The Heirloom

Cleaning Out The Locker for 2009

2009-11-05T17:27:10Z

This was indeed a fantastic year for the game.

I already looked back at the games I attended - which turned out to be quite a year in the game. Overall, I was pleased with how everything held its own with the return of the New York Yankees to championship prominence to the amazing start of the season for Zach Greinke of the Kansas City Royals. It was also the year of Manny Ramirez's suspension due to a prescribed medication considered illegal by the Commissioner's Office and the growing groundswell to review the quality of umpiring as well as the oversight and governance of the game's officiating.

Well, I hope they can address the latter during the meetings over the off-season.

Is this the end for the Heirloom? There's the major awards coming up and who knows what the hot stove will serve up before March? I might go to TwinsFest, scheduled at the end of January at the Metrodome. It appears they will not sell single game tickets at this one as well - stinks, doesn't it?

I do want to share something that has come out of this second season as a MLBlogger: I was asked to become part of a book project. I can't divulge too much here at this time, but I always considered if a book would be in the offing on this subject. Well - my answer came.

In closing, I wanted to thank my fellow MLBloggers for raising the bar for me to try to accomplish a level of writing that is unique to the game. Mark (MLBlogosphere) has been encouraging and supportive these two years. Jane (Confessions of a She-Fan) is a fun writer that I support wholeheartedly! I just finished her book - and loved it! There's Julia (Julia's Rants), Red State/Blue State, Pittsburgh Peas, More Cowbell, Plunking Gomez, Tribe With Ted...you all provide excellent context to this game we all love whether we write on our favorite team or widen our scope to include even the lowest leagues in the game.

To the Minnesota Twins, New York Yankees, Chicago White Sox, Milwaukee Brewers and St. Cloud River Bats, thank you for opening your doors to this fan and enjoy the game as intended. I look forward to waking through the gates of Target Field next year and adding a few more stops along the way.

To my friends who support the blog and my writing, a huge thank you. Whenever I doubt my abilities to write at the highest level or to justify writing about a subject not stereotypically acceptable in the culture I live in, you guys made it clear that I no longer need to apologize for my writing whatsoever! To Scott and Michael in Duluth, Chris in Chicago, Don in Toronto, Eric in Los Angeles, Fred and Jason in Madison, Bill in San Francisco and to pretty much everyone surrounding me in the Twin Cities, thank you very, very much!

Finally, to my brother Matthew. Thank you for your continued support of this blog and to show that our family still hasn't lost the love our mother gave us of the game. Between our paths was that little girl our grandfather gave a few coins to so she can see baseball down the street at Crosley Field in the late 1930's. That's the Heirloom at its genesis - she isn't done with us, yet!

Until next year!

World Series 2009: Game, Set, Match, Championship

2009-11-05T04:50:42Z

One word: Domination.

Even if you rooted against them, you had that premonition that they would grab their 27th World Championship to christen the New Cathedral.

It was their time. It was also redemption for Joe Girardi years after his unceremonious departure form South Florida and the scrutiny he received in the Bronx through mid-season. It was a fitting first title for Alex Rodriguez, Mark Teixeira, Nick Swisher, C.C. Sabathia and A.J. Burnett - and others that have not experienced a Yankee World Championship before.

Having been inside the new building on 161st Street in the South Bronx, there was an air of destiny you felt as you walked through the Great Hall, staring at the legends and the biog video board above the steakhouse and clubhouse store. You knew they would be there in October.

Yet, I doubted they'd make it through November. Still, they were the strongest club going into postseason. They held their own through the Series. They showed strength against strength. In the end, they won on their new home turf. The flagship now christened properly.

Congratulations to the New York Yankees on their 27th World Championship. What a year for you guys!

Also, congrats goes out to the Philadelphia Phillies for being the class of the National League. You proved how solidity can win through all the time.

Now, Jane can celebrate with a champagne shower in her bath out in California. Don't forget your husband's snorkeling goggles!

World Series 2009: Back to The Bronx and Game Six

2009-11-05T00:38:50Z

I'm downstairs in the "family room" with the HDTV on and my laundry going. A good excuse to sit down for Game Six of the Series. It's the most relaxed I've been today after I endured an all-day online press conference (that has nothing to do with baseball, BTW). Don't feel sorry for me...

