Three hours before Game 5 in St. Louis, I bumped into a Detroit Tigers scout in the press box at Busch Stadium and extended congratulations,
Then, I asked him who he thought would win.
The San Francisco Giants or the St. Louis Cardinals.
A St. Louis win meant the Tigers would be facing the Cards in the World Series.
“Lance Lynn stepped in and did a great job replacing Chris Carpenter when he was injured this year, I read where if Lynn wins it will be his 20th win of the season.
“I like Lynn better than Barry Zito, what did he last 2 2/3 innings against Cincinnati? Plus over-all the Cardinals are a better team than the Giants.”
WRONG!
I said it with so much conviction the man was startled.
I told him how he did not understand how the post-season worked.
Had he not heard of Koppett’s Law?
He had not.
Leonard Koppett of the New York Herald Tribune, the New York Post, The New York Times, the Peninsula Times Tribune, and The Sporting News, stated a long time ago it was easy to forecast what would happen next in the post-season play. Just figure out which result inconveniences the most amount of writers.
If the Cards win the World Series would have opened in St. Louis on Wednesday night. Writers and broadcasters could stay put or go home for a couple of days, returning for Tuesday’s work out day.
If the Giants won Game 5, the National League Championship Series would continue Sunday in San Fran and everyone would be on a Saturday flight to the coast.
“Oh, I think I get it,” said the scout. “So, big deal you fly out there for one game and come back to St. Louis.”
No, under Koppett’s Law the Giants will win Game 6 and then lose Game 7 Monday and everyone will rush back to St. Louis for the workout day on Tuesday.
“I had no idea these strange forces were at work,” said the scout.
Believe it.
The Giants blanked the Cards 5-0.
On to San Francisco.
