Nationals Complete Comeback, Win World Series

NATIONALS 6 - ASTROS 2
WSH Wins World Series 4-3 

It was a journey that will go down in the annals of baseball history as one of the greatest stories ever to take place on the diamond. The Washington Nationals, a team left for dead so many times throughout this 2019 season, found a way - once again - to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat as they slammed the door on the Houston Astros in a stunning Game 7 of the World Series in Houston.

That's right folks, the Montreal Expos are World Champions. Or at least the former Montreal Expos anyway.

The Nationals won the World Series Wednesday night, much the same way they climbed out of a 19-31 hole in May to get the top Wild Card in the National League, with grit, determination and resilience.

Nobody said the road to a world title would be easy, and the Nationals took every circuitous route possible.

At one point this postseason they found themselves down 3-1 to the Milwaukee Brewers in the Wild card game, before Juan Soto's three-run single in the eighth inning put Washington in front for good 4-3.

Then in the ALDS against the 106-game winning- LA Dodgers, the Nats found themselves down two games to one, having blown a lead in Game 3, only to win Game 4 by the score 6-1, and stormed back to knock out the Dodgers in Game 5, 7-3 in LA. We should have known then.

After blowing away the St. Louis Cardinals in four games in the NLCS while the Astros tousled in a back-and-fourth six-game series against the Yankees, it was easy to just dismiss the Nationals again. Why not? They had a layoff of seven days between series. Typically the team with that much rest before a World Series is doomed -- just ask the 2015 New York Mets.

But not these guys. Never in the history of the World Series that stretches 115 years has a road team won four World Series games. In fact never in the history of the World Series have every single game of the series been won by the team in the visiting dugout. That's how wild and crazy this series was, with highs and lows that drove both Nationals and Astros fanbases batty.

For a while in Game 7 it looked like the Astros were on their way to breaking that streak of road victories. They held a 2-0 lead on Washington, Max Scherzer was out after struggling with his control over five innings of work, while Zach Greinke was having the game of his life.

Heading into the seventh inning, Greinke had allowed only one hit. When Greinke got Adam Eaton to ground out to start the seventh inning, the Astros had an 88 percent chance of winning the World Series.

It was over, right?

Nope.

As much credit as Astros manager A.J. Hinch gets for pressing all the right buttons, seemingly all the time for Houston, he dropped the ball in Game 7.

After Greinke gave up the solo homer to Anthony Rendon and walked Soto, Hinch took him out after 80 pitches for reliever Will Harris. Harris had pitched in four of the seven games of this series, the Nationals had a pretty good read of him at this point.

On top of that Hinch had Gerrit Cole waiting in the wings and didn't put him in when should have. Hinch had the chance to shut the door and blew it. So much for analytics.

On the second pitch that Harris delivered to Howie Kendrick, the veteran slapped the ball to deep right field and watched it ricochet off the foul pole screen for a two-run homer. The Nationals entire dugout erupted as, suddenly, the Nationals were out in front 3-2.

While Houston was stunned silent, the Nationals kept pounding. Dave Martinez was the one pressing all the right buttons, going with his Game 4 starter Patrick Corbin for three innings in relief as he held  Houston to just two hits on 42 pitches. It was brilliant.

Meanwhile the Nationals put the game away in the last stages. A Juan Soto RBI single to right drove in Adam Eaton on a hit and run in the top of the eighth to make it 4-2. Then in the ninth, Eaton broke it open himself with a two-run single to center to make it 6-2.

The bottom of the ninth was no contest as Daniel Hudson mowed down George Springer, Jose Altuve and Michael Brantley in succession before throwing his glove toward the third base dugout and pumped his fists into the air.

After facing tall odds all season, the Nationals had done it, they captured their first ever World Series title.

As unlikely as it may seem to see a story like this repeated ever again, the Nationals of 2019 serve as a blueprint that other teams, who aren't fortunate enough to win 100-plus games during the regular season that anything can be possible. You could be 12-games under .500 in May and still, if the team comes together, win the World Series.

Jets Try and Fail to Trade Jamal Adams and Le'Veon Bell

As if things weren't bad enough for the Jets, today's news certainly won't help a locker room where players are likely looking over their shoulder more than ever before.

After trading Leonard Williams to the Giants for a third round and conditional fifth round pick on Monday, the Jets were working the phones, as rumors flew the club was trying to trade either safety Jamal Adams or running back LeVeon Bell.

However, once the 4 p.m. trade deadline came and went neither star was on his way out the door, and both GM Joe Douglas and head caoch Adam Gase claimed there would be no fire sale, and there was never an intent to trade either player.

Yet the rumors were damning; the Jets tried to do something.

Earlier in the day Daily News reporter, and known conspiracy theorist, Manish Mehta reported that the Jets were amenable to potential deal for Bell, who has been underutilized in the Jets offense this season, averaging a career worst 3.2 yards per carry.

