End of a season

What a glorious Sunday.

The baseball season wrapped up nicely with another Royals come-from-behind win -- and a no-hitter to boot for the Washington Nationals.

The Packers beat up on the Bears, too. After church and lunch, I quietly retired to our downstairs family room, took residence on my favorite couch, flipped back and forth from the Packers to the Royals games on TV and dozed off for a great nap. Glorious.

I woke up in time to see the Royals inserting their backups in what was then a losing cause. And then had the pleasure of watching them take the lead and win.

The Tigers, Cardinals and Athletics clinched their spots, joining the Royals, Angels, Orioles, Giants, Nationals, Dodgers and Pirates in the postseason. There will be no game 163 drama.

I'm still reveling in Friday night's clincher. As the Royals broadcast analysts mused, it was interesting to watch their game morph from one with playoff implications to one that had the feel of a spring training game after the Tigers clinched. As the action unfolded the Denny Matthews and the crew sent shoutouts to just about every one in the Royals front office and their production crew, in between reflections on the Royals' previous postseason dances -- from a ill-informed decision not to work out in Kansas City in the days prior to the 1980 World Series and their comebacks to win the ALCS and World Series in 1985.  

Tuesday night's wild card game can't come soon enough. Although, I remain cautiously optimistic, knowing the the game will be in Kansas City, and the Royals have been lackluster at home in front of big crowds.

For the record, the fan in me is pulling for the Royals all the way. The realist in me thinks they have the team to do it, but they lack the offensive consistency necessary to get them there. Plus, as I said, they haven't played well in big games at home.

I predict Kansas City beats Anaheim and Baltimore beats Detroit in the American League Division Series. Then Baltimore beats Kansas City in the Championship Series.

In the National League, Washington beats Pittsburgh, and Los Angeles beats St. Louis in the Division Series. Washington beats Los Angeles in the Championship Series.

We'll get a Baltimore-Washington World Series. ... Then I'll root for Baltimore to win it all.

(Updated 9.29.2014) Good reads ...

• Get ready for that giant video board at Wrigley Field ... Call me a traditionalist. I'm not excited about the changes set to take place at Wrigley and fear the ballpark's charm will never be the same.
• No decision coming this week on Brewers manager ... The Brewers tanked, plain and simple. But I'm not sure it's Ron Roenicke's fault and hope the Brewers don't rush to make that change.
• In Enemy Territory, a Farewell Comes With a Warm Embrace ... Good for you, Derek.
• Shea Stadium is gone, but its impact on ballparks lives on
• Dayton Moore’s first Royals playoff team was eight years in the making ... A lot is made of the James Shields/Wil Myers trade, but let's not forget the trade that sent Zack Greinke to the Brewers for Lorenzo Cain and Alcides Escobar -- two players who have become key players in the Royals defense and offense -- who I thought were "over hyped and may not amount to much."
• Royals Revel in the Climb After Vanishing Into Crevasse of Mediocrity

One game

With apologies to my Milwaukee Brewers -- Jonathan Lucroy says, 'We got what we deserved'
 -- and Chicago Cubs fan friends, the Kansas City Royals’ magic number tonight is … one.

They just knocked off the White Sox, and there are three games left to play in the regular season. They’ve clinched at least a Monday night play-in game and need to play within one game of Oakland over the last three to host the wild card game.

This almost doesn't feel real....1 more win.....please make it tomorrow, don't make us wait even a day longer #BLUEOCTOBER
— Josh Buford (@jbuford19) September 26, 2014

They are so, so close. They got a big win last night, and today the water cooler talk around the campus had such a “We’re so in” theme that it made me a little nervous we were jinxing it and it could all fall apart. … Just watching Ned Yost’s postgame news conference now, you could sense the anxiety and anticipation in his voice. Now Joel Goldberg and Jeff Montgomery are talking about how “it’s gonna happen” during their postgame broadcast.

Despite losing critical series this month against Detroit and Boston, this team has been resilient when they’ve needed to be all season long. And I’m feeling like they’re getting hot again at just the right time.

Tomorrow night could be huge. … Considering I cried when the Kansas Jayhawks won it all, I can hardly imagine what it may feel like to finally see the Royals finally playing a postseason game after decades of losing seasons.

