Wednesday, August 31, 2011

You DON'T walk a batter to face Jed Lowrie!

Joe Girardi played with fire tonight.

He walked David Ortiz to face Jed Lowrie in a tie game.

BIG MISTAKE!

He swatted a tie breaking hit in the third inning that gave the Sox the lead. It wasn't the game winning hit. The Yankees would tie and take the lead before homers by Ellsbury and Varitek gave the Sox the cushion for good.

But the Lowrie hit set the tone for me. It was clear that the Red Sox were in a fighting mood.

Let's update the tally for GOOD reasons!

DODGED BULLET GAMES - 43

April 8 - 9-6 win against the Yankees. (The Sox end their 6 game losing streak with a slugfest. John Lackey stinks but Phil Hughes stinks even more.)

April 10 - 4-0 win against the Yankees. (Beckett and Sabathia duel in a game that was 1-0 until the late innings.)

April 20 - 5-3 win in Oakland. (Red Sox survive a lead off homer and two bases loaded situations and facing the tying run at the plate to win their first road game.)

April 21 - 4-2 win in Anaheim. (The Red Sox stranded 15 men on base and Josh Beckett's went 8 strong with no decision. But the Sox rallied in the 11th to win.)

April 22 - 4-3 win in Anaheim. (Peter Bourjos makes a 2 run errors and the Red Sox survive a bizarre passed ball by Jarrod Saltalamacchia that let a run scored from second.)

May 1 - 3-2 win against the Mariners. (Ichiro loses a ball in the sun that turns into a 9th inning triple for Lowrie. Crawford singles him home for the win.)

May 8 - 9-5 win against the Twins. (Dice-K lets up 3 runs in the first but settles down as the Red Sox clobber Carl Pavano.)

May 9 - 2-1 win against the Twins. (A bullpen breakdown cost Beckett the decision but Cark Crawford ended the game with an 11th inning walk off hit.)

May 13 - 5-4 win in the Bronx. (Youkilis homers off of Joba and Bard and Papelbon make it more interesting than it needed to be.)

May 15 - 7-5 win in the Bronx. (Sox fall behind 4-1 but come back as Youk, Papi and Salty all homer.)

May 16 - 8-7 win against the Orioles. (Down 6-0 after 6 innings, the Sox rally and win it with a 2 run walk off double by Adrian Gonzalez)

May 18 - 1-0 win against Detroit. (With 2 outs in the 8th, Salty doubles home Crawford from first for the only run. Papelbon gets himself in and out of 9th inning trouble.)

May 19 - 4-3 win against Detroit. (Bard blows Beckett's lead but Carl Crawford wins it with a walk off hit.)

May 24 - 4-2 win in Cleveland. (Varitek throws two runners out and homers as the Red Sox win their first game against the Indians.)

May 29 - 4-3 win in Detroit. (The Red Sox blow an early 3-0 lead but David Ortiz wins the game with a pinch 9th inning homer.)

June 3 - 8-6 win against Oakland. (Buchholz lets up 4 runs in the first but the Sox come back thanks to Carl Crawford's 2 run single.)

June 4 - 9-8 win against Oakland. (Red Sox blow a 4 run 9th inning lead and trail in the 11th before Ellsbury ties it and Drew wins it in 14.)

June 7 - 6-4 win in the Bronx. (Papelbon strikes out A-Rod to end the game with a runner on base.)

June 9 - 8-3 win in the Bronx. (Down 2-0 to Sabathia in the 7th, the Sox score 7 runs as Papi exacts revenge after getting plunked. A 3+ hour rain delay pushed the game past 1:30 AM)

June 15 - 3-0 win in Tampa Bay. (Youkilis homers in the 7th for the only runs in Beckett's 1 hit masterpiece.)

June 16 - 4-2 win in Tampa Bay. (Papelbon wiggles out of a 2 on, nobody out jam in the 9th thanks to Youk's diving catch.)

June 26 - 4-2 win in Pittsburgh. (The Pirates make 4 errors and the Red Sox score 2 in the 7th to avoid a sweep by the Bucs.

June 30 - 5-2 win in Philadelphia.(An injury to Cole Hamels leads to the Red Sox bats waking up.)

July 1 - 7-5 win in Houston. (The Sox score 6 in the 7th inning to come back and win.)

July 3 - 2-1 win in Houston. (The Red Sox score a run in the top of the 9th on a walk to break a tie.)

July 5 - 3-2 win against Toronto. (Lester gets hurt but Darnel McDonald throws out the tying run at the plate to end the game.)

July 6 - 6-4 win against Toronto. (The Sox score 4 in the 4th to take the lead and Wakefield and company hang on for dear life.)

July 10 - 8-6 win against Baltimore. (The Orioles score 6 runs off of rookie Kyle Weiland in the second, but the Red Sox hit three homers in the bottom of the second to tie the game and hold for dear life.)

July 16 - 9-5 win in Tampa. (Lackey puts the Sox in a 3-0 first inning hole, but 3 Sox homers bring them back for the win.)

July 17 - 1-0 win in Tampa. (Beckett throws a masterpiece and the bullpen throws 8 amazing innings. But the Sox bats go dead, leaving 17 men on base before Pedroia drove in a run with 2 outs in the 16th inning.)

July 18 - 15-10 win in Baltimore. (The Sox blow a 6-2 lead but score 8 runs in the 8th to take the game.)

