Happy Birthday Dave Winfield!!!

post from 30-Year Old Cardboard on 03 October 2010 09:43:05 AM. © 30-Year Old Cardboard

Dave Winfield turns 59 years old today! And if you’re a baseball fan, you have no doubt caught Winfield on ESPN’s Baseball Tonight program. Winfield looks great for his age and appears to still be in very good shape. It’s … Continue reading →

Read The Full Article:
http://bapple2286.wordpress.com/2010/10/03/happy-birthday-dave-winfield-3/

Add to del.icio.us

Digg this

Post to Furl

Add to reddit

Add to myYahoo!

Last game of the year decides everything

post from lenNY's Yankees - A Bronx Bombers Blog on 03 October 2010 09:03:25 AM. © lenNY's Yankees - A Bronx Bombers Blog

If the Yankees had swept the doubleheader yesterday, today?s game wouldn?t have mattered. But a walk-off win by the Red Sox (also known as the PawSox) made the 162nd game of the season matter. Dustin Moseley and the Yankees will face John Lackey[...]

Read The Full Article:
http://www.lennysyankees.com/2010/10/last-game-of-year-decides-everything.html

Digg this

Yankees Lose, Rays Now Control AL East's Destiny

post from Sliding Into Home: A Yankees Blog on 03 October 2010 09:02:24 AM. © Sliding Into Home: A Yankees Blog

Let's stick with the first game's format - short and sweet for an otherwise depressing reality check.

The Good
This is sort of grasping at straws ... but the offense allowed Matuszaka to dig his own grave in the early innings. One of my biggest complaints of late had been the offense's lack of patience, and seeming inability to lay off of pitches in the dirt. Against Matsuzaka, they were willing to walk around the bases and not get themselves out - this is, in my mind, a sign of the Yankees offense working.

The Bad
1 for 16 with runners in scoring position. Seriously.

The Ugly
The Yankees defense was caught sleeping, leading to a couple of runs. Burnett, apparently caught dumbfounded, allowed a runner to score and another to advance to third on a bang-bang play at first base, where the umpire lagged in making an out or safe call. There were other defensive mishaps - dropped pop-ups, outfielders running into each other, and poor positioning - that led to baserunners, as well. While the pitching was far from stellar, it's never a good idea to give a team extra outs - even if they're trotting out their 'b' lineup.

In order to win the AL East, the Yankees need a win, while the Rays need to lose. I'm content with the Wild Card, but I cannot feel that these lost opportunities will end up being the story of the Yankees 2010 season. Here's hoping this team can snap into postseason form - and fast.

BOX - WRAP

Read The Full Article:
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SlidingIntoHome/~3/MVeZIbe9bZ0/yankees-lose-rays-n
ow-control-al-easts.html

Digg this

And Then There Was One...Game

post from The Crawfish Boxes on 03 October 2010 08:01:45 AM. © The Crawfish Boxes

More photos » Pat Sullivan - AP

about 10 hours ago: Houston Astros starting pitcher J.A. Happ licks his fingers after giving up a hit in the second inning against the Chicago Cubs in a baseball game Saturday, Oct. 2, 2010 in Houston. Happ left the game in the fourth inning after giving up eight runs and eight hits. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan)

Browse more photos »

This is it. Game 162. After today, there will be no more Astros baseball until next April. It's always a sad day, especially since there hasn't been a playoff chase to keep us occupied. But, the game does march on. We'll be providing a lot of analysis and feedback on the season that is closing down after this game, but that will be spread out over the next couple of weeks. What I want to touch on this morning is your favorite memories from the 2010 season. When you look back on all the games they've played, is there one that sticks out in your mind? Will the season be forever defined by the trades of Lance Berkman and Roy Oswalt, or did the Philadelphia series have enough meaning for you to be your first recollection?

For me, it was the game I went to in St. Louis back in April. Yeah, it was a loss during a time when the Astros were playing some of their worst baseball in years. But, I got to see Brett Myers begin to come into his own as a top-flight pitcher for Houston. I got to see a game at Busch Stadium and I got to see one heck of a pitcher's duel. It was a loss, sure (I would have been better served going to the next day's game), but I had a lot of fun seeing these guys in person in a city other than Houston.

