Post-Season Thoughts

American League Divisional Series:

Yankees over Twins in four games.

Rangers over Rays in five games.

ALCS:

Yankees over Rangers in five games.

National League Divisional Series:

Phillies over Reds in four games.

Giants over Braves in four games.

NLCS:

Giants over Phillies in six games.

World Series:

Yankees over Giants in six games.

Divisional Series Roadblocks: The Rangers' starting pitchers have to be better in the postseason than they were during the regular season, when they ranked 25th overall in quality starts.

Can Cliff Lee out-duel Rays pitcher David Price? He'll have to, against a Rays team that ranks third in the league in runs scored.

ALCS Pitfalls: It would be much of the same for the Rangers in a series against the Twins or Yankees. Minnesota and New York absolutely rake at the plate, and a lack of quality starting pitching is a feast in the eyes of these team's hitters.

In all likelihood, Cliff Lee will have to pitch on two days rest, and give two stellar outings.

World Series Issues: I know it seems redundant—and it is—but pitching is the key to any World Series championship team. Lee and the rest of the Rangers staff will have to step up, or Josh Hamilton better bring the lumber.

I’ve talked extensively this year about the conundrum of Lee still not having a long term gig with anyone, even after being traded to Texas.

But it would make sense for Texas to keep Lee, especially if he does for the Rangers what he did for the Phillies.

Furthermore, fellow flame-thrower Rich Harden has basically been a bust, so there is plenty of room to think that they could ink Lee for two years, drop Harden, and perhaps make a move on FA Jorge De La Rosa.

OK, I admit that the Rockies will make De La Rosa a priority this offseason; but hey, anything can happen.

-Bleacher Report

ALDS: Texas Rangers at Tampa Bay Rays (Game 1)

The Rangers return to the post-season for the first time since 1999 and have pitching that can make them stay in the playoffs for many seasons to come. A couple of things should stay in place, with one of those starting in Game 1 against the Rays.

Cliff Lee was 4-0 with a 1.56 ERA in five playoff starts for the Phillies last year. He's the only one of the Rangers' four starters with postseason experience. He's 6-5 with a 2.87 ERA in 13 career starts vs. the Rays (3-2 with a 3.86 ERA at Tropicana).

David Price is a career 0-2 against the Rangers in four starts. He's given up a whopping 16 runs in 19.1 innings, giving him a 7.45 ERA against Texas. He's also walked 15 but has fanned 19. At home this year, he is 9-2 in 16 starts with a 1.92 ERA. He only started one game against the Rangers this season, a no decision, and tossed six solid innings giving up two runs.

Postseason for Price hasn't been bad, as he got some work in 2008 in the postseason. He is 1-0, but hasn't started in the postseason. He has five games, totaling 5.2 innings with work against the Phillies and Boston (his win was a World Series victory).

Forecast: First off, even though we are playing a really tough team in the Tampa Bay Rays, I still pick the Rangers to win this series in four games, and that is taking into account that we haven't done well against the Rays this season and we haven't play well in day games. What I am taking into account, the intangible difference, is this team is healthy and they have a new found zeal in being in the playoffs. The Rays have been there, done that, and I just don't feel the excitement from the Rays that the Rangers have right now. I like the Rangers in this one, and I think this one will be REALLY close, as Price is better than his numbers would suggest. Rangers win it 3-2. Neftali gets the save.

1st Half Cy Young Contenders

Every year, Major League Baseball gives out a Cy Young Award for the best pitcher in both the AL and NL, as voted on by members of the Baseball Writers Association of America. If a comparable award were given in fantasy baseball, the results likely would not match.

Many baseball pools focus primarily on wins, strikeouts and ERA, while others require the versatility and dominance of a flame-thrower who can pile up complete games and shutouts while eating innings.

Here's a look at the frontrunners for this year's Cy Young awards:

The NL contenders

Ubaldo Jimenez (COL - SP)

As discussed among baseball's first-half surprises, Ubaldo Jimenez has easily been the most improved pitcher from last season. He's gone from posting a 15-12 record in the 2008-09 campaign to having a 15-2 record this season through July 26. Jimenez has pitched three complete games, two shutouts and one no-hitter while striking out 120, but his ERA has dropped to 10th in the majors at 2.75 after two recent rough outings. Plus, he has walked 55 batters. Unlike the other NL Cy Young candidates, Jimenez isn't a perennial top draft choice, so he's brought some unexpected fantasy value to his owners as the current league-leader in wins.

Josh Johnson (FLA - SP)

Like Jimenez, Florida's Josh Johnson has been an all-around star pitcher this season, but has been exceptional in one particular category. Johnson leads the majors with a sparkling 1.61 ERA. The only other starter below 2.00 is St. Louis's Adam Wainwright at 1.94. At 10-3 with 141 strikeouts, which is good for second in the NL, just 29 walks allowed and a stellar 0.97 WHIP, Johnson likely has the edge over Jimenez at this point in the NL overall — and in terms of the best NL pitcher in fantasy baseball.

Roy Halladay (PHI - SP)

Roy Halladay doesn't seem to mind pitching in the National League. Although he spent his entire career up until this season in the AL with the Blue Jays, Halladay has shown little need for a learning curve and is still the same dominant pitcher. Case in point: he is first in complete games (seven), shutouts (three) and innings pitched (162). He's fourth in ERA (2.28), seventh in strikeouts (140) and tied for eighth in wins (11). What's even more impressive is that Halladay has allowed the second-fewest walks (20) of any of the top 70 strikeout leaders in the majors, behind Cliff Lee, although Doc also has eight losses.

Adam Wainwright (STL - SP)

You know that the crop of pitchers in the NL is phenomenal when we're talking about Adam Wainwright fourth on this list. He's actually been the best pitcher in the majors over the past month. He's gone 4-0 with a complete game, 29 K's and an unbelievable 0.25 ERA. On the season, Wainwright is second in wins with a record of 14-5, fourth with four complete games, fourth among pitchers with at least 100 innings pitched with a 1.00 WHIP and second with an enviable 1.94 ERA. He's also fifth in the NL with 136 strikeouts.

Chris Carpenter (STL - SP)

The other half of St. Louis's one-two punch is also having a stellar season, as usual. Chris Carpenter is 11-3 with 122 strikeouts and a 3.09 ERA in 22 starts. The 2005 NL Cy Young Award winner has pitched 148.2 innings, good for third in the majors, but he has no complete games through July 26.

