If you take your laptop to bed to check your e-mail or surf the web before you sleep, then you can read the following press releases that have hit my inbox today.
First, we have some quotes from Rich Eisen, Deion Sanders and Steve Mariucci from NFL Gameday Final on NFL Network last night.
Week 5 (Oct. 5, 2008) – Quotable from NFL GameDay Final
on NFL Network
(Airs Sunday at 11:30 PM ET)
“They are dominating like the New England Patriots did last year. They are a good football team in a great division.”
— Steve Mariucci on 4-0 New York Giants
“You’ve got to take the good with the bad, and for him there’s been a lot more of the good.”
— Deion Sanders on Eagles rookie DeSean Jackson, who had a 68-yard punt return touchdown vs. Redskins
“He got off the milk carton.”
— Deion Sanders on Giants third-year WR Sinorice Moss, who had first two career TD catches vs. Seahawks
“They should be 7-1 going into the meat of their schedule. This offense doesn’t beat itself. It is quickly improving.”
— Steve Mariucci on 4-1 Washington Redskins
“They are very quiet but effective.”
— Deion Sanders on 4-1 Carolina Panthers
“They are the best team in the AFC.”
— Deion Sanders on the 5-0 Tennessee Titans
“Any lesser team would have been 0-4.”
— Steve Mariucci on Colts improving to 2-2 with their second come-from-behind win of the season
“He’s one of the best route runners in the game.”
— Deion Sanders on Panthers WR Steve Smith, who had six receptions for 96 yards
“[Dallas’] Marion Barber picks up blitzes like no other tailback.”
— Deion Sanders
Then from TBS Sports, we have quotes from the various studio and announcing crews from Sunday’s League Division Series games.
TBS MLB on Deck
Announcers Ernie Johnson, Curtis Granderson, Dennis Eckersley and Cal Ripken
Smoltz on the Dodgers sweeping the Cubs: “There are a lot of series going in surprising (directions), because some starting pitching is dominating some great offenses. LA put together three dynamic starts and they shut down the team with the best record in the National League. Everyone talks about the 100 year history that (the Cubs) were toting on their backs, but many people who were following the second half of the season with the Dodgers weren’t surprised. Maybe they were surprised by the three game sweep, but are not surprised that they competed as well as they did.”
Ripken on the White Sox keeping U.S. Cellular Field overly damp: “That ballpark (U.S. Cellular Field) is like quicksand…they put a ton of water on there. Ozzie (Guillen) used to love it as a shortstop, I used to hate it because it feels like you’re running on the beach. For a running team like Tampa, I don’t know if (the Sox) have doctored it for that reason, I would doubt that they have, but it’s going to be tougher for them to run.”
Eckersley on White Sox pitcher John Danks: “(John Danks is) coming into his own, he really is. He’s taken some tips from (Mark) Buehrle about pitching more quickly, but even more than that, this kid can light it up with that fastball. (He’s got a) good change up, great command and doesn’t walk guys. This kid is going to be a great pitcher, but he’s got to be a great pitcher today.”
Eckersley on Fenway Park: “Fenway doesn’t play the same way anymore, it just doesn’t. More than anything about Fenway, it’s the atmosphere. It used to be the Green Monster, now it’s the atmosphere. When you walk into that ballpark, it’s like, ‘Oh no, the fans are a little closer.’ They’ve got this momentum working and the magic just hovers around that ballpark.”
Eckersley on the pressure of bouncing back on the mound: “I’ve been on the mound and I’ve given up a big homerun and the series continued and I said, ‘Hey, I want the ball, I want the ball.’ But in the back of my mind it was like, ‘Oh my God, if I get this ball and I do it again…’ That’s just being honest, I didn’t want to make it any worse.”
Game 1: Philadelphia Phillies (6) @ Milwaukee Brewers (2) – The Phillies win the series 3–1
Announcers Brian Anderson, Joe Simpson and John Smoltz with David Aldridge reporting
Smoltz on Phillies pitcher Joe Blanton: “(Joe Blanton is) trying to keep that unbeaten streak going. He’s a little bit of herk-you-jerk-you guy, he likes to show the hip and shoulder as he throws. He commands all of his pitches, control is definitely his strength, he controls all of them for strikes.”
Smoltz on the Phillies targeting Brewers first baseman Prince Fielder: “Anytime that you’re a marked guy, meaning that you’re the guy in the offense that has been the body of work, an opposing team is going to feel out if you’re going to be aggressive or going to sit back and really prey on that. Right now, (the Phillies) are attacking (Prince Fielder) on the lack of patience that he’s shown and using it to their advantage. That’s why in a postseason series, especially a short one, you see the guys that may not have had a great finish or great numbers rise to the occasion because they are the ones that are going to be pitched to a lot. Those are the ones you’re going to want to go after and make them beat you.”
