More facts, albeit esoteric, less, if any opinions this day/night of #6 at Toronto with the Mariners bidding to reach the World Series for the first time, as they have a (3-2) series lead.
I believe only when the 2 all road series occurred that the road team won the first 5 tilts in any LCS or World Series.
Only once in the Blue Jays’ 9 previous LCS or World Series (all best of 7, it occurred in their and the A.L.’s first best of 7 ALCS in ’85 when K.C. won at Toronto) or the so called M’s in 3 such, have either been in a 7 game entity.
Meanwhile the Dodgers broke form as for just the third time in 39 (1/13, fractions anyone?) LCS or World Series, 5 best of 5 LCS included, were in a 4 game entity, winning that way in ’63 and Friday past while losing in 4 to Baltimore (Orioles) in ’66.
Fox again got more games than TBS. In 19 seasons/years of both Fox, now it is FS1 and they stay on the batter which is poor coverage (the Suarez G. slam, the latest example), and TBS telecasting the LCS (‘2007-2025), that has manifested 13 times, 5 times there were an equal number of games on each network with 2008 (TBS had Tampa Bay –$$$ ruined that fine organization, one of 5 teams the Brewers just swept by L.A., Rockies, Padres, and already cited Mariners the lone team of baseball’s 30 never to qualify for a World Series—in 7 vs defending champion Boston while Fox was on the eventual champion Phils’ 5 game LCS win vs the Dodgers. Remember when L.A. made ‘offs but not as much as the NLCS–no longer the case.
Left to right, Wally Bunker and Jim Palmer, two of the 3 Orioles starters to shutout L.A. thwarting their “repeat” bid (they still have never done so but will be pretty big “faves” to do so this time, more vs Seattle against whom they would open at home after a week’s rest while if Tor wins the next 2, the Jays would have home advantage but still be fairly sizable underdogs) in ’66. (Dave McNally is the other, Moe Drabowsky was brilliant in relief in game 1, the only tilt in that series, in which L.A. scored)
While the ALCS, which to this point, has seen the Seattle Mariners “playing the part” of the ’93 eventual champion Blue Jays, with road wins in #’s 1 and 2 and a home such, in last night’s 5th to lead the Jays (3-2) –Sho Ohtani (let’s not get carried away here, as L.A. was up (3-0) and he had been 3 for 29 at the plate, fanning 11 times), however, hail his 3 home runs, all solo and yes 7 plus innings pitching excellence as was the case with all the L.A. starters, in a (5-1)– 23rd pennant clinching win for the Dodgers, attained in a 4 game sweep vs the Milwaukee Brewers.
I “warned” here about interviews, and “Tor” did win #’s 3 and 4 making the home team (4-0) in the clash of the ’77 expansion teams.
They also had a (2-1) lead in front of Seattle fans, who shamefully cheered when one of the few modern players I like, George Springer, was forced to leave the tilt, but could not add when Azorarena, perhaps another one to admire, leaped at the wall to take away a possible HR and at least an extra base hit, keeping the score (2-1).
Next, promo’d to bat, B8 and with a 60 “reg” homers season, Cal Raleigh, hit a (2-0) pitch beyond the leaping Jays Lfielder to tie the game.
Losing pitcher Little (you would not know it from the Fox graphic that stayed on for a long time –I do not know that it was corrected, indicating Dominquez as such) not only yielded the pretty much all important HR to Raleigh, but walked 2, was replaced by Dominguez who HBP’d Polanco before serving up the grand slam homer to Eugenio Suarez, who earlier “solo’d” (Napoleon anyone?–not the delicacy), as Sea scored first for the 4th straight game.
The epic performance by Ohtani came 1 day shy of 48 years after Reggie Jackson, pictured above, also hit 3 home runs for the winning team in a series clinching game, that in #6 ’77 W.S. on this date.
Jackson’s feat and of course he did not pitch (also the Brewers are not the Big Red Machine Cincinnati Reds, whom L.A. is evoking so far though I do not care if they go (13-1) and repeat as champions, after finally getting the monkey off its back the year before, the Reds were/are discernibly better) came in a World Series standing (3-2), each fact making at the least the game of Reggie’s 3 HR’s, more important than that of Shohei Ohtani’s nevertheless/obvious great feat, last night.
The defending champion L.A. Dodgers are so (think Valley girls for so) likely to cop their 23rd pennant, the first nine won as Brooklyn, after winning (5-1) in #2 behind more brilliant pitching, this time by Yoshinobu Yamamoto (wow, a complete game, so incredibly rare for these pampered modern day pitchers) and (3-1) in #3 at home, to take a commanding (3-0) lead vs the Milwaukee Brewers.
Almost certainly, the Dodgers will go to (3-0) vs Milwaukee teams in entities for the N.L. title having won 2 straight in an unscheduled ’59 N.L. playoff vs the Braves and in 7 vs the Brewers in the ’18 NLCS.
