Some notes and updates, as baseball 2024 winds into its 12 team tournament which commences on Tuesday October 1st.
Essentially all but the N.L. West one eighth “div” winners are known as they will be the Phillies, Brewers, Yankees, Guardians and Astros.
In that N.L. West, the Dodgers sans the tiebreaker that would decide things if the teams end with identical records after 162 games, lead “S.D.” by three games (read it 2 plus in the “loss”) with 3 upcoming, at now 62 years old (started in ’62 where the great pennant race ended in heartbreaking fashion for L.A. as the Giants rallied incredibly, both in the season and the last game to win the pennant) still beautiful Dodger Stadium.
The wild card race with 4 of the 6 such teams unknown (Baltimore and “S.D.” (at least) will qualify and likely, very likely be “4” seeds and thus host all of the maximum 3 games of the best of three (12 to 8) series) is very much up in the air.
In the less complicated N.L. the Mets and Arizona (Diamondbacks) are tied for spots 5 and 6 (the Mets have the two team tiebreaker vs “Az,” as I looked up after one site had both Arizona and the Mets (4-3) vs the other), 2 games ahead of the Braves, who do have the 2 team tiebreaker vs Az and would have it with at least 2 wins in the upcoming at Atlanta 3 game set vs the Mets.
Detroit under A.J. Hinch (maybe Hinch and Det vs his ex team, Houston, also since they are in opposite A.L. brackets, a battle of brothers in law managers (Balti under Brandon Hyde and Houston under Joe Espada) in the ALCS, is possible between the ‘Stros and O’s, however, would require wins by each team as the higher seed/”Fave” followed by lower seeded, but likely slight “fave,” Houston vs Cleve and the toughest, but far from a big longshot, entailing the O’s, overtaken in “el div,” by the Yankees, but then “best of 5 ing” them in the “div” series/”Qtrs”) and sans the tiebreaker vs either Minne or K.C. has 74 losses, Minne has 75 but the tiebreaker vs either Det or K.C. while Sea, which dissipated a (4-0) lead at Texas in the 2024 champion Rangers’ last 2024 home tilt, has 76 losses.
Finally way out on the esoteric spectrum, again as in ’67, the Twins had a terrible late season Sunday at Fenway Park. Then it doomed their 1 of 2 pennant chances while yesterday’s 2 losses in a split admission “double dip” after Saturday’s rain caused game postponement, leaves the Twins “on the outside looking in,” but still with a good chance (details above) to make the 12 team tournament.
In yesterday’s second game loss as in ’67’s season final the Twins tallied 3 runs, while (“holy esoteric Batman and others) the last out was made by a Twins’ player with an alliterative name, Byron Buxton yesterday and Rich Rollins (they also had a Rich Reese, who played in that final tilt) in ’67.
Current Detroit “Mgr,” (they have won 11 of 14, to actually lead in the w/cd race) A.J. Hinch, pictured above as a Houston manager, guided the Astros to the 2017 title.
Another time I will detail about all-time value teams, both the S.F. Giants (2010,2012 and 2014) and New York Giants under Tom Coughlin, (he who sets his watch i believe it is 15 minutes ahead, a practice also in the Al Brown repertoire of great organization), in 2007 and 2011 and also from ’64 on, when going (5-0) in NFC title tilts/NFL “semis” and (4-1) in the subsequent Super Bowls, they have managed to win a so impressive 4 Super Bowl crowns, without in any of the 55, likely to be 56 other seasons, win as much as a “slots”/div round game.
The Bruce Bochy “value” is unreal and frankly disconcerting, as for example his so many bad seasons especially in and around his so impressive 4 titles, certainly leave him short of two other 4 titles winners, Walter Alston and Joe Torre, not to mention 5 time winner, Mr. Mack and a pair of 7 time title winners, all with the Yankees, and they had notable failures and in Marse Joe’s case near misses, “Marse” Joe McCarthy and Casey Stengel.
Texas (Rangers) officially eliminated this week and managed by Bochy, won the title last season going (90-72), were a wild card entrant, that to their credit, noted and praised by me–you can check my archives, went (13-4) in the ‘offs, 3 of the losses vs Houston and all 4 at home, to win the crown.
This year, however, marks a 7th losing season in the last 8.
Finally back to “Hack,” (the football Giants, still an all-time important and in many ways great franchise now in their 100th season), in ’73 they went (6-0) in “exhibition” play (sorry Alvin “Pete” Rozelle, who was a good commissioner, certainly relative, to the exponentially “owners friendly,” Goodell of Bronxville, N.Y.) and were (1-1-1) when they sojourned to Cleveland, as they do today to face what are to me, the “phony” Browns, as the Graham, Jim Brown, and still alive 99 years old, “Dub” Jones Browns moved to Baltimore (Jones’ son, Bert was a fine Baltimore Colts quarterback).
