World Series Game Six Recap
Los Angeles Dodgers (93-69) @ Toronto Blue Jays (94-68)
The Blue Jays come back home to Rogers Centre just one win away from their first championship since Joe Carter walked off Mitch Williams and the Phillies in game six of the 1993 Fall Classic. Vladdy Jr. continues his unbelievable playoff run, closing in on the single postseason record for hits. Toronto will have another boost, as George Springer returns to the lineup, though it is unclear how much he’ll be able to do with his oblique injury. The Dodgers bats, on the other hand, have been mostly silent. Mookie Betts has struggled mightily this series, forcing manager Dave Roberts to shake up the lineup a bit. They’ll need the future Hall-of-Famer to step up if they intend to extend the series.
We should be in for another pitching duel for game six, as Kevin Gausman and Yoshinobu Yamamoto square up once again. The splitter heavy righties nearly matched one another in game two, but it was the Japanese ace who had the edge. With the season on the line, they both will need to bring their best. Can LA force a decisive game seven, or will Toronto wrap up the season in October?
Toronto Radio SN590 - Ben Shulman and Chris Leroux
Los Angeles Radio AM570 - Stephen Nelson and Rick Monday
Audio clips from MLB.tv
As always, thank you to Baseball Reference and SABR for statistics, box scores, background information, and much, much more.
Catch you next time,
P.C.O.
World Series Recap Games Four and Five
Toronto Blue Jays (94-68) @ Los Angeles Dodgers (93-69)
After an epic, 18 inning marathon win in game three, the Dodgers have taken the lead in this series, with two more to go at Chavez Ravine. Freddie Freeman once again played World Series hero, becoming the first player to ever hit multiple walk-off homers in Fall Classic history. Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani etched himself into the record books as well, reaching base in all nine of his plate appearances, by way of two doubles, two homers (including a game-tying shot in the 7th), and five walks (four intentional). And oh by the way, he’s gonna start game four on the mound. Truly a one of one player. Apart from Freeman and Ohtani’s heroics, however, the rest of the Dodger lineup has struggled to produce, and if they don’t turn it around soon, the powerful Blue Jays offense could strike. The much maligned Dodger pen held its own throughout extra innings, but will manager Dave Roberts be able to rely on them again?
It can be hard to imagine how a team could bounce back after such a heartbreaking and emotionally draining loss, especially given how many squandered opportunities the Jays (and how many runners got thrown out trying to advance in late innings!) But if there’s anything manager John Schneider knows for certain about his club, it’s their resilience and determination. That of course starts with their homegrown stud, Vladimir Guerrero, Jr., who’s been the best hitter throughout these playoffs. The task will be harder without George Springer, who left game three with an oblique injury and is doubtful to return, but don’t be surprised if fill-ins like Davis Schneider and Isiah Kiner-Falefa find ways to contribute.
Opposing Ohtani in game four will be California born Shane Bieber. It’s been an up and down postseason for the Jay’s midseason acquisition, but when he’s on, the former Cy Young can match up with the best of them. Blake Snell and Trey Yesavage will face off again for game five. Neither pitcher was particularly effective in their game one starts, but both have demonstrated the potential for brilliance. Will the Dodgers finish their quest for back-to-back championships in LA, or will the Blue Jays force the series back to Canada?
Toronto Radio SN590 - Ben Shulman and Chris Leroux
Los Angeles Radio AM570 - Stephen Nelson and Rick Monday
Audio clips from MLB.tv
As always, thank you to Baseball Reference and SABR for statistics, box scores, background information, and much, much more.
Catch you next time,
P.C.O.
World Series Game Three Recap
Toronto Blue Jays (94-68) @ Los Angeles Dodgers (93-69)
As we head to LA for game three, this series is tied at a game apiece. The Blue Jays jumped all over the Dodgers bullpen in game one, exploding for a nine run sixth inning. The bullpen has been the question mark for Dave Roberts and the Dodgers for much of the year, but he didn’t have to worry about that in game two as Yoshinobu Yamamoto went the distance in yet another stellar performance. For both managers, game three will be quite the test, as we’re in for a marathon. Tyler Glasnow will get the ball for LA, and while he’s been excellent in his two previous starts, he has yet to get past the sixth inning, which means the maligned Dodger pen will have to step up tonight. Mad Max Scherzer will toe the slab, making history as the first pitcher to appear with four different teams in the World Series. It hasn’t been a banner year for the future Hall-of-Famer, but Max has plenty of guile, grit, and moxie. Speaking of history, this game will full of it, with record setting production from the best player on the planet and a fantastic finish from a postseason legend.
