The Passed Ball Show Host John Pielli Joins A Metsian Podcast

From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

with SAM, RICH and MIKE

GUEST

John Pielli

THE PASSED BALL SHOW

sixty minutes

100 Years Ago Today 9/20/1920: Brooklyn Robins Increase Lead Over New York Giants

From the desk of: FINGERPRINTS OF DEM BUMS 

100th Anniversary

BROOKLYN ROBINS

1920 National League Champions

Game #148: Monday, September 20, 1920 - BR
Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Brooklyn Robins
Ebbets Field

Leon Cadore and Al Mamaux Outlast Pirates: Robins Magic Number Down to Three

Leon Cadore and Pittsburgh's Earl Hamilton trade goose eggs for six innings.  Wilbert Robinson proactively removes Cadore and inserts a fresh Al Mamaux into the game for the seventh.  Hamilton, meanwhile, remains on the mound for Pittsburgh, something manager George Gibson would later rue.  The game remains scoreless through the eighth.  In the Pirates ninth, rookie Pie Traynor leads off with a double then scores the go-ahead run on Carson Bigbee's hit to center.  With one out in the home ninth, Ed Konetchy connects against Hamilton on his third home run for the season, tying the game at one.  Mamaux retires the Pirates in the tenth.  In the bottom half of the frame Bernie Neis slaps a one out single, and with two outs Hi Myers drives him home with a double to right.  For Myers, it's his team leading 81st run batted in.  Cadore yields seven hits and just one walk through six scoreless innings.  Al Mamaux allows just three hits and strikes out three to earn his eleventh win.  The Cincinnati Reds and New York Giants split a twin bill at the Polo Grounds.  Brooklyn improves to 18-4 in September.  They lead the Giants by 5.5 games, and hold a 6.5 game lead over the Reds with seven games left in their season.

• RECORD: 88-59 (.599)
• 1st Place; 5.5 GA

AMERICAN LEAGUE

• The Yankees snap a four game losing streak winning in extra-innings at St. Louis.  With one out in the eleventh, shortstop Roger Peckinpaugh lays down a successful squeeze bunt as Babe Ruth crosses the plate with the go ahead run.  Carl Mays pitches all eleven innings for his 25th victory of the season.  New York remains three games out of the top spot.  The Indians take their second straight from the Red Sox to maintain their 1.5 game lead over the White Sox, who defeat the Athletics at Comiskey Park.

100 Years Ago Today 9/19/1920: Brooklyn Robins Maintain Five Game Lead Over New York Giants

From the desk of: FINGERPRINTS OF DEM BUMS

100th Anniversary

BROOKLYN ROBINS

1920 National League Champions

Game #147: Sunday, September 19, 1920 - BR
Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Brooklyn Robins
Ebbets Field 

Jeff Pfeffer Outlasts Wilbur Cooper

Gripped with pennant fever, 25,000 boisterous fans pack Ebbets Field for the first of two games against the Pirates.  Jeff Pfeffer toes the rubber against 23-game winner Wilbur Cooper.  Both teams trade a pair of runs in the first.  Pittsburgh gets runs batted in from Billy Southworth and Bill McKenchie and the Robins score on runs batted in from Zack Wheat and Hi Myers.  They trade tallies again in the sixth on a run batted in from George Cutshaw and a leadoff home run to deep left off the bat of Jimmy Johnston.  Pfeffer and Cooper trade goose eggs for the next two innings as the game enters the final frame tied at three.  Pfeffer pitches in and out of trouble in the top half of the frame.  In the home ninth Bernie Neis greets Wilbur Cooper with a leadoff double.  With Zack Wheat at the plate, Neis steals second base but the throw from catcher Walter Schmidt escapes into centerfield.  Bernie Neis comes around to score the winning run, and the place goes nuts.  Smith earns his sixteenth win of the season.  After starting the first three months of the season with a 3-8 record an 3.18 ERA, Pfeffer since July has posted a stellar 13-1 record with a lowered 3.04 earned run average.  Today he yields three runs on eight hits and no walks with three strikeouts through nine innings complete.  Elsewhere, the Giants defeat the Reds in eleven innings at the Polo Grounds.  Cincinnati now falls seven games out of first, while the Giants creep within five.  New York has twelve games remaining and Brooklyn has eight.