Later Rich Cimini of ESPN tweeted out that the Jets were listing to offers for Bell, even though he was not actively being shopped. There was a belief that his $13.5 million in guaranteed money next year would be a reason for the Jets front office wanting to split with him.

By 4 p.m. Connor Hughes of the Atlantic said the Jets had no intention to trade Bell at all. 

Let's be honest it has been widely reported that Gase was not crazy about the signing of Bell when it initially went down last spring, yet both sides have not shown any friction until now. Bell, who has been a good solider since coming to the Jets, has seen his carries drop precipitously  in Gase's offense as the head coach is putting more and more pressure on Sam Darnold to throw the ball. Had the Jets traded Bell, it would have been a serious blow to the quarterback's development.

As for Adams, there were multiple reports the Jets and Cowboys were trying to strike a deal that would have sent Adams to Dallas. Adam Schefter even tweeted that Adams wanted to go to the Cowboys.

However, Adams, himself later denied such interest on Twitter.

The Adams situation however only gets more bizarre. Reports were the Jets were trying to fleece the Cowboys of multiple draft picks, including first rounders for the safety, but Dallas would not budge. Even the Ravens got into the mix, but the Jets couldn't strike a deal with anyone for Adams.

Adams is no stranger to speaking his mind. He has built a reputation of speaking freely to the media and likes to vent out his frustrations on Twitter. This kind of behavior probably has gotten to the chagrine of Gase and Douglas, especially with Adams have a horrible year on the field. His play on Sunday certainly doesn't help when he dropped a key interception, and failed to sack Gardner Minshew on a play that turned into a 70-yard score for Jacksonville.

This is where Connor Hughe's reporting really gets interesting. During a press conference Tuesday afternoon, Douglas is quoted as saying he would listen to trade requests if it come this offseason for either Adams or Bell -- although he didn't outwardly say he would trade either.

Then there is THIS BOMBSHELL!!  Hughes re-tweets an angry Jamal Adams who claims he had a sit-down meeting with Gase and Douglas, expressing his desire to stay in New York, only to get a call from his own agent that the Jets "went behind my back" to try to shop him to other teams. Hughes added in the Tweet that Douglas had not spoken to Adams post-trade deadline.

This is going to end badly for the Jets and Adams. Clearly a divorce is in the offing. Those clamoring for Gase to be fired, today's actions and words from the General Manager should make it clear that he and Gase have every intention to build the team in their image, even if it means tearing the foundation apart.

Players like Adams and Bell will be gone come next season that is pretty much assured unless all sides can kiss and make-up.  The Jets are quickly and swiftly trending into murkier waters by the day.

Podcast: Reaction to Sam Darnold's Continued Struggles

Sam Darnold is lost at sea. He has thrown seven interceptions in the last two games, and head coach Adam Gase doesn't have answers right now. Is it time for Gase to be on the annual NFL Hot Seat? Is he hurting the long time viability of Sam Darnold? Listen below!! 

Who the F*** is Pat Murphy, Mets "Bombshell" Candidate?

The identity of the Mets deepest and darkest secret has been revealed. Like something out of the FOX hit series "Masked Singer," the "bombshell" candidate for the New York Mets is none other than Milwaukee Brewers bench coach Pat Murphy.

Who? Exactly.

For those wishing the "bombshell" was Jessica Mendoza, or Alex Rodriguez, you are probably greatly disappointed. Imagine all the meme and GIFs that could have been possible!?!?!?

Who is Murphy? Where did he come from? Glad you asked. Murphy, 60, spent the past four years as the bench coach of the Milwaukee Brewers and was the interim Manager of the San Diego Padres back in 2015 where he managed 96 games and compiled a record of 42-54, a .436 winning percentage.

Murphy's claim to fame came as a college baseball head coach where he amassed 947 wins during a 21-year career at Notre Dame and Arizona State. He led the Irish to the NCAA Regionals in 1989, and got to the College World Series twice with Arizona State in 2007 and 2009.

Murphy is a native of Syracuse, which ironically is the home of the Mets Triple-A affiliate.

According to FOX Sports insider Ken Rosenthal, Murphy has had multiple interviews with the ball club. Meanwhile, Andy Martino of SNY reports that there could be other unnamed candidates who have entered the mix, and there is a chance that Murphy may not be the true bombshell candidate that everyone believes exists.

The Mets are deep into the search. They have already lost Joe Girardi, the odds on favorite for the job, to the Phillies. The Mets has now interviewed and considered the likes of Carlos Beltran, Tim Bogar, Eduardo Perez -- who was at one point rumored to be the favorite for the job, and now Murphy.

The insanity that is the Mets managerial search continues Monday ....

Ghoulish! Jets and Darnold Spooked in Jacksonville

JAGUARS 29 - JETS 15 

The only booing that Sam Darnold is hearing right about now is not the ghosts that he thought he saw against the Patriots on Monday night. That booing is coming from Jets fans -- some 1,500 miles north of Jacksonville, Florida.

