Updates
October 26, 2020: this is interesting. In my original post, I suggested two errors in that single play, but immediately following the game, the announcers said one error would be on the outfielder. But now, in The WSJ the writer suggests two errors, and in the second video clip below, one analyst suggests three errors. Maybe some "unofficial" errors and some "official" errors.
Game 4:A little after 11 p.m. here on Saturday, the Dodgers appeared on the verge of a romp. Just one strike separated them from a 3-1 series advantage all but ensuring that the best team in the major leagues would finally emerge as champions after so many October disappointments. Then Brett Phillips, the last player on the Rays’ bench, punched the single into center field that, coupled with two Dodgers errors, turned him into one of the most improbable postseason heroes ever.
October 26, 2020: for those who missed it on YouTube --
Original Post
First things first: one strike away from a win!!!!
Game 4, World Series: incredible finish. I'm sure the last thirty seconds of the game will be on YouTube. This finish will rank among the most incredible finishes in any sport ever. If one reads the backstory, it may simply be the most incredible. Link here to the description.
Brett Phillips went 17 days without seeing a major-league pitch before Saturday night. The Tampa Bay Rays left him off their roster for the last round of the playoffs, so he appointed himself as an unofficial coach, which really meant he acted as a glorified cheerleader. His responsibilities in that role largely consisted of holding up a dry-erase board with helpful words of encouragement for his teammates as they clawed their way to the pennant.
So naturally, in the sort of poetic twist that baseball so often provides, Phillips found himself at the plate in Game 4 of the World Series with the fate of the season on the line. In that moment, even he couldn’t help but marvel at the absurdity that led to Rays manager Kevin Cash sending him up there at all.
“I’m sure he was probably like, ‘Ohhhhhhhhhhh no,’” said Phillips, as he attempted to describe the insanity that transpired in the Rays’ stunning 8-7 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers that evened this best-of-seven set at two wins apiece. “‘Oh no, we’ve got to go to the last guy on the bench?’” [. One player was given one error; in fact, there should have been two errors, but perhaps the rules state only one error can be awarded in any one play. I don't know. But there were two errors. A missed catch and a botched throw.]
Ratings: the most talked-about story in social media regarding sports this year -- television ratings. Mainstream media and the sports networks are avoiding the issue but the discussion is rampant on social media and non-mainstream media. Recent post on the blog noted the all-time record lows for the World Series. Now, a series of links noted overnight:
- NFL ratings: "SNF slides again for Rams-49ers week 6 game."
- World Series: "TV ratings lowest ever, raising more questions for sports world."
- Sonic boom! from NBA to BLM in one season. Link here: https://www.breitbart.com/sports/2020/10/24/sonic-boom-sarah-palins-blast-from-the-past-reminds-us-how-great-the-nba-used-to-be/.
Covid-19 playing havoc with television scheduling: huge game scheduled for today may be postponed. Link here.
Key Raiders players face Covid-19 isolation before their big game. The NFL moved Las Vegas’s Week 7 game against Tampa Bay off of prime time in case the matchup is postponed with the Raiders’ starting offensive linemen in quarantine
MLB has no issue with multiple errors per play. My thought is official scorer ruled that had runner not stumbled halfway to home he would have scored anyway.
ReplyDeleteOther than a walkoff homer probably the most dramatic WS game ending play I've ever witnessed.
You know sports way better than I do -- so I will have to defer to your judgement.
DeleteFor pure spectacle, it will be hard to beat.