This is the Dodgers’ 39th LCS or World Series, all but 5, best of 7, and only twice each in a best of 7 (L.A. sweeping the Yankees in the ’63 World Series and in turn being swept by the O’s,who allowed 2, then 3 zeroes/O’s (not the cereal) to L.A. in ’66.
Additionally, this is just the third time a team is up or down (3-0) in 39 Dodgers LCS or World Series, again all but 5 (’74,’77,’78,’81 and ’83 NLCS) were best of 7.
So likely: The Dodgers to be (10-7) in LCS and they will bid to be just the 8th baseball franchise to ever repeat as title winners. Their again so likely World Series appearance will be with an (8-14) record in previous such entities.
Mr. Yamamoto, pictured above.
They (Sea and L.A. perhaps linked by Japan, Ichiro and Ohtani) met in the last 3 “regs,” a virtually meaningless L.A. Dodgers sweep and now a meeting in baseball’s most important entity, ‘el’ World Series is a favorite proposition.
Seattle (Mariners) to this point, the only one of the 30 big league baseball teams, never to have made a World Series, leads fellow 1977 A.L. expansion team, the Toronto Blue Jays 2 games to none after (3-1) and (10-3) victories at Toronto.
Jorge Polanco, putting on a superb clutch hitting show, (he tuned in the div series winning run with a 1 out/bases loaded bottom 15th inning single in #5 to sink Detroit and has delivered hits to put Sea ahead to stay in both wins (games 1 and 2) at Toronto (a single in the 6th after 60 Homer Cal Raleigh matched the Jays’ George Springer (Springer the ringer, look out Polanco as you did a post game interview, however, I see little hope (one never knows) for Tor as the series shifts to Seattle for #’s 3,4 and a fifth if necessary), and then a 3RHR to break a (3-3) tie yesterday) is leading “Sea.”
L.A. (Dodgers) a team I once loved until Lasorda, a Costas quote is he could not utter one sentence sans profanity, unless he was on some form of mass media, so foolishly pitched to Jack Clark in #6/’85 NLCS and I think the ball is still going!!–won (2-1) in game 1 as Blake Snell, once lifted too early, helping L.A. win the no so hot 2020 season title, hurled 8 brilliant 1 hit innings as F. Freeman, the best of the lot and a great, so rare modern player HR’d to yield (1-0) L.A. T6.
They would need the insurance run T9, and also Treinen K’ing someone to end it.
Jorge Polanco, remember he was interviewed, whose p.s. clutch hitting HAS been sensational, is pictured above.
Sea hungers for basketball as their once team “City” (Oklahoma City Thunder are current NBA champions) and the NFL Seahawks are (4-2) and in a 3 way NFC West first place tie ‘con’ the Rams and Niners, however, their “must” is at least, a first World Series appearance for the Mariners, who are top heavy “faves” vs fellow ’77 expansion team “Tor,” thus each in their 48th completed season (Tor won titles in ’92 and ’93 but is only (2-5) in previous ALCS– with that series winner going (6-1) in the subsequent World Series–only the Indians, now the Guardians, of 2016 lost in that entity as the first 6– the ’85 and 2015 Royals, the aforementioned ’92 and ’93 Jays and ’89 A’s/’91 Twins won in that entity.
There is background (say a history) and “background,” as in movie extra work and I will skip most details save (please someone!!) the fact it was so disturbingly shocking and depressing, to hear the female NBC News “sub” anchor read, that a great talented actress, Diane Keaton, had died at age 79.
She was in so many great films, all 3 so called Godfather, “Annie Hall” and one I will cite as my favorite Keaton turn and first with the great Woody Allen–(he apparently was shocked and distraught at Keaton’s passing and oh that poem about death “finding” us), in Play It Again Sam.
Before it “found” Keaton– Keaton’s performance in a role evoking Bogart, Ingrid Bergman and Paul Henreid and even trigonometry (see it does come up in life, triangles– not carrying charges) in “Sam” touches me, in a deep profound way.
“So esteemed as a comedienne, Keaton’s dramatic work in such films as “Reds,” “Looking For Mr. Goodbar,” and Mrs. Soffel was just as impressive.”
Above, were the words of dear friend Chris MacLeod, with whom I heard the sad news and below she is in the “background” in a scene with Diane and Mr. Allen in the seminal film, “Annie Hall.”
Woody Allen and Diane Keaton in the ground-breaking and trend/style setting (largely Diane’s doing) film, “Annie Hall.”
Ten seconds in, Ms. MacLeod appears.
After three more low scoring games in successive days, div round clinchers, the ’77 expansion teams (Toronto (Blue Jays) vs Seattle (Mariners) ALCS and the L.A. (Dodgers) vs Milwaukee (Brewers) NLCS are set.
