Some football “redux” notes, after so much baseball.
There are five games this week, the first week of the NFL’s second half, aka “week 10,” involving “semis” or higher round reduxes.
Only one, (5-3) Pittsburgh (Steelers) hosting (3-5) Green Bay (Packers is a Supe or final round redux, as the lone Rodgers crown (he is so annoying and trust me will not be back this season but next year and his selfish egotistical views loom, minimum costing as his unwanted presence did this year) was a Packers’ Supe win in the 2010 season vs the Steelers.
One rematch “brings back” two semis clashes between the New England Patriots and their great quarterback, Tom Brady and the Indianapolis Colts, who were “steered,” so often poorly in big games, by the ever present, “aw shucks but a … inside,” Pey Manning.
N.E. shut down Manning and the Colts in the ’03 AFC Title game/”semi” in route to a second Supe triumph in 3 seasons.
Mr. Manning did win twice, neither in a great Supe performance, however, hail his showing when “Indy” on the (21-3) “comeback score,” took New England, in the “Pooh presided,” 2004 AFC Title game.
The Colts then won the Supe in rainy Miami, vs the Chicago Bears.
Another tilt this week, which has a “semis” redux, is the one with both the most years apart and the lone AFL Title game/semi. It matches the (4-4) Jets and (4-5) Raiders.
(’twas a semi as it preceded the third NFL/AFL Championship Game by then aka, The Super Bowl)
On December 29, 1968 (not shown in New York as was the case with (8-1) Philly Eagles (-3) (28-23) vs (5-3) Dallas last week), the New York Jets won (27-23) vs the Oakland Raiders in the penultimate AFL Championship Game.
A Joe Namath to Don Maynard touchdown pass provided the game’s last points (technically was a Jim Turner extra point).
It is noteworthy that the (2-7) Patriots (Belichick should write 500 times, the Colts not the Giants were favored in the famed ’58 title tilt and as for NFL Network Host, Rich Eisen having the job without knowing that invokes “abandon all hope …..— you know the rest–so do not “enter” there)– vs (4-5) Colts clash is in Frankfurt, Germany while the (4-4) Jets are visiting the (4-5) Raiders’ Las Vegas home, pleasing the much criticized Collinsworth and “given it” “Tiriiiiico,” when NBC could have “switched” to another game.
In 2009 the New Orleans Saints, who went on to a Supe win vs favored Indy and Pey, semi’d the Minnesota Vikings, whom they play this week. (Both teams are (5-4).)
In that ’09 season NFC Title game, another ex Packers “Q.B.” who would later play for the Jets, named Brett Favre, threw a key interception, the late key, as the Saints (have) won. (Cue Al Wester, when after Tom Dempsey’s 63 yard game winning field goal, which as it happens, was 53 years ago today on November 8, 1970, Wester’s “The Saints Have Won” resonated, as it still does.
The winners of those past “semis or better” tilts that have reduxes this week, went (5-1) in Supes. One is the “by definition” G.B. Supe triumph vs Pittsburgh. The Pats/Colts semis winner went (2-0) and add the Jets and Saints, each (1-0).
Only the Buffalo Bills, who semi’d/AFC Title Game’d the Denver Broncos in 1991, lost the subsequent “Supe,” doing so to a (17-2) superb (not the best ever, sorry Gill Alexander) Washington football team.
Again this week’s reduxes, none likely to involve even a title game participant, some definitely not to, others one never knows. The Bills (-7 plus) Monday night are (5-4), Denver is (3-5).
Oh well, no Al Wester call of the Dempsey Dramatics, now 53 years ago.
The incredible success, really the greatness is in the ‘offs, not the more “legitimate” regular season, of Bruce Bochy deserves more notes.
His post-season record after going just (8-16) in post-season as S.D. (Padres) as stated here before, is “Giants’ #’s, (they will eventually trek to a Bochy “Hall” induction) (51-24).
In games with a chance to clinch a series, Bochy’s teams after going (1-2) in such with San Diego are a most impressive (14-3).
The game 4 “indicator” which fell to (11-3) when Bochy’s eventual champion Texas team won the ALCS vs another Texas team, Houston (Astros) despite a loss in #4, is now (12-3) that is 80 percent (is there a symbol for percent on this, which has taken over?).
