Here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:
1. World Series heads to Los Angeles:
The World Series departed Toronto yesterday all tied up after a dominant complete game from right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and now both teams have arrived in L.A. for Game 3. On the mound for the Dodgers is right-hander Tyler Glasnow (3.19), while the Blue Jays will counter with veteran righty Max Scherzer (5.19 ERA). The future Hall of Famer had an uneven year, but he did manage to strike out five in 5 2/3 innings while surrendering two runs in a start against Seattle in Game 4 of the ALCS. Glasnow, meanwhile, pitched 1 2/3 scoreless frames in Game 1 of the NLDS before firing off six scoreless in Game 4 of that series. He went on to allow one run in 5 2/3 innings of work against the Brewers. Tonight’s game is scheduled for 5pm local time in Los Angeles.
2. Orioles have their manager:
Per reporting last night, it was reported that the Orioles are finalizing a deal to make Guardians associate manager the new manager in Baltimore. Albernaz, who celebrates his 43rd birthday later this week, was promoted to associate manager under Stephen Vogt this year after spending his first season in Cleveland as his bench coach. He previously worked on the Giants’ big league coaching staff and worked in the minor leagues as a manager for the Rays.
Now that he’s poised to get his first big league opportunity, the news takes a highly coveted candidate off the board for other organizations. It also creates a vacancy on the Guardians’ coaching staff that will need to be filled, and comes with some level of intrigue regarding whether or not the Orioles will retain Tony Mansolino as a part of their coaching staff under Albernaz. Mansolino served as the club’s third base coach for years before being promoted to interim manager for the majority of the 2025 season.
3. Managerial, GM vacancies still to be filled:
While the hiring of Albernaz takes another managerial gig off the board, there’s still plenty of hirings left to happen this winter. The Twins are known to have a group of four finalists for their manager job, while the Rockies are known to have at least two finalists in their search for the team’s next head of baseball operations. The Padres are known to have conducted some interviews, including one of future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols. The Nationals have interviewed former Orioles manager Brandon Hyde, and there are managerial vacancies in Atlanta and perhaps Colorado as well. Which franchise will next set course for their future with a major hire?
I’m hoping the Dodgers drub them into oblivion. That pink haired singer of the Anthem in game 2, was too much. End the series before Nov 1 before snappapalooza begins in America. Tough to drive through L.A during normal times letting alone riots. GO DODGERS !
So, to sum up, you’re rooting against a team because you don’t like the American born singer (Bebe Rexha) that was chosen to sing the American national anthem before a game? Perhaps you would have preferred Roseanne Barr?
What a hoot. The funny part was after that weak version of the Anthem, the crowd was tense in anticipation thinking they would get say the Montreal Canadians version of Oh Canada when it was their turn. As bad as the American Anthem was, the Canadian one fell flatter than a pancake. The crowd deflated fast. We’re all waiting till Canada becomes the 51’st state anyways. GO DODGERS !
I’m from Canada dude. Never gonna happen. Stick to baseball that’s what matters 😉
Canuck – Was Roseanne’s crotch grab during the anthem the best ever?
Or actually it was probably the ONLY crotch grab during the singing of the national anthem.
If I had to choose between the two, I’d pick Lassie or Mr. Ed (neither of which can sing, making them STRONG competitors).
MPrck, I’m guessing you haven’t been to LA lately to see the “riots”
He’s just a clown trying to stir the pot.
CO – I haven’t a clue what he meant by the looza thing, but I probably don’t want to know anyway.
Also F$&K the dodgers
Surprised they’re going with Scherzer over Bieber for game 3, since that also lines up with a theoretical game 7. But I suppose Max had the better start last time out.
Maybe they want to give Bieber an extra day, since he’s still recently recovered from TJ.
So I guess Baltimore’s new manager doesn’t have a first name? And what is an associate manager? Those first two sentences in the second section are absolutely mangled. It really wouldn’t kill Nick Deeds to proofread…or would it?
Albernaz is kinda cool with no first name. Sounds like a magician. “The Great Albernaz”.
Craig is the first name but I see what you mean
I’m a CLE fan, and this is the first I’m hearing Craig Albernaz was promoted to “Associate Manager” prior to the ‘25 season. I assumed he was still the bench coach. So I guess the AM falls between the manager and bench coach in the pecking order. It’s hard to argue with the results, but how many layers of management is needed?
It’s likely a role created as a step up or promotion of sorts, especially with his interviews with Chicago and Miami last year. However some other clubs creating different new positions as well. The Orioles have had a few different titles as well – pitching strategy coach, director of pitching development, major league development coach etc. They are all products of a developed and evolving analytics operations system/team, I believe.
If the Jays can grind Glasnow down early and get enough looks at the Dodger bullpen, they can probably outscore LA. If Glasnow goes 7+, the Dodgers probably cruise to the win.
Should be interesting to see what Mad Max can do in the World Series against a former team. He may no longer have elite stuff, but he still has 100% of the competitive fire he’s always had.
Canuckle, It is going to be a fun 3 games for sure!!! Jays need to take one for sure and tonight is as good a time as any to do that!!! I fully expected the Dodgers to win the Yammie game so tonight should be the time for Springer, Bo and Vlad to have a great game!!!
GO JAYS GO!!!
FEAR THE TRUE NORTH!!!
Glasnow doesn’t pitch much so he should be an easy guy to remove from the game and get into that vulnerable bullpen. He’s only been going on average 5 innings so that should be enough to dump the Dodgers in game 3. It seems team Japan is carrying the Dodgers as the rest of their offense can’t do much.