GIANT FIGHT BACK II

Congratulations to the San Francisco Giants, winners of the National League Championship Series, who defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 9-0 in the seventh and final game. They will host the American League champion Detroit Tigers in San Francisco for the first two games of the best-of-seven series.

Aside of the offensive explosion by the Bay Area baseball players in the penultimate game, the San Francisco Giants make history as they six consecutive elimination games during this year's playoff campaign. What does that mean? On six occasions (three against Cincinnati, and three against St. Louis), the Giants had to win the game otherwise they would be eliminated from the playoffs (Oh, right). What made the night so memorable for the Giants and their fans was the torrential downpour, which on a normal evening of baseball, would bring a halt to the action. The umpires allowed play to continue, and we saw the most memorable 9-0 finish in baseball history ^_^

The World Series between the San Francisco Giants and the Detroit Tigers begins tomorrow at 8pm Eastern time, and I might say a couple things about that series, as well as congratulations to the winning team. For right now, however, it is time to bring another season for the GOOFBALL to a close.

From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank you for making this blog so successful this year. This year we reached more baseball fans in more countries than in previous years, and the prospects for next year are higher still. I write all about baseball for you guys, and if you were not around, then none of this would be possible. There will be plenty to talk about in 2013, and I'm still holding to my "all designated-hitter" prediction that I made at the start of the year. If there is a playoff race, and a team qualifies with the luxury of a designated hitter in their lineup ahead of another that does not, then there will definitely be all-DH baseball for 2014. In the meantime, I still believe in all-DH baseball for 2013.

So, thanks again for all your support. I'll occasionally add a couple things to the blog during the winter months that are worth mentioning, but other than that enjoy the World Series, and I will see you all next year!

Bye! ^_^

Oh wait o_O I almost forgot: OZZIE GUILLEN GOT FIRED! O_O WHAT?!

Farewell Farrell

Back in RED: John Farrell makes his return to the
Boston Red Sox organization as manager in 2013.

Game 6 of the National League Championship Series is tonight at 7:30 ET between the St. Louis Cardinals and the hometown San Francisco Giants. The Cardinals lead three games to two in the best-of-seven series, and missed a glorious opportunity to close out the series at home in the previous game, but Giants starting pitcher Barry Zito stymied the Redbirds in over seven innings of work to secure a 5-0 Giants victory.

The big news of the day, however, is the Boston Red Sox signing of former Blue Jays manager John Farrell as their next bench boss. Toronto excused Farrell from the last year of his contract so he could take the Boston job. Going with him is pitcher Dave Carpenter, but in return the Blue Jays picked up infielder Mike Aviles.

I should be angry and flip a nearby table, but I'm not. This was a deal between the two basement dwelling teams in the American League East Division: One decimated by injuries and under performing pitching to finish below the expectations of management and fans alike, the other with enough in-fighting and threatening behaviour from its former manager Bobby Valentine to provide more drama than an ABC soap opera. Farrell's laid back approach is a contrast to the fiery, button pushing Valentine, who wilted under the intense media pressure found in Beantown; Farrell has enough friends and cohorts in the Red Sox organization to do well, so you wonder why it took so long to get him? For more on this story, click here for Ian Browne's column in MLB.com

According to reports through baseball, Farrell was to be Terry Francona's successor, but by the time of the infamous September collapse of 2011 and Francona's firing John Farrell already finished his first year of the three year stint with the Blue Jays. Unable to sign him away from my Jays, Boston went with "Bobby V", who was caught in the ultimate "Catch-22":

• WIN: Media spins story Valentine won with Francona's crew
• LOSE: Rumours of secret meetings with management and angry players, volatile radio interviews, and ambiguous Twitter statements calling for the removal of Bobby Valentine get national exposure. Oh, by the way, Valentine gets fired.

Personally, I would hold out until Boston traded Dustin Pedroia and David Ortiz in exchange, so to get only Mike Aviles on top of giving up another pitcher confuses me, o_O seeing as the Red Sox wanted Farrell so badly! Alas, what's done is done. Look for the microscope of criticism to fall heavy on Toronto Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopolous, staff, and players in 2013.

Phil's thoughts: If the Red Sox win the World Series in 2013, I'm going to throw up.

Tigers Gone Bananas

Heartfelt congratulations go out to the Detroit Tigers, who defeated the New York Yankees 8-1 in the fourth game of the American League Championship to win the best-of-seven series four games to none, and will represent the American League in the World Series later this month ^_^

This is the second AL pennant for the ball club since the 3x Coach of the Year, future Hall-of-Fame manager Jim Leyland took over the ball club in 2006. Oddly enough, that was the same year the Tigers won their first pennant with Leyland, and their first as a ball club since 1984.

