Carey

While this past weekend was great in terms of Wild Card Baseball, it'll be great next year when they return to their regular schedule (combined with the new best of three first round). I imagine it'll be starting the first week of October during the week. However, if they're not going to have double-headers in the Wild Card Round, then maybe do away with the structure of having a day off before AND after the WC Round (following the regular season & preceding the LDS). Usually during the League Division Series, there's one day where one league starts by itself, and then on the second day, both the AL & NL have games. It's the opposite for some reason. I agree this is a weird schedule for the Yankees and the rest of the AL. While I don't think it's a super big deal, New York could've played today and then it could rain all day and nobody is affected. But I guess they'll have to play in New York before Cleveland in back-to-back days

On Monday Night Football, Maxx Crosby's first sack of Mahomes was just a bear hug long enough to get the sack. That's fair enough, I suppose. It would be interesting to see TB12's reaction if the refs end the play (for the sack) if the defense gets to him without even trying to throw him to the ground

What comes around, goes around. Seattle was on the positive side over Toronto, but the opposite today. Totally a painful loss since they crushed JV. We'll see how they handle this adversity. The WC game without a comeback just would've meant Game 3, whereas a lost chance at stealing home field is still one game, a loss on the road. FWIW, the announcers were pimping Altuve, and at worst for Houston, that just pulls to within one. While Munoz set up the successful comeback, Sewald was so close to the escape and couldn't close before the 3-run shot. I actually was thinking that Seattle needed to have a decent 9th in case Houston got to people on before Alvarez showed up. Anyway, too bad, and that after they took out Altuve

If you're a Mariners fan, that had to suck

Philly escapes, I guess. 1-0 series lead and ownership of home field for now

Looks like Verlander will be chased outta there early in the ALDS. 4-0 road lead for Seattle after 1.5 and Houston's ace north of 40 pitches

Philadelphia in 4, New York & Houston in 5, and Los Angeles in 3. I guess I'd love to see Seattle advance, and it would be great if Atlanta knocked off Philly for a chance to repeat (or to create a 1996 repeat of MLB events). I made a last-minute swap since it's tough that all four home teams advance (lower number seeds)

I mean you could look back at the past few/several years and find some analysts that chose to waste a minute saying, "I wonder if coach/team should have gone for two there. Because if the game goes into overtime & they lose the coin-toss, they might not get a chance in OT when a Mahomes or a Brady or a Peyton or an Aaron goes down the field & gets into the endzone." For what it's worth, it's a damn if you do, damn if you don't scenario in the NFL. Had they got it, then they win the game since they did stop the Chiefs. As mentioned, they missed AND then made a stop. They're driving for a WFG but turned it over on downs. As worst, they play for OT, but at the same time they can't get too reckless where Kansas City gets the ball back with decent field position. Just to be clear, I would've kicked the PAT. Maybe going for two if this had happened toward/at the end of regulation would've been okay. However, you have to take points. This is McDaniels' second stint as a HC but he still isn't Harbaugh. Not much of a HC resume to be trying for that. The points left on the table isn't just Josh or John, but it's across the league passing up FGs and even when it's field position people go for it and don't get there. The Chargers are a nice example. So people today in sports media will be running that to the ground instead of ripping Vegas for blowing yet another big lead. That's a bigger deal than going for 2. Meh. It was still a good game, but these games are 60 minutes. Just like the Falcons/Bucs game. Play better, and one play isn't brought up much, if at all, in terms of winning & losing

Well, a great game, and Kansas City survives 30-29

Yeah I was in the shower, thinking that either Kansas City would get a meaningful lead or Vegas would do something; either way a nice finish coming up. I heard the TD and I was sorta thinking "It's Kelce Again" and I was right

Well, Kansas City finally has the lead

As mentioned, if this is how the officials are going to call the game, then so be it. It may be going overboard, whether it's correct or not. Regardless of the rooting interest, if Mahomes gets blasted and there's no call, then that would be total BS

Can't land on the QB. Tough break, but that's a pre TUA-GATE rule

One of many reasons why I'm at ease muting Buck & Aikman in favor of Harlan & Warner

Well, it's been about a decade since we were mid-season free of a HC boot. Sorta would've liked to have seen that this year, but yeah right! Matt Rhule let go from Carolina ahead of a chance that Ron Rivera gets tossed following Bears/Washington

Fair point, merylinkid. It was the patented TB12 protection there. Though I still think the Bucs survive, but we'll never know. That just was a terrible situation. A couple things with that: The Tua reaction actually nailed Miami more than anything. Teddy Bridgewater would've been able to return in the past, but it just got unlucky & that's the thing that I think will not take place with a decent QB in the playoffs. Now I don't think the Dolphins win with Teddy but I just don't want to see someone being ruled out when they could be reacting to something else AND they pass all the tests. As long as the calls in the Bucs/Falcons game were consistent, then that's fine. Sounds like they weren't so that's the problem. If someone on Atlanta got slammed to the ground and the officials did nothing, that would suck. I hate same-game different standards stuff. OTOH, if the calls are different but in a different game, as long as it's consistent, then I'm okay with it

