National Baseball League

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Ahhh, the Mets thought their destiny inevitable. They believed the path to glory would be theirs without resistance. But destiny… destiny has a way of humbling even the mightiest of clubs.
On this night, before a roaring crowd of 48,654 souls at Great American Ball Park, the Cincinnati Reds rose as the people’s reckoning. The chants and cries of their faithful formed the fire, and in that fire, the Mets were broken.
Willie Chavez — a left-handed knight of the mound — delivered seven innings of silence to the New York bats. Five hits, one run… and with every strike, he reminded them: victory is earned, not given.
The Reds struck swiftly. One run in the first, another in the second, then a third in the third — each run carving deeper into the belief of New York. And when the seventh came, the hammer fell, as Rocco Saucedo launched a two-run shot into the night air. The stadium trembled, and the Mets… they knew despair.
Yes, the Mets threatened. In the eighth, with the bases full, Abel Grohman sought to become Gotham’s savior. But Tony Plascencia had other designs. A pitch high, a swing beneath it, and a harmless pop drifting into the void. Hope extinguished. Comeback denied.
And so, the series breathes still. It is tied, 2 to 2. One more game remains. On Sunday, October 17th, Citi Field shall bear witness. For in New York, there will be no disguises, no excuses, no shadows to hide within. Only truth. The Mets, the mighty 119-win colossus… against the resilient Reds, the unbowed challengers.
One shall rise. One shall fall. And baseball will have its reckoning.

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New York Yankees: 7th ALCS berth
1904 1905 1909 1910 1912 1913 1920

John Sterling voice: “It’s a comeback for the ages! The Yankees, down 0-2 in the series, storm back to win Game 5, 9-2! Rivera drives in three! Kim homers! And the Yankees are headed to the ALCS for the first time in seven years! Yes, SEVEN YEARS!”

Susan Waldman: “John, it was a stunning display of resilience. Mike Deming on the mound went the distance, shutting down Texas after an early lead, while the Yankees’ bats came alive in the middle innings. Rivera, Kim, and Ruiz doing the damage—it all came together at just the right time.”

John Sterling: “The crowd at Yankee Stadium is on its feet! E-R-U-I-Z! STEALS SECOND! STEALS THIRD! And the Yankees take the ALDS 3-2! Yankees win it! Yankees win it! The Bronx is buzzing!”

Susan Waldman: “And let’s not forget the context, John. They’ve battled back from the brink, showing patience and poise under pressure. Now the Yankees get to face Cleveland in the ALCS. A new chapter, a new opportunity, and the fans are loving every moment of it.”

John Sterling: “And so it ends, Susan… the Yankees’ 1920 Division Series, a story of comeback, courage, and sheer determination! Yankees win it! Yankees win it! SEVEN YEARS LATER, BACK TO THE ALCS!”

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Cincinnati Reds: 5th NLCS berth
1901 1903 1909 1919 1920

You win 119 games, you’re the best team in baseball all year, the pitching, the hitting, everything’s there… and then what happens? You blow it at home to the freakin’ Cincinnati Reds! THE REDS! At Citi Field! Game 5! You give up a FIVE-SPOT in the fifth inning, season over. Unbelievable.
I mean, look at this: 14 hits, the Mets get 14 hits… and they score five runs. Meanwhile, the Reds get seven hits, SEVEN, and they score eight! That’s the difference, bro. The Mets left ten guys on base, every chance to bury ‘em, couldn’t do it. Contreras doubles twice, Grohman has three hits, Sloan hits a bomb… and none of it matters because the pitching completely collapses.
Luke Peters? Thanks for coming. You give up five runs in six innings, huge inning in the fifth, game’s basically over. Then Lopez comes in, gives up the back-breaking homer to Ocasio, and forget it, lights out. Season’s done.
It’s the same garbage every year with this team! You get your hopes up, they make you believe, and then BOOM—they rip your heart out in October. Bro, I’m telling you, it’s in the DNA of this franchise. 119 wins, the best team in baseball, and they can’t even get out of the first round. DISGRACE!
Now we’re sitting here, Mets fans, watching the Reds and Padres in the NLCS. THE PADRES! The Mets are home, golfing, after one of the greatest regular seasons in history. Bro… I’m done. I’m absolutely done.

