It will be the 1985 World Series champion, Kansas City Royals vs the 1986 World champion New York Mets in the 2015 World Series. Each franchise will be seeking their first title since the one cited.
The Royals made the World Series last year, losing a heartbreaking series to Madison Bumgarner and the S.F. Giants. They won a second straight pennant beating the favored Toronto Blue Jays (4-3) in game six to win the ALCS four games to two.
While Bumgarner’s dominant pitching is not likely to be matched, the Royals have some good pitching while their opponents, the Mets, have received great pitching, thus far in the playoffs.
After losing their first three ALCS and four of their first five, the Royals have now won in their last three ALCS appearances.
The Blue Jays are now (2-4) in ALCS and (0-2) vs the Royals. The winner of the five previous Jays’ ALCS went on to win the World Series.
The Mets are now (5-3) in NLCS play, the winner of the previous 7 Mets’ NLCS going (4-3) in the World Series.
One real problem is that if the World Series goes as many as six games and stays on schedule, the sixth game will be played on Election Day. That is disgraceful, but typical of baseball hierarchy policy, which cares about money and little else.
A little mix and match after a (1-2) week in the pros. Radio station WFAN’s Mike Francesa went (2-1) and is (11-6-1) for the year.
For the second straight week, the featured game on ABC/ESPN/Disney involves defending college champion Ohio State as a three touchdown or more favorite.
Last week Ohio State (7-0) and (2-5) vs the spread, broke a “spread” losing streak, by exceeding it as a three touchdown plus favorite vs Penn State.
This week viewers will be more likely to stay tuned. Ohio State 38 Rutgers 24.
Two pro picks, thefirst against my norm, a favorite, the underachieving Buffalo Bills to get it together overseas in London, England, winning (20-6) vs the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The (4-2) Arizona Cardinals are 8 and a half point favorites vs the Baltimore Ravens. I predict the game will end in a tie, not because I think it will (there is incredibly low probability that a tie will occur) but because the Ravens are a solid pick here to play the Cardinals to a standstill, and perhaps win.
Thus far the 2015 ALCS between the Kansas City Royals and Toronto Blue Jays has followed the pattern of the 1985 ALCS between the clubs, with the 2015 Royals playing the “part” of the 1985 Jays.
In 1985, the Jays won the first two games at home, lost the third at K.C., but took a seemingly commanding three games to one series lead, with a victory in game four.
Then the Royals not only won game five at home, but games six and seven in Toronto. They went on to win their only World Series title, overcoming a three games to one deficit in the World Series vs the St. Louis Cardinals, as well.
Now the Royals, who lost by one run in the seventh game of the World Series to the San Francisco Giants last year hope they can break the “pattern” and win game six tonight.
Thus far K.C. as was the case with the Blue Jays thirty years ago, won games one and two at home. Also they won game four on the road while losing games three and five also on the road.
The New York Mets won their fifth National League Pennant sweeping the Chicago Cubs, while never trailing at any point of the four game series.
It is the third time the Mets have clinched the pennant on a Wednesday and the second time there was news concerning the United States Vice President on the day of that Wednesday clincher.
In 1973 on the day the Mets won the decisive fifth game of the NLCS at home vs the Cincinnati Reds, the United States Vice President, Spiro T. Agnew resigned the office.
Yesterday in what was no surprise to me, current U.S. V.P., Joe Biden announced he would not be running for president of the country.
It is the second time the Mets have swept an NLCS, the other a 3 game sweep vs the Atlanta Braves in 1969.
Last week it was cited here that the St. Louis Cardinals have lost at least three straight games in the series in which they were eliminated in four straight years.
The Cubs had “wild carded” the Cards out, but now the Cubs (0-4) in NLCS, sans a pennant since 1945, have lost 7 straight NLCS games since leading the Florida Marlins 3 games to 1 in the 2003 NLCS.
The Cubs have lost at least three straight games in all four of their LCS, twice doing so needing just one victory for their first pennant since 1945.
As the New York Mets march inexorably to their fifth World Series appearance, likely vs the Kansas City Royals, who would be making their fourth and second in a row, some thoughts on Maddon/Murphy.
Daniel Murphy has been incredible, hitting mostly early game and solo home runs but with the Mets’ incredible pitching, that has been enough.
