Yesterday amidst the baseball, pro pig and tennis action (I went to the dentist and hope to keep missing it), the (16-16) Chicago Sky (8-2) in the ‘offs, including 2 single elimination game wins, overcame an 11 point 4th quarter deficit and (minus 4 plus) (80-74) vs Phoenix (Mercury) to win their first WNBA crown.
Their NBA counterpart, Bulls have 6, none since ’98 when a certain “Mr. Jordan,” not the character in “Heaven Can Wait or “Here Comes Mr. Jordan” or even the one named Michael that dated the lovely Dale Alden, outside my (still) window stopped playing there, and this “Chi” comeback at home in a Sunday clincher, evoked memories of the Bulls game 6, second title clincher, coming from way back to beat Portland in ’92.
On a day the local Arizona Cardinals went to (6-0) the city of Phoenix, first the Suns, like the Mercury series “faves” with home advantage now has lost both the 2021 NBA and WNBA final.
Maybe, even hopefully the Atlanta Braves, sans a World Series appearance since 1999 and a World Series winner just once in their 22 previous ‘offs appearances as Atlanta (they split in 2 W.S. appearances, the only ‘offs scheduled in both Boston and Milwaukee. Also, in noting this is the third time the Dodgers and Braves have met in an entity to decide the National League champion, the teams met in an unscheduled best of 3 ‘off, to determine the ’59 N.L. crown. Already, in L.A. from Brooklyn, the Dodgers won 2 straight in ’59 and last year 7’d the Braves, in the “bubble type” ‘offs, in route to their first World Series win in 32 years) will circumvent their Sunday ‘offs jinx and take a (2-0) NLCS lead vs the Dodgers. Maybe, even hopefully, they will win the series.
For now they lead (1-0), no big deal. Austin Riley was the hero, but ESPN.Com with incredible shoddy research put the following out:
“With the twin heroics, Riley continued a breakout season and joined an exclusive list of players in Braves history to have a game-tying hit and a game-winning hit in the same playoff contest: Tony Gonzalez (1969), Hank Aaron (1969), Michael Tucker (1998) and Brian Jordan (1999).”
Oddly the game last night was on the 52nd anniversary of the Mets glorious 1969 World Series clinching win. They achieved it, first SWEEPING the Braves, then winning (4-1) vs a great Baltimore Orioles team. There were just 2 rounds of ‘offs and the Braves failed to win a game. Thus neither the great, late Mr. Aaron, whose #44 adorns the current Braves uniform as tribute, or Mr. Gonzalez achieved what was said above. They did NOT get a game winning hit as Atlanta did NOT win a playoff game in 1969.
The Los Angeles Dodgers rode Codey Bellinger’s (I do not care what he hit in the “reg,” Mr. Bellinger is a clutch “ringer,” and has been such for L.A.– now, in my opinion, a too high, 11 to 5 fave vs the Braves in the NLCS.) 1 out, rbi single , T9 to (2-1) 107 wins S.F. and advance to their 5th NLCS in 6seasons, missing only in 2019 when eventual champion, wild card Washington (Nationals) rallied to beat them, led by eventual World Series star, Howie Kendrick.
L.A. has now won 6 straight tilts, facing elimination, all in the past two seasons, 3 each year. The Giants had won 6 straight decisive entity games games, last losing one in the 7th game of the 2002 World Series.
As per their history, better and near great Giants’ teams such as this one and certainly the ones with 5 future Hall of Famers, (Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Juan Marichal, Orlando Cepeda and Gaylord Perry), came up short, juxtaposed with not so hot/”value” teams, such as their namesake NFL counterparts in ’07, ’11 and maybe even ’90, the baseball Giants winning it all in 2010,2012 and 2014.
Alas ’twas a “quarter” matching a 107 wins eventual loser and 106 wins “div” winner, but I strongly disagree with and frankly resent Vin Scully calling last night’s game, the most important in Giants vs Dodgers annals.
