MLB Playoff Recap

Yesterday marked the beginning of the 2008 Major League Baseball playoffs. Three series got underway yesterday, let's take a look at what went down in each game.

Phillies vs Brewers
The Phillies hopped on the back of young lefty Cole Hamels (8.0 Innings, 2 Hits, 9 K's 1 Walk) and fought off a late surge by the Brewers to take a 3-1 victory yesterday in Philadelphia. Chase Utley started the scoring in the 3rd inning, hitting a double that scored 2. They tacked on an another run in the the same inning after a bases-loaded walk by Yovani Gallardo forced in Utley. The Brewers put together a late charge at the end, but were shut down by Brad Lidge who picked up the save.
Brett Myers takes on CC Sabathia in game 2.


Cubs vs Dodgers
After taking an early 2-0 lead, the Cubs looked to be in good position to shut the door early on the Dodgers. That lead didn't last long as James Loney hit a grand slam to centerfield, and LA rolled on from that point. Manny Ramirez hit a homerun in his postseason debut with the Dodgers, who won by the final score of 7-2. Derek Lowe went 6 innings, striking out six. Game two features Carlos Zambrano squaring off against Chad Billingsley in a great pitching matchup.


Red Sox vs Angles
After Josh Beckett was scratched from the game one start, Jon Lester was there to fill the void. The lefty looked strong against a potent Angles order, going 7 innings with 7 strikeouts and giving up 6 hits. LAA took an 1-0 lead in the 3rd, after a Jed Lowrie error extended the inning and let Torii Hunter drive in Garret Anderson. The Sox struck back in the 6th. Jason Bay, making his postseason debut, hit a 2 run homer, giving the Red Sox a 2-1 lead. Jacoby Ellsbury and David Ortiz also picked up RBI's , giving Boston a 4-1 lead. Closer Jon Papelbon got his first save of the playoffs.
Daiskue Matsuzaka and Ervin Santana will take the mound in game 2.

The Rays and White Sox kick off their series later today.

Bengals Sign Cedric Benson

The Cincinnati Bengals have signed RB Cedric Benson in order to replace injured RB DeDe Dorsey. Benson was released earlier this year by the Chicago Bears after violating conduct policies during the offseason. The former fourth overall pick could fit in well as he will likely split time with starter Chris Perry.

Hopefully, Benson will look to move on from his mistakes in the past and try to revive his career with this new opportunity. He will get a new chance to change his image in Cincinnati—can anyone say, "Cedric Treinta Dos?"

Chinese Gymnasts Turn out to be of Age

The Federation of International Gymnasts has ended their investigation into the age of Chinese gymnasts in this year's summer Olympics. As it turns out, they were provided with documentation proving the gymnasts were old enough to compete in the Olympic Games. The gymnasts, who looked no older than 10 years old, will be allowed to keep their medals while the Chinese government says that the age controversy was due to errors in paperwork.

It seems to me as though the real error here was that the Chinese government somehow lost control of the real age documents and were then not able to cover it up quickly enough. In any event, 10-years-old, 12-years-old, or 16-years-old, the Chinese gymnasts will keep their medals as the matter has been deemed officially closed. Conspirators can only speculate from here.

Kiffin Next to Fall

Just one day after the St.Louis Rams fired coach Scott Linehan, today the second coach was put on the chopping block. The Oakland Raiders have announced the firing of head coach Lane Kiffin. The move comes as a surprise to no one as Raider's owner Al Davis and Kiffin bumped heads repeatedly during the off season.

Oakland is expected to name offensive line coach Tom Cable as their new head coach. There is a press conference scheduled for 5pm on Tuesday where some type of announcement will be made regarding the teams plans for the remainder of the season.

White Sox Force One Game Playoff

162 games is not quite enough to figure out everything in the AL playoff picture. The Chicago White Sox, behind a grand slam by Alexei Ramirez, defeated the Detroit Tigers forcing a one game playoff between the White Sox and Minnesota Twins to determine the winner of the AL central, and the chance to square off with the Tampa Bay Rays in the ALDS.

The Tigers were up 2-1 after the top of the 6th, but the grand slam by Ramirez gave the White Sox a lead that they were not going to give up. Gavin Floyd picked up the win bumping his record to 17-8.

The game was a makeup of a rainout earlier this month, and was delayed 3 hours by rain moving through the Chicago area.

