2015 World Series Game Five Live Blog

by
November 1, 2015
7:41
August Fagerstrom: hello, all!
7:42
August Fagerstrom: We’ll get this thing started shortly before first pitch. Here’s to another good night of baseball
7:56
August Fagerstrom: commence chat!
7:56
Comment From Jaack
Screw the World Series, lets talk discuss who was better, John Olerud or Jeff Kent.
7:56
August Fagerstrom: Getting to the important stuff early. I like it. I’ll take Olerud’s career
7:59
Comment From Ben Kaspick
Who makes more in free agency, Alex Gordon or Yoenis Cespedes?

7:59
August Fagerstrom: Cespedes
8:00
August Fagerstrom: Gordon is probably a little more valuable, but Cespedes is younger and there’s going to be a bidding war for his services. I feel like there’s enough mutual interest between Gordon and KC that he returns relatively easily
8:02
Craig Edwards: I think Cespedes will get a lot more than Gordon. Cespedes just had a career year, is younger, and power pays more than defense. Gordon might get $100 million, but Cespedes will likely get at least 50% more than that.
8:03
Comment From Ben Kaspick
Any guesses at those Gordon and Cespedes contracts?
8:03
August Fagerstrom: Cespedes probably in the 6/140 range
8:03
August Fagerstrom: Gordon… 4/100?
8:03
August Fagerstrom: five with an option perhaps
8:03
Comment From Ben Kaspick
How much does Heyward make?
8:03
August Fagerstrom: 10/200
8:04
Comment From JD
are you guys as high on AROD as an analyst as the rest of us are?
8:04
August Fagerstrom: he’s been pretty awesome
8:04
Craig Edwards: I’m guessing Gordon get 6/100 and 7/160 for Cespedes
8:04
August Fagerstrom: He’s had a couple uncomfortable slip-ups, but that’s to be expected from someone with no broadcast experience. His analysis has been great and insightful, and he has a sense of humor
8:05
Comment From Middle-sized Hurt
I hope Jessica Mendoza has a permanent spot on ESPN
8:05
August Fagerstrom: Me too. She was the highlight of the broadcasts she was on earlier. Her and Chris Archer
8:05
Comment From Pliny the Fielder
Jessica Mendoza…are you kidding?????
8:05
August Fagerstrom: nope
8:06
Craig Edwards: A-Rod is great as an analyst, but he’s fortunate that he can still play the game at a high level. Pierzynski was fantastic early in the postseason and could transition immediately to the booth.
8:06
August Fagerstrom: Agreed on Pierzynski. I didn’t want to like him as a broadcaster, but I really did.
8:08
Comment From Jordan
Do you really see the Royals giving $100MM to their #8 hitter?
8:08
Craig Edwards: It wouldn’t surprise me. Great attendance plus two postseason runs has given them a lot of extra payroll space. They were higher than the Mets this year.
8:09
Comment From Middle-sized Hurt
How much do you expect Daniel Murphy to get in FA? What team would most likely go after him?
8:10
August Fagerstrom: maybe something like 4/50 and I could see someone like the Angels or Yankees going after him
8:11
August Fagerstrom: worth pointing out that I always end up being on the low side of FA contract predictions
8:11
Comment From Phillies113
Who will teams regret signing more, Alex Gordon or Yoenis Cespedes
8:11
Craig Edwards: Depends on the numbers, but Cespedes has a chance to be a pretty bad contract as he hits his late 30s. Gordon’s contract is likely to be shorter and for less AAV making it less likely to bust. I’m not sure I would feel really happy signing either one.
8:12
Comment From Ben Kaspick
Who signs Heyward to that kind of money? Possibly the Cardinals?
8:12
August Fagerstrom: I think the Cardinals should do everything in their power to retain Heyward, though Craig is the expert on that matter
8:12
Comment From YANKEE FAN PRENTENDING TO BE MET FAN
Yankees sign heyward, trade gardner?
8:12
August Fagerstrom: I don’t see it. Yankees don’t strike me as big spenders in this free agency. I think they’ll make a mid-level signing or two, and possibly address the rotation through a trade
8:13
Comment From Turtlesknuckleball
I don’t have a TV. In 2015, am I allowed to say that I LOVE baseball?
8:13
August Fagerstrom: of course
8:13
Craig Edwards: I could see the Cardinals making the highest offer for Heyward. They have seen his value up close. Could play out similar to the Holliday deal back in 2009.
8:13
Comment From Pliny the Fielder
When did Edinson Volquez get so good?
8:13
August Fagerstrom: when Ray Searage got ahold of him
8:13
Comment From AJVenti
Washington or the Dodgers could go for Murphy
8:13
August Fagerstrom: also possibilities
8:14
Comment From YANKEE FAN PRENTENDING TO BE MET FAN
gardner and some mid level prospect for kimbrel to form super bullpen?
8:15
August Fagerstrom: I wouldn’t trade Gardner straight up for Kimbrel
8:15
Comment From TomSawyer
If I were the Mets, I’d pay 4/55 if 4/50 was the hi bid
8:15
August Fagerstrom: Especially not given the Yankees current bullpen. That makes 0 sense to me
8:15
Craig Edwards: I don’t see the Mets going that high on Murphy. They will get a draft pick if someone else signs him.
8:15
Comment From Pliny the Fielder
Gardner had a crappy season!
8:16
August Fagerstrom: Gardner was worth 3 wins with perhaps fluky defensive numbers
8:16
August Fagerstrom:
Going to be gauging the strike zone tonight for everyone
8:17
August Fagerstrom: alright, enough offseason talk. baseball time!
8:18
Comment From Kailoa
I sure hope the yankees stay away from murphy..
8:18
Craig Edwards: He wouldn’t be a horrible fit for them with the ability to play multiple non-SS infield positions. Not as good as Zobrist though.
8:18
Craig Edwards: Yep
8:18
August Fagerstrom: #EskyMagic baby
8:20
Comment From Pliny the Fielder
Throw the man a breaking ball please!
8:20
Craig Edwards: that worked
8:20
August Fagerstrom: couple hot sliders
8:20
August Fagerstrom: yes, good adjustment by Harvey to not allow a leadoff inside the park homer that time
8:20
Comment From YANKEE FAN PRENTENDING TO BE MET FAN
I believe gardner can improve on his production, plus look at his team-friendly contract. Idk..wouldn’t be too out of the question for cashman to play with his name in trade talks this offseason..b
8:21
August Fagerstrom: I do agree that Gardner is worth considering in a trade. But not for Kimbrel
8:21
Comment From YANKEE FAN PRENTENDING TO BE MET FAN
alright ill stop with the yankee talk 😉
8:21
August Fagerstrom: and I as well
8:21
Comment From TomSawyer
Cain is one of the most underrated players in baseball.
8:21
August Fagerstrom: I’m not sure he’s underrated anymore. I think he’s rightly viewed as a star by most
8:22
August Fagerstrom: Would anyone argue that he’s the best player on the Royals, who are the best team in the AL?
8:23
August Fagerstrom: The most underrated player in baseball is AJ Pollock
8:24
Comment From patel
Me; I’d say it’s Zobrist
8:24
Craig Edwards: That was definitely true for a time, but he is not quite the same player he was in his prime.
8:24
August Fagerstrom: Agreed. When Zobrist was one of the 10 or so best players in the game at his peak, he was definitely the most underrated player in baseball. Now, people have realized how good he was, but he’s also lost a step
8:25
Comment From Yosting
What do you think the Royals do with Infante?
8:25
August Fagerstrom: not give him playing time next year
8:25
August Fagerstrom: in one way or another
8:25
Comment From Pliny the Fielder
No kidding! Pollock won my fantasy league for me!
8:25
Comment From Ben Kaspick
Giants fan here. Can confirm: AJ Pollock is amazing.
8:25
Comment From AJVenti
Thor and Matz set the bar for Harvey, I expect a great performance
8:25
Craig Edwards: three (maybe four?) swings and misses in the first inning. Good start for Harvey.
8:26
August Fagerstrom: my go-to hot take is that AJ Pollock is a top-3 center fielder in baseball
8:26
August Fagerstrom: you know the first two
8:26
Comment From Fletch
97 on that last pitch. Well above where he was in his last start I believe.
8:26
August Fagerstrom: doesn’t look like career-worst stuff this time!
8:27
Comment From YANKEE FAN PRENTENDING TO BE MET FAN
do you know how much more often teams steal in the playoffs compared to the regular season? seeing all these steals make me question why dont teams steal more often
8:28
August Fagerstrom: Could be that teams have more detailed advanced scouting reports, therefore better understand the optimal times to run and take better advantage of it
8:28
Comment From Duh
How much do you think WAR undervalues players w positional flexibity like Zobrist? It probably does undervalue them a bit, right?
8:28
August Fagerstrom: was thinking about this earlier today, actually. I think it probably does
8:28
August Fagerstrom: though I’m not sure it’s anything more than a half a win or so, at most
8:28
August Fagerstrom: could totally be wrong about all of that, too!
8:29
August Fagerstrom: Curtis Granderson: good ballplayer
8:29
Comment From YANKEE FAN PRENTENDING TO BE MET FAN
THE GRANDY MAN!!
8:29
Comment From TWB
the grandy man can
8:29
Comment From Duh
I think there are fewer runs scored in the postseason generally, which would mean that a stolen base is a higher leverage proposition than during the regular season. That should lead to more aggressiveness on the basepaths.
8:29
August Fagerstrom: this too
8:30
Comment From Ben Kaspick
97 m.p.h. from Volquez? What?
8:30
August Fagerstrom: been doing that most of the postseason
8:31
August Fagerstrom: Great to hear NY fans chanting “Lets go Murphy”
8:32
Craig Edwards: I’m not sure WAR undervalues positional flexibility much. Most of the benefit comes in the form of extra PA which come through in WAR. It certainly helps in roster construction due to the types of players you can put on your bench, but I’m not sure how valuable that is.
