Pitching, pitching, pitching... I love it! NLCS Cardinals 3, Dodgers 2 (13) Cardinals 1, Dodgers 0 ALCS Tigers 1, Red Sox 0 SUN., OCT. 13 Detroit Tigers at Boston Red Sox (ALCS Game 2) Max Scherzer (2-0, 3.00) vs. Clay Buchholz (0-0, 4.50) at 8:00 ET / 5:00 PT; 0n FOX MON., OCT 14 St. Louis Cardinals at Los Angeles Dodgers (NLCS Game 3) Adam Wainwright (2-0, 1.13) vs. Hyun-Jin Ryu (0-0, 12.00) at 8:07 ET / 5:07 PT; on TBS TUES., OCT 15 Boston Red Sox at Detroit Tigers (ALCS Game 3) John Lackey (1-0, 6.75) vs. Justin Verlander (1-0, 0.00) at 4:00 ET / 1:00 PT; 0n FOX St. Louis Cardinals at Los Angeles Dodgers (NLCS Game 4) Lance Lynn (1-1, 7.11) vs. Ricky Nolasco (Postseason debut) at 8:07 ET / 5:07 PT; on TBS
Of course, there is also the sizable matter of three more wins over the Dodgers - but this is potentially bad news for an American League club in the Series.
NLCS Cardinals 3, Dodgers 2 (13) Cardinals 1, Dodgers 0 ALCS Tigers 1, Red Sox 0 Red Sox 6, Tigers 5 MON., OCT 14 St. Louis Cardinals at Los Angeles Dodgers (NLCS Game 3) Adam Wainwright (2-0, 1.13) vs. Hyun-Jin Ryu (0-0, 12.00) at 8:00 ET / 5:00 PT; on TBS TUES., OCT 15 Boston Red Sox at Detroit Tigers (ALCS Game 3) John Lackey (1-0, 6.75) vs. Justin Verlander (1-0, 0.00) at 4:00 ET / 1:00 PT; 0n FOX St. Louis Cardinals at Los Angeles Dodgers (NLCS Game 4) Lance Lynn (1-1, 7.11) vs. Ricky Nolasco (Postseason debut) at 8:00 ET / 5:00 PT; on TBS WED., OCT 16 Boston Red Sox at Detroit Tigers (ALCS Game 4) Jake Peavy (0-0, 1.59) vs. Doug Fister (0-0, 4.50) at 8:00 ET / 5:00 PT; 0n FOX
Mattingly leaving the door open to possibly starting Greinke over Nolasco tonight in Game 4. NLCS Cardinals 3, Dodgers 2 (13) Cardinals 1, Dodgers 0 Dodgers 3, Cardinals 0 ALCS Tigers 1, Red Sox 0 Red Sox 6, Tigers 5 TUES., OCT 15 Boston Red Sox at Detroit Tigers (ALCS Game 3) John Lackey (1-0, 6.75) vs. Justin Verlander (1-0, 0.00) at 4:00 ET / 1:00 PT; 0n FOX St. Louis Cardinals at Los Angeles Dodgers (NLCS Game 4) Lance Lynn (1-1, 7.11) vs. Ricky Nolasco (Postseason debut) at 8:00 ET / 5:00 PT; on TBS WED., OCT 16 St. Louis Cardinals at Los Angeles Dodgers (NLCS Game 5) Undecided vs. Zach Greinke (0-1, 2,57) at 4:00 ET / 1:00 PT; on TBS Boston Red Sox at Detroit Tigers (ALCS Game 4) Jake Peavy (0-0, 1.59) vs. Doug Fister (0-0, 4.50) at 8:00 ET / 5:00 PT; 0n FOX THURS., OCT 17 Boston Red Sox at Detroit Tigers (ALCS Game 5) Jon Lester (1-1, 1.93) vs. Anibal Sanchez (1-1, 4.35) at 8:00 ET / 5:00 PT; 0n FOX
I'd really like to see a few guys near the top of the Cardinals batting order to bring their bats to the next couple of games.
