Game 5 Rangers vs. Rays
This must’ve been the most even match up, because it’s the only game 5 we’ll get. These are two very similar teams. I’d argue that Texas has a little more pop in their lineup, but they also manufacture runs as well as the Rays. We get Lee vs. Price part II. I’m expecting Price to be a little sharper than he was the first time out. I don’t expect a shootout, and if I had to put my money on someone, I guess I’d pick the Rangers simply because of how Lee has dominated in playoffs past. I hear one of the knocks on the Rangers is that the only guys with much playoff experience are Lee, Vlad, and Molina. The Rays whole team went to the World Series a couple years ago, so they have the supposed edge there. People are also saying that the Rays have all the momentum after winning two in a row. I think momentum in baseball isn’t real. Maybe within a game, but even that theory fails on games like the Braves and Giants in game 3. What the Yankees did to the Twins wasn’t about momentum it was about owning them. For baseball, experience doesn’t matter, just look at those Marlins teams that took out the mighty Yankees. How much playoff experience did those teams have? Probably less than the Rangers! Prediction: Rangers win 4-2. My picks this year don’t seem to be working out, so confidently put your money on Tampa to win.
Brett vs. the NFL
Who cares about Brett Favre’s pending investigation? I sure don’t. I didn’t really like him before all this came out, so does this make me like him less? Thinking, thinking… Nope, same amount of hatred towards the guy. Do I give two craps about the Vikings? No thinking. I could care less about them and what they are doing aside from a couple fantasy players. Throughout MNF game I tried to decide if I felt bad for him on any level while he was getting pounded into the ground by the Jets defense? Not at all. The theme of this story is that I don’t really care what is happening in Brett’s life. So what if he texted Jen Sterger pictures of his penis. Is she accusing him of harassment or something? That’s the only reason this story should stay relevant this long. I’m no superstar player with a huge bank account or the ego to match, so I don’t really know if this is the norm. Maybe it is. It seems like guys in the NBA text pictures of their junk, so why not the NFL! Whatever the reason was that Favre picked out Stergen for the sexts doesn’t really matter. Why couldn’t he have bought her off? There’s no way this story needed to see the light of day, and she started the rumor back in February. Those are some damn slow charges to bring up. Anyways, I don’t really find any of Brett’s actions all that bad, he’s just being the horny redneck he always was. If it takes some crazy Mel Gibson type twist, I might get more interested, but until then, I’m over this story…
By
cali4dre
chappy81
dyslecix
mceezy
Doin Work 
October 12th, 2010 at 10:11 am
Momentum isn’t real in baseball?! The 2004 Red Sox disagree. You should watch ESPN’s 30 for 30 called 4 days in October. It may be the exception to your rule…but never has momentum been more of a factor.
October 12th, 2010 at 10:22 am
I saw that 30 for 30. I just don’t believe that there’s really a lot of momentum from game to game, and if everyone is juicing on the team of course they believe! I don’t think that will ever happen again, so I’d call that the exception to the rule, and probably the only time we’ll see someone come back from a 3-0 defecit.
October 12th, 2010 at 10:15 am
chappy
You ought to be concerned with Favre’s actions as they were illegal and were that a female relative of yours would you condone his actions ? Now simply watch the racial bias as this story now progresses and you can understand why it is that this country is still divided the way that it is !
I’d like to thank Brett for confirming what I already know the Vikings aren’t going anywhere at all this season and his game deciding interception thrown merely reiterated that !
Joe Maddon could well cost the Rays this series if it’s still his intention to include a hitless Kelly Shoppach on his game 5 roster for the Rays. Not even Chris (sportschump) can be persuaded from jumping off the Gandy Bridge if they lose.
The charges weren’t slow to be brought up given the fact that the Jets front office tried to keep things quiet. Bear in mind also what happened most recently with the team concerning sideline reporter Ines Sainz of Univision and the torrent of sexually explicit language that was directed at her by Jets’ players while she was there to interview Mark Sanchez . So you think it’s OK for misogynistic males to behave like that without any consequence ? I mean you either condone it or stand up against it ? Which is to be ?
tophatal 🙂
October 12th, 2010 at 10:34 am
The Rays have a good shot at this one, I’m actually pretty excited for this game. More excited than I have been for most of the playoffs… I think Maddon tinkers a little too much, but if Shoppach does a better job handling Price, then by all means start him. Price is more important than his 0-4 night…
I wouldn’t say I condone what Favre did, I just flat out don’t care. If it was one of my family members, I’d probably tell her to file a restraining order in a TIMELY manner. It’s been over six months since the original claims came out on Deadspin. What was Jen’s holdup in reporting what happened?
What atheletes do to ruin their careers is their business not mine. One thing I’ll stick up for guys on is if there wasn’t any physical abuse. Oh no, words are hurting me 🙂 Vebal abuse might not be cool, but that’s why there’s restraining orders…
October 12th, 2010 at 10:44 am
chappy
Do you remember what happened with Roethlisberger in Tahoe concerning the hotel employee there and the alleged sexual assault ? She was told at the time that the hotel would deal with the matter expeditiously and instead they vilified her as being the one who actually tried to extort money from the player. So what makes you think that the Jets wouldn’t do the same thing concerning Favre and the allegations concerning Sterger ? Now the whole sh_t has been aired let’s see how it’ll be dealt with ?
Not only that we’ll see the bias that’s shown by the press racially as well . Woods’ actions weren’t against the law but he gets vilified but so far Brett’s being given a pass by the sport’s pages and tv pundits because he’s so revered . Think about it ?
tophatal 🙂
October 12th, 2010 at 10:56 am
We will see, she has to prove three things to sue them. That the advances were unwanted (easy one). Second, that she complained to the Jets (maybe more difficult if there is a cover up). Third, that the Jets organization did nothing about it (same difficulty as two).
