In what I think is a slight over reaction, but one that I do think will manifest (famous last words plus baseball only got 9 LCS tilts last year, 1 over the minimum, so ……) a Texas Rangers (as cited here, up (2-0) vs Houston in the all Texas ALCS, in which Fox telecast the first two, but will leave those of us sans their ancillary channel in the literal/proverbial dark the rest of this. NLCS even worse as without TBS, no coverage!!) vs Philadelphia Phillies World Series is now considered a “favored” outcome.
The Rangers are current -500/+400 series faves, having won the first two games at Houston (I do not believe any team has overcome a (2-0) LCS deficit with both losses at home while 4 teams (unofficial and again you people please check, as I will take some criticism for not checking, but at least I cite there may be one or two more instances) have done so, three in World Series play (’85 Royals vs St. Louis, ’86 Mets vs the Red Sox and the ’96 Yankees vs the Braves) and say one in div series, that vs current Houston manager, Dusty Baker and his Cincy Reds, vs you guessed it, the Bruce Bochy managed/eventual title winning, 2012 Giants.
Philadelphia (Phillies), which has now won 10 straight non World Series/post-season home games, all in the last two seasons, opened the series as about a 9 to 5 “fave” vs Arizona (Diamondbacks), who like the Rangers, won their first 5 ‘offs games this year, 4 on the road.
The last time the Phils lost a home/non World Series ‘offs game was in a decisive #5 of a “div” series vs eventual champion, St.Louis (Cardinals). That was the Cards winning their second highest (must note the Yankees have won 27 crowns), 11th title in 20ELEVEN! (Sorry).
Also they beat the TExas Rangers in what was an excruciating Texas loss in 7 games. It is likely you will hear more about that W.S. in the next days.
However, the Phils (5-3’d) Az in the opener and moved to a -400/+310 “fave,” ( a bit or decent amount too high as it moved over 200 points after what was a home (-170) Philly win. So splitting the difference I get say (-170).
Thus it is about 8 and a half to 5 in favor of a World Series clash between the team/franchise that has the record no World Series win drought, the Phillies (77 completed seasons, no World Series in 1904, from 1903-1979, finally winning it in ’80, not before they best Houston in probably the greatest LCS ) vs the team/franchise, Texas, with the longest such current drought.
That drought encompasses 61 completed seasons, (no World Series in 1994), from 1961-2022).–(the Browns/Orioles had/have the second longest “never a title drought,” (62 completed seasons, no World Series in 1904, (1903-1965), before finally winning it in their 13th Baltimore year, all but the first season in ’54, with the now late, great Brooks Robinson on the team as he would be for another 11 and 3 pennants/1 title).
Bryce Harper, a star Phils’ player is pictured above.
Much more in the days to come.
A quick early evening update: the Texas Rangers (7-0) in these prostituted ‘offs, (6-0) on the road, are up (2-0), vs the defending champion Houston Astros, who are in their 7th straight ALCS.
Texas is managed by Bruce Bochy, now (43-17) in the ‘offs starting in 2010, (he was (8-16) in previous ‘offs games), when he guided the truly undeserving of 3 titles, (the Mays/McCovey/Marichal and others teams of the ’60’s never won one) S.F. Giants to the crown and seems headed to the watered down “Hall.”
Texas and the Minne Vikings have each been in existence since 1961 with no crowns, the longest such droughts.
Maybe Texas ends that drought under Bochy this year. They are now big favorites to make their third World Series appearance, the first a loss to Bochy managed S.F. in 2010 and a horrible loss (I will spare the details) to the Cardinals of St. Louis in 2011, the Red Birds’ 11th and to date last crown.
Mike Napoli, pictured as a Texas player above, likely would have been a non bet World Series MVP in 2011.
He did win a title, contributing mightily to the Red Sox third one of this century, in 2013.
P.S. I put on sound, 2 out none on, bottom 9, game ended when on a (3-1) pitch there was a fly out to center.
John Smoltz said it was gutty to challenge on a (3-2) pitch. He is beyond mistake prone!!
The Las Vegas Aces are up 2 games to none in their best of five WNBA final vs the New York Liberty.
“L.V.” bidding for a second straight crown eased in the first two “at L.V” games vs the Liberty, who in their 27th season are still seeking and are now overwhelming underdogs to do so, their first WNBA crown.
Game 3 and a 4th game, if necessary would be home games for the Liberty.
Today’s #3 is on ABC beginning at 3 P.M. Eastern Time
The Aces, as is the case with the loaded Liberty (alas a problem, among many within all this), have some excellent players.
Their (The Aces) A’ja Wilson, pictured above, is certainly one such, excellent player.
