Author Archive: Phil Gurnee
Bumgarner adds to his October legend
with another Wild Card shutout. Madison may not be the equal of Clayton Kershaw during the regular season, but when the leaves start to turn, and World Champions are anointed, Bumgarner can stand with the best of them. Among the great postseason games, if you use Game Score as a criteria, and search for postseason …
Building a ladder
It is the fall of 2008 and I’m staring out the window of the Van Nuys FlyAway Bus that will take me on a flight to Austin to see Jerry for maybe the last time. Jerry had just finished telling me he was too sick to make the drive and that Joe Guggina will be-be …
Don Drysdale wins first World Series game at Dodger Stadium 53 years ago
Don Drysdale christened Dodger Stadium into the postseason world with a brilliant 1 – 0 shutout of the New York Yankees in game three of the 1963 World Series. The first two games of the World Series in 63 had been played in Yankee Stadium with the Yankees only scoring three runs. This time, they …
Don Sutton shuts out Pirates 42 years ago today
The myth that Don Sutton was a postseason pitcher started 42 years ago when he shut out the mighty Pirates in the first game of the NLCS 3 – 0. The Dodgers in 1974 were a very young positional team but with a veteran rotation. Andy Messersmith was the Dodgers best pitcher in 1974 but Walter …
10/4/2008 Broxton’s last hurrah, Dodgers sweep Cubs
Jame Loney delivered the first blow in game one, and James Loney delivered the final blow in game three. Loney’s two-out two run double in the bottom of the 1st inning put the Dodgers up 2 – 0 as they went on to win 3 – 1 and swept the Cubs. I was at the game …
On 10/4/1959 Dodgers win first World Series game in Los Angeles
With the Dodgers having split the first two games of the 1959 World Series in Chicago, the series headed back to Los Angeles. This was the first World Series game ever played at the Coliseum and 92,000 plus watched the Dodgers win their first World Series game in Los Angeles 3 – 1 behind the …
National Positional Starters Review
I’m going to look at the positional breakdown for the NL East Champions. The last time I looked at them was June 20th but at that time they had Wilson Ramos and Stephen Strasburg. Eric Stephen gives us the statistical breakdown of the matchup but the Nationals are not the team who played 162 games as …
Carlos Santana helps lead Indians to AL Central Title
The Guitar is now 30 years old and has hit 151 home runs while walking over six hundred times. In 2016 the Indians decided to take advantage of his patience and moved him to the lead off spot. Santana started 85 games from the leadoff spot and rewarded the Indians with a .385 OBP in …
Historical LAD ROY voting for position players
With Corey Seager expected to win the NL 2016 Rookie of the Year award, let’s take a look at all the LAD position players who have gotten at least one vote for the award. In 1960 Frank Howard won over his teammate Tommy Davis and future HOF Ron Santo. Frank Howard had an illustrious career …
Dodgers, Yesterday and Today 