Tim Lincecum (SF - SP)

This list wouldn't be complete without two-time reigning Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum. Lincecum has a ways to go if he's to catch the aforementioned contenders or even match his stats from the past two seasons. San Francisco's ace is 10-4 with a 3.12 ERA in 21 starts. He leads the NL with 143 strikeouts, but has already surrendered 53 walks. By comparison, in 2009 Lincecum was 15-7 with a 2.48 ERA and just 68 walks, while in 2008 he went 18-5 with a 2.62 ERA.

The AL contenders

Cliff Lee (TEX - SP)

If you haven't been paying attention to Cliff Lee's stats, you may think he was shipped out of Seattle because he's been underperforming. It's quite the opposite. The Texas Rangers acquired one of the best pitchers in baseball. Yes, he's only 9-4, but that's in just 16 starts. The 2008 Cy Young winner leads the American League with a 2.56 ERA and six complete games. He has also walked a measly seven batters all season, which is the fewest walks allowed among pitchers in the top 70 in strikeouts. Throw in the fact that Lee has the best WHIP among starters at 0.92 to go along with 101 strikeouts and you have yourself a frontrunner for the AL Cy Young Award.

Carl Pavano (MIN - SP)

More than any other pitcher on this list, Carl Pavano is an excellent example of a pitcher who likely won't win the Cy Young, but probably would have won a fantasy baseball version if there was one. He doesn't lead any pitching categories after 20 starts with the Twins, but he's near the top in several of them. More important, though, he went largely undrafted or was a very late steal in Yahoo fantasy leagues. Pavano is tied for fourth in the majors in wins (12-6), tied for third in complete games (five), tied for second in shutouts (two) and is seventh in innings pitched (143.2). He has a respectable 3.26 ERA, 81 strikeouts and just 19 walks. Additionally, Pavano is fifth among pitchers with at least 100 innings pitched with a minuscule 1.01 WHIP and has pitched complete games in his previous two starts.

CC Sabathia (NYY - SP)

Baseball fans have become accustomed to the consistent dominance of CC Sabathia and again this year he's not disappointing. He's tied for first in the AL in wins with 13 and is third with 144.1 innings pitched. Sabathia also has three complete games, two shutouts, a 3.18 ERA, 119 K's and just three losses on the season. More important, he is 9-0 in his last 10 starts for New York.

David Price (TB - SP)

The American League's starter at the 81st all-star game has had an up-and-down month, but David Price is still squarely in the race for the top pitcher award. The Tampa Bay starter is tied for first in the AL in wins with a career-high 13 (to go along with five losses) and, despite being higher up the list until recently, Price finds himself in fifth with a 2.90 ERA. The 2007 first overall pick has also obtained new personal benchmarks in strikeouts (108), complete games (two) and shutouts (one) and will add games started and innings pitched to that list shortly. You couldn't ask for much more from a late-round pick in your draft.

Felix Hernandez (SEA - SP)

With Cliff Lee now in Texas, Felix Hernandez has resumed his role as the Mariners' ace. He's third in the majors in strikeouts with 145, second in innings pitched with 160.2 and tied for third with five complete games. Hernandez is also third in the AL with a 2.86 ERA, but has a record of just 7-7 in 22 starts. Like last year, it seems Hernandez could possibly be on pace for a better second half of the season though. In the past month, he's 2-2 with a 1.88 ERA, 40 strikeouts, three complete games and a shutout.

Jon Lester (BOS - SP)

One fairly surprising candidate for the award this season is Jon Lester. In a stacked Red Sox rotation, which includes another potential contender in Clay Buchholz, Lester has a record of 11-5 with two complete games. He's tied for fourth in the majors with 143 strikeouts and has a 2.92 ERA, which is good for sixth in the AL.

Jered Weaver (LAA - SP)

Though his record and ERA are not leading the league through 21 starts (9-6, 3.22 ERA), Jered Weaver is one of the MLB's top flame-throwers in 2010. Weaver is second in the majors in strikeouts, just two behind his new teammate Dan Haren, with 147 and he has walked just 30 batters. Not bad for a guy who had a career-high 174 punch-outs last season in 33 starts.

Trivia: Who was the last Ranger pitcher to get a Cy Young award?

Astros acquire Mark Melancon and Jimmy Paredes from Yankees

HOUSTON -- Two days after sending Roy Oswalt to the Phillies, the Astros continued their wholesale youth movement on Saturday and completed another major trade by sending five-time All-Star first baseman Lance Berkman and cash to the Yankees in exchange for two Minor Leaguers.

Berkman, who spent his entire 11-year Major League career with the Astros and is considered one of the franchise's greatest players, will be in uniform on Saturday night for the Yankees when they face the Rays in St. Petersburg, Fla. The Astros received pitcher Mark Melancon, 25, and infielder Jimmy Paredes, 21, from the Yankees and will send $4 million to the Yankees, according to a person close to the negotiations.

The deal was all but completed on Friday, but it couldn't be announced until Saturday afternoon.

Berkman spent his entire career with the Astros since being selected in the first round of the 1997 Draft and ranks in the top three in franchise history in batting average (.296), home runs (326), runs scored (1,008), walks (1,040) and RBIs (1,090). He was hitting .245 with 13 homers and 49 RBIs in 85 games this year.

"I never thought I would be in this position -- never had to go through it," Berkman said on Friday. "It's unsettling, because you just don't know what's going to happen and there are all sorts of possibilities. I guess in one sense it's good because there are teams that want me to play for them, particularly in a down season."

Houston has already identified Berkman's replacement, having purchased the contract of first baseman Brett Wallace from Triple-A Round Rock. Wallace was acquired from the Blue Jays on Thursday for a prospect the Astros acquired when they sent Oswalt and cash to Philadelphia in exchange pitcher J.A. Happ and two Minor Leaguers.

Wallace is in the starting lineup for Saturday's game against Milwaukee.

The trades of Berkman and Oswalt -- two of the franchise's cornerstones in the 2000s -- signal a full-fledged commitment to youth by the Astros, who were already starting three rookies routinely: third baseman Chris Johnson, catcher Jason Castro and shortstop Angel Sanchez.

Left-hander Wandy Rodriguez is the only holdover from the 2005 World Series team, and left fielder Carlos Lee is the only big-money player left on the roster. Lee, who has two years left on his six-year, $100-million contract, has a no-trade clause and has repeatedly indicated a desire to remain in Houston.

Wallace, 23, hit .301 with 24 doubles, 18 home runs and 61 RBIs in 95 games at Triple-A Las Vegas this season. The Cardinals' first-round selection in the 2008 Draft, Wallace will report to the Astros' Triple-A affiliate at Round Rock and play first base.

