It will be the two seed Los Angeles Dodgers vs the three seed St. Louis Cardinals in one National League Division series beginning Friday night in Los Angeles.
This will be the third time the teams are meeting in the division series. The Cardinals won in 2004 while the Dodgers won in 2009.
These two storied franchises have met twice in the NLCS with the Cardinals winning both times (1985 and 2013).
In addition, before divisional play, back in 1946, the teams ended the regular season tied. That necessitated a best of three playoff which the Cardinals won in two straight games.
In 1946, the Cardinals went on to defeat the Red Sox in seven games to win the World Series. That was the only time in 5 possibilities that the winner of a Cardinals/Dodgers post season series went on to win the World Series.
Click here for 1946 Cards vs Red Sox footage
A great player, the New York Yankees’ Derek Jeter, will play his last major league game today in Boston’s hallowed Fenway Park.
He will be cheered by fans of the rival Red Sox, whose team has won three titles to Jeter’s Yankees one since the Yankees broke the hearts of Red Sox fans again in an excruciating 7 game ALCS in 2003.
Aaron Boone, at best a journeyman player, hit a home run to clinch the series. Jeter celebrating wildly had to be a terrible sight for those Red sox fans.
However, Boone would fail in a big spot in game 4 of the 2003 World Series vs the Florida Marlins, who would go on to beat the Yankees in six games.
It must be noted here that broadcaster, Michael Kay, whom we likely must endure for one of the division series, stated the Marlins “did not belong on the same field as the Yankees,” after game three of that World Series. If they did not it was because they were better not because they were a low caliber team as Kay stated.
The next year the Red Sox overcame a (3-0) series deficit and beat the Yankees to win the ALCS and then swept the Cardinals in the World Series. It ended an 86 year World Series drought.
Lest you think this is some kind of anti Yankees rant, I note that after Mr. Jeter made an incredible play in an eventual Yankees regular season win vs the Red Sox, the Boston team announced they would pursue the wild card position as entry to the post season. They did not deserve a shot at the Yankees after finishing behind them in the 162 game regular season.
I can sight back and forth examples and would do so to gain and promote perspective.
Thinking perhaps incorrectly, I have a great deal of perspective and knowing it is just my opinion, I feel strongly the publicity surrounding Jeter and his final games has been blown way out of proportion.
Having said that, he played on 5 World Series winners, stayed home eating prepared food and surely had fun without scandal.
That does not make him Honus Wagner and certainly does not make him Babe Ruth. It does make him pretty darn good.
The (2-1) Pittsburgh Steelers looked mighty good in handing the now (2-1) Carolina Panthers their first loss in last week’s Sunday night tilt.
The (0-3) Tampa Bay Buccaneers were demolished by the Atlatnta Falcons in the Thursday night game last week. Thinking things will change a bit I predict the Buccaneers, slightly more than a touchdown underdog vs Pittsburgh, will keep it “close enough” at Pittsburgh this week.
On Sunday the (2-1) Dallas Cowboys, a field goal underdogs, will get a big victory vs (1-2) New Orleans Saints. It is hard to figure the Saints to be (1-3) with all their talent, but I will stick with Dallas.
The (1-2) Tennessee Titans were crushed last week by the (3-0) Cincinnati Bengals but will play much better and keep it close vs the (1-2) Colts, who demolished the (0-3) Jacksonville Jaguars last week.
Looking for things to change a bit, the touchdown underdog Titans are my third and final pick in week four.
The St. Louis Cardinals enter the final weekend of the baseball season with a one game lead over the Pittsburgh Pirates. However, there is little drama as both teams have already clinched playoffs spots.
The team that wins the NL Central will not have to face a one game “play in” game, but contrast that “incentive” with that of 40 years ago. Then the same two teams battled for the NL East title without the “safety net” of being a wild card team.
In 1974 the Pirates gained a game on the last day of the season and won the NL East title sending them to the NLCS. The Cardinals were eliminated from any post season play, that season was the closest Joe Torre came to post season as a player.
I truly long for the days when teams had to finish first to be in post season play. Sure there is some incentive for the Cards and Pirates this weekend, but it is not even close to the drama between the same two teams 40 years ago when one team advanced and the other was eliminated from any post season play.
