Both League Championship Series are set after both the Dodgers and Guardians nee Indians won home decisive 5th games well within 24 hours as Cleveland’s game vs the Detroit Tigers was moved up 7 hours to a 1 P.M. Eastern Time start today Saturday October 12th.
Next the Dodgers are roughly 9 to 5 favorites vs the Mets in a 1988 NLCS redux, which was won in the maximum 7 games by L.A. en route to their one totally “legit” or one can say full season crown since winning in 7 at Minnesota in 1965.
The Mets swept the Dodgers in 3 straight “div” series games in 2006 before losing to the eventual champion Cardinals in a 7 game NLCS.
Nine years later, this time the Mets won a decisive game at L.A. doing so in #5 of a 2015 division series. All three previous Mets/Dodgers post-season series ended in L.A. where a fourt such entity will begin tomorrow night.
New York (Yankees) have also “opened” as about 9 to 5 “faves” vs the Guardians nee Indians, who first on Thursday past, rode David Fry’s key 2RHR (5-4) at Detroit, ending an 11 game ‘offs losing skein when facing elimination and then today broke an eight game “decisive” game losing streak, getting another multi run, Saturday afternoon home tilt home run from Lane Thomas, today a “slam” off presumptive A.L. Cy Young winner, Skubal in a (7-3) win.
Only once before had the Guardians won a decisive tilt, that in ’97 when they 5’d the Yankees in the “div” series.
Bernie Williams flew out to end the 1 year reign of the Yankees but 3 years later caught Mike Piazza’s drive to center, clinching a 4th Yankees crown in 5 seasons.
The Yankees are (4-2) vs “Cleve” in post-season entities, winning the lone previous LCS between the teams in ’98 and also winning “Div” series in 2017 and 2022 plus a bubble “B.S.” 16 to 8 round? in 2020.
Cleveland’s other series win vs the Yankees, who have won 27 crowns to the Cleveland franchise’s two was in a 2007 “div” series, most famous for the invasion by bugs during game 2 in Cleveland.
Above, left to right, pitcher Steve Gromek and Larry Doby are in a picture that as with an Elton John, I guess Bernie Taupin song, “sad songs,” SAID SO MUCH.
On another Saturday afternoon 1 P.M. start in Cleveland Gromek won and Doby homered in a (2-1) “Cleve” win that put them up 3 games to 1 in the ’48 World Series, the last one and second that Cleveland won.
They failed to wrap in #5 the next day before their huge Municipal Stadium throng but did so in Boston, where they had won a 1 game ‘off vs the A.L. Red Sox to win the pennant, the next day.
The New York Yankees (3-1) and (3-1), and now (4-1) in series, 80 percent, “only” (12-9) 57 percent in post-season games vs K.C. , have joined fellow N.Y. team, the Mets, who are to be in their (10 less), 9th LCS, as the two known 2024 LCS entrants.
They will play the winner of tomorrow’s decisive 5th game with series underdog Detroit (Tigers) a “Skubal driven” slight “fave,” at Cleveland (Guardians, nee Indians, hoping to, as Michigan did earlier in fateful, same calendar as certainly fateful, ’68, can title for the first time since 1948).
Once before their great glory, still by far– they have baseball’s best history was tarnished at least a bit, when Boston overcame (3-0)– they were (10-1) in LCS play and are now (11-7) with 5 straight losses.
Detroit is (3-0) vs the Yankees in post-season, topped only by the Astros, who they eliminated this year and are (4-0) vs the Yankees.
The “Det” manager, A.J. Hinch guided the “Stros” to 3 of the 4 series wins vs the Yankees, Dusty Baker en route to his lone managerial and non strike season crown, managed the other.
The Yankees clinched victory in their first ALCS, that also vs K.C. (Royals) when tied B9 and after bottles were thrown, Chris Chambliss “solo’d” the Yankees to a (7-6) #5 victory.
ABC coverage on this video.
