63. 1948 World Champion Cleveland Indians v. 98. 2017 NL Champion Los Angeles Dodgers
Indians 97-58 (Pythag: 104-51) Mgr. Lou Boudreau
Won AL Pennant
d. Braves 4-2 in World Series
d. #66. 1954 Giants 2-0 (MVP: Lary Doby/Dale Mitchell)
d. #127 1967 Cardinals 3-2 (MVP: Bob Lemon)
All-Stars: SS Lou Boudreau (AL MVP) SP Bob Feller (5th AL MVP) 2B Joe Gordon, 3B Ken Keltner, SP Bob Lemon,
Hall of Famers: Lou Boudreau, Larry Doby, Bob Feller, Joe Gordon, Bob Lemon, Satchel Paige, Bill McKechnie (3rd base coach)
It's the integrated Indians, with Larry Doby, first Black player in the American League, and the legendary Satchel Paige. Still the most recent Indians World Championship. The Indians finished in a tie with the Red Sox and beat them at Fenway in a one game playoff to win the pennant. Joe Gordon, who we just saw in Region 1 with the '43 Yankees is also on this club.
Dodgers 104-58 (Pythag: 102-60) Mgr. Dave Roberts (2nd NL Mgr of Year)
Won NL West
d. Diamondbacks 3-0 in NLDS
d. Cubs 4-1 in NLCS (MVP: Chris Taylor/Justin Turner)
lost World Series 4-3 to Astros
d. #31. 1912 Red Sox 2-1 (MVP-Clayton Kershaw/Rich Hill)
d. #34 1952 Yankees 3-1 (MVP-Chris Taylor)
All-Stars: 1B Cody Bellinger (NL ROY) RP Kenley Jansen (5th NL Cy Young) SP Clayton Kershaw (2nd NL Cy Young) SS Corey Seager, 3B Justin Turner, SP Alex Wood
This was the Dodgers 5th straight NL West champion, they won more games than any LA team ever.
Dodgers Lineup
SS Seager (23) (LH) 126 5.2
1B Bellinger (21) (LH)143 4.1
3B Turner (32) 150 5.1
LF Taylor (26) 123 4.6
RF Puig (26) 119 3.5
C Barnes (27) 138 3.2
CF Hernandez (25) 92 1.3
2B Forsythe (30) 1.5
P Kershaw (LH) (29) 179 6.1
Bench
CF Toles (25) (LH) 102 .4
CF Pederson (25) (LH) 96 .2
C Grandal (28) (SH) 101 3.8
2B Utley (38) (LH) 93 .95
1B Gonzalez (35) (LH) 70
LF Granderson (36) (LH) 73
SP2 Wood (LH) (26) 152 3.8
SP3 Hill (37) (LH) 125 2.7
Indians open with a lefty starter; Dodgers load up on RH bats - they'll platoon in CF/C/2B -- the left handed side of the CF platoon will be whichever bat is hot. All the Dodger starters in this series are LH, if they make the Regional 4, the RH Maeda will be the 4th starter.
Indians Lineup
CF Doby (24) (LH) 134 3.6
SS Boudreau (30) 165 10.2
2B Gordon (33) 135 6.2
3B Keltner (31) 146 6.5
LF Mitchell (26) (LH) 119 2.9
1B Judnich (32) (LH) 112
RF Clark (25) 117 1.3
C Hegan (27) 94 2.8
SP Bearden (LH) (27) 168 5.0
Bench
1B Robinson (27) (LH) 91 .9
RF Tucker (30) 86 (LH) .9
RF Edwards (29) 103 (LH)
2B Berardino (31) 64
P Lemon (27) 144 7
SP3 Feller (29) 114
If the Indians see any RH starters down the road, they've got a platoon in RF and a couple of lefty options. Both first base options are LH, they'll ride the hot bat. There are a few different ways to think about ordering the Indians top 4 starters, but without question the lefty Zoldak gets the ball as the 4th starter if Cleveland advances.
Lineups:
C-Grandal/Barnes, this Dodger platoon is really strong
1B-Bellinger
2B-Gordon
SS-Boudreau, best player in the series
3B-Keltner, very competitive over Turner
LF-Taylor
CF-Doby
RF-Puig, that means the position players are tied
SP1-Kershaw
SP2-Lemon
SP3-Push, tied, totally tied.
Bullpen-Dodgers, but it's a squeaker, each club has a deep pen, but Jansen had a monster year for LA.
So - by the thinnest of margins the Dodgers have the WAR advantage, but Cleveland is the better seed and has the best player -- we should see a real good one here and we'll say the Indians are the narrow favorites.