How about you? It's okay to share bad memories too...sometimes, the easiest way to forget is to talk it out in a public setting. We won't let those San Francisco Giants beat up on you any more, we promise.

Read The Full Article:
http://www.crawfishboxes.com/2010/10/3/1727358/and-then-there-was-one-game

Digg this

Cubs Crush Happ, Astros Fall Into Fourth Place
Tie

post from The Crawfish Boxes on 03 October 2010 06:02:40 AM. © The Crawfish Boxes

More photos » Pat Sullivan - AP

about 7 hours ago: Houston Astros starting pitcher J.A. Happ licks his fingers after giving up a hit in the second inning against the Chicago Cubs in a baseball game Saturday, Oct. 2, 2010 in Houston. Happ left the game in the fourth inning after giving up eight runs and eight hits. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan)

Browse more photos »

There goes that 77-win prediction that clack, Stephen, myself, and Zachary Levine all offered up for ridicule. Laugh away. The Astros continued their limp toward the finish line, now having lost three consecutive games. This one was largely due to a catastrophic start by J.A. Happ, who, erm, ended his season with a bang.

Happ's eight-run performance took the Astros out of the game before they reached the halfway mark. He gave out five walks to the Cubs, four of them in the first two innings, a period in which he also gave up four runs.

To be fair, the subsequent four-run fourth inning which knocked him out of the game wasn't entirely his fault. In that inning, the first batter reached on a throwing error by Chris Johnson, who pulled Brett Wallace off the bag with an inaccurate bullet. The next batter hit a swinging bunt out in front of Jason Castro, into no-man's land where neither he nor Happ were able to pick it cleanly, and the hitter reached on an infield hit. The third batter hit a high pop fly which barely dropped in for a hit in front of Brian Bogusevic (playing center field).

You'll notice I've not mentioned any of these batters' names--none of them did anything worthy of praise that inning, aside from putting the ball in play. The fourth (and Happ's final) batter, however--Aramis Ramirez--followed them with a grand slam into the Crawford Boxes.

Oops.

That comedy of errors wasn't exactly what I'd hoped to see when I went to the ballgame, but at least I got a foul ball. And a Biggio bobblehead.

Being at the ballgame, I had the advantage of being able to watch Brian Bogusevic closely in center field. I came away impressed by his range. Bourn might have caught that pop fly which dropped in for a hit, but Bourn is one of the best defensive outfielders in baseball; Bogusevic didn't get to it in bad shape, and almost made the catch. Later in the game, he caught a deep drive to center field, not getting a great jump but making the catch nonetheless. He seems to have the range to play the position at an average level, and his instincts would likely improve with more regular playing time. Watching him play out there caused me to revise my estimate of his defensive position, and I begin to wonder whether--between Bogusevic, Shuck, Austin, and others--a trade of Michael Bourn might be in the cards sometime in the next year or two, pending their performances in the meantime.

Other positives in the otherwise yawn-inducing game included excellent performances out of the bullpen by Henry Villar (two scoreless innings) and Felipe Paulino (two scoreless innings, four strikeouts), who both ended their seasons strong, if those were indeed their last appearances of the year. Brett Wallace also hit a big two-run double, a well-struck gapper the opposite way off Zambrano, who was up until that point lights out against a young Astros lineup. Wallace is on a hitting streak, and has ended his mostly-acrid MLB debut on at very least a bittersweet note.

Tomorrow, Nelson Figueroa takes the mound to relieve Wandy Rodriguez's ailing back. Magic Wandy's season is done; it wasn't quite magic, but it was solid, and you have to feel good about him going into next year. Figgy will try to prevent the Astros from being swept at home to end the season. Sunday's game will also decide whether the Astros finish the season in fourth place, ahead of the Cubbies, or one game behind them, in fifth place.

Would you rather have the higher draft pick? Ask me again next June, and I'll probably say yes. Right now, I just want to beat the stinkin' Cubs.

