Ken Blaze-Imagn Images and Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Beyond offering the rare clash between number one seeds, this year’s World Series matchup between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Yankees is steeped in baseball history and — as anyone who’s read me over the past two and a half decades knows — is of great personal resonance. The last time the two teams met in the Fall Classic, in 1981, I was an 11-year-old baseball nut hoping his favorite team could avenge its back-to-back World Series losses from ’77 and ’78. I could never have imagined that I’d get to cover their next October matchup. For most of the country, this pairing’s biggest selling point beyond the top-seed aspect and the involvement of the sport’s two most storied franchises is the presence of the game’s two biggest stars. Both the Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani and the Yankees’ Aaron Judge are coming off historic seasons that will likely net them MVP awards, though things haven’t come quite so easily for either of them in the postseason.
We won’t officially know until November whether Judge and Ohtani both won the awards, but even working from the assumption that they will, this is hardly the first time that two likely MVPs have squared off in the World Series. In fact, it’s happened 25 times since 1931, with four such pairings from among the 11 times the Yankees and Dodgers have met. That said, it’s just the second such meeting since the start of the Wild Card era (1995 onward) and the sixth since the start of the Division era (1969 onward). MVP choices may be driven less by team success these days, but even when they are, the expanded playoff field makes getting to the World Series much harder:
I’m trying out a new format for our managerial report cards this postseason. In the past, I went through every game from every manager, whether they played 22 games en route to winning the World Series or got swept out of the Wild Card round. To be honest, I hated writing those brief blurbs. No one is all that interested in the manager who ran out the same lineup twice, or saw his starters get trounced and used his best relievers anyway because the series is so short. This year, I’m sticking to the highlights, and grading only the managers who survived until at least their League Championship series. Today, let’s talk about the first of that quartet to be eliminated: Stephen Vogt of the Cleveland Guardians.
My goal is to evaluate each manager in terms of process, not results. If you bring in your best pitcher to face their best hitter in a huge spot, that’s a good decision regardless of the outcome. Try a triple steal with the bases loaded only to have the other team make four throwing errors to score three runs? I’m probably going to call that a blunder even though it worked out. Managers do plenty of other things — getting team buy-in for new strategies or unconventional bullpen usage behind closed doors is a skill I find particularly valuable — but as I have no insight into how that’s accomplished or how each manager differs, I can’t exactly assign grades for it.
I’m also purposefully avoiding vague qualitative concerns like “trusting your veterans because they’ve been there before.” Playoff coverage lovingly focuses on clutch plays by proven performers, but David Fry and Kerry Carpenter were also great this October. Forget trusting your veterans; the playoffs are about trusting your best players. Juan Soto is important because he’s great, not because of the number of playoff series he’s appeared in. There’s nothing inherently good about having been around a long time; when I’m evaluating decisions, “but he’s a veteran” just doesn’t enter my thought process. Let’s get to it. Read the rest of this entry »
Location: San Diego, CA Department: Sports Science Reports To: Director, Sports Science Status: Seasonal; Non-Exempt
*This seasonal position will end after 6 months but less than 1 year from the start of employment.*
San Diego Padres Commitment:
The San Diego Padres are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment for our employees. We strive to create an environment for everyone by including perspectives from backgrounds that vary by race, ethnicity, religion, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, and national origin
We strongly encourage candidates from non-traditional backgrounds, historically marginalized or underrepresented groups to apply.
If you are not sure you’re 100% qualified but are up for the challenge – we want you to apply. We believe skills are transferable and passion for our mission goes a long way.
Your role as an Intern, Sports Science:
You will collect, organize, analyze and report player measurables including ball, bat, and body tracking data to help deliver actionable insights to stakeholders across multiple departments. You will aid in the creation, implementation, and monitoring of individualized Player Development goals.