It was another despicable day in Jets-land as the Jets once again struggled to gain any traction offensively. Another day where Le'Veon Bell was virtually invisible. A day where the other pieces on this Jets offense were under utilized. Another day where Sam Darnold looked like a fish hopping and skipping out of water.

Darnold had no chance on Sunday in Jacksonville. He was sacked eight times, and turned it over three times, all on interceptions.

This is what life is like when you play behind an already suspect offensive line, and play for a head coach -- the so-called quarterback whisperer in Adam Gase who has had no answer to help this young 22-year old out. If things don't change for Darnold he will quickly and sadly turn into the next David Carr or Andrew Luck - - a guy with a lot talent, but no coaching and terrible teams around him.

The Jets simply stink.

It took Jacksonville only four plays before they put the ball in the end zone to open the game, including a 66-yard run by Leonard Fournette as he left a diving Jamal Adams in the dust en route to the Jets 10-yard line. Two plays later Keelan Cole caught a 6-yard pass from Gardner Minshew II to make it 6-0 Jaguars.

That drive was easy to forgive and forget because for a short moment Darnold looked like the quarterback the Jets drafted a year-and-a-half ago when he engineered a 12-play, 93 yard scoring drive, culminating in a 24-yard touchdown to Ryan Griffin to put the Jets in front 7-6.

Maybe the Jets finally exercised the demons? Nope. Not a chance.

After Darnold threw his first costly interception, Minshew scrambled out of a sack by Adams, and hit a wide open Chris Conley for a 70-yard touchdown to put the Jaguars back in front 13-7. They would never trail again.

On five of their next six possessions the Jets would punt as the Jaguars continued to build their lead via the field goal, taking a 22-7 lead with 2:11 to go in the third quarter.

On each of those failed Jets possessions, Darnold was under siege from the Jags defense as he was either sacked or hurried his throws, resulting dreary incompletions. It was total nightmare.

With it all the Jets found a way to cobble together a 75-yard touchdown drive late in the third quarter. They got bailed out by a bad call on a juggling catch by Demarious Thomas where it appeared he dropped the ball, but the officials let it slide. Darnold eventually found Griffin in the end zone for the touchdown and a two-point conversion to make it 22-15.

It was fitting the Jets wouldn't get into Jaguars territory again the rest of the day. Darnold threw two more interceptions as the Jags pulled away late 29-15.

In his last two games, Darnold has thrown only two touchdowns and seven interceptions. He looks completely lost and if the Jets aren't careful he could be preeminently lost. The Jets hoped they found the right coach to guide this young guy when they hired Adam Gase, and it is clear Darnold did better under ex-Head Coach Todd Bowles and ex-offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates.  Who knew those would be the glory days. That is how bad it is right now for Gang Green.

Next up? Winless Miami -- don't say I didn't warn you...

Giants Have No Answers For Stafford & Lions

LIONS 31 - GIANTS 26

Last week the Giants couldn't get their offense started in the slop at MetLife Stadium against Arizona. Today, the offense wasn't the problem, as the Giants couldn't stop a nosebleed in Detroit. Either way, it resulted in another loss as the Giants stumble to 2-6 on the season.

After an rough early start for quarterback Daniel Jones, where he fumbled away another football that was quickly turned into six-Lions' points, he settled in to throw for 322 yards and four touchdowns in defeat.

It was a small consultation in a season completely and totally lost.

The Giants found themselves down 14-0 with 2:31 to go in the first quarter, as Matthew Stafford carved up Big Blue's leaky secondary, including a 49-yard bomb to Marvin Hall down the sideline for the score.

Stafford had a huge afternoon for Detroit, tossing for 342 yards and three scores. His top target on the afternoon Kevin Galloday had an even bigger day, hauling in six passes for 123 yards and two touchdowns in his own right. The Giants had no answer to slow down either player.

Give the Giants some credit, they did fight back. Jones led a pair of scoring drives, including an eight-play 57-yard drive that culminated in a 28-yard touchdown strike to Darius Slayton. Unfortunately for Big Blue, Aldrich Rojas missed the extra point, which kept the Lions in front 14-13.

After the Lions responded with a field goal before halftime to make it 17-13, Detroit put the game away on a 75-yard scoring drive to open the second half with Stafford finding Golladay from nine-yards out to make it 24-13.

Finally early in the fourth quarter, Stafford and crew really shut out the lights when they executed a perfect flea flicker with Stafford taking the pitch back from Tre Carson, and zipping it down field to an uncovered Golladay for the score to blow it open at 31-19.

While the Giants had more first downs than Detroit (24-17), the Lions carved up the Giants defense for 375 yards of offense and were an efficient 8-of-14 on third down. It was total domination.

At 2-6 things won't get any easier for Big Blue next week when they host the Dallas Cowboys on Monday Night Football.

An Amazin' Nightmare: Joe Girardi Is Phillies Manager

10 months ago the New York Jets had a chance to hire a Super Bowl winning head coach to mentor their young quarterback Sam Darnold, and coach a team that had $96 million to spend in free agency.

