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October 19, 2021
October 18, 2021
Rodriguez Out
Hansel Robles comes out to pitch for the Red Sox in the top of the seventh inning, ending the night of Eduardo Rodriguez. Rodriguez walked none and struck out seven in his six innings of work, his only mistake a three-run homer to Kyle Tucker. Given that the score was 9-0 at the time, it was good he was going after the Houston batters. The Red Sox bullpen should be in good shape for the next two games of the series. He leaves with an 11-3 Boston lead.
October 18, 2021
Not Yet Done
J.D. Martinez hits a ball into the top row of the Monster Seats to put the Red Sox up on the Astros 11-3. That’s his third home run of the 2021 post-season and the third of the night for the Red Sox. He now has 30 RBI in 27 post-season games.
October 18, 2021
Not Yet Dead
Kyle Tucker of the Astros hits a three-run homer in the top of the fourth inning to answer the Red Sox three in the bottom of the third. Boston lead is back to six runs as they lead 9-3.
Yuli Gurriel singles as he tries to extend the two-out rally.
That’s it but the Astros offense show they still have life.
October 18, 2021
Christians Rising
In the bottom of the third inning, Hunter Renfroe draws a one out walk, steals second base, and goes to third on a throwing error. Christian Vazquez comes up with the infield in, and hits a pop up to shallow left. Since the infield was in and Michael Brantley was playing deep in left, the ball dropped for a hit and an RBI. Then Christian Arroyo comes up and hits the ball into the Green Monster seats, and the Red Sox lead game three of the ALCS 9-0 over the Astros.
October 18, 2021
A Baserunner
Alex Verdugo of the Red Sox fouls off a number of pitches before drawing a walk against Jose Urquidy of the Astros with one out in the second inning. That’s the first base runner of the game. J.D. Martinez then bangs a ball of the Green Monster for the first hit of the game, and the Red Sox have runners on second and third.
Update: Hunter Renfroe walks to load the bases. Last game the Red Sox had the bases loaded in the second inning and they hit a grand slam.
Update: Christian Vazquez pokes a single the other way to shallow right, and the Red Sox take a 1-0 lead on the Astros. A nice job of putting the ball in play by Vazquez.
Update: Christian Arroyo comes up as the lower part of the Red Sox order is a religious experience. It’s a miracle indeed, as he hits what looks like a DP ball to Altuve, but the ball takes a high bounce and goes off Altuve’s body. A run comes in and the Red Sox lead 2-0.
Update: Kyle Schwarber gets ahead 3-0, swings at the next pitch, and deposits it in the rightfield stands for a grand slam. The Red Sox lead 6-0. Two second inning grand slams in consecutive games, and three total in that time period.
Update: Kike Hernandez hits a bullet past the third baseman for a single as the ball hits the wall and bounces to the leftfield. Hernandez gets his 2021 post-season BA back to .500.
Update: Rafael Devers finally makes the second out of the inning.
Update: Xander Bogaerts, who made the first out of the inning, singles to center. Men on first and second. Altuve was given an error on the earlier play.
Update: Yimi Garcia comes in to pitch for Houston.
Update: A wild pitch advances the runners.
Update: Verdugo flies out to end the inning. The Red Sox lead the Astros 6-0 at the end of two innings.
October 18, 2021
Perfect First
Both Eduardo Rodriguez of the Red Sox and Jose Urquidy of the Astros retire the side in order in their first innings. Rodriguez strikes out one, Urquidy gets two infield pop ups. Amazingly, Kike Hernandez does not get a hit.
Game three of the ALCS is underway.
Update: Rodriguez impressively strikes out the three batters he faces in the second. He looks dominant tonight.
October 18, 2021
Tatis Opts for Exercise
Fernando Tatis Jr.will forego arthroscopic shoulder surgery. He will work on healing through strengthening the muscles:
“There’s a lot of exercise, how to find ways how to heal it, how to make it stronger,” he said during the season’s final weekend. “And I feel like everything is working, everything’s going in the right spot. I feel … very secure of where I’m at right now.”
SanDiegoUnionTribune.com
There is some disagreement on his choice, but not from anyone with direct knowledge of the injury. We shall see.
