The more I watch the Texas Rangers and the St. Louis Cardinals play, the more I realize that the 2011 Bombers were truly molded to win this postseason.

With only five games down and at most two left to play, the Rangers are looking to close this WS out after taking a 3-2 lead over the Cardinals. The Rangers won this unexciting Game 5 by a score of 4-2.

When this revelation really dawned on me was after viewing the Rangers and Cardinals make a slugfest dull in Game 3, that the Yankees could have beaten both these teams. I mean the Bombers beat the Rangers 7-2 in regular season games, and even if the Rangers win the whole shebang, I am still not buying it.

I recognize how totally outlandish this theory is based on the Yankees early exit from the ALDS, as they lost a heart wrenching Game 5 to the Tigers but that was the Bombers at their worst.

The Yankees bats were all out of sorts because when a team has one or two opportunities to tie a game and fail that is getting outplayed. It is different when a team strands a total of 12 men on base, as that my friend is choking.

By no means am I taking away from the Tigers performance, as Detroit was playing at the top of their game. Still, that doesn’t change the fact that the Yankees were not.

So, how can I say that an eliminated team is built to win the World Series?

Well, anyone with a brain would realize that the Rangers and Cardinals are not winning off dominant starting pitching; instead they are disarming opponents with their powerful bats and shutdown bullpens.

And what were the Yankees biggest strengths all season long, hitting and relief pitching.(...)
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Post tags: Boston Redsox, Joe Buck, New York Yankee, St Louis Cardinals, Texas Rangers, World Series

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October 6, 2011 – It was the bottom of the ninth inning, and the Yankee stadium scoreboard read 3-2. With two out already posted, the fate of the season lied in the bat of baseball’s richest, three-time MVP New York Yankees Alex Rodriguez.

That was the calm before the storm in Game 5 of the ALDS, as Detroit Tigers Jose Valverde went on to strikeout A-rod, as Yankee fans couldn’t even muster the strength to boo.

That was the second time A-rod struck out in key spots that Thursday night, as well as the second season he would shoulder the majority of the blame for the Yankees early October exit.

If I were A-rod, I would have tried to run out the side door and avoid the counterattack that was about to in the Yankees clubhouse. Instead A-rod faced the media head-on and made no excuses:

“When you have opportunities like that, we talk about keeping momentum going, even if it’s a sac fly to at least get one run in there,” Rodriguez said. “I didn’t get the job done.”

He went on to say:

“It’s devastating. This is going to hurt for a long time. This one stings, especially at home.”

Now, fast-forward to the top of the ninth in Game 2 of the 2011 World Series.

With no outs, the Cardinals were trying to hold a one-run lead, until Texas Rangers Elvis Andrus hit a line drive into center-field.

The single moved teammate Ian Kinsler from second to third-base, and just as Andrus was about to comfortable on first base, the unthinkable happened.

Cardinals fist baseman, Albert Pujols missed a textbook cut-off throw from the centerfield, and Andrus took off to second base, now leaving the Rangers with two runners in scoring position.(...)
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Post tags: 2011 World Series, Albert Pujols, Alex Rodriguez, Detroit Tiger, Ian Kinsler, New York Yankee, World Series, Yankee Stadium

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in the ALDS.

The Texas Rangers are playing for the franchise’s first WS Championship, for the second season in a row.

It is no secret that the Yankees don’t get any favors from anybody; even the most loyal of New York fans are pissed if the Bombers are anything but perfect. It is kind of ironic when the Yankees are baseball’s saving grace in terms of popularity, because even the haters can’t get enough.

So it came as no surprise when the Yankees lost that tragic ALDS Game 5 in the Bronx that everyone blamed Alex Rodriguez. A-rod did miss opportunities at the plate, but so did his teammates and why is it not about the Tigers winning?

So, why did no one care that the guy was playing hurt?

Oh right…. because no one can get over A-rod’s paycheck. Unlike other players, A-rod can wrap his wounds in $100 bills so how they cannot hurt that much.

Ok, I get it…. A-rod is public enemy #1, and he plays for sport’s most evil empire, but what really bugs me is that other players don’t get the same treatment.

One example is Rangers Josh Hamilton.

Hamilton has made immense mistakes throughout his career, and to say he was a drug addict is putting it politely.

Hamilton’s compulsions were so bad that the Rangers have a ‘special assignment coach’ on staff whose only job is to watch Hamilton. This job includes sharing adjoining hotel rooms on the road, eating every meal together, has to hold Hamilton’s wallet and never allowing Hamilton to be alone for more than a few minutes.