Here we go: The Phillies needs to win or go home. Shane Victorino is healthy. Chase Utley could best history. Andy Pettitte could do his clinch/championship magic once again. A-Rod could finally claim his title of "Mr. November" with Mr. October watching.

Are going to have a Game Seven or a 27th World Championship tonight? I'm watching. Are you?

World Series 2009: Six or 27?

2009-11-03T04:33:58Z

I was supposed to be in my final class meeting of an off-site grad school course. An hour before class was to begin, we were sent an E-mail informing us of the meetings cancellation due to the instructor falling ill. This was followed up with a phone call. In all - a free Monday evening for once!

Well, no class tonight - perhaps the only thing to do is to watch or follow Game 5 of the World Series!

GAME 5 - PHILADELPHIA 8, NEW YORK (AL) 6: A.J. Burnett on short rest or a well-rested Cliff Lee? Rather, the Yanks celebrating Championship Number 27 in South Philly or the Series goes back to the Bronx?

It began as A.J. was back to his old inconsistent self. He opened the door for the Phillies to avenge the last two evenings. Chase utley's homer was the straw that broke Burnett's back. Replacing A.J. with Phil Coke - bad move for the Yanks! For Utley's second roundtripper and Eddie Vedder's pal Raul Ibanez's own shot, it was no wonder why Coke was the weakest link on the Yanks' pitching staff.

Then, it became nervous time. The Yanks gnawed at the Phils lead by getting at Lee, then Chan Ho Park and Ryan Madsen. However, with scrutiny as the Brad Lidge's lack of closing power, Madsen wound up salvaging the victory for the Fightin' Phils earning a hard fought save in the process. These ain't the "Whiz Kids," folks! NEW YORK (AL) LEADS 3-2.

The series goes back to the New Cathedral on Wednesday night.

World Series 2009: "This is All About Control"

2009-11-02T05:02:47Z

When your back's against the wall, what measures needs to be taken to reverse the tide?

Yeah, the Philadelphia Phillies were down a game and the momentum is over at the New York Yankees' dugout - but, does that mean anything? Even as Citizens Bank Park polishes up after the Eagles' victory across the way over the New York Giants, no one felt any pressure. No one knew who would take control of the Series.

Desperation? Ask the Green Bay Packers about that! They almost tripped up the Minnesota Vikings on Brett Favre's homecoming to Lambeau Field. Too bad they didn't! Or, rather, I'm glad they didn't. Boo Favre all they wanted - they simply blew it! The Vikings simply took control of the NFC Central Division.

Would it be the same situation in Game 4 of the World Series? If so, who will take control of the Series? I already recapped Games 1 and 2 from the New Cathedral and Game 3 from South Philly. Here's how tonight's festivities went down...

GAME 4 - NEW YORK (AL) 7, PHILADELPHIA 4: As Hallow's Eve/Samhain became All Saint's Day/Dia de los Muertos, with an extra hour to spare, a debate rages on. The Phillies decided to go with a four-man rotation with Joe Blanton on the mound as Numero Quattro, while the Yanks recycle C.C. Sabathia on a short rest situation. Certainly, Joe Girardi could've added Joba Chamberlain to match up against Blanton, but the stage was set to test of Charlie Manuel's solution to his pitching staff problem as they face a game behind the Yanks in the Series.

As Janet Jackson once said: "This is all about control." The Yankees proved once and again that control is the key to the game. How do you control the Phillies bats? C.C. Sabathia had to take the high road after giving up two runs early in the game. When the relievers took the mound, both teams simply traded runs until they were tied after eight. The Yankees finally took control off the Phillies' closer Brad Lidge. Three runs made the difference between a tied series and a Yankees advantage. Now, the Phillies will have to loom for answers on how to get the series back to the Bronx and save their lives at the same time. NEW YORK (AL) LEADS 3-1.

And, what answers will the Phils need to have for tomorrow night? With A.J. Burnett set to return to the mound, Charlie Manuel needs to make some decisions to stay in the Series. If not, the Yanks will raise their 27th World Championship flag on Phillies' turf. Not exactly a scene you'd want in Philadelphia.

