Seth's 50 Centers

Some random thoughts on sports this week:

I can’t quite get into the MLB postseason just yet, and maybe I won’t at all. I’ve kept up with who is winning and even watched a few innings here or there, but it’ll have to take a pretty good storyline for me to really latch on.

I also can’t quite get used to seeing Ernie Johnson, David Aldridge, Dick Stockton and others doing baseball — TBS has the division series — but there they are! I know Stockton has done baseball in the past, he called the famous Game 6 homer by Carlton Fisk against the Reds in 1975, but either it’s his age or the fact baseball doesn’t have the constant movement that basketball does, but I can’t quite get into his broadcasts of baseball.

I’ve heard a lot about the Jump Around at Wisconsin, which is something the fans do between the third and fourth quarters. I was at Camp Randall Stadium in 2000 and I can safely say I don’t really remember the big event. I suppose it could be because Ohio State had pretty much salted away the victory by that point, something this year’s team might want to try to accomplish.

The Bengals signed another criminal this week. I can’t say I’m in favor of re-signing Chris Henry, and Cedric Benson (he was arrested twice in Austin, Texas this summer but charges didn’t get past the grand jury) hasn’t really been that great on the field, let alone off, in the NFL, but I find it funny that the sins of the 2006ish Bengals have really carried over to now. It’s interesting when Seattle re-ups with receiver Koren Robinson after multiple drunk driving charges, and not just a roadside stop DUI, yet the national media doesn’t seem to have a problem with it. Or what about the Jaguars police blotter of late? I guess the point is, aside from Henry being arrested last spring, a player on the Bengals roster at that time hasn’t gotten into trouble of late, but my do reputations linger…

The Reds have nine perspective free agents going into the offseason — it would’ve been 12 had Adam Dunn and Ken Griffey Jr. hadn’t been traded and Scott Hatteberg hadn’t been designated for assignment. Who would I keep? Jerry Hairston Jr. has to be kept. The guy helped the team win and hit .326 despite losing significant time to injury. People question his ability to stay healthy and whether he can hit that well again. My guess though is you’re not going to find too many guys who can play both middle infield positions and all three outfield spots and look like an every day player doing it (sorry Ryan Freel, you’ve proven you can’t stay healthy as a Red and you don’t play short). I like the job Mike Lincoln did, despite a bit of a collapse late, but he didn’t pitch for four years. I’d try to keep Jeremy Affeldt, but some other team will be overly impressed with his stuff and ignore the fact he’s not consistent and give him a way bigger deal than he deserves. And I have to say I’d bring David Weathers back. The guy isn’t great, but his ERA remained under 3.30 and he’s a decent leader for the younger pitchers — keep him but watch his role continue to diminish as Jared Burton solidifies the eighth inning spot and other guys get into the mix.

NFL Picks

Kara redeemed herself after a disastrous 4-12 the week before. She lapped the field with a 10-3 mark to claim the week outright.

Most of the rest of us posted winning records overall. We welcome tgd to the fray. Word is this picker makes his guesses all the way from sunny Florida.

Kara 10-3 (plus 1 for winning the week)
Jessica 9-4
JMB 9-4
Jeremiah 9-4
gatorbuckeye 9-4
Seth 8-5
Brian 8-5
The CPA 8-5
Adman 8-5
Big Game 8-5
mary the nurse 8-5
Howard 7-6
Steve-o 7-6
bermuda funk 7-6
Crazed Wolverine 7-6
Nick 7-6
Grandpa 6-7
nora peanut 6-7
tom s 6-7
Jack10 5-8
tgd 5-8

Overall standings

Big Game 39-21 (plus 1)
Adman 39-21
Howard 37-23 (plus 1)
Seth 37-23
tom s 36-24 (plus 1)
Kara 36-24 (plus 1)
Jessica 36-24
The CPA 36-24
Brian 36-24
gatorbuckeye 34-26
mary the nurse 33-27
nora peanut 33-27
bermuda funk 33-27
Steve-o 31-29
Crazed Wolverine 31-29
JMB 29-15
Jack10 27-33
Nick 25-19
Jeremiah 20-9
Grandpa 14-15
Randy 9-7
tgd 5-8

NFL Week Five

Chicago (2-2) at Detroit (0-3)
Atlanta (2-2) at Green Bay (2-2)
San Diego (2-2) at Miami (1-2)
Seattle (1-2) at NY Giants (3-0)
Washington (3-1) at Philadelphia (2-2)
Kansas City (1-3) at Carolina (3-1)
Tennessee (4-0) at Baltimore (2-1)
Indianapolis (1-2) at Houston (0-3)
Tampa Bay (3-1) at Denver (3-1)
Cincinnati (0-4) at Dallas (3-1)
Buffalo (4-0) at Arizona (2-2)
New England (2-1) at San Francisco (2-2)
Pittsburgh (3-1) at Jacksonville (2-2)
Minnesota (1-3) at New Orleans (2-2) Pts._______

Make your picks by using the “Comments” section under the headline.