Toronto Radio SN590 - Ben Shulman and Chris Leroux
Los Angeles Radio AM570 - Stephen Nelson and Rick Monday
Audio clips from MLB.tv
As always, thank you to Baseball Reference and SABR for statistics, box scores, background information, and much, much more.
Catch you next time,
P.C.O.
World Series Recap Games One and Two
Los Angeles Dodgers (93-69) @ Toronto Blue Jays (94-68)
The Fall Classic has begun in Canada, with the Blue Jays hosting the Dodgers for the first two games of the World Series. With George Springer’s epic homer in Game Seven against Seattle, Toronto captured its first AL Pennant in 32 years. Vlad Guerrero, Jr. took home ALCS MVP honors, while Alejandro Kirk and Ernie Clement racked up a ton of hits throughout the series. There is no let up in manager John Schneider’s lineup. And they should see an additional boost, as star infielder Bo Bichette returns to the team after missing thprevious two rounds with an injury.
The Dodgers look to defend their World Series crown as they rolled through the NLCS against Milwaukee, thanks in large part to their outstanding starting pitching. Blake Snell, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, and Shohei Ohtani combined for 28.2 innings, 35 strike outs, just nine hits, six walks, and two runs allowed across four games. The task will be much greater against this deep Toronto offense, and if the starters aren’t as effective, Dave Roberts will be forced to turn to a much maligned bullpen (which will be without their best lefty, Alex Vesia, due to an unfortunate family emergency.) Shohei Ohtani has appeared to break out of his postseason slump with a 3 homer day in game four (not to mention six shutout innings and ten strikeouts on the mound!). The rest of the offense has done enough to get by, but they’ll likely need more from the likes of Freddie Freeman, Will Smith, Max Muncy, and the “Brothers Hernández”.
In Game One, the youngster Trey Yesavage will take on Blake Snell. Yesavage is making just his seventh career start (and 4th of the postseason), and he’s the second youngest to ever get a game one start (Ralph Branca for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947!). Blake Snell has been absolutely dominant, but he relies on hitters to chase outside the zone, which these Blue Jays avoid better than anyone.
For Game Two, expect a lot of splitters as Kevin Gausman and Yoshinobu Yamamoto face off. Gausman has been the Blue Jays best pitcher in these playoffs so far, but it will be tough to match the Japanese star. With the first complete game in the playoffs since 2017, Yamamoto looks to have the first complete game in the World Series in a decade, and he would the first with consecutive complete games since 2004.
Tune in for what should be an excellent series!
Toronto Radio SN590 - Ben Shulman and Chris Leroux
Los Angeles Radio AM570 - Stephen Nelson and Rick Monday
Audio clips from MLB.tv
As always, thank you to Baseball Reference and SABR for statistics, box scores, background information, and much, much more.
Catch you next time,
P.C.O.
American League Championship Series Game Seven Recap
Seattle Mariners @ Toronto Blue Jays
It all comes down to this. Game Seven. One team looking for their first AL Pennant in 32 years. The other looking for their first pennant ever. The Blue Jays survived game six thanks to a gutsy outing from youngster Trey Yesavage, as well as homers from Addison Barger and Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. Manager John Schneider will hand the ball to former Cy Young winner Shane Bieber, who delivered a strong start in game three. Expect the leash to be short, and for everyone outside of Yesavage to be available. On the offensive side, do not be shocked if postseason legend George Springer makes a mark, as he often has in previous game sevens.
The Mariners have never been closer to a World Series, but they missed their first opportunity to advance. And since they didn’t take care of business in Seattle, this is their last shot. Rodríguez, Raleigh, Naylor, and Suárez have done their part at the plate, but the rest of the lineup has practically been nonexistent in this series. If they want to close this series out, the big bats will need some help. Despite getting shelled in game three, George Kirby will take the mound in a winner-take-all game, as he did against Detroit in the ALDS. It will be his first ever playoff start on the road, which may cause some jitters for the righty. Manager Dan Wilson has a lot of options out of the bullpen; however, they’ve been heavily taxed in the postseason so far. Gabe Speier and Eduard Bazardo have been used in nearly every game, and their effectiveness has waned. The big question is how many outs can Andrés Muñoz get, and will the Mariners have a lead when he enters?
Game Seven, here we go!
Seattle Radio KIRO - Rick Rizzs and Aaron Goldsmith
Toronto Radio SN590 - Ben Shulman and Chris Leroux
Audio clips from MLB.tv
As always, thank you to Baseball Reference and SABR for statistics, box scores, background information, and much, much more.
Catch you next time,
P.C.O.