If that happens - at least Mitch Williams have been exonerated for 1993. They'll have to find another scapegoat to burn in effigy at City Hall - or, carry D-cell batteries to toss onto the field when the Yanks win.

World Series 2009: A Lambeau Diversion

2009-11-01T22:39:14Z

Yep, that's me (L)...moonlighting over at the NFL. Photo by Randy Stern

No, I'm not a Lambeau Field today. I'm watching the BIG GAME at home. Yet, I'm all caught up in the "Brett Favre Homecoming" hype with my team winning at halftime over Favre's old team.

The strange catharsis of the World Series and the overextension of the MLB Postseason is the rub against football season. Whether you're into the college game of the pro one, your allegiances become blurred. It was indeed tough being a Minnesota Vikings fan when the Minnesota Twins went for the AL Tiebreaker the evening after the first Green Bay Packers game inside the dome.

Sure, had the Twins not won on that amazing Tuesday night, I would give less credence to the Postseason. Well...not really. Baseball is baseball and one cannot ignore the drama of the Postseason even if your team's not in it. It makes the rest of us hungry for a shot next year...

In the meantime, about last night...

GAME 3 - NEW YORK (AL) 8, PHILADELPHIA 5: On Hallow's Eve/Samhain, the outcome would be clear: One team will have superheroes leading the charge while the other team will have nightmares. With a match-up between Andy Pettitte for the Yanks and Cole Hamels for the Phils, there was no clear indication which team will end as which. Delayed an hour and twenty minutes from the schedule first pitch, the rain subsided enough for this highly anticipated duel to get under way.

When it did, the Phillies rocketed into the lead off Pettitte with three runs, including Jayson Werth's homer. Then, Alex Rodriguez came up in his second at-bat. He run one off the right field corner camera. "After further review," A-Rod gets a two-run homer. I was looking for Brad Childress to throw the red flag...oops, wrong sport! With A-Rod awarded a homer, Nick Swisher decided to contribute to the party with a legitimate jack of his own. With these two out of their slumps, it was more than enough for a Yankees' win on the road. NEW YORK (AL) LEAD 2-1.

After Brett Favre handles his old team, we will soon find out whether Charlie Manuel's strategy of four starters works against Joe Girardi's call to C.C. Sabathia on short rest. Maybe FOX will move their cameras back a foot off the fences? Considering how the balls have been flying deep towards the fences, it would probably be a good idea.

Well, back to the Vikings-Packers game...

World Series 2009: It is NOT Always Sunny in Philadelphia

2009-11-01T00:32:45Z

I wasn't planning to post for a while - probably after Game 4. But, the weather decided to throw a wrench into a very good match-up between the New York Yankees' Andy Pettitte and the Philadelphia Phillies' Cole Hamels. After two games, the Series is tied as it kicked off the New Cathedral's maiden World Series voyage. The stage has shifted down the New Jersey Turnpike (or Amtrak's Northeast Corridor) to Citizens Bank Park in South Philly.

I'll admit that I have not watched the Series on FOX, so as soon as I turn the TV on - my brain exploded.

- Did Joe Buck get a hair coloring? I don't remember being him that blonde?

- When did FOX hire Ozzie Guillen as a pre-game show host?

- "The Cleveland Show" sucks!

- Cut that damn fauxhawk, Nick Swisher!

Here's a recap of the Series so far...

GAME 1- PHILADELPHIA 6, NEW YORK (AL) 1: Which former Cy Young Award-winning Cleveland Indian would kick off this Fall Classic? It wasn't C.C. Sabathia. Chase Utley made sure to remind C.C. of their last meeting in last year's NLDS. All the hype of "Sabathia in Milwaukee" became a meltdown for the big ace last fall. This fall was no exception - and Utley took one deep to broadcast that message loud and clear.

This was Lee's game: A rare complete game in a time of 100-pitch strategies. He only gave up one Yankee run. Still, Charlie Manuel was confident in his Cy Young Award-winning ace. The Phils gave Lee plenty of defense, in case he couldn't nail them with his arm. Yet, it was all Lee - ten strikeouts and a full day's work. PHILADELPHIA LEADS 1-0.

