National Baseball League

[jg2977]

⭐ THE PANEL ON NLCS GAME 1: ATLANTA 11, PITTSBURGH 4

MIKE FRANCESA
“Lemme tell ya somethin’ right now: this game was OVER in the third inning. OVER. Pittsburgh shows up, looks around, realizes it’s October, and forgets how to pitch. You can’t give Atlanta free baserunners, you can’t throw 89 pitches in four innings like Arriaga did—in a playoff game! He looked lost. Completely lost.
And Bobby Nunez? Two home runs? You cannot let a guy who’s been quiet all postseason suddenly become Babe Ruth in Game 1. That’s on the manager, Jose Salas. He even said, ‘It’s on me.’ Good. Because it WAS on him.
Atlanta didn’t even play perfect baseball—Nunez carried ‘em—but Pittsburgh? Embarrassing. They gotta show SOMETHIN’ in Game 2 or this series is gonna be a sweep.”

CHRIS “MAD DOG” RUSSO
“MIKEY, MIKEY, MIKEY! LET ME SAY THIS! ARRIAGA SHOULD’VE BEEN IN THE SHOWER IN THE SECOND INNING! WHAT WAS SALAS WATCHIN’!? HE’S OUT THERE THROWIN’ BATTING PRACTICE, FOR PETE’S SAKE!
THE BRAVES WERE HITTING MISSILES ALL DAY! NUÑEZ! FERNANDEZ! JOSEPH! EVERYBODY!
AND THE PIRATES! ZERO ADJUSTMENTS! NONE! YOU CAN’T LET A TEAM LIKE ATLANTA—TOP TO BOTTOM THE DEEPEST LINEUP IN THE NATIONAL LEAGUE—GET COMFORTABLE!
ELEVEN RUNS IN GAME ONE!? YOU MIGHT AS WELL BOOK THE BRAVES’ HOTEL IN THE WORLD SERIES CITY ALREADY!”

COLIN COWHERD
“So this is classic Pittsburgh. This is what they do. They overachieve, they make you believe, and then the moment they have to go toe-to-toe with a heavyweight? They fold. This is what I call ‘house-money syndrome’—the Pirates are thrilled just to be here. Atlanta? They EXPECT to be here.
And Bobby Nunez? What did I tell you guys? Stars reveal themselves in October, pretenders disappear. Nunez was built for the big stage—he’s smooth, he’s confident, he’s athletic. That three-run homer in the eighth? That’s what CEOs do. They close.
Atlanta’s got something Pittsburgh doesn’t: layers. They can beat you with power, contact, athleticism, defense, bullpen, starting pitching. Pittsburgh? Fun story. But stories don’t win series. Adults do.”

BOB COSTAS
“What struck me wasn’t just the score, but the rhythm of the game. The Braves played with tempo, confidence, and clarity of purpose. You could feel it as early as the second inning. Every good postseason team has that moment where the crowd senses something brewing. Atlanta had that…the Pirates never did.
And for Bobby Nunez, this may be the beginning of his signature postseason. Every era has players who rise in October—Reggie Jackson, David Ortiz, Derek Jeter. I’m not saying Nunez is there yet, but this was the sort of performance that puts you on the map.
Pittsburgh isn’t out of it, but they must rediscover discipline. You can’t leave Sandoval on cruise control for seven innings.”

CHARLES BARKLEY
“Man, listen. The Pirates stunk. That’s it. I don’t know all these analytics Mike be yellin’ about, but I know bad defense and bad pitching when I see it. That boy Arriaga? He was throwin’ MEATBALLS, Kenny! Straight-up MEATBALLS!
And Atlanta—whew! Nunez was hittin’ like Shaq in the paint. Just bullyin’ dudes. And that eighth inning? Pirates quit, man. They quit. I know quitting when I see it. I played with guys who quit!”
(Francesa interrupts: “Charles, Charles, nobody quit—”)
“No, Mike, they QUIT. Eleven to four? That’s a whoopin’. Atlanta look like the only team out there tryin’ to win.”

[jg2977]

⭐ THE PANEL REACTS TO NLCS GAME 2
Braves 9, Pirates 8 — Atlanta leads series 2–0

MIKE FRANCESA
“Look, let me start with this: the Pirates scored EIGHT runs. EIGHT. You score eight in a postseason game and you LOSE? That’s disgraceful. That’s on the bullpen, that’s on the manager, that’s on everybody in that clubhouse.
Now as for Atlanta—Alex Fernandez was OUTRAGEOUS. Two homers, a triple… the man hit everything except the MARTA train. Eleven total bases! And the Pirates STILL couldn’t figure out how to pitch to him. At what point do you stop giving him fastballs? At what point do you pitch around him? They never did.
And then the ninth inning… a walk-off groundout! Pittsburgh had everything going early—Croke with the two homers, Saldana with a big blast later—but in the big spots? They fell apart again. Atlanta? They know how to close. That’s why they’re 5–0.”