8:32
August Fagerstrom: I really feel terrible for the guy
8:32
Comment From Zorrobrist
Royals giving Mets the lead to ensure the 100% effective comeback win strategy. Book it
8:32
Comment From jtoffler
Is Granderson celebrating with snaps or with the Manziel Money sign?
8:32
August Fagerstrom: he called it “Poetry Slam applause”
8:33
August Fagerstrom: two-seam fastballs that catch the outer corner of the plate are my favorite pitch
8:33
August Fagerstrom: Bartolo does it so well
8:34
Comment From Pliny the Fielder
Isn’t it suspicious that a guy just gets 3-5mph on his fastball all of a sudden?
8:34
Craig Edwards: Not particularly. Most pitchers get a bump in the postseason, and Volquez averaged 94 mph during the season.
8:35
Comment From Mr. Death
What is the win probability for the mets right now?
8:35
August Fagerstrom: 63%!
8:36
August Fagerstrom: FYI, you can follow along with live win expectancy here: http://www.fangraphs.com/li…
8:37
August Fagerstrom: Re: Volquez velocity boost — also very likely that most starters don’t pitch at maximum effort throughout the postseason. Look at what Verlander constantly did in his prime, ramping up his velocity third time through the order. Volquez is just pitching like someone making his final starts of the season right now
8:37
August Fagerstrom: throughout the regular season* I meant
8:37
Comment From Matt Persons
How is it 63% when they are down 3 games to 1?
8:37
Craig Edwards: that’s just for tonight.
8:37
Comment From YANKEE FAN PRENTENDING TO BE MET FAN
contact contact contact………error error error
8:38
August Fagerstrom: Royals baseball, apparently
8:38
August Fagerstrom: might have been the slowest double play attempt of the season
8:39
August Fagerstrom: Zobrist and Gordon, the only two patient hitters in the Royals lineup, have both swung at the first pitch tonight
8:40
Comment From Gabe
Future idea: Series-win probability overlay for playoff WE graphs?
8:40
August Fagerstrom: this could be fun. I’ll take note of this now to ask Appelman
8:40
Comment From The statistist
In North Carolina:’nobody watches baseball here, plus Marriott sponsors football’ but it’s the world series! OK, you can have the small one over there, but no sound.
8:40
Craig Edwards: Have to think there are a few Harvey fans in North Carolina.
8:41
August Fagerstrom: Harvey is really leaning on his slider tonight
8:43
August Fagerstrom: Harvey: 23 pitches, 12 sliders!
8:43
Craig Edwards: Harvey looking a lot better tonight. Wonder if both managers will let the starters stay in a while after playing three days in a row.
8:44
Comment From Tim
If you have the ability to amp up 2-3 MPH, how do you resist temptation to do that often, even if it has long term consequences? Baseball is hard. Seems like a lot of guys would just worry about the future when it comes and use whatever is in their abilities to get out of jams.
8:44
August Fagerstrom: I’d wager they go to it here and there
8:45
Comment From Tim
What if Sal Perez burns out after the crazy workloads the last 2 years? He’d never get his free agent payday. Not like he’s a cancer victim but that would be a tough break after all he gave the Royals.
8:45
Craig Edwards: He’s only 25 and will get another 15 M in options before he turns 30. He might be worn down but I’m not sure there is real danger of his earnings eroding too much. I’d be more worried about his hitting next summer.
8:46
August Fagerstrom: You can see points of Volquez hitting 96-97 in the regular season: http://www.brooksbaseball.n…
8:46
Comment From jtoffler
Maybe the ones that can’t resist the urge to go all out all the time burn out
8:48
Comment From Zoroni
I would hope COllins does at least given the bullpen issues
8:48
Craig Edwards: If he is still pitching like this into the sixth, it will be difficult not to let him keep going. If he starts to slip a bit…
8:49
Comment From Jaack
If the Mets manage to win the World Series, should Bobby Bonilla get a ring? I mean, they ARE paying him like a $1 million.
8:50
Comment From mtsw
How short a leash do you leave on Harvey considering the off-day tomorrow?
8:50
Craig Edwards: If his spot comes up in the order in the fifth, you’d have begin to consider, it then. Otherwise, the first sign of trouble thereafter.
8:51
Craig Edwards:
Volquez just looks like a different player tonight
8:51
Comment From Duh
When the sun burns out the Mets will still be paying Bobby Bonilla.
8:54
August Fagerstrom: Volquez got heem
8:55
August Fagerstrom: Nice play by Murph!
8:55
August Fagerstrom: I hope he only makes good plays from now on
8:55
Craig Edwards: Harvey throws first pitch offspeed to Escobar, then induces DP. Strategy worked!
8:57
Comment From TomSawyer
Isn’t the neighborhood play reviewable ?
8:57
Craig Edwards: force-outs are review-able. I don’t think the neighborhood play is.
8:59
Comment From Poor Mans Rick Reed
My wife on Granderson flying in to make the catch, “Good, don’t let Murphy touch the ball.”
8:59
Craig Edwards: tough crowd
8:59
Comment From Dan
What’s Harvey averaging for velocity through first three?
8:59
August Fagerstrom: don’t have an exact number, but 95 seems to be the mode right now
9:00
August Fagerstrom: he’s got his good stuff. and it looks like it.
9:01
Craig Edwards: It’s early, but it looks like we have a pretty tight (or perhaps just accurate) strike zone. Pitchers will have to earn their strikes.
9:03
Comment From Tom
Has anyone ever gone from hero to goat faster than Murphy? NY really does seem to be a what have you done for me VERY recently kind of town
9:03
August Fagerstrom: kind of just the postseason, really
9:04
Craig Edwards: For those of you interested in that sort of thing, more than twice as many people watched last night’s game than the Notre Dame game on ABC.
9:05
August Fagerstrom: both pitchers look pretty nasty. Volquez just made a bad pitch to Grandy in the first
9:05
August Fagerstrom:
Still at threat level blue so far
9:05
August Fagerstrom: should I get Chobani flip
9:06
August Fagerstrom: it actually looks pretty appetizing
9:06
August Fagerstrom: reviews?
9:06
Comment From Duh
Do you think the rules regarding the DH not being universal gives any team a distinct advantage in the World Series?
9:06
Craig Edwards: not for these two teams, but I think generally it benefits the AL team more because they are more likely to have a good hitter either in the lineup or on the bench.
9:06
Comment From Siegmeyer of Catarina
Yogurt is gross.
9:06
Comment From Tom
Chobani Flip is excellent. Some of the best Greek yogurt out there.
9:06
August Fagerstrom: I reject Siegmeyer’s premise, so I’m siding with Tom here
9:06
August Fagerstrom: Yogurt is excellent
9:06
Comment From Austin Texas
yogurt is 50 flavor 70 nutrition
9:07
Comment From Jenstrom
The key lime with white chocolate chips and graham cracker pieces is really good.
9:07
August Fagerstrom: i want this
9:07
August Fagerstrom: commercials worked! I’m gonna get me some Chobani flip
9:07
Comment From Miller
Austin Texas, your def the high man on Yogust flavor. Like Kiley McDaniel and Ozzy Albies
9:07
Comment From Tears will Flores
Fage makes more traditional Greek yogurt – Chobani has more sugar
9:07
August Fagerstrom: #YogurtTalk
9:09
Comment From Jaack
Harold Reynolds just provided us with his Tim McCarver impression.
9:09
August Fagerstrom: what the hell was that
9:09
August Fagerstrom: wow. Lorenzo Cain really went and swung at that fastball, huh
9:10
August Fagerstrom: can’t tell if Cain looked terrible in that at-bat or Harvey looked awesome
9:10
August Fagerstrom: probably both!
9:10
Comment From Tears will Flores
What ever happened to McCarver?
9:11
August Fagerstrom: retirement
9:11
Comment From George Brett Saberhagen
Doesn’t he still do Cards games?
9:11
Craig Edwards: He still does some Cardinals games. Fared pretty well this season.
9:11
August Fagerstrom: I think so. He retired from the national games though
9:11
Comment From Jake
if the series ends tonight, do we have a favorite for MVP?
9:11
Craig Edwards: Good question. Depends on how KC wins tonight. Wade Davis?
9:12
August Fagerstrom: Man, Harvey looks filthy
9:12
August Fagerstrom: yeah off the top of my head I’ve got no idea about MVP
9:13
August Fagerstrom: Good lord.
9:13
August Fagerstrom: That was a devastating inning
9:13
Comment From Tim
Mvp Escobar.. Maybe zobrist?
9:13
Comment From Tears will Flores
KC MVP – Cespedes’s foot
9:13
Comment From Siegmeyer of Catarina
Alex Gordon has had some big hits.
9:13
Comment From Toronto Fan
the mvp is volquez if they win today
9:13
Comment From Pablo Sandovals Negative WAR
Cueto?
9:13
August Fagerstrom: There you have it. Consensus!
9:14
Comment From TWB
Harvey seems to be adjusting the “no swing and miss” narrative so far
9:15
Comment From jtoffler
According to OddsChecker.com, Salvador Perez was the favorite coming into tonight
9:15
August Fagerstrom: gonna take a shot in the dark and say 1 doesn’t win this game
9:17
Comment From Miller
Harvey’s fastballs that inning in order: 95 MPH 95 MPH 96 MPH 97 MPH 96 MPH 98 MPH
9:17
August Fagerstrom: with some nasty breaking stuff
9:17
Comment From TH
espn’s front page story right now is a nfl game…do more people really care about a single regular season football game than a world series game? that cant be true
9:17
Craig Edwards: they air NFL games. They don’t have any more baseball games until next year. And tonight’s NFL game will probably have more viewers than the World Series. Sunday night football on NBC has been one of the highest rated shows since its inception. None of that will change the fact that baseball is a much better sport.
