128 Team Tournament, Round Two, Region Four: 1970 World Champion Baltimore Orioles v. 2013 World Champion Boston Red Sox

 Giants v. Yankees

13. 1970 World Champion Baltimore Orioles v. 57. 2013 World Champion Boston Red Sox

The top remaining seed in Region 4 is the '70 Orioles.  Round 2 has not been kind to Baltimore so far, the '71 and '79 teams have been eliminated. This is the first Red Sox team we've seen in this round - and another is coming in the next series.  

14 teams are in.  Who will be #15?

Orioles 108-54 Mgr Earl Weaver

1st in AL East

d. Twins in ALCS

d. Reds in WS

d. #116 1958 Yankees (MVP-Eddie Watt)

All-Stars SP Mike Cuellar (4th AL Cy Young) 2B Davey Johnson, SP Dave McNally (2nd AL Cy Young) SP Jim Palmer, (5th Cy Young) 1B Boog Powell (AL MVP) OF Frank Robinson, 3B Brooks Robinson

Hall of Famers: Jim Palmer, Brooks Robinson, Frank Robinson, Earl Weaver

Red Sox 97-65 Mgr. John Farrell (2nd AL Mgr of the Year)

1st in AL East

d. Rays in ALDS

d. Tigers in ALCS

d. Cardinals in WS

d. #72. 1941 Dodgers (MVP: David Ortiz, Matt Carp)

All-Stars SP Clay Buchholz, DH David Ortiz, 2B Dustin Pedroia

Red Sox-John Farrell

CF Ellsbury (29)  (LH) 113  4.9

RF Victorino (32) (SH)  118  5.5

LF Carp (27)         139   1.3

1B Nava (30) (SH)      127    2.8

C Saltalamacchia (28) (SH)  118   3.1

SS Drew (30)  (LH)      111     3.5

2B Pedroia (29)    115     5.6

3B Iglesias (23)    115     1.6

P Buchholz (28)    237    4

Bench:

1B Napoli (31)      128   3.4

DH Ortiz (37)  (LH)     159   4.7

C    Ross (36)                 85

3B  Middlebrooks (24)  87

LF Gomes (32)              110

OF Bradley (23)   (LH) 68

IF   Ciriaco (27)             76

3B  Holt (LH) (25)         43

C    Lavarnway (25)      106

IF Snyder (26)               53

SP2 Lester (29) (LH)   110    3.3

SP3 Lackey (34)  117    3.4

RH Palmer going for the Orioles in game 1 so we see Boston's LH heavy lineup, McNally and Cuellar are both lefties going in games 2-3, so Napoli plays first, Ross might catch, Middlebrooks might play third with Iglesias moving to short. Both Gomes and Nava are in play for an OF spot. Ortiz can't play the field at all, so he will only see starts in Boston.  

Orioles-Earl Weaver

CF Rettenmund (27)  156  4.3

RF Robinson (34)      151   4.3

1B Powell (28)  (LH)         163    5.1

LF Buford (33)  (SH)      126    4.4

3B Robinson (33)      109    3.3

2B Johnson (27)        107    3.8

C Hendricks (29) (LH)     92    1.5

SS Belanger (26)       56      1.9

P Palmer (24)            134    6.3

Bench:

C Etchebarren (27)    82    .6 

SS Salmon (29)        86     .1

CF Blair (26)              114   5.3 

1B  Crowley (23) (LH)    116

2B Grich (21)          55

LF Motton (29)       110

SP2 McNally (27)  (LH) 113      4.7

SP3 Cuellar (33)   (LH)   105     3.5

Orioles have 4 OF for 3 spots - against the RH in game 1 it'll be Buford in and Blair out, that'll switch in game two against a LH, with Blair playing CF.  When the series goes to Boston, Buford will DH.  Probably platoon behind the plate.  Salmon has a better bat than Belanger and might see some action.  

WAR Advtantage

C-Sox

1B-Orioles

2B-Sox

SS-Sox

3B-Orioles

LF-Orioles

CF-Push

RF-Sox

DH-Sox

SP1-Orioles

SP2-Orioles

SP3-Sox

Bullpen-Sox

Sox 7 Orioles 5, so Orioles have seed advantage, Sox have WAR advantage, it's Pedroia, just by a tick, who is the best position player in the series.  Baltimore is the top seed in the Region..this is so, so close...let's say that home field advantage takes Ortiz's bat away just enough to make...by the narrowest of margins, the Orioles are the favorites.  This could be a super competitive series.  One to definitely look forward to.  

GAME ONE

1st: Here's Jim Palmer.  We've talked about him a bunch in this round; this year he's 24 with a 2.71 ERA. He walks Jacoby Ellsbury but that's all.

1st: 28 year old RH Clay Buchholz gets the call for the Sox; 12-1, 1.74 ERA. Buchholz came up in '07, was 6th in the Cy Young in '10, he made his 2nd All Star team this year. He'll stay in Boston through '16, then be sent to the Phillies for a prospect. It appears that '19 is his final season, as a Blue Jay. He gets the first two - then Boog Powell sends the Memorial Stadium crowd into a frenzy with a rocket shot - a bomb to dead center.  Sox 0 Orioles 1

2nd: Stephen Drew draws a two out walk. Drew's 30, up in Arizona in '06, this is his first season in Boston, signing as a free agent, the Sox deal him at next year's deadline to the Yankees for Kelly Johnson. His last season is '17 with Washington. That's all.

2nd: Davey Johnson singles, he will be the second baseman next year as well, so we've discussed him. '72 will be his last season in Baltimore. After an out Mark Belanger walks, that's all.

3rd: Jose Iglesias singles. Iglesias is a 23 year old rookie, he finished 2nd this year in the AL Rookie of the Year - but not with Boston; he was dealt away to the Tigers at the deadline in a deal that also included the White Sox.  Jake Peavy came back to Boston, Peavy is in the bullpen for this series.  In 2020 - Iglesias is playing for these Orioles.  He's standing at second two outs later when Shane Victorino singles him home, tying the score.  Sox 1 Orioles 1

3rd: Frank Robinson singles - he'll be on next year's team and so has been discussed. He's stranded.

4th: Jordan Saltalamacchia singles with one out - Salty came up with the Braves as a 22 year old in '07, he came over from the Rangers in a deadline deal in '10 and he signs as a free agent after this season with the Marlins.  He ends his career as a Tiger in '18. Drew singles and after the second out Pedroia singles, but Palmer leaves it there.

4th: Johnson doubles - but is left.

5th: Jacoby Ellsbury singles with one out, Ellsbury's 29, came up in '07, third in Rookie of the Year in '08, led the league in stolen bases in both '08 and '09, finished second in the MVP in '11. This is his last year in Boston, he signs with the Yankees as a free agent and his final big league season will be '17. That's it.

5th: Boog Powell walks with two outs, he's next year's first baseman as well. Don Buford singles and Brooks Robinson walks.  Bases loaded.  Two out.  And Buchholz escapes.

6th: Salty singles with one out, after the second out, Pedroia doubles -- Salty rounds third -- and is gunned down at the plate with a rifle shot by Don Buford!  The Sox do not score - and the game remains tied.

6th: Ellie Hendricks singles, we've seen him with next year's Orioles and he's already moved forward as the backup for the '77 Yankees.  Two outs later Merv Rettenmund doubles -- and it's Baltimore who is able to take advantage and score the go ahead run.  Frank Robinson then walks and the inning ends.  Sox 1 Orioles 2

7th: After an out - Farrell calls on David Ortiz to hit.  Ortiz is going to the Hall of Fame; he's 37 years old and broke in 16 years prior with the Twins. They release him after the '02 season and he's signed by Boston.  Over the next 5 years he finished in the top 5 in the AL MVP every season. He's an All Star in all of those seasons and then also makes the team in '08, '10, '11, '12. This year he finished 10th in the MVP race, his final season is 2016, when he finishes 6th in the MVP race. Ortiz singles - but that's all Palmer allows.  

7th: Both teams have strong pens, the Sox rolls thick - 32 year old lefty Craig Breslow had a 1.81 ERA, he gets an out, then gives up a Brooks Robinson single - that's all.

8th: Mike Carp singles. Carp, along with Ortiz, were co-MVPs in Round one. Carp's a career part timer, the Sox bought him from Seattle prior to the start of the season and next year is the last of his career.  Daniel Nava walks and Salty gets hit and suddenly the Sox have loaded the bases with no one out. And then there's a passed ball - and it ties the score and there still is no one out.  30 year old lefty Pete Richert enters with a 1.98 ERA - he gives up a Drew sac fly that gives Boston the lead.  After the second out, Iglesias singles and now it's 4-2. Sox 4 Orioles 2

8th: 27 year old RH Junichi Tozawa has a 3.16 ERA and he's next for Boston. With one out Belanger singles. That's it.  

9th: 29 year old RH Eddie Watt was the MVP of the last round and he enters for Baltimore - 1-2-3

9th: 3 left.  Koji Uehara is a 38 year old RH with a 1.09 ERA and 21 saves and he needs 3 outs.

Rettenmund is first.  Strikeout.

Frank Robinson is next.  Flies to right.

Powell is next - flies to center and it's done

Sox 4

Orioles 2

WP Breslow

LP Palmer

The wheels fell off tor the Orioles in the 8th and they've lost their home field advantage.

For Boston...

Ellsbury reached twice

Salty reached twice

Drew reached twice

Pedroia reached twice

Iglesias reached twice

For the Orioles..

Frank reached twice

Powell reached twice w/HR

Buford reached twice

Brooks reached twice

Johnson reached twice

Belanger reached twice

One more in Baltimore - can the O's even this up?