CHRIS “MAD DOG” RUSSO
“MIKEY, THIS WAS A TRACK MEET! I MEAN MY GOODNESS! EIGHT TO EIGHT, SIX HOMERS, LEAD CHANGES EVERY OTHER INNING—THIS WAS LOONEY TUNES BASEBALL!
BUT HERE’S THE STORY: THE PIRATES CAN’T HOLD A LEAD! THEY WERE UP 1–0! THEN 2–0! THEN 3–1! THEN 6–4! AND EVERY SINGLE TIME, THE BRAVES PUNCHED RIGHT BACK!
AND WHAT IS SCHMITT DOING OUT THERE!? THROWING BATTING PRACTICE! FOUR HOME RUNS OFF HIM! FOUR! RIDICULOUS!
ALEX FERNANDEZ! OH MY GOODNESS! HE WAS A ONE-MAN FIREWORK SHOW! AND PAUL JOSEPH WITH THE WALK-OFF—NOT EXACTLY KIRK GIBSON, BUT IT COUNTS!
PITTSBURGH—PLAY SOME PITCHING, FOR CRYIN' OUT LOUD!”

COLIN COWHERD
“This is what I always say about Atlanta: they’re a quarterback franchise. They play with confidence, they stay composed, they don’t panic. The Pirates are emotional—they ride waves. Atlanta? They manage storms.
This was a culture win. Becerra was bad. The bullpen had to patch it together. The Pirates were hitting moonshots—Croke looked like a video game. And yet the Braves never blinked. That’s identity. That’s psychological DNA.
And Alex Fernandez? This is why I call him ‘The Accelerator.’ He speeds up the game. Best athlete on either roster, best instincts, best feel. When your star plays like THAT in October? You don’t lose.
Pittsburgh is fun, but Atlanta’s the adult in the room.”

BOB COSTAS
“There’s a beauty to postseason baseball when it becomes a duel of resilience. Today, both teams produced moments of brilliance—Marty Croke’s pair of home runs and Saldana’s clutch shot showcased a Pirates team with no shortage of heart.
But Atlanta…they are playing with the poise of a seasoned contender. Fernandez authored a performance for the ages: two majestic home runs and a soaring triple that seemed to electrify every corner of Truist Park. The ballpark pulsed with anticipation every time he stepped in.
Pittsburgh wasn’t merely beaten—they were outlasted. The Braves’ bullpen, particularly MacKenzie and Thomas, did just enough to steady the ship. And the decisive run? It was almost poetic: not a towering blast, not a dramatic line drive, but a simple, pressure-laden groundout.
Sometimes October rewards the ordinary more than the spectacular.”

CHARLES BARKLEY
“Man, that was some crazy baseball! Lemme tell you something—if you score eight runs and lose, your pitching STINKS. Straight-up stinks. Brings back memories of some Suns teams I was on—score a hundred and somethin’, still lose ’cause nobody guardin’ nobody.
Atlanta? They tough, man. They down, they come back. They down AGAIN, they come back AGAIN. Braves like that team at the YMCA that just won’t go away.
And Alex Fernandez—good Lord. That boy was hittin’ everything but the PA announcer. Two homers, a triple? That ain’t baseball, that’s batting-practice tape.
And hey—walk-off groundout? Pirates gotta be sick. That’s like losing a game on a missed layup. Terrible!”

[jg2977]

⭐ ALCS GAME 1 — PANEL RECAP
Astros 13, Tigers 6 — Houston leads 1–0

MIKE FRANCESA
“Let me tell you something right now: that game was OVER in the fourth inning. This wasn’t competitive. The Tigers were outclassed, outplayed, outpitched, everything. Noralez? Awful. Soto? Worse. Merrell? Forget it. Detroit basically threw batting practice for four straight innings.
And Houston, give them credit—they came READY. Van Cleve is unconscious right now. He hits two home runs, he walks, he steals a base. He’s doing EVERYTHING. Curtis with two homers, Berthiaume with a homer, de Luna with a homer—THEY WERE LAUNCHING ROCKETS ALL OVER MINUTE MAID.
Rueda? Listen, he wasn’t great either—six runs, thirteen hits—but at least he stayed out there and saved the bullpen. That’s old-school pitching right there.
Detroit better wake up. You can’t fall behind 2–0 in Houston and think you’re coming back. You just can’t.”

CHRIS “MAD DOG” RUSSO
“MIKEY, THIS WAS A MAMMOTH BEATDOWN! THIRTEEN RUNS! SEVEN HOME RUNS! IT LOOKED LIKE THE HOME RUN DERBY OUT THERE!
DETROIT—WHAT ARE WE DOING!? I MEAN COME ON! YOU GIVE UP TWO HOMERS IN THE FIRST, YOU GIVE UP ONE IN THE THIRD, THEN THE FOURTH INNING—OH MY GOODNESS! FIVE RUNS! AND THEY LEFT NORÁLEZ IN THERE TO GET PUMMELED!
AND THE ASTROS! THE BALL WAS FLYING ALL OVER THE YARD! CURTIS! VAN CLEVE! BERTHIAUME! SANCHEZ! DE LUNA! THEY MUST HAVE A TICKET PACKAGE FOR FANS IN THE OUTFIELD: 'CATCH A HOME RUN NIGHT!' AMAZING.
THE TIGERS ARE THIS CUTE LITTLE CINDERELLA—82-80, NICE SEASON, GREAT STORY—BUT THEY CAN’T PLAY WITH THIS HOUSTON TEAM IF THIS IS HOW IT LOOKS. NOT A CHANCE. HOUSTON IS A FREIGHT TRAIN RIGHT NOW!”

