Bouncing around the sports world as we play a little hard ball.
Police State: Opening Day at Dodger Stadium is usually a thing of beauty. It will be again today, but the festivities will be a bit tamer this year. Unfortunately, a heavy presence by the popo, much of it in response to the tragic beating of Giants’ fan Bryan Stow last year, will take some of the fun out of going to the old ballpark. Still, fans will be able to enjoy the beauty of Clayton Kershaw, who will receive his Cy Young award on Wednesday, opens on the mound for the Dodgers against the Pirates.
L.A. Times
Vin Scully to miss Opening Day: Even worst, the Dodger legend and Hall of Fame broadcaster won’t be in the lineup today because he’s home nursing a severe cold. Get well soon, Vinny.
ESPN LA
“Pop” goes the Spurs’ run: Are you reading this Mike Brown? Maybe 1 day you could take another page out your daddy Gregg Popovich’s playbook. The San Antonio coach gave Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker the night off as the Jazz ended the club’s 11-game winning streak in Utah last night. The Spurs dropped a game back of the Thunder, who hammered the Bucks. The Lakers visit the well-rested Spurs in the season’s 1st meeting between the 2 club on Wednesday.
San Antonio Express-News
Sorry doesn’t cut it: The Marlins show a little backbone by suspending Manager Ozzie Guillen for 5 games.
Miami Herald

Football players smoking weed and engaging in bad behavior at Florida under Urban Meyer?: This is news? Last time we checked, Florida, Miami and Florida State (see a pattern here?) have all been among the country’s top renegade programs. When Randy Shannon tried to clean up Miami, he got fired. So…
Sporting News
Can Derrick Rose stay healthy?: Word out of Chicago is the Bulls point guard tweaked an ankle in Sunday’s loss to the Knicks and will be a game-time decision when the 2 clubs meet again tonight.
Chicago Tribune
What do the Cards need with Albert Pujols when they have Mr. Freese?: The St. Louis third baseman and World Series hero continues to rake it as the club is off to a strong start.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Speaking of the real deal…: Oakland’s Yoenis Cespedes appears to be all of that.
San Jose Mercury News
It’s still Tiger’s world: Bubba Watson won the Masters, but the neighbors are still talking about the temper tantrums of Tiger Woods.
N.Y. Daily News

This dropped more than a week ago, but it still rocks.
Bugs & Cranks
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Nelson Cruz has developed into Mr. Clutch in the postseason. Three years ago, the Rangers put Cruz on waivers, but every other Major League club passed on him. Now he’s inflicting major damage on any club standing in the Rangers way of a World Series title.
N.Y. Times
]]> http://blak4rest.com/2011/10/late-bloomer/feed/ 0 http://blak4rest.com/2011/09/hes-picking-favorites/ http://blak4rest.com/2011/09/hes-picking-favorites/#comments Fri, 30 Sep 2011 00:27:39 +0000 Jim Gazzolo http://blak4rest.com/?p=22775

The wild card race provided a memorable finish to the regular season that has baseball fans begging for more. Now the postseason begins, where there should be more drama.
Pitching, pitching and more pitching again will dictate the outcome. With that in mind, here are our picks for the postseason.

American League
Tigers vs. Yankees
Two words: Justin Verlander.
Can the Tigers win a game without him is the question. If so, upsetting the Yankees will be easy.
But this is where the Yankees are at their very best. The same thing was said about Cliff Lee 2 years ago, and the Yanks were able to beat him when it counted.
Now comes the true test, the best hitting team in baseball against the best pitcher. While good hitting usually beats good pitching, the Yanks are the best at working counts.
Pick: Yankees in 4.

Rays vs. Rangers
The hottest team in the A.L. and with pitching to boot, Tampa Bay seems to have it all. But is it too much to ask of them to stay emotionally high? The best momentum is good pitching and the Rays have that. Those arms should carry the day.
Pick: Rays in 4.

National League
Cardinals vs. Phillies
Stay with the pitching theme and the Phillies have the arms to run a way with this series. They will throw 3 big-name hurlers at the Cardinals, who are just happy to be in the postseason. The Phillies also have more offense.
Pick: Phillies in 3.

Diamondbacks vs. Brewers
Two surprise teams find themselves in a surprising place. Milwaukee has the hitters to make a mess of any rotation, but Arizona has a special thing going right now that makes them a fun team to watch. The Brewers, though, have been here before and they should hold up.
Pick: Brewers in 5.

ALCS
Rays vs. Yankees
Another battle of the East with the Yankees doing just enough to win behind the hitting of the middle of their lineup and Mariano Rivera. They just have to get the game to the man. Tampa’s great season comes to a close in the Bronx.
Pick: Yankees in 6.

NLCS
Brewers vs. Phillies
Milwaukee might be able to put a scare into Philadelphia, but that is about it. When you can go 4 stars deep on the mound then things are pretty good. Cole Hammels, the star of the Phillies title run three years ago is the 4th starter now. That’s depth.
Pick: Phillies in 5.

World Series
Yankees vs. Phillies
Two years ago, the New York offense beat up the Phillies, who went cold in the biggest of games and could not defend their title. This time things look different. Philadelphia has it all going, power from the left side suited for Yankee Stadium, the home field and the rotation. The Phils are ready to avenge last year’s playoff debacle and the loss to the Yanks the year before. They should get it done.
Pick: Phillies in 6.

]]> http://blak4rest.com/2011/09/hes-picking-favorites/feed/ 0 http://blak4rest.com/2011/04/welcome-matt-ends-blues/ http://blak4rest.com/2011/04/welcome-matt-ends-blues/#comments Mon, 18 Apr 2011 08:57:02 +0000 Forrest Lee http://blak4rest.com/?p=19025
Wonder did the Genius consider pitching around the hottest hitter in baseball? Didn’t think so.
Dodgers 2, Cardinals 1: Matt Kemp is Mr. Walk-off, allowing the Dodgers to end a 5-game losing streak. They get the Braves next.
]]> http://blak4rest.com/2011/04/welcome-matt-ends-blues/feed/ 0 http://blak4rest.com/2010/09/cards-stick-a-fork-in-them/ http://blak4rest.com/2010/09/cards-stick-a-fork-in-them/#comments Thu, 16 Sep 2010 07:10:14 +0000 Forrest Lee http://blak4rest.com/?p=13417
We were singing this sad tune weeks ago. Nothing to see here people, move on. Painful when the punk-ass Cubs put you on life support. And that’s being kind. We officially read the Cardinals their rites tonight thought. Thanks for coming Tony. Good luck in Chicago. Can you co-exist with Kenny Williams?
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
]]> http://blak4rest.com/2010/09/cards-stick-a-fork-in-them/feed/ 0 http://blak4rest.com/2010/01/holliday-spirit-continues-in-st-louis/ http://blak4rest.com/2010/01/holliday-spirit-continues-in-st-louis/#comments Wed, 06 Jan 2010 00:02:52 +0000 Forrest Lee http://blak4rest.com/?p=4452
This should help ease the embarrassment of that catch he muffed against the Dodgers.
Even with Scott Boras as his agent, it was pretty much a forgone conclusion that Matt Holliday wasn’t going anywhere. The outfielder and the Cards agreed on a $120-million deal today that will keep the slugger in St. Louis, where he was traded last season. With the deal done, the Cards can focus more big coin on their franchise player, Albert Pujols.
Yahoo Sports
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