By the way, at a certain “book,” (read them, do not, or minimum decrease betting at them) whose name invokes a classic Shakespeare play and transmitted, albeit for only seconds, but that is enough to be criticized, that the Dallas “2” attempt was successful, when it was not, “opened” Texas (Rangers) as second choice, just 8 to 1 underdogs to repeat as baseball title winners in 2024.
As I predicted regarding Georgia, which is still a viable title threat, (however (9-0) S Up but (2-7) spread means they would not only have to win 6 straight games, which they might (I say no), that would mean an unprecedented third straight Associated Press college football crown, but also cover those 6, which of course, is even more unlikely, to be a $ maker this season) saying they would not title, I do the same, not going too far out on a limb, saying Texas will not repeat.
If G-d or equivalent said Georgia and Texas Rangers, I would be happy (there are far worse, subjective choices) but I say no to Georgia, although they, the BullDOGS are just a 2 and a fraction “dog” to do so and far more emphatically, say no Bochy/ball title in 2024.
Again, hail Bochy, hail Texas (Rangers) and I sure as “bleep,” can live with a Texas repeat. (Rhyme).
Certainly the expanded ‘offs “allowed” it, however the record 5 wins for Nathan Eovaldi, pictured above is quite impressive, albeit not to be confused with say Christy Mathewson in 1905 or Harry “The Cat” Breechen in 1946, to name just two.
While so much attention has been paid another Will Smith (doubtful the great actress Mildred Dunnock whose “Salesman” character spoke such, would have approved), Texas Rangers’ pitcher, albeit without a great contribution this post-season, has become the first baseball player, likely any major North American sports player, to be a member of 3 straight, different title teams. (the ’21 Braves when he was brilliant in post-season–those “bleeps” who run it, are starting to realize it is essentially the only season, ’22 ‘Stros and now the first time in 62 completed seasons, title winning Texas Rangers).
This was the eighth time in nine seasons that the once “Fall Classic” was clinched by the road team (’14 with Bruce Bochy’s Giants, ’15-’21 with a neutral site (the Texas ballpark in ’20, bridging the fact the World Series had been clinched in the state (Texas) in which ‘they’ killed President Kennedy, nearly 60 years ago, a record four straight seasons (’19-’22).
I believe the only other time (again please do the research, maybe at some point, I will) such occurred was from (’54-’62) with the lone home title clinching win, being Pittsburgh (Pirates) (all-time homers by Hal Smith and Bill Mazeroski) in 1960.
Here’s one: The 1953 clincher was by the team at bat, the New York Yankees, yielding a record fifth straight title (Billy Martin “tuned in” Hank Bauer, the once or say future Texas Rangers’ “MGR’s” then record twelfth hit of that series).
In ’52, the Yankees won it at Brooklyn, one of 4 times they clinched the title there, so it is back to 1951 when before 1963 a home team clinched the crown while in the field.
Alfred Emanuel “Billy” Martin, pictured above also helped save the ’52 W.S. for the Yankees grabbing a bases loaded pop fly hit by the great Jackie Robinson, when nobody else went for it.
Down the “notes” road: 2/3 years and citing Joe Carter’s accomplishments.
The Texas Rangers won FIVE to 1 in game FIVE (that reversed the result of their first World Series in 2010, when their current manager Bruce Bochy guided SF to a FIVE game triumph vs them), raising their road post-season mark to an astonishing (11-0), which gave Texas their first title, doing so under Bochy (4th crown tying Walter Alston and Joe “Orhay” Torre behind only Joe McCarthy and Casey Stengel, who each managed 7 title winners and the legendary Connie Mack who guided 5 Series winners) in their 62nd completed season.
Corey Seager was named World Series MVP for the second time joining legendary greats, Sandy Koufax, Bob Gibson and Reggie Jackson as the only players to do so.
In #5, five times once in each of the first 5 innings Arizona failed to score vs Texas starter and winning pitcher (5-0) in the ‘offs), Nathan Eovaldi, with a runner or two in scoring position. (In the tilt, Texas would fail 5 times (that # again) in runner at third less than 2 out(s) situations, normally a bad sign–finally getting runs after that situation, when Marcus Semien, who had FIVE rbis in the ease #4 win, made it FIVE-nada, with a 2 out 2RHR vs Sewald, who though not the losing pitcher in either, really hurt ‘Zona, yielding Seager’s game tying homer 1 out after walking Taveras in #1 and giving up 4 runs T9, as Texas extended a (1-0) lead to (5-0) in the series clincher.
