Pujols Elbows out Howard for NL MVP

Albert Pujols played with a bad elbow all season that eventually led to surgery, but it didn't stop him from winning the second NL MVP award of his career. Pujols, who has finished in the top 10 in voting in all 8 years of his career, defeated the Phillies' Ryan Howard by 61 votes.

It was originally thought that Pujols would need Tommy John surgery on his left, non-throwing elbow, but it turned out doctors were able to simply move a nerve that was irritating the elbow. You wouldn't have known anything was wrong based on Pujols' numbers. He hit .357, the second highest average of career and put up a 1.115 OPS. Pujols slugged 37 doubles, 44 doubles, drove in 116 runs and scored 100. On top of walking 104 times, he struck out just 54 times. Pujols slugged .653, nearly 30 points higher than his career average.

Howard help drive the Phillies to their first World Championship in 28 years by driving in a major league leading 146 runs as well as hitting a high of 46 home runs. Last year's MVP also finished second to Pujols in 2006. Howard received 12 first place votes, while his teammate Brad Lidge received the remaining 2 first places votes.

Two American League players had a significant impact on the race, with LA's Manny Ramirez finishing 4th and CC Sabathia ending up 6th. Our pre-season prediction, Jose Reyes, finished third from the bottom with 3 votes.

2008 NL MVP Award Voting
Player, Club	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th	7th	8th	9th	10th	Points
Albert Pujols, STL	18	10	2	1			1				369
Ryan Howard, PHI	12	8	6		1	1	2			1	308
Ryan Braun, MIL		2	3	5	5	2	2	3	2	1	139
Manny Ramirez, LAD		2	4	7	2	3	2		1	2	138
Lance Berkman, HOU		2	4	4	1	3	3	4	1	1	126
CC Sabathia, MIL		4	5	1	2	2	3		1	2	121
David Wright, NYM		2	1	4	3	3	2	5	2	1	115
Brad Lidge, PHI	2		2		4	3	2	3	1	2	104
Carlos Delgado, NYM			5	1	2	5		2	3		96
Aramis Ramirez, CHC				2	4	1	1	4	3	1	66
Hanley Ramirez, FLA				2	2	2	1	2	2	5	55
Chipper Jones, ATL		1				2	4	1	2	2	44
Geovany Soto, CHC				3	1		3		1		41
Johan Santana, NYM		1		1		1	1		2	1	30
Chase Utley, PHI				1	1	1	1		3	2	30
Ryan Ludwick, STL							1	2	3	1	17
Brandon Webb, ARI					2				1		14
Adrian Gonzalez, SD							1	1	1	4	13
Matt Holliday, COL						1	1	1		1	13
Prince Fielder, MIL						1		1	1	1	11
Derrek Lee, CHC					1		1				10
Carlos Beltran, NYM					1			1		1	10
Tim Lincecum, SF						1			1	2	9
Jose Reyes, NYM								1			3
Jose Valverde, HOU								1			3
Stephen Drew, ARI									1		2
Nate McLouth, PIT										1	1

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It Shall Rain for 40 Hours and 40 Minutes

And then the voice said, "Take 2 each: outfielders, pitchers, catchers, and infielders, unto the ark."

Okay, really the umpires just said to put the tarp on the field last night, suspending game 5 of the World Series. The series isn't still on because the Rays forced a game 6, but instead because a deluge of precipitation fell on Citizen's Bank Park causing so much water pooling that Greg Louganis could have landed in one puddle off the high dive.

Play stopped in the middle of the sixth inning after the Rays had tied the game 2-2 on Carlos Pena's RBI single. It was clear that MLB was praying for the Rays to either tie the game or go ahead so that a possibly decisive game wouldn't be decided in part due to the weather. But it was clear, despite the protestations of MLB COO Bob Dupuy to Fox's Chris Myers, that the game would have continued had the Rays not tied the score.

The game likely won't be completed until Wednesday night, because tonight's forecast in Philly is calling for even worse weather than last night. The game could have been called prior to the fifth inning, but MLB was going to do everything they could to get the game in and they didn't want to get negative feedback from Phillies fans for calling the game with the Phils leading. Obviously no consideration was given to the health and well being of highly paid athletes who aren't used to playing baseball in a mud pit filled with water hazards. On top of everything else we had to listen to Joe Buck and Tim McCarver use the word "hydroplane" countless times.

The stoppage has to favor the Rays since it means there's no way that Cole Hamels will continue in the contest. Though he wasn't as dominant as he had been in his prior post-season starts, he had still limited the Rays to just 5 hits over 6 innings and those 2 runs. On the other hand, Rays starter Scott Kazmir was awful, the weather notwithstanding. He lasted only four innings, walking 6 hitters and only gave up 2 runs due to the Phillies' continuing inefficiency with runners in scoring position.

There was good news in the game for the Rays as Carlos Pena and Evan Longoria finally broke out of their O-fers. Pena had a pair of hits, scored the Rays' first run and drove in the second. Longoria's fourth inning single broke his shneid and brought home Pena.

The Phillies took advantage of Kazmir's control problems to take a quick 2-0 lead in the first inning. Kazmir put two men on with one out by walking Jayson Werth and plunking Chase Utley. But after blowing a 94-mph strike three fastball past Ryan Howard, Kazmir walked Pat Burrell to load the bases, and then gave up a 2-run single to Shane Victorino. Pedro Feliz' single loaded the bases again, but Kazmir escaped further trouble by retiring Carlos Ruiz on an inning ending fly out.

Pena's one-out-double in the fourth brought some life to the Rays bench and Longoria capitalized with with his first hit and RBI of the series with a single to left. Hamels came right back though, getting Dioner Navarro to bounce into a double play.

