The Dark Knights had a tough route to the WS, overcoming a stubborn Little Rock before exorcising some demons with a sweep of Anaheim who had beaten them in the playoffs in both the previous 2 seasons. The NLCS against Augusta was a classic with New York clinching in Game 7 on the road against the team most experts favoured to repeat their World Series win of the previous season.
Meantime, in the ALCS, Hartford staged a Lazarus-like comeback from 0-3 down against a great Scranton team who must have felt they had one hand on the Championship trophy before The Hacks wore them down and finally won out in Game 7. A comeback so stunning, even Jim Rome was lost for words !
Unfortunately for Hartford, they must have left it all out on the field in the ALCS because, in the Fall Classic, The Dark Knights proceeded to win the first 2 at Welch Park before completing the sweep back in New York.
Built around young pitching talent in the likes of Geraldo Baez, Fausto Jiminez and Maicer Romero and with solid hitters such as Bobby Strong, Mike Lankford and Daryl Blume, the Dark Knights should challenge again next season but, after 6 different Champions in 6 seasons, it's clear they'll have a fight on their hands to retain the trophy, especially with powerhouses like Augusta, Anaheim, Hartford and Scranton among a number of teams hungry to knock them off their pedestal.
Story of the postseason has to be veteran slugger Daryl Blume, who finally won his first WS Ring to complete an honor roll that includes 5 MVP awards, 8 All Star appearances, 7 Silver Slugger awards and 3 Home Run Derby wins as well as passing 500 career Home Runs in season 35. Not a bad resume you'd think but he famously said before he was traded from Houston in Season 34 that he'd come to New York to win and that he'd trade it all for a World Series Ring.
Now he doesn't have to.
No comments:
Post a Comment