As the playoffs continue, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:
1. Phillies stave off elimination:
The Phillies managed to keep their playoff hopes alive last night as they clobbered the Dodgers 8-2 off the back of two home runs from Kyle Schwarber. Today’s game will kick off in Los Angeles at 3:08pm local time as the Dodgers send right-hander Tyler Glasnow (3.19 ERA) to the mound opposite lefty Cristopher Sanchez (2.50 ERA). Both already pitched in Game 1 of this series, though they had different roles in the game. Sanchez drew the start for Philadelphia and allowed two runs in 5 2/3 innings of work while striking out eight against two walks. Glasnow, by contrast, was used as a reliever and recorded 1 2/3 scoreless innings of work where he struck out two with two walks.
2. Cubs survive to see Game 4:
Philadelphia wasn’t the only team to remain standing after an elimination game last night, as the Cubs beat the Brewers 4-3 after rallying to a lead in the first inning they would not relinquish. At 8:08pm local time this evening, Chicago and Milwaukee will take the field on the north side. Neither team has announced its starter for the game. Southpaw Matthew Boyd would be on regular rest after starting Game 1 for the Cubs, but after failing to make it out of the first inning in his last start against the Brew Crew there’s at least a possibility Chicago will consider other options. Meanwhile, Freddy Peralta would be on regular rest for Milwaukee, though it’s at least plausible they could go with another arm for Game 4 and save Peralta for either a decisive Game 5 or keep him fresh for the start of the NLCS should they win tonight.
3. Yankees head home after ALDS defeat:
After winning the AL pennant last year for the first time since 2009, the Yankees won’t be able to recapture it this year. They dropped last night’s game to Toronto in a 5-2 loss and will now head into the offseason earlier than they were surely hoping to. This offseason likely won’t involve quite as much upheaval as last winter, when New York overhauled its roster after losing Juan Soto to the Mets, but there are still some significant pieces ticketed for free agency including Paul Goldschmidt, Trent Grisham, and (most likely) Cody Bellinger. The Yankees will surely hold a presser in the coming days that will shed some light on their offseason plans as they look ahead to the 2026 campaign, when Gerrit Cole will return from Tommy John surgery to help lead the rotation alongside Max Fried.
Anthony Volpe cannot be the starting shortstop next year. Trade him for a reliever and call it a day.
1 for 15 with 11 strikeouts. Woof.
Regardless of how you construct the Yankees lineup 7, 8 and 9 are dead wood. You aren’t winning many championships with 1/3 of your order nothing more than a million stone strapped to your neck.
Sometimes, it’s just getting hot at the right time. Back in 18, JBJ was hot for Boston and was named ALCS MVP. Who saw that coming? This time Judge did fine but others did not. The bottom line is while I always thought Volpe was severely overrated, you can win with him either by others picking him up or he just gets hot at the right time. It’s not fair to blame just Volpe. Now you’re seeing why Jazz was traded by Florida and did anyone else notice when Schlittler was charged with a wild pitch, the catcher (not sure who) didn’t move and just reached for the ball? So many small mistakes add up. Volpe though was not alone and in the field he made a nice play early in game four.
Wouldn’t argue with trading him, assuming you can get decent value back…..although his swing and miss issues are the same as most of the Yankees…they just don’t swing to contact….they swing for velo and launch angle…aka…Home runs…..to single him out probably isn’t fair but it is a fact….
What do you mean get value back? When I look at Volpe I’m conflicted. On one hand he is 24 and a previously high ranking prospect. You could easily say he just hasn’t found it yet and still has time to grow.
On the other hand, he’s had over 1700 AB’s.
Someone might start thinking you know what you have; a good glove and a bad bat.
What are your thoughts on a return?
Don’t know…again to me it depends on who Cashman might target as a need….obviously to us…bullpen…but to him….Cashman has a penchant for doing the opposite of what fans expect and he certainly likes reclamation projects especially the bullpen…..and bullpen guys are tough to gauge…good one year, mediocre the next…..a hard throwing lefty would be a great idea…..lets start there….
