Still holding!! Still holding!!

Wow. What a complete mess. I love it. Suddenly a World Series with two smaller market teams that has been highlighted by low scoring games that no one was watching has our attention. Game 5 was fantastic. Seeing Pena go the other way in a monsoon with two outs was phenomenal.

The suspension was great. Suddenly we have a 3 and 1/2 inning game to decide the World Series. Everything is huge at this point. There is not getting into the flow of the game. The game is on the line once the players take the field tonight, or tomorrow, or sometime in early 09'. The story lines are great. Who is on the mound for each team? Who is up first for the Phils (Cole Hamels spot is due up first when play resumes)? Do the Rays go back to the David Price well? Will Brad Lidge enter in a tied game?

Unfortunately for the Phils, the suspension really favors the Rays. The basically get to play a 3 inning game without Cole Hamels for a chance to go back home. I know the Phils have a good pen, but Hamels is the dominant pitcher of this post-season. The most important thing for the Rays is going to be getting out of the bottom of the 6th without allowing any runs. If Philly should happen to push a run or two across in the 6th I think you will have the Santa booing, battery throwing, faithful starting to believe.

For the Rays the game plan is simple. Get 1 run and hope David Price still doesn't quite realize how big of a moment this is.
If the Rays can comeback and win game 5, I really like their chances to win it all.

And I have to say for as much slack as Bud Selig takes, granted he deserves a bunch of it, I really think he handled this about as well as could be expected.

I know the 2004 Red Sox. I watched the 2004 Red Sox. The 2004 Red Sox were a team I could cheer for. You sir are not the 2004 Red Sox.

Since we are up to our necks in the political season I thought the title of this entry was fitting. However, I promise you will get no political opinions here.

How bout them Rays!

Wow. This had all the makings of a Red Sox comeback.

1. The Red Sox have comeback from 3-1 and 3-0 deficits before.

2. Game 5 was an emotional 7-run comeback in the final three innings.

3. Former playoff superman Josh Beckett had been shalacked this year in the playoffs....until now. He went out and won game 6, in Tampa, where the Red Sox had only won 2 other times this year.

4. Current ace, Jon Lester, had the ball in the game 7 for the Sox. Lester looked absolutely unhittable for the first 3 innings.

5. Matt Garza, noted head case, gave up a lead off home run to 2008 MVP candidate Dustin Pedroia

6. Even the announcers started softening the blow in the early innings. "Even if Tampa loses its been a great season...." etc. etc.

Apparently the Rays weren't paying attention. They were able to grind out an impressive 3-1 win and move on to Fox's nightmare of a World Series: Rays vs Phillies.

* Side note - every time Rocco Baldelli is up the announcers talk about his mitochondrial disorder and for once in my life the only two things I consider myself knowledgeable on, science and baseball, meet.

Here's to you Tampa...Ummm St. Petersburg.... whatever. Congrats on the pennant, now bring one home for the American League.

We got ourselves a ball game

1. Finally, a series with some drama worth watching! This series has given us our first game 7, and there is really nothing better in baseball playoffs than game seven.

2. ABC Tampa, ABC. Always Be Closing. Seven outs, seven run lead. You never want to let the defending champ get up off the mat and have a few more rounds. Now the Rays face a Jon Lester in game 7 with something to prove.

3. Boston fans - please turn in your reputation for being hard core baseball fans. Any respect I had for Boston fans went out the window in game 5. And not for the reason you think. Sure 10,000 people left when the Sox were down 7-0 in the 7th. But what really got to me - Boston fans were booing Jason Varitek and David Ortiz. Really Boston?!? Look, there are certain people that should NEVER hear boos at their home stadium. For Boston - anyone who was on the 2004 team AND the 2007 team should be immune to home boos. I don't care if Varitek he hit 0.220 and didn't throw out a single runner all year. He is your Captain. And the Ortiz booing is just embarrassing. Here is your most clutch hitter in the playoffs the past 5 years. He is the face of your franchise. He is having a bad ALCS and the entire stadium turns on him. Wow. I guess when you win 2 WS in 3 years you get a bit spoiled.

Look Boston - if you want to boo Jason Bay, Pedroia, or Ellsbury - go ahead. At Wrigley they can boo whomever they like because no one on that field has broken the 100 year curse. They can boo A-rod at the stadium. But no way can you ever boo the following people in Fenway - Dave Roberts, Terry Francona, Curt Schilling, Josh Beckett, David Ortiz, Manny, Varitek, etc.

