Devils Beat Rangers in OT posted by Richard Kagan

New Jersey beat the NY Rangers in game 6 in OT to oust the Rangers from the Eastern Conference Finals.  I live in NY and follow hockey and admit I was rooting for the Devils to prevail 3-2.  They did when rookie Adam Henrique scored early in OT to send New Jersey in the Finals, the fourth with Martin Brodeur as goalie.  Brodeur is on his way to the Hall of Fame when his career ends, and it is fitting that he reaches the Finals to try to go out on top. 

Offensively, the Rangers are challenged.  They have a great goalie in Henrik Lunqvist, who literally, carries this team on his back, every game.  The Rangers just don't have the firepower.  You can't win the Cup when you score 2-3 goals a game.  It's just not going to happen.  You have to put the puck in the net and give your goalie a night off, so to speak.  Let the wingers or centers be accountable.  NY had a great run.  The Devils are the better team.

Kings vs. Rangers? posted by Richard Kagan

It is pretty certain that LA will come out of the Western Conference playoffs.  What remains much more in doubt is the Rangers-Devils series.  NY has a 1-0 lead in the best of 7.  But this series is by no means over.  The Rangers play almost the oppositie of LA.  They grind it out, slow down the game, and let their goalie become the anchor of defense.  A goal or two is usually all the Rangers need to win a game.  That pattern may remain in the Eastern Finals, but it will be sorely tested if NY plays the LA Kings. 

The sleeping giant, that is the LA Kings, has woke up with a vengence.  The Rangers play like the the little engine that could.  It huffs and puffs its way toward the finish line. 

The Detroit TIgers Must Approach This April Like the Playoffs posted by Joe Halstead

It is said- and correctly so- that while a pennant may not be won in April, a pennant may be lost in April.

On this note, the Detroit Tigers have immediate cause for concern. Their early schedule- in the month of April alone- includes two more games against Boston, a three-game home series with the Tampa Bay Rays (April 10-12), a four-game home series against the American League Champion Texas Rangers (April 19-22) and, just to pour a bucket of salt water over the wounds incurred, a three-game series in the Bronx Apr. 27-29.

Tigers manager Jim Leyland is known for using his entire roster liberally. OFers Clete Thomas and Andy Dirks, and 2Bmen Danny Worth, Ramon Santiago and, eventually, Brandon Inge, might see significant playing time.

But, should they?

The Tigers made substitutions in the 2011 post-season out of necessity. They were beat up, and running out of players. Luckily, some of those substitutes stepped up in a big way, such as UT Don Kelly and Santiago.

However, the Tigers are at nearly 100% health, and they need their front line to do battle with the American League's best. 

So, here's hoping that Leyland doesn't tinker with his team too much. Obviously, he wants OF Delmon Young to continue what he's been doing for the Tigers since last August, which is to drive in runs. Surely, Leyland would also like to see one of his second basemen grab the brass ring. So far, all we have are multiple second basemen who play competently enough to hit .250 and turn the double play when necessary.

Ah, maybe, that is, until now. 2B/OF Ryan Raburn had the Spring Training of his life, batting over .400 for a stretch, eventually cooling a bit to a .268 average. However, he still slugged .661, having hit 6 HRs, 2 2Bs and a 3B. That accounts for nine of his 15 hits in the spring.

Edgar Martínez’s case for Cooperstown posted by David

One of the most talented hitters of the nineties did not receive enough votes for induction to the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility, but I’m hoping Edgar Martínez does not have to wait too much longer.  I don’t expect him to be elected in 2011 because too many voters don’t think a Designated Hitter is a full-time player.  (Martínez came up as a third baseman, but injuries forced him to become Seattle’s regular DH in 1995.)  In my opinion, if a poor defensive player can make it to Cooperstown based on his offensive contributions, then someone who does not play a defensive position should be able to do the same.

Martínez’s career stats include a .312 batting average, .418 on-base percentage, .515 slugging percentage, 2,247 hits, 309 home runs, and 1,261 RBIs.  His best season came in 1995, when he slugged .628 while leading the AL in batting average (.356), OBP (.479), OPS (1.107), doubles (52), and runs (121).  Despite his monster year, Martínez still finished third in the MVP race.  Fifteen years later, he remains the only designated hitter ever to win a batting title.

Martínez was a seven-time All-Star, won five Silver Slugger Awards, and had one of the biggest clutch hits in postseason history – a two-run double in the bottom of the 11th inning of Game 5 of the 1995 ALDS that sent the Mariners to their first-ever Championship Series.  Seattle had been trailing the Yankees 5-4 and were three outs away from being eliminated from the playoffs; the turn of events sent the Yanks home instead after having blown a 2-0 series lead.  For the series, Martínez had a Ruthian line of .571/.667/1.000 and 10 RBIs – nine of them coming in the last two games.

