Well...this is certainly not what I expected. If, at the beginning of this season, someone had said to me, "Hey, Baseball Freak, I think the Rangers and the Giants are going to be the two teams in the World Series this year," I would have most likely laughed at them and caught the first bus out of San Francisco or Arlington (not sure what I'd be doing in either place). Honestly, who would have predicted this? What analyst on the face of this planet, while pondering the potential matchups for this season's Fall Classic, was on enough LSD or heroin to mindlessly scribble "Rangers/Giants in October" before passing out? Who in their right mind would ever guess that two of the only teams not to have a championship title (for the Giants, they haven't won a World Series since they were in New York) would finally both be competing for their first? Sure, it's been a strange, eventful season, and plenty has happened that has been surprising: A-Rod hitting home run number 600, 5 no-hitters (including 2 perfect games), and a slew of rookies bursting onto the scene and making some noise. But this is a little too much.
First of all, if I hear anyone say they "saw it coming" that either of these teams would make it to The Show, I'm going to hit them. You didn't see this coming. Until the past 2 or 3 days, nobody saw this coming. This was unseeable. I know that's not a real word; that shows the magnitude of this event. For God's sake, THE TEXAS RANGERS ARE FACING THE SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS IN THE WORLD SERIES!!! What?! Is that sentence even possible?! Are we bending the rules of time, space, and reality here?! The mighty Yankees and equally powerful Phillies BOTH fell to the underdogs, neither even forcing a full series on the way out?! WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?!?!?!
Second, even though I'm predicting the Rangers to win it all in 6 (I can't help it, I'm an AL guy), the truth is that this may be the most unpredictable, outrageous series yet. It's two teams that nobody expected to even move past the first round, let alone get past the two teams that have the last 2 championships to their names. It's two teams with excellent pitching, each with one ace and a reliable rotation/bullpen behind them, and roughly equal batting (though I'd say the Rangers, being in the American League, has a better focus on hitting, there are plenty of Giants capable of launching some timely bombs). It's two teams that don't have any titles to their name, or at least for the city they're in now. So how do you determine which team is going to win? These predictions being made by analysts, statisticians, and the Jewboy writing this post are mostly either based on league/team/hometown preferences or sheer guessing. Who's to say that Tim Lincecum won't toss a no-hitter, or that Cliff Lee will pitch every game he doesn't start from the bullpen? How do we know that Grandpa Vlad Guerrero won't suddenly keel over, or that Aubrey Huff might actually show a flash of the power that helped him lead his team in every offensive category? Isn't it entirely possible that Ian Kinsler and Buster Posey collide at home plate and explode into a fantastical show of lights and fireworks, delighting the crowd and making everyone forget about the silly little game being played? Hey, this series happening is already pretty unrealistic, so why not REALLY get strange here?
I need to lie down...the room is spinning...see you all Wednesday.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Saturday, October 23, 2010
You May Be Right, I May Be Crazy.
I apologize to my faithful readers (all 3 of you), I was locked out of my account and couldn't seem to remember my password. But now I'm back. And just in time, it seems...
Well, the rematch of the 2009 World Series I predicted and anticipated will no longer be coming to fruition, at least this year...the Texas Rangers, THE TEXAS RANGERS, have managed to overcome the New York Yankees, THE NEW YORK YANKEES, and will advance to their first Show in their 50-year franchise history.
This is not just good. This is completely, entirely, incredibly unexpected. When you think about the Rangers, the main things that come to mind are: former president George W. Bush owning them for a while, Nolan Ryan (his pitching career and his ownership), and Alex Rodriguez's monumental snubbing of them to join the New York crew in '03 (as a final kick in the teeth, they have to honor the rest of what his contract would be, so he not only gets his lucrative salary in the Bronx, he also gets a few million every season from the team he gave the middle finger to). History has shown them as a stepping stone the few times they've reached October: they were the only franchise before this season that had never won a single series in the postseason. The only times they made it, 1996, 1998, and 1999, they were swept by the Yankees in the ALDS on their way to winning the World Series all 3 of those years. It would have been difficult for anyone to truly suggest that they, with all this history and statistical improbablities against them, would move on to the Fall Classic in 2010.
After the last out last night (ironically, an Alex Rodriguez strikeout), my father asked me 3 reasons why I thought the Rangers had this miraculous run. I told him this: the batting, the pitching, and the managing. It's hard to just put it into 3 things. Every player in the lineup came alive all season and these playoffs: Ian Kinsler has a .286 average with 9 homers to this point, a far cry of what he's capable but good considering his time on the DL this season; Vladimir Guerrero has managed to defy his age and hit .300 with 29 blasts; Nelson Cruz had 17 stolen bases while hitting .318; and, of course, the big man Josh Hamilton deserves the AL MVP for bouncing back after his battle for sobriety for a .359/32/100 RBI season, not to mention 4 homers (most of which were multiple-run shots) just in this LCS. A further testament to how intimidating his sheer presence is: the Yankees pitchers intentionally walked him all 3 times he got up to the plate last night, afraid of what could happen if he had a good pitch to swing at. Tell me THAT'S not a sign of his abilities. We all know about the Texas pitching: C. J. Wilson pitched the only Rangers losses, but had a WHIP of 1.20; Lewis and Hunter both pitched well; we'd all be stupid if we didn't understand the effect that Cliff Lee had on this series. He only pitched Game 3 (had the Yanks managed to push the series to 7, they'd have to face him again), but that one game was apropos of what Lee does to New York players. He pitched 8 of 9 innings, had only 2 hits, no earned runs, and 13 strikeouts against what is supposedly the best offense in baseball. He's 7-0 in 8 games in the past 2 postseasons, with an ERA of 1.26. 3 of those wins were against the Bronx boys. He's been dubbed "The Yankee Killer", and they just can't seem to hit off him. Is it any wonder why the Yankee brass is already chomping at the bit for the Rangers to win, simply so they can start contract negotiations with Lee?