American League Championship Series Games Three, Four, Five, and Six
Toronto Blue Jays vs. Seattle Mariners
Heading back home to Seattle, the Mariners are just two wins away from reaching their first ever World Series. In their history, the Mariners have never been closer to glory than this moment, but that also means they’ve been stuck at this point before. Making their journey that much harder will be the fact that the Blue Jays are now desperate. Toronto cannot afford to drop these games, so they will need former Cy Young winners in Shane Bieber and Max Scherzer to rediscover their brilliance. They will need Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. to break out of his mini slump. And perhaps, they will need an unexpected hero to deliver in the biggest moments of his career.
Early in this series, the road teams have found ways to dominate. That script will flip as the series continues, forcing a pivotal, winner-take-all game seven in Toronto.
Seattle Radio KIRO - Rick Rizzs and Aaron Goldsmith
Toronto Radio SN590 - Ben Shulman and Chris Leroux
Audio clips from MLB.tv
As always, thank you to Baseball Reference and SABR for statistics, box scores, background information, and much, much more.
Catch you next time,
P.C.O.
National League Championship Series Games Three and Four
Milwaukee Brewers @ Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers come back to Chavez Ravine with a two games to none series lead, behind dominant starts from Blake Snell and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. The Brewers did a decent job of limiting the Dodgers potent offense, but couldn’t string together anything in the first two games. And it won’t get any easier for Pat Murphy’s guys, as they will face the talented Tyler Glasnow in game three, and then Shohei Ohtani in game four. They’ve had no issue with Ohtani at the plate, who has struggled mightily since a two homer game to start this postseason. Fortunes can change quickly in October, though. As the Dodgers continue their quest to defend their World Series title, the greatest player on the planet will deliver his finest performance.
Los Angeles Radio AM570 - Stephen Nelson and Rick Monday
Audio clips from MLB.tv
As always, thank you to Baseball Reference and SABR for statistics, box scores, background information, and much, much more.
Catch you next time,
P.C.O.
American League Championship Series - Games One and Two
(3) Seattle Mariners (90-72) vs. (1) Toronto Blue Jays (94-68)
For the first time in 24 years, the Mariners have reached the ALCS. After outlasting the Detroit Tigers in an epic 15 inning fifth game, Seattle looks to continue their magical season and secure their first ever American League Pennant. MVP candidates Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodriguez provided plenty of spark in the ALDS, but it was veteran infielder Jorge "Top Gun" Polanco who came up with the clutch hits, not only the series clinching walk-off, but also two homers off of likely Cy Young Tarik Skubal. Manager Dan Wilson’s electric pitching staff will have their hands full with the Blue Jays hitters, who have been the best in baseball since May. Vladdy, Jr. led the way in a dominant performance against the Yankees. Toronto’s pitching may be a bit of a question mark heading into this series, but they did the job versus New York. Rogers Centre should be raring to go for game one.
Toronto Radio SN 590 - Ben Shulman and Chris Leroux
Seattle Radio KIRO - Rick Rizzs and Aaron Goldsmith
National League Championship Series Games One and Two
(3) Los Angeles Dodgers (93-69) vs. (1) Milwaukee Brewers (97-65)
Despite being the reigning World Series Champions and boasting a record shattering payroll, the Dodgers don’t want to view this series as a “David vs. Goliath” matchup. The Brewers may be a small market team without notable superstars, but they were the best team in baseball for a reason. They play hard, they battle, and they force you to execute as an opponent. Still, the pure talent the Dodgers possess is imposing. With 3 MVPS in the lineup, a 2X Cy Young Winner on the hill, and then one of the best Japanese pitchers to ever come over stateside going in game two, it’s no wonder Pat Murphy views this series as a challenge. It should be a great one.
Los Angeles Radio AM570 - Stephen Nelson and Rick Monday
Milwaukee Radio WTMJ - Jeff Levering, Lane Brindle, and Josh Maurer
Audio clips from MLB.tv
As always, thank you to Baseball Reference and SABR for statistics, box scores, background information, and much, much more.
Catch you next time,
P.C.O.
National League Division Series Recap Games Three, Four and Five
The Los Angeles Dodgers and the Milwaukee Brewers will meet once again in the National League Championship Series. The Dodgers took care of the Phillies in four games, though their margin of victory in their three wins was just four runs. The Philadelphia pitchers, notably Christopher Sánchez, Ranger Suarez, and Jesús Luzardo, performed admirably against the potent LA lineup. It was the vaunted offense that let the Phillies down, as Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, and Kyle Schwarber struggled mightily outside of game three in this series. Although the Dodgers will be the lower seed in the NLCS, they appear primed to not only defend their NL pennant, but perhaps become the first repeat World Series champions since the 2000 Yankees.
