Mets get their MEN! Giants get a good break.

Tuesday afternoon the New York Mets signed the big power man from the Boston Red Sox, Jason Bay. Bay in 2009 had a good year batting .267, 36 homeruns, and 119 RBI's. Bay signed a 4 year deal worth $66 million dollars. Also last week the New York Mets rapped up starting pitching/relief pitcher Kelvim Escobar from the Angels. In 09 Escobar wasn't that good, his ERA was 3.60, 0 wins, 1 lose, and 5 strikeouts. He signed a 1 year deal. How will both this guys pen out for the Mets?

Well I think Jason Bay going to Mets is a great move. After the Mets having a horrible season last year, he is what they need in the outfield and he knows how to win. Also batting in the 3 or 4 hole before or after Beltran in the line-up will help the Met outs with power. Also it’s a big time threat in the NL. After being in the NL than moving over to the AL and now coming back to the NL and playing for a pretty good team, that just makes its harder for opposing pitchers in the national league. So this is a great move. As for Escobar, well it depends what player shows up. Will it be the Escobar that was so good 2 years ago or will it be the pitcher who doesn’t have it? Plus the Mets have to see if he will be a starter or relief pitcher. These are just questions that will have to be answered during spring training or during the 2010 season.

Today around 4:00 p.m. the San Francisco Giants signed free agent third basemen Mark DeRosa for 2 years worth 12 million dollars. DeRosa who came over from the Cardinals in 2009 batted .250, 23 homeruns, and 78 RBI's. Was this a good move for the Giants? This move was indeed a good one. Mark DeRosa is probably the most underrated third basemen in the league. He may not be the best but he knows how to play the game the right way. He also could be the guy they could use in the Giants line-up along with Pablo Sandoval, Freddy Sanchez, and Aaron Rowand. I also think this year the Giants with win the NL West Division only if the pitching holds up and everyone stays healthy for the most part of the year.

This is beyond big news, this is Beyond Baseball.

The Doc Is In. The Lee Is Out.

Today the Philadelphia Phillies signed the hard former CY Young Award winner right hander Roy "Doc" Halladay. But this deal wasn't gonna come cheap and it wasn't like any other signing. The Phillies would have to give up their ace Cliff Lee and three Phillies prospects to the Toronto Blue Jays, the Seattle Mariners and some how the Oakland A's got on in this deal as well. This was probably one of the biggest trades ever in the 130 years in this game and was defiantly a blockbuster deal in hand. The Phillies would send Cliff Lee to the Mariners for three prospects. In return the Phillies got pitching prospects Phillippe Anmont, J.C. Ramirez and outfielder prospect Tyson Gillies. Now to get Halladay the Phillies would have to give up outfield prospect Michael Taylor who got traded to the Oakland A's for prospect Brett Wallace, catcher prospect Travis d'Arnaud, and the number one pitching prospect for the Phillies Kyle Drabek to Toronto. In return the Phillies would get the ace they have wanted since last July Roy Halladay and $6 million dollars from Toronto.

The Phillies got Halladay on a three year deal till 2011 through 2013 for $20 million a year, plus a $20 million vesting option for 2014. But some people in this city did not agree with this move at all. A lot of people wanna know why the Phillies couldn't have kept Lee and added Halladay on the team? Well here it is, the Phillies have to stick to their $140 million dollar budget that was already getting tight at the moment and could afford to keep both Lee and Halladay on the same team. Another reason is that, Cliff Lee was going to walk after the 2010 season to test the free agency market, plus Lee wanted a C.C. Sabathia deal of $160 million dollars for 3 years that was never going to happen. Another reason is that, the Phillies didn't know if Lee was going to do a contract extension if he was going to walk, where in Halladay case he was willing to do that and the Phillies raped him up for three long years. But now people are saying why couldn't we keep Lee and Hallaway on the same team for one year and see what happens? Well the reason for that is prospects, is whole deal was about prospects in witch the Phillies have a lot of as you know in the past. Since they were giving away 3 of their best prospects they needed to fill in those lost prospects. Also Cliff Lee was already going to make 9 million dollars this year, so they took Halladay and got rid of Lee. But here's something I didn't understand is why didn't the Phillies get rid of Joe Blanton who will be a free agent after the 2010 season and keep Lee? Also Blanton was only making 2-3 million dollars less than what Cliff Lee was going to make, so if they would gotten rid of Blanton that would have made some room on the Phillies payroll and could have kept Lee with Halladay for 1 year. But the Phillies had a different view on this deal, they didn't wanna have just one good year with both Lee and Halladay. They wanted to have 3 good long years with just Halladay and if they could have kept Lee that would of been just extra points for the Phils. Instead of not shooting themselves in the foot by not signing Halladay at all they did just in case this opportunity would have never came around again. Instead Joe Blanton stayed and Cliff Lee was shipped out and Roy Halladay arrived on time.


Just the question is now now how will this move pen out for the Phillies? Well I think this move was ok, I mean the Phillies gave up 4 prospect in July for Cliff Lee and now just gave up 3 prospect for Halladay in total that's 7 prospect to get a CY Young for a CY Young. Also what makes no scenes is why didn't the Phillies do this move earlier when Toronto wanted both Michael Taylor and Kyle Drabek when now they just gave up both guys for Halladay? Now the big question comes in now, how good will Cole Hamels be this year? We saw in 2009 he didn't live up to the hype "Hamels" he was in the 2008 World Series. Basically this all folds on him, cause I'll tell you something if he doesn't get back to the pitcher he was 2 years ago the Phillies will wish they would have held on to Cliff Lee just for one year. But the talk is said, what would you rather have Cliff Lee stay for 1 year than walk and not get Halladay after he's gone? Or have Roy Halladay for 3 plus years and have a chance to win another World Series and fill that ace spot in the rotation? Or have both on the same team for just 1 year and have one of the most dangerous pitching staff in all of baseball? That's just something we will never find out.


Cliff Lee in 2009 had a really good season with the Phillies after coming over from the Cleveland Indians with a 3.39 ERA, 7 wins and 4 losses as a Phillie. Also Lee was 4-0 in the postseason with a 1.56 ERA. But overall Lee finished with 14 wins, 13 loses and an ERA of 3.22. As for Roy Halladay in 2009 was one if not one of his better years. Halladay finished with 17 wins, 10 losses, and an ERA of 2.79, yet Halladay has never made the playoffs in fact he doesn't know what the word playoff means nor does he know what the feeling is like pitching in the playoffs, neither did Lee but he sure looked like he knew what he was doing. Don't get me wrong Halladay is defiantly by far one of the best pitchers in our time besides Tim Linecum from the San Fransisco Giants. Also Halladay is a big time pitcher and is a very smart pitcher. He knows how get ahead in the count and put down big time hitters such as Alex Rodriguez from the New York Yankees. Just know this, I think the Phillies did an alright move, but could have saved all this drama if they would have just gotten Halladay to begin with where they wouldn't of have the trouble of giving up a big FAN favorite in Cliff Lee. So the table is set, Lee is a Mariners, Halladay is Phillie and the Phillies lost probably all their best prospects to the Indians and the Blue Jays for two of the best pitchers in the game. One who stayed for not even a half a year and the other who will be here for the next 3-4 years. It’s funny how so much can change in one deal. Cliff Lee you will be missed in Philadelphia. Roy Halladay welcome to the City of Brotherly Love. P.S. don't forget to have a Philly Cheese Steak! This is Beyond a big time trade, this is Beyond Baseball.

Philadelphia Phillie Outstanding star in 2009 - Cliff Lee

We all remember how the Phillies won the World Series in 2008 and it had to do with the pitching staff and outstanding young left hander Cole Hamels. So this year how would the Phillies be able to maybe win BACK TO BACK titles in Philly. Well pitching was a big key for the Phillies this year and in the beginning of the year the pitching wasn't there at all.

For Cliff Lee the 2009 season was one to remember. He would start opening day and his 4 1/2 months with the team he has been with since 2002 the Cleveland Indians. Cliff Lee in 2008 won his first ever CY Young award with 22 win and 3 loses and American League best ERA with a 2.54. If you were to ask Cleveland fans, who was this guy 2 years before they would have probably said "Cliff Lee"? "That guy's a bum" Lee who 2006 had an ERA of 4.40, 14 wins and 11 loses and was still looking for that magic in his arm, but in 2007 things only got worse for the left hander. Lee would suffer a groin strain during spring training and would be put on the DL for the beginning of the season. On July 26, 2007 Lee would give up 7 runs in 4 innings and would be booed off the field. The next day Lee was sent down to triple-A ball where he would play most of the season there. September 1, 2007 he was called back up but only pitched in 4 games, the Indians won the Central Division Championship and would head for the playoff but without Cliff Lee as he would yet be on the DL. For those who don't remember the postseason in 2007 the Indians got past the Yankees in the ALDS but would fall into a hole against the Boston Red Sox in the ALCS with a 3-1 game lead and blew it. Maybe if they had the extra healthy pitcher in Cliff Lee, who knows what would have happened in 2007.

