We are who we are and it is what it is.
Does it really surprise anyone that the Rays fought all season and overcame the improbable to make the playoffs and they are throwing out there a starting pitcher in Game 1 of the ALDS with less than 10 innings of big league experience? Only the Rays. Discount baseball at its best.
Showing posts with label playoffs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label playoffs. Show all posts
Friday, September 30, 2011
Thursday, September 29, 2011
September in microcosm
I don't believe what I just watched. I don't. It just couldn't have happened. I now understand what they mean when they say it isn't over till it's over. But, I mean, wow! I don't doubt that it happened. I only doubt the way it happened.
Walkoffs within minutes of each other. Boston must hate Dan Johnson. From nine games back and seven runs down. Crawford misplayed the ball that ended the season for Boston. Should have played the hop and thrown home. And they lost to the Orioles, the first team I ever loved and the first team I ever saw live. I don't believe it. Rain delay, balk, grand slam, extra innings, and walkoffs.
Seven runs down in the eighth. Nobody on and two outs in the ninth inning... IN BOTH GAMES. Things like this just don't happen.
It almost doesn't matter what happens in October. We just won the World Series. That was awesome!
I'll never forget this night as long as I live. I'm not being dramatic. That is the point. I don't think I'm going to sleep tonight. Unbelievable!!!
Walkoffs within minutes of each other. Boston must hate Dan Johnson. From nine games back and seven runs down. Crawford misplayed the ball that ended the season for Boston. Should have played the hop and thrown home. And they lost to the Orioles, the first team I ever loved and the first team I ever saw live. I don't believe it. Rain delay, balk, grand slam, extra innings, and walkoffs.
Seven runs down in the eighth. Nobody on and two outs in the ninth inning... IN BOTH GAMES. Things like this just don't happen.
It almost doesn't matter what happens in October. We just won the World Series. That was awesome!
I'll never forget this night as long as I live. I'm not being dramatic. That is the point. I don't think I'm going to sleep tonight. Unbelievable!!!
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Game #160
If you were like me you were starting to wear out the "previous" button on your remote last night between the Rays/Yankees game and the Orioles/Red Sox.
They says defense wins championships when they talk about basketball and football. At least the coaches do. But for the most part, even the coaches aren't convinced of that in baseball. But Joe Maddon isn't most coaches.
The defense-to-win correlation is grossly underrated in MLB. Pitching is another and the Red Sox and Yankees undervalue both. In the games I watched last night the two plays that stick out in my mind were both defensive hinges to their respective games. Desmond Jennings made an awesome catch on a Jeter would-be gapper. On the other channel the game changed on a two-out Jacoby drop at the fence that allowed three runs to score on the inside-the-park homerun.
Forget about pitching and defense. This year's Sox team just wants to outscore you. Digest this stat - in the month of September the Red Sox are 2-19 when they don't score at least 12 runs (they have scored 12 runs four times this month and won all four). Lets hope the O's give themselves a good chance tonight by holding Boston under 12. On second thought, who cares what Boston does? All we have to do now is win.
They says defense wins championships when they talk about basketball and football. At least the coaches do. But for the most part, even the coaches aren't convinced of that in baseball. But Joe Maddon isn't most coaches.
The defense-to-win correlation is grossly underrated in MLB. Pitching is another and the Red Sox and Yankees undervalue both. In the games I watched last night the two plays that stick out in my mind were both defensive hinges to their respective games. Desmond Jennings made an awesome catch on a Jeter would-be gapper. On the other channel the game changed on a two-out Jacoby drop at the fence that allowed three runs to score on the inside-the-park homerun.
Forget about pitching and defense. This year's Sox team just wants to outscore you. Digest this stat - in the month of September the Red Sox are 2-19 when they don't score at least 12 runs (they have scored 12 runs four times this month and won all four). Lets hope the O's give themselves a good chance tonight by holding Boston under 12. On second thought, who cares what Boston does? All we have to do now is win.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Hearing Footsteps
So football has the possibility for some violent collisions when receivers run across the field while looking back for the ball. They can't see the defender charging them at opposite, full speed but they can sometimes anticipate the impact if they hear the footsteps. The phrase "hear the footsteps" has become a catchphrase to imply fear. If a receiver drops a pass or slows down a route they often accuse him of hearing the footsteps.
Well, the Red Sox hear the footsteps of the Rays. David Ortiz said yesterday that it is time to panic in Boston. It wasn't unsolicited but it was an admission.
Those same Rays who give us so many walkoffs late in games just started the ninth inning of their season (if you break the season into nine 18-game stretches). We are catching up quickly and gaining confidence and momentum as we roll. This is our time. Be afraid, Boston. Be very afraid.
Well, the Red Sox hear the footsteps of the Rays. David Ortiz said yesterday that it is time to panic in Boston. It wasn't unsolicited but it was an admission.
Those same Rays who give us so many walkoffs late in games just started the ninth inning of their season (if you break the season into nine 18-game stretches). We are catching up quickly and gaining confidence and momentum as we roll. This is our time. Be afraid, Boston. Be very afraid.
Friday, June 10, 2011
Paging MC
Anyone seen Mark Cuban lately? He is due on stage soon if things go according to plan.
Out of sight out of mind, I guess. I hadn't thought about him so far during the NBA Finals until last night as I watched Lebron lose the biggest game of his life (his words, not mine).
I'm not your typical fan. I enjoy sports playoffs more in the early rounds than toward the championship because more often than not my team isn't one of the final 2 or 4 teams and there aren't as many underdogs (likable teams) around.
So this year is a little different because I kind of like the Mavs even if I thought the most intriguing Final would pit the Bulls against the Thunder. We'll never know if I'm all talk or not but I think I would have watched all of that series.
Anyway, I started to reminisce some of my favorite NBA playoff memories and the Mavs come to mind a lot. I enjoyed their battles with Pheonix back in the day and I was disappointed they couldn't disappoint Shaq when the Heat beat them in the Finals a few years ago.
The more I thought about the Mavs the more my memory was filled with the distraction that is Mark Cuban.
But I can't think of one time in the 2011 playoffs that I've seen him on the bench or on the court or in the media, which is a bit out of character so I'm assuming it is by design. Seems to be working. I wonder if all that pent up MC is going to pop on Sunday or Tuesday if the Mavs get this done.
Out of sight out of mind, I guess. I hadn't thought about him so far during the NBA Finals until last night as I watched Lebron lose the biggest game of his life (his words, not mine).
I'm not your typical fan. I enjoy sports playoffs more in the early rounds than toward the championship because more often than not my team isn't one of the final 2 or 4 teams and there aren't as many underdogs (likable teams) around.
So this year is a little different because I kind of like the Mavs even if I thought the most intriguing Final would pit the Bulls against the Thunder. We'll never know if I'm all talk or not but I think I would have watched all of that series.
Anyway, I started to reminisce some of my favorite NBA playoff memories and the Mavs come to mind a lot. I enjoyed their battles with Pheonix back in the day and I was disappointed they couldn't disappoint Shaq when the Heat beat them in the Finals a few years ago.
The more I thought about the Mavs the more my memory was filled with the distraction that is Mark Cuban.
But I can't think of one time in the 2011 playoffs that I've seen him on the bench or on the court or in the media, which is a bit out of character so I'm assuming it is by design. Seems to be working. I wonder if all that pent up MC is going to pop on Sunday or Tuesday if the Mavs get this done.
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