One of the umpires from the Cardinals-Pirates NLDS has died! MLB Umpire Wally Bell Dead at 48 - ESPN http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/9826711/mlb-umpire-wally-bell-dead-48-apparent-heart-attack
Damn. I can't recall ever seeing him work, though I probably did on several occasions. Which means he was probably a pretty good ump.
NLCS Cardinals 3, Dodgers 2 (13) Cardinals 1, Dodgers 0 Dodgers 3, Cardinals 0 Cardinals 4, Dodgers 2 ALCS Tigers 1, Red Sox 0 Red Sox 6, Tigers 5 Red Sox 1, Tigers 0 WED., OCT 16 St. Louis Cardinals at Los Angeles Dodgers (NLCS Game 5) Joe Kelly (0-0, 3.18) vs. Zach Greinke (0-1, 2,57) at 4:00 ET / 1:00 PT; on TBS Boston Red Sox at Detroit Tigers (ALCS Game 4) Jake Peavy (0-0, 1.59) vs. Doug Fister (0-0, 4.50) at 8:00 ET / 5:00 PT; 0n FOX THURS., OCT 17 Boston Red Sox at Detroit Tigers (ALCS Game 5) Jon Lester (1-1, 1.93) vs. Anibal Sanchez (1-1, 4.35) at 8:00 ET / 5:00 PT; 0n FOX FRI., OCT 18 Los Angeles Dodgers at St. Louis Cardinals (NLDS Game 6 - if necessary) Clayton Kershaw (1-1, 0.47) vs. Michael Wacha (2-0, 0.64) at 8:30 ET / 5:30 PT; on TBS
NLCS Cardinals 3, Dodgers 2 (13) Cardinals 1, Dodgers 0 Dodgers 3, Cardinals 0 Cardinals 4, Dodgers 2 Dodgers 6, Cardinals 4 ALCS Tigers 1, Red Sox 0 Red Sox 6, Tigers 5 Red Sox 1, Tigers 0 Tigers 7, Red Sox 3 THURS., OCT 17 Boston Red Sox at Detroit Tigers (ALCS Game 5) Jon Lester (1-1, 1.93) vs. Anibal Sanchez (1-1, 4.35) at 8:00 ET / 5:00 PT; 0n FOX FRI., OCT 18 Los Angeles Dodgers at St. Louis Cardinals (NLDS Game 6) Clayton Kershaw (1-1, 0.47) vs. Michael Wacha (2-0, 0.64) at 8:30 ET / 5:30 PT; on TBS SAT., OCT 19 Boston Red Sox at Detroit Tigers (ALDS Game 6) Max Scherzer (2-0, 2.25) vs. Clay Buchholz (0-0, 6.17) at 4:30 ET / 1:30 PT; 0n FOX Los Angeles Dodgers at St. Louis Cardinals (NLDS Game 7 - if necessary) Hyun-Jin Ryu (1-0, 3.60) vs. Adam Wainwright (2-1, 1.57) at 8:30 ET / 5:30 PT; on TBS SUN., OCT 20 Boston Red Sox at Detroit Tigers (ALDS Game 7 - if necessary) Justin Verlander (1-1, 0.39) vs. John Lackey (2-0, 3.00) at 8:00 ET / 5:00 PT; 0n FOX
NLCS Cardinals 3, Dodgers 2 (13) Cardinals 1, Dodgers 0 Dodgers 3, Cardinals 0 Cardinals 4, Dodgers 2 Dodgers 6, Cardinals 4 ALCS Tigers 1, Red Sox 0 Red Sox 6, Tigers 5 Red Sox 1, Tigers 0 Tigers 7, Red Sox 3 Red Sox 4, Tigers 3 FRI., OCT 18 Los Angeles Dodgers at St. Louis Cardinals (NLDS Game 6) Clayton Kershaw (1-1, 0.47) vs. Michael Wacha (2-0, 0.64) at 8:30 ET / 5:30 PT; on TBS SAT., OCT 19 Boston Red Sox at Detroit Tigers (ALDS Game 6) Max Scherzer (2-0, 2.25) vs. Clay Buchholz (0-0, 6.17) at 4:30 ET / 1:30 PT; 0n FOX Los Angeles Dodgers at St. Louis Cardinals (NLDS Game 7 - if necessary) Hyun-Jin Ryu (1-0, 3.60) vs. Adam Wainwright (2-1, 1.57) at 8:30 ET / 5:30 PT; on TBS SUN., OCT 20 Boston Red Sox at Detroit Tigers (ALDS Game 7 - if necessary) Justin Verlander (1-1, 0.39) vs. John Lackey (2-0, 3.00) at 8:00 ET / 5:00 PT; 0n FOX
Oh: forgot to mention that I think Puig has the potential to be a damn fine player, but ... Man. He played a big role in both of the Cardinals' big innings.
