REGIONAL #62:   The matchups for regional #62 in my endless single elimination tournament had the potential to continue a trend seen in the past four consecutive regionals--the winner has from post-2000.  In fact, in two of those regionals (both won by Mets teams), the winner was the ONLY post-2000 team in the bracket of eight--and regional #62 presents the same scenario.  Furthermore, that one post-2000 team happens to be the World Champion 2018 Red Sox, boasting serious firepower with the likes of Mookie Betts and JD Martinez.  Hard to say who else in this bracket would have much of a chance against Boston, although the 1949 Indians are only one year removed from their great '48 team that rattled off six consecutive wins in this tournament.  I have to admit that after all these wins by recent squads, I am pulling for someone to knock off the Red Sox as I don't want to have to admit that modern teams may be better than their predecessors!

First round action:

Management for the 2018 Red Sox thought about sitting out the formidable Chris Sale for their first round game, as Boston was heavily favored over the 60-win 1950 White Sox. However, they decided to go with Sale, and it looked like he wouldn't be needed when Benintendi led off with a walk and Xander Bogaerts put the next pitch into the left field stands at Old Comiskey. However, Chisox starter Billy Pierce was no slouch himself, and that would be the last run Boston scored. However, Sale was literally unhittable, taking a no-hitter into the 8th. In the 9th, the Sox rattled off two straight hits, and then scored their first run on a Sale error. However, with one out and the tying run on 3rd, Dave Philley hits the dreaded LOmax, and Boston escapes with a 2-1 victory to move on.

The next first round matchup was a battle of the 80's featuring the 1980 Reds and 1981 Padres, no doubt broadcast on the newfangled MTV network. 1981 was a strange strike year that had two "half" seasons separated by a work stoppage; the consistent Padres were terrible in both halves, finishing last in each. Granted that fewer total games were played that season (110 for the Padres), but when was the last time you saw a team that had NOBODY hitting in double figures for home runs? Yes, RF Joe Lefebvre was the big slugger for San Diego, with a grand total of 8 HR. On the other hand, their pitching largely stunk also, so there was plenty of blame to go around. Their chances against an 89-win 1980 Reds team didn't look good, but the Padres jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first when Juan Bonilla converted a HR 1-6/flyB off Mario Soto's card. However, that was the highwater mark for the Padres, as the Reds ground up the Padres pitchers for an easy 8-1 win.

Given the prior success of the 1948 Indians (winners of Regional #11 and more), hopes were running high for the 1949 Indians version, which featured many of the same players but only finished in 3rd place in the AL. They were facing the lowly 1924 Red Sox, the only year in a 9 year stretch when Boston did not finish in last place (they were next to last). However, the Red Sox jumped to a quick 2-0 lead on an Ike Boone homer (no relation to Ray Boone, who was playing for the Indians in this game). Cleveland retaliated with four runs in the 3rd, led by a Joe Gordon homer, although Ken Keltner was also lost for the game in that big inning. However, Bob Lemon appeared to be cruising for the Tribe until "triple play" Bill Wambsganss knocked a game tying 2 run double in the 7th. The workhorse Lemon insisted on staying in the game, but two singles, a walk and a sacrifice fly by Veach in the bottom of the 9th gave the Red Sox the upset 5-4 victory.

The final first round matchup featured a 90's Freeway Series, the NL West winner 1995 Dodgers faced the crosstown 80-win 1990 Angels. The Dodgers started their "rookie" phenom Hideo Nomo, while the Angels countered with Chuck Finley, also known as Mr. Tawny Kitaen. Although the Dodgers managed 12 hits against Finley, they could only scrape together two runs on RBI singles by Offerman and Brett Butler, but that proved to be enough as Nomo mystified the Angels, tossing a two-hit shutout to give the Dodgers the 2-0 victory. Speaking of Ms. Kitaen, this wouldn't be the last beating Finley would have to endure.

The survivors

In the semifinals, the WS champ 2018 Red Sox began exactly the way they did in their first round game: Benintendi gets on base and Xander Bogaerts homers for a 2-0 lead, two batters into the game. However, unfortunately for the Red Sox, the rest of the game also went the same way as round 1, with Boston unable to score again, this time thwarted by the 1980 Reds' Tom Seaver. And, this time Boston was facing a Reds team that had already demonstrated the ability to win, and win they did, squibbing out three runs on eight hits, with Sox closer Craig Kimbrel allowing the game winning RBI to Ken Griffey (Senior) in the bottom of the 7th for a 3-2 upset win for the 1980 Reds.

The second semifinal game saw another Red Sox squad, the 1924 Red Sox, scratch back to tie the game 3-3 in the 6th inning against the favored 1995 Dodgers. However, Boston starter Jack Quinn disintegrated in the 6th after a 2-base error by Boston SS Dud Lee opened the floodgate for six unearned runs. Final score: Dodgers 10, Red Sox 3, with Raul Mondesi and Jose Offerman each knocking in three runs. Perhaps Quinn could be forgiven because he WAS 40 years old in 1924; however, he went on to pitch in the majors for another NINE years!

