Blog post

October 19, 2009 [LINK / comment]

Phillies dominate the Dodgers

Back home in cold and blustery Philadelphia, the Phillies crushed the L.A. Dodgers 11-0 last night, as starting pitcher Cliff Lee gave up only three hits over the course of eight innings. Jason Werth set the tone for the night by hitting a three-run homer in the first inning, and every Phillies player in the initial lineup scored at least one run. That's what you call a real team effort. See MLB.com. Evidently, the throwing error by Chase Utley that cost the Phillies Game Two has been forgotten. The Phillies now have a 2-1 series lead and the momentum is on their side as they aim for winning the series at home on Wednesday night, after a (pointless) day of rest on Tuesday.

World Series history

The Phillies' postseason success thus far leads us to contemplate various World Series match-ups. The only time the Yankees ever faced the Phillies in the World Series was in 1950, when they swept them, four games to none.

In contrast, the Yankees have faced the Dodgers in the World Series 11 times over the course of history, winning eight of them, of which six were when the Dodgers still resided in Brooklyn. Since the move to Los Angeles in 1958, however, the win-loss record in World Series between the two teams is an even 2-2.

Not to be discounted by any means are the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, California, who won the only World Series they ever played in, beating the San Francisco Giants four games to three in 2002.

Cubs file for bankruptcy

No, it's not a sign of hopeless despair after going a full century without a World Series title, it's simply a legal step that will facilitate sale of the Cubs franchise by the already-bankrupt Tribune Corporation. They are relying on "Section 363 of the federal bankruptcy code, a tactic once used to shed failing plants or unused equipment." The Ricketts family is buying the Cubs and Wrigley Field for about $845 million. See chicagotribune.com; hat tip to Bruce Orser.