The Ticket Chest

NFL Standings Week 8

Monday, October 27th, 2008 | NFL, Sports | No Comments

Tags: football, NFL, Standings, Week 8

Week 9 Rankings

Monday, October 27th, 2008 | College Football, Sports | No Comments

Rankings: Week 9

Tags: AP top 25, Bowl series top 25, NCAA football, USA top 25, week 9

Phils, Rays – World Series Game 4 Battle

Sunday, October 26th, 2008 | MLB, Sports | No Comments

On Saturday, October 25th, the Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 5-4 in World Series Game 3 to take a 2-1 advantage over the Rays. Game 4 is set for 8:07 PM EST on Sunday, October 26th. The Rays have their backs up to the wall. If they lose Game 4, they will have to face the Phillies ace Cole Hamels on his home turf at Citizens Bank Ballpark in an elimination game on Monday, October 27th. The Rays will send Andy Sonnanstine to the mound in Game 4. Sonnanstine has won both of his 2008 post-season starts – over the White Sox and Red Sox – and has only allowed 5 earned runs combined in both starts. The Phillies will counter with Joe Blanton. Blanton has only allowed 4 earned runs in his 11 innings of 2008 post-season work. He defeated the Milwaukee Brewers in the decisive Game 4 of the NLDS, but took a no-decision against the Los Angeles Dodgers in his only NLCS start. If ever there was a pivotal game to a series, this would be it. Let’s see if the Rays bats can come back to life – thereby tying the series at 2 and forcing a return to St. Petersburg, where everyone will be happy to be able to hear those crazy cowbells for at least one more time in 2008.

Tags: Philadelphia Phillies, Tampa Bay Rays, World Series

Phils Top Rays 5-4, Lead Series 2 Games To 1

Sunday, October 26th, 2008 | MLB, Sports | No Comments

The Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 5-4 in World Series Game 3 to take a 2-1 advantage and maintain home field advantage. If the Phillies can win the next 2 games at Citizens Bank Ballpark, the Phillies will bring the 1st World Series Championship to Philadelphia in 25 years. After blowing an early 4-1 lead, the needed some quirky plays in the 9th inning to secure the 5-4 win. In the 9th inning, Eric Bruntlett led off with a walk. Bruntlett went to 3rd base when Rays reliever Grant Balfour threw a wild pitch that caromed back to Catcher Dioner Navarro. Navarro’s throw to 2nd base sailed into center field, and Bruntlett was able to take 3rd base on the error. The Rays then walked Shane Victorino and Greg Dobbs, bringing up Carlos Ruiz who was hoping to make up for his throwing error in the 8th inning that allowed the Rays to tie the game. Ruiz hit a slow dribbler up the 3rd base line that Evan Longoria tried to flip to home plate to force Bruntlett out, but his throw was not in time, and the Ruiz ended the game with his “perfectly placed” single.

After the Phillies took a 1st inning lead on an RBI groundout by Chase Utley, the Rays tied the game in the top of the 2nd inning with a sacrifice fly by Gabe Gross. Carlos Ruiz gave the Phils a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the inning with a solo home run to deep left. The Phils extended the lead to 4-1 in the 6th inning with back-to-back home runs by Chase Utley and Ryan Howard. The Rays didn’t go down without a fight however, scoring on RBI ground outs by Gabe Gross and Jason Bartlett in the 7th inning to cut the lead to 4-3. In the 8th inning, B.J. Upton led off with a single and stole second base with 1 out. Upton then stole second base and was able to score the tying run on Ruiz’s throwing error to 3rd base. Then came the 9th inning craziness.

Both starting pitchers kept their teams in the game that was delayed at the start by 90 minutes because of rain. The Rays Matt Garza pitched 6 innings giving up 4 earned runs on 6 hits, while striking out 7. The Phils Jamie Moyer pitched into the 7th inning giving up only 3 earned runs on 5 hits, while striking out 5. Each team’s bull pen gave up 1 run.

It was an exciting game if you were a disinterested baseball fan. Each team played well and each team had chances to register big innings. But the pitchers really buckled down all game long to keep within striking distance of the other team. The Phillies are in a great position right now. If the Phillies can win Game 4 on Sunday night, they will have Cole Hamels pitching on 4 days rest in Game 5 of the World Series, looking to bring that elusive World Series Championship home to the city of brotherly love.

Tags: Philadelphia Phillies, Tampa Bay Rays, World Series

Alabama 8-0, Texas hangs on for the win

Sunday, October 26th, 2008 | College Football, NFL, Sports | No Comments

Crimson Tide continued on their undefeated roll beating Tennessee 29-9. The other 8-0 team Texas did not look as strong only beating OSU 28-24. So far this looks like its Alabama’s week. Check back more to come.

Tags: Alabama, NCAA football, Texas

NFL Players Using Diuretic Violated NFL Steroids Policy

Saturday, October 25th, 2008 | General, NFL, Sports | No Comments

There are several unconfirmed reports that several NFL players have tested positive for using a weight-loss diuretic that violates the NFL’s steroids policy. Bumetanide is a “watter pill” that causes increased urination which decreases the amount of urine and salt retained in the body. When a diuretic like bumetanide is used as a “masking agent”, it dilutes the urine which lowers the amount of any banned substance being excreted from the body in the user’s urine. The New York Jets running back Jesse Chatman was suspended for the first 4 games of the season for using a diuretic that could be used as a amsking agent and thus violates the NFL’s strict steroids drug policy. The recent unconfirmed report states that somewhere between 10-15 NFL players have tested positive for the diruetic that could result in 4 games suspensions for each player involved. Fox 31 television in Denver only named 2 players in their report – Deuce McCalister and Will Smith of the New Orleans Saints, who are in London to play against the San Diego Chargers in the annual NFL football game overseas. Houston TV station KRIV alos reported that the long-snapper for the Houston Texans, Bryan Pittman, was also one of the players who tested positive for the diuretic and is ready to appeal any potential suspension.

This is just another example of players and their trainers trying to find ways around the NFL’s drug policies in order to get the upper hand. The players should get the benefit of the doubt, they should be able to appeal the results and make their case, and they should have had the ability to do these things with confidentiality. The persons responsible for leaking the information to the public before any determination has been made should also be held accountable for their actions. It will be interesting to see how the NFL treats the players who tested positive for the diuretic. Commissioner Goodell and his staff have taken a hard-line regarding players’ violations of the NFL’s drug policies and players’ off-the-field infractions that may or may not be considered violations of the law. Given these precedents, it will be hard to imagine many of these players involved winning their appeals.

Tags: NFL, Steroids, Weight-loss Diuretic

Rays, Phils World Series Game 3 Tonight – Weather Permitting

Saturday, October 25th, 2008 | MLB, Sports | No Comments

Game 3 of the World Series is scheduled for Saturday, October 25th at 8:07PM EST, weather permitting. Rain is expected in the Philadelphia area for much of the day on Saturday. The rain should taper off towards the evening and night hours, but it is unclear what shape the field will be in after the steady rain. If the game is played, the Rays will send Matt Garza to the mound, hoping to continue to build off his ALCS success and his ALCS MVP honors. During the ALCS against the Red Sox, Garza won Game 3 and Game 7 limiting the Red Sox to only 1 earned run in each of his starts. He allowed only a combined 8 hits in both games and struck out 14. The Phillies will counter with 45-year old Jamie Moyer. Mayer is a tenured-verteran, but has never pitched on the World Series stage. Moyer has not had a good 2008 post-season run. He lasted only 4 innings in a 4-1 loss to the Brewers in Game 3 of the NLDS and he lasted only 1 1/3 innings in a 7-2 loss to the Dodgers in Game 3 of the NLCS. Manuel once again has faith in his trusted veteran to make a good appearance in Game 3 of the World Series, but I’m not so sure of the decision. With the Series tied at 1-1, I would start Joe Blanton in Game 3 to try to get that lead back.

If Game 3 does get rained out, the teams will play the last 5 games of the World Series on consecutive days – Games 3-5 on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday at Citizens Bank Ballpark in Philadelphia and Games 6 and 7 on Wednesday and Thursday at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg. If that happens, I would go with Cole Hamels to Start Game 3 on Sunday night in Philly. If you wait to start Hamels on Monday with his full 4-days rest, then if the World Series does go to a 7th game, Hamels would have to pitch on only 2 days’s rest or come out of the bullpen in relief if needed. If he pitches on Sunday on 3 days’ rest, then he could also come back on 3 days’ rest in a Game 7 on Thursday, if necessary. Hamels only needed 104 pitches in his 7-inning win in Game 1 of the World Series and with the Phillies reliable bullpen, even if Hamels only gives you 6 or 7 solid innings on Sunday, Manuel could turn the ball over to Romero, Madsen and Lidge to finish off the job. It will be interesting to see what the managers’ choose to do if World Series Game 3 is rained out tonight.

