Saturday’s 6-pack
— Pistons 118, Hornets 100- Detroit outscored Hornets 25-10 in 4th quarter.
— Hawks 124, Cavaliers 102- Atlanta clinches the Southeast Division.
— Knicks 112, Raptors 95- Toronto has lost 13 in a row against the Knicks.
— Spurs 139, Mavericks 120- Victor Wembanyama had 40 points, 13 rebounds.
— Nuggets 127, Thunder 107- Denver outscored OKC 37-22 in fourth quarter.
— Kings 124, Warriors 118- Devin Carter scored a career-high 29 points.
Quote of the Day
“Spent, up to now, my entire career with that team, so it’s pretty special. I got a little choked up up there. Just overall a super fun night.”
A’s 2B/former Met Jeff McNeil
Saturday’s quiz
When Michael Jordan played minor league baseball for the Birmingham Barons, in the AA Southern League, who was the Barons’ manager?
Friday’s quiz
Rex Ryan was coach of the New York Jets, last time they made the playoffs.
Thursday’s quiz
In the history of the New York Mets, Jose Reyes has stolen the most bases.
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San Diego hit a walk-off homer for the second night in a row.
Gavin Sheets homered twice, including the 9th inning game-winner.
Padres’ closer Mason Miller struck out 17 of the last 18 hitters he faced.
— Pirates 2, Cubs 0
Shota Imanaga didn’t allow a hit in his 6 IP, throwing 100 pitches.
As soon as he left the game, Pirates scored two runs.
Bryan Reynolds’ home run scored both Pittsburgh runs.
— A’s 4, Mets 0
A’s threw a shutout for the second night in a row.
Jeff McNeil had two hits and an RBI in his return to Queens.
Mets lost their last three games, outscored 18-3.
— Dodgers 8, Rangers 7
Max Muncy hit three home runs, including a walk-off homer.
Texas tied the game with three runs in the top of the 9th.
Andy Pages went 3-for-3 with four RBI
— Nationals 7, Brewers 3
Washington scored four runs in the ninth inning.
Nationals had three bunt hits during that inning.
Washington is 5-3 when they score 6+ runs, 0-5 when they don’t.
— Famous birthdays, April 11th
Louise Lasser, 87
Peter Riegert, 79
Bret Saberhagen, 62
Jason Varitek, 54
Trot Nixon, 52
Mark Teixeira, 46
Kelli Garner, 42
Cavan Biggio, 31
Kedon Slovis, 25
— Watched Moneyball for the millionth time the other night; still bothers me the lack of respect the movie showed for manager Art Howe. The 2002 A’s were 103-59, they won 20 games in a row; you don’t win that many games without really good players and a very good manager.
Howe also played 11 years in the major leagues as an infielder, but they portrayed him as an overweight guy, which just wasn’t/isn’t true.
As an A’s fan, obviously I mostly liked the movie, but Howe should’ve been treated better.
— If you bet the under in the Rockies-Padres game Thursday night, don’t read this paragraph. Game was tied 3-3 in the 12th inning, very long game with the new extra inning rules, but the Rockies didn’t score in the top of the 12th.
San Diego bunted the ghost runner over to third in the bottom of the 12th, then Colorado walked two guys intentionally to load the bases and set up a force play, but Xander Bogaerts hit a grand slam to end the game, and put it over the 7.5-run total. Bad beat for under bettors.
— ESPN has a good show, This is Football, which is pretty basic, just a guy interviewing coaches and front office execs around the league. Found it late at night the other night; they interviewed Kevin Stefanski, new coach of the Falcons and the new GM of the Dolphins, Jon-Eric Sullivan.
Guy who hosts the show asks good questions and gets out of the way; learned a lot watching that show and look forward to more shows with the NFL Draft coming up.
— Saint Louis Billikens’ basketball team posted on social media that they’ll have nine players back next year, which is unusual in this day and age. Saint Louis was 29-6 this past season, wont a game in the NCAA Tournament. They should be favored to win the A-14 next year.
— Movie of the Day: One More Time (2015)- A famous singer on the downside of his career plans his comeback.
Christopher Walken is the singer; Amber Heard/Kelli Garner plays his daughters, Oliver Platt his agent. Good movie, not always the happiest movie, but an interesting story well-told.
— Tigers 2, Marlins 0
Keider Montero got 18 outs, allowing three baserunners.
Marlins only got two hits the whole game.
Kenley Jansen recorded his 478th career save.
— Braves 11, Guardians 5
Cleveland led this game 2-1 after five innings.
Matt Olson’s 6th inning homer put Atlanta ahead for good.
Braves scored six runs, had seven hits in that sixth inning.
— Rays 5, Bronx 3
Yandy Diaz batted cleanup, hit a two-run homer.
Steven Matz gave up 2 hits in 5 IP, and got the win.
New York lost its last three games, scoring five runs.
— Angels 10, Reds 2
Jorge Soler, who is appealing his 7-game suspension, hit a grand slam.
Zach Neto hit his fifth homer of the year for the Angels.
Jack Kochanowicz allowed two hits in his 7 IP.
— Royals 2, White Sox 0
Kris Bubic struck out 11 guys, got the win.
Carter Jensen homered for the Royals.
White Sox are 2-8 when they score less than five runs.
