Minor League Action from 9-9-22.

AAA: SWB (71-61) lost 8-6.
CF Blake Perkins 3 hits, 2 RBI. Solo HR (3)
RF Ryan LaMarre solo HR (4)
DH/1B Rob Brantly 2 hits, RBI
3B Armando Alvarez solo HR (16)

Mujica 1 2/3 IP, 2 R, 2 H, 0 W, 2 K. Gave up 2 HR. 4.15
Espinal 1 1/3 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 0 W, 3 K. 4.37
M. Gomez 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 0 K. 1 HBP. 5.40
Krook 2 2/3 IP, 2 R, 5 H, 3 W, 3 K. 4.24
Barnes 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K 3.12
Ramirez 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K. 11.05
Duffey (L, 1-1; BS, 1) 1/3 IP, 3 R, 3 H, 0 W, 1 K. Gave up 1 HR. 15.43

AA: Somerset (80-48; 1st half division winner) won 2-1.
CF Jeisson Rosario 2 hits, RBI. Solo HR (9)

Randy Vasquez 6 IP, 1 R, 4 H, 2 W, 5 K. 3.75 #16 prospect. Overall 2-6, 3.75
McGarrity (W, 3-0) 2 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 W, 2 K. 2.25
Coleman (S, 15) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K. 3.10

High A: Hudson Valley (71-58) lost 5-4.
CF Jasson Dominguez 2 hits, 2 RBI. 2-run HR (4). #2 prospect. Overall .274-13-55, 36 SB
C Carlos Narvaez 2 hits.
LF Aldenis Sanchez 2 hits, RBI

Abeyta (L, 5-8) 3 2/3 IP, 5 R, 4 ER, 4 H, 3 W, 2 K. 2 HBP 4.47
Holloway 2 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 W, 2 W, 2 K. 1 WP 2.00
Alvarez 2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 2 K. 2.85

Low A: Tampa (61-66) were supposed to play a DH. One game was postponed.
They lost the one they did play, 9-8, in 10 innings.
C Juan Crisp 2 hits, 3 RBI. 1st game at Low A.
1B Anthony Garcia 2 hits, 2 RBI

Y. Castro 2 2/3 IP, 6 R, 4 ER, 6 H, 2 W, 4 K. Gave up 1 HR. 3.59
Will Brian 1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 4 K. 0.00 First game at Low A.
Paciorek 1 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 0 W, 0 K. 25.07
Bustamante (BS, 1) 1 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 3 W, 2 K. 1 WP 2.08
Anderson 3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 3 K. 4.26
Watson (L, 5-5) 2/3 IP, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 H, 1 W, 0 K. 4.01

WS Game 3: Cleveland wins pitcher’s duel, 1-0. Goes up 2 games to 1.

The Cleveland Indians spoiled the first WS game at Wrigley Field in over 71 years by winning a pitcher’s duel, 1-0, on Friday night.

The win in Game 3 of the Series puts Cleveland up 2 games to 1.

PH Coco Crisp’s RBI single in the seventh was the only run of the game. Cleveland had wasted some scoring opportunities earlier.

The game ended when Cody Allen struck out Javier Baez with the tying run on third and the winning run on second.

Andrew Miller got the win.

I don’t recall when a possible WS winner would have been shutout so often in their losses. After all, both Indians’ wins in this series are by shutout, and both Dodgers’ wins over the Cubs in the NLCS were by shutout.

 

Cleveland wins AL Pennant, Miller ALCS MVP; Cubs even NLCS.

The Cleveland Indians are going back to the World Series for the first time since 1997. They have only won it twice, in 1920 and 1948.

Andrew Miller was named the ALCS MVP after the Indians beat the Blue Jays in Game 5 in Toronto 3-0 to win the series four games to one.

Terry Francona should probably be put in the Hall of Fame now. With a depleted rotation, two guys down (Carrasco and Salazar), another cuts up his hand (Bauer), he deftly guided his bullpen—thanks to Miller—to a sweep of Boston and a five-game win over Toronto. Good pitching beat good hitting. When you look at his rotation problems right now, you say “No Way!”. Fabulous job by Francona.

