Yesterday, the New York Football Giants took on the Detroit Lions at New Meadowlands Stadium. The Detroit Lions proved to be a worthy opponent, however they lost their 24th straight on the road, and the Giants were proud to be apart of that streak. The Giants won this game 28-20, by running the football very well, making good throws when they needed to, not turning the ball over, and playing clutch defense. They got timely turnovers. However, it seemed as though Detroit came to New Jersey with a much better gameplan than the last two teams who faced the G-Men did. They keyed in on the Giants' stud wideout Hakeem Nicks, and kind of just took him out of the game. This made the Giants go to Mario Manningham and Steve Smith, but to the Lions' credit, they made other people try and beat them. On the offensive end for Detroit, they threw a lot of underneath passes, being they knew the Giants have a good pash rush, and run defense. To Detroits credit, with their second string quarterback getting hurt early in this game, Drew Stanton played his heart out and made some plays for Detroit.
Detroit's offense converted on many third down attempts and made the Giants defense stay on the field, longer then they would've in previous weeks. This simply kept them in the ballgame. Although the Giants seemed like they had the game in the bag a number of teams, the Lions stayed resiliant as they have in games this season, and kept Giants fans from leaving the stadium prematurely. The Lions may be 1-5, however they are a threat to any team out there, and if you don't play solid football the day you play Detroit, they will beat you. As a Giants fan, I am not disheartened by an 8 point when with a 9 point spread, I'm proud they got the job at hand done. The Giants are tied with the Philadelphia Eagles at 4-2 and at the head of the NFC East. Next week Big Blue will face the poor Cowboys. Those 1-4 Cowboys will be looking for a way to get their season back on track, it will be the Giants' job to go into big D and step on their necks.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Win One for Freddy
After the first two games have come and gone, the Yanks and Rangers travel back to New York where the next three games will be played. If the Yanks defend their homefield, they could be punching their tickets to their second World Series in 2 years. However they will have to get past the old rival Cliff Lee tonight. New York will have some things to honor while they play out the rest of their playoff games. Classic superfan, Freddy "Sez" Schuman died at 85 yesterday of a heart attack. Freddy was a beloved war veteran who brought homeade signs with cute phrases about the Yanks, and the fans would bang on his shamrock frying pan for good luck. I've grown up banging on that frying pan, and the last time I got to hit some metal, was after game 6 of last year's World Series, the clincher. Freddy will be missed greatly from the fan prospective, and in a year where Bob Sheppard, George Steinbrenner, and Ralph Houk died, this just happens to be another great person in the Yankee culture to pass away.
The first two games were wild, the first one being much more so than the second. The number one thing game one showed me was that a Yankee rally can start at any point in the lineup, and in any inning. Why are the Yankees the best offensive team? Balance. When you got a thick middle of the order like they do, with guys like Posada, Granderson, and Gardner finishing it off, you're in good shape. Gardner turns the lineup over like a mofo, and in game one, he did just that. Sliding head first into first base on a tough chopper that he beat out and starting the 5-run outburst that would change the outcome of game one, making it a 6-5 victory.
Game two was brutal in many aspects, basically, game one without a comeback. The Yanks still put some men on, and Robbie struck some good swings on pitches, and the Rangers were shaking and sweating, however the Yanks lost 7-2. That's how you know the Rangers are still shook in some light. Although the Yanks missed a chance to go up 2-0 and put this Texas team on the ropes with Colby Lewis going for them, and Phil Hughes going for NY, they still have the homefield advantage for the rest of the series, and it just seemed like the Rangers did everything they possibly could to win that game, and they still felt like they weren't safe.
Now tonight will be the battle of a couple left-handed pitchers with pretty marquee names. Andy Pettitte for the Yanks and of course Uncle Cliff Lee for the Rangers. The Yanks have not had a great history against Cliff Lee, and Lee has had a great postseason career. At the same time, Pettitte is virtually unbeatable at home and in the playoffs, so something has to give here. Most people may think Pettitte, but he is a solid as a rock in this setting, this is what everybody will remember him doing when it is all said and done, he wins games just like these. Cliff Lee is due for a subpar outing, he is a human being right? First ALCS home game, Mr. Pettite on the hill, Lee due for a bad outing, and the Yanks won't lose two in a row. Yanks win tonight beyond everyones love for Cliff Lee, 4-2.
