Three more ‘offs qualification related weeks remain in college “pig,” with 4 unbeaten teams, two very likely, another having won as a TD underdog to highly increase their chances and even a 4th, as one at least will have at least one loss, might still make the 4 team playoff.
At the top, is defending champion and top ranked Georgia, which as is the case with the other 3 unbeatens, Ohio State, T.C.U. and Michigan stands at (10-0) with 2 “regs” and in their case an SEC title clash with current (8-2) L.S.U. ahead. Barring the un foreseen, Georgia will be in the ‘off for a second straight year and a third time in the last 6. They failed to qualify for the first three playoffs held from (2014-2016).
The team that “barked” outright as a 7 point underdog, doing so in an ABC/Fowler tilt was T.C.U. It was their defense that stood out in a (17-10) win in Austin vs Texas University.
On 11-26-2022, likely to both be (11-0), Ohio State and Michigan clash in Columbus, which in the superb film, ” The Manchurian Candidate,” Frank Sinatra’s character cites as (at least) “a good football town.”
The winner of that tilt will almost certainly be in the college ‘off and possibly the team that scores less points in the 11-26 tilt, will join them.
Stetson Bennett, the excellent Georgia University quarterback, is pictured above.
First, esoteric me gets personal, citing that I have known Astros’ title winning manager, Dusty Baker for over 50 years. He praised my broadcasting, asked about my father’s bypass operation, left tickets and did interviews, all with grace. Once he called me while ordering lunch before a Saturday afternoon tilt and he confirmed that cornbread was part of his order.
I think the game 4 winner is (18-5) all-time in Dusty Baker post-season series. Such a game winner, won all 8 of Dusty’s post-season series as a player, (4 NLCS, 3 World Series and an extra round in the lone player title for Baker, that in strike marred ’81, vs the Astros).
Unlike, at least according to Gertrude Stein, regarding Oakland, California–much is “there,” just mine for it, in Baker’s 55 years in professional baseball.
Regarding ’81 and vs Houston, Nolan Ryan retired Dusty to end his record breaking 5th no hit game, which broke the record he shared with Sandy Koufax.
2 weeks and a day later, L.A. beat Ryan in the decisive 5th game of that extra series on a Sunday afternoon.
There are 4 completed and one “in progress” instances of 2 losses then a win, in Baker and Phillies World Series annals.
Philly now (2-6) in World Series play (1-6) in Saturday games), (no Saturday game, probably due to rain in 1950), lost their first two World Series going (1-8)–all losses after Grover Cleveland Alexander’s game 1 win in 1915) before winning the ’80 title despite a Saturday game 4 loss.
They lost their next 2 World Series, 10 years apart in ’83 and ’93, getting eliminated on a Saturday in ’93 in a very similar, (eerily so and the fact I, unlike anyone else, cite it) decisive inning as 2022.
Next, the Phils won the ’08 World Series with their lone Saturday World Series win in game 3, a part of it. However, in ’09 and days back they lost in 2 straight W.S. appearances. It remains to be seen what the result will be in their next World Series.
Meanwhile Baker and L.A. lost in his first two World Series, each vs the Yankees ( ’77 and ’78), before winning vs them in the ’81 World Series.
In his first two World Series as a manager in ’02 and 2021 his teams lost before winning in 2022.
In 2022, Baker and Houston won both Saturday tilts, including the #6 clincher.
In ’02, after Baker’s San Francisco Giants won the Saturday night opening World Series game, they dissipated a 5 run lead as late as the Angels’ 7th inning, in a potential Series clincher in #6 on a Saturday night.
In ’77,’78,’81 and 2021 there was only one Saturday game and in all 4 cases, it was a game 4 and said winner won a “Dusty involved” World Series.
I add to the “Saturday games notes,” as in his only W.S. as a coach, that with the Giants in the so called 1989 “Earthquake Series,” the Oakland A’s (Gertrude died well before some great A’s teams surfaced “there” in Oakland) swept the Giants, winning games 1 and 4, two weeks apart.
Yordan Alvarez, he of ups and downs in post-season play and pictured above, had gone 5 for 42, before blasting a mammoth 3 run homer B6 of #6, to all but wrap up the 2022 title for the Astros.
Now the similar innings that beat the Phils, in Saturday night game 6, World Series ending games 29 years apart.
For Toronto in ’93, all-time type and this is a negative, “walk guy” Mitch Williams, BB’d (walked) all-time (a positive), “walk guy” Rickey (Henderson) to start B9.
After Devon White’s fly ball failed to advance Rickey, eventual World Series MVP, Paul Molitor singled, (I believe toward center with Henderson “Rickey-ing” only to second).
