Early Surprises

It's only a week in on the 2009 MLB postseason and unusual things are already happening. A-Rod's hitting. Boston's losing. Cardinal pitchers couldn't get a win. Let's round the bases and list down this week's bad, good, ugly surprises.

1. New York Yankees- They got their quality starts from pitchers CC Sabathia (2 ER) and AJ Burnett (1 ER,thank God!). Captain Derek Jeter's his usual base-hitting self. But, it's really the tag team of Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez, both perennial playoff chokers, that led the team to a 2-0 series lead over Minnesota. Rodriguez, who was 0 for 18 in postseason chances to drive in a run prior to this series, is responsible for 5 of the 11 runs scored by the Yankees in their first two games. 2 of those he scored in today's game to tie the score at 3-3 and push the Yankees to extra innings. Mark Teixeira, on the other hand, struck gold in his first hit of the series. With a 3-3 tie in the 11th inning, Mark sent a Teix Message walk-off home run that barely made the left-field wall.

Both teams got lucky breaks due to baserunning and fielding errors by the other.  In the 10th inning, CP Joe Nathan (MIN) tried to pick off Brett Gardner (NYY) at second base. Instead, he made an errant throw, allowing Gardner to move to third. In the next sequence, LF Johnny Damon (NYY) lined out to shortstop and Brett Gardner, who ran on the play, got caught in the line-out tag-out double play.

On to the top of the 11th inning, C Joe Mauer(MIN) hit a line-hugger towards the left field line. The ball was called foul. Upon further review, however, it was seen the the ball landed on fair territory and should have advanced Mauer to second base. The next two batters then got on base, leaving LHP David "Houdini" Robertson (NYY) with a bases-loaded, no-out situation jam. Three straight outs, two from first-pitch swings, helped the Yankees get through the 11th unscathed.

And, in the bottom of the 11th, it was Yankee Magic time. Mark Teixeira at bat. Up 2-1 in the count, Teixeira hit a ball down the middle to the left field. And, then, boom. Home plate party. Shaving cream pie in the face. Another walk-off win for the Yankees.

2. Boston Red Sox- 1 run in 2 games for the BoSox. 1 run. That's like chicken feed for David Ortiz. That's a 20-second sprint for Jacoby Ellsbury. One hit off Jason Bay's bat. 1 run is nothing to the Red Sox. Here's a team that could score in bunches, what with Ortiz, Kevin Youkilis and Jason Bay in the heart of the lineip.But, all they get in two games is a blood-and-sweat run courtesy of CF Jacoby Ellsbury and C Victor Martinez.

The Red Sox hex has baffled the LA Angels for three straight years now. They have never won a playoff series with the Red Sox, and it seemed like this would be another early exit for them. Due to solid pitching (Lackey : 0 ER in Game 1, Weaver: 1 ER in Game 2), the Angels have managed to turn the tide and throw back the hex on the slumping Sox. Josh Beckett wasn't awful with 4 ER allowed in 6 2-3 innings. Jon Lester wasn't so bad in Game 1, either. It's run support (or lack of it) that is bringing Boston down. But, hey, if there's any team who can come back from the grave, it's the Boston Red Sox. So, go Sox! I need more of Jacoby Ellsbury.  and, I mean more.

3. Los Angeles Angels- After losing Teixeira to free agency and sufferring the tragic death of young pitcher Nick Adenhart, the Angels battled adversity to come up on top in the AL West. They were counted out by experts in this series against the Red Sox. But, here they are, carrying a 2-0 cushion on their way to Boston. The Angels are to MLB as the Spurs are to the NBA. They enter the playoffs a bit under the radar. They have no ace pitching, no power bats. But, they could run like hell, score base hit upon base hit upon base hit, and, as SPs John Lackey and Jered Weaver proved, shut out a potent offense like Boston's. That's what they have been doing the past two games. Let's see if they eliminate the Sox at Fenway.

4. St. Louis Cardinals- How could a 1-2 punch of Cy Young Nominees (Cy Young=Best Pitcher Award) show up with no wins on their column? Case 1: Carpenter. SP Chris Carpenter(STL) got clobbered by  the Dodgers in Game 1 who managed to score even without major contributions from LF Manny Ramirez(LAD). Case 2: Wainwright. SP Adam Wainwright (STL) actually pitched pretty well allowing only 1 ER in 8 innings. However, thanks to his teammates, Ryan Franklin and bobbling Matt Holliday, the Dodgers stole Game 2 with 2 runs in the bottom of the 9th, the tying run being charged to Matt Holliday's bobble.

*Pictures, videos and stats are  from sports.yahoo.com and mlb.com. All other sources are properly linked.