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1920 ALCS/NLCS preview

Here we are, folks, the 1920 League Championship Series. And listen, it is a tough, tough time here in New York. The Mets, 119 wins, an all-time season, and they go out in the Division Series. A brutal loss, one of the worst in franchise history. You win that many games, you don’t lose in the first round. Period. End of story.
But, make no mistake, the Yankees are here. Seventh trip to the LCS, their first in seven years. That’s significant. That means something. But here’s the problem—you’ve got Cleveland. They’re the defending champs, they’re the favorite, and they are just the more complete ballclub. Don’t be fooled by the records—Cleveland at 104 wins, the Yanks at 103—it looks close, but it’s not. Cleveland’s lineup, their pitching, their balance, their postseason experience… it’s all there. To me, this is Cleveland in six. Yankees will fight, no question, but Cleveland’s just better.
Now you go over to the National League, and it’s a different story altogether. You’ve got the Reds, the 4-seed, and the Padres, the 6-seed. It’s wild. This is the fifth trip to the NLCS for the Reds. They’ve only gotten through once, way back in 1903, seventeen years ago, and they won in the World Series, beating Houston for their only title to date. So there’s history here. For San Diego, just their second trip ever. They got there in ’06, lost to Detroit in the Fall Classic.
Now, I’ll tell ya—I think Cincinnati’s the stronger team. I like the Reds in six. So when you put it all together, folks, what do you get? You get yourself an all-Ohio World Series. Cleveland and Cincinnati. That’s where this thing is headed.

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Joe Benigno: Ohhh Evan, lemme tell ya, this was painful. Down 9–0 after three innings—you’re sittin’ there, you’re ready to turn the TV off, you’re thinkin’ this thing’s done, over, finito. And then… the Yankees, they chip away, they claw back, and they almost do the impossible. And of course, in true Yankee fashion lately, they just come up short. I mean, Evan, how many times do we gotta see this?

Evan Roberts: Yeah, Joe, it’s classic. It’s the tease. They’re down big, they storm back, and you start believing—like, “Wait a second, could this actually happen?” And by the seventh, eighth inning, the Stadium’s rockin’, fans are thinkin’ about one of the all-time great comebacks, and then boom, it dies.

Joe: Exactly! That’s the life of a fan right there—get your heart ripped out. And the worst part, Evan? You know what I’m thinkin’? If they didn’t spot Cleveland nine freakin’ runs in the first three innings, they probably win this game! You can’t dig yourself that kinda hole. Not in the postseason, not against the defending champs.

Evan: Yeah, Joe, that’s the bottom line. You can’t expect to win playoff games giving up nine runs that early. Credit to ’em for fighting back—no one’s taking that away—but it’s another “what if” moment. And now the Yankees are trailing the ALCS 1 game to none.

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Boomer: Alright Craig, the Yankees, they got it done last night in Cleveland. And listen, Nate Moser was the star. Four hits, huge two-run homer in the ninth inning to put ‘em ahead. That’s as clutch as it gets.

Carton: Yeah, yeah, but lemme tell ya, Booms, I was ready to kill these guys in the eighth inning. I’m thinkin’ “here we go again, another blown opportunity, they’re gonna waste this.” And then Moser steps up and says, “nah, I got this.” Bang! Two-run bomb, and all of a sudden the Yankees steal one in Cleveland. Series tied.

Boomer: That’s exactly right. And now, Craig, you’re comin’ back to Yankee Stadium tied at one. You couldn’t ask for a better spot if you’re a Yankee fan.

Carton: Oh yeah, the Stadium’s gonna be nuts on Thursday. I mean, Cleveland’s still the defending champs, don’t get me wrong—they’re loaded. But the Yankees showed last night they’re not afraid, and this thing is on.

Boomer: Yup, it’s a long series, but that win was huge. If you go down 0-2 in Cleveland, you’re in deep trouble. Instead, you’re coming back even, with a chance to take control at home.

Carton: And by the way, can we just give a little love to Andrade on the mound? Guy gives you seven solid innings, kept ‘em in the game. That’s how you win in October—you get pitching, you get clutch hitting, you get outta town with a split.

Boomer: Exactly. So now it’s on. Yankees, Indians, tied up, and Yankee Stadium is gonna be rockin’.

Carton: Can’t wait, Booms. Can’t wait.

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Jay: Snootchie-bootchies, man! Yo Silent Bob, the freakin’ Padres are like, UNSTOPPABLE, dude! Six and oh in the playoffs, baby! Six and oh! They go into freakin’ Cincinnati, Great American Ball Park, Reds fans all screamin’ “OHHHHHH!” and Padres are like, “shut yer pieholes!” Boom, seven to six, San Diego, what the F— word!
Enrique freakin’ Moreno, three hits, three freakin’ RBIs, like he’s Babe Ruth mixed with a sexy churro, man. And Gargallo, my dude, rips that big ol’ two-run double, like “HEY REDS, SUCK IT!” Padres just slappin’ Cincy around like Randall does Dante when he forgets the keys, bro.
And yo, the Reds tried to come back, right? Eighth inning, little home run, couple doubles, makin’ it all sweaty for a sec, but Padres bullpen’s like, “nah nah nah nah, Reds, game over, thanks for playin’.”
Six and oh, man! The freakin’ Friars are rollin’ like they got the goddamn Infinity Gauntlet, Silent Bob. Snoogans!

