The Magical Ride Continues

The Magical Ride Continues

Everyone knows the story by now. The Los Angeles Dodgers were all but left for dead, manager Don Mattingly’s seat was as hot as it could get, but then everything clicked and they went on a run unlike anything ever seen before. Now, as the ride continues, the Dodgers find themselves in the National League Championship Series, and four wins away from a World Series appearance.

The Dodgers will be facing an NL Central team, the most top heavy division this year, either the St. Louis Cardinals or the Pittsburgh Pirates. These two teams are battle tested and have been fighting all season long for positioning. They are the opposite of the Dodgers. The Dodgers coasted here fairly easily, not having to battle or play a game that really tested their resolve. However, the Dodgers have a confidence and a swagger about them that neither of these two teams has.

Nothing describes this run quite like the events that led to the game winning hit. Yasiel Puig smacks a double down the first base line, bringing Juan Uribe to the plate with no one out. Uribe is certainly not someone that could be described as an adept bunter, so of course Mattingly asks him to do exactly that. After failing in his first two attempts the bunt sign is taken off and Uribe draws the count even. On the ensuing pitch Uribe crushes a home run to left field to give the Dodgers the lead and they never looked back. A moment like that, in that spot, wouldn’t happen to any other team this year.

October isn’t just about talent. Luck and magic play a part as well. There is a lot of postseason left to be played but it’s hard to bet against the Dodgers right now. They are clicking on all cylinders and the ghosts of October seem to be on their side. They’ve written a phenomenal script, now let’s see if they can stick the landing and end it in storybook fashion.

This is Why We Love the Game

This is Why We Love the Game

Last night something magical happened. A playoff game in Pittsburgh transported us all back to a time when baseball was more than just a game. A crowd that was so starved for success came out in force and not only affected the game but brought out the fan in all of us, making us care for a team and a city that we don’t call our own.

Between the crowd energy the players were able to feed off of being unlike anything seen on a baseball field in a long time, and Francisco Liriano continuing to turn back the clock this year and pitching lights out, the Cincinnati Reds didn’t stand a chance. When Marlon Byrd, playing in his first postseason game after 11 seasons in the big leagues hits a home run during his first at bat you knew the night would be unforgettable.

Then there was Russell Martin, a consummate professional and underrated clutch player whom this Yankee fan feels should still be in pinstripes. People balked at his decision to join the Pirates, but all he has done is brought veteran leadership, tremendous game calling, and great camaraderie to a team needing all of the above. Martin hit two home runs last night becoming only the second player in history to have a two home run game in Pittsburgh during the playoffs (the other being Mickey Mantle). Besides the emergence of Jason Grilli as an unstoppable force in the ninth inning, and Andrew McCutchen playing like an MVP, Martin is the biggest reason for the turnaround of this team. His ability to call a game and get the most out of his pitchers is remarkable.

The aforementioned MVP McCutchen had a stellar game last night, introducing himself to the baseball world that knows little about this Pirates team. He reached base in his first four postseason at bats and almost came up with a ball in center that seemed like he ran ten miles to catch. He may not be as widely known as the Cabrera’s and Pujols’ of the world but this postseason that will change.

Having won the wild card game assures the Pirates that their playoff journey will continue and they now move on to face division rival St. Louis in the NLDS. If Pittsburgh can come out of St. Louis with a split, and the crowd shows up for games three and four like they did last night, both of which I fully expect to happen, then Pittsburgh will find itself one series away from playing for a championship.

The magical journey that started in April keeps on moving, and all fans outside of St. Louis, Los Angeles, and Atlanta should pray it continues because this team, these fans and this story are great for the game. I keep using the word journey because I don’t think there’s a better way to describe a 162 game season that continues to the playoffs, and also it’s fitting because after the game last night, that was the band blaring over the speakers in the Pirates clubhouse. Since day one this team hasn’t stopped believing, and after last night, they’ve converted many more on the midnight train to the national spotlight.   

Let The Playoffs Begin

Let The Playoffs Begin

The 2013 regular season has come to an end, after six months and 4,860 games, but in typical baseball fashion, that isn’t enough. Tonight the Tampa Bay Rays visit the Texas Rangers for game number 163 for each team, and a chance to face the Indians in the Wild Card Play-In game. In most seasons the rise and comeback of the Indians to relevance would be the top story of the year, but not in 2013. This season saw the Pirates and Royals both finish over .500 for the first time in eons, with the Pirates even making the playoffs as the top wild card team in the National League. Miguel Cabrera captured the hearts of fans again this season with another Triple Crown chase before nagging injuries took him out of the running. Chris Davis mashed 53 home runs for the Orioles, Clayton Kershaw finished the season with an ERA of under 2.00, and Mike Trout proved once and for all his rookie season was no fluke and he is the best all-around player in baseball.

