What Is Wrong With the Sabres?

The Buffalo Sabres are itching to make the postseason for the first time since 2010/11, and last season gave their fans plenty of hope.

It had been a long stretch of below .500 play by Buffalo. The team was still good enough to be at that mark or higher in the two seasons following their last playoff appearance, but certainly had slipped. The team then went into a funk that lasted through the Jack Eichel era, and seemed lost after the 2020/21 season, in which the Sabres were 15-34-7.

Things improved a bit in 2021/22, and seemed to take a big step forward the next season. Buffalo finished 42-33-7 in 2022/23, and there was plenty of reason for optimism. Didn't Tage Thompson not score 47 goals? Didn't defenceman Rasmus Dahlin average nearly a point a game (73 points)?

Collectively, as a team, the Sabres scored a lot of goals last season. They were third in the National Hockey League in goals for with 296 goals for in 2022/23. There was, however, a weakness. Their defence and goaltending were quite suspect. Only Craig Anderson (.908) and Devon Levi (.905) had save percentages over .900. 

A year later, Anderson is retired, and Levi has a save percentage of only .892 in fifteen appearances. Devon is only 21 years old, and is looking at another trip around the globe in a few days (December 27). Last season, that good save percentage was posted in only seven appearances with Buffalo.

So did that mean there isn't any good goaltending left in Buffalo? One thing I noticed about the Sabres from the season before last, was the team seemed to play better in front of Craig Anderson than anyone else. In a season in which Buffalo finished below .500 (32-39-11), it was the veteran netminder that proved he still had it. At 40 years old, Craig went 17-12-2 for a team that was seven games below .500. The rest of the goaltenders were not very good. Aaron Dell was 1-8-1. Malcolm Subban was 0-2-1. Really, the only goalie on the team other than Michael Houser and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen who had much success with Buffalo was Dustin Torkarski, who went 10-12-5. Anderson and Torkarski were two veterans on the team, and dealt with poor defence well. Houser and Luukkonen combined for just eleven appearances that season.

Tokarski, after a fling with Pittsburgh, is back with Buffalo, but stuck with the AHL's Rochester Americans as this is being written. Dell, after recently trying out with the Carolina Hurricanes, is about to play for Team Canada in the Spengler Cup, possibly as a test run to see if he can make it back to the NHL. Personally speaking, I am rooting for him.

The overall lack of leadership in goal is showing. No Anderson, no Tokarski, and no Dell (Plus Houser is in the ECHL) means the team has to rely on Ukko-Luukonen and Levi. That was a bit of pressure to put on two youngsters  to step it up. Devon Levi has a winning record (7-4-2), but neither he nor Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen have a good save percentage. Each sits at .892, well below the league average (.903).

The Sabres aren't trending enough in their own zone. Goals allowed in the last three seasons and so far in 2023/24:

199 (in 56 games)

290

300

121 (in 35 games)

The Sabres, as you can see, are on pace to allow 283 goals against, which would put them among the worst of the worst in that category. Without veterans like Tokarski and Anderson to step in, that's bad enough. And with their offence (which produced 296 goals for last season) lagging, it's not enough this year to offset the glaring weakness in their own end. Sure, defenceman Rasmus Dahlin has picked up (29 points in 34 games) where he left off last season (73 points), but others have to step up. The person who really needs to get it going is Tage Thompson. The last two seasons have been a big step forward for Tage. He scored 38 goals in 78 games in 2021/22, then upped it to nearly fifty red lights in as many games last season. Thompson, who stands 6'6, and seems to be blossiming into a star, is off to a rough start with but nine goals in twenty-six games. Tage has missed some games, but you have to figure that the defence of the opposition has found a counter to his awesome moves. Like the rest of the team, there is still time to right the ship.

However, that might be the who problem with the Sabres. Is it they are playing bad, or is it the opposition is that much better? In 2022/23 Buffalo competed with Boston, Toronto, Tampa Bay, and Florida in the Atlanta Division. The Bruins nailed down first place (overall) with 65 wins. The Leafs won 50, and the Lightning 46. So the Sabres were only four wins fewer than a great Lightning team. They also won just one game less than the Florida Panthers, who ended up not only making the playoffs, but going all the way to the finals.

But one thing that is obvious in the Atlantic Division last season compared to this, is that Detroit and Montreal were both below .500. The Red Wings and Canadiens won 35 and 31 games respectively. They've upped the ante in 2023/24, as both teams are above .500. Granted, I'm sure most experts expect them to fall back (and Ottawa, with a 39-35-8 record, currently sit dead last in the Atlantic with a 12-17-0 record). I expect both the Sabres and Senators to climb back (if not over) .500, but one has to wonder if its the other teams improving in the offseason, more than Buffalo lacking goaltending and depth in scoring.

Their 9-3 win over Toronto on December 21st seemed to get the Buffalo Sabres back on track. They followed that up by playing their hearts out against the top team in the Eastern Conference, the New York Rangers. The Sabres erased 2-0 and 3-2 deficits on the road, before finally conceding the contest in overtime. In a road game, no less.

That was more like it. Plenty of fight, plenty of spirit. There is still 47 games left in the 2023/24 season. So the Buffalo Sabres have 47 more contests to prove whether or not 22/23 was a fluke. Personally, I'm tired of the team's long drought, and wish them all the best. It's a tremendous incline for the young team to hike up, though. It's gonna be one of those 'now we see what you're really made of' moments for this team.


References

“Carolina Hurricanes Bring In Ex - San Jose Sharks G Aaron Dell on Free - Agent Tryout.” TSN, The Sports Network, 18 Dec. 2023, www.tsn.ca/nhl/carolina-hurricanes-bring-in-ex-san-jose-sharks-g-aaron-dell-on-free-agent-tryout-1.2050435. 

Hoppe, Bill. “After Stint With Sabres, Goalie Dustin Tokarski Happy Back With Amerks.” Buffalo Hockey Beat - WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage, Olean Times Herald, 15 Dec. 2023, www.buffalohockeybeat.com/after-stint-with-sabres-goalie-dustin-tokarski-happy-back-with-amerks/. 

“Michael Houser.” ECHL, The ECHL – Premier “AA” Hockey League, echl.com/players/4585/michael-houser. Accessed 25 Dec. 2023. 

Miller, Max. “Aaron Dell Will Play for Team Canada at Spengler Cup.” The Hockey News, The Hockey News / Roustan Media Ltd. , 23 Dec. 2023, thehockeynews.com/nhl/san-jose-sharks/news/aaron-dell-will-play-for-team-canada-at-spengler-cup. 

Official Site of the National Hockey League, National Hockey League, www.nhl.com/. Accessed 25 Dec. 2023. 

Sports Reference LLC. Hockey-Reference.com - Hockey Statistics and History. http://www.hockey-reference.com/. 25 Dec. 2023.

World Series Did You Know?

Will Smith (not The Fresh Prince actor, obviously) is the first player to win a Fall Classic with three different teams. The relief pitcher wasn't just a case of "right place, right time", as the hurler certainly contributed each season.

Smith had pitched in the 2016 with San Francisco, but the team did not advance to the October Finale. Instead, the Giants fell to the Chicago Cubs in the National League Division Series. It was the Cubbies than went on to win it all.

Five years later, there was a Will on the Atlanta Braves, and he provided a way to a championship. Still, it took Smith two years of reaching the postseason with Atlanta for the Braves to get over the hump. In 2020, the Los Angeles Dodgers dashed the hopes of Atlanta in the National League Championship Series, taking it in seven games. Smith, for his part, won two games for the Braves in the postseason, but had to look at that ugly 16.20 earned run average against the Dodgers.

So Atlanta's hopes were dashed again, but they were undaunted. All that loss to LA did was give Atlanta more determination to come back strong in 2021. Alright, maybe they only won 88 games, but their pitching was strong. And in evaluation the hurlers, let's not overlook the closer. Will Smith slammed the door on the opposition, running up a save total of 37 that season. Maybe that earned run average was a little high, 3.44, but the postseason was beconing. 

And in it, Smith excelled. He went 2-0 in the National League Championship Series against Los Angeles, as Atlanta prevailed. The Houston Astros were next up on the radar for the Braves, and Will looked to continue the ball rolling. He'd posted a 0.00 earned run average against the Dodgers.

The Astros managed to score a run in the last of the eighth in the opening tilt at Minute Maid Park. Their fans, however, were not pleased. Smith got the ball in the ninth inning for the visitors, and here's why the paid attendence were dissapointed. The run they'd scored only made it a little closer, 6-2, but Houston still trailed. It wasn't a save situation for Will.

But after allowing the first batter he faced to get on via a walk, Smith settled down. Aledmys Díaz, who had drawn the bases on balls, was forced at second by Jason Castro. José Altuve also hit into a force, and Houston was one out away from losing. Michael Brantley grounded out, and the Braves had drawn first blood.

The Atros weren't discouraged. They snapped back with a resounding 7-2 win in the second contest, but now looked at three straight games in Atlanta. The Braves got pitching, pitching, and more pitching in the third contest. For a while, the fans at Truist Park must have thought about a no-hitter, as Houston didn't get a hit until the top of the eighth. Aledmys Díaz, pinch-hitting as he had in game one, broke up the no-no with a leadoff single. However, the Astros did not score. The game was close, as Atlanta was clinging to a 2-0 lead after eight innings. The ball was turned over to Will Smith, to give the Braves the Series' lead again.

Alex Bregman greeted Smith with a single, and while this was only the second base hit by the 'stros, they now had the tying run at the plate. It turned out that Will did pretty much what he'd done in game one. Yordan Alvarez popped to third. Carlos Correa got ahead in the count 2-1, but then hit a liner to right, which Adam Duvall caught. Kyle Tucker gave it a ride to centre, but was just a long, loud out. Smith had the save, and Atlanta was up 2-1 in the 2021 Fall Classic.

The pivitol game four was even closer, as Houston had two runs after eight. But Atlanta had three, and it was Smith again with the ball in the ninth. He'd protected a two-run lead the previous contest. Now, could Will work with just a one-run lead?

Turns out that Smith had an most impressive outing. The first batter to face Will, Michael Brantley, battled him to a full count. However, on the eigth pitch of the at-bat, Smith got the better of Brantey, striking him out. The next two batters were retired on a pop-up and grounder, and the Braves were one win away from their first World Champinship in sixteen years.

The Astros had battled hard all year, and weren't about to quit down. Did it matter that they were down 3-1 in the World Series? Or down 4-0 early in game five. Not quite. They turned on the offence on this night. The Braves didn't grab any champange. For the Astros, it was sort of a bit like game two at home, as their bats were awesome. That four-run deficit was not only erased, it was put in the rear-view mirror. Houston took the slugfest, 9-5. It was back to Minute Maid Park for game six, and possibly, seven.