In 2009 Cliff Lee clearly won the ace spot with the Indians with the big dog C.C. Sabathia now with the New York Yankees, Lee would start off with a losing record 4 wins and 6 loses, but a really good ERA of 2.88. But on July, 29, 2009 just two days before the trade dead-line, Lee and teammate Ben Francisco were traded to the Philadelphia Phillies. Baseball writers and fans never saw this coming because the Phillies were talking to Roy Halladay for the longest time. This move came out of nowhere. Cliff Lee would leave the town and team that he had been with for his whole life with an EAR of 3.14 and losing record with 7 wins and 9 loses in 2009 with the Indians. Phillies fans had their ups and downs about this move. Some said "well Lee is a guy who can definitely help the Phillies repeat as World Champs". Other said "I still think we should have gotten Halladay". Lee would make his first Phillies day-few on July 31, 2009 against the San Francisco Giants. He would win his first game as a Phillie by having a complete game win by a score of 5-1 with 6 strikeouts. Lee would than win his next 4 games in row and his ERA was 0.68. Cliff Lee would finish the season with 7 win, 4 loses and a ERA of 3.39 as a Philadelphia Phillie. But overall with both Cleveland and Philadelphia he had an ERA of 3.22, 14 wins, 13 loses.


The Philadelphia Phillies would win their third straight National League East Division title from the help of Cliff Lee. It seemed like he gave this team the extra push they needed. On October 7th Cliff Lee would make his first ever postseason start as the ace of the staff against the Colorado Rockies and would win his first ever playoff game by a score of 5-1, and Lee would indeed finish the game off with a complete and 5 strikeouts. His next big start came on October 18th in the NLCS against the Los Angeles Dodgers and boy did this game send a message to the Dodgers and Dodgers fans. Lee shutout the Dodgers 11-0 with 10 strikeouts in only 8 innings of work. Lee would now have the best an ERA in postseason 0.00. The Phillies would win the National League Championship Series for the second straight time against the Dodgers and would have a date with the 26 time World Series Champions the New York Yankees in the World Series. On October 28th, 2009, Cliff Lee was making his first ever World Series start against his former teammate and good friend C.C. Sabathia who was making his first ever World Series start as well. Two former teammate, two former CY Young award winners, two friends on two different teams going against each other to become World Series Champions and for these two guys it was all that they could have dreamed of.


Cliff Lee would do a little bit better than his friend C.C. in Game 1 game of the World Series by winning 6-1 with 10 strikeouts and having yet again another complete game in the postseason. Lee was then called on to pitch in Game 5 of the World Series with his team trailing three games to one. So on November 2nd, Lee would have to try to help keep his team alive in the World Series. Lee wouldn't despotic, he may have not pitched that well in this game like he did in Game 1 but he got the job done going 7 inning and only having 3 strikeouts and winning the game by a score of 8-6, he would now have 4 wins in the postseason. But as we know the Phillies failed to win the World Series in 2009, it was still one of those years as a pitcher that says let go out there and do this again and that's what Cliff Lee brings to the table. "The goal is winning and staying on top of my game come opening day next year" said Cliff Lee.


So that kid from Benton, Arkansas, who was drafted by the Florida Marlins in 1997 and did not sign to attend the Meridian Community College, to was later drafted in 1998 by the Baltimore Orioles who still did not sign to attend the University of Arkansas, who was later drafted by the Montreal Expos in 2000 and signed, who was later traded by the Expos along with stars like Brandon Phillips, Lee Stevens, and Grady Sizemore to the Cleveland Indians in exchange for Bartolo Colón and Tim Drew. Cliff Lee now finds himself with a team that knows how to win and has the heart to win. It’s just a question and a matter of time when will it happen again? For Cliff Lee the sky's the limit in 2010. This beyond a heart of a pitcher, this is beyond baseball.

Joe Who?....Joe Mauer? AL MVP?

Who would take home the 2009 American League MVP Award? Would it be Derek Jeter from the New York Yankees, Miguel Cabrera from the Detroit Tigers, Joe Mauer from the Minnesota Twins, Mark Teixeira from the New York Yankees? Which one of these fine players would take home this award? It was going to be very interesting to see who would win this award because all these players had such a good year and this pick came down to the wire!

Joe Mauer from the Minnesota Twins would walk away with his first "EVER" American League MVP Award. In 2009 Mauer already won a gold glove award and a silver slugger award. Also Mauer would have himself his second straight batting title and his third in four years as a catcher. But this pick wasn't going to come easy going against a great player who has really came into his own Miguel Cabrera from the Tigers, a first time World Series winner Mark Teixeira from the New York Yankees, and a five time World Series winner Derek Jeter from the New York Yankees as well. Joe Mauer in 2009 had probably one of his best seasons in his young career with a batting AVG of .365, 96 RBI's, 28 HR, and .444 OBP. That is just amazing that a catcher can be that good of a hitter. Being a catcher is probably one the hardest jobs to contribute in baseball. To take shots behind the plate, be on your knees for the most part, catch a 90-95 mph fast ball, and then bat third in the line-up and get on base and run the bases, is just called a "GREAT" all around player that works hard every day! Although it was very hard to choice who would win this award with two great first baseman in Cabrera and Teixeira and the greatest short stops in our time Derek Jeter. Cabrera for the Tigers in 2009 had a really great year with a AVG of .324, 103 RBI's, 34 HR, and .396 OBP. Teixeira who came over from the Braves after being traded away from the Angels in 2008, had a fine season for the Yankees winning his first World Series in 2009 with a batting AVG of .292, 122 RBI's, 39 HR, and .383 OPB. Then there's Jeter who is the best in the game at everything he does and put up another strong output in 2009 batting .334, 66 RBI's, 18 HR, and .406 OBP.

Joe Mauer would become the eighth catcher in history to win the American League MVP Award and the fifth player in Twins history to win the award as well. The last Twin to win the award was teammate Justin Morneau back in 2006, Rod Carew in 1977, Harmon Killebrew in 1969, Zoilo Versalles in 1965, and Now Joe Mauer joins them in Twins history. I think if you have to ask who is the best catcher in AL you would have to say Joe Mauer without a doubt. Here's a 26 year old guy who just loves to play the game and has fun enjoying every moment of it. If you were to ask who was the best catcher before Mauer you would probably say Ivan Rodriguez who played for the Texas Rangers in the late 90's or Jorge Posada who still plays for the New York Yankees who's better years are behind him winning five World Series titles. But before that you would have to go all the way back to the late 70's to find a great catcher in the American League and that was Thurman Munson who played for the New York Yankees. I think Joe Mauer has filled that spot of being the best catcher in our time as we speak and will be for the next four to five year if he stays healthy. The Twins won their division this year by one game, but didn't make it too far in the postseason after hitting a wall against the New York Yankees, the Twins will definitely be back next year to try to go back to the postseason and see if they can win their first World Series since 1991. As for Mauer he's going to do what he does best and try to become the first catcher since Yogi Berra from the Yankees to win back to back MVP Awards in 1954 and in 1955, to do just that and try to win a World Series title. This is Beyond a great catcher, this is Beyond Baseball.

Halladay Will Become a Free Agent in 2010.

Roy Halladay will not stay a Blue Jay in 2010 come trade deadline next year. There have been two teams who have been interest in Halladay and that are the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Red Sox, Dodgers, and Phillies have also been mentioned in degrees of interest as well, simply because Hallaway will cost too much money, or teams will have to give up players if a deal comes down to a trade. We saw what happened last year with the Phillies. The Phillies weren't going to give up their top prospects to get Halladay. As we know the Phillies got Cilff Lee and Ben Francisco from the Cleveland Indians and that deal worked out pretty well for the Phillies.

Halladay is the guy you might want on your team in 2010 cause he's hungry to win a World Series and wants to play for a winning team. The Yankees could use him as their number two starter and move A.J. Burnett as their number three guy .The Yankees goal is to win BACK TO BACK World Series titles and Halladay can help them do just that. The Dodgers, well they could defiantly use him in 2010 only because we saw for the past two years the Dodgers could not get past the Phillies in the NLCS and maybe if Halladay came to the Dodgers he could get them past the NLCS and get them to a World Series and possibly win it for them. For the Phillies, well they have been talking to Halladay since the trade deadline last year but came up emptily, but if the Phillies were to get him next year I think they will have another shot of getting back to the World Series for a third straight year and winning it again for second time in three years. If the Phillies added Halladay in the mix with Lee, Hamels, Happ, and Blanton, I think the Phillies would have the best pitching rotation in baseball. As for the Red Sox, well there in need of pitching only because last year we saw them have the biggest lead in the AL East before the All-Star break and then after the break their pitching staff just broke down. Josh Beckett and Jon Lester were the Sox's best pitchers in 2009 and they didn't make it too far in the postseason last year and if they’re going to look for the spark plug to help them get back to the World Series and win another one than Halladay is your guy. Whoever Halladay goes to in 2010 he's going to cost a lot but it will defiantly pay off in the end he will do the best he can to get a team to a World Series and win one for his new ball club in 2010.

Lincecum Does it Again!

