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    Chargers face Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes, prepared for anything and everything
    • October 22, 2023

    Each and every NFL game is critical, as Chargers coach Brandon Staley explained patiently the other day. But some are more critical than others, and the Chargers’ game Sunday against the reigning Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs seems to fit into that category.

    Win and the Chargers (2-3) are back to the .500 mark, back to being the team many people believed they could be when the season began and expectations were heightened for the second time in Staley’s three seasons. Lose and the Chargers are, well, in big trouble after only six games.

    “I think, especially after a tough loss, you have to respond the right way,” Staley said, referring to the Chargers’ 20-17 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Monday night. “I think the way that you do that is staying consistent in your approach and being committed to how you do things.”

    One thing the Chargers must do especially well Sunday against the Chiefs (5-1), aside from the usual blocking, tackling, throwing, running and catching, is finding a way to contain Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes. He is, after all, one of the league’s most inventive playmakers.

    “You definitely have to wrap him up,” Chargers safety Derwin James Jr. said. “He can throw it right handed, left handed, with a guy holding him. You just have to get him all the way to the ground. The play is never over with this team. We know that as a defense. We have to strain.”

    No question, Mahomes had the Chargers’ attention as they prepared to face their AFC West rivals.

    “I mean, he’s stamping himself as one of the greats to play this game,” Chargers edge rusher Khalil Mack said. “You see what he’s done in such a short amount of time. The respect level I have for him and what he’s been able to do for that team, yeah, we just know we’re going to have our hands full.

    “It’s going to be a big challenge.”

    What makes Mahomes so difficult to handle and so different from other QBs?

    “Just his ability to improvise outside the pocket,” Mack said. “He can make deep throws down the field. He can dunk the ball over his head. He can flip the ball behind his back. So, you’ve got all those different intangibles from the quarterback position. He’s out there playing free, almost like backyard football, so to speak. But he’s doing it at a high level every Sunday.”

    Last season, Mahomes led the NFL with 5,250 yards, directing the Chiefs to the Super Bowl championship. Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert was second with 4,739 yards, leading his team to a second-place finish in the AFC West behind the Chiefs and its first playoff appearance since the 2018 season.

    This season, Mahomes is eighth in the league with 1,593 yards in six games and Herbert is 14th with 1,333 yards in five games. Neither team’s offense is clicking as expected, but the Chargers’ has been especially lackluster in the past six quarters, including during Monday’s loss to Dallas.

    First, the Chargers were blanked in the second half of their 24-17 victory Oct. 1 over the Las Vegas Raiders. Herbert fractured the middle finger on his left (non-throwing) hand late in the third quarter, but he didn’t miss a snap. He also didn’t lead a scoring drive, either.

    Herbert completed 13 of 24 passes for 167 yards and one touchdown and one interception, his first of the season. Then, playing with his finger padded and protected by a glove against the Cowboys, Herbert connected on 22 of 37 passes for 227 yards with two touchdowns and one interception.

    Like the Chargers’ defense, Herbert and their offense must be at their best Sunday against the Chiefs. Anything less than that will give Mahomes and his teammates an enormous advantage as they attempt to pin another disheartening loss on a team that can’t afford many more.

    Must-win game?

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    Of course it is. They all are, but this one really is a must-win.

    “There’s a sense of urgency regardless of the week,” Herbert said. “Whether it’s Week 1 or whether it’s Week 6 or 7, guys want to win. I think that’s the most important thing, but panicking isn’t going to help anyone. Whether it’s 0-5 or 2-3, panicking won’t help. We’re going to do everything that we can to win this game.”

    CHARGERS (2-3) at CHIEFS (5-1)

    When: 1:25 p.m. Sunday

    Where: Arrowhead Stadium

    TV/Radio: Ch. 2; 98.7 FM; 105.5 FM/94.3 FM (Spanish)

    ​ Orange County Register 

    Read More
    UFC 294: Lightweight champ Makhachev ends Volkanovski rematch early
    • October 21, 2023

    ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — Lightweight champion Islam Makhachev watched featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski enter the Octagon inside Etihad Arena on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi to the 1981 hit “Down Under” by Australian band Men At Work.

