MLB

So.

Here we are again.

I just can't help it.

I promised that I wouldn't write any more nasty articles questioning the intelligence or motivations of the Toronto Blue Jays.

I also promised to up the dose of my medication so that I'd stop thinking that MLB was conspiring to get rid of the Blue Jays, a la Montreal Expos.

That's all done.

A-Rod delivered the big blow last night—but, was he more the hero or Lidge more the goat?

Let's build the case for each...


A-Rod as the hero

A-Rod hammered a fastball to left that was just one mile-per-hour and about three inches different then the pitch he'd just taken for strike one.

(Technically the pitch seemed to A-Rod about two to three miles-per-hour different given the three inches higher, but that's easy pickins for a decent three-spot hitter.)

Year: 1989

Record: 59-103

Win Percentage: .364

Win Percentage Change: -.179

Run Differential: -199

Pythagorean Record: 61-101

AL Finish: 14th of 14

Manager: Sparky Anderson

Best Transaction: The re-signing of Dave Bergman

Last December, my little nephew had a speech impediment and a very specific list. A total boy and a Toy Story fan since birth, he spouted his Christmas wish as only he could:

“I want a big fruck an’ Woody.”

Okay, maybe that’s not funny.

I am not going to blast Brad Lidge, but he is not on the same planet as Yankees' closer Mariano Rivera.

Then again, no one else is.

The key moment of this game is shown above.

With two outs in the ninth inning, Johnny Damon hit a bloop single to left field.

With Mark Teixeira batting, Damon took off for second. After beating the throw, he realized no one was on third (due to the Phillies using a heavy shift for Teixeira). He judged that he could beat Pedro Feliz, who's momentum was carrying him toward first, to the bag.

As I had mentioned in my previous post, it has been nearly a year since the Mets acquired J.J. Putz from the Seattle Mariners in exchange for a bevy of players.

When they acquired the hard-throwing righty, the Mets envisioned having a proven closer that could fill the closer's role if needed.

However, as usual, things did not work out as planned for the Mets.

Matt Wieters was one of the most anticipated players heading into 2009, with fantasy owners waiting with bated breath for him to make his presence felt. Of course, the results fell short of the lofty expectations, as Wieters was kept in the minors until May 29 before being recalled and posting the following line:

For the second time in the history of Major League Baseball, the World Series was being played in November.

After an exciting Game Three that saw the bats come alive, the Yankees were facing the Phillies in Game Four of the 2009 World Series.

Coming into the game, the Phillies fans were excited and some were present earlier in the day to watch the Philadelphia Eagles rip apart the New York Giants just across the street at Lincoln Financial Field, so for some of the fans at Citizens Bank Park, it was going to be a long night, but one filled with excitement and drama.

Joe Girardi may as well change his jersey number to 30 right now.

Monday night, the Yankees have a chance to leave Philadelphia with their 27th World Series title in hand. Thus fulfilling Girardi's goal he set out to accomplish when he replaced Joe Torre, and intentionally wore the number 27.