Tag: Carlos Correa

It’s OK To Hate The Houston Astros

~ Dave Ettinger ~ 2 Comments

My brain hurts.

Normally, I’d call that Tuesday, but I’ll blame 2004 for today’s headache. ON THIS DATE, 16 years ago, I was roaming the halls of my dorm at UMass with a broom (I had “borrowed”) from a random janitor’s closet. The New York Yankees held a 3-0 lead over the Boston Red Sox in the ALCS, I was decked out in my A-Rod jersey, and I was constantly 2.5 seconds away from an ass-kicking from any one of the 20,000 Mass-Hole, Red Sox fans that inhabited said University.

Despite the imminent danger I was putting myself in, I was overjoyed that the Yankees would be playing in another World Series.

Being able to rub it in the faces of so many Sawks fans was icing on the cake.

Then, Dave Roberts happened, and David Ortiz happened, and the rest is…you know the saying.

Sooo, Friday night, with a 7-4 victory, the Houston Astros joined the 2004 Boston Red Sox as the only teams in Major League Baseball history to force a game 7 after trailing 0-3 in a postseason series. I’m not going to waste time, or mince my words…

I HATE THE HOUSTON ASTROS!!

And I’m here to tell you it’s okay for you to hate them too. Don’t feel bad. They deserve your vitriol. You can’t just cheat your way to a championship, put on a sad, puppy-dog face, and expect everyone to feel bad for you. Then, when people remind you that you’re an asshole, act like the victim.

And while I’d gladly headbutt Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman, or any other Houston Astros’ player within a head’s length, 99.9% of this diatribe is directed at Carlos Correa.

See, some people are just born with a punchable face. *Yes, 36-year old man, living in his mother’s basement, I’m aware punchable isn’t a word. Now, shut up, and keep reading.* Enter Carlos Correa. As talented as they come, wildly underachieving so far in his six-year career, there’s just something about Correa’s face you want to see in front of a Mike Tyson, in his prime, right-uppercut.

As a Yankees’ fan, it should be sacrilegious to root for the division rival Tampa Bay Rays, but I have been for the better part of a week now. And Saturday night will be no different (there may be some scotch involved this time though).

Do you hate the Houston Astros as much as I do?? Are you even watching the MLB Postseason?? If not, who do you hate?!

Tell me in the comment section below.

“Rob Manfred Is A MORON!!!!” (DTS Podcast – #94

~ Dave Ettinger ~ Leave a comment

MLB Commissioner, Rob Manfred’s, annual Spring Training press conference turned into a slow-motion trainwreck.

The more he opened his big, fat mouth, the worse it got.

Oh, and Carlos Correa is the biggest liar of them all.

So much for sincerity!

Thank you Cody Bellinger. Let’s hope you never get caught cheating either….

Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: Dave Talks Sports

Follow me on Twitter: @DaveEttinger2

Like my Facebook Page: facebook.com/DaveTalksSports

“WORST. PRESS CONFERENCE. EVER!! (DTS PODCAST – #93)

~ Dave Ettinger ~ Leave a comment
The Houston Astros held an “apology” press conference.
A “damage control” tour if you will courtesy of their new PR Firm.
They should be promptly fired because this was the worst press conference in the history
of press conferences.

 

 

Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: Dave Talks Sports

Follow me on Twitter: @DaveEttinger2

Like my Facebook Page: facebook.com/DaveTalksSports

APRIL; Where The Four Major Sports Collide

~ Dave Ettinger ~ 3 Comments

April is an interesting month.

The NBA and NHL playoffs, a.k.a. the never-ending journeys, begin. MLB gets under way (sort of). And the NFL sprinkles breaking news on top of the sports world to stay relevant.

NBA Playoffs

lebron-james-pacers-ap

If you already knew the outcome of a game, or series, would you still watch?? Well you already do, so don’t lie to me. Everyone knows the Golden State Warriors are going to win another NBA championship, yet we watch the NBA playoffs anyway.

Sunday’s round 1 drama was a good excuse to watch the meaningless. While the Milwaukee Bucks ultimately fell to the Boston Celtics 113-107 F/OT, no one will doubt their effort. Check out the shot that sent this game to overtime:

Wild!!

