Results tagged ‘ Yankees ’
Winter 2010
Hello again, everyone.
Major League Baseball isn’t starting this month or next month. Here’s a list on the things that will keep us busy for the next two months!
1. BCS National Championship between Alabama Crimson Tide and the Texas Longhorns. This game is on ABC this week.
2. The NFL Postseason begins this weekend. My favorite team the NY Giants are out, so I’ll go root for the Jets to win.
3. This year’s NBA All Star Game is in Dallas Texas where the Dallas Mavericks are hosting.
4. The NFL All Star Game, also known as the Pro Bowl, will be in Miami, the first time in two decades. In the previous years they were in Hawaii.
5. The Golden Globes are on in about a week on NBC.
6. The Academy Awards and the Grammy Music Awards are around this time of year,
The Mets have Jason Bay too… I was not going to believe that until I saw this on my e-mail…
Jason Bay leaves the Red Sox while leading them in the home run category. At least the Yankees wouldn’t have to worry too much about anymore.
If anything, the Yankees got a cool outfielder on their own.
That would be Curtis Granderson. Photo taken for NY Daily News.
I think the Yankees and Mets are making some progress this winter with each adding these outfielders.
I was wondering what were the Yankees thinking when they decided to cut Hideki Matsui loose?
He played in two World Series with the Yankees, and leading them to a 2009 win over the Phillies, earning the MVP title. In all honesty I do have to disagree and wished the Yankees would have kept him long term. He had three home runs in this series, one in Philly as a pinch-hitter.
If the Yankees are to repeat, they’ll have to do it without Hideki, who will be missed. He’ll be doing his MVP duties with the Angels instead.
Chris Carlson, AP
This year should be fun!
Happy New Year, everyone!
I do apologize for being gone over two months for those of you who like to follow me. Schoolwork has taken over for the time being. I am back. I hope everyone had a great Holidays! I sure did.
Congrats to the Yankees for winning the World Series. Is Joe Giradi changing his number? I wonder, we’ll have to see later this year.
Hideki Matsui signs with the Angels which means the Yankees will start their season without their World Series Hero.
The caps they wore during their championship win! I got mines for half off during the Holiday Shopping season, I did not get a chance to photograph my own Yankee’s champ cap.
I wish everyone a very happy and prosperous New Year!
Another cap from the World Series postseason
Hello, everyone.
I haven’t been able to post for the last few days. Anyways I just got myself a new cap yesterday. Here it is!
This cap is the most unusual-look to it. It turns out that the Yankee cap for the World Series retains the “inaugural season” logo for Yankee Stadium 2009. The World Series 2009 patch is to the left of the cap.
To date, this is my second baseball cap from the World Series Postseason, the first being the Los Angeles Dodgers Division series crown cap.
This postseason is fun for me, mainly because of the props that come with it too. I don’t think a fan will be able to buy an actual trophy for the World Series. Now that would be something, wouldn’t it.
Anyways, in case you haven’t brought yourselves a World Series On-Field Caps, they’re on sale for the Phillies and Yankees for $35.99. Try getting these as soon as you can, these are flying off the shelves.
Anyways it’s a fun series so far.
The Truth…
I’m going to admit some things.
I’m not a die-hard fan of any MLB team. I don’t think I ever was anyway. The Mets are my primary team to cheer for, however they are not participating in this World Series Torunament. I don’t get angry or upset if the team I’m cheering on loses the game, whether I see it on television, on the internet, listening to the game on the radio, or in the stands. I don’t know how you fans have such emotions after a game is over, me I don’t generally. I did have it as big New York Knicks Basketball fan, but not baseball. I just treat this game “as is”. The Mets had a sub-par season and I’m not disappointed by that. The Mets lost to the Cardinals in the 2006 World Series and I was not saddened by their loss.
I was more of a Yankees Fan when the Yankees were doing great from 1998-2003. My favorite Yankees were Alfonso Soriano and Jose Contreras. Enrique Wilson was also another player I liked a lot. Bernie Willams I like the most. I stopped rooting for the Yankees on a regular day basis, when Alfonso Soriano left the team. When Jose Contreras was traded to the White Sox, I was no longer rooting for the Yankees as much. Contreas to me was the “best potential pitcher” in Yankees Franchise history to me. When the Yankees didn’t sign Bernie Willams, I was feeling a bit down about that too. The Mets had younger players rising up as superstars, like David Wright and Jose Reyes so I thought I’d follow them more. I had satellite television subscription from Dish Network, and it didn’t have the YES network, so I couldn’t follow the Yankees as much, but the Mets games were on a lot so I watch those.
