As Cold As Ice

With Holliday back in the lineup, Freese's
bat might continue to stay hot.

With the St. Louis Cardinals facing elimination Wednesday, it was the bat of young third baseman David Freese that has the red birds on a plane back to Philadelphia for a decisive Game 5 Friday night. The Phillies' offense jumped on right-hander Edwin Jackson early, scoring two runs on his first five pitches with three consecutive hits.

Jackson held his composure and was able to escape the inning without any further damage.

Lance Berkman, who carried the Cardinal offense most of the season with the rare inconsistency of superstar Albert Pujols, responded with a two-out RBI double in the home half of the inning off former and long-time teammate Roy Oswalt.

The rest of the Cards offense belonged to the 28-year-old Freese. After Berkman walked to open the fourth and slugger Matt Holliday was hit by an inside fastball, Oswalt got Yadier Molina to line out to right field for the first out of the inning. Freese promptly lined a bullet into the left field corner, scoring Berkman and Holliday, giving St. Louis their first lead of the game, 3-2.

In the sixth, Freese hit a mammoth two-run home run to straight away center field for his third and fourth RBIs of the game, almost ensuring St. Louis a trip back to the "City of Brotherly Love".

With those two extra-base hits and four RBIs, Freese joined Lou Brock (Game 4 '68 World Series) and Willie McGee (Game 3 '82 World Series) as the only other Cardinal player to accomplish that feat in a postseason game. Not even the iconic Pujols has had a game like that in the one of his playoff runs.

On the mound, Jackson would not return for the top of the seventh after throwing only 77 pitches. The 28-year-old tossed six quality innings allowing only the two runs in the first inning and striking out four Phillie hitters, giving exactly what manager Tony La Russa needed.

La Russa called on his bullpen once again, using five different hurlers over three brilliant innings of relief to seal a 5-3 victory.

Closer Jason Motte, who is a converted minor league catcher and only 12 career saves under his belt, came on to get the games toughest three outs, but posted a 1-2-3 ninth with the help of his young center fielder.

Game 4 hero John Jay made a sliding catch in shallow right center field for the final out and almost simultaneously throwing his arm in the air in excitement with his finger held high as to say we're No. 1.

As for the Fightin' Phils, Oswalt found himself in a familiar place almost six years ago. The righty started the series-clinching Game 6 of the 2005 NLCS at the old Busch Stadium, eventually sending the Houston Astros to their first World Series appearance in franchise history.

It seems like ages ago Carpenter
was a member of the Blue Jays.

Oswalt was a much different pitcher then and one not riddled by back problems. The loss marked the first of the 11-year veteran's postseason career as a starter. Oswalt had been 5-0 in ten previous postseason starts. His first loss came as a reliever in last year's NLCS against the San Francisco Giants.

With the series tied at two games apiece both squads will be sending their ace to the mound with eight months of hard work on the line. Former teammates and still very good friends Chris Carpenter, who will be on full rest after starting Game 2 on three days rest for the first time in his career, and Roy Halladay will have the attention of the baseball world Friday night at Citizen Bank Ballpark.

We wouldn't have it any other way.

As Good As Gold

Goldschmidt watches his second career
postseason home run leave the yard.

One of the three teams to face elimination Tuesday, the Arizona Diamondbacks live to fight another day with 8-1 pounding of the NL Central champion Milwaukee Brewers, giving Phoenix at least one more home game in 2011.

Arizona showed the resiliency and toughness that resembles much their manager's career, like they have all season long.

First-year skipper Kirk Gibson, who has been questioned with his managerial decisions this NLDS, counted on two rookies to keep his season alive.

Right-hander Josh Collmenter was brilliant in his first career postseason start, tossing seven two-hit innings and striking out six Brewers, including sluggers Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder one time apiece. The only blemish on his line was a solo home run given up in the third inning by the six-foot-six Cory Hart.

Collmenter has been a tormentor for the Brewers all season long. The righty faced Milwaukee twice during the regular season, both starts coming in the month of July. After receiving a no decision July 9 in Miller Park, he won his very next start at Chase Field July 18. In those regular season starts, Collmenter threw 14 shutout innings and allowed only six hits in those innings with 10 punch-outs.

On the offensive side All-Star catcher Miguel Montero got off the snide with his first RBI of the series with a two-out double, but it was the bat of rookie first base man Paul Goldschmidt that was the difference.

