Archive for the ‘MLB Playoffs’ Category

Jabroni of the Week: Nelson Cruz

Posted: October 30, 2011 by Keith Stone in baseball, jabronis, MLB, MLB Playoffs, Nelson Cruz, Texas Rangers, World Series
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You already know what happened in Game 6 of the World Series. It already won at least four ESPY’s and the awards ceremony is like nine months away. With two outs in the bottom of the ninth and his team up by two runs, Nelson Cruz had a chance to win the World Title for the Texas Rangers by making a challenging, yet makeable, play on a fly ball to right field. Jose Canseco did better when the ball bounced off his head for a home run. Cruz looked terrified of touching the wall, like it was made up of healthy food or something, David Freese ended up with a triple, and the rest, as they say, was history.

Nelson Cruz had one of the greatest postseasons in history, no doubt, but winners make plays when the game is on the line. How many times in any sport in the past 10 years has a Championship come down to one play? All I can think of is Adam Vinatieri’s two Super Bowl-winning field goals. Cruz literally had the Ring in his hand and he couldn’t handle it.

How does he not go all out for that ball? It was about six inches away from his glove. He may have been banged up but he should have gone through the wall to make the catch. If you’re a Rangers fan, how do you even watch Cruz play next season knowing that he came so close to winning the World Series? It’s like seeing one of your buds get drunk and vomit and shit on the floor at the same time. You’re still friends but you can’t look them in the eye anymore.

Nellie, baby, this is the part where I usually try to console the week’s offending jabroni and give them advice for the future, but I don’t know what to say. That’s saying something considering one of them was a mass-murdering tyrant. You blew it. You can hit all the home runs you want but that play will always live on. Bill Buckner fucked up too, but at least he seemed to be trying. And his team wasn’t up by two runs. Well, at least we don’t have to hear about Tony LaRussa anymore. Next time you have a chance to win the World Series, don’t worry about the wall. Also try to get a little fielding work in during spring training. Until then, you’re a jabroni, brother.

Trivia Time: World Series Virgins Edition

Posted: October 25, 2011 by Keith Stone in baseball, MLB, MLB Playoffs, trivia, World Series
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The Texas Rangers are one win away from winning their first World Series. Or so I’ve been told. I can’t watch baseball for four hours when my team isn’t involved. The Rangers actually made their first World Series appearance last year after 50 years of futility, leaving only two franchises without a trip to the Fall Classic. That brings us to our Question of the Week. Get it right and Josh Hamilton will share some non-alcoholic champagne with you. The answer, as always, is after the jump.

Which two teams have never been in the World Series? (and a hint: it is not the Mudville Nine and Bad News Bears)

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Motown, the Auto Industry, and the 2011 Detroit Tigers

Posted: October 6, 2011 by Keith Stone in baseball, Detroit Tigers, MLB, MLB Playoffs, Yankees
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This is it! Eminem can’t save Detroit. A government bailout can’t save Detroit. Al Albuquerque can’t save Detroit. Mike Francesa doesn’t even know who he is. This is the Bronx. This is tradition. This is Mystique and Aura. Supernova may be a rook but he’s like Andy Pettitte reincarnate. Doug Fister’s not going to even know what fisted him. The momentum is on the Yankees’ side. All they have to do is deliver.

Yankees-Tigers ALDS Game 4 Quick Reaction

Posted: October 5, 2011 by Keith Stone in baseball, Detroit Tigers, MLB, MLB Playoffs, Yankees
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Yankees 10, Tigers 1. Series tied 2-2

A.J. for Cy Young!!! As much as his season sucked, he pretty much justified his being on the team with just this one start. I always knew he could do it (with a little help from Grandy of course). What two insane defensive plays. Either ball drops in and the season is possibly fucked. The first one was a nice recovery after starting in the wrong direction, but the second one was just him going all-out and not wanting to go home for the winter. Everyone played great D knowing that they had to have A.J.’s back. That’s a team. It was all clicking. Even A-Rod and Teixeira got hits. Hopefully, the momentum carries over to Game 5. We just need another solid start from the Supernova and to chip away at Fister until the Tigers bullpen hits the mound. Mystique and Aura better pick out some nice outfits because the Stadium is going to be rocking on Thursday. Al Alburquerque, come out and plaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyy!

THIS COULD BE THE GREATEST NIGHT OF OUR LIVES!!!

