inning:

Hill is 5-0, 3.43 in his last seven starts; over is 5-1-1 in those seven games. Team in his starts: 16-10, 6-5 home
5-inning record: 11-11-4 Allowed run in 1st inning: 6-26

Boston won ten of its last 13 games; over is 16-6-1 in their last 23 games. Red Sox are in playoffs for third year in row, but this is their first World Series since 2013- they won last three WS appearances.

Dodgers won eight of their last nine home games; under is 6-2-1 in their last nine games. LA is in playoffs for 6th year in row; they lost 7th game of World Series LY. Dodgers’ last WS title was in 1988.

There is no DH in the games at Dodger Stadium.




MLB
Weather Report

Saturday, October 27






MLB

Saturday, October 27

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Trend Report
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Boston Red Sox
Boston is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games
Boston is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games
The total has gone OVER in 12 of Boston's last 17 games
Boston is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
Boston is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games on the road
Boston is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games when playing LA Dodgers
Boston is 9-4 SU in its last 13 games when playing LA Dodgers
Boston is 3-7 SU in its last 10 games when playing on the road against LA Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
LA Dodgers is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games
LA Dodgers is 12-6 SU in its last 18 games
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of LA Dodgers's last 9 games
LA Dodgers is 6-3 ATS in its last 9 games at home
LA Dodgers is 8-1 SU in its last 9 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of LA Dodgers's last 6 games at home
LA Dodgers is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Boston
LA Dodgers is 4-9 SU in its last 13 games when playing Boston
LA Dodgers is 7-3 SU in its last 10 games when playing at home against Boston

[StarDust Bum]

MLB
Long Sheet

Saturday, October 27

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BOSTON (117 - 57) at LA DODGERS (100 - 77) - 8:05 PM
DREW POMERANZ (L) vs. RICH HILL (L)
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
BOSTON is 2-1 (+1.0 Units) against LA DODGERS this season
2 of 3 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL this season . (Under=+0.8 Units)

DREW POMERANZ vs. LA DODGERS since 1997
POMERANZ is 1-3 when starting against LA DODGERS with an ERA of 2.75 and a WHIP of 1.224.
His team's record is 3-3 (+1.7 units) in these starts. The OVER is 2-4. (-2.4 units)

RICH HILL vs. BOSTON since 1997
HILL is 0-0 when starting against BOSTON with an ERA of 18.92 and a WHIP of 3.604.
His team's record is 1-0 (+1.1 units) in these starts. The OVER is 1-0. (+1.0 units)

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MLB
Dunkel

Saturday, October 27


Boston @ LA Dodgers

Game 907-908
October 27, 2018 @ 8:05 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Boston
(Pmeranz) 19.764
LA Dodgers
(Hill) 18.280
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Boston
by 1 1/2
7
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Boston
No Line
N/A
Dunkel Pick:
Boston
N/A

[StarDust Bum]

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 27
GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

BOS at LAD 08:09 PM

LAD -144

U 8.5

[StarDust Bum]

Dodgers' bullpen crumbles in 9-6 loss to Red Sox in Game 4
October 28, 2018
By The Associated Press

LOS ANGELES (AP) Working on a one-hitter with a 4-0 lead, Rich Hill had just sent Eduardo Nunez down swinging for the first out of the seventh inning.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts had seen enough. Walking to the mound, he signaled to the bullpen and Hill was gone.

On came Scott Alexander and the beginning of another troubled outing for Los Angeles' bullpen in the World Series.

The relievers combined to give up eight of Boston's nine runs over the final three innings in a 9-6 loss Saturday that sent the Dodgers to the brink of elimination for the second straight year.

Even President Donald Trump questioned Roberts' moves .

''Watching the Dodgers/Red Sox final innings,'' he tweeted. ''It is amazing how a manager takes out a pitcher who is loose & dominating through almost 7 innings, Rich Hill of Dodgers, and brings in nervous reliever(s) who get shellacked. 4 run lead gone. Managers do it all the time, big mistake!''

Los Angeles trails 3-1 in the best-of-seven Series. Game 5 is Sunday at Dodger Stadium, where the Dodgers lost to Houston in Game 7 a year ago.

Alexander inherited a runner from Hill, who had issued a leadoff walk to Xander Bogaerts. Alexander walked Brock Holt and Roberts was quick with the hook.

The Dodgers turned to Ryan Madson, brought in from the Nationals in August to bolster the `pen in high-leverage situations.

It didn't work.

Madson gave up a three-run homer to pinch-hitter Mitch Moreland, drawing the Red Sox to 4-3.

The Dodgers turned to Kenley Jansen in the eighth for the second straight game.

