Tigers, Giants emblematic of baseball era where being best for 162 games means little in Oct

SAN FRANCISCO -- Best in baseball? The Detroit Tigers and San Francisco Giants spent much of the season just trying to catch mediocre teams like the Chicago White Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers just to win their divisions.

Those up-and-down regular seasons are distant memories now that the Giants and Tigers have raced through the playoffs and are getting ready for Game 2 of the World Series in San Francisco on Thursday night.

The Giants trailed the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West as late as mid-August before making a strong run to win the division and finish tied with the third-best record in the National League.

The Tigers were merely six games over .500 with three weeks left in the regular season and made the playoffs despite posting the seventh-best record in the American League.

"You know what, I think these are the best two teams and the hottest teams, too," Tigers reliever Jose Valverde said. "The first two months, you see Detroit is in last place. Chicago, Cleveland, everybody's laughing. What happened now?"

For much of its history, baseball was a grueling, six-month endurance test, with only the top team in each league going to the post-season.

Now, with six divisions and four wild-card teams, it's more a matter of just getting into the tournament and getting on a roll in October.

"I think ideally you like to see the teams that have the best record end up there," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "But as we have mentioned many times, once you get to the playoffs it does become a little bit of a crap shoot, who's playing the best at that time. You understand that. That's why wild-card teams have done well. A lot of them are fighting to get there, but they're also playing well at the right time."

Both the Giants and Tigers got in as division winners but they were not the top teams in their leagues over the 162-game haul.

Washington finished with baseball's best record this year with 98 wins but fell in the division series to the 88-win St. Louis Cardinals, who won it all the previous year as a wild-card team. The Cardinals won a one-game playoff under the new wild-card format just to get to the divisional series.

Detroit, with 88 wins, finished behind the other four AL playoff teams, as well as the Los Angeles Angels and Tampa Bay Rays despite playing in the AL's weakest division. But the Tigers knocked off AL West champion Oakland in the first round and swept the New York Yankees, who had the AL's best record, in the league championship series.

"You just need to get hot like the Cardinals did last year," Tigers outfielder Don Kelly said. "You have to play your best baseball at the right time. But over the course of the year you have to keep yourself there, you have to keep yourself in it. You can't get too far behind. That's what we talked about a lot as a team. We just had to stay right there because we knew we could pull it out at the end."

No team had ever finished this low in its league and made it to the Series. The previous low was fifth, by three eventual World Series champions: Minnesota in 1987, the New York Yankees in 2000 and the 2006 St. Louis Cardinals, who beat the Tigers despite winning only 83 games in the regular season.

In the 18 postseasons since the playoffs expanded in 1995, the team with the best overall record in the regular season ended up as World Series champion just three times. The Yankees did it twice, in 1998 and 2009, and Boston accomplished it as well in 2007. That one out of six rate is little better than if the champion was chosen randomly.

More common is a case like the 2004 St. Louis Cardinals, who won 105 games in the regular season but were swept by wild-card winning Boston in the World Series.

"Being on a team in St. Louis in 2004, which was a team pretty much wire to wire was a pretty dominant team, nobody felt sorry for us at any point when we didn't pull it off in the World Series," said Cardinals manager Mike Matheny, a catcher the '04 runner-ups. "But you take your chances, when a team rolls like that. Typically you have enough there to win it all. It's just a matter of the timing and guys taking advantage of the opportunities."

This is not a phenomenon exclusive to baseball. The NFL and NHL playoffs have often been about determining which team is hottest come playoff time. The Los Angeles Kings won the Stanley Cup in June as an eight seed, the New York Giants were a No. 4 when they beat New England in the Super Bowl in February.

That wasn't the case in baseball during the pre-playoff days. The winner of the National League faced off each fall against the winner of the American League in the World Series. The team with the best record went 38-27 in those Series from 1903 through 1968, according to STATS LLC.

The post-season turned into a bit of a crap shoot once the league broke into divisions, allowing four teams to make the playoffs. The best regular season team won in seven of those 25 seasons before wild-cards were added in 1995.

"If you're asking me, even if it's not us, I always hope that the team that's had the best year, they end up battling to win the World Series," Bochy said. "But it's a great game how we have it set up."

Source: ottawacitizen.com

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With Bumgarner and bunt, SF beats Tigers 2-0 for 2-0 World Series lead

SAN FRANCISCO -- A Giant dose of small ball, and suddenly San Francisco finds itself in a most unique position -- way ahead in a post-season series.

Madison Bumgarner shut down the Detroit Tigers for seven innings, then the Giants took advantage of a bunt that stayed fair to eke out the go-ahead run in a 2-0 win Thursday night for a 2-0 edge in the World Series.

Gregor Blanco's single trickled to a stop inches fair on the infield dirt, setting up Brandon Crawford's run-scoring double-play grounder in the seventh. Hunter Pence added a sacrifice fly in the eighth, and that was plenty for the Giants.