2B Pedroia (29)    115     5.6

SS Iglesias (23)    115     1.6

LF Carp (27)         139   1.3

1B Napoli (31)      128   3.4

RF Nava (30) (SH)      127    2.8

CF Victorino (32) (SH)  118  5.5

3B  Middlebrooks (24)  87

C    Ross (36)                 85

SP2 Lester (29) (LH)   110    3.3

LF Rettenmund (27)  156  4.3

RF Robinson (34)      151   4.3

1B Powell (28)  (LH)         163    5.1

CF Blair (26)              114   5.3 

3B Robinson (33)      109    3.3

2B Johnson (27)        107    3.8

C Etchebarren (27)    82    .6 

SS Belanger (26)       56      1.9

SP2 McNally (27)  (LH) 113      4.7

GAME TWO

1st: 27 year old lefty Dave McNally gets the ball for the Orioles, down a game in this series - 24-9, 3.22, he will also pitch for next year's team, so we've discussed him. McNally is second in the Cy Young this year and 4th next  McNally was an excellent playoff pitcher - 90 innings pitched, a 2.49 ERA. He started twice in the '70 postseason and won both of them.  He gives up a one out single to Jose Iglesias then walks Mike Carp. That's all.

1st: Boston turns to Jon Lester, 29 year old lefty, 15-8, 3.75. Lester came up in '06, was 4th in the Cy Young in '10, he'll be 4th again next year - during which he and Johnny Gomes are sent to Oakland for Yoenis Cespedes. Lester has 2 more top 10 Cy Young finishes as a Cub, for whom he still pitches in 2020.  He gives up a leadoff triple to Rettenmund and a run scoring double to Frank Robinson - Boog Powell then hits a two run homer and Baltimore has bounced to a quick 3-0 lead. Sox 0 Orioles 3

2nd: 1-2-3

2nd: Andy Etchebarren singles - he's catching today against the lefty Lester, largely a backup catcher throughout his 15 year career, Etchebarren came up when he was 19 in '62, was an All Star in both '66-67, he'll be sold to the Angels during the '75 season and finish with the Brewers in '78. After an out he's on second and then sores on  a McNally single.  Sox 0 Orioles 4

3rd: 1-2-3, 8 straight for McNally

3rd: Powell doubles - man, the Orioles are pounding Lester - Paul Blair then doubles him home.  Blair is the center fielder today against a lefty; he was 20 when he broke in in '64, picks up 8 Gold Glove awards in Baltimore - he's on that '77 Yankee team that already advanced, the Yankees got him for Elliott Maddox. Sox 0 Orioles 5

4th: 1-2-3, 11 straight.

4th: 1-2-3

5th: Will Middlebrooks, playing today against the lefty, singles with one out. Middlebrooks is 24, came up last year, he's dealt to the Padres for Ryan Hanigan after next season and his last year in the bigs will be '17 in Texas. David Ross then walks, Lester, hitting for himself - doubles home Boston's first run.  Pedroia follows with a single that clears the bases and just like that it's 5-3 and McNally is out of the game.  Weaver brings in 26 year old lefty Marcelino Lopez, he gives up a run scoring double to Iglesias. It ends here, but the 4 run inning puts the Sox right back in this one.  Sox 4 Orioles 5

5th: Powell singles with one out, Blair singles him to third and a Brooks Robinson sac fly gives Baltimore back a run. That ends the day for Lester - Jake Peavy 32 year old RH gets the call and ends it. Sox 4 Orioles 6

6th: 1-2-3

6th: Belanger doubles with one out, that's all.

7th: Pedroia hits a 2 out single, that's all - nice work by Lopez.

7th: Powell keeps it going with a single - Blair keeps it going with a double -- and then Brooks Robinson ends this one with a 3 run jack -- that gets this Memorial Stadium crowd back up - now they have a five run lead and are about to tie this series.  27 year old lefty Franklin Morales comes on to pitch, he walks Johnson, that's all.  Sox 4 Orioles 9

8th: 1-2-3, Lopez continues his big outing.

8th: Rettenmund walks with one out and Frank Robinson singles -- Boog Powell does it again with a run scoring single. 30 year old RH Alfredo Aceves enters - and gives up a run scoring Paul Blair double. Sox 4 Orioles 11

9th: 34 year old RH Moe Drabowsky looks to end it - gives up a Victorino single, that's all.

Sox 4

Orioles 11

WP Lopez

LP Lester

Oriole bats just open up on this Sox staff - and this series heads to Fenway all tied up.

For the Orioles..

Frank has reached 4x

Rettenmund reached twice in game 2 w/triple

Powell has reached 7x w/2HR

Blair had 4 hits, 3 doubles in game 2

Buford reached twice

Brooks has reached3x w/HR

Johnson has reached 3x

Belanger has reached 3x

For Boston...

Ellsbury reached twice

Salty reached twice

Drew reached twice

Pedroia has reached 4x

Iglesias has reached 4x

The DH will be in play for games 3-4 - let's go to Fenway.

Orioles

LF Rettenmund (27)  156  4.3

1B Powell (28)  (LH)         163    5.1

RF Robinson (34)      151   4.3

DH Buford (33)  (SH)      126    4.4

CF Blair (26)              114   5.3 

3B Robinson (33)      109    3.3

2B Johnson (27)        107    3.8

C Hendricks (29) (LH)     92    1.5

SS Belanger (26)       56      1.9

SP3 Cuellar (33)   (LH)   105     3.5

Sox

2B Pedroia (29)    115     5.6

3B Iglesias (23)    115     1.6

DH Ortiz (37)  (LH)     159   4.7

1B Napoli (31)      128   3.4

LF Gomes (32)              110

RF Victorino (32) (SH)  118  5.5

C Saltalamacchia (28) (SH)  118   3.1

CF Ellsbury (29)  (LH) 113  4.9

SS Drew (30)  (LH)      111     3.5

SP3 Lackey (34)  117    3.4

GAME THREE

1st: Fenway Park.  Game 3.  Series tied at one.  On the mound for the Sox - John Lackey.  34, RH.  10-13, so probably the worst record of any pitcher we'll see get a tournament start, 3.52. Lackey was 4th in the AL Rookie of the Year with the Angels back in '02. 3rd in the Cy Young in '07. Signs as a free agent with Boston before '10, this is his last full year with the Sox, they move him at the deadline in '14 to the Cards for Allen Craig and Joe Kelly. His last year is '17 with the Cubs. With two outs, he walks Frank Robinson and gives up a Don Buford base hit - that's it.

1st: 33 year old lefty Mike Cuellar takes the ball for Baltimore; 24-8, 3.48. Cuellar won the Cy Young in '69, 4th this year and makes the All Star team for the '71 club we've already seen.  Strong in the postseason for his career - 85 innings, 2.85 ERA. He wasn't great this year - the Twins banged him around in the ALCS (4 innings, 6 earned) but he went 11 innings with a 3.18 ERA and went 1-0 in the World Series. He hits Iglesias with one out, that's all.

2nd: Brooks Robinson singles. He was 7th in the AL MVP this year; we've discussed him with the '71 team. Good playoff career - hit .303 in 145 at bats with 5 homers. And this year - he was World Series MVP, hitting .429 against the Reds.  That's all.

2nd: Salty hits a 2 out double - he sat in game 2, but catches today and that's likely to continue the rest of the way.  Nothing results.

3rd: Belanger gets hit - probably coincidental that Iglesias got hit a couple innings prior, but something to monitor - Boog Powell stays hot, singling him to third after the first out and when Frank Robinson hits a sac fly - it's the Orioles who break through with the game's first run. Orioles 1 Sox 0

3rd: Pedroia singles and then Iglesias is hit again.  Iglesias will not be able to continue in the series - Middlebrooks will enter.  The crowd is now buzzing - given the circumstances, it doesn't really make sense that any of this is intentional - but 3 hit batsmen in 3 innings is a lot and there's definitely some chirping going on.  Ortiz then singles to load the bases and Mike Napoli singles home two runs and now Boston takes the lead.  Victorino singles home a run.  Saltalamacchia doubles home two -- big, big inning for the Sox - Orioles 1 Sox 5

4th: Blair singles - then steals second - then scores on a Brooks Robinson double to get a run back.  Davey Johnson walks.  Ellie Hendricks singles.  Still no one out -- Belanger the singles and now it's 5-3 and a Rettenmund groundout makes it 5-4.  Book Powell singles home the tying run -- here's where it ends; the Orioles come all the way back and tie this up.  Orioles 5 Sox 5

4th: One out and then- Pedroia singles.  Dustin Pedroia is 29, he'll spend his entire 14 year career in Boston. Rookie of the Year in '07, MVP in '08, Top 10 finishes in both '11 and this year.  His last season is '19. It ends here.  

5th: 1-2-3

5th: David Ortiz hits Cuellar's first pitch off the Pesky pole to give Boston the lead -- thunderous - thunderous roar at Fenway as Ortiz circles the bases.  Napoli then walks, an out later Victorino singles and Salty singles home another run.  Marcelino Lopez was strong in relief in game 2 - he gives up a run scoring groundout to Ellsbury and then a double to Drew - it ends here, Orioles 5 Sox 8

6th: Belanger singles with one out - Belanger hit just .218 this year (his career BA was .228) in ten postseason series for his career he hit .183 and while he was bad in the World Series this season (.105) his best ever playoff series was the '70 ALCS, when he hit .333 against the Twins.  After the second out Lackey walks Powell -- and then Frank Robinson ties it up with one swing - a 3 run homer over the Monster in LF --- huge, huge, huge moment here in game 3 - the Hall of Famer hits a 3 run homer and the score is all tied up.  Craig Breslow enters and ends the inning.  Orioles 8 Sox 8

6th: Lopez gets the first -- and then it's Papi Ortiz - with another home run -- David Ortiz homers to left center - and Boston - Boston is back in front -- a massive curtain call for Ortiz - the hometown crowd ecastic as the Papi chants fill all of New England.  Pete Richert comes on for Baltimore and ends it.  Orioles 8 Sox 9

7th: Paul Blair singles/Brooks Robinson walks and the Orioles are back at it.  An out moves both men up a base - and Ellie Hendricks singles them both home -- and it's Baltimore who has taken the lead.  Belanger then singles - back to the pen Boston goes for Junichi Tazawa to end it.  Orioles 10 Sox 9

7th: Salty singles with one out - but Richert holds the lead.  We head to the 8th in a slugfest at Fenway.