L.A. made it 6 of 6 post series vs the Phils, either ending or standing (3-1), with Thursday afternoon’s shadowy and eerily similar to the ’78 NLCS, winning (2-1) in the 10 innings, clinching win in #4.
Next for the defending champion Dodgers, who as with some other storied sports teams, the St. Louis Cardinals, San Antonio Spurs and yes the New York football Giants, have never repeated as champions though the Cards (11), Spurs 4 in 16 seasons and Giants (7) copped multiple titles, is a third entity vs a Milwaukee team (’twas the Braves in ’59 in a needed playoff and the “Brew Crew” in ’18, both won by L.A.) with the N.L. title, the series winner’s prize.
Last night (all 4 runs on homers, low scoring, HR or nada and 3’s wild in the series) the Brewers prevailed (3-1), handing the Cubs a second maximum games/best of 5 series road loss in the last tilt. (Somewhat famously S.D. “Birched” the Cubs in a decisive #5 NLCS home game, while last week, these Cubs won a decisive 12/8 round third game, at home, to oust the Padres.
Seattle, which rode the great hitter and current team hitting instructor, Edgar Martinez’ series ending 2 run double to a deciding 5th game/div round win 30 years ago (first year of these div round games, entities, I have so long and continue to oppose being played) win vs the Yankees, won (3-2) in 15 innings in #5 vs the Detroit Tigers Friday night/1:15 A.M. or so in the Eastern time (do not mess with it!!) zone and next, will face the Toronto Blue Jays, the A.L. “1” seed in a 1/2 seed ALCS. (Milw is the N.L. “1” while L.A. which dispatched “2” seed Philly, is the N.L. “3” but pretty sized series favorites.
It was Bob Costas with superb TV play by play and briefly, fine analyst, Tony Kubek on the call. Both Toronto and L.A. series favorites then and now, these forty years later, took (2-0) series leads at home, but lost to the Kansas City Royals and St. Louis Cardinals respectively.
It was the far better known for his defensive prowess as a catcher, Jim Sundberg who “rung” that 3R2B and slid home just safe in K.C.’s famed #6 World Series win 10 days later. They then eased to win it all in game 7 at home, vs the Cards.
The Las Vegas Aces swept a first best of seven WNBA final series, (wrapping it in Phoenix vs the Mercury last night) that hardly registered, even with me a WNBA backer.
First of all, kudos to the Aces who won their third crown in four seasons, and their superb player, A’ja Wilson the final round MVP and both a champion and reg MVP for a third time in 4 seasons, something only the great Bill Russell accomplished in either WNBA or NBA annals.
Yet going vs the all powerful NFL and even long faded baseball, who watched and it was a sweep which had the Aces opponent been the top seed Lynx, almost surely would not have manifested.
A’ja Wilson, pictured above.
This is the sixth post-season clash between the L.A. Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies and the first such in a “div” series.
However, this is the fourth best of five entity, as their ’77,’78 and ’83 NLCS series were best of five, as is this one, which defending champion L.A. leads 2 games to 1, after the Phils were one of three teams to win must games yesterday.
The Detroit Tigers at home vs “Sea” (the Mariners) forced a decisive Friday tilt while the Cubs, also at home, get another “at Wrigley” tilt tonight, trailing 2 games to 1, vs the team which had baseball’s best “reg,” a nowhere near great (97-65), the Milwaukee Brewers.
One series ended with the Toronto Blue Jays advancing to their first ALCS since 2016 and eighth all-time, (2-5) in such, winning game 4 at Yankee Stadium vs the Yankees, whose history will remain baseball’s best, perhaps, for as long as the great, but largely ruined game is played, now for the first time, have just one title in any 25 completed or seasons period, time frame.
27 time World champions with 60 post-season appearances, that has those #’s, 9 and 11 in its math.
Back to L.A./Phil–all six series the ’08 and ’09 NLCS being best of 7 and eventually Philly’s in 5, stood/stand (2-1). The Previous 5 ended or “stood” (3-1), an occurrence L.A. hopes manifests today, in game 4 at Dodger Stadium.
The best, by far most compelling Phils/Dodgers “clash for advance,” though others with names such as Manny Mota, Vic Davalillo, Bill Russell, Gary Matthews and others provided “moments,” was the “reg” finale when the Phils up 1 game in the standings, won (4-1) in 10 innings at the Brooklyn Dodgers, to clinch the ’50 N.L. Pennant.
Above, click to view and hear what seems real play by play and excellent such, from Phils broadcaster Gene Kelly.
First view Rich Ashburn, an excellent and actual Hall of Fame player, sans a good throwing arm, easily nab Cal Abrams at home to keep the game going.
Next T/10 and I recall Dodgers rooter “Hockey” Bob Loebman recounting his meeting with Dick Sisler whose 3RHR and subsequent completion of the 10 innings tilt by the great pitcher, Robin Roberts gave the Phils just their second pennant.
