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Performance of the Week (POTW) 5/11-5/17
(AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
The Orlando Magic earned their due. They stared down the defending champs and came out on top. Never mind that the Celtics had never in franchise history lost a playoff series after taking a 3-2 lead. Never mind that the game took place in Boston where the Celtics success in game 7s is unparalleled. Never mind that Ray Allen seemed to be a shadow of himself. Never mind everything stacked against them. The Magic did not panic, shot 13 of 21 from long range, and won 101-82 to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Who gets your POTW?
3 Responses to “Performance of the Week (POTW) 5/11-5/17”
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If you look at baseball, it’s got to be the Texas Rangers. They were undefeated for the week … currently on a 7 game win streak … and their pitchers have yielded only 2.9 runs per game during the streak. When this team gets decent pitching, they’re unquestionably a contender with that offense. So we’ll see if they continue pitching like this. Great week nonetheless and easily the HOTTEST team in MLB.
I’ll also give honorable mention to the Alaska Aces hockey team that completed their 4-0 sweep of the Las Vegas Wranglers in the Western Division finals and will begin the Kelly Cup finals series against South Carolina this week. GO ACES !!! (Hey … this IS our pro team up here in Anchorage … so quit laughing).
My performance of the week is a little unconventional. It goes to four players (two Twins and two Yankees) for one of the most exciting plays I’ve seen in a long time…and I saw it live in my first visit to the new Stadium.
In the bottom of the 9th of a 2-2 game, with pinch-runner Brett Gardner on second and one out, Yankees backup catcher Francisco Cervelli–playing because both Posada and Molina are hurt–hit one hard up the middle. It looked like a certain game-winning hit, but Twins left-hander Jose Mijares reached behind his back and deflected the ball back towards Twins catcher Joe Mauer.
Mauer came up with the ball and started to throw to first, but stopped. By this point, he was close to one-third of the way up the line. Gardner never stopped rounding third, and when Mauer turned back around, Gardner was charging hard for home. Mauer ran towards the plate and dove head first, as Gardner slid wide to avoid the tag unsuccessfully, but on a close play.
Gardner was out, but I’m convinced that Mauer–still young, athletic and 6’5″ tall–is the only catcher in the majors who would have made this play. In hindsight, I think it was worth the gamble, and in my opinion, all four players involved made good plays, and it provided one of the most exciting moments I’ve seen in a long time.
Wally – no one laughing here. Great call. Go ACES!!
Chas – unconventional is kinda what this is all about. Great recall on that play. Can’t believe I didn’t see it on any of the highlights. Another great call.