2018 World Series -- Boston Red Sox vs Los Angeles Dodgers

Boston in 6. I assume Game 1 is Sale/Kershaw; would like to see that live up to the billing.

For two payroll juggernauts, obv i am rooting for the one that hasn't won in 30 years. Also Boston should go another century w/out a title.

picked Boston to sweep. feel fairly confident they'll win the whole thing regardless

I don’t care who wins. I hope something funny happens

same, I just hope both teams have a lot of fun out there.

Theres talk of sum1 getting pantsed

I didn't realize until I just saw something online that Chase Utley played this year. Is he part of this? If they had him, Machado, and could somehow activate Roberto Alomar, what a trio of villains that would make.

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

Two opposing principles at stake:

If you don't want to see Mookie Betts win a World Series, you don't like baseball.
If you don't watn to see Clayton Kershaw win a World Series, you don't like baseball.

But you have to balance that against:

If you want to see Manny Machado win a World Series, you don't like people.
If you want to see Craig Kimbrel win a World Series, you--wait a minute, why doesn't anyone like Craig Kimbrel?

I don’t like Kimbrel because the beast thing he does with his hanging arms before the pitch is stupid

yeah it's annoying that he chooses to do that when he could very easily just not

No weirder than Kershaw's pre-pitch business.

I don’t like kershaw because his mouth is always open half a foot wide

Clayton Flytrap

RS in 6

Machado strikes me as a guy who is thrilled to finally be in a large market where he can hog the spotlight. I've heard talk that he's costing himself money with his behaviour, I think it's the opposite, he's a STAR(*!*!*!) now, dude is going to make way more money than he would have if he'd finished the year with Baltimore (which was already a metric shitload of money).

The Astros found a new Boston hotel so they wouldn't have to cross the Marriott picket line, reports @WhitneyM02.

The Dodgers did not.https://t.co/p7hAynr8Nj

— Pat Garofalo (@Pat_Garofalo) October 22, 2018

I like the story line with Mookie Betts perhaps being prepared to play second base in LA. It sounds pretty feasible, since he has played the position quite a bit when younger and in the minor leagues.

I searched for Mookie Betts 2b a few minutes ago and found this old nugget story out there.

https://www.minorleagueball.com/2014/6/30/5853046/prospect-of-the-day-mookie-betts-2b-boston-red-sox-scouting-report

Mookie Betts was drafted in the fifth round in 2011 from high school in Brentwood, Tennessee. He was a standout athlete and succeeded in baseball, basketball, and bowling. Scouts also liked his speed and his makeup, but his lack of size (he was listed at 6-0, 170 in high school but this was obviously wrong; he was closer to 5-8), a college commitment to the University of Tennessee, and the fact that his tools other than speed were considered average kept him from going earlier in the draft. The Red Sox had to go over slot to sign him at $750,000.

He played just one game in rookie ball in '11 due to the late signing deadline under the old CBA. Sent to Lowell in the New York-Penn League for 2012, he hit .267/.352/.302 with 20 steals, 32 walks, and 30 strikeouts in 251 at-bats. Scouting reports gave him good marks for speed, strike zone judgment, and overall quickness, but he had virtually no power and didn't show the arm strength to handle shortstop. He was an interesting athlete and young, but there was no particular reason to project a breakthrough in 2013.

Betts had other ideas.

He opened 2013 with Greenville in the Low-A South Atlantic League. He suddenly showed more pop and maintained his strike zone judgment, hitting .296/.418/.477 in 76 games with 58 walks and just 40 strikeouts in 277 at-bats. He also stole 18 bases in 20 attempts. Promoted to High-A Salem in the Carolina League for the second half, he took the hitting up another notch with a .341/.414/.551 line, 23 walks and only 17 strikeouts in 185 at-bats. Don't forget 20 more steals in 22 attempts.

In my book this year, I gave him a "strong Grade B" and comped him to Ray Durham, pointing out that Durham was "also a fifth round pick of similar size and skill."

I considered a B+ and I wish I had gone with that given what Mookie has done in 2014: .355/.443/.551 in 54 games with Double-A Portland, followed by a .322/.425/.444 line in 23 games for Triple-A Pawtucket. He's maintained strong strike zone judgement at both levels, with a combined 51/33 BB/K on the year. Don't forget 29 steals in 34 attempts.

A right-handed hitter and thrower, Betts was born October 7, 1992. As noted, his athleticism has always been respected. He's maintained his speed but has added more power as he's matured physically. His batting eye is exceptional and hasn't slipped at all as he's moved up the ladder. Defensively, he has the quickness to be an above-average defender at second base, perhaps even excellent as he continues to cut down on errors. The Red Sox began using him in the outfield at Pawtucket and he's held his own thus far. He continues to draw praise for his makeup and work ethic.

So let's summarize. Betts is fast and he uses that speed very well on the bases.. He has more pop than you'd expect given his size, due to plenty of bat speed and a sound swing. He has a terrific batting eye and has made easy adjustments when promoted. His glove at second base is improving and already very good. He's learning to play the outfield at the same time he was getting used to Triple-A pitching. And scouts like his personality.

What's not to like? He seems completely legitimate to me. I'd rate Betts as a Grade A- prospect currently, with a Top 20 ranking on the revised hitting prospect list that I'll release in mid-July. This doesn't mean he'll hit .300 right away in the majors and I doubt he develops into a big home run guy, but his OBP ability, pure hitting skills, at least decent pop, polished aggression on the bases, and defensive versatility make him one of the most exciting young players in the baseball universe.

lol at JD Martinez not playing first base.

That it is easier to move Betts to second than JD at first is hilarious.

JD tends to play left if/when he plays in the field iirc, not that he does it very well.

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.

The Ringer podcast discusses whether the Bosox' edge is overstated

https://www.theringer.com/2018/10/22/18011152/mlb-show-the-2018-world-series-preview

LOWEST COMBINED WHIP BY WS STARTERS, ALL-TIME
1) 1.06 – 1911 WS Game 1 & 4 – Christy Mathewson (1.05) vs. Chief Bender (1.07)
2) 1.07 – 1910 WS Game 2 & 5 – Three Finger Brown (1.00) vs. Jack Coombs (1.15)
3) 1.09 – 1913 WS Game 2 & 5 – Christy Mathewson (1.05) vs. Eddie Plank (1.12)
LOWEST COMBINED WHIP BY WS STARTERS, LIVE-BALL ERA (1920-PRESENT)
1) 1.10 – 1973 WS Game 3 & 6 – Tom Seaver (1.04) vs. Catfish Hunter (1.15)
2) 1.11 – 1924 WS Game 1 – Walter Johnson (1.04) vs. Art Nehf (1.17)
3) 1.12 – 1974 WS Game 2 & 5 – Vida Blue (1.12) vs. Don Sutton (1.12)
LOWEST WHIP, STARTING PITCHERS, LIVE-BALL ERA (min. 1,000 IP)
1) Clayton Kershaw 1.00
2) Chris Sale 1.03

i likes pitchin'

i remember those Seaver-Catfish games too

Any rain in the forecast? I've got a movie tonight, so--sorry everyone--I'd love a postponement until tomorrow.

