The Gurley Factor
What a start to a career Rams running back Todd Gurley is having. He has set an NFL record for most yards through his first four starts with 566. He is currently fifth in the league in rushing despite not playing in the first three games of the year and also having only nine yards on six carries in his NFL debut. If you were to throw game one of his NFL career out he would be averaging a ridiculous 141 yards a game. As is the norm, media want to compare Gurley with running backs of the past. The name that seems to come up the most is Minnesota Viking superstar Adrian Pedersen, the same Adrian Pedersen that will suit up against the Rams this week. I can see where people want to lump Pedersen and Gurley together. Both are big, strong, fast and have great vision. You want a strange coincidence? In Adrian's fifth start to his career he set a rookie rushing record with 296 yards. Now Todd Gurley will go head to head against Adrian Pedersen in his fifth NFL start this weekend. I would love to see #30 rush for 296 or more yards Sunday and the Viking rush defense is hardly the second coming of the purple people eaters. But chances are slim considering Gurley will share some carries with Tre Mason.
Thoughts on the World Series
New York Mets manager Terry Collins is still catching heat for his decision to leave Matt "Dark Knight" Harvey in the game to pitch the ninth inning of game five against the Royals. I know it is the popular thing to do to second guess managers and coaches the day after ball games. But here is my take on the Collins decision. I don't like it when coaches have three ring binders and computer printouts with percentages and tendencies which the coaches let sway their decisions. Baseball is supposed to be a thinking man's game, a game of strategy. It should not be decided by Apple vs Mac. If Terry Collins gut instinct was to go with Harvey in the ninth I say good for him. Now if his instinct was to make the switch and he let Harvey talk him out of it then yes he made a mistake. Nobody knows a teams mental and physical makeup better than the teams manager. The manager has to go with what his gut tells him because he is the one who has to face the music when it all is said and done. If Mike Matheny was the type to let his pitching staff call the shots then John Lackey would never leave a game.
Random thoughts just because:
After being told that he was being benched in favor of former Mizzou Tiger Blaine Gabbert, what do you think Colin Kaepernick thought about himself this morning when he looked in the mirror?
Is there any truth to the rumor that the Rams are installing a slip n slide around the perimeter of the playing surface at the Dome?
After reading the Cardinals picked up the option on Jaime Garcia I predict Xanax usage will hit an all time high in the St. Louis region next year.
I read a story that video gaming tournaments are the fastest growing sports in America. How in the world is competitive gaming a sport? The only way gaming is a sport is if you count the boxing at the end between buddies. Competitive gaming a sport? This is more absurd than ballroom dancing in the Olympics.
Can the Blues appeal to Gary Bettman to have the playoffs moved to November?
I love my home state college Missouri Tigers but what is going on in Columbia? I think Gary Pinkel needs to have a serious discussion with the horticulture department.