HOUSTON – Mark those calendars. Because no matter who wins Saturday night at Minute Maid Park, history will be made.
Game 6 between the Astros and Phillies on Nov. 5 will be the deepest in major league baseball in a year. The previous record was November 4th, set in 2001 (Yankees over the D-backs in Game 7) and 2009 (Yankees over the Phillies in Game 6).
Between the unusual 2022 lockout schedule, a mid-series rainout that pushed things back a day, and the possibility of a Game 7 on Sunday, the record has the potential to last. In fact, it will be the only World Series in which the majority of games (all but two) are played in a month better known for Thanksgiving sternum fluff than bat fluff.
Now, with this November being the most pivotal World Series of 118 to be played, it seems reasonable to suggest that one of these players on the Phillies or ‘Stros should emerge as a true “Mr. New.” November.”
Oh, we know what you’re thinking. We already have a Mr. November! This is Derek Jeter, who not only became MLB’s first hitter in November during Game 4 of the epic ’01 World Series, but also hit an incredible home run — a healing moment for New York City in the wake of the 9/11 attacks.
But while Jeter is currently tied for the November games played record (six games) and currently owns the November games played record (eight games), his signature moment of the month is statistically tied for Oct. 31. , not November 1, because that was then. Official date of the game
Will that be enough to strip Jeter of the title? Well, no, not really. But Jeter has a more meaningful nickname (“Captain”), so…he can at least share this one, okay?
As we head into Game 6 (November 16th in history), here are a few of the 2022 World Series with potential “Mr. November.”
(All performances of Games 1 and 2 held in October will skip this very important practice.)
Now, after Xavier pitched the first six innings of the Astros’ historic no-hitter in Game 4, it’s a tall order. Xavier was absolutely brilliant, confusing the Phillies with his “invisible” fastball in what wasn’t math. It should be won, but it was very close.
Xavier gave up two runs in Game 6 of the World Series last November, but we feel like he made up for it. He currently holds the record for most career hits in a November with 12. The X-factor is the possibility of playing 7 and the possibility of Xavier starting the game. If that happens, the last “Mr Xavier. November, the case remains in balance. (And by the way, so is the series.)
Like a number of Astros (who we’ll get to in a minute), Schwarber entered the series having played two November games. He featured prominently in that thrilling 2016 World Series between his Cubs and Cleveland. He went 4-for-9 with a walk in those games. In Game 3 of the series, he hit a mammoth 443-foot homer on the green at Citizens Bank Park, then went deep again in Game 5. That would put Schwarber one homer ahead of Chase Utley’s November record of 3.
Additionally, research confirms that “Schwarber” and “November” both end in “ber” (which should count for something, but probably doesn’t).
Peña had never played in a November game before this year. Wait, check, he hadn’t played in a Premier League game before this year!
That can’t possibly be true, as Peña seems quite comfortable at this point in the series. And in three games this month, he’s 6-for-12 with a homer, a walk, two RBIs and two runs. Plus, he’s a short guy, and 100% of people will refer to him as “Mr. November has been short-lived. You can search for it.
Bryce Harper, Rhys Hoskins, Alec Boehm and Brandon Marsh, Phillies
Like Schwarber, these Phillies have all gone one November game deep in the series, and that’s a decent starting point, though they obviously need to do more soon.
Right now, Marsh and Harper are giving us points for taking the idea of ”No Shave November” to its year-round extreme.
What if he was born in November (on the 19th if you want to send him a birthday card)!
Sarantoni Dominguez, Phillies
The only other November birthday boy on these lists (on the 25th), and his role as the guy likely to have the ball in his hands if the Phillies are trying to finish off their first World Series title since 2008 speaks for itself. he does.
Jose Altuve, Alex Bergman and Yuli Gurril, Astros
As the only members of the Astros to have played in both of the club’s previous November games — Game 7 in 2017 and Game 6 last year — the three players will all tie the November record shared by Jeter and Jorge Posada. . Plays played (six) in game 6.
Alas, they haven’t yet done as well with the opportunity as Jeter. Altuve is just 4-for-20 with a triple, Bergman is just 2-for-17 with a double, and Guerrile is just 4-for-19 with a double (and is currently nursing a sore knee). But they all have at least one hit in Game 5. If they want that beloved nickname (and you know, in their hearts they do), they need to experience that momentum Saturday.
The veteran left-handed reliever has far less leverage in this Astros bullpen than he did a year ago with the Braves. Smith has yet to even play this postseason.
But we should consider him just in case a game gets kind of silly (probably in extras) and Smith somehow has a chance to become the first reliever to shut out the World Series two years in a row in November. he does. He had his last outing for the Braves on November 2, 2021.
It is impossible to predict what magical moment November awaits us and who will provide it. For example, if someone hit a ninth-inning, walk-off, or red homer in a series clincher, that person had a very strong claim to “Mr.” The title of November.
It’s either that or “Captain Clutch” … although we hear that name has been taken before.
