Left Coast Sports Babe

Pitch counts suck. That is all #SFGiants

Lost in the shock of tonight’s loss was fact that #SFGiants bullpen hadn’t blown a 9th inning lead since last night.

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Fox announcers seemed shocked that Matt Moore was hitting in the 6th. They clearly have not watched SF Giants 2nd half bullpen.

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He’s owed $20 million for 2017 and can get through a lineup- once. Too soon to restart the #CainforCloser movement? @SFGiants

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Looked for #MickeyLolich‘s pitch counts in 1968 #WorldSeries w/ his 3 complete games. Couldn’t find them. #wedontneednostinkingpitchcounts

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So will the #Cubs join the #Dodgers in voting a playoff share to the #SFGiants bullpen?

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At least SF Giants fans can be REALLY thankful in retrospect that #BruceBochy didn’t pull #Madbum in 9th of Game 7 of the 2014 #WorldSeries #SFGiants

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Reports from NBC indicate Billy Bush has been fired at the ‘Today’ show. Who’d a thunk that the network would have higher standards than the GOP?

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USA Today reports that a 21 year old New Mexico woman died while ‘car surfing,” the 7th such fatality this year. Amazingly, only one of those deaths was in Florida #Darwinwouldbesoproud. #ifonlytheywerearmed

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At Trump’s campaign rally in Ambridge, PA, he started out praising Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger. Well of course he did. #sexualassautlersofafeather

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Trump on twitter “With the exception of cheating Bernie out of the nom the Dems have always proven to be far more loyal to each other than the Republicans!”
Uh, I guess the Donald hasn’t really been following politics much over the last couple decades.

Eric Trump, yesterday confirming his father’s assertion that it was just “locker room banter”: “I think sometimes when guys are together they get carried away, and sometimes that’s what happens when alpha personalities are in the same presence.”
Yep, once again, the snake has not slithered very far from the tree.

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Even the Onion wouldn’t have gone this far: “It is not acceptable to ask a moral, dignified man to cast his vote to help elect an immoral man who is absent decency or dignity.
If the consequence of standing against Trump and for principles is indeed the election of Hillary Clinton, so be it. At least it is a moral, ethical choice.
If she is elected, the world does not end…”
The writer? Glenn Beck..

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Chris Christie said today “at this point” he is still supporting Donald Trump. Translation, he’s waiting for the next tape.

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Despite calls to withdraw, @realDonaldTrump says he’s staying in race. Many people are saying it’s right choice, espec. Democrats. #beatable

Some people seem upset by the 49ers’ decision to play Colin Kaepernick over his political protests. So would they have been more forgiving if he had done something more manly and American like failed a drug test or got himself arrested?

At least 30,000 fans left at ATT Park at end of game, including kids. Going to be more than a few folks calling in sick today #SFGiants

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Listening to highlights on the radio and thinking, wasn’t #NLDSGame3 at least 2 games? #SFGiants #Cubs

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A couple rough calls against the #SFGiants tonight.  To be fair to #MLB today they found out  the American League will be represented in World Series  by either of those media darlings the Indians or Blue Jays.

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So the Yankees decided if they couldn’t beat the Red Sox they would trade Andrew Miller to the team who could?

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#SFGiants #zombiesneverdie. “@ESPNStatsInfo: Giants: 10 straight elimination game wins (longest streak in MLB history) (via @eliassports)”

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Phrase we didn’t expect #SFGiants fans to be saying in October. “At least Gilllaspie is up this inning.”

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SF coach Chip Kelly says that Colin Karpernick’s injury guarantee, which would require the team to pay him $14.5 million if he gets hurt, has no bearing on him not putting the QB in games.
And if he actually believes that, Kelly should stop in Brooklyn on the way to this week’s 49ers game in Buffalo, there’s a bridge for him to buy.

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Tiger Woods announced he would play in this weekend’s Safeway Open, and then the next day changed his mind. . That was one of Tiger’s fastest withdrawals ever, well, not involving a waitress.

