Bert Blyleven Talks About Playoff Pressure By Bragging About His Accomplishments...And I Make Fun of Myself

I am all Brett Favre'd out at this point. He played great last night, congratulations to him. To the victor goes the spoils of Peter King writing non-stop about you...and then criticizing Fox for talking non-stop about Favre. Nothing like a little bit of Peter King contradicting himself to start the day.

One more thing before I get to the post for today. I have no idea how to handle this Twitter fad/phenomenon. It just seems like a lot of fun, assuming I could keep my thoughts to less than 140 characters which is a stretch for me, but I have no idea how I want to handle it. I see myself as having three options:

1. I could go on there as my real self (the horror) and update on events in my life. The problem is two fold: (a) I don't like talking about my life because I don't want anyone to know what I am doing and no one really cares what I am doing and (b) I did the whole Facebook/Myspace thing and quit because of reason (a). This probably isn't happening because as much fun as it would be to relate what is going on/said in my personal life NO ONE GIVES A CRAP, least of all me.

2. I could go on as my screen name here, bengoodfella, and not talk about my life. This would achieve the goal I have of making snarky short comments about sports and anything else I want to talk about, but I don't know if I like this idea for some reason.

3. I could also start a BotB Twitter account. This would be a great idea but I would want to put short articles of bad journalism up, but my concerns are three-fold here: (a) I love writing stuff here and I am afraid what I write there would take the place of what I write here (b) I probably don't have time to go find a bunch of links and post them. Pretty much anything I find worthwhile is put up here and (c) the last problem is I am pretty sure you can only have one person writing on Twitter so it would leave any thoughts J.S. or Fred have.

Enough rambling, but I have no idea how to do the Twitter thing to make it work, even I wanted to. I am not soliciting suggestions, just sort of brainstorming here.

It's postseason time for Major League Baseball, which means we will get articles from sportswriters complaining the games start too late (which I find to be correct) and articles about players who choke in the clutch of the playoffs (which I find to be incorrect in general). While we have those kinds of articles to dread/look forward to, we should all be happy knowing Bert Blyleven has some tips for baseball players on how to handle postseason pressure...though he spends an inordinate amount of the article bragging about his own accomplishments. Fortunately he doesn't curse at us or talk about farting during the article so we only have to deal with reading about his ego and not any words or smells that may offend our senses.

Now that the playoffs have arrived, it’s time to look at a question that is as old as the game itself: Why do some players thrive under postseason pressure, while others wilt?

(Raising hand and waving it around wildly) "Oooo, look at me! Let me answer! It's a result of small sample sizes!"

Take Alex Rodriguez for instance. His overall numbers in the playoffs aren’t bad: He has hit .279 with seven home runs and 17 RBIs in 39 games. But his time in New York, where the spotlight always shines the brightest, has not been a success. In his last four playoff series with the Yankees, Rodriguez has hit just .200 with three homers and six RBIs.

I love it when sportswriters cherry pick stats to prove a point. Blyleven puts the cut-off at the 2004 ALCS against the Red Sox for A-Rod and excludes the 2004 ALDS where A-Rod hit .421/.476/.737. Nothing like cutting off the statistics at a certain point to prove a point...even if that certain point is proven using only half of the sample size for a given year. I am sure the Yankees losses for all four playoff series Blyleven is talking about was completely A-Rod's fault. He was the only Yankee who didn't hit well in every single one of those series. I bet that is exactly how it happened.

Most importantly to Yankees fans, he hasn’t won a World Series ring.

Again, completely his fault. If he wasn't such a pussy maybe he could have pitched a few innings in the 2004 ALCS to start the game off and given the Yankees bullpen a rest. But, he is a wimp in that fashion and merely stood at third base doing nothing while the Red Sox routed the Yankees in Game 7.

I am sure the Carl Pavano, Jaret Wright, Kei Igawa and Randy Johnson trades/signings were all his idea as well. First, he can't pitch a complete game in the clutch and now he forces the Yankees to sign shitty pitchers. I think the Yankees win games in spite of A-Rod being around.

I get the impression that Rodriguez puts a tremendous amount of pressure on himself and forgets to actually enjoy the postseason.

Yeah A-Rod, quit thinking so much and learn to enjoy the postseason. You shouldn't take the amount of boos you hear when you make an out seriously, they just don't understand you are trying to have fun. Just tell the crowd you are trying to have fun and I think they will understand. That's the cure to hitting well in the playoffs have fun. What the hell would David Eckstein do? He would have a gritty good ol' time in the playoffs.

Listen, if you can't take postseason batting tips from a pitcher with a career batting line of .131/.144/.146 then you don't need to be playing baseball. Let's just say Bert Blyleven stretches a bit to know what he is talking about here.

Let's see what other tips for postseason success, other than to have fun, Blyleven has for us...

