Postseason 2014 Starts Tonight!!!

            The postseason is here!!!  I am so excited.  There is nothing quite like playoff baseball.  You never know what miracle the baseball gods will concoct.  Carlton Fisk waving the fly ball fair in 1975, Ozzie Smith's walk-off home run in 1985 ("Go Crazy Folks!  Go Crazy!" - Jack Buck), Kirk Gibson's walk-off home run in 1988 ("In the year of the improbable, the impossible has happened." -Vin Scully), Sid sliding in 1992, David Freese in 2011, the list goes on and on.  It truly is a magical time.

            We'll just get this out of the way.  My Braves didn't make it.  They just didn't seem to have "it" all year long.  There were some good times, but the dominance of years past just wasn't there.  Losing Kris Medlen and Brandon Beachy during Spring Training started everything off on the wrong foot and they never seemed to quite recover; just as I feared.  Maybe next year...

            Two of my three favorite teams made the playoffs this year.  The Dodgers and the Cardinals.  Unlike last year when they faced off in the National League Championship Series (NLCS), they are playing each other in the first round; the National League Divisional Series (NLDS).  I don't think I can choose between the two; so once that series is over I will know who my playoff team is.  I am so excited about seeing Clayton Kershaw and Adam Wainwright pitch against each other Friday night.  That is the match-up I was hoping for last year, but never got.  We will see it in game one and then hopefully again in game five (because I hate seeing anyone get swept in any playoffs).

            From there the winner of that series will play the Nationals and the National League Wild Card winner.  This will be either the Pirates or the Giants and it will be decided tomorrow night.  This is the third year that the Wild Card will be decided in a one game series between the top two remaining teams in each league.  I still hate this.  Don't get me wrong.  It is very compelling and exciting.  It gives the playoffs the feel of a Game Seven right out of the gate.  As I write this I am watching the A's and the Royals in the top of the eleventh inning, knotted at seven, loser goes home.  But it is just morally wrong.  Anything can happen in baseball; which means any team, no matter how inferior, can win one game and any team, no matter how great, can loose one game.  So one fluke play can determine a game and knock the second best team in the league out (because let's face it, if they were the best team they would have won their division).  That being said,  maybe I am opposed to the wild card all together; but it's been around since 1995, so I guess it's not going anywhere.

            Admittedly, I am nowhere near as familiar with the American League, but their Wild Card game is now headed into the twelfth inning .  The winner of this game will go on to play the Angels in one ALDS and the Tigers and Orioles will play in the other.  The American League ended up interesting this year.  Lots of smaller market teams that you cannot help but root for; unless you just absolutely refuse because they do not make their pitchers bat.

           All in all I think this is going to be a great Postseason and I just cannot wait to see it all play out.        

         

I can't believe I missed it!

            I love a  good pitching performance.  So last night at 9:00pm when I got the notification on my phone that the Dodgers game was about to start and that Clayton Kershaw was pitching I thought I would tune in.  I have MLB TV and can watch out of market games on my computer.  Truth be told I do not watch it enough to justify the $120 a year it costs.  The Dodgers start so late here in the Central Time Zone and I've usually watched the Braves, so I just don't go through the trouble of getting out the laptop, logging in, etc., etc.  But yesterday the Braves played early, so I thought I would tune in. 

            I watched the first few innings.  Listening to Vin Scully reminded me of why I've shelled out the $120 the last two years.  I could listen to him read the phone book.  I'm sure he would have an interesting nugget of information about each person listed.  Around 10:00 I started to get sleepy.  I dozed off and woke up about ten minutes later.  It was then that I decided to shut the computer down and go to bed.  When I woke up this morning I saw the notification that the Dodgers won 8-0.  I don't do this every morning but I checked the box score.  I wanted to see how long Clayton pitched.  Maybe he had a complete game shutout.  Wouldn't that be exciting?  I also wanted to see how many hits he allowed.  I was sure it wouldn't be many.  Then I saw it, and I was devastated; he didn't give up any hits.  He threw a no-hitter!!!!!  And I missed it!  And for what?!?!  To sleep.  I feel so weak.  I couldn't have possibly needed to sleep that badly.  I can't believe I missed it.  How could I have not checked the box score before I turned it off?  It might not have even mattered?  Three hitless innings isn't that uncommon for Kershaw.  I guess I would have probably turned it off even if I had realized that he had not given up a hit yet.  I've learned my lesson though; check the box score before you turn off a game that has not ended yet!

            In all seriousness, I am so very excited for Clayton Kershaw.  I can't think of another pitcher in the major leagues right now that deserves it more.  I'm also excited for the Dodgers.  Two no-hitters in one season is huge.  Two no-hitters in one month is unbelievable!  I would also like to point out that I did not see Josh Beckett's no-no on May 25th either.  I was out of town and did not even know anything about it until well after the game had ended.  I guess I need to start paying more attention.  Maybe there will be another this season! 

