Moe Problems In The Orioles Bullpen In 1967!

Moe Drabowksy of the Baltimore Orioles is best remembered for his performance in game two of the 1966 World Series. Moe fanned eleven Los Angeles Dodgers, including a record-tying six in a row (Hod Eller and Todd Worrell also fanned six straight). But it wasn't Moe's only shining moment. He carved out a fine career in the bullpen after failing to make it as a starter in the late 1950s and early 60s. Although he went 6-0 in '66 (And 1-0, of course in the the Fall Classic), he was actually better the next season. Moe won seven, lost five, but posted an excellent ERA of 1.60 (Compared to 2.81 the previous season). Drabowsky added a career-high twelve saves for seventh place in the junior circuit. His efforts, however, were wasted by Baltimore, who failed to repeat their pennant success.

Stat Set 1

Pitcher	Year	GP	GF	GF%	IP	W	L
Crandall	1913	35	27	0.771	97.2	4	4
Wolfgang	1914	24	12	0.500	119.1	9	5
Mays	1915	38	27	0.711	131.2	6	5
Danforth	1917	50	26	0.520	173.0	11	6
Pitcher	Year	GP	GF	GF%	IP	W	L
Morton	1921	30	15	0.500	107.2	8	3
Baumgartner	1925	37	9	0.243	113.1	6	3
Marberry	1926	64	47	0.734	138.0	12	7
Haid	1928	27	14	0.519	47.0	2	2
Pitcher	Year	GP	GF	GF%	IP	W	L
Lindsey	1931	35	19	0.543	74.2	6	4
Quinn	1932	39	29	0.744	64.1	5	4
Russell	1933	50	31	0.620	124.0	12	6
Brown	1938	51	32	0.627	132.2	15	9
Pitcher	Year	GP	GF	GF%	IP	W	L
Beggs	1940	37	27	0.730	76.2	12	3
Murphy	1941	35	31	0.886	77.1	8	3
Adams	1943	70	52	0.743	140.1	11	7
Heving	1944	63	38	0.603	119.2	8	3
Maltzberger	1944	46	41	0.891	91.1	10	5
Christopher	1947	44	38	0.864	80.2	10	7
Page	1949	60	48	0.800	135.1	13	8
Pitcher	Year	GP	GF	GF%	IP	W	L
Konstanty	1950	74	62	0.838	152.0	16	7
Wilhelm	1952	71	32	0.451	159.1	15	3
Paige	1952	46	35	0.761	138.0	12	10
Kinder	1953	69	52	0.754	107.0	10	6
Mossi	1954	40	18	0.450	93.0	6	1
Narleski	1955	60	36	0.600	111.2	9	1
Freeman	1956	64	47	0.734	108.2	14	5
Farrell	1957	52	32	0.615	83.1	10	2
Zuverink	1957	56	37	0.661	112.2	10	6
Hyde	1958	53	44	0.830	103.0	10	3
Duren	1959	41	29	0.707	76.2	3	6
Staley	1959	67	37	0.552	116.1	8	5
Face	1959	57	47	0.825	93.1	18	1
Pitcher	Year	GP	GF	GF%	IP	W	L
McDaniel	1960	63	47	0.746	104.1	12	4
Arroyo	1961	65	54	0.831	119.0	15	5
Fox	1961	39	25	0.641	57.1	5	2
Radatz	1963	66	58	0.879	131.1	15	6
Perranoski	1963	69	47	0.681	129.0	16	3
Lee	1964	64	39	0.609	137.0	6	5
Ellis	1964	52	32	0.615	122.1	10	3
Miller	1965	67	55	0.821	112.1	14	7
Regan	1966	65	48	0.738	116.2	14	1
Drabowsky	1967	43	26	0.605	95.1	7	5
Abernathy	1967	70	61	0.871	106.1	6	3
Wood	1968	88	46	0.523	159.0	13	12
Tatum	1969	45	33	0.733	86.1	7	2
Pitcher	Year	GP	GF	GF%	IP	W	L
Williams	1970	68	36	0.529	113.1	10	1
McMahon	1970	61	44	0.721	94.1	9	5
Sanders	1971	83	77	0.928	136.1	7	12
Giusti	1972	54	44	0.815	74.2	7	4
Hiller	1973	65	60	0.923	125.1	10	5
Borbon	1973	80	36	0.450	121.0	11	4
Marshall	1974	106	83	0.783	208.1	15	12
Gossage	1975	62	49	0.790	141.2	9	8
Eastwick	1976	71	59	0.831	107.2	11	5
Lyle	1977	72	60	0.833	137.0	13	5
Sutter	1977	62	48	0.774	107.1	7	3
Blair	1978	70	56	0.800	100.1	7	6
Stanley	1978	52	35	0.673	141.2	15	2
Tekulve	1979	94	67	0.713	134.1	10	8
Pitcher	Year	GP	GF	GF%	IP	W	L
McGraw	1980	57	48	0.842	92.1	5	4
Fingers	1981	47	41	0.872	78.0	6	3
Caudill	1982	70	64	0.914	95.2	12	9
Hernandez	1984	80	68	0.850	140.1	9	3
Lamp	1985	53	11	0.208	105.2	11	0
Eichhorn	1986	69	38	0.551	157.0	14	6
Henke	1987	72	62	0.861	94.0	0	6
Burke	1987	55	30	0.545	91.0	7	0
Henneman	1988	65	51	0.785	91.1	9	6
Lancaster	1989	42	15	0.357	72.2	4	2
Pitcher	Year	GP	GF	GF%	IP	W	L
Eckersley	1990	63	61	0.968	73.1	4	2
Thigpen	1990	77	73	0.948	88.2	4	6
Henry	1991	32	25	0.781	36.0	2	1
Ward	1992	79	35	0.443	101.1	7	4
Rojas	1992	68	26	0.382	100.2	7	1
Wetteland	1993	70	58	0.829	85.1	9	3
Harvey	1993	59	54	0.915	69.0	1	5
Hoffman	1998	66	61	0.924	73.0	4	2
Urbina	1998	64	59	0.922	69.1	6	3
Williamson	1999	62	40	0.645	93.1	12	7
Pitcher	Year	GP	GF	GF%	IP	W	L
Rhodes	2001	71	16	0.225	68.0	8	0
Smoltz	2003	62	55	0.887	64.1	0	2
Timlin	2005	81	27	0.333	80.1	7	3
Nathan	2006	64	61	0.953	68.1	7	0
Putz	2007	68	65	0.956	71.2	6	1
Rivera	2008	64	60	0.938	70.2	6	5
Pitcher	Year	GP	GF	GF%	IP	W	L
Bell	2010	67	57	0.851	70.0	6	1
Cook	2012	71	23	0.324	73.1	6	2
Chapman	2012	68	52	0.765	71.2	5	5
Johnson	2012	71	63	0.887	68.2	2	1
Davis	2014	70	11	0.157	72.0	9	2
Rondon	2015	72	47	0.653	70.0	6	4
Pitcher	Year	GP	GF	GF%	IP	W	L