The first two games were wild, the first one being much more so than the second. The number one thing game one showed me was that a Yankee rally can start at any point in the lineup, and in any inning. Why are the Yankees the best offensive team? Balance. When you got a thick middle of the order like they do, with guys like Posada, Granderson, and Gardner finishing it off, you're in good shape. Gardner turns the lineup over like a mofo, and in game one, he did just that. Sliding head first into first base on a tough chopper that he beat out and starting the 5-run outburst that would change the outcome of game one, making it a 6-5 victory.
Game two was brutal in many aspects, basically, game one without a comeback. The Yanks still put some men on, and Robbie struck some good swings on pitches, and the Rangers were shaking and sweating, however the Yanks lost 7-2. That's how you know the Rangers are still shook in some light. Although the Yanks missed a chance to go up 2-0 and put this Texas team on the ropes with Colby Lewis going for them, and Phil Hughes going for NY, they still have the homefield advantage for the rest of the series, and it just seemed like the Rangers did everything they possibly could to win that game, and they still felt like they weren't safe.
Now tonight will be the battle of a couple left-handed pitchers with pretty marquee names. Andy Pettitte for the Yanks and of course Uncle Cliff Lee for the Rangers. The Yanks have not had a great history against Cliff Lee, and Lee has had a great postseason career. At the same time, Pettitte is virtually unbeatable at home and in the playoffs, so something has to give here. Most people may think Pettitte, but he is a solid as a rock in this setting, this is what everybody will remember him doing when it is all said and done, he wins games just like these. Cliff Lee is due for a subpar outing, he is a human being right? First ALCS home game, Mr. Pettite on the hill, Lee due for a bad outing, and the Yanks won't lose two in a row. Yanks win tonight beyond everyones love for Cliff Lee, 4-2.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Texas It Is; CC vs C.J. First
During the season every time the Yanks faced off against Texas, I felt a playoff matchup coming in the future. The last time the Yankees went to Texas it was ugly, and that series set the tone for the entire month of September. In that series, the Yanks were swept away by the Rangers losing two games in walk-off fashion, Rivera losing one, and Cliff Lee dominating the last game of that series. Now those games really did have playoff-type atmosphere, but this is a different month, and a different season. The Yankees showed they knew the difference against Minnesota.
The big thing people look into in any playoff series is pitching. This series is obviously no different, but even more important. Both of these offenses can rely on a 3-run homer, but they can also get stolen bases, and play small ball equally good. The Yanks and Texas both won games in "small ball" fashion the the first round. That's what makes this such a good matchup. Because the Rangers had to throw Cliff Lee in game 5 to survive the first round, he will not be able to pitch game 1 or game 2, (both in Texas) advantage Yankees.
The Yanks will be on the road for the first two ballgames of the series, and the matchups will be CC Sabathia for the Yanks, squaring off against C.J. Wilson. Then it becomes either Andy Pettitte versus Colby Lewis, or Phil Hughes versus Colby Lewis. It will be interesting to see which way they go, because Pettitte and Hughes both pitch well on the road, and both love the hot weather in Texas. If it were up to me, I would keep it just how they had it last series, Pettitte then Hughes, it did work out. (Game 3 the Yanks face Cliff Lee.) Now it becomes either A.J. Burnett, that's right A.J. Bumett, or Sabathia in game 4 on short rest. This all depends on how the series has gone by that point. Tommy Hunter is the Rangers fourth starter, and we're all licking our chops for him. If it is CC on short rest in game 4, A.J. moves to the 5th game, and in that case, hopefully the Yanks sweep, however I predict Yanks in 6. Here are the possible pitching matchups laid out as nice and neat as possible for ya. Another "pre-series" article will be written before the start of the series.