Kazmir was in trouble again in the home half of the fourth, issuing back-to-back 2-out walks to Jimmy Rollins and Werth to load the bases. But Utley grounded out to second baseman Aki Iwamura to strand all three runners.

Rollin's error on a wind-blown pop-up in the fifth gave the Rays a lead off man on base, but Hamels, with a big assist from Utley, got Jason Bartlett to hit into a double play. Utley tagged runner Rocco Baldelli as he went by and then spun around to throw out Bartlett at first.

Joe Maddon finally went to his pen in the fifth when Kazmir walked Howard and Pat Burrell to start the inning. Grant Balfour did the job, retiring all three men he faced to strand the runners. Then it was the Rays' turn to come back and in the process halt play. B.J. Upton reached on a 2-out infield single, and despite the sloppy turf, stole second base. It paid off when Pena singled to left and Upton just beat the throw home from Burrell to tie the score. Pena moved to second base on a passed ball, but Longoria flied to deep center to end the inning and the night's play.

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Home Runs Put Title Within Reach

Chicks dig the long ball, so chicks have to dig the Phillies. Led by Ryan Howard's 48 regular season bombs, the Phillies hit a National League-leading 214 home runs. Only the Chicago White Sox (235) hit more home runs this season. Last night the Tampa Rays felt the full brunt of Howard and the Phillies power.

The Phillies blasted their way to a 10-2 victory to take a commanding 3 games to 1 lead in the World Series. Howard hit a pair of blasts, and pitcher Joe Blanton and right fielder Jayson Werth each hit one as the Phillies knocked around Rays starter Andy Sonnanstine and the Tampa bullpen.

Blanton, meanwhile was marvelous. He limited the Rays to four hits over six innings, allowing a pair of runs. But the biggest ovation he received on the night was when he hit his first major league home run, a solo shot off of Edwin Jackson in the fifth inning that extended the Phillies lead to 6-2. At his teammates insistence, Blanton took a curtain call for the raucous crowd of over 45,000.

The Phillies put the game away in the eighth when Werth followed a double by Jimmy Rollins with a 2-run shot to left-center off of Dan Wheeler. Lefty specialist Trever Miller came on, but he walked Chase Utley and then Howard unloaded his second home run, a tremendous shot to right field.

Sonnanstine was shaky from the start, walking Pat Burrell with the bases loaded to put the Phillies on the board first. The Phillies again failed to break an inning open though, as both Shane Victorino and Pedro Feliz couldn't get another run in.

Moments after Fox praised Aki Iwamura's transition from third to second base, the Japanese veteran booted Utley's grounder to start the third. Howard's single put runners on the corners with no one out, but it appeared the Phillies would fail in the clutch again when Burrell and Victorino both flied out to shallow left. Feliz came through with a big 2-out hit though, singling to left for a 2-0 lead. Carlos Ruiz also singled, but Blanton fouled out to end the threat.

The Rays got on the board in the fourth when Carl Crawford went deep for the second time in the series. But Iwamura's second error, in the bottom of the inning, set the wheels in motion for the game changing play. Utley drew a walk to put two aboard, but Sonnanstine struck out Werth for the first out. With the Rays hoping to turn an inning ending double play, Howard crushed a pitch into the left field seats for a 3-run home run and a 5-1 Phillies lead.

Eric Hinske, who replaced an injured Cliff Floyd on the roster earlier in the day, took Blanton deep in the fourth to cut the margin to 5-2. But Blanton and his teammates continued to impress the chicks and the Phillies fans with their long ball display.


News and Notes

Carlos Pena and Evan Longoria are now a combined 0-29 in the series with 15 strikeouts.

Joe Blanton became the first pitcher in 34 years, since Ken Holtzman in 1974, to hit a home run in the series. He also became the first player to hit his first major league home run in the World Series.

The Phillies were actually 4-14 (.286) with runners in scoring position last night. For the series they are 6-47.

Ryan Howard joined Len Dykstra (1993) as the only Phillies with a multi-HR game in the series.

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Line Drive in the Paper Lifts Phils

It wasn't pretty, but the Phillies will take it. Tied 4-4 in the bottom of the ninth, the Phillies didn't hit one ball out of the infield - actually they only put one ball into play - in scoring the winning run to take a 2 games to 1 advantage in the World Series. Last night's game ended about 1:47 a.m. EDT after a one hour-thirty one minute rain delay caused the first pitch to be thrown at 10:14 p.m., the latest start in World Series history.

The Rays had rallied from a 4-1 deficit, tying the game with a run in the eighth inning. But Rays reliver J.P. Howell hit Eric Bruntlett to start the home half of the ninth inning. Grant Balfour replaced Howell, and with Shane Victorino batting, immediately threw a wild pitch. Catcher Dioner Navarro quickly retrieved the ball and fired to second to try to gun down Bruntlett, but his throw sailed wide to the right side of second base and into center field, allowing Bruntlett to reach third base. Victorino was intentionally walked and Joe Maddon came out to discuss strategy with his pitcher and infielders.

Those infielders were increased by one when right fielder Ben Zobrist, a natural infielder, moved behind second base to give the Rays a 5-man infield. An intentional walk to Gary Dobbs loaded the bases for catcher Carlos Ruiz. With the infield and outfield playing in, Ruiz chopped a high Balfour fastball that a charging Evan Longoria could only whip home with an underhand, off-balance throw. The ball sailed high and wide and the Phillies had themselves a victory.

Though the game came down to the bottom of the ninth Jamie Moyer was the story of this game. The 45-yr old had struggled in his first two post-season starts, allowing 8 runs in 5.1 innings pitched. But his manager Charlie Manuel stuck by him, saying in his Friday news conference that Moyer had earned his World Series start. Now he's earned a second one, which would be a deciding seventh game if necessary.

