Good morning. It has been exactly three weeks since my last blogpost, and, my goodness, a lot has happened in the world of sports since then. Brett Favre ended his record streak of starts at 298, started a week later, got hurt again, and is likely on his way to an actual retirement. The Yankees retained shortstop and team captain Derek Jeter, the Phillies snagged pitching prize Cliff Lee (giving them a mind-boggling rotation of Roy Halladay, Lee, Roy Oswalt, and Cole Hamels), the Red Sox got Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford, the two best position players on the free-agent market, while the Yankees have made no significant acquisitions. The overhyped, over-rated Cincinnati Bengals won a game. Tim Tebow has had some significant touchdown runs as an NFL QB. Cam Newton won the Heisman Trophy. The 'overrated' Miami Heat have turned into one of the NBA's best teams, at one point winning 12 games in a row and, on Christmas Day, embarrassing the Los Angeles Lakers, 86-70, on their home court.
The reason for this post was a match-up for the ages on the last Monday Night Football of the 2010 season. The defending-champion New Orleans Saints (10-4 entering the game, following a Week 15 loss to the Baltimore Ravens) visited their division leaders, the #1 team in the NFC, the Atlanta Falcons (12-2 entering the game), for an encore of a Week 3 matchup in which Atlanta prevailed. Since then, the Falcons, star running back Michael Turner, star wide receiver Roddy White, and, especially, star QB Matt Ryan ("Matty Ice") have been hailed as some of the best offensive players in the game.
Somebody forgot to tell the Saints about the best offensive players in the game thing. All three major Atlanta weapons were smothered by the Who Dat defense, and the Saints, led by Super Bowl 44 MVP QB Drew Brees, overcame a fourth-quarter deficit to win 17-14 in front of some 60,000 Atlanta fans to clinch an automatic playoff berth.
Even after the Falcons' loss (and a number of Saints players rubbed salt in the wound by posing for a picture on the Falcon emblem at midfield after the game), the road to the Super Bowl in Dallas still goes through the Georgia Dome, as the now 12-3 Falcons are still the top team in their conference, but now just a game over the Saints. They also still hold possession of the division title the Saints hope to snag. But, in this game, the Falcons, who have been the best team that doesn't have a guy named Tom Brady all year, and were getting their first major exposure as a serious contender, stumbled.
Turner had 17 carries, and 27 of his 48 total yards came on one run. Otherwise, he was usually grabbed around the legs or ankles within a few steps of the handoff. White, who was usually well-covered by a speedy Saints' secondary best known for taking some of the punch out of Peyton Manning's passing game in the Super Bowl, had 43 yards on three catches, one of them for 18. And Matty Ice, easily one of the NFL's best quarterbacks in a year that has had many a great performance from the guys under center (Brady, Vick, Rodgers, Kitna...) was subpar, completing just 15 of 29 passes for 148 yards and one TD, an average of 5.1 yards per pass.
Another big problem was that, while the Falcons sent a lot of men after the Saints' best player, Brees, and even sacked him once, the star signal-caller ducked, side-stepped and spun away from tacklers multiple times, often completing first down passes shortly afterward. True, Brees proved mortal in a five-minute fourth quarter span in which he threw two interceptions, one of them returned 26 yards for a touchdown by Atlanta defender Chauncey Davis. While the other was a brilliant defensive play by Jonathan Abraham, who rushed Brees, in space, deflected the pass into the air and caught it himself, the first was all Brees' mistake. While being sacked, Brees made a backhanded flip in the general direction of RB Reggie Bush, but Davis stepped in the way, and caught the ball like a gift, with a wide open lane to the end zone in front of him.
The Saints took a 10-0 lead early in the game, with kicker Garrett Hartley nailing a 52-yard field goal in the first quarter, and RB Pierre Thomas scooted into the end zone for a 2-yard score early in the second. The latter was set up by a botched snap from Atlanta center Todd McClure, which became a fumble recovered by New Orleans. Not long after, though, Matty Ice hit White for a 7-yard score that made it 10-7 at halftime. After a scoreless third quarter, Davis made the big pick six that brought it to 14-10, and the Saints did nothing on their next possession, and so this columnist went to bed. I didn't figure that the Falcons, at home, with their fabled ice-in-his-veins quarterback would lose, but it turns out Brees had some stone-hardness about him, too. Brees led the Saints 90 yards for the go-ahead touchdown (a 6-yard pass to Jimmy Graham with 3:24 left), and the defense held off Atlanta for the win.
"It feels good," Brees said afterward. "You just want to punch your ticket to the big show, and we've done that."
He also commented on how Atlanta's only hurdle left for clinching the #1 seed is beating two-win Carolina next week.
Ryan, though, didn't mention that upcoming predicted-win in his post-game comments. "We don't want to feel this way the rest of the season. We're going to work hard to make sure we don't."
"In the end," Brees said, "we found a way to win."
The Saints play the 9-6 Tampa Bay Buccaneers next week for their regular season finale.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Heisman Hopefuls, December 7, 2010
One big event happening this coming weekend will be the announcement of the 2010 Heisman Trophy winner. The Heisman Trophy is awarded annually to the best player in college football, who is elected by a committee of voters. Last year, Alabama running back Mark Ingram beat out fellow RB Toby Gerhart, QBs Tim Tebow and Colt McCoy, and DT Ndamukong Suh. All four of the runners-up are now in the NFL.
Well, the first Heisman Trophy was given out in 1935, and they've been given out every year since (including 2005, when Reggie Bush won, but he has since given it back since he was paid and offered other benefits, to attend USC). Some of the winners have gone on to illustrious careers in pro football: Roger Staubach (1963), O.J. Simpson (yes, THAT O.J., 1969), Tony Dorsett (1976), Herschel Walker (1982), Bo Jackson (1985), Barry Sanders (1988), Ricky Williams (1998). Others, like 2008 winner Sam Bradford (who now starts as QB for the St. Louis Rams), are currently tearing the NFL apart. A few of the winners of recent years have proven to be professional busts (like 2004 winner Matt Leinart), and some others ('02's Carson Palmer, '06's Troy Smith, '07's Tim Tebow) are still trying to figure things out.
Well, this year's candidates are Auburn QB Cam Newton (still in the hunt despite all the controversy over whether or not he received benefits to attend Auburn), Oregon RB LaMichael James (who will face off against Newton in the BCS National Championship Game in January), Stanford QB Andrew Luck, and Boise State QB Kellen Moore.
Newton, who led Auburn to a 59-17 punishing of South Carolina in the SEC Championship Game, has passed for 2,589 yards and 28 touchdowns, and rushed for 1,409 yards and 20 TDs. He has thrown just 6 interceptions.
James has rushed for 1,682 yards on 281 carries, and scored 21 touchdowns.
Luck has passed for 3,051 yards and 28 touchdowns, and has rushed for 438 yards, while throwing just 7 interceptions.
Moore has passed for 3,506 yards and 33 touchdowns, throwing just 5 interceptions.
This award has, especially of late, been primarily given to quarterbacks, and, of them, Newton has been the biggest game-changer and make-maker for his team, so, unless all the bad press really haunts voters, he should be the clear winner. True, he is a more run-oriented quarterback than Luck or Moore, but his eye-popping stats give him the edge. Moore, who is not a runner, has eye-popping stats for a passer as well, but the strength-of-schedule argument will hurt his chances just as it hurt his team's chances to make a major Bowl game before they lost their undefeated season at Nevada last week.
The announcement is going to be made Saturday at 8 p.m.
Well, the first Heisman Trophy was given out in 1935, and they've been given out every year since (including 2005, when Reggie Bush won, but he has since given it back since he was paid and offered other benefits, to attend USC). Some of the winners have gone on to illustrious careers in pro football: Roger Staubach (1963), O.J. Simpson (yes, THAT O.J., 1969), Tony Dorsett (1976), Herschel Walker (1982), Bo Jackson (1985), Barry Sanders (1988), Ricky Williams (1998). Others, like 2008 winner Sam Bradford (who now starts as QB for the St. Louis Rams), are currently tearing the NFL apart. A few of the winners of recent years have proven to be professional busts (like 2004 winner Matt Leinart), and some others ('02's Carson Palmer, '06's Troy Smith, '07's Tim Tebow) are still trying to figure things out.
Well, this year's candidates are Auburn QB Cam Newton (still in the hunt despite all the controversy over whether or not he received benefits to attend Auburn), Oregon RB LaMichael James (who will face off against Newton in the BCS National Championship Game in January), Stanford QB Andrew Luck, and Boise State QB Kellen Moore.
Newton, who led Auburn to a 59-17 punishing of South Carolina in the SEC Championship Game, has passed for 2,589 yards and 28 touchdowns, and rushed for 1,409 yards and 20 TDs. He has thrown just 6 interceptions.
James has rushed for 1,682 yards on 281 carries, and scored 21 touchdowns.
Luck has passed for 3,051 yards and 28 touchdowns, and has rushed for 438 yards, while throwing just 7 interceptions.
Moore has passed for 3,506 yards and 33 touchdowns, throwing just 5 interceptions.
This award has, especially of late, been primarily given to quarterbacks, and, of them, Newton has been the biggest game-changer and make-maker for his team, so, unless all the bad press really haunts voters, he should be the clear winner. True, he is a more run-oriented quarterback than Luck or Moore, but his eye-popping stats give him the edge. Moore, who is not a runner, has eye-popping stats for a passer as well, but the strength-of-schedule argument will hurt his chances just as it hurt his team's chances to make a major Bowl game before they lost their undefeated season at Nevada last week.
The announcement is going to be made Saturday at 8 p.m.
What are Tom Brady and Peyton Manning Werth? December 7, 2010
Well, it was a head-spinning week (and weekend) in sports. 'The Boss' didn't get elected to the Hall of Fame on his first try, Oregon and Auburn each won to ensure a spot in the BCS National Championship Game in Pasadena (their other undefeated friend, TCU, gets high-powered Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl), Duke stayed atop the basketball world, Tiger Woods finished 2010 without a victory, and Ben Roethlisberger had his nose bent sideways on national TV.
Oh yeah, and Derek Jeter is still a Yankee. He got $51 million for four years, with an option for a fourth year (which he will probably take).
Well, after twelve weeks of professional football, the two teams with the best record (10-2) are the Atlanta Falcons and the New England Patriots. Raise your hand if you had those two picked as preseason bets as number ones this far into the season.
The Pittsburgh Steelers stole a victory from the Baltimore Ravens when All-Pro safety Troy Polamalu sacked Joe Flacco and forced, and recovered, a fumble, leading to a game-winning score. Flacco threw one at the feet of a receiver on a 4th & 2 with 33 seconds left to end the game later. As mentioned, Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger, who came into the game nursing a bad right foot that limited the famously-mobile quarterback's mobility, took a hand to the face from Ravens lineman Haloti Ngata on one of the game's first plays, ending up with his nose squashed and leaking blood. But Big Ben recovered, and led the team to the key victory, setting them up with a 9-3 record, while the Ravens sank to 8-4.
Anyway, about the title of this post. For YEARS, the debate has been raging: Who's the better quarterback, Tom Brady or Peyton Manning? Manning is a four-time NFL MVP. Brady a one-time. Manning has thrown for 53,837 yards and 390 touchdowns in his career; Brady, 33,873 and 252. Manning held the single-season record for touchdowns with 49, until Brady broke it, with 50, three years later. Brady has won three Super Bowls and lost one; Manning has won one and lost one. 4
Bottom line, the debate has always been: Manning's stats versus Brady's titles.
Well, suddenly, Manning's stats are on the downhill. Against the 3-7 Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, Manning had his second-consecutive game with four interceptions, third-straight with three-plus, and had two of them returned for touchdowns, just like the week before. The result was a 38-35 loss to the 'Boys in overtime, and Manning is suddenly a) nowhere on the 2010 MVP radar, and b) being seriously questioned and agonized over for the first time in his career. The Colts are now 6-6 (the 'Boys, 4-7).
Meanwhile, Brady played in the much-hyped 'Game of the Year', a Monday Night Football contest between his 9-2 Patriots and the 9-2 New York Jets. Remember, back in week 3, the Patriots played so poorly in the second half of a game they once led, and went on to lose, against the Jets, that Brady declared "we just sucked" afterwards. Well, the MNF contest was no contest after all. Brady threw for four touchdowns and 326 yards, the Pats led 17-0 after the first quarter, and, ultimately, the Pats blew away the Jets for bragging rights to the #1 seed in the AFC with a 45-3 mauling. His counterpart, Jets QB Mark Sanchez, threw 3 interceptions in arguably his worst effort of his sophomore season. Loudmouthed Jets coach Rex Ryan declared after the game that his team wasn't up to the task. HIS counterpart, New England coach Bill Belichick, declared that it was the best his Patriots had played all year.
What's the shape of the Manning/Brady debate now?
Okay, so one bad stretch shouldn't break any great athlete's reputation. I mean, Derek Jeter hit .270 last year (oh my gosh, he did? Why didn't somebody say something!?), but, once he's retired, and in the Hall of Fame with a .300-plus lifetime average, and well over 3,000 career hits, no one's going to care about the 'eyesore' '10 season. Manning could throw four interceptions again this week (it would have to be Thursday night against the lowly Tennessee Titans) and then retire and he would still be a near-unanimous Hall-of-Famer. Again, he's a Super Bowl-winning, record-setting, four-time MVP-winning quarterback, one of the most dependable winners of all time.
Except now, he's not winning, right?
Yeah, it's unfair of me to center my review of the NFL week just in terms of Brady and Manning, but both are the talk of the sports world right now. Brady has won 26 straight regular-season home games and is the MVP favorite (sorry, Mike Vick), and his team is now the indisupted #1 team in the conference, and Manning's Colts are slipping, and doing so because of the poor play of their best player (#18 himself).
>>>Oh yeah, the Washington Capitals have lost three games in a row after being embarrassed last night in a loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs, who recovered from a 4-1 deficit in the third period. Tough times for Ovechkin and company. Ouch.
>>>Oh wow, I was going to talk about the last week in sports without even mentioning the 'Homecoming' of LeBron James. He humiliated and infuriated Cleveland and all its people last July when he declared that he was taking his talents to South Beach. Well, the talents hadn't really shown up in South Beach until his game Friday night against the Cleveland Cavaliers, his old team. There, James showed some of the form that made him a two-time MVP there, blazing past all the boos and chants and shunnings with a season-high 38 points. He played so well, and helped his new team, the Miami Heat, so much, that he sat out the entire fourth quarter.
The San Diego Padres' slugging first baseman, Adrian Gonzalez (their only major offensive weapon of last season, when they nearly made the playoffs with a pitching-rich team) signed an eight-year deal with the Boston Red Sox, which means the Sox gain another big left-handed bat (to join David "Big Papi" Ortiz) and move Kevin Youkilis to third. Gonzalez touched the hearts of Bostonians everywhere when he mentioned his hero, Ted Williams (a fellow San Diego native and former Boston Red Sox player) in his press conference.
And, just days after their premiere slugger of the past four years, outfielder Adam Dunn, signed with the Chicago White Sox, the Washington Nationals signed Philadelphia Phillies' outfielder Jayson Werth to a seven-year, $126 million contract, shocking the baseball world. Werth, 32, has a history of injuries, and will be joining a fairly-weak ballclub that finished last in the NL East last year (Werth's Phillies finished first, obviously), but he is one of the better all-around outfielders in the NL if he continues to play like he has the last few years. He's a 25-30-home run guy with good speed and a good outfield defender. The Nationals needed a boost after their fan base reacted angrily to the loss of favorite Dunn, and anticipating a 2011 without Tommy John surgery recoveree Stephen Strasburg.
Now, the two biggest cards on the free-agent table are pitcher Cliff Lee (lately of the World Series-losing Texas Rangers) and All-Star outfielder Carl Crawford (who has played his entire career to date with the Tampa Bay Rays). Lee is already in talks with the Rangers and the New York Yankees, and, rumor has it, the Nationals have joined the fray. Lee has pitched with four different teams over the last two years (Indians, Phillies, Mariners, Rangers) and has pitched in the World Series in both of them. Crawford, the 2009 All-Star Game MVP, is a premiere stolen-base threat with excellent defensive skills and 15-20 home run power.
>>>Finally, I have to mention Mark Reynolds, the former Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman who just signed with my family's favorite team, the Baltimore Orioles. Reynolds hit 44 home runs in 2009, but his a strikeout machine, having whiffed 200-plus times each of the past three years. While the Orioles would love a 30-35, let alone 40, home run bat, the last thing they need is a free-swinging, can't-do-a-thing-in-the-clutch-type hitter. Nor do they need a poor defender. I'm hoping Reynolds' best friend for the next four months is the O's' hitting coach.
Oh yeah, and Derek Jeter is still a Yankee. He got $51 million for four years, with an option for a fourth year (which he will probably take).
Well, after twelve weeks of professional football, the two teams with the best record (10-2) are the Atlanta Falcons and the New England Patriots. Raise your hand if you had those two picked as preseason bets as number ones this far into the season.
The Pittsburgh Steelers stole a victory from the Baltimore Ravens when All-Pro safety Troy Polamalu sacked Joe Flacco and forced, and recovered, a fumble, leading to a game-winning score. Flacco threw one at the feet of a receiver on a 4th & 2 with 33 seconds left to end the game later. As mentioned, Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger, who came into the game nursing a bad right foot that limited the famously-mobile quarterback's mobility, took a hand to the face from Ravens lineman Haloti Ngata on one of the game's first plays, ending up with his nose squashed and leaking blood. But Big Ben recovered, and led the team to the key victory, setting them up with a 9-3 record, while the Ravens sank to 8-4.
Anyway, about the title of this post. For YEARS, the debate has been raging: Who's the better quarterback, Tom Brady or Peyton Manning? Manning is a four-time NFL MVP. Brady a one-time. Manning has thrown for 53,837 yards and 390 touchdowns in his career; Brady, 33,873 and 252. Manning held the single-season record for touchdowns with 49, until Brady broke it, with 50, three years later. Brady has won three Super Bowls and lost one; Manning has won one and lost one. 4
Bottom line, the debate has always been: Manning's stats versus Brady's titles.
Well, suddenly, Manning's stats are on the downhill. Against the 3-7 Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, Manning had his second-consecutive game with four interceptions, third-straight with three-plus, and had two of them returned for touchdowns, just like the week before. The result was a 38-35 loss to the 'Boys in overtime, and Manning is suddenly a) nowhere on the 2010 MVP radar, and b) being seriously questioned and agonized over for the first time in his career. The Colts are now 6-6 (the 'Boys, 4-7).
Meanwhile, Brady played in the much-hyped 'Game of the Year', a Monday Night Football contest between his 9-2 Patriots and the 9-2 New York Jets. Remember, back in week 3, the Patriots played so poorly in the second half of a game they once led, and went on to lose, against the Jets, that Brady declared "we just sucked" afterwards. Well, the MNF contest was no contest after all. Brady threw for four touchdowns and 326 yards, the Pats led 17-0 after the first quarter, and, ultimately, the Pats blew away the Jets for bragging rights to the #1 seed in the AFC with a 45-3 mauling. His counterpart, Jets QB Mark Sanchez, threw 3 interceptions in arguably his worst effort of his sophomore season. Loudmouthed Jets coach Rex Ryan declared after the game that his team wasn't up to the task. HIS counterpart, New England coach Bill Belichick, declared that it was the best his Patriots had played all year.
What's the shape of the Manning/Brady debate now?
Okay, so one bad stretch shouldn't break any great athlete's reputation. I mean, Derek Jeter hit .270 last year (oh my gosh, he did? Why didn't somebody say something!?), but, once he's retired, and in the Hall of Fame with a .300-plus lifetime average, and well over 3,000 career hits, no one's going to care about the 'eyesore' '10 season. Manning could throw four interceptions again this week (it would have to be Thursday night against the lowly Tennessee Titans) and then retire and he would still be a near-unanimous Hall-of-Famer. Again, he's a Super Bowl-winning, record-setting, four-time MVP-winning quarterback, one of the most dependable winners of all time.
Except now, he's not winning, right?
Yeah, it's unfair of me to center my review of the NFL week just in terms of Brady and Manning, but both are the talk of the sports world right now. Brady has won 26 straight regular-season home games and is the MVP favorite (sorry, Mike Vick), and his team is now the indisupted #1 team in the conference, and Manning's Colts are slipping, and doing so because of the poor play of their best player (#18 himself).
>>>Oh yeah, the Washington Capitals have lost three games in a row after being embarrassed last night in a loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs, who recovered from a 4-1 deficit in the third period. Tough times for Ovechkin and company. Ouch.
>>>Oh wow, I was going to talk about the last week in sports without even mentioning the 'Homecoming' of LeBron James. He humiliated and infuriated Cleveland and all its people last July when he declared that he was taking his talents to South Beach. Well, the talents hadn't really shown up in South Beach until his game Friday night against the Cleveland Cavaliers, his old team. There, James showed some of the form that made him a two-time MVP there, blazing past all the boos and chants and shunnings with a season-high 38 points. He played so well, and helped his new team, the Miami Heat, so much, that he sat out the entire fourth quarter.