All the responsibilities we will trust you with:
Overseeing the implementation of various technologies at affiliates or spring training complex
Obtaining expert-level knowledge of the interfaces of each technology. Ensuring the collection of data is seamless and unintrusive to the normal flow of the day
Conducting and ensuring proper and timely administration of tests/retests to evaluate physical and physiological responses to training
Working within an interdisciplinary team to build and generate accurate and actionable reports. Assisting with the interpretation of data & reports for multiple stakeholders
Contribute to the continued education of all players, coaches, and other staff on the technologies and analytics being used by the Padres and the meaning of their output for all facets of the game
Leveraging SQL and research skills to quickly conduct ad-hoc queries for PD coaches and staff
Assisting in the implementation and operation of Hawk-Eye data collection
Ensuring the Hawk-Eye unit is functioning properly for all games and relevant bullpen sessions, live BPs, etc.
Ensuring the accurate and organized collection of Hawk-Eye data for medical and/or R&D processes
Overseeing the transfer of Hawk-Eye data to all pertinent downstream users
Obtaining required knowledge to support the understanding and implementation of Hawk-Eye ball-, bat-, and player-tracking data to coaches
Timely interpretation and communication of pertinent data to key stakeholders
Assisting Player Development personnel with the integration of information provided by the other departments of Baseball Operations
Overseeing the implementation and use of the player dashboard, obtain expert level knowledge of its functions, and support in the communication of advance reports and other relevant data
Represents the Club in a positive and professional manner at all times
Other duties as assigned
Your areas of knowledge and expertise that matter most:
Maintain an understanding of current public baseball research and emerging statistical tools, datasets, and technologies
Proficiency in data visualization/interpretation and programming is a plus
Proficient computer skills including experience with MS Office products such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook, and general knowledge of office skills and use of office equipment
Possess strong communication skills, both written and verbal, and effectively work well with others in a collaborative, respectful manner
Exceptional time management and organizational skills with capacity to handle high volumes of detailed work, multi-task and manage projects on strict deadlines
Maintain professional demeanor with a high degree of discretion, integrity, and accountability
Maintain consistent, punctual, and reliable attendance
Fluently bilingual in English/Spanish a plus, but not necessary
You will be required to meet the following:
Must be at least 18 years of age by the start of employment
4-year Bachelor’s Degree or Master’s Degree in related field. Course work in biomechanics, sports science, or kinesiology is a plus
Able to work independently within a larger diverse team requiring constant communication
Able to work flexible hours including evenings, weekends, holidays and extended hours as needed
Able to travel as needed
Minimum physical requirements: able to travel to and gain access to various areas of the ballpark for prolonged periods of time during games and events; able to lift and transport up to 25 pounds
As a condition of employment, you must successfully complete all post-offer, pre-employment requirements, including but not limited to a background check
Pay and additional compensation:
The hourly pay range for this position is $14.35 – $16.00, depending on the affiliate location. Seasonal, non-union employees are subject to the respective state Minimum Wage and rates will increase accordingly.
In addition to your hourly rate, the Padres offer PTO, employee discounts, appreciation, and recognition opportunities.
The San Diego Padres are an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Sunday night’s NLCS Game 6 offered quite a contrast in its starting pitcher matchup. With a chance to push the series to a decisive Game 7, the Mets started Sean Manaea, a 32-year-old lefty who made a full complement of 32 starts during the regular season, set a career high for innings pitched (181 2/3), and had already made three strong postseason starts, allowing five runs across 17 innings. On the other side, with an opportunity to close out the series and claim their fourth pennant in eight seasons, the Dodgers tabbed Michael Kopech, a 28-year-old righty who started 27 games last year but hadn’t done so once this year, instead pitching out of the bullpen 67 times in the regular season and four more in the playoffs. The unorthodox choice owed to the Dodgers’ injury-wracked rotation. Los Angeles has barely been able to muster three workable starters for October, let alone four, and so manager Dave Roberts has resorted to sprinkling in bullpen games, with mixed results.
The ballgame turned out to be a mismatch, but not in the way you might have imagined. Kopech struggled with his control, throwing just 12 strikes out of his 25 pitches, walking two, and allowing one hit and one run. If he set a tone for the rest of the Dodgers staff, it was that this was going to be a grind, the outcome hinging on their ability to navigate out of traffic — which they did, stranding 13 runners while yielding “only” five runs. Meanwhile Manaea, who had limited the Dodgers to two hits and two earned runs over five innings in NLCS Game 2, lasted just two-plus innings and was battered for six hits while walking two. He was charged with five runs, four of which came off the bat of Tommy Edman in the form of a two-run double in the first inning and a two-run homer in the third.
