NEW Tuesday Quick Hitters

DE Jovan Belcher is a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award. The Buck Buchanan Award is presented annually to the nation’s outstanding Division I FCS (formerly Division I-AA) college football defensive player.

The University of Maine announced all tickets purchased in advance for UMaine vs University of New Hampshire, Saturday November 22 will be $5.00. The #17 Black Bears will be fighting for the CAA North Division Championship and a playoff birth against the #11 UNH Wildcats. Take the trip to Orono…it will be worth it. If you can’t make it. The Central Maine Sports Blog will be blogging LIVE from Morse Field at Alfond Stadium beginning at 11AM Saturday.

The Milwaukee Brewers are about to decide Orr’s Island native Mark Rogers future.

The Boston Bruins used Tim Thomas’ acrobatics to defeat the Toronto Maple Leafs 3 – 2. The Bruins stand atop the Northeast Division with 26 points, and 3rd overall in the NHL.

Kevin Garnett will miss tonights game against the New York Knicks due to suspension.

Tuesday Morning Quickies

MLB

The New York Post’s Joel Sherman questions Manny Ramirez and his tactics to get out of Boston.

The Red Sox tried to stage a late rally, but fell short as Sean Casey lined out to right to end the game. Clay Buchholz falls to 2 – 7 with the loss, Royals win 4 – 3.

Cliff Lee kept the Tampa Bay Rays off the board helping the Indians beat the Rays 5 – 2. The loss keeps the Rays 3 up on the Red Sox.

The Milwaukee Brewers continued their freefall losing to the Reds 6 – 3. The Brewers added a familiar twist to their struggles, by fighting with each other. Losing pitcher Manny Parra left the game and, apparently, Prince Fielder had a few choice words and a couple forearm shoves for the pitcher. The players were separated and calm was restored. The Brew Crew is 5 games back of the Cubs.

Speaking of the Cubs, the Astros won a rain shortened game at Wrigley, 2 – 0 over the Cubs.

The Minnesota Twins missed an opportunity to go 1/2 game up over the White Sox, but losing to the Seattle Mariners 11 – 6. Raul Ibanez hit a grand slam and had 6 RBIs for the Mariners.

The Arizona Diamondbacks moved 1 1/2 games up on the LA Dodgers by beating the Pittsburgh Pirates 11 – 6. The D-Backs had a season high 18 hits on the way to the rout.

Francisco Rodriguez blew a 4 run lead in the 9th, but the offense bailed him out, as the California Angels used a bottom of the 9th walkoff walk to beat the Baltimore Orioles 6 – 5.

The New York Yankees seem to be battling the injury bug again. Joba Chamberlain had to leave the game with what is described as “stiffness” in his sholder. Mariano Rivera was, for the 2nd night in a row, unavailable to close and this time it really hurt. The Texas Rangers Marlon Byrd hit a game winning, bottom of the 9th 2 out grand slam to beat the Yankees 9 – 5.

NFL

The Green Bay Packers canceled a late night press conference, as Brett Favre meets with team brass.

Ken Lucas trying to be the bigger man in Panthers camp.

Commissioner Gordon…I mean Goodell (sorry leftovers from The Dark Knight) decides the Vikings did not tamper with Brett Favre.

New York Giants back Ahmad Bradshaw speaks out at camp about his new jail sentance.

New England Patriots rookie becoming a jack of all trades.

NBA

The Philadelphia 76ers have re-signed restricted free agent Louis Williams.

Kwame Brown officially signs with the Detroit Pistons.

The Cleveland Cavaliers added depth to their backcourt by signing Tarence Kinsey.

Sunday Morning Quick Hitters – AKA The Last Canadian Roundup

Time to come back home! My last post from the Great White North.

The New York Yankees have the 2nd longest post All Star win streak in the last 20 years, 8 games. Andy Pettitte looked outstanding and minus Big Papi and JD Drew, the Sox bats stayed dormant. Justin Masterson came into a 4 – 2 game and the Yankees blew the doors open. With hits from Jeter, Abreu and A-Rod, the game got out of hand. Masterson, who has spent considerable time in the minors working on being a reliever, failed to throw any fastballs in that stretch, and Yankee hitters waited and teed off. Yanks win 10 – 3, moving them 1 game back of the Sox and 3 games back of Tampa Bay.

