04/26/24
October 26, 2015
SportsFilter: The Monday Huddle:
A place to discuss the sports stories that aren't making news, share links that aren't quite front-page material, and diagram plays on your hand. Remember to count to five Mississippi before commenting in anger.
Does anyone remember a CFB season that's had this many firings/resignations/retirements this early? This is getting ridiculous. Even if you take out Sarkisian (who would likely be at least quietly suspended even if USC was 8-0) and Spurrier (who could have easily coasted to the end of the year), there's O'Leary, Golden, Edsall, McCarney, Beckman...
posted by Etrigan at 12:37 PM on October 26, 2015
George O'Leary is out at UCF
Is that what his resume says though?
posted by yerfatma at 12:39 PM on October 26, 2015
Then there's the interim coach bump factor - USC beating Utah, Maryland darn near beating Penn State, Illinois doing fairly well and getting off to a good start including a win against Nebraska (now seen as no big deal I guess), So. Carolina getting a win (OK, it was against Vandy).
And then there are the Miami Dolphins, released into open waters from their shallow Sea World enclosure since getting de-Philbinized high over the North Atlantic. They have posted wake-up scores the last two weeks. Waiting to see how the Pats D will fare against them this Thursday. Weather wise, the Dolphins are lucky - it'll be in the 70's with light rain in Foxboro on gameday. A Miami win is conceivable.
posted by beaverboard at 01:10 PM on October 26, 2015
Here's one for the baseball historians in the house. Who is this Detroit Tiger? What year is this photo from? Who were they playing?
Based on my limited research, I say it's Fred Payne. The Tigers had this uniform design from 1904 through 1907 and Payne was on the team during that timeframe. A friend thinks that the opponent is the NY Highlanders, but I don't agree because there seems to be too much lettering across the front of the shirt and the Highlanders wore black socks.
What sayeth ye?
posted by NoMich at 01:53 PM on October 26, 2015
Going by this site, I'd say it was the White Sox...
posted by MeatSaber at 03:15 PM on October 26, 2015
I agree. Good find, meaty. It's either 1905, 1906, or 1907, judging by the Tigers uniforms. Fred Payne played for the Tigers in '06 and '07 in that given timeframe. Those trees are looking kind of leafless, so I'm guessing some time in April. Payne didn't make his debut until after the White Sox were gone in early April in '06 so I'm going with April of '07. So this either April 17 or 18, 1907.
posted by NoMich at 03:40 PM on October 26, 2015
Why do we think it is Fred Payne and not the regular starting catcher, Boss Schmidt? Is it because this guy looks lankier than 200lbs?
posted by grum@work at 04:35 PM on October 26, 2015
'Cause the photo that I posted looks a lot like this guy, who know is Fred Payne.
posted by NoMich at 04:48 PM on October 26, 2015
And here's the original again since I'm not seeing it in the thread anymore.
posted by NoMich at 04:51 PM on October 26, 2015
Our church had its annual Harvest Fest dinner and auction on Saturday. It's a fellowship and fund raising event that features good food, fun, and a chance to acquire some interesting stuff. One of the items was an autographed baseball signed by Ralph Branca and Bobby Thomson of "shot heard 'round the world" fame. I remember listening to the game on the radio in 1951; the game was broadcast nationwide. My mom was a Giants fan, why I do not know, and when Thompson hit the shot, she poured out 2 shots -- of 4 Roses whiskey -- one for each of us. I was 10-years-old, and I watched Mom take the shot straight down. Being a good child, I copied her with the expected result.
The high bid on the ball was by our former Youth Director's boyfriend, who is also a local umpire and a real fan. Our pastor is also an occasional umpire and an NCAA soccer referee. There was some good bidding on the ball between the three of us.
posted by Howard_T at 09:37 PM on October 26, 2015
Huh. Ralph Branca is still alive (89 years old). Which reminds me that I need to take some time and update my "Last Man Standing" lists of players remaining from moved/folded baseball teams.
A quick check shows that Bruce Chen and Bartolo Colon are currently the last Expos standing in the major leagues. Chen announced his retirement, and Colon is currently participating in the World Series.
There are a couple of players in the minor leagues still (Harris, Izturis) but it looks like Colon might win the last man standing award for the Expos.
posted by grum@work at 10:31 AM on October 27, 2015
Ryan Mallet can finally sleep in.
posted by yerfatma at 01:25 PM on October 27, 2015
I can't tell if Bill O'Brien's head is fully into the mess he's got on his hands or whether he's daydreaming about all the juicy college job openings that seem to be multiplying like loaves and fishes.
posted by beaverboard at 02:33 PM on October 27, 2015
To keep the carousel spinning, George O'Leary is out at UCF - has resigned/retired effective immediately. Might seem sort of like a Spurrier move at first glance, but much different circumstances.