Nationals Take Unique Series from 'stros

1924.  This was the last year a baseball team from the US national district has won the World Series of Baseball.  The Washington Senators, "forefathers" of the current MLB District of Columbia team, the Washington Nationals, had last been in the World Series in 1933, and had last won in the year 1924. 

One of the American League charter franchises, in 1901, the Senators were quickly called the Nationals, and soon began to appear with a "W" on their uniforms, without reference to a team name.  They were often called the "Nats" and survived until 1960, when the team set sail for Minnesota to become the Twins.  They won the American League Pennant three times, advancing to World Series Champ in 1924, as already mentioned.  In 2005 the former Montreal Expos took up residence in the District of Columbia.  They adopted the names Nationals and Nats, but rejected "Senators," and remained a second tier ball-club for their first decade of existence. 

Tonight, for the first time, the Washington Nationals have won the World Series.  Some said that the victories were foreordained.  The Nationals had demolished what one commentator called "the bluestockings of baseball" to arrive at the Series, the Los Angeles Dodgers and the St. Louis Cardinals.  The Cardinals they had swept, winning all four games in the National League Championship Series.  When the Nationals won the first two games in this Series, both at Houston, there were some rumors that things had been fixed up, to give the Nationals their first World Series victory, and that at home.  Hopes were high as they returned to their home field, that they would sweep the Astros, too. 

President Trump was blamed for throwing a monkey wrench into that plan, however.  As the Nationals returned, he famously said that he would "attend game five."  Had the Nationals won their first two games in D.C., the embattled President would not have been able to attend a non existent game five.  Instead, the Nationals lost all three games in their home field, including game five, before the game came back to Houston.

That is one of the curiously defining feature of this World Series.  Neither team won a game on their home field.  The Nats started strong in Houston, but the Astros came back strong in the District of Columbia to win all three games.  Returning to Houston, the 'stros, who have been curiously strong in this decade, expected to wrap the series up in one game.  Instead, they lost the game yesterday, allowing the Nats to tie the Series, and setting up tonight's tie breaker, and final game, in the best of seven series. 

Congratulations to the Nationals and their fans, at their 6-2 victory over  the Houston Astros. From a president, popular elsewhere but embattled by D.C. Politicians, to a World Series win, in D.C., at least, everything's like 1924 again. 

Baseball Memories

Matt Chapman

Anthony Rizzo

Sunday Sport: MLB Championships

The 30 modern teams of the Major League Baseball in the United States play a long season.  Lasting over six months the regular season consists of thousands of games, with each of the teams  playing almost every day, and sometimes twice a day.

But it all comes to this, the League Championships seasons, the last stop on the way to the World Series of Baseball.  This Autumn we see the boys of summer playing their hearts out as each of the four teams vies for a spot in the overall championship.  This Fall's American League Championship Series pits the Boston Red Sox against recent champs the Houston Astros.  In the National League, the Los Angeles Dodgers are combating the Milwaukee Brewers for the top spot.  

Both championships will prove to be exciting as the teams are evenly matched. In both of the best of seven series the teams are tied one to one, with the Boston Red Sox winning their game just a few moments ago.    

Game three in the Brewers vs. Dodgers series will be played Monday night at Dodger Stadium.    Game three in the Astros vs. Red Sox series will be played Tuesday night in Houston.   

Sport Sunday

Sport Sunday  

In the USA, the NCAA College Football weekend has been filled with excitement.  The admittedly big game of the weekend was the matchup between the number 2 Pennsylvania State Nittany Lions, and number 6 Ohio State University Buckeyes.  Sanguine sportsfans were in for a big surprise when Ohio State, down by 11 points with only five minutes to play in regulation, turned the score around to beat the Nittany Lions by one point as the time expired.   J.T. Barrett hit Marcus Baugh with a 16-yard touchdown pass with 1:48 left in the fourth quarter and No. 6 Ohio State rallied from 11 points down in the final five minutes to hand No. 2 Penn State its first loss, 39-38 on Saturday.  The blackout crowd at the Ohio State Horseshoe poured onto the field to celebrate, after the Buckeyes took a knee with seconds to spare.  

Another unbeaten is no longer, as the number 25 Iowa State Cyclones triumphed over previously unbeaten and Big 12 rival, the number 4 Horned Frogs of Texas Christian University.   The ninth ranked Fighting Irish of the University of Notre Dame beat the number 14 ranked North Carolina State Wolfpack.  The Irish took the game in the sight of Touchdown Jesus, by a score of 35-14. 