I don’t really think she is trying to extort them for money, because I’m sure Brett would’ve gladly paid to get this problem out of the way.
The reason I take this so lightly is because she has no physical bruises. She wasn’t raped or even had sex with him. Ben in Tahoe was a different drunken story. From a personal standpoint I know I’ve sent hundreds of drunk texts that I wake up the next morning wondering wtf I was thinking. Will Sterger be damaged from some voicemails and texts? I doubt it. Will that girl from Tahoe be scarred fro life? I’d say yes, and these are two completely different types of cases…
October 12th, 2010 at 10:47 am
chappy
In game 1 how well did Shoppach handle Price ? Please Price was all over the place and Shoppach was hitless in the game . And he remains hitless in the vast majority of the games he’s played in the postseason. At least with Jaso you know the guy can hit .
tophatal 🙂
October 12th, 2010 at 10:58 am
Ok you got me there. I didn’t realize he was behind the plate in game one. Maybe price just didn’t have his A game with him that night… I’d put Jaso in there too, but if there’s some comfort zone with Shoppach then I still wouldn’t break that up…
October 13th, 2010 at 8:38 am
chappy
Well now you have your answer as by the second inning this game was essentially over. Price threw over 100 plus pitches in 5 innings ………….. nothing else left to be said. Lee a complete game and just over 120 pitches ………..’nough said !
tophatal 🙂
October 12th, 2010 at 11:22 am
Texas is going to be tight never having won a playoff series. They couldn’t seal the deal at home and that will haunt them.
October 12th, 2010 at 11:57 am
I’ll take the Rays to win this one for a dollar, Chap.
I’d go tonight if I didn’t have to work, but rest assured, I’ll be watching.
October 12th, 2010 at 12:01 pm
It’s going to be a great game! I’ll be watching too, and I’ll take that dollar from you 🙂
Are they even sold out for the game tonight?
October 12th, 2010 at 2:59 pm
chappy
Don’t you get it Favre broke the law by b sending sexually explicit messages and pictures in such a way where the victim in this case Sterger didn’t request them. It’s viewed as pornography by the Justice Dept wherein he’s committed a crime. Had this done in the pursuit of a business act by a purveyor of the material then nothing would in fact come of it. But here it’s being glossed over as a guy simply being stupid .
tophatal 🙂
October 12th, 2010 at 3:20 pm
It’s only criminal because they both worked for the Jets. If I sent Jen pictures of my junk, and called her a bunch leaving creepy messages there’s nothing she could really do about it. Maybe block my number or change her number… Since it’s a workplace thing, it gets blown up more than it should, and because it’s Favre, everyone and their mother talks about it. I was accused of sexual harassment once when I was 15 or 16 working at a pizza place. I didn’t do anything except make a couple comments here and there that weren’t even directed at the girl that complained. I was unjustly fired. I got some justice when they fired her two weeks later after they realizing she was bat shit crazy. Anyways, like I said in the post, I don’t care nor will I about this story. Harassment in the workplace isn’t good, but since they aren’t working together anymore, I don’t see many issues with it, unless the harassment is still going on…
October 13th, 2010 at 8:31 am
It’d be criminal had he sent it to anyone without their consent . And yes there is something that she could do about it ……….. inform the cops as we’re led to believe she told the Jets. She could have you busted for sexual harassment by the way were you choosing to do that ? And now we know that the Jets obviously didn’t deal with the matter expeditiously. And it would suggest that inside the locker room the intent there is to view women as chattel. Simply look at the incident this year also again involving the Jets and Hispanic journalist Ines Sainz ? The actions of the players there were uncalled for and she certainly didn’t deserve that type of treatment at all. She was there to do a job ……….which was to interview Mark Sanchez ……..instead all she got was a slew of sexual innuendos thrown her way along with a great deal of sexual profanity. Why no action by the NFL there then and only some lame ass sensitivity training for the staff there initiated by Jets’ ownership ?
As to you expressing free speech in terms of making a verbal comment that is your want. But herein lies the caveat to it all it’s what’s said and whether or not it’s deemed sexual harassment . Let’s say you started to call a co-worker a faggot knowing that they were gay it could be viewed in some circles as a hate crime if there’s also intent to do harm even if the attack isn’t physical in nature. Free speech isn’t as free as some would believe as it all has a consequence.
But this in the end will affect that the image of the league and that’s the one thing that Goodell doesn’t want to see be interfered with especially when there’s a growing number of female fans and a declining number of male fans of the game.
Goodell , himself is now being a hypocrite as to how he’s said to be viewing this all and what action if any that will be taken.
So you still think Shoppach was a worthwhile option for the Rays after last night’s display ? Price couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn on a clear day and that Rays’ offense and defense was horrendous !
tophatal 🙂
October 13th, 2010 at 9:10 am
I don’t think it mattered who the Rays had in their for Shoppach with Lee on the mound last night.
Points taken, we’ll agree to disagree. My main point is I don’t care about Favre, Sterger, or this story…
October 13th, 2010 at 8:33 am
Case in point Sterger isn’t the only person who’s complained to the Jets hierarchy about Favre’s behavior . Two masseuses in the team’s employ were also sexually harassed and that too is being investigated by the league and the team. Where there’s smoke there’s fire as they say ……
tophatal 🙂
October 13th, 2010 at 1:34 pm
chappy
The Favre story isn’t the real problem it’s the hypocrisy surrounding it and the action of the league and Jets.
As for Shoppach how slow does his ass have to be where he couldn’t signaled to Price when Guerrero stole a base . Sh_t my dead grand-mother would’ve seen that from afar !
tophatal 🙂