In that ’73 tilt, as I watched at home, awaiting my ride back to S.U.N.Y. Albany, Don Cockroft booted 4 field goals as Cleveland won (12-10). The Giants finished that season with a (2-11-1) record.
Maybe today, (I say the Giants plus 6 plus, at least “cover,” I said Cincy last week and they nearly outrighted K.C. , who sooner or later will fall), the Giants, at least in another game 3 at Cleveland, reverse ’73.
Cockroft was very good, however there is only one Lou “The Toe,” Groza, pictured above.
He was a great kicker and also played the line and he of course with many other great past, “real” Browns ought to have been cited along with “Automatic” Otto Graham, Jim Brown and Dub Jones.
My great memory is that on the sad Monday on which “The Toe” began kicking elsewhere, (maybe and hopefully a better place), I called Jim Brown and he expressed to me his great respect and warm feelings for as he called Mr. Groza, “The Toe.”
There is so much less drama and importance in the current Minnesota (Twins) at Boston ed Sox) (one good thing is that it is still Fenway Park as the venue, these 57 and for that matter 112 years later, though the latter number coincides with the awful event involving a ship called “The Titanic”), penultimate weekend series, but with some degree of qualification for the 12 team baseball tournament at stake, memories are evoked from the incredibly dramatic Minnesota at Boston last weekend (just 2 games Saturday and Sunday, each “beamed” nationally by NBC with Curt Gowdy), as the “1 of 2” to the World Series, great ’67 A.L. Pennant race played out.
More details: 9 days and 8 games remain for the now 4 teams truly involved in a race for the 5 and 6 seeds in the A.L. playoffs. Currently the Twins, after an extra inning win (how can this ever be truly good if you put a runner on second to start each extra frame?!!), are in the 6 seed position (not to be confused with anything in the kamasutra, but alas reduced to thoughts only, I digress), trailing current “5” Kansas City (5’s again as K.C. has lost 5 straight games), by one game, but have the two team tiebreaker.
Now, truly evoke ’67 as now, as then, while Minne is at Boston (very likely Boston, 2 under .500 and trailing 4 teams and 5 down in the loss column is out of contention, obviously an exponential difference from 1967), the Detroit Tigers are in contention, currently one and a fraction games behind the Twins (Minne has the two team tiebreaker, which would be decisive in any season ending ties in the standings, as there are no playoff games to decide even playoffs qualification, the reason being with 12 teams in, “THEY” want it (the tournament), started immediately i.e. October 1,2 and 3 with 4 (12 to 8 round) tilts the first two days and zero to four as possible quantities for (“4”) decisive 3rd games on Thursday October 3rd, the 73rd anniversary date of the most dramatic pennant story of all).
Back to glorious ’67, Minnesota came to Boston for games on Saturday September 30 and Sunday October 1, leading Boston by 1 game, making it the opposite of 1949, when the Red Sox at the Yankees, needed 1 of 2 to win the pennant.
However, unlike ’49, another team Detroit (again involved this year, hence this post so you can “thank/blame” that/them), was very much involved, as they were even in the loss column with the Twins and hence one ahead of Boston, in “the as Beano Cook often reminded, but did not invent,” “the all important loss column.”
Yet, the loss column was not quite the whole story as “Det” had the disadvantage of having to play doubleheaders both Saturday and Sunday, vs the California Angels, who played the spoiler role very well, winning each nightcap game, the Sunday tilt following Boston’s second straight win vs Minne, clinching the pennant for the 100 to 1/”Impossible Dream” Red Sox.
Carl Yastrzemski was brilliant, all-time type brilliant, down the stretch for Boston, as they won the pennant in ’67. Click above to see his 44th home run, I believe off Jim Merritt, called by the great broadcaster, Ken Coleman, on the ’67 season’s penultimate day.
Two current “race” notes, Seattle, currently 2 behind Minne for qualification but sans the 2 team tie tiebreaker,is still in contention and more interesting, Carl Yastrzemski’s grandson Mike, playing for the N.L. and out of contention, S.F. Giants, singled and scored the run that put S.F. ahead to stay vs K.C. in a (2-1) win last night.
The New York Yankees, a la the result in the 2000 ALCS, have won the first two of three games in Seattle vs the very likely out of contention, Mariners, and having been on the positive end in 6, of what is now 8 straight days of “gains” in the Yankees/Orioles battle for the one eighth “div,” have a 5 game lead over the O’s–veritable zeroes of late, having lost 8 of 10 games, however, be warned, things often change quickly in the ‘offs, witness last season when the O’s went into the ‘offs as the A.L. one seed and after a first round bye, were swept out in 3 games by the eventual champion, Texas Rangers.