On that note, let's take a look at what this offseason will (or, at least, SHOULD) hold for the Yankees. It's clear to everyone that the starting rotation (really, their pitching overall) is the area with the biggest problems: after CC Sabathia (who didn't pitch terribly well in this series, going 1-0 in 2 games with a 5.63 ERA and only 10 strikeouts), there is no feeling of security. Phil Hughes has the potential to be good, but he's too young. On the flip side, Andy Pettitte is too old (and his contract is up). The Yankees bullpen is where good games go to die, and Mo is 40 years old and coming off his worst season in his career. How do they stop the hemorrhaging? Well, getting Cliff Lee is a start; no matter what happens in the World Series, you can bet all the money your team saved on not buying Roy Oswalt earlier this season that the Yanks will throw everything they have into the Lee pot. You know the old saying: If you can't beat 'em, make 'em play for you (I don't know if this is applicable anywhere outside of New York, Boston, Anaheim or Philadelphia). And as I pontificated on a few months ago, ESPN's Buster Olney reported last night that they will at least be talking to the Kansas City Royals about possibly picking up Zack Greinke, also coming off a disappointing season (10-14 with a 4.17 ERA, although his 1.25 WHIP and 181 strikeouts show that it has more to do with a lack of run support from his team), but if he landed in New York, you can't tell me that a rotation of Sabathia/Lee/Greinke couldn't take on Halladay/Oswalt (UGH)/Hamels on equal footing.
And, as has been looming all season, the Yankees have a difficult decision: what to do with Derek Jeter. As you may have heard, Jeet's coming off his worst season: .270/10/67, a far cry from even last season. He's injured more often, he strikes out more often, and he's 36. If anything, the Yanks should just resign him as a DH/backup shortstop, and either trade for a better player (Troy Tulowitzki, maybe?) or call someone up from the farm system. There's little Jeter hasn't done in New York: he's been able to play for his favorite team since 1995, he's only 74 hits away from 3,000 and only 66 homers away from 300, he's got 5 World Series wins, and has passed names like Ruth, Gehrig and Mantle on the all-time Yankees lists. 1 or 2 seasons as a DH and he could most likely hit those remaining milestones. It's sad to see such a seasoned, respected veteran probably reduced to something like this, but as I stated long ago, it's time for Jeter to just bow out and we can all start missing him.
I know this post took a sharp Yankees turn (I can't help it), so I'll finish by making one final prediction: the Giants will win the NLCS today, and the Rangers will beat the Giants in 6 games to win their first World Series title in franchise history.
Well, the rematch of the 2009 World Series I predicted and anticipated will no longer be coming to fruition, at least this year...the Texas Rangers, THE TEXAS RANGERS, have managed to overcome the New York Yankees, THE NEW YORK YANKEES, and will advance to their first Show in their 50-year franchise history.
This is not just good. This is completely, entirely, incredibly unexpected. When you think about the Rangers, the main things that come to mind are: former president George W. Bush owning them for a while, Nolan Ryan (his pitching career and his ownership), and Alex Rodriguez's monumental snubbing of them to join the New York crew in '03 (as a final kick in the teeth, they have to honor the rest of what his contract would be, so he not only gets his lucrative salary in the Bronx, he also gets a few million every season from the team he gave the middle finger to). History has shown them as a stepping stone the few times they've reached October: they were the only franchise before this season that had never won a single series in the postseason. The only times they made it, 1996, 1998, and 1999, they were swept by the Yankees in the ALDS on their way to winning the World Series all 3 of those years. It would have been difficult for anyone to truly suggest that they, with all this history and statistical improbablities against them, would move on to the Fall Classic in 2010.
After the last out last night (ironically, an Alex Rodriguez strikeout), my father asked me 3 reasons why I thought the Rangers had this miraculous run. I told him this: the batting, the pitching, and the managing. It's hard to just put it into 3 things. Every player in the lineup came alive all season and these playoffs: Ian Kinsler has a .286 average with 9 homers to this point, a far cry of what he's capable but good considering his time on the DL this season; Vladimir Guerrero has managed to defy his age and hit .300 with 29 blasts; Nelson Cruz had 17 stolen bases while hitting .318; and, of course, the big man Josh Hamilton deserves the AL MVP for bouncing back after his battle for sobriety for a .359/32/100 RBI season, not to mention 4 homers (most of which were multiple-run shots) just in this LCS. A further testament to how intimidating his sheer presence is: the Yankees pitchers intentionally walked him all 3 times he got up to the plate last night, afraid of what could happen if he had a good pitch to swing at. Tell me THAT'S not a sign of his abilities. We all know about the Texas pitching: C. J. Wilson pitched the only Rangers losses, but had a WHIP of 1.20; Lewis and Hunter both pitched well; we'd all be stupid if we didn't understand the effect that Cliff Lee had on this series. He only pitched Game 3 (had the Yanks managed to push the series to 7, they'd have to face him again), but that one game was apropos of what Lee does to New York players. He pitched 8 of 9 innings, had only 2 hits, no earned runs, and 13 strikeouts against what is supposedly the best offense in baseball. He's 7-0 in 8 games in the past 2 postseasons, with an ERA of 1.26. 3 of those wins were against the Bronx boys. He's been dubbed "The Yankee Killer", and they just can't seem to hit off him. Is it any wonder why the Yankee brass is already chomping at the bit for the Rangers to win, simply so they can start contract negotiations with Lee?
On that note, let's take a look at what this offseason will (or, at least, SHOULD) hold for the Yankees. It's clear to everyone that the starting rotation (really, their pitching overall) is the area with the biggest problems: after CC Sabathia (who didn't pitch terribly well in this series, going 1-0 in 2 games with a 5.63 ERA and only 10 strikeouts), there is no feeling of security. Phil Hughes has the potential to be good, but he's too young. On the flip side, Andy Pettitte is too old (and his contract is up). The Yankees bullpen is where good games go to die, and Mo is 40 years old and coming off his worst season in his career. How do they stop the hemorrhaging? Well, getting Cliff Lee is a start; no matter what happens in the World Series, you can bet all the money your team saved on not buying Roy Oswalt earlier this season that the Yanks will throw everything they have into the Lee pot. You know the old saying: If you can't beat 'em, make 'em play for you (I don't know if this is applicable anywhere outside of New York, Boston, Anaheim or Philadelphia). And as I pontificated on a few months ago, ESPN's Buster Olney reported last night that they will at least be talking to the Kansas City Royals about possibly picking up Zack Greinke, also coming off a disappointing season (10-14 with a 4.17 ERA, although his 1.25 WHIP and 181 strikeouts show that it has more to do with a lack of run support from his team), but if he landed in New York, you can't tell me that a rotation of Sabathia/Lee/Greinke couldn't take on Halladay/Oswalt (UGH)/Hamels on equal footing.
