10. Hurricane Ike forcing the Astros to play home games in Milwaukee.
Hurricane Ike forced all Houston sports to drastically change the dates of games or move to different locations. Many felt that this was the downfall to the Astros season as they faced the Cubs in a 2 game series at Miller Park which was more of a home series for the Cubs than it was for the Astros.
9. The Yankees missing the playoffs for the 1st time since 93
Maybe it was somewhat due to Hank Steinbrenner now being the face of Yankee ownership. But this team had way too many pitching issues combined with the fact that they had the Rays and the Red Sox in their division. But this was the 1st season since I've been paying attention to baseball that the Yankees have not been a part of the postseason.
8. Cliff Lee winning 22 games.
A year ago Lee was pitching in the minors as he was injured and struggling being forced down to Triple-A. Now he is arguably the best pitcher in the game. For a long time during the season he had almost a third of the Indians wins showing just how dissapointing Cleveland was. But also just how dominant Lee was this season. One of the better stories this season.
7. K-Rod breaking the saves record.
K-Rod was far and away the most dominant closer in baseball as he shattered the previous record for most saves in a season getting 62 saves. He beat the previous record of 57 on September 13 as that record was held by Bobby Thigpen. Thigpen had held this record for 18 years. In my mind, K-Rod was the main reason the Angels were able to win 100 games. The Angels were in so many close games this season and without the best closer in the game, they would not have been as successful.
6. Ken Griffey Jr. hits number 600
Griffey will be known as someone who could have been the greatest if he had stayed healthy. But despite that on June 9 he hit his 600th career home run. It is even more remarkable as he will be one of the few current home run leaders that will not be identified with the steroid scandal. It is a shame that he was not able to stay healthy as we could gave been talking about him breaking the all time career home run record someday.
5. The two trades that shook up the NL.
The acquisition of C.C. Sabathia by the Brewers and Manny Ramirez by the Dodgers turned these two teams around. Sabathia was 10-2 pitching 7 complete games and pitching Milwaukee into the postseason on the last day. Even though he wasn't in the NL the whole season he will at least be a candidate for the Cy Young. Manny was incredible as well hitting almost .400 and getting the Dodgers to the NLCS. It is also possible that he could be considered for the NL MVP despite not being in the NL for the whole season.
4. Carlos Zambrano's no-hitter.
There was hardly any highlights for Big Z in the last 2 months of the season but this was a huge one. It was the 1st no-hitter thrown by a Cub since 1972. And it is maybe the best one to come out of a great regular season for the Cubs.
3. Jon Lester's no-hitter
Lester is another remarkable comeback story as he fought his way back from lymphoma. In May he threw a no-hitter against the Royals. A no-hitter is always unbelievable but it was especially in Lester's case. He fought his way back and is now a solid pitcher for the Red Sox.
2. Tampa goes from worst to first and the World Series
Tampa for its 1st 10 years had been a doormat in baseball. But this season was a shock as Joe Maddon's team won the AL East with solid pitching and a lineup consisting of timely hitters. This team's story has been nothing short of remarkable and even though it may end tomorrow it has been one of the best turnarounds in baseball.
1. Josh Hamilton
Josh Hamilton was out of baseball for 3 years because of his drug addiction. Most people are lucky to survive an addiction let alone play a sport they love ever again. Hamilton not only played but for the 1st half of the season was the best player in baseball. This was capped off by his memorable performance in the hr derby. Even though he didn't win, he set a record with 28 hr's in the 1st rd. I wish he had been able to keep it goin all season as I would have loved to see him win MVP. But either way this was the best story in baseball this season.
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3 comments:
I loved this list. The only change I would make would be to move Lester's no hitter up on the list. That was such an amazing performance and it was made so much bigger by his health problems and his father's.
Ya I agree it was amazing but I think Hamilton's story the whole season was just unbelievable. I was hoping that he would get MVP for the longest time. That's why I had to put him #1. But I completely understand where you're coming from.
Completely agree with Hamilton being No. 1. That story played out a lot early in the season and faded some after his monster Home Run Contest performance, so I'm glad to see you still recognized that there was no better story in baseball this year. Or, for that matter, perhaps the last few years.
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