Kershaw/Sale would be phenomenal if they were both in peak form. It's a possibly-still-recuperating Sale vs. the new Kershaw, though, and I'd be shocked if both are still around for the 7th.

showers possible before 7pm and after 1am; 15-25% between 8 and midnight

The 2018 Dodgers Are the Most Positionally Fluid Team of All Time

https://www.theringer.com/mlb/2018/10/23/18012922/world-series-los-angeles-dodgers-positional-fluidity-flex-score-red-sox

dozier/freese/kike in vs. sale

bellinger/muncy out

post got eaten 10 mins ago but: “kershaw’s gonna get shelled isn’t he”

JD = dumb

So which batsman will be the first to clear the green monster

Place yr bids

i think Kemp just 'shelled' Sale even tho it almost reached the Citgo sign

who had 51 pitches thru 2?

sale

oh lol

c'mon Kershiser!!

I live in Los Angeles so obviously I am a Dodgers guy through and through but I think they just played Fugazi’s “Waiting Room” at Fenway so at this point I could go either way.

— Dave Holmes (@DaveHolmes) October 24, 2018

He played Ballad El Goodo when I was there 5 years ago

— Michael McKean (@MJMcKean) October 24, 2018

Having the best job sometimes means having the weirdest job. Here are the song requests I played at Fenway in 2017. pic.twitter.com/R5IXO8nbol

— Josh Kantor (@jtkantor) October 10, 2017

thought maura was DJing

aint Machado great?

Benintendi doggin' it like a white guy

I achieved a superhuman feat off a future Hall of Famer and stumbled over this thing planted in the ground.

i have the video on mute (sorry Buck revisionists), but while Shulman-Singleton are OK, it's a shame ESPNRadio doesn't have Sciambi-Mendoza.

so much for 2nd lowest WHIP.

Casey Stengel woulda hit for Freese there

on target for 9 innings in 4 hours again

Mountain Goats tied with Springsteen' requests on that fenway list, and name-dropping Joe Buck excietedly shared that Bruce is watching the broadcast tonight, but he coyley demeured prividing a source for this reaveal.

that exchange was awkward as fuck

what a duel

Bases loaded and yo boy manny macho up to bat

let's go Dogers

rosdox

Big missed opportunity for the Dodgers there.

Looking forward to the updated version of the "Clayton Kershaw can't can can't pitch in the playoffs" trope that will play out until his next start.

Kershaw is bad again

it would sure help the narrative if he pitched well.... xp

Wooooooooo!!!

What is it with the Red Sox's worst regular players and late inning three run homers this postseason?

I don't if you realize this, but it's all about execution.

it's that red sox devil magic

alex cora is a gd wizard

woooooo

Way to go, Sox!

to go to hell

Caught the last couple of innings. Kershaw shaky, Kimbrel dominant--I need Keith Law to make sense of this topsy-turvy world.

i'm just glad i didnt have any nightmares after the crowd shot of Jack White

apparently Jack White is an investor in a bat company

the more you know gif

noted nashville sounds fan

GO DODGERS
💙

— Lana Del Rey (@LanaDelRey) October 24, 2018

lana otm

The first pitch of Game 2 will actually be the first pitches, plural, of Game 2, as multiple stars of the 2004 World Series will be on hand to do the honors.

The Sox in question: Pedro Martinez, David Ortiz, Kevin Millar, Tim Wakefield, Jason Varitek, Keith Foulke, and Alan Embree.

maybe they asked him and he declined, but it would have been very cool if dave roberts were included

cardinal sinsler

guess yall went to the Halloween movie

PUIG

Had to work late tonight

Might catch the last 1.5 hr or so depending on how long they play for

revolting

Ugh

guess yall went to the Halloween movie

denys arcand festival at l'utrek

Oh geez I need a drink

fuckin a

It's weird because the National League has been so exciting but it's totally possible we remember this season as "the Red Sox were historically good and steamrolled everyone" -- I mean, who remembers what else happened in 1984?

The second half of that game really flew by. The Dodgers did nothing at the plate, but still.

Sick relievers

I mean, who remembers what else happened in 1984?

Hi dere, Padres fan. First time a team came back from a 2-0 deficit in a best-of-five.

First time in a while I had to miss the first two games. Bad timing--bought a movie ticket three weeks ago. Anyway, not sure what's going on with Boston's hitters, but if Price can win a second game, maybe he'll have a shot at MVP.

1984 - Leon Durham through the wickets...painful to watch. I was at my cousin's wedding reception.

Didn't matter though, as the Tigers were awesome that year. That was a pretty deep club, Sparky did quite a bit of matchups and platoons with that club.

matt:
alex cora reminds me of the manager of the yankees from the bad news bears (original)

Dan Szymborski:
Cora better stay away from helicopters then.

I've been off here for both games, so I'm part of the problem, but I remember that Texas/Cardinals series from a few years ago was getting so much ILB commentary every night (1081 posts for the thread); this somewhat historical series is hardly getting any. That was a wild series, but still.

ILX is hemorrhaging users these days

There haven't been many great series this year, hence fewer posts. I don't know about the rest of ILX, but the ILB core has stayed fairly loyal to the board.

these two teams are good and everything, but i don't find the matchup very compelling

yeah. i watched last night's game but i just don't care who wins.

same

honestly the most exciting thing has been looking at the green monster. i don't see too many red sox games, so it's still a novelty to me. but now the series is going back to LA, so

i enjoy watching whatever team Machado is on lose.

yeah, if anything the only thing i'll remember from 2018 is manny machado sucks and jesus aguilar is cool

not just baseball but the entire year of 2018

sox/astros had more juice in it imo - but isn't it always a little that way? lcs is rivalry, ws is playing a team beamed in from some remote galaxy?

brewers dodgers was fun too

sox/astros had more juice in it imo

have you tested them?

>>honestly the most exciting thing has been looking at the green monster.

I've lived 2 miles from Fenway Park for nearly two decades and I still don't think the novelty of it all has worn off, even as a non-red sox fan.

