Notes #461 — Take Two & Hit to Right

                             NOTES FROM THE SHADOWS OF COOPERSTOWN
                                           Observations from Outside the Lines
                                     By Two Finger Carney (carneya6@adelphia.net)
 

#461                                                                                                                 OCTOBER 6, 2008
 

NOTE: FOR THOSE INTERESTED, THERE IS A NEW, UPDATED INDEX TO THE B-SOX MATERIAL, ALL THE ISSUES OF NOTES BETWEEN #268 AND #460. THIS IS POSTED IN THE “RECENT ISSUES” ARCHIVE, BETWEEN 460 & 461.
 

                                     TAKE TWO & HIT TO RIGHT
 

            Many times over the past fifteen years of NOTES I’ve been in time warps, but rarely in a time crunch. That’s because I never have assigned myself deadlines. After doing the first seven issues in three weeks, I decided that was way too frequent. I settled into a pace of weekly and that’s generally what I’ve aimed at ever since — occasionally squeezing in more (for example, back in August 2007, when I was ploughing through the microfilm of Collyer’s Eye ), and occasionally doing just one or two issues a month. However, right now I’m in a peculiar place, and am resorting to a “double issue” here to get me past it.
 

            Normally, I would be serving up the third in the Sweet Sixteen series in this issue, and following it up with the fourth around October 13. However , three different road trips are on my calendar between now and October 20. So I’m going to be away from NOTES (and from e-mail) most of the time until then. So I’m serving up here a kind of double-header, to report on the next two “brackets” in the AL first found of the Sweet Sixteen , and by the time I’m ready for the next issue, I’ll be into the NL first round, with perhaps a lot more to report on — not so much from my road trips, but from breaking news. Nothing political!
 

            So October looks like it will be one of those blurry months for me, like some summer months. As others have noticed, it is sometimes amazing to us “retirees” that we ever got anything done when we had full-time jobs. The days seem to go faster than ever.
 

 

LOOKS LIKE 1908 WAS A FLUKE AFTER ALL  
 

            I was disappointed that the Cubs were swept out of the 2008 NL playoff picture, before I really got a chance to root much for them. It seemed like their games were always up against something else on my schedule. I hate best of five , but if you gotta lose in these abbreviated series, it is best to lose in three straight. It really is. Because you know that few teams ever bounce back to win four in a row, in any sport. Small consolation, but at least there is less second-guessing or stewing over the one bad call, the out in the clutch, the boner in the field, that tipped the scale.
 

            I was glad to see the Phils advance. It did occur to me that if Milwaukee won, and then won again, they would be the first team — the only team — to get into a World Series representing the two major leagues. (I’m guessing that other teams won championships in two or more leagues, if you go back before 1900; but maybe not.)  Anyway, while I like the city of Milwaukee and their fans, the Brewers remain, in some part of my brain, Selig’s Team , and they remain hard to root for while he is still Commish. (Baseball is hard for me to root for with Selig as Commish, but that’s a different problem.) Truth is, I like the Phils a little, and I’ll root for them against the Dodgers.
 

            I selfishly pull for the White Sox to get into the Series, of course, because that would spark another round of questions about 1919 — just like 2005. And I’m hoping they’ll make it against the Angels, just because the Damn Red Sox have just won too much lately. I am happy to see Jason Bay doing well for them. Seems like 1959, rooting for the ex-Pirate, Ted Kluszewski, to do well in October, for the Go-Go Sox. Hey, it’s something.
 

 

SWEET SIXTEEN PLAYOFFS: INDIANS VERSUS RED SOX  
 

            This is the third in a series of reports on a simulated playoff of the sixteen “original franchise” teams. The fourth follows immediately below. See NOTES #459 for the background. In the first “bracket,” the Senators upset the Yankees in six games; then the Tigers took four of five from the White Sox.
 