• RECORD:87-59 (.596)
• 1st Place; 5.0 GA

AMERICAN LEAGUE

• The Yankees lose their fourth straight.  Today they bow to the Browns at St. Louis to fall three games back of first place.  The White Sox, with their accused eight still in uniform, defeat the Athletics at Comiskey.  However, Cleveland whitewashes the Red Sox at League Park to remain 1.5 games in first.

PIGSKIN 2020: Week Two

PIGSKIN

FOOTBALL SUNDAY

Week Two

RESULTS

Week One

SCOREBOARD:

Week One Record:  8-5-1
Overall Record:  8-5-1
Schmear of the Week:  1-0
Bagels in the Basket:  +5

1st and Ten

• Ten fans who attended the NFL opener between Kansas City and Texas have been ordered to quarantine.
• MNF: Saints @ Raiders, opening game at Las Vegas.
• Rocky Squirrel and Simon Bar Sinister meet again; Carroll vs. Belichick.

2nd and Short

• Second week straight all teams test negative for COVID. 😷
• Le'Veon Bell's second season with the Jets is off to another miserable start.  

No Gain

• Tom Brady is 0-1 as a Buccaneer; played like crap.  Bruce Arians doesn't sugarcoat his performance to the press.
• Carson Wentz is sacked eight times and hit another fifteen times by the team with no name.
• No change with the D.C. WTF's
• Mike McCarthy's first game as head coach of Dallas.

PUNT!

• Christopher Johnson reiterates his full faith in Adam Gase.

WEEK TWO

Friday Line NYDN

Niners -7 JETS

Joe Douglas' revamped offensive line last week looked broken.  Sam Darnold did some smart things and not so smart things.  But who will he be throwing to?  Jamison Crowder is out; Le'Veon Bell is out.  Jets will be making a go of it with Sam Darnold, Chris Hogan and Frank Gore.  Any help TE Chris Herndon provides will be greatly appreciated.  Oh, and if anything happens to Darnold, Joe Flacco is out as well.  Niners lost a tough division game against the Cardinals and will be looking to even out.  CB Richard Sherman was placed on IR.

WIN 31-13 Niners

Giants +4 1/2 BEARS

Mitch Trubisky last week against the Lions pulled one out of his posterior.  I heard the word clutch being tossed around, but I'm not buying that.  The Giants meanwhile made a decent go of it against the Steelers.  Pittsburgh bottled up the Giants run game.  Expect a better game from Saquon Barkley and the offensive line.  The biggest matchup of the game pits Khalil Mack against rookie left tackle Andrew Thomas.  Looking for OC Jason Garrett to keep expanding the Daniel Jones/Darius Slayton connection.

WIN 17-13 Bears

Rams -1 1/2 EAGLES

Philly is still trying to figure out what hit them.  Now here comes Aaron Donald.  The No Names totaled eight sacks last week and eighteen other QB hits.  Can't see the Eagles starting 0-2, but with that offensive line they're gonna do just that.  Rams victory over the Cowboys influences this pick.  Forget the jet lag, lay the points.

WIN 37-19 Rams

STEELERS -7 1/2 Broncos

Big Ben seemed to dust off the rust rather quickly against the Giants.  Steelers will be a top contender this season.  Broncos will suffer same fate as Giants; no running game and a loss.

Loss 26-21 Steelers

FALCONS +5 Cowboys

Despite good production from Ezekiel Elliott, Cowboys fall to the Rams.  Falcons yield four TD passes last week by Russell Wilson.  Dak Prescott must be chomping at the bit.  But this isn't the Cowboys offensive line we remember and their defense still has to stop Matt Ryan and Julio Jones. 

WIN 40-39 Cowboys

BUCCANEERS -9 Panthers

Tom Brady will not be throwing two INTs again.  Bucs defense should be able to contain Teddy Bridgewater.  If they don't something went really wrong.  The Raiders rushed right through Carolina in week one.

WIN 31-17 Bucs

Bills -5 1/2 DOLPHINS

Ryan Fitzpatrick can sometimes be a real pain in the posterior.  So, let's be clear: Bill Belichick intercepted Fitz three times last week, Fitz didn't throw three interceptions.  There's a difference.  The Fish are back in their element.  But you don't think they're gonna beat the Bills, do you?  Buffalo is my lock of the week.

Loss 31-28 Bills

COLTS -3 Vikings

Philip Rivers had a big game last week, and should have another this week against the Vikings.  It's actually rather ponderous the Colts lost last week against the Jaguars.  The Colts did not punt once.  Packers lit up the Vikes for 43 points.  Rivers may come close.

