Disappointing...Exhilarating...Maddening

Disappointing, exhilarating, maddening……these are the first words that come to mind this beautiful Saturday morning as I contemplate the action thus far in these 2010 MLB playoffs.

There are at least three disappointments to me at this juncture, the failures of the Twins to take even one game from the Yanks , the fold perpetrated last night by the SF Giants against the Atlanta Braves and the very similar choking done by the Cincinnati Reds against the Phillies.

For sheer exhilaration, there was Tim Lincecum’s pitching gem of a complete game pulled off against the Braves in the first game of that Braves-Giants series. I also felt very much the same watching the Giants’ Matt Cain blank those same Braves over 7 innings or so. And then there’s Josh Hamilton of the Rangers who only does something great every single time. (Okay, he was the star of my fantasy team).

It was the umpires that were responsible for my maddening. But the umpires continue to blow calls, easy calls, game-altering calls, that your sister could have made correctly. (Okay, sisters, no mail please)..

Let’s take it from the top again. The single most disappointing team thus far has been the Minnesota Twins. What a sorry bunch. I’m sorry. When they see the Yankees on the field, they just go into choke mode. They had Sabathia on the ropes and they let him go. Then they did absolutely nothing against the old man with the mad stare, Andy Friggin’ Pettite.

Yeah, I know, the Reds did some fancy folding themselves. (The Rays were just outplayed totally, a result I was completely happy with). But I expected the Reds to fold. Didn’t everyone? There was real hope for the Twins, especially after their early good fortunes against the big guy Sabathia.

In the history of baseball, was there ever a worse location for a pitch? I’m referring to the ball left on a tee for Yanks first baseman Mark Teixeira late in that first game, the pitch that made it 6-4 after the Twins had been up 3-0. And did they have to pitch so boldly to Granderson or Berkman? And then there were the pitching decisions made overall by the Twinkies, who are doing everything possible to justify that name.

Francisco Liriano pitched valiantly for those Twins in that first game and was up 3-zip going into the 6th. The idiots in the dugout left him in way too long. They waited until it all unraveled, despite the Yanks killing him softly, with hit after hit after hit. When they finally brought in the relief in the person of Jose Mijares, they managed to snuff the rally but, by then, it was too late. The Yanks had taken the lead.

Then the Twins gave us Yankee-haters hope once again by staging a 2-out rally that featured another Cuddyer big bang enveloped by bases on balls, a strange way to score, I thought at the time, but the Twins would surely have better luck in their spanking new stadium than they ever had in that old dome.

But the Twins inserted still another pitcher into the mix, one Jesse Crain, who failed colossally. He managed to get Jeter out in the 7th on a hard line drive to center but he then gave up another hit to Swisher. His pitches had nothing. And the pitch that had the most “nothingness” was that ball up and in the middle of the plate for Teixeira.

The Twins had Yanks reliever Kerry Wood in a lot of trouble in the eighth inning, managing to get the tying and winning runs on 2nd and 3rd but then Girardi called in a guy named Mariano, you may have heard of him, last name of Rivera? He promptly ended things….again.

It seems as if it’s always the same guys, Posada and Pettite, Rivera and Jeter. The Twins see these guys and fold. Posada didn’t do too much in the victory yesterday but then he didn’t need to. In that first game he was pretty clutch. Pettite just scared the bejeezus out of them, possibly with that ridiculous stare. And of course Rivera just shuts them down. Jeter? Well, there’s still Game 3.

Okay, that’s enough about disappointing, I think. I have to focus on the finer things in life, such as, for example, Tim Lincecum. A little slip of a guy, that’s Lincecum. A bit of a flake, the Prince Valiant hair, the laid-back attitude, they all seem to contribute to the aura of the man, if that’s what you could call it.

The man just knows how to throw the baseball. Every ounce of his body gets behind every pitch to the plate. So he can overpower with his fastball when needed or he can just flick his wrist, take something off and watch the batter flail. Lincecum did it all in that first game and he did it for 9 innings.

How about some more on exhilaration? The Rangers have been awesome in all phases. For pitching, there were Cliff Lee and C.J. Wilson and Neftali Feliz For hitting, there were, well, just about everybody, Vladimir Guerrero and Michael Young, Ian Kinsler and Nelson Cruz and Bengie Molina. Hell, even Jeff Francoeur joined the festivities. Oh yeah, and there was Josh Hamilton.

Hamilton just does it all. Five tools? Is that all? It seems like more. He’s the best hitter in both leagues, both for average and for power. He’s a fast runner. He stole a base in Game 1 and made two great catches in Game 2, both to his left and right, and went sliding on his belly, broken ribs be damned.

Hamilton hasn’t shown off that throwing arm yet. And he hasn’t hit any tape measures yet. But there’s always Game 3 for that.

