A D-backs v. Astros series might be the lowest tv ratings in World Series history. I know I won’t watch it and I watch a lot of baseball.
I’d think D-backs vs Texas Rangers would draw fewer viewers as not even the Houston haters would tune in.
Instead of the best teams, we should only let teams that draw big ratings in the WS. Heck, make every WS Dodgers-Yankees. or hell, Red Sox-Yankees. And all games start at 7:00 Eastern.
Why not? Those matchups seem to be like 50% of all national regular-season broadcasts already. 
Douche-backs vs Asterisks. What a boring thing to contemplate.
124 days until Spring Training!!
Not for me.
Put those damn Yankees or Dodgers in there and the whole broadcast can just fuck right off. What a waste of TV for 90% of the country,
I never get to watch the Dodgers play because I refuse to do business with Spectrum. So the post-season is the only time I get to watch my hometown team. For a couple of games, at least.
I knew the Phillies would throw it all away eventually. I’m sure they’ll lose again tonight.
I’ve been rooting for the Phillies except for when Kimbrel comes into the game. It’s a problematic temporary fandom, but I have more faith in them beating Houston than Arizona.
Does anyone really believe Abreu hit Garcia on purpose? He couldn’t possible be that stupid. It had to be an attempt at a high, inside brushback.
Apparently MLB does. I’m sure a trusted source like the Commissioner’s office must have unimpeachable standards of discretion and superhuman powers of deduction that we mere mortals should not dare to question
It looked intentional to me.
I am not qualified to comment on Mr. Abreu’s intelligence.
I know I don’t. Garcia is a taunting showboat, even by current standards, and I’m sure he would have been given a message at some point. Maybe in spring training.
But if Abreu intentionally drilled Garcia in a two-run playoff game, he’s colossally stupid.
I’d be inclined to say no as well, unless Abreu was dumber than a bag of rocks.
Maybe I could buy it in the absence of any context whatsoever, but down 2 runs in the 8th inning, no outs, with one runner on and you’re going to deliberately plunk somebody? Maybe you pull that kind of stunt in May but not in October
I don’t know. I think people are capable of doing dumb stuff even in game seven of the World Series.
( https://youtu.be/QqAPmdnzxdE?t=6132 )
Of course, that was in the fifth inning with the score 10-0 in favor of the Royals. Cards were still (rightfully) pissed about the Denkinger call the night before.
Determining with certainty that intent was there in this case (close game in a tight series) is…well, it’s as questionable as some of the video replay reviews.
Note, I actually agree with a lot of the reviews on the calls they overturn. But the standard is supposed to be ‘clear and convincing’ otherwise letting the call on the field stand. Even in many cases where I would personally agree with overturning the call, I would not have said the video cleared that bar yet somebody in New York decides it has. Even when they try to get it right, the Commissioner’s Office can’t help but screw things up.
I thought your link was going to be Bert Campaneris throwing his bat at the pitcher, but that was in an ALCS.
Still, Andujar was in the heat of the moment. Abreu had whole innings to think it over.
That could explain the first time he tried to charge the umpire, when Herzog blocked him and got thrown out, but I started the clip on the next pitch.
You gotta admit, trying to attack the home plate umpire twice in two pitches is pretty dumb, heat of the moment notwithstanding.
If the Rangers aren’t careful, they’re gonna blow it in the bottom of the 9th.
And the home team loses all seven games in the ALCS.
I’ll be rooting for Arizona tomorrow, just because.