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Posted: |
Sep 17, 2019 - 2:54 AM
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By: |
Jim Phelps
(Member)
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Ultimately I saw a team that was lacking considerably compared to the 1980 team which I think went cold at the worst time and also didn't manage its pitching right (Tommy John started Game 3 instead of Game 1 because he'd gotten hurt in his final start in Cleveland which cost him his 23rd win).
The 81 team I view more favorably just because the first round playoff series against Milwaukee and the ALCS sweep of Martin's A's did provide some atonement for the 80 ALCS loss. Reggie's Game 5 HR in the ALDS was his last great moment as a Yankee. And a couple weeks before there was this memorable brawl he had with John Denny of Cleveland.
Reggie being carried away smiling and Mr. May's failure to stop Mr. October from charging the mound makes me wonder if they planned the whole thing. The entire charade was hilarious, though.
But the 81 World Series was ultimately worse than even the 80 ALCS. Key thing there was the bullpen which was supposed to be unhittable suddenly went bad. People point to the three relief losses of George Frazier but the big failure was Ron Davis. In 1980 and 1981, Davis was arguably the first great set-up relief pitcher there ever was. He was like Mariano Rivera in 1996 in terms of being an unhittable assasin, but in the World Series he suddenly lost control of all his pitches and that really bit the Yankees in the rear in Game 4 (which they should have won). Davis's World Series choke was why Steinbrenner then banished him the next year to the Twins.
Although its true the Yankees ultimately won more matchups against the Royals and Dodgers (I have to admit back then I hated those two teams MORE than I hated the Red Sox), it's always worse if you lose the last matchup. That's why if a scenario like 2004 had to happen I wish it had been in 2003 and then we "atone" the next year.
I watched game six of the 1981 WS--the first time since it originally aired--and it's interesting to see how "unfit" some of those players look: Rick Monday, Rick Reuschel, Bob Watson, Lou Piniella...yet they were all superb players. I think Pedro Guerrero was a great player and he sure had himself a fine series.
I lost count of all the seeing-eye singles that got between Nettles (who must have been seriously injured) and Larry Milbourne, the shortstop I have completely forgotten about. Bucky Dent was injured or benched, I guess.
Davis walking Hooten was awful, and Frazier was hit hard but by no means as bad as his 0-3(!) series record would indicate. He was a "second season" call up and really was thrown into the fire. Lemon taking out Tommy John so early was a dumb tactical error. The 1981 World Series Wikipedia page states that TJ said that Steinbtenner plotted the Yankee strategy. Really? Was "George S." actually involved to that degree? If he was, that would explain all that 1980s Yankee futility.
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Posted: |
Sep 21, 2019 - 10:25 AM
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By: |
Jim Phelps
(Member)
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I've covered the tragedy of the '76-'81 Yankees, now I'm on to the glory. I couldn't find much on the 1976 World Series, except the MLB highlight film and a few key moments. That '76 Reds team was a buzzsaw that destroyed everything in its path to the title.
Reggie Jackson's '77 signing was clearly the last piece of the puzzle of what was then-called "The Best Team That Money Could Buy."
I started off backwards, and watched Game 6 of the 1977 World Series first, and absolutely loved it. The way that Yankee team played *like* a team: moving runners over, sacrifice fly balls, booming home runs, and key pitching. Mike Torrez was strong in Game 6. I'm surprised he wasn't kept on, but then we wouldn't have had that Bucky Dent moment in '78. Dent was pretty sloppy in Game 6, but a few players had trouble with the turf that day.
Reggie having to wear a batting helmet in the 9th inning...the fans with their legs draped over the rightfield wall...Reggie bulldozing the fans in their en masse pitch invasion...that third Reggie HR...
Reggie Jackson's 3 home runs on 3 first pitches off 3 different pitchers is as perfect and aligned with the stars as any player ever achieved; it's my single-favorite sports moment of my lifetime--and I'm not even a Yankee fan, yet those Yankees--and those Dodgers of '77-'81--were my introduction to baseball and I still fondly remember those days.
Off to watch 1977 games 1-5...
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Posted: |
Sep 24, 2019 - 5:01 AM
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By: |
Jim Phelps
(Member)
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Watched Game 1 of the 1978 World Series. Clearly the Bombers were still hungover after their one-game playoff win over Boston. However, they did show flashes of their resolve when they got to Tommy John in the late innings. Reggie got things started with his booming home run though his sightseeing of his own work was a tad much, even for him. Still makes me crave a "Reggie Bar."
Dodger defense was shaky, with Lopes and Russell committing errors and with generally poor fielding in Game 1.
Yankee players from that '78 team that have since died: Thurman Munson, Catfish Hunter, Paul Lindblad, Jim Spencer, and the manager, Bob Lemon.
Interesting South Florida connections, too: Bucky Dent attended Miami-Dade College and Jim Spencer died in Ft. Lauderdale. I used to attend Ft. Lauderdale Yankee games in 1987. Saw Bernie, Leyritz, and Kevin Maas at the start of their careers. The team was managed by Buck Showalter.
I didn't know that Jim Gilliam of the Dodgers had died so long ago...just before that series began.
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Anybody interested in seeing my 1969 Mets memorabilia?
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Agree on Harold Baines. Lee Smith was long overdue to enter the Hall IMO. I always said so here. When you look back at his career numbers at the time of his retirement he was certainly deserving to be in there along with other great closers of his generation like Bruce Sutter and Rollie Fingers. I don't know much about these committees doing the voting today, but I'm glad Smith finally made it in.
The Baines election is certainly raising eyebrows around baseball. We shall see which other very good but not great players that had the clock run out long ago in terms of their eligibility will fare down the line.
The ' old- timers' committee was created to honor players from the era's before the HOF was created. It was never intended to get players inducted who were turned down during their lifetime.
Orlando Cepeda debased.himself with his shameful self- promotion.and counting of the the OTC.
Btw Any HOF that includes Jim " Zero RBIs in the '86 World Series' Rice, is.illegitimate.
Same goes for players like Wade Boggs who inflated their stats by playing at Fenway and had.mediocre road stats, AND. always choked in the clutch.
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After you've been through 2004, you ALWAYS fear the potential of the law of averages catching up with you at some point. 
Glad the Nats held on to win Game 2 of their series against the Dodgers. With Tampa Bay getting slapped silly that offers a reminder once again about the perpetual choke jobs in postseason of the Oakland A's and why Billy Beane is the most overrated executive in the history of professional sports. This guy has won NOTHING in twenty years yet he gets a big book and movie made about him.
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