There have been 69 postseason series slated for 7 Games where one team went up 2 games to 0.
13 of those series were comebacks by the team down 0-2. Will the Angels match Mike Scioscia's jersey number and be the 14th in baseball history?
One of these teams was the 2004 Red Sox overcoming a 3-0 ALCS deficit. Name the Other 12...
So, going strictly by the historical numbers, the Angels have about a 19% chance of winning. Some of those series had the team down 0-2 at home and still winning -- the 1986 World Series comes to mind immediately -- and the Angels are a good team. Don't crown the Yankees AL champions... just yet.
The weather is slowly improving in the Northeast; tonight in Philadelphia it should be better than last night, with no rain and temperatures in the low 50's at game time. It's cooled off in southern California; the temperature in Anaheim for this afternoon's game isn't likely to be much above 70. Today is the last day of the 2009 season where there will be two games, unless the NLCS goes to a seventh game (then there would be two games on Saturday).
Starlin Castro has had a good start in the Arizona Fall League, going 7-for-14 in his first four games. Some in the Cubs organization think he could be in the major leagues as soon as next season. That might be too soon, but it's nice to know that the Cubs have a genuine major league prospect who can play shortstop and hit. If Castro does make the majors sometime in 2010, he'd likely become the first major league player born in 1990 or later (March 24, 1990 is his birthdate; he'll turn 20 during spring training next year).
Yankees at Angels, 3:13 pm CDT. Yankees lead series 2-0. TV: Fox. Announcers: Joe Buck and Tim McCarver.
Baseball-reference.com game preview
Please visit our SB Nation Angels site Halos Heaven and Yankees site Pinstripe Alley.
Dodgers at Phillies, 7:07 pm CDT. Phillies lead series 2-1. TV: TBS. Announcers: Chip Caray, Buck Martinez and Ron Darling.
Baseball-reference.com game preview
Please visit our SB Nation Dodgers site True Blue LA and Phillies site The Good Phight.
Once again, no overflows scheduled today. If you need one, post it in the FanShot section.
Discuss amongst yourselves.
0 recs | 63 comments
Encouraging news about Castro.
Let’s hope he can hit Major League pitching better than Andres Blanco.
chilango2 - October 19, 2009
This is an encouraging note
Love to see that.
A very nicely written article by Carrie Muskat… that might be the first time I’ve said that.
PacificCub - October 19, 2009
To all the Iowa fans:
I’ll be quiet now.
Then again, the BCS likes the Big 10 a lot more than the humans; we have the most teams in the top 21. And Wisco may not lose thr rest of the season.
Go Phillies & Angels.
Dan
dtpollitt - October 19, 2009 via mobile
I echo these sentiments.
Not sure how Wisconsin got into the top 25 when they have lost two straight. But I agree the toughest part of their schedule is over now.
Vermont Cubs Fan - October 19, 2009
The Badgers
An honest assessment here from someone who saw the last two losses in person. First off, they cannot defend the pass in the least. I am not sure if I’ve ever seen such a bad group of corner backs. This team has been giving up big plays all year and if opponents are watching enough tape, they’ll realize this and pass all over the place. The second half on Saturday was perhaps the worst half of Badger football I’ve ever seen and I credit Iowa, who is the cream of the Big Ten. But if I’m an opposing coach I may use the run to set up the passing game, but thats about it. If Bucky doesn’t tighten things up, Tate Forcier is going to absolutely eviscerate the Badger secondary.
Secondly, the general discipline of this team isn’t what it was under Barry Alvarez. They make mistakes, They play sloppy. Of late, they come out in the second half and do not adjust. They are being out coached by the teams with veteran leadership. The OSU game is case in point. They really were great in the first half but came out and got handled. They also made three huge mistakes that directly led to 21 points. Good teams don’t do that.
Prior to the OSU game I really felt that the Badgers were one of the most underrated teams in the nation and were a true contender for a Big Ten title. I no longer feel that way.
dmlichte - October 19, 2009
One, I do not care for the Michigan QB. MSU, UM, and ND beat up on each other every year, I can’t take that team seriously.
Second, those 21 points @ OSU were not the secondary’s fault at all. I thought we played very well tgat game. Pryor looked bad, albeit I’m not sure if that’s his fault or our doing. Two INT TDs and a returned kick-off. I never expected a good season from this team, not at all. Our schedule is pretty cake from here on out, so the typical January 1 bowl game looks realistic.