Tags: Philadelphia Phillies, Tampa Bay Rays, World Series

Bulls Dealing With Injuries

Friday, October 24th, 2008 | NBA, Sports | No Comments

Chicago Bulls Guard Larry Hughes is expecting to miss at least 6-8 weeks after suffering a dislocated shoulder in the Bulls win over the Timberwolves on Wednesday, October 22nd. Hughes suffered the injury while scrambling on the floor for a loose ball. X-rays and an MRI showed no structural damage, so doctors do not think that surgery will be necessary to heal the injury. Hughes will undergo a 2nd MRI to finalize the rehabilitation program that Hughes will follow to get back into game shape.

Bulls shooting guard Ben Gordon, the team’s leading scorer in 2007-8, has also missed 5 pre-season games with a jammed right big toe. Gordon cannot give 100% during practices and it is unclear if he will be ready for the Bulls’ season opener against the Milwaukee Bucks at the United Center on Tuesday, October 28th.

Bulls forward Tyrus Thomas injured his right ankle in the Bulls victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday, October 21st. Thomas did not play in Wednesday night’s game against the Timberwolves and he hasn’t practiced since. The Bulls do not think the injury is serious, but they are being extra cautious this early in the long, grueling NBA season.

This is not good news for the Bulls. The Bulls are a young team, learning under a new coach. They are not a deep team, so they will need all of their core players healthy and ready to play in order to make an impact right at the start of the NBA season. Hughes looks like he will be missing some serious playing time, but if Gordon and Thomas can suit up within the 1st few games of the season, that should help the Bulls attempt to get off to a winning start on the long road to 2009 post-season play.

Chicago Bulls Oct 24th

Tags: Chicago Bulls, Injuries, NBA

Rays Beats Phils 4-2, World Series Even at 1 Game Apiece

Friday, October 24th, 2008 | General, MLB, NFL, Sports | No Comments

The Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 4-2 in Game 2 of the World Series. The World Series is now tied at 1 game a piece, and Games 3, 4 and 5 will be played at Citizen’s Bank Ballpark in Philadelphia. The Rays struck early taking advantage of a Jayson Werth error on B.J. Upton’s single in the 1st inning, to set the Rays up with 2nd and 3rd with nobody out. Carlos Pena and Evan Longoria each delivered RBI ground outs to Jimmy Rollins and the Rays opened up a 2-0 lead, a lead they would never relinquish. The Rays increased the lead to 3-0 on an RBI-single by B.J. Upton in the 2nd inning, but the damage could have been worse. Jayson Werth gunned down Rocco Baldelli at the plate on the Upton single to end any further threat. The Rays scored their 4th and final run on a safety squeeze in the 4th inning. The Phillies added a run in the 8th on a solo home run by Eric Bruntlett and a run in the 9th on a fielding error by Evan Longoria which allowed Carlos Ruiz to score, but the late innings were not all that tense. The Phillies had their chances earlier in the game against Rays starter James Shields, but they never came through in the clutch. The Phillies had 9 hits in all, and had at least 2 runners on each of the 2nd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th innings – but the team didn’t score in any of those innings. Shields allowed 9 batters to reach base against him in only 5 2/3 innings, but he was always able to avoid that big inning. Dan Wheeler pitched one inning of scoreless relief and rookie David Price closed out the final 2 1/3 innings. Although Price did give up 2 runs during that span, he was never really in any serious trouble. Despite taking the loss, Bret Myers pitched better than expected. He needed only 85 pitches through his 7 innings and only gave up 3 earned runs on 7 hits and 3 walks. He didn’t have his best stuff, but he was able to minimize the damage in certain situations.

As for my predictions – I was definitely wrong about the high-scoring affair. If the teams had come through in the clutch when they had opportunities, I think I would have been spot on, but neither team has responded when it matters (the Phillies 0-for-19 stretch with runners in scoring position was the 2nd longest drought to start a World Series).

