The Bills kept their season alive by overcoming their coach’s
lame-brained decision to throw the ball out of the Wildcat formation instead of
milking the clock near the end of regulation. And, yes, despite the ugliness of
the game and the offensively challenged opponent, it was a good win on the road
against an Arizona Cardinals team that had won eight-straight in Phoenix.
But the
Bills are going to have to show me a lot more to remove the stench of their
recent losses and make me think they are the legitimate playoff contenders I
anticipated heading into the season.
Their
3-3 record may put them in a four-way tie for first in the muddled AFC East, but
the lopsided nature of their three losses against good teams (Patriots, 49ers
and Jets) and their three wins vs. average-to-mediocre teams (Chiefs, Browns
and Cardinals) leaves me underwhelmed.
Ryan
Fitzpatrick’s weak and inaccurate arm worry me and I want to see Mario Williams
and the “upgraded” defense shut down a quality offense.
The
Bills absolutely have to win Sunday’s home game vs. a Tennessee team that will
be well-rested after beating the Pittsburgh Steelers Thursday night.
Buffalo’s
reputation took a pounding in the three routs they suffered. It’s going to take
a win this week and respectable showings the following two weeks on the road
vs. Houston and New England before I’ll be mentioning the P-word again. (You
can read more of my takes on the Bills at WROC-TV’s website – www.rochesterhomepage.net )
***
Bronx
Bombers? More like Hitless Wonders. Yes, A-Rod is the lightning rod, with his
numerous swings-and-misses. But he’s had plenty of company in the whiff
department. Curtis Granderson, Nick Swisher and Robinson Cano all have looked
as helpless as pitchers at-bat. It’s almost as if some virus has spread through
the lineup.
Cano
has been the worst of the bunch, setting a single post-season record for
futility by going 0-for-26. If you are looking for a silver lining – and this
is a major-league stretch - “Don’t-Ya-Know” Cano still has a long way to go to
catch Dan Wilson, the former Seattle catcher who went hitless in 42 consecutive
postseason at-bats from 1995-2000.
***
The
umps, as Yankee skipper Joe Girardi complained, did blow some calls in Game 2
of the American League Championship Series vs. Detroit. But even if there had
been replay to reverse the errors, the Yankees still would have lost 1-0
because they’ve forgotten how to hit. New York has been shut out in 18 of the
past 19 innings and things figure only to get worse with Tigers ace Justin
Verlander scheduled to pitch in Game 3.
***
It was
sad to see Derek Jeter’s post-season come to a premature end the other night
when he fractured his ankle diving for a ball. As a friend said, “This is my
generation’s DiMaggio or Mantle being helped off the field.” As someone who
witnessed numerous injuries to Mantle back in the day I understood completely.
The bad
break conjured memories of the last time Jeter suffered a serious injury. I was
in Toronto for the 2003 season opener when he separated his shoulder in a
collision with a Blue Jays catcher who was hustling to cover third.
Then-Yankees manager Joe Torre told us afterward that Jeter informed him he
would be back in the lineup the next night. But his body disagreed and the
Captain wound up missing six weeks.
I was all set to write a column that night about
the large Japanese media entourage following new Yankee slugger Hideki Matsui’s
every move, but I scrapped that column the instant Jeter was injured.
***
Last
night marked the first time since the 1981 World Series that neither Jeter nor
reliever Mariano Rivera were a part of an active Yankees post-season roster.
Another sign that time is beginning to catch up with the Yankees and that the end
to a marvelous era is drawing nearer.
***
If
there’s anyone happy about Jeter’s injury it’s probably Pete Rose. Baseball’s
Hit King predicted a few days ago that Jeter would never break his record.
Considering Jeter is 38 and 900 hits shy, he would have been right even if the
Yankees shortstop didn’t fracture his ankle.
***
Regardless
if the St. Louis Cardinals or San Francisco Giants advance to the World Series,
they’ll tie the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers for most National League pennants
with 18.
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