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| The new World Series Champions |
Sem Break 1997. It was a fine morning in Manila as I watched the final game of the 1997 World Series with Lolo. It pitted the Cleveland Indians and the Florida Marlins. One team was one of the teams with the longest championship drought (although the Boston Red Sox and the Chicago White Sox still belonged in that list) while the other team was in its first ever World Series appearance. It would be a big delight to the fans whichever team wins. As my favorite team was already eliminated then, I was just a mere spectator. But if there was one team that I wanted to side with, it would be the Cleveland Indians. My favorite team – the Atlanta Braves – defeated the Indians in the World Series a few years back so I never had the jealous type of hatred on them. The Marlins, on the other hand, killed the hopes of the Braves in 1997 on the way to the World Series.
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| Me and our Nolan Ryan baseball |
Cleveland was on its way to victory when they led in the final stretches of the game. I can still remember ESPN flashing the teams with the longest championship drought. Cleveland was among them and that led me to sympathize and root for them further. However, the Marlins found a way to inch closer. By the end of the ninth inning, the game was already knotted up at two. The Florida fans screamed louder. If you happen to root for the visiting team, it is always a sick feeling to hear fans roaring when the home team gets the huge momentum at the crucial moments of a team game. There is a mix of helplessness, terror and intimidation. This was one of the first times I genuinely felt that (since I never got to watch Games 6 and 7 of the 1994 NBA Finals and Houston just purely dominated Orlando in the 1995 Finals). The Indians apparently shared the same feeling that I had. They struggled to score in the next two innings. Florida, on the other hand, got to reach the bases in the 11th inning. The fans roared when the young Edgar Renteria stepped into the plate. He hit the ball and scored the championship-winning RBI as the Marlins rejoiced their first taste of championship.
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| This is the first real baseball that I got to touch |
Present time. I tuned in to ESPN to watch the Game 5 of the World Series. Cliff Lee and Tim Lincecum were having an awesome pitching duel as they have shut out batters through six innings. The San Francisco Giants were trying to win the World Series while the Texas Rangers are trying to stay alive. One team was one of the teams with the longest championship drought while the other team was in its first ever World Series appearance. Incidentally, one of the teams defeated my favorite team (Atlanta Braves) on its way to the World Series. I was hoping that Texas could extend the series so that I have ample time to finish my sports songs write-up (which I was not able to finish during this long weekend)* because a World Series ending would mean that I should prioritize writing a baseball piece (there is a good story behind both teams so I do not have the excuse of skipping this). Also, I like watching long series. The level of intensity and urgency just rises up once a series goes into Game 6 or Game 7. Nevertheless, I did not mind watching either of the teams win.
* - This write-up is still late nevertheless. Thanks to my home laptop which keeps on crashing the past few days.
Both Tim Lincecum and Cliff Lee were amazing. Lincecum was striking out batters to keep his pitch count at a low number. The Fil-Am pitcher is back to his dominant form after having a mediocre Game 1. On the other hand, Cliff Lee was just marvelous. He was throwing his wicked curve ball and his amazing fastball. However, there were some scares that Lee endured. In the sixth inning, Nelson Cruz failed to catch the ball on a diving attempt and it appeared that Buster Posey was going for his second homer in two days as he hit a deep fly ball. Fortunately for Lee, Nelson Cruz is a superb fielder. He caught the ball and the inning ended.
Unfortunately for Lee, that was his last stroke of good luck. He started the seventh inning giving out two hits. He almost surrendered a bunt hit by Aubrey Huff (which was his first ever try). With one out and two runners in scoring position, it was the Giants’ golden opportunity. All they need to do is hit a sacrifice fly and they will get the much-needed one run. However, Cliff Lee managed to strike out the next batter. Two outs. Usually, it is very hard to score a run with two outs remaining. Even if there are runners in scoring position, one good catch would eliminate all their threat. Furthermore, San Francisco is the weakest team in regular season when it comes to scoring with two outs remaining.
* - This write-up is still late nevertheless. Thanks to my home laptop which keeps on crashing the past few days.
Both Tim Lincecum and Cliff Lee were amazing. Lincecum was striking out batters to keep his pitch count at a low number. The Fil-Am pitcher is back to his dominant form after having a mediocre Game 1. On the other hand, Cliff Lee was just marvelous. He was throwing his wicked curve ball and his amazing fastball. However, there were some scares that Lee endured. In the sixth inning, Nelson Cruz failed to catch the ball on a diving attempt and it appeared that Buster Posey was going for his second homer in two days as he hit a deep fly ball. Fortunately for Lee, Nelson Cruz is a superb fielder. He caught the ball and the inning ended.
