Hello Fans,
O.k., what a regular season 2014 was! We said goodbye to the iconic ambassador, Derek Jeter (No. 6 all-time in hits as you know, but more on him in future articles), along with the ChiSox’ Paul Konerko (439 HRs, 1,412 RBI, .354 OBP), and perhaps some others (Adam Dunn, 462 HRs). For the second year in a row, a no-hitter was thrown on the last day. This year it was Jordan Zimmermann plowing over the Miami Marlins and leading the Nationals to a big no-no, thanks in part to the all-out diving Steven Souza to record the 27th out. THAT was a crazy catch! Ironically, Miami’s Henderson Alvarez pitched that other last day no-no way back in 2013. The regular season was just a warmup and starting Tuesday, things get a LOT more serious as we start the PLAYOFFS!!!
The Kansas City Royals are in the PLAYOFFS! Wow! I was ten years old last time that happened. That wouldn’t be a stat worth mentioning if I was fifteen or even twenty. However, it’s been 29 years. That’s a looooooong while! They host the Oakland A’s, who once called K.C. home, and have had two seasons in one this year. They led the league in winning percentage for much of the season and then played average ball at best down the stretch and finally clinched a spot in game 162. However, all you have to do is get in and anything can happen. Unfortunately for the Royals, part of Oakland’s plan was for upper management to sell out for ’14 or go bust. Well, Billy Beane did something perhaps nobody has done before while in a serious playoff run. He acquired Jon Lester from the BoSox in exchange for their clean-up man and gunning outfielder extraordinaire, Yoenis Cespedes. Lester is 6-4 with a 2.11 ERA in four seasons of playoffs, including two championships. Enough said. Lester and the A’s take it 7-2 to face their division, and state rival, L.A. Angels.
In the senior circuit, the San Francisco Giants travel east to face the Pittsburgh Pirates. Despite Giants RF Hunter Pence’s heartfelt and entertaining WWE-like speech to his teammates and home fans on Sunday, I like the Pirates to take care of business and move on to face the top-seeded Washington Nationals in the Divisional round. It’s a great, underrated and with little fanfare, pitching matchup between Madison Bumgarner (18-10, 2.98) for the G-men and Edinson Volquez (13-7, 3.04) for the bucs. Pittsburgh is a fun team to watch led by reigning MVP and all-around good guy, Andrew McCutchen, Pittsburgh-born Neil Walker, and Josh Harrison. In a tight, low scoring game, look for the Pirates to close it out 3-1.
Next up, the Divisional Round, when the Angels, Orioles, Nationals, and Dodgers look to get into the October festival!
Later Fans.