Author: craigdaron

Just a guy waiting to see how my Odyssey plays out.

10 Thoughts on the Oregon State v. USC Game:

Bounce back game for USC.

  1. The more I watch USC football, the more I realize that Ronald Jones is the core of the offense. He should be the bell cow and carry the ball 25 times a game.
  2. Tyler Vaughns was featured on UCS’s first possession. He caught 3 passes including the team’s first touochdown.
  3. Jack Jones got another interception. He is slowly making a claim for best cornerback in the country.
  4. Oregon State looked out of sync early. They were shooting themselves in the foot on a consistent basis.
  5. USC had four more turnovers. Three fumbles (two by Sam Darnold) and an interception.
  6. You gotta love Rasheed Green. He stuffs the middle against the run and he puts pressure on the quarterback.
  7. Oregon State could not take advantage of the turnover when they missed field goals.
  8. Seth Collins is the one player on Oregon State who looked he was a real player. He made big play after big play.
  9. Matt Fink’s 51-yard run was very impressive. I am very excited about USC’s future.
  10. I was very happy that Jake Olsen got to make another appearance.
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10 Thoughts from NLDS Game 2 Arizona Diamondbacks v. Los Angeles Dodgers:

After dominating early and holding on late to win Game 1, I was curious who was going to show up for the Dodgers in Game 2. Robbie Ray had dominated the Dodgers during the regular season. The stigma of being spanked by the Diamondbacks in September was still on my mind.

  1. Rich Hill is schizophrenic. You can tell what kind of Rich Hill start you are going to get by the end of the first inning. He gave up a two-run homerun two walks and struck out two. It was going to be a tightrope kind of game.
  2. J.D. Martinez had a pop-up that floated to the warning track. This guy has ridiculous power.
  3. The Dodger defense is the anchor of the team. They had to beat some rust off in Game 1. Seager and Bellinger made eye-opening plays that saved some innings for the win.
  4. While he was not giving up any hits early, Robbie Ray was walking a lot of batters. He was walking enough batters for the Dodgers to threaten to score without a hit.
  5. Home plate umpire, Phil Kuzzi, had one of the most inconsistent strike zones I have ever seen in the playoffs. I guess umpires get nervous too.
  6. The Dodgers’ 4th inning breakthrough was power by Logan Forsythe, Yasiel Puig and Chris Taylor. Puig is looking like the player everyone believed he could be.
  7. Curtis Granderson getting a pinch hit single is hopefully a sign of good things to come. At the end of Game 1, I was ready to bench him.
  8. Logan Forsythe is making Andrew Friedman look like a genius this postseason. most Dodgers fans felt like Forsythe was a Plan B to acquiring Brian Dozier from the Twins (Dozier hit a homerun in the wild card game). However Forsythe had three hits in Game 2 and is playing his best ball at the right time of the year.
  9. The matchup of Yasiel Puig against Archie Bradley was worth the price of admission. Puig is taking over the series and did not disappoint. I hate Bradley’s beard. He could have a few animals living in there.
  10. Kenley Jansen is the best closer in baseball with his 5-out save.
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10 Thoughts from NLDS Game 1 Arizona Diamondbacks v. Los Angeles Dodgers:

I cannot remember a time when two teams from the same division played in the divisional series. It is a testament to the seasons that both teams had.

