Angels Manager Douglas Zaner being interviewed

KOD10 Post-World Series Press Conference

Before leaving KOD10 forever behind and turning my attention to the future, I'd like to share the following with the press and all those tuning in:

 

 

* First of all, I would like to thank all of my fellow KOD10 AL managers, especially those who had to tolerate my technological limitations while I was in transition to getting my computer and high-speed internet connection set up in Israel, as well as logistical issues associated with netplaying an opponent located 7-9 time zones ahead.  I appreciate your understanding and flexibility.

* Secondly, I like to thank and tip my cap to league Commissioner Marc Weiss, my KOD10 World Series opposing manager. He has already clearly proven his managerial prowess by winning 5 of 11 KOD/KOT tournament championships.  And his skillfully guidance of the '55 Dodgers was no exception.  He's an extremely worthy opponent who always seems to know how and when to make a move, whether at the plate, on the mound or in the field.  If a small handful of lucky outcomes from the KOD10 World Series had gone the other way, he would just as easily be standing here standing in my shoes instead of me.

* Thirdly, just for the record, the 2002 Halos finished the KOD10 regular season with a 21-17 record, 4 games over .500, not 2 games over .500 as was previously reported.  <lol>
It was a lot of fun to virtually re-experience in cyberspace the excitement of the real MLB 2002 season and post-season, which for Angels fans stands above all other seasons in the team's 50 year history.   I appreciated the opportunity and thank all involved.

Douglas Zaner
manager, KOD10 2002 Anaheim Angels

2002 Anaheim Angels – KOD 10 Champions

I would personally like to congratulate Douglas Zaner on his masterful job in piloting the 2002 Halos to the KOD10 Championship.  On the surface, the Halos looked to be the weakest link in the AL playoff picture when the post season started.  Many discounted this team that finished just 2 games over .500, but most did not realize that Douglas missed at least 1/3 of the games due to his move from Atlanta to Israel.  Douglas truly knew how to pilot this team.  He knew when to platoon, when to pinch hit and which situational relievers needed to be summoned from the pen.

I personally must thank him for a fantastic “nail biting” World Series.  In the end my “Boys of Summer” did what they did so many times in the magical run from the late 40’s through the late 50’s, they lost in the World Series.  I found it simply amazing how Dave’s game found a way to simulate the realism of Don Newcombe choking in his Fall Classic starts.  Each game came down to the wire with the best man and the best varsity winning.

The Series had co-MVP’s in David Eckstein and Troy Percival, but not to sound cliché the Angels truly put forth a great team effort as Douglas captured his first KOD title in his 3rd attempt.

KOD10 World Series Game 6: Halos clinch title in see-saw battle vs Dem Bums

10/24 – Ebbets Field

Game 6 – Angels 6, Dodgers 5

Despite facing elimination, the Dodgers liked their chances at home. Billy Loes made his Series debut as the Brooklyn starter, while the Angels answered with their best starter this season Kevin Appier. Bengie Molina doubled home 2 in the top of the 2nd inning to give Anaheim an early 2-0 lead. Loes settled down after that and kept the Angels off the board for another 4 innings. Meanwhile, Appier allowed Brooklyn runners to reach in each inning, but was always able to make the pitch he needed when he needed it. And after 5 and a half innings, it was still 2-0 Anaheim.

Yet despite his being amongst the AL ERA leaders this season, when Carl Furillo singled with 2 outs and nobody on base in the bottom of the 6th inning, Angels manager Douglas Zaner sensed that Appier was near the bottom of his tank. And with the game and the Series on the line, he called on Al Levine from the bullpen. Levine’s performance the entire season had been nothing short of stellar. In 16.1 innings of work over 11 games he had yielded only 8 hits and 6 walks (0.86 WHIP). More importantly and impressive, his ERA was 0.00; he had not allowed a run all season. Which made what followed all the more remarkable:

Gil Hodges greeted Levine with a single, and the Amoros walked to load the bases. Frank Kellert batted for Hoak and walked to force in a run, making the score 2-1 Anaheim. With the bases still loaded and the pitcher’s spot due, up to the dish stepped Moose Moryn. With only 1 AB the entire season and 1 AB in the post-season, even the hometown faithful had to turn to their scorecards to figure out who was at the plate. But by 2 pitches later they all sure knew who he was when he hit a 1-0 pitch over the fence in right centerfield. A Grand Slam. And suddenly the Dodgers, who just 5 batters earlier had 2 outs and nothing happening in their half of the 6th inning, now led 5-2.

If the Halos were shell-shocked, they didn’t let it show.. In the top of the 8th inning with Karl Spooner on in relief for the Dodgers, David Eckstein singled in a run and Tim Salmon hit a sacrifice fly to pull the visitors within 1. The score was now 5-4 and the Bums were just 3 outs away from sending the Series to a seventh game. Clem Labine came on to close it out.

But Scott Spiezio opened the inning with a walk and Glaus did the same. Labine did manage to find the plate with the next hitter Adam Kennedy. But he slapped the ball into right field for a single loading the bases. The Angels now had 3 tries to tie the game, and turned to their excellent corps of pinch hitters to do it. Jose Molina grounded to Labine, who threw home to force Spiezio. Amazingly, the next pinch hitter Shawn Wooten did the exact same thing, forcing Glaus at the plate. In each instance the Dodgers failed to complete the double play at 1st base. Nevertheless, Brooklyn now stood 1 out away from a bases-loaded, no outs Great Escape. The only thing standing between them and Game 7 was the next batter, 5’7’’ David Eckstein, who promptly lined a single to left field scoring 2 runs, giving Anaheim a 6-5 lead. Troy Percival gave up a 1-out single in the bottom of the 9th. But that as all the Dodgers could muster. And when Jim Gilliam grounded out a few minutes later, the 2002 Anaheim Angels were KOD10 champions.

