Our game this week should be a defensive war between the host San Francisco 49ers and the visiting Chicago Bears. San Francisco opened with a David Akers field goal of 32 yards. The 49ers padded the lead as Colin Kaepernick passed 3 yards for a touchdown to Vernon Davis, and Akers supplied the extra point. San Francisco kept going in the second quarter on a 14 yard Kendall Hunter touchdown run, and Akers again made the extra point. The 49ers struck again on a 37 yard Akers field goal. San Francisco padded the lead in the third quarter as Kaepernick passed 10 yards for a touchdown to Michael Crabtree, and Akers tacked on the PAT. Chicago got on the board when Jason Campbell found Brandon Marshall for 13 yards and a touchdown, and Robbie Gould booted the extra point. The 49ers shot back in the fourth quarter as Akers made a 32 yard field goal. San Francisco got some more as Aldon Smith sacked Campbell for a safety. This produced a 32-7 final, with the 49ers now at 7-2-1 and the Bears falling to 7-3.
Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.
Monday, November 19, 2012
How They Got Here: The Story of the 2012 San Francisco Giants Part 22
How They Got Here: The San Francisco Giants is a
one-by-one look at how each member of the 2012 World Series Champion San
Francisco Giants found their way to the squad. We'll look at all of the
players on the roster, as well as notable players who did not make the
postseason roster for whatever reason and the coaching staff and general
manager. Part twenty-two tells us of young right fielder Hunter Pence.
Hunter Pence was born on April 13, 1983, in Fort Worth, Texas. He attended Arlington High School in Arlington, Texas, where he played in the outfield before playing shortstop in his senior year. He went to Texarkana College for one year before transferring to University of Texas at Arlington, where he was a star playing in the Southland Conference. In his junior year, he was drafted by the Houston Astros in the second round, and signed this time (Pence previously refused to sign as a 2002 draft fortieth round selection of the Milwaukee Brewers). He ended the 2004 season playing in the Class A Short Season New York-Pennsylvania League with the Tri-City ValleyCats of Troy, New York, where he hit to a .296 batting average with eight home runs and thirty-seven runs batted in. In 2005, he moved up to the Class A Lexington Legends in Lexington, Kentucky of the South Atlantic League, where he hit .338 with twenty-five home runs and sixty runs batted in over the course of eighty games. He was promoted to the Class A Advanced Caroling League to play with the Salem Avalanche of Salem, Virginia. Pence played another forty-one games here, hitting .305 with six home runs and thirty runs batted in. For the 2006 season, Pence earned another promotion, up to the Class AA Corpus Christi Hooks in the Texas League. His numbers dropped a bit at this level, as he hit only .283 with twenty-eight home runs and ninety-five runs batted in for the full season. It was enough to earn him a short stint in 2007 with the Round Rock Express of Round Rock, Texas, in the Class AAA Pacific Coast League. He spent most of April here, hitting a sterling .326 batting average with three home runs and twenty-one runs batted in, before earning a call up to the Houston Astros. His debut was against the Milwaukee Brewers on April 28th, and he stuck with the Astros, playing center and right field, for the whole season except for from July 23rd to August 20th, when he was out with an injury. His rookie season concluded with him hitting .322 in batting average, as well as seventeen home runs and sixty-nine runs batted in. Pence played the full season with Houston in 2008, hitting to a .269 batting average as well as twenty-five home runs and eighty-three runs batted in, which was a slight regression. The 2009 season treated Pence a little bit better, as he made his first All-Star game en route to a personal line of .282 in batting average with twenty-five home runs and seventy-two runs batted in. He came into 2010 and left very similar results, cementing himself as a key player for the Astros by hitting .282 with twenty-five home runs and ninety-one runs batted in. His time as the face of the franchise was short though, as he began 2011 with the Astros and put up a .308 batting average with eleven home runs and sixty-two runs batted in before being traded during a firesale to the Philadelphia Phillies with cash in exchange for Jarred Cosart, Jonathan Singleton, Josh Zeid, and a player to be named later (Domingo Santana), all minor league players. None have broken into the major leagues yet. He closed out the season manning right field for the Phillies, where he hit .324 with eleven home runs and thirty-five runs batted in. He was primarily brought in with the intention of being a long-term solution in the outfield, as well as a short-term push in the playoffs, but the Phillies collapsed against the St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Division Series, and Pence hit only .211 with four runs batted in during the postseason. Nevertheless, he held the job for Philadelphia, and began the 2012 season there, hitting to a disappointing .271 batting average and seventeen home runs with fifty-nine runs batted in. In another deadline deal, the Phillies decimated their outfield while looking far away from the playoffs, making two deals in the same day. One was with the Los Angeles Dodgers, but the Pence deal sent him to the Dodgers' rivals, the San Francisco Giants, in exchange for minor league players Seth Rosin and Tommy Joseph, as well as established major league player Nate Schierholtz. While the Dodgers were thought to have made the best deadline deals by acquiring big names and larger contracts, the Giants excelled even as Pence struggled in the orange and black, where he hit .219 with seven home runs and forty-five runs batted in to close out the season. In the end, the Giants made the playoffs while the Dodgers unraveled, and it was Pence who brought something immeasurable to the table in the postseason. When down 2-0 in the National League Division Series to the Cincinnati Reds, Pence gave a speech to his teammates, firing them up, and they won the next three games to advance to the National League Championship Series against the St. Louis Cardinals. Here, he had one of the quirkiest moments in recent memory, when he hit a third inning double in Game 7 that hit his breaking bat three times, causing a very unusual spin to be applied to the ball. The hit resulted in two earned runs and an additional unearned run, and put the nail in the coffin on the Cardinals, allowing San Francisco to reach the World Series against the Detroit Tigers. He added the last of his four runs batted in during Game 2 of the World Series, a critical eighth inning insurance run to give the Giants a 2-0 series lead before heading to Detroit, where they finished off the Tigers with a four game sweep. While Pence's one home run and .210 batting average were nothing special, his fiery pregame speeches were recognized by teammates as a huge influence and motivation on them to win the championship, earning Pence his first World Series title.
Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.
Hunter Pence was born on April 13, 1983, in Fort Worth, Texas. He attended Arlington High School in Arlington, Texas, where he played in the outfield before playing shortstop in his senior year. He went to Texarkana College for one year before transferring to University of Texas at Arlington, where he was a star playing in the Southland Conference. In his junior year, he was drafted by the Houston Astros in the second round, and signed this time (Pence previously refused to sign as a 2002 draft fortieth round selection of the Milwaukee Brewers). He ended the 2004 season playing in the Class A Short Season New York-Pennsylvania League with the Tri-City ValleyCats of Troy, New York, where he hit to a .296 batting average with eight home runs and thirty-seven runs batted in. In 2005, he moved up to the Class A Lexington Legends in Lexington, Kentucky of the South Atlantic League, where he hit .338 with twenty-five home runs and sixty runs batted in over the course of eighty games. He was promoted to the Class A Advanced Caroling League to play with the Salem Avalanche of Salem, Virginia. Pence played another forty-one games here, hitting .305 with six home runs and thirty runs batted in. For the 2006 season, Pence earned another promotion, up to the Class AA Corpus Christi Hooks in the Texas League. His numbers dropped a bit at this level, as he hit only .283 with twenty-eight home runs and ninety-five runs batted in for the full season. It was enough to earn him a short stint in 2007 with the Round Rock Express of Round Rock, Texas, in the Class AAA Pacific Coast League. He spent most of April here, hitting a sterling .326 batting average with three home runs and twenty-one runs batted in, before earning a call up to the Houston Astros. His debut was against the Milwaukee Brewers on April 28th, and he stuck with the Astros, playing center and right field, for the whole season except for from July 23rd to August 20th, when he was out with an injury. His rookie season concluded with him hitting .322 in batting average, as well as seventeen home runs and sixty-nine runs batted in. Pence played the full season with Houston in 2008, hitting to a .269 batting average as well as twenty-five home runs and eighty-three runs batted in, which was a slight regression. The 2009 season treated Pence a little bit better, as he made his first All-Star game en route to a personal line of .282 in batting average with twenty-five home runs and seventy-two runs batted in. He came into 2010 and left very similar results, cementing himself as a key player for the Astros by hitting .282 with twenty-five home runs and ninety-one runs batted in. His time as the face of the franchise was short though, as he began 2011 with the Astros and put up a .308 batting average with eleven home runs and sixty-two runs batted in before being traded during a firesale to the Philadelphia Phillies with cash in exchange for Jarred Cosart, Jonathan Singleton, Josh Zeid, and a player to be named later (Domingo Santana), all minor league players. None have broken into the major leagues yet. He closed out the season manning right field for the Phillies, where he hit .324 with eleven home runs and thirty-five runs batted in. He was primarily brought in with the intention of being a long-term solution in the outfield, as well as a short-term push in the playoffs, but the Phillies collapsed against the St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Division Series, and Pence hit only .211 with four runs batted in during the postseason. Nevertheless, he held the job for Philadelphia, and began the 2012 season there, hitting to a disappointing .271 batting average and seventeen home runs with fifty-nine runs batted in. In another deadline deal, the Phillies decimated their outfield while looking far away from the playoffs, making two deals in the same day. One was with the Los Angeles Dodgers, but the Pence deal sent him to the Dodgers' rivals, the San Francisco Giants, in exchange for minor league players Seth Rosin and Tommy Joseph, as well as established major league player Nate Schierholtz. While the Dodgers were thought to have made the best deadline deals by acquiring big names and larger contracts, the Giants excelled even as Pence struggled in the orange and black, where he hit .219 with seven home runs and forty-five runs batted in to close out the season. In the end, the Giants made the playoffs while the Dodgers unraveled, and it was Pence who brought something immeasurable to the table in the postseason. When down 2-0 in the National League Division Series to the Cincinnati Reds, Pence gave a speech to his teammates, firing them up, and they won the next three games to advance to the National League Championship Series against the St. Louis Cardinals. Here, he had one of the quirkiest moments in recent memory, when he hit a third inning double in Game 7 that hit his breaking bat three times, causing a very unusual spin to be applied to the ball. The hit resulted in two earned runs and an additional unearned run, and put the nail in the coffin on the Cardinals, allowing San Francisco to reach the World Series against the Detroit Tigers. He added the last of his four runs batted in during Game 2 of the World Series, a critical eighth inning insurance run to give the Giants a 2-0 series lead before heading to Detroit, where they finished off the Tigers with a four game sweep. While Pence's one home run and .210 batting average were nothing special, his fiery pregame speeches were recognized by teammates as a huge influence and motivation on them to win the championship, earning Pence his first World Series title.
Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.
KHL November 19th 2012
One game today, as Sibir Novosibirsk hosts Metallurg Novokuznetsk. Alexander Lazushin for Metallurg and Sergei Gaiduchenko for Sibir tend the twines. Novosibirsk got on the board in the first period with a Konstantin Glazachev goal, made possible by Jori Lehtera and Jonas Enlund. Sibir added on in the second period as Enlund scored, with assists provided by Lehtera and Glazachev. The scoring stopped here, so Sibir won 2-0, and the three stars belonged to Glazachev, Enlund, and Gaiduchenko (21 save shutout), while Lehtera gets an honorable mention.
Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.
Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.
Sunday, November 18, 2012
NFL Afternoon/Night Games Week 11 2012
Four games for the late wave. This post will be finished on November 19th, 2012. We begin in...
Oakland, as the Raiders host the New Orleans Saints. New Orleans led off in the first quarter with a Drew Brees 1 yard touchdown pass to Jimmy Graham, and Garrett Hartley made the extra point. The Saints added on as Malcolm Jenkins picked off Carson Palmer and took it 55 yards to the house for a touchdown, with Hartley making another extra point. Oakland replied in the second quarter as Palmer passed 1 yard to Brandon Myers for a touchdown, and Sebastian Janikowski booted the extra point. New Orleans answered as Brees threw a 38 yard touchdown pass to Lance Moore, and Hartley made the PAT. The Saints kept going in the third quarter on a 27 yard touchdown run by Mark Ingram, with Hartley making the extra point. The Raiders replied as Janikowski made a 40 yard field goal. New Orleans padded the lead as Brees found Moore again, this time for a 15 yard touchdown connection, and Hartley made his extra point. The Saints padded the lead in the fourth quarter with a 47 yard Hartley field goal. Oakland got some back as Palmer passed 3 yards to Juron Criner for a touchdown, and Janikowski was there with the extra point. This ended the scoring at 38-17, with the Saints now at 5-5 and the Raiders at 3-7.
Over in Denver, the Broncos host the San Diego Chargers. San Diego started as Eric Weddle intercepted Peyton Manning in the first quarter for 23 yards and a touchdown, and Nick Novak handled the extra point. Denver tied it in the second quarter with Manning passing 13 yards to Demaryius Thomas for a touchdown, and Matt Prater knocked in the extra point. The Broncos took the lead as Prater made a 19 yard field goal. Denver extended the lead as Manning passed to Brandon Stokley for 31 yards and a touchdown, and Prater again made the PAT. The Chargers got some back as Shaun Phillips sacked Manning for a safety. The Broncos shot back as Manning passed 20 yards to Eric Decker for a touchdown, and Prater handled the extra point. San Diego got some back as Philip Rivers passed 8 yards to Danario Alexander for a touchdown, and Novak was true with the extra point. Denver extended the lead in the fourth quarter on a 30 yard field goal by Prater. The Broncos got some more as Prater made a 32 yard field goal. The Chargers took some back when Rivers hooked up with Alexander for another touchdown, this time from 21 yards, and Novak supplied the extra point. They got no closer, falling 30-23, with Denver now at 7-3 and the Chargers dropping to 4-6.
Further to the east, the New England Patriots host the Indianapolis Colts. Indianapolis opened in the first quarter as Delone Carter ran 1 yard for a touchdown, and Adam Vinatieri handled the extra point. New England tied it as Tom Brady passed 4 yards to Rob Gronkowski for a touchdown, and Stephen Gostkowski's extra point was the equalizer. The Colts retook the lead on a 14 yard touchdown pass from Andrew Luck to T.Y. Hilton, and Vinatieri supplied the PAT. The Patriots pulled even again as Julian Edelman returned a punt 68 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter, and Gostkowski made another extra point. New England took the lead with an Aqib Talib interception of Luck, which he took back 59 yards for a touchdown, and Gostkowski again made the extra point. Indianapolis got some back as Vinatieri made a 47 yard field goal. The Patriots answered with a Gostkowski field goal from 31 yards. New England extended the lead in the third quarter as Brady passed 2 yards to Edelman for a touchdown, and Gostkowski tacked on the extra point. The Patriots padded the lead as Brady found Gronkowski for another touchdown, this time a 24 yard connection, and Gostkowski kicked in the extra point. New England kept going in the fourth quarter with another pick-six, as Alfonzo Dennard intercepted Luck for 87 yards and the touchdown, allowing another Gostkowski extra point. The Colts got some back with Luck finding Hilton for 43 yards and another touchdown, and Vinatieri tacked on the extra point. The Patriots replied as Stevan Ridley ran 3 yards for a touchdown, and Gostkowski tacked on the extra point. New England iced it at 59-24 as Shane Vereen ran 4 yards for a touchdown, and Gostkowski again made the extra point. The Patriots go to 7-3 while the Colts drop to 6-4.
Finally, the night game has the Pittsburgh Steelers host their fierce rivals, the Baltimore Ravens.Pittsburgh got going in the first quarter as Byron Leftwich ran 31 yards for a touchdown, and Shaun Suisham made the extra point. Baltimore took the lead when Justin Tucker made a 26 yard field goal. The Ravens took the lead as Jacoby Jones returned a punt 63 yards for a touchdown, and Tucker handled the extra point. Baltimore extended the lead in the third quarter on a Tucker field goal of 39 yards. The Steelers got some back with a Suisham field goal from 22 yards away. They got no closer, losing 13-10, with Baltimore now at 8-2 and Pittsburgh at 6-4.
Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.
Oakland, as the Raiders host the New Orleans Saints. New Orleans led off in the first quarter with a Drew Brees 1 yard touchdown pass to Jimmy Graham, and Garrett Hartley made the extra point. The Saints added on as Malcolm Jenkins picked off Carson Palmer and took it 55 yards to the house for a touchdown, with Hartley making another extra point. Oakland replied in the second quarter as Palmer passed 1 yard to Brandon Myers for a touchdown, and Sebastian Janikowski booted the extra point. New Orleans answered as Brees threw a 38 yard touchdown pass to Lance Moore, and Hartley made the PAT. The Saints kept going in the third quarter on a 27 yard touchdown run by Mark Ingram, with Hartley making the extra point. The Raiders replied as Janikowski made a 40 yard field goal. New Orleans padded the lead as Brees found Moore again, this time for a 15 yard touchdown connection, and Hartley made his extra point. The Saints padded the lead in the fourth quarter with a 47 yard Hartley field goal. Oakland got some back as Palmer passed 3 yards to Juron Criner for a touchdown, and Janikowski was there with the extra point. This ended the scoring at 38-17, with the Saints now at 5-5 and the Raiders at 3-7.
