Wednesday, April 30
| Game | Time(ET) | Pick | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| MON at WAS | 07:00 PM | MON +156 O 6.0 | +500 +500 |
| FLA at TB | 07:30 PM | FLA -103 U 5.5 | +500 +500 |
| STL at WIN | 09:30 PM | WIN -173 O 5.5 | +500 +500 |
CNOTES 2024 2025 NHL NEWS BEST BETS AND OPINION !
- Thread starter Cnotes53
- Start date
NHL 2025 PLAYOFF BEST BETS !
04/30/2025................3 - 3 - 0....................50.00%...................- 1.00
04/29/2025................2 - 5 - 0....................28.57%...................- 20.90
04/28/2025................3 - 1 - 0....................75.00%...................+ 11.35
04/27/2025................4 - 0 - 0...................100.00%...................+ 20.00
04/26/2025................2 - 4 - 0....................33.33%....................- 12.10
04/25/2025................4 - 2 - 0....................66.66%....................+ 11.60
04/24/2025................4 - 3 - 0....................57.14%....................+ 6.50
04/23/2025................4 - 2 - 0....................66.66%....................+ 13.00
04/22/2025................4 - 3 - 0.....................57,14%...................- 1.50
04/21/2025.................3 - 2- 0.....................60.00%...................+ 4.00
04/20/2025................4 - 2 - 0.....................66.66%....................+ 9.50
04/19/2025................2 - 1 - 1.....................66.60%....................+ 4.50
TOTALS...................39 - 28 - 0.....................58.20%....................+ 44.95
04/30/2025................3 - 3 - 0....................50.00%...................- 1.00
04/29/2025................2 - 5 - 0....................28.57%...................- 20.90
04/28/2025................3 - 1 - 0....................75.00%...................+ 11.35
04/27/2025................4 - 0 - 0...................100.00%...................+ 20.00
04/26/2025................2 - 4 - 0....................33.33%....................- 12.10
04/25/2025................4 - 2 - 0....................66.66%....................+ 11.60
04/24/2025................4 - 3 - 0....................57.14%....................+ 6.50
04/23/2025................4 - 2 - 0....................66.66%....................+ 13.00
04/22/2025................4 - 3 - 0.....................57,14%...................- 1.50
04/21/2025.................3 - 2- 0.....................60.00%...................+ 4.00
04/20/2025................4 - 2 - 0.....................66.66%....................+ 9.50
04/19/2025................2 - 1 - 1.....................66.60%....................+ 4.50
TOTALS...................39 - 28 - 0.....................58.20%....................+ 44.95
Thursday’s 6-pack:
All-time leaders in pitching wins for the Toronto Blue Jays:
175— Dave Stieb
148— Roy Halladay
128— Jim Clancy
116— Jimmy Kay
107— Pat Hentgen
84— David Wells
Quote of the Day
“Keep everything light and fresh and and confident and understand that we have played good basketball. It’s not like we were getting our (expletive) kicked the whole time.”
Houston Rockets guard Fred Van Vleet
Thursday’s quiz
How many NBA teams did Shaquille O’Neal play for?
Wednesday’s quiz
John Gibbons was manager of the Toronto Blue Jays in 2016, last time they won a playoff game.
Tuesday’s quiz
Aaron Judge played his college baseball at Fresno State.
