I know, I know, it's been a while. I've been busy, so shoot me. NO, don't actually shoot me!! Whew, that was a close one. A pendulum, in case you don't know, is a time-keeping device created by Galileo Galilei in 1602. It bobs back and forth, keeping time by using gravity essentially. It's kind of technical how they work, and I don't want to get into it, because I don't quite understand it really. The point is that these baseball playoffs have sort of had a pendulum of their own. You can say that it was a huge swing of momentum that the St. Louis Cardinals even made it into the playoffs, and ever since, it seems as though every series, in both leagues, has had it's swings of momentum from either team.
This is especially true in the past two days. Going into Game 3 of the World Series, the Cardinals and Texas Rangers were tied one game a piece, and Game 3 was a pivotal matchup to see who would take the momentum. The Cardinals gave a resounding answer by clobbering the Rangers 16-7. Mostly responsible for this slaughter was perhaps the greatest offensive output in a World Series game, ever. That's right folks, Albert Pujols, the guy who was starting to lose his greatness this year, put on a display not seen before in over 100 years of baseball playoff history. Albert became just the third player ever, and the first non-Yankee to hit for three homeruns in one WS game. The first person was, of course, Babe Ruth, who accomplished the feat twice. He did it once in 1926, and again in 1928. The second man to do so was Reggie Jackson in 1977. After the summer where the Bronx burned, Reggie Jackson hit three homers in the final game of that year, and cemented his legacy as Mr. October. So how does Albert's performance on Saturday compare?
He did better than both of them, if you can believe it. Albert not only matched the two other gents in homers, but he drove in 6 RBI to go along with his dingers, and he had 14 total bases, as his 5-6 night had started off with two singles before history was made. Now, I'm not saying that Pujols blows Ruth or Jackson out of the water or anything, but it is pretty remarkable that he was able to have perhaps the greatest night ever with a bat, when it really matters. Truly great players step up when the time comes, and with his dynamic performance Albert suddenly and dramatically sent the pendulum swinging in the Cardinals favor.
That lasted less than 24 hours. For in baseball, you are only as good as the last game you played. Without question, the Cardinals are a great team that deserves to be where they are right now. However, when 25 year old Derek Holland and his cheesy mustache took the mound for the Rangers in Game 4, he made the Texas crowd forget all about the misery of the previous evening. Derek, who had been very erratic, and beaten up over his previous 2011 playoff outings, was something special on Sunday. He commanded his plus fastball on both sides of the play, often pushing the Cardinals big sluggers off the plate, and sliding in a change-up and stellar curve to further frustrate the Red Birds. When the Rangers hadn't had a starter go past 5 innings in what felt like a month and a half, Holland stepped up and delivered 8 and 1/3 solid innings in which he struck out 7, walked just two, and kept Pujols hitless the night after Al bettered the Babe. That is impressive, and certainly a big pendulum swing back toward the Rangers' side.
Now is Derek Holland a better player than Pujols? Of course not. Baseball is finicky, and glorifies those that step up in a crucial moment. Aaron Boone was a decent player, but he will be remembered forever for one homerun in 2003. Derek Holland has the stuff, and perhaps now the moxie to flourish into a great starting pitcher. He's already had success in the regular season, and now that he's dominated in a post-season start, there is no telling where his confidence can take him. Thanks to his efforts, the Rangers are very much in this heated race to the top.
I know this World Series is probably not getting a lot of ratings, and that's a shame, because it looks like it could be the first WS to go to 7 games in the last 9 years. The Cardinals and Rangers are both extraordinary offensive teams. Mike Napoli is hitting eighth in the Texas lineup, and he hit .320 with 30 homeruns and a .631 slugging percentage in the regular season for crying out loud. And his post-season has been great too. I mean, did you see that bomb he hit last night?? Because these teams don't have the same East Coast flash as some others, the ratings and the sport will suffer slightly. That's alright. The fair weather fans who only stay to root for one team, and then split when they're out are missing one hell of a series, maybe even one of the best ever.
I must apologize again, as this summer as been dreadful for me writing in a timely fashion. Once more I must thank you for begin patient, and for sticking around to read this blog. I intend to be a little more regular with the updates, and I already have my next post in mind. So fear not sports fans, I'll be here to soothe your tears once the season is over. Until then, let's enjoy some more fantastic baseball.
