CATCHER ECHOING MISERY ORIOLES FANS MUST FEEL
During a week in which the Orioles set a franchise mark for losses in a season, catcher Caleb Joseph vented to a reporter for The Athletic website.
Players, himself included, should “expect some retribution,” he said, for their contributions to the miserable season. “Every single locker in here should be thinking, ‘You know, I should be fired because I sucked.’ Period.” I wish he’d tell us how he really feels.
Aftershock: It’s hard to believe that there has even been a discussion this week over why the Redskins lost to the Indy Colts after looking so sharp against the Arizona Cardinals. Many of the postmortems fail to take into account that the Cardinals are a dumpster fire, while the Colts, at the very least, have some idea of what they’re doing.
Murderers’ Row: After falling to Colts quarterback Andrew Luck, the Redskins face Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees and Cam Newton over the next three weeks. That’s a cruel stretch for Jay Gruden, whose seat is never less than warm.
The Least: The Redskins won’t be the sole culprit if the NFC East turns into a toxic waste dump. Behind a porous line, the Giants’ Eli Manning looks enfeebled, while Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is gravitating toward runof-the-mill. That leaves the Eagles — if they can avoid a Super Bowl hangover.
Idle thought: Despite what you may hear ad nauseam from radio and TV squawk shows, it’s unlikely that Mike Tomlin has lost the Steelers’ locker room. And he won’t, not as long as his phone has Google maps.
Nibbling: Monday night, Miami Marlins pitching struck out the Nationals’ Bryce Harper three times. In Tuesday’s game, the Marlins walked him five times. Is it common practice these days to pitch around a .247 hitter?
Wondering: I’ll grudgingly listen to anyone who thinks he can convince me that measuring a home run’s “exit velocity” enhances the experience of watching a ball leave the yard. But I’m not buying it.
Business as usual: When the 12-member World Anti-Doping Agency prematurely ends Russia’s suspension for its state-sponsored Olympic athlete doping schemes, a skeptic can’t help but believe more corruption is afoot. Russia up to no good again? Hard to believe, I know.
Numbers game: Two weeks ago, Texas A&M lost to current No. 3 Clemson by two points. Judging by the betting line, however, the Aggies’ near-miss couldn’t impress the sports touts less leading up to A&M’s game at No. 1 Alabama. The Tide opened as more than a three-touchdown favorite. Mind you, this is against the 22nd-ranked team. But, then, Bama has won each of its first three games — two against powerconference opponents — by no less than 37 points.
Weight watchers: Don’t judge James Madison football player Percy Agyei-Obese by his name. Obese? Not at all. The 203-pound sophomore running back carried his weight and the ball very lightly last week while sprinting 80 yards for a touchdown in the Dukes’ 73-7 win over Robert Morris.
TV timeout: For another football season, any pass a defender touches — even with a single cuticle — is “almost intercepted.” The absurdity of that makes me smile every time.
Hoops du jour: Jimmy Butler is a talent, but not a big enough one to make such a huge deal over his trade demands to the Timberwolves. He’s not good enough to turn a team around by himself.
Unconvincing: Having Notre Dame’s football games piped into our family rooms every week provides viewers with plenty of opportunity to judge for ourselves if the Irish are up to their ranking — No. 8 this week. From what I’ve seen, they are not.
Update: Dez Bryant, still unemployed.
Brady bunch: If he can toe the line — never a great bet —former Browns problem child Josh Gordon gives the Patriots their most talented wide receiver since Randy Moss. Can’t blame the rest of the AFC for crying, “No fair.”