Category: MLB (Page 75 of 448)

      What happened to the Rays’ offense?

      October 7, 2010 /
      Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher David Price reacts after he was taken from the game against the Texas Rangers during their American League Division Series MLB baseball game in St. Petersburg, Florida October 6, 2010. REUTERS/Scott Audette (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BASEBALL)

      The above picture is not of an offensive player for the Rays – it’s of pitcher David Price. But if it were a picture of an offensive player, he’d have the same expression on his face.

      In the regular season, only the Yankees and Red Sox scored more runs than the Rays, who crossed home plate 802 times this year.

      In their last two games, they’ve scored just one, which is a problem considering their last two games have come in the postseason. Following their 6-0 loss to the Rangers on Sunday, the Rays now trail Texas 2-0 in the best-of-five ALDS. Oh, and now they have to go on the road for their next two games, if they make it to Game 4, that is.

      The Rangers’ pitching staff has been good this season (great even, if you factor in the struggles its had over the years), but they’re not that good are they? Are they good enough to hold the third best run-scoring offense in the league to only one run the past two games? In Tampa no less?

      This in no way is meant to be a put down to Texas. C.J. Wilson pitched 6 1/3 scoreless innings today and was outstanding all season. He’s made a successful jump from being a setup man to a full-time starter and he’s one of the many reasons the Rangers may go deep into the postseason this year.

      But one run? One run in two games? I figured when the Rays got that albatross Carlos Pena (who batted .169 against lefties during the regular season) out of the lineup that they’d generate some offense. But they actually produced less runs in Game 2 today than they did in Game 1, which was hard to do considering they only scored one yesterday.

      This Rays team is in trouble and nobody wants to face the Rangers right now. Those bankrupt bastards are on a mission.

      External Sports, MLB

      Yankees’ postseason experience shines in Game 1 of ALDS

      October 7, 2010 /
      New York Yankees' Mark Teixeira hits a two-run home run against the Minnesota Twins during the seventh inning of Game 1 of their MLB American League Divison Series baseball playoffs in Minneapolis, Minnesota, October 6, 2010. REUTERS/Andy King (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BASEBALL)

      The Yankees entered the playoffs losers of eight of their last 11 games. But no matter how much they’ve struggled or how many chinks in the armor they may have shown, this is still their time of year.

      For five innings Wednesday night, the Yankees were making Twins’ starter Francisco Liriano look like Cy Young. They trailed 3-0 in the top of the sixth, but after Nick Swisher struck out swinging to start the inning, Mark Teixeira doubled to deep left, Alex Rodriguez walked and then Teixeira scored on a Robinson Cano single to right.

      After Marcus Thames struck out, Jorge Posada lined a single to right to score A-Rod and move Cano to second. Curtis Granderson delivered the big blow by tripling off the wall in deep right center to score Cano and Posada to give the Yankees a 4-3 lead.

      They never trailed after that.

      The Twins scratched across a run in their half of the inning, but Teixeira blasted a 355-foot home run in the top of 7th to give the Yankees a 6-4 lead. After allowing two base runners to reach in the ninth, Mariano Rivera got Jim Thome to pop out to third to end the game and give New York a 6-4 victory.

      This is the time of year when the Yankees are never out of any game. They may have showed their age throughout the regular season, but there’s no replacement for postseason experience. When the stakes are high, this is when the Bombers are at their best.

      Of course, this is still a team that’s going to struggle to win it all. Their pitching is a major concern and Joe Girardi’s stomach must have been in knots watching his ace C.C. Sabathia struggle in the early innings last night before finally settling in. He’s supposed to be the rock of the rotation and if he struggles, then the Yanks are doomed.

      Game 2 is set for tonight at 6:07PM ET, as Andy Pettitte will take on former Yankee Carl Pavano.

      External Sports, MLB

      Roy Halladay wanted to impress in his first postseason game, so he didn’t allow a hit

      October 6, 2010 /
      Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Roy Halladay delivers a pitch to the Cincinnati Reds during the first inning in Game 1 of the MLB National League Division Series baseball playoffs in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, October 6, 2010. REUTERS/Tim Shaffer (UNITED STATESSPORT - Tags: SPORT BASEBALL)

      Roy Halladay had never pitched in a playoff game before Wednesday evening in Philadelphia.

      Apparently he wasn’t nervous.