I started my remembrance of the great, exciting, (is it redundant to say colorful?), Luis Tiant, who died days back at age 85, with a positive video of Luis facing Pete Rose as the first batter of what turned into a classic 1975 World Series. (Broadcasters in order of “appearance” are Curt Gowdy, Tony Kubek and Dick Stockton).
Of course each starred in that World Series, Tiant winning twice and the Red Sox 3 wins in the 3 Tiant starts while Pete was the Series MVP.
Alas another of course is that neither Luis or Pete made the Hall of Fame while alive. Sad and wrong and I will leave it there.
Mr. Tiant, (another Mr. Tiant, his father was a great pitcher, denied opportunity, who I believe was lauded by Babe Ruth), had an incredible 1.60 ERA in 1968.
He was not allowed back in Cuba and did not see his parents for 14 years, setting the scene for Mr. Tiant Sr. to watch son Luis shutout the mighty Reds in game and also entertain with his baserunning after getting a base hit.
Truly memorable the game, the inning and the great Luis Tiant.
Luis Tiant, pictured above.
It is a 3 year Philly team, in this case the Phillies, regression, a la the one of the Erving (Julius) (how many did he “owe” before they bought Moses and he “Malone’d” them to the “promised land” in ’83) teams of (’77-’79) and (’80 and ’81), which lost final rounds, semis and then “qtrs” then a final, semi then final before ’83), as in 3 straight years they have lost a final, semi, and “qtr.”
Meanwhile the Mets now (5-0) in “division series,” rode Francisco Lindor’s (he has been incredible during this frenetic 10 days/8 meaningful games, (6-2) Mets run that has manifested in their 9th NLCS appearance (5-3) in previous) 1 out grand slam HR/B6 to (4-1) and 3 games to 1 the Phillies, the regressed Phils.
Elsewhere, while the Tigers (3-0 vs the Guardians, the latter scored 5 runs, B1 of #1 and have scored but 2 runs in the 26 subsequent innings, both in the (7-0) game 1 win, and Yankees, winning a first Wednesday ‘offs game vs K.C. (Royals) in 5 tries, took (2-1) series leads–’twas L.A. (Dodgers) early and often at San Diego (Padres) to force a decisive 5th game Friday/Kol Nidre night in L.A.
Probably more subtle and less effective (ode to Casablanca), but above, view Bill Walton one of 7 sports greats I shall cite now, surely there were others, the other six– (Jerry West, O.J. Simpson, Willie Mays, Orlando Cepeda Pete Rose and now with a remembrance post forthcoming Luis Tiant and alas think of Hall of Fame “discussions/arguments” regarding all but Mr. West. Can you? Write in.), we lost this year, and his Blazers 6 ing #6, Julius Erving and Philly, the first of 6 such fails/owes after Erving, with promise to win the title, jumped to Philly, before they annexed Moses, from the burning bush, I mean Houston and he led their arrival in the ’83 “Promised Land.”
Both the New York Mets and San Diego Padres, each a wild card entrant who have done this before, won home game 3’s yesterday and lead their best of 5 division series vs teams that finished well ahead of them in the ought to count for more, I say all regular season, the Philadelphia Phillies and L.A. Dodgers (their situation is a “joke” as year after year they finish ahead in their one eighth “div” only to be toppled by a team with a lesser record) respectively.
Let’s give Mets notes. They are in their 11th post-season in this their 63rd season, 62 completed (no completed season in ’94) as they started, 62 years ago in 1962 with me having good memories of listening to their games on radio, having loved their broadcasters, unfortunately a near opposite is the case now.
In their previous 10 post-season appearances, twice with legitimate 100 or more wins teams (100 in ’69, 108 a magical good luck # in ’86) they won it all.
Twice they lost early in bogus, even more so than “div” series, in which they are (4-0) in previous and up (2-1) in this (by the way, I predict a la 2015 they will lose #4 today at home but win on the road in decisive #5) 10 to 8 in 2016 and 12 to 8, 2 years ago in 2022.
