Short Version: Marlins over the Squirrels/Burritos in 5.
Slightly Longer Version: the old man beat the kid for the first time in any meaningful Strat Series. Ever. And I'm not counting Game 163 last fall where I "won" to prove I was the worst team in the league.
Brief Commentary: Karl and I talked around this time last year about how cool it would be if the two teams who fought over the #1 pick could fight over the #8 pick in 2010.
Game by Game:
1. Cal @ Fla: Beckett v. Weaver -- Marlins score first. In the bottom of the 4th, Kennedy, hit by pitch, later scored on a one-out single by Zimmerman, and it stayed 1-0 until Kennedy opened the door in the 7th with an error. One out later, Gonzo hit it out (his card, straight up, boom). Marlins had hopes of pulling it out until Cal put up a 5-spot in the top of 9. This game had a most familiar feel to it. This is how most all my playoff games against Karl have gone. And Hans wasn't even rolling against me, either! Final: 7-1, Beckett gets the win over Weaver. Series: Cal 1 Fla 0.
2. Cal @ Fla: Floyd v. Cueto -- Game 2 started out much the same as Game 1. Scott homered to give the Marlins a 1-0 lead, only to see Cal tie it on 2 hbp, a walk, and a sac fly. Cal took the lead in the 4th on a 2-rbi double by Kendall. But this time, the Marlins fought back with three in the bottom of the 4th. With the sacks full and nobody out, Baker's ground out moved everyone up a bas, and Izturis' single brought home two more. marlins added another in the 5th on two errors and a sac fly, then held on for the win despite another homer by Gonzo. Final: 5-4, Cueto over Floyd, with a save to Frankie. Series: Cal 1 Fla 1.
3. Fla @ Cal: Anderson v. Wolf -- There would be 7 homers hit in this game, a 3-run shot (Zimmerman) and six solos (Shoppach, Hanley, and Pence; Alexi, Ibanez twice), all surrendered by the two starters. Marlins built up a 6-0 lead only to see Cal exercise some of their own power to make it close. Final: 7-4, Anderson over Wolf, with a save to Frankie. Series: Fla 2 Cal 1.
4. Fla @ Cal: Nolasco v. Ubaldo -- Cal again built an early 4-1 lead. In the first, Hanley doubled in Kennedy, and Church singled to score Hanley. Gonzo responded in the bottom of the inning by doubling in Span. Top of 2, Ellsbury homered to score he and Barajas. Still 4-1 into the 7th when Reynolds hit a solo shot. Frankie came on in the 9th for the save, and promptly gave up a homer to.... Gonzo. But gave up nothing else. Final: 4-3, Nolasco over Ubaldo, with a save to Frankie. Series: Fla 3 Cal 1.
5. Fla @ Cal: Weaver v. Beckett rematch -- It started badly when Jones botched a fly from Ellsbury, then two outs later Kubel hit it out. And in the 2nd, another error opened the dorr for two more runs and a 4-0 lead for Florida. Kendall knocked in 2 with a double to make it 4-2. Top of 3, Hanley and Zimmerman hit solo shots, replied in kind by.... Gonzo with one of his own to make it 6-3 Florida. By the middle of the 9th, Florida had pounded out 12 runs on 14 hits, including yet another homer, this time by Barajas. Cal chose not to go quietly. With two outs, Florida once again saw another big rally commence (shades of Hans rolling for Steve). Gonzo would double in Cal's 5th run before Reynolds flew out to end the game and the Series. Final: 12-5, Weaver over Beckett. Series: Fla 4 Cal 1.
Series MVP: Adrian Gonzalez
Congratulations to the Florida Marlins!
News (Dec. 15, 2009)
Florida's aggressive Off-season
Only a couple of days after being a part of a major deal with Seattle, Florida sent their ace Josh Beckett, Randy Wolf, back up outfielder Jeremy Reed, 2 second round picks (#15 and 17) and a 3rd round pick (#26) to California in exchange for the second pick in the draft, second base prospect Luis Valbuena, pitching prospects Gio Gonzalez and Ryan Tucker, and first baseman/outfielder Luke Scott. In exchange for a couple of proven veterans, Florida continued its recent trend of acquiring young players with high upsides in an attempt to rebuild from a couple of dismal seasons into a team that can compete for a championship in a couple of years.
