2013-14 NBA Picks

I pick Heat/Spurs every year; I'll do it one more time.  I'll put the Vegas win total in parentheses next to my projection.  

East

1.       Heat 57 (61.5, under, baby, Simmons goes under)

2.       Bulls 52 (56.5, so an under makes sense, Simmons says lock over)

3.       Pacers 51 (55.5, an under, Simmons says under)

4.       Nets 51 (52)

5.       Pistons 45 (40, an over, Simmons says over)

6.       Hawks 43 (39.5, so an over makes sense, Simmons went under)

7.       Knicks 42 (49.5, well under, Simmons says under)

8.       Cavs 37 (40)

9.       Wizards 37 (38.5)

10.   Raptors 35 (36)

11.   Bucks 31 (28.5, over, Simmons says over and called it a lock)

12.   Celtics 29 (28.5)

13.   Bobcats 28 (26.5)

14.   Sixers 22 (16.5, over, Simmons went under and called it a lock)

15.   Magic 23 (23.5)

West

1.       Spurs 58 (55.5)

2.       Clips 56 (55.5)

3.       Thunder 54 (53.5)

4.       Rockets 54 (55)

5.       Grizzlies 49 (51.5)

6.       TWolves 46 (41, over, Simmons goes under)

7.       GSW 46 (52, yes, my beloved Warriors are overrated, Simmons goes under)

8.       Nuggets 44 (46.5)

9.       Mavs 42 (43.5)

10.   Blazers 40 (38.5)

11.   Pelicans 39 (40.5)

12.   Lakers 35 (35.5)

13.   Jazz 33 (25, over, Simmons goes under)

14.   Kings 29 (32)

15.   Suns 20 (21)

2013 World Series Pick

I'll take the Cards in 5.

Assuming it's true that Allen Craig is returning, that's too many bats to handle; given how well Wacha is pitching, he teams with Wainwright to give the Cards the arm advantage too.  I don't have any rooting advantage at all in the series, but I think St Louis is the side.

#FarewellCandlestick: The 100 Greatest Moments in Candlestick Park History #70

#71 is here.

#70 September 20, 1989 8 run comeback



The eventual NL Champs were up 5 with 11 left, so even when the Giants fell behind 7-0 in the third against the Dodgers, it wasn't a moral wound to their pennant race.

This was particularly true because the Giants had an 8 run comeback in Cincinnati just two weeks prior, and, sure enough, it happened again.

Stu Tate pitched in two major league games; this is the one he remembers; in relief with the score 7-0, he got all 8 Dodgers he faced out (LA only got one more hit after the third inning) putting the Giants in position for the comeback: 3 in the 6th (the big shot an Ernest Riles homer) but still down 7-3 headed to the 9th.

The Dodgers never got another out.  Kevin Mitchell led off with a homer; then a single by Riles, a run scoring double by Matt Williams, a run scoring Terry Kennedy single, a Chris Speier double to put men on second and third with the Giants now down 7-6; a Greg Litton pinch single to tie the game, and a Brett Butler single to win it.

#69 is tomorrow.