World Series 2012

Detroit Tigers versus San Francisco Giants

Game 1 – Giants beat Tigers by a score of 8 to 3 at San Francisco

Game 2 – Giants beat Tigers by a score of 2 to 0 at San Francisco

Game 3 – Giants beat Tigers by a score of 2 to 0 at Detroit

Game 4 – Giants beat Tigers by a score of 4 to 3 at Detroit


San Francisco Giants won the series four games to zero games

I rooted for the Detroit Tigers

San Francisco Giant logo from the website mlb.com

"Red Sox Box" logo created by Adrean Darce Brent

National League Championship Series 2012

St. Louis Cardinals versus San Francisco Giants

Game 1 – Cardinals beat Giants by a score of 6 to 4 at San Francisco

Game 2 – Giants beat Cardinals by a score of 7 to 1 at San Francisco

Game 3 – Cardinals beat Giants by a score of 3 to 1 at St. Louis

Game 4 – Cardinals beat Giants by a score of 8 to 3 at St. Louis

Game 5 – Giants beat Cardinals by a score of 5 to 0 at St. Louis

Game 6 – Giants beat Cardinals by a score of 6 to 1 at San Francisco

Game 7 – Giants beat Cardinals by a score of 9 to 0 at San Francisco


San Francisco Giant won the series four games to three games

I rooted for the San Francisco Giants

San Francisco Giants logo from the website mlb.com

"Red Sox Box" logo created by Adrean Darce Brent

American League Championship Series 2012

Detroit Tigers versus New York Yankees

Game 1 – Tigers beat Yankees by a score of 6 to 4 at New York

Game 2 – Tigers beat Yankees by a score of 3 to 0 at New York

Game 3 – Tigers beat Yankees by a score of 2 to 1 at Detroit

Game 4 – Tigers beat Yankees by a score of 8 to 1 at Detroit


Detroit Tigers won the series four games to zero games

I rooted for the Detroit Tigers

Detroit Tigers logo from the website mlb.com

"Red Sox Box" logo created by Adrean Darce Brent

National League Division Series 2012

Cincinnati Reds versus the San Francisco Giants

Game 1 – Reds beat Giants by a score of 5 to 2 at San Francisco

Game 2 – Reds beat Giants by a score of 9 to 0 at San Francisco

Game 3 – Giants beat Reds by a score of 2 to 1 at Cincinnati

Game 4 – Giants beat Reds by a score of 8 to 3 at Cincinnati

Game 5 – Giants beat Reds by a score of 6 to 4 at Cincinnati


San Francisco Giants won the series three games to two games

I did not root for either team


Washington Nationals versus the St. Louis Cardinals

Game 1 – Nationals beat Cardinals by a score of 3 to 2 at St. Louis

Game 2 – Cardinals beat Nationals by a score of 12 to 4 at St. Louis

Game 3 – Cardinals beat Nationals by a score of 8 to 0 at Washington

Game 4 – Nationals beat Cardinals by a score of 2 to 1 at Washington

Game 5 – Cardinals beat Nationals by a score of 9 to 7 at Washington


St. Louis Cardinals won the series three games to two games

I rooted for the Washington Nationals

San Francisco Giants logo from the website mlb.com

St. Louis Cardinals logo from the website mlb.com

"Red Sox Box" logo created by Adrean Darce Brent

American League Division Series 2012

Oakland Athletics versus Detroit Tigers

Game 1 – Tigers beat Athletics by a score of 3 to 1 at Detroit

Game 2 – Tigers beat Athletics by a score of 5 to 4 at Detroit

Game 3 – Athletics beat Tigers by a score of 2 to 0 at Oakland

Game 4 – Athletics beat Tigers by a score of 4 to 3 at Oakland

Game 5 – Tigers beat Athletics by a score of 6 to 0 at Oakland


Detroit Tigers won the series three games to two games

I rooted for the Detroit Tigers


New York Yankees versus Baltimore Orioles

Game 1 – Yankees beat Orioles by a score of 7 to 4 at Baltimore

Game 2 – Orioles beat Yankees by a score of 3 to 2 at Baltimore

Game 3 – Yankees beat Orioles by a score of 3 to 2 at New York

Game 4 – Orioles beat Yankees by a score of 2 to 1 at New York

Game 5 – Yankees beat Orioles by a score of 3 to1 at New York


New York Yankees won the series three games to two games

I rooted for the Baltimore Orioles

