Here are the lineups for the shows at noon:

College of Sports Media Game of the Night:

Two teams are in must win positions tonight and for one of them a win may not be enough. The Minnesota Twins and Atlanta Braves have battled valiantly for a chance at a playoff spot, but it may be all for not. The Twins dropped game three of their four game series last night with the Detroit Tigers. That puts Detroit three games up on Minnesota with four to play. If Detroit wins they claim the AL Central title and the remaining AL playoff spot. So the Twins need to win just to keep a float. Minnesota hopes tonight’s starter Scott Baker (14-9) can channel his inner John Travolta so the Twins season keeps ‘Staying Alive’. Detroit counters with Nate Robinson (2-2).

For the Braves they not only need to win tonight, but they also need a Colorado Rockies lose. Colorado has a four game lead over Atlanta in the NL wild card race with four to play. The Rockies play the Milwaukee Brewers this afternoon, so Atlanta may be out of it before they even start their game with the Washington Nationals. Tommy Hanson (11-4) starts for the Braves. Garrett Mock (3-10) goes for the Nats.

TSM NOTE: Of course it’s also opening night in the NHL and our Toronto Maple Leafs take on the rival HABS. The time for talk is over. Let’s see how good Burke’s boys really are.

Here are the lineups for the shows at noon:

All Mats Sundin hall of fame talk!

College of Sports Media Game of the Night:

Including today there are five days left in the 2008-09 Major League Baseball season and there are still four vying for two playoff spots. In the American League the New York Yankees locked up the East, the Angels took the West and not surprisingly the Boston Red Sox clinched the wild card. The only question mark is in the Central division where the Detroit Tigers hold a two game edge over the Minnesota Twins. With weather wreaking havoc on game one of their four game series, the Tigers and Twins played a double-header yesterday which they ended up splitting. So with two games left in their series the Tiger’s still hold a two game lead. Tonight Carl Pavano (13-11) goes for the Twins and Eddie Bonine (0-1) starts for the Tigers. Both teams end their season at home. Detroit plays three games against the Chicago White Sox while Minnesota battles the Kansas City Royals in a three gamer.

In the National League both the St Louis Cardinals and Los Angeles Dodgers have punched their tickets into the playoffs. The Philadelphia Philles’ magic number is one to clinch the East. The Phillies have a five game lead over the Atlanta Braves. So it’s just a matter of time before their in. What is in doubt is the wild card. The Colorado Rockies went into last night holding a two game edge over the Braves. The Rox won. The Braves lost. The lead is now three. The Rockies play two more games against the Milwaukee Brewers and then finish up on the road battling the Dodgers. While the Braves play finish up their series with the Florida Marlins tonight and end their hosting four games against the Washington Nationals.

College of Sports Media Game of the Night:

Yesterday’s game between the Minnesota Twins and Detroit Tigers was rained out so to make things even more dramatic tonight they’ll play a double header. The Tigers have a two game lead over the Twins in the AL Central and a sweep of this evening’s games would mean they would clinch the division crown. If the Twins sweep they pull into a tie with the Tigers and things become even more interesting. Starting game one will be the two pitchers that were to go last night, Rick Porcello (14-9) for D-town and Nick Blackburn (11-11) for Minny. In game two the Tigers hand the ball to Justin Verlander (17-9). The Twins counter with Brain Duensing (5-1).

In the National League, the wild card race is heating up. The Colorado Rockies are still first in line for the postseason’s extra invitation, but the Atlanta Braves are only two games back and looking to bud in front. Last night the Braves blanked the Florida Marlins 4-0 in the first game of a three game series. The Rockies didn’t play so the Braves gained a half game on them. For game two tonight, Atlanta turns to veteran pitcher Tim Hudson (2-1). Florida goes with their ace Josh Johnson (15-5). Colorado is in action tonight. They play the first of three against the Milwaukee Brewers. Jason Marquis (15-12) starts for the Rox, while Chris Narveson (2-0) gets the call for the Brew Crew.

Here are the lineups for the shows at noon:

On Hockey Central At Noon:
12-1 Darren Millard Nick Kypreos
1225 brad park
1245 john ferguson jr

1-2 Darren Milllard Doug MacLean

125 Rick Nash

College of Sports Media Game of the Night:

For the last couple of weeks the NL wild card has been considered a two horse race and the eventual winner would be either the Colorado Rockies or the San Francisco Giants. Well the Atlanta Braves and the Florida Marlins are now in the mix and have decided to crash the party. In fact the Braves, winners of their last three are now trailing the Rockies by three and a half games while the Marlins are tied with the Giants four games back. Three of the teams open up three game sets tonight, while the Giants hos the Chicago Cubs in game two of a four game set.

Colorado is in tough in their match up this evening as they welcome the St Louis Cardinal to the Mile High State. The Card have been the hottest team in the National League since the all star break and are one game away from punching their ticket to the postseason. Aaron Cook (10-9) gets the call for the Rox. St. Louis give the ball to the ace of their staff, Chris Carpenter (16-4).

Atlanta has the easiest match up. They are in Washington to play arguably the worst team in all of the baseball, the Nationals. The only danger in playing this type of an opponent is the potential of overlooking them and focusing on the their crucial series against Florida. Javier Vazquez (14-9) starts for the Braves. The Nationals counter with lefty John Lannan (9-12).

The Marlins welcome the disappointing New York Mets to Florida tonight. The Mets were supposed to be World Series contenders, but injuries to Carlos Delgado, Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran and David Wright put an early end to any play off aspirations. Ricky Nolasco (12-9) goes for Florida and Tim Redding (3-6) starts for the Mets.

Last night San Fran was one out away from the win, when disaster struck. Closer Brian Wilson gave up a two run bomb to Jeff Baker and the Cubs won 3-2. Ouch. Tonight the Giants send reigning CY Young winner Tim Lincecum (14-6) to the mound. The Cubbies counter with Carlos Zambrano (8-6).

“We stayed in Toronto for a week and played three games. I don’t know if you ever stayed in Toronto, but it’s not exactly Las Vegas. To say that we were plucking our eyebrows out one at a time would be an understatement.”

And fuck you too Chipper. Here is hoping for some reason he has to come back. Please let him come back. Funny how other athletes come here and don’t seem to complain. Not enough hot spots for ya Chipper like there are in Atlanta?? Downtown Atlanta is a real thriller. Here’s hoping Bobby Cox gets to him and talks some sense into him before he opens his trap again. Somewhere I bet JP is laughing or cheering him on.

Meanwhile, get a load of the video of the Grabovsky/Blake affair. What the hell is Jamal Mayers doing? Who does this clown think he is? He shows more toughness in this clip then he has in every maple leaf game this season. Please let the Mayers trial end soon. Brian, waive him today if at all possible.