Fall Classic Rewind

2025 BBWAA HOF Ballot Happy New Year! It's once again time to talk about the Hall of Fame, this time the writers' ballot. There are plenty of worthy candidates returning to the ballot, and two standout first year candidates to watch. Japanese icon Ichiro Suzuki is a lock for induction this year. Although he didn't debut until he was 27, the spry savant amassed over 3,000 hits, 1,400 runs, 10 All-Stars and Gold Gloves, not to mention two batting titles, a Rookie of the Year, and a MVP. He also holds the single season hit record, with 262 in the 2004 season. Although not the first Japanese player in MLB, his smashing success paved the way for other Japanese stars such as Hideki Matsui, Yu Darvish, and Shohei Ohtani. The only question about Ichiro is whether or not he'll be unanimous. Don't sleep on ace lefty C.C. Sabathia's chances on his debut ballot. As one of just three left handed pitchers with 3,000 strikeouts (Steve Carlton and Randy Johnson the other two), Sabathia was the definition of a workhorse. Add in 250 wins, a Cy Young, a World Series, and an ALCS MVP, and you've got a Hall of Famer, especially in this era. Among the other first-year candidates, there are a few who could survive the 5% threshold to remain on ballot for another year. Félix Hernández was one of the most dominant starters in baseball from 2007 - 2015, but that might not be enough for the writers. Dustin Pedroia and Ian Kinsler were both excellent second basemen that frankly lack the longevity needed for enshrinement, but are certainly worthy cases to discuss, particularly on the same ballot as sabermetric darling Chase Utley. Russell Martin and Brian McCann come up short in the traditional counting stats that writers demand from catchers, but their advanced framing metrics put them in similar ranks as Joe Mauer, Buster Posey, and Yadier Molina. Of the returning candidates, Billy Wagner came up just short last year (73.8%), and he will need a push to get over in his final year on the ballot. In his second to last year, Andruw Jones appears to be stalling around 60% of the vote, not far off from induction, but not close enough to be confident he'll make it this year or the next. Carlos Beltrán and Chase Utley appear to be on track for induction in a few years time, though they'll need to continue their growth. AROD, ManRam, and Andy Pettitte would be in the Hall if not for PEDs, and they're not getting in anytime soon. How many will join Dick Allen and Dave Parker for a July celebration? Find out January 21st when the results are announced. Audio clips from Youtube #3,000 for Ichiro - Fox Sports Florida Sun - Rich Waltz Laser Throw from Ichiro - Fox Sports Northwest - Rick Rizzs Single season hit record for Ichiro - Root Sports Northwest - Dave Niehaus CC gets 3K K's - YES Network  King Felix Perfecto - RSNW - Dave Sims Dustin Pedroia Leadoff WS HR - FOX - Joe Buck and Tim McCarver As always, shout out to Baseball Reference and SABR for statistics, boxscores, background information, and much, much more. Catch you next time, P.C..O.

With Winter Meetings just around the corner, and the Hot Stove heating up, it's time to talk about the Baseball Hall of Fame, specifically the eight players on the Classic Era Ballot. This year, six former major league all-stars and two Negro League legends are up for enshrinement. Each of the position player candidates has won an MVP, and the two major league pitchers combined for over 500 career wins at the big league level, not to mention stellar postseason performances. These are players who remained on the writers ballot for many years, if not the full fifteen in some cases, and they've been under consideration in prior ‘Veteran's Committee' selections. They are all worthy candidates, but the committee members can only vote for three players. As is often the case on these committees, only one or two of these great players may get inducted this year, and the others will have to wait years to get another shot. Here are this year's selections for the Classic Era Ballot: Dick Allen - 1B/3B for PHI & CHW, 1972 AL MVP, 1964 NL ROY, 7X AS Ken Boyer - 3B for STL, 1964 NL MVP & WS, 11X AS, 5X GG John Donaldson - LHP/1B in '10's & '20's, 400+ W & 5,000 K Steve Garvey - 1B for LAD & SDP, 1974 NL MVP, 10X AS, 4X GG Vic Harris - Player-Manger for the Homestead Grays, greatest Negro League team Tommy John - LHP for CHW, LAD, NYY, 288 W, 4710 IP, redefined injury recovery Dave Parker - RF for PIT, CIN, 1978 NL MVP, 7X AS, 3X GG Luis Tiant - RHP for CLE, BOS, 229 W, most by any Cuban born player Results of the committee will be announced on Dec 8th. In my opinion, all of these candidates are deserving, and I would have no complaints about any of them being selected. I personally would vote for Dick Allen (who missed by just one vote last time), Luis Tiant (who we sadly lost this year), and Ken Boyer (who was brilliant at an underrepresented position). Who would you pick, and who do you expect to make it in? As always, shout out to Baseball Reference and SABR for statistics, box scores, background information, and much, much more. Catch you next time, P.C.O.

2024 World Series Game Five - Los Angeles Dodgers @ New York Yankees We head into game five with the Dodgers just one win away from their eight World Series title, and what a ride it has been. Freddie Freeman has been the catalyst for the offense, homering in each game so far (and a record six straight World Series dating back to '21) and driving in 10 runs, just two away from tying the record set by NYY 2B Bobby Richardson in 1960. Shohei Ohtani appears to be significantly hampered by his shoulder injury, but the offense keeps rolling thanks to contributions from Mookie Betts, Tommy Edman, and both of the Hernández brothers*. The LA starters have strung together solid outings, while the bullpen has carried things the rest of the way. When it has mattered, manager Dave Roberts has pushed all the right buttons, which was not something you could say about him in previous playoffs. They weren't able to get the sweep in game four, but they aim to finish the job here in the Bronx tonight. They know they'll be flying home to LA, and they hope it's with the World Series trophy in hand. The Yankees avoided elimination in game four, thanks in large part to a go-ahead grand slam from young shortstop Anthony Volpe, but if they're going to extend the series any longer, Aaron Judge must step up. He has been downright awful in these playoffs, but it has not really hurt the Yanks until the World Series. With everything on the line, we'll see if he can find some redemption. It will be ace Gerrit Cole on the mound for Bronx Bombers. The $300 million dollar man was excellent in game one, but the bullpen coughed up the lead and the game. Expect manager Aaron Boone to ride his horse as long as he can. On the other side, the Yankees will get a second crack at LA righty Jack Flaherty, who cruised through game one until he got beat by the long ball. Flaherty has been known to struggle the more times he sees an opponent. Will that trend hold? These Yankees are talented, and these games have actually been close. In fact, the differential in this series is just a single run. Part of the reason the Yanks are trailing right now? Fundamentals. There have been misplays, base-running gaffes, mental errors, and even lack of hustle on display for New York. And up against a team as talented as these Dodgers, it's at the margins where a series can be decided. The Yankees cannot afford any more lapses, or else they'll see their best season in 15 years come to an abrupt end. Audio clips from MLB.tv LAD Radio 570 AM - Stephen Nelson and Rick Monday NYY Radio WFAN - John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman FOX postgame - Kevin Burkhardt As always shout out to Baseball Reference for statistics, boxscores, background information, and much, much more. Catch you next time, P.C.O.

2024 World Series - Los Angeles Dodgers @ New York Yankees  Games Three and Four @ Yankee Stadium  The Dodgers head into the Bronx leading the series two games to none, taking care of business in their home ballpark against the Yankees. It took an incredible walk-off grand slam, courtesy of Freddie Freeman, and then a dominant performance from Yoshinobu Yamamoto to get Los Angeles in to this position, but they'll certainly take it. Freeman has been the star so far, with another homer in game two. Tommy Edman and Teóscar Hernández added home runs in game two as well, but the rest of the offense has not been humming like it was in the NLCS. To add to that worry, Shohei Ohtani dislocated his shoulder attempting a steal, and while he'll be in the lineup, it's unclear how that injury may affect him. On the mound for Dave Roberts in game three will be Walker Buehler, who has been lights out in his previous World Series starts. The Dodgers will certainly need some length from the. Kentucky-born righty, as game four is slated to be a bullpen game. Yankees manager Aaron Boone is under fire after the questionable game one decision to bring in Nestor Cortes, who surrendered the walk-off grand slam. It has been characterized as indefensible by many (rightly so in my opinion); however, there were other letdowns and misplays that put the Yankees in that position. You can nitpick and criticize bullpen management all you want, but if your offense isn't putting up enough runs, especially against these Dodgers? You won't stand a chance. Perhaps the most concerning for the Yankees faithful is the continued slump of Aaron Judge. He has been a dead spot in the order, and quite simply he needs to turn it around, or he may face the wrath of a fanbase that adores him. You can expect the Bronx Zoo to cheer for him loudly when he first steps to the plate, but if the strikeouts and weakly hit balls show up with him, do not be shocked by a chorus of boos for the MVP. On the pitching side, Aaron Boone will turn to Clarke Schmidt in game three, and then Luis Gil in game four. Given the stakes, the leash on the two young righties will be quite short. Expect heavy usage from the likes of Tim Hill, Tommy Kahnle, Clay Holmes, and Luke Weaver. No team has ever come back from a 3-0 deficit in a World Series, and no team has even forced a game five since the 1970 Cincinnati Reds. If the Yanks go down in game three, it may just be the death knell on their season. Audio clips from MLB.tv LAD Radio 570 AM - Stephen Nelson and Rick Monday NYY Radio WFAN - John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman FOX broadcast - Joe Davis and John Smoltz As always shout out to Baseball Reference for statistics, boxscores, background information, and much, much more. Catch you next time, P.C.O.

2024 World Series - New York Yankees @ Los Angeles Dodgers Games One and Two @ Dodger Stadium Here we go. For the first time since 1981, the Yankees and Dodgers will face off in the Fall Classic. It will be the twelfth matchup between these storied franchises, and the Yankees have certainly had the advantage in the past. The Bronx Bombers have taken eight of the previous eleven series, though the Dodgers have split the last six. On baseball's biggest stage, we have the game's biggest stars ready to shine. The Dodgers have already walloped a New York team this postseason, dispatching the Mets in six games behind an historic offensive performance. Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts were outstanding, but it was midseason pickup Tommy Edman who took home NLCS MVP. With star first baseman Freddie Freeman hobbled with an ankle injury, Edman stepped into the cleanup spot and boy, did he clean up against Mets pitching. With a few days off heading into the series, Freeman is expected to return to the lineup, though how he'll be feeling is unknown. The Dodgers have been able to piece together effective innings with solid enough starting and nearly untouchable bullpen arms. LA kid Jack Flaherty (13-7 3.17 ERA 162 IP) will get the ball in game one. It has been a Jekyll and Hyde postseason for the righty, so who's gonna show up? For game two, it will be Yoshinobu Yamamoto (7-2 3.00 ERA 90 IP). The Japanese ace had an awful postseason debut, but has been pretty good since, albeit in limited innings. Things have gotten a little shorter in Dave Robert's bullpen, as Evan Philips went down with an arm injury; however, he gets reliable lefty Alex Vesia back after he missed the NLCS. We'll see how Roberts navigates the late innings without one of his key arms. On the surface, the Yankees have been rolling this postseason, dropping just two games heading into the Fall Classic. Digging a little deeper, it has not been as dominant as their record has demonstrated. Every game against Kansas City was close, and it took incredible heroics from Giancarlo Stanton and Juan Soto to escape from Cleveland in just five games. The bullpen was dominant early, but it has struggled lately. And of greatest concern, Aaron Judge has looked completely lost at the plate, apart from a pair of home runs. The Yankees will need him to refine his MVP form to have a shot in this series. Ace Gerrit Cole (8-5 3.41 ERA 95 IP) will get the start in game one. The reigning AL Cy Young has had to labor through his playoff starts, but he's found a way to be effective. In game two, lefty Carlos Rodón (16-9 3.96 ERA 175 IP) will get the ball once again. He's had one brilliant start and two mediocre outings so far. Manager Aaron Boone will definitely be hoping for the former, as his options in the bullpen are certainly thinner than his LA counterpart's. In the past, these two teams have delivered on tension and drama, and this series should be no different. Audio clips from MLB.tv LAD Radio 570 AM - Stephen Nelson and Rick Monday NYY Radio WFAN - John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman FOX broadcast - Joe Davis and John Smoltz As always shout out to Baseball Reference for statistics, boxscores, background information, and much, much more. Catch you next time, P.C.O.

2024 National League Championship Series Games Three, Four, and Five @ Citi Field - Queens, New York, NY  Game Six @ Dodger Stadium - Los Angeles, CA Heading to New York, the series is tied at a game apiece. The Dodgers pummeled the Met in game one, but the Mets responded with a 7-3 win behind a leadoff Francisco Lindor homer and a Mark Vientos grand slam. The fans at Citi Field is raring to cheer on their beloved Mets, but the Dodgers big bats will look to silence the raucous crowd early. Shohei Ohtani has yet to have a hit with the bases empty, but he's doing plenty of damage with runners on base. Dating back to the regular season, he is 16 for his last 19 with runners in scoring position… that's just absurd. Mookie Betts and Max Muncy continue to swing hot bats, and with Freddie Freeman hobbled with an ankle injury, it will be Tommy Edman of all people stepping into the cleanup spot. This is a deep lineup that grinds out at bat after at bat, exhausting their opposing pitchers and forcing mistakes. The pitching plan is always a bit nebulous for manager Dave Roberts, who lacks reliable starting pitching, but has numerous quality options out of the pen. Evan Phillips, Blake Treinen, Michael Kopech, Anthony Banda, and others have strung together zeroes across multiple games, though they will need at least something from their starters. Buehler will get the ball in game three, Yamamoto in game four, Flaherty in game five, and likely a bullpen game if it gets to six back in LA. It will take a team effort to bring the Dodgers back to the World Series, and these guys will live up to that task. The Mets are feeling good heading into game three, as they should on this magical run they've been on. Carlos Mendoza will send Luis Severino to the mound for game three, then José Quintana for game four, and likely David Peterson for game five. If they can extend the series, they will be quite confident with their ace Sean Manaea on the hill, with either a shot to clinch the series or force a decisive game seven. But if the Mets aim to win this thing, the bats are gonna need to step up. Apart from the six run outburst early in game two, the Mets have been befuddled by the Dodger bullpen (just like San Diego). With a trip to the World Series on the line, we shall see whether the Mets will continue to conjure up playoff magic, or if the Dodgers can find a way to break it. Audio clips from MLB.tv LAD radio 570 AM - Stephen Nelson and Rick Monday NYM radio WCBS - Howie Rose and Keith Raad As always, shout out to Baseball Reference for statistics, boxscores, background information, and much, much more. Catch you next time, P.C.O.