When I played, I had pretty good success in the postseason, going 5-1 with a 2.47 ERA in eight games, six of them starts. I was lucky to get my feet wet with the Twins in 1970 as a 19-year old. My experiences later helped me when in 1979 with the Pittsburgh Pirates and 1987 back with the Twins, I helped my teams win World Series championships.

Gosh, that's great Bert. I am sure your grandchildren will love to hear about this. Now on to those tips you have for pla---

I remember in 1987, the positive attitude was contagious. Everyone wanted to do their part. In the World Series that year against the St. Louis Cardinals, Frank Viola was to start Game 7, with myself in the bullpen ready to come in if needed. I joked with Frank before the game that if I had to come in, I was going to end up stealing the series-clinching win from him. Well in the second inning he gave up a couple runs and I started warming up. Frank settled down and pitched a great game, and he later said that seeing me down there kind of woke him up, and he decided he wasn’t going to let me come into the game.

Wow, not interesting...I am not even sure your grandchildren will want to hear that story. Now how do players deal with playoff pressure?

Competing in the playoffs is a time to cherish. There is pressure, of course, but I always say that pressure is nothing more than what you put on yourself.

Can you do it if you put your mind to it? You can't fear failure or else you will end up failing? If you don't believe in yourself then no one else can believe in you!

Any other cliched quotes for us at this point? I think the one good thing about Blyleven not making the Hall of Fame is it saves us from hearing a speech consisting mostly of cliches.

You think of some of the greats who never played on a championship team and it really hits home how important it is to make the most of every chance.

I am pretty sure every player is trying to make the most of every chance. Now HOW EXACTLY, other than "have fun" would you suggest doing this?

People always ask me what was my favorite moment of my career. Was it the no-hitter, or winning all those games or getting all those strikeouts?

I guess being a self congratulatory bore is something else Bert Blyleven is proud of being...because he certainly isn't apologizing for it right now.

If you were to walk into my family room, you would see a wall covered with baseballs on display.

Along with an self-autographed "I (Heart) To Fart" shirt that says, "Dear Bert, keep on farting brother. Thanks for being a fan, Bert?

But in the middle of the wall, with the lights shining down on them, are the two World Series trophies. They represent 23 years of my career.

Blyleven won two World Series trophies? I forgot how many it was because he hadn't reminded me in the last two paragraphs.

But even then, it really does not hit home until Opening Day the next year when they present you with your ring in front of the fans. That is just awesome. That’s what you play for.

"How To Deal With Playoff Pressure" by Bert Blyleven

Introduction: Bert Blyleven's accomplishments
Chapter 1: Winning a World Series Is Awesome
Chapter 2: Have Fun
Epilogue: Bert Blyleven's accomplishments in the form of a chart

-Mike Lupica think the Yankees are a "lock" to make the World Series this year.

Apparently hasn't paid attention to the fact the Yankees are 9-9 against Boston this year and 5-5 against the Angels, which are the two teams the Yankees will have an opportunity to face next if they beat the Twins/Tigers. Still, I am sure they are a lock. I can't think of another time when the Yankees choked in the playoffs over the last couple of years, other than 2004, 2006, and 2007.

Because if you can't trust how good a team looks on paper, what can you trust? If you looked at the Yankees every single year wouldn't they seem like a lock to make the World Series just based on it's roster? I am not saying they won't the World Series but let's look at the players that Lupica thinks will carry the Yankees to the World Series and how they have fared in the World Series through their career. I do realize, as I said above, the playoffs are a small sample size so these numbers could be WAY off...but before we get Lupica excited this team is different we have to heed these numbers a little bit.

Sabathia: 2-3, 7.92 ERA, 2.20 WHIP
Burnett: Zero playoff starts
Swisher: .208/.424/.292
Teixeira: .467/.550/.467

My point is that based on regular season numbers the Yankees usually look like they are going to make the World Series, which Lupica acknowledges in the article. but basically otherwise ignores. Other than Tex having one series with the Angels last year none of the guys have had great success in the postseason. I just don't understand why he thinks this team is more equipped to handle the postseason more than any other Yankees team has been over the past several years...and I would not call them a freaking "lock" to make the World Series.

-Ok, now to my bad predictions about the MLB season. I am going to list the team's record I predicted, how far off I was in my prediction and then list for a few of them comments I made about them. If I mock real sportswriters for making bad predictions, I may as well mock myself as well. I would worry about this ruining my credibility, but I don't know if I am anywhere near important enough to have any credibility.

AL East

Boston: 98-64- I think this team made some smart moves in free agency (Penny, Smoltz, Saito)

Penny and Smoltz were both cut loose. The Red Sox pretty much went belly up on these acquisitions. I still like this team to win the World Series this year.