After back-to-back singles to open the bottom of the fifth, Marcum struck Aaron Hill out looking and quickly deposed of Justin Upton on a nubber back to the mound, advancing both runners into scoring position. Manager Ron Roenicke elected to intentionally walk Montero, who had two hits in his first two at-bats against the former Toronto Blue Jays starter, passing the baton to Goldschmidt.

Goldschmidt launched a 1-2 offerings from the Brewers' starter over the right field wall for a grand slam, chasing him from the game. Marcum knew the ball was headed for trouble as soon as the rookie made contact, tossing his glove up in the air in disgust.

That brings the memory of when then-Cubs lefty Ted Lilly threw his glove on the same mound in the same ballpark after surrendering a three-run home run to Chris Young in Game 2 of the 2007 NLDS.

With Goldschmidt's grand slam, he becomes only the third rookie in postseason history to hit a grand slam. Ricky Ledee was the last rookie to do so in the 1999 ALCS as a member of the New York Yankees. The 24-year-old also homered in Game 2 at Miller Park, joining another Yankee, Shane Spencer, as the only other rookie to hit a home run in each his first two playoff games.

Goldschmidt didn't play in Game 1 against Milwaukee. Instead, Gibson went with the veteran Lyle Overbay against ace Yovani Gallardo.

Marcum's reaction was similar to that of Ted
Lilly's, above back in the '07 NLDS.

As for his teammate Willie Bloomquist, who had been one of the longest tenured active players not to make a postseason appearance, he is relishing in the October spotlight. Bloomquist is batting .417 in the team's three postseason games thus far with already three stolen bases.

Arizona continued to build on their regular season success at home with their first win of the postseason coming at Chase Field while the Brewers are reeling on the road.

Milwaukee was 39-42 on the road this season, the only team in the postseason with an a record below .500 on the road or at home.

The Brewers look to avoid a decisive fifth game and close the series out Wednesday in Arizona 9:30 p.m. Eastern Time. It's a match up of two crafty left-handers with postseason experience and almost identical numbers.

Randy Wolf takes the mound for the Brew Crew while Joe Saunders gets the ball for the snakes.

Yo Adrian!

Beltre joined elite company Tuesday with
3 solo home runs at the Trop.

With the Texas Rangers one win away from their second straight trip to the American League Championship Series, offseason acquisition Adrian Beltre carried the load with a Reggie-esk performance Tuesday afternoon in Tampa Bay.

Beltre homered on his first three trips to the plate against two Rays' rookie hurlers, almost single-handedly punching Texas' ticket to the next round.

The 32-year-old native of Santo Domingo came into the game 1-11 in the series and a .214 lifetime hitter in the postseason, never recording an extra-base hit. That all changed in St. Pete after accumulating 12 total bases in the team's 4-3 victory. Beltre is the sixth player in postseason history to hit three home runs in a single game and it's only the seventh it has been done. The mystical Babe Ruth is the only player to accomplish that feat twice, both coming in World Series games.

Prior to signing a six-year $96 million contract with the Rangers this winter, Beltre had been coming off one of his best seasons of his career after four sub par seasons in Seattle. Despite batting .321 with 28 home runs, 102 RBIs and a career-high 49 doubles with the Red Sox in 2010, he was pushed out.

After Boston acquired All-Star first baseman Adrian Gonzalez from San Diego and home-grown Kevin Youkilis set to return to his original position at the hot corner, Beltre was the odd man out.

Looks like their loss.

With the Red Sox sitting home after an epic September collapse, Beltre, who has historical has only played well during contract years, has enjoyed a fantastic first season in Arlington. He hit 32 home runs and drove in 105 RBI for Ron Washington's Rangers, making his straight All-Star appearance while playing a Gold Glove third base.

Second baseman Ian Kinsler got the scoring started with a leadoff home run in the first inning, hitting one of the four solo shots by the Rangers in their series-clinching Game 4 victory.

Left-hander Matt Harrison. who was left off the postseason roster a year ago, was sharp earning his first postseason victory with five quality innings and matching his career high in strike outs with nine.

As for the Tampa Bay Rays, the clock finally struck midnight on their Cinderella run.