Here is one example of the Indians depleted rotation and the job Francona did. The Game 5 starter for Cleveland was Ryan Merritt, a 24 yr. old rookie who had just four major league games under his belt and just one start. He pitched 4 1/3 innings.

Carlos Santana and Coco Crisp hit solo HRs for Cleveland in the game. Francisco Lindor, who could have been ALCS MVP himself, had 3 hits.

In the NLCS, the Cubs offense woke up after being shut out in Games 2 and 3 and they evened the series at two games apiece, winning Game Four 10-2.

Anthony Rizzo had 3 hits, 3 RBI, inc. a HR. Addison Russell had 3 hits, 2 RBI inc. a HR. The Dodgers were sloppy in making four errors.

I never saw a pitcher wearing a single digit number before Urias last night. And that is in 50 years of watching baseball. How about you?

 

 

Red Sox eliminated, Ortiz’ career over. Giants stay alive, Washington up 2-1.

 

David Ortiz’ career came to an end as Boston was swept by Cleveland, 3 games to none. The Indians got a 2-run HR by one-time Red Sox player Coco Crisp in beating Boston, 4-3. Andrew Miller pitched two scoreless innings of relief in the sixth and seventh.

The ALCS will feature Toronto, who hasn’t been in the WS since beating the Phillies in 1993, and Cleveland, who last were in the WS in 1997 (and who last won it in 1948).

The Cavs and Indians in the same year?

Um….there still is no hope for the Browns (0-5).

The Giants got a run in the bottom of the 13th to beat the Cubs and avoid getting swept. The Cubs are still up 2 games to 1. Aroldis Chapman got a blown save, getting his only man out on a strikeout, but giving up a run, walking one, giving up 2 hits, in the eighth.

Washington went up 2 games to 1 on the Dodgers with an 8-3 win. Jayson Werth had 3 hits, 2 RBI, including a HR. Dodgers’ closer Kenley Jansen gave up 4 runs in 1/3 of an inning.

Between Chapman and Jansen, a rough day for elite closers.

Yankees’ player Donovan Solano elected free agency instead of an option to SWB.

The Price You Pay…

Cue Bruce.

The Price You Pay.

For Garza, the Cubs supposedly would want Montero and either Banuelos or Betances from the Yanks.

Edwin Jackson’s price is $15-17m for 5 years? No way do I give that for a career 60-60, 4.46 ERA (ERA+ 97) pitcher. The Yanks, supposedly, would rather go for Kuroda for one year, and they think HIS price is too high.

Not only that, remember that with the luxury tax, take the salary and multiply by 1.4 to get the real cost to the Yankees.

It also appears (via Twitter accounts) that Nakajima and the Yanks would have to agree on a one-year deal (by Friday) or no deal.

Prince Fielder and the Nats rumors still strong.

Ryan Clark of the Steelers won’t play Sunday due to sickle problems which in 2007 forced removal of his gall bladder and spleen after a game in Denver.

Bears fire their GM.

Cereal Boy (CoCo Crisp) back to the A’s.

S.T. Game #6. Garcia tries to impress.

Freddy Garcia, even when in his prime, has had a long list of terrible spring trainings. He tries to break that skein and impress today.

It’s kind of funny. The Yanks play the Rays today. The Yanks have a long bus ride to Port Charlotte (2 hours) to face the Rays, who train there. Meanwhile, where do the Yanks train? In Tampa. So much for logic.

 

Brett Gardner LF
Nick Swisher RF
Curtis Granderson CF
Russell Martin DH
Eric Chavez 1B
Jesus Montero C
Eduardo Nunez 2B
Brandon Laird 3B
Ramiro Pena SS

Freddy Garcia P

Another chance to see what Chavez and Montero can do, as well as the backup infield battle between Pena and Nunez (as well as Chavez and Laird; Belliard will be out a week to 10 days with his calf strain.)

