Archive for October, 2007
What to expect this off season from Baseball Reflections …
In no particular order…
I will be analyzing all 30 teams
Position by position analysis
What hole do they need to address before the 2008 season
Weekly Fantasy Analysis
By position players 2-9
Then by Starters
Then by Relievers
Then by Closers
Weekly Answers to a selected reader’s question (if any)
Weekly post of Pete’s Perspective on a given baseball topic such as, but [...]
The Manager Watch…
It’s all but official, Joe Giradi has accepted a 3-year deal to be the new manager of the New York Yankees, managerial candidate Don Mattingly, it seems, will not be offered a position on Girardi’s coaching staff.
Rumor has it that Grady Little is on the way out in LA, as the Dodgers are in talks [...]
Elsewhere in Baseball News…
After hitting only .229 with an OBP of .304 with 4 HRs with 39 RBIs & 10 SBs, The San Diego Padres have released 2B Marcus Giles
Both CF Torii Hunter & LF Barry Bonds have filed for Free Agency
The Twins have picked up the option on the contract of their top Closer Joe Nathan for 2008
Help [...]
Detroit Tigers & the Atlanta Braves Strike a Deal
In the News…
The
Detroit Tigers & the Atlanta Braves wasted no time in striking a deal for the first trade of the season (The Tigers do it again, as they did last year). The Tigers get SS Edgar Renteria (32) & cash for up & coming right-handed starter Jair Jurrjens along with minor league OF [...]
2007 World Series Winners!
Congratulations Boston Red Sox!
Boston beats the Rockies in a 4 game sweep.
World Series MVP: Mike Lowell
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Matsuzaka Hits
With the bases loaded in the 3rd and two outs, Matsuzaka got his first major league hit (now 1 – 5), scoring 2 runs.
Josh Fogg leaves the game after 2.2 innings. Franklin Morales got the last out in the third.
Red Sox lead 6 – 0
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Base Running Was the Key!
By Peter Schiller
Baseball’s mantra: pitching and defense win ball games. But, when pitching and defense are an even match-up, base running will determine the final score. It certainly did in Game 2, which was a completely different game when compared with Game 1’s blow out. Colorado’s first batter of the game, Taveras, would score the [...]
Pete’s Rose Comments on Schilling
By Mishael Schiller
Schilling may have just departed Fenway’s mound for the final time in a Red Sox uniform. He is a big reason why Boston’s trip to the 2007 World Series is not under the pressure of a 90 year drought. Schilling’s bloody sock game at Yankee Stadium in Game 6 of the 2004 ALCS [...]
It’s Taco Time America!
On behalf of all of America, we would like to thank Boston’s Jacoby Ellsbury for his steal of 2nd base in the bottom of the 4th! With that steal, all of America will be treated to a free taco between the hours of 2 and 5 on October 30th.
Thank you Jacoby!
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Who’s Hot, Who’s Not & Who’s Likely to Get Hot!
Who’s Hot:
Rox:
NLCS MVP Matt Holliday
C Yorvit Torrealba
2B Kaz Matsui
RF Brad Hawpe
SP Jeff Francis 2 wins in 2 GS
SP Josh Fogg 2 wins in 2 GS
Closer Manny Corpas with 5 post season saves out of 7 games won!
Pitching staff with an ERA of 2.08!
Sox:
ALCS MVP Josh Beckett (Mr. October 2007?)
1B Kevin Youkilis
3B Mike Lowell
RF [...]
2007 World Series match-ups by position
Colorado Rockies v.
Boston Red Sox
Catcher: Yorvit Torrealba v. Jason Varitek Edge: Sox Varitek is
Boston’s invaluable captain.
First: Todd Helton v. Kevin Youkilis Edge: Sox Youk has been hot in the playoffs; Helton has not
Second: Kazou Matsui v. Dustin Pedroia Edge: Rox Slight edge for SB & more power & production
Third: Garrett Atkins v. Mike Lowell [...]
Tribute to the Tribe
Pete’s Rose
By Mishael Schiller
The Red Sox ALCS comeback of 2007 has one down-side. It was done against the Cleveland Indians. It was one thing to spank the Yankees in 2004 in their own house. Most people outside of New York (and some in it) LOVE to see the Yankees lose. There was no remorse in [...]
RED SOX Advance to the 2007 World Series
Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon records the last 6 outs to earn his 1st post season save.
Cleveland 2 runs 10 hits & 1 error
Boston 11 runs 15 hits & 1 error
W: Matsuzaka (1-1) L: Westbrook (1-2) S: Papelbon (1)
Game MVP: Dustin Pedroia
Series MVP: Josh Beckett
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More Game 7 ALCS Notes
In the 8th inning with the bases loaded with Red Sox, Pedroia hits a bases clearing double (RBI’s 3-4-5 on the night) knocking out RP Betancourt.