The San Diego Padres' slugging first baseman, Adrian Gonzalez (their only major offensive weapon of last season, when they nearly made the playoffs with a pitching-rich team) signed an eight-year deal with the Boston Red Sox, which means the Sox gain another big left-handed bat (to join David "Big Papi" Ortiz) and move Kevin Youkilis to third. Gonzalez touched the hearts of Bostonians everywhere when he mentioned his hero, Ted Williams (a fellow San Diego native and former Boston Red Sox player) in his press conference.
And, just days after their premiere slugger of the past four years, outfielder Adam Dunn, signed with the Chicago White Sox, the Washington Nationals signed Philadelphia Phillies' outfielder Jayson Werth to a seven-year, $126 million contract, shocking the baseball world. Werth, 32, has a history of injuries, and will be joining a fairly-weak ballclub that finished last in the NL East last year (Werth's Phillies finished first, obviously), but he is one of the better all-around outfielders in the NL if he continues to play like he has the last few years. He's a 25-30-home run guy with good speed and a good outfield defender. The Nationals needed a boost after their fan base reacted angrily to the loss of favorite Dunn, and anticipating a 2011 without Tommy John surgery recoveree Stephen Strasburg.
Now, the two biggest cards on the free-agent table are pitcher Cliff Lee (lately of the World Series-losing Texas Rangers) and All-Star outfielder Carl Crawford (who has played his entire career to date with the Tampa Bay Rays). Lee is already in talks with the Rangers and the New York Yankees, and, rumor has it, the Nationals have joined the fray. Lee has pitched with four different teams over the last two years (Indians, Phillies, Mariners, Rangers) and has pitched in the World Series in both of them. Crawford, the 2009 All-Star Game MVP, is a premiere stolen-base threat with excellent defensive skills and 15-20 home run power.
>>>Finally, I have to mention Mark Reynolds, the former Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman who just signed with my family's favorite team, the Baltimore Orioles. Reynolds hit 44 home runs in 2009, but his a strikeout machine, having whiffed 200-plus times each of the past three years. While the Orioles would love a 30-35, let alone 40, home run bat, the last thing they need is a free-swinging, can't-do-a-thing-in-the-clutch-type hitter. Nor do they need a poor defender. I'm hoping Reynolds' best friend for the next four months is the O's' hitting coach.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Jesting with Jeter, December 1, 2010
At 36, Derek Jeter has won five Gold Gloves. He has finished in the top three in the AL MVP balloting twice (2006, 2009), won an AL Rookie of the Year Award (1996), has been a part of 5 World Series-winning teams ('96, '98, '99, '00, '09), once proved his commitment to the game of baseball by diving into the stands to catch a foul pop-up ('04), and has yet to do anything extremely dumb to soil his image (a la Woods, Vick, Roethlisberger, Rodriguez, Clemens, James, etc..).
He has been called the greatest and most-beloved Yankee of the last half-century. He has been called the most iconic Yankee since Mickey Mantle. The new Yankee Stadium has been nicknamed "The House that Jeter Built." Jeter is the all-time team-leader in hits, having passed Lou Gehrig last year.
In 2010, Jeter hit .27o (a much-ballyhooed-in a bad way-number), with 179 hits, 30 doubles, 111 runs scored, 10 home runs, 67 RBIs, 18 stolen bases, and 106 strikeouts.
Are those BAD numbers? Well, for starters, that .270 average? He has hit better than that in every previous season of his career. In 2009, when he was third in the AL MVP voting: he hit 64 points higher (.334). In '09, he had 212 hits, third-most in a single season in his career, and the seventh time he has eclipsed 200 in a season. The 10 home runs were tied with the lowest he's had in a single season, which he had done three other times. The 106 strikeouts were the most since 2005, and the 111 runs were the most since 2006 (though this probably has more to do with the people hitting behind him in the Yankee batting order: guys named Swisher, Texeira, Rodriguez, Cano, Posada, then Jeter's greatness).
Basically, the .270 average was a black eye to a guy with a career average well over .300. He got to score a ton of runs by virtue of batting 1st or 2nd on an amazing team of sluggers. The home runs were down, but the RBIs were actually up (by one), over his "revolutionary" 2009 season. He had 3 more doubles, two more triples, score five more runs, than '09.
I bring this up because Jeter is currently in a war of words/actions with the Yankees over a new contract. The Yankees have offered him 3 years at $15 million a year, and he turned it down, insisting he wants more. The contract that just expired, which he got in 2000, was 10 years for $189 million. He is 36, coming off one of his more disappointing seasons (I'll have to agree, though, as I just assessed, it's not as bad as you think), his defensive range is slipping, and, as many have said, despite his fame and his iconic image, he is not bigger than the team.
One of the great things about Jeter is that, unlike almost every other star athlete of the modern era, his image is not tainted or hindered by anything other than a thorough desire to win. The most scandalous thing Jeter has done is date Mariah Carey (way back in 1998)-and they didn't even have a very public relationship or break-up-or frown at gaudy, spotlight-hogging teammate Alex Rodriguez. However, in this age of giant contracts, Jeter is clearly antsy to belong.
I'm with the average citizen, who says, of course, $15 million is a huge amount of money, let alone for someone to make in one year playing baseball, but this is 2010, and this is professional baseball. Guys like Ryan Howard, Roy Halladay, A-Rod, Texeira, C.C. Sabathia, Johan Santana, and others are swimming in dough thanks to obscenely large contracts. Oh, and Jeter wants a contract for more years-he has said he plans to play until age 43, seven years down the road (by which time, given his current pace, he could have around 3,400 career hits).
Derek Jeter is one of the biggest stars I've seen in my lifetime who's reputation is not dampened by anything other than his being affiliated with the New York Yankees and their reputation for greed. But they're looking ungreedy as they try to stick to their guns (the guns being that 3-year, $45 million contract). They're looking sensible. And Jeter, some are saying, is starting to look like the bad guy.
Yes, Jeter has been one of the better professional baseball players of the last decade. He doesn't have monster power numbers, or speed numbers, and never has, but he has been solid all-around, and consistent, and been a great team captain. But I don't think he is worth more than $15 million a year. Of course, I don't think anyone is. I think he should take this contract and see what he gets. The idea of his going to another team is somewhat intriguing (though I agree with the Yankees in their assertion that he would not get anything close to $15 mil a year from some other team), but I would like to see another (in the Cal Ripken, Tony Gwynn mold) franchise player.
He has been called the greatest and most-beloved Yankee of the last half-century. He has been called the most iconic Yankee since Mickey Mantle. The new Yankee Stadium has been nicknamed "The House that Jeter Built." Jeter is the all-time team-leader in hits, having passed Lou Gehrig last year.
In 2010, Jeter hit .27o (a much-ballyhooed-in a bad way-number), with 179 hits, 30 doubles, 111 runs scored, 10 home runs, 67 RBIs, 18 stolen bases, and 106 strikeouts.
Are those BAD numbers? Well, for starters, that .270 average? He has hit better than that in every previous season of his career. In 2009, when he was third in the AL MVP voting: he hit 64 points higher (.334). In '09, he had 212 hits, third-most in a single season in his career, and the seventh time he has eclipsed 200 in a season. The 10 home runs were tied with the lowest he's had in a single season, which he had done three other times. The 106 strikeouts were the most since 2005, and the 111 runs were the most since 2006 (though this probably has more to do with the people hitting behind him in the Yankee batting order: guys named Swisher, Texeira, Rodriguez, Cano, Posada, then Jeter's greatness).
Basically, the .270 average was a black eye to a guy with a career average well over .300. He got to score a ton of runs by virtue of batting 1st or 2nd on an amazing team of sluggers. The home runs were down, but the RBIs were actually up (by one), over his "revolutionary" 2009 season. He had 3 more doubles, two more triples, score five more runs, than '09.
I bring this up because Jeter is currently in a war of words/actions with the Yankees over a new contract. The Yankees have offered him 3 years at $15 million a year, and he turned it down, insisting he wants more. The contract that just expired, which he got in 2000, was 10 years for $189 million. He is 36, coming off one of his more disappointing seasons (I'll have to agree, though, as I just assessed, it's not as bad as you think), his defensive range is slipping, and, as many have said, despite his fame and his iconic image, he is not bigger than the team.
One of the great things about Jeter is that, unlike almost every other star athlete of the modern era, his image is not tainted or hindered by anything other than a thorough desire to win. The most scandalous thing Jeter has done is date Mariah Carey (way back in 1998)-and they didn't even have a very public relationship or break-up-or frown at gaudy, spotlight-hogging teammate Alex Rodriguez. However, in this age of giant contracts, Jeter is clearly antsy to belong.
I'm with the average citizen, who says, of course, $15 million is a huge amount of money, let alone for someone to make in one year playing baseball, but this is 2010, and this is professional baseball. Guys like Ryan Howard, Roy Halladay, A-Rod, Texeira, C.C. Sabathia, Johan Santana, and others are swimming in dough thanks to obscenely large contracts. Oh, and Jeter wants a contract for more years-he has said he plans to play until age 43, seven years down the road (by which time, given his current pace, he could have around 3,400 career hits).
Derek Jeter is one of the biggest stars I've seen in my lifetime who's reputation is not dampened by anything other than his being affiliated with the New York Yankees and their reputation for greed. But they're looking ungreedy as they try to stick to their guns (the guns being that 3-year, $45 million contract). They're looking sensible. And Jeter, some are saying, is starting to look like the bad guy.
Yes, Jeter has been one of the better professional baseball players of the last decade. He doesn't have monster power numbers, or speed numbers, and never has, but he has been solid all-around, and consistent, and been a great team captain. But I don't think he is worth more than $15 million a year. Of course, I don't think anyone is. I think he should take this contract and see what he gets. The idea of his going to another team is somewhat intriguing (though I agree with the Yankees in their assertion that he would not get anything close to $15 mil a year from some other team), but I would like to see another (in the Cal Ripken, Tony Gwynn mold) franchise player.
Brawls, and Tirades, December 1, 2010
Well, it was a treat of a weekend in the NFL. Da Bears brought Michael Vick back to earth, Brett Favre ran 10 yards for a key first down to help the Vikings win their first game under interim coach Leslie Frazier, Peyton Manning threw four interceptions in an ugly loss to the Chargers, and Steve Johnson blamed God for dropping a would-be game-winner of a touchdown bomb against the Steelers.
However, there is some heightened drama this week that doesn't involve football itself, which has been getting a lot of ink and air-time, that I have some thoughts on, so here goes:
Derek Anderson's Rant
This week's Monday Night Football was one for the ages; a match-up between a pair of 3-7 teams that technically still have the chance to make the playoffs, because their division leader, the St. Louis Rams, are only 5-6. And, so, the Arizona Cardinals hosted the San Francisco 49ers. Arizona, who made the Super Bowl two years ago and beat the Green Bay Packers in a classic first-round playoff match-up last year, flatlined early, their porous defense letting 49ers' backup back Bryan Westbrook run all over them.
By the 4th quarter, the game had reached its eventual final 27-6 score, with the Cardinals playing feebly, and Cardinals' much-maligned QB Derek Anderson (who went 16 of 35 for 196 yards and an interception) was shown-on National TV-sitting on a bench on the sideline, smiling with guard Deuce Lutui about something.
After the game, reporters asked him about it, and, originally, Anderson said Deuce had told him to stay positive, to stay upbeat. But reporter Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic kept after the subject, asking why they were laughing. At first, Anderson just said, "What Deuce and I talk about is our business." When Somers repeated the question, about why they were laughing, Anderson blew his top, flat-out yelling:
"You think I was laughing about something? I take this s---seriously! Real serious! I put my freakin' heart and soul into this s--- every single week! I'm telling you right now what I do every single week! Every single week I put my heart and soul into this! I study my ass off; I don't go out there and laugh! It's not funny. Nothing's funny to me! I don't want to go out there and get embarrassed on Monday Night Football in front of everybody!"
After that, ignoring Somers' mutters of "Sorry, sorry", Anderson said "I'm done" and stormed out of the room.
Understandably, there has been a lot of talk about this, even talk of Anderson potentially being fined. What everyone's saying is that they were down by 18, in the fourth quarter, they should not have been laughing, and Somers was just asking a question.
I was a journalism major, and I've interviewed people before. The fact that the MNF cameras showed Anderson and Lutui smiling is an unfortunate coincidence. I seriously doubt two professional athletes were laughing along the lines of: "dude, we are sucking!" I doubt that. I mean, after losses, don't players and coaches always say things like "we just gotta stay positive, not let it get us down, and come back here next week." If those guys were shown crying on the sidelines, or looking hopeless, they'd be branded losers with defeatist attitudes. Now, it's true that Arizona, at 3-8, is in the pits, will not make the playoffs, and is one of the league's worst teams. It's also likely true that Anderson has heard all of that. So, of course he's on edge. I think two guys trying to stay positive during a tough game was the right thing to do; it's unfortunate that the camera caught them smiling.
Finnegan/Thompson Fined for Fight
On Sunday, the Houston Texans beat the tumbling Tennessee Titans 20-0. During the fourth quarter, on two consecutive plays, Houston corner Cortland Finnegan tore off Houston wide receiver Andre Johnson's helmet. The second time he did it was after hitting him in the throat, and Johnson lost his cool. At which point, the 6'3, 225-pound Johnson tore off the 5-11, 188-pound Finnegan's helmet. Finnegan swiped at Johnson, was thrown on the ground, and promptly put his face to the ground while Johnson punched him, hard, twice, on the back of the head. A ref jumped between them, and Johnson drilled Finnegan in the jaw with an uppercut before being pushed away. Both were ejected from the game, and given $25,000 fines, but neither was suspended.
Finnegan has a reputation as one of the league's dirtiest players, and he brags about said reputation. He did not speak to the media after the game, while Johnson apologized for what happened.
There has been talk since as to why neither was suspended. The question has arisen "what do you have to do to get suspended?" Another question that has risen is that Steelers' famously hard-hitting linebacker James Harrison has been fined three times this season for head-to-head hits, two of which, in the same quarter against the Cleveland Browns, knocked Browns' receivers out of the game. The third was a hard hit on Saints quarterback Drew Brees. Harrison has been fined $25K for each hit, which amounted to $75K over the first three instances.
Now, I never appreciated Harrison's head-t0-head hits, especially not the way, afterward, he said "he was all right; he just went to sleep for a little bit". That was an ignorant and stupid thing to say, in my opinion. But Harrison was trying to make tackles; he was not throwing people on the ground and punching them in the head as hard as he could (and, make no mistake, Johnson was throwing haymakers). I mean, both Johnson and Finnegan were ejected from the game; Harrison hasn't been ejected yet, because, of course, he's only tackling.
I may write something else later. But these are the two big stories I've been wanting to comment on.
However, there is some heightened drama this week that doesn't involve football itself, which has been getting a lot of ink and air-time, that I have some thoughts on, so here goes:
Derek Anderson's Rant
This week's Monday Night Football was one for the ages; a match-up between a pair of 3-7 teams that technically still have the chance to make the playoffs, because their division leader, the St. Louis Rams, are only 5-6. And, so, the Arizona Cardinals hosted the San Francisco 49ers. Arizona, who made the Super Bowl two years ago and beat the Green Bay Packers in a classic first-round playoff match-up last year, flatlined early, their porous defense letting 49ers' backup back Bryan Westbrook run all over them.
By the 4th quarter, the game had reached its eventual final 27-6 score, with the Cardinals playing feebly, and Cardinals' much-maligned QB Derek Anderson (who went 16 of 35 for 196 yards and an interception) was shown-on National TV-sitting on a bench on the sideline, smiling with guard Deuce Lutui about something.
After the game, reporters asked him about it, and, originally, Anderson said Deuce had told him to stay positive, to stay upbeat. But reporter Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic kept after the subject, asking why they were laughing. At first, Anderson just said, "What Deuce and I talk about is our business." When Somers repeated the question, about why they were laughing, Anderson blew his top, flat-out yelling:
"You think I was laughing about something? I take this s---seriously! Real serious! I put my freakin' heart and soul into this s--- every single week! I'm telling you right now what I do every single week! Every single week I put my heart and soul into this! I study my ass off; I don't go out there and laugh! It's not funny. Nothing's funny to me! I don't want to go out there and get embarrassed on Monday Night Football in front of everybody!"
After that, ignoring Somers' mutters of "Sorry, sorry", Anderson said "I'm done" and stormed out of the room.
Understandably, there has been a lot of talk about this, even talk of Anderson potentially being fined. What everyone's saying is that they were down by 18, in the fourth quarter, they should not have been laughing, and Somers was just asking a question.
I was a journalism major, and I've interviewed people before. The fact that the MNF cameras showed Anderson and Lutui smiling is an unfortunate coincidence. I seriously doubt two professional athletes were laughing along the lines of: "dude, we are sucking!" I doubt that. I mean, after losses, don't players and coaches always say things like "we just gotta stay positive, not let it get us down, and come back here next week." If those guys were shown crying on the sidelines, or looking hopeless, they'd be branded losers with defeatist attitudes. Now, it's true that Arizona, at 3-8, is in the pits, will not make the playoffs, and is one of the league's worst teams. It's also likely true that Anderson has heard all of that. So, of course he's on edge. I think two guys trying to stay positive during a tough game was the right thing to do; it's unfortunate that the camera caught them smiling.
Finnegan/Thompson Fined for Fight
On Sunday, the Houston Texans beat the tumbling Tennessee Titans 20-0. During the fourth quarter, on two consecutive plays, Houston corner Cortland Finnegan tore off Houston wide receiver Andre Johnson's helmet. The second time he did it was after hitting him in the throat, and Johnson lost his cool. At which point, the 6'3, 225-pound Johnson tore off the 5-11, 188-pound Finnegan's helmet. Finnegan swiped at Johnson, was thrown on the ground, and promptly put his face to the ground while Johnson punched him, hard, twice, on the back of the head. A ref jumped between them, and Johnson drilled Finnegan in the jaw with an uppercut before being pushed away. Both were ejected from the game, and given $25,000 fines, but neither was suspended.
Finnegan has a reputation as one of the league's dirtiest players, and he brags about said reputation. He did not speak to the media after the game, while Johnson apologized for what happened.
There has been talk since as to why neither was suspended. The question has arisen "what do you have to do to get suspended?" Another question that has risen is that Steelers' famously hard-hitting linebacker James Harrison has been fined three times this season for head-to-head hits, two of which, in the same quarter against the Cleveland Browns, knocked Browns' receivers out of the game. The third was a hard hit on Saints quarterback Drew Brees. Harrison has been fined $25K for each hit, which amounted to $75K over the first three instances.
Now, I never appreciated Harrison's head-t0-head hits, especially not the way, afterward, he said "he was all right; he just went to sleep for a little bit". That was an ignorant and stupid thing to say, in my opinion. But Harrison was trying to make tackles; he was not throwing people on the ground and punching them in the head as hard as he could (and, make no mistake, Johnson was throwing haymakers). I mean, both Johnson and Finnegan were ejected from the game; Harrison hasn't been ejected yet, because, of course, he's only tackling.
I may write something else later. But these are the two big stories I've been wanting to comment on.
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Feeling Blue, November 27, 2010
"Not all the kicks are gonna go in...." -Boise State Quarterback Kellen Moore
You know 'em. You've heard all about 'em. They're the boys in blue, who play on the blue turf, who crush opponents out west, who have the nation's longest NCAA football winning streak, have the spindly, left-handed superquarterback, who have looked like they could be one of the best teams in the SEC if they had the chance.
They're the fourth-ranked Boise State Broncos, darlings of the college football world and arguably the most discussed team in the FBS. They splattered fellow-undefeated team TCU in the Fiesta Bowl last year and claimed the spotlight they had long deserved. Then they beat Virginia Tech in a bare-knuckle fistfight on national TV at the beginning of this season, then started dropping their conference opponents by scores like 51-6, 59-0, 57-14, 48-0, 42-7 (4 50+ point games this year). Sure, they play in the Western Athletic Conference, with opponents like New Mexico State, Louisiana Tech, and Fresno State, but they had been highlighting scoreboards, and putting their stamp on each week of the FBS season. The only question for such a dominant team: given their fairly weak conference opponents', could even an undefeated season full of landslide victories make the National Championship Game against the likes of Oregon or Auburn?
The question is a moot point, now. In the end, it seemed like it was meant to be. Last night, November 26, they went into Reno and played #19 Nevada, jumped out to a 17-point halftime lead, and got the ball right where they wanted it with two seconds left. But kicker Kyle Brotzman pushed a 26-yard field goal attempt wide right. Then they got the ball right where they wanted it in overtime, with the game still tied at 31-31. Brotzman hooked it left from 29 yards out. And, moments later, redshirt Anthony Martinez of Nevada didn't push or hook his kick, but sent it straight in from 34 yards out, and it was all over.
"I'm at a loss for words," said Boise State quarterback Kellen Moore, who passed for 348 yards and 2 TDs yet likely saw his own rather slim Heisman Trophy chances go up in smoke with the team's undefeated season.