Max Fried, the Atlanta starter, was the perfect man for the start. He stifled Houston through six innings. No runs, four hits allowed. Atlanta was a most rude visitor. They scored three times in the top of the third, and three more in the fifth. The game and Series was over. For good measure, the Braves tacked on another run in the top of the seventh.

Tyler Matzek got through the seventh and eighth inning for Atlanta, keeping the shutout going. But fittingly, he turned the ball over to Will Smith in the top of the ninth.

Michael Brantley singled off Smith, who was in a bad habit of allowing the first batter to face him to get on base. Just as he'd previously done, Will settled down quickly. Houston hit the ball well, but their shots weren't far enough out of the range of the men behind Smith. First, Correa lined to right. Then, Yordan Álvarez got a hold of one and pounded it to left, only to have Eddie Rosario get to it. When Yuli Gurriel grounded out to shortstop Dansby Swanson, Atlanta had the 2021 World Series, 4-2.

Smith came back to Atlanta for 2022. But in August, he was traded to the very team he helped defeat in the previous year's Fall Classic, Houston. With the Astros, Will was 0-2 with a 3.27 ERA. For the second straight season, Smith had totaled seven losses. Back-to-back losing seasons (3-7 and 2-7) as far as Will's win-loss record went. The save total went from 37 in '21, to just five in this '22 season.

But Houston couldn't have cared too much. You see, they were on the way to the World Series. They'd been there in 2005, 2017 and 2019, but with this appearance, it was becoming a habit. There was one pitcher who didn't quite get a chance to contribute, alas.

The Astros made few mistakes in the Fall Classic against the Philadelphia Phillies, but Smith was not part of the equation. Sure, he was on the World Series roster, but Houston made due without Will, beating Philadelphia in six games.

Smith simply wasn't needed. In game four, Cristian Javier, Bryan Abreu, Rafael Montero and Ryan Pressly combined for a no-hitter, one the second time a team has failed to get a hit in one World Series contest. That's how deep a bullpen the Astros had. Houston carried thirteen pitchers, and Hunter Brown was like Smith, on the Fall Classic roster, yet failing to make an appearance. Pressly had two saves, as manager Dusty Baker turned the ball over to him when he needed to slam the door on Philly.

The World Series of 2022 ended on November the 5th. Will Smith didn't have to wait very long for his world to turn upside down. Houston did not resign him, Smith didn't catch on with another team until March of 2023. Texas, who had not won a World Series in their 62 seasons of existence. What would make season number 63 anything different? Their days as the second version of the Washington Senators were long gone, but now even the Nation's Capital had a winner. In 2019, the Washington Nationals (formally the Montreal Expos), won it all over Houston. Texas entered the '23 season as one of the few teams (think San Diego and Colorado) who had never won a Fall Classic. They'd been oh-so-close in 2011, but that was now ancient history.

Will Smith, for his part, saved twenty-two games for the Rangers in '23, but the bullpen ace was José Leclerc, who went 0-2, but posted a 2.68 earned run average. When I tell you that Smith's ERA was 4.40, I guess it's not surprising that his win-loss record was merely 2-7. So for 2022-23, Will had a record of only five wins and fourteen losses.

Not that Smith wasn't valuable. His ERA was 2.70 on August 3rd, but then Will slumped. After recording his ninteenth save on that very day, there didn't appear to be any concern. Indeed, despite some questionable outings that followed, Will reached twenty-two saves just over a week later. He settled into more a setup role after that, getting holds in back-to-back appearances August 27th and 29th. 

But had Texas quit on him? Smith retired the only batter to face him in the American League Division Series, but then seemed to lose it. His old team, Houston, hit him hard a round later. Still, despite the 10.80 ERA in the American League Championship Series, it was the Rangers that overcame the Astros in seven games, winning the decising contest 11-4.

So it was on the Fall Classic, and there the upstart Arizona Diamondbacks awaited Texas. Will didn't have to wait very long to contribute. Though he got neither a win nor  a save, Smith really helped.

Taking over from Jon Gay in the top of the ninth, Will had to hold the D-backs in check if the Rangers hoped to pull this one out. Smith did just that, as Geraldo Perdomo grounded out and Corbin Carroll was retired on a liner to right.

Texas was inspired. They tied the game in the ninth, and ended up walking it off in the last of the eleventh. It was José Leclerc who got the win, continuing on his reputation as one (if not the) best bullpen man on the Rangers in 2023. 

Arizona bounced right back in a big way. Game one is the least important game of any series, let alone the Fall Classic. By winning the second contest 9-1, the D-backs headed home all tied. If Arizona thought it was easy pickings at home, they were sadly mistaken. Texas got their pitching in order, as starter Max Sherzer was superb, and so was the bullpen. The 3-1 win by the visiting Rangers insured that at the very least, the Fall Classic was heading back to Globe Life Field for Texas. That is, unless the Rangers won games four and five.

Well, the fourth contest, the big one, was won by Texas in a slugfest, 11-7. But Will Smith sort of let Arizona back in this game. He was given the ball in the bottom of the ninth inning. The Rangers led 11-5, but the Diamondbacks didn't exactly go quietly into the night. No, sir. Pinch hitter Jordan Lawlar was the first batter of that Smith faced, and Will walked him. That's not the ideal thing to do to start an inning, even with a six-run lead. Geraldo Perdomo followed with a single. This looked bad.

So with runners on the corners, Will fanned Ketel Marte , for a big out. A double play would end the threat, and the game. However, Perdomo wasn't content to stay on first. With Corbin Carroll up, there went Geraldo to second. So there was no more force play.

Will Smith, to his credit, ended up fanning Carroll, for the second out. However, it proved to be the last batter Smith faced. José Leclerc came in, faced Gabriel Moreno, and surrendered a two-run single. Both runs, of course, were charged to Smith, even though he got two batters out. That pushed Will's earned run average to 13.50 in the World Series. Truth is, since Leclerc got Christian Walker to pop out to end it. The Rangers, winners of this game four, needed only one more win, and would have three cracks at it.

They wasted no time in getting it. Well, actually, game five was close. The scoreless tie was broken in the top of the seventh, when Texas scored a single run. It remained 1-0 until the top of the ninth, when the visitors tacked on four more runs to salt this thing away. Smith never got into the game, and the D-backs never did get on the board. The Rangers had a 5-0 win, and with it, their long-awaited Fall Classic win.

Despite that rough time, Will Smith had retired four of the six batters to face him, and had his third ring in three seasons. Sure, he'd have liked to contribute more to an historic first, but then again, Will was himself part of an unprecedented event in the Fall Classic.

Okay, Smith didnt automatically make his teams world beaters. It would, however, be wrong to say he didn't contribute. Even in the year that he didn't get to pitch in the World Series for Houston, his performance down the stretch in the regular season was certainly helpful. Would you believe it, Will Smith joined the Kansas City Royals for 2024, his signing taking place less than six weeks after the World Series came to a close. Will the Royals win it all in '24, giving Smith a fourth consecutive ring with a different organization? Stay tuned!



References

Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com/. 22 Dec, 2023.

Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, https://en.wikipedia.org/. 22 Dec, 2023.

World Series: Did You Know?

Adam Duvall's grand slam in game five of 2021 was unique. It was the first by a player in the first inning since 1960. Unlike Bobby Richardson's 61 years earlier, the big blow did not hold up.

Duvall's Atlanta Braves were looking to close it out at home against Houston. They'd won games three and four at Truist Park and were looking for the knockout blow in the fifth contest.

The game got off on the right foot for the home team. The home of the Braves, would appear to be the land of the free ride to the World Championship. In the top of the first, Atlanta starter Tucker Davidson needed just fifteen pitches to get the side in order in the top of the first. The Braves then grabbed some very big lumber when they hit for the first time.

It all got started when Jorge Soler stepped in as the very first batter Astros' starter Framber Valdez faced. He singled. Freddie Freeman flied out. Ozzie Albies forced Soler at second. So Valdez appeared to have things under control. However, Austin Riley singled to keep the inning alive. Eddie Rosario walked to load them up. Adam Duvall hit Valdez's very first pitch to right for a home run. The grand slammer put the home team up by four.

Now, Houston could  have been demoralized. But, the team had won the World Series in 2017, and nearly in 2019. So they were no stranger to the World Series, especially on odd-numbered years. They got two runs back in the second, and another two in the third. The effects of the grand slam had worn off quickly. The 4-4 tie was broken when Atlanta hit in their half of the third, however. Freddie Freeman hit a four-bagger of his own. There were two problems with it, from the Braves' point of view. First of all, no one was on base, so it was only 5-4. Secondly, that proved to be the last time Atlanta touched home in the contest.

Martín Maldonado's bases-loaded walk tied the game in the top of the fifth. And the Astros grabbed their first lead when Marwin Gonzalez stroked a clutch, pinch hit, two-run single. The Houston bullpen picked up the slack from there, and Atlanta managed just four hits in the last six and two-thirds innings of the ballgame. 

Maldonado (Not related to outfielder Candy from the 1980s and 90s) added a run-scoring single in the seventh, and it was 8-5. Houston was working 9-5 in the ballgame when Carlos Correa knocked in still another run in the top of the eighth. The Astros had clearly used the Duvall grand slam as a wake-up call.

Houston went on to win the game, 9-5, but it was there last gasp. Max Fried, Tyler Matzek, and Will Smith combined on a 7-0 shutout in game six, which was at Minute Maid Park.

Still, for the Astros, it was their third World Series appearance in the last five years (They won in 2017, and came within a game of winning two seasons later). The team continued on getting to the summit, and eventually won again in 2022 (After winning 106 regular seasons contests), overcoming the Philadelphia Phillies in six games. And the experience of the '21 Fall Classic was big for reliever Phil Maton, who'd struggled throughout the regular season. Phil came back in 2022, dropping his earned run average nearly 1.00. Through fifteen appearances in 2023, Maton's ERA is 1.00.

Getting back to the grand slam in the first inning, the previous player to do that was Bobby Richardson, way back in 1960. Bobby smoked a Clem Labine offering in the bottom of the first in a game in which his New York Yankees were playing at home against the Pittsburgh Pirates. New York went on to win the game three encounter, 10-0. Richardson's six runs driven in that afternoon are a still-standing single-game World Series record.




References

Enders, Eric. 100 Years Of The World Series. Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. 2005.

Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com/. 12 May, 2023.

2021 World Series. Fox Broadcasting Company, 2021, https://www.youtube.com/. Accessed 12 May, 2023. 

Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, https://en.wikipedia.org/. 12 May, 2023.

