Good
morning.
- Thanks to a George Springer three-run home run, the Blue Jays are going to the World Series for the first time since 1993. Bryan Hoch has the recap.
- Eric Longenhagen recaps Game 7 of the American League Championship Series and explains how Toronto won the pennant.
- Anne Rogers breaks down Springer’s home run and the decision to have Mariners reliever Eduard Bazardo pitch to Springer rather than closer Andrés Muñoz.
- Ken Rosenthal notes that George Springer got his signature moment in the ALCS, after suffering a painful hit-by-pitch to the knee (The Athletic sub. req.) earlier in the series. Comparisons to Kirk Gibson are made.
- Gabe Lacques reports that the Blue Jays never lost faith in Springer, despite his struggles in 2023 and 2024.
- Matt Snyder writes that the legend of Springer’s playoff prowess just keeps growing.
- Shanthi Sepe-Chepuru writes that by some metrics, Springer is the greatest postseason performer ever.
- On the other hand, Jay Jaffe writes that Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who was the ALCS MVP, had one of the greatest postseason series ever.
- Jordan Schusterman writes about what the series victory meant for both the Blue Jays players and their families.
- The hero of the Blue Jays’ 1993 World Series victory, Joe Carter, tells of what he was thinking during Game 7 and Springer’s home run. Bob Nightengale reports.
- Sweeny Murti remarks on how with the Blue Jays win, bench coach Don Mattingly is finally going to the World Series for the first time. Mattingly offers up his thoughts on the event.
- Sadaf Ashan notes that in a time of increasingly tense US-Canada relations, cheering for the Blue Jays has become a political act in Canada.
- Mitch Bannon has a story on the superstitions of Blue Jays manager John Schneider, including candles from Costco. (The Athletic sub. req.) He also punches everyone in the nose who calls him “Bo Duke.” I don’t know if that last one is actually true, but I feel like it should be true.
- The Blue Jays may get a boost in the World Series as shortstop Bo Bichette says he’s fully healthy and ready to play. (The Athletic free reg. req.) Bichette has missed all of the playoffs so far with a knee injury.
- On the other side, the Mariners let their first World Series appearance slip away.
- Mariners manager Dan Wilson defended his decision to let Bazardo pitch to Springer rather than Muñoz. Jason Owens with the story.
- Eno Sarris looks at what Bazardo pitching to Springer says about the best way to employ your bullpen in the playoffs. (The Athletic sub. req.)
- Tyler Kepner writes that after reaching heights the Mariners had never reached before, Seattle found new depths of agony. (The Athletic sub. req.)
- Daniel Kremer has more on the M’s heartbreak.
- Matt Snyder thinks the Mariners should still consider 2025 a success.
- A preview of the Dodgers/Blue Jays World Series.
- Thomas Harrington has six possible storylines for the World Series.
- Kiley McDaniel tells you all you need to know about the Dodgers ace-filled rotation.
- Matt Snyder explains how the Dodgers starting rotation came together just in time for the playoffs.
- Sonja Chen has the pitch that defines each Dodger starter’s dominance.
- Fabian Ardaya has the story of a late-season team meeting that kickstarted the Dodgers. (The Athletic sub. req.)
- Grant Brisbee offers a “lovers’ guide” to the World Series. (The Athletic sub. req.)
- Keegan Matheson looks at how close Shohei Ohtani came to signing with the Blue Jays.
- Jack Baer remembers Ohtani’s “flight that never was” to Toronto.
- Sarah Langs argues that history is on the Blue Jays side. The other three times a team whose League Championship Series went seven games faced off against a team that swept theirs in four, the team that went the distance in the previous round won the World Series.
- Davy Andrews proclaims October as the month of the splitter.
- The Angels have hired Kurt Suzuki as their new manager, after talks with Albert Pujols fell apart over money, reportedly.
- Angels outfielder Mike Trout testified in the civil trial that the family of the late Tyler Skaggs has filed against the Angels.
- Thomas Harrington has the potential free agents this winter who are likely to get qualifying offers.
- And finally, Caleb Mazzy gets former Phillies pitcher Kyle Kendrick on the record about his infamous 2013 Topps “crotch” baseball card. (The Athletic sub. req.) I don’t collect cards and I didn’t know about that one. But I want one.