2024 American League Championship Series Games Four and Five @ Progressive Field - Cleveland, OH The Guardians avoided going down three games to none thanks to the heroics of Jhonkensy Noel and David Fry, who respectively hit game-tying and walk-off home runs off of the Yankees relief aces. There's a ton of excitement in the Land, but there are some ominous signs for Steven Vogt's ball club. The starting pitching has not given length nor has it been very effective so far, and Cleveland will call upon the unproven Gavin Williams (3-10 4.86 ERA 76 IP) in game four and bring back Tanner Bibee (12-8 3.47 173 IP) on short rest for game five. More worrisome is the fact that the Yankees have been able to do damage against Emmanuel Clase, who is regarded as the best closer in the game. And with stalwarts Cade Smith and Hunter Gaddis having been used heavily to boot, the strategy of reliever carousel might not be so sound. If the Guardians are going to pull this off, they will have to bring the bats as they did in game three. That means much better production from José Ramírez and Josh Naylor, as well as frankly any production from the catching tandem of Bo Naylor and Austin Hedges. We know the Guardians will not go down without a fight, but do they have enough to contend with the Yankees onslaught. Game three was a whirlwind finish for Aaron Boone's squad, coming back in the eighth with back-to-back homers, but then unable to get the final out despite just being a strike away from a likely insurmountable 3-0 lead. Still, the Yankees are in good position in this series, and they will look to press their advantage as they seek their 41st AL pennant. They send rookie Luis Gil (15-7 3.50 ERA 150 IP) to the mound in game four, who was incredible to start the year, but seemed to hit a wall in the second half. Then for game five, Carlos Rodón (16-9 3.96 ERA 175 IP) will get the ball again, looking to replicate his outstanding game one start. The bullpen has shown its first cracks the postseason, with Clay Holmes and Luke Weaver coughing up the lead in game three. This is no worry with the offense, however, as Giancarlo Stanton continues to just hit home runs nearly every game, Gleyber Torres and Juan Soto get on base in about half of their at bats, and Aaron Judge has finally shown some life. They are a dangerous lineup, and if the Guardians continue to gift them opportunities with runners in scoring position, the Yankees will make you pay. Tune in to a competitive finish to this exciting ALCS. Audio clips from MLB.tv TBS Broadcast - Brian Anderson, Ron Darling, and Jeff Francoeur CLE Radio WTAM - Tom Hamilton and Jim Rosenhaus NYY Radio WFAN - John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman As always, shout to Baseball Reference and SABR for statistics, boxscores, background research, and much, much more. Catch you next time, P.C.O.

2024 American League Championship Series Game Three - New York Yankees @ Cleveland Guardians The Guardians return to Cleveland with their backs against the wall, having lost the first two game of the ALCS to the Yankees in the Bronx. Steven Vogt's team finds themselves in a 2-0 series hole due to a mix of sloppy defense, shaky pitching, and shoddy hitting. There's a lot that this club will have to shape up in short order if they want to avoid being down three games to none. These guys were pushed to the brink against Detroit in the previous series, and they responded with aplomb. If they're to have any chance against the Yankees, they're gonna need to do the same tonight. The Yankees are just two wins away from returning to the World Series for the first time in 15 seasons. They haven't been perfect so far, but there has been little to complain about. The pitching has been outstanding, particularly Clay Holmes and Luke Weaver at the back end. They've gotten contributions up and down the lineup, with Torres and Soto setting the table and Stanton cleaning up. Aaron Judge may finally be breaking out of his postseason slump, homering in game two. But there is still work to do, and manager Aaron Boone is well aware of how quickly fortunes can change in the playoffs. Game three will feature a matchup between Cleveland lefty Matthew Boyd and New York righty Clarke Schmidt. Boyd has been effective so far, but his outings have been short by design. With no Cleveland starter having completed five innings to this point and with a bullpen that's been taxed, how many outs can the Guardians get from the lefty. The 28 year old righty for the Yankees was good, but unspectacular in his first postseason start. Boone will likely have a quick hook to set up his powerful back-end arms, but their heavy usage could be cause for concern. Tune in to one of the best playoff games of the past deade. Audio clips from MLB.tv CLE radio WTAM - Tom Hamilton and Jim Rosenhaus CLE radio ESP - Rafa Hernández-Brito and Carlos Baerga NYY radio WFAN- John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman TBS broadcast - Brian Anderson, Ron Darling, and Jeff Francoeur Catch you next time, P.C.O.

2024 American League Championship Series Cleveland Guardians @ New York Yankees - Games One and Two @ Yankee Stadium Could this finally be the year that the World Series returns to the Bronx? By nearly every measure, the last fifteen years of Yankee baseball has been a success. A winning record every year, multiple deep playoff runs, an MVP, a Cy Young, a Rookie of the Year, the list could go on. But they are missing the only accolade that matters to those who don the pinstripes, a World Series title. Never mind that they already own 27 Commissioner's trophies, and 13 additional AL pennants. The standard is a World Series, anything less a complete and utter failure. So there will be no excuses for manager Aaron Boone, in his seventh season, which he hopes will be his first advancing past the ALCS. No excuses for Aaron Judge, who will almost certainly win his second MVP, but has scuffled in the playoffs to date. No excuses for Gerrit Cole, the $300 million dollar ace and reigning Cy Young who has battled injuries this year. No excuses for Juan Soto, the hitting savant on the brink of free agency. There won't be any excuses for these Yanks, especially with their path to the World Series clear of their recent foes, the Houston Astros. So, can they take AL pennant number 41 and vie for World Series number 28? Standing in the Yankees way are the scrappy Cleveland Guardians. Behind the heroics of David Fry in game four and Lane Thomas in game five, Cleveland was able to eke past the Detroit Tigers despite not having a single starting pitcher complete five innings in the series. Stringing together 27 outs and keeping the powerful Yankees bats silent will be a tall task for manager Steven Vogt, but he has lots of confidence in his big four (Smith, Gaddis, Herrin, and Clase). Beyond them, however, it can get dicey. As is often the case, championship series baseball will test your mettle, an interesting challenge for such a young and relatively inexperienced ball club (and manager). The Yankees have been battle-tested, though this core has yet to advance past this round. Will the Guardians be able to block them again? Game one will be a duel between veteran starters lefty Carlos Rodon for New York and righty Alex Cobb for Cleveland. Rodon had a great beginning to his start against Kansas City, but he quickly ran out of gas in the fourth inning. He'll look to manage his adrenaline and energy more effectively in this one. Cobb is a wily craftsman, but he's had his struggles against the middle of the Yankees order, particularly vs. Juan Soto. Game two will be a matchup between number one starters Gerrit Cole and Tanner Bibee. Both right handers have had mixed results from the two previous playoff starts, but the edge certainly leans toward the more experience Cole. After these two games, we will head to Cleveland for games three, four, and five* (if necessary). Audio clips from MLB.tv NYY Radio WFAN - John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman CLE Radio WTAM - Tom Hamilton and Jim Rosenhaus TBS broadcast - Brian Anderson, Ron Darling, and Jeff Francoeur As always, shout out to Baseball Reference and SABR for statistics, box scores, background information, and much, much more.

2024 National League Championship Series New York Mets @ Los Angeles Dodgers - Games One and Two Once again we have a battle between Los Angeles and New York in the playoffs, but instead of Dodgers and Yankees (which we may yet see in the World Series) it will be the Dodgers taking on the Mets. Carlos Mendoza's squad took down their division rival Phillies in just four games, behind strong starting pitching from Severino, Manaea, and Quintana, as well as clutch hitting from Mark Vientos, Pete Alonso, and superstar Francisco Lindor. These Mets don't mind being the underdog, but they will have yet another tall task ahead of them in the NLCS. The Dodgers also took down their division rival in the San Diego Padres, though Dave Roberts's team was pushed to the brink in five games. They rode unbelievable pitching to ultimately advance, holding the Padres scoreless for the final 24 innings in the series. If they somehow shut out the Mets in game one, they would tie the all-time postseason scoreless streak (which was inflicted upon the Dodgers by the Orioles in the 1966 World Series). Shohei Ohtani's first postseason has been successful so far, mainly because he has come through nearly every time with runners on base (he's been hitless with the bases empty.) Mookie Betts has finally returned to form in the playoffs, while the Hernández brothers*(not actually brothers) provided the punch in the clinching game.  Game one will feature hometown kid Jack Flaherty, who looks to be much better than in his Dodger postseason debut. Opposing him will be Kodai Senga, making just his third start this season. It is unclear how long the Mets will let him pitch, but the Dodgers offense might have more of a say in that decision than anything. In game two, the Dodgers will go with a bullpen game, which worked to perfection against San Diego. The Mets will counter with their big lefty, Sean Manaea, who was brilliant against Philadelphia. Past matchups between these teams in the playoffs have been electric, with a classic seven gamer in 1988 and some fireworks in the 2015 NLDS. We should be in store for plenty of drama. Audio clips from MLB.tv LAD radio 570 AM - Stephen Nelson and Rick Monday NYM radio WCBS 880 AM - Howie Rose and Keith Raad As always, shout out to Baseball Reference and SABR for statistics, box scores, background information, and much, much more. Catch you next time, P.C.O.

2024 Divisional Round - Game Five NLDS - Padres @ Dodgers The Dodgers staved off elimination and embarrassment at the hand of their Southern California rivals in game four. It took standout performances from nearly the whole roster. Eight Dodger bullpen arms combined for the shutout, Mookie Betts and Will Smith homered, and now we have a winner-take-all game five on a Friday night in Chavez Ravine. It will be a duel between countrymen; Yoshinobu Yamamoto vs. Yu Darvish with a trip to the NLCS on the line. Yamamoto was lit up in game one and has struggled against the Padres all season, so expect a quick hook from Dave Roberts if trouble brews. Darvish has been sensational against Los Angeles in his career, but he carries an 0-5 record in elimination games heading into this game five. The Padres bats were electric to begin this postseason, but they have silent since Fernando Tatis Jr.'s blast in the second inning of game three. Teoscar Hernández has come up clutch for the Dodgers with star first baseman Freddie Freeman hobbled. Don't be surprised if postseason stalwart Kiké Hernández plays a major role, as he often does in closeout games. This series has provided plenty of fireworks so far, what does this decisive game five have in store? Audio clips from MLB.tv LAD Radio 570 AM - Stephen Nelson and Rick Monday SDP Radio KWFN - Steve Agler and Tony Gwynn Jr. ALDS - Tigers @ Guardians Cleveland won a wild game four thanks to the heroics of David Fry, who not only had a go-ahead, pinch hit two run homer, but also provided the necessary insurance run on a safety squeeze. Talk about versatility! José Ramírez seems to have bounced back from a rough stretch, while Steven Kwan and Lane Thomas have been racking up hits in this series. The Tigers have seen contributions up and down the roster, particularly from Parker Meadows and Jake Rogers. Their ‘Pitching Chaos', as manger AJ Hinch coined, has gotten them to a win-or-go-home with their best pitcher, and perhaps the best pitcher in all of baseball, Tarik Skubal. The fireballing lefty hasn't given up a run in nearly a month, and he only looks to be getting better in the playoffs. First year manager Steven Vogt will likely summon some ‘pitching chaos' of his own in this one, as starter Matthew Boyd, a former Tiger, may only go one time through the order. Then it will be time to go to his ‘Four Horsemen' - Smith, Herrin, Gaddis, and the final boss, Clase. If any one of them falter, who knows to whom Vogt will give the ball. An exhilarating finish to an incredible divisional round awaits on a beautiful Saturday afternoon in Cleveland. Audio clips from MLB.tv CLE radio WTAM - Tom Hamilton and Jim Rosenhaus DET radio 97.1 - Dan Dickerson, Bobby Scales, and Andy Dirks TBS television - Brian Anderson and Jeff Francoeur As always, shout out to Baseball Reference and SABR for statistics, boxscores, background information, and much, much more. Catch you next time, P.C.O.