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/66/bb/27/66bb27d815ff86715b6c870452b21a0e.jpg

I could gaze into your eyes for eternity

This is so over-the-top heroic, it reminds me of the Seinfeld episode where Kramer commandeered a bus and then kept making all the stops while he fought off a hijacker: "People kept ringing the bell!"

https://www.mlb.com/cut4/mookie-betts-fed-homeless-in-boston-after-game-2/c-299727282

it's not heroic, he thinks it's a home run charm! what would the Big Man say??

Betts is pretty much the most lovable Red Sox since Wakefield.

this is a better charm than some Red Sox of the past, Boggs would have gone there and eaten all the chicken being provided.

to whom it may concern

You may know him from the time he lived in that van or whatever, but he also throws baseballs pretty good for the Tigers.

Daniel Norris! (@DanielNorris18) pic.twitter.com/3XPCoyE2gc

— Cespedes Family BBQ (@CespedesBBQ) October 26, 2018

can i watch from his lap?

hit it to JD, I say.

1) Steve Garvey and Mitt Romney are the same person.

2) Just realized that the whole time I've been watching the Red Sox this year, I thought they were being managed by Joey Cora.

glad you're in the game

i don't know if it was intentional or not, but the placement of the youtube logo does a nice of subliminally making the entire screen look like a youtube video waiting to be played

https://i.imgur.com/ZL2e4pm.png

nice job

i suspect that sign is greenscreened?

Chris Singleton thinks the long first inning might mean an early exit for both starters. that'd be a novelty!

Bradley getting a bit greedy there.

That YouTube thing is totally intentional.

yeah the youtube tv ads get greenscreened in there if youre watching on youtube tv i think

oh no i guess some of them are real the one on the left is the green screen

oh, i was just saying the largest youtube play button logo (there are 3 in the image, i mean the one in the center) makes it seem like the entire image is a youtube video. sorry, that's kind of a weird observation and also hard to explain.

also dodgers up 1-0

i getcha

Koufax stopped aging at 68, Buehler at 17

Hank Aaron lookin' old tho (84)

It's been a while since a pitcher's duel of the sort!

or at least it feels like it

still a lotta pitches for 1-0

speaking of hammerin' hank, i knew about all of the racist bullshit he had to face in the run-up to his 715th HR, but it was only recently (in an anecdote in the Invisible Bridge) that i learned that his first words in his speech to the crowd after hitting it were "Thank God it's over". it's kind of interesting that barry bonds said something very similar after hitting his 714th to tie Ruth - "I'm just glad it's over with"

totally off topic, i know, but knowing about all of the death threats aaron was receiving makes it all the more incredible that he remained as calm as he did when 2 white guys ran onto the field to join him on his home run trot

i haven't read his book, but it was incredible. (might've been armed guards in the front row?)

i wouldn't doubt it, given all the death threats, but man, what would you even do if you were those guards and you saw two fans running onto the field? run out onto the field yourself with your gun? stay in the crowd and aim the gun toward the fans? crazy

Cora takes out the hook first

glad we'll see another inning (at least) of buehler. i didn't get to see too much of him until the playoffs, but he's fun to watch. he reminds me of another pitcher but i can't quite my finger on it...

Orel? You were a wee one in '88...

Build wise and the way he throws reminds me of Tim Hudson. Different type pitcher though.

Hershiser had a similar build too, wiry.

I think Buehler has a bigger repertoire than Hershiser (Ron Darling was talkibg last week about how '80s pitchers got by with 2 or 3 pitches)

lol Machado

dreadful, even with the quick out following

what a douche

7.17 seconds home to first

down 2-0 in the fucking World Series!

He’s saving his energy for when it counts (kicking a first basemen for no reason)

quite a finish for Buehler, assuming that's it.

Enjoying the halloween songs

if the dodgers sb nation blog commenters are anything to go by, a lot of dodgers fans hate the shit out of machado

I guarantee that anybody who played against or saw @buehlersdayoff pitch this season isn’t surprised at all by how he’s pitching tonight. Hands down best stuff I saw in person all year from a starting pitcher. Nasty. #WorldSeries2018

— Adam Wainwright (@UncleCharlie50) October 27, 2018

Miss you Corey btw

damn

oh for fuck sakes

Jackie Bradley says "you can't shift against that one."

He was doing so well with the high fastball and then middle of the plate.

damn. 4.03 FIP from jansen this year, didn't realize til just now. the HRs have been killing him this year (15.9% HR/flyball)

1-run leads are the worst kind

Sets it up for a Puig walkoff.

The highest praise. pic.twitter.com/DhCTMJS0jM

— Don Van Natta Jr. (@DVNJr) October 27, 2018

it does feel like another big fly is to come

Bogaerts did not position himself well there

eat shit machado

Muncy looks more like the Muncy they thought they were getting

I don't think you can use the Dodger's current hitting approach and expect to win 3 post-season series in a row. Loud contact comes and goes but the strikeouts remain and this is all they have right now.

Also for all the analytical minded Roberts might just have to admit Jansen might be better as a long reliever than the closer.

a coworker (who i only see via videoconf) told me after game 1 that i looked like a dodger but he didn't know the player's name. i think he meant muncy and i'm upset.

Kimbrel looks pretty short next to Price.

Jansen had a bad last 6 weeks of the reg season, looked better in October

radio booth debating who's coming in for the Sox

Sandy Koufax is straight up sexy @ 82 years old!

you're much handsomer than that, cad, must be a bad video feed

obviously the coworker was referring to 82 year old sandy koufax, who is sexy as hell

Gotta admit sending Price is pretty cool.

karl otm

you're much handsomer than that, cad, must be a bad video feed

― a Mets fan who gave up on everything in the mid '80s (Dr Morbius), Friday, October 26, 2018 11:24 PM (four minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

<3

if it comes up again i am going to note that i am not in shape but i am still in better shape than max f'n muncy

Omg

Come On Die Young Bellinger

Jansen has been dealing with a heart issue... 2x this season and actually had an ablation a few years back.

I'm sympathetic as I had the same thing.... Nothing makes you feel as fucked as when the doctor says "we're gonna need to do a little surgery on your heart by scarring it repeatedly with a laser".

Indie Guilt Bermanisms

For whom the Bellinger tolls.

holy shit cody

yeah, tot forgot Jansen's heart thing

they call him ol' hangy arms

Please end this inning

Sympathetic to Jansen's heart problem but no matter the reason if he is not the best pitcher to have in a high leverage situation, Roberts shoudn't play him in that many high leverage situations.

Kardiac Kimbrel

my friend is DJing at a bar, and of course i'm gonna get there at 3

i think you may be overreacting to one HR, VHS

lol agreed.

What is a replay even?

That was out come on

i think he was out by an inch

2018 the year of 'yes but is there enough evidence'

brock holt tho

some dicey baserunning the whole game

safe

get this K

good tag

Nicely done

fuck. yes. Bellinger.