And reports were at the time, that coach, former Green Bay Packers coach, Mike McCarthy wanted the job, but would take if he had some say in personnel. The Jets wouldn’t grant that request, and eventually settled on Adam Gase.

From bugging eyeball press conferences to Darnold contracting mono, seeing ghosts and having his toenail removed, to playing a dangerous game of chicken with offensive guard Kelichi Osemele, the Jets under Gase have been a train wreck. And the Jets look silly for not giving McCarthy what he wanted.

Why is this important in an article about the New York Mets? Because it sets a precedent

The Mets are faced with a similar situation in their managerial vacancy search.

They had every opportunity to make former Yankee Skipper Joe Girardi their next manager, but decided not to.

Even two interviews were not enough to convince the Mets frugal ownership of Jeff and Fred Wilpon and General Manager Brodie VanWagenen that Girardi, a World Series winning manager, was good enough for the job.

Instead the Mets will settle for the unknown. Carlos Beltran? No coaching experience. Tim Bogar? Has Major League coaching experience, but still a virtual unknown. Eduardo Perez? A total mystery.

And speaking of mystery, the Mets have turned their search into a full-blown circus with their pursuit of the “bombshell candidate.” Maybe it’s Jessica Mendoza? Maybe it’s Bobby Bonilla? Maybe it’s the ghosts Sam Darnold saw on Monday Night? Who knows?

The fact is the Mets are going to regret this for a long time. Not only is Girardi not managing them, he is in the same division as manager of the Philadelphia Phillies. He has a chance to do to the Mets what Bill Belichick has done to the Jets for the last 18 years.

The Phillies to their credit want to win. They showed as much when they signed Bryce Harper to a 13-year $300 million contract last year, and they are showing it again by bringing in Girardi. The Phils haven’t won the World Series since 2008, and are thirsty for a return trip, and Girardi is the right man to take them there.

The Wilpon’s? They are oblivious, and don’t seem to care what their good paying customers think, and that is the problem. And why? Because of money and control? Really? Is that what this is all about?

Understood “money doesn’t always buy happiness,” but without it, you don’t stand a chance.

The Wilpon’s had a chance to give not only their fan base, but, the players who put on their uniform a chance at something special.

The Mets have a team with budding talent that needed a true leader at the forefront. Instead it appears that leader is whomever Wilpon and Van Wagenen deem a good “collaborator” with the front office. Is that enough to win games, we’ll know soon enough.

The fact is the Mets are about to settle for a manager who might be no better or worse than the man they fired three weeks ago in Mickey Callaway.

Who is the Mets "Bombshell" Candidate

Who is the “Mystery Candidate?” That is the question everyone is asking right now after reports are surfacing that the Mets are considering a “bombshell candidate” who is separate from the list of known candidates for their managerial job.

While we know that Carlos Beltran, Mike Bell, Eduardo Perez and maybe Joe Girardi are the known candidates for the job, the rumors, speculation and down right hysteria persists over social media. So let’s have some fun and throw out some potential “bombshell candidates.”

Alex Rodriguez – This would certainly be the definition of “bombshell.” A-Rod was one of the games most decorated and polarizing figures in the sport.  A 14-time All Star and 2009 World Series champion with the Yankees, Rodriguez had a wild career in New York.

A-Rod almost became better known for his off-field antics than his on-field accomplishments. From starring at himself in a mirror, to sitting in Central Park shirtless, and, of course, his rampant steroid use, Rodriguez would certainly garner the Mets a lot of attention.

A-Rod has tried to rebrand himself in television, but like his playing career, it has been divisive. He’s great on FOX’s pregame show, but fans can’t seem to stand him on ESPN Sunday Night Baseball.  Hiring him would mean the Mets are going the Aaron Boone route for a skipper.

Jessica Mendoza – You knew I was going here, right? I mean she already works for the Mets as an advisor, so why not? It would be such a Brodie Van Wagenen type of move. Mendoza, the other half of ESPN’s infamous Sunday Night Baseball team, would make history as the first female manager or head coach in professional sports.

Edgardo Alfonzo – I have had debates with people who really want this to happen. What if the Mets fired Alfonzo from Class-A Brooklyn only to turn around and make him the skipper? Sounds absolutely insane, but you never know. Alfonzo won the New York Penn League title this past season, and knows a lot of the players in the Mets system. Plus he is a popular figure from the late 90s/early 00s teams.

Bobby Valentine – Would love to see Bobby V come back, even with the mustache and glasses. Valentine won 536 games in seven years with the Mets from 1996 to 2002, including a World Series appearance in 2000. His last year as a manger did not go well in Boston. As good of a coach Valentine is, he is known to have friction with front office personnel and doesn’t take fools lightly. Can’t see him and Van Wagenen working well together.

John Farrell – One wouldn’t consider Farrell a “bombshell” candidate, but he did win a World Series in 2013, and won three division titles in Boston. Reports are he’s interested in managing again. Wouldn’t be shocking if the Mets kicked the tires on him. 

