Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Colorado's Ongoing October Odyssey



Photo:REUTERS/Jeff Topping


Centre fielder Willy Taveras makes a diving catch in deep right centre in the seventh inning, robbing Tony Clark of an extra base hit, a run batted in and stuffing out a DiamondBacks rally in a 2-1 game.

Here's the play from ESPN SportsCenter (the only way MLB will allow us to see their content with out a subscription, and the only way I can re-publish it here for you).




DiamondBacks tie the game in the bottom of the 9th but then walk home the winning run in the top of the 11th. Colorado's bullpen then closes the deal with a 1, 2, 3 bottom of the inning. Final score Colorado Rockies 3, Arizona DiamondBacks 2

Rockies go up 2-0 in the National League Championship Series, their 8th win in a row and the 19th of their last 20 games.




mh

Saturday, October 6, 2007

Colorado Rockies on a Mythic Journey into October.

The Colorado Rockies may be the team to beat in this year's World Series.

Since a game last Saturday afternoon, the 29th of September, the Rockies have not lost a game and have won 16 0f 17 on this drive. They won the final 2 games of a 3 game set from the DiamondBacks to end the season and went on to eliminate the San Diego Padres in an add-on tie breaker game to win a play off berth with the Philadelphia Phillies.

When the Rockies arrive home to Coors Field to play the Phillies Saturday night they will be endeavoring to win their 6th consecutive game, and a Division Series sweep.

There is wind in their sails.




mh

Thursday, July 19, 2007

The Toronto Blue Jay Post Game Phone-in Guy

The first caller, on the July 19, '07 get-away-day, afternoon post game, phone-in show on the Fan590 Toronto, nailed it:

(paraphrasing)
"..the Toronto Blue Jays were either winning or tied going into the seventh, eighth or ninth in every game against the New York Yankees, and ended up losing 3 of 4."


Pitching has been as good as it gets.

The line-up, in only it's tenth day playing together, is hot and cold: lead-off, the four spot, and 8, 9 are cold. The nine-cylinder-offense must fire on one more cylinder to beat first division teams.

For my buck, the juries still out; we still haven't seen this line-up kick yet.



mh

Wednesday, June 13, 2007

Rodgers Blue Jays Telecast From San Fransisco - Already In Progress

"Curtis Thigpen's start at first could be a sign the front office thinks this year is toast. The lack of a first string catcher is this teams leading, Achilles heel."


With one out and nobody on, in the top of the second, Rogers SportsNet Ontario joins the Rodgers owned, Toronto Blue Jays at San Fransisco Giants, already in progress.

Probably contractual obligations with the Yankees broadcast they were airing coming up to 10:00 pm eastern, Blue Jays start.

And the Cable Giant owns a Major League Baseball Franchise, why?


Later, in the eighth, Randy Winn preserves the Giants one run lead by bringing back an Aaron Hill home run to left, a play that would not have been made by Barry Bonds who regularly plays there - but who was pinch run for a half inning earlier. Giants coach, Bruce Bochy, (and defensive replacement Winn) probably stole the game with that move.

And, there's Aaron Hill, right in the middle of it, again.

Gibbons managed well enough in this National League park, taking advantage of Inter league play and this west coast swing to shake things up in the batting order - which has been struggling since May.

Royce Clayton got the start at short-stop, and a chance to show what he can do in the lead-off spot. Curtis Thigpen got the start at first and battled sixth. Greg Zaun and Frank Thomas were both asked to pinch hit in the 9th, as Gibbons put veterans in, late in the game, in a position to help the team win.

Curtis Thigpen's start at first could be a sign the front office thinks this year is toast. The lack of a first string catcher is this teams leading, Achilles heel. Giving Curtis Thigpen at bats doesn't make sense - with Greg Zaun coming back from injury and the Blue Jays carrying four catchers (also, Jason Phillips and Sal Fasano).

N Lowry had a first rate night for Giants, and he gets the Win (6-5), 6.0 IP, 4 Hits, 2 Runs, 2 earned runs, 4 Walks, 5 K's).

A. J. Burnett gets the loss which is fitting, as it was his error (throwing) that lead to the Giants third and winning run.