*****************************************
(thru Tuesday’s games)
— Diamondbacks
Gallen 2-4
Kelly 4-2
Burnes 2-3
Pfaadt 4-2
Rodriguez 2-4
— Braves
Sale 3-3
Schwellenbach 3-3 (home team 6-0)
Smith-Shawver 2-2
Holmes 3-2
Elder 3-2
Lopez 0-1
Strider 0-1
Blewett 0-1
— Cubs
Imanaga 5-2
Steele 3-1 (over 4-0)
Taillon 2-4
Boyd 2-3
Brown 3-2 (over 5-0)
Rea 3-0
— Reds
Greene 3-3 (under 4-1 last five)
Lodolo 4-2
Martinez 1-5 (under 4-1 last five)
Singer 4-1
Spiers 0-2
Abbott 3-0
Suter 1-0
— Rockies
Freeland 0-6 (under 5-1)
Senzatela 2-4
Feltner 1-5
Marquez 0-6 (over 4-1 last five)
Dollander 1-3
Blalock 0-1
— Dodgers
Yamamoto 4-2 (under 5-1)
Snell 2-0 (over 2-0)
Glasnow 3-2
Sasaki 4-2
May 3-2
Knack 2-0
Wrobleski 0-1
Miller 1-0
Casparius 0-1
Dreyer 1-0
Gonsolin 1-0
— Marlins
Alcantara 3-2
Gillispie 1-5
Bellozo 1-1
Meyer 3-3
Quantrill 3-2
Cabrera 1-3
— Brewers
Peralta 4-3 (under 6-1)
Cortes 1-1
Civale 0-1
Patrick 2-3
Priester 1-3
Rodriguez 0-2
Alexander 2-1
Quintana 4-0
Henderson 1-0
Myers 0-1
— Famous birthdays, May 1st:
Barry Clemens, 82
Dann Florek, 75
Charlie O’Brien, 65
Tim McGraw, 58
Alex Van Pelt, 55
Curtis Martin, 52
Wes Welker, 44
Marcus Stroman, 34
Casey Mize, 28
Chet Holmgren, 23
— Mets
Holmes 5-1
Megill 3-3
Senga 3-2
Canning 5-1
Peterson 5-1
Brazoban 0-1
— Phillies
Wheeler 4-3
Luzardo 4-2
Nola 1-5
Sanchez 4-1
Walker 3-2
— Pirates
Skenes 3-3
Keller 2-4
Falter 2-4
Heaney 3-3
Mlodzinski 1-4
Harrington 0-1
— Cardinals
Gray 5-1 (over 6-0)
Fedde 1-5
Mikolas 0-5
Liberatore 1-4
Pallante 3-3
Matz 1-0
— Padres
King 4-2
Cease 4-2
Vasquez 2-4
Pivetta 5-1
Hart 3-2
— Giants
Ray 6-0
Hicks 3-3
Webb 4-3
Verlander 2-4
Roupp 4-1
— Nationals
Gore 2-5
Irvin 3-3
Parker 5-1
Williams 2-4
Soroka 0-1
Lord 1-3
— Movie of the Day: Molly’s Game (2017)- The true story of Molly Bloom, an Olympic-class skier who went on to run the world’s most exclusive high-stakes poker game, becoming an FBI target in the process.
Jessica Chastain plays Molly, Idris Elba is great as her lawyer; Kevin Costner plays Molly’s father, a smallish role for him.
This was a book before it was a movie; it is a story very well-told.
— Blue Jays 7, Red Sox 6 (10)
Boston led 6-0 in the sixth inning.
Toronto hit three homers in a game for first time this season.
First time in 12 games the Blue Jays scored more than four runs.
— Cardinals 6-9, Reds 0-1
Willson Contreras hit a 3-run homer in first inning of the nightcap.
Coming into Wednesday, St Louis was 2-12 on the road.
Coming into Wednesday, Reds had won five games in a row.
— A’s 7, Rangers 1
A’s scored six runs in 9th, with homers by Rooker, Butler.
A’s have won six of their last eight games; they’re 10-6 on road.
Texas lost eight of its last 12 games.
— Rockies 2, Braves 1
Colorado snaps its eight-game losing streak.
Brenton Doyle’s home run ended his 0-for-20 skid.
Rockies’ 3B Ryan McMahon is 0 for his last 34, 2 for his last 58
— Dodgers 12, Marlins 7
Tony Gonsolin threw six strong innings in his first start since 2023.
Mookie Betts, scored twice, knocked in four runs.
Kyle Stowers went 4-4 with two homers for the Marlins.
— Mariners 9, Angels 3
Seattle won for 15th time in its last 18 games.
Leo Rivas had three hits, three RBI for the Mariners.
Mike Trout (sore knee) left the game in the 4th inning.
— If the playoffs started today (they don’t):
NL: Mets, Cubs, Dodgers. Wild Cards: Padres, Giants, Phillies
AL: New York, Tigers, Mariners. Wild Cards: Guardians, Astros, Red Sox
All-time leaders in pitching wins for the Toronto Blue Jays:
175— Dave Stieb
148— Roy Halladay
128— Jim Clancy
116— Jimmy Kay
107— Pat Hentgen
84— David Wells
Quote of the Day
“Keep everything light and fresh and and confident and understand that we have played good basketball. It’s not like we were getting our (expletive) kicked the whole time.”
