HOT SERIES
THE DODGERS AND ASTROS, TWO 100-GAME WINNERS, FACE OFF STARTING TODAY IN A PROMISING MATCHUP
LOS ANGELES - The World Series hasn’t had two 100-win teams since 1970. So, when the 104-win Los Angeles Dodgers host the 101-win Houston Astros here Tuesday, maybe it’s appropriate, or perhaps just miserable, that the temperature will be between 101 and 104 degrees. As I’m typing this Monday, it’s a mere 102, but the “feels like” index is higher. How high? It just says, “Feels like hell.”
Don’t worry, it’s a dry heat. That means Game 1 starting pitchers Clayton Kershaw of the Dodgers and Dallas Keuchel of the Astros won’t realize how hot it really is until the L.A. medical examiner starts outlining their bodies on the ground with crime scene tape ’cause, let me tell you, it’s going to be murder.
You don’t want to be here. You want to be just where you are — in front of a large TV with an autumnal beverage — because this promises to be one of the most evenly matched and full-of-fun World Series since, well, last year with the Cubs.
The World Series has this habit of serving up more than was expected. Five of the past 16 Series have gone seven games, and in other years, the White Sox, Red Sox, Angels and Royals won their first World Series in 88, 86, 52 and 40 years. Arizona won its first ever. See how much fun it can be when the Yankees win only once in 16 years. The Yanks even cooperated Saturday by losing Game 7, so storm-shattered Houston could have some distractions from its misery.
We already know this World Series will fit that mold. The Astros have never won a world championship in 55 years and have played in only one World Series, while the Dodgers, with the game’s highest payroll, are mortally offended that they haven’t even played in a World Series since 1988.
An entire generation of Dodgers fans has had to be content tales of those 16 Dodgers trips to the Series between 1941 and 1988. You can only sell the heroics of Jackie Robinson, Sandy Koufax, Steve Garvey and Kirk Gibson for so long.
Once a Dodger, you always bleed Dodger blue, they say. So, maybe Dusty Baker, who played in three World Series here, will see the team that’s closest to his heart win a World Series this year. That may be enough reason toward the Dodgers, just a bit. But I have another reason to pick ’em.
The Dodgers have stolen the “height requirement” sign from the California Screamin’ ride at Disneyland; it’s outside the Astros’ clubhouse. They’re hoping Jose Altuve, the best baseball player on this planet, won’t quite be tall enough to qualify.
Many years of exhausting World Series analysis, with perfect 50-50 coinflip accuracy, has taught me one lesson. Yes, there are trends to watch. For example, this Series has a whopper. The L.A. bullpen has been fabulous all season; the Astros, a worry. This October, the gap has grown wider.
L.A.’s relievers in October have a 0.94 ERA and a 0.49 WHIP — meaning that, as a group this month, they are twice as good as the greatest reliever ever, Mariano Rivera. The Astros’ bullpen has been slaughtered, especially its two best close-the-show men, Chris Devenski (12.00 ERA) and Ken Giles (7.71). Faced with loud Yankees crowds, both looked, and pitched, as if intimidated.
Manager A.J. Hinch has turned to Collin McHugh, Lance McCullers and even Justin Verlander for 13⅔ innings of postseason relief duty not because of some advanced analytics theory. It’s just desperation. He’s terrified of his arson squad; they’ve given up seven playoff homers already. He won’t even comb his hair, with either hand, for fear somebody will think he’s waving in a reliever. McCullers, a starting pitcher, worked the final four innings of the Astros’ 4-0 clinching win over the Yanks because Hinch was cemented to his dugout seat by reliever anxiety.
As always, there are huge stars to watch. Verlander may never have pitched better in a career that may land him in Cooperstown. The Astros got him from the Tigers two seconds before the trade deadline. Houston has wonderful young players by the gross, but if the Astros win it all, the Verlander deal did it.
Nevertheless, the one man to watch is probably the extra-large left-hander who’ll throw the first pitch of the Series. If Kershaw pitches like Kershaw (2.10 ERA last seven years), he will probably beat control-artist Keuchel, set a tone and maybe start a Dodgers landslide.
But if Kershaw pitches like postseason Kershaw (6-7, 4.40 ERA in 17 starts), the Astros, the best hitting team in baseball by far this season, probably will beat him. Because Kershaw is such a fine fellow and symbol of the sport, his three starts this fall have been praised. But I see six homers in three outings.
It’s been a long time since they played Game 1 of a World Series in Chavez Ravine with the San Gabriel Mountains, probably wearing sunscreen this week, peeking into the park from the horizon. It’s been a long time since Kirk Gibson played “The Natural” but in real life. That’s a lot for this World Series to live up to.
But as we should know by now, don’t bet against it.