LCS and NBA lockout thoughts

At left: Albert Pujols has looked locked in during the playoffs, and that was on display last night against the Brewers.

Thoughts from both LCS and on the NBA lockout:

- The Brewers aren't exactly making a lot of friends with their "Beast Mode" antics this postseason. Sure, it looks like fun and it looks like they are having a good time. But, I thought from the first time I saw it that opposing teams wouldn't look too kindly on it. The Diamondbacks certainly didn't, even countering with a snake bite type of antic that appeared to be in direct response to Beast Mode.

The Cardinals looked extra amped for Game 2 of the NLCS last night, after the Brewers won Game 1 Sunday afternoon and displayed their Beast Mode celebrations throughout the game. These teams already didn't like each other from the regular season. Last night's lopsided St. Louis win seemed like a statement to me from the Cards. They seem extra motivated to not allow Milwaukee to celebrate in front of them.

- I have tweeted this, but Albert Pujols looks particularly dialed in this postseason. He's been one of the top players in the game for several years now and always seems focused. However, it seems like he has taken his focus and determination to another level during the playoffs -- I wouldn't have really thought that was possible. Pujols made a great defensive play against the Phillies that I don't think a whole lot of first baseman would even try. He seemed especially locked in last night against the Brewers. Maybe it's his impending free agency and the uncertainty of whether he will return to St. Louis, but Pujols seems very motivated right now.

- Big match-up tomorrow at 2 p.m. MT on FOX tomorrow in Game 4 between the Tigers and Rangers. I still think that series goes seven games and I feel like the NLCS is headed in that direction as well. If Adrian Beltre of the Rangers or Victor Martinez of the Tigers are unable to play for any significant amount of time, though, it could sway the ALCS toward the opposing team. I feel like Martinez's impact is more important, not because Beltre isn't good, but because Texas' lineup has a lot of sluggers in it. Detroit needs Martinez to protect Miguel Cabrera in the batting order.

- The NBA lockout looks like it will be in effect for a while. The sides don't seem terribly close to an agreement. I thought it was a bit of a joke when commissioner David Stern threatened to cancel the entire season a couple of weeks ago. That is the definition of a threat without legs -- the league wouldn't turn down the revenue playing games brings if the players agreed to a deal. However, I think the NBA will miss about half of the season before getting this thing resolved. Of course, I don't rule out the possibility of the entire season being wiped out.

Giants drop Game 5, series goes back to Philly

The Philadelphia Phillies defeated the San Francisco Giants 4-2 tonight in Game 5 of the NLCS. The Giants still lead the series 3 games to 2. Game 6 is Saturday in Philadelphia with the start time yet to be determined (it depends on the outcome of Game 6 of the ALCS tomorrow night). Roy Halladay had a strained groin and seemed to be in trouble every inning for the Phillies but he gutted out six innings and had just enough to earn the win. The Phillies did most of their offensive damage in the 3rd inning, scoring three runs off Giants ace Tim Lincecum who suffered his first postseason defeat.

The Giants' defense let them down in the 3rd inning as Pablo Sandoval missed third base on a bunt attempt by Halladay that would have resulted in a double play and Aubrey Huff misplayed a groundball that ricocheted into center field and allowed two runs to score. The offense had some chances in the first inning as well but Phillies first baseman was able to snare a ball that Huff hit right on the screws for an out. If not for that play, the inning could have been a lot bigger than it was with the one early run the Giants did get. It's bad luck on that play, but part of baseball at the same time.

I thought Halladay showed a lot of heart tonight. It was clear he didn't have his best stuff, but he still only gave up two runs in six innings which to me shows a lot of character. And to find out after the game that he strained his groin in the second inning only makes his performance more impressive.

Cody Ross continues to be the frontrunner for NLCS MVP as he doubled in another run to push his RBI total to 5 for the series. He just seems to keep coming up with big hits in big situations. Let's hope he continues to swing a hot bat in Philadelphia.

