World Series Buried Lead: Can We Have Vintage Pedro Back For One Night Only?

Tonight's Game 6 match-up is being branded as a barn-burner already.  The Yankees will send Andy Pettitte (28-22 over the last two years) to the mound in search of a title clinching win.  The Phillies will counter with Pedro Martinez, the Phightins' No. 3 starter and  he who has the most wins in playoff history, to the mound in search of one more win and one more World Series title. 

If allowed to go into an actual time machine, I would probably screw up that entire space-time continuum beyond repair.  I would invest a significant amount of money in something called The Facebook, warn Jim Hendry about why it would be a terrible idea to sign Milton Bradley to a three-year, $30 million deal and get on board and attach my bandwagon to Gawker Media and Deadspin.
 
I would also bring back a gift for baseball fans everywhere.

We'll start with classic Pedro -- the greatest pitcher to survive the Steroid Era.

World Series Buried Lead: FOX Sports Chicago

(The Big Dead Sidebar will try to provide readers with a buried lead before each and every World Series game.  This is the second installment in a series.)

In an effort to pull in a third large market for the World Series, FOX Sports will present the World Series through the eyes of some of Chicago's most popular players and managers.  At least, that's my theory ... and I'm sticking to it.

World Series Buried Lead: The Cleveland Factor

(The Big Dead Sidebar will try to provide readers with a buried lead before each and every World Series game.  This is the first in a series.)

Unless you're totally oblivious to playoff baseball, you know that former Cleveland Indians pitchers CC Sabathia and Cliff Lee are the Game 1 starters for the New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies, respectively.  The fact that they are no longer members of the Tribe could be one of the primary reasons Manny Acta has a job in Cleveland and Eric Wedge is somewhere in an unemployment line.

Lee went 22-3 with a 2.54 earned run average in a little more than 223 innings en route to a Cy Young.  In eight seasons with Cleveland, Lee posted an 83-48 record including 14-win seasons in 2004 and 2006, sandwiching an 18-win season in 2005.

Then there's Sabathia, who wile he was in Cleveland was known as C.C. Sabathia.  (Yes, he took out the periods after being traded to Milwaukee.)  Watching Sabathia start a World Series in a Yankees uniform has to be painful for fans of the mistakes by the lake.  It would have been different had Sabathia returned to Milwaukee, gone west to be closer to home, stayed in the National League or went west and stayed in the National League.  Instead, he took the money and pressure that comes with playing in the Bronx.  And he performed.

Sabathia went 106-81 in his eight year career in Cleveland, but really didn't put it all together until his 2007 Cy Young season.  He went 19-7 with a  3.21 ERA while making a league-most 34 starts and pitched a league high 241 innings.  Those numbers aren't eye-popping enough for you?  How about the ridiculous amount of hitters he faced, 975 in total.

After struggling in the playoffs, and out of the gate in Cleveland, Sabathia regained the magic touch in Milwaukee (I'm convinced it was the bratwurst) and went 11-2 with a 1.65 ERA while racking up 128 strikeouts in a little more than 130 innings.  Sabathia single-handedly carried the Brewers into the playoffs.

Honestly, how often does a team develop two true aces who end up bringing home Cy Young Awards in consecutive seasons and then are traded away in consecutive seasons?  Not often?  How about not ever.  But if was going to happen anywhere, it would be in Cleveland.

But it doesn't stop there.  The Tribe could field a team of players they've cut ties with that happened to reach the playoffs this season.

The Indians could have had Manny Ramirez (Dodgers) in left, and Ryan Ludwick (Cardinals) in right field.  Casey Blake and Ron Belliard (Dodgers) could have been playing third and shortstop, respectively, with Mark DeRosa (Cardinals) at second.  Jim Thome (Dodgers) could have handled first with Victor Martinez (Red Sox) at catcher.  Out of the bullpen, Acta Wedge could have called upon Rafael Betancourt out of the bullpen.  Heck, they could have thrown Ben Francisco as the designated hitter.

Did I mention a healthy Grady Sizemore would have made the Indians an elite American League team?  It would have. 

Instead, Cleveland is back in rebuilding mode, even though they probably shouldn't be.

Pitching Pushes MLB Playoffs In Post-Steroid Era

There has been a paradigm shift in the post-steroid era of baseball.  Other than the Cubs, who always seem to be behind the learning curve, no longer are teams shelling out large contracts to older sluggers.  Instead, a lot of that money has been put toward younger talent.