GTFOUTTAHERE

third time they finally get him!

can you imagine if they called the Posey Rule there?

lady on right edge of screen is emulating ol' hangy arms

https://i.imgur.com/yzO1RqT.png

Pix or it didnt happen

Damn

i am always ready, at a moment's notice, to prove that it happened

Shes trynna give em the evil eye

goddamn this fucker's going 15

cad, Muncy's probly in fine shape, he's just a burly dude

Don’t even say that

Waiting for the blu cru to win it so i can play red dead 2 already

ehh, i heard it only got 3.5 stars

Loool ol tommy boy

Who gave it a 3.5

I saw a bunch of 9s

a new low in discourse here

Cant take u anywhere morbs

if i missed a Lasorda shot, praise Jesus

no idea who Hembree is

Come oooooon

world's slowest tackle

What the fuck was that

Nunez has shown a definite flair for the dramatic this post season. That was such a total bang bang play.

five hours is enough for me

Barely good lord

Attaboy

Goddamnit

That hit went from OH YES! to GOD NO! to OH YES!

Not certain Larry King will survive this game.

Literally slept through the first eight innings--age is a wonderful thing. Looks like I'm going to get a full game anyway. Nunez's adventures have been something else. Between his baserunning and error, Kinsler will be most fortunate if Boston wins.

alright, at 5:47 and counting this is officially the longest world series game...OF ALL TIME

this is long but I'm enjoying this. there have been some memorable moments

Yeah almost forgot abt red dead too

if you think baseball is slow paced, just wait

ok. i'm going to watch the 15th inning. then i'm done.

You might miss all the action

it's a risk i have to ta-zzzzzzzzzzzzzz

I hope this is it. I'm hungry. I need a donut.

holy shit, only red sox pitchers left are pomeranz and sale?

tomorrow should be interesting

that play maeda made to get nunez at third on that bunt was incredible. the ball gets there a split second later and it's a disaster. this has been some good old fashioned baseball

That was an almost perfect bunt--great play.

Maeda got macho and pulled it off.

The two K's were pretty impressive too.

a little assist from human umps

GOD DAMN IT

holy shit!

Please put me out of my misery

I need a bullpen.

hello friends it is me, m bison, the president of the "i love hoops" board. i am visiting your country as a diplomatic mission but i will soon create an international incident by declaring that any sport that plays games this long is in violation of the geneva convention and that baseball should be banned.

Kings and Wizards started their game 2 hours after first pitch. They ended the game 2 hours ago.

Just woke up, what did I miss?

Fellas get outcher bats

We got ousewvs a wise guy

I’m like Bart waiting for Krusty at Krusty Camp but instead it’s Puig. Puig save us all please.

Eovaldi winning MVP would certainly be a perfect sign of the times. Has a non-closer reliever ever won Series MVP?

ok nunez relax

Hunnies on the left are getting cold

That’s how late it is in LA

As 17-inning games go, the pace of play right now is really fast--it's like 1960s baseball.

Famous WS long-relief games:

Bruce Kison, Game 4, 1971 - 6.1 IP, 1 H, 0 BB, 3 K, 0 runs
Bumgarner, Game 7, 2017 - 5 IP, 2 H, 0 BB, 4 K, 0 runs
Eovaldi, tonight - 6 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 5 K, 0 runs

Betts and Bogarts are 0-15. The odds on that have to be huge.

MUNCYYYYYYY

⚾️ Let’s go dodgers ☺️

Had to end that way. Great game (i.e., the game I saw, innings 9-17).

I just woke up, what did I miss?

BEISBOL

This says it all (I thought they were kidding, but I checked):

Time of tonight's game: 7:20.
Total time of the 1939 World Series (4 games): 7:05.

We were all there, folks. Wow.

Well, that was long and disappointing

This is priceless (evidently deleted soon after):

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DqeVXvmWoAA8EVG.jpg

when this game began Max Muncy was overhauling his swing in Triple-A

— Jeff Sullivan (@based_ball) October 27, 2018

Oh shit just woke up on the couch. I missed the end

Had to be up two hours after this game finished.

does anyone have a list of all pitchers used last night?

Check the rosters and cross out a couple of names.

I just woke up, what did I miss?

baseball

Just saw the final score and literally laughed out loud

I’m guessing Sox fans are having a total meltdown right now

ya missed everyone but Sale, Kershaw, Hill, and that other guy

now LA turns to Dick Mountain to tie the Series

Sox fans can melt down all over their three recent trophies

They’re also up 2 games to 1

Looks like the top 4 spots in the Red Sox lineup went 0 for 28 with a pair of walks.

I bet you can't tell on Boston radio right now. They were panicking when I was there in August. xp

in fairness re the '39 Series taking 7:05, radio commercials were short and the pitchers threw every 10-15 seconds

That's the point, though--you have to accommodate broadcasters, but in terms of the game itself, it's about the pace of play and all the pitching changes. I'm guessing a 17-inning game in 1939 would have taken, what, 3-1/2 to 4 hours to play? (As I posted during the game, though, to me it felt like things were moving along pretty briskly around the 14th-16th innings...or maybe time had simply lost all meaning by then.)

i watched gibson's homer live (i was in high school and my parents were out unusually late on a saturday night); i wonder how many people saw muncy's

eduardo rodriguez to start for the sox on ~22 hours’ rest

at least he only threw 6 pitches last night, but yeah, this is gonna be a weird game. i'm glad the dodgers eventually won last night because i'm gonna miss tonight's game, and i'd like to see the final game, whenever it is.

btw NYY outscored CIN 20-8 in '39 sweep

I get that it's technically the first time someone has started a WS game on zero days rest but if today was his regular rotation spot, how much would he have normally thrown yesterday?

Same thing with Eovaldi last night - "He's at 90 pitches!" Well, yeah, he starts games!

ya missed everyone but Sale, Kershaw, Hill, and that other guy

kershaw played, Morbs - as a pinch hitter!! he hit a soft line drive that almost dropped in

If there's going to be celebrity sightings tonight, I hope they can do better than (good friend of Bill Nye) Rob Lowe. I just started Dan Epstein's Bicentennial-season book, which begins with Chris Chambliss's ALCS-ending home run. Seated behind the Yankees dugout is Telly Savalas, "swathed in a massive fur coat." Now that's baseball!

and here we are

JDM lookin decidedly mortal

what WAS the deal with that divot on Kinsler's error/stumble last night? why is the Chavez turf MUDDY?

DICK MOUNTAIN

that's what i'm talkin bao't

After three rounds of bullpen games and SP's barely lasting four innings, in the WS every chump they throw out there to start is dealing! I hope clem is happy.

