2007 MLB Postseason Underway

                                             

Playoff baseball. Nothing’s better.

Yesterday the 2007 postseason began. First on the card of three games was the Colorado Rockies at Philadelphia to take the Phillies. Both teams slugged their way into the playoffs with huge September surges, but yesterday featured a tremendous pitching duels between young aces Jeff Francis (Rockies) and Cole Hamles (Phillies).

Take away a rough inning from each, and it was a brilliant day of pitching. Hamels had a rough second inning, giving up a triple to Todd Helton in the veteran’s first postseason at bat. Garret Atkins drove him in with a sharply hit double to left field, and after loading the bases, Rookie of the Year hopeful Troy Tulowitzki was walked to drive in a run to score the third and final run of the inning.

Francis struck out Jimmy Rollins, Shane Victorino, Chase Utley, and Ryan Howard in order. Those four did not record a hit in the game, which is shocking considering Howard is the reigning MVP, Rollins could very well win the MVP this year, and Utley is a star who could likely win a MVP before his career is over. The only guy is Rollins way for MVP is Matt Holliday, who hit a home run in the game to give them a 4-2 lead. The Phillies only scores were on Aaron Rowand and Pat Burrell back to back home runs.

The Boston Red Sox won game one, riding on the back of ace Josh Beckett. The 27 year old pitched his third postseason shutout, only one short of tying the record. Some might remember his last one, finishing off the New York Yankees in the 2003 World Series at age 23. Beckett was nasty. It didn’t help that the Angels were using an offense with practically no power. John Lackey’s troubles at Fenway Park continued, as he was hit hard. Kevin Youkilis and David Ortiz each had a home run off the American League ERA leader.

With Boston resting their top notch bullpen and getting ready to trow Daisuke Matsuzaka and Curt Schilling on the mound for games 2 and 3, respectively,  the Angels seem to have their backs against the wall early on in the best of 5 series. Kelvim Escobar will need to step up big time.

Those pesky Arizona Diamondbacks hosted those horribly unlucky Chicago Cubs. In another showing of aces, Brandon Webb outlasted Carlos Zambrano, and the Diamondbacks scored two runs off Cubs reliever Carlos Marmol for a game one victory. The Cubs seem to have been labeled the favorites despite the NL’s best record. Doug Davis will pitch the mound for the D-Backs against Ted Lilly, not that it matters for those of us on the East coast that can’t stay up to 2 A.M. to watch baseball. And of course, once the weekend comes, they’re going to Chicago.

The New York Yankees will play game one against the Cleveland Indians tonight. How will Chien Ming Wong fair against ace C.C. Sabathia. Of course, the pressure will be there for Alex Rodriguez. Let’s hope A-Rod goes 1-4 and Yankees fans panic. It really does seem that even after a MVP season, A-Rod will face the heat if he plays one not amazing day of baseball. Good luck with that Alex.

                                                          

A Tragic Collapse: The New York Mets Story

One year ago, the Mets were one run away from the World Series, with nothing to show for their magical season that brought them their first NL East title in my lifetime. They were two weeks away from winning their second in as many years. With a seven game lead with 14 games left, their mission was simple: don’t fuck up.

Apparently, that is a very complicated thing for the Metropolitans.

With the aid of horrible starting pitching, horrible relief pitching, and miserable defense, the Mets watched their lead diminish faster than cotton candy. Seemingly every day brought the Philadelphia Phillies one game closer to the Mets, who shrugged it off and said they would hold on. After all, they were facing the Nationals, Marlins, and one game against Joel Pineiro and the Cardinals. Easy wins, right?

Not quite. The Nationals transformed into a top offense, Joel Pineiro suddenly found himself for one game only, the one day the Mets get a good pitching performance. Just when the panic button has been pressed so many times it’s no longer in service, here comes John Maine.

That’s right, John Maine. Their coldest pitcher in the second half turned into pure gold on a must-win day, flirting with the franchise’s first every no hitter. He didn’t get it, but over seven innings of one hit, 14 strikeout ball was just what the doctored order. If anything, it was an overdose.

No other team in the history of baseball could be dumb enough to spark a flame in a last place team with one game last in the season. Lastings Milledge had to take time to admire his home run and celebrate it (they were already up big) and a bench clearing brawl had Hanley Ramirez and the Marlins swearing revenge. But the Mets have Tom Glavine on the mound, a sure Hall of Famer who won his 300th game earlier in the year. If the inexperienced Maine could step up with a gem, surely the veteran Glavine will come through in the clutch.