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So what’s in the Clinton emails we haven’t seen is absolutely grounds for her being in jail, but what’s in Trump’s tax returns we haven’t seen is just stuff we wouldn’t understand anyway. Got it.

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Sen. Jeff Session of Alabama, who was on the short list for VP, said last night that even if Trump had “grabbed a woman by the pussy.” “I don’t characterize that as sexual assault.”
Am sure parents of daughters in Alabama are just thrilled to hear that. Does Sessions remember that his is an open carry state?

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All that talk with Billy Bush was “locker room banter,” and now KellyAnne Conway says “you’d be in jail” was just a quip. So if Trump actually were to be elected, is he going to have a special “just kidding” sign to use with other world leaders?

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Trump campaign manager Kellyanne Conway “I would talk to some of the members of Congress out there.When I was younger and prettier, them rubbing up against girls, sticking their tongues down women’s throats…uninvited, who didn’t like it. And some of them, by the way, are on the list of people who won’t support Donald Trump ’cause they all ride around on a high horse.”
Okay then, but because Bill Clinton is accused of stuff like that his WIFE should not be elected President?

The Fighting Irish lost to North Carolina State 10-3  in a Hurricane Matthew heavy rain storm So maybe even God didn’t REALLY want #NotreDame to play today.

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The Dodgers and Nationals were rained out in Washington, D.C.   Alas Notre Dame alum SF Giants pitcher Jeff Samardzija didn’t have his start rained out in Chicago.

So will a possible rematch between #Michigan and #Rutgers in football be viewed as a violation of the Geneva convention?

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The SF Giants went from the best team in baseball in the first half, to the worst team in the second half. Did someone tell Stanford’s football team this is not a good model to emulate?

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How many schools from Power 5 conferences will be sending bouquets to Annapolis and singing “Anchors Away” tonight? #Houston #Navy

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My friend Michael Schibly forward me this item “Alabama officials implemented a new policy that will punish borrowers who fail to return library materials with up to 30 days in jail.”

Well, at least this is one law Nick Saban doesn’t have to worry about his football players breaking.

John McCain has unendorsed Trump, and now says he and his wife Cindy will write in the same of some “good conservative Republican who is qualified to be President.”
Okay, but given his 2008 choice of  running mate is John McCain really the best judge of who might be a “good conservative Republican who is qualified to be President.?”

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Go figure, the first time many in the GOP are in favor of aborting anything, it’s a campaign.

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Epipen maker Mylan has agreed to pay a $465 million settlement. Wonder how much THAT will boost their drug prices.

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The only people who may be madder than those in the Trump campaign over the leaked video yesterday are those at Wikileaks. #Timingiseverything #whatWallStreetspeeches?

One of the leaked private Hillary comments: “My father loved to complain about big business and big government, but we had a solid middle class upbringing,..And now, obviously, I’m kind of far removed because the life I’ve lived and the economic, you know, fortunes that my husband and I now enjoy, but I haven’t forgotten it.”
And the problem here is…?

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Not sure after this weekend if Hillary is now seriously measuring the drapes in the White House. But why do I have this image of her recreating Julie Andrews in Sound of Music measuring drapes for a pantsuit?

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No doubt there are plenty of conversations Bill Clinton has had that he is glad they aren’t on video. But a big difference here – from all accounts, Bill might be a tomcat, but he actually LIKES women.

After that 1-0 loss.

But okay SFGiants are going with 12 pitchers & only 13 position players for  NLDS with Cubs. not counting Bumgarner.

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One of MLB’s problems is that baseball has become a much more regional game, with fans often having not experience watching teams (except for the Red Sox and Yankees), outside their area.
But hey, several playoff series are a way to remedy that before the World Series. Except that most games are only on cable and often on weird channels that fans can’t find or don’t have. Not to mention that hotels often don’t have MLB.TV and FS1 etc… #areyoulisteningCommissionerManfred?