Finally, I’ve heard nothing but bad things about Bielma’s management of this team. Two former athletic trainers have told me he has no control in the locker room. I lived across the hall from Daniels, Leonard, and Raiola for two years, and this team seems nothing like those teams of Barry past.
dtpollitt - October 19, 2009 via mobile
Correct
I didn’t mean to infer that the OSU game had much, if anything to do with the secondary. Pryor is a terrible passer at this point in his career (is there something about the name Pyror/Prior and being overrated). His inability to pass is why the Badgers should have won that game and yes, I do think that the Badgers played well that game, especially in the first half. The TD at the end of the first half showed the weakness of the secondary, though.
But throughout the season the secondary has been murdered by good QBs when they choose to pass. Stanzi passed at will during the second half (and they had a third and long in the first half where Stanzi threw up a jump ball that led to a scoring play). Fenelus, Aaron Henry… they are getting murdered and big plays allowed Minnesota and MSU to stick around to the end of games where the Badgers should have won big.
But I digress… This is a talented team but I think the secondary was really exposed this week. They should win most, if not all of the remaining games, though anything can happen and if the opponents can expose the Badger corners, there could be a few more losses in there. I just really expected this team to be in the Rose Bowl hunt, even after the OSU game and the second half against Iowa was just truly ugly.
dmlichte - October 19, 2009
I've watched Pryor as much as possible this year and last
and as I’ve mentioned in the past, he reminds me of Marmol. When he’s on, he is one amazing do-it-all QB. But when he’s off, he’s very very off.
Against Wisconsin, he was pretty much Bad Marmol the whole game. Against Purdue, he was Good Marmol at times, and then Bad Marmol. Maddeningly inconsistent.
ballhawk - October 19, 2009
Pryor
Perhaps I had expectations when I heard how highly touted he was that he’d have a great arm. I haven’t seen that. He is a tremendous athlete and can really run, but at this point if he has pro aspirations he’s going to either have to really turn it up or hope someone wants him as a wide receiver.
dmlichte - October 19, 2009
Thanks Dan.
I keep waiting for the other shoe to fall. I’m just so nervous going into each game.
sue369 - October 19, 2009
If you're a Hawkeye fan
like sue369 and I, this is an exciting time and in uncharted waters. Rarely has an Iowa team been mentioned in rare company. We enjoy our football, especially those winning years. Much like the Cubs. I too wait for the other shoe to fall as this team just wins, nothing flashy, nothing to brag about. We play defense, have good special teams, score some and out coach most teams we play, especially after halftime. Sorry to hijack the thread but Dan started it, and we have a lot of Hawkeye fans on this site.
mrcubsfan - October 19, 2009
We're going to do what we can to burst the bubble...
Zeke - October 19, 2009
:P
sue369 - October 19, 2009
Watch that tongue lady!
Zeke - October 20, 2009
:D
sue369 - October 20, 2009
Hey Sue! Just watched the local news. There are tickets available for Saturday's game. Here's your chance.
45 and rain is the forecast. Blech…
Zeke - October 20, 2009
That's OK, I'll
stick with my big screen HD TV, beer, popcorn and fireplace. But thanks for thinking of me. ;-)
sue369 - October 20, 2009
The Vegas line has dropped from Iowa by 2 to "pick 'em"
What do they know that we don’t?
Zeke - October 21, 2009
that the Hawkeyes will not have their secret weapon there in person
Instead, she’ll be home with her big screen HD TV, beer, popcorn and fireplace… ;-)
ballhawk - October 21, 2009
:þ
eths - October 20, 2009
I'd like for Castro to walk more
but that’s something that can perhaps be attributed to his youth. Unless he absolutely tears up AA or AAA, I think Castro should probably get a full season in the minors.
I’m trying to stay interested in the postseason, but the Angels are the only team that I don’t dislike. I can’t wait for the hot stove season and spending more time thinking about next year…until next year comes :-)
How many days until pitchers and catchers report?!?
mykalmorgan - October 19, 2009
Can anyone explain the timing of these games to me? A 1 pm west coast game and 8 pm east coast game? Does this seem backwards to anybody else?
dtpollitt - October 19, 2009 via mobile
If you play...
