First my usual history type statistics which in no way foreshadow what will happen, but I believe are worth noting.
Yesterday, when the Toronto Blue Jays staved off elimination by forcing a 5th game in their ALCS vs Cleveland, it marked just the second time in 7 such games, a team won the 5th game of an ALCS down three games to none.
The only other time it happened was the only time in either baseball or NBA history, a team came back from a (3-0) deficit to win a best of seven series.
Then Cleveland manager Terry Francona was the Red Sox skipper, who orchestrated the incredible comeback ALCS win vs the New York Yankees.
Now he is one game from being truly worried, about dissipating the series lead and perhaps a horrible loss.
On the other hand, some possible good World Series result omens are in place for Cleveland if they survive this series.
This past Sunday, 23 points was not enough for a Baltimore based team in a football game at the New York Giants. Final score Giants 27 BALTIMORE Ravens 23.
In not so arguably,pro football’s most important game, 23 points were enough to secure an overtime NFL title win for the Baltimore Colts on December 28, 1958.
Last Sunday also marked the 47th anniversary (where did the time go?!) of a New York team winning a title in a game vs a Baltimore team.
On October 16, 1969, the New York Mets won (5-3) to clinch the World Series in game 5 vs the Baltimore Orioles.
The Mets were a 100 win team that upset a 109 win Orioles’ team.
In that 1969 game and in their other title clinching win, in game 7 vs the Boston Red Sox in 1986, the Mets trailed (3-0) in what was their last possible Shea Stadium home game, in both seasons.
The Boston Red Sox title drought was extended to 68 years, after their horribly painful World Series loss in 1986.
They ended the drought at 86 years, (86 as in 1986), with a 2004 World Series win, managed by current Cleveland Indians’ manager, Terry Francona.
This season Francona and the Indians almost certainly will be in the World Series, where they hope to end, you guessed it, a 68 year title drought.
Three consecutive “double digit” years, 1966, 1977 and 1988 share the same calendar as this year and also at least a semi-final/LCS appearance by the Los Angeles Dodgers.
In ’66. ’77 and ’88 the Dodgers made the World Series, losing the first two while winning it in 1988. It remains to be determined if L.A. makes and possibly wins this year’s World Series. Currently they are (1-1) in games vs the Chicago Cubs, with game 3 tonight in Los Angeles.
The above, in a sense, “buries the lead,” as it was exactly 39 years ago on Tuesday October 18, 1977 that the great player, Reggie Jackson hit three home runs leading the New York Yankees to their 21st World Series win and first in 15 years, coming vs the Dodgers in game 6 that night in Yankee Stadium.
While the Dodgers lost game 3 of the 1988 World Series on this day and date at Oakland vs the A’s, they did win the title by winning games 4 and 5, exactly 28 years before the scheduled games 4 and 5 (they will be played as scheduled as “it never rains in Southern California) of the current NLCS to be played in Los Angeles on Wednesday and Thursday nights.
Any day is good to invoke ’70’s songs. Today I “Ernie Banks” it with two.
Click below to view Albert Hammond sing “It Never Rains in Southern California.”
Albert Hammond – It Never Rains In Southern California ( HQ ) orginal
The Dodgers win in game 2 of the NLCS came on the exact 28 year anniversary of another L.A. win behind an ace pitcher, in game 2 of the 1988 World Series with hurler, Orel Hershiser.
In the NLCS game this season, L.A. ace, Clayton Kershaw won. Unlike Hershiser, and in other great postseason pitching performances of the past, Mr. Kershaw, who is getting far too much positive publicity now and received far too much when he was not winning postseason games, did not pitch all nine innings, hurling only seven.
In game 1 of this year’s NLCS, L.A. was victimized by a dramatic home team pinch hit home run, (a bottom of the 8th inning grand slam in a tie game by the Cubs’ Miguel Montero) reversing their even more dramatic win on Kirk Gibson’s 2 out, bottom of the ninth inning, 2 run home run, that transformed a (4-3) deficit into a (5-4) win exactly 28 years earlier. (Has anyone other than me cited this and if so checked the time of day on each of those home runs? They had to be close in the time of day).
Orel Hershiser, pictured above.
Again concerning the dramatic pinch home runs, on the same date and day (Saturdays) 28 years apart in Dodgers’ postseason games, does anyone know what time the Kirk Gibson and Miguel Montero home runs were hit.
The latter was hit in Chicago and the iconic musical group of the same name, not only asked what time but if anyone cares? (what time it is). Click below to view “Chicago” sing that great hit.
Chicago – Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is? – 7/21/1970 – Tanglewood (Official)
Unfortunately, we may be in for a classic NLCS (do not rule one out in the A.L., as Toronto is returning home, albeit, down 2 games to none) as the Dodgers won (1-0) behind Clayton Kershaw (suddenly L.A. once (1-5) in such games, has won 4 straight Kershaw postseason starts, three this season and three counting last year’s game 4 vs the Mets in the division series, a win for this near great pitcher) and Kenley Jansen’s pitching with an Adrian Gonzalez home run, providing the game’s only scoring.
It figures that Gonzalez’ no pressure, early game (top 2) home run proved decisive, while his clutch two out, two run hit vs flame throwing Aroldis Chapman (top 8) the night before, was wasted.
That was because Miguel Montero hit the first ever NLCS pinch grand slam home run, giving the Cubs a (7-3) lead in an (8-4) opening game win.
The Dodgers ended a nine game NLCS road losing streak encompassing 4 such series, the first three losing ones, going (0-2) at Philly in ’08, (0-3) at Philly (vs the Phillies of course),in ’09 and (0-3) at “St. Loo” vs the Cardinals in 2013. Add the game 1 loss to the Cubs in this yet to be determined series, and it was a nine game loss skein L.A. ended last night.
Conversely the Cubs have now lost all 5 of their Sunday NLCS games. The first four came in NLCS losses, the decisive game 5 loss at San Diego vs the Padres in ’84, a loss that put them in a (3-1) hole in the penultimate NBC game from its glorious game/week package at “S.F” vs the Giants in ’89, a shutout loss to the great postseason pitcher Josh Beckett at Florida, to keep the eventual World Series winning Marlins alive in game 5 in ’03, and to the Mets in game 2 last year, when the Cubs were swept out.
An additional note sent by a distinguished reader, Michael Strauss is below.
StatsCentre
#Dodgers deal #Cubs their 1st shutout home loss in the post-season since Gm1 of the 1918 World Series vs BOS (Babe Ruth the winning pitcher).
I would say pretty good on the NFL predictions as they were (3-2), highlighted by almost calling the exact score in the Lions/Rams tilt.
On my worst prediction, the Bills rout of the Niners, the “flag football” pun/comment yielded an over.
Oh did the Browns (0-6), (3-3) try hard to cover in their loss at Tennessee and they did.
New England is (5-1) (5-1) scoring late to “KO” Cincy teasers, but at least they did not pass on the touchdown play as “Pitts” and Ben Roethlisberger did the week before to “KO” Jets’ teasers.
So the next week, one of my picks, Miami scores an outright win vs “Pitts” and Roethlisberger was injured and will miss next week’s tilt vs New England.
Obviously anything can happen, but that tilt has lost some luster. After 6 out of 6 weeks staying in watching this “stuff,” I truly want to change that next week.
Eva Gabor and Eddie Albert pictured left to right from the television show, “Green Acres.”
Despite some prescience, there was no “GREEN” in my predictions.
In the “Green Acres” theme song and show, Eva’s Lisa wants “Times Square,” while Mr. Albert’s “Oliver” craves “fresh air.”
Next week I vow to get one, if not both and avoid football.
Oh, but wait, what if the NLCS goes to a 7th game. That would be next Sunday night. More on that, in my next post.
The Cleveland Indians scored only two runs in each game, however, with Francisco Lindor having the game winning hit in each and with dominant pitching, the “Lake Erie” team has a (2-0) lead in a series as late as the LCS, for the first time in their history.
It is the second straight season the Blue Jays are down (2-0) in the ALCS, after losing Friday night and late Saturday afternoon tilts, all completed before any game was played in the NLCS, both years involving the Chicago Cubs.
In 7 ALCS appearances, the Jays have played night and then day games within less than 24 hours, six times with either the Jays’ opponent (three times) or the Jays (twice) going up two games to none.
Toronto which won 5 of 6 ALCS road games, including all 3 at “Chi,” vs the White Sox in 1993, en route to 2 straight world series victories (’92 and ’93) has now lost 5 straight ALCS road games.
The operative word is nice, as in it would be nice to improve on my (13-6-2) record on my predictions, thus far this season. (One of my “ties” was on the second consecutive Green Bay “minus seven” win by 7, last week vs the “Hack” Giants, a team somehow with as many Supe wins as the Packers and Patriots).