LeBron James, and the Cleveland Cavaliers, should be ashamed of themselves. They were outclassed by the Indiana Pacers on their home court Sunday afternoon. 98-80. No need to check your spectacles. The Cavaliers scored just 80 points, at home, in the playoffs. I do, however, feel bad for the Pacers. LeBron is going to do unspeakable things to them in Game 2. You’ll have to wait until WEDNESDAY NIGHT @ 7:00 P.M.!! Hence the never-ending part.

NHL Playoffs

las vegas

I don’t really like Pittsburgh. I don’t like Philadelphia. I really don’t like Boston. But Las Vegas I like. There’s a reason to enjoy the Las Vegas Golden Knights’ dominance over the Los Angeles Kings. Have your brooms handy?? Never has an NHL team gone from expansion team to Stanley Cup Champion in one year. Maybe, just maybe, this is the year. It would make me a hell of a lot happier than Sydney Crosby hoisting another trophy over his puny head.

MLB Season

MLB: Texas Rangers at Houston Astros

Jackie Robinson Day deserves a do-over. Only 10 out of a potential 16 games were played Sunday. The rest — rained/snowed out.

Despite actually losing a game (snapping a nine-game winning streak), the Mets got right back to their winning ways:

We must give a shout-out to Big Fat Bartolo Colon!! At the ripe old age of 44, Colon flirted with a perfect game Sunday night. Colon’s perfect game, no-hitter, and shutout were erased on consecutive batters. The first baserunner of the game was Carlos Correa (8th inning walk). Followed by a Josh Reddick double. Followed by a Yuli Gurriel sacrifice fly. The Rangers would hold on to win 3-1 F/10.

Who needs 98 m.p.h. when you have 86 m.p.h. with movement and location?!

Bye-Bye Dez

Dez-Bryant-Mad

One of the more overrated “superstars” in recent NFL history, Dez Bryant, is looking for work. In an era when wide receivers exceed 1,000 yards by accident, Dez hasn’t done so since 2014. And Friday afternoon, the Dallas Cowboys sent Dez packing. This wasn’t a financial move, as the Cowboys will save just $4 million of Dez’s $12.5 million salary this upcoming season. As an unbiased outsider, I enjoy this story. Dez is easy to dislike thanks to his overtly cocky attitude, underwhelming production, and Dallas Cowboys jersey.

 

What is your favorite part of April?? Tell me all about it in the comment section below.

You can now find me on the Radio too. Download the TuneIn Radio App and search OWWR. I’ll be on live every Wednesday from 6:10 P.M. – 8:00 P.M EST. I also broadcast every show on Facebook Live via my DaveTalksSports.com Facebook Page: http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports.

Since you enjoy my writing, follow me on twitter @DaveEttinger2 or like my page on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports. You can also Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: DaveTalksSports. Thanks for reading!! Now go tell all your friends!!

Astros Claim 1st World Series Title In Convincing Game 7 Victory

~ Dave Ettinger ~ 2 Comments

astros win world series

The Houston Astros are World Series Champions!!

They can call themselves champions for the first time in their 55-year history.  Everyone on the 25-man roster (except Juan Centeno) contributed to the epic, 7-game victory. But no one did more than George Springer. Springer, who had a monster season, was A BEAST in the World Series. He was easily named World Series MVP.

Springer’s World Series: .379 batting avg., 5 home runs (tied record), 7 rbi’s, and 8 runs scored

As for Game 7, we got a clunker. The Astros started at 100 mph, while the Dodgers were standing still. The Astros scored 2 runs in the first 2 minutes, putting the game out of reach before my butt hit the couch. For good measure, the Astros added 3 insurance runs in the 2nd inning, running Yu Darvish from the game through just 1 and 2/3 innings. Darvish coincidentally pitched 1 and 2/3 innings in Game 3 as well. Bet the Dodgers are glad they traded for him.

