Baseball Journal-Seri-ous Problem 10-15-12

Earlier this season, I watched the day part of a day/night double hitter between the White Sox and the Indians. It was unscheduled and though the Indians were playing well at the time, the stadium crowd was seemingly limited to friends and family. (I blame the name change of Jacob's Field for all the Indians' troubles.) That was the quietest I've ever heard it during a major league ball game, until that game Friday night between the Cardinals and the Nationals.

As the improbable came closer and closer into being the inevitable, the stunned crowd became more and more silent. As much as the A's exuberant fans willed a win for the team last week to force a game five, the Washington DC crowd came apart in the same way their team did. Nobody there cheered the victorious Cardinals. In spite of a sea of red and white in the stands, I don't think there was a single St. Louis jersey there, except on the field. Pity those poor, heart-broken fans.

The Yankees must be tired after all these extra-inning games, explaining why they can't lift their bats. So far, the only thing they can hit is Valverde, but batting practice isn't the same as a real game. I will give this amount of credit to the Yankees, specifically Derek Jeter. You showed some real grit being out there and playing hurt Captain. You left it all on the field and did all you could. Good show.

I have a quandary in rooting interests. I like three out of the four playoff teams. The Cardinals seem unbeatable. Will the merry-go-round finally stop before they win another championship? The Giants are no slouches either in comebacks. They got the pitching. Their hitting is timely, but doesn't scare anybody. The Tigers should be blowing people away with their lineup. Now would be a good time to finally start doing so. Certainly they don't want to be in any close games late with their bullpen situation. And the Yankees are already down 0-2 in the ALCS. That's too bad.

The Giants have had a nice season. First, I'd like to take this opportunity to thank the Dodger management for firing a very expensive torpedo into their own team and allowing the Giants to coast to victory in the division. In 2010, I saw a Giants game early in the season, which bore little resemblance to the team that won the World Series. The current team bears little resemblance to that team. Posey and some of the pitchers are the only leftovers that actually played in the series. Congrats to management and Bochy for getting another group into contention.

To this point, the Giants have gotten their franchise first perfect game with Matt Cain, were major contributors in winning the All-Star Game for the National League, lost the likely league MVP in Melky Cabrera, still have the likely league MVP in Buster Posey, and they are in the NLCS after winning three elimination games in a row on the road.

The Cardinals, reigning World Champions, lost their big-headed superstar player in the off-season, so he could go to Hollywood and be Mike Trout's sidekick. They're in the NLCS after another unbelievable post season performance in the NLDS.

On paper, the Tiger are right where they should be, given that they have the possible American League MVP in Miguel Cabrera and the best pitcher in baseball, the Verlander. Given their performance over the course of the season and versus the A's last week, they've got no business being in the playoffs. Hitting aside, the Verlander virtually single-handedly bailed them out in the ALDS. They've picked a good time to finally live up to their potential, if that's what's happening.

Okay, premature hot stove discussion. I've heard the Rays are thinking about letting David Price go. This would be a monumental mistake, if true. But their loss would be someone else's gain. Rangers, let Hammy walk, pick up Price, take a one-year chance on Melky Cabrera.

I'm such a genius.