Giants finally won a postseason series opener as El Panda reminds Justin Verlander of All Star Game

El Barrio, New York – Justin Verlander whose start and loss in the mid-Summer All Star Game determined that the Fall Classic be played in a National League Park, got roughed up by Pablo Sandovar who would end up matching a postseason record of being just the fourth player to hit three homers in any World Series game. Of the Panda’s three blasts, two came off Justin Verlander who in four innings of work gave up 5 earned runs on six hits. And the Giants finally won a postseason series opener.

The Giants starter Barry Zito, left off the roster in the Giant’s 2010 World Series win over the Texas Rangers, has won 2 post season games so far. He went 5.2 innings allowing only one run on six hits. He even got a fourth-inning RBI single to left field off Verlandar. This win extended the Giants' winning streak in Zito's starts to 14, dating back to the regular season.

Another interesting note on this game’s heroes is that Pablo Sandovar, also in the 2010 World Series played only one game and had 3 at-bats with no hits while striking out once. He may have looked like Babe Ruth, but was not hitting like him. Even though he still has that pudgy look, he seems to be in better form despite only hitting 12 home runs during the regular season with just 63 RBI. In this post season, however, Sandoval is hitting .370 in the postseason, with six homers and 13 RBIs in 54 at-bats.

The New York Yankees, who led the Majors with 245 home runs during the regular season before totally collapsing in the ALCS, can learn a lesson from the Giants anemic over the fence heroics.  While the Tigers were 16th, with 163, the Giants were 30th, dead last, with just 103 home runs. Go figure.

The Giants hit 31 regular-season home runs at AT&T Park, by far the fewest in the Majors and the lowest total since 1992.  Sandoval, it seems, made a mockery of that statistical blemish. Go figure.

 Written for: www.latinosports.com

Game Tidbits: In a Jeter-less game, slumping Yankees manage 4 hits in ALCS Game 2 blanking: 3-0

El Bronx, Yankee Stadium –   Raúl Ibañez, given it was only the bottom of the fourth, thought of something other than hitting late innings come from behind home runs: he attempted to steal a base after getting a single up the middle; he would be thrown out. Alex Rodriguez who batted two batters later (6th), on the other hand, was still doing the same thing with the same results, not hitting and striking out for a second time.

Eventually Alex would line out to Left and sharply hit a grounder in the bottom of the ninth through the right side to get a single, but the offense, as highlighted by Robinson Cano’s slump – hitless streak at 26 at-bats in the postseason is endemic of a lineup that has failed to come up with a big hit with men on base (and in scoring position in particular). The net result was a 4-hit, 3-0 blanking at the hands of Anibal Sanchez and reliever Phil Coke who combined to strike out 10 Yankees.

Hiroko Kuroda held the Tigers hitless through five until Tiger short stop Jhonny Antonio Peralta singled up the middle on the top sixth. Removing the tension of a no-no, the focus for Koruda was then to match Tiger’s starter, Venezuelan Anibal Sanchez’s scoreless pitching. With Peralta moving to second on a ground out by the next batter, Koruda would keep his shut out intact by getting out of the inning.

RAUL GETS RESPECT

Raúl Ibañez was intentionally walked in the Yankees half of the sixth after Ichiro Suzuki got on an error by Sanchez. Suzuki got as far as third, but the Yankees are somewhat not doing anything different in leaving man in scoring position by producing a hit with men on base other than a home run – it seems.

TIGERS BREAK SCORELESS DUEL

The following inning, top of the seventh, Tiger left fielder Quintin Berry opened the frame with a ground rule double to dead center and advanced to third on a single by third baseman Miguel Cabrera. Prince Fielder struck out, and thorn on the side of the Yankees, Delmon Young, almost hit into a double play, but Robinson Cano could not get a handle the pivot-throw to first after getting the ball from Derek Jeter’s replacement, Jason Nix. Berry scored the Tiger’s first and only run of the inning.

YANKS DON’T KEEP UP WITH THE SANCHEZ’S

In the bottom of the seventh, Alex Rodriguez did not strike out; in fact, hit it pretty well to the Left Fielder.  It was followed by a Curtis Granderson walk, who then he dared put himself in scoring position by stealing second base, but the next two batters, Nick Swisher and Jayson Nix struck out. Business as usual, one may think. The game was characterized by the lack of run support Koruda had seen many times during the regular season.