Moyer pitch into the seventh inning, leaving with a 4-2 lead and one out. A third run was charged to him after an inherited runners scored on a ground out, but this was clearly Moyer's night. He kept the Rays off balance with his mixture of slow, slower, and slowest pitches. He quickly gave up a 1-0 lead in the second inning and Phillies fans had to be concerned. But after Ruiz's solo home run off Matt Garza in the bottom of the second gave the Phillies the lead back, Moyer took control. He allowed just two more hits through the sixth inning.

Moyer's counterpart, Garza, had been dominant in the first two rounds of the post-season, but struggled last night. Maddon had to come out in the first inning to settle him down after allowing a lead off single to Jimmy Rollins, a walk to Jayson Werth, and a wild pitch that moved both runners into scoring position. He allowed just one run, but was tagged for three solo home runs on the night.

Meanwhile the Phillies extended their lead when their two big men, Chase Utley and Ryan Howard hit back to back home runs in the bottom of the sixth for a 4-1 lead. The Rays big men continued not to deliver. Carlos Pena and Evan Longoria, who has to endure the asinine chant of "Eva" from the Phillies faithful, both went hitless last night and are hitless for the series. Their teammates did pick them up last night though.

Carl Crawford began the seventh with a bunt single and Navarro followed with a double to left to bring the tying run to the plate. The Rays seem to be specializing on RBI ground outs in the series and that trend continued when Gabe Gross' bouncer to Howard to cut the lead to 4-2 and moved Navarro to third. Chad Durbin replaced Moyer and got Jason Bartlett to bounce into another run scoring ground out that made it a 4-3 game, but prevented a bigger inning.

In the eighth, with Ryan Madson on the mound, B.J. Upton stroked a lead off single and stole second base with one away. The Rays aggressive play on the basepaths paid off when Upton stole third and scored on Ruiz's throwing error. But Ruiz would have the last laugh.


News and Notes

Pena and Longoria are now a combined 0-22 in the series.

Ruiz's game winner made the Phillies 2-33 with runners in scoring position.

Steve Carlton threw out the first pitch, which was made ironic since Moyer beat him for his major league win in 1986.

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Rays Shields from Philly Sweep

The World Series resumes in Philadelphia tonight, and thanks to James Shields and the Rays pen, the series is all even at a game apiece after Tampa's 4-2 win. Shields picked up the win in great part because of the Phillies failure to produce with runners in scoring position.

The Phillies had runners on first and second with no one out in the second inning, a lead off man on second in the third, men on the corners with one out in both the fourth and fifth innings, and two on with two outs in both the six and seventh innings. And they left them all on base. The Phillies are now 1-28 with runners in scoring position in the series.

Tampa got a quick jump on Brett Myers in the first inning, taking advantage of Jayson's Werth's error. Aki Iwamura led the game off with a walk and B.J. Upton shook off his game 1 woes with a single to right field. Werth then misplayed the ball allowing both runners to move up a spot. Carlos Pena and Evan Longoria brought both runners home with a pair of RBI ground outs.

Upton came through again in the second with a bases loaded single to increase the Rays lead to 3-0. Werth tried to make up for his error by throwing out Rocco Baldelli at home plate to end the inning. The Rays added another big insurance run in the fourth when Jason Bartlett squeezed home Cliff Floyd.

The rest of the game was about the Phillies failures. They finally got on the board in eighth inning on Eric Bruntlett's home run and made the game interesting in the ninth against David Price. The prized rookie has been shown a lot of confidence by manager Joe Maddon, who brought him in the game in the seventh inning. He walked the first batter he faced, but then struck out Ryan Howard to strand two runners. In the ninth he faced the tying run after an Evan Longoria error allowed a run to score and cut the lead in half. But Price struck out Chase Utley and retired Howard on a game ending ground out.

News and Notes

Game 3 this evening matches up veteran Jamie Moyer against the playoffs hottest pitcher, Matt Garza.

Chase Utley and Ryan Howard are a combined 4-17 through the first two games and Jimmy Rollins is hitless.

There is a possibility that tonight's game could be rained out.

Big League Stew's David Brown discusses the merits and dislikes of the Buck-McCarver duo.

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The Better Late Than Never World Series Preview

With the start of Game 1 of the 2008 World Series less than an hour away, though the actual start will depend on how long FOX can drag things out, here is our much anticipated World Series preview.

Joe Maddon and Charlie Manuel are both managing their first World Series, and of course this is the first for the Tampa Bay Rays. But the Philadelphia Phillies don't have much more experience. They've only been to the series five times previously, and have just one title, won in 1980.

Lets take a look at the position by position match ups to see who has the edge.

First Base

Ryan Howard vs. Carlos Pena

There is no question that Howard is the superior hitter, putting monstrous numbers up year after year in his young career (Averaging 51 home runs and 143 RBI over the last three seasons). Pena had a huge contract year (.282-46-121, all career highs) last season and struggled early on with injuries. But he still led the team with 30 home runs and 103 RBI in '08. Howard's a liability defensively, so Manuel could DH him on the road.

Pena is clearly the better defender, an underrated gold glove caliber first baseman. But the edge has to go to Howard for his ability to be a game changer. He has not hit for power in the post-season and the Rays better hope that trend continues.
ADVANTAGE - Howard, PHI

Second Base

Chase Utley vs. Aki Iwamura

You know how good Chase Utley is. He's the guy you wish Robinson Cano was like. Utley has been a model of consistency at the plate, averaging 28 home runs and 103 RBI over the last four seasons. Like Howard, he's looking to bust out after hitting just .250 with one home run so far in the post-season.