And as usual …

Sam Mellinger says a wild card for the Royals would be nothing to complain about http://t.co/ed3d9vLBgL
— The Kansas City Star (@KCStar) September 26, 2014

* * *

Then there’s the other big story in baseball tonight …

Derek Jeter played his last game at Yankee Stadium. … Because, well, the Yankees aren’t THE YANKEES this season, and their postseason hopes have been erased by the – I love this, and I love Buck Showalter – Baltimore Orioles.

I had a lecture to mediate on campus tonight, so I worked in my office later than usual. And thanks to the magic of TweetDeck, I caught on to a live feed of Jeter’s first at-bat. He roped the first pitch he saw for double that bounced just under the top off the wall, and I nearly jumped out of my desk chair.

Then, as I settled in at home tonight, Derek Jeter does this.



Hearing Joe Girardi encouraging him to “take a walk” was a smile-worthy moment on its own. Then, seeing the members of The Core Four waiting for him beyond the baselines sent chills through my body. In the moment, it didn’t matter how much I hated watching those guys win consecutive titles and stroll into the playoffs year after year. They always did it with class, and for that I have the utmost respect for them. I honestly can’t recall a time that I didn’t at least cheer for Jeter.

And the frenzy nearly broke Twitter …

You can’t script a better ending. For real. http://t.co/G8duPjYZxQ #FarewellCaptain #Walkoff http://t.co/avERpZ3mVZ
— MLB (@MLB) September 26, 2014

This photo. I mean, come on... pic.twitter.com/iNYZTwvw8M
— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) September 26, 2014

I couldn’t help but read and collect good reads and stuff about Jeter throughout the day. …
 (Updated 09.26.2014)

• Night's Hero: Who Else?
• Derek Jeter's Final Home Game: A Hollywood Ending in the Bronx
• Exit stage center: A tribute to The Captain
• Derek Jeter's Farewell Interview With Brian Williams
• Listen to Bob Costas' perfect explanation of what makes Derek Jeter one of the greatest
• Mazz: You Say Ballplayer, I Say Jeter
• Derek Jeter, a Yankee Before the Pinstripes
• For Yankees, Farewell May Not Mean Goodbye
• Derek Jeter remains an elusive icon in final Yankees homestand
• The Other Side of a Derek Jeter Hustle Play 
• Of All His Numbers, the One on Jeter’s Back Matters Most
• All of Derek Jeter's greatness in one ultimate infographic
• Little girl releases Derek Jeter foul ball back into the wild 
• Derek Jeter: The Longest Goodbye 
• At Second Base, Stealing a Souvenir Moment With Derek Jeter

And the commercials ...

• Derek Jeter does it his way in farewell Gatorade ad
• Derek Jeter delivers emotional farewell to fans in amazing Gatorade commercial

Thanks, Derek



Re2pect for the Captain

A @Yankees Farewell: Derek Jeter's first interview with @NYTmag in 1996, then just a "22-year-old string bean". pic.twitter.com/lDWlAWjSbs
— NYT Archives (@NYTArchives) September 25, 2014

To end this post, this tweet’s for Faye – who this morning vomited her breakfast on me and the outfit in which I was dressing her while she was in the midst of a classic terrible two tantrum because she didn’t like the outfit that Kates had picked out for her to wear because it was picture day today – because she loves Elmo.

Elmo loved playing with Mr. Derek and hopes he now has time for more playdates! #RE2PECT pic.twitter.com/hnEppt89Mv
— Elmo (@elmo) September 25, 2014

Jeter cheater

I've been a fan of Derek Jeter's for a long time. He's got skills, and he carries himself with a ton of class ... Or maybe I'm just that naive.

In a rare hour of relaxation -- that didn't include watching "Toy Story" -- I flipped on the Yankees-Rays game Wednesday night in the bottom of the sixth inning. A half inning later, Jeter pulled one of the slyest acting jobs I think I've seen in my years of watching Major League Baseball.
While ESPN showed replay after replay, clearly showing the ball hit the knob of Jeter's bat, Rays manager Joe Maddon fervently with umpire Joe West and eventually was tossed. I watched in amazement as the umpires huddled and still didn't overturn the call ... and then dropped my jaw when the next batter, Curtis Granderson, slapped a two-run homer to give the Yankees a one-run lead.