THE INDIANS
            The Indians were seeded third based on a .516 winning percentage, but they might be considered a kind of Cinderella team, because in the third simulated season — the one where the teams’ rosters most closely resembled the current Playoffs — the Indians were in first place at the midpoint.
 

            They have a wonderful 1-2-3 top of the lineup, rivaled only by the Phillies (Hamilton-Delahanty-Thompson, a trio of deadball .400 hitters with speed and some punch). Cleveland leads off with Shoeless Joe Jackson (he played more games as an Indian, that’s why), who is followed by Nap Lajoie and then Tris Speaker. Behind them, DH Albert Belle (remember his 1994 season?), and 1B Hal Trosky (a secret weapon, because while he is usually rated below Gehrig, Greenberg, Sisler, Foxx, and perhaps others — this Hal is very good). After that, I juggle among 3B Al Rosen, SS Lou Boudreau, C Sandy Alomar, and a right-fielder.
 

            I can select from Manny Ramirez, Kenny Lofton, Larry Doby, or slugger and fan favorite Rocky Colavito. Carlos Delgado can play 1B, OF, or C; Julio Franco can play SS, 2B or 1B. And the Indians drafted two gems from the Negro Leagues, Sam “the Jet” Jethroe (very much like Lofton), and Ernest “Boojum” Wilson, who can play 1B, 3B or OF; he’s like a Larry Doby with more speed.
 

            The Indians’ pitching ain’t bad either: Addie Joss (a personal hero of sorts); Jim Bagby (won 31 in 1920); Stanley Coveleski; and Bob Feller (with the blazing speed but not yet the control). Out of the pen in long relief is Wes Ferrell or Jim Lemon; for shorter stints, Jose Mesa, Bryan Harvey or Ray Narleski.
 

 

THE RED SOX 
            Boston has consistently under-achieved in my simulations; they look great on paper, like the NL Giants, but somehow the cards do not mesh.
 

            The Sox filled two big needs in their draft of Negro Leaguers. First, they picked up Clinton Cyrus “Buckeye” Thomas, a Kentucky outfielder who can lead off and steal a ton of bases. Their other addition was George “Tubby” Scales, who can play all four infield positions and the OF, and hit more triples than all the other Sox put together. I play him at 2B; I know, Bobby Doerr is the Sox all-timer, but his APBA card, for this league, is weak.
 

            I bat Ted Williams second. Like Doerr, Ted’s card seems to be somehow flawed; he’ll lead any league in walks, but hitting .406 with this card seems highly unlikely. Ted is DH. Behind him, Carl Yastrzemski; Yaz plays OF or 1B. I like Jim Rice in cleanup. Then I juggle and platoon and go with who is hot.
 
            Other outfielders are Fred Lynn and Dom DiMaggio, both golden glovemen. At 1B, George “Boomer” Scott and Mo Vaughn. At third, it’s usually Wade Boggs, but Jimmy Collins can handle the bat, too, and has much better speed and a little better leather. At short, Nomar Garciaparra has made me forget the slower, slugging shortstops in the first generation of Sox all-timers. Johnny Pesky can play any infield position and hit some, too. Billy Goodman is another good utilityman. At catcher, Carlton Fisk gets most of the innings; his backup is Bill “Rough” Carrigan, a deadball playing-manager.
 

            The Red Sox staff is terrific. For starters, Joe Wood (1912), Cy Young, Carl Mays, and Dutch Leonard, all better than Grade A. That means long relief with Roger Clemens and Pedro Martinez! Shorter relief, Dick Radatz, Ellis Kinder and Jeff Reardon.
 

GAME ONE, AT BOSTON
 

            The series should have opened in Cleveland — my mistake. In any case, I was looking for a pitching duel between Addie Joss and Smoky Joe Wood. Wood came through, with a three-hitter; he missed his shutout when Belle walked in the second, moved to third on a Trosky double, and scored on Rosen’s sac fly. That run tied the game, but it was never really close after the third inning.
 