Or maybe he’ll give up seven runs and not make it past the first inning.

He picks now to make his worst career start. This is possibly his last career start, and I would personally be disgusted to see him in a Mets uniform next season. He made his pitches, but the ump wouldn’t give him the wide strike zone he is used to for those umpa who give the lefty special treatment. He kept trying, and when he was forced to give them something to hit, the Marlins smacked it.

And yet, some still remained hopefull. The Phillies jumped to a quick 1-0 lead, the Mets were down 7-0 before taking a swing, and we STILL maintained our hope. They almost came through. They got on the board, and loaded the bases. Sitting on a 2-0 fastball with a bases loaded, Ramon Castro smacked one. Fuck, it fell just short.

Dontrelle Willis tried to give up the game to the Mets, he really did. The Mets just wouldn’t budge. After David Wright struck out with the bases loaded in the 3rd, they stopped giving us false hope, and just let us know it was over and safe to turn to football.

Yet there was still the chance the Phillies could lose, and there would be a one game playoff. The Phillies had their washed up lefty on the mound as well in Jamie Moyer.

He threw a gem. Austin Kearns did come up as the leading run late in the game with two men on. He hit two 3-run homers against the Mets, so why not again? Maybe he’s a Phillies fan, considering he grounded into an inning ending double play.

To sum all of that up, it’s over. Three Days Grace lied; it’s too late.

There’s not much left to do for Mets fans other than root for the Colorado Rockies, and of course, play the blame game.

Willie Randolph’s job is safe. Omar Minaya won’t be going anywhere either. It’s on the players. And who are the guys to blame.

Tom Glavine- Of course Glavine. He was listening to “Wake Me Up When September ends” the whole month (Hey Tom, wake up). Now, it’s hard not to see his Mets career ending on a bitter note. He was solid in his entire tenure here, and dominant in the clutch spots last year, but his clock is ticking. I see him going to Atlanta for one last season, this way he can get the proper farewell.

Billy Wagner – Wagner was filthy the first half, and he simply fell apart. Forget a 1-2-3 inning, he couldn’t go an inning without giving up a damn run. And in that bullpen, he needed to be the shut down closer through the entire season. He still hass two more years on his contract, so he’s not going anywhere.

Jose Reyes – The chants of “Jose, Jose, Jose, Jose” turned into a chorus of boos in the season’s final weekend. He popped up every at bat, failed to show the similar emotion as before, and didn’t steal a base in the final two weeks. The catalyst for the Mets offense really let them down, let the offense was still somehow able to produce without his production. They won’t be able to get back to the playoffs if Reyes doesn’t return to glory. If not, he could be a long road of regression.

The Entire Bullpen – Well, Aaron Heilman was actually pretty good for the most part. The rest were bad. Pedro Feliciano looked worn out, Jorge Sosa was overused and not performing, which is a deadly combination. The abscense of Duaner Sanchez can’t be overstated at this point. They NEED him back next year. Also, not having a productive long reliever like Darren Oliver was in 2006 hurt. Heilman and Wagner will still be there, but the rest could be completely different. 

David Wright – Yor eyes are not deceiving you. Wright finished with fantastic numbers, but it seemed like he struck out or grounded out in every clutch situation. You can’t have that from a guy getting MVP considerations.

Oliver Perez – He hit three batters in an inning! The guy can look like a Cy Young winner one inning, and the next you’re wondering how he has a spot in the roation. It’s amazingly frustrating. He’ll probably have a spot in the 2008 rotation after winning 15 games.

What should the Mets be looking to do? Well of course, bullpen help should be on top of their list. They might need a new lefty specialist, as well as a 7th-8th inning guy to complement Heilman. Maybe that role can be filled by Sanchez. Their starters will be interested. Pedro will be back. Maine and Perez also look likely to have spots. El Duque is a big question mark, but it looks like he is staying. Mike Pefrey and Phillip Humber will get the chance for a spot again, but after this collapse, the Mets will likely spend a lot (probably too much) money and free agency. Is Johan Santana a likely scenario? I really don’t see it happening, as the Twins would probably want Wright, Reyes, or any single top prospect in the Mets farm system. They can’t lose focus on the future because of the major dissapointment suffered.

And for us Mets fans out there, keep your head up. Enjoy the playoffs in a stress free matter now. Focus on another sport. The world is not over. Just remember, ya gotta believe.

Yeah, that pretty much sums it up.