The play in question occurred in the top of the seventh, with one out and the Yankees trailing, Tampa Bay, 2-1, with first place on the line in the American League East.

The first pitch from Chad Qualls came in on Jeter’s hands — where he often does get hit — and smacked the knob of his bat as he spun away. He tossed his bat, clutched his elbow and hopped toward the Yankees’ dugout.

Having been awarded first base by the plate umpire, Lance Barksdale, Jeter continued to pretend he was in discomfort. Manager Joe Girardi raced out, as did the Yankees trainer, Gene Monahan, who examined Jeter’s arm.

Fortunately the Rays took the lead back on Dan Johnson's two-run home run and won the game. To make it right.

What floored me more than Jeter's acting job was the way he flatly admitted after the game that the ball hit his bat first. If you're going to act like the ball hit you, at least stick with the act after the game, too.

Reporter: "Where did that ball hit?"
Player: "I thought it hit my elbow."
Reporter: "Replays show the ball hit the knob of your bat first. Did you know it hit the knob of your bat?"
Player: "No. I felt it on my elbow. That's why I reacted the way I did."

It would have been that easy.

I get the whole gamesmanship thing. Get on base however you can. Play to win. Yada, yada, yada. ... Yet, in all of my years of playing baseball, I can't think of a scenario where I would have acted the way Jeter did. If the umpire makes the wrong call, that's one thing. I would have gone to first base, too.

It was Jeter's acting job, however, that made the play so uproarious.

As usual, Bob Ryan has a good take on the whole charade: Jeter caught in the act.

Update, 09.19.2010: Facing Questions, Jeter Asks One: What’s the Big Deal? ... In retrospect, he's got a good point.

World Series diary

Taking a cue from my friend Matt, and putting additional blame on what I’m calling “The Lost Season,” I’m a little late posting my postseason predictions (and good reads) this year… Sorry for that. I’ve been busy.

So let’s review. Going into the post season, I predicted a Phillies-Yankees World Series. That part I got right.

But I also predicted the Phillies would win the World Series in seven games. That part I got wrong. And never posted for the record on this blog. But it’s true.

I never got around to posting my (organized) thoughts on this blog as the games were being played … But as always, I was taking notes on the side. So here I present my “World Series Diary” from some of the raw, unfinished notes I took …

Which is, really, the essence of my blogging anyway …

GAME 1
As the World Series approached, and the buzz got louder, an interesting thing happened -- I started getting really excited.

That's interesting because I've written off 2009 as arguably the most un-interesting and least memorable season of my baseball-loving life. On top of that, I have little love for the Yankees, and I have little interest in the Phillies -- a team that, in recent years, I've found to be dull and boring. (See: 2008 Postseason ... Oh, how I miss 1993.)

Then there's Kates, who said while we watched Game 1, "I don't like either of these teams. I want them both to lose."

And yet, somewhere along the way, I put my biases aside and began paying attention to just how good and sound these two teams are ... The Phillies lack the star power of the glittery Yankees and they go about their business fairly quietly, but they can play -- really well.

As for the guys in pinstripes, I haven't felt this much respect and admiration for the Yankees -- albeit, ounces of respect -- since the days of Brosius, O'Neil and Martinez.

Both teams seem so good and so evenly matched that there's no way I can't see this series going seven games.

I thought Game 1 was a gem. Cliff Lee was masterful and the two plays he made on the mound -- fielding a come-backer behind his back and non-chalantly catching a fly ball -- were images to remember.

GAME 5
With more and more of the players I idolized as a youth becoming just a passing memory – and being snuffed out by steroids accusations – I’ve begun to consider Chase Utley one of my new favorites. And this year’s World Series has pretty much sealed that.

When he hit the three-run homer to put the Phils ahead in Game 5, I shot off the couch, arms in the air and shouting “Chase does it again!” Then I watched it sail into the seats – the identical right-center spot where it seems every one of his postseason hits have landed this year – and pumped my fists. Kates and I remarked about the number of big home runs he’s had … to the point that, in the eighth inning when Kates and I had moved to separate rooms, I scurried upstairs to tell her Chase hit another one; Kates rolled her eyes in amusement. By the time I returned to watching the game a few minutes later, I half expected Joe Buck and Tim McCarver to announce Utley had hit a third home run in the time I was away.