            Buckeye Thomas, who led off the game with a double and scored on Yaz’ hit, led off the third with a single. He stole second but trotted home when Yaz yanked a HR to deep right. I have tinkered with the APBA rules so dominating pitchers can give up fewer gophers, but some, there’s no preventing. Sorry, Addie! So with the Sox up 3-1, in the Sox 4th, Joss walked Nomar, who moved to second on an out, then Scott singled him in. Carlton Fisk then tagged one just inside the LF foul pole (you get the picture) and it was 6-1. A Scott solo HR off Lemon and a two-run shot by Rice in the 7th iced it for Wood, 10-1.
 

 

CAME TWO, BOSTON
 

            The Indians sent out Bagby to hold the Sox, and Boston sent out Cy Young. The Indians drew first blood, a rare triple by Manny Ramirez in the 2nd and a sac fly by Alomar. Then they broke it open in the third. Nap Lajoie doubled with one down, and Tris Speaker popped out. But the third out proved to be very elusive. Belle singled Spoke home, and Trosky unloaded on Young: 4-0. Ramirez singled, then Al Rosen connected, 6-1.
 

            What followed was one of those amazing games that sends me to the record books, to see if what was happening had ever happened before, in real life. Facing Roger Clemens in the 4th, Shoeless Joe doubled and rode home on Speaker’s HR. Belle followed with a double, then Trosky hit his 2nd of the game, and it was 10-0. Exit Clemens. Ellis Kinder kept Cleveland in check for a few innings, but Ramirez connected after a Trosky hit in the 7th; 12-0. In the visitors’ eighth, Shoeless Joe Jackson, of all people, led off with a HR. Lajoie singled, moved up on an out, stole third (by then, who cared?) and came in on Belle’s long fly out. Then Trosky hit his third HR of the day (5 RBI). Not over yet, Doby (in for Manny) singled, then Rosen conked his 2nd HR (4 RBI), and that was it. 17-0, the Sox held to four scattered hits by Bagby.
 

            In two games, both teams showed that they were capable of creaming any opposition — or being throttled.
 

 

GAME THREE, AT CLEVELAND
 

            The dice — I mean, the bats had to cool off. And they did. Game Three was a nail-biter. Carl Mays squared off with Stan Coveleski. The Indians scored first, and for just a minute, it looked like they were off and running again. Trosky, who had four hits in Game Two, led off the 2nd inning with a single to right, and Manny Ramirez hit one into the seats. Alomar walked with one out, then with two out, Jackson doubled him in, 3-0 Indians. But Mays settled down and held the Tribe to two singles the rest of the way.
 

            Coveleski was tagged for runs in the 3rd and 4th. Yaz’ hit plated Thomas with two out, and Tubby Scales’ HR made it 3-2. But Coveleski bore down after that, retiring 17 of the last 18 Sox, giving up only a walk to Williams in the 8th. The Indians had plenty of chances to score more, but three DPs kept it close. Indians go up, 2 games to 1.
 

 

GAME FOUR, AT CLEVELAND
 

            Joe Wood, winner of Game One, took on Bob Feller. The Indians gave Feller a lead in the first: Jackson singled, stole, and moved to third when Lajoie beat out his bunt. Belle grounded out for the RBI.
 

            Buckeye Thomas’ HR tied it in the 3rd. Feller was sharp, fanning the side in the fifth. But the Sox got to him in the top of the sixth. Williams singled, and Yaz followed with a single, moving Ted to third. After Yaz stole second, Rice grounded a ball up the middle to score two runs. The final Sox run came in the 9th, when Scales tripled and scored on Nomar’s sac fly. And that was it, Sox win, 4-1. Series even, two game each.
 

            Joe Wood struggled thru the entire game, with only one 1-2-3 inning. In the 9th, with two out, he gave up hits to Rosen and pinch-hitter Jethroe — then fanned Rocky Colavito, the potential tying run. It was just his third K; Feller had five, Mesa two.
 