The Dodgers weren’t expecting Kopech to go any deeper, leaving Roberts to follow a script that allowed him to utilize his remaining relievers to best effect (such as it was). The Mets harbored hopes that Manaea could at least pitch into the middle innings so that manager Carlos Mendoza could avoid deploying some of their lesser relievers, but the starter faltered so early that they didn’t have that luxury. As it was, the fifth run charged to Manaea scored when Phil Maton, already carrying an 8.44 ERA this October, was summoned with no outs in the third and didn’t escape before serving up a two-run homer to Will Smith. Faced with a 6-1 deficit, the Mets refused to go quietly, but went down just the same in a 10-5 loss that included 14 pitchers combining to allow 22 hits and 12 walks. It was excruciating viewing, and with a pennant on the line, one couldn’t help but wish instead for starters battling deep into the game. Alas, this was hardly atypical October baseball. Read the rest of this entry »
If you are driven to deliver exceptional fan experiences that are beyond anything possible elsewhere and interested in working alongside a team of innovators and enthusiastic over-achievers, you will enjoy working with us!
Description:
The Atlanta Braves are looking to fill the position of Baseball Systems Developer Associate. The Baseball Systems Developer Associate position emphasizes software and web development as it relates to the Baseball Operations department. The Developer’s main responsibilities will be to build and enhance proprietary applications for displaying baseball information and visualizations, maintaining existing information management systems, and developing additional productivity tools to aid in Baseball Operations decision making. Candidates must have experience with application and/or web development, with interest in baseball and sports analytics research as a strong plus. The position will report to Assistant General Manager, Research and Development. Note: Applicants for full-season associate and summer associate (May-August) will be considered.
Responsibilities:
Assist in developing and maintaining proprietary software used within the Baseball Operations department.
Work with department stakeholders to develop, deploy and test applications within IT best practice parameters.
Build relationships, communicate effectively, and gather feedback from Baseball Operations staff to build new platforms and improve existing systems.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Required Qualifications:
Past or expected BA or BS in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or related technical field of study or equivalent work experience.
Software development experience in one or more programming languages: Java, .NET, Python, JavaScript, C#, C/C++.
Experience with database technologies and SQL. Microsoft SQL Server experience is a plus.
Familiarity with using version control such as git.
Ability to learn new technologies, including new coding languages.
Strong work ethic, initiative, and the ability to solve technical problems.
Ability to work flexible hours, including some nights and weekends as dictated by the Major League season.
Must complete a successful background check.
Preferred Qualifications:
Knowledge of current baseball statistics and analytics used in player evaluation a plus
Experience with data visualization a plus.
Solid fundamentals with HTML/CSS.
Web development experience, especially with JavaScript (Node.js, Vue.js, React), or Python (Flask)
Experience with big data techniques
Exposure to Agile software development methodology. Kanban or Scrumban experience a plus.
Familiarity with cloud developer tools
iOS and/or Android app development
Demonstrated software development work product.
The Atlanta National League Baseball Club, LLC is an equal opportunity employer. A diverse workforce representing varied backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences is key to delivering on our business promise to our fans and the communities we serve. All qualified candidates are welcome to apply.
If you are disabled as defined by the Americans With Disabilities Act and require a reasonable accommodation in order to complete your online application, including making a change to the application process, please contact our Human Resources team at PeopleCapital@braves.com
If you are driven to deliver exceptional fan experiences that are beyond anything possible elsewhere and interested in working alongside a team of innovators and enthusiastic over-achievers, you will enjoy working with us!
Description:
The R&D Analyst Associate position will assist Baseball Operations decision-making through the analysis and research of baseball information. The day-to-day responsibilities of this position will revolve around using data analysis to provide insight into player evaluation, performance projection, roster construction, and all other facets of baseball operations decision making, with an emphasis on different areas of baseball operations depending on the baseball calendar and needs of the department. Ideal candidates will have a strong, demonstrated ability to answer wide-ranging research questions using data-driven methods. The position will report to Assistant General Manager, Research and Development.
