CHICAGO — With one mighty swing, Jody Davis and the 1984 Chicago Cubs completed an unthinkable run and captured the @JackSacco6 @sacco_john “The Best Teams of the 1980s” Strat-O-Matic World Series with a dramatic, come-for-behind, 8-7, victory over the stunned 1986 New York Mets.
Davis’ two-out, three-run home run in the seventh inning erased the Mets’ 7-5 lead and propelled Chicago to its eighth victory in nine games. The Cubs defeated the heavily-favored Mets, four games to one.
Chicago was the eighth and last seed in Bracket B of “The Best Teams of the 1980s” tournament, which consisted of two, eight-team brackets. The Cubs won four straight games, including defeating the 1983 Chicago White Sox in the winners bracket finals and again in the championship round. They followed with an impressive World Series against New York.
The Cubs were dominant offensively, scoring 37 runs in five games — 7.4 runs per game. They won the last two games by one run and didn’t score less than seven runs in their four victories.
They scored 65 runs in nine games — 7.2 per game — and had a run differential of 65-to-45 (+20) in the nine games.
The Cubs’ series-winning seventh inning was keyed by a lead-off double by centerfielder Bob Dernier and walks to Ryne Sandberg and Gary Matthews. After third baseman Richie Hebner hit a sacrifice fly to make it 6-5, Keith Moreland flew out. Davis then crushed a Rick Anderson pitch into the left field bleachers .
Chicago relievers pitched three scoreless innings in relief of Scott Sanderson.
George Frazier was perfect in the seventh and eighth innings and after Smith allowed a two-out double to Keith Hernandez, he struck out Darryl Strawberry to end the series.
Chicago led 3-1 after one but New York scored once in the fourth on a Howard Johnson home run and five times in the fifth. A three-runs n home run by Strawberry — his third of the series — gave the Mets a 7-3 lead.
A solo shot by Sandberg in the bottom of the fifth cut the lead to three.
It was Sandberg’s 10th and final hit of the series and his sixth RBI.
In all, Sandberg was 10-for-22 (.455) with eight runs scored, two doubles and the home run. He posted a .430 on-base percentage, .682 slugging percentage and a 1.112 OPS. He hit safely in all five games with four multiple-hit games.
For his efforts, Sandberg was named Most Valuable Player. He also handled 33 chances — 12 put outs, 21 assists (33 total chances) and two double plays — flawlessly at second base.
Davis hit .421 with a .435 OBP and a .579 OPS and 1.014 OPS with six RBI.
The series defeat muted an outstanding effort by Johnson for the Mets.
Johnson went 9-for-16 (.563) with a .625 OPB and .938 SLP. His OPS was 1.563 with a series-high eight RBI.
In Game 5, Chicago got two hits from Bob Dernier, including a double; a hit and two walks from Gary Matthews, who reached base at a .583 clip in the series with 10 walks.
Lenny Dykstra had two hits and two stolen bases for the Mets. Backman had two hits, while Keith Hernandez had a single, double and home run. Ray Knight added three hits, including an RBI double.
The ‘84 Cubs will be one of the top three seeds in the 20-team “The Grand Champions” Strat-O-Matic tournament later this year.
Also qualified are the ‘86 Mets, ‘86 Houston Astros and ‘83 White Sox. They join the 1970s World Series champion 1975 Cincinnati Reds, 1972 Oakland A’s, 1979 Pittsburgh Pirates and 1974 Los Angeles Dodgers.
The top four teams in the “Best Teams of the 1990s” SOM tourney will join those eight in the Grand Champions tournament along with eight wild cards teams selected by @Jack Sacco6 and @sacco_john.
“The Best Teams of the 1990s” tournament will commence later this week.
My blog appears on a regular basis and focuses on sports, opinions, notes, features, and some trivia for good measure.
John Sacco
sacman18@comcast.net
@sacco_john
Monday, June 15, 2020
Sunday, June 14, 2020
Trivia Time: How many of these 10 Questions Can You Answer? Without Looking Them Up!!!
1. Name the two Pirates' players who played for managers Danny Murtaugh, Chuck Tanner and Jim Leyland.
2. Rennie Stennett went 7-for-7 on September 16, 1975, against the Chicago Cubs. After his seventh hit, a triple, he was lifted from the game for a pinch runner?
3. In Stennett's 7-for-7 game, name the losing pitcher. Also, a native of Washington County (Pa.) played in that game. Who was it?
4. Name the three Pirates players that were part of the World Series championship teams in 1971 and 1979? Stennett played during the regular season in1971 but was not on the World Series roster.
5. In late 1976 the Pirates traded this player to the Chicago White Sox to acquire pitchers Rich “Goose” Gossage and Terry Forster.
6. The Opening Day lineup of the expansion Montreal Expos featured three players who either played or would play for the Pirates. Name them.
7. The Opening Day lineup of the 1969 San Diego Padres featured one former Pirates player. Who was it?
8. Three Rivers Stadium opened July 16, 1970 -- Cincinnati Reds vs. Pittsburgh Pirates. There were seven future Hall of Famers on the field that night in uniform. Who are the seven?
9. In 1987, because of MLB's system of rotating the first pick between the NL and AL for the MLB amateur draft, the Seattle Mariners held the top pick while the Pirates were second. The Pirates had the worst record in baseball in 1986. Unlucky for them, the rotating system had the AL team with the worst record picking first that particular year. Seattle selected Ken Griffey, Jr. Who did the Pirates take with the NO. 2 pick?
10. The Oakland A's used pinch-running specialist Herb Washington in 1974 and part of 1975. Washington stole 31 bases in that time but never played a position. He was replaced in 1975. Who replaced him in the role for the A's?
My blog appears on a regular basis and focuses on sports, opinions, notes, features, and some trivia for good measure.
John Sacco
sacman18@comcast.net
@sacco_john
John Sacco
sacman18@comcast.net
@sacco_john
Moreland Slugs Cubs Past Mets, Moves Chicago Close to Championship
CHICAGO — Keith Moreland blasted Jesse Orosco’s first pitch of the bottom of the ninth to Waveland Avenue. Now, the 1984 Chicago Cubs are one win away from winning the @JackSacco6 @sacco_john “The Best Teams of the 1980s” Strat-O-Matic World Series and waving goodbye to the mighty 1986 New York Mets.
Moreland’s walk-off home run made the Cubs a, 7-6, winner over the Mets and gave Chicago a commanding three-games-to-one lead over heavily-favored New York.
Two of the Cubs’ three wins in the series have come in their last at bats.
Moreland’s HR made a winner out of reliever Dennis Eckersley, who worked two innings in relief of starter Rick Sutcliffe.
Eckersley’s clutch pitching in the top of the ninth set the stage for Moreland.
With the game tied 6-6, Mets’ lead-off hitter smacked a double off Eckersley to open the ninth. After a Wally Backman ground out to second, moved Dykstra to third, Chicago Manager @JackSacco6 ordered Eckersley to intentionally walk Keith Hernandez and Darryl Strawberry — New York’s No. 3 and No. 4 hitters — to load the bases.
With no margin for error, Eckersley responded by striking out Gary Carter and the series’ hottest hitter, Howard Johnson, to end the threat.
Chicago jumped on Gooden for two runs in the first, but the Mets responded with three-run second off Sutcliffe.
The Cubs came right back with a three-run second inning of their own to re-take the lead at 5-3.
New York tied the score in the third with two runs with three consecutive hits from Dykstra, Backman (a double), and the first of two RBI singles by Hernandez.