Over in Denver, the Broncos host the San Diego Chargers. San Diego started as Eric Weddle intercepted Peyton Manning in the first quarter for 23 yards and a touchdown, and Nick Novak handled the extra point. Denver tied it in the second quarter with Manning passing 13 yards to Demaryius Thomas for a touchdown, and Matt Prater knocked in the extra point. The Broncos took the lead as Prater made a 19 yard field goal. Denver extended the lead as Manning passed to Brandon Stokley for 31 yards and a touchdown, and Prater again made the PAT. The Chargers got some back as Shaun Phillips sacked Manning for a safety. The Broncos shot back as Manning passed 20 yards to Eric Decker for a touchdown, and Prater handled the extra point. San Diego got some back as Philip Rivers passed 8 yards to Danario Alexander for a touchdown, and Novak was true with the extra point. Denver extended the lead in the fourth quarter on a 30 yard field goal by Prater. The Broncos got some more as Prater made a 32 yard field goal. The Chargers took some back when Rivers hooked up with Alexander for another touchdown, this time from 21 yards, and Novak supplied the extra point. They got no closer, falling 30-23, with Denver now at 7-3 and the Chargers dropping to 4-6.
Further to the east, the New England Patriots host the Indianapolis Colts. Indianapolis opened in the first quarter as Delone Carter ran 1 yard for a touchdown, and Adam Vinatieri handled the extra point. New England tied it as Tom Brady passed 4 yards to Rob Gronkowski for a touchdown, and Stephen Gostkowski's extra point was the equalizer. The Colts retook the lead on a 14 yard touchdown pass from Andrew Luck to T.Y. Hilton, and Vinatieri supplied the PAT. The Patriots pulled even again as Julian Edelman returned a punt 68 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter, and Gostkowski made another extra point. New England took the lead with an Aqib Talib interception of Luck, which he took back 59 yards for a touchdown, and Gostkowski again made the extra point. Indianapolis got some back as Vinatieri made a 47 yard field goal. The Patriots answered with a Gostkowski field goal from 31 yards. New England extended the lead in the third quarter as Brady passed 2 yards to Edelman for a touchdown, and Gostkowski tacked on the extra point. The Patriots padded the lead as Brady found Gronkowski for another touchdown, this time a 24 yard connection, and Gostkowski kicked in the extra point. New England kept going in the fourth quarter with another pick-six, as Alfonzo Dennard intercepted Luck for 87 yards and the touchdown, allowing another Gostkowski extra point. The Colts got some back with Luck finding Hilton for 43 yards and another touchdown, and Vinatieri tacked on the extra point. The Patriots replied as Stevan Ridley ran 3 yards for a touchdown, and Gostkowski tacked on the extra point. New England iced it at 59-24 as Shane Vereen ran 4 yards for a touchdown, and Gostkowski again made the extra point. The Patriots go to 7-3 while the Colts drop to 6-4.
Finally, the night game has the Pittsburgh Steelers host their fierce rivals, the Baltimore Ravens.Pittsburgh got going in the first quarter as Byron Leftwich ran 31 yards for a touchdown, and Shaun Suisham made the extra point. Baltimore took the lead when Justin Tucker made a 26 yard field goal. The Ravens took the lead as Jacoby Jones returned a punt 63 yards for a touchdown, and Tucker handled the extra point. Baltimore extended the lead in the third quarter on a Tucker field goal of 39 yards. The Steelers got some back with a Suisham field goal from 22 yards away. They got no closer, losing 13-10, with Baltimore now at 8-2 and Pittsburgh at 6-4.
Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.
NFL Morning Games Week 11 2012
If you didn't catch it in the KHL post (check it out!), I am out of the house today for a Sounders game. The Late Games post will be delayed until tomorrow as I watch the Sounders fight for their playoff lives. Today's American football begins with eight games, starting in...
Kansas City, as the Chiefs host the Cincinnati Bengals. Kansas City was first on the board in the first quarter with a Ryan Succop field goal of 34 yards. Cincinnati answered with an Andy Dalton touchdown pass of 4 yards to A.J. Green, and Mike Nugent made the extra point. The Bengals extended the lead in the second quarter as Dalton ran 2 yards for a touchdown, and Nugent handled the extra point. Cincinnati padded the lead with a BenJarvus Green-Ellis touchdown rush of 1 yard, and Nugent knocked in the PAT. The Chiefs got some back with a Succop field goal of 33 yards. The Bengals added on in the fourth inning as Dalton passed 14 yards to Mohamed Sanu for a touchdown, and Nugent again made the extra point. This made it 28-6, a final, with the Bengals now at 5-5 and the Chiefs dropping to 1-9.
South to Houston, where the Texans welcome the Jacksonville Jaguars. Houston led off with a first quarter Matt Schaub touchdown pass of 9 yards to Keshawn Martin, and Shayne Graham booted the extra point. Jacksonville tied the game as Chad Henne passed 13 yards to Marcedes Lewis, good for a touchdown, and Josh Scobee made the extra point. The Jaguars took the lead in the second quarter on a Henne touchdown pass of 67 yards to Cecil Shorts, and Scobee converted the PAT. The Texans replied when Schaub passed 1 yard to James Casey for a touchdown, and Graham was there with the extra point. Jacksonville gained the lead on a 43 yard Scobee field goal. Houston tied it up again on a 42 yard field goal by Graham. The Jaguars took the lead again in the third quarter with a Scobee field goal from 40 yards away. Jacksonville padded the lead on another Henne touchdown pass to Lewis, for 1 yard, and Scobee supplied the extra point. The Texans got some back as Graham made a 27 yard field goal. The Jaguars replied as Henne unleashed an 81 yard touchdown bomb to Justin Blackmon in the fourth quarter, and Scobee again handled the extra point. Houston chipped away as Schaub passed 1 yard to Garret Graham for a touchdown, and the other Graham made an extra point. The Texans tied it as Schaub found the offensive Graham for 5 yards and a touchdown, which allowed the kicker Graham to make the extra point. Houston took the lead in overtime on a 25 yard field goal by Graham. Jacksonville retied it with a Scobee field goal from 33 yards out. The Texans won 43-37 later in the fifth quarter with a Schaub touchdown pass of 48 yards to Andre Johnson, sealing the victory and a 9-1 record while dropping Jacksonville to 1-9.
Back in Missouri, the St. Louis Rams host the New York Jets. St. Louis struck first with a first quarter Sam Bradford 1 yard touchdown pass to Brandon Gibson, and Greg Zuerlein tacked on the extra point. New York got on the board as Nick Folk made a 51 yard field goal. The Jets took the lead with a Mark Sanchez 25 yard touchdown pass to Chaz Schilens, and Folk was there with the extra point. New York got some more on another 51 yard field goal by Folk. The Jets extended the lead in the fourth quarter as Bilal Powell ran 5 yards for a touchdown, and Folk supplied the PAT. New York struck again on another Powell touchdown rush, this time for 11 yards, and Folk made another extra point. The Rams got some back as Bradford passed 2 yards to Gibson for a touchdown, but the two-point attempt was failed and they lost 27-13. New York goes to 4-6 and St. Louis drops to 3-6-1.
Ping-ponging to Texas again, as the Dallas Cowboys bring in the Cleveland Browns. Cleveland got going in the first quarter with a Brandon Weeden 10 yard touchdown pass to Benjamin Watson, and Phil Dawson supplied the extra point. The Browns got some more in the second quarter as Dawson made a 51 yard field goal. Cleveland extended the lead on a Brown 37 yard field goal. Dallas got on the board in the third quarter as Dan Bailey kicked a 44 yard field goal. The Cowboys got some back in the fourth quarter with a 2 yard touchdown run by Felix Jones, and Bailey kicked in the extra point. Dallas took the lead with Tony Romo finding Dez Bryant for 28 yards and a touchdown, and Bailey made another PAT. The Browns retook the lead as Weeden hooked up with Watson for another touchdown, this time a 17 yard connection, and Dawson was true on the extra point. The Cowboys tied it with a 32 yard Bailey field goal. Dallas won 23-20 in overtime as Bailey made a 38 yard field goal. Dallas is now 5-5 and the Browns are 2-8.