Note: Applicants for full-season associate and summer associate (May-August) will be considered.
Responsibilities:
Perform advanced statistical analysis on large datasets in order to assist in the decision making of the Baseball Operations department
Develop and maintain models, software, reports, or any other information system developed during research
Perform ad-hoc research projects as requested and present results in a concise manner
Required Qualifications:
Strong foundation in the application of statistical concepts to baseball data, including familiarity with current state of baseball research
Experience with (or clear ability to learn) SQL and relational databases
Experience with statistical modeling software (Python preferred)
Ability to communicate technical findings to individuals with baseball backgrounds
Ability to work flexible hours, including some nights and weekends as dictated by the Major League season
Must complete a successful background check
Preferred Qualifications:
Demonstrated statistical research in the sports analytics field
Experience creating effective data visualizations is a plus
Web development experience, especially with JavaScript (Node.js, Vue.js), or Python (Flask)
Ability to and desire to learn other programming languages as needed
Familiarity with big data techniques
Exposure to cloud-based technology
The Atlanta National League Baseball Club, LLC is an equal opportunity employer. A diverse workforce representing varied backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences is key to delivering on our business promise to our fans and the communities we serve. All qualified candidates are welcome to apply.
If you are disabled as defined by the Americans With Disabilities Act and require a reasonable accommodation in order to complete your online application, including making a change to the application process, please contact our Human Resources team at PeopleCapital@braves.com
If you are driven to deliver exceptional fan experiences that are beyond anything possible elsewhere and interested in working alongside a team of innovators and enthusiastic over-achievers, you will enjoy working with us!
Description:
The Atlanta Braves are seeking a team-oriented and self-motivated individual to assist the front office and amateur scouting department in preparation for the Rule IV draft. This position will be remote and involve administrative tasks, research projects, and video/scouting assignments on a day-to-day basis.
Responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:
Complete administrative tasks in a timely fashion with a high level of attention to detail.
Conduct research projects.
Attend local amateur games as needed in the draft spring.
Post-draft, travel to and attend summer showcase events to assist staff with scouting coverage, video collection, and charting duties.
Required Qualifications:
Self-motivated and creative individual that is also detail oriented.
Strong interpersonal skills and ability to communicate with others.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office.
Ability to work flexible hours, including some nights and weekends.
Must complete a successful background check.
Ability to relocate temporarily to Atlanta, GA.
Knowledge of current baseball statistics and analytics used in player evaluation a plus
Preferred Qualifications:
Experience with SQL, R & Python and relational databases.
Exposure to an amateur scouting operation is a plus, but not required.
Background in photography/video is a plus, but not required.
Prior amateur or professional playing experience is a plus, but not required.
The Atlanta National League Baseball Club, LLC is an equal opportunity employer. A diverse workforce representing varied backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences is key to delivering on our business promise to our fans and the communities we serve. All qualified candidates are welcome to apply.
If you are disabled as defined by the Americans With Disabilities Act and require a reasonable accommodation in order to complete your online application, including making a change to the application process, please contact our Human Resources team at PeopleCapital@braves.com
Job Category: Baseball Operations Status: Full-Time Location: Nationals Park, WASHINGTON, DC 20003, USA, West Palm Beach, FL 33407, USA
Overview: The Washington Nationals Baseball Club is seeking a highly skilled Biomechanics Analyst to enhance its sports science capabilities. This role is ideal for early to mid-career researchers with a Master’s or undergraduate degree in Biomechanics or Sport Science with a major biomechanics component. The successful candidate will have independent research experience and be responsible for developing and automating data analysis, standardizing capture protocols, and integrating advanced data analytics into our player development processes.
Responsibilities:
Sample tasks and projects may include:
Develop Data Analysis:
Enhance the analysis and automation of the existing kinematics data pipeline.
Extend the pipeline to include kinetic data and integrate multiple data sources.
Daily Data Capture:
Capture kinetics data and video at all Nationals organization US locations.
Ensure safety, setup, teardown, calibration, and maintenance of equipment.
