SPANISH HARLEM – What a week it has been in the MLB Playoffs! I know I’m may be in the minority but the intensity and excitement you see from the fans are (It’s not “is,” is it?) something to behold. The games have been close for the most part, with pitching being the most important asset a team can have. Some of you may enjoy watching teams like the Blue Jays (who advanced over the Rangers in the ALDS), that have an offence (Canadian spelling) that can rival any… but I’ll take good pitching over good hitting, every time.
Terry Francona, manager of the Cleveland Indians, has been applauded for the unique way he has used Andrew Miller but really that’s the way baseball used to be played before sabermetrics took over. Players like Goose Gossage were brought in at any time in the game to pitch when the manager felt he was needed the most. Yes, the Indians have themselves a closer in Cody Allen but Miller might just be the best reliever in baseball today. I should know, as he was my favorite Yankee before being traded this year. He was a class act in his two years with the Yanks and I was happy to see him help the Indians beat the hated Red Sox. The Tribe may not look as mighty as the Blue Jays but good pitching will keep you in games and if they continue to use Andrew Miller they way they have, I can definitely see them in the World Series.
Man oh man, what a game that was for the Cubs on Tuesday night. Just when you thought the talk of the dreaded curse would rear its ugly head, they come back in the 9th inning to steal a win from the Giants and advance to the NLCS. The Giants basically had the game in the bag, Matt Moore pitched 8 strong innings but the Giants could not nail down the last three outs to take the series back to Chicago. It was somewhat simultaneously hysterical and sad to watch Bruce Bochy butcher (say that 3 times fast) pitching change after pitching change only to see the next man fail. I felt bad for Giants at that moment but then I remembered they won 3 Championship since 2010, so that feeling didn’t last long.
Up next for the Cubs is the winner of Thursday’s game against the Washington Nationals and the Los Angeles Dodgers. What a game that will be, with the Nationals starting Max Scherzer. He’ll oppose Rich Hill of the Dodgers. Emotions will be sky high for this game, as only one team will move on, while the other will clean out their lockers for the year. I will be watching intently because I expect a good game from both sides but manly the reason will be to watch Scherzer pitch, he’s a bulldog. So relax, grab a beer or two and watch a winner-take-all game against two of the best teams in the National League.
I
hope you enjoy the game as much as I will.
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