ointing out players in the top 100 we feel were particularly overrate

ST. LOUIS -- To make the National League playoffs for the sixth consecutive year, the St. Louis Cardinals will have to conquer their home-field disadvantage.Heading into a regular-season-ending, seven-game homestand that begins Monday night with the first of four games against the Cincinnati Reds, St. Louis owns a 33-41 record at Busch Stadium.It is the first time since the stadium opened in its third iteration in 2006 that the Cardinals (81-74) will finish with a losing mark at home. They will post their first losing home record since 1999.The Cardinals start the week a half-game behind San Francisco (82-74) for the NLs second wild-card and 1 1/2 games in back of the New York Mets for the first wild card. On Monday, New York (83-73) opens a three-game series at grieving Miami, playing its first game since the boating death of ace pitcher Jose Fernandez early Sunday morning, while San Francisco gets a day off.Home, not sweet home is where the Cardinals will have to get the job done, and the task doesnt seem impossible by any means. Cincinnati (65-90) is headed for a last-place finish in the NL Central and has won just one of its past 11 series in St. Louis dating back to April 2013.The Cardinals are 4-2 against the Reds at home this year, including a 3-2 win on Aug. 10 that saw Jaime Garcia work into the ninth inning to earn the decision. Perhaps because of that outing, or because of Luke Weavers struggles during a just-completed road trip, Garcia (10-12, 4.59 ERA) gets the ball Monday for his first start since Sept. 13.While Garcia has pitched to a puffy 8.23 ERA over his past six starts, he is coming off four scoreless innings of relief Wednesday in Colorado. He struck out five without issuing a walk.He will be opposed by Reds rookie Tim Adleman (2-4, 4.06 ERA). The right-hander lost two starts to St. Louis this year, although he pitched decently in a 5-2 defeat on Sept. 4 in Cincinnati. Adleman recorded a quality start in a no-decision Sept. 19 at the Chicago Cubs, allowing two runs in 6 1/3 innings and fanning five.Cincinnati is 2-4 on its 10-game road trip, winning 4-2 in Milwaukee on Sunday behind five scoreless innings from Brandon Finnegan. The Reds are getting outstanding play from shortstop Jose Peraza, who is batting .378 with two homers and 16 RBI in 127 at-bats since being recalled from Triple-A Louisville on Aug. 20.Its just a really nice template to look at to say this guy is going to be really good as he matures, Reds manager Bryan Price said.Power has kept St. Louis in contention, but the offense has slowed in September. On a 5-5 road trip that ended with a 3-1 loss to the Cubs on Sunday night at Wrigley Field, the Cardinals scored 37 runs. Twenty of those runs came in a pair of wins.Were going to have to mix and match and make something happen, St. Louis manager Mike Matheny said.Still, right-hander Carlos Martinez, who likely would get the start in the wild-card game if the Cardinals qualify, remains optimistic about the teams chances in October.I think were in a good position right now, he said. I also think we have a great shot at winning the World Series. Air Max 97 Italia . Now tied for second in the league in shootout goals, the 24-year-old likes to see what the opposing goaltender has in store before he ultimately lands on a move. Air Max 97 Prezzi Bassi . The FA rejected Wilsheres appeal that the length of his punishment was "clearly excessive" and said Thursday his suspension begins with immediate effect. He will miss league matches against Chelsea on Monday and West Ham on Dec. http://www.airmax97italia.it/ . Still, Brewers manager Ron Roenicke thought taking him out before the fifth inning was an unusual move. "Im looking up at the board and hes got two hits given up and one run, and Im taking him out after the fourth inning," Roenicke said. Air Max 97 Saldi . A knee to the thigh might have stung him the most, but his sixth straight double-double made up for the brief burst of pain. Air Max 97 In Offerta . -- In one brief spurt, Brazil turned a close game into a rout and proved again it will be a strong World Cup favourite. Every year, in conjunction with the release of the #NFLRank rollout on ESPN.com, Football Outsiders has provided an audit of the list. Once again this year, were pointing out players in the top 100 we feel were particularly overrated or underrated by the ESPN voters. Remember, of course, that overrated does not mean bad. A player might be overrated because hes one of the 40 or 50 best players in the NFL, but not one of the top dozen. For example ...OverratedMinnesota Vikings RB Adrian Peterson (No. 12)When we did this last year, Peterson ranked No. 11, and we listed him as overrated. Here we are again one year later. Were sorry to keep hammering it home, but understandiing why Adrian Peterson is not one of the 12 best players in the NFL is important for understanding the modern NFL game.dddddddddddd Passing is more important than rushing, and efficiency is more important than raw totals.Peterson led the NFL in rushing yards and touchdowns last season. Hes a really good player. But he led the league in those stats because he led the league with 327 carries. No other running back had more than 290 carries. Thats an entire extra game of carries Peterson had compared with every other running back in the league. ' ' '