A new champion is crowned posted by David

Congratulations to the San Francisco Giants, who are World Champions for the first time since moving to the west coast more than 50 years ago.  Their last title in New York came in 1954, when Willie Mays made “the catch” that will be played on highlight reels forever.  The Giants came unbelievably close to not even making the playoffs this year, but the fans who claimed that watching their team was “torture” are now the happiest fans in baseball.

How ‘bout that?

How about Matt Cain?  The San Francisco hurler was nearly untouchable throughout the playoffs, outshining staff ace Tim Lincecum, who had a bad outing in Game 1 of the Fall Classic.  In three postseason starts, Cain allowed only an unearned run over 21.1 innings of work, going at least 6.2 innings in each outing and providing a huge boost to his team’s hunt for glory.  He might be the best #2 starter in the majors, but Matt Cain looked like the second coming of Cy Young when it mattered most for the Giants.

How about Brian Wilson?  The flamethrower’s postseason numbers included six saves (in seven chances) and a win in 11.2 innings pitched, allowing just an unearned run.  Additionally, Wilson allowed no more than one hit per appearance while anchoring the San Francisco bullpen.  Wilson gave Bruce Bochy the confidence this postseason usually reserved for Mariano Rivera’s manager when handing his closer the ball in October (or November).

How about the fantastic class of rookies in the postseason?  Stephen Strasburg wasn’t among them, but Jason Heyward (Braves), Buster Posey (Giants), Aroldis Chapman (Reds), Danny Valencia (Twins), Wade Davis (Rays), Neftali Feliz and Mitch Moreland (both Rangers) would make an incredible young team if they all played together.  In fact, even top prospect Domonic Brown, who compiled just 62 regular-season at-bats, was on the Phillies’ playoff roster.  Expectations will be high for this talented group, and here’s hoping none of them experiences too much of a sophomore slump.

Sox In Race To Win It posted by Richard Kagan

The Chicago White Sox won a big game 5-3, against the Texas Rangers.  Alexei Remirez hit a big two run blast in the 6th inning for the winning Sox.  The Sox climbed back in the race on a sorching hot streak.  They cooled off a bit on this road trip, dropping two out of three to KC, and then righting themselves with a big win tonight.  This coupled with losses by the Twins and Detroit give Chicago a fighting chance to do some damage right before the All-Star break. 

Right now, they would have to be one of the surprise teams in the AL.  Not because of where they are, but where they've been.  The Sox were in the outer reaches of the Twilight Zone before Interleague Play began.  And, then the ChiSox went on a winning streak that catapulted them back to Earth.   Things might not be so great between the manager and Ken Williams the Gen. Mgr, but winning is a healing elixir.  The team knows it can compete and is finding more confidence as the wins mount.  There is talent in the pitching staff.  Now, if some hitters can pick it up, this team should be flirting with first place soon.   Maybe then Ozzie can get some credit.  But really, it is the players who are performing well.

Actually, they need to win some games before we can laud them.  They have the talent to win this thing, now they have to go out and prove it on the field.

The Chicago cubs 2010 posted by Jeff Lewis

    After two consecutive years of winning the National League Central Division, the Chicago Cubs watched their hated rivals the St. Louis Cardinals win it. In order for this not happen again, the Cubs have some concerns they have to address in order to get back to their winning ways.

    First, they have to get rid of Milton Bradley. This guy was a cancer on and off the field. He was quoted saying that he does not like the Cubs fans. I am here to tell you that the feeling is mutual. The Cubs general manager, Jim Hendry, needs to get this guy off this team no matter how. If that involves eating majority of his contract in a trade, then that's the way it needs to be done. There have been a few teams mentioned in trade talks for Bradley. The Tampa Bay Rays, the San Diego Padres, and the team that keeps getting mentioned the most the Texas Rangers. It doesn't matter what team the Cubs get the deal done with, as long as this guy is off the team come next year.

    Second, the Cubs need a lead-off hitter and center-fielder. These two go together, because the Cubs can fill both of these holes with one player. Coco Crisp. Crisp is a great player. He has speed, he is a descent outfielder, and he can hit. He did have a down year last year, but he played for the Kansas City Royals. Put a good team behind Coco he will shine! Look what he did in Boston an few years ago. There have been rumors that the Cubs are in the Curtis Garnderson sweepstakes. Grandy would be a good fit with the Cubs, and probably benefit from the National League style of play. The one downside to getting Garndy is that he can't hit left-handed pitchers. So the Cubs would have to find someone to platoon with Grandy in center when they are facing a lefty. With the Cubs payroll, I don't see that happening. Crisp should be Hendry's guy, but we will see what happens.