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Mike: Lemme tell ya somethin’ right now, Chris. This San Diego team — seven and oh in the postseason, seven and oh! — I don’t care if it’s 1920 or 2020, that is remarkable. They are rollin’ through people.

Mad Dog: Mikey, Mikey, Mikey! The Friars! The Friars! I mean, I’ve been watchin’ baseball a long time, Mikey, you don’t start a postseason seven and oh unless you got somethin’ cookin’. Santiago Macario — four hits, a homer, a couple ribbies — he’s Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, and Tris Speaker all rolled into one, Mikey!

Mike: Well, Chris, c’mon now, slow down. He had a great game, yes, but let’s not put him in Cooperstown yet. The bigger story is this: Cincinnati was at home, they had the crowd, and San Diego punched ‘em in the mouth with six runs in the first two innings. Ballgame was basically over.

Mad Dog: And the Reds! The Reds! What a disgrace, Mikey. Willie Chavez, couldn’t get outta the second inning. Gave up seven hits, six runs, ERA ballooned to the moon! You can’t do that at home in an LCS, Mikey, ya just can’t!

Mike: Right, right, and now they gotta go to San Diego down 0–2. You know what that means, Chris. Series is over. Write it down. You don’t come back from two down when you’re goin’ on the road against a team that hasn’t lost yet.

Mad Dog: Mikey, the Padres fans are gonna be goin’ nuts at Petco Park — excuse me, PETCO PARK, 1920 edition! — Friday afternoon, 2:05 Eastern! They’re gonna be bouncin’ off the walls, Mikey.

Mike: And here’s the thing, Chris — if the Padres win Game 3, it’s a sweep. It’s a sweep. Reds are done. I mean, at this point, San Diego’s not just thinkin’ NL pennant, they’re thinkin’ World Series parade. Seven and oh,

Chris. Seven and oh!

Mad Dog: WHO WOULD’A THUNK IT, MIKEY!? THE SAN DIEGO PADRES, DOMINATING BASEBALL IN 1920!

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Mike: Alright, lemme tell ya somethin’ right now, Chris — that was a disaster for the Yankees. Absolute disaster. They go down 9–3, and really, the game was over in the fourth inning. Jesus Satiago hits the grand slam, seven nothin’ Cleveland, ballgame.

Mad Dog: OH MIKEY, THE GRAND SLAM! THE GRAND SLAM! Satiago! Six runs batted in, a triple, a homer, he absolutely torched the Yankees. And listen, Deming was TERRIBLE. TERRIBLE! Couldn’t get anybody out, gave up the slam, gave up seven runs in five innings. That’s not big-time October baseball, Mikey!

Mike: No, no, and this is the defending champs, Chris. Cleveland’s got swagger, they’ve got the lineup, they’ve got the experience. They’re up 2–1 in the series now, and you gotta say, they’re the better team.

Mad Dog: And the Yankees! The Yankees! Mikey, they had their chance in the sixth. Cyo Pyo hits the two-run homer, gets a little life in the crowd, and then they do nothin’ with it. Nothin’! Eleven hits, three runs, left ten men on base. That’s how ya lose postseason games, Mikey!

Mike: Right, right, they can’t cash in. And look at the lineup — outside of Pyo and Kim, nobody did a thing. Rivera? 0-for-4. Moser? 0-for-5. Ruiz? 0-for-4 with three strikeouts. You can’t have half the lineup givin’ you nothin’.

Mad Dog: And Busch! Busch was fine, Mikey, he wasn’t great but he gave ‘em six and two-thirds, kept ‘em in the game. And that’s all Cleveland needed because Satiago destroyed them.

Mike: Yep, and now tomorrow’s game at the Stadium becomes must-win. Yankees cannot go down 3–1 to this team. If they do, series is over.

Mad Dog: GOTTA HAVE IT, MIKEY! GOTTA HAVE IT!

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Mike: Lemme tell ya somethin’, Chris — that was a classic Yankee Stadium October win. Down 3–1 late, looked dead in the water, fourteen men left on base, they couldn’t get the big hit — and then Angel Pena, off the bench, the pinch-hit hero, clears the bases in the ninth. That’s a great Yankee win.