October 18, 2021
Hawkins Joins the Cubs
The Cubs announced new general manager Carter Hawkins on Monday. He hit it off with Jed Hoyer:
“As we started talking on the phone during this process and then as we moved to formal interviews, it became clear to me how he built such a sterling reputation,” Hoyer said. “He spoke with clarity and conviction about leadership, employee development, organizational alignment and team building.
“The breadth of our conversation was really remarkable and really showed his preparation for all aspects of the GM job today.”
The conversations between Hoyer and Hawkins included a dinner that lasted approximately five hours and watching this year’s AL Wild Card game — an experience Hawkins compared to the Manning brothers’ broadcast for Monday Night Football.
“It was very comfortable from the get-go,” Hawkins said.
ESPN.com
Of course, the GM job is not as high ranking as it used to be. I suspect all the final decisions still belong to Hoyer.
Also, I hope the team interviewed some women to see if Hawkins has any history that otherwise might come out in a few months.
October 18, 2021
Playoffs Today
The ALCS moves to Boston as the Astros send Jose Urquidy against the Red Sox and Eduardo Rodriguez. Urquidy makes his 2021 post-season debut. In 25 2/3 post-season innings he owns a 2.81 ERA. He did allow five home runs, but they were all solo shots. Opponents are 1 for 17 against him with runners in scoring position in that time.
Rodriguez owns a 7.02 post-season ERA, mostly due to wildness. He allowed 12 hits in 16 2/3 innings which is good, but he also allowed seven walks. His record against the Astros in the post-season is not good, pitching just one inning in three relief appearances, and allowing two runs.
Enjoy!
October 18, 2021
Dead Arm Max
Most of the commentary I’m seeing about NLCS game two involves the use of Julio Urias in the eighth inning, but part of that was set up by the overuse of Max Scherzer:
Scherzer got the save to put the Dodgers in the NLCS, but that proved costly in game two of that series, as Scherzer could only go 4 1/3 innings.
On the other hand, the Dodgers are hitting .111/.304/.167 with runners in scoring position in the series in 23 PA with nine strikeouts. The Braves are hitting .375/.375/.375 in eight PA in the same situation. MIght the Dodgers be a little too patient?
October 18, 2021
Best Batter Today
The Baseball Musings Batter Rankings see the top four remain the same after Sunday’s NLCS game. Corey Seager of the Dodgers, with a home run and a walk, moves past the idle Kyle Tucker of the Astros for fifth place. Tucker tries to get fifth place back tonight. The slumping Trea Turner of the Dodgers drops to 17th place after an 0 for 5 with three strikeouts.
The highest game score of the night goes to Eddie Rosario, a 69. He goes four for five, his final hit a walk-off single to give the Braves a 5-4 win.
October 18, 2021
Monday Update
The Day by Day Database is up to date.
October 17, 2021
Braves in the Ninth
Travis d’Arnaud breaks his bat but starts the bottom of the ninth with a bloop single for the Braves. They are tied with the Dodgers at four runs apiece. Cristian Pache pinch runs, but is thrown out at second on a sacrifice attempt by Dansby Swanson.
Update: Gil Heredia falls behind 0-2. He grounds out, but moves Swanson to second base.
Update: The Dodgers bring in Kenley Jansen to face Eddie Rosario.
Update: Rosario is three for four on the night. He hits the first pitch hard on a line and it goes off the glove of Corey Seager, who was shifted to the right of second, for the game winning hit. What a night for Rosario! He started the game tying rally in the eighth, then wins it in the ninth. The Braves lead the series two games to none with two walk-off wins.
October 17, 2021
Running Rosario
The Braves comeback a bit in the bottom of the eighth inning thanks to the running of Eddie Rosario. He singles off Julio Urias to start the inning, then tags and takes second on a fly ball by Freddie Freeman to deep leftfield. Then Ozzie Albies singles to right-center, and third base coach Ron Washington send Rosario home. It’s a close play at the plate, but Rosario makes a great slide, away from the catcher but close enough to get his hand in.
Austin Riley then doubles to deep left-center, and Albies scores from first. The Braves have tied the Dodgers at four in the bottom of the eighth on another big hit by Riley!
Update: Joc Pederson strikes out. Two down.