2024 ALDS - Games Three and Four Each series is tied heading into game three, and all four teams will want to conclude these series as quickly as possible. For Cleveland, they do not want to face Tigers ace Tarik Skubal in a game five, so they will go all out to try and win this series on the road. Detroit will embrace their pitching chaos, but that will be quite a lot of pressure on the young arms in the bullpen, all of whom are experiencing the postseason for the first time. Expect both managers to utilize nearly all of their 26 man roster to try and take this series. For the Yankees, it is unclear if Aaron Judge will reverse his postseason woes, though they might not even need him to eke out this series. Giancarlo Stanton and Gleyber Torres have rediscovered their form, and the pitching has quieted down the Royals bats. Bobby Witt jr. has yet to find his stroke, and the rest of the Kansas City lineup has struggled to come through with the big hit. If the Yanks take game three, expect ace Gerrit Cole to deliver in the clincher. Audio clips from MLB.tv DET Radio WXYT 97.1 FM - Dan Dickerson, Bobby Scales, and Andy Dirks CLE Radio WTAM 1100 - Tom Hamilton and Jim Rosenhaus NYY Radio WFAN 101.9 FM - John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman KCR Radio KFNZ 610 AM - Denny Matthews, Steve Stewart, and Jake Eisenberg As always shout out to Baseball Reference and SABR for statistics, box scores, background information, and much, much more. Catch you next time, P.C.O.

2024 Divisional Round - Games Three and Four Game three in a divisional round is always a pivotal matchup in a series, especially when the series is tied at a game apiece. If the higher seed can take the game, they will regain home field advantage, but if they fail, then they face elimination on the road. The Mets blew an opportunity to be up two games to none against the Phillies after a wild game two. They will have Sean Manaea, the unlikely ace for New York, on the mound for them against Aaron Nola, perhaps the bygone ace for Philadelphia. Manaea has really found his groove in the second half, but he has had some past trouble in the playoffs. Nola has been a stalwart for Philly, and he knows these Mets quite well, though of course they are quite familiar with him. For game four, the Mets will send out Jose Quintana and the Phillies will call upon Ranger Suárez. These two lefties have had almost polar opposite seasons. Quintana struggled early, like many Mets, but has been dominant in the final months of the season. Suárez, on the other hand, was otherworldly to begin the year, but has been downright awful to close the year. Both of these guys have been fantastic in their postseason careers, and will look to live up to that reputation. Ultimately this series will come down to the performances from the teams' respective stars. Can Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso keep providing magical moments? Can Bryce Harper and Trea Turner come through with runners in scoring position? Things have gotten pretty testy between the Dodgers and Padres in this series, as we head to the raucous crowd at Petco Park. The Dodgers will send Walker Buehler to the hill against Michael King. The former Vanderbilt star has struggled since returning from injury, but he hopes to recapture his electric postseason form. The young Padres ace was brilliant against Atlanta in the Wild Card round, but he will have his work cut out for him against this deep Dodger lineup. Game four will likely be a bullpen game for LA, and while Dylan Cease is scheduled to go on short rest, expect manager Mike Shildt to have a tight leash. For the Dodgers to get back to the NLCS, they are going to need Mookie Betts snap out of his postseason funk. For San Diego, they are hoping that Fernando Tatis, Jr. stays red hot. Do not be shocked if we return to LA for a decisive game five. Audio clips from MLB.tv NYM Radio WCBS AM 880 - Howie Rose and Keith Raad PHI Radio - WIP 94.1 FM - Scott Franzke, Tom McCarthyLarry Andersen, and Kevin Stocker LAD Radio KLAC AM 570 - Stephen Nelson and Rick Monday SDP Radio KWFN 97.3 FM - Jesse Agler and Tony Gwynn Jr. As always shout out to Baseball Reference and SABR for statistics, box scores, background information, and much, much more. Catch you next time, P.C.O.

Who would have guessed that three of the four remaining teams in the AL would be from the Central division? It maybe shouldn't be so surprising, given how well these teams have played down the stretch. In a matchup of teams very few prognosticators and talking heads expected to be here, the Guardians and Tigers are two young teams that are acting as if they've been here before. Under the leadership of first year manager Steven Vogt, the AL Central champion Guardians are looking to advance for the first time since 2016, the year they lost the World Series. For the Tigers, who were dead in the water in mid-August, they are finally back in the postseason after a decade long drought. In the other ALDS, the Yankees once again were the top team in the AL, and with the Astros out of the equation already, the World Series could return to the Bronx for the first time since 2009. Standing in their way is their bitter rival from the late ‘70s, the Kansas City Royals. Lots of thrilling baseball to come this October! Audio clips from MLB.tv DET Radio WXYT 97.1 FM - Dan Dickerson, Bobby Scales, and Andy Dirks CLE Radio WTAM 1100 - Tom Hamilton and Jim Rosenhaus NYY Radio WFAN 101.9 FM - John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman KCR Radio KFNZ 610 AM - Denny Matthews, Steve Stewart, and Jake Eisenberg As always shout out to Baseball Reference and SABR for statistics, box scores, background information, and much, much more. Catch you next time, P.C.O.

2024 Postseason - National League Divisional Round For the first time in playoff baseball history, all four divisional series are tied at one game apiece. At no point in the nearly 30 years of divisional round play have we been guaranteed a game four in every series before we have even played a single game three. Incredible! Moreover, these games have absolutely delivered on excitement and drama. Before we watch these series conclude, let's recap the best moments so far. Over on the NL side, we have two pairs of division rivals fighting for a spot in the NLCS. The NL East champion Phillies have their hands full with the 'never-count-them-out' Mets. With late-inning comebacks in both games, this series is shaping up to be an all-timer. On the West coast, the Dodgers and Padres face off for the third time in five years, and suffice it to say there is some bad blood between these two teams. Much of the core of these fierce rivals has remained intact, but Los Angeles has added worldwide sensation Shohei Ohtani to the equation. Everyone will have their eyes on the Japanese superstar's postseason debut. Audio clips from MLB.tv NYM Radio WCBS AM 880 - Howie Rose and Keith Raad PHI Radio - WIP 94.1 FM - Scott Franzke, Larry Andersen, and Kevin Stocker LAD Radio KLAC AM 570 - Charley Steiner, Rick Monday, and Tim Neverett SDP Radio KWFN 97.3 FM - Jesse Agler and Tony Gwynn Jr. As always shout out to Baseball Reference and SABR for statistics, box scores, background information, and much, much more. Catch you next time, P.C.O.

2024 Postseason - Wild Card Round New York Mets (89 - 73) @ Milwaukee Brewers (93 - 69) The Mets were not supposed to be here. They sold at the deadline last year, even telling Max Scherzer that 2024 was going to be ‘retooling' season, that '25 and '26 were when they would be competitive again. They started this season 0 - 5, and they were 11 games below .500 in late May. But then they called up an emerging pop-star (who moonlighted as a journeyman infielder), Grimace threw out a first pitch, and within a month, the Mets were back, baby! Bolstered by a veteran pitching staff and spearheaded by MVP candidate Francisco Lindor, the Mets have fought their way into playoff position under first year manager Carlos Mendoza. Like the Amazin's and the Miracles before them, these Mets have quite the knack for dramatic performances. The Brewers weren't supposed to be here either. Craig Counsell left for the Cubs. They lost Brandon Woodruff to a shoulder injury, and they traded away 2021 Cy Young winner Corbin Burnes away before the season even started. But under the stewardship of Pat Murphy and with a breakout performance from 20 year old Jackson Chourio, Milwaukee found themselves with yet another NL Central title. It has been an incredible story for this young and exciting team; however, the Brewers have failed to advance past the first round in four consecutive postseasons. Their fans hope it won't be a fifth. Audio Clips from MLB.tv  SNY TV - Gary Cohen, Ron Darling, anf Keith Hernandez WCBS 880 AM - Howie Rose and Keith Raad MIL WTMJ - Jeff Levering As always, shout out to Baseball Reference and SABR for statistics, boxscores, background information, and much, much more. Catch you next time, P.C.O.

1978 World Series Game 5 and 6 Sunday October 15th @ Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York, New York Tuesday October 17th @ Dodger Stadium in Chavez Ravine, Los Angeles, California After being down two games to none to start this series, the Yankees have evened things up in the Fall Classic, and they look to keep things rolling here in game five. No team has yet to overcome a 2 - 0 deficit by winning four straight, but if any team could be the first, it would be Bob Lemon's Yankees. They've certainly had their share of good fortune here at Yankee Stadium, and they have capitalized on nearly every Dodger's mistake. Misplays, errors, and just rotten luck have been the story of Tommy Lasorda's squad the past few days. Whether it was Graig Nettles incredible reflexes, Bucky Dent's unrelenting hustle, or Reggie Jackson's ‘subtle' hip movement, there was always something in the way for Los Angeles, not to mention a costly errors in the field and on the bases from the usually reliable Bill Russell. If they don't clean up their act soon, they will lose their second straight World Series. Since the Yankees evened this series at two games apiece, we are guaranteed at least one game back in Los Angeles. Who will have the advantage heading in to game six will come down to the pitching matchup in game five. For the Yankees it will be rookie righty Jim Beattie(6 - 9 3.73 ERA 128 IP). The former Dartmouth basketball star was shaky, but effective against the Royals in the ALCS, but he hasn't pitched in nearly two weeks. The Dodgers will send Burt Hooton (19 - 10 2.71 ERA 236 IP) to the mound, and although he's been their best regular season pitcher the past few seasons, his postseason starts have been hit or miss. He can be brilliant, but if that knuckle-curve isn't dancing, ‘Happy' Hooton can make his hot-tempered manager furious. In game six, it will be a match-up of future Hall-of-Famers and 200 game winners, Don Sutton (15 - 11 3.55 ERA 238 IP) and Catfish Hunter (12 - 6 3.58 ERA 118 IP). Ultimately this series will come down to who can come up with the big hit. Will it be the stars, like Reggie Jackson or Steve Garvey? Or maybe it will be someone unheralded, like a pair of scrappy middle-infielders? Audio clips from joeydbball on Youtube. NBC broadcast with Joe Garagiola, Tony Kubek, Tom Seaver, and Curt Gowdy Game 5 Game 6 - some CBS radio with Bill White As always, shout out to Baseball Reference and SABR for statistics, boxscores, background information, and much, much more.

Saturday October 14th, 1978 @ Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York, New York The sun is out on a Saturday afternoon in the Bronx, but rain clouds are looming in the distance. Thanks to an outstanding defensive game from third baseman Graig Nettles, the Yankees took game three in convincing fashion to avoid going down three games to none in this series against the Dodgers. If they hope to even things at two games apiece, the Yanks will need a much better effort from their starting pitcher, Ed Figueroa (20 - 9 2.99 ERA 253 IP). The Puerto Rican right-hander has been lit up in his previous postseason starts, but New York manager Bob Lemon has a lot of trust in the guy who has won the third most games in the American League the past three seasons. For Los Angeles, it will be veteran lefty Tommy John (17 - 10 3.30 ERA 213 IP) taking the ball. John was solid, but unspectacular in a blowout game one win. His reconstructed left elbow has been a dependable weapon for manager Tommy Lasorda, though John's approach is pitch-to-contact, which could be an issue given the shaky infield defense the Dodgers have displayed of late. Of greater concern, though, has been the Dodgers' struggles with runners in scoring position. Los Angeles stranded eleven men on base in game three, and they were unable to deliver the big hit despite that constant opportunity. If Los Angeles wants to maintain control of this series, they can't let those opportunities slip away again. Audio clips from joeydbball on Youtube - NBC broadcast with Joe Garagiola, Tony Kubek, Tom Seaver, and Curt Gowdy CBS radio with Ross Porter, Win Elliot, and Bill White As always, shout out to Baseball Reference and SABR for statistics, boxscores, background information, and much, much more. Catch you next time, P.C.O.

1978 World Series Game 3 Friday October 13th, 1978 @ Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York, New York As the series heads east, the Dodgers are in strong position, up two games to none. Game one was a blowout, thanks to a power outburst from LAD 2B Davey Lopes, but game two was nail biter. Ron Cey drove in all four runs, including a go-ahead three run homer off of Catfish Hunter in the 6th inning. The Yankees had the tying and go-ahead runners on base in the ninth for Thurman Munson and Reggie Jackson, and Tommy Lasorda turned to rookie fireballer Bob Welch to hold the line. With incredible determination and guile, the kid came through, forcing Munson to fly out and striking out Jackson after an epic nine pitch battle. The crowd was electric, and while they would love another opportunity to cheer on their squad, the LA faithful are hoping the Boys in Blue take care of business in New York. In previous World Series, only five teams had ever overcome a 2 - 0 deficit, the most recent being the 1971 Pirates. And in each of those series where a team did come back, they had to do it in seven games. The task is hard, but it is nigh impossible if you go down 3 - 0 in the series. No team has ever overcome a 3 - 0 deficit in a World Series, so the Yankees are desperate to win this one. Good thing that they have the best pitcher in the world going for them, Ron Guidry (25 -3 1.74 ERA 273 IP). The young lefty has been sensational the entire year, but it has been quite the workload he's compiled. For a pitcher who relies on plus stuff matched with plus command, fatigue could hamper his effectiveness. If the Gator isn't missing bats like usual, he'll need his defense to be sharp, particularly the left side with Bucky Dent and Graig Nettles. On the other side, the Dodgers will turn to Don Sutton (15 - 11 3.55 ERA 238 IP). The future Hall-of-Famer picked up his 200th career win during the regular season, however 1978 was probably his weakest year in nearly a decade. Sutton, who entering the playoffs had never lost a postseason start, got shelled against the Phillies in the NLCS. He'll need to be much sharper if the Dodgers hope to take an insurmountable lead in this series. Audio clips from joeydbball on Youtube - NBC broadcast with Joe Garagiola, Tony Kubek, and Tom Seaver As always, shoutout to Baseball Reference and SABR for statistics, box scores, background information, and much, much more. Catch you next time, P.C.O.

