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2011 WS Preview: St. Louis Cardinals

Posted by on 18 October 2011, 8:33 am
Tony La Russa

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The 2011 World Series kicks off on Wednesday night, with the St. Louis Cardinals hosting the Texas Rangers to start this best of seven series.

Which team has the advantage?

I have watched both teams throughout this postseason and they match up well. So instead of going stat crazy, below are my cut and dry observations of the St. Louis Cardinals.

ST. LOUIS CARDINALS:

The Good:

There is no denying that something special is going on in St. Louis. Remember the Cardinals were not supposed to be here. Actually the Cardinals were not supposed to make the post season, beat the Phillies or the Brewers either but this team continually defies the odds. Regardless that the Cardinals have the best player on earth, Albert Pujols, it is a total team effort in St. Louis and this team is hot. And when a team continually believes in themselves when no one else does, that is a team that will be hard to beat.

Also, the over-managing by skipper Tony La Russa has worked on all cylinders this post season. The sometimes-irritating La Russa is now baseball’s Einstein. The mixing and matching of his bullpen, after not one St. Louis starter in the ALCS pitched five innings, was beyond impressive. Not to mention his unconventional genius of carrying eight relievers just to make sure St. Louis didn’t get blown out by the bats of Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder. La Russa has been this team’s MVP this post season.

The Bad:

Thus far, the Cardinals starting pitching has gotten away with doing the bare minimum this post season because the bullpen has saved their behinds, and quite well. Still, the bullpen cannot be the Cardinals crutch, which means the starters have to contribute at least five innings because the relievers could easily run out of steam. This could be the difference maker as the Rangers hard-hitting bats can easily knock out any starter. Also, the Cardinals had a regular season record of 65-42 when a starting pitcher threw six or more innings. Continue reading ‘2011 WS Preview: St. Louis Cardinals’ »

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2011 World Series: Rangers vs. Cardinals Game Schedule

Posted by on 17 October 2011, 12:39 am

 

2011 World Series Schedule
Series Date Match-Up Network Air Time (ET)
Game One Wednesday, October 19 Texas Rangers at St. Louis Cardinals FOX TBA
Game Two Thursday, October 20 Texas Rangers at St. Louis Cardinals FOX TBA
Game Three Saturday, October 22 St. Louis Cardinals at Texas Rangers FOX TBA
Game Four Sunday, October 23 St. Louis Cardinals at Texas Rangers FOX TBA
Game Five* Monday, October 24 St. Louis Cardinals at Texas Rangers FOX TBA
Game Six* Wednesday, October 26 Texas Rangers at St. Louis Cardinals FOX TBA
Game Seven* Thursday, October 27 Texas Rangers at St. Louis Cardinals FOX TBA
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New York Yankees Hot Stove: Rangers Rumored To Want CC Drop CJ

Posted by on 16 October 2011, 11:36 pm
CC Sabathia (left) and Mark Teixeira

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Rumors have swirled over the last week that the Texas Rangers are planning to give Yankees CC Sabathia an offer he can’t refuse if New York’s ace opts-out of his contract, five days after the World Series.

With the likelihood that Rangers pitcher CJ Wilson will hit the 2012 free agent market does leave a hole in an already questionable starting rotation. According to ESPN’s Mike Wallace a Rangers insider told him that Texas is ready to throw the Yankees ace a “boatload of money” to come to Arlington in 2012.

Wilson is not an ace like Sabathia, not in the same class. That doesn’t mean that Wilson is not a good pitcher.

Let’s say, God forbid, the Yankees happened to screw things up with Sabathia, obtaining Wilson is not going to put Yankee Universe back on its axis or even close. Rangers Owner and Hall Of Famer, Nolan Ryan will be all over CC, as he is very similar pitcher to Ryan and surely that is attractive.

The Yankees stealing Wilson from the Rangers is more probable, but he was converted from a reliever just two seasons ago so his numbers are limited.

