Outside The Confines: October Madness

Who would object if we just declared the winner of Game 5 of the National League Division Series as the World Series winner? I’d guess fans of the Red Sox, Astros and Braves. But other than them? No one.

• The Astros eliminated the White Sox by beating them 10-1 in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series and White Sox manager Tony La Russa accused the Astros of a “character shortage” for what he felt was intentionally throwing at first baseman José Abreu late in the game. Kind of rich for someone who told a police officer “Do you see my ring? I’m a Hall of Fame baseball person” when he got pulled over for drunk driving (for the second time!) to accuse someone else of a character shortage. Plus, the pitch clearly got away from Kendall Graveman and it wasn’t intentional.
• As far as the Astros go, they have bigger problems as starter Lance McCullers Jr. was pulled after four innings because of a sore arm. His availability for the ALCS is unclear at the moment.
• Astros manager Dusty Baker defended his team against accusations of continuing sign-stealing, calling them “heavy accusations.”
• David Adler ranks all of Baker’s playoff disappointments throughout his career. The 2003 NLCS only ranks second.
• Jake Kaplan rounds up what we learned about the Astros from their win in the ALDS. (The Athletic sub. req.)
• Bryan Hoch has five reasons why the Red Sox beat the Rays in the other ALDS.
• Joon Lee writes that “Fenway Magic” is still a thing in Boston.
• David Schoenfield has three questions for the Rays now that they’ve gone home for the winter. (ESPN+ sub. req.)
• R.J. Anderson writes that one thing isn’t in question about the Rays and that’s that rookie Wander Franco is a “sure thing” for stardom.
• Ken Rosenthal writes that the Rays could use their defeat as a lesson for their young players and a “springboard for success” in future seasons. (The Athletic sub. req.)
• Eno Sarris writes that the idea that the “nerds lost” when the Rays lost is incorrect. (The Athletic sub. req.) Or it’s not the whole story because the “nerds” won, too.
• The spirit of Henry Aaron loomed large over the Braves-Brewers NLDS, writes Mark Bowman. Members of both organizations have fond memories of Aaron.
• Some ex-Cubs news with the Braves. Bradford Doolittle looks at how Joc Pederson hit his home runs in the NLDS with former teammate Anthony Rizzo’s bat. Apparently Pederson “borrowed” a bat of Rizzo’s when he was traded to Atlanta.
• And outfielder Jorge Soler was removed from the Braves roster when he tested positive for COVID.
• Because I don’t think the Brewers can be in the national spotlight without one, Adam McCalvy gives us a profile of long-time broadcaster Bob Uecker. Even at age 87 and after a 50-year broadcasting career, Uecker still thinks of himself as a player—and the Brewers players treat him like he’s one of the team.
• And if you want to argue about that play were Adam Duvall was ruled out on what replay showed was clearly a trap, here’s the details on that and how it couldn’t be reviewed.
• The Giants won Game 3 of the NLDS thanks in part to a 40 mph secret weapon—the wind at Dodger Stadium, writes Bob Nightengale.
• Ben Clemens has a more detailed look at that tight, 1-0 Giants victory in the wind.
• Twins reliever Taylor Rogers hasn’t had many opportunities to watch his identical twin brother Tyler Rogers pitch for the Giants. Maybe that’s a good thing as when he was in the stands at Oracle Park, Giants fans mistook him for Tyler and wanted to know why he wasn’t on the field.
• David Schoenfield looks at why more and more starting pitchers are throwing in relief during this year’s playoffs. (ESPN+ sub. req.)
• The Yankees are reportedly leaning towards keeping manager Aaron Boone.
• The lawsuit between the Phillies and the creators of the Phillie Phanatic has been settled.
• Anthony Castrovince looks at the effort to remember Luis Castro, who was the first Latin American-born player in MLB. A small group of people were not only able to research his life, but able to get a headstone for his long unmarked grave.
• Michael Clair remembers the day that Deion Sanders tried to play in an NFL game and MLB playoff game on the same day.
• And finally, Evan Drellich looks at a question that’s always bothered me. Why was the memory of the Brooklyn Dodgers kept alive by so many die-hard fans while no one ever hears from fans of the New York Giants? (The Athletic sub. req.) The baseball Giants, of course. I’ve personally known several fans of the New York Football Giants.

And tomorrow will be a better day than today, Buster.