July 22 - 7-4 win against Seattle. (John Lackey beat Felix Hernandez and Mike Carp's error helped the Red Sox score 5 in the 7th to give them some breathing room.)

July 23 - 3-1 win against Seattle. (Ellsbury gets Beckett off the hook in a tight pitchers duel when he got a 2 out, 2 strike 2 run go ahead single in the 8th.)

July 26 - 13-9 win against the Royals. (The Sox trailed in the 1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th before the bats exploded in the 5th.

August 2 - 3-2 win against Cleveland. (Youk tied the game with a 6th inning homer and Salty dove home for the winning run in the 9th.)

August 3 - 4-3 win against Cleveland. (Ellsbury hits a walk off shot in the 9th.)

August 7 - 3-2 win against the Yankees (The Sox rally off of Rivera in the 9th and win on Josh Reddick's 10th inning single)

August 8 - 8-6 win in Minnesota. (Down 5-1, the Red Sox rally back, then score twice in the 9th to give the Sox the win.)

August 9 - 4-3 win in Minnesota. (Darnell McDonald's homer ties the game and Ortiz singles home the game winner as Bard worked out of trouble in the 7th.)

August 12 - 6-4 win in Seattle. (Reddick and Ortiz homered to bail out Lackey.)

August 16 - 3-1 win against Tampa Bay. (Pedroia makes a diving catch in the 9th to help preserve the win.)

August 18 - 4-3 win at Kansas City. (Sox hold on despite having three base runners thrown out by the outfielders.)

August 31 - 9-5 win against the Yankees. (Beckett blows a 4-1 lead but homers by Ellsbury and Varitek put the Sox on top.)

TEETH GRINDER GAMES - 36

April 1 - 9-5 loss in Texas. (The Sox tie Opening Day in the 8th with an Ortiz homer only to have Bard implode and the Sox let up 4 in the bottom of the 8th.)

April 5 - 3-1 loss in Cleveland. (The Sox drop their 4th straight as the bats are dead in Cleveland.)

April 7 - 1-0 loss in Cleveland. (Sox blow a great Lester performance on a squeeze bunt and Darnell McDonald overrunning the bag to end the game.)

April 12 - 3-2 loss to Tampa Bay. (A solid Lester performance is wasted as Kyle Farnsworth of all people shuts down the Sox.)

April 15 - 7-6 loss to Toronto. (Bobby Jenks implodes with a 4 run seventh inning as the Red Sox waste Pedroia and Youkilis homers and a clutch RBI double by Scuatro.

April 19 - 5-0 loss in Oakland. (Pedroia gets picked off, the Sox bats go dead and waste a solid Lackey start.)

April 26 - 4-1 loss in Baltimore. (Buchholz pitches tentatively and the Sox let Kevin Gregg of all people to close out the 9th.)

April 27 - 5-4 loss in Baltimore. (The Sox tie the game with a 3 run 8th only to have Bard lose it in the bottom of the 8th.)

April 29 - 5-4 loss to Mariners. (Bobby Jenks blows a 7th inning lead, wasting 2 Mike Cameron homers.)

April 30 - 2-0 loss to Mariners. (The Sox strand 11 runners and let Milton Bradley double home the go ahead run.)

May 4 - 5-3 loss to Angels. (7 hours with rain delays and stranded runners. Marco Scutaro was thrown out at the plate in the 12th)

May 10 - 7-6 loss in Toronto. (8th and 9th inning heroics, including a homer by Adrian Gonzalez, are undone by a walk off sacrifice fly by David Cooper.)

May 21 - 9-3 loss to Cubs. (Up 3-1 in the 8th inning, the bullpen and defense implode. The Cubs score 8 runs while both teams wear their 1918 uniforms.)

May 23- 3-2 loss in Cleveland. (The Sox blow a 2-1 8th inning lead when the Indians rally with 2 outs. Crawford ends the game on a double play.)

May 29 - 3-0 loss in Detroit. (Verlander keeps the Sox off base and prevents the sweep.)

June 1 - 7-4 loss to White Sox. (Konerko drives in three, spoiling a game tying Ortiz homer.)

June 14 - 4-0 loss in Tampa Bay. (Wakefield's solid outing is spoiled. Longoria scores on a passed ball.)

June 18 - 4-2 loss to Milwaukee. (The Brewers hit three homers early off of Lester and hang on.)

June 21 - 5-4 loss to San Diego. (Ortiz hits a double play in the 9th to stifle a potential winning rally.)

June 24 - 3-1 loss to Pittsburgh. (The Red Sox strand 7 runners in scoring position.)

June 25 - 6-4 loss to Pittsburgh. (The Red Sox fall out of first as Pedroia's error leads to a Pirates run.)

June 29 - 2-1 loss in Philadelphia. (Vance Worley duels John Lackey and slumping Raul Ibanez drives in both runs.)

July 4 - 9-7 loss to Toronto. (John Lackey's miserable start puts the Sox in too big a hole to climb out of.)

July 19 - 6-2 loss in Baltimore. (Scutaro gets thrown out stealing and the Orioles tack on 3 big runs late.)

July 25 - 3-1 loss to the Royals. (Scutaro botches a potential game winning squeeze play in the 12th as the Red Sox lose in 14.)

July 28 - 4-3 loss to the Royals. (Crawford's bid for a walk off homer falls just short.)