The starting pitchers held it together through the middle three innings until Chicago scored in the bottom of the sixth.
With one out, Gooden walked three consecutive batters then yielded a run-scoring single to third baseman Richie Hebner.
The Mets answered right back as pinch-hitter Stanley Jefferson smacked a one-out triple in the seventh. After Dykstra lined out to second, Backman walked, and Hernandez drove Jefferson home with a single.
Gooden was touched for nine hits in his seven innings. He walked six.
Johnson led the Mets with three hits, including an RBI triple. Dykstra had a double and Strawberry a home run.
Ryne Sandberg had two hits for Chicago while Gary Matthews reached base in all five of his plate appearances — two singles and three walks.
First baseman Leon Durham had a single and two-run double and walked twice. Hebner had two hits.
Game 5 will be played Monday with Chicago’s Scott Sanderson dealing against the Mets’ Bobby Ojeda.
Game 6 and 7, if needed, will be played in New York’s Shea Stadium.
NOTES — The Cubs have scored 29 runs (7.25 per game) in the series while New York has tallied 26 runs (6.5 per game). . . Chicago and New York have combined to score 10 of the series’ 55 runs in the last inning of the four games and 17 runs of the 55 in the last two innings of each game. . . Sandberg is hitting .421 with five runs scored and four RBI in the series. He has hit safely in all four games. . . Matthews, hitting just .250, has reached base safely in 11 of 20 plate appearances (.550 on-base percentage) with eight walks. . . Durham, who has hit safely in the four games, has two doubles, two runs and five RBI. . . Moreland also has hit in all four games with four RBI. . . Jody Davis is six-for-15 (.400) with a .471 OBP and two RBI. . . Johnson is seven-for-14 (.500) for New York with a .533 OBP, .786 slugging percentage and 1.319 OPS. Johnson has hits in all four games, two doubles, a triple and series-high seven RBI. . . Strawberry is hitting .313 with a .450 OBP and .625 SLP for a 1.075 OPS. He has two home runs and three RBI. . . Mets pinch hitters are four-for-10 (.400) with a .455 OBP, .800 SLP and 1.200 OPS with two double, a triple and four RBI.
My blog appears on a regular basis and focuses on sports, opinions, notes, features, and some trivia for good measure.
John Sacco
sacman18@comcast.net
@sacco_john
Saturday, June 13, 2020
1986 Mets Finally Overcome 1984 Cubs, Blast Way Back Into Series
Finally. The 1984 Chicago Cubs have lost.
With that, the 1986 New York Mets are back in the @JackSacco6 @sacco_john “Teams of the 1980s” Strat-O-Matic World Series with a, 11-5, Game 3 win over the torrid Cubs.
Chicago (6-1) now leads the series, 2-1.
Ray Knight blasted two home runs and had three hits and four RBI to get the Mets back in contention.
New York turned the tables on the Cubs, who had won six straight games, by getting two pinch-hit doubles by Howard Johnson and Lee Mazzilli in a four-run, ninth inning.
In the first two games, Cubs pinch hitters had three hits and a sacrifice bunt.
Sid Fernandez (1-0) worked seven innings and yielded 11 hits. Rick Anderson and Ron Darling worked a scoreless inning a piece for the Mets.
Chicago starter Steve Trout (0-1) was bounced around. Relievers Rick Reuschel and George Frazier held the Cubs in the game before Tim Stoddard was knocked around hard in the ninth, yielding three hits, two walks and the pinch-hit doubles.
The Mets had 17 hits compared with 11 for the Cubs. Each team had an error.
New York (5-3) broke a 4-4 tie with a three-run sixth. Shortstop Rafael Santana singled, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Fernandez and went to third on a Mookie Wilson single. It was Wilson’s second hit. He had a double earlier in the game.
Knight followed with his second homer to make it 7-4.
Keith Hernandez, who has been uncharacteristically shaky defensively in the series, had three hits and a home run. Second baseman Tim Teufel had a pair of RBI singles.
Johnson now has four hits in the series and six RBI.
Ryne Sandberg (single and double) and Larry Bowa had two hits each for the Cubs. Sandberg had two RBI. Gary Mathews hit a home run and Ron Cey belted two doubles for Chicago..
Chicago has scored 22 runs (7.3 per game) in the series while New York has tallied 20 runs (6.7 per game).
Games 4 and 5 will be played at Wrigley Field. If needed, Games 6 and 7 will be played in New York.
The Cubs will start Rick Sutcliffe in Games 4 against the Mets’ Dwight Gooden. Neither was particularly effective in Game 1, a 9-6 Chicago win in 11 innings.
Chicago centerfielder Bob Dernier, injured in Game 2 and not available in Game 3, will return for Game 4.
With that, the 1986 New York Mets are back in the @JackSacco6 @sacco_john “Teams of the 1980s” Strat-O-Matic World Series with a, 11-5, Game 3 win over the torrid Cubs.
Chicago (6-1) now leads the series, 2-1.
Ray Knight blasted two home runs and had three hits and four RBI to get the Mets back in contention.
New York turned the tables on the Cubs, who had won six straight games, by getting two pinch-hit doubles by Howard Johnson and Lee Mazzilli in a four-run, ninth inning.
In the first two games, Cubs pinch hitters had three hits and a sacrifice bunt.
Sid Fernandez (1-0) worked seven innings and yielded 11 hits. Rick Anderson and Ron Darling worked a scoreless inning a piece for the Mets.
Chicago starter Steve Trout (0-1) was bounced around. Relievers Rick Reuschel and George Frazier held the Cubs in the game before Tim Stoddard was knocked around hard in the ninth, yielding three hits, two walks and the pinch-hit doubles.
The Mets had 17 hits compared with 11 for the Cubs. Each team had an error.
New York (5-3) broke a 4-4 tie with a three-run sixth. Shortstop Rafael Santana singled, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Fernandez and went to third on a Mookie Wilson single. It was Wilson’s second hit. He had a double earlier in the game.
Knight followed with his second homer to make it 7-4.
Keith Hernandez, who has been uncharacteristically shaky defensively in the series, had three hits and a home run. Second baseman Tim Teufel had a pair of RBI singles.
Johnson now has four hits in the series and six RBI.
Ryne Sandberg (single and double) and Larry Bowa had two hits each for the Cubs. Sandberg had two RBI. Gary Mathews hit a home run and Ron Cey belted two doubles for Chicago..
Chicago has scored 22 runs (7.3 per game) in the series while New York has tallied 20 runs (6.7 per game).
Games 4 and 5 will be played at Wrigley Field. If needed, Games 6 and 7 will be played in New York.
The Cubs will start Rick Sutcliffe in Games 4 against the Mets’ Dwight Gooden. Neither was particularly effective in Game 1, a 9-6 Chicago win in 11 innings.
Chicago centerfielder Bob Dernier, injured in Game 2 and not available in Game 3, will return for Game 4.
My blog appears on a regular basis and focuses on sports, opinions, notes, features, and some trivia for good measure.
John Sacco
sacman18@comcast.net
@sacco_john
Tuesday, June 9, 2020
1984 Cubs Bust Out, Roll Past 1986 Mets, Again
Ain’t no stopping the 1984 Chicago Cubs.
The Cubs broke open a 1-1 tie with a seven-run, eighth inning to roll to an 8-3 win over the shell-shocked 1986 New York Mets in Game 2 of the @JackSacco6 @sacco_john “The Best Teams of the 1980” Strat-O-Matic World Series.