It is the second straight season the Rangers have ousted Tampa Bay from the postseason in the ALDS. It was the Rays inability to win postseason home games that eventually did them in. With their loss Tuesday, that ultimately ended their fairy tale season, they have now lost five straight home playoff games to Texas dating back to last season.

Beltre and Co. look to continue to ride the postseason wave and await their opponent for the ALCS.

Eight Years Later, Finally Revenge

Blount went undrafted in '10, but Tampa
Bay recognized his pure talent.

Its been eight years since the last time the Indianapolis Colts visited the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday night and my what a visit it was. The Colts overcame a 21-point deficit in the games final four minutes to force overtime and eventually stun a Hall of Fame type defense.

A lots changed since then.

It was Oct. 6, 2003. Peyton Manning was under center not on the sideline. Tony Dungy was returning to Tampa for the first time since being fired not watching from home. Jon Gruden had a coaching head set on not a broadcaster's. Keyshawn Johnson was catching passes not in a studio While Derrick Brooks and Warren Sapp were both still active and dominant players.

Lets fast forward nearly eight years to the day, Oct. 3, 2011.

After starting 0-3, Colts head coach Jim Caldwell decided to go a different direction and bench veteran quarterback Kerry Collins in favor of rookie Curtis Painter for his career NFL start. Painter got his team off to a fast start with a field goal on Indianapolis' opening drive and later seizing a 10-0 first half advantage.

The Buc's Josh Freeman ran in for six right before the half, giving Tampa Bay their first points of the game, heading into the break down three. Freeman and Co. would march down the field on the opening drive of the third quarter to knot the game at ten.

After both teams swapped punts, Painter hit Pierre Garcon for the second time in the game with a 59-yard touchdown pass for a 17-10 lead.

Freeman answered with a strike of his own to receiver Preston Parker in the closing seconds of the third.

Tampa Bays' defense shut down the Colts offense in the fourth and relied on the legs of running back LeGarrette Blount to seal the deal. Blount ran for 35 of this 127 yards on a play that gave Raheem Mooris' Bucs their third touchdown of the game and win on the young season.

For the Colts it's the first time they have started 0-4 since Manning's rookie season in 1998. It just goes to show how valuable Manning really is to his team the past decade and a half, maybe more so than anyone else in the NFL. As if it couldn't get any worse for Indy they have seem to have lost defensive end Eric Foster for the reminder of the season due to a partially dislocated ankle.

On a good note, Painter finished his first start 13 for 30 with 281 and 2 TD, both going to Garcon for 146 yards, his only receptions of the game.

Not bad for a guys first professional start.

Kicker Mike Vanderjagt capped an improbable
comeback almost eight years ago to the day.

Freeman and Blount, two guys that had break out rookie campaigns in 2010, were the stars Monday for the Buccaneers. Freeman threw for a 287 yards and a TD with 0 INT in his Monday Night Football debut, while Blount scored the game-winning touchdown.

Tampa Bay is now 3-1 on the year which puts them in a first-place tie in the NFL South with the New Orleans Saints. Last years division win and owner of the best record in the NFC, the Atlanta Falcons have gotten off to a rough start at 2-2 compared to their '10 record of 13-3.

The last time Tampa played the Colts on Monday night it was the 2002-03 NFL season, that year they finished raising the Lombardi Trophy. Can they do it again?

The Comeback Kids

Johnson, left and Stafford, right stormed back
in the second half Sunday.

After a thrilling second half performance, that saw them overcome a 20-0 halftime deficit, last week at Minnesota, the Detroit Lions did much of the same Sunday in Dallas. Detroit found themselves down 17-0 in the second quarter and 20-3 at the break against America's Dallas Cowboys.

Tony Romo, who was fresh off back-to-back second half comebacks on his own, look good early, utilizing an effective running game with Felix Jones and hooking up with the second-year receiver Dez Bryant for two first half touchdowns.

But it was the contributions of wide-out Laurent Robinson, filling in for the injured Miles Austin, that got Romo in a rhythm early.

Robinson finished the game with 116 yards catching 7 of the 10 balls thrown his way.

The Cowboys opened the third quarter with a 6-play 46-yard drive that resulted in a 1-yard touchdown pass from Romo to tight end Jason Witten, increasing their lead 27-3. The Lions perfect start was in serious jeopardy with their defense reeling.