Congratulations Detroit ^_^ By the way, is there any chance you can hook me up with a celebratory American League Champion Detroit Tigers hoodie?

No? Oh, okay... :[

(All images courtesy of Major League Baseball)

What's Wrong With the Yankees?

A-BENCH for A-Rod! LOL!

The New York Yankees are mere moments away from their third game against the Tigers in Detroit for the American League Championship, and I am conflicted. I am conflicted because the Tigers are leading the series two games to none, and I expected this to be a lot closer and compelling.

Dozens of my friends are fans of the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox; the two most prominent baseball franchises since the Strike of '94, if not in all of baseball. The former, in particular, gets the most exposure, television coverage, postseason accolades, individual awards, and notable players. The late George Steinbrenner purchased the Yankees from CBS in 1973 for a ridiculous seventeen million dollars; according to the March 30th edition of Bloomberg Businessweek, the Bronx Bombers' franchise value is $2.85 billion. The Yankees even have a television channel devoted to showing Yankee games all the time o_O

What I Do Hate About The Yankees: Nick Swisher and his constant, over-the-top celebrations for EVERYTHING!

Many dudes call in to the local sports radio show in Toronto, and argue for a salary cap in baseball, but only in the rarest of rare cases are those dudes Yankee fans. The team you despise the most is usually the one with the deepest pockets, are always on television (see Dallas Cowboys), have the best players (see Los Angeles Lakers), are constantly building on their illustrious history (see Manchester United), or have one of the biggest trophy cases in all of professional sports (see New York Yankees...oh wait!). There are loads of us "Yankee Haters" that would love nothing more than to see the New York Yankees suffer in grandiose style. However, for me anyway, to actually watch it happening is kind of sad.

To their credit, none of the Yankees make excuses for the lack of offensive output (maybe A-Rod). Offence is sexy, exciting, intimidating, and puts fans in the seats; since the days of the Babe and Joe Dimaggio, Yankee Nation takes pride in their team for its offensive prowess and defensive artistry (see The Flip).

Something Else I Hate: The Yankees lose two games, and all of a sudden there are parallels to 1996. Totally different team (2012 is not 1996), more money, Twitter, this is the ALCS (not World Series), and they are playing the Tigers (not Atlanta Braves).

A-SMILE for A-Rod! LOL wait, what?

The perfect setup would be for the Yankees to reach the penultimate stage, and blow it in true "Red Sox style" fashion. If they had an eighty-six year history of failure and jinxes, I would be the happiest Blue Jays fan in the world. The game of baseball would be better for it, without question! However, for the sport to be compelling and dramatic as it is, we need the New York Yankees to be the actual "New York Yankees" of old. That separates our lads from the "evil empire", and the more disdain we feel for the enemy the more love and respect we have for our team. That is systematic for all professional sports, and not just baseball. Hopefully, the Yankees will get some of their magic back against Scott Verlander and the Tigers tonight, so we can see the Bronx Bombers blow it in game seven! What?

It must feel good to be a Detroit Tiger player though; that team flew right under the radar, and are playing loose as a goose!

(All images and video are property of Major League Baseball. You may also notice a reduction in links to sites such as Wikipedia or YankeesBaseball.com for team information; all you need to do is ask a Yankees fan, and they will tell you everything you need to know about the Yankees.)

Jeter, Yankees, Postseason

For Yankee haters like me, it is unfortunate that you can't separate the three. There are only a few great New York Yankee players I would want on my all-time team: Derek Jeter is at the top of that list.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi (right) and the team doctor aid
Derek Jeter off the field following his left ankle fracture.

So, to see one of the all-time competitors go down to injury is impossible! Jeter fractured his ankle fielding a ground ball during Game 1 of the ALCS against the Detroit Tigers yesterday. Team doctors affirmed the fracture is season-ending, as it is the same ankle Jeter had difficulty with all season.

The 6-4 defeat to the Tigers was secondary to the loss of team captain Derek Jeter, whose presence will be missed in the locker room, in the starting lineup, and on the field for the Yankees.

(All images are property of Major League Baseball.)

Washington Nationals: Wait, What?

Cardinals show Washington, world why they are the
"Defending world champion St. Louis Cardinals"

Davey Johnson Shuffles Deck, Deals Away NLDS to Cardinals

Apparently, I went to bed too early Friday night, along with hundreds of Washington Nationals supporters, and a few fans of the St. Louis Cardinals that gave up when the Redbirds were down to the Nats 6-0 at the end of the third inning.

