The Greatest MLB Tournament Ever Created (AL, Round Two, Group 2)

Last group

2. 1927 Yankees (World Champions)

v.

63. 2007 Red Sox (World Champions)

So far, the Round of 32 consists of 3 Yankees clubs and an Orioles team.  Let's see who Group 2 adds.

Catcher: Collins (30) v. Varitek (32) Winner: Bos-Varitek

First Base: Gehrig (24) v. Youkilis (28) Winner: NYY-Gehrig

Second Base: Lazzeri (23) v. Pedroia (23) Winner: NYY-Lazzeri

Shortstop: Koenig (22) v. Lugo (31) Winner: NYY-Koenig

Third Base: Dugan (30) v. Lowell (30) Winner: Bos-Lowell

Left Field: Meusel (30) v. Ramirez (35) Winner: NYY-Meusel

Center Field: Combs (28) v. Crisp (27) Winner: NYY-Combs

Right Field: Ruth (32) v. Drew (31) Winner: NYY-Ruth
DH: Grabowski (27) v. Ortiz (31) Winner: Bos-Ortiz

SP1: Hoyt (27) v. Matsuzaka (26) Winner: NYY-Hoyt

SP2: Pennock (30) v. Beckett (27) Winner: Bos-Beckett

SP3: Shocker (36) v. Wakefield (40) Winner: NYY-Shocker

Closer: Moore (30) v. Papelbon (26) Winner: NYY-Moore

Team Offense: NYY

Team Pitching: Bos

NYY 11 Boston 6 - the Yankees dominate the bats and split the overall pitching points to cruise on into the next round.

98. 1950 Red Sox (3rd in AL-no playoffs)

v.

95. 2013 Tigers (lost ALCS)

-Another opportunity for Boston to make the next round. 

Catcher: Tebbetts (37) v. Avila (26) Winner: Bos-Tebbetts

First Base: Dropo (27) v. Fielder (29) Winner: Push

Second Base: Doerr (32) v. Infante (31) Winner: Bos-Doerr

Shortstop: Stephens (29) v. Peralta (31) Winner: Bos-Stephens

Third Base: Pesky (31) v. Cabrera (30) Winner: Det-Cabrera

Left Field: Williams (31) v. Dirks (27) Winner: Bos-Williams

Center Field: DiMaggio (33) v. Jackson (26) Winner: Bos-DiMaggio

Right Field: Zarilla (31) v. Hunter (37) Winner: Bos-Zarilla
DH: Goodman (24) v. Martinez (34) Winner: Bos-Goodman

SP1: Parnell (28) v. Verlander (30) Winner: Bos-Parnell

SP2: Dobson (30) v. Scherzer (28) Winner: Det-Scherzer

SP3: Stobbs (20) v. Fister (29) Winner: Det-Fister

Closer: Kinder (30) v. Benoit (35) Winner: Push

Team Offense: Red Sox

Team Pitching: Det

Boston 10 Detroit 5 - Boston rolled through the position player matchups and that enabled them to withstand a pitching loss.  

15. 1937 Yankees (World Champions)

v.

70. 2002 Red Sox (2nd in AL East-no playoffs)

-Yankees/Sox are the winners of the first two games in the group - which one of them will gain that next slot?  The '36 and '39 Yankees are already in that Round of 32. Will three Yankees teams from the same decade survive?  

Catcher: Dickey (30) v. Varitek (30) Winner: NYY-Dickey

First Base: Gehrig (34) v. Clark (30) Winner: NYY-Gehrig

Second Base: Lazzeri (33) v. Sanchez (34) Winner: NYY-Lazzeri

Shortstop: Crosetti (26) v. Garciaparra (28) Winner: Bos-Garciaparra

Third Base: Rolfe (28) v. Hillenbrand (26) Winner: Bos-Hillenbrand

Left Field:  Powell (28) v. Henderson (43) Winner: Bos-Henderson

Center Field: DiMaggio (22) v. Damon (28) Winner: NYY-DiMaggio

Right Field: Selkirk (29) v. Nixon (28) Winner: NYY-Selkirk
DH: Henrich (24) v. Ramirez (30) Winner: Bos-Ramirez

SP1: Gomez (28) v. Lowe (29) Winner: NYY-Gomez

SP2: Ruffing (32) v. Martinez (30) Winner: Bos-Martinez

SP3: Hadley (32) v. Burkett (37) Winner: Bos-Burkett

Closer: Malone (34) v. Urbina (28) Winner: Bos-Urbina

Team Offense: NYY

Team Pitching: Bos

Boston 10 NYY 7 - the Sox dominate the pitching, winning nearly every point, and that carries them into the Round of 32.  

111. 2011 Rangers (lost WS)

v.

47. 1922 Browns (Orioles) (2nd in AL-no playoffs)

-we finish group 2 with the old Orioles against the only Rangers team remaining in the field.