Chicago, winners of six straight, hold a two-game-to-none lead in the Series.
Scott Sanderson pitched seven innings, allowing just three hits and one run. He struck out six to earn the win. Warren Brusstar and Dennis Eckersley got the last six outs.
New York pitchers cannot avoid the big inning. Bobby Ojeda, who surrendered just one run in seven innings was rocked in the eighth. An error by second baseman Wally Backman helped to undermine the inning.
The Cubs have scored 15 of their 17 runs in the first two games in three innings. They scored five runs and three runs in two different innings in their 9-6 Game 1 victory and the seven runs in the eighth inning of Game 2.
Another factor for Chicago is that its pinch-hitters are three-for-four with a sacrifice bunt and five RBI in two games.
Gary Woods delivered a key two-run single in the eighth inning. It was his second pinch-hit in as many games. Thad Bosley hit a pinch hit, three-run, game-winning home run in Game 1.
Ryan Sandberg had three hits and Jody Davis had two hits for the Cubs. Davis has five hits in the Series and has been on base in seven of 10 plate appearances.
Bob Dernier added a double and single for Chicago. He was hit by a pitch in the eighth. He was forced to leave the game and will miss Game 3, which will be played at Wrigley Field. The Cubs have not revealed the injury.
The Mets got two hits and two stolen bases from centerfielder Lenny Dykstra. Darryl Strawberry added a hit, his fourth of the Series in nine at bats.
Third baseman Howard Johnson had two hits and two RBI. He has three hits and four RBI in the Series.
New York's Sid Fernandez will meet Steve Trout of the Cubs in Game 3.
My blog appears on a regular basis and focuses on sports, opinions, notes, features, and some trivia for good measure.
John Sacco
sacman18@comcast.net
@sacco_john
The Cubs broke open a 1-1 tie with a seven-run, eighth inning to roll to an 8-3 win over the shell-shocked 1986 New York Mets in Game 2 of the @JackSacco6 @sacco_john “The Best Teams of the 1980” Strat-O-Matic World Series.
Chicago, winners of six straight, hold a two-game-to-none lead in the Series.
Scott Sanderson pitched seven innings, allowing just three hits and one run. He struck out six to earn the win. Warren Brusstar and Dennis Eckersley got the last six outs.
New York pitchers cannot avoid the big inning. Bobby Ojeda, who surrendered just one run in seven innings was rocked in the eighth. An error by second baseman Wally Backman helped to undermine the inning.
The Cubs have scored 15 of their 17 runs in the first two games in three innings. They scored five runs and three runs in two different innings in their 9-6 Game 1 victory and the seven runs in the eighth inning of Game 2.
Another factor for Chicago is that its pinch-hitters are three-for-four with a sacrifice bunt and five RBI in two games.
Gary Woods delivered a key two-run single in the eighth inning. It was his second pinch-hit in as many games. Thad Bosley hit a pinch hit, three-run, game-winning home run in Game 1.
Ryan Sandberg had three hits and Jody Davis had two hits for the Cubs. Davis has five hits in the Series and has been on base in seven of 10 plate appearances.
Bob Dernier added a double and single for Chicago. He was hit by a pitch in the eighth. He was forced to leave the game and will miss Game 3, which will be played at Wrigley Field. The Cubs have not revealed the injury.
The Mets got two hits and two stolen bases from centerfielder Lenny Dykstra. Darryl Strawberry added a hit, his fourth of the Series in nine at bats.
Third baseman Howard Johnson had two hits and two RBI. He has three hits and four RBI in the Series.
New York's Sid Fernandez will meet Steve Trout of the Cubs in Game 3.
My blog appears on a regular basis and focuses on sports, opinions, notes, features, and some trivia for good measure.
John Sacco
sacman18@comcast.net
@sacco_john
Monday, June 8, 2020
"Oh My Darling": 1984 Cubs are on a Roll; Stun '86 Mets
Thad Bosley hit a pinch-hit, two-out, game-winning home run in the top of the 11th inning to stun the 1986 New York Mets and lift the red-hot 1984 Chicago Cubs to a 9-6 win in Game 1 of the @JackSacco6 @sacco_john “The Best Teams of the 1980s” Strat-O-Matic World Series Monday.
Bosley’s bomb came off reliever Ron Darling (0-1). He was pinch-hitting for Lee Smith (1-0), who pitched a scoreless 10th. George Frazier earned the save for the Cubs, now 5-0 overall.
Chicago was the bottom seed in Bracket B before winning for straight to advanced to the World Series.
The Mets jumped to a 2-0 lead in the first on a two-run home run by rightfielder Darryl Strawberry.
The Cubs cut the lead in half then scored five runs in the fifth inning to take a 6-2 lead.
New York scored twice in the bottom of the fifth and and twice more in the sixth to tie the game.
The bullpens took over from there as Warren Brusstar pitched three scoreless innings of relief. Chicago starter Rick Sutcliffe worked six innings.
The Mets received quality relief work from Rick Anderson, Rick Aguillera and Jesse Orosco before Darling walked two after one out in the 11th. After recording the second out, Darling was scorched by Bosley.
“Walks always kill you,” said @sacco_john, Mets’ manager. “You expect a little more from a veteran right there. This one stings. Right now, these Cubs can do no wrong.”
Dwight Gooden was rocked for six runs in a poor start for the Mets.
“Have many in a row have (we) won,” said @JackSacco6. “Who says only the Mets can be Amazin’?
The Cubs pounded out 12 hits, including a three-run home run by third baseman Richie Hebner, RBI doubles from Ryan Sandberg and Leon Durham and three singles by catcher Jody Davis. Gary Woods added a pinch-hit double.
Strawberry had three hits to lead the Mets. Lenny Dykstra, Wally Backman, Howard Johnson and Kevin Mitchell all smacked doubles for New York. Danny Heep had an RBI, pinch-hit single.
The Cubs’ bullpen pitched five scoreless innings, allowing just two hits. The bullpen was perfect over the last four innings.
Game 2, which will be played at Shea Stadium will feature Chicago’s Scott Sanderson and the Mets’ Bobby Ojeda.
Games 3, 4 and 5, if necessary, will be played in the “Friendly Confines” of Wrigley Field.
My blog appears on a regular basis and focuses on sports, opinions, notes, features, and some trivia for good measure.
Bosley’s bomb came off reliever Ron Darling (0-1). He was pinch-hitting for Lee Smith (1-0), who pitched a scoreless 10th. George Frazier earned the save for the Cubs, now 5-0 overall.
Chicago was the bottom seed in Bracket B before winning for straight to advanced to the World Series.
The Mets jumped to a 2-0 lead in the first on a two-run home run by rightfielder Darryl Strawberry.
The Cubs cut the lead in half then scored five runs in the fifth inning to take a 6-2 lead.
New York scored twice in the bottom of the fifth and and twice more in the sixth to tie the game.
The bullpens took over from there as Warren Brusstar pitched three scoreless innings of relief. Chicago starter Rick Sutcliffe worked six innings.
The Mets received quality relief work from Rick Anderson, Rick Aguillera and Jesse Orosco before Darling walked two after one out in the 11th. After recording the second out, Darling was scorched by Bosley.
“Walks always kill you,” said @sacco_john, Mets’ manager. “You expect a little more from a veteran right there. This one stings. Right now, these Cubs can do no wrong.”
Dwight Gooden was rocked for six runs in a poor start for the Mets.
