WASHINGTON — Never in the long history of Major League Baseball has any team held a lead in September of eight games or more for a postseason berth and failed to clinch.
Got that? Never happened. Not even once.
And yet it could happen twice in 2011, because the Boston Red Sox and Atlanta Braves are teetering on the verge of collapsing in the season's final month the way no club has before.
Heading into Monday, each team's once-cushy lead in its respective league's wild-card standings was down to one game with three to play: Boston barely ahead of the Tampa Bay Rays in the AL; Atlanta hanging on ahead of the St. Louis Cardinals in the NL.
"You don't want to be against the wall," Red Sox DH David Ortiz said, "because there's no way to escape."
According to STATS LLC, the 1995 California Angels blew the largest September lead to miss out on the playoffs — 7½ games. Five teams wasted seven-game September leads and didn't reach the postseason, STATS said -- as long ago as the 1934 New York Giants, and as recently as the 2009 Detroit Tigers, when the Minnesota Twins made a spectacular September run to force a thrilling Game 163 in the Metrodome, which the Twins won in extra innings.
Turn this year's calendar to the morning of Sept. 6, and the Braves enjoyed a margin of 8½ games in the NL.
Go back to Sept. 4, and the Red Sox began the day owning a nine-game lead for the AL wild card. A handful of days earlier, on Aug. 31, the Red Sox even led their division by 1½ games.
"Obviously, they're struggling a bit, and that happens. But from our perspective, it's more important what we do," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "It's fortuitous that they've had a hard time, but I love the fact that we're taking care of business."
With all six division titles already locked up as of Friday — not since 1986, when there were only four divisions, had all been sealed so early, STATS found — the wild-card races give fans something to keep an eye on down the stretch.
Boston was in danger of dropping into a tie with Tampa Bay on Sunday, but Jacoby Ellsbury's three-run homer in the 14th inning helped the Red Sox pull out a 7-4 victory shortly before midnight against the AL East champion New York Yankees in the second game of a day-night doubleheader, salvaging a split.
"It was a BIG win," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said, "but we've got to go down tomorrow and play well."
Starting Monday, the Red Sox wrap up the regular season with three games at the last-place Baltimore Orioles, who took three of four at Fenway Park on Sept. 19-21, while the Rays host the Yankees.
"We've got to go win every game," Boston closer Jonathan Papelbon said. "That's the way it is."
Over in the NL, the Braves host the best-in-baseball Philadelphia Phillies, while the Cardinals get to close by taking on the worst-in-the-majors Houston Astros.
"All the pressure's on St. Louis, because if they don't win, they can't go anywhere. Even if we do lose, they have to win," Atlanta rookie first baseman Freddie Freeman said after his team's 3-0 loss at the Washington Nationals on Sunday. "So that's how I look at it — and I think how everybody else looks at it, too."
Hmmmmm. Maybe.
The Cardinals decided before their 3-2 comeback victory at the Chicago Cubs on Sunday that they would all wear Hawaiian shirts on their team flight that night. Even manager Tony La Russa was going along with it.
While St. Louis has won 15 of its past 20 games, Atlanta has lost 10 of 15.
"Every missed opportunity in September — it's big," Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said.
Similarly, the Red Sox have lost 15 of their past 21 games, and the Rays have closed the gap even though they're only 14-10 in September.
So what exactly has been going wrong for Boston and Atlanta?
"It's all of us," Boston's Ortiz said. "We're all to blame."
Well, that could be accurate, but to boil it down to the basics: The Red Sox aren't pitching well or playing solid defense lately, while the Braves are having a hard time hitting.
Boston made three errors Sunday, raising its total to 17 over the past 12 games, and the team's starters are 4-12 with a 7.16 ERA this month.
Atlanta, meanwhile, managed only four hits, all singles, on Sunday, and its last 15 batters made outs, seven via strikeout. The first four players in the batting order — Michael Bourn, Martin Prado, Chipper Jones and Dan Uggla — combined to go 0 for 16 with five strikeouts against four Nationals pitchers.
Ooooof.