GAME ONE
1st: The Indians have Hall of Famers ready to go for games 2 and 3, but getting the start in game one is 27 year old lefty Gene Bearden, 20-7, 2.43. Bearden was signed by the Phillies out of a Memphis high school in '39, sold to the Yankees in '42 and then off to the War. He suffered injuries in the Pacific to both knee and head (needed a plate inserted in his skull). After the War he was back in the Yankees system, pitching in AAA for Casey; they dealt him to Cleveland after the '46 season and he made his big league debut in '47, pitching a third of an inning and going back down. And then out of nowhere came this season - Bearden won 20 and got the start in a one game playoff in Boston and won the pennant for the Indians. Bearden won game 3 of the World Series and was on the mound when the Indians clinched in Game 6. Corey Seager singles to right on the first pitch of the series; but that's all Bearden allows.
1st: The great Clayton Kershaw is a 29 year old lefty, 18-4, 2.31, he played on the same Dallas high school football team as Matthew Stafford. In the high school baseball playoffs, he once struck out every batter in a game and hit a grand slam. The Dodgers took him 7th overall in '06. Kershaw came up in '08, struck out 13 Giants in a 2009 game and led the league opponent's batting average. Kershaw had a 2.91 ERA in '10, and then won the Cy Young in '11, the youngest Cy Young winner since Dwight Gooden in '85; he was second in the Cy Young in '12 and won it again in '13 and '14; he was also the NL MVP that season. Kershaw struck out 301 in '15, finishing 3rd in the Cy Young. This year, he was 2nd. Kershaw was 3-0 in the 2017 postseason. 1-2-3
2nd: Kike Hernandez draws a two out walk; he's getting the start in center against the lefty Bearden. Hernandez hit 3 homers in the NLCS this season Logan Forsythe singles to put men on the corners. That's all.
2nd: 1-2-3
3rd: Seager walks; Seager struggled in the World Series this year, going 6-27 and striking out 9 times. Bearden gets two - then gives up a base hit to Chris Taylor and again the Dodgers have men on the corners. Yasiel Puig works a walk - and Austin Barnes comes through with a bases clearing double. Big inning for LA. Dodgers 3 Indians 0
3rd: 1-2-3, 9 up, 9 down.
4th: Forsythe walks, he's 30, platooning at second in the series; 2017 is his initial playoff experience. Kershaw moves him over and Seager drives him home with a base hit. Bearden gets the second - but then Justin Turner doubles and the Dodgers have really extended this lead. Dodgers 5 Indians 0
4th: 1-2-3, 12 up, 12 down.
5th: 1-2-3
5th: Ken Keltner hits Kershaw's first pitch over the left field wall and Cleveland is on the board. '48 was both Keltner's best season and the last season he would ever be a regular. Kershaw gets the next 3. Dodgers 5 Indians 1
6th: Forsythe walks, he's aboard 3 times today. Kershaw again moves him over and Seager again scores him with a base hit. Turner walks after the second out and that's all. Dodgers cruising. Dodgers 6 Indians 1
6th: 1-2-3
7th: Satchel Paige gets the ball for the Indians. 41 year old RH, 2.48. Paige pitched 2/3 of an inning in the World Series, he got both batters out. 1-2-3
7th: Keltner doubles with one out, he's the sole Cleveland offense today. Dodgers 6 Indians 1
8th: Forsythe singles. He's supposed to sit in game 2 but Roberts might reconsider - Kershaw then singles and Seager gets hit. Well - is that Paige sending an old school message in a game that seems out of hand? Either way - bases loaded and nobody out. Paige gets one - and then hits Bellinger. Unlikely to hit a batter intenionally to score a run, but the Dodgers are definitely aware that two guys have gotten hit. Cleveland's back to the pen - 32 year old RH Bob Muncrief, he's got a 3.98 ERA and he ends it. Dodgers 7 Indians 1
8th: Jim Hegan singles with one away, the 27 year old Indian catcher was 4 for 19 in the '48 Series. Nothing results.
9th: Barnes walks, that's all.
9th: Kershaw stays in the game to finish this off for himself; 1-2-3
Dodgers 7
Indians 1
WP Kershaw
LP Bearden
Complete game 3 hitter for Kershaw; 5 Ks, no walks. Just a real dominant performance for the Dodger ace to give LA game 1.
