MLB Playoffs ('25) Games thread (non-Phillies)
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Whew, that game was crazy. And unlike the Bosox-Dodgers game that went 18 innings, this one was different because guys weren't just swinging for the fences trying to end it. There was plenty of strategy necessary on both sides trying to push anything across. Some random musings...
--There was nothing wrong with the umpire call on the Blue Jays confusion. Was it a bit high? Yes. Was he there the entire night? Also yes. Wegner had that same call on strikes so there was no delay. Varsho got confused because he assumed a ball and didn't hear the grunt. Bichette shouldn't be in any rush to get to 2nd on a walk. That's runner error. But I know the conspiracy theorists here want to make something out of nothing.
--The send of Schneider in the 10th may not have been a bad idea at first but the 3B coach has to know that Vlady is coming to the plate next so you gotta hold him there. However, I'd imagine the Dodgers walk Vlady with first base open and they take their chances with Kiner-Falefa.
--Brings up another point about Toronto's lineup management. I get Schneider going for it with the pinch runners and you can never know how long the game is going to go. But by the time we got to the 13th inning, the Jays had one power bat in the lineup with Vlady. Springer was hurt and he pinch-ran for Barger and Kirk. Given that the Jays couldn't string together any hits, 8 of those hitters weren't going to take the lead with one swing.
--Klein is going to get all the credit for his 4 innings of work and rightfully so but Henriquez should get just as much for his 2 innings of gas. For a bullpen that has been in shambles for much of the 2nd half of the year, these guys who had been collecting dust for the last month really stepped up.
--I wouldn't pitch to Ohtani the rest of the series. Dude is Bonds right now. Jays should have lost the game in the 17th because they pitched around Ohtani. That led Little to get out of his rhythm and if Mookie doesn't swing at the 2-0 pitch out of the zone, we likely could have gone to bed about 20 minutes earlier. It'll be fun to watch Ohtani pitch tonight.
--Wish it had gone 19 just to see Yamamoto come in the game and see if he could continue his mastery.
--Only the 2nd World Series game to go 18 innings. In both instances, Brad Paisley sung the national anthem.
--There was nothing wrong with the umpire call on the Blue Jays confusion. Was it a bit high? Yes. Was he there the entire night? Also yes. Wegner had that same call on strikes so there was no delay. Varsho got confused because he assumed a ball and didn't hear the grunt. Bichette shouldn't be in any rush to get to 2nd on a walk. That's runner error. But I know the conspiracy theorists here want to make something out of nothing.
--The send of Schneider in the 10th may not have been a bad idea at first but the 3B coach has to know that Vlady is coming to the plate next so you gotta hold him there. However, I'd imagine the Dodgers walk Vlady with first base open and they take their chances with Kiner-Falefa.
--Brings up another point about Toronto's lineup management. I get Schneider going for it with the pinch runners and you can never know how long the game is going to go. But by the time we got to the 13th inning, the Jays had one power bat in the lineup with Vlady. Springer was hurt and he pinch-ran for Barger and Kirk. Given that the Jays couldn't string together any hits, 8 of those hitters weren't going to take the lead with one swing.
--Klein is going to get all the credit for his 4 innings of work and rightfully so but Henriquez should get just as much for his 2 innings of gas. For a bullpen that has been in shambles for much of the 2nd half of the year, these guys who had been collecting dust for the last month really stepped up.
--I wouldn't pitch to Ohtani the rest of the series. Dude is Bonds right now. Jays should have lost the game in the 17th because they pitched around Ohtani. That led Little to get out of his rhythm and if Mookie doesn't swing at the 2-0 pitch out of the zone, we likely could have gone to bed about 20 minutes earlier. It'll be fun to watch Ohtani pitch tonight.
--Wish it had gone 19 just to see Yamamoto come in the game and see if he could continue his mastery.
--Only the 2nd World Series game to go 18 innings. In both instances, Brad Paisley sung the national anthem.
And the guys on the broadcast had no idea what they were talking about (as is often true of announcers). He saw the pitch, took about a half second to process it, and made a good verbal strike call along with the physical motion. The call itself was bad, but those mechanics would be what they'd teach you in a training video.
They said the call wasn’t loud enough. Surely John Smoltz knows what he’s talking about. No reason for a half second delay to me. Nobody on base, I guess you can go quiet and take a half second to make the call. Runner on first on a 3-2 count and you blatantly miss the call, you better make that call immediately and loudly so you don’t get the situation that unfolded.
That was a long delay. I disagree that was a textbook example of the pace of call.