Stat Set 2

Pitcher	Year	S	BS	S%	H	ERA	K	K/9	WHIP	WAR
Crandall	1913	6	?	?	?	2.86	42	3.9	1.290	0.5
Wolfgang	1914	0	?	?	?	1.89	50	3.8	1.073	1.8
Mays	1915	7	?	?	?	2.60	65	4.4	1.063	1.0
Danforth	1917	9	?	?	?	2.65	79	4.1	1.324	3.2
Pitcher	Year	S	BS	S%	H	ERA	K	K/9	WHIP	WAR
Morton	1921	0	?	?	?	2.76	45	3.8	1.207	2.3
Baumgartner	1925	3	?	?	?	3.57	18	1.4	1.368	2.5
Marberry	1926	22	?	?	?	3.00	43	2.8	1.348	3.1
Haid	1928	5	?	?	?	2.30	21	4.0	1.064	0.4
Pitcher	Year	S	BS	S%	H	ERA	K	K/9	WHIP	WAR
Lindsey	1931	7	1	0.875	?	2.77	32	3.9	1.634	1.1
Quinn	1932	13	?	?	?	2.66	24	3.5	1.383	1.1
Russell	1933	13	?	?	?	2.69	28	2.0	1.218	3.1
Brown	1938	5	?	?	?	3.80	55	3.7	1.500	0.4
Pitcher	Year	S	BS	S%	H	ERA	K	K/9	WHIP	WAR
Beggs	1940	7	4	0.636	0	2.00	25	2.9	1.161	2.2
Murphy	1941	15	7	0.682	0	1.98	29	3.4	1.397	2.2
Adams	1943	9	2	0.818	0	2.82	46	3.0	1.254	3.0
Heving	1944	10	?	?	0	1.96	46	3.5	1.228	1.9
Maltzberger	1944	12	?	?	0	2.96	49	4.8	1.095	1.8
Christopher	1947	12	2	0.857	0	2.90	33	3.7	1.277	1.4
Page	1949	27	11	0.711	0	2.59	99	6.6	1.315	4.2
Pitcher	Year	S	BS	S%	H	ERA	K	K/9	WHIP	WAR
Konstanty	1950	22	4	0.846	0	2.66	56	3.3	1.039	4.7
Wilhelm	1952	11	1	0.917	1	2.43	108	6.1	1.155	2.7
Paige	1952	10	5	0.667	1	3.07	91	5.9	1.254	3.4
Kinder	1953	27	8	0.771	4	1.85	39	3.3	1.140	4.5
Mossi	1954	7	0	1.000	0	1.94	55	5.3	1.022	3.3
Narleski	1955	19	2	0.905	6	3.71	94	7.6	1.281	2.5
Freeman	1956	18	3	0.857	2	3.40	50	4.1	1.344	2.6
Farrell	1957	10	3	0.769	0	2.38	54	5.8	1.320	2.4
Zuverink	1957	9	8	0.529	0	2.48	36	2.9	1.278	2.7
Hyde	1958	18	5	0.783	0	1.75	49	4.3	1.136	4.9
Duren	1959	14	7	0.667	1	1.88	96	11.3	1.200	3.8
Staley	1959	15	4	0.789	2	2.24	54	4.2	1.169	2.5
Face	1959	10	9	0.526	1	2.70	69	6.7	1.243	3.2
Pitcher	Year	S	BS	S%	H	ERA	K	K/9	WHIP	WAR
McDaniel	1960	26	6	0.813	1	1.29	95	8.2	0.863	6.0
Arroyo	1961	29	10	0.744	1	2.19	87	6.6	1.109	3.3
Fox	1961	12	2	0.857	3	1.41	32	5.0	1.012	2.6
Radatz	1963	25	3	0.893	0	1.97	162	11.0	1.096	5.7
Perranoski	1963	21	8	0.724	0	1.67	75	5.2	1.202	4.5
Lee	1964	19	8	0.704	1	1.51	111	7.3	1.058	4.3
Ellis	1964	14	2	0.875	1	2.57	125	9.2	1.054	3.1
Miller	1965	24	1	0.960	1	1.89	104	7.8	0.997	4.3
Regan	1966	21	7	0.750	1	1.62	88	6.8	0.934	5.0
Drabowsky	1967	12	5	0.706	3	1.60	96	9.1	0.955	3.2
Abernathy	1967	28	6	0.824	1	1.27	88	7.4	0.978	6.2
Wood	1968	16	5	0.762	7	1.87	74	4.2	1.006	5.4
Tatum	1969	22	1	0.957	2	1.36	65	6.8	1.042	4.3
Pitcher	Year	S	BS	S%	H	ERA	K	K/9	WHIP	WAR