Catcher: Torrealba (32) v. Severeid (31) Winner: StL-Severeid

First Base: Moreland (25) v. Sisler (29) Winner: StL-Sisler

Second Base: Kinsler (29) v. McManus (22) Winner: Tex-Kinsler

Shortstop: Andrus (22) v. Gerber (30) Winner: Tex-Andrus

Third Base: Beltre (32) v. Ellerbe (26) Winner: Tex-Beltre

Left Field: Hamilton (30) v. Williams (32) Winner: StL-Williams

Center Field: Chavez (33) v. Jacobson (31) Winner: StL-Jacobson

Right Field: Cruz (30) v. Tobin (30) Winner: StL-Tobin
DH: Young (34) v. Shorten (30) Winner: Tex-Young

SP1: Wilson (30) v. Shocker (31) Winner: STL-Shocker

SP2: Lewis (31) v. Vangilder (26) Winner: StL-Vangilder

SP3: Holland (24) v. Wakefield (40) Winner: Tex-Holland

Closer: Feliz (23) v. Pruett (21) Winner: StL-Pruett

Team Offense: StL

Team Pitching: StL

Browns 12 Rangers 5 - the Browns sweep the totals, win almost all the pitching points and move into the Round of 32.  

A quarter of the Final 32 in the AL is set - half of them are Yankees, the other half are Red Sox and Orioles, both current and former. 

When we see this group again:

2. 1927 Yankees (World Champions)
v.
98. 1950 Red Sox (3rd in AL-no playoffs)

70. 2002 Red Sox (2nd in AL East-no playoffs)
v.

47. 1922 Browns (Orioles) (2nd in AL-no playoffs)

We'll return with  NL Group 2 - led by the 1902 Pittsburgh Pirates.  

The Greatest MLB Tournament Ever Created (NL, Round Two, Group 1)

Last Group is here.

1. 1906 Cubs (lost WS)

v.

65. 1939 Reds (lost WS)

-Okay, let's start the NL cut to the final 32.  

Catcher: Kling (30) v. Lombardi (31) Winner: Chi-Kling

First Base: Chance (29) v. McCormick (28) Winner: Chi-Chance

Second Base: Evers (24) v. Frey (28) Winner: Cin-Frey

Shortstop: Tinker (25) v. Myers (28) Winner: Cin-Myers

Third Base: Steinfeldt (30) v. Werber (31) Winner: Chi-Steinfeldt

Left Field: Sheckard (27) v. Berger (33) Winner: Chi-Sheckard

Center Field: Slagle (32) v. Craft (24) Winner: Chi-Slagle

Right Field: Schulte (23) v. Goodman (30) Winner: Cin-Goodman

SP1: Brown (29) v. Walters (30) Winner: Cin-Walters

SP2: Pfiester (28) v. Derringer (32) Winner: Cin-Derringer

SP3: Reulbach (23) v. Moore (27) Winner: Chi-Reulbach

Closer: Beebe (26) v. Thompson (22) Winner: Cin-Thompson

Team Offense: Chi

Team Pitching: Chi

Cubs 10 Reds 6 - Dead tied through the matchups -- but the top seeded Cubs sweep the totals and move forward.

32. 1986 Mets (World Champions)

v.

33. 1976 Reds (World Champions)

-George Foster is the Mets 4th OF...a decade before, he was the Reds LF.  Foster vs. Foster!

Catcher: Carter (32) v. Bench (28) Winner: Cin-Bench

First Base: Hernandez (32) v. Perez (34) Winner: NYM-Hernandez

Second Base: Backman (26) v. Morgan (32) Winner: Cin-Morgan

Shortstop: Santana (28) v. Concepcion (28) Winner: Cin-Concepcion

Third Base: Knight (33) v. Rose (35) Winner: Cin-Rose

Left Field: Wilson (30) v. Foster (27) Winner: Cin-Foster

Center Field: Dykstra (23) v. Geronimo (28) Winner: NYM-Dykstra

Right Field: Strawberry (24) v. Griffey (26) Winner: Cin-Griffey

SP1: Gooden (21) v. Nolan (28) Winner: NYM-Gooden

SP2: Darling (25) v. Zachry (24) Winner: Cin-Zachry

SP3: Ojeda (28) v. Norman (33) Winner: NYM-Ojeda

Closer: McDowell (25) v. Eastwick (25) Winner: Cin-Eastwick

Team Offense: Cin

Team Pitching: NYM

Reds 10 Mets 6 - the Reds got a matchup split in the pitching, add that to the offensive advantage and they move forward.  

16. 1912 Giants (lost WS)

v.

