World Series | The Golden Sombrero Baseball Blog | MLB, Fantasy, College & High School Baseball News

MUST READ: Three Friends Last Minute Trip to the World Series

If you want to read one of the best and most entertaining posts you’ll read all year, head over to Diamond Hoggers for The Ups and Downs of an Epic, Last Minute Trip to Game Seven of the World Series. (Yes, it’s absolutely deserving of the bold font.) Franco, who runs Next Level Ballplayer and made a guest post here on the Sombrero just before the start of the 2011 season, tells the fantastic story of he and two other friends’ adventure from Nashville to St. Louis with the hope of catching Game Seven in the flesh.  Even though it’s long, reading it in its entirety is worth every damn minute.

Freese, Berkman, and Hamilton’s Legendary Game Six

Early yesterday morning I posted an article that highlighted the best Game Six performances in World Series history, as determined by RE24.  Just to follow up and show everyone how absolutely extraordinary last night’s game was—as if you didn’t already know—here is what that Top-25 list looks like a day later:

Rk Player Date Tm Opp Rslt PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO RE24
1 Reggie Jackson 1977-10-18 NYY LAD W 8-4 4 3 4 3 0 0 3 5 1 0 4.874
2 Hideki Matsui 2009-11-04 NYY PHI W 7-3 4 4 1 3 1 0 1 6 0 1 4.683
3 Al Kaline 1968-10-09 DET STL W 13-1 5 4 3 3 0 0 1 4 0 1 4.374
4 Pedro Guerrero 1981-10-28 LAD NYY W 9-2 5 5 1 3 0 1 1 5 0 0 4.228
5 Stan Hack 1945-10-08 CHC DET W 8-7 7 5 1 4 1 0 0 3 2 0 3.905
6 Danny Bautista 2001-11-03 ARI NYY W 15-2 4 4 0 3 0 0 0 5 0 0 3.893
7 Lance Berkman 2011-10-27 STL TEX W 10-9 6 5 4 3 0 0 1 3 1 0 3.655
8 Jack Barry 1911-10-26 PHA NYG W 13-2 4 2 2 1 1 0 0 2 0 1 3.336
9 David Freese 2011-10-27 STL TEX W 10-9 6 5 1 2 0 1 1 3 1 1 3.117
10 Pee Wee Reese 1947-10-05 BRO NYY W 8-6 5 4 2 3 1 0 0 2 1 0 3.041
11 Jimmy Dykes 1930-10-08 PHA STL W 7-1 4 2 2 2 1 0 1 2 2 0 3.041
12 Yogi Berra 1960-10-12 NYY PIT W 12-0 5 4 3 3 0 0 0 2 1 0 2.997
13 Reggie Jackson 1973-10-20 OAK NYM W 3-1 4 4 1 3 2 0 0 2 0 0 2.886
14 Danny Murphy 1911-10-26 PHA NYG W 13-2 4 4 3 4 1 0 0 1 0 0 2.847
15 Josh Hamilton 2011-10-27 TEX STL L 9-10 6 6 2 3 0 0 1 3 0 1 2.823
16 Darrell Porter 1982-10-19 STL MIL W 13-1 4 4 1 1 0 0 1 2 0 0 2.789
17 Kirby Puckett 1991-10-26 MIN ATL W 4-3 5 4 2 3 0 1 1 3 0 1 2.756
18 Mel Ott 1936-10-06 NYG NYY L 5-13 5 4 1 2 1 0 1 3 1 0 2.741
19 Dib Williams 1931-10-09 PHA STL W 8-1 4 4 1 2 1 0 0 1 0 0 2.700
20 Terry Pendleton 1991-10-26 ATL MIN L 3-4 5 5 1 4 0 0 1 2 0 0 2.685
21 Willie Horton 1968-10-09 DET STL W 13-1 5 3 2 2 1 0 0 2 1 0 2.672
22 Marty Barrett 1986-10-25 BOS NYM L 5-6 6 4 1 3 0 0 0 2 2 0 2.668
23 Jake Powell 1936-10-06 NYY NYG W 13-5 5 5 3 3 0 0 1 4 0 2 2.667
24 Keith Hernandez 1982-10-19 STL MIL W 13-1 5 5 2 2 0 0 1 4 0 0 2.658
25 George Davis 1906-10-14 CHW CHC W 8-3 5 5 2 2 1 0 0 3 0 0 2.637
Rk Player Date Tm Opp Rslt PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO RE24
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 10/28/2011.

I’m f’n pumped for Game Seven.

World Series Thoughts and Predictions

With the Fall Classic kicking off tonight, I felt compelled to make my predictions for this exciting World Series. Let me start off by saying that I am rooting for Texas. For starters, as an Astros diehard I would not be able to look myself in the mirror if I rooted for those bastards from the Midwest. Iʼve been raised better than that. Secondly, being from Texas has always allowed me to have a reason to root for an American League team, so long as they were not actually playing my beloved Astros. That appears to be changing though. With news last week of new ownership taking over (finally) and Houston headed for the AL West, this may be my last chance to cheer for the other team from Texas. Unless something drastic happens they will become my new division rival (read: mortal enemy). On the other hand, the Cards will begin fading away as an enemy in my mind. Now I will be able to cheer out loud for Albert Pujols and not have to feel guilty about it. I can watch Lance Berkman and not resent his resurgence, because it will not be at the cost of my team. It seems almost fitting then, that this final series of baseball for 2011 pits my arch nemesis from the past against the arch nemesis of my future. Or, maybe I am just grabbing at air as I try to ascend from the endless abyss known as Astros fandom.

For my predictions:

Rangers win in 7

Josh Hamilton wins MVP with 7 homeruns, including 2 in Game 7.

Cliff Lee: Destroying A Legacy? Doubtful.

After hearing about Cliff Lee duping the entire world, forgoing destinations like Texas and New York and returning back to Philadelphia, I can’t help but find the similarities between this free agent signing and Lebron James.  I’m not trying to say that Lee pulled something like “The Decision.”  I am trying to say that what Lee did was find some running mates to help get him to the top.  Most people seem to think that this is the route traveled by spineless men.  Some of the most popular condemnations I have heard of LeBron center around the idea that he couldn’t get it done on his own.  That he was afraid of taking on the challenge by himself.  This is absurd.  Any smart person, be it a professional athlete or a successful business leader, knows that to reach the highest levels of success, they must surround themselves with the best team.

(more…)

Jeff Francoeur Is Even Worthless on eBay

Over the last few seasons, I have learned that the baseball world is perpetually invested in the demise of Jeff Francoeur.  Even those who root for him as a member of their favorite team think that the guy is an arrogant bum.  I’ll admit it; I liked the guy when he first came up with the Braves.  I didn’t exactly think he was the greatest thing ever — or as Sports Illustrated claimed, “The Natural” — but I believed that the guy had a lot of potential.

Last night, as I was killing time by scouring eBay for various baseball rookie cards(yes, I’m 25-years old, shut up), I stumbled upon one of Jeff Francoeur.  Now, on eBay, nearly every baseball rookie card will eventually sell, even if it is eventually at a reduced price.  Over the years, the depreciation and gross production of baseball cards has made many of the cards people once dreamed about buying, a possibility.  Hell, even Jose Canseco’s rookie cards get a few bids and eventually find a new home.

(more…)