Post by Admin on Oct 29, 2020 0:22:40 GMT
The Dodgers squashed our dream of a do-or-die Game 7 last night (perhaps with a little help from Kevin Cash) when they won the World Series with a Game 6 victory over the Rays. There is PLENTY to talk about from what went down as the season came to a close -- some of it good, some of it very dumb and unfortunate -- so there's no point in dilly dallying this morning. We've got a lot to get to.
Dodgers finally end their World Series drought 🏆
Well, they did it... the Dodgers got to the World Series and they actually WON it. They took Game 6 last night, beating the Rays 3-1 to earn a 4-2 series victory -- earning their first title since 1988.
And it was, uh, an interesting night of baseball and for baseball, for several different reasons. Let's stick with the game for now... here are a few big takeaways:
Blake Snell was dominant: The Rays started Snell as they looked to force a Game 7 and their ace had his best stuff. He was in Cy Young form and dominated the Dodgers' lineup through 5 1/3 innings, holding them to two hits and no walks while striking out nine. He allowed almost no hard contact at all. That sound good, right? Well...
Kevin Cash gave Snell a quick hook and it backfired: Despite Snell's dominance, Rays manager Kevin Cash decided to pull him from the game after No. 9 hitter Austin Barnes singled in the 6th inning. Snell had only thrown 73 pitches at the time he got the yank. It seemed pretty clear that Cash didn't want the Dodgers lineup to see him a third time around, but the decision backfired when LA put two runs on the board after seeing just six pitches from Nick Anderson
The Dodgers' bullpen came up huge: LA starter Tony Gonsolin struggled a bit and only mustered five outs before being yanked. (He gave up a solo home run to -- who else? -- Randy Arozarena.) From there, six Dodgers relievers held the Rays to two hits in 7 1/3 scoreless innings while striking out 12. Julio Urias retired the final seven batters
Unfortunately for Rays fans, they're always going to have to wonder if things would have been different had Cash let Snell stay on the mound. Analytics have helped the Rays immensely and they probably wouldn't have been in the World Series without Cash sticking to guns, but you have to trust your best players. I would have let it ride with my Cy Young caliber pitcher throwing a masterpiece. Then again, things probably end poorly for you regardless of who's on the mound if you only score one run against the Dodgers.
In any case, congratulations are in order. Congrats to the Dodgers for finally exorcising their postseason demons. Congratulations to Clayton Kershaw, who finally gets his ring and an escape from the narrative that his legacy is tarnished by lack of postseason success. Congratulations to Mookie Betts, who not only got his bag but also a second ring in his first year in LA. Congratulations to Corey Seager, who took home World Series MVP after a phenomenal postseason. (I still think it should have went to Arozarena even in defeat, but oh well.)
It's also worth congratulating the Rays, who can still be proud of an incredible run and look forward to the bright future ahead of them. Now to the insanity that ensued after the game!
Dodgers finally end their World Series drought 🏆
Well, they did it... the Dodgers got to the World Series and they actually WON it. They took Game 6 last night, beating the Rays 3-1 to earn a 4-2 series victory -- earning their first title since 1988.
And it was, uh, an interesting night of baseball and for baseball, for several different reasons. Let's stick with the game for now... here are a few big takeaways:
Blake Snell was dominant: The Rays started Snell as they looked to force a Game 7 and their ace had his best stuff. He was in Cy Young form and dominated the Dodgers' lineup through 5 1/3 innings, holding them to two hits and no walks while striking out nine. He allowed almost no hard contact at all. That sound good, right? Well...
Kevin Cash gave Snell a quick hook and it backfired: Despite Snell's dominance, Rays manager Kevin Cash decided to pull him from the game after No. 9 hitter Austin Barnes singled in the 6th inning. Snell had only thrown 73 pitches at the time he got the yank. It seemed pretty clear that Cash didn't want the Dodgers lineup to see him a third time around, but the decision backfired when LA put two runs on the board after seeing just six pitches from Nick Anderson
The Dodgers' bullpen came up huge: LA starter Tony Gonsolin struggled a bit and only mustered five outs before being yanked. (He gave up a solo home run to -- who else? -- Randy Arozarena.) From there, six Dodgers relievers held the Rays to two hits in 7 1/3 scoreless innings while striking out 12. Julio Urias retired the final seven batters
Unfortunately for Rays fans, they're always going to have to wonder if things would have been different had Cash let Snell stay on the mound. Analytics have helped the Rays immensely and they probably wouldn't have been in the World Series without Cash sticking to guns, but you have to trust your best players. I would have let it ride with my Cy Young caliber pitcher throwing a masterpiece. Then again, things probably end poorly for you regardless of who's on the mound if you only score one run against the Dodgers.
In any case, congratulations are in order. Congrats to the Dodgers for finally exorcising their postseason demons. Congratulations to Clayton Kershaw, who finally gets his ring and an escape from the narrative that his legacy is tarnished by lack of postseason success. Congratulations to Mookie Betts, who not only got his bag but also a second ring in his first year in LA. Congratulations to Corey Seager, who took home World Series MVP after a phenomenal postseason. (I still think it should have went to Arozarena even in defeat, but oh well.)
It's also worth congratulating the Rays, who can still be proud of an incredible run and look forward to the bright future ahead of them. Now to the insanity that ensued after the game!