49. 1988 Mets (lost NLCS)

-the '86 Mets just got bounced, here's their club two years later

Catcher: Meyers (31) v. Carter (34) Winner: NYG-Meyers

First Base: Merkle (23) v. Hernandez (34) Winner: NYG-Merkle

Second Base: Doyle (25) v. Backman (28) Winner: NYG-Doyle

Shortstop: Fletcher (27) v. Elster (23) Winner: NYG: Fletcher

Third Base: Herzog (26) v. Johnson (27) Winner: NYM: Johnson

Left Field: Devore (24) v. McReynolds (28) Winner: NYM: McReynolds

Center Field: Becker (25) v. Dykstra (25) Winner: NYM-Dykstra

Right Field: Murray (28) v. Strawberry (26) Winner: NYM-Strawberry

SP1: Mathewson (31) v. Gooden (23) Winner: NYG-Mathewson

SP2: Marquard (25) v. Darling (27) Winner: NYG-Marquard

SP3: Tesreau (24) v. Cone (25) Winner: NYM-Cone

Closer: Crandall (24) v. Myers (25) Winner: NYM-Myers

Team Offense: Mets

Team Pitching: NYM

Mets 10 Giants 6 - tied through the matchups, but the Mets were able to take both totals and advance.

17. 1943 Cardinals (lost WS)

v.

48. 1906 Pirates (3rd in NL-no playoffs)

-the '06 Cubs are already through in this group, can the '06 Pirates join them?

Catcher: Cooper (28) v. Gibson (25) Winner: StL-Cooper

First Base: Sanders (26) v. Nealon (21) Winner: StL-Sanders

Second Base: Klein (24) v. Ritchey (32) Winner: StL-Klein

Shortstop: Marion (26) v. Wagner (32) Winner: Pit-Wagner

Third Base: Kurowski (25) v. Sheehan (28) Winner: StL-Kurowski

Left Field: Litwhiler (26) v. Clarke (33) Winner: Pit-Clarke

Center Field: Walker (24) v. Beaumont (29) Winner: StL-Walker

Right Field: Musial (22) v. Ganley (31) Winner: StL-Musial

SP1: Cooper (30) v. Willis (30) Winner: Pit-Willis

SP2: Lanier (27) v. Leever (34) Winner: StL-Lanier

SP3: Breechen (28) v. Leifield (22) Winner: Push

Closer: Krist (27) v. Hillebrand (26) Winner: StL-Krist

Team Offense: StL

Team Pitching: StL

Cards 12 Pirates 3 - for a matchup in this round, that is one hell of a blowout.  

The next time we see this Group is will be in the Round of 32:

1. 1906 Cubs (lost WS)

v.

33. 1976 Reds (World Champions)

49. 1988 Mets (lost NLCS)

v. 

17. 1943 Cardinals (lost WS)

When we return it's AL Group 2 - led by the 1927 New York Yankees.  

The Greatest MLB Tournament Ever Created (AL, Round Two, Group 1)

Last group

The field of 128 American League teams has been cut in half.  The Round of 64 begins.

Just to reset - I started by taking the top 128 teams in each league in pythagorean winning %; I chose fewer 19th century teams for the NL than that metric would warrant (I should have chosen none). The teams were ranked, largely based on their pythags, but I moved representatives from the same organization playing each other in round 1.  The matchups are baseball card war style - I battle each position player (whomever had most games played at that position is the starter), the top 3 starting pitchers (by IP) the closer against each other using three separate WAR metrics.  For matchups where only one team has a DH, the player with the most PA not in the lineup takes that spot. I then compare overall team total WAR for both hitting and pitching, and those scores count double.  Finally, the tiebreaker is team WAR.  For individual matchups, one player has to win by more than .5 WAR or its a push; for team totals, it's 1 WAR. The methodology favored older teams to get into the tournament and more modern teams to advance through it.  Yes, I recognize the flaws - but it's quick and fun and I enjoy it.

Lineups are listed for this round.  Ages in parentheses.

Back to Group 1 - Who Will Advance to the Round of 32???

1. 1939 Yankees (World Champions)

v.

65. 1915 Tigers  (2nd in AL-no playoffs)

Catcher: Dickey (32) v. Stanage (32) Winner: NYY-Dickey

First Base: Dahlgren (27) v. Burns (22) Winner: Det-Burns

Second Base: Gordon (24) v. Young (26) Winner: NYY-Gordon

Shortstop: Crosetti (28) v. Bush (27) Winner: Det-Bush

Third Base: Rolfe (30) v. Vitt (25) Winner: NYY-Rolfe

Left Field: Selkirk (31) v. Veach (27) Winner: NYY-Selkirk

Center Field: DiMaggio (24) v. Cobb (28) Winner: Det-Cobb

Right Field: Keller (22) v. Crawford (35) Winner: NYY-Keller

SP1: Ruffing (34) v. Coveleski (29) Winner: Det-Coveleski

SP2: Gomez (30) v. Dauss (25) Winner: Det-Dauss

SP3: Hadley (34) v. Dubuc (26) Winner: Push

Closer: Murphy (30) v. Boland (23) Winner: Det-Boland

Team Offense: NYY

Team Pitching: NYY

NYY 9 Det 6 - wow, the Tigers not only put up a good game, they actually had the lead on this Yankee squad headed to the totals (Cobb won that head up battle against DiMaggio) but NYY took both totals and they move to the Round of 32.

