Friday, October 14, 2016

Yankees Postseason History Recap: Babe Ruth Calls His Shot


Rumor and legend has it that one man once pointed to the center field wall before an at-bat essentially calling that he was going to hit a home run. The man was Babe Ruth of the Yankees and it happened in Game Three of the 1932 World Series.

Ruth called his shot in the fifth inning against Chicago Cubs pitcher Charlie Root and did so while leading the Yankees to a 7-5 victory. I can’t think of another man, even in legend, that called his shot and actually hit one in a game let alone a World Series game so I guess that’s just part of what makes the Great Bambino special.


Here is a little nugget of personal information from me as well while we are on the subject. One time one of my teammates in Little League had an older brother who told us he would give us a $20 bill if we called a home run and hit one. Me being me, greedy, called the shot and promptly took a fastball to the calf. Even in Little League pitchers didn’t take kindly to calling your shot. That was as close as I ever got to being Babe Ruth and boy it hurt. 

Trenton Thunder Set “Fireworks Nights” for 2017

Fireworks Nights Set for 2017 Season
Fireworks


The 2017 season promises to a summer filled with family-friendly entertainment at ARM & HAMMER Park, and today the Thunder announced dates in which post-game fireworks will take place during the summer.

"Before we know it, winter will be in the rearview mirror and we look forward to seeing all of our friends again at ARM & HAMMER Park," said Thunder GM/COO Jeff Hurley. "Fireworks are one of our most popular attractions each year and we look forward to having shows throughout the summer."

There will be 23 nights of fireworks planned for the season including three special shows following Wednesday night games. Wednesday May 24 (vs. Reading), Wednesday June 28, (vs. Richmond), and Wednesday July 5 (vs. Reading) will feature a post-game fireworks show.

The Thunder will celebrate the birth of our nation with a week-long July 4th Fireworks Spectacular. ARM & HAMMER Park will host fireworks shows on July 4, 5, 6, and 8.

"Our show on July 4th will be the most spectacular display in all of Mercer County and we look forward to honoring our nation with a great week of celebration at ARM & HAMMER Park," said GM/COO Jeff Hurley.

Labor Day Weekend 2017 will also feature a pair of fireworks shows when the Thunder host the Reading Fightin Phils. Saturday, September 2 and Sunday, September 3 will be the final two fireworks shows of the campaign.

The dates below are scheduled to have post-game fireworks during the 2017 season:
Saturday, April 29 @ 7pm
Thursday, May 11 @ 7pm
Saturday, May 13 @ 7pm
Saturday, May 20 @ 7pm
Wednesday, May 24 @ 7pm
Thursday, June 1 @ 7pm
Thursday, June 8 @ 7pm
Saturday, June 10 @ 7pm
Saturday, June 17 @ 7pm
Wednesday, June 28 @ 7pm
Thursday, June 29 @ 7pm
Tuesday, July 4 @ 7pm
Wednesday, July 5 @ 7pm
Thursday, July 6 @ 7pm
Saturday, July 8 @ 7pm
Thursday, July 20 @ 7pm
Saturday, July 22 @ 7pm
Saturday, August 5 @ 7pm
Thursday, August 17 @ 7pm
Thursday, August 24 @ 7pm
Saturday, August 26 @ 7pm
Saturday, September 2 @ 7pm
Sunday, September 3 @ 7pm

Your Thunder will begin the 2017 campaign in Erie, PA and will open the home season at ARM & HAMMER Park on Thursday, April 13when the team hosts the Portland Sea Dogs (Boston Red Sox). Season tickets, Pic-a-Plans and group tickets are on-sale now by phone at 609-394-3300. Single game tickets will be available beginning in March of 2017.

Fans can stay current on all the latest news and information about the Thunder's 2017 season by signing up for Fun on Deck, the team's bi-weekly newsletter. CLICK HERE to sign up.

My Predictions for the 2016 ALCS

Image result for indians vs blue jays

Ladies and gentleman here we stand with just two American League teams left vying for one shot at the World Series in 2016. The Cleveland Indians won the American League Central this season and swept away the Boston Red Sox in the ALDS to get here while the Toronto Blue Jays won the first American League Wild Card defeating the Baltimore Orioles before taking on the Texas Rangers in the ALDS. Now these two teams stand before each other just four victories away from the World Series. Who takes it home?

