Boston Red Sox: 2018 World Series Champions

LOS ANGELES -- The baseball season ends just as the discussion about this Boston Red Sox club's place in the sport's long and layered history begins. It's not enough to simply state that the Red Sox put the finishing touches on their ninth title -- and fourth since 2004 -- with a clear and convincing 5-1 victory over the Dodgers in Game 5 of the World Series on Sunday night at Dodger Stadium.

No, a team this talented, a march this methodical deserves a deeper appreciation. The Red Sox began 2018 by blowing an eighth-inning Opening Day lead and sending their fans into a Twitter tizzy. Then the club with a rookie skipper named Alex Cora won 119 times in all -- a mark bested only by the 1998 Yankees (125) and the 2001 Mariners (120). The Red Sox needed just one game north of the minimum each to take down the 100-win Yankees in the American League Division Series, the defending World Series champion Astros in the AL Championship Series and the two-time National League champion Dodgers in the Fall Classic.

"We're not cocky," said shortstop Xander Bogaerts, "but we know who we are. We have one of the best teams [in history], especially in Red Sox history."

Their solitary setback in this best-of-seven World Series was the 18-inning extravaganza that was Friday's Game 3. To repeat: It took the equivalent of two baseball games to beat these Red Sox. And even in the wake of that lone loss, there was a standing ovation in Boston's clubhouse for Nathan Eovaldi's outrageous relief effort -- another signal of the closeness, camaraderie and confidence that carried this club.

"Everyone just cares for each other," impact offseason acquisition J.D. Martinez said. "It's a family. It really is, man. People get more excited when someone else steps up than when they step up. It's so rare to see that. And it just wasn't in the playoffs. It was all season long."

Glory arrived on a Southern California night in front of a crowd littered with some untold-but-notable number of red shirts breaking up the blue in the stands.

It arrived behind the short-rested-but-no-less-effective arm of David Price, who had already shaken off his October blues and was now back to cementing his Boston legend with seven-plus magnificent innings in which he was touched up only by a first-inning homer from a familiar Series source in David Freese. It arrived with a trio of damaging dingers against Clayton Kershaw -- the two-run blast belted by World Series MVP Steve Pearce in the first, the solo homer that snapped Mookie Betts' cold spell in the sixth and the center-field swat delivered by Martinez in the seventh. Pearce's second shot, off Pedro Baez in the eighth, was a resounding capper to a breakout postseason for the veteran journeyman.

This was a bit of a tensionless tilt -- one polished off by a perfect ninth from staff ace Chris Sale.

"They have a lot of depth up and down the lineup," Kershaw said of the Red Sox. "You saw their starters out of the bullpen, starting [on] short rest, whatever they did, and their bullpen guys were throwing the ball great. They're a great team."

These two franchises had not met on the Series stage in 102 years, but you know what they say about the past informing the present. The 1916 Red Sox, colorfully characterized by one New York Times account from the time as "the carmine-hosed Boston warriors," took Games 1 and 2 at home, were defeated in the first road tilt, erased a deficit to win Game 4 and then finished off the Series in Game 5.

If the long-ago result is replicated in the modern day, then the description fits, too. But even in Red Sox lore, which of course includes a 2004 team that killed a curse and captured imaginations well outside the borders of Red Sox Nation, this 2018 squad has a special, perhaps singular, place to claim. Sunday's Series finale -- a game that, to once again borrow a vibrant line from the Times circa 1916, "resembled a tug of war between an elephant and a goldfish" -- only confirmed it, and now the process of putting this season in perspective will be left to the historians.

"It's almost overwhelming," said Dave Dombrowski, team president of baseball operations, "because you just never think that you'll be associated with a club that can do that. [To go] 119-57? Those numbers are mind-boggling. It's winning more than two-thirds of your games over the year, so, no, I don't think you can really grasp it, and I think it's a tribute to all these guys. You don't get to that point unless you're talented and you grind, you really work through things, you bounce back, you're resilient and you're tough. And that's this group."

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Freese frame: As if the sight of Freese homering in a World Series game hadn't already evoked memories of Game 6 in 2011, in the third inning he tripled on a fly ball that was misplayed by the right fielder. In '11, it was Nelson Cruz. On this night, it was Martinez, who simply lost the ball in the L.A. haze. With Freese on third and one out, Price was in a bit of a bind, but he got Justin Turner to ground out on the first pitch. And when Enrique Hernandez sent another fly ball to right, Martinez made the catch in foul territory to end the threat. When he got back in the dugout, Price made it a point to give Martinez the ol' Bash Brothers forearm bump -- a nice show of appreciation between two teammates.