They lost thrice each in LCS (there they are (5-3) and World Series play (2-3) having lost in the ’88,’99, and 2006 NLCS in respectively 7,6 and 7 games while their W.S. losses were in 7 games to the second of three straight Oakland A’s title teams (now again playing off Gertrude Stein–there is no A’s team THERE) in 5 to a Yankees team under former Mets manager Joe Torre won a third straight crown and 4th in 5 seasons and to K.C., their second, 30 years after their first, that in 2015.
A first, in this the 30th possibility (’95-2024) as all four, best of five, baseball division series are tied at one game apiece.
First the Phillies at home and then in chronological order and on the road, San Diego (Padres), Detroit (Tigers) and K.C. (Royals) bounced back from game 1 losses to win game 2.
Today now at the Mets, it is #3 vs the Phillies, as the two are meeting for the first time in post-season play.
Later at San Diego, the Dodgers now series underdogs and with only 1 crown and that in a questionable “sitch,” to say the least, to show for their previous 10 one eighth “div” titles starting in 2013, before garnering (ode to the fine actor, James Garner, who I once saw driving a cool sports car, when as a 13 year old on a last vacation with my parents probably as a “Ba” Mitzvah reward, from a bus, Universal? Studio(s) tour) an eleventh this season, play #3 at S.D.
Tomorrow in a fourth out of 5 such, (1-1) Yankees/K.C. series, a # 3 Yankees at K.C. tilt (only other #3 at K.C. was a Royals win, however, the Yankees with Al “Sparky” Lyle hurling 5 and one third scoreless innings in relief in game 4, won the next 2 and the series, before (4-2 ‘ing) “my,” then Dodgers, to cop the ’77 crown) follows #3 Cleveland at Detroit.
In this baseball post, I impart that Detroit and Cleveland clashed in 4 NFL final round entities/NFL Title games from (’52-’57) and 3 straight from (’52-’54).
Detroit’s Lions beat Cleveland’s original Browns in 3 of those, (’52,’53 and ’57) with a late Bobby Layne to Jim Doran TD pass the decisive play in the at Detroit, ’53 tilt, one that remained an indelible early life memory for the late, excellent broadcaster, Dick Enberg.
This is the first ever Cleveland vs Detroit baseball post-season clash.
The New York Liberty, now a (-280) “fave” to win their first WNBA crown (once either the Lynx or Sun are established as their final round opponent (beginning Thursday, just 2 days after the decisive 5th between home standing Minne (-4 plus) and Connecticut (Sun), they will be less of a “fave,” but still a pretty big one), advanced to their second straight final round and 6th in franchise history, (they are (0-5) in such, having lost in 4 of them in the WNBA’s first 6 seasons (’97-2002) and then last season, ending the two year reign of the Las Vegas Aces despite, I believe partially due to their “3 -Peat” hype, which included affiliated Tom Brady, yes that one, “egging it on.
Ionescu, (how did they get her and it was before last season they became “the loaded Liberty,” and in that 2023 season, “L.V.” (3-1’d) them in the final), had 20 as the Liberty reversed that this season, finalizing it (76-62) (+3) yesterday, making the Liberty (6-1) vs the Aces, this season, (3-0) in the “reg.”
Sabrina Ionescu, when an Oregon University player, is pictured above.
It will not quite, (likely nowhere near), have the impact of past multiple upset days in college football, however, let’s note (with past notes and a tale of two(pronounced) Lees, one being the Vanderbilt All-American basketball player, Clyde (Lee), now 80 years old and teaching yoga, as it has helped alleviate pain he suffered during his great career at Vanderbilt University and later a fine 10 year such, in the NBA).
Why the Lee’s, yesterday? Vanderbilt, coached by Clark Lea (pronounced Lee), a 3 touchdown plus underdog, upset top ranked Alabama.
I surely saw a closer than perceived tilt, as a Crimson Tide (Alabama– ode to “Steely Dan”) letdown after their win vs Georgia, but an outright Vandy shocker, is just that. Then again …. Mr. Saban is in studios also doing ads and there is a 12 team, triple last season’s number, in college football.