  1. Justin Turner put his stamp on the series early with a first inning 3-run homerun and driving in a total of five runs.
  2. Taijuan Walker had a large task ahead of himself when he was given the job to start Game 1. He was not up to the task giving up four runs and throwing 47 pitches in the first and his only inning.
  3. Yasiel Puig may take this series over. He has been playing so well and it feels like he is ready to explode for the playoffs. His triple with the tongue wag would have blown the roof off of Dodger Stadium if it had one.
  4. Kershaw was dominant until he ran out of gas in the 7th inning. He struck six of the first nine batters he faced. He also gave up four homeruns. The homeruns are concerning. I think Roberts should not let him go out there after six unless they have a big lead like last night.
  5. J.D. Martinez hit yet another homerun. I would think this guy does not want the season to end with the way he is seeing the baseball. The free agent at season’s end is going to get paid.
  6. The Dodgers bullpen held the game in check after Kershaw left which is a sign of good things. Tony Watson did what he had to do in the seventh to get the ball to Morrow and Jansen to close the game.
  7. Curtis Granderson and Yasmani Grandal went a combined 0 for 4 with 4 strikeouts. What was most disturbing was they both struck out in the first inning with Taijuan Walker on the ropes. If I’m Dave Roberts, they have one more game to show they can be competent hitters and then I am moving on.
  8. 6 Dodgers hitters saw more than twenty pitches in this game; while there was no hitter in the Diamondbacks roster than saw 20 pitches. It could be two different approaches; but it also says something about the quality of at bats the teams were having.
  9. The Dodgers defense looked a little rusty. The long break between the season and the series caught up with them; but hopefully they will be ready to go from here further.
  10. When the broadcast showed Tommy Lasorda watching the game, I felt sad. Tommy is 90 years and looks like he had to be there. He didn’t look all that into the game. He actually looked like he was ready for a nap. I am sure he would rather be at home watching from somewhere a little more comfortable.
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Episode 10 – Two Minute Rants, Week 4 NFL Wrap-Up and TNF Preview

In Episode 10, Langston Aron rants about LaMelo Ball being homeschooled and Craig Aron rants about the Raiders failed fake punt that may have cost them the game. Then the boys wrap Week 4 in the NFL and preview Thursday’s game between the Patriots and the Buccaneers.

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10 Thoughts on Week 4 of the NFL:

I felt like I went into Week 4 trying to figure the league out. Week 4 games did not help me out at all. There were some games I was really looking forward to and there were some serious yawnfests.

  1. The Texans destroyed the Titans. DeShaun Watson is truth and the Texans defense showed up in a big way.
  2. The Bills are 3-1 after surviving a game against the Falcons. The Falcons were without Julio Jones and Mohammed Sanu; but after trading away some quality players, I would not have thought the Falcons would have needed those guys to beat the Bills. Both teams are now 3-1 and I am surprised. The Bills are not supposed to be 3-1 and leading the AFC East. The Falcons should be 1-3 after barely winning two other games.
  3. The Jets have a two game winning streak beating the Jaguars. If they keep this up, they will have no chance of getting the #1 pick in the NFL Draft.
  4. The Patriots’ offense was supposed to be the legendary and possibly go undefeated. That changed quickly when they lost to the Chiefs in Week 1; but I never doubted they were not going to win their division. However their defense is legendarily bad and they are in danger of not winning the AFC East. 2015 Cam Newton showed up at Gillette Stadium and led his team to a victory.
  5. Matthew Stafford keeps winning beating the Vikings 14-7. The Lions are half a yard from being 4-0. Dalvin Cook tearing his ACL is heartbreaking. He was putting up Offensive Rookie of the Year kind of numbers behind Kareem Hunt. The Vikings feel snake bit. They lose Teddy Bridgewater last year and now Cook. It’s a good thing they have a really good defense.
  6. The Raiders defense showed up in Denver and kept the game close while losing 17-10. They lost Derrek Carr. They may still pulled the game out if the Raiders had not attempted a fake punt on their on 25 yard line. Marquette King is so athletic that I don’t think the Raiders will fool many people anymore.
  7. The Seahawks dominated the Colts but it was still surprising when they put up 46 points.
  8. Eli Manning had a rushing touchdown; but the Giants are 0-4 and have a better shot at the #1 pick than the Jets.
  9.  Larry Fitzgerald did Larry Fitzgerald things making the game winning catch against the Niners.
  10. I put a small wager on Monday Night’s game of the Washington Native Americans visiting the Kansas City Chiefs. I took the Native Americans +7 and I took the under at 48 points. I was feeling really good when Kansas City clenched the game with 8 seconds left and the score was 23-20; then this happened. I knew I mentioned that the Vikings are snake bit. I may fall into that category as well.
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10 Thoughts From the #5 USC v. #16 Washington State Game:

In our previous podcast, I made some statements in my Two Minute Rant about how USC was going to beat Washingston State. That did not happen. USC lost to WSU 30-27. This was not the shoot out I thought it was supposed to be.