Williams	1970	15	4	0.789	7	1.99	76	6.0	1.032	2.8
McMahon	1970	19	5	0.792	0	2.96	74	7.1	1.219	3.0
Sanders	1971	31	4	0.886	0	1.91	80	5.3	1.064	4.1
Giusti	1972	22	5	0.815	0	1.93	54	6.5	1.058	2.3
Hiller	1973	38	0	1.000	0	1.44	124	8.9	1.021	8.1
Borbon	1973	14	5	0.737	6	2.16	60	4.5	1.421	2.5
Marshall	1974	21	12	0.636	9	2.42	143	6.2	1.186	3.1
Gossage	1975	26	5	0.839	1	1.84	130	8.3	1.193	8.2
Eastwick	1976	26	9	0.743	1	2.09	70	5.9	1.115	2.8
Lyle	1977	26	8	0.765	1	2.17	68	4.5	1.197	3.7
Sutter	1977	31	9	0.775	0	1.34	129	10.8	0.857	6.5
Stanley	1978	10	5	0.667	1	2.60	38	2.2	1.242	4.1
Blair	1978	28	5	0.848	2	1.97	91	8.2	1.246	4.1
Tekulve	1979	31	6	0.838	8	2.79	75	5.0	1.176	3.2
Pitcher	Year	S	BS	S%	H	ERA	K	K/9	WHIP	WAR
McGraw	1980	20	5	0.800	0	1.46	75	7.3	0.921	4.7
Fingers	1981	28	6	0.824	0	1.04	61	7.0	0.872	4.2
Caudill	1982	26	6	0.813	0	2.35	111	10.4	1.045	4.4
Hernandez	1984	32	1	0.970	0	1.92	112	7.2	0.941	4.8
Lamp	1985	2	5	0.286	8	3.32	68	5.8	1.164	1.3
Eichhorn	1986	10	4	0.714	7	1.72	166	9.5	0.955	7.4
Henke	1987	34	8	0.810	1	2.49	128	12.3	0.926	3.3
Burke	1987	18	4	0.818	5	1.19	58	5.7	0.890	4.3
Henneman	1988	22	7	0.759	2	1.87	58	5.7	1.051	3.3
Lancaster	1989	8	3	0.727	7	1.36	56	6.9	1.032	3.9
Pitcher	Year	S	BS	S%	H	ERA	K	K/9	WHIP	WAR
Eckersley	1990	48	2	0.960	0	0.61	73	9.0	0.614	3.3
Thigpen	1990	57	8	0.877	0	1.83	70	7.1	1.038	3.4
Henry	1991	15	1	0.938	3	1.00	28	7.0	0.833	2.2
Ward	1992	12	4	0.750	24	1.95	103	9.1	1.135	3.1
Rojas	1992	10	1	0.909	13	1.43	70	6.3	1.043	3.9
Wetteland	1993	43	1	0.977	0	1.37	113	12.0	1.008	4.2
Harvey	1993	45	4	0.918	0	1.70	73	9.5	0.841	4.0
Hoffman	1998	53	1	0.981	0	1.48	86	10.6	0.849	4.1
Urbina	1998	34	4	0.895	0	1.30	94	12.2	1.010	3.2
Williamson	1999	19	7	0.731	5	2.41	107	10.3	1.039	2.8
Pitcher	Year	S	BS	S%	H	ERA	K	K/9	WHIP	WAR
Rhodes	2001	3	4	0.429	31	1.72	83	11.0	0.853	2.5
Smoltz	2003	45	4	0.918	0	1.12	73	10.2	0.870	3.3
Timlin	2005	13	7	0.650	24	2.24	59	6.6	1.320	2.9
Nathan	2006	36	2	0.947	0	1.58	95	12.5	0.790	3.3
Putz	2007	40	2	0.952	0	1.38	82	10.3	0.698	4.0
Rivera	2008	39	1	0.975	0	1.40	77	9.8	0.665	4.3
Pitcher	Year	S	BS	S%	H	ERA	K	K/9	WHIP	WAR
Bell	2010	47	3	0.940	0	1.93	86	11.1	1.200	1.9
Cook	2012	14	7	0.667	21	2.09	80	9.8	0.941	2.6
Chapman	2012	38	5	0.884	6	1.51	122	15.3	0.809	3.6
Johnson	2012	51	3	0.944	0	2.49	41	5.4	1.019	2.4
Davis	2014	3	3	0.500	33	1.00	109	13.6	0.847	3.7
Rondon	2015	30	4	0.882	8	1.67	69	8.6	1.000	2.2
Pitcher	Year	S	BS	S%	H	ERA	K	K/9	WHIP	WAR