WIN 28-11 Colts

PACKERS -6 Lions

No confidence in the Lions defense.  Packers won't put up forty points, but should cover against a suspect Lions secondary.

WIN 42-21 Packers

Jaguars +9 TITANS

Stay away!  Jaguars aren't as good as they looked against the Colts and the Titans aren't as bad as they looked against the Broncos.  Defeating the Broncos is no great feat.  I look for the Titans to win, but not cover.  They are notorious slow starters.  Although, once they get going they can dominate.  They can easily win by ten.  But are they awake yet?  I dread this pick.

WIN 33-30 Titans

No Name +7 CARDINALS

I admit the WTF's grabbed my attention last week; eight sacks and fifteen QB hits against the Eagles.  They were down seventeen points in the first half and still won.  I'm just looking for No Name to cover, not win.

Loss 30-15 Cardinals

Ravens -7 TEXANS

Until the Ravens prove otherwise ... Texans defense is very questionable.

WIN 33-16 Ravens

Chiefs -8 1/2 CHARGERS

The Bolts are without their starting center Mike Pouncey; out for the season.  That will be troublesome for Tyrod Taylor.  DE Joey Bosa is very questionable.  That will be troublesome for the Chargers defense.

Loss 23-20 Chiefs

SEAHAWKS -3 1/2 Patriots

Cam Newton rushed for two TD's last week against the Fish.  He'll need to both rush and throw TD's in order to beat Russell Wilson at this particular moment in time.

WIN 35-30 Seahawks

SCHMEAR OF THE WEEK (1-0)

Bills -5 1/2

LOSS

Good luck and have a great FOOTBALL SUNDAY everyone. 

Week Two Record:  10-4

Overall Record:  18-9-1

Schmear of the Week:  1-1

Bagels in the Basket:  +8

N.Y. Islanders: Deep-Sixed

From the desk of: NO SLEEP TILL BELMONT

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE

2019   EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS   2020

Lightning defeat Islanders; 4-2

I - TBL 8; NYI 2

II - TBL 2; NYI 1

III - NYI 5; TBL 3

IV - TBL 4; NYI 3

V - NYI 2; TBL 1**

VI - TBL 2' NYI 1*

** double-overtime

* overtime

Why bother breaking down game six and rehashing things like Cal Clutterbuck hitting the post and things of that nature.  Why not focus instead on the fact Clutterbuck was the Islanders best center in game six.

Through six games shots on goal were a lopsided 213-165 in favor of the Bolts.  Some of that has to do with Barry Trotz' system, some has to do with Tampa, the rest has to do with any given five skaters on the ice.  On average the Bolts take eight more shots per game.  Thus the Islanders through six games get outscored by a 20-12 margin.  Omit game one and the Bolts still outscore the Isles by a 12-10 margin.

Blue liners Ryan McDonagh and Victor Hedman were definite thorns in the Islanders side.  Their respective pinching efforts impacted the series.  But the Lightning, simply put, win four games with center Brayden Point on the ice, and lose two when he's not on the ice.  Through seventeen games played, Point has nine goals and sixteen assists.  In 22 games Brock Nelson scores nine goals with nine assists and Mathew Barzal posts five goals and twelve assists over the same number of games.  Does the difference in this series between Tampa and Long Island lie in the Islanders having Jean-Gabriel Pageau at center instead of John Tavares?

Maybe, maybe not ...

Otherwise, neither team does themselves any favors on the power play.  Tampa goes 4/21, but if you subtract three PP goals from game one, the Bolts are just 1/15 with the man advantage.  Long Island fares no better, going 2/19 in six games.

Both Semyon Varlamov and Robin Lehner both bow out of the final four.  Through twenty games and nineteen starts, Varlamov wraps up business with a .921SV% and a 2.14 GAA.  Robin Lehner, who will likely sign an extension with Las Vegas, plays sixteen games while posting a .917SV% and 1.99 GAA.  The difference between the two seems negligible.  Did Lou Lamoriello make the right choice?  It's too close to call, besides, Andrei Vaslievskiy outperformed them both.  He has started every game for Tampa since entering the bubble.  Through nineteen games he owns a .931SV% and a 1.82 GAA. 