What do we do now?

            Well.  The Braves season ended Monday.  I still can't believe it.  I knew we didn't have the momentum going in, but the Dodgers did not have a great September either, so I thought we had a chance.  I really thought this was our year; this was THE team.  They played their hearts out this year and I am proud of what all they accomplished.  I just hate that it ended so early.

            Monday was heartbreaking.  Absolutely heartbreaking.  First of all, the game was in LA, so it did not start until 8:30 cst.  I watched the game with the TV muted and listened to Jim Powell and Don Sutton through my MLB At Bat app.  That is not something I usually do, but I just couldn't listen to the TBS announcers any more.  I watched games one and three with the sound on.  If you did not know any better you would have never guessed the announcers were not affiliated with either team.  This was the Dodger's show, and it was the Dodger's series to lose.   Nevermind the Braves finished 96-66 and the Dodgers finished 92-70; or that the Braves won the regular season series 5-2.  When game three started and the announcers were recapping game two, the sentiment was that the Dodgers had lost game two, not that the Braves had won.  Looking back, maybe that was the case.  Games one and three  ended with scores of 1-6 and 6-13, respectively.  Blowouts.  And game two's score was 4-3.  So the one game the Braves won, was close.  Even so, I just couldn't listen anymore.  The app was a couple of minutes behind the television feed, which was unpleasant, but I dealt with it.  

            The game was close.  So close.  I was so proud of Freddy Garcia.  From what I saw leading up to the game no one game him a chance; especially after the Dodger's announced they were starting CY Young favorite Clayton Kershaw.  Garcia allowed two early solo home runs to Carl Crawford, but other than that he held his own.  In an interview the day before he said he was not nervous and that he would "just make pitch".  And that's what he did.  The game was tied 2-2 when he came out after the sixth.  Then in the seventh Jose Constanza hit a single, scoring Elliot Johnson and the Braves took the lead.  I thought that was it.  It had to be.  We have one of the best bullpens in the league.  Jose Constanza would go down in infamy just like Francisco Cabrera when he drove in Sid.  "Just make pitch" would be our new saying; it would be on t-shirts for sure.  We would play again Wednesday in Atlanta.  Kris Medlen would get the start against Zack Greinke (who we beat in game two).  We would go on to play the Pirates in the NLCS (because I had tickets to game seven, so we would need home field advantage).  But none of that came to pass.  In the bottom of the eighth Yasiel Puig hit a double off of  David Carpenter.  Then Juan Uribe hit a home run giving the Dodgers a one run lead.  And that was it.  It was so sad.  The boys looked so defeated.  I can still see Chris Johnson standing at the rail of the dugout with his arms draped over it.  He had a great series, and a great year, and to see him like that; so dejected.  Heartbreaking.  Tuesday was rough.  I was still so disappointed; oh, and tired.  The game ended after midnight and I stayed up until the end.                      

            So what do we do now?  I've played the "what-if / if only" game the last couple of days.  What if Craig Kimbrel had been brought in to pitch the eighth?  What if Jonny Venters or Eric O'Flaherty had not gotten hurt and could have pitched that eighth inning?  If only Tim Hudson had been healthy, game four might have been our clinching game instead of our "win or go home" game.  If only our sluggers hadn't been slumping, maybe we could have had a bigger lead and those two runs in the eighth inning wouldn't have mattered so much.  I'm tired of thinking about all of that.  It doesn't change anything.  

            The Cardinals beat the Pirates last night, so even if the Braves had advanced, my NLCS tickets would have been obsolete.  The Cardinals and Dodgers will face off starting tomorrow.  That is going to be a great series.  I would love to see Adam Wainwright and Clayton Kershaw face off, but the schedule was released today and that does not look likely.

            There is a lot of good baseball left.  I guess that is what we do now.

You want my first born in exchange for tickets...okay, that seems reasonable...

            It's here.  Dodgers week.  The week leading up to the Braves/Dodgers series in Atlanta.  I have gone to at least one game in the series for the past three years.  This year will be no different.  I love going to these games, although it is conflicting to see two of my favorite teams play each other.  I usually wear my Dodgers shirt (where else am I going to wear it?) and I've been using my Dodgers Tervis Tumbler all week, so Saturday come game time I will be a Dodgers fan.  The series is usually in August, so usually by then you can tell who needs a win more.  Unfortunately it's only May and that is already evident.  Both teams have had some hard times recently, but the Dodgers definitely need some wins.  I don't know why the series moved to May but I am not complaining.  It is HOT in Atlanta in August.  I bought my parking pass for the game several weeks ago; still paranoid from Opening Day.  I bought tickets yesterday and I'm hoping someone can shed some light on what is going on with ticket prices.

