Quite a few topics to cover today as the spring weather continues to fluctuate from the 40’s and rain to 70’s and sunny. I for one, am always glad to say goodbye to March and April here in the Buckeye State!
Just finished watching the Reds sweep the hapless Rockies in Denver as Colorado falls to a sorry 4-23 record while Cincinnati improves to 15-13, only two games behind Chicago before the Cubs host the Phillies Sunday night. The Rockies seem to be able to do no right, weak offensively and with a pitching staff that struggles in the Mile High City, giving up runs in the spacious confines of Coors Field. While the Rockies’ start is horrendous, it is far from the worst in Major League history. Today’s trivia question begs the answer as to what team has the dubious distinction of losing the most consecutive games to start a season?
Sticking with diamond doings, Vandalia-Butler’s baseball team is currently ranked number one in state D-III polls while Miami Valley League rival Tippecanoe is fourth. Both are members of the MVL’s Miami division, with Tipp boasting an 11-0 (13-0 overall) mark and the Aviators at 9-0 (14-0). Battles of epic proportions loom with matchups between the two, first at Tipp on May 7th, followed by a second game at Butler on May 9th. Might be worth your while to attend at least one, if not both, games!
Meanwhile in softball action, the Lady Wave of Greenville, ranked third in D-III, continue to roll on in the MVL with an 11-0 mark (15-1 overall). Two big games are on the horizon against Troy’s Lady Trojans (9-1 league, 13-4 overall), with the first encounter at Troy Friday and the second at Greenville on Monday, the 5th.
Tri-Village’s Lady Patriots, the only team to defeat Greenville this spring, are ranked second in D-VI with a perfect 6-0 WOAC record and 16-0 overall. They seem on the path to a conference title as they’ve already beaten Arcanum (6-1) and Tri-County North (5-1).
Well, the annual festivities known as the NFL draft are over with the usual amount of hair pulling, angst, and optimism among the faithful. I don’t know about you, but I was becoming a little tired of the constant harping about the fate of Shedeur Sanders and his fall from a sure first-round pick all the way to the fifth round on Saturday. I agree with my colleague Mike Stegall that he wasn’t as impressive to NFL scouts as his publicity would have you believe.
I also think that he brings a lot of baggage to the Browns (why did they draft two quarterbacks when they have so many other needs?) that will be hard to overcome. As one unnamed front office executive stated, “Sanders’ interview was the worst he’d ever experienced”. I have a feeling that Shedeur gave the impression that his “brand name” was more important than that of a team. I hope he’s given a fair shake as to making the Browns’ roster, as he’s one of five in a crowded quarterback room.
Checking out first returns on the grades of the thirty-two teams draft classes, the Bengals rated dead last in a few listings with a B-. I’m not largely impressed by such rankings, but it did seem that the Stripes once again seem to have amassed an average group of newcomers.
Elsewhere in the AFC North, the Steelers and the Ravens both rated an A, with the Browns a B+. Meanwhile, the Colts also pulled an A ranking in the AFC South as they strive to return to playoff contention.
THE had an impressive fourteen players selected, one short of tying the record for most from a single school. Wide receiver Emeka Egbuka was the first to go, the nineteenth overall pick to the Buccaneers. Three other Buckeyes were first-round choices, with three in the second round, three in the fourth, three in the fifth, and QB Will Howard going to the Steelers in the sixth. Any wonder why so many four and five-star high school recruits and portal transfers want to play on the banks of the Olentangy?
It’s that time of the year when garden centers and nurseries around the area start seeing sales soar. My wife and I spent time at several local and out-of-area businesses, carrying out mandevilla plants (don’t ask me, I don’t know much about them!), ferns, etc. All I do know is that if you water and fertilize things properly, they usually end up looking beautiful!
The 1988 Baltimore Orioles (much to the chagrin of my high school classmate Ric Crider, an avid O’s fan) started the season with an unbelievable twenty-one consecutive losses, winning their first game of the year on April 29th. Things didn’t improve much over the remainder of the campaign as the Orioles finished dead last in the AL East with a 54-107 mark. And you thought the Rockies have gotten off to a miserable start! Stay active and healthy!!