GAME 2 - NEW YORK (AL) 3, PHILADELPHIA 1: Pedro Martinez could've found someone to shove over. He didn't have to be 72 years old and wearing a Yankee uniform. Instead, Pedro concentrated on the mound. He also found himself locked in a duel with A.J. Burnett, the former outcast of the Toronto Blue Jays. Considering how Pedro was quietly ushered out of Queens, the duel of outcasts had to break somehow.

Pedro was broken. It took homers from Mark Teixeira, Hideki Matsui and a RBI pinch-hit single by "Hip, Hip" Jorge Posada to break their biggest nemesis. A.J. cruised for seven innings striking out nine Phils with peerless relief by Mariano Rivera. Who knew it would end up this way with the season Pedro had since returning to play with the Phillies? SERIES TIED 1-1.

As for tonight...stay tuned!

World Series 2009: The Cleveland Connection

2009-10-28T03:29:22Z

In a world where political correctness and civil libertarians are starting to impede on the standards of life, I still need to tread carefully when discussing matters of Native/First Nations affairs. After all, I live on the crossroads of the Ojibwe and the Dakota.

Such as the Cleveland Indians - Or, the ex-Tribe pitchers now facing each other in Game One of the 2009 World Series.

Did anyone see this coming? Cliff Lee and C.C. Sabathia - the last two American League Cy Young Award winners. Both were members of Eric Wedge-led Cleveland teams. Both were disciples of Carl Willis. Both also shared lockers.

Sabathia was the first to leave Progressive Field. He went to Milwaukee in hopes of riding a postseason train further than the 2007 Tribe. At least the Tribe went to the ALCS the season before. When his Brewers dream was null, he looked for a better deal. With the Steinbrenner's family hands wide open, Sabathia snatched the ball and became a Yankee.

Then, Lee left. He had the Cy Young last year in part to resurrect his career. When Sabathia headed to Wisconsin, it was Lee's ballclub to ace. He arrived in 2009, the Tribe in shambles, Wedge's job on the line - he bolted to Philly. All of the sudden, Cliff Lee became Cliff Lee again. That Cy Young swagger and methodical delivery in tact.

How many starting pitching match-ups in World Series history have you had the pleasure of witnessing? I'm certain we have seen a match-up of two masters on the mound where a hit would ruin the fun for the fan - a home run would end all expectations on the game.

The true winner will not be either the Yankees or the Phillies. Rather, the Cleveland Indians. It is a tribute to an organization that crafted fine ballplayers through a winning farm system full of the finest teachers of the game.

World Series 2009: A Rematch - 59 Years in the Making

2009-10-26T12:23:06Z

It all begins here. Photo by Randy Stern

A lot of us may not know what the term "Whiz Kids" refers to. However, if you're an honest-to-God Philadelphia Phillies fan, you have to - it's part of your history.

The "Whiz Kids" are the 1950 Phils, National League Champions. Before the 1980 World Series, Phillies fans always looked back at that year (and the 1964 Phillies - that almost won the NL) as "the last time" they had any great success. That was until 1980, then 1993 and last year.

Why bring up the "Whiz Kids?" Looking back 59 years ago, the Phils faced the New York Yankees - one of the greatest ball clubs of all time. The Phils looked pretty lucky to win the NL that season, while the Yanks were the dominant paradigm of baseball after World War II. In the end, Joe DiMaggio and Company swept the young Phils in four games. The memories of 1950 still lingered for a long time in and around the City of Brotherly Love.

The defending World Champions are far from the "Whiz Kids" of 1950. And, these Yanks are far from the great Pinstripe dynasties of the late 1930s through the early 1960s. Yet, these two teams, representing their respective leagues, are set for a meeting unlike any World Series held this decade - that is, if you simply set aside the 2004 Curse-killing Boston Red Sox triumph.

Welcome to the Liberty Series! It's a Bell facing off against a Statue - a rematch that waited 59 years to settle!

