It was not until after I arrived in New York on Friday night by
way of bus that I learned the Yankees had beat the Orioles 3-1 in
Game 5 of the ALDS to advance to the ALCS against the Detroit
Tigers. The ALCS commences tomorrow night here in NYC.
I would have much preferred to see the O’s & the A’s. After
all, the Tigers and Yankees have faced each other in the ALDS in
2006 and 2011. Since 1995, the Yankees have been in the post-season
every year (save for 2008). So there was no palpable excitement in
the streets. The same could not be said for Baltimore or for that
matter Oakland. But, oh well, c’est la vie.
When I arrived at my Dad’s place, the Nationals had just scored
an insurance run on a Kurt Suzuki single to give them a 7-5 lead in
the bottom of the eighth. The Nats were three outs away from going
to the NLCS. But I had a feeling they weren’t going to get them and
did not hesitate to tell my Dad.
The feeling intensified when Nats closer Drew Storen loaded the
bases by issuing back to back walks to Yadier Molina and David
Freese. The Nats were still one out away. But Daniel Descalso hit a
rocket off Nationals shortstop Ian Desmond’s glove which tied the
game at 7-7. Pete Kozma then hit a two run single to give the Cards
a 9-7 lead and proved to be the difference. The Cards will host the
San Francisco Giants in Game 1 of the NLCS on Sunday night. It is
the third time they’ve faced each other in the NLCS. They did so in
1987 and in 2002. The Cards won in ‘87 and the Giants won in
‘02.
I did not realize that the Nats had a 6-0 lead in the fourth
inning. A lot of teams would have packed it in psychologically but
the Cards really seem to thrive when dance on the precipice.
The Nats fans reminded me of Red Sox fans circa 2003 or 1986.
Only this time Davey Johnson was on the wrong end of the stick.
They also reminded me (and my Dad) of Montreal Expos fans after
Rick Monday homered for the Dodgers in Game 5 of the NLCS off Steve
Rogers in relief.
I am sure some Nats fans will say things might have been
different if Stephen Strasburg had been allowed to pitch. But he
couldn’t have stopped Storen from not being able to close the
deal.
I think the Yankees will beat the Tigers in six while the
Cardinals will best the Giants in seven. So that would mean
the Yankees and Cardinals would face off in the World Series for
the first time since 1964.
The Yankees and Giants haven’t been in the Fall Classic in fifty
years. That was the World Series where Willie McCovey lined out to
Bobby Richardson for the final out in Game 7 at Candlestick
Park.
The Tigers and Cardinals last faced each other in 2006 and
previously faced each other in 1934 and 1968. Amazingly, the
Tigers and Giants have never faced each other in a World
Series.
Three of the four teams in the LCS have won the World Series in
the past three seasons - the Yankees in ‘09, the Giants in ‘10 and
the Cardinals in ‘11. The Tigers last won it all in 1984.
I have a funny feeling the Cardinals are going to repeat. After
doing what they did tonight, I can’t see any team getting past
them.