In any case, bichette bears the lions share of the blame
In any case, bichette bears the lions share of the blame
Watch it again (put the link below again)...he makes a call that's very audible on the broadcast. Smoltz knows what he's talking about when it comes to pitching and general baseball...I'd question his knowledge on umpiring mechanics (or even general rules often...can't tell you how many times I'll hear national broadcasters talking about the hands being part of the bat on a HBP, or a tie going to the runner).
You shouldn't be changing your timing on a ball/strike call based on the situation...consistent timing is the key. You should always be pausing to make the call. See it, process it, call it. Watch 100 training videos and every one will talk about slowing it down and thinking about what you see before you call it...zero will talk about trying to speed it up in a situation.
Just because it was audible on the broadcast does not mean it was heard at first base in a loud stadium. In fact, the batter didn’t appear to be sure of what the call was. I heard the same home plate ump later in the game talking to the batter at about the same volume. Surely he was not talking to the batter in a voice he should be calling balls and strikes in. So, if it wasn’t loud enough to be heard at first base then the runner is waiting for the hand signal. That comes at least a full second after the pitch. Should Bichette be caught there? No, that’s on him. But even at that, the ball was obviously high (if you are right that he was calling that a strike all night should lead to the umps removal as that pitch was that close), the batter not reacting like he had been called out on strikes, and the delay in him knowing what the call was obviously threw him off. The ump is certainly not blameless.
All due respect how does the significantly quicker verbal call jibe with the slow arm gesture as far as thinking about it. He should have gestured simultaneous to speaking, which he most assuredly did not
again most blame goes to bucket ter regardless
Great Googlie Mooglie 
Sydney Sweeney .
Sydney Sweeney .
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No rings on her left hand. Wife #6 in the making.Great Googlie Mooglie
Sydney Sweeney .
Absolutely amazing how that kid started this season in single-A ball and now set a pitching record in the World Series.
For all of us bummed out by the Phillies being eliminated, we can take cover by the fact that we are watching the Phillies in Dodgers uniforms. You want to talk about your big hitters not hitting, the Dodgers have you covered. You want to complain about not putting the ball in play and swinging through pitches, the Dodgers have you covered. If you want to complain about a bullpen that can’t be relied on, hello Dodgers. If you want to say your starter has to be perfect to win, hello Dodgers. You remember facing new pitchers and turning them into Koufax, hello last night.
I have sat here for a week wondering if the Phillies have watched the Series and how Toronto has played.
Think of it in this context.
In the 2024 MLB draft, he was the #20 pick (1st round), out of East Carolina University. While how fast a prospect moves up the minor league ladder in MLB is dependent upon a number of factors, including whether they were college or HS players, if they are switching positions, the need for them at the MLB level by the team that drafted them, etc., that's still a crazy acceleration through the minors.
It got me to wonder about the rest of the 2024 draft
1st. Travis Bazzana, 2B, drafted by Cleveland out of college. He made it to Double A this year, but missed most of the season due to an oblique strain
2nd. Chase Burns, P, drafted by Cincinnati out of college. He made it to the majors on 6/24 of this season, becoming the 1st pitcher in the draft to make it to the bigs. He pitched in 13 games, and went 0-3 on the season
3rd. Charles Condon, 1B/OF, drafted by Colorado out of college. He fractured his wrist in March, and made it to AA after returning
4th. Nick Kurtz, 1B, drafted by Oakland out of college. Another PA kid (Manheim Twp. HS). He's the success story, so far, of the draft. He was promoted to the bigs shortly after the start of this season, and went on to hit 36 HRs, drive in 86 RBIs, and bat .290 for Oakland.
5th. Hagen Smith, P, drafted by the White Sox out of college. He spent this season in AA
6th. Jan Caglianone, OF, drafted by Kansas City out of college. He's interesting, in that he was a P/1B in college. He's opted to not pitch in the majors, even though he was really successful in college. He played RF for the 1st time in college or the minors this past April, in AA. He was in AAA by May, and up to the Royals in June. He do so-so, between injuries and seeing MLB pitching, with 210 ABs, and hitting 7 HRs, and batting .157
7th. JJ Wetherhold, INF, drafted by St. Louis out of college. Another PA kid (Mars Area HS). He started this season in AA, and was promoted to AAA in July
8th. Christian Moore, 2B, drafted by the Angels out of college. He started this season at AA, was promoted to AAA, and then was promoted to the Angels in June. He did OK, but was out for a month due to a sprained thumb, and did so-so after that. He has 162 ABs, hit 7 HRs, and batted .198 in the bigs
9th. Konnor Griffin, SS/CF, drafted by Pittsburgh out of HS. He's young, but seems to be doing well. He started this season in A ball, was promoted to high A, and then was promoted to AA. He was Baseball America's Minor League Player of the Year
10th. Seaver King, 3B/OF, drafted by Washington out of college. He started the season in A ball, then was promoted to high A, then was promoted to AA.
