Saturday, November 1st – World Series Game 7
It’s down to a best of one.
Looking backwards through Kike-colored lenses, that a game seven is necessary seems inevitable.
“Game seven.” The best two words in baseball, maybe in sports. The last game of the season. For some it will be the last game they ever play.
Win it, instant baseball immortality.
Lose it, and you’re highlight reel folly, a memory that even die hard fans let slip.
Case in point: who do the Dodgers beat to win the 2020 World Series?
If you’re reading this, I know you know the answer, but here it is in case you’re experiencing game six hangover.
If you’re a Blue Jays or Dodgers player, the last thing you want is to be remembered as the team that lost the WS.
It’s either GOAT or goat.
Even if you’re a Blue Jays fan, you had to appreciate last night‘s game six, a tense 3-1 Dodger win to force game seven.
- Yamamoto was great, again, again. His one run in six innings ballooned his ERA in October to 1.58. Unless something crazy special happens tonight, if the Dodgers win Yoshi is the WS MVP. If the Jays win, Vlad Jr. is the MVP.
- Since he’s been a Dodger, my favorite version of Mookie is when he hits the ball hard to the left side of the field. This October, he’s been swinging hard and popping up to the right side. So in addition to the runs, I was stoked to see him pull the ball hard for two steaks. I think the entire LA basin sank an inch as we all breathed a collective sigh of relief, for gaining the lead, but also for Mook.
- During Mookie’s bases-loaded at bat, there was a graphic on the screen reminding us that he’s Mookie-Freaking-Betts. Something like lifetime .340 hitter with the bases laded and seven grand slams. Clutch.
- Talking about clutch, how about Miguel Rojas’ leather? Dude made three great plays last night. Of course the heads up play to double up Addison Barger to win the game. But his play on the sharp ground ball in the third and the high hop grounder in the seventh that he barehanded and flipped to Freddie? He didn’t even use leather on that one.
- How cool would it be for Betts to win the gold glove this year at short and Rojas to win the gold glove at utility? The mentor and the mentee both recognized? It can and should happen.
- Kike’s play to end the game in the ninth inning had a 40% catch probability. His jump was 7.3 feet above average. Kik-tober in full effect.
- Verified and admitted cheater, George Springer, had a good game. And like Forrest Gump, that’s all I have to say about that.
I figure Shohei must start tonight, so he can stay at DH should he not pitch a complete game (side: how crazy would that be? It is possible, because he is after all, Shohei.) If he’s removed from the game as a reliever, the Dodgers lose his bat.
Blue Jays counter with Max Scherzer, who is still as good as he is grumpy.
Dodgers win in the game of the century, 10-9.
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Friday, October 24th – World Series
The World Series begins today so it’s time for a final round of predictions. Although last round I was only 50% correct, I am REALLY happy that I at least got the right 50% right. Because being 50% right works 100% of the time, when your 50% is 100% your team.
The Dodgers and Blue Jays are both very good teams. Any team that makes it to the WS in this era is at least a good team. They both score runs, have good pitching, have big time stars and role players that step up.
The Dodgers may be a great team. Some baseball writers are suggesting this could be greatest team ever assembled with likely Hall of Famers Ohtani, Betts, Freeman, and Kershaw, and the rest of the roster stacked with hall of very good players (and a few on the cusp of HOF consideration) like Smith and Teo. All character guys, all who play for each other, all high baseball IQs, all aware of their legacy.
The Blue Jays counter with a potent mix of home grown talent, player development, and smart spending on big names. They signed Vlad Guerrero Jr. at age 16, he crushed through the minors and blossomed into a star, then the Jays tried to land Ohtani and failed, so they paid Vlad instead, signing him to a 12-year, $500 million contract.
They’ve thrived with Bo Bichette (who has been hurt but is active for the WS) and verified cheater George Springer.