1978 World Series Games 1 and 2 Tuesday October 10th and Wednesday October 11th @ Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA The Los Angeles Dodgers (95 - 67) and the New York Yankees (100 - 63) meet yet again in the World Series. Behind the heroics of Mr. October, Reggie Jackson, the Yankees took last year's Fall Classic in six games, securing the 21st championship in their franchise's dominant history. If they're going to repeat as champions, it will be with a new manager, as Bob Lemon replaced Billy Martin in July. The Yanks turned their season around under the stewardship of Lemon, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame as a pitcher in 1976. His cool, calm, and collected manner was in stark contrast to the explosive Martin; still, there are rumors abound that owner George Steinbrenner regretted firing the firebrand (technically Martin resigned for ‘health reasons'), and even wanted him back as manager within a matter of days. You can't deny the success the Yankees have had under Lemon, but they'll need to win it all to satisfy the Boss. And even that might not keep him happy for long. The Dodgers dispatched the Phillies in four games, winning the series in walk-off fashion with a Bill Russell single to score Ron Cey. Their offense was hitting on all cylinders in the NLCS, and it was their vaunted All-Star infield that led the way. The aforementioned left side (Russell and Cey) combined for 12 hits and 5 RBI in the four games, only to be outdone by the right side. Team Captain 2B Davey Lopes and former MVP 1B Steve Garvey combined for 14 hits, 6 home runs, and 12 RBI, with Garvey taking home NLCS MVP honors. It has been truly inspired play from this core group, who lost their mentor, hitting and infield coach Jim Gilliam, just a few days ago. His memorial service is planned before the start of game two.  Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda desperately wants to start this series with a pair of wins, so to defend home-field advantage he will turn to the top two in his excellent rotation, Tommy John and Burt Hooton. John is coming off of a shutout against Philly, and Hooton is as good as anyone when that knuckle curve is dancing. Yankees manager Bob Lemon will counter with 1978 20 game winner Ed Figueroa and former five time 20 game winner Catfish Hunter. Ace Ron Guidry won't be available until game three, as he pitched the final game of the ALCS against Kansas City. Audio clips from joeydbball on Youtube (links to games below). NBC Broadcast with Joe Garagiola, Tony Kubek, Tom Seaver, and Curt Gowdy Game 1: LAD LHP Tommy John (17 - 10 3.30 ERA 213 IP) vs. NYY RHP Ed Figueroa (20 - 9 2.99 ERA 253 IP) Game 2: LAD RHP Burt Hooton (19 - 10 2.71 ERA 236 IP) vs. NYY Jim ‘Catfish' Hunter (12 - 6 3.58 ERA 118 IP) As always, shout out to Baseball Reference and SABR for statistics, boxscores, background information, and much, much more. Catch you next time, P.C.O.

1978 NLCS We have another repeat matchup on the National League side of the playoffs, with the Los Angeles Dodgers (95 - 67) and the Philadelphia Phillies (90 - 72) squaring off once again. This is the third straight NLCS appearance for the Phils, but they've yet to win a playoff game at Veterans Stadium, much to the disappointment of their energized fans. Although the Phillies lead the NL East for most of the season, there was fear of a 1964-esque collapse in September. The Pirates and Cubs were chasing them down, but Danny Ozark's squad rallied for a strong finish to stave off their pursuers. The pitching staff was solid, yet unspectacular. Carlton and Christenson provided both quality and quantity in terms of innings, and the bullpen was as reliable as ever with Reed, McGraw, and Brusstar. The Phillies had an elite offense just a year ago (5.23 R/G 108 OPS+ 1st in NL), but their run production slipped this season (4.37 R/G 99 OPS+ 3rd in NL). This was largely due to a significant drop in power from the likes of Mike Schmidt (.574 SLG in '77 -> .435 SLG in '78), and Bake McBride (.564 SLG -> .392 SLG), not to mention paltry bench production compared to the previous year. Greg “The Bull” Luzinski put together another excellent campaign (35 HR 101 RBI 153 OPS+) and will look to continue his great postseason play. He'll need his teammates to join him this year if they want to advance to the World Series. The Dodgers road back to the World Series was certainly more challenging than last year, as they trailed both San Francisco and Cincinnati in the NL West at the beginning of August. They proceeded to finish out the year 33 - 19 while the Giants and Reds sputtered down the stretch. Although not as dominant as they were in '77, Tommy Lasorda's Dodgers were quite formidable. The lineup boasted a quartet of 30 HR hitters last year, but did not have a single guy reach that mark this season. That is not to say those guys had bad years. To the contrary, Reggie Smith (29 HR 93 RBI 162 OPS+), Steve Garvey (21 HR 113 RBI 138 OPS+), and Ron Cey (23 HR 84 RBI 134 OPS+) provided more than enough punch to lead the NL's top offense (4.49 R/G 108 OPS+). Bounce back seasons from veteran Rick Monday and pinch-hitter extraordinaire Lee Lacy offset letdowns from Steve Yeager and Dusty Baker. The starting rotation was best in the league once again, with Sutton, Hooton, John, and Rau all winning at least 15 games and throwing nearly 200 innings or more. General manager Al Campanis added much needed bullpen help with a free agent signing of a former White Sox and Pirate standout, Terry Forster (22 SV 1.93 ERA 65 IP). The lefty fireballer has been money in the late innings for LA. As the Dodgers get ready to defend their NL Pennant, their thoughts are with their hitting coach, Jim Gilliam. The former All-Star second baseman, who spent all of his MLB playing and coaching career with the Dodgers, suffered a brain bleed in late September and has been in a coma ever since. Unfortunately, he will never wake up from that coma. Gilliam had always felt lucky to be a Dodger, and they were lucky to have him. If the Dodgers are able to win this series, it will be for Jim Gilliam. Game 1: PHI RHP Larry Christenson (13 - 14 3.24 ERA 228 IP) vs. LAD RHP Burt Hooton (19 - 10 2.71 ERA 236 IP) Game 2: PHI RHP Dick Ruthven (13 - 5 2.99 ERA 150 IP) vs. LAD LHP Tommy John (17 - 10 3.30 ERA 213 IP) Game 3: LAD RHP Don Sutton (15 - 11 3.55 ERA 238 IP) vs. PHI LHP Steve Carlton (16 - 13 2.84 ERA 247 IP) Game 4: LAD LHP Doug Rau (15 - 9 3.26 ERA 199 IP) vs. PHI LHP Randy Lerch (11 - 8 3.96 ERA 184 IP) Audio clips from joeydbball on Youtube - ABC Broadcast with Al Michaels, Don Drysdale, and Johnny Bench As always, shout out to Baseball Reference and SABR for statistics, boxscores, background information and much, much more. Catch you next time, P.C.O.

1978 ALCS - October 3rd - 7th, 1978  For the third straight season, the Kansas City Royals (92 - 70) and the New York Yankees (100 - 63) will battle for the American League pennant. The previous two series were classics, with the Yanks pulling through in the ninth inning of winner-take-all game fives. For the Royals, they are hoping that the third time will be the charm. Their offensive machine kept rolling, with strong performances by stalwart George Brett, reliable Darrell Porter, and a return to form from Amos Otis. The starting pitching continued to be solid, led by Leonard, Splittorff, and Gura, but perhaps the most significant addition was to the bullpen (which had struggled in previous playoffs). The ‘Mad Hungarian', Al Hrabosky, has been outstanding in late innings, and the fans have certainly appreciated his showmanship. Manager Whitey Herzog will need his lefty reliever to combat the big left-handed bats of New York.   The final three games of this series will be in New York, but the Yankees will be at a slight pitching disadvantage to start, since ace Ron Guidry won't be available until game four. Rookie Jim Beattie will get the game one start for the Yankees, and the Royals will turn to back-to back 20 game winner Dennis Leonard. Manager Bob Lemon will need some innings from the young righty. If the Yankees can steal one in Kansas City, they will be in position to take the series when it gets back to New York. Audio clips from joeydbball on Youtube (links below) ABC broadcast with Keith Jackson, Howard Cosell, and Jim Palmer WPIX Broadcast with Frank Messer, Phil Rizzuto, and Bill White Game 1: KCR RHP Dennis Leonard (21 - 17 3.33 ERA 294 IP) vs. NYY RHP Jim Beattie (6 - 9 3.73 ERA 128 IP) Game 2: KCR LHP Larry Gura (16 - 4 2.72 ERA 221 IP) vs. NYY RHP Ed Figueroa (20 - 9 2.99 ERA 253 IP) Game 3: NYY RHP Jim 'Catfish' Hunter (12 - 6 3.58 ERA 118 IP) vs. KCR LHP Paul Splittorff (19 - 13 3.40 ERA 262 IP) Game 4: NYY LHP Ron Guidry (25 - 3 1.74 ERA 273 IP) vs. KCR RHP Dennis Leonard As always, shout out to Baseball Reference and SABR for statistics, box scores, background information, and much, much more. Catch you next time, P.C.O.

1978 Game AL East Playoff Monday October 2nd, 1978 @ Fenway Park Boston, MA After 162 games played, the bitter rivals of the northeast find themselves deadlocked for the division crown, each sporting identical 99-63 records. The entire season comes down to just one game at Fenway Park, and it's gonna be a great one. It looked like it was going to be a banner year for the Red Sox, with Jim Rice playing like an MVP, Dennis Eckersley winning 20 games, and a whole host of spectacular performances. But like the previous season, the division lead began slipping away. They were up 14 games on the Yankees in mid-July, but that was cut to just 7 games by the end of August. And after a four game sweep dubbed “The Boston Massacre” in early September, the Yankees had caught the Sox.  The downward spiral continued in Beantown, but a furious rally of eight straight wins to close the season has forced a playoff against the Yanks. Having been forced to use their best starters (Eckersley and Luis Tiant), manager Don Zimmer will turn to an experienced, post-season tested veteran, Mike Torrez (16 - 12 3.92 ERA 243 IP). The big righty was instrumental for New York's World Series run in 1977, but he has scuffled in the stretch run, losing 6 of his last 7 decisions. They'll need him to recapture his form if they hope to advance to the ALCS. The 1977 season was tumultuous for the New York Yankees, but it culminated in a World Series and a return of nearly everyone who contributed to that greatness. But a second go-round for this group was filled with turmoil once again, as the Yankees struggled out of the gate. This time, there was too much trouble on and off the field, and it cost Billy Martin his job. They were just 52 - 42 with Martin at the helm, but once again caught fire (47 - 20) in the second half under Bob Lemon's stewardship. Reggie Jackson, Thurman Munson, Graig Nettles were excellent once again. Goose Gossage was a new weapon out of the pen, and Catfish Hunter had a great rebound. The story of this season, however, was the ascendance of their young lefty, Ron Guidry. The fireballer ran roughshod through the entire American League (24 - 3 1.72 ERA 267 IP), putting together one of the most dominant modern pitching seasons in baseball history. He will get the ball with the season on the line, and there's no other pitcher in the league you'd rather have. Audio clips from MLB Vault on Youtube - WPIX broadcast with Frank Messer, Phil Rizzuto, and Bill White As always, shout out to Baseball Reference and SABR for statistics, box scores, background information and much, much more.

1977 World Series Game 6 Tuesday October 18th, 1977 @ Yankee Stadium in New York, New York The Dodgers avoided elimination behind an explosive rout in game five, but now they're going to have to do it on the road. Burt Hooton (12 - 7 2.62 ERA 223 IP) will get the ball with the season on the line, and the veteran righty was absolutely brilliant in game two. To stay alive in this series, LA manager Tommy Lasorda will need the man he jocularly called “Happy” to deliver once again. The Yankees are just one win away from securing their 21st World Series trophy, but all is far from well in the Bronx. The originally scheduled starter was Ed Figueroa, but a finger issue and questions of effectiveness made manager Billy Martin turn to righty Mike Torrez (17 - 13 3.88 ERA 243 IP). The Figueroa Situation became headline news as he threatened to leave the team and fly back to Puerto Rico upon hearing he wouldn't pitch. Tensions were eventually resolved there, but it was not the only problem in the clubhouse. Reggie Jackson, Thurman Munson, Billy Martin, George Steinbrenner, and the press were all feuding with one another, and there was a bombshell report suggesting that Martin would be fired if the Yanks lost the series. To the shock of many, GM Gabe Paul announced before game 6 that Martin signed a contract extension through the 1979 season. A brilliant chess move from “the Boss”, but it would only work if the Yankees could seal the deal tonight. And to really quell the doubts, a superstar performance may be required. Audio clips from joeydbball on Youtube. ABC broadcast with Keith Jackson, Howard Cosell, and Tom Seaver. Postgame with Bill White As always, shout out to Baseball Reference and SABR for statistics, boxscores, background information, and much, much more. Catch you next time, P.C.O.