Wilson’s minimal stats vs. AL East are good, except against he Toronto Blue Jays who in 28 at-bats have a .286 average against him, but that doesn’t mean much. Wilson has faced the Tampa Bay Rays hitters the most; with 119 at-bats in total and held them to .176 average, which is so far, so good.

This past season, Wilson posted a 16-7 record, with a .294 ERA, striking out 206 batters and threw just shy of 224 innings in total.

Just to clarify, whether Wilson stays in Texas are not has nothing to do with Sabathia and the Yankees. Sabathia is a perennial winner, and has proven himself season after season.

So, it was very comforting when according to ESPN’s Buster Onley, Sabathia’s agent Brian Peters had this to say about the opting out situation: Continue reading ‘New York Yankees Hot Stove: Rangers Rumored To Want CC Drop CJ’ »

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New York Yankees Are Out So Who To Root For In Postseason

Posted by on 11 October 2011, 4:06 am

Everyone is well aware that the 2011 New York Yankees season is over; to be precise it concluded last Thursday in a heart wrenching ALDS Game 5 loss to the Detroit Tigers.

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. Continue reading ‘New York Yankees Are Out So Who To Root For In Postseason’ »

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Who Could Face The New York Yankees In October

Posted by on 21 September 2011, 2:20 am

First let me start by stating this article is based on if the New York Yankees make the postseason, because until that last out anything can happen, including elimination.

Yet there is no denying that the Yankees looked solid last night, cooling down the Tampa Bay Rays 5-0 and winning the opening game of this four game set. Rookie phenom Ivan Nova pitched 7.2 scoreless innings, as this kid is the real deal and seems to get better with every start. The Youngster’s timing couldn’t be more perfect either.

The Yankees still have a three game visit from the literally bitter Boston Red Sox’s over the weekend, before heading down to Tropicana Field to end the season.

So, things don’t get much easier for the three amigos in the AL East. The bottom line is at the very least one of these three teams are a postseason goner; with the possibility of two still looming.

Well, it never hurts to look ahead, so let’s play make-believe…. and pretend the Yankees have already won a coveted spot in the playoffs.

Who would the Yankees feasible foes be in the fatal, five-game series (aka. first-round of the MLB playoffs)?

As the Wild Card team, the Yankees would not have home-field advantage and Game One would take place in Comerica Park against the Detroit Tigers.

  • Playing away doesn’t worry me, but facing the formidable Detroit ace Justin Verlander twice in five games would give anyone nightmares. Verlander is without question going to be the 2011 AL CY Young winner and he is just lights out.
  • Tigers have a strong bullpen, with a closer named Jose Valverde who has yet to blow a save this season.
  • All five Detroit starters are righties, which gives the hard-hitting Yankees a huge advantage being so leftie dominant.
  • The last time these two clubs played was back on May 5th and the Tigers won four of the last seven vs. New York. The Tigers have also out hit the Bombers 36-33.
  • Tiger’s top slugger is Miguel Cabrera, who in my opinion is the best hitter in baseball.

As the AL East Division winners, the Yankees would play host for the Texas Rangers, as Game One would be in the Bronx.

  • The Rangers rotation is a mix of righties and lefties but other than CJ Wilson have had spotty outings against the Yankees. Starter Colby Lewis will have to come up big for Texas, but whether Matt Harrison can hold it together is another story.
  • The Yankees are 7-2 vs. the Rangers this season, while outscoring Texas 65-35.
  • Revenge has just cause for the Yankees to want to win this series, as New York was not happy after losing to Texas in the 2010 ALCS. It was an embarrassment.

If the world were perfect, the Yankees would be hosting the Rangers to start the playoffs because the Tigers are really hot and just oozing confidence that no team wants a piece of in a five-game series.

Well, getting back to reality and the Yankees still need to qualify for the playoffs or else the third option will start being discussed.

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New York Yankees: Terrible Tuesday

Posted by on 25 August 2011, 11:01 am

It is crunch time in MLB, as teams will battle for a coveted spot in October till the bitter end.

The New York Yankees are right in the mix, but until any team clinches my advice is not to presume anything; as presumption is the mother of all… get it?

