October 13, 2017
I’ve heard it said that in baseball on any given day any
team can win despite their won loss percentage. It also doesn’t matter how you
perform in the regular season because once you reach the playoffs anything can
happen. However, I still can’t believe the Yankees came from 0-2 deficit to win
three straight and the series against Cleveland. Cleveland had a 22 game
winning streak and won 97 games. What happened? For starters, ace Corey Kluber
got lit up in game 2 where the Indians came back from 8-3 deficit, saving his
butt. Then they traveled to New York hoping to wrap up the series. Little did
they know how good Tanaka has been of late and in game 3 goes 7 innings and with
help from Betances and Kehnle (former White Sox) shuts down the Indians and won
1-0. The game was also highlighted by
Judge, who took a two run homer away from Lindor. The Indians were great
defensively and committed only 76 errors all year. They had 4 in the next game,
falling behind early and eventually losing 7-2. In the clincher, Kluber once again faltered and put the Indians
in an early 3 run hole going only 3 .1 innings. Indians comeback with 2 runs. Then Robertson (former
White Sox) and Chapman close. The Yankees tack on 3 late runs to win 5-2. The
Yankees have momentum. The starters including 37 year old C.C. Sabathia have
been excellent. When you talk about good bullpens with Kahnle, Robertson,
Betances and Chapman this could be the best still going. If the Yankees get
early leads they will be tough to beat.
I thought the Red Sox would give Houston a little trouble.
What I found out is what a poor pitching staff they had including Chris Sale.
I’ve noticed throughout the past few years Sale starts out like gangbusters
early in the year but falters in the second half. He can have 12 wins before
the all-star break and finish the rest of his starts as a .500 pitcher. His ERA
in the low twos earlier, is up at around 3.30 . That is not bad in it and of
itself but the rise means he’s giving up 4 runs per game in the second half. Their
closer, Kembrel, also had a subpar end of the season and ended up blowing the
only good chance to win a game in this series. The Astros are real good as
proven throughout the year. The league’s batting average leader, Altuve starts
off with 3 home runs in game 1 backing Verlander in an easy 8-2 win. Strong
pitching from Keuchel backed by Correa’s home run, 4 runs batted in, a Springer
home run and 2 more hits for Altuve gives the Astros another 8-2 victory. In
the game three clincher, the Astros get 2 runs in the eighth and 1 in the ninth
for a 5-4 comeback victory.
To beat the Yankees,
the Astro starters have to hold the Yankees down early so it’s not a game
between the bullpens. If at the top of their game, Verlander and Keuchel can do
that. They should get 2 starts each to make it tough on the Yankees. The top of
their lineup is as tough as any in the majors. Although the Yankees have
momentum, they will succumb to the Astros in seven games. Should be loads of
fun.
The Dodgers proved they were the best team in baseball
smashing the Diamondbacks in a three game sweep. However, I don’t know why
Clayton Kershaw can’t pitch in the post season. He gave up 4 home runs in game
1. It didn’t matter as the Dodgers can
hit and hit. Turner led the way with a home run and 5 runs batted in in a
lopsided 9-5 victory. The Dodgers used seven pitchers and pounded out 8 more
runs in winning game 2. The last of the
seven pitchers, Jansen, had a seven out save. The Diamondbacks thought they
could salvage a game throwing their ace, Zack Greinke. He went up against a
dominant Yu Darvish, in the only pitching duel of the series. Cody Bellinger’s home run and two runs batted
in were the difference in a 3-1 Dodger victory. Although I thought the Dodgers
would win this based on their pitching I forgot about Kershaw’s post season
problems and the inconsistency of Rich Hill. They still can hit and hit their
way to victory,
The Yankees and
Indians were fun to watch. However, the most scintillating series was the
evenly matched Cubs vs. Nationals.
Pitching was the dominating factor for most of these games. Game 1
pitted the two best second half starters in the majors. Stephen Strasburg had a
no hitter into the sixth inning when an error opened the door for 3 unearned
runs. Hendricks was equally as good. Wade Davis picks up the save and Cubs win 3-1.
When it comes to the post season I can’t think of any
pitcher as good as Jon Lester. After stymying the Nationals to one run and the
Cubs cruising to make it 2 games to 0, the bullpen took over. In what was
supposed to be a strong point, Carl Edwards served up the tying home run to
Harper. Later Montgomery gave up the game
winning 3 run homer to Zimmerman. Nationals 6 Cubs 3. Back to Wrigley, Jose
Qunitana was excellent in his postseason debut giving up 1 unearned run in 5.2
innings. Scherzer was just as good no hitting the Cubs into the sixth. After one
hit, dumb Dusty Baker takes him out and Cubs tie it up. After getting burned
earlier in the series, dumb Dusty continues to pitch to Rizzo with first base
open. Although Rizzo’s winning hit should have probably been caught it’s still
a bad move. Cubs win 2-1. Wade Davis picks up another save.
Game 4 starter Jake Arrieta is shaky but only allows 1
unearned run in 4 innings. John Lester continues his post season success in
relief. Problem is the Cubs were up against Strasburg and couldn’t get anything
going. Addison Russell came closest because he hit a ball that would have been
a long home run if not for the wind. In fact no one was going to hit one out on
this day. In the eighth inning, Edwards
walks the bases loaded and after one ball to Michael Taylor, Maddon brings in
Davis to keep it a one run game. Up to this point, Taylor has had the best
swings for the Nationals and about that no one is going to hit a home run: After
a foul ball Taylor takes Davis deep and the ball lands in that silly basket for
a grand slam. Game over Nationals 5 Cubs 0.
In the deciding game
dumb Dusty starts Gonzalez. In a deciding game you don’t want to fall behind
early. Gonzalez led the league in first inning runs. They should have started
Tanner Roark who had shut out the Cubs last time out at Wrigley Field. With the
help of a wild pitch Cubs score 1 in first inning. Cub nation was groaning as
they left the bases loaded. Bottom 1
Cubs throw Trea Turner out at the plate exciting Cub nation. The groans return.
Hendricks, who has been spectacular in post season fell apart in the second
inning. A Murphy home run and a 3 run homer by Taylor gave the Nationals a
three run lead. At this point I still felt the Cubs would win this game. They
proceeded to get two runs in the third making it a one run game and ending
Gonzalez’s night. In the fourth inning Cubs face Scherzer. After retiring Bryant
and Rizzo, things fell apart for him. Addison Russell’s two run double started the
damage against the Cy Young award winner. Then the Nationals get a gift run on
a bases loaded hit by pitch. Then they received a gift run from the umpires. A dropped
third strike, followed by a throwing error allowed another run. However, this
run should not have counted. Baez backswing hit the catcher The Rule states
when this occurs the ball is called a strike and the play is dead. Even
reviewing the play they didn’t seem concerned the follow through on the swing
but whether Baez had tipped the pitch. When the inning ended the Cubs had
batted around, scoring 4 runs making it 7-4 Cubs. The Cubs added a run in the 6th
and the Nationals countered with 2, 8-6.
Cubs score 1 in the seventh. 9-6 Cubs. From here on the Nationals did
score two more runs to make it close. However, they made a couple of plays that
hurt their chances. After back to back
walks Land pinch hits and swings at first pitch. Even though it may be a strike
you take that pitch. Also you would think the league would catch on to the
Wilson Contreras pick off throws. With a tying run on second, the runner gets
picked off at first. Where is he going? The Nationals comeback ends with three
up three down, ninth. Davis is not sharp but is credited with 7 out save.
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