11th. Bryce Rainer, SS, drafted by Detroit out of HS. He started the season in A ball, and then went in IR due to a dislocated shoulder that required surgery
12th. Braden Montgomery, OF, drafted by Boston out of college. In Dec. of 2024, he was part of a trade with the White Sox. This season he started in A, then was promoted to high A, then was promoted to AA.
13th. James Tibbs, OF, drafted by San Fran out of college. In June of this season he was part of a trade to the Red Sox, and then in July was part of a trade to the Dodgers. He started this past season for San Fran's A team, then was promoted to high A, then was assigned to AA after being traded to Boston, and then was assigned to AA after being traded to the Dodgers
14th. Cam Smith, 3B, drafted by the Cubs out of college. In Dec. of '24 he was part of a trade to the Astros. He started the season on the Astros roster, and ended up playing 134 games, hitting .236, hitting 9 HRs, and driving in 51 runs
15th. Jurrangelo Cijntje, P, drafted by Seattle out of college. He started the season in high A, and was promoted to AA in August
16th. P. J. Morlando, OF, drafted by the Marlins out of HS. He was injured (lumbar stress reaction) in A ball after the draft, and this season was ruled out after undergoing an ulnar nerve transposition in his non-throwing arm. He's playing fall ball as he works his way back
17th. Braylon Payne, OF, drafted by Milwaukee out of HS. He was injured a good part of this past season. I think the highest he's been so far is A ball
18th. Theo Gillen, OF, drafted by Tamp Bay out of HS. He's a little tough to track, in that he's had injuries after being drafted, and also this year. He's only 20, so there's still a lot of time
19th. Carson Berge, OF, drafted by the Mets out of college. He started this season in high A, was promoted to AA, and then was promoted to AAA. He was named the Mets minor league player of the year
That's the picks before Yesavage in the 2024 MLB draft. In the 1.5 years since the draft, only Nick Kurtz has been more productive in the bigs than Yesavage.
With the focus on Vladdy Jr, it reminded me of the night awhile back when we were introduced to Eric Wedge. Wedge was a Jays advisor and was part of the initial discussions to select Vladdy Jr. I’ve probably shared this story before but during the conversations, he said that Vladdy Jr was the second best right handed youth hitter he had ever seen. The only right handed youth hitter he thought was better when drafted was Manny.
I was thinking of that night and Manny recently. Came across the latest that Manny wants to be a hitting coach. That would be interesting.
sports.yahoo.com
I was thinking of that night and Manny recently. Came across the latest that Manny wants to be a hitting coach. That would be interesting.
Red Sox legend Manny Ramirez wants to return to MLB in new role
It's time for Manny to be Manny.
sports.yahoo.com
Frustrating that they played on Halloween.
Yamamoto was amazing, as usual. (I missed watching him pitch, but heard some of it on the radio while driving home.)
Dodgers up 3-1, heading to the bottom of the 9th.
Sasaki in relief for the Dodgers. He hit Kirk on an 0-2 pitch, to put a man on 1st. Then the next batter, (Barger, I think) hit a ball that got stuck at the bottom of the wall in left center, so while Kirk would have scored, it's ruled (correctly) a ground rule double, so 2nd & 3, and no outs. The Dodgers brought in Glasnow to relieve Sasaki. Clement hit a pitch off his fist to the 2nd baseman, 1 out, nobody scores. Then Gimenez hit a ball to LF that looked like it would drop, but it hung just a bit and Hernandez moved well and got the out. He then threw on the run to 2nd, and got a double play as Barger had gone too far off of 2nd (he was halfway to 3rd).
Dodgers win, 3-1, and it will be a game 7 on Saturday night (11/1).
Yamamoto was amazing, as usual. (I missed watching him pitch, but heard some of it on the radio while driving home.)
Dodgers up 3-1, heading to the bottom of the 9th.