Game 1
Sabathia vs. Wilson (in Texas)
Game 2
Pettitte/Hughes vs. Lewis (in Texas)
Game 3
Hughes/Pettitte vs. Lee (in New York)
Game 4
*Sabathia/Burnett vs. Hunter (in New York)
Game 5
Burnett/Sabathia vs. Wilson (in New York)
Game 6
Pettitte/Hughes vs. Lewis (in Texas)
Game 7
Hughes/Pettitte/*Sabathia vs. Lee (in Texas)
Bold=my preferred method
*=short rest
This all depends on if they decide to throw Sabathia on short rest. If CC goes to work on short rest in the 4th game, he'll be available to do it again in game 7. However they likely won't pitch Sabathia three times in this series. Personally, I don't have a problem with the veteran Andy Pettitte pitching a game 7 if he needs to. The Yankees clearly have a deeper pitching staff than the Rangers, from judging the possible matchups, it's easy to tell. While the Yankees really only have one question mark, (A.J. Burnett, maybe its a double ??) Texas has at least two (Lewis and Hunter.)
The Yankees need to win this series before the 7th game so they can limit the times they see Texas', and maybe baseball's best postseason pitcher, Cliff Lee. Other than Uncle Cliff, their rotation doesn't scare me too much. Who's ready?
The big thing people look into in any playoff series is pitching. This series is obviously no different, but even more important. Both of these offenses can rely on a 3-run homer, but they can also get stolen bases, and play small ball equally good. The Yanks and Texas both won games in "small ball" fashion the the first round. That's what makes this such a good matchup. Because the Rangers had to throw Cliff Lee in game 5 to survive the first round, he will not be able to pitch game 1 or game 2, (both in Texas) advantage Yankees.
The Yanks will be on the road for the first two ballgames of the series, and the matchups will be CC Sabathia for the Yanks, squaring off against C.J. Wilson. Then it becomes either Andy Pettitte versus Colby Lewis, or Phil Hughes versus Colby Lewis. It will be interesting to see which way they go, because Pettitte and Hughes both pitch well on the road, and both love the hot weather in Texas. If it were up to me, I would keep it just how they had it last series, Pettitte then Hughes, it did work out. (Game 3 the Yanks face Cliff Lee.) Now it becomes either A.J. Burnett, that's right A.J. Bumett, or Sabathia in game 4 on short rest. This all depends on how the series has gone by that point. Tommy Hunter is the Rangers fourth starter, and we're all licking our chops for him. If it is CC on short rest in game 4, A.J. moves to the 5th game, and in that case, hopefully the Yanks sweep, however I predict Yanks in 6. Here are the possible pitching matchups laid out as nice and neat as possible for ya. Another "pre-series" article will be written before the start of the series.
Game 1
Sabathia vs. Wilson (in Texas)
Game 2
Pettitte/Hughes vs. Lewis (in Texas)
Game 3
Hughes/Pettitte vs. Lee (in New York)
Game 4
*Sabathia/Burnett vs. Hunter (in New York)
Game 5
Burnett/Sabathia vs. Wilson (in New York)
Game 6
Pettitte/Hughes vs. Lewis (in Texas)
Game 7
Hughes/Pettitte/*Sabathia vs. Lee (in Texas)
Bold=my preferred method
*=short rest
This all depends on if they decide to throw Sabathia on short rest. If CC goes to work on short rest in the 4th game, he'll be available to do it again in game 7. However they likely won't pitch Sabathia three times in this series. Personally, I don't have a problem with the veteran Andy Pettitte pitching a game 7 if he needs to. The Yankees clearly have a deeper pitching staff than the Rangers, from judging the possible matchups, it's easy to tell. While the Yankees really only have one question mark, (A.J. Burnett, maybe its a double ??) Texas has at least two (Lewis and Hunter.)
The Yankees need to win this series before the 7th game so they can limit the times they see Texas', and maybe baseball's best postseason pitcher, Cliff Lee. Other than Uncle Cliff, their rotation doesn't scare me too much. Who's ready?
Monday, October 11, 2010
Giants Have Number One Defense in the NFL
5 games into the NFL season the Giants have already been through a lot. From an embarrassing Sunday night loss to Eli's brother, to a loss to the Titans that included self inflicted wounds, all the way to Tiki Barber saying Tom Coughlin lost the team and there aren't any leaders. So the Giants are 0-5 right? Oh no, those are the 49ers. The Giants are 3-2 and tied for 1st place in the NFC East with the Redskins (of course Green Bay couldn't help us out and just beat the Skins) and Eagles. However the Giants have started to really roll after a 17-3 destruction of Bears offensive linemen and quarterbacks, and a 34-10 manhandling of the Houston Texans who people were ready to proclaim AFC South champs.
