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One down, six (hopefully) to go.
- This may be a little late as Game 1 is already over, but the “experts” at MLB.com make their World Series predictions.
- And Jeff Passan answers 20 questions about the World Series. (ESPN+ sub. req.)
- Zach Crizer has five storylines to follow in the World Series.
- Michael Baumann examines four areas where the World Series could be decided.
- Tom Verducci has a long look at the career of Astros manager Dusty Baker, from getting drafted in 1967 by the Braves to taking the Astros to the 2021 World Series. Verducci also writes a lot about the relationship between Dusty Baker and Hank Aaron.
- For those who want a shorter look at the same thing, Anthony Castrovince recaps Baker’s relationship with Aaron and how Baker vowed to win the World Series this year in Aaron’s honor when Aaron died. Of course, Baker didn’t know he’d have to win the World Series at the expense of Aaron’s Braves at the time.
- Al already did a story on this, but Jay Jaffe evaluates the Hall of Fame case for Baker.
- The other managerial story in the Series is Braves manager Brian Snitker, whose son Troy Snitker is the hitting coach for the Astros. Poor Brian Snitker. His wife has got to be cheering against him in favor of her son, right?
- Game 1 is over and I’m going to assume that you already know that the Braves won it. The Series started with a bang as Jorge Soler became the first player to ever homer in the first at-bat of Game 1 of the World Series. Players had led off the bottom of the first with a home run in Game 1 before, but never the top of the first.
- There was some bad news for the Braves, however, as starting pitcher Charlie Morton’s fibula was broken by a line drive off the bat of Yuli Gurriel in the second inning. Obviously, he’s done for the Series.
- It’s too bad, because as Hannah Keyser notes, Morton was the most popular player in the Series, as he played for the Astros in 2017 and 2018 and still has a lot of good friends in Houston. Players on both teams say wonderful things about Morton.
- Tim Keown has a profile of Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman on the eve of his first World Series and his upcoming free agency.
- Sarah Langs notes that Braves outfielder Joc Pederson has a chance to accomplish a rare feat: winning consecutive World Series with different teams. Only eight major leaguers have ever accomplished it and turn in your Cubs card if you can’t name the last player to do it.
- Gabe Lacques takes another look at Pederson and his pearls.
- Zach Kram believes the Braves bullpen could be the key to an Atlanta win. They certainly were in Game 1.
- Before Game 1, Commissioner Rob Manfred decided to not take a stand in any way over the Braves’ “Tomahawk Chop” chant, arguing it was a “local issue.” Profiles in Courage.
- Dayn Perry has seven questions about the ongoing collective bargaining talks.
- Ratings for the National League Championship Series on TBS were at their highest level since 2018. The ALCS also did “well” on FS1, up from 2020 but down from 2019.
- Andy McCullough wonders if the failures of using starting pitchers as relievers in the playoffs will be the end of that tactic. (The Athletic sub. req.)
- Jaylon Thompson looks at the big questions the Dodgers must answer this winter.
- The St. Louis Cardinals named bench coach Oli Marmol as their new manager. I’ve got to say, I did a double-take when I saw headlines that said “Marmol to manage Cards.”
- Katie Woo has a profile of Marmol and what he brings to the Cards’ manager job. (The Athletic sub. req.)
- The Padres interviewed former White Sox and Marlins manager Ozzie Guillén for their vacant managerial job. They also have interviewed former Cardinals manager Mike Shildt and former Mets manager Luis Rojas.
- Ben Clemens has a postseason report card on Red Sox manager Alex Cora.
- MLB gave Angels two-way player Shohei Ohtani the rare Commissioner’s Historic Achievement Award for his remarkable 2021 season. The award had not been given out since 2014, when it was awarded to Derek Jeter and Vin Scully.
- And finally, Matt Monagan talks to the man who, as an eighth-grader, caught the ball from Bill Mazeroski’s home run that won the 1960 World Series. He also speaks with the man who lost the home run ball that won the 1960 World Series, because they are the same person.
And let tomorrow be a better day than today.