Author: Christopher Glotfelty (Page 49 of 67)

      Albert Pujols helps Tony La Russa make history

      June 21, 2009 /

      Facing the Kansas City Royals, Albert Pujols went 4-for-5 with two homeruns and six RBIs. His offensive display also helped manager Tony La Russa reach his 2,500th career win.

      “Is it special? Yeah, because I got family and friends here,” Pujols said. “But it’s nothing different than every day of my routine.”

      Some routine.

      Pujols finished with three home runs and 10 RBIs in the sweep, helping ignite an offense that outscored Kansas City 29-11 over three games.

      “He does it over and over again,” La Russa said. “And it’s just impossible to describe how great he is. But when he does something like this, this is really great. It was the difference. His production is the difference in that game.”

      It certainly was the difference in the fourth inning.

      Trailing, 4-3, the Cardinals sent 13 men to the plate and came away with eight runs and an 11-4 lead.

      But it was Pujols who supplied the back-breaking blast, a jolt that crashed off the windows of the Royals Hall of Fame building in left field, an estimated 423 feet from home plate.

      Congratulations to Cardinals manager Tony La Russa who joins Connie Mack and John McGraw as as the only managers in baseball’s lengthy history to reach 2,500 wins. As for Albert Pujols, the dude is incredible. Barring injury or a sudden loss of power, Pujols could go down as one of the top three right-handed hitters of all time (the other two being Hank Aaron and Willie Mays).

      We’re not even at the All-Star break yet and here’s Pujols’ stat line: in just 69 games Pujols is batting .329 with 26 homers, 56 runs, 68 RBIs, and has even chipped in 9 stolen bases. After much speculation about whether Pujols was entering the season with a nagging injury, its fairly obvious that he is all right. He’s having a career year and making guys like me who have him on their fantasy team more than pleased.

      MLB

      How will Nadal’s recent injuries affect Wimbledon?

      June 20, 2009 /

      When this year’s Wimbledon kicks off in two days, tennis’ best player will be absent. Yes, ladies and gentleman, 78th-ranked Potito Starace of Italy has decided he is in no condition to defend his honor this time around.

      Obviously, the man I’m really talking about is Rafael Nadal, who becomes only the second men’s champion in 35 years to decline to defend his Wimbledon title. After losing exhibition matches earlier this week to Lleyton Hewitt and Stanislas Wawrinka, Nadal decided his knees were too damaged to put up a worthy performance at the only grass-court Grand Slam. But the truth is his knees have been damaged for a while. When Nadal lost in the French Open quarterfinals to Robin Soderling (a capable player, but one who had never before even been a to Grand Slam quarterfinal), tennis fans knew there was something wrong with the gifted Spaniard. The fact that Soderling was later defeated by Federer in straight sets in the finals further added to the speculation.

      Of course, this leave’s the door wide open for Roger Federer to not only capture a record-setting 15th career Grand Slam, but also reclaim the No.1 ranking, which he previously held for 237 weeks. I’m expecting Federer to win at Wimbledon, particularly because he is well-rested and prefers grass over any surface. Fed’s previously won the tournament fives times, almost taking his sixth last year before losing to Nadal.

      Many knew this would happen, that Nadal’s all-or-nothing style of play would eventually catch up with him. We just never knew when. Still, while a partially battered Nadal might be able to beat a completely healthy Federer, nobody on the ATP should get the best of Federer if he plays like he did at the French Open. Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic, Andy Roddick, and Fernando Verdasco all have a chance at going deep into the tournament, but as far as making the finals goes, I’d put my money on Murray. He won the last grass-court tournament at the Queen’s Club and seems to handle that surface well. The guy gets better tournament by tournament and lost last year in the quarterfinals at Wimbledon. Without Nadal, the most exciting finals we can hope for at this point is Murray vs. Federer.

      Tennis

      Jake Peavy placed on the DL

      June 14, 2009 /

      peavy

      San Diego Padres ace Jake Peavy is the newest star pitcher to be placed on the DL. He joins a host of other marquis arms including Brandon Webb, Scott Kazmir, and Brad Lidge. Though his stint on the 15-day DL is retroactive to June 9th, three Padres physicians believe Peavy’s tibialis posterior tendon strain could keep him out of the game for 8-12 weeks.

      He has made 13 starts for the Padres this season, going 6-6 with a 3.97 ERA (36 ER/81.2 IP) and 92 strikeouts. Peavy currently ranks among National League leaders in strikeouts (3rd) and strikeouts per 9.0 innings pitched (4th, 10.14), while limiting opponents to a .228 (10th) batting average.

