Here are three things for MLBTR readers to keep an eye on throughout the day today:
1. NLCS Game 2:
The Dodgers took home a hard-fought victory in Game 1 of the NLCS yesterday when Blake Treinen struck out Brice Turang with the bases loaded to preserve a one-run lead in the ninth inning. Now, the Brewers will be looking to avoid falling into an 0-2 hole before they head to L.A. for Game 3, while the Dodgers will try to keep the good times rolling and build on their lead.
The game is scheduled for 7:08pm local time, with Yoshinobu Yamamoto (2.49 ERA) on the bump opposite Freddy Peralta (2.70 ERA). Yamamoto dominated the Reds in the Wild Card series with two runs (zero earned) and nine strikeouts across 6 2/3 innings of work, but he didn’t fare quite as well against the Phillies in the NLDS as he surrendered three runs in four innings of work. As for Peralta, he made two starts against the Cubs in the NLDS where he allowed five runs in 9 2/3 innings of work. While he struck out 15 batters, he also allowed three home runs.
2. Another manager job opens up:
Yesterday, Padres skipper Mike Shildt announced his decision to step down from the manager’s chair. That creates yet another opening in the dugout for an MLB club, and San Diego will now join the Giants, Braves, Orioles, Rockies, Angels, Twins, and Nationals in the hunt for a new manager. Cubs bench coach Ryan Flaherty has already emerged as a candidate in San Diego, and he’s getting a look in Baltimore, too. He’s surely far from the only candidate for either role, however, and with so many vacancies around the game it may take a little bit longer than usual for teams to find the right fit on the market.
3. Blue Jays in a bind:
After a dominant performance against the Yankees in the ALDS, the Blue Jays find themselves in a bind. Right-hander Trey Yesavage was unable to replicate his previous dominance and surrendered five runs in four innings of work to take the loss in what ultimately became a 10-3 win for Seattle. That leaves Toronto down two games as they head to the west coast for the next three games of the series. With the Mariners now enjoying a one-game cushion as they look to clinch a trip to the World Series at home, the Blue Jays will be looking for their offense to wake up and start scoring runs like they did against New York if they’re going to represent Canada in the World Series for the first time since 1993. The ALCS has no game today as the two teams travel to Seattle. Will the day off be enough for the Jays to bounce back?
One of the craziest double plays I’ve ever seen.
Sabe – Teo needs to be tagging up as soon as the outfielder made contact with the ball. How did all the baserunners not see the ump call it a no-catch?
If there were no outs it could have been a triple play.
Just imagine if the Brewers had won. That play would be talked about in baseball lore for decades.
Sabe – Right along with the Fisk catcher interference call and the Middlebrooks obstruction call.
“Teo needs to be tagging up as soon as the outfielder made contact with the ball.”
Did you watch the replay? That’s exactly what he did. The problem was when the ball bounced, Teo had to go back to 3rd and re-tag up because it looked like the ball was going to be bobbled THEN caught.
“How did all the baserunners not see the ump call it a no-catch?”
Because the umpire making the call was way out in left field, while they were all watching the ball in deep center field. The whole thing was just a freak play.
But aren’t they’re trained to go upon it hitting the glove? If Teo did that AND did not double back, he scores. But definitely a rare play. Will Smith should have remained close to second to tag and then sprint to 3rd.
Tonight’s game pitcher’s duel between Peralta and YY, IF they’re both dealing.
Vegas – Teo doesn’t know the rule, but I do.
“A runner can advance at their own risk as soon as a fielder touches a fly ball.”
That’s why he should have been running no matter what. Once the outfielder touches the ball, the runner can leave the base regardless of whether the ball was caught or not.
I agree, it was definitely an unusual play.
Teo was on the bag when center fielder 1st touched the ball so yes the double back made Teo late to home.
Smith didn’t need to tag up at 2nd cause the left field ump called it “safe” as in no catch.
I put it on the 3rd base coach.
He should have been watching the LF ump to tell Teo to go and Smith to advance to 3rd when Smith was 1/2 way to 3rd.
Instead he gives his job to Smith, not to be a runner but to be a base a coach & start directing traffic for 1st & 2nd.
3rd base coach just stands there after he sends Teo, like he didn’t know what to do or what the rule is.
Definitively a play out of left field (or center, ha) but that one is on both base coaches.
3B coach probably in hot water.
@Spaced….Nah Dino Ebel is good. He was the only one on the field that seemed to pick up what was going on.