  1. The Washington State offense is a machine. They really throw the ball around the field and have some tough running backs. They almost had 500 yards against a good USC defense. Luke Falk is an NFL quarterback and he ran his offense with very few mistakes.
  2. RoJo was back for USC who needed his tough running and his 86-yard touchdown run.
  3. Washingston State needed some big plays to pull off the upset against #5 USC and they got them. There were some Sam Darnold turnovers and other USC penalties that shot them in the foot.
  4. It cannot be ignored that USC was missing three starting offensive linemen. The running game looked very stagnant and uncreative. They were obviously limited by the inexperienced of true freshmen playing.
  5. Stephen Carr didn’t have that many big plays but is speed is noticeable.
  6. Sam Darnold has almost as many interceptions as he has touchdowns. That is a scary statistic. Were it not for a couple of good throws in the fourth quarter, I would be very very concerned. Instead I am very concerned.
  7. The USC defense had to win this game, and while they made many great plays and kept the game close for the offense, they came up short.
  8. Uchenna Nwosu made another great play with a pass deflection/interception that set USC up on the Washington State 3 yard line. Unfortunately USC could not punch it in; a sign of things to come.
  9. The Washington State receivers dropping passed kept USC in the game.
  10. USC’s best weapon in the second half was the WSU punter who set them up with great field position twice.
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10 Thoughts From the Bears v. Packers Game

This was an interesting match-up before it started. Chicago had been involved in the tight games with the Falcons and the Steelers. The Packers offensive line was missing its tackles and would be vulnerable against the Chicago front seven.

  1. Tony Romo was working this game. My first impression of his voice was it was weird
  2. Ty Montgomery getting hurt is a big blow to the Packers. They don’t really have another running back that scares me.
  3. Aaron Rodgers is too good. He is hands down the most talented quarterback in the league. He should have more Super Bowl wins/appearances if they could stay healthy
  4. Mike Glennon is a terrible quarterback. His turnovers destroyed any chance his team had to win the game or even make it a competitive game.
  5. The Bears offensive line is pretty good. It’s a shame Glennon is so bad.
  6. A 45 minute lightning storm probably caused half the people who were watching the game to go do something else; unless some on their fantasy team was playing (I had Devante Adams and the Packers kicker).
  7. Speaking of Devante Adams, the brutal hit he suffered was ridiculously unnecessary. Ironically he had a touchdown called back by a holding call on the previous play.
  8. All Jordy Nelson does is score touchdowns. He had two more on Thursday night.
  9. Jordan Howard is a tough hombre. He insisted on running tough in a blowout with a hurt shoulder. He is the kind of leader his teammates want to follow.
  10. I was really excited to see Tarik Cohen because he was doing some video game like things the first three weeks of the season. He didn’t do much at all.
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10 Things from the Dodgers v. Phillies Game:

The Dodgers visited the Phillies with Yu Darvish on the mound. The Dodgers were trying to recover from Kershaw giving up his first grand slam homerun the night before. Somehow they found a way to lose 6-2.

  1. Yasmani Grandal homering is a good sign for him. He has been in a slump for the better part of a month and is in danger of losing his job to Austin Barnes.
  2. Grandal’s catch in the bottom of the fifth inning is the best catch I have seen by a catcher ever.
  3. Darvish continued his streak of scoreless innings. He is rounding into shape for the playoffs. He also got his 200th strikeout of the season.
  4. The Phillies are giving the Dodgers a helluva a series. They do not go away. They play the complete 27 outs.
  5. Rhys Hoskins is a true hitter. I had heard about his power; but he has a great approach at the plate.
  6. Justin Turner is hitting again which is another good sign for Dodgers playoff prospects.
  7. Aaron Nola gave the Phillies a solid start that kept them in the game until the offense could come alive later.
  8. Tony Watson looked like he is ready for the playoffs.
  9. Pedro Baez cannot be on the playoff roster. After giving up four runs in an inning, his September ERA is 22.50.
  10. The magic number for the Dodgers is down to 2 thanks to the Padres beating the Diamondbacks.
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Episode 8 – NFL Week 2 Wrap-Up

Langston Aron and Craig Aron break down Week 2 fantasy and NFL results for Week 2. They also bring back the Two Minute Rant. Craig Aron used the Two Minute Rant to do a victory lap for his teams. Langston Aron ranted about the Big Baller Brand.

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