Mets Defeat Dodgers; Will Play Cubs in NLCS

Daniel Murphy had three hits, including a home run and a double to lead the New York Mets over the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-2 in Game 5 of their National League Division Series on October 15th. The win clinched the beat of five series for the Mets, who will now play the Chicago Cubs in the National League Championship Series.

The Mets will play in their first NLCS since 2006, when they lost to the St. Louis Cardinals. Their last World Series appearance was in 2000, when they lost to the Yankees in a revival of sorts of the old Subway Series when the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants squared off with the Yankees.

New York’s opponent is the Chicago Cubs, who are making their first NLCS appearance since 2003. That series against the then Florida Marlins, saw the Cubs get to within five outs of winning their first National League Championship since 1945, only to become unglued after fan Steve Bartman attempted to field a foul ball in the left field stands while left fielder Moises Alou was attempting to make a play. The Cubs fell apart, lost the lead and the game, and then lost the decisive Game 7 the next day.

It was just one more in a series of Cubs misfortunes. The club has not been to the World Series in 70 years, and last won the thing in 1908. None of the other teams remaining in the post season existed when the Cubs lost to the Detroit Tigers in their last World Series back in 1945.

The Cubs improved by leaps and bounds this season, finishing the regular season 97-65 which was third best in the majors but also third place in the N.L. Central behind the Cardinals and Pirates. The Cubs beat the Pirates in the Wild Card game, then dispatched St. Louis in four games in their Division Series. Cub hitters have been pounding the crap out of the ball as of late, including this home run against the Cardinals by catcher Kyle Schwarber, which may have landed in Indiana somewhere.

This series does give the Cubs a chance to get one monkey off their backs. In 1969, the Cubs got off to a great start and were in first place in the N.L East (each league consisted of two six team divisions back then) right from Opening Day. On August 16th Chicago held a nine game lead in the East, their largest lead of the season; it was a foregone conclusion they’d make the playoffs.

But then they started losing ground to the Mets, who had turned red hot. The Cubs were 8-8 for the remainder of August, and then it really went down the dumper. They were just 9-18 from September 2nd through the end of the season. On September 9th, the Cubs played the Mets at Shea Stadium, clinging to a game and a half lead. Suddenly, a black cat appeared on the field and went into the Cubs dugout. Chicago lost that game 7-1, and then fell a half game out the next day after losing to the Philadelphia Phillies. They never recovered. Meanwhile, New York finished 36-11, beat the Atlanta Braves in the NLCS and the Baltimore Orioles in the World Series.

Game 1 of the NLCS is October 17th at Citi Field in New York.