Saturday's List of 13: Clearing out a cluttered mind…….

Saturday's List of 13: Clearing out a cluttered mind…….

13) Cubs led the Phillies 5-0 after seven innings Thursday night; Yu Darvish was dominant, giving up four hits, throwing only 92 pitches, but they took him out after seven innings. Why?

Darvish has thrown 100+ pitches in four starts this year, but hasn’t gotten an out after the 7th inning all season. Cubs’ bullpen blew this game; Phillies scored six runs in bottom of 9th inning, won 7-5, and there is unrest in Wrigleyville.

One professional gambler called it: “…….Cubs loser. Absolutely my worst beat of the season. Joe Maddon should have to pay off every Cubs bet. Idiot.”

12) Christian Yelich, Matt Chapman have both hit 15 homers this year that put their team ahead in the game, which is tied for most in the major leagues this season.

11) I say this every year, but every NFL team should have to dress three QB’s every game, even if the #3 QB is a designated 48th man on the roster— it is for the quality of the product, so people want to watch the games.

Few years ago, Houston lost their starting QB on the first series of the game, so they couldn’t run any long passes the rest of the day- if the #2 QB had gotten hurt, they would’ve had to use a WR and run the option the rest of the game. Thats not professional-level football.

NFL teams make a bleeping fortune; every team can afford to keep a #3 QB around. Eagles have already had two backup QB’s KO’d in their preseason games the month.

10) There was a guy on NFL Network talking about fantasy football who says he has a team in 12 different leagues this season. How the hell does he keep track of all of them?

9) 49ers are only team in NFL with more $$$ per year invested in running backs than receivers.

8) From Warren Sharp:
W-L records of top-15 draft pick QB’s since 2012:
• As rookies: 45-70 (39%)
• In year two: 97-56 (63%)

7) Baseball stuff:
— A’s DFA’d C Dustin Garneau.
— Royals DFA’d OF Billy Hamilton, who runs fast but can’t hit.
— Cubs brought 2B Addison Russell up from AAA, demoted OF Albert Almora.
— San Diego put 2B Ian Kinsler (back) on the IL.

6) Padres’ rookie SS Fernando Tatis Jr (back) is likely out for the season.

5) Baltimore Ravens have now won their last 15 exhibition games (13-2 vs spread).

4) From Joe Sheehan:
The percentage of runs scored in the major leagues on home runs is now a tick over 45%. The previous record is 42.3%, and until 2015 it had never been over 37%.

3) Saw something on Twitter about Steak ’n Shake and In-n-Out Burger, and immediately I got hungry. We really do need a Steak ’n Shake in suburban Albany, preferably south Colonie.

2) With 2:49 left in a meaningless exhibition game Thursday, rookie WR Andy Isabella caught a 59-yard TD pass from rookie QB Charles Kanoff. A kid from Princeton throwing a TD pass to a kid from UMass— it was cool to see the QB’s reaction/smile, a good moment.

Isabella is going to make the Cardinals’ roster, Kanoff may or may not (practice squad?), but it was certainly a moment he will never forget.

1) NFL preseason is a time for overreactions:
— Last week: Kyler Murray is the second coming of Michael Vick.
— This week: Murray is too short; why did Arizona hire Kingsbury?

Armadillo