Astros at Nationals, 5:07 PM PDT, TV: Fox
The big news of the day is that the Nats’ scheduled starter Max Scherzer has neck spasms and has been scratched. In his place will be RHP Joe Ross, who started the season in the bullpen but emerged as a member of the Nationals’ rotation when relieving didn’t suit him. He had Tommy John surgery in 2017; 2019 was his first full season back from that. He’ll face the Astros’ Gerrit Cole, who had an uncharacteristic loss in Game One in which he gave up five runs on eight hits in seven innings.
Astros lineup:
#WorldSeries Game 5!
⚾️ 7:07pm CT
📺 @MLBONFOX
📻 @SportsTalk790 & 850 AM#TakeItBack pic.twitter.com/SEHSm30Ehp— Houston Astros (@astros) October 27, 2019
Nationals lineup:
Go 1-0 today.#WorldSeries // #STAYINTHEFIGHT pic.twitter.com/mwAfZiCaSo
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) October 27, 2019
NPUT
Quoting the WaPo discussion of robo-umps that RBI linked to below:
Something’s missing here… https://twitter.com/JordanUhl/status/1188892488892899328?s=20
He had to know this was coming, so why bother? It’s not like he’s a baseball fan.
https://twitter.com/adamlongoTV/status/1188623821877760005
Moderator violates Rule No. 1 in a perfectly acceptable and timely manner.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/2212af17c18871ebc6679e96e06676a3acd2ea4ac57d8325eb097bcbfce639d8.png
This ump is ulcer-inducing. Infuriating.
I haven’t seen a single pitch, but it doesn’t sound as if the umpires have been the difference. Cole and the absence of Scherzer seem more important.
Yes. Absolutely. But a few momentum moments killed by bad calls.
One of the ESPN Baseball Tonight crew (the ex-player, whose name I didn’t catch) suggested it really is time for an automated strike zone.
Edited: It was the ex-Yankee Mark Texeira
The best argument for robot umps is Rob Drake.
Game 5 umpire controversy raises a question: Should MLB use an electronic system to make calls?
The blown calls in Game 5 will provide a backdrop as MLB continues a seemingly inevitable — if potentially misguided — creep toward robot umpires.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2019/10/28/game-umpire-controversy-raises-question-should-mlb-use-an-electronic-system-make-calls/
The very definition of a bloop and a blast.
Yep.
Max is hurt. What a blow to the Nats this must be…
Yeah, but who knows? Ross might go six or seven strong innings. In 1956 the Yankees’ Don Larsen lasted 1 2/3 innings in Game Two of the Series. He came back in Game Six with his perfect game. Similarly, in 1966 Dave McNally only went 2 1/3 innings against the Dodgers in Game One of the Series but came back with a complete game win in Game Four.