A look at the AFC East and its corresponding baseball teams.
The New England Patriots probably should have been rewarded with more than the four Supe titles they have won during an incredible period of sustained excellence from (2001-2015).
It also was a period of time that saw Boston (Red Sox), the corresponding baseball team, first end an 86 year title drought by winning the World Series in 2004 and then add titles in 2007 and 2013.
The Red Sox are a very probable baseball tournament team this season, currently leading at least a three if not four team race in the A.L. East by a game, two games and four and a half games, the last figure their lead for tournament qualification.
The New York Mets owe the Cincinnati Reds and yes Washington Nationals’ manager Dusty Baker, some big thanks, as they are right in the thick of tournament qualification contention.
They also might add a thanks to those responsible for getting Jose Reyes, a key contributor, in the current Mets’ (14-4) run, back in baseball and to the Mets.
New York finished the season (6-0) vs the Reds and somewhat incredibly swept them in each of the past two seasons in winning 14 straight games head to head, dating back to 2014.
Meanwhile Cincy helped the Mets by recently taking 2 of 3 games from the St. Louis Cardinals.
Mr. Baker, certainly deserving of praise for a very likely one eighth division title with a fourth different team, gave the Mets an “on paper’ break, that already has manifested in a “standings” break by not pitching Max Scherzer in the recent series finale.
In pitching Scherzer a day later vs “powerful’ Atlanta (Braves), Baker, it now appears has made it so the Mets will also not face Scherzer, when the teams meet again next week in “Wash.”
Complaint department fielding calls from St. Louis and San Francisco.
After Maya Moore and Sylvia Fowles led the slight, road underdog, Minnesota Lynx to a 3 point win at L.A. vs the Sparks last night, it is very likely the defending WNBA champion Lynx will be the WNBA top seed.
Minnesota, where the Lakers once played and won 5 NBA titles before moving to Los Angeles which among many other things, is devoid of lakes, now has a one and a half game lead over the Sparks with each team having 4 remaining games.
During the regular season, the Lynx won both “at L.A.” tilts, while the Sparks won the one game played at Minnesota.
Despite those road wins by both teams, the Lynx, now the team likely to gain home advantage, should the two teams meet in the WNBA finals, all things being equal, are glad to have that advantage, should they maintain it.
Sylvia Fowles, last year’s WNBA Finals MVP, pictured above.
The NFC North has one definite “corresponding” baseball tournament and one with a possible tournament entry.
Chicago with the NFL Bears has two baseball teams and while the White Sox will not be in the tournament, the Cubs have baseball’s best record, will almost certainly be the N.L. “one seed” as they enter the tournament in the quarterfinal round.
Detroit with the NFL Lions, has a corresponding baseball team, the Tigers, 32 years removed from their last title, that sits 4 and a half games behind the Cleveland Indians in their division, but only one game behind, in what is now a scramble for tournament entry in the American League.
Neither the Green Bay Packers nor the Minnesota Vikings, will have corresponding baseball teams in the tournament.
Both the Milwaukee Brewers (linked with the Packers who played many games in Milwaukee en route to NFL titles under Vince Lombardi including a divisional playoff game in 1967, but no longer make the travel “leap” from Lambeau Field, to play in Milwaukee) and Minnesota Twins will not be in the baseball tournament.
Those two teams are linked to and by the great player, but current last place manager with the Twins, Paul Molitor, once, a star player with the Brewers.
Today as “Decades” airs/aired “Family Affair,” which as was the case with the more action oriented “Star Trek,” “Mission Impossible” and “hey hey,” even “The Monkees” began around, or exactly this day, 50 years ago, (it is the same calendar as 1966), I thought of my father.
Some years after my father died, my mother told me he had worked with or at least knew, “Family Affair” star, Brian Keith.
My father was never as rugged as Keith seemed to be, nor was he ever as gentle as Keith was in a changed role for him, as “Uncle Bill” on “Family Affair.”
Yet he was my father and my mood brightened even amidst the darkening skies when he appeared on a 1975 audio tape, that included Manuel Orantes’ upset win vs Jimmy Connors, in the U.S. (Tennis) Open Finals.
My dad was talking however briefly, (if only there was more recording done. If you are lucky enough to still have your parents, cherish that fact and begin recording them. That is can’t miss advice!) about the need for a team to have speed in baseball.
