Kuzul

Is it better to be lucky or good?

In Alex Rodriguez‘s case, last night he was a little bit of both.

Rodriguez should could have been rung up on a called strike three in the ninth inning last night. But that didn’t happen, and moments later, he hit a home run devastating enough in its effectiveness to leave Orioles closer Koji Uehara doubled over in anguish, looking like an eight-bit pitcher from the old Bases Loaded video game.

We don’t know for sure what A-Rod’s game-deciding, three-run shot will mean to the Yankees going forward. There was talk yesterday of it being “the home run that saved the season.”

That seems a little strong to me—at least for now. If CC gets lit up tonight, or the Yanks lay an egg in the ALDS, one big homer on Sept. 17 won’t matter much.

But it’s forgivable for the fanbase and media to be hyperbolic about the moment, because it was that exciting, that dramatic, that clutch.

Ah, clutch. There were years that went by when Rodriguez was known as the antithesis of the clutch player. Only a Sully from Med-fahd would say that now.

Big win or not last night, there’s an overwhelming probability that the Yankees will be in the playoffs, whether it be as a division or wild-card winner.

But the win was absolutely significant in how this Yankee team feels about itself as the postseason nears. Whether the players that were here in 2009 say it or not, it’s clear that this team isn’t as good as the one that captured the World Series a year ago.

Repeating is going to be a challenge, but home runs like A-Rod’s provide a sign that these Yankees can be special, too. For all the roster’s warts, there remains enough talent here to go further than anyone in October.

Last May in Camden Yards, A-Rod hit a three-run homer in his first at-bat of the season that the team pointed to as the moment the season took off. We can only hope this three-run homer in the same park has a similar effect in 2010.

Stray thoughts:

• I’ve always found A.J. Burnett kind of unlikable, but this mysterious black eye situation ratchets up the whole experience for me. He looks like one of the henchman from that movie where truckers kidnapped Kurt Russell’s wife.
• Mark Teixeira is quietly having one of the worst “good seasons” in baseball history. Can you tell me the last time this guy got a big hit? How many completely clueless three-week stretches have we been subjected to this season? Robot malfunction.
• A-Rod commented to Kim Jones after the game about the importance of going into the playoffs with a “full metal jacket.” It was funny he said that, because right before he was interviewed, YES cut to a shot of Uehara in the dugout looking like Private Pyle right before he iced the drill instructor in the movie Full Metal Jacket. Tread lightly, Buck Showalter.
• Felix Hernandez’s near no-no last night against the Rangers may have put him ahead of Sabathia in the Cy Young race. I think the big man is going to have to get to 22 wins to regain favorite status. Winning tonight is mandatory.
• You deserve it, Donnie. I’m now 2.3 percent Dodgers fan.

Dan Hanzus writes the Yankees blog River & Sunset and can be reached via e-mail at dhanzus@gmail.com. Follow Dan on Twitter @danhanzus.

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The Yankees have struggled as of late on the road.

All of that changed on Friday night with one swing of the black Louisville Slugger with a number thirteen on the nob.

Trailing the Baltimore Orioles in the ninth inning 3-1, Alex Rodriguez came to the plate.

Deuces were wild, as A-Rod sat with a 2-2 count, with two outs, and two runners on.

Rodriguez drilled a Koji Uehara pitch to left to give the Yankees the lead, where it would stay, as they went on to win 4-3.

Rodriguez drove in four runs on the night to give him 111 on the season and also connected with a solo home run in the second inning.  With his two home runs on the night, he now has 25 on the season—not bad considering the time he missed this summer.

A.J. Burnett was on his way to his 14th loss of the season before the ninth inning comeback, but he still pitched decently, only making a few mistakes.

David Robertson pitched a scoreless eight to pick up the win and move to 4-4 on the season.

Mariano Rivera locked down a three-up, three-down ninth to earn his 31st save of the season.

The Yankees needed a lift and a big win, as time is running out in the 2010 regular season.

The Los Angeles Angels defeated the Tampa Bay Rays to help the Yankees reclaim first place in the AL East standings.

Also, the Boston Red Sox lost a tough one at home against the Toronto Blue Jays as they are barely breathing in the race to October.