The Brewers dominated the Cubs in the first two games in Milwaukee, but the script was flipped once the series moved to Chicago. The Cubbies continued their first strike offense with early homers from Michael Busch and Ian Happ, and the bullpen held on to send this series to a decisive fifth game. The Brew Crew finally kept the Cubs off the board in the first inning, and their electric bullpen held Chicago to a solo home run from Seiya Suzuki. Homers from William Contreras, Andrew Vaughn, and Brice Turang were all Pat Murphy’s squad needed to secure a series win. These “Not So Average Joes” will have home-field advantage as they look to secure their first ever NL Pennant.
Los Angeles Dodgers (93-69) vs. Philadelphia Phillies (96-66)
Philadelphia Radio WIP - Scott Franzke, Tom MacCarthy, Larry Andersen, and Kevin Stocker
Los Angeles Radio AM570 - Stephen Nelson and Rick Monday
Chicago Cubs (92-70) vs. Milwaukee Brewers (97-65)
Milwaukee Radio WTMJ - Jeff Levering, Bill Schroeder, and Josh Maurer
Chicago Radio WSCR - Pat Hughes and Ron Coomer
Audio clips from MLB.tv
As always, thank you to Baseball Reference and SABR for statistics, box scores, background information, and much, much more.
Catch you next time,
P.C.O.
American League Division Series - Games Three, Four, and Five
Before the American League Championship Series begins this Sunday night in Toronto, let’s recap the conclusion of the ALDS. The Blue Jays offense continued to torment the Yankees pitching staff en route to a 3 games to one series victory. Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. was unreal, driving in runs in every single game of the series. Nathan Lukes, who had spent nearly a decade toiling as a minor league journeyman, once again came up huge against the Yankee pen. The top team in the American League appears poised to win their first pennant in over 30 years.
Meanwhile the Mariners outlasted the Tigers in an epic fifteen inning game five. The Tigers took them to the brink, and then some. Tarik Skubal, Will Vest, and Kerry Carpenter did all they could to try and advance, but AJ Hinch’s squad just couldn’t produce enough offense. Apart from a game four implosion, Seattle’s arms were dominant against Detroit, but they’ll have their work cut out for them facing the firepower of Toronto.
New York Yankees (94-68) @ Toronto Blue Jays (94-68)
Toronto Radio SN590 - Ben Shulman and Chris Leroux
New York Radio WFAN - Dave Sims and Suzyn Waldman
Detroit Tigers (87-75) @ Seattle Mariners (90-72)
Seattle Radio KIRO - Rick Rizzs, Aaron Goldsmith
Detroit Radio 97.1 the Ticket - Dan Dickerson, Dan Petry
Audio clips from MLB.tv
As always, thank you to Baseball Reference and SABR for statistics, box scores, background information, and much, much more.
Catch you next time,
P.C.O.
NLDS Recap Games 1 and 2
Chicago Cubs (92-70) @ Milwaukee Brewers (97-65)
GM 1: Freddy Peralta (17-6 2.70 ERA 176 IP) vs. Matthew Boyd (14-8 3.21 ERA 179 IP)
GM 2: (Aaron Ashby 5-2 2.16 ERA 66 IP) vs. Shota Imanaga (9-8 3.73 ERA 144 IP)
Milwaukee Radio WTMJ - Jeff Levering, Bill Schroeder, and Josh Maurer
Chicago Radio WSCR - Pat Hughes and Ron Coomer
The National League Division Series is under way, and after just two games, the Cubs and Phillies are facing elimination. The Chicago starters could not keep Milwaukee off of the board, with nearly every Brewer finding a way to contribute. As the series heads south to Chicago, Craig Counsell’s squad is in deep trouble.
Los Angeles Dodgers (93-69) @ Philadelphia Phillies (96-66)
GM 1: Christopher Sánchez (13-5 2.50 ERA 202 IP) vs. Shohei Ohtani (1-1 2.87 ERA 47 IP)
GM 2: Jesús Luzardo (15-7 3.92 ERA 183 IP) vs. Blake Snell (5-4 2.35 ERA 61 IP)
Philadelphia Radio WIP - Scott Franzke, Larry Andersen, and Kevin Stocker
Los Angeles Radio AM570 - Stephen Nelson and Rick Monday
The Phillies starters, Christopher Sanchez and Jesus Luzardo, performed admirably against the Dodgers, but the bullpen and the bats have not followed suit. For Los Angeles, Shohei Ohtani provided a quality start in his postseason pitching debut, while Blake Snell continued his playoff dominance. Once again, the ‘Brothers Hernández’ came up clutch in game one, and the bullpen held on by the skin of their teeth to secure a 2-0 series lead.