Linehan The First To Go

The first coach to go this NFL season? Now former Rams coach Scott Linehan got the unfortunate title. The coach was fired after a 31-14 loss to the Bills, capping off an 0-4 start where the Rams only put up a total of 43 points. It seems as though Linehan lost control of his team, after star running back Steven Jackson pubicly aired his concerns on a St. Louis radio show last week, where he said the locker room was "kind of on eggshells". He also disagreed with the benching of starter Marc Buldger.

What does an unhappy superstar, unhappy ownership, and an 0-4 start get you?
A kick out the door.

NL PLayoff Picture Set

Another year, same result. For the second time in as many years the New York Mets have failed to make for playoffs after having led either the division or the wild card for the majority of the season. The task was simple. Win today and they will live to play another day. What better way to send off Shea Stadium then to win on the final day of the regular season to make the playoffs. Instead they lost at the hands of the Florida Marlins Sunday by the score of 4-2. Their Achilles' heal all season long was their bullpen and that served true once again. Scott Schoeneweis and Luis Ayala served up back-to-back homers in the eighth inning giving the Marlins the lead and giving away the Mets' playoff hopes.

Elsewhere in the National League, the Milwaukee Brewers did that the Mets failed to do; take care of business and live to fight another day. CC Sabathia went the distance for the Brewers allowing just one run on four hits over nine innings. A Ryan Braun homer in the 8th sealed the deal for the Brewers 3-1. Sabathia did just what Milwaukee acquired him to do; get the Brewers to the playoffs for the first time since 1982. Pitching on three days rest for the third straight start, Sabathia looked every bit as sharp as he has in his time with the Brewers. CC has been dominant to say the least since coming to the National League. Sabathia is 10-2 with a 1.78 ERA in 16 starts. Now he and his Brewer teammates will get to take another crack at the Chicago Cubs, the team the Brewers beat Sunday to get into the playoffs.

Its All J-E-T-S

As good as Kurt Warner looked a few weeks ago against the Miami Dolphins he is looking equally as bad today against the New York Jets. Warner has been sacked three times, thrown two interceptions, and fumbled four times in the first half.

Meanwhie, Brett Favre and the Jets have looked pretty good, but then again how can you not when you keep getting handed great field position series after series. Favre has thrown for over 150 yards in the first half including three touchdown passes to Laveranues Coles.

34-0 Jets at halftime. This one is all over...

Week 4 Outlook

Week 4 is upon us. Here's a look at this week's top matchups...

Arizona Cardinals (2-1) at New York Jets (1-2), 1 p.m. ET
It is a little early to call this a must win game for the Jets but starting out the season 1-3 after all the highly acclaimed off season moves could be the sort of downward momentum that can crash a season. Arizona has been traditionally bad on the east coast but, with an offense clicking on all cylenders right now under the lead of Kurt Warner, the Cardinals have a chance to end that today.

Green Bay Packers (2-1) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-1), 1 p.m. ET
Brian Griese threw an unheard of 67 times last week. Green Bay will be without both starting safeties (Nick Collins & Aaron Rouse). This could be a high scoring game unless the Packers defense steps up in their absence. You can expect another 40+ throw performance today from Griese.

Wahington Redskins (2-1) at Dallas Cowboys (3-0), 4:15 p.m. ET
The first of two big time inner division match-ups this week. After a poor performance in week 1 the Redskins seem to be clicking once again. Offensively Clinton Portis is leading the way for Washington, regaining his explosiveness. Today however it will likely be a passing orientated game. Both Terrell Owens and Santana Moss have historically had monster games against each other. Look for that to continue today.

Baltimore Ravens (2-0) at Pittsburgh Steelers (2-1), 8:30 p.m. ET Monday
A battle of the top two teams in the AFC North. These two teams to not like each other. Traditionally these games feature hard hitting smash mouth football. The problem for the Steelers is that they will be without starting running back Willie Parker. Rookie Rashard Mendenhall will get the carries in Parker's absence. His effectiveness very well may determine the outcome of this game.

Be sure to check back with WAY Back Sports throughout the day for the latest news from around the NFL.

It's Sunday!

It's another Sunday, meaning only one thing: more football! Let's see if the pros can match the excitement that college football started the weekend with. Keep checking waybacksports.com to get the latest news and stats.