I'm still optimistic about the Giants. They have already won in Philadelphia in the series and have Jonathan Sanchez and Matt Cain to pitch Games 6 and 7 against Roy Oswalt and Cole Hamels. Hopefully Game 7 isn't necessary, but it's nice to know that Saturday isn't an elimination game. I can hardly wait to see what happens. Game time should be just before 6 p.m. MT if the Rangers close out the Yankees tomorrow and just before 2 p.m. MT if the hated Yanks force a Game 7 in Texas for Saturday night. Speaking of the ALCS, it resumes tomorrow night. Here's the details:

Game 6 -- New York Yankees (Hughes) at Texas Rangers (Lewis), 6:07 p.m. MT (TBS, Rangers lead series 3-2)

And in another sports note, did anyone else notice what kind of beat down #1 Oregon (7-0, 4-0 Pac-10) put on UCLA (3-4, 1-3 Pac-10) tonight? The final score in Autzen was 60-13. The Ducks look really good and really fast. They are going to be tough to beat. I'm not a big Oregon fan per se, but their team sure is fun to watch play.

Cain is able and Ross comes through again for Giants in Game 3

Pictured: Cody Ross once again comes through, this time with an RBI single in the 4th inning.

The San Francisco Giants beat the Philadelphia Phillies 3-0 this afternoon in Game 3 of the NLCS to take a 2-1 series lead. Game 4 is set for tomorrow night at 5:57 p.m. MT on FOX. Matt Cain threw seven shutout innings and outdueled Cole Hamels to earn his first career postseason win. Can't say enough about Cain, Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said that Cain seemed to get even tougher when he got in more pressurized situations. The rest of the country is starting to see what we've seen for a couple of years now: the Giants have some big time pitching. Javier Lopez pitched a perfect 8th -- I still don't think he gets all the recognition he deserves as he's been absolutely lights out lately. Brian Wilson threw a scoreless 9th to earn the save.

Cody Ross once again came through, this time with a two out RBI single in the 4th inning off Hamels to enable the Giants to draw first blood. He's really dialed in right now -- after the game both Ross and Hamels said they felt it was a pitcher's pitch which makes it even more impressive that he was able to pull it to left field and give the Giants the lead. Aubrey Huff followed with an RBI single of his own and Freddy Sanchez added an RBI single an inning later.

The Giants are in pretty good shape but it's important for them to keep riding this momentum into tomorrow night's game. A win tomorrow night will put them in great shape for a prospective National League pennant.

The Texas Rangers beat the New York Yankees tonight 10-3 to take a commanding 3-1 series lead in the ALCS. The big blow was a three run home run from Bengie Molina to make it 5-3 in the 6th and the Rangers kept adding on after that. Reliever Derek Holland was as big a hero as anyone, throwing 3 2/3 innings of scoreless baseball to hold down the fort. He appropriately earned the win. The Rangers have a chance to clinch tomorrow. That sure would be cool.

Here's the details for tomorrow's games:

Game 5 -- Texas Rangers (Wilson) at New York Yankees (Sabathia), 2:07 p.m. MT (TBS, Rangers lead series 3-1)
Game 4 -- Philadelphia Phillies (Blanton) at San Francisco Giants (Bumgarner), 5:57 p.m. MT (FOX, Giants lead series 2-1)

Cliff Lee dominant; Giants-Phils resume play tomorrow

The Texas Rangers beat the New York Yankees 8-0 tonight at Yankee Stadium to take a 2 games to 1 lead in the ALCS. Cliff Lee was masterful through eight scoreless innings and the Rangers rocked the Yankees bullpen with six runs in the 9th. Josh Hamilton hit a two run home run in the first and that was all Lee needed. This was a big win for the Rangers who took home field back and will try and extend their series lead tomorrow evening.