5 is operative, as I cite it, not because I think the O’s have much of a shot to win that one eighth “div,” but to recall a 3 game series, 50 years ago, earlier in September (Tues 9/17-Thurs 9/19) of “same calendar” 1974, when “Balti” came to New York (Shea Stadium not “Yankee,” as it was being refurbished) and swept the Yankees in all 3 tilts.
Balti and the Yankees have split their 10 contests, thus far, and the tiebreaker/season series, but I seriously doubt any real drama, will be decided in the upcoming O’s at Yankees, Sept. 24-26th. (5-5 and 5 game lead, the Yankees won games 3 and 4 at “Sea” in the 2000 ALCS, lost #5 there, then won the pennant, clinching it at home in #6, in the last “LCS or later,” game, with Bob Costas as the lead TV broadcaster).
That win made official that an intra New York/Subway (World) Series would take place between the Yankees and Mets. It was the first such series in 44 years (Yankees 7’d Brooklyn (Dodgers), reversing the 1955 result, in ’56) and the Yankees took their 26th crown and 4th in 5 seasons, doing so in 5 games.
Speaking of the Mets, they currently are tied with Arizona, the team that denied the Yankees a 4th straight title, rallying in the bottom of the 9th inning of game 7/2001 World Series, for the second of three wild card spots, each team 2 games ahead of the Atlanta Braves, (a franchise, the Yankees, managed by ex Braves player, Joe Torre, defeated in 8 straight W.S. tilts to cop the ’96 and ’99 crowns, after losing at home in the first two W.S. tilts in ’96), for ‘offs/tournament qualification.
Oh will I have numbers(#’s) here as the baseball season heads into its tournament.
Surely, at least some will involve the Yankees and their largely great history/success.
Today’s ‘offs possibilities/meaningless A’s at Cubs game in venerable Wrigley Field, in the “as it ought to be,” light of day, comes 3 weeks shy of 95 years after the same two teams met in games 1 and (exactly) #2, of the same calendar as 2024/ 1929 World Series.
Then on Tuesday October 8th, the ’29 post-season which consisted of the 5 game Philadelphia A’s triumph (Howard Ehmke, famously “surprise starting” #1 and fanning a World Series record 13, a record that stood 24 years until Carl Erskine broke it with 14 in 1953) began. (The far too many 12 teams/2024, what amounts to a 12 team tournament commences in less than 2 weeks on Tuesday October 1st with four 12 to 8 round tilts. Despite that this year is exciting and I will have updates and try to watch).
I have cited here before how great the Philadelphia A’s from (1929-1931) (think about it they beat out the great New York Yankees, who had Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig, among other greats, to win 3 straight A.L. “flags” and World Series titles in ’29 and ’30) were and the 5 game ’29 series ended with Philadelphia (“Philly was said as I thought of typing it instead of Philadelphia) scoring 3 runs/B9 to (3-2) the Cubs in #5 with Mule Haas hitting a tying 2RHR and Bing Miller tuning in the World Series winning run.
Connie Mack, the record time A’s manager, through thick, thin and thick and long thin again, pictured above in 1927.
Although I am not a crossword puzzle participant or even a “puzzles in general” lover, NPR’s “Weekend Edition Sunday’s,” “The Puzzle” with Will Shortz is something I rarely, if ever, miss.
One reason for that is relaying the clues to one George Thomas, who gets cited here, not just for being a good, giving person, but for achieving a “hat trick,” having solved the weekly puzzle for a third straight week.
A SPOILER ALERT, as I will reveal this week’s clue and answer, as solved by George, who did so not long after having been given the clue.
George shows great acumen in solving these puzzles, which include ones played with the contestant picked, who sent in his or her entry, and the weekly one revealed at the end of the at most, 5 to 7 minute segment, airing on NPR at approximately 8:40 Eastern Time, each Sunday morning.
Question/Clue: Name a U.S. state capital followed by a world capital , say the names one after the other and together, phonetically you get an expensive dinner entree.
Ready and I will scroll down a bit for space, allowing you to think it over or go elsewhere and take your time trying to get the answer. I reveal it as proof Mr. Thomas got the answer, as stated above for a third straight week, not long after being given the question.
U.S. capital city is Dover, Delaware. The world capital is Seoul, Korea.
The expensive entree is “Dover Sole.”
Thanks for playing the puzzle and doing so, is a highly recommended way to stay focused.