Quote of the day from Teo Hernandez:
“Hopefully it doesn’t happen anymore and the next time I’ll be ready.”
Teo wasn’t the main culprit. Where was the runner going to 3rd on this? they had the throw from Center go to Catcher to make a move to 3rd base.
yet the catcher was able to lazily walk to 3B for an unassisted
I wasn’t blaming Teo for anything. Just a funny quote.
Teo Hernandez is the current poster-boy for talented players who maximize opportunities for bone-head plays.
Thinking back to his Jays’ days, his personal blooper reel must number 50 or 60 now!
The epitome of why they play the games.
If it didn’t go exactly like that, the lead would have been larger. Most likely.
Teoscar didn’t know the rules and Smith was watching something other than his coach. Dodgers are much much sloppier than last season. They have tightened it up a bit in the last month but they will have to win on talent alone as they still don’t play very clean ball.
I must have missed where 3rd base coach gave him any signs. As good as a coach as he is, he seemed (like most everyone) lost on the play. Contreras caught on sooner than everyone else as from his perspective he could see LF line umpire make the call.
The fact that the announcers didn’t and the media isn’t ripping Teoscar is an absolute joke. That is baserunning that is taught to 11 year old little leaguers.
The double play should not be the story here—simple baseball—ball in the air—back to the base and as soon as the ball is touched, not caught, you go.
Teoscar standing on third caused Smith to go back—he had done the right thing.
It’s just inexcusable that the announcers didn’t say a thing about Teoscar messing that up to a level never seen before. Only goes to show the announcers don’t know 11 year old baseball either.
“The double play should not be the story here—simple baseball—ball in the air—back to the base and as soon as the ball is touched, not caught, you go.”
Did ANY of you watch the replay? This is exactly what Teo did. Go watch it again.
That is not what Teo did—when the ball was touched Teo took THREE steps, stopped and then went BACK to third base and THEN ran home—-he completely messed it up and took SIX extra steps that he didn’t need to. Flat out—100% on Teo.
Yes, he went back because the ball was still loose and looked like it was going to be caught. He has no way to tell if the ball had hit the wall. If he breaks for home while the ball is bobbled THEN caught, then he’s easily doubled off 3rd. Again, watch the replay. The angle from the 3rd base dugout shows this clearly.
“when the ball was touched Teo took THREE steps, stopped and then went BACK to third base and THEN ran home”
Yep, and that’s exactly what you have to do when an outfielder bobbles a ball. You break for home as soon as the fielder touches the ball, BUT if you see the ball bobbled, you gotta hit the brakes and go back. That’s what happened. Watch it again.
You just proved my point–once the ball is bobbled you DO NOT EVER have to go back. Simple 11 year old little league baseball coaching—once the ball is touched–you go!!
I can watch it over and over and over again and very single time—Teo was wrong.
He went back and to the left
The Dodgers had an incident earlier this year in Queens. A Mets OF bobbled a fly ball, the runner left for 3rd, the Mets OF caught it, the runner NEVER returned to 2nd and was safe at 3rd. New York challenged, the safe call was upheld and the rule explained by the umpire.
Teo should’ve known it’s NOT the catch, it’s the ball hitting leather.
(Theoretically, an OF could bobble a fly ball closer to the infield in a sacrifice situation. Somebody long ago probably did)
Third base coach should be his eyes and ears in those situations. Poor coaching. Not on Teo at all.
Bro, are you still unclear about the tag-up rule? The runner can advance as soon as the ball touches the outfielder’s glove regardless….
Teo took complete ownership of the gaff, but I award half the fault to Dino Ebel, who was standing right alongside him and should have been his eyes and ears on the play, and also waved Smith to 3B when he was standing out there looking confused. The problem is nobody saw the umpire’s no-catch call. A one in a million play.
The point is not catch or no catch—it has no bearing on Teo’s base running. Even if it were ruled a catch after the bobble—Teo has the responsibility to break straight for the plate on the initial touch, not the catch.
Absolutely agree it’s a one in a million because of the outcome. Imagine what would have happened this morning if the Brewers had tied or won.
The catch call makes a difference. The runner at 3B can only tag up after the ball touches leather. It did, then it didn’t, then it appeared to be caught. The key to the play was the ball caroming off the wall in between. Only the umpire saw it right. Even Frelick seemed baffled by the outcome.
