The Philadelphia Phillies and Tampa Bay Rays might be enjoying the view from the brink of the World Series, but they shouldn't celebrate just yet.
Teams with a three-games-to-one lead in the League Championship Series enjoy advantageous positions, but history's shown their desperate opponents seldom go down without a fight.
A three-games-to-one situation has occured 26 times in the 46 playings of the LCS since its expansion to a best-of-seven format in 1985. Out of those 26 instances ...
... 12 times (46.2 percent), the team ahead won in five.
The '87 Twins, the '88 Athletics, '89 Giants, the '91 Twins, the '96 Yankees, the '99 Yankees, the '00 Mets, the '01 Diamondbacks, the '01 Yankees, the '02 Giants, the '02 Angels and the '05 White Sox.
... 7 times (26.9 percent), the team ahead won in six.
The '90 Reds, the '92 Blue Jays, the '97 Indians, the '98 Padres, the '99 Braves, the '00 Yankees and the '06 Astros.
... 1 time (3.8 percent), the team ahead won in seven.
The '92 Braves. (Francisco Cabrera, anyone?)
... 6 times (23.1 percent), the trailing team won in seven.
The '85 Royals, the '86 Red Sox, the '96 Braves, the '03 Marlins, the '04 Red Sox and the '07 Red Sox.
Perhaps the odds of a L.A. or Boston comeback aren't as long as many fans and pundits have suggested.
Between the Dodgers and the Red Sox, which team has a better chance of rallying for three straight victories?
Anne V
Janipher Choi
Mavs Dancers
College Football, Top 25 Review
Comments (15) Add A Comment
Boston has been in this spot 2 of the past 4 seasons, and again in this one. They do know how to come back, however this year their pitching is not as good as it was in 2004 and 2007. I'm hoping for the best.
JAubin
Swansea, MA
Total Comments (804)
dont I now it.... still pissed about last year lol.
Dodgers. The Rays are playing out of their minds right now, and the Dodgers seem to embrace the underdog role.
I think we are looking at a Rays- Phillies World Series though.
ohio state and…
Columbus, OH
Total Comments (308)
Phillies and Red Sux are going home..always next year! Atleast ya got that far...
Riggs (McDUDD)
Total Comments (2189)
Opps..you can find my error. :(
Riggs (McDUDD)
Total Comments (2189)
I think that the redsox will have a better chance to come back. I dont think that they will but PHILLY has their ace on the mound and Lowe already pitched for LA. I see a PHILLIES HATER in here. HI HATER!!! lol... I have PHILLY all day, everyday.
_PHILLY_PHAN
Total Comments (124)
Rays v Phillies WS. Rays sweep em!
BEAST!
Total Comments (834)
Nope. Bury them in a shallow, unmarked grave. They are done.
madhatter
Total Comments (846)
"We've got them just where we want them."
John McCain
A Good-Looking Man
Total Comments (1203)
"So you're saying there's a chance?!" I don't think so. The Rays are playing unlike anyone else played before the Red Sox came back to win in those previous instances.
Joe Pilot
Goldsboro, NC
Total Comments (4)
Who cares? The Mets are missing.
WEG
Concord , NC
Total Comments (37)
I fervently hope the Sox can come from behind; they have in three of the five LCS's they were in since the format change. Tampa Bay has--since September--found a way to pound Sox pitching, save for Daisuke. True, Tampa Bay is young and the Sox are battle tested. After all, the Rays are relative unknowns, but their manager has a big intangible going for him right now, confidence. He has those kids believing in themselves to the point of overachievement. Terry Francona is a great manager in his own right; he's proven it twice in the past four years. The question is this: Can Sox pitching and the heart of its batting order recover in time?
Dr. Gushue
Dr. Gushue
Williamsburg , VA
Total Comments (1)
The Red Sox and Dodgers are done. Congratulations to Joe Torrre for taking the Dodgers this far.
BobbyC
Total Comments (9)
GO SOX!!
HardKnock
Hialeah , FL
Total Comments (2)
this is 2008 silly not 2007.not even closeto being as good a team...............Rays Philly coming up.
Grossedout9
Total Comments (3138)
The Dodgers deserved to be buried, though. They got exactly what they had coming.
cubs/bears
Total Comments (985)
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