He described Sisler as a tall, good looking man, the son of the truly great player, George Sisler and said to Dick, the homer was not hit very far and perhaps said it in a more disparaging, yet not too rude manner (manners, rude, oh my recall, a curse Mr. Cotten?).
“You had to buy a ticket to catch it” was Mr. Sisler’s apt reply. It was such a great game when there were true pennant, even “had to finish first” division races.
Three of the four baseball, best of five, division series yielded (2-0) leads/deficits.
In the N.L. , a third entity with the league pennant at stake between L.A. and Milwaukee is very likely, as both the Dodgers (5-3 down (3-0) in game 1 and holding on barely up (4-0), (4-3) in #2) and Brewers (up (9-1) in a game 1 (9-3) “ease” and (7-3) down (3-0) in #2), have (2-0) series leads.
L.A. won the first two at Philadelphia vs the Phillies while “Milw” tamed the Cubs in 2 home games.
In 1959, a best of 3 playoff, (technically regular season games), after the teams finished the “reg” tied manifested, in the L.A. Dodgers (in their second year after moving from Brooklyn, New York), winning 2 straight from the then Milwaukee Braves, who moved to Atlanta and began play there seven years later.
In 2018, the Dodgers in an NLCS, not “over the air’d” by Fox Network, (same this year, no matter the opponents), won in 7 vs the Brewers.
Meanwhile in the A.L. , the Toronto Blue Jays, afforded home advantage by virtue of a tiebreaker (having won the season series) routed the Yankees (11-1) and (13-7), up (11-0) in games 1 and 2, but beware the Yankees, who twice in their glorious history (still very good, but not that glorious after winning 4 titles, #’s (23-26) under Joe Torre from (’96-2000)– overcame (2-0) best of 5 series deficits, once after 2 home losses vs the then Oakland A’s in 2001 and in another Francona won/lost, in that case lost, 3 straight within a series vs Cleveland (then Indians) in 2017.
They also lost 3 straight, up (2-0) vs the Seattle Mariners, the last 3 in “Sea,” as there was a 2-3 and not a 2-2-1 format in 1995.
Speaking of “Sea,” they lost #1 in a non Skubal start but won in such in #2 and are (1-1) with Detroit, as the series shifts to Detroit and I believe its threatening weather, late this afternoon.
The ’59 Dodgers, champions in their second L.A. year, juxtaposed with Brooklyn’s vesion, which needed 52, still had some glorious Brooklyn players on the roster, including Carl Furillo, pictured above, who entered the pennant clinching L.A. Coliseum game 2 vs the Milwaukee Braves (that ended a slightly underachieving 4 seasons for a pretty special Braves team that lost the pennant to a Brooklyn clincher vs the Pittsburgh Pirates, that was slightly referenced on the fine, but of course, canceled t.v. show, “Brooklyn Bridge,” in ’56– won it all in ’57 and dissipated a (3-1) W.S. lead, losing the last 2 at home vs the Yankees in ’58, (about 36 thousand attended in a still there edifice, which seats 90 thousand or so but oh how the Dodgers have “drawn” in their L.A. years) as a pinch hitter, went 2 for 2 including the pennant winning hit in the 12th inning, snapping a (5=5) tie.
The ’72 undefeated (17-0) Miami Dolphins (remember the (15-2), (15-1) in games that mattered, ’73 ‘Phins were in many people’s opinion, including many that great team’s players and mine, better) can, if they still do, get together and celebrate another season which will end with them the only undefeated NFL champion.
After (3-2) Denver (Broncos) “early gamed” the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles their first loss, at night, the New England Patriots, now (3-2) upset the Buffalo Bills, leaving no unbeaten NFL teams with still one game left in the 2025 NFL season’s fifth week.
By far it was the 2007 Patriots, who joined the ’72 Dolphins as “reg” season unbeatens, (Miami was (14-0), New England (16-0), that came closest to matching/surely topping the ’72 Phins, however, the New York Giants, a franchise that derailed one the two other NFL “reg” unbeatens, the 1934 Chicago Bears, ’34 Bears “reg’d” (13-0), another great Bears team the ’42 version and 2 time champions were (11-0) in the reg but denied by Wash in the title tilt) won the Super Bowl match, leaving “N.E.” (18-1) and in the third year of no crowns after winning 3 in 4 seasons.
The great Bronko Nagurski, a member of many great Chicago Bears teams, including title game winning ones in 1933 (year of the first NFL Title game, before that there were “reg” unbeatens, who did not have to play in a title game), and 1943 is pictured above.
Going “current,” next week it is Chi/Wash, with last season’s “Wash” “Hail Mary Game” win vs Chicago, a if not the key game in each team’s season–Wash being successful and not so ‘por’ Chi.
Andy B Sports 