    Moments later, it was Makhachev who went to work at UFC 294.

    Makhachev (26-1-0) used a devastating kick with his left leg to the Australian’s right temple, then quickly pounced and used nine hammering blows with his left hand before referee Marc Goddard stopped the fight at the 3:06 mark of the first round Saturday.

    “I have a great team. We always did this in the locker room, in the training — pushed me very hard,” Makhachev said. “I showed him a couple of low kicks, couple of body kicks and then changed to head kick. I want to say thank you to this guy (Volkanovski). He’s a real champion.”

    The Russian fighter’s compliment referred to Volkanovski (26-3-0) taking the fight on just 11 days’ notice after Makhachev’s original opponent, former champion Charles Oliveira, withdrew with a cut.

    The victory likely brought closure to a rivalry that started when Volkanovski gave Makhachev what might have been the toughest test of his career in their epic 155-pound championship bout at UFC 284 in February.

    Makhachev defeated Volkanovski with what many felt was a controversial unanimous decision after five competitive rounds.

    On Saturday, Makhachev left no doubt.

    “Great setup, good kick,” Volkanovski said. “It’s hard, never like losing. He’s a great champion, what are you going to do? Credit it to him.”

    Makhachev’s win ties him for the third-longest win streak in UFC history (13).

    Asked who he wanted next, Makhachev replied, “I never choose. (UFC president) Dana (White), give me someone.”

    In an action-packed co-main event, Khamzat Chimaev (13-0) remained undefeated with a majority decision over former welterweight king Kamaru Usman (20-4), who took the middleweight bout on short notice, replacing injured opponent Paulo Costa.

    “I was a school kid when he was fighting,” Chimaev said of Usman. “This bout to me means big things.”

    Judges scored the bout 29-27 twice with a 28-28 on the third card.

    In the highly anticipated light heavyweight battle between No. 2 Magomed Ankalaev (18-1-1) and No. 7 Johnny Walker (21-7-0), it was declared a no-contest at 3:13 of the first round. Ankalaev landed what was deemed an unintentional knee while Walker was down and the bout was paused.

    After audio replays indicated Walker was dazed and confused during a brief exchange with ringside physician Dr. Garry Hartstein, the bout was stopped.

    Walker was visibly upset and had to be held back from charging Ankalaev before UFC CEO Dana White finally entered the ring and was able to simmer down the situation.

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    The match was thought to provide a potential title shot for the winner.

    In a middleweight battle, Ikram Aliskerov (15-1-0) used a quick jab to wobble Warlley Alves (15-7-0) and then dazed him with a vicious flying knee. Aliskerov then used a barrage of punches to win by TKO at 2:07 of the first round. It was Aliskerov’s seventh consecutive victoryand third in a row in the first round.

    Said Nurmagomedov (18-3-0) opened the main card by making quick work of Muin Gafurov (18-6-0), getting the bantamweight win via a guillotine choke at 1:13 of the first round.

    ​ Orange County Register 

    Read More
    Congress does little good, ever. The House should stay without a speaker as long as possible.
    • October 21, 2023

    Three weeks after a small group of House Republican rebels led by Matt Gaetz (R-FL)  removed Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) as Speaker (with the assistance of a unanimous Democratic caucus), the position remains vacant.

    On October 20, Republicans gave up (after three ballots) on Jim Jordan (R-OH). “Moderate” Republicans seem disinclined to either jump ship and support the Democratic pick (New York’s Hakeem Jeffries) or to put forward a “moderate” who might pick up enough Democratic votes to break the Gaetz-led logjam.

    All this drama naturally has the American political class in tears. “No legislative function can occur on the House floor until a new speaker is elected,” the Washington Examiner’s Jack Birle explains. “No votes or any other basic functions can occur on the floor of the House until the election has been resolved.”

    So … what’s the downside? I’m looking for a cloud around the silver lining, and failing to find one.

