ERA-wise it was the worst month in Red Sox history. Maybe just for the starters, I'm not sure, but yeah, it was pretty awful. Hot shot to third turned into a FC after Longoria tagged the runner returning to the bag.
In semi-related news, Miguel Cabrera wins the AL batting title. Joe Maddon probably gets the AL manager of the year with their comeback. Otherwise, I think Leyland would have won it. 4/65ish national publications/sportswriters/bloggers that the local radio station read predicted the Tigers to make the playoffs this year.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! Wow... Hard ground ball hit to 3rd. Golson took a few steps towards home before the guy fielded the ball, turned around and tried to get back to the bag and was tagged out. Idiotic baserunning. Thankfully he won't be coming anywhere near the playoff roster.
The Braves' September performance was on par with the Red Sox shitfest. However, it was the offense instead of the pitching shitting the bed. I've never seen so many runners left on base. I don't know the exact stats, but I if I had to guess, I bet with no one on base they hit .275 and with runners in scoring position below .100. The early 90's Bills in the Super Bowl were more clutch. I've been saying this for 5 months now, but what the fuck happened to Heyward? How does a patient, opportunistic rookie go to what happened this year?
D'oh! Also I saw on Twitter that every player involved in the 2009 Granderson mega trade is in the playoffs this year. (pending roster decisions by the Tigers in the next few minutes) Win-win-win I guess. Though I'd rather have Granderson or Kennedy.
Kinda sucks that Kennedy is so good now. Much as it pains me to say it, the Yankees have failed to develop 3 legit middle/top of the rotation guys now, and with the pitching the way it is, that's inexcusable. I don't know what they do in Tampa, or Chicago, or what they did in Arizona, but the Yankees need to figure it out. I don't want to see Betances a Cy Young contender for Cincinnati in 4 years.
Just grabbed tickets to the Rangers/Rays for Saturday night. I. Am. Stoked. I'm sad I'll miss CJ pitching, and Derek Holland better not fuck it up.
Nevermind that man behind the curtain! Good lord, the only picks I got right were Tampa, Texas and Philly. Not exactly the toughest ones either. Seriously though, who could have predicted Arizona getting 94 wins? Also, I'm kind of happy to see the Pirates won 72 games (how sick and sad is it that this pleases me?). New predictions? Might as well! Divisional: Rays over Rangers in 4. Yankees over Tigers in 5. Phillies over Cardinals in 3. Brewers over D-Backs in 4. ALCS: Rays over Yankees in 6. NLCS: Brewers over Phillies in 7. WS: Rays over Brewers in 6. I really like the Rays' pitching depth and I'm a fan of momentum in the post season.
I heard on the radio that Texas is putting Ogando in the bullpen? Maybe I missed something, but wasn't he pitching like an ace. He did when he was going against the Tigers. Did he drop off the last few months? Remember when the Pirates were in first place (51-44) July 20? I posted that on my friends facebook that day, and they proceeded to go 21-46. Sorry about the Jinx.
Ogando has struggled in the past couple of outings...but I can't imagine him in the bullpen. I don't see anything about it on the site...so...that would be news to me. I'm nervous about Holland. When he's on, he's goddamn good...but when he's off...sweet Jesus, kill me dead. Napoli has been amazing this season, and I'll argue with anyone about the season and contribution Michael Young has made, if they try to downplay it.
I've follwed baseball for 40 years I've seen: Jackson's HR off the light tower in the '71 AS game Clemente tear up the O's in the '71 WS The A's win 3 straight WS Jackson's 3 HR's in a row Fisk's HR in the 6th game of the '75 WS Dent's HR Carter's walk off WS HR and on and on... Yesterday's games were the damdest thing I've ever seen. Wow.
The Angels traded Mike Napoli and got back...Vernon Wells. That trade alone probably swung the division. That's just terrible on every level. Vernon Wells makes way more, he's way worse, and he blocks their best prospect. Jesus.
Oh I'm aware. That isn't something I'm ignoring. It'd be nice if beltre, Hamilton, napoli, young, kinsler, and moreland all got hot at the same time. And pitching holds up.
I love Michael Young. I was hoping the Tigers were going to trade for him when he was positionless and unappreciated in Texas. And then all he did was almost win a batting title, while playing everywhere. He's real good.