Game 3 will be Saturday night in Detroit and for once, the masters of the October comeback aren't playing from behind. The Giants overcame a 2-0 deficit to beat Cincinnati in the best-of-five division series and escaped a 3-1 hole against St. Louis in the NLCS.

The loss certainly left the favoured Tigers wondering what else could go wrong. Prince Fielder was thrown out at the plate by a hair and moments later starting pitcher Doug Fister was struck squarely in the head by a line drive.

The 6-foot-8 Fister managed to stay on the mound, and even excelled. Bumgarner more than matched him, however, allowing just two hits before the San Francisco bullpen closed it out before another pulsating crowd.

Santiago Casilla pitched a perfect eighth and Sergio Romo worked the ninth for a save in the combined two-hitter, leaving Triple Crown winner Miguel Cabrera in a huge hole heading back to Comerica Park. Anibal Sanchez will start for the Tigers against Ryan Vogelsong in Detroit.

The Tigers looked foggy at the plate, maybe still lost following a five-day layoff after an ALCS sweep of the Yankees. Cabrera hopped up and twisted away after third baseman Pablo Sandoval, who homered three times in the opener, snared his early line drive.

Bumgarner had something to do with the Tigers' troubles, too.

Bumped from the NLCS rotation after two poor post-season starts, he returned with a flourish. The left-hander struck out eight and looked as sharp as he did in the 2010 World Series when, as a 21-year-old rookie, he stopped Texas in Game 4 on the way to a championship.

This game was scoreless in the seventh when the Giants went ahead, right after actor Tom Hanks -- a former peanut vendor at the nearby Oakland Coliseum -- sang "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" on the field.

Pence led off with a single and Fister departed, getting lots of hugs in the dugout. Rookie reliever Drew Smyly walked Brandon Belt on a full-count pitch and Blanco's bunt loaded the bases.

The Tigers kept their infield back up the middle, and had no play at the plate on Crawford's bouncer.

Pence added the insurance run the next inning with his flyball off Octavio Dotel.

Fielder and the Tigers came up inches short of taking an early lead, the result of yet another alert play by second baseman Marco Scutaro and a dubious decision by third base coach Gene Lamont.

Fielder was hit by a pitch to lead off the second, Delmon Young followed with a double and when the ball rattled around in left field, Lamont waved the burly slugger home. Even with no outs, Lamont sent him.

Scutaro, in the middle of every big play for the Giants this month, dashed across the diamond, caught Blanco's relay and unleashed a strong throw to the plate. All-Star catcher Buster Posey made a swipe tag to Fielder's backside, just as the Tigers star slid home. Umpire Dan Iassogna had a clear look and made a demonstrative call -- out!

Fielder immediately popped up from his slide and pleaded his case with two hands. Tigers manager Jim Leyland rushed out and pointed to the plate. At second base, Young yelled, "No!"

But even if there was replay review, it wouldn't have helped the Tigers. Because TV replays showed Iassogna, working his first plate job in a World Series, got it right.

There was no dispute that Fister somehow avoided a serious injury moments later.

With two outs in the Giants second, Blanco lined a shot up the middle that hit Fister on the right side of the head and deflected on the fly to shallow centre field.

Fister showed no visible effect from the blow -- in fact, some in the crowd wondered whether the ball perhaps glanced off his glove because Fister stayed on his feet. Only when fans saw replays did groans echo around the ballpark.

Leyland, pitching coach Jeff Jones and a trainer went to the mound, and Fister insisted on staying in the game. He walked the next batter to load the bases, but retired Bumgarner on a popup, starting a streak of 12 straight hitters set down by Fister.

Among those who winced was Oakland pitcher Brandon McCarthy, who sustained a skull fracture and brain contusion after being hit by a line drive last month.

"I'm not watching but did just see the replay. Certainly hope he's ok," McCarthy tweeted.

NOTES: Bumgarner struck out Austin Jackson and Omar Infante to start the game. Two other Giants fanned the first two batters in a Series game: Christy Mathewson (1905) and Carl Hubbell (1933). ... Bumgarner picked off Infante at first base to end the fourth. Infante made a break for second and, like Fielder earlier, came up short with his slide. ... Scutaro was the only Giants hitter to have previously faced Fister. ... Posey has a hit in all seven World Series games in his career.

Source: ottawacitizen.com

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Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi Face Off in 'El Clasico'

There are two ways to view Real Madrid's 2-2 draw in the El Clasico at Barcelona at Nou Camp on Sunday.

On one hand, the tie ended Barcelona's amazing streak of six consecutive wins to start the Spanish La Liga season.

On the other hand, the deadlock did nothing in helping cut into Real's huge deficit this early in the season.

