Category: MLB (Page 76 of 448)

      2010 MLB Postseason Schedule

      October 4, 2010 /
      Philadelphia Phillies Roy Halladay (L) and Jayson Werth celebrate clinching their division championship after beating the Washington Nationals in their MLB National League baseball game in Washington September 27, 2010. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BASEBALL)

      It took the full 162 games to decide things in the NL West, but now that the Giants have finally knocked off the Padres, we now know the matchups in the first round of the 2010 MLB playoffs.

      Here’s a complete schedule for both the NLDS and ALDS.

      American League Division Series

      Rangers vs. Rays
      Game 1: Rangers at. Rays, Wednesday, October 6 (TBS, 1:37PM ET)
      Game 2: Rangers at. Rays, Thursday, October 7 (TBS, 2:37PM ET)
      Game 3: Rays at. Rangers, Saturday, October 9 (TBS, 6:07PM ET)
      Game 4: Rays at. Rangers Sunday, October 10 (TBS, TBA)
      *Game 5: Rangers at. Rays, Tuesday, October 12 (TBS, TBA)

      Yankees vs. Twins
      Game 1: Yankees at. Twins, Wednesday, October 6 (TBS, 8:37PM ET)
      Game 2: Yankees at. Twins, Thursday, October 7 (TBS, 6:07PM ET)
      Game 3: Twins at. Yankees, Saturday, October 9 (TBS, 8:37PM ET)
      Game 4: Twins at. Yankees, Sunday, October 10 (TBS, TBA)
      *Game 5: Yankees at. Twins, Tuesday, October 12 (TBS, TBA)

      National League Division Series

      Reds vs. Phillies
      Game 1: Reds at. Phillies, Wednesday, October 6, (TBS, 5:07PM ET)
      Game 2: Reds at. Phillies, Friday, October 8, (TBS, 6:07PM ET)
      Game 3: Phillies at. Reds, Sunday, October 10 (TBS, TBA)
      Game 4: Phillies at. Reds, Monday, October 11 (TBS, TBA)
      *Game 5: Reds at. Phillies, Wednesday, October 13 (TBS, TBA)

      Braves vs. Giants
      Game 1: Braves at. Giants, Thursday, October 7 (TBS 9:37PM ET)
      Game 2: Braves at. Giants , Friday, October 8 (TBS, 9:37PM ET)
      Game 3: Giants at. Braves, Sunday, October 10 (TBS, TBA)
      Game 4: Giants at. Braves, Monday, October 11 (TBS , TBA)
      *Game 5: Braves at. Giants, Wednesday, October 13 (TBS, TBA)

      * – If Necessary

      Outside of the Yankees, who have struggled of late, the pitching staffs for all of these teams are solid and thus, I don’t see any sweeps in the first round. Anything could happen of course, but pitching is the key this time of year because the bats tend to shrink.

      Should be an exciting first round.

      External Sports, MLB

      Jonathan Sanchez saves Giants, who reach postseason for first time since ‘04

      October 3, 2010 /
      San Francisco Giants Freddy Sanchez reacts after scoring a run against the San Diego Padres during the third inning of their MLB National League baseball game in San Francisco, California October 3, 2010. REUTERS/Robert Galbraith (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BASEBALL)

      In the end, the Giants’ most inconsistent starter over the past couple of years was the one who saved their season.

      Jonathan Sanchez lasted only five innings on Sunday, but he held the Padres to no runs on three hits as the Giants shutout San Diego 3-0 to win the NL West. Sanchez also sparked what had been a lifeless offense the past two days by roping a triple in the third inning off Mat Latos and scoring on a Freddy Sanchez (photo) single two batters later. Aubrey Huff doubled home Sanchez to give the Giants a 2-0 lead, while rookie Buster Posey homered in the 8th to cap the scoring.

      The Giants have been waiting a long time for the talented Sanchez to put it all together and they were rewarded for their patience. He was nearly traded several times over the past two years, but credit GM Brian Sabean for knowing what he had and not selling low. He finished the year 13-9 with a 3.07 ERA and obviously saved his best performance for last.

      It’s kind of amazing that the hero wound up being Sanchez and not Tim Lincecum or Matt Cain. That’s not a knock on Sanchez, but I’m sure many Giant fans thought it would have been Cain that won the deciding game on Friday night and not Sanchez on the final day of the season. And heading into today, I’m sure there were plenty of fans that thought Lincecum would have to save the season in a one-game playoff with San Diego on Monday. But Sanchez truly bailed the Giants out after Cain and Barry Zito were hit hard in their respective starts the past two days.

      The Giants will now face the Braves next Thursday in San Francisco, while the Phillies host the Reds starting on Wednesday. General baseball fans may not be thrilled with the match ups, but it’s great to have new teams like the Reds and Giants completing in the postseason. Three of these four teams have great fan bases (sorry Atlanta fans, but on a whole you’ve proven that you don’t give a crap) and the energy in Cincinnati and San Francisco right now is fantastic.

      This is, without a doubt, the best time of year in sports. Football and playoff baseball? Outstanding.

      External Sports, MLB

      Good to see Barry Zito is still earning his paycheck

      October 2, 2010 /
      San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Barry Zito reacts after walking home a run against the San Diego Padres during the first inning of their MLB baseball game in San Francisco, California October 2, 2010. REUTERS/Robert Galbraith (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BASEBALL)

      Barry Zito’s contract continues to be the biggest rip-off in sports history.