"Brett Wallace is a hitting machine," Astros general manager Ed Wade said on Thursday. "No question about that. We've had our eye on him since the 2008 Draft. He was a first-round pick of the Cardinals at that point and has been in some pretty big trades."

Wallace, who attended Major League Spring Training with the Blue Jays this year, played college baseball at Arizona State and was named Pac-10 Player of the Year in 2007 and '08. In '07, he won the conference's Triple Crown by hitting .423 with 16 homers and 78 RBIs while leading the Sun Devils to the College World Series.

Melancon, who had Tommy John surgery in October 2006, throws in the mid-90s, with a power breaking ball and good changeup. He was taken by the Yankees in the ninth round of the 2006 Draft and is 18-3 with a 2.84 ERA and 14 saves in 123 career relief appearances. He's pitched 15 games in relief for the Yankees, posting a 4.87 ERA and spending most of this year at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Paredes, a Dominican switch-hitter, had been in the Yankees organization since being signed as a non-drafted free agent in 2006 and hit .282 with five homers, 48 RBIs and 36 stolen bases at Class A Charleston this year. He played 71 games at second, but he has also seen action at shortstop and third base.

Brian McTaggart is a reporter for MLB.com.

MLB Second Half Preview

When Oakland outfielder Rajai Davis heard the Texas Rangers had acquired Cliff Lee from Seattle late last month, he reacted the same way as many others around baseball.

“They’re trying to make a real run, huh?” Davis said. “They’re not playing around.”

The Rangers may be in the middle of a messy ownership change that includes a rancorous bankruptcy proceeding, but that didn’t stop them from making the first major splash before the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline. Texas added Lee to a team that will carry a 41/2-game lead in the AL West into the second half of the season, which begins Thursday.

The Rangers are looking for their first playoff appearance since 1999, and adding Lee to a formidable offence lets everyone know they’re serious. Lee was 4-0 with a 1.56 ERA in five postseason starts last year for the Phillies. But more importantly, he was 2-0 against the mighty New York Yankees in the World Series.

So who will be the next team to make a move?

The Los Angeles Angels are looking to add a big bat to stay in contention with Texas, and the AL Central-leading Chicago White Sox have similar designs.

“The probability of big guys moving at the deadline is always a risky proposition to try to handicap,” Angels’ manager Mike Scioscia said. “Things can change from week to week.”

One thing we do know is that the winner of the National League pennant will have home-field advantage for the World Series after the NL beat the American League 3-1 on Tuesday night for its first victory in the all-star game since 1996.

With tight races everywhere and the powerful Yankees playing for something bigger than just another title, buckle up for what is shaping to be a wild ride over the next few months.

Here’s a look at some of the keys to the rest of the season:

MOTIVATED YANKEES: The Yankees steamrolled into the all-star break with 30 victories in their final 44 games, looking every bit the favourite that they usually are.

The defending world champions may not even need to make a move after getting all the extra motivation they needed when long-time owner George Steinbrenner died this week.

Alex Rodriguez shared a story about a handwritten note Steinbrenner had delivered to him in 2004 that read “I’m counting on you” with capital letters and exclamation point.

“So I think to this day, we are still playing for him, not to let him down,” A-Rod said.

TIGHT RACES: No team is running away with anything. The biggest lead in any division is the Rangers’ 4 1 / 2 games over the Angels in the AL West.

A few of the more intriguing races:

—AL East: Arguably the three best teams in baseball – the Yankees (56-32), Rays (54-34) and Red Sox (51-37) – are fighting for the title and likely the AL wild card. The Atlanta Braves (52-36) are the only other team in baseball with a better record than third-place Boston.

—NL West: Can Mat Latos, Heath Bell and the remarkably successful San Diego Padres make their two-game lead over the Rockies and Dodgers stand up for another few months?

—NL Central: The Cincinnati Reds (49-41) have been the other big surprise, one game in front of star-studded St. Louis at the break.

KEY INJURIES: They always play a big part in who makes it in and who falls short in the playoff race. This year, several teams have been ravaged, including:

—Boston Red Sox: pitcher Clay Buchholz, catcher Victor Martinez, second baseman Dustin Pedroia (fractured left foot), outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury (broken ribs), catcher Jason Varitek (fractured right foot), third baseman Mike Lowell (right hip) and pitcher Josh Beckett (back) have all missed significant time. Yet the Red Sox still trail the Yankees by only five games in the AL East.

—Philadelphia Phillies: The two-time defending NL champs, and the 2008 World Series champs, are off to a slower start this year after injuries to second baseman Chase Utley (right thumb), pitcher J.A. Happ (left forearm) and third baseman Placido Polanco (left elbow). Utley isn’t expected back any time soon, and key relievers Ryan Madson and Chad Durbin have also been hurt.

—New York Mets: Shortstop Jose Reyes aggravated his sore right side and missed the all-star game, but centre fielder Carlos Beltran is set to make his season debut Thursday after right knee surgery.

—Minnesota Twins: First baseman Justin Morneau (concussion) has been out a week, shortstop J.J. Hardy and second baseman Orlando Hudson have made trips to the disabled list, and catcher Joe Mauer’s shoulder is hurting for the stumbling Twins, who have fallen to third place in the AL Central.

YOUNG GUNS: It’s not just the year of the pitcher, it’s the year of the young pitcher.

“It seemed like 15 years ago, it was a time of young shortstops, and other times, it seems there’s an influx of great, young talent in outfielders,” Yankees’ manager Joe Girardi said. “But right now the influx of young pitching in baseball is incredible, and not just guys with stuff; guys that know how to pitch in tough division series at a young age.”

Can these young guns hold up through hot pennant races?

—Tampa Bay Rays: David Price (24) started the all-star game, and Matt Garza (26) was the MVP of the ALCS two years ago. James Shields (28), Jeff Niemann (27) and Wade Davis (24) give the second-place Rays a battle-tested young staff.

—Ubaldo Jimenez, Rockies: The 26-year-old Dominican is chasing history at 15-1 at the break, and he has the Rockies two games back of San Diego in second place in the NL West.

—Cincinnati Reds: Johnny Cueto (24) and Mike Leake (22) were a combined 14-3 at the break, and Travis Wood (23) nearly tossed a perfect game last Saturday against Philadelphia.

—Stephen Strasburg, Nationals (pictured): The Nationals may be out of it, but it’s going to be fun watching how baseball’s newest rock star responds to all the attention that has turned each of the rookie’s starts into an event.