England will be the site of a different kind of Football game on today, this will be an American Football game, from the National Football League, between the 5-2 Minnesota Vikings and the unfeated, 0-7 Cleveland Browns.  The Cleveland Browns have had no success in North America this season, so maybe their luck can change on a different continent.  The Browns will play a regular-season game in London for the first time in franchise history when they oppose the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday at Twickenham Stadium.  The Vikings fortunes have been on the rise last season and this season, the Browns are on a downward slide.  Minnesota have won three straight games and are in first place in the NFC North.  Both teams are hoping key players will return from injuries.   Vikings quarterback Sam Bradford again missed practice Wednesday with a knee injury.   The Vikings have ridden a stingy defense to the top of their division. No opponent has scored 20 points on them since the Pittsburgh Steelers thumped them 26-9 in Week 2. Whatever the outcome, this continuation of the NFL games in England should bring excitement to the hearts of European American Football Fans. 

In Mexico:  today watch for Formula One Racing.    The Mexican Grand Prix will be contested at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City. A run of five wins in the last six races has Lewis Hamilton on the verge of his fourth career drivers' title. Sebastian Vettel claimed a dramatic pole position for the Mexican Grand Prix, knocking Red Bull driver Max Verstappen off top spot at the end.  Verstappen was quickest on the first runs in Q3 with a 1m 16.574s, but lapped three-tenths slower on his final attempt, and is being investigated for impeding.  This allowed Ferrari driver Vettel to snatch pole with a lap of 1m16.488s, having been just over a quarter-of-a-second slower on the first runs. 

Lewis Hamilton's chances to repeat stay in fairly good shape, as he was third fastest for Mercedes after a moment in the Turn 12 right-hander cost him time in the final sector, meaning he had to rely on his first-run time.  This put him ahead of team-mate Valtteri Bottas, who posted a lap good enough for fourth having had to abandon his first run without setting a time.  Hamilton needs finish of fifth or better in today's race to take his fourth world title.  Vettel, Verstappen and Hamilton are already well known to reader's of this space, and we wish them well in this afternoon's contest. 

In the United States, in Major League Baseball, the Los Angeles Dodgers, ahead 2-1 over the Houston Astros in the top of the ninth inning, performed spectacularly well, bringing in 4 runs to win the game 6-2.  In winning the game, they evened up the World Series 2 games to 2.  The teams meet again tonight in Houston and again in Los Angeles on Tuesday, and possibly Wednesday. 

Saturday Sport

Like perhaps no other time in recent history, sports and politics are again at the crossroads this weekend. 

Pakistan has not hosted international cricket within the country since 2009.  In that year, the visiting Sri Lanka team fell under attack by rebels, losing 8 of their members, with another 8 escaping with serious injuries.  The Sri Lankans have decided to give it another go, on Sunday, when the blockade is broken...  Tens of thousands of security will be deployed in Lahore when Sri Lanka become the first major cricket team to visit Pakistan since that deadly ambush.  Some of the attack survivors will be among those returning to the scene.  

No one blames the several Sri Lankans who have opted out of this Twenty20 game, as security is not completely assured, given recent rebel attacks.  Asanka Gurusinha and Hashan Tillakaratne of Sri Lanka and Pakistan's Ahsan Raza, are among those returning to the field for this match.   Sunday's game will the third and final T20 - with the other two having been played in UAE, site of many of Pakistan's "home" games in recent years.  Pakistani's have a great passion for Cricket, so this step towards normalcy is greeted with great expectation.   Sunday's Twenty20 international is being hailed as a brave decision by Sri Lanka and a milestone for Pakistan as it attempts to end its sporting isolation. We wish all those involved the best this Sunday! 

Meanwhile back in Spain, the Catalans have declared independence. For some reason, though, their teams are still playing in the Spanish Liga.  This weekend should be interesting, in that Real Madrid are playing in the Catalan stronghold Girona, and Barcelona travels to Basque stronghold Bilbao.  Real Madrid is chasing Barcelona in the standings, whilst Bilbao has been scraping the bottom.  Fresh from picking up FIFA's award for the best player of 2017, Cristiano Ronaldo will be one of number of Madrid stars to return after being rested for Madrid's Copa del Rey last-32, first-leg at third-tier Fuenlabrada on Thursday. Gareth Bale once again misses out through injury, although there is hope the Welshman could return from a calf problem in time to face his old team the Tottenham Hotspur in their Champions League contest on Wednesday.

In England, the Premier League Season is heating up.  Defeat is not an option for Manchester United  or Tottenham Hotspur as their teams seek to keep pace with leaders Manchester City in the Premier League title race. The respective teams begin the weekend five points behind City as they face each other at Old Trafford in Saturday’s early kick-off. Man U has lost significant ground in the last two weekends. Coach Mourinho accused his players of a “poor attitude” after the Huddersfield reverse, and switched several of them out of starting spots.  United have won all four of their home league matches this season, scoring 14 goals and conceding none, and Mourinho is seeking to keep that sequence going.  "Tottenham are a direct rival every season," midfielder Ander Herrera said. "In the last two or three years they have improved a lot and they are contenders for everything. The Champions League, the Premier League and for both cups."  