Also it seems he paid 20 dollars of a 25 dollar bill I owed, or maybe it was to put gas in the car,( knowing the two of us I am surprised it was not all 25).
Someone else was there, still on this earth, and one who never paid what he owed. Maybe worse, that person did not show up for the funeral of either of my parents.
Yet hearing both of them at a point in time, put me in better spirits, hoping and knowing to go on.
Brian Keith, pictured above.
There is quite a clash in the WNBA tonight as the two highest ranked teams, the defending champion Minnesota Lynx and the Los Angeles Sparks play in Los Angeles.
The teams enter the game with identical (24-5) records and essentially are battling for the one seed with the other likely to be the two seed which correctly carries more weight in the WNBA this season.
Despite being in the same (Western) conference, if the season ended today the Lynx and Sparks would each have a bye until the semi-finals and would enjoy home court advantage, even as the second place team vs any team, even the probable league three seed, and Eastern Conference regular season winning, New York Liberty.
One NFL division in which it is easy to ascertain corresponding baseball teams’ tournament hopes is the NFC South.
There will be no corresponding baseball teams in the tournament.
Two teams/cities, the defending NFC champion Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints do not have baseball teams.
The Atlanta Falcons’ counterparts, the Atlanta Braves and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ counterparts the Tampa Bay Rays are both mired in last place in their divisions and will not be in the baseball tournament.
Each of those areas/cities hopes for better (can’t be too much worse), in the upcoming NFL season.
In a continuation of where the “corresponding” baseball teams to the NFC East football teams stand, the football division has a second almost certain divisional winner in the Washington Redskins’ counterparts, the Washington Nationals.
One team/city that will certainly not have a counterpart baseball team in the baseball tournament is Philadelphia. The Eagles start Sunday, with full knowledge the baseball Phillies, although improved to this point, will not be in the baseball tournament.
The final NFC East football/baseball tandem involves two glory teams, the most glorious of all the baseball New York Yankees and the football Giants.
You cancall them New York or New Jersey, but call them an all-time “value team,” with 3 close Super Bowl wins, achieved with an aggregate 7 excruciating playoff game wins, including those 3 Supe wins.
A fourth Supe crown was won by a dominant 1986 team. As stated here before, their coach, the revered, especially by the likes of Mike Lupica, who seems to always go with the NY sizzle, Bill “Willie Boy” Parcells looked the other way, regarding football great Lawrence Taylor’s problem with drugs and alcohol. It seems Taylor was in the news the other day, “oh boy!”
In a variation of the above referenced, classic Beatles’ song, “having read the book,” I refuse to look!”
Off my soapbox—this year’s Yankees are still in tournament contention, but unlike the other NY baseball team, the Mets, are facing tougher competition toward that goal.
“Crazed dogs” indeed.
Click below to view a video of “A Day In The Life” by The Beatles.
The Beatles – A Day In The Life
Dena Blizzard and her one woman show, “One Funny Mother,” which she wrote, is sensational. Performances are at New World Stages located at 340 West 50th Street in New York City.
Ms. Blizzard is a phenomenal presence on stage.
She displays impeccable comedic timing, as she delivers funny line after funny line, regarding being a mother and wife, all while folding laundry and perhaps evoking a similarly named great, Dean, as in Martin, with some brilliant use of alcohol? within the performance.
Both before and after the show, the audience is treated to Dena’s very creative videos.
Additionally and most important to me, Dena greeted the members of the audience in a kind, humorous way making each feel comfortable.
This includes me and she liked my “Bullwinkle and Rocky” shirt. She had me long before then. “One Funny Mother” is a superb show.
Dena Blizzard pictured above.
Click below for ticket information.
One Funny Mother – New World Stages New York NY Tickets.
The upcoming week brings the NFL back into action.
Today a look at the NFC East first week schedule and how the 4 teams/cities’ baseball counterparts are faring with about a month left to play in the season.
The NFC East, with Dallas,Texas and Washington D.C. teams, houses the areas in which the 1961 baseball expansion team, the Washington Senators played.
Those areas also have almost sure baseball division winners in 2016.
When the 1960 expansion franchise, the Dallas Cowboys open their 2016 season in a likely “Joe Buck” tilt vs the New York Giants, it will be with their baseball counterparts, the Texas Rangers nee the 1961 expansion team, Washington Senators well ahead in the A.L. West.
In future post(s), a look at the baseball counterparts of the rest of the NFC East.
Andy B Sports 