My Penguins managed to blow a 2-goal lead in the final 4 minutes last night to the Red Wings, who scored both of the goals with their goalie pulled, and then gave up another goal in OT to lose the second point. Second time this year they've shown zero urgency at the end with the game on the line, and while it's still early, this is the same type of stuff they did last year. Hoping it isn't a trend, but really beginning to believe the players on this team just have no killer instinct.

Agreed. Although I haven't been thrilled with Peavy's pitching, the bullpen was straight horrible in Game 2. Strickland has given up 5 postseason Home Runs. Enough is enough.

Going to be another big game tonight.

So how long until the Cubs announce Joe Maddon as their new manager?

3...2...1...

The Dodgers just gave Mattingly a big fat extension, and even though they're flush with cash, I'd be shocked if they ate the entire thing to sign Maddon.

Royals edge Giants to take a 2-1 lead in what is shaping up to be a good series, but the problem is, nobody seems to be watching. Ratings wise, it is the worse series in over a decade. Sunday night's regular season NFL game garnered more ratings than either Game 1 or 2 of the series, even last weeks episode of the Big Bang Theory garnered higher ratings that the first 2 games of the series, and some shows like Walking Dead on Sunday had higher ratings than both games ratings combined according to one source I read. Outside of the SF and KC markets, it doesn't seem like anyone is tuning in for this one, and it seems that ratings for national games on TV (Fox, TBS, and ESPN) have been down the past few years, while regional networks (like Yes, NESN, etc.) have seen a slight uptick in ratings over the same period, leading some to believe baseball is losing its national appeal and becoming a regional market sport like hockey. It seems even last years US Soccer games in the World Cup drew more viewers than either of this year's World Series games, and soccer ratings have traditionally been small, but are growing, an opposite trend to baseball numbers, which have traditionally been big but are shrinking. There's a lot of speculation on what this might mean the next time he national TV contracts for MLB are up for renewal and whether MLB will make concessions in the cost of it or price itself out of viability for some networks. 

-M

Andrew freedman's the new boss there, though, and mad don's from Southern California, and the Dodgers have aScrooge McDuck bin o'cash, and Mattingly's now been at the helm for two playoff collapses. The last thing the Dodgers have to worry about is money. Mattingly "resigns," gets another job in the organization, Dodgers "conduct a search," and in comes that little ol' wine-lover, Joe. 

(Theo just signed his guy, too, so he's also in a bit of a bind.)

And wait for the Dodgers to lose patience with Donny Ballgame.