Without a doubt Hamilton has made an admirable recovery, but it is a tad scary that Texas has a babysitter on their payroll. Guess the Rangers know they need Hamilton to win and they cannot afford to take any chances with their best player.

Hamilton was probably the second most scouted prospect coming out of high school, the first being A-rod. Both men have baseball running in their veins, because they ooze exceptional talent.(...)
Read the rest of New York Yankees: Alex Rodriguez, Josh Hamilton, Excuses And Excuses

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Post tags: 2011 World Series, Detroit Tiger, Joe Girardi, Josh Hamilton, New York Yankee, Texas Rangers, Yankee

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The 3-2 loss was about the worst thing I have ever saw at Yankee Stadium. It felt like a little of New York City’s heart broke that night and to say the fans didn’t do their job would be a crime, as the Stadium was as electric and more filled than the 2009 World Series…no joke.

Well, onward and upward as the postseason keeps moving forward with the Milwaukee Brewers, Texas Rangers, St. Louis Cardinals and Detroit Tigers.

Not sure how many New York, or East Coast viewers will be tuning into watch both Championship Series, but as a baseball fan you can bet that I plan to watch until the last out of the World Series.

My problem is that I have no answer for this one question that I have been asked about 20 times over the last three days by everyone from my Mom to the guy at Starbucks.

“Who do you want to win the 2011 World Series? You know since the Yankees lost.”

It is a legitimate question, but please note this does not entail me cheering for another team at all. Only which team would I not throw my remote at the TV with if they were to win.

For me no matter the sport, if my team is not in the championship there is usually one team that I wouldn’t mind winning a title. This has never been the easiest choice in the past, so why is it almost impossible this time?

Maybe because out of the four remaining postseason teams, somehow, individually have an aspect that bothers the hell out of me; and in turn, I just can’t commit.

MilwaukeeBrewers:

If you don’t know who T-Plush is by now, please accept my apology in advance.

T-Plush is short for Tony Plush, which is the self-appointed “name on the field” or his “gentleman’s name” of the outspoken, outfielder Nyjer Morgan.

Morgan annoys the hell out of me because his antics are so ridiculous that it takes away from his talent. Morgan has been known to start trouble for no reason with opposing teams, flicks off fans, and looks for trouble too much.

I get the love/hate thing Brewers fans have with T-Plush because he does come through in the clutch, followed by shouting some f-bombs in his post game interviews that I guess are amusing. Still, the day Tony Plush ran his mouth at Cardinals Albert Pujols was arrogance gone overboard. Funny thing is now look who his Brewers NLCS opponents are…guess Nyjer needs a tall glass of Shut-the Plush-Up.

Texas Rangers:

I have stuck to the theory that the Rangers are so overrated and get thrown bones left and right from ESPN, MLB Network etc. Excuses, and more excuses for a team that plays in the AL West. The Rangers will come back down to earth once the Angels get Kendry Morales back in 2012, and considering 37 of their 2011 wins were against the Mariners, A’s and Indians speaks volumes.(...)
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Post tags: 2009 World Series, 2011 World Series, Detroit Tiger, Milwaukee Brewers, MLB Network, New York City, New York Yankee, St Louis Cardinals, Texas Rangers, World Series, Yankee

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What happened to having the celebration in Detroit — 100 percent this past Tuesday night?

Well, I guess that the Tigers had to cancel the big party after getting waxed 10-1 by the New York Yankees, forcing them to come back to the Bronx to play the Yankees in the eleventh hour, ALDS Game 5.

The Yankees had their backs against the wall on Tuesday night in Comerica Park being down 1-2 in games.

Then AJ Burnett pitched a six-inning gem, at the same time the Yankee bats woke-up and the Tigers got a nice whiff of reality to realize the ALDS was not over just yet.

So, the Yankees will send Ivan Nova to the hill in the winner takes all ALDS Game 5; and the Tigers will counter with Doug Fister…. making it a rematch from last Saturday’s ALDS Game 1, Part 2.

IVAN NOVA:

Coming in relief after CC Sabathia’s start got rain out, Nova threw six+ scoreless innings of no hit baseball against the Tigers powerful bats. This 24 year-old seems to not get phased by situations, and the Yankees hope he remains calm and collected, but you can be sure that Yankee fans will be rocking at the Stadium particularly hard this time.