Smooth Sale-ing: A key element of Boston's October run was Cora's aggressiveness in employing his starters as setup men. But in Game 5, he altered the assignment for Sale. After Joe Kelly turned in another resplendent relief outing in the eighth, Cora gave Sale (whose starting schedule had been pushed from Game 5 to the potential, and ultimately unnecessary, Game 6) the opportunity -- the privilege, really -- of closing it out in the ninth, which he did by striking out Manny Machado.

"It was so surreal," Sale said. "I throw a pitch, next thing I know I got [catcher Christian Vazquez] in my arms and just the first thought of being a World Series champ ran through my mind. It was unbelievable. I appreciate the fact that they handed me the ball."

SOUND SMART
Cora became just the fifth manager to win the World Series as a rookie skipper, joining Bucky Harris (1924 Senators), Eddie Dyer ('46 Cardinals), Ralph Houk ('61 Yankees) and Bob Brenly (2001 D-backs).

"First of all, [the Red Sox] gave me a chance," Cora said. "They saw me as a capable manager, and they gave me a chance. It's funny, because when they announced it, we were flying to L.A. last year between the [AL] Championship Series and the World Series [when Cora was the bench coach for the Astros], and ironically enough, we win it here. So it goes full circle."

This game marked just the second time in World Series history that both teams homered in the first inning. The other was Game 5 in 1948, between the Boston Braves and the Indians (Bob Elliott and Dale Mitchell).

Pearce became, per the Elias Sports Bureau, the first position player to be named World Series MVP with 50 or fewer regular-season games for the winning team in his career (at the time of the Fall Classic) and just the second midseason acquisition to win the honor, joining Donn Clendenon of the 1969 Mets.

Freese has now hit both a leadoff homer and a walk-off homer (Game 6, 2011) in the World Series. The only other player with both is Derek Jeter. Freese now has twice as many career games with both a homer and a triple in the World Series (two) as he does in the regular season (one).

The Red Sox's four World Series titles in the past 15 seasons equals their total number of World Series titles in the 100 seasons that preceded 2004.

HE SAID IT
"It's an instant shot. Every hair on your body is standing up and you don't feel a thing." -- Sale, on what it's like to win a World Series

Anthony Castrovince has been a reporter for MLB.com since 2004. Read his columns, listen to his podcast and follow him on Twitter at @Castrovince.

Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters: 2016 Japan Series Champions

HIROSHIMA – A pitcher getting it done on the mound and at the plate helped the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters bring home a championship, just like everyone expected.

Not many had reliever Anthony Bass as said pitcher. What third baseman Brandon Laird did, that was pretty much business as usual.

The Fighters broke open a tense contest in the eighth inning, with a bases-loaded walk drawn by Sho Nakata, an RBI single by Bass and a grand slam courtesy of slugger Laird, and returned to the NPB summit with a 10-4 win over the Hiroshima Carp in Game 6 of the Japan Series on Saturday night at Mazda Stadium.

“We were on a mission this year” said Laird, who was named Japan Series MVP. “We had a long season, went through our ups and downs, but we overcame them. Look at us now, we’re Nippon champions, it feels great.”

The Fighters won their first Japan Series title since 2006, rebounding to win four straight games after dropping the first two in Hiroshima.

“We never got down even after losing the first two games of the series,” said manager Hideki Kuriyama. “We were able to win all three games at home and the momentum was with us when we came back to Hiroshima.”

Bass threw two scoreless innings to earn the win in relief. He struck out three and walked a batter. Bass finished the series with a 3-0 record, 0.00 ERA and eight strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings.

“I feel like I did my job, so I was happy with that,” Bass said. “More important is winning the championship. That’s why I signed here in Japan. I wanted to be part of a championship.”

The Fighters are champions for the third time in franchise history, also winning in 1962 and 2006. Their win continues the dominance of the Pacific League in the Japanese Fall Classic. Since 2003, PL teams have won 11 of the past 14 Japan Series titles. Nippon Ham accounted for the only losses in 2007, 2009 and 2012.

The Fighters got it right this time. Wrapping things up in Hiroshima was the cherry on top, as Nippon Ham entered the game just 2-11 on the road in the Japan Series since 2006.

“Definitely feel like we’re on top of the world right now,” Bass said. “Everyone put a lot of hard work in all season long, leading up to this. We faced a good team in the Carp. It wasn’t an easy series by any means. But we found a way to win, and it feels great.”