Houston Rockets guard Fred Van Vleet
Thursday’s quiz
How many NBA teams did Shaquille O’Neal play for?
Wednesday’s quiz
John Gibbons was manager of the Toronto Blue Jays in 2016, last time they won a playoff game.
Tuesday’s quiz
Aaron Judge played his college baseball at Fresno State.
*****************************************
National League teams’ records, with each starting pitcher
NL teams’ W-L record by starting pitcher(thru Tuesday’s games)
— Diamondbacks
Gallen 2-4
Kelly 4-2
Burnes 2-3
Pfaadt 4-2
Rodriguez 2-4
— Braves
Sale 3-3
Schwellenbach 3-3 (home team 6-0)
Smith-Shawver 2-2
Holmes 3-2
Elder 3-2
Lopez 0-1
Strider 0-1
Blewett 0-1
— Cubs
Imanaga 5-2
Steele 3-1 (over 4-0)
Taillon 2-4
Boyd 2-3
Brown 3-2 (over 5-0)
Rea 3-0
— Reds
Greene 3-3 (under 4-1 last five)
Lodolo 4-2
Martinez 1-5 (under 4-1 last five)
Singer 4-1
Spiers 0-2
Abbott 3-0
Suter 1-0
— Rockies
Freeland 0-6 (under 5-1)
Senzatela 2-4
Feltner 1-5
Marquez 0-6 (over 4-1 last five)
Dollander 1-3
Blalock 0-1
— Dodgers
Yamamoto 4-2 (under 5-1)
Snell 2-0 (over 2-0)
Glasnow 3-2
Sasaki 4-2
May 3-2
Knack 2-0
Wrobleski 0-1
Miller 1-0
Casparius 0-1
Dreyer 1-0
Gonsolin 1-0
— Marlins
Alcantara 3-2
Gillispie 1-5
Bellozo 1-1
Meyer 3-3
Quantrill 3-2
Cabrera 1-3
— Brewers
Peralta 4-3 (under 6-1)
Cortes 1-1
Civale 0-1
Patrick 2-3
Priester 1-3
Rodriguez 0-2
Alexander 2-1
Quintana 4-0
Henderson 1-0
Myers 0-1
— Famous birthdays, May 1st:
Barry Clemens, 82
Dann Florek, 75
Charlie O’Brien, 65
Tim McGraw, 58
Alex Van Pelt, 55
Curtis Martin, 52
Wes Welker, 44
Marcus Stroman, 34
Casey Mize, 28
Chet Holmgren, 23
— Mets
Holmes 5-1
Megill 3-3
Senga 3-2
Canning 5-1
Peterson 5-1
Brazoban 0-1
— Phillies
Wheeler 4-3
Luzardo 4-2
Nola 1-5
Sanchez 4-1
Walker 3-2
— Pirates
Skenes 3-3
Keller 2-4
Falter 2-4
Heaney 3-3
Mlodzinski 1-4
Harrington 0-1
— Cardinals
Gray 5-1 (over 6-0)
Fedde 1-5
Mikolas 0-5
Liberatore 1-4
Pallante 3-3
Matz 1-0
— Padres
King 4-2
Cease 4-2
Vasquez 2-4
Pivetta 5-1
Hart 3-2
— Giants
Ray 6-0
Hicks 3-3
Webb 4-3
Verlander 2-4
Roupp 4-1
— Nationals
Gore 2-5
Irvin 3-3
Parker 5-1
Williams 2-4
Soroka 0-1
Lord 1-3
— Movie of the Day: Molly’s Game (2017)- The true story of Molly Bloom, an Olympic-class skier who went on to run the world’s most exclusive high-stakes poker game, becoming an FBI target in the process.
Jessica Chastain plays Molly, Idris Elba is great as her lawyer; Kevin Costner plays Molly’s father, a smallish role for him.
This was a book before it was a movie; it is a story very well-told.
— Blue Jays 7, Red Sox 6 (10)
Boston led 6-0 in the sixth inning.
Toronto hit three homers in a game for first time this season.
First time in 12 games the Blue Jays scored more than four runs.