    Hard as they may work to convince us otherwise, American politicians don’t do anything we couldn’t do for ourselves at lower cost and to a higher standard of quality — and what they do TO us massively outweighs anything they might happen to accidentally do FOR us.

    As Mark Twain noted more than a century ago, “it could probably be shown by facts and figures that there is no distinctly native American criminal class except Congress.”

    They steal our wealth and order us around, and that’s about it — except for the part where they pompously style themselves “public servants.”

    Every day the Speaker’s chair remains empty is a day off, a day of victory, for America’s long-suffering, hen-pecked, pick-pocketed, neglected, and abused public. After all, if Congress can’t do anything, Congress can’t do anything stupid, or evil, or both.

    Unfortunately, all good things come to an end.

    Sooner or later, the honorable (snort) members of the House will start worrying.

    It will dawn on them that the longer they mess around doing a whole lot of nothing, the more Americans will realize how much we LIKE it.

    They’ll panic at the prospect that more of us will notice how useless they are at their best (that is, when they’re doing nothing) and how actively harmful to our peace and prosperity they are in normal times (that is, when they’re doing things).

    At some point they’ll choose a Speaker and get back to “work.”

    Until then, enjoy this refreshing break.

    Thomas L. Knapp (Twitter: @thomaslknapp) is director and senior news analyst at the William Lloyd Garrison Center for Libertarian Advocacy Journalism (thegarrisoncenter.org). He lives and works in north central Florida.

    ​ Orange County Register 

    Read More
    Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs: Who has the edge?
    • October 21, 2023

    CHARGERS (2-3) at CHIEFS (5-1)

    When: 1:25 p.m. Sunday

    Where: Arrowhead Stadium

    TV/Radio: Ch. 2; 98.7 FM; 105.5 FM/94.3 FM (Spanish)

    Line: Chiefs by 5½

    Notable injury designations

    Chargers: OUT: S Alohi Gilman (heel), WR Jalen Guyton (knee), DB Deane Leonard (hamstring), DL Otito Ogbonnia (knee). QUESTIONABLE: S Derwin James Jr. (ankle), LB Amen Ogbongbemiga (groin).

    Chiefs: OUT: WR Justin Watson (elbow), QUESTIONABLE: CB Jaylen Waton (thigh).

    What’s at stake: The Chargers need a victory to remain a viable playoff candidate. A loss would drop them to 2-4 with plenty of difficult games still to be played. Any chance of catching the AFC West-leading Chiefs would probably disappear if the Chargers were to lose. The Chargers have played nothing but close games this season, losing by two, three and three points and winning by four and seven points. So, another tight game shouldn’t faze them in the least.

    Who’s better: The Chiefs, led by quarterback Patrick Mahomes, are the reigning Super Bowl champions and have won five consecutive after a season-opening defeat to the Detroit Lions. Kansas City defeated the Chargers by scores of 27-24 and 30-27 last season en route to a Super Bowl victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. The Chargers aren’t pleased by their record so far, but they aren’t in panic mode.

    Matchup to watch: The Chargers’ goal is to contain Mahomes and keep him within arm’s reach. If he scrambles away from the Chargers’ pressure and runs out of the pocket, that’s when he’s at his most dangerous. He’s among the NFL’s most creative quarterbacks when on the run. His pairing with tight end Travis Kelce is among the best in the league, one the Chargers must contend with if they hope to win. The Chargers’ secondary, bruised as it is, will be under pressure.

    Chargers win if: As in Monday night’s game against the Dallas Cowboys, the Chargers must play a flawless game if they expect to beat the Chiefs. The Chargers were far from perfect against the Cowboys, but still had a chance to win – or at least send the game into overtime – in the closing minutes. The Chargers’ two-minute drill failed and quarterback Justin Herbert’s second interception of the season sealed the deal for the Cowboys with a little more than a minute to play.

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    Fantasy sleeper: Herbert had two strong games last season against the Chiefs, throwing for 334 yards and three touchdowns in one game and 280 yards and two touchdowns in the other. So, keep close tabs on him as he attempts to drive a Chargers offense that’s been disappointing over the past six quarters, including the second half of their victory over the Raiders in Week 4. However, Herbert acknowledged the difficulty of holding the ball firmly during the Chargers’ loss to the Cowboys because of a fractured left middle finger on his non-throwing hand.

