Tagged: Carlos Zambrano
First things first
Three Division Series Game 1s yesterday and already more than a few surprises. And isn’t that typical of October?
Let’s go game by game.
PHILLIES 3, BREWERS 1
It isn’t surprising that Cole Hamels dealt the way he did, but the Brewers, particularly Yovani Gallardo, showed a lot of poise for a young team that has practically no postseason experience to speak of. If the Brew Crew can clean up a few mistakes, this might become a very competitive series very quickly — especially when CC gets his say. Here’s Chase Utley’s big hit in the third inning.
DODGERS 7, CUBS 2
Now I didn’t expect this one. Who would have thought the best team in the National League would go down at home in Game 1 in the 100th anniversary year of their last World Series title? But James Loney had the big hit, the grand slam in the fifth inning, Manny and Russell Martin homered later, and that was all she wrote. The Cubs will have to regroup in a hurry tonight, but their big horse, the Big Z, is on the hill, so Cubs Nation has to be feeling good about that.
RED SOX 4, ANGELS 1
The Angels had the best record in all of baseball this year and were at home with their ace, John Lackey, in Game 1, but the same old same old happened again — the Red Sox beat them in October. This time it was lefty Jon Lester giving the Angels hitters fits and the newest member of the defending world champs’ outfield doing most of the damage.
Almost too much to blog about, but I want to hear your thoughts. What was the best moment of the first day of October baseball in 2008?
And what’s going to happen tonight as the Rays-White Sox series starts and two other series continue?
Let me know.
O.G.
A big week
Are you sweating yet? September is getting tight and the pennant races are heating up even more, but three prime-time players made big-time statements that can carry all the way into the Postseason, and I’ve got to give them some October Gonzo blog love.
First up is Big Z, better known as Carlos Zambrano. He hadn’t pitched in 12 days but he served a whole lot of National League notice that he’s ready now and ready for October by no-hitting the Astros in Milwaukee.
bam.showFlvPlayerFrame({url:”http://mediadownloads.mlb.com/mlbam/2008/09/14/mlbtv_1307419_800K.flv”,width:512,height:332,poster:”http://mlblogsoctobergonzo.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/512-zambrano2.jpg”});
Then there’s Big Papi, better known as David Ortiz. He’s been injured for the Red Sox, but he lives for this time of year and he showed the Tampa Bay Rays a thing or two about that Monday in St. Petersburg.
bam.showFlvPlayerFrame({url:”http://mediadownloads.mlb.com/mlbam/2008/09/15/mlbtv_bostba_1308438_800K.flv”,width:512,height:332,poster:”http://mlblogsoctobergonzo.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/512-ortiz.jpg”});
And let’s not forget the Phillies, who are right in the thick of it again. Sunday saw Brett Myers continue his resurgence to the top of his game, throwing a two-hitter against the Brewers and showing he might just be the October ace they always thought he’d be.
bam.showFlvPlayerFrame({url:”http://mediadownloads.mlb.com/mlbam/2008/09/14/mlbtv_milphi_1307435_800K.flv”,width:512,height:332,poster:”http://mlblogsoctobergonzo.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/512-myers.jpg”});
A quick shout-out to the thousands of you who voted in the last poll and kept our conversations going. I want to keep hearing all your thoughts about October and who you think will win it all and make the next Postseason memories. It was also good to see that we’re up to sixth in the rankings of the Latest Leaders at MLBlogs. Who knows? Maybe we’ll make it all the way to the top.
But on the field, you can be sure that more history will be made soon, which is why I don’t plan to miss many games between now and the end of the World Series. Only two weeks until October, and I can’t wait.
O.G.
Armed for October
Everyone knows that pitching gets the job done in the postseason, and I’m here to tell you that you can bank on it playing out that way again this season.
Just check out all the pennant races cooking right now in the middle of August. Everywhere you look, the teams on top have the arms to get the job done. And once you’re in a best-of-five or a best-of-seven series? Forget it. Pitching is EVERYTHING.
So who’s going to be this year’s Bob Gibson or Jack Morris or Dave Stewart?
Who’s this year’s El Duque, John Smoltz, Fernando Valenzuela or Curt Schilling?
Maybe it’ll be Big Z in Chicago.
bam.showFlvPlayerFrame({url:”http://mediadownloads.mlb.com/mlbam/2008/08/03/mlbtv_pitchn_995358_800K.flv”,width:512,height:332,poster:”http://mlblogsoctobergonzo.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/512-zambrano.jpg”});
Maybe it’ll be K-Rod in Anaheim, just like in 2002.
bam.showFlvPlayerFrame({url:”http://mediadownloads.mlb.com/mlbam/2008/07/20/mlbtv_bosana_887489_800K.flv”,width:512,height:332,poster:”http://mlblogsoctobergonzo.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/512-krod.jpg”});
Maybe it’ll be CC Sabathia, the new ace of the Brew Crew.
bam.showFlvPlayerFrame({url:”http://mediadownloads.mlb.com/mlbam/2008/08/13/mlbtv_milsdn_1072638_800K.flv”,width:512,height:332,poster:”http://mlblogsoctobergonzo.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/512-sabathia.jpg”});
Or maybe it’ll be Josh Beckett, just like last year.
bam.showFlvPlayerFrame({url:”http://mediadownloads.mlb.com/mlbam/2008/08/11/mlbtv_boscha_1054942_800K.flv”,width:512,height:332,poster:”http://mlblogsoctobergonzo.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/512-beckett.jpg”});
The bottom line is this: Someone is going to step up on the mound in a key situation, take that ball in his right or left hand, and use every single one of its 216 stitches to do something in October that nobody will ever forget.
And I can’t wait to see who that someone is.
O.G.
October Gonzo 