97. 1969 Twins (lost ALCS)

v.

96. 1977 Yankees (World Champions)

-a first, Nettles plays for both teams, starting for the Yankees, backing up for the Twins

Catcher: Roseboro (36) v. Munson (30) Winner: NYY-Munson

First Base: Reese (27) v. Chambliss (28) Winner: NYY-Chambliss

Second Base: Carew (23) v. Randolph (22) Winner: Push

Shortstop: Cardenas (30) v. Dent (25) Winner: Min-Cardenas

Third Base: Killebrew (33) v. Nettles (32) Winner: Min-Killebrew 

Left Field: Allison (34) v. White (33) Winner: NYY-White

Center Field: Uhlaender (29) v. Rivers (28) Winner: NYY-Rivers

Right Field: Oliva (30) v. Jackson (31) Winner: NYY-Jackson
DH: Tovar (28) v. May (29) Winner: Min-Tovar

SP1: Perry (33) v. Figueroa (28) Winner: Min-Perry
SP2: Boswell (24) v. Torrez (30) Winner: Min-Boswell

SP3: Kaat (30) v. Guidry (26) Winner: NYY-Guidry

Closer: Perranoski (33) v. Lyle (32) Winner: Push

Team Offense: NYY

Team Pitching: Minn

NYY 8 Minn 7 - So many ways this could have flipped; Guidry beat Kaat for NYY only pitching win; Reggie beat Oliva in the slugger matchup; Randolph earned a push against Carew.  New York moves a second entrant into the Round of 32.

16. 1936 Yankees (World Champions)

v.

80. 2011 Yankees (lost ALDS)

-Our first matchup of teams from the same organization; the '36 team is just 3 years prior to the team that already advanced, let's see how similar they are. 

Catcher: Dickey (29) v. Martin (28) Winner: 1936-Dickey

First Base: Gehrig (33) v. Teixeira (28) Winner: 1936-Gehrig

Second Base: Lazzeri (32) v. Cano (28) Winner: 2011-Cano

Shortstop: Crosetti (25) v. Jeter (37) Winner: 1936-Crosetti

Third Base: Rolfe (27) v. Rodriguez (35) Winner: 1936-Rolfe

Left Field: Powell (27) v. Gardner (27) Winner: 2011-Gardner

Center Field: DiMaggio (21) v. Granderson (30) Winner: 2011-Granderson

Right Field: Selkirk (28) v. Swisher (30) Winner: 1936-Selkirk
DH: Chapman (27) v. Posada (39) Winner: 1936-Chapman

SP1: Ruffing (31) v. Sabathia (30) Winner: 2011-Sabathia
SP2: Pearson (27) v. Burnett (34) Winner: 1936-Pearson

SP3: Broaca (33) v. Nova (24) Winner: 2011-Nova

Closer: Malone (33) v. Rivera (41) 2011-Rivera

Team Offense: 1936

Team Pitching: 2011

1936 NYY 9  2011 NYY 8 - The modern Yankees made a run, nearly earning every pitching point and having Granderson upset DiMaggio - but the '36 team's bats were too strong, and the Yankees gain their third entrant into the Round of 32.

112. 1978 Yankees (World Champions)

v.

48. 1973 Orioles (lost ALCS)

-Paul Blair is the starting CF for the Orioles; 5 years later he's the 5th OF for the Yankees.  Blair vs. Blair!  We just saw the '77 Yankees advance; here's the subsequent club. Can New York sweep Group 1?

Catcher: Munson (31) v. Williams (24) Winner: Push

First Base: Chambliss (29) v. Powell (31) Winner: NYY-Chambliss

Second Base: Randolph (23) v. Grich (24) Winner: Balt-Grich

Shortstop: Dent (26) v. Belanger (29) Winner: Balt-Belanger

Third Base: Nettles (33) v. Robinson (36) Winner: NYY-Nettles

Left Field: Piniella (34) v. Baylor (24) Winner: Push

Center Field: Rivers (29) v. Blair (29) Winner: Balt-Blair

Right Field: Jackson (32) v. Rettenmund (30) Winner: Push
DH: Johnson (30) v. Davis (34) Winner: Balt-Davis

SP1: Guidry (27) v. Palmer (27) Winner: NYY-Guidry
SP2: Figueroa (29) v. Cuellar (36) Winner: NYY-Figueroa

SP3: Tidrow (31) v. McNally (30) Winner: Balt-McNally

Closer: Gossage (26) v. Reynolds (26) Winner: NYY-Gossage

Team Offense: Balt

Team Pitching: NYY

Balt 8 NYY 7 - the Yankees lose the tiebreaker and fail to sweep Group 1; all you have to do is focus on RF - Marv Rettenmund is able to earn a push with Reggie Jackson, that forces a tie and the Oriole bats take care of business in the tiebreaker.  