Share actionable data with coaches and players in quick-to-turnaround, easily understood formats that foster continuous feedback and performance improvement.
Advanced Reporting and Insights:
Leverage third-party libraries for enhanced reporting visualization.
Deliver new insights from existing data capture via computer vision and human pose estimation.
Data Mining and Statistical Analysis:
Utilize historical data to improve models of player monitoring.
Incorporate linear and non-linear statistical analyses to propose new solutions to existing problems.
Requirements:
Academic:
Master’s or undergraduate degree in Biomechanics or Sport Science with a major biomechanics component.
Independent research experience, ideally in a professional team environment.
NSCA CSCS Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist certification preferred.
Performance and Task Management:
Hands-on experience and understanding of kinematics and kinetics data capture and analysis.
Technical biomechanics knowledge, including but not limited to: signal processing, electromyography, inertial sensors, equations of motion, 3D coordinate systems, modeling and interpretation of motion analysis, anthropometry, scaling, inverse kinematics, and inverse dynamics.
Proficiency with data analysis tools such as Python, SQL, and exposure to computer vision and machine learning frameworks.
Practical familiarity with motion capture systems, force plates, and other biomechanics equipment.
Communication and Professionalism:
Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work collaboratively with front office, player development colleagues, coaches and players at all levels of the organization.
Demonstrable initiative and dependability.
Quality of Work:
Excellent problem-solving skills, attention to detail, high self-motivation, and trustworthiness.
100% follow-through on tasks and willingness to go the extra mile.
Interaction with Peers:
Conversational Spanish is highly preferred.
Excellent collaboration skills, with a positive attitude in every interaction.
Key interfaces include performance analysts, minor league strength and conditioning (S&C), video and medical personnel, coordinators, front office player development staff, as well as research and development (R&D) developers and analysts.
Primary interactions involve data capture and subsequent analysis for coaches and players.
Further Information:
Reports to the Senior Biomechanist, supported by the Director and Assistant Director of PD Tech & Strategy.
Based at the Washington Nationals complex in West Palm Beach, FL, with potential travel to Washington Nationals affiliates.
Full-time role with an expectation to be onsite for extended periods during player camps.
The position does not have game responsibilities, though short periods of game attendance are encouraged.
Evaluation Process: Stage one of the evaluation will be a biomechanics analysis assessment.
Compensation:
The projected wage rate for this position is $60,000-$65,000 per year. Actual pay is based on several factors, including but not limited to the applicant’s: qualifications, skills, expertise, education/training, certifications, and other organization requirements. Starting salaries for new employees are frequently not at the top of the applicable salary range.
Benefits:
The Nationals offer a competitive and comprehensive benefits package that presently includes:
Paid vacation and sick leave, paid holidays throughout the year and a holiday break in December
Medical, dental, vision, life and AD&D insurance
Short- and long-term disability insurance
Flexible spending accounts
401(k) and pension plan
Access to complimentary tickets to Nationals home games
Employee discounts
Free onsite fitness center
Equal Opportunity Employer:
The Nationals are dedicated to offering equal employment and advancement opportunities to all individuals regardless of their race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, genetic information, disability, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law
Lab Analyst, Foundational Research and Applied Biomechanics
Department: Baseball Research & Development Reports to: Director, Foundational Research and Applied Biomechanics Status: Regular Full-Time Location: Clearwater, Florida
Overview:
At the Phillies, we want our biomechanics lab to be the heart of self-improvement for players and staff alike—a space where every visit feels like a step toward greatness. As our Lab Analyst, you will be responsible for creating an environment that motivates players to put in the work needed to win championships.
Your role is not just to maintain the lab but to transform it—making it a hub for player improvement and cutting-edge biomechanics research. By combining your biomechanics expertise, baseball knowledge, and technical skills, you’ll help develop the tools and deliverables that keep coaches and players excited to use the lab every day.
What You’ll Do:
Energize the Lab: Cultivate a high-energy environment that makes our lab the go-to space for players and coaches.
Design and Execute Experiments: Design, collect data, and analyze experiments to solve key player development challenges and advance research.
Deliver Insights: Provide actionable biomechanics insights and use technical skills to build interactive tools and reports.
