World Series race: And then there were four

Jack Drewry

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“Be yourself and have fun.” The advice of a Little League manager to his team? No. Those were the words of encouragement of Stephen Vogt, manager of the 2024 Cleveland Guardians, as they began this year’s Major League Baseball playoffs.   

Now, the Guardians are in an American League Pennant battle with the New York Yankees for the right to go to the World Series, which begins October 25. The best-of-seven AL Championship started this week with games one and two in New York on Monday and Tuesday.

They will move to Progressive Field for contests three and four on Thursday and Friday, then game five on Saturday if necessary. The action would then return to Yankee Stadium for six and seven the following week until someone wins four games.

Over the years, Cleveland and New York have had a tense baseball rivalry that led to the portrayal of the Indians conquering the Yankees in the movie Major League.  Unfortunately, Wesley Snipes as Willie Mays Hayes (hits like Mays and runs like Hayes) will not be coming off the bench for Cleveland.  All-Star third baseman Jose Ramirez will have to be enough to try to counter the Yankees center fielder slugger Aaron Judge.

The Yankees and Guardians are experiencing relative World Series Championship droughts, 2009 for New York but 1948 for Cleveland.

The Indians beat the old Boston Braves at what is now BU Nickerson Field, with Satchel Paige for Cleveland as the first African American to pitch in an MLB World Series.

The 2009 Yankees defeated the defending champion Philadelphia

Phillies for their only World Series victory of the 21st Century, compared to four for the Boston Red Sox. Once known as the Bronx Bombers, the Yankees won 26 Series titles in the 20th Century. Ancient History.

In the National League Pennant contest, the New York Mets are facing the Los Angeles Dodgers. LA beat the Mets 9-0 in California on Sunday night. NY ended the Dodgers pitchers’ 33 consecutive shut-out innings Monday afternoon in LA with a 7-2 win.

This week, the scene shifts to NY for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday games. If necessary, the series will return to Dodger Stadium on Sunday night and Monday.

There are multiple angles to the Senior Circuit pennant contest. Mookie Betts and Japan-born Shohei Ohtani, the best MLB player now and arguably ever, lead the Dodgers. Last year, he came over from the Angels as a pitcher and designated hitter.

Because of arm surgery, Ohtani has not pitched this year and concentrated on hitting. All he did was become the first Major Leaguer to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in the same season. He is a phenomenal and formidable lead-off hitter.

Betts currently follows Ohtani, who is batting second in the Dodgers’ lineup. Returning from an early-season injury, Mookie has sparked LA’s move from shortstop to second base and now right field. He played for five years for the Red Sox, who have not been the same since they allowed him to leave.

In 2018, Betts led the Red Sox to their last World Series Championship. That year, he was the American League MVP and batting champion. Going to LA in 2020, he led the Dodgers to a World Series Championship. The only thing standing between him and another series victory are the New York Mets and Francisco Lindor.

The Puerto Rico-born Lindor rivals Ohtani as a lead-off hitter. To the dismay of Cleveland fans, he went from the Indians to New York in 2021. He is one of the premier shortstops in baseball. His first-inning home run ignited the Mets to victory over the Dodgers on Monday afternoon.

One area of interest in the lead-up to the ALCS is the ‘David” Guardians versus the “Goliath” Yankees. The Guards are the youngest team in baseball and have one of the lowest payrolls. By contrast, the Yankees pay their veteran players more than anyone.

As the Pennant races shift from East to West, considerable attention will be paid to The Big Apple. For some, the prospect of a Yankees-Mets Subway Series is the ultimate dream. Also, the return of the former “Brooklyn Dodgers” for a definite Pennant clash and possible World Series match with the New York Yankees is beyond their wildest imaginations.

Whatever the final draw, the series always comes when we need it the most. This year, it will give America a welcome retreat from the grueling election drama. It will allow us to experience the joy of Autumn memories as few things can.

Down in New York, the fall memories are of 1954, and New York Giants centerfielder Willie Mays’s over-the-back basket catch of Cleveland Indians Vic Wertz’s line drive in centerfield of the Polo Grounds. In 1955, they reflect Jackie Robinson and the Brooklyn Dodgers finally defeating the New York Yankees. From 1956, they remind us of Yankees pitcher Don Larsen’s perfect game against the Dodgers. But a not-so-pleasant remembrance for New Yorkers is the 1960 heroics of Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Bill Mazeroski’s walk-off seventh-game home run against the Bombers.

For Red Sox fans, the memories are of the 1967 Impossible Dream Year, Carlton Fisk’s 1975 extra-inning walk-off World Series home run, and, of course, the 2004 “Can you believe it!” World Series Championship that officially ended the curse of the Bambino. 2024 is sure to create memorable moments. Just tune in and pick your favorite.