4. This pro-longed ALCS is going to be bad for Philly. It really hurt Colorado last year and Detroit the year before. Cole Hamels has that much more pressure to throw a gem in game 1 - because his teammates may be a bit flat.

ALCS game 4: Tim Wakefield doing his best Christmas tree impersonation

Currently the Rays lead the Sox 5-1 on 3 early home runs off the knuckler. I feel bad for Wakefield - he has been a very solid pitcher for his entire career and everyone is going to remember him for one moment Aaron "bleeping" Boone.

It looks like the dream World Series of Manny heading back into Fenway Park (along with Nomar and Lowe) for game 1 is becoming a pipe-dream. I hope Fox is getting ready for some sad ratings with a possible/probable Rays/Phils World Series.

Possible Rays and Phillies story lines

- Jamie Moyer is older than all of the Rays, and is actually Evan Longoria's father.

- Rays fans don't want to hear the belly-aching from the Phillies fans. You may not have won a World Series since 1980, we haven't won a World Series ever, and we have employed Jose Canseco.

ok I am struggling here. Either the Red Sox or the Dodgers need to make a trip to the WS.

Never saw it coming.

I'll admit it, I never thought the Rays would be in this position. I am not surprised the Rays won the east, beat the White Sox, or even salvaged a split in Tampa. I am shocked that the Rays beat the Red Sox 9-1 tonight, in Fenway, with John Lester on the mound. I keep waiting for the Rays to play like the young team who is just happy to be there. John Lester had been annoited this year's Josh Beckett, and I had bought into the hype. All day today I saw articles praising Theo Epstein's genius for not trading Lester for Johan Santana. I guess the Rays weren't reading the same articles.

Now the Red Sox are down 2 games to 1 with Tim Wakefield on the hill to save the season.

The best thing that can happen when you are losing 6-1

The playoffs are all about momentum. Last night the Phillies started game three of the NLCS with a 2 games to none lead over the Dodgers. Before Jamie Moyer could get out of the first inning the Dodgers had a 5-0 lead and all the momentum. The game was basically over, yet both teams had to play out the last 8 innings. Typically, a game like this would be a huge boost to the Dodgers while deflating the high flying Phils. However, Kuroda (the Dodgers starting pitcher) decided to buzz the tower of the 'Flyin' Hawaiian' Shane Victorino. It was not totally uncalled for: Russell Martin had already been drilled that night and Manny had his tower buzzed the game before. Even Victorino knew it was coming - complaining that the Dodgers throw at his body, not his head. These things are part of baseball. However in the case of last night, I think it was the worst thing the Dodgers could have done. Now all anyone is talking about is the incident. The Phillies are fired up. They were dead in the water about to face Derek Lowe in game 4 - it looked like a perfect scenario for the Dodgers to tie the series. Now who knows.

Aside - also when the benches cleared last night it was Manny who was front and center in the altercation. If he had thrown a punch or shoved someone - he may have been suspended. We would have had a similar situation to when Amare Staudameire and Boris Diaw were suspended for coming to the support of Steven Nash, who had just been cross checked into the scorers table by Robert Horry.

Bottom line - what may have been a bad win for the Dodgers is great for the fans.

The 2008 ALCS preview

I am hoping the terribly lame LDS will result in a memorable ALCS this fall.

The ALCS already has a few things working in its favor.

1. David vs Goliath. I know the Rays won the east. And the Rays made the White Sox look like the White Sox. But, if you are playing the defending champs in the playoffs - you are the underdog. Especially, if this is the first time in October there have been baseball games in the city of Tampa. Everyone wants to see Rocky knock out the Russian.

2. These are inter-division rivals that plain don't like each other. Even when the Rays were a joke, they were never a team the Red Sox wanted to face. Even if the Sox were winning, chances were a brawl was only an up and in fastball away.

However, the ALCS has a few things working in the direction of making a lame series.

1. The Rays don't have 'that guy'. There is no one who terrifies you in the lineup (granted there is also no easy outs), there is no dominant October pitcher......yet (remember Josh Becket coming into the 03' playoffs?).

2. The Red Sox are missing Manny, Schilling, Pedro, Damon, and David Ortiz is only a shadow his former self. In other words - there are very few people to root against on this team. That doesn't mean I like them, but I have no real disdain for Jacoby Ellsbury or Jason Bay or Kevin Youklis. Good stories need good villians. This team is made up of a bunch of great ball players, but not one Lex Luther.