NLCS Cardinals 3, Dodgers 2 (13) Cardinals 1, Dodgers 0 Dodgers 3, Cardinals 0 Cardinals 4, Dodgers 2 Dodgers 6, Cardinals 4 Cardinals 9, Dodgers 0 (Cardinals win series 4 games to 2) ALCS Tigers 1, Red Sox 0 Red Sox 6, Tigers 5 Red Sox 1, Tigers 0 Tigers 7, Red Sox 3 Red Sox 4, Tigers 3 SAT., OCT 19 Boston Red Sox at Detroit Tigers (ALDS Game 6) Max Scherzer (2-0, 2.25) vs. Clay Buchholz (0-0, 6.17) at 4:30 ET / 1:30 PT; 0n FOX SUN., OCT 20 Boston Red Sox at Detroit Tigers (ALDS Game 7 - if necessary) Justin Verlander (1-1, 0.39) vs. John Lackey (2-0, 3.00) at 8:00 ET / 5:00 PT; 0n FOX
NLCS Cardinals 3, Dodgers 2 (13) Cardinals 1, Dodgers 0 Dodgers 3, Cardinals 0 Cardinals 4, Dodgers 2 Dodgers 6, Cardinals 4 Cardinals 9, Dodgers 0 (Cardinals win series 4 games to 2) ALCS Tigers 1, Red Sox 0 Red Sox 6, Tigers 5 Red Sox 1, Tigers 0 Tigers 7, Red Sox 3 Red Sox 4, Tigers 3 Red Sox 5, Tigers 2 (Red Sox win series 4 games to 2)
We'll have the most legitimate World Series possible -- a matchup between the clubs with the best record in their leagues. Both the Cardinals and Red Sox went 97-65 (.599) in 2013. Third time these teams have met in the World Series. The Cardinals beat the Red Sox 4 games to 3 in 1946 and 1967. The Red Sox swept the Cards in 2004. Boston will have home-field advantage thanks to the American League's 3-0 win in the All-Star Game.
WORLD SERIES - All games on FOX: Wed., Oct 23 @ 8:07 et / 5:07 pt - Game 1 St. Louis (Adam Wainwright 2-1, 1.57) at Boston (Jon Lester 2-1, 2.33) Thu., Oct 24 @ 8:07 et / 5:07 pt - Game 2 St. Louis (Michael Wacha 3-0, 0.43) at Boston (Clay Buchholz 0-0, 5.40) Sat., Oct 26 @ 8:07 et / 5:07 pt - Game 3 Boston (John Lackey 2-0, 3.00) at St. Louis (Joe Kelly 0-1, 4.41) Sun., Oct 27 @ 8:15 et / 5:15 pt - Game 4 Boston at St. Louis Mon., Oct 28 @ 8:07 et / 5:07 pt - Game 5 Boston at St. Louis Wed., Oct 30 @ 8:07 et / 5:07 pt - Game 6 St. Louis at Boston Thu., Oct 31 @ 8:07 et / 5:07 pt - Game 7 St. Louis at Boston
Should be a good series, though someone told me that the last two times the teams with the best records met in the WS, there was a four game sweep. I haven't checked that out. I think the Red Sox have an edge with home field, plus the fact that their hitting hasn't fallen off drastically as has the Cardinals. The Cardinals have been my team since I was five. My wife is from Rhode Island. Since the Black Hawks have been my hockey team since I was seven (about the same time my wife attended her first Bruins game)... well, let's just say a Stanley Cup and a World Series is a lot to hope for. And something I would be unwise to gloat about should it happen.