Bobby Thomson and yes Ralph Branca and even Stan Williams will be waiting to register their protest at your ridiculous assertion, Mr. Scully. Alas too much of that “over rate the moment hype,” might require extra lessons by the Jesuits, for “walk on water” Scully, who again showed why he, as with all of us, does NOT.
Worse was Brian Kenny, so hopped up in his showing of previous history between the teams. It is Mathewson not Matheson, Mr. Kenny, regarding Christy, a great, great pitcher, whose wife knew when to put the roast on, looking through her window. The Giants trailed (4-1) in the still and forever, most important game between the teams (’62 game 3, exactly 11 years is second) but Kenny said (4-2).
At least Scully, who I should appreciate as an announcing great but as said here before not the greatest and certainly not one who walked/walks on water, did not get the facts wrong (Do not “worry” I can cite plenty of instances when he did, the latest find saying 25 and 10 is a little BETTER than 2 and a half to one, that in reading Juan Marichal’s record in “reg” play vs the Pirates as he broadcast the Pirates (2-1) win, (another (2-1) Giants loss) on Rich Hebner’s solo homer, b8 in game 3 NLCS, 50 years ago. Maybe a math lesson can be provided Mr. Scully as well) as Kenny, an all-time, abrasive “know it all” did.
Tonight at 9 P.M. or so Eastern Time on TBS, an epic, albeit only a “quarter,” decisive game between the 107 wins San Francisco Giants and 106 wins, Los Angeles Dodgers at “The city by the bay.”
Some notes will follow:
In route to their first 5 and until 2010, only titles, the Giants faced no must win games, going an incredible (25-5) (Sandy’s ’63 record), in those 5 winning World Series (three of the losses were in a best of 9, (5 games to 3) W.S. win vs the Yankees in 1921.
In winning the three consecutive “even year” titles in 2010, 2012 and 2014, as S.F. (the 5 previous crowns were as the New York Giants), they faced and won 5 must games, also in which victory meant advancing or in the case of the Madison Bumgarner brilliant relief pitching stint led #7/’14 W.S. an actual crown.
Those other four “must win”/advance with a win games were in the 2010 decisive 5th of the bastardized/division series vs Atlanta (The Braves, to be in their 13th NLCS (5-7) in previous and sans a victory in such since 1999, await the winner of tonight’s tilt), the 2012 division series at Cincinnati and its then manager Dusty Baker (his Astros are over 7 to 5 favorites to represent the A.L. in the World Series for the third time in 5 seasons), the 2012 decisive 7th/NLCS at S.F. vs the Cardinals, and the 10/8 game at Pittsburgh in ’14 (Brandon Crawford’s big belt/H.R. there is no injured Brandon Belt for the Giants).
Meanwhile the Dodgers, sans a title until 1955, have faced and obviously won 6 “must games” en route to 5 of their 7 crowns. They won #7/W.S. behind John Podres in ’55 and Sandy Koufax in 1965. They did not face a must game, though they were in a best of 3, unscheduled ‘off vs Milwaukee (Braves) in route to their second title in ’59 nor in ’63 when they swept the two time champion (also an insane 20 titles in 40 seasons going into that ’63 World Series, the last of the tragically too few 47 with John F. Kennedy on the earth) Yankees.
In winning their 3 other titles, the Dodgers won “must”/”Win and advance” games (two in ’81, the strike caused extra round decisive 5th at home vs the then N.L. team, Astros and the decisive 5th/NLCS at Montreal on Rick Monday’s home run, T9. The Montreal Expos became the Washington Nationals and won an all road 7 game World Series vs the Astros in 2019).
L.A. bombed Ron Darling and won game 7 of the ’88 NLCS vs the Mets and also won #7 of the 2020 NLCS.