The Yankees magic number (number of Yankee wins/Rays losses) to win the American League East is now at 16.  Next week, the division will most likely be decided as the Rays and Yankees play a make-or-break four game series at Yankees Stadium.

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The Tampa Bay Rays are once again a half game behind the New York Yankees. In the first of their three game series against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. The Yankees defeated the Baltimore Orioles 4-3.

On the second pitch of the ninth inning Dan Wheeler gave up a solo home run to Brandon Wood which turned out to be the deciding run in the game. It was Wood’s first home run since June 27. In his post-game interview Rays Manager Joe Maddon said he was trying not to use Closer Rafael Soriano unless it was an actual save situation.

Dan Haren threw 115 pitches in seven innings for the Angels but received no decision in the game. He also recorded 10 strikeouts in the game. The winning pitcher for the Angels was Michael Kohn. Fernando Rodney pitched his 11th save of the year.

The Rays tied the game 3-3 in the sixth inning and looked to be gaining momentum in the game. In the bottom of the eight the Rays had the bases loaded with two outs but Dan Johnson was called out on strikes.

Hopefully the Rays don’t play any postseason games on Friday. The Rays are 6-17 on Fridays this season.

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Wednesday night, the Tampa Bay Rays wrapped up a three-game series at Tropicana Field against the New York Yankees with a 4-3 come-from-behind victory.  The second win of the series puts the Rays back in first place in the AL East by half a game.

Dan Johnson, a guy you want in the lineup on September 15, having hit homers on that date three of the last four years, proved to be the difference in the game with his second two-run dinger of the night.

But when this game is remembered, it will not be for that, nor for Rays’ closer Rafael Soriano’s league-leading 43rd save, but rather for an Oscar-caliber acting job by Derek Jeter.

Jeter faked being hit in the seventh inning by a Chad Qualls pitch that actually struck the end of the bat.  Holding his left arm tightly against his side, he grimaced as he was examined by New York’s trainers, then trotted off to first, having fooled the home plate umpire into awarding him the base. 

Jeter later scored on a two run homer by Curtis Granderson, to briefly give the Yankees the lead, 3-2, before Johnson’s shot gave the Rays the upper hand in the bottom of the frame.

TV replays showed the ball striking the butt of the bat, and the sound of ball against wood was clearly audible throughout the Trop, but the umps disregarded that, and did not even ask to see the area where Jeter claimed he was struck. 

After the game, Jeter admitted the ruse, saying “It’s part of the game.”

Rays manager Joe Maddon, who was ejected from the game for arguing the call, was magnanimous during the postgame press conference.

“It’s a great performance on his part,” Maddon said.  “Several players are very good at that.”

How the umpires feel, however, about being shown up in such a manner remains to be seen.

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The Cubs just did something Wednesday night they haven’t done in the last 12 years—sweeping the Cardinals in St. Louis. 

Homers by Tyler Colvin and Aramis Ramirez and another Carlos Zambrano’s strong outing helped the team to win 7-3 in the three-game series finale. 

It has been two nights in a row that the Cubs knocked the top two Cardinals aces out of the game.  Last night, it was Adam Wainwright.  Tonight, it was Chris Carpenter’s turn.

The first run of the game belonged to the Cubs.  Carpenter (15-7) gave up a single to Koyie Hill who stole second and was brought home later by Blake DeWitt’s sacrifice fly.

Zambrano (9-6) stepped in the mound for the Cubs in quest of his sixth win in a row.  He encountered the Cardinals’ first run of the game in the third inning; Colby Rasmus hit a sacrifice fly to score lead-off Skip Schumaker from third.  It was an unearned run for the Big Z due to second baseman DeWitt’s error earlier in the play.

The Cubs ace conceded his second and last run in the sixth.  Rasmus initiated the inning with a double, his second hit of the night.  Felipe Lopez’s sacrifice bunt moved him to third and Yadier Molina drove him home with the Cardinals’ second sacrifice fly of the night.  The Cardinals were ahead 2-1.

Zambrano tossed 104 pitches in six frames giving up one earned run with four hits.  His ERA dropped to 3.75, a significant 1.71 point of improvement before his current six-game winning streak.

It was in the top of seventh when the Cubs decided to take the lead; they scored four runs to overcome a one-run deficit.