One “curse” vs the Cubs is the so called “Murphy’s Curse.”
Joe Maddon, like John Madden a beyond over rated coach/manager, whose comradery with the media enhances his reputation, played up to media before the series vs the Mets.
He made a factual mistake concerning New York teams beating Baltimore teams to clinch titles, saying all three the Jets, Mets and Knicks clinched 1968-1970 season titles vs Baltimore teams.
Wrong! While the Jets won the 1968 season Super Bowl vs the Baltimore Colts and the Mets won the 1969 World Series vs the Baltimore Orioles, the New York Knicks “quarterfinal’d” the Baltimore Bullets in the 1970 playoffs en route to a title. It was NOT the finals.
Finally and concerning a Murphy, Maddon seemingly so happy to be holding court, contrasted with Mets’ manager Terry Collins, who has shown the proper great intensity, vs the man he hired with the Angels (Maddon), cited Kiner’s Korner concerning Ralph Kiner.
He added the great broadcaster Lindsey Nelson.
Maddon omitted the third member of that superb Mets’ broadcasting team, Bob MURPHY. Curse indeed!!
Daniel Murphy has hit a home run in 5 straight post season games.
Bob Murphy pictured above.
Billed as Gloria and Emilio Estefan with by Rita Moreno, the event last night at the 92nd Street Y was sensational.
The Estefans were great, telling stories about their band members, meetings with two Popes, most recently with Francisco and before that with John Paul, and their climb to success, that were both humorous and insightful.
At no time did they, nor I, lose track of the greatness of the trailblazer, stalwart interviewing them, namely Ms. Moreno.
Her achievements matter, not so much her winning “apples and oranges” awards, though in her case much fruit is in the basket (Ms. Moreno has won the Academy, Grammy, Emmy and Tony Awards at least once) and perhaps some of it was close to “forbidden.” It is the memories, the class and the breakthroughs that mean the most concerning this incredible person.
The event at the “Y” last night was part of Hispanic Heritage Month. The Estefans did not have it easy, and greatly appreciate Rita Moreno, who was there breaking ground, before them.
I noticed both Gloria and Emilio signing and taking pictures with the audience. They were so gracious and patient. Some had seen the musical, “On Your Feet The Musical Story of Emilio and Gloria Estefan,” about their life. All indications are it is magnificent.
Again the event was tremendous, three great performers in a show of their respect and love for each other.
Then the best part for me, telling Rita Moreno that I thought the event was great. She graciously agreed. She is a truly beautiful person, inside and out, blessed with great talent, aided by hard work who continues to thrive.
All of her greatness has manifested in an upcoming Kennedy Center Honor and a place in so many of our hearts. She was kind and gracious talking with me, a great conclusion to the night.
Click below for tickets to “On Your Feet The Musical Story of Emilio and Gloria Estefan”
The great Rita Moreno pictured above.
Five of the six NFL unbeaten teams going into this week, won to remain unbeaten.
In fact, all five unbeaten teams that played yesterday won, while this past Thursday in a “Nantz” game (it is his world, we are all just trying to get his hedge fund tips) the (2-4) New Orleans Saints handed the now (5-1) Atlanta Falcons their first loss.
In a “Sam Rosen” game, (oh how enjoyable the talented play by play man, Rosen is when he is neutral and not the unabashed “homer” he is on local New York Rangers’ telecasts—this is akin to Spencer Ross, also talented but an even worse “homer” who used to shriek MEACHAM to RANDOLPH to MATTINGLY (wonder what happened to Mattingly) on double plays) the Carolina Panthers went to (5-0) and (5-0) vs the spread, with a win, as a touchdown underdog, at the (2-4) Seattle Seahawks.
Elsewhere the Cincinnati Bengals (6-0) and (5-0-1) vs the spread won at Buffalo vs the (3-3) Bills, whose “who cares” game in London next week, vs the (1-5) Jacksonville Jaguars will be something called “streamed” by something called Yahoo, over this thing called the internet.
Three teams won to remain unbeaten, but did not exceed the point spread.The New England Patriots (5-0) (3-1-1) at the (3-3) Indy Colts, the Denver Broncos (6-0), (4-2) at the (2-4) Cleveland Browns and the Green Bay Packers (6-0) (5-1), in another “Nantz” game, at Green Bay vs the San Diego Chargers.