KURODA 11K’S BUT UMPIRE BAD CALL ENDS HIS NIGHT AS TIGERS BREAK GAME OPEN WITH 2 RUNS, REALLY!

Kuroda began the top of the eight striking out the first two batters and skipper Joe Giraldi paid  him a visit and after a brief consultation decides to go with him.  Tiger’s Omar Infante then singles to center. The next batter, Austin Jackson singles to right and Nick Swisher throws to Robinson Cano covering second who clearly puts the tag on Infante scrambling to get back to the base.

But the second base Umpire, Jeff Nelson, and much to the surprise of Infante, called the play safe. After the game and viewing an instant replay, the umpire would admit he was wrong: “The hand (Infante’s on getting back to the bag) did not get in before the tag, the call was incorrect,” said Jeff Nelson.

INSTANT REPLAY POR FAVOR

But that instant replay viewing was after the game when it would not count. Joe Giraldi thinks it should be part of the game, he said, “I just think it’s – yeah, let’s have instant replay. And not just, not just home run, fair, foul. Let’s have instant replay.”

Joe Torre, who would have once been in Giraldi’s place, now Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations explained the process of more instant replay was being studied, but “… but right now we haven’t really com to any conclusion on what’s the best way to go about it and not make the game drag and go longer then they are going already,” he said.

Boon Logan replaced Kuroda and gave up an RBI hit to pinch hitter Avasail Garcia, scoring Infante. Joba Chamberlain replaced Logan and does what seems to be a regular season trait since he got back from the DL; he allowed an inherited run to score with Miguel Cabrera’s RBI hit to right.

With that hit, Cabrera has reached base safely in all 18 career postseason games with the Tigers tying Hall of Famer Hank Greenberg’s own 18-game streak with Detroit.

In the meantime skipper Joe Giraldi gets ejected from the game by 2B Umpire Jeff Nelson, yes, the one who botched up the play accounting for the eventual two Tiger runs. Clay Rapada came in and issued a walk to load the bases, but his successor on the mound, Cody Eppley stops the bleeding – Ok, only 2 runs would score, but the way the Yankees have been swinging, it must have looked like 10 runs instead – by striking out Delmon Young to end the top of the eight.

Kuroda’s line: 7.2 IP, 5H, 3R (earned), 0BB, 11K and no Hr’s allowed. His counterpart, Anibal Sanchez: 7IP, 3H, 0R, 0BB and 7K.

THE MEEK WILL NOT INHERIT THE WOLRD. NO COMEBACK ATTEMPT

Ex-Yankee Phil Coke put down the meekly Yankee bats in order (Suzuki, Cano and Teixeira) in the bottom of the eighth. Coke would get a save with two scoreless innings on just one hit, striking out 3.

José Velvarde is not going to see action as a closer after anytime soon after the debacle the night before (and an ALDS blown game) so instead, in a save situation, Tiger skipper Jim Leyland left Coke to face Raúl Ibañez, Russell Martin and Alex Rodriguez in the bottom of the ninth.  The first two strike out. Then to a little fan delight, Alex Rodriguez’ sharply hit grounder to right for a single gives them a short reason to cheer, but Granderson strikes out ending the game.

The Yankees, who led the mayors in comeback wins during the regular season, for the second night, fail to do so to win the first two games of this ALCS. In a pivotal game, they fail to go to Detroit even at one game apiece and in the first post season Jetel-ess game in 17 years, Justin Verlander awaits a meek Yankee offense to possibly give the Tigers a 3-0 advantage with one more win to go and secure the AL Championship.

Post-Game Extra:

Joe Giraldi will travel to Chicago for his dad’s funeral. He expressed his desire not to have any players there as he told those who asked to be present to “enjoy their off-day and come ready to play on Tuesday…rest, rest,” he said.

The Yankees will get a needed day off after playing 5 straight postseason games.

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Photo Bill Menzel/Latino Sports

 

Bird watching Days: on September 24th Yankees gain ground on Orioles

San Juan, Puerto Rico – While I am blessed with the sounds of birds where I am and have the opportunity to do some bird watching, the bird watching taking place – along with baseball fans keeping tabs on the races for first place and Wild Card berths – is particularly the one of the AL East where the Baltimore Orioles, in their hunt for first place, are chirping down the necks of the New York Yankees. The Orioles have been acting like the Puerto Rican bird el Pitirri, a small bird that beats up on a larger Guaraguao.