Seager 5x
Turner 3x/double
Taylor 1x
Puig 1x
Barnes 2x/double
Hernandez 1x
Forsythe 4x
Keltner 2x/HR, double
Hegan 1x
SS Seager (23) (LH) 126 5.2
1B Bellinger (21) (LH)143 4.1
3B Turner (32) 150 5.1
LF Taylor (26) 123 4.6
RF Puig (26) 119 3.5
C Grandal (28) (SH) 101 3.8
CF Pederson (25) (LH) 96 .2
2B Forsythe (30) 83 1.5
SP2 Wood (LH) (26) 152 3.8
SS Boudreau (30) 165 10.2
2B Gordon (33) 135 6.2
3B Keltner (31) 146 6.5
CF Doby (24) (LH) 134 3.6
LF Mitchell (26) (LH) 119 2.9
RF Clark (25) 117 1.3
C Hegan (27) 94 2.8
1B Robinson (27) (LH) 91 .9
P Lemon (27) 144 7
GAME TWO
1st: Bob Lemon is a 27 year old RH and looks to even up the series; 20-14, 2.82. Lemon was 5th in the MVP this year; led the league in shutouts, complete games and WHIP. Lights out in the World Series, 2-0, 1.65. Seager singles - he reached 5 times in game one and now he's aboard to start game 2. After a out, Justin Turner walks and after the second out, Yasiel Puig singles and it's Dodgers 1 Indians 0
1st: Alex Wood is a 26 year old lefty, 16-3, 2.72. This is easily Wood's career year, 9th in the Cy Young. Lou Boudreau singles - that's all for the Tribe.
2nd: Joc Pederson walks; he's playing center against the RH Lemon. He had a really good World Series, slugging .944. Nothing results.
2nd: Allie Clark singles with 2 out, Clark's platooning in RF, but with the Dodgers throwing all lefties, he should start in each game. In a 7 year big league career, Clark was never an every day player. That's it.
3rd: Turner singles with one out; 8th in the NL MVP., co-MVP of the NLCS. After the second out - it is Puig who comes through again, this time with a run scoring double and LA extends the lead. Yasmani Grandal's catching today against the RH Lemon and he doubles home Puig. Dodgers 3 Indians 0
3rd: Eddie Robinson singles - Robinson sat in game 1, but the Indians bats were so silent that Boudreau made the switch, Cleveland doesn't have a RH option at first. He was 6 for 20 in the Series. Bob Lemon follows with a double; Lemon was MVP of the round 2 win for the Indians and not just because of his arm. Lemon had a 119 OPS+ this year, if I could adjust the batting order and move the pitcher up, he would hit 7th today. Player/Manager Boudreau singles and Cleveland's on the board. Wood gets one, then walks Keltner to load the bases. Wood gets the second - then Dale Mitchell singles home two and the score is all tied up. Dodgers 3 Indians 3
4th: Logan Forsythe homers to dead center and the Dodgers go back out in front; Forsythe was not supposed to play against RH; but after reaching base 4 times in game one, Roberts threw him out here today and look at this - he homers off of Lemon to give the Dodgers the lead. Cody Bellinger singles with 2 away, that's all. Dodgers 4 Indians 3
4th: 1-2-3
5th: 1-2-3
5th: 1-2-3, 7 straight for Wood
6th: 1-2-3, 7 straight for Lemon
6th: Clark singles with 2 away, that's all - we head to the 7th, LA 9 outs from taking both games in Cleveland.
7th: 1-2-3, 10 straight for Lemon.
7th: 1-2-3, LA is 6 outs from taking both games.
8th: 1-2-3, 13 straight for Lemon - he's steamrolling right now, but is it too late?
8th: The Dodgers go to the pen; Josh Fields comes on, 31 year old RH with a 2.84 ERA.
Joe Gordon greets him with a single. We saw Gordon's '43 Yankees fall in this round in Region 1. This year Gordon was 6th in the MVP and made his 8th All Star team. Fields strands him.
9th: 1-2-3, 16 straight for Lemon, he just overwhelms the Dodgers...but trails 4-3.
9th: 29 year old RH Kenley Jansen is on to close this down. 41 saves and a 1.32 ERA.
Allie Clark singles - that's the tying run. Can Cleveland push it across?
Jansen strikes out Hegan.
Robinson lines sharply to Seager - Clark dives back to the bag at first, he makes it, but there are 2 outs.
Lemon hits for himself - that tells you what kind of bat he has - and he singles to right - Clark goes all the way around to third. Tying run on first. Winning run on third. Indians desperate to get this split.
Boudreau grounds to Turner -- onto first -- ballgame.
Dodgers 4
Indians 3
WP Wood
LP Lemon
Sv Jansen
LA comes into Cleveland and takes both games and now we're headed to Dodger Stadium - LA just one win away from moving on.
