{"id":938300,"date":"2026-10-23T17:42:16","date_gmt":"2026-10-23T17:42:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/938300\/"},"modified":"2026-10-23T17:42:16","modified_gmt":"2026-10-23T17:42:16","slug":"a-grip-on-sports-who-would-have-thought-in-september-this-years-world-series-would-have-a-seattle-connection-and-an-even-deeper-spokane-one","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/938300\/","title":{"rendered":"A Grip on Sports: Who would have thought in September this year’s World Series would have a Seattle connection? And an even deeper Spokane one?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A GRIP ON SPORTS \u2022 When we first opened \u201cBall
\nFour,\u201d Jim Bouton\u2019s diary of his star-crossed Major League Baseball career,
\nwe had no idea where we would be some 50 years later. Or where the Pilots, the
\nexpansion team which Bouton featured, would be. Turns out at least one Seattle-born
\nbaseball franchise has a chance to win the World Series this year.<\/p>\n

\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022<\/p>\n

\u2022 Bouton\u2019s
\nbook was an eye-opener for this teenager. And most of his generation. Major
\nLeague games were actually played in bandbox like Sicks Stadium?<\/p>\n

Ya, that\u2019s what we took from it. Not a
\ntwo-word piece of profanity that some still use to honor the late Pilots\u2019 manager,
\nJoe Schultz. And we\u2019re pretty sure a few Mariners fans will utter if the
\nBrewers win this year\u2019s World Series. <\/p>\n

For those of you without a history
\ndegree, Seattle\u2019s first MLB franchise, the expansion Pilots, played one season,
\n1969, in the rainy city. Outdoors. Posted a 64-98 record. Went bankrupt. Were sold
\nto a Milwaukee auto dealer, someone named Bud Selig. And, on April Fools\u2019 Day
\nin 1970, moved to the land of butter and beer. Became the Brewers.<\/p>\n

Made the World Series in 1982 by bashing
\nthe ball and growing mustaches that Tom Selleck envied. Actually had a bunch of
\nplayers who played in Spokane, the club\u2019s Triple-A franchise for a short time.
\nLost the series to the Cardinals in what was then considered a triumph of speed
\nover power.<\/p>\n

Those were the days.<\/p>\n

Tonight at 5 on Fox, the New Brew Crew,
\nremade in the image of this post-modern baseball world<\/a>, start their second chance
\nto win the Series. Before the second Seattle franchise, the woe-begotten Mariners<\/a>, even play in their first.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Pat Murphy\u2019s team<\/a> features speed \u2013 on
\nthe base paths and on the bump \u2013 and power \u2013 mainly in 22-year-old Jackson Chuiro\u2019s
\nbat and 24-year-old starter Jacob Misiorowski\u2019s arm<\/a> \u2013 and much more. They play
\nbaseball with the same emphasis on fundamentals<\/a> Murphy\u2019s old Arizona State
\nteams did back when they were passing through Pullman.<\/p>\n

Their doppelg\u00e4nger opponent<\/a>, the Tampa
\nBay Rays, powered their way through the American League, riding Junior Caminero\u2019s
\nbat (42 home runs, 101 RBIs) and an offense that will do whatever it takes to
\nget on, get over and get in.<\/p>\n

And they utilize the power arm of
\nSpokane\u2019s Drew Rasmussen, their ace who, after winning 16 regular season games
\nwith a 2.67 ERA and .91 WHIP, has reached a new level<\/a> in the postseason. <\/p>\n

The Mt. Spokane grad, who dominated in winning the
\nALCS\u2019 key fifth game five days ago,\u00a0yielded three earned runs in 21 innings
\nagainst the Yankees and Guardians. He\u2019s struck out 23 and walked three. He\u2019s
\nbeen as good as anyone in baseball, including Misiorowski, who will start
\ntonight for Milwaukee.<\/p>\n

Two teams that play the game differently
\nthan the modern, three-true-outcome powers like the Dodgers, Yankees and, if
\nyou use the word \u201cpower\u201d loosely, the M\u2019s. They hit home runs only occasionally.
\nThey strike out at a lower-than-average rate. The one \u201ctrue\u201d outcome they
\nembrace? They work at-bats and pitch counts, walking often.<\/p>\n

One out of three \u2013 along with a lot more
\n\u2013 has been enough to get them both to the Promised Land.<\/p>\n

\u2022 We tried to cover the rest of the weekend\u2019s TV schedule <\/a> yesterday morning. The highlights, besides the World
\nSeries (also on Fox at 5 on Saturday)? <\/p>\n