When Group 1 returns for the Round of 32:

1. 1939 Yankees (World Champions)
v.
96. 1977 Yankees (World Champions)

16. 1936 Yankees (World Champions)
v.
48. 1973 Orioles (lost ALCS)

We return to the NL Group 1 next, led by the 1906 Cubs.

The Best Wrestling Matches of 2019

2018 is here.

You'll see 2 lists.  Every 4 1/2+ match around the world and every 4 star WWE match of the year. The 2019 wrestling year starts in December, 2018. I used to take note of all the 4 star matches I've seen around the world, but that task is now too much for me.  

MOTY
1. Walter v. Bate (WWE, August) 5
2. Ospreay v. Shingo (NJPW, June) 5
3. Tanahashi v. Omega (NJPW, Jan) 5
4. Cole v. Gargano (WWE, Apr) 5
5. Cole v. Gargano (WWE, June) 4 3/4
6. Miyahara v. Nomura (AJPW, Sep) 4 3/4
7. Lucha Bros v. Young Bucks (AEW, Aug) 4 3/4 
8. Takeshita v. Endo (DDT, July) 4 3/4
9. Ibushi v. Naito (NJPW, June) 4 3/4
10. Ospreay v. Dragon Lee (NJPW, June) 4 3/4

11. Ospreay v. Okada (NJPW, Jul) 4 3/4
12. Shingo v. Ishii (NJPW, Aug) 4 3/4
13. Devlin v. Starr (OTT, Oct) 4 3/4 
14. Ricochet v. Gargano (WWE, Jan) 4 3/4 
15. Kiyamiya v. Sugiura (NOAH, Dec 2018) 4 3/4 
16. Ibushi v. Naito (NJPW, Mar) 4 3/4
17. Shingo v. Naito (NJPW, Aug) 4 1/2
18. Ibushi v. Naito (NJPW/ROH, Apr) 4 1/2
19. Ibushi v. Okada (NJPW, Aug) 4 1/2
20. Ibushi v. White (NJPW, Aug) 4 1/2

21. Okada v. Sanada (NJPW, Aug) 4 1/2 
22. Okada v. Sanada (NJPW, May) 4 1/2 
23. Okada v. Sanada (NJPW, Mar) 4 1/2 
24. Okada v. Ishii (NJPW, Mar) 4 1/2
25. Okada v. Suzuki (NJPW, Sep) 4 1/2
26. Ishii v. Moxley (NJPW, July) 4 1/2 
27. Ospreay v. Ibushi (NJPW, Jul) 4 1/2 
28. Ishii v. White (NJPW, July) 4 1/2 
29. Omega v. Janela (AEW, Oct) 4 1/2
30. Miyahara v. Zeus (AJPW, July) 4 /2

31. Laredo Kid v. El Hijo del Vikingo (AAA, May) 4 1/2
32. Harada v. Kotaro (NOAH, Dec 2018) 4 1/2
33. Ospreay v. Ibushi (NJPW, Jan) 4 1/2 
34. Ospreay v. Pac (Rev Pro, Feb) 4 1/2
35. Ospreay v. Bandido (NJPW, May) 4 1/2
36. Ospreay v. Phantasmo (NJPW, Oct) 4 1/2
37. Ospreay v. Sanada (NJPW, July) 4 1/2 

38. Ospreay v. Tanahashi (NJPW, Aug) 4 1/2

39. Ospreay v. A-Kid (White Wolf, Mar) 4 1/2 
40. Ospreay v. Taguchi (NJPW, June) 4 1/2

41. Ospreay v. Romero (NJPW, May) 4 1/2
42. Ospreay v. Eagles (NJPW, June) 4 1/2 
43. Ospreay v. Archer (NJPW, June) 4 1/2
44. Ospreay v. Kenta (NJPW, Aug) 4 1/2 
45. Pac v. Kzy (DG, Feb) 4 1/2
46. Ibushi v. Tanahashi (NJPW, Aug) 4 1/2 
47  Ishii v. Cobb (NJPW, July) 4 1/2 
48. Ishii v. Evil (NJPW, May) 4 1/2 
49. Moxley v. Omega (AEW, Nov) 4 1/2
50. Ishimori v. Lee (NJPW, May) 4 1/2

51. Sho v. Lee (NJPW, May) 4 1/2
52. Suwama v. Nomura (AJPW, Apr) 4 1/2
53. Bucks v. Lucha Bros (AEW, May) 4 1/2 
54. Briscoes v. Bucks v. So Cal Uncensored (ROH, Dec 2018) 4 1/2 
55. Omega/Ibushi v. Ospreay/Tanahashi (NJPW, Dec 2018) 4 1/2
56. War Raiders v. Undisputed Era (WWE, Jan) 4 1/2 
57. Miyahara v. Ishikawa (AJPW, May) 4 1/2
58. Miyahara v. Kai (AJPW, Jan) 4 1/2 
59. Miyahara v. Yoshitatsune (AJPW, June) 4 1/2 
60. Jericho v. Naito (NJPW, Jan) 4 1/2 