Detroit Tigers logo from the website mlb.com

New York Yankees logo from the website mlb.com

"Red Sox Box" logo created by Adrean Darce Brent

Wild Card Games 2012

World Series 2011

The results of the Texas Rangers versus St. Louis Cardinals matchup:
Wednesday 19 October 2011 – St. Louis Cardinals 3, Texas Rangers 2
Thursday 20 October 2011 – Texas Rangers 2, St. Louis Cardinals 1
Saturday 22 October 2011 – St. Louis Cardinals 16, Texas Rangers 7
Sunday 23 October 2011 – Texas Rangers 4, St. Louis Cardinals 0
Monday 24 October 2011 – Texas Rangers 4, St. Louis Cardinals 2
Thursday 27 October 2011 – St. Louis Cardinals 10, Texas Rangers 9
Friday 28 October 2011 – St. Louis Cardinals 6, Texas Rangers 2

Cardinals win world series four games to three


St. Louis Cardinals logo from the website mlb.com

National League Championship Series 2011

The results of the Milwaukee Brewers versus St. Louis Cardinals matchup:
Sunday 9 October 2011 – Milwaukee Brewers 9, St. Louis Cardinals 6
Monday 10 October 2011 – St. Louis Cardinals 12, Milwaukee Brewers 3
Wednesday 12 October 2011 – St. Louis Cardinals 4, Milwaukee Brewers 3
Thursday 13 October 2011 – Milwaukee Brewers 4, St. Louis Cardinals 2
Friday 14 October 2011 – St. Louis Cardinals 7, Milwaukee Brewers 1
Sunday 16 October 2011 – St. Louis Cardinals 12, Milwaukee Brewers 6

Cardinals win championship series four games to two


St. Louis Cardinals logo from the website mlb.com

American League Championship Series 2011

The results of the Texas Rangers versus Detroit Tigers matchup:
Saturday 8 October 2011 – Texas Rangers 3, Detroit Tigers 2
Monday 10 October 2011 – Texas Rangers 7, Detroit Tigers 3
Tuesday 11 October 2011 – Detroit Tigers 5, Texas Rangers 2
Wednesday 12 October 2011 – Texas Rangers 7, Detroit Tigers 5
Thursday 13 October 2011 – Detroit Tigers 7, Texas Rangers 5
Saturday 15 October 2011 – Texas Rangers 15, Detroit Tigers 5

Rangers win championship series four games to two


Texas Rangers logo from the website mlb.com

National League DIvision Series 2011

The results of the Milwaukee Brewers versus Arizona Diamondbacks matchup;
Saturday 1 October 2011 – Milwaukee Brewers 4, Arizona Diamondbacks 1
Sunday 2 October 2011 – Milwaukee Brewers 9, Arizona Diamondback 4
Tuesday 4 October 2011 – Arizona Diamondbacks 8, Milwaukee Brewers 1
Wednesday 5 October 2011 – Arizona Diamondbacks 10, Milwaukee Brewers 6
Friday 7 October 2011 – Milwaukee Brewers 3, Arizona Diamondbacks 1

Brewers win division series three games to two

The results of the Philadelphia Phillies versus the St. Louis Cardinals matchup:
Saturday 1 October 2011 – Philadelphia Phillies 11, St. Louis Cardinals 6
Sunday 2 October 2011 – St. Louis Cardinals 5, Philadelphia Phillies 4
Tuesday 4 October 2011 – Philadelphia Phillies 3, St. Louis Cardinals 2
Wednesday 5 October 2011 – St. Louis Cardinals 5, Philadelphia Phillies 3
Friday 7 October 2011 – St. Louis Cardinals 1, Philadelphia Phillies 0

Cardinals win division series three games to two

Images:
Left: Milwaukee Brewers logo from the website mlb.com
Right: St. Louis Cardinals logo from the website mlb.com

American League Division Series 2011

The results of the Texas Rangers versus the Tampa Bay Rays matchup:
Friday 30 September 2011 – Tampa Bay Rays 9, Texas Rangers 0
Saturday 1 October 2011 – Texas Rangers 8, Tampa Bay Rays 6
Monday 3 October 2011 – Texas Rangers 4, Tampa Bay Rays 3
Tuesday 4 October 2011 – Texas Rangers 4, Tampa Bay Rays 3

Rangers win division series three games to one

The results of the New York Yankees versus Detroit Tigers matchup:
Friday 30 September 2011 – New York Yankees 9, Detroit Tigers 3
Sunday 2 October 2011 – Detroit Tigers 5, New York Yankees 3
Monday 3 October 2011 – Detroit Tigers 5, New York Yankees 4
Tuesday 4 October 2011 – New York Yankees 10, Detroit Tigers 1
Thursday 6 October 2011 – Detroit Tigers 3, New York Yankees 2