Mad Dog: OH, MIKEY, THE CROWD WENT BANANAS! BANANAS! Pena! Pinch-hit, bases loaded, two outs, and he rips a double! Off LUPE GARCIA, who, by the way, is an All-Star closer. That’s not some middle reliever,
Mikey, that’s their guy! And he BLEW it!

Mike: Yeah, no question, Chris. Garcia was awful. He gives up five hits in an inning and two-thirds, blows the save, and now this series is tied 2–2. The Yankees, despite all their struggles with runners in scoring position, they found a way to win the game.

Mad Dog: And how about Jun-seo Kim? Six innings, one run, pitched his heart out for Cleveland. Didn’t deserve to get a no-decision. That kid was terrific. He held the Yankees in check all afternoon.

Mike: He was, but the Indians gave it away. The errors — three errors! Phipps drops one, Saldana boots one, and it opened the door. You cannot win in October making three errors on the road.

Mad Dog: AND THE YANKEES! Rivera with three hits, Shackford with two, Pyo with the big RBI. They kept gettin’ guys on base — fourteen left on, Mikey! Fourteen! — but they FINALLY cashed in when it mattered most.

Mike: Right, but they gotta do better than this. You can’t keep leavin’ fourteen guys on base and expect Pena to save you every night.

Mad Dog: Now it’s a best-of-three, Mikey. Best-of-three! Game 5 tomorrow in the Bronx. If you’re Cleveland, you gotta be sick. If you’re the Yankees, you feel like destiny’s on your side.

Mike: Exactly. This is why October baseball’s the best, Chris.

Mad Dog: OH, THE DRAMA, MIKEY, THE DRAMA!

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So… here’s the thing about baseball. We always fall in love with the brands, the big markets, the payrolls — Yankees, Dodgers, Mets. That’s who we expect in October. But the truth is, every now and then, you get a story that completely flips the sport on its head.
That’s the San Diego Padres right now.
Nobody — and I mean nobody — had them in this spot. This is a franchise that’s been to the NLCS once in over a decade. They don’t have the history, they don’t have the mystique, they don’t have the payroll. And yet here they are… 8-0 in the postseason. That’s not just good, that’s perfect.
And it’s not smoke and mirrors. Look at what they’re doing: Santiago Velasquez, who’s not some household name, goes 4-for-5 with three doubles and three RBIs. Santiago Macario — another guy you don’t talk about on the national level — two hits, two RBIs, two runs scored. This is a team winning because of depth, chemistry, and confidence.
Meanwhile, the Cincinnati Reds? They were supposed to be the more seasoned playoff team. They’ve been here before, right? But they look rattled. Their starter gave up six runs in less than two innings. You can’t do that in October, especially on the road.
Here’s my takeaway: sports is about belief. The Padres believe. They’ve got that momentum, that “why not us” energy. And if you’re honest about it, they’re now one win away from the World Series. The San Diego Padres! One win.
This is why we watch sports. The Yankees and Indians, that’s tradition. Mets winning 119 games, that’s dominance. But the Padres? That’s a story.

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Mike: "Doggie, we almost saw history at the Stadium. Mike Niccolai — he’s out there, he’s dealing, he’s unhittable. He takes a no-hitter into the ninth inning! Into the ninth! Two outs away, and then Leo Romero — boom — base hit, breaks it up. You could hear the whole place groan."

Mad Dog: "And Mike, the game was O-V-E-R, over, in the first inning! Sal Cantu, who had himself a very solid regular season, has been a complete disaster in October. ERA up near 16, are you kidding me? And then Justin Laird — BOOM! — grand slam, four-nothing Indians, and that was it right there. Ballgame was over before the Yankees even had a chance to breathe."

Mike: "Cantu has been brutal. You can’t have that in October. And then Laird, he comes back in the third inning, adds an RBI single, he’s got all five runs at that point, he’s carrying the Cleveland lineup."

Mad Dog: "Give Niccolai all the credit in the world. Eight and a third innings, one hit, five strikeouts, 130 pitches. He absolutely dominated the Yankees. They looked lost at the plate. And now Cleveland’s up 3-2, going home with a chance to close it out. Yankees are on life support."

Mike: "Dog, this was a dagger. You can’t give up a grand slam in the first inning of a Game 5 at home. You just can’t. And the Yankees did. And now they’re staring elimination right in the face."

Mad Dog: "And Niccolai almost throwing a no-hitter in Yankee Stadium — that would’ve been remembered forever. Instead, Romero saves the Yankees from total embarrassment… but it’s still a 6-0 shutout, Mike. Cleveland’s in control."

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