YouTube, Google, https://www.youtube.com/. 12 May, 2023.

World Series: Did You Know?

Zack Greinke's pinch hit single in game five of 2021 was the first in a long time. No American League pitcher had gotten a pinch hit since 2023. Zackie did something that hadn't been done in nearly a century.

It must be odd for me to be saying that a pitcher went in and batted for one. Let alone came through. Greinke, though, was having himself a pretty good World Series that year. Pitching for Houston (Who, ironically, had once been part of the National League up to 2013), Zack was trying to square the Fall Classic 2-2 against a tough Atlanta Braves' team.

Well, the Astos' starter had a short day. But still, he went four shutout innings, leaving for a pinch hitter in the top of the fifth. I think this was an odd move. Houston was up 2-0, and Greinke could do no wrong. In four innings, Zack had allowed just four hits and fanned three.

And then, there was his bat. Zack Greinke came up in the top of the second, and punched a one-out single. The 'stros got two men on, but were unable to score that inning. Eventually, they lost the game 3-2.

So game five was a must for Houston, as they trailed 3-1 in the Fall Classic. It started out poorly. Adam Duvall blasted a grand slam for Atlanta in the bottom of the first off starter Framber Valdez, and it was 4-0 for the home team. Would the rest of the game be merely a formality?

Not quite. The Astros bounced back with two runs in the top of the second. Then two more the next inning. Houston was not going away quietly. Freddie Freeman, though, gave Atlanta the lead again in the Braves' half of the third. He hit a home run of his own. Only this one was a solo shot.

So when the Astros grabbed the lumber again, they needed a run or two. Martín Maldonado, the light-hitting catcher, grounded out. The next scheduled batter was pitcher Yimi Garcia, who'd relieved the battered starter, Valdez. But, there was Zack Greinke, 1-1 at the plate in the 2021 Fall Classic, grabbing the bat.

The pitcher pinch hits for the pitcher. Greinke took a strike, then stroked a single on the 0-1! Jose Altuve, the leadoff hitter, was next. But all he could do was fly out. Still, Atlanta would go to the bullpen, even with two away. New pitcher A.J. Minter came in and got Michael Brantley to strikeout, ending that.

Remarkably enough, it seemed like, despite the "0" on the scoreboard, that Houston truly woke up. They scored three times in the top of the fifth. The Astros added single runs in the seventh and eighth, and had themselves a nice, 9-5 win. Their bullpen had held the Braves scoreless in the last six innings.

But what about Zack Greinke's historical feat? Atlanta, by the way, routed Houston 7-0 in game six to end the Fall Classic for 2021. Beginning in 2022, the designated hitter would be everywhere. American and National League. Well, I guess with the exception of when Shohei Ohtani pitched.

Up until 1973, pitchers batted in both leagues, my how times have changed. Back in the day, as in 1923, it wasn't uncommon for pitchers to be good hitters. Greinke wasn't a bad hitter, .225 lifetime. If you want to get a little bit more of how Zack evolved, take from 2013 to 2019, when he hit .240. 

But take Jack Bentley. Bentley was a pitcher for the New York Giants in the early 1920s. Oddly, enough, Jack was more a hitter than a hurler. He even ended up playing 59 games at first base, and another three in the outfield.

In 1923, the Giants' pitcher was 13-8, but his earned run average was quite high (4.48). But he was quite a hitter that year, hitting .427 in 52 games. John McGraw, his manager, used him 22 times as a pinch-hitter. So he was trusted to come up big, at least with the bat.

It was New York vs. New York in the World Series that year. Bentley's Giants were up against Babe Ruth's Yankees for the third straight year. The Giants were looking for their third straight Fall Classic win.

But Ruth and company had other ideas. The Babe, you see, brought winning with him after coming over from the Boston Red Sox. Ruth had rings from 1915, 1916 and 1918. When he came to the Bronx in 1920, the team hadn't done so much as reach the Fall Classic. They were in a tight pennant race with Cleveland and Chicago, but couldn't keep pace in the end.

Game one was at a very new ballpark. Yankee Stadium had opened in '23, and what better was to christen the place with something new for everyone: A World Series title!

So it was Waite Hoyt for the Yankees up against Mule Watson of the Giants.

The moment came early. Watson was tagged for a run in the last of the first (Some chap named Ruth was the Yankee that scored it) and two more in the second. The visiting Giants needed some help.

George Kelly, the very first batter of the third frame, singled on the first offering from Hoyt. Hank Gowdy walked. Watson was next, but it would be Jack Bentley that batted. Bentley's single loaded the bases. It was a short cameo for Jack. Dinty Gearin came in to run for Bentley. He was erased when Dave Bancroft hit into a force. A run did score, however.

Three more runs crossed the plate before Babe Ruth and company could grab lumber in the third. The Yankees would tie the game in the last of the seventh, before Casey Stengel played hero for the Giants in the ninth. Casey hit an inside-the-park home run off Bullet Joe Bush, making it 5-4 for the visitors. The Yankees went down 1-2-3 in their half of the inning.

Jack Bentley ended up getting into five of the six games played in the 1923 Fall Classic. He didn't do much in his two appearances as a pitcher, posting a 9.45 earned run average. At bat, though, it was a different story. He hit .600 (3-5) as his Giants fell in a tough, six-game World Series.




References

Anderson, R.J. "World Series: Astros’ Zack Greinke Records Historic Pinch-Hit Single in Game 5." CBSSports.Com, CBS Interactive, 1 Nov. 2021. https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/world-series-astros-zack-greinke-records-historic-pinch-hit-single-in-game-5/. 08 May, 2023.

Enders, Eric. 100 Years Of The World Series. Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. 2005.

Morissey, Scott C. 114 World Series in 1 Book. Updated ed., Pandamonium Publishing House, 2020.



Society For American Baseball Research, SABR. https://sabr.org/. 08 May, 2023.

Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com/. 08 May, 2023.


2021 World Series. Fox Broadcasting Company, 2021, https://www.youtube.com/. Accessed 08 May, 2023. 

Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, https://en.wikipedia.org/. 08 May, 2023.

YouTube, Google, https://www.youtube.com/. 08 May, 2023.

World Series: Did You Know?

The two biggest surprises from Atlanta / Houston were a pair of relievers. The Braves got some excellent relief work from Kyle Wright. The Astros got some work out of Phil Maton III.

Should either of these guys been there? At the Summit of the baseball season? Wright had made only two appearances all year. Maton was 6-0, which by itself usually guarantees appearances. However, Phil had an ugly earned run average.

Kyle made two appearances for the Atlanta Braves in 2021, but it proved to be a little out of his league. It was a Brave New World for the young pitcher, and that 9.95 earned run average in two starts probably should have been the end of any thoughts of him making it to the postseason roster.

"But Wright was eligible for postseason play," wrote Mark Inabinett, "as a member of Atlanta’s 40-man roster. He had not been on the Braves’ 26-man eligibility roster during the National League playoffs. But Atlanta replaced pitcher Jacob Webb with Wright for its World Series 26."

And it wasn't as if Kyle hadn't had postseason experience at the Major League level prior to '21. In 2020, a year shortened due to Covid, he made an appearance in game three of the Division Series vs. Miami. Actually, it was a fine outing. He started, went six shutout innings, allowed just three hits. Atlanta won, 7-0 for a sweep. Wright's next outing brought him back to earth with, as they say in the novel, A Separate Peace, "A sickening thud".

The Los Angeles Dodgers hammered him for seven runs in just two-thirds of an inning. Wright had been 2-4 in 2020, but with a high ERA (5.21). Still, the earned run average was better in '20 than it was in '21!

Phil Maton III started his 2021 season in Cleveland. The reliever was 2-0 with the Indians (Now Guardians), before being traded to Houston. The Astros used him 27 times. But the earned run average was not good in either stop. It was 4.57 with the Indians and 4.97 with the Astros. 4.73 overall.

But then came the postseason. Houston added him, and it payed off. In three appearances against the Chicago White Sox in the American League Division Series, that ERA was 0.00. Against Boston for the pennant, it was 2.45 in four appearances. The Astros overcame the Red Sox in six games. World Series, here comes Houston, again (They'd made it as recently as 2019).

Unlike Maton, Kyle Wright hadn't appeared in the postseason in 2021, prior to the World Series. Phil even appeared before Kyle did in the Fall Classic. Maton watched as Joc Pederson, no stranger to postseason heroics, flied out against Jake Odorizzi to start the top of the sixth. The Braves, on the road, were looking to add to a 5-1 lead. Dansby Swanson, though, gave Houston reliever Jake Odorizzi (Who actually was a starter for the Astros during the regular season, before being relegated to bullpen duty in October) all the could handle.

When Swanson singled, that was it for Odorizzi. The call went out for Phil Maton. Jorge Soler went down on strikes. But, Freddie Freema singled, and Maton faced a challenge. Two on, two out. Sure, Atlanta had a four-run lead, but things could get interesting here, real quick. Ozzie Albies got ahead in the count 2-0, but it was Maton that came up with the right pitch, and the batter grounded out.

Phil came back for the seventh, but it the previous inning had been tough, then this one was something else. After getting Austin Riley to fan, Houston went to work on the reliever. First, Eddie Rosario hit a double. Then, Adam Duvall walked. Maton was outta there. Ryne Stanek got the Braves out of that mess. Atlanta went on to a 6-2 win, but Maton had a tough time. Though he'd retired three men, Phil allowed two hits and a walk. No runs scored against him, however.

Both Maton and Kyle Wright got into game two. Maton improved. Again no runs scored against him, this time in two-thirds of an inning pitched in the seventh. However, he took a backseat to Wright. Kyle showed him how it's done. 1-2-3 went the Astros on twelve pitches in the ninth. All on strikeouts.

So Houston won, 7-2. Each team had a rout to their name so far in this 2021 World Series. Houston didn't need Maton. Atlanta didn't need Wright. It was a superb game from a pitching point of view. Atlanta, at home, won it 2-0. Yet, oddly, neither starter made it past the fifth inning. Both bullpens got used a lot more than you'd think in such a low scoring game. The Astros managed only two hits.

Dylan Lee started game four for the Braves, but didn't last. He got one batter out in the top of the first, but the other three he faced reached base (Two walks and a single). The bases were loaded and help was needed.

It might have seemed like a bold move at the time by skipper Brian Snitker, as he went to the bullpen for Kyle Wright. However, the move would soon look like it was made by a genius.

One pitch away from walking in a run, Wright got Carlos Correa to ground out. One run scored, and there were two more men in scoring position, with two out. Kyle Tucker fanned. A huge strikeout!