SalaryCapMyth: A good return would be a bag of balls and freeing up the roster spot.
SalaryCapMyth,
Unfortunately for the Yankees the team that values him the highest… is the Yankees.
Other teams watching Volpe struggle against MLB level pitching in his 3rd year in the league probably aren’t going to be lining up to make NY an offer worthy of their former prized 1st rd prospect. It also didn’t help that Volpe wasn’t good at all whatsoever on defense despite winning a gold glove in his rookie year.
Despite the injury he apparently was dealing with this season, he has been regressing each year. With that said, it makes the most sense for NY to (at least) see how he performs next season because George Lombard Jr definitely isn’t ready to be called up yet
Craven: He actually was doing great the 1st month until he tore his labrum in early May. He’s certainly been an overall disappointment but looked to be breaking out until he got hurt. Agreed on Lombard but he’s been a fast mover so far. If he can master AA next season he’d be in line for consideration as early as 27.
Jerseyjohn,
The guy who I’m still not sold on is Spencer Jones. I’m no big league scout (I sell Jeeps for a living lol) but his strikeout rate is insane lol
Craven: You and I both. Jones has Galloesque K rates in the minors. He has a ton of talent but I”m not sure he will make enough contact for anything else to matter. The outfield is a total wildcard with Dominquez and Judge the only guys under contract. I’d offer Bellinger $150 mil over 5 years and hope he’s willing to sign for a little discount to stay on a team he loves.
jerseyjohn: Yankees fans said the same thing about Soto last year.
However, regardless of what you might hear through the media, players are practiced in saying what the media and fans want to hear, and we have no way to know their true personal feelings – and those of their families – about their team and city.
You saying “a team he loves” is really a blend of hopeful speculation and wishful thinking.
Blue: He will go where he goes and he’ll definitely get paid. There were more than a few whispers from family and friends he really wanted the Yankees to sign him and he has fond memories of being around the team with his dad (Clay).
Soto is the guy who turned down a pretty nice extension when he only had a few seasons in the league… everyone paying attention knew he was going highest bidder.
jerseyjohn: Remember when Judge did that as well? He sent the message loud and clear that the Yankees weren’t getting any discounts.
Matt: I’d agree if they didn’t announce he tore his labrum in May and kept it secret most of the season. Despite the injuries and struggles Boone didn’t rest him for months at a time. I’m willing to give him another shot and punt by the break if he stills not producing.
There is another SS on the Yankees roster right now, why not use Jazz at short, he was drafted as a short stop by the DBacks, played short for the Marlins who ended up moving him to CF then 2nd base. Volpe is only 24, I would not give up on him just yet. Maybe move him over to 2nd may take some of the pressure off him.
The Cardinals have a good little — back up shortstop (he’s also a good defensive man at 2nd & 3rd), named Jose Fermin!!!
Fermin is 26. He’s had 182 mlb at bats. This season he’s had 60 AB’s, hitting .283, with an OPS of .794.
Right now he is blocked in the Cardinals organization by Maysin Winn at Shortstop. Most importantly —— He’s will be blocked next season” by their top prospect J. J. Wetherholt who plays all of the infield positions —- he’s currently the number 5 prospect in all of Major League Baseball.
Unfortunately Fermin is expendable —- but could be that defensive and offensive shortstop the Yankees need!!!
Fermin is that Contact hitter, with a good eye!! … He’s that … get on base type guy — who can steal a base and make things happen!!
A glaring thing about the Yankees is they need a player such as Fermin at the top of their order.
Sure the Yankees can hit the long ball.
But ….. when it comes to having the right personnel who can put up crooked numbers by putting back to back to back base hits together —— they can’t do it!!!
Daaaaaa Yankees lose!!!
Appreciate the educated post-game analysis, Buster Olney.
