Results tagged ‘ Twins ’
My thoughts of the Cardinals-Dodgers series and others…
The Cardinals-Dodgers Series:
That has to be one of the most fun and a bit weird series I’ve seen. I have more Dodgers fans as friends than Cardinals fans so I was pulling for the Dodgers to win this series. Of course the way it was done, I didn’t expect to see the Cardinals struggle as they did in this series.
The Dodgers played baseball properly, while the Cardinals played like amateurs. I’m trying not to be harsh here, but why on an easy fly ball would you miss catching it? Before game 3, this series could’ve been tied at one game apiece. A base running error by Yadier Molina cost them too.
The Cardinals can bleed Dodger Blue now because:
1. The Cardinals only scored six runs this entire series, while the Dodgers drove in 13 of them.
2. The Dodgers were error free, while the Cardinals made two (one by Holliday and the other by Piniero)
3. Adam Wainwright was on track to win game 2, but Ryan Franklin couldn’t seal the deal. Vincente Padilla on the other hand was on track to win the series clinching game 3, and his bullpen didn’t let him down, forget the Albert Pujols RBI single.
4. Busch Stadium: The pressure was actually on the Dodgers, despite the Cardinals trailing 2-0 because the Dodgers don’t play well at this ballpark, the trend didn’t follow.
5. Both teams combined to leave 30 base runners, the Cardinals 14 and the Dodgers 16 in game 1, but the Dodgers prevailed.
6. How do you go 4-28 with RISP? (Runners in scoring position, meaning a runner at second and or third bases) The Cardinals did just that. Dodgers score their runs mostly with two outs. In fact all of their runs at game 3 came with two outs.
6. Chris Carpenter would have started game four, had this series been extended and Adam Wainwright for Game five for the Cardinals.
7. Adam Wainwright claims that the Dodgers’ fans are to blame for Matt Holliday losing the fly ball from James Loney. It was not the game ending play, though; Ryan Franklin loses because he gave up the hit to Mark Loretta.
8. Matt Holliday is the hero and the “culprit” at Game 2 when he hit a solo home run off Clayton Kershaw, but later dropped the fly ball. I put “culprit” in quotes because I don’t think it’s his fault for the Cardinals losing game 2.
The Dodgers on the other hand can congratulate themselves, because:
1. They swept the Cardinals, in almost the same fashion as last seasons NLDS when sweeping the Chicago Cubs.
2. The good bullpen never lets a good pitching effort go to waste.
3. TBS stands for “Torre Brings Success”
4. Busch Stadium is no longer the “house of horrors” for the Dodgers, at least for this series.
5. Hit it when it counts, the Dodgers have done plenty of it.
My MVP of this series is Andre Either, the right fielder of the Dodgers. He went 6-12 (a .500 batting average) with 2 home runs, 2 doubles, and one triple. He also scored five runs.
Too bad the snow had to postpone the Phillies-Rockies series. Maybe later tonight, it will be fun to watch.
The Metrodome should not hold any more baseball games for the Twins. That’s just my opinion. Carl Pavano, the pitcher every Yankees fan really dislikes right now, is pitching vs Andy Pettitte. I wonder who’ll win.
Fenway Park will also be packed for supporters begging for the Red Sox to extend the ALDS against the Anaheim Angels, or as they’re offically known as the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
Another tripleheader on TBS is underway, two games are elimination games.
League Division Series
In case you haven’t paid attention to who’s broadcasting the LDS games on TBS, I’ll give the names.
1. In the Cardinals-Dodgers NLDS, Dick Stockton does the play by play and Bob Brenly is the color commentator.
2. In the Rockies-Phillies NLDS series, Brian Anderson does the play by play and Joe Simpson is the color commentator.
3. The Twins-Yankees ALDS series has Chip Caray and Ron Darling as the announcers.
4. The Red Sox-Angels ALDS series has Don Orsillo and Buck Martinez as the announcers.
The Colorado Rockes are the only team to have won on the road so far, (game 2 against the Phillies)
Mark Teixiera’s game winning home run for the Yankees, and Mark Loretta’s walk off hits are so far my top plays for League Divison series play.
The Red Sox, Twins, and Cardinals are at home, but they must win every game from this point on or they’re out, (each team is trailing the series 2-0)
This World Series tournament is averaging over 6 million viewers per day, which is the highest TV ratings for TBS. This is the network’s third season covering the MLB games.
FOX will have the ALCS coverage and the coveted World Series, while TBS will resume covering the NLCS.
I’m not making any predictions. However I can’t choose between rooting for the Dodgers and Yankees, because they’re too fun to watch right now. I’d be happy, but torn if they had to face each other in the World Series because while I like the Yankees to get Joe Giradi’s jersey number to have a meaning, the Dodgers are attempting to take their first title since 1988, a 21 year drought.
Tonight is the Dodgers vs Cardinals Game 3, where the Cardinals have been superb against the visiting Dodgers at Busch Stadium. The Dodgers must bring their best game at St Louis. The Cardinals can not make any more mistakes, like in Game 2, beause they’ll have an aburpt end to their postseason run.
I think the Dodgers are on the driver’s seat in this series.
Snow, Snow, go away, let the Rockies host the Phillies. It’s going to be really cold in Denver. I just hope this snow doesn’t stick to the field. That would be bad.
With the drama and excitement, I hope the TV ratings go higher than 6 million views a day. That’s a lot of fans viewing on TV as well as the fans in the stands watching their teams in person.
If the Dodgers, Yankees, and Angels blow their 2-0 series leads to lose their series, those will be big upsets.
Oh well.
Yankees do the waiting game…
What are the Yankee fans to do now? The Yankees don’t know who’s coming to Yankee Stadium for games 1 and 2 of the American League Division Series.
The way one game tiebreakers have gone, the winner has gone on to win the division series that they advanced to. Most recently in 2008, the White Sox won their tiebreaker game over the Twins. They lost to the Rays. One game tiebreaker winners are 4-4 in winning a League Division Series. according to this trend the Yankees are supposed to lose to the tiebreaker winner in their division series.
The Tigers gave the Yankees trouble in the 2006 ALDS. beating them three games to one. The Twins however, lost their last two ALDS division series to the Yankees in 2003 and 2004. with the Yankees winning each series 3-1.
Whoever wins this tiebreaker game tomorrow night will have some momentum going against the Yankees. They’ll need it. As for the Yankees, they just need to prepare for the series. They played great against these two teams, however in October, things change.
The Yankees will find out their opponent after tomorrow night’s game.
How the Yankees can win the ALDS:
1. Hit Hit and Hit some more. The Yankees are amongst the top teams in the AL in home runs, thanks to their new ball park. They should bunch up some hits early and often.
2. Consistent pitching is important. Some Yankee pitchers can be erratic at times. Now is the time to work on those issues, the offense can’t carry you every game.
3. Yankees have the first two games at their ballpark, they should use it to their advantage.
The postseason begins this Wednesday.
The other series going on:
American League:
Boston Red Sox at Los Angeles Angels:
Angels need to change their luck and turn the tables on the Red Sox, if not it’s another walk in for the Red Sox in the ALCS.
National League:
Colorado Rockies vs Philadelphia Phillies:
The last two NL Pennant winners are facing off. The Rockies are looking strong, the Phillies need to go all out if they’re going to defend their title.
St Louis Cardinals vs Los Angeles Dodgers:
Both teams have some big hitters and some good pitching. My advice to the pitchers is to avoid making mistake pitches like hanging curveballs. They’ll leave the ballpark in a hurry.
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