July 29 - 3-1 loss to the White Sox. (Sox blow a late 1-0 lead and spoil a solid Wakefield start.)

August 1 - 9-6 loss to Cleveland. (Asdrubal Cabrera's second home run was an 8th inning tie breaking shot off of Daniel Bard.)

August 4 - 7-3 loss to Cleveland. (Carlos Santana's homer broke a 3-3 tie.)

August 5 - 3-2 loss to the Yankees. (The Sox leave the bases loaded in the 5th and the Yankees score 3 in the 6th to take the lead.)

August 10 - 5-2 in Minnesota. (The Twins score 3 in the 8th, spoiling Ortiz's game tying homer.)

August 13 - 5-4 loss in Seattle. (Mariners score 5 in the first and the Red Sox come back falls short.)

August 14 - 5-3 loss in Seattle. (The Red Sox comeback falls short as Wakefield loses a complete game).

August 16 - 6-2 loss against Tampa Bay. (The Red Sox pull a triple play but a late rally by the Rays puts the game out of reach.)

August 21 - 9-4 loss at Kansas City. (The Royals' 8 run 6th spoils a 4-1 Sox lead and Wakefield's bid to win 200 games.)

August 30 - 5-2 loss to the Yankees. (Sabathia finally beats the Sox and Cervelli's homer sparks bean balls.)

Up to +7.

MAGIC NUMBER TO CLINCH THE EAST: 26

It's been a while since they dodged a bullet.

It feels good.

Do you know what feels better?

Seeing who is pitching tomorrow.

Jon Lester for the Red Sox. A. J. Burnett for the Yankees.

Set your DVRS!

Evans-tually Everyone Has A Blog Written About Them

So tell me, Mets fans. Do you know how many players currently on the 25-man roster played for the Mets at Shea Stadium? Well, there are the obvious ones in Jose Reyes and David Wright. There's Angel Pagan, who played briefly at Shea in 2008 before missing most of the season due to injury. (Speaking of injury, Daniel Murphy does not count because he is not currently on the 25-man roster, although he did make his Mets debut in '08.) There are also a number of pitchers, such as Mike Pelfrey, Jonathon Niese, Bobby Parnell and Jason Isringhausen (who was a Met from 1995-1999).

There's one more player who played for the Mets at Shea Stadium and is currently on the 25-man roster. Can't figure out who he is? He's only one of the hottest hitters in the lineup.

The eighth player on the Mets' active roster who played for the team at Shea Stadium is Nick Evans, a man who's paid his dues and looks like he's finally moving in the right direction.

Things are looking up for Nick Evans, especially after his recent play with the Mets.

Ever since he was drafted in the 5th round of the 2004 amateur draft, Nick Evans has been the player who's racked up the most frequent flier miles between AAA and the majors. Whenever a hitter (non-catcher) has been needed, it's Evans who has made the trip more often than not. After all, his minor league numbers have always been very good.

Evans hit .300 or better in three minor league seasons (2008, 2010, 2011) and reached double digits in home runs in six consecutive seasons (2005-2010), a number that would have reached seven had Evans not spent so much time with the Mets in 2011 (8 HR in 64 games with AAA-Buffalo this year).

Of course, up until the past month, Evans' minor league success did not translate into similar success with the Mets. From 2008 to 2010, Evans made several trips to the majors, but his splits (.257/.298/.410) were nothing spectacular. In fact, they were similar to the numbers put up by former teammates Luis Hernandez in 2010 (.250/.298/.409) and Omir Santos in 2009 (.260/.296/.391).

Then Daniel Murphy was lost for the season and Jose Reyes was disabled for the second time. That meant more at-bats for Evans, who never got regular playing time prior to August. It looks as if that was all Evans needed to finally break free from Quadruple-A status.

During the month of August, Evans has hit .378, with a .429 on-base percentage and a .622 slugging percentage. His OPS is a whopping 1.050 during that stretch. The numbers are even better since he became an everyday player last week (.435/.480/.783).

No one is saying that Nick Evans is going to become a regular player in 2012. Like Daniel Murphy, he is a good hitter without a position. Evans can play first base and left field, but he is blocked at both positions by Ike Davis (assuming he's ready by Opening Day 2012) and Jason Bay, respectively.

But even if Evans doesn't play regularly next year, he should make more airplane trips with his teammates rather than by himself on the Buffalo-Flushing shuttle. Four years of peripatetic activity can be hard for anyone trying to establish himself in the major leagues. After proving what he can do over the past month, it may finally be time for Nick Evans to stay with the big league club past the 2011 season.

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

You don't like a home run celebration? Don't let up home runs!

I sometimes don't agree with the whole "act like you've been there" mentality that some people hold so dearly in sports.

If a player does something positive and wants to celebrate, then celebrate.

If Francisco Cervelli wanted to break dance at home plate, I don't really care.

All I care about is wins, losses and runs scored during the game.

Besides, it's note like Cervelli is going to get to 600 homers in his career. Tonight's blast was the third of his career. So why not celebrate?

I am less concerned about Cervelli acting happy than the 16 runners left on base.

If the Red Sox hit a home run with those guys on base, I'd be celebrating like Cervelli.

Let's update the tally.

