chazzed said:

---

Good. Ass. Baseball.

---

Unless you are on the basepaths as the Braves.

dimitrig said:

---

chazzed said:

---

Good. Ass. Baseball.

---

Unless you are on the basepaths as the Braves.

---

Unbelievable how they ran themselves out of a big inning. I had little faith that they would win the game after that.

Don't care for the Braves particularly but as a lifetime Giants fan the enemy of my enemy is my friend. Did not watch one minute of any of the playoff games and don't plan on watching the World Series. The Dodgers will no doubt be favored but anything can happen. In the meantime, I need only point out the 3 World Series titles for the Giants in the last 10 years versus 32 years of futility for the Dodgers, exacerbated by the knowledge that the Giants were not the best team in any of those years, overall and in the National League. The right breaks and good pitching can make a difference.

sycasey said:

---

dimitrig said:

---

chazzed said:

---

Good. Ass. Baseball.

---

Unless you are on the basepaths as the Braves.

---

Unbelievable how they ran themselves out of a big inning. I had little faith that they would win the game after that.

---

I thought it was pretty stupid for Taylor to run on contact from 3rd with 1 out as well.

There was no need to try to score on that play with Turner coming up.

" After being pushed to the limit in the league championship series, the top seed in each league has advanced to the World Series, which will be played at a neutral site for the first time since 1944.

The Dodgers are back in the World Series for the third time in the past five years, determined to do what they couldn't do the last two times: end a 32-year championship drought.

The Rays are back in the World Series for the first time since 2008, which was the franchise's 11th year in existence. They're one of six teams without a title (Rockies, Mariners, Brewers, Padres, Rangers).

By the numbers: The Dodgers paid nearly as much in signing bonuses this season ($25.3 million) as the Rays paid in payroll.

Dodgers 2020 payroll: $107.9 million (2nd in MLB)
Rays 2020 payroll: $28.3 million (28th in MLB)

How the Dodgers got here: They became the World Series favorite after acquiring Mookie Betts in February and did not disappoint, racing to a 43-17 record and posting a +136 run differential, both by far the best in baseball.

Wild Card Series: Def. Brewers, 2-0
ALDS: Def. Padres, 3-0
ALCS: Def. Braves, 4-3 (first NL team to come back from 2-0 and 3-1 down in a best-of-seven series)

How the Rays got here: Powered by a dominant pitching staff that features three aces (Blake Snell, Charlie Morton, Tyler Glasnow), Tampa Bay ran away with the AL East despite a middling offense that produced just 289 runs (12th in MLB).
Wild Card Series: Def. Blue Jays, 2-0
ALDS: Def. Yankees, 3-2
ALCS: Def. Astros, 4-3

Notes:

The legend continues: Randy Arozarena debuted for the Rays 51 days ago. Now, the ALCS MVP is in the midst of a historic postseason and one HR shy of the single-season record of eight. Get to know the young Cuban star.

Corey Seager on fire: The Dodger SS smashed his way into the record books with five HR and 11 RBIs against the Braves, both of which set NLCS records.

Rare matchup: This is only the second Tampa Bay vs. Los Angeles postseason meeting across the four major sports. The other was when the L.A. Rams beat the Tampa Bay Bucs 9-0 in the 1979 NFC Championship Game.

L.A. goes for the double: If the Dodgers win, it would be the first NBA championship-World Series double for one city since L.A. in 1988. (You could add 2002 with the Lakers and Anaheim-based Angels.)

World Series schedule: All games will be broadcast on Fox.

Game 1: Tomorrow (10/20)
Game 2: Wednesday (10/21)
Game 3: Friday (10/23)
Game 4: Saturday (10/24)
Game 5: Sunday (10/25)
Game 6: Next Tuesday (10/27)
Game 7: Next Wednesday (10/28)
-Axios


Cody Bellinger hit a mammoth, seventh-inning bomb to lift the Dodgers past the Braves, 4-3, in Game 7 on Sunday night.

bearister said:

---

" After being pushed to the limit in the league championship series, the top seed in each league has advanced to the World Series, which will be played at a neutral site for the first time since 1944.

The Dodgers are back in the World Series for the third time in the past five years, determined to do what they couldn't do the last two times: end a 32-year championship drought.

The Rays are back in the World Series for the first time since 2008, which was the franchise's 11th year in existence. They're one of six teams without a title (Rockies, Mariners, Brewers, Padres, Rangers).

By the numbers: The Dodgers paid nearly as much in signing bonuses this season ($25.3 million) as the Rays paid in payroll.

Dodgers 2020 payroll: $107.9 million (2nd in MLB)
Rays 2020 payroll: $28.3 million (28th in MLB)

How the Dodgers got here: They became the World Series favorite after acquiring Mookie Betts in February and did not disappoint, racing to a 43-17 record and posting a +136 run differential, both by far the best in baseball.