— Cardinals 6-9, Reds 0-1
Willson Contreras hit a 3-run homer in first inning of the nightcap.
Coming into Wednesday, St Louis was 2-12 on the road.
Coming into Wednesday, Reds had won five games in a row.
— A’s 7, Rangers 1
A’s scored six runs in 9th, with homers by Rooker, Butler.
A’s have won six of their last eight games; they’re 10-6 on road.
Texas lost eight of its last 12 games.
— Rockies 2, Braves 1
Colorado snaps its eight-game losing streak.
Brenton Doyle’s home run ended his 0-for-20 skid.
Rockies’ 3B Ryan McMahon is 0 for his last 34, 2 for his last 58
— Dodgers 12, Marlins 7
Tony Gonsolin threw six strong innings in his first start since 2023.
Mookie Betts, scored twice, knocked in four runs.
Kyle Stowers went 4-4 with two homers for the Marlins.
— Mariners 9, Angels 3
Seattle won for 15th time in its last 18 games.
Leo Rivas had three hits, three RBI for the Mariners.
Mike Trout (sore knee) left the game in the 4th inning.
— If the playoffs started today (they don’t):
NL: Mets, Cubs, Dodgers. Wild Cards: Padres, Giants, Phillies
AL: New York, Tigers, Mariners. Wild Cards: Guardians, Astros, Red Sox
- Sep 10, 2018
- 18,415
- 20
- 38
NHL
Thursday, May 1
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Trend Report
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Toronto VS Ottawa
The total has gone UNDER in 11 of Toronto's last 15 games.
Toronto is 12-3 SU in its last 15 games.
Toronto is 3-7 SU in its last 10 games against Ottawa.
Toronto is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games on the road.
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Ottawa's last 10 games.
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Ottawa's last 6 games at home.
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Ottawa's last 9 games against an opponent in the Eastern Conference conference.
Ottawa is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games played in May.
Vegas VS Minnesota
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Vegas' last 5 games.
Vegas is 14-6 SU in its last 20 games.
Vegas is 8-2 SU in its last 10 games against Minnesota.
Vegas is 7-3 SU in its last 10 games on the road.
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Minnesota's last 5 games.
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Minnesota's last 6 games against Vegas.
Minnesota is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games at home.
Minnesota is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games when playing at home against Vegas.
Dallas VS Colorado
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Dallas' last 6 games.
Dallas is 3-9 SU in its last 12 games.
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Dallas' last 6 games on the road.
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Dallas' last 7 games when playing on the road against Colorado.
The total has gone OVER in 13 of Colorado's last 20 games against Dallas.
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Colorado's last 7 games at home.
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Colorado's last 7 games when playing at home against Dallas.
Colorado is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games against an opponent in the Central Division division.
Los Angeles VS Edmonton
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Los Angeles' last 7 games.
Los Angeles is 10-5 SU in its last 15 games.
Los Angeles is 7-13 SU in its last 20 games against Edmonton.
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Los Angeles' last 6 games on the road.
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Edmonton's last 5 games.
Edmonton is 7-3 SU in its last 10 games.
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Edmonton's last 5 games against Los Angeles.
Edmonton is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games at home.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thursday, May 1
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trend Report
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Toronto VS Ottawa
The total has gone UNDER in 11 of Toronto's last 15 games.
Toronto is 12-3 SU in its last 15 games.
Toronto is 3-7 SU in its last 10 games against Ottawa.
Toronto is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games on the road.
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Ottawa's last 10 games.
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Ottawa's last 6 games at home.
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Ottawa's last 9 games against an opponent in the Eastern Conference conference.
Ottawa is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games played in May.
Vegas VS Minnesota
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Vegas' last 5 games.
Vegas is 14-6 SU in its last 20 games.
Vegas is 8-2 SU in its last 10 games against Minnesota.
Vegas is 7-3 SU in its last 10 games on the road.
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Minnesota's last 5 games.
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Minnesota's last 6 games against Vegas.
Minnesota is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games at home.
Minnesota is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games when playing at home against Vegas.
Dallas VS Colorado
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Dallas' last 6 games.
Dallas is 3-9 SU in its last 12 games.
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Dallas' last 6 games on the road.