What a fierce pitcher Jose Contreras was.
Alfonso Soriano should’ve stayed as the Yankees Second baseman.
My bets for this World Series were the Yankees meeting the Dodgers, in the final round.
Why do I wish the Yankees win the AL Pennant?
I want Joe Giradi to win a World Series as a manager. I would like Alex Rodriguez to obtain his first championship ring, as well as CC Sabathia, and Mark Teixiera. If I were Donnie Mattingly, (hitting coach for Dodgers and #23 retired by Yankees) I would let Mark Teixiera wear #23 because that’s his favorite number. Don Mattingly was Mark Teixera’s favorite Yankees player. I would like another ticker-tape parade in NYC.
Why did I root for the Dodgers to win the NL Pennant Flag?
The Dodgers orginated from Brooklyn, New York, where I’m living. If the Dodgers were still here in Brooklyn, I’d have a 20-25 minute commute from my home to Ebbets Field to see the Dodgers. Now if I want to see the Dodgers, I’d have to see them as the road team when they are hosted by the Mets (Citi Field) or the Yankees (Yankee Stadium). If I have to go see the Dodgers play at home, I have to take a five hour plane ride, rent a hotel room in Los Angeles and find my way to commute to Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers are my second favorite team in the National League.
The Chicago Cubs are my favorite team from the NL Central. I would like to go visit Chicago, to watch the Cubs play, (and break this 100+ World Series Drought so the Cubs fans can stop whining about it)
The team that’s starting to take my interests away from the Dodgers are the San Diego Padres. A few baseball fan friends of mine say the Padres have a nice looking logo and the only road team not to wear grey jerseys and pants. I try to look for a Padres cap, but I’m having no luck. Modells, and Foot Locker, don’t have it. The regular sports stores near my house of residence don’t have it.
So far the Phillies and Padres caps are next on my wish list in my baseball cap collection. As you have seen, I enjoy collecting baseball caps, not just the Mets and Yankees ones.
So far as of ballparks I’ve been to:
Yankee Stadium (1923)
Yankee Stadium (2009)
Citi Field
Shea Stadium.
Other ballparks I would like to go visit.
Petco Park in San Diego, CA (It’s a classy town)
Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles CA (I get to see the team that orginated at Brooklyn. Almost no chance of a rain delay.)
Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia PA (A three hour bus ride I don’t mind. I get to meet the Phanatic too.)
Fenway Park in Boston MA (I want to sit on the top of the big wall)
Wrigley Field in Chicago IL (Break the drought, Cubbies)
US Cellular Field in Chicago IL (I get to watch fireworks for every White Sox homerun)
Comerica Park in Detroit MI (Nice looking wall of fame over there)
Busch Stadium (2006 version) in St Louis. (I get to look at the skyline and that great arch)
Minute Maid Park in Houston, TX (I’d like to see that train rolling)
Turner Field in Atlanta GA (Tomahawk chop, anyone)
AT&T Park in San Francisco CA (Let the splash begin)
Coors Field in Denver CO (I wish the humidor wasn’t used)
Safeco Field in Seattle WA (I can hear the railroad)
PNC Park in Pittsburgh PA (The best view of any skyline from a baseball venue, what more can you ask for?)
Rangers Ballpark in Arlington TX (How hot does it get over here?)
With the exception of Dodger Stadium, Wrigley Field, and Fenway Park, all these venues I would like to visit were built from the early 1990s and this decade. These ballparks look more modern, more fan friendly, and look great. I hope someday I can visit thse venues, in my road trips to those cities.
As for the American League Championship series, let the best team win. Yankees lead 3 games to 2.
I can’t wait to get my World Series gear, perferably a new baseball cap with a World Series patch on it.
For example, this cap!
Look at that Philadelphia Phillies cap. $35.99 retail price. It has the 2009 World Series logo on it. Cool. I wonder which AL team will have that same patch?
Anyways, thanks for reading.