Click here for 1974 All Star Game moments
For the second straight season, the Los Angeles Dodgers have won the NL west title.
Clayton Kershaw raised his record to (21-3) in the clinching victory at home vs the San Francisco Giants.
Kershaw will next pitch at home in game one of a division series, on a Friday night, likely vs the St. Louis Cardinals.
Last year on a Friday night in St. Louis (game six NLCS), Kershaw was “asked to leave early” as the Cards routed him to clinch the pennant.
Meanwhile the Giants almost certainly will face the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday October 1st, likely in Pittsburgh, with the winner facing the top ranked Washington Nationals in the other National League division series.
Clayton Kershaw
The two teams who met in the 2008 season NFC Championship game, the Arizona Cardinals and the Philadelphia are the only (3-0) teams in the NFC.
Of course it is early but the good starts have both teams, neither of whom has ever won a Super Bowl, at least increasing their chances to play in the Super Bowl which will be in the Cardinals’ home stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
There has never been a Super Bowl in which one of the teams was playing on its home field.
The Eagles are the favorites to win the NFC East while the Cardinals, whose projected wins total was only 7 despite success last season, are still long shots to make the Super Bowl.
Click for 2008 NFC Championship Game Winning Drive
2008 NFC Championship
Only one team in the AFC is undefeated after three games, while six teams have winning (2-1) records.
The undefeated team is AFC North leading Cincinnati Bengals while two other AFC North teams, the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers are (2-1).
The New England Patriots lead the AFC East with a (2-1) record.
The Houston Texans with a (2-1) record, are the only team in the AFC South with a winning record.
The AFC West sports two teams with (2-1) records, the defending AFC champion, Denver Broncos and the San Diego Chargers.
The National League playoffs, in my opinion, are all but set, with only the venue for the “play in game” up in the air, as the final week of the season begins.
What is a “play-in” game? It’s a game between the two wild card teams. The winner joins the three division winners in the divisional series. After the “play in” games in each league 4 teams remain in each league.
Alas, one can still make a case for the Pittsburgh Pirates in the NL Central, but I will “declare” the St. Louis Cardinals as very likely winners, as they take a two and a half game lead (but two in the loss column) into the final week.
The Washington Nationals have a three and a half game lead in the all important loss column for the National League top seed. (The half game, because they own the tiebreaker, which frankly is not reported by the many media outlets I have “encountered.”) They have clinched the NL East title for the second time in three seasons.
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Dodgers are almost certain to be the two seed in the National League.
First off, they take a four and a half game divisional lead over the San Francisco Giants into the final week. They also enjoy a two and a half game lead, again the added half game due to the fact they own the tiebreaker, for higher seeding in relation to the Cardinals.
Last, due to the fact it involves the bogus wild card, going into the final week, the Pittsburgh Pirates own a half game lead (you guessed it, they own the tiebreaker with the S.F. Giants) over the Giants for the home advantage in the very likely one game “play in,” between the two teams to be played on October 1st.
Today in Cleveland, where the hometown Browns face the Baltimore Ravens, it will be a rematch involving the two cities (Cleveland and Baltimore) that met for the NFL championship 50 years ago.
The 1964 championship win was the last one not only for the Browns but for any major league Cleveland professional team.
The Browns also won the NFL title in 1954. There will be some ceremonies, honoring each of those great teams today.
1964 Cleveland Browns
Two teams, the Arizona Cardinals and Philadelphia Eagles went to (2-0) at my “expense” last week while the San Diego Chargers kept the defending champion Seattle Seahawks from that achievement for our lone “victory.”
Three predictions for the NFL’s third week of play follow.
The Washington Redskins will keep the game close, and perhaps pull an upset at Philadelphia, vs the (2-0) Eagles.
The (1-1) Detroit Lions will bounce back and win at home vs the (1-1) Green Bay Packers.
On Monday night the (1-1) New York Jets, who lost a tough game last week at Green Bay, will bounce back and win vs the (1-1) Chicago Bears. Last week the Bears had a great comeback win at San Francisco vs the 49ers.
By the way, and please do not make this the norm, I did not use the verb “beat” as a way of indicating a predicted result.
Andy B Sports 