COLIN COWHERD
“This game showed you the difference between talent ceilings. Houston is the Silicon Valley of the American League—star power, cutting-edge, explosive upside. Detroit is a hardworking Midwestern startup. Good story, but they don’t have the horsepower.
This was a mismatch athletically. Detroit puts the ball in play, they run a little, they execute. Houston? They overwhelm you. Van Cleve is a star. Curtis looks like a star. Berthiaume? He’s the emotional engine. And even when Rueda didn’t have his best stuff, Houston never lost command of the game. That’s what elite teams do.
Detroit deserves credit—they scored six, they fought—but this felt like a reminder:
Cinderellas get to the ball, but they don’t always marry the prince.”

BOB COSTAS
“The Tigers have been one of the most compelling stories of this postseason, clawing into October at 98-64, defending World Series champions, and fighting their way to the ALCS. But today, the romance met reality.
Houston delivered an extraordinary exhibition of power. Kenny Van Cleve—what can one say? His bat is a thunderclap in human form. Two home runs, three hits, a walk, three runs scored. His postseason now borders on historic.
Jonathan Curtis added two majestic drives of his own, each arcing toward the Crawford Boxes like something lifted from a vintage postcard of October nights in Houston. Even de Luna, Sanchez, Berthiaume—each contributed their own booming notes to the Astros’ orchestral performance.
Detroit showed heart—Dennis was superb with three hits and a big home run—but the gulf in firepower was unmistakable. Game 1 was not merely a loss; it was a statement.”

CHARLES BARKLEY
“Aw man, the Tigers got SMOKED. That was UGLY. I turned it on and it was 2-0. Went to get a sandwich, came back, now it’s 8-0. I said, ‘What the hell happened!?’
Houston was hittin’ bombs like they were practicing for the Home Run Derby. Van Cleve out there lookin’ like Babe Ruth if Babe Ruth ran a 4.6 forty. Curtis hittin’ everything. Sanchez hittin’ everything. De Luna hittin’ everything. It was ridiculous.
Detroit? Man, I respect ‘em, they scrappy. But their pitchers were throwing meatballs. I’m talkin’ cafeteria meatballs. And Houston was eatin’ GOOD.
Tigers better tighten up or this series gonna be over QUICK. Terrible!”

[jg2977]

⚾ POSTGAME PANEL — TIGERS 14, ASTROS 12 (Series tied 1–1)
“An instant classic in 1929.”

🎙 MIKE FRANCESA
“Lemme tell ya somethin’. This was bedlam. Absolute bedlam in Houston. You get fourteen runs from the defending champs — and they needed every last one of ’em because the Astros lineup, as usual, comes right back at ya.
Antonio Galindo? That’s a star turn. A postseason star turn. Two homers, six driven in. That’s a legacy game. And Troy Fleming sets the tone in that seven–run third. That’s championship baseball.
Now, the Tigers aren’t some Cinderella — they’re the champs, folks — and today they reminded everybody of that. But the pitching? Whew. Nobody covered themselves in glory on the mound today. Capriotti didn’t get anybody out. Childress almost gave the whole thing back.
Detroit better tighten up, because you’re not gonna survive too many more games givin’ up twelve.”

🎙 CHRIS “MAD DOG” RUSSO
“OHHHHH BABY WHAT A GAME!!! I MEAN COME ON, THIS IS WHY WE WATCH IN OCTOBER!! You had SEVEN RUNS in the third, then the ASTROS say ‘OH YEAH?? WE CAN DO THAT TOO!’ and they put up SEVEN OF THEIR OWN! It was INSAAAANE.
FREDO MORAAAAALES! TWO HOMERS! CURTIS! A BOMB! THE HOUSTON CROWD GOING CRAZY!
But here’s the problem — HERE’S THE PROBLEM — the Astros bullpen absolutely BLEW UP! Collings was a disaster! Covarrubias? Come on! You gotta stop the bleeding SOMEWHERE!
And Galindo — GALINDO! — What a PERFORMANCE. You can put that in the scrapbook. They’re gonna be talking about this one in DETROIT for a hundred years.
SERIES ON! LET’S GO TO DETROIT!!”

🎙 BOB COSTAS
“This was baseball at its most chaotic, and its most poetic. A crisp autumn afternoon in Houston, a wind blowing out, and two titanic offenses launching a combined six home runs into the Texas sky.
Antonio Galindo played the role of the heroic third baseman out of central casting — the two decisive home runs, one in the fourth to break the game open, the other in the ninth to silence the last Houston rally.
And yet, the Astros — these modern juggernauts placed in a 1929 context — showed resilience befitting the great teams of any era. Morales’ second home run in the ninth nearly turned the ballpark into a living myth.
In the end, Detroit, the reigning champions, showed why October belongs to them until someone takes it away.”