College football features a couple of
\nTop 25 matchups: No. 7 Ole Miss at No. 19 Texas (4:30 p.m., ABC) and No. 15
\nHouston at No. 10 Utah (7:15, ESPN).<\/p>\n

Locally, Washington State hosts No. 21
\nBoise State (3 p.m., USA Network) and Idaho welcomes Southern Utah in for Homecoming
\n(2, SWX).<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The top NFL game is Sunday night\u2019s matchup
\nfrom Seattle (5:20, NBC), with 5-0 Kansas City in town to face the 3-3 Hawks.<\/p>\n

If you want to catch the 15th-ranked
\nZags\u2019 exhibition opener, it\u2019s available via streaming. The game at No. 12 Arkansas
\nwill be carried by SEC Network+, which is available on the ESPN App if your
\ncable package includes the SEC Network. There is a similar path to follow for
\nWashington State\u2019s 1 p.m. Sunday exhibition game at Washington. Big Ten+ has
\nthe game. <\/p>\n

Duke vs. Kansas three hours earlier?
\nThat exhibition game is on ESPN. <\/p>\n

\u2022\u2022\u2022<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

WSU: Playing
\nBoise State always brings up mixed memories for Cougar fans. And mixed
\nemotions. There have been five Washington State wins in the seven games played
\npreviously. It\u2019s the last of those, a spectacular 2017 triple-overtime comeback,
\nthat causes the deepest reaction, as it was led by the late Tyler Hilinski not long
\nbefore he took his own life. This morning Greg Woods looks at all seven games<\/a>. \u2026
\nThe game in Pullman seems to be the focus around the conference<\/a>, as well as in Boise<\/a>. \u2026 Are the Broncos at a financial disadvantage<\/a> vis-\u00e0-vis WSU and Oregon
\nState? \u2026 Jon Wilner\u2019s weekend picks are on the S-R site<\/a> this morning. \u2026 John
\nCanzano\u2019s are on his website<\/a>. \u2026 Here is the rest of the Pac-12 schedule this
\nweek, listed chronologically:<\/p>\n

\u2013 San Diego State (3-4, 2-1) at Colorado
\nState (2-4, 0-2), (3:30 p.m., The CW): The Aztecs\u2019 backup quarterback is ready<\/a> to help his team win on the road for the first time this season.
\nIf he has to play, he will be facing a Ram defense<\/a> under new management<\/a>. \u2026 San
\nDiego State legend Marshall Faulk<\/a> revealed he\u2019s dealing with Parkinson\u2019s
\nDisease. <\/p>\n

\u2013 Utah State (2-4, 1-1) at Texas State
\n(3-3, 1-1), (4:30, CBS Sports Network): No one gains more yards per game than
\nthe Bobcats, led by running back <\/a>Torrance Burgess Jr.<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2013 Oregon State (5-2, 3-0) and Fresno
\nState (4-3, 1-2) have byes. <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\u2022 In
\nbasketball news, Oregon State\u2019s women<\/a> are beginning a new era, just as their
\nlongtime conference is. That\u2019s related. \u2026 Arizona<\/a> began its exhibition season with a huge win.\u00a0\u2026 The Fresno State men<\/a> have made a roster subtraction. \u2026 San Diego State\u2019s second exhibition<\/a> is at home tonight against USC. \u2026 Washington is trailing in NIL funds<\/a> among Big Ten programs. \u2026 We have not talked with Tommy Lloyd recently, but he sees the eligibility chaos the same way we do<\/a>. The NCAA wants it. He told CBS Sports\u2019 Gary Parrish:\u00a0\u201cSo [in my opinion,] the NCAA doesn\u2019t mind the \u2019chaos\u2019 right now because it can help drive the case for them to promote the [Protect] College Sports Act, which I\u2019m sure we need.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2022
\nElsewhere in the West and the nation, Wilner takes a look at coaching hot-seat temps<\/a> around the country at midseason. \u2026 Speaking of midseason, The Athletic
\nwonders how much has changed<\/a> at this point. \u2026 In a victory for the Pac-12\u2019s CFP chances, James Madison lost<\/a> its first game last night.\u00a0\u2026 Dan Lanning is all for the24-team playoff<\/a>. His Ducks<\/a> might need it this season to qualify considering all
\nthe tough breaks recently<\/a>. \u2026 California<\/a>
\nhad, quite possibly, the second-best returning quarterback on the West Coast.
\nBut he no longer is the outright starter for the Bears<\/a>. \u2026 Stanford plays tonight<\/a>
\nand is pinning some of its hopes in a way to North Carolina State having travel
\ntrouble. \u2026 Utah<\/a> relies on its line to make the offense go<\/a>. \u2026 Colorado<\/a> is starting to rely on a new running back. \u2026 Same<\/a> with Arizona<\/a>. \u2026 A USC player<\/a> took a big chance and ended up in L.A. \u2026 A UCLA staffer<\/a> followed a similar path. \u2026 There is no easy path<\/a> for Arizona State<\/a> to emerge from its struggles.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Gonzaga:
\nWe mentioned the Bulldogs\u2019 first exhibition game above. Theo Lawson does more
\nthan just mention it, he has a preview of it<\/a> on the S-R site. A preview built
\naround the one Zag who felt for much of his life he would be a Razorback
\nsomeday. That is freshman big Parker Jefferson, whose parents met while playing
\nsports for Arkansas. \u2026 Theo has another preview<\/a> which looks more at the game itself.<\/p>\n