With a Coco Crisp DUI, SI’s Jon Heyman says some teams need a designated driver more than a designated hitter.

More later as we find out what pitchers will follow Freddie.

Update: Nova gets a chance to impress again. He’ll follow Garcia. From the Lower Hudson Journal (LoHud):

So far, no word on Francisco Cervelli. He wasn’t in the clubhouse this morning and Joe Girardi won’t address the media until later. Looked like his bag was in his locker, for whatever that’s worth.

• Freddy Garcia will make his first spring start today. Ivan Nova, who’s already started a game, will pitch in relief.

  

• Off the bench for the Yankees: C Gustavo Molina, 1B Jorge Vazquez, 2B Kevin Russo, SS Doug Bernier, 3B Bradley Suttle, LF Greg Golson, CF Austin Krum, RF Daniel Brewer, DH Colin Curtis

• Available out of the bullpen: Ivan Nova, Dellin Betances, Adam Warren, Robert Fish, Daniel Turpen, D.J. Mitchell, Eric Wordekemper, Ryan Pope, Andy Sisco and Brian Anderson. The last few on this list are backups, not likely to pitch

Hmm… Betances. That’ll be interesting.

An aerial show.

I know that Tim the Wizard is a Jets fan, but I don’t know how far back he goes.

I remember when I wasn’t quite 11. Colts-Jets in the fall of 1972. The Jets won 44-34. Namath threw for 496 yards and Unitas (in what was probably one of the last, if not THE last great games of his career) threw for over 300 himself. Namath to Rich Caster killed the Colts. An aerial show.

I bring that up because this Steelers fan checked his cell phone internet during his break at work and saw that the Steelers beat the Pack 37-36. After a season seemingly full of last-second losses for the defending (and soon to be eliminated) champs, it’s nice to win one at the end for a change, as Big Ben threw the winning TD pass with just 3 seconds left. A killer for GB was a missed FG earlier in the game. Only 33 yards or so.

But the big story was the passing yardage. If I read it correctly, Rodgers threw for 383 yards. Big Ben threw for 503. Yup. 503. The record is 554 by Norm Van Brocklin for the Rams in 1951 (the only year the Rams won the title while in LA).

In baseball news, I see that the Cereal Boy, Coco Crisp (gotta love that name) is A’s bound. I see talk that the Yanks may want to try to match any offer for Wang. A final say, so to speak.

Now this is interesting. You have a young Cuban defector with a superb fastball but who is raw. You would expect the usual suspects to put in the high bid for him: Yanks, Boston, etc. So who puts in a five year $13M offer? The Marlins. Yup, the same team that built two WS champions only to gut the team immediately afterward both times. According to MLB.com, the Red Sox apparently put in an offer of 15.5 M.

I’d like to take a quick moment to wish all readers the best of holiday seasons and a great 2010. I don’t know how much I’ll be updating this over the next week or so. I have family coming in from the West coast. Three of the four members of the family I haven’t seen since Sept. 2006 (sis, bro-in-law and nephew) and the fourth member, my niece, I get to see for the very first time. Needless to say, I can’t wait and my time will be spent as much as possible with them while they are here.    

Moose to retire. New “breakfast recipe” in Boston.

Reports from Fox and ESPN today indicate that Mike Mussina will indeed retire. If so, he goes out on top. Other than Mussina, the only other pitcher I can think of to retire after winning 20 or more games in his final season is Sandy Koufax (27 in 1966). If you know of another, please comment. I’d have typed this earlier but had DSL trouble and it’s about bedtime. So sorry if I don’t look it up.

Boston will have to find a new “breakfast.”

