As the final hours of the month of October dwindle down, the 2007 Major League Baseball season has officially concluded.
Gone are the weekend baseball conversations with friends over summer barbeques. Lounging around the backyard with a transistor radio listening to a game has come to pass. The day-to-day routine of checking the newspaper and seeing where each team is placed in the standings is finished. Gone are the season voices of Karl Ravech, Peter Gammons, John Kruk, Vin Scully, John Sterling, and Jerry Remy. The days are shorter, the nights are longer, and soon snow will cover the baseball diamonds throughout the land (maybe)!
For me the end comes as one of the most disappointing baseball seasons in recent history. I personally saw more games in different cities and parks this year then I have since I was sixteen years old. Yet the end was a train wreak as miserable as a Yankees fan can imagine!
The Boston Red Sox are World Champions.
In game four with two out in the bottom of the ninth inning Jonathan Papelbon threw a two-ball, two-strike fastball high and inside to pitch hitter Seth Smith. Smith half swung at the pitch out of the zone, striking out to officially end the season. Papelbon threw his glove in the air and jumped down from the pitchers mound. In a squatting position Papelbon waited for catcher Jason Varitek to meet him in front of the mound. Varitek jumped into the air in front of Papelbon who caught him as the captain raised his right arm in victory. The rest of the team began mobbing the battery, until the cluster of champions began to move toward first base. 1973.29 miles away from Denver (according to mapquest.com) in Boston Massachusetts, Red Sox Nation went ballistic. For only the second time in ninety years the Red Sox became World Champions of the great game of baseball.
With Japanese Pitchers, Dominican Sluggers, and American Fielders, the Red Sox have helped make our national past time truly a World Series. With the Core of the team intact, young and healthy, this is the model franchise in the game today. They have a better chance of repeating their dominance next season then any other team I can remember in recent years.
Ok writing the last few paragraphs has made me feel truly disgusting! I am wrapping up this article now, so that I can take four Advil, and sit in a hot shower for several hours thinking about every thing that is wrong with what I just wrote!
I look to 2008 with a sense of hope!
Hope that although my favorite team is no longer baseball’s model franchise, every new seasons brings with it a renaissance, and maybe just maybe the New York Yankees can be World Champions again.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Rocky Mountain High Colorado!
Putting my journalist, analyst, impartial, blogger opinions to the side for a moment; never before in life have I ever been a bigger Colorado Rockies fan than I am right now!
GO ROCKIES!!!
As a die hard Yankees Fan I must always hate the Boston Red Sox with a passion! And so the Colorado Rockies hold all my hopes and dreams of salvaging the few remaining games of what has otherwise been a very disappointing baseball season for me. Watching Colorado celebrate their first ever World Series victory at the expense of my arch nemesis is all I have left!
Of course the 2007 MLB World Series (which begins Wednesday night at 8:00pm Eastern Standard Time on FOX) heavily favors the Boston Red Sox.
At 96 and 66 during the regular season, Boston has been the best team in baseball this season. The American League Champion Red Sox are playing the Wild Card Rockies. Boston is playing with home field advantage. Which means playing with American League rules (using DH David Ortiz) four out of seven games. They are playing with a fully rested pitching rotation. Red Sox best pitcher Josh Beckett matching up with Rockies best Jeff Francis. Boston’s bullpen is stable, tough and dominant. The Rockies bullpen has been shaky and unreliable. Boston’s staring line up has been pesky and productive. Colorado’s starting lineup has been adequate.
Yes on paper it should be a Boston Sweep.
But on paper the Rockies season should have been over 21 different times over the last 22 games. Tony Kornheiser of ESPN, (PTI- my favorite after work show!) often says objects in motion stay in motion. Well I certainly hope Colorado has four more wins left in their remarkable six-week victory tour.
I make no bold predictions!
Besides I have been wrong with almost every pick this post season anyway. In this, Major League Baseball’s 102 annual World Series, I am nothing more then a huge Rockies fan!
GO ROCKIES!!!
As a die hard Yankees Fan I must always hate the Boston Red Sox with a passion! And so the Colorado Rockies hold all my hopes and dreams of salvaging the few remaining games of what has otherwise been a very disappointing baseball season for me. Watching Colorado celebrate their first ever World Series victory at the expense of my arch nemesis is all I have left!
Of course the 2007 MLB World Series (which begins Wednesday night at 8:00pm Eastern Standard Time on FOX) heavily favors the Boston Red Sox.
At 96 and 66 during the regular season, Boston has been the best team in baseball this season. The American League Champion Red Sox are playing the Wild Card Rockies. Boston is playing with home field advantage. Which means playing with American League rules (using DH David Ortiz) four out of seven games. They are playing with a fully rested pitching rotation. Red Sox best pitcher Josh Beckett matching up with Rockies best Jeff Francis. Boston’s bullpen is stable, tough and dominant. The Rockies bullpen has been shaky and unreliable. Boston’s staring line up has been pesky and productive. Colorado’s starting lineup has been adequate.