The Series MVP award was shared between David Eckstein, who led the Halos with 7 RBIs, all of which were achieved when they counted the most, in Angels’ wins, and Troy Percival who was successful 3 times in protecting a 1-run or 2-run lead in the 9th inning against the potent Dodgers lineup. Without these two, the Series could have very easily ended in a 4 game Brooklyn sweep. But instead, Gene Autry could finally ride off slowly into the sunset knowing that his Angles had finally found Heaven.

--submitted by Douglas Zaner--

KOD10 World Series Games 3-5

10/20 – 10/22 – Edison International Field

Game 3 – Angels 5, Dodgers 4

The Series continued in Anaheim with Ramon Ortiz starting for the home team, vs lefty Johnny Podres. Darin Erstad’s HR with the bases empty gave the Angels the early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first frame. But the Dodgers came back to take the lead in the top of the 3rd scoring twice on RBI singles by Jim Gilliam and Duke Snider. The score remained 2-1 and Johnny Podres remained in control until the bottom of the 6th when with 2-outs, suddenly he lost it. Garret Anderson tied the score with a solo shot. Scot Spiezio singled and Troy Glaus walked to end the day for Podres. Don Bessent came on in relief and walked Shaun Wooten to load the bases. Brad Fullmer came on and delivered a clutch pinch hit, singling home both Spiezio and Glaus to make the score 4-2 Anaheim. The Dodgers cut the lead to 1 run in the top of the 7th inning on a Sandy Amoros triple and a Pee Wee Reese single. But the Angels answered with an unearned run in the bottom of the frame on a Spiezio single, making it 5-3.

The Dodgers refused to quit and loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the 8th inning off Ben Weber. In what proved to be the crucial AB of the game, Rube Walker then grounded into a 5-4 double play, scoring Campanella from 3rd base. But pinch hitter George Shuba popped up, ending the threat. Troy Percival pitched a perfect 9th inning for the save, giving Ortiz the win and the Angels a 2-1 games lead.

Game 4 – Angels 8, Dodgers 7 (14 innings)

When a 7-game series is at 2 games to 1, the 4th game is absolutely pivotal, as it means the difference between one team being only 1 game away from a series win with 3 chances to get it, or a tied series that effectively becomes a best out of 3. For the crucial Game 4, Anaheim went with rookie John Lackey who was 5-1 on the season with a sparkling 1.85 ERA, while Brooklyn answered with their ace Don Newcombe, going on 3 days rest.

From the beginning of the game it was clear that Lackey didn’t have it, while Newcombe cruised despite the short rest. Roy Campanella his is 3rd HR of the series in the first inning, and Dodgers seemed to be running all over the base paths. After 5 innings the Bums had banged out 10 hits and benefited from 2 walks, a balk and a wild pitch. Pee Wee Reese had 3 hits and 2 RBIs, and Jackie Robinson had also been on base all 3 times with a single and 2 walks. Meanwhile, Newcombe scattered 5 hits, with Benji Molina’s RBI double being the only meaningful hit. The score stood 6-1 Brooklyn after 5 and a half innings. The day and the gamed seemed to be all Brooklyn.

But in the bottom of the 6th inning, Newcombe lost his  concentration, perhaps thinking a bit too much about the California girls in the stands. And the Halos seized the opportunity to crawl back in the game. 6 of the first 7 Angels’ batters reached base, including doubles by LHBs Rafael Palmeiro, Brad Fulmer and Adam Kennedy. The rally was capped with a David Eckstein suicide squeeze. By the time dust had settled the score was knotted at 6 runs each.

Still, the home town Anaheim crowed didn’t get to cheer very long, as Sandy Amoros led off the very next inning with a HR off Aaron Sele, in relief of John Lackey. And just like that the Dodgers were back on top 7-6. Newcombe seemed to regroup and held onto the 1-run lead entering the bottom of the 8th inning.

Then with 1 out on the bottom of the 8th inning, the listless Anaheim crowd was suddenly brought to life. What the Rally Monkey couldn’t do, David Eckstein could, as he hit an improbable line drive that just barely cleared the left field fence. And just like that the teams were tied once again, this time at 7. It remained tied after 9 innings, when at this point the Dodgers chose to hand the game over to their best reliever Clem Labine, while the Angels turned it over to Scott Schoeneweis, their last available pitcher (except for closer Percival).

What then followed was one missed scoring opportunity after the other by both teams. 4 times Brooklyn had a runner on 2nd base and couldn’t get the base hit needed to score him. Thrice during this time a Brooklyn base runner was thrown out on the bases – twice when Jackie Robinson was out trying to steal second, and once when Carl Furillo strayed a bit too far off 1st base and was called out when Jose Molina threw behind him. 3 times Anaheim had the winning run on 2nd base and couldn’t get the base hit to drive him home, including a runner on 2nd and 3rd  situation with 1 out in the bottom of the 11th inning.  It looked like nobody wanted to win this one.

In the bottom of the 14th inning, pinch hitter Shaun led off with a double. But when the Spiezio flied out and Glaus grounded out, it looked like yet another wasted opportunity for the home team. However, with Labine’s pitch count nearing 100 yet another unlikely Halos’ hero Jose Molina lined a double down the left field line to score Wooten and give Anaheim a walkoff 8-7 win that exhilarated the exhausted Edison International Field crowd.