"It is the greatest victory this university has ever had, I can tell you that," Nevada coach Chris Ault said.
Boise had their usual electric offense, full of downfield bombs by Moore and weaving, sprinting receivers and running backs. But Nevada did what Virginia Tech did so many weeks ago in nearly winning that Week 1 climactic game, they ran the ball often, and effectively. They amassed 269 rushing yards to Boise's 145, 239 of them coming in the second half compared to only 8 by the Broncos.
The loss sinks Boise into a three-way first-place tie with Nevada and Hawaii in the WAC, will almost certainly rob them of even Top Ten FBS rank, and deeply hurts their chance of playing in any important game in December. Before the game, if not a national title contender, they were at least a near-guarantee for the Rose Bowl. Not anymore.
Two of the near-guaranteed National Championship Game contenders suffered tough matches like Boise State, as well, on Friday, with #1 Oregon facing #21 Arizona and #2 Auburn facing #11 Alabama in the Iron Bowl. Both teams fell behind early (19-14 at the half for Oregon, and Auburn was down 24-0 after the first quarter). But both teams battled back, but Oregon ended up dropping 48 on Arizona for a lopsided victory, and Auburn was led back by Heisman Trophy contender/controversial star QB Cam Newton (216 passing yards and 3 TDs, plus a score on the ground) to win 28-27. Alabama limped away from this one, what with star QB Greg McElroy concussed on the sideline, coach Nick Saban furious, and a 3 in the loss column in their record.
You know 'em. You've heard all about 'em. They're the boys in blue, who play on the blue turf, who crush opponents out west, who have the nation's longest NCAA football winning streak, have the spindly, left-handed superquarterback, who have looked like they could be one of the best teams in the SEC if they had the chance.
They're the fourth-ranked Boise State Broncos, darlings of the college football world and arguably the most discussed team in the FBS. They splattered fellow-undefeated team TCU in the Fiesta Bowl last year and claimed the spotlight they had long deserved. Then they beat Virginia Tech in a bare-knuckle fistfight on national TV at the beginning of this season, then started dropping their conference opponents by scores like 51-6, 59-0, 57-14, 48-0, 42-7 (4 50+ point games this year). Sure, they play in the Western Athletic Conference, with opponents like New Mexico State, Louisiana Tech, and Fresno State, but they had been highlighting scoreboards, and putting their stamp on each week of the FBS season. The only question for such a dominant team: given their fairly weak conference opponents', could even an undefeated season full of landslide victories make the National Championship Game against the likes of Oregon or Auburn?
The question is a moot point, now. In the end, it seemed like it was meant to be. Last night, November 26, they went into Reno and played #19 Nevada, jumped out to a 17-point halftime lead, and got the ball right where they wanted it with two seconds left. But kicker Kyle Brotzman pushed a 26-yard field goal attempt wide right. Then they got the ball right where they wanted it in overtime, with the game still tied at 31-31. Brotzman hooked it left from 29 yards out. And, moments later, redshirt Anthony Martinez of Nevada didn't push or hook his kick, but sent it straight in from 34 yards out, and it was all over.
"I'm at a loss for words," said Boise State quarterback Kellen Moore, who passed for 348 yards and 2 TDs yet likely saw his own rather slim Heisman Trophy chances go up in smoke with the team's undefeated season.
"It is the greatest victory this university has ever had, I can tell you that," Nevada coach Chris Ault said.
Boise had their usual electric offense, full of downfield bombs by Moore and weaving, sprinting receivers and running backs. But Nevada did what Virginia Tech did so many weeks ago in nearly winning that Week 1 climactic game, they ran the ball often, and effectively. They amassed 269 rushing yards to Boise's 145, 239 of them coming in the second half compared to only 8 by the Broncos.
The loss sinks Boise into a three-way first-place tie with Nevada and Hawaii in the WAC, will almost certainly rob them of even Top Ten FBS rank, and deeply hurts their chance of playing in any important game in December. Before the game, if not a national title contender, they were at least a near-guarantee for the Rose Bowl. Not anymore.
Two of the near-guaranteed National Championship Game contenders suffered tough matches like Boise State, as well, on Friday, with #1 Oregon facing #21 Arizona and #2 Auburn facing #11 Alabama in the Iron Bowl. Both teams fell behind early (19-14 at the half for Oregon, and Auburn was down 24-0 after the first quarter). But both teams battled back, but Oregon ended up dropping 48 on Arizona for a lopsided victory, and Auburn was led back by Heisman Trophy contender/controversial star QB Cam Newton (216 passing yards and 3 TDs, plus a score on the ground) to win 28-27. Alabama limped away from this one, what with star QB Greg McElroy concussed on the sideline, coach Nick Saban furious, and a 3 in the loss column in their record.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Getting E-vick-ted and Seeing the Doc, November 16, 2010
Back and better than ever
Less than two years removed from being released from federal prison as a disgraced former Pro-Bowler and PETA enemy #1, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick put on a historic show in a 59-28 clobbering of the Washington Redskins on Monday Night Football. There were all kinds of pre-game hype, what with Redskins' struggling QB Donovan McNabb receiving a 5-year, $78 million contract shortly before the game-ending rumors that his stint with the 'Skins would be short-and some verbal and physical quarreling before the game, but it all evaporated around the time Vick heaved an 88-yard touchdown pass (61 yards in the air) to receiver DeSean Jackson on the first play from scrimmage. Vick then gave the performance of the year so far, becoming the first player in NFL history to pass for 300 yards (333 total), rush for 50 yards (80 total), pass for 4 touchdowns, and run for 2 more in the same game. In the process, he moved past 49ers great Steve Young for second place on the all-time quarterback rushing list, behind only Randall Cunningham.
"I've had some great games in my day," Vick said. "But I don't think I've had one quite like this one."
The Washington home fans rained boos on their team almost immediately, as the Redskins allowed the Eagles gaudy numbers including team records for total yards in a game (592), points in a half (45), and notched the biggest leading margin after the first quarter for any pro team since 1950, at 28-0. It was 35-0 after the first play of the second quarter.
New Washington franchise QB McNabb, meanwhile, was 17 for 31 for 295 yards and 2 TDs, but also had 3 interceptions. And he ignored questions after the game about whether his appealing new contract helped numb the pain of the blowout. "At this point, I'm angry," he said.
Well, there ya have it. There have been whispers of MVP talk for Vick, who certainly makes the Eagles a different team (they've won all 4 games in which he has played every minute), but, ultimately, his skyrocketing fantasy and actual value, and re-claimed fame, make him the primary competitor to Texas Rangers' outfielder Josh Hamilton in terms of greatest recent sports comebacks. Hamilton's case will get a new edge if, as expected, he wins the American League MVP award later this week. But Vick is flying high as an Eagle, pun intended.
This game ended another week of professional football, and, after all the action, the Top Ten stands as thus:
1) Atlanta Falcons, 7-2 (facing the St. Louis Rams this week)
2) New England Patriots, 7-2 (facing the Indianapolis Colts this week)
3) New York Jets, 7-2 (facing the Houston Texans this week)
4) Baltimore Ravens, 6-3 (facing the Carolina Panthers this week)
5) Pittsburgh Steelers, 6-3 (facing the Oakland Raiders this week)
6) Philadelphia Eagles, 6-3 (facing the New York Giants this week)
7) Green Bay Packers, 6-3 (facing the Minnesota Vikings this week)
8) New York Giants, 6-3 (facing the Philadelphia Eagles this week)
9) New Orleans Saints, 6-3 (facing the Seattle Seahawks this week)
10) Indianapolis Colts, 6-3 (facing the New England Patriots this week)
You can see from this there are two must-watch games, the Philadelphia Vicks, erm, I mean, Eagles, and the New York Giants, who were in the conversation for the NFL's best team before being embarrassed on Sunday by the lowly Dallas Cowboys. And, in the other, we have another entry in the primary NFL debate of the past decade. While almost everyone would agree, in terms of sheer ability, the Greatest Current Quarterback Debate is squarely in Peyton Manning's favor (rather than Tom Brady's) it will be interesting to see them match up again, especially coming off a week in which Manning threw zero touchdowns and Brady threw for three and scored another. (FYI: the debate about which QB will look better after they retire got a HUGE new chapter after Super Bowl 44, because, of course, Manning lost that Super Bowl, leaving him with just one current Super Bowl ring, while Brady has three).
Meanwhile, in baseball, other than contract negotiations for guys like Cliff Lee and Derek Jeter, its awards time. Yesterday, recent World Series champion Buster Posey (the Giants' 23-year-old catcher, who became a superstar in the last four months of the 2010 regular season, and in the postseason month of October/November) beat out Atlanta Braves' outfielder Jason Heyward for the National League Rookie of the Year award, snagging 20 of the 32 first-place votes after hitting .305 with 18 home runs and 67 RBIs.
An opponent against whom he singled in the eighth inning of Game 5 of the World Series, Texas
22-year-old closer Neftali Feliz, won the American League Rookie of the Year award, taking 20 of 28 first-place votes after a season in which he set the single season record for saves by a rookie, with 40.
And, today, Roy "Doc" Halladay, just over a month removed from tossing the second no-hitter in postseason history in Game 1 of the NLDS against the Reds (his career postseason debut), won the National League CY Young Award unanimously, winning all 32 first-place votes. In 2010, his first season with the National League's Phillies after spending his entire previous career with the Toronto Blue Jays (and winning a Cy Young with them in 2003), Halladay was tremendous. He went 21-10 with a 2.44 ERA, leading the league in wins, complete games (9), shutouts (4) and innings pitched (250 2/3). He was second in strikeouts (219) and walked only 30 batters. He becomes the fifth pitcher (after Gaylord Perry, Pedro Martinez, Randy Johnson and Roger Clemens) to win a CY Young in both leagues, and the third unanimous winner in the last decade (Johnson in 2003 and Jake Peavy in 2007).
Less than two years removed from being released from federal prison as a disgraced former Pro-Bowler and PETA enemy #1, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick put on a historic show in a 59-28 clobbering of the Washington Redskins on Monday Night Football. There were all kinds of pre-game hype, what with Redskins' struggling QB Donovan McNabb receiving a 5-year, $78 million contract shortly before the game-ending rumors that his stint with the 'Skins would be short-and some verbal and physical quarreling before the game, but it all evaporated around the time Vick heaved an 88-yard touchdown pass (61 yards in the air) to receiver DeSean Jackson on the first play from scrimmage. Vick then gave the performance of the year so far, becoming the first player in NFL history to pass for 300 yards (333 total), rush for 50 yards (80 total), pass for 4 touchdowns, and run for 2 more in the same game. In the process, he moved past 49ers great Steve Young for second place on the all-time quarterback rushing list, behind only Randall Cunningham.
"I've had some great games in my day," Vick said. "But I don't think I've had one quite like this one."
The Washington home fans rained boos on their team almost immediately, as the Redskins allowed the Eagles gaudy numbers including team records for total yards in a game (592), points in a half (45), and notched the biggest leading margin after the first quarter for any pro team since 1950, at 28-0. It was 35-0 after the first play of the second quarter.
New Washington franchise QB McNabb, meanwhile, was 17 for 31 for 295 yards and 2 TDs, but also had 3 interceptions. And he ignored questions after the game about whether his appealing new contract helped numb the pain of the blowout. "At this point, I'm angry," he said.
Well, there ya have it. There have been whispers of MVP talk for Vick, who certainly makes the Eagles a different team (they've won all 4 games in which he has played every minute), but, ultimately, his skyrocketing fantasy and actual value, and re-claimed fame, make him the primary competitor to Texas Rangers' outfielder Josh Hamilton in terms of greatest recent sports comebacks. Hamilton's case will get a new edge if, as expected, he wins the American League MVP award later this week. But Vick is flying high as an Eagle, pun intended.
This game ended another week of professional football, and, after all the action, the Top Ten stands as thus:
1) Atlanta Falcons, 7-2 (facing the St. Louis Rams this week)
2) New England Patriots, 7-2 (facing the Indianapolis Colts this week)
3) New York Jets, 7-2 (facing the Houston Texans this week)
4) Baltimore Ravens, 6-3 (facing the Carolina Panthers this week)
5) Pittsburgh Steelers, 6-3 (facing the Oakland Raiders this week)
6) Philadelphia Eagles, 6-3 (facing the New York Giants this week)
7) Green Bay Packers, 6-3 (facing the Minnesota Vikings this week)
8) New York Giants, 6-3 (facing the Philadelphia Eagles this week)
9) New Orleans Saints, 6-3 (facing the Seattle Seahawks this week)
10) Indianapolis Colts, 6-3 (facing the New England Patriots this week)
You can see from this there are two must-watch games, the Philadelphia Vicks, erm, I mean, Eagles, and the New York Giants, who were in the conversation for the NFL's best team before being embarrassed on Sunday by the lowly Dallas Cowboys. And, in the other, we have another entry in the primary NFL debate of the past decade. While almost everyone would agree, in terms of sheer ability, the Greatest Current Quarterback Debate is squarely in Peyton Manning's favor (rather than Tom Brady's) it will be interesting to see them match up again, especially coming off a week in which Manning threw zero touchdowns and Brady threw for three and scored another. (FYI: the debate about which QB will look better after they retire got a HUGE new chapter after Super Bowl 44, because, of course, Manning lost that Super Bowl, leaving him with just one current Super Bowl ring, while Brady has three).
Meanwhile, in baseball, other than contract negotiations for guys like Cliff Lee and Derek Jeter, its awards time. Yesterday, recent World Series champion Buster Posey (the Giants' 23-year-old catcher, who became a superstar in the last four months of the 2010 regular season, and in the postseason month of October/November) beat out Atlanta Braves' outfielder Jason Heyward for the National League Rookie of the Year award, snagging 20 of the 32 first-place votes after hitting .305 with 18 home runs and 67 RBIs.
An opponent against whom he singled in the eighth inning of Game 5 of the World Series, Texas
22-year-old closer Neftali Feliz, won the American League Rookie of the Year award, taking 20 of 28 first-place votes after a season in which he set the single season record for saves by a rookie, with 40.
And, today, Roy "Doc" Halladay, just over a month removed from tossing the second no-hitter in postseason history in Game 1 of the NLDS against the Reds (his career postseason debut), won the National League CY Young Award unanimously, winning all 32 first-place votes. In 2010, his first season with the National League's Phillies after spending his entire previous career with the Toronto Blue Jays (and winning a Cy Young with them in 2003), Halladay was tremendous. He went 21-10 with a 2.44 ERA, leading the league in wins, complete games (9), shutouts (4) and innings pitched (250 2/3). He was second in strikeouts (219) and walked only 30 batters. He becomes the fifth pitcher (after Gaylord Perry, Pedro Martinez, Randy Johnson and Roger Clemens) to win a CY Young in both leagues, and the third unanimous winner in the last decade (Johnson in 2003 and Jake Peavy in 2007).
Monday, November 15, 2010
The Brady Bunch, November 15, 2010
Tom Brady may have long hair that was knocked by none other than 16-year old bowl-haircut pop sensation Justin Bieber. He may have a new scruffy beard to go with it. He may have a bad reputation for leaving his girlfriend Bridget Moynahan, also the mother of his child, and for marrying supermodel Giselle Bundchen, and for playing on the squad that was caught taping other teams' practices a few years ago. And, for a man with three Super Bowl rings and the all-time single-season TD passes record (50 in 2007), he had a poor last playoff showing back in January against the Baltimore Ravens. He's also nowhere near this year's most talked about quarterback (that honor is shared, in part, by guys named Favre, Vick, Kolb, McNabb, Brees, Manning, Manning, Roethlisberger, McCoy, etc...).
Tell you what: the man is still a winner.
In the first and third quarters of last night's big AFC rivalry game against the Pittsburgh Steelers (a 39-26 New England victory), Brady had the Patriots looking every bit as good as they did during their legendary 18-1 2007 season, when their offense was downright explosive and their only hiccup was a Super Bowl loss to the New York Giants. Brady was 30 of 43 for 350 yards passing, tossing 3 touchdowns and scoring one on a three-yard keeper. After said keeper, on the possession after the Patriots were forced to punt and a furious Brady chewed out teammates on the field and on the sideline, he spiked the ball vehemently, looking thoroughly pumped.
A week after a dreadful showing in a 34-14 loss to the two-win Cleveland Browns, the Patriots rocked the high-running Steelers in Pittsburgh, led by Brady and rookie tight end Rob Gronkowski, who caught all three Brady touchdown passes, becoming the sixth rookie tight end since 1960 to have 3 TD catches in one game). The Steelers' secondary was a joke during the game, their defense barely got a hand on Brady all night, star receiver Heinz Ward left the game with neck pain after an ugly first quarter collision, and before he finished 30 of 49 for 387 yards and 3 touchdowns, Ben Roethlisberger spent most of the first three quarters watching his teammates drop passes that hit them in their hands in the end zone.
"We made big plays when we needed to make them," Brady said. "It's an exciting game for us in this locker room. We haven't been this happy in a long time. We're pretty good when we execute the right way."
It was the first matchup of multiple Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks since 1985, when the Oakland Raiders and San Francisco 49ers faced each other, sending Jim Plunkett out against Joe Montana. And the New England victory improves the Patriots' record to 7-2, while Pittsburgh slips to 6-3.
Speaking of the 49ers, San Francisco beat the St. Louis Rams in overtime in one of yesterday afternoon's later games, winning 23-20. The Dallas Cowboys finished off their first strong performance in almost two months by beating the New York Giants, 33-20, and improved to 2-7 (yikes). The Seattle Seahawks beat the Arizona Cardinals 36-18, and the scheduled Monday Night Football game sends the Philadelphia Eagles to Washington to play the Redskins, for Part II of the newfangled Michael Vick/Donovan McNabb rivalry.
Today, baseball's Rookie of the Year awards will be handed out. The favorites are Buster Posey of the World Series-winning San Francisco Giants in the NL (by a whisker over Atlanta outfielder Jason Heyward) and an expected head-butting between Detroit outfielder Austin Jackson and Texas Rangers' closer Neftali Feliz in the AL.
Some other interesting news: in NCAA women's basketball, The Connecticut Huskies kept their remarkable 78-game winning streak alive with an unholy beatdown of Holy Cross, 117-37, and 80-point margin of victory that would surprise me if it didn't start up that debate about the kindness of running up the score that usually surfaces after games like this. And, on the men's side, defending national champion Duke (and #1 ranked team entering this season) smashed Princeton, 97-60. I'm not as big a fan of basketball as football or baseball, especially not college (at least I know the names of players in the NBA), but I'll try to keep you updated on big happenings.
Tell you what: the man is still a winner.
In the first and third quarters of last night's big AFC rivalry game against the Pittsburgh Steelers (a 39-26 New England victory), Brady had the Patriots looking every bit as good as they did during their legendary 18-1 2007 season, when their offense was downright explosive and their only hiccup was a Super Bowl loss to the New York Giants. Brady was 30 of 43 for 350 yards passing, tossing 3 touchdowns and scoring one on a three-yard keeper. After said keeper, on the possession after the Patriots were forced to punt and a furious Brady chewed out teammates on the field and on the sideline, he spiked the ball vehemently, looking thoroughly pumped.
A week after a dreadful showing in a 34-14 loss to the two-win Cleveland Browns, the Patriots rocked the high-running Steelers in Pittsburgh, led by Brady and rookie tight end Rob Gronkowski, who caught all three Brady touchdown passes, becoming the sixth rookie tight end since 1960 to have 3 TD catches in one game). The Steelers' secondary was a joke during the game, their defense barely got a hand on Brady all night, star receiver Heinz Ward left the game with neck pain after an ugly first quarter collision, and before he finished 30 of 49 for 387 yards and 3 touchdowns, Ben Roethlisberger spent most of the first three quarters watching his teammates drop passes that hit them in their hands in the end zone.
"We made big plays when we needed to make them," Brady said. "It's an exciting game for us in this locker room. We haven't been this happy in a long time. We're pretty good when we execute the right way."
It was the first matchup of multiple Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks since 1985, when the Oakland Raiders and San Francisco 49ers faced each other, sending Jim Plunkett out against Joe Montana. And the New England victory improves the Patriots' record to 7-2, while Pittsburgh slips to 6-3.
Speaking of the 49ers, San Francisco beat the St. Louis Rams in overtime in one of yesterday afternoon's later games, winning 23-20. The Dallas Cowboys finished off their first strong performance in almost two months by beating the New York Giants, 33-20, and improved to 2-7 (yikes). The Seattle Seahawks beat the Arizona Cardinals 36-18, and the scheduled Monday Night Football game sends the Philadelphia Eagles to Washington to play the Redskins, for Part II of the newfangled Michael Vick/Donovan McNabb rivalry.
Today, baseball's Rookie of the Year awards will be handed out. The favorites are Buster Posey of the World Series-winning San Francisco Giants in the NL (by a whisker over Atlanta outfielder Jason Heyward) and an expected head-butting between Detroit outfielder Austin Jackson and Texas Rangers' closer Neftali Feliz in the AL.