Sasaki in relief for the Dodgers. He hit Kirk on an 0-2 pitch, to put a man on 1st. Then the next batter, (Barger, I think) hit a ball that got stuck at the bottom of the wall in left center, so while Kirk would have scored, it's ruled (correctly) a ground rule double, so 2nd & 3, and no outs. The Dodgers brought in Glasnow to relieve Sasaki. Clement hit a pitch off his fist to the 2nd baseman, 1 out, nobody scores. Then Gimenez hit a ball to LF that looked like it would drop, but it hung just a bit and Hernandez moved well and got the out. He then threw on the run to 2nd, and got a double play as Barger had gone too far off of 2nd (he was halfway to 3rd).
Dodgers win, 3-1, and it will be a game 7 on Saturday night (11/1).
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Dodgers had 4 hits and 3 of them came in the 3rd inning when they scored all 3 runs. They went down in order 7 out of 9 innings.
Jays lost the game in the third inning when Gausman threw a two-strike meatball to Betts with the bases loaded with two outs and two strikes. Betts singled home 2 runs which won the game. Gausman had struck out 7 Dodgers at that point primarily with the slider. Should not have given Betts anything to hit on a 1-2 count.
Jays lost the game in the third inning when Gausman threw a two-strike meatball to Betts with the bases loaded with two outs and two strikes. Betts singled home 2 runs which won the game. Gausman had struck out 7 Dodgers at that point primarily with the slider. Should not have given Betts anything to hit on a 1-2 count.
Bad luck for Barger on his hit that got stuck, but then horrible base running by him getting doubled up for the final out. Can’t have that happen.
Clement made a really bad decision to swing at a high inside pitch. Absent the double play Springer would have been up with a chance to tie the game or even win the WS.
Ohtani started for the Dodgers, on 3 days rest. He was struggling from the start, and was up to 50 pitches in the bottom of the 3rd, when he made his 51st pitch, with runners on 1st & 3rd, and this happened:
I know Glasnow saved Game 6, but read a comment from LA manager prior to that that made it seem like it was planned for Ohtani to be starter for a potential Game 7 (basically skipping over Glasnow). My impression was they were trying to set up a storybook ending.
Don’t know the LA bullpen much for viable options last night, but also don’t think Ohtani has pitched on 3 days rest in the MLB. Seems an odd time (WS G7) to make a first attempt at it, especially with Ohtani, who seemingly has been treated with kids gloves as a pitcher (extra days rest here and there).
Can’t say the outing disappointed me as I have Ohtani fatigue with some of the media’s greatest ever proclamations. Would prefer Blue Jays didn’t win, but won’t lose any sleep if they do. Lost enough of that the past month+ with that certain team on the gridiron.
I know they like to have things resolved shortly after the end of the game. But in a 7-game series, with it only a 2-run difference in the score in G7 with 2 innings left (when I post this; it was 3 or 4 innings left when this was tweeted out), I hesitate to vote for somebody. But, if you're so motivated, cast your vote:
Hoffman with a chance to close it out in the top of the 9th. Alas, it didn't happen for him.
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Strange bottom of the ninth to load the bases with one down .
Two incredible outs to send it into the 10th.
Two incredible outs to send it into the 10th.
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Bottom of the ninth, the Blue Jayes load the bases (single, walk, hit by pitch). The Dodgers had gotten 1 out before that sequence.
Yamamoto is on the mound (just came in, and hit Kirk to load the bases), bases loaded, and 1 out, tie game. Insanity
Varsho at bat (0 for 4 on the night):
- ball 1
- grounder foul, for strike 1
- beautiful pitch (low outside corner) for strike 2
- chopper to 2nd, he throws home, and on a really close play Vladdy is called out. The catcher's foot came off the plate, so this will be an interesting review. Update: the call is confirmed.
2 out, bases loaded. Ernie Clement at bat. In his last at bat, he set the record for the most hits in a World Series.
A high drive to left center, looks like the LF will play it, but the centerfielder bumps into him as he makes the play, and holds onto the ball.
4-4, going to the 10th inning, in Game 7
Yamamoto is on the mound (just came in, and hit Kirk to load the bases), bases loaded, and 1 out, tie game. Insanity
Varsho at bat (0 for 4 on the night):
- ball 1
- grounder foul, for strike 1
- beautiful pitch (low outside corner) for strike 2
- chopper to 2nd, he throws home, and on a really close play Vladdy is called out. The catcher's foot came off the plate, so this will be an interesting review. Update: the call is confirmed.
2 out, bases loaded. Ernie Clement at bat. In his last at bat, he set the record for the most hits in a World Series.
A high drive to left center, looks like the LF will play it, but the centerfielder bumps into him as he makes the play, and holds onto the ball.
4-4, going to the 10th inning, in Game 7