8th: After one out -- Don Buford homers -- Baltimore adds a run to the lead -- Blair then reaches on an error - and Brooks Robinson, who homered back in game 2 -- does it again right here -- a two run shot and now the Orioles have a big lead in the 8th inning.  Davey Johnson doubles and that ends Tazawa's day - 29 year old RH Andrew Bailey enters - Hendricks walks, after the second out Rettenmund walks -- the bases are loaded - that's where it ends.  Orioles 13 Sox 9

8th: Eddie Watt gets the call from Weaver -- can they get 6 more outs.  He gives up a one out single to Middlebrooks, that's all.  

9th: 26 year old RH Alex Wilson is the next Boston arm, After an out, Buford walks, Blair singles, and then Brooks walks and Baltimore has loaded the bases again - after the second out Hendricks ends this game with a bases clearing double.  Baltimore just pounding - just pounding Boston pitching the last two games.  Alfredo Aceves finishes up.  Orioles 16 Sox 9

9th: 1-2-3

Orioles 16

Sox 9

WP Richert

LP Breslow

The Orioles score 27 runs in games 2 and 3 and grab the 2-1 lead.

One more at Fenway.  The game one starters return.  Can the Sox force game 5?

Orioles

LF Rettenmund (27)  156  4.3

1B Powell (28)  (LH)         163    5.1

RF Robinson (34)      151   4.3

DH Buford (33)  (SH)      126    4.4

CF Blair (26)              114   5.3 

3B Robinson (33)      109    3.3

2B Johnson (27)        107    3.8

C Hendricks (29) (LH)     92    1.5

SS Belanger (26)       56      1.9

P Palmer (24)            134    6.3

Red Sox

CF Ellsbury (29)  (LH) 113  4.9

RF Victorino (32) (SH)  118  5.5

DH Ortiz (37)  (LH)     159   4.7

1B Nava (30) (SH)      127    2.8

LF Carp (27)         139   1.3

C Saltalamacchia (28) (SH)  118   3.1

SS Drew (30)  (LH)      111     3.5

2B Pedroia (29)    115     5.6

3B  Middlebrooks (24)  87

P Buchholz (28)    237    4

GAME FOUR

1st: Clay Buccholz is back, he's okay in his postseason career, 29 innings, 4.25, most of that was in 2013, he got 4 postseason starts.  Rettenmund greets him with a single and then Boog Powell clubs his 3rd homer of the series - a bomb to dead center - the Orioles are at it again.  After an out, Don Buford doubles and Paul Blair walks.  After the second out Brooks Robinson singles home Buford.  Is this the last game of the series?  Orioles 3 Sox 0

1st: In the postseason, Palmer was 8-3, 2.61 in 124 innings. He got 3 postseason starts in '70, went 2-0, 11 earned runs in 24 innings. After an out, Victorino homers - Boston's not going down without a fight.  Orioles 3 Sox 1

2nd: Rettenmund doubles with one out, and after the second out Frank Robinson doubles and that's another Oriole run.  Buford/Blair then walk and the bases are loaded. That's all.  Orioles 4 Sox 1

2nd: 1-2-3

3rd: 1-2-3

3rd: 1-2-3, 8 straight for Palmer.

4th: Two outs in -- Frank Robinson homers.  His second homer of the series, the MVP race looks to be the only competiton left in this series.  Orioles 5 Sox 1

4th: 1-2-3, 11 straight for Palmer.

5th: 1-2-3

5th: Carp walks, Salty doubles and Drew drives both home with a double and now it's 5-3. Pedoria singles and they're on the corners and the Fenway crowd is alive - after an out an Ellsbury groundout scores the 4th run. Victorino walks - it ends here but the Sox live.  Orioles 5 Sox 4

6th: 1-2-3, 7 straight for Buchholz.

6th: Carp doubles with one out - and after the second out Drew drives him home with a double to tie the score.  Orioles 5 Sox 5

7th: Craig Breslow is the new Sox pitcher.  Tie score.  Game 4.  This series is still up for grabs.  1-2-3

7th: Ellsbury singles.  That's all.  We go to the 8th.

8th: Blair walks - that brings in Junichi Tazawa. Blair steals second.  And Brooks Robinson singles him home.  Baltimore's broken the tie - and just six outs from ending the series. Orioles 6 Sox 5

8th: 1-2-3, Palmer muscles up and we head to the 9th.  

9th: Rettenmund singles.  That's all.  Bottom.

9th: Palmer remains in the game - Weaver trusting his ace to finish this off.

Drew is first - he flies to Blair.  One.

Pedoria is next..foul pop...it's Robinson near the third base dugout...Two.

Middlebrooks grounds to Belanger.  Onto Powell. Ballgame.

Orioles 6

Red Sox 5

WP Palmer

LP Buchholz

The Orioles put their first team through to the next round, the 15th team of 32 to advance.

Just a ton, a ton of Oriole bats throughout the series - let's say Boog Powell's 3 homers make him the MVP.

128 Team Tournament, Round Two, Region Four: 1921 AL Champion New York Yankees v. 1922 World Champion New York Giants

 A's v. Giants

93. 1921 AL Champion New York Yankees v. 100. 1922 World Champion New York Giants

Okay - so, in both 1921-22 the Giants beat the Yankees to win the World Series (Yankees beat them in '23)  We just saw the 1921 Giants lose to the A's - now the sequel is here and they're playing the '21 Yankees.  So - this is as close to a matchup that we had IRL in the entire tournament (and that might remain true for the rest of the tournament) the '21 Yankees did play the '21 Giants -- and the '22 Giants did play the '22 Yankees.  And the Giants won both of those matchups.  In this matchup - it's the Yankees who will have home field advantage..

...however...in 1921, the Yankees played their games at the Polo Grounds.  

That means - every game of this series - like every game of the World Series in those years - will be played at the Giants home park, even though it's the Yankees who have the home field advantage technically.  

Yankees 98-55 Mgr. Miller Huggins

Won AL Pennant

lost to Giants in WS

d. #36 2018 Astros (MVP-Babe Ruth)

Hall of Famers: Home Run Baker, Waite Hoyt, Babe Ruth, Miller Huggins

Giants 93-61 Mgr. John McGraw

Won NL Pennant

d. Yankees in WS

d. #29 1954 Indians (MVP-Earl Smith)

Hall of Famers: Dave Bancroft, Frankie Frisch, Travis Jackson, High Pockets Kelly, Casey Stengel, Ross Youngs, John McGraw

Giants

SS Bancroft (31)   109  6.6

CF Stengel (31)     154  2.6

RF Youngs (25)     120  3.4

C Smith (25)          118  1.3

2B Frisch (24)       110   4.4

LF Meusel (29)     122   2.6

1B Kelly (26)         118   3.8

3B Groh (32)         80    1.9

P Douglas (32)      153   2.6

Bench:

C Snyder (28)  122

2B Rawlings (29)  86

OF Cunningham (27)   100

OF Shinners (26)          59

SP2 Nehf (25)  (LH)     122  3

SP3 Barnes (29)   115  1.5

Giants have a catching platoon, but the Yankees have all RH starters so most likely (as happened in round one) Smith catches every game.  Giants will start with Groh at third, but if he doesn't hit, Rawlings moves into the lineup and Frisch shifts to third.  Here's an additon - I'm including in the bench all the position players on the active roster; so there's no chance outside of injury that either Cunningham or Shinners starts, but they are on the bench and you might see them pinch hit.  I don't have access to the bullpens; that's entirely the province of the simulation, so while I know who was on the roster all season for each team; other than the starting rotations (from which I choose the starters) I don't know what pitchers are sitting in the bullpen. 

Yankees

C Schang (31)  123  3.5

LF Ruth (26)   239  11.8

RF Meusel (24)  128  4.1

3B Baker (35)   99    2

1B Pipp (28)     95     2

CF Miller (30)  103   .7

2B Ward (24)   98     3.1

SS Peckinpaugh (30) 97  3.3

P Mays (29)      138   6.7

Bench:

OF Bodie (31)  23

OF Fewster (25)  95

OF Hawks (25)  104

OF Roth (28)    97

C Hoffman (27)   33

3B McNally (27)   56

SP2 Hoyt (21)    136   4.9

SP3 Shawkey (30) 103  2.8

Yes, Yankee RF Bob and Giants LF Irish are brothers.  Brother v. Brother in this round. Also, Stengel is the Giants CF and he will go on to his greatest notoriety as Yankee manager. Absent injury, the Yankees will send the same 8 out in each game. 

WAR Advantage

C-Yankees

1B-Giants

2B-Giants

SS-Giants

3B-Push

LF-Yankees

CF-Giants

RF-Yankees

SP1-Yankees

SP2-Yankees

SP3-Yankees

Bullpen-Giants

WAR Score: Yankees 6 Giants 5, so, Yanks have the seed advantage, the WAR advantage, and by far the best player on the field (Ruth) - it's Giants bats vs Yankees starting pitchers - even though the Giants beat them two straight years in the World Series we have to say the Yankees are favored here.  