Audio clips from MLB.tv
As always, thank you to Baseball Reference and SABR for statistics, box scores, background information, and much, much more.
Catch you next time,
P.C.O.
ALDS Recap - Games One and Two
The American League Division Series games have started, and boy, have there been some fireworks so far. The Toronto Blue Jays have jumped all over their division rival New York Yankees, with Vladimir Guerrero, Jr., Alejandro Kirk, and Dalton Varsho leading the way. The Yankees will have their work cut out for them if they hope to survive this series.
In Seattle, the series is knotted up at a game a piece. Both games were tense and exhilarating. As the series heads to Detroit, we shall see if the stars - Julio Rodrigues, Cal Raleigh, Tarik Skubal, and Kerry Carpenter - can continue to shine
Audio clips from MLB.tv
New York Yankees (94-68) @ Toronto Blue Jays (94-68)
GM 1 - Kevin Gausman (10-11 3.59 ERA 193 IP) vs. Luis Gil (4-1 3.32 ERA 57 IP)
GM 2 - Trey Yesavage (1-0 3.21 ERA 14 IP) vs. Max Fried (19-5 2.86 ERA 195 IP)
Toronto Radio SN590 - Ben Shulman and Chris Leroux
New York Radio WFAN - Dave Sims and Suzyn Waldman
Detroit Tigers (87-75) @ Seattle Mariners (90-72)
GM 1 - George Kirby (10-8 4.21 ERA 126 IP) vs. Toy M<elton (3-2 2.76 ERA 45 IP)
GM 2 - Luis Castillo (11-8 3.54 ERA 180 IP) vs. Tarik Skubal (13-6 2.21 ERA 195 IP)
Seattle Radio KIRO - Rick Rizzs, Aaron Goldsmith
Detroit Radio 97.1 the Ticket - Dan Dickerson, Andy Dirks
As always, shout out to Baseball Reference and SABR for statistics, box scores, background information, and much, much more.
Catch you next time,
P.C.O.
National League Wild Card Recap
Highlights from the NL side of the Wild Card Round. The Dodgers dominate, as expected, and the Cubs survive a thrilling three game set against the Friars.
San Diego Padres (90-72) @ Chicago Cubs (92-70)
GM 1: Matthew Boyd (14-8 3.21 ERA 179 IP) vs. Nick Pivetta (13-5 2.87 ERA 181 IP)
GM 2: Andrew Kittredge (3-5 3.40 ERA 53 IP) vs. Dylan Cease (8-12 4.55 ERA 168 IP)
GM 3: Jameson Taillon (11-7 3.68 ERA 129 IP) vs. Yu Darvish (5-5 5.38 ERA 72 IP)
Chicago Radio WSCR - Pat Hughes, Ron Coomer
San Diego Radio KWFN - Jesse Agler and Tony Gwynn, Jr.
Cincinatti Reds (83-79) @ Los Angeles Dodgers (93-69)
GM 1: Blake Snell (5-4 2.35 ERA 61 IP) vs. Hunter Greene (7-4 2.76 ERA 107 IP)
GM 2: Yoshinobu Yamamoto (12-8 2.49 ERA 173 IP) vs. Zach Littell (10-8 3.81 ERA 186 IP)
Los Angeles Radio AM570 - Stephen Nelson and Rick Monday
Cincinatti Radio WLW - Tommy Thrall and Jeff Brantley
Audio clips from MLB.tv
As always, thank you to Baseball Reference and SABR for statistics, box scores, background information, and much, much more.
Catch you next time,
P.C.O.
American League Wild Card Recap
In the first five years of the Wild Card round(2020, 2022 - Present), we had just 4 of the 20 series go to a third game. This year, we were blessed with three! In today’s episode we’ll go over the highlights from the American League side, then look ahead to the AL Division Series games that start this weekend. This round had dominant outings from the game’s best pitchers, and clutch performances by rising stars. October baseball has it all!
