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Leading Off
What's happening in the world of Major League Baseball.
October 2006
Monday October 30, 2006
Permalink Posted by: Skeet at 11:15AM EST on October 30, 2006
PhotoThe party keeps going for the St. Louis Cardinals as thousands of fans lined downtown for a parade celebrating the franchise's first World Series title since 1982. "Awesome," Albert Pujols said. "I've been dreaming of this since I was a little boy." The team estimated the crowd at between 300,000 and 500,000. Manager Tony La Russa had a place of honor in the parade, with his family getting a ride on the Anheuser-Busch beer wagon led by a team of eight Clydesdales.  ... (more)
Friday October 27, 2006
Permalink Posted by: Skeet at 12:29PM EST on October 27, 2006
5-foot-7 David Eckstein hit three doubles and a single as St. Louis beat Detroit 5-4 last night at Busch Stadium. Trailing 3-2 in the seventh, Eckstein hit a drive to right-center that Curtis Granderson appeared to have before he slipped to the slick turf, kicking up a huge divot. The ball fell for an easy double. Then, pinch-hitter So Taguchi dropped down a sacrifice bunt, and reliever Fernando Rodney rushed a throw over the head of Placido Polanco, allowing Eckstein to score the tying run. After the Cards went ahead 4-3, the Tigers clawed back in the eighth with doubles by Ivan Rodriguez and Brandon Inge. Sealing the victory, Eckstein doubled in the winning run in the bottom of the inning.
Thursday October 26, 2006
Permalink Posted by: Skeet at 11:30AM EST on October 26, 2006
World Series 2006 is all-wet after a Game 4 rainout and right now, nobody knows when the Detroit Tigers and St. Louis Cardinals might play again. Game 5 at Busch Stadium is pushed back to Friday night, which was supposed to be a day off in the Series. And tonight's prospects are gloomy. Worse still, it doesn't look much better this weekend in Detroit, with a forecast of rain--and more cold. The poor weather is further dampening the already-poor TV ratings. ... (more)
Wednesday October 25, 2006
Permalink Posted by: Skeet at 10:44AM EST on October 25, 2006
PhotoChris Carpenter struck out six, walked none and kept the Tigers' trio of Placido Polanco, Ivan Rodriguez and Curtis Granderson hitless in the Series. The result? A brilliant three-hit 5-0 shutout based primarily on big breaking balls. Offensively Cardinals' outfielder Jim Edmonds provided all the punch St. Louis would need with a fourth-inning, two-RBI double off Detroit starter Nate Robertson. The Redbirds head into Game 4 at home with a 2-1 Series lead.
Tuesday October 24, 2006
Permalink Posted by: Skeet at 11:51AM EST on October 24, 2006
PhotoThe World Series resumes tonight at Busch Stadium under America's Gateway Arch. Tigers lefty Nate Robertson meets the Cards ace right-hander, Chris Carpenter. With the Series all evened at 1-1, the pressure is on. If St. Louis wins, the team from Missouri will have a huge advantage—the chance to close out the championship at home. But winning just one game at Busch will earn Detroit a trip back to Motown and Comerica Park. In the meantime, the Tigers, playing in a National League park, will be without the DH for the next three contests.
... (more)
Monday October 23, 2006
Permalink Posted by: Skeet at 11:01AM EST on October 23, 2006
PhotoLeft fielder Craig Monroe set the tone early last night with a first-inning solo home run that propelled the Tigers to a 3-1 series-tying win. Carlos Guillen and Sean Casey also drove in runs for Detroit as Guillen had three hits, just falling a home run short of the cycle. Now boasting a 23-inning postseason scorless streak, Kenny Rogers mixed electric stuff with high-octance emotion in his two-hit gem. Closer Todd Jones scared the Detroit crowd, allowing four Cardinals in a row to reach base in the ninth before retiriing Yadier Molina to end the game. ... (more)
Friday October 20, 2006
Permalink Posted by: Skeet at 10:13AM EST on October 20, 2006
PhotoSetting up a classic Series matchup with the Detroit Tigers, the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Mets 3-1 in New York in a clinching game seven. Jeff Suppan pitched a gem, allowing two hits over seven innings, to lead the way for the Redbirds. He virtually handcuffed Mets' batters after the first inning. New York's Oliver Perez pitched well too, but Yadier Molina broke open the pitchers' duel in the top of the ninth with a two-run blast off reliever Aaron Heilman. Though low-scoring, the game had drama to spare, including an incredible catch by Endy Chavez over the outfield fence to rob Scott Rolen in the sixth.
... (more)
Thursday October 19, 2006
Permalink Posted by: Skeet at 10:52AM EST on October 19, 2006
PhotoThe Mets rode rookie John Maine's two-hit, shutout gem for 5-1/3 innings, then galloped into game seven on Paul Lo Duca's two-run RBI in the seventh. Billy Wagner scared the crowd, giving up two runs in the ninth, but nonetheless pinned down the win. Their ace Chris Carpenter on the mound, the Cardinals could only muster four hits prior to the ninth inning. Tonight game seven will be decided at Shea Stadium when Pirates' castoff Oliver Perez takes the mound for the Metropolitans versus the Redbirds' Jeff Suppan.
Wednesday October 18, 2006
Permalink Posted by: Skeet at 10:53AM EST on October 18, 2006
PhotoJeff Weaver pitched six solid innings and the Cardinals bullpen pitched in with a shutout to send the Mets back to New York down three games to two. Down 2-0, Albert Pujols got St. Louis on the board with a fourth-inning home run and the Cards went up for good in the fifth when Preston Wilson doubled in David Eckstein. The Redbirds bullpen blanked the Mets in the seventh, eighth and ninth, capped by a strong performance from closer Adam Wainwright.