They won without calling on Shohei Otani again. Otani, who many thought would make another appearance in the series, either at the plate or on the mound, didn’t play Saturday. He was on deck in the eighth, but was called back to the dugout after Nakata drew his bases-loaded walk.

The Fighters would’ve likely started Otani in Game 7 had they lost. The team would’ve faced an emotional scene Sunday against retiring Carp hero Hiroki Kuroda. The veteran pitcher had mostly held Nippon Ham in check before leaving Game 3 with an injury.

“We faced Kuroda after we took the consecutive losses (in Games 1 and 2), but I was thinking that our players would’ve gone in the game on pure spirit,” said Kuriyama. “In a way, we took advantage of Kuroda’s energy. I really respect him. Maybe he wanted to pitch one more game, but if we were to play one more game, I’m not sure we could’ve won, so forgive me for that.

“I really don’t feel like we’ve actually done it. I need to sit back and reflect on it. But more than the Japan Series title, one of our goals was for the fans to have fun with each game.”

Laird’s grand slam was his third home run of the series. The Nippon Ham infielder, who had a tiebreaking two-run homer in the eighth inning that helped win Game 4, drove in seven runs during the Japan Series.

“I was just looking to have a good at-bat, just try to get a pitch I could hit,” Laird said of Saturday’s grand slam. “To get a big hit like that was unbelievable.”

He dedicated his performance to his grandfather.

“I’m just trying to do my best each and every day,” he said. “I’m playing for my grandfather right now, and I know he’s looking down proud. So thank you, grandpa.”

Laird gave his trademark sushi pose after the game and was joined during the award ceremony by Bass, Nakata and Haruki Nishikawa, who earned outstanding player honors. The Carp’s Brad Eldred was given the Fighting Spirit Award as the best player from the losing team.

Nippon Ham did all its damage in the eighth with two outs. Nishikawa, Takuya Nakashima and Hiromi Oka each singled to load the bases against Carp reliever Jay Jackson with the score knotted at 4-4.

Jackson walked Nakata to force in the tiebreaking run. Bass then hit for himself and delivered a single to center that tacked on another run.

“He walked the previous guy, so I was taking a strike and then looking for the fastball,” Bass said. “I haven’t swung in a long time, so I was just trying to start as early as I could. He left a fastball over the plate, and I just hit it.”

Bass pumped his fist wildly in celebration when he reached first base.

“I don’t know what came over me there in the eighth inning,” Bass said. “But it’s been fun. It’s a long season, and that’s why we work.”

Otani, who was 6-for-16 with four doubles during the series, was on deck during Nakata’s at-bat with Bass’ spot due up. But Bass said the plan was for him to hit for himself.

“The plan was, I was hitting 100 percent,” Bass said. “It was kind of like a fake out, I think.”

Laird then connected on a 135-kph slider to put the game away. His home run in Game 4 was also off Jackson, who was charged with the loss on Saturday.

The Carp, who won the Central League pennant for the first time since 1991, were trying to win their first Japan Series title since 1984.

Staff writer Kaz Nagatsuka contributed to this report.

Vanderbilt: 2014 Men's College World Series Champions

OMAHA, Neb. -- The talk at the College World Series was about how few home runs were hit at TD Ameritrade Park.

Well, one was hit Wednesday night -- and the folks in Nashville undoubtedly will be talking about it for a long time.

John Norwood's tiebreaking homer in the top of the eighth inning carried Vanderbilt to a 3-2 win over Virginia in the third and deciding game of the CWS finals, giving the Commodores their first national championship.

"I thought it was gone, but you never know in this park," Norwood said. "I was just hoping it went out, and if it didn't, I knew my teammates would pick me up. It's a home run, but it's also a team effort to get here. We were confident the whole entire year."

Norwood turned on Nick Howard's 97 mph fastball and sent it into the left-field bullpen for only the 25th home run hit in the four years the CWS has been played in the cavernous TD Ameritrade Park.

It was Norwood's third homer of the year, his first since April 19 and Vanderbilt's first since May 16. It also was only the third home run in 16 CWS games this year and the 22nd in 72 games by the Commodores (51-21).

"I was praying it was gonna be gone," Vandy's Tyler Campbell said, "and to see it land in the bullpen was awesome. Obviously, Virginia is a tough team, and we still had to come out in the ninth and play hard until it was over."

The Cavaliers (53-16) loaded the bases with one out in the eighth when Adam Ravenelle hit Kenny Towns. But Mike Papi was forced out at home on a chopper to Ravenelle, and Brandon Downes grounded out.