    Prediction: The Chiefs are favored to win and the Chargers are considered underdogs, which is just as it should be. The Chargers’ injury issues at the safety position should be of concern, with Gilman ruled out and James said to be questionable to play. Expect a 24-20 victory for the Chiefs.

    ​ Orange County Register 

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    Orange County football standings: Through the Week 9 games
    • October 21, 2023

    Support our high school sports coverage by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribe now

    Orange County football standings through games of Friday, Oct. 20:

    TRINITY LEAGUE
    W-L
    Pct.
    PF
    PA
    W-L
    Pct.
    PF
    PA

    St. John Bosco
    4-0
    1.000
    168
    54
    8-1
    .889
    338
    139

    Mater Dei
    3-1
    .750
    146
    41
    8-1
    .889
    359
    84

    Orange Lutheran
    2-2
    .500
    91
    133
    5-4
    .556
    209
    241

    Servite
    1-3
    .250
    110
    183
    5-4
    .556
    320
    268

    Santa Margarita
    1-3
    .250
    104
    151
    5-4
    .556
    280
    278

    JSerra
    1-3
    .250
    75
    132
    4-5
    .444
    209
    198

    SUNSET LEAGUE
    W-L
    Pct.
    PF
    PA
    W-L
    Pct.
    PF
    PA

    Los Alamitos
    4-0
    1.000
    243
    51
    7-2
    .778
    440
    179

    Edison
    4-0
    1.000
    155
    62
    6-3
    .667
    262
    169

    Newport Harbor
    2-2
    .500
    122
    134
    4-5
    .444
    238
    273

    Corona del Mar
    1-3
    .250
    82
    118
    4-5
    .444
    199
    222

    Huntington Beach
    1-3
    .250
    84
    182
    4-5
    .444
    218
    304

    Fountain Valley
    0-4
    .000
    37
    176
    3-6
    .333
    208
    315

    SOUTH COAST
    W-L
    Pct.
    PF
    PA
    W-L
    Pct.
    PF
    PA

    San Clemente
    2-0
    1.000
    55
    28
    8-1
    .889
    276
    114

    Mission Viejo
    1-1
    .500
    46
    20
    6-3
    .667
    293
    146

    Tesoro
    1-1
    .500
    37
    58
    5-4
    .556
    204
    174

    Capistrano Valley
    0-2
    .000
    40
    72
    7-2
    .778
    293
    178

