BASEBALL

It was Game three of the National League Championship series between the San Francisco Giants and Philadelphia Phillies.  And it was a hot pitchers duel between the Giants Matt Cain and the typically amazing Cole Hamels. This game, Cain got the best of Hamels and didn’t give up one run to a very strong Phillies offense.  As for the Giants bats, Cody Ross has had the blazing bat, scoring the Giants first run and getting a number of clutch hits.  With the win, the Giants take the lead in the series, and hope to maintain their hot streak.  San Francisco 3, Philadelphia 0.

And in prime time, it was Game four of the American League Championship series between the Texas Rangers and the New York Yankees.  In Game 3, Cliff Lee’s dominance and an unbelievable offensive 9th inning gave the Rangers an 8-0 win.  Could they continue their dominance IN New York?  The game started off with a controversial home run reminiscent of another Yankee controversial home run back in the 1996 ALCS when a boy in the stands interfered with a player’s ability to make a catch.  It happened again, and because baseball has some instant replay rights, they were able to review the play and ruled it a home run.  Rather uncanny that this same freak occurrence would happen twice to the Yankees in a Championship Series.  Then, the Texas bats caught fire, namely Bengie Molina’s. In the 6th inning, with the Rangers down 1, Molina hit a 3 run blast to put the Rangers up 5-3.  And there was no looking back, just more and more runs, as the Rangers routed the Yankees AGAIN.  They lead 3-1 in the series, and hope to put this thing to bed in Game 5.  Texas 10, NY Yankees 3.

BASKETBALL

Finally, in the NBA, the Carmelo Anthony talks are heating up again.  Apparently, Carmelo really wants to be traded, contrary to public political reports, and now… the Knicks are the frontrunner.   It will be tough to swing a deal, but both parties want it to happen.  If the Nuggets don’t get something for Carmelo now, they most likely won’t get anything for him when he leaves as a free agent.  Might as well start the rebuilding process as soon as possible.  A new major trade chip for the Knicks is back-up point guard Toney Douglas, who had 24 points in a recent exhibition game.  Either way, Carmelo is from New York, and would love to join Amare there to start a separate powerhouse to compete with Miami.