“Have many in a row have (we) won,” said @JackSacco6. “Who says only the Mets can be Amazin’?
The Cubs pounded out 12 hits, including a three-run home run by third baseman Richie Hebner, RBI doubles from Ryan Sandberg and Leon Durham and three singles by catcher Jody Davis. Gary Woods added a pinch-hit double.
Strawberry had three hits to lead the Mets. Lenny Dykstra, Wally Backman, Howard Johnson and Kevin Mitchell all smacked doubles for New York. Danny Heep had an RBI, pinch-hit single.
The Cubs’ bullpen pitched five scoreless innings, allowing just two hits. The bullpen was perfect over the last four innings.
Game 2, which will be played at Shea Stadium will feature Chicago’s Scott Sanderson and the Mets’ Bobby Ojeda.
Games 3, 4 and 5, if necessary, will be played in the “Friendly Confines” of Wrigley Field.
My blog appears on a regular basis and focuses on sports, opinions, notes, features, and some trivia for good measure.
John Sacco
@sacco_john
Sunday, June 7, 2020
1986 Mets, upstart 1984 Cubs battle for 1980s Supremacy
The 1986 New York Mets will meet the upstart 1984 Chicago Cubs in the @JackSacco6 @sacco_john “Best Teams of the 1980s” Strat-O-Matic World Series.
The ‘86 Mets, who won three straight games to advance to the Bracket A finals, were defeated, 3-0, by the 1986 Houston Astros in the championship round. Bob Knepper and Nolan Ryan, in relief, shutdown the New Yorkers.
But the Mets scored nine runs off Mike Scott in the deciding game and held on for a 9-7 victory.
The top-seeded ‘86 Mets (4-1) were lifted by a five-RBI performance by Howard Johnson. Other top performers in the Mets' run were Darryl Strawberry, Sid Fernandez, Doc Gooden and Jesse Orosco.
The ‘84 Cubs are quite the story. As the No.8 seed in the eight-team Bracket B, they upended top-seeded 1984 Detroit Tigers, fourth-seeded 1982 Milwaukee Brewers, and No. 7 seed Chicago White Sox. The Cubs followed with a 5-3 win over their crosstown rivals in the championship round to go 4-0.
Chicago was spurred by pitchers Rick Sutcliffe and Lee Smith and third baseman Ron Cey, outfielder Gary Matthews and first baseman Leon Durham.
Previously, the ‘75 Cincinnati Reds defeated the ‘72 Oakland A’s in the @JackSacco6 sacco_john the “Best Teams of the 1970s” SOM World Series.
The top four team of the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s will advance to the 20-team, Grand Championship SOM tournament later this summer.
Eight teams have qualified for that tournament including (from the 1970s) ‘75 Reds, ‘72 A’s, 1979 Pittsburgh Pirates and 1974 Los Angeles Dodgers; and (from the 1980s), the ‘86 Mets, ‘84 Cubs, 1986 Astros and the 1983 White Sox.
The 1990s, 16-team (2 brackets of 8 teams) double-elimination tournament will be held following the conclusion of the 1980s WS.
Teams will include the 1990 A’s, 1991 Twins, 1992 Blue Jays, 1995 Indians, 1996 Yankees, 1997 Marlins, 1998 Astros, 1998 Padres, 1990 Reds, 1990 Pirates, 1993 Phillies, 1993 Giants, 1994 Expos, 1996 Braves, 1997 Orioles and 1998 Yankees.
Jack and I agree the 1970s tournaments were more fun than the 1980s. Neither of us are Cubs or Mets fans. We are looking forward to the 1990s tournament, which has a number of great teams.
The top four teams from the 1990s and eight wildcards — selected by @JackSacco6 and @sacco_john — will battle the others who have qualified in the Grand Championship tournament, which will feature four pigtail, best of three-game series’, and then eight, best-of-five quarterfinal series’. All other rounds will be best-of-seven.
My blog appears on a regular basis and focuses on sports, opinions, notes, features, and some trivia for good measure.
The ‘86 Mets, who won three straight games to advance to the Bracket A finals, were defeated, 3-0, by the 1986 Houston Astros in the championship round. Bob Knepper and Nolan Ryan, in relief, shutdown the New Yorkers.
But the Mets scored nine runs off Mike Scott in the deciding game and held on for a 9-7 victory.
The top-seeded ‘86 Mets (4-1) were lifted by a five-RBI performance by Howard Johnson. Other top performers in the Mets' run were Darryl Strawberry, Sid Fernandez, Doc Gooden and Jesse Orosco.
The ‘84 Cubs are quite the story. As the No.8 seed in the eight-team Bracket B, they upended top-seeded 1984 Detroit Tigers, fourth-seeded 1982 Milwaukee Brewers, and No. 7 seed Chicago White Sox. The Cubs followed with a 5-3 win over their crosstown rivals in the championship round to go 4-0.
Chicago was spurred by pitchers Rick Sutcliffe and Lee Smith and third baseman Ron Cey, outfielder Gary Matthews and first baseman Leon Durham.
Previously, the ‘75 Cincinnati Reds defeated the ‘72 Oakland A’s in the @JackSacco6 sacco_john the “Best Teams of the 1970s” SOM World Series.
The top four team of the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s will advance to the 20-team, Grand Championship SOM tournament later this summer.
Eight teams have qualified for that tournament including (from the 1970s) ‘75 Reds, ‘72 A’s, 1979 Pittsburgh Pirates and 1974 Los Angeles Dodgers; and (from the 1980s), the ‘86 Mets, ‘84 Cubs, 1986 Astros and the 1983 White Sox.
The 1990s, 16-team (2 brackets of 8 teams) double-elimination tournament will be held following the conclusion of the 1980s WS.
Teams will include the 1990 A’s, 1991 Twins, 1992 Blue Jays, 1995 Indians, 1996 Yankees, 1997 Marlins, 1998 Astros, 1998 Padres, 1990 Reds, 1990 Pirates, 1993 Phillies, 1993 Giants, 1994 Expos, 1996 Braves, 1997 Orioles and 1998 Yankees.
Jack and I agree the 1970s tournaments were more fun than the 1980s. Neither of us are Cubs or Mets fans. We are looking forward to the 1990s tournament, which has a number of great teams.
The top four teams from the 1990s and eight wildcards — selected by @JackSacco6 and @sacco_john — will battle the others who have qualified in the Grand Championship tournament, which will feature four pigtail, best of three-game series’, and then eight, best-of-five quarterfinal series’. All other rounds will be best-of-seven.
My blog appears on a regular basis and focuses on sports, opinions, notes, features, and some trivia for good measure.
John Sacco
@sacco_john
Friday, May 8, 2020
Cincinnati Kids: '75 Reds Explode Past '72 Oakland A's, 16-8, to Win "Best Teams of the 1970s" Title
OAKLAND – The Big Red Machine rolled.
Held relatively quiet through five games, the 1975 Cincinnati Reds’ vaunted offense exploded here Friday evening, scoring 13 runs in the first six innings and clubbing the 1972 Oakland A’s, 16-8, to win Game 6 and the @JackSacco6 @sacco_john “Teams of the 1970s” Strat-O-Matic World Series championship.
The Reds and A’s advanced to the World Series by winning their respective eight-team brackets. Both lost in their winner’s bracket games before winning two straight in the championship round, Cincinnati downed the 1974 Los Angeles Dodgers and Oakland edged the 1979 Pittsburgh Pirates.
The ’72 Reds finished 9-3 overall and the ’72 A’s were 7-5.