Surprisingly, at least for now, other than an “I told you so,” and that I believe Selig, Manfred and those who imposed the wild card presence, ruined baseball, and did so, by the way, WITHOUT reaching the very spoiled (my generation was, but subsequent ones with computers, which are worse than television and television is bad,), demographic they sought, but will likely never get, with one of many reasons being they have no childhood memories of World Series games, I simply state both LCS are set with 90 wins Philadelphia (Phillies) facing the 84 wins Arizona Diamondbacks and the battle of Texas, to be contested between an additional two, 90 wins teams, the defending champion Houston Astros and the Texas Rangers.
The Phillies, last night, won (3-1) to “(3-1)” the 104 wins/top ranked Braves, winning the “quarter” in 4 for a second straight season, each time with a far inferior regular season record. A night earlier, 84 wins Arizona (Diamondbacks) completed a 3 game sweep of 100 wins L.A. (Dodgers), handing the latter a second straight “quarter” loss to a fellow N.L. West team, that finished way behind them in the “true test,” but so diminished by Selig/Manfred and their ilk, regular season.
In the days to follow (no games today and tomorrow I will have many notes on much, especially the failures of the Dodgers and Braves in post-season–though in the case of the Braves a legitimate one and in the Dodgers’ case, one in a joke “bubble” season, each attained a reason title.
Speaking of titles, the Houston Astros, last year’s winners under Dusty Baker (do not look now but surely not out of the realm, the first non Yankees repeat baseball/whoreball champion in 30 years and one with a truly good man, who happens to be among other things, one with black skin, Cito Gaston and the Blue Jays in ’92 and ’93 and now with 8 wins still needed and that will not be easy, John “Dusty” Baker 30 years later) took Minne (yes they finally won some kind of post-season entity, if you want to call an even more prostituted “12 to 8” series such, but the franchise has now lost 7 straight “quarters” since their ’02 team, which included the great clutch hitter, David Ortiz, who now sadly and shamefully, promotes gambling, beat the A’s in 2002.
The Astros, also title winners in 2017 under A.J. Hinch, are in their 7th straight ALCS and will open at home/have home advantage, in such for a fifth time in 6 possibilities as the 2020 ALCS was played in a neutral park during the pandemic crisis.
It was already cited here that Texas (Rangers) (5-0 in these ‘offs, (4-0) on the road, ditto Arizona, (by the way, while as you tell, I despise this ‘offs format, I credit all the upstart teams for their incredible performances to this point and surely the 4 remaining teams’ (18-2) mark is I guess as impressive as the (1-13) mark compiled by 5 series faves, Atlanta, L.A., the 101 wins Baltimore Orioles, Milwaukee Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays is unimpressive. Then again it is baseball! Hopefully you understand the incredible random nature of baseball result possibilities something Selig/Manfred surely knew as they are not stupid but far worse greedy and WRONG!!
Only I, because I once loved and watched all of this and now suffer but refuse/can not afford to cable watch the ‘offs, and have incredible recall for much of what does not really matter, note that last year Nick Castellanos made the last out as the Houston Astros 6’d the Phillies to win the title. (Each team is an LCS “fave” and has home advantage in their series this year) and in the just completed (I will use the slang because that is what it is and accomplishments such as the multiple homers in consecutive games in a “quarter” is not on par with doing so in a “semi”/LCS and certainly not a World Series, especially those played from (1903-1993 with no World Series, 90 years apart in 1904 and 1994) “bast” became the first in post-season annals (my comment above) to hit multiple homers in consecutive games.
I will start my Atlanta dissertation, sorry for the vitriol, with a great last out note that likely was NOT cited by the announcer? on the Phils/Braves tilt. My being asleep while whomever was on air does exacerbate this and a deadly one of 7 sins is in play, however, I feel that I am right.
On I must go!!
There is a related to my vitriol, included post above regarding Dick Sisler, (pictured above.)
His last day of the then meaningful “reg” 10th inning 3RHR ostensibly clinched the 1950 N.L. Pennant for the Phillies. As Casey Stengel, the manager of the team (the Yankees) which swept the Phils in the subsequent W.S. said “look it up” regarding more details.
They took all of that type incredible drama away, with the wild card presence.
It was exactly 56 years ago, another Thursday October 12th, this with a day off from school on the actual Columbus Day, that the St. Louis Cardinals prevailed (7-2), in game 7 of the 1967 World Series, vs the upstart/100 to 1/ “Impossible Dream,” Boston Red Sox.
It was the Cardinals, behind the incomparable Bob Gibson’s third World Series win, in a game vs Jim Lonborg, who dropped to (2-1) in that memorable World Series, that won the title repeating a 7 game triumph, vs Boston in 1946.