Most people, like myself, figured the Giants would put up a dud performance after making everyone believers after the Chicago wooping. However the Giants backed up one great performance by another one, and this time on the road against in my opinion, a better team. Hakim Nicks had one of those superstar games catching 12 balls for over 100 yards (second straight week) and a couple of touchdowns. The defense had sacks, turnovers, solid tackles, and the only touchdown they gave up was set up by an Eli Manning interception. Now the Giants have the best defense in the NFL when its comes to total yards given up per game as well as passing yards given up per game. (6th in rushing.) If ya'll don't trust me, here you are. http://www.nfl.com/stats/team
The Giants have Detroit at home next week, who are coming off of a 44-6 victory over the Rams. This would be the type of game the old Giants could lose, after two convincing wins and then putting up a clunker against a bad team. However I trust the Giants that they won't lose the the Detroit Lions who haven't won a road game in years. They have a good offense, but the way the Giants defense has been playing, it shouldn't be a problem.
Most people, like myself, figured the Giants would put up a dud performance after making everyone believers after the Chicago wooping. However the Giants backed up one great performance by another one, and this time on the road against in my opinion, a better team. Hakim Nicks had one of those superstar games catching 12 balls for over 100 yards (second straight week) and a couple of touchdowns. The defense had sacks, turnovers, solid tackles, and the only touchdown they gave up was set up by an Eli Manning interception. Now the Giants have the best defense in the NFL when its comes to total yards given up per game as well as passing yards given up per game. (6th in rushing.) If ya'll don't trust me, here you are. http://www.nfl.com/stats/team
The Giants have Detroit at home next week, who are coming off of a 44-6 victory over the Rams. This would be the type of game the old Giants could lose, after two convincing wins and then putting up a clunker against a bad team. However I trust the Giants that they won't lose the the Detroit Lions who haven't won a road game in years. They have a good offense, but the way the Giants defense has been playing, it shouldn't be a problem.
Yanks Go In....To the ALCS
Of the 58 pitches Brian Duensing threw Saturday night, the Yankees swung and missed at NONE of them. We can all marvel and then realize that it was just the TWINS, but the Yanks are a force. Behind Sabathia, Pettitte, and Hughes, they are so hard to beat. Each start got even progressively better than the other. Sabthia gave up 4, Andy gave up 2, while Hughes threw 99 pitches over 7 shut out innings. It is good to see the Yanks are getting some length from their starters, so they can shorten the game with a solid bullpen.
Yanks now can watch football, and other playoff baseball until the start of the ALCS which is Friday. Tomorrow night they will find out if they are going to be facing Texas or Tampa. Because this series went 5 games, (I called it going back to Tampa after 2-0) Cliff Lee or David Price will not start game 1 on short rest, so right there its advatage Yankees. I'll have more for ya ALCS-wise once we find out who we are playing.
Yanks now can watch football, and other playoff baseball until the start of the ALCS which is Friday. Tomorrow night they will find out if they are going to be facing Texas or Tampa. Because this series went 5 games, (I called it going back to Tampa after 2-0) Cliff Lee or David Price will not start game 1 on short rest, so right there its advatage Yankees. I'll have more for ya ALCS-wise once we find out who we are playing.
Friday, October 8, 2010
Yanks Beat Twins Twice, Back to NY up 2-0
If there's one thing we've all learned from the first 2 games, the Yankees are dangerous. After a lame September, (under .500) people were trippin' thinking the Yanks just did not have it this year like they did last year. Whether its because its the Minnesota Twins or not, New York is still showing that they are the toughest team in the AL.
Even with a subpar strart from CC, the Yanks still managed to come down with game one. Sabathia was able to keep the Yanks from falling too far behind, got out of some big jams. The Yankee offense played a bit of a Muhammed Ali role, making Francisco Liriano throw pitch after pitch in 5 scoreless innings. The offense decided to start throwing punches when Liriano looked vulnerable in the 6th, and sure enough, they ended up with a 4-run outburst. CC would give Minnesota back a run, and it would be tied at 4s. The bullpen would then come in to do a good job, the Yankee one that is. Jesse Crain would give up a 2 run moonshot to Mark Teixeira which no announcers even made an attempt at calling when it happened. Kerry Wood and Mariano River cleaned up the 8th and 9th, and 6-4 Yanks was game one.