Yes on paper it should be a Boston Sweep.
But on paper the Rockies season should have been over 21 different times over the last 22 games. Tony Kornheiser of ESPN, (PTI- my favorite after work show!) often says objects in motion stay in motion. Well I certainly hope Colorado has four more wins left in their remarkable six-week victory tour.
I make no bold predictions!
Besides I have been wrong with almost every pick this post season anyway. In this, Major League Baseball’s 102 annual World Series, I am nothing more then a huge Rockies fan!
Friday, October 19, 2007
The Skip Has Been Whacked
Thursday November 2, 1995
“Two Very Important Announcements!”
Coach Jerry Corrado declared sternly to my seventh period physical education class at Kingston High School.
“First off, there is no ninth period make up gym class today.”
The crowd of students assembled on the bleachers, waiting for the bell to ring (myself one of them) began talking, indifferent to Coach’s proclamation.
“Second!” Coach shouted to regain our attention and silence.
“Second!”
“Joe Torre has just been named the new manager of the New York Yankees!”
Once again everyone began talking still indifferent to Coach’s public statement.
Everyone except me that is!
Coach had my full and undivided attention. But coach was done trying to communicate with the group of rowdy teenagers waiting to get for seventh period to end. Staring down at his grade book he waited for the bell, saying nothing more regarding his baseball news.
As soon as the bell rang I ran down from my seat among the top of the bleachers and approached Coach Corrado. I was desperate for some more information.
“Is it true Coach? You know, about the Yankees?” I asked in a frantic and questionable tone.
“Yes” He said to me heatedly.
“It was just announced on the radio, on WKNY during a news break.”
I pulled my New York Yankees cap from a top my head. It’s dark blue color with the interlocking white N Y. discussed by the hat and all it represented, and it’s new manager. I extended the hat out in my hand toward Coach Corrado, and said with anger and disappointment,
“you want a hat?”
“No! I want Buck Showalter back!” Was Coach’s equally angry disappointed return.
I was just fifteen years old, and I couldn’t believe the awful move that George Stienbrenner and the Yankees brass had just made. Joe Torre was known in my mind as a failed Mets and Cardinals manager. A guy whose track record for failure was sure to whip out everything former manager Buck Showalter had just accomplished.
Eleven months later, I was at my uncles house jumping up and down in front of a television when Charlie Hayes caught a foul ball pop up off third base, to crown the Yankees the 1996 World Series Champions. The vision of Torre with the World Series Trophy in his hands and tears in his eyes still seems like yesterday in my mind.
From 1996 right up until two weeks ago, Joe Torre has been the vital component for success in the Bronx. For the last 12 years Torre has been a tremendous leader of Yankees players, a calming voice in the media, and an influential figure with ownership.
But now it's all over.
At 2:00pm on Friday October 19, 2007 Joe Torre offically anounced is tenure as Yankees Skipper as come to an end.
There are many fans, journalists and analysts who are among the opinion that the time has come for a change in New York, and Joe’s departure is ideal. Many feel that Joe has never been a great situational manager, not big on strategy guy. Many also think that losing key coaches like Mel Stottlemyre and Don Zimmer hurt Torre as they were the real brains in the Yankees dugout. These oppions may have some legitimacy. However even if these theories are all 100 percent accurate, Torre is still the most qualified guy for the job. There is just no suitable replacement for Joe in the foreseeable Yankee future.
In recent years thing have gotten stale with Joe and the Yankees. In fact, in the last three years Joe’s head has been on the chopping block every October. As I watched live from Yankees Stadium during game four of the ALDS I felt that this was finally the end for Torre in New York. I was one of the many 56,000 in attendance chanting Joe’s name in what we figured was his final good bye.
Appropriately, Joe’s last official appearance on the field at Yankees Stadium was to bring in closer Marino Rivera. Rivera has been the single most important player to Joe’s success in the Bronx. One New York reporter even joked years ago that Joe’s last day with the Yankees should be one day less then Mariano Rivera’s last day.
Mission Accomplished.
Since that sunny November day back in 1995, there have been only two days that I have felt such horrible sadness as a Yankees fanatic. The first day was game seven of the 2004 ALCS when the Yankees lost to the Boston Red Sox.
The Second was today.
“Two Very Important Announcements!”
Coach Jerry Corrado declared sternly to my seventh period physical education class at Kingston High School.
“First off, there is no ninth period make up gym class today.”
The crowd of students assembled on the bleachers, waiting for the bell to ring (myself one of them) began talking, indifferent to Coach’s proclamation.
“Second!” Coach shouted to regain our attention and silence.
“Second!”
“Joe Torre has just been named the new manager of the New York Yankees!”
Once again everyone began talking still indifferent to Coach’s public statement.
Everyone except me that is!