That left two pretty good teams in the Regional finals, the division winning 1995 Dodgers and the 89-win 1980 Reds, with nary a 21st century team in sight. The Reds drew first blood off Ramon Martinez in the 2nd with a Junior Kennedy RBI single, but the Dodgers answered in the bottom of the inning with 3 runs, including a Raul Mondesi homer that positioned him nicely for regional MVP. However, Martinez falters in the 7th, and before closer Todd Worrell can stop the damage the Reds tie it at 3 apiece--but in the process, lose Johnny Bench for the rest of the game with an injury. The loss of Bench's arm behind the plate could prove costly as the Dodgers boasted two AA stealers, one of whom Bench had already thrown out. Nonetheless, a long Concepcion single in the 9th puts the Reds on top, and Reds starter Frank Pastore entered the bottom of the 9th intent on locking down the win for Cincinnati. After recording one out, Pastore allows a single to Tim Wallach and another to Brett Butler, Wallach heading to third and Butler promptly stealing second off replacement catcher Harry Spilman. With the winning run in scoring position, Reds manager John McNamara signals for closer Tom Hume, who shuts down the Dodgers, earning the save and the regional win for the Reds.

REGIONAL #61:    The bracket for regional #61 is the type I look forward to.  Regional #60 turned out to be dominated by teams from the past decade, and I just don't find them nearly as interesting as teams from the pre-steroid era. The only entrant from this millennium here is the 2019 Mets--and Mets from the past decade have gone 5-1 in the last three regionals, so that in itself gives reason to watch them. Plus, they face the 1949 Yankees in an interesting version of a Subway Series. Meanwhile, two of the powerful Reds teams of the 50's are in here, along with a group of 60's teams boasting some of the greats.

First round action

The Subway Series goes to the 2019 Mets, upsetting the only World Champion in this regional, the 1949 Yankees, 3-0. DeGrom tosses a 4-hit shutout, Dimaggio goes 0 for 4, and Pete Alonso goes yard in the first inning and that's all that was required. Yankees starter Vic Raschi didn't allow a run after the 1st inning, but with DeGrom on fire, it didn't matter.

So, imagine that you're the 1964 Angels.  Sure, you're an expansion team, but you're an over .500 squad and facing another expansion squad in the 1967 Astros that only won 69 and finished only ahead of the hapless Mets.  Plus, you have Dean Chance on the mound--the Cy Young winner, 5th place in the MVP voting, and sporting one of the best cards of the season.  You have to feel pretty good about your "chance", right?  Well, Dean lasts 2/3rds of an inning, allowing 7 runs, and the Astros blow the Angels back into purgatory, 8-1.  Bear in mind these Astros have some marquee names:  Joe Morgan, Eddie Mathews, Jimmy Wynn, Rusty Staub, and Mike Cuellar on the mound, who tossed a two-hitter.   So it's the 'stros who move on to face the Mets in the semis.

The 1965 Tigers roar to a 4-0 lead in the first inning, behind a bases-loaded double by Don Demeter, and it looks like it will be a long afternoon for the 1954 Reds and Joe Nuxhall.  However, the Reds come back with four of their own in the 3rd, aided by a Mickey Lolich gopherball to the unlikely Lloyd Merriman.  The Tigers answer with another run in the bottom of the 3rd, but the rally is cut short when Don Wert is nailed at the plate trying to score from 2nd on a Kaline single.  Lolich settles down for four scoreless innings and it seems again that the Tigers might be in the clear, but in the 8th Andy Seminick nails a 2-run homer (off his card, not Lolich's) followed by 2 consecutive Tiger errors and a Kluszewski single, and the Tigers have no response, giving the Reds a hard-fought 7-5 first round victory.  These Reds have offense, they have really solid defense (well, not you, Klu), but not much pitching--it will be interesting to see if they can survive the back end of their rotation if it comes to that.

To finish off first round action, the 1951 Reds jump out to a 5-0 lead by the 3rd, with Joe Adcock driving in four of those runs, and it looks like it will be an all-Reds semi with Ewell Blackwell tossing four no-hit innings to open the game.  However, the 1994 Cardinals strike back in the 5th to score four, Ozzie Smith knocking in two with a bases-loaded double.   Nonetheless, Blackwell recovers and the Reds hold a 5-4 lead heading into the 8th, but Blackwell walks the first two batters and the Reds bring in closer Frank Smith to try to preserve the win--bad move.  When the dust clears, Ozzie and Bernard Gilkey both knock homers off F. Smith's card and the Cards have a 9-5 lead.  The Reds chase Cardinal starter Bob Tewksbury in the 9th, but Habyan comes in and demonstrates how to relieve and seal the 9-5 win.

