YFSF

Back to the Future: St. Louis vs. Detroit

In a year in which so much baseball history has been called into question, it seems oddly fitting that the Fall Classic will be played by two of the game's oldest franchises: the St. Louis Cardinals and the Detroit Tigers. It is, in fact, their third match in the World Series, the teams having split the previous two meetings, both 7-game affairs (St. Louis won in 1934, Detroit in 1968). Detroit, curiously, has had a superior regular-season record each time. The Cards managed to get past that first 101-win team, which was stocked with Hall of Famers (Greenberg, Gosling, Gerringer, Cochrane) on the strength of the filial pitching tandem of Dizzy and Daffy Dean, who went 4-1 while allowing but 7 runs in 44 innings. Things pretty much reversed in 68, when Mickey Lolich (3-0, 1.67 era in 27 ip) propelled the Tigers to victory over a Cardinal team spilked with greats (Gibson, Brock, Cepeda, Flood). Tim McCarver caught for that St. Louis team, so you can epect to hear plenty about it during the broadcasts.

Should be fun. We'll be rooting for our AL bretheren. Go Tigers.

Running To New York Redux

Two hours from now, New York will offer another another instance of its storied history of allowing people to dream.

The St. Louis Cardinals will play the New York Mets at Shea Stadium in game seven of the NLCS. While it is frustrating as a Yankees fan to watch post-season baseball from the outside when things looked so promising at the end of the regular season, I fondly reflect on just a small sampling of events through the years that foster dreams.

Now in Monument Park: The Finkelman Bar Mitzvah!

Yeah, the Mets are still playing baseball. What's happening at Yankee Stadium? Not much, but if you act now grandma's little bubbala can soon be reading his Torah portion out by The Babe's monument. (If ever there was a place to become a man....Kinihura!

From Yankees.com:

Dear Yankees Fan,

Plan your holiday season event at the house that Ruth built. Make it an occasion that you, your clients and guests will never forget. We are dedicated to making your holiday a memorable time for all!

Yankee Stadium is for more than just baseball! It is an entertainment venue with year-round availability.

Whether you are planning a corporate outing, bar/bat mitzvah, meeting, holiday party, fundraiser or wedding, the Stadium can provide the unique atmosphere for which you are looking. There are also opportunities for outdoor barbecues and picnics.

Oy.

Screw The Hot Stove: Cards-Mets Gamer VI

Jose Reyes just lead off the bottom of the first with a dinger after Maine pitched out of bases loaded in the St Louis first. If you're watching the game, here's your place to comment on the NLCS. Goooo (your proxy) Team!

"And He Can Keep On Running To New York!"

Two years ago tonight, David Ortiz allowed us all to dream again.

Cubs Jinx Sox! Buckner's E Explained

So how did Buckner let that ball get through his legs? A revealing photo-investigation by our friends at UniWatch indicates that he was wearing a Chicago Cubs batting glove under his first baseman's mitt.. Holy Crap! Did Bartman give it to him? Wow.

Lou Habla'ing About A-Rod

According to reports, the new manager of the Cubs wants A-Rod. There are few people in baseball whom the third baseman trusts more than Captain Lou. Earlier this season, Rodriguez turned to Pineilla for help during his prolonged slump. So, it's quite possible that the Yanks slugger would waive his no-trade clause in the case a deal was pursued.

Now I'll float out a rumor with no basis in reality. According to my godfather's son's fiance's German Shepherd's trainer, the Cubs are willing to part with Aramis Ramirez, Mark Prior and a prospect (either Ronny Cedeno or Donny Veal) for A-Rod and Kyle Farnsworth. The Yanks would pick up $16 million in A-Rod's remaining salary. Caveat: The dog trainer doesn't exist.

Yanks fans, would you make this trade? I'm wondering what exactly is an acceptable return on A-Rod?

SAWX!

I've just about had it with all the Yankee talk. The playoff exit was gratifyingly humiliating (and vindicating), the Joe Torre soap opera was amusing, the Lidle crash was saddening, and there's still the A-Rod soap opera to look forward to.

I'm afraid I haven't helped any by being too busy to post much the last few weeks -- all but ceding the blog to the Yanks and their spawn fans. Anyway, I'm back and darn it I won't go down without a fight. So, after much speculation here and elsewhere about what the Sox should (get pitching!) and shouldn't (trade Manny!) do, here's the Comprehensive Omnibus Red Sox Off-Season Prediction and Analysis Thread.

Butcher's Bill: Beane Bags Macha

Add Ken Macha to the list that includes Dusty Baker, Joe Girardi, Felipe Alou, Frank Robinson, Joe Torre and Buck Showalter of potential 2007 TV commentators.  Billy Beane refused to blame Macha, and then turned around and did just that by saying, "But that disconnect was there and we needed to do something as soon as possible."

Macha had two years and two million left on his contract but Beane waited only two days after the A's got swept by the Tigers in the ALCS to drop the axe.  The story reports Macha was already in hot water due to his relationships with the players prior to their ALCS exit.

Meanwhile, Lou's a Cubbie. 

In Other News ,,,

If you're as tired of hearing and talking about the Yankees as I am -- and I am very tired indeed -- here's a snippet of news for you. The Sox hired John Farrell as pitching coach today. No time, and not enough knowledge, to comment much, but it seems like people like him.

Comment on that and anything else Sox-related here.