What is the story about?
Good
morning. Especially since we’re getting a Game Five tonight. Apologies to Jack Buck in the Great Beyond for today’s title. And we’ll see you tonight from when you’re reading this.
- The Rays beat the Brewers 4-3 in Game Four after falling behind 3-2 in the top of the 12th inning and then scoring twice in the bottom of the inning.
- With 2.1 scoreless innings in Game Four, Brewers reliever Aaron Ashby recorded his 18th consecutive scoreless inning of work in the playoffs, a new record for one postseason.
- Game three will be remembered for the eight-run fifth inning that seems to have clinched the title for the Brewers (although the Rays aren’t dead yet). Julian McWilliams goes over that pivotal point in the Series that broke the Rays’ back.
- Jake Mintz points out that Christian Yelich’s hustle on the base paths was the difference in Game 3.
- Michael Baumann breaks down that eight-run inning. (Fangraphs paywall)
- Andy McCullough looks at that eight-run inning and the Brewers on the brink of their first title. (The Athletic sub. req.)
- The Brewers Jackson Chourio became the youngest player since Joe Garagiola in 1946 to have four hits in one World Series game.
- Matt Snyder writes that Chourio is now the face of the Brewers franchise.
- Jordan Shusterman has more thoughts on Chourio and his Game Three heroics.
- Jesse Rogers looks that the impact that manager Pat Murphy has had on the Brewers’ success.
- Andy McCullough and Will Sammon note that if the Brewers want to continue to be good, they may have to trade many of the heroes of this season. (The Athletic sub. req.)
- Tyler Kepner writes about Brewers pitcher Brandon Woodruff’s career with Milwaukee and his miraculous comeback from injury to pitch the ninth inning in Game Three. (The Athletic sub. req.)
- Davy Andrews marvels at Rays outfielder Chandler Simpson’s speed and unique sliding technique. (Fangraphs paywall)
- Will Sammon asks some scouts how much could Rays pitcher Freddy Peralta make in free agency this winter. (The Athletic sub. req.)
- Despite some bad predictions with the two small markets, television ratings were only down a little for Games One and Two.
- Dan Shanoff and Andrew Marchand have more on what the TV ratings mean. (The Athletic sub. req.)
- None of this matters to commissioner Rob Manfred, who argued that two small market teams in the World Series means even more that baseball needs a salary cap. Mike Axisa reports.
- A FAQ on the upcoming collective bargaining talks and the lockout.
- Before that, Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman have the top 50 free agents this winter.
- Congratulations to the Mets’ Francisco Lindor, who won this year’s Roberto Clemente Award.
- The Mariners are holding in-person interviews for their vacant manager job. The two candidates appear to be former Astros manager Joe Espada and Cubs farm director Jason Kanzler.
- Eric Longenhagen looks at some of the prospects in the Arizona Fall League.
- An update on the restrictions on outfield defensive positioning in the AFL.
- Legendary Yankees catcher Jorge Posada said that he doesn’t “feel welcome” around the Yankees. He didn’t say why.
- Andrew Baggarly reports on Giants team president Buster Posey comments on how the team plans on developing better “stuff” among their pitchers. (The Athletic sub. req.)
- Former Dodger Miguel Rojas plans to play one more game for his original Venezuelan League team in Miami this November before retiring.
- The 2009 World Series MVP Hideki Matsui has been named the new manager of the Yomiuri Giants in NPB. Max Ralph reports.
- Sweeny Murti notes that former Royal Danny Jackson had the only immaculate inning in postseason history and didn’t even know it for 30 more years. That’s because “immaculate inning” wasn’t a thing in 1985.
- Charlotte Barnes has a look at the “organized chaos” as the wives, fiancées and girlfriends of major leaguers in the World Series plan what they’re going to wear to support their significant others. (The Athletic sub. req.) There’s a lot of planning and custom orders.
- And finally, we all know the sad part of the Brewers run to the title is that Bob Uecker is not around for it. Cody Stavenhagen talks to people in the Brewers family about their memories of Uecker and how none of this seems complete without him. (The Athletic sub. req.)