The Yankees won their first of three against the Minnesota Twins (6-3), while the Baltimore Orioles split a double header (W 4-1; L 9-5) and as Monday came to the end; the one run lead the Yankees had turned into a gain of half a game. Andy Pettitte turned out six inning of shut out ball in his second game from the DL.

While there may be for NY fans some comfort in the Yankees schedule playing against under-.500 teams the rest of the season, let’s not forget how the ball bounces in baseball when scrubby teams suddenly become a formidable challenge. 

While the Yankees put away the first of three against the Twins with a win, just recently the Detroit Tigers (as of this writing are one game behind), chasing the Chicago White Sox in the AL Central, much as Baltimore is on New York, lost a double header against the Twins before the Yankees came to town.

And at Baltimore, interestingly enough, bird watchers, the Orioles were overpowered by the Toronto Blue Jays in that second game of their twin bill.

Baltimore’s schedule is seen a slightly tougher because the face Tampa in the last three games of the season.

On the other hand, the third place six games back Tampa Rays, , have a shot at the Wild Card. They are three games behind there. Their schedule, besides the Baltimore series to end the season, has them playing three games against the AL Central first place Chicago White Sox.

The Yankees face Minnesota, Toronto and end at home against their distant once rivals Boston Red Sox.

New York fans keep your binoculars on hand as there may be birds of prey circling the skies.  The Orioles relentless in building a first place nest. The Blue Jays being spoilers, while not having Yunel  Escobar call the Yankees’ Latino players a bunch of … have his bat, as he did earlier in a game at the Stadium in September, do the talking.

LatinoSports BB: Two Balks Don’t Make It Right but CC Sabathia had his Night

El Bronx –C.C. Sabathia started the night looking for his first victory of the season.  After giving up 3 runs through the first 3 innings on four hits, it could have been in doubt if he would get it with his shaky start.

The Twins Josh Willingham, named the American League Player of the Week (Period ending April 15^th ) and who had hit safely in each of the Twins first 10 games (now 11), got the Twins on board on the top of the second inning with his 5^th home run of the season (had been tied for first in HRs). Missing from the Twins lineup was Justin Morneau – batting .452 in 11 career regular season games in New York.

The Yankees tied the game on a walk to Curtis Granderson who advanced to second base on a balk* by Twins pitcher Francisco Liriano; later reached third on a bunt single by Eduardo Nuñez and scored on a RBI double down the left field line by Brett Gardner.

The Twins who usually leave New York with a feeling of rejection if not outright dejection (The Yanks have a home 175-110 win-lost advantage and an overall 334-245 record against them) regained the lead with two runs the following inning; had their center fielder Denard Span and skipper Ron Gardenhire ejected from the game on the top of the 3^rd.

Span on what appeared to be an argument on balls and strikes with the plate umpire Greg Gibson, and the skipper for standing up for his player. He would later say: “He (Span) got ejected, and then I said my piece. I got dejected and then ejected.”

On that bottom of the inning Yankees starter C.C. Sabathia balked** second baseman Alexi Castilla who singled after one out. Clete Thomas, in for the ejected Span doubled in a run and would later score on an RBI single by short stop Jamey Carroll. So, in consecutive innings each pitcher had a balk; this would not necessarily be a sign of what was to come, but in case someone is into premonitions, why not…

But the Yankees answered back with 4 runs in the bottom of that frame; this got Twins pitcher Francisco Liriano out of the game: would be 0-2 and would be winless in his career at Yankee Stadium. Skipper Gardenhire would say after the game: “It was a battle. It’s a battle for him right now. He’s not able to execute well enough.”

Then the Yankees added a run in the, 4^th, 5^th and 7^th innings. A highlight of the scoring was Yankees second-string catcher Chris Stewart driving in two runs with single to left. Later he would add another RBI in the bottom of the 7^th after a Brett Gardner steal of second base. Steward wound up with 3 RBI (a career high).

The second highlight came in the 4^th on Andrew Jones’ homerun, his second of the season. Jones was batting fifth in place of not-in-the-lineup first baseman Mark Teixeira, scratched from the lineup due to flu-like symptoms.

C.C. Sabathia would not allow another hit from the 4^th through the 6^th and faced one batter in the 7^th; he got that one out before David Robertson replaced him on the mound. CC. would strike out 7 and allowed only one base on balls. 

David Robertson is part of a bullpen that is second in the American League with a 2.36 ERA behind Texas and fifth best in the Majors before tonight’s game.

On another note: Derek Jeter who needed 7 RBI to tie Bill Dickey (1,210) got two tonight.