Rays in 7 – still a strong possibility.

B.J. Upton – MVP – Upton helped me out in a big way with his 2-for-4 performance. He scored the 2nd run of the game, drove in the 3rd run of the game with 2 outs in the inning, and played solid defense. He’ll need to step it up with some home runs in order to solidify the MVP award, however.

It looks like the Rays have found a “temporary” closer for the rest of the World Series. David Price has one of the fastest fastballs in the game and a nasty slider, and because he was just called up in September, there’s not a lot of scouting information out there on the young kid. Look for Price to play a key role in late inning wins as the series progresses.

Tags: game 2, Philadelphia Phillies, Tampa Bay Rays, World Series

Bulls Win Back-To-Back Pre-Season Games! Make Your 2009 Playoff Plans Today…

Thursday, October 23rd, 2008 | NBA, Sports | No Comments

After winning only 1 of the team’s first 5 pre-season games, it was starting to look like the same old, same old for the Bulls team. Then, everything changed on one special night in October at the American Airlines Arena in Dallas, Texas. The Bulls trailed the Mavericks 59-43 at halftime. It looked like another loss and a long trip north to Minneapolis where the Bulls were scheduled to play the Timberwolves the next evening. But after an offensive explosion by both teams in the 3rd quarter (Bulls 29, Mavs 30), the Bulls 1st overall pick in the 2008 draft – Derrick Rose – took over the game. Rose led the Bulls to a 21-point advantage in the 4th quarter, giving the Bulls the improbable 109-105 victory. Rose ended up scoring 30 points on 13-18 shooting from the floor. He also chipped in 7 assists and only turned the ball over 3 times, on a night when the Bulls needed every one of his clutch shots and electrifying passes. Loul Deng and Andres Nocioni have also performed consistently for the Bulls throughout the pre-season. Deng and Nocioni each chipped in 14 points. They were a combined 10-10 from the free throw line and Deng pulled down 6 rebounds while Nocioni pulled down 5 of his own.

The next night at the Target Center in Minneapolis, the Bulls kept up the intensity right from the start. The Bulls led the Timberwolves 29-9 after the 1st quarter, and never looked back en route to an 85-75 win. Rose had 17 points and 6 assists, Nocioni, chipped in 12 points and 6 rebounds, and Deng added 10 points and 6 rebounds. Center Aaron Gray pulled down 10 rebounds, while Joakim Noah added 8 rebounds. The only negative was the injury suffered by Larry Hughes in the 3rd quarter. At the time of his hard fall to the ground scrambling for a loose ball, Hughes led the team with 21 points and 3 steals. Hughes dislocated his right shoulder and although the injury won’t require surgery, he is expected to miss at least 6-8 weeks before he can re-gain the full range of motion to play night in and night out.

The Bulls have 1 final pre-season tune-up against the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday, October 24th. The Bucks are led by head coach Scott Skiles who was fired by the Bulls on Christmas Eve 2007. Skiles will look to exact some revenge on his former team both on Friday night and during each team’s 2008 NBA season opener on Tuesday, October 28th at the United Center.

Now I know – you’re going to tell me that these are only pre-season games. You’re going to tell me that the team’s roster is pretty much the same collection of slouches who only won 33 games during the 2007-8 NBA regular season. And you’re going to tell me that this crew is led by a man – Vinny Del Negro – who has never coached an NBA regular season game in his career. All that is true, but we have to have some hope. We need to look forward to many great performances from Derrick Rose throughout the season. Rose is a special player who will be able to learn a lot from Del Negro (a 12-year NBA veteran at the guard position). Del Negro’s fast-paced style will mesh well with Rose, as well as athletic players like Tyrus Thomas, Noah and Deng, who have not had a chance to work with a game plan well-suited to their indivudal, yet-collective styles. We should get excited for an up-and-down the floor tempo and high-scoring games. And we should be excited for the Bulls still playing in a relatively weak Eastern Conference – at least compared to the deep Wetsern Conference. While I acknowledge it won’t always be pretty, there is lot to look forward to with a Rose-led Bulls and a real shot at qualifying for the post-season after a disppointing failure in 2007-8.

Tags: Chicago Bulls, NBA