Kevin Ogletree, Weekend Notes, And Week 5 Of The Beltway Baseball Breakdown

1st off, to those of you that own Kevin Ogletree (owned in 28% of all Yahoo fantasy leagues), mazel tov…I’m sure the percentage of people that actually started him last night is much smaller, but for at least a few days this season the Cowboys’ number 3 receiver is the top rated player in all of fantasy football. What I’m sure will also turn out to be true is that the number of people that own and start Ogletree will dramatically go up in week 2. The fact that he had 8 catches for well over 100 yards and 2 TDs was crazy enough…that he caught the game-clinching reception on 3rd down to move the chains and put the Giants out of their misery was almost too much to bear. Normally reserved in any game not involving the Redskins, I couldn’t help myself. “F*** this guy!” I blurted out as my brain processed the play. Kevin “F.” Ogletree…for 1 game at least, he had earned that new middle initial.

Don't forget the "F."

As for the game itself, overall it seemed uneven (much like you would expect the 1st game of the year to be). Up until Dallas’ 1st score with about a minute left in the 2nd quarter, there was hardly any offense to speak of. That was probably partially due to good D, but more due to sloppy offense (the Cowboys wound up with 13 penalties for the game, and Victor Cruz had at least 3 drops by my count). To me, the difference in the game was that other than their 2 2nd half TDs New York’s offense couldn’t sustain any drives throughout the night, and the Giants’ defense just seemed gassed by game’s end. It was vintage New York Giants though, as this year they again look like a team good enough to go about 9-7, barely make the playoffs, and then suddenly turn it on when they need to.

Somewhat lost in the return of the NFL last night was baseball, where the Nationals continue to thump NL Central teams at home. Remember a few weeks ago when I said that Washington was finally getting all their hitters healthy to go along with their filthy pitching staff? Well, they became something like the 3rd team in a million years to have back-to-back 6 homer games last night, 2 courtesy of Bryce Harper (who has gone from ice cold to scorchingly hot all of the sudden). Oh, and Gio Gonzalez struck out 9 in 7 scoreless innings to quietly pick up his 18th win of the year…if only Washington could play the Cubs every night, right? And there’s also that whole Strasburg only has 2 starts left before they shut him down for the year thing, but let’s ride the wave while it’s here, right?

You sure you have to leave so soon, Cubbies?

Not much to report on the O’s really…they took 2 of 3 from Toronto, but lost last night while the Yankees won to drop them a game out of 1st place. They are still tied for the Wild Card, and they have a 4 game series with New York at Camden Yards this weekend, so they have a chance to do some real damage (or conversely fall from the pack) within the next few days. With respect to that, I’ll let the dust settle before I make any meaningful comments on them.

And in “PTI” style, a bittersweet happy trails to Andy Roddick after he bowed out of the US Open yesterday, of which he said would be his last tournament. A perennial top 10 player and the owner of 1 major championship, Roddick’s career has to be considered a success (albeit obviously not on the level of Federer’s or Nadal’s). And he also did well for himself in the marrying department, so no one needs to weep for him, but he will be missed. An even more bittersweet happy trails to ex-Ravens owner Art Modell, who died this morning. Modell was a good owner and a very nice man by all accounts…I’m sure I have some Ravens’ fans out there who were touched by the news of his passing.