The San Francisco Giants host the Philadelphia Phillies tomorrow afternoon at AT&T Park in Game 3 of the NLCS. Hopefully they come out on top. Just a short post tonight as I am busy. Go Giants! Here are the start times for tomorrow's games:

Game 3 -- Philadelphia Phillies (Hamels) at San Francisco Giants (Cain), 2:19 p.m. MT (FOX, Series tied 1-1)
Game 4 -- Texas Rangers (Hunter) at New York Yankees (Burnett), 6:07 p.m. MT (TBS, Rangers lead series 2-1)

Rangers cough up lead and lose Game 1

The Texas Rangers lost Game 1 of the American League Championship Series to the New York Yankees tonight by a score of 6-5 in Arlington, TX. The loss was especially brutal because the Rangers held a 5-0 lead through six innings of play and a 5-1 lead entering the 8th. Ah, but the 8th was a brutal inning where the Rangers bullpen imploded and allowed the Yankees to take the lead before even recording an out. One of the big killers was Darren Oliver coming in from the bullpen and walking two hitters. You can't give away free bases in these kind of games. Of course I shouldn't single out Oliver because pretty much anyone that came in from the bullpen didn't get the job done in that inning. Marcus Thames got the big hit that put the Yankees ahead for the first time but there were many contributors.

The whole thing just disgusts me. The Rangers had the Yankees' ace, CC Sabathia, on the ropes and couldn't win. You can't afford to have that happen. Now all the momentum is with the Yankees. Hopefully the Rangers can bounce back tomorrow and even the series up. They can't dwell on this loss too much. Here's the LCS Schedule for tomorrow:

Game 2 -- New York Yankees (Hughes) at Texas Rangers (Lewis), 2:07 p.m. MT (TBS, Yankees lead series 1-0)
Game 1 -- San Francisco Giants (Lincecum) at Philadelphia Phillies (Halladay), 5:57 p.m. MT

It's no secret. I'm very much looking forward to the Giants game tomorrow night and it can't get here soon enough. Go Giants!

League Championsip Series preview

The American League Championship Series gets under way tonight at 6:07 p.m. MT with the New York Yankees at the Texas Rangers. The Yankees start CC Sabathia and the Rangers counter with C.J. Wilson who was very solid in his Game 2 start against the Rays in the Division Series. The Yankees looked like a buzzsaw in sweeping the Twins in the first round and appear to have a lot of momentum plus a bona fide ace starting in Game 1. I hate the Yankees more than any other team in sports but I think they just have too much for the Rangers to handle and will win the series in five games.

It hurts the Rangers' cause that Cliff Lee likely won't be able to start until Game 3 of the series because he pitched on Tuesday night in the deciding Game 5 of the Division Series against Tampa Bay. Lee's performance in the Rangers' win has further solidified him as a big game pitcher who knows how to win in October. Curt Schilling, now an analyst for Baseball Tonight, said he feels a big key in this series for the Rangers will be to get Lee two starts. I agree as I feel the Rangers will have the edge when Lee takes the ball. They need to find a way to win a couple of other games, though. Tonight is a big game because whoever wins will be in the driver's seat for the series. If the Yankees win they will have stolen away home field advantage after the first game and if the Rangers win they will go back to New York with no worse than a split and their ace Lee lined up to pitch in Game 3. The stakes are high tonight and I'm excited to watch.

The National League Championship Series gets under way tomorrow night at 5:57 p.m. MT on FOX with the San Francisco Giants at the Philadelphia Phillies. Game 1's pitching matchup could be one for the ages as the Giants go with Tim Lincecum and the Phillies with Roy Halladay. I'm really excited to watch that one. Halladay of course threw a no-hitter in his most recent (and first career) postseason start while Lincecum threw a complete game shutout in his NLDS start against the Braves and yielded only two hits while striking out 14 batters. Both teams have solid pitching, especially when you look at their first three starters. The Phillies go with Halladay, Roy Oswalt and Cole Hamels. The Giants go with Lincecum, Jonathan Sanchez and Matt Cain. The Phillies' offense is more potent than San Francisco's and while the front line starting pitchers are similar (I may give the Phillies a very slight edge in this department) but I believe the Giants' bullpen is more formidable. This should make for a very exciting series and I for one can't wait for it to get under way. As much as I would love for the Giants to win and am craving a world title for them, I think the Phillies take this series in six games.