I love when people leap from the shadows with revisionist history. “I wouldn’t have started Darvish, ” they say. Listen, in Game 7, the leash must be so short you can hear your starting pitcher breathe, but that doesn’t mean he shouldn’t have been given the opportunity. Yu Darvish should have been pulled from the game before he gave up 3 runs in the 2nd inning. He should have left with a 2-0 deficit, leaving a glimmer of hope, rather than burying his teammates with a 5-0 deficit. But that’s not Darvish’s fault, it’s Dodgers’ manager, Dave Roberts’. Ironically, Roberts was finally bitten by leaving his starting pitcher in too long. All postseason, Roberts routinely pulled his starters (who were pitching well) WAYYYY TOO EARLY.  If you’re bad, you’re bad, but at least be consistent.

I like to call out the overshadowed. Sometimes it’s for the good, sometimes (like today) it’s for the bad. No one is ripping Cody Bellinger to pieces. But they should be. Bellinger went 0-4 with 3 strikeouts in Game 7. He hit .143, breaking the record for most strikeouts in a World Series (17). When rookie sensation, Aaron Judge, was breaking dubious strikeout records the world lost their minds. When Bellinger does it, no one says a word. Bellinger, the son of former MLB pitcher, Clay Bellinger, was a rookie sensation too. What’s up with the double standard?!

Congratulations are in order. Not for the Astros!! We did that already. For Carlos Correa and his future wife, Daniella Rodriguez. The Astros’ shortstop decided to cram the 2 best moments of his life into 1 evening:

He proposed to his girlfriend, on the field, after the game!!

Carlos-Correa-874431

Awesome!! Well done young man!!

Mr. Correa has a bright future ahead of him. At just 23 years of age, the world is in his hands. The question is, how will he, and the young Astros, handle the pressure of being favorites next year??

 

What will you watch now that baseball is over?? Tell me all about it in the comment section below.

 

You can now find me on the Radio too. Download the TuneIn Radio App and search OWWR. I’ll be on live every Wednesday from 6:10 P.M. – 8:00 P.M EST. I also broadcast every show on Facebook Live via my DaveTalksSports.com Facebook Page: http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports .

Since you enjoy my writing, follow me on twitter @DaveEttinger2 or like my page on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports. You can also Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: DaveTalksSports. Thanks for reading!! Now go tell all your friends!!

Astros Outlast Dodgers In Craziest World Series Game Ever

~ Dave Ettinger ~ Leave a comment

bregman

Clayton Kershaw vs. Dallas Keuchel.

Must have been a 1-0 pitcher’s duel, right??

WRONG!!

Instead, a 7-home run, 13-12, extra inning slugfest. A game, some will call, ‘the craziest game ever played’.

You couldn’t have scripted a more evenly matched game if you tried. Both teams….

  • Had 14 hits
  • Made 1 error
  • Used 7 pitchers
  • Used 11 offensive players
  • Scored 3+ runs in 3 innings

Honestly, I feel bad for the Dodgers. With no rooting interest, all I’ve been hoping for is good baseball. CHECK. But hey, somebody has to lose.

You know who else lost?? ME!! Why the hell does this game need to start at 8:15 P.M. EST on a Sunday?! I understand time zones, but we’re talking about Sunday. This 5 hour and 17 minute marathon, lasted until approximately 1:32 A.M. EST.

This game would see 8 lead changes, or ties, in what can only be described as pure insanity….

1st Inning

The Dodgers jumped out to an early lead, hanging 3 runs on Dallas Keuchel. Clayton Kershaw was cruising, allowing just 1 hit through 3 innings. And then, the bottom of the 4th inning happened.

4th Inning

The Dodgers added another run, bringing their lead to a seemingly insurmountable 4-0. An rbi-double and a 3-run home run later, the game was tied.

5th Inning

Cody Bellinger and Jose Altuve would swap 3-run home runs, bringing the calamity to 7-7 through 5 innings.

7th Inning

The Dodgers would retake the lead (8-7) on an rbi-triple, by who else, Cody Bellinger. The Astros would strike back with a 3-run inning of their own. George Springer hit a monstrous, 448-foot home run, Altuve had an rbi-double, and Carlos Correa would add a 2-run home run of his own, bringing this home run derby to a score of 11-8.

8th Inning

Each team would add another run in the 8th, bringing us to 12-9 heading to the 9th inning.