Some other interesting news: in NCAA women's basketball, The Connecticut Huskies kept their remarkable 78-game winning streak alive with an unholy beatdown of Holy Cross, 117-37, and 80-point margin of victory that would surprise me if it didn't start up that debate about the kindness of running up the score that usually surfaces after games like this. And, on the men's side, defending national champion Duke (and #1 ranked team entering this season) smashed Princeton, 97-60. I'm not as big a fan of basketball as football or baseball, especially not college (at least I know the names of players in the NBA), but I'll try to keep you updated on big happenings.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
The Boys Are All Right, November 14, 2010
At least, right now, they are. The 1-7 Dallas Cowboys had a great first half against the New York Giatns under new head coach Jason Garrett, hired on Monday to replace the fired Wade Phillips. The 'Boys are without starting QB Tony Romo and a host of defensive players, but, behind some big stops and a key interception (101 yard return for TD by Brian McCann), they put a hurtin' on the incoming 6-2 Giants. And, turns out, just over a minute into the second half, backup quarterback Jon Kitna hit Felix Jones for a 71-yard touchdown pass, making it 26-6. The Giants came in riding the red-hot arm of Eli Manning, and a five-game win streak. That all looks like a distant memory now.
On Thursday, the then-#1 ranked Baltimore Ravens coughed up a game to the Atlanta Falcons, scoring a touchdown with just over a minute to go, then failing to play enough defense to keep Atlanta out of the end zone. Atlanta won, 26-21.
Today, other scores include:
Buffalo got its first win of the season after an 0-8 start by beating Detroit 14-12
The Bears beat up the Minnesota Vikings, 27-13
The New York Jets got a 37-yard TD pass from Mark Sanchez to Santonio Holmes with 16 seconds left in overtime to beat the Cleveland Browns, 26-20, in Cleveland. The Browns shocked the New England Patriots with a big win last week, and beat the New Orleans Saints the week before.
Peyton Manning failed to throw a touchdown pass, but the Colts still beat the collapsing Cincinnati Bengals, 23-17
The Jacksonville Jaguars beat the Houston Texans, 31-24, on a shocker of a 50-yd TD pass from QB David Garard on a play that started with 3 seconds left on the clock. Garard took a step, waited, took another step, then threw a bomb from the 50-yard line. At the goal line, the ball was smacked with both hands by Houston defensive back Glover Quinn, and the ball hit charging Jaguars receiver Mike Thomas in the chest. The ball bounced off his chest, his trapped it against his thigh, then snuck across the goal line for a touchdown. They're calling it a Hail Mary.
The Miami Dolphins clocked the Tennessee Titans (Randy Moss' new home), 29-17, and the Bucs beat the Carolina Panthers, 31-16.
Those are all the games that have been completed so far. More scores will come later.
Yesterday, in college football, top-ranked teams Oregon (#1), Auburn (#2), and TCU (then-#3) all spent a chunk of their games searching for their identities before finally pulling out wins. Oregon beat California 15-13, which will likely set aside all talk that theirs might be the best offense in college football history. Auburn beat SEC rival Georgia 49-31 amidst allegations that QB and Heisman hopeful Cam Newton might have been paid, or been assisted, in coming to Auburn to play football. And the TCU Horned Frogs crept past San Diego State, 40-35, in their least satisfactory performance of the season, and one that nearly proved costly. Boise State crept even closer to TCU in the rankings this week (TCU still holds the #3 spot), after hammering Idaho 47-7. Worse, for TCU, Utah, whom they beat last week in a matchup of then-undefeated teams, was crushed by Notre Dame, 28-3, putting a major dent in their strength-of-schedule argument.
The rest of the BCS Top Ten includes: 5) LSU (which murdered LA-Monroe, 51-0)
6) Stanford (which snuck by Arizona State, 17-13)
7) Wisconsin (which slaughtered Indiana, 83-20)
9) Nebraska (beat Kansas 20-3)
9) Ohio State (beat Penn State, 38-14)
and 10) Oklahoma State (beat Texas 33-16)
I'm going to try to write an in-depth piece on tonight's big NFL matchup, the New England Patriots versus the Pittsburgh Steelers.
On Thursday, the then-#1 ranked Baltimore Ravens coughed up a game to the Atlanta Falcons, scoring a touchdown with just over a minute to go, then failing to play enough defense to keep Atlanta out of the end zone. Atlanta won, 26-21.
Today, other scores include:
Buffalo got its first win of the season after an 0-8 start by beating Detroit 14-12
The Bears beat up the Minnesota Vikings, 27-13
The New York Jets got a 37-yard TD pass from Mark Sanchez to Santonio Holmes with 16 seconds left in overtime to beat the Cleveland Browns, 26-20, in Cleveland. The Browns shocked the New England Patriots with a big win last week, and beat the New Orleans Saints the week before.
Peyton Manning failed to throw a touchdown pass, but the Colts still beat the collapsing Cincinnati Bengals, 23-17
The Jacksonville Jaguars beat the Houston Texans, 31-24, on a shocker of a 50-yd TD pass from QB David Garard on a play that started with 3 seconds left on the clock. Garard took a step, waited, took another step, then threw a bomb from the 50-yard line. At the goal line, the ball was smacked with both hands by Houston defensive back Glover Quinn, and the ball hit charging Jaguars receiver Mike Thomas in the chest. The ball bounced off his chest, his trapped it against his thigh, then snuck across the goal line for a touchdown. They're calling it a Hail Mary.
The Miami Dolphins clocked the Tennessee Titans (Randy Moss' new home), 29-17, and the Bucs beat the Carolina Panthers, 31-16.
Those are all the games that have been completed so far. More scores will come later.
Yesterday, in college football, top-ranked teams Oregon (#1), Auburn (#2), and TCU (then-#3) all spent a chunk of their games searching for their identities before finally pulling out wins. Oregon beat California 15-13, which will likely set aside all talk that theirs might be the best offense in college football history. Auburn beat SEC rival Georgia 49-31 amidst allegations that QB and Heisman hopeful Cam Newton might have been paid, or been assisted, in coming to Auburn to play football. And the TCU Horned Frogs crept past San Diego State, 40-35, in their least satisfactory performance of the season, and one that nearly proved costly. Boise State crept even closer to TCU in the rankings this week (TCU still holds the #3 spot), after hammering Idaho 47-7. Worse, for TCU, Utah, whom they beat last week in a matchup of then-undefeated teams, was crushed by Notre Dame, 28-3, putting a major dent in their strength-of-schedule argument.
The rest of the BCS Top Ten includes: 5) LSU (which murdered LA-Monroe, 51-0)
6) Stanford (which snuck by Arizona State, 17-13)
7) Wisconsin (which slaughtered Indiana, 83-20)
9) Nebraska (beat Kansas 20-3)
9) Ohio State (beat Penn State, 38-14)
and 10) Oklahoma State (beat Texas 33-16)
I'm going to try to write an in-depth piece on tonight's big NFL matchup, the New England Patriots versus the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Wade Walks, Suh Kicks, Bama Loses, and Or-e-gon!!, November 9, 2010
Hello, faithful readers. I appreciate your faithfulness :) People like me would be really bored if no one ever read our work.
It's been a while since my last post, largely because, with the end of the baseball season, my greatest sports fascination is over until next October. Well, AL Gold Glove winners were announced today (Ichiro, Joe Mauer and a bunch of Yankees), and the other major award winners will be announced in following days, but, really, baseball is over. It's all about football now.
I'm not too big a fan of hockey, or basketball, though I did watch the revamped Miami Heat (D-Wade, King James, and Chris Bosh, and company) in their season opener against the Celtics (they were beaten soundly, despite a late charge led by LeBron) and their home opener against the Orlando Magic (they crushed 'em, behind a strong effort from Wade). Well, now I've seen: it's still Wade's team, and it always will be, just like Derek Jeter remained the most popular Yankee even once A-Rod came on board. When Wade has a big night, the Heat wins. With LeBron, it's about 50/50. I am expecting the Heat to make the playoffs, though.
Well, football season is in full swing. My mom went to the Baltimore Ravens-Miami Dolphins game in Baltimore last weekend (the Ravens won despite some scuffles on offense), and said the same thing everyone does about going to football games: the atmosphere is awesome, but if you're there for the football, you should just watch in on TV.
There are MAAAAANY major stories out there, but I'll only quickly touch on a few:
-Brett Favre's starts streak is still alive (293 and counting), despite injuries to his ankle (against the Green Bay Packers) and his chin (against the New England Patriots), and he led the Vikes to an overtime win against Arizona this week
-Randy Moss is a Tennessee Titan. The wide receiver with the second-most touchdown passes all time (to Jerry Rice, duh) went from New England to Minnesota, was released, and was picked up. Moss has been labeled a head case and a pri-madonna, and has already refused to speak to the media for the rest of the year. We'll see if he holds to that.
-Michael Vick led the Eagles to a big win over the Indianapolis Colts this week, helping to shovel some dirt on the Vick/Kolb QB controversy.
-Colt McCoy makes a heck of an NFL quarterback! The University of Texas product passed for 270 yards in his NFL debut against the Steelers, led the Browns to a victory over the Saints, and then beat the Patriots this week, scoring his first career rushing TD on a 16-yard carry in the process. McCoy has pretty much made up for missing most of the 2010 BCS Title game versus Bama after that first quarter shoulder injury.
-Donovan McNabb had a bye week after being benched by Coach Mike Shanahan late in an ugly loss to the Detroit Lions. Shanahan put in backup quarterback Rex Grossman (remember him?) with about two minutes left, with the Redskins only down by one score. Grossman fumbled after being hit on his first snap, and the Redskins were crushed. Shanahan defended his move by saying Grossman knew the two-minute drill vernacular better than McNabb, then saying he doubted McNabb's cardiovascular endurance. I'm serious.
Wade Walks
The woeful 1-7 Dallas Cowboys changed coaches yesterday, when general manager Jerry Jones fired head coach Wade Phillips and replaced him with offensive coordinator Jason Garrett in the aftermath of a hideous 45-7 loss to the Green Bay Packers. The Cowboys are without Tony Romo, are without luck, and will host the Super Bowl this year, but most assuredly will not play in it. This week, they play the red-hot New York Giants.
Suh Kicks
This was by no means one of the week's major highlights, but it's worth mentioning. During last Sunday's game against the New York Jets, the Detroit Lions lost their kicker to an injury, and defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh (the 2010 NFL Draft's #2 pick out of the University of Nebraska) volunteered to kick the point after touchdown late in the game. His kick clanged off the right post, just barely missing. The Lions lost the game.
Bama Loses
All you need to know is right there in the section heading. The defending BCS National Champion University of Alabama Crimson Tide lost their second game of the year on Saturday, dropping to head coach Les Miles' LSU Tigers, 24-21, just four weeks after losing their first regular season game in 29 tries to South Carolina. One thing you will hear about is that Miles was seen plucking blades of grass and eating them during the game. Kind of random, right? But this victory catapulted LSU (who lost to Auburn the week before) back into the Number Six spot in the national rankings, and dropped the Crimson Tide to 12th.
Or-e-gon!
The Ducks opened the season with a 72-0 win over New Mexico, beat Portland State 69-0 two weeks later, and dropped 50 points on Washington this week in their second week at number one. The week before, the Auburn Tigers became one of just a handful of teams in BCS history to lose the #1 overall ranking without losing a game. All that remains between the Ducks and the National Championship Game are Cal, Arizona and Oregon State.
Speaking of college football, #3 TCU smashed former #5 Utah in a matchup of then-undefeateds, claiming a 47-7 victory. TCU has games remaining against San Diego State and New Mexico. If they win both, and either Auburn or Oregon loses (and Auburn plays Alabama in three weeks) , they could play for the national title. Last year, the Horned Frogs were undefeated until they met Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl.
Boise, meanwhile, smashed Utah State and continued their undefeated reign.
To make things simple, I'll finish up here with the Top Ten rankings for the BCS and the NFL.
College Football
1. Oregon 2. Auburn 3. TCU 4. Boise State 5. Stanford 6. LSU 7. Wisconsin 8. Ohio State 9. Nebraska 10. Michigan State (Oregon, Auburn, TCU and Boise are all undefeated)
Professional Football
1. Baltimore Ravens (6-2) 2. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2) 3. Atlanta Falcons (6-2) 4. New York Giants (6-2) 5. New York Jets (6-2) 6. New England Patriots (6-2) 7. Green Bay Packers (6-3) 8. Philadelphia Eagles (5-3) 9. New Orleans Saints (6-3) 10. Indianapolis Colts (5-3)
It's been a while since my last post, largely because, with the end of the baseball season, my greatest sports fascination is over until next October. Well, AL Gold Glove winners were announced today (Ichiro, Joe Mauer and a bunch of Yankees), and the other major award winners will be announced in following days, but, really, baseball is over. It's all about football now.
I'm not too big a fan of hockey, or basketball, though I did watch the revamped Miami Heat (D-Wade, King James, and Chris Bosh, and company) in their season opener against the Celtics (they were beaten soundly, despite a late charge led by LeBron) and their home opener against the Orlando Magic (they crushed 'em, behind a strong effort from Wade). Well, now I've seen: it's still Wade's team, and it always will be, just like Derek Jeter remained the most popular Yankee even once A-Rod came on board. When Wade has a big night, the Heat wins. With LeBron, it's about 50/50. I am expecting the Heat to make the playoffs, though.
Well, football season is in full swing. My mom went to the Baltimore Ravens-Miami Dolphins game in Baltimore last weekend (the Ravens won despite some scuffles on offense), and said the same thing everyone does about going to football games: the atmosphere is awesome, but if you're there for the football, you should just watch in on TV.
There are MAAAAANY major stories out there, but I'll only quickly touch on a few:
-Brett Favre's starts streak is still alive (293 and counting), despite injuries to his ankle (against the Green Bay Packers) and his chin (against the New England Patriots), and he led the Vikes to an overtime win against Arizona this week
-Randy Moss is a Tennessee Titan. The wide receiver with the second-most touchdown passes all time (to Jerry Rice, duh) went from New England to Minnesota, was released, and was picked up. Moss has been labeled a head case and a pri-madonna, and has already refused to speak to the media for the rest of the year. We'll see if he holds to that.
-Michael Vick led the Eagles to a big win over the Indianapolis Colts this week, helping to shovel some dirt on the Vick/Kolb QB controversy.
-Colt McCoy makes a heck of an NFL quarterback! The University of Texas product passed for 270 yards in his NFL debut against the Steelers, led the Browns to a victory over the Saints, and then beat the Patriots this week, scoring his first career rushing TD on a 16-yard carry in the process. McCoy has pretty much made up for missing most of the 2010 BCS Title game versus Bama after that first quarter shoulder injury.
-Donovan McNabb had a bye week after being benched by Coach Mike Shanahan late in an ugly loss to the Detroit Lions. Shanahan put in backup quarterback Rex Grossman (remember him?) with about two minutes left, with the Redskins only down by one score. Grossman fumbled after being hit on his first snap, and the Redskins were crushed. Shanahan defended his move by saying Grossman knew the two-minute drill vernacular better than McNabb, then saying he doubted McNabb's cardiovascular endurance. I'm serious.
Wade Walks
The woeful 1-7 Dallas Cowboys changed coaches yesterday, when general manager Jerry Jones fired head coach Wade Phillips and replaced him with offensive coordinator Jason Garrett in the aftermath of a hideous 45-7 loss to the Green Bay Packers. The Cowboys are without Tony Romo, are without luck, and will host the Super Bowl this year, but most assuredly will not play in it. This week, they play the red-hot New York Giants.
Suh Kicks
This was by no means one of the week's major highlights, but it's worth mentioning. During last Sunday's game against the New York Jets, the Detroit Lions lost their kicker to an injury, and defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh (the 2010 NFL Draft's #2 pick out of the University of Nebraska) volunteered to kick the point after touchdown late in the game. His kick clanged off the right post, just barely missing. The Lions lost the game.
Bama Loses
All you need to know is right there in the section heading. The defending BCS National Champion University of Alabama Crimson Tide lost their second game of the year on Saturday, dropping to head coach Les Miles' LSU Tigers, 24-21, just four weeks after losing their first regular season game in 29 tries to South Carolina. One thing you will hear about is that Miles was seen plucking blades of grass and eating them during the game. Kind of random, right? But this victory catapulted LSU (who lost to Auburn the week before) back into the Number Six spot in the national rankings, and dropped the Crimson Tide to 12th.
Or-e-gon!
The Ducks opened the season with a 72-0 win over New Mexico, beat Portland State 69-0 two weeks later, and dropped 50 points on Washington this week in their second week at number one. The week before, the Auburn Tigers became one of just a handful of teams in BCS history to lose the #1 overall ranking without losing a game. All that remains between the Ducks and the National Championship Game are Cal, Arizona and Oregon State.
Speaking of college football, #3 TCU smashed former #5 Utah in a matchup of then-undefeateds, claiming a 47-7 victory. TCU has games remaining against San Diego State and New Mexico. If they win both, and either Auburn or Oregon loses (and Auburn plays Alabama in three weeks) , they could play for the national title. Last year, the Horned Frogs were undefeated until they met Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl.
Boise, meanwhile, smashed Utah State and continued their undefeated reign.
To make things simple, I'll finish up here with the Top Ten rankings for the BCS and the NFL.
College Football
1. Oregon 2. Auburn 3. TCU 4. Boise State 5. Stanford 6. LSU 7. Wisconsin 8. Ohio State 9. Nebraska 10. Michigan State (Oregon, Auburn, TCU and Boise are all undefeated)
Professional Football
1. Baltimore Ravens (6-2) 2. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2) 3. Atlanta Falcons (6-2) 4. New York Giants (6-2) 5. New York Jets (6-2) 6. New England Patriots (6-2) 7. Green Bay Packers (6-3) 8. Philadelphia Eagles (5-3) 9. New Orleans Saints (6-3) 10. Indianapolis Colts (5-3)
Monday, November 1, 2010
Heartbreak in Texas, Euphoria in San Fran, November 1, 2010
The 2010 World Series is in the books. Five games. Scores of 11-7, 9-0, 4-2, 4-0, and 3-1. The National League Champion San Francisco Giants, 6 games out in their division in the last week of August, thumped the Atlanta Braves in the NLDS, surprised the Philadelphia Phillies with their fight in the NLCS, and just plain outpitched the American League Texas Rangers in this series.
I haven't made a post since the end of Game Two, when the Giants led the series 2-0 after a horrific bullpen implosion by the Rangers.
Texas won Game Three behind the sure and steady arm of Colby "The Yankee Killer" Lewis, though he gave up a pair of late solo home runs (Cody Ross and Andre Torres). The big hit in that game was a three-run homer by Rangers rookie first baseman Mitch Moreland. Josh Hamilton also hit a home run in that game, his only significant contribution of the series.
San Francisco won Game Four behind a spectacular pitching performance. It wasn't Tim Lincecum on the mound. It wasn't Mr. 0.00, Matt Cain. 21-year-old Madison Bumgarner became the second-youngest pitcher to throw eight shutout innings in a World Series game (Jim Palmer of the Orioles in Game 2 of the 1966 World Series). Aubrey Huff hit a two-run homer, rookie sensation Buster Posey smacked a solo shot to center, and the Giants were one win away.
In Game Five, the Freak Tim Lincecum pitched his best game since his first career postseason start, his 14-K two-hitter in Atlanta in Game One of the NLDS. Lincecum as nearly as good here, giving up just three hits and walking one, striking out ten, making at least one sterling defensive play, and hiccupping just once, on a two-out seventh inning home run to Rangers right fielder Nelson Cruz. That, though, came just a few minutes after Giants' shortstop Edgar Renteria smashed a stadium-silencing three-run homer off Rangers' ace Cliff Lee, who lost his second straight World Series start after beginning his career with 7 straight postseason wins (including two wins in last year's World Series). That homer was set up by consecutive singles by Cody Ross and Juan Uribe. Giants closer Brian Wilson (FEAR THE BEARD) struck out Hamilton looking on a belt-high fastball on the outside corner, got Vladimir Guerrero to ground sharply to third, then struck out Cruz swinging, and the Giants erupted. Leading the charge out of the dugout to the mound celebration was outfielder Pat Burrell, who had a hideous series (1o strikeouts).
The series MVP award could easily have gone to Cain, Bumgarner, Lincecum, Ross, or Huff, but was awarded to Edgar Renteria, who hit two home runs in the series and had several other big hits after a season in which he was on the DL three times and barely played. Renteria has been shuttled around from team to team, was the last out of the 2004 World Series when he played for the Cardinals, but once, long ago, smacked a Game 7-winning RBI single in the bottom of the 11th inning for the Florida Marlins against the Cleveland Indians. He was 21 at the time. He joins an incredible exclusive fraternity of players who have game-winning RBIs in two World Series clinching-games: (ready for this?) Joe DiMaggio, Lou Gehrig, Yogi Berra. You've heard of them, right?
This was the Giants' organization's sixth World Series, first since 1954 (a la Willie Mays' famous catch), when they beat the 111-win Cleveland Indians, and the first since moving to San Francisco in 1958. They lost the 7-game 1961 series to the Yankees, the 4-game 1989 series to the A's, and the 7-game 2002 series to the Angels.
