….(Baseball)………..

(World Series)

Red Sox-Dodgers…Game 3-in LA….Boston up (2-0)…game will be played in 87-degree weather….Walker Beuhler-vs-Ric Porcello in pitching matchup.

..Boston…hitting (.415) with runners in scoring position in postseason
..Boston…hitting (.297) in postseason…(.406) slugging percentage.
..LA..hitting (.175) in series
..LA hitting (.239) on base percentage
..LA with (.222) slugging percentage
..LA batting order…Bellinger-Pederson-Muncy-Kemp-Puig combined (3-27) in series.

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(MLB)

Mets…GM candidate Doug Melvin announces he pulls out of running for job.

Toronto..Hire Charley Montoyo-Tampa Bay-as Jays new manager…spent 18Y-in Rays minor league system.

Twins..Hire Rocco Baldelli-Tampa ‘Bay as manager…3-years as coach…1-year as minor league field instructor…never managed before.

Tigers…Hitting coach Darnell Coles resigns…team fires bullpen coach Lee Tunnell.

Arizona..Sign FA-P-Artie Lewicki-ex Tigers

Detroit..Open 5-roster slots..outright 2B-Peter Kozma..P-Luis Coleman-OF-Jiam Aducci off major league roster.

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……….(Football)…………..

Aztecs-Nevada…Saturday showdown in Mountain West Conference..State going for 7th win in a row (6-1)…Nevada (4-4)
…SDSU defense giving up just (2.4YPC) against the run…
…Aztecs offense strugglilng…QB-Ryan Agnew (4TD-4Int-51% completion)
…Offense just 32%-3rd down conversion rate…
…Wolfpack led by QB-Ty Gangi (1883-14TD)
..Nevada RBs-Toa Tua-Kelton Moore (823Y-5.3YPC)
..Wolfpack (431Y)G offense…allow (40-1YPG) defense.

USD-Jacksonville State..Toreros (5-2)…won 25-straight games in Pioneer League..wib 32-straight league games at home.

USC-Arizona State..Trojans (4-3)..Sun Devils (3-4)…USC will start 3rd string QB-Jack Sears because of injuries to JTDaniels-Matt Fink.

UCLA-Utah…Bruins (2-4)…Utes (5-2)…Will Speight likely starter at QB in place injured Dorian Robinson….Utes QB-Ty Huntley (1652P-11TD)…RB-Zach Moss (753Y) rushing.

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(Mountain West Conference)

Boise-Air Force..Broncos (5-2)..Falcons (3-4)…Broncos QB-Brett Rypien (2166P-18TD)..Falcons QB-Isaiah Sanders leads triple option offense that has (1895Y) rushing in 7-games.

Colorado State-Wyoming..Border War game..Rams QB-KJ Samuels (2172P-18TD)

Utah State-New Mexico..Aggies (6-1)…USU running backs Darius Thompson-Garrett Bright combined (991Y) rushing.

Frenso-Hawaii…Bulldogs (6-1)..Warriors (6-3)….Rainbows QB-Cole McDonald (2607P-26TD)…Dogs QB-Marcus McMaryion (1858P-14TD)

UNLV-San Jose..Rebels-Spartans combined record (2-12)

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(Pac 12)

Washington State-Stanford….Cougars (6-1)…Cardinal (5-2)…Cougars QB-Gardner Minshew (2745Y-23TD)..Stanford QB-KJ Costello (1823P-18TD)

Colorado-Oregon State…Buffs (5-2);..Beavers (1-6)

Washington-Cal..Huskies (6-2)..QB-Jake Browning (1901P-112TD)

Oregon-Arizona..Ducks (5-2)..Cats (3-5)..Oregon QB-Justin Herbert (1883P-18TD)

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(Top Ranked).

1-Alabama…Bye…Tide (8-0)
2-Clemson-Florida State..Tigers (7-0)
3-Notre Dame-Navy..Irish (7-0)..Middies (2-5)..66,000-fans for game in San Diego
4-LSU..Bye
5-Michigan..Bye
6-Texas-Oklahoma State..Injured Longhorns QB-Sam Ehringer to start
7-Georgia–9-Florida..Greatest Cocktail Party in World
8-Oklahoma-Kansas State
10-Central Florida-Temple

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(College Notes)

Pac 12..Fines ASU Defensive Coordinator Danny Gonzales (5,000) for criticism of refs over 3-blown calls last week.

Big 10..Fines Michigan State (10,000) for players linking arms-walking across field and making contact with Michigan players last weekend in pregame warmup.