Never forget to bring a towel.

clem wd love 4.5 innings in 90 minutes... if he wasnt at an Alan Pakula film.

DICK MOUNTAIN FIELDS

YASIEL

PUIGGGGGGG

What other good-middling players have had a flair for the dramatic like Puig?

BOOM!! PUIG.

Best second-guessing moment of the series too.

what a lousy WS matchup huh you dorks

I have enjoyed what feels like baseball, yes.

Ted Lilly style.

*deletes 2:30 a.m. alarm*

Love that replay of Puig's HR from the first base side -- Puig celebrating in the foreground, Rodriguez slamming down his glove in the background. There's an iconic photo in the making there.

Hill is SO entertaining and **cking awesome

Yas has a LOT more talent and a "good-middling player", even before i ever saw him break a bat across knee i thought he reminded me of Bo in some ways

Talent, yes; meant more that his stats are good-middling, once you get past his first year-and-a-half. Bo's a good comparison.

Whatre we talkin bout

Just finished playing red dead 2

High leverage

Jansen burned by the HR again.

Holy crap just read abt puigs 3 run homer

Do Nut Damage!!!

I thought about going to bed after Puig's homer.

this must not stand

I thought about going to bed after Puig's homer.

i did

RIP

Maeda booboo

steve pearce mvp

Life has meaning again

Christ, how obnoxious

This is an all-time choke job by the Dodgers.

Unless there's literally no one available--which after last night, may be the case--why on Earth would you pitch Kimbrel?

The Dodgers are 54-0 when leading by 4 runs at any point this season, including postseason. They're the only team without such a loss.

— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) October 28, 2018

Guess just ending the game would've been too predictable.

Can we skip to Kimbrel allowing two walks?

― Van Horn Street, Friday, 19 October 2018

We should pin this post until the end of the series.

Man, what a throw.

6-9 fellas

this aint over, RSN elitists

Boston was one great play away from making maybe the dumbest pitching change I've ever seen. You've got a five-run lead, and Kimbrel and Price are both in a very good place after lots of previous trouble. Kimbrel almost brings the tying run to the plate, at which point you bring in Price so he can maybe lose the game. I don't get it. Anyway, they won.

This is an all-time choke job by the Dodgers

I don't get this; they lost a lead. It happened to, say, the 2002 Giants.

^^^ that was an all-timer too! They were what, nine outs from winning the WS with a five run lead? Blowing leads of 4+ runs from the seventh inning on is rare!

At the time I didn't hate the decision to remove Hill. Maybe you'll need him to start game 7, maybe he'll be needed in relief in game 6, and there's no need to compromise that by making him throw another 20-25 pitches with a lead that the bullpen should handle 99% of the time.

Donald J. Trump
‏
Verified account

@realDonaldTrump
1h1 hour ago
More
Watching the Dodgers/Red Sox final innings. It is amazing how a manager takes out a pitcher who is loose & dominating through almost 7 innings, Rich Hill of Dodgers, and brings in nervous reliever(s) who get shellacked. 4 run lead gone. Managers do it all the time, big mistake!

I hear there’s a baseball job opening in NYC if he wants to step down from his current position and show MLB how it’s done.

I wonder if Trump would be weighing in if it were Craig Counsell.

Donald J. Trump
‏
Verified account

@realDonaldTrump
Follow Follow @realDonaldTrump
More
Verlander is great but very beatable. Does not have a good ERA in playoff games

7:12 AM - 16 Oct 2012

ok lol

It's like taking out Obama and putting you in

— Very Spooky Michael (@Home_Halfway) October 28, 2018

so much worse than Smoltz

I too thought taking out Hill was fine. I don't like preemptive and needless pitching changes, but Roberts gave Hill a baserunner, and even let him go one batter after that); if Hill puts another guy on, then Boston's in a position to make it a one-run game. That all of that happened and worse, that's just baseball.

Kimbrel still mystifies me, though. Besides what I posted above, everything NoTime writes about Hill also applies to Kimbrel.

A friend and I are planning to get together for a possible game six, so I'll absolutely be rooting for the Dodgers today.

Kimbrel has been extremely lucky, his control has been spotty since June and now it’s gotten worse at the worst possible time. But he still Ks batters at a high rate and he’s had some great defense behind him.

Removing Hill was justifiable, so was using Kimbrel with a five run lead (it's a stretch, but you can come up with a couple of reasons). Not having a LHP ready to face Moreland was not. On the broadcast I think they said that Wood was warming up but wasn't ready -- Roberts didn't think ahead to get him up in time.

No LHP, and they left in Madson who, let's face it, has been awful all year and has gotten worse in the playoffs.

Does not bother me at all watching Madson play the goat for the Dodgers after that chump hit job he did on Votto earlier this year putting him on the DL.

we still have a 24% shot at Game 7

https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/instagraphs/zips-updated-playoff-probabilities-2018-world-series/

so was using Kimbrel with a five run lead (it's a stretch, but you can come up with a couple of reasons)

What are they? In all honestly, they escape me. Was there no one else to protect a five-run lead?

i didn't watch last night's game, but pretty much every red sox pitcher was used during the 7+ hour game the night before, right?

Pretty shameful of Trump to imply one of his guys is a nervous wreck

Madson, who hails from Southern California, believes the idea behind the wall is to keep away terrorists – not necessarily from Mexico – who might try to infiltrate the U.S. through its southern border.

“I think the media has spun it in a way to make him look like he’s anti-immigrant, so I think it’s more their fault and how they’ve made him look than what he’s trying to do,’’ Madson said. “I don’t think he’s doing it in a way to be a Zionist. He’s not trying to seal us off from the world. He’s trying to just slow down or stop as much as he can what’s been happening here in America with the terrorists.’’

Pretty shameful of Trump to imply one of his guys is a nervous wreck

Madson, who hails from Southern California, believes the idea behind the wall is to keep away terrorists – not necessarily from Mexico – who might try to infiltrate the U.S. through its southern border.

“I think the media has spun it in a way to make him look like he’s anti-immigrant, so I think it’s more their fault and how they’ve made him look than what he’s trying to do,’’ Madson said. “I don’t think he’s doing it in a way to be a Zionist. He’s not trying to seal us off from the world. He’s trying to just slow down or stop as much as he can what’s been happening here in America with the terrorists.’’

Re: Kimbrel

-- as mentioned by KM, every Boston reliever pitched the day before, two of their best had pitched the sixth through eighth, and David Price was next in line to relieve.

-- they wanted to give Kimbrel some easy work with a big lead to keep him sharp (at least that was the intention).

