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It's October...which means different things to different folks. To me, October means postseason baseball, and so far, this postseason, things are just not unfolding the way any sane, smart baseball fan could expect.
But before taking a look at the chaos that is the playoff picture...how 'bout them O's? They were sitting at 63-63 going into the stretch run, only to go 4-32 for the rest of the season, capping the campaign with a 12 game losing streak. It was ugly...very ugly.
What good came from this season gone bad? Three things, at best: Rodrigo Lopez stepped up to win 15 games, the Orioles' bullpen played quite well, and Mike Bordick set two impressive defensive records at shortstop (consecutive errorless games and consecutive errorless chances, both of which are still active). Aside from that...the state of baseball in Baltimore looks grim indeed, with most of our minor league talent getting slapped around at the major league level, with our glut of average designated hitters, and with a rotation of 4th and 5th starters. The team was not just flat at the 130-game mark, it was downright gutted. Nonetheless, I still remain a diehard Orioles fan, but man, the times, they be pretty lean.
Back to the present. Few things filled me with more joy in life than seeing the Yankees lose in the bottom of the ninth in game 7 of the 2001 World Series. Watching Anaheim beat them at their own game with consecutive 8th inning comebacks in the 2002 Division Series, and then seeing the Yankees stare blankly as they got their teeth kicked in in game 4 was just as good. Maybe it was better, but only time will tell. Nonetheless, I'm not surprised a bit by Anaheim's victory, as the series played the Angels' strength (they led the league in batting average) against a New York question mark (pitching...starting and relief). I expected the Angels to fold in late August and September....and I wasn't alone in that. Now...well, I wouldn't be surprised if they won it all. If only they could get past Oakland....
And then Minnesota shocked everyone (again) by taking Oakland to the mat in five games. I'm sure that there are a few people who won a lot of money on the Twins in that series, which was tailor-made for the A's to win in two games. Oakland had the edge in almost every category...but in the end, they're going home again after a third consecutive game 5 Division Series loss, at home...with the best team in the American league. I guess that's why the game is played on the field, and not on the stat sheets.
I wasn't surprised at all with Arizona's defeat at the hands of the St Louis Cardinals. The Diamondbacks lost about half of their offense at the end of the season, and no matter how well Curt Schilling and Randy Johnson pitched (Johnson was shelled, Schilling pitched well), the lack of hitting was bound to take its toll. St Louis is good....they have solid pitching and the best lineup in the National League. Right now, they're probably the smart pick to go to the World Series on the senior circuit side.
Which leaves Atlanta and San Francisco. Barry Bonds's previous playoff performance aside (his godfather wasn't all that hot either in postseason play, a guy named Willie Mays), the take on this series was that it was Atlanta's to lose. The Giants don't have the pitching to win it all, and their offense isn't good enough to make up the difference. If by some chance they defeat Atlanta (as of right now, 8pm on October 6th Atlanta led the best of 5 series 2-1), St Louis should demolish them. But if they do end up getting to the World Series.....I love baseball in October.
Looking forward to the ALCS...most people would say Anaheim should mop the floor with the Twins, even with the insane atmosphere of the Metrodome acting as the 11th man (darn designated hitter). At this point, I have no idea who's going to win. It would be awfully ironic if Minnesota won the World Series, with their well-chronicled near elimination from the sport this past winner. To see Bud Selig (still better than Hitler) have to congratulate the Twins would be something for the ages. But Anaheim's really REALLY good, too. If the Angels split or sweep the first two games in the Metrodome...they should go all the way. If Minnesota wins the first two...Minnesota should prevail.
But at least the Yankees are out like disco....and that is a very good thing.