If we want to talk about possible curses, the Mets aren't the franchise I would use as an illustration. The Mets won the World Series in 1986--that's not recent, but certainly a lot more current than Cleveland--last win in 1948. And between 1954, 1995, 1997, 2007, and 2016, there's plenty of heartbreak to go around.
Here's why curses aren't real. Take 3 teams, all of which don't win a WS for over 85 years. One claims to be cursed because the team followed the municipal hygiene laws. One claims to be cursed because they sold their best player to a rival. And one is never claimed to be cursed, despite the fact that they intentionally lost a WS for money. Do we really think the baseball Gods would curse the first two teams, but not the third, the team that really deserved to be cursed?
Sounds like Buck messed up the Toronto game back in 2016, but otherwise he is a good manager (meaning he helps teams be good, rather than causing problems) and is an entertaining and knowledgeable guy. He certainly was correct in asking umps to check Mosgrove. Can you imagine how he would be ripped today if he had not done so?
The Dodgers did indeed win the season series 14-11. That was 13-9 in the scheduled regular season plus one win, two losses in the playoffs. But those playoffs count as the regular season, so 14-11 is the correct total.
I noticed this because in those days everyone played everyone 22 times. Nowadays I would have no idea how often one team plays another.
It angered me that Buck would stoop to checking Musgrove for cheating. It was a pathetic, desperate and whiny act. Man up! The batters couldn’t hit him. Give the pitcher credit. They won fair and square. The Mets season was lost when they couldn’t win one game against the Braves in their final series.
I don’t think any Met in uniform did not give Musgrove credit. He shut them down. They all acknowledged that.
But, his ears WERE literally glowing and his spin rate was up.
If you are Showalter and you have to resort to this tactic, you know it’s unlikely to work and you are probably going to look bad but hey it’s now or forever hold your piece.
Looking on the bright side if you are SD and/or Musgrove, you were found innocent and no further allegations will ‘stick’.
This is an honest question that I don’t know the answer to. Are Musgrove’s ears always so shiny? I was wondering if there was something going on there too when they kept showing him on the TV. and I didn’t really have a rooting interest in the series.
Joe love all of your writings but comparing losing home field to the ‘51 playoffs is apples to oranges. This wasn’t about advancing to the WS and one goes home.
I don’t like to have the division title determined by a “tiebreaker” - the Braves and Mets should have played game 163 to determine the NL East title. If two teams tied for the final WC slot they should play game 163 to determine who gets it. But if two teams tie for the first WC slot, I think a tiebreaker is OK to determine which team gets the home field in their upcoming playoff series.
The problem is that the loser of the tiebreaker to win the division then has used up a pitcher already in the tie breaker that they'd likely much rather have available for the best of 3 series.
The new system makes way more sense because it puts the loser at less of a disadvantage.
To be fair, the only reason the division ended tied is because the Braves clinched in the penultimate game, so instead of sending Max Fried out on regular rest they sent a parade of tomato cans to keep their postseason-caliber arms rested.
So sad, but so true. Love Buck Showalter.
If we want to talk about possible curses, the Mets aren't the franchise I would use as an illustration. The Mets won the World Series in 1986--that's not recent, but certainly a lot more current than Cleveland--last win in 1948. And between 1954, 1995, 1997, 2007, and 2016, there's plenty of heartbreak to go around.
Here's why curses aren't real. Take 3 teams, all of which don't win a WS for over 85 years. One claims to be cursed because the team followed the municipal hygiene laws. One claims to be cursed because they sold their best player to a rival. And one is never claimed to be cursed, despite the fact that they intentionally lost a WS for money. Do we really think the baseball Gods would curse the first two teams, but not the third, the team that really deserved to be cursed?
The curse of Chief Wahoo was real.
The Braves swept the Mets to flip the division like a week ago, so I don't lament not having a tiebreaker for them.
There is momentum. Bad momentum for some.
The Bobby Layne Curse is real.
Sounds like Buck messed up the Toronto game back in 2016, but otherwise he is a good manager (meaning he helps teams be good, rather than causing problems) and is an entertaining and knowledgeable guy. He certainly was correct in asking umps to check Mosgrove. Can you imagine how he would be ripped today if he had not done so?
Yes. His ears were so shiny I was wondering what was going on there before Buck asked the umpires to check.
I’d take buck showalter and his winning attitude in Cincinnati any day of the week.
Just to clarify the Dodgers-Giants in 1951...
The Dodgers did indeed win the season series 14-11. That was 13-9 in the scheduled regular season plus one win, two losses in the playoffs. But those playoffs count as the regular season, so 14-11 is the correct total.
I noticed this because in those days everyone played everyone 22 times. Nowadays I would have no idea how often one team plays another.
It angered me that Buck would stoop to checking Musgrove for cheating. It was a pathetic, desperate and whiny act. Man up! The batters couldn’t hit him. Give the pitcher credit. They won fair and square. The Mets season was lost when they couldn’t win one game against the Braves in their final series.
I don’t think any Met in uniform did not give Musgrove credit. He shut them down. They all acknowledged that.
But, his ears WERE literally glowing and his spin rate was up.
If you are Showalter and you have to resort to this tactic, you know it’s unlikely to work and you are probably going to look bad but hey it’s now or forever hold your piece.
Looking on the bright side if you are SD and/or Musgrove, you were found innocent and no further allegations will ‘stick’.
This is an honest question that I don’t know the answer to. Are Musgrove’s ears always so shiny? I was wondering if there was something going on there too when they kept showing him on the TV. and I didn’t really have a rooting interest in the series.
MLB claims to care about speeding up the game. Therefore, Showalter should be fined and suspended for stalling, and it should hurt. Twenty games.
They used to have a 1 game tie breaker because they play an even number of games. Now with 19 games their can be a decisive winner
Game 165 will go down in twins baseball lore
What will they do next year when the balanced schedule is introduced?
They will play each team 13 times an odd number
Joe love all of your writings but comparing losing home field to the ‘51 playoffs is apples to oranges. This wasn’t about advancing to the WS and one goes home.
I don’t like to have the division title determined by a “tiebreaker” - the Braves and Mets should have played game 163 to determine the NL East title. If two teams tied for the final WC slot they should play game 163 to determine who gets it. But if two teams tie for the first WC slot, I think a tiebreaker is OK to determine which team gets the home field in their upcoming playoff series.
If game 162 mattered, the Braves would have won and Mets would've lost. Braves then win the East by 2 games.
The problem is that the loser of the tiebreaker to win the division then has used up a pitcher already in the tie breaker that they'd likely much rather have available for the best of 3 series.
The new system makes way more sense because it puts the loser at less of a disadvantage.
To be fair, the only reason the division ended tied is because the Braves clinched in the penultimate game, so instead of sending Max Fried out on regular rest they sent a parade of tomato cans to keep their postseason-caliber arms rested.
Poor Buck. He also got talked into switching the Yankees uniforms to cotton by George Costanza on Seinfeld. Hint: that didn’t work out either.
This comment deserves more love. Also, all of a sudden there’s a problem with Tartabull’s swing.
How could they trade Jay Buhner???