🎙 COLIN COWHERD
“Okay, let’s be adults here. This wasn’t baseball — this was the Big 12 in 2016. Nobody played defense. Nobody pitched. This was two sports cars doing 140 down the freeway with no seatbelts.
And here’s the thing with Houston: this is a flashy team. A lot of stars. A lot of talent. But they’re high–variance. When they’re hot? They’ll drop 10 on anybody. When they’re not? They give up 14.
Detroit? Totally different vibe. Adults. They’re the reliable, stable franchise in this universe. They’ve been here before. They know the moment. And Galindo? That guy is a grown-up. That is what a playoff grown-up looks like.
This series is gonna come down to who gets the one good pitching performance first. That’s it.”

📊 HERD HIERARCHY – GAME 2 EDITION (POSTGAME)
1. DETROIT TIGERS (↑) – The champs respond like champs. Offense looks inevitable.
2. HOUSTON ASTROS (↓) – Still elite, but that bullpen? Red flag.
3. “GALINDO STOCK” (↑↑↑) – Buy. Buy. Buy.
4. “THIRD INNING SANITY” (↓↓↓) – No survivors.
5. MOMENTUM (↔) – Doesn’t exist. Both teams score seven every other inning.

[jg2977]

📺 POSTGAME PANEL: PIRATES 13, BRAVES 1 — LCS GAME 3

Bob Costas (opening)
“On a crisp October afternoon in Pittsburgh, the Pirates delivered not merely a win, but a statement. A 13–1 dismantling of the 111-win Atlanta Braves. Angel Garcia, with two majestic home runs, five driven in, and the sense—however fleeting—that an entire ballpark was levitating with each swing.
For a team that was humbled in Games 1 and 2, this was a response rooted in pride. A reminder that baseball, unlike almost any other sport, can pivot entirely on a single afternoon. Atlanta’s dominance all season long now feels, just a bit, like something that can be challenged. The brilliance of T. Loder over seven innings steadied the entire Pirates dugout. And remarkably, Pittsburgh lives in this series."

Mike Francesa
"Listen, this was a beatdown. A total, absolute, no-doubt-about-it beatdown. The Braves looked asleep. I mean, come on—six hits? One run? You win 111 games and this is what you show up with in Game 3?
Loder dominated ’em. Pittsburgh hit everything in sight—Garcia, Croke, Saldana, Barros… it was a home-run derby. It coulda been 20-to-1 if we’re being honest.
And Atlanta—WAY too many guys leaving runners everywhere. Eleven men left on base. Eleven! You’re not winnin’ postseason games like that. I’m tellin’ ya right now: if the Braves don’t show up tomorrow, this series is tied, and suddenly all that ‘greatest regular season ever’ talk… it’s gone. Just gone."

Colin Cowherd
“This is classic Atlanta. Classic. They’re the most talented roster in baseball—no argument. But they’ve also got what I always call ‘country club tendencies.’ When things are easy? They’re unbeatable. When someone punches them in the mouth? Well… today you saw it. They folded.
Pittsburgh? Pittsburgh’s different. They’re gritty, they’re tough, and they’ve got urgency because this core never feels like it’s supposed to be the best team in the league. Angel Garcia today looked like a superstar who takes slights personally. Atlanta? They looked like a team upset their hotel breakfast wasn’t organic.
I’ll say it right now: Game 4 tells us who the Braves really are. If they win, this was just a blip. If they lose? That 111-win season becomes empty calories—like one of those big Instagram salads that looks nice but has no protein."

Mad Dog Russo
“HO-HO-HO! WHAT A GAME AT THE CONFLUENCE, BABY! The Pirates absolutely BLASTED the Braves! They hit MORE HOME RUNS THAN MOST TEAMS HIT ALL WEEK!
The Braves pitching? OH, PLEASE! H. Garcia—ARE YOU KIDDIN’ ME!?—three home runs allowed, balls FLYIN’ OUT LEFT AND RIGHT! Lomeli comes in—BOOM BOOM BOOM! Another three homers! It was like batting practice in the eighth inning!
And give Pittsburgh credit! Croke! Saldana! Barros! And Garcia with the TWO BOMBS! The place is ROCKIN’!
Now listen… Atlanta’s gotta wake up! You can’t just walk into Pittsburgh and expect them to roll over! This ain’t the 1927 Reds they’re playing! This is a good Pirate team! You better show some HEART if you’re the Braves, because you ain’t winnin’ ANYTHING playing like that!”

[jg2977]

.

[jg2977]

📺 POSTGAME PANEL — TIGERS 18, ASTROS 9
Detroit leads series 2–1

Bob Costas (opening monologue)
“In a postseason often defined by tension, strategy, and late-inning drama, today’s game at Comerica Park was something else entirely. It was, in every sense, a thunderclap from the defending world champions.
An 18–9 victory. Eighteen runs on eighteen hits. A grand slam from Gilberto Cisneros in the second… a towering two-run homer from Santiago Macario… and wave after wave of Detroit hitters stepping into the box not merely confident, but emboldened.
Houston did score nine runs of their own—normally enough to at least keep you competitive—but this was a day when Detroit made offense look effortless. For a club coming off a 98-win season and a championship banner, this wasn’t a surprise. It was a reminder. A reminder that this is not a Cinderella story. This is a powerhouse in full stride.”

Mike Francesa
“Listen… this wasn’t a game. This was a track meet. Detroit ran all over them. Carbigos… Fleming… Dennis… Cisneros… Macario… EVERYBODY hit. Everybody. You put up 18 runs in a playoff game, I don’t care what era we’re in, that is EMBARRASSING for the other team.
The Astros’ pitching? OH MY GOODNESS. Fields lasted an inning and two-thirds. Gave up eight runs. Eight! In the second inning Detroit put up SIX. Then Cisneros hits the grand slam, place goes nuts, series completely flips.
And I don’t wanna hear ‘Well they scored nine runs.’ You weren’t in this game. This game was OVER halfway through the second inning. Houston looked rattled, sloppy—two errors, bad outfield routes, pitching nowhere close.
Detroit is the defending champ. This is what champions do. They get punched in Game 2, they come out in Game 3 and put you through the floorboards. Series 2–1, Tigers in complete control.”

Colin Cowherd
“There are two types of playoff teams: frontrunners and grown-ups. Detroit is the grown-ups. Houston right now? They feel like a nightclub team. Flashy, impressive highlights—Van Cleve, Martinez, Lopez—big swings, big sizzle… but when you need structure, when you need discipline, when you need pitching that doesn’t melt? They don’t have it.
Detroit? They’ve got an identity. Carbigos is a table-setter. Fleming is their heartbeat. Dennis is a pro—just a pro. Cisneros? That grand slam wasn’t just a big swing. That was what I always call a big-brand moment. That's a defending-champ moment.
Houston keeps trying to win games 11–10. Detroit wins games by being the better organization. That’s the difference today.
If you’re the Astros, you better fix that pitching tomorrow. Because this is the kind of loss—18 to 9—where if you don’t respond immediately, the series is over in five.”

Mad Dog Russo
“OH BABY WHAT A SHOW BY THE TIGERS!! EIGHTEEN RUNS!! YOU COULDN’T STOP ‘EM WITH A FIRE HOSE!!
How ‘bout CISTERNOOOOOS with the GRAND SLAM!? BASES LOADED, TWO OUTS, CROWD LOSIN’ ITS MIND—BOOM! SEE YA LATER! And MACARIO! TWO HITS, HOME RUN, WALKIN’ ALL OVER THE PLACE!
Houston’s pitching? DISASTER! FIELDS—ONE OUT FROM GETTIN’ OUT OF THE SECOND—AND HE CAN’T DO IT! Then KING, HERNÁNDEZ—they’re ALL gettin’ torched! This was batting practice!
And give the Tigers credit—they’re STEALING BASES, they’re RUNNING, they’re DOING EVERYTHING. Carbigos swipes two! Macario steals one! These guys are FEARLESS.
Let me tell ya something else: Detroit ain’t no cute little underdog story. THEY WON THE WHOLE THING LAST YEAR. They went 98–64! This is a battle-hardened, championship team. And Houston better find a bullpen, a rotation, a pitching coach, AND MAYBE A PRIEST before Game 4, because right now Detroit looks like they’re gonna steamroll their way right back to the World Series!”

[jg2977]

MLB NETWORK POSTGAME PANEL – BRAVES 13, PIRATES 8
Costas, Francesa, Kay, Cowherd

Bob Costas (hosting the segment):
“On a crisp October afternoon along the Allegheny, the Atlanta Braves continued to impose their considerable will on this NLCS, outlasting Pittsburgh in a game that felt—at times—like a retrospective on the lively-ball era. Nineteen Atlanta hits, ten home runs between the clubs, and one overriding theme: Alex Peña, a catcher by trade, a thumper by inclination, launched two home runs, including one in the second that set the tone for everything that would follow.
For Pittsburgh, valiant in their refusal to go quietly, the early spark flickered but never fully ignited. They clawed back to within a run twice, but the Braves always had the rebuttal ready. Atlanta, a 111-win monolith in the regular season, stands now one victory away from returning to the World Series. And for the Pirates—last year’s NL champions—the questions are growing louder.”

Michael Kay:
“This game is exactly why the Braves won 111 games. It’s not just the star power, it’s the depth. Look at Zimmerschied—five hits for Martínez, multi-homer games from Peña, McKnight, Zimmerschied—everywhere you look, another guy stepping up. You put up crooked numbers in four of the first four innings, you’re sending a message.
And on the other side, it’s the same old story that’s hurt Pittsburgh all series: the pitching. You can’t give up six in the second and expect to trade punches with this Atlanta lineup. And Jon Tucker… look, I don't want to pile on, but he didn’t have it. Four homers in two innings? That digs a grave your offense just can’t climb out of.”

Colin Cowherd:
“Let me macro this for everybody, because that’s where this thing actually lives.
Atlanta is what happens when a franchise has an identity. Smart scouting, patient development, low drama, high efficiency. This is Silicon Valley baseball. They don’t get flustered. They don’t get rattled. They lose a starter after 3.2 innings? Great—Chavez and García come in and slam the door.
Pittsburgh? This series is exposing what I’ve said all year: they’re a fun team, they’re a clever team, but they’re not a complete team. They can slug, they can scrap, they can be emotional. But they don’t have the bullpen depth, and their rotation behind the top end is duct tape and optimism.
This is why the Braves are on the cusp of the World Series, and the Pirates are in survival mode.”