Ryan Braun, again, powers the Brew Crew to its 9th win in 10 games. Braun’s 4 RBI combined with Bill Hall’s RBI single in the 8th inning, helped beat the Astros 6 – 4. The win moved the Brewers into a tie with the Cubs for 1st place in the NL Central.

Speaking of the Cubbies, The Florida Marlins own The Chicago Cubs, winning 12 of their last 13 meetings. Jeremy Hermida accounted for all 3 runs, with the Marlins winning 3 – 2. Rich Harden, who has pitches great since moving from the A’s, is still winless in a Cubs uniform.

The California Angels are running away with the AL West. Torii Hunter went 4 – 4 with 4 RBIs and 5 runs scored to power the Angels over the Orioles 11 – 6. The win puts the Angels 10 1/2 games up on the Rangers.

The Philadelphia Phillies gave up 9 runs in the 4th inning and still won the game. Mark Teixeira homered to end Atlanta’s scoring in the 4th put up zeros the rest of the way. The Phillies put up 7 of their own in the 7th spurred by Greg Dobbs pinch hit 3 run HR. The Phils win 10 – 9 to stay 1 game behind the Mets.

St Louis blew another late lead, but Albert Pujols saved the day in the 14th. Pujols had 5 hits including the HR in the 14 to beat the Mets 10 – 8.

Other Scores : The Dodgers blanked the Nats 6 -0. LA stays 1 game back of Arizona. TB Rays and Carl Crawford beat the KC Royals 5 – 3, to stay 2 games up on the Red Sox.

Serves you right for not intercepting those 2 passes in the 4th quarter of the non-existant Super Bowl 42. Asante Samuel is hurt for the Philadelphia Eagles.

The New England Patriots added even more depth to the RB position, snapping up Lamont Jordan after his release. Jordan will compete for touches, but the NFL proves you can never have too many RBs.

Saturday Morning Quick Hitters

Greetings once again from the Great White North…Take Off You Hoser!

The Edmonton Eskimos out dueled Portland native Quinton Porter’s Hamilton Tiger-Cats 19 – 13. This game was delayed for close to a 1/2 hour when Edmonton WR Jason Tucker collided violently with HTC DB Jykine Bradley. Tucker was placed on a back board and had all limbs secured. Thankfully, late Friday Night Hamilton reported Tucker had full range of motion with no loss of sensations. This game was exactly the kind of game critics love in the CFL, lots of confusion, little execution and a terrible game all around.

On the other hand, you have Montreal Allouttes vs the British Columbia Lions. This game could have been played in the NFL, a very entertaining game. Jarious Jackson alert!!! The former Notre Dame standout is having quite a season for himself in Canada. Jackson went 22 – 41 for 319 and 1 TD. Jacskson had a Brady-esq last minute drive to put his team in position for a last second field goal. BC Lions win 36 – 34.

Listening to WFAN in New York last night and this morning, you would think the Yankees just won the World Series. Apparently, Yankees fans thought the game was 18 -0. Apparently they missed Josh Beckett regain some form of his last year champ self. Apparently Joba Chamberlain is Jesus Christ himself, that may be a little harsh, but oh well. Joba pitched outstanding, holding the Sox to 3 hits in his 7 innings, helping the Yanks to a 1 – 0 win against the Sox. This was not a boring game. Joba vs Youk is on again. Joba, inexplicably again, threw at Youkilis’ oversized melon. MLB will probably look the other way on that one. And with some help from the home plate ump, Mariano Rivera got his 26th save. In other Yankee news, Brian Cashman might have pulled off the best deal of the summer, previously reported by Matty.

Bobby Howry gives up another late inning HR to sink the Cubbies. Jeremy Hermida blasted a 9th inning HR, quieting a monster crowd at Wrigley. Florida wins 3 – 2, and don’t look now, the Marlins are only 2 games back of the Mets.

Sorry Matty, the Phils are in a free fall. Brian McCann homered twice and Jair Jurrjens pitched an 8 inning gem to beat the Phillies 8 – 2, bringing Philadelphia to an 2 – 5 record since the All Star break. The loss drops the Phils to 6 1/2 games back of the Mets.

The Mets helped the Cardinals along in their post All Star slump as well, beating the Cards 7 – 2. Mike Pelfrey looks unreal in winning his 7th straight decision. The Mets are finally playing like the team everyone thought they would be. Carlos Delgado homered, Endy Chavez went 4 – 4 and Jose Reyes had a 2 run triple.