9:18
Comment From Duh
I think the troubles the Mets had striking out the Royals in the first two games had more to do w Harvey and de Grom being off than it did w the Royals’ unwhiffable.
9:18
Craig Edwards: makes too much sense
9:19
Comment From Miller
Seriously how does a batter ever make contact with any pitch ever?
9:19
August Fagerstrom: as good of a question as there is
9:20
Comment From Siegmeyer of Catarina
How much of the nfl’s pooularity is due to gambling/fantasy? Doesnt seem like that many people like the game itself.
9:20
Craig Edwards: it certainly helped the sport gain in popularity, although I’m not sure how much of it is still the case.
9:20
August Fagerstrom: seems like people really like the “event” of football Sunday
9:20
August Fagerstrom: they want something to get really fired up about
9:20
August Fagerstrom: man, Yoenis.
9:21
Comment From jtoffler
Does anyone else think Ned Yost looks like a young George Bush?
9:21
August Fagerstrom: been thinking this all World Series. googled “Ned Yost George Bush” and was surprised I didn’t find more than I did
9:22
Craig Edwards: Not sure how compromised Cespedes is physically right now.
9:23
Comment From TH
nbc sports front page: baseball… not the nfl. i just really feel as tho espns obsession with football hurts them. id watch espn more often if they at least pretended to care about baseball
9:23
Craig Edwards: ESPN cares about baseball. They just care about football more, especially when measured in the dollars they spend to air the sport.
9:24
Comment From mtsw
Underrated driver of NFL’s popularity is decades-long branding/popularity via NFL Films tying the game to masculinity, blue collar values, militarism. Baseball’s closest equivalent was Ken Burns’ sleepy “Baseball” doc series on PBS. Tons of people who don’t understand football at all as a game still get emotionally wrapped up in the values it represents which is the key to its mainstream popularity.
9:24
August Fagerstrom: that Ken Burns doc is amazing though. was actually planning to rewatch it as soon as the WS ended. might be tonight!
9:25
Comment From Jake
say two of the first three get on here; do you pinch hit for volquez?
9:25
August Fagerstrom: yep
9:26
Comment From Justin
That Burns doc keeps me warm in the winter.
9:26
August Fagerstrom: it’s an annual offseason watch for me. such a pleasure
9:27
Comment From Yosting
ESPN long ago switched from a network about sports to a network about promoting the disney family properties
9:27
Craig Edwards: ESPN is Disney’s cash cow. They make billions in profits every year.
9:27
August Fagerstrom: Man. Couple close pitches by Harvey there
9:27
Comment From Toronto Fan
what a take
9:28
August Fagerstrom: Harold Reynolds is the only person I’ve ever heard refer to command as “accuracy”
9:30
Comment From Jerry
Harold Reynolds also is the only person I’ve ever heard describe a perfect bunt as foul
9:31
August Fagerstrom: Yeah, not getting that call, Rios
9:31
Comment From Phillies113
Isn’t ESPN worth approximately 1/4 of Disney’s total net income? Or something similar?
9:31
Craig Edwards: more like half
9:32
Comment From peachesnnuts
that is how you hit a spot holy cowD’Arnaud didn’t move
9:32
Comment From Nick
wow – 98 on the lower corner. Is that one of the most unhittable pitches in the game?
9:32
Comment From Siegmeyer of Catarina
I have never heard the term ‘presentation’ until this postseason
9:32
August Fagerstrom: suddenly, the people who say it appear to be quite adamant about the terminology
9:33
Comment From Siegmeyer of Catarina
Harvey showing that lots of k’s doesnt equal high pitch count.
9:33
August Fagerstrom: the Mets have a 79% win expectancy. in other words, the Royals have them right where they want them
9:35
Comment From Phil
How mixed are Scott Boras’ emotions right now?
9:35
Craig Edwards: Assuming he has emotions, it has got to be pretty happy to watch his client pitch so well on a big stage.
9:35
Comment From Ben Kaspick
How ridiculous was the Cespedes-for-NL-MVP narrative this summer?
9:35
August Fagerstrom: very
9:35
Comment From TWB
so the 6th is the 3rd time through the order for Harvey, little nervous for him, the 3rd time has not been kind to Met’s starters this series
9:35
August Fagerstrom: hasn’t been kind to Harvey throughout his career
9:36
August Fagerstrom: don’t know if it’s moreso than other pitchers, but he has a sizable TTO split
9:36
Comment From Pontoons
Saying presentation makes more sense than saying framing.
9:36
Craig Edwards: but what Harvey is doing tonight is art.
9:37
Comment From TomSawyer
Isn’t the non-ESPN income also very volatile ?
9:37
Craig Edwards: that’s true for most movie studios. Depending on the set of movies that come out, they could have a ton of blockbusters or maybe just one or none.
9:37
Comment From peachesnnuts
Fox resisting putting up a strike zone box until the AB is over is a ppleasantchange
9:37
Comment From TomSawyer
Is that more this year ( high TTO ). That could be pitch count mgmt related.
9:38
August Fagerstrom: his career OPS allowed third timd time through is .150-.200 points higher than first two
9:38
Comment From mtsw
Presentation makes me think of food at a nice restaurant. Framing makes me think of convicting an innocent man of a crime. Presentation is better branding.
9:38
Comment From George Brett Saberhagen
What’s in the square/box on the backstop wall to the right of home plate?
9:39
August Fagerstrom: camera?
9:39
August Fagerstrom: I’m actually not sure
9:39
Comment From Pontoons
It’s a big dish microphone.
9:39
August Fagerstrom: this was my other thought. appears to be behind some sort of plexiglass, though?
9:39
Comment From peachesnnuts
that’s where the bird lady from Home Alone 2 watches from
9:41
Comment From Mike
It’s a hot box for front office types who fall into disfavor
9:41
Comment From Middle-sized Hurt
It’s HAL
9:41
August Fagerstrom: i’m sorry, Middle-sized Hurt
9:43
August Fagerstrom: good decision by Hosmer there. thought we might have our millionth double play of the night for a second
9:43
Comment From Phillies113
Which player from each team is most likely to be revealed to have been playing hurt during the Series?
9:43
August Fagerstrom: sal perez
9:44
August Fagerstrom: Cespedes is the easy answer based on performance. I’d imagine David Wright’s always feeling something though
9:44
August Fagerstrom: Lagares is pretty clearly injured, too
9:44
Comment From Phil
It definitely feels like the Mets have to get another couple of runs before the end of the 6th, the win expectancy be damned. They feel like the underdog until that happens.
9:44
Craig Edwards: so pinch hit here?
9:45
Comment From jtoffler
Lagares has looked injured all year
9:45
August Fagerstrom: he has been
9:46
Comment From peachesnnuts
I wouldn’t, Harvey has been so good
9:46
Comment From Phil
Well, I wouldn’t pinch hit if only because I am keeping on rolling with Harvey.
9:46
August Fagerstrom: always surprising to me how unanimously slow pitchers seem to be
9:47
Comment From The Hamburglar
Would it be huge for the Mets though to end up winning 1-0, from a confidence point of view?
9:47
August Fagerstrom: no more so than any other win
9:49
Comment From George Brett Saberhagen
Does NYC behave like LA? Is everybody on the Mets’ bandwagon there now? Like the way LA is a Lakers town until suddenly the Clippers are better?
9:49
Craig Edwards: I think the Yankees retain their fans pretty well.
9:51
Comment From Phil
I imagine pitchers are more cautious than slow. They run very rarely in general during the game and a leg pull would end their night.
9:51
Craig Edwards: I prefer to think that they are just so shocked that they made contact, it takes an extra second to get down the line.
9:51
Comment From Mike
Why does this make me not hate ARod as much?
9:51
Craig Edwards: Because there isn’t really all that much to hate him for over many other similar athletes.
9:51
Comment From peachesnnuts
Greg Maddux running the bases in a jacket was a treasure
9:52
Comment From The Hamburglar
Feels like this is the Royals inning
9:52
Craig Edwards: noted
9:52
Comment From TomSawyer
Closet Met fans coming out, but few converts.
9:52
August Fagerstrom: I love A-Rod. Loved him before this October, love him more now that I know he’s an awesome analyst
9:53
Comment From Zorrobrist
Third time down the order, Royals get one in the sixth. Book it
9:53
Comment From Jaack
What percent of pitchers do you think could become major league caliber with a year or so of working on hitting? Like Bumgarner and Greinke probably could.
9:53
August Fagerstrom: 11%?
9:53
August Fagerstrom: they’d need to have started that preparation earlier though
9:54
August Fagerstrom: like in the minors
9:55
Comment From peachesnnuts
Chris Archer has been wonderful too
9:57
Comment From jtoffler
Besides A-Rod who are some current players that will be go into broadcasting?
9:57
August Fagerstrom: hard to say. matters more about their desire to do it than what we perceive their abilities to be
9:58
Comment From peachesnnuts
Over under 250 million worth of free agents on the Royals? Cueto, Zobrist, Gordon is quite the start to get there
9:58
Craig Edwards: I’d go over on that one.
9:58
Craig Edwards: Have to think there were a bunch of nervous Mets fans on that slow roller to Murphy.
9:59
August Fagerstrom: Royals aren’t pursuing Cueto in FA, if I recall correctly
9:59
August Fagerstrom: I’d guess they resign Gordon, get outbid for Zobrist