DOUG FISTER:

Fister took the loss, lasting just under five innings, giving up seven hits, six earned runs but struck out six Yankee hitters. This guy can without a doubt throw strikes, and at moments dominated over the Yankees line-up.

Fister has good control over the strike zone, as he doesn’t walk batters much, just two Yankees last Saturday. This might be Fister’s biggest problem too, as batters can hit him because he is easy to figure out. Even before he met the Yankees last weekend, he never has much success against them in the past but the stats are scarce, so it is hard to judge just yet.

BIGGEST FACTOR IN GAME 5:

This will come down to a battle of the bullpens, but realize that the bullpens include everybody with an arm.

And don’t believe Tigers skipper Jim Leyland statement that ace Justin Verlander will not be available for Game 5. Unless Verlander is secretly injured, there is no rhyme, nor reason that Leyland would give up going to the ALCS to keep the AL’s best pitcher on the bench.(...)
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Post tags: CC Sabathia, Comerica Park, Detroit Tiger, Jim Leyland, Justin Verlander, New York Yankee, Tiger, Tigers, Yankee, Yankee Stadium

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Last night’s ALDS Game 4 was a do or die for the New York Yankees, as they were down 2-1 in games to the Detroit Tigers.

So in an almost reckless effort to succeed, Yankees skipper Joe Girardi put the team’s fate in the hands of AJ Burnett.

To say Burnett’s time in New York has been rocky would be an understatement, as he is the definition of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde on the mound.

A majority of Yankee Universe couldn’t stand Burnett. And once enemy #1, Alex Rodriguez just continued playing too well for to even excusable Bronx booing, the fans road Burnett like Sea-biscuit, and he become almost to easy a target.

The difference with Burnett is that Yankee fans didn’t enjoy to booing him like they did with Javier Vazquez, Kyle Farnsworth or Sergio Mitre.

Speaking personally, I have never booed Burnett. Why? I am a huge Burnett fan and you can see he wants to do well for the team. Burnett’s teammates love him, and to be honest I bet he is a riot as a friend.

Regardless, (and apologies for my above girly mush) Burnett had to pitch well or season over, but either or, the Yankees were getting on a plane late Tuesday night back to New York.

Well, thanks to a great performance on the bump in Detroit, AJ Burnett made sure that the Tigers were coming back to the Big Apple too.

The Bombers in the eleventh-hour gave the Tigers a beat-down in Game 4 to a tune of 10-1.

Wonder what Detroit Tigers closer Jose Valverde thought about the game? If you didn’t know according to Valverde this ALDS was over last Sunday, and told Detroit fans to get ready to party following Game 4 because this series was not going back to New York, no matter what.

Some recommendations for Valverde… once in New York don’t leave your hotel because you pissed off a lot of Yankee fans here.

Look plain and simple, for any athlete to make such arrogant statements in the midst of a playoff series is just fueling the opposition. Valverde is just another athlete writing checks that his team just can’t cash.(...)
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Post tags: Curtis Granderson, Detroit, Detroit Tiger, Detroit Tigers, Joe Girardi, New York, New York Yankee, Tiger, Yankee

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The New York Yankees lost to the Detroit Tigers in Game 3 of the ALDS, but facts show that the game should have gone into extra innings.

Am I being a sore loser??

Yes, and no because I am not denying that I would have liked the Yankees to win, as any fan would especially in the Postseason, but the proof is undeniable so why can’t I point it out.

Before I get to the detail, let me tell you that the homeplate umpire was not calling the same strike zone and it wasn’t just one time, it was many wrong calls not in Sabathia’s favor.

It was maddening to watch, as the ump did not settle in even after ESPN’s Buster Onley tweeted that CC talked to the homeplate ump after the 1^st inning, in the utmost respectable way about the calls.

Ok, now to the proof – - rewind to Game 3, in bottom of the 3^rd inning; no outs; Brandon Inge is on second base and Austin Jackson comes to the plate.

Jackson had a seven-pitch sequence, which resulted in a walk and eventually he scored the tying run and it was 2-2.

Here is a chart of Jackson’s at-bat, pitch by pitch:

Need more proof? Here is the STRIKE ZONE pictures:(...)
Read the rest of Yankees-Tigers: New York Not Losers Of ALDS Game 3

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Post tags: Austin Jackson, CC Sabathia, Detroit Tigers, ESPN, Joe Torre, New York Yankee, Tiger, Yankee

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