While there were many stars for Cincinnati in Game 6, no one was better than Davey Concepcion. The Venezuelan shortstop had three hits in five at bats with six RBI on a run-scoring single in a five-run fifth, a two-run single in a five-run sixth and a three-run home run in the eighth – the final nail in Oakland’s coffin.
Concepcion’s performance, on offense and defense, the entire series earned him World Series Most Valuable Player honors.
He went seven-for-20 for a .350 batting average. He reached base safely eight times in 23 plate appearances for a .364 on-base percentage. He executed a key squeeze bunt in Game 3 that led to the Reds’ first win of the series and was flawless and spectacular in the field. Concepcion recorded 16 putouts and 32 assists in 48 chances and was part of eight double plays.
Cincinnati was buoyed by second baseman Joe Morgan and catcher Johnny Bench, who were held down through the first five games. Morgan went three-for-five with a home run and two singles with four RBI. Bench also had three hits in five at bats, smacking two doubles and a home run for three RBI.
The Red jumped on starter John “Blue Moon” Odom (0-2) with two runs in the first and one in the fourth. In the fifth, they knocked him out, when with one out he walked two and yielded consecutive run-scoring hits to Morgan and Bench.
Leading 8-0 to start the sixth inning, Cincinnati pummeled beleaguered reliever Rollie Fingers. The A’s closer walked two and allowed four hits in the five-run inning to make it 13-0. It was another pathetic performance by Fingers, who yielded a walk-off home run to Terry Crowley in Game 4 that gave the Reds a 3-2 win in 10 innings and pulled them even at 2-2 in the series.
Oakland broke a scoreless 17-inning streak in a comeback attempt in the seventh.
Reds’ starter Jack Billingham (1-0) cruised through six innings, yielding just two hits. But he became wild, walking three batters and a single in the seventh. Cincinnati manager @JackSacco6 called on closer Rawly Eastwick.
He struggled mightily, allowing four hits – including a Mike Hegan grand slam and Sal Bando solo homer. The A’s scored eight in the inning to cut their deficit to five.
The Reds answered right back off Dave Hamilton. George Foster singled with one out, Cesar Geronimo walked, and Concepcion belted his home run.
Eastwick settled down to retire six of the last seven batters to seal the win and the series.
Ken Griffey, Sr. and Foster had two hits apiece for Cincinnati.
The 24 runs scored were one more than the teams had combined for (23) in the first five games.
“I never saw this kind of game coming,” said @JackSacco6. “I would never have figured this number of runs.”
Matty Alou concluded his outstanding performance for the A’s. He hit safely in all six games and finished with 10 hits in 23 at bats (.435). He had a .609 on-base percentage and .519 slugging percentage for a 1.128 OPS.
Reggie Jackson had two hits and Gonzalo Marquez hit a pinch-hit single to spur the big seventh-inning comeback attempt.
“We scored in only one of our last 20 innings of offense,” said @sacco_john. “That is not anywhere near acceptable. Honestly, if not for Matty and Vida Blue, our asses would have been swept in four games.
“The defense and relief pitching in this series was worse than awful. We got what we deserved. Run over.”
Highlighting Oakland’s relief woes, Fingers faced 11 batters in his two series appearances. He surrendered five hits – three home runs – three walks and six earned runs. His 32.34 ERA and ridiculously-high 4.7904 (WHIP) were stinging.
“I was hesitant to use him early in the series because of his uneven performances in bracket play,” @sacco_john said. “It only got worse. Way worse.”
Said @JackSacco6: “We officially won the championship today with this great offensive performance. But don’t forget what Don Gullett did for us in Game 5. His shutout was a big key in all of this.
The Reds will hold a virtual celebration parade Sunday in the “Queen City” via Zoom. Appropriately, Queen Eloise, the first – AND ONLY-- canine of the Sacco household, will be the Grand Marshal.
The Best Teams of the 1970s World Series
Friday, May 8, 2020
at Oakland Coliseum
Game 6
Cincinnati 200 155 030-16 15 0
Oakland 000 000 800- 8 8 1
WP-Jack Billingham (1-0)
LP-John Odom (0-2)
My blog will appear on a regular basis and will focus on sports, opinions, notes, features, and some trivia for good measure.
John Sacco
@sacco_john
Wednesday, May 6, 2020
Gullett Puts Clamps on '72 A's, '75 Reds Take Command
CINCINNATI – Don Gullet tossed a four-hitter and shutout the ’72 Oakland A’s as the ’75 Cincinnati Reds moved within a win Wednesday of capturing @JackSacco6 @sacco_john “Team of The 1970s” Strat-O-Matic World Series with a 2-0 victory in Game 5.
Gullett (1-1) faced the minimum through the first 6-2/3 innings and the Reds scored single runs in the first and second innings on an RBI single by Joe Morgan and run-scoring double by Pete Rose, who moved back to the lead-off spot.
“I never expected that kind of performance from Gullett,” said @JackSacco6, manager of the Reds. “I would never imagined he could shut that lineup down and out like that.”
Oakland starter, Catfish Hunter (1-0), hit Rose to open the bottom of the first inning. Ken Griffey moved Rose to second base on a ground out. Morgan followed with his single to drive in Rose.
First baseman Dan Driessen, filling in for injured Tony Perez, smacked a lead-off single in the second. He moved to third on the first of shortstop Dave Concepcion’s two singles. After a botched suicide squeeze attempt by Gullett that had Driessen called out at home, Rose delivered his double.
That was all the Reds would need.
Oakland, which scored just three runs in the three games following it taking a 2-0 series lead, has scored just three runs in its last 30 innings.
The only A’s player to advance beyond first base was Reggie Jackson, who hit a two-out double in the seventh inning.
Matty Alou continued his hot hitting for Oakland with two singles. He is now nine-for-20 (.450) in the series. The A’s sent no more than four batters to the plate in any inning. Alou has reached base 11 times in 22 series plate appearances for a .500 OBP and has a .700 slugging percentage for a 1.200 OPS. . Alou has accounted for 21.9 percent of his teams 41 hits in the series.
“Matty needs some help,” said @sacco_john, Oakland’s manager. “With the exception of Reggie (Jackson – who is five-for-19) and Mike Epstein, we’ve been horrendous at the plate. No execution. No power. No anything. Our starting pitching has been plenty good enough. The defense and offense stink. If we don't start helping Matty, it's toot Alou for the A's."
Rose is now six-for-17 (.353) in the series after starting zero-for-nine. He has reached base safely in nine of his last 11 at bats and is nine-for-20 plate appearances (.450 OBP) in the series.
The series moves back to Oakland for Game 6, and Game 7, if necessary.
In Game 6, Cincinnati will start Jack Billingham (0-0) against John “Blue Moon” Odom (0-1) of Oakland.
Pitching has dominated the series. Cincinnati’s Big Red Machine has scored 12 runs and the Swingin’ A’s have managed just 11 runs.
Hunter has worked 17 innings, allowing nine hits, striking out 11, walking one and hitting one batter while yielding three earned runs for a 1.59 ERA and a 0.5882 WHIP.
Perez will return for Game 6 and both bullpens are rested and ready.
The Best of the Teams of the 1970s World Series
Game 5
at Riverfront Stadium
Cincinnati, Ohio
Oakland 000 000 000-0 4 0
Cincinnati 110 000 00x-2 6 0
WP-Don Gullett (1-1)
LP-Catfish Hunter (1-1)
My blog will appear on a regular basis and will focus on sports, opinions, notes, features, and some trivia for good measure.