Tune in this Sunday (September 22nd) to hear if George was correct, (he was) (at times there is more than one correct answer) or subsequent to then, on the NPR.org website.
I believe 13 of the 16 NFL tilts in this the second week of the 2024 season, the league’s 105th involve clashes between teams that met in previous season playoff games.
One the Seattle Seahawks at New England Patriots tilt is a redux of the famed 2014 season Supe when Mal Butler’s interception saved New England and gave Brady/Belichick and “N.E.” a 4th crown, first after 10 years and 9 seasons sans one.
Seattle had won the ’13 title ripping Peyton Manning and Denver (Broncos).
Seven other tilts this week are “semis” rematches, 4 recalling conference title games in the NFC/AFC configuration that started in ’70 and the other with the Colts sojourning to Green Bay, in a redux of the unscheduled NFL “semi”/Western Conference playoff tilt of 1965, when “G.B.” prevailed in surely fortunate fashion, (13-10) in overtime en route to the first of three consecutive NFL crowns, a feat no team has ever matched by winning title tilts, a game first played in 1933.
The other 6: Buffalo ripped Miami thursday night past, Monday Atlanta at Philadelphia, and today Pittsburgh at Denver, N.Y./Jersey Giants at “Wash” D.C. team, Would you believe they are the Las Vegas Raiders and they visit the Baltimore Ravens and in the “Jim Nantz feature” (likely to be Cincy as a “dog,” but be careful) Cincinnati (Bengals) visits the two time defending champion K.C. Chiefs.
In ’97, ’86, and 2000 Pitts, the Giants and Ravens won those “semis”/conference title games and subsequently won the Super Bowl.
The Bengals (0-3) in Supes, losing by 3, 4 and 5 points not in that chronological order, lost to the Rams in the 2021 season Supe.
An already cited Supe winner in ’86, the Giants (4-1) in such games (they were (3-11) in NFL title games, which were played from ’33-’69), lost to the Ravens in the 2000 season game while the Broncos who won the ’97 semi at Pittsburgh and then upset the defending champion Packers (as cited the ’65 champions as they beat the team/franchise that really is the ancestor of the 2000 champion Ravens, namely the Cleveland Browns) were blitzed (39-20) by the Giants in the ’86 season Super Bowl.
Above depicts wind. The Giants “had the wind”in their favor and largely rode it and their great defense to a (17-0) win(d) in that ’86 “semi”/NFC Title tilt, enabling them to continue on a path to their first crown in 30 years.
The letter “S,” in quantity and certainly quality, comes to mind in recalling the “s”uperb middle linebacker, Joe Schmidt, who died days back at age 92.
There is his name, nicknames (Our dominant athlete and eventual far better person, Santasieri, a sweatshirt, as “Schmidt/Schmo,” also Silly) and comparisons with another great at the position, named “S”am (Huff).
Joe Schmidt played his entire career with the Detroit Lions and managed in ’53 and ’57 to be on their last two title teams, representing half of the four they have won.
In Joe’s case as a way to attest to his greatness, more than the usual about voted awards as in ten consecutive years (’54-’63), he was voted both all league and to the Pro Bowl, the latter, once a fairly meaningful game and even now still an honor.
The pitchers hitting great day/night and incredible Dodgers “in and around September 9th” notes, if not a post each are coming.
Today some notes on baseball, still such a great game and though 12 ‘offs teams are at least 4 to 8 too many, which is stirring some good feelings in me, a good thing.
It is very likely that the two Central Division winners, the almost certain N.L. such, Milwaukee Brewers (up 8 plus games) and the likely A.L. counterpart, Houston Astros (up 3 plus) will be the league “3” seeds and thus must contend with an all home games, best of 3 round of 12 to 8 series.
The closest one eighth “div” race stands with the Yankees one plus games (2 in the loss column) ahead of the Baltimore Orioles in the A.L. East.
Next for the Yankees is a 4 game series with the Boston Red Sox, considered their biggest rival (it was nice to see Yankees/Royals in fairly meaningful games, evoking their once great rivalry which manifested in ALCS clashes 4 times in 5 seasons (’76-’80), evoking memories but not close in importance to the Yankees 4 game (also Thurs-Sunday) September (7-10) sweep at Boston which put them even in the had to finish first, 1978 A.L. East race.
Boston still in it, but barely for ‘offs qualification, has helped the Yankees bid for a first place finish, winning 4 of 6 vs the O’s in the last month.
The “above” as an additional tribute to J.E. Jones as this speech in “Field of Dreams,” especially that beginning around 1:22 in, along with, as cited above a fairly stirring “reg,” reminds one, that despite the many bad changes in its rules, baseball remains such a great game.
Andy B Sports 