DODGED BULLET GAMES - 42

TEETH GRINDER GAMES - 36

April 1 - 9-5 loss in Texas. (The Sox tie Opening Day in the 8th with an Ortiz homer only to have Bard implode and the Sox let up 4 in the bottom of the 8th.)

July 25 - 3-1 loss to the Royals. (Scutaro botches a potential game winning squeeze play in the 12th as the Red Sox lose in 14.)

July 28 - 4-3 loss to the Royals. (Crawford's bid for a walk off homer falls just short.)

July 29 - 3-1 loss to the White Sox. (Sox blow a late 1-0 lead and spoil a solid Wakefield start.)

August 1 - 9-6 loss to Cleveland. (Asdrubal Cabrera's second home run was an 8th inning tie breaking shot off of Daniel Bard.)

August 16 - 6-2 loss against Tampa Bay. (The Red Sox pull a triple play but a late rally by the Rays puts the game out of reach.)

It's tough to grind your teeth at this game. On paper, Sabathia vs. Lackey is a mismatch. And let's face it, we'd all have taken a 4-1 record against Sabathia this year.

But I'm greedy.

Come on CC! Have ONE more bad outing in you

The Red Sox could very well be handing the Cy Young Award to Justin Verlander this year.

Why?

Because CC Sabathia has been so terrific against every other team except the Red Sox.

His numbers are Cy Young contender worthy.

17-7 record. 2.99 ERA. 205 innings pitched. 4th in the league in strikouts with 191.

But his WHIP and BAA fall far short.

And I wonder how much of that (plus his ERA which is good but not top 5) is due to his rancid 0-4 record against the Red Sox with a big fat 7.20 ERA.

If he were merely mediocre against the Sox he'd be a 19 game winner among the league leaders of ERA and maybe a few more strikeouts thrown in there.

Now the law of averages say that Sabathia will be good today.

And the Yankees are facing John Lackey, so his performance will probably be filed under "Who the hell knows?"

That being said...

One more Sabathia loss would not only mean the Magic Number for the Division would be 26 going into September...

Not only mean that the favorable match ups of Beckett vs. Hughes and Lester vs. Burnett would finish the series...

Not only give the Red Sox a 2 1/2 game lead (2 in the loss column over the Yankees)...

But put the ole "We're just not as good" doubt in the Yankees cranium.

That's always a good thing.

Let's play ball.

Sunday, August 28, 2011

The Giants just won't make this easy...

Seriously Giants. You can't win a 4 game series AT HOME against the Worst Team In Baseball?

8 runs in 37 2/3 innings?

This was the time the Giants should have been piling up wins and getting ready for next weekend's showdown against the Diamondbacks.

The Giants had 7 games against the team that will end up being the worst in Astros history, and lost 4 of them!

Yeah I know they were down by 6 games to the Padres last year at this time.

Yeah I know THAT team had more experience than this current Arizona team.

Yeah I know the Giants are the defending World Champs.

Does that mean they have to do it the hard way?

Are we REALLY going to watch the Giants play golf in October while the Diamondbacks get thumped by the Phillies?

Only a "Freaky Friday" will keep the Cy Young away from Justin Verlander

I think it is safe to say Justin Verlander is the pitcher to beat for the Cy Young award.

He's already a 20 game winner.

He's already logged 215 2/3 innings, the most in all of baseball.

He leads all of baseball with 218 strikeouts.

He has the lowest WHIP in baseball.

He has the lowest batting average against in all of baseball.

He has the second lowest ERA in the American League.

He's made the most starts in baseball.

He has a 7.4 WAR, which I have no idea what that means but it sounds impressive.

And oh yeah, he threw a no hitter.

An AVERAGE game for him is about 2 runs over 7 1/3 innings.

Plus you can throw in the fact that the Tigers are going to win the Division unless they do a complete face plant and they would never be there WITHOUT Verlander.

No matter if you use the eye ball test, traditional stats or new fangled stats, Verlander is the best.

How could he NOT win the Cy Young?

I think at this point even a mediocre September wouldn't take the award from him.

The only way he can lose it at the point is if Verlander and A. J. Burnett did a sort of Freaky Friday body switch.

And do you know what? That might not even do the trick. Verlander's been that good.

Saturday, August 27, 2011

The Old Man Is Snoring

OK, so I was wrong. I didn't want the Red Sox trying to play this second game.

They did... and despite another rain delay the Sox picked up 2 wins while the Yankees order room service in Baltimore.

And these are 2 games the Yankees will have to make up somewhere in a crowded Baltimore (hellllllo A. J. Burnett starts.)

Meanwhile Alfredo Aceves picked up ANOTHER win!

He's 9-1!

Here's an idea for Francona. Put Wakefield in all of Aceves spots. He'll have his 200 wins in a heartbeat.

So now they Red Sox have Sunday and Monday off and be rested and ready for the Yankees.

And while I am at it...

THE MAGIC NUMBER IS 29 TO WIN THE A.L. EAST!

And to get into the playoffs...

THE MAGIC NUMBER IS 22!

Red Sox... are you REALLY playing that second game?

Hey, I love that the Red Sox won the first game today.

I love that they are trying to get these games in NOW instead of filling up the end of the year with a ton of double headers.

I love that the fact that the Yankees need to make up games in September will probably mean a few more A. J. Burnett starts in the back of a double header.

But they got the FIRST game in with a ton of rain delays in front of friends and family.

Why not call it a day and find shelter?