To the east, the Carolina Panthers welcome the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Tampa Bay opened with a 3 yard touchdown pass by Josh Freeman to Nate Byham, and Connor Barth knocked in the extra point. The Buccaneers added on as Barth made a 51 yard field goal. Carolina got on the board as Captain Munnerlyn intercepted Freeman and returned the ball 74 yards for a touchdown, and Justin Medlock made the extra point. The Panthers took the lead as Jonathan Stewart ran 1 yard for a touchdown, and Medlock handled the extra point. Carolina extended the lead in the fourth quarter on a Cam Newton touchdown pass of 29 yards to Brandon LaFell, and Medlock supplied the PAT. Tampa Bay chipped back on a 40 yard field goal by Barth. The Buccaneers got closer as Freeman passed 24 yards to Vincent Jackson for a touchdown, and then found him again to tie the game with a two-point conversion. Tampa Bay took a 27-21 victory as Freeman passed 15 yards to Dallas Clark for a touchdown in overtime, and they improved to 6-4 while the Panthers dropped to 2-8.
Down in Atlanta, the Falcons host the Arizona Cardinals. Arizona quickly got going in the first quarter as LaRod Stephens-Howling ran 3 yards for a touchdown, and Jay Feely made the extra point. The Cardinals added on as Feely made a 48 yard field goal. Arizona struck again on a 28 yard Feely field goal. Atlanta got on the board in the second quarter as Matt Bryant made a 51 yard field goal. The Falcons chipped away as Jonathan Babineaux recovered a Ryan Lindley fumble and took it in 15 yards for a touchdown, allowing Bryant to make the PAT. Atlanta tied it on a Bryant field goal of 28 yards. The Cardinals reclaimed the lead on a Feely field goal of 38 yards. The Falcons shot back as Bryant made a 48 yard field goal. Arizona retook the lead in the fourth quarter when Feely booted a 27 yard field goal. Atlanta gained the lead on a 1 yard touchdown run by Michael Turner, and Bryant easily made the extra point. This held up for a 23-19 win, with Atlanta now at 9-1 and Arizona at 4-6.
Well to the north, the Detroit Lions host the Green Bay Packers. Detroit led off with a first quarter Jason Hanson field goal from 30 yards away. Green Bay took the lead in the second quarter as Aaron Rodgers found Jermichael Finley for 20 yards and a touchdown, and Mason Crosby kicked the PAT. The Lions took the lead back when Mikel Leshoure ran 1 yard for a touchdown, and Hanson handled the extra point. The Packers jumped ahead in the third quarter as M.D. Jennings picked off Matthew Stafford and returned the ball 72 yards for a touchdown, with Crosby kicking the extra point. Detroit shot back as Stafford threw a touchdown to Calvin Johnson, good for 25 yards, and Hanson made the extra point. The Lions extended the lead as Hanson supplied a 27 yard field goal. Green Bay edged ahead as Rodgers passed 22 yards for a touchdown to Randall Cobb, and Crosby tacked on the extra point to take the lead. The Packers padded the lead as Crosby made a 39 yard field goal. This made it 24-20, a final, with the Packers now at 7-3 and the Lions at 4-6.
Finally, we end this wave in DC, as the Washington Redskins host the Philadelphia Eagles. Washington began with a first quarter Robert Griffin III touchdown pass of 6 yards to Darrel Young, and Kai Forbath handled the extra point. Philadelphia got some back as Alex Henery kicked a 41 yard field goal in the second quarter. The Redskins extended the lead when Griffin passed 49 yards to Aldrick Robinson for a touchdown, and Forbath made another extra point. Washington got some more as Forbath made a 25 yard field goal. Henery pulled the Eagles closer in the third quarter on a 42 yard field goal. The Redskins replied with a 61 yard touchdown pass from Griffin to Santana Moss, and Forbath iced the play with the PAT. Washington padded the lead in the fourth quarter as Griffin passed 17 yards to Logan Paulsen for a touchdown, and Forbath made another extra point. This ended the scoring at 31-6, with the Redskins now at 4-6 and the Eagles at 3-7.
Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.
Kansas City, as the Chiefs host the Cincinnati Bengals. Kansas City was first on the board in the first quarter with a Ryan Succop field goal of 34 yards. Cincinnati answered with an Andy Dalton touchdown pass of 4 yards to A.J. Green, and Mike Nugent made the extra point. The Bengals extended the lead in the second quarter as Dalton ran 2 yards for a touchdown, and Nugent handled the extra point. Cincinnati padded the lead with a BenJarvus Green-Ellis touchdown rush of 1 yard, and Nugent knocked in the PAT. The Chiefs got some back with a Succop field goal of 33 yards. The Bengals added on in the fourth inning as Dalton passed 14 yards to Mohamed Sanu for a touchdown, and Nugent again made the extra point. This made it 28-6, a final, with the Bengals now at 5-5 and the Chiefs dropping to 1-9.
South to Houston, where the Texans welcome the Jacksonville Jaguars. Houston led off with a first quarter Matt Schaub touchdown pass of 9 yards to Keshawn Martin, and Shayne Graham booted the extra point. Jacksonville tied the game as Chad Henne passed 13 yards to Marcedes Lewis, good for a touchdown, and Josh Scobee made the extra point. The Jaguars took the lead in the second quarter on a Henne touchdown pass of 67 yards to Cecil Shorts, and Scobee converted the PAT. The Texans replied when Schaub passed 1 yard to James Casey for a touchdown, and Graham was there with the extra point. Jacksonville gained the lead on a 43 yard Scobee field goal. Houston tied it up again on a 42 yard field goal by Graham. The Jaguars took the lead again in the third quarter with a Scobee field goal from 40 yards away. Jacksonville padded the lead on another Henne touchdown pass to Lewis, for 1 yard, and Scobee supplied the extra point. The Texans got some back as Graham made a 27 yard field goal. The Jaguars replied as Henne unleashed an 81 yard touchdown bomb to Justin Blackmon in the fourth quarter, and Scobee again handled the extra point. Houston chipped away as Schaub passed 1 yard to Garret Graham for a touchdown, and the other Graham made an extra point. The Texans tied it as Schaub found the offensive Graham for 5 yards and a touchdown, which allowed the kicker Graham to make the extra point. Houston took the lead in overtime on a 25 yard field goal by Graham. Jacksonville retied it with a Scobee field goal from 33 yards out. The Texans won 43-37 later in the fifth quarter with a Schaub touchdown pass of 48 yards to Andre Johnson, sealing the victory and a 9-1 record while dropping Jacksonville to 1-9.
Back in Missouri, the St. Louis Rams host the New York Jets. St. Louis struck first with a first quarter Sam Bradford 1 yard touchdown pass to Brandon Gibson, and Greg Zuerlein tacked on the extra point. New York got on the board as Nick Folk made a 51 yard field goal. The Jets took the lead with a Mark Sanchez 25 yard touchdown pass to Chaz Schilens, and Folk was there with the extra point. New York got some more on another 51 yard field goal by Folk. The Jets extended the lead in the fourth quarter as Bilal Powell ran 5 yards for a touchdown, and Folk supplied the PAT. New York struck again on another Powell touchdown rush, this time for 11 yards, and Folk made another extra point. The Rams got some back as Bradford passed 2 yards to Gibson for a touchdown, but the two-point attempt was failed and they lost 27-13. New York goes to 4-6 and St. Louis drops to 3-6-1.
Ping-ponging to Texas again, as the Dallas Cowboys bring in the Cleveland Browns. Cleveland got going in the first quarter with a Brandon Weeden 10 yard touchdown pass to Benjamin Watson, and Phil Dawson supplied the extra point. The Browns got some more in the second quarter as Dawson made a 51 yard field goal. Cleveland extended the lead on a Brown 37 yard field goal. Dallas got on the board in the third quarter as Dan Bailey kicked a 44 yard field goal. The Cowboys got some back in the fourth quarter with a 2 yard touchdown run by Felix Jones, and Bailey kicked in the extra point. Dallas took the lead with Tony Romo finding Dez Bryant for 28 yards and a touchdown, and Bailey made another PAT. The Browns retook the lead as Weeden hooked up with Watson for another touchdown, this time a 17 yard connection, and Dawson was true on the extra point. The Cowboys tied it with a 32 yard Bailey field goal. Dallas won 23-20 in overtime as Bailey made a 38 yard field goal. Dallas is now 5-5 and the Browns are 2-8.