Miami..Former Hurricanes coach Al Golden files 3M-lawsuit against school for failure to pay off contract.

Maryland…Board of Regents completes evaluation of in house report on death of OT-Jordan McNair and allegation toxic culture in football program..recommending Coach DJ Durkin not be retained..and School President Dr. Walter Loh to step aside next year.

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(NFL)

Chargers…Bye weekend…play at Seattle next Sunday.

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(Schedule)

Saints-Vikings..Drew Brees (13TD-0 Int) vs Kirk Cousins.

Patriots-Bills…Tom Brady-New England (6-2).

Jets-Bears..Chicago defense allow 69P- last 2-games…Sam Darnold coming off 3-interception game.

Eagles-Jaguars..Philadelphia (3-4)…Blake Bortels stays at QB for Jags despite 2TD-8 Turnovers) in 3-game losing streak.

Seahawks-Lions…Detroit won 3-of-4..RB-Kerrion Johnson coming off (158Y) rushing day.

Tampa Bay-Cincinnati…Bengals come home-dropped 2-in row on road

Denver-Kansas City..Broncos lost 4-of-5..Case Keenum (8TD-9Int-17 sacks) this seson…Chiefs (6-1)…Defense giving up (406YPG)

Giants-Redskins…Eli Manning completed (12P-302Y) to Odell Beckham-Sterling Shepard..NY (1-6) on season.

Browns-Steelers…Cleveland coach Hue Jackson under fire with (3-35-1) record

Ravens-Carolina..Cam Newton-vs-Baltimore #1-ranked defense (288YPG)

Colts-Raiders..Oakland without Amari Cooper-Marshawn Lybch…QB-Derek Carr (8Int-17 sacks) this year…Andrew Luck (1948P-20TD) this year…Jon Gruden team now (1-5)

Packers-Rams…Shooout matchup QBs Jared Goff-Aaron Rodgers…combined for (4112Y-26TD) this year in half a season.

49ers-Arizona..Byron Leftwich debuts as Cardinals Off Coor…both teams (1-6)

Bye week…Chargers-Atlanta-Dallas-Titans.

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(Scoreboard)

Miami-L-Houston (42-23)….QB-Seshaun Waston (239P-5TD)…RB-Lamar Miller (133R)……Dolphins QB-Brock Osweiler (241Y) passing in loss….Thursday Night football

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(NFL Notes)

NFL..Fires line judge Hugo Cruz in midseason for 2-blown calls that impacted Chargers-Browns game…has had poor ratings all season long.

Raiders..WR-Jordy Nelson goes public says team in lockeroom supports QB-Derek Carr.

Jaguars..Lockerroom fite between Calais Campbell-Yannick Ngakoue was over criticism of QB-Blake Bortels poor play.

Giants..Sign FA-S-Tony Lippett-ex Miami…Activate WR-Corey Coleman fron taxi squad.

Browns..Sign FA-LB-Ray Ray Armstrong-ex Giants

Lions..Release DT-Sylvester Williams-was a starter.

Broncos..Sign FA-QB-Garrett Grayson-ex Saints

Cowboys..workout FA-S-Oli Melinonu-ex Raiders 2nd round pick.

Broncos..activate KR-Isaiha McKenzie from taxi squad

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(Injuries)

Bills..RB-LeSean McCoy-still in concussion protocol
Jaguars..CB-AJ Bouye-calf injury..IR-LB-Don Payne-hamstring
Patriots..RB-Sonny Michel-misses workouts-knee
Jets..WR-Robby Anderson-Quincy Enunwe miss workouts-injuries.

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………..(Basketball)…………

Lakers-W-Denver….Lance Stephenson hits back to back 3’s-triggering LA comeback from 8-point deficit…..Lakers go out on 13-2 run in come from behind ..LeBron James (28P-11R-11A))…Kyle Kozma (22P)…JaVale McGee (20P)…Lakers now (2-3)….play at San Antonio on weekend.

Clippers-at-Houston…Friday matchup

Houston-Minnesota…Report Rockets have offered 4-first round picks over a 7-year span plus other players in a deal to acquire F-Jimmy Butler from T-Wolves.

Houston..G-James Hardin-MRI on injured thigh.
Bulls..G-Bobby Portis-out 6W-sprained knee.
Pistons..F-Luke Lennard-Dislocated shoulder

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……….(Hockey)………..