Pee Wee Reese finished with a double and 5 singles, while Jackie Robinson reached base in all 7 of his plate appearances (2 singles and 5 walks). Garrett Anderson had 4 hits to lead the Angels hitters. Yet in the end, the victory belong to Scott Schoeneweis, who threw almost as many scoreless innings in relief as he has letters in his last name, and to backup catcher Jose Molina, who gunned down 3 Dodger base runners and knocked in the winning run. The Series now stood at 3 games to 1 with the Angels clearly sitting in the catbird seat.

Game 5 – Dodgers 5, Angels 1

Anaheim, at the top of their rotation, hoped to end the Series at home and went with Jarrod Washburn to start the game. With their backs against the wall for Game 5, Brooklyn manager Marc Weiss surprised both critics and fans, and chose 25-year old rookie Roger Craig as his starter. Both pitchers brushed aside the pressure, rose to the occasion, and matched each other goose egg for goose egg. After 7 innings the score stood 0-0 as the tension mounted with each inning played. But Washburn ran out of gas first, and the 8th inning opened with the usually reliable Ben Weber on the mound in relief. Jackie Robinson led off the inning with a double, and set the tone for what was to follow. After Snider grounded  out, Campanella walked, Furillo singled,  Gil Hodges singled, Rube Walker singled, Gilliam suicide squeezed successfully, and Hoak singled. By the time Reese grounded out to end the inning, the Dodgers had broken open the game with a 5 spot. The Angels scratched out a meaningless, unearned run in the bottom of the 9th to spoil the shutout. Craig may have been destined to lose 24 games in future season. But tonight he had given his team exactly what they needed. The Angels led the Series 3-2. But now it was all heading back east to Flatbush.

--submitted by Douglas Zaner--

KOD10 World Series: Games 1 & 2

10/17 – 10/18 – Ebbets Field

Game 1 – Angels 6, Dodgers 4

The KOD10 World Series opened up at Ebbets Field with the NL Champion 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers hosting the AL Champions 2002 Anaheim Angels. Don Newcombe and Jarrod Washburn took the mound for their respective teams. The Angels jumped out ahead, scoring first. Stringing together singles, sacrifice flies and a solo David Eckstein HR, Anaheim built a 4-0 lead after 3 and a half innings. But Roy Campanella heroically tied the game with a solo HR in the bottom of the 4th and a 3-run HR blast in the bottom of the 5th. The score remained tied until the top of the 8th  inning. With 2 outs and runners on 2nd and 3rd base, Darin Erstad claimed the spotlight as the Series’ first hero and floated a single up the middle, scoring both runners. It was made all the more bitter for the Brooklyn fans because both runs were unearned. Brendon Donnelly and Troy Percival continued the solid relief work they’ve shown all season and shut the door on the Dodgers the rest of the way to give Anaheim a 1-0 game lead in the Series. Ben Weber picked up the win in relief; Don Newcombe took the loss (something that he historically has grown used to in the Fall Classic).

Game 2 – Dodgers 4, Angels 1

Facing the prospect of losing the first 2 games of the Series at home, the Dodgers handed the ball to Carl Erskine, while the Angels went with their staff ace Kevin Appier. Both pitchers began the game firing bullets, and it was still scoreless after 3 and a half innings. Brooklyn struck first in the bottom of the 4th. With Pee Wee Reese on 2nd base and 1^st base open, the Angels chose to pitch to NL MVP candidate Duke Snider, who parked one over the RF fence onto Bedford Avenue to give dem Bums a 2-0 lead. Troy Glaus got back one of the runs in the top of the 5th with a solo shot off Erskine. But that was as close as Anaheim would get this day. A Don Hoak RBI single and an infield groundout would score 2 more for the Dodgers to make it 4-1 after 8 innings. But in the end, this one belonged to Erskine who gave up only 3 hits in 7 innings of work. Clem Labine pitched a scoreless 2 innings to earn the save. With the series now tied 1-1, the teams headed across the country for southern California.

--submitted by Douglas Zaner--

‘02 Halos win AL Flag in 5 over ‘84 Tigers

10/9-10/10 - Tiger Stadium
GAME 1 - Tigers 5, Angels 4 (14 inn)
What a way to open up the ALCS.  A 14 inning extravaganza.  Respective starters Jarrod Washburn and Jack Morris were both long gone by decision time, but it must be duly noted that both pitched their hearts out.  Morris was protecting a 2-1 lead into the top of the 7th when his fielding, not his pitching let him down.  With runners on 1st and 2nd and 1 out Morris booted Adam Kennedy's sac bunt, which allowed Troy Glaus to score the tying run all the way from second.  In typical Morris fashion the mustachioed veteran got the next two batters out easily to avoid further damage.  Neither team could break the deadlock in regulation, so the contest went to extra innings where the Angels struck first with a solo run in the top of the 11th off of reliever Doug Bair, who would pitch 4 innings in total.  Bair looked like he was going to survive a Tim Salmon lead off double, but with 2 outs Scott Spiezio lined a single to right to score pinch runner Alex Oxhoa to make it 3-2.  Anaheim needed to get 3 outs from closer Troy Percival to lock it up.  That would not happen.  Larry Herndon led off with a walk.  Percival had to face Mr. Clutch, Kirk Gibson to lead off the inning.  Gibby must have thought Troy was Dennis Eckersley, because he treated Anaheim's closer the same way he treated "the Eck" in game 1 of the 1988 World Series...he lined a hanging slider into the right field overhang to tie the game up at 3.  Just like that, one swing, boom...we're tied again.  After a scoreless 12th and 13th innings the game looked to be in one of those extra inning ruts where nobody can score.  This changed dramatically in the top of the 14th when pinch hitter Benji Gil  singled home Troy Glaus to put the Halos back up top by one run once again in extra innings.  This time it would be Scott Shields' turn to protect the lead.  Following in Percival's footsteps Shields allowed the tying run to score with 2 outs when Chet Lemon singled home Rupert Jones with the bases loaded.  Up stepped Kirk Gibson, who is un-phased by pressure.  Most batters would be anxious, but not Gibby who chose to wait Shields out.  As a result Shields walked Gibson (his 3rd of the inning) to allow Lance Parrish to score without the ball even being put into play.  Corktown was Partytown for at least one day !

GAME 2 - Angels 3, Tigers 0
Kevin Appier went 6 scoreless innings then let the pen do the rest.  Benji Molina broke a scoreless tie with a 2 run single off of Juan Berenguer in the top of the 4th.  The Halos would add an insurance run off of Aurelio Lopez thanks to a perfectly executed squeeze play by David Eckstein after Adam Kennedy led off the inning with a triple.  The Tiger offense looked rather toothless getting only 5 hits off of the 4 pitchers Anaheim used.  Atoning for his poor game 1 performance Troy Percival threw a scoreless 9th inning.  Lou Whitaker posted 2 of Detroit's 5 hits from the lead off spot, but nobody was able to bring him home.  The series now heads to Orange County tied a 1 game apiece.

10/12-10/14 - Edison Field
GAME 3 - Angels 8, Tigers 4
Detroit's Dan Petry looked to be in the driver's seat as the Tiger offense staked him to a 4-0 lead, until the home half of the 6th when Anaheim would erupt for 3 runs.  Pinch hitter Benji Gill came through with another clutch 2 RBI hit to put the Halos back in striking distance and send Petry to the showers.  If the 6th innings was unkind to the Tigers, the 7th inning was downright nasty.  This time the nastiness would come from one swing of Troy Glaus' bat.  With the bases jammed and nowhere to put Glaus Doug Bair had to pitch to him.  Glaus knew it and deposited the 2-1 offering deep into the man made waterfall in left center to turn a 1 run Tiger lead into a 3 run Angel lead.  Darin Erstad would hit a solo shot in the 8th off of Lopez to provide the final difference and put Anaheim up 2 games to 1 in the series.  Lost in the shuffle was Chet Lemon's 2 home run day, which was responsible for 3 RBI's.  Lemon had Halo starter Ramon Ortiz' number, but in the end it would not be enough

GAME 4 - Angels 9, Tigers 4
John Lackey was on the ropes as evidenced by the 2 runs he gave up to Detroit in the top of the 1st courtesy of a Lance Parrish 2 run shot.  Lackey was able to right the ship and throw 6 shutout innings after the bump in the road that he survived.  The same could not be said for his opponent, Milt Wilcox, who was under duress all game and cracked under the pressure.  Anaheim touched him for 5 run in the 2nd to evaporate Detroit's 2 run lead.  Anaheim played smart / small ball to post their 5 spot.  The bottom of the 6th would spell doom for Motown as the Halos posted 3 more runs and evicted Wilcox from the hill.  A 2 run shot by Eckstein would be the big blow.  Detroit would make it 8-4 with 2 in the 8th, but Adam Kennedy's run scoring single in the bottom of the inning bumped the lead back up to 5 an pretty much ended all hopes for a Detroit comeback.

GAME 5 - Angels 7, Tigers 1

Throughout the regular season the Tigers dominated the American League, while the Halos fought to stay above .500 for the most part.  Some might say the Halos made the post season due to the fact that no other team in their division finished with a winning record.  I would say they underachieved thanks in part to not having their manager, Douglas Zaner, for at least 1/3 of the season.  While Douglas was in the process of moving from the US to Israel a host of substitute managers who didn't know much about the Angels and their unique platoon system found different ways to botch the season.  When Douglas was at the helm the Angels seemed to run like a well oiled machine.  This well Oiled machine was now one game away from reward Zaner with his 3rd KOD AL pennant.  This task would not be easy, since his team would be facing the 8-2 Jack Morris.  Forget records and stats, Morris is a clutch performer who rises above his numbers in key situations and will's his team to victory.  The good folks in Motown were sure hoping the Morris scenario would play itself out, so the series would return to Michigan and Trumbull.  Unfortunately for those fans Morris just did not have it.  It was apparent early on when the Halos, who were down 1-0 scored 3 runs in the bottom of the first.  In fact 4 of the first 5 hitters got a  hit.  Tim Salmon cleared the bases with a 2 run double and Scott Spiezo doubled home Brad Fullmer, who tripled.  Two innings later Fulmer would strike again, this time with a 2 run homer to make it 5-1.  Solo runs in the 4th and the 6th would only make Detroit's mountain to climb that much more impossible.  Jarrod Wasburn allowing just 1 run in 9 innings would make it impossible.  Morris would give up 13 of the 14 hits the Halos would post on the day including a 4 for 5 game by Darrin Erstad..  Tim Salmon was 3 for 5 as the Halos cruised to victory and their 3rd KOD-American League Flag.

