Passion for the Pastime

As the regular season comes to a close, baseball's second season is starting up. The match ups have been set and now we kick off October with the Wild Card Match-Ups. In the National league we have the stumbling Brew Crew with the fair share of walking wounded, taking on the Nationals in D.C. Max Scherzer trys to led his squad once again, but the Brewers have other plans. Brewers being one of the hottest teams down the stretch look to keep things rolling without their MVP and leader Christian Yelich. But their recent injuries and getting swept to close the year has alot of Brewers fans concerned. Moving on to the American League wild card match up, we go to the Bay Area. What better environment for a wild card match up than Oakland. The environment is going to be rocking, the Rays dont know what they signed up for. You have a lineup with Oakland that has the thump, but on the other side, you have a top pitching staff in all of baseball with Charlie Morton taking the ball in game 1. In a one game playoff, or play in, anything can happen.

Welcome again to another episode of Passion for the Pastime, with yours truly. We have finally made it to the final week of the year, but now the question is who will make it. The Nationals will face a familiar face this week. Not once, not twice but FIVE TIMES!!! Nationals fans are all gasping for air, are friend turned foe, Bryce Harper returns to D.C. to spoil the party. Why is it so significant? Because the Brew Crew is hot on their trail, going 11-2 since losing MVP Candidate Christian Yelich. This last week has a lot of action going on and a lot have yet to be determined. We are in for a treat, and it isnt even October yet!

As the season draws to an end, teams lock up divisions and farewells are said. Bochy is giving his last road trip and trying to cap it off by reaching the 2000 win mark. Where better to do it than in historic Fenway Park. In other news, Dodgers wrap up the NL West for the 7th consecutive time, but will there be different results than the past, or are the just the latest version of the Atlanta Braves of the 90s. Mvp candidates Yelich and Trout out on injuries, opens the door for a Polar Bear to hold the HR Crown, and make a case for MVP as well, but will Pete Alonso and the New York Mets make it to the finish line. NL Wild card is intense and its all centered around the Central. Cards, Cubs, and Brew Crew are gearing up for a show down, who will make it in? All that and more. Enjoy!

Welcome back to another episode of Passion for the Pastime. A lot of great baseball this week, or not so great baseball, depends on what side of the ball you were on. Multiple teams got Swept this week. For some, not a big concern, for others, huge playoff hopes are being taken away. The Giants are one of them as they went into Wrigley and were on the bad end of a Sweep. Their cross bay rivals, Oakland Athletics, however took care of business and got their revenge on the New York Yankees and gave them a big fat L to go along with the broom stick. And this sets up a very interesting Battle of the Bay part two this weekend, with the Giants desperately needing to win, and win now. The Mets are winning now, fresh off of a sweep of the Cleveland Indians and their upcoming opponent, Atlanta Braves and Ronald Acuna, fresh off of a sweep as well. So many sweeps youd thing Oprah were giving them out. So needless to say we have a great weekend of baseball coming up and lets see if those brooms and keep sweeping. All of that and more. Enjoy.

Welcome to another episode of Passion for the Pastime. The prodigal son has returned to form. Bryce Harper is back and looks determined. A focused, determined Harper is a scary site and that what he has been over the last two weeks. But what changed? In other news the young stud in Boston is having himself a career year and is he destined to be great like another Red Sox before him who accomplished the same milestone? Homeruns galore all around the league and Homeruns are not in short supply in Minnesota, especially with the return of their slugger Nelson Cruz, but out side of Cruz the Twins have many other mashers in that line up. But leading the Homerun race again with multiple Belly Bombs over the weekend is Cody Bellinger, who became the first to reach 40 this season. and Finally the Bay area teams in the A's and Giants took care of business over the weekend, in similar, yet different fashion, which sets up a great finish to the Season for us bay area fans. All of that and more on this weeks episode. Enjoy!

Welcome back to another episode of Passion for the Pastime! We had a great weekend of baseball and it only made the races for the Wild Card even harder. The Mets continued to roll against the Nats with a dramatic 9th innning comeback to start the weekend off with a bang. They took care of business. Giants answered the Liberty Bell as Philly and "The Silencer", Bryce Harper came into SF, but only walked away with 1 win as the Giants battle to stay alive by winning 3 out of 4. Yankees and Blue Jays squared off and the youth was on display with the young studs Vlad Jr and Bo Bichettes. But the youth movement didnt stop there this weekend, as Yordan Alvarez and Aristides Aquino, aka "The Punisher" hit 3 Hrs each in one day, leaving Aquinos total at 8 HR in 12 games. Not to mention Acuna has 8 HRs since August 1st. Finally, the Twins and Indians squared off for a battle of first place and this match up did not disappoint. Lets just say we are in store for a Wild final 49 days of the season.

Welcome to another episode of Passion for the Pastime. The trolls are back, and this time they are wearing Pinstripes. Fresh off of their 4 game sweep, the Yankees troll the Red Sox and get revenge from last year by playing a classic hit from the 70s in the clubhouse. This long standing rivalry has gotten even better over the years with social media and this 4 game sweep may send Boston over the edge. Meanwhile the Yankees continue to role, despite fighting the injury bug. Tons of injuries are pilling on to playoff contenders but that didnt stop the playoff hopeful Cubbies from sweeping the Brewers. The Dodgers took care of business out west, led by Kershaw, passing Koufax in Career K's and Buelher tossing a Complete Game with 15 Ks along the way.  The races are heating up down the stretch and teams are playing must win baseball which puts us in store for a great week of baseball.