[theo_luddite]

What about them Blow Jays, eh?

For those that didn't keep their eyes open until about 05:15 on Sunday morning, here's how the weekend panned out.
The Dodgers turned up in Toronto on Friday needing a win to stay in The World Series. They got that in a tight game where all the runs were scored in the 3rd innings. The Dodgers won 3-1. So onto Saturday night (Sunday morning) for the decider and the Dodgers decided to put the "best player in baseball", Shohei Ohtani, out as their opening batsman, their designated hitter and their opening pitcher. Meanwhile 'Da Jays' started with the oldest starting pitcher in Major League baseball, Max Scherzer.

Pitching in his 3rd innings, a visibly struggling Ohtani was already around 50 pitches when Springer got himself on base and he was advanced to 2nd from a sacrifice bunt. Up comes the dangerous Vlad Gurrero Jr and the LA coach ordered him to be walked (not pitched to). He didn't want to risk a 2 run dinger. Up comes Bichette who immediately hits a 3 run dinger. Toronto 3-0 up, Ohtani releved of his pitching duties. In comparison Sherzer had only thrown about 30 pitches as LA came out looking to recover some of the damage. That Sherzer had also run his pitch count up towards the 50's and been hit all over the park (when he wasn't walking batsmen), 'Da Jays' were lucky to get out with only conceding one run - 3-1. Both opening pitchers gone, the bullpens (reserve pitchers) took over.

LA scored again in the 6th but 'Da Jays' replied in the same innings to keep it 4-2. In the battle of the Bullpens, 'Da Jays' were changing Pitchers at the end of each innings for the most part, LA were keeping some of their's in the game for a bit longer. It was working better for LA for the most part. In the 8th, another dinger over the right field fence made the score 4-3. 'Da Jays' were getting hits and loading bases but struggling to get runs across home plate despite the roar of the home crowd. 9th innings and LA make it 4-4 with another dinger over the left field fence. Then, as the Jays threatened to get the winner from either loading the bases or hitting one final run out of the park, out of the bullpen trots Yamamoto, who held the Jays to one run in 6 innings on Friday. Vlad Jr hits him long to centre field but is caught in front of the fence. 3rd out - extra innings.

10th innings, Dodgers loaded the bases but couldn't get one home. The Jays stranded several as it went to the 11th. A carbon copy dinger over the left field fence finally put LA in front and despite several good chances, 'Da Jays' were shut out, bases loaded when a broken bat swing hit the ball to 2nd base that resulted in a doube play to end the game. The home crowd was silenced, LA Dodgers won their 3rd WS in 4 seasons but the important thing is SCO and me got the points that really matter.

https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/ima...5b4eij.png

A very entertaining if low(ish) scoring World Series where the defences often leaked more than just a bit, but were never blown wide open and a slug-fest never materialised.

In the CFL Egg chasing, two high scoring games, who needs a defence, eh? saw Montreal beat Winnipeg 42-33 and BC beat Calgary 33-30. Those results mean Montreal (SCO) go to Hamilton (theo) for the Eastern Final and British Columbia (nobody) go to Saskatchewan (nobody) for the Western final.

In the RL Egg chasing, England put up a better performance but still lost 4-14 in front of a crowd of 52,106 at Everton's shiny new stadium on Liverpool Docks. Playing for pride at an equally sold out Headingley next weekend.

The RU Autumn Egg chasing also started this weekend, a money grubbing series of friendlies if ever I saw one. No trophies are handed out and the number of invitiees extends almost every year. England did do better against the Aussies in this one winning 25-7. Ireland had a home fixture in Chicago, where there's arguably more people claiming to be Irish than there are in Dublin. Don't get me started on Boston, where everybody knows your name. They got beat 13-26 by New Zealand. The Taffs didn't have a game and The Jocks hammered The Yanks. Seth Efrika hammered Japan at Wembley in front of a crowd that could have fitted nicely into Loftus Road, but that would have had to be played on Sunday as the R's were at home Saturday. That and nobody in the top shelf could see what was happening 20 yards in front of them.

The Ladies Cricket World Cup was won by India, beating Seth Efrika by 52 runs (298/7 v 246 all out).

There's been a few shocks in the FA Cup 1st Round, not least of which was Town scoring a goal, however the telebox boys have mostly been disappointed with their picks. Only Chelmsford (NL South) 4v1 Braintree (NL) and Brackley (NL) 2-2 Notts County (EFL 2), 4-3 on pens. They'll be hoping the hot potatoes at Tamworth tonight give them one more win as it's 2 from 7 so far. Gateshead winning 0-2 at The Wombles was probably the biggest shock so far given the difference in Divisions though there's a few more from our division that were probably expecting to do better.

SHEP is still in front on 16, with ritchie trailing on 10.
We've only got F1, CFL, Ashes Cricket, Darts, Africa Cup of Nations and the Play-Off Decider (if required) left to score points in and you are still able to change your mind on those last 3 (Ashes Cricket, Darts, Africa Cup of Nations).

Note the Darts dates and venue are now confirmed