100 Years Ago Today 9/18/1920: Packed Ebbets Field Watches Brooklyn Robins Bow to Reds

 From the desk of: FINGERPRINTS OF DEM BUMS

100th Anniversary

BROOKLYN ROBINS

1920 National League Champions

Game #146: Saturday, September 18, 1920 - BR
Cincinnati Reds vs. Brooklyn Robins
Ebbets Field

Reds Salvage Series Finale

Brooklyn does well to overcome a five run deficit.  Tommy Griffith's three run home run sparks a five run fifth and gives the Robins new life.  With starter Rube Marquard off the hook, Uncle Robbie decides to throw everything but the kitchen sink at Cincinnati.  Al Mamaux, Sherry Smith, Burleigh Grimes and Clarence Mitchell all pitch in short relief, but to no avail.  The Reds generate six more runs but only two are earned en route to an 11-5 victory.  Hi Myers is 1 for 3 with a double and his 79th run batted in.  Marquard yields five runs on nine hits and one walk with three strikeouts through 5.1 innings.  Sherry Smith is tagged with the loss.  The Giants defeat the Pirates for a third straight game at the Polo Grounds and close within five games of first place.  The Reds are six games out.  Brooklyn has nine games left to play, the Giants have thirteen.

• RECORD: 86-59 (.593)
• 1st place; 5.0 GA

AMERICAN LEAGUE

• Still featuring a full compliment of players and Eddie Cicotte on the mound, the beleaguered White Sox roll to a 15-9 victory over the Yankees at Comiskey Park.  Cicotte wins his 19th against ten losses with a 3.44 ERA.  Bob Shawkey on the other hand is denied his 19th victory.  He now stands at 18-12 with a 2.44 ERA.  After winning five straight to gain first place the Yankees have now lost three in a row.  Today they get knocked down to third place, 2.0 games back of the Cleveland Indians.  Chicago is 1.5 games back. 

100 Years Ago Today 9/17/1920: Brooklyn Robins Take Second Straight From Defending Champs

From the desk of: FINGERPRINTS OF DEM BUMS

100th Anniversary

BROOKLYN ROBINS

1920 National League Champions

Game #145: Friday, September 17, 1920 - BR
Cincinnati Reds vs. Brooklyn Robins
Ebbets Field

The Countdown Begins: Six Game Lead With Ten Games Left to Play

LEON CADORE WINS #15

Leon Cadore once again comes through for Uncle Robbie.  The 28-year old right-hander limits the defending champions to a pair of unearned runs on five hits and five walks with five strikeouts through nine innings.  He improves to 15-13 with a 2.62 ERA.  Trailing 2-1 in the home seventh, Ivy Olson leads off with a double then scores the tying run on Tommy Griffith's base hit to left.  Zack Wheat singles and Hi Myers drives in his 78th run of the season giving the Robins a 3-2 lead and final margin of victory.  That's two straight wins against the Reds and thirteen wins in their last fourteen games.  Brooklyn widens their lead to seven over the now third place Reds.  The New York Giants defeat the Pittsburgh Pirates in ten innings at the Polo Grounds.  They take over second place six games behind the Robins.

• RECORD: 86-58 (.597)
• 1st Place; 6.0 GA

EXTRA: BREAKING NEWS
EIGHT WHITE SOX TO BE SUSPENDED

Season long scuttlebutt and wild speculation is coming to a head.  A grand jury is being convened to investigate allegations that numerous White Sox players acted in concert to throw the 1919 World Series against the Cincinnati Reds in return for monetary compensation from a known gambling syndicate.  Rumors have plagued the White Sox even while the series was in progress and ever since.  It is now being reported Mr. Comiskey will shortly announce the suspension of eight players allegedly implicated in the fix:

• Eddie Cicotte
• George "Buck" Weaver
• Oscar "Happy" Felsch
• Fred McMillan
• "Shoeless" Joe Jackson
• Charles "Swede" Risberg
• Claude "Lefty" Williams
• and Arnold "Chick" Gandil who never reported to the White Sox to begin with, electing instead to play semi-pro ball.  Looking back, Gandil's decision may very well have cost Chicago the pennant.  

That being said, today's unfolding events essentially leave the American League up for grabs between the New York Yankees and Cleveland Indians.

Or does it?