Speaking of Buck and McCarver, usually I enjoy their commentary and shrug off the annual criticism of their styles. This year, McCarver has goofed so many statements, I can hardly stand listening to him anymore ...

GAME 6
Going in, I had high hopes of the Phillies forcing a Game 7. The Yankees can’t possibly win with a three-man rotation, I said. The Phillies are going to jump on their tired arms, and the Phils have Pedro going tonight.

But Pedro had nothing.

By the time he was pulled after four innings, the Yankees had Title No. 27 in the bag. And I was fighting to stay awake for the rest of it.

I watched the ninth from bed, constantly dozing off and having to jerk my eyes open every couple minutes so I didn’t miss the finale … My eyes were closed again when Mariano Rivera got Shane Victorino to ground out for the final out, but Joe Buck’s booming narrative jerked me awake in time to see Mark Teixeira catch the throw and the Yankees beginning their victory dance on the infield.

As Hank Aaron once said, “I’m thankful to God it’s all over.”

It’s a little painful for me to admit this, as much as I would’ve liked to see the Phillies win, but I really did like this Yankees team …

Sure, the management still doled out millions to marquee players, but for the first time in years, this year’s additions actually brought some character and class to the team. This year’s group reminded me more of those admirable teams in the late ‘90s with guys like Scott Brosius and Paul O’Neil than the train wrecks of this decade that included overpaid, baggage-toting guys like Jason Giambi, Gary Sheffield and Kevin Brown.

To me, Derek Jeter also remains one of the classiest players in all of baseball, and I like the feel-good story of him, Rivera, Andy Petite and Jorge Posada reclaiming a title after an eight-year drought.

Some good reads from the series ...
a Girardi dissected as Yankees try for Series title
a Phillies Hope To End 364-Day World Series Drought (From The Onion)
a For Managers, a Clash of Styles on the Top Step
a Taking Different Paths After Building the Core
a Jeter Returns to Series, but Stays in His World
a 2 Sluggers Are Having the October of Dreams
a Lee-Sabathia matchup in Series opener is rare treat
a Baseball Hopes to Break a Streak of Clunker Series
a A-Rod and Howard add luster to starry World Series
a Shades of 1950: Phillies Arrive in New York by Train
a Debate About World Series’ Late Finish Will Last Beyond November
a With Series Fever, Steroids Issue Fades to the Past ... A-Rod will always be a cheater to me … And the Cardinals hiring Mark McGwire as their hitting coach – and Bud Selig’s approval of it – is deplorable.

Following-up

... I think last night was the first time in my life I had ever rooted for the Yankees ...

And it was totally worth it. Great game. Great memories. Great stories by the legends who were visiting the booth all night long ... My favorite: Whitey Ford telling the story of Don Larsen's perfect game and how he warmed up every inning during the last half of the game because the coach told him "Don tends to get tired after five or six innings."

The New York Times had a really sweet -- and interactive -- panoramic today of the game's opening ceremonies ...

Bob Ryan had an interesting perspective on the closing too.

And in case you missed it -- Derek Jeter's good-bye speech ...

* * *

This was the news we woke up to this morning ...

A helicopter crashed early Sunday morning, killing the pilot and a passenger.

But what makes this story shocking, if not miraculous is that the helicopter crashed through the roof of a house, barreled down the staircase and burst out the front door before skidding to a stop in the front yard across the street ... The family of five who were asleep in their bedrooms on either side of the staircase were unhurt. And the house, reported one story this morning, was about a centimeter's worth of nails from collapsing ...

Of all the photos I looked through today, this one from the Chicago Tribune was the most astonishing to me ... It looks like something out of a cartoon, the way you can make out the outline of the helicopter and the way it fell through the roof ...

* * *

I didn't watch any of the Emmys last night. Good thing, because everything I heard and read about them was that they were horrible ...

Reading about the political remarks was fun though ...

I especially liked Laura Linney's comment ...

... following her win for best lead actress in a miniseries or movie in HBO's "John Adams.'" In a clear dig at Palin who mocked Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's roots as a community organizer at the Republican National Convention earlier this month, the actress said her experience in working on the miniseries made her "so grateful and thankful for the community organizers that helped found our country."

Tina Fey, who played Palin on SNL last weekend, had some good words too ...

"I want to be done playing this lady Nov. 5. So, if anyone can help me be done playing this lady, that would be good for me."