Old York: The full John Sterling reaction would be
“Ballgame over! Division series over! YANKEES LOSE! DA-A-A YANKEES LOSE!” 🤣
I can just imagine the network executives at Fox crapping their pants now that their beloved Yankees won’t be in the WS.
Now the Fox crew won’t have anything to talk about during the pregame show…
They will still talk about them, don’t worry. It could be a Mariners/Brewers World Series, and 90% of the broadcast would be Yankee$/Dodgers
avenger65: They’ll manage, just as they did for the 14 years before last year’s Yankees appearance in the series.
It’s definitely a difficult off-season for the Yankees. Tough decisions. IMO, it’s finally time to buy out Stanton his salary is finally a reasonable amount. Judge should be the full time DH because of his arm. Resign Bellinger. Say goodbye to Goldy and Grisham. They need to play Dominez every day to see what potential he has. Time is now for Spencer Jones. I will love the bench next year with Cabarello, Cabrera, and I would resign Rosario. Do they consider trading a Wells? Rice to catch. So many options and difficult choices need to finally get done. Having Cole back will help, but it’s the offense that failed more often than not.
Bullpen definitely needs work (still). Aside from Bednar, most of Cashman’s relief additions in 2025 were atrocious.
Spot on….
We warned Yankee fans about Doval, but they didn’t listen. They thought they got a steal. Yankees coaches could turn him around. You can’t fix headcases. 1-2-3 innings are the anomalies for him, whereas double, HBP, walk are the norm. Drove Giants fans nuts for years.
TellItGoodbye: Who are “we” and what would’ve been the point?
Fans don’t make decisions on player personnel and whom to acquire.
Giants fans are the “we”. There was much discussion when the trade took place with SF fans letting NYY fans know the problem child their team had just signed.
See Boston and Mr Devers….
Definitely…he’s a “slinger’ who doesn’t know most of the time where the ball is actually going…..the only trade worse was the Cashman trade for Bird/Willams….
But again, fans don’t make these decisions, so there was really no point. 🤷♂️
Not this SF fan. Stick your “we” where the sun don’t shine. I won’t no part of your childish rubbish. I was watching and wishing him well. Will do the same next year.
@tellitgoodbye
Why would you make judge a full time DH? He still plays a great RF and his arm will heal (it actually looked better the last couple nights). By doing that, you put yourself in the same situation you are with Stanton right now. They already have too many DHs. They need versatility and guys who make contact and have a better approach at the plate
There are concerns that his age, and physical makeup…6′ 7 and 280 lbs…the wear and tear of playing in the field for 140+ games will diminish his offense as time goes on but I agree…the Yankees already have too many DH types….
Mlb: Stanton was a net positive, there’s zero chance they cut him now. If it’s August and he’s hitting .180 with 10 homers I will fully agree.
Mostly agree with the other stuff but your 3 bench guys are not gonna happen. Need a viable 4th outfielder and backup catcher. One of your 3 guys leaves.
Sign Belli and rebuild pen. Rice is 1b. Why would you let go of Stanton now? Just had his most productive 300 PA’s as a Yankee.
It’s crazy Stanton has 2 more seasons… and he’s finally done with his 30 million and now the last two is 29 which is 19 million on the Yanks and then 25 million.. 15 million on the yanks before they tell Miami to buy him out for 10 million.. that contract seemed to go on forever and worst of all Stanton’s numbers aren’t even HOF worthy despite the early trajectory.
If Cole is back, who’s turn is it for the IL? Somebody will be injured!
What do you do with Stanton, if you make Judge a FT DH. That is big money to eat on Stanton’s contract. I agree with Goldschmidt, and if you let Grisham go who plays CF. Will you get the same defense with Bellinger if you resign him and put him in CF. Then who plays RF with Judge as a FT DH. I agree Rice is going to be an everyday player but what is his best position C or 1st base.
How’d Headcase Doval work out for ya, Yankee fan? And next year you get to enjoy him for an entire season!
