Bored

Well if your gonna get swept might as well go out with a bang. Thank you Huston, you didn't make me regret turning the t.v. off after the 6th and just following online. I blame A-Rod.

Colorado gets it's first win of the year in shocking fashion by shutting out Texas Tech, 23-0. Edit: Nevermind, Yahoo's scoreboard was wrong and already had it as a final and Tech did finally manage to score, 23-6 late in the 4th.

Garrett Wolfe has just 25 yards rushing today against Western Michigan.

Hey A's with a lead. Hasn't happened too often. Of course now their only player having a good series in Bradley might not be able to continue in this game.

ESPN doing a good job with the bonus coverage of several games after dumping Minnesota/Wisconsin. Vanderbilt up 14-13 on Georgia. Okay nevermind, now they've decided to go back to that game for no reason.

2004 Top 3 1. Jim Edmonds 2. Carlos Beltran 3. Johnny Damon 2005 Top 3 1. Jim Edmonds 2. Grady Sizemore 3. Andruw Jones 2006 Centerfielder Rankings 1. Carlos Beltran, Mets 2. Grady Sizemore, Indians 3. Vernon Wells, Blue Jays 4. Andruw Jones, Braves 5. Mike Cameron, Padres 6. Johnny Damon, Yankees 7. Gary Matthews Jr., Rangers 8. Torii Hunter, Twins 9. Curtis Granderson, Tigers 10. Rocco Baldelli, Devil Rays 11. Eric Byrnes, Diamondbacks 12. Kenny Lofton, Dodgers 13. Corey Patterson, Orioles 14. Chone Figgins, Angels 15. Juan Pierre, Cubs 16. Jim Edmonds, Cardinals 17. Shane Victorino, Phillies 18. Ken Griffey Jr., Reds 19. Mark Kotsay, A's 20. Willy Taveras, Astros 21. Steve Finley, Giants 22. Coco Crisp, Red Sox 23. Aaron Rowand, Phillies 24. Brady Clark, Brewers 25. Cory Sullivan, Rockies 26. Chris Duffy, Pirates 27. Joey Gathright, Devil Rays/Royals 28. Alfredo Amezaga, Marlins 29. Brian Anderson, White Sox 30. Reggie Abercrombie, Marlins

Although they did fairly well down the stretch, the A's offense was not very good at all this season. When Thomas isn't hitting they have problems. That's what would have been an interesting storyline in the World Series is if the A's would take their chances and try Frank at first base in the N.L. park but not going to have to wonder about that now.

Texans - 10 points Detroit Carolina Tampa Bay Dallas Atlanta New Orleans St. Louis Washington Pittsburgh N.Y. Jets San Francisco Denver Arizona

Thank you MLB for moving the game up so I didn't have to watch it. Oh well I'm just glad they finally won a playoff series but I hope they can at least avoid the sweep.