 

GAME FIVE, AT CLEVELAND
 

            With the Series even, the Sox sent out Dutch Leonard against the winner of Game Two, Jim Bagby. In the first inning, Thomas singled, moved to second on Williams’ grounder, and when Yaz singled to center, Thomas was tossed out at home by Speaker. As it turned out, that was the closest the Sox came all day to scoring against Bagby. Not that he had an easy time. The Sox loaded the bases in the third with one out, but Bagby fanned Yaz and Rice bounced out. Scales led off the 4th with a triple, but was stranded. Bagby yielded just one hit the rest of the way.
 

            Leonard gave up a first-inning single to Speaker, who was cut down stealing. Spoke was the only runner until the fourth. Jackson singled, stole second and Lajoie bunted him to third. After Speaker walked, Albert Belle cleared the bases with a long double. That was all the Indians needed. But they got more. After Trosky walked, Sam Jethroe, not a power hitter, stroked a three-run HR. Solo HRs later by Julio Franco and Hal Trosky made the final 7-0.
 

 

GAME SIX, AT BOSTON
 

            Their backs to the wall, the Sox sent Carl Mays, who pitched well but lost Game Three, against Addie Joss, who had been hit hard in the Opener. The Indians went on top early. In the second, Jethroe singled and stole. Al Rosen walked, and Franco bunted them up. The first run came in when Mays was called for a balk, and another came in on Delgado’s sac fly. The Indians made it 3-0 in the third on a solo HR by Belle.
 

            The Red Sox scraped one run back in their third. Jimmy Collins singled, stole second, and came home on two ground outs. In the Indian fourth, Delgado doubled and Lajoie singled him in. The Sox cut the lead to 4-3 in their fourth. Rice singled, moved to third when Scales doubled, and they both scored on Lynn’s hit.
 

            The game turned in the Sox fifth, when Carlton Fisk led off with a home run to tie the game. Joss walked Thomas, who stole second and Williams bunted (!) him to third. Yaz broke the tie with a single and when Jim Rice followed with a double, Joss left the game. Wes Ferrell got Scales, but Fred Lynn connected, making it 8-4. All the Indians could muster the rest of the way was an unearned run and two singles. 8-5 Sox, and we go to Game Seven.
 

 

GAME SEVEN, AT BOSTON
 

            All baseball fans live, I think, for close Game Sevens. We love to see pitching duels, or see-saw games, and if it goes to extra innings, even better. This Game Seven was one of those games that was made for the fans.
 

            Stan Coveleski, who won that close Game Four, took the hill for the Indians. He went up against Smoky Joe Wood, winner of Games One and Four, two CGs. Wood was not sharp, giving up hits in the first three innings, but bearing down to strand the runners. Then he settled in, retiring 11 of the next 12.
 

            But Coveleski was even tougher. He retired the first sixteen Sox, Wade Boggs finally drawing a walk in the sixth. After Fisk forced Boggs, Johnny Pesky rolled one into right on the hit-and-run, but Williams grounded out. Scoreless thru six.
 

            Rosen doubled with one gone in the Indian 7th, and with two out, Wood faced Lou Boudreau. Lou had played well in the field, but was benched for Games 5 & 6 after going 0-for-14. But this time he came through with a 2-run HR. The Indians added a run in their ninth when Delgado doubled home Rosen, who walked with two out. Coveleski gave up just two walks, both to Yaz, over the last three innings, and was the winner, with a one-hit, 3-0 victory.
 

            No-hitters are rare in APBA simulations — sooner or later, you are bound to get a good roll of the dice. When the teams are bulging with stars, a no-no is nearly impossible. Yet, if I had not put on the hit-and-run with Pesky up in the sixth, this could have been one of those games .
 

            The Indians will move on to play the winner of the A’s-O’s series, on deck.
 