This afternoon Major League Baseball would vote on who would win the NL CY Young Award. There were three choices to pick from. First choice was former CY Young Award winner back in 2005 Chris Carpenter, from the St. Louis Cardinals. Carpenter this year already won NL Come Back Player of the Year and could defiantly win the 2009 NL CY Young Award. This season Carpenter had a fine season with an ERA of 2.24, 17 wins, 4 losses, 144 strikeouts, and 192.2 innings pitched. Also there was his teammate Adam Wainwright who won a gold glove award already was in line to win his first CY Young Award. In 2009 Wainwright had a 2.63 ERA, 19 wins, 8 losses, 212 strikeouts, and 233.0 innings pitched, and was the second choice on the list. Both Carpenter and Wainwright would help win the NL Central Division for the Cardinals in 2009 over the Cubs. The final choice was the 2008 CY Young Award winner from the San Francisco Giants, "The Freak" Tim Lincecum. In 2009 Limcecum put up another strong season with an ERA of 2.48, 15 wins, 7 losses, 261 strikeouts (the most in the NL), and 225.1 innings pitched. They would give the 2009 NL CY Young Award back to young 25 year old Tim Lincecum!

Tim Lincecum would become the second player to win Back to Back NL CY Young Awards since his teammate Randy Johnson did so from 1999-2002. Here's a look at Randy Johnson's numbers. 1999 - ERA 2.49, 17 wins, 9 losses, 364 strikeouts, and 271.2 innings pitched. 2000 - ERA 2.64, 19 wins, 7 losses, 347 strikeouts, and 248.2 innings pitched. 2001 - ERA 2.49, 21 wins, 6 losses, 372 strikeouts, and 249.2 innings pitched. 2002 - ERA 2.32, 24 wins, 5 losses, 334 strikeouts, and 260.0 innings pitched. Randy Johnson is clearly one of the best pitchers in our time from that era. But I think a new young gun pitcher has shown everyone to be one of the best pitchers in baseball in our time and his name is Tim Lincecum. Linececum has only been in the Major Leagues for 3 years and has proved people that he isn't a little boy anymore winning Back to Back NL CY Young Awards and leading the league in strikeouts in the National League. In 2008 he won his first CY Young Award with a 2.62 ERA, 18 wins, 5 losses, 265 strikeouts, and 227.0 innings pitched. When you think San Francisco Giants, you think TIM LINCECUM if you’re a player or a fan. He has to be considering one of the most dangerous pitchers in the game and for the Giants since Juan Marichal played in the 1960's. Lincecum has yet to get his club to the postseason but when he does all he will be thinking about is win a World Series and I'll be one if not only the best pitcher in my generation. The Giants haven’t been to a World Series since 2002 but lost to the Los Angeles Angels and they haven't won a World Series in almost five or six decades. I look forward to the 2010 season to see if Lincecum can get his team to the postseason and maybe win the NL West Division for the first time since 2003. All I can say is "it’s no freak show, Tim Lincecum is human".

NL and AL Manager of the Year Award.

For the National League, Jim Tracy from the Colorado Rockies won the 2009 Manager of the Year Award. The Rockies who started off with former coach Clint Hurdle started off a little “rockie”. Hurdle in the beginning of the season had a record of 18-28, dead last in the NL West. But May 29, 2009, Hurdle was fired and was sent home packing. It was than when beach coach Jim Tracy was giving the job to turn things around for the Rockies in 2009. After Tracy took over the Rockies had a better record with 72 wins and 42 losses, and now were neck and neck with the San Francisco Giants in the NL Wild Card race. Near the end of the season the Rockies even came close to winning the division from the Los Angeles Dodgers who had a big lead in the middle of the season, but the Dodgers would pull away and win the NL West Division. The Rockies would yes win the NL Wild Card with a 92-70 record and would head back to the playoffs for the second time in three years. In the NLDS the Rockies would fall to the defending World Series Champions, Philadelphia Phillies three games to one and that would be the end for the Colorado Rockies in 2009. You can't be that up-set if you’re a Rockies though with a team that didn't even look that good from the start and then to make the playoffs is just something great and they could be one of the better teams in the NL two years to come. Jim Tracy would become the first ever Colorado Rockies manager to win this award and I wish him the best of luck in the 2010 season.


For the American League Mike Scioscia, from the Los Angeles Angels would win his second Manager of the Year Award, his first was back in 2002 where the Angels won the World Series over the San Francisco Giants. In 2009 things started off a little rough for Scioscia and his club. April 9th, 2009 the Angels would lose one of their own, starting pitcher #34 Nick Adenhart who was killed in a car accident just after pitching 6 scoreless innings in his 4th or 5th big league start. Around June the Angels were just 29-29 and didn't look that good for the team who had a few injuries but the Angels would somehow clime their way back into the AL West race with the Texas Rangers. Angels center fielder, Torii Hunter said "were doing this for Nick, he’s smiling down at us and saying hey lets go out and win one today" and the Angles would do so. The team would finish with 97 wins at the end of 2009 (the second most wins in the AL) and win the AL West Division crown five times out of six and knock off the Texas Rangers. In the ALDS the Angles would face the AL Wild Card winners the Boston Red Sox and sweep them three games to nothing and head to the ALCS to take on the best team in baseball, the New York Yankees. The Yankees would end the Angles long journey in the ALCS by beating them four games to two. Throughout this season it was still a good one for the Angles, losing a close friend, starting off slow, and then working their way back into things to win the division is just great. I see the Angles next year being a pretty good team; with a few players on the free agent list I think they will still have a pretty good year in 2010.

Zack Greinke wins the AL CY Young Award.

Today in Major League Baseball it was time to pick who would win the AL CY Young Award. There were many choices to pick from in the American League. First there is, Zack Greinke from the Kansas City Royals. Greinke in 2009 put up one of his best seasons with an ERA of 2.16, 16 wins, 8 losses, 242 strikeouts (second most in the AL), and 229.1 innings pitched. Second choice was right hander Roy "Doc" Halladay from the Toronto Blue Jays who won a CY Young back in 2003. But in 2009 Halladay would have a fine season with an ERA of 2.79, 17 wins, 10 losses, 208 strikeouts, and 239.0 innings pitched. He was also injured a few times this season and still put up those numbers. Third choice was gunslinger Felix Hernandez, from the Seattle Mariners. 2009 was probably one Hernandez's best years with an ERA of 2.49, 19 wins, 5 losses, 217 strikeouts, and 238.2 innings pitched. Forth choice was the 6'7, 290 IBS big dog C.C. Sabathia, from the New York Yankees. Sabathia who already won a CY Young Award in 2007 who would have another great year in 2009 winning his first World Series and having a ERA of 3.37, 19 wins, 8 losses, 197 strikeouts, and 230.0 innings pitched. Last choice was the 26 year old Justin Verlander, from the Detroit Tigers who would have one of his better years in 2009. Verlander had an ERA of 3.45, 19 wins, 9 losses, 269 strikeout (most in the AL), and 240.0 innings pitched. So out these five outstanding pitchers, who would win the AL CY Young Award?

Zack Greinke would win the AL CY Young Award putting up one his best performances in 2009. Who would have thought Greinke would become one of your big time pitchers in 2009, where about 4 years ago Greinke wasn't even one of your big time pitchers with an ERA of 5.80, 5 wins, 17 losses, 114 strikeouts, and 183.0 innings pitched in 2005. In 2008 he would than try to turn it around with an ERA of 3.47, 13 wins, 10 losses, 183 strikeouts, and 202.1 innings pitched. In 2009 the Kansas City Royals would finish second to last in the American League Central tied with the Cleveland Indians with 65 wins and 97 losses and that's just great that Greinke could put up those numbers. 2009 was definitely one to remember for Zack Greinke who wins the 2009 AL CY Young Award.


Zack Greinke is the fourth Kansas City Royal in their history to win the AL CY Young Award. The first was Bret Saberhagen back in 1985 with an ERA of 2.87, 20 wins, 6 losses, 158 strikeouts and 235.1 innings pitched. In 1989 Saberhagen would yet again win the AL CY Young Award with a 2.16 ERA, 23 wins, 6 losses, 193 strikeouts, and 262.1 innings pitched. The third person came in 1994 with David Cone who had an ERA of 2.94, 16 wins, 5 losses, 132 strikeouts, and 171.2 innings pitched. Greinke is now one of the best big time pitchers in the AL and yet plays for not such a great team; you still must fear him when you come up to bat. We hope he can bring the same dominate pitcher he was in 2009 to the 2010 season come opening day in April.

Bailey and Coghlan get Rookie of the Year.

The 2009 Rookie of the Year Award for the AL and NL went to Andrew Bailey from the Oakland Athletics and Chris Coghlan from the Florida Marlins. Bailey who is a relief pitcher for the A's got the honors by putting up these impressive numbers during the 2009 season. His ERA was 1.84, 26 saves in (30 chances), 6 win, 3 losses, and 91 strikeouts. We now go to left fielder for the Florida Marlins, Chris Coghlan. In 2009 as a rookie Coghlan put up some pretty good numbers, batting .321, 9 HR, and 47 RBI's. But I think some may think otherwise with this pick. If you look at Phillies left hander J.A. Happ who had a great season with an ERA of 2.93, 12 win, 4 losses, and 119 strikeouts good enough to win the Rookie of the Year honors. Happ did not even start off as a starter; in fact he started off in the bull pen in the start of 2009. Happ helped the Phillies with the back of the rotation and got them back to the World Series, but in the end Coghlan would walk away with the award.