When the White Sox took the field this afternoon at Comiskey Park, all suspected parties were present and in uniform.  Seemingly untroubled by outside disturbance, Eddie Collins and Shoeless Joe slash back to back triples and Happy Felsch drives home Jackson for a prompt 2-0 lead against the visiting New York Yankees.  Swede Risberg triples leading off the second inning and is driven home by Red Faber for a 3-0 lead.  A third inning error by first baseman Shano Collins leads to a pair of unearned runs for the Yankees.  Chicago then scores three runs in the sixth, two are unearned.  After which the Sox withstand two Yankees runs in the ninth for a 6-4 victory.  Chicago closes to within 1.5 games of first place, although their future appears bleak.

N.Y. Islanders: Semyon Varlamov Saves Long Island From Elimination

From the desk of: NO SLEEP TILL BELMONT

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE

2019   EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS   2020

Lightning lead Isles; 3-2

I - TBL 8; NYI 2

II - TBL 2; NYI 1

III - NYI 5; TBL 3

IV - TBL 4; NYI 1

V - NYI 2; TBL 1*

*double-overtime

Semyon Varlamov Short Circuits Bolts Through Double Overtime

The pressure was squarely on Semyon Varlamov to steal a game.  It took 92:30 minutes, but like a thief in the night he does just that.  He faces 37 shots and stops all but one.  Once Tampa does score, Varlamov pitches a shutout over the ensuing sixty-seven minutes of play.  It's the first time in five games and only the third time since entering the bubble that Tampa has been held to one goal or less. 

It's a good thing too, as the Islanders are held to just 24 shots on goal through four and a half periods of hockey. 

Through two periods shots on goal were 15-12 in favor of the Bolts.  They out-shoot the Islanders 9-5 in the third, then trade four shots on goal during the first overtime.  But the Islanders were out-shot again by an 8-4 margin in the second overtime making Semyon Varlamov the brightest star of the game. 

The onus is now on the skaters in front of him to get the Islanders through to game seven.  After going just 1/14 on the power play through the first four games, Long Island finally gets a timely goal at 15:41 of the first period by Ryan Pulock giving the Isles a 1-0 lead.  But four minutes into the second period the Islanders get caught in a change; Victor Hedman collects a rebound and blasts it past Varlamov tying the game at one.

Long Island kills three power lays.  None more important than a four-minute minor called against Anthony Beaullivier for high sticking at 18:37 of the third period that spills into overtime.

Midway through the second overtime Kevin Shattenkirk whiffs on a shot attempt.  The puck is poked up ice by Anders Lee who catches up with it along the left side.  Joining him on the right is Jordan Eberle.  Lee feeds a beautiful slider to Eberle who converts on a one-timer that beats Andrei Vasilevskiy glove side for the win.

The Islanders are now 2/17 on the power play.  Tampa is 4/16, however, three goals come in game one.  Otherwise, the Bolts since game two are 1/10 on the power play.  Goals scored since game two are presently 10-9 in favor of the Lightning.

Through five games both teams get "The Point" - the Lightning are 3-0 when center Brayden Point is on the ice; the Islanders are 2-0 when Brayden Point is not on the ice.  On that note, Johnny Boychuck was back on the ice for the first time since sustaining an injury against Florida.

100 Years Ago Today 9/16/1920: Brooklyn Robins Extend Lead to Six Over Reds and Giants

From the desk of: FINGERPRINTS OF DEM BUMS

100th Anniversary

BROOKLYN ROBINS

1920 National League Champions

Game #144: Thursday, September 16, 1920 - BR
Cincinnati Reds vs. Brooklyn Dodgers
Ebbets Field

Burleigh Grimes Turns Away Defending Champions; Robins Extend Lead to Six.

With the defending world champions in town Uncle Robbie puts the ball in the hands of his ace, Burleigh Grimes.  He is opposed by sixteen game winner Dutch Ruether.  The confident Reds waste no time taking a 1-0 lead on an Edd Rouch base hit.  Undeterred, Brooklyn counters in the bottom half of the frame with runs driven in by Zack Wheat and Hi Myers and in a flash Reds manager Pat Moran blazes a trail from the dugout towards the pitching mound.  Out goes Dutch Ruether and in comes right-hander Ray Fisher.  Pete Kilduff promptly greets the Reds reliever with a hit up the middle scoring Wheat for a 3-1 Robins lead.  Cincinnati then reminds Robins fans exactly whom they're up against.  With two outs and a runner on first in the fifth, first baseman Jake Daubert hits a Grimes offering deep beyond the reach of left fielder Zack Wheat that goes for an inside the park home run.  However, the Robins quickly break the deadlock on Otto Miller's hit in the sixth and add an insurance run on Tommy Griffith's double in the seventh, both runs coming against Fisher.  Burleigh Grimes retires the Reds in order to close out the ninth.  The spitballer improves to 22-10 with a 2.10 ERA.  Hi Myers is 2 for 4 and drives home his team leading 77th run batted in.  Brooklyn improves to 15-3 in September and now owns a six game lead over the Reds with eleven games left to play.  Cincinnati, however, still has eighteen games on their docket.  But that's because numerous rain postponements this season are coming to bear upon the Reds who must play five double-headers in the final weeks to come.  Meanwhile, the New York Giants split a twin bill with the Phillies which ties them with the Reds for second place.  The Giants have fifteen games left on their schedule, five of which are against Brooklyn.

