What? Me Worry...

Well, the Dodgers clinched the NL West title yesterday. I wanted to be there, but US Water Systems pays the bills, and I had a full day. I did watch most of the game, which was blacked out here, but I used ExpressVPN to make them believe I was in Chicago!

I am having so much fun watching the Dodgers, finishing my book, and mentoring the management of US Water Systems. For the fun of it, I asked AI this question: "Who is teh Water Doctor?" This was the response:

Mark Timmons, “The Water Doctor,” is the founder and Chairman of US Water Systems and a WQA-certified Master Water Specialist with more than five decades of experience in residential, commercial, and industrial water treatment.

OK, that and $10.00 will get you a drink at Starbucks. I am just enjoying this ride by the Dodgers.

Do you understand how special this is?

No National League team has ever won three consecutive World Series.

That’s what makes the Dodgers’ 2026 pursuit historically significant. After winning in 2024 and 2025, a 2026 championship would make them the first NL team ever to three-peat.

Only two franchises have ever won at least three straight World Series:

• New York Yankees: 1936–39, four straight; 1949–53, five straight; 1998–2000, three straight

• Oakland Athletics: 1972–74, three straight

The closest NL clubs have come includes several back-to-back champions, such as the 1907–08 Cubs, 1921–22 Giants, 1975–76 Reds, and now the 2024–25 Dodgers, but nobody from the National League has gotten No. 3.

So if the Dodgers pull it off this year, they aren't merely defending their title. They'd be doing something the National League has never done in the World Series era.

What do you think the playoff roster will be? Let's hear it!

OKC Comets 5 – El Paso Chihuahuas (San Diego) 5 – Suspended after 4.0 innings.  To be completed on September 18.

Springfield Cardinals 6 - Tulsa Drillers 4 

This figured to be a pitcher’s duel, and early on the score would indicate that it was. Neither team scored in the first three innings, and they did combine to strike out 12 times.  

In the 4th, Jesús Báez hit a monster HR off RHSP Christian Zazueta giving the Cardinals a 1-0 lead.  In the bottom of the 5th, CF Eduardo Quintero drew a 1 out BB from LHSP Liam Doyle.  On the next batter K, Quintero stole 2nd.  Doyle was done after 3.2 innings and 86 pitches.  He did not allow a hit, but he walked five and struck out 8.  The Cardinal reliever walked 3B Logan Wagner and gave up a bloop RBI dame tying single by SS Sean McLain. 

In the 5th, Zazueta gave up his 2nd HR that bounced off the top of the wall and into the bullpen for a 2-1 lead.  RF Mike Sirota led off the bottom of the 5th with a BB.  He moved to 2nd on a WP and scored on LF Chuck Davalan’s game tying RBI single.  

Zazueta was pulled after 5.0 innings, allowing the 2 runs on 2 solo HR. He gave up 4 hits, 1 BB, and struck out 7.  He threw 74 pitches with 56 strikes (75.7%).  LHRP Luke Fox relieved Zazueta.  He was not dominant, but he was productive.  He completed 2.0 scoreless innings.  

Tulsa took the lead in the 7th. 2B Taylor Young led off with his 3rd BB.  He was WP to 2nd and WP to 3rd.  DH Elijah Hainline hit a SF giving the Drillers a 3-2 lead.  

But then the bullpen was summoned for Tulsa.  LHRP Christian Suarez was the first to enter in the 8th.  He was not sharp at all, but he also did not get much help from his defense.  In 0.2 IP he walked a batter and gave up a single and double.  On one of the singles, Sirota had a throwing error allowing the tying run to score.  The following double would have brought that run home anyway, but the runner on 1st was sent home on the double.  Davalan made a good throw to McLain who made a great throw home that would have got the runner by 10 feet, except the catcher forgot to catch the relay throw.  

RHRP Jacob Kmatz was summoned to get the final out with a runner on 3rd, and ended the inning. 

In the 9th, Kmatz gave up a single and 2-run HR.  This was the 2nd 2-run HR off Kmatz in the playoffs.  Not a good ending to what looked like a positive run.  RHRP Kelvin Ramirez was pulled after giving up a leadoff walk in the first playoff game, gave up a BB to the 1st batter he faced in this game.  But he got the final out.  

In the bottom of the 9th, Wagner led off with a BB and moved to 2nd on PH Kole Myers bloop single.  Both runners moved up on a Taylor Young groundout.  Sirota hit a ground ball out with Wagner scoring.  Hainline grounded out to end the game and the season for Tulsa.  

Tulsa had 3 singles in the game, but walked 9 times.  The Drillers struck out 14 times in this game, making it 31 times over the two games. 

Relievers pitched 10 innings, and gave up 8 earned runs.  Bad relief pitching, 31 strikeouts in 2 playoff games, and shoddy defense does not bode well for a successful playoff.  However, it was a record-breaking season for Tulsa and there were lots of positive stories which I will summarize when I chronicle the 2026 Tulsa season.  

Box Score 

I used to write liberally about a favorite, Andrew Toles.  The Dodgers continue to sign him and place him on the restricted list so he is eligible for health insurance.