Iwamura is an outstanding defender. He made a smooth transition from third base to second base this season. The Rays lead off man may have a swing similar to his fellow countryman, Ichiro Suzuki, but that's where the similarity ends. Iwamura led the Rays in average with just a .274 mark. He did hit .295 at home, but the advantage here easily goes to the Rays.
ADVANTAGE - Utley, PHI


SHORTSTOP

Jimmy Rollins vs. Jason Bartlett

Rollins is the heart and soul of this team and its vocal leader. He won the NL MVP last year after boasting the Phillies would win the NL East and then backed it up with his play. Injuries caused him to miss 25 games and his production was down considerably from his 2007 career best numbers. He did still manage to swipe a career high 47 bases and committed just 7 errors.

Jason Bartlett was acquired, along with Matt Garza, from the Twins during the off-season for Delmon Young. Bartlett provides speed (20 stolen bases during the regular season), but doesn't have much pop in his bat. He hit just one home run in 454 at-bats this season. However, Bartlett crushed right handed pitching to the tune of a .379 mark. Bartlett is a decent defender (16 errors, .970 FPCT in '08) who made a costly error in game 6 of the ALCS and nearly had another in game 7. The Phillies get another one.
ADVANTAGE - Rollins, PHI


Third Base

Pedro Feliz vs. Evan Longoria

Feliz won't hit much for average (.252 lifetime), but he does have an underrated power stick. He averaged 21 home runs over the prior four seasons and then hit 14 in 133 games in his first year in Philadelphia. Feliz is also a pretty good defender, having made only 19 errors over the last two seasons.

What can you say about the AL's rookie of the year (in our opinion) that hasn't been said already. The numbers don't lie. Longoria started the season in the minors then missed a load of games down the stretch with a broken arm. He still managed 27 home runs and 85 RBI in 122 games, with 31 doubles and an .874 OPS. He made 12 errors this season while compiling a .963 fielding pct., but he's got the goods to be a solid hot corner man. Any guess who gets the edge here?
ADVANTAGE - Longoria, TB


Left Field

Pat Burrell vs. Carl Crawford

Wow, this is a good one. You've got one of the better power guys in the game against one of the best all around players and athletes in the game. Burrell heard trade rumors during the season, but it didn't seem to effect him. He hit slightly below his career average, .250., but the rest of his numbers were comparable to his prior years - 33 home runs, 86 RBI, and 102 walks. Burrell has been big thus far in the post-season, hitting .300 with 3 home runs and 7 RBI.

Like Longoria, Crawford missed a big chunk of time due to injury, playing in 109 games, the least since his rookie season in 2002. Everyone talks about Crawford's speed, but he's also got power and has a .293 career average. He matched his career high for errors this season with....just 4! You won't see too many balls fall between him and B.J. Upton in center field. Crawford's all around play gets the edge here.
ADVANTAGE - Crawford, TB


Center Field

Shane Victorino vs. B.J. Upton

Another good match up of a pair of spark plugs. Victorino's emergence allowed the Phillies to let Aaron Rowand wander off to the bay area. The Hawaiian native set career marks with a .293 (team high) average, 14 home runs, 58 RBI, 102 runs scored, 167 hits, and had one less steal (36) than 2009. He's also done a very good job replacing the gold gloved Rowand in the outfield.

Upton emerged last season as the player the Rays organization was counting on. Though in comparison to last season (.300-24-82, 22 SB), his '08 numbers (.273-9-67, 44 SB) don't look very good, and he had some discipline problems, the 24-yr old can still be counted on. He's been on fire in the playoffs, hitting .304 with 7 home runs, 15 RBI, and a whopping 1.191 OPS. Though he's still learning the position, Upton put together a .983 FPCT. These two mean so much to their teams, that we really can't separate them.
ADVANTAGE - DRAW


Right Field

Jayson Werth vs. Gabe Gross/Rocco Baldelli

The 29-yr old Werth had a break out season with 24 home runs and 67 RBI, and made only 2 errors in playing all three outfield positions, primarily right field. Though he has hit in 7 of 9 playoff games, he's just .243 with 1 home run and that one lone RBI.

Rocco Baldelli came back from the brink of going nowhere to playing a significant role down the stretch for Tampa. Fighting off a mitochondrial disease that zaps his strength, Baldelli hit .263-4-13 with 12 run scored in 28 games. He has struggled (3 for 14) in the post-season, and played in just two games in the ALCS, but did have a big 3-run home run in game 5.

Gross came over from Milwaukee in an in-season deal, and hit .242-13-38 in 127 games. He's a decent right fielder, though nothing that legends are made of. As of this writing, there was talk Eric Hinske could replace him on the roster.
ADVANTAGE - Werth, PHI


Catcher

Carlos Ruiz vs. Dioner Navarro

Ruiz was impress at all with his bat, .219-4-31, but he calls a good game and plays a strong all-around defensive game. The Phillies will benefit from road games when they won't have both Ruiz and the pitcher batting in the bottom of the order.

Navarro has emerged as the type of catcher the Yankees were hoping they would see, except not with another team. A first time All-Star, Navarro, still just 24-yrs of age, hit .295-7-43 in 120 games. He also become one of the best defensive catchers in baseball and clearly gets the edge in this head to head match up.
ADVANTAGE - Navarro, TB


Starting Pitching

Cole Hamels, Brett Myers, Jamie Moyer, Joe Blanton
vs.
Scott Kazmir, James Shields, Matt Garza, Andy Sonnanstine

Hamels is clearly the best of the lot and could be a series changer, especially if he were to go three times. He could even have an impact out of the pen like Randy Johnson had for Arizona. Though Hamels is the best of this lot, the Rays staff is deeper. Garza is the hottest pitcher on the staff right now, Kazmir is still a borderline stud, and Shields emerging as a top notch young pitcher. Sonnanstine is nothing to sneeze at either even if his name is hard to pronounce.
ADVANTAGE - TB

Probable Pitchers

Game 1 - Hamels vs. Kazmir
Game 2 - Myers vs. Shields
Game 3 - Garza vs. Moyer
Game 4 - Sonnanstine vs. Blanton
Game 5 - Kazmir vs. Hamels
Game 6 - Myers vs. Shields
Game 7 - Moyer vs. Garza

Bullpens

The pen, always a horror for Tampa in the past, was a strength this season. But injuries to closer Troy Percival has put more pressure on a team that now has no true closer. Joe Maddon mixed and matched to perfection in game 7 of the ALCS, but will it always work out so well?

