Adrian Gonzalez Still Hits Home Runs?

Hello,

I saw a bit of the Sunday Night Baseball game last night. The game was Dodgers-Reds in Cincinnati. Dodgers pitching continues to be fantastic. It was good to see Clayton Kershaw pitching for LA. Some suggested that he was going to be out for the season. And perhaps if the Dodgers didn't have anything to play for he might not have pitched last night.

The most surprising thing about last night's game was that Adrian Gonzalez is still hitting home runs. He liked hitting that home run so much that he decided to hit a second home run later in the game. Gonzalez has now hit 3 home runs as a Dodger. He hit a home run in his first at bat as a Dodger and then two yesterday. Of course I do have to point out two caveats. The Reds had clinched the playoffs Saturday night and rested 4 of their starters in last night's game. Also Gonzalez has the number of the starting pitcher, Homer Bailey, he hit those home runs against last night. Homer is a terrible name for a pitcher don't ya think? Gonzalez has now hit 5 homers off of Homer in his career.

I hope Gonzalez's power surge last night is a sign of the way he's going to close out the season. I'm hoping that it isn't a fluke. I still don't think the Dodgers are going to make the playoffs, but I'd love to see their offense close out the season in style. That could give them something to build on next season.

According to ESPN, the Dodgers have a 4.5% of making the playoffs. However they trail St. Louis by 3 games and Milwaukee by a 1/2 game. They have to pass both of those teams to make the playoffs. I wouldn't say it's impossible, but it will be very difficult. Of course if this was last season, we wouldn't even be having this conversation. Atlanta would have practically sewn up the Wild Card by now. Right now their magic number to officially earn a Wild Card bid is 2 games. It would be nice to see them actually do something in the playoffs this year. Let's send Chipper Jones off in style! Is Braves-Orioles to much to ask for in the World Series?

For the Pirates I predicted they'd close the season winning 3 of their last 11 games. Well they surprised me by winning the first of their final 11 games yesterday. They still have a .1% chance of making the playoffs, but that isn't going to happen. I hope that they can find a way to finish above .500 so that wouldn't be 20 seasons without the Pirates having a winning season.

The most exciting playoff race of them all remains the AL East. The Yankees had their 7 game winning streak ended yesterday, while the Orioles had their 6 game winning streak ended. The exciting AL East battle continues today. Baltimore hosts the Blue Jays in a double header today. Meanwhile the Yankees go on the road to play the Twins. If everyone breaks right today, the Orioles could lead the AL East at the end of the day.

Also keep your eye on the AL Wildcard, the two wildcard teams will come from the Orioles, Yankees and A's.

themusicaddict