The Associated Press

Texas' Lee Eyes No-Trade Clause in Next Deal

By T.R. Sullivan

ANAHEIM -- Cliff Lee is a free agent in the offseason. He's not sure where he will be playing next season, and he's not sure how much he will get paid.

But he does know one thing. He wants a no-trade clause.

"I'm going to do everything I can to have that in there," Lee said. "I want to have some control of my life."

Lee and his family still live in Arkansas, but he is now with his fourth team over the past 12 months after being acquired by the Rangers in last Friday's six-player trade with the Mariners.

Lee has made one start for Rangers, losing to the Orioles on Saturday, but is still representing them at the All-Star Game. It's the fewest games pitched by an All-Star pitcher for the team he is representing.

But the Rangers didn't acquire Lee so he can pitch an inning wearing their cap in the All-Star Game. They made the trade because they believe they can win the American League West, they believe he's the big piece missing and they believe he can take them beyond just a division title.

Maybe to their first World Series ever.

"I'm up for it, let's do it," Lee said. "But I don't think it's all just me. I'm hoping to give the team a chance to win, win some games and make the playoffs. But there is a lot more involved than just starting pitching. It takes a whole team and a group effort, not just one guy. I just hope I have similar success like last year down the stretch. It will be a lot of fun."

Lee, after being traded from Cleveland to Philadelphia at the Trade Deadline last year, was 7-4 with a 3.39 ERA in 12 starts for the Phillies down the stretch. He was 4-0 with a 1.56 ERA in five playoff starts, beating the Yankees twice in the World Series.

That's why his new teammates were thrilled when general manager Jon Daniels acquired him on Friday, especially when there were reports that morning that the Yankees were going to get him.

"We were really shocked," outfielder Josh Hamilton said. "New York usually gets everybody. We were very excited ... it happened so quickly. Jon Daniels did a great job just making it happen. He's a big piece for us. We had a good team before, and it's a better fit now."

Second baseman Ian Kinsler said most important is the message that it sends.

"It's a huge message," Kinsler said. "We never made a trade like this before. We wanted to ... the players wanted it. Now we've acquired one of the best pitchers in baseball and it brings a lot of excitement. We were very serious about winning before we got him. Now this shows how serious we are about winning this year."

The Rangers, despite ending the first half with a four-game losing streak, have a 4 1/2-game lead in the AL West at the All-Star break. It's the largest lead of any of the six division winners.

"We're in a good place," Lee said. "This is a good spot for me. They've already got some good leaders on the team. I just want to do my part."

The Rangers would like to keep him beyond this season. They won't have any idea if they'll be able to do that until their ownership situation gets resolved, and that's unlikely to happen anytime soon.

But maybe it helps that his home in Little Rock it just a short flight or a few hours drive up I-30 from Dallas.

"I don't know ... there are so many ifs and buts," Lee said. "There's no telling who is going to be out there trying to sign me. There are so many variables and unknowns to give you a really good answer."

One thing is almost for certain. The Rangers will be more than happy to give him that no-trade clause.

The Ten Most Overrated Players in Major League Baseball

There are plenty of baseball players that are not given due. To contrast, there are plenty of players that are given far too much credit, and those players will be mentioned in this article.

The criteria to make this list is simple. Fans and media alike talk about this player far too much for how little they actually produce, and while some of these players are very productive, they are still given too much praise.

A player cannot make the list if he is simply too old, so despite everyone in baseball still loving Ken Griffey Jr., he won't make the list simple due to him being in the twilight of his career.

Some on this list may surprise you on impact, you will see that the numbers do not agree with the love these players get.

Enjoy!

Blue Jays Building a Winner from the Ground Up

By Morgan Campbell Sports Reporter

DUNEDIN, Fla.–If you think the crowds at the Rogers Centre are small, try a game in the Dominican Summer League, bottom rung of the Blue Jays' minor-league ladder.

Pitching prospect Luis Perez, who played there in 2005 and '06, says he has never seen fewer spectators as a pro.

"When I would pitch, there would be, like, 30 fans," said Perez, who went 9-11 at Double-A New Hampshire last season. "Maybe 25."

In the DSL, kids as young as 16 compete to move one step closer to the majors and Florida's Gulf Coast League prospects fresh out of high school also toil in front of similarly miniscule crowds.

Those destinations aren't sexy, but they're essential, the entry points to a minor-league system Toronto general manager Alex Anthopoulos and his staff hope will help propel the Jays back to major-league glory.

World Series Game 5: Rays vs. Phillies

It would seem that I have been on vacation... or maybe I am just a little lazy. Probably the latter. This is a tough series for me. Both teams have really been a bit of a surprise in my mind. The Rays haven't won more than 70 games up until this season and here they are in the big show. The Phillies... well, who predicts the Phillies to really do anything anymore. If I pick the Rays, it could be one of the signs of the end of the world... and if I predict the Phillies to win this thing... well, maybe that could be an apocalyptic sign as well. Can the World Series end in a tie?

I guess at this point, the Phillies pretty much have this one in the bag, considering they are up 3 games to one. I was really thinking the series would have gone the other way, with the Rays winning in 6. The only way the Rays can win it now is winning the final three games. It's not likely to happen, but I think they can win game five and take it back to Tampa. If they can push a game 6, they do have a much better chance. I don't think they would pull it off, but stranger things. After, the Rays are in the World Series against the Phillies... and who would have thought that...
Forecast: Phillies drop game five and a game six is forced. Phillies take game six, though, to wrap it up in Tampa.

Home Plate

NLCS Game 2: Dodgers at Phillies

Phillies took game one. The season series between these two teams was split 4-4. This information just makes this series all the more interesting. Starting tomorrow, I will start posting an evaluation of the Free Agent pitching that will be available this off-season.
Scouting Report:

Dodgers: Chad Billingsley showed the baseball world why the Dodgers drafted him in the first round when he tamed the Cubs for six scoreless innings and got the win in Game 2 of the National League Division Series. Billingsley finally wavered in the seventh, but with seven strikeouts and one walk in front of a hostile Wrigley Field crowd, he was pretty convincing as the Dodgers' future ace. That experience should serve him well as a prep for this assignment at Citizens Bank Park, where he had control problems in his only start this year, walking five while allowing three runs in six innings of a 5-0 loss on Aug. 25.

Billingsley's season was a nice one. He went 16-10 with a 3.14 ERA, starting 32 games and pitching a complete game shutout. He tossed 200.2 innings and held his opponents to a .248 BA while yeilding only 14 HRs. He did walk 80 and gave up 188 total hits to get a 1.34 WHIP. He also averaged a strikeout an inning (201 Ks).

