# MLB: 2025 Postseason **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** baseball-mlb\ **Created:** [September 29, 2025, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478 "2025-09-29T12:49:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 59
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2025, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/1161 "2025-11-05T17:31:49Z")
Before the ball was hit, I’m sure the 3B coach advised him of the number of outs and that there was a force play at home. Why he didn’t ask him to scooch up the line by a foot or two is beyond me. The only risk is getting doubled off at third on a lineout to 3B. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2025, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/1162 "2025-11-05T20:03:20Z")
> [@Dr\_Paprika](#): > > What was going on with the Toronto fan who threw back the ball he caught after the tying home run in the 9th inning of Game 7? Was he required to do that, or could he have just bogarted the home run ball he caught? I don’t recall reading anything after the game about him, which is fine but strikes me as unusual these days. It turns out that that guy (or someone else who did the same thing) actually kept the ball and threw out a decoy. He’s going to sell it through an auction house. > **[Father-son duo to auction off Dodgers' two historic HR balls at SCP Auctions...](https://sports.yahoo.com/article/father-son-duo-auction-off-174500235.html)** > > Blue Jays fan John Bains told cllct he hoped to get $2.5 million combined for homers by Miguel Rojas, Will Smith ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2025, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/1163 "2025-11-05T20:10:00Z")
What a bizarre thing to do. If you’re gonna keep the ball – I would – own the gesture. If some fellow fan criticizes it I’d tell them, “Gimme five grand and I’ll toss it back.” ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2025, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/1164 "2025-11-05T20:11:34Z")
> [@DesertDog](#): > > What a bizarre thing to do. Bringing a decoy ball is pretty common in Chicago Cubs seats. Lots of pressure from the crowd to throw away a payday they don’t have a claim to. ---
**Author:** ![LoneRhino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lonerhino/32/1311_2.png) [@LoneRhino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LoneRhino)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2025, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/1165 "2025-11-05T20:13:27Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > Bringing a decoy ball is pretty common in Chicago Cubs seats. Lots of pressure from the crowd to throw away a payday they don’t have a claim to. Is a regular season HR ball worth that much? ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2025, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/1166 "2025-11-05T20:20:49Z")
Depends on who hit it. On MLB Auctions, Cal Raleigh’s 51st HR is currently going for more than $10k. Average player HR balls seem to go for a couple hundred. There’s an Aaron Judge single currently at $500. Once a year or so I’ll get a spreadsheet from the Royals listing all their authenticated balls. They range from $35 to several hundred, depending on the type of hit and who hit or pitched it. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2025, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/1167 "2025-11-05T20:40:06Z")
They could be somewhat valuable if there’s something significant I suppose, but not to the level of a WS ball. WS balls have a serial number on them. Do all of the jillions of regular season balls? Some years ago **DesertRoomie** were at an [Arizona Fall League](https://www.mlb.com/arizona-fall-league) game and about the sixth inning a guy hit a home run that rolled to a stop on the left field embankment. She’d always wanted a game-played ball and with only about 500 in attendance, saw her chance and trotted out to retrieve it. She figured an autograph would be nice and, keeping score, I was able to tell her who it was. At the end of the game she talked with the player at the dugout and returned with signed batting gloves instead of the ball. “He was really interested in that ball,” she said. I looked up the stats and sure enough, it was his first AFL home run and meant a hundred times more to him than her. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2025, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/1168 "2025-11-05T20:42:26Z")
The Ohtani strikeout ball sold yesterday for $175k. That’s a pretty good chunk of change. I wonder who bought it - Keith Olbermann and Getty Lee are both big ball hounds. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2025, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/1169 "2025-11-05T22:35:36Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > Getty Lee **Geddy** Lee. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2025, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/1170 "2025-11-05T23:28:25Z")
Thanks. Though I’m guessing he’s not super excited to buy a piece of Dodgers memorabilia from that World Series… ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2025, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/1171 "2025-11-05T23:46:48Z")
Yes, and also, the risk of the batter hitting a ball straight to Muncy at 3B was always very low to begin with anyway. Varsho almost never hit in that direction. And Muncy was so far off the bag that Kiner-Falefa could totally have taken 1-2 more steps towards home and get back to the bag in time to beat Muncy if there were a line drive. And yet, even for all that, if Kiner-Falefa runs instead of slides, it’s Toronto hoisting the trophy and not Los Angeles. Not the worse baserunning technique-wise, but will probably go down in history as the most-consequential and costly. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2025, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/1172 "2025-11-06T00:01:53Z")
