Saturday 31 July 2010

Trade Deadline

Major League Baseball's annual trade deadline came down at 4 PM this afternoon, capstoning a month that saw a flurry of deals.

Lance Berkman to the Yanks. Austin Kearns to the Yanks. Cliff Lee's big move from Seattle to Texas three weeks ago. Roy Oswalt found a new home in an already pitching-rich Philadelphia (also home to Halladay, Hamels, and Blanton albeit they did give up JA Happ). Danny Haren's move up to LA. No hitter pitcher Edwin Jackson went to the White Sox. Miguel Tejada's trot out west to San Diego along with Ryan Ludwick. Bengie Molina packed for Texas earlier this month. So did Cristian Guzman. This litany of moves is really not very surprising considering the competitive nature of some of the division races to this point in the season.

The Yanks and Rays are fighting for first place. Chicago and Minny are just separated by half a game. Detroit is only 6 games back in the Central too. Philly's just 3 back of Atlanta in the NL East while Florida and New York are 7 games game there. In NL Central, St. Louis and Cincinnati are TIED for first while just 8 games separate first and fourth place in the NL West. It's no wonder so many teams are making moves. August and September will be VERY interesting months to watch.

Got out to another Jays game this week. Went on Monday with a friend. We beat the Baltimore Orioles for the 10th straight time this season and the Jays went on to sweep the O's for the fourth time this year. 12 head to head match ups. 12 straight wins. I think Toronto's winning on the "beat up on Baltimore" front.

-D

Tuesday 27 July 2010

Five and Counting

Barely a month after Edwin Jackson laboured through 149 pitches to get his no-no gem, Matt Garza of the Tampa Bay Rays threw a no-hitter of his own, Tampa's first in franchise history, after a slew of games in which they were on the wrong end of history.

Garza faced the minimum 27 batters after inducing a DP after walking a batter with one out in the 2nd. This is the 5th (really the 6th) no hitter in the MLB this season. That's really really impressive considering we have two FULL months of baseball still to go. I think we can very well break the single season record of 7 and I'm still sticking by my prediction that one of the Jays pitchers will do it!!

I don't know about you but I'm just loving these no hitters!! Always love to witness the history and always very interesting to see which pitchers accomplish the feat. Garza is a star in his own right without the no-hitter and I think he will have a productive career by the time all is said and done!

Congrats, Matt!!

-D

PS. I was in Washington, DC all of last week for a week long politics program at Georgetown University. I wanted to see the Nationals play but they were unfortunately out of town. It was a brilliant week though. Hot too, 38 degrees!!

Thursday 15 July 2010

Bob and George

This week has been an eventful one in baseball.

Besides the home run derby (which wasn't all that exciting) won by Big Papi and a more entertaining, but pitcher-dominated Midsummer Classic, two significant deaths rocked the baseball, and more specifically, the New York Yankees community.

Last weekend, long time Yankee stadium PA announcer (and I mean LONGGGGG time-56 years to be exact) Bob Sheppard passed away just weeks before his 100th birthday. Sheppard's voice was a part of every Yankees game for more than a half century and he even worked for the New York Giants at one time. A truly sad passing for a truly legendary figure behind the mike.

Then, on the morning of the All Star matchup, George Steinbrenner, otherwise known as "The Boss" of the New York Yankees, suffered a heart attack and later died. He was age 80. Obviously, it was a TREMENDOUS loss for the Yankees family, as Steinbrenner was no doubt the paternal figure of sorts in New York. He turned the entire Yankees organization around after purchasing it in 1973 and won 7 World Series titles, along with 22 managerial changes. Although Steinbrenner had a negatively notorious reputation with some, his loss is a monumental one to baseball.

More positive news out of the MLB. The National League finally captured their first All Star victory since 1996. So come October, the Senior Circuit will have home field advantage in the World Series for the first time since that honour had been decided by the Midsummer Classic. It was a wonderful game but I think the AL had plenty of chances to get even, especially in the 7th inning on...oh well, the changing of the guard is occasionally nice.

-D

PS. Congratulations Spain but that was a pretty pitiful final, even for a non-soccer fan like me.

Friday 9 July 2010

Paul

Soccer's not my sport. Really, it's one of the few I dislike. But when billions around the globe are celebrating the World Cup, it's hard not to take notice.

I never really had a loyalty to any country in this tournament. Instead, I found myself cheering for underdogs and intrigued when teams like France and Italy were knocked out early. Now, with the Final Four set for two more final matches, I thought I'd talk a little bit about the 2010 Cup.

