6ix Baggers — №73: Next Stop, Yankee Stadium
Your Drink Cart special edition series baseball newsletter continues with the World Series now 2-0 for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Dear Drink Carters and 6ix Baggers Fanboys
Get in losers, we’re going to Game 3 at Yankee Stadium tonight. But before we jump into that, I wish a very happy 31st Sports Equinox day to all those that celebrate. And just like that, the Los Angeles Dodgers are up 2-0. I’m going to spare you the finer details of game recaps (we don’t really do that here) - the games have been over for nearly 24 hours anyway.
The Dodgers are engaging in some wild psychological warfare too - rumours are now talking about how they are also in on the signing of current Yankee Juan Soto stakes for next year. To say nothing about superstar Shohei Ohtani who partially dislocated his left shoulder on a stolen base attempt in Game 2, but was already taking batting practice on Sunday and is good to go for tonight’s big game. The reaction to that injury from a Yankee viewing party on Saturday, was as classy as you can imagine.
If I was the Yankees, I’d be much more concerned with this stat. Kendall Baker for Yahoo Sports AM notes that Aaron Judge ”has whiffed on 47 of his 109 swings this October (43.1%). For reference: The highest whiff rate by any player during the regular season was 36.4%.”
The other thing being tossed around the social diamond is that the last 2 times the teams met in this circumstance, the team up 2-0 ended up losing the series. But, BUT, BUTTTTT, on the other hand, teams with a 2-0 lead in a best-of-seven have gone on to win 77 of 92 times (84%). Which stat do you go with?
A couple of 8:37’s
When Freddie Freeman hit a Grand Slam to walk off Game 1, it didn’t take long for stat and history nerds to go to work. Yes, it was the first and only Grand Slam walk off in World History.
But it was the note that it seems the home run was hit at 8:37PM. And in 1988 in another Game 1 another Dodger with a lingering injury hit a walk off home run at that same 8:37. Writers have spilled gallons of ink on the drama and storylines of playoff baseball. And you can’t ever script something like that.
Somehow I was able to exercise the restraint of a 1,000 men, and not start buying Topps Now cards - which were admittedly pretty cool with the dual card and potential 1/1 autograph. Now that they are doing the these more lottery style drops it’s more equitable, but not quite as satisfying as knowing you’re going to get a piece of history.
I’m not sure I have the faith in the awarding of 1/1s at Topps HQ. It’s like that new film, The Conclave when they pick a pope with secret ballots in amazing robes. I saw it this weekend and how they made a taught thriller out of old guys picking a pope and vaping for 2 hours I’ll never know. But then again, I wouldn’t have brought in Nestor Cortes in Game 1. So what do I know.
Of course I love this comparison photo of the post-game press conferences for two reasons. First, is how do we look so much younger now. Is that an illusion? Kirk Gibson was just 31. Freeman is older - at 34. That’s the wild thing about the differences between 1988 and 2024. And the 1988 World Series logo was so much better than todays. And secondly, the was the logos. The 1988 world series logo is so much better - plus it didn’t have the indignity of a sponsorship logo on top of it.
There is just no comparison here. The 1988 logo is so much cooler - and looks 1000% better as a patch on a jersey or hat. I would say the diamond design logos from 1987 - 1999 were my second favourite set. But the iconic 1980-1986 simple word marks may be my very favourites. Like Teooscar Hernandez hitting dingers in the World Series favourite - so happy for that guy.
The Comeback
The new 3-part sports documentary on Netflix about the 2004 Boston Red Sox triumph both over the Yankees in the ALCS and the World Series is excellent. There’s things you completely forgot about in the waves of nostaglia over bloodied socks and breaking of curses.
The potential acquiring of Alex Rodriguez. The actual trading of Nomar Garciaparra in the middle of the season. How much people really hated Manager Grady Little. The eventual shoving of Rodriguez by Jason Varitek that sparked the team when they needed it most. The drinking of Jack Daniels out of paper cups before games. It was all there.
What’s most interesting is how in just 20-years, how big - i’m talking physically - people’s heads get as time goes on. Seeing Terry Francona footage in 2004 vs. interviews for the film, Tito’s head gets so much bigger. Like an orange on a toothpick. Tell me I’m wrong.