The problem I have with this match-up is how even these two teams are. One may have an edge over the other team, but that edge is cancelled out for another advantage - and so forth. It is Yankees power against a balanced Phillies attack at bat featuring consistent base hitting, speed and power. It is the Phillies starters and first line bullpen against core Yankees starting pitching. It's Brad Lidge against Mariano Rivera. It's Jimmy Rollins matching up against Derek Jeter - or, Ryan Howard and Mark Teixeira? Or, how about Jayson Werth against Johnny Damon?

I can go on. It's just hard to pinpoint an actual advantage for either team to show a clear winner and the number of games it will take for that winner to be crowned. After all, the Phillies aren't facing a debutant team, such as the Tampa Bay Rays. They've simply met their match in the Yanks.

The key to the Series has to do with how the Phils play in the first games in the Bronx. In turn, it will be how the Yankees play in South Philly. A win in the other's home ballpark may provide a roadmap for the rest of the series. It will be interesting how the Phillies' extra rest will affect their play ay Yankee Stadium against a fresher Pinstripe squad. Believe me when I say this will be a six-to-seven game series - instead of four-game one 59 years ago when these two teams last met for the championship.

On Wednesday evening on FOX, it begins in the Bronx. A new Cathedral sees its first Fall Classic unlike the many series played across the street in the old one. If you love irony, then you must love the pitching match-up between two former teammates: Cliff Lee for the Phillies and C.C. Sabathia for the Yanks. How's that for honoring Eric Wedge's legacy in Cleveland in light of hiring announcement of Manny Acta at the Tribe's helm prior to the start of Game 6 of the ALCS?

History and irony aside - let the Fall Classic begin!

It's the Hardest Part...

2009-10-25T05:24:01Z

So, it rained. It rained hard enough for the Commissioner's Office to cancel Saturday's Game 6 and reschedule it on Sunday. We can accept another day of waiting.

Hence the Tom Petty reference above...

Is it me, or was Joe Girardi's posture at his press conference on the postponement telling a bigger story than his responses to the press?

How do you deal with postponement? You get busy. If you go to Confessions of a She-Fan, Jane's got videos to get you through the day. Me? It was actually sunny this morning in The Cities so I did some autumnal and Halloween-themed photography (in lieu of tracking down some hard-to-find protest in St. Paul to photograph) and caught up on work for grad school. I also did some work on the photos from a coffeehouse set by a local musician. Good news is that he loved them.

Speaking of Confessions, check out a review of her book. Better still, support this fellow writer by buying her book or picking a copy up at your local library!

Will Game 6 of the ALCS happen tonight? It better!

An Angelic Turn of Events

2009-10-23T05:19:25Z

Did anyone think that the Los Angeles Angels would pull off this victory in Game 5?

It started out strong for the Halos until the seventh inning. That's when the New York Yankees climbed back and snagged the lead. Yet, it took a concerted effort in the bottom of the seventh to not only catch A.J. Burnett on a bad inning, but for the Halos to retake the lead for good.

The series goes back to the Bronx. Everything is on the line. The Philadelphia Phillies will have to wait until the weekend to know where to go. I'll have to wait to do a World Series preview post until then.

The Judgment Nights

2009-10-21T20:20:55Z

Tonight, judgment will reign over Citizens Bank Park in South Philly. With the Philadelphia Phillies up 3-1 in the NLCS, the Los Angeles Dodgers have two options: Win and go home to salvage the rest of the series or Lose and go home - period. That will depend on whether Manny Ramirez will show up from his early shower or not.

Tomorrow night, the Los Angeles Angels are backed into the wall of their own ballpark thanks to the New York Yankees. The Yanks also have two options: Close out and reverse their curse applied by the Halos, or end up losing to close the series back in the Bronx. These Angels have pushed the Yanks to the limit before. They just need that one victory on their home turf to toss the Yanks back into defense mode.

With the dream Freeway Series on the brink of being destroyed, can a Northeast Corridor Series have the same impact when the World Series begins next week? Only these next two evenings will tell.

Challenges Along The Santa Ana Freeway

2009-10-19T03:43:28Z

I'll make this quick: The New York Yankees fly west to Orange County thinking they have their Los Angeles Angels problem solved. They took the first two inside the New Cathedral headed for the Big A. Game Three of the ALCS is a Monday afternoon affair designed to halt the progress of office workers from Buena Park down to San Clemente and, possibly, out to Indio.