While the 107 wins Giants will host the 106 wins Dodgers in a decisive 5th game of their “div” series in S.F. tomorrow night (Bay Area-er and once Giants fan, Tom Brady and his champion Bucs will get better ratings for their tilt at the Philly Eagles, another and different “Eagles” reference within a baseball update), both the Houston Astros (a record tying, if one counts ’94 as a “miss” when in fact, there was NO P-Season action, 5th straight time, joining the (’71-’75) A’s and (’95-’99) Braves) and Atlanta Braves (a second straight NLCS “app,” a 13th in 52 possibilities/one fourth, with eight coming in successive completed seasons from ’91-’99, with as cited, no post-season play in ’94)
The Oakland A’s “cashed in” with 3 titles during their glorious 5 straight “one quarter” division titles streak from ’71-’75, winning it all (’72-’74), while being swept by eventual 7 game World Series losing Baltimore (Orioles–remember them) in ’71 and Boston Red Sox in ’75.
Houston has one title to show for its 4 straight ALCS appearances, losing in the round to eventual champion Boston (Red Sox), their LCS opponent this year as well, with higher ranked Houston about 7:5 series favorite) and 6 game W.S. losing, T.B. last year.
The Astros took the Dodgers in game 7 at Dodger Stadium in the ’17 World Series while losing an incredible, totally unprecedented all road World Series to Washington with the exponentially annoying “Bellman” cashing in 2019, his number and #’s.
During that incredible run of 8 straight NLCS appearances, the Braves managed to win but one crown, to this point, the only one in their 54 completed Atlanta seasons (’66-2020, with no completed season in 2020) and also the lone Atlanta major North American sports title in roughly 170 seasons (55 Falcons, 53 Hawks, whose fine play into a 6 game “semis” loss to the eventual champion Milwaukee Bucks–the “div” series some “revenge” for Atlanta vs Milwaukee, may have “turned” Atlanta/Georgia fortunes, as the college Bulldogs are ranked first and Saban(o) and ‘Bama lost at Texas A and M. Alas never count Nick “insurance ads” Saban(o) out. We shall see. You add the combined Thrashers and Flames seasons, all of course sans title.)
While the Boston Red Sox, now (7-7) in bastardized/division series play, led (5-0) were tied at 5, eventually (6-5)ing the still no title, Rays to advance to their 7th ALCS in 19 seasons (2003-2021), the Giants shutout the Dodgers for a second time, to lead what unlike the unscheduled ‘off for the pennant in ’51 and ’62, is best of five, not three, 2 games to 1.
In both ’51 and ’62, the Giants won games 1 and 3, the latter with two incredible 9th inning rallies, to win the pennant.
Elsewhere, also with two shutout wins, the Atlanta Braves have a (2-1) series lead vs the Milwaukee Brewers, in a battle between the late great Henry Aaron’s two teams and cities in which he played.
Today there are 3 tilts as the Houston Astros up (2-1) look to close out the Chicago White Sox, after a game 3 Sunday night loss, in which “Chi” down (5-1) doubled Houston (12-6). Yesterday’s game was postponed.
In ’51, the Giants “won the pennant” (Russ Hodges said it “win the pennant” four times) on Bobby Thomson’s game ending 3RHR. A link between the two N.L. bastardized series (why so vs the wild card?!!–How about so many less people would be talking about Bobby’s home run had the bogus wild card been in place these now 70 years ago) is Henry Aaron got his chance to play with Milwaukee when Bobby Thomson was injured.
Today commencing around 3:30 P.M. the opening game of the best of five, 25th WNBA final series matches the visiting (16-16) Chicago Sky and the home team/series home advantage team, Phoenix Mercury (19-13) in the 32 game “reg.”
This is a redux of the 2014 final, in which the Mercury copped their 3rd crown, sweeping the Sky in the latter team’s only previous final round appearance.
Phoenix is still led by 3 time WNBA champion, Diana Taurasi and one time winner Britney Griner. Candace Parker the final entity MVP in 2016 as her L.A. Sparks “titled” is on “Chi” and is seeking her second WNBA title.
After a pair of 5 run wins (so far in this tournament, not only intrinsically boring games but lack of competition, as only 2 of 8 post-season tilts have been at all, in doubt) the Houston Astros under fine, but nary a title manager (he is one with whom, I have a good association), John “Dusty” Baker lead the Chicago White Sox, under 3 titles manager, Tony LaRussa- 2 games to none, in their best of 5 division series.