A No Free Taco Series
Arguably the most shocking news this week during the first two games of the World Series, was that Taco Bell’s Steal a Base, Steal a Taco program was not running for the first time since 2015. Now the program has had a hiatus before - the first version launched in 2007 and ran for 2 seasons, came back in 2012 for a year, then not again until 2015.
Over 12 times, it cashed for fans 12 times. But this year, no more. Taco Bell it seems isn’t even an MLB sponsor this season. A gross oversight if there ever was one. How can there not be an official taco partner of baseball in 2024. Forget inflation, this should be the major election issue of our time.
Fall Classic Food At Yankee Stadium
I was trying to find like the Dodgers World Series food for Game 3. But I still can’t find anything. But, I did find that the New York Yankees have a steakhouse at Yankee Stadium. There it is at Gate 6, “with Mozambique wood walls, black oak floors, and antique bronze mirrors in the ceilings.” I will gladly interrupt my irrational anti-Yankees bias, to say that there should be steakhouses at all ballparks. It just makes sense. It’s science.
Rogers Stadium here in Toronto has the absurd concept of the Sportsnet Grill - cause when I think of Grill, I think of the broadcaster that Rogers owns. It has the temerity to offer $27 calamari and a $53 8 oz AAA Rib Eye Steak. Meanwhile, the Yankee Steakhouse has a steal of a $25 Shrimp Cocktail and a 20 oz Delmonico Rib Eye for $69. You get 12 oz more steak? That’s tells you everything you need to know about these two franchises. Even with exchange rate - which I realize has the Canadian dollar absolutely getting hammered right now (gulp) - you’re getting way more value in the Steak House Ruth Would Have Built. I mean, the thought of having a seafood tower within viewing distance of the game is kind of a dream I’ve had.
Calling back Blue Jays Great Socrates Brito
To quote Moneyball, “Billy, this is Socrates Brito. He's an outfielder. He is one of the most undervalued players in baseball. His defect is that he can’t do it in the major leagues.” In January 2021 we wrote about the prospect of Socrates Brito and his stint on the Toronto Blue Jays. Brito only played 17 miserable games for the Jays back in 2019. He batted .077. In 2020 he would get Covid and sadly his brother would die from it too.
But here we are, in 2024. Brito is coming off a pretty incredible run in the Korean Baseball League (KBO). In 2024 he slashed .310/.359/.516 with .875 OPS. He knocked 26 dingers and drove in 97. Truthfully he would actually look pretty good in the Jays lineup at that production level.
But baseball is funny. Socrates Brito, now 32, who hasn’t played in the major leagues since 2019 is a KBO League champion. His team the Kia Tigers just captured their 12th Korean Series winner - the Tigers first since 2017. It’s true, “It's hard not to be romantic about baseball.”
Walkoffs
A few more quick fastballs for you to enjoy.
Old time baseball
Even non-Yankees like me have to love that time in 1996 when Wade Boggs got on the back of a police horse to celebrate their World Series victory.
Fun with Statcast
I loved this visualization for all the times Anthony Rizzo has been hit by a pitch.
Fan obsessions
At first I thought this was Sammy Sosa. But it turns out, it’s just a fan. I can never imagine doing anything like this.
Way Back Machine
The Yankees may have Seinfeld episodes. But the Dodgers have some pure gold, like that time in the Season 6 premiere of Chips, when Ponch and his new partner Bobby 'Hot Dog' Nelson pulled over Tommy Lasorda on the way to Dodger Stadium. To say nothing of that time Mike Piazza was on Baywatch.
It’s interesting that I dropped the reference to Baywatch at the same time as I’ve been giving yet another Network TV show a shot this season. I watched the pilot episode of Rescue Hi-Surf. This follows me watching Murder In a Small Town (So fun that they are filming in Molly’s Reach in Gibsons again!), Doctor Odyssey and Mr. Throwback. Watching this new Baywatch in Hi-Surf, it was uncanny that they managed to squeeze in a small subplot about the Portuguese man o' war jelly fish which happened to me once. Not fun.
Until next inning
I keep thinking this battle between the Yankees and the Dodgers is a bit like the Superfriends vs. the Legion of Doom. Then I saw a nostaglia inducing post about the Hall of Justice - the swanky headquarters of the Superfriends and I was compelled to watch every intro from the 1973 - 1985 period. They hold up.
Thanks for reading. See you back here after the next few games for No. 74. And stay tuned for your regularly schedule issue of The Drink Cart on Halloween! As Count Floyd would say, “Scarry stuff.”