A.J. left in the fifth with a slightly strained shoulder. Great News for Blue Jays fans (that it's not his Tommy John elbow); one more major injury and this season is a right-off.

As it is we can maintain faith by ignoring a few truths.

A. J. Burnett's line: Loss(5-6), 6 Hits, 3 Runs, 2 EARNED RUNS, 2 Walks, 4 K's.





mh

Tuesday, June 5, 2007

Aaron Hill Walks, Forces Home Winning Run - Jays Pick Up Another Game In AL East Race

The baseball gods ended this one with a signature - a note, letting us know they were there. They signed this one with a probability function that boggles the mind (an unlikely ending).

Aaron Hill walks to lead off in the ninth - down by five runs - and walks again in the same inning with the bases loaded to force in the winning run!

The gods seemed to have believed the D-Rays should lose this one.

With a bow on!

Tonight was an object lesson in why one should never leave a baseball game before the last out.

Going into the ninth:
Tampa Bay Devil Rays 11 - Toronto Blue Jays 6

Final Score:
Tampa Bay Devil Rays 11 - Toronto Blue Jays 12




mh

Wednesday, May 30, 2007

Alex Rodriguez Is A Cheater - In Win Over Toronto Blue Jays

Remember in the American League Series when Alex Rodriguez slapped the the glove of the man covering first? The ball dropped; and the New York Yankees went on to lose the series.

Image

According to the Baseball Gods; you can steal bases, you can throw junk pitches, you can even slide hard - but, Alex Rodriguez, you can't knock the ball out of the other guys glove hoping the umpire doesn't see it.

That's cheating.

Tonight at Rogers Centre with a Blue Full Moon
overhead (infoplease.com), Howie Clark is camped under a easy pop-up to end the eighth, in a one run game. Alex Rodriguez is sauntering by, on his way to third - going through the motions. Howie Clark knows shortstop John McDonald is right behind him - and he knows it's the shortstops ball if he calls it.

All of a sudden Clark dives out of the way, the ball drops, a run scores...

Then John McDonald goes ballistic on Alex Rodriguez who's now standing on third.

You don't do that in baseball - because two players running to a high struck ball, blind with their eyes on the ball, are in a MOST perilous position. A system of protocols is in place, on every play, so that nobody is injured in a collision.

So... no one on the field of play crosses that line; you don't trick the other guy by saying 'I got it' as you run by - it’s DANGEROUS.

That's cheating - twice.

Alex Rodriguez Is A Cheater.




mh

Tuesday, May 29, 2007

Aaron Hill Steals Home!

Video-images of Aaron Hill's Straight Steal of Home !
As per my last post, on Second Baseman Aaron Hill of the Toronto Blue Jays, now here he goes and steals home.
[liveleak(dotcom) below the fold.]

(Getty Images Photo / Jim McIsaac)


A 1 - 1 Juggernaut in the seventh, here in Toronto. New York Yankees pitcher, Andy Pettite is paying too much attention to first - and forgets about Hill -
Aaron Hill executes a straight steal of Home for the lead!

You don't see that everyday!

This young baseball player LOOKS like a baseball player; he's smart at the plate or on the base paths; he has a range like Roberto Alomar, or Orlando Hudson; his footwork is Perfect, every throw is to the glove.

Goin' to the Hall at Cooperstown...

Here's Video-images from Liveleak.com





mh

Monday, May 28, 2007

Toronto Blue Jays Flock Distraught?

Jays bandwagon jumping beans should take some stock.

Where is this team one third of the way into the season?

  • Alex Rios is a year behind where many thought he would be because of injury - but he is now, a better than average major league baseball player - he's a keeper.
  • Second Baseman Aaron Hill will win a gold glove this year, I think he's on his way to the Hall.
  • One of the best centre fielders in the game.
  • Ditto at First Base.
  • DH (evil DH position) Go Frank Go. Frank Thomas is one of the best all around hitters in the game - .300 hitters get better with age!
  • Reed Johnson in Left Field: The Spark plug of this offense, will be back in July, hopefully.
  • 2 Aces and a bull pen amongst the best in the league.


Relax. Have a seat, it's early. Nobodies running away with this division - this is after all, Post Evil Empire...

And Boston Traded Trot Nixon???

Fools...



mh