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I get that #goodpitchingbeatsgoodhitting. But which experts figured #Cleveland had good pitching. Really good pitching. #ALDS

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So is this the year that God decides to send Cleveland sports fans an apology bouquet for being in Cleveland?

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So far the  Texas Rangers are looking so disappointing in post season you have to wonder if Tony Romo is is involved.

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A new poll in Ohio found that nearly 2/3 of state residents believe that Ohio State could beat the Cleveland Browns. Really? Not even sure the Buckeyes this year can beat Michigan. #Harbaugh #MGoBlue

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Many people consider Hillary Clinton, while intelligent, to ambitious, Machiavellian and only out for herself. Okay, but if you agree on those points, doesn’t it follow that she would use those traits to try to leave a legacy as the best President ever?

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Donald Trump today on illegal immigration: “They’re letting people pour into the country so they can go and vote.”
Okay., so for when he loses in November, sounds like Trump is already putting together a list of why the election is rigged.

There is a sense sometimes that if you attack Donald Trump it means you are a complete Hillary apologist. Not so. Clinton is a LONG way from perfect, and there are many things I wish she had done differently. But there is a difference between being wrong about some things and being bat-shit crazy. (and a sexist pig into the bargain.) #Thatisall #Fornow

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#Trump‘s daughters must be so proud.

Trump says he has “said some foolish things, but there’s a big difference between the words and actions of other people. Bill Clinton has actually abused women.” So all that kissing and grabbing and groping was just good fun, and not abuse?

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While no one is really shocked that #Trump can be a pig about women, USA today formally accused Russia of hacking to influence election. #priorities

Poetry has been called “Emotion recollected in tranquility.”   And tonight the SF Giants, especially Madison Bumgarner and Conor Gillaspie proved a great baseball game is poetry.

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Even as a little kid, I liked baseball. But I can trace the moment when I really fell in love for life to 1968, when my favorite pitcher, who had won WS games 2 & 5, pitched a improbable complete game to win game 7. #MickeyLolich #MadisonBumgarner #Leftiesrule #SFGiants

Pitcher who threw 1st pitch for #SFGiants in do-or-die game walked off mound having thrown last pitch of game. #oldschool #Madbum #WildCard

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And for fans outside the San Francisco Bay Area – Conor Gillaspie?  Who?  Yeah. The man at third base who replaced Nunez who replaced the beloved Matt Duffy and his awesome cat Skeeter.  Buy this man a kitten.  A big one.

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Heck of a #NLWildCard game. Good thing we didn’t have a scintillating #VPDebate to distract us from it. #SFGiants #NYMets

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Not a pleasant side story at Toronto’s Rogers Centre to last night’s Blue Jays win, as Orioles’ LF Hyun Soo Kim had a beer thrown at him. This would never have happened had NY made the playoffs and the game been at Yankee Stadium. Beer there is much too expensive to throw at opposing players.

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While #BuckShowalter knows he made mistake, he can take comfort knowing #ZackBritton can now pitch multiple innings in game 2. ALWildCard

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A British study found that family travel may not be that relaxing, as the combination of new places and dealing with new people can take up a lot of “brain power” and leave everyone exhausted.
So maybe it’s not such a bad thing for Dad to turn that car around and go home.

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A Utah man posted a picture of the hospital bill for his baby’s delivery, which included a $39.95 fee for “skin to skin”, getting to hold the baby it was born. The hospital was no doubt appalled, thinking the fee should have been at least twice that.

An interesting story from earlier this year on Mike Pence reported by the IndyStar – The Governor in 2015 had plans to start “a state-run taxpayer-funded news outlet that would make pre-written news stories available to Indiana media, as well as sometimes break news about his administration.” He dropped the plan after it was ridiculed with names like “Pravda on the Plains.”
Maybe THIS is why Trump really chose him as a potential V.P?

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Well, that didn’t take long. Now Trump on Mike Pence’s debate performance: “I’m getting a lot of credit because that’s really my first so-called choice, my first hire as we would say in Las Vegas.” Uh, has the Donald forgotten all the campaign staff he has hired, and fired?