Nobody practices that play in spring training. But that’s the greatness of baseball. You can watch it for an entire lifetime and still see new one-of-a-kind plays. Both teams can run their what-if scenarios on this one.
Guys, I’m sorry if I’m not typing clearly—but once the ball hits leather—Teo can tag up and has no other obligation than to run to the plate. For TEO–the bobble, the ball hitting the wall, the catch/no catch are completely irrelevant to the rest of the play.
Frelick could have bobbled the ball all the way back to the infield and the fact remains that Teo was free to go (tag up) on the initial touch. That’s the reason for the rule.
Try typing slower. We’ll catch on eventually.
I think we all understand the rule. The issue is situational — what the runner (and 3B coach) sees about when the ball is caught (or not). Frelick had the ball in his glove after the carom. If you missed the first tipping off the glove and carom off the wall, the second time Frelick had it in his glove looked like the catch. Nobody it seems saw the umpire’s no-catch call. Smith was also caught scratching.
Literally wrote this to see your comment already posted. Teo is rarely the problem, if ever.
Blue Jays fan here.
As much as LA fans like Teo (does the man smile in his sleep?), we’ve seen some loafing and poor judgment from him. It seems he doesn’t have the world’s greatest baseball instincts. But then Will Smith was also caught with his shirt-tails out, and nobody ever accused him of not being on the ball. It was just a wild and crazy play.
He told Roberts he just had a brain fart. The end.
That might be technically the first GIDP where the ball reached the outfield wall.
I mean they did win the game. Not the phantom Philly one.
Blue Jays bats need to get going again. Mariners gave them a beating last night. I have no dog in this fight so good luck to both teams!
Brewers and Dodgers was a pretty good game too. I guess go Brewers if only to root for the team that knocked the Cubs out lol
Without a rooting interest, I just want to watch good baseball.
Rick – I’m rooting for the M’s, that fanbase deserves to see a World Series appearance in their lifetime.
M’s vs Brewers would be ideal.
That’s what I’m rooting for. Two teams with zero WS wins between them. Hasn’t been that much drama since the 2016 series between the Cubs and Indians.
@Fever @Saber
With you both for the fan base cheer. Doubt MLB ratings would agree, but us cool kids do. lol
Rick – Exactly! They can focus on the casual fans during the regular season, but let us hard core baseball fans have our postseasons.
Ms v. Brewers also has historical value. The Pilots moved to Milwaukee after their first year in Seattle, becoming the Brewers. Thus similar color schemes.
FPG, that statement deserves applause.
I always have a soft spot for the fans of teams who never have won the World Series.
If Toronto is down two games to none, how does Seattle only have a one game cushion?
I think it means for them playing home games.
Noticed that too.
@Lloyd Emerson
I think they’re playing Japanese playoff rules where the division winner gets a bye and 1 game up in the series…
It’s means the m’s can afford to lose one, since we’re playing 3 at home before the series goes back to Toronto, if necessary.
Genuine question without a trace of snark, but I wonder just how much home field advantage matters in baseball? I’m sure some, and it’s better than not, but I would think out of the other major sports-NHL NFL-NBA, that MLB may be the least? Thoughts?
In certain parks it matters more than others.
A team will build a team to win at it’s gone park since half the games are there. Some stations have a short porch, giant walls, huge outfields, wind conditions, strange batters eye, etc.
Some like dodger stadium have the advantage of the team always playing home games in front of a packed house that can be loud. So playoff crowds aren’t intimidating. There are other clubs with this advantage as well.
Specifically with regards to Seattle, the ballpark suppresses everything except the home-run. It plays pretty much neutral on the HR. Doubles go to die there. So Seattle built a team meant to bomb the ball and steal bags so as to maximize the scoring for the few singles they do hit. Weirdly it also amplifies the strikeout for pitchers, probably because pitchers are not as scared to go after hitters with heat. Seattle built its pitching staff for that as well, highest fastball percentage thrown, massive k numbers.
I feel like in modern baseball, we are seeing home-field advantage matter more than it used to.
Quite the opposite, home teams winning in the playoffs have been decreasing over the years. Last I saw it was below 54% of home teams winning. Once the teams are even in talent, home field doesn’t mean much.
Could be bad MLTR writing. It’s happened here before.
“The game is scheduled for 7:08pm local time, ”
Everything else I read says NLCS game time is 5:08 PM Pacific
Mea culpa. Too early for my math. 7:08 Milwaukee time is right.