GAME ONE

1st: 29 year old RH Carl Mays gets the call from Miller Huggins in game one. 27-9, 3.05; Mays broke in with the Red Sox in '15, led the AL in saves that year; three years later, he'd lead the AL in shutouts. The Sox sell him to the Yankees during the '19 season, in 1920 he kills Ray Chapman with a pitch to the head and this year he led the league in wins. After the '23 season, the Yanks sell Mays to the Reds, he winds up finishing his career with the Giants in '29. Mays pitched against these Giants both in '21 and '22 in the World Series, in the '21 series he threw 3 complete games with a 1.73 ERA (still only went 1-2) and in '22 he threw once, went 8 innings, gave up 4 earned and lost. With one out, Casey Stengel singles, Ross Youngs reaches via error, Earl Smith singles home a run and an Irish Meusel sac fly plates a second.  Giants 2 Yankees 0

1st: 32 year old RH Phil Douglas was 11-4 with a 2.63 ERA, he was with last year's Giants but did not pitch in their loss to the '09 A's in the tournament. Douglas was 22 when he broke in with the White Sox in '12, the Giants got him for Dave Robertson during the '19 season from the Cubs. This is his last year in the big leagues and he led the league in ERA (that's probably a very small club). In the '21 World Series he started 3 times against the Yankees, 26 innings, a 2.08 ERA and he went 2-1. Wally Schang reaches via error and then Babe Ruth doubles, a second error scores a run and a Home Run Baker sac fly ties the score.  Giants 2 Yankees 2 

2nd: 1-2-3

2nd: 1-2-3

3rd: Stengel singles with one out, he's got two hits already. Stengel's 31, broke in with the Dodgers in '12, led the league in OBP in '14, he came to the Giants last year in a deal we've already discussed, along with Johnny Rawlings. He led the league this year in getting hit by pitches (and since Mays is throwing for the Yankees, that's something to keep an eye on) He and Bancroft get shipped to the Braves after the '23 season and his last year as a player is '25. He went 2-5 in the '22 World Series. Aftet the second out, Earl Smith singles home a run and the Giants are back on top.  Giants 3 Yankees 2

3rd: After an out - Babe Ruth follows that double by hitting a mammoth home run to dead center field that ties the score. The Babe was 19 when he came up with the Red Sox in '14, he led the league in ERA in '16 and in complete games in '17-- in '18 and '19 ('19 is his bat breakout season, he's the best hitter on the Red Sox in '18 but in '19 he's the best hitter baseball's ever seen) he led the league in homers and then was sold to the Yankees. He leads the league in everything in '20 and this year he hit 59 homers. This is maybe the best year of Ruth's career. Ruth leads the league in OPS+ every year from '19-24, winning the MVP in '23. He then leads the league in OPS+ again from '26-31, finishing 5th in the MVP in '31 and 6th in '32. 8 times in his career Ruth led in runs scored, 12 times in homers, 5 times in RBI, once in batting average, 10 times in OBP, 13 times in slugging.  He holds the career best OPS+.He's with the Yankees through '34 and spends the last year of his career with the Braves. In the '21 World Series he was 5-16 with 5 walks and a homer. In the '22 World Series he was just 2-17 with 2 walks. That's all.  Giants 3 Yankees 3

4th: Back and forth they go - High Pockets Kelly singles with one out, steals second, scores on a Heinie Groh single.  We just saw Kelly, he was the first baseman for last year's team. In the '21 World Series he went 7-30, 3 walks and struck out 10 times.  In the '22 World Series he was 5-18. After the second out Bancroft walks, Stengel then singles to right -- but the Giants don't plate another.  Giants 4 Yankees 3

4th: 1-2-3

5th: Irish Meusel singles with two outs, we discussed him as the left fielder on last year's team, coming over from the Phillies at midseason. He had a big World Series in '21, 10-29, homer and a triple - 17 total bases. He was 5-20 in '22. Frankie Frisch then walks - but Mays escapes.

5th: 1-2-3, 8 straight for Douglas since the homer.  

6th: Dave Bancroft reaches on a two out error; Bancroft was the shortstop on last year's team, Bancroft really struggled in both World Series - in '21 he was 5-33, in '22 he was 4-19. Stengel then walks but the Giants don't capitalize.

6th: Babe Ruth is 2-2, double/homer --- and he hits the first pitch into the right field seats to tie the score.  The Babe has hit 2 homers today, much as he was during the season he sets the tone for this Yankee club.  Giants 4 Yankees 4

7th: Frankie Frisch singles with 2 out, Frisch was the Giants third baseman a year ago and is their second baseman now; he was 9-30 with 4 walks in the '21 World Series; and then 8-17 in '22. He steals second and then scores the go ahead run on another Kelly base hit.  That's it for Mays, 27 year old RH Tom Sheehan is the new Yankee pitcher, he gives up a single to Groh, McGraw calls on Bill Cunningham to hit for Douglas -- and he doubles home Kelly and now it's 6-4 and then Bancroft singles -- that plates two men and the Giants may have put this one out of reach.  Back to the pen for 37 year old Jack Quinn - Stengel reaches on an error (this is all happening with 2 out) Youngs singles -- and then an Earl Smith triple clears the bases and this ballgame is over.  24 year old RH Alex Ferguson now enters - and after 11 men have gone to the plate the inning ends.  Giants 11 Yankees 4

7th: 26 year old RH Carmen Hill gets the call from McGraw - 1-2-3, the Yankees only have 3 hits today, all from the Babe.  

8th: Frankie Frisch triples and then Kelly walks.  Heinie Groh doubles both men home and the Giants are now pouring it on these Yankees. Groh broke in with the Giants back in '12, but they sent him to the Reds two years later - he was in Cincinnati last year, but following the season, they aquired him again for George Burns.  Groh went 9-19 with a triple in the '22 Series, he'll finish his career in Pittsburgh in '27.  26 year old lefty Harry Harper is the next Yankees pitcher, he gets an out and then gives up the 14th run of the day on a Bancroft single. Stengel singles.  Young singles and it scores another run.  The Yankees finally get the second out of the inning on a Smith groundout that scores another run.  And then Harper hits Irish Meusel.  So - that's interesting, this is clearly intentional - the Giants are just pouring it on the Yankees and this is what happens in this era of baseball for sure.  The interesting part is Irish Meusel's brother is a Yankee.  We'll see how this develops. Giants 16 Yankees 4

8th: 30 year old RH Jack Scott is the new Giants pitcher; Chick Fewster pinch hitting for the Yanks and he singles. Schang walks, Scott gets a double play from Ruth.  Bob Meusel singles and scores a run. 25 year old RH Virgil Barnes comes on and ends the inning.  Giants 16 Yankees 5

9th: 25 year old RH Bill Piercy is the new pitcher; 1-2-3

9th: 1-2-3

Giants 16

Yankees 5

WP Douglas

LP Mays

16 runs, 19 hits, the Giants unleash on the Yankees in game 1.

Bancroft reached twice, 3 RBI

Stengel reached 5x

Youngs reached twice

Smith reached 3x, triple 6 RBI

Meusel reached twice

Frisch reached 3x, triple

Kelly reached 3x

Groh reached 3x with 3 RBI

For the Yanks..

Ruth reached 3x w/2 homers

Game 2...still in the Polo Grounds.  Do the Yanks have an answer?

Giants

SS Bancroft (31)   109  6.6

CF Stengel (31)     154  2.6

RF Youngs (25)     120  3.4

C Smith (25)          118  1.3

2B Frisch (24)       110   4.4

LF Meusel (29)     122   2.6

1B Kelly (26)         118   3.8

3B Groh (32)         80    1.9

SP2 Nehf (25)  (LH)     122  3

Yankees

RF Meusel (24)  128  4.1

LF Ruth (26)   239  11.8

C Schang (31)  123  3.5

CF Miller (30)  103   .7

2B Ward (24)   98     3.1

SS Peckinpaugh (30) 97  3.3

3B Baker (35)   99    2

1B Pipp (28)     95     2

SP2 Hoyt (21)    136   4.9

GAME TWO

1st: The Giants just punished the Yankees in game 1 - Huggins looks to counter McGraw's bats with 21 year old RH Waite Hoyt, 19-13, 3.09. Hoyt broke in with these Giants back in '18, went to Boston and this is his first year as a Yankee (he and Schang came together in a 7 player deal). He started 3 games in the '21 World Series, completed them all and didn't give up an earned run (still just went 2-1). In '22 he threw 11 innings and gave up just one earned run (still went 0-1). He'll be a Yankee until '30, wind up back with the Giants in '32, and finish his career in Brooklyn in '38. He walks Ross Youngs with two out and that's all.

1st: Art Nehf is a 29 year old lefty, we saw him with last year's Giants, this year he's 19-13, 3.29, like Hoyt, Nehf was strong in both the World Series matchups between these squads - in '21 he threw 3 complete games, went 1-2, had an ERA of 1.38 and in '22 he got two starts, went 1-0, 16 innings, an ERA of 2.25. He gives up a two out single to Wally Schang, that's all.

2nd: Frankie Frisch walks with one out, that's it.

2nd: 1-2-3

3rd: Casey Stengel singles with 2 out, that's all.

3rd: Bob Meusel doubles with 2 outs - Bob's 5 years younger than his brother on the other side, he broke in last year - he will lead the league in homers in '25, he'll stay in New York until they sell him to the Reds in '30, where he spends one year and stops.  Meusel went 6-30 in the '21 Series and 6-20 in '22.  McGraw orders that Ruth's intentionally walked and it works.

4th: Earl Smith walks - nothing results.

4th: 1-2-3, Hoyt and Nehf strong early here in Game 2.

5th: Kelly singles - that's all.  

5th: 1-2-3, 7 straight for Nehf

6th: 1-2-3, Hoyt's allowed 2 Giants hits a game after they had 19.  

6th: After two out, Schang reaches via error and Elmer Miller singles.  Miller came up in '12 with the Cards, the Yanks bought him in '15, he's really a part timer his entire Yankee career and this year ends that career - during the next season he's sent to the Red Sox with Joe Dugan, among others, coming back.  Miller was 5-31 in the '21 Series. Aaron Ward then singles home the game's first run - followed by Roger Peckinpaugh singling home the game's second - followed by Home Run Baker singling home the third - the Yanks have taken the lead.  Giants 0 Yankees 3

7th: 1-2-3, 8 straight for Hoyt.

7th: Hoyt helps himself with a single, 2 outs later Wally Schang walks and another Miller single scores a run - it sure looks like the Yankees are about to even this series. Giants 0 Yankees 4

8th: 1-2-3, 11 straight for Hoyt, he's throwing a 2 hitter and the Yanks are in control of game 2.

