Wednesday, September 27, 2006

Is This The '64 Phillies All Over Again?

We maybe seeing an absolutely epic fold on our hands. The St. Louis Cardinals lost their seventh straight game, to the San Diego Padres last night, while the red-hot Houston Astros won their seventh in a row against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Houston is now only 1 1/2 games behind St. Louis. The Astros have just 5 games left, while St. Louis has six (including a possible makeup game against the Giants on Monday is needed).

The Cardinals had a seven game lead with just 13 to play, but that has been whittled down in one big hurry. It is very reminiscent of what happened to the 1964 Philadelphia Phillies, which is the absolute gold standard for late season collapses. Nothing compares to what happened to them that season. The bigtime collapses of the 1951 Brooklyn Dodgers maybe close (sorry Mom and Dad), as well as the 1993 San Francisco Giants and 1995 California Angels (the 1978 Red Sox isn't really that close, just overrated), but what happened to the Phillies was unbelievable. They were up by 7 1/2 games with 11 to play in 1964, and went out and promptly dropped nine in a row and lost the NL pennant on the final day to the....St. Louis Cardinals.

This season the Cardinals have gotten hit with some key injuries, most notably to David Eckstein, Jim Edmonds and Jason Isringhausen, who needs surgery and is out for the year. They are still in first, but have to find a way to end this streak, or this team will go down in history, and in a way no one in St. Louis will want to remember.

It would be nice to see the Mets start winning before the playoffs begin. Granted, these games mean really little (they remind me of those late in March spring training games) since the Mets wrapped up everything last week. And you don't want any of your stars getting hurt in rather meaningless games. But a little momentum on their part would be a nice thing to see, especially since the San Diego Padres are playing so well and could be poised for an upset if they get in.

It doesn't really count for the Mets until the first pitch is thrown at Shea early next week. Then we see what kind of team the Mets truly have, and if they can go all the way.

8 comments:

Peter N said...

This would be so HUGE to see the Cardinals trend continue and the 'Stros catch them!!! Late season drama. And last night at our Fenway? How nice was that?? Josh could say "see ya next year' as well as Curt did. I hope he does.

BklynSoxFan said...

It would be so nice to see the Sox got out on a high note. It was great to see Schilling's season end the way it did, and I hope Josh Beckett can end it with a win as well. A strong finish from Beckett can be some nice momentum for 2007.

Michael Leggett said...

I don't know if I could root for the 'Stros:

Roger & Andy are there.

Michael Leggett said...

Here's to a strong finish for the Red Sox:

The Mets NEED Red Bull.

Peter N said...

Michael, and Roger...a match made in Heaven. Wait...you'll see.................

Michael Leggett said...

The Mets are doing the '64 Phillies Imitation:

& They Clinched All Postseason Advantage in the NL.

BklynSoxFan said...

These final games for the Mets are almost irrelevant, so any comparison to the 1964 Phillies really doesn't apply here. These are almost like late spring training games. But Pedro's injury is a worry.....

Peter N said...

A he does not look like even a shadow of Mr. Domination. I hope he can turn it around. Time is short. I still love the guy. Who doesn't. All those Sox years, when he was unhittable. And that's putting it mildly..PETEY!