The Sports Rumors

Today’s Rundown 9/19

*Don’t look now but the Red Sox are down to a 2.5 game lead over the Yankees.  40 games into the season, they had a 10 game lead.  If, and that’s an “IF”, they collapse, it will be one for the memories.  However, don’t buy into the homefield in the playoffs factor too much.  No AL team that had homefield advantage last season won that series.  Just a thought.

*While one New York team is surging, the other is plummeting.  The Mets have lost again and the Philadelphia Phillies have climbed to within 1.5 games of catching them.  Keep a close eye on this one because the Phillies have great position players and are rolling.  This has been the closest, most suspenseful race to October since the new playoff system was introduced in 1995. 

*The Atlanta Falcons have signed quarterback Byron Leftwich to a two year deal, reported by ESPN.  So my question is this.  Why didn’t you do this in the preseason?  Don’t tell me you wanted to see how Joey Harrington did first because that’s baloney.  You could have signed Leftwich, sat him behind Harrington on the depth chart and let him learn the system.  Then, if Harrington faltered, you could put in Byron.  Now you bring in Leftwich and he has no idea what this offense is about.  It will take him at least two weeks, and that means another two losses.  I’m really not sure what the Falcons plan of attack is for this season, or if there even is one.