For the first time in franchise history, the Cleveland Indians will open the ALCS at home, when they meet the Toronto Blue Jays in game 1 scheduled for Friday night. If they are fortunate enough to win the upcoming series, they would open the World Series at home for the first time.
Both teams swept their division series in three straight games.
Cleveland eliminated Boston (Red Sox) for a fourth time in either a division series (thrice) or an unscheduled playoff for the American League Pennant, which was the case in 1948, the last time the Indians won the World Series. Boston eliminated Cleveland one time, in a 1999 division series.
Meanwhile Toronto made it six straight division series game victories against the Texas Rangers, the first three coming last season, when they overcame a (2-0) series deficit and won the series.
I think the series will be considered virtually even, my first “notes,” if you will, are the consecutive letters of the alphabet “F,G,H” pertaining to the series.
The managers are “F,” Terry Francona and “G,” John Gibbons, and here’s a shocker coming from me, each team’s lead radio announcer is at least very good.
The Blue Jays’ Jerry “H”owarth is very good, while the Indians’ Tom “H”amilton is considered outstanding by both the great, great broadcaster Joe Tait and by me.
It is already pretty well publicized that Christopher Reeve was a truly good person, surely with faults as with all of us, and thus in light of his tragic demise, it might be difficult to watch him on a Dick Cavett Show, airing tonight at 8 p.m. on Decades.
Do not let that stop you, as it was a most revealing interview, conducted by a brilliant man with a near brilliant, so talented and knowledgeable interview subject.
Once when I was dating an outgoing woman, (call her “The Marching Girl,” which she did not like, but tolerated), she called to me from the top of a hill, with me sitting in my car, waiting for her seemingly endless shopping to cease (actually I did not mind it all that much then and certainly would not now, with that sentiment even more fervent, regarding my mother concerning that activity/sometimes necessity).
The “message” was that Christopher Reeve was at the top of that hill, and I should come meet him.
My comment to Mr. Reeve was not about his work, which I did admire so, but about the surprising 1989 Baltimore Orioles. He was so classy in responding in a positive way and so friendly to the people around him.
I do not know about “reasons” as in “I am sure God has them,” but Mr. Reeve’s intelligence, charm, insight and talent all on display, are all good reasons to watch The Dick Cavett Show, even if you stay up for the 2 a.m. airing of the show on Decades.
Christopher Reeve, pictured above.
I thoroughly enjoyed watching the television show, “The Millionaire” which was featured on “The Decades Binge this past weekend.
The show starred “another” Marvin Miller and truly took a revealing look at people’s character and heart. Episodes started with a character receiving a cashier’s check for a million dollars, tax free, from an anonymous benefactor.
As the television audience we knew he was “John Beresford Tipton,” but never saw him, only hearing the voice of Paul Frees as “Tipton” in every episode.
During the course of the weekend, I saw David Janssen, Lee Meriwether and a truly fine performance by John Anderson.
An episode directed by Robert Altman, who went on to great success in film, also was shown. It was great to see the show, “The Millionaire” again.
Maybe someone will approach me with a cashier’s check for a million dollars, sure and I have swamp land….
Marvin Miller as “Michael Antony” gives the actress, Inger Stevens “Barbara Perkins” (I researched it) a check for one million dollars on the television show, “The Millionaire.”
Yesterday, the Washington Nationals managed by Dusty Baker, squared their division series vs the L.A. Dodgers at a game apiece. L.A. was a series favorite before it began, became prohibitive favorites up (1-0) with a road win and now I say, will still be over 2 to 1 favorites.
Baker is in his 18th post-season series, (10 as a manager, 8 as a player) and in only two of them was his team down (2-0), without winning the series.
Four times his team has been down (2-0), twice winning the series in 1981, his lone title, that as a player with the Dodgers, of course the team he is managing against in the current division series.
Only in a 1997 division series as Giants’ manager vs the eventual title winning, Marlins and as Cincinnati Reds’ manager in a 2010 division series vs the Phillies, was a Baker team either swept, or down (2-0) without coming back to win the series.
Dusty Baker, pictured above.