We know how each team has fared head-to-head thus far this season and we know how the offense has done against each other’s starting pitcher for the night so it’s time to put up or shut up. Who will represent the American League in the World Series with home field advantage at their backs? I have to go with the Cleveland Indians.

To be completely honest I don’t believe either team is going to run away with this. The Blue Jays starting pitching is probably lacking behind the Indians young starters but the offensive advantage goes to the Blue Jays against almost every team out there. This one may come down to the bullpen and I have to give the slight edge to Cleveland on that. Andrew Miller, and we all know this first hand, is a beast and a beast that can give you two innings if necessary. Terry Francona knows how to navigate the postseason and knows how to handle a bullpen and honestly I think this could be the difference maker in it all.


So I have Cleveland Indians winning this in seven games. It should be fun. 

The ALCS Pitching vs. Offense Breakdown


The ALCS kicks off tonight for the Cleveland Indians and the Toronto Blue Jays so like we did before the AL Wild Card Games we will look at what each opposing offense has done in their careers against these starting pitchers. Tonight pits the Cleveland starter Corey Kluber against a dynamic Blue Jays offense that includes Edwin Encarnacion, Jose Bautista, Russell Martin, Troy Tulowitzki, Josh Donaldson and others. Cleveland has also already announced they will follow Kluber in Game One with Trevor Bauer, Josh Tomlin and Mike Clevinger. Who has the advantage in the stat column? Let’s find out.






Kluber vs. Toronto



Bauer vs. Toronto



Tomlin vs. Toronto



Clevinger vs. Toronto









Marco Estrada vs. Cleveland



JA Happ vs. Cleveland



Marcus Stroman vs. Cleveland



Aaon Sanchez vs. Cleveland







All stats and pictures courtesy of ESPN.com

ALCS: Recapping the Head-to-Head Matchups from 2016


The ALCS has officially been set as the Cleveland Indians will play host to the Toronto Blue Jays with just seven games potentially separating them from a trip to the World Series. Who will take home the American League Pennant and have home-field advantage in the World Series thanks to the All-Star Game victory earlier this summer? That’s hard to say right now but while we wait let’s look at what these two teams have done against each other head-to-head this season. Maybe it gives us a hint of what’s to come, or maybe not. They do call it the “second season” for a reason you know.

Enjoy.

Rk Date Tm Opp W/L R RA Win Loss Save
Rk Date Tm Opp W/L R RA Win Loss Save
81 Thursday, Jun 30 TOR CLE L 1 4 Carrasco Dickey Allen
82 Friday, Jul 1 TOR CLE L 1 2 Bauer Barney
83 Saturday, Jul 2 TOR CLE W 9 6 Grilli Otero Osuna
84 Sunday, Jul 3 TOR CLE W 17 1 Happ Kluber
122 Friday, Aug 19 TOR @ CLE L-wo 2 3 Manship Osuna
123 Saturday, Aug 20 TOR @ CLE W 6 5 Biagini Tomlin Osuna
124 Sunday, Aug 21 TOR @ CLE L 2 3 Clevinger Cecil Allen
All stats courtesy of Baseball Reference. 

MLB Playoff Schedule for 10/14/16


Good morning ladies and gentleman and happy Friday to you all. We made it and in a few short (long) hours it will be the weekend for most of us and it will also be the beginning of the American League Championship Series between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Cleveland Indians. They take center stage tonight as the only game on the schedule. Good luck to both teams, just a little bit of extra luck to the Indians who did not help end the Yankees season in 2016. Yeah, a little spiteful.

Toronto Blue Jays @ Cleveland Indians (Game 1) – 8:08 pm ET on TBS


This Day in New York Yankees History 10/14: Chris Chambliss Wins the Pennant


Chris Chambliss will forever be known and remembered for his home run that won the pennant in the America League for the New York Yankees in 1976. Chambliss won the Yankees 30th AL pennant with his bottom of the ninth walk off home run to beat the Kansas City Royals in Game Five of the ALCS 7-6. Fans rushed the field, security lost control, and the Yankees are headed to the World Series. My, oh my I don’t believe it.


Also on this day in 2000 Roger Clemens strikes out a record setting 15 Seattle Mariners in a 5-0 victory in Game Four of the ALCS. The Yankees would win the game behind Clemens’ one hitter.