Andrew Bailey is the 7th Oakland Athletic to win the award. The first was Joes Canseco back in 1986, the second was Mark McGwire in 1987, the third was Walt Weiss in 1988, the fourth was Ben Grieve in 1998, the fifth was Bobby Crobsy in 2004, and the sixth was Huston Street in 2005 and now Andrew Baliey here in 2009.

As for the Florida Marlins, Chris Coghlan is the third person in their history to win this award. First man to win it was Dontrelle Willis back in 2003 and Hanley Ramirez in 2006. So Coghlan just adds a little more history for the Florida Marlins club by being the third person to win this award.

2009 AL and NL Sliver Slugger Award

Yesterday afternoon we all saw the AL and NL Gold Glove Award, so today were gonna take a look at the AL and NL Sliver Slugger Award. Will start off with the American League first.


American League
Catcher - Joe Mauer from the Twins
First Base - Mark Teixeira from the Yankees
Second Base - Aaron Hill from the Blue Jays
Third Base - Evan Longoria from the Rays
Short Stop - 4 time winner Derek Jeter from the Yankees
Outfield - Jason Bay from the Red Sox
Outfield - Torii Hunter from the Angels
Outfield - Ichiro Suzuki from the Mariners
DH - Adam Lind from the Blue Jays


National Leauge
Catcher - Brian McCann from the Braves
First Base - Albert Pujols from the Cardinals
Second Base - 4 time winner Chase Utley from the Phillies
Third Base - Ryan Zimmerman from the Nats
Short Stop - Hanley Ramirez from the Marlins
Outfield - Ryan Braun from the Brewers
Outfield - Andre Ethier from the Dodgers
Outfield - Matt Kemp from the Dodgers
Pitcher - 3 time winner Carlos Zambrano from the Cubs


If your a Phillies fan you must be very proud of second baseman Chase Utley for winning his 4th straight Sliver Slugger Award since Make Schmidt back in the 80's. The second baseman first won it back in 2006 and Phillies fans knew they had something special on their hands. Chase Utley is one of your premier players in the game and will be for a long time. Take a look at his number from 2006 to 2009.

2006 - AVG .309, 32 HR, 102 RBI's
2007 - AVG .332, 22 HR, 103 RBI's
2008 - AVG .292, 33 HR, 104 RBI's
2009 - AVG .282, 31 HR, 93 RBI's


We now go to the Cubs and they have themselves a 3 time winner in Carlos Zambrano who is a starting pitcher yet. That's just amazing that a "pitcher" can hit that good to win the Sliver Slugger Award 3 times in his career. Take a look at his numbers from 2006 to 2009.

2006 - AVG .151, 6 HR, 11 RBI's
2008 - AVG .337, 4 HR, 14 RBI's
2009 - AVG .217, 4 HR, 11 RBI's


Now we take a look at Derek Jeter short stop for the Yankees who is a 4 time winner in the American. Jeter has always been at the top of the list of the best short stops but we will get to a better one in a few moments. Jeter has also won 5 World Series as a Yankee and people knew he was going to be one the best in the league. Look at his numbers from 2006 to 2009.

2006 - AVG .343, 15 HR, 97 RBI's
2007 - AVG .322, 12 HR, 73 RBI's
2008 - AVG .300, 11 HR, 69 RBI's
2009 - AVG .334, 18 HR, 66 RBI's


At one point Cal Ripken,Jr from the Orioles held the all time record for the most wins for the Sliver Slugger Award with 8 and is and still probably one the best short stops of the game. Ripken first won the award the back in 1983 and would win it again in 1984, 1985, 1986, 1989, 1991, 1993 and the last time in 1994. We now get to the best short stop from our time back in 1993 from when he first came up Alex Rodriguez. Back in 1996 Rodriguez won his first Sliver Slugger Award and would do so in till 2000 as a Seattle Mariners, but in 2001 he was signed to the Texas Rangers and would win it another 3 times in 2001, 2002, and 2003. In 2004 Rodriguez was signed to New York Yankees but not as a short stop, but as a third baseman and he would than win 3 more Sliver Slugger awards in 2005, 2007, and 2008 as a third baseman and would hold the all time record with 10 wins with the award. That's just something you don't see. First win 7 as a short stop, than win 3 more as a third baseman is just a great stat that a lot people don't know. Just to be that great of a hitter and one of the best in baseball is a honor to take home all the time.

AL and NL Gold Gloves Awards and More

Today Major League Baseabll announced the 2009 gold gloves awards for both the American League and the National League. We first start off with the American League since an American League team won the World Series this year.

American League Gold Glove
Catcher - Joe Mauer from the Twins
First Base - Mark Teixeria from the Yankees
Second Base - Placido Polonco from the Tigers
Third Base - Evan Longoria from the Rays
Short Stop - Derek Jeter from the Yankees
Outfield - Torii Hunter from the Angels
Outfield - Adam Jones from the Orioles
Outfield - Ichiro Suzuki from the Mariners
Pitcher - Mark Buehrie from the White Sox


National League Gold Golve
Catcher - Yadier Molina from the Cardinals
First Base - Adrian Gonzalez from the Padres
Second Base - Orlando Hudson from the Dodgers
Third Base - Ryan Zimmerman from the Nats
Short Stop - Jimmy Rollins from the Phillies
Outfield - Michael Bourn from the Astros
Outfield - Matt Kemp from the Dodgers
Outfield - Shane Vicrorino from the Phillies
Pitcher - Adam Wainwright from the Cardinals

Now we go over to the Delivery Man of the Year Award and it went to Mariano Rivera, closer for the New York Yankees. Who in 2009 had one of his best seasons, with 44 saves in 46 chances, an ERA of 1.76, 66. 1/3 innings pitched, and 72 strikeouts. The man is just that good.

Now the we go to the AL Comeback Player Award in 2009 and it went to Aron Hill from the Toronto Blue Jays. In 2008 Hill had a serious of concussion and some didn't think he wouldn't have made it back to playing Major League Baseball but he did and in 2009 he put up one of his best seasons. His batting AVG was .286, 108 RBI's and 36 HR. For the NL Comeback Player Award in 2009 it went to Chris Carpenter from the St. Louis Cardinals. After two long years with injury's people didn't know if Carpenter would be his same old self he was a few years ago but in 2009 it was his comeback year! In 2009 he put up these numbers an ERA of 2.24, 17 wins, 4 losses, 192.2 innings pitched, and 144 strikeouts. Also Carpenter is in line to possible win his 2nd NL Cy Young Award.

Other awards will be announced later in the month such as the the AL and NL Sliver Slugger Award on November 12, 2009. The AL and NL Rookie of the Year Award on November 16, 2009. The AL and NL Manager of the Year Award on November 18, 2009. The AL Cy Young Award on November 17, 2009, and the NL Cy Young Award on November 19, 2009. The AL MVP Award on November 23, 2009, and the NL MVP Award on November 24, 2009.

For more updates on any big news or stories about baseball keep reading my blogs on http://lempert45-lempert45-wwwbeyondbaseball.blogspot.com/ or you can go on www.facebook.com to read them if you have a facebook. If so make sure to add me on facebook. I'm Seth Lempert and thanks for reading my blogs.

Top 15 best Free Agents Phillies Should Look Into

With the Phillies already getting rid of third baseman Pedro Feliz they may wanna look into getting a strong third baseman for the up-coming 2010 season ahead. They have four options. Option 1 would be Chone Figgins from the Los Angeles Angels, who in 2009 had a batting AVG of .298, 72 RBI's, 5 HR, and 42 stolen bases. Option 2 would be getting back former Phillie Placido Polanco from the Detroit Tigers who in 2009 batted .285, 72 RBI's, and hit 10 HR. Option 3 would be Mark DeRosa from the St. Louis Cardinals who in 2009 had a batting AVG of .250, 78 RBI's and hit 23 HR. Option 4 would be Hank Blalock from the Taxes Rangers who in 2009 hit .234, 66 RBI's and 25 HR. I think the Phillies best bet would be Chone Figgins only because you need a strong number 7th batter in the line-up and we already have enough power hitters. Also Figgins has speed, so he could cause some drama when he gets on base. He also has a nice glove at third and knows what it takes to win being with the defending AL West Division Champs Los Angeles Angels.

