Spring Break
MLB Playoffs Lacking Excitement
John Frascella
Issue date: 10/10/07 Section: Sports
There are a number of things missing from this year's MLB playoffs: passion, fire, intensity, pride and most of all, comebacks.
The Cubs, Phillies and Angels fell behind 2-0 in their respective division series'. Backed against the wall, faced with the memories of a long, taxing, unpredictable regular season, it was time for them to show pride in their accomplishments and fight for the right to continue playing.
All three were swept.
The Cubs lost 5-1, the Phillies 2-1, the Angels 9-1 - a total of three runs from three of the best teams in the MLB.
They lost and lost quietly. No big rallies, no clutch hits, no one taking charge in the dugout, no arguments with the umpire, no managers firing up their troops, no bean-balls and no bench-clearing brawls.
It was difficult to watch. I cringed for the fans of the losers.
No satisfaction for the Cubs fans who have been waiting 99 years for a World Series victory. Not a single win. Not even at Wrigley Field.
Where is the passion? Where is the drive, desire, fight, competitive spirit, pride or will to win?
The Cubs, featuring big bats in Alfonso Soriano, Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez, scored one run against Livan Hernandez. Hernandez is about 68 years old and his fastball is in the low 80s.
The Phillies, boasting sluggers Ryan Howard, Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins, put up one run against Ubaldo Jimenez - a rookie, pitching at Coors Field, the greatest hitters' park in the history of baseball.
Now this is not to take anything away from Hernandez, Jimenez or their respective teams, the Diamondbacks and Rockies; the point is, the Cubs and Phillies had favorable match-ups and not only did they fail to capitalize, they failed miserably.
The Yankees also fell behind 2-0, but managed to hammer out an 8-4 victory in Game 3 at Yankee Stadium. However, even the mighty Yankees had little comeback fire, as their torch flamed out in Game 4 against Cleveland's junkballer Paul Byrd.
The Cubs, Phillies and Angels fell behind 2-0 in their respective division series'. Backed against the wall, faced with the memories of a long, taxing, unpredictable regular season, it was time for them to show pride in their accomplishments and fight for the right to continue playing.
All three were swept.
The Cubs lost 5-1, the Phillies 2-1, the Angels 9-1 - a total of three runs from three of the best teams in the MLB.
They lost and lost quietly. No big rallies, no clutch hits, no one taking charge in the dugout, no arguments with the umpire, no managers firing up their troops, no bean-balls and no bench-clearing brawls.
It was difficult to watch. I cringed for the fans of the losers.
No satisfaction for the Cubs fans who have been waiting 99 years for a World Series victory. Not a single win. Not even at Wrigley Field.
Where is the passion? Where is the drive, desire, fight, competitive spirit, pride or will to win?
The Cubs, featuring big bats in Alfonso Soriano, Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez, scored one run against Livan Hernandez. Hernandez is about 68 years old and his fastball is in the low 80s.
The Phillies, boasting sluggers Ryan Howard, Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins, put up one run against Ubaldo Jimenez - a rookie, pitching at Coors Field, the greatest hitters' park in the history of baseball.
Now this is not to take anything away from Hernandez, Jimenez or their respective teams, the Diamondbacks and Rockies; the point is, the Cubs and Phillies had favorable match-ups and not only did they fail to capitalize, they failed miserably.
The Yankees also fell behind 2-0, but managed to hammer out an 8-4 victory in Game 3 at Yankee Stadium. However, even the mighty Yankees had little comeback fire, as their torch flamed out in Game 4 against Cleveland's junkballer Paul Byrd.
Be the first to comment on this story