Nostalgia
In 1976, the Yankees won their first pennant in my memory, but steeped since the age 3 in the glories of the world's one unsinkable, unexceptionable empire, I said to my father, "the natural order has been restored." I wouldn't render such a judgement now, but I have the same feeling anyway as I did in the late seventies and evidently I'm not alone. Peter Gammons has sufficienly recovered fron his brain aneurism to attend Fenway today, but with the post traumatic effects and the state of play, he thought it was 1978, Bernie was Reggie, Fasano was Munson, and the "massacre" was on.
I know, I know. We're not there yet. We have to get at least one more win to achieve massacre status. But at this point the Yankees have gotten more than they needed, and the Sox failed to get what they had to have out of a five gamer in their well-defended house-- a series win. Because of their lead going in, the Yankees would only suffer a disaster if they were swept--otherwise the worst they could do is leave down 1 in the loss column with the easier schedule the rest of the way. for the Sox, losing 4 is a disaster, because they would leave down 5 in the loss column with the tougher schedule the rest of the way. Even the best they can now do, leave down 3 in the loss column puts them in a difficult position, but one they can still battle back from.
Before the series both Torre and Jeter indicated that it was somewhat overplayed, that it mattered more how they both play against the rest of the league. That is true of course, but there is even in statistical terms a surplus value to the head to head. The Yanks now lead the series 8-5. If they can win just two games out of the remaining 6 they win the season series and in the division race, that is as good as a whole other game. So if for example the Yankees won that 10th game to take a 4 game lead, they would in reality have a 5 game lead since the tie is theirs. I disagree with the 76% of those polled on espn.com, who said the Sox are already done, but if the Yanks win 1 of the next 2, they will have definitely pushed chowdernation to the precipice. And the natural order will be restored.
I know, I know. We're not there yet. We have to get at least one more win to achieve massacre status. But at this point the Yankees have gotten more than they needed, and the Sox failed to get what they had to have out of a five gamer in their well-defended house-- a series win. Because of their lead going in, the Yankees would only suffer a disaster if they were swept--otherwise the worst they could do is leave down 1 in the loss column with the easier schedule the rest of the way. for the Sox, losing 4 is a disaster, because they would leave down 5 in the loss column with the tougher schedule the rest of the way. Even the best they can now do, leave down 3 in the loss column puts them in a difficult position, but one they can still battle back from.
Before the series both Torre and Jeter indicated that it was somewhat overplayed, that it mattered more how they both play against the rest of the league. That is true of course, but there is even in statistical terms a surplus value to the head to head. The Yanks now lead the series 8-5. If they can win just two games out of the remaining 6 they win the season series and in the division race, that is as good as a whole other game. So if for example the Yankees won that 10th game to take a 4 game lead, they would in reality have a 5 game lead since the tie is theirs. I disagree with the 76% of those polled on espn.com, who said the Sox are already done, but if the Yanks win 1 of the next 2, they will have definitely pushed chowdernation to the precipice. And the natural order will be restored.
posted by joe valente | 6:38 PM
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