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.