Just Notes: Texas With Home Advantage Vs Phils, A “Fave” To Manifest, Just 3 Games Into The 2 LCS

In what I think is a slight over reaction, but one that I do think will manifest (famous last words plus baseball only got 9 LCS tilts last year, 1 over the minimum, so ……) a Texas Rangers (as cited here, up (2-0) vs Houston in the all Texas ALCS, in which Fox telecast the first two, but will leave those of us sans their ancillary channel in the literal/proverbial dark the rest of this. NLCS even worse as without TBS, no coverage!!) vs Philadelphia Phillies World Series is now considered a “favored” outcome.

The Rangers are current -500/+400 series faves, having won the first two games at Houston (I do not believe any team has overcome a (2-0) LCS deficit with both losses at home while 4 teams (unofficial and again you people please check, as I will take some criticism for not checking, but at least I cite there may be one or two more instances) have done so, three in World Series play (’85 Royals vs St. Louis, ’86 Mets vs the Red Sox and the ’96 Yankees vs the Braves) and say one in div series, that vs current Houston manager, Dusty Baker and his Cincy Reds, vs you guessed it, the Bruce Bochy managed/eventual title winning, 2012 Giants.

Philadelphia (Phillies), which has now won 10 straight non World Series/post-season home games, all in the last two seasons, opened the series as about a 9 to 5 “fave” vs Arizona (Diamondbacks), who like the Rangers, won their first 5 ‘offs games this year, 4 on the road.

The last time the Phils lost a home/non World Series ‘offs game was in a decisive #5 of a “div” series vs eventual champion, St.Louis (Cardinals). That was the Cards winning their second highest (must note the Yankees have won 27 crowns), 11th title in 20ELEVEN! (Sorry).

Also they beat the TExas Rangers in what was an excruciating Texas loss in 7 games. It is likely you will hear more about that W.S. in the next days.

However, the Phils (5-3’d) Az in the opener and moved to a -400/+310 “fave,” ( a bit or decent amount too high as it moved over 200 points after what was a home (-170) Philly win. So splitting the difference I get say (-170).

Thus it is about 8 and a half to 5 in favor of a World Series clash between the team/franchise that has the record no World Series win drought, the Phillies (77 completed seasons, no World Series in 1904, from 1903-1979, finally winning it in ’80, not before they best Houston in probably the greatest LCS ) vs the team/franchise, Texas, with the longest such current drought.

That drought encompasses 61 completed seasons, (no World Series in 1994), from 1961-2022).–(the Browns/Orioles had/have the second longest “never a title drought,” (62 completed seasons, no World Series in 1904, (1903-1965), before finally winning it in their 13th Baltimore year, all but the first season in ’54, with the now late, great Brooks Robinson on the team as he would be for another 11 and 3 pennants/1 title).

Bryce Harper, a star Phils’ player is pictured above.

Much more in the days to come.