Positive Numbers: Gopher softball (Last Week: 0). I don't know if the past two series are a sign this program is locking it in or if it's just an aberration. But after curb-stomping Illinois last weekend, this team won every which way vs. Ohio St. at Cowles Stadium this weekend. They mercy-ruled the Buckeyes Friday, 9-1 in five Innings. They did it again for the first Game of Saturday's Doubleheader (yesterday's/Sunday's contest was moved up to become a Saturday DH because rain was in the forecast yesterday/Sunday), 14-6 in six. The Buckeyes bowed up in the final Game of the series, winning 11-3 heading into the bottom of the Sixth Inning. But the Gophers scored five times in the Sixth, and then four more in the Seventh, walking it off on a Bases Loaded-Single by Addison Leschber to sweep Ohio St., 12-11.
Great as that is, they're 21-15 overall (albeit 7-2 in the B1G). Guess here is that the schedule will get tougher. Will is start this weekend, when the go to Indiana for a three-Game series?
#0: Timberwolves (Last Week: -2). I am torn as to not giving the top spot to the Wolves. After all, in a vicious and nail-biting race down to the wire for the Western Conference 1-Seed, it is Minnesota who again is on top (albeit via tiebreaker; they have the same record as Denver). They beat Houston and Toronto at home on back-to-back nights and crushed The Team That Was Stolen From Us v.1.0. Also, the Gopher softball team hasn't had an overall spectacular season, and they're nowhere near first place in the Big Ten. However, as understandable as it is, the Wolves did lose at Phoenix on Friday. Combine that with the way the Gopher softball club won, I had to place the Timberwolves second. But at least they're above negative numbers!
Over the past Week they have clinched, first, home-court advantage for the First Round of the NBA Playoffs (even though that was pretty much assured), then a top-3 Seed (assured, but not quite). The fight for home-court throughout the West ends this screening Week: Home to Washington, at Denver, then finally hosting Atlanta and said Suns.
#-1: United FC (Last Week: -3). Draws are getting old, but at least their forging ties after allowing a Goal. Saturday night, Cristian Arango scored for Real Salt Lake in the 24th Minute. But in pattern I'm beginning to dig, the Loons once again scored while the sands in the hourglass were getting small enough to be countable. And once again, Tani Oluwaseyi (from a cheeky run and pass from Robin Lod) scored the late tally, sending the Allianz Field crowd into a frenzy. His clutch heroics have been something. But I remember something I read from the late, great Grant Wahl: If a substitute is playing better than the person he or she is replacing, that person should be starting, not substituting. I don't know who Oluwaseyi would switch with, but switching may be an option for this squad moving forward.
Host Houston Saturday.
#-2: Gopher baseball (Last Week: -4). Lost two-of-three at home to Illinois, and their Tuesday date with South Dakota St. was postponed due to inclement weather. After a promising start, the team's now 12-14 overall and 2-4 in league play. Play North Dakota St. at Siebert Tuesday, then play three at Michigan over the weekend.
#-3: Twins (Last Week: -1). Split their two-fer at Milwaukee, but dropped their first two Games of a planned three-Game series vs. Cleveland that opened up Target Field (the last tilt, scheduled for yesterday/Sunday, was rained out and will be made up in August). For all the ballyhooed talk that the Twinks were gonna walk to the AL Central title, they are, as of press time, three Games behind the Guardians in fourth place. Oy. Hosting the Dodgers for a trio, then visiting Detroit for four.
#-4: Wild (Last Week: -5). Beat Ottawa, lost to The Bastard Quebec Nordiques. Lost to The Bastard Atlanta Thrashers (those last three contests were at home), beat Chicago on the road. More than one person has pointed this out: The Mild beat the bad teams but lost to the good teams this past screening Week, and that's been indicative of how this season has played out. And that is why their season will end without going to the playoffs.
They have a four-Game pseudo-West Coast swing. This Week it incorporates Colorado, Las Vegas and San Jose. They could -- should -- be eliminated this time next Week.
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