Consider, too, what happened for the Braves when they did give themselves good chances to get on the scoreboard against the Nationals.
In the third inning, they loaded the bases with no outs but came away with nothing.
In the fifth, they had runners on second and third with one out but came away with nothing.
"Since it's crunch time," Uggla said, "there's a little bit of added pressure there."
AP Sports Writer Howie Rumberg in New York contributed to this report.
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.
Showing posts with label minnesota twins. Show all posts
Showing posts with label minnesota twins. Show all posts
26 September 2011
21 July 2011
House Democrats Rip GOP Rep. West Over Email to Party Chairwoman
House Democrats lined up to excoriate GOP Rep. Allen West on Wednesday after he sent an incendiary email to the Democratic party chairwoman calling her "vile" and "not a lady."
The head of the Congressional Black Caucus told Fox News on Wednesday that members are "furious" about the incident, saying he's going to speak with the Florida Republican about the matter. Shortly afterward, several female lawmakers held a news conference, at which they called on West to apologize.
"His words were nothing more than personal attacks," Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., said, adding that she hopes House Speaker John Boehner "disavows" West's remarks. She said it is "very ladylike to speak up for the values that you believe in."
Rep. Donna Edwards, D-Md., also released a statement saying she was "shocked" by the "disgraceful" email. "Instead of engaging constructively in that debate, Representative West chose to resort to unprofessional, vitriolic and offensive personal attacks -- shame on him," she said.
The lawmakers are urging House leaders to rebuke West, though West told Fox News that GOP leaders are "fine" with his actions.
West fired off the email Tuesday to Florida Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, calling her "vile, despicable and cowardly" for calling into question his stance on Medicare on the House floor.
"It's unfortunate," Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, D-Mo., chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, told Fox News. He could not say whether the CBC would seek to discipline its only Republican member, but claimed lawmakers were upset the incident has brought "undue attention" to the caucus.
The CBC was planning to discuss the email at its weekly meeting Wednesday, but votes got in the way and the caucus now plans to discuss the issue at a later date. In the meantime, Cleaver said, "I'm going to talk to him."
Elsewhere, House Democrats' campaign arm quickly seized on the exchange, blasting out a fundraising pitch Wednesday asking donors to help them raise $100,000 toward defeating West next fall. Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Rep. Steve Israel called West's email "disgraceful" and "hate-filled," urging supporters to make sure Republicans "don't forget this moment."
West, though, stood by the email.
"I think it's important to stake my ground," West told Fox News on Tuesday. "It was about enough is enough, and it's my right to say that. She is the one elevating this."
In her remarks on the House floor, Wasserman Schultz had said: "The gentleman from Florida, who represents thousands of Medicare beneficiaries, as do I, is supportive of this plan that would increase costs for Medicare beneficiaries. Unbelievable from a member from south Florida."
She was alluding to a GOP-backed bill to reduce the debt and amend the Constitution to require a balanced federal budget. The House later approved the bill 234-190, but it is unlikely to pass the Democratic Senate.
West sent his email to numerous lawmakers, as well as Wasserman Schultz and other congressional leaders. The subject line of the email: "Unprofessional and Inappropriate Sophomoric Behavior from Wasserman Schultz."
The e-mail said: "Look, Debbie, I understand that after I departed the House floor you directed your floor speech comments directly towards me. Let me make myself perfectly clear, you want a personal fight, I am happy to oblige. You are the most vile, unprofessional and despicable member of the US House of Representatives. If you have something to say to me, stop being a coward and say it to my face, otherwise, shut the heck up."
West also wrote that Wasserman Schultz has proven "that you are not a Lady" and "shall not be afforded due respect from me!" He said he was alerting House leaders to her "heinous characterless behavior."
A spokesman for Wasserman Schultz, Jonathan Beeton, said in an email of his own: "I don't think that Congressman West is upset at the congresswoman, but rather with the fact that she highlighted that he and other Republicans are once again trying to balance the budget on the backs of seniors, children and the middle class. ... The truth hurts."
