Dodgers’ four days off not for health reasons
As the commissioner’s off ice and the players’ union negotiated over the terms of a season, the players pushed for a longer season and playoffs extended into November. The owners were resolute: no way, because a potential second wave of the coronavirus compelled MLB to expedite the postseason.
So why, after winning their f irst series Thursday, do the Dodgers have four days off before the second round? The players already have been in a postseason bubble for a week and testing already takes place daily. The Dodgers’ off days do not result from the health and safety protocols and they traveled Friday to Arlington, Texas.
The cushion was built into the schedule to account for potential inclement weather. The Dodgers swept their series, but the National League wild- card series between the Chicago Cubs and Miami could have extended into Saturday because of a rainout Thursday. The Marlins, however, completed their sweep Friday.
The games in the division series and the league championship series are scheduled to be played with no days off. If a division series extends to the full five games, the winning team would have one day off before the league championship series.
Local stars shine
Alex Rodriguez called the high school “WestlakeHarvard” and admitted his mistake while broadcasting Atlanta’s Game 1 win over Cincinnati. The school, Studio City Harvard- Westlake, was often mentioned in the wild- card round as three alumni turned in dominant pitching performances.
Jack Flaherty of St. Louis, Lucas Giolito of the Chicago White Sox and Max Fried of the Braves were prep teammates. Giolito and Fried were seniors and f irstround draft picks in 2012. Flaherty was a f irst- round pick two years later.
Flaherty started against San Diego in Game 3 on Friday and gave up one run in six innings. Fried pitched seven scoreless innings in the Braves’ Game 1 win. Giolito gave up one run in seven innings and got the only White Sox win against Oakland. That’s two runs and 14 hits in 20 innings for a 0.90 earnedrun average with 21 strikeouts and three walks. But only Fried will move on.
Landis off trophy
The name of Kenesaw Mountain Landis, the former commissioner who never had a Black player in the majors during his long reign, is being pulled off the mostvaluable- player plaques after more than 75 years.