Phillies to Watch:

• Pedro Feliz: 4-12 with a double, a HR, and 2 RBIs.
• Pat Burrell: 3-10 with 2 doubles and 2 RBIs
• Jimmy Rollins: 3-9 with a double, a triple, and 2 RBIs.

The current Phillie roster is 20-69 (.290 BA) with 5 doubles, a triple, 2 HRs (the other coming from Ryan Howard), and 8 RBIs. The Phillies hit him better than what the rest of his opponents (average wise), so this could be a great plus for them...

Phillies: Heading into the National League Division Series, no one was sure which Brett Myers would take the mound for the Phillies: the one who dominated hitters for a 10-start stretch in July and August -- in which he went 7-2 with a 1.56 ERA -- or the Myers who had been beaten badly in his final two starts of the regular season, giving up 14 earned runs in 8 1/3 innings for a 15.12 ERA. Fortunately for Philadelphia, the dominant Myers was on the hill against Milwaukee in Game 2. He held the Brewers to two runs on two hits in seven innings. The Phils will be hoping for more of the same against the Dodgers Friday night. He is 1-1 against L.A. this season with a 1.93 ERA.

Brett Myers didn't have as good a season for the Phillies as Billingsley did for the Dodgers. He went 10-13 with a 4.55 ERA in 30 starts. He did have 2 complete games and one shutout on his way to pitching 190 innings. Opponents hit him for a .267 BA and slapped 29 HRs. He had a 1.38 WHIP and gave out 197 hits and 65 walks.

In the playoffs, he tossed 7 innings giving up 2 runs on two hits and 3 walks. He fanned four, but he was mainly issuing more groundball outs to the flyout (9 to 7). He has a 2.57 ERA in the postseason.

Dodgers to Watch:

• Juan Pierre: 13-40 (.325 BA) with a double and 6 RBIs.
• Jeff Kent: 7-19 (.368 BA) with a double, a triple, a HR, and 3 RBIs.
• Manny Ramirez: 3-19 (.158 BA) with 2 doubles, a HR, and 8 RBIs.
• Matt Kemp: 4-10 with 2 doubles, a HR, and a RBI.

The current roster is 44-171 (.257 BA) with 8 doubles, 2 triples, 3 HRs, and 24 RBIs. Normally, I wouldn't put someone on the watch list if they have a batting average of .158, but I thought the rest of the numbers were interesting. Manny, I guess, can't settle for just a single... he's got to get extra bases or nothing at all.

Forecast: I really like the Dodgers in this one. I really don't think this is going to be a high scoring affair for either team, but the Dodgers have the better numbers. Score: 4-1, Dodgers.

Home Plate

NLCS Game 1: Dodgers at Phillies

Scouting Report:

Dodgers: The Dodgers can start Lowe in Game 1, bring him back on three days rest for Game 4, then have him on regular rest for a Game 7, if the series lasts that long and they so choose. It's a nice situation to be in, having someone on the staff who's already pitched winning clinchers in a Championship Series and World Series, as Lowe did with the Red Sox in 2004. Lowe again showed that the spotlight is no issue for him when he set the tone for the Division Series by containing the Cubs for a two-run, wind-blown home run over six innings at Wrigley Field last week. He has a very successful history pitching in Wrigley Field and the same is true for the right-hander at Citizens Bank Park, where he's 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA in three career starts, none of those occurring this year. He is 4-1 with two saves and a 3.02 ERA in his career against the Phillies.

Lowe has held the current Phillie roster to 31-151 (.205 BA) with 10 doubles, 4 HRs, and 17 RBIs.

Phillies to Watch:

• Pedro Feliz: 5-23 (.217 BA) with 2 HRs and 2 RBIs.
• Jimmy Rollins: 6-20 with 2 doubles.
• Pat Burrell: 6-19 (.316 BA) with 2 doubles and 2 RBIs.
• Chase Utley: 5-14 (.357 BA) with 3 doubles and a RBI.

Phillies: The 24-year-old, left-handed Hamels pitched a masterpiece against the Brewers in Game 1 of the Division Series, yielding just two hits and a walk while striking out nine in eight innings as the Phillies won, 3-1.

Hamels enters the postseason with a 3.09 ERA with a 14-10 record. He had two starts against, and went 14 innings, posting a 1-0 record. He gave up 10 hits and two walks for a 0.86 WHIP. He gave up only four runs (1 HR) and whiffed 12 to give him a 2.57 ERA against the Dodgers this season.

Hamels has one postseason start with eight innings of shutout baseball. He lasted 8 innings and gave up 2 hits and a walk while fanning 9.

Dodgers to Watch:

• Andruw Jones: 4-13 (.308 BA) with a HR and RBI.
• Juan Pierre: 2-6 with a double.

The Dodger roster is currently 15-75 (.200 BA) with 3 doubles and 2 RBIs.

Forecast: I like Hamels in this one. He's got the numbers over the Dodgers. And he is at home. Phillies take game 1 with a score of 3-1.

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The Championship Series

I like the Rays over Boston in 6. I know I said in a previous post that Boston or the Angels would be in the Series, but I have CHANGED my mind. Over in the National League, I like the Dodgers in five games. If it should play out that way, I like the Dodgers in the Series.

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NLDS Game 2: Brewers vs. Phillies

Game 2 - Phillies lead in the series 1-0 in a best of five.
Brewers: Make it four straight starts on three days' rest for Sabathia, who continues to cement his status as the greatest midseason pickup in Major League history. Sabathia carried the Brewers to their first postseason bid in 26 years on Sunday in Milwaukee, allowing an unearned run on four hits in a complete-game, 122-pitch win over the Cubs. Less than an hour later, after a Mets loss, the Brewers won the Wild Card. The Brewers squeezed every ounce of energy out of their prized rental. Sabathia threw 334 pitches the last nine days of the regular season, starting three straight times on three days' rest.

CC Sabathia hasn't faced the Phillies this year. He was 17-10 with a 2.70 ERA this season, pitching a workhorse amount of innings at 253 with 251 strikeouts. He's only faced the Phillies twice in his career and is 1-1 with a 4.97 ERA. The Brewers have hit him for a .260 BA over that stretch, scoring 7 runs on 13 hits and 4 walks. One of those hits was a HR. The current roster is 5-34 with 3 doubles, a triple, and 3 RBIs. Jimmy Rollins leads the way with a 3-7 mark with a double and a triple.