That's right, Tottenham...  The same Tottenham who beat Liverpool last weekend 4-1. The same Tottenham who will meet Real Madrid next Wednesday in Champion's League action.  They would be clear favorites and full of confidence had they not lost to West Ham United during the week, 3-2.  ... and what of the Gunners?  Arsenal look prepared to field Chilean Alexis Sanchez, German Mesut Ozil and Alexandre Lacazette on Swansea City on Saturday after the trio all scored against Everton last weekend, this was the first time they had all played together.  Prospects are, apparently, looking up for the team as they face Saturday's contest.  At least the English Season gives  us a bit of a break from the politics/sports nexus

In the United States of America, hurricane ravaged Houston has recovered enough to cheer their home team, the Astros, along the way in the World Series of Baseball.  Los Angeles hosted the first two games, and won and lost one, and with Friday night's game, Houston has convincingly seized the home field advantage. Today's game promises even more excitement.  

Sunday Cricket and Sports

Pakistan stretched their winning streak to eight matches in one-day internationals, and piled on more misery for Sri Lanka in the process, as they won by seven wickets in Sharjah on Friday.  Sri Lanka is currently in the midst of their tour of Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates, and the hosts have not been very hospitable!   The victory, secured with a convincing 11 overs to spare, gave Pakistan a 4-0 lead in the series with just Today’s final match still to play.  

Given they were on an unusual 10-match losing run of their own, Sri Lanka’s spirits were probably low enough, even before making the trip north-east up the coast from Abu Dhabi for the final phase of this series.  The loss for Sri Lanka was, perhaps, not surprising, as they have not won at Sharjah, the Emirates most historic cricket venue, since 2002.  Sri Lanka, embarrassingly, is amidst a rut of nearly a dozen losses.  The picture is not any rosier for the Sri Lankans, who return to Sharjah, to play Pakistan, in their fifth and final ODI of this series. tomorrow. in. Sharjah.  Also on tap for today is a test match between West Indies and Zimbabwe, and ODIs between India and New Zealand, and South Africa and Bangladesh.

In the USA, in MLB, the two teams contesting the World Series of Baseball have been decided.  The Los Angeles Dodgers, formerly of Brooklyn, had already beat the Chicago Cubs in the NLCS to become that league's contender.  Last night the seventh game of the seven game series was played between the perennial champions the New York Yankees, and the Houston Astros. The 'stros prevailed to take the American League title, and so will face the Dodgers in the World Series, which will start later this week.  The Los Angeles Dodgers are World Series favorites, but not by much. Their best-of-seven series begins Tuesday in Los Angeles.  The Dodgers are in the World Series for the first time since 1988 and will face a Houston team that rallied back from a 3-2 series deficit in the American League Championship Series against the New York Yankees. The Astros beat the Yankees 4-0 Saturday night in Game 7 of the ALCS to advance to the franchise's second World Series.  Neither team was considered favorites, even some time into the season. 

In the USA, in the football season, six weeks in, there's not a division leader with a lead of more than one game in the loss column, and the NFC West, NFC South, AFC East and NFC North all have at least two teams tied in the loss column sitting atop the division. Of the league's 32 teams, a whopping 25 have three or fewer losses and 23 have two or three defeats to their name.  Green Bay has lost tremendous Quarterback Aaron Rodgers to injury.  They host the Saints at Lambeau Field today, and will be testing the limits of their backup talent.

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Saturday Sport: Baseball, Football, and the Ranji Trophy

Autumn brings back many memories.  Fall colours, the smell of burning leaves, and Football are all signs of Fall.  A sure sign of early Autumn are the playoffs of Major League Baseball.  In the current system, the Wild Card team in each League plays one  of the Division champs, while the other two Division champs play each other, the winners of these games then meet in the League Championship Series.  The two League Champions then play each other in the World Series. 

The World Series actually has many unique and charming features.  So many Championships take place in pre determined stadiums, but the World Series is played in the stadiums of the two contesting teams. Normally, in pro sports, the dates of the Finals are set years in advance.  The World Series games are set once both teams have been determined, when each team has won four games of seven of the League Championship Series.  If both teams win four games straight of the League Championship, then the World Series can be set much earlier.    Although the World Series sometimes includes a Canadian team, no other nations are eligible to play.  Even countries where excellent baseball is played, in the Caribbean, Mexico, or Japan, no team has yet ever become established enough to propose membership in  Major League Baseball. 