My thoughts about the League Chocolate Chip Series
I’m poking fun, you know, it’s the League Championship series.
Yankees win 10-1. Joe Giradi is a gamblier. CC Sabathia was super. Too bad he wasn’t that way with the Indians back in 2007 vs the Red Sox.
Here are my high fives for each team remaining.
First off I’d like to say a five things about the Yankees:
1. Alex Rodriguez is clutch in this posteason, so far with five home runs and 11 runs batted in.
2. CC Sabathia has won three games, this postseason, in comparison to just one win with the Indians, back in 2007, (that lone win against the Yankees)
3. The Yankees have hit the most home runs so far in this World Series tournament, and have made the least amount of errors on defense.
4. The starting three is so good, there’s no need for a fourth starter, (Chamberlain, Mitre, Hughes, and Gaudin are good choices; all used in the bullpen)
5. Yankees are searching for their first ticket flag to the World Series (Finals) since 2003. The Marlins won that series 4-2.
Next: The Angels
1. Angels may be down 3-1, but they are not going away. Should they win this series, it’s their first World Series Birth as a division winner, (2002 entry via Wild Card)
2. The Rally Money will continue to jump start rallies in Anaheim, as long as this series keeps going.
3. Vladimir Guererro, Torii Hunter, and Bobby Abreu have had clutch hits, even during their struggles. They need to come through big time.
4. The Angels Defense must be alert and not make any more costly mistakes.
5. Remember Nick? He’s still watching…
To the National League:
Los Angeles Dodgers:
1. Dodgers need more hitting. It seems like Andre Ethier and Matt Kemp are doing most of the work. The offense needs to hit more.
2. The bullpen can’t cough up more runs, it did cost them game 4. It should’ve been a 2-2 tie.
3. Dodgers’ pinch hitters came through in the LDS vs Cardinals, they need the hits from the bench in ths round.
4. The next Dodgers’ starter must go the distance.
5. The Dodgers have the longest drought by any current postseason team, having won their last title in 1988, Their magic must come alive once more.
Philadelphia Phillies:
1. The Philadelphia Phillies are on track on winning their second consecutive World Series titles. Last team to do it were the Yankees from 1998-2000. Last National League team to do that were the Reds.
2. The big bats of Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, and Jimmy Rollins were clutch hits. A few more and they’re going to the final series.
3. While the Phillies aren’t that great at home, they can sure give the fans a reason to cheer some more.
4. Cole Hamels must pitch a solid effort in game 5.
5. If you don’t want to go back west, win at home.
That’s all I can think of for now. What a postseason this is turning out to be!
One more thought:
I have only visited a handful amount of venues
New York:
Yankee Stadium 1923,
Yankee Stadium 2009,
Citi Field,
Shea Stadium,
Madison Square Garden,
Izod Center in the Meadolands
Veterans Stadium in Philadephia.
If I do travel someday around the Americas, does anyone recommend me checking out any new ballparks and venues? I’d like to check them out and fit in with the crowd.
East vs West National Style
Before I go talk about the National League Championship series, or shall I call it the National League Chocolate Chip series, I want to wish a special someone a happy birthday. It’s Tim McCarver’s 68th birthday!
Tim McCarver as a catcher for the St Louis Cardinals
Let’s wish Tim McCarver a happy 68th Birthday.
Joe Buck and Tim McCarver at Shea Stadium.
Keep up the good work guys, you are fun and you make us laugh with your funny analysis about the game.
Now here’s what I meant to chat about.
Phillies vs Dodgers (the memories)
This is another interesting LCS series. Since these two teams met last season in this round, I’ll talk about each team’s last League Championship series they appeared in prior to 2008.
The last time the Phillies entered the NLCS was back in 1993. The Phillies were taking on the Atlanta Braves. The Phillies had home field advantage so games 1,2,6 and 7 were at Veterans Stadium and Games 3,4 and 5 were at Atlanta Fulton County Stadium. Both venues are demolished as of today and marked only by where the home plate and the bases were.
Curt Schilling was pitching in game one, and the Phillies took the opening game when John Kruk scored the game winning run on a Kim Batiste base hit.