Phillies: Myers' second-half resurgence gave the Phillies an acquisition as valuable as CC Sabathia or Rich Harden. The righty posted a 1.80 ERA in 11 starts -- and dominated. There is some concern regarding his final two outings of the season, in which he allowed 14 earned runs and 19 hits in 8 1/3 innings. Against the Brewers, he has a 1.77 ERA in eight career appearances. As the Phillies' closer last season, Myers didn't appear in the 2007 NLDS against the Rockies.

In Myers last start against the Brewers, he threw a complete game. It gave up only one run on a solo HR, walked one, and gave up another hit (2 total) for the win. That was on September 14th. His last two starts of the season were forgettable. He didn't make it through the fifth inning in both of those games, giving up a combined 16 runs in 8.1 innings. Still, he finished the season with a 4.55 ERA and a 10-13 record.

In his career against the Phillies, he has a 4-1 record spanning 35.2 innings, giving up 7 runs on 22 hits (4 HRs) while walking 8 and striking out 20. That gives him a 0.84 WHIP. The Brewers have hit him for a .183 BA. The current roster is 10-72 (.139 BA) witha double, 4 HRs (two by Mike Cameron, one by Ray Durham, and one by Prince Fielder), and 6 RBIs. Everyone equally sucks against Myers, so really their isn't much to watch when they come to the plate.

Forecast: I want to say the Brewers on this one, but I really am thinking Phillies. Myers' numbers really have convinced me that he is the one to watch, even if he got hammered in his last two starts. Score: 2-0, Phillies.

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NLDS Game 1: Brewers vs. Phillies

Could either of these teams be going to the World Series? Well, yes, but I really don't feel either of them will be going. It is really going to be decided, in my mind, by who wins the Cubs/Dodgers series. Still, both of these teams do have a chance... especially the Brewers, who I pick to win this series.Scouting Report:

Brewers: In choosing Gallardo, Brewers manager Dale Sveum picked raw talent over experience. He could have used postseason stalwart Jeff Suppan (5-2 with a 3.00 ERA in nine career postseason starts) on regular rest or Dave Bush on three days' rest. Instead, Sveum went with Gallardo, the Brewers' most promising young pitcher, but also a 22-year-old less than five months removed from a major right knee injury. He had surgery to repair a torn ACL in May and was back in Milwaukee's rotation on Sept. 25 for a start against the Pirates. He threw 67 pitches in four innings and allowed one run on three hits, including a Steve Pearce solo home run. He looked extremely good on the mound but in his only at-bat, Gallardo never took the bat off his shoulder. It was sign that the Brewers did not want him on the basepaths with a surgically repaired knee.

Gallardo has only four starts this season and has a 0-0 record with a 1.88 ERA. More importantly, he has a 9-5 record on his career with a 3.35 ERA. I don't know if you can judge him on this seasons performances due to his injury, so I will be looking more at career stats instead of this season's stats.

Against Philly, he is 1-0 with a 1.35 ERA in one start. He went 6.2 innings giving up four hits and walking one while striking out seven. He gave up one run, a HR to Pat Burrell. Pedro Feliz also hasa HR on Gallardo with two RBIs. The current roster is 6-25 (.240 BA) with 2 HRs and 3 RBIs.

On paper, he seems like a good choice, but only one start against someone, which the start was over a season ago, is difficult to decide if it is really a trend or not. Still, I wouldn't expect him to give up more than three runs today.

He has a 5.40 ERA during the day in 2007, but 2008, it dropped down to a 2.77 ERA. That could be the stat that could define him in this start.

Phillies: The Phillies' leader in innings and ERA among starters (3.09) will be making his second Game 1 start after working against the Rockies to kick off the NLDS last season. A rough second inning doomed him in a 4-2 defeat, and he didn't get another chance as the Rockies won the next two games for a sweep. The Phils' lefty ace will be facing the Brewers for the sixth time in his career, and has a 4.41 ERA against them.

Brewers to Watch:

• Prince Fielder: 4-15 (.267 BA) with 2 HRs and 5 RBIs
• JJ Hardy: 4-11 (.364 BA) with 2 doubles, a HR, and 4 RBIs
• Ryan Braun: 3-10 with a double, a HR, and a RBI

The current roster is 24-111 (.216 BA) with 6 doubles, 5 HRs, and 14 RBIs. Hamels seems like an obvious choice for the first game of this series. The Phillies are definitely bringing their A game to the show. Hamels is 2-1 in five starts against the Brewers. The team is batting .219 historically against him. He's pitched 34.2 innings, giving up 28 hits (5 HRs) and 10 walks. He has struck out 36 while giving up 17 runs giving him a 4.41 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP.

Forecast: This is probably going to be a tight game, simply because I suspect that the Brewers are going to give up 3 runs, maybe 4, in the first six innings, and about the same for the Phillies. Should this game be defined by the relief pitching, which is what I believe to be the case, it will fall into the hands of the Phillies, who have better pitching. Look for a score in the neighborhood of 7-5, Phillies.

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Game 81: Rangers vs. Phillies

Game 81... it's the halfway point. And the question remains as to whether the Rangers will hit this point above or below 500. They are 40-40 and the Phillies are 43-37. Today is Hank Blalock bobble head night and tomorrow is Josh Hamilton Sports Illustrated replica cover night. Tonight they have 20,000 bobbles and tomorrow only 10,000 SI covers. I have tickets to both games.

This is the Hank Blalock bobble head. I have been looking forward to grabbing the thing. The Rangers really do have a hard time getting to 2 games over 500. Maybe I will be fortunate enough to witness the event of two over? It could happen. Here's the match-ups for this series, at least for right now. The Rangers aren't necessarily hot, going 5-5 in the last ten games, and the Phillies are so far from hot, they might as well be playing in Antarctica. The Phillies are 2-8 over there last ten. I still believe the Rangers can play well against anybody. It is harder to do when Hamilton is out of the lineup and Bradley is out of the lineup and Blalcok is out of the lineup...

• Game 1: Gabbard vs. Myers (Quick Pick: Gabbard)
• Game 2: Padilla vs. Hamels (Quick Pick: Padilla)
• Game 3: Hurley vs. Moyer Quick Pick: Moyer)

Now, Bradley is back in the lineup ad I am not sure what to make of Hamilton coming back in the lineup last night and then leaving with an injury to his hand. Lord willing, it is minor and he can come right back.