And, as has been looming all season, the Yankees have a difficult decision: what to do with Derek Jeter. As you may have heard, Jeet's coming off his worst season: .270/10/67, a far cry from even last season. He's injured more often, he strikes out more often, and he's 36. If anything, the Yanks should just resign him as a DH/backup shortstop, and either trade for a better player (Troy Tulowitzki, maybe?) or call someone up from the farm system. There's little Jeter hasn't done in New York: he's been able to play for his favorite team since 1995, he's only 74 hits away from 3,000 and only 66 homers away from 300, he's got 5 World Series wins, and has passed names like Ruth, Gehrig and Mantle on the all-time Yankees lists. 1 or 2 seasons as a DH and he could most likely hit those remaining milestones. It's sad to see such a seasoned, respected veteran probably reduced to something like this, but as I stated long ago, it's time for Jeter to just bow out and we can all start missing him.
I know this post took a sharp Yankees turn (I can't help it), so I'll finish by making one final prediction: the Giants will win the NLCS today, and the Rangers will beat the Giants in 6 games to win their first World Series title in franchise history.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Don't Mess With Texas.
For the first time in franchise history, the Texas Rangers have finally won a postseason series, taking 3 of 5 from the Tampa Bay Rays and eliminating them from the playoffs. The Rangers were the last team to never win at least one series in October: that is no longer true, thanks to Cliff Lee's 34298563297 complete game this season and a 2-run insurance homer by Ian Kinsler in the 9th. They now move on to face the Yankees in the championship series.
I have never breathed a bigger sigh of relief than I did 10 minutes ago as Longoria, Pena and Upton all went down without a fight. It doesn't mean that the Yanks' return to The Show is guaranteed, but it'll be easier to get past the Rangers than it would have been to get past the Rays. Now, whichever game Lee pitches, the Bronx Bombers will undoubtedly lose (I believe he's something like 6-1 against them since 2007, with a 2.46 ERA), but I have faith that a lineup of Rodriguez, Cano, and Teixeira can beat a rotation of Wilson and...who? Colby Lewis? Tommy Hunter? All 3 have higher ERAs (3.35, 3.72 and 3.73 respectively) than Lee, and Lewis has a 12-13 record, something that doesn't bode well for his defensive abilities. However, as always, you have to consider the sorry state of New York's rotation as well: Sabathia can be counted on for a win at all times (just like his ex-teammate (and possible future teammate, come this offseason), Lee), Pettitte still comes alive every once in a while, and then...there's A.J. Burnett, Phil Hughes, and (insert crappy reliever thrust into a starting spot in a moment of desperation, most likely Javier Vazquez). It all comes down to the batters. Ian Kinsler is 5 for 18 and has 3 home runs in his first postseason appearance, Nelson Cruz went 3-for-4 tonight and scored 2 of Texas' 5 runs, and Elvis Andrus has a .333 batting average in the past 5 games. However, with the aforementioned Yanks, and newcomers Granderson (who had a phenomenal September that's been translating into an aready-impressive October) and Berkman (the 34-year-old vet finally earned his spot in the lineup a few games ago) coming alive in their first postseason appearances (EDIT: I apologize, Berkman was on the 2005 Houston Astros that were swept by the Chicago White Sox in the World Series), I have even more confidence in my boys in pinstripes.
Now, while I'm happy for Texas, not only for winning their first postseason series in history but also for knocking the Rays out, let's be realistic: the only times they made the playoffs (1996, 1998, and 1999...why do those years sound familiar?), they were beaten by the Yankees in the ALDS all 3 times, only forcing a game 4 in '96 and being swept the other 2 years, and the Yanks went on to win the World Series all 3 years (THAT'S why those years are familiar!). The only difference here is that it's the championship series, Cliff Lee wasn't playing, and it's a best-of-7 instead of best-of-5. Are these game-changers? Aside from Lee, I wouldn't say so. And he's only available to pitch 2 games, meaning there are 5 potential Yankees wins in this series. I like those odds.
So, here are the final four:
ALCS: Yankees at Rangers, starts Friday.
NLCS: Giants at Phillies, starts Saturday.
As we say "so long" to Atlanta, Cincinnati, Minnesota and Tampa Bay, we look ahead to this weekend, where things only get more intense from here. See you all in a few days.
I have never breathed a bigger sigh of relief than I did 10 minutes ago as Longoria, Pena and Upton all went down without a fight. It doesn't mean that the Yanks' return to The Show is guaranteed, but it'll be easier to get past the Rangers than it would have been to get past the Rays. Now, whichever game Lee pitches, the Bronx Bombers will undoubtedly lose (I believe he's something like 6-1 against them since 2007, with a 2.46 ERA), but I have faith that a lineup of Rodriguez, Cano, and Teixeira can beat a rotation of Wilson and...who? Colby Lewis? Tommy Hunter? All 3 have higher ERAs (3.35, 3.72 and 3.73 respectively) than Lee, and Lewis has a 12-13 record, something that doesn't bode well for his defensive abilities. However, as always, you have to consider the sorry state of New York's rotation as well: Sabathia can be counted on for a win at all times (just like his ex-teammate (and possible future teammate, come this offseason), Lee), Pettitte still comes alive every once in a while, and then...there's A.J. Burnett, Phil Hughes, and (insert crappy reliever thrust into a starting spot in a moment of desperation, most likely Javier Vazquez). It all comes down to the batters. Ian Kinsler is 5 for 18 and has 3 home runs in his first postseason appearance, Nelson Cruz went 3-for-4 tonight and scored 2 of Texas' 5 runs, and Elvis Andrus has a .333 batting average in the past 5 games. However, with the aforementioned Yanks, and newcomers Granderson (who had a phenomenal September that's been translating into an aready-impressive October) and Berkman (the 34-year-old vet finally earned his spot in the lineup a few games ago) coming alive in their first postseason appearances (EDIT: I apologize, Berkman was on the 2005 Houston Astros that were swept by the Chicago White Sox in the World Series), I have even more confidence in my boys in pinstripes.
