These Reds and Yankee hitters were a swing away from being heroes

The Reds shockingly blew a 2-0 series lead where the Giants were on the ropes.
The Yankees almost as shockingly are playing for their lives in a Game Five this afternoon against Baltimore.

Both teams not only were in control but there were several moments where a single swing of the bat could have made an instant legend out of a player and send their team to the LCS.

A walk off home run would have clinched it. In a few cases, a home run would not have been necessary.

The Reds are going to be stewing over a very long winter wondering what could have been.
If the Yankees lose today, they will be tormented by missed opportunity after missed opportunity.

But we here at Sully Baseball don't just think about things like the players who could have clinched a playoff series with one swing.

We list them in alphabetical order (because some hitters had more than one shot!)

Reds hitters who could have clinched the Division Series with one swing

Jay Bruce

Game 5 Giants leading 6-4, one out, bottom 9 against Sergio Romo. Runners on first and second. Home run would have clinched the series.

Hit a fly ball to left field.

Ryan Hanigan.

Game 3 tied 1-1, one out, bottom 9 against Sergio Romo. Bases empty. Home run would have clinched the series.

Hit a deep fly ball to center field that was caught.

Scott Rolen 

Game 3 tied 1-1, nobody out, bottom 9 against Sergio Romo. Bases empty. Home run would have clinched the series.

Hit a deep foul ball that was caught in left field.

Game 5 Giants leading 6-4, two outs, bottom 9 against Sergio Romo. Runners on first and second. Home run would have clinched the series.

Struckout swinging.

Drew Stubbs

Game 3 tied 1-1, two outs, bottom 9 against Sergio Romo. Bases empty. Home run would have clinched the series.

Hit a pop up to the second baseman.

Yankees hitters who could have clinched the Division Series with one swing

Robinson Cano

Game 4 tied 1-1, two outs, bottom 10 against Darren O'Day. Runner on first. Extra base hit would have clinched the series.

Popped up to shortstop.

Curtis Granderson
Game 4 tied 1-1, one out, bottom 9 against Darren O'Day. Bases empty. Home run would have clinched the series.
Flew out to deep center field.

Game 4 tied 1-1, no outs, bottom 12 against Pedro Strop. Bases empty. Home run would have clinched the series.

Struck out swinging, catcher to first after dropped ball.

Raul Ibanez
Game 4 tied 1-1, two outs, bottom 9 against Darren O'Day. Bases empty. Home run would have clinched the series.
Grounded to first base.

Derek Jeter
Game 4 tied 1-1, no outs, bottom 10 against Darren O'Day. Bases empty. Home run would have clinched the series.
Grounded to third base.

Game 4 tied 1-1, two outs, bottom 12 against Pedro Strop. Bases empty. Home run would have clinched the series.

Groundout to third.

Russell Martin
Game 4 tied 1-1, no outs, bottom 9 against Darren O'Day. Bases empty. Home run would have clinched the series.
Grounded to third base.

Game 4 tied 1-1, two out, bottom 11 against Pedro Strop. Bases empty. Home run would have clinched the series.
Struck out swinging, catcher to first after dropped ball.

Eduardo Nunez

Game 4 tied 1-1, one outs, bottom 12 against Pedro Strop. Bases empty. Home run would have clinched the series.

Groundout to third.

Alex Rodriguez
Game 4 tied 1-1, no outs, bottom 11 against Pedro Strop. Bases empty. Home run would have clinched the series.
Grounded out to shortstop.

Ichiro Suzuki
Game 4 tied 1-1, one out, bottom 10 against Darren O'Day. Bases empty. Home run would have clinched the series.
Grounded out to first base.

Game 4 tied 1-1, two outs, bottom 12 against Pedro Strop. Runner on first. Extra base hit would have clinched the series.
Grounded out to first base.

Nick Swisher
Game 4 tied 1-1, one out, bottom 11 against Pedro Strop. Bases empty. Home run would have clinched the series.
Flyball out to deep left field.

Mark Teixeira
Game 4 tied 1-1, two outs, bottom 10 against Darren O'Day. Bases empty. Home run would have clinched the series.
Walked.



So four Reds hitters went a combined 0-5 in potential series clinching at bats.
Ten Yankee hitters went a combined 1-13 with a walk in potential series clinching at bats.

If the Yankees join the Reds on the golf course, then they will be wondering what could have been if their at bats went a little differently.

If a drive out of the ballpark would have turned them into instant legends instead of post season footnotes.

I can't help but feel partially responsible for the brawl tonight

I thought it was fun that Brandon Phillips wants to get the Cardinals' goat.