Wally Backman – Have to include Wally in this “bombshell” list because there are Mets fans that desperately want him to manage the big league team. But it’s not happening. In addition to his own legal issues, Backman pretty much blasted the Mets when he never got consideration for the job from former GM Sandy Alderson. Can’t imagine the Wilpon’s relenting. Backman though is a good skipper; he wins everywhere, including winning an Atlantic League title this year on Long Island.

Mike Piazza – Never coached before. Never been reported to be interested in coaching. Not happening, but it would be a bombshell if the greatest home run hitting catcher in both Mets and in baseball history suddenly wanted to manage.

Keith Hernandez – See Mike Piazza.

Bobby Bonilla – I mean the Mets do owe him $1.19 million ever year until 2035, so why not? This seeps “bombshell” does it not?

Adam Gase – Yeah, I guess if football doesn’t work out, he could always bring his Cookie Monster eyes to baseball. Just keep Pete Alonso away from the ghosts Sam Darnold saw the other day.

Rex Ryan – Heard he wants to coach again, don’t know if he considered baseball. And he can eat enough “G**D*** snacks” in the dugout.

Brodie Van Wagenen – what if the Brodie Van Wagenen’s “bombshell candidate” is … himself…  

Joe Girardi Favorite to Land Phillies Job

The New York Mets are on the precipice of potentially losing Joe Girardi to the Philadelphia Phillies.

The Phillies have emerged as the odds on favorites to land Girardi who reportedly had a second interview with the club. The Mets were also scheduled to interview Girardi a second time on Tuesday according to Mike Puma of the New York Post.

But the popular opinion is that Girardi is likely heading to the City of Brotherly Love. The former Yankees manager even appeared on Mike Francesa’s radio program in New York, indicating he expects to have his managerial future decided within the next 48 hours.

If Girardi ends up in Philadelphia, it would be a devastating black eye for Brodie Van Wagenen and the Mets. The last thing New York can afford is to have the most coveted managerial candidate this off-season end up in the same division.

The problem is the Phillies, unlike the Mets, have deep pockets are willing to spend (see Bryce Harper and 13-year contract, for example). The Phillies want Girarid to change the culture. They see a division where the Nationals are defending National League Champions, the Braves are NL East Champions, and the Mets have budding young talent, and they know they need a manager to steer a ship that went off course this season.

Girardi received a lot of credit for managing a clubhouse with multiple big stars and bigger egos. From Alex Rodriguez, to Derek Jeter to Mark Teixiera, you could go on and on. Girardi managed to keep the Yanks a winner every year he managed there.

The Mets desperately need a manager with a credible resume after taking a flyer on inexperience with Mickey Callaway the last go-around. But it is hard to phantom Van Wagenen wanting to work with a manager he can’t control, and even harder to picture the Wilpon’s be willing to pay someone like Girardi.

The Mets seem content with a list that contains former outfielder Carlos Beltran, who has never coached before in his career; Eduardo Perez who works at ESPN and a mystery candidate according to Andy Martino of SNY. 

This is the kind of musical chairs that has Mets fans deeply concerned, and with good reason. 

If Girardi goes to Philly and wins, it could go down as one of the most infamous moments in Mets history.

Giant Embarrassment, Big Blue Blindsided by Cardinals

CARDINALS 27 - GIANTS 21

The Giants have nobody to blame but themselves.  The Giants were outclassed, outplayed and out-coached by the typically lousy Arizona Cardinals 27-21 on a soggy day at MetLife, as New York's offense completely unraveled, leaving head coach Pat Shurmur with no answers.

"We all have to do better," Shumur said afterwards. That would be an understatement.

In one quarter of play the Giants had only one first down, three total yards of offense and a little less than four minutes of possession. They trailed 17-0 before anyone could blink.  It wasn't just uncompetitive, it was embarrassing.

The Cardinals took the opening possession of the game and marched 75 yards on 13 plays, eating up nearly seven minutes before Chase Edmonds went untouched into the end zone from 20-yards out to give the Cardinals a 7-0 lead.

Edmonds wasn't done for Arizona. After Giants quarterback Daniel Jones threw a costly interception on the Giants first possession, Edmonds gashed Big Blue with another 20-yard touchdown to push Arizona's lead to 14.

On just two drives Edmonds had 59-yards on the ground and two scores, and there was 4:15 to play in the first quarter!

While the Giants did get back into the game with a couple of second quarter scores, including recovering a blocked punt in the end zone for a score, it was not nearly enough. It was too much of Chase Edmonds, and too many mistakes by the offense.

Case in point, second possession of the second half found the Giants with the football at the Cardinals 37, but a huge strip-sack fumble of Daniel Jones gave the Cards the football right back. Arizona wasted no time putting the ball into the end zone when Edmonds dashed 22-yards down the left side for the score to put the Cards up 10, 24-14.

