MLB Bullets is 90% pitching

Welcome to the offseason.

• This was written in expectation of a Cubs/Yankees World Series that isn’t going to happen, but it’s interesting anyway. Dayn Perry looks back at the 1932 season in both baseball, politics and crime. It was a wild year in both Chicago and New York.
• If it makes you feel any better, Jeff Sullivan notes that this year’s playoff field was the best ever in the wild card era.
• However, Michael Baumann asks why are so many managers making bad decisions this postseason?
• If you’ve wondered why the Dodgers, who were regular World Series participants from the 1940s through the 1980s, haven’t been to the World Series since 1988 (before next week), Gabe Lacques has the whole story of the Dodgers since the Kirk Gibson home run.
• Mike Axisa looks at how Yankees pitcher Masahiro Tanaka made an adjustment that has turned him back into an ace for the postseason.
• It’s not just Tanaka. Jerry Crasnick writes about how the Yankees dominating pitching has carried them to a 3 games to 2 lead in the American League Championship Series.
• Ben Lindbergh agrees: It’s the Yankees pitching that has them within a game of the World Series, but also momentum.
• The Yankees want to keep that momentum going in Houston, but manager Joe Girardi is worried the off-day will hurt their momentum, even if it helps the bullpen to get some rest.
• Astros manager A.J. Hinch is “feels horrible” that the off-day is hurting the Yankees momentum. I think he might have been sarcastic there.
• Grant Brisbee has four reasons the Astros have all been hitting like Jon Lester in the ALCS.
• Dave Cameron also has some theories as to why the Astros aren’t hitting without taking a shot at a Cubs pitcher.
• Mike Lupica writes that it is up to Justin Verlander to save the Astros season.
• Scott Lauber notes that the Astros aren’t used to playing from behind.
• Richard Justice says that the Astros can look to the 2004 Cardinals for hope. THe Cardinals were down 3 games to 2 to the Astros in the NLCS that year and ended up winning it in seven.
• Ben Reiter notes that Carlos Beltran has brought “clubhouse chemistry” to the very analytic Astros.
• Eno Sarris wonders if teams aren’t going to see their pitchers get hurt through heavy usage in the postseason.
• The Red Sox will reportedly name Astros bench coach Alex Cora as their new manager after the ALCS.
• The Tigers have reportedly chosen former Twins manager Ron Gardenhire as their new manager. He’s certainly got experience with a rebuilding team.
• Jon Heyman notes that the Mets are down to six candidates for their job, although since one of them is Alex Cora, I’d guess they are down to five.
• The Diamondbacks announced the departure of Tony La Russa from their front office.
• Jay Jaffe offers his thoughts on the MLB expansion and “radical realignment” plan.
• There is a group now that is trying to bring an expansion team to Portland, Oregon.
• Indians outfielder Michael Brantley had surgery on his ankle and will miss the next five months.
• The Yankees are expanding by investing in a esports team.
• John Perrotto offers his 2017 All-Rookie Team.
• Craig Calcaterra looks at the structure of Japan’s NPB playoffs and thinks they are incredibly unfair.
• A look at some of the weirdest happenings of the postseason so far.
• And finally, rivalries don’t die when players retire. Alex Rodriguez tried to put a Yankees jacket onto David Ortiz. Ortiz was not happy.

And tomorrow will be a better day than today, Buster. We’ll be one day closer to Opening Day.