Blue Jays, Indians Feeling Hot Hot Hot

On the American League side their are two teams that are playing extremely well. Friday the American League Championship series begins in Cleveland. A few days of rest for the Tribe and the home run happy Toronto Blue Jays. Cleveland with their three game ALDS sweep of Boston, put an end to the career of David Ortiz. The Blue Jays return to the ALCS for the second year in a row. Last October they loss to the eventual World Series champions, the Kansas City Royals. Toronto has been pounding the long ball since the post season began. Winning their one game Wild Card game vs. Baltimore. Then slugging through the AL West champion Texas Rangers, during a 3-1 series win. Including a series clinching blast in extra innings to send Rogers Centre into a frenzy. This series should be fun, exciting and interesting.

SEC BIG TEN ROOKIES SHINING BRIGHT EARLY ON IN DALLAS

First pre season game this past August in Seattle, out goes Tony Romo. The longtime Dallas Cowboys veteran quarterback was driven to the turf by a Seahawks rush. The result another back injury that would sideline the franchise quarterback for quite sometime. Enter Dak Prescott the rookie quarterback with the SEC background who not only lit the pre season on fire with his arms and legs. Dak is holding his own through 4 games for the 3-1 Dallas Cowboys. Ezekiel Elliott the top 10 pick in the 2016 NFL Draft from Ohio State is getting the job done. As long as he's not putting the ball on the ground fumbling, he's racking up 100 yard games here and there. Including over 130 yards on the ground Sunday in Santa Clara. Dak and Zeke with no Dez Bryant and missing a few starters along their offensive line contributed to the comeback victory. The rookie duo helped Dallas overcome a double digit deficit against San Francisco. Young offensive talent could go a long away down in the metroplex this season and beyond.

Vikings Defense + Bradford Keeping Vikings Afloat

Off season hopes were sky high for the Minnesota Vikings. The defending NFC North champions were headed to a new stadium. Their third year quarterback Teddy Bridgewater was coming into his own especially after last season playoff appearance, when Minnesota narrowly loss to Seattle. Head coach Mike Zimmerman had a tremendous defense in his back pocket. Loaded with pass rushers, run stuffers and sure tacklers. A little over a week prior to the start of the 2016 NFL season on a non contact play, Bridgewater went down. So many believed so did the Vikings season. A gruesome leg injury took all the spirit out of the Vikings that day. Practice had to be stopped. Less then a week later Sam Bradford was a Minnesota Viking. The former Heisman Trophy winner from Oklahoma was traded acquired from Philadelphia. He didn't start week one at Tennessee nonetheless Minnesota was able to get the win. Bradford took over in week two for veteran Shaun Hill. Shortly after all world Adrian Peterson hurt is knee. So with Bridgewater and Peterson out, the Vikings have relied on that excellent defense. They are taking the ball away from their opponents, shutting down the run and playing the pass extremely well. Monday night Minnesota took care of the Giants at home, while limiting wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. to only 23 yards.  AP looks to return later in the season, meanwhile Bradford his former college teammate is holding the fort down. Keep an eye on the current Purple People Eaters. They've already gone in Carolina and won vs. the reigning NFL MVP and NFC champions.

Top Pick Foot Fracture Blank Stare In Philadelphia

This past Friday during Sixers training camp top pick Ben Simmons suffered an injury. Initially that injury was simply a sprained ankle. Fast forward hours later : timetable for Simmons return is unknown and suffering a bone fracture in his foot. The kid from Australia and all around talent during his lone season at LSU will be sidelined. Despite the opportunity to finally get to see injured Joel Embiid after two years, heavy blow to the city and franchise. Simmons is at the top of the Sixers marketing campaign. In the short term maybe this will give the coaching staff head by Brett Brown the chance to look at Nerlens Noel, Joel Embiid, Dario Saric and Jahlil Okafor far as additional minutes. Reports say surgery is set for later in the week. With a possible time table for three months. However with so much invested in Ben Simmons you don't want to rush him back. With the chance of re injuring himself. Probably a frustrating wait and see approach in Philadelphia. Sixers fans are wondering after the past few years, what positive results can come their way.

Thanks For Holding It Down Jimmy + Jacoby Look Who's Back

New England leads the AFC East going into week 5 of the NFL season. That news really isn't a surprise. However while Tom Brady was serving a 4 game suspension to start the 2016 season the Patriots had to not only go with one backup quarterback, they had to go with two ! Bill Belichick started the season with Jimmy Garoppolo. JG quarterbacked the Patriots to a Sunday Night road win vs. Arizona. Then led the team to a first half double digit lead at home vs. Miami before getting hurt. Rookie Jacoby Brissett helped New England hold on for the win. Started the following week on a short week and scored his first NFL touchdown. The Patriots shut out Houston on Thursday Night Football. New England started 3-0 with the possibility of WR Julian Edelman surving as a possible emergency QB in case Brisette was injured and Garoppolo not dressing. Patriots fans aren't happy their team was shut out at home Sunday vs. Buffalo. Nonetheless they will be happy Tom Brady is coming back next week at Cleveland. The Bengals, Steelers, Seahawks and Broncos highlight a list of opponents that remain.

AL / NL Pennant Winning Predictions

Potentially the Fall Classic could end in November. October baseball has recently become November baseball. The American League will have home field advantage during the World Series, thanks to the AL defeating the NL during the All Star Game. Here's the field in the American League and the National League. AL playoff participants : Toronto, Baltimore, Cleveland, Boston and Texas. NL playoff participants : New York Mets, San Francisco, Washington, Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs. I'm going to go with Texas vs. Boston in the ALCS with Boston led by retiring slugger David Ortiz winning the American League pennant. In the the National League I'm going with the Chicago Cubs taking on the Los Angeles Dodgers. With Chicago advancing to the World Series as NL Champions. I'll leave my World Series selection for a future article.

Fall Baseball On Deck

162 games of the 2016 Major League Baseball season is over. The leaves are starting to fall off the trees. On deck is October baseball. It all begins on Tuesday as the American League Wild Card game takes place in Toronto. Orioles vs. Blue Jays followed by the National League Wild Card game on Wednesday. San Francisco will fly across the country to take on the Mets in Queens. Their will be a new World Series champion crowned. The defending World Series champions didn't qualify for the postseason, which were the Kansas City Royals. Waiting for the winner of the Wild Card games are the Texas Rangers of the American League and the Chicago Cubs of the National League. Both teams are number one seeds in their respective leagues. Their are two Division Series already set in the AL Cleveland will have the home field vs. Boston. From the NL side Washington will have the home field vs. Washington. Keep in mind following the 1 game Wild Card games. LDS series are best of five format. From there the LCS and World Series are best of seven. With the American League thanks to their All Star Game win, holding home field advantage in the World Series.