Later in the fourth quarter with New York still, miraculously in the football game, down 24-21, Pat Shumur pulled out some of the most curious play-calling known to man when he decided to run the football on third and 18 at the Giants own 30 yard line. The play barely garnered three yards. Shurmur then decided to go for it on fourth and 15, and predictably it blew up in his face as Jones was strip-sacked again! Cardinals recovered and converted it into three more points to make 27-21.

Ball Game Over.

Talk about incompetent. That Giants were lucky to even have a shot in this game, because they certainly didn't deserve to win.  For a team that wasn't expected to win much this year, look at the upcoming schedule and it is hard to find many wins coming up for the Giants. This was their best shot to get back in the win column and they blew it.

It's going to be a long, twisted and horrifying season for Big Blue.

Altuve Walk-Off Homer Sends Astros to World Series

ASTROS 6 - YANKEES 4 
HOU Wins ALCS 4-2 

It was an instant classic. If you could script it anymore dramatic and any better with a championship on the line, this is how you would do it. That was how unbelievable, and incredible the finish to Game 6 of the American League Championship Series was.

The Astros led 4-2 heading into the ninth inning with their closer Robert Osuna on the mound, looking to lock down the 'Stros second trip to the Fall Classic in three years. That was until Yankees second baseman D.J. LeMahieu had something to say about it.

With Gio Urshella on first, and one out, LeMahieu, as he has done all year, came up clutch for the Yankees at the most opportune time. A 10-pitch battle between LeMahieu and Osuna concluded with the second baseman crushing a fastball two rows back in the right field bleachers, just passed the outstretched glove of George Springer to tie the game at four.

Suddenly a Yankee team that looked dead in the water had life. All they needed was Aroldis Chapman to settle down the Astros in the bottom half of the inning and the Yankees could focus on winning the game in extras.

For a short while it looked like Game 6 was poised for extras. Chapman struck out catcher Martin Maldonado for the first out, and got Josh Reddick to pop out to third for the second out.

Chapman got into some trouble when he lost Springer to a five-pitch walk, only to bring up the AL MVP from two years ago, Jose Altuve to the plate. And the littlest guy in baseball made the Yankees pay ... again.

In a moment best reserved for movies like "The Natural" Altuve absolutely crushed a 2-1 fastball from Chapman to deep left field, causing it ricochet off the brick facade for a two-run homer to send the Astros to the 2019 World Series.

Kids dream of that kind of moment, Altuve actually lived it. A two-run homer to win the pennant. Somewhere out there Bobby Thompson is smiling.

The wild and wacky ninth inning put an exclamation point on what had been an incredible ball game up to that point.

We saw tremendous plays in the field, such as Michael Brantley's diving catch to rob Aaron Hicks of base hit, which quickly turned into a double-play when Brantley alertly rose to his feet and shot a laser to Yuli Gurriel at first to double-up Aaron Judge.

How about the double-play turned by Altuve in the top of the eighth to rob the Yankees of an opportunity.

And who will forget the diving catch by Josh Reddick in right?

In short, the Yankees had every opportunity to do something against Houston, but the Astros seemingly always had the answer. That is why they are going to the World Series, and why the Yankees are going home.

It's not that the Yankees aren't good enough to beat a team like Houston. It's simply that the Houston Astros do all the little things right. In some way the Astros are everything the Yankees used to be in the late 90s and early 00s when they won four championships in five years.

Give the Yankees credit they fought all night to keep their season alive. They fell behind 3-0 when Gurriel homered off Chad Green to give the Astros an early 3-0 lead.

The Yankees chipped away with a Gary Sanchez RBI single in the top of the second, and a solo homer by Gio Urshela in the top of the of fourth to cut the deficit to 3-2.

Still it just wasn't enough to overcome the smarts of the Astros.

The Yankees will never get over losing this one. They had so many chances in all six games to write a completely different narrative.  The Yankees head into the off-season with their fair share of questions: Will Giancarlo Stanton be back after missing most of the postseason? Who will the Yankees sign to bolster a starting rotation that desperately needs better pitchers? Will the Yankees re-sign Didi Gregorius? Where will Gleyber Torres play if Gregorious leaves? So many questions abound.

The off-season beings. But if there is one thing the Yankees need to figure out is how do they beat the Astros. The Astros look destined to become a dynasty. Overthrowing them needs to be a priority now for Brian Cashman and company.

Yankees Respond, Pound Verlander and 'Stros

YANKEES 4 - ASTROS 1 
HOU leads ALCS 3-2 

Hold on to your hats folks, this series is far from over. The Yankees pulled out a 4-1 victory over Justin Verlander and the Houston Astros to force a Game 6 tomorrow night in Houston.

The Yankees rode the left arm of James Paxton to pull out the victory, as the former Seattle Mariner had his best start of the postseason, and his best outing in over a month, as he completely shutdown an Astros offense that has teed off on Yankee pitching the past three games.