8th: Rosy Ryan is a 24 year old RH on now for the Giants, he gives up a one out Home Run Baker doubl and then a Wally Pipp walk, but that's all.  

9th: Casey Stengel ends the shutout with a first pitch homer. 

And that's all.

Giants 1

Yankees 4

WP Hoyt

LP Nehf

Complete game 3 hitter for Hoyt evens the series at 1.  

For the Yanks...Ruth has reached 4x w/2 homers

Schang reached twice in game 2

Miller reached twice in game 2

Baker reached twice in game 2

For the Giants..

Bancroft reached twice, 3 RBI

Stengel reached 7x w/homer

Youngs reached 3x

Smith reached 4x, triple 6 RBI

Meusel reached twice

Frisch reached 4x, triple

Kelly reached 4x

Groh reached 3x with 3 RBI

We head...well, stay at the Polo Grounds but now the Giants are the home team in their home park for the next two.

C Schang (31)  123  3.5

LF Ruth (26)   239  11.8

RF Meusel (24)  128  4.1

3B Baker (35)   99    2

1B Pipp (28)     95     2

CF Miller (30)  103   .7

2B Ward (24)   98     3.1

SS Peckinpaugh (30) 97  3.3

SP3 Shawkey (30) 103  2.8

SS Bancroft (31)   109  6.6

CF Stengel (31)     154  2.6

RF Youngs (25)     120  3.4

C Smith (25)          118  1.3

2B Frisch (24)       110   4.4

LF Meusel (29)     122   2.6

1B Kelly (26)         118   3.8

3B Groh (32)         80    1.9

SP3 Barnes (29)   115  1.5

   

1st: We saw Jesse Barnes with last year's Giants team - this year he's 29, 13-8, 3.51, after this year he only has 4 more starts left for the Giants. He pitched 16 innings in the '21 Series, went 2-0 with an ERA of 1.65. In '22 he threw 10 innings, 1.80 ERA. He gives up a 2 out double to Meusel, that's all.

1st: The Yankees counter with 30 year old RH Bob Shawkey, 18-12, 4.08. Broke in in '13 with the A's, came to New York two years later and spent the rest of his career as a Yankee. Led the league in saves in both '16 and '19, in ERA in '20 - his last season is '27.  Rough '21 Series against the Giants, 9 innings, 7 earned runs. '22 was better, 10 innings, gave up 3. Bancroft opens with a single - steals second - scores on a Stengel base hit.  After an out, an Earl Smith single scores Stengel. It ends here - Yankees 0 Giants 2

2nd:  1-2-3

2nd:  Barnes singles with one out and here's Bancroft again - doubling him over to third. After the second out Shawkey walks Youngs and the bases are loaded. And then they're not - Earl Smith crushes a grand slam to right - the Giants go up 6-0 in this pivotal game 3. 24 year old RH Alex Ferguson now enters for the Yankees to end it.  Yankees 0 Giants 6

3rd: 1-2-3, Barnes has a 6 run lead and has retired 7 straight.  

3rd: Meusel singles and Kelly doubles him home - this game resembling that game one beatdown the Giants put on the Yanks.  Two outs later Bancroft walks and Stengel singles to load them up.  That ends it for Ferguson -- despite having thrown a complete game 3 hitter in game two, the Yankees go back now to Waite Hoyt - we'll see how much he has left in the right arm.  He gets out of it.  Yankees 0 Giants 7

4th: Meusel hits a one out double, and then Pipp drives him home.  Yankees 1 Giants 7

4th: 1-2-3

5th: Peckinpaugh and Hoyt single with one out, that's all.

5th: 1-2-3, Hoyt comes on and gets 7 straight Giants.  

6th: Baker walks with one out and then Wally Pipp hits a 2 run homer. Pipp's 28, came up with the Tigers in '13, much like Shawkey, they bought him in '15, led the league in homers in '16 and '17, next year he finishes 8th in the AL MVP race, he leads the league in triples in '24, and is sold to the Reds in '26 where he finishes out his career in '28. He had a bad '21 Series, 4-26, better in '22, 6-21, Yankees 3 Giants 7

6th: Bancroft walks - he's on board 4 times today - then scores on a Stengel triple; Stengel then scores on a groundout and the Giants get those 2 runs back.  Smith singles/Frisch walks, it ends here.  Yankees 3 Giants 9

7th: Roger Peckinpaugh singles.  He was 19 when he broke in with Cleveland back in '10, the Yankees got him in '13 and he'll be their shortstop for 9 years - this is the last one, he's sent in a big 7 player deal to the Red Sox, Jack Quinn goes with him, Bullet Joe Bush, Sad Sam Jones, Everett Scott come back.  He'll win the AL MVP in '25 for the Senators and retire with the White Sox after the '27 season. He had a rough '21 Series, 5-28.  Chick Fewster comes on to hit and singles - after a double play, Ruth singles home a run, and then Schang triples home Ruth and the Yankees have two more.  Rosy Ryan enters and ends it.  Yankees 5 Giants 9 

7th: 27 year old RH Tom Sheehan is the new Yankee pitcher; He walks Heinie Groh and then an out later he gives up a Bancroft single - Bancroft does not stop - but it ends there, the Yankees still in this one.

8th: After an out, Miller singles and Ward walks - Ryan gets the second but then walks the pinch hitter, Chicken Hawks and now the bases are loaded - the tying run coming to the plate.  But the Yankees don't score.

8th: Jack Quinn is the next Yankee pitcher-  he's a 37 year old RH, he gets two, gives up a Meusel single and that's it. 

9th: Ruth triples to open the 9th - Ryan gets one - and then he gets the second, Ruth scoring on a Baker groundout.  

Two outs - Pipp keeps the Yankees alive with a base hit - but Miller grounds to short and that's that.

Yankees 6

Giants 9

WP Barnes

LP Shawkey

Giants bats win game 3 to take the 2-1 series lead.  

For the Giants..

Bancroft has reached 7x, 

Stengel has reached 10x w/homer/triple

Youngs reached 4x

Smith reached 7x, triple/grand slam 11 RBI

Meusel has reached five x

Frisch has reached 5x, triple

Kelly has reached 5x

Groh has reached 4x with 3 RBI

For the Yanks...Ruth has reached 6x w/2 homers/triple

Schang reached twice in game 2

Meusel reached 3x in game 3

Miller reached 3x in game 2-3

Baker reached 3x in game 2-3

Pipp reached 3x in game 3 w/homer 3 rbi

Peckinpaugh reached 2x in game 3

So- game 4.  Can the Yankees force a game 5?

Yankees

C Schang (31)  123  3.5

LF Ruth (26)   239  11.8

RF Meusel (24)  128  4.1

3B Baker (35)   99    2

1B Pipp (28)     95     2

CF Miller (30)  103   .7

2B Ward (24)   98     3.1

SS Peckinpaugh (30) 97  3.3

P Mays (29)      138   6.7

Giants

SS Bancroft (31)   109  6.6

CF Stengel (31)     154  2.6

RF Youngs (25)     120  3.4

C Smith (25)          118  1.3

2B Frisch (24)       110   4.4

LF Meusel (29)     122   2.6

1B Kelly (26)         118   3.8

3B Groh (32)         80    1.9

P Douglas (32)      153   2.6

GAME FOUR

1st: Phil Douglas was the winning pitcher back in game one and he returns in game 4 looking to close this out.  He walks Wally Schang to open the game.  Schang was top 10 AL MVP his first two seasons, '13 and '14, both with the A's. He comes to the Yankees from the Red Sox before this season in the Waite Hoyt deal.  He's in New York five seasons then is dealt to the Browns.  Schang plays until he's 41, retiring with the Tigers in '31. 1921 was his 4th career World Series appearance with 3 different clubs, he went 6-21 and in '22 he was 3-16. That's all the Yankees get.

1st: Carl Mays was the game one loser and he returns; 1-2-3

2nd: Pipp walks, that's all.  

2nd: Earl Smith singles - Smith was the MVP in round one and is just bruising with the bat in this series; Frisch then singles and the Giants have them on the corners with nobody out, the Giants do not score.

3rd: Schang walks with one out, Douglas walking a Yankee every inning, but also he has yet to allow a hit.  

3rd: Bancroft reached 5 times in game 3 and singles with 2 out, Casey Stengel has been on base 10 times in this series and here's number 11 - he triples to score the game's first run. Yankees 0 Giants 1

4th: With one out, Pipp reached by error and then Miller singles him to third, the first Yankee hit.  Pipp scores the tying run on a Ward groundout. Peckinpaugh walks - it ends here.  Yankees 1 Giants 1

4th: Meusel walks with 2 out and then High Pockets Kelly hits a 2 run homer - and now this Polo Grounds crowd, basically evenly divided between Yankees and Giants partisans starts to rumble. The Giants have a 2 run lead in a game that can send them to the next round.  Groh singles, that's all.  Yankees 1 Giants 3

5th: Schang doubles, moves to second on an out, scores on a Meusel groundout. Yankees 2 Giants 3

5th: 1-2-3

6th: McGraw goes to the pen - he'll look to squeeze four more innings. Rosy Ryan is first, he walks Miller with 1 out, that's all.  

6th: 1-2-3, 7 straight for Mays.  Tight one here in game 4.

7th: 1-2-3

7th: Groh hits a one out double, after the second out he comes around to score on a Bancroft base hit -- and the Giants now have a 2 run lead with 2 innings to go.  Stengel singles, Ross Youngs doubles both men home -- that could do it - that could do it - it's 6-2. Tom Sheehan enters and the inning ends.  Yankees 2 Giants 6

8th: 24 year old Claude Jonnard RH makes his first appearance in the series - he gives up a one out double to Baker, but that's all - the Giants are 3 outs away.  

8th: Frisch walks - thats all.

9th: Aaron Ward singles to open the 9th.  Yankees need 4 runs.

Peckinpaugh then singles.  2 on.  Nobody out.

And Chick Fewster draws the pinch walk.

