HALLADAY SEASON
Yesterday Phillies pitcher Roy Halladay was simply magnificent. Taking down batters as if he was in battle, only the 2nd pitcher to pitch a no hitter in the post season. The 33-year old Halladay, was a maestro on the mound, leading the Phillies to a 4-0 victory against the Cincinnati Reds in Game 1 of the National League Division Series. Halladay was aggressive from the opening pitch and it seemed the other 8 players on the field were in the same zone. Congrats to Roy Halladay, for a man who was so loyal to the Toronto Blue Jays who were not committed to winning, its great to see him take the big stage get his long awaited just due.
This is not going be an easy series for the Reds, it only gets harder in Game 2 with pitcher Roy Oswalt hitting the mound vs. Bronson Arroyo & the Reds. Oswalt comes into the series with a 23-1 record against the Reds, with no signs of slowing down.
I'm calling it now, the Phillies will sweep the Reds and move on to the winner of the Giants vs. Braves series. The Phillies bullpen is too deep and solid for the Reds hitters. The bullpen is clicking on all cylinders at the right time.
BACK WHERE HE STARTED
Wide Receiver Randy Moss was traded from New England Patriots to the Minnesota Vikings, a team that drafted him some 12 seasons ago. The Pats received a 3rd round 2011 draft pick for Moss. This was an excellent pick up for the Vikings who have been struggling as of late at the wide receiver position. Moss who seems happy and was well received by fellow Vikings players and coaches, said “To all of the Vikings fans who are coming to the Metrodome, pull your 84 jersey out man. I think its going to be a fun ride”. This was clearly a business decision by New England, and lets be honest New England is typically cheap when it comes to handing out max contracts to its players. Moving Moss was smart, and possibly eradicated a potential distraction to Patriots players & coaches for the rest of the season.
QB Brett Farve has a solid weapon to throw to, there is a lot of football left in the 33 year old Moss, and with this major addition the Vikings look to be the team to beat in the NFC. Barring injury, with Brett Farve at the helm, along with one of the hardest running running backs in the league in Adrian Peterson, WR Percy Harvin, TE Visanthe Shiancoe, a solid & impressive offensive line, and a great defense, I see them making it all the way to the Super Bowl in Dallas this coming February.
Get ready for the Farve - Moss connection, its going to be great to witness for the rest of this season.
YANKEES RETURN TO CHAMPIONSHIP FORM
19th post season win for pitcher Andy Pettitte, as Yankees take commanding 2-0 lead over the Twins. After Twins 2B Orlando Hudson scored gaving the Twins a 1-0, the Yankees began to attack. Curtis Granderson hits a double in the 4th inning as the Yankees trail 1-0. Later Granderson scores on a sac fly to tie the game 1-1. Lance Berkman hit a home run to give the Yankees the lead in the 5th inning. Later more damage by the Yankee bats after a questionable call, Berkman doubles off the wall scoring Jorge Posada in the top of the 7th inning. Twins manager Ron Gardenhire comes out to talk to his club, and also has a few choice words for the umpire which ends up getting him tossed. Bottom of the 9th inning, Yankees closer Rivera comes in and grabs the save for the 5-2 win. Yankees played more aggressive defense than they did in Game 1.
Pettitte was definitely ready and in post season form. For those who doubted, and thought the Yankees pitching would be shaky, Pettitte is a vet, and like most vets, he live for these type of moments. He knows when to turn it on, and make it count.
The series shifts back to Yankee Stadium, I'm here to say this series is over! We have seen the last game of this year at the Twins home of Target Field. If you're manager Ron Gardenhire and after 2 games you still don't know how to beat the Yankees, you are done.....flatline! See you next season.
FREAK COMES OUT AT NIGHT
The Atlanta Braves gave all they could give, yet it was no match for the San Francisco Giants phenom pitcher The Freak aka Tim Lincecum. Lincecum who is a strikeout assassin, set a Giants post season record of 14 strike outs against the Braves hitters. Lincecum may not have had the best season, but tonight that was behind him as he proved that he is one of the best if not the best in the National League. He was sharp tonight, zoned in on making sure that he & the Giants not only sent a message to the Braves, but the rest of the baseball world, that the Giants are coming and they are for real.
The Freak may not win his third straight Cy Young Award, but he did win the respect of those who doubted him or thought his Giants would just fold or not even make the post season to begin with.
