Outside The Confines: Spooky season

It’s Spooky Season! Halloween is fast approaching this Sunday, and there are pumpkins to carve, costumes to finish, and of course dozens of snack-sized candy bars to consume, er, give to the children.

I don’t know about you, but I’m definitely someone that gets a bit too enthusiastic about Halloween. I decorate my yard, I buy the full-sized chocolate bars. I think it’s probably related to the time of year, because not only is fall great, but this is also: WORLD SERIES SEASON.

It’s time for the Series to head to Atlanta for three games over the weekend, and the Braves are certainly hoping they won’t be haunted by the ghost of a Halloween series.

Now let’s dive into the tricks and treats for today’s links.

• Bob Green reminisces over the simple pleasure (and lack of distraction) in a good old-fashioned paper scorecard.
• Joc Pederson pens a missive to his new home in Atlanta over at the Player’s Tribune.
• Matt Monagan makes an interesting discovery: every single World Series since 1982 had featured a player who was once a John Smoltz teammate.
• Surprising no one, Shohei Ohtani was selected as the AP Player of the Year, likely just one of many accolades coming his way this offseason. Story by Wilton Jackson.
• Rob Manfred really stuck his foot in his mouth with some recent statements about the Braves, and Clinton Yates looks at why Manfred’s stance misses the mark so badly.
• On that same topic, Stephanie Apstein questions what place “The Chop” still has in modern baseball.
• Jeff Passan offers his own thoughts on stopping the Chop as well.

• As things start to get interesting in the World Series matchup, Ben Clemens ponders how the Braves should best be managing their pitchers.
• According to a report from Michael Shapiro, shamed Astros exec Brandon Taubman, most famous for his outburst towards several female reports, has been reinstated by MLB following his one-year suspension.
• Surprise! Bob Melvin is the new Padres manager. Reporting by Wilton Jackson.

• Buster Olney wonders if we’re witnessing the death of The Opener in real-time.
• Ken Rosenthal looks at Jose Altuve’s growing postseason legend following Game Two. (The Athletic subscription required.)
• Did the Braves have the greatest trade deadline ever? Alden Gonzalez looks at where the 2021 deadline ranks in terms of World Series history.
• The Padres might have found a manager, but the Mets are certainly struggling to fill front office gaps. Brittany Ghiroli and Tim Britton look at what they know about the ongoing executive search. (The Athletic subscription required.)

And that’s it for this week. Have a happy and safe Halloween!

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