Game two was classic Pettitte for ya. 7 innings, 2 earned. Just made great pitches, every pitch but just about two. Lance Berkman was the offensive story in this one, homering to give the Yanks a one-run lead, and then doubling to give them a 3-2 lead. Curtis Granderson collected 3 hits, driving in one, and scoring one. The great thing about this Yankee lineup, is that a rally can ignite at any time. Whether its the top of the order stirring the pot, or 6-9 getting it going, kind of like last night.
The Yankees now go back to New York just needing to win 1 of the next 3 games, and 2 of them being at Yankee Stadium. Phil Hughes will get the game 3 start with a chance to sweep the Minnesota Twins in the ALDS for the second year in a row. He usually pitches better when he's gotten rest. Rest is what he has gotten, instead of making his last scheduled start, he pitched via bullpen, and only threw one inning, an effective inning, even picking up a win. We'll see what Phil of the future holds, if by chance the Yanks lose, CC Sabathia goes in game 4. I think we can all smell ALCS and beyond...
Even with a subpar strart from CC, the Yanks still managed to come down with game one. Sabathia was able to keep the Yanks from falling too far behind, got out of some big jams. The Yankee offense played a bit of a Muhammed Ali role, making Francisco Liriano throw pitch after pitch in 5 scoreless innings. The offense decided to start throwing punches when Liriano looked vulnerable in the 6th, and sure enough, they ended up with a 4-run outburst. CC would give Minnesota back a run, and it would be tied at 4s. The bullpen would then come in to do a good job, the Yankee one that is. Jesse Crain would give up a 2 run moonshot to Mark Teixeira which no announcers even made an attempt at calling when it happened. Kerry Wood and Mariano River cleaned up the 8th and 9th, and 6-4 Yanks was game one.
Game two was classic Pettitte for ya. 7 innings, 2 earned. Just made great pitches, every pitch but just about two. Lance Berkman was the offensive story in this one, homering to give the Yanks a one-run lead, and then doubling to give them a 3-2 lead. Curtis Granderson collected 3 hits, driving in one, and scoring one. The great thing about this Yankee lineup, is that a rally can ignite at any time. Whether its the top of the order stirring the pot, or 6-9 getting it going, kind of like last night.
The Yankees now go back to New York just needing to win 1 of the next 3 games, and 2 of them being at Yankee Stadium. Phil Hughes will get the game 3 start with a chance to sweep the Minnesota Twins in the ALDS for the second year in a row. He usually pitches better when he's gotten rest. Rest is what he has gotten, instead of making his last scheduled start, he pitched via bullpen, and only threw one inning, an effective inning, even picking up a win. We'll see what Phil of the future holds, if by chance the Yanks lose, CC Sabathia goes in game 4. I think we can all smell ALCS and beyond...
Monday, October 4, 2010
Yanks Wind up with Wildcard; Bring on the Twins
Well last Friday's Pettitte/Matsuzaka matchup never happened because of the rain, but the following day a Pettitte/Wakefield and a Burnett/Matsuzaka did. The first game was another classic matchup between Boston and New York, whether the Red Sox have the replacements playing, or minor leaguers, it doesn't matter, all games subject to go extra innings, which both did on Saturday. Andy Pettitte scattered 9 hits and 3 earned over 4 innings. While it wasn't the picture perfect playoff-like Pettitte, it was still a grind-it-out performance. Pettitte kept the Yanks in the ballgame, and allowed the Yankee offense to go to work on the knuckleballer Tim Wakefield. Wakefield can either throw a shutout over 7 innings, or give up 7 runs in 7 innings. This time Wakefield let up 5, in 5 innings. By the 7th, it was 5-3 Yanks with the big guns ready to go in the bullpen. The Yanks' bullpen would end up faltering, allowing a run in the 7th and 8th innings behind a compilation of Logan, Chamberlain, and usually Mr. Automatic Kerry Wood. Phil Hughes would come on in relief and got a well-earned 18th victory of the season. Brett Gardner would score after stolen base, after stolen base on a Jeter chopper. Small ball has been doing the trick for the Yanks as of late. The legend Mariano would get his 33rd save in the bottom of the 10th.
