walk´-off`
1. (Baseball) Game-ending and game-winning; such as to end the game immediately, and allow the players to walk off the field; - of hits, especially home runs, which occur in the last half of the ninth or a later inning, which put the home team ahead of the visiting team and thereby end the game immediatey. This occurs in baseball because, when the last half of the ninth inning arrives, if the home team (which bats last) is already ahead in the score the last half of that inning is not played, the winner of the game having already been decided. Likewise, as soon as the home team gets ahead in the score after the visiting team has batted in the ninth inning, the game is ended.
Afterwards, The player that hits the walk-off gets mobbed, jumped on, beat up and maybe a shaving cream pie to the face.
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I'm going to ask this question one more time!
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Don't you just love Walk-Offs?
This week: It felt like every day was a walk off. You also had "The Yankees" walk-off 3 consecutive days, You had every possible walk-off imaginable. Singles, doubles, grand slam... There is literally no one better than the other!
If you haven't notice already....you should take notice----that every week in Major League baseball has been linked to a pattern. You find this a lot.
Funny Note: I don't know if you remember but... The Simpsons made a sketch that "Major League Baseball is always watching". Watching your every move.
Players and teams take notes on other players and teams and get amped up for the next show.
It's a Soap Opera.....It's entertainment!
And the good Lord knows that I want to be entertained. Over 4,000 games over 40,000+ innings. There's drama in every game.
Obviously, It has been made known that this past week was 'statement week' for a lot of MLB clubs and players ---- Whooping up on the division...Right before interleague play begins this upcoming weekend.
As we prepare for battle... Senior Circuit vs. Junior Circuit.... Let's take a look at.........
"My Hot 5"
1. Adrian Gonzalez(SD/1B) Picture above: This guy is an absolute beast. This past week, through a period of 5 games...this 'Beast of Nature'.....had 6 homers*. A homer a game! One game he had two homers. That's a lot of luggage to take on all those flights around the diamond. But this week alone 5 homers 7 RBI's. *-His homer streak started a day before the blog week, but if you have a 5 game homer streak...who cares. Season totals 15 hr's, 29 rbi's, 294. ba.
2. Raul Ibanez(Phi/LF) Who Needs Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins, or Chase Utley... when you have this guy....excuse me-13 year veteran! This is a Philly whose swinging a hot bat. 4 homer runs, 10 rbi's, and 13 runs scored this week. Ridiculous! Can't wait to hype this guy up in my podcast. I forgot to mention...this 36 year old has a .357 batting average. Season totals: 13 hr's 35 rbi's. Also he's ranked 1st in the National League in slugging (.714).
3. Justin Morneau(Min/1B)- Let's not forget this guy has a AL MVP Award. Morneau has been through a lot in his career. And with all the ups and downs that come into play in a close AL Central race, You are going to have to consistenly hit the ball well. Morneau is in his 7th MLB season and these past 4 have been nothing but great. 20+ homers the past 4 seasons.... 110+ rbi's in the past 3. He's projected to hit 50 and drive in 137. This week: 4 homers, 7 rbi's. Season totals: 12 dingers, 33 rbi's and a .340 ba. STUD!
4. Prince Fielder(Mil/1B)- Fun Stat: 437 strikeouts in 551 career games. Whoo! But does that mean you can't be productive? So can 9 home runs and 37 rbi's look so bad when you strikeout 40 times in 38 games? Not really. Especially when you are 2nd in the National League in rbi's and 1st in the National League in walks. Productivity trumps strikeouts every time ....Just ask Adam Dunn? (lol) This week alone: 4 round trip tickets(hr) and 11 rbi's.
5. Victor Martinez(Cle/C)- You're doing something right when youre hitting .400. That's should be all you have to do if you're on a club... Right?.... But also if you have 62 hits, 7 hr's, 27 rbi's through 40 games..... You're obviously doing more than just "something".
Who's Brewing?
