Diamondbacks, alive, savoring all the slights
Before opening the World Series, the Arizona Diamondbacks wanted to recount the doubts.
Overlooked by oddsmakers and angered by analysts, the Diamondbacks find themselves in a Surprise Series against the also unexpected Texas Rangers. But the mindsets couldn’t be more different ahead of Friday night’s opener in Major League Baseball’s third all-wild card title matchup.
“We just put it on our list and keep those receipts and walk around with a little bit more of a chip on our shoulder,” Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said. “It gives you a little bit more motivation. And when you can get a little bit more, you take it.”
Diamondbacks closer Paul Sewald has become keeper of the receipts, reminding teammates of what they consider disrespect.
“Maybe I found screenshots that maybe other people didn’t,” he said, wearing a T-shirt that proclaimed “Snakes Alive.” “We took offense to that and we’re excited that we’re here and people are still not giving us that much credit here.”
Zac Gallen, a 28-year-old righthander coming off a careerbest 17-win season, starts Game 1 for the Diamondbacks, in the Series for the first time since beating the New York Yankees for the franchise’s only title in 2001. Texas starts Nate Eovaldi.
Both teams worked out Thursday under a closed roof at Globe Life Field, where World Series logos were freshly painted on the turf. Both clubs are two years removed from 100-loss seasons, and the Diamondbacks could become just the second champion with a negative run differential after the 1987 Minnesota Twins.
Baker says goodbye
As Dusty Baker officially ended one notable chapter in his illustrious career, he said Thursday he feels an obligation to do more around the game with his next one.
Baker, 74, confirmed his retirement at a press conference following his fourth season managing the Houston Astros, who came one win shy of reaching the World Series for a third straight year with a loss to the Texas Rangers on Monday night in Game 7 of the AL Championship Series.
The toothpick-chewer and epic storyteller finished his career ranked ninth all-time with 2,183 victories in 4,046 regularseason games. He was the 12th manager in major league history to reach 2,000 wins and the first Black man to do it.
Baker began managing in 1993 after a 19-year playing career as an outfielder. He played with Hank Aaron in Atlanta and won a World Series with the Dodgers in 1981.
Baker said attending Aaron’s funeral in 2021 was an eyeopening experience for him.
“All these people were talking about how Hank had contributed and helped out their college education and affected this life and that life,” Baker said. “I came back home and told my wife, ‘I don’t feel like I’ve done anything.’
“I don’t know what I’m going to do, but I know it’s going to be good, whatever it is. I believe that.”
Baker managed San Francisco, the Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati, and Washington before coming to Houston. He’s the only manager in major league history to take five different teams to the postseason.
Baker posted a 320-226 record with the Astros, leading them to the playoffs in each of his four seasons and winning the pennant twice. The Astros fell to the Braves in six games in 2021 before winning it all last season.
Rays want quick yes
The Tampa Bay Rays are pushing for swift approval of a financing deal for a new 30,000seat ballpark, part of a much larger $6 billion redevelopment project that includes affordable housing, a hotel, a Black history museum, and many other items.
The St. Petersburg City Council got its first detailed public look at the ballpark financing plan, which will be shared by the city, Pinellas County, the Rays, and their Hines company partner. Brian Auld, the team’s co-president, said the goal is to obtain government approvals by March so that construction can stay on schedule for opening day of the 2028 season.
“If we miss that opening date, this entire endeavor becomes impossible. We cannot put these dates at risk along the way,” Auld said.
The new $1.3 billion ballpark would be located on the same 86-acre (34-hectare) tract of downtown land where Tropicana Field now sits. The financing plan calls for the city to spend $417.5 million and Pinellas County about $312.5 million, with the Rays responsible for the remaining $600 million and any cost overruns.
Offense up in October
Stolen bases and batting averages are up and game times are down in the first postseason with the pitch clock and larger bases. There have been an average of 1.4 steals per game through the League Championship Series, up from 0.8 through last year’s LCS. The overall postseason batting average has climbed from .213 to .241, and the average game time is 3 hours, 2 minutes, a decrease from 3:22 for nine-inning games during the first three rounds of the 2022 postseason and from 3:40 in 2021 through the LCS
... Bill Miller and Alfonso Márquez, each working his fifth World Series, will be joined by five first-timers starting Friday night. Miller will be the umpire crew chief and would work the plate for a Game 7. Márquez will be at first base in the opener, joined by D.J. Reyburn behind the plate, David Rackley at second, Brian Knight at third, Vic Carapazza in left field, and Miller in right. Quinn Wolcott will be the reserve umpire for the opener and will call balls and strikes for Game 2.