Required Qualifications:
Organizational Skills: Ability to keep the lab organized, efficient, and inviting.
Soft Skills: Strong interpersonal skills to engage with coaches, players, and staff.
Experimental Design: Experience designing and running experiments, conducting baseline analyses, and documenting findings.
Technical Proficiency: Proficiency with scripting languages such as Python, statistical software (R, S-Plus, SAS, or similar), and databases (SQL).
Biomechanics Knowledge: Skilled in analyzing biomechanical data and providing actionable insights on movement patterns, aligned with department best practices.
Preferred Qualifications:
Front-End Product and Technical Skills: Experience with interactive tools (e.g., Dash, Streamlit, Shiny), report generation (e.g., pypdf2), and data visualization (e.g., plotly).
Predictive Modeling: Skilled in model selection, feature engineering, validation, and performance evaluation for generating actionable insights.
Educational Background: Master’s Degree or Ph.D. in Sports Science, Data Science, or a related field.
What We Offer:
Competitive Salary & Benefits: A benefits package that includes health insurance, retirement plans (Non-Uniformed Personnel Pension Plan and 401k), and paid time off.
Access To The Cutting Edge: Exposure to advanced tools and proprietary data.
Dynamic Team Environment: Work with a team committed to excellence.
Personal Growth: Learn from colleagues within a supportive and driven environment.
LOS ANGELES — The killer feature of a pitcher like Sean Manaea, circa October 2024, is the capacity to deceive. As has been documented at length, Manaea changed his arm angle midseason, dropping down from 28 degrees in April to 15 degrees by September. That move paid immediate dividends; Manaea dominated for the New York Mets down the stretch and excelled in the postseason. Because Manaea now throws from an arm angle so low to the ground, his high fastballs come in at an extremely flat vertical approach angle. A flat VAA distorts the hitter’s perception, creating the illusion of “rise.”
Squaring up a high fastball thrown from that angle with a flat swing requires incredible precision. If the bat is a few millimeters high, the hitter will drive the ball into the ground; a few millimeters low, and you’ve got a harmless popup.
No matter for Tommy Edman. In the third inning of Game 6 of the National League Championship Series, Manaea whipped a four-seamer with a -3.78 degree VAA to the tippy top of the zone; Edman ripped it into the left field bleachers for a two-run home run, effectively knocking Manaea out of the game. Edman racked up four RBI on Sunday, powering the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 10-5 victory and sending them to face the New York Yankees in the World Series.
Hunter Gaddis didn’t want to throw Juan Soto a fastball. With two on and two out in the top of the 10th inning, Gaddis started the fearsome slugger with three sliders in a row: one for a ball, one for a called strike, and one for a foul ball. Behind in the count now, Soto fouled off two changeups and then another slider. This was supposed to work. Opponents batted .135 against the two pitches this season. They whiffed 30% of the time. Gaddis had clipped the edges of the zone with the nastiest stuff he could muster — some of the nastiest stuff in the game — and Soto simply refused to be beaten. Six soft pitches in a row, and Soto was hanging back and spoiling them at the last possible moment. Surely Gaddis could get away with one fastball, right? Right?
Asked after the game about his mindset during the at-bat, Soto said, “I was just saying to myself, ‘You’re all over that guy.’” Gaddis finally threw a fastball. Soto was all over it.
The four-seamer left Gaddis’ hand at 95.2 mph. It left Soto’s bat at 109.7. Soto didn’t leave the batter’s box at all. He watched as the high, arcing blast traveled 402 feet into the Cleveland night and center fielder Lane Thomas, head craned upward, drifted slowly back to the warning track. By the time Thomas had run out of real estate and the ball had landed safely in the standing room section just past the wall, Soto still hadn’t reached first base.
The blast gave the Yankees a 5-2 lead in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series and propelled them to their first World Series since 2009. The 15-year hiatus matches the gap between New York’s 1981 and 1996 appearances, the franchise’s longest stretch away from the Series since it first reached it in 1921. Asked what was going through his mind when Soto hit the go-ahead home run, general manager Brian Cashman said, “I was thanking God.”
