CIMPLE – A Curious Introvert's Musings & Photos about Life and Enjoyment

Fantastic night of sports in the D with both the Detroit Red Wings and Tigers playing at home.  The Detroit Red Wings beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-0 to win their first home playoff game since May 23, 2013 and take the lead in the series 2-1.  The Detroit Tigers played Alex Rodriguez and the New York Yankees and unfortunately, the Tigers did not have the Wings success and lost to the Yankees 5-2.

In addition to watching the Tigers and Red Wings, there are quite a few great sporting events on TV tonight. The Cleveland Cavaliers are playing the Boston Celtics with a 1-0 lead in the series and the Dallas Mavericks are playing the Houston Rockets and are down 0-1 in the series (Score Updates – Cleveland won 99-91 and the Mavericks lost 111-99).  I am hoping the Cleveland Cavaliers play the Golden State Warriors in the NBA finals or the Cavaliers against the Dallas Mavericks in the finals.

Later tonight at 9:30 the Chicago Blackhawks will be taking their 2-1 lead into their fourth game with the Nashville Predators.  It is a little scary that the two teams, Detroit and Chicago, who I want in the finals are experiencing goaltending issues in the playoffs.  I think in both games tonight it will be vital for each series that the goaltenders, Scott Darling and Petr Mrazek, have big games without being pulled.  The Washington Capitals, down 2-1 in their series, have a huge game tonight against the New York Islanders and the Islanders seem to have the momentum right now.  (Score Updates – Chicago won 3-2 in triple overtime and the Capitals won 2-1 in overtime)

The other big event this evening is the release of the 2015 NFL Football Schedule, which actually has its own ESPN Special tonight from 8:00-10:00.  I am continuing my hope for a Peyton Manning and Denver Broncos vs. Tony Romo and Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl.  Also, I heard earlier this evening that Brett Favre’s jersey may finally be retired on Thanksgiving night in a game between the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears.  It will be the first time since 1923 that Green Bay will play a home game on Thanksgiving.  (Denver Broncos Schedule Update – Start the season on September 13 at home against Baltimore and end the season at home on January 3 against San Diego; one Thursday night game against Kansas City; three Sunday night games against Detroit, Green Bay and New England; one Monday night game against Cincinnati; and great quarterback match-ups between the last two NFL MVPs, Aaaron Rodgers and Peyton Manning, the 2nd trip for Peyton back to Indianapolis against Andrew Luck, games against Matthew Stafford and Ben Roethlisberger, and the 17th meeting, including the post-season, between Manning and Brady)

A quick second week recap for my 2015 World Series dream of the Detroit Tigers and Washington Nationals has the Tigers leading the league with a 10-2 record and the Nationals fighting back and ending the second week at 6-7.  The Tigers had another great week of hitting and pitching and are second in the league with a .305 batting average and 2.61 ERA.  The trade for Yoenis Cespedes was looking great after the Tigers 9-1 win over the Chicago White Sox in a game where he had a grand slam, 2-run home run and a career-high 6 RBIs.  Stephen Strasburg reached his first victory and Max Scherzer, after several great outings, finally achieved his first win against the Phillies in a game that saw Bryce Harper hit a 3-run home run. Harper hit his fourth home run of 2015 in his 51st plate appearance and last year it was not until his 215 plate appearance before he hit his fourth home run.  Hoping for a great season for Harper and so far he is playing great in the field and being patient at the plate with solid hitting.  The Nationals are playing the Cardinals tonight and Harper singled in the first run of the night and the Nationals are leading 1-0 after four innings.  (Score Update – Yunel Escobar walk-off home run in the bottom of the 10th inning and Nationals win 2-1).