Let me cite Curt Flood, (Al “Grampa” Lewis on my show, regarding what all the subsequent players OWE Curt Flood) for his great contributions as a player, among the biggest, a 2 out hit to give the great Gibson, the lead after both Gibson on a lineout and another great, Lou Brock failed to get Dal Maxvill home, after his triple opened T3.
Later in the frame, Roger Maris, he still not in the so diminished Hall of Fame, now nearly 38 years after his death, singled Flood to third, from where he scored, when Lonborg uncorked a wild pitch.
Mr. Gibson hit a solo home run and also T5, Lou Brock singled, stole second and third, the latter as Flood walked. Orlando Cepeda, the ’67 N.L. MVP “tuned” Lou with a sacrifice fly.
Julian Javier’s 3RHR in the next inning essentially iced the game and the World Series title for St. Louis.
A truly great season, in sharp contrast to the fiasco playing out now (next post), an inspirational underdog Red Sox team led by Carl Yastrzemski, winning the pennant, battling back from a (3-1) W.S. deficit to force the above written about #7, only to lose making it 49 years sans title on the way to 86 years, with horror 1986 World Series loss included.
Yet that team, that season, that day at “Silly Boh Pavillion” (my name for Santasieri residence at “25”) are part of great memories, of a once not only great sport, but one though even then and always a business, was conducted with some dignity and produced as almost always manifested, a true result, with a deserving champion, in that case, an excellent 1967 St. Louis Cardinals’ team.
The great player and activist (his cause was correct but now the pendulum has swung far too great a distance in favor of largely unappreciative players, however, again Curt for what he tried and accomplished, enduring great personal sacrifice), Curt Flood pictured above.
While the 84 wins/Arizona Diamondbacks again scored early and often to beat 100 wins L.A. (Dodgers) to go up (2-0) in their “div” series, the Atlanta Braves for the 33rd time in their last 38 post-season series, (that includes a loss in 2 straight games to the Dodgers in an unscheduled playoff for the N.L. Pennant) are at least (1-1), after overcoming a (4-0) deficit– {(4-1)} after 6, to (5-4) the Philadelphia Phillies, squaring that one eighth joke, I mean series. (Atlanta with 104 wins finished 14 games ahead of the Phillies in the N.L. East).
‘Zona seeking just their third NLCS appearance, put LA. in a (2-0) hole for the second time in the last 3 series.
In a span of 34 seasons from (’55-’88), the Dodgers in Brooklyn for the first two and in L.A. for the next 18 such, were (19-1) either to be at least (1-1) or as happened four times , thrice in World Series play, (’55,’65 and ’81), and in a strike marred season extra round best of 5 vs the then N.L. Houston Astros, overcoming a (2-0) series deficit to win that entity. That record also includes their above referenced 2 games to none triumph vs Milwaukee (Braves) in the ’59 playoff for the N.L. crown.
In their first 7 post-season series, all World Series and as the Brooklyn Dodgers, they were at least (1-1) four times. (Not in 1916,1947 and 1953 and (1-1) in 1920, 1941, 1949 and 1952 and they lost all 7 series).
Currently in their last 29 post-season series, L.A. is just (19-10) to be at least (1-1) or overcome a (2-0) series deficit as they did vs Atlanta in the 2020 true joke/bubble tournament. (18-11) to be at least (1-1)
After being at least (1-1) in all 4 World Series, two each as Boston and Milwaukee– and then being swept in 2 straight in an unscheduled ‘off for the ’59 pennant, both the ’69 Mets and ’82 Cardinals swept Atlanta in 3 straight NLCS games.
Thus the Atlanta Braves franchise, again (33-4) to be at least (1-1), after ’82 — has been at least (1-1) in 37 of their 44 (ode to Henry Aaron) post-season series. (Again counting the Dodgers 2 game sweep of the then Milwaukee Braves in an unscheduled ‘off for the 1959 National League Pennant.
Who but me?! There might be an error or two here, if so let me know.
Peace, but sadly do not hold your breath!!
Joe Adcock, pictured above. He was a member of excellent (’56-’59) Braves’ teams that won 1 title, lost in a 7 game W.S., 2 game ‘off and on the ’56 season’s last day.
At least and truly important to me those were real races, no wild cards.
Tomorrow in #3 of their “div” series vs 101 wins/top A.L. seed, Baltimore (Orioles), which they lead (2-0) after a pair of road wins, the Texas Rangers, the team that has gone the longest without ever winning a title, will play at home for the first time since Sunday September 24th (16 days).
After a “that” day (ode to Marlo Thomas and underappreciated Linda B. as “That Girls”) win/sweep of Seattle (Mariners, by the way the only one of the 30 big league teams to have never made a World Series appearance), Texas had a magic # of 5 to win the A.L. West and become the A.L. “2” seed.