Houston has now won 8 straight “div” series openers (’04,’05, as an N.L. team and ’15,(’17-2021) in the A.L. going up 2 games to none, in their last five.
The ‘Stros (6-6) in previous “div” series/”quarters” (in ’81, a players strike caused an extra round, 14 years before whores namely Selig and Manfred, perpetrated this abominable extra round. You would think being stuck in traffic, and not sure how to get to my destination, would put the importance/lack thereof of wild card or no wild card, in perspective. I am getting there, but it hurts to see/experience and likely always will) are (10-3) in such round, opening games.
After the 2018 and yes 1916 (Babe Ruth’s brilliant PITCHING led the Red Sox victory and first off what happened to the “Curse of the Bambino?!!) and more important, why would he have “cursed” Boston, as he won 3 titles there, just one less than he won in Yankees’ glory) World Series opponents won 10/8 games (first the Red Sox (6-2) vs the Yankees and last night, the 2020 “bubble” champion Dodgers (3-1) on Chris Taylor’s game ending home run, to really hurt Cards’ “puck line” bettors, the eight bastardized/division round opponents are known, with some intriguing series ahead.
In the first tilt of the round, the Houston Astros, again relegated to afternoon play, host the Chicago White Sox in a 2005 World Series redux. Tonight the Rays, still seeking their first title, despite being an exemplary, relatively low payroll franchise, albeit one with a horrible attendance mark, host the Boston Red Sox.
The National League series begin tomorrow on “F”our game “F”riday, (games 2 in the A.L.), with Milwaukee (Brewers) hosting the Atlanta Braves and then for the first time in a SCHEDULED post-season entity, (of course they clashed in exponentially seminal best of 3, unscheduled entities, with the Giants rallying to cop both pennant prizes, only to lose the World Series vs the Yankees) the 107 wins Giants face the 106 wins, wild card, defending champion Dodgers.
Alas, there were greats, who had died in the last approximate year, one mired in a pandemic, commemorated on the uniforms of the eliminated Yankees and Cardinals and while not on the Dodgers’ uniform, I will link ’65 World Series game 7, open the scoring for Sandy, home run hitting, Lou Johnson with stellar pitching greats, Edward “Whitey” Ford (Yankees) and Bob Gibson (Cardinals).
As I recall, in an extra/pandemic caused round, last year, the Cards had been eliminated by the Padres (oh was San Diego a 10 to 1 fave to make the 2021 ‘offs but they failed and now manager Tingler has been fired) on a Friday and that night news came that the great Bob Gibson had died.
The following Friday, news came that “The Chairman of the Board,” and 10 time World Series games winning, Edward “Whitey” Ford had passed away. That night the Rays eliminated Ford’s lone team, one he helped win at least 6 titles, namely the Yankees.
Glory, less than glory, death, commemoration or not in the case of Lou Johnson (which Dodgers, there are 2, are commemorated on their “still alive” uniforms?) and some final notes as I pack into one post, rather than “write” again tomorrow.
Ford won 10 World Series games but also lost 7. Gibson won #7 for the Cards in both 1964 and 1967 but lost to Mickey Lolich and Detroit (Tigers) in 1968. (Rabbi Wise, a brilliant man, later afflicted with Alzheimers was wrong on that one, emphatically picking Gibson as he drove a group of us to public school after morning services, about a month before I made parents Ida, Norman and grandmother Jenny proud with a Torah reading Bar Mitzvah).
My man Lou, who uttered “Sandy, you’re the greatest” in the ’65 World Series celebration, (Sandy Koufax pitched a 3 hit shutout in that #7), made the last out (2 out, 2 on) when Baltimore (Orioles) completed a sweep of the Dodgers, shutting them out in the last 3 games and for 33 plus straight innings.
News of Lou’s death came on the same Friday night that Mr. Gibson had passed on.
Andy B Sports 