You didn’t think the madness would end here did you??

9th inning

A 2-run, Yasiel Puig home run shot life back into the Dodgers, bringing them within 1 run (12-11). Puig’s home run broke the record for most home runs in a postseason series (22). And with 2 strikes, and 2 outs, Chris Taylor would drive in the game tying run!! Insane!!

To Extras we go….

10th inning

After 2 quick outs by super closer, Kenley Jansen, he hit and walked consecutive batters. Enter Alex Bregman. Bregman wasted no time, as he was 1st pitch swinging. A drive up the middle would bring pinch running, Derek Fisher to the plate. And in dramatic fashion, the Houston Astros, took a 3-2 series lead.

These teams will have a much needed day off Monday, as they travel to Los Angeles. Catch game 6 on FOX, Tuesday @ 8:20 P.M. EST. Justin Verlander and Rich Hill will take the mound for a Halloween matchup.

 

Was Game 5 the craziest World Series game in MLB history?? If not, prove me wrong in the comment section below.

 

You can now find me on the Radio too. Download the TuneIn Radio App and search OWWR. I’ll be on live every Wednesday from 6:10 P.M. – 8:00 P.M EST. I also broadcast every show on Facebook Live via my DaveTalksSports.com Facebook Page: http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports .

Since you enjoy my writing, follow me on twitter @DaveEttinger2 or like my page on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports. You can also Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: DaveTalksSports. Thanks for reading!! Now go tell all your friends!!

CC Strikes Again!!

~ Dave Ettinger ~ Leave a comment

cc sabathia

When in doubt, call CC Sabathia. With the Yankees’ season teetering on the edge, they called upon their stopper. Their hefty (crafty) lefty. This season, CC Sabathia is 9-0, in 12 starts, following a Yankees’ loss. That’s unbelievable!!

CC’s Day: 6 innings, 3 hits, 0 runs, 4 walks, and 5 strikeouts 

I don’t love the 4 walks, but if CC is going to keep this Houston Astros’ lineup scoreless through 6 innings, he can walk as many batters as he’d like. Which brings us to the most crucial part of the game. In the top of the 3rd inning, CC gave up a single and walked 2, loading the bases for clutch youngster, Carlos Correa. CC, got CC, to pop-out to shortstop. Disaster averted.

Monday night’s Game 3 victory by the Yankees was filled with big moments.

In Order.

You’re Welcome.

5.) Starlin Castro reached base on a swinging bunt. With 2 outs in the bottom of the 2nd inning, Castro started what turned out to be a 3-run inning. Stay tuned. There’s more to come on this inning.

4.) The 5-run, bottom of the 4th inning. This inning included a double by Greg Bird. A walk by Todd Frazier. An rbi single by Chase Headley (the Yankees’ 1st hit from their DH this postseason). Brett Gardner getting hit by a pitch. A wild pitch which brought in a run. And a 3-run home run by Aaron Judge!! This gave the Yankees an 8-0 lead, putting the game out of reach. They would go on to win 8-1.

3.) Not 1, but 2 spectacular catches by Aaron Judge. The 1st can be seen here. Judge sacrificed his body, slamming into the right field wall at full speed. Is it possible that catch got him going at the plate?? The 2nd catch was a phenomenal display of athleticism. Check it out here. 

2.) Here’s where CC earned his contract….

The aforementioned pop-out by Carlos Correa. Keeping the Astrosoff the scoreboard was key, but like they say, “Timing is everything.” The Yankees had just taken the lead, and the last thing they wanted to do was cough it right back up. As he did all night, CC clamped down.

1.) Todd Frazier. A ‘Jersey Kid’ who’s livin’ the dream. Frazier stepped to the plate in the bottom of the 2nd inning and hit what can only be described as a ‘Yankee Stadium Home Run’. Watch it first, then we’ll talk.

Have you ever seen a ball, that looked like a bloop-single, land in the bleachers?? I know I know, it’s Yankee Stadium. And yes, I’m a lifelong, die-hard Yankees’ fan. But that was ridiculous. I’m not complaining. It just looked silly. It was, however, just what the doctor ordered for a struggling Yankees’ offense.

