I think that’s exactly what happened. Even a good throw probably doesn’t get that fast runner coming from third.
You can see in the replay the catcher pointing to First. He was surprised when it went to him but it was way off the mark.
If the Cubs win their series, Dodgers get home field advantage.
That is only the second time a playoff series ended on a walk off error, the other being the 2016 ALDS-1 when Rougned Odor committed the error that let Josh Donaldson score.
Cubs win and force a Game 5.
The funny thing is that the runner missed the plate coming home. He had to run back and tap home plate.
OK, I have almost no baseball understanding about this part, but why is everyone criticizing the pitcher for throwing to home rather than to 1st base? As far as I can see, in terms of distance, he would have actually had to throw a slightly longer distance to first base than to home plate, and Kim (the Dodgers runner) was closing in on home plate very rapidly. Is it just the risk of a collision at home plate that would make the ball harder for Realmuto to catch?
The only mistake I see Kerkering making is that his throw was wildly off and missed Realmuto’s glove entirely. But that’s a problem of accuracy, not decision-making.
Really, with Kim closing in on home plate that fast, it looked like the Phillies were cooked either way. It looks like Kim would have reached home plate before a ball could reach the glove of either the catcher or first baseman.
The throw to first base would have been a force out. That takes precedent and it would have been the third out. So Kim’s ‘run’ wouldn’t have counted even if he crossed home plate first.
Ahhhhhh okay. That makes sense.
Earlier I gave the Brewers a slight edge, now it is AT BEST a toss-up.
Brian
Damn, I really hate to say this but this Dodgers team looks very strong. FanDuel rates the Dodgers #1 to win the World Series, and it’s not even close.
World Series 2025 Winner
+110 Los Angeles Dodgers
+320 Toronto Blue Jays
+750 Seattle Mariners
+800 Milwaukee Brewers
+950 Detroit Tigers
+1000 Chicago Cubs
For sentimental reasons I’m still pulling for the Brewers, Mariners, and Tigers because of their longest championship droughts.
But I don’t see how anyone can beat the Dodgers. But as they say, that’s why they play the game. Remember 2001 when the great and nearly unbeatable Mariano Rivera lost to the Arizona Diamondbacks and Luis Gonzalez in Game 7.
That’s why they play the game.
I really hate to say this, but you are correct. They beat the Phillies 3 games to 1, in spite of Ohtani going 1 for 18 in the four games.
The rule has been explained (no runs count if batter doesn’t make it to first base safely), but there are also some technical considerations as well. It’s actually a bit easier to make a strong throw to first (longer distance) than to home there (shorter distance) because you can throw full-strength instead of the weird half-lob thing he tried to do. Also because you are facing directly at home, which is not the typical starting position for a throw (you want to be perpendicular to the direction you want to throw).
Also it’s much easier for a first-baseman to stretch/dig/etc with their giant mitts than a catcher whose mitt is primarily designed for catching pitches. And you can stretch off of the raised first base much easier than the flat home plate. So lots of reasons why coaches always tell pitchers to take the out at first when their are two outs.
It’s kind of funny, just this past season I had the exact same situation on the little-league team I coach. Runner on third with two outs in a tie game. Little dribbler to the pitcher with all the time in the world to throw to first. Instead he threw home and was a little high and wide. He confirmed after the game that he panicked and saw the runner racing home so he felt like he had to throw home. No matter how much you coach situations the adrenaline and pressure of a live game situation is totally different.
They have one weakness, which is their bullpen. If Sasaki can consistently give them multiple inning, that might not be as much of a problem. They certainly seemed to be fine last night.
With a billion dollar payroll, the Dodgers better win.
While these odds make sense, honestly, if the Jays make it to the WS against the Dodgers, they’re even money. They would have home field advantage, and that matters. They’ll have some players back. They are on a roll, and destroyed the Yankees, and they did THAT without their RBI leader and starting shortstop and with only three starting pitchers. I’ll happily take that matchup.
Agreed, alas. The Brewers had their best starter on the mound yesterday, and still got the loss. Their bats were on fire in games 1 and 2, but went silent at Wrigley. Here’s hoping that being back home at AmFam tomorrow night helps.
Just a couple of days after they were eliminated, Cody Bellinger opts of his contract with the Yankees.
Well, of course he did. He can get multiple years at around the same salary instead of settling for just one or two (player options.) The question for the Yankees is what to offer. If someone else offers 7 years/210 million, do they match? I have no idea. I really enjoyed watchimg him play (except batting in the postseason) and would like to have him back, but he’s an up and down player. I don’t know if the lows are worth the highs.
I wonder how it’ll impact the Kyle Tucker free agency market.
It won’t. Tucker will go for $400m+.