The Batting Title Is Slip Slidin' Away For Reyes

A little over a week ago, I wrote a piece on the Mets' pitching staff needing to be able to keep Ryan Braun at bay when the Brewers visited Citi Field. Jose Reyes' batting average was stuck at .336 since he was placed on the disabled list in early August and Braun was beginning to creep up on the Mets' shortstop.

Of course, since they're the Mets, they failed, allowing Braun to hit .400 in the three-game series (in addition to scoring six runs, driving in three more, cracking a home run and stealing three bases, which I guess contributed more to the three-game sweep than the 4-for-10).

Since that series ended last weekend, Braun has continued to do everything offensively. In five games, he's ripped five extra-base hits (four doubles, one home run), crossed the plate four times, driven in five and stolen an addition four bases. Oh, yeah. He also hit .389 (7-for-18) over the five games, including last night's 2-for-2 performance that raised his average up to .333.

Don't slide, Jose! Just keep running! Ryan Braun is on your tail and he's gaining fast!

When Jose Reyes was placed on the disabled list for the first time in early July, he was hitting a robust .354. That number stayed unchanged until he returned to the Mets on July 19. When Reyes came back from the disabled list, Braun was only hitting .315, nearly forty percentage points behind Reyes.

In the time between his first and most recent DL stint, Reyes played in 18 games, hitting only .256. From July 25 until the day he re-aggravated his hamstring injury (August 7), Reyes hit a Mario Mendoza-like .208. The multi-hit game, which had become a staple for Reyes during the first half of the season had all but vanished, as he collected three multi-hit games (never getting more than two hits in any of those games) in his final 12 games before he checked back in to the DL Hotel. Over the same time period, Reyes was held hitless five times.

Since July 19 (the day Reyes returned from his first DL stint), Braun has taken off, hitting .374 (49-for-131). In addition to challenging Reyes for a batting title that appeared to be his in early July, Braun has transformed himself into the National League's leading MVP candidate. For the season, the Hebrew Hammer has a .333/.404/.592 split. That .592 slugging percentage leads the National League, as does his .996 OPS. He also leads the league in runs scored (91) and is in the top ten in hits (160), total bases (265), doubles (33), home runs (25), RBIs (86), stolen bases (30) and extra-base hits (62). With the Brewers opening up a commanding lead in the NL Central, Braun is clearly forging his way to the top of the MVP consideration list.

Ryan Braun lets David Wright know that he's about to pass Jose Reyes in the NL batting race.

Unfortunately for Jose Reyes and the Mets, that's not the only thing Braun is forging his way to. Reyes' lead in batting race, which was once formidable, is now precarious. By the time Reyes comes back from the disabled list on Monday, he might be looking up at Ryan Braun on the batting race leaderboard rather than looking for him in his rear view mirror.

The Mets have never had a batting champion in their history. If Reyes is going to become the first player to do so, he's going to have to earn it, as Ryan Braun appears to be slump-proof. With the Mets out of postseason contention, a batting title for Reyes is all the fans have to cheer for over the final month of games at Citi Field. It's time for Jose Reyes to come back off the DL, stay off it for the rest of the season and become the multi-hit machine he was in the first half of the season. It might be the only way for him to keep Braun at bay and claim that long overdue first Mets batting title.

Neither the Yankees nor Red Sox are winning the AL Pennant

Casual baseball fan complain that the Red Sox and Yankees are in the World Series every year.

And they are right when you don't include 2002, 2005, 2006, 2008 and 2010 in recent years.

But they were ancient history. The Red Sox and Yankees spend the most. They have the best records in the AL and beat up AL West teams last week including the Division Leading Defending AL Champion Texas Rangers.

So it looks like the commuter lane has opened for either the big bad Yankees or the obnoxious Red Sox Nation to be playing deep into October.

Well, I'm not seeing it.

It smells a LOT like 2005 here.

The Yankees are beating up inferior teams and their bats are back. But have you noticed in back to back nights the pitching has let up 9 runs.

CC Sabathia is a great #1 work horse who is having a fine season but hardly last year's Cy Young caliber effort. He has been better than average in the second half and eating up innings. But his August ERA is almost 5. And he not ALL of his bad outings have been against the Red Sox.

After Sabathia, Ivan Nova has had a good year and has picked up the slack in August. But who knows how he will be in the post season. Freddy Garcia has been a savior in the rotation but do you trust his off speed stuff against the Red Sox, Tigers or Rangers bats in October?

Phil Hughes has been brilliant in some games and yet has an ERA over 6. That tells you what he is usually like. He put together some nice starts in a row and then let up 6 runs in less than 3 innings against a not very impressive A's line up.

And A. J. Burnett may get a mysterious injury soon... the kind that claimed Javier Vasquez last year. Tonight's fiasco put his ERA at 5.31. It's late August. That isn't a small sample size!

Yeah their lineup is better now, especially with Jeter back to being a .300 hitter and A-Rod back. But big bats don't advance in the playoffs. Deep pitching does. And if Sabathia is just ordinary they are putting a LOT of pressure on Ivan Nova.

And before anyone accuses me of being a Red Sox partisan here trashing the Yankees, I am including the Red Sox in this mess.

Some days the Red Sox look like world beaters. Other days they look like Egg Beaters.

They can hit with anyone and no doubt Jon Lester and Josh Beckett are as good a 1-2 punch in the AL Playoffs.