Tigers win division series three games to two

Images:
Left: Texas Rangers logo from the website mlb.com
Right: Detroit Tigers logo from the website mlb.com

World Series 2010

The fifth (and final) game of the 2010 World Series has produced a champion. Although I was not rooting for them, the San Francisco Giants have won the World Series Championship. My condolences to the Texas Rangers - I and other Boston Red Sox fans were supporting you in your first appearance in a World Series. The Boston Red Sox maintain their current position of being the only two-time World Series Champions in the 21st century. The result of the World Series is as follows:

Wednesday 27 October 2010-SF Giants 11, Texas Rangers 7
Thursday 28 October 2010-SF Giants 9, Texas Rangers 0
Saturday 30 October 2010-Texas Rangers 4, SF Giants 2
Sunday 31 October 2010-SF Giants 4, Texas Rangers 0
Monday 1 November 2010-SF Giants 3, Texas Rangers 1

San Francisco beat Texas four game to one out of the seven game series. The Giants scored a total of twenty-nine runs over the five games; while the Rangers scored a total of twelve. The total number of runs scored in the series was forty-one and the Giants had 70.73% of those runs, while the Rangers had 29.27%.

World Series logo is from the website mlb.com

National League Championship Series 2010

Yes, the San Francisco Giants beat the Philadelphia Phillies to advance to the World Series! The result of the series is as follows:

Saturday 16 October 2010-SF Giants 4, Philadelphia Phillies 3
Sunday 17 October 2010-Philadelphia Phillies 6, SF Giants 1
Tuesday 19 October 2010-SF Giants 3, Philadelphia Phillies 0
Wednesday 20 October 2010-SF Giants 6, Philadelphia Phillies 5
Thursday 21 October 2010-Philadelphia Phillies 4, SF Giants 2
Saturday 23 October 2010-SF Giants 3, Philadelphia Phillies 2

San Francisco beat Philadelphia four games to two out of the seven game series. The Giants scored a total of nineteen runs over the six games, while the Phillies scored a total of twenty. The total number of runs scored in the series was thirty-nine and the Giants had 48.72% of those runs, while the Phillies had 51.28%.

In the World Series I’ll be rooting for the Texas Rangers over the San Francisco Giants.

San Francisco Giants logo is from the website mlb.com

American League Championship Series 2010

Yes, the Texas Rangers beat the New York Yankees to advance to the World Series! The result of the series is as follows:

Friday 15 October 2010-New York Yankees 6, Texas Rangers 5
Saturday 16 October 2010-Texas Rangers 7, New York Yankees 2
Monday 18 October 2010-Texas Rangers 8, New York Yankees 0
Tuesday 19 October 2010-Texas Rangers 10, New Yankees 3
Wednesday 20 October 2010-New York Yankees 7, Texas Rangers 2
Friday 22 October 2010-Texas Rangers 6, New York Yankees 1

Texas beat New York four games to two out of the seven game series. The Rangers scored a total of thirty-eight runs over the six games, while the Yankees scored a total of nineteen. The total number of runs scored in the series was fifty-seven and the Rangers had 66.67% of those runs, while the Yankees had 33.33%.

In the World Series I’ll be rooting for the Texas Rangers over either the San Francisco Giants or the Philadelphia Phillies.

Texas Rangers logo is from the website mlb.com

American League Division Series 2010

Well only one of the two teams that I wanted to win their respective American League division series did so; the Texas Rangers beat the Tampa Bay Rays. The other team, the Minnesota Twins, lost to the New York Yankees. The results of the two series are as follows:

Wednesday 6 October 2010–New York Yankees 6, Minnesota Twins 4
Thursday 7 October 2010–New York Yankees 5, Minnesota Twins 2
Saturday 9 October 2010–New York Yankees 6, Minnesota Twins 1

New York swept Minnesota three games to none out of the five game series. The Yankees scored a total of seventeen runs over the three games, while the Twins scored a total of seven. The total number of runs scored in the series was twenty-four and the Yankees had 70.83% of those runs, while the Twins had 29.17%.

Wednesday 6 October 2010–Texas Rangers 5, Tampa Bay Rays 1
Thursday 7 October 2010–Texas Rangers 6, Tampa Bay Rays 0
Saturday 9 October 2010–Tampa Bay Rays 6, Texas Rangers 3
Sunday 10 October 2010–Tampa Bay Rays 5, Texas Rangers 2
Tuesday 12 October 2010-Texas Rangers 5, Tampa Bay Rays 1

Texas beat Tampa Bay three games to two out of the five game series. The Rangers scored a total of twenty-one runs over the five games, while the Rays scored a total of thirteen. The total number of runs scored in the series was thirty-four and the Rangers had 61.76% of those runs, while the Rays had 38.24%.