Coach had my full and undivided attention. But coach was done trying to communicate with the group of rowdy teenagers waiting to get for seventh period to end. Staring down at his grade book he waited for the bell, saying nothing more regarding his baseball news.
As soon as the bell rang I ran down from my seat among the top of the bleachers and approached Coach Corrado. I was desperate for some more information.
“Is it true Coach? You know, about the Yankees?” I asked in a frantic and questionable tone.
“Yes” He said to me heatedly.
“It was just announced on the radio, on WKNY during a news break.”
I pulled my New York Yankees cap from a top my head. It’s dark blue color with the interlocking white N Y. discussed by the hat and all it represented, and it’s new manager. I extended the hat out in my hand toward Coach Corrado, and said with anger and disappointment,
“you want a hat?”
“No! I want Buck Showalter back!” Was Coach’s equally angry disappointed return.
I was just fifteen years old, and I couldn’t believe the awful move that George Stienbrenner and the Yankees brass had just made. Joe Torre was known in my mind as a failed Mets and Cardinals manager. A guy whose track record for failure was sure to whip out everything former manager Buck Showalter had just accomplished.
Eleven months later, I was at my uncles house jumping up and down in front of a television when Charlie Hayes caught a foul ball pop up off third base, to crown the Yankees the 1996 World Series Champions. The vision of Torre with the World Series Trophy in his hands and tears in his eyes still seems like yesterday in my mind.
From 1996 right up until two weeks ago, Joe Torre has been the vital component for success in the Bronx. For the last 12 years Torre has been a tremendous leader of Yankees players, a calming voice in the media, and an influential figure with ownership.
But now it's all over.
At 2:00pm on Friday October 19, 2007 Joe Torre offically anounced is tenure as Yankees Skipper as come to an end.
There are many fans, journalists and analysts who are among the opinion that the time has come for a change in New York, and Joe’s departure is ideal. Many feel that Joe has never been a great situational manager, not big on strategy guy. Many also think that losing key coaches like Mel Stottlemyre and Don Zimmer hurt Torre as they were the real brains in the Yankees dugout. These oppions may have some legitimacy. However even if these theories are all 100 percent accurate, Torre is still the most qualified guy for the job. There is just no suitable replacement for Joe in the foreseeable Yankee future.
In recent years thing have gotten stale with Joe and the Yankees. In fact, in the last three years Joe’s head has been on the chopping block every October. As I watched live from Yankees Stadium during game four of the ALDS I felt that this was finally the end for Torre in New York. I was one of the many 56,000 in attendance chanting Joe’s name in what we figured was his final good bye.
Appropriately, Joe’s last official appearance on the field at Yankees Stadium was to bring in closer Marino Rivera. Rivera has been the single most important player to Joe’s success in the Bronx. One New York reporter even joked years ago that Joe’s last day with the Yankees should be one day less then Mariano Rivera’s last day.
Mission Accomplished.
Since that sunny November day back in 1995, there have been only two days that I have felt such horrible sadness as a Yankees fanatic. The first day was game seven of the 2004 ALCS when the Yankees lost to the Boston Red Sox.
The Second was today.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Kobe's Miserable Hollywood Performance
On Thursday night June 14, 2007, game four of the NBA Championship between the San Antonio Spurs and the Cleveland Cavilers was played out to the season’s conclusion. With the Spurs up by just two, after a three pointer by LeBron James, Spurs guard Manu Ginobili received the ball and proceeded to kill 2.3 seconds off the clock before he was fouled. The run killed Cleveland’s dreams of a Championship and completed a series sweep for the Spurs. San Antonio was crowned the 2006-2007 NBA Champions. Seconds later Tim Duncan was pumping his fists. LeBron James was hanging his head. And most important of all Tony Parker was hugging Eva Longoria, capturing the hearts and genitalia of every heterosexual male watching.
Lucky Chap!
The reason I flash back is not to praise the defending Champions or to lust over Eva. Rather it’s because there has been one NBA constant every single day between that game, and the present moments as I type this article. That constant can be found in Los Angeles California with the franchise Icon of the LA Lakers. The constant has been the repetitive malicious weeping of Kobe Bryant. His demand to be traded from the team that made him famous has been the NBA cover story every California day since the spring.
Bryant has been in a constant verbal battle with LA ownership since the end of last season. He put the situation only slightly on the back burner over the summer while playing for team USA. Now he is complaining of a sore leg that has restricted him from preseason workouts. And the latest report out of Tinsel Town is that Kobe was seen clearing out his Lakers locker this past Monday.
When confronted by the media on Tuesday, Kobe denied that he had cleared out his locker, but his overall tone in attitude toward his current team almost contradicted his statement. As Boomer Esiason said on his morning radio show on sports radio 660am,
“A reporter had to have been inside the Lakers locker room, and had to have seen Kobe clearing out his locker in order to make this story news worthy”.
Otherwise we would be talking even more Joe Torre and even less Colorado Rockies this week in the world of sports media.