Ramirez led off with a double to right field corner and moved to third on Xavier Nady’s line-drive single to third base.  Carpenter struck out Alfonso Soriano but gave up Tyler Colvin’s home run No. 20 of the year, a long three-run shot over the right field wall.  

Koyie Hill extended the inning with a double and scored on pinch-hitter Micah Hoffpauir’s long double to right-field corner for the Cubs’ fifth run.  Carpenter was forced to leave the game with what appeared to be a leg injury when a relay ball bounced off his right leg near the third base line.  DeWitt and Darwin Barney were struck out by reliever Jason Motte to end the inning.

Two more insurance runs were added in the eighth.  Thanks to Ramirez’s 23rd home run of the year.  Marlon Byrd doubled off second reliever Blake Hawksworth who delivered a 0-2 count changeup to Ramirez which was golfed out over left field.

The Cardinals rallied in the ninth when they were down by four runs.  After Aaron Miles’ fly-out, Andrew Cashner gave up two singles in a row to Skip Schumaker and Randy Winn. 

Closer Carlos Marmol came in in a save situation but hit Albert Pujols on his first pitch to help the Cardinals load the bases.  However, he escaped unhurt earning his 31st save of the year by striking out Matt Holliday and Rasmus.

Before tonight, the Cubs’ last sweep in St. Louis was in a series of June 10-12, 1988 in the old Busch Stadium.  The Cubs also edge their archrivals by 5-1 this year in St. Louis.  They will face each other next week in Wrigley Field for the last time in 2010. 

The article is also featured on www.sportshaze.com.

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Much can be said about a team that makes things happen amidst a pennant race, and a lot can be said about those who don’t. What can we say about the difference between the Philadelphia Phillies and their competition? Well, there are still 15 games left to be played out.

The Phils, nonetheless, look just the way they are supposed to: defeating a pesky team, in the Florida Marlins for the second night in a row. Meanwhile, 650 miles down I-95 the Atlanta Braves, who have been hanging on to the hopes of grabbing first place to gain the home field advantage in the postseason, lost 6-0 to the MLB‘s version of the Detroit Lions in the heat of a pennant race—at home.

While these games can certainly be negated in the head-to-head matchup, this past Tuesday night could prove to be the turning point in how this race plays out.

The Phillies have now, with this win over the Florida Marlins in Miami, taken a two game lead in the National League East and appear poised to pull away with an old-fashioned pennant race-like victory.

Tuesday night’s victory wasn’t just a victory, it came with very positive signs for Philadelphia including:

• Thirteen of the 22 outs Cole Hamels recorded were strikeouts, the most any Phillies pitcher has had in 2010.
• Brad Lidge saved the one-run victory with a 16-pitch, 1-2-3 ninth inning.
• Hamels’ 1.79 ERA in 12 starts is tops in the league.

And to cap it off, Hamels and Roy Halladay are tied for second in the NL for strikeouts this season.

It’s all setting up to meet the inevitable conclusion, a third straight NL pennant flag hanging up at the bank in 2011.

This would be the first time the Phillies have ended the regular season with the leading record in the NL since 1950, when they finished two games ahead of the Brooklyn Dodgers.

The Phillies are demonstrating, without Jimmy Rollins, that their biggest attribute isn’t within the roster. It isn’t within the big numbers either, nor is it within the accolades that accompany those things. Rather, it’s the huge muscle that resides underneath their rib cage.

Definitely something that the Braves possess also, but in the heat of a pennant race, you almost always have to stick with the group who have been through the fire and know how to get there.

It’s the same difference as, if you needed to get to Anchorage, Alaska would you trust a young, talented, geography teacher or a geography teacher who has been there twice in the last two summers?

While, you may trust both, to a degree, you almost always have to take the experience.

The Braves are only a game up on the San Francisco Giants and are better suited, at this point, holding off the Giants until they get the opportunity to go head-to-head against the two-time National League champion, Philadelphia Phillies.

The Phillies move on to play the Washington Nationals in a weekend series at home, while the fading Atlanta Braves head to New York to take on the New York Mets before the two square off in the first of two series that have major playoff implications.

More coverage is to follow tomorrow. We’ll put a finger on the pulse of both teams.