Why not put a little electricity into a potential rivalry. I mean have the Cardinals and Reds, two of the oldest franchises in baseball, EVER been considered rivals?

Why not start now?

What I DIDN'T expect is to see an all out brawl in the first inning.

But I guess that's what a rivalry is like. It's bad blood. It's "I want to beat you because I don't like you."

I tell you something I found very interesting... not that Brandon Phillips got under the Cardinals skin or that LaRussa and Dusty Baker were at each other (there is no love lost between them.)

It was Scott Rolen going after Chris Carpenter.

Carpenter said something to Dusty that got an f--- you from Baker.

And then Rolen, who earlier was trying to be a peacemaker, went right after his former teammate and fellow 2006 World Series winner.

So Rolen, the former Cardinal and current Red, is smack dab in the middle of this rivalry. And to quote Darth Vader in Return of the Jedi... There is no conflict!

They play tomorrow, 9:30 AM Pacific time, and three more times in September.

This could be good folks.

Beating Cardinals with Cardinals

The first thought I had when I heard the Reds picked up Jim Edmonds from the Brewers was "I wonder why the White Sox didn't deal for Edmonds when the trade for Adam Dunn fell through.

But next of course I thought of the Cardinals of the 2000s. In the 2004 NLCS, Pujols may have been the Series MVP, but it was Edmonds and Rolen who supplied the dramatic homers.

Edmonds hit the walk off homer in the 12th inning of game 6 to tie the series and Rolen's 2 run homer off Roger Clemens in the 6th inning of Game 7 gave the Cardinals the lead that they wouldn't give up.

And in the 2006 World Series, Rolen batted .421 with an OPS of 1.213 and Jim Edmonds got a key go ahead double in the critical Game 3 of the World Series.

Now these huge Cardinals heroes have one duty... take down the Cardinals.

It is an ingenious strategy... get guys who are not intimidated by the Cardinals.

"Am I afraid of the Cardinals recent success? We ARE the Cardinals recent success."

It will be interesting to see the Cardinal fans reaction. The supposed nicest fans in the game will see some of their own trying to beat them.

If the Reds get Pujols, I'll be impressed.

Have you been watching the Marlins/Reds series?

I am guess the the answer to that question is "no."

That's too bad. Two teams that don't get a hell of a lot of press played this week in front of a lot of empty seats in Joe Robbie Stadium... or Pro Player Park... or Dolphins Stadium... or Landshark Stadium... or whatever the hell it is called now.

And listening to each of the games on my XM radio, I must say, I was riveted by the games.
They weren't the cleanest games ever played... but holy cow they were exciting.

First of all both teams are loaded with exciting young players. Of course the Marlins have Hanley Ramirez is an MVP contender. Dan Uggla is an All Star. Chris Coghlan is the defending NL Rookie of the Year. Jorge Cantu is on pace to drive in 100 runs by the end of the week!

The Reds have young players like Joey Votto and Brandon Phillips and Jay Bruce on their squad.

In the first game of the series, had lead changes, go ahead homers, game tying infield singles and a Houdini act by Nick Masset to escape a bases loaded 1 out game tied situation in the 9th. In the end Scott Rolen won the game with 2 homers and an RBI single in the 10th.

The second game saw the Reds take a 6-1 lead on a pair of three run shots... one by Johnny Gomes and one by Ryan Hanigan. The Marlins cut it to 1, thanks in part to RBI machine Jorge Cantu. The Reds tried to pull away but Cody Ross hit a 2 out, 3 run homer in the 8th to tie the game. In the 11th, Chris Coghlan made a spectacular game saving catch, only to see the Reds rally with 2 outs for the win.

Today's game continued the drama. Jorge Cantu homered, knocking in his 14th run of the season. He also is the first player in big league history to get a hit and an RBI in each of his team's first 9 games. Chris Volstad pitched a terrific game until Reds shortstop Paul Janish hit a three run homer to make it a 2 run game. Burke Badenhop pitched the last 2 innings for his first career save as the Marlins avoided the sweep.

Why am I writing about these games?
First of all because I don't want anyone accusing me of only caring about the Red Sox and Yankees.

But also, I love baseball. And I love compelling baseball. And I don't care if it is played in a packed house in front of the most passionate fans in the world on a cold October night... or if it is played on an April in Miami with tons of seats available.

The game is compelling... the game is fascinating... and it is on EVERY NIGHT.

Keep your eyes open, baseball fans. There's some great baseball being played EVERYWHERE!

(Except Houston.)