Now, while I'm happy for Texas, not only for winning their first postseason series in history but also for knocking the Rays out, let's be realistic: the only times they made the playoffs (1996, 1998, and 1999...why do those years sound familiar?), they were beaten by the Yankees in the ALDS all 3 times, only forcing a game 4 in '96 and being swept the other 2 years, and the Yanks went on to win the World Series all 3 years (THAT'S why those years are familiar!). The only difference here is that it's the championship series, Cliff Lee wasn't playing, and it's a best-of-7 instead of best-of-5. Are these game-changers? Aside from Lee, I wouldn't say so. And he's only available to pitch 2 games, meaning there are 5 potential Yankees wins in this series. I like those odds.
So, here are the final four:
ALCS: Yankees at Rangers, starts Friday.
NLCS: Giants at Phillies, starts Saturday.
As we say "so long" to Atlanta, Cincinnati, Minnesota and Tampa Bay, we look ahead to this weekend, where things only get more intense from here. See you all in a few days.
Monday, October 11, 2010
For Whom The Tomahawk Chops (Hint: It's Not The Braves).
Let me pitch you a hypothetical situation: a team that is notorious for dropping important plays, at-bats, and full games in the postseason makes it back for the first time in 5 years, and people expect things to be different. You'd think they were crazy, right? Especially if you weren't a fan of said team in the first place.
This is my reality. I live in Atlanta, where the Braves were just eliminated from playoff contention by the Giants, who (unfortunately) move on to timidly face the Phillies in the championship series.
Now, I'm not saying the Giants beating the Braves means that San Fran's going to have much of an impact on the Phil's inevitable return to their 3rd straight World Series. Even if Atlanta managed to get past the Giants, they'd be in a similar spot, and I'd trust Lincecum/Cain/Sanchez to take on the Big Philly Three more than Lowe/Hanson/Hudson. So it's not as if I'm trying to play favorites, or that I'm biased, but let's face it, the Giants stand a much better chance against the Phillies than the Braves would have.
The only lowlight of this loss (to me, at least) is that it means the end of Bobby Cox's legendary career. Even though he only has 1 World Series ring in 3 appearances (a higher percentage than plenty of players and coaches), his 2,504 wins is good for 4th on the managerial wins list, his 32 year career is the longest of any manager, and 158 ejections also places him atop that specific list. He was named Manager of the Year in 1985, and won the NL Manager of the Year 3 times in a 15 year span (1991, 2004, and 2005). As much as I may not care for the Braves, I do have the utmost respect for Bobby Cox, and what he's accomplished in his incredibly tenure. Bobby, my hat (with the Yankees logo) is off to you.
The only undecided division series is the one between Tampa Bay and Texas. Game 5 is tomorrow, and as I stated in my previous post, it's the same matchup as Game 1 was, and I can only hope it ends the same way, with a Rangers win. I'd feel a whole lot better about New York facing Texas than I would Tampa Bay. That in no way means I feel great about Cliff Lee facing the Bombers again, but this may be his last chance to see things from the outside, as it seems almost inevitable that the Yankees will try to sign him in the postseason. As I've said this entire time, this series is up in the air, so I can't accurately predict the winner tomorrow, just state what I hope will come to fruition.
So, the Braves go into the offseason as they often do, the Giants advance to be slain by the Phillies, and the Yankees still lay dormant while the Rangers go into St. Petersburg for a do-or-die game with the Rays. More tomorrow.
This is my reality. I live in Atlanta, where the Braves were just eliminated from playoff contention by the Giants, who (unfortunately) move on to timidly face the Phillies in the championship series.
Now, I'm not saying the Giants beating the Braves means that San Fran's going to have much of an impact on the Phil's inevitable return to their 3rd straight World Series. Even if Atlanta managed to get past the Giants, they'd be in a similar spot, and I'd trust Lincecum/Cain/Sanchez to take on the Big Philly Three more than Lowe/Hanson/Hudson. So it's not as if I'm trying to play favorites, or that I'm biased, but let's face it, the Giants stand a much better chance against the Phillies than the Braves would have.
The only lowlight of this loss (to me, at least) is that it means the end of Bobby Cox's legendary career. Even though he only has 1 World Series ring in 3 appearances (a higher percentage than plenty of players and coaches), his 2,504 wins is good for 4th on the managerial wins list, his 32 year career is the longest of any manager, and 158 ejections also places him atop that specific list. He was named Manager of the Year in 1985, and won the NL Manager of the Year 3 times in a 15 year span (1991, 2004, and 2005). As much as I may not care for the Braves, I do have the utmost respect for Bobby Cox, and what he's accomplished in his incredibly tenure. Bobby, my hat (with the Yankees logo) is off to you.
The only undecided division series is the one between Tampa Bay and Texas. Game 5 is tomorrow, and as I stated in my previous post, it's the same matchup as Game 1 was, and I can only hope it ends the same way, with a Rangers win. I'd feel a whole lot better about New York facing Texas than I would Tampa Bay. That in no way means I feel great about Cliff Lee facing the Bombers again, but this may be his last chance to see things from the outside, as it seems almost inevitable that the Yankees will try to sign him in the postseason. As I've said this entire time, this series is up in the air, so I can't accurately predict the winner tomorrow, just state what I hope will come to fruition.
So, the Braves go into the offseason as they often do, the Giants advance to be slain by the Phillies, and the Yankees still lay dormant while the Rangers go into St. Petersburg for a do-or-die game with the Rays. More tomorrow.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
The Reds Have The Blues.
For the third time in 4 consecutive playoff berths, the Philadelphia Phillies are headed back to the NLCS after a 3-game sweep of the Cincinnati Reds that included the second no-hitter in postseason history courtesy of the Doc, Roy Halladay. Even the casual reader of this blog knows just how I feel about this insanely strong Phillies team: I have no doubt that they'll make it back to the World Series for the 3rd straight season, and I have a feeling that they'll win it all again. And considering the way Cincy went down, they really didn't fight a whole lot. The Reds' offense had 11 hits adding up to 4 runs over 3 games, a far cry from Philadelphia's 18 hits and 13 runs. Poor performances at the plate by Joey Votto (still a leading candidate for the NL MVP), young power hitter Jay Bruce, seasoned veteran Scott Rolen (with a World Series ring from the 2006 Cards), and Jonny Gomes all helped contribute to the minimal offense, and the plays in the field were not much better: the Reds committed 7 errors in 3 games, compared to Philly's 3. Overall, there was no way this Reds team was going to advance by taking down the Phillies. It seemingly just can't be done.