Mike Francesa:
“Look, look—here’s the whole thing with Pittsburgh, okay? They’re not a bad team. They’re a good team! But you can’t, you absolutely cannot, fall behind 4-0, 8-2, 9-3 to the best team in the sport and expect to win. That's not complicated. That’s not analytics. That’s common sense.
Tucker had no business stayin’ in that game after the second home run. Then he gives up four. Four! You gotta get him outta there. And the bullpen—Garcia, Engelhart—they’re just pouring gasoline on it.
Atlanta? They’re a machine. You’re not beating a machine if you’re giving them free bases, hittin’ nobody out of the bullpen, and letting them take batting practice in your ballpark.
Braves go to the World Series tomorrow unless Pittsburgh gets the game of their life. Simple.”

Costas (closing):
“So the Braves carry a commanding 3–1 lead into tomorrow’s Game 5. Behind them looms Milwaukee, equally dominant. And if baseball is a game of timeless cycles—of rising powers and fading ones—Atlanta looks very much like a team in full bloom, while Pittsburgh must rediscover the magic that carried them so far a season ago.
The stakes grow heavier. The nights grow colder. And October, as always, waits for no one.”

[jg2977]

MLB NETWORK POSTGAME PANEL – ASTROS 20, TIGERS 19
Costas, Francesa, Kay, Cowherd

Bob Costas:
“On an October afternoon that felt as though it had been scripted by a baseball-obsessed surrealist, the Houston Astros and Detroit Tigers combined for 39 runs, 37 hits, 11 home runs, and at least a half-dozen moments that defied logic, precedent, and perhaps even the laws of physics.
Consider the arc of this game: Houston trailed 19–15 entering the ninth. The Tigers, the defending world champions, had seemingly seized control after that monstrous eight-run seventh. But Antonio de Luna, who earlier in the day had already authored a two-homer performance, stepped into the batter’s box with a runner aboard and two outs in the ninth—and launched a ball into the chill Detroit air, landing deep into a crowd that may still be shouting.
Twenty to nineteen. The Astros rescue their season. The Tigers mystify their fans. And the series, remarkably, is tied.”

Michael Kay:
“You know what amazes me? We’ve watched offense explode in this sport before—steroid era, lively ball, altitude, you name it. But this? This was absurd. The pitching in this game… I don’t want to be cruel, but it was non-competitive for long stretches.
Detroit used six pitchers, and I swear none of them had any idea where the ball was going. Morton gives up seven, Santana gives up five, Dietrich gives up three—every time you looked up, another ball was leaving the ballpark.
Meanwhile, Houston’s staff wasn’t exactly Mariano Rivera out there either. Sobie? Nettles? Luevanos? Everyone looked overwhelmed. Credit to Bancroft, though—he blew the lead and still got the win. That’s the most baseball thing ever.
But de Luna—four hits, two homers, including the homer—that’s the guy you talk about. That’s the guy who saves a season.”

Colin Cowherd:
“Let me frame this the way I see it: this game was pure chaos vs. identity.
Houston knows what they are. They’re an offense-first team. They’re aggressive on the bases—four steals. They hit for power—five homers. They’re built like a modern team parachuted into 1929. Everything is velocity, launch angle, efficiency.
Detroit? They’re emotional. They’re talented. But they’re streaky. That eight-run seventh was an adrenaline surge. But what happens when the adrenaline wears off? You still need bullpen depth. You still need structure. You still need someone—anyone—to get three outs when it matters.
The Astros had that guy: Collings. One inning. No hits. Game over.
Detroit didn’t.”

Mike Francesa:
“Let me tell you something right now: this is one of the craziest baseball games I’ve ever seen, and I’ve been watching this sport a very, very long time.
You score 19 runs at home—nineteen!—you should win that game 100 percent of the time. You should win it in your sleep. You should win it with your eyes closed. And Detroit still found a way to lose.
That’s a disaster. I’m sorry. I don’t care if it’s October, I don’t care if it’s the ’29 World Series or some alternate universe—nineteen runs should be enough.
But the Tigers bullpen? Childress? I mean, come on. Five runs in the ninth? How does that happen? How do you give up a two-run homer to de Luna with two outs? The guy’s already beaten you three times in the same game! Maybe—just maybe—stop pitching to him!
And the Tigers’ defense? Two errors, terrible positioning, wild pitches—sloppy, sloppy baseball. You can’t win like that in October.
Houston deserved this one. Period.”

Costas (closing):
“So the Tigers and Astros, locked now at two wins apiece, will reconvene tomorrow in Detroit. Each team has inflicted and absorbed staggering punishment. Each has seen its season rise and tremble within the same innings.
In a series filled with unpredictability, Game 4 may stand as the kind of contest that echoes across eras—proof that baseball, no matter the decade in which it’s played, remains capable of astonishment.”

[jg2977]

.