We go to the Phillies bench players, the Phlis will probably get rid of Miguel Cairo, Matt Stairs, Greg Dobbs, and Eric Bruntlett. There's also four options with the bench players. Option 1 would be Scott Podsednik from the Chicago White Soxs who is an outfielder. In 2009 he had a batting AVG of .304, 48 RBI's, 7 HR and 30 stolen bases. Option 2 could be Nick Johnson from the Florida Marlins who is a first baseman. In 2009 he batted .291, 62 RBI's and hit 8 HR. Option 3 is Orlando Hudson from the Los Angeles Dodgers who can play any infield spot. In 2009 he hit .283, 62 RBI's, and 9 HR. Last option would be Mike Cameron from the Milwaukee Brewers who is an outfielder or can play first base as well. In 2009 his batting AVG was .250, 70 RBI's, and 24 HR. I think Hudson and Cameron would be the best for the bench only because Hudson can play third if the Phillies don't sign a good third baseman and he can play anywhere in the infield. Cameron I like him cause he's young and he has speed. Also he's got that power off the bench and can play first base if you give Howard a day off.


We now go the Phillies bull pen who this year wasn't that good. Between Brad Lidge and Ryan Madson the pen had almost 20 blown saves and may want to look for a new closer or set-up man. With Brad Lidge, Scott Eyre who is a free agent, J.C. Romero all going under surgery this offseason. If Lidge isn't ready for the 2010 season they made need a closer for the first few months. Option 1 is - Mike Gonzalez from the Atlanta Braves who in 2009 had an ERA of 2.42, 5 wins, 4 losses, 10 saves, 74.1 innings pitched and 90 strikeouts. Option 2 is Rafael Betancourt from the Colorado Rockies who in 2009 had an ERA of 2.73, 4 wins, 3 losses, 2 saves, 56.0 innings pitched and 61 strikeouts. The final option which i think the Phillies should jump on is Rafael Soriano from the Atlanta Braves because in 2009 his ERA was 2.97, 1 win, 6 losses, (27 saves), 75.2 innings pitched, and 102 strikeouts.

Now our final step is the starting pitching for the Phillies. We saw in 2009 Cole Hamels just didn't have it this season and what he said during the World Series marks some questions if he still wants to play here? Also by now having Cliff Lee as your ace you wanna find that second man to give you that ONE - TWO punch. Joe Blanton who was the Phillies most consisted pitcher did great in 2009 and could be our number 3 or 4 pitcher. Than there's J.A. Happ who proved himself to be the Phillies number 5 guy with 12 wins as a rookie. As for Pedro Martinez I don't think he will be here next year. As much as Martinez likes it here the Phillies are looking for a guy who can fill the number 2 or 3 hole in the pitching rotation and can go deep into games. As of right now the rotation looks like this, Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels, Joe Blanton and J.A. Happ. So the Phillies options are, number 1 - Rich Harden from the Chicago Cubs who is a injury risk but is very good. In 2009 his ERA was 4.09, 9 wins, 9 losses, 141.0 innings pitched, and 171 strikeouts. Option 2 is - John Lackey from the Los Angeles Angels who in 2009 got the Angles to the postseason with an ERA of 3.83, 11 wins, 8 losses, 176.1 innings pitched, and 139 strikeouts. But I see him going to the Yankees only because Andy Pettitte is a free agent and they will probably wanna fill that left handed roll in the rotation. Also Lackey isn't gonna come cheap with a $10,000,000 salary in 2009. Option 3 is former Phillie that everyone loves in Philly is Randy Wolf from the Los Angeles Dodgers who we saw in the 2009 NLCS pitched very well. In 2009 his ERA was 3.23, 11 wins, 7 losses, 214.1 innings pitched, and had 160 strikeouts. In LA he pitched the ace roll and looked really good and I can see him coming back here and being our 2 or 3 started. Last Option is Erik Bedard from the Seattle Mariners who is another injury risk but knows what it takes to become a big time pitcher. In 2009 his ERA was 2.82, 5 wins, 3 losses 83.0 innings pitched and had 90 strikeouts.

So if the Phillies are going to look into any players that they need in the offseason those are the best on the list. I mean there's no gratis in this game. But these players know what it takes to win and if the Phillies wanna go back to the World Series for the third straight year and get that crown back to where it belongs they may have to make some moves and fast.

The 2009 Philadelphia Phillies

The 2009 season for the Phillies brought a lot of happy faces this year, and also a few sad faces. But be sure a lot of those faces were happy. The Phillies won the World Series in 2008 and would make it back to the World Series in 2009. The Phillies have never done that in their history and that just shows you what this team can do. 2009 was a great year, those chilly months to start off in the beginning, those hot long summer nights in the middle, and the warm, chilly fall months. Than November came and the greatest, longest, 2009 season came to an end. No matter what happened in the World Series "I will always love this team. There like a second family in the summer". Just remember all the walk off wins, all the great moments you had at the ball part or parking lot with your buddies, remember the voice that left our world the one and only Harry Kalas, remember Cliff Lee coming over from the Cleveland Indians getting his first complete game win as a Phillie against the San Francisco Giants.

This Phillies team I think has won a lot peoples hearts in this city coming oh so close to winning BACK TO BACK titles, but just getting back to World Series for the second straight year is amazing at it self. Where most team who win or go to World Series usually just die off or take years to get back there, but the Phillies didn't waste time proving people wrong. A lot sports writers picked the Phillies to finish second to last in the NL East and for the Mets to win the division, where the opposite happened. The Phillies took the NL East crown for the third straight year in 6 games. 2010 looks like the Phillies could if not get only get better with a lot of young players to prove themselves to be still "The team to beat in the NL East" and I'm looking forward to see who the Phillies will add on to the roster in the offseason for 2010. For those who don't know Brett Mayers will no longer be a Phillie after 8 long years in Philly. Also the Phillies took Cliff Lee's $9 million option and will return to Philly in 2010, which is a great move. Cliff Lee as a Phillie from July 31st was great, with 7 wins 4 losses, an ERA of 3.39, and 74 strikeouts and has filled the ace spot. The 2009 season was one to remember and now its time to start counting down the days to spring training, 95 days left till the 2010 Philadelphia Phillies kicks off and we have "HIGH HOPES" for another amazing season in 2010.

27 World Series Championships!

It took 27 outs for the 2009 New York Yankees to win their 27th World Series Championship. It was the number 27 on the back of Yankees manager Joe Girardi jersey. It was Alex Rodriguez holding that World Series trophy high in the sky for the first time in his life. It was Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Jorge Posada, and Andy Pettitte winning their 5th World Series Championship as a New York Yankee. As hard as it is for me to say... yes it was the New York Yankees beating the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 6 of the World Series.

Game 6 of the 2009 World Series between the New York Yankees and the Philadelphia Phillies was all New York. We start things off with the pitching match up with Yankees left harder Andy Pettitte and Phillies right hander Pedro Martinez. Some people said Andy Pettitte may not be as good as he was in Game 3 cause he was pitching on 3 days rest and others said that he will do just fine. People also said Pedro Martinez will do great cause hes had 5 days rest and others said well hes not the same Pedro he was 4-5 years ago. So will find out who would be the last man standing. In the bottom of the 2nd inning one man on for the DH and red hot Hideki Matsui would take one deep out of the ball park and put the Yanks up 2-0. But later in the 3rd inning the Fightin' Phils would try to come back with a triple by catcher Carlos Ruiz and Jimmy Rollins would bring him home on a sacrifice fly to make it 2-1 Yankees. In the bottom half of the 3rd, bases loaded for once again Hideki Matsui would drive in 2 more runs and put the Yankees up 4-1. After that it would be the end for Phillies right hander Pedro Martinez who just didn't have it in this one. Going only 4 innings, giving up 3 hits, 4 earn runs, and 5 strikeouts, not what the Phillies were looking for. In the 5th with men on base for the Yankees and the man who already has 4 RBI's in the game Hideki Matsui would yet again drive in 2 more runs to make it a 7-1 lead for the Yanks and he would now have 6 RBI's in this game. Ryan Howard in the 6th would hit his first 2009 World Series home run to make it a 7-3 Yankees lead, but it was a "LITTLE TO LATE". Howard would also set the all time most strikeouts in a World Series with 13. Andy Pettitte would leave after 5 2/3 innings, 4 hits, 3 earns runs, and 3 strikeouts. Not any better then Martinez but in the end it wouldn't even matter. So we jump to the top of the 9th and now coming in to close the game out was the Yankees pride and joy the one and only Mariano Rivera. He would get the first out, than walk Carlos Ruiz. He would get Jimmy Rollins out and now it was up the Phillies last batter of the 2009 season Shane Victorino with 2 outs. Victorino wouldn't go down without a fight though. "Nobody wants to be the last out in a World Series" said Victorino. But Mariano got Victorino to ground out to second base for the final out of the 2009 season, and after 9 years without a World Series Championship the New York Yankees were back on top of the baseball world.

The New York Yankees won their 27th World Series title last night and sent the defending World Series Philadelphia Phillies home packing on what could have been a Game 7. Hideki Matsui won the World Series MVP with a batting AVG of .349, 4 home runs, 13 RBI's, 15 hits, and OBP of .462 in the postseason and coming up big in the World Series when needed. The press asked Yankees skipper Joe Girardi since you now won the 27th World Series any thoughts of changing your number to number 28? He said "I don't know I'll have to think about it". The Philadelphia Phillies handed over their crown something they didn't want to do but it just wasn't meant be to. This 2009 Philadelphia Phillies team was one of the greatest teams I saw play and adding on new players just to make them better. But fell shot to a better New York Yankees team. The Phillies are a great team and are in line to be one if not only the best team in the National League for years to come and won't be surprised if their not in this thing again. As the old saying is in Philly "There's Always Next Year" and I can't wait till next April to see what the 2010 Philadelphia Phillies bring to the plate. Thank You Phillies, May I Have Another Soon!?!