8-18 Football News and MLB Waiver Wire Deals posted by Ryan Turner

1. Well, Brett Favre is back. Just as he started to drift out of our minds again, BAM, breaking news on ESPN: "Favre is a Viking." As obnoxious as this story has been for the last three years, it sure will make the Vikings vs. Packers games more interesting, especially the November 1st game when he returns to Lambeau Field. My guess is the reaction will be half cheers, half boos from the fans, all boos from Ted Thompson.

2. Another quarterback who has run rampant through the media lately is Jay Cutler. He needs to shut up right now if he even wants a chance at not topping the "Number One Douche Bag of All-Time" list. His latest remarks were after the Bears' first preseason game in which they played the Buffalo Bills. He criticized wide receiver Devin Hester for not breaking up an interception on an under-thrown pass. How about this Jay? Either make the passes in the first place or be gracious if Hester does break up the interception. If Hester can't fix your screw up, man up and take the blame yourself. That's where it belongs. Peyton Manning doesn't always own the blame after a loss, but the difference between Manning and Cutler is, Manning has the record to back up those types of comments. Cutler needs to earn the right to make those types of comments. He could be in danger of losing that locker room really quickly, if he hasn't already.

3. Marc Bulger broke his pinkie on his throwing hand during Monday's practice on a snap exchange from center Jason Brown. It's not a major injury and it should only keep him out for two weeks. However, this could open the door for backup Kyle Boller. The Ravens had some decent years with a strong defense and Boller managing games. Baltimore went 9-7 in 2004, Boller's only year in which he started all 16 games. 9-7 won the NFC West last year and it could do the same this year. I'm not suggesting the Rams' defense will be anywhere close to Baltimore's, but the NFC West isn't as strong as the AFC North typically is either.

Boston Red Sox to MISS Playoffs in '09 posted by Joe Burgmeier

Sunday August 16, 2009 following their 4-3 loss at Texas, is the first time since April 21st that the Red Sox do not have a share of the wild-card or AL East lead.  Does this mean that Red Sox nation should give up hope for the playoffs or a world series birth this year?  Probably not.  However, they should.  Sorry Red Sox fans and band wagoners, your team simply is not going to make the playoffs this year with the emergence of the Rangers pitching staff and the dominance of the Yankees offense.

Now I assume most of the Boston fans are screaming and their faces are steaming with team colors and pride.  But we have to look at match ups in the remaining schedule.  The Red Sox have a tougher remaining schedule than the Wild Card leader Texas Rangers and the only other team with an outside chance in Tampa Bay, has a tougher remaining season schedule than either and it would be one of the more amazing stretch runs if they make it.  The Red Sox have 20 games left against teams that are trying to make the playoffs, this of course comes with 6 games against all of Boston's beloved Johnny Damon and the New York Yankees, 6 games against newly acquired division rival Tampa Bay, who play tough at home, and 3 games with the Angels.  Out of the 20 playoff type team games left, there are 8 interesting games between the White Sox and Red Sox.  I'm not going to predict any winners from these games {insert 2005 playoff flashback here} but will be some of the most intriguing match ups of the season as Chicago has bolstered their hitting and pitching with the addition of Alexei Rios and SP Jake Peavy.  Peavy has been rumored for a late August return or early September return and could be a factor.  The White Sox are doing everything they can to try to win the Central this season.

Will this Ranger's team make the playoffs? posted by Travis Massey

After dropping two straight games to the last place A’s, we are left wondering just how much of a contender the Texas Rangers are for the post season. After falling to 59-46, the possibilities are looking more and more bleak.

 Many expected this team to be no different than previous teams from Arlington: mediocre pitching at best held together by tons of hits and homeruns. Lately it seems the opposite has been true, but it feels as if the normal end of season result is inevitable.

While the Ranger’s starting rotation, practically a revolving door of players, especially as of late, has done their part to make the team competitive, the same can’t be said for the offense.

            Since the All-Star break the Ranger’s bats have fallen silent, punctuated by scoring a whopping two runs over their last 18 innings.  Coupled with inconsistency at the closer position, this is starting to look like the Rangers we are used to seeing in August.

Of course one can hardly shoulder that whole problem on C.J. Wilson and Frankie Francisco alone. We can’t even get a consistent answer as to who IS the closer. One week it’s Wilson, the next it’s Francisco, sometimes it Jennings, while others it’s O’Day.