Update: Ehire Adrianza pinch hits. He strikes out to end the inning. Once again, a team will win in their last at bat.
October 17, 2021
Strategy at Work
Two Dodgers walk in the top of the seventh inning, one intentional, to put men on first and second with two out. That brings up LHB Gavin Lux against Braves LHP Tyler Matzek. The Dodgers send up RHB Justin Turner, who has a stiff neck and didn’t start. The Braves make a double switch, bringingin Luke Jackson to pitch, a righty. The Dodgers stick with the injured Turner.
The Braves bullpen has not allowed a hit, but they have walked five batters. The game is tied at two.
Update: Turner gets hit on the left arm on a 1-1 count to load the bases.
Update: Chris Taylor hits a humpback liner to centerfield, where Guillermo Heredia had just came in on the double switch. He misplays the ball and it skips by him for a double, and two runs score to give the Dodgers a 4-2 lead. That’s the first hit allowed by the Braves bullpen in the game.
Update: A.J. Pollock strikes out to end the inning. Looks like NL managers need to learn to do a double switch properly. 🙂
October 17, 2021
Scherzer Out
Max Scherzer starts the bottom of the fifth inning for the Dodgers, gives up a single and follows it with a strikeout. That’s it for Scherzer, however, as he comes out of the game with 79 pitches thrown. It’s his second start of 4 1/3 innings in the post-season.
The Dodgers and Braves are tied at two.
Update: Alex Vesia comes in, goes up 0-2 on Eddie Rosario, but Rosario manages a single to put runners on first and second for Freddie Freeman.
Update: Freddie Freeman strikes out for the seventh straight time. I wonder if he has a minor injury?
Update: Ozzie Albies strikes out to end the inning.
October 17, 2021
Joc Jacks
Joc Pederson of the Braves follows an Austin Riley walk with a smash into the rightfield seats to tie the Dodgers at two in the bottom of the fourth inning. Two run homers are the weapon of choice tonight. That gives Pederson a dozen post-season home runs, nine of those he hit for the Dodgers.
October 17, 2021
Another Short Outing
The Braves trail the Dodgers 2-0 in the bottom of the third inning, and Atlanta will pinch hit for starter Ian Anderson. Anderson allowed three hits and three walks through three innings, striking out two. The bullpen will get a lot of work tonight.
October 17, 2021
Deep Starters
Bill Shaikin complains about the use of openers, and notes a rule in being tried out in the Atlantic League to encourage starting pitchers to go deep:
A little-noticed change, in the Atlantic League: the test of a “double hook” rule, in which a team would lose its designated hitter when it removed its starting pitcher. Use an opener for an inning or two, and the DH would get one time at bat, followed by pitchers or pinch-hitters.
MSN.com
I like that. It might also restore the balance between position players and relief pitchers. Teams would need to carry enough position players to pinch hit, so we might get back to the days of 11 pitchers and 14 position players. Of course, it would mean a universal DH.
October 17, 2021
Bloop and a Blast
Mookie Betts of the Dodgers leads off game two of the NLCS with a pop-up into shallow center, just out of the reach of the Braves shortstop. Corey Seager follows with a home run to the power alley in rightfield, and the the Dodgers jump out to a 2-0 lead.
Update: Braves pitcher Ian Anderson walks two batters, but gets out of the inning with no more damage. The Braves come to bat trailing by two.
October 17, 2021
Housing for the Minors
Major League Baseball will in some way will help minor league players with housing next season.
That would not be the case, according to players, were salaries higher. With signing bonuses between domestic and international players topping $450 million in 2021, not all players face financial issues. But after taxes, the majority of players’ salaried take-home pay is minuscule.
ESPN.com
I kind of disagree with that last statement. Federal income taxes are 12% up to $40,000. Social security taxes are another 7% or so, let’s call it 20%. Wait until they start making real money. If the author is calling for lower tax rates, I’m all for that.
The problem, of course, is the players are paid what the market will bear. MLB teams are not holding a gun to their heads forcing them to sign a contract, which as adults they should understand. The problem is that for every low bonus player who signs a contract, there are probably a 100 more who would be happy to take his place if he said to baseball, “No thanks.” And that is the player’s right.