The title, secured when Ravenelle struck out Daniel Pinero, is Vanderbilt's first in a men's sport. The school's only other title came in women's bowling in 2007.

"This dog pile was by far the best," first baseman Zander Wiel said. "These guys are my brothers, and to celebrate this with them is just incredible. It's just so special to be a part of history. Everybody here represents Vanderbilt in the best way, and I'm glad to be a part of the first men's national championship in history."

Vandy second baseman Dansby Swanson was chosen the CWS Most Outstanding Player. Swanson batted .323 in the CWS, scored five runs, drove in two and stole three bases. He played flawlessly in the field.

"When you've got guys backing up each other like we do, anything is possible," Swanson said.

After the last out, Vanderbilt players grabbed the championship trophy and hoisted coach Tim Corbin on their shoulders.

"Every coach, you immerse yourself in the kids and they become more than baseball players; they become your sons," Corbin said. "This is a nice feeling. It's good to watch them celebrate achievements."

Hayden Stone (4-0) relieved starter Carson Fulmer with one out in the sixth and allowed two hits before turning the game over to Ravenelle after Virginia's first two batters reached in the eighth. Ravenelle earned his third save of the CWS.

Howard (2-2) came on in the eighth after Artie Lewicki had pitched six innings of four-hit relief. He left a fastball up that Norwood put over the fence, just right of the 335-foot sign.

"You've got to credit John Norwood," Virginia coach Brian O'Connor said. "The pitch was up in the zone, and he took an aggressive swing and hit the ball out."

Virginia broke through against Fulmer to tie it 2-all in the sixth when Towns' bases-loaded grounder hit shortstop Vince Conde's glove and bounced off for an error.

Vanderbilt led 1-0 in the first after Virginia catcher Robbie Coman sailed a throw into center field trying to catch Bryan Reynolds stealing. Swanson, who was going to third on the double steal, continued home.

Another error in the sixth set up Vanderbilt's second run. Norwood grounded to third for an infield single and wound up on second after Towns' throw in the dirt skipped past Papi at first base. Norwood later came home on Conde's deep grounder to shortstop.

"An outstanding final series between the two of us," O'Connor said. "Unfortunately in sports, somebody's going to come out on the wrong end, and we came out on the wrong end tonight. The University of Virginia baseball program will be back here in Omaha at some point, and maybe the next time we can win it all."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Chukyo survives scare to win high school title

Chukyo survives scare to win high school title


NISHINOMIYA, Hyogo Pref. (Kyodo) Chukyodai Chukyo survived a ninth-inning scare in the final against Nihon Bunri on Monday to win its first national high school championship in 43 years and a record seventh overall.

The Aichi Prefecture powerhouse pulled out a 10-9 victory over the Niigata school after giving up five runs and facing the potential tying run on third base in the top of the ninth.

With Nihon Bunri trailing by one and runners on the corners with two outs in the ninth, a Naoki Wakabayashi line drive settled into the glove of third baseman Kanji Kawai at Koshien Stadium.

"We faced a stunning rally by Nihon Bunri in the ninth. My players stayed patient and managed to protect the lead," said Chukyo manager Toshiyuki Ofuji. "Our team scored a lot of runs throughout the tournament. It was a complete team effort."

The championship game appeared to be a one-man show by Shota Dobayashi until late in the contest.

The Chukyo pitcher and cleanup hitter had a two-run homer in the first and a tiebreaking two-run single in a six-run sixth that made it 8-2. An inning later, Chukyo extended the lead to 10-3.

But Dobayashi succumbed to Nihon Bunri's rally after retiring the first two batters of the ninth.

The first Niigata school to play the final in high school baseball's long history drew within 10-6 on back-to-back RBI extra-base hits off the right-hander.

A pair of singles off reliever Jumpei Morimoto drove in three more runs to make it 10-9.

Seven consecutive Nihon Bunri batters got on base before the final out. Four of them had hits with two walks and a hit-by-pitch.

In a post-game interview, Dobayashi did not look like a man on the winning team.

"I had a very hard time on the mound in the ninth," said a teary-eyed Dobayashi.

More acrimonious shortcomings

I'm a Yomiuri Giants fan. I have a cap that features the world-famous mascot, Giabbit (Giants Rabbit), and I purchased that many years ago at a Foot Locker store in Lakewood. But I read this news below, and I have to wonder if manager Tatsunori Hara is really ready to help manage his national team to victory at the World Baseball Classic next year. Looking at this result, the Bedlam's prognostication is a clear NO. In fact, if Hara is able to even make the knockout stages of the tournament, let alone make the title game or even win the whole enchilada, I will be surprised.

