Playoff baseball is here! Last night's game between Detroit and Minnesota was one for the ages. Many of the players said it was the best game they were associated with. The game had timely hitting, great defense, throwing people out at home plate, gutty pitching and a crazy home crowd. There were also some controversial calls by the umpires. After 162 games Minnesota and Detroit were tied and were forced to play a 163rd game. After 9 innings of the 163rd game the two teams were still tied and forced to play three more gut clenching innings. (In the ESPN 30 for 30 series preview, one of the people said that sports has an "inherent drama" about it. Last night's game showed that.) What a great game!
After last night's tasty morsel, the playoffs start tonight. The early game is the Colorado Rockies vs. the defending World Series champs Philadelphia Phillies. In the afternoon game, there will be no rest for the comeback kids. Minnesota goes to play the Yankees and their stud pitcher CC Sabathia. The Yankees are very hungry after not winning a World Series for several years- since 2000. They didn't even make the playoffs last year, which is not acceptable in New York. The Yankees spent 423.5 million to reverse that. (The Yankees didn't get the memo that we are in the midst of a recession.) New York finished the season with a 103-59 record. By the way New York won all 7 games that they played against Minnesota. I don't think the Twins have a chance but I'll be cheering for them.
To no one's surprise New York beat Minnesota today to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-5 series. Minnesota showed a little bit of fight by scoring the first two runs but that wasn't enough to hold off the Yankees and their high powered lineup.
Then the nightcap is LA-St. Louis. I think my beloved Dodgers have a legitimate shot to win the World Series if Manny Ramirez plays like he's interested. I get the feeling he's ready for the season to be over. espn.com is calling Dodgers out- fielder Matt Kemp one to watch in these playoffs. Let's hope that's for the right reasons. I'm scared to death of Albert Pujols, the Cardinals punishing hitter. He's probably one of the most consistent players in MLB. He has power and speed, plus he's an extremely classy person.
St Louis had the two men on and Albert Pujols coming up, very wisely the Dodgers intentionally walked him. That led to a no outs, bases loaded situation for the Cardinals. Very luckily LA escaped as St. Louis only scored one run. In the bottom of the first Matt Kemp crushed a Chris Carpenter pitch for a two run homer. The Dodgers led 2-1 at the end of the first inning. Both teams added a run and LA leads 3-2 in the top of the 5th. LA had a bases loaded situation in the bottom of the 4th inning but Casey Blake flew out. So far both teams have left 9 men on base. Obviously this has not been a good game for the pitchers.
Philadelphia crushed Colorado 5-1 in the first game of their NLDS, they were powered by starting pitcher Cliff Lee. One of Philadelphia's biggest problems is their lack of a quality closer. Lee took care of that problem today by pitching a complete game shutout for the Phillies. It's not right that Philadelphia has both Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels. (I guess the karma gods gave them Brad Lidge as their closer to even things out.) Cliff Lee won the Cy Young award last season and Cole Hamels pitched very well for the Phillies on their way to last season's World Series victory. Cliff Lee is also today's most searched for subject according to Yahoo! Game 2 is back in Philadelphia tomorrow night.
Last night I also watched another excellent episode of "Mad Men". January Jones (Betty Draper) was looking even more stunning than usual. She has got to be one of the most gorgeous women in the world. Esquire Magazine just named Kate Beckinsdale the sexiest woman alive. She is drop dead gorgeous as well, but just a tad behind January Jones.
I have a few questions about "Mad Men". Why is Pete Campbell such a dork? How does he get any women to sleep with him, let alone multiple women. Where is this whole thing going with Connie Hilton? There are only 5 more episodes to explain the mysteries. How did Don Draper make it 8 episodes without any sex? That must be a record for the notorious ladies man. Also I thought Carla had quit and just like that she's back? What's up with Sally and being so physically aggressive? How is that going to play out in the storyline?
Check this out, this is pretty cool. It's hard to beat a great singer, a great song in a live setting. Thanks to youtube.com.
Enjoy the playoffs, themusicaddict
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