Wild Card Series: Def. Brewers, 2-0
ALDS: Def. Padres, 3-0
ALCS: Def. Braves, 4-3 (first NL team to come back from 2-0 and 3-1 down in a best-of-seven series)

How the Rays got here: Powered by a dominant pitching staff that features three aces (Blake Snell, Charlie Morton, Tyler Glasnow), Tampa Bay ran away with the AL East despite a middling offense that produced just 289 runs (12th in MLB).
Wild Card Series: Def. Blue Jays, 2-0
ALDS: Def. Yankees, 3-2
ALCS: Def. Astros, 4-3

Notes:

The legend continues: Randy Arozarena debuted for the Rays 51 days ago. Now, the ALCS MVP is in the midst of a historic postseason and one HR shy of the single-season record of eight. Get to know the young Cuban star.

Corey Seager on fire: The Dodger SS smashed his way into the record books with five HR and 11 RBIs against the Braves, both of which set NLCS records.

Rare matchup: This is only the second Tampa Bay vs. Los Angeles postseason meeting across the four major sports. The other was when the L.A. Rams beat the Tampa Bay Bucs 9-0 in the 1979 NFC Championship Game.

L.A. goes for the double: If the Dodgers win, it would be the first NBA championship-World Series double for one city since L.A. in 1988. (You could add 2002 with the Lakers and Anaheim-based Angels.)

World Series schedule: All games will be broadcast on Fox.

Game 1: Tomorrow (10/20)
Game 2: Wednesday (10/21)
Game 3: Friday (10/23)
Game 4: Saturday (10/24)
Game 5: Sunday (10/25)
Game 6: Next Tuesday (10/27)
Game 7: Next Wednesday (10/28)
-Axios


Cody Bellinger hit a mammoth, seventh-inning bomb to lift the Dodgers past the Braves, 4-3, in Game 7 on Sunday night.

---

I hope the Randy Arozarena story isn't too good to be true. He said he added strength by doing 500 pushups a day during the lockdown. He's hitting home runs though that I've only seen hit by guys on the juice. Eg. Takes a low outside pitch out to just right of dead center. His opposite field. And he's done it numerous times. Hope it's for real.

Tonight Kershaw exorcises the demon!



"By the numbers: The Dodgers' 2020 payroll was the second-highest in MLB, while the Rays' was the third-lowest. (Reminder: Salaries were prorated to reflect playing 60 games instead of 162.)

Millionaires: The Dodgers' 28-man NLCS roster featured 15 players making at least $1 million this season. The Rays had six.

2 > 28: Clayton Kershaw ($16.3 million) and Mookie Betts ($10 million) made $3 million more combined this year than the entire Rays ALCS roster.

Back at it again: Only two teams have reached the World Series with payrolls ranking 28th or lower. The 2020 Rays (28th of 30) and the 2008 Rays (29th).

Bullpen comparison: The Dodgers are more expensive at every position except catcher, but the bullpen costs ($17.9 million vs. $2 million) are even more indicative of what it means to have money in this league." Axios

Ranking every World Series in MLB history


https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/29104085/ranking-every-world-series-mlb-history

bearister said:

---

Tonight Kershaw exorcises the demon!



"By the numbers: The Dodgers' 2020 payroll was the second-highest in MLB, while the Rays' was the third-lowest. (Reminder: Salaries were prorated to reflect playing 60 games instead of 162.)

Millionaires: The Dodgers' 28-man NLCS roster featured 15 players making at least $1 million this season. The Rays had six.

2 > 28: Clayton Kershaw ($16.3 million) and Mookie Betts ($10 million) made $3 million more combined this year than the entire Rays ALCS roster.

Back at it again: Only two teams have reached the World Series with payrolls ranking 28th or lower. The 2020 Rays (28th of 30) and the 2008 Rays (29th).

Bullpen comparison: The Dodgers are more expensive at every position except catcher, but the bullpen costs ($17.9 million vs. $2 million) are even more indicative of what it means to have money in this league." Axios

Ranking every World Series in MLB history


https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/29104085/ranking-every-world-series-mlb-history

---

Or he may exercise the demon!

We will see!

Just to make sure I'm sending the Archbishop of SF down to Texas for a Junipero Serra statue site exorcism redux. I understand the act travels well.

Day 3 of me watching Joe Buck call a game for 7 straight days!

Joe Buck is the best!!!!

okaydo said:

---

Day 3 of me watching Joe Buck call a game for 7 straight days!

Joe Buck is the best!!!!

---

I like the new, more sarcastic Joe Buck.

sycasey said:

---

okaydo said:

---

Day 3 of me watching Joe Buck call a game for 7 straight days!

Joe Buck is the best!!!!

---

I like the new, more sarcastic Joe Buck.

---

He's been like this for a while now. He's a far cry from the "Randy Moss" Joe Buck.

okaydo said:

---

sycasey said:

---

okaydo said:

---

Day 3 of me watching Joe Buck call a game for 7 straight days!

Joe Buck is the best!!!!

---

I like the new, more sarcastic Joe Buck.