I never got to truly appreciate the A's run in the late 80's and early 90's because really as a kid how can you appreciate or understand the major accomplishments of your favorite sports team? I was spoiled rotten by the A's and 49ers to point that I pretty much expected my teams to always be in the hunt for championships. I was 12 years old when the A's beat the Red Sox 3-1 in Game 4 of the 1990 ALCS to sweep that series and win their third straight A.L. pennant. That game of course is best known for the premature, and hilarious to me, ejection of Roger Clemens in the 2nd inning. The A's winning was expected and their postgame celebration was fairly subuded. The A's that year would be swept by the Cincinnati Reds in the World Series, a result that was even more shocking that their loss the Dodgers two years earlier. Little did we know it would be 16 years and five postseason failure later that the A's would win another playoff series. 1992 was the end of that dynasty and I unfortunately witnessed the nail in the coffin live in person, courtesy of the bat of Roberto Alomar. I attended Game 4 of that year's ALCS, the first A's playoff game I ever had a chance to go to. Well okay that isn't entirely true as I was at Game 3 of the World Series on October 17, 1989 but...that's another story. In that game in 1992 with Blue Jays leading the series 2 games to 1 the A's jumped Jack Morris with a five run third inning. They led 6-1 going into the 8th inning and the game was in the bag and the A's were back in the series. But Tony LaRussa pressed his luck a bit with an aging Bob Welch and left him in to start the 8th who was promptly met with an Alomar double. LaRussa hooked him for Jeff Parrett who had been very reliable during the regular season but became very unreliable here. He gave up back-to-back singles to Joe Carter and Dave Winfield to make the game 6-2. No matter, the A's had Dennis Eckersley and LaRussa would now rely on him to get a two inning save. But Eck would then give up rbi singles to John Oledrud and Candy Maldanado to make it 6-4. But it still seemed fairly secure but that ended quickly in the 9th. Eckersley just didn't have it that day as he gave up a lead off single to Devon White and then...Alomar hits one of the biggest LCS homeruns in history. I still remember those annoying Blue Jays wives sitting in one section waving around their blue "J's" as Alomar circled the bases. What did I do, along with my brother? We left. Ya too young and stupid to realize how lame it is to leave a tie game in the ALCS in the 9th inning but that's what we did. I would miss Mark McGwire bunt, yes BUNT, in the 9th inning and then a horrible baserunning miscue by A's fans cult hero Eric Fox that would send the game to extra innings. I would then miss the Blue Jays eventually win on that most exciting of baseball plays, the sacrafice fly, in the 11th. So really I didn't end up regretting our decision to leave early. But thanks to Eric Chavez and Marco Scutaro I'll be going to another ALCS game, either Game 1 against Detroit or Game 3 against New York. I want to say how happy I am that Eric Chavez played a big role in today's win. The guy has been nothing but a scapegoat for irrational A's fans since fan favorite Miguel Tejada left. Sure he hasn't lived up to the hype and promise he showed just a few years ago but the guy deserved to finally shine in the spotlight.

Sorry, you've been late too often so I'm sticking with using bravesfan's picks for the week.

2004 Top 3 1. Barry Bonds 2. Manny Ramirez 3. Adam Dunn 2005 Top 3 1. Manny Ramirez 2. Jason Bay 3. Miguel Cabrera 2006 Leftfielder Rankings 1. Manny Ramirez, Red Sox 2. Alfonso Soriano, Nationals 3. Barry Bonds, Giants 4. Jason Bay, Pirates 5. Carlos Lee, Brewers/Rangers 6. Matt Holliday, Rockies 7. Raul Ibanez, Mariners 8. Carl Crawford, Devil Rays 9. Juan Rivera, Angels 10. Adam Dunn, Reds 11. Reed Johnson, Blue Jays 12. Pat Burrell, Phillies 13. Dave Roberts, Padres 14. Josh Willingham, Marlins 15. Davd DeJesus, Royals 16. Emil Brown, Royals 17. Frank Catalanotto, Blue Jays 18. Jay Payton, A's 19. Craig Monroe, Tigers 20. Matt Murton, Cubs 21. Andre Ethier, Dodgers 22. Luis Gonzalez, Diamondbacks 23. Garret Anderson, Angels 24. Melky Cabrera, Yankees 25. Preston Wilson, Astros/Cardinals 26. Cliff Floyd, Mets 27. Ryan Langerhans, Braves 28. Jason Michaels, Indians 29. Scott Podsednik, White Sox 30. Brad Wilkerson, Rangers