To the east, the Carolina Panthers welcome the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Tampa Bay opened with a 3 yard touchdown pass by Josh Freeman to Nate Byham, and Connor Barth knocked in the extra point. The Buccaneers added on as Barth made a 51 yard field goal. Carolina got on the board as Captain Munnerlyn intercepted Freeman and returned the ball 74 yards for a touchdown, and Justin Medlock made the extra point. The Panthers took the lead as Jonathan Stewart ran 1 yard for a touchdown, and Medlock handled the extra point. Carolina extended the lead in the fourth quarter on a Cam Newton touchdown pass of 29 yards to Brandon LaFell, and Medlock supplied the PAT. Tampa Bay chipped back on a 40 yard field goal by Barth. The Buccaneers got closer as Freeman passed 24 yards to Vincent Jackson for a touchdown, and then found him again to tie the game with a two-point conversion. Tampa Bay took a 27-21 victory as Freeman passed 15 yards to Dallas Clark for a touchdown in overtime, and they improved to 6-4 while the Panthers dropped to 2-8.
Down in Atlanta, the Falcons host the Arizona Cardinals. Arizona quickly got going in the first quarter as LaRod Stephens-Howling ran 3 yards for a touchdown, and Jay Feely made the extra point. The Cardinals added on as Feely made a 48 yard field goal. Arizona struck again on a 28 yard Feely field goal. Atlanta got on the board in the second quarter as Matt Bryant made a 51 yard field goal. The Falcons chipped away as Jonathan Babineaux recovered a Ryan Lindley fumble and took it in 15 yards for a touchdown, allowing Bryant to make the PAT. Atlanta tied it on a Bryant field goal of 28 yards. The Cardinals reclaimed the lead on a Feely field goal of 38 yards. The Falcons shot back as Bryant made a 48 yard field goal. Arizona retook the lead in the fourth quarter when Feely booted a 27 yard field goal. Atlanta gained the lead on a 1 yard touchdown run by Michael Turner, and Bryant easily made the extra point. This held up for a 23-19 win, with Atlanta now at 9-1 and Arizona at 4-6.
Well to the north, the Detroit Lions host the Green Bay Packers. Detroit led off with a first quarter Jason Hanson field goal from 30 yards away. Green Bay took the lead in the second quarter as Aaron Rodgers found Jermichael Finley for 20 yards and a touchdown, and Mason Crosby kicked the PAT. The Lions took the lead back when Mikel Leshoure ran 1 yard for a touchdown, and Hanson handled the extra point. The Packers jumped ahead in the third quarter as M.D. Jennings picked off Matthew Stafford and returned the ball 72 yards for a touchdown, with Crosby kicking the extra point. Detroit shot back as Stafford threw a touchdown to Calvin Johnson, good for 25 yards, and Hanson made the extra point. The Lions extended the lead as Hanson supplied a 27 yard field goal. Green Bay edged ahead as Rodgers passed 22 yards for a touchdown to Randall Cobb, and Crosby tacked on the extra point to take the lead. The Packers padded the lead as Crosby made a 39 yard field goal. This made it 24-20, a final, with the Packers now at 7-3 and the Lions at 4-6.
Finally, we end this wave in DC, as the Washington Redskins host the Philadelphia Eagles. Washington began with a first quarter Robert Griffin III touchdown pass of 6 yards to Darrel Young, and Kai Forbath handled the extra point. Philadelphia got some back as Alex Henery kicked a 41 yard field goal in the second quarter. The Redskins extended the lead when Griffin passed 49 yards to Aldrick Robinson for a touchdown, and Forbath made another extra point. Washington got some more as Forbath made a 25 yard field goal. Henery pulled the Eagles closer in the third quarter on a 42 yard field goal. The Redskins replied with a 61 yard touchdown pass from Griffin to Santana Moss, and Forbath iced the play with the PAT. Washington padded the lead in the fourth quarter as Griffin passed 17 yards to Logan Paulsen for a touchdown, and Forbath made another extra point. This ended the scoring at 31-6, with the Redskins now at 4-6 and the Eagles at 3-7.
Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.
How They Got Here: The Story of the 2012 San Francisco Giants Part 21
How They Got Here: The San Francisco Giants is a
one-by-one look at how each member of the 2012 World Series Champion San
Francisco Giants found their way to the squad. We'll look at all of the
players on the roster, as well as notable players who did not make the
postseason roster for whatever reason and the coaching staff and general
manager. Part twenty-one talks about reliever Jeremy Affeldt.
Jeremy Affeldt was born on June 6, 1979, in Phoenix, Arizona. In his childhood, he moved to Colbert, Washington, where he attended Northwest Christian High School. He graduated in 1997, and was a third round draft pick of the Kansas City Royals in the same year. He was assigned to the Gulf Coast League to play with the Rookie-level Royals, working mostly as a starter. He had a modest 4.50 earned run average with thirty-six strikeouts in forty innings pitched. Affeldt spent most of the 1998 season in the Gulf Coast League as well, posting a 2.89 earned run average as well as sixty-seven strikeouts in fifteen innings. This prompted a promotion to the Class A Lansing Lugnuts of Lansing, Michigan in the Midwest League, which was disastrous for Affeldt. The Royals changed Class A affiliates in 1999, and Affeldt played with the Charleston AlleyCats of Charleston, West Virginia, in the South Atlantic League. His numbers were significantly better this time, and he posted a 3.83 earned run average with 111 strikeouts spanning 143 and 1/3 innings pitched. Affeldt was again promoted in 2000, pitching for the Wilmington Blue Rocks of Wilmington, Delaware in the Class A Advanced Carolina League. He pitched a 4.09 earned run average and ninety-strikeouts in 147 and 1/3 innings. Affeldt worked all of 2001 and three starts in the middle of 2002 with the Class AA Wichita Wranglers in Wichita, Kansas of the Texas League. His total numbers in Class AA baseball were twenty-eight starts over 151 and 1/3 innings, with a 3.81 earned run average and 131 strikeouts. His major league debut was on April 6, 2002, working out of the bullpen, which he did for most of his time with the big league Royals. He ended the year with a major league earned run average of 4.64, while striking out sixty-seven in seventy-seven and two-thirds innings. Affeldt made no minor league appearances in 2003, staying with Kansas City for the entire year. He made eighteen starts and eighteen relief appearances, pitching to a 3.93 earned run average with ninety-eight strikeouts in 126 innings. He also had his first major league hit on June 6th, and his time in the bullpen was intended to fix blister problems he had all season. The Royals stated that if the problems persisted, he would permanently work as a reliever. In 2004, he was originally the Royals number three starter, but his ineffectiveness coupled with a thinning of the bullpen pushed him back to a reliever role for the rest of the season, and he was named the closer on May 21st. He suffered a rib injury nearly a month later, having turned eight of ten save opportunities (he added five more after returning from the disabled list). He made his rehabilitation appearances with the Class AAA Omaha Royals of the Pacific Coast League, where he showed he was up to speed. His final numbers of the year were a 4.95 earned run average, forty-nine strikeouts, and seventy-six and one-third innings pitched. Affeldt was confirmed as the closer for 2005, but due to the Royals' lack of winning, he did not have a save chance until April 15th, which he did not convert because he injured a groin that caused him to sit out for about six weeks. He did not regain his closing job, and re-aggravated the groin injury on June 20th, causing another disabled list stint. He made his rehabilitation appearances again with Omaha, but struggled in the nine games he appeared. From July 7th on, he stayed with Kansas City, but his final numbers were not great. He ended the year with a 5.26 earned run average and thirty-nine strikeouts in forty-nine and two-thirds innings. The Royals returned Affeldt to the rotation in 2006, but he again struggled, and his last major league start came on May 27th. He worked out of the bullpen after that, posting a 5.91 earned run average and twenty-eight strikeouts in seventy innings before being traded on July 31, 2006 with Denny Bautista to the Colorado Rockies in exchange for Scott Dohmann and Ryan Shealy. In Colorado, he was even worse, pitching to a 6.91 earned run average and twenty strikeouts in twenty-seven and one-third innings of bullpen work. The Rockies used Affeldt in the bullpen for all of 2007, working primarily in a lefty-specialist role, where he posted a 3.51 earned run average, forty-six strikeouts, and fifty-nine innings, while earning a postseason roster spot. He appeared in just three games between the National League Division and Championship Series, with a decent amount of success, before trying to stop the bleeding against the Boston Red Sox in the World Series. While Affeldt was used in every game and did not give up a run in the World Series, the Red Sox were still able to prevent Affeldt and the Rockies from earning the championship, finishing them off in a four game sweep. Interestingly enough, Affeldt crossed paths with a future teammate during this World Series, as Javier Lopez was pitching with the winning Red Sox. Affeldt parted ways with the Rockies at the end of the season, signing a free agent deal with the Cincinnati Reds for the 2008 season. He had continued success in the bullpen for the Reds, pitching to a 3.33 earned run average with eighty strikeouts in seventy-eight and one-third innings. He did not resign with Cincinnati, opting instead to sign with the San Francisco Giants on November 17th. In 2009, Affeldt worked out of the bullpen in a set up role to closer Brian Wilson, and he had his best season to date. He had a 1.73 earned run average and fifty-five strikeouts in sixty-two and one-third innings pitched, and was named Set Up Man of the Year. Unfortunately for Affeldt, 2010 was not as good personally, and the low point came on