• RECORD: 85-58 (.594)
• 1st Place; 6.0 GA

AMERICAN LEAGUE

• The Chicago White Sox best the Yankees 8-3 at Comiskey Park.  Thus New York falls into a first place tie with the Cleveland Indians.  The Yankees have twelve games on their schedule.  Meanwhile the White Sox close to within 1.5 games of first place, with two more games left in their series against the Yankees and thirteen games left in their regular season. 

Week One: New York Giants Ground Game Rushes Headlong into Steel Curtain

From the desk of: DO IT FOR THE DUKE

WEEK ONE

STEELERS     26

GIANTS         16

FINAL

GIANTS RUNNING GAME STOPPED COLD IN ITS TRACKS

I left off saying my attention would be focused on the offensive line's performance.  Game one is done and the results are in.

Facing a stout Pittsburgh defense, the line fails to create even a glint of daylight for Saquon Barkley who rushes fifteen times for an inconsequential six yards.  Dion Lewis rushes once for one yard giving the Giants backfield seven net yards on sixteen rushes.  Daniel Jones triples their output scrambling four times for 22 yards.

Insofar as pass protection goes, Jones is sacked three times and hit another eight times.  Playing under duress throughout, Jones throws 26/41 (63%) for 279 yards with two interceptions and a pair of touchdown connections with Darius Slayton.  The sophomore receiver makes six receptions for 102 yards.

Daniel Jones actually keeps the Giants on par with the Steelers insofar as first downs and third down efficiency.  In fact, Jones out-passes Big Ben who only throws 21/32 for 229 yards.  Of course the major difference is Pittsburgh's ability to rush for 141 yards on thirty attempts.  Even then, in the absence of an effective running game Daniel Jones still manages to keep possession of the ball for 28:16 minutes.  But two interceptions ruin his cause.  The first is an ill-advised dying quail intercepted by Cameron Heyward in the end zone and the second is intercepted in Giants territory by defensive lineman T.J. Watt who appears to read the play like a book.  Last season Daniel Jones accounts for 30 turnovers.  So far that's two TO's in the books with fifteen games to go.

The beleaguered Leonard Williams and second year lineman Dexter Lawrence register their first respective sacks.  Otherwise, the Giants defense allows 132 rushing yards (not including nine yards from Big Ben) and yields ten decisive points in the fourth quarter.

100 Years Ago Today 9/15/1920: First Place Brooklyn Robins Await Showdown With Reds

From the desk of: FINGERPRINTS OF DEM BUMS

100th Anniversary

BROOKLYN ROBINS
1920 National League Champions

Game #143: Wednesday, September 15, 1920 - BR

Chicago Cubs vs. Brooklyn Robins

Ebbets Field

Sherry Smith Outclasses Cubs Starter; Whitewashes Chicago for Tenth Victory

Cubs starter Speed Martin might have pitched the best game of his career.  But Sherry Smith is better.  What the Robins lack in offensive production Sherry more than compensates for.  After five scoreless innings Brooklyn posts the game's first and only run on a double by Zack Wheat for his 64th runs batted in of the season.  In fact, the Robins muster just five hits all game and draw one walk against Martin who strikes out three over eight innings pitched.  Sherry Smith on the other hand yields eight hits and one walk with two strikeouts through nine scoreless innings for the complete game shutout.  He improves to 10-8 with an even 2.00 earned run average.  Brooklyn takes the series four games to one.  They've now won eleven of their last twelve games and are to date an astounding 14-3 in September.  The Reds, due in Brooklyn tomorrow, defeat the Phillies at Baker Bowl to remain five games back.  But the idle New York Giants lose one half-game and now sit 5.5 games out of first.