Well - loaded.  Nobody out.  Tying run comes to the plate -- Babe Ruth does not have a hit today and he is on deck.

Wally Schang singles - scores a run and it's 6-3 and here comes the Babe.

25 year old RH Virgil Barnes comes on for the Giants.  Babe Ruth.  Bases loaded.  

Ruth flies to right.  One away.

Meusel strikes out.  Two away.

Baker flies to right.  It's over.

Yankees 3

Giants 6

WP Douglas

LP Mays

The Yankees had a chance - but they go home and we will basically get a rematch in the next round - the 1909 A's beat the 1921 Giants -- and next round they will face the 1922 Giants.  

For the Giants..

Bancroft  reached 9x, 

Stengel reached 12x w/homer/2triples

Youngs reached 7x

Smith reached 8x, triple/grand slam 11 RBI

Frisch reached 7x, triple

Kelly has reached 6x with a homer

Let's say it's Stengel/Smith, co-MVPs

Hey, It's the 2020 MLB All-Star Break (what?) Here Are the Projections/All Star Teams

The Giants are at the 30 game mark - that's good enough for me.  It's the All-Star Break.  

Projections:

AL East:

1. Rays 36 

2. Yankees 34

3. Jays 30

4. Orioles 

5. Red Sox 

AL Central:

1. Twins 36

2. Indians 34

3. White Sox 33

4. Royals 

5. Tigers 

AL West:

1. A's 37

2. Astros 33

3. Rangers

4. Angels

5. Mariners 

Playoffs:

1. A's

2. Twins

3. Rays

4. Indians

5. Yankees

6. Astros

7. White Sox

8. Jays

AL Champs: Oakland

NL East:

1. Braves 33

2. Nats 30

3. Phillies 28

4. Mets 28

5. Marlins 

NL Central:

1. Cubs 34

2. Cardinals 29

3. Reds 28

4. Brewers 28

5. Pirates

NL West

1. Dodgers 40

2. Padres 34

3. Diamondbacks 29

4. Giants 28

5. Rockies 28

Playoffs:

1. Dodgers

2. Cubs

3. Braves

4. Padres

5. Nats

6. Cards

7. Diamondbacks

8. Phillies

NL Champion: Dodgers

Of course, there is no All Star game this year, so we'll assume the same rules as last year for roster composition, 32 roster spots for each team.  20 position players, 12 pitchers, at least 3 of those are relievers.  Each team represented.

AL

C P.Severino Balt 

    C.Sisco Balt 

1B J.Abreu CWS 

     L.Voit NYY 

     M.Moreland Bos 

2B B.Lowe TB 

     DJ LeMahieu NYY 

    C.Biggio Tor 

SS T.Anderson CWS 

     D.Fletcher LAA 

3B A.Rendon LAA 

      K.Seager Sea 

LF R.Grossman Oak 

      A.Verdugo Bos 

CF K.Lewis Sea 

       L.Robert CWS 

RF A.Judge NYY 

      A.Santander Balt 

      M.Canha Oak 

DH N.Cruz Min 

SP  S.Bieber Cle --MVP

      L.Lynn Tex 

      D.Bundy LAA 

      B.Keller KC 

      D.Keuchel CWS  

      G.Cole NYY 

      R.Dobnak Min 

      Z.Greinke Hou 

      HJ Ryu Tor 

RP L.Hendricks Oak 

      J.Romano Tor 

      J.Cisnero Det 

NL

C JT Realmuto Phi 

   J.Stallings Pit 

1B F.Freeman Atl 

     P.Goldschmidt StL 

2B J.Cronenworth SD  

     K.Marte Ariz 

     D.Solano SFG 

SS F.Tatis SD 

     T.Story Col 

     M.Rojas Mia 

3B M.Machado SD 

     J.Turner LAD 

LF D.Smith NYM  

      J.Soto Wash 

CF M.Yastrzemski SFG 

     T.Grisham SD 

     S.Marte Ariz 

RF M.Betts LAD --MVP

      B.Harper Phi 

DH J.Winker Cin 

SP M.Fried Atl 

     Y.Darvish Chi 

     Z.Wheeler Phi 

     A.Nola Phi 

     T.Bauer Cin 

     J.DeGrom NYM 

     S.Gray Cin 

     K.Freeland Col 

     Z.Gallen Ariz. 

RP J.Hader Mil 

      D.Phelps Mil 

      T.Rainey Wash 

AL Lineup (v LH Fried)

CF Lewis

3B Rendon

DH Cruz

RF Judge

LF Grossman

SS Anderson

1B Abreu

2B Lowe

C Severino

SP Bieber

NL Lineup (v RH Bieber)

DH Winker

CF Yastrzemski

LF Smith

SS Tatis

2B Cronenworth

RF Betts

1B Freeman

C Realmuto

3B Machado

SP Fried

128 Team MLB Tournament - Round Two, Region Four: 1921 World Champion New York Giants v. 1909 Philadelphia Athletics

 Region 3

61. 1921 World Champion New York Giants v. 125. 1909 Philadelphia Athletics

Giants 94-59 Mgr John McGraw

Won NL Pennant

d. Yankees in WS

d. #68 1931 Yankees (MVP-Art Nehf)

Hall of Famers: Dave Bancroft, Frankie Frisch, High Pockets Kelly, Casey Stengel, Ross Youngs, John McGraw

A's 95-58 Mgr. Connie Mack

d. #4 1942 Cardinals (MVP-Harry Krause/Eddie Plank)

Hall of Famers: Home Run Baker, Chief Bender, Eddie Collins, Eddie Plank, Connie Mack

Connie Mack's A's take on John McGraw's Giants - we've seen both the 1904 and the 1912 Giants advance already in this round, we move up a decade for the 1921 version.  The 1929 A's fell short in this round so Philadelphia is still looking for a representative in the Round of 32. 

Athletics

LF Hartsell (35)   121   2.1

2B Collins (22)    170    9.9

3B Baker (23)      146    5.3

RF Murphy (32)   132   3.5

1B Davis (35)       122    3.3

C Livingston (29)  99    2.4

CF Oldring (25)    92     1.1

SS Barry (22)        77     1.6

P Krause (LH) (20)        174   4.8

Bench:

LF Heitmuller (26)  135  1.7

C Thomas (28)         79

SP2 Bender (25)      147   5.5

SP3 Plank (LH) (33)         138   5.3

Platoon in Left.  Mack rides the hot bat behind the plate. 

Giants-John McGraw

CF Burns (31)  106  2.7

SS Bancroft (30) 118  6.6

1B Kelly (25)      130   3.4

3B Frisch (23)     128   6.6

C Snyder (27)      119  2.9

LF Meusel (28)    116  .9

RF Youngs (24)   128  3.3

2B Rawlings (28) 65   .6

P Barnes (28)       120  2.5

Bench:

C Smith (24)    147   2.6

CF Walker (24)  107 .7

SP2: Nehf (28) (LH)  102  2.2

SP3: Toney (32) 103  2

Platoons here at catcher and center (maybe) for McGraw.

WAR Advantage:

C-Giants

1B-Push

2B-A's

SS-Giants

3B-Giants

LF-A's

CF-Giants

RF-A's

SP1-A's

SP2-A's

SP3-A's

Bullpen-Giants

A's 6 Giants 5 - A's have very slight WAR advantage, the real strength being starting pitching, A's also have Collins, easily the best player in the series.  Giants have seed advantage.  This is really close...I'll say by a slight, slight margin it's the A's who are the favorites.

GAME ONE

1st: 28 year old RH Jesse Barnes gets the call from McGraw for Game One of this series; 15-9, 3.10 -- Barnes broke in with the Braves six years prior, lost 21 games in 1917 and then he and Larry Doyle moved to New York for Buck Herzog. That turned his career around, he won 25 games in 1919, 20 last year. He and Earl Smith head to the Braves during the '23 season for Hank Gowdy and Mule Watson and he finishes in Brooklyn in '27. 1-2-3

1st: 20 year old lefty Harry Krause was a co-MVP for the A's in Round One, 18-8, 1.39, this is Krause's second year in the bigs and easily, easily the best season he'll have in a five year career, leading the league in ERA. He gives up a one out single to Dave Brancroft, who moves to second on the second out - and then scores on a Frankie Frisch base hit.  A's 0 Giants 1

2nd: 1-2-3

2nd: Frank Snyder draws a one out walk. Snyder's in a catching platoon for McGraw, we likely see him against the A's lefties. He was just 18 when he broke in with the Cards back in '12, became a Giant during the '19 season in a deal for Ferdie Schupp. He'll finish his career back in St Louis in '27. After Irish Meusel reaches on an error, a Ross Youngs single scores Snyder.  Krause gets a Johnny Rawlings double play, but it does score the third run. A's 0 Giants 3

3rd: Rube Oldring triples. Oldring broke in with the Yankees in '05, he spends most of the next decade starting in the A's outfield, goes back to New York in 1916 and finishes his career back in Philadelphia in 1918. Barnes gets an out - then a Krause groundout scores Oldring. A's 1 Giants 3

3rd: 1-2-3

4th: 1-2-3

4th: Frankie Frisch singles. Frisch is 23, broke in two years prior, in 1924 he'll finish 3rd in the NL MVP after moving from third to second and then have a top 10 finish the next year. Prior to 1927 the Giants deal him to the Cardinals for the legendary Rogers Hornsby, in '27 Frisch will be second in the NL MVP and Hornsby will be third. Frisch wins the NL MVP with St Louis in '31, makes All Star teams from '33-35 and retires a Cardinal in '37. Two outs later Meusel walks, that's all.