West told Fox News that Wasserman Schultz's comments were part of a "pattern" of "hate," and he felt that she "disrespected" him in her House floor speech.
"You don't need to call me out on your time to speak on the floor," West said. "Focus on what is your plan for the debt ceiling."
House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., whom West copied on his email, defended the tea party-backed freshman.
"Tensions are building here sure," McCarthy told Fox News on Tuesday. "Allen is going to defend himself. There's always a way to display that differently."
The head of the Congressional Black Caucus told Fox News on Wednesday that members are "furious" about the incident, saying he's going to speak with the Florida Republican about the matter. Shortly afterward, several female lawmakers held a news conference, at which they called on West to apologize.
"His words were nothing more than personal attacks," Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., said, adding that she hopes House Speaker John Boehner "disavows" West's remarks. She said it is "very ladylike to speak up for the values that you believe in."
Rep. Donna Edwards, D-Md., also released a statement saying she was "shocked" by the "disgraceful" email. "Instead of engaging constructively in that debate, Representative West chose to resort to unprofessional, vitriolic and offensive personal attacks -- shame on him," she said.
The lawmakers are urging House leaders to rebuke West, though West told Fox News that GOP leaders are "fine" with his actions.
West fired off the email Tuesday to Florida Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, calling her "vile, despicable and cowardly" for calling into question his stance on Medicare on the House floor.
"It's unfortunate," Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, D-Mo., chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, told Fox News. He could not say whether the CBC would seek to discipline its only Republican member, but claimed lawmakers were upset the incident has brought "undue attention" to the caucus.
The CBC was planning to discuss the email at its weekly meeting Wednesday, but votes got in the way and the caucus now plans to discuss the issue at a later date. In the meantime, Cleaver said, "I'm going to talk to him."
Elsewhere, House Democrats' campaign arm quickly seized on the exchange, blasting out a fundraising pitch Wednesday asking donors to help them raise $100,000 toward defeating West next fall. Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Rep. Steve Israel called West's email "disgraceful" and "hate-filled," urging supporters to make sure Republicans "don't forget this moment."
West, though, stood by the email.
"I think it's important to stake my ground," West told Fox News on Tuesday. "It was about enough is enough, and it's my right to say that. She is the one elevating this."
In her remarks on the House floor, Wasserman Schultz had said: "The gentleman from Florida, who represents thousands of Medicare beneficiaries, as do I, is supportive of this plan that would increase costs for Medicare beneficiaries. Unbelievable from a member from south Florida."
She was alluding to a GOP-backed bill to reduce the debt and amend the Constitution to require a balanced federal budget. The House later approved the bill 234-190, but it is unlikely to pass the Democratic Senate.
West sent his email to numerous lawmakers, as well as Wasserman Schultz and other congressional leaders. The subject line of the email: "Unprofessional and Inappropriate Sophomoric Behavior from Wasserman Schultz."
The e-mail said: "Look, Debbie, I understand that after I departed the House floor you directed your floor speech comments directly towards me. Let me make myself perfectly clear, you want a personal fight, I am happy to oblige. You are the most vile, unprofessional and despicable member of the US House of Representatives. If you have something to say to me, stop being a coward and say it to my face, otherwise, shut the heck up."
West also wrote that Wasserman Schultz has proven "that you are not a Lady" and "shall not be afforded due respect from me!" He said he was alerting House leaders to her "heinous characterless behavior."
A spokesman for Wasserman Schultz, Jonathan Beeton, said in an email of his own: "I don't think that Congressman West is upset at the congresswoman, but rather with the fact that she highlighted that he and other Republicans are once again trying to balance the budget on the backs of seniors, children and the middle class. ... The truth hurts."
West told Fox News that Wasserman Schultz's comments were part of a "pattern" of "hate," and he felt that she "disrespected" him in her House floor speech.
"You don't need to call me out on your time to speak on the floor," West said. "Focus on what is your plan for the debt ceiling."
House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., whom West copied on his email, defended the tea party-backed freshman.
"Tensions are building here sure," McCarthy told Fox News on Tuesday. "Allen is going to defend himself. There's always a way to display that differently."
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