Vandy an aforementioned 3 TD plus underdog WON, while fellow “stater,” Tennessee, lost as a 17 point “fave” vs Arkansas.
In ’98 when Tennessee claimed their lone crown since 1938 (one day more on mythical national titles, which is part of the “brew” leading to a 12 team ‘off), they needed a miracle win vs Arkansas, getting a fumble and possession, when victory appeared all but hopeless. (Think Giants 1990 at S.F. in the NFC title tilt).
Surely ‘Bama and Tennessee remain in and might even be favorites to make the ‘off while almost certainly neither Vandy (an excellent school, remember school/academics, by the way) or Arkansas has even a remote chance to do so.
However, what a day for each team!! “Ark” has had some great football moments while this for Vandy has to be either top or certainly near it, for what is again a fine learning institution, which often, with notable exceptions, makes winning in sports such as football, much more difficult, if not nearly impossible.
Click above to view Tennessee’s “must have” incredible win vs Arkansas, of course the team that toppled them last night, which propelled them to a win in the first official college title game, that vs Florida State.
All four “legitimate,” best of 3, unscheduled playoffs for the N.L. Pennant involved the Dodgers, the first two while they played in Brooklyn (a 2 straight loss to the eventual W.S. winning, Cardinals in ’46 and a 3 games loss to the New York Giants in ’51) and the other 2 when in L.A. where they play now, (a 2 straight win with #2 won “at the plate” vs the then Milwaukee Braves in ’59 and another heartbreaking October 3rd loss to the S.F. Giants in ’62).
When the Mets, highlighted by Pete Alonzo’s 3 run home run that transformed a (2-0) deficit into a (3-2) lead in an eventual (4-2), decisive 3rd game win at Milwaukee (Brewers), the “blast,” 73 years to the date after Bobby Thomson’s pennant winning 3 run blow, the game 1 winner in a non bubble/pandemic affected 2 of 3, is (16-0), (I believe (22-2), counting the 2020 “stuff” —the ’55 Dodgers started (22-2) and talking about the far more important topic of conflict and continual loss of life, in the so called Middle East, NPR correspondent Jane Raff said started as I typed it).
Now and I add only that Milwaukee baseball teams have now blown a 3 run lead in a game in which they were eliminated in (#2/’59 at L.A.) and with a 2 run lead at home, days back vs the Mets in decisive game 3, in games that eliminated said “Milw” teams in best of 3 series, — the “qtrs” begin with 4 tilts today, Detroit (Tigers) a slight series u/dog at Cleveland Guardians nee Indians followed by the first ever, Mets/Phillies ‘offs tilt with the homestanding Philadelphia Phillies a 9 to 5 favorite, next a 5th best of 5, 2 to 1 series “fave” Yankees/K.C. Royals, this in a “qtr,” the other 4, in 4 remaining teams, ALCS and last but certainly not least, Dodgers say (-140 series) vs the San Diego Padres.
Today and after Bobby Thomson’s HR was a bit slighted, (his to win the pennant remains far more important than the still obviously important one hit by Alonzo, the Mets, who deserve so much credit, under Carlos Mendoza, face the Rob Thomson managed, Phillies.
Alas, Robbie Thompson of the Giants, also hit a key nowhere near as dramatic but certainly important, 3RHR, that in a game 3/1989 NLCS win vs the Cubs, on a day/night, news came that the great performer/actor/actress Bette Davis had died.
Above click to view regarding what is a largely forgotten and arguably the and certainly among baseball’s most important home runs hit by Hal Smith (pictured above), transforming a (7-6) Yankees lead into a (9-7) Pirates’ advantage, in an eventual (10-9) win in #7/’60 W.S.
I will not do to Bill Mazeroski’s so obviously all-time if not THE all-time and certainly the only decisive game/last play of a World Series homer as I note he hit the second pitch B9 in that most memorable tilt, more or less where Smith hit his (over Yogi’s (Berra) head and the 406 foot mark at venerable Forbes Field, to lift “Pitts” (10-9) and to their first crown in 35 years.