New Indians pitcher is Jansen Lewis who was greeted by a Youkilis HR off the middle Coke bottle on the light tower high above the Green Monster.
Red Sox lead is [...]
More Game 7 ALCS Notes
Red Sox RP Okajima comes in & pitches 2 scoreless innings & is then relieved by closer Papelbon in the 8th to face the Indians 3-4-5 hitters.
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More Game 7 ALCS Notes
The Red Sox 7th belongs to the Rookies.
Jacoby Ellsbury leads off by reaching second base on an error by Cleveland third baseman Casey Blake. Lugo then bunts Ellsbury to third when the other Sox Rookie, Dustin Pedroia homers over the Green Monster in left center. All of this coming off of the Indian’s best RP [...]
More Game 7 ALCS Notes
Indians Starting pitcher Jake Westbrook comes out after 6 innings giving up 3 ER on 9 hits.
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Game 7 ALCS Notes
Red Sox pitcher Matsuzaka leaves after 5 innings with a 3 – 2 lead while allowing 6 hits.
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Indians SP Paul Byrd caught Buying HGH?
ESPN.com news services have reported the following story this morning. Here are two excerpts from that report:
Paul Byrd, who pitched the Cleveland Indians to the brink of the World Series with a victory in Game 4 of the ALCS on Tuesday, bought nearly $25,000 worth of human growth hormone and syringes, according to a published [...]
ALCS Tied at 3!
Red Sox win 12 – 2
WP Curt Schilling (2-0) LP Fausto Carmona (0-1)
GAME 7 Tomorrow Night at 8pm at Fenway Park
What an emotional series this has been! The Colorado Rockies have to be glad to see this going 7 with their 8 days of rest going into the World Series!
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Red Sox Score Again in the 8th!
With one out, Youkilis walked & went to third when Ortiz doubled. Eric Hinske pinch runs for Ortiz. Ramirez gets an RBI sacrifice fly to center scoring Youkilis. Then Hinske scores on a single by Lowell.
Red Sox lead 12 – 2
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Indians score
In the 7th, with a lead off triple by Garko off the wall in left, Peralta knocks him in with a sacrifice fly to right.
Red Sox lead 10 – 2
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More in the third
Rookie centerfielder Jacoby Ellsbury, “the human spark plug” knocked home Lowell with a hit followed by Lugo’s 1st two RBI’s with Ellsbury flying aronud the bases & scoring from first.
Youkilis hits a single off the Green Monster scoring Lugo. Then Youkilis gets in a rundown at first & Cabrera hits him in the head with [...]
Carmona out of the game early!
Carmona is knocked out of the game after two walks and an RBI (5) single by Drew in the 3rd with no outs!
Coming in to pitch for the Indians is Rafael Perez (L).
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Fenway Park Sees it’s First Red Sox Grand Slam in Playoff History
J.D. Drew, with the bases loaded in the 1st inning & 2 outs became only the 3rd player in Red Sox history to hit a Grand Slam in the playoffs! The other two were Troy O’Leary (LF) in the 1999 ALDS (in Cleveland) & Johnny Damon (CF) in game 6 of the 2004 ALCS against [...]
ALCS Pre-Game 6 Notes
Has Beckett’s win Thursday night shifted the Momentum in this Series?
Will returning to Boston the game after Beckett pitches in another dominant performance be enough to carry the Sox to their second World Series in 4 years?
Will Beckett’s performance in this post season give him the title of the new Mr. October?
Will Carmona bounce back [...]
ALCS Reader Shout Outs
Baseball Reflections Interactive:
Leading up to game 6 of this ALCS, let’s hear your thoughts as to who should be playing in this game & who should be sitting & why…
For the Red Sox in game 6:
Who should be playing CF? Coco Crisp or the rookie spark plug Jacoby Ellsbury?
Who should be playing SS? Julio [...]
Tribute to Torre
Hats off in honor of Joe Torre. The Yankee’s long-time manager will not be returning to
New York next season. Even rival Red Sox fans must pay their respects to Joe Torre and the clout that he has brought to the Yankee’s Organization. He will be a tough act to follow. He has been a [...]
Brief Game 5 Comments
Boston Wins 7-1 after excellent pitching performance by Josh Beckett. Tribe leads series 3-2.
Back to Boston we go! More after I get a good night’s sleep. . . be sure to check back!
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Torre Turns Down 1-Year Offer
This just in…
Joe Torre turned down a 1-year offer by the Yankees today worth $5M + up to $3M in incentives, like if they made it into the World Series in 2008. The Yankees have said that they will now seek out other options to manage in 2008.
*Torre had been the manager of the [...]