Brad Lidge and Ryan Madson have formed a formidable 1-2 punch out of the Phillies pen, though we still don't trust Lidge (46-46 in save situations during the regular season). Though we don't trust him, we still will give Philly a slight edge in their ability to close out a game.
ADVANTAGE - PHI


And the winner is........in 6 games, the Tampa Bay Rays. The Rays starting pitching is the difference maker here, especially if it were to come down to a game 7. Matt Garza is on fire right now and Jamie Moyer is looking like he's 85 not 45. It should be an entertaining series, but the Rays will take it. Who the "Devil" would have thought it? ;)

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Booing Suspended in City of Brotherly Love

Philadelphia fans love to boo their teams as much as they love to cheer them, but there will be no booing tonight. The Phillies have advanced to the World Series for the first time since 1993 by defeating the Dodgers tonight, 5-1. The Phillies won their sixth National League pennant in five games, taking the series 4 games to 1.

Jimmy Rollins got the Phillies rolling right off the bat, leading off the ball game with a solo home run off of Dodgers starter Chad Billingsley. The Phillies added two more in the third inning, knocking out Billingsley after 2.2 innings. Billingsley, who won 16 regular season games and beat the Cubs in the NLDS, lasted on 2.1 innings in his prior NLCS start in game 2.

Phillies starter Cole Hamels on the other hand was outstanding once again, winning his second game of the series. Hamels, who allowed just 3 runs in the 14 innings, picked up the series MVP award.

Rollins ignited things again in the third with a one out walk and a stolen base. Billingsley struck out Jayson Werth, but walked Chase Utley. Ryan Howard, who had been 2-19 in the series before finishing 6 for his last 12, picked up his first of three hits, an RBI single to right. Pat Burrell added an RBI single for a 3-o lead.

A shoddy Dodgers defense helped put the game out of reach in the fifth. Singles by Werth and Howard put runners on the first and second with one out. Greg Maddux got Burrell to hit a potential double play ball grounder to short, but Rafael Furcal kicked the ball into left field to allow a run to score. After an intentional walk to Shane Victorino loaded the bases, Maddux struck out Pedro Feliz, but Furcal threw away Carlos Ruiz's grounder for a fifth run.

The Dodgers picked up their only run in the sixth on Manny Ramirez's solo home run, his first of the series. Phils' manager Charlie Manuel went to his usual bullpen men to close things out, using Ryan Madson in the 8th and Brad Lidge in the 9th. Nomar Garciaparra fouled out to Ruiz for the final out.

Box Score

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Live and Die in LA

Dodgers Prepare to Batten Down the Hatches.

Joe Torre knows what pressure situations are like. He was in plenty of them in New York, going to battle in the playoffs for 12 straight seasons. One of Torre's worst times came in the 2004 ALCS when the Yankees blew a 3-0 lead to the Red Sox and saw Boston go on to end their 86-year world championship drought. Now Torre is on the other side of the ledger.

With Philadelphia's 8-5 win on Tuesday, the Phillies took a commanding 2-0 lead in the best of seven NLCS series. Of course a Dodger win tonight could turn the momentum in the completely opposite direction. Torre has experience in this situation as well. Down 2-0 to the Braves in the 1996 World Series, the Yankees won three straight games on the road before wrapping up the series at home in game 6.

Torre will have to make better decisions tonight though then he did in game 2. Already trailing 4-2, Torre rolled the dice by sending starter Chad Billingsley back out to start the third inning. The move backfired and the Phillies put four more runs on the board and put the game virtually out of reach.

Hiroki Kuroda gets the call for LA tonight. The Japanese native was 9-10, 3.73 in the regular season and finished off the Cubs in game 3 of the NLDS with 6.1 scoreless innings. Kuroda has allowed just two earned runs in 13 career innings against the Phillies, going 1-0, 1.38 in two starts.

The Phillies will counter with oldest player in Major League Baseball, 45-year old Jamie Moyer. The soon to be 46-year old, went 16-7, 3.71 during the regular season, but took the lone Philly loss to Milwaukee. He allowed two earned runs in four innings and walked three batters. Moyer is just 3-4, 4.80 in 10 career starts against the Dodgers.

The Phillies have the two games to none lead despite the lack of production from potential NL MVP Ryan Howard. The big first baseman is 0-8 in the series and just 2-19 in the post-season.

Manny Ramirez continues to rake for the Dodgers. He's 3-8 in the first two games with a home run and four RBI. The performance comes on the heels of the NLDS where hit .500 (5-10) with a pair of home runs three RBI. He also drew four walks.

"Michael Kay is bashing Torre on the radio today..."

Just a little spoof of the TMKS theme song. For some reason Michael Kay continues to rant against Torre (he blasted for weeks after turning down the Yankees contract offer last off-season), unable, or unwilling, to understand why callers are rooting for Torre in the post-season.

He quickly dismisses any talk that the Yankees disgraced Torre with their offer and continues to point out that Torre is no saint. Okay, Michael...what is it that Torre did to you? Wouldn't come on your radio show (he had a deal with WFAN), blew you off your interviews, kicked your cat? What?