61. Shingo v. Sho (NJPW, May) 4 1/2

62. Shingo v. Goto (NJPW, Aug) 4 1/2

WWE
1. NXT UK Title: Walter v. Bate (NXT UK Cardiff, Aug) 5
2. NXT Title: Gargano v. Cole (NXT Takeover, Apr) 5
3. NXT Title: Gargano v. Cole (NXT 25, June) 4 3/4
4. NXT NorthAm Title: Gargano v. Ricochet (NXT Takeover, Jan) 4 3/4 
5. NXT Tags: War Raiders v. Undisputed Era (NXT Takeover, Jan) 4 1/2
6. NXT: DIY d. O'Reilly/Fish (Mar) 4 1/4
7. NXT Tags: War Raiders v. Ricochet/Black (Apr) 4 1/4
8. NXT Title: Cole v. Riddle (Oct) 4 1/4
9. NXT UK Title: Walter v. Dunne (Apr) 4 1/4 
10. War Games Match: Team Ciampa (Tommaso Ciampa, Keith Lee, Dominik Dijakovic, and Kevin Owens) defeated The Undisputed Era (Adam Cole, Bobby Fish, Kyle O'Reilly, and Roderick Strong) (Nov) 4 1/4

11. WWE Title: Rollins v. Styles (MITB, May) 4 1/4
12. WWE Title: Bryan v. Styles (TLC Dec, 2018) 4 1/4
13. Bate v. Ohno (NXT UK, Nov) 4 1/4
14. WWE Title: Elimination Chamber Match (Elimination Chamber, Feb) 4 1/4
15. NXT UK Tags: Gibson/Drake v. Moustache Mountain (NXT UK Takeover, Jan) 4 1/4
16. NXT UK Title: Dunne v. Coffey (NXT UK Takeover, Jan) 4 1/4
17. WWE Title: Bryan v. Owens v. Ali (Fastlane, Mar) 4 1/4
18. Revival v. Undisputed Era (NXT, Nov) 4 1/4
19. Riddle v. Cole v. Dream v. Ricochet v. Black (NXT, Mar) 4
20. Halftime Heat: 6 Man (February) 4

21. NXT North Am Title: Dream v. Riddle (Apr) 4
22. Riddle v. Strong (NXT, June) 4
23. Universal Title: Rollins v. Lesnar (Summer Slam) 4
24. NXT Title: Cole v. Gargano (Aug) 4
25. NXT UK Tag Titles: Andrews/Webster v. Gallus v. Gibson/Drake (Aug) 4
26. Scott v. Gulak (205 Live, July) 4
27. WWE Title: Kingston v. Bryan (Wrestlemania, Apr) 4
28. Shirai v. LaRae (NXT, Aug) 4
29. 205 Live: Nese v. Alexander (Mar) 4
30. Smackdown: Gauntlet Match (Feb) 4

31. 205 Live: Gable v. Gallagher (July) 4
32. NXT Title: Ciampa v. Black (NXT Takeover, Jan) 4
33. Cole v. Bryan (Smackdown, Nov) 4
34. Smackdown: Almas v. Rey (Jan) 4
35. MITB Men's Match: (MITB, May) 4
36. TLC Match: Smackdown Women's Title: Asuka v. Lynch v. Flair (TLC, Dec, 2018) 4
37. NXT Tag Title: Ladder Match: Street Profits v. Lorcan/Burch v. Forgotten Sons v. Undisputed Era (June) 4
38. Itami v. Alexander (205 Live, Jan) 4
39. RAW Women's Title: Lynch v. Banks (HIAC, Oct) 4
40. Lorcan/Gallagher/Nese v. Daivari/Bennett/Gulak (205 Live, June) 4

41. Gargano v. Dream (NXT, Feb) 4
42. Nese v. Tozawa (205 Live, June) 4
43. Devlin v. Banks (NXT UK, Mar) 4
44. Samoa Joe v. R-Truth, Andrade, & Rey Mysterio (Smack, Mar) 4
45. Black/Ricochet v. DIY (NXT, Mar) 4

The Greatest MLB Tournament Ever Created (NL, Round One, Group 8)

Last group is here.

8. 1905 Giants (won WS)

v.

121. 1883 Braves (Beaneaters) (1st)

The Giants (all NY) will get 4 more shots to add to their teams who are moving forward; the 19th century gets 3 more chances not to get shut out.  A 24 year old Christy Mathewson leads New York; the future Braves have a 22 year old Charlie Buffinton.  