Gabbard has three starts at home, and he is 0-1 with a 5.63 ERA. Opponents have hit him for a .323 batting average and connected for 21 hits in 16 innings. He also walked 6 over that stretch. Gabbard hasn't gone 6 innings in a long time (April 16th) and continues to have walk trouble... he has 3 or more walks in 6 of his 11 starts this season, including 3 in a 2 innings outing and 6 in a 2.2 innings outing. He has four starts where he hasn't gone 5 innings. Despite the ba numbers, the Rangers are 7-4 when he starts. What that basically means is he gets some run support. A lot of run support. He did grab his second win of the season against Washington. He as never faced the Phillies.

Oh, and despite losing the game last night, the Rangers still won the Silver Boot.

And if you thought Gabbard was having a tough season, check out Myers. He is 3-9 with a 5.51 ERA. He has given up 12 HRs in 45.1 innings on the road. So, welcome to Arlington, where the ball truly does have wings. On the road, Myers is 0-6 with a 7.54 ERA and opponents slap him silly with a .345 batting average. I really wonder if he will make it 5 innings tonight. I hope I get a taco (in the fifth inning, if the Rangers score, all the fans win a taco from Taco Bell). Now, despite his awful numbers (and they are awful), he does eat up innings. In his 16 games, he has gone 7 innings or more 7 times. And only 6 times he has been held to less than 6 innnings. He has never faced the Rangers, but the current roster is 6-26 (231 BA) with 1 double, 2 HRs, and 7 RBIs off Myers.

Forecast: I think my quick pick is on target. Myers can't win on the road. He stinks and he has handed out so many souviners that coming to a hitting park is going to not make those numbers any better. Gabbard grabs a second win in a row for himself and gets the Rangers back over 500, just in time for the halfway mark. Score: 8-5, Rangers.

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Lidle vs. Sosa

Female Horses (1-6) vs. Chopping Block (4-4)
Cory Lidle (0-1) vs. Jorge Sosa (0-1)
Lidle does well against these hitters. None of the meat guys do well against him, so this should make the game go well for the Phils, at least giving them a chance. Chipper is gone, and that helps even more for them. The thing about the Braves is that they are good. They don’t loose and haven’t experienced the feeling of being a looser in such a long time, that being under 500 is something they are just not used to. Sosa stunk it up in his first start. He does do well against the Phillies, though. They hit .147 against him, but Bobby Abreu slaps him around. Well… I didn’t get to check all the stuff before the game starts… so here it is – Horses chop the block, win it 6-3. Weatherman out.

Wildcard Race 9/24/05

Date: 9/24/05

American League Wild Card Race
Cleveland (91-63) with 8 games remaining
Boston (89-64) with 9 games remaining (1.5 games behind)
Oakland (84-69) with 9 games remaining (6.5 games behind)

National League Wild Card Race
Houston (84-70) with 8 games remaining
Philadelphia (83-71) with 8 games remaining (1 game behind)
Florida (80-74) with 8 games remaining (4 games behind)

Florida has a good chance. Houston continues to be my favorite. Remember, I picked them when they were not in first in the WC. Cleveland has won 10 million of there last 10 million and 1. They are my favorite still. Oakland has a better chance at their division title than a wildcard, although they only have a ghost of a chance. I think now they will not Cinderella it in and the Angels will be knocked right out of the playoffs. Can Boston retake the lead over the Yankees? I really don’t think so, but I do think they could easily tie with the Yanks to force a one game playoff. We shall see.

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Wednesday, 9-21-05 Picks

Wednesday (9-21-05)

Rangers vs. Angels – Loe vs. Lackey – Lackey has done well this year, but is better on the road than at home. Loe also dominates on the road as well, having a 1.99 ERA away. Lackey, however, gave up 6 runs in 7 innings to Detroit! He did shut out the White Sox on 9/11 for 7 innings. The White Sox were cold, so whoopty freaking do. More importantly, this year against Texas, Lackey has a 7.63 ERA, is 1-0 in 3 starts, and has given up 2 homeruns in 15 1/3 innings. Current Ranger hitters bat .289 off him with 6 dingers in 204 at bats. Look for Michael Young to do well, he has a .421 average (16-38) with 2 homers and 9 RBIs. Tex does also, but with a .375 average (9-24). The Angels only have 23 at bats against Loe. As a team they are hitting .304 against him (7-23) but no homeruns. Despite a 9.00 ERA this year against the Angels (3 runs/3 innings), Loe has only 5 starts this year with a 2.32 ERA and a 4-1 record for those 5 starts. I will go with the Rangers on this, I just feel it. Score: 6-2.

Astros vs. Pittsburgh – Oswalt vs. Wells – Wells is 1-6 in his last 9 starts. During that time, one of his no decisions was against Houston. In that game, he threw 7 innings of shutout ball. Unfortunately for him, his 6 losses weren’t nearly as good. His last 3 games, he has a 7.90 ERA and his last, 5 he has an 8.14 ERA. Oswalt has been a lot better than that. 2.95 ERA on the year, 2.53 ERA in his last 3. My big concern is his 6-10 record on the road. He is 11-2 at home. I think he can outdo Wells, and pick up his 18th win tonight. Score: 7-2.

Braves vs. Phillies – Ramirez vs. Myers – Myers in his last start, lost to the Braves. Why not again tonight? Ramirez is very good at home, I expect that again today. Score: 5-4.

Brewers vs. Cubs – Ohka vs. Prior – Numbers show that they are very even. Time to dig… Prior has a better ERA on the season, but is a full run higher on the road. Ohka’s ERA is also higher at home. Prior has a winning record on the road, Ohka has a losing record at home, but an ERA lower than Prior’s road ERA, mind you. Prior, on average, goes two outs longer than Ohka. Both look great on the last 3. This is pretty even, to say the least. I have a hunch it will be the Alcoholics on this. Don’t know why. Score: 4-3.

D-Backs vs. Dodgers – Webb vs. Penny – Webb did great in his last start, and looks to be a sparkle in an otherwise dark sky for the D-Backs. Penny was rocked by the Giants in his last start, but didn’t get a decision. I think the D-Backs will do well tonight against the Dodgers. Score: 6-3.

FC Dallas vs. LA Galaxy – I have actually done some homework on this (surprise, surprise)… Dallas and the Galaxy are very even statistics wise, but Dallas has been very cold of late. This is the U.S. Cup Final, and for Dallas to have snuck their way in is very impressive despite how they have been playing. The Galaxy is very good at home (8-2-3- that’s wins-loses-ties), and Dallas is very poor on the road (5-6-3). Due to how the Galaxy dominates at home, I will go with them. Galaxy wins 3-1.

