Comebacks


Christ, you'd think they won the World Series...

Bubby Crosby's game-winning blast leading off the bottom of the ninth inning last night was perhaps the biggest hit the $200 million Yanks have received to date. It lifted them to an exhilarating 3-2 victory over Baltimore - and, more importantly, within a half-game of first-place Boston in the AL East.

Of course, as dramatic as the victory was, it doesn't ensure even a playoff spot yet. Thirteen days and twelve games to go and the Yankees will close out the season with a three game series in Boston.

The Yankees so far have still only spent two days of the whole season alone in first place in the American League East. Opening Night against the Red Sox. Then July 18. So far, that is it. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, no Yankee team in history has ever spent so little time in first place during the regular season and still finished in first place at the end.

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Former Jet Santana Moss takes it home on a 70 yard TD with 2:44 left.

Meanwhile, a little further south and in another sport, the Washington Redskins stunned the Dallas Cowboys last night with a sudden and unexpected comeback for a 14-13 victory.

Washington had not scored a touchdown for the first 116 minutes of the season, then, shockingly, produced two huge strikes in 71 seconds. After losing 14 of their last 15 against the Cowboys, the Redskins (2-0) had finally snatched a victory from Dallas.

How psyched was Joe Gibbs about this unexpected turn of events?

"That's one of the great moments for me," he stammered. "I can tell you that."

Hmmm. How bad is it when the man who has won three Super Bowls and two NASCAR championships, when this little game, only the second of the season, has him spinning with joy?


No, it's not the Super Bowl but Gibbs will take a Gatorade shower happily

Of course, even at 2-0, it's only the beginning - there's likely alot less joy down the road for the Redskins because even this victory can't hide the impotence of their offence.

Choking Sox

Do I mean the White Sox of Chicago or the Red Sox of Boston?

Well let's see, the Red Sox, having lost seven of 12 as they come down to the nitty gritty games of September, have seen their once majestic lead of 5 1/2 games dwindle, dwindle, dwindle as the pressure mounts.

This is the team who have been in first place in the American League East for 62 straight days and 86 out of the last 87, every day but one since June 24 and now they are just barely hanging on. And as if last year never happened (well, there isn't a Curse of Ruth hanging over their heads any more), the Red Sox are once again being accused of choking down the stretch.


The Fat Man Sweats Out Another Loss

Wells, only slightly more effective than Matt Clement a day earlier, lasted a mere 2 2/3 innings, surrendering four runs on 10 hits in a crushing 8-7 loss to the Devil Rays last night. The issue? An inflamed right knee that is likely to be injected with cortisone between now and Wells's next start, Sunday at Baltimore.

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Safe Even Away From Home!

Over in Chicago, the choking is more like gagging.

Last night, facing the suddenly invincible Cleveland Indians, the White Sox blinked and Cleveland rallied in the eighth inning on a two-run single by Aaron Boone and won Game 1 against the Sox 7-5 in a battle that ultimately could decide who wins the American League Central.

Just four outs from pushing their lead to 41/2 games and their magic number to nine, the Sox now lead by 2-1/2 with five games remaining against the Indians. The Sox' lead is the lowest it has been since May 1.

The Indians trailed the White Sox by 15 games after Chicago swept a four-game series at Jacobs Field from July 14-17, and were still 14 behind in early August.

The Indians have now won six consecutive games and 14 of their last 15. They are 41-21 since the All-Star break and 76-44 over their last 120 games.

The White Sox meanwhile, have lost 8 of their last 11.

Jay Mariotti calls it Choke Job Theatre


Chances are, these whoops of joy will turn to tears before this series is over.

Chicago Tribune writer Mike Downey said it best:

...Nevertheless, the collective psyche of South Side fans has taken a beating of late. And for a few rocky innings Monday night at U.S. Cellular Field, things got so quiet you could hear a pennant drop."

And you want to hear a guy talking out loud in a dark room, afraid of monsters?

""If you're going to be nervous, all of a sudden you're going to lose what you have," White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said as he stands aboard this rapidly sinking ship.



A good review of homestretch chokes in baseball.

Tonights matchups which COULD see the Yankees regain first and the Indians move inches closer to the White Sox:

Aaron Small (8-0 3.28) takes the mound for the Yankees against the Orioles' John Maine (2-1 3.27).