Gulls-Stockton….San Diego goes after 4th win in a row.
Gulls-Tucson…Saturday night home game winds up 4-game homestand

Kings-L-Minnesota Wild (4-1)….Wild score 2-empty net goals…including shorthanded goal….Eric Fehlr-ex Gulls scores key goal….Kings lost 6-in row…have scored just 8-goals in 6-losses…

Ducks-L-Dallas Stars (5-2)…..Anaheim loses 3rd in a row…..Jason Dickinson scores twice for Stars….Ducks allow 40-more shots on goals…that (117-shots) over last 4-games.

Kings..GM-Rob Blake holds closed door meeting with players telling them “on the players to rally this team”.

Ducks…worst defense in NFL-allowing league high 37-shots on goal this year.

Washington..NHL rejects appeal of 20-game suspension F-Tom Wilson….was a 4-time repeat offender.

Winnipeg…G-Connor Hellebuyck goes to Union says new reduced size of chest protectors for goalis are not good enough to prevent major injury.

NHL Union…Glen Healy confirms Union has hired neurologist to study use of medical marijuana as possible replacement for painkillers given players during the season….Marijuana now legal across Canada….but outlawed by NHL drug testing program….15-year veteran goalie Glen Healy leads drive to get Union to do research.

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……….(General)…………….

NASCAR….Runs Martinsville 400 this weekend…Kyle Busch (4055P)….Kevin Harvick (4054P)…separated by 1-point in Chase for Championship driving title..

Formula 1…Grand Prix Mexico City…Lewis Hamilton goes for 10th win of season…Sebastian Vettle 5-wins-must win to stay in points race for driving title.

English Premier League-top weekend games
..Liverpool-Cardiff…Liverpool (7-0-2)
..Manchester City-Tottenham..City (7-0-2)-Hot Spurs (7-2)
..Arsenal-Crystal Palace…Gunners (7-2)
..Manchester United-Everton…Man U (4-3-2) in controversial season.

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“Broncos-What Have You Done For Me Lately”

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They’re not happy up there, and rightfully so.

Football is important, really important, to the city of Denver, and thus there is always the demand to win when it comes to the Orange & Blue Broncos.

And it’s not happening right now, and the President and GM is under fire.

John Elway was all things to Broncos football, for decades it was all about wins, playoff games, comebacks and Super Bowl Rings.

Into the front office he rode, but times have turned bad in Denver now. .

His roster is a mixed bag of young players, street free agents, and draft picks who have yet to turn out.

What was once a fierce defense, led by sack artist Von Miller, has been supplanted by younger players, not up to the task yet, nearly across the board. Miller cannot do it all by himself..

They put together a 34M package-to lure QB-Case Keenum away from his star-studded season last fall with the Vikings, but he has been little more than pedestrian.

There are young players who have yet to arrive, 1st round draft pick Garret Bolles at left tackel, struggling on the job. High draft pick CB-Bradley Robey has been nothing special in the secondary, now in his 3rd year.

They spent in free agency, burning 2M in cap space for 3-games before they dumped ex Raiders punter Marquette King.

Ditto for the signing of ex-Cowboys young OL-Ron Leary, who has been hurt for two seasons.

Elway is saddled with a 14M-payment next year to WR-Demaryius Thomas, who has never turned into a game-breaker, just some guy breaking the bank.

Young wideout Cody Latimer, with game breaking speed, never found consistency, and went off to the Giants

Once up a time, they had greatness in the offense built around TE-Shannon Sharpe. You cannot name the tight ends now, and they don’t catch passes.

They ran off spirited veteran CB-Aqib Talib, leaving Chris Harris to do it all on the corner, and he cannot play all 4-positions at once.

There are still some good young players there. Brad Chubb, at the other LB spot shows flashes. Rookie RBs-Royce Freeman and Phil Lindsey at times look like ‘Thunder & Lightning’ in the backfield. And Chubb’s best years are just ahead upfront.

He’s got a coaching quandry too. Did he pick the wrong head coach in Vance Joseph, he of 8-game and 4-game losing streaks over his first two years? They let go of Off Coordinator Mike McCoy. Did not retain Edf Coord legend Wade Philips a couple of years ago. There’s chaos on both sides of the ball.

The biggest issue. There’s no consistency at quarterback, and that is on Elway.

Alot of Broncos bucks went to Keenum, who looks nothing better than a journeyman.

He’s wasted five draft picks at the QB position. There was Brock Osweiler, then Trevor Siemian, Paxton Lynch, Chad Kelly and Zac Dysart. All were supposed to give hope to the future of the Broncos, and now none of them are there.

It’s a sorry state when the best QB in the building might be the retired QB-serving as GM.

