Tony La Russa Retires

I am not a Tony La Russa guy at all. In fact I despise the man, however, I think he did one of the better jobs I have ever seen this year and to go out with a World Series win is pretty good. It was his third championship. He also won the 1989 World Series with Oakland and the 2006 Series with St. Louis.

The four-time Manager of the Year won six pennants, three in the AL with the Athletics and three more in the NL with the Cardinals, and his 2,728 victories trail John McGraw by only 35 for second on the all-time managerial list.

Like I said, not a big fan, but this year he did a hell of a job.

10 Cardinals, 9 Rangers

Wow, this is probably the best World Series I have seen since 2003. Everything is exciting and intense. All of the games have been pretty exciting and shame on any "baseball fan" that hasn't followed it.

Last night's game started off awfully, the Cardinals made 3 errors in 3 innings and the Rangers had a 7 to 5 lead going into the 9th. Until David Freese played hero the first time, Albert Pujols was on second on a double and Lance Berkman was on first on a walk and Freese hit an opposite field double over Nelson Cruz's head. (Although it looked awkward, Cruz couldn't have got that).

In the top of the 10th the Rangers scored immediately off of Jason Motte when Josh Hamilton hit a 2 run blast and it looked again as if the Rangers had this one wrapped up. However, the fighting Cardinals had a never say die attitude and when Ron Washington threw in 18 year veteran Darren Oliver in, you knew something was going to go bad, he let up one run and then Reliever Scott Feldman let up the tying run to Lance Berkman who has had an unbelievable series. This knotted the game up at 9.

In the top of the 11th Jake Westbrook let up a hit, but no other damage was done. In the bottom of the 11th, the Rangers turned the ball to Mark Lowe who immediately let up a walk off home run to returning hero David Freese.

I'm rooting for Texas still, but this has been a hell of a series and I'm glad there is a game 7.

4 Rangers, 2 St. Louis

Both the Angels and Blue Jays are dumb for letting Mike Napoli go. Napoli's hit a go ahead 2 run double off of Marc Rzepczynski in the 8th inning to put the score at 4-2 and that's where it stayed.

Bob mentioned yesterday that CJ Wilson needed to step up big time, and he didn't. Sure he didn't let up more than 2 runs, but he constantly had the Rangers in danger. He went 5.1 innings let up 4 hits and walked 5. The Rangers induced a ton of double plays and played unbelievable defense. I wonder how much money his playoff performance has cost him. I bet the max contract he gets will be 85 million dollars.

Chris Carpeter pitched a gem, going 7 letting up 2 runs and scoring 4. Too bad they couldn't hold the lead.

George Bush is 1 win away from a World Series victory.

Rangers Tie Up Series

Derek Holland pitched masterfully last night as the Rangers tied the series at 2 and won the game 4-0. Holland pitched 8.1 inning with no runs and 7 ks and something the Rangers needed because he saved their bullpen.

The Rangers offense has a lot of weapons and tonight Mike Napoli struck big with his 2nd homerun of the postseason with driving in 3. Josh Hamilton also had a hit and an RBI. The Rangers offense is so scary and with pitchers like Jake Westbrook or Kyle Lohse coming up they should be licking their chops.

Great game.

Rangers Tie Up Series

I don't know how people could not be watching this World Series figuring last nights game was unbelievable. The Rangers rallied in the 9th inning to tie the series up at one with the final score being 2-1.

Before that it was a pitching duel between the Rangers Colby Lewis and St. Louis' Jaime Garcia, Lewis went 6.2 innings letting up 1 run and striking out 4, while his counterpoint Garcia was dominant, going 7 letting up 3 hits and striking out 7.

The real story though was the defense, Elvis Andrus put on a clinic out their and was terrific especially on a diving, glove flip throw in the 5th. If Texas didn't have that great defensive play, they would be easily down 2-0.

The Rangers bats were silent until the 9th when they got to the unhittable Jason Motte. Motte allowed consecutive singles to open the ninth inning, and sacrifice flies by Josh Hamilton and Michael Young lifted the Rangers to a 2-1 victory Thursday night.

The Rangers Will Play The Cardinals In The World Series

Man this is going to be boring. I guess I'm rooting for the Rangers because I will root for the AL and I like Mike Napoli, Michael Young, Nelson Cruz and Ian Kinsler. But I am pissed about the Cardinals being in the World Series. They are my second most hated team, I have Tony La Russa, I hate Albert Pujols and Matt Holliday.

Here is a bold claim, the Rangers will win the series and sweep them. Their bats are too devastating and I have no faith in the Cardinals pitching staff. The Pitching for the Rangers is good enough to keep the Rangers in the game.

Their is no way Ron Washington and the Rangers are going to walk away with the series.

Detroit Has A Chance? Nah...

7 Tigers, 5 Rangers
I know these playoffs ratings have been horrible but great baseball is being played. This series has been pretty awesome and last night was the same thing. Jim Leyand was in the hole in the beginning of the game as he announced Joquin Benoit and Jose Valverde will not be available because he is over using them, however, he did have Justin Verlander and when you have that, it's never a bad thing. It's funny Verlander has yet to have a game that has WOWed me. Last night he went 7.1 let up 4 runs and Kd 8. I want to see a 9 inning game with 15 Ks god dammit. But the real hero of the game is Delmon Young, who wasn't even going to be on the ALCS roster due to an oblique injury. Delmon hit 2 HRs and 3 rbis and knocked CJ Wilson around. Speaking of CJ Wilson, why does everybody want him? He has sucked these entire playoffs and looks like a deer in headlights every time he wants to pitch. But the Captain wants him so I guess that makes it a great signing. (The Captain also loved the Lackey deal when it happened too). Nelson Cruz made it interesting by hitting his 5th home run in the 8th, but it was too little too late.

The series is at 3-2

Brewers beat St. Louis 4-2.
Series is at 2 all.

It was actually cool to see throwback Randy Wolf come in and throw 7 semi dominant innings. After letting up a homerun by Allen Craig in the 3rd he was really good. I want the Brewers to take this. I despise the Cardinals for some reason.

MLB Playoff Updates

7 Rangers, 3 Tigers
You have to give it to Derek Holland. He had a real bad game, but he is trying his hardest with that mustache. It's a dirty disgusting mustache, however, he's going all in with it. Last night he didn't have the best game and only lasted a couple of innings but Ron Washington managed the bullpen beautifully (something Francona could have never done) and was able to pull it out. It went into extra innings and was capped off by a Nelson Cruz grandslam.

The Rangers now have a 2-0 lead on the Tigers.

12 St. Louis, 3 Milwaukee

I'm pretty sick of St. Louis, I was happy that they knocked off the Phillies, but there is nothing likable about this team. I'm not a Pujols guy, not a Tony La Russa guy and just not a Cardinals guy. I hope the Brewers go into Beast Mode and take this seires over as it is now 1-1. I'm not even going to talk about last nights game because I hate them so much.