Bad move.

The All-Star closer served up a one-out homer to Steve Pearce that tied the game at 4-all.

Hours earlier, Jansen gave up Jackie Bradley Jr.'s tying homer in the eighth inning of an epic Game 3, blowing his attempt at a six-out save in his third major World Series failure in two years.

But the bullpen rallied, with eight relievers combining for 11 innings of five-hit ball in the longest World Series game in history. They mostly shut down Boston's powerful lineup and the Dodgers eked out a 3-2 victory in 18 innings of the 7 hour, 20 minute affair. Converted reliever Alex Wood got the win by pitching out of trouble in the 18th after giving up a leadoff walk.

Jansen struggled against Houston a year ago in the World Series, too.

He gave up a solo homer to Marwin Gonzalez in Game 2 for his first blown save in the postseason. It snapped his major-league record of converting his first 12 postseason save chances.

In Game 5, he took the loss in a 10-inning defeat.

[StarDust Bum]

Sunday’s 6-pack

Top 6 picks in Week 8 of Westgate SuperBook NFL handicapping contest (3,123 entries)

1) Packers, +9.5 (1,229)-

2) Eagles, -3 (957)-

3) Redskins, even (933)-

4) Seaahawks, +3 (889)-

5) Bears, -7 (852)-

6) Colts, -3 (844)-

Season record: 19-20-3

Tweet of the Day
“I think mentally we’re a weak football team and we’re not mentally strong yet, and that’s part of the culture to changing it to what you want,. We’re going to find the guys that quit, and we’re going to find the guys that kept playing and make sure that we keep those guys in there. So there will be some changes come next week.”
Florida State coach Willie Taggart

Sunday’s quiz
Which college football team plays its home games in Neyland Stadium?

Saturday’s quiz
Utah is known as the Beehive State.

Friday’s quiz
Brock Osweiler played his college football at Arizona State.


********************


Sunday’s List of 13: Wrapping up a college football Saturday

13) Kentucky 15, Missouri 14— Mizzou got called for pass interference in the end zone on the last play of the game, so Kentucky got another play, threw a 2-yard TD pass, and now Wildcats are 7-1.

Missouri had zero first downs in the second half- none.

12) Cincinnati 26, SMU 20 OT— Bearcats kicked 41-yard FG at the gun to force OT, then ran back an INT 86 yards for the game-winning TD in overtime. That hasn’t happened much, where a defensive score decided a game in overtime.

11) Kansas 27, TCU 26— Horned Frogs fumbled on the Kansas 10-yard line in last 2:00, screwing up what would at least have been the game-tying FG.

From 2015-17, Jayhawks were 3-33; this year, they’re 3-5, so big improvement for them.

In their last six games, TCU is -14 in turnovers (2-16).

10) Iowa State 40, Texas Tech 31— Cyclone fans better enjoy this, because their coach Matt Campbell ain’t going to be in Ames much longer— the big-$$$ people will come calling for him, and soon, then the Iowa State revival will be in jeopardy.

This game was 31-all with under 5:00 left when Tech got called for intentional grounding in their own end zone, which out ISU up 33-31. On the ensuing series, Cyclones had 3rd-and-9 but threw a 48-yard TD pass, putting the game out of reach.

Lot of points for a game with two freshman QB’s playing.

9) Clemson 59, Florida State 10— Oy. This is the worst Florida State team since Bobby Bowden got to Tallahassee over 40 years ago. Willie Taggart needs to have a seriously positive run of good recruiting; this game tied a 49-0 loss to Florida in 1973 as the worst loss in FSU history.

8) Penn State 30, Iowa 24— Iowa had the ball on Penn State’s 3-yard line with 3:17 left, but threw a hideous INT where instead of calling a timeout to get organized, Iowa’s QB ran a play and QB/WR weren’t on the same page, and Penn State got the clinching INT.

Hawkeyes had two safeties in first 16:39 of this game; don’t see that a lot; Iowa’s punter also threw a TD on a fake FG. Rough day for Iowa’s QB; in the first half, they ran a play action fake and had a TE wide-open (by 20 yards) for an easy TD, but the QB overthrew the pass.

7) Upsets of the Week:
— Oregon State (+23.5) 41, Colorado 34
— Kansas (+13.5) 27, TCU 26
— California (+10.5) 12, Washington 10
— Georgia Southern (+8) 34, Appalachian State 14
— Northern Illinois (+7.5) 7, BYU 6
— Kentucky (+7) 15, Missouri 14
— Charlotte (+6.5) 20, Southern Miss 17
— Northwestern (+6) 31, Wisconsin 17

6) Georgia Tech 49, Virginia Tech 28— We mentioned how Yellow Jackets didn’t complete a pass in this game Thursday; last college team to score 40+ points in a road game without completing a pass? Ohio Bobcats, in 2002, in a 50-0 win at Kent State.