To be honest I’m just happy Devin Williams won’t be back. It’s the little victories.
How did cry baby Devers work out for you? Hopefully you enjoy having him into next decade.
@NothigtoSeeHere I’d rather have Devers on the Yankees, if that makes you feel better.
Worked out great. Very happy with that part of the season. The only people being cry babys in regards to Devers are Boston fans. Not all, just the ones that still can’t write 3 sentences without sobbing Devers tears into their keyboard.
Pretty damn well, actually. MVP-type season. That was the steal of the season. Boston got fleeced. Thanks for asking!
Not sure why you think you can rub it in the faces of Yankee fans. Walker didn’t replace Doval’s production. What you got in return are two prospects that are to old for where they’re at, one prospect who is 17 at the time of the trade so God only knows what he is worth and Jesus Rodriguez who only places in the Giants top 20 prospects.
Meanwhile, Doval is young, controllable until 28 and actually has pretty good peripherals.
For the moment it looks like you got nothing.
Just like the ring the Yankee$ got this year! Nothing!!!!!!
Sigh. I’m not a Yankee apologist. It’s just that irrational fan hatred is driving my fingertips.
The Yankees got a pennant last year and made the playoffs this year. What did your team do? Fans always slam teams that are willing to spend money while at the same time, wish their team would do the same.
Lastly, what does your comment have to do with the conversation at hand? Just looking for a one line comment line drop opportunity?
100%. Giants missed both Doval and Rogers down the stretch. The bullpen they were rolling out there was paper thin.
Is there a Hall of Fame for worst post-season pitchers?
Looking forward to Clayton’s induction speech.
Nestor Cortes checking in.
14IP is not enough to qualify
It’s the quality – or lack thereof – not the quantity.
Somewhat glad the Phillies won, although like every fan wants, a sweep would have been great.
Dodgers needed some resistance and adversity if they are to move forward and get to their goal. After game two I felt too many just expected a sweep and move on. When before this series everyone said these were the two best teams and he was going to be a dogfight.
If they move forward and play the Brewers or Cubs, it’ll be a grind, and they need to approach it that way. That being said, we need to take care of business in game 4. Because we don’t want to be this years Padres. No offense to my cool Padres fans on the site.
More sloppy play at home. A couple errors led to big innings. Gotta clean it up tonight….
Doval is one of the least problems they had. The yankees were finally a more athletic team. They refused to steal bases and cause problems.
Another: The Dodgers would pound the cubs into the ground. The Brewers would be a much bigger challenge.
Not by much. Brewers are overrated and winner of the Dodgers/Phillies series will prove that if the Brewers don’t screw the pooch with the Cubs series. No offense, I would love to see someone other than the Dodgers win, I just don’t think the Brewers are as great as some people say they are.
I think too many people are sleeping on the Brewers.
Brewers play good baseball. That they don’t have amazing stats guys makes it more difficult, not less.
They are more likely to run up pitch counts, which is a problem considering the Dodgers bullpen issues.
We don’t want to make things too easy, don’t we? Also, Padres fans are never cool
Cubs pulled a win, at least they didn’t get swept and live to fight another day. That already made me feel better. A sweep would have been god-awful really.
Congrats to Blue Jays fans, your team is just wow, your guys can definitely put the ball in play!
Yankees fans, hey at least you weren’t swept at home take solace in that.
Hopefully getting beat continually in the post season by teams that actually play better baseball will get Cashman’s head out of his rear end. But I’ve been hoping that for a while now. Congrats Jays fans.
What makes you think anything will suddenly change after 16 years, Joe?
Not really expecting change, I’m just hopeful.
Thanks Joe. Congrats to you guys as well on a hard fought season and series. Was fitting that it came down to a clash btwn Yanks and Jays at the end of the day. You guys are gonna be scary next yr when Cole comes back.
The game we love is crazy and unpredictable. No one saw this magical Jays season coming and I don’t want it to end!
