Hi all. In a far less exciting World Series than we saw a year ago, the Dodgers didn’t put forth an effort in game 5. Who can blame them, considering their blundering manager did all he could do to help the Red Sox in games 1, 2 and 4, not that Boston needed any help. The Dodgers lost the game 5–1 and can start arranging their winter golf games following another bad playoff appearance by Clayton Kershaw. He and any general manager who considers signing him this winter will need to search his soul after Kershaw has spent major time on the DL the last 3 seasons. Kershaw gave up a 2-run home run to someone named Steve Pearce on the 6th pitch he threw in game 5. Meantime, David Price who usually suffers during postseason made the Dodgers look like they were saying “No mas.”
Before the series, you would have assumed the Red Sox would win with the help of J.D. Martinez and Mookie Betts, their two superstars. That didn’t happen. Mitch Moreland and Pearce were their heroes last night and tonight. Before last week, nobody outside of Boston would know Steve Pearce from Paul Pierce or Franklin Pierce. Pearce also homered in the 9th to give him 10 RBIS in the World Series, a Red Sox record formerly held by Dwight Evans.
This is the second year in a row the Dodgers lost a World Series. They should have easily claimed the one last year. This one was a much taller order because the Red Sox had taken down the Yankees and the defending World Champion Astros. Last year their manager turned to Yu Darvish who was horrible in both games 3 and 7 of the World Series. After game 3, Roberts expected a different result while doing the same thing with no new variables, which is a textbook definition of insanity. Now they’ve lost another World Series without the Yankees being involved in either one. With free agency, their 2019 team may not resemble the teams of 2017 and 2018 that made the World Series. Kershaw and their renta-player Manny Machado are probably finished with the Dodgers, which throws the NL West wide open next year after the Dodgers have won the West 6 years running. Machado especially was a disappointment in the postseason leaving 32 runners on base.
It shouldn’t have been this easy for the Red Sox. It didn’t hurt that the American League had some of the worst teams imaginable in it-the Orioles, White Sox, Royals and Tigers all surpassed 100 losses. Their only challenge came from the Bronx. The Yankees’ biggest problem was their sad lack of pitching. It didn’t help that Aaron Judge broke his wrist and Gary Sanchez put on as bad a performance as you’re likely to see behind home plate. To their credit, when the Red Sox’ two horses Chris Sale and David Price were on the DL during the year, their front office found enough pitching to carry them, and the hitting carried them. Along with the home runs Martinez and Betts hit, the Red Sox did all the little things their opponents seem to have forgotten the importance of doing. The Red Sox played small ball and knew how to move men around the bases even if home runs weren’t involved. Particularly when the Yankees played them, the Bronx Bombers were exposed as a one-dimensional offense. So, as bitter as it is, the Red Sox have won their 4th championship since 2004. After that season when the Yankees blew a 3 games to None lead in the ALCS, Boston also won in 2007, 2013 and now 2018. Meantime the Yankees have just one World Championship which they won in 2009.
During the offseason, this blog will be written on an irregular basis, when and if stories happen that need writing about. For short items that don’t merit a full entry, you can find them in my Facebook group Baseball as I See It. That is a public group where all are welcome. Last fall and winter, the two long pieces I remember writing in this forum concerned the deaths of Roy Halladay and Dick Enberg. The Facebook group is where I write up short bits about free agent signings, managerial firings and such things. I hope to welcome more members to that group, and will again write this blog regularly as the 2019 regular season approaches. Good night, and good luck.