The epic collapse has happened. Goodbye, Boston Red Sox. I'm sure every man on the roster would want to forget this season which has been the ultimate failure. Meltdown, going 7-20 in the month of September, unable to win consecutive games. The Baltimore Orioles who were destined to lose a hundred games, snagged wins from the Red Sox, preventing the ugly century mark from happening. They won five games against Boston. The final blow for the Red Sox came with Robert Andino (who is better known as the Red Sox killer in Beantown) lining that ball out into left field which scored the winning run. It was supposed to be a routine play, Carl Crawford should have caught that ball for the final out in the 9th inning, sending the game into extra innings. But not this year, fellas.
Jonathan Papelbon blew yet another save, the Red Sox pitchers could not go deep into the innings. Jon Lester was a flop. John Lackey was a big disaster. He was the weakest link. Josh Beckett was erratic. The lineup couldn't hit to save their lives. David Ortiz failed to come up in the clutch. The management signing Carl Crawford to that 142 million dollar contract for seven years looks like a failure. Crawford was a bust. Adrian Gonzalez sure did put up big numbers, but when it came to winning games, he was unable to come through. Oh, and the bullpen faltered and had a dreadful ERA. Daniel Bard. I believe he racked up a 35 ERA in September. What? You kidding me? It happened!
Tampa Bay played with a fighting spirit and never give up attitude. The Red Sox were punks, self centered and egoistic. High payroll, but failing to make the playoffs in consecutive years. They were up by such a huge margin at the start of September, then came the losses piling up, and the Rays winning games in a hurry.
Welcome to a long, bitter cold winter. Terry Francona might be fired, Theo Epstein could be gone too, Papelbon is a free agent, and whether or not he returns remains to be seen.
Hey, at least you have companionship in the collapse, Red Sox. The Atlanta Braves are sent packing for the offseason. They imploded too. Horrible pitching. And the St Louis Cardinals prevailed. What the sporting nation saw this month is a total whirlwind. A nightmare come true for the Red Sox and Braves fans. No lead is safe for a wildcard/playoff spot. Overconfident and cockiness got the best of both teams, especially the Red Sox. As Chris Daughtry sings, "Never saw it coming, should have started running, a long long time ago..." Both teams should have done so. So many questions will haunt the teams, decisions to be made, for the front office and roster. The leads evaporated and it came down to game number 162, the final game of the season on September 28. Boston and Atlanta had a chance to win their respective games, and force at least a one-game playoff the very next day, but they failed to do so. Atlanta had chances in the extra innings, and they were doomed.
In Yankee land, I'm sure that the fans are pleased to see that the evil empire and nemesis is out!
Friday, September 30, 2011
Saturday, September 24, 2011
This is what the Yankees play for every year. The AL East crown. The start of a traditional yearly affair, playing in the postseason in October to be the last team standing when it's all said and done.
During spring training, most reporters and experts predicted that the Red Sox would win the AL East, but look who came out on top! The Yankees failed to sign Cliff Lee, who returned to the Phillies, and it was almost certain that the Red Sox and Tampa Bay would come out first and second. Ivan Nova has done a terrific job with top notch pitching as a rookie and deserves to win rookie of the year in the AL. Without him, there is no way the Yankees would have won. The emergence of Brett Gardner as a base stealing threat, Curtis Granderson and Mark Teixeria and Robinson Cano being a pitcher's nightmare, with their ability to hit balls into the outfield and to the stands. Despite A-Rod and Derek Jeter missing time due to injuries, the backups and utility players have came through.
What a fairytale year this has been. First, Derek Jeter reaches 3000 hits, then Mariano Rivera breaks the all time saves record, now he's standing in a league of his own. Then Jorge Posada hits a tiebreaking single in the bottom 8th inning, with two outs, scoring two runs, sewing up the division crown. It felt fitting for Posada to be the hero of the night, after a season where he lost his job as starting catcher, to DH and falling out of favor to the bench.