All sports fans have seen these antics before. Professional athletes testing the limits, trying to break the rules in order to get what they want. Faking injuries, demanding more money, bashing people within their organizations, crying to the media, insisting on trades, and clinging to their agents for their sports lives. Terrell Owens, Manny Ramirez, Michael Strahan, and now Alex Rodriguez are just a few names that come to mind in recent months.
The real trouble is that Kobe is among the highest paid players in the NBA, making a whopping 88.6 million over the next four years. Truth be told I think Lakers ownership would love to part company with their over paid guard. LA has looked to meet Kobe’s demand, but they simply can’t move enough of his salary or get enough in return to make quality trade.
It’s the old “were stuck with you so you’re stuck with us”.
But man is Kobe trying to get out of LA!
Keep in mind Bryant is the same guy who had Shaquille O’Neal kicked out of town! His constant fighting over whose ego was bigger drove O'Neal to Miami, where Shaq had the last laugh with a Championship season two years ago. Bryant has an incredible ability to conduct himself in such a childish fashion that eventually he gets what he wants as someone bows to his demands.
So where is Kobe Bryant going?
My guess would be nowhere. If Lakers owner Jerry Buss and the Lakers brass were going to trade Kobe it would have happened over the summer. I would imagine Bryant will continue to make the situation miserable for his the organization, his teammates, coaching staff, and most of all for himself. I would anticipate a miserable season in LA and an unhappy franchise.
However my track record for predicting the future in professional sports is not exactly stellar. After all I said there would be a Boston / New York ALCS in MLB and that I would be up at least a grand in Vegas last week. Neither of which manifested.
So the safe bet is that Kobe will be in Chicago or Dallas by the NBA opening day!
Kobe is like so many professional athletes in this day and age, tremendously talented on the field, but lacking any essence of honor off.
Lucky Chap!
The reason I flash back is not to praise the defending Champions or to lust over Eva. Rather it’s because there has been one NBA constant every single day between that game, and the present moments as I type this article. That constant can be found in Los Angeles California with the franchise Icon of the LA Lakers. The constant has been the repetitive malicious weeping of Kobe Bryant. His demand to be traded from the team that made him famous has been the NBA cover story every California day since the spring.
Bryant has been in a constant verbal battle with LA ownership since the end of last season. He put the situation only slightly on the back burner over the summer while playing for team USA. Now he is complaining of a sore leg that has restricted him from preseason workouts. And the latest report out of Tinsel Town is that Kobe was seen clearing out his Lakers locker this past Monday.
When confronted by the media on Tuesday, Kobe denied that he had cleared out his locker, but his overall tone in attitude toward his current team almost contradicted his statement. As Boomer Esiason said on his morning radio show on sports radio 660am,
“A reporter had to have been inside the Lakers locker room, and had to have seen Kobe clearing out his locker in order to make this story news worthy”.
Otherwise we would be talking even more Joe Torre and even less Colorado Rockies this week in the world of sports media.
All sports fans have seen these antics before. Professional athletes testing the limits, trying to break the rules in order to get what they want. Faking injuries, demanding more money, bashing people within their organizations, crying to the media, insisting on trades, and clinging to their agents for their sports lives. Terrell Owens, Manny Ramirez, Michael Strahan, and now Alex Rodriguez are just a few names that come to mind in recent months.
The real trouble is that Kobe is among the highest paid players in the NBA, making a whopping 88.6 million over the next four years. Truth be told I think Lakers ownership would love to part company with their over paid guard. LA has looked to meet Kobe’s demand, but they simply can’t move enough of his salary or get enough in return to make quality trade.
It’s the old “were stuck with you so you’re stuck with us”.
But man is Kobe trying to get out of LA!
Keep in mind Bryant is the same guy who had Shaquille O’Neal kicked out of town! His constant fighting over whose ego was bigger drove O'Neal to Miami, where Shaq had the last laugh with a Championship season two years ago. Bryant has an incredible ability to conduct himself in such a childish fashion that eventually he gets what he wants as someone bows to his demands.
So where is Kobe Bryant going?
My guess would be nowhere. If Lakers owner Jerry Buss and the Lakers brass were going to trade Kobe it would have happened over the summer. I would imagine Bryant will continue to make the situation miserable for his the organization, his teammates, coaching staff, and most of all for himself. I would anticipate a miserable season in LA and an unhappy franchise.
However my track record for predicting the future in professional sports is not exactly stellar. After all I said there would be a Boston / New York ALCS in MLB and that I would be up at least a grand in Vegas last week. Neither of which manifested.
So the safe bet is that Kobe will be in Chicago or Dallas by the NBA opening day!
Kobe is like so many professional athletes in this day and age, tremendously talented on the field, but lacking any essence of honor off.
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Yankees 2007 Season Comes To An End
It was so humid!