After giving up a run on a wild pitch in the top of the first inning, Paxton was spotless. He held Houston to just four hits over six inning, while striking out nine batters. It's not like the Astros didn't have their chances; they had plenty.  Houston was 0-for-6 with Runners In Scoring Position and stranded nine men on base, much like the Yankees did the past three games.

On the flip side, the Yankees got all the runs they needed in the bottom of the first off Verlander.  First D.J. LeMahieu returned to his old form as the catalyst of the offense, crushing the second pitch he saw from Verlander over the right field fence for a solo homer, tying the game at one.

After a single by Aaron Judge and a double by Gleyber Torres followed the LeMahieu homer, Aaron Hicks, the much maligned Aaron Hicks, crushed a 3-2 slider off the end of his bat and watched it sale into the right field foul pole for a three-run home run. Yankees lead 4-1. There would be no stranding of men on base tonight.

Verlander would settle down the rest of way, mowing down Yankees left and right as he tallied nine strikeouts in his own right.

Still it was the incredible efforts of Paxton, and the Yankee pen that kept New York afloat for at least one more night.

Houston's best chance to do anything against the Yankees pen came and went in the top of the seventh when Tommy Khanle got into major trouble after giving up a single to George Springer and walking Jose Altuve. Manager Aaron Boone had no choice but to pull Khanle from the game, ushering in Zach Britton who managed to get out of trouble.

The Yankees and Astros are currently on the red eye back to Houston, Texas this evening. Game six is tomorrow night at 8 p.m. Gerritt Cole gets the ball on short rest for the Astros. Cole has been virtually unhittable at home this season. If the Yankees can find away to squeak out Game 6, they will be in great shape for Game 7 since Houston won't have either Verlander or Cole available for that contest.

First things first,  Game 6.

Yankees on the Brink of Elimination

ASTROS 8 - YANKEES 3 
HOU Leads ALCS 3-1 

The Yankees 2019 season is on the brink of extinction. Powered by a pair of mammoth home runs by George Springer and Carlos Correa, and a number of costly errors by the Bronx Bombers, the Houston Astros pulled out an 8-3 victory in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series, taking a commanding 3-1 lead in the series in the process.

The Yankees now face the prospect of having to beat Justin Verlander in Game 5 just to keep their season alive. Should they do that they would have to beat Gerrit Cole in Game 6 back in Houston on Saturday.

While anything is possible, the likelihood the Yankees get through both Astro-aces is highly unlikely.

In a series where the Yankees have fritted away opportunities, Game 4 was no different. In the bottom of the first inning, the Yankees stranded the bases loaded when Gary Sanchez struck out swinging. New York managed only one run in an inning where Zach Greinke looked like he was about to implode.

 Instead the Yankees gave Greinke renewed life as he held the Yanks to a single run over 4.1 innings of work.

The Astros finally got to Yankees starter Mashairo Tanaka in the top of the third when George Springer crushed an 86 mph splitter over the left-center field wall for a three-run homer, handing Houston a sudden 3-1 lead.

The blast stunned the crowd, and seemed to put the Yankees in a total malaise they never recovered from.

The Yankees would get one last shot with the bases loaded in the bottom of the fifth inning, but both Gleyber Torres and Edwin Encarnacion struck out swinging to end the inning, costing the Yankees another opportunity to do damage.

When it was all said and done, the Yankees were 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position, and left 10 men stranded on base.

The Astros had no such problems.  Houston put the game completely out of reach when Correa connected on a Chad Green fastball and planted into the seats in left to give the 'Stros a 6-1 advantage.

Game Over.

Even though Gary Sanchez later connected on a two-run homer in the bottom half of the sixth, the Yankees never got closer, instead playing like a team that accepted defeat.

Perhaps the most humbling moment of the night came when manager Aaron Boone brought in CC Sabathia, who proceeded to injury himself during an at bat for Springer. Instead of riding off to a standing ovation after a big strikeout, Sabathia's Yankee career likely ended in infamy, walking off the field with the trainer, and his glover over his face.

The Yankees now find themselves in the untenable position of having to beat Verlander, Friday night. The Yankees got two runs off Verlander on Sunday, in what was a rather shaky outing for the veteran righty, but it's hard to expect him to be off again for a second straight outing.

In the three defeats the Yankees are 1-for-16 with RISP and have left 23 men on base. They have managed to score only six runs in the three losses. This is a Yankee team that is desperate for some offense.

The facts are the Houston Astros are just a better team. They have the starting pitching to prove it, and a roster full of players who are killers in the clutch. There is a reason why the 'Stros won 107 games this year, and their talents are rising to the top at the right time.

NATIONALS ARE GOING TO THE WORLD SERIES

NATIONALS 7 - CARDINALS 4
WSH Wins Series 4-0 

Look away Mets fans.  NL East rival, the Washington Nationals are on their way to the franchise's first ever World Series. The franchise that once known as the Montreal Expos - a franchise that only came close to the fall classic in the 1981 NLCS, finally tasted glory on Tuesday night.