The Braves have a lot of work to do.  My guess is, they better find a defibrillator quick, because losing to the Nats twice, in a situation such as this, is close to flat lining.

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After being swept at home by Colorado in the midst of a near franchise worst 10-game losing streak, the Padres are returning the favor at Coors Field.

The Padres hung on to beat the Rockies 7-6 Tuesday night, behind a 16-hit effort to win the second of a pivotal 10-game road trip.

In a search to find a leadoff hitter, manager Bud Black inserted Aaron Cunningham at the top of the order. Cunningham responded with three hits, including a double, and two runs scored.

Trade deadline acquisitions Miguel Tejada and Ryan Ludwick each added RBI singles in the first. Tejada has now driven in five runs through two of the three games in this crucial NL West matchup.

No hit was bigger than pinch-hitter Matt Stairs’ two-run homer in the eighth, to put the Padres up 6-3.

San Diego relievers Mike Adams and Joe Thatcher couldn’t silence Colorado in the eighth. With two on and two out, Thatcher gave up a run-scoring single to NL MVP candidate Carlos Gonzalez.

In the top of the ninth, the Padres got a huge insurance run off a sacrifice fly by Nick Hundley before Heath Bell converted a shaky four-out save.

Bell gave up an RBI double to Melvin Mora after Todd Helton led off the inning with a double. Jay Payton later singled in a run as well, making it a 7-6 game.

But Bell got Eric Young Jr. to ground into a game-ending double play to earn his 29th straight save and 42nd overall.

A sharp John Garland (14-11) put an end to a three-game slide of his own, allowing three runs—one earned—and four hits. He also helped his own cause at the plate, going 2-for-2 with a walk and a double.

Just when you thought you’ve got the National League West a little more figured out, forget about it.

The Padres (82-62) now have a 1 1/2 game lead over the Giants (81-64), who lost 1-0 to the Dodgers despite giving up just one hit.

The Rockies (79-66), who had their 10-game winning streak halted Monday night, dropped to 3 1/2 games behind San Diego.

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Home runs, clutch hits, and complete-game victories. All have been lacking this year for the New York Mets thus leading to their sub-.500 record.

However, in last night’s win over the Pirates, we saw a little of each for a rare time this season.

R.A. Dickey threw a complete game (his second of the year) to earn his eleventh victory of the season—a new career high. The only run he gave up came courtesy of a leadoff triple in the ninth to Pedro Ciriaco, who later scored on a ground out.

Dickey gave up five hits and struck out four while lowering his ERA to 2.80.

Offensively, the Mets got production from a variety of sources. Jose Reyes scored three runs in the first four innings, and Angel Pagan contributed three hits including a bases-clearing double.

Ruben Tejada continued his torrid hitting of late, stroking three hits of his own and raising his batting average back over .200.

Carlos Beltran and Monday’s hero Nick Evans both homered in the fourth inning.

Usually for the Mets, their hitting and pitching don’t flourish the same night. Tonight’s performance may go down as one of the best all-around games they have played all season. Who cares if it was against the Pirates? You still have to go out there every night and play your game.

Meanwhile—despite what some may think—R.A. Dickey continues to support his case for the Mets to re-sign him to a contract for next season. Whether that means a one-year or two-year deal, Dickey has earned the right to be a staple in the Mets’ rotation in 2011.

Especially with the uncertain future of Johan Santana, the Mets more than ever will look to lock up Dickey at season’s end. Cliff Lee might be out of their price range so at least having Dickey, Mike Pelfrey, and Jon Niese would be a solid start.

Another possible 2011 rotation option, Jenrry Mejia, takes the hill tonight against Pirates’ lefty Paul Maholm. Mejia is still looking for his first major-league win and has a good chance to secure it against the Pirates.

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The Chicago Cubs proved on Tuesday night that Cy Young candidate Adam Wainwright is beatable.

They managed to get five runs off him to set up their second victory in as many nights in Busch Stadium. They beat the St. Louis Cardinals by a final score of 7-2.

At the same time, they prevented Wainwright from becoming the National League pitcher with the most wins this season.

Randy Wells pitched a gem to snap his personal two-game winless streak. He gave up only one run and five hits in eight innings, fanning five Cardinals without issuing a walk. The right-hander (7-13) also contributed offensively with two singles and two RBI in four at-bats.