Now, for the American League Championship Series, I’ll be rooting for the Texas Rangers over the New York Yankees.


Images:
Left: New York Yankees logo is from the website mlb.com
Center: ALDS 2010 logo is from the website mlb.com
Right: Texas Rangers logo is from the website mlb.com

National League Division Series 2010

Well the two teams, the Cincinnati Reds and the Atlanta Braves, that I wanted to win their respective National League division series, lost to the Philadelphia Phillies and to the San Francisco Giants. The results of the two series are as follows:

Wednesday 6 October 2010–Philadelphia Phillies 4, Cincinnati Reds 0
Friday 8 October 2010–Philadelphia Phillies 7, Cincinnati Reds 4
Sunday 10 October 2010–Philadelphia Phillies 2, Cincinnati Reds 0

Philadelphia swept Cincinnati three games to none out of the five game series. The Phillies scored a total of thirteen runs over the three games, while the Reds scored a total of four. The total number of runs scored in the series was seventeen and the Phillies had 76.47% of those runs, while the Reds had 23.53%.

Thursday 7 October 2010–San Francisco Giants 1, Atlanta Braves 0
Friday 8 October 2010–Atlanta Braves 5, San Francisco Giants 4
Sunday 10 October 2010–San Francisco 3, Atlanta Braves 2
Monday 11 October 2010–San Francisco 3, Atlanta Braves 2

San Francisco beat Atlanta three games to one out of the five game series. The Giants scored a total of eleven runs over the four games, while the Braves scored a total of nine. The total number of runs scored in the series was twenty and the Giants had 55.00% of those runs, while the Braves had 45.00%.

Now, for the National League Championship Series, I’ll be rooting for the San Francisco Giants over the Philadelphia Phillies.


Images:
Left: Philadelphia Phillies logo is from the website mlb.com
Center: NLDS 2010 logo is from the website mlb.com
Right: San Francisco Giants logo is from the website mlb.com

Postseason Participants 2010

At the end of last year, I made a prediction as to who the participants in the 2010 postseason would be. My prediction turned out to be somewhat off the mark. I had predicted the following:

AL East – New York Yankees
AL Central – Minnesota Twins
AL West – Los Angeles Angels
AL Wild Card – Boston Red Sox

NL East – Atlanta Braves
NL Central – St. Louis Cardinals
NL West – Arizona Diamondbacks
NL Wild Card – Houston Astros

Two of the AL teams (the Twins and the Yankees) I predicted did make it this year and only one NL team (the Braves) did so. That is 50.00% for the AL, 25.00% for the NL, and 37.50% overall. The 2010 postseason is as follows:

AL East – Tampa Bay Rays
AL Central – Minnesota Twins
AL West – Texas Rangers
AL Wild Card – New York Yankees

NL East – Philadelphia Phillies
NL Central – Cincinnati Reds
NL West – San Francisco Giants
NL Wild Card – Atlanta Braves


Since the Boston Red Sox are not in the postseason, in the Divisional Series I will be rooting for the Minnesota Twins (playing the New York Yankees) and the Texas Rangers (playing the Tampa Bay Rays) in the AL and for the Cincinnati Reds (playing the Philadelphia Phillies) and the Atlanta Braves (playing the San Francisco Giants) in the NL


Images:
Left: ALDS 2010 logo is from the website mlb.com

Right: NLDS 2010 logo is from the website mlb.com

Postseason Participants - 2001 to 2009

Now that the 2009 Postseason is over, I thought it might be interesting to take a look at the postseason participants from 2001 to 2009.

In the American League, currently ten teams (out of fourteen), for a 71% participation rate, have made it to the postseason in the 21st century. They are: Yankees: eight times (one WS win - 2009), Angels: six times (one WS win - 2002), Red Sox: six times (two WS wins – 2004, 2007), Twins: five times, Athletics: four times, Indians: two times, White Sox: two times (one WS win - 2005), Mariners: one time, Rays: one time, Tigers: one time.

In the National League, currently thirteen teams (out of sixteen), for an 81% participation rate, have made it to the postseason in the 21st century. They are: Cardinals: six times (one WS win - 2006), Braves: five times, Dodgers: four times, Astros: three times, Cubs: three times, Diamondbacks: three times (one WS win - 2001), Phillies: three times (one WS win - 2008), Giants: two times, Padres: two times, Rockies: two times, Brewers: one time, Marlins: one time (one WS win - 2003), Mets: one time.