    SEA VIEW LEAGUE
    W-L
    Pct.
    PF
    PA
    W-L
    Pct.
    PF
    PA

    Trabuco Hills
    2-0
    1.000
    82
    41
    6-3
    .667
    257
    197

    San Juan Hills
    1-1
    .500
    74
    31
    8-1
    .889
    321
    137

    Aliso Niguel
    1-1
    .500
    66
    72
    6-3
    .667
    262
    164

    El Toro
    0-2
    .000
    21
    99
    2-7
    .222
    132
    291

    CRESTVIEW LEAGUE
    W-L
    Pct.
    PF
    PA
    W-L
    Pct.
    PF
    PA

    Foothill
    2-0
    1.000
    77
    21
    6-3
    .667
    319
    230

    Villa Park
    1-1
    .500
    55
    55
    8-1
    .889
    326
    131

    Yorba Linda
    1-1
    .500
    91
    41
    6-3
    .667
    328
    189

    Brea Olinda
    0-2
    .000
    7
    113
    5-4
    .556
    218
    297

    NORTH HILLS LEAGUE
    W-L
    Pct.
    PF
    PA
    W-L
    Pct.
    PF
    PA

    El Modena
    2-0
    1.000
    79
    30
    5-4
    .556
    262
    206

    El Dorado
    1-1
    .500
    51
    38
    4-5
    .444
    291
    247

    Esperanza
    1-1
    .500
    54
    68
    4-5
    .444
    266
    295

    Canyon
    0-2
    .000
    27
    75
    1-8
    .111
    148
    336

    EMPIRE LEAGUE
    W-L
    Pct.
    PF
    PA
    W-L
    Pct.
    PF
    PA

    Tustin
    4-0
    1.000
    159
    7
    9-0
    1.000
    358
    137

    Cypress
    3-0
    1.000
    115
    28
    5-3
    .625
    212
    128

    Crean Lutheran
    2-1
    .667
    91
    56
    6-2
    .750
    267
    122

    Pacifica
    1-3
    .250
    48
    162
    2-7
    .222
    126
    324

    Kennedy
    1-3
    .250
    67
    112
    6-3
    .667
    267
    161

    Valencia
    0-4
    .000
    59
    174
    3-6
    .333
    252
    280

    FREEWAY LEAGUE
    W-L
    Pct.
    PF
    PA
    W-L
    Pct.
    PF
    PA

    Sonora
    4-0
    1.000
    140
    76
    8-1
    .889
    275
    175

    Troy
    3-1
    .750
    97
    96
    5-4
    .556
    285
    257

    La Habra
    3-1
    .750
    174
    60
    5-4
    .556
    325
    200

    Buena Park
    1-3
    .250
    60
    139
    5-4
    .556
    267
    201

    Sunny Hills
    1-3
    .250
    54
    107
    4-5
    .444
    173
    194

    Fullerton
    0-4
    .000
    104
    151
    2-7
    .222
    212
    235

    ORANGE COAST LEAGUE
    W-L
    Pct.
    PF
    PA
    W-L
    Pct.
    PF
    PA

    Santa Ana
    5-0
    1.000
    257
    52
    7-2
    .778
    395
    177

    St. Margaret’s
    4-1
    .800
    205
    92
    5-4
    .556
    293
    221

    Orange
    4-1
    .800
    190
    83
    5-4
    .556
    285
    223

    Estancia
    2-3
    .400
    122
    181
    5-4
    .556
    251
    213

    Calvary Chapel
    2-3
    .400
    148
    134
    4-5
    .444
    262
    242

    Costa Mesa
    1-4
    .200
    70
    201
    2-7
    .222
    118
    308

    Saddleback
    0-6
    .000
    9
    258
    0-9
    .000
    25
    381

    PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE
    W-L
    Pct.
    PF
    PA
    W-L
    Pct.
    PF
    PA

    Dana Hills
    2-0
    1.000
    73
    33
    7-2
    .778
    282
    179

    Laguna Hills
    1-1
    .500
    51
    49
    7-1
    .875
    237
    120

    Northwood
    1-1
    .500
    63
    38
    4-4
    .500
    188
    168

    Portola
    0-2
    .000
    20
    87
    4-5
    .444
    179
    211

    PACIFIC HILLS LEAGUE
    W-L
    Pct.
    PF
    PA
    W-L
    Pct.
    PF
    PA

    Irvine
    2-0
    1.000
    34
    21
    6-3
    .667
    215
    158

    Beckman
    1-1
    .500
    43
    27
    7-2
    .778
    315
    103

    University
    1-1
    .500
    42
    44
    4-5
    .444
    211
    196

    Woodbridge
    0-2
    .000
    22
    48
    1-8
    .111
    104
    225

    ORANGE LEAGUE
    W-L
    Pct.
    PF
    PA
    W-L
    Pct.
    PF
    PA

    Western
    4-0
    1.000
    228
    14
    8-1
    .889
    424
    104

    Santa Ana Valley
    3-1
    .750
    112
    84
    4-5
    .444
    172
    282

