MLB Playoffs Set, Game Pitching Matchups

If last night's game was any indication of what the entire playoffs are going to be like then put on your seat belt. That game was one of the most exciting of the year, ripe with drama, come-from-behind rallies, and a lot of controversy.

Three of the series' begin tomorrow with the Yankees and Indians starting on Thursday. Here are the pitching matchups for all the Game 1's:

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Boston
Lackey 19-9 3.01 at Beckett 20-7 3.27

New York at Cleveland
Wang 19-7 3.70 at Sabathia 19-7 3.21

Chicago at Arizona
Zambrano 18-13 3.95 at Webb 18-10 3.01

Colorado at Philadelphia
Francis 17-9 4.22 at Hamels 15-5 3.39

Carlson Rips Another Amateur Athlete, Rex Grossman

The Oklahoman columnist, Jenni Carlson, is at it again. Just three days after she claimed Oklahoma State QB Bobby Reid had a bad attitude that led to his benching, and was handed her lunch by Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy at his press conference for attacking an amateur athlete, she attacks another amateur athlete in Rex Grossman.


Carlson calls for Grossman's benching because, "he continues to show that he has never looked at a playbook in his life." She also continues, "It would be better if he had an attitude problem like Bobby Reid, instead he just sucks."


When Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith found about the article he had this to say:

"I thought she had learned her lesson after Coach Gundy got after her. You can't attack amateur athletes like this and if she thinks we are paying Grossman to play for us she needs to do some more research before she starts to write. Have you seen this guy play, if anything, he should be paying us and the fans who have to watch that garbage."

Coach Smith reiterated that Grossman was a good kid that just had trouble playing the QB position on Sundays. He also revealed that Grossman has been using the lockers in the coaches' offices ever since the Super Bowl for fear that Brian Urlacher or Lance Briggs will "accidentally" slip into Rex's knee, hopefully tearing the ACL.

When reached for comment, Carlson would only say that no matter if the player is amateur or professional, if you are going to waste one of the 32 starting QB positions in the NFL then be prepared to be ripped on by any no-name columnist including one who wouldn't know a football if it smacked her upside the head.

Reid is still the most talented signal-caller, but attitude is reason for change [The Oklahoman]
Oklahoma State: Mike Gundy lectures The Oklahoman Newspaper [Deadspin]
Photo courtesy of ESPN