It doesn’t seem to bother MLB that Springer was the 2017 World Series MVP on the cheating Astros. MLB podcasts and other sources remind of his “accomplishment” and every time I hear, “George Springer, 2017 World Series MVP,” I look for the nearest trash can, mostly so I can throw up in it.
Springer seems like a good guy. He overcame a stuttering problem and is a hero to many parents and families with children who are doing the same, which is wonderful.
And, he cheated his way to a World Series trophy, celebrating on our field at Chavez Ravine.
Both are true and neither is relevant for this series, really. But it does rub at the back of my neck, like an annoying string that I can’t quite grab and pull off, a fraying collar on a shirt I wish I didn’t have to keep but can’t get rid of.
MLB needs to put an asterisk on that “championship” for every player that claims to have “won” it.
Anyhow. Do the Jays spend $500 million on Guerrero if Shohei agrees to sign two years ago? We’ll never know. But things are working out for both organizations now.
Both the Dodgers and Blue Jays are comeback teams. They tied for the MLB lead with 52 comeback wins this year, which means more than half of both team’s wins were of the comeback variety.
Both teams play good defense. The Dodgers have Gold Glove candidates in Betts and Rojas while the Jays team led the AL in defensive runs saved. The Jays’ Ty France, Vlad Guerrero, Andres Gimenez, Ernie Clement, and Alejandro Kirk are Gold Glove finalists.
Both have great offenses. The Dodgers hitting has been timely, and the Blue Jays have simply mashed this post season. The Jays are putting up nearly 7 runs a game in October, an insane number that would be impressive during any 12-game stretch, let alone in the playoffs. They also play small ball well, hitting the other way to move the runners over, or laying down a bunt when called for.
The Jays have been successful in scoring runs without Bichette. How they plan to use him is a question. Is he healthy enough to play short, and if they DH him, will Springer be a defensive liability in left?
Either way, good pitching usually beats good hitting, and the Dodgers’ pitching in the postseason has been lights out, as in, all-time great level stuff. The July-August maze of “who sucks the least today” that Dave Roberts had to navigate feels like a bad dream.
Too much is being made of the “rust vs. rest” factor. Yes, the Dodgers have had almost a week off while the Blue Jays have stayed sharp by winning their 7-game series against Seattle. There is a history, although a small sample size, of teams that sweep the championship series losing in the WS.
To counter this, the Dodgers have been playing simulated games this week. They played a 7-inning game on Wednesday and have had guys on regular practice and workout schedules.
Last year the Dodgers had a bye in the first round, and with it a week off from playing before the division series began, which worked out fine in the end.
Bottom line: If the Dodgers continue to get 7+ innings from Snell and Yamamoto, and 6ish from Glasnow and Ohtani, the Dodgers will win. If the Dodgers’ starting pitching struggles, the series is more up for grabs. But I’m betting that won’t happen.
Dodgers in 5.
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Sunday, October 12, 2025 – Championship Series
Welcome to the Final Four!
I was 3-for-4 again last round, with only the Yankees going belly up (sorry, Cody), allowing the Blue Jays to advance along with the Mariners in the American League, and the Brewers and Dodgers in the National League.
When proactively prognosticating post-season performance, previewing previous production is pointless (that just came out — no idea why. My apologies.) The “postseason” includes the word “season” because it plays like a new one. There are countless examples of regular-season studs who struggle in October, and others who hit .215 all year only to bat .315 in the playoffs. It’s a unique sports phenomenon.
Of course, some great players stay great year-round and carry their teams through to championships. But when players have never been to October (e.g., Seattle), it’s difficult to predict how they’ll respond to playoff pressure.
There’s an intrinsic factor that champions possess. After the fact, they talk about visualizing the outcome before it happened. They talk about good scouting, management’s commitment to winning — owners having and spending the budget to bring in good leadership and players — and the right mix of athletes led by a coaching staff, and most importantly, a manager who knows which levers to pull and gears to turn at key moments.
