Strategy of pulling good to insert bad finds its way to MLB playoffs
HELP me. Am I nuts I or just dreaming? Both?
Before Milwaukee’s .179 pinch hitter Keon Brox
ton whiffed with two on Thursday, Fox’s Kenny
Albert noted Broxton has the majors’ highest strikeout rate, 38 percent. Yikes! So how can he be a pinch hitter?
Though the Brewers led, 2-0, in the eighth, Broxton was hitting for reliever Josh Hader, who’d just struck out three, retiring the four batters he faced. He appeared untouchable.
But by-the-book manager Craig Counsell summoned his latest closer, Jeremy Jeffress, who quickly allowed three hits and two runs to tie the score.
This can’t be how postseason baseball is played, too, can it? Help! Nurse! ➤ What a coincidence ... nearly: Seahawks linebacker Mychal Kend
ricks last week pleaded guilty to insider trading and was indefinitely suspended by the NFL.
Kendricks’ take in the scheme was reported to have been $1.2 million.
Fascinating. In a very similar insider trading case, Phil Mickelson, judged to have made a dirty million dollars, was neither indicted nor prosecuted. He was merely ordered by the SEC to pay back his take to the government, plus interest, a total just shy of $1.2 million.
➤ The writing remains on the wall: For all the analytics — can’t spell it without anal! — the Dodgers lost last year’s World Series in seven because they tried to hit home runs every at-bat while the Astros were busy hitting the ball. The Dodgers had nine fewer hits and struck out 11 more times — both about a game’s worth.
Thursday’s Game 1 of the Braves-Dodgers NLDS was new-age standard: In 8½ innings, 10 pitchers, 21 strikeouts, 11 hits.
Though the Dodgers won, 6-0, three of the boppers in their lineup — Manny Machado, Yasiel Puig and Yasmani Gran
dal — totaled eight strikeouts against unaccomplished pitchers. The Dodgers hit three home runs — but totaled just five hits.
Win by the sword, lose by the sword. Of course, that doesn’t mean that in 2018, the Dodgers’ opponents will have any better ideas.