The college football playoff field was determined last weekend. The teams that made it were Michigan, Washington, Texas, and Alabama, who beat two-time defending champion Georgia in the SEC Championship game. The controversial decision was to leave out a 13-0 Florida State team in favor of Texas or Alabama. I can definitely understand Florida State's problem with this decision. The good thing is this problem ends this year because the playoff will be expanded to 12 teams next year. That means an undefeated team will most likely never again be left out of the playoffs.
The semifinals will be played on New Year’s Day, with the final Jan 8.
The baseball winter meetings are happening now at a hotel in Nashville. This is where all the front office officials and managers in Major League Baseball meet for just over a week and around 50% of the free agent players deals in the league are made with their teams for next year. I don't expect the Phillies to sign any new players right now, but they have extended manager Rob Thomson’s contract for another year. Ever since he became the manager two years ago in the middle of the season, he has done a great job. He seems to be a players’ manager, and he has a very even-keeled personality.
The Yankees just acquired Juan Soto from the Padres for seven players. He had a great start in his career for the Washington Nationals, but he really struggled playing for the Padres. Soto is a very good hitter and I am happy he is in now in the American League. So far, not much has happened in these winter meetings, because everyone is waiting to see where Shohei Ohtani goes for the second half of his career. At least for the first year, he will not be able to pitch because of recovering from Tommy John surgery.
The Eagles lost by the disappointing score of 42-19 last week against the San Francisco 49ers. The Eagles defense played one of their worst games of the season, especially after the first quarter. This game would have been completely different if the Eagles had scored two touchdowns on their first two drives instead of two field goals. In the second quarter, the 49ers offense went up and down the field, and did whatever they wanted to do. If the Eagles want to beat the Dallas Cowboys this week on Sunday night, they need to bounce back and play their most complete game of the season. This game against the Cowboys is huge because if the Eagles win, they will be closer to clinching a first-round bye as the No. 1 seed, but if they lose, they’ll likely be just a wild card qualifier in the playoffs. We will see. Go Birds!
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A 2002 Cape grad and 2007 UD grad, Lewes resident Sumner Spence is one of the Cape area's biggest sports fans. Although he’s used a wheelchair his entire life, he has lived vicariously through his sports-playing father, brother, and friends, who gave him his love of sports. He hopes to provide new and interesting perspectives on the sports stories and issues of the day. Email Sumner at sumspence@gmail.com.
