Balls - Some Got'Em, Some Don't

Hey Peeps and anyone else checking in. A special “Hey” goes out to Hazel Mae if she is checking in.

Technical issues today so we’re asking Tilt to post for us.

The Canadian Football League kicks off tonight at the Rogers Centre - with the British Columbia Lions roll into Toronto to take on the Argonauts in the early game, with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers paying a visit to Commonwealth Stadium to line up against the Edmonton Eskimos in the late night game. Sure it’s not the NFL, but it gets us in the football frame while we wait for the NFL to start up. Plus, you have to respect a league that marketed itself with the catchy slogan of “Our balls are bigger” – now we don’t have confirmation on this, but we can’t help but think Hazel had a laugh over that one. Our picks tonight are BC by 8 and Winnipeg by 6.

For those of you in New England who want to catch those big balls flying – NESN Boston (DISH Network 434/DirectTV 623) BC vs Toronto only…looks like you aren’t ready for doubleheaders yet.

From big balls to no balls.

Don’t you just love Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli? The man has vision huh? In an email statement yesterday, Chiarelli alerted the media that he decided to make changes in the front office, firing Assistant GM Jeff Gorton and Daniel Dore, the Bruins Quebec-based scout. Gorton had worked for the Bruins organization for 15 years, while Dore was described as a “longtime scout”. We’re not suggesting that the firing of Gorton is Chiarelli’s passive-aggressive way of suggesting he was part of the problem…but it makes you think doesn’t it?

The talk is that Gorton will be replaced by former Bruins D Don Sweeney or John Weisbrod, who is a scout with the organization – oh yeah, the both played at Harvard with Chiarelli. Sounds like an Animal House scenario doesn’t it? Frat brothers running the Bruins? Looks like Chiarelli is scrambling a little and being very “un-SenaTard like” in his running of the team.

Why do we get the feeling that Charlie Jacobs has already spoken to Mike Milbury about taking over as GM of the Bruins the day after the 2007/08 season comes to a close?

From no balls to being castrated

The Maple Leafs announced yesterday that GM John Ferguson Jr. would not be given a contract extension before the season starts. Maple Leafs Sports Entertainment issued a statement saying that a decision on Ferguson would be made after this season and would be dependent on how the Maple Leafs did this year – sounds reasonable, except for the fact that it puts him in a lame duck position and increases the risk that JFJ will trade away the few prospects the organization currently has in order to make the playoffs this year.

We’ll be issuing a “How to save your job” entry for JFJ later this week.


WEDNESDAY’S THREE STARS
Baltimore Orioles P Eric Bedard out-dueled Roger Clemens yesterday in a 4-0 win over the Yankees. The Canadian pitched seven shutout innings, limiting the Bombers to two hits and a walk while striking out eight.

Pittsburgh Pirates RF Xavier Nady had three hits, including two solo home runs (one in the 10th inning) to lead the Pirates to a 7-5 win over the Marlins.

Oakland A’s DH Jack Cust had two hits, including a home run, and five runs batted in to lead the A’s to a 13-7 win over Fausto Carmona and the Indians.


THURSDAY’S THREE PLAY
We should have known better than to trust a team based in Anaheim. The Anaheim Ducks killed us during the winter in a week where they lost to Phoenix and Chicago, and the Angels killed us by getting swept at home by the Royals. We’re off Anaheim-based teams for a while now. And we aren’t exactly feeling the love for the Red Sox these days either – getting swept by the Mariners is inexcusable. The total is ugly…really ugly, so we aren’t going to refer to it (but we are keeping track) – in cases like this, you look to minimize the damage…so if you haven’t given up on us, here are today’s suggestions:

Detroit over Texas – we liked the Gambler yesterday and we still like him today against Kevin Millwood and Skinny Sammy Sosa. Lay $100 on the Tigers – $200.

Florida over Pittsburgh – we’ll go with Olsen over inconsistent Zach Duke; ok, its another case of thinking “they can’t get swept at home”, which hasn’t proven to be a good strategy lately – but it has to hit sooner or later. Lay $100 on the Marlins - $155.

We’ll be back later to look at the night games.

That’s it for today gang – thanks for taking the time to check in. Have a great one Peeps.

Hazel, I hope things are groovy in your world.

I’m Out.