Lions defeat Giants to win Japan Series

The Associated Press

Published: November 9, 2008

TOKYO: The Seibu Lions won their first Japan Series title since 2004 on Sunday by defeating the Yomiuri Giants 3-2 in Game 7.

Former major leaguer Hiram Bocachica hit a solo home run in the top of the fifth inning and former New York Yankees pitcher Alex Graman recorded the final six outs for the save as the Lions won their 13th Japan Series title.

Infielder Hiroshi Hirao drove in the winning run with a single up the middle in the eighth inning at Tokyo Dome.

Seibu pitcher Takayuki Kishi, who was named series MVP, won Game 6 to set up the decisive Game 7.

It was a disappointing end to the season for the Giants, who built a 3-2 series lead before heading back to their home stadium for the final two games.

The Giants signed former major leaguers Alex Ramirez and pitcher Seth Greisinger from the Yakult Swallows before the 2008 season. They also signed hard-throwing reliever Marc Kroon from the Yokohama BayStars in the offseason.

Yomiuri manager Tatsunori Hara was named manager of Japan's team for the 2009 World Baseball Classic before the start of the Japan Series but couldn't guide his team to their first championship since 2002.

The Giants are the oldest professional team in Japan. The team's owner is the Yomiuri Group, a media conglomerate which includes two newspapers and a television network.

Not a good way to end your season, and I can only hope that that will be the last time the teams I follow choke today.

Time-Out: Osaka Toin trounces Tokoha to claim title

I would like to take a time-out from the usuals, in this, my 500th post on the Bedlam (woo hoo! osu!) to raise a glass of sake to Osaka Toin High, for delivering in the 2008 Summer Koshien.

Whether or not they will outlast Wilson High from Long Beach is anyone's guess.

Osaka Toin trounces Tokoha to claim title

NISHINOMIYA, Hyogo Pref. (Kyodo) Shoma Okumura hit a grand slam in the first inning as Osaka Toin battered Tokoha Gakuen Kikugawa of Shizuoka Prefecture for a 17-0 victory to claim the National High School Championship on Monday.

Osaka Toin players celebrate victory Monday in the National High School Baseball Championship at Koshien Stadium in Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture, after beating Tokoha Gakuen Kikugawa of Shizuoka Prefecture 17-0 in the final. The title was Toin's second in the tournament's history after winning it on their first attempt 17 years ago. KYODO PHOTO

Yuto Fukushima struck out nine over the distance, limiting Tokoha to five hits at a packed Koshien Stadium to give the Osaka school its second triumph in the summer classic after winning in 1991 as a newcomer.

The Toin offense, which had double-digit hits in all five games the team played before reaching the final, erupted again with 21 hits — a record in a final game — including a bases-clearing double by Fukushima and a two-run homer by cleanup hitter Keigo Hagihara.

Catcher Yuta Ariyama and outfielder Kohei Fukushima also drove in two runs apiece. Hagihara amassed a record 15 RBIs for a single player in a championship, including three Monday.

Tokoha, which beat Toin en route to winning the 2007 national invitational meet in the spring, failed in a bid for its first championship victory as starter Toshiki Togari and three other pitchers were left helpless before Toin's sluggers.

"I didn't think the kids had this much power left at the very end," said Osaka Toin manager Koichi Nishitani. "We had been described as a team that can't hit, but today we were able to play baseball the way we really wanted to by keeping the offense rolling."

Nishitani said his players had their feet on the ground all the way with a well-balanced spirit, technique and physical condition, adding he wants to "commend them to the highest degree today" even though he normally always scolds them.

It is the first time in 17 years that a school from Osaka has won the competition, giving the prefecture the championship flag for a record 10th time.

Time Out: Long Beach Pony League

I take a time-out from the hullabaloo of the Olympics to let you know that Long Beach Pony League is on the cusp of greatness. Bring on Taiwan or Puerto Rico. More so those Taiwanese.

LB rally places team in title tilt

YOUTH BASEBALL: Team rallies late with three runs, will face Taiwan or Puerto Rico.

By Brian Biaotto, Correspondent

Article Launched: 08/14/2008 11:19:46 PM PDT

The Long Beach All-Stars scored three runs in the top of the seventh inning and were able to hold off Tamiami, Fla., 9-7, at the Pony World Series in Washington, Pa. to advance to the championship game Saturday at 10 a.m. PDT.

