Monday, May 21, 2012
At Home Plate
The other races left to watch
Written by Bjoern Hartig (Contact & Archive) on September 10, 2009   

With the pennants already handed out (more or less), Tom Verducci comes up with ten more races to follow:

1) The Bryce Harper Division Race. The team with the worst record wins the right to draft the otherworldly Harper with the first pick of the 2010 draft. It comes down to a race between Washington and Kansas City, with the Nationals holding a five-game lead in the all-important loss column. Both teams are doing their darnedest to win this race.

Since Aug. 16 the Nots are 4-15. Since July 28 the Royal Pains are 12-26, including a perfect 0-11 in games after they actually managed to win one. Wouldn't want anything as extravagant as a two-game winning streak when you're chasing the worst record in baseball.

2) The Derek Jeter Home Run Race. Sure, Jeter is going to pass Lou Gehrig as the all-time Yankees hit leader any day now. No pressure there. But Jeter needs three home runs in New York's final 23 games for the Yankees to become the first team in baseball history with eight players to hit 20 or more home runs. They are tied with the 2005 Rangers, 2000 Blue Jays and 1996 Orioles with seven 20-homer hitters.


Regarding the 20+ home run hitters, when I look at the years 1996, 2000 and 2005, it reminds me to continue my studies on the steroid era. Where was that database again ...
 
Ranger keep the pressure on Angels, Red Sox
Written by Bjoern Hartig (Contact & Archive) on September 10, 2009   

Within roughly 30 hours, the Texas Rangers took three games from the Cleveland Indians, outscoring them 31-14. While this did not help them that much in the standings - they only gained a half game on Boston and LAnaheim - the Rangers showed that they are able to feast on weaker opponents. Given that they have the slightly easier schedule down the road, this should increase pressure for the Angels and Red Sox.
 
Angels extend lead, Rockies stay ahead
Written by Bjoern Hartig (Contact & Archive) on September 06, 2009   

The Angels were able to capitalize on the Rangers' loss and extend their division lead to 4.5 games. In an exciting pitching duel between Zach Greinke and John Lackey, the Angels finally preveiled 2-1 in eleven innings. Greinke held an early 1-0 lead until the eigth inning, when lead-off man Chone Figgins reached on an error and moved to third on a single by Maicer Izturis. Greinke then struck out Abreu and got Vlademir Guerrero to pop up, it looks like Greinke would once again strand a runner on third with less than two outs like he did in the fifth, but Torii Hunter lined a single to center to tie the game. In two starts again the Angels, Greinke has now pitched 16 innings with a 0.56 ERA and all he has to show for is a 0-1 record. John Lackey meanwhile pitched nine innings of one run ball himself, striking out four while walking none and allowing six hits. The game was decided in the eleventh when a single, a walk and another single pushed the winning run across for the Angels.

Meanwhile, the Rockies, under pressure from the Giants after their 3-2 win against the Diamondbacks, kept their one game lead in the wild card standings thanks to great pitching by Jose Contreras, who made his first start for Colorado after being traded by the Chicago White Sox. The Cuban hurler threw 6.2 innings of one run ball and the Rockies bullpen took over from there. A home runs by Carlos Gonzales and Seth Smith plus a two-run two-out by Todd Helton were more than enough to secure the win.
 
AL West and wild card gap widening
Written by Bjoern Hartig (Contact & Archive) on September 06, 2009   

After slumping recently (only 5 runs in the last 4 games), the Angels bats come alive again. They chase Luke Hochevar after only 3.2 innings and lead 7-1 with Joe Saunders on the mound. Meanwhile, the Texas Rangers trail the Orioles 0-6 and the game is already in the seventh inning. Boston is also leading, 2-0 in Chicago in the 5th. This looks like it will be a bad day for the Rangers.
 
Today at the races (Sep. 5th)
Written by Bjoern Hartig (Contact & Archive) on September 05, 2009   

A lot of interesting action today on the fields:

The Red Sox welcome back knuckleballer Tim Wakefield and he starts the game by giving up three runs against the White Sox in the first inning.

Edit: The Red Sox are unable to get anything going and lose the game 1-5. Gavin Floyd struck out 11 Boston hitters and took the win.

Meanwhile, the Rangers jump to a 3-0 lead against the O's, who get one run back in the bottom of the inning.

Edit: Both teams score another run. This could be a long day in Baltimore. 4-2 Rangers

Edit: With the score 4-3 and two outs, Melvin Mora hits a ball down the line that Esteban German can only knock down. If he makes that play, the Rangers are out of the innings. If he does not knock the ball down, one or two more runs score. Is the glass half full or half empty? 4-4 in Baltimore

Edit: Baltimore scores another run on another RBI single by Melvin Mora and starter Matusz settles down and combines with two relievers to pitch six scoreless innings to preserve the win. A wasted opportunity for the Rangers to gain a game on the Red Sox.

The Twins send Scott Baker to the mound against the Indians. The game is scoreless after one.

Edit: The Twins turn a 0-1 deficit into a 2-1 lead on a Nick Punto double.

Edit: The Twins add two more runs on sacrifice flies in the eigth and ninth inning. With Joe Nathan in the game for the save, it looks like the Twins are over .500 again.

The Tigers, Angels and Rays will play later today.

Edit: The Angels give up a first inning run on a single, a stolen base and another single. With Zach Greinke going tonight, this might already be enough.

In the National league, Matt Cain takes on Yovani Gallardo it what should be a close pitching duel.

Edit: San Francisco is leading 2-1 in the bottom of the 4th.

Edit: The Giants win a close 3-2 contest and keep the pressure on the Rockies.

The Rockies will play the Diamondbacks at 8 p.m.

 

More tomorrow, it's getting quite late for me.
 
More Articles...
<< Start < Prev 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Next > End >>

Page 9 of 44

At Home Plate Podcast

To listen to or download the latest At Home Plate Podcast, please click here.
To subscribe, click the icon below
Podcast Feed

Donations

If you like At Home Plate, you could show your appreciation by donating a small amount to our team. Thank you very much!

Amount: