Ten Games To Go- Up 5.5-- So Magic Number Is Five
There are 11 days left on MLB regular season schedule. The Atlanta Braves have a 5.5 game lead over Philadelphia, with 10 games left on the schedule . The Phillies have 11 games left.
It's far too soon to even project playoff scenarios. The current MLB system , with 12 of 30 teams making playoffs, makes early conjecture pointless.
The Braves could still overtake LA for the second seed, and thus get a bye. Or they could still cave and lose the Division flag .
Neither is probable...but watching the improbable unfold is the thrill of playoff baseball. The Phillies' collapse in 1964 is instructive.
They blew a 6.5 game lead over the final 12 games. One of their biggest villains in that late- season lurch was (Milwaukee) Braves' catcher Joe Torre. In a four game sweep of Philly, Torre went 11 for l9, with two homers and two triples, knocking in seven runs.
The two triples may be the hardest to believe, as Torre was not the fleetest of foot. One can imagine that the spacious dimensions of Shibe Park played a role. ( 334 feet to left, 329 feet to right and an amazing 447 feet to straightaway center field).
The Braves took four straight in Philadelphia. The Phils then proceeded to lose three more to St Louis, thus nudging the Cardinals to the flag and the World Series.
Phillies manager Gene Mauch was roundly criticized for his overuse of his two top pitchers, Jim.Bunning and Chris Short, down the stretch.
Whatever the reasons, the "Collapse of '64" reminds all baseball fans that Yogi was right when he later said " It ain't over 'til it's over" .
Patrick Conarro
RamblinSports.com