10:03
Comment From The Hamburglar
Oh come on, he didnt go around
10:03
August Fagerstrom: hmm
10:04
August Fagerstrom: nice take by Grandy. he’s been great
10:04
Comment From jtoffler
I say over too. Hosmer, Cain, and Perez are all in for some nice pay days as well
10:04
Craig Edwards: Not sure on those guys. Hosmer would need a big year next year, Perez is signed through 2019, and Cain got a late start and he won’t hit FA until he is 31. Cain most likely to get a big payday.
10:04
August Fagerstrom: Volquez, very very unhappy
10:04
August Fagerstrom: unrightfully so
10:04
Comment From Zach Walters Appreciation Guild
Zobrist is the sort of player that can be an integral part of any team. No one couldn’t use Zobrist! Let us appreciate Ben Zobrist, and those late-blooming versatile players like him.
10:04
August Fagerstrom: hi john
10:05
Craig Edwards: Third time through the order not off to a good start for Volquez.
10:05
August Fagerstrom: who’s warming in the KC pen?
10:05
August Fagerstrom: if the answer is “nobody, yet” i’m not sure why
10:05
Comment From TomSawyer
The gimme 3-0 strike is ridiculous
10:07
August Fagerstrom: the two players i’m most rooting for in this WS currently facing off
10:07
Comment From Noah
I wouldn’t be surprised if the Royals aren’t in playoffs next year. Losing Shields is one thing; losing Cueto, Zobrist, and Gordon is another.
10:07
Craig Edwards: Making the playoffs is hard, and next year might be the year the young Cleveland team rises up.
10:08
Comment From TomSawyer
I’m with you on Cleveland.
10:08
August Fagerstrom: Mets baseball right there. but the ball in play and force your opponent to make a mistake.
10:09
August Fagerstrom: Mets win expectancy, in a 1-0 game, currently 88%
10:09
August Fagerstrom: what just happened
10:09
Comment From Phil
Herrera up. Do we see Davis unless they have the lead?
10:09
Craig Edwards: or a tie in the ninth.
10:10
August Fagerstrom: that probably hurts a bit
10:10
August Fagerstrom: gotta love “Let’s Go Yo” chants
10:10
Comment From Boo Urns
Ned Yost: Best bullpen, slowest hook.
10:10
Craig Edwards: he definitely has not been as aggressive this postseason compared to last.
10:11
Comment From The Hamburglar
More than anything, I’m just not ready for the season to end and want more games played
10:11
Craig Edwards: same
10:11
August Fagerstrom: offseason can be fun too!
10:11
Comment From Tears will Flores
Only two outcomes if he finishes the at bat: GS or K
10:12
Comment From TomSawyer
Roy Hobbs moment ….
10:12
Comment From Rick
Could putting in a terrible reliever negatively affect Win Expectancy?
10:13
August Fagerstrom: nope it’s just base/out state. mentally adjust for the players on the field
10:14
August Fagerstrom: oh, man. he doesn’t look good at all
10:14
August Fagerstrom: Lagares will be entering the game in the top half
10:15
August Fagerstrom: could be Cespedes’ last moment as a Met?
10:15
Comment From Phil
They just gave up an out keeping him in there. He was never going back in the field.
10:15
Comment From The Hamburglar
So stupid. Because Cespedes wanted to pull a one in a million Kirk Gibson moment, he cost his team a chance at a run, when clearly he was nowhere near healthy enough to hit
10:15
Craig Edwards: Cespedes didn’t make that decision, though.
10:17
Comment From Zorrobrist
Ah, so that’s why the Royals didn’t score in the sixth. They can’t just come back. It has to be a multi-run comeback. Now here we go.
10:18
Comment From The Hamburglar
Bases loaded, no outs. Mets will get 1 run. This is why the Royals are able to keep coming back in these games
10:18
August Fagerstrom: bases loaded, no outs, Mets win expectancy: 91%
10:19
August Fagerstrom: end of inning win expectancy: 85%
10:20
Comment From TomSawyer
Actual expectancy: about 25%
10:20
Comment From Implied Oral Consent
2 run Mets lead. This series is over. Chill the champagne in the Royals clubhouse
10:21
Comment From Derek
Lil late to the chat. Why is Yost leaving Edision in there? Do you think he’s playing for game 6 and 7 in KC? Is that even a good idea?
10:21
Craig Edwards: He had looked good, but Yost likely weighed a tired Volquez against a tired bullpen. Looks like he got pretty lucky, but this is not even the first time this has happened this postseason with Volquez.
10:21
Comment From Zoroni
You have to think that its just going to be Harvey/Familia right?
10:21
Comment From The Hamburglar
This will be the infamous inning which will spurn many articles tomorrow about leaving Harvey in too long
10:22
August Fagerstrom: should be a short hook this inning for sure. Gotta have someone ready to bridge the gap between Harvey/Familia
10:22
Comment From mapsamountainrange
Each game’s hat poll I’ve seen show people picking the Mets but 98% of the comments in the chat are about how the Royals are going to win.
10:23
August Fagerstrom: kinda sums up the Royals perfectly though right
10:23
August Fagerstrom:
Strike zone update: threat level yellow
10:26
August Fagerstrom: This Mets crowd is awesome tonight
10:26
Comment From Zoroni
Harvey! The man has risen to the ocassion
10:27
Comment From The Hamburglar
If Harvey gets through this inning, do you go to the bullpen in the 8th? It’d be the 4th time through the lineup at that point
10:27
Craig Edwards: I don’t let him face Zobrist.
10:28
Comment From Zoroni
Although his night looks to be done with a PH likely in the bottom of the inning
10:31
Comment From Zoroni
Yes
10:31
August Fagerstrom: that hit ends Harvey’s night, probably
10:32
August Fagerstrom: welp
10:33
Comment From Justin
This seems dangerous.
10:33
Comment From Mike
This feels like a mistake..
10:33
Comment From Siegmeyer of Catarina
I dont think Harvey hits if Flores gets on
10:33
August Fagerstrom: agreed
10:34
Comment From Jaack
Terry Collins apparently accepted Yost’s challenge as to who could keep their starter in too long.
10:34
Comment From Pablo Sandovals Negative WAR
The double play makes this an easier call, but I’d take Harvey for a fourth TTO over Clippard being terrible again
10:35
August Fagerstrom: perhaps telegraphing the level of confidence Collins has in his non-Familia relievers
10:36
Comment From Zoroni
Definitely dont trust Clippard. Reed was hit hard last time. Robles is a wild one. Colon and Niese arent exactly anyones definition of a good high leverage option. Gilmartin is collecting dust. Thor?
10:37
August Fagerstrom: let Harvey face batters a 4th time before you use Thor. I don’t think that’s even an option
10:38
August Fagerstrom: Colon/Niese honestly seem like the most trustworthy candidates right now. I’m a big Robles fan too but he seems pretty low on the pecking order
10:38
Comment From The Hamburglar
Do you agree with leaving Harvey in?
10:38
Craig Edwards: I wouldn’t have done it.
10:38
Comment From Eric
I answered yes to the poll because even if Harvey were as good as his PH replacement, he should be taken out anyway.
10:38
Comment From Siegmeyer of Catarina
2 outs no one on? I dknt have a problem. Especially withhow the Mets bullpen has pitched this series.
10:39
Comment From CJ
OK We know now . Famila the next guy
10:40
Comment From ZenMadman
I know I’m alone here, but I’d let Harvey pitch the 9th if he gets one more quick out here.
10:40
August Fagerstrom: AWESOME Mets crowd. Awesome.
10:41
Comment From Siegmeyer of Catarina
I think it is defensible. Neither a good nor bad decision.
10:41
Craig Edwards: He got the desired result.
10:42
August Fagerstrom: Harvey just shoved.
10:42
August Fagerstrom: of course
10:42
Comment From Justin
Heat Familia, let Harvey go out for the 9th. Why not? He’s not pitching again this year, most likely.
10:42
Comment From Siegmeyer of Catarina
I think Familia has to come in now. No way should harvey face the middle of the order.
10:42
Comment From xmx
Let him start the 9th!
10:43
Comment From The Hamburglar
You cant leave Harvey in for the 9th, right? Familia has 2 blown saves, but he’s really only thrown one bad mistake pitch
10:43
August Fagerstrom: consensus!
10:43
August Fagerstrom: I say no, FWIW
10:44
August Fagerstrom: I hate the “let him go until he puts a guy on” tactic. When he puts a guy on, the Mets are suddenly one pitch away from a tie game.
10:44
Comment From Dakota McKee
I changed my mind about trading Matt Harvey. I think the Mets should keep him.
10:44
Craig Edwards: I have a feeling you are not alone in that thought.
10:46
Comment From Siegmeyer of Catarina
I dont care what the numbers say. I love watching starters go deep. No matter how irrational it is. Of course not every starter should have the beneift of the doubt.
10:46
August Fagerstrom: Well, Matt Harvey told TC “no way you’re taking me out”
10:46
August Fagerstrom: Kinda love that
10:46
August Fagerstrom: even though I think its in the Mets best interest to let Familia start the inning clean
10:47
Comment From peachesnnuts
yeah that was great work by Fox right there
10:47
Comment From Jack Skellington
Awesome dugout exchange
10:47
Comment From xmx
I absolutely love that.
10:47
Comment From Siegmeyer of Catarina
The rational part of my brain says “take him out” though.
10:47
August Fagerstrom: ^this is where I’m at
10:47
Comment From Zorrobrist
I think they keep Harvey on because Jeurys is so hittable atm
10:47
August Fagerstrom: just like Harvey was so hittable coming into tonight too
10:48
Comment From TomSawyer
The Mets have no legitimate defensive replacements d they ? reynolds ? Uribe ?
10:48
Craig Edwards: Not really. Lagares is in already.
10:50
Comment From TomSawyer
I hate the idea of having Familia blow a third save, considering how great he was all year.