Seager 6x
Bellinger 1x
Turner 5x/double
Taylor 1x
Puig 3x/double
Grandal 1x
Pederson 1x
Barnes 2x/double
Hernandez 1x
Forsythe 5x/HR
Keltner 3x/HR, double
Hegan 1x
Boudreau 2x
Gordon 1x
Mitchell 1x
Clark 3x
Robinson 1x
SS Boudreau (30) 165 10.2
2B Gordon (33) 135 6.2
3B Keltner (31) 146 6.5
CF Doby (24) (LH) 134 3.6
LF Mitchell (26) (LH) 119 2.9
RF Clark (25) 117 1.3
C Hegan (27) 94 2.8
1B Robinson (27) (LH) 91 .9
SP3 Feller (29) 114
SS Seager (23) (LH) 126 5.2
1B Bellinger (21) (LH)143 4.1
3B Turner (32) 150 5.1
LF Taylor (26) 123 4.6
RF Puig (26) 119 3.5
CF Toles (25) (LH) 102 .4
C Grandal (28) (SH) 101 3.8
2B Utley (38) (LH) 93 .95
SP3 Hill (37) (LH) 125 2.7
GAME THREE
1st: The Dodgers are 9 innings away from being one of the final 16 team standing in the tournament and advancing to the regional final. 37 year old lefty Rich Hill takes the Dodger Stadium mound. 12-8, 3.32. Hill's 13th big league season, he had 4 postseason starts this year, all no decisions. Hill and Kershaw were co-MVPs of the LA round one win. He gives up back to back singles to Boudreau and Gordon to open, but that's all.
1st: Plenty of brooms in the stands looking for the sweep today - but LA will need to get past 29 year old Bob Feller to do it. 19-15, 3.56. Feller led the league in strikeouts for the 7th and final time this year. 1-2-3
2nd: 1-2-3
2nd: Chris Taylor singles - co MVP of the NLCS, MVP of the Dodgers round 2 victory. He's played all over the diamond, in left field every day for this series; had a 1.248 OPS in the '17 NLCS. Taylor swipes second and scores on a Puig base hit - Puig knocked in 2 of the LAs four runs in game 2. Andrew Toles is the third Dodger CF to start in the series - he doubles to score a second run. Feller gets one - gives up a sac fly to Chase Utley, starting at second today, the Dodgers might sweep this series. Indians 0 Dodgers 3
3rd: Boudreau walks with one out -- and then Joe Gordon rips a 2 run shot over the center field wall and the Indians are on the board. Indians 2 Dodgers 3
3rd: 1-2-3
4th: 1-2-3
4th: Toles singles with 2 out, that's all.
5th: Eddie Robinson singles, after an out, Boudreau walks - that's all.
5th: Chase Utley doubles - Forsythe has been maybe the best Dodger bat in the series - he still sat today for Utley, who already has an RBI. Utley's 38 years old, hasn't had a good year with the bat since 2014. After an out - Seager singles, he's reached 7 times, and a Bellinger sac fly gives LA one more run. Indians 2 Dodgers 4
6th: 1-2-3, that's a big inning for Hill and the Dodgers are 3 outs from moving forward to the regional final.
6th: 1-2-3
7th: 1-2-3, Hill's given up just 4 hits and LA is 6 outs from advancing.
7th: Chase Utley hits a one out homer -- Dodger second basemen just coming through in this series and is that the backbreaker? The brooms are out in force now. Joc Pederson pinch singles, that's it. Indians 2 Dodgers 5
8th: Josh Fields comes on again for LA, 1-2-3. LA just rolling over the Tribe.
8th: 28 year old RH Steve Gromek is on for Cleveland, 9 wins and a 2.84 ERA, Turner/Taylor hit back to back singles. But that's all.
9th: Kenley Jansen is 3 outs from advancing LA forward.
Keltner flies to Puig.
Doby singles to right center.
Mitchell grounds to Utley - flip to short for one - Mitchell beats out the throw to first.
One out away. Clark walks. Hegan walks.
Bases loaded 2 out. Tribe down 3 -- can they keep this alive?
Robinson grounds to Seager - onto first, it's done.
Indians 2
Dodgers 5
WP Hill
LP Feller
Sv. Jansen
The 2017 Dodgers sweep their way into the Region 2 Final.
The Dodger pitching just owned the series - all 3 Dodger starters strong, the Dodger bullpen scoress. Hard to find a lot of room to choose 1 or 2 Dodger pitchers here and there won't be 3 MVPs.
Seager 7x
Turner 6x/double
Forsythe 5x/HR
We're going to say it's Kershaw - he threw the complete game; separating him from Wood/Hill who had nearly identical results. Dodger pitching rolled in this one.