I could feel the moisture building between my skin and my clothes, and the sticky feeling was consistently in the background of my mind. It didn’t help that 56,315 screaming, cursing, frustrated Yankees fans surrounded me. They posted the game time temperature as 87 degrees on the centerfield jumbo-tron. I wanted to keep drinking to stay cool, but the bathroom line was the longest I had ever seen at the Stadium and I didn’t want to keep missing the game.
All of this on October 8, 2007.
This was just the fourth Yankees Post-Season game I had ever seen in person. It was the first Post-Season game my Old Man had ever seen live. Sitting in box 276 on the third base line, it was not only the best seat I ever had for a Yankees game, it was the Post Season! With Rudy Gulliani, Jim Leyritz, Tino Martinez, and Jeremy Shockey sitting just sections and rows from my seat, The Old Man and I were pumped to be in at Yankees Stadium for this must win game four of the 2007 American League Division Series.
The excitement of the experience, and the intensity of watching a do or die game wore off after the third pitch. Grady Sizemore the Indian centerfielder homered to lead off the game, and the Yankees never recovered.
The New York offense had been on the brink of scoring a ton of runs several times over the first five innings. Both TOM and I thought it was just a matter of time. But after the sixth inning when "Captain Clutch" Derek Sanderson Jeter grounded into a 4-6-3 inning ending double play, I could begin to feel the season slip away. Jeter has always been the type of player who performs better the bigger the game. Yet here he was grounding into his third double play in two games. The score remained 6-2 with just three innings to play. And our very best player was hurting us most.
All year the Yankees kept me on an emotional roller coaster of highs and lows. Around mid August I began expecting the unexpected every day.
“Anything is possible” is what I kept telling myself.
I had to.
I saw the Yankees dissolve a 14.5 deficit in the standings after May 29th, to just 1 game on September 19th. I saw them hold off Detroit and Seattle in the Wild Card race. I saw them win the season series from the Boston Red Sox, the best team in the American League. I saw a kid from Lincoln Nebraska pitch out of the bullpen and capture the hearts and minds of the City That Never Sleeps. I heard “MVP MVP MVP” chanted by the masses during home games in the Bronx whenever the third baseman would step into the batters box.
But after the captain grounded into the 4-6-3 double play, the possible began to seem impossible, and the impossible soon became reality.
When catcher Jorge Posada struck out on three pitches to end the game, a frenzy of incidents went into motion. Incidents that I watched first hand. First Cleveland Catcher Kelly Shoppach stood up just as home plate umpire Fieldin Culbreth signaled strike three. Shoppach pumped his fist and began slowly jogging out to the mound to met Joe Borowski. The battery began the celebration as though this was nothing more then a regular season victory. The Yankees Stadium chief audio engineer instantaneously put the song “New York New York” on the Stadium Sound System. Shoppach and Borowski were not going nuts, but they were quickly greeted by twenty-three other teammates who were. Jumping up and down the Indians began to cluster between the mound and second base. As I watched with my own eyes from less then fifty yards away, A lump began growing in my throat and soon I found it hard to swallow. A feeling like my heart was sinking directly followed. I just stared out on to the field. Standing still and somber, I was remembering things that will forever be branded into my mind. Watching our opponent celebrate on our field. Watching a series of actions play out that will lead to even greater actions playing out off the field.
I could feel the moisture building between my skin and my clothes, and the sticky feeling was consistently in the background of my mind. It didn’t help that 56,315 screaming, cursing, frustrated Yankees fans surrounded me. They posted the game time temperature as 87 degrees on the centerfield jumbo-tron. I wanted to keep drinking to stay cool, but the bathroom line was the longest I had ever seen at the Stadium and I didn’t want to keep missing the game.
All of this on October 8, 2007.
This was just the fourth Yankees Post-Season game I had ever seen in person. It was the first Post-Season game my Old Man had ever seen live. Sitting in box 276 on the third base line, it was not only the best seat I ever had for a Yankees game, it was the Post Season! With Rudy Gulliani, Jim Leyritz, Tino Martinez, and Jeremy Shockey sitting just sections and rows from my seat, The Old Man and I were pumped to be in at Yankees Stadium for this must win game four of the 2007 American League Division Series.
The excitement of the experience, and the intensity of watching a do or die game wore off after the third pitch. Grady Sizemore the Indian centerfielder homered to lead off the game, and the Yankees never recovered.
The New York offense had been on the brink of scoring a ton of runs several times over the first five innings. Both TOM and I thought it was just a matter of time. But after the sixth inning when "Captain Clutch" Derek Sanderson Jeter grounded into a 4-6-3 inning ending double play, I could begin to feel the season slip away. Jeter has always been the type of player who performs better the bigger the game. Yet here he was grounding into his third double play in two games. The score remained 6-2 with just three innings to play. And our very best player was hurting us most.
All year the Yankees kept me on an emotional roller coaster of highs and lows. Around mid August I began expecting the unexpected every day.
“Anything is possible” is what I kept telling myself.
I had to.
