Sunday Morning Thoughts...October 24, 2010

• Today is the Quilt Dedication Day for the families that went through the Winter/Spring sessions at the Warrendale Caring Place. This will be especially moving for Marilyn and me since one of the quilts will be for "our" families from the last session. We are really looking forward to seeing these families once again on what will be a very emotional day for them.
• Duties at the Caring Place will preclude me from watching the Steelers first game in the Kinder, Gentler Era of the NFL. Will set the DVR and watch later tonight. Unless, of course, the Steelers lose in which case I may just skip the whole thing.
• Much has been made of the killer four game stretch (Dolphs, Saints, Bengals on the road, Pats at home on a Monday night). Ever stop to think that those teams might be worried about having to play the Steelers? I'm thinking that the Steelers will come out of this stretch at a minimum of 2-2 and it starts with a win at Miami today.
• Seriously, the Steelers winning all four of these games, while I don't expect it, would not shock me either.
• What to make of a Giants - Rangers World Series? On the face of it, the Rangers eight man line-up seems superior to the Giants, and, based upon the LCS's, I would give the Rangers pitching staff an edge as well. But, I said exactly the same thing about the Phillies when comparing them to the Giants. Seems like the Giants are just on a stretch where all the buttons being pushed are working for them. The Rangers, on the other hand, just thoroughly whipped the Yankees, who most folks thought would waltz into the World Series. This could be a most interesting Series.
• Interesting to note that the two games started by Tim Lincecum in the LCS were the games that the Giants lost.
• I made the following comment on Facebook last night: The suits at Fox must be suicidal at the thought of a Rangers - Giants World Series. Tough s**t, Fox!
• Speaking of Facebook, I repost most of my Grandstander entries on Facebook, and while few people ever comment/respond on the blog itself, I get many responses to the posts on the Facebook page, and there are fewer steps (as in no steps at all) to make a response on Facebook. So, if you are not there already, consider getting on Facebook and "friending" me at www.facebook.com/bob.sproule1
• One of the fun aspects of this blog is the responses it might receive, so the more interaction, the better.
• Unless the Pirates are seeking to talk to someone currently involved in the MLB post-season, I am putting my money on Jeff Bannister as the new Pirates skipper. He is on the current coaching staff as bench coach; he is a Pirates "lifer" as player, coach, and minor league jack of all trades; it is likely that he will follow the dictates of GM Neal; he will come cheap, always a valuable consideration for the Pirates. Also, he is all but standing on the Clemente Bridge and begging for the job. Hey, he may turn out to be the best guy for the job, but hiring a guy who has been an "organization man" in what is arguably the worst organization in professional sports, doesn't exactly get the juices flowing.
• Enjoy your Sunday, everybody!!