However, it also applies to the nice weather, with a better goal for today to get out, and be somewhat active in that nice weather.
For the record, 6 games fit the “system.” I will suggest on all five. Just the lines and my scores as predictions. Of course I made some!!
New England favored by 8 points, wins (30-23) vs the Cincy Bengals.
I say the Cleveland Browns a touchdown plus underdog, win outright (20-19) at Tennessee vs the Titans.
The Pittsburgh Steelers favored by 7 plus, edge the Miami Dolphins (19-16).
Really shaky nod to the L.A. Rams, a 3 point underdog, at Detroit (Lions) buy, pay extra, plus three and a half, a field goal game either way, say (30-27).
It will be high scoring, “flag” football (pun intended), as Colin Kaepernick and S.F. will get you the cash, (really that is what counts most in this country, try saying you stood or did not stand for the national anthem as currency, next time you enter a financial institution, and you may be headed for another “institution”) as he starts at quarterback, vs the 9 point favorite, Buffalo Bills. My score: Bills 34 49ers 27.
If you think the above is out of line, I do not apologize, but will on the next one.
In 1992, luckily for me I missed the play on which Dennis Byrd, a New York Jets’ lineman was severely injured, having left the game, after interviewing Marty Glickman and others at the game. (I am still hurt by the arrogant Bill Parcells’ refusal to be interviewed concerning a Giants’ great, Marty Glickman. I also recall him saying that day (late November) the Buffalo Bills were 3 touchdowns better than any NFC team, maybe even specifying the Dallas Cowboys, (I will give him the benefit of the doubt, that he did not). That year’s Supe: Dallas 52 Buffalo 17.).
The next week the Jets ‘inspired” by the horrible circumstances concerning Byrd, upset, you guessed it the Buffalo Bills.
Today news came that Dennis Byrd died in an auto crash. I apologize for relating tragedy and football results, which itself, is near tragic.
No disrespect intended, the Jets fit the system. 7 plus point favorite, Arizona Cardinals 21 New York Jets 17.
William Daniels, pictured above as “Captain Nice.”
Tonight in Los Angeles, but unfortunately opposite game 2 of the NLCS, involving an L.A. team, the Dodgers vs the “deemed national team,” Chicago Cubs, the Los Angeles Sparks have a chance to win their first WNBA title since 2002, when they meet the defending league champion and top seed, Minnesota Lynx, at Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Alana Beard’s game winning 2 point shot as time expired, (called a 3 point shot on what sounded like the L.A. broadcast) lifted the Sparks to a 2 point road win in game 1.
The home teams, Minnesota in game 2 and “L.A.” in game 3 exchanged easy home wins, setting up the Sparks’ possible title clincher tonight.
If Minnesota wins, a decisive 5th game would be played after three days off, on Thursday night in Minnesota.
Despite being so far off in my college pig prediction, as Alabama routed Tennessee, there were at least two good things about the outcome.
First of all, my pick with the score, indicated over and for the 7th time in as many “Lundquist farewell” games thus far this season, the total points exceeded the “Las Vegas/other places,” projected points scored.
Additionally after the audience was subjected to “aw shucks,” Peyton Manning, openly rooting for Tennessee, the Tide routing them, was almost worth being wrong.
Manning was a “non winner” in SEC play,epitomized by his (0-4) record vs Florida.
Let’s put it this way, when a “would be” Alabama back named (Bo) Scarborough (the way “Bama” recruits, he probably will be the next Johnny Musso (there’s a name) or better, raced 85 yards for a touchdown, that put the combined score “over” the total, I rooted for it.
Below, and I will remind you where to click, will be “The O’Jays’ “Love Train” which talked of “getting aboard.” Alas I never seem to, but as “non reader” “Stone” often reminds me, “that man who took the train,” is not around any longer, has not been for a long time.
Again, best advice regarding “this,” DO NOT START, but if you do, please do so in moderation. Sure it hurts to see something like this “over” streak and have as Jackie Gleason’s “Ralph Kramden” might say, “a mere bag of shells,” but trust me it is better than the utter humiliation and despair of losing “big.”
Click below to view “The O’Jays” sing “Love Train” Alas do not get me started on “knowing,” regarding the Blue Jays, their game 2 loss at Cleveland (Indians), played simultaneously to Bama/Tennessee.
A much earlier version below.
Andy B Sports 