And rather than seeing bulky boppers age in front of your eyes, the remaining teams in the League Championship Series are primed to take the next step because of their young pitchers.

Why I Hate Your Playoff Baseball Team

Confession: I am a baseball nerd.  Really.  When I was younger, I found myself watching playoff baseball despite the fact that my favorite team had been eliminated from playoff contention for a good chunk of those years.

But now, after back-to-back soul crushing playoff sweeps, my favorite team failed to make the postseason altogether.  I thought about latching myself to the bandwagon of one of the remaining teams.  Upon further review, I couldn't find it within me to do it.

And this is how "Why I Hate Your Playoff Baseball Team" got started.

The longest (and arguably most offensive to those of you who take your favorite team way too seriously) post in TBDS history after the jump.

Cubs-Phillies Pre-Game Rant: A Prelude To TBDS Late Night

Only in Philly. I guess this is where Kobe got his "thing" from.

Once upon a time, I used to write preview stories for big games and big series for this blog. As my free time has dwindled, so have the previews. But this is special, so consider this one big aside.

The Chicago Cubs need to take at least two out of three from the Philadelphia Phillies. It's not because the Phils are the defending world champs. It's not because the Phightins were moved into the NL Central over night.

Instead, I will give into the primal instinct of being a fan and admit that I want the Cubs to beat the Phillies because I want to shut a certain Phillies fan up. He knows who he is. He'll read this. He might even respond.

See, if there is one fanbase that deserves absolutely nothing it is Philadelphia. Philly's most recent blessings:

• Harry Kalas
• A 2009 World Series
• Allen Iverson
• Donovan McNabb
• Playing in the same division as the New York Mets
• A college basketball coach that wants to choke out John Calipari
  

That is way too much to give a fandom that has heckled, booed and pelted Santa Claus with batteries. Philly fans deserve this much good happening to them as much as Paris Hilton deserves a cure for whatever diseases live inside her mouth and other dark places. Giving the Phillies a championship is like giving that one bratty kid who ruins every holiday party a gift for not completely ruining this year's festivity.

And yet, I shouldn't be bothered by this because Philadelphia has wet dreams about being half the city Chicago is.

Better food? Chicago, by far. Better hot dogs. Better sandwiches and better pizza. Seriously, that Domino's American Legends pizza is a joke. No Chicago style? No New York style? That's like putting together a list of best rappers alive and leaving off Kanye West and Jay-Z, but putting the Young Gunz on the list. (Someone I know who reads this will get that reference.)

Better sports town? Chicago, without a doubt. The Bears, Bulls, Hawks and (dare I say?) White Sox provide a much more entertaining sporting experience than the Eagles, Sixers and Flyers.

So, you've got a Liberty Bell. Big deal. I'll take the Sears Tower in the monuments that are better than an ancient cracked bell category. Ooh, and the Rocky movies. Whooptie-freakin'-do! There are 10 movies based in Chicago that are better than all of the Rocky movies combined.

The best thing Philadelphia has going for it is A.J. Daulerio. Other than that, the last really good thing to come out of Philly is some guys named Ryne Sandberg and Ferguson Jenkins. (And to a lesser extent, The Fresh Prince and Jazzy Jeff.)

By the way, thanks for that, fellas.. Hope you enjoyed the Hall of Fame careers of Ivan DeJesus, Larry Jackson and Bob Buhl.

Oh and one more thing about your city that stinks. You have to live there.

Smell ya later, Philadelphia.

It's Phinally Over Pt. 3

Papelbon strikes one more time. In yo face!

There's a part of me that wants to congratulate the Philadelphia Phillies on winning a World Series title. Even though I have no idea how hard it is to win one (because my favorite team always seems to find a way to choke it up) I do know how EASY it is to f*ck it up.

And since the Phightin' Phils didn't do that, I've gotta tip my cap to them.

However, it doesn't mean that they're exempt from getting a championship worthy facial!

I can't wait 'til next year when Jim Hendry or Lou Piniella gets a load in the face!

It's Phinally Over, Part Two

25 years of pent up...stuff!

Since the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim clinched baseball's first playoff berth, I've been enamored with these celebration photos. It's almost kinda sick. But can you blame me?

I didn't think so.

Honestly, if I won a championship I'd be spraying my fans all over the face too. You gotta share the love, dude!