The Cubs scored their first two runs in the second inning.

With one out, Xavier Nady singled off Wainwright. After Geovany Soto’s strikeout, Tyler Colvin walked on four pitches. The Cardinals starter then gave up back-to-back RBI singles to Darwin Barney and Wells that sent Nady and Colvin home.

In the third, Marlon Byrd hit a deep one-out double to right field. Another out later, Nady’s second single of the night tallied Byrd from second.

The Cubs added a couple more runs in the fourth.

Colvin led off with a single, and Barney followed with a double to left field. With runners in scoring position, Wells helped himself to the win again with his second RBI of the night, a single that drove in Colvin from third. After Kosuke Fukudome’s strikeout, Blake DeWitt scored Barney from third with an RBI single.

The Cardinals replied in the bottom of the fourth with their first run of the night. Wells handed a single to leadoff hitter Colby Rasmus, who scored on Matt Holliday’s double to left field. But there was no further damage, as Wells retired the next three batters in a row.

The score remained intact until both teams added runs in the ninth inning. Facing reliever Fernando Salas, Nady singled for the third time to add two more runs for the Cubs.

Rasmus hit his 22nd home run of the season off Cubs reliever James Russell for the Cardinals’ final run. Rasmus, filling in at the No. 3 spot for the injured Albert Pujols, responded well by scoring two runs with two hits tonight.

The Cubs totaled 15 hits tonight, and five different players had multi-hit game. Barney’s three-hit game was the first in his major league career. Nady also had three singles and produced three runs. Besides Wells, Colvin and Byrd also had two-hit nights.

Wainwright (18-11) had faced the Cubs for the first time this season on May 30 in Wrigley Field to help his team win 9-1. But his line tonight was very different; he completed eight innings, giving up five runs on 12 hits, the most he has given up all season long. He also struck out seven, walking only one Cub.

The Cubs will attempt to sweep the Cardinals tomorrow to wrap up their last visit to Busch Stadium in 2010. Manager Mike Quade will send their ace Carlos Zambrano (8-6, 3.88) to the mound to face Chris Carpenter (15-6, 3.09).

This article is also featured on www.sportshaze.com.

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Just a few short weeks ago, Atlanta Braves’ starting pitcher, Derek Lowe, was struggling. On Monday night, Lowe pitched eight shutout innings, struck out a career high 12 batters, reached a career milestone of 1,500 strikeouts, and earned his 13th victory of the season. What’s changed?

During what had to be his toughest stretch as a Braves’ pitcher, Derek Lowe could not stop the bleeding, and the losses continued to mount when his spot in the rotation presented itself. Fortunately for the Braves and for Derek Lowe, manager Bobby Cox decided at the end of the last season to manage one more. The experience of Bobby Cox allowed him to realize that Derek was exhausted. As a result, Bobby sat Lowe on the bench and brought in Kenshin Kawakami.

This was not a punishment, as if to say, “Derek, your pitching stinks so bad lately, I am going to sit you and put in Kawakami.” Instead, it was a move to give Derek a little extra rest. Although Kawakami was not able to earn a win, the move by Bobby to sit Derek Lowe would eventually pay off very well.

In his last two starts, Derek has been brilliant. His pitches and his location have been masterful. As a result, the crafty veteran has victories in his last two starts, and it appears that he is ready to battle down the stretch for a division title.

Before pitching eight strong innings Monday night, Lowe was previously 0-3 with an ERA of 6.11 in his last three starts versus the Washington Nationals. Those who witnessed the game on Monday night surely noticed that the previously bad Derek Lowe had been replaced with the Derek Lowe of old.

Midway through the game, just after Derek Lowe had earned his 1,500 strike out of his career, he was greeted with a standing ovation from the small crowd of 18,647. He received the same ovation when he exited the field midway through the eighth inning. Somehow, Braves fans knew that Bobby would pull him, and they gave him a rousing cheer for a job well done.

With only 17 games remaining, perhaps Bobby needs to rest Tim Hudson for one game? Hudson has lost his last three games, and the Braves can ill afford to lose games when he takes the mound. The Braves are going to need solid pitching down the stretch if they hope to fulfill their dreams of winning the division, and perhaps a World Series ring, in honor of Bobby Cox.

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