Texas had no hits vs tough luck losing pitcher Zach Gallen, through 6 innings before Seager broke up the no-hit bid leading off the 7th with a single. Evan Carter doubled him to third, from where he scored on Mitch Garver’s (he was 1 for 18 in the series before), hit up the middle.
The Rangers despite 3 at bats with the aforementioned runner on third less than 2 outs “sitch,” failed to add but Chapman and especially Josh Sborz (0 runs, 1 hit, 2 and one third innings and the honor of K’ing Marte to wrap the first ever Texas Rangers title and end a 20 for 20 hitting streak that Marte had before #5 last night.
In the aforementioned Texas 9th vs Sewald, the “law firm” of Jung and Lowe, Josh and Nathaniel respectively singled and each scored on Jonah Heim’s single and same play error by “Az” center fielder Alek Thomas. Heim at third but again 2 failures with less than 2 outs before Semien truly iced the title with a 2RHR.
Many more notes to follow, the incredible Bochy now (51-24) starting with the Giants (51 and 24 truly great Giants’ #’s, the ’51 Pennant and Willie Mays respectively) in P.Season play, after winning but one third of his 24 post-season tilts as P-Pads manager (Padres (0-2) in W.S. Rays the same in W.S. Brewers and Rockies each (0-1) and the Mariners the only one of the 30 baseball teams in the so called “bigs” without even a W.S. “app, are the 5 of 30 sans title as Texas, again in their 62nd completed season –(they actually were in ‘offs position with a losing record when the ’94 season was cancelled–another example of wild card presence ill) got off that list).
As stated so many times, I think the wild card presence has ruined baseball, certainly for me, however hail each of these teams, 90 wins Texas and 84 wins Arizona for winning the games needed to get to what was a low rated World Series.
The “bleeps” (sorry, but I lived it, ate it slept it and in many ways still do as memories of great had to finish first pennant races of ’64,’67 among others float in my memory) who run it might change it a bit based on 2022 and especially 2023 but they as usual do not get it!!
El problem (did not want to start a second straight paragraph with “the”) is not the result that yielded a 5 seed vs 6 seed World Series but that the format with the utterly horrible wild card presence, in its just completed 29th season in one form or the other, allows the not such a long shot possibility of such occurring.
Now 2 Time W.S. MVP, Corey SEager pictured above.
Most important his tying 2RHR vs SEwald in #1 was the biggest play in the entity.
He also hit 2RHR’s yielding (3-0) at ‘Zona, Texas leads in #’s 3 and 4 before breaking up Gallen’s no hit bid with a T7 leadoff single, (Gallen would have been lifted, another real problem) and scoring the W.S. winning run in the #5.
Quite a series for Seager and playoffs run for first time title winning Texas (Rangers).
Perhaps it is all karma, certainly such that could have brought gains, both financial and emotional, as with the Texas Rangers, nee second incarnation of the Washington Senators on the precipice of a title (one never knows, especially in baseball, more so post-season short series baseball and especially this post-season) that their best player in their 11 seasons in Washington D.C, Frank Howard died at the age of 87.
What a hitter and what a presence Frank Howard was.
A truly gentle giant, he was an N.L. Rookie of the Year (1960) and hit over 40 homers in a season three times.
He once hit 10 home runs in 6 games,
Frank started with the Dodgers and the “big man” was a big man in the Dodgers’ 1963 title season.
He had two memorable important hits vs the great Ed “Whitey” Ford in the Dodgers’ 4 game sweep of the Yankees in 1963.
His double in #1 was hit about as hard as any ever hit.
In #4 his homer gave Sandy Koufax a (1-0) lead. As called in the geat movie, “One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest” the great Mickey Mantle HR’d vs Sandy to tie it before L.A. prevailed (2-1) to complete the sweep. (Check Frank on You Tube talking and marveling about Mickey’s great late in his career day, to which I will add to at some point).
One more as told to me by Schtunk (where is he, anyone?). Some fans were razzing the L.A. club either in one of 3 seasons (’62-’64), and would not stop though Tommy Davis and others came out of the dugout and asked/told them to stop.