For the Texas Rangers, who had a great postseason run in eliminating the beasts of the AL East (the Rays and defending world champion Yankees), it was a disappointing series in which their best pitcher failed and their offense ran into a buzzsaw of moving pitches.
Time to close the door on the 2010 Major League Baseball season (except for the major awards). Congratulations, Giants.
I haven't made a post since the end of Game Two, when the Giants led the series 2-0 after a horrific bullpen implosion by the Rangers.
Texas won Game Three behind the sure and steady arm of Colby "The Yankee Killer" Lewis, though he gave up a pair of late solo home runs (Cody Ross and Andre Torres). The big hit in that game was a three-run homer by Rangers rookie first baseman Mitch Moreland. Josh Hamilton also hit a home run in that game, his only significant contribution of the series.
San Francisco won Game Four behind a spectacular pitching performance. It wasn't Tim Lincecum on the mound. It wasn't Mr. 0.00, Matt Cain. 21-year-old Madison Bumgarner became the second-youngest pitcher to throw eight shutout innings in a World Series game (Jim Palmer of the Orioles in Game 2 of the 1966 World Series). Aubrey Huff hit a two-run homer, rookie sensation Buster Posey smacked a solo shot to center, and the Giants were one win away.
In Game Five, the Freak Tim Lincecum pitched his best game since his first career postseason start, his 14-K two-hitter in Atlanta in Game One of the NLDS. Lincecum as nearly as good here, giving up just three hits and walking one, striking out ten, making at least one sterling defensive play, and hiccupping just once, on a two-out seventh inning home run to Rangers right fielder Nelson Cruz. That, though, came just a few minutes after Giants' shortstop Edgar Renteria smashed a stadium-silencing three-run homer off Rangers' ace Cliff Lee, who lost his second straight World Series start after beginning his career with 7 straight postseason wins (including two wins in last year's World Series). That homer was set up by consecutive singles by Cody Ross and Juan Uribe. Giants closer Brian Wilson (FEAR THE BEARD) struck out Hamilton looking on a belt-high fastball on the outside corner, got Vladimir Guerrero to ground sharply to third, then struck out Cruz swinging, and the Giants erupted. Leading the charge out of the dugout to the mound celebration was outfielder Pat Burrell, who had a hideous series (1o strikeouts).
The series MVP award could easily have gone to Cain, Bumgarner, Lincecum, Ross, or Huff, but was awarded to Edgar Renteria, who hit two home runs in the series and had several other big hits after a season in which he was on the DL three times and barely played. Renteria has been shuttled around from team to team, was the last out of the 2004 World Series when he played for the Cardinals, but once, long ago, smacked a Game 7-winning RBI single in the bottom of the 11th inning for the Florida Marlins against the Cleveland Indians. He was 21 at the time. He joins an incredible exclusive fraternity of players who have game-winning RBIs in two World Series clinching-games: (ready for this?) Joe DiMaggio, Lou Gehrig, Yogi Berra. You've heard of them, right?
This was the Giants' organization's sixth World Series, first since 1954 (a la Willie Mays' famous catch), when they beat the 111-win Cleveland Indians, and the first since moving to San Francisco in 1958. They lost the 7-game 1961 series to the Yankees, the 4-game 1989 series to the A's, and the 7-game 2002 series to the Angels.
For the Texas Rangers, who had a great postseason run in eliminating the beasts of the AL East (the Rays and defending world champion Yankees), it was a disappointing series in which their best pitcher failed and their offense ran into a buzzsaw of moving pitches.
Time to close the door on the 2010 Major League Baseball season (except for the major awards). Congratulations, Giants.
Friday, October 29, 2010
Starting Pitching and Relief Pitching, October 29, 2010
A day after the second-highest combined run output in any World Series Game 1 (18 total runs, 11-7 win by the Giants), baseball purists everywhere got exactly what they wanted in Game 2, a pitching duel. Giants' right-hander Matt Cain butted heads with Rangers lefty C.J. Wilson, with one mistake pitch by Wilson to San Fran's Edgar Renteria (solo homer) the difference between them. Hits were few, walks were fewer.
So, how did it end up 9-0 Giants? How did a team that scratched and clawed for runs all season (and all postseason) turn into the 1927 Yankees?
First, a blister on a finger on Wilson's pitching hand ruptured, and started to bleed. Then Giants' third basemen Juan Uribe thunked a blooper of an RBI double into right-center field against Darren O'Day, the Rangers' first reliever, to double the score.
Then the Rangers' ship sunk faster than the Titanic in an eighth inning that was a million times worse than the Yankees 5-run eruption in Game 1 of the ALCS that took away a sure-thing win.
But, first, one has to dwell on Matt Cain. Cain, a quiet, unassuming right-hander who looks like Michael Cera (the dweeby actor from Juno and Superbad), who also happens to be one of the unluckiest guys in the world from a pitching standpoint (he pitches for the oft-offensively challenged Giants, after all, and has often been talked about with the asterisk *run support) is becoming the greatest pitching story in a postseason loaded with great pitching stories. Roy Halladay's no-hitter? Yep, got it. Tim Lincecum's 14-strikeout, two-hitter? Gotcha. Cliff Lee dominance's (until last night). Yessir. But how about 21 1/3 scoreless innings? That's where Cain is. He has allowed one unearned run, but, otherwise, has given up no homers, and has held teams to a 1 in 15 chances percentage with runners in scoring position.
Naturally, Cain chugged through the Texas lineup. He got an unseemly lucky break when an Ian Kinsler (Texas 2B) fly ball bounced off the top of the center field wall and caromed backward, back onto the field of play, for a double instead of a home run. But that was a leadoff man in scoring position. No problem. Cain ended up in the dugout with the appropriate goose-egg on the board.
Two innings before that? Michael Young and Josh Hamilton got back-to-back singles with one out, and a sacrifice moved them to 2nd and third. All the Rangers needed was a fly ball! But Cain effectively put away Nelson Cruz (pop up) and Kinsler (fly to right) to get out of it.
Zero. That's Matt Cain's career postseason ERA. 0.00. Looks pretty cool, doesn't it?
"I've been trying to work ahead in the count," Cain said afterward, having pitched 7 2/3 scoreless innings and receiving an earth-shaking standing ovation as he left the field. "I really tried to make sure that I made every pitch count from here on out."
When Cain left, it was still just 2-0 in the top of the eighth. Typical Giants' torture. But the Rangers dropped 38 runs on the Yankees in 6 games, and scored two runs against just Brian Wilson, the Giants' famously bearded closer, in the ninth inning of Game 1.
Again, the Rangers' ship sunk. Darren O'Day, a submarine-style right-hander, got two outs, then gave up a single to Buster Posey. Rangers manager Ron Washington summoned lefty Derek Holland-so good in shutting down the Yankees in the ALCS-to pitch to utility player Nate Schierholtz, and that was essentially the ballgame.
Let me be clear: I'm rooting for the Giants. Maybe, as an aspiring journalist, I'm supposed to remain neutral, but, I can't help it. I'm still a fan. I'm rooting for the Giants, but even I was horrified when Holland threw 11 straight balls to three hitters, walking two, and going 3-0 on the next one. He then managed a strike. Then another ball. Another walk, and a run walked in. 3-0, Giants. Holland was pulled, then Mark Lowe came in to pitch. He walked the first man he saw, Cody Ross, allowing another run to score. 4-0, Giants. The Giants then got three run-scoring hits in a row off Lowe and Michael Kirkman--a two-run single by Edgar Renteria, who added to an already impressive World Series resume, a two-run triple by Aaron Rowand, who was pinch-hitting, and an RBI double by Andres Torres. Seven runs in the innings. Seven runs with two outs. 9-0 Giants. Then Freddy Sanchez struck out swinging.
It was so wide-open that Guillermo Mota, a hard-throwing righty who hadn't pitched the entire postseason, came on to pitch the ninth, allowed a walk, and yet nobody got active in the bullpen. Didn't need to. He got the third out.
Now the Giants are up 2-0 as we head back to Texas. They've been beaten 11-7 and 9-0, and it hasn't even been that close. Their two best pitchers have lost. And they're facing a Giants' squad that knows how to torture.
So, how did it end up 9-0 Giants? How did a team that scratched and clawed for runs all season (and all postseason) turn into the 1927 Yankees?
First, a blister on a finger on Wilson's pitching hand ruptured, and started to bleed. Then Giants' third basemen Juan Uribe thunked a blooper of an RBI double into right-center field against Darren O'Day, the Rangers' first reliever, to double the score.
Then the Rangers' ship sunk faster than the Titanic in an eighth inning that was a million times worse than the Yankees 5-run eruption in Game 1 of the ALCS that took away a sure-thing win.
But, first, one has to dwell on Matt Cain. Cain, a quiet, unassuming right-hander who looks like Michael Cera (the dweeby actor from Juno and Superbad), who also happens to be one of the unluckiest guys in the world from a pitching standpoint (he pitches for the oft-offensively challenged Giants, after all, and has often been talked about with the asterisk *run support) is becoming the greatest pitching story in a postseason loaded with great pitching stories. Roy Halladay's no-hitter? Yep, got it. Tim Lincecum's 14-strikeout, two-hitter? Gotcha. Cliff Lee dominance's (until last night). Yessir. But how about 21 1/3 scoreless innings? That's where Cain is. He has allowed one unearned run, but, otherwise, has given up no homers, and has held teams to a 1 in 15 chances percentage with runners in scoring position.
Naturally, Cain chugged through the Texas lineup. He got an unseemly lucky break when an Ian Kinsler (Texas 2B) fly ball bounced off the top of the center field wall and caromed backward, back onto the field of play, for a double instead of a home run. But that was a leadoff man in scoring position. No problem. Cain ended up in the dugout with the appropriate goose-egg on the board.
Two innings before that? Michael Young and Josh Hamilton got back-to-back singles with one out, and a sacrifice moved them to 2nd and third. All the Rangers needed was a fly ball! But Cain effectively put away Nelson Cruz (pop up) and Kinsler (fly to right) to get out of it.
Zero. That's Matt Cain's career postseason ERA. 0.00. Looks pretty cool, doesn't it?
"I've been trying to work ahead in the count," Cain said afterward, having pitched 7 2/3 scoreless innings and receiving an earth-shaking standing ovation as he left the field. "I really tried to make sure that I made every pitch count from here on out."
When Cain left, it was still just 2-0 in the top of the eighth. Typical Giants' torture. But the Rangers dropped 38 runs on the Yankees in 6 games, and scored two runs against just Brian Wilson, the Giants' famously bearded closer, in the ninth inning of Game 1.
Again, the Rangers' ship sunk. Darren O'Day, a submarine-style right-hander, got two outs, then gave up a single to Buster Posey. Rangers manager Ron Washington summoned lefty Derek Holland-so good in shutting down the Yankees in the ALCS-to pitch to utility player Nate Schierholtz, and that was essentially the ballgame.
Let me be clear: I'm rooting for the Giants. Maybe, as an aspiring journalist, I'm supposed to remain neutral, but, I can't help it. I'm still a fan. I'm rooting for the Giants, but even I was horrified when Holland threw 11 straight balls to three hitters, walking two, and going 3-0 on the next one. He then managed a strike. Then another ball. Another walk, and a run walked in. 3-0, Giants. Holland was pulled, then Mark Lowe came in to pitch. He walked the first man he saw, Cody Ross, allowing another run to score. 4-0, Giants. The Giants then got three run-scoring hits in a row off Lowe and Michael Kirkman--a two-run single by Edgar Renteria, who added to an already impressive World Series resume, a two-run triple by Aaron Rowand, who was pinch-hitting, and an RBI double by Andres Torres. Seven runs in the innings. Seven runs with two outs. 9-0 Giants. Then Freddy Sanchez struck out swinging.
It was so wide-open that Guillermo Mota, a hard-throwing righty who hadn't pitched the entire postseason, came on to pitch the ninth, allowed a walk, and yet nobody got active in the bullpen. Didn't need to. He got the third out.
Now the Giants are up 2-0 as we head back to Texas. They've been beaten 11-7 and 9-0, and it hasn't even been that close. Their two best pitchers have lost. And they're facing a Giants' squad that knows how to torture.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Giants Baseball=Torture, October 28, 2010
Because of their tendency to play close games that are decided late, with much twisting of the stomach muscles and clenching of the fists, the San Francisco Giants, "a group of misfits" by their own declaration, have labeled their brand of winning baseball "torture." The end of the NLCS against the Phillies was most certainly torture, in which closer Brian "The Beard" Wilson struck out Ryan Howard in the bottom of the ninth on a 3-2 count with two men on with just a one-run lead.
If it ain't broke, why fix it? The Giants stuck with the idea of torture for Game One of the World Series against the AL Champion Texas Rangers, and it worked. But this time, they tortured not themselves, or their fans...they tortured a man named Cliff Lee.
Lee, the southpaw ace of the Rangers, postseason wunderkind who entered the night with career playoff stats like 7-0 record, 1.26 ERA, in the same sentence with Sandy Koufax and Christy Mathewson, was touched for six runs in 4 1/3 innings, five in the fifth, en route to a Game One Giants' win, 11-7.
Hailed as yet another great pitching matchup, pitting Lee versus Giants windmill Tim Lincecum, the game quickly reverted from the scripted formula. Lincecum gave up three first-inning hits, and a run scored on a hard chopper by Vladimir Guerrero that bounced off Lincecum's leg into no-man's-land. Then, in what he would later call "a brain fart", he got a chopper back to the mound, saw Rangers' third-baseman Michael Young running for the plate, and ran after him. Giants third baseman Juan Uribe waited for a throw, waited, and waited. Lincecum never threw it, apparently forgetting the amount of runners on base. Fortunately for him, the next batter, Texas second baseman Ian Kinsler, grounded into an inning-ending double play.
Lincecum, who pitched a two-hit, fourteen-strikeout shut out in his postseason debut in the NLDS against the Atlanta Braves, gave up another run in the second, but it quickly became apparent that Lee wasn't himself either. A Michael Young error opened the door for an RBI double by Freddy Sanchez (who had four hits in this game, including three doubles in his first three World Series at-bats, a first) in the third, then rookie catcher Buster Posey tied the game with a single, but Lee pitched out of more trouble by striking out Pat Burrell and Cody Ross.
But, in the fifth inning, it all fell apart for Lee and the Rangers. By the time Sanchez hit his third double of the night, with one out, there were two runners on, and it became 3-2 Giants. Lee stuck out Posey. Two outs. Then Ross hit a missile up the middle that almost took Lee's head off. 4-2. Then Aubrey Huff slapped a single into right field, 5-2. Lee was then pulled, and he rushed off the mound quickly, looking like he wanted to duck under the tide of inevitable backlash against his first real postseason stinker. The man who relieved him, submariner Darren O'Day, promptly gave up a three-run homer to Juan Uribe, making it 8-2, and slapping Lee with seven runs, six earned.
After looking energized to start the sixth, and striking out the first two, Lincecum got into trouble, allowed two runs, and was pulled. In the process of unraveling, he took a hard Mitch Moreland line drive off the back of his left thigh. But reliever Santiago Casilla got out of it by striking out Rangers' shortstop Elvis Andrus (first World Series participant ever named Elvis), leaving it at 8-4.
In the eigth, the Giants, who were shocked and awed by their own power display when they hung six runs on the Phillies in Game 4 of the NLCS (first time they had topped four runs in about four weeks), they scored three more times, with backups Travis Ishikawa and Nate Schierholtz sandwiching RBI hits around Sanchez' mind-boggling fourth double of the night, with also drove in a run. 11-4, Giants.
While the Rangers would take on three in the ninth, including a two-out, two-run double by Nelson Cruz off closer Brian Wilson, that would be it. The Rangers surprisingly dropped Game One, their first-ever World Series game, behind the glittering left arm of their untouchable ace.
"I was trying to make adjustments," Lee, who got the loss, said. "I was up. I was down. I was in. I was out. I was trying to find it, and I was never really consistent with what I was doing."
"We know he throws a lot of strikes," Freddy "Doubles" Sanchez said of Lee. "We know he's one of the best pitchers in the game, especially in the postseason. We just wanted to attack him early."
Well, they attacked, and tortured, Lee, and the Rangers, en route to a World Series Game 1 victory. The Rangers also committed four errors, twice their misplay output in the six-game ALCS and the first four-error World Series performance since the 2004 Red Sox (who did it twice).
But the Rangers did lose Game 1 of the ALCS, and still won the series.
But the Giants did win Game 1 of the NLCS, and won the series.
Something's gotta give.
If it ain't broke, why fix it? The Giants stuck with the idea of torture for Game One of the World Series against the AL Champion Texas Rangers, and it worked. But this time, they tortured not themselves, or their fans...they tortured a man named Cliff Lee.
Lee, the southpaw ace of the Rangers, postseason wunderkind who entered the night with career playoff stats like 7-0 record, 1.26 ERA, in the same sentence with Sandy Koufax and Christy Mathewson, was touched for six runs in 4 1/3 innings, five in the fifth, en route to a Game One Giants' win, 11-7.
Hailed as yet another great pitching matchup, pitting Lee versus Giants windmill Tim Lincecum, the game quickly reverted from the scripted formula. Lincecum gave up three first-inning hits, and a run scored on a hard chopper by Vladimir Guerrero that bounced off Lincecum's leg into no-man's-land. Then, in what he would later call "a brain fart", he got a chopper back to the mound, saw Rangers' third-baseman Michael Young running for the plate, and ran after him. Giants third baseman Juan Uribe waited for a throw, waited, and waited. Lincecum never threw it, apparently forgetting the amount of runners on base. Fortunately for him, the next batter, Texas second baseman Ian Kinsler, grounded into an inning-ending double play.
Lincecum, who pitched a two-hit, fourteen-strikeout shut out in his postseason debut in the NLDS against the Atlanta Braves, gave up another run in the second, but it quickly became apparent that Lee wasn't himself either. A Michael Young error opened the door for an RBI double by Freddy Sanchez (who had four hits in this game, including three doubles in his first three World Series at-bats, a first) in the third, then rookie catcher Buster Posey tied the game with a single, but Lee pitched out of more trouble by striking out Pat Burrell and Cody Ross.
But, in the fifth inning, it all fell apart for Lee and the Rangers. By the time Sanchez hit his third double of the night, with one out, there were two runners on, and it became 3-2 Giants. Lee stuck out Posey. Two outs. Then Ross hit a missile up the middle that almost took Lee's head off. 4-2. Then Aubrey Huff slapped a single into right field, 5-2. Lee was then pulled, and he rushed off the mound quickly, looking like he wanted to duck under the tide of inevitable backlash against his first real postseason stinker. The man who relieved him, submariner Darren O'Day, promptly gave up a three-run homer to Juan Uribe, making it 8-2, and slapping Lee with seven runs, six earned.
After looking energized to start the sixth, and striking out the first two, Lincecum got into trouble, allowed two runs, and was pulled. In the process of unraveling, he took a hard Mitch Moreland line drive off the back of his left thigh. But reliever Santiago Casilla got out of it by striking out Rangers' shortstop Elvis Andrus (first World Series participant ever named Elvis), leaving it at 8-4.
In the eigth, the Giants, who were shocked and awed by their own power display when they hung six runs on the Phillies in Game 4 of the NLCS (first time they had topped four runs in about four weeks), they scored three more times, with backups Travis Ishikawa and Nate Schierholtz sandwiching RBI hits around Sanchez' mind-boggling fourth double of the night, with also drove in a run. 11-4, Giants.
While the Rangers would take on three in the ninth, including a two-out, two-run double by Nelson Cruz off closer Brian Wilson, that would be it. The Rangers surprisingly dropped Game One, their first-ever World Series game, behind the glittering left arm of their untouchable ace.
"I was trying to make adjustments," Lee, who got the loss, said. "I was up. I was down. I was in. I was out. I was trying to find it, and I was never really consistent with what I was doing."
"We know he throws a lot of strikes," Freddy "Doubles" Sanchez said of Lee. "We know he's one of the best pitchers in the game, especially in the postseason. We just wanted to attack him early."
Well, they attacked, and tortured, Lee, and the Rangers, en route to a World Series Game 1 victory. The Rangers also committed four errors, twice their misplay output in the six-game ALCS and the first four-error World Series performance since the 2004 Red Sox (who did it twice).
But the Rangers did lose Game 1 of the ALCS, and still won the series.
But the Giants did win Game 1 of the NLCS, and won the series.
Something's gotta give.
Saturday, October 23, 2010
The Dream World Series Matchup, October 23, 2010
Joe Buck shouted "The Giants win the pennant", and every dedicated baseball fan hearkened back to at least recordings of Bobby Thompson's famous 'Shot Heard 'Round the World' from 1954: "The Giants win the pennant! The Giants win the pennant!" This time, it was San Francisco Giants closer Brian "the Beard" Wilson striking out Ryan Howard looking with two on and two out, to set off a wild celebration on the field in the middle of a stone-quiet Citizens Bank Ballpark in Philadelphia.