1977 World Series Game 5 Sunday October 16th, 1977 @ Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA The Dodgers are on the verge of elimination in this World Series, and they are in serious danger of being swept in their own ballpark if they don't win today. The usually potent offense for LA has been quieted by the New York rotation, with Mike Torrez and Ron Guidry spinning consecutive gems in games three and four, respectively. The good news for the Dodgers, they will have their future Hall-of-Famer, Don Sutton (14 - 8 3.18 ERA 240 IP), on the hill. The curly-haired righty was solid in game one, but he picked up a no-decision in a game that went 12 innings. He has yet to take a loss in a postseason start for his career, and the Dodgers will need him to continue that streak. Opposing him for the Yankees will be the lefty Don Gullet** (14 - 4 3.58 ERA 158 IP), who pitched into the ninth inning in game one, despite a rough start. With a 3 - 1 series lead and the final two games at home if necessary, the Yankees don't “need” this one, but boy, would they like to have it. It has been a tenuous year in the Bronx, so they want to take care of business before any doubt sets in. Audio clips from joeydbball on Youtube - ABC broadcast with Keith Jackson, Howard Cosell, and Tom Seaver As always, shout out to Baseball Reference and SABR for statistics, box scores, background information, and much, much more. Catch you next time, P.C.O. ** RIP to Don Gullet (the Yankees starter for game 5), who passed away last week at just 73 years old. The former Reds great compiled a career 109 - 50 record, with a 3.11 ERA in 1390 IP across 9 seasons. He was a 3x World Series champion, and after his playing career was a pitching coach with the Reds. His career was cut short due to a torn rotator cuff, but he was a key cog in the Big Red Machine. He will be missed. **

1977 World Series Game 4 Saturday October 15th, 1977 @ Dodger Stadium Los Angeles, CA The Yankees took game three in convincing fashion to regain home field advantage in this best of seven series. Looking to press their advantage, they will turn to an emerging star, Ron Guidry (16 - 7 2.82 ERA 210 IP). The Louisiana-born lefty broke out in a big way during his first full major league season, helping to solidify the rotation along with right-hander Mike Torrez. The 26 year old was fantastic down the stretch, going 11 - 3 over his final 16 starts with a 2.47 ERA. On the offensive side, all eyes are on Reggie Jackson, who has yet to play like “Mr. October”. The former MVP has been a non-factor in the playoffs so far, putting up a meager .160/.300/.160 slash line (4 - 25 2 RBI in 8 games). Billy Martin and the Yankees are hoping that Reggie can turn it around in rapid fashion, like he did for the A's in 1973. For Tommy Lasorda and the Dodgers, this afternoon's game is a must win. You do not want to go on the verge of elimination if you can avoid it. The LA bats have provided some thump (5 HRs in the last two games), but they've mostly been unable to touch the Yankees starters outside of Catfish Hunter. On the mound will be a lefty of their own, Doug Rau (14 - 8 3.43 ERA 212 IP). Rau won 11 of his first 12 decisions, but then lost 7 of his final 10, though his record belies the underlying numbers. He actually pitched to a 2.81 ERA in the losing stretch, compared to a 3.86 ERA in the winning one. Such can be the life of a pitcher. If Rau struggles, expect Lasorda to turn to his other starter, Rick Rhoden (16 - 10 3.74 ERA 216 IP) in relief. Audio clips from joeydbball on Youtube - ABC broadcast with Keith Jackson, Howard Cosell, and Tom Seaver As always, shout out to Baseball Reference and SABR for statistics, boxscores, background information, and much, much more. Catch you next time, P.C.O.

1977 World Series Game 3 Friday October 13th, 1977 @ Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California The series is tied at a game apiece as we head out to the West Coast for the first of three games in Los Angeles. The Dodgers are in good spirits, coming off of an absolute drubbing in game two behind a Burt Hooton masterpiece and four long home runs from Cey, Smith, Garvey, and Yeager. They turn to veteran lefty Tommy John (20 - 7 2.78 ERA 220 IP), who finished runner-up in Cy Young voting in '77. The workhorse has been nothing short of outstanding after returning from an experimental elbow surgery (yes, that one) the previous season. Tommy Lasorda's starters have kept the powerful Yankees offense at bay through two games, can John make it a third? All is not well in the Bronx, and that's not even talking about tumult in Billy Martin's clubhouse. We'll leave the unrest in the city to those who have covered it in depth, and we'll just try to focus on the baseball. That's probably what the Yankees need to do themselves. Reggie Jackson is simultaneously feuding with his manager, the Boss, his teammates, and the New York media. Thurman Munson just wants to go back home to Ohio, and no one is quite sure if the Yanks will have enough arms to even get through five games. Getting the call today is the man who has stepped up in big games throughout the season, Mike Torrez (17 - 13 3.88 ERA 243 IP). The big right-hander, who is on the verge of free agency, was dynamite down the stretch, going 9 - 3 with 10 complete games in his final 15 starts. He also provided a season saving relief effort against the Royals in game five of the ALCS. The Yankees will need a big game from him if they want to retake home field advantage. They will also need the offense, particularly leadoff man Mickey Rivers and the aforementioned Jackson to step up on the offensive side. Audio clips from joeydbball on YouTube - ABC broadcast with Keith Jackson, Howard Cosell, and Tom Seaver  Pregame CBS News with Walter Cronkite and Terry Drinkwater As always shout out to Baseball Reference and SABR for statistics, box scores, background information, and much, much more. Catch you next time, P.C.O.

1977 World Series Game 2 Wednesday October 12th, 1977 @ Yankee Stadium New York, New York After a thrilling extra-inning walk-off victory, courtesy of reserve outfielder Paul Blair, the Yankees look to press the advantage in this best of seven World Series. To the surprise of many, it will be Jim ‘Catfish' Hunter (9 - 9 4.71 ERA 143 IP) getting the ball for Billy Martin's Yankees, who has not pitched in over a month. It has certainly been a year to forget for the 8x All-Star, 5x 20 game winner, 3x World Series champion, former Cy Young, and future Hall-of-Famer. Arm fatigue and other health issues have maligned him all year, but the Yankees hope he can rediscover the craft that made him one of the best postseason pitchers of the decade (8 - 4 2.81 ERA 109 IP 15 GS *thru 1976). For Tommy Lasorda and the Dodgers, they really want to win tonight. Going down 2-0 in a series before 3 straight games at home is not an overwhelming deficit, but it's not ideal. If they can steal a game on the road, they will feel much better about their chances on the flight back to Los Angeles. Who better to turn to than one of the best road warriors in 1977, Burt Hooton (12 -7 2.62 ERA 236 IP). The veteran righty is admist the best stretch of his underrated career, and he was outstanding away from LA with a 2.32 ERA in 124 IP. He did fail to get out of the second inning in his NLCS start at Philly, but that might have had more to do with questionable umpiring than his pitching ability. When Hooton has his signature knucklecurve dancing, he can be near unhittable. If the Dodgers hope to tie up this series, they will need Hooton to lead the way. Audio clips from joeydbball on Youtube As always, shout out to Baseball Reference and SABR for statistics, boxscores, background information, and much, much more. Catch you next time, P.C.O.

1977 World Series  Game One - Tuesday October 11th, 1977 @ Yankee Stadium, New York, NY The Big Apple versus Hollywood. The City that Never Sleeps against the City of Angels. What used to be coined the 'Subway Series' in the 40's and 50's is now a battle of the coasts. The New York Yankees (100 - 62) take on the Los Angeles Dodgers (98 - 64), formerly of Brooklyn, in their ninth World Series against one another. The Bronx Bombers have had the Dodgers number, winning six of the previous eight matchups. But that is old history, and these teams bring a whole new cast of characters to this storied rivalry. And they are sure to bring some really entertaining baseball. The Yankees, managed by former scrappy infielder Billy Martin, are looking for the 21st World Series title. After getting swept by the Reds in last year's series, Martin and the Yanks certainly want to start off with a win. What better option to turn to than the guy who beat you last year, lefty Don Gullet (14 - 4 3.58 ERA 158 IP). The former Cincinnatti ace, who has been dealing with an ailing shoulder all year, lacked command and was rocked by the Royals in the ALCS. With rest and treatment, he says he is ready to go. The Yankees will need length out of him, as the bullpen (really just Sparky Lyle) has been taxed so far in these playoffs. For the Dodgers, who are also led by a former 50's player in Tommy Lasorda, they will turn to their most reliable arm, Don Sutton (14 - 8 3.18 ERA 240 IP). The future Hall-of-Famer has yet to lose in 5 previous playoff starts, sporting a 1.38 ERA across 39 innings pitched. The curly-haired righty was outstanding against the Phillies in the NLCS, allowing just one run in a complete game win. For both of these teams, a lot is expected of their stars (Reggie Jackson, Thurman Munson, Steve Garvey, and Reggie Smith). But as it often happens in the Fall Classic, it will be the role players, the unsung heroes that come through in key moments. And these teams have a bevy of guys that star in their roles. Audio clips from joeydbball on Youtube - ABC Sports with Keith Jackson, Howard Cosell, and Tom Seaver As always shout out to Baseball Reference and SABR for statistics, box scores, background information, and much, much more. Catch you next time, P.C.O.

ALCS - Royals vs. Yankees For the second consecutive year, the Kansas City Royals (102 - 60) and the New York Yankees (100 - 62) will face off with the AL pennant on the line. Last year, the series went the distance, with one of the most iconic endings in playoff history, a Chris Chambliss walk off home run to send the Yanks to the World Series. This year, the series will once again go five games, with a dramatic finish in the final inning. Since he was hired as full time manager after an interim stint in 1975, all Royals manager Whitey Herzog has done is lead Kansas City to their first two playoff appearances in their relatively short history. They may have come up short in the 1976 ALCS, but this team is more than ready for a second chance. These Royals and their young core have established themselves as perennial AL contenders. Leading the was is star third baseman George Brett (22 HR 88 RBI 142 OPS+), who has cemented himself as one of the top players in the game in just his age 24 season. Bolstering the heart of this powerful lineup are Hal McRae (21 HR 92 RBI 136 OPS+) and Al Cowens (23 HR 112 RBI 137 OPS+), both of whom received MVP votes but were surprisingly not All-Stars in the '77 season. Dennis Leonard (20 - 12 3.04 ERA 292 IP) and Paul Splittorff (16 - 6 3.69 ERA 229 IP) led the way for the starters, and Herzog could deploy a bevy of reliable, but unspectacular arms to cover the late innings or spot starts. Despite the magical finish to the previous year's ALCS, the Yankees disappointed in the World Series, getting swept by the Big Red Machine. Still, expectations were sky high for manager Billy Martin, who had already taken 3 different teams to the playoffs to this point in his career. The Boss, owner George Steinbrenner, demands results; therefore, it's not enough to have the reigning MVP in catcher Thurman Munson, bring in superstar Reggie Jackson on the biggest contract ever awarded to a player. The rotation was strong with former A's All-Stars Catfish Hunter and Ken Holtzman. Let's sign Don Gullet, who just beat us in last year. With all these new faces, it is no surprise that this team got off to a slow start, but they were just too talented to let that spoil the season. The Yankees went absolutely nuclear with a 50 - 20 second half record. Munson (18 HR 100 RBI 121 OPS +) and Jackson (32 HR 100 RBI 150 OPS+) were their typical MVP-caliber-selves, while Graig Nettles (37 HR 107 RBI 124 OPS+) put together one of the best seasons of his underrated career. The pitching staff delivered, but it wasn't the stars that got it done. Gullet was solid in his first year as a Yankee, but Hunter and Holtzman were disasters. Figueroa and Torrez carried much of the load, but it was the unexpected breakout of lefty Ron Guidry (16 - 7 2.82 ERA 210 IP) that really elevated the NYY rotation. Perhaps the savior of the season was the duo out of the bullpen, Dick Tidrow (11 - 4 5 SV 3.16 ERA 151 IP) and Sparky Lyle (13 - 5 26 SV 2.17 ERA 137 IP), the latter taking home the AL Cy Young. If the Yankees want another pennant, they will need their stars to perform, especially on the road. Game 1 @ NYY: LHP Don Gullet (14 - 4 3.58 ERA 158 IP) vs. LHP Paul Splittorff Game 2 @ NYY: LHP Ron Guidry vs. LHP Andy Hassler (9 - 6 4.20 ERA 156 IP) Game 3 @ KCR: RHP Dennis Leonard vs. RHP Mike Torrez (17 - 13 3.88 ERA 243 IP) Game 4 @ KCR: LHP Larry Gura (8 - 5 10 SV 3.13 ERA 106 IP) vs. RHP Ed Figueroa (16 - 11 3.57 ERA 239 IP) Game 5 @ KCR: LHP Paul Splittorff vs. LHP Ron Guidry Audio clips from Youtube, links to specific games below  1976 ALCS GM 5 - ABC by Keith Jackson, Howard Cosell, and Reggie Jackson Game 2 - NBC by Dick Enberg and Don Drysdale Game 4 - WPIX by Frank Messer, Phil Rizzuto, and Bill White NBC by Joe Garagiola and Tony Kubek Game 5 - WPIX  As always, shout out to Baseball Reference and SABR for statistics, boxscores, background information, and much, much more. Catch you next time, P.C.O.