10:50
Craig Edwards: maybe he won’t?
10:50
August Fagerstrom: great quip from Rosenthal
10:51
August Fagerstrom: Harvey is pitching the ninth.
10:51
August Fagerstrom: let the record show, this chat was 2-to-1 against this decision
10:52
August Fagerstrom: Mets win expectancy currently 94%
10:52
Comment From TomSawyer
I meant at 2B or SS.
10:52
Craig Edwards: Tejada injury pretty much took care of that possibility, unfortunately.
10:53
Comment From Sgt. Pepper
Who has a 94% chance of having to chat with us tomorrow
10:53
Comment From Siegmeyer of Catarina
fangraphs chatters should make all in game decisions.
10:53
August Fagerstrom: The Dream Team, Cameron and Sullivan, have the final two games
10:54
August Fagerstrom: if necessary!
10:54
August Fagerstrom: I can’t get enough of this Mets crowd tonight. Awesome
10:54
Comment From Eric
This is so silly, the reason why you employ a manager is to say no to the player in this circumstances.
10:55
Comment From peachesnnuts
Statistically, isn’t either decision overwhelmingly likely to work out?
10:55
August Fagerstrom: yes, but it’s all about putting yourself in the best position!
10:56
Comment From CJ
Schilling comparison should be driving Boras nets
10:56
Comment From CJ
Nuts
10:56
Comment From Stinky Pete
Oh to be a fly on Scott Boras’ wall right now
10:56
Comment From mtsw
Reason so much managerial conventional wisdom is centered around keeping players happy is that in a 162 game season its not a huge tradeoff versus optimal tactics. World Series is totally opposite.
10:56
Craig Edwards: this is a good point
10:56
August Fagerstrom: welp
10:56
August Fagerstrom: Familia. Now
10:56
August Fagerstrom: wow
10:56
Comment From TomSawyer
He needs to come out now …
10:56
Comment From The Hamburglar
This is so stupid.
10:56
Comment From larryv
wait wat
10:56
Comment From Siegmeyer of Catarina
Ok this is stupid
10:56
Comment From Zoroni
Oh boy. Please dont let it end like this.
10:57
August Fagerstrom: oh boy
10:57
August Fagerstrom: Royals have gained back 14% of win expectancy
10:58
August Fagerstrom: Now 31%!
10:58
Craig Edwards: The poll was right.
10:58
August Fagerstrom: Odds are now 65/35 Mets. Was just 94% a second ago
10:58
Comment From CJ
This is so not fair to both Harvey and Familia
10:59
Comment From Sgt. Pepper
At least Jeurys is very Familia with this type of situation.
11:00
Comment From Adrianna
Harold Reynolds “you can’t say no to the player (harvey)”. So why bother having a manager if they aren’t going to make such decisions?
11:00
Craig Edwards: this is a very good question that rarely yields a satisfactory answer.
11:01
Comment From The Hamburglar
Debate all you want about starting Harvey in the inning, but letting him face Hosmer is pretty much inexcusable
11:01
Craig Edwards: I don’t think you should ever start a pitcher in an inning where you are willing to take him out if he lets one guy get on.
11:01
August Fagerstrom: agreed
11:01
August Fagerstrom: might agree more with Craig’s response though
11:02
August Fagerstrom: Tying run to third base.
11:03
Comment From Mike
jeez.. I love baseball…
11:03
Craig Edwards: me too
11:03
August Fagerstrom: Oh my god.
11:04
August Fagerstrom: Are you serious, Eric Hosmer
11:04
August Fagerstrom: He looked like he was going to be out by a MILE
11:04
Comment From Nick
holy crap
11:04
Comment From Zoroni
Holy crap
11:04
August Fagerstrom: how do you make that read
11:04
August Fagerstrom: this Royals team is absoutely god damn unbelievable
11:05
Comment From Sgt. Pepper
If they win the WS that’s their “moment”
11:05
Comment From Implied Oral Consent
I don’t believe what i just saw.
11:05
Comment From Zoroni
how do you have the balls to do that
11:05
Comment From Siegmeyer of Catarina
Terrible play by Duda
11:06
Comment From Eric
Giving Familia a blown save is very unfair here.
11:06
Comment From old tex
so much for headlines about matt harvey’s gem
11:06
Comment From uhhhh
was it outstanding baserunning or just a terrible throw by duda?
11:06
August Fagerstrom: might have been both
11:06
August Fagerstrom: quick glances at the replay, it actually looks like it might have been closer at home than I’d originally expected
11:06
August Fagerstrom: ehhhh good throw gets him. nevermind.
11:08
Comment From james
that’s a terrible decision by hosmer – it’s the process not the outcome, remember?
11:08
Craig Edwards: Big change in win expectancy, though. Might have been worth the risk.
11:09
Comment From The Hamburglar
These last 2 Royal come backs though are 100% due to bad decisions and errors though
11:09
Craig Edwards: and devilmagic
11:09
August Fagerstrom: from Tango: Hosmer added 0.35 wins with that run. Had he been thrown out, would have cost 0.17 W. Basically, needed to be safe 33% of time to justify.
11:10
August Fagerstrom: wow, Harvey’s reaction was brutal
11:10
August Fagerstrom: gut-wrenching
11:11
Comment From CJ
Was it Hosmer or the 3rd base coach?
11:11
Craig Edwards: Hosmer on this one.
11:12
Comment From Siegmeyer of Catarina
Harvey and Familia were set up to fail.
11:12
Craig Edwards: it does not look like either one was put in the best possible situation to succeed.
11:13
Comment From johndango
The best argument for the Mets to win here: We get more amazing baseball.
11:13
Comment From Phil
I’m sure Eric “barrels” Hosmer was doing the Tango math in his head.
11:14
Comment From Zorrobrist
barrels? What does barrels mean? I don’t get the reference
11:14
August Fagerstrom: barrel of the bat. cliche hitters go-to when talking about hitting. “i’m just trying to put the barrel on the ball”
11:14
August Fagerstrom: Hosmer is one of those guys
11:15
Comment From Zorrobrist
Extra Innings is ALSO “more amazing baseball”.
11:15
Comment From Zorrobrist
Yes
11:15
Comment From Noah
That was one of the worst decisions I’ve ever seen.
11:15
Comment From Jordan
I never want to hear Eric referred to anything but “Barrels” Hosmer ever again
11:17
Comment From jc
the worst part about this, is theres almost no way the mets make it back next year or any time soon
11:17
Craig Edwards: No reason to be that down on them. Also, the game is not over.
11:18
August Fagerstrom: Funny that, at 0-0 before the game started, the poll was 73/27, Mets. Now, at 2-2 in the 10th, it’s 63/37, Royals
11:18
Comment From Nick
same could have been said about the Royals last year…
11:18
Comment From Designated Bitter
Well, you got me fangraphs. I have now logged into your site because baseball is awesome and I need to chat with you about it.
11:18
Comment From Siegmeyer of Catarina
Royals 100% win expectency now
11:18
Comment From Zoroni
Hilaroud August. Just belly laughs all around 🙁
11:19
August Fagerstrom: sorry 🙁
11:19
Comment From jc
its not funny, you take harvey ver volquez, you dont take the mets pen over the royals pen
11:19
August Fagerstrom: not saying I disagree with it. just a funny observation
11:19
Comment From mtsw
When do you bring in Davis, if you’re Yost?
11:19
August Fagerstrom: ASAP. You win this game now.
11:19
August Fagerstrom: no sense in waiting.
11:20
Comment From Phil
Do we see Davis in the 10th for KC, or wait until they have the lead?
11:20
Craig Edwards: I would put him in.
11:20
Comment From Mike
Serious stupid question: is WE at 50% now?
11:20
August Fagerstrom: start of the inning: yes. After Morales K: 55% Mets
11:20
Craig Edwards: Consensus!
11:20
August Fagerstrom: 58% with home field advantage
11:21
Comment From Noah
WE doesn’t know about Wade Davis
11:21
August Fagerstrom: this is a fact
11:21
Comment From Nick
WE is also neutral of the players pitching, part of the lineup due up, etc..?
11:21
August Fagerstrom: yes. adjust mentally in your head. shouldn’t be much though!
11:21
August Fagerstrom: these teams both have plenty of good players!
11:22
Comment From Ullu Ka Patta
WE need a Davis Quotient. It causes your formula to divide itself by zero and then strike out
11:22
Comment From Jordan
It seem silly to account for homefield in WE when players, etc. are not factored in anyway
11:22
August Fagerstrom: it’s a constant, though.
11:22
Comment From CJ
Davis only for 1 inning though, right?
11:22
August Fagerstrom: don’t think this necessarily has to be the case
11:23
Comment From Tom
No need to save Davis, with the off day tomorrow. Let him go two unless the first one goes long.
11:23
August Fagerstrom: Buck saying Davis only available for 1 inning, apparently.
11:23
Comment From Corey
Yost said before the game he’s only available for one inning after two yesterday.
11:24
Comment From Yosting
familia looking great right now
11:24
Craig Edwards: for sure
11:24
August Fagerstrom: Nasty stuff from Familia in that inning. Oh boy, this game.
11:24
Comment From Siegmeyer of Catarina
Davis not a true talent 0.00 era pitcher
11:24
Craig Edwards: do we know that for sure?
11:24
Comment From Zorrobrist
MEts have a pretty good offense too btw. Im nervous
11:24
August Fagerstrom: press box rule: you get to call one a game, and no one can judge you when you’re wrong. calling it now — Conforto walk-off
11:25
August Fagerstrom: it’s just crazy enough to work!
11:25
Comment From Nick
this may have been asked, but where is marlins man?
11:25
Craig Edwards: in this case, ignorance is bliss.
11:25
Comment From Zoroni
Flores walk off seems most storybook
11:25
Comment From Jaack
Dammit August, I was just typing a Conforto prediction
11:25
Comment From Siegmeyer of Catarina
No walk off hrs this post season, right?
11:25
August Fagerstrom: i thiiiink?
11:26
Comment From Nick
Flores walk off is game 7 though
11:27
Comment From Nick