            I started looking a few weeks ago.  For the Dodger games I try to sit behind the visiting dugout.  That is where fans of the visiting team tend to sit so I do not feel quite so out of place in my Dodgers shirt.  I usually buy tickets off Stub Hub.  The tickets for these sections are listed for $100+.  I do not know the average prices at other parks, but based on my experiences this is high for Turner Field.  So I waited it out for weeks.  By Monday I was getting concerned.  I know I paid more for Opening Day tickets, but I rationalized it because it was Opening Day.  I never imagined the price of everyday tickets would go up that much too.  I started to think maybe it was me, maybe I'm just cheap and I've convinced myself that I never really spent that much on tickets; so I looked up my previous orders on Stub Hub.  It turns out I'm not crazy.  Last year I bought two tickets for the Saturday Dodgers game in section 118, row 9 for $59 per ticket.  Currently there are two tickets in section 118, row 9 for $117.  If you're keeping score at home, that's double.  DOUBLE!  Is this the new norm?  What is going on?  Did the price of tickets go up so much from the primary seller that the secondary sellers are asking that much more?

            I ended up buying tickets yesterday.  I checked Stub Hub and there was a pair in section 212 for $37.  Tickets in the 200 sections were going for $60+, so I decided I'd better snatch those up.  After I did the remaining tickets in that section were $79.  That's a huge difference.  It's not the area I really wanted to sit in, but for a $70 (give or take) price swing it will be okay.  A small part of me is wondering why those tickets were for sale for such a "discount".  I have sat in that section before so I know the view is fine.  I know I am just being paranoid, but I am a little concerned that I am going to get there Saturday and the backs are going to be missing off of the seats or something like that.

            I'll try not to think about that.  I'm sure they will be fine.  For now I will just get ready for Saturday.  I have my Dodgers cup and my baseball playlist going.  I am so excited! 

            But seriously, does anyone know what is going on with ticket prices?

I have three teams...

There is another saying about baseball that says that if you love more than one team, you are not a true fan.  I love three.  I know it’s a faux pas, but I can’t help myself; and no, all of my posts will not begin with a saying.  Of course I love the Braves.  I grew up watching them and the members of my family that are baseball fans love them and grew up watching them.  I also love the Dodgers and the Cardinals.  I know it’s random.  I’ll explain. 

I started following the Cardinals in 2009.  It started with the All-Star Game.  It was in St. Louis that year.  During the game and all of the coverage leading up to the game I learned more about the team.  They have a very rich history.  St. Louis may be the only true “baseball city”.  That intrigued me because I live in Alabama and it’s hard being a baseball fan in a state with no pro team.  I think what sealed the deal though was their stadium.  It’s gorgeous.  I love watching games played in St. Louis.  So I started watching them when they were on and by 2010 I was sort of following them and pulling for them.  I got to go to two games in St. Louis in June of 2010.  It was amazing.  More on that later. 

Also in 2009, the Braves did not make the playoffs.  I was not ready to stop watching so I watched the NLDS.  In the NLDS the Cardinals lost to the Dodgers and the Phillies beat the Rockies.  By the time the NLCS rolled around I didn’t want to just watch.  I wanted to be more connected.  I decided to pick a team.  I picked the Dodgers.  I know they too have a rich history and I love learning about the history of the game.  I also love their crisp white home uniforms.  I know every team wears white at home, but with the Dodgers it’s just different.  They lost in the NLCS to the Phillies, whom I pulled for the in World Series (solely because they were the National League representative).  I didn’t expect it to stick, but I found myself following the Dodgers and even pulling for them too when the 2010 season started.  The last few seasons I have gone to Atlanta when the Dodgers come to town; I’ve even worn my Dodgers gear to Turner Field.  It is a little awkward.  It is especially awkward when you forget which shirt you have on and cheer for the “wrong team”.   

I am proud to say that I am no longer collecting teams.  It’s not easy keeping up with three.  It is also not easy deciding who to pull for if one of my three plays another.  I usually pull for the Braves and if I HAD to pick one team it would be the Braves; but sometimes I play the numbers game to see who needs the win more.  This is usually not that clear-cut though.  I know I should probably drop the Dodgers and Cardinals since pulling for them too makes me not a true fan (according to some), but I just don’t want to.  It’s too much fun.  Perhaps I am a fan of the game more than anything.

 Side note: I always pull for the National League in the World Series.  Yes, even in 2010 and 2012 when the Giants won.   The only time I could see myself not doing this is if a Cinderella team from the American League made it to the Fall Classic.  For instance, if the Orioles or the A’s had made it this year (2012) I may have considered pulling for them.  What are great story it would have been for either of them to win.