The Yankees fan in me hates myself for typing the blasphemous phrase I just wrote when I said the Phillies are still my pick to win it big, but I can be realistic: if the Bronx Bombers make it back to The Show, it'll be difficult to contend with the baseball equivalent of Miami's Big Three: the almost-unfairly dominant 3-man rotation consisting of Halladay, Roy Oswalt (ugh), and Cole Hamels. When it comes to pitching, New York doesn't stand a chance even against the likes of Kansas City or Pittsburgh. As anyone well knows, during the 4 days between CC Sabathia's starts, it's easy to silence the Yanks defensively. While I still like the chances of a lineup that boasts Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Mark Teixeira and Robinson Cano (and that's just the infield), pitchers like A.J. Burnett (Philadelphia gets the best pitcher around, and we get Toronto's consolation prize?) and Phil Hughes that have failed spectacularly, and Andy Pettitte has really shown that he's been pitching for 14 years straight (when and if you could find him off the DL), do little to instill faith in the believers.
However, when talking about fans that may have a little too much faith, we turn to the Braves (oh yes, you disgustingly rabid Atlanta fans, it's a paragraph about why the Braves will not advance...if you're too detached from reality to believe this, please shut your computer down right now). They're lucky to be in the division that they're in: there's no way they would even have a chance to get past the first round if they had to face Philadelphia right off the bat. But they look like they won't even get past San Francisco. Dropping a game to Tim Lincecum is understandable, of course...14 strikeouts normally does not yield a victory in your team's favor. But Eric Hinske even had a pinch-hitting game-tying home run today, and thanks to a Brooks Conrad error, Freddy Sanchez scored the game-winning run. Just because the Braves have finally made it back to the postseason for the first time since 2005, everyone around where I live suddenly believes that this is the year for the 4th World Series win in the team's history. For the love of God, what on earth would make you believe that? They can barely beat the Giants! The Giants, man! They let the San Diego Padres have the lead in the division almost all season before barely reclaiming their respectful place at the top (let's face it, that division is the most up in the air of all 6)! And yet you can't knock the crown off their heads with Derek Lowe, Tommy Hanson, and Tim Hudson? What good would advancing do? So you could get annihilated by the surging Phils? Jason Heyward's just a kid, after all...does he really need to experience that kind of heartbreak in his very first season? THINK OF THE KID!!
The Braves ought to take a page out of the Rays' book. Tampa Bay somehow came from the brink of elimination to tie things up in this series against the Rangers. Does home field advantage mean nothing anymore? The Yanks won both games in Minnesota, and both the Rays and Rangers won their games as visitors. Unfortunately for the Rays, they're going to be in the same situation they were in Wednesday, facing Cliff Lee at home, and we all remember (if you're a Yankees fan) how that turned out. However, thanks to timely homers by Evan Longoria, Carlos Pena, and Carl Crawford (who's also had a nice few stolen bases in this 4-game stretch), Tampa Bay has managed to win the last 2, absolutely essential to even be in this position. As I've said since the matchup was determined, this series would be the one that was hardest to predict the winner in (if I were smarter, I would have also expressed how this would be the only series to play out all 5 games, but I don't seem to have that kind of foresight).
So, things might be shaping up for a possible rematch of the 2009 World Series, and the Reds go the way of the Twins: quietly and without much of a fight. All that's left to see in the division series is to see if Atlanta will do some of the same, and who will threaten New York's further advancement.
The Yankees fan in me hates myself for typing the blasphemous phrase I just wrote when I said the Phillies are still my pick to win it big, but I can be realistic: if the Bronx Bombers make it back to The Show, it'll be difficult to contend with the baseball equivalent of Miami's Big Three: the almost-unfairly dominant 3-man rotation consisting of Halladay, Roy Oswalt (ugh), and Cole Hamels. When it comes to pitching, New York doesn't stand a chance even against the likes of Kansas City or Pittsburgh. As anyone well knows, during the 4 days between CC Sabathia's starts, it's easy to silence the Yanks defensively. While I still like the chances of a lineup that boasts Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Mark Teixeira and Robinson Cano (and that's just the infield), pitchers like A.J. Burnett (Philadelphia gets the best pitcher around, and we get Toronto's consolation prize?) and Phil Hughes that have failed spectacularly, and Andy Pettitte has really shown that he's been pitching for 14 years straight (when and if you could find him off the DL), do little to instill faith in the believers.
However, when talking about fans that may have a little too much faith, we turn to the Braves (oh yes, you disgustingly rabid Atlanta fans, it's a paragraph about why the Braves will not advance...if you're too detached from reality to believe this, please shut your computer down right now). They're lucky to be in the division that they're in: there's no way they would even have a chance to get past the first round if they had to face Philadelphia right off the bat. But they look like they won't even get past San Francisco. Dropping a game to Tim Lincecum is understandable, of course...14 strikeouts normally does not yield a victory in your team's favor. But Eric Hinske even had a pinch-hitting game-tying home run today, and thanks to a Brooks Conrad error, Freddy Sanchez scored the game-winning run. Just because the Braves have finally made it back to the postseason for the first time since 2005, everyone around where I live suddenly believes that this is the year for the 4th World Series win in the team's history. For the love of God, what on earth would make you believe that? They can barely beat the Giants! The Giants, man! They let the San Diego Padres have the lead in the division almost all season before barely reclaiming their respectful place at the top (let's face it, that division is the most up in the air of all 6)! And yet you can't knock the crown off their heads with Derek Lowe, Tommy Hanson, and Tim Hudson? What good would advancing do? So you could get annihilated by the surging Phils? Jason Heyward's just a kid, after all...does he really need to experience that kind of heartbreak in his very first season? THINK OF THE KID!!