This World Series is truly going to be a baseball purist's dream. Maybe the ratings won't be so great, maybe it won't be played in two of the biggest cities in the country, maybe the most popular, "sexiest" players (Jeter, A-Rod, Rivera, Halladay, Utley, Howard, Rollins) won't be in it, but darn it, it will be played between two teams who earned it. The Texas Rangers finished off the defending World Champion New York Yankees in six games Friday night, and the San Francisco Giants, a ragtag crew of colorful characters who, in late August, were 6 1/2 games out of first place, with barely a prayer of making the postseason, eliminated the class of the National League, the Philadelphia Phillies, in six games just minutes ago.
The Giants won game Six, 3-2, behind an eighth-inning, opposite field home run by third baseman Juan Uribe off Ryan Madson that broke a 2-2 tie that had existed since the third inning. The Giants bullpen pitched seven innings of five-hit, shutout ball, with appearances by starters Tim Lincecum and Madison Bumgarner, after starter Jonathan Sanchez was shaky. And, in the ninth, Wilson walked Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley, but got Howard looking to end it.
Oh, don't worry: there'll be recognizable faces. There's the Freak (Lincecum), with his long hair, boyish looks, and whirling windup. There's Cliff Lee, Postseason Extraodinaire, going in Game 1 for the Rangers, 7-0 and coming off three-consecutive 10-strikeout performances. There's Josh Hamilton, the likely American League MVP, and Vladimir Guerrero, a likely future Hall-of-Famer, making his first career postseason appearance. There's NL Rookie of the Year candidate Buster Posey, a rookie catcher who has ended up batting cleanup for the Giants throughout the playoffs. There's Edgar Renteria, a veteran who ended one World Series ages ago with a walkoff RBI single up the middle in the bottom of the eleventh inning of Game Seven.
The Giants haven't been to the big dance since 2002, when they lost a heartbreaking seven-game series to the Angels (and their MVP was some guy named Bonds). The Rangers have never been-had never even won a playoff series until this year.
The Giants have scored more than four runs just once (6 in Game Four of the NLCS) in the past three weeks; the Rangers beat the Yankees with scores of 7-2, 8-0, 10-3, and 6-1. The Giants had the lowest team ERA over the past month and a half; the Rangers got wins from each of their four starting pitchers in the NLCS.
I've called both teams a motley crew. I've hinted that both teams are underdogs. Both teams are already champions. The Giants are champions of the National League, stealing the crown, first-hand, from the two-time defending league champion Phillies. The Rangers are champions of the American League, stealing the crown from the defending, and all-time champions, the New York Yankees, winners of 27 World Series. The Giants won the NLCS with grit, gut, and guile, often in one-run games of white knuckle intensity. The Rangers waited out the Yankees' starters and repeatedly shellacked a talented bullpen.
It might not be the matchup of the decade. You won't hear the word 'dynasty' uttered within ten feet of this World Series. There won't be huge celebrities. One team is ancient, one has only been around since the '60s. Neither team was expected to win their division. Neither team was expectedt to make the playoffs. Both were underdogs in the LCS.
Well, they're both here. We have to make do with what we have. And boy howdy, it's gonna be great. Game One is Wednesday.
This World Series is truly going to be a baseball purist's dream. Maybe the ratings won't be so great, maybe it won't be played in two of the biggest cities in the country, maybe the most popular, "sexiest" players (Jeter, A-Rod, Rivera, Halladay, Utley, Howard, Rollins) won't be in it, but darn it, it will be played between two teams who earned it. The Texas Rangers finished off the defending World Champion New York Yankees in six games Friday night, and the San Francisco Giants, a ragtag crew of colorful characters who, in late August, were 6 1/2 games out of first place, with barely a prayer of making the postseason, eliminated the class of the National League, the Philadelphia Phillies, in six games just minutes ago.
The Giants won game Six, 3-2, behind an eighth-inning, opposite field home run by third baseman Juan Uribe off Ryan Madson that broke a 2-2 tie that had existed since the third inning. The Giants bullpen pitched seven innings of five-hit, shutout ball, with appearances by starters Tim Lincecum and Madison Bumgarner, after starter Jonathan Sanchez was shaky. And, in the ninth, Wilson walked Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley, but got Howard looking to end it.
Oh, don't worry: there'll be recognizable faces. There's the Freak (Lincecum), with his long hair, boyish looks, and whirling windup. There's Cliff Lee, Postseason Extraodinaire, going in Game 1 for the Rangers, 7-0 and coming off three-consecutive 10-strikeout performances. There's Josh Hamilton, the likely American League MVP, and Vladimir Guerrero, a likely future Hall-of-Famer, making his first career postseason appearance. There's NL Rookie of the Year candidate Buster Posey, a rookie catcher who has ended up batting cleanup for the Giants throughout the playoffs. There's Edgar Renteria, a veteran who ended one World Series ages ago with a walkoff RBI single up the middle in the bottom of the eleventh inning of Game Seven.
The Giants haven't been to the big dance since 2002, when they lost a heartbreaking seven-game series to the Angels (and their MVP was some guy named Bonds). The Rangers have never been-had never even won a playoff series until this year.
The Giants have scored more than four runs just once (6 in Game Four of the NLCS) in the past three weeks; the Rangers beat the Yankees with scores of 7-2, 8-0, 10-3, and 6-1. The Giants had the lowest team ERA over the past month and a half; the Rangers got wins from each of their four starting pitchers in the NLCS.
I've called both teams a motley crew. I've hinted that both teams are underdogs. Both teams are already champions. The Giants are champions of the National League, stealing the crown, first-hand, from the two-time defending league champion Phillies. The Rangers are champions of the American League, stealing the crown from the defending, and all-time champions, the New York Yankees, winners of 27 World Series. The Giants won the NLCS with grit, gut, and guile, often in one-run games of white knuckle intensity. The Rangers waited out the Yankees' starters and repeatedly shellacked a talented bullpen.
It might not be the matchup of the decade. You won't hear the word 'dynasty' uttered within ten feet of this World Series. There won't be huge celebrities. One team is ancient, one has only been around since the '60s. Neither team was expected to win their division. Neither team was expectedt to make the playoffs. Both were underdogs in the LCS.
Well, they're both here. We have to make do with what we have. And boy howdy, it's gonna be great. Game One is Wednesday.
Who Dat in the World Series?, October 23, 2010
"My season? It's over: that's how I would describe it." -Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter after Game Six of the ALCS, when asked how he would describe his season.
You'll have to excuse the title. That represented the New Orleans Saints last year-and I guess it still does-but the Texas Rangers, who came into last night's game having never won a playoff series before last week, and having been eliminated in all three previous trips to the playoffs by the New York Yankees, beat the Yankees 6-1 in Game Six of the ALCS, sending the Yankees home for the winter, and making their first-ever World Series.
Vladimir Guerrero made the Yankees pay for intentionally walking Josh Hamilton in front of him three times by wracking up three RBIs, including a 2-run double in the fifth that broke a 1-1 tie and essentially won the game. Nelson Cruz belted a two-run homer immediately afterward to make it 5-1, and Ian Kinsler added a sacrifice fly next inning to reach the final margin of 6-1. Colby Lewis, who won Game 2 of this series a year after pitching in Japan, pitched eight solid innings, striking out the side in the eighth. Elvis Andrus and Kinsler made key defensive stops against the Yankees, and rookie closer Neftali Feliz, just 22 years old, struck out Alex Rodriguez looking to end the ninth, setting up fireworks, throaty roars, Ginger Ale showers, and a giant pile of Rangers on the mound.
One columnist has already written that this is the first time baseball has really gained a foothold in Texas, where football has always reigned supreme. Now the World Series will come to Arlington next week (albeit for Games 3, 4 (and, if necessary, 5) since the National League won homefield advantage in the All-Star Game), and make a once-mocked franchise history.
Phil Hughes took the loss for the Yankees, David Robertson gave up the Cruz home run to the first batter he faced, Kerry Wood and Mariano Rivera pitched scoreless ball, but other than Alex Rodriguez scoring on a controversial passed ball in the third inning, the Yankees' bats were silent. They mustered just three hits and one walk against Lewis, and nothing against Feliz. They now face an off-season where manager Joe Girardi, shortstop Derek Jeter, closer Mariano Rivera, and pitcher Andy Pettite will need new contracts. Pettite, in particular, must decide where he wants to retire or come back again.
Either way, the Yankees' world-championship defense is over. The Rangers are in for the first time (with a humble Hamilton as MVP) and are waiting on an opponent. Game Six of the NLCS (Giants lead the Phillies 3-2) will be played Saturday night in Philadelphia.
You'll have to excuse the title. That represented the New Orleans Saints last year-and I guess it still does-but the Texas Rangers, who came into last night's game having never won a playoff series before last week, and having been eliminated in all three previous trips to the playoffs by the New York Yankees, beat the Yankees 6-1 in Game Six of the ALCS, sending the Yankees home for the winter, and making their first-ever World Series.
Vladimir Guerrero made the Yankees pay for intentionally walking Josh Hamilton in front of him three times by wracking up three RBIs, including a 2-run double in the fifth that broke a 1-1 tie and essentially won the game. Nelson Cruz belted a two-run homer immediately afterward to make it 5-1, and Ian Kinsler added a sacrifice fly next inning to reach the final margin of 6-1. Colby Lewis, who won Game 2 of this series a year after pitching in Japan, pitched eight solid innings, striking out the side in the eighth. Elvis Andrus and Kinsler made key defensive stops against the Yankees, and rookie closer Neftali Feliz, just 22 years old, struck out Alex Rodriguez looking to end the ninth, setting up fireworks, throaty roars, Ginger Ale showers, and a giant pile of Rangers on the mound.
One columnist has already written that this is the first time baseball has really gained a foothold in Texas, where football has always reigned supreme. Now the World Series will come to Arlington next week (albeit for Games 3, 4 (and, if necessary, 5) since the National League won homefield advantage in the All-Star Game), and make a once-mocked franchise history.
Phil Hughes took the loss for the Yankees, David Robertson gave up the Cruz home run to the first batter he faced, Kerry Wood and Mariano Rivera pitched scoreless ball, but other than Alex Rodriguez scoring on a controversial passed ball in the third inning, the Yankees' bats were silent. They mustered just three hits and one walk against Lewis, and nothing against Feliz. They now face an off-season where manager Joe Girardi, shortstop Derek Jeter, closer Mariano Rivera, and pitcher Andy Pettite will need new contracts. Pettite, in particular, must decide where he wants to retire or come back again.
Either way, the Yankees' world-championship defense is over. The Rangers are in for the first time (with a humble Hamilton as MVP) and are waiting on an opponent. Game Six of the NLCS (Giants lead the Phillies 3-2) will be played Saturday night in Philadelphia.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Giants Edge Phillies, Yankees Head to Texas, October 21, 2010
They've got a Freak, a Kung Fu Panda, a Raging Bull, Buster Ballgame, Huff Daddy, the Beard, the Franchise, and a guy who once aspired to be a rodeo clown, but the members of the San Francisco Giants are not the cast of some new MTV reality show, or a motley crew of cartoon characters, they are driven, talented baseball players. They just out-gutted the two-time defending national champions in an epic 6-5 nine-inning thriller Wednesday night to take a 3-1 lead in the NLCS.
The Philadelphia Phillies scored four runs in the fifth inning to turn a 2-0 deficit into a 4-2 lead, erased another deficit later in the game with back-to-back no-out doubles by Ryan Howard and Jayson Werth, had a couple calls go their way and sent their Number Two starter (Roy Oswalt) to the mound to pitch the ninth inning, but they still couldn't make a 2-1 series deficit a 2-2.
Giants catcher Buster Posey became the first rookie catcher in about 60 years to collect four hits and two RBIs (two-out RBIs, at that) in a postseason game, Aubrey Huff had three hits, the slumping, recently-benched Pablo Sandoval (the Panda) whacked a two-run double for his first postseason hit, and shortstop Juan Uribe, inserted into the game in the eighth inning despite a sore wrist, send the Bay Area into walk-off heaven with a sacrifice fly in the top of the ninth, scoring Huff from third after hits by Huff and Posey. The Giants, who used 17 players in the game, face Roy Halladay (remember him?) tonight in Game 5.
Meanwhile, baseball's other motley crew, the Texas Rangers, ran out of Yankee Stadium magic Wednesday afternoon, collecting 13 hits but being stifled to the tune of two runs by C.C. Sabathia, Kerry Wood, and Mariano Rivera in a game that could have sent the Yankees home for the winter. Instead, it's a 3-2 series, with Game Six in Arlington looming tomorrow. Nick Swisher and Robinson Cano hit back-to-back home runs in the fourth inning, and Curtis Granderson had a key hit. Rangers' starter C.J. Wilson, who pitched seven innings of shutout ball in Game One, gave up five runs in four innings to take the loss.
The Philadelphia Phillies scored four runs in the fifth inning to turn a 2-0 deficit into a 4-2 lead, erased another deficit later in the game with back-to-back no-out doubles by Ryan Howard and Jayson Werth, had a couple calls go their way and sent their Number Two starter (Roy Oswalt) to the mound to pitch the ninth inning, but they still couldn't make a 2-1 series deficit a 2-2.
Giants catcher Buster Posey became the first rookie catcher in about 60 years to collect four hits and two RBIs (two-out RBIs, at that) in a postseason game, Aubrey Huff had three hits, the slumping, recently-benched Pablo Sandoval (the Panda) whacked a two-run double for his first postseason hit, and shortstop Juan Uribe, inserted into the game in the eighth inning despite a sore wrist, send the Bay Area into walk-off heaven with a sacrifice fly in the top of the ninth, scoring Huff from third after hits by Huff and Posey. The Giants, who used 17 players in the game, face Roy Halladay (remember him?) tonight in Game 5.
Meanwhile, baseball's other motley crew, the Texas Rangers, ran out of Yankee Stadium magic Wednesday afternoon, collecting 13 hits but being stifled to the tune of two runs by C.C. Sabathia, Kerry Wood, and Mariano Rivera in a game that could have sent the Yankees home for the winter. Instead, it's a 3-2 series, with Game Six in Arlington looming tomorrow. Nick Swisher and Robinson Cano hit back-to-back home runs in the fourth inning, and Curtis Granderson had a key hit. Rangers' starter C.J. Wilson, who pitched seven innings of shutout ball in Game One, gave up five runs in four innings to take the loss.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Swing-Dancing with the Rangers, October 20, 2010
Man, I need to stop going to bed. I'm missing all this good stuff.
Baseball games are long and slow. It's the truth. That perception is only sharpened when it's football season, when one is used to watching sports in which plays go a lot faster and there is a terminal clock dictating just how long these proceedings can last.
I get it that Cliff Lee is pretty awesome. I watched most of Game Three Sunday night, when he continued his ridiculous Bob Gibson/Sandy Koufax impression by improving to 7-o lifetime in the postseason, with an ERA in the low 1.00's, with his third 10-strikeout game this season. But no one was that surprised. After all, Lee came in with that insane postseason resume, some of it (two wins in the '09 World Series as a member of the Phillies) coming against the Yankees, and the unflappable man continues to toss. Easy. 2-1 ALCS lead for the Rangers, behind their ace.
I coulda told you all that just watching through the sixth or seventh inning. It was 2-0 when I went to bed. I saw Josh Hamilton in the first inning, putting a relaxed, easy swing on an Andy Pettite cutter, still somehow sending it 320 feet into the right field stands. I saw Pettite toughen up after that, looking like a guy who is the all-time leader in postseason wins. But Lee kept sending the Yankees hitters away like an angry man hanging up instantaneously on telemarketers.
But, in the ninth inning, the Rangers teed off against the Yankee bullpen (it wasn't a save situation, so Mariano Rivera wasn't brought in), scoring six times to make it an 8-0 game instead of a 2-0 game. Apparently, fans left the glorious new Yankee Stadium in droves. I wouldn't know. I was asleep.
So, last night, I watched two and a quarter hours of baseball, of the pivotal Game Four, the one the Yankees had to win. I saw A.J. Burnett, the Yanks' much-maligned fourth starter, who had a 10-15 record this year, pitch far better than anyone could have anticipated. He gave up two runs (without allowing a ball out of the infield) in five innings. I saw Rangers' right-hander Tommy Hunter give up a home run to Robinson Cano (on a ball that Rangers' right-fielder Nelson Cruz complained that a fan had reached over the wall and interfered with--my diagnosis? The ball was out of the park. I don't think Cruz gets that ball even if the stadium is completely empty. A fan did grab his glove, but it was after the ball had landed. The hands 'in his way' were ones trying to catch a baseball falling at them from 315 feet away.) I saw Lance Berkman, two batters later, lose a home run to instant replay umpire review, on a bomb that just barely faded foul down the right field line.
I saw Derek Jeter throw all the crap about a .270 season out the window by breaking some more postseason records, dropping a double, a triple, and a run-scored onto his already illustrious career resume. I saw a fan down the left field line bounce a foul ball off his fingertips, thus knocking the ball out of the way of Yankees' left fielder Brett Gardner, who had a clear shot. Of course, this brought up mention of the hapless Cubs' fan Steve Bartman.
But, when I went to bed, I had seen four-and-a-half innings. Burnett was doing pretty well. The Yanks had a 3-2 lead. Hunter had been chased. Yet I watched from 8:00-10:15! But that was all I saw, because, during their innings of trouble, Burnett and especially Hunter seemed to go about two minutes between pitches. Baseball can be slow. Have I said that yet?
Well, after I went to bed, Yankee first baseman Mark Texeira blew his right hamstring running to first, A.J. Burnett intentionally walked a left-handed Ranger to bring up right-handed Bengie Molina, and surrendered a back-breaking three-run homer on the next pitch. Josh Hamilton hit a home run later. Josh Hamilton hit a home run later. Sorry, did I just say that twice? Well, it's the truth. Hamilton hit homers in the seventh and ninth innings against a Yankee bullpen looking worse and worse by the day (literally). Two batters after Hamilton's second drive, Nelson Cruz sent a missile into the second deck in nearly-empty Yankee Stadium, making it 10-3, and four home runs, all in favor of the Rangers.
So, allow me to continue my metaphor from the title of this post. Everyone's invited to the parties, they start late and they end later, they can be kinda slow, but, once mere mortals have gone to bed, they open up the dance floor, and the guys from Texas hit it. Then Hamilton, Cruz, Molina, and their buddies Michael Young, Vladimir Guerrero, and Elvis Andrus clap their hands, stomp their feet, and ultimately dance around like kings of the world, who, along with party security, can't seem to do a thing about it. Oh, and there's the odd VIP appearance by Cliff Lee, the biggest party crasher of them all.
It's 3-1 Rangers in the ALCS. Yanks' ace C.C. Sabathia pitches tonight to try and save his team's season. Texeira is done for the year.
Walking with Giants
Another inexcusable pun, but in the other, equally-dramatic, but less-watched, LCS, the San Francisco Giants took a 2-1 lead in the first game Bay-side with a two-out uprising in the fourth against proven postseason starter Cole Hamels of the Phillies. High-riding folk hero Cody Ross had the first RBI hit. Aubrey Huff had the second. An RBI groundout the next inning added a third run, and so it went, 3-0 Giants. That's the way it would end. Young right-hander Matt Cain shut down the Phillies for seven innings, the bullpen did the rest, and almost no one noticed a guy named Barry Bonds sitting in the front row, because the Giants on the field are far more interesting and far less controversial.
Baseball games are long and slow. It's the truth. That perception is only sharpened when it's football season, when one is used to watching sports in which plays go a lot faster and there is a terminal clock dictating just how long these proceedings can last.
I get it that Cliff Lee is pretty awesome. I watched most of Game Three Sunday night, when he continued his ridiculous Bob Gibson/Sandy Koufax impression by improving to 7-o lifetime in the postseason, with an ERA in the low 1.00's, with his third 10-strikeout game this season. But no one was that surprised. After all, Lee came in with that insane postseason resume, some of it (two wins in the '09 World Series as a member of the Phillies) coming against the Yankees, and the unflappable man continues to toss. Easy. 2-1 ALCS lead for the Rangers, behind their ace.
I coulda told you all that just watching through the sixth or seventh inning. It was 2-0 when I went to bed. I saw Josh Hamilton in the first inning, putting a relaxed, easy swing on an Andy Pettite cutter, still somehow sending it 320 feet into the right field stands. I saw Pettite toughen up after that, looking like a guy who is the all-time leader in postseason wins. But Lee kept sending the Yankees hitters away like an angry man hanging up instantaneously on telemarketers.
But, in the ninth inning, the Rangers teed off against the Yankee bullpen (it wasn't a save situation, so Mariano Rivera wasn't brought in), scoring six times to make it an 8-0 game instead of a 2-0 game. Apparently, fans left the glorious new Yankee Stadium in droves. I wouldn't know. I was asleep.
