Postseason forecast: A ring for Baker
Speaking with reporters earlier this season, Jayson
Werth had this to say about his Washington Nationals manager: “Dusty Baker deserves a World Series. He’s first-class. He’s been around forever. The only thing left to put on his resume is a world championship, and I want to be part of the group that does it for him.”
Such a fine notion, and heartily approved here, within the 3-Dot’s postseason dream: National League wild card: It would be difficult to say farewell to the Rockies’ great
Nolan Arenado and manager Bud Black so soon, but this should be Arizona’s game, behind Zack Greinke, and the advancement will be well deserved.
Dodgers-Diamondbacks,
NLDS: Everything changed in Arizona this year, and after routinely outclassing L.A. this year, the Diamondbacks aren’t the slightest bit intimidated. But let’s see the Dodgers move on. Their season was far too impressive to vanish so quickly. Cubs-Nationals, NLDS: They’ve had their fun in Chicago. Nothing against the Cubs, but it’s time for Bryce Harper, Anthony Rendon, Daniel Murphy, Ryan Zimmerman, Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg to bask in the national spotlight. Dodgers-Nationals, NLCS: As a longtime Dodger great, and one who left that organization amid some uncomfortable discord, Baker would love to pull this off. It’s a crushing defeat for the Dodgers, still looking for their first World Series appearance since 1988. American League wild card: The Yankees beat Minnesota, because America needs to see more of Aaron Judge, Gary Sanchez and Sonny Gray, but the Twins’ Byron Buxton goes 4-for-4 with an astounding catch in center field. Long projected as a superstar, Buxton has arrived for real.
The LDS series: Still to be determined, with Cleveland and Houston settling the best regular-season record over the weekend. Look for either team to beat the Yankees, as well as the Red Sox in the ALCS. The Indians and Astros are wildly entertaining teams who exemplify contact hitting and spectacularly effective pitching. Indians-Astros, ALCS: Almost too tough to call. A great result either way. Let it go seven, Justin Verlander making a huge difference, and Houston sending that aweinspiring lineup into the World Series.
Nationals-Astros, World
Series: Another seven-game classic. Scherzer, so animated out there and a treat to watch, is the most dominant pitcher. Harper hits a couple of 480foot homers. Trea Turner runs wild on the bases. Murphy peppers line drives all over the yard. Sean Doolittle, who labored in obscurity for too long in Oakland, gets the final out. And the undeniable truth: Baker seals his credentials for the Hall of Fame.
Memories of Cain
Matt Cain joined the Giants in late August 2005 and had a couple of strong outings against Colorado and Arizona. People noticed the stoic demeanor and the powerful leg drive (think Tom Seaver) and figured he was worth the hype. Then, in his third start, he pitched a two-hitter to beat the Cubs, 2-1, adding a double along the way. He was locked in as a Giant, forever ... Classic stuff: In a a game against Washington in July 2016, Cain — who homered a few days prior — had a no-hitter in progress for five innings but was removed for a pinch-hitter: Madison Bumgarner. One pitch into the at-bat, Cain still had a bat in his hands. Bumgarner doubled to right.
Jeff Samardzija ran and scored on a throwing error. Long live the National League ... First order of business for the Giants this off-season: Get
Eduardo Nuñez, a free agent, back on the roster. He’s been out with a knee injury, but he thrived in the Boston pressurecooker after arriving in a lateJuly trade, racking up eight homers, a .321 average and .892 OPS in 38 games. The Red Sox have no place to play him next year, with Rafael Devers taking over third base, Dustin
Pedroia at second and a talented young outfield. He’d be invaluable here ... The Tampa Bay Rays have plans for Matt
Duffy (who has missed the entire season), and that’s nice, but he’d be better off elsewhere. The Rays’ artificial turf is hell on everyone, especially someone coming off a serious heel injury.
Movie talk: Two of the best tennis writers in the country,
Steve Tignor and Joel Drucker,
give an enthusiastic thumbs-up to “Battle of the Sexes,” including the authenticity of the tennis as displayed by Emma Stone, Steve Carell and their stand-ins ... And who appears to be getting the role of
Joe Maddon in a film about the Cubs’ World Series title?
Bill Murray. Perfect ... The Lakers have been targeting next summer as the time to land primary free agents, including Southern California natives Russell Westbrook and Paul George. Now that Westbrook has signed a historic extension, with George a teammate on what looks to be an excellent Oklahoma City team, the Lakers had better hope those LeBron James rumors are true . ... Josh Norman, Washington’s outspoken cornerback, tore into Raiders receivers Michael Crabtree and Amari Cooper after last week’s game, and it was delightful to hear. Catch the ball. Enough with the amateur-hour nonsense. If the ball’s right there and you’re in no immediate danger of getting hit, you should have no drops, lifetime, including high school ... Interesting to see Raiders tackle
Donald Penn wearing an “LA” (Dodgers) cap in his pregame interview with NBC (he was born there). The Raiders will need a huge showing from their loyal Southern California fan base to make the Las Vegas move work ... It’s remarkable how many NFL defensive backs have no idea how to cover the deep ball. Rodney
Harrison said it best on NBC: “Get your head around and find the ball!” ... Odell Beckham Jr. scored a TD for the Giants last week and “celebrated” by lifting his leg, as if to pee on the ground. I spoke with several dogs, and they were stoked. “Excellent form,” noted the Jack Russell terrier. The humans were not amused.