Eehh. Had Toronto won one more game earlier, there would not have been a game 7. IKF may have been the last person to touch Toronto’s chances, but he sure as hell didn’t lose the series. That was down to every single less than ideal play in all 7 games. His was one of many. It’s naive jock knucklehead thinking to confuse the last play with the most important play. Don’t get me started on “the wining goal” in hockey. Hint: it’s not the last one. ---
**Author:** ![Disinfectus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/disinfectus/32/11085_2.png) [@Disinfectus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Disinfectus)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2025, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/1173 "2025-11-06T02:03:05Z")
Apparently, there is [a petition](https://abc7.com/post/immigration-rights-group-urges-dodgers-skip-white-house-visit-world-series-victory/18116159/) in Los Angeles asking the Dodgers to please not go to the White House. It will be interesting to see how much pull it has, considering the fan base. “Los Angeles is a city built by immigrants, working families, and dreamers. We celebrate our champions, but we also stand for justice, dignity, and love for our community,” the non-profit organization said in an Instagram post. “Dodgers, stay with us. Stand with the city that has always stood with you.” ---
**Author:** ![Coriolanus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coriolanus/32/18769_2.png) [@Coriolanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coriolanus)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2025, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/1174 "2025-11-06T02:54:55Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > It turns out that that guy (or someone else who did the same thing) actually kept the ball and threw out a decoy. He’s going to sell it through an auction house. I never heard of “decoy balls”. I reckon it is because in the bleachers you better throw the opponents ball back (in many parks. I haven’t got the recent ‘must’ list handy). Yet since sometime the balls have something on them (besides being made from the secret MLB clay) that identifies it as at least a real WS ball. I’m sure Christies will have it up for $100,000. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2025, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/1175 "2025-11-06T05:22:22Z")
> [@Disinfectus](#): > > Apparently, there is [a petition](https://abc7.com/post/immigration-rights-group-urges-dodgers-skip-white-house-visit-world-series-victory/18116159/) in Los Angeles asking the Dodgers to please not go to the White House. It will be interesting to see how much pull it has, considering the fan base. I can see ICE rounding them all up and flying them to Washington. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2025, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/1176 "2025-11-06T07:42:16Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Not the worse baserunning technique-wise, but will probably go down in history as the most-consequential and costly. Jeremy Giambi should have slid and IKF should have stood. > [@Jas09](#): > > What a weird double-play to end the series. In a one-run game getting thrown out advancing to third on a groundball to the second baseman. Imagine what a roasting ol’ Aaron Ward would be getting if he did _that_ today. The New York Boneheads. Five years later, in game 7 of the 1926 WS, another one-run game, the series ended with Babe Ruth getting caught stealing second. There’s speculation that it was a hit-and-run, but still. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2025, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/1177 "2025-11-06T11:53:36Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > Jeremy Giambi should have slid I’ve been saying this for years. Glad that somebody agrees with me! ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2025, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/1178 "2025-11-07T17:53:46Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > 1. **2003 – Game 6: Florida Marlins vs. New York Yankees** > > - The Marlins won the series 4-2. > - Mariano Rivera induced a game-ending double play to secure the championship. So, 1. I am pretty sure Mariano Rivera pitched for the Yankees, and 2. The 2003 World Series did not end on a double play. Josh Beckett tagged out Jorge Posada on a short grounder. Don’t trust online AIs for stuff like this. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2025, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/1179 "2025-11-07T18:26:15Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Don’t trust online AIs for stuff like this That was already debunked shortly after I posted. I’ll be sure to double-check next time. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2025, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/1180 "2025-11-08T03:30:48Z")
The reason behind Alex Vesia’s missing the Word Series has been revealed. [His baby daughter died on October 26.](https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/46885975/dodgers-alex-vesia-missed-world-series-personal-reasons-says-baby-daughter-died-october-26) Since it was announced that he wouldn’t be on the roster on October 23, it appears that she had an illness or injury that caused it to not be a sudden passing. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478.md?page=58) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478.md?page=60)