Okay for future reference, do not do what Gert T did. Either submit your full picks by the deadline or you get no credit for the weekday games. I'll let Gert's picks count since I never specified it before. Cuban Linx and Vitamin X are late with their picks. PM'd Picks Florida State - Kingofthe909 THURSDAY Virginia Tech at Boston College Colorado State at Air Force SATURDAY Wake Forest at N.C. State South Florida at North Carolina Oklahoma State at Kansas Rutgers at Navy Missouri at Texas A&M Tulsa at East Carolina Marshall at SMU Maryland at Virginia Toledo at Kent State Ohio at Illinois Florida at Auburn Michigan at Penn State Tiebreak #1: How many total points will be scored in the Florida/Auburn game? 35 How many rushing yards will Rutgers' Ray Rice have against Navy? 155 Texas A&M - Secret Agent THURSDAY Virginia Tech at Boston College Colorado State at Air Force SATURDAY Wake Forest at N.C. State South Florida at North Carolina Oklahoma State at Kansas Rutgers at Navy Missouri at Texas A&M Tulsa at East Carolina Marshall at SMU Maryland at Virginia Toledo at Kent State Ohio at Illinois Florida at Auburn Michigan at Penn State Tiebreak #1: How many total points will be scored in the Florida/Auburn game? 45 How many rushing yards will Rutgers' Ray Rice have against Navy? 126 Florida - Urban Warfare THURSDAY Virginia Tech Air Force SATURDAY N.C. State South Florida Oklahoma State Rutgers Missouri Tulsa Marshall Virginia Toledo Illinois Auburn Michigan Tiebreak #1: How many total points will be scored in the Florida/Auburn game? 54 How many rushing yards will Rutgers' Ray Rice have against Navy? 132 San Diego State - The Last Samurai THURSDAY Virginia Tech at Boston College Colorado State at Air Force SATURDAY Wake Forest at N.C. State South Florida at North Carolina Oklahoma State at Kansas Rutgers at Navy Missouri at Texas A&M Tulsa at East Carolina Marshall at SMU Maryland at Virginia Toledo at Kent State Ohio at Illinois Florida at Auburn Michigan at Penn State Tiebreak #1: How many total points will be scored in the Florida/Auburn game? 55 How many rushing yards will Rutgers' Ray Rice have against Navy? 65 LSU - teke184 THURSDAY Virginia Tech at Boston College Colorado State at Air Force SATURDAY Wake Forest at N.C. State South Florida at North Carolina Oklahoma State at Kansas Rutgers at Navy Missouri at Texas A&M Tulsa at East Carolina Marshall at SMU Maryland at Virginia Toledo at Kent State Ohio at Illinois Florida at Auburn Michigan at Penn State Tiebreak #1: How many total points will be scored in the Florida/Auburn game? 52 Tiebreak #2: How many rushing yards will Rutgers' Ray Rice have against Navy? 162 Miami of Ohio - Hawk 34 THURSDAY Virginia Tech at Boston College Colorado State at Air Force SATURDAY Wake Forest at N.C. State South Florida at North Carolina Oklahoma State at Kansas Rutgers at Navy Missouri at Texas A&M Tulsa at East Carolina Marshall at SMU Maryland at Virginia Toledo at Kent State Ohio at Illinois Florida at Auburn Michigan at Penn State Tiebreak #1: How many total points will be scored in the Florida/Auburn game? 27 Tiebreak #2: How many rushing yards will Rutgers' Ray Rice have against Navy? 189 UCLA - phoenixrising THURSDAY Virginia Tech Colorado State SATURDAY N.C. State South Florida Kansas Rutgers Missouri Tulsa Marshall Maryland Toledo Illinois Florida Michigan Tiebreak #1: How many total points will be scored in the Florida/Auburn game? 31 Tiebreak #2: How many rushing yards will Rutgers' Ray Rice have against Navy? 160 Georgia Tech - iggymcfly THURSDAY Virginia Tech at Boston College Colorado State at Air Force SATURDAY Wake Forest at N.C. State South Florida at North Carolina Oklahoma State at Kansas Rutgers at Navy Missouri at Texas A&M Tulsa at East Carolina Marshall at SMU Maryland at Virginia Toledo at Kent State Ohio at Illinois Florida at Auburn Michigan at Penn State Tiebreak #1: How many total points will be scored in the Florida/Auburn game? 43 Tiebreak #2: How many rushing yards will Rutgers' Ray Rice have against Navy? 161 Arizona State - Spicy McHaggis THURSDAY Virginia Tech Colorado State SATURDAY Wake Forest South Florida Kansas Rutgers Missouri Tulsa Marshall Virginia Toledo Ohio Auburn Michigan Tiebreak #1: How many total points will be scored in the Florida/Auburn game? 33 Tiebreak #2: How many rushing yards will Rutgers' Ray Rice have against Navy? 115 Oregon - nogoodnick THURSDAY Boston College Air Force SATURDAY N.C. State South Florida Kansas Rutgers Missouri East Carolina SMU Maryland Kent State Ohio Florida Michigan Tiebreak #1: How many total points will be scored in the Florida/Auburn game? 35 Tiebreak #2: How many rushing yards will Rutgers' Ray Rice have against Navy? 143 Hawaii - Will Scarlet THURSDAY Virginia Tech Colorado State SATURDAY N.C. State South Florida Oklahoma State Rutgers Missouri Tulsa SMU Maryland Kent State Illinois Florida Michigan Tiebreak #1: How many total points will be scored in the Florida/Auburn game? 37 Tiebreak #2: How many rushing yards will Rutgers' Ray Rice have against Navy? 100 Boise State/Kansas State - bravesfan Virginia Tech Colorado State N.C. State South Florida Oklahoma State Rutgers Missouri Tulsa (FUCK EAST CAROLINA) SMU Maryland Kent State Illinois Florida Michigan 31/120 San Jose State - kkktookmybabyaway Boston College Air Force N.C. State South Florida Oklahoma State Rutgers Texas A&M Tulsa Marshall Virginia Toledo Illinois Florida Michigan Tiebreak #1: 51 Tiebreak #2: 123 Oregon State - Princess Leena Boston College. Air Force. North Carolina State. South Florida. Kansas. Rutgers. Texas A&M. Tulsa. Southern Methodist. Maryland. Kent State. Illinois. Auburn. Michigan. 38. 170. Alabama - AlwaysPissedOff Virginia Tech Air Force Wake Forest South Florida Kansas Rutgers Missouri Tulsa Marshall Maryland Kent State Illinois Auburn Michigan TB #1: 36 TB #2: 115 Temple - Ortonsault THURSDAY Virginia Tech Air Force SATURDAY NC State South Florida Kansas Rutgers Missouri Tulsa SMU Maryland Kent State Illinois Florida Michigan Tiebreak #1: How many total points will be scored in the Florida/Auburn game? 37 Tiebreak #2: How many rushing yards will Rutgers' Ray Rice have against Navy? 151