Congratulations, Yankees. The chase is not over yet. It's time.
During spring training, most reporters and experts predicted that the Red Sox would win the AL East, but look who came out on top! The Yankees failed to sign Cliff Lee, who returned to the Phillies, and it was almost certain that the Red Sox and Tampa Bay would come out first and second. Ivan Nova has done a terrific job with top notch pitching as a rookie and deserves to win rookie of the year in the AL. Without him, there is no way the Yankees would have won. The emergence of Brett Gardner as a base stealing threat, Curtis Granderson and Mark Teixeria and Robinson Cano being a pitcher's nightmare, with their ability to hit balls into the outfield and to the stands. Despite A-Rod and Derek Jeter missing time due to injuries, the backups and utility players have came through.
What a fairytale year this has been. First, Derek Jeter reaches 3000 hits, then Mariano Rivera breaks the all time saves record, now he's standing in a league of his own. Then Jorge Posada hits a tiebreaking single in the bottom 8th inning, with two outs, scoring two runs, sewing up the division crown. It felt fitting for Posada to be the hero of the night, after a season where he lost his job as starting catcher, to DH and falling out of favor to the bench.
Congratulations, Yankees. The chase is not over yet. It's time.
Friday, September 16, 2011
Ramblings in September
I haven't exactly been religiously updating this due to extreme laziness all around and too many things clouding my head as of late, despite the end of the regular season nearing, and the excitement heating up. The chase is on. October, as what MLB.com's slogan says: I Live For This!
Tampa Bay is making a strong push to overtake Boston for the AL wildcard, they've been on a hot winning streak for the month of September mostly, taking advantage of the Red Sox's struggles and losing skid. Injuries have been a huge factor. Other than Josh Beckett, the Red Sox starting rotation has not been able to go deep into games, lasting only 5 innings at most before the overworked relievers pitch an inning or a few outs. John Lackey has been an absolute trainwreck and Daniel Bard, the reliever who was once superior and hard to score runs off has an astounding 30 for his earned run average in September. That equates to 3 runs given up in an inning of relief pitching. Holy crap.
My gut feeling is Tampa Bay's youth will outlast the Red Sox, sending them into an early offseason that nobody predicted this would happen. League executives, the media and members of the sporting nation.
Detroit is coming on with a twelve game winning streak that was snapped and they won again about an hour ago to clinch the AL Central division. Justin Verlander for AL Cy Young. That is for sure. If he wins 25 games, he should win AL MVP, in all fairness, as much as I'd love to see Robinson Cano or Curtis Granderson win it for the Yankees. Justin Verlander is dominating and has slayed every oppositions offense, striking them out and having them hit ground balls.
As for the Yankees, the AL East title is in ours to lose. I'm sensing an ALCS rematch vs the Texas Rangers in the ALDS come October, the Yankees hungry for revenge after last year's collapse in what should have been our title and the team to represent the AL in the World Series. With all due respect to Josh Hamilton for being a huge inspiration and an overcomer and conquerer, the Yankees are hungrier to avenge this loss and possibly win another World Series.
Tampa Bay is making a strong push to overtake Boston for the AL wildcard, they've been on a hot winning streak for the month of September mostly, taking advantage of the Red Sox's struggles and losing skid. Injuries have been a huge factor. Other than Josh Beckett, the Red Sox starting rotation has not been able to go deep into games, lasting only 5 innings at most before the overworked relievers pitch an inning or a few outs. John Lackey has been an absolute trainwreck and Daniel Bard, the reliever who was once superior and hard to score runs off has an astounding 30 for his earned run average in September. That equates to 3 runs given up in an inning of relief pitching. Holy crap.
My gut feeling is Tampa Bay's youth will outlast the Red Sox, sending them into an early offseason that nobody predicted this would happen. League executives, the media and members of the sporting nation.