Rob Ryan's defense forced a Detroit punt, putting Romo and Co. back on the turf, looking for more. Instead former Cowboy cast-off Bobby Carpenter intercepted the Dallas signal caller and took it to the house for the Lions' first touchdown. The very next possession, Romo threw his second pick-6 in less than five minutes, this time courtesy of cornerback Chris Houston.

Rookie kicker Dan Bailey would add his third field goal of the game for Dallas, making the lead 30-17, but Detroit roared back outscoring the Cowboys 17-0 in the fourth quarter, showcased by two Calvin Johnson touchdown receptions from quarterback Matthew Stafford, completing yet another second half, double-digit comeback, 34-30.

Although the Lions' defense was shaky at the start, they were the key to success late without any many contributions from their Pro Bowl defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh.

The Cowboys offensive line held Suh in check, having him record 3 tackles and only one of those going for a loss. It was the inconsistent play of Romo, who threw 3 second half interceptions, that handed Dallas their first home loss of the season and second overall.

Romo finished the game 34 for 47, 331 yards, 3 TD and 3 INT.

Despite being pressured most of the game,
Romo was able to protect his fractured ribs
only being hit twice and sacked once.

The Cowboys final seven possessions of the game consisted of three interceptions, two of those coming on the first play of the drive, a field goal, two punts, and a turnover on downs. Compare that to their first seven possessions when they turned five of them into scoring drives.

The loss drops the Cowboys 2-2 on the young season, good enough for third-place in the highly contested NFC East, behind the first-place Washington Redskins and New York Giants.

For the Lions, they are now 4-0 for the first time since 1980 and find themselves tied atop the NFC North with the defending Super Bowl champion, Green Bay Packers. What's most impressive about Detroit's perfect start is three of their four wins have come on the road. They will start a three-game home stand in the Motor City next week, welcoming in the division-rival Chicago Bears.

If Stafford, who went to the same high school as the last quarterback, Bobby Layne, to bring a championship to Detroit, can stay healthy, the Lions look prime to make their first playoff appearance since 1999.

Veteran offensive tackle Jeff Backus, who has played his entire 11-year career in Detroit, called last weeks 26-23 OT victory over the Vikings the greatest game of his career. That might have been true considering he hadn't won in the Metrodome in his last thirteen trips.

He might want to rethink that, now.

Reagins Resigns

Reagins experienced his ups and downs
while in the Angels' front office.

After a month of consideration Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim general manager Tony Reagins has decided to resign from his current position with the organization. The decision comes just a week after the Angels were eliminated from postseason contention, missing the playoffs for the second consecutive season.

Although team president John Carpino has said Reagins, who has two-years left on his contract, will stay with the club as and serve as a special assistant to Chairman Dennis Kuhl.

Reagins, 44, was hired by the Angels on Oct. 16, 2007, succeeding long-time GM Bill Stoneman after he decided to step down. His first order was business was stealing Torii Hunter away from the Minnesota Twins in November of '07 and rapidly become the face of the franchise.

Although, he made many controversial moves during his tenure in Anaheim and it started in the winter of 2008. Reagins let closer Francisco Rodriguez sign a three-year $37 million deal with the New York Mets that offseason after a record-breaking, 62-save regular season. He replaced Rodriguez with left-handed soft tosser Brian Fuentes, who despite leading the league with 48 saves in 2009, quickly became unpopular by the city of Anaheim for his inability to close games out cleanly.

At the 2008 July 31st trading deadline, Reagins made a deal with the Atlanta Braves to bring switch-hitting slugger Mark Teixeira to the Big A, sending fan favorite first baseman Casey Kotchman to the National League.

The move indicated the Angels were all in that season, vying for their second World Series title of the decade. They finished the regular season with the first 100 win season in franchise history and the best record in the majors at 100-62. The script wasn't written the way they had planned as they were swept by the Boston Red Sox in the ALDS.

They would eventually lose Texeira to free agency, leaving a gapping hole at first base.

In August of 2009, Reagins acquired the talented left-hander Scott Kazmir from the Tampa Bay Rays, absorbing the final two-years and $22.5 million left on his contract.

During his time in Anaheim, Kazmir was far from his '07 form, when he led the American League in strikeouts with 239. He was 11-17 in his regular season career with the Angels, posting a 5.31 ERA in 188 innings. The lefty maybe be most remembered for his time in Anaheim by making huge throwing error in the Game 6 of the '09 ALCS.

After only brief stint with the club this year, he was released.