The Braves ought to take a page out of the Rays' book. Tampa Bay somehow came from the brink of elimination to tie things up in this series against the Rangers. Does home field advantage mean nothing anymore? The Yanks won both games in Minnesota, and both the Rays and Rangers won their games as visitors. Unfortunately for the Rays, they're going to be in the same situation they were in Wednesday, facing Cliff Lee at home, and we all remember (if you're a Yankees fan) how that turned out. However, thanks to timely homers by Evan Longoria, Carlos Pena, and Carl Crawford (who's also had a nice few stolen bases in this 4-game stretch), Tampa Bay has managed to win the last 2, absolutely essential to even be in this position. As I've said since the matchup was determined, this series would be the one that was hardest to predict the winner in (if I were smarter, I would have also expressed how this would be the only series to play out all 5 games, but I don't seem to have that kind of foresight).
So, things might be shaping up for a possible rematch of the 2009 World Series, and the Reds go the way of the Twins: quietly and without much of a fight. All that's left to see in the division series is to see if Atlanta will do some of the same, and who will threaten New York's further advancement.
Don't Party Like It's 1991.
For the second year in a row, the New York Yankees have swept the Minnesota Twins in the AL Division Series and have guaranteed themselves a spot in the Championship Series. They now just await the winner of the Rangers/Rays matchup, a series that could have possibly been decided tonight if it weren't for the renewed energy of Tampa Bay's batting.
For the Yanks, it only gets more difficult from here. They'll either face the Rays, who won the regular series season 10-8 this year and seem to really dominate the Yanks lately, or the Rangers, who have Cliff Lee, the one pitcher who almost always beats them (I believe he's 6-1 against them in the past 2 seasons), which is a sign that they'll try their hardest to sign him in the offseason (and what a blog post I'll write THAT day). So, really, is the sweep cause for celebration? It's just like last year: they would have either faced the Red Sox, their biggest rival in history, or the Angels, this season's Rays' predecessors. Just because you sweep a good Minnesota team doesn't mean in the slightest that easier days are ahead of you. And if the Yanks do make it back, they'll have to contend with (let's face it) the Phillies, yet again. Even though that last matchup in October went in New York's favor, Roy Halladay was still offseason-ing it up in Toronto. This will not be the case this year.
As far as the other series, I still pick the Giants to take the NLCS over the Braves. One extra-innings walk-off win doesn't mean much, you still have to take 2 more, and dropping one on the road while the visiting team in every other series being played gets up 2-0 doesn't make me believe that the one that goes 1-1 has a great chance at advancing, but as I just told a friend who's a hardcore Atlanta fan, stranger things have certainly happened. I think the Phillies will ensure themselves of the same immediate fate as the Yanks in tomorrow's game in Cincy, although I will be sad to see Joey Votto, Scott Rolen, and Jay Bruce go without much of a fight (if you get no-hit in the regular season, no big deal; in the postseason, you're just not trying). As far as the other ALDS, I can only hope the Rangers take it, simply because I think the Yanks have a better chance of making it back to The Show if they play Texas, but as I stated above, it's still not a guarantee. And if New York is eliminated, I can only hope that Philadelphia makes short work of whichever AL team they face.
So, the Yanks sweep and move on, the Phils have a chance to follow suit tomorrow, the Rangers can still advance, and either San Fran or Atlanta can get a leg up on the other. Stay tuned, folks.
For the Yanks, it only gets more difficult from here. They'll either face the Rays, who won the regular series season 10-8 this year and seem to really dominate the Yanks lately, or the Rangers, who have Cliff Lee, the one pitcher who almost always beats them (I believe he's 6-1 against them in the past 2 seasons), which is a sign that they'll try their hardest to sign him in the offseason (and what a blog post I'll write THAT day). So, really, is the sweep cause for celebration? It's just like last year: they would have either faced the Red Sox, their biggest rival in history, or the Angels, this season's Rays' predecessors. Just because you sweep a good Minnesota team doesn't mean in the slightest that easier days are ahead of you. And if the Yanks do make it back, they'll have to contend with (let's face it) the Phillies, yet again. Even though that last matchup in October went in New York's favor, Roy Halladay was still offseason-ing it up in Toronto. This will not be the case this year.
As far as the other series, I still pick the Giants to take the NLCS over the Braves. One extra-innings walk-off win doesn't mean much, you still have to take 2 more, and dropping one on the road while the visiting team in every other series being played gets up 2-0 doesn't make me believe that the one that goes 1-1 has a great chance at advancing, but as I just told a friend who's a hardcore Atlanta fan, stranger things have certainly happened. I think the Phillies will ensure themselves of the same immediate fate as the Yanks in tomorrow's game in Cincy, although I will be sad to see Joey Votto, Scott Rolen, and Jay Bruce go without much of a fight (if you get no-hit in the regular season, no big deal; in the postseason, you're just not trying). As far as the other ALDS, I can only hope the Rangers take it, simply because I think the Yanks have a better chance of making it back to The Show if they play Texas, but as I stated above, it's still not a guarantee. And if New York is eliminated, I can only hope that Philadelphia makes short work of whichever AL team they face.
So, the Yanks sweep and move on, the Phils have a chance to follow suit tomorrow, the Rangers can still advance, and either San Fran or Atlanta can get a leg up on the other. Stay tuned, folks.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
What's Up, Doc?
Roy Halladay is the best pitcher in the game. This is a fact. Try to dispute it; you are automatically wrong. You may not have known this before this year; don't worry, most baseball fans didn't. Because he played for the Toronto Blue Jays. The TORONTO Blue Jays. As in Canada. Somewhere American baseball fans don't often pay attention to. But since being traded to the Philadelphia Phillies this offseason, already a powerhouse, he's been very difficult to ignore. Let's check his stats:
According to ESPN, in the 2010 regular season, he was 21-10 with an ERA of 2.44, a WHIP of 1.04, and 219 strikeouts. That's Cy Young-worthy on its own. Did I mention that one of the wins was the 20th perfect game in history? This wasn't a fluke, like Dallas Braden's perfect game and Armando Galarraga's almost-perfect game. Those two pitchers are average, at best. Halladay is a true dominator. If that wasn't enough proof, please reference Game 1 of the NLDS against the Reds tonight. In his first postseason game ever, he threw a complete game. If it weren't for one pesky walk, it would have been his second perfect game this season. Alas, it was only a no-hitter. It was ONLY the second no-hitter in postseason history. It was ONLY the sixth time one pitcher has thrown a perfect game and a no-hitter in their career in baseball history. It was ONLY the first time a pitcher has thrown 2 no-hitters, with 1 being a perfect game, in the same season.