I saw the Yankees dissolve a 14.5 deficit in the standings after May 29th, to just 1 game on September 19th. I saw them hold off Detroit and Seattle in the Wild Card race. I saw them win the season series from the Boston Red Sox, the best team in the American League. I saw a kid from Lincoln Nebraska pitch out of the bullpen and capture the hearts and minds of the City That Never Sleeps. I heard “MVP MVP MVP” chanted by the masses during home games in the Bronx whenever the third baseman would step into the batters box.
But after the captain grounded into the 4-6-3 double play, the possible began to seem impossible, and the impossible soon became reality.
When catcher Jorge Posada struck out on three pitches to end the game, a frenzy of incidents went into motion. Incidents that I watched first hand. First Cleveland Catcher Kelly Shoppach stood up just as home plate umpire Fieldin Culbreth signaled strike three. Shoppach pumped his fist and began slowly jogging out to the mound to met Joe Borowski. The battery began the celebration as though this was nothing more then a regular season victory. The Yankees Stadium chief audio engineer instantaneously put the song “New York New York” on the Stadium Sound System. Shoppach and Borowski were not going nuts, but they were quickly greeted by twenty-three other teammates who were. Jumping up and down the Indians began to cluster between the mound and second base. As I watched with my own eyes from less then fifty yards away, A lump began growing in my throat and soon I found it hard to swallow. A feeling like my heart was sinking directly followed. I just stared out on to the field. Standing still and somber, I was remembering things that will forever be branded into my mind. Watching our opponent celebrate on our field. Watching a series of actions play out that will lead to even greater actions playing out off the field.
So bitter sweet. Yet the game, even then, is as it always is.
Perfect.
Even still as much as I love the game, the future looks grim in the Bronx. Free agents are talking of leaving the Yankees. Joe Torre is almost certainly not coming back to New York. Fans are devastated. And the Boston Red Sox (of all teams) are about to begin play in the 2007 ALCS. But this time of year is always grim. It’s always darkest just after a season ends when the dream is not fulfilled.
But this too shall pass.
Pitchers and Catchers will report to Tampa Florida in just one hundred twenty six days. And the 2008 Major League Baseball season will begin on Tuesday April first.
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
2007 MLB Post Season
Twenty-two major league baseball teams have just finished the 2007 season. Over 650 players’ coaches and managers have just finished clearing out their lockers, offices and clubhouses. Some of those players will never see their teammates again in their lives. Others will see their teammates next week on the golf course. One way or another the game is over and their season has halted. Some teams, like the Tampa Bay Devil Rays have known this day was coming for weeks. Others like the New York Mets and the San Diego Padres were stunned by it in the final hours of the regular season.
Then there are the eight other teams whose baseball life has just begun. They have earned the right to extend their play into the 2007 MLB Post Season. Four of them could be eliminated as early as this weekend (my least favorite aspect to the Division Series playoff format). Two more teams will be gone after a maximum of twelve total games. The final two will go to the final days of October. One will raise above all the rest. One will emerge victorious. One will be crowned Baseball’s 102nd Champion. One team will win the 2007 MLB World Series.
So with the post season about to begin I figured I would take a few minutes to make some October picks. These are my winners and losers for the Division Series and the road to the Fall Classic. These picks also reflect how I will be placing my bets while in Vegas in 10 days.
Central Cleveland Indians
Score some major points for the Tribe when it comes to the starting rotation! C.C. Sabathia and Fausto Carmona are as good a one two punch this October as any other out there. Both throw in the mid 90’s and have very good control keeping the ball at the hitter’s knees. Getting beyond these two pitchers will be one of the biggest hurdles to climb for the Yankees this post season. The Cleveland offense is like any other. Its all contingent on Grady Sizemore and Asdrubal Cabrera getting on base to set up Travis Hafner and Victor Martinez. But beyond the Indian’s two prized starters and their one thru four in the batting order, plenty of gaps can be found on the Cleveland Post Season Roster. And don’t dismiss this key stat. The Yankees have defeated the Indians all six times they played one another in the regular season. Including two losses for Carmona.
Wild Card New York Yankees
With the Jaba Rules on the back burner, the bullpen is as solid as any of the other seven teams still alive. When Jaba emerged into the Yankee bullpen in August, he became arguably the greatest secret weapon in Yankee history. No pitcher has bridged the cap to the Yankee closer this well since now closer Marino Rivera had the job. In 1996 Rivera’s role with the Yankees was to pitch the sixth and seventh innings and turn the ball over to then closer John Wettland. So if the Yankees hold the lead going into the seventh, it is almost a sure thing! The starting rotation although not without injury, is pretty deep and sound going into the Division Series. What the Yankees need most of all for post-season triumph is a consistent and productive offense. The Yankees score runs in bunches, and in bunches of games. They need to hit in bunches to win.
P.S. Leave A-Rod Alone!
My Pick- Yankees in four games.