The Tampa Bay Rays finally broke their 7 game road losing streak beating the KC Royals 5 – 3. Carlos Pena had a homer and a hit to drive the offense and Troy Percival nailed it down in the 9th for his 21st save.

Wandy Rodriguez pitched another gem, helping the Astros defeat the Brewers 3 – 1. The Brewers missed an opportunty, combined with the Cardinals loss, to tie for 1st place in the division.

Brett Favre may be coming to the AFC East! Chris Mortensen reports that Favre has been given permission to talk to the Jets and the Bucs about possible trades.

Looks like Terry Glenn’s time in Dallas is over. Dallas plans to waive her today.

YAWN!!!! Team USA beats Canada in a prelim game for the Olympics.

A Maple Leaf Edition of Friday Quick Hitters

Greetings from Canada

Boise State’s Ryan Dinwiddie lead a late charge, and connected with a 35 yrd TD pass to Rombe Bryant with 12 seconds left to beat the Calgary Stampeders 32 – 28. Thursday Night Football, YEAH, followed by a Friday Night double header.

I could get used to saying Jim Sorgi. Payton Manning and his bursa sac are still laid up. It may be as long as 6 weeks before he is ready to play. Somehow, I don’t feel very bad.

Apparently this is the week of fights. The Cincinnati Reds and Chicago Cubs Single A affiliates squared off in a melee that resulted in 17 ejections. Now all we need is a battle royal in The MLS.

The Golden State Warriors re-signed Monta Ellis to a 6 year, 66 Million Dollar deal. Ellis is expected to run the offense the way Don Nelson wants.

Is there any chance that MLB does the right thing and chooses Mark Cuban as the next owner of the Chicago Cubs? Can you imagine Chicago with Jerry Reinsdorf and Mark Cuban? I’m guessing Bud Selig and the owners will never allow it to happen, but it sure would be fun.

MLB Roundup

Ryan Braun went 4 – 4 with a 9th inning home run to cap a sweep of the St Louis Cardinals, 4 – 3. The Brewers have won 8 straight, 7 straight on the road, to move within 1 game of division leading Chicago Cubs.

The NY Mets regained a 1 game lead over the Philadelphia Phillies, winning 3 – 1. Carlos Delgado hit a 2 run double off JC Romero in the 8th to break the 1 – 1 tie.

Tampa Bay continues its road woes, losing their 7th straight on the road, to the Royals 4 – 2. The Tampa loss pulls the Red Sox back to even with Tampa Bay atop the AL East.

And Finally…

The WNBA tries to put the brawl behind them…by signing a 50 yr old Nancy Lieberman. The Detroit Shock signed Lieberman to a 1 game contract to help divert the PR nightmare the brawl has been. The Old Dominion star was the youngest women to ever win a medal at the Olympics, winning Silver in the 76 games.

Saturday Morning Links Part 1

The Dodgers tied the D’Backs for first place last night in 11 innings. Watched the end of this game and let me just say this now, Jonathan Broxton is going to be one of the filthiest closers ever.

The Angels outslugged the Red Sox, although John Lackey didn’t look particularly tremedous against his nemesis Manny Ramirez (in spite of his milestone performance). I know everyone likes to jump on the Angels bandwagon and say that “They never get any respect” or “East-Cost bias”, and that may be true to an extent, but their record against Boston the last few years is awful. If they can’t get the Red Sox monkey off their back (no pun intended), they will not go back to the World Series.

The Florida Marlins are Jamie Moyer’s, ummm, well we have sponsors now, so let me just say, whipping boy. Also there is word from Brett Myers that he is ready to return. I assume if he isn’t then the Phils will just say “boom, outta here!”

Tampa Bay finally snapped a losing streak . Kudos to the caller on the PM Jab yesterday who said “good pitching doesn’t slump for long”. Indeed.

The Mets saw their 10 game losing streak come to an end thanks to Bronson Arroyo. The Phils snuck back into first thanks to this Mets loss. John Maine is struggling. Thanks to Joe Namath for the correct pronunciation on that.

Richie Sexson drove in a run in his first at-bat for the Yankees, and Mike Mussina got his 12th win of the season.

The Cubs lost in Houston on Hunter Pence’s walk-off double. Ted Lilly’s performance was wasted, and Kosuke Fukudome did not resemble an All-Star. Also there is word that the leading candidate to buy the Cubs is a good friend of Bud Selig.