So with all the mini-highlights – not leaving out Brett Garner’s sparking catch earlier in the game, and not to be mentioned, a fan running  on the field in what would be “on the field delay,” – would be an 8-3 Yankees win with the Yankees Ace gaining his first win of the year.

* (baseball 101: a balk is a technicality on the pitcher’s movement: stepping towards the plate and throwing to first. It awards a runner (s) to advance to the next base.

Written for Latino Sports.

A familiar place for Dominican Republic: 2012 Caribbean Series Champs

El Barrio, NY – As anyone with access to the internet will see, the final standings of the Caribbean Series has the Dominican Republic winning the 2012 title.  Winning the Caribbean Classic (not withstanding that it has become mostly a rookie roster series devoid of established MLB Stars) is a familiar place for the Dominican Republic as they have been champions 19 times since 1970 and 13 times since 1990.

So this year’s standings are as follows with two teams tied for second place.

Dom. Rep. 4 2 .667 -

Puerto Rico 3 3 .500 –

Venezuela 3 3 .500 –

Mexico 2 4 .333

Last year’s champions, Mexico, came last with a 2-4 record beating only Puerto Rico and Venezuela for its two wins. Venezuela who began with a 0-3 record won 3 straight to come up with a .500 record. Both Venezuela and Puerto Rico wrested a victory from the Dominican Republic (4-2).

As noted in my earlier blog, Panama, Nicaragua and possibly Columbia would be participants if it were not for economic woes that keep them from competing and participating Caribbean Series.

Puerto Rico had a similar scenario when its winter baseball was suspended in 2007. The formally named "Professional Baseball League of Puerto Rico" (Liga de Béisbol Profesional de Puerto Rico) started with 6 teams in its inception. Now they only have 4.

So, it appears that democracy and capitalism falls short for some countries in having competitive baseball in their winter baseball seasons (winter-cold for us in the States, that is). The Dominican Republic, deemed as a “poor” Caribbean nation does not show the same deficiency as the other countries cited above given the possible correlation of how MLB has set up baseball academies (farms) that churn out a large number of major league baseball players over the years.

So now there is talk of Cuba’s possible comeback into the Caribbean Series, and putting into context some of the above elements of the issues mentioned above would be food for thought – con comida criolla, that is.

First published at 

www.latinosports.com  

Caribbean Series: Tidbits on the eve of showdown between DR and PR

El Barrio, NY- February 4, 2012

So far in their home turf, thru mid-Saturday of day 3, the Dominican Republic team, the Leones del Escogido, has been undefeated as they face Puerto Rico's Indios de Mayagüez (1-1) in the evening game.  In the afternoon game, Mexico’s Yaquis de Obregon (2-1) handed Venezuela’s Tigres de Aragua (0-3) their third defeat in a row in a 4-2 game. 

Except for the Leones del Escogido 5-2 victory over Venezuela on Day 2, the other 4 contexts have been relatively low scoring games. On the same day Mexico’s blanked P.R. 2-0.  The day before on Day 1, the Dominican Republic beat Mexico 2-1; followed by Puerto Rico's Indios de Mayaguez 3-1 victory against Venezuela.

Two pitchers that have been featured by writer Jesse Jackson of MLB are Boricua Nelson Figueroa and Mexican Luis Ayala. These have been two hang-in-tough pitchers who seem to have some of what it takes to pitch in the Majors here and there, but with a struggle of not making their last season their last. In particular, Luis Ayala who had a very good season with the Yankees; He has not been added to their 2012 roster and is looking for the best offer from several teams.

On the other hand, Nelson Figueroa has the distinction of having pitched and won a game for 3 different countries that wind up sending a team to the Caribbean Series. These are Mexico, Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. Moreover, his winter baseball stint was in the Dominican Republic and with the team that is representing that country in the series: Leones del Escogido. He left them after they won their country’s championship. When the series is over Figueroa is heading for Spring Training where he hopes to get another opportunity with the Toronto Blue Jays.

In another related article, Cuba may play in the 2013 series. Last time Cuba sent a team to the Caribbean Series was in 1960. While it is said that the blame falls on the leadership of the Cuban Revolution for its baseball absence in the Caribbean Series over the last 50 years, more research on this matter is forthcoming as Cuba became a target of U.S. aggression (“Bay of Pigs” invasion) and economic sanctions and blockade. On the other hand, three other nations, Panama, Nicaragua and Columbia have not been able to send a team to the series because of economic hardships in their respective leagues.