Phils Hanging In There

Game 5 of the World Series was a big one for the Phils, its win or go home. The Phillies won Game 5 8-6 but it didn't come easy. Pitching for the Yankees was right hander A.J. Burnett going on short rest and who pitched great in Game 2. Going for the Phillies to keep their World Series hopes alive was their ace Cliff Lee who has been outstanding through out this whole postseason. So this game was going to be a good one and its do or die time for the Phils.

We start thing off in the bottom of the 1st with the Yankees leading 1-0 where Jimmy Rollins gets a base hit and that's the key for the Phillies get your first two men on and let your three,four,and five guys get the job done. So one man on for Shane Victorino and he squares to bunt and gets hit in the finger, he seemed to be ok, but he would later leave the game. So two men on for Chase Utley and he hits a 3 run home run boom to put the Phillies up 3-1 in the 1st. Later in the 3rd inning Jayson Werth would hit a RBI single and put the Phillies up 4-1. Raul Ibanez would than hit a RBI single to make a 5-1 Phillies lead and that would be the end for A.J. Burnett. He went only 2 innings, 4 hits, 6 earn runs, and 2 strikeouts not the same pitcher we saw in Game 2. Bottom 7th Chase Utley standing up to the plate would hit his 2nd home run of the ball game and tie the all time home run recorded in a World Series with 5 home runs with Reggie Jackson back in 1977. The Phillies would now go up 7-2. Two batters later Raul Ibanez would hit his first World Series home run and put the Phils up 8-2. In the 8th inning Cliff Lee would still stay in the game and some who thought that he should have left after the 7th inning with his team up 6 runs in case there would be a Game 7 to pitch in, but Phillies manager Charlie Manuel stuck with his go to guy. But Lee would put two men on for Alex Rodriguez who has been dead hot the last 2 games would hit an RBI double to cut the lead 8-4 Phils. That would be it for the Phillies ace Cliff Lee, who went 7 innings, 7 hits, 5 earn run, and 3 strikeouts. Not as good as he did in Game 1 but it was good enough. In the 9th the Phillies would hand the ball over to hard right hander Ryan Madson to close out the game. Ryan Madson had 6 blown saves during the season and boy he made this one close. Jorge Posada would lead off with a double for the Yanks. Now pinch hitting for the Yankees was Hideki Matsui and he would get a base hit and moving over to third base was Posada. So two men on no outs stepping in the batter box was Derek Jeter who is batting .322 in the postseason hits into the important double play ball gets a run in but now 2 outs Phils lead 8-6. Johnny Damon would be the Yankees last hope gets a base hit to keep the game alive with Mark Teixeira coming up and Alex Rodriguez on deck. Ryan Madson would strikeout Teixeira to win the ball game 8-6 and keep the Phillies hopes alive.


So the Phillies will now head to back New York for a Game 6 and possibly a Game 7 if they can win Game 6. The last team in the National League to come back to win a World Series down 3-1 was the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1979 and the last team to win a World Series down 3-1 was the Kansas City Royals in 1985. So the Phillies hold their on destiny to repeat as World Champions and as the quote from the movie Rocky "THERE IS NO TOMORROW". The Phillies give the nod to right hander Pedro Martinez who will make his 2nd World Series start and the biggest start as a Phillie in Game 6 of the World Series to force a Game 7. For the Yankees they give the start to Andy Pettitte who will go on 3 days rest to try to win it all for the Yanks. If there a Game 7 the Yankees will throw out the ace C.C. Sabathia to try to win it for them on 3 days rest. As for the Phils they have been talking about maybe starting Cole Hamels, J.A. Happ or bring back Cliff Lee on short rest. Remember the Phillies just have to take it one game at a time and have fun. The 7th game is still a long shot away, just win Game 6 and than at that point anything can happen in a Game 7. Its now DYNASTY vs DESTINY, Phillies - Yankees Game 6 of the Fall Classic first pitch at 7:57 p.m. on Fox.

The Yankees Answer Back!

Game 2 of the World Series was a good one.... well at least for the New York Yankees after getting shout down in Game 1 against the Phillies and ace Cliff Lee who had 10 strikeouts and won the game 6-1. But Game 2 was a whole different story as it was a pitching dole between Yankees right hander A.J. Burnett and Phillies right hander Pedro Martinez. It was question for some who would make the first and final mistake in this game? It was a question for some if this was a good idea to pitch Martinez over Cole Hamels? It was a question if the Yankees would answer back? Pedro Martinez being back in a place that he knows oh so very well said "I'm ready to pitch the game and go out and try to win, you can't go out there and be scared"

Game 2 started off with a double by Raul Ibanez and bringing him home to give the Phillies a early 1-0 lead was Matt Stairs who was the Phillies DH. After that Martinez was working with a 1 run lead. In the 4th Mark Teixeira hit a solo home run and tied the game for the Yankees 1-1. Later in the 6th DH for the Yankees Hideki Matsui would also hit a solo home run for the Yanks and give them the lead 2-1. That would be the end for Pedro as he went 6 innings, 3 earn runs, 6 hits, and 8 strikeouts. Not so bad, but A.J. Burnett was a little better he went 7 innings, 1 earn run, 4 hits and 9 strikeouts. In the 8th and 9th inning the Yankees handed to ball over to the best closer who ever played the game Mariano Rivera to get the job done and he did!

The Yankees won Game 2 of the World Series by a score of 3-1. But if your the Phillies you gotta be happy with yourself to split with a team that's oh so very good. "I think if your a Phillies or Yankees fan Game 3 is the most important game of the series only because it sets the stage and tells you who may have the uper-hand in Game 4. If you remember the Phillies in the NLDS clinched to go to the NLCS in Game 4, have had the best come back moments in Phillies history in Game 4, and last year saw a home run show in Game 4 of the World Series against The Tampa Bay Rays. If your a Yankees fan you probably remember Derek Jeter back in the 2001 World Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks hit a home run to win the ball game for the Yankees and got the nickname "Mr. November" on halloween night". So maybe something like that will happen tonight on October 31st? The talk has had been about Alex Rodriguez and the Ryan Howard. Rodriguez who is 0-8 in the World Series with 6 strikeouts in the first two game. Than Howard who is 2-9 in the World Series with 1 RBI and also has 6 strikeouts as well. So will the big dogs come to life tonight? Also the pitching match up has been a big talk, going for the Phillies is left hander Cole Hamels who was last year World Series MVP live up to the hype and get the Phillies a 2-1 series lead or will it be Yankees left hander Andy Pettitte who has been a big "gamer" for the Yanks get the job done? Another issue that has been talked about is are the Yankees ready to play in Citizens Bank Park where this place gets really loud? We will find out tonight as Game 3 of the World Series will get under way first pitch at 7:57 p.m. on Fox.

Broad Street vs Broadway

Game 1 of the 2009 World Series will host the Philadelphia Phillies the defending World Champions and The New York Yankees who are the last team to win BACK TO BACK tiles. This series I think might be one of the best we will see in awhile. Both teams have even pitching. Staring Game 1 for the Phillies will be the ace Cliff Lee who is 2-0 in the postseason with an ERA of 0.74, 20 strikeouts, and giving up only 2 earn runs. For the Yankees they will send out the big dog ace C.C. Sabathia who is 3-0 in the postseason with an ERA of 1.90, 20 strikeouts, and giving up 3 earn run. It will be a good show, two former teammates, two former Cy Young award winners going against each other. Game 1 of the World Series is on Fox the time is TBA.

So a lot people have been picking the Yankees to win the whole thing, which I think is crazy only because we have a good and smart pitching staff that knows how to pitch to Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira who really hasn't been a problem in the postseason but can always come through when needed. But than again I'm sure that the Yankee starters are going to be careful pitching to the Phillies power hitters as well. The Phillies have a very strong line-up as do the Yankees. Both teams knows what its like to be in the World Series and know its not gonna come easy. At 1st base between Ryan Howard and Mark Teixeira is a PUSH, 2nd base between Chase Utley and Robinson Cano is gotta go to Chase Utley, Short Stop between Jimmy Rollins and Derek Jeter is a PUSH, 3rd base between Pedro Feliz and Alex Rodriguez has to go to A-ROD by far, Catcher between Carlos Ruiz and Jorge Posada is a PUSH, Right Field between Jayson Werth and Nick Swisher goes to Jayson Werth, Center Field between Shane Victorino and Melky Cabrera goes the Shane Victorino, Left Field between Raul Ibanez and Johnny Damon is a PUSH. The pitching for both teams are even, and the bullpen goes to the Yankees. So I think this series is going to be a good one. Phillies - Yankees Game 1 of the World Series don't miss it!

The Phillies are back to The Show

Last night the Philadelphia Phillies beat Las Angeles Dodgers 10-4 and now the Phillies are heading back to World Series to take on the New York Yankees or the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. They will wait and see who they will take on, erther way who ever they play it will make for a good series. Game 1 of the World Series will be October 28th, 2009.

