One Weird Postseason

The ball cracked off the back toward lower right field. Howard ran to first and hurts himself 1/4 of the way there. Punto recieved the ball, and tossed it to Pujols. Howard collapsed in a heap on the first baseline. Pujols, Punto and Carpenter collided for a bearhug, and the rest of the team followed.

I sighed, sadly, as I looked for a rule calling that would render the ball foul, of that Howard's injury would incite a do-over. But as the Cardinals began dousing each other with champagne, and as the angry members of the crowd sauntered out of the stadium, depressed that they had come this far only to lose, I realized that wouldn't happen. I flipped off the TV, and, because as a teenager this is my first instinct, ran to Facebook. Everybody I knew was saying the exact same thing "It was Howard's fault, and he should be traded". Okay, maybe people didn't say it in all Caps, and with the right spellings and punctuation, but they all spoke loud enough to irk this proud baseball fan. I had no choice but to post something true: "There's always next season". Despite the fact that it was the truth, it got less likes than the guy saying "Howard did this because he wanted to stay true to his hometown".

Still, as I sighed heavily, I realized for the first time since the terrible postseason of 2007, both of my teams had been knocked out in the first round of the playoffs. We all remember 2007, where the Phillies fell victim to the Rockies, who would later lose the series, and the Yankees fell victim to the Indians, as well as the Flies. And the sad thing is that nobody expected the other teams to win then either. The Yanks and Phils should have kept going on, but they were defeated.

This also incites something I hadn't even thought about until last night: Who do I root for? The four teams still remaining in the playoffs are all not favorites of mine. Three of them have defeated my teams in the playoffs. The Brewers...they're just the Brewers.

Still, it's gonna be hard to watch this postseason, now that both my teams are gone, and there's no one good to root for. Bring on the offseason...let's get the Yankees some more pitching.

Defeat Again

It sucks to be a Yankee fan when everybody wants you to lose. Last night, Alex Rodriguez was the goat for us, and couldn't seem to even hit the damn ball. I'm a little mad at the team right now, because we HAD IT. We were very close, and now we've been knocked out first round. By the Tigers, of all teams. It feels embarassing.

It's not to say that the team won't overcome. Hell, we might sign some free agent pitchers, trade for some new pitchers, and make sure our aging stars are backed up. We should have gone farther than this. And it pisses me off.

For the next month, my hope rests on Philadelphia.

A night of ties

Ties the series with Philly on a sliding catch no one could believe.

Helps tie the series with Milwaukee.

So if nobody else is counting, there are three tied series' waiting to be settled tonight. I hope both my teams advance.

Meanwhile, the postseason rages on...

It was almost like something out of a fantasy movie when this guy pitched a stellar game, keeping the Yankees alive and tying the series. AJ should be proud.

With assistance from Ben Francisco, gains a lead over St. Louis, and puts them in elimination danger.

Decks three home runs, and blasts Tampa Bay out of the Postseason.

Even down two games, shatters the Brewers' defense to stay alive.

Tonight: Things get interesting.

It could happen

For the second year in a row, the Yankees have found themselves a few games into a series, without a lead. It happened last year in Texas, and it's happening now with Detroit. While I will not agree that Detroit is the better team, I will say that to go out in the first round would be pretty terrible. And yet it could happen. Last year, we were hoping to get to the World Series, but for some reason Texas was better than us.

This also might be the second year in a row that I'll have to live with the Yankees not making the World Series. Because it could happen. The Tigers could advance, with the help of Justin Verlander and 4 other pitchers that aren't very good. But we have the hitting, and we have the bullpen. In all theory, the Yankees should be leading this series, but the Tigers have just simply been getting ahead.

The Tigers are leading the series because of luck alone. Sure, they have a great #1 pitcher, and they have good hitters like Miguel Cabrera and Alex Avila. But with all due respect to any Detroit fans, they shouldn't be getting this far. They're not a sound team like the Yankees are, and I hope this fact eventually dooms them.

The bottom line is that I'd personally like the 2011 Yankees to start playing like the 2009 Yankees. In the same vein, I'd personally like the 2011 Tigers to play like the 1997 Tigers. Which ultimately gives away the outcome I'm hoping for.

After a good day comes a bad one

Somehow, ties the series at 1.

Also somehow ties the series at 1.

Rockets the Brewers by their second win.

Today better be a good baseball day. Please.

This is why I love October

Grand Slams the Tigers to finally win Game 1.

Two Run Homers to help save the Phils against the Cards.

Batters down James Shields to tie the series.

Holds off Arizona with the help from a firey offense.

The best part is that it's only just begun.