New York’s 4-1 series victory belies a tight and thrilling series that featured multiple extra-inning games, riveting reversals, likely heroes, and extremely unlikely goats. For the third straight game, the Yankees and Guardians were tied during the ninth inning. For the second straight game, the Yankees scored the winning runs off Cleveland’s untouchable high-leverage relievers. The vaunted Guardians bullpen, asked to pitch 28 innings over five games, actually ran a slightly better ERA than New York’s relievers, but Cleveland simply needed more from them. As has so often been the case, the Guardians always looked to be a couple solid bats short.
With Tanner Bibee starting on three days’ rest, the Yankees threatened from the very beginning. Gleyber Torres started the game with a single through the right side, then Soto ripped a low liner into the right field gap and all the way to the wall. Third base coach Luis Rojas waved Torres around third, but a perfect relay from Jhonkensy Noel and Andrés Giménez nabbed him just inches before he was able to slide his left hand across the plate. Giménez’s 94-mph laser was on the money, without a hop.
It took an incredible relay to foil the gutsy send, but two batters into the game, it was still a questionable decision. Instead of second and third with no outs, the Yankees had Soto on second with one out. Bibee hit both Aaron Judge and Jazz Chisholm Jr. to load the bases, but managed to escape the inning unscathed. Just when it looked like the Yankees might run away with things and get to the overtaxed Cleveland bullpen early, Bibee settled down. He retired the next 10 Yankees in order and faced the minimum over the next four innings, consistently inducing chases on changeups and breaking pitches below the zone.
During the first inning, Carlos Rodón looked every bit as sharp as he had in Game 1, striking out two and retiring the side in order. He started the second inning with a strikeout as well, but the Naylor family slowed his roll. Josh Naylor tapped a grounder off the end of the bat to the abandoned left side of the infield, and the charging Chisholm had no shot at catching him at first base. Rodón struck out Noel to notch the second out, then Bo Naylor worked what would’ve been the at-bat of the game if not for what happened later. He pulled the 10th pitch he saw down the right field line for a line drive double. As Alex Speier noted, it was the first time a lefty had hit an extra-base hit off Rodón since July 28. More importantly, with a full count and two outs, Josh Naylor was running on the pitch, allowing him to score easily. Rodón still looked excellent, but after two Naylor hits and zero hard-hit balls, Cleveland led, 1-0.
The Guardians added an insurance run in the fifth inning, when Gimenéz shot a one-out double down the third base line and Steven Kwan singled him home two batters later. David Fry reached out and broke his bat on a changeup, lifting a popup into shallow left center. Judge, Alex Verdugo, and Anthony Volpe converged on the perfectly placed ball, which went in and out of the diving Judge’s glove. Verdugo tried to hurdle Judge, but somehow he didn’t actually leave the ground and was lucky not to injure the prostrate behemoth. Kwan, who had to wait and make sure the ball wasn’t caught, advanced to third, while Fry reached second with a double. Rodón’s reward for obliterating Fry’s bat on a ball that Statcast gave a 90% catch probability was a trip to the showers. He allowed five hits and two runs over 4 2/3 innings, striking out six and walking one. Four of the five hits came off the bats of Cleveland’s left-handed hitters. Rodón wouldn’t be in line for the loss for very long.
Bibee came out to pitch the top of the sixth, which also meant facing the top of the New York lineup for the third time. At the very least, we have to acknowledge that manager Stephen Vogt didn’t have an easy decision in front of him. The Guardians used nine total pitchers in Games 3 and 4 on Thursday and Friday, seven in each game. Five of them appeared in both games, including the team’s big four of Cade Smith, Tim Herrin, Emmanuel Clase, and Gaddis. The options were to leave in the cruising Bibee, to bring in an excellent but possibly gassed reliever for the third straight game, or to bring in a fresher but worse reliever. Vogt chose door number one, and while the call was defensible, well, we talk about the third time through the order penalty for a reason.
Torres reached out and yanked a soft liner over the third baseman for a single, and Soto ripped a more convincing single right back through the box. With runners on first and second, Judge sent a ball right to short for an easy 6-4-3 double play. That prompted a visit from the training staff, which seemed to be a fairly transparent ploy to buy Cade Smith some extra time to warm up, except Smith didn’t come in.
