Baseball 2016

One week left. The Cardinals are treading water. Lost 2 0f 3 at Wrigley, finish the season at home against the Reds and Pirates. I'm almost wishing they don't make it into the playoffs. Severely atypical St. Louis team this season, relying more on the long ball and less on the intangibles they normally execute: team speed, smart baserunning, excellent defense and consistent pitching. Yet here they are, still in the hunt. We are half a game behind the Giants, one and a half behind the Mets. If we can't win two home series against the Reds and Pirates (although the latter are a quality team), we don't deserve to play in the post season. But if we make it....I wouldn't want to play us. We have habit of elevating our play beyond our collective talent (see 2006), so I'll still be watching. And having a great regular season record doesn't mean as much once the playoffs start. It's all about matchups and execution. Perhaps we'll start doing the latter, if we make to another Monday still playing.

 

The games continue, but the playoff hunt can take a backseat for a day or two. Baseball is desperate for young stars and one of its very brightest, Jose Fernandez, pitcher of the Marlins lost his life at tragic age of 24 years old. He came over from Cuba on his 4th attempt at age 15, and for a Cuban American (he became a US citizen) to be a bi-lingual budding superstar in Miami was just what the game needed. He had flair, passion, and emotional displays that bothered the crusty set of practitioners of the 'unwritten rules' of the game. Topping off the tragedy is his unborn daughter will never know her father, RIP Jose.

Great article from Dan LeBatard:

http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/17635271/watching-jose-fernandez-pitch-felt-freedom-cubans

 

Final weekend of regular season. Encouraging performance by Carlos Martinez last evening, we finally got some clutch hitting, and Matt Holliday hit our record 17th pinch hit homer this season in what may be his final appearance for the club. Earlier in the day the team announced it would be unlikely they would pick up his option for 2017. So the club activated him for the final 3 games in hopes of getting him a well deserved curtain call for a stellar career at home. He delivered. If you haven't seen it, it's worth a look.

http://m.cardinals.mlb.com/news/article/204270538/cardinals-matt-holliday-activated-homers/

 

Last day of the regular season (those words always make me a little sad) is a playoff game for my guys. Lose, and we're out. Win, and hope the Dodgers beat the Giants so we play SF Monday in another sudden death 1 game playoff. No pressure. Adam Wainwright hasn't had the best season, but there isn't any other pitcher I'd rather have out there today.

 

Well, our 5 consecutive post season appearance run is over. The good news is the last time we missed them, we came back the following season to win our 11th World Championship. The other good news?Pitchers and catchers report to Jupiter February 18th, 2017. Congrats to the fans of the Giants, Mets, Dodgers, Cubs and Nats in the NL, and the Orioles, Blue Jays, Red Sox, Indians and Rangers in the AL.

 

Bombs away in Toronto as it's win and move on for the Jays v O's. The Toronto fans were insane last season, and will give them the slight edge despite Baltimore winning 3 of 4 in the regular season. Like others I will be pulling for the O's.

 

At least Zach Britton is ready for Game 2......

 

Tough one for the losers as both teams executed brilliantly throughout a tense, extra inning battle. The bullpens were superb. One team finally got to one of them they could handle and did. Just a string of excellent pitch making by a bunch of guys most who aren't fans of either team had probably ever heard of, outside of Liriano. The O's finally blinked, courtesy of Ubaldo Jimenez who, for some inexplicable reason threw a first ball fast ball to a somewhat notorious first ball fast ball hitter, Edwin Encarnacion.
Somewhere, Crash Davis is smiling. And Nuke LaLoosh is fuming.

 

Mad Bum strikes again for the Giants. In a short series anything can happen against the Cubs.

Toronto and Texas is a serious grudge match

Cleveland is not at full strength, which bodes well for the BoSox.

Nats and Dodgers. Harper is ailing, no Strasburg..I think I'm going to have to deal with my obnoxious Dodger friends longer than I hoped for.

 

Rule #1 of the MLB postseason - Don't face Baumgartner.

 

I don't mind the Wildcard game being a 1 game winner take-all (can't give division champs too much time off). If those Wildcard teams don't like it, then win your division. However, I really think the next round needs to be 4 out of 7 instead of the current 3 out of 5.

 

If the owners won't concede regular season gate receipts, then start the season even earlier (west coast / indoor heavy match ups) to make the DS a best of 7 and avoid playing until Thanksgiving.

I did not expect the Giants to top the Mets before the game and certainly not after watching Syndegaard pump 99mph fastballs and 93mph sliders past the Giants in the first inning. Now, and I'm not delusional, I think the Giants have a shot at the Cubs b/c of the starting pitching. Cubs are better man for man, and the Giants v. Cubs late in the season at Wrigley were great games (of which the Giants blew 2 leads and lost 3 of 4), but as George M. once sang, ya gotta have faith.

Sox losing was a shock.

 

Score runs in only two of twenty-seven post seasons = losses.

 

Best T-Shirt so far: Bill Murray wearing a 'I Ain't Afraid of No Goat' T-shirt at Wrigley.

Best Sign so far; Blue Jays fans when not hurling a beer cans came up with; 'It's Better to get Punched in May than Knocked Out in October'. More than ironic that the Rangers' 2nd Baseman Rougned Odor (who landed the punch) was the player whose throwing error cost the Rangers the game and series.