Real record: 95-67 (3 games off)

Tampa Bay: 94-68

I would love to have them winning the division but I think 94 wins is their ceiling. So I pick their ceiling.

That's brilliant Ben, pick the highest record you think the team could get as their final record.

Real record: 84-78 (10 games off)

New York: 91-71

I don't think Sabathia is a big city pitcher and Tex is the game's best second best hitter on a team. He can't and won't carry the team with A-Rod out.

I feel vindicated, not for the Sabathia thing, but on May 8th which was the day A-Rod came back into the Yankees lineup, Tex was hitting .192/.336/.384. By the end of May with A-Rod back full time in the lineup he was hitting .281/.381/.986. Mark Teixeira is a great hitter but he can't carry a team by himself. As I always say, he is the best second best hitter in baseball.

Real record: 103-54 (12 games off)

Toronto: 79-83

Real record: 75-87 (4 games off)

Baltimore: 75-87

I have learned my lesson. That lesson is that I will not give the Baltimore Orioles credit for anything next year. This year I gave them credit as a decent fairly young team and I was wrong.

Real record: 64-98 (11 games off)

AL Central

Chicago: 91-71

Real record: 79-83 (12 games off)

The White Sox started to become buyers when they got Rios and then they became sellers when they traded Thome and Contreras. I didn't expect this bad of record for them.

I think the funniest part about the AL Central is that before the year we have no idea who would win the division and now the season is over and we still don't know because it is going to a one game playoff.

Minnesota: 90-72

I did not predict that Joe Mauer would have such a great year. Before the year I thought Mauer was on par with Brian McCann, but he is a much better player than McCann is at this time. I look forward to seeing Mauer catching in either Boston or New York in a couple of years. Maybe then he will get the credit he deserves (even after winning the MVP this year).

Real record: 86-76 (4 games off)

Detroit: 84-78

I am on record with loyal reader A.J. as saying I thought Detroit could surprise some people this year because I thought the starting pitching was going to get back on track.

Look at me, what a great prediction!

I want to take that back, though I don't think they will have the fire sale some people are predicting.

But my hedging ends up making me wrong. If only I had stuck with gut instinct. I wasn't that far off in how many games they would win though.

Real record: 86-76 (2 games off)

Cleveland: 78-84

On offense they have Martinez and Sizemore, but I still don't think they will have a lead enough in the 9th inning to make Kerry Wood worth the money he was paid.
Here's a little tip to some teams. If you are not a good team, don't go pay big money for a closer who won't get a lot of chances to close baseball games.

Real record: 65-97 (13 games off)

I really must have thought this was going to be a tight 3-4 team divisional race. Even when I said I didn't like a team I gave them a decent record.

Kansas City: 77-85

Real record: 65-97 (12 games off)

What kind of idiot predicts the Royals to almost be .500?

AL West

Los Angeles: 93-69

The Angels are pretty predictable. They win their division and then lose in the first round of the playoffs.

Real record: 97-65 (4 games off)

Oakland: 90-72

Real record: 75-87 (15 games off)

I would love to use my reasoning for thinking the A's were going to be good but I don't even think the reasoning I wrote at the time was any good.

Seattle: 83-79

Real record: 85-77 (2 games off)

Texas: 70-92

They can't outscore everyone and they currently have no pitching ready at the major league level.

Wow, the Rangers actually ended up with some pretty good pitching this year. I don't know if anyone saw this coming, but that's not an excuse for me. Still, I didn't expect them to be as good as they were.

Real record: 87-75 (17 games off)

NL East

New York: 96-66

Good starting pitching depth, including the best LH pitcher in the NL, and a great bullpen means they won't blow late leads.

Unfortunately I wasn't aware they would be missing Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran, and Carlos Delgado for the majority of the year. If only we could predict injuries.

Real record: 70-92 (26 games off...this is laughable. I am horrible)

Atlanta: 92-70

That being said, they need someone in the outfield to hit the ball and also need Tom Glavine to get injured so they can use the other 2 options they have that are better than he is.

The Braves made 1,356 trades in an effort to get a better outfielder and it never worked. Oh and Glavine was released making way for the two options that were better than he was, Tommy Hanson and Kris Medlen. Really, I should have nailed this prediction and I sort of kind of did.

Real record: 86-76 (6 games off)

Philadelphia: 90-72

Lidge will blow at least one game this year and they have no power from the right side in the lineup. Basically I think this year is going to go down the tubes a little bit for them.

Jayson Werth proved I was wrong about the "no power from the right side" thing, but the year did go down the tubes a little bit for the Phillies in the fact Lidge can't close games well, but they still won the division. Pretty much anytime I knock a team they tend to prove me wrong...so far I haven't been able to reverse jinx any of my teams by doing this. The second I said they had no power from the right side everyone should have gone out and drafted Jayson Werth in their fantasy leagues.