Audio clips from MLB.tv
Detroit Tigers (87-75) @ Cleveland Guardians (88-74)
GM 1: Gavin Williams (12-5 3.06 ERA 167 IP) vs. Tarik Skubal (13-6 2.21 ERA 195 IP)
GM 2: Tanner Bibee (12-11 4.24 ERA 182 IP) vs. Casey Mize (14-6 3.87 ERA 149 IP)
GM 3: Slade Cecconi (7-7 4.30 ERA 132 IP) vs. Jack Flaherty (8-15 4.64 ERA 161 IP)
Cleveland Radio WTAM - Tom Hamilton and Jim Rosenhaus
Detroit Radio 97.1 - Dan Dickerson and Bobby Scales
Boston Red Sox (89-73) @ New York Yankees (94-68)
GM 1: Max Fried (19-5 2.86 ERA 195 IP) vs. Garrett Crochet (18-5 2.59 ERA 205 IP)
GM 2: Carlos Rodón (18-9 3.09 ERA 195 IP) vs. Brayan Bello (11-9 3.35 ERA 166 IP)
GM 3: Cam Schlittler (4-3 2.96 ERA 73 IP) vs. Connelly Early (1-2 2.33 ERA 19 IP)
New York Radio WFAN - Dave Sims, and Suzyn Waldman
Boston Radio WEEI - Will Flemming, Will Middlebrooks, Lenny Dinardo, and Lou Merloni
As always, thank you to Baseball Reference and SABR for statistics, box scores, background information, and much, much more.
P.C.O.
2025 Regular Season Recap and Wild Card Preview
Another MLB regular season is in the books, and we are on the verge of playoff baseball once again. Listen in as we discuss the incredible September comebacks of the Reds and Guardians, as well as the dreadful collapses of the Mets and Astros (and nearly the Tigers). I’ll provide my thoughts on the MVP races, and finish with a tribute to the endings of some great careers.
Audio clips from MLB.tv
Cleveland Radio WTAM - Tom Hamilton
Boston Radio WEEI - Will Flemming
Toronto TV Sportsnet - Dan Shulman and Buck Martinez
Seattle Radio KIRO - Rick Rizzs
Reds Radio WLW - Tommy Thrall and Jeff Brantley
Mets Radio WHSQ - Howie Rose
Los Angeles Radio AM570 - Charley Steiner and Rick Monday
Nationals TV MASN - Bob Carpenter and Kevin Frandsen
As always, thank you to Baseball Reference and SABR for statistics, box scores, background information, and much, much more.
Catch you next time,
P.C.O.
Be on the lookout for a Wild Card series recap and a Division Series preview later this week!
2025 BBWAA HOF Ballot
Happy New Year! It’s once again time to talk about the Hall of Fame, this time the writers’ ballot. There are plenty of worthy candidates returning to the ballot, and two standout first year candidates to watch. Japanese icon Ichiro Suzuki is a lock for induction this year. Although he didn’t debut until he was 27, the spry savant amassed over 3,000 hits, 1,400 runs, 10 All-Stars and Gold Gloves, not to mention two batting titles, a Rookie of the Year, and a MVP. He also holds the single season hit record, with 262 in the 2004 season. Although not the first Japanese player in MLB, his smashing success paved the way for other Japanese stars such as Hideki Matsui, Yu Darvish, and Shohei Ohtani. The only question about Ichiro is whether or not he’ll be unanimous.
Don’t sleep on ace lefty C.C. Sabathia’s chances on his debut ballot. As one of just three left handed pitchers with 3,000 strikeouts (Steve Carlton and Randy Johnson the other two), Sabathia was the definition of a workhorse. Add in 250 wins, a Cy Young, a World Series, and an ALCS MVP, and you’ve got a Hall of Famer, especially in this era.
Among the other first-year candidates, there are a few who could survive the 5% threshold to remain on ballot for another year. Félix Hernández was one of the most dominant starters in baseball from 2007 - 2015, but that might not be enough for the writers. Dustin Pedroia and Ian Kinsler were both excellent second basemen that frankly lack the longevity needed for enshrinement, but are certainly worthy cases to discuss, particularly on the same ballot as sabermetric darling Chase Utley. Russell Martin and Brian McCann come up short in the traditional counting stats that writers demand from catchers, but their advanced framing metrics put them in similar ranks as Joe Mauer, Buster Posey, and Yadier Molina.
Of the returning candidates, Billy Wagner came up just short last year (73.8%), and he will need a push to get over in his final year on the ballot. In his second to last year, Andruw Jones appears to be stalling around 60% of the vote, not far off from induction, but not close enough to be confident he’ll make it this year or the next. Carlos Beltrán and Chase Utley appear to be on track for induction in a few years time, though they’ll need to continue their growth. AROD, ManRam, and Andy Pettitte would be in the Hall if not for PEDs, and they’re not getting in anytime soon. How many will join Dick Allen and Dave Parker for a July celebration? Find out January 21st when the results are announced.
Audio clips from Youtube
#3,000 for Ichiro - Fox Sports Florida Sun - Rich Waltz
Laser Throw from Ichiro - Fox Sports Northwest - Rick Rizzs
Single season hit record for Ichiro - Root Sports Northwest - Dave Niehaus
CC gets 3K K’s - YES Network
King Felix Perfecto - RSNW - Dave Sims
Dustin Pedroia Leadoff WS HR - FOX - Joe Buck and Tim McCarver
As always, shout out to Baseball Reference and SABR for statistics, boxscores, background information, and much, much more.
