The Dodgers lead the Yankees three games to one as the Yankees try, again, to stave off World Series elimination. Here’s a few notes on what we’ve seen to date in the playoffs from both teams, before we hit on a few non-playoff names who have been in the news.
THE DODGERS
Mookie Betts has 14 RBI in 15 games.
Tommy Edman has five steals in 15 games.
Walker Buehler tosses five shutout innings in the World Series giving him nine shutout innings in the playoffs. Is that enough to get him paid after such an awful season that included a 5.38 ERA and 1.55 WHIP? It wouldn’t be if I was writing the check.
Freddie Freeman has homered in 6-straight World Series games, an all-time record. He’s also been driving in a ton of runs.
Max Muncy has a .403 OBP, despite batting .178, in 15 games.
Shohei Ohtani has 14 runs in 15 games.
THE YANKEES
The Yanks won Game 4 with their bats… and wheels.
Jazz Chisholm has a .223 wOBA, a .226 OBP and has one RBI in 13 games. The six steals are terrific, but the bat is in a coma right now.
Aaron Judge had the best K-rate of his career this year at 24.3 percent. In the playoffs, the number is up to 33.9 percent which is his worst mark since his rookie season in 2016, resulting in a .152 batting average. Still has two homers and seven RBI in 13 games, but he need to make better contact.
Anthony Volpe hit a grand slam last night while stealing two bases. That’s the first time in W.S. history that anyone has ever done that. No Yankee has done it in 60+ years.
He’s rocking a .407 OBP this postseason which has helped him to score nine runs while swiping five bags.
BROADER BASEBALL NEWS
Carlos Carrasco wants to pitch two more years after being released by the Guardians. The last two years he’s made 41 starts going 6-18 with a 6.18 ERA and 1.54 WHIP. He’s not likely to get anything guaranteed.
Max Fried is a free agent, and someone is gonna pay him. Will it be the Braves? This article suggests it is gonna be tough. “Teammates want him back, though most realize the Braves, whose payroll exceeded luxury-tax thresholds each of the past two seasons, are unlikely to get in a bidding war for Fried.”
Franmil Reyes will remain in Japan after signing a 1-year deal. The 29 year old slugger played 120 games in 2024 and was damn good slashing .296/.355/.577 with 29 homers and 74 RBI>
Amed Rosario was DFA’d so the Reds could put Matt McLain back on the 40-man roster. Amed played 27 games at second, 14 at shortstop, 15 at third and 26 games in right field. Just 28 years old, he’s a valuable depth play who can be a frustrating fantasy play. He hit .280 with 13 stelas in 346 PA in 2024.
Will Venable will become the new manager of the White Sox, replacing Grady Sizemore. Neither guys has any history as a big league manager, but both were options in the fantasy game during their playing careers – one being a star. Venable stole 20 bases four times and in 2013 he went 20/20 for the Padres, but do you remember how good Sizemore was? Before injuries ended his career far too young, Sizemore was a star. The first four seasons of his career he led the league in games played twice, runs one and doubles once while being names to three All-Star teams while finishing top-12 in the MVP votes three times. From 2005-08 his average effort was .281-27-81-116-29 with a .372 OBP. How many guys matched his four year average in 2024? Here is the list: Shohei Ohtani & Bobby Witt. End of list.
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Happy almost Halloween…
