Friday Blog

I really wish I knew why I feel completely comfortable with the Cowboys chances this week, but I just do. It is a must-win game, I figure, and it is against a team that is playing for its playoff life as well. But, I totally believe that the defense will do what it needs to do, and will lock down on the Chiefs offense.

As for the offense? I don’t know what to expect, but with the help of a defensive score, I see the Cowboys winning, 24-20.

Chiefs prepare for stationary Bledsoe ….

The Chiefs have generally fared well against pocket passers who are one-dimensional. They had plenty of success in recent games against players such as Miami’s Gus Frerotte, Oakland’s Kerry Collins, Houston’s David Carr and New England’s Tom Brady.
Scramblers such as Philadelphia’s Donovan McNabb, Denver’s Jake Plummer and Washington’s Mark Brunell have given the Chiefs fits.

The Chiefs will see Dallas’ Drew Bledsoe in Sunday’s game at Texas Stadium, and there is no quarterback who is more of a classic pocket passer. Bledsoe still has a big arm and, when given time, can still pick apart a defense.

But he makes few plays after the pocket breaks down, something the Chiefs intend to make happen early and often Sunday.

Mike Young doesn’t seem impressed …

Did the trade disappoint Young, who is the team leader?
"I don't know what to think," he replied. "We have always been an offense-first organization. I guess this is more of that. But we certainly know what has to be done for us to be a better team."

Lebreton likes the swap …

Wilkerson has a career on-base percentage of .365. He strikes out a lot, but he usually walks more than 90 times per season. Batting first in the Rangers' order, he'll probably score 125 runs.

Soriano's career on-base percentage, on the other hand, is .320. Yes, he drove in 104 runs last season, but lots of guys, batting fifth in the Rangers order, would have driven in a lot of runs.

Soriano's true reliability to the Rangers could be neatly summed by two numbers: .236, his batting average with runners in scoring position, and .183, the same average when two were out.

As much as anyone, Soriano benefited by playing in Arlington. He batted .315 at home and only .224 on the road.

Meanwhile, Sori has no intention of playing in the outfield …What a guy!!!

"I have the same position [on moving] as I always had when I was with Texas," Soriano said. "I said that I'm not going to change from second base."

That was a point of contention with Texas, which wanted Soriano to consider playing shortstop or the outfield when he was acquired for American League Most Valuable Player Alex Rodriguez in February 2003. But Soriano was adamant about playing second base, and Michael Young moved to shortstop.

Soriano's unwillingness to change positions hurt his trade value. So did the fact he could earn $10 million through salary arbitration and will be a free agent next winter.

The Nationals are believed to want Soriano, considered a mediocre defender, to play left field or center field if their three-time All-Star second baseman, Jose Vidro, is healthy. Vidro has battled knee problems for two years.

Soriano said he had not spoken with anyone from the Nationals, but he doubts they want him to move positions. Said Soriano: "I think that if they traded for me, it's to play second base."

Asked if he would use any control he might have to prevent a position switch, Soriano said: "Obviously, I have the control. Of course I'm not going to play the outfield."

Rangers proceed to chase Matt Morris …

The Rangers saved about $5 million by agreeing to trade second baseman Alfonso Soriano to Washington on Wednesday night.

The savings is burning a hole right through their pocket.

In an effort to land a legitimate free-agent starter, the club on Thursday upped its most recent offer to Matt Morris, general manager Jon Daniels confirmed. The offer is worth about $25 million for three years, according to a source close to the negotiations.

Rangers assure us they plan on getting pitching …


ABC back in the Nascar game in 2007 and beyond …

By popular demand by blog readers, coverage of the ManU failing in Europe ….Could someone remind me what they have won since Sir Alex through a boot at Beckham’s head? I guess it was all Becks fault. Things have really improved since you got rid of that cancer…

United's season so far appears to have lurched from one setback to another.
The latest disaster to hit the club was Wednesday's defeat in Benfica, which not only dumped them out of the Champions League but left them without any European action at all for the remainder of the campaign.

It was a result which has heaped the pressure on Sir Alex Ferguson ahead of Sunday's Premiership encounter with Everton, with many pundits believing it is now time his 19-year Red Devils reign came to an end.

The Glazer family have insisted there is no panic, despite the loss of up to £15million in prize money if United had emulated Liverpool's achievement of last season by winning the trophy in Paris next May.

Speaking of soccer, the fighting SMU Mustangs are in the soccer final 4 ….Beat those Terps!

Some days you get nothing from Sports from me. This is one of those days.