Notes

Baumgartner appeared as a starter twelve times

Wolfgang appeared as a starter eleven times.

Danforth appeared as a starter nine times.

Morton appeared as a starter seven times.

Paige and Mays appeared as a starter six times.

Marberry, Mossi, Lee and Ellis appeared as a starter five times.

Russell, Stanley and Adams appeared as a starter three times.

Brown, McDaniel, Wood, Crandall and Lindsey appeared as a starter two times.

Beggs, Quinn, Narleski and McGraw appeared once as a starter.

Maltzberger, Hyde, Konstanty, Duren, Tekulve and Henke all wore glasses.



References

Snyder, John. World Series!: Great Moments And Dubious Achievements. San Francisco: Chronicle, 1995. Print.

Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com. Web. 14 May 2016.

Youtube. Web. 14 May 2016. <https://www.youtube.com/>

2016 Stanley Cup: Eastern Conference Finals Prediction

So, five years after meeting in the first round, it's a much better edition of the Tampa Bay Lightning vs. an up-and-down Pittsburgh Penguins team.

Well folks, this one is hard to call. Obviously, the big story is Steven Stankos. Whether he ever returns in the playoffs is an on-going story line. As is, whether or not Steven will ever play again for the Lightning, as he's set to become a free agent July 1st. "Free" though, isn't the word I'd use to describe what he'll be. Stamkos will have quite a price tag.

In an event, the Lightning have Ben Bishop in goal, doing exactly what he did all of last year's playoffs. Frustrate. Get under the shooters skin. Be clutch. You name it. Last year, before the start of the postseason I'm sure a lot of fans were wondering what kind of a goalie he'd be in the playoffs. No one was asking after.

Nor is anyone asking this postseason. Bishop has actually been better in 2016 than he was in 2015.