If the Yankees take the Angels out of this game, the water cooler will be an unhappy place to meet up at with a few minutes to go before jumping on the freeways.

Speaking of freeways, the Los Angeles Dodgers took a split in Chavez Ravine into chilly Philadelphia tonight for Cliff Lee and the Phillies. The chill froze the Dodgers offense. Cliff Lee has been pitching a shutout through eight. Chad Durbin closed it out - without the save designation. Still, the Phils took control form start to finish sending a statement that the Dodgers will have a tough time taking the NL's flag into the World Series as long as the air is cold and the home bats are hot.

If perchance we do not get a Freeway Series and neither of the Southern California teams makes it, then we will have a rematch of the 1950 World Series. The Yankees swept the Phillies back then. I doubt this will be a repeat if this match-up happens.

A Season To Remember: A Look Back at My 2009 Season

2009-10-14T05:31:24Z

Photo by Randy Stern

The Twins final home game inside the Metrodome was a forgettable experience. It not only catapulted the Yanks into the ALCS, but it also paved the way for the Vikings to do whatever they want to the place. Just throw the keys at the Wilfs on the way out.

This season was extraordinary in my baseball life. Seven MLB games attended, an additional short season independent league game thrown in and visits to a total of four ballparks marked this remarkable year. The Metrodome saw my patronage four times, including the amazing AL Tiebreaker. This season provided my first visits to US Cellular Field in Chicago, Yankee Stadium in the Bronx and Joe Faber Field in St. Cloud, Minnesota. Miller Park in Milwaukee received my third visit ever.

What stood out this past season was the mix of experiences I had attending these games.

WATCHING A BALLGAME IN NEW YORK: I've always seen the old Cathedral on television. The upper deck that towered above the South Bronx, the insanity of Yankee fans - all thought to be true. Not only was this a New Cathedral, but one that honored the past with a new beginning. It was also extremely fan friendly. It was just the details that made this place stand out: All seats pointing to home plate and carryover details from the old building. Amid this feast in excellence was a pretty good ballgame. The Yankees won - but you'd expect them to put on a good show for the fans regardless. To me, it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience to punch my ticket to this ballpark. My hope is that Target Field can only ratchet the experience a notch when I get in a game next season.

VISIT ENOUGH TIMES AND YOU GET IN A GAME: This decade alone saw many visits to Chicago for me. Every trip I can guarantee passing by either Wrigley Field or US Cellular Field. I always try to get into the park on Clark & Addison, but could never get the dates right to do so. This time, I swallowed my pride and headed south on the Red Line "L" to 35th Street. I live in the Twins Cities and go to Twins games as much as I can. These guys are the enemy. For one night, I set aside all avarice for a Saturday evening on the Southside. How was it? You might say that the next time I'm in Chicago during baseball season, I'm going to Wrigley Field.

BASEBALL IS TRULY AMERICANA: A lot of us MLBloggers know that the Majors aren't the absolute answer for our baseball jones. If you read More Cowbell, our Rays fan had to drive an hour-and-a-half to Port Charlotte to witness some success in the organization. Sadly, he saw the Tampa Yankees take the Florida State League title away from the Stone Crabs. I wasn't looking for a minor league championship, per se. Instead I saw collegiate ballplayers getting their breaking training in the Northwoods League an hour from home - in St. Cloud, Minnesota. There was nothing polished about these guys, but it was an entertaining evening of baseball. I enjoyed my trip to St. Cloud that I intend to catch another Northwoods game in 2010. Within an hour-and-a-half of home are the Mankato Moon Dogs and the Rochester Honkers - this year's league champions. I'm also considering an Iowa or Omaha trip next year as well. That would mean the Royals (in Omaha - AAA), the Cubs (in Des Moines - AAA) or the Kernels (in Cedar Rapids - A).

