Anchor Drop, May 13, 2023: Run ruled

Good morning.

Optional Musical Accompaniment

Vanderbilt baseball lost its series opener 10-0 to Florida, getting walked off in the seventh inning when a two-run single increased the Gators’ lead to ten runs and ended the game. I don’t really have too much to say about it; I watched most of the game, to my detriment, and Vanderbilt suffered from Carter Holton getting scratched, though he wasn’t good last week which probably has something to do with why he’s being held out now.

People are going to complain, but I, the basketball guy, legitimately do not know what the hell a lot of this is about.

And the changing run environment is the kind of thing that a lot of people will bring up and yet nobody seems capable of explaining why we’re seeing 13-11 scores again. But it’s also somehow the case that LSU can be the best team in the country while also having approximately the shittiest pitching staff I’ve ever seen for a top team.

It’s 1990s MLB! Anyway, Tim Corbin is, uh, getting a ton of criticism for being the coach of a team that’s still in first place in the East and still on track for a national seed, and really the biggest problem from my vantage point is that the starting pitchers can’t seem to stay healthy. I’ve also made my thoughts on the transfer portal abundantly clear and I’m the first to admit that my opposition to it is because I prefer to have four-year (or three-year, for guys who get drafted) players rather than one-year.

(Which used to not be a problem for Vanderbilt, but whatever.) Game 2 is tonight at 5:30 PM CT on the SEC Network+. Andrew has your game thread coming later.

In big news for the women’s basketball team, Jordyn Cambridge made it official that she’s returning next season after redshirting in 2022-23 because of an injury:

The NBA Playoffs now have a seven-seed and an eight-seed in the conference finals. It’s very weird how college football fans are the only ones who get up in arms about undeserving teams making it to the postseason. It’s also incredible that a team that has both LeBron James and Anthony Davis on it went 43-39 in the regular season.

Sports on TV

All times Central.

• 11:00 AM: SEC Baseball: Kentucky at Tennessee (SEC Network)
• 12:00 PM: SEC Baseball: Alabama at Texas A&M (SEC Network+)
• 12:00 PM: PGA Tour: AT&T Byron Nelson, Third Round (Golf Channel)
• 12:00 PM: MLB: Rays at Yankees or Mariners at Tigers (MLB Network)
• 12:10 PM: MLB: Reds at Marlins (ESPN+)
• 2:00 PM: SEC Baseball: Auburn at Ole Miss (SEC Network)
• 2:00 PM: SEC Baseball: Georgia at Missouri (SEC Network+)
• 2:00 PM: PGA Tour: AT&T Byron Nelson, Third Round (CBS)
• 3:07 PM: MLB: Rangers at A’s (FS1)
• 6:00 PM: SEC Baseball: LSU at Mississippi State (SEC Network+)
• 6:00 PM: SEC Baseball: South Carolina at Arkansas (SEC Network+)
• 6:00 PM: NHL: Stars at Kraken, Game 6 (ESPN)
• 6:15 PM: MLB: Astros at White Sox or Padres at Dodgers (FOX)
• 9:00 PM: MLB: Giants at Diamondbacks or Phillies at Rockies (MLB Network)

Scoreboard

SEC Baseball: Auburn 16, Ole Miss 4 (Game 1) ... Tennessee 10, Kentucky 6 ... Missouri 13, Georgia 3 ... Texas A&M 11, Alabama 5 ... Arkansas 4, South Carolina 1 ... LSU 12, Mississippi State 1 ... Auburn 8, Ole Miss 2 (Game 2.)

MLB: Reds 7, Marlins 4 ... Mariners 9, Tigers 2 ... Mets 3, Nationals 2 ... Orioles 6, Pirates 3 ... Yankees 6, Rays 5 ... Blue Jays 3, Braves 0 ... Angels 5, Guardians 4 ... Cardinals 8, Red Sox 6 ... Cubs 6, Twins 2 ... Astros 5, White Sox 1 ... Brewers 5, Royals 1 ... Phillies 6, Rockies 3 ... Diamondbacks 7, Giants 5 ... A’s 9, Rangers 7 ... Dodgers 4, Padres 2.

NBA: Heat 96, Knicks 92 (Heat win series, 4-2) ... Lakers 122, Warriors 101 (Lakers win series, 4-2.)

NHL: Panthers 3, Maple Leafs 2 (Panthers win series, 4-1) ... Golden Knights 4, Oilers 3 (Golden Knights lead, 3-2.)