Tuesday October 17, 2006
Permalink Posted by: Skeet at 10:08AM EST on October 17, 2006
PhotoWhile the Mets and Cardinals deplete their pitching in a National League dogfight, Tigers players wait in the comfort of their well-heated Detroit homes. The experts believe Detroit has the edge no matter who they face in the World Series. For good reason. The Tigers have far better pitching than either NL squad. And while their hitting may not be quite as explosive as New York's lineup, Detroit is steadily productive at the plate. Team those facts with a full week's rest, and the World Series odds definitely favor the American League. Again.
Monday October 16, 2006
Permalink Posted by: Skeet at 11:02AM EST on October 16, 2006
Carlos DelgadoCarlos Delgado woke up New York's bats with a game-busting three-run homer, then added a two-run double in a 12-5 rout of the St. Louis Cardinals Sunday night. Carlos Beltran homered twice, and David Wright broke an 0-for-13 slump with another for the Mets. Jose Valentin popped a three-run double in a six-run sixth that put New York ahead 11-3. One night after just getting three, The Mets had 14 hits. The win assures a return to Shea Stadium for Game 6.
Friday October 13, 2006
Permalink Posted by: Skeet at 9:52AM EST on October 13, 2006
PhotoVeteran ace Tom Glavine tossed seven shutout innings leading the Mets to a slim 2-0 win last night in New York. Carlos Beltran belted a two-run homer in the sixth inning off Cardinals starter Jeff Weaver to give his team the margin of victory. St. Louis had chances behind Weaver's strong effort, but New York's excellent fielding stifled the Cards' bats time and time again. Outfielders Endy Chavez and Carlos Beltran made fine defensive plays for the Mets, as did infielders David Wright and Jose Valentin. Shea Stadium hosts Game 2 tonight.
Thursday October 12, 2006
Permalink Posted by: Skeet at 10:09AM EST on October 12, 2006
PhotoDetroit's balanced attack backed by steady pitching vaulted the team to a 2-0 lead in the American League Championship Series. The Tigers' little-used DH, Alexis Gomez, a surprise lineup pick by manager Jim Leyland, led Detroit with a go-ahead two-run single and two-run homer. Oakland starting pitcher Esteban Loaiza was staked to two leads but gave up seven runs in six innings. In a losing cause, A's slugger Milton Bradley put on an offensive clinic, crushing two home runs and finishing 4-for-5 with four RBIs. The first blast came off Tigers starter Justin Verlander who got the victory despite allowing seven hits and four earned runs in 5+ innings.
... (more)
Wednesday October 11, 2006
Permalink Posted by: Skeet at 9:50AM EST on October 11, 2006
PhotoThe A's Barry Zito retired eight batters in a row to start the game, but then things began to unravel. Brandon Inge worked the count to 2-1, then turned on an inside fastball and hit it into the left-field seats. Zito went on to throw 38 pitches in the third, lasting just 3-2/3 innings. At the plate, Oakland grounded into a record-setting four double plays going 0-13 with runners in scoring position. Credit Detroit starter Nate Robertson for a solid five innings, scattering six hits and allowing zero earned runs. Tonight the A's veteran Loaiza faces the Tigers' rookie Verlander.
Tuesday October 10, 2006
Permalink Posted by: Skeet at 11:19AM EST on October 10, 2006
PhotoPitching should dominate this series because both the Tigers and the A's have talented, young staffs. Oakland's Dan Haren (26 years old), Huston Street (23), Justin Duchscherer (28), Rich Harden (24) and Barry Zito (28) head a very talented unit that is capable of putting up zeros no matter who they face. The same can be said of Detroit's impressive crop of youngsters, including Justin Verlander (23), Jeremy Bonderman (23), Joel Zumaya (21), Nate Robertson (29), and Fernando Rodney (29). One stat to consider: in terms of ERA, Detroit edges Oakland 3.84 to 4.21, the lowest in the majors.
Monday October 9, 2006
Permalink Posted by: Skeet at 10:22AM EST on October 9, 2006
PhotoThe A's veteran left-hander Barry Zito will start game one of the AL championship series tomorrow against the Tigers. Esteban Loaiza will pitch game two. Loaiza gets the nod over Rich Harden who hasn't started in over a week. In fact, Harden will pitch in an instructional league game today in Arizona to help set him up, most likely, for a game four start Saturday in Detroit. Loaiza won game two of the division series against the Twins. Meanwhile, Harden has only pitched three times since missing more than three months with an elbow injury.
Friday October 6, 2006
Permalink Posted by: Skeet at 10:21AM EST on October 6, 2006
PhotoAlbert Pujols went 3-for-4 and Jeff Weaver gave up just two hits in five innings as St. Louis shutout  San Diego 2-0 Thursday at Petco Park. The Padres' flat bats have produced just one run in two games. Yet starter David Wells kept his team in the game, scattering seven hits and allowing just two earned runs. San Diego has a paltry .164 batting average in two division games with 20 strikeouts. Worse still, the Padres bats are 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position. Tomorrow in St. Louis, the teams will tee it up again.
Thursday October 5, 2006
Permalink Posted by: Skeet at 10:08AM EST on October 5, 2006
Carlos Delgado went 4-for-5 with a homer, and a key seventh-inning single that put the Mets up to stay in a Game 1 division series win, 6-5. David Wright drove in three runs on a pair of doubles and Cliff Floyd homered to back rookie starter John Maine, who went 4 1/3 in place of Orlando Hernandez. The Dodgers battled back, scoring a run in the top of the ninth off Bill Wagner and putting the tying run on second base before Nomar Garciaparra struck out. Stranding seven on base, LA lost two runners at the plate in a comical second-inning double-play. The Dodgers had 11 hits; New York had nine.