Sunday Trends and Indexes 10/5 (MLB, WNBA, NHL, Misc.)

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Major League Baseball – Write up

MLB
Write-up


Sunday, October 5

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Suppan is 0-3, 8.72 in his last five starts, 0-1, 5.91 in two starts against Phillies this year; four of his last five starts stayed under total. Blanton is 4-0, 4.58 in his 13 starts for Phillies (Phils 9-4 in those starts, with four straight wins)- he gave up three runs in seven IP in his only start against Milwaukee this season. Home team is 3-0 in this series.

Danks was terrific in play-in game vs Twins Tuesday, throwing eight shutout innings; he is 3-1, 2.52 in his last four starts, 2-1, 1.86 against Tampa Bay this season. Garza failed to finish sixth inning in any of his last four starts (0-0, 4.95); he didn't face White Sox this season, but in two starts LY, he was 1-0, 4.50 against the Pale Hose.

Saunders tries to end Angels' 11-game playoff losing streak vs Boston, which has strangely lost Beckett's last five home starts. Beckett is 1-1, 2.16 in his last four starts, with all four staying under total; he lost 9-2 in his only start vs Angels this year (eight runs in five IP). Saunders is 3-0, 1.65 in his last four starts, throwing 15 consecutive innings. Angels won all three of his starts vs Boston this year (2-0, 3.26).

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Sunday's List of 13: Wrapping up college football Saturday

13) Did Wisconsin's band being suspended cost the Badgers a win? Ohio State drove length of field in last 3:00 with a freshman QB in a hostile stadium, but because the band wasn't there, it wasn't as noisy as it could have been-- Buckeyes scored winning TD with 1:10 left.

12) Hey people, lot of college students misbehave, not just athletes.

11) Joe Paterno sat upstairs during Penn State's win at Purdue; with Nittany Lions having such a terrific season, you hope he steps aside after this season, going out in the perfect way. He deserves it.

10) There have been 817 coaching changes in Division I since Paterno was hired as head coach at Penn State in 1966. Thats a real number.

9) Kid named Carter blocked three punts for North Carolina in their 38-12 win vs UConn; he also blocked a punt last week, so we have the next Ed Reed, who was also coached by Butch Davis.

8) Navy won 33-26 at Air Force, scoring two TDs on blocked punts

7) We talked about this few weeks ago, but USC has been stupid in not protecting Mark Sanchez during blowouts. Yesterday, it caught up with them, as Sanchez re-injured his left knee throwing pass with 3:50 left in third quarter, and Trojans leading 34-10. He dislocated a kneecap in August; you'd think they'd protect him a little.

6) Louisiana-Lafayette actually averaged 12 yards a play in a 44-35 win at UL-Monroe; Ragin' Cajuns ran ball 37 times for 556 yards-- they had six TD runs of 52 yards or longer. Total domination over a conference rival-- very impressive.

5) Speaking of offensive juggernauts, Missouri had 52 points in the third quarter, at Nebraska. Tigers had one 15-yard penalty, Huskers had 14 for 101 yards. Mizzou averaged 10.9 yards per pass attempt.

4) As a Ram fan, I want Chase Daniel to be our next quarterback.

3) Trouble in Knoxville, as Tennessee had nine first downs in a 13-9 win vs Northern Illinois. Vols are one of worst teams in the SEC.

2) Alabama has outscored opponents 88-0 in the first quarter.

1) In 2008, all things are possible. The Rays are in the playoffs, and Vanderbilt and Northwestern are both 5-0. I watched first quarter of Auburn-Vandy game, when Tigers led 13-0 (they clanked PAT off goal post after second TD) and felt bad that Vandy's run had taken such a dismal turn. Later that night, I hear a guy say, "Vandy won, 14-13." Thats why sports are so much fun-- you just never know.

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