CC Sabathia was dominant again, and the Brewers look like geniuses right now. Sabathia also got it done with the bat again last night.

Speaking of Milwaukee, Gilbert Arenas takes a shot at the land of cheese and beer in his latest blog entry saying “No one wants to live in Milwaukee”. Ouch.

Ronny Turiaf is officially a Golden St Warrior.

Kevin Love is averaging a little over 20 points a game for the T’Wolves summer league team, coached by Jerry Sichting who is an FOTV (Friend Of the Vortex). We will try and have him on again after the summer league is over.

The Islanders schedule has been released, but we still don’t know who is going to coach them.

That is all for now, there will be a special edition of “The Vortex” this afternoon as Jon Shields from Bleeding Blue and Teal will be on with us to talk Mariners (the Red Sox play Seattle starting on Monday). The interview will be posted about a half an hour after it’s done, and hopefully it will be in pure MP3 format for you.

CC=Crush Colorado

We are live from my living room, joined by my 42 inch HDTV, MLB Extra Innings, my beagle Lucy, and my special friends gin and tonic. Without further ado..

8:04 PM EST- CC Sabathia takes the mound to a standing ovation from the home crowd. The place is just about sold out. I just realized that if Prince Fielder and Sabathia formed a WWE Tag team their combined weight would be more than Earthquake and Typhoon’s…

8:17 pm- Sabathia gets out of a runners on the corners situation with 2 outs with a strikeout of Ryan Spillborghs. The token fist pump and CC is back to the dugout. Funny things from the top half of the inning-

1. The scouting report-type interview from Jason Kendall. He looks like Tom Hanks at the end of “Philadelphia”

2. Most of crowd is wearing the vintage “Teddy Higuera-style” Brewers uniforms. When the majority of your fan base is wearing the old school logo, it may be time to go back to that…

Keep refreshing every 20 minutes or so, I plan on updating at the top of each inning.

Thoughts on the Cubs dealing for Rich Harden..

Didn’t the Cubs get rid of Mark Prior? This looks like a knee-jerk reaction to the Sabathia deal, but if Harden stays healthy, great move. If he doesn’t, that will make 100 years and counting. The Cubs really didn’t give up a ton here, and also managed to get Gaudin to help the stress on their pen. I am sure A’s fans are thrilled that Rich Harden was traded with their team 5 or 6 games out of the wild card. By the way to recap, the Cubs traded Sean Gallagher, Matt Murton, Eric Patterson and Josh Donaldson to Oakland for Harden and Gaudin.

Ryan Braun hit a 3 run home run in the first and the Brewers lead 3-0 going into the second.

8:28 pm- The playoff atmosphere in Milwaukee is evident as the crowd hangs on every pitch and is booing every borderline strike call. Sabathia has a 1-2-3 inning with two strikeouts, giving him 3 for the game. The real fun begins in the bottom of this inning when CC steps to the plate. Ed Sedar, the Brewers first base coach, is wearing a microphone. He thinks Rickie Weeks is “great”. That is the insight I am sure network execs look for with the microphones.

8:36 pm-Sabathia grounds weakly to first to end the inning. Dude….

8:39 pm- “Piggly Wiggly, shop the pig and save!” I love MLB Extra innings just for that.

Token shots of Mark Atanasio, the Brewers owner. Is he related to former owner Bud Selig?

Sabathia gets “K” number 4 against the pitcher. This is another reason why if Sabathia was smart he would take the best money offer he gets from an NL team. His stats would go through the roof. As soon as I type that Willy Tavares hits a double to left. Karma, yick…

Clint Barmes flies to right. JJ Hardy won the NL Player of the week honor last week, what do those guys get for that? A Subway gift card or something?

Sabathia vs Matt Holliday, aka “the next big trade rumor guy”. He grounds out to third and the inning is over.

Best sign of the night “CC=Crush Colorado”

9:00 pm- A long bottom of the third so far. Highlights include Prince Fielder beating out a potential double play and getting an RBI. 10 college kids are shirtless in the outfield, spelling -“Corey Hart” (yes the Brewers logo separated the names). A little creepy…

9:06 pm- CC time again. By the way the FSN Wisconsin announcers are just not good. I should have brought in the XM radio and listened to Bob Uecker.