Read The Full Article:
http://www.crawfishboxes.com/2010/10/3/1727424/cubs-crush-happ-astros-fall-into-f
ourth-place-tie

Digg this

The Shot Heard Round The World

post from 30-Year Old Cardboard on 03 October 2010 06:00:58 AM. © 30-Year Old Cardboard

“The Shot Heard ‘Round The World” On this day in 1951, a baseball moment transpired that would be considered one of the greatest game-changing home runs of all-time. And now, more than 50 years later, the replays and stories told … Continue reading →

Read The Full Article:
http://bapple2286.wordpress.com/2010/10/03/the-shot-heard-round-the-world/

Digg this

Fish Wrap - Marlins 2, Pirates 0

post from FishStripes on 03 October 2010 04:01:54 AM. © FishStripes

More photos » Jeffrey Boan - AP

This picture captures a part of Ozzie's very weird single in the eighth. (AP Photo/Jeffrey M. Boan)

Browse more photos »

With the Marlins trying to avoid sending Alex Sanabia to Birmingham to play for Dr. Andrews team, they went with a start by committee by the bullpen. They did not disappoint.

Jorge Sosa was first up and went four innings of 5 hits, 2 walks ball. Sosa put runners on all over the place, but was able to escape every time. And that is all you can ask.

Pirates starter Charlie Morgan may have thrown his best start of the season going 6 innings, allowing only 4 hits and striking out a career high 9 batters. But it would be to no avail.

In the fourth, the Marlins put all the runs on the board that would be scored in the game. Ozzie Martinez led off with a single to left. Logan Morrison followed with a double to move Ozzie to third. With one out Gaby walked to load the bases. Mike Stanton hit an unbelievable seeing eye chopper that went over Pedro Alvarez's glove and hung up long enough that short stop Ronny Cedeno didn't have a play to drive in Ozzie. It is about time a break went our way. Chad Tracy hit a sac fly to left to score LoMo. 2-0 Marlins.

That would end the scoring.

The tag team effort of Brian Sanches, Jose Veras, Leo Nunez and Clay Hensley kept the shutout in tack. While the first three cruised through their assignments, K-lay did not. In the ninth on for the save and with one out, Hensley walked John Bowker to bring the trying run to the plate. To make matters worse, he allowed a hit to Delwyn Young to place runners on first and second with two outs. Bringing the go-ahead run to the plate. Then he uncorked a wild pitch to let both of the tying runs move into scoring position. Fortunately, he struck out Ryan Doumit to preserve the lead and the win for the Marlins.

Of course, most of you didn't see any of this thanks to FSFL carrying college football.

The Marlins need to win the final game of the season to secure a winning record at home.

Read The Full Article:
http://www.fishstripes.com/2010/10/3/1727401/fish-wrap-marlins-2-pirates-0

Digg this

Game 161: Lexis 5, Jays 4

The Twins' Alexi Casilla singles in the winning run in Game 163 in 2010.

That was fun. The potential impact of the victory is debatable, mostly based on your view of momentum, but there's no denying how satisfying it was to do that to a team that has treated the Twins as its [...]

Read The Full Article:
http://stickandballguy.com/blog/2010/10/03/game-162-lexis-5-jays-4/

Digg this

Yankees drop into tie for AL East lead (AP)

Eric Patterson singled home the winning run in the 10th inning, giving the Boston Red Sox a 7-6 victory Saturday night and a doubleheader split that dropped the New York Yankees into a first-place tie in the AL East. New York and Tampa Bay are both 95-66 with one game remaining in the regular season.

Read The Full Article:
http://www.mlbnewsblog.com/2010/10/03/yankees-drop-into-tie-for-al-east-lead-ap/

Digg this

A Managerial Debut for the Ages

post from LADodgerTalk.com - Daily Dodger Talk, Dodger News and Dodger Rumors on 03 October 2010 02:02:15 AM. © LADodgerTalk.com - Daily Dodger Talk, Dodger News and Dodger Rumors

Read The Full Article:
http://www.ladodgertalk.com/2010/10/a-managerial-debut-for-the-ages/

Digg this