Simpson on Phillies leftfielder Pat Burrell’s third inning homerun: “As loud as the Thundersticks are in this stadium, Pat Burrell’s stick just made a much louder noise.”
Smoltz on Brewers pitcher Yovani Gallardo: “Even through (the Brewers face) the prospect of losing some pitchers next year (due to free agency), but (Yovani Gallardo) is the future. He’s really commanded himself on the mound and he has a #1 type make up. If he stays healthy, the Brewers will have some fine young pitchers still as they may lose a couple front line pitchers next year.”
TBS’ David Aldridge interviewed Phillies leftfielder Pat Burrell following the game.
Burrell on closing out the series against the Brewers: “I haven’t really been swinging the bat that well, fortunately we were able to get a couple of wins in Philly. I still felt like we had some momentum, but it was important for us to come out and get a lead. With Jimmy Rollins starting the game with a homer really set the tone for us. Joe’s pitching was excellent and we’re just as excited as can be.”
Game break
Johnson, Granderson, Eckersley and Ripken
TBS’ David Aldridge interviewed Phillies Game #4 winning pitcher Joe Blanton following the game
Blanton on his approach to attacking the strike zone against the Brewers in Game #4: “I wanted to attack the (strike) zone with every pitch I could and come right after (the Brewers). It’s really about location and throwing off-speed pitches for strikes, that way they can’t sit on the fastball. That makes it easier to attack the zone with the fastball.
Ripken on the key factors in the NLCS between the Dodgers and Phillies: It’s an advantage to the Phillies to start the series in Philadelphia. I look at the right-handed power pitching of the Dodgers; there is a counter to that with the left-handed power hitting on the Phillies. It’s important how (Ryan) Howard and (Chase) Utley perform in the series.”
Eckersley on who he thinks will win the NLCS: “I think (the Dodgers and Phillies) match-up pitching-wise, they both have depth in the starting rotation. Their bullpens are comparable, both have powerful bullpens. It’s going to be a great series. I really don’t know who to pick but I tend to lean towards the Dodgers because of their top three starting pitchers.”
Game 2: Chicago White Sox (5) @ Tampa Bay Rays (3) – The Rays lead the series 2-1
Announcers: Don Orsillo and Harold Reynolds with Marc Fein reporting
Reynolds on the leadership that Ken Griffey, Jr. brings to the White Sox: “In the clubhouse, (White Sox manager) Ozzie Guillen said he never has to worry about telling (Ken Griffey) Junior if he is playing or not. (Griffey) always shows up and never complains. His leadership and presence did change the (White Sox) clubhouse.”
Reynolds on what message is sent to a ballclub when the front office makes a big trade: “I think the one thing that happens to a ballclub when they make a trade of magnitude, players realize that the front office is serious about winning. Sometimes that’s the message that the front office has to send.”
Reynolds on the maturation of Rays slugger Carlos Pena: “(Carlos Pena has) learned how to hit within the strike zone. (He’s) not chasing pitches outside of the zone. He is staying within himself. Obviously, experience is a big part of that and with experience comes seeing (pitchers) more than once so you know what to expect from them.”
Reynolds on White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen’s outspoken and candid personality: “The reason (Ozzie Guillen) gets away with (being so outspoken) is because he did is a player. He would dish it out and take it. That’s just been his personality. Anyone who knows Ozzie knows that he has always been that way.”
Reynolds on Rays’ starting pitcher Matt Garza: “(Matt) Garza is a great find for (the Rays). When they made the trade (to acquire him from the Twins), I don’t think people realized how talented he was. He was almost an afterthought because they got so much attention from trading Delmon Young (to the Twins for Garza).”
Reynolds on how White Sox outfielder Ken Griffey, Jr. has adjusted his game as he’s gotten older: “(Ken Griffey, Jr. has) lost quite a few steps (in centerfield) because of the hamstring problems he’s had. He was one of the fastest guys in baseball (in his prime). For him to get around (in centerfield) now is pretty amazing. But what Junior is doing now is playing on experience. He knows where the pitchers are going to throw pitches, he knows where the hitters are going to hit it and he anticipates.”
Game 3: Boston Red Sox (4) @ Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (5) (12 innings) – Red Sox lead series 2-1
Announcers: Chip Caray and Buck Martinez with Craig Sager reporting
Martinez on how Angels starting pitcher Joe Saunders gets his defense focused: “The one thing you have to love about Joe Saunders is that he works quickly. He will really keep his infielders involved and on their toes. He throws a lot of strikes and he’s much like (White Sox starting pitcher) Mark Buerhle. Anytime an infielder anticipates the ball being hit to him, he’s a lot sharper and has better reactions.”
