Time Out for Sports Talk: Icon See Double

Todd: As a great September concludes for sports fans all across New England, we’re about to begin an October that may include even more indelible moments than what we’ve already witnessed these past thirty days.

What’s sure to make this upcoming month equal parts memorable and melancholy is that the two most recognizable athletes of the century will take center stage, one in his triumphant return and the other playing in the final games of his historic career.

Starting on the diamond, unless the Red Sox make it to Game 6 of the World Series (or there’s a lengthy stretch of rainy weather pushing back the postseason schedule), October will mark the final month we’ll watch 40-year old David Ortiz take some mighty swings and electrify the Sox fan base one last time, after he has posted the greatest final season in MLB history (37 HR, 124 RBI).

As I mentioned in our last column, Ortiz is not only arguably the best Red Sox player of all-time (he is without a doubt to those generations younger than I), but he’s now officially the true ‘Mr. October’ over Reggie Jackson.  Check the numbers:

Jackson (w/Oak, NYY & Angels) – 77 postseason games, 78 hits, 18 HR, 48 RBI, .278 BA, .358 OBP, .527 SLG

Ortiz (w/Minn & Boston) – 82 postseason games, 87 hits, 17 HR, 60 RBI, .295 BA, .409 OBP, .553 SLB

Very comparable, but Ortiz gets the edge in my book.  I’ll even go out on a limb and predict that Big Papi should tie and likely pass Reggie’s home run mark before hanging his cleats up for good.

I won’t even bother bringing Derek Jeter (a/k/a ‘Mr. November’) into the discussion since he played in 158 career playoff games with 200 postseason hits, although I would like to point out that Jeter only amassed 20 HR and 61 RBI playing in nearly twice as many games.

Ortiz will certainly get his due with several tributes planned at Fenway this weekend, in what is essentially ‘autumn training’ baseball until the games begin for real again on October 6.  But let’s not forget what a special 2016 season this has been for the Red Sox, who have pulled off their second worst-to-first finish in the last five years.  BTW how odd is it that the Sox have either finished first or last in the AL East each of the last five years?

An 18-8 September which included an 11-game winning streak enabled these Sox to win their second division title in the John Farrell era (despite some of his questionable in-game decisions, Farrell deserves some credit for this year’s success).  The pitching has seemingly come together with a pitching staff anchored at both ends, the top five hitters in the batting order are as talented as any other team still standing, and the ingredients are in place for another potential duck boat parade, particularly in an American League that doesn’t feature a clear-cut favorite.  It’s true that the Chicago Cubs (already with over 100 wins) appear to be this year’s team to beat.  But let’s save that discussion for a few weeks, with the hope of having it.

Then there are the Patriots, who continue to win regardless of the quarterback.  If anyone still wondered whether Bill Belichick is an incredible coach, the first three games of this 2016 season should erase any doubt.

If it wasn’t enough to watch Jimmy Garoppolo dissect the Dolphins’ defense two weeks ago with Brady-like precision, then what Jacoby Brissett did on a short week against the Houston Texans was simply remarkable.  Along with Belichick, offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels deserves kudos for devising two brilliant game plans in a 5-day period.

Now before TB12 returns next week to scorch some Cleveland earth (and barring something crazy, I can’t see how he won’t), the Pats have to get through one more game with their current QB tandem.  Regardless which one starts this week, how can this team lose to coach Rex Ryan and his bag of stale jokes?

The Bills put the ‘offensive’ in their offense, which should have the Pats’ D licking their collective chops.  Don’t forget about Buffalo’s defense, which allowed nearly 500 yards of total offense to Ryan Fitzpatrick and the NY Jets.  And yet Rob Ryan still has a job?  Think his last name might have anything to do with that?  I honestly think a platter of Anchor Bar wings is more likely to stop the Pats’ offense in their tracks than anything else Buffalo has to offer.

My thinking is that if Garoppolo can go, the Pats should win 35-7 and if it’s Brissett, the score will be a little closer at 21-7.  So I’ll split the difference and go Patriots 28, Bills 7 in a game that Bill Belichick and his staff have had ten long days in which to prepare.

Mike: I can't believe that the Patriots are about to go 4-0 and Brady and Gronk have yet to really make a contribution (Brady hasn't played and Gronk may as well have not). But that's just a mark of a solid organization and good coaching.

And now, the real season can start, as the Pats go marching on to the Most Awkward Trophy Presentation Of All Time© (OK, so I didn't copyright that, but maybe I should...).

I really don't care who plays quarterback this week, they can bring in Steve Grogan for all I care, sexy Rexy and the Bills aren't going to win in Foxboro. Pats go 4-0 with a 31-10 win.

Thinking about David Ortiz, we have been so lucky to watch him for his Red Sox career. A case could be made that he is the most important Red Sox player of all time.

Note, I didn't say the best, I said the most important. There are too many good Red Sox players from the past (Ted Williams, Yaz, Pedro...etc.) and it's is impossible to compare eras to say one player is best. But most important, that's a bit different, and Ortiz has something in his favor...actually 3 things.

To me, the three World Series titles and the fact that he came up huge in all 3 of those postseasons makes him the most important player. All of the other greats can't touch him there. He helped give a new identity to the Red Sox and gave their fans something that they never thought they would see happen. That's pretty awesome, and I will miss him just for that.

Thanks Big Papi!

Now, I know Todd said we would save the World Series talk for another time, but I want to get into it now a little bit. I would welcome a Sox/Cubs World Series.

In honor of that, let's look at some postseason history.

2004

2007

2013

Now let's look at the Cubs recent postseason highlights

Hee hee hee.....

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