Detroit is coming on with a twelve game winning streak that was snapped and they won again about an hour ago to clinch the AL Central division. Justin Verlander for AL Cy Young. That is for sure. If he wins 25 games, he should win AL MVP, in all fairness, as much as I'd love to see Robinson Cano or Curtis Granderson win it for the Yankees. Justin Verlander is dominating and has slayed every oppositions offense, striking them out and having them hit ground balls.
As for the Yankees, the AL East title is in ours to lose. I'm sensing an ALCS rematch vs the Texas Rangers in the ALDS come October, the Yankees hungry for revenge after last year's collapse in what should have been our title and the team to represent the AL in the World Series. With all due respect to Josh Hamilton for being a huge inspiration and an overcomer and conquerer, the Yankees are hungrier to avenge this loss and possibly win another World Series.
Saturday, September 10, 2011
9/11; 10 years on
It's already past midnight in where I live. Not sports related, but I feel the need to make a dedication post. Although I am not an American, my heart goes out to the nation, especially those that have lost a friend, a loved one, a family member or know of someone who lost somebody.
As Celine Dion sings in Fly...
Fly beyond imagining
The softest cloud, the whitest dove
Upon the wind of heaven's love
Past the planets and the stars
Leave this lonely world of ours
Escape the sorrow and the pain
And fly again
Fly, fly precious one
Your endless journey has begun
Take your gentle happiness
Far too beautiful for this
Cross over to the other shore
There is peace forevermore
But hold this mem'ry bittersweet
The memories so clear, like a photograph etched in my mind that I would never forget. I heard the news, that eerie silence with the images of the planes crashing on live tv, the faces of people running for their lives, terrified and in shock. About 1.5 months after I had lost my grandmother to natural causes, the tragedy which would change the lives of thousands, and millions, basically the whole world unfolded beyond our eyes. Something so dramatic, like a blockbuster which had come to reality. Thousands of innocent lives were lost because of evil which came in the form of the hijackers. Many children were left without a parent, or both, parents lost their daughters and sons, families were torn apart, life would never be the same again.
As I vividly recall, it was my drama debut in public (with the private drama school I attended weekly classes at)- at the Substation that fateful night. Excitement consumed me, so much that I did not feel any bit of nervousness to be performing live infront of a crowd of about a hundred and fifty people, as a soon to be fourteen year old. When the first plane struck the North tower, I had no idea it happened, same goes for the second plane and the Pentagon being hit. I was on that stage, set to shine (hopefully!) and enthrall the audience, expressing my best self. The lights came on, curtain call, rush into the audience for congratulatory hugs. Fast forward to packing up, having dinner with the family downtown at a deli... by the time I reached back home it was already close to midnight. First thing I saw when I turned on the tv was reporters talking about a disaster in New York.
They replayed the clips of the planes crashing. I thought to myself, "Are they showing a preview of Con Air the second?", before the sight of the Pentagon and the other United plane going down in a rural part of Pennsylvania finally hit me. Terrorist attack. I stayed up for three hours with the folks to watch the news (had no school the next day) so it was all good. My heart sank. What if it happened in Singapore? Is this the end of the world already? Are they going to catch the mastermind? Are the Yankees going to be okay? What's going to happen to baseball season? What would I do? I started worrying about Cass (my drama teacher who was among the teachers from my drama school in charge of the production; she's got family from NY) and a bunch of other people who were Americans. That night, I couldn't sleep. I kept seeing images of the devil when I closed my eyes, and laid on the couch in my parents room. They too, did not know how to react, other than mom praying for me non stop as I remember. I wasn't really a catholic or believer but at that point in time, I clung on to whatever I could get for comfort.
Hold on to what you have and don't let the moment slip away. Tell everyone whom you love that you really do, give every hug like its your last time hugging them... the things in life we take for granted, cause you might lose it all in a second.
As Celine Dion sings in Fly...
