With games three and four of the 2010 World Series shifting to Texas, the Texas Rangers find themselves down two games to none against the San Francisco Giants. Colby Lewis is scheduled to start game three tonight for Texas.
Until getting hit around in the opening game of the series, Cliff Lee had a perfect 7-0 record in the postseason.
The Rangers need to win four of the next five games to win the World Series.
If the Rangers win game three, they will still be down two games to one. If they lose game three, they are one loss away from elimination. All indications point towards Rangers' pitcher Tommy Hunter pitching game four. Hunter had a good regular season - 13 win, 4 losses, 3.73 ERA - but has struggled in two postseason starts this year - 0-1, 6.14 ERA.
Apparently Cliff Lee doesn't feel comfortable pitching on three days rest.
Through the course of a 162 game regular season, I understand wanting your full four days rest. It is a long grind and you want to stay healthy.
But if you are arguably the best postseason pitcher of the last two seasons and one of the best pitchers in the game, I don't understand how if you are Cliff Lee, you don't want to pitch.
There is a competitive fire that has to burn deep within you to be successful in athletics. It is that fire that drives you to prepare in the off season. That competitiveness leads to success on the field and pain in defeat. But competitors take the pain of defeat and use it for motivation.
How does Cliff Lee not want the ball in game four?
He is in the World Series for the second straight year and is headed toward his second straight series defeat (last year he was a member of the Philadelphia Phillies that lost to the New York Yankees). I'm not sure how the competitiveness that had undoubtedly made Cliff Lee great doesn't make him walk into Rangers' manager Ron Washington's office and ask to pitch game four.
Maybe Cliff Lee feels that pitching game five is the best thing for the team. Maybe he has more faith in Tommy Hunter than most. Maybe he doesn't want to hurt himself or his chances for his big contract in the off season.
Whatever the reason, depending on how game three goes, the Rangers may be relying on Tommy Hunter to save their season. At least they will have Cliff Lee ready to go in game five. They just better hope the series gets there.
www.tothetopperformance.com
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Friday, October 29, 2010
...Matt Cain and C.J. Wilson
As a starting pitcher, when you take the mound, all you can do is try your best to give your team a chance to win. In game two of the World Series between the San Francisco Giants and Texas Rangers, Matt Cain (Giants) and C.J. Wilson (Rangers) were the starting pitchers.
Game two is always a critical game. The Giants won game one. A win in game two would give them a commanding two games to none lead.
The Rangers needed a win in game two to pull the series even heading back to Texas.
Victories are the most over-rated statistic when it comes to pitching. A pitcher can give up one or two runs and lose. If a pitcher throws well enough to give his team a chance to win, he's done his job.
Both Matt Cain and C.J. Wilson did their job last night. Matt Cain through 7.2 shutout innings as the Giants won game two 9-0. The Giants take a 2-0 series lead with them to the Ballpark at Arlington for game three tomorrow.
And looking at the 9-0 score, you maybe thinking how do I claim that C.J. Wilson did his job?
C.J. Wilson pitched into the 7th inning and gave up two earned run. In baseball, especially with the Texas Rangers' offense, a 2-0 lead is easy to overcome. If you get a runner or two on base, you can tie the game or take the lead with one swing of the bat.
If you are a pitcher, don't get too caught up in wins and losses. Give you team a chance to win. If you do that, the wins will take care of themselves.
www.tothetopperformance.com
Game two is always a critical game. The Giants won game one. A win in game two would give them a commanding two games to none lead.
The Rangers needed a win in game two to pull the series even heading back to Texas.
Victories are the most over-rated statistic when it comes to pitching. A pitcher can give up one or two runs and lose. If a pitcher throws well enough to give his team a chance to win, he's done his job.
Both Matt Cain and C.J. Wilson did their job last night. Matt Cain through 7.2 shutout innings as the Giants won game two 9-0. The Giants take a 2-0 series lead with them to the Ballpark at Arlington for game three tomorrow.
And looking at the 9-0 score, you maybe thinking how do I claim that C.J. Wilson did his job?
