The embarrassment that is Boston College football, Brayan Bello and the Red Sox' postseason roster, the default captain of the Boston Bruins, a Week 2 "must-win" for the Patriots

Boston College held on yesterday to beat Maine 22-16. BC put up a 16-0 first quarter, so it was 16-6 Maine the rest of the way. The Black Bears were the better team for most of the afternoon. They pushed BC around, controlled the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. Were it not for turnovers, they would have won. Kudos to Maine, but BC football is embarrassing. Bill O'Brien is embarrassing.

It's increasingly hard to think that BC has any business being a P4 school. This was once a proud program. A program with an identity. They could be a top twenty to twenty-five team, they were physical, tough, played for each other, had excellent offensive lines, some quarterbacks who could sling it, character guys and playmakers, and they'd sometimes give one of the best teams in the country all or more than they could handle. But what this is now? They're just cashing a check.

Bill O'Brien was a coach I never thought well of. Another guy that Tom Brady made look better than he was when he was never any good at all. His high point was turning around Penn State after everything that happened there. But this guy went from coaching an NFL team in the playoffs to trying to hold off the Black Bears of Maine on a mid-September Saturday in front of a mostly empty stadium in Chestnut Hill. That has to be a cold glass of water in the face if he ever stops and thinks about it. I'm not sure how much this guy thinks, though.

I'm not sure BC could win the Patriot League.

Brayan Bello had perhaps his best ever performance for the Red Sox yesterday, going eight innings and only surrendering a run with zero walks. I saw someone ask the questions afterwards if he now had a chance to make the postseason roster. It never entered my mind that he won't be on the postseason roster. Honestly, these comments and conversations baffle me. What do people think the roster shrinks down to? Bello is the guy you'll bring in early if your starter immediately gets roughed up and shows no signs of that he won't be letting up more.

The Sox lost the game in the end but that doesn't matter right now. What does matter is getting Willson Contreras and Ceddanne Rafaela back and ready to go, Erik Miller figuring out his issues, and ideally Garrett Crochet being able to contribute. The Red Sox are fortunate in the sense that they can use what time is left of the regular season to prepare for the postseason and their first round in the Bronx against the Yankees. They're unfortunate in the sense--especially with Crochet--that there isn't more time in these matters of health. Aaron Judge is back on the IL. The Yankees have been a good team without him, but his absence could still be a big factor. He struggled when he was in there, though.

Really heady play by the Yankees second baseman Anthony Volpe yesterday. He let a pop-up drop so he could get the force at second on the runner at first who was faster than the batter. Can't recall having seen that before.

I find it bizarre how underappreciated it seems to be that the Yankees have gone thirty-four straight seasons without finishing under .500. I marvel at that. Yes, they have money and spend, but still.

The Bruins start their exhibition slate today. Another year without much buzz around this team. Maybe they can sneak into the playoffs and will then be eliminated without much fuss or muss. Ho hum. They're naming a captain, which begs the question, "What changed?" The answer is nothing. It's just something they're doing now to do it, or to put an end to the speculation as to why they haven't. It'll be David Pastrnak, but he's not captain material and they don't have anyone on the roster who would make for a good captain.

The people whose heads are stuffed with deli meats--and they are legion--are saying that today's Patriots game against the Steelers in Foxborough is a must-win. Oh. Didn't know that. Thanks, sports gurus. Where would we be without you? Do I think the Patriots will win? I have no idea. I don't think they're good. I didn't think they were much good last year either, though, and they went to the Super Bowl with the help of a hell of a lot of smoke and mirrors. What's in their magician's kit this year? A new smoke machine? Got that fun house room from The Lady from Shanghai in there?

I tend to think not. Will they clear 9 wins on the season? Drake Maye had his ascent, and my sense is that this season's theme for him will be a return to earth and, quite possibly, a spot to where he really belongs. I could be wrong, but I don't think he's going to be a great player. People talk about the decision making, but in addition to that, I doubt his arm. I doubt him as a thrower of the football.