2019 World Series -- Houston Astros vs Washington Nationals

Stras seems out of the question

no idea how to look this up but I don't think I've ever seen a starter go in relief after starting a day or two before

Bumgarner did something like that in 2014 but I believe he was on 2 days rest at least

Handwringing about the MVP before game 7 is what I've come to expect out of this board. It's almost as if whomever performs best tonight might take the honors!

handwringing about awards is something many of us eschew, except of course whoever has the most WPA should automatically get it in a short series

In 2001, Randy Johnson pitched in relief in Game 7 (and was credited with the win!) the day after starting and winning Game 6.

If Nats win mvp goes to Morbs for believing.

not so much believing as having seen many series turn on a hairpin

Take a compliment dear

Corbin/Hudson/Doolittle all ready for tonight I suppose.

i am still on record for Soto to hit two in tonight's win

ALRIGHT, ALRIGHT, ALRIGHT: Academy Award-winning Actor and Astros Fan Matthew McConaughey will announce “Play Ball!” before Game 7 first pitch.

— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) October 30, 2019

"Handwringing"? Like I'm sitting here worrying about it? Jesus...the average baseball fan does speculate about these things in the downtime between games. I mean, if you'd prefer, we could continue to argue about the Turner play that ultimately had zero impact on the result (unless you want to argue that the delay hurt the Houston reliever).

Stras seems out of the question

From everything I've looked at online, he's available for a batter or two.

I like the EW podcast today, with Ben and Sam agreeing that the Turner play that ultimately had zero impact on the result was a bad call.

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/effectively-wild-episode-1450-play-loud-and-dont-carry-a-big-stick/

I'll go with what Jeff Blair said on a call-in here: the right call on a terrible rule.

(Blair also said--and this is neither here nor there in relation to last night, just a point of interest--that Cliff Floyd's career basically ended on a similar play.)

fangraphs has camera angles and historical examples: https://blogs.fangraphs.com/a-dumb-rule-almost-ruined-the-world-series

this, from the fryman-knoblauch incident, would seem to be the wisest take

The Yankees blamed Hendry for not calling Fryman out for interference, but Jim Evans, the crew chief, explained that no matter what Fryman’s path to first was, the ball hit him as he stepped on or was about to step on the base and he was entitled to be in fair territory when he reached the base because the base was in fair territory.

The rule even says you have latitude if you're AT the base.

ILB's most beloved baseball writer, Bill James, agrees:

"Every rule, in baseball or in law, has to be read with an understanding of the intent of the rule. Basically, the umpires--and those who are unfortunately defending them today--are trying to read with the rule without acknowledging its intent."

And:

"The best way to handle it is for the umpire to make an announcement: 'I called the play incorrectly last night, and I'm very relieved that it did not change the outcome of the game.' If he just does that, then the controversy goes away, and you can quietly clarify the rule."

It's all moot. (They were, on the broadcast I was watching--Buck Martinez and the other guy--talking about the effect the delay might have on the Houston reliever; not after-the-fact, but during the delay.)

reminds me a lot of the NFL's "catch" rules which has all sorts of bizarre clauses. I remember a Lions/Bears game where Calvin Johnson made this incredible game-winning catch over a defender and maintained clear control of the ball, but set the ball down a little too quickly to go celebrate so it was ruled incomplete. struck me as one of the worst rulings I'd ever seen in professional sports even if ***technically*** it was the correct ruling

maybe the umps, just like the guys managing the teams, tend to just overthink things in the World Series

"It was not unlike watching Atlantis rise again from the sea, the bones of its kings new-covered with flesh."

George Will: "He ostentatiously carried his bat all the way to first base before discarding it. This was preening. Which is an infectious virus." https://t.co/T0MAjt9lCx

— Dan Steinberg (@dcsportsbog) October 30, 2019

when Babe Ruth called the home run that was great and very humble.

he was actually pointing toward someone breaking an unwritten rule of baseball in the bleachers

"stop that man", he reportedly said while pointing to the offender, "his uncouth actions will destroy the foundations of our gentlemanly sport"

he then tried to murder that man with a home run, but failed

Just out of curiosity--and I hope this is acceptable between-game ephemera--I went through Game 7s looking for HOF starting-pitcher match-ups. It's a short list:

2019 – Scherzer/Greinke (assuming they're both headed there)
2001 – Clemens/Schilling
1991 – Morris/Smoltz
1926 – Haines/Hoyt

Koufax and Kaat in '65 is close. Have to put Scherzer/Greinke as the second-best ever.

Easily the most likable.

Jesse Haines and Waite Hoyt were very in-demand at parties and get-togethers.

All praise to KM for the Ruth sequence above.

the veracity of the 'called shot' remains a Question

Proof that I've got this HOF in my head that exists apart from the actual HOF--totally forgot that neither Clemens nor Schilling are in there. So really there have only been two such match-ups; clearly Clemens/Schilling was far and away the best regardless.

...

It's amazing how many regular dudes there were that started Game 7s. Johnny Kucks won Game 7 for the Yankees in '56 with a three-hit shutout.

This must have been some game:

https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SFN/SFN196210160.shtml

the veracity of the 'called shot' remains a Question

― a Mets fan who gave up on everything in the mid '80s (Dr Morbius), Wednesday, October 30, 2019 6:05 PM (one hour ago) bookmarkflaglink

which is crazy

one great mythical act of showmanship is willed into existence while the showmanship of a 20 year old dominican is threatening western society as we know it

You're only allowed, what, two upheld appeals? That Eaton play looked close.

The Nats had a plan to come out swinging against Greinke. Not bad --shock and awe is their best chance of winning this game.

Man, George Will accusing someone of preening is rich.

xp agreed.

Whereas Astros were a little more patient than usual vs Scherzer.

One can only dream, but game might actually finish before midnight at this pace. (I swear Scherzer was into his windup on one pitch--or at least that pre-windup thing where he holds the ball above his head--before Brantley was in the box.)

(Mind you, I forgot that we're going to see 37 pitchers.)

wonder who the last guy to throw a 68mph pitch in the WS was? Kershaw has an eephus.

Yikes

That ballpark is dumb

thank yew Chirinos

Gurriel has quietly had a good series -- on both sides of the ball.

How dumb was that bunt attempt?

Glad they only scored one run.

HAHT ATTACK

At 3-0, I thought Scherzer was intentionally non-intentionally walking Springer...lucky, lucky.

Springer tattooed that pitch. The Astros have had a lot of hard hit outs in the series.

Scherzer is throwing hard but hasn't had good command. He was lucky to give up only the one run.

His fastball control is okay, the slider is eluding him.