Curt Schilling goes for the Sox against the Devil Rays tonight - you'd think this would be a gimme almost as the Devil Rays will toss out Seth McClung (6-10 6.61). At home, McClung is 3-7 with a 5.53 this season.

And finally, Jake Westbrook (15-14 4.56) will take pitch for the Indians against former White Sox ace Mark Buehrle, LHP (15-8, 3.21), whose fall from grace almost mirrors that of his team. After appearing to be one of the frontrunners in the American League Cy Young race, Buehrle has lost four of his last six decisions. The left-hander has allowed 19 hits and nine earned runs over his last 12 1/3 innings against the Angels and the Royals. Buehrle stands at 7-7 with a 4.28 ERA against the Indians lifetime and has a 2-0 record with a 2.11 ERA in 2005 when facing the Indians.

However, beware: Buehrle is a far better pitcher at U.S. Cellular Field, with a 9-2 record and 2.41 ERA over 15 starts.

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NL Wildcard Race All But Forgotten

Oh yeah, we've nearly forgotten to mention the other league where the Houston Astros cling to a game's lead over the Phillies, two over the Marlins and four over the Nats.

Last night, in getting crushed 7-0 by the Pirates even with Roger Clemens on the mound, the Astros lost a game in the standings to the idle Phillies, Marlins and Nats. Not quite choking but even their relatively soft schedule doesn't help them at this point.

Tuesday Morning Quarterback

1. Which was more shocking, the Patriots looking enfeebled by the ferocious Carolina Panther defence or the Cincinnati Bengals ripping Minnesota a new one? The Patriots aren't likely to fall apart after this week's loss but the pain won't be eased at all going to face Pittsburgh. As for the Bengals, let's reserve judgement on their Super Bowl juggernaut for a few more weeks. Beating the Vikings, it is beginning to appear, is no big feat. Last year, QB Duante Culpepper had 11 interceptions. After throwing five in the loss to the Bengals, this year he already has eight. And let's not forget, the Bengals committed 17 penalties in that game which against a mightier foe, would have spellt disaster.

2. Did someone wipe the smirk off the faces of Fish fans? How badly are they rooting for a Ricky Williams return? Their ground game is pathetic and let's face it, Gus F is not anyone's answer.

3. Undefeated after two weeks: Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, KC, NY Giants, Washington Redskins and Tampa Bay. Of these seven teams, Sports Amensia predicts only four will be around for the playoffs: Pittsburgh, Indy, KC and Tampa Bay.

4. Preseason hopefuls for the playoffs -- Arizona, Baltimore, Green Bay, Minnesota and San Diego -- are a combined 0-10.

5. Joining the Vikes in the Who Stinks More contest are the Green Bay Packers who did the unthinkable this week in getting humiliated by the Cleveland Browns, everyone's favourite pick for worst team in the NFL. In fact, the entire NFC North stinks and it's up to Da Bears to hold the old black and blue division up. Sports Amnesia's Upset Pick of the Week: Bears knock Bengals from the unbeatens.

6. Our preseason pick for the Super Bowl, Carolina Panthers, are ready to go on a roll after beating the Pats this week. Carolina's next four opponents are a combined 2-6, and its toughest game in that stretch is this week at Miami. Not so tough after all.

7. The other preseason pick for the Super Bowl, the Jets, have not proven they belong yet. The only way they are going to get anywhere this season is by playing the kind of perfect-sort-of mistake-free football that frankly, every team needs to contend. But let's face it, this isn't a fancy team, this isn't even really a loveable team.

8. Is there anyone outside of Baltimore who isn't secretly happy at the Ravens 0-2 start? Arrogant prick of a coach, two nearly-convicted felons starring on the defence and offence and the worst QB this side of Anthony Wright?

9. Clearly, the San Diego Chargers are the best 0-2 team in the league. This week they face the unbeaten Giants in the Peyton Manning Bowl. Guess here is that the Chargers win this one, 17-13.

10. Predictions:

Buffalo 20 Atlanta 14
Carolina 28 Miami 6
Chicago 19 Cincinnati 17
Indy 45 Cleveland 10
Jets 17 Jacksonville 13
Minnesota 31 New Orleans 20
Philly 34 Oakland 24
Green Bay 23 Tampa Bay 21
St Louis 28 Tennessee 24
Arizona 17 Seattle 16
Dallas 31 SF 16
NE 20 Pittsburgh 17
SanDiego 27 Giants 21
KC 21 Denver 17