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Trump’s tweet last night “The constant interruptions last night by Tim Kaine should not have been allowed. ”
Of course Mike Pence should have been able to interrupt more. Because he is the bestest, greatest running mate of all time.

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Thanks, Vin.

But then… Sweep LA

Three #ALEast teams make #MLB postseason and none of them are #Yankees. No punchline, I just like writing it. #Orioles #RedSox #Bluejays

You’d think Jamie Moyer would have been in attendance at #SFGiants #Dodgers game. As only recent player who was active when #VinScully started.

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Amusing exercise for the day, list the MLB teams that weren’t even in existence when Vin Scully started broadcasting: For starters – Twins, Rangers, Mets, Rockies, Dbacks, Astros, Blue Jays, Marlins, Rays, Expos, Nats…

The #Saints won in large part because of great 4th quarter by their DEFENSE?! Hope this isn’t a sign of the apocalypse. #GeauxSaints

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ESPN reports that Cowboys’ WR Dez Bryant “continues to demonstrate a pattern of irresponsible behavior by being late to or missing medical treatments and team meetings,” at least 7-8 times this year.
Only the little people go to treatments and meetings?

Barbara Bush, daughter of George W, and granddaughter of George H.W. Bush, was seen at a fundraiser for Hillary Clinton this weekend. Sort of confirms your faith in evolution.

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A new book claims that Bill Clinton wanted to build a pool at the top of his Presidential Library so “he could have naked pool parties like JFK.” Right. But okay, honestly, how many American men would turn down the chance to “have naked pool parties like JFK?”

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So after the report that Donald Trump may not have paid any federal taxes in almost 20 years, Rudy Giuliani said “He’s a genius.” And Chris Christie “There’s no one who’s shown more genius in their way to maneuver around the tax code.”
Funny how I’ve never heard them praise poor and middle-class folks who figure out how to game the system.

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But got it… @realDonaldTrump is a genius for not paying taxes and @HillaryClinton is corrupt for getting paid $600k a speech. #doublestandard

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Rudy Giuliani while attacking Hillary Clinton this morning was challenged by Chuck Todd “You have your own infidelity charge” Rudy’s response – “Well, everybody does. And I’m a Roman Catholic, and I confess those things.” Not sure about Jesus weeping but the Pope might be.

Kim Kardashian is unharmed after apparently being held up by armed robbers in her Paris hotel room tonight. Hmm…. suppose it would be too farfetched a conspiracy theory to say this was engineered by Trump supporters to distract attention from his tax returns?

Chuck Todd said that last night Hillary Clinton “seemed over-prepared at times.” Well, the next time Todd needs to see a doctor or a lawyer, trust he will look for one who didn’t spend too much time studying.

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Whatever you think of last night’s #debate, remember that online polls are as accurate in determining winners as #MLB #AllStarGame voting.

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Toronto relief pitcher Joaquin Benoit tripped running out of the bullpen to join a brawl against the Yankees. Today the Blue Jays announced he tore his left calf and will miss at least the rest of the regular season. Ah yes, yet another casualty of testosterone poisoning.

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That moment you know you’ve raised your son right – when he asks you if last night felt like watching Billie Jean King beat Bobby Riggs.

Waiting for Sarah Palin to opine that Donald Trump’s deciding to participate in the next two debates would be “the worthless, easy path; that’s a quitter’s way out.”

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Donald Trump about last night “They gave me a defective mic.” So the Donald expects Americans to trust him to handle challenges like the economy, foreign affairs and terrorism, and he can’t even handle perceived challenges with equipment?

So @RealDonaldTrump is complaining about microphone because it didn’t translate what he said into words that sounded presidential?

Last night Trump said Lester Holt did a “great job,” today he claimed that Holt “gave me some very unfair questions.” Is consistency part of that temperament the Donald brags about?