      Over parts of eight Major League seasons with the Padres, Peavy is 92-68 with a 3.29 ERA (491 ER/1342.2 IP) and 1,348 strikeouts in 212 starts. He is the Padres all-time leader in strikeouts and ranks tied for second on the club’s all-time wins list.

      Obviously, this is horrible news for the Padres, who’s pitching staff, excluding Peavy, is spotty at best. Although San Diego is in second-to-last place in the NL West, they have shown signs of life under the terrific bats of Adrian Gonzalez and (the now injured) Scott Hairston. With Peavy’s injury, San Diego baseball is not looking good.

      And of course, this doesn’t help Peavy’s status on the trading block. Multiple teams have shown interest in the competitive hurler, so none of these organizations will want to pay an injured pitcher until he’s proven that he’s over his injury. As a result, the earliest Peavy would get signed is in the winter.

      On a side note, how sad is this?: Peavy, Lidge, and Kazmir are all on my fantasy team. I also had Brandon Webb but managed to trade him as soon as I heard how long he was going to be out. It’s a struggle, each and every day.

      MLB

      Yankees demolish Mets 15-0

      June 14, 2009 /

      santana

      It has been an eerie day in baseball indeed, especially in New York, where the Yankees absolutely embarrassed the Mets in the conclusion to their Subway Series. Johan Santana, who up until this start has been his typical dominant self, gave up nine runs in less than four innings of work.

      The Yankees had put up four runs to take an early lead against Santana in the second inning, and the left-hander’s luck only soured in the fourth. Hideki Matsui belted a two-run homer and Derek Jeter chased Santana with a single past diving shortstop Alex Cora — one of his four hits — to score the seventh run. Catcher Francisco Cervelli collected three hits, pushing his average above .300.

      Johnny Damon greeted reliever Brian Stokes with an RBI double off the left-field wall, and after an Alex Rodriguez double play brought home the ninth run, Robinson Cano put an exclamation point on the pounding with a two-run homer before Melky Cabrera completed the frame with a two-run double.

      The 15 runs were a season high for the Yankees and put A.J. Burnett in line for a breezy victory, as the right-hander won for the third time in four starts, striking out eight and limiting the Mets to four hits and four walks in seven innings.

      Burnett appeared poised to give a 4-0 lead back, walking two and allowing a hit to the bottom of the order in the third inning. But Burnett struck out both Cora and Fernando Martinez swinging before getting Carlos Beltran to line to shortstop, stranding the bases loaded.

      Except for this blip, Santana is off to another Cy Young-caliber season. Prior to this start, Santana boasted an 8-3 record with a 2.39 ERA, 91 Ks, and a WHIP of 1.13. Every pitcher gets rocked every now and then, and if it’s going to happen, it might as well be against the Yankees who have a devastating lineup top to bottom.

      The Mets who seem as lost as ever, are another story. When we look at Carlos Beltran’s comments, Luis Castillo’s error, and their daily inconsistency, this doesn’t look like the team many expected would lead the NL East for the majority of the season.

      MLB

      Murray wins at Queen’s Club

      June 14, 2009 /

      murray

      After a poor showing at the French Open, the UK’s best tennis player, Andy Murray, beat American James Blake at the Queen’s Club to capture his first grass-court title. This victory is important to Murray who is a true contender at the upcoming Wimbledon, which is the only grass-court Grand Slam.

      The top-seeded Murray became the first British player to win the tournament since Bunny Austin in 1938, who then went on to become the last Briton to reach the Wimbledon final.
      Murray took an early lead Sunday with a break in the third game, but Blake immediately leveled with a forehand winner down the line. Both players then easily held serve until 5-5, when Blake missed a forehand on break point.

      The second set was equally competitive until Murray broke for a decisive 4-3 lead when a fierce return forced Blake to net a backhand volley.

      It seems like only yesterday that Roger Federer captured his first French Open Grand Slam, beating Robin Soderling in straight sets in the final. Nevertheless, Wimbledon is right around the corner as it kicks off June 22nd and concludes on July 5th.

      Players such as Novak Djokovic, Andy Roddick, and James Blake were expected to have promising years, but all have trailed off since their performances at the Australian Open. Out of the top-ranked players, I would say Murray has the best shot against Nadal and Federer. He’s fared excellently against them in the past, but is always missing that extra something in a Grand Slam final. Maybe he’ll have his day at this year’s Wimbledon.

      Tennis

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