 

SWEET SIXTEEN PLAYOFFS: ORIOLES VS ATHLETICS  
 

            This series ends the first round in the AL. The next report will be from the first round in the National League brackets.
 

ORIOLES
 

            The Orioles are a team that got better with every expansion of their roster. They didn’t have Cal Ripken in the first simulated season, or Eddie Murray. So after finishing 72-82, they improved to 77-77, and in the latest season, with a little new blood from the Negro Leagues, they were +7 and battling for first. So although they were seeded fifth in this tournament, they had a right to hope for more success.
 

            The O’s begin with George Sisler at first, and he is just a fabulous leadoff hitter. At second, and sometimes batting second, Roberto Alomar. Then Cal at short and Brooks Robinson at third, making this an impenetrable infield. The outfield is more about offense: Ken Williams (an early 30-30 guy); Harry Rice; “Baby Doll” Jacobson; and Johnny Tobin, a natural DH. For late inning leather and pop off the bench, Brady Anderson and Paul Blair do nicely. And from the Negro League draft, the O’s have Herbert “Rap” Dixon, a speedster with some slugging ability. They also picked up Ted “Double Duty” Radcliffe, to back up Pudge Rodriquez, another draftee. The bench includes Eddie Murray, Marty McManus and Bobby Wallace, a one-time “Mr Shortstop.”
 

            The nine-man pitching staff has Jim Palmer, Mike Mussina, Mike Cueller and Dave McNally for starters. Long relief, Urban Shocker, Handsome Harry Howell and LeRoy Satchel Paige. Closers are Stu Miller and Jesse Orosco.
 

 

ATHLETICS
 

            The A’s led the league most of the first simulated season, winning 88 but folding at the end as the Yankees overtook them. That was a surprise, because they looked a lot stronger after adding “late season call-up” Rickey Henderson, maybe the best leadoff hitter ever. They slumped to 75-79 next go-around, then played terribly with their best-ever roster, because, I guess, all the other teams improved even more. Like the O’s, the A’s are a .500 team with promise.
 

            To repeat, pitching is a kind of constant in this tournament, every team is stocked with Grade A’s. But the Athletics have a bunch of A+ hurlers, more than most, and that may make a small difference. Their starters are Chief Bender (Connie Mack’s money arm), Vida Blue, Lefty Grove, and Rube Waddell, if his card doesn’t wander away. That leaves three very strong long relief men, Dave Stewart, Eddie Plank and Colby Jack Coombs. At the end, Dennis Eckersley and Rollie Fingers.
 

            The lineup is fun to manage. Again, Rickey Henderson is Mr Leadoff — speed, power, steals at will. Behind him I like Max Bishop, an oldtime 2B who draws lots of walks and is good at the hit & run if Rickey gets on. Then come the A’s equivalent of Ruth-Gehrig, a 3-4 punch you just pencil in every day and watch what happens: Bucketfoot Al Simmons and Jimmie Foxx, who has the ability to smack 60 HRs a year. Then I like Indian Bob Johnson (OF or DH), Bing Miller or Jose Canseco (a 40-40 card). Ahead of them I might insert their top NL draft pick, SS Willie “the Devil” Wells, a kind of Honus Wagner with power. At third, it’s Frank “Home Run” Baker, but the infield backups are hard to keep on the bench: Jimmy Dykes, Bert Campaneris, Carney Lansford and Frank White — that’s a lot of late-inning leather. Power off the bench is handled nicely by Reggie Jackson. Mickey Cochrane does most of the catching, with Negro Leaguer Jim Brown in reserve.
 

 

GAME ONE, AT OAKLAND — OR IS THAT SHIBE PARK?
 