Catch you next time,
P.C..O.
With Winter Meetings just around the corner, and the Hot Stove heating up, it’s time to talk about the Baseball Hall of Fame, specifically the eight players on the Classic Era Ballot. This year, six former major league all-stars and two Negro League legends are up for enshrinement. Each of the position player candidates has won an MVP, and the two major league pitchers combined for over 500 career wins at the big league level, not to mention stellar postseason performances. These are players who remained on the writers ballot for many years, if not the full fifteen in some cases, and they’ve been under consideration in prior ‘Veteran’s Committee’ selections. They are all worthy candidates, but the committee members can only vote for three players. As is often the case on these committees, only one or two of these great players may get inducted this year, and the others will have to wait years to get another shot. Here are this year’s selections for the Classic Era Ballot:
Results of the committee will be announced on Dec 8th. In my opinion, all of these candidates are deserving, and I would have no complaints about any of them being selected. I personally would vote for Dick Allen (who missed by just one vote last time), Luis Tiant (who we sadly lost this year), and Ken Boyer (who was brilliant at an underrepresented position). Who would you pick, and who do you expect to make it in?
As always, shout out to Baseball Reference and SABR for statistics, box scores, background information, and much, much more.
Catch you next time,
P.C.O.
2024 World Series Game Five - Los Angeles Dodgers @ New York Yankees
We head into game five with the Dodgers just one win away from their eight World Series title, and what a ride it has been. Freddie Freeman has been the catalyst for the offense, homering in each game so far (and a record six straight World Series dating back to ’21) and driving in 10 runs, just two away from tying the record set by NYY 2B Bobby Richardson in 1960. Shohei Ohtani appears to be significantly hampered by his shoulder injury, but the offense keeps rolling thanks to contributions from Mookie Betts, Tommy Edman, and both of the Hernández brothers*. The LA starters have strung together solid outings, while the bullpen has carried things the rest of the way. When it has mattered, manager Dave Roberts has pushed all the right buttons, which was not something you could say about him in previous playoffs. They weren’t able to get the sweep in game four, but they aim to finish the job here in the Bronx tonight. They know they’ll be flying home to LA, and they hope it’s with the World Series trophy in hand.
The Yankees avoided elimination in game four, thanks in large part to a go-ahead grand slam from young shortstop Anthony Volpe, but if they’re going to extend the series any longer, Aaron Judge must step up. He has been downright awful in these playoffs, but it has not really hurt the Yanks until the World Series. With everything on the line, we’ll see if he can find some redemption. It will be ace Gerrit Cole on the mound for Bronx Bombers. The $300 million dollar man was excellent in game one, but the bullpen coughed up the lead and the game. Expect manager Aaron Boone to ride his horse as long as he can. On the other side, the Yankees will get a second crack at LA righty Jack Flaherty, who cruised through game one until he got beat by the long ball. Flaherty has been known to struggle the more times he sees an opponent. Will that trend hold?
These Yankees are talented, and these games have actually been close. In fact, the differential in this series is just a single run. Part of the reason the Yanks are trailing right now? Fundamentals. There have been misplays, base-running gaffes, mental errors, and even lack of hustle on display for New York. And up against a team as talented as these Dodgers, it’s at the margins where a series can be decided. The Yankees cannot afford any more lapses, or else they’ll see their best season in 15 years come to an abrupt end.
Audio clips from MLB.tv
LAD Radio 570 AM - Stephen Nelson and Rick Monday
NYY Radio WFAN - John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman
FOX postgame - Kevin Burkhardt
As always shout out to Baseball Reference for statistics, boxscores, background information, and much, much more.
Catch you next time,
P.C.O.