My Picks Virginia Tech Air Force N.C. State South Florida Kansas Rutgers Missouri Tulsa SMU Maryland Kent State Illinois Auburn Michigan Tiebreaks: 37/145

God damnit. Great now Mariotti and company can write columns again how Thomas isn't a Hall of Famer. Bleh. Down 0-2 coming home? Doable. Down 0-2 going on the road? Forget it. I just hope they don't get swept now.

Macha is driving me nuts right now. What the hell is he saving Duchscherer for? They can't afford to give up another run yet he doesn't go with his best middle reliever in the late innings. This team is toast if they don't win tonight and he's managing like its the middle of May.

I already posted in the ALCS thread about the game, where I was probably on t.v. for a split second on the Inge homerun, so I'd like to throw in something for the blog. Ever since 9/11 the New York Yankees and I'm guessing the Mets as well play "God Bless America" during the 7th inning stretch and in the immediate aftermatch of 9/11 this was common across baseball. As time has passed the regular tradition of the 7th inning stretch has continued in most ballparks, including in Oakland. But since we're in the playoffs now Bud Selig feels it's necessary to force everyone to play this God awful song that grinds a game to a complete halt and makes break in the middle of the 7th twice as long. If New York wants to do it that's fine but forcing all other teams remaining in the playoffs to do it is lame and really pointless. What exactly is the significance of playing "God Bless America"? Even if you're the most patriotic of Americans you have to admit it's not a good song. Tonight it didn't really matter with the general awfulness of the A's performance but the break to play "God Bless America" can completely take the air out an entire stadium after an exciting Top of the 7th. Sorta off topic I hadn't been to a playoff game since 2002 and I forgot how long the breaks are between innings because of network commercials. Almost every inning the pitcher would finish his warm ups and have to just stand there for 30 seconds so FOX could come back from commercial. Tommorrow, back to the player rankings moving on to shortstops. God Bless Jeter.

Well sweeping the Twins was fun. This...not so much.