1977 NLCS Meeting up for the first of two consecutive NLCS battles in 1977 and 1978, the Philadelphia Phillies (101-61) and the Los Angeles Dodgers (98-64) face off with games one and two at Dodger Stadium, and the final three (if necessary) at Veterans Stadium in Philly. The Phillies captured their second of three consecutive NL East titles behind the stewardship of Danny Ozark. The Fightin's had the best lineup in the NL, and they were stacked at nearly every position. Michael Jack Schmidt was his typical outstanding self (38 HR 101 RBI .274/.393/.574 151 OPS+), but it was Greg ‘the Bull' Luzinski (39 HR 130 RBI .309/.394/.594 156 OPS+) who finished runner-up in MVP voting. The mid-season trade for former Cardinals OF Bake McBride bolstered are already strong outfield core with Garry Maddox and the Bull. Larry Bowa and Bob Boone provided excellent defense and timely hits, while platoon hitters like Jay Johnstone, Tim McCarver, and Davey Johnson crushed their opportunities. ‘Lefty' Steve Carlton picked up his second career Cy Young by leading the NL in wins, but the rest of the rotation left a lot to be desired. These Phillies were able to win over a 100 games because Danny Ozark could turn to a dominant bullpen, with 4 guys (Gene Garber, Ron Reed, Tug McGraw, and Warren Brusstar) sporting ERAs in the 2s. With a high-powered offense, a true ace, and a lights-out bullpen, this is a modern team to be reckoned with. In his first full year as manager of the Dodgers, Tommy Lasorda led this storied franchise back to the playoffs. His lineup packs a punch to rival the Phillies, with four 30+ home run hitters (Steve Garvey, Ron Cey, Dusty Baker, and Reggie Smith). The corner infielders (Garvey and Cey) both drove in 110+ runs, while the corner outfielders (Baker and Smith) provided more in on-base and slugging, with Smith leading the NL in OPS+ and finishing fourth in MVP voting. Where the Dodgers had the greatest edge over the league was with their pitching staff, who collectively had a 3.22 ERA, 20% better than league average. All 5 of their starters pitched over 200 innings with above average ERAs and double digit wins. Tommy John led the way with 20 wins and a 2.78 ERA. The bullpen was not as reliable as Philadelphia's, but that is partially because they weren't relied on as frequently. The pitching matchups will be as follows: Game 1 @ LAD - LHP Tommy John (20 - 7 2.78 ERA 220 IP) vs. LHP Steve Carlton (23 - 10 2.64 ERA 283 IP) Game 2 @ LAD - RHP Don Sutton (14 - 8 3.18 ERA 240 IP) vs. Jim Lonborg (11 - 4 4.11 ERA 157 IP) Game 3 @ PHI - RHP Larry Christenson (19 - 6 4.06 ERA 219 IP) vs. Burt Hooton (12 - 7 2.62 ERA 223 IP) Game 4 @ PHI - LHP Steve Carlton vs. LHP Tommy John Audio clips from Youtube linked below Game 1 - Vin Scully on KTTV Game 2 - Russ Porter and Jerry Doggett on KTTV Game 3 - Harry Kalas, Richie Ashburn, and Andy Musser on WPHL-TV Game 4 - Dick Enberg and Don Drysdale on NBC (plus Kalas on WPHL-TV) As always, shout out to Baseball Reference and SABR for statistics, boxscores, background information, and much, much more. Catch you next time, P.C.O.

2024 BBWAA HOF Ballot With the new year nearly upon us, it's time to once again talk about the Hall of Fame, focusing on the candidates on the BBWAA ballot. There are many strong holdovers who either have a shot at election this year, like Todd Helton and Billy Wagner, or will make strides towards future enshrinement, like Andruw Jones and Carlos Beltrán. There are the suspected or confirmed PED users, like AROD, Manny Ramirez, Andy Pettite, and Gary Sheffield, who will all likely fall short of the 75% threshold. And then there's the new guys. There's Adrián Beltré, whose 3,000 hits, 477 HR and 5 Gold Gloves at third base pretty much guarantee his election, the only question being how many writers don't vote for him. Former Twins MVP and standout catcher Joe Mauer makes his debut on the ballot, and he brings with him a very compelling case, though he is anything but a sure bet given the injuries that hampered his longevity. Phillies gritty second baseman Chase Utley is a sabermetric darling, but he lacks the career counting stats and accolades that usually accompany players of his caliber. There are plenty of other intriguing names on this ballot, and for most of the them, the honor is just making it to this point. Take a listen as we discuss this year's candidates for the Baseball Hall of Fame. Audio clip sources listed below Adrián Beltré's 3000th hit - TEX radio KRLD 105.3 by Matt Hicks Joe Mauer's final game - MIN TV Fox Sports North by Dick Bremer and Bert Blyleven Chase Utley is ‘The Man' - PHI radio WIP by Harry Kalas and Chris Wheeler Bartolo Colon - the impossible has happened - NYM TV SNY by Gary Cohen, Ron Darling, and Keith Hernandez As always, shout out to Baseball Reference and SABR for statistics, boxscores, background information, and much, much more. Catch you next time, P.C.O.

2023 Hall of Fame: Contemporary Era Managers, Executives, and Umpires As Baseball Winter Meetings get underway, the Contemporary Era committee for the Baseball Hall of Fame will have eight candidates to consider. On this year's ballot are a selection of managers, umpires, and executives, who are listed below. On today's episode, we discuss the candidates, their cases, and some of top moments from their careers. Jim Leyland - Manager of Pirates, Marlins, Rockies, and Tigers. 1997 World Series, 2x AL pennant ('06, '12) 3x Manager of the Year. 8x playoffs Marlins walk-off 1997 World Series - called by Bob Costas on NBC Leyland yells at Barry Bonds Bill White - 8x All-Star, 7x GG 1B for Cardinals and Phillies, legendary broadcaster with Yankees and nationally with CBS, AL President 1989-1994 Kirk Gibson's one-legged walk off called by Jack Buck and White on CBS Radio Cito Gaston - Toronto Blue Jays Manager 1992, 1993 World Series 4x playoffs. First black manager to win World Series Joe Carter's Walk-off in ‘93 - called by Tom Cheek on CJCL Lou Pinella - 1969 ROY, All-Star, 2x WS as player. Manager of Yankees, Reds, Mariners, Devil Rays, and Cubs. 1990 World Series. 3x Manager of the Year. 8x playoffs Oliver walks of Game 2 of 1990 WS - called by Jack Buck and Tim McCarver on CBS Reds sweep A's - called by Marty Brennaman on WLW Davey Johnson - 4x All-Star, 3x GG, 2x WS as player. Manager of Mets, Reds, Orioles, Dodgers, and Nationals. 1986 World Series, 2x Manager of the Year. 6x playoffs Mets survive on Buckner's error - called by Vin Scully and Joe Garagiola on NBC Also on the ballot are umpires Joe West and Ed Montague, as well as former Orioles, A's, and Indians (now known as Guardians) general manager/president Hank Peters. The committee will meet this weekend and vote. Take a listen to our thoughts on these candidates, who we'd vote for, and who we expect to be enshrined World Series Broadcast History As always, shout out to Baseball Reference and SABR for statistics, boxscores, background information, and much, much more. Catch you next time, P.C.O.

2023 World Series Game 5 Rangers (90-72) @ Diamondbacks (84-78) TEX leads 3-1 The Texas Rangers stand just one win away from their first ever World Series Championship after taking games three and four in convincing fashion. To seal the deal, they turn to one of the best postseason pitchers of this era, Nathan Eovaldi. The Texas-born righty has been electric this postseason and looks to become the first pitcher to ever win 5 starts* in a single postseason, and to have his team go 6-0 in those starts. Corey Seager continues to mash, adding two run homers in consecutive games to his stellar postseason résumé. If Texas secures victory in this game, he will likely become just the second position player to win multiple WS MVPS. The other, Mr. October, Reggie Jackson, of course, whom Seager just passed in all-time postseason HRs. The Rangers have benefited from production all throughout the lineup, including from youngsters Evan Carter and Josh Jung, as well as veterans Mitch Garver and Jonah Helm. They will be without ALCS MVP and game one hero Adolis García, who left game 3 with an oblique injury, but picking up some of the slack has been Marcus Semien, who appears to be righting the ship after an abysmal start to these playoffs. The Rangers are 10-0 on the road this postseason, and if they make it 11, it will put manager Bruce Bochy in exclusive company with 4 WS rings, which just 5 other managers* have accomplished. If they get it done tonight, that would also make it 4 WS clinched on the road for Boch. On the other side, Arizona will call upon ace Zac Gallen, who will need to be a lot sharper than he's been in the playoffs so far. Facing elimination, there will be no margin for error. Torey Lovullo's squad fought back hard to make game four interesting, but the story of this series has been Arizona's inability to get out to an early lead, save for game two. They've faced early deficits in 3 of the 4 games, and the comeback magic they relied upon so often this season has been absent as of late. These Dbacks have been counted out before, but we will see if the pressure of the World Series is too much for these underdogs. Can the Snakes stay alive, or will the Rangers be crowned as champions? Audio clips from MLB.tv TEX Radio 105.3 KRLD - Eric Nadel, Matt Hicks, and Jared Sandler (producer) ARI Radio 98.7 - Greg Schulte, Tom Candiotti, Chris Garagiola Catch you next time, P.C.O. *Both Randy Johnson ('01) and Stephen Strasburg ('19) won 5 games, but each had a win in a relief appearance (WS G7 for Johnson, NLWC for Strasburg)* *Joe McCarthy (7), Casey Stengel (7), Connie Mack (5), Walter Alston (4), Joe Torre (4) Jesse Goldberg-Strassler LinkedIn on Broadcasting

2023 World Series Game 3 and 4 @ Chase Field Rangers (90-72) @ Diamondbacks (84-78) Series Tied 1-1 We head to Phoenix with the series tied at a game apiece. The Texas Rangers have yet to drop a game on the road this postseason, and they will be sending Max Scherzer to the hill to start game 3. Mad Max has not been his dominant self due to a late season injury, but manager Bruce Bochy will likely only need a few innings from the righty with his top relievers rested and raring to go. For the Diamondbacks, breakout rookie Brandon Pfaadt looks to build off of his impressive outings against the Dodgers and the Phillies, both tough lineups to navigate. He'll need to be on his game to keep these Texas bats quiet, especially with Corey Seager locked in. If the Rangers want to keep their road winning streak alive, they are going to need a lot more out of Marcus Semien, who is hitting below .200 this postseason entering game three, despite leading the AL in hits and runs in the regular season. For Arizona, their offense usually goes how stars Corbin Carroll and Ketel Marte have gone, but as of late it's been the veteran Tommy Pham who's been red hot. As we look ahead to game four, it will likely be a bullpen game with lefties Andrew Heaney and Joe Mantiply opening things. How effective they and the other relievers will pitch remains to be seen. Taking games three and four will put a team just one win away from a World Series trophy, but split and we are guaranteed to head back to Arlington. Audio clips from MLB.tv TEX Radio 105.3 KRLD - Eric Nadel, Matt Hicks, and Jared Sandler ARI Radio 98.7 - Greg Schulte, Tom Candiotti, Chris Garagiola Catch you next time, P.C.O.

2023 World Series Games 1 and 2 @ Globe Life Field Diamondbacks (84-78) @ Rangers (90-72) A dozen teams entered the postseason, and now only two remain. The Fall Classic gets underway down in Arlington, Texas, with the Rangers back in the series for the first time since 2011 and the Diamondbacks returning for their second ever appearance. Just two years ago, both of these teams lost over 100 games, and just last year, Texas lost 94 and Arizona lost 88. These teams have taken different pathways to return to relevancy. the Rangers invested heavily in free agency, shook up the front office, and hired a future Hall-of-Famer as manager. With a brand new ballpark that opened in the covid-shortened 2020 season, Texas ownership expressed a sense of urgency to its new architects. The Diamondbacks retained their coach and GM despite a brutal and disappointing stretch, because they knew the future was still bright. Arizona GM Mike Hazen (a Princeton grad like new Texas GM Chris Young) had strong track record with drafting and developing players, which he supplemented with shrewd deals during the offseason and at the trade deadline. Torey Lovullo, in his seventh year at the helm, led the DBacks to the playoffs in his first season, and he now has an NL Pennant under his belt. His calm and steady demeanor has been attributed to keeping this young team focused despite some bumps along the way. Few experts or prognosticators would have picked this matchup at the beginning of the year, or even at the start of these playoffs, but for us avid baseball fans, this should make quite a compelling series. Game one will be a battle of right-handed All Stars. Texan Nathan Eovaldi looks to continue his excellent postseason (4-0 2.42 ERA 26 IP 4 GS) and cement a legacy of playoff dominance. Zac Gallen gets the ball for the Snakes, though his second half struggles have rolled over to the postseason (2-2 5.27 ERA 22.1 IP 4 GS). In game two, the Rangers will call upon lefty Jordan Montgomery, who's been nothing short of outstanding these playoffs (3-0 2.16 ERA 25 IP 4 GS 1 GR). Opposing him will be Merrill Kelly, a solid veteran (2-1 2.65 ERA 17 IP 3 GS) amidst an excellent two-year stretch (25-16 3.33 ERA 378 IP 63 GS). For the offenses, Corey Seager and Adolis García (ALCS MVP) have provided a ton of thump for the Rangers, while it's been the trio of Corbin Carroll, Ketel Marte (NLCS MVP), and Gabriel Moreno getting things going for the Snakes. Texas desperately wants to maintain home field advantage in the best of seven, but Arizona will be happy with a split before things head to Phoenix. Audio clips from MLB.tv TEX Radio 105.3 KRLD - Eric Nadel and Matt Hicks ARI Radio 98.7 - Greg Schulte, Tom Candiotti, and Chris Garagiola FOX Broadcast - Joe Davis, John Smoltz, Ken Rosenthal, and Tom Verducci Catch you next time, P.C.O.

2023 NLCS - Games 6 and 7 @ Citizens Bank Park Diamondbacks (84-78) @ Phillies (90-72) - PHI leads 3-2 The Snakes stayed alive by winning two out of three in Phoenix, but they will face an uphill battle heading back to Philadelphia. Rob Thomson's Phillies are just a win away from a return to the World Series, and they have been absolutely dominant at home. Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper continue to mash in this championship series, but Trea Turner and Nick Castellanos have been quieted after electric performances against Atlanta. The bullpen (mainly Craig Kimbrel) was shaky in Arizona, blowing leads in games three and four. On the other side, Ketel Marte has been blazing hot, Alek Thomas and Gabriel Moreno have been clutch, and the back of the bullpen (Sewald and Ginkel) have been lights-out. However, star rookie Corbin Carroll has been uncharacteristically absent from the fun. If the Dbacks hope to take this series on the road, they will need him to turn it around and wreak havoc on the bases. After all, ‘Embrace the Chaos' is the motto for Torey Lovullo's scrappy bunch. For the pitching matchups, Aaron Nola and Merrill Kelly face off once again for game six, with Ranger Suárez and Brandon Pfaadt in line for a game seven. Nola was excellent in game two, while Kelly struggled to keep the ball within the cozy confines of Citizens Bank Park. Suárez and Pfaadt both hurled scoreless outings into the sixth inning of game three, but the pressures of a winner-take-all game could make or break these young arms. Will the Phillies secure a second straight NL Pennant, or will the Diamondbacks claim just their second ever trip to the Fall Classic? Audio clips from MLB.tv PHI Radio WIP - Scott Franzke, Larry Andersen, Tom McCarthy, and Kevin Stocker ARI Radio 98.7 - Greg Schulte, Tom Candiotti, Chris Garagiola Catch you next time, P.C.O.

