We started with 8 regions, 128 teams - we are 8 series away from cutting that to 64. Tremendous.
8. 1910 Philadelphia Athletics v. 121. 2002 San Francisco Giants
-The Final number one seed is the 1910 A's; the '09 A's have already advanced and the '13 A's are still to come. This is the only chance that Barry Bonds or the San Francisco Giants have to advance; the first time we've seen either. I don't really root for any teams when I do these series - but I'll be rooting for the Giants to get one here. The A's won the whole thing; the Giants sure looked like they were going to.
Giants-Dusty Baker
CF Lofton (35) 104 1.3
LF Bonds (37) 268 11.9
2B Kent (34) 147 7.6
1B Minor (28) 108 .6
RF Sanders (34) 107 3
C Santiago (37) 103 2.8
3B Bell (29) 104 3.3
SS Martinez (29) 101 .8
P Rueter (31) 120 2.7
Bench
SS Aurilia (30) 92 1.2
SP2 Schmidt (29) 112 3.9
SP3 Ortiz (28) 107 4.3
Couple of familiar starters out- Snow has a negative WAR and can't start and Aurilia sitting with the hopes of squeezing out some more offense. Rich might see time later in the series. Giants pitching is L-R-R.
Athletics-Connie Mack
CF Oldring (26) 141 4
RF Murphy (33) 142 4.6
2B Collins (23) 150 9.9
LF Lord (26) 135 2.6
3B Baker (24) 126 4.5
SS Barry (23) 111 3.3
C Thomas (29) 107 1.7
1B Davis (36) 101 1.8
P Coombs (27) 182 8.8
Bench
C Lapp (27) 87 1.3
SP2 Bender (26) 150 5.3
SP3 Morgan (31) 153 2.7
Lapp probably plays against RH, although he'd give up some bat. Eddie Plank had a strong year but is clearly the 4th starter. All RH starters for Mack. A's are seed favorites and they have the WAR advantage at 1B-2B-SS-3B-CF-RF-SP1-SP2
1st: 27 year old RH Jack Coombs takes the mound for the heavily favored A's, 31-9, 1.30 -- he gives up a Barry Bonds single with one out, nothing else.
1st: Kirk Rueter is the game 1 starter for Dusty Baker; he gives up singles on his first 3 pitches -- Rube Oldring/Danny Murphy/Eddie Collins and it's 1-0. Bris Lord then singles to load the bases, still nobody out -- but Rueter just guts his way through it to limit the damage. Giants 0 A's 1
2nd: 1-2-3
2nd: Harry Davis singles with one out, after the second out, Oldring singles - the A's have 6 hits but still just the one run.
3rd: 1-2-3
3rd: Home Run Baker hits a two out single, but that's all.
4th: 1-2-3, 11 straight for Combs
4th: Ira Thomas singles. 8 hits for the A's, still, just the one run.
5th: David Bell walks with two out, but that's all - the Giants only have one hit.
5th: After an out, Danny Murphy doubles and Eddie Collins singles him home. Lord and Baker then walk to load the bases -- Jack Barry then singles and now it's 4-0. That's the end of Woody's day, 29 year old RH Jay Witasick had a 2.37 ERA and he ends the threat. Giants 0 A's 4
6th: Bonds walks with two out, nothing else.
6th: Harry Davis reaches on an error, moves to second on an out and then scores on an Oldring single - this is sort of the series we expected. Giants 0 A's 5
7th: Damon Minor walks, but the Giants still don't have a hit since the first.
7th: Eddie Collins singles, nothing else.
8th: Kenny Lofton singles with two outs, that's it.
8th: 23 year old RH Kurt Ainsworth is next for the Giants; he gives up a two out single to Coombs, nothing else.
9th: After an out, Minor walks, then Reggie Sanders singles and Benito Santiago walks -- the Giants have loaded the bases. They score on the second out, 25 year old RH Jimmy Dygert now comes on - and he ends the game.
Giants 1
A's 5
WP Coombs
LP Rueter
Three hits for the Giants, they just never get in this one. Oldring had 3 hits, Murphy 2, Collins had 3, Lord and Baker each reached twice.
Bonds and Minor each reached twice for San Francisco.