Joe Carter followed with one of sport’s most dramatic moments, a World Series ending, 3 run home run.
Last Saturday, Martin Maldonado in a “What in the name of Harry Wendelstedt?” –(write in, if you get the reference), was hit by a pitch, he did not lean into, but also made no effort to avoid.
Next, credit Altuve for avoiding the double play, but a la White in ’93 (need I cite Altuve’s contributions and in White’s case, he got the big hit in a rousing (15-14) Jays win in #4 at Philly in ’93 and both White and Altuve have 2 titles), he did not advance the runner.
As was the result 29 years earlier, the eventual World Series MVP, (Jeremy Pena) singled (to center, by the way), this, sending Altuve to third.
Alvarez homered on Jose Alvarado’s (2-1) pitch. That, a 3RHR that again, essentially beat the Phils in a Saturday night game 6 World Series clinching game.
I cite current Phils manager Rob Thomson, best known as a Giants’ player, Robby Thompson (he hit a big home run in #3 ’89 NLCS on the night news came that the great Bette Davis died) and the man who hit the legendary 1951 N.L. pennant winning home run, Bobby Thomson all have been involved in one World Series and was on the losing end.
Dusty Baker now with victories in his 3rd World Series after losses in his first two as both a manager and player, was a coach on that ’89 Giants’ pennant winner that included Robby Thompson.
In both his losing World Series as a manager, Dusty faced “S” named managers, his teammate on his lone player title with the ’81 Dodgers, Mike “S”cioscia and last year’s title winning manager Brian “S”nitker of the Braves.
Baker wins vs a manager whose name starts one “down” the alphabet from “S,” in “T”homson and as a player split in 2 “L” vs “L” World Series, the opposing manager being Bob “L”emon and “L”asorda his manager in both the ’78 loss and ’81 win.
The ’77 World Series loss was to a manager whose name started one letter “down” the alphabet from “L,” namely Alfred “Billy” “M”artin.
All 4 Dusty Baker vs the Phillies LCS or World Series ended on Saturdays, three of them with (3-1) NLCS victories, 2 for Dusty and L.A. (Dodgers) in ’77 and ’78 and one for the Phils led by “Dusty pal,” “The Sarg,” Gary Mathews in ’83. The just completed World Series went 6 games.
Ruth Elizabeth “Bette” Davis, pictured above, died on October 6, 1989, a Friday, however I believe news of the great star’s death was not made public until Saturday October 7th.
It has to be osmosis, karma and certainly an homage to the impeccably timed, hilarious performances of Josh Mostel and Richard Masur in “Two Jews Talking” ( The Theatre at St. Clements 46th Street in New York City) that manifested in both me laughing out loud and remembering/telling a great joke, (two rarities in my history), from the incredibly well written show.
Starting there, regarding the writing, as the brilliant Ed. Weinberger helmed this masterpiece, in which Masur and Mostel performed with impeccable timing.
In the first of two scenes, they were “Lou” and “Bud,” evoking memories of greats Lou Costello and Bud Abbott, in rounding out Weinberger’s wit and seichel (beyond common sense, to battle some of life’s ridiculous and even tragic events) in a way that produced both great humor and pathos.
Dan Wackerman, who also had a friendly, live introduction, directed “Two Jews Talking,” which on a beautiful weather day of some tumult (the NYC Marathon, President Joe Biden speaking in my and Mr. Masur’s hometown of Yonkers/Bronxville) highlighted a personal big plus.
Mr. Mostel, is “looking forward to having his right hip replaced in January used a cane that belonged to his father in loving memory.” Josh is the son of the great Zero Mostel.
The above from the program, which I had not read before I had the great fortune to speak with Josh Mostel, as he waited for and tracked his imminent uber ride.
He is a kind man, who like his co star Mr. Masur, has performed so well, so often, in a distinguished career.
In a couple of references to his father Zero, who was a brave, truly good man, with exponential talent, I could feel the love and despite all that has happened and the fear of what might, I feel so grateful that Josh Mostel helped me think of my father.
Though I am not running inside to read the phonetic English of the Yizkor prayer, my father hoped others would recite, I think of him, the great memory of Zero playing on “The Fiddler on the Roof” album in better days, and salute Josh, one more time, for being the kind of son we all ought to aspire to be.
Click below for more on this great show including access to ticket purchases.
www.twojewstalking.comHOME |Two Jews, Talking, Off-Broadway, New York
The added best 2of 3 round enabled both World Series qualifiers to end up with the same number of post-season wins, likely (have to? check it) for the first time in baseball annals.