World Series Champions acquire more pitching
Having witnessed the team they beat in the World Series make moves to acquire Javier Vazquez only days before, the Oakland Athletics were not content to sit back, but made a similar move to bolster their starting pitching staff acquiring pitcher Jon Lester along with second baseman Luis Castillo, outfielder Chase Headley and reliever J.J. Putz from the California Squirrel Demons in exchange for Shortstop Alexei Ramirez, closer Mariano Rivera and the 8th pick in the draft. California, after having made significant improvements in its starting pitching with the acquisition of Beckett and Wolf from Florida, had the ability to move one of its young promising pitchers in exchange for some help at shortstop where Ramirez will replace Ryan Theriot, and at the back end of the bullpen, acquiring aging but lethal closer Mariano Rivera.
San Francisco acquires 3rd second baseman in 3 years
San Francisco made a move to acquire second baseman Brian Roberts and closer Jonathan Papelbon from San Diego in exchange for all-hit-no-defense slugging second baseman Dan Uggla and pitcher Jonathan Sanchez. The addition of Roberts at second and the takeover of Furcal at short from the slumping Yuni Betancourt marks the third double play combination in the past 3 years for the San Francisco club (Renteria-Hudson '08, Betancourt-Uggla '09, and Furcal-Roberts '10). The addition of Uggla provides a boost of power that was noticeably absent from the San Diego club which hit only 115 Homeruns last year, better only than lowly California.
Only a couple of days after being a part of a major deal with Seattle, Florida sent their ace Josh Beckett, Randy Wolf, back up outfielder Jeremy Reed, 2 second round picks (#15 and 17) and a 3rd round pick (#26) to California in exchange for the second pick in the draft, second base prospect Luis Valbuena, pitching prospects Gio Gonzalez and Ryan Tucker, and first baseman/outfielder Luke Scott. In exchange for a couple of proven veterans, Florida continued its recent trend of acquiring young players with high upsides in an attempt to rebuild from a couple of dismal seasons into a team that can compete for a championship in a couple of years.
World Series Champions acquire more pitching
Having witnessed the team they beat in the World Series make moves to acquire Javier Vazquez only days before, the Oakland Athletics were not content to sit back, but made a similar move to bolster their starting pitching staff acquiring pitcher Jon Lester along with second baseman Luis Castillo, outfielder Chase Headley and reliever J.J. Putz from the California Squirrel Demons in exchange for Shortstop Alexei Ramirez, closer Mariano Rivera and the 8th pick in the draft. California, after having made significant improvements in its starting pitching with the acquisition of Beckett and Wolf from Florida, had the ability to move one of its young promising pitchers in exchange for some help at shortstop where Ramirez will replace Ryan Theriot, and at the back end of the bullpen, acquiring aging but lethal closer Mariano Rivera.
San Francisco acquires 3rd second baseman in 3 years
San Francisco made a move to acquire second baseman Brian Roberts and closer Jonathan Papelbon from San Diego in exchange for all-hit-no-defense slugging second baseman Dan Uggla and pitcher Jonathan Sanchez. The addition of Roberts at second and the takeover of Furcal at short from the slumping Yuni Betancourt marks the third double play combination in the past 3 years for the San Francisco club (Renteria-Hudson '08, Betancourt-Uggla '09, and Furcal-Roberts '10). The addition of Uggla provides a boost of power that was noticeably absent from the San Diego club which hit only 115 Homeruns last year, better only than lowly California.
News (Dec. 12, 2009)
Seattle Aims for League Best Pitching Staff
After a disappointing loss in the World Series to the Oakland Athletics, Seattle pulled off a blockbuster trade in an attempt to reach that next plateau. By sending Hunter Pence along with Jared Weaver, Adam Kennedy, the injured Kelvim Escobar and their 2nd and 3rd round picks to the Florida Marlins, Seattle acquired Javier Vazquez and the number one overall pick in which they announced their plans to draft center fielder Andrew McCutchen to fill their center field void. While Vazquez is coming off a bad year where he posted a 6-18 record with a 4.76 ERA while giving up 36 HRs for the last place Marlins, Seattle hopes he can do better. Florida, meanwhile, aims to infuse new talent into a team that has struggled recently, finishing 7th or 8th each of the last 3 years.
After a disappointing loss in the World Series to the Oakland Athletics, Seattle pulled off a blockbuster trade in an attempt to reach that next plateau. By sending Hunter Pence along with Jared Weaver, Adam Kennedy, the injured Kelvim Escobar and their 2nd and 3rd round picks to the Florida Marlins, Seattle acquired Javier Vazquez and the number one overall pick in which they announced their plans to draft center fielder Andrew McCutchen to fill their center field void. While Vazquez is coming off a bad year where he posted a 6-18 record with a 4.76 ERA while giving up 36 HRs for the last place Marlins, Seattle hopes he can do better. Florida, meanwhile, aims to infuse new talent into a team that has struggled recently, finishing 7th or 8th each of the last 3 years.
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