July 24th as he went on the disabled list for the first time in five years. A month later, he returned to finish the season with a 4.14 earned run average and forty-four strikeouts in fifty innings, as well as a postseason roster spot. In the playoffs, Affeldt made five appearances spanning four innings. He had a 4.50 earned run average with four strikeouts, allowing a run to the Philadelphia Phillies in the National League Championship Series and another run to the Texas Rangers in the World Series. His iconic moment from the postseason was his appearance in the third inning, spelling an injured Jonathan Sanchez with two innings of perfect baseball to help the Giants clinch their World Series bid, which they eventually won over the Rangers, giving Affeldt his first championship. Affeldt remained an important member of the Giants bullpen in 2011, where he continued to work in a set-up role at times and he posted a 2.63 earned run average with fifty-four strikeouts in sixty-one and two-thirds innings pitched. However, 2011 had an abrupt end for Affeldt, as he made headlines for all the wrong reasons. He suffered a serious hand injury on September 8th, while infamously trying to separate frozen hamburger patties, and the injury required surgery to address nerve damage. Affeldt was back in tip-top shape for the Giants in 2012, again working in relief, and even garnering time in the post-Wilson closer committee. He ended the regular season with a 2.70 earned run average and fifty-seven strikeouts over sixty-three and one-third innings, easily earning his postseason roster spot. He maintained a strong role in ten postseason appearances, not allowing a single run of any kind in the playoffs, and only eight baserunners made it on Affeldt's watch. While not garnering big headlines in the playoffs, the most critical appearance came in Game 4 against the Detroit Tigers in the World Series, where Affeldt struck out Triple Crown winner Miguel Cabrera, nine-figure earner Prince Fielder, and postseason hero Delmon Young in the eighth inning. This allowed the Giants to keep the game tied, and eventually win it in the tenth inning to put Affeldt on the winning side of a World Series sweep, and he was given his second championship in three years.
Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.
Jeremy Affeldt was born on June 6, 1979, in Phoenix, Arizona. In his childhood, he moved to Colbert, Washington, where he attended Northwest Christian High School. He graduated in 1997, and was a third round draft pick of the Kansas City Royals in the same year. He was assigned to the Gulf Coast League to play with the Rookie-level Royals, working mostly as a starter. He had a modest 4.50 earned run average with thirty-six strikeouts in forty innings pitched. Affeldt spent most of the 1998 season in the Gulf Coast League as well, posting a 2.89 earned run average as well as sixty-seven strikeouts in fifteen innings. This prompted a promotion to the Class A Lansing Lugnuts of Lansing, Michigan in the Midwest League, which was disastrous for Affeldt. The Royals changed Class A affiliates in 1999, and Affeldt played with the Charleston AlleyCats of Charleston, West Virginia, in the South Atlantic League. His numbers were significantly better this time, and he posted a 3.83 earned run average with 111 strikeouts spanning 143 and 1/3 innings pitched. Affeldt was again promoted in 2000, pitching for the Wilmington Blue Rocks of Wilmington, Delaware in the Class A Advanced Carolina League. He pitched a 4.09 earned run average and ninety-strikeouts in 147 and 1/3 innings. Affeldt worked all of 2001 and three starts in the middle of 2002 with the Class AA Wichita Wranglers in Wichita, Kansas of the Texas League. His total numbers in Class AA baseball were twenty-eight starts over 151 and 1/3 innings, with a 3.81 earned run average and 131 strikeouts. His major league debut was on April 6, 2002, working out of the bullpen, which he did for most of his time with the big league Royals. He ended the year with a major league earned run average of 4.64, while striking out sixty-seven in seventy-seven and two-thirds innings. Affeldt made no minor league appearances in 2003, staying with Kansas City for the entire year. He made eighteen starts and eighteen relief appearances, pitching to a 3.93 earned run average with ninety-eight strikeouts in 126 innings. He also had his first major league hit on June 6th, and his time in the bullpen was intended to fix blister problems he had all season. The Royals stated that if the problems persisted, he would permanently work as a reliever. In 2004, he was originally the Royals number three starter, but his ineffectiveness coupled with a thinning of the bullpen pushed him back to a reliever role for the rest of the season, and he was named the closer on May 21st. He suffered a rib injury nearly a month later, having turned eight of ten save opportunities (he added five more after returning from the disabled list). He made his rehabilitation appearances with the Class AAA Omaha Royals of the Pacific Coast League, where he showed he was up to speed. His final numbers of the year were a 4.95 earned run average, forty-nine strikeouts, and seventy-six and one-third innings pitched. Affeldt was confirmed as the closer for 2005, but due to the Royals' lack of winning, he did not have a save chance until April 15th, which he did not convert because he injured a groin that caused him to sit out for about six weeks. He did not regain his closing job, and re-aggravated the groin injury on June 20th, causing another disabled list stint. He made his rehabilitation appearances again with Omaha, but struggled in the nine games he appeared. From July 7th on, he stayed with Kansas City, but his final numbers were not great. He ended the year with a 5.26 earned run average and thirty-nine strikeouts in forty-nine and two-thirds innings. The Royals returned Affeldt to the rotation in 2006, but he again struggled, and his last major league start came on May 27th. He worked out of the bullpen after that, posting a 5.91 earned run average and twenty-eight strikeouts in seventy innings before being traded on July 31, 2006 with Denny Bautista to the Colorado Rockies in exchange for Scott Dohmann and Ryan Shealy. In Colorado, he was even worse, pitching to a 6.91 earned run average and twenty strikeouts in twenty-seven and one-third innings of bullpen work. The Rockies used Affeldt in the bullpen for all of 2007, working primarily in a lefty-specialist role, where he posted a 3.51 earned run average, forty-six strikeouts, and fifty-nine innings, while earning a postseason roster spot. He appeared in just three games between the National League Division and Championship Series, with a decent amount of success, before trying to stop the bleeding against the Boston Red Sox in the World Series. While Affeldt was used in every game and did not give up a run in the World Series, the Red Sox were still able to prevent Affeldt and the Rockies from earning the championship, finishing them off in a four game sweep. Interestingly enough, Affeldt crossed paths with a future teammate during this World Series, as Javier Lopez was pitching with the winning Red Sox. Affeldt parted ways with the Rockies at the end of the season, signing a free agent deal with the Cincinnati Reds for the 2008 season. He had continued success in the bullpen for the Reds, pitching to a 3.33 earned run average with eighty strikeouts in seventy-eight and one-third innings. He did not resign with Cincinnati, opting instead to sign with the San Francisco Giants on November 17th. In 2009, Affeldt worked out of the bullpen in a set up role to closer Brian Wilson, and he had his best season to date. He had a 1.73 earned run average and fifty-five strikeouts in sixty-two and one-third innings pitched, and was named Set Up Man of the Year. Unfortunately for Affeldt, 2010 was not as good personally, and the low point came on July 24th as he went on the disabled list for the first time in five years. A month later, he returned to finish the season with a 4.14 earned run average and forty-four strikeouts in fifty innings, as well as a postseason roster spot. In the playoffs, Affeldt made five appearances spanning four innings. He had a 4.50 earned run average with four strikeouts, allowing a run to the Philadelphia Phillies in the National League Championship Series and another run to the Texas Rangers in the World Series. His iconic moment from the postseason was his appearance in the third inning, spelling an injured Jonathan Sanchez with two innings of perfect baseball to help the Giants clinch their World Series bid, which they eventually won over the Rangers, giving Affeldt his first championship. Affeldt remained an important member of the Giants bullpen in 2011, where he continued to work in a set-up role at times and he posted a 2.63 earned run average with fifty-four strikeouts in sixty-one and two-thirds innings pitched. However, 2011 had an abrupt end for Affeldt, as he made headlines for all the wrong reasons. He suffered a serious hand injury on September 8th, while infamously trying to separate frozen hamburger patties, and the injury required surgery to address nerve damage. Affeldt was back in tip-top shape for the Giants in 2012, again working in relief, and even garnering time in the post-Wilson closer committee. He ended the regular season with a 2.70 earned run average and fifty-seven strikeouts over sixty-three and one-third innings, easily earning his postseason roster spot. He maintained a strong role in ten postseason appearances, not allowing a single run of any kind in the playoffs, and only eight baserunners made it on Affeldt's watch. While not garnering big headlines in the playoffs, the most critical appearance came in Game 4 against the Detroit Tigers in the World Series, where Affeldt struck out Triple Crown winner Miguel Cabrera, nine-figure earner Prince Fielder, and postseason hero Delmon Young in the eighth inning. This allowed the Giants to keep the game tied, and eventually win it in the tenth inning to put Affeldt on the winning side of a World Series sweep, and he was given his second championship in three years.
Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.
KHL November 18th 2012
Ten games for this Sunday, which I'm rushing (no pun) to get out. I'm out at what is likely the last Sounders game of the season, which will delay my late games post by a day. How They Got Here will be out around 1 PM Pacific. That's how it is, now let the games begin with...
Avangard Omsk hosting Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg. Christopher Holt for Avtomobilist and Eduard Reizvikh for Avangard are playing in goal. Omsk struck first as Dmitry Syomin scored a power play goal, helped along by Tomas Zaborsky. Avangard extended the lead late in the second period as Andrei Ivanov scored, with assists from Anton Kuryanov and Anton Belov. Omsk padded the lead in the third period as Alexander Frolov potted the puck with a lone assist provided by Sergei Kostitsyn. This made the final score 3-0, and the three stars are Reizvikh (31 save shutout), Syomin, and Frolov.
To the north, Yugra Khanty-Mansiysk welcomes Traktor Chelyabinsk. Michael Garnett for Traktor and Mikhail Biryukov for Yugra are the masked men. Khanty-Mansiysk opened with a second period goal by Stanislav Bocharov, assisted by Artyom Bulyansky. This prompted Traktor to change goalies, putting in Andrei Mezin for Holt. Chelyabinsk tied the game late in the third period on a Evgeny Katichev goal, fueled by Dmitry Ryabykin and Yegor Dugin. Yugra took the game 2-1 in overtime as Marek Troncinsky put away the decisive goal, with a lone assist coming from Igor Magogin. The three stars go to Biryukov (34 for 35 in saves), Troncinsky, and Bocharov.
Back south a bit, with Barys Astana hosting Metallurg Magnitogorsk. Ari Ahonen for Metallurg and Teemu Lassila for Barys are in blue paint. Magnitogorsk was first to score in the first period on a Georgy Misharin goal, going in unassisted. Astana evened the score with a Roman Starchenko goal, fueled by Vitaly Novopashin and Victor Hedman. Barys took the lead on a Mikhail Rakhanov goal, with a lone assist by Dustin Boyd. Metallurg retied the game with an unassisted and shorthanded Evgeny Malkin goal. Astana retook the lead with a second period goal off the tape of Nigel Dawes, passed from Brandon Bochenski. Magnitogirsk tied it again with a Sergei Mozyakin goal, guided in by Misharin. Metallurg took the lead on a Viktor Antipin power play goal, powered by Mozyakin and Malkin. Magnitogorsk added on with another unassisted Malkin goal. There was no scoring in the third period, leaving the final at 5-3 in Metallurg's favor. The three stars belong to Malkin, Mozyakin, and Misharin.
Well to the west, Spartak Moscow hosts Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk. Matt Dalton for Neftekhimik and Sergei Borisov for Spartak are given the starting nods. The scoring began in the third period as Nizhnekamsk's Pyotr Khokhryakov scored, thanks to Stanislav Alshevsky. Moscow tied it with a Eduard Lewandowski goal, set up by Branko Radivojevic and Mikhail Yunkov. Spartak took the lead as Lewandowski scored again, and the lone assist came from Radivojevic. This held up for a 2-1 win, and the three stars went to Lewandowski, Borisov (32 for 33 in saves), and Radivojevic.
Staying in the oblast, we head north to Mytishchi, as Atlant Moscow Oblast hosts Lev Praha. Tomas Popperle for Lev and Stanislav Galimov for Atlant have the green light to start. Alexander Rybakov got things going for Mytishchi in the first period, with a goal helped along by Roman Rukavishnikov. Atlant extended the lead in the second period as Alexei Mikhnov scored an unassisted goal. Praha got one back in the third period with a Petr Vrana goal, set up by Tomas Rachunek. They didn't get the equalizer, falling 2-1 to Atlant, with the three stars going to Galimov (33 for 34 in saves), Mikhnov, and Rybakov.
A touch north to Cherepovets, as Severstal hosts SKA St. Petersburg. Sergei Bobrovsky for SKA and Vasily Koshechkin for Severstal tend the twines. Cherepovets led off with a first period unassisted power play goal by Evgeny Ketov. St. Petersburg tied it as Igor Makarov scored, thanks to Anton Burdasov. Severstal retook the lead in the second period on a Ruslan Nurtdinov goal, made possible by Nikolai Kazakovtsev and Alexander Fedoseyev. SKA tied it with a shorthanded Tony Martensson goal, courtesy of Patrick Thoresen. Cherepovets regained the lead again on a Fedoseyev goal, passed from Nikita Alexeyev. St. Petersburg tied it again in the third period as Evgeny Artyukhin scored an unassisted goal. The game required a shootout to determine the win, and Severstal came out on top 4-3 after Alexei Medvedev scored the only goal in the fifth round of the shootout. The three stars go to Fedoseyev, Medvedev, and Artyukhin.
Across the lake, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl hosts CSKA Moscow. Rastislav Stana for CSKA and Semyon Varlamov for Lokomotiv play between the pipes. Moscow started in the first period as Yakov Rylov scored an unassisted goal. CSKA extended the lead with a Mikhail Grabovsky goal, fueled by Pavel Datsyuk and Alexander Radulov. Yaroslavl got on the board in the second period as Sergei Plotnikov scored, with a lone assist by Emil Galimov. Lokomotiv tied it when Yury Petrov scored, thanks to Vitaly Vishnevsky and Alexander Chernikov. Yaroslavl took the lead as Artyom Anisimov potted the puck, and the assist was credited to Galimov. This prompted CSKA to pull Stana in favor of Ilya Bryzgalov. The scoring ended here though, with Lokomotiv pulling out a 3-2 win, with the three stars going to Anisimov, Galimov, and Varlamov (31 for 33 in saves).
To the east, as Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod hosts Slovan Bratislava. Jaroslav Janus of Slovan and Vitaly Koval of Torpedo are wearing the pads. Bratislava opened in the first period on a Roman Kukumberg goal, with a lone assist by Vladimir Dravecky. Nizhny Novgorod tied it as Mikhail Varnakov cashed in on a penalty shot after being held by Jan Tabacek on a breakaway. Torpedo took the lead as Martin Thornberg scored, assisted by Mikko Kousa and Matt Ellison. Slovan retied the game in the third period as Michel Miklik scored, with the help of Kukumberg and Lubomir Visnovsky. The game needed a shootout to determine the winner, which was Nizhny Novogord after a fourth round shootout goal from Dmitry Makarov. The three stars go to Kukumberg, Makarov, and Thornberg.
Southwest to Minsk, as Dinamo Minsk hosts Dynamo Moscow. Alexei Volkov for Dynamo and Pekka Rinne for Dinamo guard the cages. Moscow struck first in the second period as Denis Tolpeko scored, thanks to Ilya Gorokhov and Nicklas Backstrom on the power play. Dynamo added on with another Tolpeko goal, with a lone assist from Backstrom. Minsk got on the board as Tim Stapleton scored, with the help of Geoff Platt and Teemu Laine. Dinamo tied the game with eleven seconds left on a penalty shot, as the net was deliberately knocked off by Maxim Solovyov, and Stapleton converted the shot as an equalizer. Moscow won 3-2 in overtime as Alexander Ovechkin scored, powered by Janne Jalasvaara and Tolpeko on the power play. The three stars belong to Tolpeko, Stapleton, and Backstrom, while Ovechkin gets an honorable mention.