    Anaheim
    3-1
    .750
    125
    84
    5-4
    .556
    207
    190

    Savanna
    1-3
    .250
    69
    146
    1-8
    .111
    131
    348

    Magnolia
    1-3
    .250
    88
    186
    1-8
    .111
    115
    451

    Century
    0-4
    .000
    67
    175
    1-8
    .111
    143
    340

    GARDEN GROVE LEAGUE
    W-L
    Pct.
    PF
    PA
    W-L
    Pct.
    PF
    PA

    Rancho Alamitos
    3-1
    .750
    75
    57
    6-3
    .667
    174
    173

    Los Amigos
    3-1
    .750
    114
    60
    5-4
    .556
    206
    219

    La Quinta
    3-1
    .750
    115
    101
    6-3
    .667
    251
    163

    Bolsa Grande
    2-2
    .500
    113
    123
    5-4
    .556
    238
    296

    Santiago
    1-3
    .250
    90
    100
    4-5
    .444
    185
    230

    Loara
    0-4
    .000
    60
    126
    0-9
    .000
    94
    303

    BIG 4 LEAGUE
    W-L
    Pct.
    PF
    PA
    W-L
    Pct.
    PF
    PA

    Segerstrom
    2-0
    1.000
    95
    14
    6-3
    .667
    290
    179

    Marina
    1-0
    1.000
    28
    21
    4-4
    .500
    139
    173

    Katella
    0-1
    .000
    0
    64
    1-7
    .125
    54
    352

    Garden Grove
    0-2
    .000
    35
    59
    2-7
    .222
    153
    306

    PAC 4 LEAGUE
    W-L
    Pct.
    PF
    PA
    W-L
    Pct.
    PF
    PA

    Laguna Beach
    2-0
    1.000
    114
    7
    8-1
    .889
    402
    149

    Westminster
    2-0
    1.000
    75
    13
    7-2
    .778
    289
    74

    Ocean View
    0-2
    .000
    0
    92
    4-5
    .444
    146
    214

    Godinez
    0-2
    .000
    20
    97
    3-6
    .333
    154
    230

    MESQUITE LEAGUE
    W-L
    Pct.
    PF
    PA
    W-L
    Pct.
    PF
    PA

    Capistrano Valley Christian
    3-0
    1.000
    117
    51
    6-1
    .857
    226
    118

    Linfield Christian
    3-1
    .750
    135
    55
    6-3
    .667
    278
    141

    Arrowhead Christian
    3-1
    .750
    126
    79
    8-1
    .889
    298
    147

    Western Christian
    1-3
    .250
    140
    128
    5-4
    .556
    320
    249

    Riverside Prep
    1-3
    .250
    92
    186
    3-6
    .333
    200
    335

    Trinity Classical Academy
    0-3
    .000
    38
    149
    2-6
    .250
    145
    313

    COTTONWOOD LEAGUE
    W-L
    Pct.
    PF
    PA
    W-L
    Pct.
    PF
    PA

    Whittier Christian
    4-0
    1.000
    169
    22
    6-3
    .667
    310
    156

    Maranatha
    4-0
    1.000
    149
    62
    8-1
    .889
    337
    174

    Santa Rosa Academy
    2-2
    .500
    149
    102
    5-4
    .556
    335
    180

    Desert Christian Academy
    1-3
    .250
    68
    152
    3-6
    .333
    160
    280

    Hamilton
    1-3
    .250
    66
    196
    1-8
    .111
    138
    370

    Vasquez
    0-4
    .000
    62
    129
    0-9
    .000
    89
    330

    PREP LEAGUE (8-man)
    W-L
    Pct.
    PF
    PA
    W-L
    Pct.
    PF
    PA

    Chadwick
    2-0
    1.000
    80
    47
    7-0
    1.000
    268
    139

    Flintridge Prep
    2-0
    1.000
    102
    56
    7-0
    1.000
    344
    161

    Sage Hill
    0-2
    .000
    55
    87
    4-3
    .571
    320
    212

    Windward
    0-2
    .000
    48
    95
    1-5
    .167
    130
    190

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    ​ Orange County Register 

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    ALCS: Astros face Rangers in Game 6, one win from 3rd straight World Series
    • October 21, 2023

    HOUSTON — The Houston Astros return home a win from their third straight trip to the World Series.

    It won’t be easy, though, considering their lackluster home record and a Texas Rangers team that will send Nathan Eovaldi to the mound Sunday night in Game 6 of the AL Championship Series.