And the combination of Eric Bedard, Andrew Miller, Tim Wakefield and John Lackey make the #3 and #4 holes iffy at best and "Oh dear Lord make it stop" at worst.

As the playoffs stand right now, the Yankees would get the Rangers... who have a super deep if not spectacular pitching staff and whose lineup would crush any pitcher NOT named Sabathia.

And if Sabathia is just ordinary in the playoffs, the Yankees exit might be fast.

The Red Sox would draw the Tigers. And Verlander's presence on the team would negate Jon Lester in Game 1... and Game 5 for that matter. Meaning the Red Sox would be in a MUST WIN for Games 2, 3 and 4.

Did I mention their 3rd and 4th starters are questionable?

Doug Fister vs. John Lackey in Game 3 at Detroit. Who would you pick?

I'm not saying the Tigers and the Rangers aren't without their flaws. But they have less to lose. Despite the Rangers being the defending Champs and the Tigers trying to make up for the collapse in 2009, all the pressure is on the Red Sox and Yankees to advance.

And here we sit in late August, and I can't help but think "The ALCS could be Detroit vs. Texas."

And casual baseball fans next year will say "I'm sick of the Red Sox and Yankees every year."

Friday, August 26, 2011

Maybe Tim Wakefield won his last game

Seriously. Nobody thought he was going to get 199 wins in the big leagues.

Maybe 200 is a little bit crazy.

Either way, these last 6 games have been agonizing.

He's pitched well some games. Awfully in others. But tonight was the worst.

When Darnell McDonald pitched the 9th, I thought "If the Sox score 12 runs here, Darnell McDonald and not Tim Wakefield will get the win."

Then it hit me.

Maybe Francona should just put Wakefield in every single tie game in the middle innings.

Luck and circumstance will give him a win eventually!

Then this quest will be over.

2 games tomorrow. Win at least one and get the hell out of the Hurricane's way!

Eric Dickerson Throwback St. Louis Rams Jersey, Old Style Classic

Eric Dickerson Throwback Los Angeles Rams Jersey

Classic Old Style Retro Apparel

Eric Dickerson was one of those running backs that was always one stutter step, or one miss-tackle away from going all the way in for a touchdown. He was one of those running backs that was nearly impossible to defend. He had blinding speed and had power to run between the tackles as well.

In 2004 Eric Dickerson averaged 5.6 yds per carry and set the single season rushing record (breaking OJ Simpsons mark). Dickerson's rose to fame during his career with the Los Angeles Rams, before being traded to the Indianapolis Colts. The throwback jersey below is the classic old style Rams jersey that Dickerson wore on the field for the Los Angeles Rams.

Eric Dickerson Throwback Los Angeles Rams Jersey

Throwback Eric Dickerson Los Angeles Rams Jersey

Eric Dickerson Los Angeles Rams Throwback Jersey

If you were a fan of Eric Dickerson and the Los Angeles Rams, this is a must have throwback jersey!

Made by Reebok

This is a replithentic jersey meaning that it has authentic quality materials but at an affordable price.

Officially licensed NFL throwback apparel.

Raised applique #29 on the front, rear, and shoulders of the jersey.

Authentic NFL shield embroidered on the upper front center of the jersey.

Dickerson's name embroidered on back.

Los Angeles Rams Throwback Jerseys

10 Reasons why the Cleveland Indians winning the 2011 World Series would be good for baseball

It is time to continue my series of Why Each Team's Potential World Championship Would Be Good For The Game. Before it is too late, I better do one for the Cleveland Indians.

It is very late August and the Indians, once the best story in baseball have fallen below .500. The Indians have had a very unlikely fun summer, but they are one modest losing streak and one modest Detroit winning streak from calling it a year.

The Tigers sweep of the Tribe was bad. The Indians losing 3 of 4 to the lowly Mariners was worse.

But by the same token, if the Tigers stumble and the Indians go on a winning streak, they could close in. Cleveland play the Royals 6 times and the A's 6 times before taking on Detroit again. They can pile up some wins.

Who knows? This season has been unexpected thus far. So let's get in this entry before they slip away!

10 Reasons why the

Cleveland Indians

winning the 2011 World Series

would be good for baseball

1. A World Series title is the final piece in Jim Thome's career

Jim Thome returned to Cleveland yesterday. All I thought was "Why couldn't have hit his 600th homer as an INDIAN?"

He's back where his wonderful career began. And this might very well be his last hurrah. He has smacked 600 homers scandal free and been as likable a player in baseball. Plus he was a veteran of the 1995 and 1997 World Series heartbreak.

What better way to put a bow on his potential Hall of Fame career than being the most recognizable name on the World Champion Cleveland Indians.

2. A World Series ring for Sandy Alomar, Jr.

Decades of futility started to turn in 1990 when Sandy Alomar Jr won the AL Rookie of the Year. He came over from San Diego with Carlos Baerga and the foundation of the Indians first pennant since 1954 was being put into place.

In many ways Alomar symbolized the changing times in Cleveland. And if the Tribe got those last outs in the 9th inning of Game 7 of the 1997 World Series, Alomar would have been the Series MVP.

He would get that ring if the Indians win it this year as Alomar is currently Cleveland's first base coach. Better late than never!

3. A championship would bring some credit to an underrated front office

The Indians fell apart after the 2001 season but by 2005 they were contenders again and Division Champs in 2007. They fell apart again but by 2011 they have contended.

