For those who might not have had the opportunity to listen to “The Baseball Show” on Monday or Tuesday, here are our predictions for the League Division Series:

San Francisco Giants vs. Atlanta Braves:

Clint: Giants in 4 games

Mike: Giants in 4 games

Cincinnati Reds vs. Philadelphia Phillies:

Clint: Reds in 5

Mike: Phillies in 5

Texas Rangers vs. Tampa Bay Rays

Clint: Rays in 4

Mike: Rays in 5

Minnesota Twins vs. New York Yankees:

Clint: Yankees in 5

Mike: Yankees in 5

Tonight on The Baseball Show, Co-Host & Head Editor of Diamond Hoggers Clint Evans and I preview the ALDS series. You can follow Clint & Diamond Hoggers on twitter here. for the second night in a row we attempt to add to your postseason primer:

-We open up talking about Baseball Tonight vs. The MLB Network
-Full Breakdown & prediction of Tampa Bay vs. Texas
-Full Breakdown & prediction of New York Yankees vs. Minnesota
-Paying homage to Jim Thome
-The “X” Factors in each series?
-What we’re looking forward to most tomorrow
-Many more topics discussed and stats brought to light!

This has to be, without a doubt, one of the most ridiculous call-ins to a radio show that I have ever heard.  The scary part is that Linda the Quaker is actually dead serious with her contention that James Shields is only pitching Game 2 of the ALDS because he is Jewish, and that the decision was made by the Rays’ brass…who is also Jewish?

No, seriously.

Her argument is that Shields is pitching in the playoffs for no other reason than the fact that he’s Jewish (information that cannot be verified, anywhere). Furthermore, since the Rays owners are Jewish and, “it’s their faith, they support each other.”

I really can’t do the clip justice with my description; it really is that preposterous. Kudos to Steve Duemig at WDAE in Tampa for having the patience to talk with Linda, and not cave in to her child-like, backwoods ignorance.

Click here to listen

The first time the Rays and Yankees played this season was April 9th at Tropicana Field. Both had taken two of three in their first series and were eager to keep the early season momentum rolling. This game was significant for two reasons. First, I was watching it from the right field bleachers and it happened to be my birthday. It was the first Major League game I’d been to in a while and there is no better way I could have brought in my new year. The second, arguably greater, significance behind this April matchup is that with less than a dozen games left to play these two teams still find themselves separated by only a half game for the American League East crown.

This Thursday the squads finished their last regular season head-to-head series. Tampa Bay won in a 10-3 blowout and Carl Crawford had three hits while four other Rays had multi-hit performances. This split the series 2-2 and cut the Yankees’ lead to under a game. More importantly, it also gave Tampa Bay a 10-8 season series lead in what is the first tiebreaker should they end the regular season in a tie. These two teams have been sitting atop the AL East all season long and both are going to make it to the playoffs, but this edge would give the Rays home-field advantage throughout the postseason.

Continue Reading ‘Longo’s Little Guys Battle Jeter’s Bronx Bullies’>>

Before I begin really getting into this, I should state that I love and respect Derek Jeter.  Through his career, I have been about as up and down with the guy as any player in the game.  Nomar was without a question my favorite player during all of his years in Boston, and the man that he was while he was there is the image that I will always envision as the franchise guy.  Nomar was Christ-like while in Boston in my opinion, and so Jeter was the anti-Christ.  Once Nomar was traded, however, it became really easy to fall in love with Jeter.  Derek Jeter is everything baseball considers and hopes itself to be.  If you follow this site, you know that I previously mentioned that when Jeter retires, I think he should be handed the American presidency.  Forget that.  The man deserves a coronation.

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