2023 ALCS - Games 6 and 7 @ Minute Maid Park Rangers (90-72) @ Astros (90-72) - Houston leads 3-2 With a dramatic comeback victory in game five, the Houston Astros are just a win away from heading back to the World Series for the fifth time in the last seven years. With a game to give and home field advantage, surely Dusty Baker's squad is ready to seal the deal? The problem: the ‘Stros are much better on the road than at home, and Rangers manager Bruce Bochy is no stranger to elimination games on the road. If Texas can pull off a victory in game six behind ‘Big Game' Nate Eovaldi, then all bets are off for game seven. And keep in mind, Bruce Bochy has never lost a game seven, and Dusty Baker has never won one. A lot of eyes will be trained on Adolis García, the Cuban slugger for Texas, who looks to respond with the bat after getting plunked and subsequently ejected in game five. The battle for Texas concludes in Houston with Framer Valdez vs. Nathan Eovaldi in game six, and if necessary, Christian Javier vs. Max Scherzer in game seven.  Audio clips from MLB.tv TEX Radio 105.3 KRLD - Eric Nadel and Matt Hicks HOU Radio 790 KBME - Robert Ford and Steve Sparks Catch you next time, P.C.O.

2023 NLCS - Game 3 - 5 @ Chase Field Phillies (90-72) @ Diamondbacks (84-78) The battle for the NL Pennant heads out to the desert, with the Phillies ahead in the series two games to none after convincing victories in Philadelphia. Everything worked just as Rob Thomson planned: the big bats provided power, the defense was flawless, the aces dominated, and the bullpen was solid. But can they bring that show on the road? For Arizona manager Torey Lovullo, there was little to take solace in after the first two games of this series, but don't count out these Snakes. Although their pitching staff is inexperienced, don't be surprised from a good outing from rookie Brandon Pfaadt, who was excellent against LA in the NLDS. He'll have quite the task in tamping down this Philly offense, but he's got impressive stuff on the mound. Opposing him in game three will be Ranger Suárez, who has been quietly establishing himself as a legit playoff weapon these past two seasons. In game four, it will likely be bullpen games for both teams, which isn't ideal for either of these teams. But after that (if necessary) will be a rematch of the aces, Zac Gallen and Zack Wheeler. Expect both managers to extend their horses to their respective limits in that pivotal game. The Snakes need to win at least two out of these three home games if they are to stay alive in the series, but even if they can pull that off, they'll have to return to the Bank. Audio clips from MLB.tv PHI Radio WIP - Scott Franzke, Larry Andersen, Tom McCarthy, and Kevin Stocker ARI Radio 98.7 - Greg Schulte, Tom Candiotti, and Chris Garagiola Catch you next time, P.C.O.

2023 ALCS - Games 3, 4, and 5 @ Globe Life Field Astros (90-72) @ Rangers (90-72) - TEX leads 2-0 The Rangers went into Houston, dominated, and now they head back to Arlington up two games to none in this series. Montgomery and Eovaldi were outstanding, the bats came through in big moments, and the bullpen held on to shut the door. In all facets of the game they have outplayed their rival Astros, but don't assume that will continue with the change in venue. Heading into this series, the Astros were 6-1 this year at Globe Life Field, including the last five in a row. Houston's big bats have clobbered the Texas pitching staff in Arlington. All year Dusty Baker's guys have been road warriors, boasting a 51-30 record away from Minute Maid Park. They will need to continue that trend to stay alive in this series. Mad Max Scherzer returns from a triceps injury to start game 3 for the Rangers, with Christian Javier opposing him for Houston. It's been nearly a month since the future Hall-of-Famer has pitched competitively, so how much will Bruce Bochy get out of him? As for Javier, he's been nearly untouchable in the playoffs for his career. In game 4, Andrew Heaney and José Urquidy will start, but expect their managers to have very short leashes. If the Astros extend the series, game 5 will be a rematch of game 1, with Montgomery and Verlander facing off once again. With the AL Pennant on the line, these two instate rivals will deliver some of the best on-field drama of recent postseason memory. Audio clips from MLB.tv TEX Radio 105.3 KRLD - Eric Nadel and Matt Hicks HOU Radio 790 KBME - Robert Ford and Steve Sparks Catch you next time, P.C.O.

2023 NLDS - Games 1 and 2 @ Citizens Bank Park Phillies (90-72) vs. Diamondbacks (84-78) For the second straight year, the NLCS will contain two Wild Card teams, with the Phillies and DBacks taking each other on. Arizona has yet to drop a game heading into this series, having easily dispatched two division champions already. They'll have their pitching lined up with Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly for the first two games, but they'll have to contend with the raucous crowd at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, an unwelcome environment for any opposing player, not to mention a potent offense. The Phillies are back in the NLCS after defeating a pair of division rivals. They will also have their top starters ready to go, with co-aces Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola looking to continue their excellent starts to this postseason. The bats have also been hot, with Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, and Nick Castellanos demolishing the opposition so far; however, leadoff slugger Kyle Schwarber has been ice cold through the first two rounds (like last year). They will look for him to get it going. The first two games often set the tone for the rest of this series. Can the Phillies maintain home-field advantage, or can the Snakes steal one before we head out west? Audio clips from MLB.tv PHI Radio WIP - Scott Franzke, Larry Andersen, Tom McCarthy, Kevin Stocker ARI Radio 98.7 - Greg Schulte, Tom Candiotti, Chris Garagiola Catch you next time, P.C.O.

2023 ALCS - Games 1 and 2 Astros (90-72) vs. Rangers(90-72) Minute Maid Park - Houston, TX Deep in the heart of Texas, in-state rivals will face off with a trip to the World Series on the line. This should be a legendary matchup, with future Hall-of-Fame managers Bruce Bochy and Dusty Baker taking each other on once again. These teams finished with identical records in the regular season, but the Astros maintain home field advantage since they took the season series 9 games to 4 (including 6 of 7 at Globe Life Field in Arlington.) The Rangers have yet to drop a game in these playoffs; in fact, they've only trailed for a half inning. Their explosive offense has carried the way so far, but the battle-tested arms of Houston could present a worthy challenge. Slowing down the scorching-hot Yordan Alvarez (or at the very least containing him) will be task #1 for the Texas pitchers. The starting pitching matchups in this series will be Justin Verlander and Jordan Montgomery in game one, followed by Framber Valdez and Nathan Eovaldi in game two. JV was excellent against the Twins, but Valdez scuffled. Montgomery and Eovaldi were outstanding against Tampa, but only big game Nate excelled versus Baltimore. The bullpen edge clearly favors Houston, but it must be noted that reemergence of  José Leclerc has stabilized the endgame for Bruce Bochy's Rangers. Both of these teams can win in a multitude of ways, and expect their experienced managers to pull out all the stops to try and get the advantage. Audio clips from MLB.tv TEX Radio 105.3 KRLD - Eric Nadel and Matt Brooks HOU Radio 790 KBME - Robert Ford and Steve Sparks Catch you next time, P.C.O.

2023 NLDS Phillies (90-72) vs. Braves (104-58) Game 1 - ATL RHP Strider vs. PHI LHP Suárez @ Truist Park Game 2 - ATL LHP Fried vs. PHI RHP Wheeler @ Truist Park Game 3 - PHI RHP Nola vs. ATL RHP Elder @ Citizens Bank Park Game 4 - PHI LHP Suárez vs. ATL RHP Strider @ Citizens Bank Park In a rematch of last year's NLDS, the Braves and Phillies square off once again with a trip to the NLCS on the line. Led by Brian Snitker, Atlanta captured its 6th straight NL East crown, running roughshod through the entire league. This Braves team is an absolute juggernaut, boasting a record setting offense stocked with star power. The team matched the 2019 Twins for the most home runs in a single season with 307, and collectively Atlanta hit like the '27 Yankees, posting a .276/.344/.501 slash line, good for a 124 OPS+. Presumptive NL MVP Ronald Acuna, Jr. led the way with a record setting season of his own (.337/.416/.596 41 HR 106 RBI 149 R 73 SB), but he was far from the only standout. Matt Olson set a Braves record with 54 HR and 139 RBI. Ozzie Albies (33 HR 109 RBI), Austin Riley (37 HR 97 RBI), and Marcell Ozuna (40 HR 100 RBI) all walloped the competition, not to mention All-Star years from catcher Sean Murphy and shortstop Orlando Arcia. Oh, and their pitching was pretty great as well. Ace Spencer Strider (20-5 3.86 ERA 186 IP) set a Braves record for strikeouts in a season with 281. Bryce Elder (12-4 3.81 ERA 174 IP) was an All-Star, and stud Max Fried (8-1 2.55 ERA 77 IP) was nearly unbeatable between his stints on the IL. The bullpen is also stacked with electric back-end arms in Raisel Iglesias, A.J. Minter, and Kirby Yates. Just two years removed from a World Series championship, Atlanta looks to be the heavy favorites heading into the playoffs. But standing in their way are their bitter division rivals, the Philadelphia Phillies. If there is one thing these Phillies know they are not scared of, it is the Atlanta Braves. They bullied them in the NLDS last year en route to the NL Pennant, and while they only went 5-8 against their rival in the regular season, that's far better than most other teams could muster. These Phils are confident, some might even say cocky, but they back it up with their play. Philly can match anybody in terms of star power, with Bryce Harper and Trea Turner. They've got tough guys who can swing a big stick too, in Nick Castellanos and Kyle Schwarber. Perhaps most importantly, with Aaron Nola, Zach Wheeler, and Ranger Suárez, they just might have the pitching to contain the high-powered Atlanta offense. Oh and don't you forget their other not-so-secret weapon, the Bank. No-one else in baseball can claim a better home-field advantage than Philadelphia, who hold the best playoff home winning percentage in baseball history at Citizens Bank Park entering this series. Can they keep the good times rolling, or will Atlanta find a way to spoil the fun? Audio clips from MLB.tv PHI Radio WIP - Scott Franzke, Larry Anderson, Tom McCarthy, Ben Davis TBS - Brian Anderson, Jeff Francoeur Catch you next time, P.C.O.

2023 Division Series NLDS Diamondbacks (84-78) vs. Dodgers (100-62) Game 1 - ARI RHP Kelly vs. LAD LHP Kershaw @ Dodger Stadium Game 2 - ARI RHP Gallen vs. LAD RHP Miller @ Dodger Stadium Game 3 - LAD RHP Lynn vs. ARI RHP Pfaadt @ Chase Field The Dodgers are back in the postseason for the 11th straight season, winning the NL West for the 10th time in that span. They've put together yet another 100+ win campaign for the 4th consecutive full season(they were on an historic pace in the COVID-shortened 2020 season or it could have been 5 in a row). This organization has been a machine built not only on star power, but also on unrivaled depth. They rely on multi-positional defenders, platoon lineups, and a stable of relievers with incredible stuff. Of course, they are led by two perennial MVP candidates in Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman, not to mention a star catcher in Will Smith. But these Dodgers likely would not have won the West without revivals from J.D. Martinez, Jason Heyward, and Max Muncy. This Los Angeles squad does have one major flaw, however. The starting pitchers are either hurt, old, ineffective, or inexperienced. The future Hall-of-Famer Clayton Kershaw will get the call in game one, but shoulder problems have drastically limited his innings and severely diminished his stuff. Walker Buehler, Dustin May, and Tony Gonsolin are all out with elbow injuries. Trade deadline acquisition Lance Lynn gave up a league leading 44 home runs, and Bobby Miller, the best and most consistent of the options, has never pitched in the postseason. So, for often maligned manager Dave Roberts, how much he will get out of his starters is quite frankly a mystery. Despite all the regular season success of the past decade, every year save one has ended in bitter disappointment in the City of Angels. Will this year be different, or will the Dodgers fall yet again to an underdog. The Arizona Diamondbacks have gotten hot at the right time, rallying for two comeback wins against the NL Central champ Brewers in the Wild Card round. And now they have to go up against their division rival, who have had the Snakes number over the past few seasons. Working in their favor, however, is how they can lineup their pitching. Their top two starters, Merrill Kelly and Zac Gallen, will be able to start 4 out of 5 games if necessary on regular rest. The only problem, Kelly has never beaten LA in his career (0-11 5.49 ERA 16 GS), and Gallen has not fared much better (0-4 4.29 ERA 6 GS @ LAD). The Arizona offense can run hot and cold, but as they demonstrated against the highly touted Brewers, the Snakes can strike quickly and in bunches. Look for the dynamic duo of Carroll and Marte to set the table, while Walker, Moreno, and Gurriel aim to drive them in. Torey Lovullo has this team primed and ready to keep shocking the world. Audio clips from MLB.tv TBS - Bob Costas and Ron Darling ARI Radio 98.7 - Greg Schulte, Tom Candiotti, and Chris Garagiola Catch you next time, P.C.O.