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Dallas' last 7 games when playing on the road against Colorado.
The total has gone OVER in 13 of Colorado's last 20 games against Dallas.
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Colorado's last 7 games at home.
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Colorado's last 7 games when playing at home against Dallas.
Colorado is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games against an opponent in the Central Division division.
Los Angeles VS Edmonton
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Los Angeles' last 7 games.
Los Angeles is 10-5 SU in its last 15 games.
Los Angeles is 7-13 SU in its last 20 games against Edmonton.
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Los Angeles' last 6 games on the road.
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Edmonton's last 5 games.
Edmonton is 7-3 SU in its last 10 games.
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Edmonton's last 5 games against Los Angeles.
Edmonton is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games at home.
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Thursday, May 1
| Game | Time(ET) | Pick | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| TOR at OTT | 07:00 PM | TOR +103 U 5.5 | +500 +500 |
| VEG at MIN | 07:30 PM | VEG -160 O 5.5 | +500 +500 |
| DAL at COL | 09:30 PM | DAL +169 U 6.0 | +500 +500 |
| LA at EDM | 10:00 PM | EDM -167 O 6.0 | +500 +500 |
NHL 2025 PLAYOFF BEST BETS !
05/01/2025......................4 - 4 - 0...........................50.00%........................- 1.35
***************************************
NHL 2025 PLAYOFF BEST BETS !
TOTALS...................39 - 28 - 0.....................58.20%....................+ 44.95
05/01/2025......................4 - 4 - 0...........................50.00%........................- 1.35
***************************************
NHL 2025 PLAYOFF BEST BETS !
TOTALS...................39 - 28 - 0.....................58.20%....................+ 44.95
Friday’s 6-pack:
All-time leaders in home runs for the Oakland A’s:
363— Mark McGwire
269— Reggie Jackson
254— Jose Canseco
230— Eric Chavez
198— Jason Giambi
192— Sal Bando
Quote of the Day
“Maybe this is hard sometimes for a coach or a player to admit this: We lost to a better team. That’s just the reality. We did. And we put ourselves in a position to win Games 3, 4 and 5 and we weren’t able to do that in the fourth quarter. And that’s where I think you really have to evaluate and really try to grow from as a coach and certainly as a group, whatever that group looks like next year.”
JJ Redick
Friday’s quiz
In the movie Any Given Sunday, what well-known actor played the starting QB for the Miami Sharks, before he got hurt?
Thursday’s quiz
Shaquille O’Neal played for six teams in his 19-year career, eight of them for the Lakers.
Wednesday’s quiz
John Gibbons was manager of the Toronto Blue Jays in 2016, last time they won a playoff game.
***********************************************
Jalen Brunson scored 40 points, scoring game-winning 3-pointer with 0:04 left.
Knicks only played three subs, who played a total of only 36:00.
New York wins the series, 4-2.
Good season ends for Detroit; they were 14-68/17-65 the last two years, but went 44-38 this year and made the playoffs for first time since 2019.
— Speaking of the Knicks, on May 8, 1970, I was 10 years old, was playing wiffle ball in the street in front of our house, at 8:15 or so. My dad stuck his head out the door and said “Get in here, now.” My friends laughed, they thought I was in trouble, but my dad never yelled at me, so I didn’t know what was up.
“Who you rooting for?” he asked me- Game 7 of the NBA Finals was about to start, Knicks vs Lakers. He and my sister were huge Knick fans; I didn’t really care who won, but I was good at being an annoying little brother so I said “Lakers”
My dad pointed to the other side of the living room and said “Sit over there, then”
Knicks killed them; they were up 27 at the half, won easily. Was cool to see my dad happy, but don’t think I said so that night.
— I bring this up because one of the Knciks’ starting guards on that team, Dick Barnett, passed away this week at age 88.
Barnett was a lefty jump shooting guard who played 14 years in the NBA, scored 15,358 points in an excellent career. He played 42:00 in that Game 7, scored 21 points. He was really good.
RIP, sir.
— By the way, the Knick-Laker playoff games started at 8:30 back then because they had the Ringling Brothers Circus in Madison Square Garden during the day; took them a while to get the court ready to play. Times have changed.
— Clippers 111, Nuggets 105
James Harden scored 28 points, Kawhi Leonard 27.