The Astros got two men on in the second, and even loaded the bases in the third. But Kyle was the "Wright" guy for these situations. He escaped without allowing a run. His luck ran out, however, in the fourth. Houston didn't get a man on. Well, sort of. The second batter of the inning, Jose Altuve, blasted a home run. It was a solo shot, and the Astros led, 2-0.

The fifth inning started out easy, but Houston turned it one big adventure.

Kyle fell behind in the count, 2-0 on Yordan Alvarez. Then Wright got it going. Sinker, 93 miles-per hour. Taken. Strike! 2-1. Knuckle curve, fouled off. 2-2. A fastball (That was high) also was fouled off by Alvarez, and the count held at 2-2. Finally, to finish off the batter, Wright came back with his knuckle curve. It was low and in the dirt. Alvarez swung, and missed. One out.

Carlos Correa lasted just two pitches. He grounded out to Dansby Swanson at short. Two outs. From here, it looked like it would be a simple inning for Kyle. But then Kyle Tucker singled. He stole second, and in the process, a throwing error by catcher Travis d'Arnaud and suddenly, there was a man on third. With the count 2-0, Yuli Gurriel was then purposely passed. It was time for some bullpen action for Atlanta. Chris Martin (All 6 '8 of him) started to throw.

Marwin Gonzalez (Who hit only .199 in the regular season) batted for pitcher Zack Greinke. It was time for a mound visit. Pitching coach Rick Kranitz came out to talk things over with Kyle Wright.

Wright missed with his first two pitches, and was behind in the count, just like against Alvarez to start this fifth frame. Both pitches were knuckle curves, and the second one didn't miss by much. Was Kyle going to walk someone who couldn't even hit his weight? Perhaps Martin would make an early appearance? Well, Wright stuck with his guns. "Kyle Wright," said Joe Buck, "trying to get through this fifth." The next two pitches were knuckle curves as well.

The first was 82 miles-per-hour, and it was called a strike on the outside corner. The 2-1 offering was also 82 MPH, but Gonzalez just fouled it off. The count was even, 2-2. Wright abandoned the pitch that had gotten him to this stage of the at-bat. He went with the four-seam fastball on the fifth pitch, as the crowd was on their feet. The pitch was in the strike zone, but low. Gonzalez swung, and flew out to Eddie Rosario in left. 

Martin, who was 2-4 in the regular season, took over for Atlanta when Houston batted in the top of the sixth. Phil Maton didn't enter the game for the Astros until the bottom of that inning. The Braves trailed 2-0, but put two on with only one out. Maton came in and fanned Ozzie Albies, but then Austin Riley brought home Eddie Rosario with a single. Joc Pederson batted next, and he certainly was no stranger to postseason heroics. So Maton walked him intentionally. d'Arnaud batted and ended the inning by striking out. It was still, 2-1 Astros.

Cristian Javier took over on the hill for Houston in the seventh, but Atlanta took the lead when they scored twice. From there, each teams' bullpen held the fort, and the Braves squeaked by, 3-2. The win put Atlanta one game away from winning it all.

After game four, the Houston had some praise on the Braves' relief pitcher. “We didn't know a whole bunch about him,” Astros manager Dusty Baker said. “We know he's been up and down. We know he has outstanding stuff, which we were told and which we saw in the video. We were also told that sometimes he can get wild with his pitches. Tonight, he threw the ball well. When he came in and got out of that bases-loaded [jam] with that sinker he threw in on Carlos, we could tell right there that he had good stuff.”

So Houston would have to dig deep. I don't think falling behind 4-0 in the first (Via Adam Duvall's grand slam) was what the visiting team had in mind. Meanwhile, Atlanta starter Tucker Davidson faced three batters in the first, getting Carlos Correa to hit into an inning-ending double play (Top the inning, that is).

Come the top of the third, it was Correa knocking in a run off Jesse Chavez to get the Astros to within a run. They'd knocked out starter Davidson earlier. So we had a ballgame after all. When Yuli Gurriel grounded out,  Michael Brantley scored. 4-4.

Houston finally took the lead in the top of the fifth, but this one was a long way from over. Being as it was in Atlanta, the pitchers would have to hit, so you had teams going to the bullpen left, right and centre. Pitcher Zack Greinke was even used to bat for pitcher Yimi García in the fourth, and he singled. As Jose Altuve batted an inning later, Houston had Marwin Gonzalez on first and Martín Maldonado on second. The Astros were up 7-5. Dusty Baker no doubt wanted more offence, as no lead was safe at this point. Gonzalez had batted for the pitcher (And come up with a big two-run single), so the 'stros would have to send out a new pitcher when the Braves grabbed some lumber this frame.

The count was 2-0 on Altuve, who then took a fastball from new pitcher Chris Martin, who was trying to stop the bleeding. It was in for a strike. Viewers got a look at the man loosing up in the Houston bullpen.

Phil Maton.

So, Houston was turned the ball over to a pitcher who had an earned run average of nearly five in the regular season. To stop the Braves from winning this game and the World Series. Atlanta's bats had cooled a bit as the game moved on. The Braves had gotten three hits in the last of the first, but now were stuck at five after four and a half innings. You'd think that maybe they'd have some luck with Maton.

Ozzie Albies, who hit from the left side, came up with one away in the bottom of the fifth. The Braves' fans, eager for some offence, when into their battle cry. "Ahhh...Ohhhhhhhahooo!" However, the right-handed pitcher was not the least bit phased. Phil got ahead of Ozzie 1-2, then blew a 92 mile-per hour fastball by him. Maybe even lefties couldn't hit Phil. "This guy's really impressed when he's been in," said John Smoltz of Maton in the Fox broadcast booth, "when he's' been in and he's utilized the weakness of guys like Albies, who I think  if he faced him [Maton] ten times, would have a hard time getting one or two hits, based on the style that Albies hits and the style that Maton pitches."

But it wasn't just Ozzie Albies that struggled against Phil. Austin Riley doubled, but then Eddie Rosario, a left-hander, hit one that Maton had no trouble fielding. The 1-3 putout ended the inning.

Travis d'Arnaud managed to get a hit off the sizzling reliever, but Maton escaped the sixth without giving up a run. He'd fanned two more hitters. Maton's night came to an end as Chas McCormick hit for him in the top of the seventh. Houston seemed inspired by Phil's pitching exploits. They tallied two more runs the rest of the game. Atlanta? They were shutout the next three innings. What started out as a rout for the Braves ended up as a bit of a laugher for the Astros, who were 9-5 winners.

"The Houston bullpen dominated," wrote R.J. Anderson  & Dayn Perry as a subheading. And they compared the bullpens. "All five of the Braves' runs were charged to Astros starter Framber Valdez, who lasted just 2 2/3 innings. After Valdez was lifted, five Astros relievers combined for 6 1/3 shutout innings. Along the way, they gave up just four hits and struck out six with no walks. Particularly key were Phil Maton and Kendall Graveman, who each worked two innings. For the series, the Houston bullpen now boasts an ERA of 1.75, which is more than a full run lower than Atlanta's mark of 2.76."

Sadly, game six would be a bit anticlimactic. The Braves, on the road, decided it with three runs in the top of the third. Jorge Soler's three-run home run would put Atlanta ahead for good.

By the fifth inning, it was 6-0 for the Braves. Phil Maton came in, but seemed like the move was too late. There was a runner on second, two away, and Austin Riley up. Riley hit Maton's 2-2 pitch to centre, just a little to the right. Jose Siri, the Astros' centre fielder, caught it just where the warning track begins.

"Maton has been sensational," Joe Buck said, "Came on last inning and finished off the top of the fifth...His stuff is sneaky good," the Fox play-by-play man added. Well, maybe the Braves thought otherwise. Adam Duvall greeted him with a single in the top of the sixth. With one away, Albies came through with one of his own. Dusty Baker could have pulled Phil, but the kid had pitched out of so many jams in the World Series. Why would this be any different? Baker left him in. Travis d'Arnaud fanned. Two down. Dansby Swanson was next. Maton fell behind in the count 2-0, but then came up with a slow slider. It was not by itself a good pitch, as it was up and caught a lot of the dish. However, Swanson merely hit a hard grounder to Carlos Correa, who went to first basemen Yuli Gurriel at first. "More big outs by Maton," said Buck.

This ended up being it for Phil. And Kyle Wright seemed almost like the forgotten man at this point. The game ended up going all for Atlanta, 7-0. Though starter Max Fried lasted just six innings, the Braves used Tyler Matzek and Will Smith to slam the door on Houston.

Both Maton and Wright ended up with 5 2/3 innings pitched, although Phil pitched in five games to Kyle's two. Each has since build of their success in the coming years. Maton appeared in a career-high 67 games for Houston in 2022, and this time the Astros won it all. A freak injury sidelined him for all of the postseason, however, but Phil returned to Houston this season, and has looked strong.

Kyle Wright went on to win 21 games for the Braves in 2022. Early in the 2023 season he's gone on the injury list after just five games pitched. Atlanta, fresh off a 101-win season, look to return to the postseason for the sixth consecutive season. Houston reached that number last season, and is looking to make it eight postseason appearances in the last nine seasons.




References

Anderson, R.J. “World Series Score: Astros Rally vs. Braves in Game 5, Stay Alive After Allowing First-Inning Grand Slam.” CBSSports.com, CBS Broadcasting Inc, 1 Nov. 2021, https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/world-series-score-astros-rally-vs-braves-in-game-5-stay-alive-after-allowing-first-inning-grand-slam/live/. 07 May, 2023.



Inabinett, Mark. “Former State Prep Star Strikes out Side in World Series.” Advance Local, Advance Local Media LLC, 28 Oct. 2021, https://www.al.com/sports/2021/10/former-alabama-prep-star-strikes-out-side-in-world-series-for-atlanta.html. 07 May, 2023.

Monnin, Kaitlyn. “Braves News: Kyle Wright Diagnosed With Shoulder Strain, Raisel Iglesias Activated, More.” Battery Power, Vox Media, 6 May 2023, https://www.batterypower.com/2023/5/6/23713468/atlanta-braves-news-kyle-wright-raisel-iglesias-braden-shewmake-travis-darnaud-more. 07 May 2023.

“The Official Site of Major League Baseball.” MLB.com MLB Advanced Media, https://www.mlb.com/. 07 May 2023.

Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com/. 07 May, 2023.

2021 World Series. Fox Broadcasting Company, 2021, https://www.youtube.com/. Accessed 07 May, 2023. 

Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, https://en.wikipedia.org/. 07 May, 2023.

YouTube, Google, https://www.youtube.com/. 07 May, 2023.

World Series: Did You Know?

Joc Pederson was back at it in the 2020 Fall Classic. This time his Dodgers would prevail.