And for John Elway, the retired QB-turned-GM is to blame for the QB problems that exist, as well as the rest of the roster.

For Elway, what have you done for me lately? Not much, and that’s a real problem in Denver.

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“Aztecs Football—Crossroad Games”

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San Diego State may have a winning streak going, but they’re not playing well, for lots of reasons. Coach Rocky Long knows it after seeing his team fall off in productivity after the emotional high win at Boise State. Now they play Nevada on the road, then go to Fresno in two weeks. He was blunt about his team: Long’s quotes.

..Nevada hot right now-playing really well
..QB playing at high rate
..Wolfpack recruited well the last two years.

..Aztecs-young and inconsistent-fortunate to win some of games
..Nevada runs 3-3-5…run it differently….than us
..We move our 3-3-5 people around a lot in pre snap reads…they play stoic.

..Don’t know about our team being fatigued after Boise-playing lots young kids
..Played 24-freshman-redshirt freshman last week
..Size-speed-experience puts young team at disadvantage
..Young players get fatigued quicker at college level.
..Defensive problems pop up again last week-just not consistent

..I think we are on right track with all these kids
..Playing so many young kids not used to playing this level week-after-week
..Rookie NFL players hit wall halfway thru the season
..Our young players have hit the wall-not to used to that level yet.

..We don’t play good enough to be in the top 25-rankings
..Still looking for top RB-do it RB by committee
..Christian Chapman not ready to play unless it is an emergency
..Chapman is 4th on depth chart
..We see him practice…has to protect himself..tellnot ready to move the pocket

..Offensive line-thought they’d be consistent-haven’t been
..Ryan Agnew-at very critical times-made a lot of big plays…played well under pressure
..Agnew 51% completion rate…still makes huge plays when he has too
..Must improve 32%-3rd down conversion and upgrade passing game

..Defensive line allow 2.4YPC-don’t think they’re dominant…been very average
..We’re not close to being dominant-played 1-run team well-we lost
..Playing spread teams-give up yards and some points.
..Secondary growing-played better than pass rushers-not getting enough rush.

..John Baron always wants to kick the ball all the time
..His ability to make big time kicks in pressure situations-best ever been around
..Weather impacts kickers-always windy-makes bigger difference than any other part
..Yes they can kick it farther in high altitude.
..Our kickers-punters have never handled winds well…it changes the game..

..This is not crossroads game…at Nevada..at Fresno…they’re all important

..Ty Gangi-Nevada QB-moves ball well..throws ball well..more big plays
..Gangi much more comfortable 2nd year in Jay Norvell system
..Really good on offense last 3-weeks-beat up Hawaii-nearly beat Boise
..Really improved big run game-205-240 pounderss…can pound it..break tackles
..Nevada likely to put lots of guys at line of scrimmage-makes us throw the ball..

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“The World Series-They Are the Best”

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Red Sox Nation…meet Dodgers Blue.

Boston-Los Angeles in the World Series tonight.

Two franchises rich in history, rich in payroll, baseball’s royalty.

You mention Fenway…Chavez Ravine, you immediately what teams you are talking apart.

Legendary names from yesteryear, meant so much to the game, Ted Williams to Jackie Robinson, and tons of names after that.

The ownership has been checkered, from the racist era of Tom Yawkey, to the defiance era of Walter O’Malley, , the bankruptcy of the despicable McCourt family, and the savior style of John Henry.

They both have everything. Power hitting batting orders, a deep experienced-productive bench, strong starting pitching, and depth in the bullpen.

They’ve got fire in the gut players in the lineups, and a little spit and personality in the dugout.

Add into that, two managers and front offices, who subscribe to lots of analytics, the shift, lefty-vs-righty matchups, and more..

What more could you want as Chris Sale faces Clayton Kershaw tonight in Game-1.

Boston will run Sale, then David Price, Rick Porcello and Nathan Eovaldi in the rotation. Granted, this is not a pitching lineup equal to last year’s Astros, or legendary starting staffs int he past, but then again, Boston bombs their way to victories.

The Dodgers counter with Kershaw, Hyun Jin-Ryu, Rich Hill, and the red-hot rookie Walker Beuhler. Physical woes have been part of the LA pitching storyline all year long, but they’re healthy, and they’re pitching this week aren’t they.

In this day and age of relievers coming in early, and staying late, this will be fun to watch the chess-board moves Alex Cora-Dave Roberts make if starters get into trouble.