Game 5 of the NLCS started off a little rockie for the Phillies in the 1st inning as Cole Hamels gave up a solo home run to Andre Ethier with 2 outs to make it 1-0 Dodgers. In the bottom of the 1st Jayson Werth would change that with a 3 run home run to take the lead 3-1. Starting pitcher for the Dodgers Vicente Padilla would only go 3 innings giving up 4 hits, 6 runs, and stiking out 3. Not the same Padilla we saw in Game 2. Cole Hamels would almost match him going 4 1/3 innings giving up 5 hits, 3 runs, and stiking out 3 as well. But the Phillies wouldn't let this become another close game as Shane Victorino hit a 2 run home run to give the Phillies a 8-3 lead in the 6th inning. Bottom of the 7th inning Jayson Werth stepping up to bat with already 1 home run would hit another one to make it a 9-3 lead for the Phils. So Werth would have himself a 2 home run game. In 9th Brad Lidge would come in to get the final 3 outs and he did so as he got Ronnie Belliard to fly out to center and the Phillies would win the National League Championship Series and head back to World Series for the second straight year in a row by a score of 10-4! Ryan Howard would win the Natinal Leauge postseaon MVP award. He had a batting avg of .355 with 2 home runs, 14 RBI's, 11 hits, and OBP of .462. Those are great MVP numbers right there and we hope to see more of this in the World Series.

So who is greatest Phillies team in history? This Phillies team might be the best team that anyone has seen in a very long time. There was the 1950 Phillies nickname the "Whiz Kids" who won the National League Championship Series and went to World Series but lost four straight to the New York Yankees. The 1976,77, and 78 Phillies team that was really good won the National League East Division title 3 years striaght never made it to the World Series as they lost the 1976 NLCS to the Cincinnati Reds. They would lose the 77 and 78 NLCS to the Las Angeles Dodgers back to back years. It wasn't in till the 1980 Phliadelphia Phillies would yet again win the NL East Divsion and fainaly the NLCS to win their first World Series title against the Kansas City Royals. In 1983 the Phillies won the National League East Division and the National League Championship to make it back to the World Series but lost to the Baltimore Orioles four games to one. It wouldn't be in till amlost a decade that the Philles would win the NL East and National League Championship Series to return to the World Series in 1993, but would come up shot yet again losing to the Toronto Blue Jays who would win BACK TO BACK World Series titles. But in 2007 something special was about to begin in the city of Philadelphia as the Phillies won the National League East Division Campionship on the final game of the season. No they didnt't go far in the playoffs in 2007 but it showed people in Philadelphia that something more was about to happen. As in 2008 the Phillies would win the NL East Division Championship for the second striaght year and also beat the Dodgers to win the National League Championship for the first time since 1993. In 2008 they would win the World Series for the second time in team history since 1980 over the Tampa Bay Rays. This year in 2009 they have won NL East yet again and beat the Dodgers yet again in the National Leauge Championship Series to go back to the World Series. The 2009 Philadelphia Phillies find themselves to be the second team since the 75-76 Cincinnati Reds to win to win BACK TO BACK World Series titles in the Natinoal League. So could this be one of the best Phillies teams in their history? Only time will tell.

Yankees Hit Hard

Game 4 of the ALCS was pretty much over from the start. Yankees ace pitcher C.C. Sabathia was awesome, as he went 8 innings, gave up 5 hits, 1 run, and had 5 strikeouts. But the Yankees also put this game away early with their bats. Robinson Cano would hit into a fields choice to give the Yankees a early 1-0 lead in the 4th inning. Later in the 4th Melky Cabrera would hit a single and 2 runs would score to give the Yanks 3-0 lead. In the top of the 5th the man who has been red hot through out the postseason Alex Rodriguez hit a 2 run home run to make it a 5-0 game. Rodriguez's home run made it his 5th home run this postseason as he the most dangerous batter for the Yankees.

By the end of the night the Yankees would crush the Angels. The Angels only got 1 run. The final score ended up being 10-1 all YANKEES! So the Angels in the outfield i guess will come up short as if it looks like they might be done, but don't forget teams have came back in the postseason before. Like the 2004 Red Soxs were down 3-0 against the Yankees and came back and won 4 straight and won the 2004 World Series. So never count a team out in till its over for good. I think if you look at this Angels team they have had a great season. They started off the season rough losing close friend starting pitcher Nick Adenhart who died in a car accident killed by a drunk driver. "Just making the postseason is an honor cause you always have that chance to go to the World Series" said Angels outfielder Tori Hunter. Game 5 of the ALCS will be Thursday night at 7:57 on Fox. The Yankees look to their right hander AJ Burnett to win Game 5 and head back to New York for the World Series. The Angels give the start to John Lackey as he will try to slow down these red hot Yankee batters and at least give his team a chance to stay alive. Yankees - Angels Game 5 of the ALCS.

Magic Was in the Air for the Phillies

You know the greatest thing about baseball is? Its never over in till its over. That one inning can change the whole difference of a ball game. Well that's what happened last night in South Philadelphia as the Magic of the Phightin Phils came alive yet again.

So Game 4 of the NLCS all started off with a bang as Ryan Howard who has been doing it through out this whole postseason hit a 2 run home run to make a early 2-0 lead. Ryan Howard tied Lou Gehrig's major league record with 8 RBI's in the postseason. Former pitcher Randy Wolf who pitched really well against the Phillies, went 5 1/3 innings giving up 4 hit and 3 runs. In the top of the 4th the Dodger bats would come alive against Joe Blanton who had 3 scoreless innings and looked really good, got knocked around. With two men on James Loney came through with an RBI knock to make it a 2-1 Phillies lead. Later in the 4th Russell Martin hit an RBI single to tie the game 2-2 coming with 2 outs. In the 5th with 2 outs Matt Kemp would hit a solo home run to give the Dodgers the lead 3-2. So just when you though that early 2-0 lead would mean good things to come got washed away pretty fast. In the 6th the Dodgers would get another run scored off the bat of Casey Blake to give the Dodgers a 4-2 lead. In the bottom of the 6th inning Shane Victorino hit a 1 out triple and Chase Utley would bring him in with an RBI single to make it a 4-3 Dodgers lead.


Here we are in the bottom of the 9th inning where everything just unfolds in a blink of an eye. The Dodgers closer Jonathan Broxton would stay in the game after just pitching the 8th and try to finish this game and tie the series up 2-2. He would get the first out on a Raul Ibanez ground ball. But coming into the game to pinch hit for third baseman Pedro Feliz the guy who loves to hit the fast ball Matt Stairs. For those of you who don't remember last year in Game 4 of the 2008 NLCS Stairs came into the ball game to pinch hit, hit a moon shot home run off of Jonathan Broxton that would live on in Phillies postseason history forever would give the Phillies the lead and they would never look back from there. So would Stairs be able to do the same here in Game 4 of the 2009 NLCS to tie the game? Instead they would walk Stairs and look for the double play ball to end the ball game. Coming into run for Matt Stairs would be Eric Bruntlett who has a lot more speed on the bags. So now stepping up to the plate would be Carlos Ruiz and Broxton would get wild and hit him and put the go ahead runner on base. So now runners on 1st and 2nd 1 out and pinch-hitting for pitcher Brad Lidge would be Greg Dobbs. Dobbs would hit a little blooper over to third for the second out. Now it would be up to Jimmy Rollins with 2 outs. Rollins hasn't done much in the postseason but would he become the hero this time? Rollins had 1 ball and 1 strike on him. The next pitch came in fastball at 98 mph and Jimmy swung his bat and in a flash he hit the ball right over Broxton's head and would split the outfielder and head for gap. Coming in to score and tie the game would be Brunlett and could it be... could it be that Carlos Ruiz would come all the way around from 1st to home to score the winning run and the Phillies would win the ball game 5-4!?! Well it did and it happened so fast that you would never believed it if you wouldn't have seen it!

Yes Jimmy Rollins would win it in Philly Style shocking the whole city of Philadelphia. This Monday night will never be forgotten as if it looked like the Dodgers would tie the series up and there would be a game 6. The crazy thing about this whole story is, it all happened with 2 outs, the same pitcher who blew Game 4 of the NLCS last year all happened again. Jimmy Rollins a guy who is never scared to come up big proved everyone right. So when everything seemed to be in the Dodgers bags, Rollins made sure it would end in the Phillies bags with a walk off game winning, big knock double. The thing with the Phillies are that they play all 27 outs and if you make a mistake they make you pay for it. Just like Ryan Howard's 2 run double in the top 9th against the Rookies to tie the game and than Jayson Werth's RBI single to take lead to win the game. Well the same thing happened here and Jimmy Rollins made the Dodgers pay for their mistake's late in the ball game. Rollins 2 out double to win the ball game will be remember forever in Phillies postseason history along with Matt Stairs home run last year. Maybe this is a sign that's telling every team in baseball "WE ARE THE TEAM TO BEAT". Rollins says big things and makes big things happen when needed. All I can say is "ARE YOU KIDDING ME"? "THANK YOU PHILLIES, MAY I HAVE ANOTHER"?