Does this mean George Springer is done claiming MLB was rigging things for the yankees? Or will he just gloat that the Blue Jays won despite it being rigged?
Did Springer make that claim outside of the one time you could read his lips in the dugout after what appeared to be a really bad fair/foul call?
Springer made that claim after striking out in his at bat where the umpire called his line drive double a foul ball. Jomboy did a breakdown of the whole thing, it looked fair when it went over the third base line.
Yeah, I’m asking if he made the claim outside of that time (where he was just saying it to his manager and happened to get caught on camera and lip-read). “Is he done claiming” suggests he actually made a public statement to that effect, versus saying it in frustration after a tough call went against him.
Ah, then no, not that I’m aware of my apologies.
Question for yankee fans, how much of a goat is Jazz Chisholm going to be after the yawn in game 3 and the error in game 4? As bad as the press is painting him or just a mild annoyance?
His antics are wearing thin on us fans.
Everyone knows Jazz is a clown.
They must have JDS then !
Spencer jones struck out about 40% of his ABs in his last two months at AAA. Please no.
Jones can play high end defense, he can steal 30 bases. Yes he’s gonna strike out but Dominguez does not have a position so you keep Jones and move Dominguez. They need to first resign Bellinger or sign Tucker or perhaps use Dominguez to trade for something better?
Someone explain the first pitch times to me.
Accounting for time zones they are really just 3 hours apart. If that’s the aspect you were wondering about. If it is the 8 minutes after the hour I’m sure that is dictated by TV considerations.
Dodgers game starts at 3 local time probably because if there’s to be a game 5, the teams will have to fly cross-country back to Philly afterward. Gives them time to do it tonight if they have to and have something like a reasonable sleep schedule.
why is the west coast team playing before the east coast team? zero good explanation for this
“Someone explain the first pitch times to me.”
OK Kevin. The first pitch time is when a game is scheduled to begin, not unlike the kickoff time for a football game.
no one can explain why the west coast has a local 3pm start and the central time has a 8pm start
I think someone already explained it. Travel.
“kevin_finnerty” was the same commenter who made fun of Roki Sasaki by calling him a ‘crybaby’, yet he’s over here crying about not getting why a West Coast team plays before an East Coast team.
Do better, Tony Soprano.
Living on the East, I would rather have a west coast game that starts at 1 their time (4 east coast time), and a 7 east coast game on the same day. They could do it, especially on weekends. The only people that can afford a ticket now anyways are high priced executives, and they don’t work 9-5 anyways, and even if they do, nobody will miss them if they are gone. Let the west coast home playoff games start in the afternoon and the working man can follow the game on their phone.
“The only people that can afford a ticket now anyways are high priced executives, and they don’t work 9-5 anyways, and even if they do, nobody will miss them if they are gone”
“Let the west coast home playoff games start in the afternoon and the working man can follow the game on their phone”
I take you haven’t been to non-postseason baseball games in 10-20 years?
all those words about me. I love it
Lose Aaron Boone. Please!
Did Boone’s sweatshirt say “Built to Fall” ?
Should have said “Built to Fail”
Yankees losing in 4 makes the Red Sox loss sting less because there’s no way Boston could have handled that Blue Jays team either… and they’re still without Bichette 😬
To be fair, Boston had given a good beating to the Yankees during the regular season, took 3 of 4 in July if I remember correctly. Red Sox hammered them that series.
Team was a lot healthier when they won a bunch of those Yankees games. A Red Sox club with healthy Giolito and Roman Anthony may have had better playoff chances.
Agreed entirely. As much as we don’t want to admit it, we weren’t really a match for most teams once the playoffs began. We limped into the postseason and then it got worse when Gio went down. If the Astros and Rangers didn’t have collapses that were only overlooked by the Mets and Tigers, then the Red Sox miss out. Honestly, I’m more pleased we got in, seeing Crochet show he’s got playoff chops was the best we could hope for.