Last time the best records faced each other was in 1999 and the Yankees swept the Braves. Speaking of the Blackhawks reminds me that my favorite hockey player as a kid was Stan Mikita!
Jim Leyland has announced his retirement from managing. Tigers' Jim Leyland Steps Down - ESPN http://espn.go.com/mlb/playoffs/2013/story/_/id/9857689/detroit-tigers-manager-jim-leyland-return Record: Pittsburgh Pirates (1986-1996): 851-863, .496 Florida Marlins (1997-1998): 146-178, .451 Colorado Rockies (1999): 72-90, .444 Detroit Tigers (2006-2013): 700-579, .540 Total: 1769-1728, .506 NL Manager of the Year in 1990 & 1992 AL Manager of the Year in 2006 3 Pennants (1997, 2006, 2012) and 1 World Series title (1997).
Damn. Worth noting that on two occasions he had really good teams that his ownership let get away from him: the Pirates in the early 90s and the Marlins, who were pretty much all sold off after the world series. (the Baseball Reference site tells me they were 92-70 in 1997 and 54-108 in 1998). Dude did not deserve that. Probably didn't deserve to have his Tigers with their 95 wins lose to the 83-game winning Cardinals in 2006, but I can live with that one.
Action starts tonight. Revised pitching form... WORLD SERIES - All games on FOX: Wed., Oct 23 @ 8:07 et / 5:07 pt - Game 1 St. Louis (Adam Wainwright 2-1, 1.57) at Boston (Jon Lester 2-1, 2.33) Thu., Oct 24 @ 8:07 et / 5:07 pt - Game 2 St. Louis (Michael Wacha 3-0, 0.43) at Boston (John Lackey 2-0, 3.00) Sat., Oct 26 @ 8:07 et / 5:07 pt - Game 3 Boston (Clay Buchholz 0-0, 5.40) at St. Louis (Joe Kelly 0-1, 4.41) Sun., Oct 27 @ 8:15 et / 5:15 pt - Game 4 Boston (Jake Peavy 0-1, 8.31) at Lance Lynn (2-1, 5.40) St. Louis Mon., Oct 28 @ 8:07 et / 5:07 pt - Game 5 Boston at St. Louis Wed., Oct 30 @ 8:07 et / 5:07 pt - Game 6 St. Louis at Boston Thu., Oct 31 @ 8:07 et / 5:07 pt - Game 7 St. Louis at Boston
For the first time in a World Series, a Japanese baseball sportswriter, Gaku Tashiro, is one of the three official scorers. Rick Hummel (St.Louis Post-Dispatch) and Mike Shalin (Boston Herald) are the other two scorers. Mariano Rivera will receive the Commissioner's Historic Achievement Award before tonight's game. Previous winners of this "prestigious" honor have included Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens. Maybe Mo shouldn't show up. WORLD SERIES - All games on FOX: Game 1 - Red Sox 8, Cardinals 1 Thu., Oct 24 @ 8:07 et / 5:07 pt - Game 2 St. Louis (Michael Wacha 3-0, 0.43) at Boston (John Lackey 2-0, 3.00) Sat., Oct 26 @ 8:07 et / 5:07 pt - Game 3 Boston (Jake Peavy 0-1, 8.31) at St. Louis (Joe Kelly 0-1, 4.41) Sun., Oct 27 @ 8:15 et / 5:15 pt - Game 4 Boston (Clay Buchholz 0-0, 5.40) at St. Louis (Lance Lynn 2-1, 5.40) Mon., Oct 28 @ 8:07 et / 5:07 pt - Game 5 Boston (Jon Lester 3-1, 1.67) at St. Louis (Adam Wainwright 2-2, 2.25) Wed., Oct 30 @ 8:07 et / 5:07 pt - Game 6 St. Louis at Boston Thu., Oct 31 @ 8:07 et / 5:07 pt - Game 7 St. Louis at Boston[/quote]