So one would think as a Yankee fan all things are good, but unfortunately that is not the case. Specifically, it is three things that have agitated me over the last four days, so thought I would share them:

1) Why I actually wanted the Red Sox to win their last two games?

After watching another discouraging finish in the Bronx last night, I realized that the New York Yankees did not only loss a game to the Oakland Athletics for the second night in a row 6-4. They also lost the series and the lead in the AL East.

While the Yankees were embarrassing themselves again on Tuesday night, the Red Sox taught the Texas Rangers a lesson in Arlington for the second night in a row. In turn, Boston flip-flopped spots with New York but just a game separates the two rivals.

Taking a back seat in the AL East, even by as little as a game normally would bother me but not when beating the Texas Rangers is the alternative. For some reason the Rangers make me cringe, even more than the Red Sox. This has nothing to do with the 2010 ALCS because I have had these uncontrollable feelings of disgust about Texas for about five years now.

It is not as if I was cheering for the Red Sox agreeably, but the Rangers need a good kick in the you know what, mainly because the media is constantly throwing Texas a bone and it drives me crazy.

2) Not A-rod Again?

On Tuesday night, A-rod was not in the Yankees line-up, leaving the Yankees once again without their cleanup hitter. A-rod just made his return a day earlier after spending seven weeks on the DL and supposedly was healed, healthy and ready to help out his team.

Surely all Yankee fans must have been dumbfounded when the TV cameras flashed to A-rod, only to see his left hand thoroughly taped up.

Supposedly this bandage was to protect A-rod’s “thumb jam” that he suffered during his first outing. I have jammed my thumb and all in needed was a good, hard pull and presto…. thumb jam was over.

Whatever actually happened or how hurt A-rod really is will remain a mystery until the Yankees realize that everyone knows they are lying, and covering up the severity of the injury at hand. This is nothing new, as this is the typical approach of the Yankees front office, but that doesn’t mean I ever have to get used to it.

Maybe A-rod is trying to play the sympathy card heading into Friday’s meeting with the Commissioner Bud Selig to reflect more off-the-field antics; this time A-rod better know when to fold’em. Oh wait he can’t because of his newly injured thumb.

Who knows if this is something to worry about, but until A-rod is on the field don’t think all is well. Continue reading ‘New York Yankees: Terrible Tuesday’ »

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Bronx Bombers Not Scared Of Anyone Especially Not Rangers

Posted by on 23 August 2011, 2:08 am

The New York Yankees are now a game ahead in front of the Boston Red Sox thanks to the Texas Rangers, who shut them down 4-0 yesterday, as the Bombers were enjoying their last off day.

The next seven days for the Yankees start off in the Bronx with three against the Oakland A’s, before heading to Camden Yard to play the perpetually awful Orioles five times.

This is the last part of the schedule that the Yankees could really put some space between them and the Red Sox in the AL East.

The Yankees need to take advantage of this open door as winning the division historically works in their favor.

Since 1996, the Yankees have a handful of World Series rings, but not one of the five championships was earned when entering the postseason as the Wild Card team.

Just to even the score some, the Yankee have also lost six times in the playoffs coming in as the AL East Division winner.

So the underlining fact is losing can come in all forms, but winning seems to follow a trend and that makes winning the AL East in 2011 almost a necessity on their road to #28.

Also, the Wild Card more than likely will head to Arlington, Texas to face the Rangers and MLB Network claims that is not the place either team wants to be.

In my opinion, over the last two seasons the Rangers have been way over-hyped. If the Los Angeles Angels had 1B Kendry Morales back this season, the Rangers would not be leading the AL West.

The Angels have not been as dominate the last two seasons, but they always remained within striking distance of the Rangers. Sans the Angels, the Rangers should win their respective division considering the other two teams consist of the A’s and Mariners.

So, please shake the idea that Yankee fans want to win the AL East to avoid Ron Washington and his Rangers, because nothing could be further from the truth. Continue reading ‘Bronx Bombers Not Scared Of Anyone Especially Not Rangers’ »

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