(xpost) True of Kimbrel, also, and he's more crucial than anyone else you're going to overwork. I would have sent Pomeranz out and given him a baserunner, possibly two. I know he had a lousy year, but he's presumably on the roster for a reason, for mop-up duty at least. Last night was mop-up duty.

Anyway, thanks to Devers, it worked. And if Kimbrel pitches today and pitches well, then no harm done.

re: the decision to pull Hill in the 7th, this quote from Roberts seems relevant:

“I had a conversation with Rich, and we talked about it. He said ‘Keep an eye on me. I’m going to give it everything I have. Let’s go hitter to hitter and just keep an eye on me.’ So right there, I know Rich did everything he could, competed, left everything out there” (https://deadspin.com/dave-roberts-helped-the-red-sox-grind-the-dodgers-into-1830056080)

according to Roberts, Hill said that during the bottom of the 6th (maybe during a mound visit? i didn't see the game)

btw Price starts tonight, not Sale (who may be hurt worse than let on?)

I think that guy used to play for the Blue Jays.

Keith Law to the contrary, Kershaw remains pretty damn erratic in the post-season. A few great starts, yes, but every time you think he's turned the corner, you're reminded that he hasn't.

1st pitch nice

you broke my heart in 2011 Freese, maybe you can do it to beantown

'turning the corner' must be like Learning to Handle Postseason Pressure

these condescending PLAY BALL promo spots on the radio are both annoying and out of season in the Northeast

No, "turning the corner" would be consistently pitching well. Complicated, I know.

he just lacks character

Nice to see Price get past that--I remember him unraveling with Toronto (against the Rangers, I think) after a playoff error in right field.

As always, you have to caricature. I haven't said or even remotely implied anything of the sort. I know you like things simple: Clayton Kershaw is a great pitcher, therefore he must be a great pitcher in the postseason, not someone who's a sometimes puzzling mixture of great and not-great. Bryce Harper is an incredibly talented player at his best, therefore he must be a great player even when he's hitting .240, not a great player having a poor season. The gray area, and being able to hold two contradictory thoughts in your mind at the same time--I know that's not your thing.

needed to cash that runner.... but it's a good thing Machado didnt hit that fly

It's funny how you're certain there's no mental component to it.

xps

not puzzling, clem, u just gotta cling to causation

the 'narrative' jazzbos are CONVINCED he's a choker, of course

cuz it's just gotta be

fwiw Harper had a well above average season in terms of offensive production (albeit not to his full potential). His defense dragged his overall value way down this year.

cling to causation

What does this even mean? What cause was implied by talking about turning a corner?

u just gotta cling to causation

Again, I implied nothing of the sort. I observed that his post-season pitching has been erratic. Didn't speculate on the why of it at all. It's you who clings to your one rhetorical trick: take one of the old myths that 40 years of sabermetrics has shown to be specious at best and pin it on someone for no other reason that that's what you do.

Buck Martinez called J.D. Martinez's hit a "hand-job."

Three hard hit outs for the Sox

Kershaw's up-and-downness has sometimes been in-game, like tonight. The thing I vividly remember about those Cardinal meltdowns was how untouchable he was for the first six innings, right up to the point where St. Louis broke the games open. Right now, he's in a groove (some hard-hit balls, though, yeah).

If it goes six, is Boston looking at Sale, or is he in reserve for tonight?

This is disconcerting

I swear Price gets a bit more gray in that chin hair each inning.

Whoever wins this game, boy I'd love for it to end sometime around 11:00.

Thinking of switching to red dead 2 right now

Kershaw's rate stats in the postseason are essentially the same as in the regular season -- with the exception of home runs. His HR rate doubles in the postseason. I don't think that's bad luck and he's pitched enough that it's not a small sample size. He has a tendency to make really bad pitches at the worst times. For instance, that pitch to Betts a few minutes ago.

I don't know if everyone else has Smoltz/Buck--we've got Buck Martinez and his partner here. Martinez hinted that Boston would be looking for someone other than Kimbrel to close tonight, if it comes to that. Not sure if that's just speculation or if he's talked to someone.

Not sure why Kershaw is still out there at this point (which I guess means why someone wasn't already warming up).

playoff kershaw is a real thing

The 'playoff chocker' narrative is not only dumb, it's just super boring.

why does he always pitch bad then

I'll be honest, I might have had someone ready and pinch-hit for Price there, tried to break the game wide open. Going back out after you've made the third out is not ideal. I don't know exactly how precarious their bullpen situation is, though.

the other thing with kershaw is he just isn’t the same guy anymore, playoff choking aside

David Price known playoff chocker.

a choker can stop choking is the thing

A CG is too much to ask, but I'd send Price out for the 8th.

yeah, he's locked in

A Maddux is within the realm of possibility--think he's got about 15 pitches to work with. I'd be astounded if he finishes the game.

I thought a Maddux had to be a shutout.

You're right. I think 99 pitches/1 run is a Mike Maddux.

I'm sure of it now--that guy used to play for the Blue Jays.

(Was hoping Price would win MVP, but if Pearce wasn't a sure thing already, he is now.)

If the score stands, Price is probably the MVP. Would make for a nice story.

(Pierce has an outside shot as well)

xpost mindmeld

oh wait I misread -- you think Pearce has it in the bag. I'm not so sure.

Price/Pearce co-MVPs, I'm calling it.

how is it decided?

If this holds up, I'd vote for Price myself. Good question--is there an actual vote that takes place, or do three or four league executives just huddle in the runway and pick someone?

pearce has to be one of the best random midseason acquisitions i can remember. from that series in august where he single handedly destroyed the yankees it's been a great ride.

As much as I dislike the Red Sox, I’m cool with Price making the Sox faithful eat crow, they draggged him in the mud last season.

Good for Cora. He let Price go out for the 8th and gave him a baserunner. And now you hand it over to the bullpen.

" is now decided during the final game of the Series by a committee of reporters and officials present at the game.[2]"

I knew I remembered that the booth jockeys get to vote.

thanks WmC!

Sale warming up!

Joe Kelly will now board a plane and return to his middle-management job in Anywhere, USA.

DRoberts bringing in that hot bat Bellinger over ice cold Freese...

I used a database of every picture from the WDYLL threads to train an ML algorithm and the output was Joe Kelly.

haha

hahahahahahaha machado fuck you dude

Machado the fitting last out.

Betts and Price are World Series Champs, I’ll take that.

i don't post here much but i do follow the sox and i will say this team had some holes despite the regular season record. cora and the analytics ppl made those holes magically disappear in the playoffs and deserve a huge amount of credit for pulling that off.

I'm sure everyone loved seeing it end with Machado on his knees.

yeah i'll add that i'm also glad for Cora.

xpost it was **kisses fingers**

hey manny do you like apples

it was truly beautiful. idk what exactly is wrong with sale but he had enough in the tank for a completely sick 9th.