    Eovaldi who is from Alvin, the Houston suburb where Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan also grew up, is 3-0 in the postseason and got the win in Game 2 of this series after also pitching Texas to victories in the Wild Card Series and Division Series. The 33-year-old right-hander is 7-3 with a 2.87 ERA in 14 games with nine starts in his postseason career.

    “His résumé shows that he pitches well in important games, so it’s going to be a great matchup,” Texas manager Bruce Bochy said.

    Eovaldi is eager to face a Houston team that scored 23 runs combined in the last three games after managing just four in the two Texas wins.

    “I enjoy facing the hottest teams,” he said. “I fully believe that pitching wins championships. We’re able to put teams in a funk, go out there and set the tone early.”

    The Astros went 39-42 in Houston during the regular season and their home woes have continued this postseason, where they are 1-3. They swept three games in Arlington to take a 3-2 series lead, rebounding from their poor performances at Minute Maid.

    Houston manager Dusty Baker has long grown tired of questions about why his team is better on the road. As the most important home game of the year for the Astros approached, Baker was again forced to address it and asked whether he planned to address his team about it.

    “What can I say? If I had the magic words, I would have said them like two months ago,” Baker explained Saturday. “We’ve just got to get it done. There are no words that can describe what we have to do. Simply action.”

    Jose Altuve hit a three-run homer in the ninth inning Friday night to give the Astros a 5-4 win in a wild Game 5, which included a benches-clearing scuffle in the eighth inning. It began after Bryan Abreu hit Texas slugger Adolis García on the left arm with a 98.9 mph fastball. García, who punctuated a go-ahead homer in the sixth with an empathic bat spike and a slow trot, immediately turned around and got in the face of catcher Martín Maldonado, causing players from both teams to spill onto the field.

    García, Abreu and Baker were all ejected. Both managers were asked if they thought emotions from that altercation would spill over into Game 6.

    Baker seemed to go back-and-forth on the issue.

    “Yeah, probably,” he said.

    When pressed as to how he thought it would carry over, Baker continued.

    “Man, I don’t know,” he said. “I don’t have no crystal ball. You don’t script that. It just happens.”

    Bochy said: “I don’t see really any of this happening again, to be honest.”

    While Eovaldi has been great for the Rangers this postseason, Houston starter Framber Valdez has struggled. The left-hander, who threw a no-hitter against Cleveland in August, is 0-2 with an 11.57 ERA in two playoff starts this season.

    He allowed five runs and seven hits without getting out of the third inning in Game 2. The Rangers jumped on him for four runs in the first inning and he seemed to get rattled, committing two errors on one play that helped them build the lead.

    Baker wasn’t worried about Valdez’s confidence or him getting too emotional on the mound.

    “Framber has pitched big games before. I think we’re making a lot of Framber’s emotions. And the last couple of games it wasn’t as much his emotions as his location — he wasn’t sharp… we talk about emotions, but you’ve got to throw strikes and quality strikes and quality location and if he does that emotions never come into play.”

    Valdez, 2-0 with a 1.46 ERA in last year’s World Series, is thankful to get the chance to redeem himself and try to pitch Houston to another World Series berth after a tough start to this postseason.

    “It feels good, and I thank Dusty and I thank my teammates that I’m (starting) despite the two bad outings that I had before this,” he said through a translator. “It can happen to anyone, but it feels good that I do have the opportunity to be able to go out there to show that I can do what I’ve been doing and hopefully with God and hard work (we) should be able to get there.”

    The Astros wore their orange jerseys for all three wins in Arlington after losing in their white jerseys in the opener and in navy in Game 2. Valdez is a fan of the navy but was asked if he might ask to wear the orange ones again after their success in the color this week.

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    “It doesn’t matter to me what jersey we use, whether it’s the navy, the white, the orange,” he said. “Just go out there and compete. “

    Rangers second baseman Marcus Semien said it’s important for Texas not to get down after Friday’s difficult loss if the team hopes to force a Game 7. The Rangers opened the postseason with seven straight wins.

    “We have to understand that we had the game under control yesterday until one swing happened,” he said. “So how can we figure out how to continue to control the ball game and figure out how to finish.”