It was an unsual set of circumstances for the year's World Series. Due to Covid, the Fall Classic was played at one ballpark, and Pederson himself would not be there port to stern for some of the six games between his Los Angeles Dodgers and the Tampa Bay Rays.

The Rays, making just their second October Finale appearance, were trying to do better than they had against Carlos Ruiz and the Philadelphia Phillies in 2008. But in order to do that, they not only had to find a way to contain Joc Pederson, but also try to hit against Clayton Kershaw. The first task did not appear to be too difficult, as "Joctober" hit just .190 in the 2020 season, despite seven home runs in 43 games played. Kershaw was another story. But even the great pitchers need some offence to win.

Pederson batted eighth for this game, LA the "home" team. But, this was the first World Series since 1985 to use the designated hitter all Fall Classic long. Advantage Los Angeles? Well, Pederson fanned both times up, but it was Clayton Kershaw who was masterful. The Dodgers, as they had in 2017, rode their ace to an opening game win.

In the second game, it was Chris Taylor in left, and Cody Bellinger in centre for the Dodgers. The game itself did not go well for Los Angeles. After six and a half innings, Tampa led 6-3, and Pete Fairbanks took over for Nick Anderson (Who'd relieved starter Blake Snell) on the hill. The scheduled first hitter was second basemen Enrique "Kiké" Hernández.

Enter Joc Pederson. Fairbanks, a right-hander, was a pitcher who threw very hard. Pederson drew a straight line behind the plate before digging in. The first pitch was a 99-mile per hour fastball. Pederson swung and sent a fly ball. But it was hit to shallow to be dangerous. Kevin Kiermaier, the centre fielder, had no trouble putting the squeeze on it.

The Dodgers did not score, but a double switch resulted in Taylor going to second base for the top of the eighth, and Pederson back in left field. Alex Wood returned for his second inning of work for Los Angeles. After getting two quick outs on a total of five pitches, Willy Adames came up. Behind 1-2, he lined one to right, that Pederson couldn't get to. And by the time Joc came up with it, Willy was on second. Kevin Kiermaier grounded out to end the Rays' half of the eighth.

Los Angeles got one run back in their half of the inning, so it was a 6-4 ballgame. But the play on Adames' two-bagger would be the last thing Pederson would do on this night. He did not bat in the eighth. In the ninth, Tampa put one man on with a walk. Then, with two outs, Randy Arozarena hit a ball down the third base line. But it did not make it to left field. Justin Turner got to it. But his throw to first was too late. Los Angeles managed to get out of that situation without allowing a run. With one away in the LA portion of the inning, Austin Barnes batted for Pederson. Barnes was retired on a long fly to left. Taylor fanned, and the 2020 Fall Classic was all tied up at one game each.

So while neither team travelled, the third game was on the "road" for Los Angeles. They went back to work. In the top of the first, Justin Turner put them up, 1-0, with a home run.

It was 3-0 for the Dodgers in the fourth inning, when Pederson, who batted eighth, had a crucial at-bat. Cody Bellinger singled, but Chris Taylor fanned on three pitches. So Joc was back up. He'd grounded out in the third. A grounder here and the Dodger half of the inning would come to a sudden end. Charlie Morton threw to first to keep Bellinger close. But when he threw to home, Morton could do nothing to stop Cody from getting to third. The first pith to Pederson was a 79 miles per hour slider. Joc hit it to right. Ji-Man Choi, at first past, leaped for it, but it was just over his outstretched glove. Manuel Margot, the right fielder, got to it in the corner. It was a fine play that held Pederson, who slipped, to just a single. However, the Dodgers now had runners on the corners.

Austin Barnes then did a play that is not commonly used anymore in baseball. He bunted, even though there was one out. It cashed in Cody Bellinger, and also moved Joe Pederson to second. But now, there were two outs. The squeeze play made it 4-0 for the "visiting" team. However, Los Angeles was not finished with Charlie Morton. Mookie Betts hit a grounder on his payoff pitch to centre, which scored Pederson.

Joc was only 1-2, but clearly, his hit in that fourth inning was big. It got the man to third and made what Barnes did possible. His batting average in the 2020 Fall Classic was just .200 (1-5), and he only batted one more time on the night, popping out in the top of the sixth. The Dodgers tacked on a sixth run. Although the Rays had gotten on the board by then, and add one in the ninth, it was pretty much smooth sailing for the Dodgers after the fourth. Kiké Hernández pinch hit for Pederson in the eighth, and finished the game at second base. Taylor filled in the void in left.

So, LA was up two games to one after three games. But, Joc was not contributing like he was in 2017. Game four was huge, as a Dodger win would surely wrap it up. No, Kershaw would not pitch. Julio Urías did. No, Pederson did not start in left, Chris Taylor did.

Well, Urías pitched well (Nine strikeouts), but his start was short. He was pulled after 4 2/3 innings, but Los Angeles was ahead 3-2. Although the Dodgers scored another run in the sixth, the Rays grabbed control of the game in their half of the inning. Brandon Lowe's huge three-run home run suddenly gave Tampa the lead, 5-4.

Los Angeles was quick to respond, though. In the top of the seventh, with two out, and runners on second and third, Cody Bellinger was up. But Tampa Bay walked him intentionally.

Enter Joc Pederson.

Although only 1-6, Joc could make up for all that in a big way here. The first pitch was a strike. The second, though, was in the dirt before it even reached the plate, and catcher Mike Zunino made a fine play to keep it fair, although it roller a little bit towards first in foul territory. Two more balls followed, and Pederson had the count in his favour. And ball four would give him his first RBI of this World Series. Tampa had shifted their infield over, so there was not much to go for in right. The 3-1 was 96 miles per hour fastball, but Joc lined it to right. Second basemen Brandon Lowe was playing almost in shallow right, got his glove on it. But not all of the ball. Two runs scored, and the lead was LA's again.

This was not the end of the night for Joc. He stayed in the game at left. Taylor moved to centre. Kevin Kiermaier tied the game with a solo home run in the Rays' half of the inning. Back came LA in the top of the eighth. The game was certainly a see-saw affair.

Tampa tried to tie it when they batted in the inning. With one on and two out, Willy Adames smacked a short fly to left that neither shortstop Corey Seager or Pederson could get to. Brusdar Graterol then retired Hunter Renfroe on a fly to right.

In their half of the ninth, Los Angeles hit the ball well. Will Smith gave it a bit of a ride to left for the first out. Cody Bellinger was retired when he sent one to centre. Pederson came back up, and singled to right on the first pitch. He was 2-2. That batting average was up to .375 now (3-8). Taylor hit it well, but it was merely a long, loud out to right. So LA failed to score, and were only up 7-6.

Even so, the Dodgers were merely three outs away from an insurmountable lead of 3-1 in this Fall Classic. They turned the ball over to closer Kenley Jansen. The bottom of the ninth started out well for the Dodgers, as pinch hitter Yoshi Tsutsugo fanned.

But Kevin Kiermaier singled. Left-handed hitting Joey Wendle was up, and LA played him to pull, putting three infielders on the right side. But on a 2-1 pitch from Jansen, Wendle sent one to the gap in left, where Pederson had to go bit to his left to make the catch. One more out.

Kenley got ahead of Randy Arozarena 1-2 when the batter fouled off a pitch. But Arozarena held on a drew a walk. It didn't seem to matter. The next batter, lefty Brett Phillips, took one on a corner for strike two. Replays showed the pitch might have just missed. The 1-2 delivery was sent to centre for a single. But it should have merely tied the game. Taylor bobbled it, and Arozarena headed home, where he should have been a dead duck. However, the throw got away from catcher Will Smith, and Tampa Bay had an unreal win, walk-off style.

Well, that was certainly heartbreak for the Los Angeles Dodgers. However, look how close they'd come to winning it when Joc Pederson only bats twice! Why not start him in game five? That's what manager Dave Roberts did.

Granted, Clayton Kershaw took the hill for LA. But he wasn't going to win unless he got some offence. That came before Tampa could bat. The Dodgers scored two runs in the top of the first (LA being the "road" team in this contest), and Kershaw took came of 'em in the first with no one scoring. Our boy led off the second inning for the Dodgers. Fox had played the song, "Stand By Me" by Ben. E. King. Well, Los Angeles was standing by their ace on the mound for this big one. But their manager would be standing by his decision on his starting left fielder.

Come the second frame, the decision to play Pederson would be tested. And, as if to justify that faith, Joc Pederson crushed a high,1-2 offering from pitcher Tyler Glasnow into the Tampa Bay bullpen, some 430 feet in length. Joctober was living up to his nickname. Joc crossed the plate, and screamed “They don’t want that smoke!” Granted, it was only a solo homer, but still it was 3-0 for the Dodgers. Some nice run support for their big ace to work with. 

As Pederson said later, it's not as if he had Glasnow's number. "He [Glasnow] throws the ball very hard. [I] [w]as just just looking for, honestly, to put the ball in play. He got me in game one, so it was nice to return the favour."

Kershaw would not be denied. The Rays got two runs off him, but that was it.

Still, it was a close game, 3-2, when Pederson came back up in the fourth. On the first pitch, he looked to bunt, but the slider caught the inside corner for a strike. Joc fouled off the next pitch, and was behind 0-2. But Tyler Glasnow was on borrowed time on the hill, as his next pitch would be number seventy. In any event, Pederson flied out on it.

The Dodgers were doubling up on the Rays, 4-2, by the time our boy hit again. There were two outs and nobody one in the top of the sixth. Pederson batted in a lefty-lefty situation. Joc coaxed a walk from Aaron Loup, who'd relived Glasnow. Ball four was Loup's last pitch, as Diego Castillo relieved him. Los Angels, too, was looking to make a pitching move at any time. Kershaw was at exactly 100 pitches through five innings. Dustin May had begun to loosen up in the Dodgers' bullpen as Pederson was digging in. It was still anyone's game, and the manager's would play a role in it's outcome from here on in.

Auston Barnes, who'd drawn a walk himself earlier, tried to give Kershaw some more insurance. He got a hold of it, and gave it quite a ride to the gap in left. But Kevin Kiermaier was there, to retire the side. Both team's bullpen's took over from there (Kershaw was removed with two away in the bottom of the sixth).

But there was also the Pederson glove factor. Joey Wendle batted in the bottom of the seventh, with one down. He had quit an at-bat against Dustin May, who'd relived Clayton Kershaw with two down in the sixth. On the ninth of his encounter with May, Wendle rocketed one to left, heading towards the gap. It looked like it might drop in for extra bases. But there was Joe Pederson to make a terrific, running catch. Dustin May had himself a 1-2-3 inning, and didn't allow a hit until one out in the next frame, but credit must go to his left fielder. 