3. There is a chance we will wake up tomorrow and the Rays will realize - "We are the Rays, we have no business being here" - and disappear into the cold New England night.

To ensure this will be a great series I have created a top 5 list - David Letterman-esque:
"Top 5 ways to make a great 2008 ALCS"

5. Put Mike Lowell on the roster. He doesn't need to start, but he needs a chance to have his Kirk Gibson moment - "I don't believe what I just saw"

4. Grant Belfour and Youk get into a shouting match during the game. Youk doesn't like Balfour yelling after pitchers so he calls his shot to left field. Belfour doesn't want to be shown up - so he calls his shot - Youklis' left ear. Welcome to October

3. Game one, first at-bat for Big Papi and James Shields buzzes the tower. He doesn't need to hit Ortiz, but he needs to announce his presence with authority. Let the benches empty. Perhaps a shove or two. You know, really set the tone for the series.

2. Eric Hinske and Carlos Pena hit back to back home runs of Papelbon in Boston reminding Red Sox fans they should have never let them leave Boston. In the bottom of the 9th Pedroia hits a walk-off home run reminding the Rays that they are the Rays.

1. Super Rays fan Dick Vitale and Red Sox "fan" Ben Affleck get into a fist fight in the stands. Fight is broken up by Matt Damon who sides with Vitale, pulls off his Red Sox hoodie and reveals a Rays jersey.


Prediction: Rays in 6

NLCS preview

aka "The Battle to be Larry Bowa's Favorite Son"
Both the Dodgers and Phillies made the NLDS look like a stroll through the park. I don't believe either team will have it so easy in this round. On paper this looks like a great series that should go 7. Each team is stong all-around with the Dodgers have the slight edge in starting pitching, and the Phillies sporting the more potent offense.

Most important player for LA - someone other than Manny has to hit. It could be Loney, or Martin, or Furcal, but someone on that team must give Phillies pitchers something to think about or Manny is going to spend this series walking down to first.

Most important player for the Phils - Brad Lidge. Its true Brad Lidge has not blown a save this year, but he is getting shakier and shakier as the season progresses. If the Phils have a lead late, he must come in and close the door - or the swagger this team has built up could be lost.

I had trouble picking this one, when in doubt always go with the home team - Phillies in 7

Dear Cubs..........

I am very sorry you were not able to break the curse after 100 years. But its your own fault. I have never seen a 97 win team look more sad and beaten down 4-2 in the sixth inning in my life. AND THIS WAS GAME ONE!!!!!! Look, the curse is cute, its nice, it sells tickets, and it gives 20-something Cubs fans something to belly ache about (even though they haven't been alive for 80 years of the misery, they somehow feel all the pain). The curse is supposed to be for the fans - and you have let it into the clubhouse - and until you extradite it, you will never win. There is really only one way to break this curse. I can't believe I am saying this, but you must act like the 2004 Red Sox. You have to not care about curses or fans or media or anything of the sort. That team, and it was a team by all definitions of the word, cared about each other and winning games, period. And that is why they were able to break the curse of the Bambino. That is the only way they came back from a 3-0 deficit to the Yanks - one year removed from Aaron "bleepin" Boone. Look its understandable for Cubs fans to pack it and start talking about next year when you were down 4-2 in the sixth inning of game one, its what Cubs fans do best. But you can't listen to them! I have outlined a fool proof plan to for breaking the curse of the goatcatbartman.
1. Fire Lou. He is a great manager, but you are never going to break this curse with a well-known great manager. If Lou never wins another game, he is still going to Cooperstown. You need a manager who is hungry
2. Hire Ryan Sandberg or Alan Trammell or Mark Grace or some up and coming next generation manager. And when he breaks the curse - he will have left his mark in Chicago forever.
3. Cut or trade anyone who can't win a game, or at least play like they are going to win a game, when you are losing. Zambrano, Soriano, etc. These guys are both great players when you are winning and headaches when things aren't going well. Its going to be tough and people will think you are crazy, but trust me - you are not going to break this curse by sweeping your way through the playoffs. There is going to be adversity, and you need some fox hole guys.
4. Get the foxhole guys. Get you talented guys who are going to give 150% whether the score is 1-0 or 0-35. If you need any examples look at the 2008 Rays team. When they are down 2 runs everyone still believes they are going to win the game, and they do.
5. Embrace the curse. Seriously. Have Steve Bartman throw out the first pitch of the playoffs while a black cat crosses his path. Laugh at the curse.
6. Sneak into the playoffs. You need to break this curse by fighting and clawing your way into October. That will give the players no time to think about the curse. You won't even have time to catch your breathe - just go out and win.