            The series began with a pitching duel, Jim Palmer facing off with Chief Bender. “Albert” yielded a third-inning HR to Brooks Robinson, and the O’s added a run in the sixth when Alomar singled and came around on Ken Williams’ two-out double. But that was it for the scoring, as the O’s hung on for the 2-0 win. Palmer scattered six singles, all by the bottom of the lineup and never two in the same inning. Twice he retired Bing Miller with runners in scoring position. Bender was nearly as good, walking none , a feat as rare as a no-hitter against this competition. Brooks Robinson, batting eighth and mainly valued for his glove, got two singles to go with the HR.
 

GAME TWO, AT OAKLAND, OR MAYBE KANSAS CITY
 

            The O’s sent Cueller out to battle with Lefty Grove. And the O’s struck early, Harry Rice a 2-run HR in the first (he probably has the least power in the lineup), Pudge Rodriguez a 2-run shot in the second. After Henderson’s HR in the 3rd made it 4-1 O’s, Kenny Williams connected with a man on after Rice’s sac fly, to make it 7-1. A solo HR later by Max Bishop (it was a day for the little guys) and a 2-run blast by Al Simmons made it a 7-4 final. All the runs came off Grove; Plank & Fingers were near-perfect in relief. Paige and Orosco finished up for winner Cuellar. The O’s were now up 2-0, despite Sisler going 0-for-8.
 

 

GAME THREE, AT BALTIMORE
 

            Mike Mussina walked Henderson to start the game, then Rickey stole second — he would steal it three more times before the game ended. After Bishop bounced out, Simmons’ sac fly put the A’s on the scoreboard. Rube Waddell gave up a double to Alomar and a single to Rice as the A’s tied it up, then in the second, Brooks Robinson took Rube deep after Jacobson doubled, and the O’s went up 3-1. The A’s came right back, singles by Cochrane, Henderson and Foxx, then a two-run double by Wells, 4-3 A’s.
 

            In the fifth, the A’s widened the lead against Shocker. Henderson walked and stole, and when Bishop bunted, the throw to third was late. Wells connected with two out, making it 7-3. Al Simmons’ two-run shot off Howell in the ninth made it 9-3, and the A’s could only manage one more run off Waddell, 9-4 final. Alomar was on base five times with three hits and two walks, but Sisler went 0-for-5.
 

 

GAME FOUR, AT BALTIMORE
 

            This game had the same pace and same result as Game Three, the A’s jumping on top and adding more later in a 7-3 win. Vida Blue held the O’s in check, while the A’s solved Palmer. Simmons homered in a third straight game, and Canseco had a couple big hits, but Henderson was on three times, scored twice and stole another base. Cal Ripken homered for the Orioles. Sisler broke his slump, with a walk, single and double. Series tied, 2-2.
 

 

GAME FIVE, AT BALTIMORE
 

            The visiting team had won all four games so far in the series, and with this 6-2 victory, the A’s kept the streak going. Henderson walked, stole and scored the first run on Foxx’ first-inning hit (Jimmie would walk in his next three ABs). Dave McNally fanned six in his five innings, but was done in by three gopher balls, Canseco with the bases empty, then Simmons (again!) and Johnson, both with a man on. Meanwhile, Chief Bender gave up just three hits — a leadoff triple to Sisler, and two singles. He was in control all the way.
 

 

GAME SIX, AT THE A’S PARK
 

            The A’s could wrap up the Series if they could win this one at home. The O’s had to hope the visitors’ winning streak would hold up for the duration. As it turned out, the winner of Game Six would not be known until fifteen innings were played.
 

            Cuellar and Waddell started, but both were gone by the fifth. With one out and one on in the first, Harry Rice hit a pop foul near the stands and was called out when a fan (possibly Jeffrey Maier) interfered. But Ken Williams tripled and Cal connected for a 3-0 lead. The A’s got two back in their first, Al Simmon’s double the key hit. Ken Williams homered in the third, and both teams kept tacking on runs, so after seven innings the A’s were up 7-6. They missed an opportunity in the sixth, Max Bishop failing to make contact on a suicide squeeze.
 