Being a devout baseball fan and blogger I certainly do have some bias but for my money the greatest part of sports is now upon us. Nothing beats the MLB playoffs as far as drama and suspense. I would love to see the Los Angeles Dodgers win it all and get Don Mattingly the ring that has eluded him in his baseball career.

My preseason predictions went up in flames for the most part so I won’t bother making predictions for the playoffs. I’m just going to sit back and enjoy the games and see how this all plays out. For the first time in a long time there is a wide open field with no clear favorite which will help increase the interest and drama and anyone could walk away with the trophy. Let’s play ball my friends.

How Do You Put Greatness Into Words?

How Do You Put Greatness Into Words?

Today was a day that I have been dreading for quite some time. As a Yankee fan, today was the day that I would have to fully realize that Mariano Rivera will no longer be around. It’s hard to put into words just how amazing his career has been and just what it’s like to watch someone who is the absolute greatest at what they do every single day. Rivera has carried himself with class, dignity, and a quiet confidence that will go unmatched for the rest of time.

Jorge Posada has been retired, and come the end of the year it will be Andy Pettitte’s turn also, meaning only Derek Jeter is left of the core four and a talent nucleus unlike one the game had ever seen. It’s fitting that the team never won a ring while Pettitte was gone and won all 5 of the recent championships with the unit intact. The four of them will be synonymous with each other forever and all won together, just the way it should be.

Discussing the ceremony with friends and fellow Yankee fans earlier in the week I had one request I wanted the team to fulfill. Mariano’s number needed to go out in Monument Park. Seems easy enough and not much of a stretch for that to happen but considering Paul O’Neill is still waiting his turn anything is possible with this organization. However, like I stated before, he was the absolute best at what he did. If anyone deserved the exception it was him. When the moment happened I will admit that my eyes welled up with tears because it was an amazing moment for an amazing player. Rivera is one of the last aspects of childhood I have left. Almost every player I had grown up loving, that helped me to realize the beauty of their respective games has long since retired. Only Rivera and Jeter are left. In no time at all it will just be the Captain remaining.

In a highlight montage presented by the Yankees, Rivera stated that the Yankee fans are the greatest and he will love us always. That was moment number two where the room got dusty, but the truth is, we as fans love Rivera more than he could ever love us.

For one final time I would like to thank Mariano Rivera for everything he has done for the organization and the fans. Every sacrifice, commitment, and ounce of blood, sweat, and tears poured into his career. My grandchildren’s grandchildren will be talking about Mariano Rivera because his legacy and greatness will carry on through generations. Joe DiMaggio once famously said, “I want to thank the Good Lord for making me a Yankee.” Well I feel like I speak for all Yankee fans when I say “We want to thank the Good Lord for making Mariano Rivera a Yankee.”

In Praise of Joe Girardi

In Praise of Joe Girardi

Over the past few years I have been very critical of Joe Girardi. Sometimes that criticism is justified and sometimes it isn’t but I try to justify it in some crazy way because he does things that irritate me as both a Yankee fan and a baseball fan. However, today I want to do nothing but shower him with praise because of the job he’s done with the team all year, but most especially since the beginning of August.

Sure it’s fun to call him Joey Binders and make fun of his analytical approach, in the face of common sense at times but when push comes to shove he knows this team well and has pushed all the right buttons. No team other than the Dodgers has dealt with injuries like the Yankees have this season. Also, taking into consideration that four AL East teams are battling for playoff spots, there’s no question they are playing in the toughest division in the game. To be able to still be in the race at this point despite all the hardships this season has brought forward is remarkable.

Right now at present time I would consider the Yankees a favorite to grab one of those two wild card spots and ride into October with some momentum. Now, with history not on their side lately, October hasn’t been the best of times for the Bombers, but for the first time in a long time, it’s just making the playoffs that would be considered a success. As Yankee fans of course we want to win it all but if they were to make the wild card game and lose there is absolutely no shame in that. It would make plenty of Yankee haters happy and they won’t show any sympathy but for us true fans we have to take solace in the fact we showed the guts and heart just to make it. Who knows, maybe the October ghosts will be on the side of the Yankees this time because of it and guide us to a storybook ending in a storybook season. The only thing I know for sure is that no matter what happens, Joe Girardi should be taking home some hardware for his managerial prowess this season because for once we’re winning because of him not in spite of him.