Mark Teixeira(NYY/1B)- I could have easily put A-Rod on here. But according to this guy, having A-Rod in the lineup has made him better. This week alone: "Big Tex" has improved his batting average 48 points(.191-.238), hit 4 home runs, and 7 rbi's. Ha! Maybe A-Rod will be on here next week.... Season totals: 11 hr's 29 rbi's.
The face says it all. It's tough to not give up the long ball, especially this season. Finding your spots. Being composed and having control of every hitter you face. This means being ahead in the count. Getting first pitch stirkes, Getting the ball down for ground balls. Having a consistent 1-2 count instead of a 2-1 count, which is hard to do. You can't be consistent all the time but knowing that it is in your favor....is the key. Getting out of that jam early. It makes the difference in a game.....- from a 3 hour long game, to a 2 and 1/2 long game---> from a 100 pitch count--> to a 80-99 pitch count. It seems like this year and this era is hard for pitchers. Guys are swinging hot bats, fouling off a lot of pitches and get the starter out of the game early. These guys were not fooled.
Hottest Pitchers of the Week
Roy Halladay(TOR)- There so much you can say about Halladay, It's too bad that I have said everything.---Yeah Right? I hear people all the time....ripping on Halladay... He's not matching up to Greinke. Well, there are a couple of reasons why Halladay has to give up runs. 1. He's pitching in the AL East. 2. He has the most innings pitched in the AL(68) 3. I can't believe i'm saying this, but it's his 11th year. ERA tends to get high w/ MLB experience, but Halladay has been on fire as of late. He's won his past five starts. In those starts, he's given up 9 runs. Not Bad. 31 strikeouts and a sweet 2.78 ERA. Since his last loss, he's dropped his ERA almost a whole run 3.72-2.78. --This is the third time I'm going to use this term, but he deserves it. Lights out. Season totals: 8-1, 2.78 ERA, 57 strikeouts.
Trevor Hoffman (MIL)- Why did San Diego give up on this guy? Dumb move! Hells Bells v. 1.0 is on fire. 16 years experience-564 saves and soon to be 1000 innings pitched. This guy is awesome. If Milwaukee can bring it to Hoffman 4 times a week. They are in the playoffs hands down. Season Totals: 11 games, 10 saves, 9 strikeouts, 0 ERA. Amazing
Zack Greinke(KC)- I'm still expecting this young kid to lose a few more games, but it doesn't look like it's going to happen. Every start is a gem. Seriosuly. 7-1, .60 ERA. This is getting old! Come back to normal-Join the crowd already! His last 24 Innings: 2 earned runs. It's funny: When he doesn't get an earned run... they provide run production. When he gives up just one earned run.....just one.... the Royals put up a zero. Come on... give this video game cheat code a break!
Who's Boiling Hot?
The New York Yankees- Finally.... I have been waiting for this. Currently on a 7-game winning streak. A-Rod 4 straight games with a home run. You can't have it a better time...before interleague play... to get HOT and beat up on your division. For some reason A-Rod is making everyone better. Why? Clueless.
Milwaukee Brewers- "The Brew Crew" Are on a 7 game winning streak, holding opponents below 6 runs per game. Ridiculous! They are proving why making the playoffs last year wasn't a fluke. Therefore proving me wrong. I love it. And fun fact about the Brewers right now: 159 runs against....Awesome. 2nd in the league. Not only they are hitting the ball extremely well, Because of their lumberjack looking hitters, but they are playing great defense. Great Pitching/Defense+ Lumberjacks= Divison title? No. Wild Card. It's definitely coming out of the NL Central. Why not the Brewers!
Who's Freezing Cold?
David Ortiz(BOS/DH)- See... Usually I have teams on here. Come on! .203 batting average. No Home Runs. Former MVP. "You No Big Papi!"(New Era commercial) He does have 15 RBi's. But homerless in 133 at bats. I expect him to find a groove and get back to normal. He has proven to me that he's not on steroids.... I'm thinking it's mental, but you have to think what could you be doing with $13,000,000 right now. He sure is eating well.
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Tune into Next Week's blog: Titled; "Let Interleague Play Begin"
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