A Simple System Simply Works

Wow, what can I write about on a weekend when Charlie Weis and Lawrence Frank both got fired, the Jets earned a hard-fought victory against Carolina using some seemingly cockamamie color-code system to direct their rookie QB, and two NFL games were decided by last-minute touchdowns thrown by the likes of Vince Young and Chris Redman? And let’s not forget Dennis Dixon.

Well, it’s easy really. I don’t really care that much about Notre Dame or Charlie Weis. I figure both parties will make out just fine, thank you. And Lawrence Frank is better off going elsewhere, given the bad roster and bad luck he has been handed. Lawrence Frank will come up roses if it’s true that good things happen to good people.

And all I can say about Vince Young is that I was wrong about him. I’ve been thinking for five weeks now that he’d be a total failure. I’ve been thinking he’s just another one of these great college QB’s who couldn’t make it in the big time. But he lead that Titans team down the field twice from deep, deep in his own team’s territory to ultimately come back and win the game…twice.

And it was great that a backup QB you never hear “boo” about stepped up in a big situation to lead his Falcons team to victory, and on fourth down no less. Chris Redman did just that yesterday to keep the Falcons in the playoff picture, for at least one more week anyway.

And I was amazed as Dixon kept the Steelers in the game against the Ravens for about 4 ½ quarters. He did it on short notice too, as Big Ben Roethlisberger’s headaches occurred only Saturday.

But, without a doubt, the best prospect for discussion is the color-code system that Rex Ryan and the Jets concocted to keep a rein on their rambunctious quarterback, Mark Sanchez. It seemed too simple and a little silly. How confident could we be that the Jets made the right pick? I mean, did this guy ever play football? Was USC always ahead?

For his part, Sanchez was exultant after the victory and was only too happy to heartily accept the color-codes. That at least shows some humility. He may eat franks on the sideline and he might “diss” the entire NYC media population but he does readily accept direction and, too often this season, blame.

But for once there was no blame. Not that he lit up the joint, an impossible feat given the conservative plan, but he did throw for some yardage, not a lot, and he only threw one interception. He didn’t fumble one time.

Two things bother me a little though.

For one, this system worked great in a game their defense easily controlled. Jake Delhomme, as I had foreseen in my last words on the subject, threw the ball all over the yard. His only problem was he didn’t discriminate on the color uniforms to which he threw the ball. The Jets were only too happy to catch it when he did. The Jets took the early lead. The closest the game got was 7-3.

So when was the code any color but red? I mean, maybe he had an amber somewhere along the line, but the predominant color all night had to be red. What happens when they have to give him the green?

The only other troubling thing is that he’d need the system at all. But hey, maybe a rookie QB, who’s had to digest all this new information week after week, needs the focus, needs the hand-holding, to keep his tenuous hold on reality in a game that can be chaotic at best.

I just hope he understands the game a little. A lot of millions went his way. There were reservations from his USC coach Pete Carroll as to whether Sanchez was ready for the NFL at all. Hopefully, Pete was wrong about Sanchez. He’ll be the face and future of our New York Jets for many years to come. He started the season on fire but has stumbled through too many games, games his very tough defense deserved to win.

It’s great to have an athletic quarterback though. Just watching him avoid the rush and take off once in a while gives me hope for the Jets in the future. He’s really not all that accurate, at least not thus far, but he throws very well on the run, and, hell, Eli Manning isn’t all that accurate either, not like his big brother.

And some NFL experts would undoubtedly say he’s too short.

(As this is written, Drew Brees has been beating up the Patriots. Drew is just a hair over 6 feet and seems to manage quite well. They’re now ahead by 38-17 and it’s great to see the Pats get their noses rubbed in it a little. The Saints are now just running the ball into the line so as not to embarrass them any more than they’ve already been. I love sweet justice).

But the point is that, short or tall, a real quarterback has other resources to beat you with. Sanchez seems to have some of them, if not all of them just yet.
Rex Ryan seemed to think so too, and was challenged to find a way to deal with Sanchez’s wilder impulses. He seems to have found just the thing. If it takes a little more communication with the sideline to make the rookie a top-flight quarterback, I’m on board with that.

Maybe when the color does change to green, he’ll respond. The last two Jets games will be against the undefeated Colts and the top defense right now, the Cincinnati Bengals. But the next three, at Buffalo, and then against Atlanta and Tampa Bay, are certainly winnable, especially if Sanchez is working in red mode, or even amber.

Sometimes things that work very simply simply work. Rex Ryan has found a system that’s a lot like that.

From Nine to Five

It was an old-fashioned shootout. Just as you'd want on Monday Night Football, there was Number 9, young Tony Romo firing bullets to the infamous T.O. But there was Number 5 Donovan McNabb on the other side, looking like the quarterback of yesteryear, finding his new favorite target, one DeSean Jackson.

