Brad

As if it were possible, things went from worse to worst in today’s Clásico match between Barcelona and Real Madrid as they were scorched 5-1. They will definitely have a new manager this week.

In this World Series the Ballparks Play a Starring Role

I hope you stay up for the clincher, be it tonight or Tuesday.

Jansen failed last year and has failed in the last two games of this one when it mattered.

Cora waited one batter too late and this is not a second guess because I thought he’d change pitchers one batter before Puig.

Soulstation may be right. This series is turning into a pitcher’s. Either that or the hitters have gone to Laguna Beach.

It will probably be a bullpen heavy game and could feature some scoring. This is the game the Red Sox probably need to win.

I know it’s a second guess but once he slipped I probably wouldn’t have thrown plus Puig is fast, isn’t he? Regarding Muncy, the first batter of the inning, the umpire gave him ball four on a 3-2 count on a checked swing that was questionable. Cora and the bench were incensed and barked at the umpires. Had this been a regular season game, someone would have been tossed. As with almost all checked swing calls or no calls, it could have gone either way. I thought he was out however. At any rate, it turned out to be an important moment. As Frankie Frisch, the Fordham Flash, said “Oh, those bases on balls.”

I have to give you credit for going to sleep; I never could have done that. He bet the house and emptied his bankroll, so to speak, and has nothing left for today. All or nothing. I think it was worth the risk. He’s not afraid to make the bold move, to coin another cliche. Let’s hope it doesn’t cost them the series. Kinsler had a terrible game. Besides his base running and his failure to score, in the bottom of the 13th — whatever inning it was — he should have eaten the ball. In addition, in the top of the inning, the Sox had the bases loaded and couldn’t score and that came back to bite them.

Onto the 15th. Night all

Some bad base running in this game. Kinsler was lucky he wasn't out at 1st and 3rd. We'll see if Bellinger's throw changes this series around.

Whims of Chambers (from the Mosaic Select)

Benitendi is on the bench and Martinez in his place. I will defer to Dan but I would put him in RF and put JWJ on the bench. However, that’s not a great choice either. The Red Sox are disadvantaged no matter how you cut it.

Lou Takes Off (Blue Note) (from the Mosaic set)

Never heard of these and I used to collect cards.

You might have a lot of dead players.

Max Hastings’ books are pretty good. I’d recommend Armageddon.

Although I like the NL style of playing — no DH — I don’t think it makes sense anymore. No other league, including the minors, use it. At the very least it should be discarded in the WS.

Have you read Decision at Normandy by Carlo D'Este. That is the best book, in my opinion (and I've read a lot of WW II also) about the Normandy campaign. From the fictional side, focusing on the end of the War in Germany as the Russians approach is All for Nothing by Walter Kempowski. Tremendous book. Currently reading: and this

In 1916, the Red Sox beat the team now known as the Dodgers but they did it at Braves Field because it was larger. Parts of Braves Field still exists but it is now part of Boston University and is now known as Nickerson Field. Boston’s Other Baseball Treasure

The likelihood of this series returning to Fenway doesn't seem very high.

In 1916 the Superbas lost to the Red Sox, 4 games to 1 In the first game, the Times opened its story as follows: “The withered stalk of the baseball season burst with a crash into radiant bloom at Braves Field today. The Superbas, pride of Brooklyn and of the National League, and the carmine-hosed Boston warriors scrambled for the petals of the first blossom.” How Brooklyn became known as the Superbas, Birth of the Superbas

It was worse down rightfield, 257 feet.

Ditto!