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October 29, 2011

World Series live blog: Game Seven

Hardball Times copy editor Greg Simons is not one of those people the TV moguls feared would be put off by a Middle America World Series. He's a lifelong Cardinals fan. As with Games One, Two, Three, Four, Five, and Six, we asked him to put on his red cap and share his observations as he watches.

Pregame
Writing this about an hour before game time, I'm reminded that within a few hours, regardless of which team you root for—St. Louis, Texas or another franchise—the baseball season will be over shortly.

After six wonderful months, with the last several weeks giving us some of the most memorable games of my lifetime, the fields will go silent as winter looms. There will be other diversions, in sports and otherwise, but for those of us who give our loyalty first and foremost to baseball, tonight is our last chance to witness the best of the best playing the greatest game ever created.

Will we see all the best players on the field tonight? Well, we know we won't see the Cardinals' Matt Holliday. His injured finger had led to him being deactivated Friday morning. Allen Craig will take his spot in left field, while Adron Chambers now occupies his spot on the active roster and serves as a potential pinch runner and defensive replacement.

For the Rangers, somehow Mike Napoli didn't destroy his ankle at second base Thursday night and looks to start with little or no ill effect. Nelson Cruz has a tweaked hammy, but he's also in the starting lineup. Derek Holland pitched last night, so he may not be available for Game Seven, but this is a kitchen sink game, so you never know.

Now let's get to the action.
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Posted by: Greg Simons

October 28, 2011

World Series live blog: Game Six

Hardball Times copy editor Greg Simons is not one of those people the TV moguls feared would will be put off by a Middle America World Series. He's a lifelong Cardinals fan. As with all the previous World Series games, we asked him to put on his red cap and share his observations as he watches.

Pregame
Who has the most pressure tonight? Is it the Rangers, who hope to avoid a Game Seven on the road? Is it the Cardinals, with their backs against the wall and their hometown fans aching for victory? Is it Tony La Russa, who utterly collapsed mentally in Game Five? Maybe it's Albert Pujols, who has had one stellar game and no other hits, and who has free agency looming.

Truthfully, there's plenty of pressure on everyone, and plenty of fun ahead for all of us.

Stan Musial, Red Schoendienst, Bob Gibson, Lou Brock and (my all-time favorite) Ozzie Smith—that's some nice inspiration for the team and the fans. What a collection of talent.

Mike Napoli certainly deserves that feature, because he's been awesome.

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Posted by: Greg Simons

October 27, 2011

How good has Mike Napoli’s World Series been?

With the World Series having shifted to St. Louis for good, we won't be able to hear the catchy "Na-Po-Li!" chant echo throughout Arlington anymore. However, Texas' catcher will still be heard and felt in a big way for the rest of the series and will likely be named series MVP if the Rangers close out their first world championship.

Mike Napoli has been so strong offensively in the eighth spot in the Rangers lineup that he's outperformed every player in this series except, perhaps, Cardinals hitter Albert Pujols. Even Pujols' batting average, RBI and slugging percentage don't match up to Napoli's production over the first five World Series games. In fact, if we look back at the cleanup hitters in the past five Fall Classics, it seems like Napoli has out-produced them all.

	             Slash Line	HR	RBI	R	XBH
Napoli 2011	.308/.389/.846	2	9	2	3
C. Ross  2010	.235/.381/.471	1	2	5	2
Guerrero 2010	.071/.125/.071	0	2	0	0
A-Rod 2009	.250/.423/.550	1	6	5	4
Howard 2009	.174/.240/.391	1	3	3	3
Howard 2008	.286/.375/.762	3	6	3	4
C. Pena 2008	.118/.250/.176	0	2	1	1
M. Ramirez 2007	.250/.333/.313	0	2	3	1
M. Holliday 2007.294/.294/.471	1	3	1	1

Posted by: Shlomo Sprung

October 25, 2011

World Series live blog: Game Five

Hardball Times copy editor Greg Simons is not one of those people the TV moguls feared would will be put off by a Middle America World Series. He's a lifelong Cardinals fan. As with Games One, Two, Three and Four , we asked him to put on his red cap and share his observations as he watches.

Pregame
Nice subtle shot by A.J. Pierzynski about Ron Washington not "selling his players out to the media." Gee, what manager might A.J. know who does something like that? I'm looking at you, Ozzie Guillen. I can't wait to see how Guillen gets along with Logan Morrison.



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Posted by: Greg Simons

Another baseball card mystery

For the second straight week, the 1971 world champion Pirates provide us with some baseball card intrigue. This time, a celebration card takes center stage.

I love celebration cards. They capture those moments after teams have accomplished what they set out to do—win a world championship. They also show players displaying unabashed emotion, some of them completely overcome by the moment. And lastly, these cards are fun because it can be a challenge to identify each player pictured.

Over the years, I have collected multiple copies of Topps’ 1972 “Series Celebration” card, which is so appropriately headlined by the words, “On Top of the World!” Even though it has no outstanding monetary value, it ranks as one of my favorites, in large part because of my affinity for the Pirates team of this era.

I particularly enjoy the image of the half-smiling, half-grimacing Steve Blass in the middle of the frenzied scene, his expression reflecting the joy of the moment and the emotional strain of pitching in the seventh game of the World Series. When I look at the larger photograph depicting the celebration seen on this card, I see Dock Ellis, wearing a Pirate windbreaker, smiling and stretching a gloved right hand onto the shoulder of Blass. Ironically, it was Blass who had emerged—ahead of Ellis—as the Pirates’ No. 1 starter in the postseason. Somehow, I don’t think Ellis minded.

The larger photograph that was cropped for this Topps card also shows Vic Davalillo, the journeyman outfielder who performed so capably as the Pirates’ fourth outfielder. For some reason, one that I am unaware of to this day, Davalillo is wearing the No. 11 windbreaker worn by the late Jose Pagan. I’ve always thought that the Davalillo/Pagan dichotomy serves as a symbol of the unity that existed on the 1971 Pirates. One Pirates player could wear another player’s windbreaker without resentment or petty jealousy.

Also seen on the Topps card is Manny Sanguillen, the affable Pirates catcher who appears to be letting out a loud yell; he looks the happiest of all the Pirates during this celebration. Sanguillen is being hugged by his manager Danny Murtaugh, the beloved father figure of the ‘71 Bucs. Standing in front of Murtaugh and Sanguillen is the team’s third base coach and trusted Murtaugh confidante, Frank Oceak, who is clearly wearing No. 44 on his back.

So we’ve identified most of the Pirates players and coaches in this picture. But two mysteries remain. Who is the Pirate behind Blass, the one who is sporting the medium-sized Afro? And who is the Pirate in the lower right-hand corner, the one whose left shoulder is covered by Davalillo’s left arm?

The former, I think, might be Dave Cash, the Pirates second baseman and leadoff batter. But I’m not certain. The other is definitely not Willie Stargell, but it might be Gene Clines, who platooned in center field with Al Oliver.

Once again, we call on our faithful readers to provide assistance.
Posted by: Bruce Markusen


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