Reyes 1 for 1, wins NL batting title (AP)

post from MLB News Blog on 28 September 2011 11:46:33 PM. © MLB News Blog

Jose Reyes heard the boos when he was lifted for a pinch runner. Mets fans wanted to see more. At least another at-bat or two. At least another season or two. It was an afternoon of mixed emotions for the effervescent shortstop in what could have been his last game in a New York Mets [...]

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Yankees Set to Face Tigers in ALDS

post from Bronx Baseball Daily » Bronx Baseball Daily, a New York Yankees blog on 28 September 2011 11:31:03 PM. © Bronx Baseball Daily » Bronx Baseball Daily, a New York Yankees blog

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Rangers clinch homefield in ALDS (AP)

post from MLB News Blog on 28 September 2011 11:04:37 PM. © MLB News Blog

Mike Napoli broke a tie in the ninth inning with his fourth homer in two games, and the Texas Rangers finally clinched home-field advantage in the AL division series with a 3-1 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday night. Napoli, the longtime Angels catcher, also homered in the second inning as the Rangers [...]

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Giants' Dissapointing 2011 Comes to End

post from The Giants Baseball Blog- A San Francisco Giants Blog and Fan Website on 28 September 2011 11:01:20 PM. © The Giants Baseball Blog- A San Francisco Giants Blog and Fan Website

They managed to stay in it up until the final week, but overall, I don't think any person linked to the Giants, whether it be a fan or player, who would tell you they were satisfied with how the 2011 campaign went following the teams first World Championship.

They had a commanding lead in this division at the all-star break, and it looked like they were all but certain to return to October play and get to defend their championship, even having lost 2 key players in Buster Posey and Freddy Sanchez. They made a couple of additions before the deadline, and all the sudden, the team tanked. I don't know what exactly went wrong in the final two months, but I don't believe it was a chemistry issue. What I think happened to this team, is that they just hit a wall. After that big run last year, and everything that happened this season, I think the first half took a lot out of them, and players who were having bad years seemed to be getting worse. They never really had a ton of offense all year, but when they were winning, they were getting the clutch hit, and playing tremendous defense behind their rock solid pitching staff, but there's only so long that formula will work with a sub-par offense. After everybody got healthy and the infusion of youngsters like Brett Pill and Brandon Belt allowed tired vets to rest a bit, we saw some life in this team. Beltran showed what he could do when healthy as he finished the season on a tear, but I just don't see the Giants throwing big money at him after the way they finished the season. Had they made the playoffs, it would have been a much more likely scenario, but I believe we've seen the last of Beltran in the Orange and Black. Just hoping the trading of Zach Wheeler doesn't come back to bite this team too badly in the end.

They did finish the year with a loss, but it came in a series win over Colorado, so it was good at least to see the team fighting even though they were out of it. I still don't know why Bochy was intent to keep trotting Torres out to center field and place him in the leadoff spot when there were other younger options available, but I really don't know why he put Torres back there in the first place when Cody Ross got hurt. Why this team was playing any veteran besides Carlos Beltran and Pablo Sandoval regularly was beyond me, but Bochy still managed to get some young players like Connor Gillaspie and Brett Pill some long looks, both of whom I see very much in the roster mix heading into 2012. However, on the mound, Eric Surkamp finished the year of in less than spectacular fashion after his quality two-start debut in the bigs, and I no longer pick him as the favorite for the #5 rotation spot next spring, and this team will either need Jonathan Sanchez to return to form, or go grab another starter in free agency, cause they don't have a bunch of depth there that is ML ready right now. We'll be breaking down the season in a much more specific basis in the next few posts before we get ready to dip into the offseason and explore on what the Giants can and will do to improve themselves. Just wanted to get up one last post for the 2011 regular season, a year that can't be labeled as anything other than an all-around disappointment for San Francisco.

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-end.html

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Braves vs. Phillies: Open Thread #3

post from Talking Chop on 28 September 2011 11:01:18 PM. © Talking Chop

Win this Braves. Please.

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Carpenter keeps Cards tied for wild card (AP)

post from MLB News Blog on 28 September 2011 11:00:34 PM. © MLB News Blog

Chris Carpenter and the St. Louis Cardinals earned at least a tie for the NL wild card, beating the Houston Astros 8-0 on Wednesday night. The Cardinals and Atlanta began the day even in the wild card race. When St. Louis finished, the Braves were tied with Philadelphia in extra innings. If the Cardinals and [...]

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Tigers to open playoffs at New York (AP)

post from MLB News Blog on 28 September 2011 10:56:30 PM. © MLB News Blog

Miguel Cabrera singled and doubled, all but wrapping up the American League batting title, and Jhonny Peralta hit a tiebreaking homer in the eighth inning to help the Detroit Tigers beat the Cleveland Indians 5-4 on Wednesday night. Cabrera entered the day hitting .343, five points ahead of Michael Young of Texas and Adrian Gonzalez [...]

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One-Game Playoffs

post from Baseball In-Depth on 28 September 2011 10:37:00 PM. © Baseball In-Depth

One Game Playoff Games since 1995 (winners in bold)
1995 AL West: Angels @ Mariners (9-1)
1998 NL Wild Card: Giants @ Cubs (5-3)
1999 NL Wild Card: Mets (5-0) @ Reds
2007 NL West: Padres @ Rockies (9-8; 13 inn)
2008 AL Central: Twins @ White Sox (1-0)
2009 AL Central: Tigers @ Twins (6-5; 12 inn)

As of right now, there still could be two one game playoffs (Braves need to win in extra innings; Red Sox and Rays still playing), which would be a first (Rays and Cardinals would host if the games are played). The Braves have an extremely difficult game ahead of them in St. Louis if they should force it. Both teams will be under extreme pressure, but it will be like playing game 7 of the World Series (or the LCS) on the road, which teams almost never win.

To be fair, the last three, which have all been won by the home team, have all been one run games and two have gone to extra innings. They tend to be close, but it will be an uphill battle for the Braves or Red Sox if the games are played.

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Game 162 Overflow Thread

Game 162 Overflow Thread

Pitcher's Duel

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http://www.royalsreview.com/2011/9/28/2456914/game-162-overflow-thread

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Alex Rodriguez Scratched Before Final Game

post from Bronx Baseball Daily » Bronx Baseball Daily, a New York Yankees blog on 28 September 2011 09:53:36 PM. © Bronx Baseball Daily » Bronx Baseball Daily, a New York Yankees blog