FALL CLASSIC RECAP 11/4/13
O.K., back in Spring Training, who ventured to risk even a dollar that the Boston Red Sox would be in the playoffs let alone 2013 World Series Champions? Anyone? Not even a die hard or two? I didn’t think so. They may have been the least talked about A.L. East team in terms of making a serious splash past September. With the top-of-rotation talents of R.A. Dickey, Mark Buerhle, and Josh Johnson joining Tornoto’s powerful bats, the Blue Jays received much fanfare. The Tampa Bay Rays are always competitive with great team pitching and just enough O, the productive and aging Yankees are capable of reloading if necessary and the upstart Orioles showed they’re a force after eliminating Texas in the first ever post-season Wild Card game. Nobody was even considering the Beantowners unless it was in reference to the Bruins.
So why would anyone bet on the BoSox after having to regroup by trading with the Blue Jays for manager John Farrell and magically recover from a ninety-three loss season? Smart money said maybe next year. Well 2013 was somehow ‘next’ year. The ever strong and arms-strong St. Louis Cardinals were ready to send Boston packing in the Fall Classic. The Cards are the N.L. version of the Rays in that they can pitch, pitch, and then throw harder with a group of very young and talented guns. Behind veteran ace Adam Wainwright, they have Lance Lynn, Joe Kelly, Michael Wacha, Carlos Martinez, and Trevor Rosenthal form a nasty playoff rotation, setup man, and closer, respectively. Mix in N.L. hits leader Matt Carpenter, power man Matt Holliday, and all-around great Carlos Beltran and there’s no wonder why Mike Matheny’s squad won the N.L. Central title.
In the year that Stan Musial, most likely the best number 6 to ever play, sadly passed on, St. Louis did its best to honor him by also winning the franchise’s 19th N.L. pennant. However, in the World Series, Boston took down the Cards in six games to even the Fall Classic victories between the two storied clubs at two apiece. Boston won in four games in 2004 and St. Louis won in seven games in both ’46 and ’67. To honor both the champion Red Sox and Stan Musial, here are six stats by the numbers that make the 2013 Classic one to remember.
6. The Cardinals were going for their 6th World Series Championship since Musial, who won three titles, retired following the ’63 season. For now, they’re stuck at 11 titles, good for 2nd all-time. As a result, Boston won its 6th title overall.
5. Number of regulars between the two clubs to hit UNDER .170 for the Series. The 5 are Jon Jay (.167), Stephen Drew (.158), David Freese (.158), Matt Adams (.136), and Johnny Gomes (.118). Those averages are under even Dustin Pedroia’s weight!
4. Number of pitchers to strike out 10 or more batters in the six games. The 4 are Michael Wacha and John Lackey with 11, Adam Wainwright,14, and Jon Lester with 15. That’s a lot of wiffs of some great hitters folks.
3. This one is probably obvious, but Boston has now won 3 titles in the last ten seasons. This marks their second time accomplishing the feat as a member of the five franchise club, who have all done it at least twice. The A’s did it in Philly in 1910, ’11, and ’13 and again in Oakland in ’72-74. The Cardinals did it in 1926, ’31, and ’34 and again in ’42, ’44, and ’46. The Dodgers did it in Brooklyn in ’55 and in L.A. in ’59 and ’63. They added one title in ’65 to make three in ten years just in L.A. as well. And depending on how you count them, (nearly impossible) the Yanks did it five times starting from ’32 & ’36-’39. Then again from ’41, ’43, ’47, ’49, ’50. Also from ’51 to ’53 and ’56, ’58, ’61, and ’62. And of course the ’96, ’98-2000 run as well.
2. MVP David Ortiz and Matt Holliday both hit 2 home runs in the Series. That’s good for four of the mere six bombs allowed by the dominant pitching staffs. Johnny Gomes and Stephen Drew provided the other long balls. There should have been seven as Carlos Beltran pulled one homer back in the park in Game 1. AMAZING catch!!!
1. Left-handed Red Sox starting pitchers with at least three World Series victories in each of the last two centuries. Lester joined Babe Ruth, who between 1916 & ’18 went 3-0 with a 0.87 ERA, by winning Games 1 and 5 this year to go with his victory in 2007. Lester is now 3-0 with a 0.43 ERA in World Series play. That’s pure domination.