As if shuffling pitchers isn’t enough strain for the team, recent injuries turned into DL stints for Ian Kinsler and Nelson Cruz, two of the hottest hitting Rangers. Cruz is only one of three Rangers hitting over .300 since the All-Star Break, and Kinsler’s defense is sorely missed at second base. If Kinsler had been in that second game against Oakland, then we’d have definitely seen a Ranger victory. Instead, Joaquin Arias let a routine grounder sit for two long, allowing the A’s to get a base runner who should have been the third out of the inning, and win with a walkoff double.

Baseball-Darvish overcomes shaky start as Rangers tame Tigers (Reuters)

May 16 (Reuters) - The highly anticipated pitching duel between Justin Verlander and Yu Darvish failed to materialise as the Japanese ace's Texas Rangers (27-14) eased to a 10-4 triumph over the Detroit Tigers (22-17) on Thursday. Geovany Soto belted a three-run homer and Mitch Moreland had a pair of doubles and three RBI's in the rout, as Darvish (7-1) claimed the win after a shaky start, throwing a career-high 130 pitches and giving up four runs. Despite his early troubles, Darvish was streets ahead of Verlander (4-4), who was hammered for a career-high tying eight runs in 2 2/3 innings. ... [read full article]

From Yahoo! Sports

Darvish overcomes shaky start as Rangers tame Tigers (Reuters)

(Reuters) - The highly anticipated pitching duel between Justin Verlander and Yu Darvish failed to materialize as the Japanese ace's Texas Rangers (27-14) eased to a 10-4 triumph over the Detroit Tigers (22-17) on Thursday. Geovany Soto belted a three-run homer and Mitch Moreland had a pair of doubles and three RBI's in the rout, as Darvish (7-1) claimed the win after a shaky start, throwing a career-high 130 pitches and giving up four runs. Despite his early troubles, Darvish was streets ahead of Verlander (4-4), who was hammered for a career-high tying eight runs in 2 2/3 innings. ... [read full article]

From Yahoo! Sports

Rangers, Darvish beat Verlander

Geovany Soto ended Justin Verlander's night with a three-runhomer that capped a seven-run third, and Yu Darvish lasted eightinnings even though an anticipated pitching duel fizzled in theTexas Rangers' 10-4 victory against the Detroit Tigers on Thursdaynight. [read full article]

From FOXSports.com News for MLB

Curtis Granderson returns to the lineup of surprisingly first-place New York Yankees (Big League S

Somehow, the New York Yankees managed to withstand injury upon injury and they're sitting in first place in the AL East right now. When Curtis Granderson and Mark Teixeira went down with spring injuries, when Derek Jeter suffered two setbacks , the narrative was everywhere (including here): The Yankees are old, injured and have a tough road ahead. As Curtis Granderson returns to the Yankees lineup on Tuesday, the first of their stars to come back, the story changes a little bit. Now it becomes, can the Yankees keep it up? Granderson, who fractured his forearm in late February , will hit cleanup and play left field as the Yankees face the Seattle Mariners and Felix Hernandez in the Bronx. With 43 home runs last season, Granderson is a boost the Yankees will welcome, despite what they've been able to accomplish without him. Frankly, the Yankees have emerged from injury hell in the best possible scenario —they're tied with the Texas Rangers for the second-best record in baseball. Attribute it to the Vernon Wells acquisition, their pitching or just that good Yankee fortune. [read full article]

From Yahoo! Sports

Curtis Granderson returns to the lineup of surprisingly first-place New York Yankees (Big League S

Somehow, the New York Yankees managed to withstand injury upon injury and they're sitting in first place in the AL East right now. When Curtis Granderson and Mark Teixeira went down with spring injuries, when Derek Jeter suffered two setbacks , the narrative was everywhere (including here): The Yankees are old, injured and have a tough road ahead. As Curtis Granderson returns to the Yankees lineup on Tuesday, the first of their stars to come back, the story changes a little bit. Now it becomes, can the Yankees keep it up? Granderson, who fractured his forearm in late February , will hit cleanup and play left field as the Yankees face the Seattle Mariners and Felix Hernandez in the Bronx. With 43 home runs last season, Granderson is a boost the Yankees will welcome, despite what they've been able to accomplish without him. Frankly, the Yankees have emerged from injury hell in the best possible scenario —they're tied with the Texas Rangers for the second-best record in baseball. Attribute it to the Vernon Wells acquisition, their pitching or just that good Yankee fortune. [read full article]

From Yahoo! Sports