EWU and
\nIdaho: Around the Big Sky, the Saturday slate is not robust as Eastern
\nWashington, No. 7 Northern Arizona<\/a> and No. 14 Montana have byes. Who is left? Well, Weber State<\/a> is at third-ranked Montana State. \u2026 Idaho hosts Southern Utah<\/a>. \u2026 Utah Tech and Cal Poly match up in SLO. \u2026 Portland State is on the road at\u00a0Idaho State. \u2026 Finally, Northern Colorado<\/a> is at No. 21 UC Davis<\/a>. \u2026 In basketball news, Idaho State<\/a> sees long-term promise in its new-look women\u2019s roster.<\/p>\n

Whitworth:
\nThe Pirates, coming off a loss to Linfield, host Lewis & Clark on Saturday
\n(1 p.m.) at the Pine Bowl. Ethan Myers has a preview<\/a>.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Preps: Lots
\nto get to here this morning, starting with Dave Nichols\u2019 game story of Thursday night\u2019s GSL game<\/a>. Cheney survived the rain, lightning and Shadle Park en route
\nto a 54-13 win at ONE Spokane Stadium. \u2026 Before we move on, Dave also has a preview of a women\u2019s college basketball event<\/a> at St. George\u2019s School on
\nSaturday and Sunday. The Northwest Crossover Classic features 12 NAIA
\nschools playing 12 games. \u2026 Back to football, Dave has a preview of tonight\u2019s big GSL games<\/a>. \u2026 He also has a preview of the State slowpitch softball tournaments<\/a> this weekend in Yakima. \u2026 Of course we can pass along a roundup<\/a> of
\nThursday\u2019s action in other sports.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Seahawks:
\nWhat is wrong with the Hawks\u2019 offense? Bob Condotta tries to answer that question<\/a> in the S-R. \u2026 Zach Charbonnet took a big step<\/a> this week and may be available to help.<\/p>\n

Mariners:
\nThe M\u2019s managerial search continues<\/a>. Under the radar. We just a couple names
\nsurfacing. By the way, Cleveland\u2019s Stephen Vogt is no longer a candidate<\/a>. \u2026 We
\nwanted to write about the World Series today. Had our thoughts in order last
\nnight. And then opened the S-R website, only to see the boss had written a Series column<\/a>. Crud. Now we had to come up with another subject. Then we opened it and
\nread. No crossover, except, maybe, we both mention the two participants. \u2026 Howie
\nStalwick tracks the connections to the Spokane Indians<\/a> for the two teams. \u2026 We
\nlinked the other two S-R stories above. \u2026 There are more stories available of
\ncourse. <\/p>\n

Kraken:
\nSeattle won against Utah<\/a> last night. The outcome has folks in Salt Lake City
\nwondering if the Mammoth need to change goalies<\/a>. <\/p>\n

\u2022\u2022\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u2022 The dog wakes up at some point during our writing
\nprocess each morning. And has an eternal need to make sure we haven\u2019t forgotten
\nhim overnight. The process grounds to a halt as we switch chairs and let him
\nshare our lap. And receives his assurances \u2013 as well as pets. Then it\u2019s back to
\nrunning down Texas State football stories. Until later \u2026 <\/p>\n

\u2022\u2022\u2022<\/p>\n

\u2022 Photos: The Spokesman-Review, Getty Images,
\nTribune News Service<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A GRIP ON SPORTS \u2022 When we first opened \u201cBall Four,\u201d Jim Bouton\u2019s diary of his star-crossed Major…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":938301,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[558],"tags":[64,63,591,85],"class_list":["post-938300","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-mlb","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-mlb","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/938300","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=938300"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/938300\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/938301"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=938300"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=938300"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=938300"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}