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.
Evoking Diana Ross’ great “Touch Me In The Morning,” “Wasn’t it yesterday,” that I noted the sweeps past in the 3 previous years of a 12/8 baseball tournament round?!
Three of the four teams, down (1-0) first the Guardians at home vs the Tigers, next the Padres at Chi vs the Cubs and then the Yankees at home vs the Red Sox forced Yom Kippur day, decisive third games, the Yankees/Boston tilt on the 47 year anniversary of the Yankees 1 game playoff/163rd game win at Boston’s Fenway Park in 1978.
In yesterday’s final tilt, defending champion L.A. Dodgers trailed (2-0) but again doubled the Reds (10-5 in #1 and (8-4 ) last night and will now face the N.L. “2” seed, Philadelphia Phillies in what seems a compelling best of 5 “div” series, beginning in Philly on Saturday.
The “Francona thing” did manifest again as now 18 of his 20 post-season series resulted either in sweeps, some at most 3 in one game entities where such was assured or either his team or opponent winning at least 3 straight games within the series.
2 minutes in “Wasn’t It Yesterday (Bell?!!!) as all 3 “series squarers” never trailed in what were at least fairly competitive tilts.
Let’s start on this day of scheduled #2’s in the 12/8 baseball tournament round with the fact ten of the twelve such best of three/12/8 ‘offs series ended in 2 games with the game 1 winner advancing all twelve times.
Furthermore or “Furthermore to that”which Isabel Sanford’s character invoked to Sidney Poitier’s in “Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner,” all sixteen non covid year best of 3 series went to the #1 winner.
All four and then the last ‘off or technically an extra regular season game (just1when Houston beat L.A. in ’80) involved the Dodgers, two best of 3’s while in Brooklyn (losses to the Cards in ’46 and famously to Bobby Thomson’s game ending home run in ’51) and two in L.A. (a 2 straight win vs the Braves in ’59 but another excruciating last inning, this time at home in L.A. on another October 3rd, 11 years after Thomson or what might be “A.T.” now year 74).
Again the #1 winner won all four and 16 of 16 non covid years and (22-8) all-time counting 2020 ‘el’ Covid year.
Tito Francona, the Reds manager is in a twentieth post season entity and 17 of the previous 19 manifested either in sweeps-{some automatic as they were one game} or either a Francona team win or loss skein of at least 3 games within the series, one and the only in baseball annals, 4 straight.
Defending champion, L.A. (Dodgers) are a pretty big favorite to make it 18 of 20 on that esoteric note, having doubled Francona’s Reds (10-5) in #1.
Best 2’s of 3’s have been bad for the game 1 losing team as noted above.
Enjoy the great song.
Six teams entered Pro Football’s fourth week with undefeated, (3-0) marks and a mere two won, to raise their respective records to (4-0).
Only the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles, who beat now (3-1) Tampa Bay (Buccaneers) and the (0-4) in Supes, Buffalo Bills, who won by less than the over 2 touchdown perceived margin, vs the (0-4) New Orleans Saints, are (4-0).
Three other games manifested in a (3-0) team losing, one being the Jax Dart debut/first TD/pretty good performance, as the (1-3) N.Y. Giants upset the L.A. Chargers.
Next Dart an Ole Miss player, goes to New Orleans, hoping his Giants can duplicate the (5-0) Ole Miss
(Ole Miss won last week)
home win vs New Orleans related, now (4-1) L.S. U. on Saturday past. (Remember 12 in the college football ‘offs).
The other 2: The Rams now (3-1) by 7 on a late Matthew Stafford to Tu Tu Atwell (you/”tu” did well, real well, for “certain”), 88 yard first play of the possession, in the last 3 minutes, vs the now (3-1) Indianapolis Colts and (3-1) “Jax” (the Jacksonville Jaguars) upsetting the now (3-1) 49ers.
Both the Rams and Niners, who clash in the next Thursday tilt played at home, while the Giants scored a home win vs the Chargers. Buffalo was at home, Philly won at T.B. and there was a rare NFL tie, surely the first in NFL annals with a forty/forty (ode to Chet Forte and always the “reminder”) score, between (2-1-1) Green Bay and (1-2-1) Dallas.
If that had manifested in either the ’66 or ’67 title tilts between the two teams–then overtime, otherwise why not ties and a rare one occurred last night.
