The cosmic connection between the Nats and the Blues
Congratulations to the Washington Nationals (and to my sister’s family who lives there) for an amazing run to the World Series crown! What a great team, group of players and story.
As a St.Louisan I couldn’t help but notice the remarkable similarities to our Blues capturing their first Stanley Cup in 52 years only a few short months ago:
It was the first championship for both the Nats and the Blues in their respective history’s – after 5 decades of play!
Both teams were expected to be credible competitors at the beginning of the season (though neither certainly was the favorite). Instead, both got off to horrendous starts. The Nats had a bad losing record one-third of the way into the season and looked like a team with virtually no chance to make the playoffs; the Blues were in dead last place at the half-way point of the season. And yet both teams miraculously rallied to make the playoffs by finishing the rest of the season with the best (or nearly the best) record in the league.
Neither team was expected to advance far in the playoffs or even win their first series. The Blues were decided underdogs against the Winnipeg Jets and the Nats even a bigger underdog versus the Los Angeles Dodgers (after winning the Wild Card game).
Both teams remained big underdogs in future series (indeed, the only series the Nats were favored in was their second series vs. the Cardinals and the only series the Blues were favored in was their second Series vs. the Dallas Stars.) Both teams were an approximate 2-1 underdog in the World Series and Stanley Cup Final, respectively.
Both teams were down in the playoffs and had remarkable comebacks. The Blues trailed at some point in every series; the Nats trailed in the series against the Dodgers and the Astros and faced an incredible five elimination games and won them all.
Both teams were monsters on the road. The Blues won all 3 road games vs Winnipeg, 2 of 3 vs Dallas and against Winnipeg and 3 of 4 ,including the last 3, vs Boston in the Final; The Nats won 2 of 3 vs LA on the road; 2 of 2 vs the Cardinals and 4 of 4 vs Houston.
Both teams won the championship and Game 7 in enemy territory. Indeed, many of both squads’ fans headed to the local baseball stadium to watch and root for the guys on TV despite it pouring down rain in both cities at the time.
On the other hand, neither team’s record at home were indicative of greatness. The Blues lost more games than they won at home in the playoffs and the Nats lost all 3 World Series games at home
Indeed, the Nats played in first series championship in any major professional sport where road team won every game in 7 game series. The Blues almost duplicated that in their series with Winnipeg; the first 5 games were won by the road team before the Blues finally won Game 6 at home.
Both teams overcame horrendous calls by officials during critical times of the playoffs. The Blues lost a game against San Jose in Overtime after a goal following a clear hand-pass that was not called; the Nats’ Trea Turner was called out for interference on a play that most found to be ridiculous ruling in Game 6 of the World Series which could have cost them the game and the Series.
Both teams beat supposedly unbeatable teams to win their Championship. The Boston Bruins had won 7 straight playoff games outscoring their opposition in those games by an absurd 28-9 margin and had what was considered by most the best line in hockey labeled the” perfection line;” The Astros won the most games in MLB with the best line-up in baseball and an all-star starting pitching staff of Cole, Verlander and Greinke (one could argue they were one of the best teams ever assembled in MLB history).
Both teams won their shocking championship on a wacky Wednesday. The MVPs of both series, Stephen Strasburg and Ryan (O’) Reilly are quiet bearded folks who lead more by their actions than their words and their names are alliterations (ok I am stretching here). And Washington’s most famous player and the starter of Game 7- Max Scherzer – was born and raised in the Lou.
The bottom line is that both teams were incredibly resilient, overcame great adversity and persevered as a result of the contributions of so many different players, embodying the true definition of team.
Who would have thought the baseball and hockey Gods would be in such collaboration!
