John Fogerty had it wrong... shoulda been 'Put me in, skip!'
The MLB playoffs have begun, and a couple of surprises caught my eye.
First of all, to no one's surprise, Josh Beckett mowed through the Anaheim (Screw you, Arte Moreno!) Angels like a weed-whacker through a soap bubble. The guy shut down the Yankees in '03, and has pitched more shutouts in the postseason than he has in the regular season. Take note, Fatass Hernandez, THAT is a 'big game' pitcher.
It was surprising to me that the Philadelphia Phillies, the best offensive team in the NL this year, were beaten effectively by the white-hot Colorado Rockies. Philly's best hitters went a combined 0 for 15. That... will not get it done. The Rockies might be able to ride the momentum all the way into the world series if someone doesn't bring them back to earth, and if they get back into that thin air at Coors Field, may be able to handle any team in either league.
Something in me recoils at the idea of the Rockies even smelling the World Series.
And what the hell was Lou Piniella thinking? Pulling his star workhorse pitcher after six innings in a tie game? Suck it up, Cubs fans. As much as I dislike the D-Backs, I suspect we will be seeing an all NL West pennant series, and the Cubs will have to try to avoid going 100 years without a WS win next season.
More reports as events warrant.
UPDATE: Ten minutes into the second game between the Phillies and Rockies, and the Rockies have a 2-run lead. Oy.
First of all, to no one's surprise, Josh Beckett mowed through the Anaheim (Screw you, Arte Moreno!) Angels like a weed-whacker through a soap bubble. The guy shut down the Yankees in '03, and has pitched more shutouts in the postseason than he has in the regular season. Take note, Fatass Hernandez, THAT is a 'big game' pitcher.
It was surprising to me that the Philadelphia Phillies, the best offensive team in the NL this year, were beaten effectively by the white-hot Colorado Rockies. Philly's best hitters went a combined 0 for 15. That... will not get it done. The Rockies might be able to ride the momentum all the way into the world series if someone doesn't bring them back to earth, and if they get back into that thin air at Coors Field, may be able to handle any team in either league.
Something in me recoils at the idea of the Rockies even smelling the World Series.
And what the hell was Lou Piniella thinking? Pulling his star workhorse pitcher after six innings in a tie game? Suck it up, Cubs fans. As much as I dislike the D-Backs, I suspect we will be seeing an all NL West pennant series, and the Cubs will have to try to avoid going 100 years without a WS win next season.
More reports as events warrant.
UPDATE: Ten minutes into the second game between the Phillies and Rockies, and the Rockies have a 2-run lead. Oy.