Cardinals go from 11 Games Out to 11 World Series Rings

At the end of August, the St. Louis Cardinals seemed to be out of the playoff race and off to a disappointing season.  They were trailing the Wild Card leading Braves by 10.5 games.  Making the playoffs, let alone winning a world championship seemed improbable.  Friday night, they would complete the miracle.

The Cardinals defeated the Texas Rangers in game 7 by a score of 6-2 to capture their 11th World Series title.  Their 11th title is second to the Yankees, with 27, for most World Series championships in baseball history.  The Cards came back from being down three games to two and being just one strike away from defeat.  Coming from behind did not faze the fighting Cards one bit.  From being 10.5 games out of the playoffs to being a strike away from losing the World Series, the Cardinals did the unthinkable to end it by winning a ring.  This was the Cardinals second championship within the last 5 years after they won in 2006 over the Tigers.

After trailing 2-0 in the first, the Cardinals did exactly what they have done best...comeback.  They would score two in the bottom of the first.  Allen Craig would hit the tie-breaking home run in the third and they would never look back.  They would score a couple more to win the game by a score of 6-2 and win the series in the deciding 7th game.  Ace Chris Carpenter threw a gem as he went six innings and only gave up two runs and getting his second win of the series.  David Freese turned out to be the World Series MVP as he had a remarkable series going as he went 8 for 23 with a home run and 7 RBI. It was quite the series for youngster and hometown boy Freese.

The Cardinals ended a remarkable season with their 11th World Series trophy.  Hall of Fame manager Tony LaRussa's team battled perseverance and a large deficit to make the playoffs.  They would then defeat the best team in baseball in the Phillies in five games.  They would then go on and beat their division rival Brewers in six games.  As if that were not enough, they would come back from being down three games to two and a strike away from going home to win the remarkable game six with multiple rallies and then rally to win game seven as one.

The 2011 Cardinals were a never say die team and stories like this in sports are truly remarkable and remind us all why.....you gotta love the game.

Ball Game Over. Series Over. Season Over.

Pitching wins championships.  The Bronx Bombers have had the bats going for them all year long but fatigue becomes a factor in October as well as players breaking down in clutch situations.  The New York Yankees did just that.  The Tigers defeated the Yankees Thursday night at Yankee Stadium in game five by a score of 3-2 to advance to the American League Championship Series.

The Yankees had ample chances in game five to win the game.  The problem is that they lacked the clutch and timely hits they needed from guys who are getting paid big bucks to get those hits.  In the bottom of the 4th with only 1 out and the bases loaded, the Yanks failed to get a run in.  In the bottom of the 7th they left the bases loaded after only scoring one run off a walk.  The most expensive player in all of sports struck out in yet another clutch situation.  Nick Swisher who also has struggled in October struck out to end the inning following Mark Teixeira's walk to score a run.  The Yankees complied 10 hits together, but none of them in a timely manner to get another run on the board.

This was 27 year old Tigers pitcher Doug Fister's biggest game since he joined the majors in 2009.  He pitched an absolute gem in his 5 innings only giving up a solo home run to Robinson Cano.  Both teams used all the pitching they could Thursday night going through multiple pitchers and putting everything on the line to try and advance.  The Tigers bullpen did the job and finally got the Tigers into the ALCS.  Since 1988, the Tigers have made the playoffs only one other time in 2006 when they made it to the World Series but lost to the Cardinals.

It has been 27 years since the Tigers have won the World Series.  Could this be the year they finally win it again?  They have got the pitching that can get them there.  The Tigers will face the Rangers Saturday in Texas to start the ALCS.  They will try and defeat the defending American League Champs and prove to a star studded Yankees team that good pitching will always go further than a good lineup.

Yankees Take Risk and Force a Game 5

Tuesday night, the Yankees took a monumental risk in starting 80 million dollar man AJ Burnett.  Burnett had struggled during the season and has struggled on the road in the playoffs throughout his career.  Nobody would have known after watching game 4.  Burnett pitched a great game going 5 and 2/3 innings pitched and only giving up one run and getting the victory as the Yankees manhandled the Tigers in Detroit 10-1.

