MLB Bullets had a wild one

So the Nationals took one step towards overcoming “The Curse of Youppi!”, which is something that I made up last night. Originally it was that the Nationals would never win a playoff series until baseball returns to Montréal. Now it’s that the Nats will never make the World Series until the Expos live once again.

The last time (heck, the only time) the Nationals ever advanced in a playoff series, Steve Rogers threw a complete game 3-0 shutout and drove in two runs himself. And they were the Expos.

• So the Nationals beat the Brewers in the National League Wild Card game thanks to a three-run 8th inning.
• The city of Washington had not won an MLB playoff series in 95 years and the reason that streak is over is Juan Soto.
• David Aldridge writes that after years of bad luck, the Nationals finally caught a break and overcame their cursed history. (The Athletic sub. req.) Although he doesn’t mention Youppi! An oversight, I’m sure.
• Eric Stephen writes that the one-game Wild Card playoff is unfair but everyone seems to love it anyway.
• Craig Calcaterra has a storyline for every team in the playoffs. Except that the Brewers’ storyline is over by the time you read this.
• Here are five young stars ready to make an impact in the playoffs. Juan Soto has already made one.
• Robert O’Connell writes how the surge in home runs will have a big impact on the playoffs.
• Ben Lindbergh makes the case that neutral fans should be rooting for a Dodgers/Astros World Series.
• Michael Baumann has an appreciation of the Rays and even an appreciation of Tropicana Field. It’s a terrific essay that talks about the changing nature of the Tampa Bay area and the problems that the Rays face, but also argues that the area is full of baseball fans. And also that the Trop isn’t bad at all.
• Ben Reiter gives the behind-the-scenes story of the Astros trade for Zack Greinke and the building of the best rotation in baseball.
• Devan Fink writes that signing free-agent pitcher Patrick Corbin was the key to the Nationals success this year.
• The Nats have reportedly offered upcoming free agent Anthony Rendon a seven-year extension worth over $200 million. Didn’t we have this story last year with Bryce Harper? And didn’t it turn out that the Nats offer to Harper wasn’t nearly as lucrative as what was leaked out?
• Eno Sarris writes that Moneyball is alive in Oakland, but the Athletics rely on slugging percentage instead of on-base percentage these days. (The Athletic sub. req.)
• Michael Shapiro has a preview of the Yankees/Twins American League Division Series.
• Emma Baccellieri previews the Cardinals/Braves NLDS.
• Ben Clemons looks back at the Cardinals decision to start Jack Flaherty on Sunday against the Cubs and games out what the optimal strategy for starting a team’s ace is.
• Ryan M. Spaeder has a suggestion for an expanded playoff system that he thinks is better than what we have now.
• Baseball attendance this year was at its lowest level in 16 seasons and Craig Calcaterra goes into some reasons why.
• Chris Cwik thinks MLB desperately needs a return to the Yankees/Red Sox duopoly of the nineties and aughts.
• On to the fate of a former Cubs manager. Reports out of Southern California is that Joe Maddon is “likely” to be the next manager of the Angels.
• Bill Shaikin outlines all the things that Maddon can do for the Angels, on- and off-the-field. Shaikin seems really excited by the possibility of a Joe Maddon-owned Italian restaurant in the parking lot of Angels Stadium. He also thinks Gerrit Cole might like to play for Joe Maddon, in which case I take back my piece about how it was time for Joe to go.
• Angels general manager Billy Eppler insists that former manager Brad Ausmus would have been fired whether or not Maddon was available. Also, Eppler insists that they will interview candidates other than Maddon.
• Tim Brown writes that Ausmus’ dismissal is emblematic of the recent struggles of the Angels organization.
• Sticking with the Angels for a minute, Halos radio broadcaster Mark Langston says that it’s an “absolute miracle” that he’s still alive after he collapsed in the booth a few weeks ago. Langston’s heart stopped for 3½ minutes, meaning he was clinically dead for that long.
• Claire McNear believes the retirement of Giants manager Bruce Bochy means the end of an era for a certain type of manager.
• Two internal candidates, Hensley Meulens and Ron Wotus, will receive interviews for the Giants managerial job.
• Jason Kendall wants to be the next Pirates manager. A former Cub managing the Pirates?
• Gabe Lacques rates the open managerial jobs on their desirability.
• Padres owner Ron Fowler vows that “heads will roll [and] mine will be the first one” if the Padres don’t win in 2020. So he’s going to decapitate himself? Even metaphorically, he’s going to fire himself? I guess he could mean he’ll sell the team if they don’t win, but then he won’t be able to make anyone else’s head roll.
• Blue Jays president Mark Shapiro cited the Padres and the Phillies as two reasons to not spend money on free agents. Another reason is that Blue Jays ownership is cheap and care far more about turning a healthy profit than winning.
• Over 800 fans have been injured over the past seven years at MLB stadiums, primarily because of foul balls. I understand. I dislike the netting too, but it’s worth it if it prevents people from suffering serious injuries or even death. A minor inconvenience is better than a blinded fan.
• MLB has a new promo of the playoffs called “We Play Loud” and Craig Calcaterra loves it. (Although he admits he’ll likely be sick of it by the time the World Series is over.)
• And finally, the Nationals got to celebrate last night and Wild Card hero Juan Soto got to celebrate with being tackled by his dad.

And tomorrow will be a better day than today, Buster. Even without the Cubs, playoff baseball is great.