After the latest series of playoff baseball, the sports world has come to discover that the Boston Red Sox and the St.Louis Cardinals have been oisted.
After being the first team in the ML to clinch a playoff berth, the Cardinals were swept by the Dodgers in the best of 5 series during the ALDS. Not even being apart of a team's roster, Dodgers starting pitcher, Vicente Padilla, closed the door of what would be the Cards '09 season. Andre Ethier was a single away from hitting for the rare cycle and Manny Ramirez pitched in with 2 RBI's on 3 hits.
The Cardinals who seemed to be a threat for every team, had been shut down the whole series, batting a dismal .262 while driving in only 6 runs the whole series. On top of that, a pitching rotation that was thought to be simply too strong, being led by 2 of the top 3 candidates for NL Cy Young, Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright, finished the series posting an overall 3.86 ERA and allowing 13 runs.
The series, which never seemed to be too close at all, was highlighted by an error committed by Cardinals left fielder, Matt Holliday in game 2. In the bottom of the ninth inning with 2 outs, the all-star left fielder dropped an easy line-out that would've ended the game and even up the series at one. Instead, Holliday couldn't decide on whether to catch it thumbs in or thumbs out.
This comes as a disappointment as my pick for the World Series was between the LA Angels and the Cardinals.
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Speaking of the Angels, my pick from the American League came through today, completing the sweep against the Red Sox. Down a run in the 9th on a 2-2 count with 2 outs, all-star right fielder, Vladimir Guerrero hit a 2-run single off Sox closer, Johnathan Papelbon. Brian Fuentes then came in and closed the case on the Red Sox, who have faced the Angels the past 3 years in postseason play. However, in this series, the Red Sox seemed to have no life at all through the first 2 games, totaling only 1 run in both games. The Angels, who outscored them 16-7 through all 3 games, posted an unprecedented 0.50 ERA through the first two, before giving up 6 today.
In this case, it was just about not playing to potential. Starting Jon Lester in game 1 of the series, to me, was a mistake by club skipper, Terry Francona. If he had put Josh Beckett, who has is not only a veteran, but has veteran experience in the playoffs. Not to mention, he was the pitcher who pitched 2 outstanding performances on only 3 days rest, highlighted by a game 6, complete-game, 9 strikeout performance in the 2003 World Series with the Florida Marlins (talk about a track record).
With that in mind, Beckett could have went in, leading the team to a potential victory, relieving some of the pressure that Lester faced in game ONE of the series. Aside from that, it was just about how each team played. The whole pitching staff for the Sox couldn't pitch, and the Angels just came up clutch when they needed it most.
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Two series down. Two more to go.
Following a botched call that might've changed the outcome of not only the game, but series, the Yankees look to sweep the Twins tonight at 7:07 EDT at the Metrodome.
Andy Pettite (14-8, 4.16 ERA, 148 K) vs. Carl Pavano (14-12, 5.10 ERA, 147 K)
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The Phillies and Rockies go at it tonight after snow hit Colorado, forcing the MLB to postpone, at 10:07 EDT.
J.A. Haap (12-4, 2.93 ERA, 119 K) vs. Jason Hammel (10-8, 4.33 ERA, 133 K)
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