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Thursday and Friday Picks

Today

Rangers vs. Mariners – Loe vs. Harris – I like Loe. I think he is going to be huge and not just in height. Harris has done decent this year; one of his two wins was against the Rangers who hit only .182 against him. Adrian Gonzalez is the only one who did any real damage against him and has the only RBI against him. Gonzalez, by the way, would have over 30 homeruns if he had played the entire season with the Rangers. I think the number would be 37 dingers. Impressive, I must say. Loe does some damage against the M’s too. He has a win against them, 6 strikeouts in 3 1/3 innings (WOW) and holds them to a .167 average. They have only 1 run against him as well. I like the Rangers in this one 3-1.

Braves vs. Phillies – Sosa vs. Myers – Sosa is hot, Myers is average. I go with the hot stuff. Braves over Phillies 4-2.

Astros vs. Marlins – Pettitte vs. Vargas – Pettitte is on fire (2.48 ERA season and 1.40 ERA over his last 3), Vargas is throwing a medicine ball (8.25 ERA in his last 3)… Astros dominate this one 7-2.

Brewers vs. D-Backs – Ohka vs. Estes – Fairly even on this overall, but Estes is a little colder than Ohka. Ohka notably is better on the road in comparison to Estes at home. I will go with the alcoholics and say the D-Backs bullpen will loose to the Brewers starter: 6-4.

Tomorrow

Rangers vs. Mariners – TBA vs. Hernandez – I have done some vast research and I have come up empty for the Rangers starter for 9/16. But I did dig up in one place and they said Rogers for this game. But the same resource also said Rogers for Saturday. Rogers is not Cy Young in that he can throw a doubleheader one day and then pitch again the next. So, when I find out for certain, I can make a better guess on this. I would like the match up of Rogers vs. Hernandez, Hernandez looks good. He has a 2.33 ERA this year and even though Rogers isn’t as hot as he was earlier this year, I think he would still be the best guy for the job. But it is not my call (but it should be).

Braves vs. Mets – Smoltz vs. Trachsel – Smoltz is just better than Trash-el, has better numbers and is very consistent. Probably the most consistent of any pitcher I have seen (and when I say consistent, I mean consistently good – there are plenty who are consistently bad). Braves with a win over the Mets, say 5-2.

Phillies vs. Marlins – Lieber vs. Moehler – Moehler hasn’t started since 8/20. Lieber is very hot right now. Everything points to the female horse and a good win for them. I do, however, think this isn’t going to be a cakewalk for the Phillies. The Big Fish loose to the female horses, going with 7-5.

Astros vs. Brewers – Oswalt vs. Helling – Helling is an alcoholic, hard to swallow. But it is good to see him out there again. Dude is on fire, too. He has a 0.98 ERA over his last 3. Oswalt is a good match up for him. This could hand him his first loss this year. But, I honestly think this will go to the bullpen and some extra time on the diamond. Astros with a walk off run in the 11th, 4-3.

D-Backs vs. Rockies – Nippert vs. Day – Battle of the bottom, is what I call these types of games. Oh, how I can remember the days of the 13 win seasons for the Mavs, battling the lowly Timberwolves (I would call them the Feather Wolves, he he he). I looked over the goods, Nippert looks better than Day, although that isn’t saying too much. But the numbers don’t lie, Day has an ERA of almost 7, and Nippert is in the mid 5’s. Day also has been throwing in low 8’s over his last 3 games. Nippert has only one appearance. I think in this game he will shine. D-Backs 10-6.

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Friday and Saturday Picks (9/9 and 9/10)

Friday, Sept. 9th

Rangers vs. A’s – Dominguez vs. Zito – well, logic would naturally say Zito. But Dominguez just gets better and better with each start. In his last start, he went into the eighth inning with a no hitter. Granted, that was KC, but still a no-no is a no-no. He has a 1.69 ERA in his last three starts. Zito has a 3.44 in his last three, including a clobbering against New York. The A’s are cold right now. Zito really does own the Rangers. The Rangers as a team hit .204 in 224 at bats. Of the 46 hits, 12 are extra bases. No long ball tonight, 4 homers against Zito. Hard call to make. Rangers don’t do well against Zito, A’s are cold, Dominguez is hot… A shot in the dark, but I will go with Texas 4-3.

Braves vs. Nats – Ramirez vs. Loaiza – I have always liked Loaiza, when he was with the Rangers and after that. He is a good pitcher, not on a good team, though. He is 10-10 with a 3.62 ERA this year, 3.26 in his last 3. Ramirez is 3.32 in his last 3, and has a 11-8 mark. He doesn’t do well on the road, though (3-7, 5.61 ERA). I am going with the Nats on this 6-4.

Astros vs. Alcoholics – Clemens vs. Davis – Clemens has a 6-2 mark on the road and a 0.52 ERA. Astros 5-1.

Big Fish vs. Female Horse – Burnett vs. Lidle – Both have been throwing grapefruit over their last 3 (6.75 and 6.43 ERA’s respectively). Burnett has had better success this season. Marlins over Phillies 5-2.

D-Backs vs. the Other Alcoholic Team – Estes vs. Kim – Kim is hot, Estes is not. Kim has a 0.92 ERA in his last 3. Estes has an 8.40 over his last 3. Granted, Colorado is not a good team; D-Backs are nothing to brag about, either. Upset, D-Backs over Rockies in a squeaker 5-4.

Saturday, Sept 10th

Rangers vs. A’s – Blanton vs. Loe – Kameron Loe is quickly becoming one of top Rangers players of all time. I just like the guy. 6 foot 8, strong pitcher, great command, and his numbers prove me right. 3.22 ERA for the season, 0.95 ERA over his last three. Blanton stinks on the road. 3-7 mark tells all. Rangers take this one as I get my Tex statue, 4-2.

Braves vs. Nats – Sosa vs. Hernandez – Sosa is undefeated on the road. Braves 5-3.

Astros vs. Alcoholics – Pettitte vs. Ohka – Never heard of Ohka. Pettitte will take this one just on principal (Plus Pettitte has a 0.44 ERA in his last 3). Astros 4-2.

Big Fish vs. Female Horse – Vargas vs. Myers – Big Fish is a really good movie, by the way. Pretty even on the surface, but Myers is by far better upon closer review. Philly 6-3.

D-Backs vs. the Other Alcoholic Team – Vargas vs. Day – These guys should go back to the grapefruit league for real. It’s a beautiful day… good for a song, not for this pitcher. However, he does throw an even 3 at home, and that is what I will have to make my call on. Rockies 7-2.

FC Dallas vs. DC United – Soccer… well, FC Dallas has lost quite a bit of late… I will say they end that streak against DC. Why not, right? Besides, what do I know soccer anyway… FC Dallas 3-1.

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