Notes and Comments in and Around the Still Stellar Baseball Broadcaster Bob Costas

Here are some notes and strong opinions in the aftermath of the four divisional round games played yesterday.

The Texas Rangers once lost 9 straight divisional round games, all to eventual World champion Yankees’ teams in 1996, 1998 and 1999.

Since that point, they are (8-3) in such games and very likely, but far from definitely, on their way to squaring their divisional series record at three apiece.

Additionally, at least 4 of those losses to the Yankees were in games in which the still stellar baseball broadcaster, Bob Costas  “presided,” on the once great airwaves of NBC.

Yesterday as noted here, Costas was the broadcaster in the Texas 14 inning win in Toronto vs the Blue Jays, which has them headed to the “Lone Star State,” with a (2-0), best of 5 series lead.

“Costas games” have not manifested in good results for the Toronto Blue Jays, who seem headed to be the latest fine regular season team to fall victim to the prostitution that is expanded playoffs and wild card baseball, a horror, even the opposition of by Costas, that seems here to stay

Twice Costas was the broadcaster in games in which the Blue Jays were eliminated with ALCS defeats. The first was in 1985 when Tor. dissipated a (3-1) series lead to the K.C. Royals, losing the last two at home (Jim Sundberg’s wind blown 3 rbi hit and Costas’ fine call on the play, anyone?!).

In 1989 the Oakland A’s eliminated the Jays in 5 games in the ALCS, with Costas behind the microphone.

Costas’ greatness as a broadcaster (it is beyond sad that a) we hear so little of him doing so now b) the announcers who do the games are so bad and c) Costas himself neither touts his greatness to push for more work, nor publicly decries the announcers working now) is amplified in his hard work and dedication.

That was surely evident when he showed up in Detroit to watch games, at least two days before his Saturday assignment for NBC, when a true race for post-season qualification was happening between the Detroit Tigers and the Blue Jays in 1987.

Costas then worked the Jays’ 161 st game of that 1987 season, a Toronto loss, resulting in Toronto needing 2 of 2 to avoid elimination. Yesterday a “Costas game” result left Toronto needing 3 of 3 to avoid a similar, sad fate.