Unfortunately for Lee, that was his last stroke of good luck. He started the seventh inning giving out two hits. He almost surrendered a bunt hit by Aubrey Huff (which was his first ever try). With one out and two runners in scoring position, it was the Giants’ golden opportunity. All they need to do is hit a sacrifice fly and they will get the much-needed one run. However, Cliff Lee managed to strike out the next batter. Two outs. Usually, it is very hard to score a run with two outs remaining. Even if there are runners in scoring position, one good catch would eliminate all their threat. Furthermore, San Francisco is the weakest team in regular season when it comes to scoring with two outs remaining.
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| Going...Going...GONE! |
The next batter stepped into the plate. It was the washed-up Edgar Renteria. Yup, he is the same guy who hit the game-winner 13 years ago. I can still remember him as Florida’s leadoff batter in Triple Play 99 because he is a more skilled runner than a slugger. However, some things do not change. If you have “clutch player blood” in your genes, you will always have them. Edgar hit Cliff Lee’s pitch and it was a deep fly ball. I first thought that it would be a routine fly out that Nelson Cruz will catch. Two outs always end that way. The camera did not show the ball as well. However, the Rangers’ outfielders continued to run to chase the ball. They ran until they stopped by the wall. A second later, I shouted my routine homerun reaction, “GONE!” Edgar Renteria has added another amazing moment in his storied career. It was a déjà vu of sorts with the 1997 World Series. But this time, the old Renteria is helping the visiting championship-starved team. When the “teams with the longest championship drought” list was shown, I am positive this time that one of the teams will break the torture streak. Cliff Lee finished the seventh inning but it was the last time he got to pitch. Tim Lincecum, on the other hand, continued his supremacy up to the eighth (despite giving a solo homerun to Cruz). This time, the team with the long championship drought prevailed. After years of torture, those who rooted for the San Francisco Giants finally got their wish. It was a great sight. As a fan and as a spectator, I always feel glad when a championship-starved team finally gets the crown.
Life is always unfair but moments like these give the tortured ones some hope that there is a chance. The baseball gods have actually been fair for the past few years. We witnessed Anaheim winning its first championship in 2002 (never won since they started in 1961). The Boston Red Sox had theirs in 2004 (after 86 years of drought). The Chicago White Sox broke their very long losing streak (88 years) in 2006. The Philadelphia Phillies finally got one after 28 years in 2008. And now, the San Francisco Giants bring the crown for the first time in San Francisco (they have 56 years of drought but their last championship was when the Giants were still in New York).
2010 Baseball ended in the perfect fashion. It was the return of the pitching year. I always love to watch marvelous pitching because a) even if there is no score, I highly believe that it is the fundamental way of winning baseball games, and b) I grew up watching arguably the best starting pitching rotation of all-time (the 90s Atlanta Braves). It was just fitting to have the best pitching team to win the World Series.
Life is always unfair but moments like these give the tortured ones some hope that there is a chance. The baseball gods have actually been fair for the past few years. We witnessed Anaheim winning its first championship in 2002 (never won since they started in 1961). The Boston Red Sox had theirs in 2004 (after 86 years of drought). The Chicago White Sox broke their very long losing streak (88 years) in 2006. The Philadelphia Phillies finally got one after 28 years in 2008. And now, the San Francisco Giants bring the crown for the first time in San Francisco (they have 56 years of drought but their last championship was when the Giants were still in New York).
2010 Baseball ended in the perfect fashion. It was the return of the pitching year. I always love to watch marvelous pitching because a) even if there is no score, I highly believe that it is the fundamental way of winning baseball games, and b) I grew up watching arguably the best starting pitching rotation of all-time (the 90s Atlanta Braves). It was just fitting to have the best pitching team to win the World Series.
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| Nolan Ryan can still pitch |
Thus, another chapter of the Fall Classic ends. I waited until ESPN showed the final montage of the MLB season. One thing that sports capitalize a lot is on the use of moving sports songs. Add that to the amazing shots from various viewpoints of the players, fans and the stadium. I will always remember 2009’s World Series montage for putting me into heavy addiction on Kings of Leon’s “Use Somebody.” (It’s a bummer that MLB deleted this video in YouTube.) This year, the final music video that ESPN came up with was still awesome as they played Neon Trees’ “Animal.” I cannot find a video for this and most probably won’t but this random sports montage for 2010 would do: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1urW-zqfY0 Speaking of which, this brings me to my next topic which is about… wait for it…
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