• RECORD: 84-58 (.592)
• 1st Place; 5.0 GA

**EXTRA: The Cleveland Indians trounce the Philadelphia Athletics by a 13-0 final score at League Park to close within one game of the idle first place New York Yankees.

Out With the Wilpons & In With the Steve Cohen Era on Another Metsian Podcast

From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

with SAM, RICH and MIKE

ninety-minutes

Sterling Partners sign agreement with Steve Cohen. #Mets pic.twitter.com/ogzUcLFkeQ

— New York Mets (@Mets) September 14, 2020

Let The Celebration Begin!

N.Y. Giants: Young Offensive Core Falling Into Place

From the desk of: DO IT FOR THE DUKE

MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL

PITTSBURGH STEELERS

vs.

NEW YORK GIANTS

Dare I say this season the offense appears capable of generating some excitement.  Health and development will go a long way.  Lest we forget this is still a work in progress.  But key pieces continue being put into place.  Dave Gettleman has so far conducted three drafts in which he's assembled a young core featuring Saquon Barkely, Daniel Jones, Darius Slayton, Will Hernandez and hopefully Thomas Andrews joins the list.  

And so the rebuilding continues .. 

THE HOG MOLLIES

Andrew Thomas   Will Hernandez   Nick Gates   Kevin Zeitler   Cam Fleming

Everything starts at center.  Nick Gates will be making his first NFL start at the position after playing all of last season at guard.  He was hurt two seasons ago, making this his second full season with the Giants.  Much of my attention on Monday night will be focused on him.  The center is the play caller for the offensive line and he's going up against a Steelers defensive line that needs little help getting to the quarterback.  That means Daniel Jones will be throwing into a crowded field.  It'll be up to Gates to make sure he and the line keep Jones standing upright.

Luckily Gates will be sandwiched between two very solid guards.  To the left of center will be Will Hernandez.  He's been a fine addition to the line since being selected in the second round of the 2018 draft.  He's started every game since.  Right of center will be Kevin Zeitler, acquired last March from the Browns (as part of the Odell Beckham trade).  In 2017 the Browns made him the NFL's highest paid right guard.  Last season Zeitler demonstrated reasons why.  The line was improved immediately upon his arrival and he now makes for a great on-field coach next to Nick Gates.

The more troublesome issues exist at tackle.  Nat Solder back in July opted out of the upcoming regular season over family and personal health concerns.  This means first round draft selection Andrew Thomas gets thrown into the fire.  Drafted out of Georgia, the 21-year old (6'5" 315 pounds) is being charged with protecting Daniel Jones' blind side, on Monday Night Football, in front of a national audience, against a ferocious Steelers front seven.  At right tackle Mike Remmers is out.  In his place is free agent acquisition Cameron Fleming.  The 28-year old six year veteran sports a nice resume: six years in the league, two Super Bowl titles in four years with the Patriots, and two seasons with Dallas.  He arrives with an ally in offensive coordinator Jason Garrett.

Daniel Jones enters his sophomore season and his first full season under center.  In taking the baton from Eli Manning he appears in thirteen games and makes twelve starts as a rookie, throwing 284/459 for 3,027 yards with 24 touchdowns and twelve interceptions.  An otherwise fine debut if it wasn't for 18 fumbles!  If nothing else, Jones needs to rectify that with haste.  Thirty turnovers are way too high, but they're within his control.  Better ball security - that number must absolutely come down.

If the offensive line provides enough time, Daniel Jones starts the season with a full complement of receivers at his disposal.  Evan Engram returns after making just eight appearances and six starts last season.  He rejoins Sterling Shepard and second year favorite Darius Slayton and Golden Tate, if and when available.  Slayton won over many fans last season with 48 receptions and 740 yards in fourteen games and just nine starts.

The star of the offense is obviously Saquon Barkley.  In 29 career games he has thus generated 3,469 total yards from scrimmage.  He is selected to the Pro Bowl as a rookie with over 1,300 yards rushing and over 700 yards receiving.  Last season Saquon missed three games but still rushed for 1,003 yards and caught 52 passes for another 438 yards giving him a net of 1,441 yards for the season.

All this is being put in the hands of new offensive coordinator Jason Garrett.

Very interesting ...