*manny goes home and cries and then remembers that he’s about to get paid $300 million*

I think he lost a few millions this post-season.

he can make as much money as he wants but i'll remember him on his knees losing the world series so i think we're even

(xpost) I'd be inclined to agree with that--he'll have to scrape by on $250M.

Can't say the best team didn't win. All three of their series victories were decisive, they lost only one game each time. Against two 100-win teams too, and a Dodger team that won 100 last year and is probably just as good this year, True Talent-wise.

fuckin owners i swear to god

It appears I didn't miss much.

Not sure there's another 5-game WS where I will remember the game the losers won most.

just remember there's always the NFL owners, vhs

Man, when it's Kelly, Eovaldi up in the bullpen, and Sale to close out two innings, have to say I didn't see much in the way of holes with this team.

Astros may have had holes last year too but they were very, very good.

The only thing I want baseball to take from soccer is giving the trophy to an actual player and not the owner.

i guess i'll say one more thing which is for a team with a wild payroll they played with a super egalitarian style--big-name starters pitching relief innings, bench players starting and contributing. i guess sale and betts and martinez help with setting that tone.

Man, when it's Kelly, Eovaldi up in the bullpen, and Sale to close out two innings, have to say I didn't see much in the way of holes with this team.

Astros may have had holes last year too but they were very, very good.

― timellison, Sunday, October 28, 2018 11:34 PM (fifty-eight seconds ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

you just noted that two starters pitched out of the bullpen so i think you're making my point?

also Yankees fans are pissed. so there's that.

Cora's "one more request" was great.

omg steve pearce mvp!!!!!

Not sure there's another 5-game WS where I will remember the game the losers won most.

Ha, that’s true. That game will likely be the only thing I remember from this series.

Congrats Red Sox fans

price should have gotten it but fuck it, that rules

Starting aces in the bullpen, in our time, goes back to at least 2001 Arizona though.

why does he always pitch bad then

And I award the Klemenza Kup to k3vin k!

I'll always think of this as the year when Jacob deGrom was the best player in the sport. Now, back to yer precious HOF thread. G'night!

Dedicated to all Blue Jays players, now you too can dream of being traded mid-season and win the World Series MVP.

lol Morbs you not-so-lovable constricted peehole

I think he lost a few millions this post-season.

Have you seen sports lately?

I am glad for Cora, and that's about it.

Kevin Brown pitched out of the bullpen in the '98 NLCS. There may have been some before that.

Is he gone?

The best team doesn't often come out on top in baseball, but resoundingly the best team won this year.

can you guys tell me about a world series where 2 guys pitched both starter and relief innings and 2 starters from the prior series pitched only in relief or do you want to just tell me about things i already know?

The best team doesn't often come out on top in baseball, but resoundingly the best team won this year.

― clemenza, Sunday, October 28, 2018 11:47 PM (three minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

I think it's been the case over the last 3 seasons, so maybe that's a new trend.

my point was not that cora had aces pitch in relief, my point was that cora used the off days of his entire starting staff to create a whole new bullpen.

Joaquín Andújar's famous meltdown in Game 7 of the '85 Series was in relief. That's a partial answer.

Over the course of the whole season, didn't LA have a better record than the Astros last year?

Kevin Brown pitched out of the bullpen in the '98 NLCS. There may have been some before that.

I remember this series well, SD was leading the series 3-1 and tried to put the hammer down on ATL in G5 by bringing in Kevin Brown. It backfired, he blew the lead, and Atlanta brought in Greg Maddux for the first relief appearance of his career. I couldn't believe what I was seeing, it was some mirror universe version of baseball. Totally unprecedented for the time.

Jack McDowell relieved in G5 of the 1995 ALDS and coughed up Edgar's famous double, but the bullpen was fried and the Yankees didn't trust any of their relievers anyway.

What I'm really looking forward to is Keith Law's tweet about David Price's history of post-season mastery.

From 30k feet in the air I’m screaming congrats to my @RedSox baby!!!!!!!! World Series Champs! Turn up one time for the one time 🎉🏆

— Stephen Curry (@StephenCurry30) October 29, 2018

Over the course of the whole season, didn't LA have a better record than the Astros last year?

― clemenza, Sunday, October 28, 2018 11:53 PM (five minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Oh yeah, and so did the Indians (who had the better run differential and pythWL).

cora used the off days of his entire starting staff to create a whole new bullpen.

Yeah, no doubt.

I'll always think of this as the year when Jacob deGrom was the best player in the sport.

― a Mets fan who gave up on everything in the mid '80s (Dr Morbius), Sunday, October 28, 2018 11:40 PM (yesterday) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Morbs love you but I mean did you see Mookie Betts.

def best nonpitcher this year

(except, if he'd been healthy, y'know Trout)

*health is a skill*

congratulations to successful millionaire Steve Pearce on winning a new car. the car was assembled by minor-league journeymen working a second job

— Jeff Sullivan (@based_ball) October 29, 2018

^^^^

The 2014 Tigers have won the World Series:

https://www.freep.com/story/sports/mlb/tigers/2018/10/28/world-series-2018-detroit-tigers/1760627002/?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=dlvr.it

https://c.o0bg.com/rf/image_835w/Boston/2011-2020/2015/10/14/BostonGlobe.com/Sports/Images/davis_dom7_spts.jpg

*health is a skill*

― call all destroyer, Monday, October 29, 2018 12:10 AM (eleven hours ago)

lol the guy hurt hist wrist sliding into 3rd base

k3v, have you bought yr Machado pinstripes yet?

as much as I enjoyed ragging on him these playoffs I'd love machado on the yanks lol

hopefully they stay away from kershaw if he hits free agency

6 straight division titles for the Dodgers, just to show you how weak the NL West is.

oh we've moved into "The Dodgers actually SUCK" mode now, huh?

The postseason actually dummies up fans somewhat. Sometimes I think it should be abolished.

champion tbd by metrics

Hey, I predicted LA would win at least two games at home!

in the recent tradition of american politics, first you lose, and then everyone wants to lock you up

https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/the-dodgers-might-be-in-actual-legal-trouble/

(discussed weeks ago, i know, but worth keeping in mind that the dodgers' real villains are worse than machado)

a number of them may be former employees -- Kapler?

champion tbd by metrics

Steve Pearce Outlasts David Freese in Battle of Former Pirate Greats

6 straight division titles for the Dodgers, just to show you how weak the NL West is.

The East has had the lowest winning percentage three of the last four years.

