Dodgers Dust Yankees Again, Sweep to Come?

Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

The Yankees came home from a resoundingly unproductive trip to California bloodied, but not beaten. A 2-0 deficit in the World Series is nothing to the Bronx Bombers, who have won four World Series after spotting their opponents two games. (Two of those — 1956 and 1978 — came against the Dodgers, in fact.) That’s more championships than 20 of the 29 other teams have won total.

But a comeback from 3-0? That’s only happened once in major league history — you don’t need to remind the Yankees when — and never in the World Series. So Game 3 was idiomatically, if not literally, a must-win.

From the pregame festivities, in which Fat Joe delivered an unsatisfying sequel to Ice Cube’s performance at Dodger Stadium two days ago, to the first inning, in which two of the first three Dodgers hitters scored, the Yankees were a step behind. The Dodgers, 4-2 winners, are one win from repeating a feat they haven’t achieved since 1963: sweeping the World Series. The Yankee comeback, in the unlikely event it happens at all, will have to start tomorrow. Read the rest of this entry »


Pitch by Pitch With Two Hitting Geniuses

Jayne Kamin-Oncea and Kirby Lee – Imagn Images

There are a lot of reasons to watch this World Series. There’s the history, the star power, the drama. We’ve had Ice Cube concerts and walk-off grand slams, controversial pitching decisions and defensive gems. I’m going to tell you a secret, though: None of those things has been my favorite part so far. The two preeminent strike zone controllers in the entire sport are facing off, and a showdown between Juan Soto and Mookie Betts is always worth watching.

Game 2 was a wonderful encapsulation of just what I’m talking about. Soto came up first, and he engaged Yoshinobu Yamamoto right away. Soto has a plan in every at-bat. It’s quite often the same plan: find a fastball, preferably high or inside, and hit it for a home run. He got started right away with a rip at a first-pitch fastball:

Advantage Yamamoto – but not that much of an advantage. Soto took two straight curveballs low – it’s really hard to fool him. Then Yamamoto came back with another fastball and Soto tried to hit it to Pasadena:

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Tommy Two Hits: Edman Has Come Up Big for the Dodgers

Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Superstars on nine-figure contracts have played a major role in the Dodgers both reaching the World Series and taking a two-games-to-none lead over the Yankees, but Los Angeles wouldn’t be in this position without the work of Tommy Edman. Acquired from the Cardinals on July 29, the 29-year-old switch-hitter joined the playing time mix at both shortstop and center field — the latter of which has been the Dodgers’ weakest position this season — and after making solid contributions down the stretch, he’s stepped up in impressive fashion in October. He earned NLCS MVP honors against the Mets and has continued his hot hitting through the first two games of the World Series while showing off his defensive versatility. At this writing, he’s riding a streak of five straight two-hit games, four of which have included an extra-base hit.

Edman moved from the Cardinals to the Dodgers in the same three-way, eight-player blockbuster that brought reliever Michael Kopech to Los Angeles from the White Sox. At the time he was dealt, Edman had yet to appear in a major league game this season. Lingering complications from offseason surgery on his right wrist kept him sidelined through the first half, with a sprained right ankle in late June setting back his planned rehab assignment a couple of extra weeks.

Between the necessity of further rehab and the reacquisition of Amed Rosario on the same day of the three-way trade, it wasn’t initially clear what the Dodgers had in store for Edman, but both shortstop and center field represented areas of need. The Dodgers began the season with Mookie Betts at shortstop (after a mid-spring swap with Gavin Lux), then turned to Miguel Rojas when Betts suffered a fracture in his left hand on June 15. In center, the Dodgers left the gate with 2023 surprise James Outman as the starter, but he struggled to replicate his rookie showing, earning a return ticket to Triple-A Oklahoma City. He was replaced by rookie Andy Pages, whose high-profile defensive gaffes in the middle pasture led to a deadline day trade for light-hitting glove whiz Kevin Kiermaier. Read the rest of this entry »


Contract Crowdsourcing 2024-25: Ballot 6 of 10

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Free agency begins five days after the end of the World Series. As in other recent seasons, FanGraphs is once again facilitating a contract crowdsourcing project, with the idea being to harness the wisdom of the crowd to better understand and project the 2024-25 free agent market.

In recent years, we’ve added a few features to these ballots based on reader feedback. You now have the option to indicate that a player will only receive a minor league contract, or won’t receive one at all. If there is a player option, team option, or opt out in a player’s contract, you’ll be able to indicate whether you think he will remain with his current team or become a free agent. Numbers are prorated to full season where noted. The projected WAR figures are from the first cut of the 2025 Steamer600 projections. Read the rest of this entry »


Contract Crowdsourcing 2024-25: Ballot 5 of 10

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Free agency begins five days after the end of the World Series. As in other recent seasons, FanGraphs is once again facilitating a contract crowdsourcing project, with the idea being to harness the wisdom of the crowd to better understand and project the 2024-25 free agent market.