      Since arriving from Oakland and taking $126 million of the Giants’ money, the only thing Zito has done is strum a few notes on his guitar and lose ballgames.

      After Matt Cain got his teeth kicked in by the Padres last night, it would have been nice if Zito stepped up for a change and won a huge game for his club. Instead, he allowed four runs (three earned) over three measly innings of work as the Giants once again fell to the Padres in San Fran. It wasn’t entirely his fault of course, as the Giants’ offense has reverted back to the Jose Castillo days, but he put his team down 2-0 in the first and sucked the life out of them.

      In case you haven’t been paying attention, that means San Diego is now just one game behind the Giants in the NL West. These were the same Padres that couldn’t score a run against the Cubs two days ago and looked completely hopeless. But square them off against the Giants and all of a sudden they’re the 2009 New York Yankees.

      If I sound like a bitter Giants fan, it’s because I am. Did I expect Zito to win today? No. But again, considering he’s done nothing for that team on the field, I was holding out hope that maybe he’d surprise me. I was holding out hope that he could put it all together, overcome all the struggles he’s had in San Francisco and just rise to the top one time. Just one time.

      But no. In the end, he was Barry Zito.

      If the Giants somehow overcome the greatest team in baseball history and magically make the playoffs, here’s hoping Madison Bumgarner makes the starting rotation and not this John Mayer wanna be.

      Giants Baseball: Torture.

      External Sports, MLB

      Mikey’s MLB power rankings

      October 2, 2010 /

      The regular season is almost over, and we have an almost anti-climatic AL East race going on, with just playoff positioning to determine. In the NL, the Phillies and Reds are in but the Giants, Padres and Braves are battling for the final two spots. The Rockies sure flamed out fast, didn’t they? I guess this will be our final power rankings for the year, and it’s time to focus on our NFL MVP, Coach of Year and Rookie of Year power rankings. Thanks for reading, folks and enjoy the playoffs!

      1. Philadelphia Phillies (96-64)—As a Mets fan, it pains me to say this, but I can’t see anyone beating these guys at this point. They had their rough patch the first half of the season when the Braves and Mets battled for first place and they sat back and watched, but here they are.

      2. Tampa Bay Rays (94-66)—It’s going to be a photo finish in the AL East.

      3. New York Yankees (94-65)—I feel like NY will wind up with the wild card, and they may want it that way so they can face Minnesota instead of Texas, if only to avoid Cliff Lee.

      4. Minnesota Twins (93-67)—One win this past week, but it doesn’t even matter having clinched a while ago.

      5. San Francisco Giants (91-69)—No champagne yet, guys. But this team is looking mighty strong heading into the postseason. However, like I said, no champagne…

      6. Atlanta Braves (90-70)—Tough luck drawing the Phillies this weekend, and their lead in the wild card is just one game over San Diego. At least we have some tight races to look forward to in the NL.

      7. San Diego Padres (89-71)—A good thing they didn’t trade Adrian Gonzalez. Wow, what a shame it would be for these guys to miss the postseason at this point, but it might happen. Then again, see Giants above….and don’t count the Braves out from collapsing either.

      8. Cincinnati Reds (89-71)—They could be dangerous this month because of three words. Joey Freaking Votto.

      9. Texas Rangers (89-71)—Cliff Lee and that Murderer’s Row lineup could make noise too, but I’m not banking on it.

      10. Boston Red Sox (87-72)—Tough division, but it’s likely the Sox will finish with a worse record than any of the 8 playoff teams.

      External Sports, MLB

      Jerry Manuel, Omar Minaya will not return to Mets in 2011

      October 1, 2010 /
      July 10, 2010 - Flushing, N.Y, United States of America - 10 July, 2010: New York Mets coach Jerry Manuel exits the dugouts during batting practice before MLB action as the Braves defeat the Mets 4-0 at Citi Field in Flushing, N.Y.

      In news that will surprise only newborn babies and people who have been trapped in an underground cave for the past 12 months, Jon Heyman of SI.com is reporting that Mets’ manager Jerry Manuel and GM Omar Minaya will not return to the club next season.

      The Mets are planning to go outside the organization for the GM position and are thought to be considering several people, including former Diamondbacks GM Josh Byrnes, White Sox assistant GM Rick Hahn and former A’s GM Sandy Alderson. Rangers GM Jon Daniels, a Bayside, Queens product, could be an intriguing option as he has an “out” in his Texas contract, but the new Rangers ownership group led by Chuck Greenberg has made it clear they want to retain him. Respected assistant GM John Ricco is expected to stay in his current role, but is said by people to fully understand the intention to go outside the organization for the GM position following a second straight losing season. The Mets are 77-82, an improvement from their 70-92 mark a year ago, but not enough to satisfy the club-owning Wilpons. They have missed the playoffs four straight seasons.

      According to Heyman, the Mets may retain Minaya as a scout, which may or may not be a good thing. If someone has a skill, teams would be wise to retain that skill. But assuming he is relieved of his general manager duties, how would that work with him taking a lesser role? It would be like Michael Scott losing his branch manager position at Dunder Mifflin and returning to sales. Sure it could work, but would that create the best environment for all parties involved?

      I also doubt the new GM would want Minaya hanging around, so maybe the best thing for the Mets would be if he just moved on. It’s been a tumultuous few years in New York and everyone needs a fresh start.

      External Sports, MLB

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