Good
morning.
- The Mariners advanced to the American League Championship Series with a thrilling 3-2 win in 15 innings over the Tigers. Here are 15 stats from that instant classic.
- Gabe Lacques has eight stats from Friday night’s epic Mariners win.
- Tyler Kepner gets a reaction from the Mariners and notes that this is a new generation of heroes for Seattle. (The Athletic sub. req.)
- Matt Snyder argues that the Mariners offense is much more than just Cal Raleigh.
- Daniel Kramer reports that players on the ‘95 Mariners see a lot of similarities to this year’s team. For their sake I would hope not too many similarities. That team lost the ALCS to Cleveland in six games.
- On the other side, the Tigers organization wasn’t too happy about the loss. Tigers broadcaster Dan Dickerson let loose an accidental over-the-air profanity after the epic loss.
- R.J. Anderson wonders what is next for Tigers’ ace Tarik Skubal after Detroit’s exit.
- As far as the Mariners’ opponents in the ALCS, Keegan Matheson reports that the Blue Jays feel the love and the pressure of being “Canada’s Team.”
- Brent Maguire has the five factors that explain Toronto first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s hot streak in the playoffs.
- Eno Sarris breaks down Blue Jays rookie pitcher Trey Yesavage’s brutal splitter. (The Athletic sub. req.)
- Sam Dykstra looks at Yesavage’s meteoric rise.
- In what’s been an ugly trend in sports lately, Yesavage decried attacks and threats against his family after a dominating performance against the Yankees.
- Dan Szymborski has an ALCS preview.
- Tyler Kepner notes that the ALCS is a matchup of the two 1977 expansion teams. He shares his ten favorite baseball cards from these two teams in 1977. (The Athletic sub. req.)
- Bob Nightengale explains why the Brewers victory in the National League Division Series was so important to the franchise. Bleh.
- Anthony DiComo notes that two rookie pitchers who started the season as starters—Roki Sasaki and Jacob Misiorowski—are thriving as relievers in the postseason.
- Jack Harris writes that Sasaki transforming into a closer has saved the Dodgers’ season.
- Harris also explains why Shohei Ohtani won’t start in either of the first two games of the NL Championship Series.
- ESPN dot com writers predict the two League Championship Series.
- Sarah Langs has three ways these two Championship Series are historically rare.
- Grant Brisbee has a preview of the four teams in the Championship Series and who has momentum. (The Athletic sub. req.)
- Stephen J. Nesbitt has one lesson that teams can learn from the four teams still playing. (The Athletic sub. req.)
- R.J. Anderson has one X-factor for each series.
- Jorge Castillo looks at what the Yankees have to do to build a World Series Champion while superstar Aaron Judge is still productive.
- Jack Baer reports that Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger will opt out of his contract.
- The Phillies made sure to that reliever Orion Kerkering didn’t have to experience his pain alone after his heartbreaking error that ended Philadelphia’s season. (The Athletic sub. req.)
- David Schoenfield wonders how long this particular core group of Phillies players can remain contenders.
- Anthony Dabbundo writes that these Phillies aren’t over.
- Anthony DiComo has five questions for the Mets this winter.
- Mets first baseman Pete Alonso reportedly wants a seven-year deal in his upcoming free agency.
- Mark Bowman has five questions for the Braves this offseason.
- Albert Pujols has reportedly met with the Angels about their vacant managerial job.
- Sam Blum and Katie Woo report that the job is Pujols’ if he decides to take it. (The Athletic sub. req.)
- Bob Nightengale looks at Pujols’ qualifications and notes that he would be the greatest player to ever manage in the big leagues. Even if you don’t count player-managers, he’s wrong—Walter Johnson managed and even if you mean since integration, Frank Robinson was about as good a player as Pujols. But his point still stands. Certainly no one who has managed has hit more home runs than Pujols.
- And finally, Chad Jennings and Stephen J. Nesbitt rank the ballpark atmosphere of the four remaining playoff teams. (The Athletic sub. req.)