C Giants-Bresnahan

1B Giants-McGann

2B Braves-Burdock

SS Giants-Dahlen

3B Giants-Devlin

LF Giants-Mertes

CF Braves-Whitney

RF Braves-Buffinton

SP1 Braves-Whitney

SP2 Braves-Buffinton

SP3 Giants-Ames

Cl Push

Double: Bat WAR Giants

Double: Pit WAR Giants

Giants 10 Braves 5 - it's never going to happen for the 19th century

57. 1985 Cardinals (lost WS)

v.

72. 2008 Cubs (lost NLDS)

-First of two Cards/Cubs matchups in the last NL Group; can I interest you in a 30 year old Ozzie Smith against a 38 year old Jim Edmonds?  

C Cubs-Soto

1B Cubs-Lee

2B Cards-Herr

SS Cards-Smith

3B Cubs-Ramirez

LF Cubs-Soriano

CF Cards-McGee

RF Cards-Van Slyke

SP1 Cards-Tudor

SP2 Cubs-Lilly

SP3 Cubs-Zambrano

Cl Cubs-Wood

Double: Bat WAR Cards

Double: Pit WAR Cubs

Cubs 9 Cards 7 - the pitching wins it for Chicago, they get 5 out of the 6 possible points and advance.

25. 1917 Giants (lost WS)

v.

104. 2002 Braves (lost NLDS)

Didn't we just do Giants/Braves?  A 32 year old Art Fletcher leads the Giants; Glavine and Maddux are both 36 year old Braves.  

C Giants-Rariden

1B Giants-Holke

2B Giants-Herzog

SS Giants-Fletcher

3B Giants-Zimmerman

LF Giants-Burns

CF Braves-Jones

RF Braves-Sheffield

SP1 Giants-Schupp

SP2 Braves-Millwood

SP3 Braves-Maddux

Cl Giants-Anderson

Double: Bat WAR Giants

Double: Pit WAR Braves

Giants 10 Braves 6 - looked like the Giants were just going to sweep them clean off the earth, but Atlanta's pitching made it a game. Giants going on a nice run here; this is team 9 to move forward.  

40. 1908 Cubs (won WS)

v.

89. 1931 Cardinals (won WS)

-Cubs/Cards redux; Tinker (27) to Evers (26) to Chance (31) against a 33 year old Frankie Frisch.  The Cubs have 7 moving forward, the Cards 6.  

C Cubs-Kling

1B Cubs-Chance

2B Cubs-Evers

SS Cubs-Tinker

3B Cubs-Steinfeldt

LF Cards-Hafey

CF Cards-Martin

RF Cards-Watkins

SP1 Cubs-Brown

SP2 Cubs-Reulbach

SP3 Cards-Derringer

Cl Cards-Lindsey

Double: Bat WAR Cubs

Double: Pit WAR Cards

Cubs 9 Cards 7 - Chicago's Hall of Fame infield sweeps and it moves the 8th Cub team into the next round.

9. 1905 Cubs (3rd in NL)

v.

120. 1884 Braves (2nd in NL) (Beaneaters)

-Another Cub team comes right behind - and they face the winless 19th century.  Same infield, three years before; and it's an infield we'll be seeing a lot of in the Round of '64 (the 06'-09' clubs are all in) and they're playing basically the same club we just saw lose to the Giants earlier in the round.  

C Braves-Kling

1B Cubs-Chance

2B Braves-Burdock

SS Cubs-Tinker

3B Braves-Sutton

LF Braves-Hornung

CF Cubs-Slagle

RF Cubs-Maloney

SP1 Braves-Buffinton

SP2 Braves-Whitney

SP3 Cubs-Brown

Cl Cubs-Pfeffer

Double: Bat WAR Cubs

Double: Pit WAR Cubs

Cubs 10 Braves 6 - dead tied headed to the totals, and then the 19th century lost one more time (the deck's a little stacked)

56. 2013 Cardinals (lost WS)

v.

73. 1919 Giants (2nd in NL)

This is it for the Cards, their last shot to get a 7th team forward; the Giants will get two chances to get that tenth team into the next round.  St Louis has a 27 year old Matt Carpenter and a 30 year old Yadier Molina. The Giants have a 34 year old Art Fletcher. 

C Cards-Molina

1B Cards-Craig

2B Cards-Carpenter

SS Giants-Fletcher

3B Giants-Zimmerman

LF Giants-Burns

CF Giants-Kauff

RF Giants-Youngs

SP1 Cards-Wainwright

SP2 Cards-Lynn

SP3 Cards-Miller

Cl Cards-Mujica

Double: Bat WAR Giants

Double: Pit WAR Cards

Cards 9 Giants 7 - St Louis sweeps the pitching, that overcomes the Giants bats and St Louis moves on.

24. 1954 Giants (won WS)

v.

105. 1883 Reds (Red Stockings) (3rd in AA)

-It's the end of the 19th century; a 23 year old Bid McPhee is about to lose to a 23 year old Willie Mays.  

