So it's the Dodgers. Beat LA.
- That was one heck of a game 5 of the NLDS last night between the Dodgers and the Nationals. Dave Cameron has a quick graph to see how great it was.
- Paul Lebowitz looks at how the Nationals fell short in the playoffs again.
- This was written before game 5, but Eric Nusbaum writes that the Dodgers are still alive because of the randomness of the postseason or, to use the term he prefers, its vibes.
- The last time Clayton Kershaw got a save, his catcher was Kenley Jansen.
- Grant Brisbee notes that the Dodgers love to throw their starters on short rest.
- Jay Jaffe thinks the Cubs should be happy that they are facing the Dodgers and not the Nationals.
- This is a Cubs story, but you'll want to read it before the NLCS starts. Mike Lupica has fallen in love with Javier Baez. Take a number.
- No matter who wins the World Series this season, someone is going to be breaking a drought. When the Blue Jays are your most recent World Series champs . . .
- Will Leitch breaks down the ALCS.
- Alex Wong looks at the Blue Jays and thinks that their starting pitching will be the key to the series.
- Playoff vet Coco Crisp has some advice for his less-experienced Indians' teammates: "Just Breathe."
- The Blue Jays broadcaster will not say "Indians" on the air.
- Matt Snyder predicts that the Giants will try to remake their bullpen this winter. Ya think?
- Grant Brisbee says there will be changes, but don't expect a radical makeover the the San Francisco bullpen.
- The Giants fired their first and third base coaches. Because they were the problem?
- The Padres fired team president and CEO Mike Dee.
- The Braves hired Ron Washington as their new third-base coach. This has upset some people in baseball as this was a lateral move from Oakland and Athletics had only given permission for him to interview for the managerial job.
- Neil Paine looks at the origin of defensive shifts. Lou Boudreau and Ted Williams.
- Mets manager Terry Collins says that he may retire after the 2017 season. Why is he saying that? Oh. He thinks it's going to be his decision. That's funny.
- Padres starter Tyson Ross underwent surgery. He'll miss 4-6 months.
- The qualifying offer for next season will be $17.2 million. Mike Axisa says who should get an offer.
- Jeff Sullivan did a piece asking which 2016 playoff teams do you think will miss the postseason in 2017?
- Then Sullivan asks which sub-.500 teams will make the playoffs instead?
- Emma Baccellieri mourns the demise of Tal's Hill in Houston, even though she knows it's dumb.
- Tim Tebow is having a rough time in the Arizona Fall League.
- Mike Piellucci talks to the widow of Cory Lidle on the tenth anniversary of the plane crash that took his life.
- S.L Price has a moving story about how the death of Jose Fernandez has affected people. Chris Johnson tells a moving story of how the two went from enemies to friends.
- The NHL Florida Panthers all wore "Fernandez 16" jerseys in warmups for their opening game.
- With all the accolades for Vin Scully, it's gotten somewhat lost that Dick Enberg also retired this year. Dom Cosentino writes that Enberg was the right man for the moment in any sport he broadcast. Oh my!
- And finally, a Dodgers fan bet against Joe Blanton this year and now he has to eat one of everything at Dodger Stadium.
And tomorrow will be a better day than today, Buster. It will be Game 1 of the NLCS.