Adventures in Local News

A local TV reporter delivers an entire report without having watch the last five seconds of the Michigan-Michigan State game.



I actually blame the producers back at the studio. The reporter has to be outside getting ready, can't wait for the game to end. They needed to tell him what happened, and not go to him until the game truly was over. But he looked like a douche for saying the fans were pouring out of the stadium and celebrating.

Speaking of douches in local news, a reporter in Toronto fails to use a key verb and tricks a poor Blue Jays fan.



Idiot should have said "are you going to get tickets?" The way she said it I can understand why the woman was confused.
But I'd have hated to be the person who had to break it to her.

Rotation Debation

Now that the Mets are in the World Series (the Mets are in the World Series!!!!!) with 5 days off before Game 1, the question has turned to how the Mets should set their pitching rotation.
A lot of people think they should stick with essentially what it is right now, Harvey-Syndergaard-deGrom.
But I think they should set their best pitchers first, deGrom-Harvey-Syndergaard. I want deGrom to go first because he feel he gives the Mets the best chance to win Game 1. And I do not believe in saving deGrom for a potential Game 7, as that could be a recipe for losing before you even get there.
Also, I would prefer to get Thor his first start at home, just in case there is something to his road troubles.

How Sweep It Is

The New York Mets are in the 2015 World Series!

I remember reading/hearing last year or the year before that Theo Epstein was building his team around power hitters, because they are in scarcer supply in today's game than power pitchers.

But I will always believe that most times, good pitching will beat good hitting and the Mets great young power pitchers just shut down the Cubs great power hitters for four straight games.

But we should remember there are no absolutes. Remember when the San Antonio Spurs beat the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals to prove, absolutely and indubitably, once and for all, that team basketball beats one or two great individual players.

Except for the year before, when basically the same two teams met in the Finals and the Heat won.

The Cubs are a good team and I expect many battles with them over the next few years and I would expect different results, at least some of the time.

But this is an amazing triumph for the Mets and I am thrilled as hell that they are in the World Series.

I hope they can keep this going and bring the title home.

They won the World Series when the team was 8 (kind of). The won the World Series when I was 8. And now it's time to win it when Chase is 8.

Two things will be addressed on this blog after the World Series, win or lose: the midseason drama including what I got right and what I got wrong, and the off-season moves the team would and should make.

Song of the Week

"Back in Time" - Huey Lewis and the News
Happy Back to the Future Day!

Tomorrow's Newspaper Today

Today is the day I've been waiting for, for 30 years. Ever since Doc told Marty where we're going we don't roads, and that he was going 30 years into the future because it's a nice round number.

Now that the day is finally here, let's look at the newspaper from that day:

Ok, so the Cubs will not be sweeping the World Series in 5 games, and hopefully not winning at all.
And I don't have the hoverboard I was promised.
And you can't rehydrate a pizza.
But I did think this was pretty cool. The device that took Griff's picture on the steps is pretty similar to what a drone is in the real 2015.

As we pass this momentous date in history, we are reminded now that even the future is history, now.

2015 NLCS Game 2: Mets 4 Cubs 1

I don't know who is having a more amazing postseason: me or Daniel Murphy.
I'm very lucky have to now been to 3 of the Mets home games this postseason.
This time we had seats in left field.

We were just a couple sections over from the Apple which was sporting a bandage after getting bonked by Travis d'Arnaud's home run in Game 3.

Of course it is nice to be anywhere in the ballpark for such a game, and even better to be down on the field level. And I am glad I got to try these outfield seats but were too far back to catch a home run, and we missed some key plays that happened deep in center or left, including David Wright's first inning double.

Now, on to some thoughts about the game:
Daniel Murphy is on an unbelievable, ridiculous, unconscious roll. Not only has he hit home runs in 4 straight playoff games, he's them off Kershaw, Greinke and Arrieta who will surely finish 1-2-3 in the Cy Young voting, and Jon Lester who is no slouch. Just an incredible stretch, that will probably never be replicated but should be thoroughly enjoyed for however long it lasts.

Lucas Duda has been awful. But he has to stay in there against righties, and I don't think Michael Cuddyer is much better against lefties. Hopefully the big man will snap out of it and go on one of his hot streaks.

Good job by Tyler Clippard and Addison Reed. The Mets are going to need those two guys if they're going to win the World Series. They can't rely on starting pitchers to enter games on their "throw day."

Yoenis Cespedes has not been hitting but he has been making up for it in the field and on the bases. But the Mets need him to break out.

The Mets have a 2-0 lead with Jacob deGrom on the mound in Game 3. It is still possible to blow the series for sure. But at this point the Mets have to be huge favorites to make the World Series.

Let's hope they keep getting good pitching and timely hitting and add one more year to the curse of the Cubbies.

By the way, did you hear the name of the supposed goat in the Cubs curse story was named Murphy. And I found that in stories written before this week. The world is a crazy place sometimes, let's just enjoy the ride.

Weekly Picks

A very weird week as all 3 of my early teams blew leads and in the case of the Seahawks, completely choked away a game they should have had. But I salvaged it with my best bet, picking the Patriots.

cincinnati -3 BUFFALO
This goes against a lot of my theories, particularly the one about not overestimating how much a backup quarterback will hurt a team. But I really like the Bengals and think they should win this one, even on the road.

arizona -4 PITTSBURGH
Once again, I am not overestimating how much not having Big Ben will hurt the Steelers. I am just correctly valuing how good the Cardinals are. Very good.

carolina +7 SEATTLE
This seems to be a lot of points to get from a team that hasn't been playing very well and may not have their best offensive player.

MINNESOTA -3 1/2 kansas city
I continue to like the Vikings and think this spread is a little too small, considering they are playing a bad team at home.

BEST BET
new england -9 INDIANAPOLIS
I am not doing this because I think the Patriots are on some kind of fuck-you-revenge mission. I am doing this because I think the Patriots are very good Colts are not. And because Belichick doesn't giving a shit about running up the score.
Last week: 2-3 (3 points)
Season: 15-10 (16 points)
Best Bets: 1-0 (3-2)
Home Favorites: 0-2 (5-4)
Home Underdogs: 0-0 (1-1)
Road Favorites: 2-0 (7-4)
Road Underdogs: 0-1 (2-1)