— Pistons 118, Hornets 100- Detroit outscored Hornets 25-10 in 4th quarter.
— Hawks 124, Cavaliers 102- Atlanta clinches the Southeast Division.
— Knicks 112, Raptors 95- Toronto has lost 13 in a row against the Knicks.
— Spurs 139, Mavericks 120- Victor Wembanyama had 40 points, 13 rebounds.
— Nuggets 127, Thunder 107- Denver outscored OKC 37-22 in fourth quarter.
— Kings 124, Warriors 118- Devin Carter scored a career-high 29 points.
Quote of the Day
“Spent, up to now, my entire career with that team, so it’s pretty special. I got a little choked up up there. Just overall a super fun night.”
A’s 2B/former Met Jeff McNeil
Saturday’s quiz
When Michael Jordan played minor league baseball for the Birmingham Barons, in the AA Southern League, who was the Barons’ manager?
Friday’s quiz
Rex Ryan was coach of the New York Jets, last time they made the playoffs.
Thursday’s quiz
In the history of the New York Mets, Jose Reyes has stolen the most bases.
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Saturday’s Den: Wrapping up a busy Friday of baseball…….
— Padres 5, Rockies 2San Diego hit a walk-off homer for the second night in a row.
Gavin Sheets homered twice, including the 9th inning game-winner.
Padres’ closer Mason Miller struck out 17 of the last 18 hitters he faced.
— Pirates 2, Cubs 0
Shota Imanaga didn’t allow a hit in his 6 IP, throwing 100 pitches.
As soon as he left the game, Pirates scored two runs.
Bryan Reynolds’ home run scored both Pittsburgh runs.
— A’s 4, Mets 0
A’s threw a shutout for the second night in a row.
Jeff McNeil had two hits and an RBI in his return to Queens.
Mets lost their last three games, outscored 18-3.
— Dodgers 8, Rangers 7
Max Muncy hit three home runs, including a walk-off homer.
Texas tied the game with three runs in the top of the 9th.
Andy Pages went 3-for-3 with four RBI
— Nationals 7, Brewers 3
Washington scored four runs in the ninth inning.
Nationals had three bunt hits during that inning.
Washington is 5-3 when they score 6+ runs, 0-5 when they don’t.
— Famous birthdays, April 11th
Louise Lasser, 87
Peter Riegert, 79
Bret Saberhagen, 62
Jason Varitek, 54
Trot Nixon, 52
Mark Teixeira, 46
Kelli Garner, 42
Cavan Biggio, 31
Kedon Slovis, 25
— Watched Moneyball for the millionth time the other night; still bothers me the lack of respect the movie showed for manager Art Howe. The 2002 A’s were 103-59, they won 20 games in a row; you don’t win that many games without really good players and a very good manager.
Howe also played 11 years in the major leagues as an infielder, but they portrayed him as an overweight guy, which just wasn’t/isn’t true.
As an A’s fan, obviously I mostly liked the movie, but Howe should’ve been treated better.
— If you bet the under in the Rockies-Padres game Thursday night, don’t read this paragraph. Game was tied 3-3 in the 12th inning, very long game with the new extra inning rules, but the Rockies didn’t score in the top of the 12th.
San Diego bunted the ghost runner over to third in the bottom of the 12th, then Colorado walked two guys intentionally to load the bases and set up a force play, but Xander Bogaerts hit a grand slam to end the game, and put it over the 7.5-run total. Bad beat for under bettors.
— ESPN has a good show, This is Football, which is pretty basic, just a guy interviewing coaches and front office execs around the league. Found it late at night the other night; they interviewed Kevin Stefanski, new coach of the Falcons and the new GM of the Dolphins, Jon-Eric Sullivan.
Guy who hosts the show asks good questions and gets out of the way; learned a lot watching that show and look forward to more shows with the NFL Draft coming up.
— Saint Louis Billikens’ basketball team posted on social media that they’ll have nine players back next year, which is unusual in this day and age. Saint Louis was 29-6 this past season, wont a game in the NCAA Tournament. They should be favored to win the A-14 next year.
— Movie of the Day: One More Time (2015)- A famous singer on the downside of his career plans his comeback.
Christopher Walken is the singer; Amber Heard/Kelli Garner plays his daughters, Oliver Platt his agent. Good movie, not always the happiest movie, but an interesting story well-told.
— Tigers 2, Marlins 0
Keider Montero got 18 outs, allowing three baserunners.
Marlins only got two hits the whole game.
Kenley Jansen recorded his 478th career save.
— Braves 11, Guardians 5
Cleveland led this game 2-1 after five innings.
Matt Olson’s 6th inning homer put Atlanta ahead for good.
Braves scored six runs, had seven hits in that sixth inning.
— Rays 5, Bronx 3
Yandy Diaz batted cleanup, hit a two-run homer.
Steven Matz gave up 2 hits in 5 IP, and got the win.
New York lost its last three games, scoring five runs.
— Angels 10, Reds 2
Jorge Soler, who is appealing his 7-game suspension, hit a grand slam.
Zach Neto hit his fifth homer of the year for the Angels.
Jack Kochanowicz allowed two hits in his 7 IP.
— Royals 2, White Sox 0
Kris Bubic struck out 11 guys, got the win.
Carter Jensen homered for the Royals.
White Sox are 2-8 when they score less than five runs.