John Sacco
@sacco_john
Monday, May 4, 2020
Crowley's Dramatic Blast Pulls '75 Reds Even With '72 A's
CINCINNATI – Terry Crowley, who entered the game because of an eighth-inning injury to Tony Perez, belted a lead-off, walk-off home run off ace reliever Rollie Fingers in the bottom of the 10thinning to power the ’75 Cincinnati Reds to a 3-2 victory over the ‘72 Oakland A’s in Game 4 of the @JackSacco6 @sacco_john “The Best Teams of the 1970s” Strat-O-Matic World Series Monday.
The series is tied at 2-2 with Game 5 set for Cincinnati’s Riverfront Stadium. The home team has won each of the first four games.
An inning earlier, Crowley had the bat taken out of his hands, with the game on the line, when Joe Morgan unsuccessfully tried to steal home to win the game in the bottom of the ninth.
Crowley entered the game to play first base in the top of ninth after Perez was hit by a pitch in the bottom of the eighth and was forced to leave the game. Perez suffered an upper body injury and will miss Game 5.
The Reds, down 2-0 into the bottom of the eighth, took advantage of shoddy defensive play by Oakland, who made two errors in the inning.
George Foster reached on an error by shortstop Bert Campaneris. With two-out, Perez was hit and suddenly-hot Pete Rose and centerfielder Merv Rettenmund delivered consecutive RBI singles off left-handed reliever Dave Hamilton. After an error by catcher Gene Tenace that allowed Ken Griffey, Sr., to reach base, Joe Horlen came on to retire Dave Concepcion.
Clay Carroll came on in the eighth for the Reds and induced Tenace to hit into an inning-ending double play and then pitched a perfect ninth. Rawly Eastwick (1-0) pitched a perfect 10thinning.
Oakland committed three errors in the game and have made seven errors in the past three games. A’s fielders have also struggled getting balls, both on the ground and in the air during the series, allowing batters to reach safely.
The A’s took a 1-0 lead in the seventh when pinch-hitter Larry Brown singled home Tenace, who had led-off with a single. Oakland’s other run came in the eighth when first baseman Mike Epstein hit his second home run of the series.
The late-inning collapse ruined another tremendous start for Vida Blue, who worked six, scoreless innings, yielding three hits and striking out four. In 13 series innings, Blue has not allowed a run. He has struck out seven, walked four and surrendered nine hits.
The A’s used six pitchers in all. Cincinnati’s only earned run was Crowley’s’ game-winner. Bob Locke, Hamilton, Ken Holtzman, Horlen and Fingers (0-1) combined to work three innings, allowing five hits, walking one and striking out two.
It took five Cincinnati pitchers to secure the victory. Starter Gary Nolan worked 6-2/3 innings, allowing five hits and striking out three. He walked one, hit two batters and allowed a run.
Will McEnaney, Pedro Borbon, Carroll and Eastwick worked a combined 3-1/3 innings, yielding four hits and one run. The bullpen did not walk or strikeout a batter.
The teams combined to use 33 players.
Rose had three hits for the Reds while Griffey added two hits.
Rose is five-for-six in the last two games after manager @JackSacco6 dropped him down in the order from the lead-off spot where he went zero-for-nine to open the series.
Joe Rudi had three hits for Oakland and Matty Alou added a double. Alou is seven-for-16 in the series (.438).
Game 5 will pit Oakland’s Catfish Hunter against left Don Gullett of the Reds.
Game 6 will be played in Oakland.
The Best of the Teams of the 1970s World Series
at Riverfront Stadium
Cincinnati, Ohio
Oakland 000 000 110 0-2 9 3
Cincinnati 000 000 020 1-3 8 0
WP-Rawly Eastwick (1-0)
LP-Rollie Fingers (0-1)
My blog will appear on a regular basis and will focus on sports, opinions, notes, features, and some trivia for good measure.
John Sacco
@sacco_john
Friday, May 1, 2020
'75 Reds' Winning Formula Was Fundamental
CINCINNATI – The ‘75 Cincinnati Reds’ stalled offense figured out a way to win in Game 3 of the @JackSacco6 @sacco_john “The Best Teams of The 1970s” Strat-O-Matic World Series Friday, earning a 5-1 win over the ’72 Oakland A’s at Riverfront Stadium.
Oakland still leads the Series, 2-1. Games 4 and 5 will also be played at Riverfront Stadium.
The Reds, who scored just two runs in two losses to open the series, scored a run in the first inning to grab its first lead of the series. Joe Morgan reached on an error, stole second and moved to third on Ken Griffey, Sr.’s bunt single. Johnny Bench hit into a double-play as Morgan scored on the play.
Cincinnati then turned to fundamental baseball. While the A’s made two errors in the first three innings, the Reds executed a squeeze play in the third when Griffey, scored pitcher Jack Billingham on a perfectly executive squeeze.
In the fourth, George Foster hit a one-out double. Pete Rose walked, and Cesar Geronimo delivered an RBI single that advanced Rose to third. Dave Concepcion then squeezed Rose home to make it 4-0 off Oakland starter John “Blue Moon” Odom (0-1).
The rabid Reds’ fans were buzzing prior to the game, sensing the urgency for their team to get things going.
Riverfront Stadium rocked welcoming their boys’ home and were hyped further when @MilanaSacco performed the national anthem. She had previously performed on MLB Network, singing the anthem at another World Series. The Buckeye state, socially-distanced crowd erupted into complete euphoria when it was posted on the stadium scoreboard that @MilanaSacco would attend Ohio-based Case Western Reserve University in the fall for her freshman year of college.
Rose broke a hitless streak with two singles and a walk in the game. He was moved from leadoff to sixth in the lineup by manager @JackSacco6.
Tony Perez homered in the eighth for The Big Red Machine, his first hit in 11 series at bats.
Three Cincinnati pitchers shut down the A’s. Billingham worked 4-1/3 innings allowing five hits and walking six but just one run.
Clay Carroll (1-0) came in to work 2-2/3 scoreless innings and was credited with the win. Rawly Eastwick pitched the final two innings to gain the save (1).
Third baseman Sal Bando drove in Oakland’s only run with a fifth-inning single. Outfielders Reggie Jackson and Joe Rudi had two hits each.
Odom worked four innings allowing four hits and four runs, only two were earned.
Lefties Ken Holtzman and Dave Hamilton pitched the final four innings.
Oakland second baseman Dick Green and A’s Manager @sacco_john seemed to exchange words after Green botched a sacrifice bunt attempt in the sixth inning, popping into a double play.
Greene was lifted for a pinch-hitter in the ninth.
Oakland still leads the Series, 2-1. Games 4 and 5 will also be played at Riverfront Stadium.
The Reds, who scored just two runs in two losses to open the series, scored a run in the first inning to grab its first lead of the series. Joe Morgan reached on an error, stole second and moved to third on Ken Griffey, Sr.’s bunt single. Johnny Bench hit into a double-play as Morgan scored on the play.
Cincinnati then turned to fundamental baseball. While the A’s made two errors in the first three innings, the Reds executed a squeeze play in the third when Griffey, scored pitcher Jack Billingham on a perfectly executive squeeze.
In the fourth, George Foster hit a one-out double. Pete Rose walked, and Cesar Geronimo delivered an RBI single that advanced Rose to third. Dave Concepcion then squeezed Rose home to make it 4-0 off Oakland starter John “Blue Moon” Odom (0-1).