CBS Broadcaster, Jim Nantz Pictured Above
Of course there is a long way to go, but the two teams that won World Series in consecutive years (1985, 1986), each with a “beyond words,” 6th game World Series win at home facing elimination, the Kansas City Royals and New York Mets, are off to good starts in their respective LCS.
Each was the series underdog (Why?!!–the late Beano Cook abhorred what baseball became even before I did, but always “took” the team with home advantage, if it was the underdog) but that is no longer the status, as first the Royals won both home games to lead the Toronto Blue Jays two games to none.
Then on a (K)night, the movie “The Dark Knight” aired on AMC with so many commercials as to be more annoying than the TBS broadcast team of Ernie Johnson Jr. (no play by play skills–examples upon request), Cal Ripken Jr., who adds nothing and by the way is the most over rated player in baseball history. Sure he showed up each day but after a superb first two seasons —what did he do?!!, and Ron Darling (knowledgeable, but a Mets’ announcer all year, hardly neutral), the Mets’ “Dark Knight,” Matt Harvey pitched them to a series opening win vs the Cubs.
30 years ago in the ALCS, the Blue Jays won the first two games at home vs the Royals and actually led three games to one, but the Royals prevailed in the series. Now the teams go to Toronto, so it is far from over, but I felt the Royals would win before the series and certainly feel that way now.
I have stated my objections regarding Cubs’ manager Joe Maddon before. Jake Arrieta, no lock tonight as a near 9 to 5 favorite, vs Mets’ starter Noah Syndergaard, never the less, clearly should have been the game one choice, with his usual 4 days rest.
Maddon chose John Lester. Daniel Murphy and Curtis Granderson, two terrific left handed hitters continued to “big hit” lefties, as well as right handed pitchers, in Murphy’s case, leading the Mets, playing an LCS opener at home for the second consecutive time, after opening their first 6 NLCS on the road, to a game 1 win.
Now the Mets, also no “lock,” are nearly 9 to 5 series favorites.
Amidst the excitement of post season, albeit extra round, baseball, the Minnesota Lynx won the WNBA crown for the third time in five seasons (2011,2013 and 2015), in the decisive fifth game vs the Indiana Fever.
It was an easy win for the Lynx in the decisive game but otherwise it was a close series with the big underdog, Fever winning two close games, while the other two Lynx wins were also in close contests.
Minnesota is coached by Cheryl Reeve and have some fine players including Maya Moore and Sylvia Fowles, an in season acquisition, who was the final’s MVP.
There is a great history of NBA associated champions in Minnesota as the Lakers (ever wonder how they got their name, as there are no lakes in Los Angeles) won five titles in six seasons from (1949-1954).
While the Lynx won their two previous titles on the road before this year’s title clinching home win, the Minneapolis Lakers clinched 4 of their 5 titles at home.
Despite 3 wins in 4 games last week, my record is still poor. Also, though (0-2-1) last week, WFAN radio’s Mike Francesa, who acted as if last week’s down record is a shock, has a fine (9-5-1) record through 5 weeks of NFL predictions.
I will cue up Meat Loaf’s “Two Out Of Three Ain’t Bad” thinking Francesa will “lose” two of three before he wins two and go against all three of his picks. I am not too adamant about this, but here goes.
His prediction of Miami plus one at Tennessee makes sense, but I say Tennessee, and not Miami keeps its season going, with a (17-14) victory.
Francesa, a true “chalk heel,” a favorite bettor, is “giving points” with Seattle vs Carolina and the New York Jets vs the Washington Redskins.
I will take the points. Seattle 19 Carolina 14 and the Jets 24 Redskins 20.
The above pictured chalk is fine but “chalk” as in betting favorites and especially “touting them” as most “talking heads” do, is not so.
Click below to see Meat Loaf’s iconic “Two Out Of Three Ain’t Bad” to which I will add “there ain’t no Coupe DeVille” with Mike Francesa’s picks. Surely he drives a Cadillac or better, but that is from “car connections” and working, not from his predictions!!!
Meat Loaf – Two Out Of Three Ain’t Bad