Game two would feature the Braves pounding the Phillies, by a score of 14-3. The Braves had four different players hitting a home run, (Damon Berryhill, Jeff Blauser, Fred McGriff, and Terry Pendleton) The Phillies' home runs came from Dykstra and Hollins. Greg Maddux wins the game.
The Braves took game 3, by a score of 9-4. John Kruk hammered the baseball out of the park for the Phillies but Tom Glavine won the game and Terry Mulholland pitched in a losing effort.
Phillies win game 4, by Danny Jackson's pitching efforts and Mitch Williams saving the game. John Smoltz lost. No homers.
Game 5, the Phillies take it. Dalton and Dykstra homered for the Phillies and the Braves Mark Wohlers lost it. Larry Andersen saved the game.
Phillies win the game 6 and the series back in Veterans Stadium. Tommy Greene wins for the Phils and Greg Maddux loses for the Braves. Jeff Blauser homered for the Braves and Dave Hollins homered for the Phillies.
Phillies win the series 4-2.
The Phillies faced the Braves' rotation of Tom Glavine, John Smoltz, Greg Maddux and Steve Avery. Despite pitching in two games and not getting any credits for wins, Curt Schilling was named the series MVP.
What happened after the 1993 NLCS?
The Phillies would be heartbroken in the 1993 World Series via a Joe Carter game winning home run. The Phillies would never appear in another postseason until 2007. The Braves meanwhile missed their chance at another World Series spotlight, after losing to the Minnesota Twins in 1991. In 1995, the Braves would finally win it all, at the expense of the Cleveland Indians.
The Dodgers last opponent other than the Phillies were the New York Mets, back in 1988. Managers Davey Johnson (Mets) and Tommy Lasorda (Dodgers) had high hopes for what would turn out to be a fun series. The Mets were 10 wins and 1 loss against the Dodgers that year. In fact, many thought that this would have been the Mets Championship Dynasty. Despite the better record for the Mets with 100-60 against the Dodgers 94-67, the Dodgers had home field advantage.
Game one featured a pitchers’ duel between Orel Hershiser for the Dodgers and Dwight Gooden for the Mets. The Mets capped off a three run rally in the top of the ninth inning to win the game, Gary Carter driving in two runs.
David Cone pitched in game two against the Dodgers. He told the NY Daily News
“Justice. Yes, there has to be justice in this universe. Ever heard the saying: Better to be lucky than good? Trash it, because Hershiser was lucky, Doc was good. Look what happened to luck in the ninth inning last night.
It’s called justice–catching up to luck and pummeling it into the ground. We knew about Orel‘s 59 zeroes, but none of us thought he was invincible. Shoot, Doc pitched a much better game. Trouble is, Orel was lucky for eight innings.”
Did the Dodgers players read it? Yeah, they did, and they were not happy about it. The Dodgers were probably thinking “Can David Cone shut up and play the game?” Cone gave up five runs in the first two innings to knock off his starting efforts. Keith Hernandez for the Mets hit a two run homer. Tim Belcher was the winning pitcher for the Dodgers.
Mets beat the Dodgers 8-4 in game three, despite the rainy and windy conditions at Shea Stadium. Orel Hershiser pitched against Ron Darling. David Cone saves the game.
Games four and five were won by the Dodgers. Kirk Gibson hit a home run in each game. The Mets scored four runs in each loss, the Dodgers scored five runs in game 4 and seven runs in game 5. Mike Scioscia also homered. Darryl Strawberry homered.
Games six and seven were played at Dodger Stadium.
Mets facing elimination in game six, David Cone redeems himself and shuts down the Dodgers and beats Tim Leary in the pitchers duel.
The winner take all Game seven featured the “iron horse of a pitcher” Orel Hershiser against Ron Darling. Dodgers win 6-0 and the series, when Hershiser struck out Howard Johnson.
What happened after that NLCS of 1988?
The Mets became the laughing stock of the National League, while the Dodgers win the World Series against the Oakland Athletics. Tommy Lasorda said this “Nobody thought we could win the division! Nobody thought we could beat the mighty New York Mets! Nobody thought we could beat the team that won 104 games (Oakland Athletics) but we believed it!”
Let’s go to the present.
Last season’s NLCS was one sided. The Dodgers had leads, and they blew it up, or the Phillies had early hits and never looked back. The Dodgers need to show up in this series and make it go at least six games, or better yet, leave the Phillies hitters dazzled and stunned.
