 |
| This week Baker was diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat. |
 |
| Well, as of lately when the Tribe win, they make it dramatic. |
Cincinnati Reds 90-59 (1st in the NL Central by 11 games; .5 GB of ML-leading Nationals)
47-28 Home 43-31 Away RS: 636 RA: 555 DIFF: +81
Ok, well looks like the Reds will have a little extra motivation come October when the postseason begins. Manager Dusty Baker was recently diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat and has been away from the team now for a couple of days. Now, I hate putting a guy's health on the line, but lets be straight forward here, this is arguably Baker's best team in his managerial career. What better way to go out and get away from the game of baseball, if the Reds could give him that long sought after championship to cap a solid career as a MLB skipper. The way the Reds have been playing this season, it sort of feels like its going to be a special postseason and why not do it for Baker. There's not another guy (ok, maybe Ron Washington), that I'd love to see running around the diamond during the World Series celebration then Dusty Baker. The Reds are finishing up a sweep of the Cubbies this afternoon and travel back home for their last home stand of the season. You can catch 'em on National TV on ESPN this weekend as they host the Dodgers on Sunday Night Baseball. With 12 games left on the schedule the Reds still have a chance to win 100 games and grab the #1 seed in the NL, along with the best record in baseball. The bats are swinging, the pitching looks to finally be here and the fielder is excellent. Man, I try not to think about it that much, but October could be a special month for Manager Baker & the Reds. (side note: who's the idiot that created the new playoff format? Now, I know that extra WC spot in each league is making the final couple weeks interesting, but c'mon how you gonna let the lower-seeds start out at home in the divisional series....C'Mon Man!
Cleveland Indians 62-88 (tied-5th in the AL Central, tied-worst in the American League)
34-41 Home 28-47 Away RS: 599 RA: 780 DIFF: -181
Forget about all the exciting postseason races for divisional crowns & wild card spots, my focus is on an entirely different race. The race between the Indians and Minnesota Twins, to see who finishes with the worst record in the American League. No not really, it has been a very long summer for the Tribe, and with a couple weeks left in the season, the only thing they really have to play for is to avoid finishing as the worst AL-team (record wise) and maybe spoil a teams hopes (they play the White Sox 6 more times this season). As a matter of fact, the remaining schedule sets up like this: 3 @ KC, 3 @ Chi White Sox, 3 vs. the Royals and 3 vs. the White Sox. Think you can remember that? While the Indians have tried to avoid finishing in last, they have been a little dramatic this past week. The past three victories for the Tribe have come in their final AB (including two walk off's). So it all comes down to how they fair vs. the Royals & White Sox, and hope that the Twins loss at least one more the rest of the way (both teams are 62-88 at the moment). Whichever team finishes last in the AL will still be better then the NL-doormats (Rockies, Cubbies, and Astros). Thats sort of makes it better, right?!? (Sad face).
Browns Note:
 |
| Hey, you all remember the Snow Bowl in December 2007? Cause I was there to witness one of the crazies football scenes of all-time. |
The Cleveland Browns (0-2) look to avoid an 0-3 start to the 2012 season, as they host the Buffalo Bills (1-1) on Sunday afternoon. The Browns have enjoyed some recent success vs. the Bills winning the past three out of four ('07 Snow Bowl, '08 MNF thriller, and in 2009, 6-3!). Although, they fell to the Bengals this past Sunday, they were some bright spots to take from it. B. Weeden & T. Rich both had solid games, and look to have just as better of an outing vs. the Bills defense this week. As for the defense, that was just an awful showing vs. the Bengals, and could possibly struggle again this week vs. Ryan Fitzpatrick & Co. A series that has been short (thats an understatement) on points in recent years (Browns: 49 points in 4 games; Bills: 46 points in 4 games), with each teams offensive weapons this season, could we possibly be in for a shootout this time around in the Great Lake's Rivalry? Hey, I won't mind that, with the Ravens and Giants looming on the schedule, this is the Browns best chance to break into the win column for the 1st time this season. I think if Weeden & Richardson are able to move the ball, I see the Browns outscoring the Bills this weekend. Let's hope cause, if not wheres the 1st win on the schedule?
Tomorrow I'll have for you all Week 4 of Urban Renewal, as I dive into another weekend of college football action, the Buckeyes Game Preview vs. UAB, and some more predications/picks for this weekends marquee match ups.
