MLB Championship Series

American League Championship Series:
** New York Yankees vs. Texas Rangers **

What I want to see: The Yankees to win the Series, setting up a World Series re-match with the Phillies

Prediction: Tough one. As much as I like the Yankees, NY’s pitching seems to be a little shaky… CC Sabathia should have lost Game 1 against the Twins, but the Yankee bats picked up his slack. CC will need to step up even more and eat up innings as usual, Andy Pettitte will need to step up even more and prove to the world that he is still indeed the Postseason King, Phil Hughes must continue to shine like he did against the Twins, and A.J. Burnett needs to start pitching again.

Yankees in 6 or 7 games. HOPEFULLY…

National League Championship Series:
** Philadelphia Phillies vs. San Francisco Giants **

What I want to see: As above. The Phillies are my favourite National League team, so I definitely want to see them win this one. A Yankees vs. Phillies re-match would be epic!!

Prediction: The Phillies’ “Monster Three” (haha that reminds me of Monkey D. Luffy, Roronoa Zoro and Sanji from “One Piece” LOL) of Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels and Roy Oswalt are more imposing than the three the Giants (Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Jonathan Sanchez) are pitting them against. “The Freak” will probably be the most difficult to crack for the Phillies bats; Cain and Sanchez shouldn’t be as troublesome. The Phils had a “cold bat” slump in the regular season, so let’s hope that doesn’t happen in this series!!

Phillies in 5 or 6 games. Fingers crossed!!

Olajuwon

Sunday, 3rd October, 2010… After a thoroughly enjoyable late brunch at The Coffee Club in Sylvia Park, this (below) happens LOL

@Sylvia Park Footlocker store:

Me: “Hey they’ve got Olajuwon’s!!” (referring to an NBA Swingman jersey)

Bobo: “Do you need a large one?”

LOL.

The Yankees and Phillies are both in the post-season (which starts tomorrow). Re-match of 2009′s World Series in the works, anyone? Although I have a feeling the Phils will get their revenge this time around.

Halladay, Hamels, Oswalt are a more solid trio than, say, Sabathia, Pettitte, Burnett (that’s if he even gets a nod…) Provided Hamels doesn’t have another meltdown and pitch like he has been pitching of late

#27!!

The Yankees have done it again. The most decorated team in all of professional sports just won their unprecedented 27th (I repeat, TWENTY-SEVENTH) MLB World Series title, taking down the defending world champs (and my other favourite team from the other league), the Phillies. Just like how Babe Ruth and his Yankees won it all in the old Yankee Stadium, Derek Jeter and co. have emulated what Ruth and co. did, but this time at the new Yankee Stadium!

Solid effort from Andy Pettitte, from the bullpen and Mariano Rivera who recorded the final five outs. But perhaps the man who deserves the most glory is no doubt Hideki Matsui. “Godzilla” singlehandedly mauled the Phillies with six RBIs including a two-run home run off Pedro Martinez. Well deserved World Series MVP, Godzilla!!

Let’s hope this is just the first of many for the Bombers!! Congratulations!!

Back to reality. Two more exams for me… Come on, Nathan! Study! Also found out I passed the Super OSCE yesterday night too, which I’m still quite ecstatic about!! XD

Bronx Bombers Up By One

Didn’t watch the game on ESPN today because of the three exams I have left… However, caught most of the “action” on MLB.com Gameday. Yankees bested the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park, with veteran Andy Pettitte picking up the win and Cole Hamels the loss (what the hell is wrong with him this season/postseason?!).

Phil Hughes was shaky, giving up a home run to Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz in a non-save situation. Thankfully, Joe Girardi brought in who else but Mo to close out the win and pick up the save (since Hughes gave up the solo homer, the game became a save-situation) before any further damage could have been done.

What was most peculiar for me was Andy Pettitte logging a single to centerfield, then rounding the bases in a warm up jacket on Johnny Damon’s two-RBI double (was it a double or a single? I forget). Now I know he was most probably keeping his arm warm, but I’ve honestly never seen any other pitcher do that before lol. Forgive me if this is common practice, but I haven’t seen that many baseball games… Yet!

Nevertheless, great game. Yanks up 2-1!