The Red Sox traded Coco Crisp to KC today for reliever Ramon Ramirez. Ramirez, 27, was 3-2, 1 save, 2.64, ERA+ 162 for the Royals this year. 9-7, 1 save, 3.62, ERA+ 127 for his career. Crisp was .283-7-41-20 SB, OPS+ 93 for Boston this year. It looks like a nice move for Boston to shore up the bullpen. With Ellsbury, Crisp was expendable. As for the Royals, I’ve always liked DeJesus and he had a nice year. The person on the Royals hurt by this will be Joey Gathright (71 hits, only 4 for XB, OPS+ 59). Now we see what the Royals do with him.

I saw a posting that Boston is looking to make a push for Burnett. With Schilling probably retiring (seriously, can you see anyone right now picking up 38pitches.com or Pedro?), Boston, who didn’t have 38pitches last year, could be looking at a rotation of Dice-K, Beckett, Burnett, Lester and Wakefield. Scary. Masterson in the bullpen then? Then look at Tampa, who according to King, George A. III could be looking at Giambi for DH to help out the AL champs even further. Tampa’s rotation was solid. All the more reason for the Yanks to shore up a rotation that had Darrell “Now in Japan” Rasner as the guy who was third in IP last year.

BTW, Seattle’s Wakamatsu, by his hiring, becomes the first Asian-American manager in MLB.

A few years ago on Yankee Fan Club Radio I gave the plusses and minuses for Mike Mussina and Gary Sheffield for the HOF. Since I am tired and need to get to bed (damned DSL problems), I won’t get into Moose’s career stats right now (I probably have already) but will refer you to an excellent piece by Jason over at Heartland Pinstripes on Mussina’s career.

You gotta be kidding me. Red Sox stay alive with unbelievable comeback, 8-7.

It’s alive. It’s ALIVE!

You are kidding me. It’s too bad Jack Buck isn’t alive to tell us he can’t believe what he just saw.

9 outs away from their first pennant, and holding a 7-0 lead, Tampa blows it. The Red Sox pull one of the greatest postseason comebacks ever to save their season. 8-7 on J. D. Drew’s hit in the bottom of the 9th.

Things looked great for the Rays. Iwamura led off the game with a hit, then Upton HR’d. Later, as in Game 4, back to back HRs by Pena and Longoria. Upton drove in two later for a 4 RBI night. 3 ALCS HRs for Upton. 4 for Longoria (4th straight game). As for Pena, he was released by the Tigers in March of 2006, signed with the Yankees in April, spent the year at AAA Columbus, was released in August and finished 2006 with Boston before becoming a free agent and finding himself in Tampa. Before 2006, Pena was ok, having seasons of 18, 18, 19 and 27 HR and an 82 RBI season mixed in. But in Tampa? 77 HR, 223 RBI in the past two seasons. OPS+ of 172 (!) and 132. 9th in MVP voting last year. Who knew?

Nine outs to go. Kazmir had thrown six innings of two-hit shutout ball. He is pulled. A seven-run lead. A double, then two outs. Seven outs to go. Seven run lead. But then Tampa gave up four runs, three on a David Ortiz HR. In the 8th, Boston gets a 2-run HR by J. D. Drew, and a great AB by the Cereal Boy, Coco Crisp, who ties the game with a two-out hit. Tampa, after being stopped by Papelbon for two innings (as in desperation, he entered in the 7th) goes down against Masterson in the 9th.

Then with two out in the bottom of the 9th, Evan Longoria makes a nice pick. His throw however, is wild for a two-base error. After Jason Bay is walked to set up a force at any base, Drew wins it. Unreal.

The question is, can Tampa recover? Games 6 and 7 are in Tampa. But…

1986. One out away from the Series, and Donnie Moore gave up that HR to Dave Henderson. The Angels go on to blow their 3-1 lead.

2004. We know what happened. Up 3-0, the Yanks lost four in a row. Twice they were an inning away from the Series.

2007. The Indians blew a 3-1 lead vs. Boston.

2008??? Up 3 games to 1, we see Tampa blow a SEVEN-RUN LEAD in Game 5 with just seven outs to go. How will this one turn out?

Unreal.

Yankee fans can hate them, but you have to admire the heart of the champion.