The season ended like it began for the Nationals: Bizarre, improbable, and unexpected. Not even management expected the Nats to play competitive baseball in October, hence Stephen Strasburg suited up in April rather than May, and used up all 160 of his "doctor prescribed" innings pitched. Would there even be the need for a fifth game against St. Louis Cardinals if Washington believed in their ball club, and started Strasburg in May so he could pitch into the postseason?

Michael Morse's pump fist in the (ahem) third inning,
after his 2-run homerun gave the hometown Nats a 6-0 lead.

In his lone game against the St. Louis Cardinals this season, Strasburg left the mound on September 2nd after pitching six innings, striking out nine batters, surrendering only two hits, and leaving the game with the Washington Nationals leading 2-0. Reliever Sean Burnett coughed up the lead in the seventh inning, therefore Strasburg did not get the win as the Nationals fought back in the later innings to win 4-3. It was that championship fight back the Cardinals are known for, and it made another appearance last night at the worst possible moment for the Nationals.

My question is, if Tyler Clippard is the closer, then how does Clippard pitch the eighth inning ahead of Drew Storen, who pitches the penultimate final inning? Both are right-handed pitchers, so why didn't Clippard end the game as in games past; did manager Davey Johnson mess up his pitching lineup? Maybe the Cardinal batters in the eighth inning were too much of a test for Drew Storen, so Johnson installed Clippard in his place?



Clippard vs STL, 2012 regular season: Six batters faced, 0 H, 1 BB, 1 K, .000 opponent BA

Daniel Descalso and David Freese on the verge of an EPIC
comeback win for the Cardinals.

Storen vs STL, 2012 regular season: Ten batters faced, 4 H, 2 BB, 2 K, 2 stolen bases, .400 OBA

From what I can tell, Tyler Clippard pitched better against the Cardinals than Drew Storen. What the statistics don't tell you is Clippard pitched against the same batters he faced last night in the eighth inning: Daniel Descalso (Hit solo home run to bring Cardinal within a run at 6-5, as a matter of fact), Pete Kozma (pop out to shortstop), Matt Carpenter (struck out swinging), and Jon Jay (fly out to center field). In the ninth inning, the non-closer Storen pitched against perennial all-stars like Carlos Beltran, Matt Holliday, Yadier Molina, and last season's playoff MVP David Freese; there are even at least six Silver Slugger Awards between the four of them! It was no wonder that the Cardinals came back to tie, take the lead with four runs in the ninth, and go on to win the game.

NLDS Game 5 Nats starter Gio Gonzalez ponders what might have been,
after a shaky postseason, and shocking early exit after defeat to the Cardinals.

If Tyler Clippard is the closer, then he should close out the game. You can't win a baseball game in the third inning (Hi Michael Morse) or the eighth inning, so if Drew Storen dealt with the bottom of the lineup guys here, then Tyler Clippard could throw his best stuff against the best the Cardinals batters could offer in the ninth. The best versus the best, as it should be. It's all doom and gloom, according to Thomas Boswell of the Washington Post, whose article had this to say.

Yadier Molina (4) shows everybody when is the right time
to celebrate a trip to the NLCS.

The season ended as it began with a bizarre and shocking result, except the Nationals lost when it looked like they would do nothing but win. Today's moral of story: Expect the Unexpected.

Something About Game 3

Pablo Sandoval of the Giants (left) and the Reds' Brandon Phillips
on a close play at third with the umpire and fans looking on.

I'll be short with this today, but I wouldn't put too much faith and words into the performance of postseason teams in Game 3.

After playing the first two games of the Division Series, teams like the San Francisco Giants and Cincinnati Reds, and the Oakland Athletics and Detroit Tigers travel cross-country to play at their opponent's ball park. The flights were long, bumpy, suitcases got lost, someone forgot their lucky monkey, and then comes the jet lag! =_=



There are two ways a series could go after such an experience: In the case of the Cincinnati Reds, the need for sleep, to close out a series, and entertain the home crowd provided the Giants a stay of execution as San Francisco rallied through ten innings to defeat the Reds by a slim 2-1 scoreline. This could be a minor chip in the armour of the Red Machine as they look to close out the series tonight in Game 4. Then again, if you are following the Detroit Tigers, then the experience will completely throw you for a loop as the vindicated Coco Crisp and Oakland Athletics look to rebound and draw level with the staggered Tigers. Maybe there was more to Oakland's resurgence than "Alburquerque's Kiss"? ^_^

All images, videos, and associated material are property of Major League Baseball.