[jg2977]

Atlanta Braves: 1929 National League Champions (3rd pennant)
1911 1927 1929

📺 MLB on BNN — Postgame Panel: NLCS Game 5 Recap (Braves 19, Pirates 11)
Atlanta wins series 4–1 — their 3rd National League pennant

Bob Costas (host):
“Two years ago, the Atlanta Braves captured their second World Series title — a triumph built on balance, depth, and power. Tonight in Pittsburgh, they did something familiar: they overwhelmed an opponent with wave after wave of offense, and now they stand again at the doorstep of immortality. Nineteen runs, twenty hits, and a performance from Alex Fernandez worthy of an MVP crown as the Braves clinch their third National League pennant.
It was a game of thunder and chaos — both teams launching baseballs into the cool autumn air — but Atlanta’s relentlessness, their refusal to let up, proved decisive. The final was 19–11, and frankly, that doesn’t capture how constant the pressure felt.”

Mike Francesa:
“Listen… this was over early. I know Pittsburgh hung around, I know they scored their runs, but they were never winnin’ this game. Atlanta came in like a freight train. The Pirates pitched nobody who could get an out when it mattered. Arriaga? Disaster. Vanderhoff? Leavin’ stuff in the middle of the plate all day. The bullpen? Forget it.
Atlanta’s lineup… it’s a joke how deep it is. McKnight with five hits — five! Fernandez homers in the ninth just to make sure nobody forgets he’s the MVP. Joseph, Mireles — they all hit. You’re not beating this team unless your pitching is perfect. Pittsburgh needed perfect. What they got was nowhere close.”

Chris “Mad Dog” Russo:
“OH MY GOODNESS GRACIOUS — NINETEEN RUNS! You kidding me, Bob? NINETEEN?? In a clincher?? I mean this was a full-on offensive carnival! The Braves are runnin’ around the bases like it’s a July afternoon game in Coors Field!
And how ‘bout the Pirates’ crowd? They’re hangin’ in there, they’re tryin’ — but every single time Pittsburgh makes it close, here comes Atlanta: bang—RBI double! bang—two-run homer! bang—three-run bomb! You can’t keep up! They’re too good!
And Alex Fernandez — you talk about a STAR. Seven home runs in the postseason already! And that ninth-inning shot? Ohhh that was a dagger. That was the, ‘Hey folks, this series is OVER’ home run.”

Colin Cowherd:
“Look, this is what great organizations do. They aren’t emotional. They aren’t reactive. They don’t get rattled because a game gets crazy or because the Pirates hit a couple balls out.
Atlanta has what I call organizational momentum. They have the GM, the scouting, the player development — they don’t rebuild, they reload. Every year they bring up another kid hitting .430 in the postseason, throwing 99, whatever.
Pittsburgh? Fun story. Young, exciting, great for the league. But they’re not ready for this stage. They’ve got talent, not structure.
Atlanta plays like a heavyweight champion. They win the rounds they need to win, they take the punches, then they counterpunch with seven runs in the third inning. This is what the great teams do — they absorb chaos and then impose order.”

Costas:
“This now sets the stage for a compelling World Series. Atlanta, with its star-laden lineup and championship pedigree, awaits the winner of the Astros and Tigers — a matchup that may very well go the distance.
Detroit, the defending champions and anything but a Cinderella, will not be intimidated. And Houston has shown in their wild, 20–19 victory today that their offense can detonate at any moment.
But tonight belongs to Atlanta — the National League champions, once again standing among baseball’s elite.
We’ll be back after the break.”

[jg2977]

1929 NLCS recap

[jg2977]

📺 MLB on BNN — ALCS Game 5 Postgame Panel
Detroit Tigers 17, Houston Astros 6 — Tigers lead series 3–2

Bob Costas (host):
“On a crisp October afternoon in Detroit, the defending world champions reminded everyone why they hold that title.
A relentless, methodical, and at times breathtaking offensive assault powered the Tigers to a 17–6 victory — a game that began tense and competitive before Detroit simply overwhelmed the Astros.
Gilberto Cisneros — spectacular yet again.
Four hits, two doubles, four runs scored, three driven in. A performance befitting the moment. Detroit scored five in the sixth, three in the seventh, and five more in the eighth, turning what had been a 5–5 tie into a runaway.
The Tigers now stand one win away from returning to the World Series.”

Mike Francesa:
“Listen… this was a MISMATCH after the fifth inning. A total mismatch. Houston’s bullpen? HORRENDOUS. Absolutely atrocious. You CANNOT — I repeat — CANNOT give up 13 runs in the final four innings and expect to win ANYTHING.
Rueda? Couldn’t get anybody out in a big spot. Luevanos? Complete disaster. Covarrubias? The game was OVER the second he entered.
Meanwhile, Detroit’s lineup — they’re a machine. Carbigos, Clancy, Cisneros — pick your poison. Clancy hits a grand slam, Carbigos hits a three-run bomb, Galindo goes deep — this is what champions do. They pile on. They don’t let you breathe.
Houston better wake up when this thing goes back to Minute Maid. Because right now? They look completely rattled.”

Chris “Mad Dog” Russo:
“OH MY GOODNESS GRACIOUS — SEVENTEEN RUNS! SEVENTEEN! IN A PLAYOFF GAME!! You’re not beating ANYBODY giving up seventeen, Mike, I don’t care if you’re the ’27 Yankees!
And Houston had the lead! They were up 2–0! They tied the game 5–5! And what happens?? THEY FALL APART! The defense is kicking the ball all over the place — four errors! Seeley’s throw is in the dirt, De Luna boots a ball, Curtis throws one away — COMPLETE BEDLAM!
And Detroit? They’re runnin’ wild! Cisneros is hittin’ balls in the gap every time he swings the bat! Clancy — GRAND SLAM! Carbigos — BOOM! Galindo — SEE YA! This was an avalanche, Bob! A full-on AVALANCHE!”

