More Playoffs

MLB Announcing that they are adding another team to the post season mix starting this year.

If I read it correctly, it sounds like it is going to be a one game playoff between two wild card teams, then what we've come do know as the "regular" playoff system starts with the ALDS best-of-5 gamer, and ALCS best-of-7.

There is always a tug of war between the baseball traditionalists and the baseball needs innovation crowd.

This is a change as of now anyway that I don't particularly care for and would have preferred to see the ALDS expand to a 7 gamer.

One positive I see to this is that it will further dilute the you need to spend money in baseball argument as it expands the field of particpation in October.

Now, we could have a third place team, get hot, and go on a run, much like the last two Super Bowl champions have done.

More excitement or yawner?

Wow

Last night proved why it is a discipline to be a real sports fan.

The Yanks were up by 7, Boston was up by 1 and in a rain delay, and the Braves just lost thier lead and tied and went into extra innings. I thought, nah, not going to happen, I"m going to bed. Only to wake up, and catch Quick Pitch to see that the unthinkable became a reality yet again in the world of baseball. What a finish to the season!!!

The dual collapse of the Braves and the Sox will be pretty hard to top.

My guess is, Crawford is cut and Francona resigns.

Is it possible that the playoffs will match the drama leading up to them??

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ALDS: I am not surprised who Girardi selected to be the starter and #2 (CC & Nova) I am though a little surprised that he selected Garcia to be the #3.

I think these playoffs are going to be tough. The Rangers finishing the season 9-1, the Tigers with Verlander and Cabrera - this is an uphill battle for sure.

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Do Stats matter?? The Don Mattingly led Dodgers missed the playoffs and barely finished above .500 despite having the pitcher equivielnet of the triple crown in Clayton Kershaw (21-5, 248 SOs) and having a very close real triple crown winner in Matt Kemp (.324, 38 HRs, and 124 RBIs). Hard to believe.

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Anyway - with milestones being met, the Yanks winning the division, and a historic September of drama - 2011 was a great overall regular season.

. .. now the real season begins!

Round 2

Yanks really took care of business in the ALDS didn't they?

I feel somewhat bad for the Twins - they've got a great club, play ball the right way, have a great manger, solid roster, the works - except they can't win in the playoffs. They'll break through - they need a good #3 and a closer and they're there.

Phil Hughes looked great. Bullpen did OK, and the heros were not the superstars.

Rays tie up the series with the Rangers and we now have to wait until Friday for the Bombers to take the field again.

Which brings me to my next point - I hate the scheduling of the playoffs. Having the series close together rewards the teams that take care of business and stresses the teams that don't. It adds drama with each passing round.

Now, you can get through the playoffs with 3 pitchers with all these days off. Not good.

Let me use my own life as a guide. 12 years ago this week - I was headed to Aruba for my honeymoon and I was watching the Fall Classic down there (Tino with his grandslam). Now, the WS won't even start for two more weeks.

This aint' the NBA - let's play ball!

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Looking ahead: Would not surprise if Joe continued with a 3 man rotation until it is shown it can't work. Hopefully AJ brought a novel or two with him for the month to help pass the time.

I'd rather see a Texas/NY matchup rather than NY/Rays. Don't know why, I just would.

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NFL: Don't look now but the Giants D-Line seems to have found the '07 championship form. Finally an attitude has arrived on that defense that has been so sorely lacking. Hakim Nix is the man - and I think he's only 21. Scary.

Doc is no Don

Doc Halladay's no hitter game was great - but NOT perfect. There's a reason why there's a distinction made between the two. One is much harder than the other, and it bothers me to hear Doc's game has been put in the same league as Don Larson's by the networks.


Quick, name the game's best pitchers. With the exception of King Felix, you had a chance to likely see all of the ones you named yesterday: Cliff Lee, David Price, CC, and Mo. Not a bad day if you're more of pitching fan than the long ball type.


In 2010, I never quite thought the Yanks had that Championship feel to their team - with the exception of one quality - come from behind victories. They don't fold when down - the mark of champion.

Looking forward to game 2.

The 2nd Season Begins

What can be said about the regular season that we haven't already? In review:

Regular Season Grade: B+. Made the playoffs, didn't win the division, tied for best record in baseball.

I did not see anything to change my mind during the season that getting rid of Austin Jackson, Phil Coke, Ian Kennedy, Nady, Johnny Damon or Matsui was a mistake.

I also did not like how the team couldn't close down the stretch. They had ample opportunity to wrap up the division and home field advantage but lost two very winnable series in a row.


Post Season: Love the matchups in the NL - it'll probably be better baseball to watch than the AL series. Really glad to see the Reds back in the mix.

It has been a given that the AL East was the toughest division - yet neither the Rays or the Yanks showed a champions grit down the stretch. I think both the Twins and the Rangers have been playing better ball and could very easily find themselves in the ALCS.

The next 3 to 5 games would be the perfect time for Jeter to show why he's Jeter, and erase the worst regular season of his career.

I like Wood and Chamberlain as the bridge to Mo.

That's it - let's see where the chips fall!!

Game 2

Burnett has been waiting for this moment a long time, I think he'll be more than ready to go and will put in a solid night's work.

When Posada flubbed up in game 1, it made me remember how bad a catcher defensively I've always thought he was (Playoffs '07) so I'm glad Molina is the starter.

I was so close to getting tickets to tonight's game.

Um - how about the Dodgers???
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I"m leaving for the DR today - but will be watching the games. I don't know if I'll have access to the net down there so Crash - feel free to update as needed.

See you guys when I get back.