Finally, we end the day to the southeast in Donetsk, as Donbass hosts Ak Bars Kazan. Konstantin Barulin for Ak Bars and Jan Laco for Donbass are in the creases. Donetsk began with a Sergei Peretyagin goal, fueled by Alexei Ponikarovsky and Sergei Varlamov. Donbass extended the lead in the second period on a Denis Kochetkov unassisted goal. Kazan got on the board with Konstantin Korneyev's goal, made possible by Alexei Morozov and Ilya Nikulin. Ak Bars tied it in the third period with a power play goal from Danis Zaripov, powered by Morozov. The game went to overtime, where Donetsk won 3-2 on an Evgeny Dadonov goal, courtesy of Vaclav Nedorost. The three stars go to Morozov, Dadonov, and Kochetkov.
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Avangard Omsk hosting Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg. Christopher Holt for Avtomobilist and Eduard Reizvikh for Avangard are playing in goal. Omsk struck first as Dmitry Syomin scored a power play goal, helped along by Tomas Zaborsky. Avangard extended the lead late in the second period as Andrei Ivanov scored, with assists from Anton Kuryanov and Anton Belov. Omsk padded the lead in the third period as Alexander Frolov potted the puck with a lone assist provided by Sergei Kostitsyn. This made the final score 3-0, and the three stars are Reizvikh (31 save shutout), Syomin, and Frolov.
To the north, Yugra Khanty-Mansiysk welcomes Traktor Chelyabinsk. Michael Garnett for Traktor and Mikhail Biryukov for Yugra are the masked men. Khanty-Mansiysk opened with a second period goal by Stanislav Bocharov, assisted by Artyom Bulyansky. This prompted Traktor to change goalies, putting in Andrei Mezin for Holt. Chelyabinsk tied the game late in the third period on a Evgeny Katichev goal, fueled by Dmitry Ryabykin and Yegor Dugin. Yugra took the game 2-1 in overtime as Marek Troncinsky put away the decisive goal, with a lone assist coming from Igor Magogin. The three stars go to Biryukov (34 for 35 in saves), Troncinsky, and Bocharov.
Back south a bit, with Barys Astana hosting Metallurg Magnitogorsk. Ari Ahonen for Metallurg and Teemu Lassila for Barys are in blue paint. Magnitogorsk was first to score in the first period on a Georgy Misharin goal, going in unassisted. Astana evened the score with a Roman Starchenko goal, fueled by Vitaly Novopashin and Victor Hedman. Barys took the lead on a Mikhail Rakhanov goal, with a lone assist by Dustin Boyd. Metallurg retied the game with an unassisted and shorthanded Evgeny Malkin goal. Astana retook the lead with a second period goal off the tape of Nigel Dawes, passed from Brandon Bochenski. Magnitogirsk tied it again with a Sergei Mozyakin goal, guided in by Misharin. Metallurg took the lead on a Viktor Antipin power play goal, powered by Mozyakin and Malkin. Magnitogorsk added on with another unassisted Malkin goal. There was no scoring in the third period, leaving the final at 5-3 in Metallurg's favor. The three stars belong to Malkin, Mozyakin, and Misharin.
Well to the west, Spartak Moscow hosts Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk. Matt Dalton for Neftekhimik and Sergei Borisov for Spartak are given the starting nods. The scoring began in the third period as Nizhnekamsk's Pyotr Khokhryakov scored, thanks to Stanislav Alshevsky. Moscow tied it with a Eduard Lewandowski goal, set up by Branko Radivojevic and Mikhail Yunkov. Spartak took the lead as Lewandowski scored again, and the lone assist came from Radivojevic. This held up for a 2-1 win, and the three stars went to Lewandowski, Borisov (32 for 33 in saves), and Radivojevic.
Staying in the oblast, we head north to Mytishchi, as Atlant Moscow Oblast hosts Lev Praha. Tomas Popperle for Lev and Stanislav Galimov for Atlant have the green light to start. Alexander Rybakov got things going for Mytishchi in the first period, with a goal helped along by Roman Rukavishnikov. Atlant extended the lead in the second period as Alexei Mikhnov scored an unassisted goal. Praha got one back in the third period with a Petr Vrana goal, set up by Tomas Rachunek. They didn't get the equalizer, falling 2-1 to Atlant, with the three stars going to Galimov (33 for 34 in saves), Mikhnov, and Rybakov.
A touch north to Cherepovets, as Severstal hosts SKA St. Petersburg. Sergei Bobrovsky for SKA and Vasily Koshechkin for Severstal tend the twines. Cherepovets led off with a first period unassisted power play goal by Evgeny Ketov. St. Petersburg tied it as Igor Makarov scored, thanks to Anton Burdasov. Severstal retook the lead in the second period on a Ruslan Nurtdinov goal, made possible by Nikolai Kazakovtsev and Alexander Fedoseyev. SKA tied it with a shorthanded Tony Martensson goal, courtesy of Patrick Thoresen. Cherepovets regained the lead again on a Fedoseyev goal, passed from Nikita Alexeyev. St. Petersburg tied it again in the third period as Evgeny Artyukhin scored an unassisted goal. The game required a shootout to determine the win, and Severstal came out on top 4-3 after Alexei Medvedev scored the only goal in the fifth round of the shootout. The three stars go to Fedoseyev, Medvedev, and Artyukhin.
Across the lake, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl hosts CSKA Moscow. Rastislav Stana for CSKA and Semyon Varlamov for Lokomotiv play between the pipes. Moscow started in the first period as Yakov Rylov scored an unassisted goal. CSKA extended the lead with a Mikhail Grabovsky goal, fueled by Pavel Datsyuk and Alexander Radulov. Yaroslavl got on the board in the second period as Sergei Plotnikov scored, with a lone assist by Emil Galimov. Lokomotiv tied it when Yury Petrov scored, thanks to Vitaly Vishnevsky and Alexander Chernikov. Yaroslavl took the lead as Artyom Anisimov potted the puck, and the assist was credited to Galimov. This prompted CSKA to pull Stana in favor of Ilya Bryzgalov. The scoring ended here though, with Lokomotiv pulling out a 3-2 win, with the three stars going to Anisimov, Galimov, and Varlamov (31 for 33 in saves).
To the east, as Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod hosts Slovan Bratislava. Jaroslav Janus of Slovan and Vitaly Koval of Torpedo are wearing the pads. Bratislava opened in the first period on a Roman Kukumberg goal, with a lone assist by Vladimir Dravecky. Nizhny Novgorod tied it as Mikhail Varnakov cashed in on a penalty shot after being held by Jan Tabacek on a breakaway. Torpedo took the lead as Martin Thornberg scored, assisted by Mikko Kousa and Matt Ellison. Slovan retied the game in the third period as Michel Miklik scored, with the help of Kukumberg and Lubomir Visnovsky. The game needed a shootout to determine the winner, which was Nizhny Novogord after a fourth round shootout goal from Dmitry Makarov. The three stars go to Kukumberg, Makarov, and Thornberg.
Southwest to Minsk, as Dinamo Minsk hosts Dynamo Moscow. Alexei Volkov for Dynamo and Pekka Rinne for Dinamo guard the cages. Moscow struck first in the second period as Denis Tolpeko scored, thanks to Ilya Gorokhov and Nicklas Backstrom on the power play. Dynamo added on with another Tolpeko goal, with a lone assist from Backstrom. Minsk got on the board as Tim Stapleton scored, with the help of Geoff Platt and Teemu Laine. Dinamo tied the game with eleven seconds left on a penalty shot, as the net was deliberately knocked off by Maxim Solovyov, and Stapleton converted the shot as an equalizer. Moscow won 3-2 in overtime as Alexander Ovechkin scored, powered by Janne Jalasvaara and Tolpeko on the power play. The three stars belong to Tolpeko, Stapleton, and Backstrom, while Ovechkin gets an honorable mention.
Finally, we end the day to the southeast in Donetsk, as Donbass hosts Ak Bars Kazan. Konstantin Barulin for Ak Bars and Jan Laco for Donbass are in the creases. Donetsk began with a Sergei Peretyagin goal, fueled by Alexei Ponikarovsky and Sergei Varlamov. Donbass extended the lead in the second period on a Denis Kochetkov unassisted goal. Kazan got on the board with Konstantin Korneyev's goal, made possible by Alexei Morozov and Ilya Nikulin. Ak Bars tied it in the third period with a power play goal from Danis Zaripov, powered by Morozov. The game went to overtime, where Donetsk won 3-2 on an Evgeny Dadonov goal, courtesy of Vaclav Nedorost. The three stars go to Morozov, Dadonov, and Kochetkov.
Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.
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