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Vice-Presidential nominee Sarah Palin dropped the ceremonial opening puck at the Flyers-Rangers game in Philadelphia. It was a risky move considering Philly fans' well-documented hostility towards, well, everything. Palin's reception was -- as one might expect -- mixed.

Terry Francona and John Farrell vent to ump Sam Holbrook.

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Red Sox manager Terry Francona’s Game 2 postgame news conference was brief. Only three questions were asked, and there was no mention of plate umpire Sam Holbrook ejecting Red Sox pitching coach John Farrell in the bottom of the 11th.

In the top of inning, the Red Sox had runners on first and second with one out when Holbrook called a pitch from Rays reliever David Price that was clearly off the plate a strike, punching out Mark Kotsay. The PitchTrax box showed what my naked, weary eyes could see: the ball wasn’t even close to being in the strike zone.

It was a huge call and looked even costlier to the Red Sox when Coco Crisp, the next batter, grounded out to end the threat and keep the score tied at 8.

Then in the bottom of the inning, Red Sox reliever Mike Timlin was squeezed by Holbrook. There was a pitch to Dioner Navarro, leading off the inning, that was called a ball even though it was in virtually the  same identical location as the pitch that Price struck out Kotsay. PitchTrax showed that pitch was clearly outside, but Timlin didn’t get the makeup call. Navarro wound up walking.

Texas QB Colt McCoy avenged last season's loss to OU.

AP

Some telling numbers in No. 5 Texas’ thrilling 45-35 victory over top-ranked Oklahoma Saturday in the Cotton Bowl:

48 -- Rushing yards by Oklahoma. The Sooners were unable to establish the run, averaging a mere 1.8 yards for their 26 carries.

161 -– Rushing yards by Texas. Chris Ogbonnaya was responsible for 127 of them, including a 62-yard scamper that set up the touchdown to make it a 10-point game late in the fourth quarter.

.800 -– Completion percentage by Texas quarterback Colt McCoy, who connected on 28 of his 35 passes.

20 –- Combined receptions by Texas wide receivers Quan Cosby and Jordan Shipley. The two amassed 234 yards in receiving and 401 total yards, including a 96-yard kick return by Shipley for a touchdown.

37:10 -– Time of possession by Texas.

Charlie Manuel and Terry Francona have survived Manny.

Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

This just occurred to me. If the Red Sox and Dodgers meet in the World Series, Manny Ramirez can’t lose. Regardless of the outcome, he figures to receive a bonus because he played for both teams this season. He might even come away with another ring, which would be his third.
 
Now that I think about it, a Phillies-Red Sox matchup in the Fall Classic also would be intriguing because it would pit the old school vs. the new school. On one side you have Phillies manager Charlie Manuel and GM Pat Gillick. On the other side is Red Sox manager Terry Francona and GM Theo Epstein. Sabertooth tigers vs. Sabermetricians.

The managers have a few things in common.

Manny Ramirez is happy with the Dodgers ... at least, so far.
Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images

Greetings, FanNation. Please allow me to introduce myself. I’m the new weekend blogger, and let me be the first to say the pleasure is mine.
 
Some brief background about me. I recently left the Hartford Courant after a lengthy stint there that included seven years as the Red Sox beat writer, from 2000 to 2006. I also covered the New England Patriots and UConn women’s hoops, both for one season. My last day at the Courant was July 31, the day the Red Sox traded Manny Ramirez. I was hired earlier this week by SI.com, the same week Manny is gracing the cover of SI.

Upon pulling the magazine from my mailbox and seeing that marvelous picture of Manny sliding home feet first, I immediately thought about the night in Seattle in 2002 when he broke his finger on the catcher’s shin guard with a headfirst slide. I don’t remember him ever going headfirst to the plate and I’m guessing that was the last time he ever tried to score from first on a double to LEFT field.