The rabid Reds’ fans were buzzing prior to the game, sensing the urgency for their team to get things going.
Riverfront Stadium rocked welcoming their boys’ home and were hyped further when @MilanaSacco performed the national anthem. She had previously performed on MLB Network, singing the anthem at another World Series. The Buckeye state, socially-distanced crowd erupted into complete euphoria when it was posted on the stadium scoreboard that @MilanaSacco would attend Ohio-based Case Western Reserve University in the fall for her freshman year of college.
Rose broke a hitless streak with two singles and a walk in the game. He was moved from leadoff to sixth in the lineup by manager @JackSacco6.
Tony Perez homered in the eighth for The Big Red Machine, his first hit in 11 series at bats.
Three Cincinnati pitchers shut down the A’s. Billingham worked 4-1/3 innings allowing five hits and walking six but just one run.
Clay Carroll (1-0) came in to work 2-2/3 scoreless innings and was credited with the win. Rawly Eastwick pitched the final two innings to gain the save (1).
Third baseman Sal Bando drove in Oakland’s only run with a fifth-inning single. Outfielders Reggie Jackson and Joe Rudi had two hits each.
Odom worked four innings allowing four hits and four runs, only two were earned.
Lefties Ken Holtzman and Dave Hamilton pitched the final four innings.
Oakland second baseman Dick Green and A’s Manager @sacco_john seemed to exchange words after Green botched a sacrifice bunt attempt in the sixth inning, popping into a double play.
Greene was lifted for a pinch-hitter in the ninth.
The Teams of the 1970s World Series
at Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati
Game 3
Oakland 000 010 000-1 8 2
Cincinnati 101 200 01x-5 7 1
WP-Clay Carroll (1-0)
LP-John Odom (0-1)
Sv-Rawly Eastwick (1)
at Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati
Game 3
Oakland 000 010 000-1 8 2
Cincinnati 101 200 01x-5 7 1
WP-Clay Carroll (1-0)
LP-John Odom (0-1)
Sv-Rawly Eastwick (1)
Tuesday, April 28, 2020
1972 Athletics Shutdown '75 Reds, Capture Game 2
OAKLAND – Catfish Hunter silenced the vaunted 1975 Cincinnati Reds’ offense, silencing them on just three hits Tuesday as the ’72 A’s scored a 4-1 victory in Game 2 of the @JackSacco6 @sacco_john “Best Teams of the 1970s” Strat-O-Matic World Series.
Oakland leads the series 2-0 as the scene shifts to Cincinnati’s Riverfront Stadium for Games 3 and 4 and Game 5, if necessary.
The A’s have won the first two games by identical 4-1 scores.
Hot-hitting Matty Alou belted a home run and double and second baseman Ted Kubiak delivered a big two-run single in the second inning after catcher Dave Duncan singled and moved to third on a single by shortstop Bert Campaneris, who stole second.
Duncan extended Oakland’s lead to 3-0 with two-out, single off Cincinnati starter and loser Don Gullett.
Alou’s solo home run in the fifth inning made it 4-0. Alou is five-for-seven (.714) in the Series. Mike Epstein hit a pinch-hit double for the A’s. He is three-for-five (.600) in the Series.
Hunter struck out six and did not walk a batter. His only blemish was an eighth-inning home run by Reds’ centerfielder Cesar Geronimo.
The Big Red Machine has mustered just two runs in the first two games of the Series and went zero-for-eight with men on base in Game 2. In the series, Cincinnati has just four hits in 25 at bats (.160) with men on base.
The Reds’ offensive struggles are highlighted by the failings of lead-off hitter Pete Rose and slugger Tony Perez, who are combined zero-for-17, zero-for-nine and zero-for-seven, respectively.
Cincinnati did not score a run the first seven innings of either of the first two games.
Teams of the 1970s World Series
Game 2
1975 Reds 000 000 010-1 3 0
1972 A’s 021 010 00x-4 10 2
WP-Catfish Hunter (1-0)
LP-Don Gullett (0-1)
HRs-Oakland: Matty Alou (1)
Cincinnati: Cesar Geronimo (1)
2Bs-Oakland: Alou and Epstein
RBI-Oakland: Kubiak, Duncan and Alou
Cincinnati: Geronimo
SB-Oakland: Campaneris
Pitching
Name, IP, H, SO, BB, R, ER
Oakland
Hunter (9 IP, 3 H, 6 SO, 0 BB, 1 R, 1 ER)
Cincinnati
Gullett (5 IP, 7 H, 4 SO, 1 BB, 4 R, 4 ER)
Eastwick (2/3 IP, 2 H, 2 SO, 0 BB, 0 R, 0 ER)
Norman (1-1/3 IP, 0 H, 1 SO, 0 BB, 0 R, 0 ER)
T. Carroll (1 IP, 1 H, 0 SO, 0 BB, 0 R, 0 ER)
My blog will appear on a regular basis and will focus on sports, opinions, notes, features, fiction, and some trivia for good measure,
John Sacco
@sacco_john
MLB Has Tolerated Cheaters Too Long
Major-league baseball has always tolerated some level of cheating.
From sign stealing, to spit and doctored balls, and corked bats, players and organizations have found ways to — let’s hear it — gain a competitive advantage.
Until now.
What the Houston Astros did in 2017 and were found guilty of this past off-season, was using electronics and a system to help them swipe the signs of their opponents and translate the information by banging a trash can and relay the type of the next pitch to their batters. Houston did this throughout 2017 when it won the American League West Division, AL Divisional round, ALCS and the World Series.
From sign stealing, to spit and doctored balls, and corked bats, players and organizations have found ways to — let’s hear it — gain a competitive advantage.
Until now.
What the Houston Astros did in 2017 and were found guilty of this past off-season, was using electronics and a system to help them swipe the signs of their opponents and translate the information by banging a trash can and relay the type of the next pitch to their batters. Houston did this throughout 2017 when it won the American League West Division, AL Divisional round, ALCS and the World Series.
General Manager Jeff Luhnow and Manager A.J. Hinch were given one-year suspensions by Commissioner Rob Manfred. Owner Jim Crane was fined $5 million – a drop in the bucket – and the organization stripped of four draft picks (first -and second-round picks in 2020 and 2021). Crane subsequently fired Luhnow and Hinch.
Manfred justifiably has been criticized for his handling of the investigation and subsequent punishments, which some feel were not harsh enough.
Also, as part of the fallout, Boston Red Sox Manager Alex Cora – was suspended for one year -- for his role in the cheating as he was the team’s bench coach.
While Cora, hired as Boston’s manager after the 2017 season, was cleared of wrongdoing in an investigating into the 2018 World Series champion Red Sox’ use of suspected illegal sign-stealing efforts, he has been replaced as manager.
The fallout of the Astros’ investigation also cost newly-hired New York Mets’ manager Carlos Beltran his job. Beltran was the senior member of Houston’s 2017 team and the lone player identified as being part of the sign-stealing scheme.
The Astros’ victims in succession in the 2017 post-season were the Boston Red Sox (ALDS), New York Yankees (ALCS) and Los Angeles Dodgers (World Series).
Anyone really believe that any of those teams – with the tradition, financial resources and influence – didn’t know something wrong was going on? I don’t.
In the World Series, during one of Dodgers’ ace Clayton Kershaw’s starts, he threw 51 sliders or curveballs and there wasn’t one – not one – swing and miss by a Houston batter. Think about that.