Kay also couldn't understand how fans would root for Torre's Dodgers if they played in the World Series against the Red Sox. "The Red Sox are an American League team. If you root for the Yankees, you're an American League fan. How can you not root for the American League? On top of that how can you root for the Dodgers?"

We paraphrased a bit, but that is the basic lo-down. Kay can't understand that while those listeners who are contemporaries, myself included, still hate the Dodgers (those Garvey-Lopes-Sutton teams in particular), we hate the Red Sox right now a whole lot more. Even when Don La Greca pointed out that the Red Sox would be building a potential dynasty with three championships in five seasons, Kay still didn't get it. "What's the difference? The curse is dead!"

Some people just don't get it, even when they're smacked upside the head with it.

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The Pennant Race - 9/25

Pandemonium in Flushing. Mets fans woke up this morning with a September hangover, unsure if it was 2007 or 2008. The Mets blew a 5-1 lead to the Cubs last night, blew a chance to win it in the ninth inning, and then lost to the Cubs in 10 innings, 9-6.

Dan Murphy tripled off of Bobby Howry to lead off the bottom of the ninth, sending the Shea faithful into a frenzy. But Howry struck out David Wright and after intentionally walking the Carloses, Beltran and Delgado to load the bases, got Ryan Church to ground to second baseman Ronny Cedeno, who forced Murphy at home. Howry then made a better escape than David Blaine could any day, by striking out Ramon Castro to retire the side.

Derek Lee doubled in the go ahead run in the tenth and Aramis Ramirez put the game away with a 2-run home run.

C.C. Sabathia pitched the Brewers into a tie for the wildcard lead with the Mets in Milwaukee's 4-2 win over the Pirates. The big left-hander won his 10th game in 16 Brew Crew starts, and his 16th win overall, by limiting Pittsburgh to one run and four hits in seven innings, while striking out 11. Sabathia was working on three days rest and is expected to duplicate that feat again on Sunday.

The Twins beat the White Sox for the second straight night, this time 3-2, to move within one-half game of the AL Central lead. Nick Blackburn threw a solid five innings and four relievers limited the White Sox to just one hit from the sixth inning on. Gavin Floyd faces Kevin Slowey in tonight's series finale.

The Dodgers magic number to clinch the NL West is down to one. Manny Ramirez hit his 17th home run since "going west coast" and the Dodgers pounded the Padres 12-4. Meanwhile, Adam Wainwright and four relievers limited the Diamondbacks to two runs in the Cardinals 4-2 win over Arizona. A Dodgers win or Diamondbacks loss today will give LA the western crown.

While the Angels are prepping for the playoffs, Francisco Rodriguez is improving his resume. K-Rod added to his record setting season with his 62nd save of the season.

The Rays maintained their three game lead over the Red Sox in the AL East with an 11-6 win over the Orioles. Aki Iwamura drove in three runs and Edwin Jackson, despite allowing six runs in 5.1 innings pitched, won his career high 13th game.

The Red Sox won their second consecutive 5-4 decision over the Indians. Mark Kotsay snapped a 4-4 tie with an RBI double in the eighth inning. Fausto Carmona got yanked after just one inning and an inconceivable 51 pitches thrown.

News and Notes

Twenty year veteran first baseman Mickey Vernon has passed away at the age of 90. The seven time All-Star won two batting titles and spent most of his career playing for the down trodden Washington Senators.

The Seattle Times is reporting that there is much animosity in the clubhouse towards All-Star Ichiro Suzuki. Teammates have nearly come to blows with the outfielder's selfish attitude.

The Diamondbacks' Mark Reynolds became the first player in major league history to strike out 200 times in a season when he k'ed this afternoon against the Cardinals. Reynolds had broken Ryan Howard's year old single season record last night. The record may not hold though since Reynolds has just four more than Howard this year. Oh, and Reynolds has committed 34 errors.

The Rockies' Todd Helton has opted for back surgery next week to correct a disk problem.

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The Pennant Race - 9/19

Fortunes changed in both the AL East and AL Central last night when the Twins met the Rays. Tampa had a 7-4 lead and led 8-6 in the 9th. Joe Maddon used Troy Percival as a set up man in the eighth before turning things over to Dan Wheeler in the ninth. Maddon would now like a do over. Alexi Castilla hit a game tying home run and the Twins scored three more times for an 11-8 victory.

The win moved the Twins back to 1.5 games of the White Sox, while the Rays lead, over the idle Red Sox, shrunk to 1.5 games. Lost in the loss with a monster, 3-home run night by Evan Longoria.

The Dodgers maintained their 3.5 game lead in the NL West, with a 3-2, 12 inning win over the Pirates. James Loney knocked in the game winner. The Diamonbacks kept pace with a 3-2 win over the Giants, as Randy Johnson and the Dbacks pen out pitched Tim Lincecum, who went the distance for San Fran. Adam Dunn singled in the game winner in the bottom of the eighth.

The Phillies nipped the Braves 4-3 on the strength of a 2-run home run by Pat Burrell and six strong innings from Cole Hamels (14-9). Ryan Howard picked up RBI #138.

The Mets remained a half-game back, behind a big game from Johan Santana (7 IP, 1 ER), with a 7-2 win over the Nationals. Santana's battery mate, Brian Schneider, provided the power with a pair of home runs.

The Mets also added a game on their wildcard lead when the Brewers blew a 4-run lead in the ninth to the Cubs. Rookie sensation Geovany Soto hit a game tying 3-run home run and Derrek Lee singled in the game winner in the 12th for a 7-6 Cubs win. Somewhere Harry Caray was yelling, "Cubs win, Cubs win.".