West Anaheim Angels
Sound sound team. Fundamentally strong, fast and productive. The pitching in particular starting pitching is not the best; and they could be reduced in quality. The key losses to the entire outfeild are not helping either. Vladimir Gurrerro has a strained tricep and will be unable to play in right field. Gary Matthews was left off he post season roster due to injury. And Garett Anderson, although playing, as pink eye. To make matters worse, the Angels don’t match up well against the Red Sox either. Playing solid defense, and manufacturing runs will not help get past the overwhelming offense and defense in Bean town.
East Boston Red Sox
This is by far the best team on paper going into the playoffs. The bullpen is the best in the business. The starting rotation has three great arms, and three great backup arms. Then there is Manny and Big Papi, maybe the greatest three and four clutch hitters since Ruth and Gerhig. Josh Beckett will pitch every big game for Boston until are eliminated, or until his arm falls off. They have a ton of offensive winners in the batting order that are noting more then pesky threats. These guys are well rested, well prepared, and have been on their game since April.
My Pick- Boston Sweep.
ALCS
Be ready, because it’s coming like a freight train through a spider web. The Yankees and the Red Sox will be playing in their third ALCS in the last five years. It’s the rubber match of the trifecta!
Central Chicago Cubs
Who would have thought the Cubbies would be the first National League team pouring champagne on one another in a National League clubhouse. Sweet Lou Pinella has done it again. Lou successfully took the Chicago Cubs to the post season in his first year in Wrigley Ville. This team can score runs with Lee and Soriano. Since they shook things up back in early June and traded away catcher Micael Barrett, the Cubs have been playing first place ball. About the same time Lou lost his famous temper and was fined and suspended by MLB. The Cubs have a great attitude, and a tremendous fan base, and enough talent to overcome the Diamondbacks.
West Arizona Diamondbacks
This is the one team that I just don’t have a good gage for. To me they seam like a fluke, yet they have the best record in the National League fifth best in all of baseball. Not one single player in their starting line up is hitting .300. With the exception of Brendan Webb, no pitcher has won more the 13 games. And the team’s ERA is over .350. On the road this season the Diamondbacks are only a game over .500. Yet everyone seems to think they are the hot hand.
My Pick- Cubs in Four.
East Philadelphia Phillies
Way back in April Jimmy Rollins said that the Phillies of Philadelphia were the team to beat in the National League East. But when the Phillies fell eight games behind the Mets on May 30th and were still seven games out on September 6th. Everyone figured J-Ro was all hot air, with no action. Well it took all 162 games but Rollins was right! Not only were the Phillies the team to beat in the NL East, now they are in my opinion the best team in the 2007 National League Post Season. Rollins and Utley and Howard are hitting machines and run producers. Then there is the 15-5 junior sensation Cole Hamels. With the most dominating change up of any left-hander in the game today Cole is well rested and ready for his first career post-season start. But the key ingredient to these Phillies, momentum. Momentum has been on the side of the Phillies for weeks now, winners of five of their last six, and fifteen of their last twenty.
Wild Card Colorado Rockies
Who the Hell are these guys!?! Most baseball fans know Todd Helton, and many have at least heard of Matt Holliday. But names like Troy Tulowitzki and Yorvit Torrealba and the Dragon Slayer Josh Fogg are all news to me! Here is what I do know. The Rockies are winners of 14 of their last 15 games. They are a team united unlike anything I have ever seen. And if I think the Phillies have momentum, then the Rockies have an inconceivable energy yet to be beaten. This first round match up between the Phillies and Rockies will be the best Division Series Baseball to be found in the first round. A battle of conflicting momentum.
My Pick- Phillies in Five
NLCS
A battle of the pinstripes! The two love able losers of the National League will do battle to fight for a trip to the 2007 World Series. The Philadelphia Phillies against the Chicago Cubs.
As for the World Series………….
Then there are the eight other teams whose baseball life has just begun. They have earned the right to extend their play into the 2007 MLB Post Season. Four of them could be eliminated as early as this weekend (my least favorite aspect to the Division Series playoff format). Two more teams will be gone after a maximum of twelve total games. The final two will go to the final days of October. One will raise above all the rest. One will emerge victorious. One will be crowned Baseball’s 102nd Champion. One team will win the 2007 MLB World Series.
So with the post season about to begin I figured I would take a few minutes to make some October picks. These are my winners and losers for the Division Series and the road to the Fall Classic. These picks also reflect how I will be placing my bets while in Vegas in 10 days.
Central Cleveland Indians
Score some major points for the Tribe when it comes to the starting rotation! C.C. Sabathia and Fausto Carmona are as good a one two punch this October as any other out there. Both throw in the mid 90’s and have very good control keeping the ball at the hitter’s knees. Getting beyond these two pitchers will be one of the biggest hurdles to climb for the Yankees this post season. The Cleveland offense is like any other. Its all contingent on Grady Sizemore and Asdrubal Cabrera getting on base to set up Travis Hafner and Victor Martinez. But beyond the Indian’s two prized starters and their one thru four in the batting order, plenty of gaps can be found on the Cleveland Post Season Roster. And don’t dismiss this key stat. The Yankees have defeated the Indians all six times they played one another in the regular season. Including two losses for Carmona.