Frank Howard needed only to look and the insults stopped.
Go easy Frank, such a good man and a tremendous player.
The great Frank Howard, pictured as an L.A. Dodgers player, above.
The Texas Rangers nee, the second incarnation of the Washington Senators, in their 62nd completed season (no completed season in ’94), are on the precipice of their first title, after winning games 3 and 4 at Arizona (Diamondbacks) to raise their post-season road record to a mind boggling, (10-0).
Texas scored 3 runs T3, in #3, and won the game (3-1), raising their manager Bruce Bochy’s Monday post-season record after his time with San Diego, to (6-1) (6-0) in night tilts.
It was the same score by which Bochy’s S.F. Giants won their first crown in 56 years , doing so in a Monday night #5, at Texas, in the first of 2 straight years of Rangers’ World Series losses, that one a clear, exponentially less painful one than the one a year later to St. Louis (Cards) in 7 games.
In #3 this year, Marcus Simien’s two out 1b “tuned” Nathaniel Lowe, who had 2B’d to start the Texas 3rd after Ad Garcia threw out Christian Walker, who ran through a “stop sign” and “violated” making the inning’s first out at third or beyond (b2).
This meant Bochy (check his record with the lead/”wood” in post San Diego post-season play) could still and eventually did get the “wood,” first via Simien and then it went to (3-0) Bochy “wood” when likely World Series MVP for a second time in 4 seasons (Sandy won 2 in 3 seasons, ’63 and ’65–Reggie had 2 in 5 seasons ’73 and ’77, his as would be the case, if it is Seager (still a ways to go and how about another “Tex” ease job vs AZ and Fox in #5, if not look out) with two different teams) Corey Seager smacked a 2 run home run.
Two 5 run innings for Texas in #4, a big double play keyed by Seager B8 in #3, John Gray and yes, Max Scherzer, hurling 3 shutout “inns” each in the third game, also deserve mention.
Marcus Simien, pictured above, delivered key hits ahead of Seager home runs in both #’s 3 and 4, as Texas won (3-1) and (11-7) to lead (3-1).
Remastered “Norwegian WOOD” can be heard below.
Bochy, not “The Beatles,” though he too is “Hall of Fame,” has mastered winning and in almost all cases with the “wood”/lead. Maybe I will research the #’s.
The 119th A.L./N.L. (66-52 A.L. going in, (39-39) in non Yankees’ W.S.-wonder regarding any other configurations yielding the # difference to make it even. Alas when alone, such things manifest) World Series resumes tonight with a toss up 3rd, after ‘Zona, bitterly beaten in #1, eased (9-1) in game 2.
Arizona (Diamondbacks) are now (7-3) on the road and will play a home 3rd W.S. game in a (1-1) W.S. Each is a first as in their only other W.S. “app,” they opened at home with 2 wins vs the Yankees. Two such wins were Saturday night tilts meaning they are (3-0) in Saturday World Series games.
It also will be ‘Zona’s first Monday W.S. game.
Texas (Rangers) will be in their first game 3 road World Series tilt, going in with an incredible (8-0) road record, so far in these ‘offs (that matches the Yankees ’96, also incredible (8-0) ‘offs road record, with the big difference or at least a “must be noted”–the Yankees played only 8 road ‘offs tilts and won their first crown in 18 years in that ’96 tournament) and with a (1-1) Monday W.S. record, having won #5 to lead (3-2), only to lose in 7 to the Cards in 2011 and lost to the current manager Bruce Bochy managed Giants, whose first crown in 56 years was clinched in a game 5/Monday night win at Texas. (Things end at 56.)
Speaking of Mr. Bochy, he is (5-1) in Monday ‘offs tilts (post San Diego where he was (8-16) in ‘offs games).
The wins include the aforementioned title clincher in 2010, a pair of #7 LCS wins (the 2012 #7 rout win vs the Cards on the way to a second Giants’ crown in 3 seasons and just last week (#7/ALCS)to complete an incredible all road series, which happened for just the second time in major North American sports league history, going vs the Astros for a second time in 4 years/5 seasons (’19 and 2023).
Bruce (Patty Scialfa to the New Jersey Hall, what did I miss?/do this past 3 days) won a “div” series clincher (3-1) at the Braves in 2010 and a get even home win in #2 in the aforementioned 7 game LCS win vs “St. Loo” in 2012.