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The Pennant Race - 9/18

Brandon Webb pitched the Diamondbacks back to within 3.5 games of the NL West lead in Arizona's 7-6 win over the Giants. Webb allowed two earned runs over seven innings to earn his 21st win. The Diamondbacks bullpen nearly gave the game away in the ninth though as the Giants scored three times before Tony Pena retired the final two batters.

The Dodgers meanwhile got clobbered by Adam LaRoche (2 HRs, 5 RBI) and Nate McLouth (HR, 4 RBI) and the Pirates, 15-8. Starter Zach Duke was ineffective, but six Pirate relievers stemmed the tide.

Cliff Lee came away with a no-decision after allowing three earned runs in 6.1 innings pitched, but the Indians continued to do damage to the Twins playoff hopes with a 6-4 win. The victory completed a three game sweep for the Tribe. Travis Hafner hit his first home run since May 16.

The Mets built up an 8-1 lead over the Nationals and then hung on as their beleaguered bullpen nearly blew it. The Mets emerged with a 9-7 final as 32-yr old Brandon Knight, who debuted as a Yankee back in 2001, won his first major league game. Carlos Beltran (2), Carlos Delgado, and Jose Reyes each homered.

The Phillies maintained their half-game lead with a relatively easy 6-1 win over the Braves. J.A. Happ picked up his first major league win after tossing six scoreless innings. Carlos Ruiz knocked in two runs and Ryan Howard picked up RBI number 137.

The Brewers stayed a half-game back of the Mets in the wildcard with a 6-2 win over the Cubs. It wasn't all good news for the Brewers though as Ben Sheets had to leave the game in the third inning with tightness in his forearm. Prince Fielder jump started the offense with a 3-run double in the first inning.

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The Pennant Race - 9/17

Is it Deja Vu all over again? The Mets have lost three straight and are suddenly in second place, one-half game behind the Phillies in the NL East. It all started with a blown two run lead in the ninth to the Braves on Sunday, and has been followed up by two straight losses to the suddenly competitive Nationals. The Mets and Pedro Martinez got spanked on Monday, 7-2, and were shut down last night by Mr. Cy Young himself, Odalys Perez.

Meanwhile, Ryan Howard continues his MVP surge in Philly. The Phils trailed the Braves 7-6 in the eighth inning lats night when Howard unloaded his 45th home run of the season to put the Phillies ahead 8-7. Brad Lidge escaped a bases loaded jam in the ninth to move the Phils into first place.

The Mets also got bad news when they found out Fernando Tatis is probably done for the year with a separated shoulder.

The Rays wrested sole possession of the AL East lead from the Red Sox with a 2-1 walk off win. Dionner Navarro delivered a bases loaded single in the bottom of the ninth.

The Twins rallid from an 8-0 deficit to the Indians to take a 9-8, but ultimately lost 12-9 in extra innings on Victor Martinez's walk off home run. The loss dropped Minnesota 2.5 games behind the White Sox in the AL Central.

The Mets may be out of first place, but they do have the wildcard lead thanks to the Cubs. CC Sabathia lost for the first time since Milwaukee acquired him as he was out pitched by Chicago's Ryan Dempster, who won his 16th game, 5-4.

No movement in the NL West- the Dodgers beat the Pirates 6-2 behind three hit games from Manny Ramirez (.401) and Casey Blake. Dan Haren kept Arizona 4.5 behind the Dodgers with a complete game, 4-hit, 12 striekout shutout over the Giants. Solo home runs by Chris Snyder and Stephen Drew provided the runs in the 2-0 win.

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The Pennant Race - 9/10

We're back from vacation, tanned, rested, and ready to get back to full posting. The races in four of the six divisions continue to be exciting. The Angels have a magic number of two to clinch the AL West, and the Cubs aren't losing any ground, because the Brewers are losing as much as the Chi-town team.

Things have really gotten crazy out in the NL West. The Dodgers lost eight straight in August before winning their final two of the month. They've since won seven of their first eight games in September to, remarkably, pick up five games on the Diamondbacks. LA has gone from 2.5 games out to 2.5 in front. Last night they trailed the Padres 2-0 in the sixth inning when Manny Ramirez's solo home run ignited a comeback. Andre Ethier drove in four runs, including a back breaking 3-run double in the ninth inning.

The Diamondbacks meanwhile lost for the 12th time in 15 games. Chris Snyder hit a game tying, 2-run home run in the ninth against Giants closer Brian Wilson, but Eugenio Velez singled in the game winner in the home half of the ninth.

The Blue Jays continue to muck up contending team's plans. Yesterday they out pitched and out hit the White Sox in a doubleheader sweep to extend their winning streak to 10 games. A.J. Burnett won his 17th game in the opener, allowing just one hit over seven innings in a 3-1 Blue Jays win.

The Jays won the nightcap 8-2 behind seven strong innings from Jessie Litsch and three home runs. News also got worse for the White Sox, already without Carlos Quentin, when Paul Konerko went down with a sprained MCL. He'll be further evaluated today.

The Twins took advantage of the White Sox double demise with a 7-2 win over the Royals. The victory moved the Twins back to within one game of the AL Central lead. Justin Morneau continued his run at another MVP award with his 23rd home run and RBI, 118 and 119.

When Jason Bay hit a 2-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning last night, it appeared the Red Sox would overtake Tampa for first place in the AL East, but the Rays had more up their sleeve. Dan Johnson took Jon Papelbon deep for a game tying home run in the ninth. One out later, pinch-hitter Fernando Perez and Dionner Navarro stroked back to back doubles to give the Rays a 5-4.

Troy Percival came on in the ninth and faced a two out challenge when pinch-runner Jacoby Ellsbury stole second base and moved to third base on Navarro's throwing error. But Percival got Coco Crisp to pop out to end the game and push the Rays lead back to 1.5 games.