Philles one win from championship, freeing Mitch Williams' soul

The Philadelphia Phillies are one win away from the World Series championship that the Chicago Cubs were supposed to win.

What? Did you not expect me to go there.

I have mixed emotions about this series ... and by mixed emotions I mean I don't care as much as an extreme baseball enthusiast should be, but I care enough to watch highlights on SportsCenter multiple times.

See, the Phillies have that whole tortured team/fan aspect that I can relate to. None of Philadelphia's four teams have won a professional sports title in 25 years.

That makes it an even 100 seasons since a championship banner has been waived in the City of Brotherly Love.

As for the Tampa Bay Rays, they've done two things no Cubs team has done since 1945.

Go to the World Series and win a game in the World Series.

And the Cubs spotted the Rays a head start of more than 100 years.

Ouch, that smarts.

From afar, I must admit to having a slight admiration for the Rays because they built their champion the old fashioned way: through the farm system.

Well, kind of.

The Rays get a lot of credit (and deservedly so) for building a productive farm system that has brought Evan Longoria, David Price and B.J. Upton to stardom.

However, to get those players, the former Devil Rays had to compile some of the worst records in baseball to do so.

Eventually, you're going to land some quality players when you've got more top-10 picks than you know what to do with.

Right, Elgin Baylor?

In the end, there is only one city that will be celebrating a championship by week's end. And since that city isn't Chicago (or Carbondale, or Chapel Hill...) I really don't care.

Someone needs to keep an eye on Brad Lidge

Maybe I'm the only person who remembers the last time Philadelphia Phillies closer Brad Lidge was in the clinching game of the NLCS.

It was Game 5 of the 2005 NLCS and last I checked St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols hit a home run at Minute Maid Park that still hasn't landed.

Three years later, Lidge is lights-out once again and his team is one win from clinching the NL Pennant.

But with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, can Lidge be trusted?

Will he have visions of Pujols dancing through his head?

I guess we find out tonight.

Good night from Carbondale.

Gettin' Silly in Philly

Photo credit: Getty Images.

This is part one of a two-part series in which I write about how jealous I am of the teams remaining in baseball's League Championship Series.

The Philadelphia Philles have a 3-1 lead in the NLCS, putting them one game away from their first World Series appearance since 1993.

As a baseball fan, there's a part of me that cares.

As a tortured Cubs fan, I want to say f*ck this series!

The Los Angeles Dodgers have no business being in the playoffs, let alone the League Championship Series.

I don't care what Ned Coletti thinks because if it weren't for Manny Ramirez the Dodgers would be watching the playoffs from the comfort of their collective homes.

OK, the return of Rafael Furcal helps (a lot) and Andre Ethier, Matt Kemp and James Loney are solid youngsters that are budding stars.

But I still can't put together how an 84-win team in the worst division in baseball beat the team with the most wins in the National League that played in a division with four teams that were over the .500 mark.

I guess having the right combination of people that have been there, done that (Manny, Derrek Lowe, Joe Torre) and clueless youngsters (Kemp, Loney, Jonathan Broxton) can help you pull a surprise.

As for the Phillies, I understand how they got here, one game away from the NL pennant.

And as I look up and down the Phillies' roster, I'm jealous.

Not just because they're on the brink of winning the pennant, but because of what they've got.

They've got an ace starter in Cole Hamels, who is sane. Not that I don't like Carlos Zambrano's insanity because I think it brings something special to the team. It's a fire that doesn't come in most players.

They've got speed with Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino, who combined to swipe 83 bags this season.

The Cubs only stole 87 bases this year led by Ryan Theriot's 22.

They've got power in the middle with the lefty sticks of Chase Utley (33 HRs) and Ryan Howard (48 dingers) and the right-handed heavy hitter Pat Burrell (33 bombs).

Alfonso Soriano led the Cubs with 29 homers as the Cubs lead-off man. Aramis Ramirez, who hit 38 homers in 2005, has hit 26 and 27 in the last two seasons.

But at least his OBP continues to rise (.380 this year compared to .366 and .352 the last two years) and his defense has been Gold Glove caliber of late.

The point is that despite the wins, run differential and the ultimate motivation of being titleless since the dawn of man kind, the Cubs weren't able to do what they were expected to do.

Eh, what else is new.

Daily Dosage: Like life, baseball goes on

First of all, let the record show that Nick Cannon has no business being married to the beautiful (and a little bit loco) Mariah Carey.

