That's (mildly) interesting

I realized there was an interesting side note to the upcoming NLCS with Los Angeles when the Phillies punched their ticket today by knocking off the Brewers.

See, Larry Bowa coaches over at third base for the Dodgers. And the first base coach for Philadelphia is Davey Lopes.

That's worth noting because the legendary third game of the 1977 NLCS (the first of three years the two clubs met in the post-season) was 31 years ago this week. The wild ending to that game hinged on one dramatic play involving both of those current base coaches—who were actually playing for the teams that they'll now be coaching against.

Some Phillies fans are probably still a little bitter.

After splitting the first two games of that series, Philadelphia entered the ninth inning of Game Three with a 5-3 lead and handed the game over to their closer, Gene Garber.

After Garber retired the first two batters, the Dodgers were down to their final strike when pinch-hitter Vic Davalillo executed a beautiful drag bunt that the infield never saw coming. When Tommy Lasorda used another pinch-hitter, Manny Mota made the Phillies pay for not pulling the larger left-fielder Greg Luzinski for a defensive replacement. Mota's deep drive to left was trapped against the wall and Davalillo scored on the error in the ensuing relay attempt as Mota moved all the way to third.

Up 5-4, it was Lopes who smashed a grounder toward third baseman Mike Schmidt. The ball bounced off the turf and Schmidt's glove, but Bowa—right behind him—barehanded the ball and made a strike to first base where Lopes was called ... safe.

There was the usual argument and replays seemed to support Bowa, but the Dodgers won that game and the next. It was kind of the Phillies way, I suppose.

I'll be watching to see Bowa and Lopes shake hands before Game One, wondering if ESPN or somebody will bring the whole thing up to either guy before this latest series begins.