Trivia question “Which 6 Brewers won Cy Youngs in their careers?” Only 2 happened with the Brewers. Hmmmm. One is Eric Gagne, CC Sabathia won it in Cleveland, who are the other 4?

CC in trouble, the long layoff from 3rd to 4th inning hurt him. 1st and second with nobody out.

Bases loaded,nobody out after the 2nd base umpire can’t quite see that Ryan Spillborghs slid past the the second base bag and was tagged out 2 and half feet in front of the umpire and calls him safe. Rox get a run on a double play on the next at bat and Sabathia gives up his first run as a Brewer. 4-1 Brewers, bottom of the 4th.

BTW, Julian Tavarez signed a deal with the Braves today. That’s the equivalent of dating Tara Reid, isn’t it?

Trivia answer-Pete Vuckovich, Mark Davis, Jim Lonborg, Rollie Fingers, Eric Gagne and CC Sabathia. How in the hell did I not remember Rollie Fingers?

9;27 pm –FSN Wisconsin has a Myspace page. Good lord.

Brewers store sold out of all official Sabathia merchandise last night, they restocked in time for tonight’s game. Nice to see fans spending money on a shirt that will be in style for about 3 to 4 months.

Real announcer exchange-
“He seems like a guy who sees it all…”
“You mean CC’s it all?”
Ba-Dum–Cha!

1-2-3 inning for Sabathia, on to the bottom of the 5th….

9:37 pm- Klements sausage race jingle. I will say no more, other than “They Race For Taste”

Sabathia so far has 4 k’s, no earned runs through 5.

Matt Holliday gets on with an infield hit. By the way he is signed through 2009 and then he becomes a free agent. Oh and his agent is Scott Boras. Just saying, if Harden and Sabathia have been moved it’s either Holliday or Mark Teixera trade rumors we hear next…

CC is in trouble. 1st and 2nd, nobody out, Spillborghs at the dish, and he walks. Now we have the bases loaded and Brewers pitching coach Mike Maddux, who is Greg’s brother and “King of Porn-Stache” goes out to the mound.

Uh-oh, Yorvit Torrealba lines a double into right, 2 runs score and it is 4-3 Brewers. Spillborghs should have scored but he hurt himself rounding second base. Still nobody out.

1-5 double play. Nice play by Sabathia there, he is pretty nimble for a big guy…

David Riske is warming up for the Brewers. Should we say that’s a “Risk-e proposition?” Don’t worry, I will just throw myself down the stairs, no help needed.

2-2, 2 out, 2 on, crowd standing, the wind-up, the pitch is “Just a bit outside” (love ya Bob)

Sabathia gets the K, his 5th of the night.

Current line 6 IP, 5 hits, 3 runs(2 earned), 4 walks, 5 k’s.

Looks like the chef sausage, whose name is Guido, won the race. Thank god he races for taste.

Oh and Corey Hart is up for the final all-star spot. Don’t you think if he sang karaoke to “Sunglasses at Night” and put it on YouTube he would win it hands down? Yeah, me too.

10:01 pm- Matt Herges is in the game for Colorado. The phrase “Herges then blew the save” should sound familiar to San Francisco Giants fans. Oh, hey, a balk. This game has had a little bit of everything.

By the way speaking of Bob Uecker, the Portland Sea Dogs have a closer with the last name “Vaughn”. Seriously, look it up. Shouldn’t they force him to have black glasses and have the number 99?

10:08 pm- David Riske is in the game. He has Pat Riley’s hair. Apparently he and CC are good friends from their Cleveland days. Maybe FSN Wisconsin can post a video of that interview on their Myspace.

Sabathia’s final line- 6 IP, 2 ER, 5 BB, 5 K’s, 97 pitches. It will go in the books as a quality start.

This is where the Brewers need help, in the bullpen. Solomon Torres is the closer, Eric Gagne the 8th inning guy (quick Red Sox fans, tell me about Gagne and the 8th), and Riske is here in the 7th. If Riske and Gagne are considered a “bridge” to Torres, might I suggest a visual of frayed rope between two mountains above a ravine with broken wood in the middle?

Riske gets a break when Matt Holliday thinks he hit a grounder foul, but it is called fair and he is thrown out. 1-2-3 for Riske.

Quick NBA News-Elton Brand is signing with 76ers. I wonder if Baron Davis actually signed any thing yet?

