WOW! So much going on this past weekend, I thought I’d take a look at many of the top games, rather than focus on one subject.
-Let’s start with the World Series, where Boston hammered the Rockies in 4 games. Good starting pitching was a large factor – Boston got it, Colorado didn’t – but the hidden factor here is that Colorado’s bats went quiet for most of the postseason. Five of their top hitters (Helton, Tulowitzki, Atkins, Taveras, and Spilborghs) batted a combined .180 for the entire playoffs, and combined for 2 home runs. That’s simply not gonna get it done with the Rox’ mediocre pitching and a home park favorable to offense. They got by with it against the Cubs and D-backs, each of whom had their own offensive issues, but the smoke-and-mirrors act failed against the powerful Red Sox.
-I was all set to bash Sox Manager Terry Francona for letting lefty Hideki Okajima face righties Matt Holliday and Garret Atkins when they hit HRs in games 3 and 4…until I checked the numbers. Most right-handed batters fare better against lefty pitchers, and most lefty pitchers have better numbers facing left-handed batters. However, I discovered that Okajima was actually more effective against right-handed batters this season, and both Holliday and Atkins have fared better vs. right-handed pitchers both this season and in their careers. Give Francona credit for (probably) knowing this, and also for trusting his best set-up man. I think Okajima was definitely wearing down late in the season, but he still was a very key component for the Sox.
-On to football, starting with the Penn State game. Chris Morelli may well cover some of this material in “OnLion” this week, but two things struck me in the PSU-OSU game: One, Morelli got outplayed yet again by a younger QB in a big game. I’m generally not much for the ‘choker’ argument, but one cannot escape how poorly he’s fared the last 2 seasons in the biggest games. In my opinion there’s no reason not to give some younger QBs a look over the next three games. Two, Joe Paterno sent a bad message to his team punting on fourth-and-two, down by 10, near the end of the first half. You’re playing the #1 team in the nation! PLAY TO WIN! You simply MUST take chances and trust your players. What’s the downside to missing there, giving OSU the ball at their own 38? I just don’t get that at all. By punting, JoePa essentially gave his offense AND his defense votes of no-confidence, and the game went downhill from there.
-Speaking of “fraidy-cat” coaching, the Bengals’ Marvin Lewis definitely wins the Super Chicken award for the week. Not only did he punt on fourth-and-one from the Steelers’ 41, he also kicked a field goal on 4th and 1, down 14-3, from the Steelers’ 2 late in the second quarter. Now, if the Bengals had a stout defense I could almost understand these calls..but from what I saw Sunday (and I was there), they have one of the worst defenses in the NFL. They also have one of the best QBs in the NFL and a fine supporting cast on offense. They had no chance of winning a low-scoring game, their only real chance was to get in a shootout. By punting and kicking a FG, Lewis displayed a shocking lack of confidence in his offense. The Steelers proceeded to march the length of the field and score with 8 seconds remaining in the half. Lewis came to Cincy with a solid reputation as a defensive coach. Since arriving, his offenses have been above-average to great, while his devenses have ranged from mediocre to awful. In Baltimore, “offensive guru” Brian Billick has presided over dominating defenses and very average offenses. One wonders why these guys still have their jobs.
-Finally, take a look at this article http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=easterbrook/071023&sportCat=nfl by Gregg Easterbrook, comparing the Patriots and Colts. He covers the angle better than I could..all I’ll add is GOOOO COLTS!!!
Dave Glass lives in Clearfield with his wife, Suzanne, and their six children. He can be reached at buggyracer@verizon.net