Last year, Bishop's numbers were: 13-11, 2.18 GAA and .921 S% (And three shutouts). This year, Ben is 8-2, 1.89, .938 (And two shutouts). He led the playoffs in shutouts last year and is doing that again (so far) this season. He is a game-stealer. Look for him to steal at least two games this series.

For the Pens, there are question marks. Sure, everyone is swept up in the amazing newcomer Matt Murray. But somehow, he doesn't look like he's in the class of Bishop. He has seven wins (Just two less than in the regular season), a shutout, a goals-against-average of 2.00. His save percentage is close to Bishop's, 9.30. Now, I agree on the surface that his numbers look on par to Big Ben's, but unless he's the second coming of Ken Dryden (Those old enough to remember the tall Montreal Canadians goaltender's amazing performance in 1971, you tell 'em!), I think he's clearly second best. And it's not even close. Bishop took his team to the finals last year, winning two series in seven, including a win in the finale against the Rangers on the road. Murray had to win the job from Jeff Zakoff in the playoffs. Marc-Andre Fleury hasn't played since March, finally recovered from his second concussion of the season. But he's in an awkward position to be shoved in there. So it will be Murray in there. For now, at least.

The Lightning have been getting plenty of opportunistic scoring from their "other" players. As, too, have been the Penguins. However, think about it this way: Tampa has gotten it done against Roberto Luongo and Thomas Greiss, two pretty good goalies! Are they going to have a problem with Murray? Hmmmm. Maybe. Maybe.

Not helping the situation is Sid Crosby and Evengi Malkin. They've been below par in recent games. The will need to get it going. Now.

Tampa Will Win If: Bishop continues to do what he's been doing. Having Stamkos return before game four, will also be a huge deciding factor. And if Tyler Johnson and Nikita Kucherov continue their great play.

Pittsburgh Will Win If: Crosby and Malkin get it going and play to their abundant capabilities. Also, Murray will continue to be sharp. Perhaps also, if Matt comes down to earth, and Marc-Andre Fleury returns and plays like he did in the regular season.


References


"Official Site of the National Hockey League" NHL.com. National Hockey League. Web. 13 May. 2016.  <https://www.nhl.com>.

Sports Reference LLC. Hockey-Reference.com - Hockey Statistics and History. http://www.hockey-reference.com/. Web. 13 June. 2016.

World Series: Did You Know?

The first batter Nolan Ryan faced in the Fall Classic was Paul Blair. And later on in the same game, Ryan faced him again. Both times, it was with the bases loaded. It was also the only World Series Ryan ever pitched in.

The 1969 New York Mets were trying to pull off an upset of the great Baltimore Orioles in 1969. The Orioles, out to win it all again (Having blown away the Los Angeles Dodgers in four straight three years earlier), beat Tom Seaver and company, 4-1 in the opener in Baltimore. Jerry Koosman tried to equal things in the second contest, and it was the Mets squeaked by with a 2-1 win. All tied up, and heading to The Big Apple.

Game three at Shea Stadium matched Baltimore's Jim Palmers with New York Gary Gentry. Tommie Agee got the home squad off on the right foot as he hit a Palmer pitch right over Paul Blair's head in centre for a leadoff home run in the bottom of the first. The Mets were ahead to stay.

Gentry himself doubled home two more runs the next inning, and it was quickly 3-0, New York. Could Baltimore retaliate?

Well, they put two men on the very next inning, and Elrod Hendricks came to the dish. With two strikes on him, Elrod sent one to left centre. Agee, the Mets centre fielder, raced for it. He finally snagged it with a backhand stab just in front of the 396 sign. That saved the home team from having their lead to just a single run.

Gentry allowed the Orioles another two base runners in the top of the sixth. With two away, Frank Robinson drew a walk. When Boog Powell singled, it was time for Nolan Ryan to get up in the Mets' bullpen and start throwing. Brooks Robinson (Not related to Frank) was the next batter for the O's.

Gentry fell behind in the count 3-1, in danger of loading the bases. But on the next pitch, Robinson sent a tame fly to Art Shamsky in right to end that. The next inning proved to be Gentry's last, however.

New York got another run of Jim Palmer in the bottom of the frame, for some more breathing room. Now ahead 4-0, the home team looked to have it all under control. The roof then nearly caved in.

Hendricks led off the top of the seventh by sending Agee to the warning tracks the other way. In right. Agee made the putout on the long, loud out. When Davey Johnson flied to centre, Gentry seemed to be on cruise control. Suddenly, his control eluded him. Three straight walks loaded the bases. Paul Blair was the batter. However, Gary Gentry was no longer the pitcher. Manager Gil Hodges had seen enough. Nolan Ryan hopped in with a 4-0 lead, but the tying run at the plate. So this was a save situation.