Despite all those questionable moves, Reagins might be remembered most for this past offseason. The one time Angels intern traded catcher Mike Napoli and outfielder Juan Rivera to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for All-Star Vernon Wells, agreeing to inherit the final four-years and $81 million left on his deal, much like he did with Kazmir.

Toronto would turn around and trade Napoli to the Angels division rival Texas Rangers.

Wells had a dismal year for the Angels batting .218 and having the worst on-base percentage in the league at .248. While Rivera struggled adapting to a new environment across the boarder, he would be enjoy a trade back to the National League and hit .274 for the Los Angeles Dodgers, driving in 46 runs over 62 games.

Texas, who was not involved in the initial trade, made out with the biggest steal. Napoli batted a career-high .320 with a .414 on-base percentage and added 30 home runs and 75 RBIs to an already potent Rangers' offense. His .631 slugging percentage ranked highest in the majors.

The Angels also found themselves in the discussion for free agents Carl Crawford and Adrian Beltre, after ownership promised a big offseason. Instead Crawford signed with their arch postseason nemesis in Boston and Beltre, who would have been the most dangerous third baseman they had since Troy Glaus, landed in their division with defending American League champion Rangers. Even though Crawford underachieved his first year in Boston, he is still the prototypical Mike Scioscia player.

There was a lot of heading hanging when
Kazmir was on the bump in Anaheim.

His ability to bunt, run, go first to third and play stellar defense would have fit in perfectly with his small ball mentality.

Reagins' biggest moves last offseason came when he signed left-handers Scott Downs and Hisanori Takahashi.

It was not all bad for the former GM in his time at the helm. He won two AL Western Division titles with a 363-285 record during his tenure. He traded for ace right-hander Dan Haren last season, giving the Halos arguably the best one-two punch atop their rotation.

His final move as GM was no question his best. Before the season's final month he signed ace Jered Weaver to a five-year $85 million extension, keeping him off the open market and away from the vultures in the AL East.

Whether the decision for Reagins to step down was or wasn't a mutual one, its looks to be the right one and MLB is set for a shuffling of the deck this offseason.

How Many Moore Things Can Go Right?

Rookie sensation, Matt Moore handled his
first career postseason start with the poise
of a veteran. 

When Tampa Bays Rays' manager Joe Maddon tabbed rookie left-handed Matt Moore as his Game 1 starter of the ALDS against the Texas Rangers, it seemed to rise some question marks. Friday afternoon in Texas he put all those to bed.

Turning everything he touches into gold, Maddon saw Moore toss seven shutout innings against the defending American League champion Rangers, allowing only two hits with six punch-outs.

Using the Texas shadows to his advantage, Moore worked fast and efficient throwing only 98 pitches in his seven innings of work, 62 pitches of those pitches for strikes. But it might have be the early offensive support he received that calmed his nerves.

Postseason veteran Johnny Damon got the scoring started with a second inning two-run home run off Texas left-hander C.J. Wilson. It was the surprise offensive contributions of catcher Kelly Shoppach that broke the game open. Shoppach tagged Wilson for two home runs on the game, including a three-run shot in the third and a two-run blast in the fifth.

Shoppach joins Hall of Famer Johnny Bench as the only other catcher in history to have 2 home runs and 5 RBIs in a postseason game.

For Moore, who was called up back on Sept. 12, was making only his second career major league start. He made his major league debut in relief on Sept. 14 in Baltimore, allowing two earned runs in only an inning and a third.

His first major league start came with his team's backs up against the wall and in bright lights of New York City. He took the mound Sept. 22 at Yankee Stadium, shutting down the Bronx Bombers with five shutout innings and eleven strikeouts.

Prior to being called up, Moore was putting together an unbelievable minor league season, spending time between Double-A Montgomery and Triple-A Durham. During that time the Fort Walton Beach native posted a 12-3 record with a 1.92 ERA, striking out 210 batters in only 155 innings of work.

The 22-year-old phenom was drafted in the eight-round of the 2007 MLB Amateur Draft by Tampa Bay, showing once again why their player development is among the best in the game.

The last season when these two teams also met in the ALDS, the road team won every game of the five games that were needed to crown a winner. The Rays continued the trend Friday in Arlington and look to "Big Game" James Shields Saturday to bring a 2-0 series advantage back to St. Pete.