Predictions

Turns out my MLB postseason predictions were way off. The Yankees were kicked out in six games, followed by the Phillies (in six as well) a day later. Texas Rangers vs. San Francisco Giants in the World Series. Didn’t think I’d ever say that out loud. Nevertheless, this should be a good Series to watch indeed. Two Aces going head-to-head; Texas’ Cliff Lee vs. San Fran’s Tim Lincecum.

Prediction: Lee’s stuff when he’s firing on all cylinders is, in my opinion, more consistent and solid than Timmy’s. I’m not knocking on Timmy’s game, but if I were to choose one over the other, I’d give Lee the slight edge. Texas in 6 games.

The 2010-11 NBA season just started today. The Miami Heat lost their first game, while the Los Angeles Lakers won theirs. Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol combining for 56 points. Good start to the season, boys!! Three-peat!!

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

Run, Johnny, Run!!

One more win. One more win for #27. Didn’t manage to catch the game live on ESPN again, but caught most of the action on Gameday (as usual lol). The Yankees were up 4-3 when Joba Chamberlain serves up a home run to Pedro Feliz, tying it at 4-4 to end the 8th.

Send in “Mr. Blown Save” Brad Lidge at the top of the 9th inning to preserve the tie and what do you get? You guessed it; a loss for the Phillies… I have nothing against him (he seems like a genuine guy who’s struggling and trying hard to bounce back), but seriously. Cole Hamels and Lidge both need to work out where they went wrong this season/postseason…

After breezing through the first two outs, getting pinch-hitter Hideki Matsui to pop out to Jimmy Rollins AND striking out Derek Jeter, Lidge crumbles after a lengthy 9-pitch duel with Johnny Damon, giving up a single. THEN on the first pitch to Mark Teixeira, Damon takes off, bringing chaos along and an eventual win for the Bombers. Not only does he steal 2nd, but he manages to steal 3rd base as well on the same play (you have to watch the replay/highlight at MLB.com, because it’s simply epic). Lidge proceeds to hit Teix with a pitch, then Damon comes home on Alex Rodriguez’s clutch RBI-double. By now, the Yanks re-claim the lead, 5-4. Next up, Jorge Posada drills a two-RBI single to center, inflating the lead to 7-4.

Enter Mariano Rivera in the bottom of the 9th. Mo only needs EIGHT pitches to dispose of Matt Stairs, Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino. All three grounding out/popping up harmlessly to Teix at 1st. Game over, save, victory for the Yankees.

So there you have it. Clutch hitting from Damon, A-Rod and Jorgie; combined with clutch (and epic) base-running from Damon; and a solid save from Mo brings the Yankees within ONE win for #27. I look forward to Game 5 tomorrow!

Player of the Game for today? Johnny Damon. Period.

LET’S GO YANKEES!!

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!

Yanks Pull Even

A solid 7.0 innings by AJ Burnett coupled with a 2.0-inning, six-out save by Mariano Rivera usually means a win for the Bronx Bombers, and today was no exception. Although Mo kind of struggled in the 8th. Nearly gave me a heart attack; figuratively speaking Nevertheless, as Mo has done countless times in his illustrious career, he escaped the jam.

Homers from Mark Teixeira and Hideki Matsui paved the way for the win, along with a pinch-hit RBI by Jorge Posada. Alex Rodriguez, however, continues to struggle. Similarly, the Phils’ big first baseman, Ryan Howard. also struggled. Hopefully A-Rod wakes up soon. Otherwise his so-called postseason “transformation” thus far will be quickly forgotten.

Super OSCE went quite well yesterday (I hope!). Cellulitis with a penicillin allergy. One down, three more to go (4th, 7th and 11th Oct). Wish me luck!

Enter Night, Exit Light

The Yankees punched their ticket into their first World Series since 2003; Mariano Rivera was summoned from the bullpen at the top of the 8th, and you all know what happens next. 99.99% of the time, the Yankees roll on to win the game. Although I’ll admit, I was on the edge of my seat while watching Gameday on MLB.com. The Angels managed to squeeze one run off Mo (which is near impossible), but because it was a pivotal game (win or go home for the Halos), I’ll let this one slide (as Mo still recorded the save anyway).

So, the World Series stage is set. My TWO FAVOURITE TEAMS will battle it out for baseball’s most coveted prize. I remember telling Dill when the season just started that a Yankees/Phillies World Series match-up is possible. He told me to stop dreaming.

Teams-wise, I’m gonna have to say I like the Yankees a little bit more overall, so chances are I’ll be rooting for them. That’s not to say the Phillies aren’t awesome, because I love them just as much! But whoever wins, I’ll be happy. At least Boston didn’t make it

I had my P410 presentation today at 1:30pm too. All in all, I think we did a great job, and without a doubt, our Powerpoint slides were by far the best!

Now, just an OSCE and three exams to go…

Phillies Win World Series! Oden Injured. Again.

YES! THE PHILLIES HAVE DONE IT! They’ve won it, 4 games to 1! The 2008 WORLD SERIES! MLB Champions for just the second time in team history! Cole Hamels picks up MVP honours!

From ’80 (1980, their most recent championship, AND their only other championship) to ’08. Quite fitting, don’t you agree? Maybe next time, Tampa Bay!

And now moving on to the NBA. The 2008-09 season officially started yesterday, with the Lakers playing at home against a young Trailblazers team. All eyes are on Greg Oden’s long-overdue NBA debut. The #1 draft pick of the 2007-08 NBA draft, who missed the entire 07-08 season due to microfracture knee surgery, who’s HIGHLY ANTICIPATED big league debut was cut short yet again due to an injury.

Oden sprained his ankle 3 minutes into the game, hobbled around until halftime, and is expected to miss 2-4 weeks… It’s been more than 1 year after being drafted, and he’s yet to score his first basket (Oden was 0 for 4 in scoring)…

Phillies/Rays Game Postponed

Damnit. Looks like I have to wait another day to see my 2nd favourite team, the Philadelphia Phillies, win just their 2nd World Series in team history. Thanks a lot, rain…

The game’s tied at 2-2, middle of the 6th inning. Tampa Bay’s Kazmir’s already been relieved by Balfour.

I hope Hamels picks up the win, hope Utley wakes up and starts blasting homers again like he did in Game 1, I hope Howard can pick up where he left off with another multi-homer game. I hope.