Dem Bums sweep the Redbirds to win NL Flag

8/9-8/10 - Sportsman Park
GAME 1 - Dodgers 7, Cardinals 1
It took Don Newcombe just 80 pitches to dispatch of the Cardinals on this drizzly day in the Midwest.  Brooklyn jumped out to a 4-0 lead off of Cardinal starter Ken Burkhart after just 3 innings of play.  Burkhart walked 3 consecutive Dodger batters with 2 out in the 2nd then gave up a line shot single to Newcome that scored 2 runs.  Newk, who hit over .350 during the 1955 season is a complete athlete and very dominant when he's on, and today he was on.  Pee Wee Reese followed that up with an RBI single to make it 3-0 after 2 innings.  Duke Snider would hit a solo shot to lead off the 3rd to make it 4-0.  The Cards were able to crack the scoreboard in the bottom of the 5th when Harry "the Hat" Walker led off the inning with a triple  and scored on a grounder by Marty Marion that took Reese deep in the hole.  Red Barrett would replace Burkhart in the 4th and allow just 4 hits and no runs for the next 5 innings.  Ted Wilks pitched the 9th and got rocked by back to back 2 out homers.  Junior Gilliam hit a 2 run shot to score Don Hoak and Snider hit his second of the game on a 3 for 5 day.  Newk not only went the distance on the hill by allowing just 1 run on 4 hits, but he also went 3 for 4 with 2 RBI's at the plate.

GAME 2 - Dodgers 4, Cardinals 0
Carl Erskine had his patented overhand curveball breaking to perfection today.  Sure he allowed 9 Cardinal hits, but he never allowe the big hit.  "Oisk" would go the distance and record the shutout while fanning 4.  His ability to get out of jams made Houdini look like a rank amateur.  In the fist inning with one out he faced runners on 1st (Musial) and 2nd (Schoendienst), but got Enos Slaughter to pop up to Reese at short and fanned Dick Sisler.  In the 4th Musial led off with a double, Slaughter walked and Sisler had an infield single to load the bases with no out.  Oisk was calm, cool and collected as evidenced by his getting Garagiola to pop out to Campy in foul ground, then getting Walker and Marion to ground out weakly.  In the 5th Schoendienst doubled with 1 out  only to be stranded at second.  While Erskine was walking what seemed to be a tightrope across the Niagara Falls, Howie Pollet was also doing quite well for himself.  Entering the 8th inning the score was 1-0 Dodgers with a Jackie Robinson solo blast in the 3rd with 2 out being the only run of the game.  Robinson would lay down a perfect squeeze bunt in the 8th to score Junior Gilliam for the 2nd run of the game and a 2 run shot by Gil Hodges in the 9th would give Erskine more than enough runs to close the door on St. Louis.

8/12-8/13 - Ebbets Field
GAME 3 - Dodgers 6, Cardinals 5
As it usually is, game 3 turned out to be the pivotal game in the series.  If St. Louis wins we have a series.  Conversely if Brooklyn wins St. Louis goes on life support.  With that type of reward waiting in the balance everyone who entered the Rotunda on McKeever place knew what was at stake.  This would be a far more subdued crowd than the one that attended game 3 of the Phillie series.  While the Dodgers have always had a great rivalry with the Cardinals there has never been a hate between player or city.  Dodgers fans in fact were responsible for Musial's nickname.  Brooklyn natives would be heard saying, "Oh, not THAT MAN again..."  If the legend of Stan "the Man" wasn't created in Brooklyn it was validated in that little ballpark in Pigtown.  The players and fans were treated to a picture perfect 70 degree day, which is more than one could expect in the Autumn in New York.  That beautiful day would turn ugly real fast for Cardinal starter Hal Brecheen who gave up a 2 run homer to Duke Snider to put the hometown team up 2-0.  Breecheen himself would take care of business with his lumber in the top of the second when he singled home Slaughter with 2 outs to cut the Dodger lead to 1.  Once again the Dodgers would post 2 runs off of Breecheen in the bottom of the 2nd.  Jackie Robinson was able to reach first on a throwing error by gold glove HOF'er Marty Marion at short.  Don Hoak would bunt Robinson over to second and Dodger starter Johnny Podres would slice a single to left to put runners on the corners for Pee Wee Reese who hit a double off the chain link fence in right center to score Jackie.  Podres would score on Junior Gilliam's ground out to Marion to make it 4-1.  Snider hit one to the base of the wall that Slaughter would make a leaping catch on to rob the Dodger centerfielder of an extra base hit and quite possibly blow the game wide open.  Podres did a great job protecting his 3 run lead until the top of the 6th when he gave up back to back solo homers to Stan Musial and Slaughter, which cut the lead to 1.  Brooklyn would add a run in the bottom of the frame thanks to a 2 out error by Musial who booted a 2 hopper by Podres that hooked down the first base line.  Stan's gaffe would allow Jackie (who doubled with 1 out) to score easily.  St. Louis would not roll over as evidenced by the solo runs that they scored in the 7th and 8th innings by playing small ball.  This would push 'dem Bums to replace their '55 World Series hero (Podres) with relief ace Clem Labine, who could not prevent the inherited runners from Podres from scoring.  Heading into the 9th the game was knotted at 5 apiece.  The Cards would go down in order in the top half of the inning as Labine looked to have his good stuff.  In the bottom of the inning Brooklyn would face St. Louis' relief ace Murry Dickson, who had not lost all season.  Junior Gilliam led off the inning with a perfect drag bunt single, then moved to second when Snider walked.  In a surprise maneuver '55 NL MVP Roy Campanella laid down a perfect sac bunt to push the runners up 90 feet.  That facilitated the intentional walking of Carl Furillo, so  that Dickson could try his luck vs Gil Hodges.  Hodges, known as "the Quiet Man", has been a fan favorite in the Borough of Churches since his arrival in the late 40's.  During his legendary slump in the 1952 World Series he even had priests and rabbi's across the Borough praying for him.  To put it mildly Gil is the most beloved of the Boys of Summer.  Gil is also the most patient, and patience is a virtue that helps hitters in clutch situations.  Gil was able to wait out Dickson in hopes of getting a pitch to drive.  That pitch never arrived as Dickson walked "the Quiet Man" on 5 pitches to force in the winning run.  Brooklyn would now take a commanding 3 games to none lead in the series.

