The National League Championship Series commences tomorrow night in Philly where the first two games will be played at their Citizens Bank Park. The series will then move to Phoenix for the next 3 games at the Diamondbacks’ Chase Field. Looks like the banks are having a good postseason here.
Everyone seems to be on the Phillies’ bandwagon picking them to make it back to the World Series for a second consecutive appearance. Having beaten the 100+ game winning Braves again, they are on a roll and their home field advantage is for real. (When you watch the game note the number of Philly fans who never sit down during the game. I always think of the old farts like myself at the game who find themselves sitting behind folks like that. Makes me wonder if any crusty old Philly fan taps the standee in front of him on the shoulder and says “Hey buddy I didn’t pay good money just to sit here and look at your butt the whole game. Sit your ass down and watch the game.”)
D.C. area baseball fans are referring to the Phillies as “Nationals North” because three of their star players (Harper, Turner, Schwaber) used to play on South Capitol Street. Most of baseball’s smart people folks are picking the Phillies in 6 over the D’backs. Remember, those are the same folks who gave the D’backs zero chance to upend the 100 game winning Dodgers. So make of that what you want.
As for my prediction, it really is tough to pick against the Phillies whom the baseball gods seem to like. However, there is an old saying about playoff games that states “The series doesn’t really start until the home team loses.” Should the Diamondbacks come into Philly and “steal” one of these two home games, I’d say look out Arizona. (Note that I put the word steal in quotation marks because the D’backs have some speed and like to steal bases. Keep an eye on that facet of the games and see if they can work that to their advantage.
Then too, it has been a little bit of a weird post season so far, so let the games begin and see just who survives to appear in the 119th World Series. Think for a minute, if at the begining of this season someone had asked you to bet that the World Series would feature Texas against Arizona how much you would have bet on that not being the case.
Musically here is one of those annoying earworm songs that once you hear it you’ll be humming it all day. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. Note that it was written by Kenny Young who also wrote the Drifters’ classic “Under the Boardwalk.” Now that’s a song you don’t mind humming all day just because “We’ll be having some fun.”
P.S. speaking of betting, whereas Dusty and Bochy are well known managers of the American League contenders, bet you can’t name both the managers of the above National League teams. Got a free beer at Buzzy’s for you if you can do so and as long as you are not a Trumpster, I’ll trust that you are telling me the truth that you did not have to cheat to find out the answer(s.)