C.J. Wilson pitched into the 7th inning and gave up two earned run. In baseball, especially with the Texas Rangers' offense, a 2-0 lead is easy to overcome. If you get a runner or two on base, you can tie the game or take the lead with one swing of the bat.
If you are a pitcher, don't get too caught up in wins and losses. Give you team a chance to win. If you do that, the wins will take care of themselves.
www.tothetopperformance.com
Thursday, October 28, 2010
...Jillian Michaels and The Biggest Loser
When we are not watching sports, one of our - my wife and I - favorite television shows is NBC's The Biggest Loser, which is on Tuesday nights.
The reality show's purpose is to pull obese people from across the United States and change their lives by teaching them to change their lifestyles by eating right and exercising. But the bigger change, whether most contestants know it or not when they sign up, is the mental change.
One of the trainers is Jillian Michaels. A small firecracker, she puts the contestants through their workouts. Sometimes she is nice about it. But most of the time she is not. And while it may seem like she is being mean or hateful, the reality is that most of the contestants have reached the point in their lives because they weren't mentally tough. They felt sorry for themselves, were depressed or suffered tragedies. And most turned to food for comfort.
I don't want to come across as I don't have any compassion for depressed people or those who have been touched by tragedy. I am simply saying that as a fact for the contestants.
In the latest episode, because of the game, Jillian made sure to take extra time with one of her team members, Elizabeth. Elizabeth has had her share of struggles.
In that moment, Jillian said something to Elizabeth that was extremely philosophical. When talking about her progress and Elizabeth's outlook to the future Jillian told her that she could either "survive or thrive."
You can "SURVIVE OR THRIVE."
And while it may sound good on the surface, if you think about those three words, it is a mindset that can change your life.
No matter which part or your life you are talking about - athletics, work, school, home - we all have a decision that we make. Nobody else makes it for us. We can either do what we can to barely get by or we can try to do whatever we can to make an outstanding life.
Maybe you just want to make the team. Why not be a starter? Or better yet, the star?
I just want to make Cs and Ds. Why not try for all As? If you fall short, you will still get Bs.
I want to pay my bills. Go back to school and get a specific skill you enjoy to better you situation.
No matter what our situation is - in any situation we encounter - we have two options. You can survive. Or you can thrive.
I hope you will choose to rise above everyone else. Stand out. THRIVE.
www.tothetopperformance.com
The reality show's purpose is to pull obese people from across the United States and change their lives by teaching them to change their lifestyles by eating right and exercising. But the bigger change, whether most contestants know it or not when they sign up, is the mental change.
One of the trainers is Jillian Michaels. A small firecracker, she puts the contestants through their workouts. Sometimes she is nice about it. But most of the time she is not. And while it may seem like she is being mean or hateful, the reality is that most of the contestants have reached the point in their lives because they weren't mentally tough. They felt sorry for themselves, were depressed or suffered tragedies. And most turned to food for comfort.
I don't want to come across as I don't have any compassion for depressed people or those who have been touched by tragedy. I am simply saying that as a fact for the contestants.
In the latest episode, because of the game, Jillian made sure to take extra time with one of her team members, Elizabeth. Elizabeth has had her share of struggles.
In that moment, Jillian said something to Elizabeth that was extremely philosophical. When talking about her progress and Elizabeth's outlook to the future Jillian told her that she could either "survive or thrive."
You can "SURVIVE OR THRIVE."
And while it may sound good on the surface, if you think about those three words, it is a mindset that can change your life.
No matter which part or your life you are talking about - athletics, work, school, home - we all have a decision that we make. Nobody else makes it for us. We can either do what we can to barely get by or we can try to do whatever we can to make an outstanding life.
Maybe you just want to make the team. Why not be a starter? Or better yet, the star?
I just want to make Cs and Ds. Why not try for all As? If you fall short, you will still get Bs.
I want to pay my bills. Go back to school and get a specific skill you enjoy to better you situation.
No matter what our situation is - in any situation we encounter - we have two options. You can survive. Or you can thrive.
I hope you will choose to rise above everyone else. Stand out. THRIVE.
www.tothetopperformance.com
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