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Red Sox bullpen:
Pedro deserves much credit for 7 strong IP, but 3-RP
8th was the clincher: With 1 on and none out, Timlin
Ks Vlad, Myers Ks Anderson, Foulke Ks Glaus.
QUICKIE LIVE!
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The Lead Item
Two Words For You:
PATENTED. YANKEES.
The use of "patented" is one of the
great sports cliches.
Like "Patented Yankee rally."
The approach of a "patented" moment can usually
be seen from a distance -- say, the mileage on Twins
closer Joe Nathan's arm by the start of the 12th
inning.
The pitches started rising, the Yankees trotting to
first. (Jeter on base? Part of "patented" is simply
knowing he'd score that winning run, complete
with some Jeter-like fist-pumping flourish that drives
Yankee-haters nuts.)
Twins manager Ron Gardenhire simply stood there, like
he was rubber-necking an accident on New York's FDR
Drive, pulling a patented Grady Little.
Yes, it's only Game 2, and, sure, the series goes back
to Minnesota for the next two, but the Twins will now
get 48 hours of patented national reaction to losses
like this: "Yup, the Twins are toast."
(But on another note, apparently coming soon:
"Patented Boston reliever effectiveness.")
Rocket, HOU wins
The question isn't whether Houston will
win their first playoff series in franchise history,
but only if it will happen in 3 (likely), 4 (possibly)
or 5 (remotely).
As the Cards and Red Sox are also showing, the
Astros' explosive offense makes pitching easy. No need
for Gardenhire-like blunders
decisions when you're up half a dozen runs.
UVA: Big test
You can keep USC and OKLA: Simply
because of the ridiculous reputation bias of preseason
polling, they sit 1-2. The real top two
contenders are Quickie preseason champ pick
Purdue and Virginia, which gets to prove
me right in an ESPN showcase at home tonight (7:30)
vs. Clemson.
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CHECK OUT THE QUICKIE EVERY WEEKDAY MORNING! |
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| WHO'S GOT THE MOMENTUM ... |
LeBron: Congrats to him, because he just had a LeBaby
Stephen Davis: Acting like he can (will?) play Sun for CAR
Sam Cassell: Holdout ends quickly; T'wolves need him
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| ... AND WHO'S GOT NO MO' |
O's vs. DC team for interleague: Won't happen in 2005
Kobe accuser: Anonymity request rejected for civil trial
Tyrone Wheatley: Out 2-4 weeks with shoulder injury
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Ricky Watch
Ricky Williams' NFL career is like "Wheel of Fortune":
"Big money! Big money!" early
"Lose a Turn" to start '04
"Bankrupt" is the new play
He reportedly wants to declare financial insolvency, seemingly as a
ploy to void his Dolphins contract and become a free agent. The NFL
scoffs, but some in-state experts say he's got a shot.
I'd like to solve the puzzle:
R-A-I-D-E-R N-A-T-I-O-N.
Sosa Fined Big
The Cubs tagged Sammy for $87,400 for bolting the
team's season finale early (Early? Try after 15 minutes, apparently. I
got more attention from my last HMO visit.)
Sosa is balking at the number, of course. Maybe rumors of a trade to
the Royals were floated to make $87K suddenly seem desirable.
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Tiger Gets Hitched
A nuptials comparison, between Tiger Woods' wedding
this week and my own from Sunday:
Location:
TW: Sandy Lane, Barbados
DS: Amelia Island, Florida
Cost:
TW: $1.5 million
DS: Wee bit south of that
Paparazzi:
TW: Aggravatingly, some
DS: Blissfully, none
Celeb the bride compared to:
TW: Uh, Elin Nordegren
DS: Ashley Judd (yes, really)
Band:
TW: Hootie and the Blowfish
DS: Can only go up from there
Guest list:
TW: MJ, Oprah, Barkley
DS: Fans of three above
Bride blamed for...:
TW: Major title drought
DS: 447-Quickie streak ending
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Milton Bradley:
Because his behavior is usually so amusing, had this
"Uncle Miltie" reference all cued up. Well, now he's
gone and put the kibosh on that, hasn't he?
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Today on ESPN.com
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| Morning Quickie!Page 2 index |
| MLB second guessing |
| "Friday Night Lights" |
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| MLB Insta-Rankings: |  Red Sox
| Bullpen looking sharp
|  Cardinals
| Poised to go up 2-0
|  Yankees
| But it took that rally
|  Astros
| Clemens got job done
|  Twins
| | Can they rally from this? |
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Today's must-read: For the playoffs' most entertaining
banter, check out Page 2's "2nd Guessing" (See Q It
Up, above)...
Today's p'off sched: HOU at ATL (4 pm, ESPN) with Roy
Oswalt offering even more of a challenge than Rocket;
LA at StL (8 pm), with -- zzzzz...
After his Nathan debacle, give Ron Gardenhire credit
for more risk-taking: He said that Johan Santana would
pitch Game 4 on short rest...
Yikes, how bad are those previously clutch Angels
hitters? Vlad looks bewildered and 2002 hero Garret
Anderson is a non-factor...
More Ricky: Conflicting reports about how his
ex-teammates feel about a return. Dilemma: They can't
stand him, but he makes them better...
Coming tomorrow: Some "Friday Night Lights" pub. Until
then, check out Page 2's Book Club coverage (See Q It
Up)...
In Wednesday's Morning Quickie: MLB playoffs, Ricky,
NASCAR and more. *LIVE*, 9-10 ET or read the
transcript. (See Q It Up.)
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