Almost surely too late and certainly unfair he was not acclaimed while walking the earth, I still elicit praise for the brilliant, unrecognized Vincent van Gogh, as below, view a Van Gogh tie.
It looks as if the Houston Astros, a team and franchise I truly like, will miss the ‘offs for the first time after eight “makes” and nine of ten.
Supposedly, the ‘Stros stole signs–(so what) however, the returning Carlos Correa, a truly fine player well past his prime, deserves criticism, as he agreed to be “mic’d” and talked on the field to the ESPN audience, with his team down (9-0) to Seattle, which ripped Houston in Houston, last week as “Sea” roared, to what almost certainly will be the A.L. “2” seed.
Forty years ago, on the reg’s penultimate day, in a real race, (the winner became 1 of 4, the one who did not was eliminated), the Blue Jays ripped the Yankees to clinch their first division crown/post-season “app,” as there was no bogus wild card presence.
Now those teams are tied in what seems and might be really important joust for being a “1” seed vs falling to a “4,” however, qualification is assured for both teams.
“Tor” up a half game, via another baseball blight, the tiebreaker, can clinch today, if they win and the Yankees lose.
Speaking of Forty Years!!
Quickly baseball to its final 3 “regs,” no playoff thus tiebreakers might decide. Holding my nose, N.L. for qualification, the Mets who last year surged and this year are “stumbling and likely to be in,” by a half game over Cincy and one plus over Arizona.
A.L. for qualification, Cleveland and Detroit (Cleve by a half for the div and its 3 seed manifestation) by one plus over the Astros.
While Seattle football Seahawks won Thursday night at now (2-2) Arizona Cards to go to (3-1), its baseball Mariners, the only one of the 30 baseball teams never to have even made the World Series (this season in which they are an almost certain 2 seed, trailing the Blue Jays and Yankees by one and a half-in turn Tor (the Blue Jays) lead the Yankees by a half for the very likely one seed), are into the tournament quarters, while Arizona’s baseball D/Backs, I believe tiebreakered out of last year’s tournie fell vs L.A.’s clinching its 12th div title in 13 seasons and as cited above are one plus behind the Mets and also a half behind the Reds.
No Bobby Thomson, Bucky Dent, Dick Sisler and others, just “stumblin in” to one of 12 (out of 30) berths.
Regular season baseball and its subsequent tournament, respectively have five days remaining and is less than a week away.
Additionally, both the pro and college football seasons are well underway.
Thus of course, tongue a bit in cheek let’s update the WNBA playoffs.
Both best of 5 semi-final round series are tied at one game apiece.
In one the top ranked Minnesota Lynx only split their two home games vs the Phoenix Mercury.
Meanwhile the Las Vegas Aces lost its home opening game before winning game 2 vs the Indiana Fever, who have made this great run sans Caitlin Clark.
Maybe that is why I choose to publicize the WNBA.
Trust me, it is not even close to the drama or greatness of the league’s 1967 pennant race when one team and one team only, qualified and gained World Series entry, however the scramble in the A.L. these 58 years later, is quite interesting.
Most interesting, is that the one eighth or not even that, “div” race that seemed Detroit’s, now has only a one half game loss (ode to Beano Cook, who ripped baseball when after the hostages were issued lifetime baseball passes, he quipped “haven’t they suffered enough?!’– yet Beano, who once loved baseball always called it the all important loss column, now even more important with no playoffs for regular season, another way the once great game is being ruined) separation, as Detroit faces an epic collapse, juxtaposed with the Cleveland Guardians nee Indians, perhaps staging an incredible comeback.
Next Detroit plays 3 games in Cleveland. Of course the non div winner might still qualify for the 12 team tournament ahead.
Also, let’s call the ’77 expansion teams, the Toronto Blue Jays and Seattle Mariners, the latter the only one of the 30 big league teams never to have even made the World Series, no less win it, the respective A.L. 1 and 2 seeds with the Yankees a very likely “4”seed.
The Det/Cleve div winner will be the “3” while Boston, Houston and the non div winner are vying for the two remaining tournament spots.
Click above to view Carl Yastrzemski’s big, game tying hit B6 of the season’s final game. They won the game, then clinched the incredible longshot pennant when the Angels gained a split in their doubleheader vs Detroit.
Detroit, Boston hmm– but again, nowhere as great as ’67, yet pretty good!!