AJ Burnett won the one game he needed to forget any of what he has done in the past.  Burnett gave up just one run walked four and struck out three and only allowed four hits.  It was not dominant, but it was just what the Yankees needed to force a game five.  Burnett has outfielder Curtis Granderson to thank as Granderson saved three runs from scoring in the first.  With the bases loaded, Don Kelly hit a line drive to center field and Granderson made an unbelievable leaping catch.  He would make another catch later in the game that would save some runs from scoring as well.

The Yankees banged out 13 hits and 10 runs showing what they do best.  Their offense is what carries them as that was clearly seen Tuesday night.  They strung together a lot of timely base hits driving in runs as they would cap it off with a 6 run 8th inning that would make the game out of reach.  They knew what they needed to do and the Yankees did just that. They forced a game five.

Game five will be Thursday night as Doug Fister faces Ivan Nova at Yankee Stadium.  Nova pitched a masterful game one beating Fister as he hopes to do again in front of the home crowd.  The Tigers will have a second chance to send the Yankees home packing.  Can the Tigers finally beat the Yankees in the playoffs? Can they stop the powerful lineup of the Bronx Bombers? Thursday night at 8:00, we will get the answer.

October Has Arrived

October is here which only means one thing...playoff baseball. After a crazy ending to the season, the playoffs have begun.  In the American League, the AL East Champion Yankees have home field as they face the AL Central Champion Tigers.  The AL West Champion Rangers are home against the surprising AL Wild Card Champion Rays.

In the National League, the NL East Champion Phillies have home field as they play the NL Wild Card Champion Cardinals. The NL Central Champion Brewers are home as they face the NL West Champion Diamondbacks.

Let me give my preview of the playoffs and my predictions.

In the American League, I see the Yankees Tigers series being a very close series.  The Yankees had an unbelievable season with a lineup that will scare any opposing pitcher.  The problem is that their starting pitching is somewhat suspect.  After former Cy Young winner C.C. Sabthia, they are starting rookie Ivan Nova, followed by veteran Freddie Garcia.  Nova did have a great season going an astonishing 16-4 with a 3.7 ERA.  The problem is starting a rookie pitcher in the playoffs does not always turn out good.  Garcia did not have a bad season by any means going 12-8 with a 3.62 ERA.  What the Yankees are going to need is some good pitching throughout the playoffs.  The good thing is that they still have that lineup and it is rested and healthy now.  I believe their powerful lineup will get them past the Tigers, but I believe it will take five games to do it.

In the other American League matchup the Rangers face the Rays.  The Rays are a team coming into the playoffs as one of the hotter teams in the league and feeding off a thrilling comeback to win the wild card after trailing by nine games coming into September.  That reason alone makes me believe they will surprise the Rangers.  Great young pitching, a solid lineup, and an inspired team have me picking the Rays to beat the Rangers in four games and have Tropicana Field rocking once again.

In the National League, I have got to go with the Phillies over the Cardinals.  The Phillies have been just too good this season.  When you have a starting pitching rotation of Halladay, Lee, Hamels, and Oswalt, it is hard to lose in a short series. For that reason, I am picking the Phillies to advance in four games.
In the other National League matchup it is a tough pick and also a fun series to watch.  The Brewers and Diamondbacks had unbelievable seasons.  I know I did not see either of these teams....well at least the Diamondbacks doing what they did this season.  Arizona has a very young team that exceeded everyones expectations this year going 94-68 led by the young starting pitching of Ian Kennedy going a remarkable 21-4 this season.  With that being said, I believe the Brewers offense lead by Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder and starting pitching of Yovani Gallardo and Zach Greinke and just a little more postseason experience will get them by the Diamondbacks in five games.

In the end, I see the Phillies beating the Yankees in the World series in seven games.  The Phillies have been dominant all season and I see their dominant starting pitching continue to win through the playoffs as they get revenge against the Yankees from 2009 and take it in 7 games closing it out at home in Philadelphia.