Dodgers hope to heat up, literally
The San Gabriel Mountains shimmering in the distance will be a welcome sight for the Los Angeles Dodgers after two chilly, failed nights at Fenway Park.
No team has overcome a 2-0 World Series deficit in 22 years, but that is the tall task the Dodgers face after crumbling before the 37-foot-high Green Monster.
"It's going to be warmer, and hopefully our bats get hot, too," Cody Bellinger said after Wednesday night's 4-2 defeat to the Boston Red Sox.
No wonder they were California Dreamin' about Thursday's flight home.
Used to the balmy breezes at home and usually hospitable weather in the NL West, Los Angeles hadn't started a game this year in a temperature below 58. Facing a 53-degree temperature at the start of the opener, the Dodgers lost 8-4. It was just 46 in the first inning for Game 2, and the Dodgers' bats were cold again — their last 16 hitters retired in order.
"This is the first time we've played in obviously weather like this — San Francisco a little bit, but nothing like this," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said before the game.
A more temperate mid80s is forecast for Friday, when rookie Walker Buehler starts against Rick Porcello in an attempt to spark a turnaround.
Blue Jays hire Rays' coach as manager
Charlie Montoyo, a bench coach for the Tampa Bay Rays this season, was hired as manager of the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday. He succeeds John Gibbons, who was let go after the team finished 73-89.
Montoyo has a three-year contract with a club option for 2022.
Montoyo is a 53-year-old Puerto Rican who worked as the bench coach for the Tampa Bay Rays this season. Before that, he was their third-base coach for three years.
Twins turn to youth in manager choice
Seeking a fresh voice for their underachieving young players, the Minnesota Twins have made Rocco Baldelli the youngest manager in the major leagues.
The Twins hired the 37-year-old Baldelli on Thursday, bringing the former Tampa Bay player, assistant and coach to Minnesota for his first job as a manager.
He replaces Paul Molitor, who was fired after four seasons with a 305-343 record. Baldelli will be the first major league manager born in the 1980s.
Baldelli spent the last four years on the staff of Rays manager Kevin Cash.