I will try, hard as it is, to watch some if not all of #3 tonight.
The great Hank Bauer, who played on 7 Yankees’ title teams and managed the ’66 O’s to a 4 game sweep of then what were “My” Dodgers, is pictured above.
Mr. Bauer still holds the record for consecutive games with a hit or more with 17. In classy fashion, in one of the Busch Stadium dugouts, on either an off day or certainly before any game action at the ’85 World Series (now I violate and have fears regarding not “showing up” though it rained and ’twas also shady), Hank stated had the great Roberto Clemente been in more Series tilts he would have exceeded 17. We shall or will never know but great praise for a great player/man, Roberto Clemente.
Kitel Marte now has hit safely in 18 straight post-season tilts, a new record (someone named Jeter, Manny Ramirez hit in 17, certainly not all World Series games and as cited Bauer, all in W.S. play did same) and in fact in all 18 of his post-season tilts.
However please note 2 were in 12/8 and 1 was a 10/8 game, 6 were “div” series games and 7 were LCS, all lower levels than World Series in which Marte has hit in both thus far. His hit to go 1 for 5 in ‘Zona’s series squaring rout win in #2 was not exactly all that important.
The hit a 2r1B extended the D/Backs lead from 5-1 to 7-1 in theh top of the 8th inning. Sure I am taking from but also praising Marte but Bauer’s 17 in W.S. play is the “far, far” (cue Ronald Colman) better record.
I will not deny the regret, as I missed a tremendous game (had to be scoring, had to be excitement as this “90 vs 84 wins teams Series” has been criticized, however, this with eery reminders of #’s 4 and 5 ’01 W.S. and the 2011 #6 classic, alluded to but not detailed here in recent posts regarding Texas ‘offs history, is “off the charts” and ergo again, regrets.
It (the game 4th inning on “miss”) coincides with the fact a Zombies Concert, to which I had truly inexpensive tickets, was cancelled–the haircut yielded a quip re them “They’re not there, they’re not there. “
I of course, hope the anonymous band member who is ill and apparently recovering, continues to do so. Yet for me in a life of them, misses– the concert and game, sure it can be worse but….).
Texas tied it on Corey Seager’s (see the joke that was the 2020 World Series, with all 6 games played at the neutral, corporate named Rangers’ ballpark) 2RHR (Sewald lost at and to “Sea,” “sinning” by walking Jones up 2 to start the 9th) and won it on Ad Garcia’s opposite field, solo B11.
Start with it is the incredible third straight ‘Zona road World Series game (they are (0-4) in W.S. road games), in which they lost, despite taking 2 run leads into B9.
Thrice, opposing players Tino Martinez (his slam after a questionable ball call prolonged his at bat was the key play in current Texas manager Bruce Bochy’s lone World Series loss (he/his teams are (3-1) and give him credit as he won last night w/out his precious wood which makes any manager at least initially better), a 4 game Yankees’ sweep in ’98) in #4/’01 W.S.– Scott Brosius the next night in #5 and now Seager 22 years later hit tying 2RHR’s in eventual wins for their teams, the Yankees in ’01 and the Rangers last night.
More eery and half of 22 is ELEVEN and in 2011, in a classic, under rated #6 played 12 years to the date earlier on Thursday night October 27, the Rangers twice were 1 out if not 1 strike from their first crown.
They did not get it as both David Freese and Lance Berkman, the latter I have not seen or heard mentioned in regard to that epic tilt, which though two thirds or more Freese, is shoddy reporting, delivered beyond clutch tying hits.
Freese’s home run won it B 11, he had 21 post-season rbis, getting 2 more in #7 and more from the eery file, “Ad’s” solo gave him 22, breaking Freese’s mark, doing so with a B 11 HR, this time for Texas, 12 years to the date later.
Who knows what will happen next, however it ought to be pointed out that Arizona won that 2001 World Series. Alas “Bell,” down in a gambling hotel room, when Kim surrendered both those Yankees’ tying home runs, had ‘Zona.
A Fox hope for the W.S. to be close and the fact they are good, gives ‘Zona hope, however, I might have missed a dramatic “Setting the Series tone” opener a la Gibson’s, which I also missed, in ’88.