A similar thing happens to low-level front office people. Salaries for their jobs are lower in baseball than in other professions, because so many people want to work for a team, clubs can find good employees at a low price.
I’m glad MLB is doing this as the article makes clear there are problems beyond just affording housing. I suspect it will mean better players coming through the pipeline, as some who may have refused to play for that pay might join the minors now, and better housing conditions should mean better health.
October 17, 2021
Streaming Local Games
MLB is working on a plan to allow cord cutters to stream games of the local team for a fee:
The National Basketball Association and the National Hockey League are also considering partnering with MLB on the new streaming service, sources said. Insiders say subscription rates would vary by geographic market and could be between $10 and $20 a month — well below the monthly cost of most cable-TV packages, which can easily stretch past $100.
NYPost.com
I keep hearing this, but so far it has not happened. It won’t be happening soon, either, as the target date in 2023.
October 17, 2021
Playoffs Today
The Dodgers try to even the NLCS with the Braves starting at 7:30 EDT. Max Scherzer pitches against Ian Anderson. Scherzer experienced mixed results at the new Atlanta ballpark. He owns a 3-3 record in six start, with a 3.71 ERA. He’s tended to walk batters here, 14 in 34 innings for a rate of 3.7 per nine innings. On the flip side, he also mows down Braves there, striking out 11.1 batters per 9 IP.
Anderson posted a very strange line against the Dodgers this season, four earned runs in 4 1/3 innings on one hit and three walks. The runs came in the fifth inning on the following sequence; lineout, walk, double (first hit of the game), FC RBI, FC RBI (pitcher bunt) reliever, flyout, walk, walk RBI, walk RBI. In other words, Anderson pitched well against the Dodgers, but nothing went right. Compare that to his first start against the Dodgers in the 2020 NLCS, when he gave up one hit and five walks in four innings, but did not allow a run. He also made another start in which he allowed five hits and two runs in three innings. It seems that Anderson pitcher well or not against the Dodgers has little to do with the number of runs he gives up!
Enjoy!
October 17, 2021
Best Batter Today
The top four of the Baseball Musings Batter Rankings remain the same, but Kyle Tucker of the Astros moves back into the fifth slot ahead of Corey Seager of the Dodgers. Tucker posted a two for four game with a double, while Seager’s double was the only hit of the night for him.
Two batters tie for best game score of the day at 66. Yuli Gurriel of the Astros and Enrique Hernandez of the Red Sox each go two for four with a home run. Hernandez also draws a walk, and drives in one run, while Gurriel drives in three runs. Hernandez continues to hit .500 in this post season and now ranks 37th on the list. Gurriel ranks 34th.
October 17, 2021
Sunday Update
The Day by Day Database is up to date.
October 16, 2021
Scoring Position
Ozzie Albies hits a bloop single to right-center with one out in the bottom of the ninth, then steals second. Austin Riley drives the next pitch down the line in left field for the game winning hit, and the Brave take game one of the NLCS with a 3-2 win over the Dodgers. Both Riley and Albies go two for four in the game, combining for two of the runs and two of the RBI. The Braves struck out 14 times in the game, but their one hit with runners in scoring position won the game. The Dodgers went one for eight with runners in scoring position, they just could not convert opportunities.
October 16, 2021
The Whos in Atlanta
Whenever I hear the Braves fans doing a spontaneous tomahawk chop, I’m reminded of the Whos in Whoville singing their Christmas song despite the Grinch stealing their All-Star game.
Update: The chop seems to confuse Chris Taylor. He reaches on a two-out walk, then when Cody Bellinger singles, Taylor gets caught in a run-down between second and third and is tagged out to end the inning. The teams go to the bottom of the ninth tied at two.
October 16, 2021
No Walks
The sixth inning of game one of the NLCS ends with the Dodgers and Braves tied at two. Neither team issued a walk, the Braves batters striking out nine times to just five K for the Dodgers batters. That may be the reason the Dodgers down eight hits to the Braves four. The Dodgers have not made much of their opportunities, however, as they are 1 for 6 with runners in scoring position.
October 16, 2021
Austin to Boston?
Austin Riley of the Braves brings the game even again as he homers with one out in the bottom of the fourth inning. His shot down the leftfield line ties the game at two. It’s his second homer of the post season.