After his team didn’t make it into the postseason after qualifying 12 years in a row, Hank Steinbrenner, co-chairman of the New York Yankees, issued a statement badmouthing the postseason qualification format. He was specifically upset that the Los Angeles Dodgers made it in with an 84-78 record, but the[Read More…]
Baseball
NL MVP race not so close
The voters made the right choice giving the National League’s Most Valuable Player award to St. Louis Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols. Sure, Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard led the majors with 48 home runs and 146 RBIs, but two numbers shouldn’t make up for his glaring statistics: batting average[Read More…]
Longoria unanimously wins AL Rookie of the Year
Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Evan Longoria received the storybook ending to his fairy-tale season: the American League Rookie of the Year award. A former Long Beach State standout, Longoria was a unanimous selection for the honor voted on by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America and announced Monday. The[Read More…]
Howard powers Phillies to Game 4 victory
The Philadelphia Phillies crushed the Tampa Bays Rays, 10-2, to take a 3-1 lead in the World Series Sunday at Citizens Bank Park. Eight of the 10 runs scored by Philadelphia were off home runs, which the Phillies led the National League in during the regular season. The Phillies were[Read More…]
Ruiz reigns over Rays, helps Phillies win wild Game 3
The Philadelphia Phillies took a 2-1 World Series lead Saturday as Carlos Ruiz’s walk-off hit ended Game 3 and beat the Tampa Bay Rays, 5-4, at Citizens Bank Park. Tied at 4, Phillies reliever J.C. Romero retired the Rays’ in order to start the ninth inning. In the bottom of[Read More…]
Shields protects Rays in Game 2
James Shields, affectionately known as “Big Game James,” lived up to his moniker in Game 2 of the World Series Thursday night, as the Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Philadelphia Phillies, 4-2, to even up the series. Shields threw 5 2/3 innings of shutout ball, giving up seven hits and[Read More…]
Hamels silences Rays’ bats in Game 1
With one swing of Chase Utley’s bat, the Philadelphia Phillies stole home-field advantage from the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 1 of the World Series on Wednesday night. Utley’s two-run blast in the first inning was the difference, as the Phillies beat the Rays, 3-2, at Tropicana Field. Utley became[Read More…]
He’s one helluva Dirtbag
Tonight, another World Series begins and another young Long Beach State product is at the forefront. Evan Longoria and the American League champion Tampa Bay Rays will host Game 1 of the World Series against the National League champion Philadelphia Phillies at Tropicana Field. The game will air on FOX[Read More…]
First playoff game, national stage doesn’t faze Longoria
On the first pitch of his first career playoff game, former Long Beach State standout Evan Longoria didn’t show any jitters — if he had any at all. The 22-year-old led off the second inning and blasted starter Javier Vasquez’s offering to left-center at Tropicana Field to give the Tampa[Read More…]
There’s no postseason like October
In comparison with the other two major U.S. sports leagues, Major League Baseball’s postseason stands at the top of the mountain — regardless of which teams are in the hunt for the World Series trophy. At least in terms of recent consistently competitive series and lasting memories, anyway.Like Kevin Dyson,[Read More…]