Ramblings

After a long lapse due to a couple weeks devoid of interesting topics to this writer, I am BACK !!

The Patriots continue to play the easiest schedule in the NFL, but I am not ready to swallow the Kool-Aid. Without Brady, they will be exposed the first time they play a decent team. I'm not buying into the Cassel game manager thing. A good defense will take things away from the offense and force the QB to make plays.

I stopped while writing this to check in on the Miami-Pats tilt, and my comments above seem to be ringing true. What a horrible OFFENSIVE display. I didn't think Miami was as capable on defense. I fully expected the offense to crumble beginning next week vs. San Diego. Also notoced that KC, the first foe of the Pats, is getting killed by the Atlanta "juggernaut". It might cause one to re-evaluate those two wins over KC and the NY Jets, who both look like they could not beat a Pop Warner team so far.

I have been reading with great interest the Red Sox musings of Amalie Benjamin in the Globe. She is VERY good. Her librarian look conceals a good working knowledge of the game. This is in stark contrast to Heidi Watney (her Hollywood contemporary) who, although much better than her god-awful start, is still just eye candy. This, following her predecessor Tina Cervasio, who HAD talent and has moved on to higher ground.

Dice-K is shutting out the Jays in the fifth. However, he is just not watchable !! The game just crawls along. His stuff is NASTY, but too bad he could not through it over more. he would NOT be 17-2 for a lesser team.

The Rays have appeared to withstand the RS charge with one week left. This writer is clearly surprised. I knew the Rays were good or they would not have remained in first so long, but I expected the grind of that schedule to do them in. Instead, they have hung together with two great wins against the RS in the last homestand. The Pap meltdown and the 14 inning grinder the next day enabled them to hang on.

The MassCap yesterday was nothing but a walkover for Commentator against rivals who were far overmatched. It is almost impossible to stage a Grade 2 race now without bending over backwards to placate the camps of the top nags like Curlin and Big Brown. One pines for the days of Waquoit and Broad Brush (the equivalent of the current big-time biscuits) and the extremely entertaining and GRUELING stretch run they put on in the MassCap while track announcer Jim Hannon's voice gave out.

As usual, the football picks using the formula have been below average to start. Ye of little faith !! Hang in there to the end.

Ciao. Back to the second half of the Pats tilt.