Just out of curiosity, I was going to look at all the five-game WS and see how many times a starting pitcher with two wins did or didn't win MVP. I stopped early on the 2008 Series:

Cole Hamels (2008) - 1-0, 13 IP, 10 H, 3 W, 8 K, 2.77 ERA
David Price (2018) - 2-0, 13.2 IP, 7 H, 6 W, 10 K, 1.98 ERA

Ryan Howard (2008) - 3 HR, 6 RBI, .286/.375/.762
Steve Pearce (2018) - 3 HR, 8 RBI, .333/.500/1.137

Pearce clearly had a better Series than Howard; but Price just as clearly had a better Series than Hamels. Hamels won MVP, Price didn't.

An explanation from one of the five voters:

http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/red_sox/2018/10/inside_the_vote_for_world_series_mvp

yeah and dodgers put up a fight last year against the astros, so not sure what albert is on about

feel like a lot of you dudes get bogged down with the numbers a lot

6 straight division titles for the Dodgers, just to show you how weak the NL West is.

The East has had the lowest winning percentage three of the last four years.

― timellison, Monday, October 29, 2018 6:02 PM (two hours ago)

he meant the NL

I'll read as much of this as holds my interest, but "lack of star power" in the cut line is mystifying. For starters, you've got Betts, Sale, Kimbrel, Price, Kershaw, Machado--there are four-to-six HOF'ers right there. Then you move onto Bogarts, Jensen, Puig, etc. Exactly how many stars was whoever wrote that line (probably not the writer) hoping for?

http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2018/10/red-sox-world-series-2018-mlb/574162/

he meant the NL

Yes, he said the NL, so I assumed he was referring to the NL. I'm not sure the NL West is a particularly terrible division.

From the Atlantic article:

"The average baseball game stretched for three hours and four minutes this season, 10 minutes longer than it did at the beginning of the wild-card era."

Come on, ten minutes is a big deal?

it is when the game is already interminable to begin with

he meant the NL

Yes, he said the NL, so I assumed he was referring to the NL. I'm not sure the NL West is a particularly terrible division.

― timellison, Monday, October 29, 2018 10:20 PM (forty-nine minutes ago)

meaning the NL overall *oh brother*

So if I were to say "Division title for Milwaukee this year, just to show you how weak the NL Central is," it would then be clear that I was not actually referring to the NL Central, I was referring to the whole league?

it is when the game is already interminable to begin with

This is news? People who don't like baseball don't like ten minutes more of baseball?

baseball would be great with a pitch clock and multiball bonuses

That Atlantic article is the worst POS piece on baseball you'll ever see, I don't even have the words.

i'm guessing i would find A Star Is Born more interminable than Game 3.

https://cdn.fangraphs.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Screenshot-2018-10-30-at-12.55.16-PM.png

Millions of viewers or percentage of audience?

the obvious solution is to make sure the cubs win every year

percentage of audience (they're tv ratings, which are correlated with % of audience, i think: https://jalopnik.com/how-tv-ratings-work-1795820157)

i guess the 1989 plunge was because a lot of the viewing audience was dealing with the earthquake?

i'm guessing interest was way down after the long delay in resuming. (10-12 days?)

This goes back a little farther:

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/ws/wstv.shtml

Series with better ratings that '86: '73, '75 (barely), '77-'81. Even with the Yankees and Dodgers, surprised '81 was so high after the strike and split-season.

i guess the 1989 plunge was because a lot of the viewing audience was dealing with the earthquake?

― Karl Malone, Tuesday, October 30, 2018 2:19 PM (forty-five minutes ago)

i'm guessing interest was way down after the long delay in resuming. (10-12 days?)

― a Mets fan who gave up on everything in the mid '80s (Dr Morbius)

In the area where both teams played there were 63 deaths, 3,757 injuries & $6B* in damage ($12+B today) due to the earthquake, which may make one reevaluate your priorities.

I'll read as much of this as holds my interest, but "lack of star power" in the cut line is mystifying. For starters, you've got Betts, Sale, Kimbrel, Price, Kershaw, Machado--there are four-to-six HOF'ers right there. Then you move onto Bogarts, Jensen, Puig, etc. Exactly how many stars was whoever wrote that line (probably not the writer) hoping for?

http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2018/10/red-sox-world-series-2018-mlb/574162/

― clemenza, Monday, October 29, 2018 8:40 PM (yesterday) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

She meant the Yankees i think.

I swear when teams with a strong fanbase across the continent do well, like the Red Sox or Cards or Dodgers or Yankees, journalists yearn for the end of big teams and ugh always the same franchises and ugh payroll is so unfair. Once the Royals win the World Series however, the same journalists will cry for 'national teams' and wish baseball was more like the NFL where every american citizen cares for the Packers or something.

baseball is one of the most complainy sports out there

well actually i think it's its main strength, baseball allows a self-criticism I would love to see in other sports.

Gonna be real funny in 20 years when the european and american football have to deal with PED the way baseball had to.

i don't mind it most of the time, but it grates when certain television broadcasters make the saaaaame complaints about stuff, year after year after year. the mound visits take too long, the batters step out of the box too much, the pitchers take too long, there are too many strikeouts, not enough sacrifice bunts, pitchers aren't tough any more, pitchers are only asked to throw 6 innings and that's lame, small ball is gone, not enough hit and run, wah wah wah

i could make a bingo card with all that shit and the st louis broadcast team will give me a nightly BINGO winning percentage of at least .500

agreed, some broadcasters are dragging the sport down.

put Jason Benetti in charge of the World Series commenting imo.

the FG piece by Craig Edwards that graph came from

For the most part, the World Series has followed general viewing trends. As more options for consumers have emerged, it has become more difficult for any kind of programming to attract a large audience. There have been exceptions: the 1991 World Series between Atlanta and Minnesota, a dramatic post-9/11 Yankees-D-backs event, and the Cubs curse-breaking spectacle. But the relationship between the TV’s No. 1 show and the World Series has been strong, producing an r-squared of .83 during this time period....

I think the disappointing ratings for the series are based primarily on two factors: overrating Boston’s impact on viewership and the games themselves....

https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/those-disastrous-world-series-tv-ratings/

(the impact of '89 on the Bay Area is obvious; it wouldn't account for the dip in the national audience)

The Bash Brothers A's weren't really big nationally -- they were a huge deal within baseball, but didn't transcend the sport in a way that would draw big national ratings. Plus there wasn't much interest in watching the games because everybody also viewed the '89 WS as a huge mismatch (which it was).

they were also the same market

yes it def seemed like a sweep even after Game 1

the batters step out of the box too much, the pitchers take too long

this is true tho

I can withstand the constant complaining about 5-6 of these issues at any given time. But I cannot withstand 10+

I draw the line at 10+