So there you have it Chicago. A sure fire way to break the curse.

NRS

A playoff update

Its been quite a weekend of boring games and 2-0 series. Thankfully Dave Bush pushed the series in Milwaukee to at least 4 games (game 4 is 1 pm today). I am really hoping that Jeff Suppan can find a way to send the series back to Philly. I think all baseball fans need to see CC in a game 5 against Cole Hamels. It would be an amazing game and I think baseball fans deserve at least 1 really good game in the first round.

- The Cubs are going to have to wait at least 101 years before breaking the black cat- billy goat - Bartman - woe is me curse. I have never seen a team look so amazing in the regular season and look so bad in the post season. Everyone on that team was trying to hit the 8-run homer, and they never got anything going .

- With 4 pretty lousey (so far anyways) LDS - I think there are two really good LCS lining up. Red Sox vs Rays - should be a long drawn out series with plenty of bean ball wars, walk-off wins, and fist pumping. And I really think Philly vs LA could be a great series. Both teams can pitch and hit. Both teams have a fairly solid bullpen.

- So keep hope alive baseball fans. Even if 3/4 series end in a sweep - the next round is looking up.

Playoff preview

NRS apologizes for not providing a thorough playoff preview. Since I missed out on previewing the other 3 series, I thought I would preview Sox vs Rays in an NBA style commercial

Overly-dramatic music cued up in the background.

AJ/Carlos: "162 games and it all comes down to this. Win or go home."

Carlos: "We have no choice but to win. We have no history, no fans, and are no longer possessed by the devil. This is our time to show 30 million dollars and dream can lead to a world championship."

AJ: "No one likes me. People hate my coach. Our best player is out for the season. Everyone wants to see Chicago in the World Series, just not the White Sox. Its us against the world, and we all know I will find a way to the center of the controversy."

AJ/Carlos: "This is what its all about - welcome to October"

Prediction: Rays in 5

The debacle that is the 2008 NL MVP

What a great finish to the regular season. And as we take a quick breathe before the playoffs begin I am left pondering - who is going to win the NL MVP this year. This is a strange year. I think there are really 5 candidates for NL MVP (my apologies to those of you in the Johann Santana camp). I see the race between Pujols, Berkman, Howard, Manny, and CC.

You can break this race into three different groups.

1. The amazing numbers, but subpar team group - Pujols and Berkman. Both had amazing seasons, but both teams ended up a bit short of a playoff run. There is some precedent for MVPs coming from non-playoff teams, but its not very often.

2. The allow me to carry my team in September after having a subpar year group - Howard. Ryan Howard's final numbers are very impressive, but voters are overly impressed with two things September play and home runs. Howard has both of these in spades. It is true if he wasn't carrying the Phillies in September the Mets would have likely won the NL east, but if Chase Utely and Pat Burrell didn't pick up the slack in earlier months - the Phils would have been the fish. And at the end of the day, I am not ok with an MVP who hit 0.245

3. The trade deadline pickup group - Manny and CC. Neither player was a member of the NL when the season began, however both were intrigal parts to the Dodgers and Brewers making the playoffs. Can you win an MVP by playing only half a season? If either guy was putting up these numbers in this league all year, it would be a two horse race. CC has the added trouble of being a pitcher.

Verdict: Look Pujols and Berkman both had great years and Howard had a great September in a pennant race. But if we look at the term Most Valuable Player - it has to be CC. Everyone else on the Brewers (with the possible exception of Prince Fielder) were folding like tents while CC demanded the ball and pitched like it was the dead ball era. I don't think he will win MVP, but I truly believe he was the most valuable player in the NL this season. Try to imagine where the Brewers are without him, they are the Cardinals - and that is why CC gets the nod over Pujols.

I like to picture the conversation between CC and his agent in September

Agent: CC - you have gone 8-0 for the Brewers, but I am getting worried about all these complete games. What do you think about resting a bit in September?

CC: Give me the ball!

Agent: CC, we are going to sign over 100 million dollar contract - you can be a Yankee, or an Angel, or a Met, but you have to stay healthy!

CC: Give me the ball!

Agent: Look CC the Brewers are just using you. They know they won't re-sign you next year so they want to over-work your arm the rest of the season. Look what they have done to Ben Sheets.

CC: Give me the ball!