NLDS: Braves Take Game One

Braves: anyone complaining about Chip Caray’s announcing needs to apologize. Chip is world’s better than the bozos calling today’s Braves Marlins game. QUESTION: “What did he hit him with?” ANSWER: “A baseball.”

How many times will the Marlins hit Ronald Acuna before MLB does something? Why are the Marlins the only team that repeated throws at Acuna? It was a pitch on the outside corner that Acuna hit opposite field into the upper deck. Has that ever happened before?

After two weeks, UGA QB Stetson Bennett IV ranks second in the nation in Total QB Rating.

1. 94.8 Matt Corral Ole Miss

2. 94.4 Stetson Bennett IV UGA junior

3. 94.3 Mac Jones Alabama senior

4. 91.8 Kyle Trask Florida

5. 90.9 Trevor Lawrence Clemson junior

13. 78.0 Jarrett Guarantano Tennessee

21. 70.9 Bo Nix Auburn sophomore

23. 70.0 Shai Werts Georgia Southern

38. 62.5 Sam Howell UNC soph “Heisman candidate”

41. 60.7 Cornelious Brown Georgia State

48. 55.2 Malik Cunningham Louisville@GT Friday

57. 46.2 Kellen Mond Texas A&M media darling

63. 42.2 Chase Bryce Duke senior

70. 31.9 Jeff Sims GT freshman

75. 19.2 James Blackman FSU senior

Only 76 QB’s are ranked.

Saturday night UGA shut down one of the best QB’s in the country. Who’s to say they won’t be able to do the same against Alabama? Florida? Clemson? Alabama gave up 24 points to a terrible Texas A&M offense.

Arkansas has improved, holding Mississippi State’s record-breaking offense to two touchdowns. After a slow first quarter, UGA outscored the Razorbacks 37-3. Besides being the first game of the year, perhaps experts need to look past UGA’s struggles in the season opener.

Had Jake Fromm gone to Alabama, last season it would’ve been him that took over after Tua’s injury, and Fromm would’ve been the Bama QB this year (and possible next year).

FSU struggled to beat lowly Jacksonville State, coming back from deficits of 14-0 and 21-7.

Saturday I saw three players get caught from behind after they eased up, thinking they’d scored certain touchdowns. Two were holding up their hands in the peace sign, then got tackled short of the goal line. One of the three, Kentucky senior Asim Rose, fumbled just short of the goal line two plays later. Many predicted the Wildcats would be a formidable opponent this year. Many years Kentucky starts off strong, then falters later against the tougher part of their schedule. This year they’re off to an 0-2 start.

AM 680 the Fan’s new morning duo Home Team and Joe Hamilton are dishing out incorrect info (and opinions). The centerfield hill in Houston’s ballpark was taken out before the 2016 season – five years ago.

After four years I finally broke down and ordered a red #98 Rodrigo Blankenship UGA jersey, with a Rose Bowl patch. Hopefully it will deliver in time for me to wear for a game this fall.

BOB GIBSON  [SABR Bio] one-time Bluejay set the all-time record for strikeouts in a single World Series. Attended Creighton University (Bluejays) in his hometown of Omaha. 35 K in 1968 WS; 31 K in 1964 WS; 26 K in 1967 WS (tied w/ C. Schilling). He is also in second place on that same list. He is also in fifth place on that same list. World Series strikeouts (per season).

Rank. Player WS Ks IP

1. Bob Gibson • 1968 WS 35 27.0 IP

2. Bob Gibson • 1964 WS 31 27.0 IP

3. Sandy Koufax • 1965 WS 29 24.0 IP

4. Bill Dinneen • 1903 WS 28 35.0 IP

5. Bob Gibson • 1967 WS 26 27.0 IP

Curt Schilling • 2001 WS 26 21.1 IP

7. Sandy Koufax • 1963 WS 23 18.0 IP

8. Deacon Phillippe • 1903 WS 22 44.0 IP

Hal Newhouser • 1945 WS 22 20.2 IP

10. Mickey Lolich • 1968 WS 21 27.0 IP

Smoky Joe Wood • 1912 WS 21 22.0 IP

Gibson was afflicted with rickets, asthma and a heart murmur as a child. He is the last National League pitcher to hit .300 in the same season he won 20 games and the Cy Young Award - 23-7 in 1970 hitting .303 and won his 2nd CYA. He is the only pitcher to record 30 strikeouts in a single World Series, and he did it twice - 31 strikeouts in 1964 vs NYY and 35 Ks in 1968 vs. DET. His ERA of 1.12 in 1968 is the best since the Deadball Era and the fourth-best all-time. He and fellow Hall of Famer Fergie Jenkins once played basketball for the Harlem Globetrotters. He won two Cy Young Awards, one of them unanimously. The second one was a single vote from also being unanimous.

In separate seasons, he hit a home run in the World Series after not having hit one during that regular season - WS HRs 1967 & 1968. Gibson was the first pitcher to win the Cy Young Award for a team with a losing record - CYA in 1970 for STL (4th place with a 76-86 record). He once faced three more batters after suffering a broken leg when hit by a line drive. Missed 52 days after being hit by a line drive off the bat of Roberto Clemente. Gibson knocked down Reggie Jackson in an Old-Timers game. Jackson had had the temerity to homer off Gibson in an Old-Timers’ game the previous year.

The Falcons debuted their all white uniforms last night. Not horrible. Better than the all-black. Better than the gradient. My beef: the ATL is too far down the front of the jersey. Needs to be right below the collar.