ALDS Twins (87-75) vs. Astros (90-72) Game 1 - HOU RHP Verlander vs. MIN RHP Ober @ Minute Maid Park Game 2 - HOU LHP Valdez vs. MIN RHP López  @ Minute Maid Park Game 3 - MIN RHP Gray vs. HOU RHP Javier @ Target Field Game 4 - MIN RHP Ryan vs. HOU RHP Urquidy @ Target Field The Twins finally advanced in a playoff series for the first time since 2002, breaking an 18 game losing streak in the playoffs. Their reward… a date with the defending World Series Champions, the Astros. Rocco Baldelli's pitching staff was excellent against the Blue Jays, but it will be a tall task to keep the potent Houston lineup at bay. The Twins will also need their star shortstop, former Astro Carlos Correa, to elevate his game on both sides of the ball, if they hope to take down his former teammates. Dusty Baker's squad is talented, experienced, and somehow still hungry after so much success. The top 4 in their lineup - Altuve, Bregman, Alvarez, and Tucker - are lethal when they're rolling, and new edition José Abreu has been scorching hot the last month after an uncharacteristically poor year at the plate. As with many teams, the Astros will go as far as their pitching will take them. And with the arms they boast, that could be all the way to the World Series once again. Valdez and Javier are bonafide playoff starters. Pressly and Bryan Abreu are lockdown late-inning arms. Oh, and they got Justin Verlander back at the trade deadline. Can the ‘Stros make it to their 7th consecutive ALCS? Audio clips from MLB.tv MIN Radio TIBN - Cory Provus and Dan Gladden HOU Radio BKME - Robert Ford and Steve Sparks FOX/FS1 - Adam Amin, AJ Pierzyński, Adam Wainwright Catch you next time, P.C.O.

ALDS Rangers (90-72) vs. Orioles (101-61) Game 1  - BAL RHP Bradish vs. TEX LHP Heaney @ OPACY Game 2 - BAL RHP Rodriguez vs. TEX LHP Montgomery @ OPACY  Game 3 - TEX RHP Eovaldi vs. BAL RHP Kremer @ Globe Life Field After quickly dispatching the 99 win Tampa Bay Rays in the Wild Card round, the Rangers head to Baltimore to face the upstart, 101 win Orioles. Just two years ago, both of these team lost over 100 games, and now they meet in the playoffs. The Birds are led by a dynamic duo of young stars, second-year catcher Adley Rutschman and presumptive AL ROY Gunnar Henderson. Veterans Anthony Santander, Austin Hays, Cedric Mullins, and Aaron Hicks have provided strong contributions throughout the year. With injuries to star closer Felix Bautista and reliable lefty John Means, and with relative lack of experience among the arms, many have doubts have been expressed about Brandon Hyde's pitching staff. And facing this stacked Rangers offense, those doubts are warranted. Bruce Bochy is no stranger to managing great teams heading into the postseason, but this Rangers team might just be the best offense he's ever had. We know all about Semien and Seager at the top of the order, but this lineup runs deep and sees contributions from its own youngsters Josh Jung and Evan Carter. They'll have to rely heavily on their bullpen in game one, but they can reset the rotation in Games 2 and 3 with Jordan Montgomery and Nathan Eovaldi, both of whom were outstanding in the Wild Card Round. A dance in the ALCS on the line, who will come out on top? Audio Clips from MLB.tv Texas Radio 105.3 KRLD - Eric Nadel and Matt Brooks Baltimore Radio WBAL - Geoff Arnold, Kevin Brown, and Ben McDonald Catch you next time, P.C.O.

2023 NL Wild Card Round Diamondbacks (84 - 78) @ Brewers (92 - 70) - American Family Field Milwaukee, WI The Brew Crew are back in the postseason for the fifth time in the last six years, capturing their third NL Central crown in that timespan. Under manager Craig Counsell's stewardship, this Milwaukee ball club excels at preventing runs. With a three-headed monster at the top of their rotation, the Brewers can shut down even the most potent of lineups, not to mention the lights-out bullpen that lies in wait. Scoring has been an issue for this club, despite stellar campaigns from former MVP Christian Yelich and catcher William Contreras. The Brewers represent a model for small-market success in baseball, but with architect David Stearns off to NYC and hometown kid Counsell in a contract year, another postseason disappointment could portend a shakeup. The Arizona Diamondbacks return to the postseason for the first time since 2017. Lead by Torey Lovullo, the Snakes got off to a hot start this season, suffered through an abysmal July and early August, and then rallied to take the final Wild Card spot in September. Ace Zac Gallen and dependable Merrill Kelly supply quality and quantity in terms of innings. The other pitchers are not as reliable, but the addition of Paul Sewald has stabilized the ninth. Their outstanding rookie, Corbin Carroll, combines power and speed better than anyone not named Acuńa. The last team in, are these Dbacks primed for a run? Marlins (84 - 77*) @ Phillies (90 - 72) - Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, PA The Marlins did it, catching fire the last weeks of the season to leapfrog the Reds and Cubs to sneak in to the playoffs. First-year manager Skip Schumaker's club was not supposed to be here, but an absurd 33 - 14 record in one run games helped this team overcome the worst run differential ever for a playoff team. The team had strong pitching despite a major regression from 2022 Cy Young Sandy Alcantara. The acquisition of AL Batting Champ Luis Arraez was essential, as he would go on to win the NL batting title this year. But if postseason baseball is to actually return to Miami, they're going to have to beat the defending NL Champs. The 2022 Phillies went on a magical postseason run, but ultimately fell short against the Astros in the World Series. Not satisfied with that outcome, they added to their team in the offseason, signing closer Craig Kimbrel, starter Taijuan Walker, and biggest of all, all-star shortstop Trea Turner. The expectations were sky-high for Rob Thomson's team, and early on the returns were not so great. Former MVP Bryce Harper missed the first two months with injury, and was limited to DH duty upon his initial return. Hoskins went down with a season ending injury in spring training. Slugger Kyle Schwarber's batting average cratered and his defense was atrocious. Co-aces Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola were solid, yet not the dominant starters they were expected to be. And Trea Turner was awful, looking nothing like the perennial MVP candidate he'd established himself as. But this Philly team held on, thanks in large part to clutch performances by youngsters Alec Bohm and Bryson Stott. Nick Castellanos returned to form with the bat. And the bullpen, which was a disaster for much of the '22 season, displayed stretches of dominance to keep things afloat. Then Bryce moved to first base, allowing Schwarber to DH and rangy defenders Johan Rojas and Brandon Marsh to man the outfield instead. And after his struggles seemed to reach a breaking point, Trea Turner was honored with a standing ovation by the Philadelphia faithful, and he responded with the best two months of his entire career. Playoff baseball is returning to Philly once again this October, and the Bank will be jumping. Audio Clips from MLB.tv ARI Radio - Greg Schulte and Tom Candiotti MIL Radio - Bob Uecker PHI Radio - Scott Franzke, Larry Andersen, Tom McCarthy, Ben Davis Catch you next time, P.C.O.

October 2023 - Blue Jays @ Twins - Target Field The 2023 Postseason is underway, with the Wild Card series concluding earlier this week. Before the Division Series start, let's quickly recap the first round of the playoffs. The Blue Jays head to Minneapolis to take on the AL Central Champion Twins, who are looking to end an 18 game losing streak in the postseason dating back to 2004 (mostly at the hand of the Yankees.) Both teams boast solid starting pitching (Gausman, Berríos, Bassitt for Toronto and Lopéz, Gray, Ryan for Minnesota), lights out closers (Romano and Duran), and deep offensive lineups. If the Twins are going to win their first ever playoff victory at Target Field, perhaps they will need a new breakout star (paging Royce Lewis). Rangers @ Rays - Tropicana Field If you had asked me back in June or early July, I would have thought this matchup would have been the ALCS. Instead, both of these teams dealt with a bevy of injuries and now face best-of-three Wild Card series with the season on the line. Well, each team can turn to their aces for this matchup, right? Unfortunately no, as Jacob De Grom, Max Scherzer, Shane McClanahan, and Drew Rasmussen are all out for the year (Scherzer is attempting to return from a triceps injury). It will be Jordan Montgomery and Nathan Eovaldi for Texas, and Tampa will call upon Tyler Glasnow and Zach Eflin. None of them are slouches by any measure, but you'd rather turn to them for games 3 or 4 in a series, not 1 or 2. Both of these teams have high-powered offenses, but Texas has a clear edge with Semien and Seager leading the way. Whoever wins will then have to contend with the upstart Orioles, the Al's top team. All audio clips from MLB.tv Treasure Island Baseball Network, Twins Radio w/Cody Provus and Dan Gladden Rangers Radio w/Eric Nadel and Matt Brooks As always shout out to Baseball Reference for statistics, boxscores, background information, and much, much more. Catch you next time, P.C.O. P.S. keep an ear out for the NL Wild Card games coming soon

Baltimore's Hoover. Mr. Oriole. The Human Vacuum Cleaner. The greatest defensive third baseman to ever grace the diamond. Baseball lost a legend this week. Brooks Robinson was not only a Hall of Fame baseball player, he was a Hall of Fame human being. From Little Rock, Arkansas, Brooks Robinson exemplified the Oriole Way for 23 seasons as a ballplayer, and many more as a broadcaster and as a member of the Baltimore community. He amassed 2,848 hits, 268 HR, 1357 RBI, 18 All-Star appearances, the 1964 MVP, the 1970 WS MVP, and perhaps most impressively 16 consecutive Gold Gloves at third base (a record for position players). Brooks was beloved for the way he played the game. At the hot corner, he made the spectacular appear routine, ranging and diving to his left or his right to take away would-be base hits. His unrivaled anticipation and relentless effort allowed him to make plays on balls nearly any other player would deem impossible. Brooks is, and forever shall be the gold standard for third base defense. And when it mattered most, Robinson would deliver in the clutch with a home run or a double. And he did it all with a smile on his face. Brooks Robinson played baseball with incredible joy and grace, not to mention another tremendous quality, generosity to the fans. Brooks considered himself blessed to have a Hall of Fame career, a loyal fanbase, a supportive family, and a successful life. We, as fans, were blessed to have Brooks Robinson. Baseball was made better by Brooks Robinson. We will miss you, dearly. Audio clips from Youtube, links below. 1966 WS Highlights 1970 WS Highlights 1970 WS GM 5 HOF Induction Speech Jim Palmer on MASN As always, shout out to Baseball Reference and SABR for statistics, boxscores, background information, and much, much more. Catch you next time, P.C.O.

Wednesday October 17th, 1979 @ Memorial Stadium in Baltimore, MD It all comes down to this. Game Seven. Chuck Tanner's Terrors have forced a winner-take-all battle against the Earl of Baltimore and his Birds. These Pirates, who call themselves the ‘Family', have rallied from a 3-1 deficit, besting two of the Orioles' aces, Mike Flanagan and Jim Palmer. Can they make it three in a row? Standing in their way will be one of the breakout stars of this postseason for Baltimore, 25 year old Scott McGregor (13 - 6 3.35 ERA 174 IP). The crafty lefty has been sensational in these playoffs, going the distance in both of his starts. He'll need to be on his game if he intends to quiet this high-powered Pittsburgh offense. Starting tonight on short rest for the Buccos will be big Jim Bibby (12 - 4 2.81 ERA 137 IP), who has been strong in his two postseason starts thus far. It will be all hands on deck aboard Chuck Tanner's Pirate ship, and when it gets down to the late innings, they will look for their Captain, Willie ‘Pops' Stargell, to lead the way. Tune in to the thrilling conclusion to one of the best World Series in baseball history. It will be a fitting send off to an outstanding decade for the sport. Audio clips from joeydbball Youtube. ABC broadcast w/ Keith Jackson, Howard Cowell, Don Drysdale, and Vin Scully. Also, clips from The Cobra at Twilight, MLB Network Documentary As always, shout out to Baseball Reference and SABR for statistics, boxscores, background information, and much, much more. Catch you next time, P.C.O.

Tuesday October 16th, 1979 @ Memorial Stadium in Baltimore, MD The Pirates were able to rally around their heartbroken manager and stave off elimination in game five behind huge performances from Tim Foli, Bill Madlock, Bert Blyleven, and unexpectedly Jim Rooker. The series now heads back to Baltimore, with the odds still against Chuck Tanner's Terrors. To try and close out this series for the Orioles, manager Earl Weaver turns to one of his most dependable starters, Jim Palmer (10 - 6 3.30 ERA 155 IP). The tall, handsome right-hander, whom many would argue is one of, if not the best pitchers of his generation, was solid in game two, but the O's took the loss in the ninth despite his efforts. Taking the hill on short rest for the Pirates will be John Candelaria (14 - 9 3.22 ERA 207 IP). The tall and … tall lefty has battled injuries all year, and he was pummeled by the Orioles bats following the rain delay in game three. Despite those struggles, the Pirates know their lefty has the talent to deliver a gem any time he toes the rubber. Given the desperate circumstances, expect Chuck Tanner to turn to his ace reliever, Kent Tekulve (10 - 8 2.75 ERA 31 SV 134 ?IP). The lanky sidewinder is looking for redemption after a nightmare of an outing in game four. Can the Buccos keep their season alive for another day, or will the Birds seal the deal at home. Tune in for a great game six! Audio clips from joeydbball Youtube. ABC broadcast w/ Keith Jackson, Howard Cowell, and Don Drysdale. As always, shout out to Baseball Reference and SABR for statistics, boxscores, background information, and much, much more. Catch you next time, P.C.O.