They did not get it, losing (1-0) on Sunday October 1, the final day of the so diminished baseball “reg.”
However, under manager, Bruce Bochy (40-17) in ‘offs tilts starting with the first of his 3 title seasons with the S.F. Giants in 2010 (Bochy’s record in Post-season with the San Diego Padres was (8-16) with a pennant in ’98 only to be swept in the subsequent World Series by a Yankees’ team that amassed 114 “reg” and the required 11 in post-season to win their 25th crown) Texas ripped both Tampa Bay and Baltimore in 2 road games apiece.
They eliminated the “2” seed, 99 wins/I am afraid never to be (never is a long time) Rays and lead the O’s (2-0) in the best of 5/”bast” with the next 2 tilts, the second if necessary, in Texas.
Bruce Bochy, the aforementioned, 3 time title winning manager S.F. is pictured above.
Cue “The Mamas and Papas,” and I will “link” “I Saw Her Again” within this post, which cites the fact only the defending champion Houston Astros, among the 4 home team favorites, won their “div” series opener yesterday.
Houston has now won 12 straight home division series games since an excruciating loss to eventual champion Kansas City in #4 of their “bast” (have to use that at least once because this exponential disrespect for the true test, 162 game “reg,” in an anything can happen sport such as baseball is galling!!) in 2015.
The ‘Stros opponent in this “div” series is Minnesota (Twins), whose Carlos Correa, a key Houston player and a title winner with them in ’17, made a key error in that real Columbus Day tilt on October 12, 2015.
I could/did not contact John “Dusty” Baker to among other things, congratulate him on finally winning a managerial, or for that matter, non strike season title and now with a ways to go (obviously) he might join Clearance “Cito” Gaston, as having guided a team to back to back crowns, 30 years apart.
Certainly Justin Verlander, whom I do not like and Yord Alvarez, who I do, join Jose Altuve another I “dig” as standout performers.
Altuve homered, leading off the Houston home first, Alvarez parked 2 home runs while Verlander hurled 6 shutout innings.
Alas a long way to go but Houston is a nice “fave” vs Minne and if Texas, which “opened” the O’s at Baltimore, prevails and it is an all Texas teams ALCS, Houston will be a decent sized “fave.”
I will have more notes on the N.L. where again both the Braves and L.A. (Dodgers) lost, for each a 4th straight such loss in this ridiculous extra round.
Good news for each is some past history regarding these teams, especially Atlanta for #2 and through 2 games, that I hope to research.
I lived, ate and breathed this and the fact they did what they did starting in ’94 and ’95 plus other yields, some really negative thoughts.
Just in case: know I like the Astros, certainly think they have achieved “mucho.”
A helluva of a good pitcher, albeit a 6 or 7 innings one, Justin Verlander, pictured above.
Whether the guy who thought (wrong, by the way) he would teach Nick Nolte’s Tom Jordache in “R.M.P.M.” a lesson or the name of Sylvester Stallone’s “Rocky’s” dog, Dick Butkus, who sadly died at age 80 days back, epitomized toughness.
More important, he was an all-time great player, both in college at Illinois and with the “Chi” Bears, a now (1-4) team that “honored” Butkus, doubling (2-3) “Wash” on the day Butkus died.
What a draft for the Bears in ’65, though even getting Butkus and the great Gale Sayers never produced an ‘offs appearance, in those far better days of one team, from each conference in the ‘offs.
I met Mr. Butkus once and he was a friendly great, (not all are).
“Silly” talked of him yelling all night at Fran Tarkenton, another great who never titled though in more than his share of ‘offs games and I recall the Sunday night CBS News, then classy with little if any sports, showing Butkus scoring on a botched extra point to win a game vs you guessed it, Washington.
Great memories of a truly great player with whom I had a nice meeting.
Left to right, the great Dick Butkus and Andy B. some, now pretty many, years back.
Click below to view Pat Summerall’s narration on “This Week In Pro Football” of another Bears/Wash game (the two franchises have had so many big ones) in which Butkus and quarterback Bobby Douglass made great plays on the go ahead to stay extra point play in ’71.
The season long and slightly beyond (once the Liberty became the “loaded Liberty”) anticipated final between the defending champion Las Vegas Aces and the aforementioned New York Liberty has manifested.
Las Vegas finished (34-6), the Liberty (32-8) each over the 29 plus win total. Las Vegas started the year rated virtually even with the Liberty before moving to about 220/260 and now are say 170/200 to win the series.
Who knows? I do care, but perhaps, for the wrong reasons.
It starts Sunday on of course a full day of NFL and two “div series” MLB games.
Andy B Sports 