---

He's been like this for a while now. He's a far cry from the "Randy Moss" Joe Buck.

---

Definitely. The switch seemed to flip 6 or 7 years ago. Glad he's loosened up.

sycasey said:

---

okaydo said:

---

sycasey said:

---

okaydo said:

---

Day 3 of me watching Joe Buck call a game for 7 straight days!

Joe Buck is the best!!!!

---

I like the new, more sarcastic Joe Buck.

---

He's been like this for a while now. He's a far cry from the "Randy Moss" Joe Buck.

---

Definitely. The switch seemed to flip 6 or 7 years ago. Glad he's loosened up.

---

He magically got better after he lost Tim McCarver. Imagine that?

Kershaw strikes out the side but gives up a dinger. Still low pitch count. Let him go the 6th or build his confidence by letting him leave with the lead? I say take him out even though he is obviously still pitching well.

At this point, I defnitely change pitchers. If Roberts sends Kershaw out there to start the 7th, he had better pull the southpaw after any hitter reaches.

Kershaw with a clutch performance in the World Series.

Betts is worth the money, at least at this point in his career.

It's now up to the bullpen.

NYCGOBEARS said:

---

sycasey said:

---

okaydo said:

---

sycasey said:

---

okaydo said:

---

Day 3 of me watching Joe Buck call a game for 7 straight days!

Joe Buck is the best!!!!

---

I like the new, more sarcastic Joe Buck.

---

He's been like this for a while now. He's a far cry from the "Randy Moss" Joe Buck.

---

Definitely. The switch seemed to flip 6 or 7 years ago. Glad he's loosened up.

---

He magically got better after he lost Tim McCarver. Imagine that?

---

He really did.

Sweet move sliding into home head first and popping up to a standing position after he crossed the plate in one fluid movement. I'm not sure I have seen that done before.

Bellinger should have made that catch after running it down.

He always looks high as a kite.

I should add that he made the catch later on but he still looks stoned all the time.

bearister said:

---

Tonight Kershaw exorcises the demon!

---

" 50%: Kershaw retired 17 of the final 18 batters he faced, and the Rays missed on 19 of their 38 swings against him, the first game in his career that hitters missed on 50% of swings (min. 25 pitches)....

.... Newsflash: After years of heartache and struggle, Kershaw is dominating October. He's 3-1 in four starts with a 2.88 ERA, 30 strikeouts and just three walks.

"The Dodgers' bats are back. The Clayton Kershaw narrative is not."
Claire McNear, The Ringer". Axios

Very impressive and, yes, the silence is conspicuous.

I am disappointed that Playoff Kershaw failed to emerge last night, but there is still time.

sycasey said:

---

I am disappointed that Playoff Kershaw failed to emerge last night, but there is still time.

---

Once you conquer the choke there is no looking back.

bearister said:

---

sycasey said:

---

I am disappointed that Playoff Kershaw failed to emerge last night, but there is still time.

---

Once you conquer the choke there is no looking back.

---

You sure about that? Maybe look up the 2017 World Series vs. the Astros. Great first game by Kershaw. But then . . .

B.A. Bearacus said:

---

---

Sure, but if anyone wants to think this is about this particular series or these teams, probably not. TV ratings are down for everything every year (thanks to the Internet allowing people to follow the sport via all kinds of other means). Sports ratings have also been down across the board during the pandemic.

sycasey said:

---

bearister said:

---

sycasey said:

---

I am disappointed that Playoff Kershaw failed to emerge last night, but there is still time.

---

Once you conquer the choke there is no looking back.

---

You sure about that? Maybe look up the 2017 World Series vs. the Astros. Great first game by Kershaw. But then . . .

---

.

Ok, 4 Bitcoin that Kershaw wins next WS start.

bearister said:

---

sycasey said:

---

bearister said:

---

sycasey said:

---

I am disappointed that Playoff Kershaw failed to emerge last night, but there is still time.

---

Once you conquer the choke there is no looking back.

---

You sure about that? Maybe look up the 2017 World Series vs. the Astros. Great first game by Kershaw. But then . . .

---

.

Ok, 4 Bitcoin that Kershaw wins next WS start.

---

First USC, then the Rams and now the Dodgers? You have definitely turned to the dark side.

sycasey said:

---

B.A. Bearacus said:

---

---

Sure, but if anyone wants to think this is about this particular series or these teams, probably not. TV ratings are down for everything every year (thanks to the Internet allowing people to follow the sport via all kinds of other means). Sports ratings have also been down across the board during the pandemic.

---

I think it's both. The previous all-time low was a WS game involving the Rays. Marlins and Rays are essentially the same in terms of national interest -- low.

Can someone teach Dave Roberts how to handle a pitching staff, please?

He's already made 2 switches that were wholly unnecessary.

dimitrig said:

---

Can someone teach Dave Roberts how to handle a pitching staff, please?

He's already made 2 switches that were wholly unnecessary.

---

Maybe the Dodgers can win in spite of Dave Roberts?

That's more like it! More like these, Tampa.