C Reds-Snyder

1B Reds-Reilly

2B Reds-McPhee

SS Giants-Dark

3B Giants-Thompson

LF Giants-Irvin

CF Giants-Mays

RF Giants-Mueller

SP1 Giants-Antonelli

SP2 Giants-Gomez

SP3 Giants-Maglie

Cl Giants-Grissom

Double: Bat WAR Giants

Double: Pit WAR Giants

Giants 13 Reds 3 - yup, I should have excluded the 19th century, yup - but they're all gone now.

41. 1910 Cubs (lost WS)

v.

88. 1990 Mets (2nd in NL East)

The Cubs try to join the Giants with 10 representatives headed to the next round; the Mets look for their third. Tinker is 29, Evers 28, Chance 33.  The Mets have a 28 year old Strawberry and a 25 year old Gooden.  

C Cubs-Kling

1B Mets-Magadan

2B Cubs-Evers

SS Cubs-Tinker

3B Mets-Johnson

LF Push

CF Cubs-Hoffman

RF Mets-Strawberry

SP1 Mets-Viola

SP2 Cubs-Cole

SP3 Mets-Cone

Cl Mets-Franco

Double: Bat WAR Cubs

Double: Pit WAR Mets

Mets 8 Cubs 7 - terrific matchup, the Mets pitching advantage keeps that last Tinker/Evers/Chance team from advancing.

And that wraps up the Round of 128 in the NL - 64 teams remaining in both leagues in the greatest baseball tournament ever.

Group 1

1. 1906 Cubs (lost WS)

v.

65. 1939 Reds (lost WS)

32. 1986 Mets (World Champions)

v.

33. 1976 Reds (World Champions)

16. 1912 Giants (lost WS)

v.

49. 1988 Mets (lost NLCS)

17. 1943 Cardinals (lost WS)

v.

48. 1906 Pirates (3rd in NL-no playoffs)

Group 2

2. 1902 Pirates (1st in NL-no playoffs)

v.

66. 1952 Dodgers (lost WS)

31. 1997 Braves (lost NLCS)

v.

34. 1972 Pirates (lost NLCS)

15. 1975 Reds (World Champions)

v.

50. 1977 Dodgers (lost WS)

18. 1908 Giants (2nd in NL-no playoffs)

v.

82. 1978 Dodgers (lost WS)

Group 3

3. 1909 Cubs (2nd in NL-no playoffs)

v.

62. 1903 Pirates (lost WS)

99. 1920 Dodgers (Robins) (lost WS)

v.

35. 2011 Phillies (lost NLDS)

115. 2013 Braves (lost NLDS)

v.

51. 2018 Dodgers (lost WS)

19. 1998 Braves (lost NLCS)

v.

83. 1977 Phillies (lost NLCS)

Group 4

4. 1944 Cardinals (won WS)

v.

61. 1929 Cubs (lost WS)

29. 1993 Braves (lost NLCS)

v.

36. 1949 Dodgers (lost WS)

13. 1942 Dodgers (2nd in NL-no playoffs)

v.

77. 1999 Braves (lost WS)

20. 1953 Dodgers (lost WS)

v.

84. 1972 Reds (lost WS)

Group 5

5. 1942 Cardinals (World Champions)

v.

60. 1934 Giants (2nd in NL-no playoffs)

28. 1941 Dodgers (lost WS)

v.

92. 1957 Braves (World Champions)

12. 1901 Pirates (1st in NL-no playoffs)

v.

76. 1951 Dodgers (2nd in NL-no playoffs)

21. 1974 Dodgers (lost WS)

v.

85. 1945 Cardinals (2nd in NL-no playoffs)

Group 6

6. 1904 Giants (1st in NL-no playoffs)

v.

70. 1948 Braves (lost WS)

102. 1967 Cardinals (World Champions)

v.

38. 1940 Reds (World Champions)

11. 2016 Cubs (World Champions)

v.

75. 2002 Giants (lost WS)

22. 1935 Cubs (lost WS)

v.

43. 2017 Dodgers (lost WS)

Group 7

7. 1909 Pirates (World Champions)

v.

71. 2009 Dodgers (lost NLCS)

103. 1958 Braves (lost WS)

v.

39. 1924 Giants (lost WS)

10. 1907 Cubs (World Champions)

v.

55. 1955 Dodgers (World Champions)

23. 1911 Giants (lost WS)

v.

87. 1928 Cardinals (lost WS)

Group 8

8. 1905 Giants (World Champions)

v.

72. 2008 Cubs (lost NLDS)

25. 1917 Giants (lost WS)

v.

40. 1908 Cubs (World Champions)

9. 1905 Cubs (3rd in NL-no playoffs)

v.

56. 2013 Cardinals (lost WS)

24. 1954 Giants (World Champions)

v.

88. 1990 Mets (2nd in NL East-no playoffs)

When we come back - it will be Group 1 in the American League, our first round of 64 matchups; the top seed - the 1939 World Champion New York Yankees.