2024 World Series - Los Angeles Dodgers @ New York Yankees
Games Three and Four @ Yankee Stadium
The Dodgers head into the Bronx leading the series two games to none, taking care of business in their home ballpark against the Yankees. It took an incredible walk-off grand slam, courtesy of Freddie Freeman, and then a dominant performance from Yoshinobu Yamamoto to get Los Angeles in to this position, but they’ll certainly take it. Freeman has been the star so far, with another homer in game two. Tommy Edman and Teóscar Hernández added home runs in game two as well, but the rest of the offense has not been humming like it was in the NLCS. To add to that worry, Shohei Ohtani dislocated his shoulder attempting a steal, and while he’ll be in the lineup, it’s unclear how that injury may affect him. On the mound for Dave Roberts in game three will be Walker Buehler, who has been lights out in his previous World Series starts. The Dodgers will certainly need some length from the. Kentucky-born righty, as game four is slated to be a bullpen game.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone is under fire after the questionable game one decision to bring in Nestor Cortes, who surrendered the walk-off grand slam. It has been characterized as indefensible by many (rightly so in my opinion); however, there were other letdowns and misplays that put the Yankees in that position. You can nitpick and criticize bullpen management all you want, but if your offense isn’t putting up enough runs, especially against these Dodgers? You won’t stand a chance. Perhaps the most concerning for the Yankees faithful is the continued slump of Aaron Judge. He has been a dead spot in the order, and quite simply he needs to turn it around, or he may face the wrath of a fanbase that adores him. You can expect the Bronx Zoo to cheer for him loudly when he first steps to the plate, but if the strikeouts and weakly hit balls show up with him, do not be shocked by a chorus of boos for the MVP.
On the pitching side, Aaron Boone will turn to Clarke Schmidt in game three, and then Luis Gil in game four. Given the stakes, the leash on the two young righties will be quite short. Expect heavy usage from the likes of Tim Hill, Tommy Kahnle, Clay Holmes, and Luke Weaver. No team has ever come back from a 3-0 deficit in a World Series, and no team has even forced a game five since the 1970 Cincinnati Reds. If the Yanks go down in game three, it may just be the death knell on their season.
Audio clips from MLB.tv
LAD Radio 570 AM - Stephen Nelson and Rick Monday
NYY Radio WFAN - John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman
FOX broadcast - Joe Davis and John Smoltz
As always shout out to Baseball Reference for statistics, boxscores, background information, and much, much more.
Catch you next time,
P.C.O.
2024 World Series - New York Yankees @ Los Angeles Dodgers
Games One and Two @ Dodger Stadium
Here we go. For the first time since 1981, the Yankees and Dodgers will face off in the Fall Classic. It will be the twelfth matchup between these storied franchises, and the Yankees have certainly had the advantage in the past. The Bronx Bombers have taken eight of the previous eleven series, though the Dodgers have split the last six. On baseball’s biggest stage, we have the game’s biggest stars ready to shine.
The Dodgers have already walloped a New York team this postseason, dispatching the Mets in six games behind an historic offensive performance. Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts were outstanding, but it was midseason pickup Tommy Edman who took home NLCS MVP. With star first baseman Freddie Freeman hobbled with an ankle injury, Edman stepped into the cleanup spot and boy, did he clean up against Mets pitching. With a few days off heading into the series, Freeman is expected to return to the lineup, though how he’ll be feeling is unknown. The Dodgers have been able to piece together effective innings with solid enough starting and nearly untouchable bullpen arms. LA kid Jack Flaherty (13-7 3.17 ERA 162 IP) will get the ball in game one. It has been a Jekyll and Hyde postseason for the righty, so who’s gonna show up? For game two, it will be Yoshinobu Yamamoto (7-2 3.00 ERA 90 IP). The Japanese ace had an awful postseason debut, but has been pretty good since, albeit in limited innings. Things have gotten a little shorter in Dave Robert’s bullpen, as Evan Philips went down with an arm injury; however, he gets reliable lefty Alex Vesia back after he missed the NLCS. We’ll see how Roberts navigates the late innings without one of his key arms.
On the surface, the Yankees have been rolling this postseason, dropping just two games heading into the Fall Classic. Digging a little deeper, it has not been as dominant as their record has demonstrated. Every game against Kansas City was close, and it took incredible heroics from Giancarlo Stanton and Juan Soto to escape from Cleveland in just five games. The bullpen was dominant early, but it has struggled lately. And of greatest concern, Aaron Judge has looked completely lost at the plate, apart from a pair of home runs. The Yankees will need him to refine his MVP form to have a shot in this series. Ace Gerrit Cole (8-5 3.41 ERA 95 IP) will get the start in game one. The reigning AL Cy Young has had to labor through his playoff starts, but he’s found a way to be effective. In game two, lefty Carlos Rodón (16-9 3.96 ERA 175 IP) will get the ball once again. He’s had one brilliant start and two mediocre outings so far. Manager Aaron Boone will definitely be hoping for the former, as his options in the bullpen are certainly thinner than his LA counterpart’s. In the past, these two teams have delivered on tension and drama, and this series should be no different.
Audio clips from MLB.tv
LAD Radio 570 AM - Stephen Nelson and Rick Monday
NYY Radio WFAN - John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman
FOX broadcast - Joe Davis and John Smoltz
As always shout out to Baseball Reference for statistics, boxscores, background information, and much, much more.
Catch you next time,
P.C.O.