5th: Harry Davis singles. Davis is a 35 year old first baseman; he broke in with these Giants back in 1895, led the league in triples with the Pirates in '97, the A's took him from the scrap heap in '01 and he's their starting first baseman for a decade, having a couple of big seasons with the bat, led the league in doubles in '02, homers in '04, '05, '06, '07. Outside of a couple of games in Cleveland in '12, Davis remains an Athletic until the end of his career in 1917 when he's 43 years old. That's all Barnes permits.  A's 1 Giants 3

5th: Johnny Rawlings hits a one out single. Rawlings is a light hitting second baseman who broke in with the Reds 7 years prior. The Giants got him (and Casey Stengel) this year in a deal with the Phillies and he's off to the Pirates in 1923 where he finishes his career. After the second out, George Burns doubles home Rawlings. Dave Bancroft singles, but it ends here. A's 1 Giants 4

6th: Jack Barry singles. He's a 22 year old shortstop in his second year. He'll pick up a top 10 MVP finish in 1913 and be sold to the Red Sox during the 1915 season. Barry steals second, an out later Topsy Hartsel singles and now it's 4-2. Barnes gets the second out - but then hits Home Run Baker - that ends his day, McGraw goes to get his best bullpen arm, 31 year old lefty Rube Benton with his 2.88 ERA. He ends the threat.  A's 2 Giants 4

6th: 1-2-3

7th: Davis singles, but nothing results

7th: Ross Youngs walks with one out, Youngs is a career Giant, up in '17 when he was 20, he's the Giants right fielder virtually his entire career. Leads the league in runs scored in '23, 5th in the MVP race in '25, stops playing during the '26 season and is dead a year later from a kidney infection.  Rawlings singles - Curt Walker comes off the bench to hit - he walks, the Giants have the bases loaded and are a base hit away from probably wrapping up game one; but they don't get it.  Krause keeps the A's alive today.

8th: Slim Sallee is a 36 year old lefty and the next Giants pitcher, he's got a 3.64 ERA - Sallee spent the first half of his career in St Louis, the Giants bought him during the '16 season, he'll spend 1919 winning a World Series with the Reds and then come back to New York - this is his final season. He gets two and then gives up back to back singles to Hartsell and Collins -- tying runs on base for the A's -- but Sallee slips out.  

8th: 24 year old RH Jimmy Dygert gets the call for the A's, he'll be in Philadelphia each of his 6 big league seasons. Next year will be his last. 1-2-3.  

9th: 9th inning - Danny Murphy doubles and the A's have the tying run at the plate.  Murphy broke in with the Giants at the turn of the century and they sold him to the A's in 1902. He's Philadelphia's second baseman until '08 when he moves to right field. He'll jump to the federal league to finish his career when he's 37 in 1914. 

Sallee gets Davis to ground to second - Murphy can't advance.  One down.

Paddy Livingston drives a base hit to right - Murphy to third and the A's have them on the corners with one out.  

22 year old RH Red Shea comes on looking to close this out. Rube Oldring grounds to short - Giants in double play depth - Bancroft shovels to second for one -- Oldring beats the throw to first - it scores a run and now it is 4-3 Giants with 2 away and the tying run at first.

Oldring had 17 stolen bases on the season and he grabs one now - the A's getting the tying run in scoring position. 

Jack Barry comes to the plate.  And Shea walks him.  That's the potential winning run, but it sets up the force again - first and second.  Two out. Giants up a run - we thought this would be a tight, tight series and that's been true today. 

Jack Lapp comes off the bench to hit for the pitcher - the A's third string catcher, he only had 56 at bats but he hit .339.  Big, big spot -

He pops to Kelly at first and its done.  

A's 3

Giants 4

WP Barnes

LP Krause

The Giants hold on, eke out game one.  

Bancroft reached twice

Frisch reached twice

Youngs reached twice

Rawlings reached twice

For the A's...

Hartsel reached twice

Davis reached twice

Barry reached twice

One more in the Polo Grounds - can the A's get the split?

LF Heitmuller (26)  135  1.7

2B Collins (22)    170    9.9

3B Baker (23)      146    5.3

RF Murphy (32)   132   3.5

1B Davis (35)       122    3.3

CF Oldring (25)    92     1.1

C Thomas (28)         79

SS Barry (22)        77     1.6

SP2 Bender (25)      147   5.5

RF Youngs (24)   128  3.3 

C Smith (24)    147   2.6

3B Frisch (23)     128   6.6

SS Bancroft (30) 118  6.6

1B Kelly (25)      130   3.4

CF Walker (24)  107 .7

LF Meusel (28)    116  .9

2B Rawlings (28) 65   .6

SP2: Nehf (28) (LH)  102  2.2

GAME TWO

1st: 28 year old lefty Art Nehf was MVP of the Giants round 1 win and he can put the club into a real strong position as they make the trip to Philly for game 3.  20-10, 3.63. Came up with the Braves in '15, led the league with 28 complete games in 1918 (different, different times) and then the Giants threw four players and a bunch of cash to get him the next year. Despite being the number two starter on this World Champion Giants team, he was just okay in '21 - in fact he gave up more homers than anyone in the league. The Giants sell him to the Reds in '26, He finishes as a Cub in '29. Heinie Heitmuller opens with a single and comes all the way around to score on an Eddie Collins triple. Home Run Baker grounds out to score the second run. It ends here - good start for Mack's boys.  A's 2 Giants 0

1st: The A's turn to a 25 year old RH Chief Bender, 18-8, 1.66 -- he came up at 19 years old in 1903, this year he led the league in strikeout/walk ratio, he's going to lead the league in winning % the next two years. In 1913 he wins 21 and leads the league in saves, 1914 will be his last year with the A's, he jumps to the Federal League and eventually winds up with the Phillies. Bender's last year is 1917, but he comes back 8 years later to pitch an inning with the White Sox.  He gives up a one out Earl Smith single, after the second out, Dave Bancroft singles home a run.  A's 2 Giants 1

2nd: Nehf hits Rube Oldring; Ira Thomas is catching today for the A's and he singles. Thomas broke in with the Yankees in '06, the A's bought him from the Tigers this year, he'll spend the rest of a ten year big league career in Philadelphia, including a top 10 MVP season in 1911. That's all Nehf allows.

2nd: 1-2-3

3rd: 1-2-3

3rd: Nehf helps himself with a double, Ross Youngs singles and two outs later Earl Smith walks - but Bender holds firm.

4th: Oldring doubles with one out, that's all.

4th: Curt Walker's playing center for the Giants today against a RH, he singles with 2 out. he broke in two years ago and was traded during this season to the Phillies for Irish Meusel - it's a quirk of the tournament, Meusel and Walker didn't play with each other but they are both in the Giant lineup today. Walker winds up with the Reds and stays there until the end of his career in 1930. Bender maintains the lead.

5th: 1-2-3

5th: After an out, Nehf singles - he had 18 hits all year and 2 today. Youngs walks and then Bender hits Smith and the Giants have loaded the bases.  Frisch grounds out - that scores a run and thats all, but the game is tied.  A's 2 Giants 2

6th: Home Run Baker singles.  Baker's 23, he was up briefly last year but this is his rookie season and he led the league in triples.  He's going to lead the league in homers from '11-14 and have 3 top 10 MVP finishes in that stretch. The A's sell him to the Yankees before the 1916 season and he'll remain a Yankee until the end of his career in 1922, which means he was a Yankee against this Giants team in the World Series. Baker's gunned down attempting to steal second, so he's not on base when Danny Murphy doubles. Harry Davis singles and the A's regain the lead. A's 3 Giants 2

6th: High Pockets Kelly singles. Kelly came up with the Giants when he was 19 six years ago, was briefly a Pirate but then back to New York and he became a starter last season, leading the league in RBI. This year he led the league in homers; in '24 and '25 he will have top 5 MVP finishes and in '27 get sent to the Reds for Edd Roush. He finishes his career as a Dodger in '32. 2 outs later Rawlings singles, that's all.

7th: Rube Benton appears again for New York - he gives up a single to Thomas and a double to Jack Barry that extends the A's lead. A's 4 Giants 2

7th: 1-2-3

8th: Slim Sallee is the third Giants pitcher, 1-2-3

8th: 1-2-3, Bender finishing strong

9th: Oldring doubles again and an out later scores on an error and that might do it. Red Shea enters, the Giants going with the same bullpen rotation in both games, It ends the inning but this one might be in the books.  A's 5 Giants 2

9th: 1-2-3

A's 5

Giants 2

WP Bender

LP Nehf

The A's earn the split on the road and the series will head to Philadelphia for games 3-4 after the Bender complete game win.

For the A's...

Hartsel reached twice

Davis has reached three times

Oldring reached twice in game 2

Thomas reached twice in game 2

Barry has reached three times

For the Giants

Bancroft has reached three x

Frisch reached twice

Youngs has reached 4x

Smith has reached twice

Rawlings has reached three x

CF Burns (31)  106  2.7

SS Bancroft (30) 118  6.6

1B Kelly (25)      130   3.4

3B Frisch (23)     128   6.6

C Smith (24)    147   2.6

LF Meusel (28)    116  .9

RF Youngs (24)   128  3.3

2B Rawlings (28) 65   .6

SP3: Toney (32) 103  2

LF Hartsell (35)   121   2.1

2B Collins (22)    170    9.9

3B Baker (23)      146    5.3

RF Murphy (32)   132   3.5

1B Davis (35)       122    3.3

CF Oldring (25)    92     1.1

SS Barry (22)        77     1.6

C Thomas (28)         79

SP3 Plank (LH) (33)         138   5.3

GAME THREE

1st: Shibe Park.  Philadelphia.  Pivotal game 3 and on the mound is 33 year old lefty Eddie Plank. 19-10, 1.76. Broke in back in '01, won 20+ every year from '02-05. Led the league in winning % in '06. Shutouts in '07. This year is the best ERA mark of his 17 year career. Plank jumps to the Federal League in '15, and finishes with the Browns in 1917 at the age of 41. He gives up a 2 out double to High Pockets Kelly, but that's it.

1st: Plank's opposite number is 32 year old RH Fred Toney, 18-11, 3.61, he broke in as a Cub in '11, the Giants bought him from the Reds last year, he'll spend his final season in St Louis in '23. Eddie Collins doubles with one out, he's left at third.

