Thursday "Keep it in perspective" links

All day long you're going to hear people saying "This World Series is over already." Pay no attention to them. Even though the Rockies were destroyed last night, the fact remains that this was one game. It doesn't matter if they lost 13-1 or 100-1. It's one damn game. Besides, this wasn't exactly a surprise. The Sox had one of the best modern postseason pitchers on the mound and were playing at home. And the Rockies insane run was going to end at some point anyway, we all knew that, and I'm sure they did too. For the Rockies, now's the time to make the move. They've got Schilling, Dice-K, and Lester coming up. Even if they go back to Colorado down 0-2, so what? The Sox will have to tinker with their lineup and they'll be throwing Dice-K and Lester out there. This series is far from over.

Also a tip of the cap to Bay Area product Troy Tulowitzki (Fremont High). The lone bright spot for the Rockies last night.

On to the links.

Ah yes, a look at forgotten players in the CFL. [Deuce of Davenport]

Who will beat 31 NFL teams first? Manning or Brady? Then when they're done, they should switch teams and play each other for the ultimate 32 team winner. [SPORTSbyBROOKS]

The '72 Dolphins team ain't so pleased with the current squad. [Larry Brown Sports]

Who is the bigger loser? Cleveland or Buffalo. My vote's for Cleveland. They suck at everything. [Rumors and Rants]

Who should be the Yankees manager? [NOIS]

The evolution of Dirk's Nowitzki's hair. [The Pig Pen]

Proving that hooliganism is making strides in our country, a soccer mom goes WWE on a coach. [The Beautiful Game]

The Jub-Jub gets dropped in the third inning. [Home Run Derby]

The problems of fall wedding season and watching the NFL. See, this is why you should do everything you can to never, ever, be invited to weddings again. May I suggest taking a dump in the punch. [The Legend of Cecilio Guante]

A dumbass Sox fan tries his hand at making fun of the Rockies by going hick-style, which seems odd because there aren't a lot of hicks in Colorado. Sort of like how it's odd there aren't a lot of sober, rational Sox fans. Wait, that isn't odd at all. [Red Sox Monster]

Tuesday "I'm a believer" links

The Rockies have saved me from my wicked ways. I will never again doubt wild card teams that come from the NL West. Once again the Rockies made all the right moves, including a balls of steel move by Hurdle to bring in a rookie pinch hitter in the bottom of the 4th. Naturally he blooped a 1-2 pitch to left for a double. And you knew it was going to happen. It was like God preordained it, including the subsequent D-Backs error that lead to 4 more runs. That's the weird thing about the Rockies. They're literally playing on another plane, and it's actually tangible. While Boston fans piss and moan and expect failure, this Rockies team exudes such a unreal level of confidence that even casual observers watching this team play have a firm belief that they'll win. And they do, over and over and over again. And are they going to win the World Series? Hell yes they are. Forget the "they'll be off for too many days" excuse (besides, teams with 5 days off or more going into a World Series are 7 for 10 at winning it) or the "what if they lose a game?" question. It doesn't matter anymore. This team is winning it all. Period.

On to the links.

An interview with Michael David Smith. [Larry Brown Sports]

I didn't watch much of the MNF game, but Jimmy Kimmel was pretty good. [Awful Announcing]

NOIS's top 10 college football rankings. [NOIS]

Tales of Brett Favre's drinking days. [SPORTSbyBROOKS]

Mac G's World really nailed the Pederson firing. [Mac G's World]

MBSR gets back to its roots. [My Brain Says Rage]

Not sports related but in 5 years you could be bumping uglies with a robot. I'm not sure I can wait that long. [Brahsome]

It's been a tough 99 years. [Home Run Derby]

Those Frank TV commercials are mercifully gone now. [Lion in Oil]

-WCK

Maybe it wasn't God who's been helping the Rockies

The Rockies were tied for the 2nd best home record in major league baseball this year, and considering they haven't lost on the road yet this postseason, they may never lose again.

But although the Rockies are known by the nickname of the Blake Street Bombers, Colorado has been becoming a tougher place to play, and that's not just because the Rockies are now a better team.

Since 2002, the Rockies have been storing baseballs in a humidor. The idea was to make Colorado less of a home run haven and more like other ballparks. That way the Rockies would be better able to adjust to playing on the road. And it came not from God, but from the Rockies' staff engineer who figured balls that were drying out in Colorado's dry climate were putting them out of major league specs, so the team created a humid environment for them. They use 50 percent humidity to keep the balls from shrinking and losing their grain.

As a result, baseballs that used to be slick as a cue ball - and made it tough for pitchers to throw breaking balls - are now like they would be at any other ballpark.

And naturally home runs have dropped. In 2001, the Rockies gave up 239 home runs. Since then in 2002 they gave up 225, in 2003 - 200, in 2004 - 198, in 2005 - 175, in 2006 - 155, and this year - 164. Team pitching is obviously better from before the humidor days. Major league baseball is also keeping track of how things go and may ultimately use the idea in Arizona as well, given the excessively dry climate there. Which is somewhat ironic, considering these teams are playing each other in the NLCS.

If the Rockies are really smart, then they're only giving the humidified baseballs to their pitchers. God would definitely approve.

-WCK