The Dodgers themselves got not one hit in the last four frames. Pederson was himself replace in the bottom of the eighth. Still, LA won, 4-2, despite only collecting six hits. Joc was 1-2 with a walk, and saw his batting average go to .400 (4-10).

The big news was Los Angeles was one win away from it's first World Championship in 32 years. Despite his game five heroics, Joctober would be sitting on the bench on the first pitch on this "home" game. No, Pederson was not going to be the designated hitter. AJ Pollock would start in left for the Dodgers, with Will Smith DH'ing.

But with LA clinging to a 2-1 lead in front of a modest, Covid-limited crowd of 11,437, they looked for some more offence in the seventh inning. Will Smith had been 0-2, but he doubled. Cody Bellinger popped out. Chris Taylor fanned. Maybe someone else was needed to get the job done?

Well, Pollock had lined out and popped out in his two plate appearances. Joc Pederson grabbed a bat and hit for him. Reliever Pete Fairbanks was trying to keep Tampa Bay within a run of Los Angeles. Pitching coach Kyle Snyder came out to the mound to talk it over with Fairbanks. Would the Rays' put Joctober on?

A breaking ball looked liked a strike all the way, until it dipped at the last moment. 1-0. The next pitch was a fastball, 99 miles an hour. But it, too, missed the strike zone. So with the count 2-0, the Rays decided to walk Pederson. Austin Barnes battled Fairbanks to 2-2, but then got under one and sent it to right, when second basemen Brandon Lowe got to it to retire the side.

Pederson was replaced, and the Dodgers went on to a 3-1 win. The bad news was, Joc did not qualify for the lead in either batting average or on-base percentage. He needed only three more plate appearances, which he surely would have gotten had Joctober not been pulled early from some contests. Did it matter at the end of the day? The long drought in LA was over, Kershaw was dominant, Corey Seager won the Willie Mays World Series MVP Award and unlikely hero emerged.

For his part, Joctober batted .400, which was what Seager had hit, so Pederson was right there with the player in the 2020 Fall Classic. In the offseason, Pederson would sign with the Chicago Cubs, so after three World Series appearances (They also reached the summit in 2018), he'd be with a new team in 2021. It would never quite be the same in Los Angeles without him and his World Series heroics.

That, however, wasn't about to take away from that special feeling Joc had when he received his World Series ring before a June 2021 game at Dodger Stadium. Although Pederson had moved on to the Chicago Cubs, he was back to get his ring before a game in Los Angeles. But this was a special moment for the former Dodger. He got an extra ring for his ultimate fan, his older brother (Amply named) Champ.

Joc moved on to Chicago, and then Atlanta before the season ended. And, "Joctober" added a second World Series ring to his name. But there is no better feeling than the first time you win it!


References

"Dodgers vs Rays World Series Game 5 Highlights & Postgame Interviews | October 25, 2020", YouTube, uploaded by Dodger Highlights (Courtesy of Fox, Major League Baseball), 26 Oct. 2020, https://youtu.be/nh8TvKeclXM?t=777, Accessed 04 May 2020. (Q and A appears @ 12:57 of video)



Harris, Blake. “Joc Pederson Receives World Championship Ring.” True Blue LA, Vox Media, 25 June 2021, https://www.truebluela.com/2021/6/25/22550013/joc-pederson-receives-world-championship-ring-los-angeles-dodgers-chicago-cubs. 04 May 2023.



“The Official Site of Major League Baseball.” MLB.com, MLB Advanced Media, https://www.mlb.com/. 04 May 2023.

Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com/. 04 May 2023.

2020 World Series. Fox Broadcasting Company, Oct. 2020, https://www.youtube.com/. Accessed 4 May 2023. 

Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, https://en.wikipedia.org/. 04 May 2023.

YouTube, Google, https://www.youtube.com/. 04 May 2023.

World Series: Did You Know?

Joc Pederson hit three home runs and batted .333 in 2017, after hitting just .212 with eleven long balls in regular season. The left-handed hitting centre fielder was a little slow getting to the big show that year.

The Los Angeles Dodgers advanced to their first World Series in 29 years when they overcame the Chicago Cubs in five games in the National League Championship Series. Chicago had been gunning for their second straight Fall Classic appearance. Pederson himself was on the postseason roster following an injury to Los Angeles' shortstop, Corey Seager. Joc found himself looking on the outside. 

So, the opposition for LA was the Houston Astros, who'd once been a part of the National League. Seager was back, so would Pederson be shuffled down? Los Angeles decided to keep Joc and move left fielder Curtis Granderson off the World Series roster. The move was a bit interesting as Pederson was more a centre fielder (92 appearances) than a left fielder (Just 4). In fact, in the regular season, it was Chris Taylor played 38 games in left. The good news was Taylor could also play centre, having made 49 appearances there, third and second base, and shorstop.

The World Series got underway at Dodger Stadium, and Pederson did not play in the opening tilt. He watched as Clayton Kershaw got things off on the right foot, beating the Astros 3-1 (With centre fielder Chris Taylor scoring two of those runs). Kiké Hernández played left field for LA and went 1-3 at the plate. Would he be back for game two?

But obviously, the second contest was huge. Joc Pederson was a part of it in left field. Justin Verlander fanned him in the bottom of the second. But Joc would show both LA and Houston he'd earned the right to play.

With the Dodgers trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the fifth, Pederson was back at the plate. Verlander had retired the first two men to face him that inning, but his attempt at retiring LA in order would be stopped cold by Pederson. Joc's nickname would one day be "Joctober" and this at-bat would be the start to that.

Justin threw Joc a curveball, which missed for ball one. Another curveball, which like the first was 80 miles per hour and also missed, and the count was 2-0.  Pederson then fouled of a fastball, which was on the outside of the plate. Although Los Angeles trailed by just one run, Tony Watson began to throw in the Dodgers' bullpen. It'd be a long night for pitchers on both sides.

Verlander hung a slider, and Pederson jumped on it. He sent the ball into the right, that just cleared the fence, tying the game at one. Joc sprinted around the bases, as the crowd was delirious. Pederson did nothing to hide his excitement, as he was ever-enthused as he headed towards the Dodgers' dugout.

Joc's next time up, in the bottom of the seventh, was not so good. He had a man on third in Cody Bellinger. There was only one out, so if he could get the ball to the outfield again, the Dodgers (Who led 3-1) would be in business to take a 2-0 lead in this Fall Classic. But Pederson fanned against Will Harris. So did Austin Barnes.

A double switch after that inning saw Enrique Hernández now playing left. Eventually, the Astros prevailed in extra innings. So as the teams headed to Houston for games three, four and five, there was still a question of whether Pederson would play in the third contest. But maybe not. Remember, since the next three games were on American League soil, maybe Joc could be the designated hitter?

That, he was. However, the bad news was Pederson would hit in the eighth slot, even though he was DH'ing. Joc had hit sixth in game two. There'd be less RBI chances for sure!

Still, he contributed. In the top of the third, Joc led off, and had to do something. It was 4-0 for Houston. He managed to coax a walk off starting pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. Lance then suddenly came undone. He issued a bases on balls to the next two batters, making it three in a row. Corey Seager then hit into a double play. That was huge. Pederson scored on the twin-killing, but a potential big inning went down the tubes, with the Dodgers having to be content with just that one run.

So when Pederson came back to the dish in the fifth, Joc needed to contribute again, as the score was still 4-1, 'stros. This time, he knocked a 2-1 offering into centre for a one-out double. Enrique Hernández grounded out, moving Pederson to third. Chris Taylor launched one to the gap in left on the first pitch from McCullers Jr., and it looked like a sure double. But an onrushing George Springer dove for it, snaring it backhanded.

Houston added a run in their fifth, but then LA came back with two in the top of the sixth. Joc Pederson fanned in the seventh against Brad Peacock. The Astros went on to win, 5-3.

So game four was a must for the Dodgers. It was quite an affair for a while. Pederson struggled. He fanned in the top of the third. He couldn't come through with Austin Barnes on first in the sixth. When he batted in the top of the eighth, he fanned again.

It was bad for Los Angeles for a while. They trailed after six. Entering the ninth, it was tied at one. That's where Cody Bellinger put the Dodgers ahead with a double. Los Angeles was not done. Austin Barnes hit a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded to make it 3-1. By staying out of the double play, this gave Joc Pederson a chance to widen the margin. Runners on the corners, two away. If Houston pitcher Joe Musgrove could get it done, the home team would bat in the ninth still very much in it. He could, conceivably, give up a walk here. But Joe's 0-1 to Joc was high, actually out of the strike zone. No matter. Pederson smoked it to right, and it found the stands for a huge, three-run home run. The game was, essentially over. Twitter user James H. Williams at Coachella posted,

"Dodgers' Joc Pederson hits a 3-run home run.

Pederson reaches bases and yells 'YOU LIKE THAT!'

#ThisTeam"

The Astros scored a meaningless run in the ninth, but the 2017 Fall Classic was tied 2-2 after this contest. There would be a game six in Los Angeles.

But Houston bounced back in the fifth contest, which they had to win. The game was a slugfest, even though Clayton Kershaw started it for LA. It would later be revealed that the Astros were illegally stealing signs (Through the use of live feeds in the Astros' tunnel towards the dugout, and then banging on a trash can) and this game would certainly be a good example of how it worked.

Pederson did not start this game, and for a while, it appeared that he would not be noted. The first inning of the fifth contest was not too unlike the ninth inning of the previous game. Los Angeles scored three times.

Well, the lead didn't hold. And by the the time Joc Pederson made an appearance, it was tied 7-7. It was a slugfest. In the top of the sixth inning, Austin Barnes led off against reliever Collin McHugh. He took a called strike three.


Enter Joc Pederson


Pederson, hitting .333 (3-9) grabbed a bat to hit for second basemen Charlie Culberson. McHugh hard retired the last three men to face him. Houston put a shift on, to try and stop the red-hot hitter. Jose Altuve was basically playing short right, while Josh Reddick (The right fielder) was playing at the power alley. Left fielder Marwin Gonzalez was in the other power alley. Centre fielder George Springer was playing straight away. It was third basemen Alex Bregman essentially playing at the shortstop position. Meanwhile, Carlos Correa, the Astros' shortstop, was playing on the right side of second. There was little room to go for should Joc pull the ball.