Clippers used three subs, who were a combined +20
Series is 3-3; game 7 is Saturday night in Denver.
— I have a question, actually several questions about why the Lakers played the same five players the whole second half in their Game 4 loss to Minnesota.
Minnesota led 61-58 at halftime, but the Lakers outscored them 36-23 in the third quarter. Timberwolves led the series 2-1- they outscored a tired Lakers team 32-19 in the fourth quarter and seized control of the series.
In the last 30 years, no NBA team had ever played an entire half of a playoff game without making any substitutions; Lebron James is one of the best players ever for sure, but he is 40 years old, and he didn’t score a point in the 4th quarter.
My main question is this: Lakers’ coach JJ Redick had never coached before this season; was this his decision? Did the front office approve of it? Were they even notified? What did the seven subs on the bench think about being ignored for the whole second half.
— Famous birthdays, May 2nd:
Engelbert Humperdinck, 89
Jo Ann Pflug, 84
Clay Carroll, 84
Christine Baranski, 73
Keith Moreland, 71
Dwayne Johnson, 53
David Beckham, 50
Pat McAfee, 38
Ian Anderson, 27
— May 1, 1991 was a pretty significant sports day:
Rickey Henderson set the all-time stolen bases record during a day game in Oakland.
That night, Nolan Ryan threw his 7th no-hitter, at age 44.
— So far this season, Mets have outscored opponents 50-19 in the first three innings; Francisco Lindor is hitting 14-30 in the first inning.
— Back in 2005, every major league team hit .250 or better for the season; last year, only six teams hit .250 or better.
— A’s 3, Rangers 0
Jeffrey Springs allowed two hits in six scoreless IP.
Rangers haven’t homered in their last seven games.
Right now, the A’s are tied for the last playoff spot in the AL.
— Rockies 4, Giants 3
San Francisco led 3-1 after the sixth inning.
Rockies snapped a 12-game losing skid at Oracle Park.
Colorado won its last two games, after starting the season 4-25.
— Guardians 4, Twins 3 (10)
Jose Ramirez is the first Cleveland player with 250+ homers, 250+ stolen bases.
Pinch-hitter Angel Martinez had the walk-off single for the Guardians.
Minnesota slips to 4-13 on the road.
— Blue Jays 4, Red Sox 2
Vladimir Guerrero Jr hit a 3-run homer in 8th inning.
Red Sox led 2-0 after six innings.
Alex Bregman knocked in the only two Boston runs.
— Royals 8, Rays 2
Bobby Witt homered, extended his hitting streak to 22 games.
Royals went to Tampa Bay and swept the Rays.
Rays are 9-13 in their temporary home, an outdoor minor league field.
— If the playoffs started today (they don’t):
NL: Mets, Cubs, Dodgers. Wild Cards: Padres, Giants, Phil/Ariz
AL: New York, Tigers, Mariners. Wild Cards: Guardians, Astros, A’s/KC
All-time leaders in home runs for the Oakland A’s:
363— Mark McGwire
269— Reggie Jackson
254— Jose Canseco
230— Eric Chavez
198— Jason Giambi
192— Sal Bando
Quote of the Day
“Maybe this is hard sometimes for a coach or a player to admit this: We lost to a better team. That’s just the reality. We did. And we put ourselves in a position to win Games 3, 4 and 5 and we weren’t able to do that in the fourth quarter. And that’s where I think you really have to evaluate and really try to grow from as a coach and certainly as a group, whatever that group looks like next year.”
JJ Redick
Friday’s quiz
In the movie Any Given Sunday, what well-known actor played the starting QB for the Miami Sharks, before he got hurt?
Thursday’s quiz
Shaquille O’Neal played for six teams in his 19-year career, eight of them for the Lakers.
Wednesday’s quiz
John Gibbons was manager of the Toronto Blue Jays in 2016, last time they won a playoff game.
***********************************************
Friday’s Den: Clearing out a cluttered mind………
— Knicks 116, Pistons 113Jalen Brunson scored 40 points, scoring game-winning 3-pointer with 0:04 left.
Knicks only played three subs, who played a total of only 36:00.
New York wins the series, 4-2.
Good season ends for Detroit; they were 14-68/17-65 the last two years, but went 44-38 this year and made the playoffs for first time since 2019.