    ​ Orange County Register 

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    Lab mix Casper wants to be your very best friend
    • October 21, 2023

    Breed: Labrador retriever mix

    Age: 1 year

    Sex: Neutered male

    Size: About 45 pounds

    Casper’s story: This beautiful boy is the perfect size – not too big, not too small. He’s a love bug who just wants to be around people. He’s deaf, but he already knows several hand signals and is a fast learner. He adores car rides, the water and other dogs.

    Adoption fee: $300, includes vaccines, microchip and neutering

    Adoption procedure: Fill out Friends of Orange County’s Homeless Pets’ online application or email [email protected]. The website has other pets in need of homes, too.

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    ​ Orange County Register 

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    Why are eggs so expensive and which are best? Cracking the code on carton labels
    • October 21, 2023

    If eggs are a regular staple in your household, you’ve probably noticed that the price of a dozen eggs appears to have doubled in the last year or so. An outbreak of avian influenza – also known as bird flu – killed millions of egg-laying chickens nationwide, leading to a serious egg shortage. While grocery stores are no longer out of eggs, the higher prices remain.

    The cost of a dozen grade-A eggs at a typical grocery store in Southern California can range from $3.00 to a whopping $10.00. Considering eggs cost more than ever, are the more expensive eggs worth it? What do the labels on the egg carton even mean? There are common misconceptions about egg labeling, so let’s crack the code to the meaning of common egg carton labels.

    Egg Grading

    Eggs are graded on a scale of AA, A or B. Eggs are graded on appearance and the firmness of the white with AA being the highest quality. Typically, supermarket eggs are graded A, which is fine for baking and cooking.

    Cage-free

    While cage-free may sound like an improvement in the treatment of chickens, it simply means that the chickens are not kept in cages. They may still be packed tight in confined hen houses with no access to the outdoors or daylight.

    Free-range

    Eggs labeled free-range are produced by chickens that must have access to the outdoors at least six hours per day and have two square feet of space per bird. There are no requirements regarding the conditions of the outdoor space.

    Pasture-raised

    Pasture-raised eggs are produced by chickens that have been raised in a vegetation-covered pasture with 108 square feet per chicken for a minimum of six hours per day. Chickens are fed only grains without animal byproducts and are free to eat the insects and seeds in their natural environment. Pasture-raised eggs are Humane Farm Animal Care certified, a non-profit certification organization.

    Due to the superior diet of pasture-raised chickens, the eggs they produce are known to have better flavor and substantially greater nutritional value, including more vitamin D, vitamin A, omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E.

    Certified organic

    Organic certification is regulated by the United States Department of Agriculture and means that chickens have access to the outdoors and are fed a feed that does not contain genetically modified organisms, antibiotics or animal byproducts.

    Antibiotic-free

    As with certified organic eggs, eggs labeled antibiotic-free came from hens that haven’t received antibiotics in their feed or water according to the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association. However, these eggs may not qualify for an organic certification due to other factors.

    Natural or Farm-fresh

    Terms like “natural” and “farm fresh” are unregulated. These terms may be added to food labels, including the packaging of eggs, but do not impart any important meaning or value.

    Overall, eggs are a nutrient-dense food; however, omega-3-enriched and lutein-enhanced eggs are likely the best eggs for their extra nutritional value. Nutrient enrichment and enhancement of eggs is a separate label from those related to the treatment of hens.

    There are important factors to consider when choosing the best eggs for you and your family. More nutritious eggs from humanely treated hens may have the best taste, but also the highest price. These are all important factors to consider when purchasing eggs. Keep in mind that savings may be achieved when purchasing cartons of 18 eggs instead of a dozen. Shop around and compare prices at different markets and use coupons to get the best price. If any of your neighbors have chickens, you may be able to score a good deal or a barter for fresh, local eggs.

    LeeAnn Weintraub, MPH, RD is a registered dietitian, providing nutrition counseling and consulting to individuals, families and organizations. She can be reached by email at [email protected].

    ​ Orange County Register 

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