Blair sent one to right centre. Agee had a beat on this one, too. He finally caught up with it, made a desperate dive, and made a terrific catch to stop Baltimore from scoring two, or possibly three runs.

The eighth inning was a little less eventfull for Nolan. Ryan fanned both Boog Powell and Brooks Robinson in a 1-2-3 top of the eighth Before that, though, it was Frank Robinson sending Agee all the way to the wall with a powerful drive. Agee caught it with his back to the fence. The Mets, meanwhile scored again in the last of the eighth, their fifth and final tally of the game.

The ninth inning saw Elrod Hendricks and Davey Johnson fly to Shamsky. Ryan seemed to have it all together. But then Mark Belanger. Pinch hitter Clay Dalrymple was sent to bat for the pitcher. Dalrymple sent a grounder just past the mound to Ryan's left. The ball continued to centre. Al Weis got to it, and tried to get Belanger at second. The throw was too late. Chico Salmon came on to bat for Dalrymple, who had been credited with an infield single. It was the first hit by the O's off Ryan,

It was back to the top of the lineup for the Orioles. That was enough of a concern for Gil Hodges that Tug McGraw and Ron Taylor began to loosen up in the New York Mets' bullpen. Don Buford drew the second walk of the inning for Baltimore (After sending a long foul ball into the stands in left). And that brought Blair back up. And the bases were loaded again.

Although up 5-0, New York couldn't afford to give up any ground here. Baltimore had probably given this up as a loss, but you never know with the bases loaded. Weren't the Orioles due?

It was conference time on the mound as Hodges decided to leave Ryan in. Quickly, he got ahead of Blair 0-2. The next pitch curveball that umpire Larry Napp called a strike! Nolan Ryan had a save in his one and only Fall Classic appearance. More importantly, the Mets were up 2-1 on the Orioles courtesy of this 5-0 win. New York made sure to build on the momentum. The took game four 2-1, and wrapped it up at home with a 5-3 triumph in the fifth contest. The New York Mets were on top of the world in 1969. And Nolan Ryan made his solo appearance on baseball's grandest stage count.



References

Enders, Eric. 100 years of the World Series. Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. New York, 2005. Print.

Neft, David S., and Richard M. Cohen. The World Series: Complete Play-by-play of Every Game, 1903-1989. 4th ed. New York: St. Martin's, 1990. 327. Print.

Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com/. Web. 13 May 2016.

MLBClassics. "1969 World Series, Game 3: Orioles @ Mets." Online Video Clip. YouTube. YouTube, 11 Oct. 2010. Web. 13 May 2016. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHSksQbNZD4>.

Common Demoninator: Gary Carter

"Kept the Expos alive in game five the 1981 NLCS, kept the Mets alive in game six of the 1986 World Series."

Gary Carter was on the Montreal Expos in '81, when they made it to the postseason for the first (and only) time in franchise history. In the Division Series vs. Philadelphia, it was Montreal coming out on top in five games. Carter hit .421, two home runs and six RBIs. The Los Angeles Dodgers were next.

Leading two games to one, with games four (and possibly five) at home at The Big O, the Expos looked home free. The hometown fans left disappointed as the Dodgers evened the series at two with a big 7-1 win in the fourth contest. It was down to a winner-take-all game five.

Los Angeles broke a 1-1 tie in the top of the ninth with a single tally off Steve Rogers via a home run by Rick Monday. Fernando Valenzuela quickly got the first two Montreal batters out to start the bottom of the frame. Things look grim for the Expos.

Gary Carter was the batter. He fell behind 1-2, but then worked Fernando to a full count. The seventh pitch of the plate appearance was ball four. Montreal was still alive. Carter then left the game for a pinch runner, but the Expos still had their backs to the wall. Somehow, they needed to get the ball by the outfielders.

Valenzuela next worked on Larry Parrish, the Montreal Expos third sacker. But he fell behind 3-1. Getting it back to a full count, the runner (Jerry Manuel) would be off on the next pitch. Fernando missed it. Two on, two down.

Anything by the outfielders and Montreal was headed to the World Series! The batter was now Jerry White. Bob Welch took over on the mound. He was trying to save the Dodgers season. On Welch's first pitch of the at bat, White grounded out to second, ending a thrilling National League Championship Series.

Carter was on the Mets five years later. They beat Houston in another thrilling NLCS. The Astros refused to die in game six, by the way. Coming back to tie it in the bottom of the 14th. Two innings later, New York looked home free as they scored three more runs. The Astros got two runs back in the bottom of the frame before the final out was made.

