Garza Makes No-Hit History

If you are a fan of pitching then you must love the 2010 season. Pitchers have dominated both leagues as we have saw two perfect game, an imperfect game and with tonight’s no-hitter by Matt Garza three no-hitters. Garza became the Tampa Bay Ray to perform this act in the franchise short existence in a 5-0 win over the Tigers. This game was truly a pitcher duel as there was no hit in the game until the sixth inning when Matt Joyce comes up to the plate with bases loaded and hits a grand slam, to break up a no hitter for Tigers pitcher Max Scherzer. Garza also got help from outfield Carl Crawford when he hit a solo homerun in the eighth inning. Garza made his way in to history with six strike outs and one walk that came in the second inning. Garza had a lot of help from the defense of the team to lead him in to the history books from the outfield with two great plays. The Rays feel great that they are on the winning side of a no-hitter as they have been on the losing side twice this season. Now that the Rays have got the no-no under their belt, it leaves two teams without this joy and those teams are the New York Mets and the San Diego Padres. I look forward to seeing what else this 2010 season has to bring and see if it continues to be the Year of the Pitcher.

The Streak is Over

For the last thirteen years the American League has came to the All-Star game and dominated the event. Not this year as the National League finally picks up a win in the midsummer classic. The game was a true showing of this year’s baseball being known as the year of the pitcher as the NL’s arms held the AL to only one run as the National League went on to win 3-1.

The AL came out in the fifth inning when Evan Longoria scored the first run of the game and what would be the only run for the AL. The Lead did not last for long as Braves catcher Brian McCann came in to a bases loaded opportunity when he came up with a bases clearing double and three run RBI. As these was the only three runs for NL and that’s all it took to win.

The American League thought that they had a chance in the ninth when David Ortiz (the winner of last night home run derby) comes up with a lead off base hit single off of Jonathan Broxton. As things seemed to be looking up Papi’s Red Sox team Adrian Beltre comes up to bat and strikes out. So with one out in the bottom of the ninth you would think that you would send in a pinch runner for one of the lowest runners in baseball but they left Ortiz out there which would come back to bite them. As Catcher John Buck gets a base hit in right field that would lead to Ortiz getting a force out at second base. With two down Broxton faces Ian Kinsler and Kinsler can’t get it done which leads to the National League win. The winning pitcher for the game was Matt Caps and the save went to Broxton. Of course the winner of the MVP award was McCann who lead to all the runs that was scored for the NL.

The only thing that I don’t understand about this game is the balancing of players by Joe Girardi. Why would you not keep players for the ninth inning in a close game so that you have options? When it came down to need a pinch runner all he has on the bench is Alex Rodriguez, who never entered the game. I feel if he left some bench players and gave himself some better option there may have been a different ending to this game. But there wasn’t and the National League wins the game and wins the home field advantage for the team that wins the NL Pennant.

The Boss has Passed

This morning the game of baseball has lost one of its more powerful faces, George Steinbrenner. Steinbrenner passed away at the age of 80 at his Tampa home. Steinbrenner was known to most baseball fans as “The Boss” and the owner of the New York Yankees. Most people hated his team but always respected the way he ran it; he was one of the most powerful owners in sports. The man changed the way that organizations got players as he always strived for the best and wanted the best for his organization. He changed the way of free agency and how much players would be worth, always making sure he got who he wanted for his franchise. But he always pushed the players to get what he wanted out of them as he would do this in the media to their face or however it took to get the point across. The players respected him and would always show him that in all times. George built his organization around the idea of winning and winning he did. His Yankees won 11 pennants and 7 World Series titles. He also turned them in to a brand when he created the YES network and putting his all-stars out there made millions off of them. The Boss went out on top his team is the current World Champs, they have the best record in baseball at this point in the season, and 8 of his players made the All-Star team I feel all of this is fitting for the exit of the Boss. You will be missed by baseball!

Big Papi Swings for the Heavens

The Boston media is sticking a sock in their mouths right now when it comes to David Ortiz, in the early months of the season Big Papi had a slow start to season. The media was calling for his head saying he was too old, his bat was slow and that he was washed up. Last night Ortiz showed them who was in charge while he won State Farm Home Run Derby at Angels Stadium . Ortiz was one of eight players with four players from each league.

In the first round David hit eight homers which helped him to advance to the second round in the derby; he was the third player to advance, while he was joined by Miguel Cabrera, Corey Hart and Hanley Ramirez. There was a poor showing for Cabrera who is leading the league in homers and in path to winning a triple crown and Hart showed good in the first round knocking out 13 homers but put a big goose egg up in the second round. Ortiz put up 13 in the second round to put him at 21 homers to tie him with former Red Sox minor leaguer Ramirez for them to advance to the final round.

In the final round of the event Ortiz out shined his former apprentice while he tied the most home runs in a final round with 11 to make him the first Red Sox player to ever win the home run derby crown.

This was a fun family event which is put on for the fans; all the players had their kids on the field with them including big papi himself. Ortiz asked to participate in the derby because he wanted to put on a show for the fans and that it was for them. He called Ramirez like a son to him that he watched him grow up while he played in Boston in the minor league system. This event looked like fun for all the players and looked to raise the spirits of the Boston players as Dustin Pedroia was there filming him and of them was excited to see their Designated Hitter was having fun representing them in the derby.

David Ortiz 32 home runs put him third in most home runs in the derby in his first win. This puts him a total 68 home runs all time in the event he follows only future hall of famer Ken Griffey Jr. who only leads him by two home runs and he is the only player to win three derbies. This has been a fun to see these All-Star sluggers in action but all the true action continues tonight in the 81st All-Star game which will decide who has home field advantage in the World Series.

The Chosen One Chose a Team

2010 has brought on the biggest NBA Free Agency class in history; the most wanted prize of the class was Lebron James. Lebron has played his first seven season for the Cleveland Cavaliers, where he was drafted the number one pick. He is a six time all-star and is one of three players to win back to back MVP awards. He had six different teams begging for him to join him to join their franchise but ultimately He decided to pack up his bags and head to south beach to start a dynasty in Miami for the Heat. LeBron has teamed up two other great Free Agents in Dewayne Wade and Chris Bosh all joining together to hopefully put a ring on their hand. D-Wade has already one championship under his belt with the Heat that he won with Shaq. LeBron says that he chose the Heat because it was in his best interest to win the championship. He was ask if it would have been better to win in Cleveland than it would in Miami and he says a ring is a ring it will be good no matter where he wins. So with all this being said it has been a long wait for all the fans of basketball, some people care some don’t but it affects everyone. If he stays in Cleveland he would have received a lot of money but may have never won the chip. If he went to New York he would have a lot of endorsements offers that he won’t have in other places and would have made a lot of money. He could have went to play for his favorite childhood team in Chicago but in the end he decided it was best to take less money and play with his friends and win a ring.