First Game: Red Sox at Astros, 1:00 PM PT, TV: MLBN
Boston got LHP Chris Sale last offseason for precisely this moment: to pitch Game One of a playoff series. He went 17-8 with a 2.90 ERA this season, striking out 308 along the way. This is his first postseason start. He’ll face RHP Justin Verlander, who came to the Astros from the Tigers at the trade deadline, waiving a no-trade clause to do so. He was 15-8 with a 3.36 ERA between his two teams, and he’s been in the postseason a lot; this will be his 17th playoff start.
Second Game: Yankees at Indians, 4:30 PM PT, TV: FS1
The Yankees start RHP Sonny Gray (10-12, 3.55 ERA), whom they got from the As at the trade deadline. He wasn’t quite as good (4-7) for them as he had been for his former team (6-5), but he’s had two postseason starts in his past. He’ll face RHP Trevor Bauer (17-9, 4.19 ERA), a surprise starter over their Cy Young candidate Corey Kluber.
Today in baseball history: From Mickey Owen’s passed ball to Al Gionfriddo’s catch to Mickey Mantle’s knee injury to Glenn Burke’s invention of the high five, a lot has happened on the fifth day of October in baseball.
Dodgers.com piece about Wood starting a game 4, says Ryu will be on taxi squad and “if something unforeseen, or we choose because of a potential matchup to activate him, he’ll still have his length and be ready.”
Thought to be added once a series starts, a player had to replace an injured one, not just be a good matchup.
???
https://dodgers.mlblogs.com/notebook-if-a-game-4-happens-wood-set-in-stone-to-start-42e40050746b
Joe Pos on the Kershaw playoff mindset. Knew his career ERA was already the best ever in the modern era, but didn’t realize his is almost a half-run better than No. 2 Whitey Ford, 2.36 to Ford’s 2.75 No. 3? Sandy, of course, 2.76.
“As impressive as that looks, it’s actually more impressive considering that Kershaw has pitched in a much higher-scoring era than any of the others. His 161 ERA+, which takes into account the era and the ballpark, is the best in baseball history, even including the Dead-Ball Era. When it comes to preventing runs, Kershaw is, at this point — he doesn’t turn 30 until next March — is about as good as anyone who ever pitched.”
And Pos says CK has 4 outstanding pitches…including a change that I knew he worked on but thought he threw very little. Anyone know more about this superb changeup?
http://m.mlb.com/news/article/257578748/clayton-kershaws-mindset-speaks-volumes/?topicId=27118122
Beyond his 12-6 never heard of a change of pace from him.
NPUT @ 0600 HST, 0900 PT
Yank announcer can’t pass up opportunity to bad mouth Bosox. Suggesting that they are pushing Benintendi as ROY over Judge.
Radio?
Yep.
Stirling is more awful the more I hear him. I asked a Long Islander on my Facebook feed how New Yorkers think of him and she said “He’s the WORST!”
Darn double plays! Coulda been a LOT more runs there, Indians!
Instead of ESPN Radio I have the Yankees’ WFAN team of John Stirling and Suzyn Waldman. I’ve heard them off and on all year, and I’m not too impressed. They exhibit a little too much homerism for me.
The Yanquis broadcasters are very homerish. They fired Hank Greenwald because of his humor (which had made his Gnatcasts obligatory listening).
Why on earth is Boston bringing in Porcello? Ah, he’s somewhat out of favor.
Gaudy w-l record probably gave him the CYA last year. Verlander may have been a better candidate based on ERA and Ks.
It’s Oisk’s anniversary… https://twitter.com/LosDodgers/status/916075753858568192
Picked up the Big Chair – I’ll read just about anything on the Dodgers. Not sure how much of a show-and-tell it can be, as he is still employed by the team. Interested in his perspective. Sympathized with his position with McCourt as the owner, but never thought much of his baseball acumen.
Santana, one that Ned let get away. Interested in his take. They did have the Golden God at the time, but still…
Werth as well.
Werth had some injury issues, too.
Recovering from a wrist injury and let go. Signed by Fillies as FA and put up OPS+ 130 over 4 years for them.
An Andy LaRoche who recovered.
Both guys were cheap to keep around to see what would happen.
Looking ahead… https://twitter.com/THEREAL_DV/status/916076750664114176
Stats for Walker.
Walker’s got talent, but he’s not in the Greinke/Ray category.
Altuve with 3 bombs. Wow.
It’s Chris Berman and Rick Sutcliffe on the radio. One of them said a Houston coach told them pound for pound Altuve was the strongest guy on their team.
Now back-to-back solo HRs for Houston by Bregman and Altuve in the bottom of the first.
And Boston loses its DH Nunez right off the bat, as he pulled something and had to be carried off the field in a human chair (the interlocking-arms kind). He’ll probably be replaced by Hanley Ramirez.
I saw a replay – AL games still blacked out, but at least video highlights are available – and it looks as if amputation is Núñez’s only option.
Why on earth would MLB impose a blackout during the playoffs? That makes no business sense whatsoever.
Of course not, but they’re beholden to the big cable companies – in theory, only if you have a cable account can you watch the games on MLBTV. TBS games, however, include a live action option from various camera angles, but no replays of any kind. Before tomorrow’s game, I’ll get a VPN to bypass the blackout.
Games are available for International viewing, but I am back in the States.
I would happily pay MLBTV extra for post-season baseball, but I refuse to pay Comcast. I’ll pay a VPN instead.