Three of the four “12 to 8” round best of three series ended yesterday with 2 game sweeps, making it 10 such in the 12 possibilities since this ridiculous extra round was instituted.
1969 was among much else, (Woodstock, moon landing and the Mets “miracle” crown) the first year of LCS play and of 4 franchises, the Kansas City Royals, San Diego Padres and the Seattle Pilots, who after one year in “Sea,” became the Milwaukee Brewers and the Montreal Expos, now the Washington Nationals.
This “shotgun” round of ‘offs has three of those teams and all 3 of their opponents were in those first League Championship Series back in ’69.
The Royals have handed the Baltimore Orioles, the ’69 baseball runners-up, a 10th straight post-season loss, 6 at K.C.’s hands (they swept the O’s in the 2014 ALCS), and 4th straight ‘offs entity loss all with different “best ofs” and all resulting in their opponent getting the “best of” Baltimore. (Aforementioned K.C. in a best of 7 in ’14, Toronto in a 1 game entity in ’16, eventual champion Texas (Rangers) in a best of 5 div series last year and now K.C. in the yesterday completed best of 3.
Also yesterday the ’69 expansion team Padres completed a 2 game sweep of the 1969 N.L. runnerup, Atlanta Braves.
A third ’69 expansion team vs a ’69 LCS qualifier series these 55 years later has gone to a decisive third game as the Brewers nee ’69 expansion team (Seattle) Pilots won game 2 after losing game 1 to the franchise, the Mets that stunned in ’69 by winning it all.
This makes it 4 out of 4 times that a baseball post-season series contested between teams from New York and Milwaukee has gone the maximum # of games. (I am not saying Sciambi ought to have known that or a note involving the last Milw win down into the 8th
In both ’57 and ’58, the World Series between the Yankees and Milwaukee Braves went to a decisive 7th game while the unscheduled, strike caused “qtr” or actual “div” series for the A.L. East title between the Yankees and Brewers went to a decisive 5th game and now Mets/Brewers to a decisive third game.
In the other tilt, the Tigers, playing on the exact 56 year anniversary of their game 1 ’68 W.S. loss to the Cards, whose great Bob Gibson broke Sandy Koufax’s one game strikeout mark that game, eliminated the Houston Astros denying Hous (2 titles and 2 W.S. losses in those 7 seasons) them a chance at eventually tying the Braves’ 8 straight LCS appearances (that team, with its over rated pitching staff managed but one title, going (1-4) in World Series play and losing their last 8 such games to the Yankees) a chance for a record tying 8th straight LCS appearance.
The three teams that have advanced from the “12 to 8” to the tournament “Qtrs,” were 1984 LCS participants when there were only 4 ‘offs qualifiers and for the last time the LCS were best of 5 entities.
Detroit, which by the way, came back to win that ’68 W.S. with Mickey Lolich outdueling Mr. Gibson in #7, won it all those forty years ago in 1984 and not since. They 5’d S.D. with their 3 John Birch Society pitchers in the W.S. while the Royals were swept in 3 games by the Tigers in the ALCS.
Do not look now but with the “brackets” as they are, an ’84 ALCS redux and even an ’84 W.S. such are possible but certainly long shot improbable. However, stranger things have manifested.
Yesterday which was “Erev” Rosh Hashanah was the exact 56 year anniversary of Bob Gibson breaking Sandy Koufax’s one game World Series strikeout mark.
Both of these great pitchers set their records in a World Series opening game played on a Wednesday, October 2nd, Sandy in 1963 and Mr. Gibson in the “late, “not so great” 1968.
Speaking of Jewish holidays, Sandy famously did not pitch in the Yom Kippur coinciding with the ’65 W.S. opener in ’65 while Bob Gibson set the mark in that ’68 W.S. opener which I believe also coincided with Yom Kippur.
Andy B Sports 