Strikeouts ARE contagious, but so ARE hits.

The questions is, can the Yankees’ bats keep it going against Lance McCullers Jr.??

Check out Game 4 action EARLY Tuesday evening on FS1. First pitch is set for 5:08 P.M. EST. Sonny Gray, off 1,407 days rest (or 12), will get the ball for the Yankees.

Prediction: Yankees 6, Astros 4

 

Who do you think will win Game 4?? Post your prediction in the comment section below.

 

You can now find me on the Radio too. Download the TuneIn Radio App and search OWWR. I’ll be on live every Wednesday from 6:10 P.M. – 8:10 P.M EST. I also broadcast every show on Facebook Live via my DaveTalksSports.com Facebook Page: http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports .

Since you enjoy my writing, follow me on twitter @DaveEttinger2 or like my page on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports. You can also Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: DaveTalksSports. Thanks for reading!! Now go tell all your friends!!

 

 

 

Yankees C.C. (Complete Comeback)

~ Dave Ettinger ~ Leave a comment

cc

In CC we trust!!

In a decisive Game 5, the Yankees turned to 37-year old, Carsten Charles Sabathia Jr. Sabathia, now a crafty veteran, channeled his former self. Sabathia, and his left arm, were tremendous, striking out 9 in 4 and 1/3 innings. Notoriously a slow-starter, he wasted no time, striking out the first 2 batters he faced. He kept hitters off balance with his swooping slider and surprised Indians’ hitters with his sneaky fastball.

Do you know what the most impressive part was?? He outdueled AL CY Young favorite, Corey Kluber, twice. For the 2nd straight outing, Kluber was ordinary. After lasting just 2 and 2/3 innings in Game 2, he was destined for just 3 and 2/3 innings on Wednesday. It’s hard to explain. Kluber is one of the best pitchers in the world. But hey, I’m not losing any sleep over it….

Kluber was tagged not once, but twice, by Didi Gregorious. Didi connected on a solo home run in the 1st inning. And struck gold again in the 3rd inning with a 2-run home run. It was DD and CC to the rescue.

Too corny??

Sorry.

Following their crushing defeat in Game 2, winning the ALDS was all the more impressive. These young, “baby-bombers” showed grit and resiliency, punching their way out of a corner. After completing the comeback Wednesday night (5-2), the 2017 Yankees became just the 7th team to comeback from an 0-2 deficit to win a Divisional Series.

If I had told you Aaron Judge would go 1 for 20 in this series, but they’d win, you would have called me names I can’t write on my website. Aaron Judge is an impressive, young man. He’s humble. He’s a great athlete. And he hits baseballs really, really far. But he now holds an unenviable record. Judge’s 16 strikeouts in the ALDS are the most by any player, in any playoff series, in MLB history. No es bueno.

Judge mashes mediocre fastballs (under 94 mph), and has a great eye (127 walks). However, he struggles against fastballs 95 mph or faster and strikeouts far too much (208). Pitchers usually raise his eye level with the ‘high-heat’, and then drop the hammer with a low-and-away breaking ball. If the Yankees are going to have a chance against the Houston Astros in the ALCS, Judge will need to lay off those nasty breaking balls. He should walk down to 1st base over and over again, and set the table for Gary Sanchez in this series. This will force opposing pitchers to serve up inside fastballs to Judge later in the series. Then, my fellow Yankee fans can bust out their telescopes to track Judge Moonshots….

Again, I’m not rooting against my team. I simply call it like I see it.

ALCS Prediction: Astros in 7  

Prove me wrong, again, please….

 

Who do you think will win the ALCS?? In how many games?? Post your prediction in the comment section below.

 

You can now find me on the Radio too. Download the TuneIn Radio App and search OWWR. I’ll be on live every Wednesday from 6:10 P.M. – 8:10 P.M EST. I also broadcast every show on Facebook Live via my DaveTalksSports.com Facebook Page: http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports .

Since you enjoy my writing, follow me on twitter @DaveEttinger2 or like my page on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports. You can also Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: DaveTalksSports. Thanks for reading!! Now go tell all your friends!!