            Jack Coombs had come on in the fifth and yielded just two singles in four innings. He had achieved a grade where it would be very, very difficult to homer off him. But leading off the ninth, Rap Dixon did just that, to send the game into extras.
 

            In the 10th, Alomar, inserted late for his glove, drew a walk, stole second, and came in on Pudge Rodriguez’ hit. Satchel Paige, in his fifth inning of relief, could not nail it down. With one out, Canseco doubled. Bing Miller pinch hit for Dykes, and tripled in the tying run. Cochrane and Henderson were both walked intentionally, and Orosco took over from Satchel. Bishop grounded to short, force out at home, then Jesse fanned Simmons. So it was on to the 11th.
 

            Orosco and Rollie Fingers dueled the next three innings. The A’s threatened in the twelfth, when Canseco singled, stole second, and was bunted to third. Again, intentional walks to Cochrane and Henderson loaded the bases. Frank White flew to left, but not deep enough, Paul Blair’s throw held the runners. Then Simmons grounded out and the game went on.
 

            When the dam finally broke, it really gushed. Fingers started the 14th by giving up consecutive HRs to Baby Doll Jacobson (not known for his power) and Brooks Robinson. In came Plank. Alomar singled & was bunted to second. Sisler was walked, and Dixon tripled, scoring a moment later on Simmons’ single. Five runs, the visitors win again, 13-8, and on to Game Seven.
 

 

GAME SEVEN, AT SHIBE PARK, PHILADELPHIA
 

            Game six had been exhausting. Usually for Game Sevens, it’s all hands on deck, but both of these staffs were somewhat depleted. And I gave both catchers, Cochrane and Rodriguez, a rest, after both went all 14 innings (as I would in doubleheaders). The O’s sent out Jim Palmer against Vida Blue, but both left the game early.
 

            The O’s scored first, on Sisler’s single and Dixon’s double. But the A’s roared back, Henderson a leadoff HR, and Jimmie Foxx a two-run shot — his first of the series. The O’s added runs in the second (a wild pitch helped) and third (Dixon’s triple), to tie the game, but the A’s promptly got the lead back. Simmons singled and Foxx doubled him home. Willie Wells was then ejected for arguing a call. Mickey Cochrane pinch hit and fanned as Foxx stole third (!), scoring on Canseco’s sac fly. Bing Miller’s HR made it 6-3.
 

            But the O’s were not done. Ripken walked and Jacobson singled him to third. A steal put two in scoring position, and Robinson’s sac fly made it 6-4. An error by SS Dykes put Alomar on base, and Double Duty Radcliffe singled in a run. Dixon’s triple cleared the bases and put the O’s on top, 7-6. That hit came off Chief Bender. Albert then walked Rice and Williams, but fanned Cal to leave the bases loaded.
 

            Harry Howell had taken over for Palmer in the third, and was sailing along until the seventh. He walked Al Simmons, and two outs later, Jose Canseco connected, making it 8-7 A’s. That would be all Bender needed. He gave up no hits over the last five innings, retiring the last seven straight. The A’s added an insurance run in their 8th when Dykes doubled, and was bunted home by Henderson and Max Bishop. The final, 9-7 A’s, as the home team finally won.
 

            Looking back, this was a terrific series, ending a first round of “sweet sixteen” playoffs, for the AL, a round where each series was better than the one before. It really is a shame that one team has to lose in these games. But they do, no matter how many Hall-of-Famers they have in their lineup or on their staff. Game Six seemed decisive — the A’s failing to score, given so many chances, then losing in 14 innings. Then falling behind in Game Seven, and trailing in the 7th inning. Baseball, even when played with dice instead of bats and balls, can be an emotional roller-coaster.
 

            So it is the A’s, instead of the O’s, who move on to play the Indians, with the winner to face the winner of the Tigers-Senators series, for the AL championship and the right to play in the all-timer World Series against whomever emerges in the NL.