So, the simple question is this: what the hell makes Roy Halladay so incredibly good?! Steroid allegations are out of the question, we would have heard something about it by now if there were a drop of legitimacy to it. Obviously, as with any pitcher, the man throwing the ball is only as good as the team behind him, so the switch from Canada to the good old US of A might have something to do with it. I'm sure that going from the batter-friendly American League to the pitcher-friendly National League might also play a part. However, all these things still don't answer the question. And the truth is, there may not be an answer. Roy Halladay may just be the best pitcher around, and we just have to accept that. He works out hard, he's always improving himself, he looks for new ways to make his pitches faster and harder to hit. Maybe we're no longer used to seeing a pitcher with such raw talent actually use it to his full ability. We fawn over young upstarts like Stephen Strasburg, surprisingly good players like Ubaldo Jimenez, or reliable veterans like CC Sabathia, and yet we've let this guy fly mostly under the radar for the majority of his career. Even though reports paint a picture that Halladay keeps to himself off the field, he refuses to be ignored anymore on the mound. So, with a Cy Young already and one almost guaranteed on the way, a postseason no-hitter, and a perfect game to his credit, all Roy Halladay's legacy, and his insurance into being a first-balloter into the Hall of Fame, is a World Series ring. And this season, it may be Doc's time to give everyone a dose of his medicine.
Jeez, in all this excitement over Halladay's no-no, I almost forgot that today was the first day of the playoffs. Here are the scores:
Reds 0, Phillies 4. Phillies lead series 1-0.
Rangers 5, Rays 1. Rangers lead series 1-0.
Yankees 6, Twins 4. Yankees lead series 1-0.
Braves at Giants, Game 1 tomorrow.
It's too early to tell in any of these matchups, but the Rangers/Rays was already one of those series that could go either way, so we'll see. It's clear that the Phillies will advance, and we know the Yanks will too, but the Twins sure aren't going to let them go without a fight. As far as Braves/Giants, there's no way to tell until at least game 1 has played. More to come tomorrow.
According to ESPN, in the 2010 regular season, he was 21-10 with an ERA of 2.44, a WHIP of 1.04, and 219 strikeouts. That's Cy Young-worthy on its own. Did I mention that one of the wins was the 20th perfect game in history? This wasn't a fluke, like Dallas Braden's perfect game and Armando Galarraga's almost-perfect game. Those two pitchers are average, at best. Halladay is a true dominator. If that wasn't enough proof, please reference Game 1 of the NLDS against the Reds tonight. In his first postseason game ever, he threw a complete game. If it weren't for one pesky walk, it would have been his second perfect game this season. Alas, it was only a no-hitter. It was ONLY the second no-hitter in postseason history. It was ONLY the sixth time one pitcher has thrown a perfect game and a no-hitter in their career in baseball history. It was ONLY the first time a pitcher has thrown 2 no-hitters, with 1 being a perfect game, in the same season.
So, the simple question is this: what the hell makes Roy Halladay so incredibly good?! Steroid allegations are out of the question, we would have heard something about it by now if there were a drop of legitimacy to it. Obviously, as with any pitcher, the man throwing the ball is only as good as the team behind him, so the switch from Canada to the good old US of A might have something to do with it. I'm sure that going from the batter-friendly American League to the pitcher-friendly National League might also play a part. However, all these things still don't answer the question. And the truth is, there may not be an answer. Roy Halladay may just be the best pitcher around, and we just have to accept that. He works out hard, he's always improving himself, he looks for new ways to make his pitches faster and harder to hit. Maybe we're no longer used to seeing a pitcher with such raw talent actually use it to his full ability. We fawn over young upstarts like Stephen Strasburg, surprisingly good players like Ubaldo Jimenez, or reliable veterans like CC Sabathia, and yet we've let this guy fly mostly under the radar for the majority of his career. Even though reports paint a picture that Halladay keeps to himself off the field, he refuses to be ignored anymore on the mound. So, with a Cy Young already and one almost guaranteed on the way, a postseason no-hitter, and a perfect game to his credit, all Roy Halladay's legacy, and his insurance into being a first-balloter into the Hall of Fame, is a World Series ring. And this season, it may be Doc's time to give everyone a dose of his medicine.
Jeez, in all this excitement over Halladay's no-no, I almost forgot that today was the first day of the playoffs. Here are the scores:
Reds 0, Phillies 4. Phillies lead series 1-0.
Rangers 5, Rays 1. Rangers lead series 1-0.
Yankees 6, Twins 4. Yankees lead series 1-0.
Braves at Giants, Game 1 tomorrow.
It's too early to tell in any of these matchups, but the Rangers/Rays was already one of those series that could go either way, so we'll see. It's clear that the Phillies will advance, and we know the Yanks will too, but the Twins sure aren't going to let them go without a fight. As far as Braves/Giants, there's no way to tell until at least game 1 has played. More to come tomorrow.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
What To Expect When You're Expecting (To Win): Playoff Edition.
Well, folks, we've finally arrived. Welcome to the 2010 MLB playoffs. Can you smell it in the air? That's the smell of pure emotion. 8 teams enter, all fighting for the single greatest payoff a baseball team can get any given year, but only 1 of those teams leaves victorious. Who will it be this season?
First, here are the 8 teams:
AL East - Tampa Bay Rays.
AL Central - Minnesota Twins.
AL West - Texas Rangers.
AL Wild Card - New York Yankees.
NL East - Philadelphia Phillies.
NL Central - Cincinnati Reds.
NL West - San Francisco Giants.
NL Wild Card - Atlanta Braves.
ALDS - Yankees vs. Twins, Rangers vs. Rays.
NLDS - Reds vs. Phillies, Braves vs. Giants.
ALCS - Yankees/Twins vs. Rangers/Rays.
NLCS - Reds/Phillies vs. Braves/Giants.
World Series - AL team vs. NL team (shocking, right?).
After 6 months of speculations, predictions, skepticism, hopefulness, laughter, tears, and the like, we're nearing the beginning of the end. It's certainly been a thrilling season: 5 no-hitters, two of which were perfect games by Dallas Braden and Roy Halladay, Alex Rodriguez joined the 600-homer club, living legend Ken Griffey, Jr. called it a career, Yankees commander George Steinbrenner passed away, Lou Piniella tearfully retired early, Bobby Cox announced his retirement effective whenever his season ends, David Ortiz won the Home Run Derby, there was an exciting race in both leagues for a Triple Crown, multiple impressive rookies made their mark, and some veterans showed there's still some steam left in the tank. But it's all come down to this. This is what we live for. This is what we want to see. This is where it all starts, and where it all ends. This is what players live and die for. This is the postseason.