GAME 4 - Dodgers 6, Cardinals 3

Up three games to none the Dodgers were like sharks smelling blood in the salty waters.  Fans began arriving early hoping to find a parking spot at Fat Freddie Fitzsimmons bowling alley 3 blocks away, or walking the 3 long blocks from the IRT station on Eastern Parkway or even hopping on the back of a crowded trolley on Empire Blvd.  Some even trekked back from their new track homes in Levittown to see dem Bums do what they do best:  Win NL pennants.  While it has been firmly documented in print that these Dodgers have trouble winning big games, this team seems to be made of some special ilk that allows them to rise above their checkered past.  Certainly this team is long in the tooth, but with age comes experience and veteran leadership and that points directly to "The Little Colonel" Pee Wee Reese.  Reese, who has held the shortstop position for Brooklyn since before the war has seen a lot of players come and go and has experienced the good and bad times.  Winning the NL pennant one more time would rank up there with the good times.  Reese, a southern gentleman, is most famous for taking a young, rough around the edges, civil rights pioneer named Jackie Robinson under his wing and making Jackie feel comfortable and accepted on the diamond.  It would be fitting that in today's lineup both players, who are well past their youthful days in the sun, would be hitting back to back (1 and 2).  It would also be fitting to note that with 2 outs in the 3rd inning and with Don Hoak on 1st Reese would single to center to keep the inning alive.  Robinson, who has been aging terribly right before our eyes, turned the clock back and lined a hanging curve into center to score Hoak and give Brooklyn a 1-0 lead off of Cardinal starter Al Brazle.  Snider would follow with a line shot to right that scored Reese.  Just like that dem Bums were up 2-0.  That lead would not last more than a half inning when for the second time in the series Musial and Enos Slaughter hit back to back jacks to tie it at 2.  It should not come as a shock that Dodger starter Don Newcombe would give up the long ball.  Newk for all his greatness did give up 35 round tripper in 1955 and Musial and Slaughter are elite level players who have no fear of any hurler.  Brooklyn would once again take the lead in the bottom of the 4th when Carl Furillo scored on a ground out by Gilliam.  Jackie would once again be in the mix when he reached base with a clean single in the bottom of the 5th.  Not satisfied with getting just a single Jackie turned back the clock and turned on the jets and tried to turn a routine single into a double.  His late burst of speed caused Cardinal centerfielder Harry "the Hat" Walker to bobble the ball.  That split second was all it took for Robinson to take second.  For  all the theatrics Robinson's aggressive base running would display it was the sheer raw power of Roy “Campy” Campanella that would put the Dodgers up by 3.  Brooklyn's three time MVP catcher laced into a 2-1 offering by Brazle and sent it deep into the upper deck of the left field pavilion to make it 5-2 Dodgers.  Both teams would exchange solo runs in the 6th, so the margin still remained 3.  Now it was time for New to shine, and shine he did.  Where most hurlers tire as the game goes along, big Newk gets stronger, as evidenced by the three shutout innings he threw to end the game and close out the series sweep.  Brooklyn will now wait to see who their AL opponent will be as Detroit will face Anaheim in the ALCS.

‘55 Boys of Summer sweep ‘08 Phightin’s in series marred by off field antics

SERIES SUMMARY:  Fireworks were expected in this series that matched up two teams that seemed to be mirror images of themselves.  Both play in virtual bandboxes and both win on power.  The reason I say "mirror image" is because the Dodgers rely on rightanded power and the Phils rely more on left handed power.  Making the series even more interesting is the fact that both teams represent cities that detest each other and both managers are natives to those towns.  The key to winning the series would be which pitching staff could make the least mistakes and which ace would come up bigger.  The local tabloids were creating a carnival atmosphere as tension began to mount.