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Just imagine the reaction if @HillaryClinton had said last night she didn’t pay federal taxes because “I’m smart.” #Trump #misogyny #debate

Rudy Giuliani said that because Hillary Clinton didn’t know immediately that Monica was telling the truth and Bill was lying that Hillary is “too stupid to be President.”
So that’s why Rudy divorced his first two wives, because they were too stupid to know he was cheating on them?

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Two bomb explosions in Dresden, Germany today. Once again, proof that the West shouldn’t accept Mid-East refugees. Oh, wait, they were at a conference center for Unity Day and at a mosque. Move along, nothing to see here.

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Finally, a quote from Gregg Popovich, on athletes speaking out about race etc. ” If it’s not your daily experience, you don’t understand it. I didn’t talk to my kids about how to act in front of a policeman when you get stopped. I didn’t have to do that. All of my black friends have done that. There’s something that’s wrong about that, and we all know that. What’s the solution?” 

Go Spurs.

Donald Trump is acting like the drunk guy in the sports bar who can’t stand when a woman knows more about sports than he does.

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“I have a much better temperament than she does.” That did it for everyone who said they weren’t going to drink on a week night.

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Donald Trump blowing a gasket as he talks about having a much better temperament. #Youcannotmakethisstuffup

Nor this “My father only gave me a very small loan.” Right, only $1 million.

Thinking after tonight that the #2016presidentialelection may have the biggest gender gap in history. #womenallhaveknownthatasshole.

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“Yes I did” prepare for the debate. “And I prepared to be President.” Hillary Clinton. #debatenight

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Did someone ever teach #Trump that it’s bad manners to interrupt?

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“Donald, I know you live in your own reality, but these are the facts.”

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Today’s mass shooting in Houston apparently left 9 injured and so far only the alleged gunman dead. Police are not releasing his name except to say “he is a lawyer and there were issues concerning his law firm.”
Alright then, can we start profiling all lawyers?

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Trump’s tweet yesterday “Five people killed in Washington State by a Middle Eastern immigrant.”
So I am waiting for today’s tweet. “Nine people shot in Texas by an Oklahoma ex-frat boy lawyer.”

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Regarding today’s mass shooting in Houston, what color #Skittles are lawyers?

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Former Cowboys DE Greg Hardy was arrested again, this time early this morning on a cocaine possession charge in Texas. So congrats to all those who had Sept 26 in the pool.

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The Marlins’ Dee Gordon, hit his first home run of the year, after taking a pitch right-handed in honor of #JoseFernandez “”I told the boys if I don’t believe in God, I might as well start. I never hit a ball that far, even in BP.”

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and leaving snark aside, really lovely. Well played Marlins, sadly well played.

https://twitter.com/drewhockridge/status/780565271845212160

The Dodgers honored Vin Scully and his 67 years of broadcasting last night. 67 years?! Wow. That almost goes back to Jamie Moyer’s rookie season

After 38-35 loss in South Bend to Duke, Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly said “every position will be evaluated.” Including his own?

If manic depression sponsored a baseball team it would be the 2016 SF Giants

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And for those who think Americans deciding “Who do we hate least?” is confined to politics, Duke just upset Notre Dame in college football.

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USC led by 10 points early in the fourth quarter and lost to Utah Friday night. So what’s with the Trojans? Have they given up now that the Rams have brought real pro football back to Los Angeles?

Kent State got $1.5 million for playing Alabama today. But heaven help the football players if they get back home and boosters try to buy them dinner and/or a beer to drown their sorrows. #whatswrongwiththispicture?

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#NYTimes endorsed #HillaryClinton. Presumably next to the headline “Water is wet.”

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Donald Trump has invited Gennifer Flowers to the first debate. Because the Donald didn’t have enough seats for all his ex-lovers and wives?

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Some Hillary haters are trying to spin her and Bill Clinton’s having attended Trump’s latest wedding as another sign of her duplicity. But don’t we all have friends and acquaintances we might hang out with on occasion, but who we wouldn’t want running our neighborhood association let alone the country

Last week’s mall attack, 10 people attacked, only fatality was the suspect. Friday night, five dead. This is not the “well-regulated militia” our founding fathers had in mind.