THE ABSOLUTE WORST MOMENT OF 2009: Twins fans always had faith in Joe Nathan as a closer. He came through for the Twins every time he was called out of the bullpen. Since early September, he has simply failed the hearts of fans and the team. On what was supposed to be my final Twins home game inside the Metrodome, the Twins led into the ninth inning with Nathan on the mound and two outs. The Chicago White Sox's Gordon Beckham comes up - and hits a home run into left field. The game is now a one run difference with the Twins leading. Paul Konerko comes up. On one swing, it's a brand new ballgame. Nathan walks two more and is yanked for Mark Guerrier. Then, Alexei Ramirez steps in for the Southsiders. Ramirez hits a single bringing both base runners in for the stolen victory. Not only did the White Sox embarrass their hosts, they prevented a Twins sweep of the mid-week series. You couldn't get this ugly if anyone tried.

THE ABSOLUTE BEST MOMENT OF 2009: The AL Tiebreaker at the Metrodome. It wasn't just a twelve-inning game - it was an out of body experience. I have never experienced it live - the Homer Hankies, the sonic implosion of 54,000 people underneath a Teflon roof and the raw emotion only reserved for Vikings fans. This was beyond my only other postseason experience in the Dome: Game 3 of the 2004 ALDS with the New York Yankees neutralizing the home field advantage throughout the game. Through twelve innings, I stood up, yelled, waved an old Homer Hankie from 2006 (that I never used - since I somehow lost the new one they gave me at the gate). The emotional rollercoaster crested on Alexi Casilla's at-bat in the bottom of the Twelth. As Carlos Gomez crossed home plate - all emotions let loose. It was the moment I always dreamed of being a part of. The reality of it was nothing short of amazing.

I suppose the only writing left is the League Championship Series, the World Series and any crazy deals that might happen between November and February. Next year will be a challenge if things turn around in my professional career as I am currently in transition due to the economy. This will definitely put a pinch on my commitment to the number of games I'd like to go to at Target Field next season, along with any road trips worth taking. Aside from short hops to points along the Northwoods League trail, down in Iowa/Nebraska or over to Wrigley Field, I'm also eyeing some independent baseball action in Fargo, Sioux Falls and Sioux City. Kansas City also seems doable, but I'll see what transpires in my professional life when the season comes into play.

To achieve what I've achieved and witnessed some of my finest personal moments in the game, I took risks and a greater vision of this simple thing I love. It's a beautiful game and you never grow old watching it.

On to The Next Round

2009-10-13T05:17:33Z

Mom must be happy now up in heaven. Here's another chance for the first-ever Freeway Series in World Series history. This is the penultimate dream for Southern California fans, like my brother, his family and few other folks I know, to have the greatest spotlight in baseball shine along the Santa Ana Freeway.

This San Fernando Valley native cannot wait. But, how could this be achieved? Well...

NEW YORK (AL) vs. LOS ANGELES (AL): For the Freeway Series to finally happen, the Angels must figure out how to take advantage of a regular season record of 5-5 against their next opponent - the Yankees. They have won at each other's house, which also equalizes on any advantage either team may have. The Halos are a swashbuckling bunch while the Yanks rely on pure power. Even pitching is matched well, though one would argue on the side of the Yankees starters over the Angels. I would pick Brian Fuentes to close over Mariano Rivera, however.

For the Angels to get any footing in this series, they must win either one of the first two games in the Bronx. For the Yankees, a win in Anaheim will help. I expect this series to go six games, however I will root for the Angels.

LOS ANGELES (NL) vs. PHILADELPHIA: The Dodgers have the home field advantage in this LCS. This means many things, but it could also be a determent. Last year, all the pressure in the world fell on the shoulders of the Chicago Cubs. The Dodgers exploited this situation in the NLDS and took advantage of a Cubs team that crumbled under pressure. Are the Dodgers feeling the same pressure? They certainly don't seem like it, however they will again face the defending World Champion Philadelphia Phillies in another NLCS.

Given the home field advantage, the Dodgers need to take control of the Phils during Games 1 and 2 at Chavez Ravine. The key to the rest of the series is whether the Dodgers can win at Citizens Bank Park during the middle three games. The Phillies took one loss at home in the NLDS against the Colorado Rockies, so it is doable. This series looks like a six-gamer sending the Dodgers to a possible Freeway Series.

The NLCS starts Thursday, while the junior circuit begins on Friday. If we can move these series up another day or two...c'mon, baseball in November?!?