Game 2 was the same and different. There couldn't have been worse guys to go to for the back-end of a double header than A.J. Burnett and Daisuke Matsuzaka. Both pitchers threw a ton of pitches early and got in jam after jam creating picket fences on both halves of innings. 4-3 Yanks going into the 6th somehow, but that's where Burnett does what he does best, letting the Red Sox tie it right back up and then hand it to basically the Scranton (minor league) bullpen. Yanks would get 2 more runs in the top half of the 7th off of reliever Scott Atchison who looks like he's 57, but they would give those 2 runs right back in the bottom of the 8th thanks to a first in second jam Royce Ring left for rookie Ivan Nova. This was Nova's audition for a relief role in the postseason, and failed, not miserably, but did fail. Ivan Nova does not have it in the stretch. He is a completely different pitcher with runners on base, for the worse. This was a perfect storm, 1st and 2nd, 1 out, first relief appearance. He would let up 4 hits, walked 3! Got out of the inning tied somehow, and this led to another extra inning game in the same day where they would lose behind Ivan Nova himself, giving up a near homerun which ended up being a double, (would've been a triple if he didn't admire it) and the walk-off base hit to Eric Patterson, younger brother to Corey.
The worst part about the second game is that I left homecoming at Rutgers to go home and watch it. That makes me pretty awesome right? With that loss and a Tampa win, the Yanks lost control of their own destiny. Going into Sunday the Yanks would have to win behind Dustin Moseley and Tampa would have to lose to Kansas City (Sean O'Sullivan the starter) for the 3rd time in a 4 game series. In fact, neither happened. The Yanks would drop Sunday's game to Boston 8-4, while Tampa came back from a 2-0 deficit to win 3-2 in extras.
The Yanks will be going in as the Wildcard after what looked like another division clinching season. It isn't neccessary to be a champion but it does mean the Yanks have to travel to Minnesota instead of coming home and playing Texas, and if the Yanks and Rays advance past the first round, they would have to go to Tampa, but it is what it is. Cue up the excuses and get ready for Liriano/Sabathia on Wednesday.
Game 2 was the same and different. There couldn't have been worse guys to go to for the back-end of a double header than A.J. Burnett and Daisuke Matsuzaka. Both pitchers threw a ton of pitches early and got in jam after jam creating picket fences on both halves of innings. 4-3 Yanks going into the 6th somehow, but that's where Burnett does what he does best, letting the Red Sox tie it right back up and then hand it to basically the Scranton (minor league) bullpen. Yanks would get 2 more runs in the top half of the 7th off of reliever Scott Atchison who looks like he's 57, but they would give those 2 runs right back in the bottom of the 8th thanks to a first in second jam Royce Ring left for rookie Ivan Nova. This was Nova's audition for a relief role in the postseason, and failed, not miserably, but did fail. Ivan Nova does not have it in the stretch. He is a completely different pitcher with runners on base, for the worse. This was a perfect storm, 1st and 2nd, 1 out, first relief appearance. He would let up 4 hits, walked 3! Got out of the inning tied somehow, and this led to another extra inning game in the same day where they would lose behind Ivan Nova himself, giving up a near homerun which ended up being a double, (would've been a triple if he didn't admire it) and the walk-off base hit to Eric Patterson, younger brother to Corey.
The worst part about the second game is that I left homecoming at Rutgers to go home and watch it. That makes me pretty awesome right? With that loss and a Tampa win, the Yanks lost control of their own destiny. Going into Sunday the Yanks would have to win behind Dustin Moseley and Tampa would have to lose to Kansas City (Sean O'Sullivan the starter) for the 3rd time in a 4 game series. In fact, neither happened. The Yanks would drop Sunday's game to Boston 8-4, while Tampa came back from a 2-0 deficit to win 3-2 in extras.
The Yanks will be going in as the Wildcard after what looked like another division clinching season. It isn't neccessary to be a champion but it does mean the Yanks have to travel to Minnesota instead of coming home and playing Texas, and if the Yanks and Rays advance past the first round, they would have to go to Tampa, but it is what it is. Cue up the excuses and get ready for Liriano/Sabathia on Wednesday.
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