In recent years, we’ve added a few features to these ballots based on reader feedback. You now have the option to indicate that a player will only receive a minor league contract, or won’t receive one at all. If there is a player option, team option, or opt out in a player’s contract, you’ll be able to indicate whether you think he will remain with his current team or become a free agent. Numbers are prorated to full season where noted. The projected WAR figures are from the first cut of the 2025 Steamer600 projections. Read the rest of this entry »


Yoshinobu Yamamoto Has a Secret Weapon

Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

LOS ANGELES — Yoshinobu Yamamoto was in a bit of a pickle. In the first inning of his first-ever World Series start on Saturday night, the adrenaline was (understandably) pumping; the normally controlled right-hander sprayed fastballs around the zone to hand Gleyber Torres, the Yankees leadoff hitter, a base on balls. Following a Juan Soto groundout pushed Torres to second, Yamamoto fell behind Aaron Judge 2-1 after missing with a couple of fastballs.

He’d shown Judge the slow curveball on 1-0, so he probably didn’t want to show it again. But he also did not want to fall behind 3-1 to this generation’s Barry Bonds with a runner on second and Giancarlo Stanton looming on deck. It was time to break out the secret weapon.

In a sense, Yamamoto hardly needed his slider to dominate the Yankees in Game 2 of the World Series, which the Dodgers won, 4-2, to take 2-0 series lead. He threw only six sliders on Saturday night, throwing them less frequently than his fastball, curveball, and splitter. (Baseball Savant says Yamamoto threw eight sliders, but I proclaim that two of them were misclassified cutters.)

But the total number of sliders thrown belies their importance. Every single slider was thrown in a huge spot, like in this 2-1 count to Judge early in the contest. Each time the game could have easily slipped away with one missed location, one poor pitch selection, Yamamoto opted for the slider, shielding it from his opponents until it was absolutely necessary. Read the rest of this entry »


Job Posting: Cleveland Guardians – 2025 Minor League Pitching Coach

2025 Minor League Pitching Coach

Location: Goodyear, Arizona, United States

Primary Purpose
We are seeking dedicated teammates to join our elite pitching staff who embody our organizational values and are committed to impacting players, staff, and culture, all with the shared goal of winning a World Series. Ideal candidates will have a passion for player and personal growth, expertise in integrating diverse information sources to develop and implement training plans, and a solid understanding of skill acquisition principles. Strong applicants will exhibit curiosity, creativity, and a drive for continuous learning and problem-solving.

We are committed to creating an equitable interview process that recognizes the unique identities of all applicants and allows candidates to bring their best selves forward. If you are more comfortable with submitting your materials (i.e., resume, other documents) in Spanish, please feel free to do so.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

  • Integrate objective information into a detailed and comprehensive player development plan. 
  • Create effective training environments based off individual player plans. 
  • Collaborate with Physical domains to effectively plan, implement, and monitor a holistic player development plan. 
  • Utilize internal tools, resources, and analytics to assess and adjust player plans. 
  • Communicate development plans and progress with players and Player Development staff and Front Office throughout the year.
  • Assist field staff with normal daily operations when necessary.

Education and Experience Requirements

  • Minimum of two years related experience and/or training required. Previous experience with a Major or Minor League Baseball organization or collegiate baseball program is a plus.
  • Candidate is willing to potentially work at our development complex in Arizona year-round. 
  • Ability to effectively communicate with a wide range of people and backgrounds.
  • Interest in personal and professional development with a desire to be involved in internal continuing education opportunities. 
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office including Teams, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Office, and Outlook. 

Preferred Experience
We are looking for a variety of skill sets. If you have demonstrated experience with any of the following, you may be who we are looking for to join our team.

  • Fluency in Spanish is a plus but not required.
  • Proficiency in SQL is a plus but not required.
  • Experience working with Trackman, Edgertronic cameras, biomechanics data, and workload monitoring data. 
  • Strength & conditioning experience is a plus but not required.

Organizational Requirements

  • Reads, speaks, comprehends, and communicates English effectively in all communications.
  • Represents the Cleveland Guardians in a positive fashion to all business partners and the general public.
  • Ability to develop and maintain successful working relationships with members of the Front Office.
  • Ability to act according to the organizational values and service excellence at all times.
  • Demonstrated commitment to working with diverse populations and contributing to an inclusive working environment.
  • Ability to walk, sit or stand for an entire shift.
  • Ability to work extended days and hours, including holidays and weekends.
  • Ability to move throughout all areas and levels of the Ballpark.
  • Ability to work in a diverse and changing environment.
  • Occasional physical activity such as lifting and carrying boxes up to 25 lbs.

At the Cleveland Guardians, we are all about creating an inclusive environment that brings out the best in everyone. It is a big part of who we are, how we compete, and how we make an impact in our community. We want every employee to feel like they truly belong here.