Seriously, Mariah can sing her butt off and look good in it. Nick Cannon had that one song with R. Kelly and that other song with a bunch of rappers.

At least he has Drumline money to fall back on.

Still, it's unfair.

Moving on to the Dosage.

The Phreakin' Phils Are Having Phun! Through four NLCS games, Brad Lidge has proven to be the anti-Mitch Williams.

Lidge converted his first four-out save this season and he did it at a perfect time for Philly fans as the fans of the Illa-delph's baseball team were rewarded with a 7-5 come-from-behind victory.

The Dodgers bullpen (normally good) allowed five runs in four innings of work to a powerful Phillies offense that is one win away from its first World Series since 1993.

Remember the Wild Thing? Here's hoping Brad Lidge has a short memory. Remember the last time he was in a LCS clinching game?

[Phillies 7 Dodgers 5]

Rays romp in Boston. To quote Eminem in the great movie "8 Mile": "Now who's afraid of the big bad wolf?"

Not the Tampa Bay Rays.

In their first playoff appearance at Fenway Park, the Rays looked like a group of veterans, knocking around Jon Lester (surprising!) to the tune of five runs (four earned) on eight hits in 5.2 innings. Then the Rays knocked around Paul Byrd (not so much!) for four runs (all earned) in 3.1 innings.

Oh yeah, and B.J. Upton is turning into an October star.

His summer troubles were chronicled here at TBDS.

The good news for the Rays center fielder is that it's the fall.

He's batting .308 after a 2-for-5 day at the plate in which he knocked in three RBIs, scored a run and hit a loooong home run off of Lester in the third inning.

The Rays are up 2-1 in the best-of-seven series.

[Rays 9 Red Sox 1]

Quality Linkage:

• The SIU men's golf team posted its worst finish of the fall season. [Daily Egyptian]
• The Heisman Field is lackin' for talent. [The Big Lead]
• The best Madden glitches ever. [on205th]
• A victory for "baseball geeks" like me. [Gawker]
• Marshawn Lynch is just like me. And by just like me, I mean he's a blogger. [With Leather]
  

The only thing left to look forward to

Well, let's be honest. The Cardinals are done. They're not coming back. No division crown, no wild card. Over, we are done.

I was feeling down about it until I realized something. The Cubs are in first place!

Most of you are probably saying 'Wait, I thought you were a Cardinals fan?' Yes, I am a Cards fan and yes, I hate the Cubs with a fiery passion.

That's why I'm so happy they're in first. I don't have to watch as whatever team goes and wins a World Series. I still have something to hope for. That something is for the Cubs to choke.

So, let's break down the possibilities:

Mets win East, Dodgers win West, Brewers win Wild Card

Under this scenario, the Cubs will go up against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS. I love the Dodgers' chances here. They have been on a role since acquiring Manny Ramirez, who will undoubtedly earn another hefty contract in the free agent market.

Currently, they're my favorite to make it to the World Series from the National League.

If the Cubs do slip past the Dodgers, then they would go up against either the Milwaukee Brewers or New York Mets. In a five game series, I think the Mets take it.

In the Cubs-Mets NLCS, the curse of Ron Santo takes place. There is no way the Cubs are getting past the Mets with Santo still part of the organization.

Phillies win East, Dodgers win West, Brewers win Wild Card

In this scenerio, the Cubs once again face the Dodgers in the NLDS. My prediction stays the same as above.

Once again, if the Cubs do slip past L.A., I think the Brewers take care of the Philadelphia Phillies in the NLDS, so that sets up an all National League Central NLCS.

The Brewers fired manager Ned Yost. They're now the team that has no chance. In a series against the Cubs where no one gives them a shot, they prove that Billy Goats can cause curses.

Mets win East, Dodgers win West, Phillies win Wild Card

Ryan Howard vs. Rich Harden and Carlos Zambrano, as much as this intrigues me, I don't see the Phillies beating the Cubs.

I see the Dodgers taking care of the Mets in that series, setting up Chicago to take a seat to Joe Torre ripping Yankee hearts out by making the World Series as Dodgers manager while the Yankees sit patiently at home waiting until CC Sabathia and Ben Sheets hit the open market.

I really don't care how it works out. As long as the Cubbies choke, I'm going into the offseason a happy person.

I love to see the Cubbies choke and all the sad faces on their drunk faces after it happens. The only thing that makes me happier is seeing St. Louis win.