Boston’s bullpen has depth. The setup guys were used alot leading up to the Fall Classic, but gave up just 2-runs in 18-innings. And then there is closer Craig Kimbrel, who was very shaky. In his last 6-plus innings, he gave up 6-hits, walked 5-hit a batter and allowed 5-runs. Overuse, maybe, stage fright, maybe too.

LA counters with Kenley Jansen, who has had another spectacular season, health-heart issues aside. The LA pen had a (1.45-ERA) in the playoffs vs Milwaukee’s big bats. That’s why LA is here and the Brewers are not.

When it comes to bats, Boston has lots of them. The “B” Boys, the Bomb Squad from Boston”

Betts-Bradley-Benetendi-Boegaerts. Add in JD Martinez, Eduardo Nunez, Raf Devers, and Steve Pearce, quite a colleciton of bats. The Bosox have hit (.282) at home this year,playing like the Colorado Rockies used to play at Coors Field.

The Dodgers bats scored 29-runs in 5-games against the best pitching staff in baseball, in Houston. Pick a night, pick a name, and heroes are everywhere. Turner-Machado-Puig-Bellinger-Pederson-Muncy–Kemp. They could be knocking lots of balls off the Green Monster.

Even the bench bunch brings something every night, from Moreland-Kisnler-Holt compared to Keke Hernandez-David Freese-Brian Dozier.

Boston hit 208-homers this year, you expected that. You did not expect 235 from the Dodgers.

The last time the two met in the World Series, was 1916, when Babe Ruth was a Red Sox pitcher, and the team he faced was the Brooklyn Trolley Dodgers.-Robins. Speaking of historical names, 90-year old Tom Lasorda will be on hand with the Dodgers.

This fall classic could be a classic.

Lots of hits, run, defensive plays, instant replays. Red Sox Nation will be in full roar on Tuesday. And you can bet Dodger Fan will arrive early, and hope to stay late and get a win when the games come back to LA.

Who wins? Who cares. Just sit back and watch this play out.

A Fabulous Fall Classic awaits.

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“Dodgers Baseball-Why They Are-Where They Are”

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What doesn’t kill you-makes you stronger.

And so the Dodgers are headed to the World Series, beginning Tuesday in Boston against the 108-win Red Sox.

From a team that was (16-26) early in the season, way off the pace, they became this, a Fall Classic team for the second year in a row.

From a front office that kept trying to make deals to strengthen the club, the trading deadline deals pushed them into the postseason run, and games in late October.

Think back to any month on the calendar and understand how much trouble they were in.

Exit SS-Corey Seager with a torn elbow ligament, replaced by utility men. Enter Manny Machado, he of big bat, good glove-large ego and strong emotional personality.

Power hitting 3B-Justin Turner had the fractured wrist, and missed a lot early, then got nicked up again, but when it counted the most, he was there to deliver.

Pick a pitcher, and they were all on the disabled list at one time or another.

Clayton Kershaw, a future Hall of Famer, remade himself from power pitcher, to location left-hander, so impressive if not any longer dominant.

Hyun Jin Ryu spent almost a year rehabbing from surgeries, and got rolling at the right time. Rich Hill battled back from all those blisters, and was there when needed most.

Kenley Jansen’s story of heart arrhythmia is scary, but thru medication-dedication, he is back storming out of the bullpen, even though he knows once the series is over, he faces another heart procedure. Nerves of steel, health wise and in baseball too.

Even the kid pitcher Julio Urias, knocked down by shoulder capsule surgery, is back now serving a roll out of the bullpen.

And then there are the surprise guys. Matt Kemp came home and was hitting into the .330s the first half of the season, helping win games that were as important as any, as they team had them in their pocket when they made the run up the standings at the end.

Joc Pederson came back like no-one thought possible, playing lots, hitting 25-home runs in a big bounce back season.

Max Muncy, dumped by the A’s hit 35-home runs this year, playing multiple positions, having a season, no one thought possible.

Pedro Baez, facing extermination off the roster last year, found himself, finishing with an amazing sub 1.00-ERA the second half of the season, when they needed innings.

And the hot shot rookie Walker Beuhler has been big, dominant, giving you downright dimensions like a young Kershaw did years ago.

No one could have forecasted this. Not when Arizona threatened to run away with the race in spring. Not when Colorado surged into the lead late.

But the Dodgers came together, when every sign you saw could have meant the season falling apart.

For Dave Roberts, Andrew Friedman, and everyone of their execs in between, this has been a Dodger season with lots of chapters in the book.

The Dodgers earned this trip to Fenway Park, overcoming anything, and most everything.

What doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger. The Dodgers have proven that.

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