Öffentliches Forum » all-time record of 571 Premier League starts.Wh

Philadelphia, PA (SportsNetwork.com) - Truth be told, I am a fan of the one- game wild card format. But the start of the Division Series still signals the start of Major League Baseballs postseason for me. Its no secret why MLB wanted this one-game wild card. They wanted to, and needed to, generate some excitement in their sport. MLB wanted this type of Game 7, do-or-die, atmosphere every year. And it has worked. Its still relatively new, though. The new car scent hasnt worn off yet, but trust me, two or three years down the road, that excitement is going to tail off. You dont believe me? Well, hows interleague play going? The thing about these one-game playoffs - like the one 36 years ago on this date at Fenway between the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox - was that it was special. The Yankees-Red Sox game in 1978 was essentially the first of its kind to settle a division and there wasnt another one for two years. MLB then went 15 years before there was another game like that. You win and you are in. You lose, you go home. MLB may have came up with this new format to generate some interest, but really what it has done is place way more emphasis on winning your division. That should have been the plan all along, but with this current regime, you never know. And hopefully you get games like the one we had Tuesday rather than the stinker we had on Wednesday. Eventually, though, this will become a best-of-three series. Mark my words. Now you know why Clint Hurdle went all out in that final regular season game on Sunday with ace Gerrit Cole. He wanted at least a chance to avoid the one- game playoff. Great, the Giants won and Madison Bumgarner was awesome. But the Giants didnt win their division. They absolutely should be at a disadvantage when they start their series with the Washington Nationals, you know, the team that finished with the best record in the National League. Bumgarner now wont be available until Game 3 of that series. It made no sense that in years past the wild card team entered the playoffs on equal footing as a division winner. Two things you can take from those games, though. One, Ned Yost has less composure than Geno Smith, and, two, Bumgarner could become the breakout star of this postseason. James Shields had made 68 starts for the Royals, and not once was he pulled from a game with less pitches than he had thrown on Tuesday. Yost decides to yank him with a lead in the biggest game the franchise has had in nearly 30 years because he put two men on. Panic much? Had he gone to Kelvin Herrera, maybe we could have lived with it. The Royals had the best bullpen in baseball after all, but Yost went to a 23-year-old rookie in Yordano Ventura, who had just thrown 73 pitches two days earlier. It made no sense. The Royals moved on despite their manager not because of him. And as far as Bumgarner goes? Well, what can you say. He was phenomenal. If the Giants can somehow manage a split in these first two games with the Nats, watch out. Remember it is an even year. So, lets take a look at how the Division Series could shake out: DETROIT - BALTIMORE: The ultimate power pitching versus power hitting series. Baltimore led the league with 211 home runs, while the Tigers have the last three AL Cy Young Award winners in their rotation. Pitching normally wins in these matchups and that is where I am leaning. Admittedly, though, I may be a little too high on the names in the Tigers rotation and not really focusing on what they have done lately. Plus I really like a very underrated Orioles starting staff and Baltimores bullpen might be the second best of the teams in the playoffs. Still, I just cant imagine Baltimores staff being able to outduel the Tigers rotation over the course of the series. TIGERS IN FOUR KANSAS CITY - LOS ANGELES ANGELS: There is no better story in baseball right now than the Kansas City Royals. The Angels might be ripe for the picking, but the Royals wont be the team that is going to beat them. I have to admit I am banking an awful lot of this prediction on the fact that I think Mike Trout is going to shine. Plus James Shields wont be able to go until Game 3 and by that time the Royals could be fending off elimination. I just dont see how KCs starting staff is going to contain the Angels lineup. And I do think Matt Shoemaker is healthy. Either way, the fact that Jered Weaver could potentially pitch twice against Jason Vargas tips the scales in the Halos favor. Not to mention they are just better. ANGELS IN FIVE LOS ANGELES DODGERS - ST. LOUIS: Clayton Kershaw is the best pitcher in baseball. But come postseason time, he has been rather ordinary. The Dodgers can probably get by without him being superhuman, but it would make things a whole lot easier if he pitched to form. The Dodgers were built for October. Anything less than a World Series title would be considered a disappointment. St. Louis is probably the worst possible opponent for them. Somehow, someway the feisty Cardinals will make this a series, but the Dodgers will be up to the task, and that includes