2nd: Irish Meusel leads off with a single, he broke in with the Senators back in '14, as mentioned last game, the Giants got him during this season from the Phillies for Curt Walker. Two years from now he leads the league in RBI and he retires as a Dodger in '27. Two outs later he's standing at third - and then he scores when Toney reaches on an error. Giants 1 A's 0

2nd: Harry Davis walks, two outs later Irv Thomas singles, but it ends here.

3rd: Kelly reaches on a one out error, after the second out, Earl Smith singles, that's all.

3rd: Topsy Hartsel walks, he broke in with Louisville back in '98 (their last season is '89 and many will become Pirates) Hartsel's first year in Philadelphia is '02, when he leads the league in both stolen bases and runs scored. In 1905, Hartsel leads the league in OBP and does it again in '07 - he's 35 this year, at the end of his really productive run, and he finishes in 1911. Eddie Collins singles, his first two hit day, Baker then walks and the A's are in business with the bases loaded. Danny Murphy singles and that drives in two. Toney walks Davis - there's still nobody out -- Oldring then doubles - that scores two more and still - still nobody out.  Why were the A's favored in this series - starting pitching advantage - this ends Toney's day, 23 year old RH Rosy Ryan has a 3.73 ERA and he's next - he gives up a single to Barry that scores one more run.  It ends here.  Giants 1 A's 6

4th: 1-2-3

4th: After an out, Eddie Collins doubles again, that's his third hit of the day. Eddie Collins will have a 25 year big league career.  It starts in 1906 when he's 19, he became a starter last year and this year is easily the team's best player. He leads the league in stolen bases next year, finishes 3rd for the MVP in both 1911 and 1913 and wins it in 1914. You may have noticed a lot of A's sell offs about this time - and it happens here, Collins, coming off the NL MVP and only 28 years old is sold to the White Sox - he'll have 3 top 5 finishes from '22-24 and at the age of 40 return to the A's to finish his career, his last season is '30. The A's don't add to the lead.

5th: Dave Bancroft singles with one out, Bancroft is 30, he broke in with the Phillies in 1915 and last year the Giants and Phillies swapped shortstops with Art Fletcher heading to Philly. He'll be a Giant through '23 and then go to the Braves (with Stengel) - he'll have two top 10 MVP finishes in Boston and finish his career back with the Giants in 1930.  It ends here.

5th: Davis singles, an out later Barry is driving home the A's 7th run with  a base hit. Giants 1 A's 7

6th: After two out, Youngs and Rawlings hit back to back singles, but today is just not the Giants day.

6th: After two outs, there's Collins with a single, his 4th hit, that's all.

7th: George Burns singles.  Burns came up in '11, was 4th in the MVP in '14, led the league in runs scored in '16 and '17 and '19 and '20. This is his last year with the club, he's dealt to the Reds for Heinie Groh and finishes with the Phillies in '25. Nothing results.

7th: Red Shea gets the call next, 1-2-3

8th: Frisch singles/Smith walks.  Meusel then singles to score a run and there's a glimmer...a glimmer of hope.  After an out, a Rawlings groundout scores another run, That's all. Giants 3 A's 7

8th: Rube Benton gets the call, Barry walks - after an out, Henie Heitmuller, pinch hitting, walks, and then a Hartsell single scores a run. Collins and Baker then single back to back, each scoring a run - the A's have ended the game.  Slim Sallee enters, gets one, then walks Davis, gives up a 2 run scoring single to Oldring and then a 2 run Double to Barry, the A's have batted around. Giants 3 A's 14

9th: 30 year old RH Rube Vickers enters and walks Burns, Bancroft then singles, and Kelly doubles to score 2. It ends here.

Giants 5

A's 14

WP Plank

LP Toney

Everything's close until it's not, the A's busted this series wide open in game 3. 

For the A's...

Hartsel has reached 4x

Collins had 5 game 3 hits

Baker reached 2x in game 3

Davis has reached 7x

Oldring reached 4x in game 2-3 and had 4 game 3 RBI

Thomas reached 3x game 2-3

Barry has reached 7x with 5 game 3 RBI

For the Giants

Burns reached 2x in game 3

Bancroft has reached 5 x

Kelly reached 2x in game 3

Frisch reached 3x

Youngs has reached 5x

Smith has reached 4x

Meusel reached 2x in game 3

Rawlings has reached 4x

One more in Philadelphia - the game 1 pitchers return, can the Giants stay alive?

CF Burns (31)  106  2.7

SS Bancroft (30) 118  6.6

1B Kelly (25)      130   3.4

3B Frisch (23)     128   6.6

C Smith (24)    147   2.6

LF Meusel (28)    116  .9

RF Youngs (24)   128  3.3

2B Rawlings (28) 65   .6

P Barnes (28)       120  2.5

LF Hartsell (35)   121   2.1

2B Collins (22)    170    9.9

3B Baker (23)      146    5.3

RF Murphy (32)   132   3.5

1B Davis (35)       122    3.3

C Livingston (29)  99    2.4

CF Oldring (25)    92     1.1

SS Barry (22)        77     1.6

P Krause (LH) (20)        174   4.8

GAME FOUR

1st: Harry Krause returns, looking to end the series and advance the first A's team forward. Burns and Bancroft each reach via error to start, an out later Frisch singles and the Giants have loaded the bases in the must win game. Smith singles - and that scores 2.  Meusel singles - it scores a run, that's all, the Giants have the lead. Giants 3 A's 0

1st: Jesse Barnes is staked to the big early lead; Hartsel singles, that's all.

2nd: 1-2-3

2nd: Oldring had 2 doubles in game and doubles here with 2 out, but that's it.

3rd: Bancroft walks/Kelly singles - are the Giants about to tie this series? After an out, a Smith sac fly scores a run - Smith started the series in a platoon but he's playing every day now and has 3 RBI already today. Giants 4 A's 0

3rd: 1-2-3

4th: 1-2-3

4th: Baker singles - two outs later Davis doubles but nothing results.  

5th: 1-2-3, 8 straight for Krause.

5th: Oldring reaches on an error, steals second, and then scores on a Barry double - Jack Barry had 23 RBI all year and six in games 3-4. Krause then reached on an error and a Hartsell triple scores 2 - the A's slice the lead to 4-3. Barnes is done in favor of Rosy Ryan - he gives up a Collins single and the A's have come all the way back to tie this score. Giants 4 A's 4

6th: Smith singles with one out and then Meusel doubled him home - the Giants get right back on the horse and regain the lead. Meusel then steals third - really daring by the Giants; Youngs walks, a Rawlings sac fly scores a run and the Giants are unwilling to let up in this must win.  Giants 6 A's 4

6th: Davis walks, two outs later Oldring walks - Barry then singles and that brings in Rube Benton to pitch and Heinie Heitmuller to hit.  He singles - it scores a run, it ends here. Giants 6 A's 5

7th: Jimmy Dygert enters for the A's -tight game 4 entering the last 3 innings; after an out, he gives up a single to Bancroft and a walk to Kelly. Frisch then singles and the Giants have the bases loaded, just one out - can they extend the lead?  They do not.

7th: Collins reaches by error and an out later Murphy walks -- that's the potential go ahead run on base with just one out - but Benton escapes.

8th: Youngs singles. That's it.

8th: Slim Sallee is next for the Giants - 6 outs from extending this series - he gives up a two out single to Barry, that's all.

9th: We are 3 outs from heading to the Polo Grounds for Game 5. But first - Rube Vickers enters to face the Giants; after an out he walks Bancroft and Kelly - but the Giants don't extend the lead and we head to the bottom.

9th: Irv Thomas comes off the bench to hit - he flies to center.  One out.

Topsy Hartsel then triples - that is his second triple of the day; Hartsel started the series in a platoon but that has ended - two triples in game 4 and the tying run is 90 feet away.

And Eddie Collins singles.  6-6.

Red Shea gets the call - the Giants going deep into their pen every day; he gets through it and we head to extras.  Giants 6 A's 6

10th: The A's 5th starter is 25 year old RH Jack Coombs, 12-11, 2.32 and Mack tabs him to start the 10th. He walks Meusel, then gets two, 29 year old Eddie Brown is the Giants 5th OF and he comes on to hit for the pitchers spot -- and he triples home the go ahead run.  This Giants team will not die today - they have fought all day to force this series back to the Polo Grounds for Game 5 and once again have taken the lead.  Giants 7 A's 6

10th: McGraw's  depleted the pen - so it's game 3 starter Fred Toney who is tasked with closing this out - he didn't make it through 3 innings so probably has something left in his arm -

Murphy reaches via error.

Davis grounds to third - that's one out, Murphy moving to second, that's the tying run in scoring position with just one out.

Livingson grounds to short.  Two away.  Murphy still standing at second.

Oldring goes down 2 strikes -- the Giants one strike away from tying this series.

But Oldring singles.  And then Barry walks and the bases are loaded.  Two out.  Giants up a run in game 4.  

Utilityman Simon Nicholls hit .211 in 71 at bats during the regular season - but he gets the call to hit for the pitcher here.  

And he singles to left.  Murphy scores.  Oldring rounds third - Meusel throws home - Smith blocks the plate -- there is a massive collision at the plate --- and Smith drops the ball.

Safe.  Ballgame.  

Giants 7

A's 8

WP Coombs

LP Toney

Pandemonium at Shibe Park - the A's advance into the next round with a bottom of the tenth inning comeback and a two run single from the very last man on the roster.  

For the A's...

Hartsel  reached 7x w/2 triples in game 4

Collins had 7 hits in the last 2 games

Davis reached 9x

Oldring reached 7x in game 2-4 and had 4 game 3 RBI

Barry reached 11x with 5 game 3 RBI

Co-MVPs here.  Jack Barry and his backup Simon Nicholls. Both light hitting shortstops.  Barry reached 11 times, the top offensive player in this series from either team and Nicholls came off the bench with a 2 run walkoff single to win this series.

Team #13 into the next round - the '09 A's.