When it comes to pennant races, there are so many angles and so little time.
Here are ten impressions I've taken away from the last week of major league baseball action:
10. September 7th: Minnesota Twins 8, Texas Rangers 6
When it comes to examining runs scored, we should keep in mind that we live not only in an era of offense, but also in one of suspect defense and pitching fundamentals. Texas jumped out to a 5-0 lead, in part due to a two-run homer by young Adrian Gonzalez, but was later done in by mistakes at more than one position. In the bottom of the fourth, Twins third baseman Juan Castro was awarded an infield single that could well have been judged an error on the Texas third baseman Hank Blalock, who failed to barehand a ball hit toward him. In the sixth, Castro again reached base, this time on a bunt single to reliever Doug Brocail, and Mike Redmond followed with another bunt, which Brocail threw away. Minnesota had to do some hitting, but the Texas mistakes proved vital, and the Twins kept their slim wild card hopes alive for another day.
9. September 2nd: Houston Astros 6, St. Louis Cardinals 5.
This game was the very definition of a wild one. I first heard about it at a concert in Inglewood on my trusty XM radio, and the announcers marveled at how Houston had rallied three times to eventually win...in 13 innings. The Cardinals have their division well in hand and shouldn't shed too many tears about this one, but the Astros are in a very different position, smelling the National League wild card berth with every hard-fought win. Houston salvaged the game with solo homers in the ninth and tenth (by 3B Morgan Ensberg and C Brad Ausmus, respectively). Finally, trailing by a run in inning number thirteen, Houston countered with an RBI hit by pitch (yes, you read that correctly) off the body of late-inning replacement Orlando Palmeiro. As seems to be the case in games that play out forever, the game winning hit was delivered by a relative unknown, shortstop Eric Bruntlett. This game proved why I'll never buy the argument that baseball is by nature boring.
8. September 1st: Boston Red Sox 7, Tampa Bay Devil Rays 4.
The Sox have been fantastic at Fenway this season, particularly in the last month or so. While the bulk of their runs driven in have come from Messrs. David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez, this game showed that they can come from any source in these days of offensive plenty. The announcers for Boston's NESN television have grown accustomed to referring to John Olerud as a professional hitter, but I'm not sure they looked for him to smash two homers, pushing his grand season total to 6. Mike Timlin got the save, and his earned-run average improved to a shade under 2, which makes him the only Boston reliever worth owning in any fantasy league in the land.
7. September 7th: Oakland Athletics 8, Seattle Mariners 7.
Because the Yankees are in a heated wild card race with both Cleveland and Oakland, it pains me a little to recount this matinee affair. But the Yanks won their game later in the day, so it's time to swallow my pride and give this the treatment it deserves. The tandem of J.J. Putz and Eddie Guardado frittered away a four run lead in the ninth inning, and reliever Jeff Nelson gave the M's some hope before walking in the winning run in the person of Oakland free-swinging outfielder Nick Swisher. Seattle 3B Adrian Beltre really had to be kicking himself after that turn of events, having grounded into a double play with one out and the bases loaded in the top of the inning. Aside from keeping pace with their Wild Card brethren, the A's moved to within a half game of the AL West-leading Angels, who once again were defeated in Boston.
6. September 3rd: NY Yankees 7, Oakland Athletics 0.
I will never know why 33-year-old callup Aaron Small was demoted to the Yankee bullpen after several terrific starts, but he has certainly earned his way back into the rotation--for now. Small's first major league shutout was far from a sure Yankee win until the six-run sixth inning, in which the A's looked to be a pitch or two from averting the disaster that ensued in the form of an Alex Rodriguez two-run single and subsequent Jason Giambi three-run bomb to right. I was not near a TV for this one, but I will say this: the ESPN radio announcers spared no effort in demeaning the New York defense. With pitching like Small's, I suppose glovework is hardly an issue. Hideki Matsui continues to pad his statistics somewhat quietly, adding two RBI without the benefit of a hit.
5. September 6th: Florida Marlins 4, Washington Nationals 2.
The National League wild card might be the most compelling story remaining, and the fact that several contenders are also division rivals adds to the fun. In any case, baseball experts continue to insist that the Marlins will give their opponents fits should they make the postseason, and they are starting to play up to the praise. In this one, Florida got a strong performance from oft-injured Ismael Valdez as opposed to one of their aces (read: Dontrelle Willis), and just enough hitting from Miguel Cabrera and Co. The banged-up Nats started Darrell Rasner in his major league debut, begging the question: "Which is more likely: Washington having a shot at the playoffs, or them using an untested pitcher in a heated race?"