The survivors

The first semifinal game pitting the 2019 Mets against the 1967 Astros takes 12 innings to decide in a seesaw battle. The Mets jump out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning, Houston ties it in the 2nd, Mets score 1 in the 4th but Houston answers with 2, and then Alonso blasts a solo shot to tie it again in the 5th. In the 7th Sonny Jackson walks, steals second, and scores on a Joe Morgan single, and Seth Lugo comes in for the Mets to try to stop the bleeding. However, a Todd Frazier double ties the game in the 9th, chasing Astro starter Don Wilson, and the game heads to extra innings. Amed Rosario finally singles home a run in the 12th off Larry Dierker, the Astros have no answer, and a Mets team from this decade reaches the finals for the third time in the last four regionals...suggesting that they do a lot better in my living room than they do in Queens.

The second semifinal turns out to be a rout, as the 1954 Reds jump out to a quick 7-0 lead, with homers by Greengrass, Bell, and Seminick chasing 1994 Cardinals starter Palacios in the 2nd.  In the 7th, the Cards finally score 3 on Art Fowler and then load the bases; the Reds take a look at their closer, and it's Frank Smith, an older version of the guy who got creamed by these same Cards in round 1.  So, they call on Judson to put out the fire, and he does his job to preserve the 9-3 final margin and send the Reds into the finals against the Mets.

The regional final lives up to its billing as a matchup of winners, as neither team would give up. The 2019 Mets race to a 7-1 lead by the 3rd inning, despite losing both Dominic Smith and Todd Frazier to early injuries. The 1954 Reds tie it with 6 runs in the bottom of the 3rd, with Seminick and Post contributing RBI doubles. The Reds move out to an 8-7 lead in the 5th on a McMillan single, although Seminick was nailed at home trying to add another insurance run. In the 6th, Michael Conforto puts the Mets ahead with a 2-run homer, his second of the game, and then injury replacement Brandon "Finding" Nimmo hits another 2-run shot, this one off the card of the hapless Frank Smith, and the Mets claim the regional with an 11-8 victory. Regional MVP honors go to Pete Alonso, who homered in all three games and drove in 6, showing monster card Ted Kluszewski (homerless in all three games) how a big 1st baseman is supposed to do it!

REGIONAL #60:   The first round of Regional #60 featured one minor upset featuring the 79-win 2014 Mets crushing the 87-win 1962 Phillies 10-2, with Philadelphia starter Cal McLish not making it out of the 2nd inning.  With some holdover from the 2010 Mets team that won Regional #58, perhaps this squad will be blessed with similar good fortune.  They will meet the 2016 A's, who dispensed with the 1986 Brewers 7-3 behind homers by Lowrie and Semien.  The bottom half of the bracket was a more challenging draw, with a two good squads facing off as the 1987 Reds came from behind to beat the 2004 Phillies 5-4 in the 10th inning, with Nick Esasky nailing a walkoff Triple 1-3/flyB off Billy Wagner's card.  The Reds will face the 2014 Tigers, who squeaked past Bobo Newson and the 1938 Browns 2-0, thanks to a 5 hit shutout by Scherzer.

In the first semifinal, the luck of the 2014 Mets continues as Zack Wheeler recovers from allowing a 1st inning solo HR to Ryon Healy and ends up with a complete game 2-hitter against the 2016 A's.  The Mets retaliated in the bottom of the 1st with a solo shot from Lucas Duda and an RBI single by Granderson, and that was it for the Mets but it was enough for a tight 2-1 victory.   The Mets move on to the finals without DH Eric Young, lost for 7 games with an injury, but again this can be viewed as more Mets luck as he was arguably the least important member of the lineup and his replacement (Nieuwenhuis, how do they get _that_ on the back of the jersey?) is actually a better hitter.

The other semifinal was a hard-fought battle between two good teams, but the 2014 Tigers ultimately prevailed over the 1987 Reds, 5-4.  The difference in the game was Reds starter Tom Browning, who tossed gopher balls to Victor Martinez, Torii Hunter and Ian Kinsler off his card (a solid 4-8 HR, ouch), and would have had a 4th 4-8 blast if John Franco hadn't relieved him in the 7th.  An 8th inning homer by Eric Davis narrowed the gap to one, but David Price hung on for the complete game win, and the trip to the regional finals against the Mets.

The finals pitted two 2014 teams against each other, and ultimately the one that was a division winner prevailed, with the 2014 Tigers edging the 2014 Mets 4-3.  The Tigers jumped out to a 2 run lead in the first, rattling Mets starter Dillon Gee, but a walk, David Wright double, and two-run single by Lagares tied the game for the Mets in the 6th.  However, in the bottom of the 6th leadoff batter Alex Avila hit his 1-2 roll HR, and that was the game-winner.  The Mets threatened in the 9th when Rajai Davis let a ball get past him for a double to the leadoff hitter, but Detroit starter Rick Porcello rewarded his manager's confidence by retiring the top of the Mets lineup in order for the regional win.