… a 4 pm game on the east coast… and a 5 pm game on the west coast… BOTH games are played with tremendous shadows on the field.
Al Yellon - October 19, 2009
Makes sense.
mykalmorgan - October 19, 2009
Damn Yankees! 1-0
sue369 - October 19, 2009
Sounds like the name of a good play...
Zeke - October 19, 2009
hee
sue369 - October 19, 2009
Yankees? Angles? Should I root for one of them? None of them?
eths - October 19, 2009
Eh. Let's root for the kids in Fall League and Latin American Ball.
Andres Blanco went 1-3 with a walk and two runs today, per @cubsfarmupdates.
chilango2 - October 19, 2009
Verrrrryy good idea - I like it
I don’t have a method of watching those games (or hearing them) here…
eths - October 19, 2009
You can follow updates on Twitter.
And I don’t know of ways of seeing them here either.
chilango2 - October 19, 2009
My twitter floweth over as it is... ;-)
eths - October 19, 2009
meanwhile aaron miles went 0-3 with for groundouts to second in his little league game
jesus christos - October 19, 2009
three not for
jesus christos - October 19, 2009
If anyone...
… could ground out four times in three AB, it would be Aaron Miles.
Al Yellon - October 19, 2009
♪♬♫♫ I can see four miles and miles and miles and miles ♬♬♪♩♫
eths - October 19, 2009
It's kind of wierd...
a Cub player only 17 months older than me.
Cubbiegoon - October 19, 2009
It's even stranger when they are all younger than you are
eths - October 19, 2009
Where is everyone?
eths - October 19, 2009
Working.
Praise Vishnu and the Santo Niño de Atocha, I still have a job.
chilango2 - October 19, 2009
Oh snap! Vlad ties it up!
MrNFL - October 19, 2009
♬♬♬♬ mi mi mi mi ♫♫♫♫ ::clears throat:: ♪♬♬♫ Take me out to the ballgame... ♪♫♬♪
eths - October 19, 2009
Yanks/Angels or Field of Dreams...
What to watch, what to watch…
Zeke - October 19, 2009
Hi! Nice to see u
eths - October 19, 2009
Hi. As it turns out, I watched both (since the game went into extra innings). :)
Zeke - October 20, 2009
Just finished listening to the Phillies game here at work... Nice...
I fell asleep at about 1:30 A.M. local time, so I missed the end of the Yankees and the Angels.
eths - October 20, 2009
wow this looks like the cubs with the bases loaded
jesus christos - October 19, 2009
Beisbol rules.
Great Angels game.
dtpollitt - October 19, 2009
The wheels are falling off the
Blanton Wagon….
TheRiot Police - October 19, 2009
Well Played Angels.
Devin B - October 19, 2009
What's the rule for blowing on your hands?
As a pitcher, you can only do this when it is cold enough? Broxton is doing it a lot in this 9th.
dtpollitt - October 19, 2009
when the umps deem its cold enough, yes
jesus christos - October 19, 2009
JIMMY ROLLINS! WHAT A GAME!
dtpollitt - October 19, 2009
Wow. Love those scores
I get back and find out Angels & Phillies both won close games. Yipee.
Doggie Stalker - October 19, 2009
Yay about the Angels beating the Yankees.
About the other game, not so much.
Vermont Cubs Fan - October 20, 2009
An update from Jayson Stark about tonight's game winning hit by Jimmy Rollins:
History, definitely.
Source here.
Dan
dtpollitt - October 20, 2009
Clarification:
Was it Jack Buck or Vin Scully who said “I don’t believe what I just saw”?
Vermont Cubs Fan - October 20, 2009
I believe it WAS Buck. At least the audio versions I have heard sure sound like him.
Zeke - October 20, 2009
Scully made the call of Gibson's HR.
He said, “The impossible has happened!” That was on TV. If Buck made that call about that HR, it may have been on radio.
Al Yellon - October 20, 2009
Scully
Doggie Stalker - October 20, 2009
Nope. It was Buck.
Buck made the call on CBS radio. Scully made the call on TV as noted above.
Al Yellon - October 20, 2009
So there are two versions? I must have seen the TV video with Buck's CBS radio call laid in over it...
Zeke - October 20, 2009
Probably so.
Al Yellon - October 20, 2009
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