MLB Season Wrap: The Best Games of the 2009 Postseason

The Yankees won the title this past Wednesday night, so the media has been less inclined to criticize or ignore baseball than usual of late. They’re also more likely to wrap the season up for 48 or 72 hours (instead of 24 or fewer) before moving 100% into football, instead of the 95% coverage the NFL has enjoyed since September.

But during the MLB playoffs, I did hear, nationally and locally, on TV, radio, and the blogs, that the postseason “lacked.” While it’s true no series went the distance, close to half of the 30 total games played went down the last  inning or even the final batter. The media’s consensus could not be more incorrect; this was a GREAT postseason overall.

Let’s take a look at the best games, in no particular order:

… Continue Reading

Yankees-Phillies 2009 World Series Preview and TV Schedule

There will not be a freeway series this year in baseball, nor will there be a cross-country coastal series. There will be an “Amtrak” Series, however.

And hopefully the Phils and Yanks will travel like The Babe did in the old days when they commute back and forth over the next week or so in the Fall Classic.

By virtue of a clutch game 4 win that gave them series control and an eventual second consecutive NL pennant, the Philadelphia Phillies will take on the New York Yankees, fresh off another close victory and series win over the gutsy Anaheim Angels.

… Continue Reading

ALCS Preview: Anaheim Angels vs New York Yankees

[Writers's Note: As someone raised in southern California who attended dozens of Angels games during his college years, including two playoff games in 2002, I will refer to the Angels' city as Anaheim, not Los Angeles nor "Los Angeles of Anaheim."]

No doubt we have the two best teams in the AL — perhaps in baseball — playing for the American League pennant.

The New York Yankees surpassed 100 wins this season and reclaimed the AL East as their own. The Anaheim Angels continued their dominance of the AL West with another 90+ win season and division title.

Fans should be ecstatic to see this quality matchup.

It also presents many story lines.

… Continue Reading

Phillies-Dodgers NLCS Betting Preview: Odds and Prediction

Even if you prefer NFL betting or mixed martial arts or NASCAR or whatever, it’s tough for any sports fan to deny the appeal of October baseball.

The crisp fall air, the drama of a one-on-one matchup between hitter and pitcher — ahhh, you have to love it.

Time to preview the National League Championship Series, which features a rematch of last year’s NLCS between the Phillies and Dodgers.

… Continue Reading

Yankees-Angels ALCS TV Schedule and Pitching Matchups

Apparently, this series was inevitable.

Neither the New York Yankees nor the Angels had any trouble disposing of their first round foes, the Twins and Red Sox, respectively.

It sets up a meeting between the AL’s two most consistent teams in 2009, and one that should be far more interesting than the ho-hum ALDS series that we just witnessed.

Here is your quick preview of the Yankees-Angels ALCS, with the TV schedule, pitching matchups, and some other resources for you:

… Continue Reading

Cardinals-Dodgers NLDS Preview, Pitching Matchups, and TV Schedule

My wife and I drove 500 miles round trip to Busch Stadium Saturday afternoon to see the Cards drop another close one to the playoff-less Brewers. They did the same the prior evening, as well as Sunday, looking bad in each game.

While most know of the Dodgers’ struggles the past fortnight or so, they finished by winning their final two games. 

And though St. Louis had little to play for other than home field in round one, the Redbirds dropped eight of their final ten, mostly to teams now playing golf.

Thankfully, perhaps, they avoided the Rockies, who took six of seven from them in 2009, and instead get the Dodgers, who limp into the postseason, after being arguably the NL’s best squad most of the season.

… Continue Reading

Twins-Yankees ALDS Preview, Pitching Matchups, and TV Schedule

Could there be a potentially bigger mismatch than the worn-out, 87-76 Minnesota Twins, fresh off finally clinching the AL Central in a draining Minneapolis marathon, arriving in New York City in the wee hours Wednesday morning to take on the hungry, rested, 103-win Yankees at the new ballpark in the Bronx?

Not really, but again, does any of this matter once the game begins?

… Continue Reading

Rockies-Phillies NLDS Preview, Pitching Matchups, and TV Schedule

This series presents a 2007 rematch the Phils would like to forget.

In an intriguing matchup of the last two NL pennant winners, many believe Colorado is the favorite in this series again, but seriously, the Phils are the defending champs, winners of 93 games, with a stacked lineup as good as any in baseball, and due to their huge attendance this year, the gross/money to rent proven hurlers like Cliff Lee and Pedro Martinez to make a run at a repeat.

(Yes, Philly fans will angrily attack me for this as you did before, but you guys are nearly as “guilty” as the Yanks or Red Sox of acquiring key free agents to put you over the top — see Lidge, Brad in 2008, Ibanez, Raul this season as well as Werth, Jayson; Lee, Cliff; Martinez, Pedro, etc.)

… Continue Reading

Angels-Red Sox ALDS Preview, Pitching Matchups, and TV Schedule

Poor Angels.

For the third year in a row, and fourth out of six, they draw Boston, who, each time, has ended their season.

LA/Anaheim has won the AL West five of the past six seasons, but have yet to return to the World Series (they won in 2002 as aWild Card). The Angels have won 89 or more games for six years running, have captured three straight division crowns , and, unlike their opponents, three-quarters of their roster is homegrown. 

That’s some fascinating or troubling history, depending upon which side your allegiance falls.

… Continue Reading

MLB Playoffs Preview: LDS Matchups Begin Wednesday

On Wednesday afternoon, the postseason finally gets underway just as crisp weather spreads through the Midwest. After a semi-lackluster September ended another memorable campaign, the final few days were intense, especially in the AL Central, where we enjoyed a four and a half hour Tuesday night “play-in” classic that had everything a sports fan could desire.

