Archive for October, 2009
Game 1 Diary: Cliff Lee and the Decepticons Wreak »
Bill Simmons did it. Then my buddy Tyler Thompson did it. Now, I'm going to give it a shot. Here is my running diary for Game 1 of the World Series. First Inning 4:50 p.m. (PT): Sitting down at Tom’s Bar in Portland watching an Abercrombie model bang out the national anthem. Someone should tell him that the performer doesn’t [...]
A Rude Awakening In The Bronx: Lee Edges Sabathia In »
It was pitted as the battle of the former Indians aces and they did not disappoint. CC Sabathia was "off his game" Wednesday night going seven innings and giving up four hits and three walks. Two of those hits were costly ones to Chase Utley that found their way over the right field wall. The first one might be regarded as a typical Yankee Stadium [...]
Ut-Lee Leads Phillies Past Yankees in World Series »
Driving home from work along Route 3 in North Jersey, I got goosebumps when I saw the Empire State Building lit up in Yankee blue and white. But Phillies starter Cliff Lee quickly turned those goosebumps to shivers as he completely dominated New York's lineup en route to a 6-1 complete-game victory in Game 1 of the World Series. The left-hander, [...]
Lee, Utley Fuel Phillies to Game 1 Victory »
One word describes Cliff Lee in game one of the World Series Wednesday Night, and that word was "dominate". Lee was chosen to start game one by Charlie Manuel because the Philly skipper was confident that Lee would be able to perform the way he did. Lee put on a show. He allowed no earned runs, struck out ten batters with with zero walks and [...]
Top 10 Notes About Game One of the Phillies-Yankees »
10) Writing a notes column on a game and night like this is downright tricky. Do you refuse to write the lede ahead of time, knowing that baseball has no clock and if it turns, you will blame yourself for the jinx? Or do you wallow in the good fortune and trust that the man who has taken you this far, all the while looking like he's working [...]
Thoughts on the 2009 World Series »
The two best teams in baseball, most home runs and runs scored in each league, plus one stat which surprised me: both the New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies led their leagues in stolen base percentage, with each having an over 80 percent success rate. Power and speed, plus a lethal starting pitcher at the top of the rotation for both [...]
2009 World Series Preview: Position-by-Position »
The 2009 World Series has arrived after a long and quite interesting season. Along with the arrival of the Fall Classic comes the World Series buzz and debates on who's got the edge. The Phillies and the Yankees make great cases for themselves, respectively. The New York Yankees are trying to get back to their previous state of baseball dominance. [...]
World Series Preview »
The World Series mercifully begins tonight and what better way to prepare than to inundate sports fans with predictions? What kind of sports writer would I be if I didn’t throw my hat into the prediction ring? Exactly. So let’s go ahead and compare the Yankees and Phillies position by position to find out who the better team is and, [...]
Who Will Win the East Coast World Series? Only »
The two best teams in baseball will meet in the World Series, and oddly enough each is similar to the other. Both have dynamite, strike-at-any-moment lineups loaded with former MVPs and future Hall-of-Famers. Both have lefty aces that were on the Cleveland Indians only a season ago. Both have inconsistent fireballers who, if on their game, are [...]
MLB Got the World Series it Wanted, But I Didn’t »
Tonight, if the rain lets up, the World Series will begin between the Phillies and the Yankees. While on paper this seems like a great matchup, featuring the teams that have been the best in their respective leagues all season, I'm completely uninterested. At the risk of sounding like a whiny blogger, this is not a World Series that captivates my [...]