Mets Stumble Out of Playoffs and Phillies Slide In

Sunday, September 30, 2007

With ace-veteran Glavine on the mound, the Mets thought they would win and at least tie the Phillies in the National League East division for a chance at playoffs.

The Mets and Phillies began the last day of the regular season tied in the East division, both fighting for the chance to make the playoffs.

Earlier in the season, the Mets were seven games ahead of the Phillies and no one thought they could loose. But the Mets went downhill, big-time.

The Mets went through a slump their last 17 games winning only 5 and losing 12 while the Phillies caught up and went 13 and 3 in its final 16.

So, when the Mets lost Sunday 8-1 to the Marlins and the Phillies beat the Nationals 6-1, the Phillies earned a spot in the playoffs representing the East division.

The Phillies haven’t earned a spot in the playoffs since 1993, but their hard work paid off this year.

Although I am a Braves fan and disappointed that they did not make it to the playoffs, it sure makes me happy that the Phillies took advantage of the Mets’ slacking off to win the division.

Octoberfest is here! There is one more spot up for grabs: San Diego Padres and Colorado Rockies are fighting in a one-game battle for the National Leauge Wild Card spot...

Fans or Nonfans Decide on Bonds' 756 Homerun Ball

Friday, September 21, 2007

Whether you love or hate Barry Bonds, you can decide what happens to his “treasured” 756th homerun ball. Whether you think he did steriods which influenced his ability or whether you think he's innocent until proven guilty, you're in charge.

Matt Murphy, the man who endured kicking and shoving to get Bonds’ ball at the game, sold the ball to clothing designer Marc Ecko for $752,467. Ecko is letting fans now choose what happens to the ball, which he says now belongs to everyone.

Here are the choices:
A. Bestow It: Give the Ball to the Hall of Fame
B. Brand It: Put an asterisk on the ball with a branding iron and give it to the Hall of Fame.
C. Banish It: Put the ball on a rocket and launch it into outer space.

Ecko thinks baseball is about imagination, imagining hitting the big home run ball or making the game saving catch.

I totally agree, baseball is all about hopes and dreams that start with little kids playing tee-ball on a dusty field continuing to their first walk out onto the Big League field surrounded by 40,000 screaming fans hoping you make your dreams come true too.

Join all baseball fans and be a part of how this piece of history is remembered. So, it’s time for fans to figure out what’s going to happen to this ball. The only way to vote is at Ecko’s site.

Thome Soon Joining Exclusive Club

Friday, September 14, 2007

White Sox player Jim Thome is one homer away from joining the exclusive 500 homerun club. He would be only the 23rd player to reach 500.

Unlike Barry Bonds who said good luck and good riddance to the fan that caught his 756^th homerun ball, Thome has a special proposal for the fan that catches his. He won’t reveal the special surprise until Friday, September 14 when his team plays the Anaheim Angels.

Thome wants to deliver the 500^th homerun ball with his dad to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Thome’s unselfish attitude and love of baseball shows through how he wants this moment to be remembered. I think many baseball players would want to keep this record ball (which there is nothing wrong with), but Thome has the entire game of baseball in mind.

I’m sure no baseball fan will miss this moment. Usually, any televised baseball games will place another screen to show the all of Thome’s at bats until he hits it. You don’t want to miss it; it’s going to be special.

Swing away Thome, I’m rooting for you!

*Update* Thome hit No. 500 on September 16, in the bottom of the ninth against the LA Angels to give the White Sox a 9-7 victory at Cellular field, ironically, on Jim Thome Bobblehead Day.

Atlanta Braves Pumped Enough for Playoffs?

Thursday, September 6, 2007

The Atlanta Braves were one out away from losing their fifth game of the past six against their two top rivals, the New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies.

However, Braves’ Matt Diaz had something different planned. With the Braves down 8-6, Braves’ Jeff Francoeur and Martin Prado raced to beat infield hits and get on base. Yunel Escobar then walked to load the bases for Diaz.

Diaz took a big swing and landed it just out of reach of Phillies outfielder Chris Robertson. Francoeur and Prado easily scored and Escobar sprinted home to beat the throw to home making the score Braves-9 Phillies-8.

As the Braves pulled out this important win I heard the announcer say, “Braves win! Braves win!” This sounded exactly like the announcer screaming the famous “Braves win” seven times during the1992 National League Championship Series when Braves’ Sid Bream was rounding third and just barely slid in safe sending the Braves to the World Series. It gave me goosebumps to hear it again.

After Escobar got up from home plate he was greeted with pushing and high-fives by the entire Braves team. After congratulating the runners, the team tackled Diaz, thrilled with the win.

The excitement shown by all Braves players while trampling, and hopefully not injuring, Matt Diaz will ignite a fire within the Braves. This much needed win (to stay even remotely close to participating in the playoffs) is key in the rest of the season’s games.

I think the Braves are going to pull this one out. This win is just what the Braves needed to pump up the team to get excited and serious about the next few series.

Of course it takes more than just excitement to win games and make the playoffs. But baseball is just as mental as physical. With the mindset and memory of Wednesday afternoon’s excitement and win, the Braves may have a more “conquering” and “optimistic” attitude that could lead them to win the majority of the upcoming series.

Both the Phillies and the Braves players and coaches were in disbelief that the Braves could overcome 5-0 and 8-2 leads that the Phillies had over the Braves during Wednesday’s game.

Why should anyone doubt that the Braves could overcome being behind the Mets by seven games for the National League East division or coming back from being five-and-a-half games back for the National League Wild Card?

I certainly believe they can do it.

Whether you consider yourself a baseball fan or not, this winning moment is still exciting.