There exists an alchemy of those elements — plus a bit of luck — that results in hoisting a championship banner.
So which teams will represent their league in this year’s World Series?
Toronto vs. Seattle
If this were based on City Connect uniforms alone, the Blue Jays would already be crowned champions. The Jays represent all of Canada, being the only Canadian MLB franchise, and their City Connect uniforms are freaking awesome. So, there’s that.
Vlad Guerrero Jr. is a verified star. He took less money to stay in Toronto — he loves the city, and they love him. The Blue Jays also feature 2017 World Series MVP and verified cheater George Springer. Springer hit five home runs in the ’17 World Series, very likely benefiting from the Astros’ illegal sign-stealing scheme, which they admitted to and apologized for in 2020.
And if you think it’s a coincidence that seminal progressive rock band and Toronto natives Rush announced their new tour this week… well, it probably is a coincidence. But the fact that the greatest trio in the history of progressive rock will be touring next summer, paying nightly homage to drummer and lyricist Neil Ellwood Peart (aka “The Professor”), and that remaining band members Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson announced their tour within hours of the Blue Jays’ ass-kicking of the Yankees… it’s almost enough for me to pick the Blue Jays and call it a day.
Almost.
The problem is: Seattle has pitching. Really, really good pitching. They also have a catcher, Cal Raleigh, who draws comparisons to Mickey Mantle while hitting north of 50 homers and playing Gold Glove defense. They don’t have home-field advantage, but if they steal a game in Toronto, they’ll play in front of fans so loud that the stadium literally shakes — according to scientists monitoring Richter scale activity.
It’s a lineup that beat Tarik Skubal four times this year. Skubal hasn’t lost four times since playing tic-tac-toe when he was six, and he’s been undefeated since then — no cat games (unverified).
Seattle in six.
Milwaukee vs. Los Angeles
As mentioned previously, I haven’t picked against the Dodgers since 1993, the year after they lost almost 100 games (they lost 99), and the best hitter on the team was projected to be Jose Offerman. Fortunately for L.A., a kid named Mike Piazza made the team and won Rookie of the Year after hitting .318 with 35 homers.
They showed me.
The Dodgers finished fourth that year but kept the Giants from winning the division on the last day of the season thanks to Piazza’s two homers.
None of that has anything to do with this series, other than to say the Dodgers will win in five games.
Look, I get I’m a Dodgers homer. But consider this: the Dodgers’ starting pitching is awesome — Yamamoto, Snell, Glasnow, and Ohtani — and their bullpen is finally figured out with Sheehan, Vesia, and Sasaki.
The Dodgers’ lineup is loaded, with three lock Hall-of-Famers in Ohtani, Betts, and Freeman; a couple of “Hall of Very Good” players in Smith (who may join the big three if he’s not careful) and Teo; and a great supporting cast in Pages, Edman, Rojas, et al. Add the best manager in the game, and the Dodgers are the team to beat from here on out.
Milwaukee has had a great, even magical, season. It’s a very good team, and Pat Murphy is a good man and a good manager. The Brewers had two 10-plus-game winning streaks this season. They have a mix of veteran leadership (Yelich, Contreras) and young phenoms (Misiorowski and Patrick). They steal bases, they pitch well, they play defense, their fans bring energy.
Dodgers win in five.
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Saturday, October 4th – Division Series
On to the Elite Eight. The five-game series format carries less angst than the three-game “win or go home” feel of the wild card, unless of course your team drops Game 1 and you start spinning into the dirt like a Yoshi Yamamoto splitter. Which of course I don’t do. No, no, I never worry about baseball because this is just a fun hobby.
Okay fine this sh*t keeps me up night!
Who should start Game 4? Does that change if we are up 2-1 or down 1-2? Can Teoscar Hernandez be trusted to catch fly balls? The kid Sasaki has closer stuff, but can Roberts Jedi mind-trick him into believing he IS a closer? Will the Dodgers bullpen chaos continue or will Doc turn to Kersh late in a close game to get Schwarber, Turner, and Harper? I have no idea but it sure is fun to speculate.