this poll attendance graph is fun:
11:27
August Fagerstrom: wonder what caused the spike
11:27
Comment From Satoshi
Yep,no walk off HR’s. The only walk off at all was Hosmer’s sac fly.
11:27
Comment From Sgt. Pepper
Bartolo Colon pinch hit walk-off in the 19th
11:27
Comment From Andy
Flores walk-off in game 7? Will the Mets trade him before then?
11:27
Comment From The Hamburglar
Flores hitting a walk off HR in KC in Game 7 would be unreal. Literally.
11:27
Comment From Mike
Drama is high but I hope to go to bed before 1:30 tonight….
11:27
Craig Edwards: priorities
11:28
August Fagerstrom: Yost probably saving Davis for top of the order, I’d guess
11:28
August Fagerstrom: Be surprised if Hochevar faces more than 3
11:29
August Fagerstrom: I wouldn’t let him, at least
11:29
Comment From Siegmeyer of Catarina
Should play a drinking game where you drink when Harold bitches about the shift
11:29
August Fagerstrom: dead
11:29
Comment From Siegmeyer of Catarina
Davis so good you lose runs when he pitches
11:29
Craig Edwards: the math checks out.
11:30
Comment From Tom
Which manager do you like better to properly handle extra innings?
11:30
August Fagerstrom: in this game? flip a coin. probably Yost
11:30
August Fagerstrom: touuuugh pitch.
11:30
Comment From james
would u let familia go 3?
11:30
Craig Edwards: I’d bring him out and then if he lets anybody get on, bring in a reliev…oh wait. That seems like a bad idea. I think I go to the pen.
11:30
Comment From Gabe
What a great inning. If only they had brought him in with nobody on base and a 2-run lead.
11:31
August Fagerstrom: no Conforto walkoff
11:31
Comment From Pontoons
Almost, August. Almost.
11:31
Comment From ZenMadman
No Conforto walkoff…yet.
11:31
Comment From Nick
yet
11:31
Comment From Tom
no Conforto walkoff yet*
11:31
Comment From Tom
If Davis can only go one, does that make it justifiable to go with Hochever instead here? Since you’ll need to get 6 outs to win it, with the last three being Davis?
11:31
Craig Edwards: unless you never get to the second three outs.
11:32
August Fagerstrom: High-leverage Kelly Johnson
11:32
Comment From Zoroni
We forgot about potential Surprise Uribe walk off
11:32
Craig Edwards: This would be amazing.
11:32
August Fagerstrom: KELLY JOHNSON CAN “HIT THE BIG FLT WITH THE BEST OF ‘EM”
11:32
Comment From Pablo Sandovals Negative WAR
BONDS, SOSA, MCGWIRE, TROUT, RUTH, KELLY JOHNSON
11:32
Comment From Jaack
Kelly Johnson=Barry Bonds
11:33
Comment From Andy
He literally can. He occasionally hits a bit fly, and sits in the general vicinity of the best of them.
11:33
August Fagerstrom: that was a big fly, indeed.
11:34
August Fagerstrom:

11:34
August Fagerstrom: so, yeah.
11:35
August Fagerstrom: good throw, he’s out.
11:35
Comment From Tom
Yeah, but you have to get the 6 outs, no matter what, in some order. So does it matter if you fail to get the first three or the last three?
11:35
Craig Edwards: I would never want to leave my best arm unused.
11:35
August Fagerstrom: question is, though, how often is there a good throw!
11:35
Comment From Sgt. Pepper
How do you guys get to decide who writes about the Hosmer play?
11:35
August Fagerstrom: i’d like to put it kind of seems like Sullivan territory. whoever claims it first. we’ll see how the rest of this game pans out.
11:35
August Fagerstrom: as of this moment, I’ve got no clue what to write about!
11:36
Comment From Anus McGrundleburger
Has to be 2 good throws. If Wright’s throw isn’t almost perfect they have no chance
11:36
Comment From The Hamburglar
Dave Cameron surely gets to write about the leaving Harvey in call, right?
11:36
August Fagerstrom: seems up his alley
11:36
Comment From Ullu Ka Patta
That is the benefit of playing from ahead. Good throw – you are still up one. Bad throw, you could win the series tonight
11:36
August Fagerstrom: agreed, I think that certainly plays a role in evaluating the decision.
11:36
Comment From Ryan
Duda ranked 17th out of 24 1b in arm accuracy, according to Fangraphs’ fan rankings. Surely Hosmer was simply running on the scouting report.
11:36
August Fagerstrom: interesting
11:37
Comment From Designated Bitter
I’m sorry, but are you publishing posts from ‘Anus McGrundleburger’ right now? For real?
11:37
August Fagerstrom: I don’t notice the names, really. and if I did, I would definitely publish as many posts by “Anus McGrundleburger” as I could.
11:37
Comment From Sgt. Pepper
“Is Bartolo Colon’s 19th Inning Walk-Off the Most Unlikely Event in Baseball History?”-By August Fagerstrom
11:37
August Fagerstrom: title could use condensing
11:38
Comment From machetko
Does Syndergaard get consideration here? or Degrom? They should.
11:38
August Fagerstrom: I don’t think so
11:38
Comment From TomSawyer
I think the general idea was – the Mets D is lousy, take every shot you can.
11:38
Comment From Jordan
I love when someone has a ridiculous screen-name but is otherwise levelheaded in his or her hot takes
11:38
August Fagerstrom: this is a hidden pleasure of the internet
11:39
Comment From Guest
What have been the dumbest words said tonight on the broadcast? I’m guessing it will be from harold but anything works.
11:39
August Fagerstrom: might have been just minutes ago: “Kelly Johnson hits the big fly with the best of them”
11:39
August Fagerstrom: Hosmer
11:39
Craig Edwards: Pasta diving Lucas Duda
11:39
Comment From Jordan
“Barrels” sure is a gamer
11:40
Comment From Poor Mans Rick Reed
Whatever words Terry Collins used to allow Harvey back out for the 9th.
11:41
August Fagerstrom: Hosmer baserunning GOAT
11:41
Comment From The Hamburglar
Hosmer most definitely scores here. It fits too perfectly
11:41
Comment From Zoroni
Hosmer can be rearranged to spell Homers. Coincidence? Unlikely.
11:42
Comment From Xmx
So Collins already said Matz will not be used again this post season. When 25man roster spots are at a premium why use one for 6 innings?
11:42
Craig Edwards: Six innings can be pretty valuable.
11:42
August Fagerstrom: MY HEART
11:42
August Fagerstrom: HEART GONNA BEAT OUT OF CHEST
11:42
Comment From larryv
that fly looked iffy for a bit
11:42
August Fagerstrom: thought it was serious trouble off the bat
11:43
Comment From Ryan
Hosmer tied for best baserunning among first basemen this year. Seems like a very underrated part of his game. http://www.fangraphs.com/le…
11:43
Comment From The Hamburglar
Can someone just end it one way or the other? I dont feel like staying up til 1:30 only to see a sac fly end it in unspectacular fashion
11:43
August Fagerstrom: I was up until 5am writing my post last night. I’d really like an early finish, but I think I’d even rather have a great baseball game
11:44
August Fagerstrom: and by “early” finish I of course mean “sooner, rather than later”
11:44
Comment From Pablo Sandovals Negative WAR
Is it just me, or is d’arnaud a terrible catcher? Forget the framing stuff, but his blocking pitches and throwing to second has been seemingly horrific
11:44
Craig Edwards: pitchers are part of that, too.
11:44
Comment From Siegmeyer of Catarina
Do bloggers have to wake up early?
11:44
August Fagerstrom: I’ve been waking up at 7:30 throughout the postseason to get my post in by ~11ish
11:44
August Fagerstrom: not the norm, though. in the offseason I’ll write posts day before
11:45
August Fagerstrom: Granderson’s been the Mets’ best player so far in this WS. Let’s see if he can keep it going
11:46
Comment From Noah
Is there any doubt that Terry deserves to be fired after the last two games? They got to the World Series in spite of him, not because of him.
11:46
Craig Edwards: That’s not happening. Almost all games are won by players. Managers get too much credit/blame, and he managed a team that won the pennant.
11:46
Comment From Noah
How is luke hochevar doing this
11:46
August Fagerstrom: I just learned that Luke Hochevar had way worse of a regular season than I thought he had.
11:47
Comment From Zorrobrist
I want to read blog posts first thing in my morning before my boss comes!
11:47
Craig Edwards: noted
11:47
Comment From Zoroni
Still cant believe the Mets only have 3 hits. And one started the game!
11:47
Comment From Ace
Btw, from a selfish, I want more baseball perspective and NARRATIVE, I want Wright to hit a HR here. That, or Wilmer Flores.
11:48
August Fagerstrom: Nice positioning by Orlando in RF
11:48
August Fagerstrom: Murphy walkoff could be the greatest moment right now
11:50
August Fagerstrom: Passan saying that Royals scouts he’s talked to were willing to make Duda throw the ball, FWIW
11:50
Comment From TomSawyer
That was a strike …
11:51
August Fagerstrom: very nice take by Murphy
11:51
Comment From lowercase jeff
Rank Wright/Flores/Murphy in terms of how incredible their hypothetical walkoffs would be
11:51
August Fagerstrom: right now? Murphy/Flores/Wright
11:52
Comment From The Hamburglar
Wouldn’t Duda be the most incredible walk off, given he had a direct impact in the outcome of this game thus far?
11:52
August Fagerstrom: he’d slot between Murphy and Flores
11:52
August Fagerstrom: fat pitch Lagares just took
11:52
Craig Edwards: I don’t think you look to the on deck circle to get your outs. Seems like poor strategy.
11:53
Comment From The Hamburglar
“If he steals he steals” that seems silly
11:53
Craig Edwards: Maybe he just really likes Rocky IV.
11:53
August Fagerstrom: insanely so
11:54
Comment From James Anthony
my comments dont work wtf..
11:55
August Fagerstrom: they need to be approved! and we get a lot of them! sorry if they’re not all getting through
11:55
August Fagerstrom: plenty don’t
11:55
Comment From Eric
I have to be at work at 7:30 tomorrow. Can we do a poll to ask how many more innings I should be willing to stay up?
11:55
August Fagerstrom: a team could win the World Series tonight. you stay up for all of them.
11:55
Comment From Siegmeyer of Catarina
This game ill end with a tootblan again
11:56
August Fagerstrom: god I hope not
11:56
August Fagerstrom: I nominated TOOTBLAN for least pleasing way for a game to end, ever
11:56
Comment From Designated Bitter
That’s physically impossible, August. There is a theoretical number where all of us would bail on this game
11:56
August Fagerstrom: death isn’t a number
11:56
Comment From Siegmeyer of Catarina
What about a balk?
11:56
August Fagerstrom: I think walkoff balks are pretty exciting, actually, just in its rarity. Rather have that than a TOOTBLAN
11:57
August Fagerstrom: AND IT BEGINS…
11:57
Comment From Noah
Bloop single. Fitting.
11:57
Comment From Xmx
How about a walkoff interference call at 3rd?
11:58
August Fagerstrom: again, rare enough where it would be interesting. TOOTBLAN is the perfect mix of “seeing an athlete at his worst, sucks” and “happens enough to not be rare and interesting”
11:58
Comment From Designated Bitter
Coming this summer, to theaters near you. “Death isn’t a number”
11:59
Comment From Guest
TOOTBLAN?
11:59
August Fagerstrom: Thrown Out On The Bases Like A Nincompoop
11:59
August Fagerstrom: AKA how last night’s game ended
11:59
August Fagerstrom: Dyson’d
12:00
Comment From Mike
What’s WE for KC now?
12:00
August Fagerstrom: Royals lead, 77-23%
12:00
August Fagerstrom: Fun fact: Sal Perez’s single is the first time they were favorites all night!
12:01
August Fagerstrom: now, at this second, they’re heavy favorites
12:01
Comment From Gabe
How have the Mets been completely unable to throw runners out? D’Arnaud isn’t THAT bad.
12:01
Comment From Siegmeyer of Catarina
D’arnaud takes forever to throw
12:01
August Fagerstrom: ^^
12:01
August Fagerstrom: mostly on the pitchers, though