5) Oregon State 41, Colorado 34 OT— Horrific loss for Colorado; Buffs led this game 31-3 with 9:00 left in third quarter, but lose as a 23-point favorite.

4) Wake Forest 56, Louisville 35— Few years ago, Louisville coach Petrino pulled a scholarship from a RB named Matt Colburn right before Signing Day, leaving the kid without a place to play ball. Wake Forest wound up signing him; Saturday, Colburn ran for 202 yards and three TD’s……against Louisville.

3) Arizona State 38, USC 35— Go-ahead TD was a 92-yard punt return for a TD by N’Keal Harry late in 3rd quarter where USC appeared to have lot of big guys covering the punt— lot of numbers in the 70’s chasing a very fast guy, which seldom ends well for the team that kicked.

Trojans are 4-4; the natives are restless. coach Helton’s seat is very hot- they scored 35 points with their 3rd-string QB playing, but one TD was a punt return, another a trick play.

2) Georgia 36, Florida 17— Dawgs outgained Florida 429-275, and the Gators had won five in a row coming in. All seven of Georgia’s wins are by 14+ points. Top of the SEC is a meat grinder.

1) LA led 4-0 after six innings, but the Dodger bullpen imploded and now Boston leads the World Series 3-1, with Game 5 tonight.

[StarDust Bum]

MLB
Dunkel

Sunday, October 28

Boston @ LA Dodgers

Game 909-910
October 28, 2018 @ 8:15 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Boston
(Price) 19.044
LA Dodgers
(Kershaw) 18.001
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Boston
by 1
9
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
LA Dodgers
-130
7 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Boston
(+110); Over




MLB
Long Sheet

Sunday, October 28

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BOSTON (118 - 57) at LA DODGERS (100 - 78) - 8:15 PM
CHRIS SALE (L) vs. CLAYTON KERSHAW (L)
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
BOSTON is 3-1 (+2.5 Units) against LA DODGERS this season
2 of 4 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=-0.1 Units, Under=-0.2 Units)

CHRIS SALE vs. LA DODGERS since 1997
SALE is 0-0 when starting against LA DODGERS with an ERA of 7.45 and a WHIP of 1.861.
His team's record is 1-1 (+0.0 units) in these starts. The OVER is 2-0. (+2.0 units)

CLAYTON KERSHAW vs. BOSTON since 1997
KERSHAW is 0-1 when starting against BOSTON with an ERA of 11.25 and a WHIP of 2.500.
His team's record is 0-1 (-1.0 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 0-1. (-1.2 units)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------




MLB
Armadillo's Write-Up

Sunday, October 28

Red Sox @ Dodgers (Boston leads, 3-1)
Sale is 1-0, 4.40 in four playoff games this year (3 starts); his last five starts went over. Team in his starts: 20-10, 11-5 road
5-inning record: 18-5-7 Allowed run in 1st inning: 6-30

Kershaw is 2-2, 4.30 in five playoff games this year (4 starts); over is 4-2 in his last six starts. Team in his starts: 18-12, 8-6 home
5-inning record: 16-9-5 Allowed run in 1st inning: 5-30

Boston won 11 of its last 14 games; over is 17-6-1 in their last 24 games. Red Sox are in playoffs for third year in row, but this is their first World Series since 2013- they won last three WS appearances.

Dodgers won eight of their last ten home games, but are down 3-1 in Series and need win to send things back to Boston; under is 6-3-1 in their last ten games. LA is in playoffs for 6th year in row; they lost 7th game of World Series LY. Dodgers’ last WS title was in 1988.

There is no DH in the games at Dodger Stadium.




MLB
Weather Report

Sunday, October 28






MLB

Sunday, October 28

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trend Report
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Boston Red Sox
Boston is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games
Boston is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games
The total has gone OVER in 13 of Boston's last 18 games
Boston is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
Boston is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 8 of Boston's last 12 games on the road
Boston is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing LA Dodgers
Boston is 10-4 SU in its last 14 games when playing LA Dodgers
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Boston's last 6 games when playing on the road against LA Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
LA Dodgers is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games
LA Dodgers is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games
LA Dodgers is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games at home
LA Dodgers is 8-2 SU in its last 10 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of LA Dodgers's last 7 games at home
LA Dodgers is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Boston
LA Dodgers is 4-10 SU in its last 14 games when playing Boston
The total has gone OVER in 4 of LA Dodgers's last 6 games when playing at home against Boston