bukie

Don't forget, this same Portugal team lost to Russia in qualifying and couldn't beat Israel.

The only thing this eliminated was the possibility of advancing without another result.

By a million.

The Reds blew an 8-0 lead, now 9-9 in the 9th.

Not sure where you're seeing that but it's actually Pit, SF, StL, LAD as 2-5. Mil and Cin are 6-7. http://www.baseball-reference.com/games/standings.cgi?year=2014&month=5&day=16&submit=Submit+Date Read it wrong. Strike the top 5 part and leave the part with the entire NLC over .500.

Cubs are 18-13 since May 17, tops in the NL (KC and Oak are 19-12). Unfortunately, the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th best records in the NL in that span are the Pirates, Cards, Reds and Brewers, as the entire NL Central has been over .500 the past month.

Wouldn't they play Germany in the quarters?

http://i.imgur.com/r9BVZh7.jpg

There have been instances of teams a man down winning games (And even coming from behind to win after they went down a man), but generally, that's the point. Don't get a red card, especially early. This is not a hard thing to do if you aren't a complete fool. Right, but it ruins the whole game. I mean, can you imagine watching the Bulls in the 90's and after Rodman did something stupid that got him kicked out, the bulls had to play 4 on 5 the rest of the game? I know, the game isn't equivalent like that...but it just ruins the product. One guy out of 11 does something stupid, and the team is essentially doomed to lose (I understand there's exceptions.) Hockey plays a man short, but it's not for the whole game. If you want to punish the team for individual's misconduct, it's a better system, IMO. It still keeps the game interesting for the fans. What keeps the game interesting for the fans is players not being stupid and getting red cards. You're complaining about the symptom instead of the source of the problem. Where in hockey everyone knows they can take a run at anyone, anytime and not hurt the team, so they can send a 4th line goon to take out the opponent's best player for the game, and the worst that happens is his team plays a man down for 4-5 minutes and he gets suspended for 3 games he wouldn't play in anyway. In soccer, players know that if they even try to pull anything close to that, it ends their team's chances at the game.

There have been instances of teams a man down winning games (And even coming from behind to win after they went down a man), but generally, that's the point. Don't get a red card, especially early. This is not a hard thing to do if you aren't a complete fool.

Drawing of lots, like every other tiebreaker. This is not hard to google, btw.

My biggest concern with Mexico-Croatia would be Mexico bunkering and playing for a 0-0 draw knowing that's all they need.

Mexico advances with a win or draw or if Cameroon beats Brazil by...Yeah that won't happen. Brazil advances with a win or draw or if someone wins the Mexico Croatia game. Croatia needs a win or draw and Brazil loss.

Castro now trailing just Tulo and Hanley in SS wOBA.

If you could take Brazil+Germany+Argentina vs the field to win the World Cup, do you?

Kubel is 32, can't play the field much, and hasn't posted an OPS+ over 70 for 3 years. And I don't think you've seen what Ruggiano is doing if you think that's a better option.

Because we have so many catchers at the ready we're starting one that throws out runners at 4% and hits .100.

Damn it all, I taped the game since I was coaching my son's u8 game tonight, and someone literally leaves me a voicemail of "Call me back right away. Oh, btw, the USA just won, oops, hope you weren't recording that."

Portugal getting blasted is good for two scenarios: 1) Both Portugal and USA win v Ghana and draw each other 2) USA, Portugal and Ghana finish with 3 points each.

also, the announcers have to get off of the goal line technology. That they didn't see the goal is the exact reason we have it.

What in the world was honduras's keeper doing?

There's the penalty. That plus the red should do it for the competitiveness of the match.

According to 538, Costa Rica is now the most likely team to advance from Group D.

And only one game with a one goal difference. And that would have been 3-0 had officials not botched two offside calls.

CR with just 27 touches in the attacking third in the first half.