Post-Season Observations

Since the Phillies, Yankees, and Dodgers are my three least-favorite MLB teams, it's been a little hard to get excited about this year's playoffs. Thank the baseball gods for my DVR, so I can skip through a lot of it.

I did watch most of the game last night between the Angels and Yankees, and have to say that the play by Maicer Izturis was about the stupidest big-time mental error I've ever seen. My immediate thought was, why isn't this guy on the Mets? The only possible reasons to throw to second on a ground ball to the second baseman in that situation are: to get a double play, or if the play at second is much easier than the play at first (in other words, the ball is hit up the middle). No way either of these is true, so the only play, as Tim McCarver said, was the play at first. Often, baseball instinct means making the less-flashy right play, instead of trying to make a spectacularly unnecessary attempt.

Between that game-killing play, and the Erick Aybar neglecting to touch second base on the phantom double play, I have to say that the Angels don't look anything like I expected. The only way they can beat the Yankees is to play flawlessly, and they are far from flawless right now. Maybe Aura and Mystique have finally arrived at the new ball park in the Bronx.

In any event, the Angels' only hope is the Rally Monkey. I don't think he will be enough this time. 2002 was a long time ago.

As for the NLCS, the guys on the MLB Network made a good case that Chase Utley's hip isn't 100% right, based on an analysis of his throws. If he can't turn the double play, he shouldn't be out there, as they pointed out. Tough choice for the Phillies, and could be the difference in the Series.

MLB will regret a NY-Philadelphia World Series, considering the weather in the Northeast right now. It would be miraculous to get through the whole series without at least one rain- or snow-out.


© Judy Kamilhor 2009