Uruguay vs. Germany. Both great teams, as we've seen. Uruguay's the underdog of course, and Germany perhaps the crowd favourite. I think Germany will take it, just based on trend alone. But hey, I'd like to see a country that's not from Europe in the Top 3.

The Netherlands vs. Spain. I don't know why, I always had this sympathy towards the Dutch. Spain has been on a hot run. Their countrymen are expecting a lot. The Dutch have never won. The Spaniards have a reputation as chokers. Should be an interesting match up. Paul the Octopus has picked Spain. If I had to bet, I'd probably pick Spain too but I find myself cheering for the Oranje.

Where will you be watching the Finals?

-D

Sunday 4 July 2010

Live Blogging the Gentleman's Final

11:42 AM: Well, another Championships Wimbledon is over. Until next year then, or rather, the US Open...will Federer take back his title in New York? Or will Nadal break through for the career slam? Or will we see another Del Potro?

11:34 AM: Tomas Berdych receives his runner up trophy. He'll be #8 in the world come Monday. And Nadal lifts his golden trophy, for the second time in his career. This is his 8th major title and of course, he stays as world #1.

11:29 AM: WITH A FOREHAND WINNER, NADAL HAS WON THE WIMBLEDON CHAMPIONSHIPS. He falls onto the ground. His girlfriend jumps out of her seat. His uncle jumps up. His mom too. His dad. And he does a little somersault on the court. For the third straight year, somebody has pulled off a French-Wimby double.

11:27 AM: Championship point Nadal. Berdych with an untimely error.

11:26 AM: Now we're at deuce. Berdych got surprised by a shot that looked like it was going long.

11:25 AM: A nice drop shot and an ace helps Berdych stay in the game. It's 30-all

11:23 AM: Nadal is two points away from another Wimbledon title. Berdych has to hold but he's down 0-30.

11:21 AM: Nadal holds at love. He's making it look too easy. 5-4, on serve, third set.

11:18 AM: Wow. Unbelievable passing shot from Nadal. 40-30. And with a Nadal shot going long, Berdych holds. 4-all.

11:16 AM: Beautiful winner from Nadal. He evens the 8th game of the third set at 15-all. But Berdych quickly comes down with an ace. 30-15.

11:13 AM: Wicked cross court ends a fantastic rally. Both men running from side to side. Nadal up 40-15. And with Berdych hitting a shot long, it's another hold.

11:12 AM: Is the crowd cheering for the Czech. They roar as Berdych goes up 15-0 on Rafa's service game.

11:11 AM: Game Berdych. He holds at love.

11:09 AM: What a beautiful drop shot from Berdych! And then a beautiful ace. He's up 30-0 quickly. Just don't break. Don't break. Drive Nadal to a tiebreaker.

11:07 AM: Nadal is not giving any chances here. A beautiful forehand winner and he holds again. 3-2, on serve, third set.

11:04 AM: Nadal somewhat disgusted at a bad bounce on the baseline. Berdych holds. 2 games all in the third set.

10:59 AM: Nadal holds, thanks to a couple of errors from Berdych. On serve in the third.

10:57 AM: But he hits a backhand into the net. To deuce.

10:56 AM: Nadal shoots one into the net. Now he's down 30-40. Berdych has a break point opportunity.

10:55 AM: Nice nice forehand from Berdych and he finishes Nadal off with a drop shot to the empty court. 15-30.

10:53 AM: That's a hold for the big Czech. 1-1, third set.

10:51 AM: Oh what a point. Berdych comes up with a huge winner after a great rally. 30-15. And he finishes off Nadal the next point with a nice little smash. 40-15

10:50 AM: Nadal holds but Berdych hits a nice cross court winner to start his service game.

10:47 AM: Wow! Rafa just ran all the way across the court to hit a beautiful winner. Nadal's up 40-15 in the first game of the third set.

10:43 AM: Nadal has three set points. Let's see if he can capitalize. Yes he does as Berdych hits on wide. Rafa takes the set 7-5.

10:42 AM: Nadal forces Berdych to hit a volley wide. Suddenly, Berdych is down 0-30. He has to hold to stay in it. And he just lost another point. 0-40.

10:40 AM: Berdych hits one into the net on the run. We're still on serve in the second set. 6-5 Nadal.

10:38 AM: Oh man, Nadal comes way up to the net and slams one down into the empty court. And with a return long from Berdych, Rafa's up 40-15.

10:37 AM: Wow. Berdych just won an amazing point up at the net to get off to a good start in the 11th game of the second set. Nadal's down 0-15.

10:36 AM: Berdych is up in the double digits with his 10th ace. That's a hold. 5-all.