12:01
Comment From Pablo Sandovals Negative WAR
After watching this series, I really don’t see KC as being anything more than a very lucky good team
12:01
Craig Edwards: probably true for almost all World Series winners.
12:01
August Fagerstrom: generally speaking, at least.
12:03
August Fagerstrom: situation only
12:03
Comment From statfreak
Luck is the new market inefficiency
12:04
August Fagerstrom: times like these I’d love to have heart rate monitors on players
12:04
Comment From peachesnnuts
#weirdbaseball
12:04
August Fagerstrom: who, on the field right now, do you think has the highest heart rate? gotta be Reed or Dyson, right?
12:04
August Fagerstrom: Royals now at 70-30, btw
12:05
Comment From Thomas
Would Dyson dare attempt a steal of home?
12:05
Craig Edwards: no, but would be awesome to see.
12:05
Comment From Designated Bitter
Heart rate monitors on players would be FANTASTIC. How do we make this happen
12:05
August Fagerstrom: believe it’s been talked about
12:05
August Fagerstrom: seems unlikely but it’s a thing that’s been thought of before right now
12:05
Comment From divcoman
European soccer players wear heart monitors.
12:05
Comment From Ullu Ka Patta
Colon – his resting heart rate is just that high
12:06
Comment From Evan
How far behind 1B does the pop up to Duda have to be to send Dyson?
12:06
Craig Edwards: in the grass?
12:06
August Fagerstrom: second time that the absence of Jonny Gomes on this postseason roster has been glaring
12:06
Comment From Designated Bitter
If Dyson steals home, the Mets shouldn’t get to bat in the 12th. Just end it there.
12:06
Comment From TomSawyer
How about real balls/strikes before heart rate monitors.
12:07
August Fagerstrom: one of these things dramatically affects the way baseball is played
12:07
August Fagerstrom: Christian Colon.
12:07
August Fagerstrom: Christian.
12:07
August Fagerstrom: Colon.
12:09
Comment From Ullu Ka Patta
Huh – I am not entirely sure I knew he was on the team
12:09
August Fagerstrom: oh no Murphy
12:09
August Fagerstrom: oh no
12:09
August Fagerstrom: 🙁
12:09
August Fagerstrom: looked like it jumped up and bit him
12:09
Comment From Aunt Jessie
According to wikipedia, “”Christian Anthony Colón (born May 14, 1989) is a Puerto Rican professional baseball shortstop for the Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball.”” Huh.
12:09
Comment From Anus McGrundleburger
BOOTBLAN
12:09
Comment From Zorrobrist
Daniel “Boots” Murphy
12:09
Comment From Ace
How many runs do the Royals score here? 13? 17?
12:11
Craig Edwards: Harold Reynolds saying these managers know their players after Collins left Harvey in to start the ninth…
12:12
Comment From Designated Bitter
FOX should stay on the game and not cut to commercial after the third out when the teams switch sides. It will add drama.
12:13
Comment From James Anthony
so again how much of sample size do we need for clutch rating on players and teams?
12:13
August Fagerstrom: we’ve got massive, massive samples. It’s just not predictive. This Royals team has been excellent at it.
12:14
Comment From Phillies113
This does not bode well for Team More Baseball
12:14
Craig Edwards: indeed
12:14
August Fagerstrom: Royals being given theoretical 100% odds to win the game right now
12:15
Comment From The Hamburglar
It pisses me off even more that all of us who say “Collins shouldnt have left Harvey in” will be seen as Monday Morning Quarterbacks, when we preached it at the exact time that it was ridiculously dumb
12:15
Craig Edwards: there was a poll and everything.
12:16
August Fagerstrom: all of you who have been giving the Royals 100% odds since the fourth are finally proved right
12:16
August Fagerstrom: @McCulloughStar: They are heading for the exits at Citi Field.
12:17
Comment From old tex
yeah, but saber dudes always say take out the starter
12:17
Craig Edwards: Yep. There is a reason for that.
12:17
Comment From anon
if you were building a team from scratch, what qualities would you look for?
12:17
August Fagerstrom: the best players
12:18
Comment From larryv
Reynolds even straight up said that no one watching the game would have taken Harvey out. clearly he doesn’t spend any time on FanGraphs
12:18
August Fagerstrom: think we knew that before tonight
12:18
Comment From BG3
Grit, clutch, luck
12:18
August Fagerstrom: This one’s over.
12:18
Craig Edwards: well this is just mean
12:18
August Fagerstrom: The Royals are going to be champions of the world.
12:20
August Fagerstrom: Alex Gordon
12:21
Comment From Zorrobrist
I want to vote Zobrist but that will make him more expensive and harder for the Royals to keep (as if they had a chance) so I’m going with Wade Davis
12:21
Comment From Tears will Flores
“Barrels” MVP
12:21
Comment From Designated Bitter
If you don’t vote for Ben Zobrist, I’m gonna need you to turn in your FanGraphs I.D. card
12:22
August Fagerstrom: Ben Zobrist appears to be the chat favorite for WS MVP.
12:22
Comment From Robo
The Royals are the kings of jumping down your throat when you make the slightest mistake
12:22
Comment From WayfaringStranger
Does Harvey bear any responsibility for insisting on staying in? Apparently the decision had been made but he fought it. Understandable to a point, but does he need to trust his manager and not put him in that position? Or is it on Collins regardless; he has the authority in the end?
12:22
Craig Edwards: It is Harvey’s job to give all that he can on the field. It is Collins’ job to decide when that is not best for the team.
12:23
August Fagerstrom: my gut instinct is that he’s an athlete, and that’s what he’s wired to do
12:25
Comment From anon
When would you have pulled harvey? after the 8th, after the leadoff walk or the double?
12:25
Craig Edwards: I would have pinch hit for him in the seventh.
12:26
Comment From TomSawyer
And who would you have pitch the 8th ….
12:26
Craig Edwards: probably Familia.
12:27
Comment From The Hamburglar
Are we seriously calling Colon a good draft pick now?
12:27
Craig Edwards: #thepickworked
12:27
August Fagerstrom: Cover It Live finally killed my web browser
12:27
August Fagerstrom: I can no longer publish your comments
12:27
August Fagerstrom: sorry folks. stay on it, Craig
12:28
Comment From Noah
8th inning was against the bottom of the order. Different animal to let him face of meat of the order at 100+ pitches
12:28
Comment From CJ
Collins played with fire on 8th, got away with it, did it again and got burned.
12:28
Craig Edwards: pretty much
12:29
Comment From Designated Bitter
August, if you’re reading this and need to be rescued, blink twice.
12:29
August Fagerstrom: I’m back! for now!
12:29
August Fagerstrom: ninth time is a charm. we’ll see if it lasts.
12:29
Craig Edwards: That’s 2.
12:29
August Fagerstrom: you guys need a Royals win expectancy update or nah?
12:30
Comment From Ullu Ka Patta
Kendrys Morales is telling cautionary tales about celebratory scrums in the dugout
12:30
Comment From Designated Bitter
Craig is handsome. August is decidedly less so.
12:30
August Fagerstrom: WHOA
12:30
Comment From CJ
Familia REALLY does not deserve this
12:31
Comment From Stringer Bell
August is very handsome
12:31
August Fagerstrom: CUETO
12:31
August Fagerstrom: BEAT WRITERS BETTER START REWRITING
12:31
Comment From Confused Englishman
I’m English, follow baseball through watching MLB Gameday, and even I was confused by the manager leaving Harvey in. Obviously you pull him out and it is the manager’s call
12:32
Comment From Stinky Pete
Win expectancy update??!
12:32
Craig Edwards: I believe the Royals expect to win and the Mets do not.
12:34
Comment From Eric
WE was 0.0 and now it’s 0.1. It just increased INFINITELY
12:34
August Fagerstrom: Champions.
12:34
Craig Edwards: Congrats Royals fans.
12:35
August Fagerstrom: That was a blast of a series. About as fun as a 4-1 could get, methinks. Super happy for the Royals and their fanbase. They deserve this one
12:35
August Fagerstrom: Thanks for chatting everybody. This was an absolute blast
12:35
Craig Edwards: Paulo Orlando out there with a Brazilian flag.
12:36
Comment From peachesnnuts
Thanks August and Craig
12:36
August Fagerstrom: thank you all!
12:36
Craig Edwards: Thanks everybody. Great game, great season. Have a nice night/morning.
12:38
August Fagerstrom: closing up shop now. goodnight all! thanks again





 

August used to cover the Indians for MLB and ohio.com, but now he's here and thinks writing these in the third person is weird. So you can reach me on Twitter @AugustFG_ or e-mail at august.fagerstrom@fangraphs.com.

18 Comments
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francis
8 years ago

Royals in 5.

1
ZenMadman
8 years ago
Reply to  francis

Oh, francis. At least you’re consistent?

-1
Noah Baronmember
8 years ago
Reply to  francis

Are you Terry Collins?

0
francis
8 years ago
Reply to  francis

No.

I’m Yostradamus …………

0