More to follow after the showdown between the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, a rivalry of sorts made possible by the large Dominican migration to Puerto Rico over the years after the U.S. invasion of the Quisqueya to topple just another Latin American government in 1965.

Jorge Posada’s playing days officially end; Road to Yankees Legends club begins

Todo tiene su final; "Nada dura para siempre. Tenemos que recordar; Que no existe eternidad."
Part of Lyrics " Todo Tiene Su Final "by salsa singer Hector Lavoe


Yankee Stadium, el Bronx-NY- If a musical tune were to accompany Jorge Posada's farewell, such as when a batter comes out of the dugout on to the plate, Hector Lavoe's song would surely be the one.

The first two lines of the song say: “All has an end. Nothing lasts forever.” Sooner or later every any prominent  player has to come to grips with the fact he will one day have to say adios - goodbye. None is more true of  Jorge Posada, a possible Hall of Famer.

But when it comes to Jorge there is a paradox in the lyrics. The next two lines read: “We have to remember. There is no eternity.” In a very emotional farewell, in front of a packed media room at the stadium, he  assured himself a space in eternity in the most renowned team in sports.

He played with a passion and it was just as fitting that an emotional press conference was the closing to an illustrious career for a Puerto Rican player who is in essence a true a caribeño – born in Puerto Rico of a Cuban father and Dominican mother.

Jason Zillo, media relations director, acted as master of ceremonies. Before giving the mick to Jorge, Mr. Zillo acknowledged the names of several notables in the audience, from top brass CEOs to Yankee players including former Yankee Willie Randolph.

Jorge opened by saying that whenever he would walk through the doors of the stadium, it would often remind him of Joe DiMaggio’s quote: "I'd like to thank the good Lord for making me a Yankee.” He acknowledged his parents’ role for the support they gave him to realize his dream: to be a Major League Baseball player and a Yankee. He thanked the Steinbrenner family as “my family away from home.”

He went on to say “I played the many games I played (after being called up to the team in 1995) with only one goal: to win a championship and bring the trophy back home.” A total of 5 Fall Classic Championships trophies (out of 7 World Series) were on display to the left of Jorge, his daughter Paulina, wife Laura and Jorge Posada Jr.

A video clip played during the press conference showed season ticket holders expressing their appreciation for Posada while highlighting his on-the-field exploits

“Playing for the New York Yankees has been an honor,” he said, and followed by stating that “I could never wear another uniform.” Later press questions were asked on the possibility of playing for another team, but he made it clear that he would not pursue that path. “I will always be a Yankee,” is what Jorge wanted to cherish. In today’s baseball, playing out a career with only one team is indeed a rare occurrence.

Jorge then introduced the Spanish language to the press conference that would be followed with several tearful emotional pauses: the first one came after he acknowledges his mother Tamara, his father Jorge and his sister Michelle. He went on mention his wife (firm support on his baseball career) and children, thanking them for always making him smile. At this point his daughter Paulina broke a wide cute smile while his son Jorge raised his arm when his name was mentioned and this tickled the audience into laughter.

He thanked his teammates (there was an emotional pause here) and quipped to Derek Jeter, “I hope you don’t miss me that much… Mariano Rivera, my brother, we would not have any of those without you (referring to the trophies).” Jorge went on to mention a number of other players and personnel (except Skipper Joe Giraldi who may have been over sighted – twice, but with no further ado in this article).

Jorge thanked the Media not only for his playing time, but for promoting the work of the Jorge Posada Foundation.

In Spanish he went to say, “Finally for all the Latinos and my people of Puerto Rico, my friends and family I love you very much with all my heart and I am grateful for all your support throughout my career (emotional pause). As my father would say, I bid farewell and I hope you are proud of me. Thank you.”

Fans, Latinos and Boricuas in particular are certainly proud of Jorge Posada. As yet-to-announce-his-retirement and former teammate Bernie Williams said in a sent message: “”I can’t believe that ‘Jorgito,’ is actually announcing his retirement before I do…he will be missed by the Yankees family, all of his teammates, coaches, and most of all, the great Yankees fans.”

But as the song says: “Todo tiene su final. Nada dura para siempre. But for Jorge, there is a window to eternity in Yankees folklore – where legends are made.













Photos by Lation Sports Photographer Bill Menzel
Article first published at www.latinosports.com on Tuesday, January 24th, 2012

Second Publishing with editing by Julian Gerena Quiñones