So, last night, I watched two and a quarter hours of baseball, of the pivotal Game Four, the one the Yankees had to win. I saw A.J. Burnett, the Yanks' much-maligned fourth starter, who had a 10-15 record this year, pitch far better than anyone could have anticipated. He gave up two runs (without allowing a ball out of the infield) in five innings. I saw Rangers' right-hander Tommy Hunter give up a home run to Robinson Cano (on a ball that Rangers' right-fielder Nelson Cruz complained that a fan had reached over the wall and interfered with--my diagnosis? The ball was out of the park. I don't think Cruz gets that ball even if the stadium is completely empty. A fan did grab his glove, but it was after the ball had landed. The hands 'in his way' were ones trying to catch a baseball falling at them from 315 feet away.) I saw Lance Berkman, two batters later, lose a home run to instant replay umpire review, on a bomb that just barely faded foul down the right field line.
I saw Derek Jeter throw all the crap about a .270 season out the window by breaking some more postseason records, dropping a double, a triple, and a run-scored onto his already illustrious career resume. I saw a fan down the left field line bounce a foul ball off his fingertips, thus knocking the ball out of the way of Yankees' left fielder Brett Gardner, who had a clear shot. Of course, this brought up mention of the hapless Cubs' fan Steve Bartman.
But, when I went to bed, I had seen four-and-a-half innings. Burnett was doing pretty well. The Yanks had a 3-2 lead. Hunter had been chased. Yet I watched from 8:00-10:15! But that was all I saw, because, during their innings of trouble, Burnett and especially Hunter seemed to go about two minutes between pitches. Baseball can be slow. Have I said that yet?
Well, after I went to bed, Yankee first baseman Mark Texeira blew his right hamstring running to first, A.J. Burnett intentionally walked a left-handed Ranger to bring up right-handed Bengie Molina, and surrendered a back-breaking three-run homer on the next pitch. Josh Hamilton hit a home run later. Josh Hamilton hit a home run later. Sorry, did I just say that twice? Well, it's the truth. Hamilton hit homers in the seventh and ninth innings against a Yankee bullpen looking worse and worse by the day (literally). Two batters after Hamilton's second drive, Nelson Cruz sent a missile into the second deck in nearly-empty Yankee Stadium, making it 10-3, and four home runs, all in favor of the Rangers.
So, allow me to continue my metaphor from the title of this post. Everyone's invited to the parties, they start late and they end later, they can be kinda slow, but, once mere mortals have gone to bed, they open up the dance floor, and the guys from Texas hit it. Then Hamilton, Cruz, Molina, and their buddies Michael Young, Vladimir Guerrero, and Elvis Andrus clap their hands, stomp their feet, and ultimately dance around like kings of the world, who, along with party security, can't seem to do a thing about it. Oh, and there's the odd VIP appearance by Cliff Lee, the biggest party crasher of them all.
It's 3-1 Rangers in the ALCS. Yanks' ace C.C. Sabathia pitches tonight to try and save his team's season. Texeira is done for the year.
Walking with Giants
Another inexcusable pun, but in the other, equally-dramatic, but less-watched, LCS, the San Francisco Giants took a 2-1 lead in the first game Bay-side with a two-out uprising in the fourth against proven postseason starter Cole Hamels of the Phillies. High-riding folk hero Cody Ross had the first RBI hit. Aubrey Huff had the second. An RBI groundout the next inning added a third run, and so it went, 3-0 Giants. That's the way it would end. Young right-hander Matt Cain shut down the Phillies for seven innings, the bullpen did the rest, and almost no one noticed a guy named Barry Bonds sitting in the front row, because the Giants on the field are far more interesting and far less controversial.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Big Ben, Little Roy, and The Man Who Would Be Starter, October 18, 2010
Well it was an action-packed Sunday (and weekend, really) that gives this blog post the potential to be extremely long. I'll try to hit all the highlights.
Ohio State Capsizes
Just a week after gaining the nation's #1 FCS college football ranking in the wake of Alabama's loss to South Carolina, the Ohio State Buckeyes fell apart against the Wisconsin Badgers, who beat a #1 team for the first time since 1981. In front of a raucous home crowd, the Badgers jumped out to a 21-0 lead (including a David Gilreath touchdown on the opening kickoff). They held on to win 31-18, after it got as close as 21-18, and the crowd rushed the field after game in a sea of red.
In other key developments in the FCS, Texas beat previously undefeated Nebraska, Florida lost its third straight game, South Carolina lost to Mississippi State, Arkansas was crushed by undefeated Auburn, and Alabama recovered from their loss at South Carolina to beat Ole Miss 23-10.
The FCS Top Ten now stands: 1) Oklahoma 2) Oregon 3) Boise State 4) Auburn 5) TCU 6) LSU 7) Michigan State 8) Alabama 9) Utah 10) Ohio State
Fightin' Phils
Just as the Texas Rangers recovered from an ugly Game One loss in the LCS to win Game Two (in their case, blowing a 5-0 lead in the 8th inning to the Yankees was more like soul-crushing), the Philadelphia Phillies brushed off Saturday's 4-3 loss to Tim Lincecum and the Giants to win 6-1 last night. Starter "Little Roy" Oswalt went eight innings, struck out nine, and added a key hit and scored from second on a single, running through a stop sign from the third base coach on a close play to score. His teammates praised his grit. San Francisco's Cody Ross hit his third home run of the LCS (he had two off "Big Roy" Halladay Saturday night) in Game Two, but he was the Giants' only offense.
Tonight, the Rangers send Cliff Lee (who beat the Yankees twice in the 2009 World Series as a Phillie) against all-time postseason wins leader Andy Pettite in Yankee Stadium for Game Three of the ALCS. Tomorrow night, Giants' right-hander Matt Cain will host the Phillies and red-hot left-hander Cole Hamels in Game Three of the NLCS.
Around the NFL
In an action-packed Sunday in the National Football League, legends returned, rookies made big debuts, and the most disappointing team in the league just got worse.
First, both the Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots pulled out 23-20 overtime wins, over the Green Bay Packers and Baltimore Ravens, respectively, then the defending-champion New Orleans Saints showed shades of their explosive 2009 selves in a 31-6 thrashing of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Seahawks surprised the Bears, the Giants beat the Lions, and the San Francisco 49ers won their first game of the year after an 0-5 start, beating the Oakland Raiders.
The two teams had little in common coming into the game, but the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns clashed in a huge game early in the afternoon. In 2009, the Browns beat the Steelers for the first time in 13 years, and, yesterday, they were the welcoming-back party for two-time Super Bowl winning quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, fresh off his four-game suspension for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy. Among that welcoming party was former Texas Longhorns quarterback Colt McCoy, the FCS' all-time leader in wins, with 45, playing his first competitive football since the first series of the National Championship Game against Alabama (he was knocked out of the series, and the game, by a hard hit that left his throwing shoulder numb).
McCoy, the third-string quarterback, started in place of injured starter Jake Delhomme and injured backup Seneca Wallace. Staring down one of the league's best defenses, McCoy responded well, completing 23 of 33 passes for 281 yards and one touchdown while also throwing one interception and being sacked five times.
"He's going to be a good quarterback," Pittsburgh linebacker James Farrior said. "He didn't have all of his weapons and he came out of it all right."
He didn't have all of his weapons because Pittsburgh linebacker James Harrison (the 2008 Defensive Player of the Year) sent Browns' players Josh Cribbs and Mohamed Massaquoi from the game with head-to-head hits in the same eight-minute span.
But most of the focus was on the man under center for Pittsburgh. Roethlisberger, who passed for over 500 yards in one game last season, and has won two Super Bowls, was greeted with a warm reception from fans and responded with a 16 of 27, 257 yard, three-touchdown performance that included a beauty of a 50-yard pass to Mike Wallace while backing into his own end zone on the three-yard line. He had some overthrows that were likely due to rust and adrenaline, but the Steelers looked happy to have him back in a 28-10 whaling of the Browns.
Late Sunday night, Peyton Manning's Indianapolis Colts squeaked by Donovan McNabb's Washington Redskins with a 27-24 victory, aided hugely by a 57-yard TD pass from Manning to Pierre Garcon immediately following a McNabb interception. Garcon made a highlight-reel one-handed, leaping, twisting catch later in the game. Indy's Joseph Addai rushed for 128 yards.
Other news came from Minnesota, in what was cheekily nicknamed "The Desperation Bowl", where the Minnesota Vikings (of Brett Favre and Randy Moss fame) faced the Dallas Cowboys (of Wade Phillips, Jerry Jones, Tony Romo, Miles Austin fame). Both teams, who won at least one game in the playoffs last year (and Minnesota was one Favre interception away from reaching the Super Bowl), came in with 1-3 records, among the worst in the league. Only5 teams have even made the playoffs after a 1-4 start in the last 20 years. Both teams were trying to avoid it. In the end, despite no Moss touchdowns and numerous hard hits on the 41-year-old Favre, the Vikings won, 24-21, thanks to 11 Cowboys penalties, including one that negated a 68-yard touchdown. The Vikings are now 2-3, the Cowboys sink to the dreaded 1-4.
Finally, Kevin Kolb made some (more) fans in Philadelphia yesterday, passing for 326 yards and 3 touchdowns in a 31-17 torching of the Atlanta Falcons in his second full game of the year. Kolb, who was supposed to be the starter this year in the wake of McNabb's being traded to Washington, missed two and a half games after suffering a concussion in the opening quarter of the season opener against Green Bay. He was replaced, of course, by Michael Vick, who had two and a half brilliant games before leaving Philly's game against Washington with bruised ribs. After the season-opening game-which they lost to Green Bay but which had convinced Eagles' coach Andy Reid to name Vick the starter-controversy began. Reid continues to call Vick his starting quarterback, despite his injury and Kolb's performance. Vick is not expected to start next week's game against the Titans. There are rumblings that if Kolb plays well and beats Tennessee this week, he should be re-made the starter on his own merits.
Ohio State Capsizes
Just a week after gaining the nation's #1 FCS college football ranking in the wake of Alabama's loss to South Carolina, the Ohio State Buckeyes fell apart against the Wisconsin Badgers, who beat a #1 team for the first time since 1981. In front of a raucous home crowd, the Badgers jumped out to a 21-0 lead (including a David Gilreath touchdown on the opening kickoff). They held on to win 31-18, after it got as close as 21-18, and the crowd rushed the field after game in a sea of red.
In other key developments in the FCS, Texas beat previously undefeated Nebraska, Florida lost its third straight game, South Carolina lost to Mississippi State, Arkansas was crushed by undefeated Auburn, and Alabama recovered from their loss at South Carolina to beat Ole Miss 23-10.
The FCS Top Ten now stands: 1) Oklahoma 2) Oregon 3) Boise State 4) Auburn 5) TCU 6) LSU 7) Michigan State 8) Alabama 9) Utah 10) Ohio State
Fightin' Phils
Just as the Texas Rangers recovered from an ugly Game One loss in the LCS to win Game Two (in their case, blowing a 5-0 lead in the 8th inning to the Yankees was more like soul-crushing), the Philadelphia Phillies brushed off Saturday's 4-3 loss to Tim Lincecum and the Giants to win 6-1 last night. Starter "Little Roy" Oswalt went eight innings, struck out nine, and added a key hit and scored from second on a single, running through a stop sign from the third base coach on a close play to score. His teammates praised his grit. San Francisco's Cody Ross hit his third home run of the LCS (he had two off "Big Roy" Halladay Saturday night) in Game Two, but he was the Giants' only offense.
Tonight, the Rangers send Cliff Lee (who beat the Yankees twice in the 2009 World Series as a Phillie) against all-time postseason wins leader Andy Pettite in Yankee Stadium for Game Three of the ALCS. Tomorrow night, Giants' right-hander Matt Cain will host the Phillies and red-hot left-hander Cole Hamels in Game Three of the NLCS.
Around the NFL
In an action-packed Sunday in the National Football League, legends returned, rookies made big debuts, and the most disappointing team in the league just got worse.
First, both the Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots pulled out 23-20 overtime wins, over the Green Bay Packers and Baltimore Ravens, respectively, then the defending-champion New Orleans Saints showed shades of their explosive 2009 selves in a 31-6 thrashing of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Seahawks surprised the Bears, the Giants beat the Lions, and the San Francisco 49ers won their first game of the year after an 0-5 start, beating the Oakland Raiders.
The two teams had little in common coming into the game, but the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns clashed in a huge game early in the afternoon. In 2009, the Browns beat the Steelers for the first time in 13 years, and, yesterday, they were the welcoming-back party for two-time Super Bowl winning quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, fresh off his four-game suspension for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy. Among that welcoming party was former Texas Longhorns quarterback Colt McCoy, the FCS' all-time leader in wins, with 45, playing his first competitive football since the first series of the National Championship Game against Alabama (he was knocked out of the series, and the game, by a hard hit that left his throwing shoulder numb).
McCoy, the third-string quarterback, started in place of injured starter Jake Delhomme and injured backup Seneca Wallace. Staring down one of the league's best defenses, McCoy responded well, completing 23 of 33 passes for 281 yards and one touchdown while also throwing one interception and being sacked five times.
"He's going to be a good quarterback," Pittsburgh linebacker James Farrior said. "He didn't have all of his weapons and he came out of it all right."
He didn't have all of his weapons because Pittsburgh linebacker James Harrison (the 2008 Defensive Player of the Year) sent Browns' players Josh Cribbs and Mohamed Massaquoi from the game with head-to-head hits in the same eight-minute span.
But most of the focus was on the man under center for Pittsburgh. Roethlisberger, who passed for over 500 yards in one game last season, and has won two Super Bowls, was greeted with a warm reception from fans and responded with a 16 of 27, 257 yard, three-touchdown performance that included a beauty of a 50-yard pass to Mike Wallace while backing into his own end zone on the three-yard line. He had some overthrows that were likely due to rust and adrenaline, but the Steelers looked happy to have him back in a 28-10 whaling of the Browns.
Late Sunday night, Peyton Manning's Indianapolis Colts squeaked by Donovan McNabb's Washington Redskins with a 27-24 victory, aided hugely by a 57-yard TD pass from Manning to Pierre Garcon immediately following a McNabb interception. Garcon made a highlight-reel one-handed, leaping, twisting catch later in the game. Indy's Joseph Addai rushed for 128 yards.
Other news came from Minnesota, in what was cheekily nicknamed "The Desperation Bowl", where the Minnesota Vikings (of Brett Favre and Randy Moss fame) faced the Dallas Cowboys (of Wade Phillips, Jerry Jones, Tony Romo, Miles Austin fame). Both teams, who won at least one game in the playoffs last year (and Minnesota was one Favre interception away from reaching the Super Bowl), came in with 1-3 records, among the worst in the league. Only5 teams have even made the playoffs after a 1-4 start in the last 20 years. Both teams were trying to avoid it. In the end, despite no Moss touchdowns and numerous hard hits on the 41-year-old Favre, the Vikings won, 24-21, thanks to 11 Cowboys penalties, including one that negated a 68-yard touchdown. The Vikings are now 2-3, the Cowboys sink to the dreaded 1-4.
Finally, Kevin Kolb made some (more) fans in Philadelphia yesterday, passing for 326 yards and 3 touchdowns in a 31-17 torching of the Atlanta Falcons in his second full game of the year. Kolb, who was supposed to be the starter this year in the wake of McNabb's being traded to Washington, missed two and a half games after suffering a concussion in the opening quarter of the season opener against Green Bay. He was replaced, of course, by Michael Vick, who had two and a half brilliant games before leaving Philly's game against Washington with bruised ribs. After the season-opening game-which they lost to Green Bay but which had convinced Eagles' coach Andy Reid to name Vick the starter-controversy began. Reid continues to call Vick his starting quarterback, despite his injury and Kolb's performance. Vick is not expected to start next week's game against the Titans. There are rumblings that if Kolb plays well and beats Tennessee this week, he should be re-made the starter on his own merits.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Pondering the Rangers, October 16, 2010
It's my Dad's birthday. I just have to say that because it's awesome. He's great. I thank God for him. :)
Anyway, the Rangers are currently up 7-2 on the Yankees in the sixth inning, which is great for them BUT it would be way better if they hadn't blown a 5-0 lead in 8th last night in Game One. They got to C.C. Sabathia early, Josh Hamilton and Michael Young got big hits, C.J. Wilson pitched well enough to make everyone okay with Cliff Lee's not being able to start 'till Game Three, then the bottom fell out. Derek Jeter and A-Rod got the big hits, shocking the Rangers, Nolan Ryan, and the Texas crowd, in what was easily the most devastating loss in Texas baseball history. They went down 6-5, shut out after the fourth inning.
But, yeah, they're winning right now. It would, of course, be wonderful to win today and tie the series, especially with Cliff Lee pitching the next game, giving them a great chance to go up 2-1, but we can only dream of a potential 2-0 lead today, and Lee pitching to give them a potential 3-0. No, I won't even talk about it.
I work early tomorrow morning, so I won't be able to watch all of the Giants-Phillies' first game tonight, but I'm pumped. Tim Lincecum vs. Roy Halladay. The Freak vs Doc. 2009 (and 2008) CY Young winner against the likely 2010 winner. Two hits, 14 strikeouts, no walks (in Lincecum's postseason debut against the Braves last week) vs no-hitter, just one walk (in Halladay's postseason debut against the Reds last week). It'll be great.
Anyway, the Rangers are currently up 7-2 on the Yankees in the sixth inning, which is great for them BUT it would be way better if they hadn't blown a 5-0 lead in 8th last night in Game One. They got to C.C. Sabathia early, Josh Hamilton and Michael Young got big hits, C.J. Wilson pitched well enough to make everyone okay with Cliff Lee's not being able to start 'till Game Three, then the bottom fell out. Derek Jeter and A-Rod got the big hits, shocking the Rangers, Nolan Ryan, and the Texas crowd, in what was easily the most devastating loss in Texas baseball history. They went down 6-5, shut out after the fourth inning.
But, yeah, they're winning right now. It would, of course, be wonderful to win today and tie the series, especially with Cliff Lee pitching the next game, giving them a great chance to go up 2-1, but we can only dream of a potential 2-0 lead today, and Lee pitching to give them a potential 3-0. No, I won't even talk about it.
I work early tomorrow morning, so I won't be able to watch all of the Giants-Phillies' first game tonight, but I'm pumped. Tim Lincecum vs. Roy Halladay. The Freak vs Doc. 2009 (and 2008) CY Young winner against the likely 2010 winner. Two hits, 14 strikeouts, no walks (in Lincecum's postseason debut against the Braves last week) vs no-hitter, just one walk (in Halladay's postseason debut against the Reds last week). It'll be great.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Baseball is Popular, October 15, 2010
So, tomorrow, college football will take over the airwaves and the Directv channels. On Sunday, millions will sit around to watch a bunch of guys named Favre, Brady, Manning, Manning, and Moss play play ball. Dwayne Wade is still suffering from a hamstring injury, so Miami's Big Three of Wade, LeBron James, and Chris Bosh haven't gotten to play together yet, and the NHL preseason is in full swing.
On a personal note, I'm very excited that I don't work this Sunday (for once), so I actually get to watch some NFL games. I'm planning to see Pittsburgh-Cleveland at 1 (Ben Roethlisberger returns for the 3-1 Steelers while former Texas great Colt McCoy starts for Cleveland with the #1 and #2 quarterbacks injured), and Minnesota-Dallas at 4:15 (matchup of this year's surprising underachievers).
Baseball doesn't get a lot of press these days. It is, and always has, been nicknamed "America's Pasttime", but, when I was in college, college football, pro football, pro basketball, college basketball, and even hockey were more talked about than pro baseball. There were a select few guys I could hablo with about the MLB, but far more people talk about LeBron, or Kobe, or Ovechkin, or Favre, or Manning, than they do about baseball. Plus, it's common knowledge that pro football and even NASCAR are the most-watched sports in the US, far out-pacing baseball.
Yet, it's that time of year when baseball is fun. There are only four teams left, but the fact that two of the teams (the San Francisco Giants and the Texas Rangers) are anything but postseason staples, adds some excitement to the mix, and makes baseball fans out of people you wouldn't expect. Every team has a following, of course (why else are 40,000-capacity stadiums packed all the time?) but, as I watched a video about Rangers' fans reactions to the Rangers' win over Tampa Bay, I was somewhat surprised. A whole bar full of people wearing Rangers stuff, cheering on the Rangers? I thought Texas people were all about the Cowboys, the Longhorns...somehow the Rangers, because they lack the success of those other programs, always seemed under-the-radar.
Well, this is the time of year when baseball is fun. Facebook is suddenly alive with people cheering on their teams, and bars and houses are packed for people watching baseball. Now, it's worth mentioning that, in my opinion, football, hockey, and even basketball are usually more exciting to watch than baseball. It's true. Baseball can be slow, and the games are long. But I'll be darned if October baseball isn't exciting.
It has other people excited, too, and not just me. Check out this video of San Francisco Giants fans: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/thelife/news/story?page=goingviral/101310. They've re-made the Journey song "Don't Stop Believin'" with Giants lingo attached.
And check out this video of Philadelphia Phillies' first baseman Ryan Howard (the 2006 NL MVP) presenting the Top Ten on Letterman's Tonight Show: "Ten Reasons to Watch the Baseball Playoffs." These are always amusing. I've seen Cole Hamels and Mark Buerhle present the top ten's on Letterman before. In case you don't have time to watch, here they are:
10: Fox's Coverage Now Extends to the Post-game Shower
9: What Are You Gonna Do: Watch Hockey?