Like I said in earlier posts about the Dodgers doing good at home, they should continue playing the way they are at home. Despite trailing in the game, this doesn’t mean the Dodgers are going away. They’ll make you earn every out. However, the Phillies have proven to be a good road team than a home team.
How can the Phillies win this series?
1. Reach base, and hit the big one: Home runs are great, but the Phillies need some base runners so they’ll do more damage, especially speedy ones. Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino should set the tone, and Jayson Werth, Chase Utley and Ryan Howard should take care of the rest.
2. Kill the rally: The Phillies bullpen should’ve watched how the Cardinals’ bullpen fared against the Dodgers in late innings. They were scary. Memo to Ryan Madson, and Brad Lidge: “Control your pitches and don’t let one slip, or you’ll be shot.”
3. Not the same: The team the Phillies beat up is not the same this year. They are more loaded with better pitching and more hitting.
How can the Dodgers win the series?
1. The big pitch: Clay Kershaw is starting game one, which is good because there are some strong lefties hitting against him. Randy Wolf is staring at the Phillies with a vengence and doesn’t want to be their stepping stone. It’s time to go at them.
2. Big bats, come alive again: Andre Ethier was the best Dodgers hitter in the NLDS vs the Cardinals. Matt Kemp, James Loney, Russell Martin, and the rest can hit too for power and for speed. They didn’t do that much hitting, especially in the clutch, so this is the perfect time to do it.
3. Keep the peace, please: No need to hit anyone with a baseball. Last season’s NLCS was ugly for the near brawls and the hit by pitches. I hope the Dodgers get the memo not to hit anyone.
That’s all I’ll say for now. In case you’re wondering what I had said about the Yankees and Angels, check out the previous post.
Thanks for reading.
Currently the series is tied 1-1. It’s anyone’s series.
Yankees lead the Angels 1-0.
East vs West American style
Starting Friday, Yankees take on the Angels at Yankee Stadium.
This is the only the third postseason series in which the Yankees have faced the Angels this decade alone. It’s the first time they’re fighting to “capture the flag” or shall I say, the American League pennant. Joe Giradi, and the Yankees won their first Divison Series since 2004. The Angels, are here for the first time since 2005.
Let’s go recap the last League championship series apperances for each team. I’ll start with the Yankees.
The magical year, the year, that Yankees had the Red Sox on the ropes. Leading the series 3-0 vs the Red Sox, the Red Sox came back winning four straight games, winning games 4 to 7. For the Yankees, it was their worst posteason series in terms of the fact that they had four chances to put them away, but for everyone else the Red Sox were icons for inspiration, as they finally broke their 86 year drought of not winning a World Series. The Yankees did have an impressive game three, scoring 17-9 over the Red Sox. Game 6 featured Alex Rodriguez slapping the ball off Bronson Arroyo, and Rodriguez called out for interference. The Yankees scored a combined 22 runs over the Red Sox 15 during the first three games, since then from games 4-7, the Red Sox scored 25 runs against Yankees’ 11 runs.Yankees scored 33 runs in the series, and the Red Sox scored 40.
My reasons you can’t blame the Yankees for losing that series.
1. David Ortiz: He hit two walk off hits in games 4 and 5. Game 4 was a walk off two run home run off Paul Quantrill, and game 5 was a walk off hit off Mariano Rivera chasing Johnny Damon home. Ortiz was named MVP of this series
2. Terry Francona: His managerial style prevented pitchers from tiring themselves out. His bullpen has been reliable during their four game winning streak,
3. Here’s Johnny: Back when Johnny Damon was with the Red Sox, he had set the tone early in game 7 with a grand slam against Javier Vazquez. He would also hit a two run home run later in the game.
4. Curt Schilling was pitching with a bloody sock. He pitched like nothing was bothering him and pitched seven strong innings, just giving up a Bernie Williams Home run.
5. If you believe in miracles, you’ll succeed: The Red Sox watched the movie “Miracle” about the 1980 US Hockey team’s win over Russia. Pretty soon, the Red Sox would pull off an ALCS miracle to clinch the AL pennant after trailing three games to zero. They went on to win the World Series, and sent New England into a sports frenzy.