The author should have written 7:08 pm Central time. “Local time” requires you to know where the game is being played, “Central time” doesn’t.
MLBTR is NOTORIOUS for using MLBTR timezone for everything.
Game is at 8pm EST, they will print game time is at 7pm CST.
5pm PST for game time. Nope, it’s 7pm CST.
Who the H E Double Hockey Sticks uses CST for a time stamp?
Just use EST, PST or for our timezone fanatics use Greenwich Mean Time.
Shoot, MLBTR should just go off the Moon phases for game time or even better a sun dial or both!!!!
I think whoever wins the American League wins it all. I know they were down 10-3 but Toronto still had competitive ABs in the 9th.
Meanwhile, Roki Sasaki suddenly and accidentally became the most important person at work despite being in AAA about two months ago. That he was immediately anointed the relief ace is only because Blake Treinen isn’t it, Tanner Scott has a fake injury so they can leave him off the playoff roster, Kirby Yates was simply awful enough in the regular season that LA didn’t have to pretend he was hurt like they did with Scott because he still has 3 years left on his contract, Alex Vesia is out of gas, Kershaw isn’t the answer, etc etc.
On the other side, despite LA trying to give it away by pulling Blake Snell early (side bar this is the second team to do this….), Sasaki remembering where he is at work and getting the yips, and Treinen trying to give the game away, Bryce Turang brought a pinata stick to the plate instead of a baseball bat and swung through Ball Four that was as high as the bill on his helmet.
Two runs shouldn’t win a game no matter what time of year it is.
I understand that new Brice Turang was a huge part of what got Milwaukee this far, but they kind of needed old Bryce Turang in that at bat.
Do you mean the old Bryce Turang that lets that pitch hit him and brings in the tying run?
Exactly, That brush with the ball on Turang would have tied the game. The Dodgers definitely dodged that one. Lol.
Chase Utley was the HBP champ. I don’t think he ever got out of the way of an inside pitch.
@BlueSkies_LA
Ron Hunt laughs at Chase Utley. Single season record of 50 HBP and 7 season of leading the league in HBP in an era where helmets weren’t used. Sadly, in his later years when HBP he was aimed towards first and given a gentle push.
Now there’s a name from the past. I know a lot of players were hit more often than Utley over their careers, but I never saw anybody who just stood there like a statue and took it quite like him. He was the Clint Eastwood of baseball.
@BlueSkies_LA
lol.. love the Clint Eastwood comparison.
On a night where there was a 10-3 final score, a 2-1 final score aside from Blake Snell’s gem was the ugliest game? Quinn Priester somehow didn’t allow any runs? LA’s starting pitching CAN be that good. They have the ability to be. But it isn’t a guarantee, see Yamamoto vs a Phillies team who flailed their way out of the playoffs.
That is all true. If the Dodgers don’t have it, then I am right.
If you are right, (a reasonable possibility), then it’s their starting pitching that will carry them.
LA is LA to me. Idgaf. Even if the Dodgers win this year, it’s still embarrassing the billions of dollars they have spent on players in the last 15 years and they only have one ring (so far) to show for it, plus the Covid sprint Blue Ribbon. None of y’all bother to differentiate between St Petersburg and Tampa (two different counties btw) whenever I bring up the Rays, therefore I care not for the difference between LA, Anaheim, Beverly Hills, Las Alamedas, or wherever.
Embarrassing to me and anyone else who sat wand watched them continually run out Conforto or Tanner Scott or Austin Barnes or anyone at all else on a list a mile long of guys I simply would not have given a contract to, much less a stupid contract. A better bullpen would have been had by deciding someone to call up from Oklahoma City by drinking a six pack, closing your eyes, and throwing a dart at a board rather than ponying up for Kirby Yates or the aforementioned Scott.
Obviously, money solves a lot of problems, but there is a finite amount of roster space and when 13 contacts are stupid, eventually you’re going to back-slide into an expensive roster that resembles the Mets (or the 2005 Yankees, or whoever)
You’re hindsight is an impressive 20/20.
@Troy, first of all, loved Percy as a kid so great name. But got a few conflicting opinions for you (and 1 correction).
First, Turang struck out on a 2-2 count, so not ball 4. Egregious chase though! Second, that game was inches away from being a blow out for the Dodgers. Frelick pulling back a grand slam from Muncy that somehow became a double play nearly broke the game for the Dodgers.