Mark Shapiro and Chris Antonetti aren't mentioned as great brain trusts in baseball, but they don't let Indians fans wait long between good seasons. Carlos Santana, Matt LaPorta, Justin Masterson, Chris Perez, Carlos Carrasco, Joe Smith, Michael Brantley, Jason Donald and Lou Marson were all brought into the organization as minor leaguers from trades. They could be creating a nice nucleus for the future while avoiding signing crippling long term contracts.

4. Baseball fans claim they want a low revenue, star free World Series winner NOT from the Northeast. Here you go!

People complain that the Red Sox and Yankees win the World Series every year (even though they don't.) And small budget teams can't compete. (Even though they do.) And simply signing superstars will buy a title. (Even though it doesn't.)

Well imagine the 5th lowest paid team, playing in the midwest with a payroll less than what Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez will make and whose biggest star is Asdrubal Cabrera winning it all.

What would people say? Well they probably would say "The Yankees win it every year."

5. A well deserved title for long time Indians Grady Sizemore and Travis Hafner

Both Grady Sizemore and Travis Hafner are on the Disabled List now and their seasons are probably over. But for the past 8 seasons they have been teammates on some terrific Indians teams and some lousy ones.

Both came up big in the 2007 Division Series victory over the Yankees. Hafner got the walk off hit in Game 2 (the Midges game) and Sizemore batted .375 with a 1.211 OPS for the series.

Both were stolen from other minor league systems and are "Real Indians" by any definition. Enough real Indians have ended their career ringless. Let's not have Sizemore and Hafner on that list too.

6. We DON'T need another Major League movie.

Seriously, when has a sequel decades after the original worked? ONCE! The Color of Money... and that had Paul Newman, Tom Cruise and Martin Scorsese directing it.

They couldn't even make The Godfather, Star Wars or Indiana Jones work! Now Major League is funny... but it is also available on BlueRay and Netflix. And the charm of the original was that it played off of Cleveland's futility. If a REAL Cleveland team patched together from other teams beats the odds and wins it all, why make a fake movie about it?

Besides, we have been enabling Charlie Sheen WAY too much.

7. Think of all the people a Cleveland championship would let off the hook!

Jim Poole letting up David Justice's homer. Jose Mesa blowing the save in Game 7 of the 1997 World Series. Charles Nagy letting Edgar Renteria smack a 2 out hit to win the World Series. Joel Skinner not sending Kenny Lofton home with the tying run in Game 7 of the 2007 ALCS.

And that's not even counting Craig Ehlo, Red Right 88, The Drive, The Fumble... They would all be relieved of their goat horns.

I've seen it happen. The goats of Red Sox past are absolved. Bill Buckner (who should NEVER have been a goat) received a standing ovation. Johnny Pesky (also an unjustified goat) got his number retired.

It will happen in Cleveland. YES, even for Jose Lima.

8. It could be the beginning of forgiveness and acceptance of LeBron James in Cleveland

I know a lot of Cleveland people will think I am crazy for even suggesting this, but hear me out.

If LeBron had won a title in Cleveland, the whole "Decision" would have been less of a fiasco. It was based upon the idea that LeBron was supposed to deliver that elusive title. The anger came in a not exactly subtle way from that hole in your collective lives. That "We have never seen a title of any kind" agony.

Remove that. Have the euphoria of seeing a championship in Cleveland. And before long you will be able to let go of the anger about LeBron. And eventually you will be able to say "Remember when we had the best player in the NBA? Remember how exciting it was? Remember how much fun we had WHILE he was in Cleveland?"

I know I sound crazy now. Call me 10 years after a Cleveland championship.

9. An Indians championship would mean the Cubs would stand alone

The Cubs used to have lots of company in the whole "Waiting forever for a championship" misery. Forever it was the Cubs, Red Sox and White Sox fans sharing misery.

But when both Sox won, it meant that the Indians and Giants were the only original franchises to NOT win a World Series title since the expansion era. Take the Giants off the board and only the Cubs and Indians remain. The Cubs since 1908. The Indians since 1948.

Remove the Indians and the Cubs' closest partners in misery would be the Rangers and Astros (since 1961 and 1962.)

For fans of Schadenfreude, leaving the Cubs alone in misery would be enough to root for the Indians.

10. It would be the single greatest sports championship parade in American history.

Cubs fans have waited for more than a century, but they have had the Bears, Bulls and Blackhawks win.

Red Sox fans waited forever, but the Celtics won over several generations.

Giants fans agonized about their team but could be consoled by the 49ers.

Imagine the frustration compounded over the decades without ANY kind of release. Especially in a cold weather city where industry has dwindled away and sports means so much. San Diego has waited longer for a title, but when they lose they can go to the beach.

There are people in their 50s with no clear memories of a Cleveland title and anyone born after 1964 can honestly say "It hasn't happened in MY lifetime."

We may never see an outpouring of pure joy quite like a Cleveland title. And I am rooting for it to happen just so I can see it.

And just think of the incredible HBO Sports special they can make!

I really hope it happens for the Indians but it looks remote at best. I've enjoyed writing about Cleveland and making a video about their fans, but eventually the story must end. Maybe it won't be this year, but they are putting together a nice core. Maybe it will be soon. (Where have I heard THAT before?)

