Kritik und Lob » o go out there and be with these guys,

There were a combined 10 runs scored in the two wild-card games to begin this postseason -- nine of them from home runs.In Game 2 of the American League Division Series against the Texas Rangers, the Toronto Blue Jays won 5-3, scoring all five runs on home runs. In fact, the Jays knocked out the Baltimore Orioles, then swept the Rangers, scoring 16 of their 27 runs on homers.Meanwhile, the Chicago Cubs came into Tuesday?with 11 runs scored in their first three games -- seven of them from home runs.Anybody else seeing a trend here? Indeed, the league has become homer-centric, maybe even homer-reliant, as two seemingly contradictory trends are happening right now in Major League Baseball: (1) Pitchers are harder to hit than theyve ever been, owing in part to increasing velocity; and (2) the game has experienced a home run surge, dating back to around the 2015 All-Star break.We saw a jump in home runs during the regular season, and theyve carried the utmost importance this postseason; of the 108 runs scored this postseason heading into play Tuesday, half of them were as a result of home runs, the highest percentage in the wild-card era. And lets not forget, playoff teams normally trot out their best pitchers in the playoffs, not scrubs.And its not a coincidence. Like it or not, this is how the game is played these days. Pitchers are seeing a lot of the worst possible outcome (home run), while also seeing increasing amounts of the better outcomes. Strikeouts are up, walks are down. More long fly balls, fewer easy outs. A bloop and a blast. Or maybe its just the blast; in Game 1 of the AL Division Series between the Boston Red Sox and Cleveland Indians, nine runs were scored -- six of them on solo homers.Lets take a closer look at whats happening -- and why.Jalen Brunson Mavericks Jersey . The Masters champion and winner of last weeks Australian PGA has a three-round total of 14-under 199 at Royal Melbourne. "Im in a really good position for tomorrow," Scott said. Jose Juan Barea Jersey . Woodson said during a radio interview Thursday that the Knicks Carmelo Anthony doesnt get the same calls as other superstars. http://www.officialmavericksfanstore.com/kids-steve-nash-mavericks-jersey/ . Its the second straight game Bell has scored in extra time for Kelowna, which beat the Brandon Wheat Kings 6-5 on Friday, and he now has four game-winning goals on the season. Jalen Brunson Jersey . He said Tuesday thats a big reason why he is now the new coach of the Tennessee Titans. Whisenhunt said he hit it off quickly with Ruston Webster when interviewing for the job Friday night. Kostas Antetokounmpo Jersey . After a first half in which he thought "the lid was on the basket," the Toronto Raptors coach watched his squad mount a second half surge to defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers 98-91.CHASKA, Minn. -- Memo to the 11-member U.S. task force organized to break Europes near-chokehold on the Ryder Cup:You did well. Now take the next couple years off.The most lopsided win for the American team since 1981 in the bag, there doesnt seem much need to change the formula that carried the U.S. to a 17-11 win Sunday at Hazeltine National Golf Club. Probably not much need to change the captain, either, after Davis Love III came up a winner in his second time at the helm.But Phil Mickelson is both a tinkerer and a thinker, and he doesnt figure to leave well enough alone. Hes also the most influential member of the task force, and may tweak a few things for the 2018 Ryder Cup in Paris.For us to go to Europe and try to win the Cup is a whole different feat, Mickelson said. Thats going to require a whole different level of play, of solidarity, of fortitude and we are going to have to build on this in two years if we want to try to retain the Cup.Europes dominance dating to 1985 remains impressive: they still claim six of the last eight and eight of the last 11 Ryder Cup wins. Worse yet for the Americans, they havent won on foreign soil since capturing the Cup in 1993 at The Belfry in England.And that has Lefty thinking a bit.The thing about this is that we need to build on this, Mickelson said. Otherwise its all for naught.Some other takeaways from the U.S. win:NEXT U.S. STAR?: When the task force does get back to work, its No. 1 priority should be to find more guys like Patrick Reed. Dubbed Captain America by his teammates, the 26-year-old Texan went 3-1-1 in the event, capping his performance by staring down McIlroy, Europes top player, in the critical opening singles match that delivered some thrilling shots from both players on the front nine.Reeds gutsy showing in all five matches was exceeded only by his bravado. After Tiger Woods, serving as a vice captain, told Reed hed likely be held out for one of those sessions, Reed replied, Youre not sitting me for any matches.Convinced, Woods pushed captain Love to use Reed -- who went 3-0-1 as a rookie two years ago -- and partner Jordan Spieth in Saturdays final slot. They responded with a third win over the tough European pair of Henrik Stenson and Justin Rose.---NEXT EUROPEAN STAR?: Thomas Pieters took his first Ryder Cup swings with a stocking cap on his head on Friday morning. It didnt take hhim long to get really comfortable.ddddddddddddPieters went 4-1-0 at Hazeltine, the best debut performance ever for a European. Three of those wins came when he was teamed with McIlroy, giving Europe a solid foundation heading into the next Ryder Cup and possibly for years after.Ive got a partner beside me for the next 20 years, McIlroy said with a smile, putting his arms on Pieters shoulders. Im not letting anyone else have him.---FAN BEHAVIOR: A record crowd of more than 50,000 packed Hazeltine for all three days of the event, including some fans who shouted vulgar and obscene things at some of the Europeans. One was removed from the course after an exchange with McIlroy.But the players and captain Darren Clarke commended the U.S. team for helping police the crowds and said 99.99 percent of the fans were exceptional all weekend. McIlroy was asked if the American team should expect similar treatment from European fans in 2018, when the Ryder Cup will be on the line in Paris.We wouldnt encourage any sort of retaliation, McIlroy said. Thats not who we are. Thats not what we do. There wont be. And well be making that clear.---NOT YOUR AVERAGE SPECTATORS: One way to gauge how much the U.S. win meant: Few people were more emotional about it than Woods and Bubba Watson -- and neither hit a shot. Instead, they put their egos and games on hold and served the team as vice captainsBeing a part of the team -- didnt actually hit a golf shot, but to go out there and be with these guys, we are truly a team, Woods said. And we have that mindset coming here with our captain and we did it, we accomplished it and we won it together.This is the greatest thing Ive done in golf, said Watson, who owns two Masters green jackets. This team was amazing. They took me in their arms and let me be a part of it.Woods generally kept a low profile, but convinced Love to put Reed and Spieth back on the course for a fourth consecutive match late Saturday. Reed made the decision look smart with seven birdies and an eagle on his own ball to seal the third win over the Rose-Henrik duo.Watson used his experience to help golfers like Brandt Snedeker stay sharp in big moments.Hes the reason why I got my point today, Snedeker said. He was in my ear all day. ' ' '