The first pitch was a 91 mile per hour fastball, which Joc took for a strike. A slow curve followed. It got the ball it was so low. Another curve, but this time McHugh fooled Pederson, who swung and missed. Joc was in a 1-2 hole. The fourth pitch to Joc was again low. 2-2. Collin decided to stop throwing the 12-6 to Joc. The rest of the plate appearance would be decided with four-seamers. The 2-2 was high and away. Then, the payoff pitch. Well, before that, Pederson needed some time to think. The timeout was requested just as the pitcher was about to go into the windup. In any event, home plate umpire Bill Miller granted it. No pitch ended up being thrown. And the crowd was unhappy. So, finally, the payoff pitch missed to the outside. What a way to hang in there!

All seven men who had drawn bases on balls had scored on this night, and now Joc was aboard as the go-ahead run. However, Collin McHugh settled down, getting the next two batters out via a fly and a K.

Pederson stayed in the game, playing left field. In the eighth, Joc hit a one-out double off  Brad Peacock. Chris Taylor was hit by a pitch. Will Harris hopped in from the Houston bullpen. But Corey Seager hit his very first pitch to left for a double of his own, scoring Pederson. The run was huge, as Los Angeles was now within two runs of Houston. The Astros, though, pried loose a run off Tony Cingra in the bottom of the inning, as Brian McCann hit a solo home run.

The score was 12-9 for the Astros until the Dodgers tied it in the top of the ninth. Yasiel Puig hit a one out, two-run home run. Barnes doubled. Pederson was back up, and with a chance to tie it. He grounded out, but that moved Barnes to third. Taylor singled home Barnes. It was 12-12, but LA would have to stop Houston from scoring in the Astros' half of the inning. Joc Pederson had moved to centre an inning earlier as Andre Ethier went to play left field.

How would Joc like being the "centre" of attention in the outfield? Jose Altuve sent one his way to start the Houston half of the frame. Pederson backed up, and caught the ball a few feet shy of the warning track. With two away, Yuli Gurriel smacked a towering double well over Ethier's head in left, and the winning run was a hit away. Fortunately, the next batter Josh Reddick, flied out to left.

The Astros walked it off in the tenth, as Alex Bregman drove in the winning run. The Dodgers had their backs to the wall again. Pederson would play every inning of every game from here on in. And why shouldn't he? His batting average was up to an amazing .364. The Dodgers were heading back home for the conclusion of the 2017 Fall Classic, one way or another.

Things were a little spooky for the Los Angeles gang. It was Halloween Night, and the Dodgers would need to pull of some trick or be prepared to (re)treat for the year. Pederson was back in the sixth slot. It was an odd game for him. And for both teams. This game was a pitcher's duel.

After 5 1/2 innings, things were looking grim for the home team. LA trailed 1-0, and running out of time. But they tallied twice in the bottom of the sixth to take the lead. Could the Dodgers make it hold? Well, our boy came back up the next inning. Joe Musgrove had gotten the first batter, Yasiel Puig to pop out. He quickly got ahead of Pederson, 1-2. Pederson hit the next pitch the other way to left. Into the stands! "I didn't think I got [enough of] it," he said after the game. It was Joc's third home run of the World Series. Like he had in game two, Pederson flew around the bases in his excitement. The Dodger dugout was alive and kicking! "I'd say he's fired up!" Joe Buck said of Pederson. So was Los Angeles.  Kenley Jansen, closer, took over from there. He faced just six batters, total, over the next two innings, needing just nineteen pitches to get 'em all out. The 2017 Fall Classic would go down to a seventh and deciding game.

But Houston would decide it very early. The Astros scored twice in the top of the first. The Dodgers tried to rally. Chris Taylor started it all off with a double. A strikeout followed. Then a hit by pitch. Another strikeout. Another hit by pitch. The bases were loaded with two outs. Joc Pederson was next.

Obviously, this was a big moment. Lance McCullers Jr. came in with a knuckle curve for strike one. Another knuckle curve that Pederson swung on and missed. Behind 0-2, Joc swung at the third offering, which was another knuckle curve. He grounded out to second basemen Jose Altuve. The Astros would come at the Dodgers again when they went back to the lumber duty.

Yu Darvish  gave up a walk and double, then got two outs. But George Springer hit a three-run home run. It was 5-0 for the 'stros and the end was near for Joe and company.

Corey Seager started the last of the third with a single. Justin Turner was hit by a pitch. Another potential big inning. The Dodgers needed runs. Cody Bellinger fanned. Brad Peacock hopped in from the Houston bullpen. Yasiel Puig gave it a ride to centre. But it was playable for George Springer. Seager tagged and made it to third. Joc Pederson was back up. Two on. Two out.

Pederson fouled off the first pitch, a fastball. Then he took a ball. He foul tipped the third offering, a 94-mile and hour heater. Houston catcher Brian McCann went to talk to Peacock. Another four-seamer was taken for a ball, evening the count at 2-2. A sweeper was swung on and missed. McCann, who didn't come up with the ball clearnly. threw to first, to complete the strikeout. After three innings, LA and Houston each had only three hits, but it was the Astros with the big lead.

The Dodgers seemed a little demoralized, and went down in order the next inning. In the fifth, they got two more men on, but again failed to cash them in. Clayton Kershaw pitched innings three to six for the Dodgers, and held the Astros scoreless. But the LA bats weren't getting the hits when they needed to.

The bottom of the sixth started with Joc Pederson back at the plate. The first pitch from new pitcher  Charlie Morton was a tough, inside four-seam fastball. Pederson not only got his bat on it, but punched it into centre for a leadoff single. This boasted his batting average to .353 (6-17). Logan Forsythe coaxed a bases on balls from Morton. Could LA finally cash a man or two in? Austin Barnes popped out to Carlos Correa at short.  Andre Ethier batted for Kershaw. Ethier came through with a single that scored Pederson. But that was it. Chris Taylor fanned and Corey Seager grounded out on the first pitch.

The Dodger bullpen picked up where Kershaw had left off. But the Los Angeles' bats were silenced the rest of the way, with Pederson fanning in his final plate appearance of 2017 in the eighth. Morton retired the last eleven Dodgers to face him.

It was a tough loss for Joc and the Dodgers. The sign-stealing scandal would be exposed in the coming years, but Houston was, and still is, the 2017 World Series winners. Pederson and Los Angeles, though, had gotten experience from this lengthy postseason. They'd be back the next year, and again in 2020.

References

Brandt, David. “What Is a Sweeper? A Look at the Pitch Taking over MLB.” AP NEWS, Associated Press, 25 Apr. 2023, https://apnews.com/article/sweeper-pitch-baseball-4a18c6f077c7cc3c062dc9e13519174f. Accessed 02 May 2023.



"Joc Pederson and Chris Taylor Postgame Interview | Dodgers vs Astros Game 6 World Series", YouTube, uploaded by Dodger Highlights (Courtesy of Fox, Major League Baseball), 1 Nov. 2017, https://youtu.be/1w7slMj-cpk?t=185 , Accessed 02 May 2017. (Q & A appears @ 3:05 of video)

Morissey, Scott C. 114 World Series in 1 Book. Updated ed., Pandamonium Publishing House, 2020.

“The Official Site of Major League Baseball.” MLB.com, MLB Advanced Media, https://www.mlb.com/. 02 May 2023.

Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com/. 02 May 2023.



2017 World Series, Fox Broadcasting, 2017, http://www.youtube.com/. Accessed 2 May 2023. 

Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, https://en.wikipedia.org/. 02 May 2023.

Williams, James H. “Watch: Joc Pederson Hits a 3-Run Home Run as the Dodgers Win Game 4 of the World Series.” Press Telegram, MediaNews Group, 29 Oct. 2017, https://www.presstelegram.com/2017/10/28/watch-joc-pederson-hit-a-3-run-home-run-to-extend-the-dodgers-lead-in-game-4-of-the-world-series/. Accessed 02 May 2023.

YouTube, Google, https://www.youtube.com/. 02 May 2023.

World Series: Did You Know?

Carlos Ruiz followed up his excellent 2008 Fall Classic with another splendid performance against the Yankees the next season.

It was, however, not enough to overcome New York, or top Hideki Matsui in batting average. It's not as if Chooch didn't have a big World Series. He and his Philadelphia Phillies were up against a great New York Yankees' team.

It all started at Yankee Stadium (The second such ballpark The Bronx Bombers played in, which opened in . CC Sabathia started for the home team, and looked very good early. Ruiz was retired, part of a 1-2-3 second. Sabathia also had a 1-2-3 fifth, which again included retiring the Philadelphia catcher. Philadelphia had tacked on runs in the third and sixth. In both innings, it was second basemen Chase Utley hitting a solo home run. Would the Phillies' catcher, hitting in the ninth slot, do anything?

The Phillies had stretched their lead to 4-0, and Carlos Ruiz wanted a piece of the action. With one out, he doubled off Brian Bruney. Singles by Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino plated Chooch. It was now 5-0 and the game was in the bag. Philly didn't let up.  Ryan Howard doubled home a run, although the visiting teams' half of the frame ended as Shane Victorino (Who got the run batted in when Ruiz scored) was out at home. So, Ruiz's team was stuck at six runs. But it was more than enough.

The visiting team walked off the field, 6-1 winners. Game two had A.J. Burnett going for the Yankees. And while the Phillies scored a run off him in the second, it would be a long night for Philadelphia. Carlos Ruiz was the first batter in the third. He swung at the first pitch, but grounded out. Philly put two men on, but did not score.

In the top of the fifth, Chooch came up in a 1-1 game. He was eager to break the deadlock, so he hit a one-out double. But Burnett fanned Rollins and then got Victorino to pop out.

Hideki Matsui's sixth inning home run gave New York a 2-1 lead. The Yankees added an insurance run the next inning. By the time Carlos Ruiz came up, the Phillies needed him to do something. But, in the eighth, he faced New York's closer Mariano Rivera. He grounded out.

So it was the Yankees with a big 3-1, squaring this thing, 1-1. The Phillies' catcher was hitting .286, but his performance was off from a year ago. Hideki Matsui was on his way for The Bronx Bombers, lifting his average to .500. Ruiz and Matsui would both get better as the 2009 World Series moved on.

Game three was at Citizens Bank Park. Philadelphia got off to a great start. The scored three times in the bottom of the second. Jayson Werth got it all started with a home run. Then, with Pedro Feliz on second and only one out, Chooch drew a free pass off Andy Pettitte. Philly pitcher Cole Hamels then showed Pettitte how to bat as a pitcher. He singled on the first pitch. The bases were loaded. A bases on balls and a flyball scored two more runs.

But the good times didn't last. It was, after all, against the New York Yankees. The Bronx Bombers went to work. They scored twice in the top of the fourth. Three times in the fifth. Still another touch of home in the sixth. The Phillies suddenly had their work cut out for them.

