Outside The Confines: Plenty of Division Series drama over the weekend

Hello and happy Monday, Bleed Cubbie Blue readers! As it is Thanksgiving here in Canada, I’m going to keep things short and sweet on the intro today so that I can run off and enjoy turkey and consume my body weight in mashed potatoes. But before I do that, in earnestness, I wanted to let you all know how incredibly thankful I am for all of you who read these posts that Josh and I trade off doing and that you get some enjoyment from the links and social media posts we collect for you.

Fair warning as we head into these, about 99 percent of everything being written right now is being written about the postseason. I always try to find some non-postseason content, but it’s obviously a little tricky.

With that said, on to the links!

• Drew Rasmussen talks to Ken Rosenthal about why he plays in honor of Rays’ scout Paul Kirsch, who now has ALS. (The Athletic subscription required.)
• Is full-season baseball doomed in the Tampa area? Rays’ president Brian Auld talks more about why the Rays are looking at the split-city plan. Story by Dayn Perry.
• $1.47 million for a baseball card? A Shoeless Joe Jackson card just set a record at auction this weekend. Start digging through your grandparents’ attics. Reporting by Susannah Cullinane.
• Meg Rowley takes a look at just how the Dodgers managed to come away winners in NLDS Game 2.
• Stephanie Apstein, likewise, looks at the heroes whose offense helped the Dodgers win Game 2.
• And since we’re already on the topic, AJ Cassavell looks at the key factors that will decide the Dodgers/Giants series going forward.
• Nick Selbe shares the unreal ground-rule double that ultimately cost the Rays ALDS Game 3.
• ESPN likewise revisited the big play that had everyone scratching their heads wondering what they’d just seen.
• And while we’re on the subject, Ian Browne recaps the walk-off moment that followed that big turning point and handed the Red Sox the victory.
• My favorite player since Player to Be Named Later!

• Jay Jaffe thinks it’s time for the Yankees to consider a remake rather than a rebuild.
• Madeline Coleman looks at the great start to the Rays/Red Sox series that saw Randy Arozarena making postseason history yet again.
• Tanner Houck was the name on everyone’s lips after Red Sox starter Chris Sale was removed from Game 2 after only one inning. Chad Jennings looks at the incredible relief appearance by the Sox rookie. (The Athletic subscription required.)
• Prior to Sunday’s game against the Rays, Red Sox manager Alex Cora received a good luck text from Patriots coach Bill Belichick, which Cora said was “the highlight of the year.” Bet winning the game wasn’t so bad either. (Reporting by AP)
• Rays’ reliever David Roberston was willing to pitch anywhere after his Olympics appearance, and now he’s in the postseason. Feature by Tyler Kepner.
• Chris Creamer explains that FTX patch all the umpires are wearing this postseason.
• Buster Posey is back, better than ever, and a pivotal part of the Giants postseason run. Story by Andrew Baggarly. (The Athletic subscription required.)
• Logan Webb is the other Giant no one can stop talking about, and that includes a New York Times feature by Scott Miller.
• Some weird Harry Potter magic getting an entire infield into one room.

https://theathletic.com/2886178/2021/10/14/grading-mlb-umpires-meet-the-humans-behind-the-twitter-bots-that-track-balls-and-strikes/