The Houston Astros dispatched the New York Yankees in seemingly effortless fashion. That's a team without any apparent weaknesses. They go to the World Series for the second straight season. The Philadelphia Phillies continued their magical run with a bruising take down of the feisty San Diego Padres. That was a tougher fight than the 4-1 tally would indicate. I like this Phillies team. Let's hope they turn the tables on the favorites. Bookmakers like the Astros: the moneyline -170. That's an expected win probability of almost 63%!*
In other news, Bruce Bochy comes out of retirement and joins the Texas Rangers as their new manager. It's a three-year deal. Boch is 67. Some guys just can't stay retired. That's sure not me!
Game 1 is Friday (5:03 Pacific) at Minute Maid Park.
--M.C.
*divide 170 by 100+170 and multiply the result by 100
10 comments:
I am retired now, but at 67 it was not even a twinkle of a thought.
I hope the Astros win it, for Dusty. They were not the team I wanted to see in the Series from the AL and I can understand why people hate them, but I would like to see Dusty win one. I do not like the Phillies team. I do not like Harper's arrogance and I do not like their punk fans. At the last round, was kind of hoping to see San Diego take out 3 100 win teams en route to a title, that would have been impressive, but they ran out of gas, I guess.
Dusty has won a World Series, you know, as a player in 1981 with LA. So it's not like he'll go to his grave without a ring!
I get that he's almost universally beloved in the game but it's not about Dusty for me. Or any one player, really.
Sure, Philly is one of those bewildering East Coast sports towns like Boston or NYC where the fans are truly bizarre. We West Coasters really don't get it. Have you ever read The Boston Globe sports section, for instance? Sheesh! Crazy people write that stuff.
But I'll pick an underdog over a juggernaut-type team almost any time. And I like the Phillies swagger. They look like they have fun. They are over-matched, though. They'll have to get Bumgarner-like performances from Wheeler and/or Nola to have a chance. Kind of like the Nats in 2019.
Be careful what you wish for:
https://nypost.com/2022/10/24/why-a-phillies-world-series-win-could-spell-disaster-for-wall-street/
Love it. Only in the Post! Didn't I tell you East Coast sports-writing was bat-shit?
Here's a comic I like.
https://xkcd.com/904/
David Pinto at Baseball Musings critiques Dusty Baker's handling of the pitching changes last night.
It's hard to argue with. He let Verlander pitch until he wasn't effective any more. You are supposed to pull the guy before he loses it, right? And Baker compounded the problem by not having his reliever ready to go earlier in the game.
On the Philly side their manager brought in their CLOSER in the 5th inning after they tied it up! He correctly saw that as the "momentum swing moment" and was aggressive with his bullpen.
The post-season really showcases game tactics. You can't play "the long game" in the World Series! You have to go for it when the time arises.
Your team is down 4-0 after two innings yet you leave your starter in to give up three more runs. Instead of a relatively close game you get a blowout. Astros could have forced the Phillies to use their best relievers. The Astros could have come from behind and won a 4-0 game. The odds of doing that in a 7-0 game are much longer, no?
I can't understand why Baker left in McCullers last night. I can't understand why no one was warming up in the 3rd fucking inning! (Phils had the bullpen going in the 4th.) Very weird decision-making!
The Astros are talented enough that they could win this Series despite Dusty's questionable pitching tactics. They didn't score at all last night so that makes the move (or lack of a move) a moot point, really, but if I'm an Astros fan I'm wondering what the hell my manager is smoking.
Managing is probably 80% psychology and 20% strategy and tactics. Dusty is universally regarded as among the best at managing people. Most baseball strategy and tactics decisions are pretty straightforward and the percentages are pretty obvious. The rest are 50-50 and you are "damned if you do and damned if you don't." So you don't have to be a "genius" to manage a ballgame.
But in the post-season every moment is magnified and teams have to adapt to rapidly changing circumstances. Like I said the Astros are still mega-talented and could easily whip off three wins a row and take the crown. Dusty's job is to put the players in the best place--to give them the best chance to succeed. Leaving in starting pitchers who are getting clobbered is not how that's done. I was frankly bewildered last night.
If Houston wins it will be--it seems--without much help from their skipper.
Agreed.
A good way to make your manager look like a genius is to throw a no-hitter! Astros have really good pitching.
I was shocked they started Syndergaard instead of Wheeler. If the Phils had been up 3-1 would they have started Wheeler instead of "saving" him? That being said, it worked out. Thor pitched well for three innings. The mistake was letting him start the 4th.
Now it is up to Wheeler to "save" the Phils. I don't see it happening. Houston had all the sharks in the water last night. I think they'll finish it off tomorrow. Baker gifted the Phillies a win in Game 1 and encouraged the win in Game 3 but his team is too good and they have overcome that and look poised to get it done.
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