Archive for category MLB Postseason
Free Agency Is Upon Us…
Posted by Monty in Baseball, MLB Postseason, Off-season on December 7, 2009
Placido Polanco has returned to Philadelphia after some time in Detroit
And the big names, Holliday, Bay, and Lackey haven’t found a new home yet, but Chone Figgins, Placido Polanco and Marco Scutaro are now off the market.
Let me say, as a White Sox fan, I’m glad Placido Polanco is out of the division, as well as AL, because it seemed like he killed the White Sox every time he was at the plate. His .319/.361/.434 in 79 games vs. the Sox was better than his career .303/.348/.414 splits, not to mention his gold glove in 2007. So I’m not shedding any tears for him leaving Detroit.
Top 10 Baseball Non-Steriod Controversies Of Past Decade
Posted by Monty in Baseball, MLB Postseason, Miscellaneous, Off-season on November 28, 2009
The World Baseball Classic is my #1 non-steriod controversy.
Several media outlets are releasing their “Best Of’s” lists for the past year and decade. Yahoo! Sports has released a couple already, but one I wanted to comment on was their “Top 10 Baseball Non-Steroid Controversies”.
Here is my list
1. World Baseball Classic
2. Bartman
3. ASG Tie
4. Grady Leaving Pedro In
5. Umpiring Meltdowns/Instant Replay
6. Torre Leaves Yankees
7. Schilling’s Bloody Sock
8. Contraction Threats
9. Sosa Corked Bat
10. Pierzynski Reaches
Here is my reasoning…
1. WBC. This has driven owners, agents and everyone in baseball except Bud Selig nuts. The premise to make the game more “global” is a myth, and the WBC is something that Selig cites as an “accomplishment” during his time as Commissioner. The issue nearly everyone has with it is the injury risk for players that are away from their teams during spring training. MLB teams are spending more money than ever on players and the last thing they want to see is an injury or ineffectiveness from their multimillion dollar asset. Finally, the best players from each respective county haven’t played in these games, so the WBC hasn’t really proven anything, except a giant waste.
Bats Awaken In Philly, Yanks Take Game 3
Posted by Monty in Baseball, MLB Postseason on November 1, 2009
Jayson Werth's 2 HR weren't enough for the Phillies in Game 3
After two pitching duels in New York, the first game in Philly provided plenty of fireworks. Home runs by Nick Swisher, Hideki Matsui, Alex Rodriguez (I’ll get to this one in a bit), Jayson Werth (2 times) and Carlos Ruiz gave fans more than enough reason to hang around and watch this one after a hour and 20 minute rain delay.
Game 3 was easily the most exciting game of the series, and the first time both offenses got to the opposing starter. Cole Hamels made it into the 5th inning, but gave up five runs to Yankees hitters. Hamels hasn’t gone six full innings in any of his four postseason starts. And including the regular season, he’s 1-5 with a 7.32 ERA in his last seven starts. Andy Pettitte didn’t pitch great, but did enough to earn the win, 6 innings, 4 runs allowed. Althought, Pettitte did help out his cause in the 5th by driving in Nick Swisher, the first RBI by a Yankee pitcher in a World Series game since 1964 when “Ball Four” author Jim Bouton drove in Tom Tresh.
World Series Heads To Philly Tied At 1
Posted by Monty in Baseball, MLB Postseason on October 30, 2009
Utley led the Phillies to a Game 1 win.
After two games in the Bronx, what I’m most impressed with was the quality of starting pitching on both sides. All four starters, Cliff Lee, Pedro Martinez, CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett pitched into the 7th inning with success. Pedro and CC gave up solo shots, but neither allowed any significant offensive rally. A.J. pitched strong and fooled Phillies hitters while Cliff Lee pitched one of the best games in World Series history.
Angels Escape LA With Victory In Game 5
Posted by Monty in Baseball, MLB Postseason on October 22, 2009
Jeff Mathis celebrates with Brian Fuentes after the Angels take Game 5
The Yankees were trailing by 1 run, bases loaded, two outs, top of the 9th, and a full count on Nick Swisher. Swisher got under a Fuentes pitch and popped out to Erick Aybar to give the Angels the Game 5 victory. Facing elimination from the 2009 postseason, the Angels didn’t want to go out without a fight. LA’s first five hitters reached and scored four runs in the first inning off A.J. Burnett. In fact they scored four runs before FOX was able to put up the scouting report graphic on Burnett. They held that lead until a very wacky 7th inning that scored the nine of the 13 runs scored.
Phillies Advance To World Series
Posted by Chris Cwik in Baseball, MLB Postseason on October 22, 2009
While Monty has done a fine job recapping each game of the ALCS, I have not lived up to my end of the bargain. Consider this my apology for slacking the past few days.
The Phillies Advance Again
The last National League team to win the World Series in two consecutive years is the 1975-76 Cincinnati Reds. In 2009, the Phillies could be the next NL team to repeat. After outscoring the Los Angeles Dodgers 35-16, the Phillies have advanced to the World Series once again. Despite the Dodgers having the highest run differential entering the playoffs, the Phillies pulled off the upset. While the Phillies did have a solid run differential heading into the playoffs, only one of our bloggers picked them to advance to the World Series. Many expected the Phillies to win the NL East this season (I did not, thank you Mets…), however few expected them to have this type of season. Let’s take a look back at how the Phillies have advanced to the World Series.