Posted: October 4, 2011 by Keith Stone in baseball, MLB, MLB Playoffs, Yankees
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So what if A.J. Burnett is taking the mound tonight? It’s not like the Yankees are going up against Cy Young. It’s Rick Fucking Porcello. He had a 4.75 ERA this season. The Yankees have the most dominant lineup in baseball. A-Rod and Teixeira will snap out of it. They just need a little luck. They’re not gonna win if everyone’s crying and complaining about the last two games. The past is the past. The only thing that matters is this one game right now. Let’s all send our good vibes to A.J. He doesn’t need to be incredible. If he can get through five innings without giving up a ton of runs, it’ll be enough. I’m not giving up.

Trivia Time: Comeback Edition

Posted: October 4, 2011 by Keith Stone in baseball, MLB, MLB Playoffs, trivia
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The Yankees are down 2-1 to the Tigers. That brings us to our Question of the Week. Get it right and you get a champagne shower. The answer, as always, is after the jump.

Which was the last team to come back from a 2-1 deficit in the Divison Series? (and a hint: it was not the ’06 Mets)

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Yankees-Tigers ALDS Game 3 Quick Reaction

Posted: October 4, 2011 by Keith Stone in baseball, Detroit Tigers, MLB, MLB Playoffs, Yankees
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Tigers 5, Yankees 4. Tigers lead series 2-1

That was a big one. CC didn’t bring his stuff. Neither did Verlander, but he got his shit together. I thought that the ump was squeezing CC and gave Verlander a much bigger strike zone but maybe I’m just bitter. It’s so tough to lose after clawing back to tie the game in the 7th especially on a weak home run like that. The Tigers really made the best of their opportunities. When they get somebody on base, they drive them in. The Yankees seem tight. They need to loosen up, especially A-Rod and Teixeira. They’re getting good wood on the ball and hopefully the hits will start coming. A.J. is next…

Yankees-Tigers ALDS Game 2 Quick Reaction

Posted: October 3, 2011 by Keith Stone in baseball, Detroit Tigers, MLB, MLB Playoffs, Yankees
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Tigers 5, Yankees 3. Series tied 1-1

This was a tough one. Garcia pitched well. Scherzer pitched well. It came down to Cabrera’s cheap home run and Jeter making a bad error. It bothers me that A-Rod is getting booed. The Yanks got like three hits in the first eight innings and he’s banged up. He proved he doesn’t have a problem with the playoffs. Booing isn’t going to help. I really thought they were going to win it at the end. The turning point in the ninth ended up being Andruw Jones’s bullet into right field. If that drops, the Yankees are up 2-0.

So, it’s a best-of-three series now. CC vs. Verlander. You’d have to give CC the nod. He’s used to pitching with short rest. Nothing bothers him. Fuck, he probably just ate like 50 buffalo wings while watching the late football games and he’s still going to be ready to go. If he’s not, it’s A.J. on Tuesday. I’d dare say that Game 3 is a must-win for the Yankees.

Yankees-Tigers ALDS Game 1 Quick Reaction

Posted: October 2, 2011 by Keith Stone in baseball, Detroit Tigers, MLB, MLB Playoffs, Yankees
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Yankees 9, Tigers 3. Yankees lead series 1-0

Robbie Cano, dontcha know!?!?!?!?!! Well, the Yanks won a game that Verlander started. I guess you can’t really complain about the rain delay now. Ivan Nova went out there and did the best he could have done. Part of me was thinking he should have come out earlier so he wouldn’t be gassed if they need him for Game 5, but it’s probably just as well that he saved the bullpen a lot of work. I was pissed Mo came in, but three pitches is nothing. It would not have been good if he actually had to do something. Fister was good, but the lineup did what they always do. They wear opposing pitchers down, and then strike. Cano killed it. He would have had two home runs if the guy in the first row caught the ball that hit the top of the wall. It was like reverse Bartman. Hopefully, Garcia can keep it close and the Yanks take care of Scherzer like they did Fister. Game 1 doesn’t mean anything if the Tigers take Game 2.

Reign Delay

Posted: October 1, 2011 by Keith Stone in baseball, Detroit Tigers, MLB, MLB Playoffs, Yankees
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My head hurts deciding whether the postponement of Game 1 is a good thing. CC was dealing, but ultimately the fact that Verlander only got to pitch an inning has to be an advantage. The Yanks really worked him in that inning, though. I wonder if he would have recovered later in the game? I guess we’ll never know. Fister isn’t exactly a slouch either. At the same time, as much as you don’t want to see Verlander, you don’t want to win the lucky way. You want to face the best the other team has to offer and kick their ass.

CC is a beast and will be fine going in Game 3, but Verlander isn’t a short rest guy. The question now is who’s going to pitch in Game 4 for the Yankees. Looks like it might be some sort of A.J. Burnett-Phil Hughes combo. Let’s hope it doesn’t get that far.

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