After one series in the 2009 baseball postseason, a number of hitters are smoking hot. Here’s a look at the hottest of the hot — and you may be surprised by a couple of players on the list.
Alex Rodriguez, New York Yankees
In the postseason, Alex Rodriguez usually fizzles. Not this year. Against the Minnesota Twins, Rodriguez hit .455 with two homers and six RBIs.
Andre Ethier, Los Angeles Dodgers
Manny Ramirez gets the headlines but Andre Ethier was the team’s most important hitter against the St. Louis Cardinals. Ethier hit .500 with two homers and three RBIs.
Bobby Abreu, Los Angeles Angels
In the …read more

The Los Angeles Angels have had no recent success against the Boston Red Sox in the postseason. This year, things were different. With a 7-6 victory, the Angels completed a three-game sweep of the Red Sox.
When the Red Sox entered the eighth inning with a 5-2 lead, the Angels’ chances didn’t appear to be too great. But, with the Angels trailing by a run in the ninth, Vladimir Guerrero hit a two-run single to give Los Angeles the lead. Brian Fuentes pitched a perfect ninth to put the Red Sox to bed.
Guerrero finished the contest 2-for-4 with one run and …read more

Josh Beckett of the Boston Red Sox started a brawl recently when he threw the ball over Bobby Abreu’s head after the Los Angeles Angels slugger had called a timeout. On Tuesday, Major League Baseball decided to suspend Beckett for six games for his role in starting the brawl.
The 6-foot-5, 220-pound right-hander wasn’t too pleased with the decision:
“I respect the job they have to do,” said Beckett, “but I don’t agree.”
After the incident, Angels manager Mike Scioscia called for Beckett to be suspended. Once he heard of the suspension, he agreed.
“It makes us feel good that Major League Baseball really …read more

You know how the “house” always wins at the casino? And how, luck and (sometimes) skill aside, the “little people” don’t really have a chance?
Playing the role of the “house” today is Hideki Matsui of the New York Yankees (Bobby Abreu serves as understudy). Derek Jeter is stepping into the role of the “little people.”
That roundabout analogy describes a bet among the trio of Yanks: Who would tie the knot first? The first to take the pledge till death do us part collects cash from the other two.
Matsui won (he made an altar run the other day). And if we …read more