Wild Card New York Yankees
With the Jaba Rules on the back burner, the bullpen is as solid as any of the other seven teams still alive. When Jaba emerged into the Yankee bullpen in August, he became arguably the greatest secret weapon in Yankee history. No pitcher has bridged the cap to the Yankee closer this well since now closer Marino Rivera had the job. In 1996 Rivera’s role with the Yankees was to pitch the sixth and seventh innings and turn the ball over to then closer John Wettland. So if the Yankees hold the lead going into the seventh, it is almost a sure thing! The starting rotation although not without injury, is pretty deep and sound going into the Division Series. What the Yankees need most of all for post-season triumph is a consistent and productive offense. The Yankees score runs in bunches, and in bunches of games. They need to hit in bunches to win.
P.S. Leave A-Rod Alone!
My Pick- Yankees in four games.
West Anaheim Angels
Sound sound team. Fundamentally strong, fast and productive. The pitching in particular starting pitching is not the best; and they could be reduced in quality. The key losses to the entire outfeild are not helping either. Vladimir Gurrerro has a strained tricep and will be unable to play in right field. Gary Matthews was left off he post season roster due to injury. And Garett Anderson, although playing, as pink eye. To make matters worse, the Angels don’t match up well against the Red Sox either. Playing solid defense, and manufacturing runs will not help get past the overwhelming offense and defense in Bean town.
East Boston Red Sox
This is by far the best team on paper going into the playoffs. The bullpen is the best in the business. The starting rotation has three great arms, and three great backup arms. Then there is Manny and Big Papi, maybe the greatest three and four clutch hitters since Ruth and Gerhig. Josh Beckett will pitch every big game for Boston until are eliminated, or until his arm falls off. They have a ton of offensive winners in the batting order that are noting more then pesky threats. These guys are well rested, well prepared, and have been on their game since April.
My Pick- Boston Sweep.
ALCS
Be ready, because it’s coming like a freight train through a spider web. The Yankees and the Red Sox will be playing in their third ALCS in the last five years. It’s the rubber match of the trifecta!
Central Chicago Cubs
Who would have thought the Cubbies would be the first National League team pouring champagne on one another in a National League clubhouse. Sweet Lou Pinella has done it again. Lou successfully took the Chicago Cubs to the post season in his first year in Wrigley Ville. This team can score runs with Lee and Soriano. Since they shook things up back in early June and traded away catcher Micael Barrett, the Cubs have been playing first place ball. About the same time Lou lost his famous temper and was fined and suspended by MLB. The Cubs have a great attitude, and a tremendous fan base, and enough talent to overcome the Diamondbacks.
West Arizona Diamondbacks
This is the one team that I just don’t have a good gage for. To me they seam like a fluke, yet they have the best record in the National League fifth best in all of baseball. Not one single player in their starting line up is hitting .300. With the exception of Brendan Webb, no pitcher has won more the 13 games. And the team’s ERA is over .350. On the road this season the Diamondbacks are only a game over .500. Yet everyone seems to think they are the hot hand.
My Pick- Cubs in Four.
East Philadelphia Phillies
Way back in April Jimmy Rollins said that the Phillies of Philadelphia were the team to beat in the National League East. But when the Phillies fell eight games behind the Mets on May 30th and were still seven games out on September 6th. Everyone figured J-Ro was all hot air, with no action. Well it took all 162 games but Rollins was right! Not only were the Phillies the team to beat in the NL East, now they are in my opinion the best team in the 2007 National League Post Season. Rollins and Utley and Howard are hitting machines and run producers. Then there is the 15-5 junior sensation Cole Hamels. With the most dominating change up of any left-hander in the game today Cole is well rested and ready for his first career post-season start. But the key ingredient to these Phillies, momentum. Momentum has been on the side of the Phillies for weeks now, winners of five of their last six, and fifteen of their last twenty.
Wild Card Colorado Rockies
Who the Hell are these guys!?! Most baseball fans know Todd Helton, and many have at least heard of Matt Holliday. But names like Troy Tulowitzki and Yorvit Torrealba and the Dragon Slayer Josh Fogg are all news to me! Here is what I do know. The Rockies are winners of 14 of their last 15 games. They are a team united unlike anything I have ever seen. And if I think the Phillies have momentum, then the Rockies have an inconceivable energy yet to be beaten. This first round match up between the Phillies and Rockies will be the best Division Series Baseball to be found in the first round. A battle of conflicting momentum.
My Pick- Phillies in Five
NLCS
A battle of the pinstripes! The two love able losers of the National League will do battle to fight for a trip to the 2007 World Series. The Philadelphia Phillies against the Chicago Cubs.
As for the World Series………….
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