Bigger question? Why didn’t that come to light before the end of February 2020? In this era of immediate news, analytics and a statistic for anything and everything, it is mind boggling this was not uncovered until 28 months later.
I’m not buying.
The Dodgers were aware of that stat – as it was happening. Others who track pitches knew – as it was happening. So why was there no mention?
Because baseball has always tolerated some level of cheating.
Players are part of the same union – the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA).
You don’t tell on a union brother or brothers, in this case. Ever.
Some union members might bitch and moan about a team cheating, but no one was willing to utter a word to any authority – at least in an official manner.
What were Astros players supposed to do -- run and tell the media: “Hey, some of our guys or our team is cheating?”
Let’s be real.
An old saying use to apply in sports at every level: “What goes on in the locker room (clubhouse in the case of baseball) stays in the locker room.” Years back, athletes and players adhered to that belief. Not so much today.
I understand why not one Astros player would “rat out” anyone.
No player wants to be a pariah. It could cost them a career and a lot of money.
You think the Astros were the lone organization cheating?
Players or coaches who are skilled in the art of stealing signs with their eyes have been hailed through the years by their teammates or fellow coaches. That practice has long been accepted. It’s part of baseball.
The addition of an elaborate electronic system to steal signs – a game changer -- is an entirely different level of cheating.
The Astros got off easy. Before anyone says players should have been suspended, that went out the door when the MLB granted them immunity. The MLBPA’s presence is powerful.
What happened on the field, happened. It cannot be erased. Houston won the 2017 World Series. No matter how loud the cries are from the Dodgers, yours are not more relevant than those of the Red Sox or Yankees. They were cheated as well. But the Dodgers did not win the World Series and should not be awarded the distinction just because they were the National League representative. Who’s to say the Red Sox or Yankees would not have defeated Los Angeles. History cannot be revised.
I do think the Astros’ World Series and AL championships should have been vacated. That would have been an appropriate punishment.
Crane deserved more discipline. He was complicit. He knew.
The suspensions of Luhnow and Hinch should have been longer.
The shutdown of the 2020 season has helped the Astros because as a team and individually this was going to be a most difficult season to navigate. The questions about 2017 were abound in Spring Training and would have dogged them all season. Opposing fans were going to be relentlessly tough on them and indignant toward them.
No matter how talented a team Houston is – and it is talented – those things would mentally, then physically, exhaust and haunt them and perhaps break them.
Clearly opposing pitchers were in search of retribution in the form of inside, purpose pitches and others that would intentionally hit batters.
That was happening, make no mistake. Who knows what that could have led to.
So as MLB contemplates a re-opening of the 2020 season, the Astros will be hoping for games without fans and a reduced media presence. As for opposing pitchers and teams seeking revenge, that is not going to change no matter the circumstances.
Pitcher Mike Fiers, who pitched for Houston in 2017, blew the whistle or snitched – whichever way you want to label it --on the Astros to a couple national baseball writers about the cheating.
Fiers, who was left off Houston’s 2017 playoff roster and non-tendered that off-season, certainly had an axe to grind.
Fiers, who currently plays for Oakland – an AL West Division rival of the Astros -- is viewed differently in the game and to the general public.
The timing off his reveal of the 2017 cheating is curious – two years later and after a 2019 extended post-season run by Houston that ended in a World Series loss to Washington.
Ultimately, it’s a good thing that Fiers, along with at least three other members of the 2017 Astros brought the “above and beyond” cheating to light.
I don’t think he is the “hero” some make him out to be, though. He’ll impress me as a hero when he returns his World Series ring and winner’s share (the financial payout to individuals on the World Series championship team). Some think he is as entitled to those rewards as every other member of that team. He made himself different when he blew that whistle.
Here’s hoping Fiers’ first appearance against the Astros this season will be televised.
The hope is, MLB’s discipline of Houston – even though it was lighter than it should have been – will level the playing field.
But MLB’s tolerance of cheating through history, save for the short reign of commissioner A. Bartlett Giamatti from April 1, 1989 to September 1 the same year when he died of a heart attack, is not debatable.
The hypocrisy of baseball writers of who they vote into the Hall of Fame and those who are being blackballed is amazing.
Gaylord Perry, a known cheater who wrote and published a book in 1974 titled “Me & The Spitter,” was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1991, his third year of eligibility.
Perry used the Spitter, an illegal pitch, and the threat of the Spitter, to rattle hitters and help him become the first pitcher in MLB history to win the Cy Young Award in both leagues.
Yet, a disparaging word is rarely heard about Perry.
MLB ignored his cheating for nearly all of his career. Perry pitched for eight different teams in his 22-year career that spanned from 1962-1983. He had 314 wins, 3,534 strikeouts and a 3.11 ERA . Perry was a five-time All-Star and pitched a no-hitter in 1968 for San Francisco, cheating the entire way. The Giants retired his number, 36.
Despite Perry’s well-known penchant for throwing the Spitter and doctoring the baseball, he was not ejected for throwing an illegal pitch until August 23, 1982 – his 21stseason.
Interestingly, Perry put himself in the middle of controversy in July 1983 when a home run by his Kansas City teammate George Brett was negated. Brett’s blast gave the Royals a, 5-4 , lead over the Yankees in the top of the ninth inning. The hit was challenged by New York manager Billy Martin, claiming Brett used an illegal bat because pine tar was too far up the bat, therefore breaking a rule.
After conferencing with his crew, home plate umpire Tim McClelland called Brett out, ending the game and handing the Yankees a 4-3 victory. The ruling led to Brett charging onto the field and the umpire, erupting a riotous scene at Yankee Stadium.
Perry, a member of the Royals’ pitching staff, came onto the playing field and snatched the bat from McClelland’s clutches and ran with the bat into Kansas City’s third-base dugout and into the runway leading to the Royals’ clubhouse.
Yankees’ security personnel, one of the umpires and a uniformed member of the Royals charged after Perry, who handed the evidence to a bat boy to hide it in the clubhouse. The bat boy was caught by umpire Joe Brinkman.
Kansas City protested the out call and the Royals’ appeal was upheld by AL president Lee McPhail and Kansas City then held on to win the game, 5-4. Perry was retroactively ejected for his part – the final ejection of his career.
For all his shenanigans, Perry’s inclusion in the Hall of Fame is rarely challenged or discussed.
At the same time, Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens – sure-fire Hall of Famers who are connected to steroids usage but never convicted of such usage – are being blocked by baseball writers because of their suspected steroid usage. Similarly, Dave Parker is being blocked because of his drug usage and link to the Pittsburgh drug trials of 1985.
Through the years, baseball has turned a blind eye to the use of “greenies” – amphetamines used excessively in the MLB in the 1970s and 1980s and until baseball instituted random drug testing on the players.
Amphetamines amp up the central nervous system, creating feelings of wakefulness, euphoria and sharper concentration.
Hall of Famer Chipper Jones, a third baseman for the Atlanta Braves, was quoted in the “Pittsburgh Post-Gazette” once: “I don’t want to say guys are addicted, but it’s like putting on your uniform. You have your glove, your batting gloves, your bat, you take your greenie and you’re ready to go.”
The use of greenies and like performance-enhancing drugs pervaded the game in a manner even steroids didn’t come close to doing.
Perhaps, the Astros’ cheating scandal will prompt MLB and Manfred to more diligently pursue, investigate, and penalize illegal activity.
It is long overdue.
My blog will appear on a regular basis and will focus on sports, opinions, notes, features, fiction, and some trivia for good measure.
John Sacco
@sacco_john
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