— Speaking of the Knicks, on May 8, 1970, I was 10 years old, was playing wiffle ball in the street in front of our house, at 8:15 or so. My dad stuck his head out the door and said “Get in here, now.” My friends laughed, they thought I was in trouble, but my dad never yelled at me, so I didn’t know what was up.
“Who you rooting for?” he asked me- Game 7 of the NBA Finals was about to start, Knicks vs Lakers. He and my sister were huge Knick fans; I didn’t really care who won, but I was good at being an annoying little brother so I said “Lakers”
My dad pointed to the other side of the living room and said “Sit over there, then”
Knicks killed them; they were up 27 at the half, won easily. Was cool to see my dad happy, but don’t think I said so that night.
— I bring this up because one of the Knciks’ starting guards on that team, Dick Barnett, passed away this week at age 88.
Barnett was a lefty jump shooting guard who played 14 years in the NBA, scored 15,358 points in an excellent career. He played 42:00 in that Game 7, scored 21 points. He was really good.
RIP, sir.
— By the way, the Knick-Laker playoff games started at 8:30 back then because they had the Ringling Brothers Circus in Madison Square Garden during the day; took them a while to get the court ready to play. Times have changed.
— Clippers 111, Nuggets 105
James Harden scored 28 points, Kawhi Leonard 27.
Clippers used three subs, who were a combined +20
Series is 3-3; game 7 is Saturday night in Denver.
— I have a question, actually several questions about why the Lakers played the same five players the whole second half in their Game 4 loss to Minnesota.
Minnesota led 61-58 at halftime, but the Lakers outscored them 36-23 in the third quarter. Timberwolves led the series 2-1- they outscored a tired Lakers team 32-19 in the fourth quarter and seized control of the series.
In the last 30 years, no NBA team had ever played an entire half of a playoff game without making any substitutions; Lebron James is one of the best players ever for sure, but he is 40 years old, and he didn’t score a point in the 4th quarter.
My main question is this: Lakers’ coach JJ Redick had never coached before this season; was this his decision? Did the front office approve of it? Were they even notified? What did the seven subs on the bench think about being ignored for the whole second half.
— Famous birthdays, May 2nd:
Engelbert Humperdinck, 89
Jo Ann Pflug, 84
Clay Carroll, 84
Christine Baranski, 73
Keith Moreland, 71
Dwayne Johnson, 53
David Beckham, 50
Pat McAfee, 38
Ian Anderson, 27
— May 1, 1991 was a pretty significant sports day:
Rickey Henderson set the all-time stolen bases record during a day game in Oakland.
That night, Nolan Ryan threw his 7th no-hitter, at age 44.
— So far this season, Mets have outscored opponents 50-19 in the first three innings; Francisco Lindor is hitting 14-30 in the first inning.
— Back in 2005, every major league team hit .250 or better for the season; last year, only six teams hit .250 or better.
— A’s 3, Rangers 0
Jeffrey Springs allowed two hits in six scoreless IP.
Rangers haven’t homered in their last seven games.
Right now, the A’s are tied for the last playoff spot in the AL.
— Rockies 4, Giants 3
San Francisco led 3-1 after the sixth inning.
Rockies snapped a 12-game losing skid at Oracle Park.
Colorado won its last two games, after starting the season 4-25.
— Guardians 4, Twins 3 (10)
Jose Ramirez is the first Cleveland player with 250+ homers, 250+ stolen bases.
Pinch-hitter Angel Martinez had the walk-off single for the Guardians.
Minnesota slips to 4-13 on the road.
— Blue Jays 4, Red Sox 2
Vladimir Guerrero Jr hit a 3-run homer in 8th inning.
Red Sox led 2-0 after six innings.
Alex Bregman knocked in the only two Boston runs.
— Royals 8, Rays 2
Bobby Witt homered, extended his hitting streak to 22 games.
Royals went to Tampa Bay and swept the Rays.
Rays are 9-13 in their temporary home, an outdoor minor league field.
— If the playoffs started today (they don’t):
NL: Mets, Cubs, Dodgers. Wild Cards: Padres, Giants, Phil/Ariz
AL: New York, Tigers, Mariners. Wild Cards: Guardians, Astros, A’s/KC