Kershaw. DODGERS IN FOUR SAN FRANCISCO - WASHINGTON: As we stated earlier, the Giants are at a huge disadvantage not having Bumgarner until Game 3 when the series shifts back to San Francisco. Washington might be the best team in the league from top-to- bottom. But they get no attention. And why that is, I have no idea. On paper, this should be a relatively easy series to predict. The Nats hit more, they have a better rotation and their bullpen is solid. Yet for some reason, I like the Giants. Sometimes you just have to go with your gut. GIANTS IN FOUR Jason Spezza Jersey . Specifically, thumbs up to the Canadian-based teams in the NHL, or at least most of them. Ottawa Senators Jerseys .Y. - For once, Clayton Kershaw was glad to see a long shutout streak end. http://www.senatorssale.com/authentic-da...enators-jersey/. Its other five picks were all six foot or better, with three at 6-1 or above. Third-round pick Brett Lernout stands six foot four and weighs 206 pounds. Matt Duchene Jersey . -- Arkansas didnt need a spectacular dunk to beat No. Mark Stone Jersey . PAUL, Minn – The clock lingered for what seemed like an interminable two minutes and 51 seconds before Mark Fraser finally escaped to the bench during a wildly one-sided first period of an eventual loss to Boston.As Gareth Barry is set to equal a Premier League record of 571 starts in the Merseyside derby, we look at an often understated career. When you think of Manchester Citys incredible first Premier League title-winning season, Sergio Agueros goals, David Silvas finesse and Yaya Toures rampaging runs often spring to mind.However, certain roles, such as midfield anchors, are often overlooked by fans who dont remember those who do the dirty work. Would Chelsea have won what they did without Claude Makelele? Barcelona without Sergio Busquets? Gareth Barry has forged a career which includes over half a century of England caps by being that midfield metronome - orchestrating things from deep. Barrys greatest achievement is helping anchor that City team that sensationally snatched the title from under arch rivals Manchester Uniteds noses in 2012.Silva, still one of Citys leading lights, voted Barry his Player of the Season that year, and he was not alone in recognising the role Barry played in such success.Gareth is the man, Joe Hart said. When you start to panic, look at Gareth and he just keeps on doing what he is doing - and doing the unselfish role he does. Most Premier League starts Player Starts David James 571 Gareth Barry 570 Frank Lampard 546 Ryan Giggs 522 Gary Speed 521 Mark Schwarzer 514 Barrys career is set to reach new heights on Wednesday night at Anfield, live on Sky Sports, when the 35-year-old could equal David James all-time record of 571 Premier League starts.While Frank Lampard (546 starts), Ryan Giggs (522) and Gary Speed (521) enjoyed evergreen careers, they did not manage the sheer consistency of fitness that Barry hhas since making his debut for Aston Villa as a 17-year-old - a feat that deserves recognition in itself.ddddddddddddShould Toffees boss Roberto Martinez choose to field Barry at least two more times this season, he will maintain an incredible run over making over 30 league appearances in all but one of his last 18 top-flight seasons. Barry enjoyed most success at Man City Having made his name as the engine room in the Villa midfield - making 353 starts for the Villans - Barry became a firm favourite in the west Midlands before moving to City as part of Sheikh Mansours revolution.It was there Barry hit his best form, winning an FA Cup and that famous title success in four years while starting 123 times. Ton up for Aguero Sergio Aguero is the second fastest man to 100 Premier League goals At 32, it seemed Barrys best years were behind him when he headed out on loan to Everton, but his form secured him a permanent switch, and has held down a regular spot at Goodison Park ever since, despite a whole host of younger talent emerging around him. Age has not made him any less combative - his yellow card against Crystal Palace last Wednesday night was his 112th in the Premier League, another record.Martinez did not hold back in praise for Barry after he played a major role in helping Everton overcome old club City in the Capital One Cup semi-final first leg in January.I have never seen a player with the incredible professionalism, standards and so level-headed as Gareth Barry, Martinez said. For me he is one of the best English players ever. He could end up with 600 Premier League appearances this season. Barry made his name at Aston Villa To stay playing at such a high level for over two decades is such a rarity in a results-based business. Surely the end is nigh, approaching 36? Not for Barry, and it is that desire that could see him go on to make an insurmountable amount of starts in the top flight.People ask me if I get looked after when it comes to training because I am older, but I dont, Barry said in an interview with the Daily Mail. I train as much as everyone else, do exactly the same. Stopping is something I am not looking forward to. 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