The New York Yankees claimed their 27th World Series championship on Wednesday as they defeated the Philadelphia Phillies in six games.
For the record, Magic Quarter was a perfect seven for seven in the 2009 MLB playoffs.
De Kerpel and I were far less impressive in our win totals.
I've been trying to decide what to do with the 2009 Olympic Cross Country Skiing quarter and have come to the conclusion I need to test it further. I'm not sure yet, but it may be pressed into service for the NFL playoffs in a few weeks. If not, I've agreed to let De Kerpel take it to Vegas.
Stay tuned.
Well, the Yankees are the last team standing and the 2009 MLB season is officially in the books.
There is never any telling what the future holds, unless you happen to be a quarter, but one thing seems pretty certain... the Yankees won't be content with #27. They were almost burned by their lack of a solid fourth option in the rotation and might be looking to add yet another arm in the off-season - John Lackey?
Anyway, the Bronx might be celebrating, but in this space it is always bittersweet. The World Series is always a treat, but the autumn always seems colder after the Fall Classic is done.
Here are a few observations from your friendly neighborhood Double Play bloggers on the season that was:
- What happens to Brad Lidge now... he was undependable, lights out and then undependable again all over the span of a few weeks. Can the Phillies really ever trust him with leads again, can any team? No matter how awesome he might bounce back to be, there will always be big doubts. His future looks very cloudy (DC)
- The Blue Jays were incredibly newsworthy during the 2009 season, from their hot start to their nine game losing skid, to the cutting of B.J. Ryan all the way to giving away Alex Rios and taking 26 days to NOT trade Roy Halladay. The season ended with the former Golden Child J.P. Ricciardi, leaving to joy of many long suffering Jays' fans. What the future holds remains to be seen, but it's going to be hard to repeat such a newsworthy season (DDK)
- Joe Mauer, if he's healthy for an entire season, who knows what type of numbers he'll be able to put up. He is a dangerous hitter, a sensational defender, but any more injuries and the Twins had better start suggesting a position change (DC)
- Albert Pujols is a total baseball freak. He is far and away the best hitter in either league – sorry Joe Mauer, and appears to be a once in a generation type player, who as crazy as it sounds doesn't get nearly enough love about how special he really is (DDK)
- The Red Sox, their arch enemies are back on top and with the way Boston's season ended at the hands of the Angels (not to mention the way the Yankees clobbered Los Angeles/Anaheim in the ALCS) you have to wonder what they are thinking. They looked old and vulnerable in October. Josh Beckett, Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz are a solid trio to build around on the hill, but for the first time in a long time there are some big questions in BeanTown (DC)
- Young pitching is hard to trust. Cole Hamels went from the World Series MVP in 2008, to a pitcher who struggled for the entire season, before he misspoke about wanting it to be over last week. Francisco Liriano and Joba Chamberlain also put numbers that were much worse than expected. Whether it was a jump in innings, injuries or other forces, those three showed that potential doesn't always equal success and that a down-year happens sometimes (DDK)
- The New York Mets had a super ugly season and had fans considering, however briefly it might have been, rooting for the Yanks. Things have to be different for New York's other team in 2010. The injury excuse only goes so far and if they struggle again the changes will be fast and numerous (DC)
- It wasn't all good news in 2009, as two of the biggest stars in the game in the last decade or so, Manny Ramirez and Alex Rodriguez were both busted for drug use. Rodriguez was on the now infamous list of 103, and when confronted about it finally admitted it, while Manny reportedly tested positive for a female fertility drug and was suspended for 50 games. While the tests once again put a black eye on the sport, the fans en masse didn't seem to care, and continued to cheer for both men (DDK)
- Pedro Martinez, say what you want about him, but he is one of the best ever. If his run in the Bigs is over he will be missed. Love him or hate him he was fun outside the lines for his comments and in his prime was a monster within them. Even watching a watered-down version of Pedro in the playoffs was a treat...up until Wednesday night (DC)
- What's going on in the National League? Pitchers who were getting routinely knocked around in the American League like Brad Penny, John Smoltz and even Cliff Lee to a certain extent, moved to the N.L. and all put up much better numbers. Add that to the fact that the 'Senior Circuit' hasn't won an All-Star game since 1996, it makes you wonder if the designated hitter really makes that much of a difference (DDK)