Barcelona still remains atop the First Division, with a 6-0-1 record and 19 points, as the team from Madrid finds itself trailing by eight points with a rather ordinary 3-2-2 mark and 11 points. Atletico Madrid (5-0-1, 18) was in a position to tie Barca for the league lead in points if it defeated Malaga in a late Sunday encounter.

It should come as no surprise to any soccer fans as to who scored for both sides. The legendary Lionel Messi struck twice for Barca, as did Portuguese great Cristiano Ronaldo for Real in this entertaining confrontation.

Martin Montoya, who came on as a defensive substitute for the injured Dani Alves in the opening half, almost walked away as the unlikely hero for the hosts as he launched a long-range shot that bounded off the crossbar in the 89th minute.

After three minutes of stoppage time, the game was in the history books.

"We were superior at times but it was a very even game," Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets told Spanish television. "Everything is the way it was but with one match less.”

Barca is not necessarily known for its defense, as Real demonstrated first half in front of a capacity crowd of 95,000 and the millions watching worldwide on TV or the internet.

Ronaldo ended a remarkable eight-day span in which he scored eight goals. Those spoils included a pair of hat-tricks in a 5-1 dismantling of Deportivo Coruna in league play last Sunday and in a 4-1 rout of Ajax (Netherlands) in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday.

Not surprisingly, it was Ronaldo who opened the visitors' account as he converted a superb pass from Karim Benzema, who played the star a pass on the left side of the penalty area. Ronaldo did the rest, firing a shot past goalkeeper Victor Vales at the near post.

Ronaldo became the first player to find the back of the net in six successive Clasicos, breaking a record he held with former Chilean great Ivan Zamorano.

Several minutes later, Benzema almost doubled the lead as he clanged a shot off the post while he fell backwards, a goal that certainly would have put Barcelona on its heels.

The hosts, however, recovered and struck for the equalizer in the 31st minute on a Real defensive error. Messi got a hold of a deflected Pedro cross. Pepe could not control the ball and the Argentine international had a relatively easy tap-in from four yards.

It was the third consecutive Clasico, and the fifth time in history, that Messi and Ronaldo scored at least one goal.

A pretty remarkable achievement from opposing star players.

But those two were far from finished as they matched goals in the second half.

This time it was Messi's turn to go first. Xabi Alonso fouled a Barcelona player some 30 yards from the goal, although a jeering crowd wanted the referee to show the Real midfielder a second yellow card for the infraction. Messi stepped up and curled a beautiful shot over the defensive wall and past goalkeeper Iker Casillas into the upper corner for a 2-1 Barca lead in the 61st minute.

But only five minutes later, Ronaldo matched that score as Mesut Ozil set up the Portuguese international, who slotted it home into the corner.

As always, this Clasico is just another line in the story as there is never any real final word when these two teams clash.

The next time these two archrivals meet will be at Santiago Bernabeu, when Real hosts Barcelona on March 3. Real has plenty of time to make up that eight-point deficit, but the Spanish powerhouse squandered a wonderful opportunity to make it a bit closer on Sunday.

Source: latino.foxnews.com

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NY Liberty lose ground in chase for final playoff spot in Eastern Conference after 92-83 defeat against Chicago Sky

NEWS SPORT: Epiphanny Prince scored 30 points to lead the Chicago Sky to a 92-83 win over the New York Liberty on Friday night.

Tamera Young added 19 points for Chicago (11-16), which moved one-half game past New York for the fourth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Courtney Vandersloot had 12 points and Swin Cash added 10 points and seven rebounds. Prince, who also had five rebounds, scored 30 for the fourth time in 19 games this season.

Cappie Pondexter scored 24 points on 7-for-19 shooting to lead the Liberty (11-17). Plenette Pierson had 15 points, Kara Braxton added 13 and Essence Carson.

Chicago shot 32 for 63 (51 percent) from the field and made 20 of 21 free throws.

The Sky led throughout. New York twice cut the deficit to three points, the last occurring with 4:04 remaining in the third after Pondexter's 3-pointer. However, Ruth Riley's layup with 3:21 left in the third quarter pushed the Sky's advantage to 60-55. From that point, Chicago outscored New York 32-28.

New York appeared passive offensively, stymied by Chicago's half-court defense. The Liberty shot 43 percent from the field and committed seven of their 16 turnovers in the first half.

The Liberty trailed 42-29 with about 3 1/2 minutes left in the second quarter before using a 12-2 run to pull within three on Pierson's turnaround hook shot with less than 10 seconds remaining in the half.

Prince's driving layup with 1.4 seconds to go gave the Sky a 46-41 lead at the break.

The teams split the four-game season series.

Chicago was without guard Ticha Penicheiro (hamstring injury) and U.S. Olympic center Sylvia Fowles sat out the second half with a lower leg injury.

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