Martinez on how visiting teams should approach playing in Fenway Park: “We talk about having short memories over the course of a season. You have to turn the page quickly (and move on). Fenway Park makes you turn the page quickly from inning to inning. You can really come back and fall behind inning to inning. You really have to have a short memory and really think about the flow of the game and play literally one inning at a time.”
Martinez on the challenge of playing the Red Sox at Fenway Park: “It’s difficult because you’re never really comfortable no matter what the lead is. In this ballpark, the Red Sox can score four, five or six runs in an inning. You can do the same but in this ballpark; they always get the last at-bat. So no matter how big of lead you have, you’re never comfortable until you are in the locker room after the game. That Green Monster causes a lot of people to have sweaty palms.”
Martinez on Angels first baseman Mark Teixeira remaining consistent throughout the ALDS: “(Mark) Teixeira has been the one Angel throughout this (ALDS) series that has really had good at-bats. He’s always been a very patient hitter, he’s very selective. He’ll take his walks and he won’t chase many pitches. He has really had good at-bats throughout this series, he knows himself and he knows what the pitcher’s capabilities are and what he likes to do. He doesn’t stray out of his game-plan very frequently.”
Martinez on the experienced Red Sox lineup: “(The Red Sox have) an experienced lineup, guys that never panic. When you’re a good hitter you’ve got confidence that it only takes one strike to hit and if you’re hitting with two strikes, you still can be a dangerous hitter.”
Martinez on if Angels rookie relief pitcher Jose Arredondo has what it takes to become a closer: “Physically (Arredondo) does (have what it takes to become a closer). We don’t really know what his temperament is like. Whether or not he can walk the tight rope without a net and that’s what you have to do as a closer. He has a net (in the bullpen) now in the form of K-Rod (current Angels closer Francisco Rodriguez).”
Martinez on the difference between set-up pitchers and closers: “(TBS MLB studio analyst) Dennis Eckersley, the great Hall of Fame closer, always talked about his intensity. He had so much emotion on the mound because he felt like he was carrying the other 24 players on his shoulders. (Red Sox closer Jonathan) Papelbon and K-Rod (Angels closer Francisco Rodriguez) have that same sense of responsibility. This is all about doing it for your team. That’s the difference between guys that can set-up and guys that close. (Closers) want that responsibility.”
Inside MLB
Johnson, Granderson, Eckersley and Ripken
Ripken on the Angels winning their first game of the series in Fenway Park: “I thought (the Angels) were a little dead, that their heart had been ripped out the way they lost the last game, but they showed how resilient they are. They are a true Road Warrior team, I think they won 50 games on the road. To go to Fenway and that environment today, play well, scratch and claw (to a win), they deserved that one.”
Granderson on the play by the Angels in which a fly ball dropped because of miscommunication between center fielder Torii Hunter and second baseman Howie Kendrick on who was going to catch it, resulting in three runs scoring: “I’m going to try my best to get to this ball as soon as I can. I don’t think that Torii (Hunter) thought he could get there, plus he also saw Howie Kendrick put his hands up. As a center fielder. as soon as I see that, I think you’ve got the ball.”
Eckersley on the starting pitchers for the White Sox and Rays: “I like (White Sox pitcher) Gavin Floyd because I like guys who throw hard. He’s got a good curve ball to go with it and the last game he had to pitch was a do or die game against Detroit who he pitched a good game against. (Rays pitcher Andy) Sonnanstine is a breaking ball pitcher so he has to be relaxed to throw the breaking ball. He’ll throw a breaking ball anytime you want, he’ll baffle guys a lot, but he’s got to be careful because the more breaking balls you throw the more chances you have to hang one.”
Finally, we have the Big Ten Network’s selection of games for October 18.
Big Ten Network to Nationally Televise Two Big Ten Games on Oct. 18
Wisconsin-Iowa to kick off at noon ET; Indiana-Illinois to air in primetime at 8 PM ET
CHICAGO – The Big Ten Network will televise the Wisconsin-Iowa and Indiana-Illinois football games on Oct. 18. Both games will be televised in high definition to a national audience, the network announced today.
The Hawkeyes will host the Badgers at noon ET at Kinnick Stadium as the two teams play for the Heartland Trophy. Wisconsin leads the all-time series, 41-40-2.
The Hoosiers will travel to Champaign for an 8 PM ET kickoff at Memorial Stadium. The game will feature two of the Big Ten’s most electrifying quarterbacks, Indiana’s Kellen Lewis and Illinois’ Juice Williams.
Wisconsin is ranked No. 24 and Illinois is receiving votes in this week’s USA Today poll.
That’s it.