So far today “mucho” criticism of others, how about some for my (1-4) record on last week’s predictions, the take the loser/loser/underdog vs the winner/winner/favorite “system” (in a classic All in the Family Rafael Campos as “Little Emanuel asked Carroll O’Connor’s “Archie Bunker” “what is this SYSTEM?!”) going (0-4), three of those predictions, being ousted in the “teaser,” the Jets by a half point.
Despite that result, but with a still fine (11-5-1) record, I offer four predictions/suggestions all again going with the “system” cited above.
The (1-3) New York Jets have a (1-8) record all-time at Pittsburgh (that includes a loss in the 2010 season AFC title tilt) where today they are almost 10 point underdogs (likely will be 10 or more by game time) vs the (3-1) Steelers.
Pitts just routed the K.C. Chiefs in a nationally televised Sunday night tilt. It may not work today, but with all the “kids from Canarsie,” as the complicated “Howie Schtunk” called them, “predicting” Pittsburgh, I say Jets, at least to cover. (23-20) either way.
No comments but these predictions/suggestions.
7 point favorite tonight and in their most recent game, a 7 point win vs the Detroit Lions, so it is not a clear “system” game, Green Bay 29 “Hack” Giants 24.
I am high on the Oakland Raiders, my lone winner last week but will go with the “system.”
3 plus point favorite Oakland 24 San Diego Chargers 21 in overtime.
The last one, the above referenced Lions a 3 plus point “dog” to upset the Philly Eagles.
Rafael Campos, who played “Little Emanuel,” referenced above on “All in the Family,” pictured above was also in “Blackboard Jungle” and at one time married to the great singer, Dinah Washington.
Ms. Washington was also married to one of the greatest Detroit Lions’ players ever, arguably the best, Dick “Night Train” Lane.
Six games a six pack of “overs” in this broadcaster Verne Lundquist’s final year of SEC football on CBS television.
Verne was in typical form, bumbling the fact Navy was leading on its way to a big upset win at Houston, saying they trailed.
Worse he stated “he throws DEEP, on a 2nd down 11, 7 yard completion.
Elsewhere MLB Network’s Dan Plesac said the Cubs would not fear Madison Bumgarner if they were up 2 games to none. They would not fear him, in my opinion, no matter what, but it is so obvious to state they would not up (2-0).
The fine “Awful Announcing” ripped into egomaniac Chris Berman’s insistence on announcing a “pig” game a year, when he has no clue how to do so. It can be found on “Awful Announcing.”
I add, at least on television, you can turn him off and more important are not dependent upon him for game information. Listening to him give television calls, on the ESPN Radio broadcast of the Toronto/Texas game 2, while in traffic, surely denied my constitutional right to not suffer “cruel and unusual punishment.”
Analyst Rick Sutcliffe was horrible, I saved the recording and will deal it out if necessary.
Finally listen to Dan Schulman’s call of Baez’ home run in game 1. His voice went down twice and it took him far too long and at best he played it far too safe, before telling the audience it was a home run.
Contrast that with Giants’ announcer Jon Miller, the man Schulman replaced as the radio voice of the World Series, an honor Schulman does not deserve, certainly not over Miller.
Jon’s call though against his team was loud, voice up, exciting and on the play. Mel Allen, Vin Scully, Earl Gillespie, Jack Quinlan, Jon Miller, among other greats have been afforded the honor of calling the World Series on radio, Schulman, though not unbearable, should not be on that list!
Two greats associated with the Chicago Cubs, Jack Quinlan on the left, Ernie Banks on the right.
Click below to read Matt Yoder’s post regarding the awful work of Chris Berman and Trent Dilfer on the 49ers opening night rout of the Rams. To this point, the Niners have not won since that game and the Rams have not lost. That of course will change but mercifully we will not have to endure Berman on either baseball or football “play by play” the rest of the current seasons and if some sense prevails and Berman, for once can check his ego “at the curve,” ever again.
CHRIS BERMAN AND TRENT DILFER’S ANNUAL MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL CAMEO WAS A BROADCASTING HORROR SHOW
Posted by Matt Yoder on Sep 15, 2015 11:45
He can still be correct but based on recent, if not all his history, Mr. Christopher Russo will be wrong again. I actually say this in a light manner, but what a week of bad predictions for Russo!