At the beginning of the year I was thinking we needed solid years from Houck and Crawford to stand a chance. When they didn’t pan out and we traded Devers, I was already in “wait til next year” mode. Overall, we exceeded our expectations and showed promise for the future. Despite losing the wild card series to the yankees… good season.
Many of the headlines – like the one above – say “Yankees lose” opposed to “Blue Jays win”. John Schneider had to say “start spreading the news” because the media won’t do it for them.
MagRups: Absolutely right. The announcers sounded stunned when the Yankees lost. Not much about how good the Jays were. Even in this article, there was basically no mention of the Jay’s accomplishment. Just the poor Yankees losing.
Hats off to Toronto. That offense is on fire at the moment.
It’s playoff baseball. Being hot at the right time is the most important and least controllable thing.
I wouldn’t say at the moment. They were only behind the Yankees and Dodgers in runs scored throughout the season. They did have a 2 week dry spell though but they finished strong.
I’m not trying to take away from their overall work at all.
Boatmen: Brewers scored more runs during the season as well.
Give the Blue Jays their due…that Tuesday melt down was rough but they said… Nah I don’t think so… Cam was solid but the Blue Jays showed put the ball in play and good things can happen… Man THE EAST is truly back to being the beast…Now I’ll scoot over on couch so Yankees fans can join me…
I wonder if Michael Kay still thinks the Blue Jays aren’t a first place team…
Glad the Red Sox softened up the Yankees so the Blue Jays could stomp them. Worked out just fine.
There’s a lot of turnover that will/should happen.
Free agents: Bellinger, Williams, Grisham (say no to QO), Weaver, Rosario, Yarbrough, Slater, Goldschmidt, Blackburn, Loaisiga (say no to $5M arena option).
They should prioritize Bellinger since he can play multiple positions and is a solid defender. Would like to have Weaver back but he was awful after returning from injury. Williams won’t want to come back.
40 man cuts: Winans, Shawmake, Standridge, Effross, Vivas, Hamilton (trade ?). The team obviously will make room for Rule 5 eligible guys like Spencer Jones & Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz. And to a lesser degree guys like LaLane, Hampton, Beck, Selvidge, Rumfield & Cohen.
Need more relievers with possible departures of both Williams & Weaver. A lefty like Headrick or Cohen should be given a chance rather than oft-injured guys.
Extend Bednar & Chisholm.
Kinda crazy to see how teams work out rotations,and bullpen games even in the playoffs. I just hate to see Clayton come in for middle relief or a long man.. IMO older starters need to get worked up for a game. I get it Yamamoto was struggling and they needed innings but damn I would hate to see a legend go out like that. This coming from a dodgers hater
Congratulations to Blue Jays fans. While I’m a Yankees fan, the stronger team won. I’ll be rooting for your team the rest of the way.
Yankees off season needs to first start with a change of philosophy starting with the front office. They need to reconstruct the lineup and make tough decisions. They need to go back to high contact, working the pitcher, high on base, etc.. Start by releasing or trading Stanton. He can’t clog up a roster spot anymore. Trade Jazz and Jason Dominguez. Jazz has one year left and he’s not a winning player. Strikes out way too much, doesn’t have a feel for the game. He’s a video game stud and that’s it. Doninguez is a DH and needs to develop somewhere else. Trade for 3 guys: Brendan Donovan as a super utility. Nico Hoerner in his last season as a leadoff second baseman high contact bat, steal bases. Nolan Arenado to bring leadership and platoon at third and first.
Resign Bellinger to platoon at first and play outfield. Check in on Ronald Acuna Jr if the Braves are willing to trade him with his injury history which I doubt and when they say no which they 99% will do but I had to try then make a run at Kyle Tucker. Bring up Spencer Jones to play CF. Sign JT Realmuto to back up Wells. Let Caballero and Volpe battle for SS.
What are smoking Billy? Not a chance the Braves trade a generational talent like RAJ. You need to start with Fire Cashman. The end.