N.Y. Islanders Pushed to the Brink of Elimination

From the desk of: NO SLEEP TILL BELMONT

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE

2019   EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS   2020

Lightning lead Isles; 3-1

I - TBL 8; NYI 2

II - TBL 2; NYI 1

III - NYI 5; TBL 3

IV - TBL 4; NYI 1

Onus Now on Goalie Semyon Varlamov to Steal Game Five 

The Islanders spend the first half of game four playing their style of hockey.  They're finally rewarded when Brock Nelson finds net unassisted at 11:27 of the second period.  But after the ensuing face-off Long Island comes apart like wet toilet paper.  A mere fifteen seconds after Nelson's goal, Tampa's Blake Coleman ties the game.  Just twelve seconds later Ondrej Palat puts the Lightning ahead for good.  The Lightning add goals early and late in the third period en route to a 4-1 victory.

The Islanders go another 0 for 3 on the power play and are now just 1/14 for the series.  Tampa dominates face-offs 34-21 and out-shoot the Isles by a 36-27 margin.  In other words Long Island has no answer for the Lightning over the final half of the game.

Tampa has centers Brayden Point and Alex Killorn back on the ice but the Islanders are officially without center Casey Cizikas who did not play game three and has now exited the bubble.

The Islanders appear slow and neglectful on defense.  But if I'm picking one game out of four wherein the net minder needed to save the day, this was it.  Blake Coleman plays through a feeble poke-check attempt by Semyon Varlamov for Tampa's first goal.

Long Island has identified a roof top weakness in Andrei Vasilevskiy's game but aren't getting the requisite numbers of shots on net.  Last two games Tampa has unleashed 72 shots on goal (back-to-back games of 30+ shots on goal), while the Islanders muster 62 shots and are held under 30 shots for the third time this series.

• Andrei Vasilevskiy: 4 games; 114 SOG; 106 Saves; 8 Goals; .930SV%
• Semyon Varlamov: 4 games; 118 SOG; 105 Saves; 13 Goals; .914SV%

The Islanders are actually getting good opportunities.  But Vasilevskiy has other plans.  At the other end, it seems as if Varlamov is back in regular season form. 

• Varlamov: regular season .914 SV%; post-season .914SV%.
• Vasilevskiy: regular season .917 SV%; post-season .930SV%.

Advantage Tampa.

100 Years Ago Today 9/14/1920: Cubs Snap Brooklyn Robins Ten Game Win Streak

From the desk of: FINGERPRINTS OF THE BUMS

100th Anniversary

BROOKLYN ROBINS

1920 National League Champions

Game #142: Tuesday, September 14, 1920 - BR
Chicago Cubs vs. Brooklyn Robins
Ebbets Field

Cubs Rout Robins But Brooklyn Loses No Ground

Fans in attendance sit in bewilderment as the Cubs tally three, five, six, then eight, up to ten runs against three different Robins pitchers.  After all, Brooklyn presently boasts the league's best ERA.  Just not on this day.  Chicago snaps Brooklyn's ten game win streak in a 10-2 final.  Only Bernie Neis distinguishes himself going 2 for 4 with a double and one run batted in.  Leon Cadore is tagged with the loss, but it's clearly not all his fault.  And then .. then word gets out the Giants yield nine runs to the Cardinals, and that the Reds lose by eleven to the Phillies in a preposterous 21-10 affair.  And so the 12,000 or so fans exiting Ebbets Field join in neutral agreement that there's no harm in today's outcome.  When the daily four star final hit the streets, we learn the Yankees generate thirteen runs against the Tigers and the A's score eight against the Indians.  Even the Senators whitewash the White Sox by a 7-0 margin.  It appears runs were in the September air, not just here, but everywhere.  Brooklyn retains their five game lead over both the Reds and Giants with only thirteen games left to play; the Giants have fourteen left. 

• RECORD: 83-58-1 (.589)
• 1st Place; 5.0 GA

FINAL  *  *  *  *   Yanks Trounce Tigers

The Yankees victory coupled with Cleveland's loss gives New York a 1.5 game lead ahead of the Indians.  New York has just thirteen games left.  At Detroit's Navin Field, Bob Shawkey limits the Tigers to three runs on ten hits with five strikeouts for his 18th victory of the season and a 2.26 ERA.  Babe Ruth is issued three more passes but he still scores twice and drives in another.  Second baseman Del Pratt is 4 for 6 with two doubles and four runs batted in.  Yankees are winners of five in a row and eight of their last nine.