10-8. Important numbers in the NL East. The Mets blew a 5-2 lead to the Nationals and then had to rally from an 8-7 deficit to beat Washington, 10-8. Carlos Delgado went from first half boos to second half chants of 'MVP' with games like last night's in which he slugged two home runs.

The Phillies trailed the Marlins 9-1 before rallying behind Ryan Howard's 41st home run. They fell short though and the Marlins emerged with a 10-8 win, dropping the Phillies 2.5 games behind the Mets.

The Cubbies struggles continue. They led the Cardinals 3-0 last night before Albert Pujols hit a game tying 3-run home run in the sixth inning. The game would remain tied until the ninth when pinch-runner Bo Ryan came home with the winning run on Caesar Izturis' grounder. The victory moved the Cardinals to within 4.5 games of the Brewers in the NL wildcard race.

The Cubs didn't lose any of their lead though as the Brewers rallied back from a 4-1 deficit, only to lose to the Reds, 5-4, in 11 innings. Ray Durham hit the game tying 3-run blast in the seventh. The Brewers remain 4.5 back of the Cubs in the NL Central, while maintaining their 3.5 game lead over the Phillies in the wildcard.

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Around the Horn - 6/17

There was limited action in MLB last night, but there's a full slate on tap tonight. Before the news a recap of last night's action.

A big night for Ryan Howard in the city of brotherly love. He smashed a pair of home runs and legged out a triple in the Phillies 8-2 dismantling of the Red Sox. Howard's 4 RBI came mainly at the expense of Bartolo Colon who left, after a 4 inning, 4-run appearance, with back spasms. Cole Hamels went 7 innings for his 7th win.

The Tigers 6-game winning streak came to a screeching halt when they couldn't hold a 4-3 lead late. Fernando Rodney's first appearance of the season is one he'd like to forget- a 3-run home run surrendered to John Bowker. The Giants won it 8-6.

Carlos Beltran gave Willie Randolph a going away present, 2 home runs to propel the Mets to a 9-6 win over the Angels. Perhaps if Beltran and his teammates had played with fire and desire all year Randolph might still be manager.

The Marlins continued the Mariners misery with a 6-1 win on the left coast. Andrew Miller, who started the season so badly, allowed 1 run over 7 innings to improve to 5-5.

In the lone intraleague game, Jair Jurrjens threw 7.2 shutout innings to beat the Rockies 7-1. Chipper Jones returned to the lineup with a pair of RBI and raised his average to .403.


News

The Detroit Free Press is reporting that the Tigers are interested in free agent pitcher Freddy Garcia.

This just in...the Mets are still gutless.

The Indians have signed recently released Morgan Ensberg to a minor league deal.

The Denver Post reports that Troy Tulowitzki could return from the DL this Friday.

The White Sox placed Paul Konkero on the DL with a strained oblique.

The Red Sox are expected to activate Dice-K this weekend.

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Around the Horn - 5/16

9-0. That's where Brandon Webb stands now after the Diamondbacks beat the Colorado Rockies yesterday, 8-5. Webb became the first pitcher since Andy Hawkins, yeah him, in 1985 to win their first 9 starts. Counting the end of last season, Webb has won 11 straight.

The Yankees are woeful coming into tonight's Subway Series, but the Mets aren't exactly firing on all cylinders. They dropped 3 of 4 to the last place Washington Nationals, including yesterday's 1-0 defeat. Mike Pelfrey had a no-hitter into the 7th inning before allowing the game's lone run. The Mets base running killed them in the 8th and 9th innings, including a game ending double play when Carlos Delgado lined to 1st and Carlos Beltran was easily caught off of 3rd. Billy Wagner then had a post-game tirade to the media and on his weekly spot with Michael Kay on ESPN radio. Not much different than Paul Lo Duca's blow up last season.

The Astros came back from a 6-0 hole to beat the Giants 8-7 on Lance Berkman's 15th home run in the 9th inning. The red hot Berkman, whose game winner went into McCovey Cove, is hitting .392 with 43 RBI.

The Pirates came back from 5-1 to beat the Cardinals 11-5. Jason Bay snapped a 5-5 tie in the 8th with a pinch-hit 3-run home run. Jason Isringhausen (1-5) blew his 6th save and was placed on the DL after the game, more for mental ailments than physical.

Cole Hamels tossed a 4-hit complete game shutout in the Phillies 5-0 blanking of the Braves. Pedro Feliz, Ryan Howard, and Shane Victarino all went deep. The win moved the Phillies within a half-game of 1st place behind the idle Marlins.

Ryan Dempster struck out a career high 12 batters in 8+ innings in the Cubs 4-0 win over Greg Maddux and the Padres. Dempster also drove in the game's first run.

The Dodgers broke open a scoreless duel with the Brewers with a 6-run 6th inning, en route to a 7-2 win. Andruw Jones, Jeff Kent, and Gary Bennett each homered in the inning off of Ben Sheets. Ryan Braun hit his 10th of the year for the Brew Crew.

Jim Thome singled in the game winner in the top of the 9th as the White Sox beat the Angels 4-3. The win gained the Sox a split of the 4-game series.

The Royals swept a 3-game series from the Tigers for the 2nd time this season. Gil Meche was his 3rd game and the Royals clobbered Kenny Rogers for an 8-4 win. Jose Guillen broke out of a season long slump with a home run and 3 RBI.

The Blue Jays recalled Joe Inglett from the minors just in time. Inglett singled in the game winner in the Blue Jays 3-2 win over the Twins in 11 innings. The win enabled the Jays to hop over the Yankees and out of the basement in the AL East standings.

Their scoreless streak came to end, but the Indians beat the A's 4-2 behind 7 stellar innings from Aaron Laffey. The one run allowed by Laffey was unearned, so the Indians starting rotation has still not allowed an earned run in 50.1 innings.

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