Four out of the five World Series championships won by the American League were by teams that had been to the postseason six or more times, with the fifth win by a two-time participant. One out of the four World Series championships won by the National League was by a team that had been to the postseason six times, with two wins by two three-time participants and one win by a one-time participant.

In the American League, four teams are regular participants in the postseason this century with five or more appearances (Yankees – 8, Angels – 6, Red Sox – 6, Twins – 5). In the National League, two teams are regular participants in the postseason this century with five or more appearances (Cardinals – 6 and Braves – 5). Based on the current frequency of participation, the most likely combination of the American League postseason teams is easy to predict, while the National League postseason teams are harder to predict – more consistency in which teams participant from the American League, than from the National League. However, I am predicting the following for 2010:

Possible 2010 postseason participants

AL East Yankees
AL Central Twins
AL West Angels
AL WC Red Sox

NL East Braves
NL Central Cardinals
NL West Diamondbacks
NL WC Astros

The possible American League 2010 postseason participants are the same ones as in 2009. The possible National League 2010 postseason participants is a new combination, not yet seen this century. Of course, anything can happen in baseball and an unexpected breakout team is always a possibility. Perhaps the Orioles or Royals will be a surprise in the AL or the Nationals or Pirates in the NL But any potential surprises won’t begin for another five months – can’t wait!

Red Sox ALDS Recap, 8 to 11 October

Between Thursday 8 October and Sunday 11 October 2009, the Boston Red Sox played three games – first two games at Angel Stadium and the third game at Fenway Park - in the American League Division Series “B” against the Los Angeles Angels. Here are the breakdowns for those games.

Each Game Totals

Red Sox: 0 runs, 4 hits, 3 errors
Angels: 5 runs, 7 hits, 1 error
No win, one loss
Analysis: Red Sox had 0% of the total runs, 36% of the total hits, 75% of the total errors

Red Sox: 1 run, 4 hits, 0 errors
Angels: 4 runs, 6 hits, 0 errors
No win, one loss
Analysis: Red Sox had 20% of the total runs, 40% of the total hits, 0% of the total errors

Red Sox: 6 runs, 7 hits, 1 error
Angels: 7 runs, 11 hits, 0 errors
No win, one loss
Analysis: Red Sox had 46% of the total runs, 39% of the total hits, 100% of the total errors

Overall Series Totals

Red Sox: 7 runs, 15 hits, 4 errors
Angels: 16 runs, 24 hits, 1 error
No wins, three losses
Analysis: Red Sox had 30% of the total runs, 39% of the total hits, 80% of the total errors

The 2009 postseason for the Boston Red Sox has ended. The Los Angeles Angels advance to the American League Championship Series and will play the New York Yankees (who had defeated the Minnesota Twins). In the National League Championship Series, the Los Angeles Dodgers (who had defeated the St. Louis Cardinals) will play the Philadelphia Phillies (who had defeated the Colorado Rockies).

Angels Avenge Red Sox

LA ANGELS: 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 2 3 - 7 11 0

BOSTON: 0 0 3 2 0 0 0 1 0 - 6 7 1

Sweet Sunday. That's what I thought I would be naming this day after watching the Boston Red Sox and the New England Patriots win consecutive games in my favorite New England sports living bar. (I would have even be willing to name it Bittersweet Sunday, as long as the Red Sox won, with the Patriots losing). Instead it is Bitter Sunday (perhaps Sour Sunday would be more appropriate) because both teams lost. Most difficult to bear is that the Los Angeles Angels swept Boston in the ALDS in a game in which the Red Sox held the lead from the third through the eighth innings. Then it happened - despite his regular season success with the bases-loaded, the odds finally caught up with Papelbon in the ninth inning and he gave up the tying and winning runs. This was the worst possible situation for the laws of probability to be displayed in Fenway Park. So, the Boston Red Sox 2009 season has come to, a too early and a two runs too many, end. Savor the sweet memories, refuse the sour grapes, and replace the bitter emotions with warm ones for the Red Sox. April will come again.

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LA ANGELS: Starting Pitcher: Scott Kazmir, Winning Pitcher: Darren Oliver

BOSTON: Starting Pitcher: Clay Buchholz, Losing Pitcher: Jonathan Papelbon (1)

LA ANGELS: Save: Brian Fuentes

LA ANGELS: Homerun: Kendry Morales

BOSTON: Homerun: J. D. Drew (1)

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RED SOX: ALDS: Wins: 0, Losses: 3

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Next game: Monday 5 April 2010, Time: TBD, New York Yankees, Fenway Park, Pitcher: TBD