Colin Cowherd:
“Detroit is what I call a grown-up franchise. Houston is flashier. Houston’s got the home run derby guys, the swagger, the highlights that go viral.
But Detroit? Detroit has substance.
They’re like that NFL team that doesn’t care about aesthetics — they run the football, play defense, own the line of scrimmage — and they win in January.
The Tigers win in October for the same reason.
Look at the contrast:
Houston: Four errors. Three pitchers who look like they’re hoping not to get embarrassed. Chaos.
Detroit: Deep lineup, situational hitting, aggressive baserunning, no panic, no wasted at-bats.
And Cisneros — he’s not the loudest guy, he’s not dancing on bases, he’s not selling merch. He’s just… great. Every night. A star you can build a culture around.
This is why Detroit is one win away from the World Series and Houston is having an existential crisis on the mound.”

Bob Costas (closing):
“The Tigers will now travel to Houston with the opportunity to clinch the American League pennant and return to the Fall Classic. The Astros face elimination and must rediscover the form that produced their explosive 20–19 victory earlier in this series.
Game 6 awaits on Monday — but tonight in Detroit, the champions played like champions.”

[jg2977]

.

[jg2977]

Detroit Tigers: 1929 American League Champions (4th pennant)
1905 1906 1928 1929

📺 POSTGAME PANEL RECAP — DETROIT 22, HOUSTON 8 (Tigers win ALCS, 4–2)

Bob Costas (host)
“On a warm October afternoon deep in the heart of Texas, the Detroit Tigers delivered one of the most overpowering knockout punches in postseason history. Twenty-two runs. Twenty-nine hits. And at the center of it all, a performance for the ages by Gilberto Cisneros — six hits, two home runs, five runs batted in.
This is not merely a team advancing. This is a franchise adding to its lore. Detroit wins its fourth pennant, and achieves a rare feat: back-to-back American League championships, something they had previously done only in 1905 and 1906.
And now… the stage is set. The last two champions collide: the Atlanta Braves of 1927, the Detroit Tigers of 1928, meeting in a World Series that feels almost preordained. The defending champs against the team with perhaps the most dominant player we've ever seen in baseball, Alex Fernandez.
If you love great October baseball, you’ve come to the right place.”

Mike Francesa
“Listen, this was a total, utter, complete mismatch today. The Astros were DONE in the first inning. Over. Five runs, then six more in the second — and forget it, that’s it, they’re finished.
And Cisneros? SIX hits? I mean, come on. That’s ridiculous. You don’t even do that in BP.
Houston’s pitching… I gotta be honest, it was embarrassing. You can’t throw out half the bullpen by the third inning and expect to stay alive. Cicero? Hughes? King? Covarrubias? They’re all out there getting shelled. It's like they were throwing beach balls.
But Detroit? This is what championship teams do. You give them a chance to close you out, they bury you. Great teams do that.
World Series? This is the heavyweight fight you want: Braves–Tigers. The two best teams. No nonsense. No flukes. No Cinderella nonsense — because Detroit ain’t Cinderella. They’re the champs, they finished 98–64, and they are rolling.
Should be a classic.”

Chris “Mad Dog” Russo
“OH MY GOODNESS GRACIOUS, THE ASTROS GOT DESTROYED!! Twenty-two runs!! TWENTY-TWO!! I haven’t seen a beating like that since… I don’t even know!
And the SIX HITS by Cisneros! SIX! That’s Wiffle ball stuff! That’s video-game stuff! And Detroit — give them credit — they came into Houston and said, ‘WE ARE NOT FLYING BACK TO DETROIT. WE’RE ENDING IT HERE.’
And they did!
Now, we get Detroit-Atlanta — OHHH BABY! Two DEEP lineups, two teams that SMASH the baseball, two organizations that EXPECT to be in October every year. I am fired up!
World Series starts soon — I cannot WAIT!”

Colin Cowherd
“Let me tell you the story here: Detroit is built. They’re layered. They’re smart. Their stars play big in big moments. Cisneros? That’s what an alpha looks like. Six hits in an elimination clincher? That’s a ‘face of the franchise’ performance.
Houston? Fun team. Flashy. But they’re emotional. When adversity hits, they spiral. Detroit? They’re the opposite. They stabilize. They take control. That’s the difference between a team with talent and a program. Detroit is a program.
And now we get Atlanta. Think about this: the Tigers and Braves are basically the sport’s two most stable, well-run modern organizations in your universe. Of course they’re meeting. Of course it’s the last two champions.
This is the sport giving you the matchup that makes sense. Detroit’s depth versus Atlanta’s precision. Power on power. Culture on culture.
My early lean? Slight edge to Atlanta — but Detroit has the best player in the postseason right now.
Either way… it’s perfect.”

[jg2977]

.

[jg2977]

1929 ALCS recap

[jg2977]

1929 World Series