Hence Freddie Merc I said 99% chance they don’t trade Acuna Jr but you have to inquire because he’s been hurt the past 3 years and now is 28yo with two bad knees….
To those NY fans calling for Boone to be fired, who would be the best replacement?
Millie Barton.
Don Mattingly.
Ozzie Guillen in a large media market would be headlines gold. He’d never tolerate, however, being told every BP move and lineup choice he should make like a lot of the puppets majority of FO’s seek. He’d light a fire more for the Mets that need it, but Stearns would probably quit if owner meddled on that.
Wow.. I forgot all about Gerrit Cole. After he went down it seems they didn’t post anything about him or how his recovery is going. Hopefully for the sake of competitiveness he comes back healthy.
Injury updates are on MLB.com for every team and it gets refreshed every couple of days.
The Yankees were already home. They got defeated at Home by the Blue Jays. Title should say Yankee Stadium shuts lights off until opening day 2026.
The bottom line is that the Jays came to play and prove they’re a valid first place team and after 4 games they did exactly that…..Game 4…the Yankees were really never in it and couldn’t make solid contact against 8 Jays receivers who as a consensus really don’t scare anyone….but they pitched effectively and followed a game plan knowing the Yankees don;’t hit to contact and swing for the fences…..Jazz is Jazz and shouldn’t ever win a GG…….Wells looked tired….Volpe with his uppercut swing and NEVER uses his speed aka bunt……lots of other bad Yankee stories but why wine……better team won….Congrats….
The better team won. Congrats Jays fans!
yep. that was honestly a less competitive series than last year’s WS
Yankees will be fine – starting pitching should be solid in 2026. Belli is going to get multiple years, finally, and I don’t think it will be in NY. I predict LF in San Diego for him.
Brewers are good. Good at bats, patient and productive. I’m impressed with that team.
Cubs kept Ian Happ and dfa’d Schwarber. I have nothing to add. I am a Cub fan but that’s one dumb organization.
Toronto was fun to watch. Chunky little catcher can hit!
I can’t get any games in English where I live, so watching in silence and honestly don’t miss the commentary…
I’m a Cubs fan myself for a long time. Letting Schwarber walk for nothing is tough in this current time frame. But remember his last year as a Cub in 2020? He was awful and there were reports he came into spring training that year in poor shape. More importantly there were reports of Kyle and Mgr David Ross not exactly getting along. Who knows? He was a guy looking at things now who needed a change of scenery and it worked out for him.
Don’t understand the talk of it was “difficult” to see Kershaw shelled. That was classic Kershaw.
Both of New Yorks buy a team done for the season. Mets did not even make it. Goes to show there is more than just spending loads of cash to make championship team.
Then stop complaining about teams “buying” rings, please.
@Mercenary.Freddie.Freeman
We still got Dodgers, Philly and Jays buying rings right now. If we can get a Tigers-BrewCrew WS then your point will be proven.
the blue jays are REALLY good. that lineup is relentless. if their starters step up they could go all the way
Detroit v Milwaukee World Series. Ratings bonanza.
“Let’s go (into the off season) Yankees!”
Some teams are built to win, some teams are built to contend, some teams are built to pretend and to sell tickets. The Cubs POBO Jed Hoyer lied to the fans about contending for a WS but only pretending as fans filled the park. However it was a success for Jed, he got a contract extension for dumping Bellingers $30 million contract so ownership could “repurpose” that money into their own pockets
I think it was Lou Holtz who said “the goal should never be getting to the championship game, it should always be to win the championship game”
Cubs goal is postseason, obviously. Those champagne celebrations thus far were embarrassing, in my opinion.
Some analytics say Ian Happ is a good player. That doesn’t pass the eye test for me. I just don’t see it. Bad at bats when it matters. Some solo homers when games are out a reach. Decent defense – he’s NO gold glover. And a NTC to boot. He plays (in my opinion) as if he’s entitled to be there.
And if Shaw can’t stop swinging at pitches eye high? He’s gonna have a short career.