Game 5 of the NLCS will be tomorrow night at 8:07 on TBS. The Phillies will send out their lefty starter Cole Hamels to win Game 5 and head back to the World Series. For the Dodgers there hopes stay alive in the hands of Vicente Padilla. Phillies - Dodgers Game 5 don't miss it.

Phi -LEE-ies shutout the Dodgers.

Game 3 of the NLCS was all Phillies as they shout the Dodgers 11-0 to take 2-1 series lead. The big talk of the game was starting pitcher for the Phillies Cliff Lee as he did an awesome job. Lee tossed 8 scoreless innings, gave up only 3 hits, had 10 strikeouts, and now is 2-0 in the postseason with an ERA of 0.74. "Cliff Lee, what can I say about him? He was absolutely outstanding," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. “He just shut down the Dodger bats”.

Ryan Howard started things off in the bottom of the 1st inning as he hit a 2 run triple to give the Phillies a 2-0 lead. Jayson Werth in the same inning would hit a 2 run home run and now put the Phillies up 4-0. In the inning Jimmy Rollins would get a RBI double and make it 5-0. The Phillies would jump all over started Hiroki Kuroda for the Dodgers as he wasn't that good from the start. As we move into the 8th inning the Phillies just shut the door early with an 8-0 lead, by that point Cliff Lee already had 10 strikeouts. But with 2 runners on Shane Victorino hit a 3 run home run and gave the Phils an 11-0 lead. That really closed the doors and put the game in the books. Chad Durbin came in the 9th inning in relieve of Cliff Lee remember Durbin was the only pitcher to come in the bottom of 8th of Game 2 giving up no runs in the bullpen, here he also gets the job done for the Phillies with a one, two, three inning Phillies win. So what a game it was for the Phillies as their bats came alive and for left hander Cliff Lee as he is having an amazing postseason. Let’s keep it rolling!

Game 4 of the NLCS will be tomorrow night at 8:07 on TBS. The Phillies give nod to started Joe Blanton who will make his first postseason start and try to give the Phillies a 3-1 series lead. For the Dodgers they hand the ball over to their left hander and former Phillie Randy Wolf as he will try to slow down the Phillies bats and help the Dodgers tie the series up 2-2. Don’t miss Game 4 of the NLCS, Phillies – Dodgers.

Game 3 of the NLCS Phillies - Dodgers

Game 3 between the Phillies and the Dodgers should be a good as the Phillies send out their ace and guy who people fell in love with here in Philly Cliff Lee who has a 1.10 ERA in the postseason. As for the Dodgers they give the start to Hiroki Kuroda who will make his first postseason start. During the season he had a ERA of 3.76 and 8-7 recored.

If your a Phillies fan you hope Chase Ultey fixed his problem to the throw to second base and hope he isn't hurt. Also better hope the Phillie bats wake up tonight in this cold weather. So far the series is tied 1-1 and both teams looking for a win to take a series lead.

Heart Break lost for the Angels

So what a dramatic finish of Game 2 of the ALCS as the Yankees beat the Angels in 13 innings by a score of 4-3. We start off in the bottom of the 2nd inning were Robinson Cano hit a triple and scored Nick Swisher and Yankees took a 1-0 lead. In the 3rd inning Derek Jeter hit a solo home run a put the Yanks up 2-0. But the Angels would come back in the 5th inning were Erick Aybar hit a single and would score Maicer Izturis to make a 2-1 Yankees lead. In the same inning A.J. Burnett threw a wild pitch and in to score for the Angels would be Erick Aybar to tie the ball game 2-2. After that happened everything would cool down intill the 11th inning where the game goes into extra innings.

So here we are in top of the 11th inning, its raining pretty hard and its really cold in New York City sanding on second base is Gary Matthews with 1 out and Chone Figgins singles and Matthwes scores and the Angels take the lead 3-2. So what you would have thought would have been a Angels win and give the Yankees their first postseason lost got turned around in the bottom of the 11th inning when Alex Rodriguez hit a solo home run to tie the game up 3-3 and gave the Yankees new hope. But than in the bottom of the 13th Melky Cabrera would hit into a fielders choice and into score for the Yankees was Jerry Hairston Jr on a throwing ERA by second baseman Maicer Izturis and the Yankees would win the game 4-3. It was a great game none the less and a great pitching match up between both starters A.J Burnett and Joe Saunders both pitchers just giving up 2 runs. In the end the Yankees would walk away with the "W" and take 2-0 series lead. What a heart break for the Angels so close but not good enough.

Game 3 of the ALCS between the Yankees - Angels will be Monday at 4:13 on Fox as the Angels come home and give the ball to right hander Jered Weaver to give the Angels new life and keep it close. For the Yankees they give the start to left hander Andy Pettitte to close the door and take a 3-0 series lead and look for the sweep in Las Angeles and head for the World Series.

Game 2 of the ALCS Yankees - Angels

Game 1 of the ALCS between the Yankees and Angles was a good one as C.C. Sabathia was lights out on mound and helped the Yankees win Game 1 of the ALCS by a score of 4-1. The Yankees lead the series 1-0 as the Yanks send out right hander A.J Burnett to try to give the Yanks a 2-0 series lead going into Las Angeles to take Game 2. But the Angles will give the ball to left hander Joe Saunders to give the them new hope and try to tie the series up 1-1. Remember the Yankees bats are hot as they yet don't have a postseason lost so will see if Saunders and the Angels can do so tonight. Game 2 of the ALCS Yankees - Angels only on Fox.

Game 2 of the NLCS Phillies - Dodgers

The Phillies win Game 2 for the Dodgers. The Dodgers won Game 2 of the NLCS 2-1. Pedro Martinez did a great job pitching 7 scoreless innings but in the end it wouldn't matter. Ryan Howard in the 4th inning hit a solo home run off pitcher Vicente Padilla who pitched a very good game as well and put the Phillies up 1-0. After that it was the Phillies through out the first 7 innings. Martinez shut down the Dodger bats and looked very strong. He only gave up 2 hits through out 7 innings of work.


In the 8th inning Charlie Manuel took out Martinez to put in Chan Ho Park who has been great in the Phillies bull pen gives up a hit to Casey Blake. Than coming into run for Blake was Juan Pierre, now stepping to plate for the Dodgers was Ronnie Belliard and he drops down a bunt single and now there is runners on 1st and 2rd and no out. Now stepping into bat for the Dodgers is Russell Martin who hit a hard ground ball to third baseman Pedro Feliz and throws the ball to second baseman Chase Utley and what you would have thought would have been a double play turns out to be Era as he threw the ball away to first baseman Ryan Howard and Pierre scores on the Era and game is now tired 1-1. So here we are in the 8th inning bases loaded 2 outs coming in for Ryan Madson that loaded the bases for the Dodgers is the left hander J.A. Happ to pitch to left handed hitter Andre Ethier and J.A. Happ walks him and walks in the winning run and the Dodgers take the lead 2-1. In the 9th inning the Dodgers give the ball to their hard right handed closer Jonathan Broxton and gets a 1,2,3 inning and the Dodgers win Game 2 of the NLCS and now ties the series up 1-1.

Game 3 of the NLCS between the Phillies and Dodgers will be on Sunday night at 8:07 on TBS. The Phillies come home and send out their ace left hander Cilff Lee to try to take a 2-1 series lead. As the Dodgers send out their left hander Randy Wolf to do the same. Both pitchers are the probable starters.

Game 1 of the NLCS. Phillies - Dodgers

The Phillies take Game 1 of the NLCS over the Dodgers 8-6. Cole Hamels didn't have his best stuff tonight and the way he acted when Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins couldn't come up with the double play ball was just uncalled for. As a picher you don't show up your teammates like that they teach you this in high school cause remember these guys have saved you a few times this season. So don't be upset if they don't make a play because than you make bigger mistake like when he gave up a 3 run homerun to Manny Ramirez and Phillies at the point only had a 1 run lead when they had 4 run lead. But his teammates still had his back like when Carlos Ruiz hit a 3 run homerun and put the Phillies up 3-1. Than Ryan Howard came up big again hitting... a 2 run double and made it a 5-1 game. Also Raul Ibanez hits a 2 run homerun and put the Phils up 8-4.

Brad "Lights Outs" Ligde got the job done for his 3rd postseason save and can we all say if your a Phillies fan that our closer that was so great last year is back? Only he lives to tell the tail. Tomorrow at 4:07 it will be Game 2 of the NLCS as the Phillies will give the nod to the right hander Pedro Martinez who this try to shut down the Dodger bats and take 2-0 series lead. As the Dodgers give the start to a former Philadelphia Phillie Vicente Padilla to try to tie this series up and head back to Philly. Who would have thought 5 months ago that we would have seen both these pitchers pitching in the NLCS where Martinez didn't even have a job and Padilla who wasn't even that good with the Taxes Rangers are now the talk about Game 2 of the NLCS. So if your a Phillies fan, a Dodgers fan, or just a baseball fan dont miss Game 2 of the NLCS only on TBS.