10:35 AM: Couple of big serves and Berdych is back in control, 40-15.

10:34 AM: Berdych hits a nice forehand but Nadal hooks it wide. It's 15 all. Berdych must hold this one or he will be down two sets.

10:33 AM: Bjorn Borg is on hand, with his signature wavy hair.

10:30 AM: Man, what a rally! Both players going out of the screen to get some wicked shots. Nadal finishes off with a beautiful volley. And he holds at love.

10:28 AM: Nice cross court volley and Berdych holds another one.

10:27 AM: And another one at 120 mph plus. That's Berdych's 9th ace.

10:26 AM: Berdych is slammin' 'em up. 126 mph ace evens it at 15 all.

10:24 AM: Nice return volley from Nadal and he holds. 4-3 Nadal, second set, on serve.

10:23 AM: Nadal hits another one wide. He's making a lot of errors today. But he's still up 40-15 in his service game.

10:20 AM: Another ace from Berdych. And he gets the hold as Nadal returns one long.

10:19 AM: Nice forehand down the line from Berdych and another one cross court wins him two straight points. Those shots left Nadal hanging.

10:16 AM: Another shot from Nadal going JUST long. Hey, I didn't know Lucie Safarova is Tomas Berdych's girlfriend. Nadal just took the game. Still on serve.

10:15 AM: A long rally ends with a Nadal shot going long. Rafa's up 30-15 on his service. And he hits an unreturnable forehand down the line! 40-15.

10:12 AM: Berdych holds another one at love with the help of some Nadal errors and another ace. It's 2-2 in the second set.

10:10 AM: More celebrity sightings. Lindsey Vonn, US Olympic skiing queen, is here to watch the final. She is supposedly a big Federer fan.

10:07 AM: Some wicked shots from Berdych but he can't finish it off, smashing it wide. Nadal up 40-15 and he just took the game with a winner. On serve in the second.

10:06 AM: Berdych getting his shots back now. It's 15 all on Nadal's serve but he's hit a couple beauties in this game already.

10:03 AM: Berdych comes back strong, with a hold at love. He finishes Nadal with another ace. And the sun's out on Centre Court.

10:01 AM: Berdych hits a big shot JUST wide and Nadal finally takes the first game. That's a hold.

10:00 AM: Rafa double faults again, his third of the match! Back to deuce.

9:58 AM: Nadal comes up to the net and Berdych hits one into the net. Deuce 3. And now Nadal has the advantage as Berdych hits one wide off the return.

9:57 AM: Forehand into the net. Berdych has yet another break point!

9:56 AM: A double from Nadal. Advantage Berdych. He better take this freebie. But Nadal slices an amazing second serve. We're back at deuce.

9:54 AM: A great 12 stroke rally and Berdych has a break point, 30-40, in the first game of the second set. And Nadal hits a great forehand winner. We're at deuce.

9:49 AM: And that's that. Nadal takes the first set 6-3, and more importantly perhaps, breaks Berdych twice!

9:48 AM: Another shot long and Nadal has two break/set points. Berdych slams another beautiful ace, tailing away from Nadal. One more set point.

9:47 AM: Down 0-30, Berdych hits an ace.

9:45 AM: Held at love with a wonderful winner. It's 5-3 Nadal.

9:44 AM: Nadal looks like he's getting stronger. 40-0.

9:42 AM: Hey, it's Jacques Rogge, IOC President sitting in the Royal Box, watching today. Should be an interesting tennis tournament in 2012 as the Games come to Wimbledon, as part of the London Olympics.

9:41 AM: Nadal's broken Berdych with a huge cross-court return. He's up a break, 4-3.

9:40 AM: And Berdych saves the first one with some wickedly-angled shots, sending Nadal chasing left, right and centre.

9:39 AM: Interesting stuff now. Two unforced errors from Berdych and he's down 0-30. And wow, Nadal hits an incredible shot on the run. 0-40, triple break point.

9:35 AM: Ace!! 40-0 for Nadal. Ooooo...and then he double faults.

9:33 AM: Berdych finishes off the game with a beautiful cross court winner. Man, Berdych has been playing beautifully. It might be another long one today. 3-2, on serve, first set.

9:30 AM: Danny here watching the Men's Wimbledon live. It's Nadal vs. Berdych today. Nice day in London, another dry one. The commentators are saying it's a bit windy. We're at 2-2 in the first set, on serve, with Berdych serving. Tomas Berdych, of course, beat the Swiss Maestro and Novak Djokovic on his way to this final. Now, we'll see if he can extinguish the last giant remaining to win his first Grand Slam title.