Happ-He’s no Gold Glover? Please do some research.
Ian Happ as left fielder has won three consecutive National League Rawlings Gold Glove Awards in 2022, 2023, and 2024, becoming the first Cubs outfielder to achieve this feat. He earned the 2024 award for his strong defensive performance in left field, leading the NL with eight defensive runs saved and tying for the major league lead in outfield assists.
I know he has them. My point was that he didn’t deserve them. He’s not that good out there. In my opinion.
But he hit a big bomb tonight, so I forgive him.
Who deserved them more than Ian Happ?
The Dodgers are so cocky that they can send out a washed-up Kershaw as a kind of honorarium. I’m surprised they didn’t suit up Koufax and give him an inning or two. I suppose they’ll beat the Phillies tonight, but I hope not.
The Yankees lost to a really good team, better than many people realize. No shame there.
The Cubs are playing a really good team too, better than most people realize. I’m a Cubs fan and hope they win every game, and I’m glad they didn’t get swept–but I am also a realist and know that the Cubs have gone as far as they can go, farther than could have been expected really, with all their weaknesses. Counsell did a terrific job this season. It was a good year.
I suspect the Mariners are getting really nervous now.
Would love to know why you think Counsell did a terrific job. I feel his lineup construction is weak and his love for veterans over youth is a mistake.
All my opinion, of course – and would love to hear your reasoning.
Every ab Turner gets over Busch in insane at this point. Not bring Assad onto the playoff roster is a big miss – but possibly not Counsell’s call. I don’t know.
To me, he just seems to refuse to change what does not work.
One more thing. Kitteredge is obviously a little worn down. You can see it…and running him out for a second inning last night almost cost them the game. Palencia looked strong and could have gone 2.
@Sherm: As you point out CC has his blind spots (though keeping the dreadful Assad off the playoff roster isn’t one of them). But the team stopped hitting completely in August, and he got them to the postseason anyway, through superb bullpen management. That the team played a bit above .500 over the last 65 games, with no hitting, is a minor miracle, and it was his doing.
Some of the Cubs’ supposed hitters don’t need coaching; they need vocational counseling. Surely there is something they are good at; they should do that.
Well if you like watching your baseball players wearing fleece outfits and parkas tonight’s Cubs game is for you. You’ll love it in all likelihood. They’ve been lucky with the weather so far, At least game 5 will be indoors. Does anybody know the rules on activating a player off the IL in the Playoffs? Why can’t Horton come off the IL when eligible? If you can replace an injured player in the Playoffs why can’t you add one also? Inquiring minds want to know!
Unlikemike: The next time the Brewers play at home it will be against the Dodgers.
LOL. The Brewers are now an indoor club and will wilt in the Wrigley elements. They are now Pansies who play inside not outside anymore. Let’s put it to the test shall we? You just better hope the roof doesn’t get stuck.
I also think the Brewers are more fundamentally sound than the Cubs – Murph’s teams always are at any level; and that’s on Counsell, too, yes?
Please tell PCA if he’s bunting for a hit…don’t square early like a sacrifice. You kinda lose that element of surprise.
@ sherm: It isn’t just fundamental soundness, it is something more specific than that: The Brewers have an extraordinary ability to string together hits to create multiple-run innings. All of their hitters have the kind of short quick swings that not only generates contact, but effective contact. The Cubs hitters, with their long loopy swings, stand in sharp and discouraging contrast.
I suppose if you asked most fans who is a better hitter, Tucker or Frelick, they’d say Tucker. But they’d be wrong. And we can name six or seven other Brewers hitters of whom that would be equally true.
I’d take Turang in a heartbeat, too.
You’re spot on about one thing. Cubs show zero situational awareness at the plate. It’s “chicks dig the long ball”…every. single. swing.
Still not sure I credit Counsell for the fact that fell “almost” out of the postseason, but didn’t…but you could be right and I perhaps I have a few blind spots of my own. Appreciate the dialogue.