10:25 pm- Ryan Braun is at the plate with two on, 1 out, and Gagne warming in the pen. Did someone say “insurance run”? He strikes out, leaving it to the biggest vegetarian ever to pick up the slack with two outs. BTW, Fielder hits .396 in the 7th inning and later. Perhaps A-Rod should stop eating meat…

Now, right out of the script, Fielder is intentionally walked and the man vying for an All Star slot, Corey Hart, steps up with the bases loaded and two outs. All that’s missing is a montage involving Kelly Preston…

By the way you can vote for the final All-Stars at the top of this page…

Hart draws a walk to force in a run. Did I mention Gagne is the Brewers 8th inning guy? This could be a key run. Clint Hurdle is out to make a pitching change.

Breaking news from Los Angeles- Andruw Jones is overweight and overpaid. That is all. He actually managed an infield single while I wrote that. Damn you karma!

10:35 pm- Jason Grilli is in for the Rockies to face Bill Hall. The bases are still loaded. Oh and the Rockies are defending NL champs. 2 run single for Hall, Hart gets thrown out in a rundown, and the inning is over. 7-3 Milwaukee, top of the 8th, can Eric Gagne hold on?

10:40 pm- Gagne gives up a line drive single to open the inning, but is bailed out by a double play. Weeks to Hardy to Fielder.

Gagne has tied his right show twice already in this inning. Maybe Nike should send him something with velcro on it.

Jason Kendall narrowly avoids a busted testicle. Twice.

Torrealba grounds out to Weeks, and Gagne survives. Bottom of the 8th, still 7-3 Brewers.

10:58 pm- Brian Shouse is in to finish it for the Brewers. Torres is warming just in case.

1 out now, and the announcers are arguing about the turning point of the game. Great chemistry in that booth.

2 outs now and a grounder to Fielder , “Behind the Bag!!!!” Oh, no , wait, he snagged it cleanly and the game is over. CC Sabathia is victorious in his Brewer debut. Thanks for stopping by.

The MLB Pendulum Swings

Bob Uecker hasn’t been this excited since “Major League”

CC Sabathia is a Milwaukee Brewer. If you had told me in February I would be typing that sentence in an unsarcastic way I would have lost money, pride, or both in some ridiculous wager. For years many of baseball’s fans, front offices and such have cried “How do we compete with the Red Sox and Yankees? It’s not fair!!!!” followed by embarrassing tantrums, pants-wetting, and door slams (come on admit it). I never found this to be true, as although the Red Sox have won 2 World Series this decade, the other champions(Arizona, Anaheim, Florida, the White Sox, St Louis) weren’t necessarily the highest spenders. In fact, the Cardinals have become world reknown for their ability to pick up scrap heap pitchers and do well with them (see Weaver, Jeff and Lohse, Kyle for examples). In fact, if you subtract the Red Sox from the equation, none of the other 5 teams and payrolls in the top 5 of baseball in the seasons in which they won the World Series. Even with that, the small market fans whined “But you still get all the impact players at the deadline!” However, in a season in which the Tampa Rays are 5 games ahead of the Red Sox and 9 ahead of the Yankees on the day of my 30th birthday (cheap plug), the “rebuilding”Oakland A’s are 6 games above .500 in an offseason in which they traded both their best pitcher and hitter in Dan Haren and Nick Swisher, respectively, and the Minnesota Twins are 1 game out of first after trading Johan Santana, the small market fans and media aren’t talking much. Perhaps it’s the roast crow they are eating right now that has them quiet. In a season in which a Brewers/Rays World Series is possible, where the Cubs are a leading contender to win the World Series, it was fitting that the crown jewel of trading deadline is now in the land of sausage races, Bernie Brewer and Harvey’s Wallbangers. It remains to be seen how this season will play out, if Brewers ace Ben Sheets stays healthy, if Solomon Torres can be a decent closer, if Eric Gagne can rebound, even if Prince Fielder will finally eat a cheeseburger, but this I can say right now, the Brewers showed more guts in making this deal than they they have in the last 26 years, which is coincidentally the last time they made the playoffs. Here’s hoping it pays off for them, unless they end up playing the Phillies in the playoffs….

In podcast related news yesterday’s episode of “The Sports Vortex” was simulcast live on WJZF, Lakes Region Community Radio. The Sports Vortex can be found on WJZF every Sunday from 4-6pm, if you miss it, the archives will always be here for you.