I go back and forth on pulling Snell. On the one hand, he was around 107 pitches. But on the other, the dude was absolutely dominating.
Right on 2-2, yes. Whoops.
The bullpen in LA is bad enough that Dusty Baker-ing the rotation for 2 weeks should be a viable consideration. Flags fly forever, and Snell’s 125th pitch > anything the bullpen would have done, I think.
“Dusty Baker-ing” – love it.
This is the most surface level argument. Did you just watch the espn recap and comment?
Freddie, this insult is so stupid, I don’t know how to respond. To anyone else reading this, confusion can be an effective tactic in an argument.
Here’s a secret. You just have to have more runs than the other team to win. 1 more or 10 more equals a win.
They aren’t trying to get to the world series of style points.
Such insightful nitpicking of the Dodgers (in a winning effort), yet the Blue Jays were “still competitive” in a 7-run defeat at home.
Wondering if Dbacks Bench Coach Jeff Banister will get another shot at managing?
I think he will. I watch lot of DBacks games and he is a very active bench coach. Basically an assistant manager. He was good with the Rangers, it just ended poorly with some bad blood.
I also think you’ll possibly see some other retreads:
David Ross
Joe Girardi
Don Mattingly
Crazy how many openings there are. Are these teams going to roll out the crusty lifer-types or will there be a new wave of first time managers? Varitek has been earning his stripes in his limited role and if Boston isn’t careful he might just end up leaving town to take one of these many vacancies. Breslow wasn’t exactly forthcoming about Varitek being kept in the fold. Idk… maybe Varitek doesn’t even want to manage.
swan – Tek interviewed for the Giants manager job less than 2 years ago.
Well, the true Blue Jays finally showed their face after I started saying nice things about them.
Fortunate for me, though, Dustyslambchops23 forced me to say Mariners in 5.
mlbtraderumors.com/2025/10/bryan-woo-expected-to-b…
Many times, the team with the extra rest has trouble getting the offense going again.
They had six days off before playing the Yankees and the offense cooked. Seattle’s pitching has been good.
Been a hardcore Mariner fan since I was probably eight. Learned all about baseball watching the mariners on channel 11 and listening on the radio as a child. Bought a $400 worst ticket available for game 5 in Seattle Friday. Game 4 only had suites available. If it goes 5 it will literally be a dream come true to attend the one game in the almost 50 year history of mariners baseball where we (maybe) clinch for the World Series. The place will go INSANE. I hope I’m there for it. I’m 46 now. Go M’s!
Mariners announcer Dave Neihaus (sp?) was the best… my oh my!!!
Awesome. Good for you. Hoping it goes to 5 !
M’s give GREAT radio. Good juju to you, Rick!
Got it on stub hub. There’s none for $378 or whatever I paid total get me close. I’ve sat everywhere in that stadium already. Just wanna be there for the win.
What’s the latest with Pujols to the Angels? I’m not up to date on all the managerial searches, but it doesn’t feel like Arte is fighting off the competition for Pujols. Has he interviewed anywhere? Does anyone other then Arte think Pujols is ready to manage a MLB club? Would Cardinals fans want Pujols in St. Louis if they had an opening?
I’d guess most Cards fans would rather have Yadier Molina if St. Louis had an opening.
Wow…Boo Jays down 2 games….amazing especially since so many were ready to put Yesavage into the HOF after his really good game against my Yankees….but a short pitching history was overlooked by all…..of course the Boo Jays did beat them so hats off but just another cautionary tale that unknowns sometimes are the guys (so many of the Jays) that rise up and beat you especially in short series in the playoffs……Should the Jays lose, and that is better than even money at this juncture…I sure wish we could send a video to Vladdy boy Jr…screaming The Boo Jays LOSE>>>>>>>>>yeh!.
Maybe rocky’s just getting really into the Halloween spirit.
To give Yesavage a bit of credit, Ump show in first cost him a run (at least) and in the 5th there was an infield single and ibb (dumb) that counted against his earned runs because BP imploded again. With a normal ump/manager he stays in the game and goes at least 5 with maybe 3 runs max. But the rest of the Jays were trash.
He just wasn’t that good. The Mariners were smoking the ball off of him. The Mariners had 7 hard hit balls (95+) and only 7 whiffs. This after getting 18 whiffs against the Yankees.
@Blue Baron
Maybe their second game is stuck in Customs because Canada won’t pay the tariff on it? ;o)
There shouldn’t be a comma before “too.”