2004 Top 3 1. Miguel Tejada 2. Carlos Guillen 3. Michael Young 2005 Top 3 1. Michael Young 2. Miguel Tejada 3. Derek Jeter 2006 Shortstop Rankings 1. Derek Jeter, Yankees 2. Jose Reyes, Mets 3. Carlos Guillen, Tigers 4. Rafael Furcal, Dodgers 5. Miguel Tejada, Orioles 6. Hanley Ramirez, Marlins 7. Michael Young, Rangers 8. Jimmy Rollins, Phillies 9. Bill Hall, Brewers 10. Orlando Cabrera, Angels 11. Edgar Renteria, Braves 12. Omar Vizquel, Giants 13. Felipe Lopez, Reds/Nationals 14. Jason Bartlett, Twins 15. Jhonny Peralta, Indians 16. Khalil Greene, Paders 17. Julio Lugo, Devil Rays/Dodgers 18. Yuniesky Betancourt, Mariners 19. David Eckstein, Cardinals 20. Jack Wilson, Pirates 21. Juan Uribe, White Sox 22. Adam Everett, Astros 23. Alex Gonzalez, Red Sox 24. Craig Counsell, Diamondbacks 25. Bobby Crosby, A's 26. Royce Clayton, Nationals/Reds 27. Clint Barmes, Rockies 28. Ronny Cedeno, Cubs 29. John McDonald, Blue Jays 30. Angel Berroa, Royals

I wouldn't laugh. On collegebcs.com they post strength of schedule rankings based on the BCS' old formula for calculating strength of schedule that is no longer factored and USC currently has the toughest schedule in the country to this point with Florida in 3rd.

So I saw history? Um, yay? I was sitting down the line in left field in that one section that is on the fair side of the foul pole and the Inge homerun landed two rows in front of me. The guy who got the ball got a lot of shit for not throwing it back but they eject you in Oakland if you throw the ball back. Apparantly Inge wanted the ball as security asked the guy to come with him and he was offered a signed bat but turned it down but not like he's going to get any money for it. I also saw about six different fights tonight and one fan punching a cop but I unfortunately couldn't see the beatdown that ensued. Other than that, the game blew. Really pathetic performance by the A's offense as that should have been a much closer game if they could have done anything with runners on. Oh well at least it was only Game 1.

Here's the unofficial BCS Top 25 from collegebcs.com as again there's only one computer ranking that is not public yet. This will give a good idea of what the rankings are going to look like on Sunday as outside of Auburn/Florida there isn't another game that could have a big impact on the rankings unless there is a big upset. 1) Ohio State 2) USC 3) Florida 4) Michigan 5) Louisville 6) Notre Dame 7) Tennessee 8) Texas 9) West Virginia 10) Auburn 11) California 12) Clemson 13) Iowa 14) Boise State 15) Arkansas 16) Missouri 17) Oregon 18) Georgia 19) Georgia Tech 20) Nebraska 21) LSU 22) Virginia Tech 23) Rutgers 24) Boston College 25) Oklahoma

IK Cool Jew has volunteered to take over a dead team so he'll take over Penn State. He's not eligble to win the contest but can be eligible for the conference title game and bowl games.

God damn I can't wait to get to the game tommorrow. I wonder what American Idol reject FOX will get to sing the national anthem? Found a link on foxsports.com for the regional breakdown for Wednesday night's games as both LCS' will be going on at the same time. Less than 20% of the country will get Game 2 on FOX while the rest will get Game 1 of the NLCS. The game will be carried on FX for all other markets. Also for this series it's a damn shame the Yankees didn't hire Lou Pinella today so we possibly wouldn't be subjected to hearing him announce for this series. Note: Due to their numerous infield injuries, to replace Mark Ellis on the roster they've had to add minor leaguer Mark Kiger to the roster who just this year at age 27 made it to Triple-A. He'll only see action in an emergency but I'd have to imagine he'd be the first player ever to make his MLB debut in the playoffs.

AP poll but it of course is not in the BCS. Coaches' and Harris poll have USC #2. First BCS rankings will be out on Sunday.