With Giancarlo Stanton at the plate, Bibee looked appropriately scared; he had no intention of attacking Stanton in the zone, even after he got the red-hot slugger to chase his first two pitches, a slider away and a changeup low. Bibee stuck with that approach and tried to tempt the hulking hitter with three soft pitches off the plate, but all three of them missed the zone by too much, and Stanton laid off. For the 3-2 pitch, Naylor set the target a solid 18 inches outside, but Bibee missed in a far worse spot, spinning a slider right over the middle and slightly down. Stanton did what Stanton does, shooting an absolute missile into the left field stands. The line drive left the bat at 117.5 mph and had a projected distance of 446 feet.
If you’re keeping score at home, on Bibee’s third time through the Yankees lineup, he faced four batters and allowed three hard-hit balls, two runs, and one lead. The game was knotted at two.
Vogt brought in Smith, who struck out Chisholm to end the inning. With the seal broken, the score tied, and his season in the balance, Vogt unleashed the rest of the big four. Despite pitching for the third day in a row, the quartet was effective. Smith got the first out of the seventh inning, then allowed a single, and Herrin finished the inning and pitched a perfect eighth. Clase worked a scoreless ninth, and Gaddis worked the fateful 10th. After Volpe lined out weakly to short to lead off the inning, Gaddis walked Austin Wells, then induced a groundball to second base from Verdugo. It was hit a bit too softly to get the double play, but in an attempt to get both outs anyway, Brayan Rocchio rushed through his part of the turn and botched the play altogether. Giménez’s feed clanked off the top of Rocchio’s glove, then bounced harmlessly to the turf. Everyone was safe.
Gaddis struck out Torres, bringing Soto to the plate. “He’s gonna do it,” said Chisholm after the game. “That’s the only thing going through my mind: He’s gonna do it.” None of the three runs Soto drove in was earned.
In the visitor’s dugout, Aaron Boone had the luxury of managing with the knowledge that his back wasn’t against the wall, and it allowed him to choose door number three. Fourteen relievers threw at least 10 relief innings for the Yankees this season. Among those 14, not one of Mark Leiter Jr., Tim Hill, or Jake Cousins – the first four out of the bullpen on Saturday – ranked higher than seventh in terms of leverage index when entering the game. The three combined for 3 1/3 scoreless innings, walking four Guardians but allowing just one hit. Boone finally called on Luke Weaver to pitch the ninth and 10th innings, and the slight star allowed just one hit before ending Cleveland’s season on a lazy fly ball that landed in the glove of – who else? – Juan Soto.
Stanton, who took home ALCS MVP honors, had four hits in the series, all of them home runs. In Game 5, Soto went 3-for-5 with four hard-hit balls, including a double and the series-winning homer, and raised his OPS in the series from 1.159 to 1.373. When asked why he was so sure Soto would deliver, Chisholm said simply, “Because it’s Juan Soto. Pay my guy! Pay Juan Soto!” The World Series starts on Friday, Soto’s 26th birthday.
Boyhood allegiances typically go away after a player is drafted and signs with a team other than the one he (or she) grew up following. Drew Gilbert isn’t necessarily an exception to that rule, but the 24-year-old St. Paul native does retain a soft spot for the Minnesota Twins.
“I think that happens a little more so as you get older, not necessarily exactly when you sign,” said Gilbert, whom the Houston Astros drafted 24th overall in 2022 out of the University of Tennessee. “You move around a lot. I went from Minnesota to Tennessee, and then once you get drafted you go around the country with different affiliates. I don’t want to say you lose the fandom, but it naturally goes away a little bit. That being said, when [the Twins] were in the playoffs last year it was still super fun to watch. Of course, any time you get playoff baseball, no matter who you’re rooting for, it’s a cool thing to watch.”
The 2023 Twins aren’t the only team he’s had reason to root for in the postseason. The Astros won the World Series in his 2022 draft year, and his new organization’s parent club has a chance to do so this year. The New York Mets acquired Gilbert as part of last summer’s Justin Verlander trade deadline deal. Read the rest of this entry »