The Mets trailed the Red Sox in the World Series that year, as Boston was looking for their first title since 1918. Up three games to two, the action in game six was at Shea Stadium.

The game went into extra innings, but Boston suddenly pounced on New York. Dave Henderson hit a tie-breaking home run in the top of the tenth. Another run by the Sox made it 5-3. In the bottom of the frame, Calvin Schiraldi made quick work of Wally Backman and Keith Hernandez. The Mets needed to get someone on.

Carter popped one back behind the screen. 0-1. On the next pitch, Gary singled to left. Kevin Mitchell was sent up as a pinch hitter and singled to centre on a Schiraldi curveball. Ray Knight took a strike. Then he hit a bouncer foul on the third base side. One strike away. But no. Knight got jammed on an inside offering, but blooped a single to centre to score Carter. 5-4. Bob Stanley came in.

Mookie Wilson was up. Soon, he too was looking at two strikes. But them, Stanley threw a wild pitch. Wilson fouled off some more pitches, then hit a roller down first. Incredibly, it went through the legs of first basemen Bill Buckner. Around third and home came Knight! New York had a 6-5 win thanks to Carter's never-say-die moment! His second of his career. The Mets went on to win the 1986 Fall Classic with an 8-5 win over the Red Sox in game seven.

But all Mets fans will tell you, that never happens without Carter's single in game six. I'm sure the Red Sox's fans haven't forgotten it, either!


References


Enders, Eric. 100 years of the World Series. Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. New York, 2005. Print.

Neft, David S., Richard M. Cohen, and Michael L. Neft. The Sports Encyclopedia: Baseball, 1992. 12th ed. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1992. Print.

Neft, David S., and Richard M. Cohen. The World Series: Complete Play-by-play of Every Game, 1903-1989. 4th ed. New York: St. Martin's, 1990. 416. Print.

Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com/. Web. 12 May 2016.

2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs: The Story So Far

So, it's the Tampa Bay Lightning waiting. Ovie and Sid battlin' and going the distance in the West. The 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs have had it all. As always.

The initial concern was that, with no Canadian teams involved, there would not be much going on in the playoffs that could arouse the interest of followers of the nation's sports. That, of course, proved to be incorrect.

For starters, in the Western Conference, which has continued to prove it's superiority over over their Eastern counterparts in recent seasons, there some surprises. One of the first teams to lose was the very team that didn't lose in 2015, the Chicago Blackhawks. It was the St. Louis Blues pulling off the upset. And it took them seven games to do that, so it was one of the best series of the first round. The Anaheim Ducks were also upset in seven by the Nashville Predators. But the first team to go was the Los Angeles Kings. They were beaten in the first round of the Pacific semis by the San Jose Sharks. You may recall the Sharks' goalie, Martin Jones: Didn't this guy play for the Kings a few seasons back?

Another example of a former player coming back to haunt his old team.

Dallas, making sure not to waste their 50-win regular season, got by Minnesota in the first round, setting up a second round matchup with St. Louis. That series is awaiting the seventh game. As, too, is the San Jose / Nashville matchup.

Game four of that splendid Western Semis Finals between the Sharks and Predators had it all. Amazing goaltending. Scoring. A disallowed OT goal. Powerplays in overtime (You don't see much of that). It finally came to an end when Carrie Underwood's husband Mike Fisher scored the dramatic winner in the third overtime session. Another overtime win by the Preds in game six has sent the series to a winner-take-all game seven.

How about the Eastern Conference.

Well, for starters, it was Washington beating Philadelphia. But the Flyers, who barely made the playoffs, pushed back from 3-0 down when Michal Neuvirth took over in Philadelphia's crease. He even stole game five right there in Washington with a 44-save shutout performance. But it was Brandon Holtby, who has played amazing all playoff long, who ended the Flyers season in game six.

The Capitals now trail the Penguins 3-2 in their second round matchup. Pittsburgh got some revenge against the very team that ousted them the last two playoffs, the New York Rangers. The big story out of Pittsburgh has been their goaltedning. Marc-Andre Fleury, having played splendidly in the regular season (Finishing tenth in S%, .921), was looking forward, no doubt, to a playoff series against the New York Rangers and goalie Henrik Lundqvist. But Fleury was out with his second concussion of the 2015/16 season in March.

Pittsburgh was forced to use Jeff Zatkoff and Matt Murray in the series. While Zatkoff showed plenty of potential with a pretty good performance in game one, a loss in game two made the Pens make a move. A move to the less experienced Matt Murray. Murray had only 13 games of NHL experience (All this season) prior to stepping into the spotlight in game three on Broadway. All Matt did was take the ball and run with it. The Rangers were beaten in the next three games, and then the Capitals were pushed to the brink via some outstanding netminding from the kid. Can he continue? We will have to wait and see.

