It will be interesting to see what the Yankees do. Carpenter proved himself but was on the IL for an extended period of time. Stanton was hitting better earlier in the year when he played in the field. He hasn’t played in the field since he was injured after the allstar game. The rookie Cabrera earned a spot on the roster. Hicks is still a disaster.
Bader will be in center. Judge will be in right. Who do they put in left? Who will DH? I suspect Carpenter will only DH or pinch hit. There may be a riot if Hicks is named the starter.
This round I’m rooting for 3/4 of the visiting teams. It’s going to be an uphill battle, for sure. I would have preferred the Padres not to encounter the Dodgers until the NLCS, but needs must. As long as Atlanta, New York and that team from Texas lose, I’m happy.
I don’t see where Hicks plays. He certainly isn’t the fielder that Bader is nor is he as productive as Cabrera. With Judge in right, Bader in center, and Cabrera in left with Stanton DHing other than pinch hitting I don’t see what good having him on the roster does. Will Carpenter play? Hard to see after such a long absence how his timing will be there.
Hicks is a solid defensive outfielder that could be used as a pinch runner. Also as a switch hitter, he is a little more useful off the bench than other choices.
The Astros overcome a 4-0 Mariners lead, and walk off Seattle with a three-run blast by Yordan Alvarez into the second deck with two outs in the bottom of the 9th. What a game.