Although sports commentators were acting as if the Washington Nationals had descended from Mount Olympus and so worthy of worship, that respectable team did not make it into the National League Championship Series.  Instead, this year the Chicago Cubs will play the Los Angeles Dodgers in that series, beginning with night games tonight and Sunday at Dodger Stadium.  The Cleveland Indians, who have been on fire in recent years, could not prevail against perennial champs the New York Yankees, and so do not advance.  Instead, in the American League Championship Series the New York Yankees and the Houston Astros began last night at the Minute Maid Park in Houston, where they will play the second game in their series tonight. 

"So come sit by my side if you love me.  Do not hasten to bid me adieu. Just remember the Red River Valley, And the cowboy that has loved you so true."  So, as the song says, people remember the Red River, at least people in Oklahoma and Texas do.  Today is the top day on the Football Calendars of the Univerisities of Oklahoma, the Sooners, and Texas, the Longhorn.  

This rivalry and/or blood feud game goes back many decades, and magnifies the many, many, other rivalries the two states hold to their grudge infested hearts!  Oklahoma is currently ranked number 12, and Texas is currently unranked, but a usual, the Red River Feud adds its usual, unpredictable layer of deep-fried personal animosity.  It should be an exciting game!  Other noteworthy games today, will include #6 Texas Christian against Kansas State, #9 Ohio State against Nebraska, clear favorites although they are playing at Nebraska, #21 Michigan State against Minnesota, and Oregon vs. #23 Stanford. 

The big news from Nations play in international Soccer this past week was the utter failure of the United States of America.  The US National team, lackluster as in most years, outdid itself in ineptitude when facing Trinidad and Tobago.  Competition is such, and the weight in the US direction anyway, that the US team could have tied, won by a goal, or even lost by a goal and still have qualified for the Worlds Cup.  Instead, the unskilled Americans lost by a couple of goals, because, after all, their motto might as well be "always be mediocre."  

Trinidad and Tobago, who had not won one game yet, in any of their previous contests, was overjoyed, and go home with bragging rights, since they did not qualify either.  On the upside, FIFA stands to lose tens of millions of dollars, as the American TV market will not support high costs for covering next year's Worlds Cup, which does not include an American team, and will be played in, of all places, Russia.  

The Russians will certainly put on an excellent show in 2018, as always, but Americans are notoriously skittish about soccer anyway.  In the 1930s Soccer was gaining a foothold in the United States, and that faded quickly around 1950 when the US failed to qualify for those Worlds Cups.  That cycle may very well repeat itself in the coming decade...  Maybe Americans could set up some youth cycling leagues, then soccer moms would not even have to drive little Johnny and Jeanette to their competitions. 

In Cricket, the Ranji Trophy is a domestic first-class cricket championship played in India between teams representing regional cricket associations. The competition currently consists of 28 teams, with 21 of the 29 states in India and Delhi having at least one representation. Almost all of the teams included in the current competition are regional, but two, Railways and Services, include players from throughout India.  The competition is named after first Indian cricketer who played international cricket, Ranjitsinhji, who was also known as "Ranji". He played for England and Sussex. Gujarat is the current Ranji Trophy champion, having beaten Mumbai by 5 wickets in the final of the 2016–17 season held in Holkar Stadium, Indore.  Today, 12 3-day matches begin in group, round robin play.  Eventually, winners in group play will engage in knock out rounds.  Our best to all those engaged in the Ranji Trophy this year! 

In Spanish La Liga play, competition will take place in a politically charged atmosphere, as fascist politicians at the head of the Catalonia regional government have declared independence, a move termed a "coup d'etat" by the King and the national government.  Within that ambiance Barcelona, far and ahead leaders of the current standings, travel to Atletico de Madrid, who were champs a few years ago.  You may recall that October 12th, yesterday, was the Spanish National Holiday, and throughout the day politicians from everywhere in Spain, from Avila to Zaragoza, and over every political stripe, from far left to right, paid calls at the Royal Palace to declare their national fervor and unity against the Catalan outrage.  Barcelona, then returns from the international break with their toughest game of the league season so far. 

So far, they have not had to play quality teams, six of their seven victories have come against teams in the bottom nine, but now will enter the  proverbial lion's den.  It is Barca's first visit to the superb new Wanda Metropolitano stadium in Spain’s capital and the reaction from the 67,000 capacity crowd, with no away fans this week for “logistical” reasons, will be ferocious.  There has never been a shortage of Spain flags flown by Atletico’s Frente ultras, but the current crisis is a mainstream one, so expect a sea of Spanish flags and anti-Catalan.  Barca’s players, most of whom are not Catalan, will feel the full force of the invective, as some players have spoken in favor of the illegal referendum.  Atletico de Madrid is fourth-placed, and remain unbeaten in this season's La Liga play.

The Spanish players were able to play together in Nations play last week, so at least at the level of the players, no problems are expected.  Atletico fans, though, are known to be both patriotic and outspoken, so today's match should be a challenge from that aspect.  All around, it is a game not to miss.