10/2-10/3 - Citizens Bank Ballpark
GAME 1 - Dodgers 2, Phillies 1
As if playoff series aren't tension riddled on their own the New York vs Philly rivalry added a bit more to the mix.  Both teams started out slow like two heavyweight contenders attempting to feel each other out before throwing haymakers.  A jab here, a jab there, but no big punches were thrown.  Credit the pitching for keeping the hitting off stride.  Philly would score first when third baseman Greg Dobbs would homer with 1 out in the fourth off of Dodger starter Don Newcombe.  Many in attendance expected this to be the first of many big punches thrown on the day the hometown team.  The Phightin's manager, Gary B was one of those with high expectations and those expectations got the best of him.  After witnessing Don Hoak tie the game with a 1 out solo shot in the 5th and seeing Cole Hamels walk Roy Campanella to force in a run the Phils manager lost his temper.  Thankfully his coaching staff was able to restrain him, but the uneasiness in his teams dugout might have contributed to his team's tightness as they would not score the rest of the way.  Newcombe, who for so long has had to battle the label of "choker" came up big in this "big" game.  Newk would go 8 innings and the only blemish on his pitching line was Dobbs solo homer back in the 4th.  Newk would start the 9th and give up a lead off single to Chase Utley.  That would facilitate the Dodgers decision to go to the pen and summon lefty Karl Spooner to face Ryan Howard.  Curiously the Phils manager responded by pinch hitting for his 49 home run slugger, Ryan Howard, with Pedro Feliz.  Spooner struck out Feliz, but more importantly the Phils lost a chance to win the game with 1 swing, which is Howard's specialty.  Pinch hitter Matt Stairs walked and Clem Labine was brought on to get the final 2 outs.  First Dobbs grounded to second and Geoff Jenkins, who curiously pinch hit for Pat Burrell who hit 35 homers that season, fanned to end it.  To add to the controversy Howard was seen jawing with his manager at the end of the game.  One can only surmise what was said, but you can bet the powerful lefty slugger was not happy about being removed from the game for a pinch hitter with his team 1 down.  Pat "the bat" Burrell was also seen shaking his head and looking for a piece of his manager.  Lost in the shuffle of all this controversy is the fact that Cole Hamels pitched a wonderful game only allowing 2 runs to that powerful righty lineup that Brooklyn plays.

GAME 2 - Dodgers 8, Phillies 1
Hoping to put the controversy of game 1 behind them the Phightin's ran into 1955 World Series MVP Johnny Podres.  As you all know Podres is a southpaw, and the Phils have trouble with those port siders.  Podres was locked into cruise control giving up just a solo homer to Jayson Werth in the bottom of the 5th, when something went wrong.  It is not known if Podres just tweaked his knee or seriously hurt it.  In either case he was done for the day.  Thankfully for the Dodgers they had been beating up on Philie starter Brett Myers and were up 7-1.  Carl Erskine was brought on to finish it out and the curve ball master was at the top of his game going 3 2/3 innings in relief and allowing only 2 hits.  Brooklyn took Myers deep 3 times.  Roy Campanella, Pee Wee Reese and  Podres himself went deep.  Gil Hodges went 3 for 3 and played flawlessly like he usually does in the field.  Once again the antics off the field overshadowed the events on the field.  The Phils manager once again lost his temper and began yelling at his lefty power hitters to "hit this sh-t pitcher".  Baseball players as you know do not respond well to the added pressure of their manager calling them out.  Opposing teams do however respond well when they are given bulletin board material.  Once all the dust cleared it became apparent that the Phightin's were down 2 games to 0 and the series was heading back to the Borough of Churches.

10/5 - Ebbets Field
GAME 3 - Dodgers 4, Phillies 0
Off days are supposed to a time for travel and preparation for the big game scheduled the following day.  Things are supposed to be calm and relaxed, but that was not the case as both the Brooklyn Eagle and the Philadelphia Inquirer were printing stories about the controversies surrounding the first 2 games.  While Brooklyn is known to have the most rabid fans in the league, these fans typically focus on their team and try to ignore the other.  Having read all the stories regarding the insults aimed at their players and the way they play the game those same fans came to the park looking for bear.  The bear would come in the form of Phillies manager Gary B, who has fueled the fire with his incendiary statements about game play, his team and especially his opponents players.  After Brooklyn jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first the TV cameras began to focus on Philly's embattled manager who was stirring like a dormant volcano.  After seeing his team not score in 3 innings against Dodgers starter Karl Spooner the volcano erupted.  His first attack was aimed at the umpire crew for not calling the game fair, then it turned to the Dodgers lefty, whom he called a "crap pitcher" who had no business getting his hitters out.  At this point Brooklyn's own manager who to this point in the series remained quiet decided to chime in.  That caused a verbal altercation as well as a bench clearing incident.  Luckily for all  there were no punches thrown and no players injured.  The only casualty was Philly's manager who had said one four letter word too many, so he was gone.  GB packed it in, but still managed to shoot off a few more expletives on his way out the door.  Bench coach Michael Hopcroft admirably stepped in to finish out the game, but you could see he was inheriting a shell shocked team that just wanted to get on the bus and head home from Gotham.  Jamie Moyer would go 7 innings and give up 3 runs, the biggest being a 2 run shot to Duke Snider.  That game changing homer occurred just after the bench clearing incident ended.  When interview after the game Moyer, the elder  statesman of the clubhouse, said: "we're all professionals, but certainly a situation like this never helps the club...we hope our manager can work things out for himself and we thank Mike for taking over under such adverse conditions".  Spooner would exit the game after 5 2/3 innings of work. Clem Labine would pitch the final 3 1/3 innings of scoreless baseball, which seemed to be very easy for him as he was facing a toothless foe that had the wind sucked right out of their sails.  Brooklyn would clinch the series in 3 straight, but that would unfortunately become page 2 news as the carnival antics that surrounded the game itself took front page space.  NYPD reported that there were at least 20 arrests as Brooklyn natives were seen fighting with those who traveled north on the NJ Turnpike to root for Philly.  Sadly the poor behavior on the field filtered into the highly charged crowd.

ALDS: ‘02 Halos sweep ‘98 Bombers in 3 straight

SERIES SUMMARY:  The Bronx Bombers had a wonderful season where the flirted with having the best record in baseball only to fall a game short of winning their division.  Their reward...they get to go on the road and face an Angels team that won 5 less games than they did, but had the good fortune of winning a division where every other team finished under .500.  On the surface this looked to be a cakewalk for New York, but historically the Yankees have had trouble with the Angels, especially in the Torre/Giradi era.  In fact the California/Anaheim/LA of Anaheim Angels are the only AL franchise to have a winning record against NY during that time frame.  As pointed out by Angels manager Douglas Zaner, his team is peaking at the correct time, which parallels their real life excursion into the post season in 2002.  Seeing the Angels win this series was certainly not a shocker, but seeing them sweep the Bombers was.