If they do make that tackle illegal, then it needs to be applied to everybody, not just the QB. Otherwise, people should no longer need to tackle a QB for said QB to be down by contact. Just touch and go and the play/ball is dead. How wouldn't you go with that at this point? Either way, I can see the unnecessary "showboating" tackle being thrown out. At least for now. TBH, this is the annual OVERREACTION segment of the National Football League. I hate to use examples but this happens early in the season, something that'll take over the talk and the actual games being played (Domestic abuse, the Anthem, Review PI, etc). Sure things need to be addressed, but my point is that this will be a major emphasis early, and then die down as the season progresses. I still think people will be ruled out that may not have been before, but I wouldn't be surprised if someone survives/bypasses concussion protocol when the games matter the most (later in the season). For SNF one week from this Sunday (10/23), while the Steelers/Dolphins seem like a game that would typically remain there, I wouldn't be shocked if it were flexed out. If it does, look for that to happen today or tomorrow in favor of Chargers/Seahawks or Giants/Jaguars. Not many options (which means that they would keep the game on NBC), save for New York, the rest of the teams are that much better. They're not as bad, though they all can improve, while I don't see how Pittsburgh can for the remainder of 2022

Probably the same reason why I'd have optimism for Pittsburgh to do well in 2023. But that's it. A 4th-place schedule + a division that could beat each other up. Whether the players can overcome non-championship leadership has yet to be determined

Yeah, I said that he should smack a Met. Glad he didn't. He might have under different situations. San Diego has a chance to go the distance; no way he loses his cool. Good on him knowing Buck had pulled this in the past

Definitely apologies to Lantern. Went (the Mets, not Lantern) from hero to zero. Though I'll admit I wasn't happy with Buck with his move on Musgrove. Glad the latter stayed classy and dominated more

And the NLDS is now set with the Padres topping the Mets in a deciding third game behind 7 strong innings from Musgrove and decent run support in the form of a final 6-0 result. Everything starts on Tuesday, October 11 (on FOX, FS1, and TBS)

Since the perfect bid is no longer a thing (now he's all but perfect), I'd beam a Met as a reaction if I'm Musgrove

No-No Joe trying to do better than what he did last year, and he's 1/3 the way there. Meanwhile, David Cone is still pissed that no one named an IPA after him 23 years removed from a better performance than Musgrove!

So the Week Six AP Poll was released over a couple of hours ago. The Top 10 remained intact but not in the same order as before. Just some minor shuffling amongst the bottom half of the Top 10. Then moving up, after a Clemson/Michigan swap, the Top 3 got interesting. Alabama did take a dive (Bama standards) despite a win without its starting QB. They are the third team now. In a corresponding move, Georgia and Ohio State both moved up. The Buckeyes coulda jumped Georgia to take the top spot IMO. Baylor and Pittsburgh are no where to be found, but Cincinnati moved up several spots to 21

Buffalo, Cleveland, Jacksonville, Minnesota, Detroit, New Orleans, Miami, Tampa Bay, Tennessee, San Francisco, Arizona, Dallas, Cincinnati, Kansas City for Week 6 picks. Key games against the spread (FanDuel content) Buffalo favored by 14 45.5 over/under. Bills cover and over hits Los Angeles is favored by 5.5. Dallas covers, and the over hits Baltimore is favored by 3. Cincinnati covers, under hits (47.5 O/U) Chiefs favored by 7.5. Kansas City sending a message is achieved under hits (51.5 O/U) 14 is way too much; it is a first for Pittsburgh since the merger. However, Vegas could’ve made it twice that, and I’d still pick Buffalo to cover. A 28+ rout is accurate, even with Pickett, who I think can put up points. However, there are some injuries on the offensive side, and the WRs tend to blow it which could lead to turnovers (even with a depleted secondary for the Bills). There is nothing scary right now in terms of the Steelers defense. Buffalo, who will be able to afford to look ahead to Kansas City, will have revenge on their mind, as Pittsburgh pulled the upset last year that contributed to having to travel to Arrowhead to face the mentioned Chiefs. To be honest, Buffalo can hit the over with Pittsburgh’s help. Eventually Cooper Rush will go down, if he’s given the opportunity to do so. However, while the Rams aren’t that good, there are some people who will return. So they’ll be better, but I just don’t think it’ll be this week. I’d be surprised if Cincinnati blows out Baltimore for the third consecutive time. I think they still win, and what’ll help is the extra time off. The Ravens aren’t decimated and they’re at home at night. The 3-point line is perfect. Kansas City wasn’t created to lose to Vegas, especially given everything they’ve done for the past several years. I don’t know if the Chiefs can score 52 but they don’t need to