Wow, that Braves/Dodgers game ended up much closer than I expected. I was spending most of my time watching the AL game, because the Braves went up 6-0 in the fifth. I turned back for the ninth, just to see the end of the game, and the Dodgers made it incredibly exciting. Got to within a run, with the tying run at third base, before Atlanta got the final out.
Poor Dusty Baker. Aged five years in a single half-inning.
I quite like Dusty, but fuck the Astros. That was fun to watch.
I’m with you. I’ve always liked Dusty and I think he’s taken a lot of unjustified shit for playoff disappointments, but I wouldn’t root for the Cheatstros if they were managed by Jesus Christ and playing against the rep team from Hell.
Who the fuck is Randy Arozarena? Where do the Rays come up with these guys?
Dusty is a great manager in terms of the day-to-day grind of the regular season. He’s prepared. He communicates well. He’s one of the best managers I’ve seen in innings 1-7; it’s what happens in innings 7-9 that has tainted his legacy. Some of it is his fault; some of it is just players not coming through. I’ve actually met Dusty in person and while I won’t claim to know him, he seemed like a genuinely good dude. I’m rooting for him even if not for the Astros, and I’m rooting for Clayton Kershaw to exorcise his post-season demons as well.
I just don’t see it happening though. The Rays and Braves look like they’re on a collision course. They are the most complete teams - at least so far. I’d give the Stros more of a chance to come back against the Rays if only because of their lineup and playoff pedigree, but the both the Stros and Dodgers have a mighty hard climb now. They’re playing solid teams in Tampa and ATL.
And it would be kinda cool to see the NHL city play the NBA city for the World Series
Guess I shouldn’t try to finish my book before putting the baseball on, Dodgers up by 11 runs??
When tuned in and saw the score was 12-0 Dodgers, I thought it must be a late inning. Then I checked and it was the second! Now up 13-0 in the third.
Make it 15.
The Braves are now on the board.
I just noticed something a couple of days ago…the infielders are not throwing the ball around the horn after a putout or a strikeout. Has that practice been halted this season or postseason?
And speaking of Randy Arozarena…
Tie game.
He’s the guy who just tied it up with a 2-run shot to the left-field corner. Go Rays!
I believe I heard Rick Monday or Charlie Steiner (Dodgers announcers) say that no throwing of balls around the horn was one of the ‘protocols’ adopted in this most unusual of years (and let’s never do it again).
I suspected as much. Thanks for the info.
Crazy game. First inning started with Mookie being called out at first. Roberts challenged and won. Next batter knocks Mookie in all the way from first and 10 more runs kept coming.
Also, credit to Max Muncy for getting out of his slump with homer yesterday and grand slam today.
The new T-shirt will say: “THIS TEAM GOES TO ELEVEN!”
Fuck the Astros.
The Morality Bandwagon is leaking oil just a bit.
Probably nothing to worry about though. 
We’re my eyes failing me or were there actual fans at the Atlanta-LAD game in Texas? We’re they actual fans of the teams or do you think they were just locals wanting see a live game?
I think so, yeah. They’re allowing small numbers of fans.
Braves up 3-1 and Kershaw gets rocked in the middle innings again. I suspect he’s just bad at tipping pitches, and whatever juice he has just doesn’t fool anyone past the second at-bat. It sucks - I like Kershaw but some pitchers really are better in the postseason than others. And to be fair, Kershaw’s had some good postseason games, but some bad ones as well.