Fly beyond imagining
The softest cloud, the whitest dove
Upon the wind of heaven's love
Past the planets and the stars
Leave this lonely world of ours
Escape the sorrow and the pain
And fly again
Fly, fly precious one
Your endless journey has begun
Take your gentle happiness
Far too beautiful for this
Cross over to the other shore
There is peace forevermore
But hold this mem'ry bittersweet
The memories so clear, like a photograph etched in my mind that I would never forget. I heard the news, that eerie silence with the images of the planes crashing on live tv, the faces of people running for their lives, terrified and in shock. About 1.5 months after I had lost my grandmother to natural causes, the tragedy which would change the lives of thousands, and millions, basically the whole world unfolded beyond our eyes. Something so dramatic, like a blockbuster which had come to reality. Thousands of innocent lives were lost because of evil which came in the form of the hijackers. Many children were left without a parent, or both, parents lost their daughters and sons, families were torn apart, life would never be the same again.
As I vividly recall, it was my drama debut in public (with the private drama school I attended weekly classes at)- at the Substation that fateful night. Excitement consumed me, so much that I did not feel any bit of nervousness to be performing live infront of a crowd of about a hundred and fifty people, as a soon to be fourteen year old. When the first plane struck the North tower, I had no idea it happened, same goes for the second plane and the Pentagon being hit. I was on that stage, set to shine (hopefully!) and enthrall the audience, expressing my best self. The lights came on, curtain call, rush into the audience for congratulatory hugs. Fast forward to packing up, having dinner with the family downtown at a deli... by the time I reached back home it was already close to midnight. First thing I saw when I turned on the tv was reporters talking about a disaster in New York.
They replayed the clips of the planes crashing. I thought to myself, "Are they showing a preview of Con Air the second?", before the sight of the Pentagon and the other United plane going down in a rural part of Pennsylvania finally hit me. Terrorist attack. I stayed up for three hours with the folks to watch the news (had no school the next day) so it was all good. My heart sank. What if it happened in Singapore? Is this the end of the world already? Are they going to catch the mastermind? Are the Yankees going to be okay? What's going to happen to baseball season? What would I do? I started worrying about Cass (my drama teacher who was among the teachers from my drama school in charge of the production; she's got family from NY) and a bunch of other people who were Americans. That night, I couldn't sleep. I kept seeing images of the devil when I closed my eyes, and laid on the couch in my parents room. They too, did not know how to react, other than mom praying for me non stop as I remember. I wasn't really a catholic or believer but at that point in time, I clung on to whatever I could get for comfort.
Hold on to what you have and don't let the moment slip away. Tell everyone whom you love that you really do, give every hug like its your last time hugging them... the things in life we take for granted, cause you might lose it all in a second.
Friday, September 2, 2011
Still considered baseball related...
The new school year has started, first week is almost down in the books. I don't exactly feel like it's a new semester cause I decided to be a hardworking nerd to take 12 weeks of summer school in order to graduate next April, after spending five years in college.
For two out of the three classes that I'm taking, both professors are Phillies fans. One of them is from South Jersey and the other is from Chester, PA. The dude who hails from the latter is someone I've had two classes under the belt with, and got decent grades from him. And it's going to be amazing trash talking him yet again...not sure if I can reveal his name. He did mention something about the Yankees suck. Lets see how it pans out with the trash talk come Rock-tober. Best pitching lineup in the 21st century and beyond. How can any team top that?!
Life is good.
For two out of the three classes that I'm taking, both professors are Phillies fans. One of them is from South Jersey and the other is from Chester, PA. The dude who hails from the latter is someone I've had two classes under the belt with, and got decent grades from him. And it's going to be amazing trash talking him yet again...not sure if I can reveal his name. He did mention something about the Yankees suck. Lets see how it pans out with the trash talk come Rock-tober. Best pitching lineup in the 21st century and beyond. How can any team top that?!
Life is good.
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