October 27, 2010 [LINK / comment]
All the media hype over the pitching duel between Cliff Lee and Tim Lincecum was just a bit exaggerated, it seems. In Game 1 of the 2010 World Series, everyone expected a low-scoring contest with the two ace starters going into the late innings. Nope. Instead what we got was a wacky, error-filled blowout, which got "unblowed" in the final inning as the Rangers rallied to. The visitors from Texas got on the board with a run in the first inning, and could have at least a couple more with the bases loaded, but third baseman Juan Uribe made a fine double play to end the inning. Another run in the second inning gave Rangers' ace Cliff Lee a comfortable two-run lead, but then the Giants tied it in the third. Two innings later the home team put together a string of hits, forcing Lee out of the game. He was charged with six earned runs. In the top of the sixth, the Rangers came back with two runs, but they couldn't narrow the gap to any less than four runs. Final score: Giants 11, Rangers 7. The 43,601 fans at chilly AT&T Park (page layout updated) were delirious with joy.
As an example of the hype, Washington Post reporter Dave Sheinin compared Cliff Lee to postseason superstars of the past such as Sandy Koufax and Christy Mathewson. Lee, he wrote, had "a chance to become known as the greatest of all time." Well, nobody's perfect -- players or sports writers.
Just like last year, etc., I present the home ballparks of the two World Series teams, for easy comparison. I may need to make some small changes, such as the slight overhanging balcony in right field at AT&T Park.