2B Collins (23) 150 9.9
3B Baker (24) 126 4.5
CF Oldring (26) 141 4
RF Murphy (33) 142 4.6
LF Lord (26) 135 2.6
SS Barry (23) 111 3.3
1B Davis (36) 101 1.8
C Lapp (27) 87 1.3
SP2 Bender (26) 150 5.3
CF Lofton (35) 104 1.3
LF Bonds (37) 268 11.9
2B Kent (34) 147 7.6
1B Minor (28) 108 .6
RF Sanders (34) 107 3
C Santiago (37) 103 2.8
3B Bell (29) 104 3.3
SS Aurilia (30) 92 1.2
SP2 Schmidt (29) 112 3.9
1st: 29 year old RH Jason Schmidt gets the call in what might be the only tournament game played in San Francisco. 13-8. 3.45. He gives up a leadoff single to Collins, but nothing else.
1st: 26 year old RH Chief Bender is his opposite number, 23-5, 1.58 -- 1-2-3. Giants need to find some hits in this one.
2nd: Murphy singles, but nothing results.
2nd: Benito Santiago hits a two out double, the Giants first extra base hit of the series; but that's all.
3rd: Jack Lapp gets the start behind the plate today against a RH, he walks with one out, moves to second on a second out, and then scores the game's first run on another Collins single. A's 1 Giants 0
3rd: 1-2-3
4th: Oldring singles with one out, that's it.
4th: 1-2-3
5th: Barry singles with one out, a second out later Davis singles - but Schmidt again escapes.
5th: 1-2-3, 10 straight for Bender. The Giants with just one hit. They have not hit the ball at all in the series.
6th: Collins with another base hit, this time with one out, but again, that's all.
6th: Kenny Lofton makes some noise with a two out shot into Triples Alley - he's easily into third -- and can the Giants find a way to get him across? Mack decides not to mess around with Bonds - he's intentionally walked in this spot - and then Bender hits Kent. Bases loaded. 2 out. But Bender strikes out Damon Minor and we head to the 7th.
7th: Oldring doubles and an out later Lord is aboard on an error - Schmidt gets the second out, but then four consecutive singles from Davis/Lapp/Bender/Collins plate four runs and probably end this series. A's 5 Giants 0
7th: 1-2-3
8th: 1-2-3
8th: Pedro Feliz, hitting for Schmidt, walks with one out, Lofton/Bonds follow with singles to load the bases for Kent, who has yet to get a hit in the series - that continues, nothing results.
9th: Kurt Ainsworth is the next Giants pitcher; 1-2-3
9th: And almost certainly we see the end for the Giants; 1-2-3
A's 5
Giants 0
WP Bender
LP Schmidt
Collins had a great series, 7 hits, but the two starting pitchers just cruised and it's Coombs/Bender who share the MVP.
The 1910 A's are the first team to advance in Region 8-- 7 spots remain.
57. 1931 St Louis Cardinals v. 72. 1951 New York Yankees
-Our last look at St Louis; the 50s Yankees already have several teams moving forward.
Yankees-Casey Stengel
2B McDougald (23) 142 4.3
LF Jensen (24) 137 1.2
CF DiMaggio (36) 116 2.5
RF Bauer (28) 127 2.3
C Berra (26) 130 5.5
1B Collins (28) 126 1.4
3B Brown (26) 108 1.3
SS Rizzuto (33) 92 3.1
P Lopat (33) 132 5.1
Bench
LF Woodling (28) 129 3.1
LF Woodling (28) 129 3.1
RF Mantle (19) 117 1.1
1B Mize (38) 102 1.1
SP2 Reynolds (34) 126 4
SP3 Raschi (32) 117 4.4
Woodling/Mantle expected to play against RH pitchers; Mize will only see action if Collins doesn't hit. Yankees going L-R-R.
Cardinals-Gabby Street
CF Martin (27) 114 2.3
LF Hafey (28) 154 4
1B Bottomley (31) 145 3
RF Watkins (31) 112 1.9
2B Frisch (33) 101 3.3
SS Gelbert (25) 97 3.1
3B Adams (36) 92 1.6
C Wilson (30) 77 1.6
P Hallahan (28) 121 3.7
Bench
3B High (33) 91 .6
C Mancuso (25) 84 .7
SP2 Derringer (24) 119 3.1
SP3 Johnson (30) 133 3.7
Platoon at third; Cards looking for a hot bat behind the plate. Like the Yanks, Cards are L-R-R. Cards are seed favorites and have WAR advantage at 1B-SS(tie)-3B(when Adams plays)-LF-RF(when Mantle plays)
1st: The Cards only lefty starter, Bill Hallahan, opens the series - 19-9, 3.29; Jackie Jensen is getting likely his only start of the series - he singles with one out and then Joe DiMaggio walks - Hank Bauer singles to score Jensen - Yogi Berra doubles, it scores both men - Joe Collins reaches on an error and then Bobby Brown singles to make it 4-0. Phil Rizzuto hits a sac fly - that'll be it; the Yankees bat around in the first inning, Yankees 5 Cardinals 0
1st: 33 year old Eddie Lopat is the Yanks only lefty starter and he has the huge game one lead - he walks Chick Hafey with one out and then Jim Bottomley hits a moon shot to dead center to put the Cards on the board. Yankees 5 Cardinals 2
2nd: Jensen singles with one out; that's it.
