Royals at Giants, 2:00PM HST/5:00PM PT, TV: Fox
The Giants ask veteran Ryan Vogelsong to put a stop to the Royals’ advance, while the Royals send Jason Vargas out to give them enough innings to get to their so-far lights-out bullpen. Vogelsong had a poor outing against the Cardinals in Game Four of the NLCS, lasting only three innings while giving up four runs on seven hits in a game the Giants eventually won. But he’s been a postseason horse for them in the past, making five postseason starts in which he compiled a 3-0 record, a 1.19 ERA and a .168 batting average against. The lefty Vargas has pitched 11 1/3 innings of nearly flawless baseball in the postseason, giving up three runs on five hits and four walks against the Angels and Orioles while holding them to a .135 batting average.
A bit of history: “Holland has now recorded seven saves this postseason, tying the record for a single postseason. He joins five others — John Wetteland (1996 Yankees), Robb Nen (2002 Giants), Troy Percival (’02 Angels), Brad Lidge (’08 Phillies) and Koji Uehara (’13 Red Sox).” Some pretty good names there.
I like Puig a lot. When he comes to bat or a ball is hit towards him, my interest peaks. But I can see trading him because the Dodgers have got themselves into such a mess in the outfield. But there is almost zero chance of trading Ethier or Crawford, even if they ate most of the money. A foursome of Kemp, Puig, SVS, and Pederson would be quite adequate. But since we have to keep the other two stiffs, I’d live with trading Puig for a front-line catcher or shortstop, none of Ned’s Giant cast-offs…
Frontline OFers are a lot easier to find that frontline catchers or shortstops.
No doubt. Puig may need to be supplemented…
Talents like Puig are rare indeed, though.
Just can’t see the Dodgers trading Puig in order to resolve a glut in the outfield unless it is for Tulo. The glut is the same as the one they had this past season as far as I am concerned. They won the division with that outfield. I am not ready to hand Joc anything more than a 4-5 slot.
I can’t work up any real interest in this runner-up bowl, but I will say it’s disgraceful that they can’t play a day game on a bright sunny Sunday in the Bay Area.
Absolutely agree. But MLB ceded Sunday to the NFL a long long time ago.
Handegg takes the whole day. What difference does it make whether this (so-called) Series is played in daylight?
Most youngsters have to go to bed before the mid-week night games are over because they have to go to school the following day. At least on weekends they could see entire games.
Besides, I’m a traditionalist. I’d like to see SOME day baseball in the World Series.