2005.
The Angels took on the White Sox. The Angels win the first game, and the White Sox took the next four games. The controversial strikeout at home plate at the bottom of the 9th inning allowed the White Sox catcher AJ Pierzynski to go to first base. Pablo Ozuna, running for Pierzynski scored on a Joe Crede hit off Kelvim Escobar. The Angels had lost their concentration since.
Reasons why the Angels shouldn’t be blamed for losing the series:
1. Paul Konerko hit two home runs in the series and was named MVP.
2. Games 2 thru 5 featured every White Sox pitcher pitching a complete game. The bullpen was only used in one and one-third innings, in game one.
3. The White Sox struck first early and often with home runs by Paul Konerko and Joe Crede.
4. The White Sox, like the Red Sox lived to their miracle phrase “Win or Die trying” They would break their 88 year drought of not winning the World Series.
Back on topic, both the Angels and Yankees’ losses in their last League Championship series apperances will give them incentive in competing harder to win this pennant.
Here’s are some quick facts about this matchup and series.
1. The Angels have won the first two postseason series against the Yankees (in 2002 and 2005 LDS)
2. The Yankees will have home-field advantage because they have the better record (103-59) while the Angels have a record of 97-65.
3. This is the first series where FOX will televise, Joe Buck and Tim McCarver will have the call.
4. The regular season series is a draw at 5-5.
One last note:
I would like to wish Fox Sports good luck in covering the ALCS. They have quite an adventure ahead of covering this series. Joe Buck and Tim McCarver have some homework to do before they lend their expertise and play-by-play on TV.
How can each team win the game? I would like the Yankees to win. However, I’ll be fair and give the Angels a chance.
1. CC Sabathia and AJ Burnett, the first two Yankee pitchers have allowed home runs this season, so if the Angels want to hit home runs, wait for hanging curveballs, and be patient. Bobby Abreu is good at this.
2. Hitting and running is a good strategy, Chone Figgins is a great base runner, so being aggresive at the basepaths is a good idea, especially at Yankee Stadium. The Angels stole an impressive 148 bases, including 17 swipes against the Yankees.
3. Do it for Nick: Nick Adenhart’s life was cut short tragically by a drunk driver. He would be very proud if the Angels can continue this magic run in October, even at the Yankees’ expense. If his efforts are a sign of inspiration, use it.
How can the Yankees win this series?
1. Hit Hit and Hit some more: Yankee Stadium is good for long balls, see a ball down the middle or a mistake pitch, swing easy and hit hard, and the baseball will be long gone. Mark Teixiera, Alex Rodriguez, and Nick Swisher are good at that.
2. Keep the ball in the yard, pitchers: CC Sabathia and AJ Burnett must pitch carefully, because mistake pitches will cost them a lot, and mistakes by these two were seen in the past. The bullpen must do the same too.
3. Stop the run: The Angels have speed, so doing pickoff throws every now and then is a great idea, the Yankee left-handers should be aware of this, the base runner is right in front of them. A combination of pick-off throws and quality pitchers will knock the Angels off balance.
This series begins this Friday at 8pm on FOX. Channel 5 for those of you living in the New York area, and Channel 11 in the Los Angeles area.
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.
New caps, including Dodgers
In just one week, when the postseason started, I have three new caps.
Toronto Blue Jays authentic cap
New York Mets sponsor cap by Chevrolet.
This Dodger cap came in today, mailed from Cat in Long Beach. Dodger Stadium Store. Thanks for the cap, I owe you big time now.
The Toronto Blue Jays had a cool cap too.
Back in Brooklyn where the Dodgers used to play, most of them are rooting for the New York Yankees. I can hardly find any Dodgers fans in New York. Some even wished that the Dodgers were still in Brooklyn. Me, I’m happy where they are, they’re doing fine. They’re a lot better in LA now. They beat the Cardinals last night too, 5-3 so they currently lead the series 1-0, pending what happens in game 2 tonight.
The quest for the World Series continues for the Dodgers.
One think that will be nice though would be a Dodgers-Yankees World Series. I don’t know who’ll win between the two teams though. I am thinking too far ahead. It’s not the League Championship Series yet.
Oh well, gotta check out the games tonight.
Go Dodgers!!!
mlblogsmatt7
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