10/2-10/3 - Edison Field
GAME 1 - Angels 9, Yankees 8
The Halos had what seemed to be a comfy 9-3 lead heading into the 8th when New York began to jump start it's offense.  The Bombers would post 4 big runs to cut Anaheim's lead to 2.  In the process they knocked Jarrod Washburn out of the box.  It would come as a shock to no one that it all started with Derek Jeter working out a walk in a 10 pitch at bat.  Time in and time out Mr. Jeter has been the face of the Pinstripe franchise because of his consistent play and his ability to seize the moment in big spots.  "Jeets" AB must have softened up Washburn, because Scott Brosius followed with a 1 pitch at bat that resulted in a line single to left.  Tim Raines walked to load the bases with 1 out, but Homer Bush lined out to left while pinch hitting for Jorge Posada to record the second out.  Now it was time for Chad Curtis to double off the wall and score 2.  Tino Martinez, who was curiously batting 8th in this lineup, single to right to score 2 more and just like that the Bombers were back in business.  Troy Percival would come on to save it for the Angels in the 9th, but not without drama.  After getting 2 quick outs Percival gave up 3 consecutive singles, which made it a 1 run ballgame.  Tim Raines' RBI single scored Brosius and nearly killed the rally monkeys as the fans were squeezing them oh so tight to release stress.  Next up came the matchup of the day.  Percival vs Joe Girardi.  Percival won this battle by throwing three bullets by Giradi for the "K".  The Halos held on to a 1 run lead in a game that looked to be a blowout before the 8th.  Troy Glaus was the big bat for the Halos today.  Glaus went 2 for 4 with 5 RBI's, a double and a 2 run homer.  Brosius went 4 for 4 and almost keyed the comeback.  Ramiro Mendoza was an interesting choice to start the opener for New York.  Already the New York tabloids are second guessing skipper Ross Gottlieb for that choice.  Amazing how fickle those NY papers and Yankee fans are in general.  Gottlieb piloted the team to a 26-12 regular season, yet Mike Lupica and Steve Serby are attacking him in their columns.

GAME 2 - Angels 7, Yankees 2
"Boomer" Wells did not have his best stuff today, but he battled the Angel lineup in the hopes that a late comeback attempt like yesterday would occur.  His hopes were not satisfied.  In fact the Halos put together a late surge that turned a tenuous 3-2 lead into a more than comfortable 7-2 margin.  Anaheim unloaded on Wells and reliever Jeff Nelson to the tune of 4 runs in the bottom of the 8th.  Scott Spiezo's RBI single scored Adam Kennedy and advanced David Eckstein to third.  Garrett Anderson, who doubled in a run in his first AB, but fanned the next two times cranked a 3 run shot into the waterfall in left center to put the game out of reach.  Ramon Ortiz earned the win for the Angels by allowing just 1 run in 6 1/3 innings of work.  The Angel pen kept the Bomber bats in check the rest of the way to put the Halos up 2-0 in the series and put the Bombers on the brink of elimination.

10/5 - Yankee Stadium
GAME 3 - Angels 12, Yankees 0
With their backs up against the Bombers went to their most trusted and reliable post season performer, Andy Pettitte.  Not only is Pettitte know for his post season exploits, but he brought a 5-0 KOD10 record into his matchup against Anaheim's Kevin Appier.  Nobody in the history of Major League Baseball has won more post season games (18) than Pettitte, which should have intimidated the Halos, but in truth it did not.  This Angel team is firing on all 8 cylinders and their history of slaying the 10,000 lb gorilla from the Bronx has become legendary.  Early on it was apparent that Pettitte did not have good stuff.  By the 5th inning the fans in the "Big Ball Orchard in the Bronx" began to turn on Pettitte and his mates.  Boos and chants of "Steinbrenner S--ks" began to resonate on 161st and River.  One clown even threw a beer at Pettitte as he departed having given up 8 runs (7 earned) in 5 innings worth of work.  To disrespect a player who has given his heart and soul to the Pinstripe cause is shameful, but so is the nature of the "what have you done for me lately" attitude that we see in the Big Apple.  On the other side of the fence Appier was masterful allowing just 3 hits and no runs in 6 innings of stellar work.  Scott Schoeneweis posted a meaningless save by pitching 3 innings of 1 hit ball to close out the game.  New York's highly touted offense was only able to muster up 4 hits vs the Halos on a day when their pitchers gave up 20.  Even the great Rivera gave up 3 runs as he was pressed into action late in the game to try to keep Anaheim from reaching double digits.  Darin Erstad and Garrett Anderson had 4 hit days.  Anderson hit a 2 run shot off of Pettitte in the 6th which led to the slender Texan's early departure.

Anaheim will head to Detroit to open up the ALCS vs the Tigers, while the Bombers will remain home and ponder what could have been in a season that looked so promising.  When interviewed after the game Yankee manager Ross Gottlieb was quoted as saying, "I'm on the fence. Especially with my family's hectic schedule."  Obviously the pressure of skippering baseball's most visible franchise in the Big Apple can be a challenge as evidenced by the treatment he got in the NY tabloids.  This reporter hopes to see him back in the dugout, maybe with some other franchise that would appreciate his efforts.