Alas perspective: Look up regarding Donnie Moore, Bill Buckner and Kim. Add I discussed #5/’86 ALCS with a man/”G” adjusting to having a Prosthetic leg and frankly not up for this World Series due to the matchup, not anything else. I wonder if he, unlike me, saw the classic game 1?!
Byung-Hyun Kim, pictured above yielded those two B9 game tying 2RHR’s on 2 straight nights, however, Arizona won the next 2 and their lone crown (now 3 to 1 ‘u/dogs in this bid for a second vs a Texas franchise, seeking its first) in 2001.
Again, there is far worse (look at the world!) so there will be other games (likely I will not watch) and maybe some day I will see “The Zombies.”
In the present, enjoy them perform “She’s Not There” as last night neither they or/nor? I “was there” either.
Hours from now, the 119th World Series commences in what is at this point, a projected low ratings Arizona vs Texas final round entity.
This will be the fifth post-season clash between Texas/Dallas area and Arizona.
It also is the fourth of the four ‘offs levels in which they will have met.
Dallas (Mavericks) semi’d the Phoenix Suns in ’06 and “quarter’d” them (sounds medieval and I apologize) in 2022, routing them in #7 at Phoenix.
Arizona prevailed with the Suns winning a 6 game quarter vs the Mavericks in ’05 and in an NFL wild card round game, the ‘Zona Cardinals, once located in Chicago and St. Louis defeated the Dallas Cowboys.
Earlier in this NFL season the Cardinals scored their lone win to date at home vs the Cowboys in I believe, a Fox telecast. It is Fox, for the 23rd consecutive time/season and 26th time overall, “piping” the World Series.
The game 4 indicator, (team winning game 4 winning series) is now an incredible (22-2) in Phillies’ post-season entities.
I believe the “indicator” fell to (20-6) in Dusty Baker series and (11-3) in Bruce Bochy managed series.
Back to call it Texas/Dallas vs Arizona: None of the winners in the Texas/Dallas ‘offs entities went on to win the league title.
Three were beaten by the eventual champion and all four lost in their next ‘offs entity.
In football, Arizona lost a “div” game to the Vikings. The ’05 Suns were “semi’d” by eventual champion San Antonio (Spurs).
After defeating the Suns in the aforementioned 2022 NBA “quarters,” the Mavs fell in the semis to eventual champion Golden State (Warriors).
In ’06 the Heat took the final from the Mavs.
This time it is the final so for a fourth time in 5 such the Texas/’Zona series non winner will lose to the sport champion and for the first time said winner will be champion.
At some point I will cite the 22 Phils’ post-season series (the first was the 1915 World Series when after Grover C. Alexander won in what was the Phils’ first post-season tilt, the Red Sox or Boston A.L. team, which had a pitcher named George “Babe” Ruth, won the next 4, including, by definition game 4) in which the #4 winner took the entity.
Earlier I pictured Willie “Mays” Aikens who starred in one exception, (1980 W.S.).!
George Vukovich is “here” due to his game ending home run in #4 extra/strike affected “div” series game in ’81. The Expos, however won game 5.
Again, who but me?!!!! (4 !’s for games 4).
Somewhere, maybe within an old couch I dare not throw out for fear of losing it, there is a picture of greats Teresa Wright, Gordon Parks and the good/tries hard to be factually accurate me, all of us meeting for the first and likely only time.
Parks was behind the “Shaft” movies (Wright as cited here before, was a great star) and the man who starred, made it go and epitomized “cool,” in those movies and elsewhere (Roots where he and Leslie Uggams shine) the great and also classy, Richard Roundtree died days back at age 81.
Mr. Roundtree grew up in New Rochelle and starred on one of the many legendary “New Ro” football teams (by the way, of course New Rochelle’s Ray Rice’s actions were wrong, but he is a good man who helps the unfortunate and he was “hatchet jobbed” by people such as Lupica, who ought to look up “courtesy.”)
The one time I met him I cited it and New Rochelle days. I walked away and then was informed that New Rochelle did not kindle good memories for “Richie,” as his brother had died there.
Yet Roundtree answered and talked to me with class.
Yes, Richard Roundtree was/is a truly, classy,fine actor, (I will watch my mouth!!) HUMAN BEING!
Richard Roundtree, “John Shaft” and so much more, pictured above.
Andy B Sports 