If you liked this then go ahead and read the entries for the other teams.

CHICAGO WHITE SOX

LOS ANGELES ANGELS OF ANAHEIM

NEW YORK YANKEES

ST. LOUIS CARDINALS

New Sully Baseball Video "I Miss The Astros"

The latest Sully Baseball video is up.

This time I talk about the Houston Astros and why I feel like, in terms of their identity, they are rudderless and should embrace their past which was the future. Trust me, that makes sense.

And as always, you can check out the previous Sully Baseball videos by clicking HERE.

And subscribe to my YouTube page.

Thursday, August 25, 2011

It's MILLER TIME

When the Red Sox lost 4-0 in the first of 4 game against the Rangers, I thought they were toast in this series.

I thought they looked lifeless and the Rangers were going run them right over.

After that?

The Red Sox outscored the Rangers 30-7 in the final 3 games.

That's pretty decisive.

And 6 1/3 shutout innings from Andrew Miller hit the spot.

You know there is a lot of talk about how the Red Sox #3 starter role is in flux. And indeed it is.

But just in terms of wins and losses?

John Lackey and Andrew Miller's combined record is 18-10.

I know there are a lot of lucky wins... but I could live with 2 or 3 extra lucky wins in October.

OK, 3 games in 2 days against the A's. Let's avoid the hurricane and win another series!

Historically Speaking, August Blows For The Mets

As we nervously anticipate the arrival of Hurricane Irene to the tri-state area, hoping not to be blown away by the strong wind gusts expected, we figured it would be appropriate to discuss another "gust", or rather, the month of Au-"gust".

The Mets have reached the postseason seven times in their half-century of existence, but there have been many other times when the Mets had playoff aspirations entering the month of August. Once August began, however, the Mets buckled under the pressure and were blown back from contention to detention. Let's look back at the Mets' history in the month of August to see just how many times the dog days have bitten the Mets' postseason hopes.

Ex-Met Brian Schneider knows a thing or two about things blowing around the ballpark, such as playoff hopes.

Since moving into Citi Field in 2009, the Mets have done fairly well in the first half of the season. They were in first place in 2009 going into the Memorial Day weekend. In 2010, the Mets led the wild card race as late as July. This year, the Mets were sparking talks of competing for the wild card after the All-Star Break as well.

Then August happened.

In Citi Field's inaugural season, the Mets were 10-19 in the month of August. They improved in 2010, although not much, going 12-16 as they were outscored 114-79 in the month. This year, the Mets are bringing August ineptitude to new depths, as they have only won six of 21 games in the month, with four of those wins coming against the last place San Diego Padres.

Quick math tells us that since moving into Citi Field, the Mets are 28-50 in all games played in August. Prior to August, the Mets were a combined 157-157 since 2009. Their .500 record wasn't great, but it was far better than the .359 combined winning percentage over the past three Augusts, which effectively took them out of legitimate contention.

It's not just the last three seasons in which the Mets have played like natural disasters in the month of August. When the Mets collapsed in 2007, they went 15-13 in the month of August, which was only one game better than their September mark that year (14-14). Fans who want to blame the Mets for their play over the final 17 games of the season could like at the seeds being planted in the month of August, when the Mets were swept out of Citizens Bank Park by the Phillies from August 27-30.

The 2004 Mets were only eight games out of first place at the end of July and even closer to the wild card lead, prompting then-GM Jim Duquette to make two separate trades for Victor Zambrano and Kris Benson. All they needed to give up was Scott Kazmir (who went on to win 55 games in five years for Tampa Bay), Ty Wigginton (who's posted four 20+ HR seasons and can play second base, a position the Mets could use some help with) and Jose Bautista (who led the major leagues in home runs last year and is doing the same this year).

So how did the Mets respond to those trades? They went from eight games out of first to 17 games out after their 11-17 August.

Just two years earlier, the 2002 Mets went 6-21 in the month of August, losing 12 straight games at one point, which dropped them from second place in the NL East to the basement.

The 1997 Mets weren't supposed to compete for a postseason berth after their 71-91 campaign the year before, but compete they did. Unfortunately, they saved their worst month of the season for August, going 13-16 in the month, allowing the Marlins to pass them in the standings to clinch the wild card. The Marlins went on to win the World Series that year.

Prior to 1997, the Mets had suffered through six consecutive losing seasons. But the first of those six sub-.500 campaigns did not start out that way. That is, until August came around. The 1991 Mets were in second place in the six-team NL East with a 55-45 record going into the month of August. They then went 8-21 in August, en route to their first losing season since 1983.

I could go on and on with more examples (the 1980 and 1982 Mets were surprisingly in contention at the All-Star Break before an 11-20 August brought them back to Earth in 1980 and a putrid 5-24 August produced the same result two years later), but there's a hurricane we have to prepare for.

So there will be no mentions of the 1972 Mets (who went 11-17 in August after starting the month with a 52-41 record), the 1970 Mets (who lost 18 of 31 games in August after producing winning records in each month from April to July) or the 1966 Mets (the first team NOT to lose 100 games, although you wouldn't have known it from their 11-21 record in August).

Hurricane Irene may be headed to Citi Field, but even the expected high wind gusts can't compare with all the blowing that's been going on in the month of August for the Mets over their history. A hurricane like this comes once every 50 years. Too bad the same can't be said for the Mets in August over the same time period.