One of the ultimate objectives of any sport is to win a championship. Whether that’s the World Series, the Super Bowl, the Stanley Cup, or something else, winning championships solidifies a team in the historical record books. It also gives them the right to call themselves the best until they successfully defend their title or a new champion rises to the challenge and defeats them. Many teams in Major League history have been called Champion; 118, to be exact. Ruling the baseball landscape for a season is a tremendous and worthwhile accomplishment. However, the winner of the tournament here will be a true legend.
We began with 16 of the best teams over the past century a few weeks ago. Some stood tall, while others fell. We were privy to an outstanding balance between surprise and predictability. Mighty outfits like the 1998 New York Yankees did not make it out of the Sweet Sixteen. Thus was the stage set for the Elite Eight, which featured more of the same aforementioned balance. More favorites, like the 2001 Seattle Mariners and the 1954 Cleveland Indians, also fell to upstarts from lower seedings. Now, the MLB Final Four have converged at the place where baseball history has made its home: Cooperstown, New York. Upon this neutral site, a champion will stand among the rest. But first, we must discuss the road to the title game itself. Here, without further ado, is the MLB Final Four.
MLB Final Four
9-seed: 2018 Boston Red Sox (108-54) vs. 12-seed: 2019 Houston Astros (107-55)
Here’sHere’s a contest that nobody predicted would populate the MLB Final Four. Nevertheless, they are formidable opponents. Each stake is a claim to a real-life American League Championship. The 2018 Boston Red Sox wound up going all the way and winning a World Series title. Both rosters have some of the most extensive arrays of talent that are familiar to late 2010s baseball fanatics. Names like Xander Bogaerts, J.D. Martinez, Rafael Devers, Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman, Justin Verlander, Gerrit Cole, and the list continues. Add in two excellent managers, Alex Cora and A.J. Hinch, and you have the makings of a veritable Duke/North Carolina matchup. The fact that it’s on a neutral field puts on yet another layer to a contest that, on paper, should be among the best in the tournament.
Due to seeding, the Red Sox are the home team, and Cora is not taking any chances here. He’sHe’s sending 12-game winner Chris Sale to the mound. However, since Sale has a history of being somewhat injury-prone, bullpen arms Heath Hembree and Matt Barnes are ready to step in should the need arise. On the other side of the diamond, Hinch and the Astros are putting their fate in the hands of the veteran Wade Miley. Miley won 14 games with a solid 3.98 ERA and a 116 ERA+ during the regular season. This matchup could all come down to how the pitchers perform. If Sale gets hurt and the Sox turn to their bullpen, the 2019 Houston Astros could have the advantage. Should Miley have a dip in his consistent roller coaster performances, then the Red Sox would be on the upside.
A Predictable, Yet Unpredictable Outcome
Indeed, it does happen that Miley has a lackluster game, and the Red Sox take full advantage of it. They score five runs on the strength of 13 hits. The night is complete with multi-hit performances from Hanley Ramirez, Eduardo Nunez, and Jackie Bradley Jr. However; the true hero is leadoff hitter Mookie Betts. He has three hits, capped off by a three-run homer to help give the Red Sox some insurance in the seventh inning. Meanwhile, Sale is good enough to help Boston win this MLB Final Four showdown. He goes six strong innings, and his only blemishes are solo shots from Altuve and Josh Reddick. The bullpen comes in and falters, making the score too close for Red Sox fans’ comfort. That said, closer Craig Kimbrel is lights out as he shuts the door on the Astros in the ninth.
Final: Red Sox 5, Astros 3
6-seed: 1969 Baltimore Orioles (109-53) vs. 7-seed: 1961 New York Yankees (109-53)
The MLB Final Four’sFour’s last matchup could not get any more identical, nor could it feature two more exciting teams. Both are from the 1960s, feature truckloads of Hall of Fame talent, and were among the most feared teams of their seasons. They even have matching records. However, while there are a lot of similarities across the board, there are two glaring differences, managerially speaking. The 1969 Baltimore Orioles have the fiery 38-year-old Earl Weaver, who managed to bring an AL Pennant to Baltimore in his first full season as skipper. Meanwhile, the 1961 Yankees are managed by rookie shot caller Ralph Houk, who seemed content to balance calm management with yelling at seemingly corrupt officials.
In any case, the two will now battle to decide who advances to face the 2018 Red Sox in the National Title. For Weaver, the choice of a starter is simple. He has already started Mike Cuellar and Dave McNally in the tournament. The last of this three-headed dragon is future Hall of Famer Jim Palmer. Then, Houk counters with two-time All-Star and World Series MVP Ralph Terry. Both pitchers sport stellar numbers, winning 32 games combined in their respective seasons while only losing seven. The Yankees also boast a tremendously potent offense led by the bats of Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle. The two hit 115 of the team’steam’s 240 homers in 1961. That said, the Orioles are nothing to sneeze at, with Frank Robinson, Brooks Robinson, Boog Powell, and Paul Blair all notching over 20 home runs. In other words, this could turn into a slugfest.
Tight Pitching & Clutch Hitting
But a slugfest is not in the cards with Terry and Palmer hurling balls at the catcher’scatcher’s mitt. Over and over again, the two teams sit down with no offensive success whatsoever. Each pitcher is locked in, and neither of the two powerful batting corps can get anything going. In the eighth inning, the game remains scoreless. Terry and Palmer are each in the middle of two-hit shutout bids. Then, with one out in the inning, Davey Johnson finds Terry’sTerry’s first mistake and puts it in the seats for a solo home run. In the bottom of the frame, Yankee legend Yogi Berra ties things with a solo shot off Palmer. After an uneventful top of the ninth, the Orioles look to closer Eddie Watt to extend the game. It is not to be, as three straight hits from Maris, Bill Skowron, and Tony Kubek seal the deal for New York.
Final: Yankees 2, Orioles 1
MLB Final Four Recap
These were two sensational contests between four of the most excellent squads of the last century. One was more of an offensive affair, while the other showcased outstanding starting pitching. The bottom line is this: a modern Astros team with a penchant for big hits will square off with one of the most dominant Yankees teams ever—the prize: being crowned the best baseball team of the century. We’ve seen the teams get sweet along with seeing them become elite. Now that the semi-finals are complete, only one game remains- the National Championship. Next time, we will determine who will rise above it all and claim the crown.
Photo Credit: © David Boss-USA TODAY Sports
Players/managers mentioned:
Xander Bogaerts, J.D. Martinez, Rafael Devers, Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman, Justin Verlander, Gerrit Cole, Alex Cora, A.J. Hinch, Chris Sale, Heath Hembree, Matt Barnes, Wade Miley, Hanley Ramirez, Eduardo Nunez, Jackie Bradley Jr., Mookie Betts, Josh Reddick, Craig Kimbrel, Earl Weaver, Ralph Houk, Mike Cuellar, Dave McNally, Jim Palmer, Roger Maris, Mickey Mantle, Frank Robinson, Brooks Robinson, Boog Powell, Paul Blair, Davey Johnson, Yogi Berra, Eddie Watt, Bill Skowron, Tony Kubek