My predictions for the Division Series
I did pretty well on the wild card – Dodgers, Cubs, and Yankees advanced. I wasn’t counting on the Tigers to have anything left in the tank, but it turns out, still, they’re…grrreat! Sorry, had to.
Yankees v. Blue Jays. Jays have home field advantage but no Bo Bichette. Yanks have momentum having just handled their arch rivals, and great starting pitching including rookie Cam Schlittler who looked more Cy than Cam in game 3 against Boston. Plus they mash. Yankees win.
Tigers v. Mariners. Cal Raleigh is so good, they named a string of hits after him. In his age 28 season he’s become a legit elite hitter. His OPS+ at 169 was third in MLB to Ohtani’s 175 and Judge’s 212(!). These are baseball god-like numbers. Babe Ruth’s lifetime OPS+ was 206, Ted Williams’ 191, Lou Gehrig’s 179. Unlike the Big Dumper, none of them had the burden of playing catcher. Raleigh has very good players around him in the lineup, deep pitching, and were great at home this year (the Mariners have home-field advantage). As for Detroit, one can never count out verified cheater A.J. Hinch, who is a very good manager on a very good team. If they steal game 1 and Terik goes Skubal in game 2, things could get interesting. But I’m picking the M’s.
Cubs v. Brewers. The Cubs have Pete Crow Armstrong and wouldn’t it be cool to get Justin Turner another shot at glory? It would be, but the Brewers were a team possessed this year and with long-time announcer Bob Uecker’s passing, they are playing for something larger than themselves. Brewers move on.
Dodgers v. Phillies. This is the one we’ve been waiting for, the series Dodger fans knew was inevitable. It’s going to be fun to watch, with stars and studs at nearly every position. Both lineups feature budding or legit Hall of Fame players. Starting pitching is about even with the Dodgers having a slight edge, but the Phillies’ Sanchez and Suarez will be tough on the Dodgers’ left-leaning lineup (if there was ever a time for Will Smith to start feeling better, this is it). The Phills have a better bullpen, and so do 20 of the 29 other MLB teams. Of course that was the regular season and before the emergence of Roki Sasaki as a dominant late-inning force. If Sasaki stays hot and the Dodger starters do what Dodger starters have done for the past six weeks, the pen just needs one additional guy – just one – to bridge between the starter and young Roki. If one of those guys down there steps up – Treinen, Sheehan, Vesia, Henriquez…Kershaw? – then the Dodgers can win. If not, they can’t. This series will be won or lost in the 7th and 8th inning of every game. And because Dave Roberts is the best manager in the game when it comes to managing pitching in the post season, I’m going with the Dodgers.
Of course I haven’t picked against the Dodgers since 1993, so take this with a grain of salt. 
September 30, 2025
OK, here we go baseball fans! My predictions for the wildcard round:
Guardians v. Tigers, at Cleveland. Guardians take this one after once in a forever come back to win the division. Skubal does not win the World Series until he joins the Dodgers rotation, in ‘28.
Yankees v. Red Sox in New York. Right off the bat (pun intended) today’s pitching matchup might be the best of the entire playoffs, Crochet-Fried. New York takes the series in game three, late inning, dramatic fashion. Aaron Judge shakes off last year, hits close to .500 and homers in each game.
Cubs-Padres in Chicago. I love Wrigley field so much. I don’t love either one of these teams, however. But one of them has to win, so I predict the Cubs avenge their 1984 NLCS loss and sweep the Padres, who have to fly home on Spirit Airlines with a stop in Denver.
Dodgers-Reds at Chavez Ravine. Dodgers in three. The Dodgers have been playing much better in September, but there’s that little tug in the back of my mind that remembers August. I’m still not completely convinced, but I think we can win two or three from a team that lost their way into the sixth seed.
baldwinishere 