8: One Lucky Viewer Will Win A Free Tommy-John Surgery
7: We Just Had the Phillie Phanatic (their green, fuzzy mascot) Clipped, Wormed, and Neutered
6: Trips to the Mound Now Include a Fabulous 'Glee'-style Dance Number
5: The Crack of the Bat Replaced by a boing sound
4: Do You Really Need An Excuse to Sit on the Couch and Drink Beer?
3: Mention My Name, and You Can Re-Broadcast the Game Without the Express Written Consent of Major League Baseball
2: It's About Time the Yankees Got Some Attention From the National Media
1: If You're Watching This, You'll Watch Anything
Seriously, though, it's worth watching. Even if you're just a casual fan. Everything matters more, now. The drama is heightened. Lincecum and Halladay will face off Saturday night, in one of the greatest pitching match-ups you're likely to see in this era.
C.C. Sabathia of the Yankees faces off with C.J. Wilson of the Rangers tonight at 8 in Game 1 of the ALCS.
On a personal note, I'm very excited that I don't work this Sunday (for once), so I actually get to watch some NFL games. I'm planning to see Pittsburgh-Cleveland at 1 (Ben Roethlisberger returns for the 3-1 Steelers while former Texas great Colt McCoy starts for Cleveland with the #1 and #2 quarterbacks injured), and Minnesota-Dallas at 4:15 (matchup of this year's surprising underachievers).
Baseball doesn't get a lot of press these days. It is, and always has, been nicknamed "America's Pasttime", but, when I was in college, college football, pro football, pro basketball, college basketball, and even hockey were more talked about than pro baseball. There were a select few guys I could hablo with about the MLB, but far more people talk about LeBron, or Kobe, or Ovechkin, or Favre, or Manning, than they do about baseball. Plus, it's common knowledge that pro football and even NASCAR are the most-watched sports in the US, far out-pacing baseball.
Yet, it's that time of year when baseball is fun. There are only four teams left, but the fact that two of the teams (the San Francisco Giants and the Texas Rangers) are anything but postseason staples, adds some excitement to the mix, and makes baseball fans out of people you wouldn't expect. Every team has a following, of course (why else are 40,000-capacity stadiums packed all the time?) but, as I watched a video about Rangers' fans reactions to the Rangers' win over Tampa Bay, I was somewhat surprised. A whole bar full of people wearing Rangers stuff, cheering on the Rangers? I thought Texas people were all about the Cowboys, the Longhorns...somehow the Rangers, because they lack the success of those other programs, always seemed under-the-radar.
Well, this is the time of year when baseball is fun. Facebook is suddenly alive with people cheering on their teams, and bars and houses are packed for people watching baseball. Now, it's worth mentioning that, in my opinion, football, hockey, and even basketball are usually more exciting to watch than baseball. It's true. Baseball can be slow, and the games are long. But I'll be darned if October baseball isn't exciting.
It has other people excited, too, and not just me. Check out this video of San Francisco Giants fans: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/thelife/news/story?page=goingviral/101310. They've re-made the Journey song "Don't Stop Believin'" with Giants lingo attached.
And check out this video of Philadelphia Phillies' first baseman Ryan Howard (the 2006 NL MVP) presenting the Top Ten on Letterman's Tonight Show: "Ten Reasons to Watch the Baseball Playoffs." These are always amusing. I've seen Cole Hamels and Mark Buerhle present the top ten's on Letterman before. In case you don't have time to watch, here they are:
10: Fox's Coverage Now Extends to the Post-game Shower
9: What Are You Gonna Do: Watch Hockey?
8: One Lucky Viewer Will Win A Free Tommy-John Surgery
7: We Just Had the Phillie Phanatic (their green, fuzzy mascot) Clipped, Wormed, and Neutered
6: Trips to the Mound Now Include a Fabulous 'Glee'-style Dance Number
5: The Crack of the Bat Replaced by a boing sound
4: Do You Really Need An Excuse to Sit on the Couch and Drink Beer?
3: Mention My Name, and You Can Re-Broadcast the Game Without the Express Written Consent of Major League Baseball
2: It's About Time the Yankees Got Some Attention From the National Media
1: If You're Watching This, You'll Watch Anything
Seriously, though, it's worth watching. Even if you're just a casual fan. Everything matters more, now. The drama is heightened. Lincecum and Halladay will face off Saturday night, in one of the greatest pitching match-ups you're likely to see in this era.
C.C. Sabathia of the Yankees faces off with C.J. Wilson of the Rangers tonight at 8 in Game 1 of the ALCS.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
The League Championship Series, October 13, 2010
In a show of great class, the Texas Rangers substituted Ginger Ale for alcohol for the majority of their post-ALDS-winning celebration in order to include recovering alcoholic teammate Josh Hamilton.
"It was the coolest thing for my teammates to understand why I couldn't be a part of the celebration," Hamilton said after getting as wet as anybody in the clubhouse party. "And for them to adapt it for me to be a part of it says a lot about my teammates."
When they arrived home in Texas in the small hours of the morning, the Rangers found an airport full of screaming, celebrating fans. Many of the players gave high-fives and hugs, and signed autographs while music blared and horns honked.
After all, they've been a team since 1972, and this was their first postseason series victory. Of course, it had to come in the first postseason series where the home team never won a game.
The Rangers will play the Yankees in the ALCS, which starts Friday night (8:00 p.m.) in Arlington, pitting southpaws C.C. Sabathia (NY) against C.J. Wilson, who won Game Two of the ALDS in Tropicana Field.
The Yankees are the defending World Champions, as they beat the Phillies in six games in the Fall Classic last year. They have a rotation of Sabathia, Phil Hughes, Andy Pettite and A.J. Burnett, and a lineup featuring Derek Jeter, Nick Swisher, Mark Texeira, Alex Rodriguez, Robinson Cano, Jorge Posada, Curtis Granderson, Brett Gardner, and Lance Berkman. And their closer's name is Mariano Rivera.
Meanwhile, the NLCS will keep The Year of the Pitcher theme alive and well, with anticipated matchups of Roy Halladay vs Tim Lincecum, Roy Oswalt vs Matt Cain, and Cole Hamels vs Jonathan Sanchez, at the very least. That Game One matchup pits the 2009 All-Star Game starters against each other (Halladay was still with the Blue Jays, and started for the AL), pits the 2009 CY Young winner Lincecum against the likely 2010 winner in Halladay, and both already own CY Young awards (Lincecum, '08 and '09; Halladay, the AL CY Young in '03).
The Phillies beat the Dodgers in 5 games in the NLCS each of the last two years. They beat the Rays in five games in the 2008 World Series, and lost in six last year to the Yankees. The Giants were eliminated in the NLDS by the Marlins in 2003 after they lost the classic 2002 World Series in seven games to the Angels.
Halladay and Lincecum face off in Philadelphia on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
"It was the coolest thing for my teammates to understand why I couldn't be a part of the celebration," Hamilton said after getting as wet as anybody in the clubhouse party. "And for them to adapt it for me to be a part of it says a lot about my teammates."
When they arrived home in Texas in the small hours of the morning, the Rangers found an airport full of screaming, celebrating fans. Many of the players gave high-fives and hugs, and signed autographs while music blared and horns honked.
After all, they've been a team since 1972, and this was their first postseason series victory. Of course, it had to come in the first postseason series where the home team never won a game.
The Rangers will play the Yankees in the ALCS, which starts Friday night (8:00 p.m.) in Arlington, pitting southpaws C.C. Sabathia (NY) against C.J. Wilson, who won Game Two of the ALDS in Tropicana Field.
The Yankees are the defending World Champions, as they beat the Phillies in six games in the Fall Classic last year. They have a rotation of Sabathia, Phil Hughes, Andy Pettite and A.J. Burnett, and a lineup featuring Derek Jeter, Nick Swisher, Mark Texeira, Alex Rodriguez, Robinson Cano, Jorge Posada, Curtis Granderson, Brett Gardner, and Lance Berkman. And their closer's name is Mariano Rivera.
Meanwhile, the NLCS will keep The Year of the Pitcher theme alive and well, with anticipated matchups of Roy Halladay vs Tim Lincecum, Roy Oswalt vs Matt Cain, and Cole Hamels vs Jonathan Sanchez, at the very least. That Game One matchup pits the 2009 All-Star Game starters against each other (Halladay was still with the Blue Jays, and started for the AL), pits the 2009 CY Young winner Lincecum against the likely 2010 winner in Halladay, and both already own CY Young awards (Lincecum, '08 and '09; Halladay, the AL CY Young in '03).
The Phillies beat the Dodgers in 5 games in the NLCS each of the last two years. They beat the Rays in five games in the 2008 World Series, and lost in six last year to the Yankees. The Giants were eliminated in the NLDS by the Marlins in 2003 after they lost the classic 2002 World Series in seven games to the Angels.
Halladay and Lincecum face off in Philadelphia on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
Everything's Bigger in Texas, October 13, 2010
Especially the baseball. The October baseball. It's huge! After all, the Astros haven't sniffed the playoffs since getting swept in the World Series in 2005, and the Rangers hadn't been able to touch the playoffs with a ten-foot pole since the late '90s.
Well, the Rangers, who made their playoff debut in 1996 (also reaching in '98 and '99), have finally won a postseason series, and they did it without the benefit of a win at home. Tuesday night, they were back in Tropicana Field, home of the American League East Champion Tampa Bay Rays, having dropped two in a row in Arlington, facing a stiff challenge in CY Young candidate David Price. MVP candidate Josh Hamilton, who missed three weeks in September with injured ribs, is still not hitting, and parts of this team are struggling to produce.
They still won, didn't they?
The Rangers clinched the winner-take-all Game Five of the American League Division Series Tuesday night with a 5-1 victory in from of 45,000 in Tampa in what was without question the biggest game in their history. They made some solid defensive plays, got some effective, scrappy baserunning, benefited from an error or two, and got a late, key home run, but the Rangers don't need to thank their lucky stars for this victory.
They need to thank Clifton Phifer Lee, better known as Cliff Lee.
Lee, who won four games in his first-ever postseason last year (including two World Series games against the Yankees), was coming off a Game 1 in which he struck out 10 Rays, and, early on, the left-hander didn't look quite as sharp.
By the first time he pitched, he had already been handed a lead. Shortstop Elvis Andrus led off the game against Price with a single, stole second base during a Michael Young strikeout, then scored on a Hamilton groundout on which Price had to cover first, and, forgetting about the runner, turned his back to the plate and didn't react in time.
Lee got somewhat lucky in the bottom of the first, when Rays shortstop Jason Bartlett led off with a single, getting the capacity crowd roaring and the cowbells clanging, but then a sacrifice bunt attempt failed, the lead runner was erased on a fielder's choice, and Rays star Evan Longoria was retired on a foul pop-up.
Both pitchers breezed through the second inning, and Price owned the top of the third, which brought the pivotal moment of the game into play. The bottom of the third. Lee hadn't had quite the command or the crackle of his Game One start (he brought just one K into the bottom of the third). With one out, Sean Rodriguez singled to right. Then Bartlett reached on an infield hit that Lee had to field. Two on. Then Ben Zobrist blooped a single to center, and All-Star Hamilton threw the ball wide of home plate, past the catcher, as Rodriguez slid home, and it was a tie game. But, with the runner from third (Bartlett) charging, Lee got Carl Crawford to bounce back to him. They caught Bartlett in a rundown for the key second out. And with runners on second and third, the Rays' MVP candidate, 104-RBI man Longoria, who called time while Lee was winding up more than once to throw him off, with cowbells clanging, grounded harmlessly to short.
Pressure released. Inning over. Threat over. The Rays could kiss their chances goodbye.
They didn't know it at the time, of course. It was only the start of the fourth inning, and, at home, they had to like their chances of being able to win out in a 1-1 tie. After all, they did finish third in the AL in runs scored, with over 800.
Their chances got a little smaller in the top of the fourth, when Rangers outfielder Nelson Cruz thunked a double high off the center field wall. Any sighs of relief the Rays were breathing that the ball had stayed in the park were forfeit a moment later, when Cruz stole third and catcher Kelly Shoppach's throw went into left field. Cruz trotted home, 2-1.
All eyes were on Lee for the bottom of the fourth. His pitch count was up just a little bit. He was feeling the pressure of a close game, and, now, a slim lead. The crowd was howling for their Rays to answer. The hitters were taking pitches, fouling pitches off, calling time when he was ready to throw, trying to get into his head.
In the bottom of the fourth, coming off his first pressure spot in the game, Lee struck out Carlos Pena, B.J. Upton, and Dan Johnson back-to-back-to-back.
He struck out two of the three hitters in the bottom of the fifth, as well. He retired the side in order in the sixth. Upton singled and stole second in a flourish to lead off the bottom of the seventh, but Lee struck out two more to avoid any other crisis. When the Rays were really starting to feel the pressure, in the bottom of the eighth, Lee set Bartlett, Zobrist, and Crawford down almost without blinking. And he came out for the ninth inning as well.
By that time, it was 5-1 Rangers. In the sixth, Vladimir Guerrero had singled, moved over on an infield hit by Cruz, and then scored from second when Ian Kinsler ground to first and beat the throw, and Price, covering first, was, again, too slow to realize the play was still going. Replays showed Kinsler may have been out by a fraction of a step (the crowd booed vigorously), but it was 3-1 Rangers.
And in the top of the ninth, Kinsler took most of the remaining air out of the Rays' sails by blasting a laser beam of a two-run homer over the left field wall, and doing so against Tampa's prize closer, Rafael Soriano.
Lee walked out to the mound for the top of the ninth, with the Rangers already thinking about an ALCS against the Yankees. He had thrown about 115 pitches, but, with a four-run lead, he had to like his chances.
He started the ninth by striking out a flailing Longoria. It was his 11th strikeout of the game, and 21st of the series, tying an LDS record (Kevin Brown of the Padres did it in 1998). Then Carlos Pena grounded to third. Then B.J. Upton popped out to shortstop, and the Rangers exploded, throwing their arms around each other, whooping and hollering. As soon as the ball was caught, Lee showed some of his first emotion of the game, leaping into the arms of his catcher, Bengie Molina, with a look of delight on his face. And the Rangers celebrated as if all 25 of them had been around for each of those three LDS losses in the '90s (not a single one of them actually were). The Rays, 96-game winners in the regular season, ran for the clubhouse.
"It was a lot of fun," Lee said after the game, having cemented his status as the ultimate big-game pitcher. "We had our backs against the wall today, and we came out and performed."
"It's unbelievable, it's something to be so proud of," Josh Hamilton said. "I'm so privileged to be a part of this team. All season long, when somebody went down, somebody stepped in and did their job. My bat wasn't there, but a lot of other guys stepped in and did a good job. Cliff Lee? What an asset to the team."
Both mentioned that they knew the Yankees would be a challenge, that "it's a good team over there", and it would be tough. All three of the Rangers' playoff series losses in the '90s came against the Yankees. But, with a postseason series won, their pitching on fire and their offense clicking, these guys looked tough to beat. And they deserved to celebrate.
Well, the Rangers, who made their playoff debut in 1996 (also reaching in '98 and '99), have finally won a postseason series, and they did it without the benefit of a win at home. Tuesday night, they were back in Tropicana Field, home of the American League East Champion Tampa Bay Rays, having dropped two in a row in Arlington, facing a stiff challenge in CY Young candidate David Price. MVP candidate Josh Hamilton, who missed three weeks in September with injured ribs, is still not hitting, and parts of this team are struggling to produce.
They still won, didn't they?
The Rangers clinched the winner-take-all Game Five of the American League Division Series Tuesday night with a 5-1 victory in from of 45,000 in Tampa in what was without question the biggest game in their history. They made some solid defensive plays, got some effective, scrappy baserunning, benefited from an error or two, and got a late, key home run, but the Rangers don't need to thank their lucky stars for this victory.
They need to thank Clifton Phifer Lee, better known as Cliff Lee.
Lee, who won four games in his first-ever postseason last year (including two World Series games against the Yankees), was coming off a Game 1 in which he struck out 10 Rays, and, early on, the left-hander didn't look quite as sharp.
By the first time he pitched, he had already been handed a lead. Shortstop Elvis Andrus led off the game against Price with a single, stole second base during a Michael Young strikeout, then scored on a Hamilton groundout on which Price had to cover first, and, forgetting about the runner, turned his back to the plate and didn't react in time.
Lee got somewhat lucky in the bottom of the first, when Rays shortstop Jason Bartlett led off with a single, getting the capacity crowd roaring and the cowbells clanging, but then a sacrifice bunt attempt failed, the lead runner was erased on a fielder's choice, and Rays star Evan Longoria was retired on a foul pop-up.
Both pitchers breezed through the second inning, and Price owned the top of the third, which brought the pivotal moment of the game into play. The bottom of the third. Lee hadn't had quite the command or the crackle of his Game One start (he brought just one K into the bottom of the third). With one out, Sean Rodriguez singled to right. Then Bartlett reached on an infield hit that Lee had to field. Two on. Then Ben Zobrist blooped a single to center, and All-Star Hamilton threw the ball wide of home plate, past the catcher, as Rodriguez slid home, and it was a tie game. But, with the runner from third (Bartlett) charging, Lee got Carl Crawford to bounce back to him. They caught Bartlett in a rundown for the key second out. And with runners on second and third, the Rays' MVP candidate, 104-RBI man Longoria, who called time while Lee was winding up more than once to throw him off, with cowbells clanging, grounded harmlessly to short.
Pressure released. Inning over. Threat over. The Rays could kiss their chances goodbye.
They didn't know it at the time, of course. It was only the start of the fourth inning, and, at home, they had to like their chances of being able to win out in a 1-1 tie. After all, they did finish third in the AL in runs scored, with over 800.
Their chances got a little smaller in the top of the fourth, when Rangers outfielder Nelson Cruz thunked a double high off the center field wall. Any sighs of relief the Rays were breathing that the ball had stayed in the park were forfeit a moment later, when Cruz stole third and catcher Kelly Shoppach's throw went into left field. Cruz trotted home, 2-1.
All eyes were on Lee for the bottom of the fourth. His pitch count was up just a little bit. He was feeling the pressure of a close game, and, now, a slim lead. The crowd was howling for their Rays to answer. The hitters were taking pitches, fouling pitches off, calling time when he was ready to throw, trying to get into his head.
In the bottom of the fourth, coming off his first pressure spot in the game, Lee struck out Carlos Pena, B.J. Upton, and Dan Johnson back-to-back-to-back.
He struck out two of the three hitters in the bottom of the fifth, as well. He retired the side in order in the sixth. Upton singled and stole second in a flourish to lead off the bottom of the seventh, but Lee struck out two more to avoid any other crisis. When the Rays were really starting to feel the pressure, in the bottom of the eighth, Lee set Bartlett, Zobrist, and Crawford down almost without blinking. And he came out for the ninth inning as well.
By that time, it was 5-1 Rangers. In the sixth, Vladimir Guerrero had singled, moved over on an infield hit by Cruz, and then scored from second when Ian Kinsler ground to first and beat the throw, and Price, covering first, was, again, too slow to realize the play was still going. Replays showed Kinsler may have been out by a fraction of a step (the crowd booed vigorously), but it was 3-1 Rangers.
And in the top of the ninth, Kinsler took most of the remaining air out of the Rays' sails by blasting a laser beam of a two-run homer over the left field wall, and doing so against Tampa's prize closer, Rafael Soriano.
Lee walked out to the mound for the top of the ninth, with the Rangers already thinking about an ALCS against the Yankees. He had thrown about 115 pitches, but, with a four-run lead, he had to like his chances.
He started the ninth by striking out a flailing Longoria. It was his 11th strikeout of the game, and 21st of the series, tying an LDS record (Kevin Brown of the Padres did it in 1998). Then Carlos Pena grounded to third. Then B.J. Upton popped out to shortstop, and the Rangers exploded, throwing their arms around each other, whooping and hollering. As soon as the ball was caught, Lee showed some of his first emotion of the game, leaping into the arms of his catcher, Bengie Molina, with a look of delight on his face. And the Rangers celebrated as if all 25 of them had been around for each of those three LDS losses in the '90s (not a single one of them actually were). The Rays, 96-game winners in the regular season, ran for the clubhouse.
"It was a lot of fun," Lee said after the game, having cemented his status as the ultimate big-game pitcher. "We had our backs against the wall today, and we came out and performed."
"It's unbelievable, it's something to be so proud of," Josh Hamilton said. "I'm so privileged to be a part of this team. All season long, when somebody went down, somebody stepped in and did their job. My bat wasn't there, but a lot of other guys stepped in and did a good job. Cliff Lee? What an asset to the team."
Both mentioned that they knew the Yankees would be a challenge, that "it's a good team over there", and it would be tough. All three of the Rangers' playoff series losses in the '90s came against the Yankees. But, with a postseason series won, their pitching on fire and their offense clicking, these guys looked tough to beat. And they deserved to celebrate.
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