2nd: 1-2-3
3rd: After an out, Joe Collins walks, Bobby Brown singles to put men on the corners - after the second out, Lopat helps himself with a run scoring single, Yankees 6 Cardinals 2
3rd: 1-2-3
4th: 1-2-3
4th: Jim Bottomley singles and George Watkins hits a laser shot over the right field wall - we've got a live one here at Sportsmans Park - Yankees 6 Cardinals 4
5th: 1-2-3
5th: 1-2-3
6th: Phil Rizzuto singles, after an out, Gil McDougald walks and after the second out, DiMaggio walks to load the bases - but Hallahan escapes.
6th: 1-2-3.
7th: 1-2-3
7th: Charlie Gelbert singles with one out, nothing else.
8th: 32 year old RH Jim Lindsey comes on for the Cards - can he keep it close - he gives up a two out McDougald double but nothing else.
8th: 1-2-3; after those two homers, Lopat's really settled in.
9th: 26 year old RH Allyn Stout is next; DiMaggio walks but thats all.
9th: 1-2-3
Yankees 6
Cardinals 4
WP Lopat
LP Hallahan
4 hit complete game for Lopat - two of those hits were really loud, but it's enough for the Yankees to take game one. McDougald, Brown and Jensen reached twice, DiMaggio three times.
For the Cards, Bottomley homered with two hits, Watkins also homered.
We head to Yankee Stadium - New York can clinch the series.
2B Frisch (33) 101 3.3
LF Hafey (28) 154 4
1B Bottomley (31) 145 3
RF Watkins (31) 112 1.9
CF Martin (27) 114 2.3
SS Gelbert (25) 97 3.1
3B High (33) 91 .6
C Mancuso (25) 84 .7
SP2 Derringer (24) 119 3.1
LF Woodling (28) 129 3.1
C Berra (26) 130 5.5
1B Collins (28) 126 1.4
2B McDougald (23) 142 4.3
RF Mantle (19) 117 1.1
CF DiMaggio (36) 116 2.5
3B Brown (26) 108 1.3
SS Rizzuto (33) 92 3.1
SP2 Reynolds (34) 126 4
1st: 34 year old RH Allie Reynolds can pitch the Yankees into the next round - 17-8, 3.05 -- 1-2-3
1st: 24 year old RH Paul Derringer was 18-8, 3.36, can he keep the Cards alive another day - he walks Gene Woodling, that's all.
2nd: 1-2-3
2nd: 1-2-3
3rd: Gus Mancuso got the start behind the plate for the Cards - he walks with one out, nothing else.
3rd: 1-2-3
4th: Chick Hafey gets the game's first hit; that's all.
4th: Woodling and Berra single for New York's first hits - but the score doesn't move.
5th: 1-2-3
5th: 1-2-3 -- Reynolds and Derringer dueling in the Bronx.
6th: Frankie Frisch singles with one out, but nothing.
6th: Gene Woodling singles with two out - but really, just nothing for either team today.
7th: 1-2-3
7th: 1-2-3
8th: Andy High is the Cards third baseman today and he walks, that's all.
8th: Derringer gave up just 3 hits, but he got taken down for a pinch hitter and the new Cardinal arm is Jim Lindsey, after an out, he walks Brown and Rizzuto - he gets the second out, but the lead runner moves to third base - and then scores on a Mancuso passed ball - Bobby Brown dashes home on a passed ball, just sliding in under the tag - a daring baserunning move to give the Yanks the game's first run. Allyn Stout enters and Woodling laces a single to score the second run -- Yankees 2 Cardinals 0
9th: The Yankees best reliever is a 28 year old lefty, Bob Kuzava, with a 2.40 ERA - he needs three outs; and he gets them.
Yankees 2
Cardinals 0
WP Reynolds
LP Derringer
Only 6 hits in this game; the Cards just got 2 of them - Woodling reached 4 times for New York, drove in that second run - we're going to say that Allie Reynolds is the MVP for this series - the Yankees will meet the 1910 A's in the next round.
