Feels like Comerica's Team and Indians in late July

Remember that time during the MLB season that the two best teams in the Central Division didn't win many games for awhile? Well, after Ohio State and the other Big Two team lost on the same weekend, I just have that upsetting feeling in my stomach again. At the least, Ohio State made a game of it versus Illinois on Saturday, only losing by one score, 28-21. The other guys were blown out on the road at Wisconsin, 37-21.

But still, Saturday's game will determine the Big Ten champion...again. Ho hum...it is no wonder the conference does not have a championship game. As I recall, last year no one wanted to see the same two teams play twice in a row. Game of the Century, OSU 42-39, #1 beat #2. (Personally, I would have enjoyed watching Ohio State beating them twice in one season.)

But I digress. The Big Game at the Big House is days away. This single game is what college football is all aboout. Two fine teams (the one from Ohio with a better coach), regular contenders for the Big Ten crown, the greatest rivalry in all of sports. (The game was ranked by ESPN in 2000 as the greatest North American sports rivalry.) All that, just 16 miles from our garage door in Canton!

My daughter will be in attendance, cheering for the other guys. On her birthday Saturday, she waited to call me back until the final result was evident from Columbus. She took great joy in the defeat to Illinois. The result this weekend should make for some gloating by one of us (me) on the trip to Gram's house for Thanksgiving.

Four weeks as the #1 team in the nation in a rebuilding year! They have only fallen to #7 in all of the most recent polls. The team from up north is not even in the top 20 of any poll, except for maybe the mgoblue website fan poll.




Incidentally, my high school alma mater (Mentor) continues their state playoff push. Last year, they were 4-1 in the playoffs losing the state championship on a 2-point conversion in double overtime. That season included two victories over Cleveland Glenville (pronounced "Ginn"ville for their coach and graduate, Ted Ginn, Sr. and Ted Ginn, Jr.). This year, after winning their first two playoff games, Mentor faces "Ginn"ville again.

Ohio State Buckeyes #1 in a Rebuilding Year

I haven't posted in a month and look what happened. The Columbus Kids are atop the national rankings due, for the most part, to all the teams above them losing in upset fashion.

The Detroit press can not seem to ignore that a mere nine years ago, the Spartans beat an undefeated top ranked Buckeye team at Ohio State. It could happen, but it would be fun if...

That team up north could try to win out and climb up the standings/rankings and force a #1 vs. #2 game for the second year in a row.

I know it's a dream. Both teams in the rivalry could lose to any of their final opponents (except for the Minnesota home game on the weak schedule for the 2 loss team).

Magic # is 3 after Sweep of Comerica's Team

Finally, a series you can take something from! The Cleveland Indians overcame deficits in three straight games and took it to the Tigers to sweep the most important and pivotal series of the season. The Tigers came to Jacobs Field trailing by 4.5 games (5 in the loss column). A sweep by them and they would have trailed by only 1.5 games. Unfortunately for their plans, the Indians magic number for clinching the Central Division dwindled from nine to three in three days.

It was an impressive performance by the Indians, who now are tied with the Angels for the best record in all of the MLB! The Tribe had hitting for power, awesome starting pitching, and an unbeatable bullpen. {Their defense was horrendous. : ( }

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070920/SPORTS02/709200423/1048

Manager Leyland conceded the Central Division title between puffs after the third beating of the week. Like it was his to give away! The Tigers have never won the division. 2007 will be the Indians division-leading 7th title.

As the Detroit daily newspaper print copy states in headline form, the Tigers magic number is '08.

The season series went to the team from Ohio with Cleveland winning 12 of the 18 games.

The highlight of the series was a fan's sign in the stands after Casey Blake's walkoff home run, stating, "First the Pistons, now the Tigers!" to which I add "...and don't forget Appalachian State!"

That team up north - BCS Champs?

Appalachian State, a great team in their division of the NCAA football world, beat the BCS champion to-be Michigan team. BCS Champ would mean they have the best program in all of the NCAA football world. (Something the Buckeyes of Ohio State have been.) Well, that little misstep cost them all of that and an undefeated season.

Then, they lost again the following week in their worst loss since before Bo Schembechler took over, a 50-14 loss to Ohio State back in 1968.

http://library.osu.edu/sites/archives/OSUvsMichigan/1968game.htm

That Team Up North has not won since Bo Schembechler, another Ohio-born football coach and former Buckeye assistant coach, died on the eve of the 2006 UM/Ohio State game, a string of 4 straight losses.

The Ohio State University Buckeyes remain undefeated and are ranked in the Top Ten (of the NCAA football world) ahead of both Appalachian State and Oregon

Two Game Split at Jacobs Field

The two worst teams in baseball (for the past two weeks) squared off during the last two nights. The Tigers won on Tuesday by attacking Joe Borowski in the 10th inning, 6-2. The Tigers returned the game on Wednesday by only managing 2 runs in 5-2 loss to Cleveland. The teams remain tied for first in the A.L. Central despite the Tribe being swept by the Yankees in a three game sold-out series at Jacobs Field over the weekend.

Grady Sizemore did not bat in the lead off spot for the first time since May of 2005. His first at-bat (in the three spot) resulted in a 2 run home run, his 20th this year. He joins Joe Carter, Roberto Alomar, and Bobby Bonds as the only Indians with 20 HRs and 25 steals in the same season.

C.C. Sabathia (14-6) pitched well on Tuesday (no decision). Fausto Carmona (14-7) got the win on Wednesday.

Next week, the two teams play a three game series at Comerica Park.

Last line of this article makes for great rivalry building

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070704&content_id=2067476&vkey=news_cle&fext=.jsp&c_id=cle

Misplaced Confidence

What a blow out! 12-3!! Detroit's offense looked really good especially when you consider that was our best pitcher that gave up three home runs, ten hits, and 7 runs...in four innings. It was very disappointing.

It was encouraging that the Indians got to Verlander, too. However, he had some fabulous innings in the middle of his appearance where he got eight outs in a row (including five strikeouts in a row).

The Indians remain in first place by a one game margin on Detroit. Now, Cleveland heads to Toronto while the Tigers host the best team in the MLB, the Boston Red Sox.