Two great quarterbacks, massive offensive lines, inventive defenses, funny commentators, this game had it all. It had Romo showing his best and worst, opening with a 70-yard bomb to Owens but also fumbling in the end zone to give the Eagles a free touchdown.

It had McNabb, skillfully carving up the Boys defense, dumping off to Westbrook, shooting bullets right, left and center. The Cowboys emerged victorious by a 41-37 count, but there were several lead changes and the result was in doubt until the final whistle.

Both qb's are mobile, accurate and enjoy playing the game. What more could you want from a football game? Two offenses moving the ball down the field against tenacious defenses, two offensive lines neutralizing pass rushes and enabling their teams to run the ball. Close at the half and close at the end.

The Cowboys emerged with the win, of course, after a couple of tough possessions by the Birds, one that ended with an overthrown lob to Westbrook and one with the old hook and ladder. The real end for the Eagles, though, was Demarcus Ware's sack of a scrambling McNabb on 3rd down.

In the final analysis, though, the Cowboys had too many weapons for the Birds. While McNabb had the indefatigable Westbrook and the mercurial DeSean, Romo had Owens and Crayton, Barber and Witten. But he also got a huge assist in the scoring department from Felix Jones, who exploded through a wedge for a touchdown on a kickoff return.

The game also had more than its share of zaniness. DeSean Jackson almost lost his TD for tossing the ball away as he was crossing the goal line. Romo also had an interception that was the result of his trying to make something from nothing. As good as Romo was for most of the game, he could have been the goat after making two critical errors, both resulting in Philadelphia scores.

All this impressive football coming from the NFC East must give the Giants pause. It looks like it will be another tough season. As well as the Giants have played thus far, they’ll have to play even better to get by either of these two juggernauts. The Redskins will be no pushover the next time either, judging by their impressive victory over the Saints on Sunday.

Our G-Men looked solid in their opener against the Redskins, but it was tough after one game to gain much perspective, especially since the Skins looked pathetic at times. Their new coach, Jim Zorn, looked as if he was coaching his first game. And, although the Giants wound up with a clear victory over the Rams on Sunday, it was really a pretty close game for three quarters.

Let’s face it….the Giants can look pretty pedestrian at times. I suppose you could call it workmanlike. With Brandon Jacobs pounding the ball, the Giants bread and butter, it’s almost like an old Ohio State offense, three yards and a cloud of dust.

If it weren’t for Eli’s finding Plaxico and Amani early and often, it’d be easy to fall asleep. And, with Strahan gone and Umenyiora hurt, the defense isn’t quite as impressive as it had been at year’s end. In fact, the Giants didn’t start looking really impressive until they inserted the fellows who got them so far last year, Ahmad Bradshaw and Steve Smith.

Not that I’m complaining, but the Giants haven’t looked as good as the Eagles and Cowboys have so far. Of course, that could change really easily, especially with that offensive line. And Justin Tuck. But I do think that calling the Giants three running backs “earth, wind and fire” is a bit premature (and stupid).

I’ve been trying to ignore the Jets this year but it’s been awfully tough, what with all the nonsense surrounding Mr. Favre. In truth, I find it impossible to root for them anymore. Mangini really doesn’t send me. Neither does Tannenbaum. And I hope everybody noticed Mr. Favre made no difference whatsoever against the Pats on Sunday.

Aaron Rodgers, Mr. Favre’s replacement at Green Bay, has looked very good though. It’ll be a pleasure rooting for him and Green Bay this year, as much fun as rooting for the Bills and Miami in the AFC East. And, while I’m thrilled that the Pats soundly thrashed the boys in green on Sunday, it’ll be difficult to root for them going forward. After all, Belichick doesn’t really evoke much sympathy.

Aside from the Giants, who I picked to win every playoff game last year, and the Super Bowl, this football year, for me, will be all about guys like Kurt Warner, who is easy to root for, throwing dart after dart to Fitzgerald and Boldin for Arizona.

Then, of course, there are the new quarterbacks, not just Rodgers but also guys like Jerseyan Flacco for the Ravens, and B.C.’s own Matt Ryan, who impressed in his opener before somewhat of a relapse on Sunday when his running game abandoned him. And there’s Chad Henne in Miami playing for the Tuna, along with one of my favorite people in all the world, a fella named Chad Pennington.

Yeah, this year will be all about young quarterbacks, Cutler in Denver and Garrard in Jacksonville, and let’s not forget Trent Edwards in Buffalo, who lofted a beautiful pass to his new receiver, James Hardy, in the corner of the end zone. And Matt Cassell in New England hasn’t been too shabby either, has he?