CC And A-Rod Bring Yankees To Within 1 Game Of World Series
Posted by Monty in Baseball, MLB Postseason on October 21, 2009
Alex Rodriguez, celebrates with Mark Teixeira after winning Game 4 of the ALCS
After two emotional extra-inning games, the Yankees made quick work of the Angels in Game 4. CC Sabathia pitched eight strong innings of one-run baseball, while the offense put on a hitting clinic. Johnny Damon and Alex Rodriguez went deep, Melky Cabrera drove in four runs and Jorge Posada stole a base in the biggest blowout in this series, 10-1 New York.
There was some concern entering Game 4 with Yankees starter CC Sabathia coming off 3 days rest and facing an Angels lineup that just saw his last Friday. Well that concern was put to rest as CC pitched a nearly identical game against the Angels.
| CCya Later | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sabathia Vs. Angels | Game 1 | Game 4 | ||||
| Innings Pitched | 8 | 8 | ||||
| Hits | 4 | 5 | ||||
| Earned Runs | 1 | 1 | ||||
| K-BB | 7-1 | 5-1 | ||||
| Decision | W | W | ||||
| *2009 Postseason | ||||||
Angels Take Game 3 On Jeff Mathis Walk-Off Double
Posted by Monty in Baseball, MLB Postseason on October 20, 2009
Los Angeles Angels' Jeff Mathis is congratulated by teammates after hitting a double to score Howie Kendrick to beat the Yankees 5-4 in the eleventh inning of Game 3
With 2 outs in the bottom of the 11th, Angels backup catcher Jeff Mathis hit a line drive to the gap off Yankees reliever Alfredo Aceves scoring Game 3 MVP Howie Kendrick to give the Angels their first win of the series. Mathis, who hit .211 this season, got the game-winning hit after Joe Girardi, with two outs and nobody on, decides to hand the ball over to his 7th reliever of the game, rookie Alfredo Aceves. Girardi was accused of over managing his bullpen in Game 2 of ALCS, and it burned him in Game 3. Girardi replaced David Robertson, who had allowed one run in his previous 9 outings, with Aceves, who allowed five base runners in his previous two outings. Aceves gave up a hit to Kendrick, and then Mathis drove in the game winning run.
This was the first time consecutive games in a postseason series went extra innings since Boston beat New York in Game 4 and 5 of the 2004 ALCS. Both starters were victims of the long ball in this game. Andy Pettitte gave up a solo shot to Howie Kendrick and a 2-run HR to Vladimir Guerrero, while Jered Weaver had Derek Jeter, Johnny Damon and Alex Rodriguez go deep on him. Both starters pitched ok, but nothing special and once again the game was turned over to the bullpens.
Yankees Sneak Past Angels To Take Game 2 of ALCS
Posted by Monty in Baseball, MLB Postseason on October 18, 2009
Angels OF Vladimir Guererro went 1-7 in Game 2 of the ALCS, including striking out with the bases loaded in the 7th inning
A Maicer Izturis throwing error in the bottom of the 13th inning ended the 5 hour and 10 minute playoff game between the Yankees and Angels. After trailing 2-0, the Angels scored two runs and sent the game into extra innings. The Angels only lead of the game, and series, was short lived in the 11th inning. A Chone Figgins RBI single gave LA a 3-2 lead heading into the bottom of the 11th with closer Brian Fuentes on to finish the job. The first batter Fuentes faced was Alex Rodriguez, and A-Rod continued his excellent postseason by hitting a HR just over the right field wall to tie the game. The homerun for A-Rod was his 3rd tying HR in a postseason game from the 7th inning or later, an MLB record. It remained scoreless until Izturis made a throwing error that allowed Jerry Hairston Jr. to score the winning run. The Yankees lead the majors with 15 walk-off victories and have added two in the playoffs.
Both starters pitched good enough to win this game. Saunders went 7 innings, allowed two runs, striking out five hitters. Burnett pitched into the 7th gave up two runs on three hits. Both bullpens were used extensively; in fact, Yankees manager Joe Girardi used seven relievers, including Mariano Rivera for 2 1/3 innings. For Rivera that was his longest outing since May 30th, 2006. Conversely, Mike Scoscia used four relievers. Fuentes Blown Save in the bottom of the 11th was the eighth blown save in 17 opportunities for all closers in the 2009 postseason.
CC and Angels Defense Give Yankees Game 1 Win
Posted by Monty in Baseball, MLB Postseason on October 17, 2009
CC led the Yankees in a Game 1 victory
The Angels offense led in Batting Average, and each hitter had a wOBA over .339, including four players hitting over 20 Home Runs this season. Despite that impressive hitting resume, the Angels were only able to scratch one run across the plate Friday night in the Yankees 4-1 victory. CC Sabathia dominated Angels’ hitters. He struck out 7 and allowed only 5 base runners in 8 innings. Angels starter John Lackey pitched better than his box score indicated, but his usually stout defense, let him down. The Angels committed 3 errors, and that doesn’t include a pop-up on the infield that dropped between Chone Figgins and Erick Aybar allowing a run to score in the 1st inning.
The Yankees offense led MLB by a sizeable margin in Home Runs this season, but found a way to win this game without use of the long ball. Alex Rodriguez continued his strong postseason going 1-2 with a sac fly RBI and walk, despite being thrown out at home when he blew through a stop sign. Hideki Matsui drove in 2 other runs, with Derek Jeter driving in the 4th run in the 6th inning. The Yanks offense took the first pitch from John Lackey 24 of 28 times and he was pulled from the game in the 6th after throwing 114 pitches. It wasn’t a great day for the Yankees offense, but in the low-40 degree weather, they did enough to win this game.
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