Real record: 93-69 (3 games off)

Florida: 81-81

They are a popular pick this year to come in 3rd in the division but I don't see it happening.

They came in 2nd in the division, sneaking by the Braves as they were mailing it in against the Nationals in the last series of the year.

Real record: 87-75

Washington: 69-93

I mean really? 69 wins? I am sure I could name the starting rotation at the beginning of the year, but I couldn't now.

Real record: 59-103 (10 games off)

NL Central

Chicago: 100-62

I love their starting pitching (though Dempster having the same year as last year is doubtful in my opinion), I love their bullpen and I also love the fact they added Milton Bradley in the off season. This feels like the year this team gets it done.

(nodding head sadly at how it wasn't even close to being their year) I bought on the Cubs this year and I lost. I will keep buying on the Cubs if that is what it takes to prevent them from winning a World Series and causing the H1N1 of fairweather fandom when nearly everyone in the world will become a lifelong Cubs fan. It will happen, we can only prepare the best we know how for it.

Real record: 83-78 (17 games off)

St. Louis: 85-77

This prediction is also the Cardinals ceiling.

Brilliant way again to predict a team's record for the season being the absolute highest record I could see them getting...and then they exceeded the ceiling I predicted for them. If I were a real sportswriter, I would say that I didn't know they would get Matt Holliday in a mid-season deal, but I don't think he made the difference in 6 games won.

Real record: 91-61 (6 games off)

Milwaukee: 84-78

Real record: 80-82 (4 games off)

Cincinnati: 80-82

Real record: 78-84 (2 games off)

Pittsburgh: 65-97

Real record: 62-99 (3 games off)

Other than Chicago, I did pretty good in the NL Central.

NL West

Arizona: 87-75

Webb and Haren.

Apparently I thought they were going to win 30+ games each. It's all well and good they have Brandon Webb and Dan Haren but they didn't have much behind them and somehow it seems the entire team, outside of Mark Reynolds, is actually regressing. Wasn't Arizona supposed to have a bunch of good young players that would help them start a dynasty? What happened with that? Did I just quit paying attention to them?

Real record: 70-92 (17 games off)

Los Angeles: 85-77

They had only an above average August and September with Manny Ramirez last year and this year they have less proven pitching and are planning on starting Casey Blake at 3B for a good portion of the year. I actually think 85 wins may be a stretch.

Casey Blake acquitted himself fairly well at 3B during the season and 85 wins was in no way a stretch. I would probably predict something similar again if given the chance to do it again sadly. I still think this is a semi-flawed team, which means they will probably win the World Series.

Real record: 95-67 (10 games off)

San Francisco: 78-84

Real record: 88-74 (10 games off)

Colorado: 72-90

Real record: 92-70 (20 games off)

I would have done better in this division just pulling records out of a hat. I really didn't expect the Rockies to be this good.

San Diego: 63-99

Real record: 75-87 (12 games off)

I have Boston and Los Angeles in the ALCS and Chicago and New York in the NLCS. I got 0 playoff teams right in the National League and 2 right in the American League. Not a banner year for me. I wasn't too far off on some of the games won in several of the divisions but the end result was not pretty.

-The Ravens have been whining about the two roughing the passer penalities against them against the Patriots on Sunday. The NFL tends to overprotect the quarterbacks a bit too much and not just in this game specifically. The problem in my mind is that the NFL penalizes hits that are late, but not violent to a quarterback yet still considered roughing the passer, but the hits that normally knock a quarterback out of the game (i.e. Tim Tebow getting hit against Kentucky, Brady getting injured last year by Bernard Pollard, Sam Bradford being hit against BYU) are legal hits that merit no penalty flags.

Obviously nothing should be done about a legal hit that knocks a quarterback out of the game, and there are real reasons to protect a quarterback from taking late hits or being roughed up, but there comes a point where the quarterback gets overprotected. The rule in place I think makes a good justification for when the proper time for a roughing the passer penalty should be called:

"Flagrantly running into or hitting the quarterback after the ball has been released. Can also be called when a defender hits the quarterback in the head."

The problem is in the application of the rule where the officials will see any type of movement as if the quarterback has been hit and call a penalty. I don't see the roughing the passer rule as being a huge problem right now for the NFL, but I have seen times like Sunday when it is applied incorrectly and may have/may not have had an impact on the game.

I don't think it should be a full blown problem like the Ravens want it to be, because the NFL has a long way to go before its officiating gets as bad as college basketball and the NBA.

-Of course I would be remiss if I didn't include the video I just found (you may have seen it too) of Peter King celebrating at a Red Sox game. I mean this with all lack of sarcasm, it's good to see a sportswriter actually enjoying an athletic event since most of them can't seem to enjoy sports at all. I am looking at you Jay Mariotti and pretty much anyone who is on ESPN's The Sports Reporters.