Sabermetrics are Overrated

Sabermetrics are Overrated

Jim Leyland recently spoke out against reporters who suggested Max Scherzer is only doing as well as he is because he is the benefactor of great run support. I am here to say that Leyland is right and all of this advanced stats and sabermetric garbage does more harm to the game than good. Like Leyland, I am a believer in the old school way of thinking. The guys that go out and do their job well are always going to be at or near the top of these statistics anyway so what is it really telling us? Based on advanced stats Derek Jeter is one of the worst fielding shortstops in the game, but let me ask you this; with a runner on third and two out in the bottom of the ninth, is there anyone else you would rather the ball be hit to?

Max Scherzer is the league leader in wins and is in the top 3 in strikeouts and ERA. How exactly is his run support a negative against him? He doesn’t give up runs, so it really doesn’t matter how many his team scores behind him. By every sensible projection there is no doubt Max Scherzer should win the AL Cy Young Award. I don’t care if Chris Sale or Felix Hernandez have comparable numbers on teams that are far worse. Scherzer has been dominant and has given his team a chance to win every time he has taken the mound.

Whenever I hear people talk about BABIP or xFIP I cringe like I’ve just heard Wolverine attack a chalkboard. All these stats do is poke holes in the play of guys who are important parts of their team. In a clutch situation for my team I’m not thinking about a groundball/flyball ratio or batting average on balls in play. Get the hit or the out that’s all that matters. If they don’t, no one will curse their advanced numbers.

So many teams take these numbers in to effect and a lot of the time they just look like idiots because all they are doing is overthinking things. All we ever hear about is how you don’t succeed when you overthink, you just need to let the game come to you, take what you’re given. Why should it be different in the front office? Billy Beane was the man at the forefront of this movement; he had books written about his strategy and movies made about how he was such a genius. Was he really though? What the hell did those Oakland teams really accomplish? A few playoff berths? The Yankees, the polar opposite of this strategy accomplished the same thing as far as playoff berths, and hell they even have a few World Series to show for it too. Baseball in my opinion is not only suffering from steroids scandals but also from this holier than thou attitude on advanced stats. Truth is, the average fan, most of whom are older generation fans, couldn’t care less about all this talk and tune out the game because of it.

The Wild Weekend Upon Us

The Wild Weekend Upon Us

This weekend features a slew of games with divisional and wild card implications. As a baseball fan, you couldn’t ask for anything better. You’ve got Yankees-Orioles, Rays-A’s, Indians-Tigers, and Cardinals-Pirates. The Reds also face an important series against the Rockies, 3.5 games back while the two teams ahead of them beat up on each other.

The two teams facing the most pressure this weekend are the Yankees and the Pirates. The Yankees sit 5 games back and need all the help they can get in addition to taking care of their own business. Considering all the injuries they suffered through during the season it’s a miracle they are even in this position. The Yankees-Orioles matchups are usually dog fights between two evenly matched teams and I expect this weekend to be no different. CC Sabathia needs to get back on track and be the pitcher he has been in the past if the Yankees want to have any kind of shot at the playoffs. He needs to step up big time tonight and set the pace for the rest of the series.

The Pirates are in very unfamiliar territory playing meaningful games as the calendar hits September. They were able to overtake the Cardinals for a stretch when the birds fell silent, but they have since fallen back into second place as the Cards have gotten hot again. The games are being played at PNC Park so you know the fans will be bringing their A game and will be out in full force to give the team that little bit extra it will need. If the Pirates want to avoid the one game playoff this is the series where they need to make a statement and build some momentum for the stretch run.

The Rays-A’s series will be an entertaining one for sure. They are the two wild card representatives in the AL at the moment and both are hoping the Indians, Yankees, or Orioles don’t sweep and really put a threat into their standing. Just like the Pirates fans, the Oakland fans will be out in full force and ready for the series. In my opinion Oakland has the best fans in the game. They are loud, creative, and have bonded with this team of non-superstars.

Lastly, the state of Ohio will be watching intently this weekend as their two teams look to make a statement. Cincinnati travels to Colorado and can keep their hopes for a division title alive by taking care of business. The Indians face a tough task with the Tigers and their pitching staff and I see them as the one team in the bunch who will play themselves out of contention this weekend.

Whether this weekend clears up the playoff picture or does even more to mess it up and throw it in shambles it will be exciting. Who will rise to the challenge? Who will falter? Buckle up and get ready for a tremendous weekend of action baseball fans.