4. September 4th: Chicago White Sox 2, Detroit Tigers 0.
I know, I know...this game has virtually no postseason implication whatsoever. So why have I included it? To prove the point that, while the Sox have struggled a bit in the last month or two, I am impressed by their work ethic. This is a club that just never seems to take a game off, and they win most of the games that they should. Granted, this isn't necessarily a formula for postseason success, but Ozzie Guillen has undoubtedly built a winning culture on the South Side. I've also heard pundits say that Chicago lacks a fearsome hitter, but they must be falling asleep every time a certain Paul Konerko strides to the plate. Incidentally, first baseman Konerko homered in the game (one of only nine hits in the entire contest), and starter Jon Garland recaptured some of his early-season magic en route to his 17th win.
3. September 5th: Atlanta Braves 4, NY Mets 2.
New York had trouble keeping up with the Joneses on this day, as Chipper continued his torrid hitting since returning from injury, and Andruw smashed his (yawn) 45th homer. After the game, Chipper even made the case for his teammate winning the MVP, a possibility that certainly looms with the Braves seemingly bound for the division title once again. Braves' rookie reliever Blaine Boyer had pitched nearly sixteen scoreless innings before his streak was snapped in this game. No wonder GMs say that building the ideal bullpen is often more luck than skill. Meanwhile, the Mets lost another valuable chance to move up the NL's Wild Card standings.
2. September 6th: Colorado Rockies 6, San Diego Padres 5.
The National League West continues to be an ongoing joke, as it is possible that its winner will have won fewer games than it has lost. I believe that predictions that favor the San Francisco Giants to come from behind and seize the division title are too extreme, but San Diego isn't helping itself with blunders like the ones they showed in this one. Catcher Miguel Olivo made two errant throws in the seventh inning, which makes it clear why he left the locker room too early to be interviewed postgame. This was another game in which the number of hits and errors didn't tell the whole story: each team committed three miscues, and the Pads outhit the team from Denver 11 to 6. I didn't realize this at first, but the Rockies have actually played well enough in the second half to pad closer Brian Fuentes save total: this was his 26th this year.
1. September 7th: Houston Astros 8, Philadelphia Phillies 6.
I've seen one club have another's number before, but this is ridiculous. For two teams with comparable records, the 'Stros and Phils have been far from even head-to-head in 2005. In any case, this contest was Houston's 12th straight win against their rival for the NL's consolation prize. Interestingly, the Astros pulled this one out with a 3-run ninth, when former teammates collided. Houston 2B Craig Biggio, a likely Hall of Famer in the future, deliver the game-winning homer (with two outs) off Philadelphia closer Billy Wagner, who first earned his reputation as a hard-thrower in a Houston uniform. It was yet another wild win for the Minute Maid Park crew, and it's quite possible that the Phils will look back on this lost series as their best chance to take control of their playoff destiny.
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Here are ten impressions I've taken away from the last week of major league baseball action:
10. September 7th: Minnesota Twins 8, Texas Rangers 6
When it comes to examining runs scored, we should keep in mind that we live not only in an era of offense, but also in one of suspect defense and pitching fundamentals. Texas jumped out to a 5-0 lead, in part due to a two-run homer by young Adrian Gonzalez, but was later done in by mistakes at more than one position. In the bottom of the fourth, Twins third baseman Juan Castro was awarded an infield single that could well have been judged an error on the Texas third baseman Hank Blalock, who failed to barehand a ball hit toward him. In the sixth, Castro again reached base, this time on a bunt single to reliever Doug Brocail, and Mike Redmond followed with another bunt, which Brocail threw away. Minnesota had to do some hitting, but the Texas mistakes proved vital, and the Twins kept their slim wild card hopes alive for another day.
9. September 2nd: Houston Astros 6, St. Louis Cardinals 5.
This game was the very definition of a wild one. I first heard about it at a concert in Inglewood on my trusty XM radio, and the announcers marveled at how Houston had rallied three times to eventually win...in 13 innings. The Cardinals have their division well in hand and shouldn't shed too many tears about this one, but the Astros are in a very different position, smelling the National League wild card berth with every hard-fought win. Houston salvaged the game with solo homers in the ninth and tenth (by 3B Morgan Ensberg and C Brad Ausmus, respectively). Finally, trailing by a run in inning number thirteen, Houston countered with an RBI hit by pitch (yes, you read that correctly) off the body of late-inning replacement Orlando Palmeiro. As seems to be the case in games that play out forever, the game winning hit was delivered by a relative unknown, shortstop Eric Bruntlett. This game proved why I'll never buy the argument that baseball is by nature boring.
8. September 1st: Boston Red Sox 7, Tampa Bay Devil Rays 4.
The Sox have been fantastic at Fenway this season, particularly in the last month or so. While the bulk of their runs driven in have come from Messrs. David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez, this game showed that they can come from any source in these days of offensive plenty. The announcers for Boston's NESN television have grown accustomed to referring to John Olerud as a professional hitter, but I'm not sure they looked for him to smash two homers, pushing his grand season total to 6. Mike Timlin got the save, and his earned-run average improved to a shade under 2, which makes him the only Boston reliever worth owning in any fantasy league in the land.