We also know that people from historically underserved groups—like women and people of color—sometimes hesitate to apply for jobs unless they check every single box on the qualifications list. We’re looking for the best person for the job, and we know that you might bring skills and experiences that aren’t exactly listed but could be a huge asset to our team. So, if this role excites you, we encourage you to apply, even if you don’t meet every single qualification.

To Apply:
To apply, please follow this link.

The content in this posting was created and provided solely by the Cleveland Guardians.


Dodgers Have a Good Day in 4-2 Win Over Yankees in Game 2 of World Series

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Ice Cube opened Game 2 of the World Series in Los Angeles by manifesting a “Good Day” for the Dodgers. Yoshinobu Yamamoto and the Dodgers bullpen put the Yankees offense in a freezer, while the Los Angeles bats got to Carlos Rodón. But in the seventh inning the sun set on the good day when Shohei Ohtani injured his shoulder on a stolen base attempt. After the game, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Ohtani suffered a subluxation of the shoulder and that further testing would be required, but his strength and range of motion were good. With the severity of the injury still unclear, a 4-2 win and 2-0 series lead for now is clouded by uncertainty.

Prior to the vibe shift, the game began with Yamamoto on the mound for his fourth start of the postseason. His performance in his prior starts was shaky – allowing five runs in three innings in his first meeting with the Padres, zero runs in five innings in a second face off with San Diego, and two runs in 4 1/3 innings against the Mets. The Dodgers have been managing Yamamoto’s workload since his return from a right rotator cuff strain on September 10, and he hadn’t pitched more than five innings in a start since June 7, when he silenced the Yankees in the Bronx for seven scoreless innings. In Game 2, Yamamoto’s second start against the Yankees, he was nearly as effective as he was in that first outing: He one-hit New York over 6 1/3 innings, allowing just one earned run on a Juan Soto home run. Soto, who scored both Yankees runs in Game 2, was their only player whose bat avoided the deep freeze.

For Yamamoto to reach the level of effectiveness he showcased on Saturday night, he relies on a variety of offspeed pitches to keep hitters from sitting on his four-seamer, which is his worst pitch by Stuff+ with a grade of 84. He kept the Yankees off balance by disregarding standard sequencing practices. Instead he deployed his curveball, splitter, slider, and cutter to trap the Yankees offense in a web of sequencing chaos. Read the rest of this entry »


Sunday Notes: Ethan Salas Is An Elite Prospect Still Figuring Things Out

Ethan Salas is one of baseball’s top prospects. Currently playing for the Arizona Fall League’s Peoria Javelinas, the left-handed-hitting catcher is not only No. 7 on The Board, he won’t turn 19 until next summer. Signed as an international free agent out of Venezuela by the San Diego Padres in January 2023, Salas is both precociously talented and mature beyond his years.

He is also still figuring things out. The 6-foot-2, 205-pound backstop was refreshingly candid on that front when I spoke to him on my recent visit to the AFL. More advanced defensively than he is with the bat — a scouting assessment he agrees with — Salas readily admits that there areas in which he needs to improve.

“I would say more consistency on game management stuff would be the biggest one right now,” said Salas, who has caught only 870 professional innings. “Calling pitches, situations in the game, seeing things before they happen, how to prevent big innings. I need to be more efficient in those areas.”

Salas’s physical attributes are undeniably plus, which brings us to an interesting aspect of how he operates behind the dish. It came to the fore when I asked if he is one-knee-down or more traditional in his setup. Read the rest of this entry »


Backseat Managing the Bottom of the 10th Inning in World Series Game 1

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

What a game. This series has been so hyped that a scoreless tie through four innings felt like a letdown. But then the party got started. In the end, we got everything we wanted: stars, steals, defensive gems and gaffes, and even a walk-off home run to evoke Kirk Gibson. But my beat is writing about managerial decisions, so let’s get a quick 1,100 or so words in on that before it’s time for Game 2. Specifically, I’m interested in the bottom half of the 10th inning in Game 1 of the World Series, and the decisions that led to Freddie Freeman’s colossal walk-off grand slam and lifted the Dodgers to a 6-3 win over the Yankees.

Using Nestor

Hated it. The pitch for why it’s a bad decision is pretty easy, right? Nestor Cortes hadn’t pitched in a month, a trusted lefty reliever was also warm, and the scariest possible guy was due up. It’s hard to imagine a scenario where this was the lowest-risk move. There’s not much I can say about the pitch-level data, because he threw only two pitches, but there are myriad reasons to opt for a reliever over a starter in that situation.

A lot of Cortes’s brilliance is in his variety. He throws a ton of different pitches. He has a funky windup – several funky windups, in fact. He changes speeds and locations. That’s how a guy who sits 91-92 mph with his fastball keeps succeeding in the big leagues. But many of those advantages are blunted when you don’t have feel for the game.
Read the rest of this entry »