[PARAM]

Man what an ass whooping the Nats put on the Astros last night. Down 2 games to none, Houston now has quite the uphill battle on their hands. Not only did both of their aces take it on the chin but they took it on the chin at home. In the last 50 years 3 teams have come back to win the World Series after losing the first two games at home. The 96 Yankees, the 86 Mets and the 85 Royals. And it took two freak plays on those last two.

Bill Buckner's infamous error in the 10th inning of game 6 and Don Denkinger's blatant safe call on Jorge Orta's ground ball to first to start the 9th inning of game 6. Sure the Cardinals still could have escaped with a win but it wasn't to be. And besides that, they had a game 7 (as the 86 Red Sox had also) they could have won but they got beat giving up a combined 19 runs in those 2 game 7's (St. Louis 11, Boston 8). Still, the Royals and the Mets won after losing the first two at home with a huge break.

Can the Astros do it too? Is there a break in the future for them? You have to figure Cole and Verlander, being practically unbeatable aces, won't lose again. So maybe Houston just needs to win two of the next three and then let their big guns redeem themselves. But for now the Nats are in a great position. And I'll tell you this.....there's one guy in Philadelphia thinking WTF??? If Washington holds on to win at least he'll have all those Benjamins to ease his pain.

[St. Loser Fan]

To Dodgers fans: does the sting of losing to the Nationals decrease seeing them sweep through the Cardinals and assuming they cakewalk to a World Series win?

[PARAM]

To Dodgers fans: does the sting of losing to the Nationals decrease seeing them sweep through the Cardinals and assuming they cakewalk to a World Series win?

I was thinking, as a Yankee fan, Houston losing doesn't lessen anything. And as a matter of fact, Houston winning doesn't lessen anything either. Dodger fans have an impossible choice....the team who beat them this year vs the team who beat them two years ago.

[dieterbrock]

Go Washington. Sooner its over, the sooner we can begin hot stove

[St. Loser Fan]

Go Washington. Sooner its over, the sooner we can begin hot stove

You might not have to wait long.

[dieterbrock]

You might not have to wait long.

We'll see about that. The use (or lack thereof) of Corbin is puzzling. I know Houston kills LH pitching but still, Corbin was a top flight starter this year. These metrics drive me nuts.

[snackdaddy]

To Dodgers fans: does the sting of losing to the Nationals decrease seeing them sweep through the Cardinals and assuming they cakewalk to a World Series win?

I'm definitely pulling for the Nationals. The whole underdog thing and never winning a World Series. But no, it does not lessen the sting. They blew that game because of the manager.

Dave Roberts questionable decisions cost them game 5 and the series. Kershaw is clearly not what he was. But I can understand giving him a shot in that situation. But after the first HR Roberts shoulda went with the odds and put in his left handed specialist Kolarek. Soto looked lost in two a bats against him.

The next questionable decision was using Joe Kelly. Kelly did have a nice 9th inning but its mind boggling he sent Kelly back out there for the 10th. For one, Kelly has struggled all year and he's not a two inning guy. You count your lucky stars he held them in the 9th and put someone else out there in the 10th. Baez and Jansen had been his go to guys all season. Both were available and ready to go.

Its mind boggling that your top 2 relievers never got in the game in extra innings. And they had plenty of rest, so fatigue was not an issue. That game was all on Roberts. I'm disappointed he's coming back for another season.

Now you know how I really feel.

[BobCarl]

Don Denkinger's blatant safe call on Jorge Orta's ground ball to first to start the 9th inning ...

I don't live in St. Louis anymore ... but when I meet someone that claims to be, I ask them one question to see if they are legit or not ... "who is Don Denkinger" ... if their blood pressure rises, then I know they are from St. Louis ... Don Denkinger is a name that will never be forgotten

[snackdaddy]

I wouldn't blame Nationals fans for feeling the same way about Sam Holbrook and the bad call at first. The base is actually inside the line so I thought the runner had every right to run to the center of the base as long as he's in a straight line. Which he was.

But Rendon made the point moot with a HR after that. Actually a pretty good series considering I thought no one had a chance to beat the Astros. Another odd thing, has there been any series where the home teams were 0-7? Right now they are 0-6. Road teams have won every game. Pretty crazy when you think about it.

[dieterbrock]

I wouldn't blame Nationals fans for feeling the same way about Sam Holbrook and the bad call at first. The base is actually inside the line so I thought the runner had every right to run to the center of the base as long as he's in a straight line. Which he was.

But Rendon made the point moot with a HR after that. Actually a pretty good series considering I thought no one had a chance to beat the Astros. Another odd thing, has there been any series where the home teams were 0-7? Right now they are 0-6. Road teams have won every game. Pretty crazy when you think about it.

Man, thank god Rendon made it moot, had Houston turned around and won that game it would have been terrible.
What was worse than the call though was the lack of explanation for the delay. That wasn't a reviewable call, but they reviewed any way? Strange.
In any event, I always like to see historical events, regardless how bizarre they may be.
Tonight will be the first time in history, in any sport that has 7 game final, where the home team has lost the first 6