7. September 7th: Oakland Athletics 8, Seattle Mariners 7.
Because the Yankees are in a heated wild card race with both Cleveland and Oakland, it pains me a little to recount this matinee affair. But the Yanks won their game later in the day, so it's time to swallow my pride and give this the treatment it deserves. The tandem of J.J. Putz and Eddie Guardado frittered away a four run lead in the ninth inning, and reliever Jeff Nelson gave the M's some hope before walking in the winning run in the person of Oakland free-swinging outfielder Nick Swisher. Seattle 3B Adrian Beltre really had to be kicking himself after that turn of events, having grounded into a double play with one out and the bases loaded in the top of the inning. Aside from keeping pace with their Wild Card brethren, the A's moved to within a half game of the AL West-leading Angels, who once again were defeated in Boston.
6. September 3rd: NY Yankees 7, Oakland Athletics 0.
I will never know why 33-year-old callup Aaron Small was demoted to the Yankee bullpen after several terrific starts, but he has certainly earned his way back into the rotation--for now. Small's first major league shutout was far from a sure Yankee win until the six-run sixth inning, in which the A's looked to be a pitch or two from averting the disaster that ensued in the form of an Alex Rodriguez two-run single and subsequent Jason Giambi three-run bomb to right. I was not near a TV for this one, but I will say this: the ESPN radio announcers spared no effort in demeaning the New York defense. With pitching like Small's, I suppose glovework is hardly an issue. Hideki Matsui continues to pad his statistics somewhat quietly, adding two RBI without the benefit of a hit.
5. September 6th: Florida Marlins 4, Washington Nationals 2.
The National League wild card might be the most compelling story remaining, and the fact that several contenders are also division rivals adds to the fun. In any case, baseball experts continue to insist that the Marlins will give their opponents fits should they make the postseason, and they are starting to play up to the praise. In this one, Florida got a strong performance from oft-injured Ismael Valdez as opposed to one of their aces (read: Dontrelle Willis), and just enough hitting from Miguel Cabrera and Co. The banged-up Nats started Darrell Rasner in his major league debut, begging the question: "Which is more likely: Washington having a shot at the playoffs, or them using an untested pitcher in a heated race?"
4. September 4th: Chicago White Sox 2, Detroit Tigers 0.
I know, I know...this game has virtually no postseason implication whatsoever. So why have I included it? To prove the point that, while the Sox have struggled a bit in the last month or two, I am impressed by their work ethic. This is a club that just never seems to take a game off, and they win most of the games that they should. Granted, this isn't necessarily a formula for postseason success, but Ozzie Guillen has undoubtedly built a winning culture on the South Side. I've also heard pundits say that Chicago lacks a fearsome hitter, but they must be falling asleep every time a certain Paul Konerko strides to the plate. Incidentally, first baseman Konerko homered in the game (one of only nine hits in the entire contest), and starter Jon Garland recaptured some of his early-season magic en route to his 17th win.
3. September 5th: Atlanta Braves 4, NY Mets 2.
New York had trouble keeping up with the Joneses on this day, as Chipper continued his torrid hitting since returning from injury, and Andruw smashed his (yawn) 45th homer. After the game, Chipper even made the case for his teammate winning the MVP, a possibility that certainly looms with the Braves seemingly bound for the division title once again. Braves' rookie reliever Blaine Boyer had pitched nearly sixteen scoreless innings before his streak was snapped in this game. No wonder GMs say that building the ideal bullpen is often more luck than skill. Meanwhile, the Mets lost another valuable chance to move up the NL's Wild Card standings.
2. September 6th: Colorado Rockies 6, San Diego Padres 5.
The National League West continues to be an ongoing joke, as it is possible that its winner will have won fewer games than it has lost. I believe that predictions that favor the San Francisco Giants to come from behind and seize the division title are too extreme, but San Diego isn't helping itself with blunders like the ones they showed in this one. Catcher Miguel Olivo made two errant throws in the seventh inning, which makes it clear why he left the locker room too early to be interviewed postgame. This was another game in which the number of hits and errors didn't tell the whole story: each team committed three miscues, and the Pads outhit the team from Denver 11 to 6. I didn't realize this at first, but the Rockies have actually played well enough in the second half to pad closer Brian Fuentes save total: this was his 26th this year.
1. September 7th: Houston Astros 8, Philadelphia Phillies 6.
I've seen one club have another's number before, but this is ridiculous. For two teams with comparable records, the 'Stros and Phils have been far from even head-to-head in 2005. In any case, this contest was Houston's 12th straight win against their rival for the NL's consolation prize. Interestingly, the Astros pulled this one out with a 3-run ninth, when former teammates collided. Houston 2B Craig Biggio, a likely Hall of Famer in the future, deliver the game-winning homer (with two outs) off Philadelphia closer Billy Wagner, who first earned his reputation as a hard-thrower in a Houston uniform. It was yet another wild win for the Minute Maid Park crew, and it's quite possible that the Phils will look back on this lost series as their best chance to take control of their playoff destiny.
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posted by Alex at 10:51 PM
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