To me, 2009 does not give a clear favorite for the title.

No, the Yankees, despite their 103  wins, are not a shoo-in. They have not won a playoff series since 2004; therefore, no matter their lineup, they need to prove it in October 2009.

I should elaborate that NO ONE can predict baseball, especially at playoff time, and that’s the beauty. History has proven that anything can happen, and unlike other sports with crooked, homecooked officiating (NBA, NHL), umpires RARELY decide a baseball playoff game.

Also dissimilar to the NBA, where the team with the most superstars usually wins, between pitching, the mental aspects of the game, and other variables, we have no idea what will occur in the coming weeks. Often the teams playing the worst coming in, succeed in the end. Momentum can mean very little. Just look at Octobers past.

Therefore, these are previews, sans prognostications.

… Continue Reading

The Night Chicago Baseball Died – White Sox | Cubs

Today, I consider myself the saddest person on the face of the earth, to borrow a line from an old Lou Gehrig speech. Even though both Chicago teams made an early exit from this year’s playoffs, a tip of the hat should be extended to White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen and Cubs manager Lou Pinellia for their outstanding contributions to Chicago baseball fans everywhere.

With the Cubs winning a league leading 97 games during the regular season, and the White Sox season being extended by one game and into the playoffs, fans throughout the Windy City were given something to talk about all season long (a rarity in itself) at the watercooler or over lunch during the 182 or 183 game schedule.

Normally a Cubs season theoretically only lasts until the dog days of summer. This year has been a thrill in it’s own right, with the team basically going wire to wire before taking a seat to the Los Angeles Dodgers in yet another first round meltdown.

The White Sox bettered their cross town rivals by extending the regular season after defeating the Tigers in a makeup game and extending the season to play the Minnesota Twins again (for what seemed like the 10th time in a week). The Sox did manage to once again outplay the Cubs by winning at least one game against the upstart Tampa Bay Rays.

… Continue Reading

Chicago White Sox 2008 Season Ends with Reasons For Optimism

I wanted to post last night. I really did. But I was shocked, surprised, and disappointed by the White Sox loss at home to the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 4 of ALDS that I decided I would wait a day. I wanted to let the agony yesterday sink in and coalesce with the general excitement I felt for most of the season. I did not want to post something negative if the disappointment would only be temporary. But I also did not want to give the White Sox the blogging equivalent of a handjob if their accomplishments for this season, and the prospects for the future, did not deserve it.

So I decided to wait until the morning, and as crushing as last night’s loss was, I still feel pretty positive about the White Sox. I certainly feel positive about this season. As I recall, most of the pundits were picking the White Sox to finish 3rd or 4th in the division. Cleveland and Detroit were the “it” teams in the offseason. Way to step it up Indians and Tigers. I remember talking with KVB at the start of the year, recalling how every time the White Sox are picked to do nothing we end up having a good season: 2000, 2005, 2008, just name a few seasons. With the additions of Nick Swisher and Orlando Cabrera I thought this team could be better. And it was, because we all remember how God-awful 2007 was.

And even though the White Sox flamed out in the first round, with a 1-3 series loss to the upstart Tampa Bay Rays, I consider this season to be resounding success. Here are three key reasons why:

… Continue Reading

MLB Playoffs: Rays Beat White Sox and I Have to Come Clean

I guess I may as well come out and say it. I don’t want to sound like a traitor but I have to be honest here. I grew up in the Trop. I own a Rays hat, a Carl Crawford jersey and my family was at game 2. Now that the Sox have been eliminated I feel like I had to come clean. This, was a tough series to watch. Having not lived in Southwest Florida for almost six years now, my frequency at the Trop fell. I wasn’t getting Bucs coverage and my relationship faded. I moved here to S. 45^th St. and Wells two years ago and as I have mentioned listened to raining fireworks for two summers and grew fond of the Sox.

… Continue Reading

Did ESPN Jinx the Chicago Cubs and Prolong the Curse?

Articles about the Dodgers’ epic three-game sweep of the Cubs are everywhere.

Gene Wojciechowski who I assume is the Midwest reporter for EPSN.com, has written three such pieces about the Cubs since the playoffs began, compared to one each for the White Sox (who won a one-game playoff and three in a row to end the season) and the Brewers (who beat the Cubs to clinch on the last day). A piece for Outside The Lines, No Love Lost (also a great Joy Division song), has a link entitled “Share your misery, Cubs’ fans (although this was done before the playoffs).

“Cubs Misery Continues” – a piece on how one fan would not invest too much emotion into the Cubs after the 2003 season, which prompted him to write Wrigley Blues about the 2004 season, only to succumb to, yet again, another heartbreaking Cubs’ loss in both 2007 and 2008.

… Continue Reading

Chicago Cubs Cursed Again – Dodgers Move to NLCS

The Chicago Cubs suffered their second consecutive sweep in the playoffs falling at the hands of the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-1 Saturday night. The Cubs were one of the favorites to win it all this year after an impressive 97-64 record during the regular season, running away with the division by 7-1/2 games over the Milwaukee Brewers.

The sweep was the Cub’s first since June 27-29 when they lost three straight games to their cross town rivals Chicago White Sox in Interleague play.

Ironically the Dodgers avenged an earlier sweep at the hands of the Cubs at the Friendly Confines back in May. The only difference is that the Dodgers are advancing to the National League Championship Series and the Cubs are looking to 2009 where they will hopefully find a way past the first round.

… Continue Reading