Who Owns October? (WOO) Tally Updated for October 7, 2013

Photo: Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times

Each winning team for every post season game gets a pitcher and a hitter who earn a full WOO.
And at my discretion, I award a 1/2 WOO to a worthy player on the losing team.

For a full explanation, click HERE.

From today’s games:

Receiving 1 WOO

Alex Cobb was not on top of his game but he kept the Red Sox from breaking open the game in his 5 innings of work and helped set up Tampa’s 5-4 come from behind win.

Matt Holliday provided all the offense the Cardinals with need with his 2 run homer that sparked St. Louis’ 2-1 win over the Pirates.

Clayton Kershaw pitched on short rest and threw 6 innings with 2 unearned runs, 6 strikeouts and 1 walk. He would not get the decision but the Dodgers would prevail, 5-4.

Evan Longoria saved the series with one swing of his bat by launching a 2 out 3 run homer in the 5th that woke the Rays up. Tampa would go on to win 5-4.

Dan Otero worked out of trouble in two scoreless innings from the bullpen and prevented the Tigers from staging a comeback as the A’s won 6-3.

Seth Smith got two hits including a 2 run homer that gave the A’s insurance in their 6-3 win in Detroit.

Juan Uribe launched a 2 run 8th inning go ahead come from behind homer that gave the Dodgers the clinching lead over the Braves that they would not relinquish, 5-4.

Michael Wacha threw a no hitter into the 8th inning and kept the Cardinals alive, defeating the Pirates in Pittsburgh, letting up just 1 run and 1 hit for a final of 2-1.

Receiving 1/2 WOO:

Jose Alvarez stopped the bleeding in Detroit with 3 innings of no hit shutout ball out of the bullpen. It would not be enough as the Tigers could not score or mount a comeback, losing 6-3.

Pedro Alvarez broke up the no hitter with a towering home run that brought the Pirates to within one run. It would be practically all of the Pirates offense in their 2-1 loss.

Jacoby Ellsbury got three hits, two of them doubles, and a stolen base and scored 2 of the Red Sox 4 runs in their 5-4 loss to the Rays.

Freddy Garcia stunned the Dodger Stadium crowd with a wonderful 6 inning performance where his lone blemishes came on a pair of solo homers. He struck out 6 and let up only 2 runs and would have received the win if the bullpen did not melt down in the 8th.

Charlie Morton let only 2 Cardinals score and allowed only 3 hits while pitching into the 6th in the Pirates 2-1 loss.

Jhonny Peralta drove in 1/3 of the Tigers entire run total for the series with his game tying 2 run single in the 4th. The Tigers would lose 6-3.

To view the Playoff Leaders for ‘Who Owned October Standings’ – Click the READ THE REST OF THIS ENTRY ICON OR SCROLL DOWN.

Now THIS feels like Red Sox vs. Yankees!

When the Sox and the Yankees first met this year, the Red Sox were 0-6 and just wanted a freaking win!

When the Red Sox swept the Yankees in mid May, it got them to .500.

Yeah, the Sox winning 5 of 6 from the Yankees was cool… but how cool was it REALLY when the team stunk?

Things are different now.

The Yankees are the best team in the American League (thanks to Cleveland’s recent slump)…

The Red Sox are one game out of first place (two in the loss column.)

And we are in the second third of the season, so the whole “It’s early” excuse is gone.

A win in the Series and the Sox will have a tie for first place and be only a few wins away from winning the season series.

A loss in the Series and the Yankees will show that their pieced together (and genetically spliced) pitching staff might actually hold together.

Garcia is the reclamation project for the Yankees and he is pitching like it is 2005!
Lester is the ace for the Red Sox who has been up and down.

They both clobbered a bunch of opponents recently.
It feels like a REAL Sox vs. Yankees series tonight.

Sorry rest of baseball… it’s just a cool rivalry.

As always, Red Sox and Yankee fans should get along.

Leave the ass kicking to the players on the field.

PLAY BALL!

Maybe the Yankees obsessing over 2005 wasn’t so dumb

This off season I made fun of the Yankees and their obsession with players who were last good in 2005.

But with the way that Bartolo Colon and Freddy Garcia has pitched, maybe they were on to something.

If Andruw Jones becomes an elite slugger again, then I will declare Brian Cashman a genius.