Both he and Peter Gammons, the latter picked the L.A Dodgers for last place in 1988, when they last won the World Series, picked the Orioles. It was the Blue Jays.
Russo then picked the Mets, it was the Giants.
Next he picked the Giants in 5 vs the Cubs. It could still happen, but it is very unlikely. By the way, no reason the Cubs should not win the Madison Bumgarner start in game 3 and certainly no reason for the next “Chi” home game to be game 1 of the NLCS, on Saturday October 15th.
I “knew”/at least felt strongly, that the Cubs would win the “Costas” game 2, that is one reason seemingly illogical, why there fortunate win in game 1 was so important.
Alas, though correct thus far, as stated I was not about to “suggest” giving huge odds with “Chi,” but would have taken the Cubs if they were down (1-0).
The great pitcher, Mordecai Brown pictured above. Hopefully before, during or after the MLB Network telecast of the Cubs win vs the Giants last night, an even more important Cubs’ win vs the then New York Giants, exactly 108 years earlier was cited. If it was not, that is shameful!
Mr. Brown hurled the Cubs to a pennant clinching win in that “make up” game, which itself is quite a story, on October 8, 1908, the last year in which they won the World Series.
Both the Cleveland Indians and Toronto Blue Jays have (2-0) leads in their division series series and if each team wins as is likely, but far from certain, the Cleveland Indians, who also have never opened a World Series at home, would open a League Championship Series at home, for the first time.
The Indians and Blue Jays have combined to go (9-0) in as many games, all significant, four vs Boston and after the first four last Saturday and Sunday respectively got the Jays into the ‘offs and Cleveland home advantage vs Boston, the next four have made a Jays/Indians ALCS, opening in Cleveland, somewhat likely.
Of course anything can happen and there is precedent for an opposite result or two, involving the teams.
Certainly it is less likely the Texas Rangers now (1-11) in home division series games, will battle back to win vs Toronto, as the next two games are in Toronto.
However, though it, as so much in their history went against them, perhaps, the Rangers can rally around the fact that last year they won the first two games in Toronto, only to lose there, in the decisive 5th game of that division series.
There is plenty of precedent and hope for the Red Sox. Most of all the franchise broke an 86 year title drought, winning 3 titles in a 10 season span led by the great David Ortiz, now perhaps to be playing his final game. They are not the “cursed” Red Sox of those 86 years, sans a title.
They also return home as was the case after falling down (2-0) in division series they eventually won AT CLEVELAND in 1999 and at Oakland in 2003. Boston also won 3 straight vs the Indians, after falling down 3 games to one, in the best of seven ALCS in 2007.
It is not much of a call now, albeit far from certain, but Cleveland which opened the ALCS on the road in their four previous ALCS appearances vs four different teams, (Seattle in ’95, Baltimore in ’97 which were ALCS wins by the Indians and in losing efforts vs the Yankees in ’98 and the aforementioned 2007 ALCS vs Boston) is quite likely to open their 5th at home, vs the Toronto Blue Jays, a week from yesterday.
Sixty years ago today, Don Larsen pitched the only no hit game in World Series history, a perfect game vs the Brooklyn Dodgers, in the pivotal fifth game of the 1956 World Series.
The Yankees took a (3-2) series lead winning vs Sal Maglie, long a Dodgers’ rival with the New York Giants, who allowed 2 runs, 5 hits in a nice effort, and went on to win the title (9-0) in game 7.
Larsen, whom I met around the time of the 50 year anniversary of his gem, talked about his efforts vs the Yankees in the 1962 W.S. another 7 game triumph for the “Bombers,” an incredible 20th in a 40 year span (1923-1962), that one vs Larsen and the S.F. Giants.
Amidst the continuing baseball division series, and a full day of NFL action, the WNBA Finals, a truly good matchup between the defending champion and top seeded, Minnesota Lynx and the second seed Los Angeles Sparks.
The Lynx are about eleven to five favorites, bidding for a fourth league title in six seasons.
I believe the Sparks will provide a great challenge to the Lynx and may even pull off an upset victory.
It is unfortunate the WNBA Finals have so much other “sports competition,” especially vs big time pro football tomorrow. Tune in, the games are well worth watching.
Andy B Sports 