Houston went (11-2) to claim the franchise’s second title tying them with 3 other expansion teams (the Mets, Royals and Marlins) and also with two more or less original teams the Phillies and Guardians nee Indians.
Philadelphia under Rob Thomson, who replaced Joe Girardi as manager, when the team struggled to a (22-29) start, went (11-6) in P.Season play, however, as was the case when another Thomson (Bobby) was an integral part of a pennant winner (the New York Giants in 1951), the team lost the World Series in 6 games, in the last road/home/home/road/road/home wins World Series before the just completed 2022 version.
There will be plenty more, for now this one—With the Phils denied a first title since 2008, the Yankees despite a record tying drought for them of only 1 pennant in 19 seasons (2004-2022, they had one pennant win from 1903-1921, there was no World Series in 1904 but again as the Highlanders the Yankees franchise, still the greatest achiever in major North American sports league annals and trust me they are not my team, were denied that pennant and hence just the franchise’s first of 40, that in 1921 for that “similar” 19 season span), still have a more recent title than 20 of the other 29 teams in big league baseball.
That (20-9) “record” evokes their World Series record of (20-9) after losing a second straight World Series in 1964.
One more and again, nowhere near what Hamlet pondered but “to research or not to research?!” One team other than the Yankees who clearly did so a number of times to do what the (2017-2022) Astros have done, namely win 4 A.L. pennants in 6 seasons and as is the case with the ‘Stros, go (2-2) in that year’s World Series are the 1966-1971 Baltimore Orioles.
The ’66 Orioles title team was managed by the tremendous clutch player on 5 straight Yankees’ title teams from (’49-’53) Hank Bauer.
In the aforementioned same configuration 1951 World Series, Bauer starred in the last game with a 3 run triple that yielded a (4-1) Yankees’ lead in an eventual (4-3) title clinching Yankees’ win.
Bauer preserved that lead and series clinching win with a fine catch on a low line drive hit by Sal Yvars (his phone # ended 1951, a year he is famously, perhaps somewhat infamously, associated with).
I can name 3 title winning managers whose last names start with “B’ and contain 5 letters. Perhaps you can name more. Let me know.
Dusty Baker and Bruce Bochy, each to manage Texas teams in 2023 if Dusty returns as Champion Astros’ manager, join Bauer in that category. Bochy had 3 title wins with the Giants (2010, 2012 and 2014).
Hank Bauer, who holds the World Series record of having hit safely in 17 such games, is pictured above.
Mr. Bauer gratefully acknowledged to me in one of the team dugouts at the ’85 World Series I “ABC’d” that Mr. Clemente would have broken his record if afforded another World Series opportunity.
The Houston Astros rode Yordan Alvarez’ 1 out, 3 run home run/ B6, that yielded a (3-1) lead, to a World Series clinching (4-1) win in game 6,k to take the 2022 World Series vs the Philadelphia Phillies, who dropped to (2-6) in World Series play.
Houston, the city has/had 4 teams with two titles apiece, but 2 of the teams no longer play there and both their former leagues no longer exist. (The Oilers the ’60 and ’61 AFL champs are the Tennessee Titans, who now play the last of the “2” year AFL or AFC title redux games, “unopposed” tomorrow night).
I actually watched all of #6 and am happy for ‘Stros manager John “Dusty” Baker, who gained his first managerial title 41 years, after his only one as a player in strike marred 1981, doing so in this year that the man who inspired his wearing #12, the great Tommy Davis passed away.
It is the first WS clincher win by a home team since the Red Sox clinched a title at home for the first time in 95 years in 2013.
Jeremy Pena, whose single sent Jose Altuve to third (a key play was the questionable hit by pitch drawn by Martin Maldonado to start the frame and then Altuve hit into a force play), before Alvarez’ 450 home run to center, was named World Series MVP. He was also the ALCS “most valuable.”
Many more notes, some truly esoteric, will follow in the subsequent days.
The game 4 winner of a Phillies’ LCS or World Series is now (14-1). Consider that an “appetizer.”
Astros’ manager, John “Dusty” Baker hugs Jose Altuve after their ‘Stros clinch what is Baker’s first managerial crown.
A true lesson in enduring by Mr. Baker, a man I first called 50 plus years ago, asking for the better known, Ralph Garr.
Dusty Baker is a truly good man.
NEW YORK — UFC 28I features middleweight champion Israel Adesanya vs. Alex Pereira in the main event grudge match on Saturday night, November 12.
Hoops Cabaret (48 West 33 Street), called the wold’s sexiest sports bar, will be showing the fight on its numerous HD TVs and huge Video Wall. The Hoops Cabaret girls also host the After-Party performing on stage, and also up close and personal.