This has been building for some time now in Washington. When the Nats were in the process of beating the LA Dodgers in five games, there was a sense that this team could do just about anything, and a trip to the World Series seemed possible.

The Nationals wasted no time, scoring seven runs in the opening inning of Game 4, grabbing a commanding 7-0 lead. 11 hitters came to bat for Washington in the bottom of the first, eight of them reached base. It was an impressive way to start a clincher.

All the runs went to the good of starter Patrick Corbin, who gave up four runs over five innings, but still managed to strike out 12 batters on the night.

The key to this game had to be the efforts of the Nats bullpen as Tanner Rainey, Sean Doolittle and Daniel Hudson combined to hold the Cardinals to just one hit over the final four innings of Game 4.

This is an incredible story, one that has been overshadowed by the Yankees-Astros series. The Nationals were 12-games under .500 in May at 19-31 after getting swept by the Mets.

 It looked like manager Dave Martinez would be on his way out the door, especially with a team that has had a trigger finger when it comes to firing managers.

Instead the Nats rallied, going 72-38 in their final 100 games of the regular season, captured the top Wild Card slot by a wide margin, and did with Juan Soto and Anthony Rendon providing MVP-calliber numbers.

And to think this was a team that lost its superstar, Bryce Harper to free agency last winter. The Nationals overcame that and so much more to get this point. The earned the right to be in the World Series.

Yankees in Trouble as Offense Again Goes Silent

ASTROS 4 - YANKEES 1 
HOU leads Series 2-1 

The Yankees knew going into the ALCS that they would have a hard time against the likes of Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole, they just didn't expect those struggles to expect to struggle when neither starter had their best stuff.

First they lost Game 2, 3-2 in 11 innings when the bullpen couldn't hold a 2-1 lead against Verlander and the Astros, and on Tuesday the Yankees couldn't drive anybody in, stranding nine runners on base, as the offense went completely limp in RBI situations in a 4-1 Astros triumph.

The Yankees now find themselves down in the series 2-1. And the with the prospects of a rain out looming on Wednesday, there is a strong possibility Games 4 and 5 will be pushed back a day, meaning the Yankees will have to see both Zach Greinke and Verlander on regular rest in both of those contests. Not fun, but this is what happens when a team as talented as the Yankees fails to take advantage of a golden opportunity.

On Tuesday, Gerrit Cole just didn't have his best stuff. While Cole held the Yankees scoreless over seven innings, it required a ton of work on his part. Cole walked five batters, gave up four hits and tossed 112 pitches through seven innings. It was not easy, and by the time he left the game, the Yankees had to be kicking themselves.

After Astros' star shortstop Jose Altuve gave the 'Stros a 1-0 lead on a solo homer to center in the top of the first, the Yankees had their best opportunity go by the wayside in the bottom half of the inning.

New York loaded the bases against Cole, but the veteran righty found a way by jamming Didi Gregorius into a roll-over to second on a knuckle-curve ball.

But it wasn't just Gregorius who failed to capitalize in the inning. The Yankees opened the bottom of the first with singles by D.J. LeMahieu and Aaron Judge, but Brett Gardner flew out for the first out and Edwin Encarnacion popped up to second for another out. Both Gardner and Encarnacion have struggled this postseason, and in this series, yet Aaron Boone insists on batting both of them in the middle of the order.

An inning later, the Yankees had another shot, this time with two out, when Aaron Hicks walked and LeMahieu singled to center. That is when the fun ended as Cole struck out Aaron Judge on a slider down and away to get out of that jam.

Soon that 2-0 lead that Houston built on the solo homers by Altuve and Josh Reddick looked like Mount Vesuvius with each recorded out.

The Yankees next best opportunity to do any kind of damage against Cole ended in the cruelest of fates. With two out, Encarnacion doubled and Gleyber Torres walked to set the table for Gregorius. A postseason hero in the ALDS against Minnesota, Gregorius got the pitch he wanted and lifted it deep to right. It looked like the ball was about to sail out of Yankee Stadium -- until it didn't. The ball died at the warning track, landing in the glove of Michael Brantley for the final out of the inning.

Instead of celebrating a 3-run bomb from Gregorius, Yankees fans had to know this game was just about over.

Cole would finally settle in in the sixth inning, an didn't allow a single base runner over his final two innings of work.

Meanwhile, the Astros tacked on to their lead, scoring two runs in the top half of the seventh inning on a wild pitch and a sac fly to make it 4-0. The final two runs were charged to Adam Ottavino who continues to struggle out of the pen in this series; his ERA is an inflated 20.25.

Luis Severino took the loss for New York, allowing two runs on three hits over 4.1 innings of work.

If there is a Game 4 on Wednesday it will be a bullpen day for both teams. The Yankees could start Chad Green as an opener before going to JA Happ, or they could just start Happ tomorrow. The Astros will throw Jose Urquidy at some point in the game.

If Game 4 is rained out until Thursday, expect to see Game 1 starters Mashairo Tanaka and Zach Greinke return to the hill.