They did it in spite of committing four errors, several base running blunders, leaving 12 runners on base and trailing 6-3 in the sixth inning.

Daniel DeWolf was the star of the game, going 5-for-5 with two doubles, three RBIs, three runs scored and stole three bases for Long Beach.

Chase DeJong came in and closed out the win for Long Beach, going the seventh inning and allowing a run.

DeJong struck out two to secure the Long Beach spot in the title game.

"The atmosphere was electric and you could feel the tension in the air," Long Beach manager Ken Jakemer said. "This was the worst defensive night we've had and we were just fortunate we hit so well. We will need to play our best baseball to win the championship on Saturday."

Soloman Williams went the first four innings for Long Beach, allowing four runs, but only two were earned. Williams gave up six hits, walked one and struck out four.

A leadoff walk and an error in the bottom of the fourth inning did Williams in, then Tamiami scored four runs to take a 5-3 lead.

Long Beach came back with three runs in the top of the sixth inning to take a 6-5 lead.

Oliver Van Buskirk went 1 innings before being replaced by DeWolf, who inherited a bases loaded and two-out jam.

DeWolf hit a Florida batter to bring in the tying run, but got Joey Gomez to get out of the inning.

Thomas Walker had two hits and drove in four runs, Oliver Van Buskirk hit a solo home run to start the sixth inning rally and Avery Flores had two hits and scored three times.

Said Jakemer: "I don't want to begin thinking where we'd be without Daniel's (DeWolf) performance tonight."

Long Beach (14-0) saw undefeated Taiwan lose its first game of the tournament Thursday in a 7-4 setback to Puerto Rico.

The winner of today's rematch will face Long Beach on Saturday in the title game.

Quick hits, June 29, 2008

So, in my next installmen of Quick Hits, I go ahead and disseminate.

"Fresno State: We Feel Good!"

Congratulations to Fresno State. They earned their first-ever title in school history routing Georgia 6-1 tonight. The real miracle will be if the NCAA does not pull off a Joe Arpaio and strip them of their title after some anonymous, pro-Georgia [sic?] whistleblower [who is putting his credibility on the line (talk about high-risk, high-reward)] discovers some serious rules violations regarding the team.

(By the way, for those of you wondering, Sheriff Joe Arpaio is this old guy from Arizona, about John McCain's age, give or take a few months/years, who is more skilled at grandstanding/building up kick-ass PR to keep himself in office, till he is shot by undocumented alien from the galaxy next door or dies of old age, than what he REALLY should be doing, a.k.a. what he used to do better at, which is law enforcement.)

Now, I will be honest with you bloggers who follow college sports. I don't wish these sorts of things to teams that have worked hard, only to see the NCAA rob them of their hard work because someone broke the rules (i.e. eligibility, bribes, inappropriate booster conduct, etc.). But this hasn't been unprecedented. Hawaii and Lewis cheated in men's volleyball. My university men's hoops team doctored the transcripts, leading to stripping their conference title. And I would think there are other times when this has happened at this level.

So cheers to Fresno, but the biggest miracle that would make this a miracle season would be the NCAA laying off the Sheriff Joe, and the Divsion I Committee on Infractions not making any plans to visit Fresno in the near future, if ever.

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"David Diaz's career is going downhill...or is it downwind?"

The Chicago Cubs will not win the World Series because of Dangerous David Diaz. If it DOES happen, it is in SPITE of him.

Tonight, the Pac-Man, Manny Pacquiao, fuilfilled the prediction that he would take down Diaz in 9 rounds. And that is what he did. 2:24 into the 9th at the Mandalay Bay.

I, Bongaboi officially recant my statement of Diaz getting any respite from this fight, let along winning it. His career is going downhill from here, and I will be surprised if he wants a rematch.

It's not just Diaz, though. The whole of Chicago got the wind knocked out of them. Literally.

Bloody hell.

Where's Brooke Valentine when you need her?

30 runs in a game. Unbelievable.

The Texas Rangers defeated the Baltimore Orioles, 30-3. Those are the most runs eve n in a Major League Game since June 28, 1897, when the Chicago Cubs rang up 30 in a game as well. That was a pillow fight gone wrong.

Meanwhile, as Texas roughs up Baltimore in a meaningless contest, Bob Bradley finds himself on the hot seat. We lost, 1-0, to Sweden. If we lose to Catalonia, Bradley is out. I can’t see Sunil letting him stay when we are slumping. We couldn’t beat Real Salt Lake with this type of performance.