What’s the buzz from the world of sports? Here are some items that will have people talking:
1
Tuesday was a bad day for former Seattle Mariners left-hander Erik Bedard, now with the Boston Red Sox. Before taking the mound against Baltimore, Bedard was served legal papers by a process server wearing a Yankees’ shirt. The papers were for increased child support.
Bedard was making his first start since Sept. 3 because of a sore left knee (sound familiar). He lasted just eight outs in the game, failing to finish a third inning in which he threw 51 pitches. All told, he gave up four runs (though just one of them was earned) in Boston’s 7-5 loss to the Orioles.
After the game, Bedard said the unexpected pregame visit was not a distraction.
2
The Mariners have fallen to a state of irrelevancy in the Northwest, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t setting records.
Every time a member of the M’s strikes out, he adds to the team’s new record, which exceeds 1,200 for this lost season. Seattle hitters fanned 27 times in two weekend games against the Rangers. They whiffed 97 times in an eight-game stretch.
Talking Points loves the analysis by Geoff Baker about the culture of the Mariners: “This has been a place where teams, good and bad, can lay down and take a snooze when a long season gets too long.’’
3
Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck has done nothing so far in the fledgling college football season to change his status as the projected first overall pick in the 2012 draft. AOL.sportingnews.com points to three 0-2 teams — Kansas City, Indianapolis and Seattle — as the front-runners to select Luck.
The Chiefs have had bad luck in losing three of their best players (Tony Moeaki, Eric Berry and Jamaal Charles) for the season, but those losses put the 2010 AFC West winners in position for a big rebound in 2012 if they can land Luck.
The Colts have already taken a close look at Luck as a tantalizing heir apparent to Peyton Manning.
But in reality, the Seahawks are the worst team in the league, which means Luck could end up playing for a guy who coached against him in the Pac-10, Pete Carroll.
Any of the three teams could end up with a consolation prize if they can convince the Bengals to trade Carson Palmer.
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