Jayson Werth got one back with a home run to start the Philly half of the sixth. But Pettitte, who had not allowed a run from innings three to five, fanned the next two batters. Carlos Ruiz kept the inning alive with a walk. And now, Philadelphia had the tying run at the dish. Eric Bruntlett batted for the pitcher, but Pettitte got him to fly out to Nick Swisher (Whose home run had made it 6-3 for The Bronx Bombers) in right.

By the ninth, Philadelphia trailed by four runs, 8-4. Pedro Feliz grounded out to start the Phillies last hurrah. That was a big, first out, as Chooch was next. Despite the two walks earlier, Ruiz was officially 0-1. And now just 2-8 overall. So he needed to do something big, for his team and his batting average. Phil Hughes, the Yankees' pitcher, was carrying on where Pettitte had left off. Philadelphia had not one hit since Werth's home run.

The first pitch was a 78-mile per hour curveball. Inside for ball one. But then Hughes blew the next pitch by Chooch. A 94-mph four-seamer. Swung on and missed. 1-1. The next pitch was one mile slower, but that wasn't the issue for Phil. The pitch was too high and caught too much of the plate. Carlos Ruiz smacked it to left, and it found the stands right around the "374 foot" sign in the gap.

Was there a pattern to Ruiz's three hits so far?

"Two doubles and a home run, in this World Series [For Ruiz]," said Tim McCarver, "all on high fastballs."

Well, it was now a bit closer, 8-5. But the Yankees never were ones to leave anything to chance. Mariano Rivera came in, as it was now a save situation. He retired the next two batters.

So game four was big, with Philly needing it more than New York. Chooch had brought his batting average up to .333 (3-9). Add to that two bases on balls, and that on-base percentage was .455.

But New York wanted to go back to Yankee Stadium ahead, and a win in the fourth game would guarantee that. So, The Bronx Bombers took an early 2-0 lead in it. Philadelphia fought back, and scored single runs in the first and fourth to draw even. Chooch batted with a man on second and two outs in the fourth. CC Sabathia, pitching for the Yankees, could not find the strike zone. The four-pitch walk extended the inning. However, Joe Blanton fanned.

New York was undaunted, and scored twice to regain the two run lead. Solo home runs by Chase Utley in the seventh and Pedro Feliz in the eight tied it for the home team. But once again, the tie ballgame was short lived. In the top of the ninth, an Alex Rodriguez double and Jorge Posada single made it 7-4 for the Yankees. Rivera got the side 1-2-3 when Philly came up. New York was one win away from their 27th World Series win.

Ruiz had just the walk to show for his four trips to the dish. So that batting average was down to just .250. The bigger picture for him and Philadelphia, was now they had to win three straight.

A.J. Burnett was back for another appearance. In the second inning, with Philadelphia up 3-1, Carlos Ruiz led off for the home team. Burnett fanned him. But a huge third inning saw the home team send the Yankees' starting pitcher off to the showers. Raúl Ibañez provided the knockout blow with a run-scoring single.

The rally continued off David Robertson. Though he retired Pedro Feliz, it was only the first out. Robertson got ahead of Chooch 0-2, but Ruiz managed to get a hold of one. The play at second was close, but New York managed to get the force. Jayson Werth, who'd driven in a run earlier this frame, scored. What had been a close game was now a runaway, 6-1.

Ruiz was retired in the sixth, but singled to lead off the bottom of the eighth. The game was another slugfest, as New York didn't quit. Matt Stairs batted for reliever Phil Hughes and hit into a 4-6-3 double play. The Yankees, who'd trailed by as many as six runs, scored three times in the top of the eighth and once in the ninth, before the last out was made. Although they'd scored six runs, New York lost, 8-6. And although a pedestrian 1-4, the Philadelphia catcher, Carlos Ruiz, had and RBI. And no Yankee had stolen a base off him in game five. The Bronx Bombers were stuck at three swipes through five games, as Chooch's arm was clearly something to be reckoned with.

Obviously, game six was another "must-win" situation for Philadelphia. Ruiz moved down, in a way, to the ninth slot. Before that, he'd hit in front of the pitcher in the eighth slot. But the "move" to ninth seemed to help Ruiz's hitting.

But by the time he could come to bat in the top of the third, Carlos' Philadelphia Phillies were behind 2-0. Ruiz, though, worked the count into his favour (3-1). On the fifth pitch of the at-bat, he jumped on Andy Pettitte's offering. It hit off one of the screen dividers, and by the time centre fielder Brett Gardner was able to pick it up, the Philadelphia catcher was gunning. Carlos rounded second and beat the throw from second basemen Robinson Canó. The triple was big. "When there is a chance to get to third with one out, that's what you do," said Tim McCarver in the broadcast booth. "so you can score on something other than a base hit." Jimmy Rollins proved that point. He flew out to Nick Swisher in right, cashing in Carlos.

It was a nice moment for the Phillies' catcher. But really, it would pretty much be the last time his team was in the game. The Yankees scored two more runs in the bottom of the inning. It was 4-1, and with Pettitte pitching so well, the countdown seemed on.

Chooch didn't quit. He coaxed a walk from Pettitte in the fifth, only to be erased via a double play. New York scored three more runs in their half of the inning, and you knew there was no chance for Philadelphia to mount a comeback.

Ryan Howard did hit a two-run home run, and the Phillies were a little closer in the sixth. Yankees' manager decided to talk things over with his starting pitcher. Joba Chamberlain was throwing in the New York bullpen. Raúl Ibañez hit a two-out double. And just like that, Andy Pettitte was gone. Chamberlain got the Yankees out of that mess to keep the score somewhat respectable, 7-3.

J.A. Happ and Chan Ho Park held New York at bay in the sixth, so Carlos Ruiz and his teammates had three innings left to try and score four runs. Chamberlain fanned Ben Francisco to start the Philly half of the seventh. There was still Carlos Ruiz to deal with. He was 1-1, plus the walk. The batting average was up to .294. But was there any magic left in his hat?

Damaso Marte, a left-hander, began to loosen up in the Yankees' bullpen. Ruiz took inside for ball one. A 92-mile per hour heater got the count to 1-1. The third pitch to Carlos was fouled off by the catcher. Joba Chamberlain then threw a slider that just missed. Carlos did not go for it, so the count was even, 2-2. The Yankee Stadium crowd urged Chamerlain on, but Ruiz lined the next pitch into centre for a single. "What a terrific postseason Carlos Ruiz has had," said McCarver to the television audience. The former St. Louis Cardinals' catcher would add, "Philadelphia, desperately trying to get something going against Chamberlain." Tim's broadcast partner, play-by-play man Joe Buck, reminded everyone that this was nothing new for the Philadelphia backstopper. "...Ruiz is doing this in 2009 after a very good postseason in 2008." But Ruiz had actually improved on that. Overall in the 2008 postseason, Carlos' batting average was .261. Here, a year later, his average in October was up to .341. Buck continued, "He has come alive in October again..."  

Jimmy Rollins hit into a force. And while he stole second and Shane Victorino drew a walk, Philadelphia had to be content with just two runs that inning. The Yankees appeared to have a rally going in their half of the frame. A-Rod hit a one-out single. Scott Eyre came in to replace Park and cool off the big bat of Hideki Matsui. Matsui swung and missed a 1-2 pitch, but Rodriguez stole second. After an intentional walk, Robinson Canó became Eyre's second whiff of the inning.

Philadelphia posted a "0" on the scoreboard in the eighth themselves, as New York brought out their big bullpen ace. The Yankees also were held scoreless in their half of the frame.

Mariano Rivera had given up a double in the eighth, but managed to escape. In the ninth, he got Matt Stairs to line to short for the first out. But the inning, like the eighth, would not be easy. Rivera had needed six pitches to get ride of Stairs. Chooch was back at the plate. His bat was red-hot this night. And he was keeping this thing going, even as it neared the eleventh hour. Carlos was 2-2 with a walk. His batting average was now .333 in this World Series. Rivera's first pitch was so low it appeared to hit the plate. Well, if Rivera was going to be beat, he would test Ruiz with his cutter as the plate appearance went on. The next pitch was taken for a strike. Rivera was being careful with the hitter. And perhaps a little too careful. He missed with the next pitch. McCarver spoke about how the pitcher and batter were connected. "Two of only seven Panamanians. In the major leagues. Rivera and Carlos Ruiz."

On the 2-1, Rivera threw one with the intentions of getting it to break. It did but not enough, so the pitch stayed inside as it crossed the plate. 3-1. This was one tough batter for even the best of closers. Rivera got it together and threw a great pitch next, and the cut fastball found the outside of the plate. The count was full. Rivera went back to business with still another cutter, but it did not break across the dish. Ruiz took it all the way. That was one, excellent time up for the Philly catcher.

Jimmy Rollins, who batted left-handed, then got a 0-1 pitch to his liking. He got a little to much under it. Nick Swisher made the catch on the warning track. That close to a 7-5 ballgame. And there would have been only one out. Instead, there were two away, and Chooch was stuck on first. Yankee fans were already up and cheering.

On a 1-1 pitch to Shane Victorino, on which the batter swung and missed, Ruiz took second. Defensive Indifference. Victorino, who was battling a bruise to the index finger on his right hand, battled Rivera to a full count, just like Chooch had. On the tenth pitch of the at-bat, Victorino hit it to second basemen Canó, who threw to first basemen Mark Teixeira to get the final out.

Rivera and his teammates had prevailed. Though it was a 7-3 win, the Yankees' closer had almost matched his jersey number with 41 pitches thrown. Plus he'd needed to throw 39 in his game two save. The Philadelphia batters had made the New York pitches throw, getting on bases 26 times in only six games in a valiant effort to stay with a great team. Carlos Ruiz was one of three Phillies to get five walks himself. Overall, he'd hit for a .333 batting average, which was tops on Philadelphia. But even more impressive was his team-leading .478 on-base percentage. This Fall Classic made Chooch a better player, as Carlos lifted his batting average from just .255 in 2009, to .302 the next season. And one final thing about Ruiz World Series performance. "After this postseason," wrote Chuck Booth at Fansided, "the name “Señor Octubre” stuck for Ruiz."



References

Booth, Chuck. “Philadelphia Phillies: The Legacy of Carlos Ruiz.” FanSided, Minute Media, 18 May 2016, https://section215.com/2016/05/18/philadelphia-phillies-fanthe-legacy-of-carlos-ruiz/. 

Morissey, Scott C. 114 World Series in 1 Book. Updated ed., Pandamonium Publishing House, 2020.

Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com/. 01 May 2023.

Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, https://en.wikipedia.org/. 01 May 2023.

World Series 2009. Fox Broadcasting Company, 2009, https://www.youtube.com/. Accessed May 01 2023. 

YouTube, Google, https://www.youtube.com/. 01 May 2023.