Located just one block from Madison Square Garden, Hoops Cabaret combines the fun of a sports bar with the excitement of a gentlemen’s club. It’s a great place to watch all sporting events.
“Come make it rain and visit our VIP Man Cave,” said Hoops girl Diane. “The after-party is going to be wild.”
***Next door to the world famous Rick’s Cabaret NYC
The Houston Astros, now (4-0) in games 5 of the World Series, won game 5 in Philadelphia last night, (3-2), to take a 3 games to 2 lead in the 2022 World Series.
Five years ago, the ‘Stros won a home #5, (1″3″-1″2″) to also take a 3 games to 2 W.S. lead. Then they went to L.A. and lost #6, (the 4th of 6 Verlander W.S. losses before his 1 run/5 innings, but gave (1-0) lead right back to first batter Kyle Schwarber’s solo homer), win last night).
However, they won #7 behind Charlie Morton and Lance McCullers, the latter I guess would be the Houston starter if there is a 7th. (He was the losing pitcher in #3).
What a shame: I watched none last night and so little, actually almost no baseball this season and thus cite ALCS MVP Jeremy Pena, a bit “late” in this post.
This is the first time, either as a player or manager in his 6 World Series, that ‘Stros manager, Dusty Baker goes home with his team up 3 games to 2.
Last night Baker went to his “closer” Ryan Pressly (finishing the usual tangent, Baker teams, down (3-2) in his 3 other World Series lost all of them in 6, as a manager with Houston vs the Braves last year and as a player, both ’77 at New York and in ’78 at L.A. vs the Yankees. Need I add, as/since Pressly was successful with help by big defensive plays from (inserted) Trey Mancini to end the 8th and Chas McCormick, 1 out none on, as he leaped against the wall to rob first game star, J.T. Realmuto, of at least a 1 out double, that ’77 which has the same calendar as 2022, was the year Elvis Presley died and this year, 2022 a fine movie about him was released) with Phils’ runners at the corners and only 1 out and “Hous” clinging to a (3-2) lead.
Pressly fanned Brandon Marsh and got Kyle Schwarber on a hot smash to Mancini, who was at the bag and fielded the fair ball and from there, easily retired Schwarber.
Since the 1962 game 5 winner was the home team Yankees, as Tom Tresh, who hit some really clutch World Series home runs, had the decisive 3 run homer (adding/editing roughly 2 years later), the current road/home/home/road/road W.S. configuration/results had not manifested since 1951.
The 2022 World Series is tied at 2 games apiece after a World Series record tying 5 home runs Phils output won #3 (7-0), but Christian Javier hurled 6 of the Astros’ 9 pitched, hitless innings in a series squaring, (5-0) win in #4.
What can I say, once I loved this, however, situations such as last night as there is no real drama in a combined no hit bid or achievement, are among the many, as to why, I, who once fully immersed myself in every World Series play, watch so little.
Tonight is game 5 with #6 scheduled to be played Saturday night in Houston. Let’s hope not, but I fear Fox and first World Series announcer, Joe Davis will get a 7th and if so, it would go, (rhyme) vs Sunday night pig, a ’62 AFL Title tilt redux of Dallas at Houston in the form of Tennessee at K.C. (rhyme).
Speaking of Houston football, that city’s (1-5-1) Texans face Philly’s (yes Philadelphia vs Houston) (7-0) Eagles “opposite” but on something called Amazon, #5 W.S. Houston Astros at Philadelphia Phillies tonight.
The road/home/home/road configuration through the first 4 games is the first such since 1962 and before that 1951. Each of those World Series resulted in New York Yankees’ victories vs Giants’ teams, the ’51 version still in New York while the ’62 Team had San Francisco, where rain caused 3 postponements between #’s 5 and 6, as its home.
Maybe and clearly it lacked the drama and greatness of Don Larsen’s game 5 of a (2-2) World Series, FULL 9 innings, perfect game in 1956, however, praise indeed for Christian Javier, pictured above.
Before seeing Gabriel Byrne’s beyond superb performance in “Walking With Ghosts,” I considered him a great say the equivalent of a really good futbol/soccer player.
After seeing his performance, which an unknown in the elevator told me was a “primer on how to do a one person show,” when I said I was about to attend it, Mr. Byrne might appreciate his top flight goaltender for the famed Manchester United team equivalency. In other words, he is that good!
He rains down humor and pathos as he walks us through his life, which has been ripe with trauma and challenge, but also great artistic and personal triumph.
Both he and the show are truly inspirational!
The superb actor, Gabriel Byrne, pictured above.
Andy B Sports 