But, unless you count Eli, the finest young QB of them all may be Number 9 in Big D. And the finest veteran might be wearing Number 5 in Philly, making Eagles fly.

No Relief In Sight

The Mets and Yankees both got to celebrate wins last night and, no doubt, either Joe Girardi or Jerry Manuel may have taken the opportunity to enjoy a cigar, but not because either of them had a closer. Actually, Girardi had a great one who failed for once and Manuel had a setup guy, a lefty specialist who succeeded for once.

The results were the same, of course. Pedro Feliciano made sure the Mets one run lead held up in the 9th, while Arod and the X-Man powered home runs in the 12th to save the Yanks and Mariano, who experienced the ignominy of giving up a 3-run homer to Delmon Young in the 9th to blow the save.

For the Mets and Manuel, it was another nail-biter for sure. After each of the first two outs was recorded in that ninth inning and while their stud rookie Kunz was warming up in the bullpen, Manuel agonized as to whether to leave Feliciano in there.

What a choice, a talented rookie or a hard - luck lately veteran, one who had given up more than his share of home runs in his crazy season. The victory moved them to within 1 game of the Phillies, who lost a tough one to the Dodgers.

For the Yankees, it was a nice breather that provided them an opportunity to showcase their sluggers in extra innings and keep pace with the Rays and Red Sox, even though the trusty Mariano finally did have a bad day. That Arod and Nady both came through for them in that 12th inning should jump-start their Minnesota trip and provide the impetus they need to survive this road trip.

Even though the Mets are much closer to the Phillies than are the Yankees to the Rays, somehow you still have to like the Yankees chances just as much. After all, the Yanks have a closer, arguably the best one in the league, Papelbon and F-Rod notwithstanding. The Mets closer, Billy Wagner, is still on the DL, and it's kind of iffy what kind of performances he'll be able to deliver upon his return.

<>While the Yankees can breathe a sigh of relief and look forward to a game like last night’s not happening again for a long time, the Mets can only look forward to more of the same. Of course, the Yankees have a quite different problem, a lack of starting pitching, something the Mets have in abundance.

So pick your poison, either enjoying a lead for six or seven innings only to lose versus trying to catch up to your opponent for the entire game. While simple arithmetic would seem to favor the starting pitching, after all, seven good innings should be better than just two or three good innings, it doesn’t seem to be working out that way.

<>Of course, the Yankees do have a better lineup, what with Arod and Abreu and Nady and Damon and um, anyone….anyone… While in most years you’d have to add Jeter to the list and Matsui and Posada too, this is not one of those years.

Of course, the Giambino still powers them over the wall too, but, all in all, you don’t get that feeling that the Yanks are capable of piling it on as they had in the past, maybe because they’re behind a lot of the time. Of course, last night they had Mussina going, good old Moosie, their only really effective pitcher this year. Wang’s gone, Joba’s hurt, Pettite hasn’t been Pettite-like and um, Giese? Don’t make me say “Pavano”. Or Kennedy for that matter.

<>All that being said, however, their losses haven’t been as excruciating as have those of the Mets. That Pirates loss of Monday afternoon was so painful to me, I can scarcely talk about it. Neither could Manuel. That relief staff has been more than just bad.

And, by all appearances, there is no relief in sight. Billy will probably be back, and hopefully, he’ll return pretty close to form. I personally think Duaner Sanchez can come back stronger than he has shown, especially in big spots, much as he did on Monday before he was relieved after a couple of nice innings.

<>And, even as pedestrian as the others have been, if they can just move from bad, bad, bad to only middling, that would be a boon to the Mets chances. Let’s face it, there isn’t much talent available out there in the market, and, if there were, you get the feeling the Mets wouldn’t pursue it.

One gets the distinct feeling that it will be the next GM who pursues anyone new. Much as the Knicks and James Dolan made Isiah live or die with the talent that he put together, so it seems the Mets have put the gauntlet to Omar Minaya. I wish I could say that it’s unfair. But there have been too many acquisitions that have just not produced at all.

<>Of course, if the Mets can somehow pull through, a distinct possibility still, I’m sure Minaya will be retained. If Pedro can stay healthy for the rest of the year, the Mets starting pitching is just a shade short of awesome. Their plug-ins in the lineup have been creditable and there is Wright and there are Beltran and Delgado and Reyes.

I would say to Manuel, though, that it is getting late. If Pedro has gone six and says he can go more, stay with Pedro; the same for Santana and the other fine starters, Perez and Pelfrey and Maine.

<>If Sanchez gives you two good innings, stay with Sanchez, at least until he shows signs of weakening. With a relief corps as questionable as this one, can you really afford to NOT play the hot hand and stay with that hot hand until it turns cold.

It’s time to do a little thinking outside the box. All those rested arms will avail us nothing if we never get to the promised land.