First off, the Yankees and the Twins. This is an interesting matchup, probably moreso than it was last year. There's a few crucial differences on both sides this time around. For the Yankees, it's their starting rotation. Aside from CC Sabathia, no other starting pitcher is worth much. For the Twins, though, it's been DH Jim Thome. At 40, he's the baseball equivalent of Brett Favre: 20 seasons playing, and yet still performing at a level comparable to his much younger teammates, if not better. With Thome, Joe Mauer, and hopefully a healthy Justin Morneau in the lineup against New York pitching that a child could hit, things might turn out differently than in '09. However, you can never underestimate the Yankee spirit and magic, especially in October.
The Rays and the Rangers is a hard one to pick. Both teams have good, solid players, both defensively and offensively. Both have dominant pitchers: David Price and Matt Garza for Tampa Bay, Cliff Lee and C.J. Wilson for Texas. Both have only one playoff appearance in the past 12 years. The only difference is that the Rays have a slightly younger defense, but there has been little indication that the older Rangers players can't keep up. I'd say this one may be too close to call. After game 1, I'd probably have a better idea of who could move on, but as of now, I think this one is pretty up in the air.
I think the Phillies are the worst team the Reds could have possibly faced in the very first round of the playoffs. There's no doubt that Cincy is on fire, but Philly is white-hot. You've got to like the chances of a team that's got Joey Votto, who could possibly be this year's NL MVP, and Jay Bruce, a third-year player who's been going the yard very often (when and if he plays), and their pitching is pretty solid as well. But Philadelphia's got Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels, and...as much as I hate to say it, Roy Oswalt. End of discussion.
As far as the Braves and the Giants go, this will definitely be a battle of the bats instead of coming down to the pitching. With Tim Hudson, Tommy Hanson, and Derek Lowe on Atlanta's side, and Tim Lincecum, Barry Zito, and Matt Cain on San Francisco's end, you can see that defensively, they're pretty evenly matched. Plus, rookies Jason Heyward and Buster Posey, the two frontrunners for this season's Rookie of the Year, should be an interesting matchup to see.
So, there you have it. This year's initial matchups, all rolled into one nice little package. All signs point to this postseason being as nuanced, complex and interesting as the entire regular season was. Keep checking back for updates on what's going on throughout October.
First, here are the 8 teams:
AL East - Tampa Bay Rays.
AL Central - Minnesota Twins.
AL West - Texas Rangers.
AL Wild Card - New York Yankees.
NL East - Philadelphia Phillies.
NL Central - Cincinnati Reds.
NL West - San Francisco Giants.
NL Wild Card - Atlanta Braves.
ALDS - Yankees vs. Twins, Rangers vs. Rays.
NLDS - Reds vs. Phillies, Braves vs. Giants.
ALCS - Yankees/Twins vs. Rangers/Rays.
NLCS - Reds/Phillies vs. Braves/Giants.
World Series - AL team vs. NL team (shocking, right?).
After 6 months of speculations, predictions, skepticism, hopefulness, laughter, tears, and the like, we're nearing the beginning of the end. It's certainly been a thrilling season: 5 no-hitters, two of which were perfect games by Dallas Braden and Roy Halladay, Alex Rodriguez joined the 600-homer club, living legend Ken Griffey, Jr. called it a career, Yankees commander George Steinbrenner passed away, Lou Piniella tearfully retired early, Bobby Cox announced his retirement effective whenever his season ends, David Ortiz won the Home Run Derby, there was an exciting race in both leagues for a Triple Crown, multiple impressive rookies made their mark, and some veterans showed there's still some steam left in the tank. But it's all come down to this. This is what we live for. This is what we want to see. This is where it all starts, and where it all ends. This is what players live and die for. This is the postseason.
First off, the Yankees and the Twins. This is an interesting matchup, probably moreso than it was last year. There's a few crucial differences on both sides this time around. For the Yankees, it's their starting rotation. Aside from CC Sabathia, no other starting pitcher is worth much. For the Twins, though, it's been DH Jim Thome. At 40, he's the baseball equivalent of Brett Favre: 20 seasons playing, and yet still performing at a level comparable to his much younger teammates, if not better. With Thome, Joe Mauer, and hopefully a healthy Justin Morneau in the lineup against New York pitching that a child could hit, things might turn out differently than in '09. However, you can never underestimate the Yankee spirit and magic, especially in October.
The Rays and the Rangers is a hard one to pick. Both teams have good, solid players, both defensively and offensively. Both have dominant pitchers: David Price and Matt Garza for Tampa Bay, Cliff Lee and C.J. Wilson for Texas. Both have only one playoff appearance in the past 12 years. The only difference is that the Rays have a slightly younger defense, but there has been little indication that the older Rangers players can't keep up. I'd say this one may be too close to call. After game 1, I'd probably have a better idea of who could move on, but as of now, I think this one is pretty up in the air.
I think the Phillies are the worst team the Reds could have possibly faced in the very first round of the playoffs. There's no doubt that Cincy is on fire, but Philly is white-hot. You've got to like the chances of a team that's got Joey Votto, who could possibly be this year's NL MVP, and Jay Bruce, a third-year player who's been going the yard very often (when and if he plays), and their pitching is pretty solid as well. But Philadelphia's got Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels, and...as much as I hate to say it, Roy Oswalt. End of discussion.
As far as the Braves and the Giants go, this will definitely be a battle of the bats instead of coming down to the pitching. With Tim Hudson, Tommy Hanson, and Derek Lowe on Atlanta's side, and Tim Lincecum, Barry Zito, and Matt Cain on San Francisco's end, you can see that defensively, they're pretty evenly matched. Plus, rookies Jason Heyward and Buster Posey, the two frontrunners for this season's Rookie of the Year, should be an interesting matchup to see.
So, there you have it. This year's initial matchups, all rolled into one nice little package. All signs point to this postseason being as nuanced, complex and interesting as the entire regular season was. Keep checking back for updates on what's going on throughout October.
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