One person who had to wait and see for a long time was John Taveres. Having been in the league for seven years now (It seems like only yesterday that it was his rookie year), he watched as his New York Islanders lacked playoff success. Now in Brooklyn, the Islanders entered this playoffs as the underdogs against the first place (In the Atlantic Division) Florida Panthers. But all John did was go out and get nine points in the six-game battle. It looked like the Islanders were going to have to win it in Florida in game seven, but then Tavares became clutch. He tied game six with just 54 seconds to go, as the home crowd roared their approval. John wasn't through playing heroics. His goal at 10:41 of the second overtime sent the Islanders into the second round of the postseason for the first time in 23 years.

Once their, John and his teammates continued to battle. But they came up against a great Tampa Bay Lightning. The Lightning were thought to be beatable in the playoffs. They weren't going to be as good as they'd been last year. In the 2015 postseason, they needed seven game to beat the Detroit Red Wings, six to beat the Montreal Canadians, and another seven to beat the New York Rangers. They gave Chicago all they could handle in the Stanley Cup Finals before finally yielding in six games. But so far this postseason, sans Steven Stamkos (Rumours continue to swirl that he will land in Toronto or Montreal next season), the Lightning don't know what game six is. They have yet to play in one.

It was close in the first round against Detroit. But Tampa had no intentions of going seven like in '15. Or even six. However, the games themselves were close, as the biggest margin of victory was Tampa's 5-2 win in the second contest. The Red Wings then got a shutout at home in game three to keep the Lightning honest. Petr Mrazek, the Detroit goalie, continued to make life difficult for the opposition in games four and five, as the Wings threatened to extend this to six or maybe even seven. But Ben Bishop, his counterpart on Tampa, kept calm and cool in the Lightning net. Bishop and his team took game four, 3-2, then pitched a shutout of his own in game five.

The Lightning didn't stop their. But if they had any thoughts that the Islanders would be a pushover, it all evaporated in the first game in Tampa. New York won, 5-3, Tavares getting a goal and an assist. But here's where Bishop, who really made a name for himself in the 2015 playoffs, took over. He stopped all but one shot in game two, winning a narrow 2-1 decision. The series shifted to Brooklyn's Barclay's Center for game three and four. And let me assure you, the home team played great.

However, it was not enough for a win in either contest. The Islander scored the first goal of the third game, but it was the Lightning that refused to get behind the eight ball. The game see-sawed back and fourth, and reached it's peak of competitiveness when Tampa Bay's Nikita Kucherov tied it with only 39 seconds to go. Ovetime lasted less than four minutes, as the galvanized Lightning won it on Brian Boyle's dramatic goal.

New York again got off on the right foot in the next game. They tallied the game's first goal as Kyle Okposo got one less than five minutes in. The lead lasted until the third period, as Tampa's Nikita Kucherov again tied it. There was still over twelve minutes of play to go in the third, but Bishop and New York's Thomas Greiss held the fort for both squads, ensuring another overtime. Greiss hadn't had smooth sailing despite only allowing one goal, however. Although he stopped 20 of the first 21 shots to face him, he developed a skate problem in the second period. Jean-Francois Berube (Not related to ex-tough guy Craig Berube) took over for 4:47, making his NHL playoff debut under the most unusual of circumstances. He stopped the only two shots he'd face. During the regular season, Berube had played in just seven games. Berube had no previous NHL experience before 2015/16.

But overtime was again very short. At 1:48, it was Tampa defencemen Jason Garrison picking a fine time to score his first playoff goal. The Lightning had weathered a storm thrown at them on the road.
Finally, the Islanders were demoralized, and it was the Lighting riding a 4-0 shutout from Bishop in game five to send stubborn New York to the golf course. But we have not heard the last from Tavares and company, believe me.


References

"Official Site of the National Hockey League." NHL.com. National Hockey League. Web. 10 May 2016. <https://www.nhl.com/>

"Penguins Goaltender Fleury Still Dealing With Concussion." The Big Story. Associated Press, 25 Apr. 2016. Web. 10 May 2016. <http://bigstory.ap.org/article/5a94c51526f64f279d410bf8cb16996a/ penguins-goaltender-fleury-still-dealing-concussion>.

Sports Reference LLC. Hockey-Reference.com - Hockey Statistics and History. http://www.hockey-reference.com/. Web. 10 May, 2016.