      In the Phillies’ 4-0 win over the Reds in Game 1 of the NLDS, Halladay threw a no-hitter in the postseason for only the second time in baseball history. It was his second no-hitter of the season and he now joins Don Larsen, who is the only other pitcher to throw a no-no in the playoffs

      Halladay’s only blemish on the night came in the top of the 5th when he walked Jay Bruce with two outs (the audacity!). Otherwise he was perfect while striking out eight hitters on just 104 pitches. And because he only threw 104 pitches, he could probably pitch again in Game 4 if the Phillies get into trouble in these next two games.

      He also got into the act at the plate by singling home Carlos Ruiz in the second inning to make the game 2-0. He scored on a Shane Victorino single later that inning as the Phillies built a 4-0 lead, which was all the scoring they would need thanks to Halladay.

      This isn’t exactly the start the Reds or their fan base envisioned when the club made the postseason for the first time since 500 B.C. Everyone knew Cincinnati would have trouble with Philadelphia’s pitching, but to get no-hit in the first game is a little appalling given some of the hitters the Reds have in their lineup.

      They’ll try to pick up the pieces on Friday when they take on Roy Oswalt.

      External Sports, MLB

      Cliff Lee once again shows his mastery in postseason

      October 6, 2010 /
      Texas Rangers starting pitcher Cliff Lee throws against the Tampa Bay Rays in the second during their American League Division Series MLB baseball game in St. Petersburg, Florida October 6, 2010. REUTERS/Scott Audette (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BASEBALL)

      Cliff Lee pitched seven innings of one-run ball on Wednesday as the Rangers beat the Rays 5-1 in Game 1 of the ALDS.

      Lee was outstanding, striking out 10 batters to set a postseason record for the Rangers. He spread out five hits over seven innings and used only 104 pitches to complete his masterpiece today. The only run he allowed came on a Ben Zobrist home run in the seventh inning when the game was essentially out of reach for the Rays.

      David Price’s day didn’t go as well. He surrended five runs (four earned) over 6 2.3 innings, including two in the second. He also gave up a dinger to Nelson Cruz on a 3-0 pitch and had trouble with his off-speed stuff for most of the afternoon. Texas isn’t the lineup you want to face when you can only rely on your fastball.

      The other hero for the Rangers was an unlikely one, as catcher Bengie Molina finished 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBI. Jeff Francouer gave the Rangers a 1-0 lead with an RBI double in the second inning and Molina followed the near home run with a single to right. He added his home run in the fourth to give the Rangers a 4-0 lead.

      Game 2 will be held tomorrow afternoon at 2:37PM ET, as C.J. Wilson will take the hill against Tampa’s James Shields.

      External Sports, MLB

      The Giants made the right decision regarding Barry Zito

      October 5, 2010 /
      San Francisco Giants Barry Zito pitches in the first inning against the San Diego Padres at AT&T Park in San Francisco on October 2, 2010. Zito walked in two runs in the first and took the loss in the 4-2 game. UPI/Terry Schmitt...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... Photo via Newscom

      Despite the fact that he hasn’t lived up to his ridiculous contract, Barry Zito is a good dude. He’s a consummate professional, he never complains and he does more for charity than people outside of San Francisco realize.

      He’s also been a brutal pitcher of late, which is why the Giants decided that he won’t start during the NLDS against the Braves this weekend.

      Zito has more postseason experience than Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain and Jonathan Sanchez (the three pitchers who will start for the Giants vs. Atlanta) combined. He also has a 6.06 ERA over his last seven regular season starts, which is why he’ll take a backseat to 21-year-old rookie Madison Bumgarner if the Giants need a fourth starter in their opening series.

      It’s a bad break for a veteran like Zito, but in the end he only has himself to blame. Baseball, just like any other sport or profession for that matter, is a production-based business. And Zito’s production of late has been slightly above garbage. He had an opportunity to right the ship last Saturday when the Giants needed one more win to clinch the NL West, but he lasted only three innings against a San Diego club that wound up taking San Fran to the brink before collapsing on Sunday.

      Bruce Bochy has a tough job figuring out whom he wants on his 25-man roster for the postseason, but he made the correct choice in sitting Zito. And knowing the 32-year-old lefty, he’ll be the first one rooting his teammates on when the NLDS kicks off on Thursday.

      External Sports, MLB

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